The Sun.
London, England, 1840-07-25 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS, JULY 24.

The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'Clock.
The Earl of Scarborough's Estate Bill was read a third
time and passed on the motion of Mr. LOWTHER.
LONDON AND GREENWICH RAILWAY.
On the motion of Mr. LAW HODGES the Lon-
don and Greenwich Railway Enlargement Station Bill
was read a third time and passed.
Sir ROBERT INGLIS presented a petition from
the High Sheriffs of Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and
Monmouthshire, and several Justices of the Peace, on
the subject of criminal jurisprudence, complaining of the
inconvenience of calling on a prisoner to plead guilty or
not guilty, and praying that the law might be altered in
that respect.

Mr. 'IrHORNELY presented a petition from Liver-
pool, praying for a reduction of the duty on East India
coffee.

Sir JOHN YARDE BULLER presented a peti-
tion from two landowners residing in Brixham, Deron,
against the Stock in Trade Bill.

- Lord STANLEY presented a petition from eighty-
nine psrsons in the Union of New Ross, complaining of
intimidation, violence, and forgery of voting papers, at
the late election of Guardians in that Union. Theye-
tition particularly complained of the conduct of the
priests of the Catholic faith at that election ; they in-
timidated their parishioners, and had even gone the
length of assaulting some of them, for showing
trifling independence. He would only call the at-
tention of his Noble Friend to the facts stated
in the petition—if they could be proved such gross
conduct upon the part of clergymen and others ought
not to pass unpunished.
Lord MORPETH entirely concurred with his
Noble Friend in his description of the facts contained
in the petition, and if they could be sustained, he agreed
with him that the parties ought to be punished. No-
thing could have a worse tendency than such language
as was attributed to Rev. Gentlemen, falling from lips
which ought to utter nothing but the truths of re-
ligion and peace, and nothing could so damage
the New Poor-law in its working as to have such
scenes in connection with it as those complained of.
There had been many conflicting statements in connec-
tion with the election at New Ross, and had the Hon.
Members for Wexford been in their places, he had no
doubt they would have made some complaints of un-
provoked violence upon the part of the agents of the
opposing party. The Poor-law Commissioners had in-
stituted inquiries upon the subject, and they had
found it necessary to annul the election of several
of the guardians, and to cause new elections to take
place ; and the Government had afforded, in a very
large degree, the assistance of both the Police force
and the Military, in order to uphold the authorities
and preserve the peace. However unbecoming the
language attributed to a Rev. Gentleman might be,
he hardly thought it came within any law so as to
be punished. But ho could assure the House, that
if any breach of the law could be proved, whether it
wore committed by priest or layman—whether by
agitator or landlord, the Government would be most
anxious and willing to afford its utmost co-operation
and support to bring them to justice.
. _ _

Lord STANLEY said he believed an indictment had
been preferred against the Rev. Rickard, but as he
was informed, the Crown Counsel refused to offer any
evidence against him.
Mr. W. ROCHE hoped the allegations of the peti-
tion would be most rigidly inquired into.
Mr. SHEIL said the object of the petition was
easily seen from the language it opened with,
Lord MORPETH would certainly feel it his duty
to inquire into the matter.
The petition was then laid on the table.

Lord. ASHLEY presented a petition, praying for a
repeal of the duty on fire insurances, and of the stamp
duty on policies in all cases where the property insured
did not exceed .50/.

Lord HOTHAM presented a petition from the me-
dical practitioners of the Queen's County, praying for
remuneration for attending at inquests.
Mr. E. TENNENT presented a petition from the
medical practitioners of Antrim to the same effect.

Mr. KEMBLE presented petitions from St. Mary,
Newington, against Poor-law Unions, and arzainst cer-
tain clauses in the Parochial Assessments Bill.

Mr. MACKINNON presented a petition from the
watermen of the Thames plying between London-bridge
and Vauxhall, against the proposed embankment of the
River Thames.