The Sun.
London, England, 1848-04-07 00:00:00

could assure the Noble Lord and the House that he had
always respected the character of Sir P. Maitland, both
as a soldier and as a) servant of her Majesty; but he
should at the same time say that, if a more firm and de-
cisive rule of control were observed by Sir I'. Maitland,
the expenses would be much less, and that opinion was
strengthened by the information of many authentic wit-
nesses. In a word, he believed that he was liable to the
charge of many errors.—(Hear, hear.)
Lord LYTTELTON said that he felt fully convinced
that the information received by the Government was
of a prejudiced nature against Sir P. Maitland, and that
his conduet was always worthy the esteem of his brother
officers.
The House then adjourned.

DOUSE OF COMMONS, April 6.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock.
THIRD READINGS.
The Kettering Small Tenements Rating Bill and the
Leicester Cemetery Bill were read a third time and
passed.
Sir J. WALMSLEY presented a petition from Lei-
cester signed by 4,000 persons praying for the abolition
of the present law for rating, and the adoption of the
national rate.

Sir THOMAS BIRCH presented a petition from
Liverpool, complaining of the usurpation of the ec-
clesiastical courts of civil rights, and praying for redress.

ANSWER• TO -THE AIiDRESS.

Mr. LASCELLES, the comptroller of the royal
household appeared at the bar in the Windsor uniform
with his wand of office, and brought up the answer to
the address of congratulation of the llous,,g of Commons
to her Majesty on the birth of a Princess. The follow-
ing is the answer :
" I return you my hearty thanks for this dutiful and
affectionate address, and I cordially receive your con-
gratulations on the birth of a Princess. _ _

" I gratefully receive every additional proof of your
cordial attachment to my person and family."
Mr. FOX MAULE presented petitions from different
parts of Scotland in favour of the Diplomatic Relations
with Rome Bill.
_ THE NATIONAL CONVENTION.

Mr. F. O'CONNOR presented a petition from forty-
nine delegates in National Convention assembled, and
representing five millions of people, praying for the
liberation of Frost, Williams, and Jones.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL apprehended that the
petition could not be received, inasmuch as it stated that
it came from the " National Convention."
Mr. F. O'CONNOR reminded the Hon. and Learned
Gentleman that similar petitions were allowed to be
received under Sir Robert Peel's Government, and as a
convention of 49 delegates was recognised by the law,
he could not see what objection there could be to the re-
ception of the petition.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL was decidedly of
opinion that the petition was not legally worded, but
he hoped the Hon. Gentleman would not press its recep-
tion till he had had time to look into the authorities upon
the subject.
Mr. F. O'CONNOR said the request of the Hon. and
Learned Gentleman, coming as it did from the first law
officer of the Crown, sounded very much like a command,
but as a matter of courtesy to the Hon. and Learned
Gentleman, he would not press it.
The petition was accordingly withdrawn.
LYME REGIS ELECTION.
Mr. HUME gave notice that on an early day he
would call the attention of the House to the Special
Report of the Lyme Regis Election Committee, with
the view of instruction being given to the Right Hon.
the Attorney-General to prosecute Mr. James Ed-
wards for the bribery set forth in the minutes of evi-
dence.