The Sun.
London, England, 1848-03-16 00:00:00

DAVIDSON'S MUSICAL

TREASURY. Parts

XCI V. and XCV. --_
These numbers of the " Musical Treasury" fully
sustain the high character which this admirable
publication has already attained. We have Mignon's
song, by Goethe (the music by Beethoven) ; the over-
ture to the Nozze di Figaro ; the " Le Verol Baliare,"
arranged as a pianoforte piece; the German national
song, " Fatherland ;" and four songs from Auber's
last new opera of Haydie' with both French and English
words. Thus the "Musical Treasury" constitutes
not only the cheapest, but the best repertoire of po-
pular pianoforte music that has ever apared. Mr.
Davidson is doing for music what Mr. Charles
Knight has done for literature.

DAVIDSON'S LITTLE PIECES FOR LITTLE
PLAYERS.

DAVIDSON'S LITTLE SONGS FOR LITTLE

SINGERS.

These series are admirably adapted for the use of
those for whom they are intended. Little players
practising these pieces will be enabled to make the
piano discourse raost excellent music without running
the risk of dislocating their little fingers ; and little
singers will be enabled to sing pleasingly without
straining their little voices. These series are great
boom to teachers and children.

Ltricomt, TuEsDAY--Sir Edward Lytton resigned
this morning in favour of Mr. Hobhouse, whose return
is:thereby rendered safe. In his address announcing his
intention, Sir Edward says:—" I arrived in Lincoln this
morning : I have examined into the state of parties, and
I have come at once to the determination to withdraw
from the contest. I shall not regret my visit if it ena-
ble me, by the immediate sacrifice of my own pretensions,
to mitigate in some degree the unfortunate dissensions
amongst those once united with me in a common cause.
It would, therefore, give me great pleasure if such of
my personal friends as coincide in the general
politics of Mr. Hobhouse will transfer to him their
support. Both divisions in that great party, which
formerly blended under ono banner all those who
thought alike upon public affairs, may thus again renew
their fellowship and co-operation. And I sincerely
trust no irritation at any injustice, real or supposed,
which I individually may be held to sustain, will in this
critical condition of our country be allowed to interfere
with so desirable a result. I will hope that those who
once honoured me with a confidence which they may
hereafter acknowledge I have done nothing to forfeit,
will receive this, my parting address, in the same
friendly spirit with which it is framed; and had I in the
last election seen an equally fair probability of healing
painful differences by my retirement, which appears to
me afforded by my prompt resignation in the present
instance, those who know me best know that I should
have been as ready then as now to obtain, by personal
sacrifice, that great public object which I never ceased
to desire."
Mr. Raikes Currie paired off in favour of Mr. i
Ewart's motion for the abolition of the punishment of
death, with Mr. Henry Currie against.
We are requested to state that Mr. J. L. Ricardo
paired with Mr. Sotheron in favour of Mr. Ewart's mo-
tion for the abolition of capital punishment.
The Governor and Directors of the East India
Company have appointed the Rev. William Frederick
Hamilton, M.A., curate of Trinity Church, St. Mary-
lebone, to be chaplain to the East India Company's
1
Asylum, at Poplar, rendered vacant by the death of the
Rev. 'bury, Iligginion, ALA.

DEATH OF WILLIAM THOM, THE

INVERURY POET.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DUNDEE COURIER.

Dundee, February 29, 1848.
Sir,—The painful task has been deputed to me of an•
nonncing to the public the death of William Thom, the
Inverury poet. For some time past he bad been in de-
licate and declining health; and his diseased state of body
was doubtless aggravated by the uncertainty of his
circumstances, and the consequent anguish of his
honourable and sensitive mind. Yesterday, in our
city, at half-past eleven A.M., he departed this life.
He has left behind him something more than a name,—
some true and beautiful strains—which, as " a thing of
beauty is a joy for ever," the world will not willingly
suffer, like the inscription on the coffin. to be buried in
the tomb. He has left behind him, alas ! something
of yet tenderer and more mournful interest—a widow
and three children—the eldest of whom is only
four years, and the youngest but a few months old.
These are utterly destitute, and but for the kindness of
one or two private friends, might have been cast out ere
this to the charity of the streets. I make no appeal in
behalf of the poet himself: " After life's fitful fever he
sleeps well." He has found what the most troubled and
tempest-tossed wanderer will at last find—and which to
him was peculiarly grateful—rest. Nor will I indulge
or express any vindictive feelings as to the treatment
which he received while yet alive. A true poet, he met
with truly poetic usage. He was caressed, but not fed,
as if one could sup on incense, or as if one public dinner
could keep a man alive for years! But I would bespeak
general sympathy in behalf of his destitute family. I
would implore every lover of literature—every one who
has derived pleasure from the departed poet's lyrics,
or from the simple story of his life—to prove
their pleasure and their gratitude true by some
more substantial evidence than exclamations or
tears. I would call especially upon those who saw him
at our late Watt Festival, and heard almost his latest
breath given forth in those brief, broken, but thrilling
accents—accents how far superior to the measured ca-
dences of rhetoric—to testify by generous deeds
their sense of melancholy satisfaction that theirs was
the privilege of meeting with and hearing him for the
last time. No time ought to be lost. Indeed, no time
has been lost. Intimations to the above effect either
have been, or are immediately to be, dispatched to
Douglas Jerrold, Charles Dickens, Lord Jeffrey, and
others. But as Dundee has had the honour of contain-
ing his deathbed, let us follow the start we have acci-
dentally gained by instant, active, strenuous efforts in
behalf of his widow and his "fatherless bairns."
Messrs. Chalmers, Middleton, and Shaw, booksellers,
and Mr. Mills, perfumer, have kindly undertaken to
receive donations.

The smallest sum will be welcomed.
I am, Sir, yours truly.
GEORGE GILFILLAN.
The following are the last verses of the late William
Thom, written shortly before his death:—

SONO OF THE DWELLERS IN DEAN YALE.
Tune—" Miller o' Dee."
While we laugh and sing in this happy ring,
With a bright and a brotherly glee,
May we never forget that the sun bath set
On the homes of misery.
For oh! it may be that this chill night wind
Sweeps round some fireless hearth;
Freezing the heart of the homeless one
With never a friend on earth.
Then aye as we sing may we closer cling,
In our bright and brotherly glee;
Yet never forget that the sun may set
On the homes of misery.
Man was not made for the world alone,
The world was lent to man;
'Tis a debt we owe to Heaven, you know,
Then pay it as well as you can.
Now winter rides mad in his carriage of snow,
With his pelting rain and his hail;
May it never be said that hunger and woe
Held abiding in bonny Dean Vale.
Then aye as we sing may we closer cling,
In our bright and brotherly glee;
And never forget that the sun may set
On the homes of misery.

W. THOM.

THEARE ROYAL DRURT-LANE.—The performances
of Franconi's Equestrian Troupe are attracting nume-
rous and fashionable audiences to the Theatre Royal,
Drury-lane, Among the visitors on Monday and Tuesday
we recognised—the Duke of Wellington, the Marquis
and Marchioness of Douro, Count de Montemolin, the
Marquis and Marchioness of Douglas, the Marquis of
Donegal, his Excellency the Brazillian Minister and
family, Earl Fitzwilliam and family, Count D'Orsay,
Lord Chesterfield, Earl of Munster, Earl Fitzhardinge,
Lord Adolphus Fitzclarenee, Lords A. and G. Lennox,
Lord Templemore, Lord John Hay, Lady Louisa Ram-
say, Sir G. Wombwell, Sir Bellingham Graham, Lord
Somerton, Lord Canterbury, Miss Burdett Coutts, Lord
G. Paget, &c.
SOUTHAMPTON, MARCH 15.—The Peninsular and
Oriental Steam Company's ship Iberia, Captain F.
Burney, sailed to day for Genoa, Leghorn, and Civita
Vecchia, calling at Gibraltar. The Iberia takes out no
mails ; she has a few passengers and a valuable cargo.
The Montrose is expected to-morrow from Gibraltar,
Cadiz, and Lisbon.
FATAL OCCURRENCE ON THE SOUTH-WESTERN
BAlLwAY.—Yesterday an inquest was held at Basing-
stoke by Mr. Shebbeare, the coroner for the county of
Hants, upon the body of Thomas Ralph, aged 41. The
deceased, who had been upwards of nine years in the
service of the company, was guard of the goods train
from Southampton. On Sunday morning, and shortly
before five o'clock, the train having taken in luggage at
Basingstoke, the deceased got on the engine to give
some directions to the driver, his feet resting on the
engine and tender, when the train was set in motion,
and had proceeded a tew hundred yards, the massive
work that connects the engine with the tender broke,
and the unfortunate man was precipitated on the line,
the tender and most of the vans and trucks passing over
his body and mutilating it in a most frightful manner.
A verdict of " Accidental death" was returned.
BATHS AND:WASIIIIOUSES FOR THE LABOURIN*
CLASSES.—Yesterday a meeting of the committee and
supporters of the above undertaking in the north-west
district of the metropolis, was held at the institution in
George-street, Euston-square - the Rev. C. W. Dods-
worth, M.A., in the chair. The general report stated
that the institution was opened in August, 1846, and
that its statistical and financial progress up to the pre-
sent period was highly satisfactory. The number of
persons who have availed themselves of its benefits being
upwards of 179,000 male and female bathers; and 66,237
poor women have washed, dried, ironed, and mangled
the linen of themselves and families to the average of
nearly two millions of articles. The society is indebted
for loan and liabilities on account of the building fund,
to 8151.; and when this sum is liquidated the establish..
ment will be self-supporting. The receipts for the past
five weeks ending the 12th inst., amounted to
1541. 14s. 4d.; the expenditure to 1191. ss. 7d.; leaving
a profit on the working of 351. Bs. 9d. The donations
during the same period were upwards of 60/.
A very rich vein of lead ore has just been dis-
covered within the manor of Hartsop, in Patterdale.
The Earl of Lonsdale is lord of the manor.—Carlisle
Journal.
FREE EXHIBITION OF SELECT BRITISH MANU-
FACTURES.—The second private view of this annual ex-
hibition took place on Saturday evening, in the house of
the Society for the Encouragement of Arts and Manu-
factures, and it was numerously attended by a distin-
guished assemblage. His Royal highness Prince Albert,
the president, had previously paid the exhibition a
morning visit, and having examined its subjects minutely,
pronounced it to be every way superior to that of last
year. He was attended by the Hon. Colonel C. B.
Phipps and Colonel Bouverie, and on leaving gave
instructions that some of the most valuable objects
should be procured for his private use. Among the
visitors were the following:—The Marquis of Lans-
downe, the Earl of Harrowby, Lord R. Grosvenor, Lord
Colborne, Joseph Hume, Esq., M.P., Mr. Baron Parke,
Mr. Rowland Hill, Sir J. Clark, Mr. J. Danvers, Mr. R.
Westmacot, Mr. S. Redgrave, Mr. Bailey, Professor
Graham, Mr. Auldjo, Mr. S. C. Hall, Mr. Le Neve
Foster, the Marquis of Northampton, the Earl of
Auckland, Mr. Wyse, M.P., Mr. Tidd Pratt, Mr. C.
Laudseer, General Fox, Mr. Twining, Sir George
Stainton, Bart., Mr. Baldwin, Mr. R. Reinagle, Mr. M.
Ricardo, Mr. W. Tooke, Mr. Wyndham Harding, Mr.
G. Moore, Dr. Farey, Messrs. T. Workworth, H. Col-
naghi, C. J. Richardson, T. H. Plaskett, J. G. Crace, C.
Osler, R. Z. Troughton, F. Fuller, G. E. Dennes, J.
Payne, W. S. Russell, J. Knight, R. Hunt, J. D. Sedge-
wick, E. Hawkins, &c. &c.

DEATH FROli SWALLOWING COAL GAS.—Yester-
day, Mr. Baker, held an inquest, at the Royal Oak,
Margaret-street, on view of the body of David Cham-
bers, aged fifty-five, a gas-pipe fitter, in the employment
of the Imperial Gas Company, Ilaggerstone, who died
through :swallowing a quantity of carbonic acid gas,
while he was at work at No. 2, Bath-place, Cambridge-
heath-gate, repairing the gas-pipe. The foreman of the
jury remarked that where there was danger in the cut-
ting and re-connexion of gas-pipes, two men ought to be
employed by the company. Verdict—" Accidental
death, from inhaling a quantity of gas, and the jury
recommended that at such work two men should be em-
ployed instead of one."
day before Mr. Frederick John Manning, the coroner of
- CORONER'S INQUBST.—An inquest was held yester-
the Queen's household and of the Verge, and a jury
composed of officers of the Palace at the House of Lords,
on the body of Mr. Benjamin Currey, late clerk-assis-
tant to the House of Lords. It appeared that the de-
ceased gentleman was struck with apoplexy while
giving instructions to his assistants, and remained insen-
sible for some hours until his death, which took place on
Monday last. The evidence being perfectly conclusive
as to the cause, the jury without hesitation returned a
verdict " That the deceased died by the visitation of
God in a natural way."
AMICABLE UNITED BENEFIT SOCIETT.—The 101st
anniversary of this society took place on Tuesday, 14th
March, at the Fountain tavern, Red Cross-street, Crip-
plegate; Mr. H. S. Brigg in the chair. This excellent
institution that has existed so many years has not de-
pended so much upon the extent of its funds as upon the
good management, united purpose, and general respec-
tability of its members. It has always paid its full de-
mand in sickness, funerals, &c., according to its scale of
payments. Alderman Thomas Challis is one of its
honorary members. After dinner the usual loyal toasts
were given, some excellent speeches were made by the
chairman, by Mr. Wright, Mr. Sparks, Mr. Evans, Mr.
Stockford, and Mr. Bowles, and the meeting broke up
soon after 11 o'clock. _ _

Lord Blantyre embarked at Blackwall• pier yester-
dsy morning, on board the General Steam Navigation
Company's mail steam-ship Giraffe, for Rotterdam.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
ROUSE OF COMMONS. Mach 15.
HARWICH ELECTION.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)
Mr. V. SMITH thought that it would be very in-
convenient to discuss at present the question of the
disfranchisement of the borough of Harwich. He
thought that the Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary
of State for the Home Department had been some-
what hardly dealt with by Honourable Members.
The Honourable Member for Montrose (Mr.
Hume) had attacked him as though he wished to
screen the offence. He (Mr. Vernon Smith) un-
derstood him to take no such course. The question
which the Right Hon. Baronet put to the House was,
whether the writ should issue now or not. That
was a question entirely distinct from the disfranchise-
ment of the borough. He thought that in a consti-
tutional view of the question the writ ought to issue,
because no borough ought to remain unrepresented for
any longer period than was absolutely necessary.
One of the Hon. Members on the Committee had
said that it appeared to them that there was some-
thing like collusion practised between the parties; and
he (Mr. V. Smith) thought that circumstance, coupled
with the recommendation of the chairman of the
Committee, ought to have some weight with the
House in inducing it to allow the present debate to be
adjourned.
Captain ELLIOT said that what he had stated
was, that after the Committee had sat for a few days
it did certainly appear that there was something like
collusion between the, parties, but subsequently, when
they saw the petitioners doing their utmost to prove
their case, that opinion was entirely done away
with.—(Hear, hear.)
Lord D. STUART said that he understood the
arrangement come to last night by the House, was
that the further discussion of the question should he
postponed untilllon.Members should have been afforded
an opportunity of considering the whole question ;
but he did not think that that arrangement at all
affected the motion of to-day for issuing the new writ.
He could tell Hon. Members, that if they wished
to enjoy the real confidence of the country, and be
the real representatives of the people, they must not
endeavour to stifle inquiries upon these subjects, but,
on the contrary, keep the elections as pure as possible.
Already a considerable feeling of disaffection pre-
vailed throughout the country with the inequality of
the present representation.-- (Hear.)
Mr. BAGGE said that he was entirely in the
hands of the Home, and would either withdraw or
consent to adjourn his motion.
Lord PALMERSTON said that he was quite
prepared to agree to the motion being withdrawn,
and the debate thereon being considered as dropped,
and that the motion for issuing the writ should
not be renewed until after the minutes of the
evidence had been printed and placed in the
hands of Members a sufficient time to allow
of its being fully considered, and then that
notice should be given when the motion would be
brought forward. lie thought that the adoption of
that course would fully reconcile the opinions of all
parties upon the subject.—(Hear, hear.) He felt
called upon to confirm the statement of his Right
Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home
Department, with respect to the understanding which
prevailed last night upon this subject. He was
in the House at the time, and could speak from a
perfect recollection of the circumstances. The under-
standing to which he was a party, and to which he'
considered Hon. Members on the other side had
acceded, was that the question of whether the writ
should issue or not should be postponed until after
the evidence given before the Committee had
been considered by the House.—(Hear, hear.)
His own opinion was that he should be ready upon
the" statement of the Hon. Chairman of the Committee
to move for the issue of the writ, and he thought that
the reference which had been made to the former re-
port of the Committee, in 1842, tended rather to
confirm him in that opinion, because he found that upon
that ectasion there was a charge, of general, if not
universal corruption in the borough ; whereas it ap-
peared upon this occasion that the most searching
inquiry by the petitioners did not result in a proof
of anything like general corruption, or even corrup-
tion extending beyond three or four individuals.—
(Hear, hear.) The question of bribery was one
of such great importance, that he felt that
it was an abuse which struck so vitally
at the root of everything upon which the
influence the character, the respectability, and effi-
ciency of this House depended—(Cheers)--that he
thought that this House should at all times, if they
erred at all, err on the side of extending opportuni-
ties far inquiring into all cases where it had been
shown that any acts of bribery had been practised.
—(Hear, hear.) Although he was aware that
upon general principles this House should be careful
not unnecessarily to suspend the issuing of writs, or
leave any portion of the country unrepresented, he
thought that upon the present occasion it would be
expedient that the motion should be withdrawn, and
the issuing of the writ not moved for until the evi-
dence given before the Committee had been printed,
and the House had had a full opportunity of con-
sidering its nature.—(Hear.) He therefore suggested
that the Hon. Member should withdraw his motion,
and immediately move that the evidence should be
printed.
Mr. BLACKSTONE—That has already been
moved.

Lord PALMERSTON—If such a motion had
been made he thought that the wisest course for the
House to adopt would be to agree to that motion.
Sir J. GRAHAM said, that upon the suggestion
of the Noble Lord he had no objection to withdraw
his motion, on the understanding, however, that
the issue of this writ should not be moved for
without notice, and such notice not to be given
until after the evidence had been printed.
Mr. WAKLEY had witnessed, with great delight,
the virtuous indignation of the Noble Member for
Tiverton (Lord Palmerston), and he should not be
surprised to see that Noble Lord one day appearing
as the illustrious head of a powerful Radical party in
that House.—(Laughter.) Stranger things than that
had occurred before now in that House.—(Laughter.)
He was proud to see that the Noble Lord was not
determined, with inflexible stupidity, like some
Honourable Members, to stick to old and obso-
lete prejudices, but had shown himself willing
to advance in the right direction.—(Hear, hear.)
The Noble Lord the Member for Marylebone (Lord
D. Stuart), and the Hon. Member for Northampton
(Mr. Y. Smith), had endeavoured to excuse, or to
palliate, the conduct of the Right Hon. Baronet the
Secretary of State for the Home Department. He
could not account for that course of conduct. Last night
the Right Hon. Baronet (Sir G. Grey) was for delay
to-day, he being acquainted with the facts of the case,,
was anxious for the immediate issuing of the writ.—
Hear, hear.) Shortly after the appointment of the
ight Honourable Baronet to office, he (Mr. Wakley)
had taken a phrenological view of his cranium—(A
laugh)—and he noticed distinctly that the Right
Honourable Baronet was possessed of a very large
organ of " justice."—(Renewed laughter.)
Now,
after knowing that bribery had been practised in
this, the most corrupt and rotten of all corrupt
boroughs in the kingdom—(Cries of "No, no")—
well, then, on. of the most corrupt—the Right
Hon. Baronet was in favour of issuing the writ. To
whom was he to send this writ ? The writ would
have to be sent to these corrupt electors, who were
thus to be the instruments of adding another to the
number of " Attwoodian " Members in this House.
What, he would ask the House, was there
that would be safe in this country, if the
fountain of justice—the Right Hon. Baronet—were so
corrupted? Would the lives and property of the people
of this country be safe or protected if the fountain of
their laws were to be thus corrupt ?—(Hear, hear.)
Large sums of money had been expended for the
purpose of corrupting this House to a degree which
had never been known.—(Hear.) The Hon. Member
for Essex, who seemed to entertain a fear for the
necessity of bringing forward a new Reform Bill, had
said that he thought that the large constituencies
were not in the habit of judging with sufficient
sagacity, or exercising a proper degree of caution in
the choice of their representatives. Why, was not
the Honourable Member himself a Member for a
large constituency ?—(Hear, hear.) He wondered
that the lion. Member had not formed a complete re-
futation of his, arguments in his own person.—
(Laughter.) Essex had always been famous for its
representatives. The House might rest assured
that these things would be constantly recurring so
long as the election for Members was septennial
instead of annual, and they continued to be elected by
small constituencies who could be influenced by cor-
rupt means. If the constituencies were enlarged it
would be out of the power of persons to cor-
rupt them. At present it was considered a good
speculation for persons to invest their money
in an election ; they knew that they would have their
seats for seven years, and could be able by that7time
to palm their relations upon the public. 1, he 14oble
Lord, the Member for Marylebone (Lord
Dudley Coutts Stuart), had said that in this
case as much as 475/. was given for a single
vote. Did the House suppose that such a sum would
have been paid for a vote if the party paying it did
not consider that it would be a profitable outlay ?
There was an opinion fast gaining ground among the
people out of doors that they were not properly re-
presented, and they would demand as a right that
they should be fairly represented in this House.
The Hon. Gentleman the Member for Bute said the
C. i
Committee did not restrain the petitioners from enter-
ing nto the general charge of bribery and treating.
Ile said—" We 'found there was bribery, but
we could not discover for which candidate
it was papaid."—paid."—(Hear, and laughter.) Now what a
searchinginquiry that must have been which could
not make such a discovery.—(Hear, hear.) To him
the inquiry did not appear a very searching
one. Why, they had the admission of the sitting

Member, who they must suppose represented
the virtue of the place, that the majority of the voters
were corrupt ; and under such circumstances, was the
Right Hon. Baronet the Member for Ripon (Sir J.
Graham) to get up in his place, and move sim-
ply that the debate be adjourned ? Let the
House " assume some virtue if it have it not."
Out of doors the people were dissatisfied at the con-
duct of the House with respect to these matters—
they were becoming sullen, and declined to
make any application to the House, because
they were impressed with the idea that they
did not fairly represent them.—(Hear.) The people
were willing to conform to the established state of
things if they were fairly represented. Proof of this
was to be found in the fact that there was not the same
demand for a republic here as in France. Those who
were guilty of such conduct as that pursued
with respect to this borough ought to be punished
with the utmost rigour of the law. Unless this
was done, and the people more fairly dealt with,
anarchy and confusion could not fail to be the result.
Sir G. GREY thought the Hon. Member had
expended a great deal too much virtuous indignation
with respect to him. He had even taken a phreno-
logical survey of his head.—(Laughter.) He hoped
that nothing he had done on this occasion
had thrown any discredit upon his phreno-
logical skill.—(Prolonged cheering.) Ile in-
stanced the cases of Lancaster and Carlisle.
because he thought they should follow the course
adopted with respect to those boroughs ;—nothing, he
assured the House, but considerations of justice in-
duced him to take the course he had.—(Loud cheers.)
All boroughs charged with bribery should, he thought,
be dealt with equally; and he did not think it
just that the Honourable: Member, after having
the report of the Committee of 1842 before him
for nearly iseven years, which stated that bribery
was there committed—after allowing it to slum-
ber for all that period that he should come
down to the House now, and with great virtuous in-
dignation, wish to visit the sin of the constituency of
1842 upon the constituency of 1848. (Loud
cheers.) It was because such a proposition was
unjust, that he had taken the course he had.—(Loud
cheers.) But he was willing to bow to the decision
of the House.—(Hear.)
The motion for the issuing of the writ, and that
for the adjournment of the debate, having been ac-
ceded to,
The SPEAKER then put the motion, that the
issuing of the writ be suspended until the evidence
was before the House.
Mr. MOWATT rose amidst much impatience on
the part of the House. He eulogised the sentiments
enunciated by Lord Palmerston, that the House
should be purified of those who had been
improperly returned to it. The conduct of the
Noble Lord presented a remarkable contrast—he
might almost say it contrasted shamefully with the
avowal of the Right Hon. Baronet (Sir G. Grey).—
(Cries of "Oh ! ) He admitted, however, that
he qualified his sentiments in some measure.
Lord PALMERSTON rose to order. He hoped
his llon. Friend would withdraw the word " shame-
fully"—(Loud cheers)—which no doubt had fallen
from him in consequence of net being used to the
House.

Mr. MOWATT most readily withdrew the ob-
jectionable phrase. Being a new Member must plead
as his excuse.—( Hear, hear.) He certainly under-
stood the Right Hon. Baronet to be the advocate of
the present system of corruption.—(Cries of " Oh ! ")
Sir G. GREY wished to say one word.—(Cheers.)
He felt deeply indebted to the House for this assur-
ance of its confidence in him.—(Cheers.) After such
an expression of feeling it would be wholly unecessary
to say another word.—(Prolonged cheering.) Any-
thing he could say, he was sure, would uaerly fail
to show the House he was blameable.—(Hear.)
Mr. S. WORTLEY (the Chairman of the Co:n-
mittee) explained that the words "no evidence to
show" were introduced by the Committee into the
resolution he hid drawn up.
Mr. MUNTZ said that the people looked upon
such conduct as that shown to have taken place at
the last election for Harwich with ineffable contempt.
The Right Hon. Baronet had said, as they had not
visited the sins of the electors of 1842 upon them, that
they should not do so upon those of 1848. This was
an extraordinary statement. Why, if they did not
punish these guilty parties now, they would have no
future opportunity of doing so. Not punishing them
would be taken as a precedent in other cases of a
similar nature. On account of such proceedings,
his constituents, and the people in other parts of
the country, entertained great doubts of the honesty
of the House. If all who spoke so strongly against
such. conduct were to act as resolutely as they seemed
disposed to do, all the difficulties in the way would
be removed in a week. If steps were not immedi-
ately taken by the House to punish such conduct, and
to put an end to it, proceedings out of doors
would be taken to accomplish the desired result.

Captain ELLIOT defended the Committee, of
which he was a member. There was no ground for
saying that the House favoured these petitioned
against on the score of bribery, as almost in every
instance of disputed returns during the present session
theiMembers petitioned against had been unseated.
How, then, could Hon. Members be accused of coun-
tenancing such proceedings ? Hon. Members should
support the legislation and decisions of the House,
instead of casting discredit upon them, and making
them unpopular with the country. The lion.
Member for Finsbury complained that the Committee
did not sufficientlyinvestigate the evidence adduced be-
fore it. He denied that this was so. If not he hoped the
Hon. Gentleman would investigate their conduct
elsewhere in his judicial capacity; though, from the
deficient acuteness he had evinced on this occasion,
he should be sorry to put himself under his hands.—
(Roars of laughter.)
Mr. B. OSBORNE considered that there was a
"mock" modesty in the House respecting proceedings
relative to cases of bribery, and a laugh was instinctively
raised when such subjects were introduced.—(Hear,
hear.) There was no assimilation between the cases
of Lancaster, and Carlisle, and Harwich. The last
was a monstrous one. It was a new " dodge" to
taunt Hon. Members with acting unfairly when they
spoke openly and fearlessly with respect to such
places.
Sir W. HE ATHCOTE could not avoid expres-
sing his indignation at the remark which had been
directed against the Right Hon. Baronet opposite,
while he could assure the House that the under-
standing come to last night was not that the writ
should be postponed till the minutes were laid upon
the table, but that it should be postponed till the
report of the Committee was in the hands of Hon.
Members.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. HUAIE was quite certain that his Hon-.
Friend the Member for Finsbury meant no offence
to the Right Hon. Baronet in the observations he
had addressed to the House. No doubt his Hon.
Friend had spoken warmly upon the subject before
the House, but the House must bear in mind that the
Right Hon. Baronet drew a comparison between
Harwich and Carlisle and Lancaster, which certainly
was not justified by the evidence taken before the
Committees. He was confident that his Hon. Friend
meant no personal offence towards the Right Hon.
Baronet, and all that could be said of the remarks
his Hon. Friend had made was, that they betrayed
an error of judgment.—(Hear.) With regard to
what had just fallen from the Hon. Baronet opposite,
he, for one, understood just the contrary to what was
stated by the Hon. Baronet. He understood that the
writ was not to be moved for till the minutes, as well
as the report, were before them.—(Hear.)
Mr. BROTHERTON felt himself called upon to
confirm what had fallen from the Hon. Baronet
opposite, and to protest against the language applied
to the Right Hon. Baronet by the Hon. Member for
Falmouth.
Mr. MOWATT trusted the House would allow
him to say one word in explantion. He had no
personal motives in applying the observations he did
to the Right Hon. Baronet, but all that he intended was
to express his disapprobation in the strongest language
the usages of Parliament would admit of at the con-
duct of the Right Hon. Baronet in wishing to bring
forward the issuing of the writ.—(Hear.)
The motion for the production and printing of the
minutes was then agreed to.
ELECTION RECOGNIZANCES BILL.
On the order of the day for the second reading of
this Bill being read,
Mr. HENLEY presented a petition from the elec-
tors of Warrington against the Bill.
Mr. WALPOLE, in moving the second reading
of the Bill, said he would endeavour to state as shortly
as possible the provisions of the Bill, though after the
exciting debate which had just closed he could hardly
hope to receive the attention of the House. It would
be in the recollection of the House that in the
course of the present session a number
of petitions had been presented complaining of the re-
cognizances entered in to for prosecuting certain election
petitions, but upon the advice of counsel it was found
that it would be dangerous if the House allowed those
election petitions to be entertained. The House must
bear in mind tha it was now sitting in a judicial
capacity, having the interest of the sitting Member
and his constituents to protect, and it was to enable
the House to protect the interest of those two parties
that this Bill had been brought in. He rested the
support of the Bill upon two cases, namely, the
Leicester and Walsall election petitions. In the first
case, the examiner of recognizances, although he had
some doubt es to their validity, passed the recogni-
zances; but they were afterwards pronounced to be
insufficient, and the case was thereupon stopped
altogether. In the other case, however, the examiner
of the recognizances allowed the parties to amend
their recognizances, and upon their putting in such
amended recognizances, the case was allowed to
go on. It would be seen that these two cases in the
first instance were exactly alike. There was some
informality in the recognizances, but the examiner

overlooked the informality in the one instance, and
called upon the parties in the other to amend. In
the latter case the parties were allowed to proceed
with their petition, but in the other the parties were
deprived altogether of a remedy against what they
considered to be an invalid return; and the ob-
ject of the present Bill was to remove this
anomalous state of things.—(Hear, hear.) The
task he had undertaken was a most unthankful one,
but in the conscientious discharge of his duty he
could adopt no other course than tQ lay the present
Bill on the table of the House. It was a measure,
however, that, whatever might be the objections to it,
ought not to be met by such an amendment as that
which was to be proposed by the Hon. Member for
Warwickshire. The Hon. Member trusted that the
House would allow the Bill to be read a second time.

Mr. SPOONER then rose to move the following
amendment :—" To leave out the word That' in order
to add ' the orders referring the petitions presented
against the returns of Members to this House for the
boroughs of Bodmin, Cheltenham, Leicester, and
Walsall, the city of Dublin, and the county of Long-
ford, to the General Committee of Elections, which
petitions are mentioned or referred to in the
said Bill, be discharged, and that no further
proceedings be taken on the said petitions.' "
He thought justice would not be done by giving
the second reading of the Bill a direct negative
and such being his opinion, he had determined,
thinking it the best course he could pursue, to move
the amendment, of which he had given notice, and
in doing so he could assure the House he was not
actuated by any party motive or party views. The
Bill set out by stating that doubts existed. He
denied that any doubts did exist.—(Hear, hear.)
It was the duty of the petitioners, with the assistance
of their legal advisers, to see that the petition was in
compliance with the required forms, and he did
not think that the House ought to interfere to
cure the omissions caused by the negligence of
those parties.—(Hear, hear.) With respect to
the Cheltenham election petition, he thought that the
omission complained of did not arise from negligence,
for it appeared from the evidence of Mr. Coppock,
who was examined before the Committee, that
he had properly prepared the recognizances in Lon-
don, and that they were sent down pJrfect
to Cheltenham, where an alteration was made by
striking out the important words, "each and every
one of them." He thought, therefore, that this House
ought not to pander to such cases. He deprecated
any alteration of the laws for ex past facto purposes,
instead of receiving a full and deliberate discussion
by the House, such as the importance of the case
required. He felt himself, therefore, bound to move
the amendment which he bad read to the House.

Sir GEORGE GREY said that he thought a
remedy might be found for those inconveniences
which, it was alleged, some Hon. Members were put to.
As one of the members of the Committee to whom the
Cheltenham election petition was referred, he con-
sidered with the other Hon. Members in what way it
would be best to provide a remedy for the evils com-
plained of. He entirely concurred with the sugges-
tion offered to the Committee by the Honour-
able and Learned Member for Midhurst
(Mr. Walpole), and he thought that the Bill
founded on that suggestion, and which was now
before, the House, would provide a sufficient remedy
for the evils complained of, and as a member of that
Committee he was prepared to give the Bill his most
cordial support, and to vote in favour of the second
reading. He trusted that the House would not con-
cur in the amendment proposed by the Hon. Member
for Warwickshire (Mr. Spooner) ; it would be setting
a most dangerous precedent, causing a resolution of
the House to supersede an Act of Parliament. __ _

Mr. LAW considered that Committees should in
the first instance inquire into the validity of the
recognizances at the time the endorsement was made.
He objected to the amendment of the Hon. Member
for Warwickshire (Mr. Spooner), because he
thought it would not be well to interfere, by
a resolution of that House, with an Act of Parliament.
He recommended his Hon. and Learned Friend (Mr.
Walpole) to adopt his suggestion, and to make it the
primary object of his measure. A middle course
would best meet the justice of the case. .

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL opposed the
amendment, on the ground that it might lead to a
tyrannical exercise of the power which it would give,
and would take the question of privilege out of the
hands of the House.—(Hear.) If the amendment
was negatived he should give his support to the Bill.
Mr. HILDYARD did not concur in the opinion
just delivered by the Hon. and Learned Gentleman,
though he by no means wished it to be under-
stood that he was favourable to the second
reading of this Bill. He, however, saw no
objection to the amendment of his Honourable Friend
the Membei for the county of Warwick ; but there
were objections, and exceedingly strong ones, too,
to tho provisions of the Bill itself. In the first place,
the Bill itself partook of an ex post fact* law, and the
House ought always to be extremely cautious in
adopting a measure based upon that principle.—
(Hear, hear.) To remedy the defects which the Bill
proposed to remove he would give the Court of Com-
mon Pleas jurisdiction to decide whether recognizances
were ipso facto void, and if this Bill were withdrawn
another measure could be introduced to establish
the jurisdiction he had suggested.—(Hear, hear.)
Sir R. H. INGLIS had strong objections to the
five propositions contained in the report presented to
the House on the subject, and, of course, entertaining
such objections, he could not support the Bill
or the amendment, because they were both
founded upon those propositions: The House
ought to take care not easily to part with its juris-
diction in these matters of election petitions; and he,
therefore, hoped the House would neither pass this
Bill nor adopt the suggestion of the Hon. and Learned
Gentleman who had just resumed his seat.—(Hear.)
He thought the best course would be to let matters
stand as they did at present till the end of the session,
and then bring in A Bill to regulate the whole election
law in future, if it was thought necessary.
Mr. ANSTEY ,objected to the Bill because it
was a private Bill and an ex post facto Bill. Such
being the case, he asserted—and he did so
advisedly—that if the Bill was passed, it would
never have the force of law. He should record his
vote in favour of the amendment of the Honourable
Member for Warwickshire.

Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the
House divided on the question, that all the words
after " That" should be omitted—

Noes
Ayes . _

Majority —2
The House then divided on the question that the
amendment should be inserted--

Ayes .. • • • • .. 78
Noes .. .. • • .. 165
Majority .. • • ••• -87
So that the only word left in the main question was
" That." There was no time, however, to take
any further division on the subject, the hour of six
o'clock having passed.

ELECTION COMMITTEES.
AYLESBURY.

The Aylesbury Election Committee re-assembled yes-
terday morning; Mr. R. Palmer in the chair.
The Committee proceeded to hear fresh evidence in
support of the charge of treating by Mr. Deering and
his agents.

The Committee were engaged the rest of the day in
receiving similar evidence.
The Committee adjourned at four till eleven o'clock
to-morrow.