The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-19 00:00:00

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testimony to the high character and qualification of Mr.
Ditvid Pollock and Mr. Phillips. From all the opportunities
he had had of acquiring a knowledge of those gentlemen, he
must say that the charges of the Noble Lord against
them for the mode in which they had obtained their ap-
pointments were most unwarrantable. The Noble Lord
seemed to think that public men, in obtaining particular offices,
were always influenced by corrupt and improper motives. The
Noble Lord, however, after what he had stated about
the late Mr. Canning and other Members of that
House, and the way in which these charges had failed,
should take care how he made similar charges in future.
After those affairs, he (Mr. S. Wortley) had hoped that he
would not again have acted in such an objectionable manner.
Mr. HUME thought the House had nothing to do with
what the Noble Lord the Member for Lynn might have
stated on previous occasions. What they had to do with
was the present appointment, which he thought looked very
much like a job. Looking at the patent making the appoint-
ment, it appeared to him to contain a downright lie.—(Cries of
" Order.") He repeated a lie, for it declared that Sir Henry
Roper had intimated his resignation, whereas he had only in-
timated to the Gavernment his intention to resign at some dis-
tant day.
Lord LINCOLN said the wording of the patent was the
same as in all similar documents. The Hon. Member might
call it an error if he liked.

Mr. HUME—Then he would say an error if it was not a
lie, though he could not but look upon the whole
affair as a most suspicious and objectionable pro-
ceeding, and one which he must condemn. He thought
the course that bad been pursued by the late
Government with respect to this matter deserved the highest
animadversion. He could not, for the life of him, see the
justice of a competent judge being superseded by one who
understood nothing of the laws be would be called upon to ad-
minister. He thought the House and the country were in-
debted to the Noble Lord for bringing this question forward.
Mr. BERNAL thought that all feeling of irritation ought
to be set aside on this subject.
Sir G. GREY said that the appointment of Mr. Pollock
as Chief Justice of Bombay revoked the appointment of Sir H.
Ro,ier, and, therefore, it became necessary to have an Act of
Parliament on the ,object.
Mr. GO.ULBURN defended the course pursued by the late
Government. If any party was to blame, it was Paliament
itselt. The course the present Government had pursued was
the right one. He c,mplained of the Noble Lord bringing the
subject forward without notice, and that he should have made
charge- agaira4 a man as honourable as himself of nefarious
practices —(Hear, hear. )
Mr. HENLEY hoped that the House would• not be led
away from their decision by the legal hare which had been
started by the Hon. Member the Chairman of the Board of
Direc'ots, or the personal nutter introduced by the Hon.
M: tuber for Bute.

Lord LINCOLN said, that a more unfair misrepresentation
never tell from the lips of any Hon. Member in that House
than the speech of the Hon. Member, and he was the
more surprised at it as that Hon. Member was habitu •
ally correct. The course taken by his Noble Friend
the Earl of Ripon was to write to Mr. Gladstone to ask him
to make out a reversionary appointment, to commence on the
2d of November. Mr. Gladstone wrote, in answer, that such
a thing could not be done; and the Earl of Ripon then re-
quested that the appointment should at once be made out. He
thought that they had reason to complain of
the course taken
by the Noble Lord, for the notice was so worded as to induce
the supposition that it was a mere ordinary question, and one
upon which no discussion would take place.
Mr. DISRAELI said that the late Ministers ought
not to complain of being taken by surprise, for
the notice was given that the question would be asked at a
time when every Hon. Member in the House would be at
liberty to express his opinion upon it, and of course such a
course intimated that it was to be no ordinary matter. It was
riot usual to.give any further intimation, unless it was intended
to take a course adverse to the Government. and no
such course was to be taken in the present instance.
The defence as to there having been similar appointments
would he uo justification, for he denied that the circumstances
of those appointed were similar. He believed that Lord Lynd-
hurst was perfectly immaculate as to the appointment in ques-
tion, believing, as he did, that that Noble Lord was always
influenced in his appointments—lst, by what was due to his
party ; 2d, by what was due to the public and to his
friends. He believed that the whole transaction was
to be set down to the account of the late
President of the Board of Control. That Noble Lord
commenced the transaction when the Government of which he
was a member was in extremis, and completed it when it was
only the phantom of an Administration.—( Hear, hear.) The
members of the late Government evinced such extreme sensi-
tiveness with regard to imputations on their character, as to
remind him of the nervous irritability of certain females who
had lost their character. He could not help thinking
that there was a close affinity in the feelings
with which they were respectively influenced. The Hon.
Gentleman, after repelling the imputations of the Hon. Member
fur Bute, said that no answer had been given to the Noble
Lord with reference to the appointment. The President of
the Board of Control had fully confirmed the Noble Lord's
statements; and he was very much afraid that though Lord
Lyndhurst might come out clean of the disgraceful transaction,
another noble, but not so learned, a Lord, would not be so
fortunate.

SMALL DEBTS BILL.
On the motion of Sir GEORGE GREY, the House re-
solved itself into committe pro forma on this Bill, that the
amendments might be printed.
After a short conversation the Bill was ordered to be re-
committed on Thursday next.
Lord GEORGE BENTINCK hoped that those who were
to be appointed judges under this Act would have time to get
rid of their common-law practice.
The Bill was then ordered to be printed, and to be recom-
mitted on Thursday next.
THE NAVY.
On the order of the, day for receiving the report of the
Committee of Supply being read,
Mr. BERNAL wished to ask a question of the Honourable
and Gallant Gentleman opposite (Captain Berkeley),
It was in reference to the naval supremacy of Great Britain.
The question he wished to know from his Hon. and Gallant
Friend was, how the personnel of the navy was hereafter to be
maintained—how, in fact, the ships of this country were to be
supplied with efficient men in case of any emer-
gency ? The best .ray for maintaining peace was
to be prepared for war, and when they saw the exertions of
other countries to improve their navies, they ought to look well
to this point. The present plan.of dismissing men at the end
of three years' service was must objectionable, and be wished to
know it it was to be maintained?
Captain BERKELEY said the subject came under his
more especial consideration, and he could assure the Hon.
Member that the subject was under the consideration of the
Admiralty, and they were doing all they could to place the
navy on the most efficient footing. The merchant
navy at the present time contained some of the
most efficient men in the world, and the object of those with
whom he acted would be to place the service in possession of
such a reserve force from these, in case of any emergency, so as
to turn out, in forty-eight hours, one of the most powerful and
efficient naval forces in the world.—( Hear, hear.)
After a few words from Mr. HUME,
Admiral DUND AS said, in addition to what had fallen
from his Hon. and Gallant Colleague, he would do his best to
place the naval service on the best footing, so as to meet any
possible emergency.
Mr. WILLIAMS complained that the system of three
years' service had operated to drive great numbers
of British seamen into the American navy. This matter
ought to be remedied. He wished to know from the Hon. and
Gallant Admiral (Dundas) whether the iron steamers were
really fit for the service, as he had learned that when one of
them received a shot it completely incapacitated it for use.
He should like to know if it were se. _

Admiral DUNDAS said there were much fewer seamen
going into the American service than hitherto. and the service
was generally improving in this respect. With regard to the
iron steamers, these referred to were constructed at the instance
of the predecessors of the present Admiralty, and until the effi-
ciency of these steamers was better proved, it was not their in-
tention to construct any more.
Captain PECHELL hoped the present Admiralty would
look well into all the matters connected with the navy that re-
quired improving, and bring forward a definite plan on the sub-
ject which the House could understand.
Mr. COWPER defended the proceedings of the present
Admiral y. He highly approved of the system of establish-
ing Sailors' Homes, and he hoped that every facility would
soon be given for doing so.
Mr. HUME wished that some general system or plan
should be laid down upon the subject, so that it could be pro-
ceeded with early next session.
After some further observations,
The Report was then brought up. •
Captain PECHELL wished to know whether there was any
power of altering the retiring pensions in the service without
an order in Council ?
Mr. COWPER said, that in ordinary cases there was, but
such an order was sometimes required.
The Report was then received.
The Report of the Committee of Ways and Means was then
brought up and received, as was also the Report on the Public
Works (Ireland) Bill.
The Report of the Court of Exchequer (Ireland) Salaries
and Compensation Bill was then bniught up and received.
The Report on the Income-tax Deduction Bill was also
up and received, and the Bill was ordered to be read a
brought
thirdTh eti ;
eavtaol-amnod Militaryrrow Departments' Bill was read a third
time and passed.
TItEW ZEALAND LOAN ACT AMENDMENT.
House then went into Committee on the New Zealand
Loan Act Amendment Bill.
The clauses having been agreed to, the House resumed, and
the Chairman having reported progress, the Bill was ordered
to be read a third time to-morrow.
CiiIIRT OF EXCHEQUER (IRELAND) BILL.
The House then went into Committee on the Court of Ex-
chever (Iceland) Hill.
Tiae claw-es having been agreed to, the House resumed.
PUBLIC WORKS (IRELAND) isILL.
The Public Works (Ireland) Bill was then brought in and
read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time to-
morrow.
The Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod here attended to
summon the House before the bar of the House of Lords, to
bear the royal assent g,vea to several Bills (for which see
Lords' report ).
On the return of the SMAKEIt,
Mr. Ht:ME moved an humble address, that her Majesty
will be pleased to request from the Prussian Government copies
of any report, and of any regulations adopted thereon, by that
Government, for educating, specially qualifying, examining, or
testing the qualifications of persons for the public service in
civil and military offices previously to their appointment; and
that her Majesty will be pleased to lay such information, or a
translation thereof, before this House.—Agreed to.
FLOGGING.

Mr. HUME presented a number of petitions against the con.
'nuance of fl %ging in the army and navy. The Hon. Gen.
leman also presented a petition against the Bible monopoly.
EJECTMENTS (IRELAND) BILL.

This Bill was read a third time and passit.
RATEABLE PROPERTY (IRELAND) BILL.
This Bill was also read a third time and passed.
CUSTOMS DUTIES' BILL.
On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHE-
QUER, the House resolved itself into Committee on this Bill.
CUSTOMS DUTIES' (No. 2) BILL.
This Bill went through Committee, and the House having
resumed, the report was ordered to be brought up to-morrow.
PUBLIC WORKS (IRELAND), No. 4, BILL.
The report on this Bill was brought up and agreed to.
NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT BILL.
This Bill passed through Committee, and was ordered to be
reported to-morrow.
The Tithes Commutation Bill was postponed until to-
morrow.
The Steam Navigation Bill was read a third time and
passe,".