The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-22 00:00:00

went. And this was no form, for without it it was not pos-
sible to create a vacancy which should be at the disposal of
Lord Lyndhurst--the office of Commissioner of Bankruptcy at
Liverpool—worth 1,8001. a year. Well, then, Lord Ripon, as
they were told by his Right Hon. Friend the President of the
Board of Control, wrote a letter to the Colonial-office, in
which he stated that the Chief Justice of Bombay had actually
resigned ; and the patent was drawn up and signed by Mr. Se-
cretary Gladstone, affirming—deliberately affirming—( Hear,
hear}-•not through any oversight— (Hear, hear)—but of ma-
lice prepense—affirming that which he knew not to be true.—
( Hear.) The patent recited that Slr H. Roper had resigned.
He must call the attention of the House to these facts. The
Lord Chancellor appointed a friend of Lord Ripon's to the
much desired living of Nocton ; Lord Ripen appointed to the
office of Chief justice a friend of Lord Lyndhurst, making a
vacancy which Sir James Graham filled up by appointing Mr.
Philips to the office of one of the Commissioners of Bankruptcy
in Liverpool. That last appointment was made two days before
the office became vacant. He thought, now, that having dis-
posed of these accounts, he might perhaps be permitted to say
a word with regard to himself.—( Hear, hear.) He had been
compared to Napoleon, and it had been stated that there was
nothing too great for his ambition, or too small for his rapacity.
It had been said, also, that a charge proceeding from such a
calumniator as himself (Lord G, Bentinck) was not to be
attended to.—( Hear, hear.) He was not ashamed of
I his associations or habits. He had not abandoned those
associations, and it was still his pride to say that he was the
steward of the Jockey Club.—( Laughter.) There were gen-
tlemen on the turf as honourable, as high-minded, as any other
class in the kingdom. Respect for the high station of the
Noble Lord who had made this attack on him, respect for his
great abilities, respect for the position which enabled him to
make that attack, would not prevent him (Lord G. Bentinck )
from saying what he thought of that charge. Now it was im-
puted to him that there was nothing too small for his rapacity,
and that he was governed by selfish and sordid motives. Now
he did hope that the whole course of his political life, in which
he had been honoured with the friendship of Mr. Canning and
Lord Stanley, was sufficient to repel that charge.—( Hear.)
Eighteen years he had been in Parliament, and eight years
before he had been in the service of the country, but
from that time to the present he had never been guilty of
being actuated by selfish, sordid, or base motives.—( Hear,
hear.) He defied any one to say that his past conduct would
not bear the strictest investigation, but he admitted with Lord
Lyndhurst that his own mode of address was not so refined as
his (Lord Lyndhurst's). The Noble Lord in continuation
said—When he charges me with base motives, with sordid mo-
tives, and with selfishness and rapacity, I must say I think if
he could carry his memory back to Friday, the 10th of July
last, he ought to be the last man to prefer such charges
against one with whom he was willing to associate. Sir, if I
had displayed any malignity—if I had displayed any venom in
my attacks upon the late Government, those attacks were
made previously to the 10th of July last. Sir, my Lord Lynd-
hurst condescended to send a messenger to me on Friday, the
10th of July last—a messenger who was attended, though I saw
him not, by one of his own secretaries—a messenger whose
truth I can rely upon, for he is is a merchant of the City of
London, respected not in the City of London only, but in
each of the four quarters of the globe in which he has
transactions—my Lord Lyndhurst condescended to send to
me a messenger who waited upon me, certainly not before I
was out of bed in the morning, but before nine o'clock in
the morning, on special and important business; and a pro-
position was then made, whilst an exposition was given of
what had passed in the Cabinet of the Queen—a proposition
was made to me, perhaps with no more truth than the
charges that are now made by that Noble and Learned Lord
against me—a proposition was made to me, in anticipation of
the debate on the sugar question, that I should join with
the minority in the division, which was represented
to me to have taken place in the Cabinet of the Queen upon
that ♦ery question of the sugar duties. I don't know
whether my Lord Lyndhurst told his three colleagues what
he intimated to me. I don't know whether they were to
come and serve with me or not ; but this I know, that if
I had been ambitious— if my object had been to obtain power
and strengthen my own party, the opportunity was offered
me.—(Hear, hear.) Whilst the breath which had an-
nounced the royal assent to the pasting of the Corn Bill
was yet scarcely cold a proposition was made to me that I
should join with those members of the late Government,
when whilst they had supported, condemned the measures of
that Government.—(Loud cries of " Hear, hear.") It was
proposed by Lord Lyndhurst that he should personally wait
upon that " selfish, sordid, and base " individual who is now
addressing you.—( Hear, hear.) Sir, it was not necessary for
me to do more than to decline the honour of the visit, and
refer my Lord Lyndhurst to Lord Stanley, and I intimated
in strong language the manner in which my feelings revolted
against any such propositton.—( Hear, hear.) Whilst I said I
would not interfere with others, if there were any, who were
willing to join in any such coalition, I said for myself 1 could
not be a party to it.—( Hear, hear.) And now, Sir, I trust I
have at least justified myself in the eyes of the House of Com-
mons and the people of this country that on the 10th of July
last I was not, even in the estimation of Lord Lyndhurst him-
self, that " base and selfish and sordid" individual which he
now chooses to consider me.—( Loud cheers.)
Mr. STUART WORTLEY would not presume to under-
take the defence of the Noble Personages alluded to by the
Noble Lord, bat the Noble Lord had alluded to an bumbler
person, he meant Mr. Perry, and he could not sit there with-
out making some defence of that gentleman.—(Hear, hear.)
Lord GEORGE BENTINCK was understood to retract
what he had said regarding Mr. Perry, and to express his re-
gret that he had unintentionally mis-stated some circumstance
connected with that gentleman's appointment to the Commis-
sionership of Liverpool.
After a few words from Mr. STUART WORTLEY, who
expressed himself satisfied with the explanation.
Colonel T. WOOD wished to know whether the messenger
who waited upon the Noble Lord upon the occasion mentioned
by himself did go with the authority of other members of the
then Government, who formed the minority of the Cabinet as
well as Lord Lyndhurst.
Lord GEORGE BENTINCK replied that the messenger
distinctly stated that he had been sent by Lord Lyndhurst.
ECCLESIASTICAL PATRONAGE BILL.

jr•V-.1.14A.M.F•••,...i.....r.a.a.••••••••••••••••............ 5'....'....-.a.".
-
IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. portant Bill as this at so late a period of the session was nothing
HOUSE OF LORDS, August 21. less than a gross trick played upon unsuspecting and
The LORD CHAYCELLOR took his seat on the Woolsack at absent Members. Had he chosen last night he could
have stopped the further progress of the Bill this session, Ise-
Five o'clock.
WRECK AND SALVAGE BILL. cause there were not forty Members present at the time that it
was read a second time, but he scorned taking advantage of any
This Bill was read a second time and ordered to be c,:m-
witted. underhand work.
DEATH BY ACCIDENTS COMPENSATION BILL. Mr. WILLIAMS, in reply to some remarks that had fallen
Lord CAMPBELL said, accirding to notice, he had to from the Hon. and Gallant Member, said that he did not an-
ticipate being appointed, nor would he consent to receive any
draw their Lordships' attention, to a most important subject.
The Bill which awarded compensation in the case of accidents appointment under this Bill.
- -- Col, -el SIBTHORP—" Hear, hear."

tie Bill which
had come up from the Commons with some amendments.
ast session a Bill of the same kind was introduced
into their Lordship? House, and though unanimously
passed by them the Commons had thrown it out. This
session it was again introduced, and on this occasion they
had passed it but with amendments. As they framed the
Bill the compensation was to go to the next of kin, a provision
which was common in law. The Commons, however, had
provided especially that it should be divided among the
members of the family, extending to grandfather and grand-
mother, stepson, stepfather and stepmother. lie had no great
objection to that amendment, and he would advise
their Lordships to agree to it.—(Hear.) Another
amendment was, perhaps, more questionable. Their
Lordships had provided that the compensation should be in pro-
portion to the suffering person's property, but the Com-
mons bad introduced an amendment to the effect,
that the jury should divide the money they
might award among the family according to their
wants and necessities. He would have preferred that a
merely general rule had been laid down. This system had
existed in Scotland, and been found to work well; and he
would advise their Lordships to accept the amendments.
He said after what had been stated in certain quarters of
the Bill, he felt it necessary to add that it had been introduced
only after the most painful consideration by the present Noble
and Learned Lord now on the Woolsack, the late Lord Chan-
cellor, Lord Denman, and by himself. The greatest care had been
taken in the preparation of the Bill.
The amendments were then agreed to.
NAVAL AND MILITARY DEPARTMENTS BILL.
This Bill was read a second time.
EJECTMENTS (IRELAND) BILL.
The Earl of CLARENDON moved that this Bill should
he read a second time.
Lord CAMPBELL said that this Bill carried into effect the
recommendation of the Earl of Devon's Commission. The
most important enactment of the Bill was one which
was recommended by the Earl of Devon, and which
prevented the distraint of growing crops. By the
common law of England and Ireland, no growing
crops could be distrained ; but in 1816 the law was introduced
into Ireland, and since that time had been found to be a very
serious social mischief.
Lord ELLENBOURGH said, that he understood this Bill
was not yet printed, and to move the second reading before it
was printed was out of the usual practice of the House.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said, that as it was the
intention of the House only to adjourn until to-morrow, the
Bill might be printed by that time.
The Earl of WICKLOW said that, as he could nut be there
to-morrow, their Lordships would perhaps permit him to say a
few words upon the Bill at once. Ha thought that any inter-
ference with the present laws in Ireland would occasion much
inconvenience. If it made any alteration in the law to be ap-
plied to one country more than another he should enter his protest
against it, for he thought that any law applied to one country
ought to be applied to the other.
THE INCOME-TAX DEDUCTION BILL.
This Bill was read a second time.
PUBLIC WORKS AND FISHERIES ( IRELAND) BILL.
On the motion of the Earl of CLARENDON, the Bill went
through Committee.
DRAINAGE OF LANDS (IRELAND) BILL.
On the motion of the same NOBLE EARL, this Bill also went
through Committee.
After at, explanation by Earl GREY, that there had been a
few amendments in the clauses, which he stated were
for the improvement of the Bill. In this opinion the Earl
of Ellenborough and Lord Monteagle concurred, the
latter stating, however, that he feared that the Bill, as now
framed, was inapplicable to the state of Ireland. From the
subinfeudation which took place there, that country was in a
very different position from England, and that which was per-
fectly applicable to this country was quite useless for that
country, and he would say, therefore, let the Bill pass as a
matter of course, and then improve it in the course of next
session.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that nothing could be
more true than that which had been asserted by his Noble
Friend, that the great numbir of consents which would have te
be obtained would throw great impediments in the way of the
working of this Bill, but in the few days which remained of
the present session it was impossible to phrase it otherwise than
as it was, but he might rest assured that his suggestions should be
taken into careful consideration before the beginning of the
next year, so as to render it effective for the prevention of dis-
tress in Ireland.
Earl GREY, in reply, stated that he did not exactly see
what was the purport of his Noble Friend's suggestion,
unless it was that the Government should take the whole of
the drainage of lands into its own hands where the landowners
dissented.
The Bill then went through Committee.
COUNTY WORKS PRESENTMENTS (IRELAND).
HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICES.
These Bills also went through Committee.
MARRIAGES (IRELAND) BILL.
The Commons' amendments on this Bill were agreed to in
Committee.

~oloree
Lord G. SOMERSET made a few observations on the Bill,
which were inaudible in the reporters' gallery.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
the Government were of opinion that the President of the
new Commission to be. appointed under this Bill should
be a Member of either that or the other House of Par-
liament, so that he might he prepared to furnish any
information connected with the Commission to such Mem-
bers of the House as might desire it. He was
happy to find that the jealousy of members of such
boards holding seats in Parliament was rapidly dying away.
The (abject of the Government in introducing this Bill was to
appoint men in the place of the former Commissioners
who would command the confidence of the public, which,
from some reason or other the late Commissioners did not,
notwithstanding their great talents and fitness for their office.
The only new burdens, which this Bill would impose upon the
public would be the payment of the services of the President
and two Commissioners.
Mr. B. ESCOTT thought that the arrangement for ap-
pointing the head of the proposed hoard bore very much the
character of a job, and he should oppose the Bill by all the
forms of the House.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER denied any
knowledge of any job, either existing or intended.
After some further discussion, in which Mr. Borthwick,
Mr. Morris, Mr. Escott, Mr. Turner, the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, and Mr. Henley took part, the clause was agreed to.
Clauses 2,3, and 4 were then agreed to without a division.
On Clause 5 being proposed,
Mr. P. BORTH WICK moved an amendment to the
effect, that instead of the words " and two other commis-
sioners," to substitute the words " vice-president and secre-
tary."
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER thought it
better to leave the clause as it stood, so as to have two per-
manent working commissioners.
Mr. ESCOTT thought so many Commissioners as five
quite uncalled for. He did not think the railway business of
the country would be so much as to require the services of so
many persons.
Colonel SIBTHORP took a similar view of the question.
Mr. BORTHWICK then withdrew his amendment.
After a few words from Mr. WILLIAMS, which did not
reach the gallery, the clause was agreed to.
On clause 6 being proposed,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that
the salary of the president of the board would be
2,0001. per annum, and the salaries of the two paid Com-
missioners would be 1,5001. per year.
After some observations from Colonel SIBTHORP,
Mr. B. ESCOTT moved that the salary of the president be
reduced to 1,000/.
Lord G. BENTINCK thought that the salary was not too
high, for it would require a man of very considerable talent,
and would entail considerable responsibility on him, and
there would be no officer in that House who would be so fre-
quently called upon to explain the conduct of his board.j
Mr. BORTH WICK agreed with the Noble Lord that the
salary of 2,000/. would not be too much, but he objected to the
principle of estimating a man's talents and usefulness by the
pounds, shillings, and pence which he received.
The amendment was then put and negatived.
Mr. WILLIAMS moved, as an amendment, that the words
" one thousaltd live hundred" be struck out from the clause.
After a short discussion the amendment was withdrawn.
Clause 6 was then agreed to.
Considerable discussion took place on the next three clauses,
which wese ultimately agreed to.
On clause 10 being proposed,
Mr. MUNTZ proposed an amendment to give greater
effect to the local examinations to be instituted by the Com-
missioners as to any projected railway.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER had no ob-
jection to the amendment.
After a few words from Mr. ESCOTT and Mr. P. M. STEW.
ART, the amendment was agreed to.
The clause was then adopted.
The remaining clauses were agreed to, and the House re-
sumed. Report to be brought up to-morrow.
POOR EMPLOYMENT (IRELAND) BILL.
On the order of the day for the receiving of the report on
this Bill being read,
Sir D. NORREYS said that he had an amendment to move
in reference to this Bill, and he wished to know from the
Noble Lord at the head of the Government what course he
should take ?
Lord J. RUSSELL suggested that the Bill should be re-
committed, and
The House accordingly resolved itself into Committee on
this Bill.
Sir D. NORREYS said he would postpone his amend-
ments till the third reading.
The report was then gone through, and ordered to be read
a third time to-morrow.
PATENT COMMISSIONS BILL.
This Bill was read a second time.
RECTORY OF NOCTON—EXPLANATION OF
LORD GEORGE BENTINCK.
Lord G. BENTINCK rose and said, that after the accusa-
tion that had been made on his conduct in this transaction else-
where, he was sure the House would grant him its indulgence
while endeavouring to justify his own conduct, and to defend
his character. He would not stop to excuse himself
for having hastily made on last Wednesday a retractation
of some expressions he had uttered. It had been stated that he
could make that retractation as unfoundedly as he could make
the charge, without investigation. Now if he had made any
unfounded charge he would be as ready as any one
to admit his error. Now it should be remembered
that he made this retractation on an investigation
of the Clergy List. But he took leave here to say that the
nobleman who had made the charge should have been the last
to do so. The Clergy List was a copy of the e cclesiastical
report. That ecclesiastical report was made by a Government
of which Sir R. Peel was the head, and the nobleman to whom
he alluded was the Lord Chancellor. The recommendation
was signed, amongst others, by the Archbishop of Canterbury,
the Archbishop of York, by the Bishop of London, and by the
Bishop of Lincoln, in whose diocese the living was situated;
and by Mr. Brewer, and a great many others ; and would have
been signed in the ordinary course of things by Lord Lynd-
hurst. He thought, therefore, it was not on light grounds
that he made the charge; and when a conviction seized him
that he might have been in error, he came immediately to the
House and withdrew what he had stated. He said before that
it was a matter of great suspicion. He did not pretend to say
that in a matter of this kind, in which transactions took place
between two Cabinet Ministers—between two colleagues—he
could be expected to produce any letters or any contract that
was made. He thought that the House and the country, not-
withstanding the explanations that had been given elsewhere,
would still be of opinion that great suspicion attached to this
distribution of patronage, and, to say no more, that it was a
friendly exchange. It wool be in the recollection of the House
that it was stated by his Right Hon. Friend the President of
the Board of Control, that Sir H. Roper received, not an invi-
tation, but an offer on the '22d of November, and that his reply
(as he understood) was on the 14th of February, and received
on the 27th of March. Now, by the admissions elsewhere,
they had learned that the first appointment was offered, and not
given—offered to a gentleman of eminence at the bar at the
time, and that it took place without any consultation with Lord
Lyndhurst. That offer was declined. This probably took
place some time between the 27th of March and the Bth of
May ; and, if a Committee of Inquiry were appointed on the
subject, they would find that in answer to the applications made,
a great part of them were made to Lord Lyndhurst, who in-
variably replied that the office of Chief Justice of Bombay was
not in his gift, but in the gift of the President of the Board of
Control. On the Bth of May, the Dean of Windsor, incum-
bent of Nocton, died suddenly. As admitted in the corres-
pondence read elsewhere, and which had been published in the
papers, it appeared that Lord Brownlow applkd for the
presentation to that living—a living worth, as he
( Lord George Bentinck) was assured,• 8001. a-year.
What happened afterwards? They were told that the Lord
Chancellor sent down the names of six or seven gentlemen of
reputation to the President of the Board of Control.—( Hear,
hear.) They did not hear who those gentlemen were, or what
degree of recommendation was given to each ; and if he
had a Committee of Inquiry he thought he should be in a
condition to show that the patronage was forced upon Mr.
Pollock in order to make way for Lord Lyndhurst's secretary.
Now the advice of Lord Lyndhurst upon the subject was not
asked until the Dean of Windsor was dead, and then it was that
virtually there was an exchange of the patronage of the church
for the patronage of the law.—( Hear.) They were told that
Lord Lyndhurst had nothing to do with the law appointments,
but upon an investigation he should be able to show that the
Noble Lord had a good deal to do with it.—( Hear, hear. )
But the appointment of Chief Commissioner was not an ap-
pointment removable at pleasure, but was one maintained by
good behaviour, and only removable by the Crown, on the joint
addresses of both Houses of Parliament. And in this in-
stance they might observe the second case, where the occupant
of the office, without his resignation, toss superseded. The
appointment of the Commissioner of Bankruptcy was the
second infringement of the constitution, and a direct violation
of the Act of Parliament. He did not wish to impugn the
merits of Mr. Perry. They might be equal to those of Lord
Lyndhurst or any other great man, but he had a right, in the
name of the public, to charge those who had the disposal of
such a position—involving, as it did, the commercial
affairs of the empire to a great extent—with
a gross neglect if it was not filled up properly.
The public had a right to expect that this office should be filled
up in an efficient manner, and that the person appointed should
be a barrister eminent in his profession, and who enjoyed the
confidence of the commercial world. He dared to say that if
they appealed to the bar, they would find that the profession
were not satisfied with the appointment of Mr. Perry as Com-
missioner at Liverpool. He asked the House, did they think
the bar would be satisfied with a gentleman who was stated
not to have been in practice for ten years? nay, he was in-
formed that very day that it was nineteen years, and not ten,
since he had been in practice. Did they think such a gentle-
man could command the confidence of a great commercial
community ?He now came to the original charge—the ap-
pointment of Mr. David Pollock as Chief Justice of
Bombay. It had been endeavoured, in defending that transaction,
to show that the proceedine complained of was only an error
or oversight. But he wanted to know whether the Govern-
ment could show any single instance in which a chief justice
had been suspended, and another appointed, on a conditional
resignation? He should like to see all the letters that had
passed relating to the resignation and appointment of chief
justices, and he would venture to say there would not any of
them be found like to the one in question. Sir Henry Roper
did not offer to resign; but offered to resign on the 2d of No-
vember, when he would be fully entitled to his retiring pen-
sion ; but, in the face of this, her Majesty's Government took
upon themselves to remove him before that time, thus depriv-
ing him of the retiring pension of 300/. a year, to which he
would have been entitled. He thought, though the Crown
had that right, yet, as such a proceeding was contrary to jus-
tice—contrary to the spirit of the constitution—this proceed •
ing, if it had stopped there, would not have obtained the ap-
probation or sanction of Parliament. But it did not rest there.
They were told that that was the first time that the blot had
been hit, hut he took leave to remind the House, and to re-
mind the friends of Lord Lvndhurst, that he (Lord G. Ben-
tinck) was not the person who had hit the blot. The blot
was first hit by Mr. Stephen, the Under-Secretary for the
Colonies. Tho President of the Board of Control was
warned that he was doing that which was contrary to law.
The first patent that was sent to the Colonial-office, on the
16th of June, was returned dishonoured by the Colonial-office ;
and the President of the Board of Control—though they heard
from Lord Lyndhurst that he was no lawyer—the President of
the Board of Control for this purpose was made a lawyer—
for he was told that that patent was contrary to law which
should seek to confer a reversionary grant of this Chief Jus-
ticeship of Bombay upon Mr. David Pollock ? Well,
was the matter Abandoned? No such thing. The
letter from the Ceienial-office, he believed, was withdrawn
The first proposition was withdrawn. But then, with refer-
ence to Lurd Ripon, no appointment could be made unless the
absolute resignation of the Chief Justice of Bombay had taken
place. He (Lord G. Bentinck) would not use any harsh
language— Hear, hear`—ho would content himself by saying
fiction in reference to this appoint.

SPIRIT LICENSES BILL.
This Bill went through Committee ; as did also
The Turnpike Trusts Bill,
The Lunatic Asylums Bill,
The Public Fisheries (Ireland) Bill,
The Public Works Commissioners' Bill, and
The Baths and Washhouses (Ireland) Bill.
FISHERIES (IRELAND) BILL.
The Commons' amendments on the Fisheries (Ireland) Bill
were also agreed to.

This Bill went through Committee, and was ordered to be
reported to-morrow.

LEASES (IRELAND) BILL.
The report on this Bill was brought up and received, and the
Bill was ordered to be engrossed.
COURT OF EXCHEQUER (IRELAND) BILL.
This Bill was read a third time and passed.
MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS' BILL.
Sir GEORGE GREY stated that this Bill had been post-
poned for some time, in order to allow an opportunity for the
medical profession to make an examination into the details of
the Bill. Many of the profession had forwarded representa-
tions strongly in its favour, while he was bound to say many
objections were offered to it in its present state. As it did not
seem, therefore, that the Bill would receive that justice and
consideration which it deserved at this late period of the session,
he hoped the Bill would be postponed till next session, when
he would give the Hon. Member for Finsbury (Mr. Wakley)
every assistance in his power, in order to secure the enactment
of an efficient measure.

Mr. WAKLEY said, after the handsome offer of the Right
Hon. Gentleman's assistance next session, and in the present
state of the House, he had no other course before him but to
assent to the withdrawal of the Bill ; pledging himself, how-
ever, to introduce this Bill, or a similar one, early next session
of Parliament.
The Bill was then, with consent, withdrawn.
WASTE LANDS (AUSTRALIA) BILL.
This Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be com-
mitted to-morrow.
LEASES (IRELAND) BILL.
The report of this Bill was brought up and adopted, and the
Bill was ordered to be read a third time to-morrow.
PAWNBROKERS' BILL.
This Bill, after the presentation of petitions by Mr. Wak-
ley and Mr. Hawes, in its favour, was read a second time, and
ordered to be committed to-morrow.
SMALL DEBTS BILL.
The House then went into Committee on the Small Debts
Bill.

Clauses 15 and 16 were agreed to without discussion.
On clause 18 being proposed,
Mr. S. IVORTLEY objected to the powers given in this
clause to Judges, under the Bill, having power to examine
into and report on suits pending in Chancery. It was intro-
ducing a new principle into the Bill, after it had passed
through the House of Lords, and would, in fact, be giving
the Judges the powers of Masters in Chance rv.
The ATTORNEY GENERAL said the powers referred to
were only to be exercised under the surveillance of the Lord
Chancellor, and it was not likely that he would admit them to
be exercised unless they were absolutely required.
Sir G. GREY said there was some ambiguity in the clause,
but he should take care that the powers should be exactly de-
fined on the bringing up of the report.
Captain PECHELL liked the clause, because the lawyers
seemed to be against it, as it would take business out of London,
and cause inquiry to be instituted in the country.
The clause was then agreed to, as were also clauses 19
and 20.

Clauses 31 to 35 were, after some verbal amendments,
r agreed to.
Clause 36 was agreed to.
Mr. Wakley's amendment as to the travelling expenses was
negatived.
Mr. HENLEY wished to know what were included in these
expenses?

-Sir GEORGE GREY said only the locomotive experi3es
were meant.

The clause was then agreed to.
Clauses 38 to 54 inclusive were agreed to without amend.
ment.

On clause 55 being proposed,
Mr. S. WORTLEY said the effect of that clause would be
to admit actions for a different purpose than that contemplated
by the Bill, which was merely the recovery of small debts.
This ought not to be the case. He threw out the suggestion,
but he would not divide the House on it.
The clause was agreed to without amendment, as were
clauses 56 to 59 inclusive.

A varietyolverb;l;Mendments were introduced into the
Bill, which were agreed to, and the Bill passed through Com-
mittee.

The House then adjourned.

COURSE OF EXCIIA
Lmsterdam „Car. 12 '1
Ditto, at sight 12 6;2
Rotterdam .... ••2 U. 12 10
Antwerp •• • • .. ••• • .. 26 20
Ilarnburgh .... • • M.B. 1315!,
Altona.
Paris, 3 days' sight .. • • 25 85
Ditto, 3 months .. 26 15
Marseilles .......... • . 26 20
80urdeaux......... • • 26 20
Frankfort on Maine.... 122 N,
Petersburgh, 3 U 5.....
Berlin ...... • • •
Vienna, effec. tio 10 15
Trieste, ditto.... • • .... 10 14
Madrid ••..•••• • • • • • • 15N
Cadiz . • •.. : ........ 36
Bilbao.. • • • • .. • • ......
Barcelona • • • •

.NGE.-(YESTERDAY.)
Gibraltar.. • • • •
Leghorn • • • • 30 70
Genoa • • 26 20
Milan
..........
•• • •
Venice ........
Naples ..... . • ..
• ,
Lisbonrm.o.79
Pale, per 0z...
...• . )194
.. •• . ......52 t
Rio Janeiro
24yY
Bahia ..........
Buenos Ayres ........
New York, 21 days' sight
Philadelphia
PRICES OP BULLION, PER OZ.
Foreign Gold in bars.. X 3 17 9
Portugal Gold Coin • • 3 17 5
New Doubloons ..... . 0 0 0
New Dollars .... •• • • 0 4 9l
Silver in bars ...... • • 0 4 113

BANK OF ENGLAND.
(From last Night's Gazette.)
In Account, pursuant to the Act 7th and Bth of Victoria, cap. 32, for
the Week ending ma Saturday, tile 15th day of August, 1846.
ISSUE DEPARTMENT.

Cotes 29,4-36,535

Government debt .. 11,015,100
Other securities . • 2,981,900
Gold coin and bullion 12,958,912
Silver bullion • • • • • • 2,497,623

£29,456,535
Dated the 20th day of August, 1316.

X 29,456,535

J. R. ELSBY, Deputy Cashier.

tba-tm4 ,

'TILE SUN, LONDON, SATITRDAY EVENIi4G, AUGUST 22, 1846.

lay down the narrow gauge on the lines referred to. He
stated that that communication should have any effect upon
the investigation in which their Lordships were engaged.
Mr. Sergeant WRANGITAM then proceeded to address the
Committee in reply. He said it was not his intention at
that late period of the session, when all who had been en-
gaged in similar inquiries for the last seven months were
mentally and physically exhausted, to address them at any
great length in reply to the opposition. The issue which
the Committee had to try was confined within an
extremely narrow compass. They sought to construct a line
• extending for ninety miles from Cheltenham to Southampton,
and sixty miles from Swindon to the same point, the latter
portion of which was utterly devoid of that railway commu-
nication which other portions of the island possessed, the
persons residing and carrying on business in which had their
exertions crippled, the transmission of their goods to the
consuming districts, and the supply of articles which
they required from them, almost cut ofil Ills Learned
Friend had not made out anything like a case
for the rejection of the measure. Both Mr. Stephenson and
Mr. Bidder, whose experience was most extensive, and whose
opinions were entitled, therefore, to the utmost conoideration,
had stated that the country was perfectly competent to de-
fray the expense of the line, that it was an average agricul-
tural country, and that the local traffic alone would
realise 51. per cent., whereas the main ground on which
they sought the sanction of their Lordships to the
line was the great accession of foreign traffic
from the great manufacturing districts of the north on the
one hand, and the imports of Southampton and other traffic
on the other. They had not produced any evidence against
the Bill from persons residing in the district,with the excep-
tion of Mr. Skinner, who stated, in cross examination, that
if sheep were to be sent to Birmingham, he should send
them by railway. Then it appeared from other witnesses
that sheep were actually sent from the fairs in the district
round to London, and by the Eastern Counties into Norfolk,
to be fattened, and afterwards conveyed back by the same
railway to Smithfield for sale. The line would put the
coals of Derbyshire and Staffordshire, and other districts, into
competition with the coals of Radstock, with which the dis-
trict was principally supplied. From Cheltenham to Swin-
don, for instance, the line would save 15 miles. But if the
Great Western denied the utility of railway communication
north and south, what led his majesty Brunel to _Birming-
ham, out of his kingdom ?
Lord DIONTEAGLE-It was an innovation.—(Some ap•
plause followed this sally of the Noble Lord.)
Mr. Sergeant WILANGITAM then went on to exhibit the
advantages of the line. Now the Bristol and Gloucester, the
Grand Junction, and the Midland lines, the proprietors of
which had expended millions in constructing lines from the
north to be precluded from having those lines completed to
the south, simply because the Great Western did not approve
of it because it might compete in somemeasure with:it. After
some:other observations he concluded by calling on their Lord-
ships to pass the preamble of the Bill. The Learned Counsel
concluded at twenty minutes to four o'clock.
The CHAIRMAN ordered the room to be cleared, but the
Committee had not decided when our report left.

FRIDAY NIGHT'S GAZETTE.
WHITEHALL, AUG. 19, 1846.
The Queen has been pleased to direct letters patent to be
passed under the Great Seal, granting the dignity of a
Knight of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
unto Alfred Stephen, Esq., Chief Justice of New South Wales.
WAR-OFFICE, AUG. 21.
Further List of Non-commissioned Officers and Privates of
the Queen's Army, killed in the recent Battles on the
Sutlej, or who have subsequently died of wounds received
in those Actions.

9th Foot—Thomas Bolton, Thomas Brenan, Henry Eyles,
Peter Gillespie, Daniel Honit, and John Lythall.
31st Foot—William Byrne (Sergeant Major), Martin
Sullivan.

50th Foot---Thomas Bell, Henry Brookman (Corporal),
Thomas Buggins, George Bradshaw (Corporal), William
Cains, John Cantwell (Sergeant Major), Samuel Chovil
(Colour Sergeant), Dennis Connell, Charles Coley, Michael
Cullen, Dennis Connelly, Thomas Cream (Corporal),
.John Cook, William Coroner, Thomas Dyer, Francis Dunn,
Wm. Eadv, Robert Ferguson (Corporal), George Greenfield,
Robert Husband, Daniel Hogan, John Holland, Aaron Hamer,
Benjamin Harlow, John Hunt, James Harris, Edward John-
son (Corporal), Thomas Jackson, Stephen Jordan, Philip
Kelly, Martin Kelly, Michael Lynch, Thomas Lawson, Peter
NPGilvery, William Martins, Felix Matthews, Richard March,
l'imothy O'Shaughnesy, Matthew Pegg, Richard Reynolds,
James Rice, Robert Spanton, John Sullivan, Dennis Sullivan,
Thomas Speak, John Sherridon, Peter Wiltshire, James
Whittaker, Patrick Winn.

List of Non-commissioned Officers and Privates of the 50th
Regiment, killed at Loodianah, 20th May, 1846, by a
storm which blew down the barracks :
William Armstrong (Drummer), Henry Bayley George
Beddus, Henry Biggs, John Brookman, Thomas 'Cantwell
(corporal), Francis Cuff, William Uarr, John Codey, George
Caiger, John Clayton, John Cook, Michael Doyle,
John Danagher, Oliver B. Davis, John Ferris (Sergeant),
Peter Feeney, John Farmer, Michael Flynn, Richardson
Greer, Henry Havers, Thomas Jacob, Edwin Judd, William
Kelly (Corporal ), John Kendrick, Lawrence Keity,
thomas Kelly, William Killeen, Hugh M‘Glinn, John Morris
Nlorris, James M'Clone, Archibald Mitchell, Michael
O'Brien, William Ross (Corporal), William Ross (Drum-
mer), John Rankin, Edward Rixham, William Sleigh,
-amuel Stanlake, John Samples, John Smith, Wm. Sullivan,
Jas. Twohy. Sam. Taylor, Alex. Thompson, Jas. Villarvise,
Geo. Wall, Rich. Wadk:ins, Wm. Walker, James Williamson,
OFFICE OF ORDNANCE, AUGUST 20.
Royal Regiment of Artillery—Second Captain F. Dick to
be Captain, vice Stanway, deceased ; First Lieutenant J.
Adye to be Second Captain, vice Dick; Second Lieu-
tenant F. J. Scady to be First Lieutenant, vice Adye,
July 29.
Commissions by the Lord-Lieutenant of Pembrokeshire.
J. W. Owens, t sq., to be Deputy Lieutenant, May 21.
Royal Pembrokeshire Militia—G. B. J. Jordan, Esq., to be
Captain, May 21.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.
1V 0277'HERN ClRGUlT.—Liverpool. Aug. 20.
(Before Mr. Justice WIGHTMAN.)
county, was indicted for having, at Winstanley, in
this shot at Joseph Birchall, with intent to murder
him. Mr. Pollock appeared for the prosecution, Mr. James
for the defence.
The prosecutor, it appeared, was a tenant of Sir J. Gerard,
and. on the night of the 9th of April was sitting in h4l own
house in company with one John Birchall. Some of 'Sir J.
Gerard's watchers had been on the track of some poachers,
who it was understood were in the preserves, and they had
surrounded a cover called Caleb's Rough, in which it was
supposed they were lodged, and which immediately adjoined
the prosecutor's. The prisoner was seen by one of the
keepers, the moon being then at the full, to come out of the
cover into an open space adjoining, and on seeing the watcher
made a peculiar chirp with his lips, by way, it was sup-
posed, of alarming the others, and ran off in the direction of
Birchall's house. The watcher followed, crying, "Stop him,
stop him." The prosecutor, hearing the cry, ran out in
company with John Birchall, and saw the prisoner crossing
his garden. He ran after him, and the prisoner got out of
the garden into the adjoining croft. The prosecutor ran
after him, and had nearly reached him, when he faced
round with a gun, which he had in his hand, and cried
" Stand off." The prosecutor drew back a little, and the
prisoner then ran on. He reached the rails surrounding the
croft, and finding the prosecutor pressing on him, faced
about again and pointed the gun at him. He was then going
off along the side of the fence, where the prosecutor again
approached him, at which he turned round, and pointing the
gun at a distance of not more than a yard and a half, dis-
charged it. The prosecutor turned half round at the moment
the shot was fired, which caused the contents of the gun to
take him in a slanting direction on the left breast just below
the heart, and his jacket and waistcoat being both of a thick
woollen texture, the charge, which was small shot, fortu-
nately produced no further injury than a contusion on his
side, which rendered it necessary to apply leeches for the
purpose of reducing the inflammation. He seized the pri-
soner and, with the assistance of John Birchall, succeeded in
taking him into custody. The charge of shot and the wad-
ding which had lodged in his jacket were now produced.
Many of the shot were clotted together, in consequence of
the closeness of the object at which the gun was fired, and
it seemed most extraordinary that no more serious injury
had been sustained by the proseutor.
Mr. JAaxae addressed the jury for the defence.
The prisoner was found guilty of a common assault.
To be imprisoned 12 calendar months.
Peter Brown, aged 21, and of an appearance much younger,
was indicted for having at Warrington killed and slain his
father, John Brown.
Mr. Pollock conducted the prosecution; the prisoner was
defended by Mr. Sergeant Wilkins.
It appeared that the prisoner was employed at the Vulcan
foundry in this county, and his father resided about five
miles off, at Warrington. The prisoner usually went home
every Saturday, and remained over Sunday. The prisoner's
mother, it appeared, had for some time been seriously ill,
and was confined to her bed. The prisoner, on the 10th of
May last, was at home on one of his weekly visits, and was
out until a pretty late hour. About 10 o'clock he came
home, and appeared to have been drinking. His father (the
deceased) was in the house, and was also somewhat intoxi-
cated. There were a number of persons in the house who
were lodging there at the time. The prisoner, on coming in,
spoke to his father, and after a few observations the prisoner
remarked that if anything happened to the old woman, he
(the deceased) must
.go to the workhouse. The deceased
said, " Nay, nay," and declared with an oath that the work-
house was not made for him. The prisoner several times re-
peated what he had said, upon which the deceased got up
and struck him. The prisoner then threw him down on the
sofa, and shook him. Some of the persons present
then interfered, and separated them. The deceased got
up and stood at the end of the sofa. The prisoner came up to him, and the struggle recommenced. The prisoner threw him down on the floor, and kicked him several times in the
side. The deceased called out " Oh, my side," several times,
and the prisoner discontinued striking him, and left the
room. The persons present lifted the old man on the sofa,
and afterwards assisted him to bed. He seemed very ill.
A short time after he had gone to bed some of the inmates
were alarmed by the noise he made, and going into his
room, found him gasping, and apparently dying. A
medical man was sent for, but before his arrival the
old man had expired. The prisoner, after the scuffle
with his father, had retired to bed, and on being informed
of what had occurred, displayed, it was said, no peculiar
emotion. He merely said, " Let them take me and hang
me now."
It appeared from, the cross-examination of the witnesses
that the deceased was of a very ungovernable temper, and
given up to habits of intoxication. He made his living by
selling blacking, and spent his earnings principally in drink.
The prisoner was very kind to his mother, and always
brought her his earnings, by which, in fact, she was chiefly
supported.
The body of the deceased on being examined showed se-
veral marks of violence, chiefly under the armpit on the right
side. Internally it appeared that three of the ribs were
broken, the fragments of which had penetrated the lungs and
caused death.
Verdict Guilty. To be transported for seven yellfrs.
The grand jury were to-day discharged, and on coming
into court for that purpose, made the following presentment,
which was read aloud by the foreman :
" The grand jury having concluded the examination of the
cases submitted to them, feel it their imperative duty to place
on record their opinion as to the prevalent habits of drunken-
ness, so forcibly alluded to in the charge delivered to them
by Mr. Justice Wightman, as being the cause of at least four-
fifths of the offences comprised in this, as in almost all other
calendars, as well as with regard to the best and most effi-
cient means that can be adopted towards the extinction of
that degrading practice.
It is obvious from all the records of crime that a very
large proportion of offences are committed by those who are
imperfectly or not at all educated, and on this most striking
fact the grand jury rest their conviction that no great im-
provement can be expected until the means of education are
placed within the reach of all classes of the people. They
are at the same time sensible that such an object can only be
obtained by means of a provision for national education to
be made by the State ; and for this purpose they do respect-
fully call upon the Government tointroduce in the ensuing
session of Parliament a measure which, by its comprehensive
and conciliatory nature, shall be likely to obtain a general
consent, and which shall have the effect of securing the ge-
neral education of the population of these kingdoms.
" The grand jury are satisfied that while early education
alone can gradually eradicate vice and prevent the evil con-
sequence of drunkenness, it is also most importaut that a
better spirit and tendency should be produced in the mass of
the community by providing the means of recreation and em-
ployment of leisure hours in other pursuits than those which
now so unhappily prevail ; and they point with great grati-
fication to the exertions wich have lately been made in this
town and Manchester, by the establishment of public parks
museums, and libraries, for that purpose. It is in vain to
look for any amendment in the national character until an
inducement can be offered to those who have hardly any
other enjoyment to relinquish the evil indulgence of habitual
drunkenness.

" The grand jury are aware that this is not the occasion to
enlarge further on these points, however important; but they
earnestly hope that this public expression of the feelings
consequent on their position will conduce to the public good
by promoting the consideration of these subjects.
" On behalf of the grand jury,
" W. ENTWISTLE, Foreman."
On the civil side the Court was engaged the greater part
of the day in trying the case of " Muss v. Dickson," a ques-
tion relating to some oatmeal, the matter in dispute being
whether the oatmeal supplied by the defendant to the plain-
tiff, and which was engaged to be of a peculiar quality, en-
titled " Dickson's best fine," came up to that denomination
or not.
Mr. Martin, Mr. Crompton, and Mr. Heath appeared for
the plaintiff; Mr. Knowles, Mr. Atherton, and Mr. Vance for
the defendant.
A verdict was finally returned for the plaintiff—
Damages 3001.

WESTERN C'lRCUlT.—Rristol, Aug.2o.
(Before Mr. Justice EuLE and a Common Jury.)
SIDNEY N. SEALEY..
Mr. Crowder and Mr. Taprell were counsel for the plain-
tiff, and Mr. Cockburn and Mr. Phinn for the defendant.
It appeared that the plaintiff had been sub-editor to the
defendant as proprietor of the Great Western Advertiser,
published in Bristol; and he alleged that the defendant owed
him six months' salary, to recover which he brought the
present action. The defendant paid 201. into court.
The plaintiff resided in London, but in 1843, at the
request of the defendant, he came down to this city and
sub-edited the paper. At first the salary was lA/. per an-
num, but in May, 1845, it was increased to 200/. a year, and
there was an arrangement. that the engagement. should be
ins
soat
a;ndb, uats
he co
no--
put an end to uponntiffwas
three
(m
months'iis
vember, 1845, the plaintiff
tended, without reason, and therefore, he said, he was
entitled to six months salary, to May, 1846. This the de-
fendant refused to pay, and urged that he was perfectly jus-
tified in dismissing the plaintiff, because he had stated to a
paper-maker, to whom the defendant was indebted, that he
(the defendant) could not carry on the Great Western Ad-
vertiser for want of ftinds, thereby indeavouring to injure
the credit of the defendant; and this fact was proved by a
commercial traveller.

Mr. CocxsUß i -in addition to the evidence, con-
tended that the plaintiff could not recover in this form
of action, indebitatus assumpsit ; that he was only entitled
to salary due to him for work and labour actually done and
performed.
The Learned JUDGE said, if it should be necessary, he
would reserve the point; but he would take the opinion of
the jury upon the evidence, which, if they believed, would
give a legal right to the defendant to dismiss the plaintiff,
because, according to the evidence of the commercial traveller,
the plaintiff had betrayed his trust; and if a matt did that, it
was a sufficient ground for his immediate dismissal. Of
course, if they disbelieved the evidence as to misconduct the
jury would find for the plaintiff.
The jury gave a verdict for the defendant.
The Court sat till ten at night.

REMARKABLE SUPERSTITION.
The following astonishing narrative of superstition is
h describes in the letter
tDoahfheerv,i;di
hdaptnf
andr
roeimasvhd.
itdFohrnaeeteshPrs
:;:hriie:o,nutT,dGeowdohtdhi:c,ethAh
Very
Wevroye mr
Very
Woman
ve.Svotehlrdee
Reverend
eatanhnde,
the Reverend the Prebendaries of Westminster":—
On Friday night a large number of the thieves, pros-
titutes, and other blackguards residing in the vicinity of Westminster Abbey, collected in the churchyard along-
side that venerable building. They began to congregate
soon after eleven o'clock at night, and, by midnight, the
number assembled is estimated to, have between one and
two thousand. They continued together, shouting,
swearing, playing, and fighting, until nearly two o'clock
of Saturday morning, when they dispersed in the most
uproarious manner. On inquiring into the cause of the
tumult, it was ascertained that a report had gone abroad
that one of the prostitutes infesting the neighbourhood
of the Abbey had sold herself to the Devil for 4s. 6d. on
the Tuesday night previous, and had engaged to ratify
the bargain, and deliver herself over to his Satanic
Majesty, in the churchyard, by the side of Westminster
Abbey, on Friday, at midnight ; and the assembly had
taken place to see the bargain consummated.
The various tales current since then among the in-
habitants in the vicinity of the Abbey, caused the writer
to make inquiry of the agents of the City Mission, who
visit those distriats • and he finds the idea is universally
entertained that the poor girl had so sold herself, and
that the Devil was and is actually on the 100k-out for
her. Several declare that while the people were as.
sembled in the churchyard waiting for him, and the girl
had gone out, her room was illuminated with a most
unearthly flame; that, after the clock had struck twelve
the flame gradually vanished, and left behind a smell of
brimstone of the most horrid kind.
One of the City Mission agents in his visitation met
with the unfortunate girl who has been the cause of all
this hubbub, who is still suffering much fear and per.