The Sun.
London, England, 1848-07-28 00:00:00

DEGREES OF AFFINITY.

The Bishop of LONDON inquired whether it was the
intention of the Government to introduce into either
House of Parliament, during the present session, any
measure with reference to marriage with a deceased
wife's sister?

The Marquis of LANSDOWNE replied that a very
able Member of the other House had prepared a Bill on
the subject, but that as he was in no way connected with
the Government, he was unable to say whether that
Bill would receive their sanction or not.
SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.

The adjourned debate on the London and South-
Western Railway Company's Acts Amendment (Exten-
sion, Deviation, and New Works) Bill, after a short dis-
cussion, was adjourned again until Monday.
CHARITY TRUSTS REGULATION BILL.

The LORD CHANCELLOR in moving the second
reading of this Bill said it was introduced the better to
regulate certain charitable trusts. The Municipal Re.
form Bill took away from the corporations the power of
administering the uses connected with the trusts of many
charities, and it was now necessary to apply to the
Court of Chancery to appoint trustees, which was an
expensive process. Moreover, those trustees could not
take the legal estate, which was said to be in nubibus.
Many small charities could not afford to come to the
Court of Chancery at all, and they had no means of
renewing their trustees. It must be evident that there
was a constant necessity for seeing that the funds of
these charities were properly administered. To show
the extent of this evil he might state that of charities
under 301. a year, which could not afford to apply to
Chancery, there were 23,746; the total number of
charities in the situation he had described being 28,340. In
1846 the present county courts had been established,
and they had been found to be much more useful than it
was ever imagined they could be. They were now 60
in number, and from November, 1846, to the same pe-
riod in the following year, they had adjudicated upon
no less than 429,415 suits, and received during the same
period 600,5591., including 203,3181. for fees. It would,
he believed, be practicable to reduce these fees by one
half, and still leave a revenue sufficient to pay all the
expenses of the establishment. This, he thought, was
a highly satisfactory state of things—(Hear, hear)—
and they need not look further for a jurisdiction to ad-
minister these local charities. He might at once, there•
fore, say that the object of the Bill was that all chari-
ties under 301. a year, should be subject to the juris-
diction of the judges of the county courts.—(Hear,
hear.) The greater part of the Bill applied to that
purpose; but it had also other objects, one of which was
that by an order of a judge or the Court of Chancery,
the legal estate should be vested in the treasurer of the
county court; and by the same authority the stock of
such charities would also be transferred to the same
officer. In ascertaining the value of the charities, so as
to give them the benefit of this measure, the report of
the Charitable Trusts Commissioners would be held to
be conclusive. The Bill provided, among other things,
that persons entrusted with charitable funds should
annually render up a balance-sheet for the inspection
of the proper authorities.—(Hear, hear.) There was
a great deal of property under these trusts which had
been, bequeathed in old times, and a far different
state of society, for purposes to which they would be
wholly inadequate at the present day, and the object of
the Bill was, if possible, to render such property avail-
able for educational purposes. 'At present the county
courts might report to the Court of Chancery as to the
way in which such trusts might be carried out, but there
were many small towns and villages from which an ap-
peal to the Court of Chancery would completely exhaust
the funds. In such cases ho thought they could not do
better than hand the funds over to the county courts,
giving them the same powers as were now enjoyed by
the Court of Chancery. In cases where doubts might
arise as to the efficiency of the county courts, a refer-
ence might be given to the Educational Committee of
the Privy Council, a tribunal in which the public seemed
to have considerable confidence. After one or two
further observations, the Noble and Learned Lord
moved the second reading of the Bill.
Lord REDESDALE approved of the principle and
object of the Bill, but objected to the time at which it
had been brought forward. He trusted that the Noble
and Learned Lord would not press the Bill further dur-
ing the present session.
The Bishop of LLANDAFF said that the object:of the
Bill was one in which the Right Rev. Bench took a deep
interest. A Bill which should tend to the application of
the various small trust funds scattered over the country
to educational purposes would receive their most fa-
vourable consideration. There• were, however, several
enactments in the present measure to which he could
himself.
He pledge either his Right Rev. Brethren or
He concurred in the suggestion of the Noble Baron as
to postponing the Bill until next session.
The Earl of HARROWBY believed that there was
nothing more abused than the various small trust funds
scattered over the country, nor anything more loudly
°ailing for a Lremedy. It was therefore with reluc-
tance that he stood in the way of legislation on the sub-
ject, but he feared that with a Bill introduced at the
end of July little progress could be made during the
present year.
The LORD CHANCELLOR did not think the ses-
sion so far advanced as to preclude the hope that they
might complete a measure respecting which there seemed
to be so general a concurrence among their Lordships.
The fact was that a Bill neatly similar had been intro-
duced last session, so that the public had had ample time
to consider the principle.
The Bill was then read a second time, and, after a
short discus.sioe, the Committee was fixed for that day
week.
Their Lordships adjourned at Half-past Seven o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, July 27.
POOR-LAW UNION CHARGES.

(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)
Mr. DRUMMOND thought that the Bill was an in-
different amendment of a bad measure. The great fault
of the Somerset House Commissioners was that they
treated paupers like abstractions, and carrying out the
poor-law in that way they had destroyed all sources of
private charity. He thought it would be a great mercy
and charity if landowners and farmers were to meet
together every autumn, and devise some kind of em-
ployment for the poor, which, though it might be
unprofitable in some eases, would be far preferable to
sending the people into the workhouse. The poor-law
had tended to abolish that direct interest which was
taken in the poor by landowners and others, and as it
was now carried out there was nothing but a vile system
of money. saving on the one hand and of cheating on the
other.

Mr. VERNON SMITH considered it would be ad-
visable, after the important statements and observations
which had been elicited from Hon. Members, who were
well acquainted with the working of the Act in rural
districts, that that the Hon. Member (Mr. Charles
Buller) should not take up more of the time of
the House, but should at once withdraw the Bill.
this session. The House had for five years been at-
tempting to deal with this question of
i the law of settle-
ment, but instead of grappling with its great principle
they had, session after session, been dealing with it by
piecemeal. The present measure was not one of a com-
prehensive nature, and he did not consider that it would
lead to a final settlement of the question. Ever since the
days of Adam Smith it had been clearly proved that the
law of settlement was one of the greatest curses to the
poor of this country. He trusted that the Hon. Member
would adopt the suggestion to postpone the Bill until
next session, by which time his additional experience,
and the suggestions which had been made by Hon. Mem-
bers, would enable him to bring in a more comprehen-
Sive measure.

Mr. BANKES said it was apparent to him that this
Bill would not pass into a law this session. He consi-
dered that the measure would be discussed more fairly,
and that the Hon. Member who had introduced it would
be better enabled to develop his plans, if it were post-
poned until next year.
On the motion of Sir H. WILLOUGHBY, the de-
bate was adjourned until to-morrow evening.
ECCLESIASTICAL UNIONS AND DIVISIONS
OF PARISHES (IRELAND).
This Bill was read a third time.
The House then adjourned until Five o'clock.

1, e r.castat ic,Ltaieil the Cilair at Etvw o'clock, when
there %vas au unusually lull attendance of Members.
FALSE RUMOURS.-STATE OF
IRELAND.

Mr. MONSELL shortly after one or two unimportant
petitions had been presented rose, amidst almost breath-
less silence, and said—Sir, seeing the Right lion.
Baronet, the Secretary of State for the Home Depart-
ment in his place, I wish to put a question to him with
reference to the rumours that have reached this city to'
day with regard to the state of Ireland.—(Sensation.)
I am happy to know that a great many of these rumours
are entirely false.—(Cheers.) And I am sure I only
express the feeling of the House when I say that a
more heartless or disgraceful rumour was never
perpetrated than that which has been cir-
culated to-day.—(Loud cheers.) I do not knout
whether there is any means that the Right Hon.
Baronet could make use of to prevent the electric tele-
graph from being used for such disgraceful purposes,
but I am sure if the Right Honourable Baronet has
the power to do so, he will take care to prevent
a recurrence of these disgraceful practices.—(Cheers.)
The question I wish to ask him first is, what accounts
he has received from Ireland; and, secondly, do these
accounts confirm the statement that the whole of the
south of Ireland is in open insurrection?
Sir GEORGE GREY—I have great satisfaction in
stating that I have every reason to believe that the•
alarming accounts which have appeared in the late
editions of the morning papers, and which were trans'
mitted this morning from Liverpool by the electric
telegraph, to the effect that an open insurrection bad
actually broken out in the south of Ireland, are totally
destitute of truth.—(Loud cheers.) Sir, on re-
ceiving the first copy of the paper transmitted
to me containing the intelligence, said to have
been sent from Liverpool this morning, I dispatched
a letter to the Honourable Member for Stoke -upon-
Trent, to induce him to forward a communication. by the
electric telegraph to the Mayor of Liverpool, requesting
to know from him what information had been. received
in Liverpool from Ireland, and I received a dispatch
from that functionary by the electric telegraph., stating
that the information published this morning ws s accom-
panied from Ireland by a letter, of which the -following
is a copy. (The letter was dated Dublin, W ednesday
evening, and represented that Mr. Conway, of tt Le Dublin
Evening Post, had received from the CCastle a
most dreadful rumour, which he was :about to
publish in a second edition of that paper.) 'l2 he writer
then went on to say that he took advantage of a
Queen's messenger going off at the moment for London
to forward the intelligence in a parcel to Mellars. Will-
mer and Smith, of Liverpool, who no doubt would transmit
it to London by the electric telegraph. The Mayor of Li- •
verpool about an hour after this further communicated tt,
me that he was perfectly satisfied that the Irish intelli• •
gence contained in the paragraph published in tb.e
morning papers was utterly untrue, unless Gover n-
meat had received a dispatch from Lord Clarendon
confirming it. He also states that a Queen's m es-
senger certainly had arrived from Dublin by s
steamer this morning, and he left Liverpool by the
half-past six express train. Now, it is perfectly true
that a Queen's messenger was dispatched from Du blin
last night. I had sent him over with a dispatch, sta ti og
that the Bill for suspending the Habeas Corpus Act bad
received the Royal assent, and he left Dublin wirtk,
dispatch from the Lord-Lieutenant yesterday eve ni ng,
and arrived in London by the express train this morr Ling
at half-past one o'clock. This dispatch certainly descr ibex
the state of the country in the neighbourhood of Clots mel,
Carrick, and Thurles to be dreadful, but in relatio n to
any actual outbreak it is perfectly silent, and make ,s no
mention whatever.—(Hear, hear.) I have seer , the
messenger, and he states that he left Dublin at three
o'clock yesterday afternoon, but he assures me tit at he
brought no parcel or letter for any private party •what-
ever. The messenger is stated to have come oven •by
special steamer from Kingston yesterday ; tth at be
started at three o'clock by the steamer which was
reported to have had the Queen's messenga r on
board. Now, no Queen's messenger came o' ier in
that steamer; but I have received letters from the Lord-
Lieutenant, written after the departure of the q ueen's
messenger yesterday afternoon, which contain lb 3 allu-
sion to those frightful accounts. lam also assured by
an Hon. Member that the Hon. Gentleman the 111 ember
for Totnes left Dublin yesterday by the steamer which
leaves at seven o'clock, and that everything was tran-
quil when he left—that no rumour of the kin d had
reached his ears when the steamer left the pc
will only add that I certainly shall ends savour
to trace the wilful originator of the report.— -(Loud
cheers.) I have now given all the information. in my
power; and it enables me to concur with the 11 onour-
able Gentleman, that these reports were fabricai red for
a wicked and maliCious purpose. With reap set to
the state of Ireland, I may only add, that by the
letters which I have receive from the Lord-Lied enant,
it appears that Sir Charles Napier had arrived at the
port with his squadron—(Hear, hear)—with an al de and
ample body of troops, who, I am sure, are • always
ready to discharge their duty with unflinching Ix avert,
and who are, therefore, entirely free from the is mputa-
tions which the reports circulated this day he ev e most
unfoundedly cast upon them.—(Cheers.)
Mr. HAMILTON considered the Right Hon.. Itaronet
had sufficiently answered the question which ha d been
put to him. In the event of any partial outbrt great
excitement would be the natural result ; and 1;h erefore
he thought it would, in such a case, be the duty o f every
loyal Irish subject in this country to put himst lf at the
disposal of her Majesty's Government either :for the
purpose of suppressing insurrection or tranquillisl,,ng the
excited minds of that people.—(Hear, hear.) Ile there-
fore begged to ask whether it was the wish of tl ie Go-
vernment that Irish Members now in London s h ould at
once leave this country and immediately proe eed to
their estates and the particular localities with•. which
they were connected, for the purpose of perforrni rig the
duty he had stated—(Hear, hear)—and it so, what
course the Government intended to pursue with l •espect
to Irish business ?

Sir G. GREY—Several gentlemen connecter l with
Ireland have called upon me in the course of tb e day,
and expressed their ree.tliness to proceed at once T.( ► those
parts of Ireland where they considered their ai ,rvices
would be available in tranquillising the minds of the
people.—(Hear, hear.) Although, as I have stated,
from the information I have received from. Liver-
pool, that I belii.,ve the rumour totally destitute
of information, yet in the excited state of the country,
where the insurrection is stated to have brc ken out,
I think Irish gentlemen of property, of character, and
of influence, cannot do better than proceed at once to
that country, and exert themselves to maintain t he peace
of the country.—(Hear, hear.) My Noble Fri and has
instructed me to say, that in the event of Iris h. Mem-
bers leaving town, he will not proceed with the Land-
lord and Tenant Bill.

Sir ARTHUR BROOKE considered that Iris h Mem-
bers would do well by adopting the advice thrown
out. In the north of Ireland there were mar, y well-
affected men, but if it was necessary that the) r -should
come forward in the defence of the country, he I hoped
the Government would take the precaution to provide
them with arms and ammunition. He tho• anlit it
necessary to make this observation, since an im piression
had gone abroad that they were well provid td with
arms. Now they were tota:ly destitute of am es; they
were, in fact, without any means of defence r what-
ever, except some old yeomanry muskets whi eh "were
altogether useless. He hoped the Governmen t would
give them the means of defending themselves a nd their
country.—(Hear, hear.)
Sir G. GREY here arose again, with a pape r in his
hand, and said, I have since received a further co mmuni-
cation from the same quarter on this subject. : [t states
that Messrs. Wilmer and Smith are the agents ; for the
London morning newspapers at Liverpool ; that a cab-
man, at seven o'clock this morning, drove
up to their office, and delivered to tl tern a
parcel, which contained the news that ha d been
transmitted to the London papers, and which I have
read to the House, stating that it was to be sent t by the
seven o'clock special train, and that it was by • special
favour of the Queen's messenger. He stated that he
had received it from a Queen's messenger.
Mr.IIERBERT inquired when tho Noble L ord in-
tended to proceed with the Landlord and Tenet it Bill ?
Lord J. RUSSELL—I mean to postpone that Bill for
a fortnight; and in case Irish Members are not i a town,
I certainly shall not proceed with it.—(Hear.)
Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL considered that the t Noble
Lord might as well postpone it for six months, for
whether Irish Members were obliged to go to Ire land or
not, it could not be proceeded with this session.
The CHANCELLORSUGAR DUTIES
of the EXCHEQUI ie'R, in
answer to a question from Lord George Bentinck , stated
that he proposed to go. into Committee on the Sugar
Duties Bill on Monday next, and he would the. a state
the course he intended to pursue.
MESSAGE FROM THE LORDS.
A message from the Lords informed the Hon on that
their Lordships had agreed to the following I hlls:—
Amendments to Ecclesiastical Districts Assign: tient—
Edinburgh and Bathgate Railway (Extension at id De-
viation, without amendment—London and North-
Western Railway (Branches and Extensions frog t Lea-
mington, &c.)—Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway., and
Glasgow, Airdrie, and Monklands Junction Re ti IwaY
(Amendment of Acts)—Dundee and Arbroath IL ti
p
twat',
(Dundee Junction), with an amendment—Stirlin ;• and
Dunfermline Railway (Amendment and Deviat is ens),
with Amendments. .

LANDLORD AND TENANT (IRELAND) BI I L.
In answer to a question from an Hort. MEMBER,
Lord J. RUSSELL said it was not his intend or to
proceed with this Bill in the present session.
Several Members called upon the Noble Lord not to
postpone the measure to another session.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL could not, consistent with L is
duty, recommend the further proceeding with the Bill in
the absence of the Irish Members, who had been advise d
to go immediately to Ireland to do all in their power t 0
put down the disaffection that preyailed in that count'] •

......
whets

ever

96

Mr. SCULLY wished to know whether the Govern-
ment, supposing Hon. Members went to Ireland, wino
prepared to give to the people of that country that
benefit and protection which they had hitherto contu-
maciously refused.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that the first duty of
the Government was to put down insurrection in Ireland,
the Government were determined to do so, and that was
the only answer he could give to the Hon. Member.
CORRUPT PRACTICES AT ELECTIONS BILL.
Oa the motion that the House should resolve itself
into Committee on this Bill,
Colonel SIBTHORP rose to oppose it. He could tell
Government that if they attempted to send their com-
mission to Lincoln, and if they came to make inquiries
in this House, he would use very strong measures to
turn them out. He wished to know why all the bo-
roughs against which bribery and treating had been re-
Ponied by the Select Committees were not included in
the schedule—why were ten boroughs to be shown up
and eight others allowed to escape? The Bill would
give a premium to perjury—it was an underhand way of
proceeding not to obtain facts, but to establish suspi-
cion, and whether supported or not he should feel it his
duty to take the sense of the House against every clause.
He moved as an amendment that the House go into
Committee that day three months.
Mr. ANSTEY seconded the amendment.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL, in supporting the
Bill, said that if the Hon. and Gallant Member could point
out the case of any boroughs not now in the schedule, in
respect to which corrupt practices had been specially re-
ported, it would be proper to extend the inquiry to them.
The sole object of the Bill was to make inquiry into the
allegations of corrupt practices, in order to devise mea-
sures to prevent the recurrence of such practices for the
future. He hoped the House would go into Committee,
and unite with the Government in its endeavour to make
the Bill as effective as possible for its object.
Mr. PACKE spoke in favour of the Bill, which he
thought infinitely preferable to the measure of the Hon.
Member for the Flint boroughs. He, however, should
prefer that the inquiry were made in all cases by Com-
mittees of the House.
Mr. R. PALMER asked whether the inquiry was not
to be confined to those boroughs in respect to which the
Election Committees had reported specially?
The SOLICITOR GENERAL—What he meant was,
such boroughs as the Committee had reported corrupt
practices had prevailed in, and as to which they recom-
mended further inquiry.
Mr. HUME said it was a question whether the same
vice did not pervade all boroughs, large and small, and
whether it would not be better to pass some general mea-
sure applicable to all. Unless something was done before
the next election, hardly a single Member could hope to
retain his seat if any person thought proper vexatiously
to petition against him. They ought to know to what
extent candidates might go, without being subject to the
laws against treating.
Mr. ANSTEY thought the Bill was objectionable, not
merely in detail, but in principle. He therefore must
join in the opposition to the motion for its committal.
There was no distinction made in the Bill between those
cases where the Members have been unseated for bribery
and those where the report has been that treating only
had been proved. The real object of the Bill was to set
aside the decisions of those Committees which did not
, think further inquiry necessary, and to retry those cases
which haccheen already tried, and to deprive the consti-
tuencies and Members of the boroughs to which the Bill
was to apply of those exemptions from further prosecu-
tions, which, by the decisions of the Election Commit-
tees, theywere entitled to.
An Hox. MEMnER here moved (eight o'clock) that
the House should be counted, but, there being above
forty Members present, the business proceeded.
Mr. ANSTEY went on to allude to the provisions for
indemnity to witnesses.—(Cries of " Divide, divide.")
The House (exclaimed the Hon. Member) shall not di-
vide; I say that in the spirit of prophecy.—(Great
laughter.) If a guilty party chose to come forward and
admit that he had given bribes, he could not be punished;
on the other hand, he was rewarded. He might ruin his
dupes and disfranchise a borough, but was himself held
harmless, whether his evidence were true or false. Guilty
parties had only to add perjury to their other crimes, by
involving the constituency, and they could not be touched.
This was nothing less than a premium to false wit-
nesses. By the 16th clause parties unwilling to come for
ward were subjected to the penalties heretofore existing,
with the exception thatwitnesses examined before the Com -
mittee or commissioners could not be made witnesses
on a prosecution against them. Whatever the motive,
the effect of this clause would be to take away from the
public any security that might be left against corrupt
practices. The clause relating to expenses held out a
direct inducement to the commissioners to prolong their
inquiries and multiply business, power being reserved to
the Treasury, in whom the House had so little confi-
dence, to make order for the payment, of extraordinary
expenses to an unlimited amount. The inquiries would
probably be to a great extent ex parte, for such was the
general character of the Bill; but no decision, however
unjust, could be called in question after six 'months.
This was essentially a private Bill, notwithstanding the
enactment that it should be taken to be a public Act;
and this would give rise to a vast amount of litigation.
Three clauses of the Bill virtually repealed the Act 7 & 8
Victoria, under which contested elections were now
tried. The power to appoint two commissioners, who
should possess all the powers of the House, was most
objectionable, as involving the principle of double dele-
gation. Referring to the schedule of the Bill, he found
Horsham was one of the boroughs to which it referred.
Why, there were actions pending for penalties, if they
had not been compromised, arising out of the Horsham
election; and was it proper to legislate on that subject,
while these actions were pending before a competent
tribunal? The cases of Leicester and Derby offered this
remark—that while in the latter the Whigs only had
bribed, in the former, not only Whigs, but Radicals, and
the leaders of the newly-formed Reform party, had been
guilty of the same practices. He seconded the amend-
ment on grounds of principle, and not of detail, fur he
objected to every enactment f the Bill.
Mr. HUDSON said he had opposed this Bill in a
former stage, but should not now vote upon it. His
opinion of the Bill was not altered ; he thought it would
create a great amount of strife and heart-burnings. He
had known what it was to be the subject of one of those
inquiries, and to have his private correspondence re-
ported and all his transactions exposed. If investiga-
tion were instituted it should be general. An Hon.
Member of that House had openly stated that there had
Wen gross bribery at the last election for London, and
had even mentioned the names of those who had paid
the price of corruption. If any inquiry was made, it
should include the last election for London. It was pre-
posterous to set up a crusade against all elections at which
money had been distributed to the poorer electors. He did
not speak of bribes of course, nor had the small sums given
to poor electors for their dinner, or for their reasonable
expenses to and from the place of polling, anything to
do with bribery. If it were decided that half crown
tickets or five shilling tickets given in this way to the
poor electors were to vitiate elections, the result would
be to throw the franchise wholly into the hands of the
rich, for unless sustenance on their way to and from the
polling places were given to the humbler electors, they
would not be able to attend and exercise their franchise
at all; for the very practical reason that they could not
afford it. What did the Right Hon. Baronet propose to
do when he had got his report? There was no practical
intimation as to what the result was proposed to be.
After the decided division which had taken place on a
former stage of the Bill, he should not vote against the
present stage, though he still retained all his objections
to, the measure.
'Mr. URQUHART supported the amendment.
The House divided, when there appeared—
For the motion ....
For the amendment
Majority
The House then went into Committee.
On clause 1 being proposed,
Mr. ANSTEY said he should move the omission of
those words in the clause which authorised inquiries
into elections in reference to which Committees already
nominated had not made a special report; and he should
afterwards, whatever the division on that amendment,
move the omission of the clause altogether.
Colonel SIBTHORP contended for the impartial ex-
tension of the inquiry.
Mr. ANSTEY then put the amendment he had inti-
mated, limiting the inquiry to elections with respect to
which special reports had been made.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL suggested the pro-
piety of postponing the amendment until they came to
the list of boroughs.
Mr. REYNOLDS deprecated the manner in which, at
this period of the session, the Honourable and Learned
Member for Youghal, in the spirit of mere opposition,
occupied the time of the House.—(Hear, hear.) There
lad that day been consumed four hours in the discussion
whether the Bill was to go into Committee, of which
fur hours the Hon. and Learned Member had absorbed
tree.—flear, hear.) Honourable Gentlemen present
dearly showed themselves to be members of Job's family
by their magnanimous endurance on the occasion.—
(Hear, hear.) Before he came into Parliament he had
been warned by his friends not to weary the attention of
the House by long, rigmarole, absurd speeches about
nothing —(Hear, hear)—and he had, from a feeling of
respect to himself and to the House, abstained from per-
petrating such speeches— (Laughter)—but certainly,
as a zealous repealer, he ought to hail such speeches
in the Hon. and'Learned Member for Youghal, in the
conviction that if the Hon. and Learned Member could
manage to get fifty other Irish Members with equal
strength of lung and obstinacy of pertinacity—(Hear,
tear)—the imperial House of Commons would give
repeal in sheer weariness and disgust.—(Laughter.)
Mr. ANSTEY, who, on rising, was received with ge-
neral and loud cries of " Oh, oh," protested against the
attack made on him by the Hon. Member for Dublin,
whore-he charged with being influenced in his new zeal
,for the Government by views of personal advancement,
and by the Reform Club contribution in aid of his elee-
:ton committee expenses, which the Right Hon. Member
for Drogheda had admitted himself a donor to.—(Loud
'eriPs of " Oh, oh.")
Sir W. SOMERVILLE demanded to know by what
his authority the Hon. and Learned Member thus introduced
name on this occasion?
Mr. ANSTEY had no hesitation in answering the
~ROIL Baronet. The Hon. Baronet admitted, or did not
uenY, the other night, that he had paid money for the
l'unnort of an election, an impeachment of which upon
letition was now pending; and he said that the money
"its not paid by him in the capacity of Secretary for Ire.-
Sir W. SOMERVILLE—I said nothing of the kind.
Mr. ANSTEY said he was in the recollection of the
Rouse. Whatever verbal variations there might be
between the Honourable Gentleman's statement and
bin he could not tell. Unless his ears were trea-
*serous that was the substance of what the Hon. Mem-
'her said .—(oh.)
Sir W. SOMERVILLE—I beg to say that nothing
eall from me the other night that could give the shadow
•of it fowidatioa for what the Hon Member has; tated.

-94

I The SOLICITOR-GENERAL appealed to the C,,za-
mittce whether such personal discussions were consi•. tent
with the dignity of the House or the furtherance of pub-
lic business. He hoped that the Hon. Member for
Yonghal would withdraw his amendment.
Mr. ANSTEY must say, before he replied to that ap-
peal, that the Hon. Gentleman had nut answered his
question.
The CHAIRMAN put it to the Committee whether
it accorded with the dictates of propriety or discretion
that they should allow such discussions as this ?
In answer to a question from Mr. PACKE,
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said that the provi-
sions of the Bill could only apply to those cases in which
this House sat in Committee on Election Committees.
Mr. ANSTEY said that he would press his amend-
ment.
The galleries were then cleared; and on our re-ad-
mission we found that no division had taken place, the
Hon. Gentleman having withdrawn his amendment.
After some verbal amendments the clause was agreed to.
On the second clause being proposed,
Col. SIBTHORP said that he would move that the
clause be omitted as entirely unconstitutional.
After a few words from the SOLICITOR-GENERAL and
Mr. HENLEY,
Mr. GODSON objected to the clause.
Sir D. L. EVANS supported it.
Mr. T. HOBHOUSE thought that the clause violated
the principle of English law, which declared that a man
ought not to be called on to give evidence against him-
self. The clause would convert every Member into un
informer against his own constituents.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said a few words in
explanation.
Mr. C. BERKELEY was so far opposed t) the view
taken of the clause by his Hon. Friend the Member for
Lincoln as to be quite ready, and even desirous, to be
examined as to the practice at his own election, his bo-
rough being one that was impugned.
Mr. MANGLES thought that a Member who gave
evidence of corruption amongst his constituents was
serving them and doing his duty by his country.
Mr. PACKE supported the amendment for striking
out the clause.

Mr. HENLEY moved the omission of words from the
clause, the effect of which would be to exempt the sit-
ting Member or Members, any candidate or candidates,
or their agents, from examination before the Committee.
Mr. R. PALMER said, that as the law stood a man
might be constitutionally examined, even in his own
case, if he were indemnified.
Mr. BANKES thought that there should be an in-
demnity for constituencies as well as for Members.
Mr., C. BERKELEY said, that if corrupt practices
prevailed in Cheltenham, he would be happy to bo the
person to disclose them.
Sir D. L. EVANS thought that the amendment went
too far in including agents.
Mr. R. PALMER did not think the amendment
would effect the object contemplated by his Hon. Friend.
After a few words from Mr. HENLEY,
The Committee divided, when there appeared—
, For the amendment 22
Against it lOB
_ _ _

Majority

. 88

Mr. BANKES. said that by the Bill an alternative
was allowed to Committees of delegating their power to
a commission, who were to be lawyers of three years'
standing, and to such delegation he should object. The
majority in that House might use such a power for party
purposes. Ile had voted for the second reading of the
Bill, but if this part of it was not altered he would vote
against the third reading. He moved that the words
relating to commissioners be omitted.

The- SOLICITO.R.GENERAL hoped the House
would not adopt the amendment. The object of having
commissioners was to save expense and delay by ena-
bling the inquiries to be made upon the spot.
Colonel SIBTHO:RP said that was not the real rea-
son. The real reason for the commission was to secure
patronage tor the Government.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said the judges were
to appoint.
Colonel SIBTHORP—Ay, in one sense, but don't
toll me there won't be a Downing-street nomination.
Mr. URQUH ART opposed a commission, on the
ground that the House ought not in any way to surren-
der its prerogative.
Mr. ANSTEY, amidst groans and cries of "Divide,"
moved that the Committee report progress.
The SOLICITOR- GENERAL expressed his hope
that the Hon. and Learned Member would not press his
motion, at least until the clause under discussion was
disposed of.

Mr. ANSTEY persisted in his'motion, and complained
that the Hon. and Learned Member for Salford never
moved the adjournment of the House when it interfered
with the Government b usiness.—(" He's gone to Good-
wood."—Laughter.)
Col. SIBTHORP seconded the motion, mainly on
account of the absence of the Noble Lord the Member
for the city of London., who was most probably enjoy-
ing a Ministerial fish dinner, instead of looking after
theinterests of his inmaaculate constituency.
The Committee divided, when there appeared—
For the motion .
Against it
Majority —lls
Mr. HENLEY suggEsted to the Hon. and Learned
Solicitor-General whether it would not be better to re-
port progress, seeing that the clause under discussion
involved a principle which would require much con-
sideration, and that the House had already sat twelve
hours.—(Hear, hear.)
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL was anxious to finish
the clause, after which :he was willing to accede to the
wishes of Hon. Members and report progress.
Mr. URQUHART said that he had sat there for
twelve hours without hs,ving had an opportunity of get-
ting anything to eat.-- (Laughter and cries of On.")
Gentlemen who had only come in at a late hour, and
who had spent the day in gratifying their carnal appe-
tites, might cry " Oh."—(Loud laughter and cries of
" Oh")—but that should not prevent his supporting
the motion of the 11011. Member for Oxfordshire.—
(Loud cries of " Question" and " Divide.") He trusted
they would get! anothe r day and another occasion to
discuss this clause, which, in fact, contained the vital
principles of the Bill.
After a few words from Mr. WAWN,
Mr. BANKES moved that the debate be adjourned.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL hoped that the Hon.
Member would not p aysist in his motion. The Com-
mittee was quite prepared to hear with the attention
they deserved any observations he might have to make.
Mr. BANKES said there were many other Hon. Mem-
bers who had observations to make, and who were not
Present. He must therefore persist in his motion for ad-
journment.
After an observation from Mr. MANGLES,
Mr. HENLEY entreated the House to let the Bill stop
for the night.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL hoped that, when the
Bill next came on, the Hon. Members opposite would
not prevent the House from going at once into Commit-
tee on it.
The Chairman then reported progress, and the House
resumed.
DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH ROME BILL.
Mr. ANSTEY asked whether this Bill would be
brought on on Monday ?
Lord PALMERSTON would state on Monday when
he would bring it on.
MILITIA ESTIMATES.
On the motion of Mr.. F. MAULE, a Select Committee
was appointed to prepare these estimates.
PUBLIC HEALTH BILL.

In reply to Mr. SPOONER,
Lord MORPETH said, he proposed to have this Bill
reprinted, with the Lords' amendments, before the House
was called on to consider those amendments, and an
order for reprinting the Bill was made, the amendments
to be considered on Thursday next.

NEW BILLS.
Bills were ordered to be brought in, on the motion of
Mr. G. HAMILTON, for consolidating and amending
several of the laws relating to attorneys and solicitors
in Ireland;

Sir W. SOMERVILLE—for the 'protection and im-
provemt-nt of the salmon, trout, and other inland fishe-
ries in Ireland;

Mr. C. LEWIS—to continue an Act to amend the
laws relating to loan societies; and
Mr. PARKER—to authorise the application of part
of the unclaimed money in the Court for the Relief of
Insolvent Debtors in enlarging the court-house of the
said court.
The house adjourned at,Quarter past Two o'clock.

HIGHLAND STOCKINGS and THE
lithNatlTthle'lNG
unremitting
efforts
It is gratifyingAtßoTleaOrEn
made by Lady Mackenzie to encourage knitting among
the women on the Gairloch property are becoming
more
and more successful. The Gairloch stockings are
well known, and the demand for them is sinacrreeasig
now
every day. Nothing can be finer than the beauty of
then
colours, the neatness of the patterns, and the style of
work. It is difficult for the uninitiated to conceive how
well the various colours can be blended ; and there must
be some secret in Gairloch in this matter. We have
seen patterns of hose in imitation of heather, at once
curious and pretty, and admirably adapted for the kilt,
especially when worn upon the muirs. The trado is now
principally, if not entirely, managed by Mr. Macdougall,
of the Tartan Warehouse, Inverness, who will no doubt
ably second the benevolent lady who has done, and is
doing so much for the tenantry on that estate. Another
description of stockings and socks are sent to the
same establishment, manufactured at Tobermory,
under the inspec
• tion of a lady engaged by the Glasgow
section of the central board. The Tobermory stockings
are of plain colours, but the wool is soft and delicate,
and the workmanship so good, that they actually rival
the far-famed articles knit by the Shetlandere. In Skye
great exertions are making, as our readers know, to en-
courage the knitting trade, and the exertions of Captain
Fishbourne and the Edinburgh section of the central
board deserve to be seconded by the public. Specimens
of Skye knitting, and stockings made in Pearl) and other
parishes of Ross shire, under the relief operations, can
also be seen at the Tartan warehouse, the entrance to
which, by the way, has been vastly improved. While
speaking of home manufactures—and various reasons
suggest themselves why preference should be given to
them—we may mention that the manufacture of plaids
for the tartan warehouse has given employment during
the winter and spring to not a few of the poor people,
half weavers, half crofters; and that others in various
parts of the country have had congenial employment in
the fabrication of strong and curiously carved snuff-
boxes and other useful and fancy articles in wood.

DON'T TOUCH MY DoG.--The Sheriff of Aberdeen
lately gave an award of 81. damages and expenses
against a farmer for shooting a neighbour's watch-dog.
The sheriff stated that it was illegal for any one to
shoot a watch-dog, even although it had committed a
trespass.