The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-22 00:00:00

explanation. The solicitor had not acted in a manner that was
consistent with the rules of the House.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL made a few observations,
when he was interrupted by loud cries of " Order, order," and
sat down.
Mr. HUME moved that the papers on which the present
discussion was founded be put in.
The SOLICITOR GENERAL resumed, and said he was
touch obliged to the Hon. Gentleman for giving him an op-
portunity of explanation. He defended Mr. Murray, the
solicitor, from the charges that had been brought against him.
Alr. Murray was relieved from all responsibility and
,liability
with respect to the alteration in the contract of the South-
Eastern Railway Company, for having signed the new deed as
a trustee for other parties. He was a man of the highest
honour and integrity.
Mr. DENISON said it could hardly be necessary for him
to enter into any explanation when a gentleman who was mis-
informed on the subject had thought proper to intrude his
opinions. He thought that the opinion of the Attorney-
General would be more than overbalanced by the confirmed
decision of four Members of that House, who were of opinion
that the opposition in the case of the South-Eastern Company
was ill advised. He had had an interview with the Ecclesias-
tical Commissioners some time back, in which the report was
directed to be read for his special instruction, in which the
solicitor omitted a word on which the whole sense of the
sentence hinged. Was that conduct consistent with the
character of a high-minded man ? He would ask the House
whether he was not justified on a former occasion in animad-
verting in the manner he had on the conduct of Mr. Murray.
Mr. HUME would withdraw the motion which he bed
made.

Mr. W. S. O'BRIEN.
The SPEAKER called the attention of the House to the
following communication, which he had received from Mr.
William Smith O'Brien:—

Pr.son, House of Commons, May 21, 1846.
Sir, —I take the liberty to call your attention to the follow-
ing correspondence between the Clerk of the House of Com-
mons and myself:
" Prison, House of Commons, May 20, 1846.

. - -
" Dear Sir,—l beg to call your attention to standing order,
No. 4, page 13, and shall feel obliged if you will 'Worm me
where I can find the appointment of a Committee of Selection
pursuant to that order, as I lave in vain searched for it in the
votes of the Commons.
" It being my intention to cause the attention of the House
of Commons to be directed to this correspondence to-morrow,
may I request that you will send me an immediate and official
reply.

John Henry
ethnerl. honour to be your obedient faithful servant,
" To this note I received the
"To" ifVolrLolLvilnAgllalnsSw.eor :—BRIEN.,,
Ley, Ea WILLIAM
Clerk of the House
" Dear Sir,—.ln answer to yzeur note, d'elivi
of Commons."
CAolmahmonityte,elocrosnseildeeertiiotnwiisil delivered
018role6.
by
'apiptoint, and named by the
l‘thier. sufficient for me to say that
Standing Order No. 4, and that
sary at the beginning of the session tossnr teboantsidered neces-
sometimes been done, and for the House to maokreder, as has
oiler
that the Committee of Selection be appointed accoarr.'eli
You will, therefore, not find any entry in the votes. ng
3'.
" Your obedient faithful servant,
" JOHN HENRY LEY.
" Mr. Ley's letter confirms my conviction that the Committee
of Selection was not appointed for the present session, in due
conformity to Standing Order No. 4, which is worded as
follows:

" That a Committee be appointed, at the commencement of
every session, consisting of the chairmen of the Select Com-
mittee of Standing Orders, and of the chairman of the Sub-
Committees on Petitions for Private Bills, of whom three shall
be a quorum ; and such Committee shall be denominated the
Committee of Selection.'

" It is manifest from Mr. Ley's letter that there is no evi-
dence in the authentic records of the House of Commons that
Mr. Escourt, and the other gentlemen who have acted as a
Committee of Selection,' have received due authority from the
House to act in that capacity during the present session.
Under these circumstances, all the proceedings which have led
to my imprisonment have been void and informal, ab initio.
I, therefore, respectfully claim my immediate discharge.
" I cannot conclude this letter without recording my solemn
protest against the conduct of the House of Commons in
having subjected me to imprisonment. Even if the Committee
of Selection had been duly nominated, I should still deny that
I have violated any law of the land, and should, therefore, re-
gard my imprisonment as contrary to the law and constitution
of these realms.
" As I do not desire to throw upon you the responsibility of
expressing any opinion upon this case, except under the sanction
of the House of Commons, I do not expect an answer to this
letter, but respectfully request that you will do me the favour
to lay it before the House of Commons to-day at five o'clock,
and to invite the opinion of the House upon it.
" I have the henour to be,
" Your obedient faithful servant,
" WILLIAM S. O'BRIEN."
" To the Right Hon. the Speaker."
Mr. O'CONNELL moved, that this letter be printed and
circulated with the votes, witb the view of being taken into
consideration to.morrow.—( Hear, hear.)
NEW ZEALAND.
Mr. CHARLES BULLER said, in the present state of
public business, he was afraid the resolutions of which he
had given notice, relative to the state of New Zealand, could
not receive that fair and patient consideration which they
were entitled to, and he should, therefore, with the permission
of the House, withdraw them for tie present, reserving to
himself, however, the right of bringing them forward at a
future period.--(Hear, hear.) He should be glad, however,
if gentlemen in the meantime would give the House an assur-
ance that the present session should not be suffered to pass
over without some Bills or measures being introduced on the
subject.— ( Hear, hear. )
Sir ROBERT PEEL said the only assurance he could
give the Hon. Member was, that when he thought proper to
bring forward his motion again Ministers would do their best
to give full effect to, and ample opportunity for, the discussion
of this subject. The House must bear in mind all that passed
in the course of the last session, and the opinions and views
that were expressed upon that occasion. Government had
done their best to carry out those views and opinions, and had
appi,inted a gentleman to the government of the colony who
had previously distinguished himself in administering the
government of a colony. From the letters which had re-
cently been received from him it would appear that at the time
they wore dispatched to this country they had only reached the
colony a few we, ks before, but they contained sufficient infor-
mation, nevertheless, to show that the opinion Government
had entertained of his ability had been entirely confirmed.
—( Hear, hear.) From a subsequent communication
which bad been received from the colony, there were
strong reasons for believing that ere lcng the northern island
would be reduced to a state of subordination, and until they
heard further from the Governor he thought it would not be
prudent for Government to introduce any measure upon the
subject.— ( Hear, hear.)
After a few words from Mr. HUNIE, the resolution was
postponed till a future day.
REAL PROPERTY COMMISSION.
Visecunt EBRING CON was then proceeding to move an
address to her Majesty for the re-appointment of the Real
Property Commission, when
An HON. MEMBER moved that the House be counted.
There being only twenty-seven Members present, the House
was adjourned till to-morrow.

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS.
(From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.)
WEDNgSDAY, MAY 20.
The following Railway Bills were withdrawn:—
London, Bristol, and South Wales.
Tring, Reading, and Basingstoke (Tring to Saunderton).