The Sun.
London, England, 1848-09-04 00:00:00

NEW MEMBERS.

The following Members took the oaths and their
seats:—Lord Edward Howard, for Horshatn, .and Mr.
Harris, for Leicester; Mr. Ellis made the usual affir-
mation on taking his seat for the same place, he being a
member of the society of Friends;
CHELTEN'IIAM ELECTION.
Sir W. CLAY moved that the evidence taken before
this Committee be printed. He then proceeded to de-
fend the Committee from the aspersions cast upon him
self and the Committee. He said, in consequence of the
rema: ks made upon him in the speech an-. Craven Berke-
ley, he had placed himself in the hands of a friend of un-
doubted honour, but on mature consideration, consider-
ing that he had been sitting as the Chairman of the
Committee in a judicial capacity, and that it would be
better to leave the aspersions to the decision of the
House—to those who had best known hima—(Hear,
hear)—he had felt it his duty to take no further
step in the matter. The Committee, in both its deci-
sions, was unanimous—(Hear, hear)—and if any one
had come into the room during their deliberations, he
would have found that the politics of either party was
not made matter of consideration.—(Bear, hear.) It
was most important to the House that the decisions of its
Committees should be come to fearlissly ; but if they were
to be menaced in the way he and the Committee had
been in this case, Members would hesitate to sit on such
tribunals. If Mr. C. Berkeley had been guilty of a
breach of the privileges of the House, he had
no wish to take any vindictive step against
him, because some allowance must be made for
the painful position in which he was placed, and
the natural excitement in which Mr. Berkeley no
doubt laboured in addressing a public assembly;.
but he trusted the House would express, by a resolu-
tion, its opinion of the way in which the Committee had
discharged its duty in this matter.—(Hear, hear.)
Lord J. HAY defended the Committee, and said he
had advised his Hon. Friend not to seek privatere-
dress for what was nothing less than an aspersion upon

the character of the House.
Lord PALMERSTON considered it would be suf-
ficient if the House were to express its general opinicn that
the Committee had properly discharged its duty. He was
sure any real friend of Mr. Craven Berkeley would
inform him that his conduct, which no doubt took place
in a moment of excitement, was an entire contradiction
of not only the ordinary affairs of life, but in direct
contradiction of the principles by which the House
was actuated.—(Hear, hear.) Gil at public injury would
result if me►ubers of Committees of the House were
compelled to discharge their onerous duties under the
influence of fear.
SIR THOMAS TURTON.

In reply to Mr. HENLEY,
Mr. WILSON stated that Sir Thomas Turton was
appointed by the Chief Justice of India, that he gave
security for 10,000/, which he regretted was inadequate
to cover his liabilities. It appeared that the chief
surety was entirely free from blame. The subject now
engaged the earnest attention of the proper department.
Mr. HUME contended that much blame existed,
ince tl.is was the second time Sir Thomas Turton
had failed, only this time the amount of his
liabilities was greater. Would the papers be laid on the
table ?
Mr. WILSON said there ultimately would be no
objection.
SUPERANNUATION OF OFFICERS IN
GOVERNMENT OFFICES.

Mr. HUME said next session he should move for a
Committee to inquire into the administration of super-
annuation in the several Government offices, and that
all the public estimates be laid on the table within six
weeks atta. the sitting of Parliament.
SAVING& BANKS (DUBLIN).
Mr. REYNOLDS gave notice of his intention, early
in the next session, to move for the appointment of a
Select Committee to inquire into the cause of the failure
of the St. Peter's Savings' Bank. Dublin.
JUSTICE WILLS.
Mr. HAWES, in answer to a question from Mr.
Hamilton, said there was nothing against the personal
honour of Mr. Ju,tice Wills, that caused his removal
from the Chief Justiceship of the Supreme Court of
New South Wales.
ARMY (IRELAND).
Lord G. BENTINCK postponed asking the following
question, of which he had given notice, in consequence of
the absence of Sir G. Grey—to ask the Secretary forlre--
land, the number of stand of fire-arms, pikes, and other
weapons, powder, and ammunition seized by or surren-
dered to the Government of Ireland, subsequent to the
passing of tho Act, 11 Vict., c. 2, to the latest period of
which Government had information.
(LEFT SITTING.)

SOCIETE FRANCAISE DE BIENFAISANCE.—Yester-
day a meeting of the members of the above institution
was held at No. 10, Duke-street, Portland-place, Mons.
Vouillon, president, in the chair. In consequence of the
prevailing commercial distress, the society's receipts
during the past year were considerably below the
average, amounting only to 6351. 10s. 2d. The com-
mittee, therefore, in order to form a wider basis for their
operations, proposed that, instead of members' subscrip-
tions being a guinea per annum, it should be reduced to
55., and that of committeemen from five guineas to one.
The proposition was discussed at considerable length,
and referred to a future meeting. The balance of cash
in hand, after deducting the year's expenses, amounts
to 34/. is., and the standing " reserve fund" to
1,142/. 6s. Id.
FINE ARTS. 'The bronze statue of Lord Auckland,
by Weekes, designed for erection on the Esplanade at
Calcutta, was, with its granite pedestal, shipped in the
Lyndon Docks a few days since in the ship Marlborough.