The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-09 00:00:00

NUNS OF MINSK.

The Marquis of LONDONDERRY wished to know
from the Noble Earl the Secretary for Foreign Affairs,
whether he had recently received any further intelli-
gence rispecting the persecution which three indivi-
duals had undergone in Russia. He had seen
in the newspapers of that morning, some additional par-
ticulars respecting them, and he wished to know if the
Noble Lord had received any documents ?
The Earl of ABERDEEN had seen a copy of the re-
port referred to by the Noble Marquis, which appeared
in that morning's papers, and he had every reason
to believe that that statement was correct. When the
subject was referred to by a Noble Lord, a few even-
ings ego, he took the liberty of saying that it was one
with which they had nothing to do, and he considered
that it would be most unwise in them to take any steps
in reference to it. At the same time he expressed, and
further declared, his belief that there were no grounds 1
whatever for the accusation. There might be ecclesias-
tical
severity, and religious persecution, but he did not
think that there were any of the atrocities cammitted
which were alleged. The very existence of the persoa
in the present transaction was called in question, and it
was ascertained that there was no official deposition made
at Rome, similar to that which had appeared.
The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said it was a
source of great satisfaction to him, and it would to the
country, to hear the statement of his Noble Friend.
Lord BEAUMONT said he would wish to say one
• word upon this subject. He did not wish to say now
whether he believed these statements or not ; but he quite
agreed with the Noble Lord the Secretary for Foreign
affairs that this House could not interfere in the matter.
LAWS OF MORTMAIN.

Lord BRALIM.ONTsttid he had a petition to present,
signed by a large number of very wealthy inhabitants
of Durham and Northumberland, praying that
to steps might be takenrestrain the power of
tha Roman Catholic Bishops in the law of Mort-
main, or else the result would be oppressive of the
clergy and injustice to the lait •
Lord BROUGHAM said he was aware that many
highly respectable Roman Catholics, of very
elared that they
large property indeed, who had
thought the law of Montmain dida notwasgo far enough in
re that some
affecting real property only.
of those persons were worth five and six thousanda a year
lie was desirous of obtaining the same advantages in
the law of England as is obtained in the provision
of the French law ; to the agency, he believed,
of the code of Napoleon it was devised that
no clergyman, medical officer, or solicitor, who
WO in attendance during the last illness Phisany
will
in..
dividual, should take any bequest
without a very explicit declaration of his feelings, and
he thought too great care could not be taken in
this country, or the subject.
Lord CANIPBELL could not refrain from expressing
the very high satisfaction he felt at the general good
sense his Noble and Learned Friend had just now
evinced. Ile believed that it was highly necessary
to obtain the advantage of securing an individua
in a case of severe illness, from solicitations to rob
his own family, from what was generally termed
pious purposes. It was the law of every other country
in Europe, and the regulations of those laws were, if
pessible, most stringent, and the greatest care was taken
to hinder the attempts of interested individuals from
interfering with persons who were quite unable to think
for themselver, for he was quite assured no such attemt
could ever result from acto ju is, and he thought that
any measure that might be determined upon on the par
of
Government would be in the highest degree satis
factory.