The Sun.
London, England, 1848-04-19 00:00:00

PETITIONS.

Lord BROUGHAM presented twenty petitions upon
a variety of subjects, including several from Odd Fellows'
lodges, praying to be included under the law relating to
benefit societies; one from Beverley, against any increase
of taxation ; and several in favour of sanitary reform.
Petitions from various Odd Fe!lows' lodges to the
same effect as above stated were also presented by the
Marquis of LANSDOWNE and the Marquis of WEST..
MINSTER.

ELECTION lECOGNIZANCES BILL.
Tho House then went into Committee on this Bill.
Lord BROUGHAM, who had an amendment on the
paper, stated that he should move it on a subsequent
stage of the Bill, instead of in Committee. He expressed
his strong disapproval of the measure as it stood.
Lord REDESDA LE supported the Bill, and referred
to a measure of a similar hind which had been brought
in by Lord Campbell, when Attorney-General, some
years ago.
Lord CAMPBELL denied that there was any resem-
blance between the Bill to which the Noble Lord had
just referred and the measure then under consideration.
He denounced the latter as a job on the part of the
sitting Members to prevent inquiry into bribery and to
shield corruption.
Lord MONTEAGLE defended the Bill, and with
some warmth repelled the charge of jobbing which had
been preferred against its promoters; a charge which,
he remarked, was fully as applicable to its opposers.
After some further discussion of a desultory cha-
racter, the Bill passed through Committee without
amendment.

On the question that the report be brought up,
Lord BROUGHAM proposed his amendment :
" That nothing in this Act contained shall be of force by
way of retrospective or ex post facto law to affect any
vested interest or decide any question now pending be-
fore any Court or in either House of Parliament."
Their Lordships divided, when there appeared—
Content
Not content l6
Majority

Lord MONTEAGLE. observed that the division had
taken place under circumstances which were without
example and without precedent. He appealed to their
Lordships whether it was understood that there was to
be a division, or that the amendment would be moved till
the third reading. Such, at least, was the impression
left by the Noble and Learned Lord. Noble Lords had
gone away because they understood the progress of the
Bill was to be unopposed; and then, without an intima-
tion to any one individual, a whisper was given to the
Noble and Learned Lord in the chair, and a division was
taken, contrary to every understanding which bad
existed up to that time. The members of Govern-
ment having united their votes with that of the Noble
and Learned Lord who proposed the amendment, and
having heard what was stated as to the time when it
would be proposed, might well be asked how, if such
surprises were to be allowed, the public service could be
effectively carried on? If there were anything more
than another for which the Houses of Parliament were
distinguished, it was for a faithful adherence to honesty
and honour. He (Lord Monteagle) now gave notice of
his intention to-morrow to move that the House disagree
with this amendment on the third reading, for the pur-
pose of restoring the Bill to its original form.
Lord BROUGHAM had never seen an instance of
more complete want of recollection of what passed within
half an hour. He wished to avoid interposing delay.
Whether the amendment should be taken oa the third
reading or on the report was essentially a matter of in-
difference as regarded the question of delay. The
question of delay turned on the course to be followed in
Committee. Taking the amendment in Committee ren-
dered it impossible to receive the report the same day.
In consequence of a suggestion made across the table to
him, that he had better take his amendment on bringing
up the report, he had done so; and anything more un-
founded than the statement of its being taken without
intimation, or of the House having been taken by sur-
prise, he had never heard.
The Earl of MALMESBURY was in the practice, as
their Lordships were aware, of making arrangements on
that (the Opposition) side of the House in reference to
divisions. He had asked several Noble Friends who
were favourable to the Bill to give their attendance on
the discussion; and having put the question to the Noble
and Learned Lord, " Are you going to divide on your
amendment?" the Noble and Learned Lord's reply
was, " I have no intention of the sort. I only want to
record my opinion of the Bill." Upon that reply he
(the Earl of Malmesbury) told his Noble Friends on
that side of the House who intended to support the
Bill that there would be no division, in consequence
of what the Noble Lord had said to him. His opinion
was that the Noble and Learned Lord had not acted as
fairly to that House and the party supporting the Bill as
he generally did.
Lord BROUGHAM had only to plead the most com-
plete, stringent, and peremptory denial of that state-
ment. He had never heard the Noble Earl say a word
about dividing; he heard the question whether he meant
to debate the question. If he refused to divide, some
other Noble Lord would have required a division; he had
never said one way or another. He again gave his most
positive, peremptory, and unhesitating denial that either
to the Noble Lord or to any human being be had spoken
of dividing or not dividing. No question, no idea of
dividing arose till half an hour after.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE adverted to the
statement of the Noble Earl opposite in reference to the
attendance of Noble Lords who were favourable to the
Bill, and assured their Lordships that no such efforts
had been made on the part of the persons connected with
her Majesty's Government.
The Earl of MALMESBURY had not been desired
to solicit the attendance of Peers on this question, but
had been asked by a great many Peers who were anxious
about the Bill to give them information as to the manner
and time of its discussion. He was very often asked for
information in such cases. But when he was asked
whether there would be a division or not, he said " cer-
tainly not," for his full impression was and still re-
mained, notwithstanding what his Noble Friend had
said, that the circumstances were as he had stated.
Lord BROUGHAM—Did the Noble Earl hear me
say I did not mean to divide, or did he ask me the
question, " Will you divide or not?"
The Earl of MALMESBURY—" Will you divide?"

Lord BROUGHAM—Ay, but what was said was
not that I would not
.divide. The Noble Earl won't
screw himself up to say that I said I would not divide.
MhEaST
eßnUoltiln't—e
nTt
iho en
ofNoble
doingasnod.
lA,leyTa rh nee d
intentionELa ro
lr
doonfly saidM,
is to record my opinion of the Bill.
Lord BROUGHAM—" Ofdoing so;"meaning thereby
of debating the Bill. Understanding the question to be
of debating the Bill, certainly I answered the Noble
Earl's question that I did not intend to debate at all.
The Noble and Learned Lord proceeded to observe that
the Noble Earl now said Noble Lords often asked him
to give them information when Bills were coming on.
What the Noble Earl had first stated was, not that he
was asked to tell when the Bill was coming on, but that
he was asked to desire Peers to attend who approved of
the Bill. Was it meant by that statement to convey the
impression that all the Noble Earl did was to go about
among the Peers and say, " Have you considered the
Bill, and do you approve of it; and if you approve of it
come down?" He (Lord Brougham) rather thought the
Noble Earl had been asked to ask people to come down
upon or for this Bill, and not only in case they should
approve of it.

- Earl GREY thought it would be much more for their
Lordships' convenience that this conversation should
drop. lie hoped his Noble Friend (Lord Mouteagle) in
bringing the question before their Lordships to-morrow
would introduce some modification which would render
the Bill less objectionable.
On the motion of the Marquis of L ANSDOWNE the
Removal of Aliens Bill was read a third time and passed.
Their Lordships then adjourned till to-morrow (this
day).

HOUSE OF COMMONS, April 15.
NEW WRIT FOR HORSHAM.
Mr. STAFFORD then rose to move for the issuing
of a new writ for Horsham, in the room of John Jervis,
Esq., whose election had been determined to be void.
Mr. HUME was somewhat surprised that this writ had
been moved in the face of a Bill now before the House
lfaosrt electioninquirin tuginrttohtishennroug.
circumstancesn connected with the
Mr. STAFFORD said that, as a debate had arisen,
not by his fault, upon this question, it was his duty to
positionit would
in
be which
idle t thiso
disg
disguise
eotuhgaht
F
was at present
elections was of considerably increasing
this question o
importance, not only with the House, but with the
country. The position in which they placed themselves
see the
ought really seriously to be considered. What were the
takenwr tbheefuorcealtlheed Ctoomprmoviteteteheitcahpaprgeaeroefdttrheaatint.thge,
facts connected with Horsham? From the minutes of
lefsor the sitting Member resigned the seat. Two
subsequently a Mr. Waugh was called, who stated the •
tances under which an arrangement was proposed
the
seat.
circumstances
nuri
counsel
et evidence
nune:nt
se s
Committee shrunk from a fair and
or else, because there were a few
for the relinquishment of
water and a few cigars given away Either,
iinp artt
impartial
therefore,
scrutiny,the
the borough was to be unishedbglasses of brandy and
attha ncisuinnesnnpenaent
osHifuontrhuseht
amthe
writ. But this was not all. consequence
un-
precedented report of this Committee, and the curious
rumours in circulation, the singular course had been
en of introducing a Bill arming a new Committee
with new powers of investigation and inquiry. The
usual course of the House was to stand by the decisions
of its Committees. They had constituted a certain
tribunal, they had taught the people to look to the deci-
sions of that tribunal ; and however corrupt Horsham
might be, it was an act of great tyranny to punish the
innocent with the guilty by refusing a writ to the issue
of which the report of the Committee did not in any
way object. But if they objected to issue a writ to
Horsham, how did they excuse themselves for issuing a
writ for Kinsale ? In that borough drunkenness, de-
' baucherv, and corruption had been proved to have existed
on a wholesale scale. Intimidation and bribery pre-
vailed there to a frightful extent, and yet the Committee
in that case had, upon his (Mr. Stafford's) own motion,
issued a writ in that case without hesitation or objection.
If they did not abide by the decision of Election
Committees, they had better alter their election law alto-
gether. They had no right to tell the people that that
should be tried by one law and one tribunal, and then,
altering their law and the tribunal, declare to them that
they should be tried by an ex post facto Act of Parlia-
ment, framed to meet the peculiar circumstances.—
(Hear.) It was to be recollected that on no one occa-
sion had they, up to the present time, ever reached:the
real authors of these iniquities, who were the country
attorneys and lawyers, and other people in the middle
classas in the respective boroughs. Theme people were

..-sees---------...--------- _
-
never got at; but the Member, who had no cognizance rat first fell, have again rallied, and advanced higher than
of the facts, and the poor voter who was not able to re- . before the arrival of the Caledonia Produce, on the
sist temptation, were made the scapegoats of these wicked i !ontratry, droops,_ mainly
.becat!se of 'the check. iven to
He (Mr.
..Stafford) knew nothing of 4 x por ation to France, which, in cotton especially, was
persons' doings.
Horsham, or of any person in it, but he had taken up • considerable at this season of the year.
this question on public gro.unds and he thought this Owing to the repairs and enlargement of the Erie
writ ought in justice to be Canal now in progress, the period of resuming navigation
Mr. AGLIONBY said i
ssued.th Hon. Member Then
owned !; is postponed till May I—a great disappointment to many,
to moving the writ for Kinsale.—( Hear.) Th more ' looking for an early trade, which the season would
shame for him.—(Laughter.) However much he (Mr. already permit, for our spring has commenced and winter
Aglionby) might have said upon that and on former has disappeared. By the increased facilities, however,
occasions, wherever there was found to be a case of cor- the aggregate of the year's trade will not probably be
rapt dealing, now he declared his firm determination to found diminished.
bunt it down. There was a clear prima facie case for In foreign exchange, our quotations for English ster-
further inquiry here, and he called upon the Governi ling are from Bto 94, and in extreme cases 9i. In francs
ment to aid those Members who were seeking to vindie there is no market—few caring to draw, and fewer still
este the character of the House in the eyes of the. y being able to negotiate bills on France.
country. '4 The Cotton market has suffered a decline owing to the
Mr. FITZROY said it would be a premium upon core : advices per Caledonia, and the continual large accumu-
ruption if a writ were again issued without full inquiry lation of stocks at the southern ports—the excess at the
to a borough which had been guilty of such gross cor- latest dates received over the stocks at the like period
ruption as that which had notoriously disgraced Hors.- last year reaching 235,000.
ham.—(Hear.) The fall in price since the Caledonia's arrival may be
Lord COURTENAY said that the Committee upon stated at from itoi• of a cent. per lb. In the southern
the Horsham election, of which ho was a:member, had not ' ports business declined very much on the receipt of the
reported as to bribery, for the simple reason that the it Cambria's news, giving the first intelligence of the
subject was not brought before them in a way to call for French Revolution. When the accounts by the Caledonia
a report. He was quite ready to support the proposition shall reach them, the decline must be still greater.
of the Noble Lord opposite for further inquiry, and Yee, Bread Stuffs—Since the sailing of the steam-ship
should therefore resist the issuing of the writ for tics Cambria the operations in flour have been on quite a
present. limited scale, and confined mostly to the wants of
Lord J. RUSSELL concurred entirely in the pm- the city trade. Pure Genessee brands are scarce,
priety of suspending the writ until there had ben lull and bring G dolls. 62ic., whilst the common kinds of
inquiry made iota the circumstances of the case, wh: eh Oswego, Brooklyn, &c., may be had at 6 dolls. 50c. to
inquiry, it occurred to him, might be conducted under 6 dolls. 561 c. Baltimore, Georgetown, Richmond country
the provisons of the Bill of which the Hon. Baronets and other southern are selling slowly at 6 dolls. sc. to
near him had given notice better than under the parte. 6 dolls. 37c. The stocks of all kinds are
ening light
of,
the Erie
and not
cular Bill which he himself had introduced. more than will be wanted before the op
Sir J. HAN NIER then moved an `amendment for Canal on the Ist of May. Corn meal
is dull t 2 d
aols.
leave to bring in a Biil to appoint Commissiours to in- 500. ; Rye flour 3 dolls. 621 c. ; Indian corn has been
e
quire into the existence of corrupt practices at elections selling freely the last week for distilling,
and a fair
for certain boroughs. He had framed the measure ex- portion fur export prices have rangeel from 52c.
actly on the precedent of the Stitibury inquiry commis- to 54c. for Jersey yellow, and 53c. to Lee.
aion, adding a clause rendering the measure a permanent for white Southern and Jersey. The export of
one, so that when future occasions should arise calling corn from this port for March was 207,953 bushels.
for similar inquiries, the House would only need, by Rye is in moderaterequest
a
rt ;3 to 75c. Wheat is
resolution, to call the Act into operation. still held at 140 c. for Ohio, and 150 c. for Gensee, with
The Earl of LINCOLN thought that as there had small sales.
been no special report on the Horsham case it would be The freight engagements for a few clays past have
unfair, perhaps, to include that borough in the prowl- been largo—mostly for corn, at 3iel to 4c1., although sd,
sions of this measure. was generally asked yesterday.—E. Bell's Circular.
Mr. AGLIONBY observed that such inquiries would
be rendered unnecessary if Government would honestly
come forward and give the people household suffrage and
the vote by ballot.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. STAFFORD then withdrew his motion, and Sir
J. Hanmer's amendment was agreed to. The Honourable
Baronet's Bill was subsequently brought in and read a
first time.
ATTACHMENT OF GOODS (IRELAND).
On the motion of Mr. REYNOLDS, leave was given
to bring in a Bill to abolish the process of attachment of
goods in the courts of record of the municipal corpora-
tions of Ireland.
WILFUL DAMAGE BILL,.
On the motion of Sir W. CLAY, leave was given to
bring in a Bill to amend the law in England relative to
remedies against the hundred for injuries to property by
riotous assemblages.
The House adjourned at Eight o'clock.

Vbtrb VZOition
SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock.

THE CONWAY RAILWAY TUBE

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—The first locomotive engine and train crossed
by the tube over the Conway, at ten minutes past
twelve, this day. There was not the slightest
deflexion, nor, indeed, perceptible vibration, during
its passage. As a constant reader of your paper, I
thought that this information might be acceptable.—
I am, Sir, &c.,

0. 0. ROBERTS,
Of Castle Hill, Bangor

Conway, April 18, 1848.

THE UNITED STATES

AND MEXICO.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT
(THIS EVENING.)

HOUSE O.F LORDS.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Woo:
sack at Five o'clock.
PETITIONS.

Lord BEAUMONT presented petitions from severe,
societies of Odd Fellows, praying that their societies
might be placed upon the same footing as benefit and
friendly societies.
CROWN AND GOVERNMENT SECURITY BILL.
The LORD CHANCELLOR, in moving the second
reading of the Crown and Government Bill, appre-
hended that the public were in possession of informa-
tion sufficient to justiFy the Government in the intro•
duction of this measure. Inflammatory speeches were
every day made in London and Dublin, and it was
necessary to propose some alteration in the criminal
law, in order to bring those to justice who were en-
gaged in these nefarious proceedings. If their Lord-
ships were of opinion that measures should bo adopted to
provide a remedy for this state of things, he hoped they
would consent to this Bill. The Noble and Learned
Lord then explained the state of the law of treason
under the Act of Edward 111., and the necessity of
proving some overt act in order to procure conviction
for treasonable words spoken, and the difference made
in the law by the Act:of Geo. 111 , (which applied only to
England), and which made inciting to attempts at com-
passing the death of the Sovereign, or at levying war
against the Sovereign, or attempting to deprive the
Sovereign of his dominions, or attempting to intimidate
Parliament, substantive acts of treason. Great delays
took place in prosecutions for high treason. The
Bill proposed to make those offences which
were treasons under the Act of George the Third
felonies, and to extend the provisions of the Act to
Ireland. To that alteration he did not apprehend that
any of their Lordships would object. He was
bound, however, to allude to one alteration
which bad been made by this Bill in the
Act of George lIL It ieclurled among the
persons who should be deemed guilty of felony, those
person who should by open or advised speaking counsel
to any of the designs which were made felony
by the Act. It was principally from open and advised
speaking that the present danger arose, and therefore
this alteration was required in the law to meet the danger.
It was not by this intended to subject a person to the
punishment of felony for the uttering of mere words.
The felony consisting in compassing or designing any
of the offences mentioned in the Act, and the words
were merely to be taken as a proof of such compassing
or designing. The punishment proposed to be inflicted
on persons convicted of these felonies was transporta-
tion. The Noble and Learned Lord concluded by
moving the second reading of the Bill.
Lord Stanley and Lord Brougham rose together, but
the latter Noble Lord gave way.
Lord STANLEY would not throw any impediments
in the way of passing this measure, which lie thought
was absolutely required. It was necessary to have some
measure inflicting sufficient punisbment on those whose
crimes amounted to more than misdemeanours, and
yet whom it would not be proper to dignify
with a prosecution for high treason.—(Hear, hear.)
This Bill properly degraded those persons as felons,
classing them in the some category with thieves and
robbers, and murderers. He should however, have
wished that circumstances had so turned out as
to have enabled both the House and Government to have
given the subject a greater degree of consideration.
With regard to the extension of the Bill to Ireland he
approved of it. Yet he should have been better pleased
if the Government had made this a special measure, and
had left the permanent alteration to be made at a
subsequent period. He thought the compassing the
deposition or the imprisonment of the Sovereign should
have been retained in the category of treason. He
thought also that the Government ought to have the
option of prosecuting many crimes made felonies by this
Act either as a felony or a misdemenour. in order to give
the Crown the power of having persons so charged
tried by a special jury, and of depriving the person
of his peremptory right of challenge. He should not
detain the House further, than to observe, that the
responsibility of the measure itself, and of the delay
which had taken place in bringing it forward, must
rest with her Majesty's Government.
Lord BROUGHAM said no one could feel more
strongly than he did the grievous state of things in the
sister country which had rendered the introduction of
this measure necessary.
(LEFT SPEAKING.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The SPEAKER took the ChairßAGE.at Twelve o'clock.
THE SUFF
Mr. MOWATT presented a petition from Penryn,
sigiied by the Mayor and several of the inhabitants,
praying ..
for the extension and more equitable distribution
of the franchise.
HUDDERSFIELD IMPROVEMENT BILL.
The report on this Bill was considered and agreed to
with some amendments.
POOR-LAW.
Mr. G. BERKELEY presented a petition from the parish
of Westbury-on-Severn, complaining of the great'number
of poor seeking relief now, and praying the House to
devise some remedial measures. . .
HEALTH OF TOWNS BILL.
Lord G. BENTINCK presented a petition from
Liverpool, signed in three days by 1,661 persons, praying
that the town may not be included in this Bill ; and
against the principle of centralization. He had examined
the signatutures (Laughter) and found them un-
exceptionable.
The NOBLE
Colonel TI-I.
NAVIGATION-LAWS.
presented two
petitions from
Glasgow against any alteration in the navigation-laws.
Bungay, signed°bMy 120TpNerso
finality, in ' TILE BALLOT.
ns, presented
against a
thepetition principle from
of
y, in tav,ur of gradual in preference to sudden re-
forms, and in favour of the vote by ballot.
LEASEHOLD PROPERTY.
Mr. 11ORSM
AN presented • • C
a petition .rom Cumber-
land, praying for the enfranchisement of leasehold pro-
perty.
______

. _
NOTICES OF MOTION.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL moved that the orders of the
day take precedence of notices of motion on Thursdays
after Easter. It was necessary to do this, as the discus-
sions on the army and navy estimates generally occupied
a good deal of time, and as it was necessary when they
were brought on that the whole evening should be de-
voted to their consideration. He did not complain that
these discussions occupied so much time. The Govern-
ment had also been prevented, by other matters inter-
vening, from bringing on other matters of importance.
He had spoken to several Hon. Members on the subject,
and they concurred with him in thinking that the course
he proposed was tllimEoAstLaldiv,:NisabßlemtoLadopt.
Mr. EWART asked the Noble Lord if he could give
ment to think it
the reasons to the Hodu.sehwthtoichphreapdeisnedutcheids tteillGaotverthne-
?xPlleleasked the question, because he
posed a similar provision.
Noble Lord had, on a tormer occasion, op-
Pberleiseevnetd the junctureN ob .
n received by the
of information which had been h
h d been induced to
rz• r ey a
Lord J. RUSSELL repliedb that the Bill was the result
Govern-
ment from several quarte .
the genera p
certainly quite opposed to . . .
was that no such
His opinion
think such a Bill necessary, although heladmoliitetycdoift Ras
country.—(Hear, hear.)
Bill ought to exist at ordinary times. He did not think
icti rwe:Miu I 'lt
abnec eadvisablevi hadf lhe idm
forward such a Bill. It was, riht, however,
ment to bring
he should
state that it was merely of a temporary ttboestGatoevetrobthe Route the
gporary character.
THE BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL then rose and said—
: litshavenow' Sir, to move, that the House at
rising adjourn until Saturday next, with the
moving view of on that day a further adjournment until
Monday, the Ist of May. It may, Sir, perhaps, be con-
venient that I should state to the House the course
which the Government intend to pursue with respect to
the business before it after Easter. On Monday, the Ist
of May, I shall propose that the first business shall be
the advances for special purpcses—the ore for a certain
West Indian loan for the promotion of emigration, the
substance of which was stated by my Right Honourable