The Sun.
London, England, 1848-08-04 00:00:00

After a short conversation, the Committee divided,
When there appeared—
For the amendment l6
Agaiast it 7
Majority ..... —63
After a few observations tr:m Colonel SIBTLIORP,
the clause was agreed to.
On clause 3,
Mr. ANSTEY complained that sufficient facilities
were not given for any borough rep3rted against, to d, -
fend itself from disfranchisement, and protested against
constituencies being taken by surprise. He would move
that the blank in the clause be filled up with the words
"not more that 21 nor less than 14 days.'
Mr. J. STEWART suggested that some notice should
be given to the authorities of a borough ysten a Com-
mittee of inquiry was appointed.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL recommended that the
minimum of the notice should be seven days.
Sir R. PEEL thought the proposal of the Hon, Mem-
ber for Youghal a fair one, and, as a friend to the mea-
sure, he would recommend the lion. and Learned Gen-
tleman to adopt it. In every such case, care ought to be
taken that the parties had sufficient notice.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL consented to adopt the
words " not more than 21 days, nor less than 14 days;"
and they were inserted in the clause.
Mr. HENLEY pointed out discrepancies between the
duties assigned to " Committees," and those assigned
to " Commissioners," which clearly ought to be the
same.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL admitted that this was
the case, and promised that the two provisions should be
made to agree with each other. , -
Mr. ANSTEY thought the Commissioners ought only
to have the power of collecting evidence, and reporting
the same to the House.
Mr. J. STEWART objected to the Bill, because it
made the Commissioners both prosecutors and judges, a
principle which was abhorrent to the constitution.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said that the duty of
the Committee would be to make inquiry and report
their conclusion thereupon to the House. The House
would then decide what course to pursue.
Mr. HENLEY thought the more they proceeded into
the Bill the more confused they got.—(Hear.)
Mr. ANSTEY objected to the Committee reporting
their conclusions to the House.
Lord J. RUSSELL said that in certain cases as
Election Committee might now report to the House
that further inquiry into cases of bribery was neces-
sary, and the Speaker, therefore, nominated a Com-
mittee. _

Mr. STUART could not but think that Commis-
sioners, who were to hold a court for the purpose of pro.
?venting inquiries affecting the rights and characters of
individuals, were exercising functions essentially judi-
cial. But if their functions were not judicial, the appli-
cation of the same words to them and to the Committee,
whose functions were judicial, would lead to great con-
fusion.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL explained.
Colonel SIBTHORP, however, interrupted him to
observe that they were really wasting time. He advised
the Solicitor-General to go home and study the Bill, and
come down hereafter better informed upon it. They
appeared to be a set of incompetent bunglers altogether;
never were such a lot bundled up together.—(Laughter.)
Mr. HUDSON asked what the Government meant to
do provided a body of electors in any particular borough
were found guilty of corrupt practices? Ho wished the
Solicitor-General would make a return to the House of
election expenditure. He did not mean at Devonport,
because he knew that Devonport was a nomination
borough of the Government, and that the Honourable
Gentleman was returned for it, not on account of any
merits of his own, but because Government wished him
to be elected for it. The Honourable Gentleman was
a very great man, no doubt, and had a very cavalier
Way of treating Members.—(Here there were very loud
groans and cries of " Ohl" proceeding from both sides of
the House.) He had no objection to wait until gentle-
men had done crying " Oh." He knew how to deal with
Popular assemblies.—(Oh.) Ho had always overcome
opposition in them by patience and perseverance.—(Oh.)
Ile repeated this Bill did not go far enough, and he
thought it would do no good.
Lord J. RUSSELL, as to the course they had pursued
Upon this Bill, wished to observe that when the Govern-
meat, at the desire of the House, had taken it in charge,
they could never have conceived that such personal at-
tacks would be made upon his Hon. and Learned Friend
as that to which he had been just exposed.—(Loud cries
of "Hear, hear.") He hoped the House would not
Countenance such-a method of discussing the measure.
Mr. R. PALMER wished, as a member of the profes-
al_on which was adorned by the Honourable and Learned
uentleman, to express his deep regret that any such per-
sonal attack should be made upon him. He hoped the
Honourable Gentleman ( Ar. Hudson), having had time
for reflection, would feel that he ought not to have made
that attack—(" No" from Mr. Hudson)—but if he did not
he was sure there was not another Member in the House
who felt with him.—(Loud cheering.) In his opinion
the Solicitor-General added lustre to the profession and
to that assembly.—(Renewed cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN then put the question.
Mr. ANSTEY rose amid general groaning, and said
he objected to the the word "and" in this clause.—
(Loud laughter and deep groans.) The Honourable
Member, amid much interruption, persisted in addressing
the House for some time in support of the objection.
Mr. HODGSON said the Hun. Member appeared to
be so much interrupted that he thought it his duty to
move that the Chairman report progress.
The gallery was then cleared tor a division, but none
took place, and on re-entering the gallery we found
Mr. BRIGHT appealing to the Hon. and Learned
Member for Youghal to consider whether in the course
he was pursuing he might nut lay himself open to the
imputation of tactiousuess.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. ANSTEY repudiated the suggestion of fac-
tiousness as applied to his conduct, and proceeded to
move an amendment to the effect that the proposed Com-
missioners should not have power to decide upon any of
the cases which had already been adjudicated upon
by regularly constituted tribunals of the House, but
should be merely empowered to report evidence to the
Rouse.
The Committee divided, when there appeared,,-3
For the amendment ....................
Against it ............... ................. 1.24101
Majority ...... . ..............
The clause was agreed to.
Mr.On clause 4,
ANSTEY proposed to insert the words, " ex-
cept the sitting Member or Members," in relation to
the examination on oath of Members by the Commis-
sioners.
The Committee divided, when there appeared—
For the amendment .
Against it ll5
Majority -93
The clause was then agreed to, and the House re-
sumed, the Committee to sit again at fire o'clock to-
morrow (this day).
THE TITHE RENT CHARGE, &c. (IRELAND)
(No. 2) BILL.
After some conversation as to whether it should be
taken at the morning or evening sitting, it was fixed pro
forma for five o'clock on Monday, when the Hon. Mem-
ber who has the charge of the Bill (Mr. Hamilton) will
"ate the day on which it will be brought on.
PUBLIC HEALTH BILL.
Lord J. RUSSELL said he proposed to consider the
amendments of the Lords to this Bill in Committee of
the whole House, if there was no objection in point of
form to that course.
The SPEAKER was not aware of any precedent for
such a course; but in many instances the House had
referred amendments made uy the Lords to Committees
up stairs, and he knew no reason why the House should
not refer the consideration of such amendments to a
Committee of the whole House.
Mr. HENLEY inquired whether some of the Lords'
amendments to this Bill did not trench on the privilege
of the House ?
The SPEAKER believed that some of those
amendments did interfere with the privilege of the
Commons, but these would come under the notice of
the Committee.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL intimated that he should
propose that the House go into Committee for the pur-
pose of considering these amendment, on Mondaynnet;xt;
and in answer to a question the Noble Lord added,
that there were some of the amendments he should
move the House do not azree to, and that others be
admitted.
The Committee was then fixed for Monday next.
The Distillery from Sugar Bill was re-committed pro
forma; the House resumed, and the report was received.
To be read a third time on Monday.
MARRIAGE (SCOTLAND) BILL.

The LORD-ADVOCATE moved that the second
reading of this Bill be fixed for Monday next, at twelve
o'clock.
Mr. ARKWRIGHT said it was evident the twelve
o'clock sittings were ingenious devices for smuggling
ohnoxions Bills through the House. Ile begged, there-
fore, to move that the words " twelve o'clock" be left out.
The House then divided, when there appeared—
For the original motion
For the amendment
Majority
The second reading of the Bill was then fixed for
Monday, at twelve o'clock.
WINDSOR APPROACHES BILL.

The report on this Bill was received ; a new clause
Was added, binding the parties to the Bill not to exceed
the sum of 85,0001. in executing the whole of the works.
In answer to a question by Mr. B. OSBORNE,
Lord MORPETH said that if at any future time a
Minister came down and asked for more money to com-
plete these approaches he would do so in violation of
this Act.
REGISTRATION OF SASINES (SCOTLAND).
The LORD ADVOCATE moved for leave to bring
in a Bill to authorise the Lords of Council and Sessions
to regulate the rates or dues of registration to be charged
by the keepers of the registers of sasines reversions, &c.,
in Scotland.—Leave given.
MR. URQUHART'S CORRESPONDENCE.
Lord J. RUSSELL moved that the order for address
respecting Mr. Urquhart'a correspondence be discharged,
and that an amended order be substituted.
Mr. URQUHART hoped that the Noble Lord would
give some reason for his motion.
• Lord J. RUSSELL said that the Hon. Member for
Stafford's motion had been originally objeCted to by his
Noble Friend, who had arranged with him that it was to
be proposed in an amended form. Subsequently, when
the motion was made, his Noble Friend thinking it was
in the terms previously arranged, treated it as an unop-
posed return ; but, on subsequent examination, it was
ascertained that the motion asked for correspondence of
1837-8, instead of 1838-9, as had been agreed on. For
these reasons he now moved that the order be amended,
ad the dates 1838.9 be substituted for 1837.8.
Mr. URQUHART protested against being given
Papers for which he had never asked, end refused those
WWI he 1441. been proOieed. lie coutended that hie