The Sun.
London, England, 1851-07-31 00:00:00

DOGGETT'S COAT AND BADGE.

MR. SALOMONS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

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The following are the competitors for Doggett's Coat
and Badge, and other prizes, on Friday next:—
George Daniel Weggett—Somer's-quay.
Salter Martin Milford-lane.
Alfred G. Andrews Battle-bridge.
John Lashbrook Old Swan.
George Bean Custom-house Lower-stairs.

Joha—Webb Wapping,
in addition to the coat and badge for the first man,
41. 10s. for the second, and 21. 103. for the third, be-
queathed by the late Sir W. Jolliffo, the Fishmongers'
Company have liberally added a guinea for the first
man, a guinea and a half for the fourth, and a guinea
each for the two last. The race will be started, under
the able direction of Mr. Dards, at five in the evening.

Sin,—There appears to be considerable difference of
opinion on the exact position of the question as to the
admissibility of Jews into Parliament, and believing that
as the House of Lords have chosen not to pass the Bill, it
is not possible for that question to be more favourably
situated than it now is, perhaps you will spare room for
the following observations.
My own opinion is, that Mr. Salomons has taken the
oath and is entitled to take his seat, but I should be most
wanting in candour were I to contend that the question
is entirely free Irons doubt; and then the point is this,—
in an admitted doubtful case what mode of proceeding is
open to the least practical inconvenience.
Much obloquy has been thrown, and in my judgment
very unjustly, upon the Master of the Rolls for the reso-
lution of last session in the Baron's case, which, however,
differs legally from that of Mr. Salomons; but, suppose
that the Master of the Rolls had recommended the House
to adopt a diffent course, and to pass a resolution de-
claring that the oath was well taken! Let us reflect
upon the great inconvenience which might have arisen.
Suppose in some score of actions raised to recover the
penalties the Court of Queen's Bench had held that the
oath had not been taken, and that the penalties were re-
eoverable, we should have a direct collision between the
House of Commons and the courts of law—the former
deciding that a Member had taken the oath, the latter
convicting him in penalties for not having taken the oath.
The House of Commons must have given way.
From this unfortunate position the Master of the
Rolls—worthy of the name of Romilly—has saved the
House. No collision can now take place; for suppose
the Court to decide that Mr. Salomons has not taken
the oath, then they agree with the House of Commons.
But suppose the Court to decide that Mr. Salomons
has taken the oath required by law, and therefore the
penalties are not recoverable, surely it is as clear as the
sun at noonday that the House of Commons would ac-
cept that decision as the constitutional solution of a
legal question, and immediately admit Mr. Salomons.
Lord John Russell is clearly of this opinion, for al-
though the point was not directly raised, he said, "If in
a discussion in a court of law new light were thrown
upon the subject, there was no reason why the House
should not avail itself of that new light." A Russell
could not have spoken otherwise.
If a majority of the House of Commons were to be so
silly as not to avail themselves of that new light, and
again turn Mr. Salomons out of the House of Commons,
he would immediately commence an action against the
Sergeant-at-Arms, and a British jury would give such
damages as would induce the veriest bigot to cry, Hold,
enough!

Fo these reasons it appears clear to me that it is not
possible for the question to be raised in a more favour-
able manner. Penal laws must be construed strictly,
and in favour of the liberty of the subject.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,

R. W.

HOP INTELLIGENCE.
(From the Maidstone Gazette.)
BARMING.—During the past week some of the strong
grounds have shown a rather better appearance than
they dal before the rains came; as they keep growing
and putting forth burr, they are likely to bear a fair
crop, but there is a good deal of very slack bine, which
has given way with en increase of vermin, and are not
likely to do anything, or,,at best, but very little.
MEREWORTH.—The hops in some grounds are mak-
ing a favourable progress, but where they are struck
with the blight they daily get worse, and the vermin is
as vigorous as ever.
HADLOW.—The hops are generally improving, though
the vermin is thick in some grounds.
HOLLINGBOURNE.—The late thunder showers have
produced a slight improvement.
MALLING.—If some grounds have slightly improved,
others have gone back more than an equivalent.
YALDING AND EIUNTON.—Our hops for this week past
made little or no improvement.
BRENCHLEY.—A great portion of the hops in this
parish have completely given way, and cannot recover;
in other grounds there is a shade of improvement since
the rain.
GOUDHURST.—We are of opinion that three-fourths
of the parish are very bad, with but very little bine, and
in many gardens no lateral shoots ; among the largest
plantations may be found one or two gardens which we
may term splendid for the year. Unfortunately we have
had no rains till this last week of any consequence, so
that there is no visible effect at present; it is very evi-
dent they are past recovery.
louTuast AND SEAL..—Within the last few days the
hops have slightly improved. Mould has mado its ap-
pearance in a few gardens.
SMARDEN AND BIDDENDEN.—ThO bine still remains
in an unhealthy state in most grounds; the fly was seen
in some gardens on Saturday as lively and brisk as ever.
LAZ4BERHURST.—The hops in this parish are still very
foul, and the vermin follow up the young shoots. The
late rains have washed them, and they certainly look
better.
TENTERDEN.—The hops have improved daring the
last week, where they are free from vermin; but upon
the whole not more than half a crop can be expected.
ORPINGTON.—The hops in our parish and St. Mary
Cray are going daily from bad to worse. Our land does
not appear to suit hops, and the only wonder is that
hops are cultivated about here.
FARNHAM, ALTON, AND COUNTRY DISTRICTS, JULY
28.—Since last Thursday we have a decided improve-
ment in most of our grounds, and the very worst are cer-
tainly looking better.
(From the Maidstone Journal.)
MAIDSTONE, JULY 28.—As far as our observations
go, the variable and wet weather of the past week has
not but in a very few instances improved the hop planta-
tions of this neighbourhood, and though there are
many gardens, especially about Farleigh, still free from
blight, and which continue to maintain their healthy and
vigorous appearance, we cannot announce that the pros-
pects of the hop-growers generally are improving—
many of the gardens that were foul with vermin have
already turned black from the growth of the usual fungus
on the honey dew.
AYLESFORD.—Notwithstanding the heavy rains we
have had during the past week, the vermin still are as
numerous as before. A very short crop this year.
BIRLING.—We are very indifferent here—rather worse
than last week.
LINTON.—Our bine has grown eonsiderably since the
rain, but we have also an increase of vermin in our up.
per grounds—some of them are getting worse every day.
MARDEN.—In some grounds a decided improvement
is observable, in others the hops appear stationary.
STAPLEHURST.—The effect of the late rain is visible
in a few places in this parish; but speaking generally
the plant is weakly, owing to the ravages of the vermin
with which they are still infested, and precludes the
possibility of growing anything like a crop.