The Sun.
London, England, 1851-06-27 00:00:00

PETITIONS.

Lord BROUGHAM presented several petitions in
favour of the County Courts Extension Bill.
Lord LYTTELTON presented a petition from the
Droitwich Union, in favour of an improvement in the
organization of the police force of counties.
Lord STANLEY presented a petition from the Gold-
smiths' Company, praying that they may be heard by
counsel against the Charitable Trusts Bill, or be exempted
from the operation of the measure.
Lord REDESDALE presented petitions from several
City companies with a similar prayer.
The Marquis of SALISBURY presented several pe-
titions against the Charitable Trusts Bill.
The Earl of HARROWBY presented several petitions
from trustees of charities against the Charitable Trusts
Bill.

PRIVATE BILLS.
On the motion of Lord REDESDALE several private
Bills were forwarded a stare.
JOTEE PERS ALM.
The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH had received several
communications on the subject of the case of Jotee Per-
saud, and he therefore gave notice that he should to-
morrow again draw the attention of their Lordships to
the subject.
FEE FARM RENTS (IRELAND) BILL.
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE move the second
reading of this Bill.
The Earl of WICKLOW objected to certain provi-
sions of the Bill, and should oppose them in Committee.
After a few words from the Marquis of CLANRI-
CARDE, the Bill was read a second time.
CHARITABLE TRUSTS BILL.
The LORD CHANCELLOR moved the order of the
day for the second reading of the Charitable Trusts Bill.
The subject had been now under the consideration
of Parliament for upwards of seventy years; and five
commissions, of which four had been appointed under
the authority of Parliament, and the last one under the
sign manual, had investigated and reported upon the sub-
ject. From their labours it appeared that there were
28,840 charities in this country, of which upwards of
13,000 had an income of less than 51. a year; 5,000 less
than 101. a year; and a considerable number, varying
from 4,000 to 5,000, incomes under 100/. The Com-
missioners acting under the sign manual had been most
indefatigable in their labours. Its members were com-
posed of three Noble Lords of the House of Peers, three
Members of the House of Commons, a Master in Chan-
cery, and a barrister; and they had presented two re-
ports, which had attracted the attention of Parliament,
and consequently since 1840 various Bflle had been
brought in from time to time, all of which, however, had
failed to receive the approbation of Parliament. In the
year 1845 the Noble and Learned Lord (Lyndhurst)
had brought in a Bill, which had passed their Lordships'
House, but had failed to pass the lower House. In the
year 1846 a second Bill on the subject was introduced. It
met with strong opposition, and failed passing by a ma-
jority of two. He (the Lord Chancellor) would endeavour
to avoid in the present Bill the causes of the objections
made to the Bill of 1846. The labours of the Commis-
sion to which he had referred had led to the introduc-
tion of the proposed measure; and he feared if that,
too, should fail to meet the approbation of Parliament,
there was little chance for the future of dealing suc-
cessfully with this very difficult subject. Before stating
the provisions of the Bill, he should direct attention to
what had been brought to light by the labours of the
Commission as to the causes of the, abuses discovered
in the administration of charities. Those labours war-
ranted the propriety of extending a superintending juris-
diction over the management of charities. As to
whether there should be any or what exemptions was a
vary grave question. One of the great causes of abuses
in charities was the want of publicity, and the want of
check in the accounts. Nobody had been charged with
the particular duty of keeping the accounts, and in con-
sequence many and heavy losses were entailed on their
funds. One charity had lost 30,0001. from that cause,
and in another case it was found that an income which
had been formerly only 2/. had increased to 1,5001. In
many instances rent-charges had become permanent,
and it also happened that the money vested in trustees
had come into the hands of a single trustee, and he
dying, the funds were lost to the charity. The
evils which were thus pointed out in the very satis-
factory and able report of the Commissioners were
both numerous and grievous, and he considered that
the existence of the board which he proposed to create
under the present Bill would prevent more than half of
them. The importance of the subject was shown by the
amount of the annual income of the charities of the
kingdom, which had been sworn at 1,200,0001. The
Bill then proposed to establish a board of five Com-
missioners, of whom two were to be paid. The board
should be constituted a corporation, and should have the
power to call for accounts and to examine parties under
certain circumstances; also to give advice when asked
for by charities, and the trustees should be indemnified
for acting under that advice. They should also have
the power of certifying to the Attorney-General such
cases as called for his interference. Although many
cases had been with advantage brought before the
court by private relators, yet to prevent abuses no pro-
secution should be permitted to be entered upon without
th© sanction of the Commissioners. All cases under
the value of 301. should be referred to the county court,
from the decision of which there would be allowed an
appeal to the Commissioners, who, however, were not
invested with judicial authority, but could remit the
matter back fur a second consideration, or could order
a new issue. In all cases where the amount was
between 301. and 1001. the matter should go
directly before the Master, the Commissioners
retaining the power to direct the questions which
were to be brought before the Court. But there
was to be no litigation except with the sanction of the
Commissioners. The next subject treated of in the Bill
was that of accounts. On this head it was provided that
the managing trustees should annually make a return of
the receipts and disbursements of their respective chari-
ties, copies of which should be transmitted to the clerks
of the peace and of the county courts, for public inspec-
tion. The Commissioners were annually, in like manner,
to report their proceedings to both Houses of Parlia-
ment. With respect to the question elf the expenses of
the Commission, no charity under 101. should pay any-
thing; all charities above that amount were to be taxed at
the rate of 2d. in the pound, which would give a sum of
8,5001. applicable to the payment of the expenses of the
Commission. With respect to the question of leasing,
building, mining, and repairs, instead of an application
to the Court of Chancery being necessary, the Commis-
sioners should have the power to deal with them at once.
There were also some provisions relating to the union
of small charities. The Bill would only deal with
permanently endowed charities, and would not interfere
with purely voluntary societies. He should also add,
that trustees would be protected from suits for private
purposes. These were the main features of the Bill.
Several petitions had been presented to their Lordships,
praying to be heard by counsel against the Bill, but he
trusted their Lordships would not accede to that prayer.
He moved that the Bill be read a second time.
Lord BROUGHAM rejoiced at the introduction of the

Bill. It was a measure which had long been needed, and
the want of which hAI worked grievous injustice. Tho
Noble and Learned Lord had understated the efficacy of
his measure. Charities, not of 5Z a year, but of 100/. a
year, could not afford the expense of a Chancery suit,
and the consequence was that persons often held property
of 30/. or 401. a year—that property belonging to a
charity, and yet were permitted wrongfully to retain it,
because it was not worth the expense to dispossess
them.—(Hear.) This was a circumstance that was hu-
miliating to them as a Christian and a civilized country.
lie therefore heartily rejoiced in the proposing of such
a measure as this; but as it was to be referred to a Select

Committed be would not make any lengthenedobserva-
tions upon a measure of which ho so much approved,
and that ho hoped would be unanimously sanctioned by
their Lordships.
Lord STANLEY observed that there bad been nu-
merous and flagrant abuses under the existing law, and
if there could be any doubt as to the necessity of some
measure like the present. that doubt must be removed
by finding the Bill sanctioned by the high authority of
the Commissioners, Of the Lord Chancellor, and of his
Noble and Learned Friend. His only apprehension was
the period of the session at which the measure was pro-
posed. lle was much afraid that a Bill proposed at the
latter end of June ran some risk of being lost.—(Hear.)
He thought the N(.bl:3 and Learned Lord on the wool-
sack would concur with him in thinking that it would be

inexpedient to interfere with charitie—s that depended
upon private support; that there should be an exemption
in favour of charities supported by voluntary contribu-
tions. It would, be thought, also be right not to inter-
fere where there was an vfficient audit, and a sufficient

motive•in the governing body to control the fund, and
to have the purpose of the trust fulfilled. A great
number of public companies were in this position, and
yet were not exempted by the Bill. The question, then,
was, whether they had not a claim to be exempted? It
could not bo contended that they. were ignorant of the
extent of the estates that bad been devised to them.

The LORD CHANCELLOR—They were ignorant
of the objects in many instances fur which the estates

wero devised.

Lord STANLEY said it appeared to him to be sin-
gular that bodies of a public character should be in pos-