The Sun.
London, England, 1834-08-15 00:00:00

ration until November last, and the accounts could not be
made up until the end of the year.
The returns were then ordered.
INCENDIARY FIRES.
Mr. AGLIONBLY called the attention of the Noble Lord
( Althorp) to the case of Richard Bustin, just tried and con-
victed before Mr. Baron Taunton at Warwick, of setting fire
to a rick of corn. He (Mr. A) was aware that there was
nothing in the merits of the case to entitle him to expect that
Ministers would remit the sentence ; but the circumstances
were peculiar, when it was recollected that this House had ac-
tually sanctioned the principle of lessening the punishment for
this offence by reading a bill a second time which had that ob-
ject. The communication he had received came from a gentle-
man of the highest character, but he did not attempt to deny
the guilt of the man, and only suggested that perhaps it would
not be expedient, in the present state of the law to insist upon
the infliction of death. He (Mr. A.) felt a painful responsi-
bility on the subject, inasmuch as he had consented to with-
draw the Bill on account of the lateness of the session, when,
had he persevered, it might perhaps have been passed, and the
life of the unfortunate man thus saved. He had applied to the
Home Office, but the answer was, that as there was nothing to
impugn the verdict, the Secretary for that department could
not interfere. He hoped, however, that the Noble Lord and
his colleagues might be induced to interpose.
Lord ALTHORP adverted to the injurious consequences
that might result if the law of the land was not to be executed,
merely because a Bill had been introduced to alter it. It was
true that the measure referred to had been read a second time ;
but it had only then technically received the approbation of the
House to is principle. He felt that, as a member of the Go-
vernment, in a case like the present, he was placed in a painful
situation ; but he did not feel warranted in advising the Crown
to mitigate the sentence.
Mr. A GLIONBY explained.
Mr. HUM E remarked upon the general principle that pu-
nishment was meant to deter from crime, and to protect so-
ciety : the question here was, whether the severity of the
punishment did not frustrate the end in view. The evil of
wilful fires was to be abated much more effectually by an in-
variable but less severe punishment, since, in some cases, par-
ties who were injured refused to prosecute.
Mr. E WART said that petitions had been presented from
sufferers from incendiarism, praying a mitigation of the law,
in order that it mightbe more effectual.
Colonel DAVIES objected to discussions of thiskind on the
very eve of prorogation, since it placed Government in an em-
barrassing situation.
Mr. F. O'CONNOR suggested that the sentence in this
particular case might be altered to tratspartation for life with
general benefit to society, from the wholesomeness of the
example.

•
ECCLESIASTICAL REVENUES.
Mr. WILK S asked, whether it was the intention of the
Commissioners on Ecclesiastical Revenues to present to the
House a more ample report?
Lord ALTHORP replied in the affirmative.
Mr. WILK S then gave notice, that next session he would
move an address to the Crown, for the appointment of a com-
mission to inquire into the revenues; foundations, &c., of the
Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. lie had refrained from
doing so this year, from the persuasion of several Members,
who had thought that Ministers would themselves appoint such
a commission. •
CHURCH TEMPORALITIES (IRELAND) BILL.
Mr. LITTLETON m,- ved the consideration of the Lords'
amendments to the Irish C:iereli Temporalities Bill.
Mr. HUME asked the nature of the amendments.
Mr. LITTLETON replied, that only one was of any
importance, and that related to the difference between
leases for lives and laves for terms of years. The Bill had
been altered to adapt it to the former.
After a few remarks from Mr. O'REILLY, on the subject
of leases for terms of years, and on the hardship upon certain
individuals, by a refusal on the part of the Bishop of Kildare
to renew them, the amendments were agreed to, and the Bill
sent back.
Colonel PERCE VAL repeated a question he had put on a
former day, to the Secretary for Ireland, regarding- the con-
duct of a magistrate of Limerick, and the report of a trial be-
fore the Solicitor-General.
Mr. LITTLETON answered, that the Solicitor-General's
notes of the trial had been placed before the Lord Chancellor.
Mr. F. O'CONNOR had no doubt the gentleman impli-
cated would be freed from all imputation. He asserted that
the charge of the Solicitor-General to the jury had been most
improper.
Mr. LITTLETON deprecated such accusations without
due examination.
The Lords' amendments to the South Australian Bill were
considered and agreed to, on the motion of Mr. HILL.
BIER BILL.
Lord ALT HORP moved that the Lords' amendments to
the Beer Bill be taken into consideration.
A conversation of some length ensued upon some of the
minor charges, between Messrs. Warburton, Hume, Davies,
Aglionby, Phillips, Hawes, and Lord Althorp.
Mr. HUME objected strongly to an amendment which
closed the beer-shops at eleven at night, arid subjected them
to visits by the police during any part of the night. He con-
tended that none but disreputable persons would open beer-
shops under such circumstances, and expressed his determina-
tion to take the sense of the House upon the
Lord ALTHORP expressed his readiness next session to
assimilate as nearly as possible the hours of beer-shops to the
hours of public-houses. He should have been satisfied with a
power to visit beer-shops for one hour after the time fixed for
closing them, but he did not think it worth while to.refuse con-
currence with the amendment.
Mr. WARBURTON supported the view of the subject
taken by the Hon.- Member for Middlesex.
Mr. T. ATTWOOD denied most of the charges against
beer-shops, and warned the Noble Lord against listening to
the libellous gossip of old women of both sexes. The inquiry
into the subject of drunkenness had originated in some male
old woman.—( Laughter.)
Mr. AGLIONB Y said he could not agree to give a power
for visiting at all hours of the night. He.should vote with the
Non. Member for Middlesex, should he press his motion to a

division.
The House then divided, when there appeared—
For the Lords' amendment
Against it
—l7
Majority
The remaining amendments were then agreed to.
The House then adjourned till one o'clock to-morrow.