The Sun.
London, England, 1851-07-17 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, July 16.
(Continued froM our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)
LAW OF EVIDENCE AMENDMENT BILL.
The House then went into Committee on this Bill.
On clause 1 being discussed,
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL explained that the
alteration in the law of evidence, proposed by the first
and second clauses of the Bill, was to allow parties in a
suit, for ttso future, to give testimony in their own
favour. The advantages to be attained by this
change appeared to him sufficiently valuable to over-
weigh any objection which could be urged against it.
The principle was by no means a new one; it was the
usual oourse for the Court of Chancery, and in the com-
mon law courts sitting in banco; and, he might say,
the whole of the county court judges, who had had ex-
perience of the practice in their own eourts, with one
exception, were in favour of the alteration.
Clauses 1 and 2 were then agreed to.
On clause 3,
Mr. HENLEY noticed the anomaly proposed by this
clause in not permitting, a hueband or wife to give evi-
dence in favour of or aeainst each other. Husband and
wife were considered one by the law, and he did not see
any reason that in an alteration of this nature such an
exception shoLuld be made.
The AT TORNEY-GENERAL admitted that he
could not defend tile exception, although he understood
that the majority of the Learned Lords in another place
were in favour of it.
Mr. CROWDER agreed with the Hon. Member for
Oxfordshire in part, and he should therefore propose an
amendment to the effect that hu,band and wife should
be allowed to give evidence in favour of, bat not against
each other.
Mr. J. EVANS objected to any such amendment, as
it would diminish the force of the Bill.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL also objected to the
middle course proposed by the Hon. and Learned Mem-
ber for Liskeard.
Mr. WAKLEY suggested that the whole clause should
be omitted from the Bill.
Mr. HENLEY suggested that the restriction, at all
events, should be confined to criminal cases.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL concurred entirely
with the Hon. Member for Oicordshire that this excep-
tion would meet ail the requirements of the case.
After a short discussion the clause, as amended, was
agreed to, as was also clause 4.
Oa clause 5, which enacted that four days' notice must
be given where it was intended to call the plaintiff or
defendant as a witness,
Mr. JOIDI EVANS objected to this new principle,
and proposed the omission of the entire clause.
After some diecusiiou, the Committee divided, when
there appeared—

37
39
-8

Yor the C 111139
Against it ...
Majority
The clause was teen agreed to.
The remaining, clauses were agraed to, the House re-
stmed, and the report was ordered to be received.
piIARNIA.CY BILL.
On tha molion for goita; into Committee on this Bill,
M. WAKLEY saui tail Bill had been aiio wed to
proceed so far upon the understandin4 that the Bill was
not to pass this sessioa.—(Hear, hear.) Subsequently,
however, the Welt Honourable Baronet the Secretary
of State for the Honas Department promised to
allow the Bin to proceed if all opposition was with,
dra lin to it; but tho Hon. Member fur Oxfordshire, who
had acted very fairly throughout this matter, saw some
session, and it
diffi.iulty in the way or legislation this
War,, therefore, not the intention of the promoters to
press it now. They trusted that next session the sub-
ject would he vigorously taken up, and that after it
had been considered by a S:ileat Committee, nornethin
should be done in the '
way of legislation woull
move, siropty for th 4 sake form, :slat the Bill be com-
mitted this day three months.
Mr. HENLEY thought the House would not b
a position to dedieltrectively this ibjecit untilefelin•-
ther inquiry had been tnAe.

Mr. II ELL, who hfid charge of the Bill, bad no ob-
jection tl ing.tiry, but be hoped the Bill would not be
raised up the interminable question of mediel.l re-
form.

Thl aution of Mr. W.tliley wla then agreed to, and
the Bill was !htrefore lost.

LOCAL ACTS.(PRELIMINARY INQUIRIES)

BILL.

This Bill was read a second dme, and ordered to be
committed to-morrow.

6OPYJIOLD AND INOLO3URE COMMISSIONS

BILL.

This Bill went through Committee, and was ordered
to ba reported to-morrow,
STOCK INT TRADE BILL.
This Bill wa, rPai a third awe and pissed.
VICTORIA-PARK BILL.

This 13111 went through Committee, and was ordered to
be reported to-morrow.

COUNTY COUR rs LTaTHER, EXTENSION BILL.
The Howe then went into Committee on this Bill,
and, the remaining clauses were agreed to.
Mr. CIZOsiVDER moved the introduction of a clause
to give power to the superior courts or any two judges
to hear app:!als in term es well as out of term.
Mr. J. EVANS and the ATTORNEY GENERAL opposed
the clause.

Sir J. GRAHAM thought it was desirable to effect
the change which the clause proposed, but, ot course, he
should ba bound by the law officers of the Crown, and
if they c9nsici,,recl the change unnecessary there would
be an end of his support. 1; occurred to him thAt the
present system of appeal was too slow and expensive in
its operation.
Tee ATTORNEY•GENERAL did not think so, nor
could he bring himself to believe that this clause would
either facilitate or economise appeals.
After a short di3cus3ion, the clause was agreed to.
Mr. CROWDER moved the insertion of the following
clause: —" And be it enacted, that when an order shall
be made in any of the said county courts in the nature of
an interpleader order, where tte amount in dispute shall
exceed twenty pounds, any party dissatisfied with the
determination ot the said county court in point of law
may appeal against such order to any of the said superior
courts."

Mr. MULLINGS said, as no inconvenience arose
from the present law, he did not see any utility in pro-
posing such a clans,.
After a few observations from some other Hon. Mem-
bers, the clause was withdrawn.

Mr. CROWDER then moved the following clause:—
•'And for preventing vexatious expenses and delay in pro-
secuting the said appeals, be it enacted, that the judges
of the said superior courts, or any five of them, of whom a
chief of ona of the said superior courts shall ba
one, may from time to time, if they shall
think fir, make general orders for regulating the
proceedings on appeals, which orders shall be as valid
And effectual as if included in this Act : provided al-
ways, that such orders shall not be in force until the
end of the session of Parliament next after the promul-
gation thereof."
The clause was agreed to after a brief discussion.
The House then resumed, the Chairman reported pro-
gresl, and obtained leave to sit again.
TITHE RENT CHARGE ASSESSMENT BILL.
This Bill went through Committee.
The other orders of the day having been disposed of,
the House adjourned.

STATE OF TRADE.
(From the Manchester Guardian.)
MANCHESTER, TUESDAY.—According to the official
list. the receipts of cotton at the American ports to the
2d July were 2,263.466 bales. The better qualities were
*e. per lb. higher at New York than on the 25th tilt.
(mainly through the influence of accounts from this side)
—the lower grades, however, being very much neglected;
and these grades bad lost lc. in the southern enerkets,
while the better ones remained firm. The general prospects
of the growing crops were highly favourable, genial
rains in the Atlantic States having improved its condition
in those districts from which alone any complaints have
latterly been received. There is nothing in these accounts
to weaken the prevailing opinion with us, that the raw
material has not yet run its downward course; and this
opinion continues, therefore, to exercise a somewhat de-
pressing influence upon the value of our staple produc-
tions. Good spinning; of iso. 6's to 12'8 water twist, in
the bundle, hare indeed commanded last week's prices
in to-day's market; and the engagements still :in hand
for warps of the lower counts, say from 16's to
24's, enable the makers to maintain their quotations
with firmness,—those only (and not all of them) being
disposed to concede
,id.nicie3r ot whose contracts are ex-
piring. But, in
water, suitable for Ger-
many, spinners find2o s
t
themselves at a disadvantage of id.
,as compared with this day week; in
steadiness in
at the
the rates
counts just named, there is also a l'iltalrps above the
giving way;
and, although there
is a good deal ofe
Cops, yet business is scarcely .practicable
of this day week. The India merchants are quite,
out of the market ; and their descriptions of yarn, to-
gether with 40-inch ahirtingg, are consequently_ more
depressed than almost any other articles. Domestics,
T's, and long cloths are steady, as aro also k
_printing
cloths. Looking at our market in general, it is
evident that business is very much kept in
abeyance by that prevalent opinion in regard to
cotton, which we have before referred to ; and an
increasing irregulerity in prices is a consequence.
In addition to the small failure of Raphael and Co. we
are sorry to bear of that of another Levant firm—Viz.,
Ralli and Mayroeordato, of London, with their Man-
chester branch, C. P. Ralli. For several months back,
little has been done by the latter, whose debts, therefore,
consist only of some trifling balances. The London firm,
however, is mated to owe about 20,0001., chiefly on ac-
count of bills drawn upon them in favour of Levant
houses in this country.
ROCHDALE, MONDAY.—The flannel market has under-
gone little cr no change since that of the preceding
week, except in coarse goods, such as kerseys, which
have been rather more inquired after. The wool market
has been full as easy, except in kw.
priced English wools,
which are scarce, and maintain good prices.
MACCLESFIELD, TUESDAY.—The demand for menu-
factured goods, though by no means extensive, continues
slowly to increase; complaints are, however, general
at the present low current rates, which seem to
be totally unremun
orative. llome-thrown—This mar.
ket has not sustained
the improved character
of last week ; leas business doing. Price re-
main firm, without alteration. reign-thrown—
Some business doing. Prices, in some instances, may
be quoted higher, limits to that effect having been re-
ceived from the continent, where the crop, according to
the latest advice% is stated to be short, prohably to
the extent of five to ten per cent. Law Side—
Rather more doing. Prices extremely firm, and, in
soma instances, looking upwards.
HALIFAX, SATUIIDAY.—The trade in our Piece Hall
continues in the same languid condition. The only sort
of goods in request is low lestiege, which are not pro-
duced in quantities large enough for the demand. There

THE

is a moderately good sale of power-loom damasks; but,
for those woven by hand, the inquiry is very
limited. The depressed state of the spinners has under-
gone no improvement. The quotations for yarn are
inadequate to the cost of production, at the current rates
of wool; and there seems to be no prospect of relief, ex.
cept by running short time. The sales of wool are not
extensive, as the spinners purchase only to supply im-
mediate wants; and prices remain as they were.
HUDDERSFIELD, TUESDAY.-0a the whole there has
been an improvement in our market on last week's.
More business has been transacted in the Cloth Hall.
Striped woollens and fancies are is request. Stocks are
low in the ball, and more is being done to order. In.the
shipping trade not much has beea done. The wool
market is flat, as is usual at this time of the year.
LEEDS, TUESDAY.—The woollen trade continues ac-
tive. The market at the Cloth Hall, on Saturday last,
was brisk, and a fair business has been done to-day.
Prices remain firm.

LONDON AND WESTMINSTER

BANK.

A special general meeting of the proprietors in this
bank was held 3 esterday aftern lon, at the head office, in
Lothbury, for the purpose of receiving the half-yearly
report of the directors and declaring a dividend.
Mr. Allerman Salomons, M.P., presided.
The following is a copy of the directors' report:—
LONDON AND WESTMINSTER BANK, JUNE 30, 1851.
The net profits of the bank during the last half-year
amount to 42,0514 ls. 3d. Out of these profits the di-
rectors now declare a dividend at the rate of six per cent.
per annum. After the payment of this dividend there
will remain 12,0511. Is. 3d. to be added to the surplus
fund, which will then amount to 112,1581. 13s. 4J.
Dr. s. d.
To proprietors for paid-up capital 1,000,000 0 0
To amount due by the bank fur depo-
,sits, circular notes, 84c.
To rest, or surplus fund
To net profits of the past half-year

.£5,556,338 11 2

Cr.
By Government Stock, Exchequer-
Bills, and India Bonds
By other Securities, including bills
discounted, loans to customers, &r.". 3,810,600 4 1
By cash in . 691,719 17 1

£5,556,338 11 2
PROFIT AND Loss, JUNE 30, 1851.

Dr.
To total expenditure of ,the six esta-
blishments, including rent, taxes,
salaries, stationery. &,c
To payment, of the dividend, now de-
clared at the rate of 6/. per cent. per
annum for the last half-year 30,000 0 0
To balance of unappropriated profits 112,158 13 0

s. d.

18,682 5 0

£160,840 18 4

Cr.
By balance of unappropriated profits on
the 31st December, 1850
By gross pr fits of the last half-year
a'ter prying the income-tax, and
making proviaion for all bad and
doubtful debts..

60,733 6 3