The Sun.
London, England, 1860-04-19 00:00:00

THE STATISTICAL SOVIBTY.

Majority l3
The debate was then adjourned until this day month.
ATTORNEYS, SOLICITORS, PROCTORS, AND
CERTIFICATED CONVEYANCERS' BILL.
Mr. MURRAY moved the second reading of this bill,
which came from the Lords, and explained the objects of
the measure. It was proposed by the bill to increase the
respectability aid education of the members of the legal
profession by admitting to it gentlemen who were members
of the universities of England and Ireland, after serving
for three instead of four years, as was the present practice.
It was also proposed to enable barristers to become solicitors
after a service of two years, if they desired to enter on that
branch of the profession ; and that managinc, clerks who
had served for ten years, honestly and faithfully, should be
admitted on serving three years under articles.
Mr. KNIGHT strongly objected to different parts of the
bill, amongst others to the clause proposing to repeal the
act disqualifying attorneys and solicitors from acting as
justices of peace. He thought that when the members of
the profession practised they ought not to occupy a magis-
terial position. He also opposed the clause which proposed
to take money out of the public purse to be placed at the
disposal of an incorporated law society in Chancery-lane.
He concluded by moving that the bill be read a second
time this day six months.
Mr. J. LOCK E complained that the bill which he intro-
duced had been mutilated in the Upper house of Lords,
and that Lord Chelmsford arrested the progress of that
bill, and then brought forward the present one containing
many of the same provisions. He had great respect for
attorneys and solicitors, having been acquainted with them
for several years, but ho objected to their being made magi-
strates. .X suter ultra erepitlam was the principle which
he considered that body should adopt, and he thought that
the provision proposed in the clause, by which attorneys or
solicitors were not to practise in the county of which
they were justices of the peace, would be evaded. '
For instance, they might get legal friends to act
for them in such counties, and throw, as in the
case of licensing, all the weight of their magisterial influence
into the scale on behalf of their clients. H approved of the
educational clauses In the bill, but these clauses had already
passed the house, and was waiting for a second reading in
the House of Lords. lie also objected to the term " manag-
ing clerk," which he proposed should be struck out of the
bill if it went to a second reading.
Mr. E. JAMES said that th bill proposed to tax the
attorneys and solicitors to the extent of £5,000 a year, which
money was to be placed at the disposal of the society in
Chancery-lane, sitting as an irresponsible Parliament. Ho
did not censure that society. It had been the means to
some extent of expurgating the profession, but they had
done nothing in :reference to the recent defalcations in
the profession, and they were not called on to pro-
secute great delinquents. There were other very ob-
jectionable clauses, and one of these, conferring on solicitors
certain powers over their clients, was objected to even by
solicitors themselves. On these grounds ho was opposed to
the bill in its present form.
Mr. M. SMITH defended the Incorporated Law Society,
who, he stated, had prosecuted some of the members of
their own profession much to their credit. Through their
exertions several dishonest solicitors had been struck off
the rolls, and but for that society such would not have been
the case, as no one seemed to take any interest in such
matters. The bill was prepared by that society, which ho
thought, from their exertions, were entitled to confidence
and respect. He maintained that the bill, with the excep-
tion of those clauses relating to the power of lien conferred
on solicitors, which was a matter of detail, and repealing
the disqualifications of solicitors for the office of justice,
which ought to be struck out, was a good measure. It
would have the effect of improving the respectability and
status of the profession, in which the public were deeply
concerned.
Mr. B. OSBORNE, from his own experience, considered
that the charges of solicitors were already high enough
without the Legislature being called on to pass a measure
extending protection to that body, which was totally un-
necessary.
Mr. A. MILLS considered that all the objections raised
to the bill related to matters which could bo discussed in
committee. He admitted that some of the clauses were
open to just opposition, but these might be struck out or
modified, and the bill, if only for the educational clause it
contained, ought to be read a second time.
After some remarks by Mr. LOWE, who stated that
he would vote against the second reading of the bill,
Mr. BOVILL contended that the bill was entitled to the
support of the house, as its object was to elevate the cha•
racter of those who were engaged in the legal profession.
Some of the clauses were not suggested by the Incorporated
Law Society, and he assured the house that the bill should
be modified in committee, and he trusted on its general
principles it would now be read a second time. He be-
lieved that it would be conferring a great boon on the pub-
lic if the society in question were provided with adequate
funds to enable them to have a register, and to adept other
means to protect the public against fraudulent or unquali-
fied legal practitioners. With regard to the provision re-
lative to attorneys and solicitors being appointed justices of
peace, he know many places in which such appointments
would be most desirable. The fart was that it was a mere
question with regard to the power they would confer on the
Lord Chancellor, who certainly ought to be supposed to
have discrimination enough to make a selection in cases
where the appointment of a solicitor to the magistracy
would be beneficial.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL considered that there
was a good deal of what was excellent in the bill, but there
were provisions to which he was not reconciled, but he
would vote for the second reading.
Mr. HADFIELD opposed the bill, chiefly on the ground
that it proposed to place £5,000 a year in the hands of an
irresponsible body.
Mr. SOTIIERON ESTCOURT considered that, as a
matter of constitutional proceeding, they ought to reject
the present bill, and adhere to that which they had previ-
ously sent to the Upper House.
Mr. DENMAN supported the second reading, and
thought, in dealing with the bill, they should not stand on
any punctilio.
Mr. HENLEY supported the second reading of the bill,
but considered that it should be modified in committee.
This was a matter that did not affect the legal classes only,
for the public were generally interested in the character
and qualifications of attorneys and solicitors, who were
mixed up so intimately in their transactions.
The house then divided, and the numbers were—,
For the second reading ............. 1J291
Against it ............................
Majority 169
The bill was accordingly read a second time.
JEWS' ACT AMENDMENT BILL.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE moved the second reading of this

bill.
Mr. NEWDEGATE strongly opposed the bill, and ho
considered it would be extremely impolitic to press forward
a measure that was calculated to bring the house into con •
tlict with the Upper House. By a resolution of this house,
members of the Jewish persuasion could be admitted to the
Ivan, and ho did not see what more was required. IL*

At the ordinary meeting of the above society,
held at their rooms, 12, St. James's-square, Colonel
Sykes, M.P., in the chair,
Mr. NEWMARCH read a paper on Indian currency
and banking. He commenced by explaining that
the system of banking in India was of two kinds,
the one internal the other external. The business of
the former was confined to transactions having
their origin and termination in the country, and
that of the latter consisted in discounting bills, &c.,
that would have to be paid out of India. There
were several banks in India of European origin, but
besides those there was a very ramified and exten-
sive system of native banking going on all over
India even where European banks could not go.
The inconvenience of transmitting money in India
had been felt, and merchants and traders had re-
sorted to the plan of procuring a banker's draft on
another banker, and that was considered the safest
means of sending it. Having explained the manner
in which the money was spread over the face of
that country, he proceeded to criticise the plan pro-
posed by Mr. Wilson for the purpose of establish-
ing a paper currency in India. He did not mean
to object to the paper circulation in India, for he
considered it a first-rate State necessity. Mr. Wil-
son had proposed, too, that the circulation should
be in the hands of the Government, and not en-
trusted to any of the banks; that the bank note
should be a legal tender; that the notes should be
issued through the local treasuries; and that they
should be issued by currency commissioners, wh'o
should have the management of the whole business.
It was important that the notes should at all times
be convertible, and for that reason there should
always be a sufficient amount of bullion in the
office to meet them. He objected to Mr. Wilson's
plan for three reasons : because it was new in prin-
ciple in being attached to the Government ; it was
new in practice; and it was new in machinery, as
it discarded the idea of establishing a great cen-
tral bank. It was also proposed to hold one-
third of the money received for the notes, and
to invest the remainder in Government secu-
rities, but this would never do, for if there should
happen to be a run upou the commissioners they
might be unable to meet their engagements. He
then pointed to a tabular statement showing the
monthly returns of the Bank of Bengal from Novem-
ber, 1856, to April, 1858, showing the amount of
the circulation, the bullion in the bank, the rate of
discount, and the various fluctuations during that
period. From this he argued that it was not the
amount of gold that was in the country that affected
the rate of discount, but the circulation and
amount of reserve that was collected in the hands'
of the bankers. He quoted from Fullerton, Mr.
'Wilson, and others, to bear out his views, and said
although it would be most beneficial to India if a
good sound paper currency were established, the
plan proposed would never succeed if the Govern-
ment were to usurp the functions of the banker.
An issue department separated from a banking de-
partment would never succeed, and therefore it was
that he so strongly condemned the proposed plan.
It would, besides, be very unfair to the bankers,
for they depended a great deal on their circulation
for their profit ; and if the system proposed were
put in operation it would cripple private enterprise
and be injurious to the best interests of the country.
No other colony was treated in a similar manner,
and India ought not to be. He then proceeded to
draw a comparison between the Bank of England
and the Indian banks, and said the advantage which
the former possessed over the latter was chiefly
owing to the fact that whatever was its position it
was the growth of 150 years. He was opposed to
the Government having anything to do in the shape
of currency, and thought they would do much bet-
ter it' they were to stimulate private enterprise in-
stead of curtailing it. (Hear, hear.)
Colonel SYKES complimented Mr. Newmarch on
the manner in which he had delivered his lecture,
but supported the principle of Mr. Wilson.
Mr. HYDE CLARKE maintained that Mr. New-
march had not impugned Mr. Wilson's plan, nor
proved his own position of the necessity of a central
or national bank. So far from Mr. Wilson's mea-
sures being unsupported by experience, they were
supported by the very figures adduced by Mr. New-
march as to the Bank of Bengal. So far from the
circulation, or bullion, or deposits of the Bank of
of Bengal, Bank of Bombay, of Bank of Madras,
being employed in the discount of commErcial bills,
so as to influence the rate of discount in the man-
ner alleged, they were only employed in a most
trifling proportion on discounts, but were locked
up in the manner contemplated by Mr. Wilson's
plan in Government securities.
A long discussion followed, during which Mr.
Wilson was ably defended by, some, while others
were as much opposed to him. At the close a
cordial vote of thanks to the lecturer terminated the
Toceedings.

CONVICTION UNDER THE FACTOR"
ACT.

A singular case, resulting in the conviction of
Nlessrs. Ainley and Taylor, manufacturers, of
Melthatn, near Huddersfield, was heard yester-
day before J. Brooke, W. Witlans, S. W. Haigh,
and Charles Brook, Esqs., at the Huddersfield
Police-court. A charge was preferred by Mr.
Bates, sub-inspector of factories, to the efftct
that the defendants, being occupiers of certain mill
premises where young persons under the age of
18 were employed, did knowingly obstruct the sub-
inspector in the execution of the powers entrusted
to him by the Act of Parliament, by " attempting
to conceal and prevent such young persons appear-
ing before the sub-inspector to be examined by him."
On the 14th of Febriary last, Mr. Bates, accom-
nanied by a police-officer, visited the mill about a
quarter to 7 in the evening, when all the young
persons under 18 should have left, and having
visited several of the rooms, they arrived at a land-
ing on the second story of the building, where the
inspector perceived three young persons whom ho
believed to be under the age of 18. Stationing the
police-officer at the door, the sub-inspector walked
to the far end of the room, where these young
people were washing, for the purpose of satisfy-
ing himself as to their age. Before arriving there,
however, they had concealed themselves, and could
nowhere be seen ; and after a prolonged search
in different parts of the room, one of the lads
was ultimately found in a very dangerous position
beneath a scribbling machine, which was in motion
at the time. The lad was dragged out by the heels,
and the search for the other parties renewed ;but
here an insuperable obstacle was presented by the
whole of the gas in the room being turned off, and
the inspector and the officer were left in no very
safe position among the working machinery.
Whilst thus groping their way about, a window
near where the police officer was standing was
swung opt n, and a boy was assisted to get out, being
taken charge of when outside by a man on the
top of a ladder. The officer attempted to gain the
window, but was prevented by stambling over a
quantity of wool, and with difficulty both he and
the inspector groped their way in darkness to the
lower part of the mill, a light having been re-
peatedly refused them. They then left the building
amidst the hisses of a number of the workpeople.
The evidence for the defence only substantiated
these statements, and the magistrates, in inflicting
a penalty of £5 and the expenses, commented on
the conduct of Messrs. Ainley and Taylor in their
attempted defence of such proceedings.

THE FIGHT FOR VIE Cruatr.tolgsrtir.—The
Vanderbilt left Cowes yesterday for New York with the
American mail. Amongst her passengers were the various
reporters and artists of the sporting American journals who
came over here respecting the fight for file championship.
Amongst the cargo were 35 bales of nov;spapers, weighing
two tons, containing particulars of the 'fight. No previous
event in England ever caused such a nrimber of newspapers
to be sent to America at one time. Another of Vanderbilt's
mail steamers will leave New York Tor Cowes about tb.vi
28th inst. The Teutonia steamer 'will legvt SoutbAV,ton
for Now York ou the 25th inst.