The Sun.
London, England, 1860-06-21 00:00:00

VALUATION OF LAND (SCOTLAND) ACT
AMENDMENT BILL.

Mr. BLAOKliiiitN;;clihe;;;];(i reading of this
bill.

Sir G. C. LEWIS suggested that the house should not
come to a decision without hearing his learned friend the
Lord Advocate, who was unavoidably absent, as the bill
proposed some very important changes.
Mr. BLACK said the essence of the bill was that three

'ears should be taken for assessing the value of land and
- - - -

LuiWings. He advocated a uniform mode of valuation, and
he was opposed to the bill, as he believed it would lead to
considerable confusion. He would therefore move that the
bill be read a second time that day three months.
Mr. CRAUFURD seconded the amendment, and con-
tended that the bill, if passed into law, would produce
much heartburning, and disturb existing arrangements
without providing any adequate substitute.
After some observations from Mr. MURE,
The LORD ADVOCATE, who had entered the house a
few minutes previously, objected to the bill on the ground
that it would lead to inaccuracies and discrepancies, estab-
lishing only averages of valuation, the result of which would
be that in several cases persons would be unjustly struck
off the electoral roll. He did not disapprove of the principle
of the bill.

Mr. BLACKBURN, in reply, said that the object of his
bill was to establish a net valuation for a gross valuation,
and he thought it would effect a beneficial alteration in the
present state of the law.
The house then divided, and the numbers were—
For the second reading .. 69
Against
Majority ..
The bill was accordingly last.
FELONY AND MISDEMEANOUR BILL.
Mr. DENMAN moved the second reading of this bill,
and repeated substantially the statements which he had
made in moving the first read ng. The hon. and learned
member stated that the object of the bill was to assi-
milate the law in regard to the speeches of counsel
in criminal cases to that in civil trials. He
believed that The bill if passed into law would do much
to elicit truth in judicial investigations. Under the present
state of the law the judge was frequently forced into the
character of an advocate, in consequence of sufficient oppor-
tunity not being afforded to counsel of combating
evidence, and nothing could be more prejudicial to
the interests of justice than anything like advocacy on the
part of a judge. His bill did not apply to high treason, be-
cause the practice in reference to trials for that crime was
similar to that which he now contended for in respect to
trials for other criminal offences. Under the present law
there were more unjust acquittals than just convictions,
and a very anomalous state in the administration of the law

was accoraingly introduced.
Mr. HARDY took some exception to the bill, but said
that he would not oppose the second reading.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL supported the second
reading.
Sir G. C. LEWIS followed on the same side, as he
considered that a prisoner's counsel should have the
right of a second speech, but, according to the
law as it at present stood, he did -not enjoy that
privilege. The consequence was that the counsel for the
prosecution had the first and last word, except when the
prisoner did not call evidence, a course which he was fre-
quently induced to adopt in order that his
counsel should be the last to address the jury
before the judge summed up. He did not con-
sider that when the prisoner was undefended counsel for
the prosecution should be allowed the privilege of a second
speech.
Mr. M. SMITH approved of the second reading of the
bill.
After a few remarks from Mr. S. ESTCOURT against, and
Mr. COBBETT in favour of the bill,
The motion was agreed to without a division, and the
bill was accordingly read a second time.
ECCLESIASTICALI'he
adjourned
debate o
nC Ot
bl‘ei Ma ImSeSnldOmNe
n, t eitco.
the B L L .
second
reading oafsthreissubmilel,d
by
which was to the effect that it be re•
i
glelScitr.ofidiuEtNyLhEadY beenwho
mcaodnet contended h
againstt the
ncoo
mc lairs gs
ieo
n of,
and
therefore
ber(mr.sesulwyppnor)t,ewdbtohme bovilel.d
tTbeheamhoennd. amnedntl,easarnidedthmatetmh-e
bill was a measure the elements of which were centralisation,
compensation, and confiscation, and had stated I hat the ex-
penses of agency and management in dealing with £173,000
was £43,000 in one year. He had looked into the accounts,
which he admitted were not very lucid to persons unac-
quainted with such matters, but he certainly considered
that the statement was most incorrect, because in the year
in question the commission had to deal with property to the
amount of over £1,000,000, and it was this which occasioned
the large expense in management and agency. The net
rental last year instead of being £173,000 was £216,000, and
the amount of expenditure in regard to that amount
instead of :being £43,000 was only £10,200.
With reference to the charge of confiscation, the
fact was that the property in question, which wee

left in trust, was merely transferred from one body
to another, who merely used it to the best of their
ability, and without appropriating any portion of it to their
own benefit.
After some further discussion, the SPEAKER stopped the
debate at a quarter to six.

TRAMWAYS (SCOTLAND) BILL.
This bill passed through committee.
STIPENDIARY MAGISTRATES BILL.
This bill was read a second time.
INLAND BONDING BILL.
This bill was read a second time.
TENISON'S CHARITY BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
OXFORD UNIVERSITY.
The CIIANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER brought
in a bill to enable the University of Oxford to make statutes
for the better regulation of professorships therein, and for
other purposes.
The house adjourned at six o'clock.

P ARM AMENTAR Y DIVISION.

HOUSE OF COMMONS-JUNE 20.

AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS ACT AMENDMENT

BILL.
Order for committee read. Motion made and question
proposed, " That Mr. Speaker do now leave the chair."
Amendment proposed, to leave out from the word " that"
to the end of the question, in order to add the words
" this house will, upon this day three months, resolve
itself into the said committee" instead thereof. Ques-
tion put, " That the words proposed to be left out stand
part of the question." The house divided—Ayes, 57;
Noes, 174.

AYES —57.
Beamish, F. B. Grogan, Sir Edward Mildmay, H.
Bentiuck, G. W. P. Hamilton, Lord C. Morgan, C. 0. S..
Beresford, W. llamiLon, Major Morris, D.
Bernard, W. S. Henley, Lord North, F.
Brady, John Hennessy, J. P. O'Connell, D.
Bridges, Sir 8., Bt. Herbert, Col. P. E. Padmore, R.
Browne, Lord J. T. llornby, W. H. St. Aubyn, J.
Calmat, F. Hume, W. Sibthorp, Major
Carnegie, Hon. C. Jackson, W. Smith, Augustus
Copeland, W. T. Jervoise, Sir J. Somes, Joseph
Corbally, M. E. Kekewich, S. Stacpoole, W.
Du Cane, Chas. Kennard, C. Stuart, Major W.
Duncombe, T. S. Lanigan, J. Torrens, R.
Dunne, M. Lee, W. Vivian, 11. 11.
Du Pre, C. G. Liddell, Hon. H. G. Warner, Edward
East, Sir J. B. Lindsay, Colonel Wickham, H. W.
Ewart, J. C. Lovaine, Lord Willcox, B. M.
Fennoy, Lord Lyons, Dr. TELLERS.
Gaskell, J. M. M'Cann, J. Raynham, Viscount
Griffith, C D. Mackie, J. Bonham-Carter, J•

ie,OY AL BO7AN iC L'OCIETPB (1,4RD.E41'8.

Notwithstanding the unfavourable state of the
weather, especially after three o'clock, there was a
large and fashionable attendance at the Botanic
Gardens yesterday. Among the persons of dis-
tinction who were present were the following :
l'hu Duchess of Cambridge, Princess .Maly of Cam-
bridge, the Duchess of Mecklenburgh, the Arch-
bishop of Canterbury, the Duchess of Montrose, the
Marchioness of Westminster, the Earl and Countess
of Cork, the Countess of Bradford, the Countess of
Chesterfield, Earl Delawarr, the Bishop of Win-
chester, the Bishop of Oxford, Lord and Lady
Bingham, Lord H. G. Lennox, Lady Cheeham,
Lord and Lady Bateman, Lady Leigh, Lady Oc-
tavio Stewart, Lady and Sir J. Anson, Lady
Louisa and Miss Monerieffe, Lady and Sir R. Peel,
the Hon. Mrs. Curzon, the Hon. Mrs. Cavendish,
Sir Walter Stirling, Sir R. De Burgh, Sir W. Ball,
Sir P. Cornwall, Lord Kildare, Lady Farnham, and
Mrs. Sotheron Estcourt.

The following. were the awards of Prizes for the
best Flowers, Ze.

EXTRA GOLD MEDAL.—TO Mr. T. Whitebread,
gardener to H. Colyer, Esq., Dartford, Kent, for 16
stove and greenhouse plants; to Mr. Bullen, gar-
dener to J. Butler, Esq., Woolwich, for 20 exotic
orchids.

LARGE GOLD MEDAL.—To Mr. W. May, gar-
dener to J. Spode, Esq., Hawkesyard, Rugeley,
for 16 stove and greenhouse plants ; to R. War-
ner, Esq., Chelmsford, for 20 exotic orchids.
MEDIUM GOLD MEDAL.—To Mr. B. Peed,
gardener to T. Tredwell, Esq., St. John's Lodge,
Norwood, for 16 stove and greenhouse plants ; to
J. and J. Fraser, nurserymen, Lefton, for 12 do.; to
Mr. Green, gardener to Sir E. Antrobus, Chem,
Surrey, for 10 stove and greenhouse plants ; to
Mr. Gedney, gardener to the Rev. W. Ellis, Hod-
desdon, for 20 exotic orchids ; to Mr. Woolley,
nurseryman, Cheshunt, for 16 exotic orchids ; to
Mr, R. Stone, gardener to J.Day, Esq., Tottenham,
for 12 exotic orchids ; to Mr. E. P. Francis,
nurseryman, Hertford, for 10 roses in pots.
GOLD MEDAL.—To Mr. R. Baxendine, gardener
to H. Smallpiece, Esq , Millmead House, Guild-
ford, for 16 stove and greenhouse plants ; to Mr.
Kaile, gardener to the Earl Lovelace, Horsley
Towers, Surrey, for 10 stove and greenhouse plants ;
to Messrs. Jackson and Son, Kingston, for 10 Cape
heaths; to Mr. Peed, gardener to T.Tredwell, Esq.,
Norwood, for eight Cape heaths ; to Mr. May,
gardener to J. Spode, Esq., for eight Cape heaths ;
to Mr. 0. Rhodes, gardener to J. Philpott Esq.,
Stamford-hill, for 20 exotic orchids ;to Mr. Carson,
gardener to W. R. G. Farmer, Esq., for 12 exotic
orchids ; to Mr. Turner, Slough, for 12 pelargo-
niums ; to Mr, Nye, gardener to E. Foster, Esq.,
Clewer, near Windsor, for 10 pelargoniums; to
Messrs, Lane, nurseryman, Berkhampstead, for 10
roses in pots.

LARGE SILVER GILT.—To Mr. Page, gardener
to W. Leaf, Esq., Streatham, for 10 stove and
greenhouse plants ; to Mr. Carson, gardener to
W. Farmer, Esq., Lower Cheam, for six stove and
greenhouse plants ; to Mr. Page, gardener to
AT. Leaf, Esq., for 12 exotic orchids; to Mr.
Bunney, nurseryman, Stratford, for six exotic
orchids; to Messrs. Dobson, Isleworth, for 12 pelar-
goniums • to Mr. Bailey, gardener to T. T. Drake,
Esq., Shardeleus, Amersham, Bucks, for 10 pelar-
goniums ; to Messrs. Paul and Son, nurserymen,
Citeshnut, for 10 roses in pots ; to Mr. Terry, gar-
dener to R. W. G. Puller, Esq., Youngsbury, Herts,
for six roses in pots.
LARGE SILVER MEDAL. --To Mr. Chilman, gar-
dener to the Rev. W. C. Denshire, Ashstead House,
Epsom, for six stove and greenhouse plants.
To Mr. Harlock, gardener to R. W. Nutter, Esq.,
Wanstead, for eight Cape heaths ; to Mr. Page,
gardener to W. Leaf, Esq., for six Cape heaths; to
Mr Green, gardener to Sir E. Antrobus, for six
exotic orchids ; to Mr. Turner, Slough, for six fancy
pelargoniums ; to Mr. Bailey, gardener to T. T.
Drake, Esq., for six fancy pelargoniums.