The Sun.
London, England, 1867-06-25 00:00:00

STREET ROBBERIES.

Captain GROSVENOR asked the Secretary of State for
the Home Department whether he was aware that fre-
quent robberies of plants and flowers from the windows of
houses in South Belgravia have recently taken place dur-
ing the night ; and whether he did not think that it was
attributable to negligence on the part of the police in the
performance of their duties ?
Mr. HARDY said ho was not able to say that the rob-
beries alluded to was to be attributed to the negligence of
the police. There had been notices of two robberies of
plants from windows, but the police had made two arrests,
though not the two he had mentioned. Under these cir-
cumstances. he did not think the police were to blame.
(Hear, hear.)
ARREST OF A SICK DEBTOR.

Mr. C. GILPIN asked the Attorney-Cieneral if his atten-
tion had been called to a case recently reported in the
public papers of the violent removal of a debtor, Wil-
liam Watson, aged 72 years, from his residence for debt,
when in the last stage of consumption, and when
the certificate of a physician was shown to the sheriff's
officer stating that Watson could only be removed at the
risk of his life ; to the fact that the 'said Watson was for-
cibly taken to Horsertionger-lane Gaol, and died almost
immediately after his•admission; and asked if the law of
England authorises a sheriff's officer thus to remove a
dying man in the face of such a protest on the part of a
duly qualified physician ?
The ATTORNEY GENERAL said the law of England
did not justify the officer in removing the pers,m under
the circumstances the hon. member had detailed. The
Sheriff was in a position of difficulty in the matter, be-
cause if tho debtor recovered and escaped, the Sheriff
would be liable ; but this being the case, the law of the
land did not justify the sick debtor's removal. If the house
gave its sanction to the Bankruptcy Bill, no repetition of
these transaltions could occur. (Hear, hear.)
BRITISII CONSULATE AT SAIGON.

Mr. VANDERBYL asked the Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs if any steps had been taken with a view
of establishing a British Consulate at Saigon, Cochin
China, at present under the Government of France ?

Lord STANLEY replied in the negative.
THE POSTAGE OF LETTERS.

Mr. CHILDERS asked the Secretary to the Treasury
whether there would be any objection, as an experiment
during the remainder of the session, to despatch from the
post-office in the lobby, at 7.45 p.m., a bag with letters,
bearing two extra stamps, for Ireland, Scotland, and the
northern and midland counties of England, in time for
the closing of the letter box at Euston-square railway
station.

Mr. JIUNT said an arrangement was in progress in the
matter 'referred to, but it went the length of a general
measure; as matters were not complete ho would defer for
the present moving the question. (Hear, bear.)
THE BIRMINGHAM RIOTS.

Mr. HORSMAN said he wished to know whether the
Government had received any information on the sub-
ject of the part the volunteers took during the late riot at
Birmingham. He understood that Major Ratcliff had
forwarded a communication to the Secretary of War,
and ho thought it was only just to that gentleman that the
purport of his communication should be made known.
Sir J. PAKINGTON said he thanked the hon. member
for thus affording him an opportunity of doing an act of
justice to Major Ratcliff. (Hear, hear.) He had first to
say that it had transpired that the paragraph in the Times
was entirely erroneous. Major Ratcliff, without waiting
for a communication from the War-office and without the
least delay, at once waited upon him and stated the whole
of the steps that had been taken. It appeared that there
is a large room at Birmingham, called Bingley Hall,
and amongst other purposes -for which that place was
used was a store for the arms of the Birmingham
volunteers, which was one of the largest corps at present
formed. It was in consequence of a communication from
the magistrates that it would be of the highest importance
that these arms should be guarded, that he would give
a portion of the letter of Major Ratcliff —it stated that on
receiving the intimation from the magistrates Major Ratcliff
took with him about 110 of the volunteers, not even in
uniform, to guard the arms, which amounted to over 1,200
rifles. He was on duty day and night, and never quitted
the place until he was quite certain all was perfectly safe
and secure. Whilst there Major Ratcliff was applied to by
a Roman Catholic priest for assistance, but he told him he
could not give him any, as he had but one duty to perform.
The rev. gentleman urged as a reason that his chapel
might be attacked, but Major *Ratcliff told him it was
impossible for him, in his character of major of volunteers,
to give him the assistance required. Major Ratcliff, in
his (Sir J. Pakington's) opinion, did no more on the occa-
sion than was strictly his duty. (Hear.)
REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE BILL.
The holm then went into committee on this bill.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in refe-
rence to the motion, which had occasioned some observa-
tions the other evening—viz., the appointment of the
Boundary Commissioners, said the Government had recon-
sidered the matter, and proposed that the Commission should
be constituted as follows:—Lord Eversley, the Recorder,
Sir F. Crossley, Sir J. Duckworth, and Mr. Walters. It
might be said that the arrangement ave three Liberals
to two Conservatives, but he had nog been an in
the endeavour to secure the most emeient means by party
views. (Hear, hear.) •
The consideration of the clauses of the Reform Bill was

then resumed.
On clause 40 being proposed an amendment was moved,
to the effect that no person should give more than one
vote for any one place in respect of the possession of more
than the qualification. The amendment was ultimately
agreed to, although the division boll had been rung, and a
great number of members bad made their appearance.
Mr. HARDCASTLE moved another amendment to the
same clause, with a view of enabling him to introduce
words disfranchising "freemen."
Mr. LEEMAN objected to this amendment, and said he
had until that time believed the bill was one for extending
the franchise, and not diminishing it. (Hear, hear.)
Yet now it was proposed to disqualify "freemen,"
although the bill gave the franchise to the owner of every
small hovel, and to a lodger who paid 4s. a-week. He con-
tended that the "freeman," whose associations of a life-
time bad been connected with some particular boroughs,
was more entitled to a vote than the occupier of a cellar in
some of our towns. The amendment proposed was a most
important ono, because there were 90 places and 40,000
persons who would be affected by it.
The amendment was withdrawn.

An amendment proposed by Mr. HOLDEN, to the effect
that the person entitled to vote for any borough by reason
of the occupation of any building (not being a dwelling-