The Sun.
London, England, 1858-06-16 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, _(YESTERDAY• )
The LORD CRANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.

THE JEW BILL.
The Earl of LIJCA.N said he proposed to take the
sseond reading of his bill on Thursday week. He had
ascertained that that day would be convenient for Lord
Lyndbarßt to attend.
Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY said it would be
better if no day at present was named, but that the bill
should be proceeded with when both the Earl of Derby
and Lord Lyndhurst were in their places.
The Earl of LITCAN thought, under all the circum-
stances, the arrangement he had made should stand for
the present.

:MANNING THE NA.VY.

Lord BROUGHAM inquired whether a commission
had been issued to consider the best means of manning
the navy. The noble lord thought as the cloud had passed
away between this country and Francs, the present op-
portunity was the beat that could be selected for such a
purpose.
The Earl of MALMEiBURY said a commission to
inquire into the best way of manning the navy had been
issued. He should be sorry if it was supposed from
the observations of the noble lord that the navy at
the present moment could not be efficiently manned at a
very short notice—(hear, hear)—or that men were not
ready to come forward at the shortest notice to man a
sufficient number of ships to defend the channel. (Hear.)
Lord BROUGHAM was very far from doubting that
these were men ready to come forward. His observa-
tion was that at the present moment the Navy was not
sufficiently manned.
The subject then dropped.
• LAW OF FALSE PRETENCES BILL.
Lord BROUGHAM moved the second reading of
this
bill.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said he didhnimottihnatetnadbitiol
oppose the present bill, but he must remind
with a similar object had been already introduced into
the other house. He thought the beet course would be,
in the event of the bill to which he had alluded passing
the other house, that both bills be then referred to a
select committee.
The bill wag read a second time.
PROPERTY QUALIFICATION BILL.
The Earl of FORTESCUE moved the third reading'
of this bill.
Lord RAVENSWORTH warned their lord-
ships against passing measures of this description, and
he regarded the present bill as a concession to
popular clamour. He considered that the bill,
instead of being satisfactory to the democratic
portion of the public, would only induce
them to make further efforts to obtain the other points of
the People's Charter.
The Earl of CLANCARTY concurra I in the obser-
vations of the noble lord who had just sat down. Ile
considered that the present bill had been hurried through
the house, and that it had not received sufficient con-
sideration. He thought the worst results would follow
the passing of the bill, and the effect would be that the
proper balance between property and democracy would
be thrown down.
The Earl of WICKLOW said it bad been contended
on the other side that the possession of property was not
a necessary qualification for a legislator, but he held that
it was of the highest importance, that in the House of
Commons they should at least have men of property and
status in society, and by the abolition of the qualifica-
tion they would remove all such security. As for the
argument that the law was evaded, he thought that was
a reason for its amendment, not for its abolition, and he
thought there was no law that might so easily be guarded
- against abuse as this. Even the evasion practised at
present was almost as good 33 the qualification itself.
A man who had not the qualification either abstained
from coming forward to disturb a constituency when he
knew he soul I not take his seat, or he got some one to
supply him with a qualification. Now that must be a
person of property, so that even the evasion afforded
some security, inasmuch as tbere was at least a person
of property that was responsible for the individual.
That was almost as good a security as if he had the real
qualification. He did not, however, wish to be under-
stood as encouraging such evasion. Every downward
step the noble lord at the head of the Government took
of this character would render it more difficult for him
to resist measures of an extraordinary character. He
believed their lordships would do a great evil to the
public if they allowed this bill to pass.
The Earl of FORTESCUE in reply, considered that
by conceding this point their lordships would be better
able to resist demands of a more sweeping character.
Lie contended that the benefits derived from the con-
tinuance of the property quasification were more than
counterbalanced by the evils of its continuance.
Lord DEN MAN opposed the bill, and moved its third
' reading that day six months.
Lord BROUGHAM supported the third reading of the
bill. They oueht to act consistently to accompany this
measure with another, not to take the privilege from arrest
away from members, but to put private gentlemen—nun-
traders—on a footing with traders. The latter class of
members of the other house were given twelve months
in which to set aside proceedings in bankruptcy or pay
the amount of their debts in full ; if they had failed to
do so within that time their seat was declared to be
scat-±d.
The amendment was withdrawn, and the bill was
read a third time and passed.
THE CHARGES AGAINST MR. M'DERMOTT.
Lord CLANRICARDE moved that Mr. M'Der-
mott's petition be consi iered, and that the consideration
of the charges preferred against him should be postponed
till the 10th of July.
The Earl of DONOUGHMORE considered the
prayer of the petition ought not to be granted. Mr.
M`Deranott had notice of the charges by letter on the
7th of J une, and ought to be ready to meet them. There
were two grounds on which Mr. M'Dermott prayed for
a postponement ; one was that he was about to go on
circuit, and could not, therefore, attend their lordships'
house ; and the other was, that their lordships should
direct payment of the expenses of all the witnesses that
were to be brought forward. He could not enter into
the latter ground, and with regard to the first he thought
their lordships ought not to entertain it, but endeavour
to prevent a man who had had such charges brought
against him going on circuit, and sitting on a bench of
justices. (Hear, bear.)
Lord CAMPBELL considered Mr. M'Dermott had
had reasonable notice of the charges preferred against
him, and sufficient time to prepare his defence. He con-
sidered it was hardly decent that a person with such
grave charges hanging over him should be allowed to sit
on the bench and administer justice to her Majesty's
subjects. All men were considered innocent till proved
to the contrary, and he (Lord Campbell) thought a per-
son so charged should be eager to clear his character and
resume his duties if fuund innocent.
Lord CLAN RICARDE concurred with the noble
lord that a gentleman labouring under charge. ought
not to sit on the bench until he bad proved his inno-
cence ; but ind, pendent of that, Mr. M'Dermott could
not absent himse.f from his duties without be provided
a substitute.
Lord CAMPBELL—Does he mean to set this house
at defiance ?
Lord CLANRICARDE apprehended not. taut before
Mr. M‘Derneo t could leave he must provide a substi-
tute. That would cost him a large sum of money, and
would be involving him in a penalty which probably he
could not afford, even if he were proved innocent. The
Government ought to forbid him to go on circuit, and
provide him with a substitute if they thought he ought
not to further attend to his duties for the present. in •
dependent of that, Mr. M`Derrnott had had no regular
and official notice of the charges. He had only received
a letter from the noble earl the Vice-President of the
Board of Trade, and the charges in the shape in which
they were to be brought forward were only made known
that morning. Most of Mr.M'Dermott's witnesses were
legal gentlemen, who would be on circuit at the time of
the proposed inquiry, and to take them away from their
practice at such a time would greatly increase the ex-
penses. He (Lord Cianricarde) thought that under the
circumstances the prayer of the petition for delay should
be granted. He doubted it there was time now to s,rve
the, notices and get the witnesses over by the timi ro-
posed.
Lord CAMPBELL said the charges should be brought
far a aril at the time specid• d ; and if, after that, Mr.
M.D,rrnott wished for time to prepare his defence, it
would, as a matter of course, be granted to him. (Hear.)
The Eirl of WICKLOW considered the shames
should not be brought forward in a hurried manner, and
at a time when there would be difficulty in Mr. M`Dsr-
- inett's procuring the attendance of material witnesses.
Hs thought it a case for deity.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said he considered Mr.
M'D3rmott had had ample time for meeting the chug, s,
or he would not have pressed the inquiry taking place
at the lime proposed. He thought the suggestion ut the
noble lord (Lord Campbell) would meet the emergencies
of the case.
Lord CLANRICARDE said that with that under.
standing be would withdraw the motion.
Lord CRANWORTH said the course now about to be
taken was in conformity with a somewbat analogous
ewe, viz., the bill of pains and penalties preferred
against Queen Caroline. The charges were in that case
made, and time was afterwards given to meet them.
Lot d BROUGHAM hoped infinitely better cases
than that of Queen Caroline would be relied on. Na one
could 1 iok back upon those proceedings without feeling
that something approaching, if not to remorse, at least
of shame attached to them.
The subject then dropped.
THE ENGLISH ENGINEERS AND THE
CAGLIARI

Lord CLANRICAR OE asked her Majesty's Goveircna:
ro ent to lay on the table of the Muse the conarntin
tions that had passed bet.veen her Majesty's Govern-
went and the G ivernments of Naples and Sardinia rela-
tive to the cmnpensation to be paid to the English
engineers, and the restoration of the Cagliari and her
ert.w to the /Sardinian Government.
The Marquis of SALISBIJRY, in the absence of the
oble earl th P
e ()reign Secretary, sail the correspond-
f rtc, was notyet coropleted,and, in consequence, it would
be inconvenient to aecede to the r,quest tf the noble
lord, fie expected it would he concluded in a few
days, when there won!d be no objection to lay the com•
munications referred to on the table of their lordships'
house.
Their lord6hips adjourned at 20 minutes to 7 o'clock.

'HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(yzault
The SPEAKER took the chair at twelve o'cloOkAT.)
THE MEMBER FOR GREENWICH.
Mr. FITZROY moved that the adjudicatiou of
bankruptcy against Mr. John Townsend be read by the
Clerk.—Agreed to,
Sir D. LE MARCHANT (the Chief Clerk) then read
the record of adjudication, dated•29lh March.