The Sun.
London, England, 1867-06-05 00:00:00

THE BANKRUPTCY BILL,

Mr. J. S. MILL gavu notice, on behalf of the hon.
member for Tower Hamlets, that on going into committee
on tho Bankruptcy Bill he would move that it was unjust
to pass a measure by which insolvent persons owing a
single debt amounting to £5O, or several debts amounting
to £lOO, should bo discharged from liabilities except as
regards one half their future earnings, while insolvents
owing a less amount would be liable to repeated im-
prisonments until their debts were paid in full.
COURT OF ADMIRALTY.

On the motion of Mr. GRAVES a return was ordered of
the number of warrants sent by the marshal at the High
Court of Admiralty to the collectors of her Majesty's cus-
toms during seven years prior to 1867, specifying the num-
ber sent to each port ; and of the number of the warrants
executed by the marshal of said court inthe port of London
during the same time.
OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITIES
EDUCATION BILL.
Mr. EWART moved the second reading of this bill.
Mr. B. HOPE moved that the bill be read a second time
that day six months, and characterised it as one of those
bewildering measures which, taking up a question which
has many sides, deals with it arbitrarily, incompletely,
and in a manner more theoretical than practical. The
social system of the German universities was not such-as
Englishmen would wish to see introduced into our own
universities. Ostensibly, the measure was for the benefit
of the poor, but practically it would be of no advantage,
and would only have the effect of removing students be-
yond the discipline of the university. While legislating
for the poor they should take care that they did nut en-
courage fast young men of a higher class to place them-
selves beyond the reach of discipline.
Mr. POWELL seconded the amendment, remarking
that the bill contained no security for conduct or for
age.
Mr. NEATE said there was no doubt that the univer-
sities were originally far more expansive and opened a
wider door for the middle and lower classes than now.
Recent legislation had confined them to classes for which
they were not originally intended. Nothing, however,
could be done without a little pressure in Parliament, and
even though the bill did not go further than a second
reading much good would be done by the expression of
opinion of which it had elicited. Ile believed, if the bill
was allowed to go to a select committee, a contest between
members of this house and the leading mmnbers of the
universities would lead to a better understanding between
Parliament and the universities.
Sir W. HEATIICOTE agreed in many poiuts with the
hon. member who had just sat down, but could not arrive
at the same conclusions. He concurml iu the desirability
cf giving greater facility of access to the
under
the consideration of many eminent men connected with the
Universities, he preferred to wait for,the result ui their de-
liberations.
Mr. EVANS said his own expectations was that the im-
mediate effect of the bill would not bo very large, but
thought, without at all saying whether the Universities
were national institutions or nut, it was desirable to make
them as national as possible.
Mr. SELWYN admitted the desirability of extending
the present advantages of the Universities, but opposed the
present measure as crude and ill-advised.
Mr. FAWCETT suggested that the bill should be read
a second time, and referred to a select committee. By this
course they could obtain very valuable evidence, which
would assist them in cheapening University. education and
making the Universities exercise a more important and
beneficial influence than they had done in past ages upon
our national life.
Mr. LOWE observed that it was time to do something
for " poverty" in the Universities, and to extend their ad-
vantages to those residing without their walls. There had
been deliberations upon deliberations, but nothing had been
done, and in the meanwhile the evil bad every day become
more oppressing. He cordially concurred in the suggestion
of Mr. Fawcett to read the bill a second time, and to con-
sider before a select committee the practical grievances
which had to be met, and the remedies which it was nec,es-

sary to adopt.
Mr. HENLEY asserted that the bill begged the whole
question, and took away a reasonable and pro irped. er
discipline
at the period of life when it was most requ any
body moved a committee on the subject he was perfectly
prepared to give it his full consideration, and come to a
decision from what he heard, but ho did not like to pre-
judge the question.
Mr. GLADSTONE cordially assented to the principle of
the bill, and said they must rouse themselves to take a
broad of of the question. So far from its not being ripe in
point of time, he was apprehensive that unless they now took
steps for making sore progress in the universities some two
years hence measures might be taken of a more stringent
and grasping. character than many of them desired. Re-
ferring to university vacations, he expressed his belief that
they were preposterously long, and trusted that when the
general question was dealt with this point would not be
left out of consideration.
Mr. HARDY remarked that in Dec., 1865, the members
of the University of Oxford met for the purpose of consi-
dering the subject. At that meeting committees were
appointed, and their reports were now under considera-
tion. The question was therefore started by the Uni-
versity itself. He quite agreed that the University should
be opened to the legal and medical professions, and to
the mercantile classes, if they could spare the time ;
but already halls were open for the admission of such
students as might wish to enter. What he objected to
in the bill before the house was, that there were no results
by which they might be guided, and that the subject was
now being deliberated upon by the universities. As to the
vacations, in Scotland ho believed they had seven months
instead of six. All he asked the house to do was to wait
until they saw whether the universities would not act for
themselves.
After a few remarks from Mr. ACLANO and Mr. Ser-
geant GASELEE, the house divided, when the numbers
were—
For the second reading l6l
151
Against
The bill was accordingly read a second time, and on the
motion of Mr. FAWCETT, referred to a Select ommittee.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, AND
GLEBES (IRELAND) BILL.
Mr. MURPHY moved the postponement to the 3d July
of the second reading of this bill, the object of which is to
amend the law relating to the granting of sites for Roman
Catholic churches and schools by extending the powers of
existing Acts of Parliament.
Mr. NEWDEGATE moved that the order be dis-
charged.
After some discussion, in which Mr. Gregory, Mr. Vance,
Mr. Whalley, Mr. Ayrton, and Mr. Synan took part, the
house divided—
For the motion llB
Against it
Majority
The bill was accordingly postponed.
SALE OF LIQUORS ON SUNDAY BILL.
Mr. J. A. SMITH presented a number of petitions
in favour of this bill and, owing to the late hour, moved
that the second reading be postponed till the 3d of July.
After some remarks from hon. members, who objected
to the subject being delayed,
Mr. SMITH promised to take the bill to-morrow.
SALE OF LIQUORS ON SUNDAY (IRELAND)
BILL.
moved
manyvc the
est, oi nn ds redead Moengopresortld,
ainn3(ilitssatjiatrevdo°ulll2ll,'L:tnisoLlttLhoYonue had boon presented against it. In
(ni many yhyp
agreement,lact, s thepu bclhi
ehfloyu saets
twheare instancealea dy closed
thed ont
°Stn.;
gOhlteoilnlyinethatat
Catholic clergy. The bill provided that on Sunday an
public-houses should be closed except between one and
half-past two in the
hit
against the bill, was incor-
rect, F. lIEYGATE suggested that the bill should be re •
afternoon,
eteelt e m andon t for: mM
re.i
d
resented a petition against it from
rfn ;rem e,
rdb
e.
petition
dtco allaunsseherala
beenMURPHY
ice tdni
presentedmp t
740 of
Lill met with the unanimous
in Lime
nie k.
A f
Mr. Peel DaWson, Col.
French, and Lord C. Hamilton,
isso constituents.NiLs ai
Mr.t et
observations t e
f i h
some s E
approbation Lord fall
Ns s a
a icdl
after
tsee
the general expression of opinion
that this bill should be read a
second time, he would offer
must
no opposition, but the house
&groat deal of inquiry had
takenrecollect that though
England, there had not 1; place on the subject in
with respect to Ireland. It been any particular inquiry
was quite clear there was no
special evil to meet
, as was the case in Scotland ; there
had been no increase
in drinking, and there was a strong
opinion in Dublin that if the bill,
were
to a great deal of secret drinking. He therefore doubted
whether legislation on the subject would be advantageous.
The bill was then read a second time.
The Representation of the People (Ireland) Bill was post-
ported for three weeks.
The house shortly aftetwards adjourued.

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