The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-17 00:00:00

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The following bills, Rochester, Chatham, and Stroud
Gas, Poole Roads, Tees Censervancy, Waterford, New
Ross, and Wexford. Junction, Sunderland Ferry, Wolver-
hampton New Water, Dundalk and Gleemore Railway
Bills wore read a second time.

The following bills, Cambrian Railway (Extension of
Line), Staleybridge Gas, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and
Gateshead Gas, Norwich and Spalding Railway, were
read a third time and passed.
PETITIONS.

Lord LIFFORD said that he should to - morrow
evening present a petition from certain persons in
Ireland, praying that those persons now under sen-
tence of death in that country for: political offences
should receive the Royal prerogative of mercy.
ADMIRALTY DIVORCE AND PROBATE BILL.
After a few inaudible remarks from Lord CRANWORTH,
The LORD CHANCELLOR, in moving the commit-
ment of this bill, said that his noble and learned friend did
not quite agree with him in somoof the clauses, but he sug-
gested to him that there was another bill in another place
which might remove hie noble and learned friend's objec-
tions, and therefore in compliance with his wishes he de-
layed moving the commitment of the present bill, but now
he should press it on. His noble and learned friend (Lord
Cranworth) hail suggested that perhaps the increase of
causes had arisen from the circumstance of there being
a number of srmtll causes broughtbefore the Court, but he
(the Lord Chancellorj.viould iiistaiice the case of the Ad-
miralty Court. In 1841 there were 66 salvage cases, and
in 1866 139. The total value of the property in the one
year was £10,400, in the other £221,309. In the case of
pi obate cause, likewise, there was an immense pressure of
business. He found that at the end of Hilary Term there
were 59 remanots, and 61 cases had been entered between
that and Easter, none of which had come on, and there
were 17 fresh cases now. This gave a preponderance of
the Probate, to the disadvantage of the Divorce, and they
would probably remember that a long will case had
occupied the court many days. It was quite im-
possible that the judges should despatch the business
there, and he thought that there should be two judges ap-
pointed
to the Probate and Divorce, and that they should
be judges of assize. Ho had consulted the judges, but
they objected to This; and wislied 417, Addition to thetr,Pwn
counts.it
o
, n Nobody
-6c) due
Id ny Pla4:: there must be .a new
c
want two judges. But he
thought that, with a little arrangement, the matter might
be well adjusted. By an act of William IV. there
ircu and then he sh
were to be four judges in Banco, but he could not see the
use of this, it was not so in Chancery; if these judges sat
there would be two judges let at liberty to conduct nisi
prius cases. Now he did not want to add two judges to
the superior court, but to add two judges to the Probate and
Divorce, and two who would be available on circuit. It bad
been urged that if these judges were to go on circuit they
would not be present when motions were made in court.
When the judges never were hi court the judges at assize
tried the records from all circuits. He trusted that their
lordships would pass the bill through committee.
Lord CRANWORTH considered that as far as the Ad-
miralty was concerned, his noble friend proposed to add
judicial strength where it was most wanted. He should
like to know what the arrears of cases were at the end
of the seven years; other calculations were fallacious.
Taking into consideration the length of time the
court sat he did not think that judicial strength was re-
quired there. He considered, however, that not only
would throe judges be better than four, but that two would
be infinitely bettor still. lle objected to the present state
of the bill. He considered additional judges to be a great
evil.

The LORD CHANCELLOR, in reply, said that his
noble and learned friend had totally misunderstood him.
He did not wish to have certain judges going on
circuit, while others tried cases in Westminster. Had
his learned friend reflected, that the disadvantage of
this would be to upset all judicial arrangement and divide
the bar? lie could not conceive a more inconvenient ar-
rangement.

The house then resolved itself into committee, and the
bill passed through committee. •
Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—.LAST EVENING.
The SPEAKER took tho chair at four o'clock.
THE SLAVE TRADE.

Sir F. BUXTON asked whether it was proposed to
make any alteration in the cruising ground of her Ma-
jesty's ships, with a view to the more effective prevention
of the slave trade on the East Coast of Africa?
Mr. CORRY said the recommendations of Commanders
Latham and Purvis had been adopted as far as circum-
stances would admit. It was not the intention of the
Government to act on the advice of Mr. Seward.
THE REFORM BILL.

Mr. HANKEY asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer
at what time could a weekly tenant of a house, for which
yfor additional
the rate is compOunded, deduct from his landlord the
cralat amountiitenghei
ash evom claimingt
vote
y; ahnd,
have
to
veb 7)7
separately
called on to
assessedpa in order to
supposing the amount of-rate so paid
exceeded the amount of the rent due, and the landlord dis-
charged his weekly tenant, how could the said tenant re-
cover the amount of additional rate he bad paid ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it was
not a case that was likely to occur, but he had referred to
the point for consideration, and on receiving an answer he
would communicate with the hon. member.

THE SCIENCE AND ART CATALOGUE.
Mr. GREGORY asked the Vico-President of the Com-
mittee of Council whether any agreement had been made
with the Times newspaper to print
.the Art Catalogue for
a certain sum, and, if not, whether the printing of this
catalogue would be suspended until the house shollid
have decided whether the object to be obtained justified
the expense ?
Lord R. MONTAGU said there was no agreement with
the Times. The proprietor of the Times behaved in a very
generous manner when they were told it was for the benefit
of science and art that the catalogue should be published,
and it was then agreed to print it' at a sum barely
sufficient to cover the exrenses. The plan adopted in the
Times was merely an experiment, as it was thought it
would be more beneficial to publish the matter as an ad-
vertisement rather than in the form of a pamphlet. The
advertioment Was 4ri&inallY ordered ior four insertions,