The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-16 00:00:00

PETITIONS.

Lord LIFFORD said that he shculd to - morrow
evening present a petition from certaiu 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,

Alter 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 someof the clauses, but hesug-
gested to him that there was another bill in another place
which might remove his noble and learned friend's objec.-
tion, 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) had suggested that perhaps the increase of
causes had arisen from the circumstance of there being
a number of small causes brought before the Court, but he
(the Lord Chancellor) would instance the case of the Ad-
miralty Court. In 1841 there were 66 salvage cases, and
in 1866 130. The total value of the property in the one
year was £40,400, in the other £221,300. In the case of
probate cause, likewise, there was an immense pressure of
business. He found that at the end of Hilary Term there
were 59 remanets 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 Livorce, 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. lie had consulted the judges, bu
they obj. cted to this, and wished an addition to their own
courts. Nobody could deny that there must be a new
circuit, and then he should want two judges. But he
thought that, with a little arrangement, the matter might
be well adjusted. By an act of William IV. there
were to be four judges in bunco, but he could not see the
use of this, it was not so in Chancery; it these judges s ,t
• there would be two judges let at liberty to conduct nisi
prius cases. Now he did not want, to all two judges to
the suparioi• court, but to add two judges to the Probate and
Divorce, and two who would be availlible on circuit. It bad
been urged that if these two judges were to oil circuit they
would not be present when motions were made in court.
When the judges never were in court the judges at assize
tried the records from all circuits. Ho trusted that their
lordships would pass the bill through committee.
Lord CRAN WORTH 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 three judges be better than four, but that two would
be infinitely better still. He 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 other tried cases in Westminster had
his learned reflected, that the disadvantage of

this would be to upset all judicial arrangement and divide
the bar. He could not conceive a more inconvenient, ar-
rangement.

'filo house then resolved itself into committee, and the
bill passed through committee.
(LEFT SITTING.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS—Tints EVENING.
The SPEAKER took the 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 E.ist Coast of Africa?
Mr., CORRY said the recommendations of Commanders
Latham and Purvis had been adopted as far as eircum-
stinces 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
the rate is compounded, deduct from his landlord the
amount he may have been called on to pay for additional
rating on claiming to be separately assessed iu order to
claim his vote; and, supposing the amount of rate so paid
exceeded the amount of the rent due. and the landlord dis-
charged his weekly tenant, bow could the said tenant re-
cover the amount of additional rate ho had paid ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it was
not a case that was likely to occur, but he had referred to
the point fur consideration, and on receiving an answer he
would communicate with the hon. member.
THE SCIENCE AND ART CATALOGUE.
__

Mr. GREGORY asked the Vice-President of the Com-
mittee of Council whether sty 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 should
have decided whether the object to be obtained justified,
the expense ?
Lord U. MONTAGU said there was no agreement with
the Times. Tile 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 expenses. The plan adopted in the
Times was merely an experiment, as it was thought it
would be more beneficial to publish the matter as au ad-
vertisement rather than in the form of a pamphlet. The
advertisement was originally ordered fur four insertions,
but a minute had been 'asset! limiting the insertion to
two publications, which had already taken place, and which
had cost only £132. lie might, however, say that the
house last session had sanctioned the publication of the
catalogue.
Mr. OSBORNE said the noble lord had not answered

the material point in the question, and that was whether
it was intended to proceed with this extraordinary affair.
(Laughter.)
Lord R. MONTAGU said' the hon. gentleman surely
could not have been listening to what ho had just said,
because he had distinctly stated that a minute had been
passed limiting the insertion of the two publications which
had already appeared.
A RIESTRONG GUNS.

Mr. H. BAIL LIE asked the Secretary of State for War
?healer the War Department had paid a part of the
noney, and intends to pay the whole sum charged by the
Elswick Company, for the nine breech-loading 61-pounder:
recently rejectedtwtlyoo
r threeiitproof, the said guns having been or-
dered years since, and having become
obsolete, and whether it was not desirable to
put a mark upou all guns that fail in their
proof at Woolwich, as there has been sent to the I'aris
Exhibition a 9-inch gun cast at Elswick, having a rifled
tube of wrought iron, which was rejected at the Woolwich
proof: and, whether the hundred rounds fired from that
gnu under cover, after it was rejected at proof, at the
desire of the Elswick Company, was to be paid fur by the
country ?
Sir J. PAKINGTON said some money had been paid,
but the remainder would not be parted with until the guns
were pronounced as satisfactory. It was altogether au
error to say the gnus had become obsolete. It was the
practice to place a mark on guns that had failed, and it
was not the fact that the gun sent to the Paris Exhibition
was not 0110 that had been rejected by the of,
prolouso
Woolwich.

THE REFORM BILL.
Mr. HENEIGE asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer
it was still his intention to alter the schedule (D) of the
Representation of the People Bill as far as regards the
parts of Lindsay, as intimated by bun earlier in the ses-
sion in reply to a question asked by the hon. member for
North Lincolnshire ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it was
12Qt his intention to alter the 13 oliedule. Tho pcquidaries