The Sun.
London, England, 1858-04-17 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT,

HOUSE OF LORDS.---(YESTERDAY.)
their lordships met at ti o'clock, Lord REDUIDALS,
deputy Speaker, presiding.
Viscount Dungannon and Lord Faversham presented
petitions against the admission of Jews to Parliament,
.and Lord Talbot and Lord Berners presented. petitions
against the abolition of church-rates.
SALE OF POISONS.
Lord CAMPBELL asked the noble earl at the head
of her Majesty's Government whether it was the
intention of her Majesty's Ministry to introduce a bill
this session to regulate the sale of poisons ?
Earl DERBY said the Secretary of State for the
Home Department had put himself into communication
•with the Pharmaceutical Society with a view to learn
!..-..heir views on the subject. (Hear, bear.) The introduc-
-66n of a bill would very much depend upon the
navare of the answer to the communication which
had mot yet been received. Oa Monday next he hoped
to be in a position to give a definite answer to the
questi,lll.-

CUSTOMS BILL.
Oa the motion of the Earl of DUB! the Customs
Bill was r,la,-1 a second time.
Their lordsthips then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(YESTERDAY.)
The SPLINES took the chair at 4 o'clock.
VATE BUSINESS.
The fallowing pr.'eate bills were read a third time and
rt
passed :—Chester G.vo ; Knighton Railway ; Newpo
(Salop) Markets, Towo-ball, &c. ; and Nottingham Gas.
The Barnstaple New Water Works Bill was further
considered and ordered for .a third reading.
PAID COLONIAL AGENTS.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM said that on the late dis-
cushion, on the motion of the honeurable baronet for
Taviatock (Sir J. Teelawney). he (Sir James Graham)
stated that the late Sir Jacaes MatAintosh was a paid
agent at the Canadian colonies. He ,had reason to be-
lieve that. statement was erroneous, land he expressed
his regret at having been led into the cuintake. (Hear.)
INDIA.
Colonel gY.S.ES gave notice of a motion relative to
the number of letters and despatches forwarded by the
East India Dir,VtolB to India during the years 1853 to
1857 inclusive.
COM.MUNICATI9N
DUB BETW
LIEEN LONDON AND
N.
Mr. Sergeant DEASY asked the Secretary to the
Treasury whether any deiloite arrangements had been
made for securing to the pLiblic the benefit of improved
communication between London and Dublin ; and, if
not, whether there was any iunnediate prospect of Any
such arrangement being concludedl
Mr. HA.NIILTON said he had every reason to
believe that a few days would not pass before the
draft of a contract for improving the communication be-
tween the London and North • Vireotern Company,
the Holyhead and Chester Railway, and the City of
Dublin Company, would be ready. Large and powerful
'vessels for carrying it out were being constructed.
THE CAGLIARI.

Mr. HEADLAM asked the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer whether he had as yet received the opinions of
the law officers of the Crown on the subjsct of the
Cagliari ; and if so, whether he could state to the house
what course the Government intended to pursue !
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said,
in the matter of the Cagliari there are two distinct ques-
tions involved. One is what I might call the national
question, aad the other the international question. The
first concerns the treatment of our two countrymen,
Park and Watt ; and with respect to that part
of the question, we have received the opinions
of the law officers of the Crown, and they are unani-
mously of opinion that the detention of our
countrymen, Park and Watt, was illegal— (loud
cries of hear, hear)—and in consequence of that,
and after giving them ourselves all that
deliberation so serious a matter requires, we have ad-
dressed a dispatch to the Minister of the King of Naples,
in which the Secretary of State for War has demanded
compensation for the grisvanses that have been expe-
rienced by our fellow-countrymen, Park and Watt.
(Cheers.) The international question, as the hon. and
learned gentleman must be aware, is one quite distinct
from the other, and that it is one in which Eng-
land has only an interest like other maritime
nations. On that we have not yet received the opin-
ions of the law officers of the crown, and iri explanation
of what might otherwise appsar unaccountable, fairly
remind the house what I stated on a former occasion,
that on Saturday important documents were received
by her Majesty's Government bearing on the question,
and which were submitted to the Attorney-General and
his c )11eague3 ; but his time has been so completely ab.
sorbed lately in conducting the state trial, that he wag
unable to give the papers that consideration which they
absolutely require.
Mr. HEADLAM asked the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer if he would lay the documents referred to en the
table of the house ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER declined
now to comply with the request, but he would do so at
the right time. (Hear.)
THE PROCTORS OF THE PROBATE COURT.
In reply to a question from Mr. HADFIELD,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
that, according to the claims sent in, the Treasury had
estimated the claims of the proctors for compensation,
under the late act, at 250,000/. per annum for some
years. (Cheers, and oh, oh.)
NETLEY HOSPITAL.

Mr. WEGUELIN asked the Secretary for War
whether the Government bad appointed a committee to
investigate the report mad• by the Barrack Hospital
Ciruinissioners upon Netley Hospital ; and, if so,
whether they were prepared to present to the house the
report of this committee at the same time as they laid
the report of the Barrack Commissioners upon the table
of the house ?
Mr. TITE asked if there were any objections to de-
posit the plans in the library of the house !
General PEEL said he intended to send down a board
of medical of/leers to examine the locality and report
thereon, and he had suspended the works. The plan
should be deposited in the library.
PARLIAMENTARY RE FORM.
On the motion for adjournment till Monday
Mr. DUNCOM.BE asked the noble lord the member
for Tiverton if he would have any objection in the pre-
sent position of the question of parliamentary reform to
lay upon the table of the house a copy of the bill for
the amendment of the laws relating to the representa-
tion referred to in the speech from the Throne
at the commencement of the present session. The
hon. gentleman referred to the state of the represen-
tation and the reform that bad been promised. In refer-
ence to the India Bill, that of the late Government had
been the reason of producing one from the present
Government ; and if the noble lord introduced his bill,
it would no doubt stimulate the present Govern-
ment to introlui• theirs ; but he despaired of their doing
anything towards Parliamentary Reform, when the
noble lord the member for London would no doubt
oome forward and spread a feather bed before the right
hon. gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on
which his bill might safely drop—(laughter),---in the
shape of certain resolutions. (Renewed laughter.)
Lord PALMERSTON said it was his intention to
have introduced a party reform bill this session if he
had been permitted. The late Government had two
subjects of importance to deal with—via., the Government
of India and Parliamentary reform, Her Majesty's
late Government thought it advisable (how rightly he
must leave it to the house to decide—Daughter) to de-
♦ote their attention to the former, and introduce that
bill first, and then to introduce the other. Circumstances
however had " cut short"—(laughter)—their official ex-
istence and they had net the opportunity of Introducing
it. His answer to tles question was that the subject
had not so far advanced as to have been embodied in a
bill, and even if the late Government bad thought
it expedient to lay the draught of the bill on the
table on constitutional grounds, he thought it not
desirable to do so, because it was the duty of her
Majesty's Government to introduce a bill of so much
importance. From the quarter in which the late Go-
vernment had officially communicated with the public,
via, through their cinstituents on the hustinge—
(laughter)---it appeared that they had for some
time before - taking office considered the question,
and there was no doubt that, during the present
session, her Majesty's Government would pre-
sent to the house the bill which the learned Attorney-
Geeeral had so fully shadowed forth. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. LOCKE KING expressed a hope, as there was
DO chance of their having a Reform Bill this year, that
the house would support his motion for the introduction
of a bill relative to the county franchise and the qualia•
cation of members. (Hear, bear.)
CHINA. _ _

Mr. W. EWART inquired of the Chancellor of the
Ez belittler, whether advantage would bl taken of the
opplvtunity afforded by the negotations with the Chinese
Government at Pekin, for opening a way fo► British
and Indian commerce into Thibet and other countries
under the Chinese dominion beyond the Ilimal/yah
Mountains
Th. CEIA.NCELLOR of the EXCEIEQUER said
that at present this country bad no ❑egotiations unfor-
tanatAy with Pekin. What might happen he could not
gay, but the house ►night rest satisfied that her Majesty's
Government would give every assistance towards de-
Valoping British government.

THE PASSPORT SYSTENI.
111 r. MONCKTON MILNE'S' put a question to the
Government respecting the effect of the New Passport
Reguiations in Thlgium on British pu'oycts, and called
the attention of the house to the inc,invetaiences of the
prey eat system of the delivery cf passports by the F.--
reign Office. He expressed his regret that Bel;ium had
ske.opted the French system.
r. SEYMOU R FIl ZGER.A.LD said that at pre-
sent, under certain circumstances, passports were granted
by the Foreign-office without recommendations.
Negotiations were g.,ing on with the French Govern-
ment relative. to altering the restrictions in the case of
English workmen and on some other points. Agents
would be appointed at all the English ports where the
traffic demanded it, and the French Government would
have agents at ports to which they would arrive.
RECORD OF THE NATIONALITY OF PRI-
SONERS CHARGED AT THE METROPOLI-
TAN POLICE COURTS,

Lord It. CECIL asked the Secretary for the Howe
Department, whether there would ba any objec-
tion to giving directions that a record should be
kept of the nations to which each prisoner charged
at the Metropolitan Police Courts belonged.
was induced to ask the question because he under•

stood crime in this country committed by foreib

""Gers Aaa

on the increase.
Mr. HARDY, under Home Secretary, said he wog/ 1
inquire if such a record could be kept.
THE GREEN PARK.
Lord ELCHO put a question to the First Coot mis.
eloaa: of 'Yorke, relative to the intended alteratiol Is in
the Green Park, and called attention to the erect' ion of
the Suspension-bridge in St. James'-park, and apt .ed the
noble lord the member for Tiverton if he was g ratified
with the "Catenarian Curve" he so eloquently de scribed
when the motion for erecting a bridge over- -the lake
was before the house ; and if the s.uspc:nsion-
bridge presented that line of beauty, and was of that
light gossamer form his speech on the above occasion
led the house to believe, and if its erection met va ith his
approval. He considered the name of the arcb,:itect and
the noble lord should be inscribed upon it. He
contended the house ought to know what worl :s were to
be carried out before they sanctioned them. H a referred
to two circles marked out in the Green-park.. for, he
believed, two shrubberies; but he considered shrubberies
were an' abomination in the London parks, and ought
not to be sanctioned. They were anything but orna-
mental, and their removal from the parks was a great
improvement. Above all places they should not be
planted on one of the pleasantest sloping spots af grass
in the suburbs of London.
Lord J. MANNERS said the proposed shrubberies
originated with the late President of the Board of
Works, but he had no intention of carrying them
out, or of planting shrubberies without the con-
gent of the house. (Hear, hear.) With respect to
Finsbury Park he had little to do with it, but he had
l communicated with the Metropolitan Board of Works.
who bad replied that no measures had been taken for
forming a park. The laying out of two roads were now
occupying their attention, and until they were carried
out the consideration of the formation of Finsbury Park
must stand over. _ _ .

—Sis B. HALL detailed the circumstances attending the
extension of the St. James's-park bridge. It was sup.
Fused that such a structure was opposed to the public
will, but it was a remarkable fact that on the shortest
winter day 37,360 persons had passed over that bridge.
When it was determined by the committee to erect a
bridge he called on the late Mr. Rendell, who was the
architect. He (Sir 13, Hall) admitted that the bridge
was not such a one as should be erected in a gentleman's
park—(a laugh)—but considering the traffic over this
public bridge it was necessary to make it subBtantial.
(Hear, and a laugh.) He vindicated the formation of the
shrubberies, so far as he had anything to do with them
Mr. ELLICE, sen., deprecated the false taste which
made our public parks so many landscape gardens.
Sir H. VERNEY thought that as the park was useful
to the whole of Londun generally, care should be taken
to make it as clear as possible.
THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.

Mr. COLLIER said he understood that the Chancellor
of the Exchequer proposed to move resolutions on tie
subject of the Government of India on Monday week.
It as most important that members should have an op-
portun:ry of considering these resolutions before the time
for discuss:rig them arrived. He wished therefore to 9.,k
the right hon. gentleman on what day the resolutions
would be laid on Lite table of the house ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—The
resolutions will certainly be laid on the table on Monday
next. I hope that they will be in the hands of members
on that day.

THE ABEONA.
In answer to Mr. LINDSAY,
General PEEL said that the Abeona sailed from
Gravesend a short while since, with 750 men on board.
After a few days email-pox broke out on board. Upon
this occurring the ship put back, and the men who
were attacked by the disease were landed, and the vessel
then proceeded on her way, orders, however, being given
for her to call at Kingstown, that she might there he
inspected. After she again started on her voyage two
more men were attacked by the small-pox. Beyond
these two, however, the disease had not spread, and he
had received a telegram from Ireland from the inspector-
general certifying that the troops on board this vessel
were now in good health, and quite fit to proceed to sea.
THE ARMY ESTIMATES.
In answer to Mr. P. O'BRIEN,
General PEEL said he did not propsse to make any
general statement as to the army estimates that evening,
but merely to take one vote for pay, /cc., for the men
already voted.
The motion for adjournment to Monday was then
agreed to.
THE WESTERN BANK OF SCOTLAND.
On the motion for going into committee of supply,
Mr. BRADY rose to call attention to the case of the
Western Bank of Scotland—a case which, to his wonder,
bad not yet been brought before the house. This bank
was established twenty-five years ago with a capital of
1,500,000/. It soor, however, had at its command
5,000,000/. sterling, and, in addition, circulated its notes
to the extent of 327,000/. From the commencement the
bank went upon wrong principles, and its subsequent
career was so managed that, sooner or later, its fall was
certain to occur. He had received from a trustworthy
source a document which enabled Shim to state some of
the chief charges against the directors of this bank. In
the first place, they omitted to call together the proprie-
tor, as they should have done, when a certain propor-
tion of their capital was lost. Not only did they fail in
doing this, but they declared a dividend of 9i per cent.,
whereby many were induced to take shares in the bank
when it was entirely insolvent. Besides this they car-
ried on bad debts in their books as available assets, and
they did this even in cases where they bad theme s:vem
been obliged to insure the lives of debtors is order to
have a chance of saving anything. They had also sent
t;00,000/. to America—against the terms of their char
ter—to be applied in discounting bills. Every penny of
this sum was now lost. In the same way they advanced
money recklessly at home. A firm of Macdonald and
Co.; who were known to be men possessed of little or
ootning, had, in a few month?, oentrived to fail for
333,000/ , of which sum 200,0001. was due to the
Western Bank. These were the two cases with white
he should trouble the house. There were many more,
but he thought these two sufficient for the illustration of
the subject. It might be said that the manager had been
placed in a position of such unlimited control against the
veil of the directors, but that was in his (M r. Brady',)
opinion, no excuse. He had entire control over the funds
of the bank, and next to him the directors were respon-
sible for his actions. Ho trusted that these parties would
be brought before the bar of public opinion to account
f)r the deAsuetion they had brought on hundreds of fa-
milies. He had some time before asked whether it was
the intention of Government to take any steps in the
matter, when the learned lord opposite informed them he
had not before him any evidence upon which he could
proceed. Since then he (Mr. Brady) had been informed
that at the time the learned lord was giving his answer
he was actually the legal adviser of the directors of the
Western Bank, (Hear, hear.) He did not mean to in-
sinuate that the learned lord could in the slightest de-
gree hare been influenced by such a circumstance ; in-
deed, he did not know of his own knowledge if it were
true ; but, it the learned lord was the legal advi-er of
the directors, he certainly was not in a position to give
the answer he (Mr. Brady) had quoted. (Hear, hear.)
He trusted they should hear from the learned lord that,
if any foundation for criminal proceediugs could be ob
tained, they would without delay be taken by the Go-
vernment. In conclusion, he begged to state that in
bringing this subject forward he had been actuated
solely by public motives, and that he left it with the
failest confidence in the hands of the Government.
The LORD-ADVOCATE said he could assure the
house that although rising immediat ly after the hon.
member for Leitrim, he had no intention of answering
the speech of that hon. member. He (the Lord-Advo-
cate) was not there for the purpose of defending the
principle upon which the Western Bask of Scotland
had been established, or the conduct of the directors of
that institution. Neither was he there to offer any
opinion as to the personal culpability of the directors.
On that subject he bad given no opinion : but he was
glad of the opportunity of removing an erroneous im-
pression that prevailed in certain quarters out of doors,
and which seemed to influence some hon. members with-
in. With regard to himself personally, the charge
alluded to by the hon. member for Leitrim seemed hardly
to require even a passing observation ; but he might
mention that at the time the bank stopped payment and
was winding up, be was in his professional capacity fre-
quently consulted by the directors, the shareholders, the
liquidators, the depositors, and the creditors of that in-
stitution. (Hear, hear.) All parties, in short, had con-
sulted him in turn, but the matter to which he wished
then to refer concerne 1 his office as public pros eCnr in
Scotland. The hon. member f )r Leitrim had on xprevioue
occasion asked him (the L)rd-Advocate) whether criminal
proceedings would beinst'tuted,—hisanswer in substance
was, that he bad not before him any information that
would justify a prosecution. He begged now to repeat
that statement, and to add that such was his position
down to the present moment. It did appear strange to
him that the parties who had given the hon. member the
information which justifieei him in using such .strong
language as that he had indulged in, should not have
thought tit to lay their information before the public
authorities. It seemed that a great misapprehension
exited as to the nature of the office which he had the
honour to hold. A public prosecutor was not a minister
of police. It was not any part of the business of a public
prosecutor to hunt out crime. On the contrary, he bed
always understood that the true theory of the Lord Ad-
vocate's function was that that officer should never pro-
secute except on the complaint of an injured party, with
certain very important exceptions A was true, but as a
general rule a prosecution should not be set on foot ex-
cept by the complaint of the injured party. And the
rule was applicable in the case of commercial frauds. The
whole of the disclosures in the case of the Royal British'
Bank were made in the Bankruptcy Court, and came,
under the notice of the Attorney-General in that way,
and he had ne alternative but to proceed against the
directors. But in the case cf the Western Bank of
Sen,leed there had been only one proceeding, and that
Case of sequestration.
t a
nldn
he
ehwat4
scdase i
;o8 Mr.ed Tto" take
the nsanager, was ea4tu
himself,Beside, rtehhies:intgherteisehdadirecbteoerns,
im
fltirt
onenn
I,.yt
all
hole blame
:og7oi
b upon
ity.
tone had been to charge the directors with very cu
p.
f shareholders, and at all of theatbhlee:
t
neeligetice cif duty in not controlling thehemmanaalgtehre ,
pbrut
there was nothing sevgested at any of
duct on of a criminal prosecution. As early
a
last there was a committee meeting of the bank at as-
s Decemb
Gler
gow fur the purpose of appointing a committee of in res-
tigation. That committee reported to a subsequent
meeting. It v a a very angry and excited meeting, but
no criminal charge was made against the directors. Tao
committee, in their report, stated that they were of °Pi'
ni m that during the whole of Mr. Taylor's career, and
1- during the career of Mr. Smith, his predecessor, the
directors of the bank were very much to blame in
I neglecting the duties of their trust, and that they ap-
peared, without sufficient inquiry or examination, to