The Sun.
London, England, 1867-06-24 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF LORDS.—THIS EVENING.
Tho LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.

PRIVATE BILLS.

Enfield Gas ; Seabrook Harbour and Docks ' • Water-
ford, New Ross, and Wexford Junction Railway Company
(amendments) were read a third time.
IRISH RAILWAYS.

In answer to a question from the Earl of KI➢IBERLEY,
The Earl of DERBY said that there had beau nume-
rous propositions as to the lines of railway in Ireland, and
it had been referred to several committees of gentlemen on
both sides of the question, and it was therefore evident
that the utmost fairness had been exercised in the matter.

After a few other remarks, the subject dropped. •
ESTABLISHED CHURCH IN IRELAND.
The EARL RUSSELL :moved for a return of all
matters connected with the Established Church in
Ireland especially as concerned its revenue, and said
that he did so with a great deal of responsibility,
.for
he knew that already they had a great
question
before them. Ho would not ask them to consider it this
session ; but the object of his motion was to prepare their
minds for the discussion of this anomalous question in the
next session. It might be urged that the Church
of England in Ireland was a great advantage to
the country, but still there were not many facts to be
adduced in opposition to the enforcement of the Liturgy of
the Church of England. Through many years had there
been such an enforcement, and in the time of King Wm.
he accepted the Crown of England on condition that no
bishops should be enforced upon the country of Scotland.
iho consequence had been that order had been
preserved in that country, and we now saw the wis-
dom of William the Third and Lord Somers in
their administration in that country. He now came
ta the condition of the kindred kingdom of Ireland, where
even now distraction prevailed, through the fact that the
same wise regulation had not been carried out there. It
struck him that, if every farthing could be obtained that
might from that establishment, it would not give satisfaction
to the Irish people. The noble earl then aninadverted
upon the enforcement of any Established Church in Ire-
land. He would direct their attention to what was said on
the subject. Mr. Grattan had said that unless there was given
some concession in Ireland there would never be anyquietude
and Sir Robert Peel, whose clear mind almost instinctively
grasped the question, said that there would be no peace
or harmony till such concession was made. It had
been stated that there were two religious hierarchies
in lrellnd, the one which represented the minority, the
other the majority, and would it ever be feasible that the
two should amalgamate ? Would the one which was ex-
cluded, and yet was an aspiring rival, be likely to tolerate
the other ? It was evident from the tone of the Irish
that the prophecy which Sir Robert Peel uttered
in 1817 was confirmed in May, 1867. Was it to be won-
dered at that when men said that one portion of the popu-
lation bad all the temporalities to their own Church, and
they had none, that they should be dissatisfied. It was
with the people of Ireland a sentimental wrong.
[LEFT SPEAKING.

HOUSE OF COMMONS-THIS EVENING.
The SPEAICEB, took the chair at four o'clock.
NEW WRIT.

A new writ was ordered to issue for North Lancashire

to elect a member in the place of Col. Wilson Patten, who
has, since his election, accepted the office of Chancellor of
the Duchy of Lancaster.
RAILWAY DEPOSITS.

On the motion of Mr. DODSON, tho following resolu-
tion was agreed to: " That a select committee be appointed
to join with the select committee appointed by the House
of Lords, as mentioned in the said message, to consider the
act 9 and 10 Vic., c. 20, and the standing orders of both
houses iu relation to Parliamentary deposits, and the com-
pletion of railways within a pt ascribed time, and to report
what alterations it is expedient to make therein for the
present and for the ensuitig session."
ATTEMPTED BRIBERY OF A MAGISTRATE.

Mr. tiORRISON asked the Secretary to the Treasury
if George Edward Gurney, who was convicted at the
Central Criminal Court on June 11, of attempting to obtain
a licence to sell spirits by (.ffering a bribe to the chairman
of the Kensington division of magistrates, was-in receipt
of any pcsion from the Gover,.ment • and whether it was
the intention of the Commissioners ef Excise to continue
his present licence to sell beer by retail?
Mr. HUNT said Gurticy had been a police constab!e,
and was pensioned in 1848, which was liable to be for-
feited in the event of a conviction for any indictable of-
fence, but there was a discretion vested in the Home
Secretary. It was competent in the Commissioners of
Excise to claim its forfeiture or to decline to renew the
licence if application was made as directed.
STORM WARNINGS. _ _

Colonel SYKES asked the Vice-President of the Board
of trade whether the Meteorological Committee of the
Royal Society find it practicable to renew the storm warn-
ings, as heretofore practised by the Meteorological Depart-
ment of the Board of Trade.

Mr. CAVE said the Committee of the Royal Society
declined to prognosticate the changes in the weather.
They proposed, however, to supply telegraphic intelli-
gence of the following description:—" Storms from the
west, Penzance, hoist signals," provided the expenses were
defrayed by the parties to whom the information was sent.
STREET ROBBERIES.

Captain GROSVENOR asked the Secretary of State for
the Home Department whether he was aware that fre-
quent robberies of plants and flowers from the windows of
houses in South Belgravia have recently taken place dur-
ing the night; and whether he did not think that it was
attributable to negligence on the part of the police in the

performance of theirduties ?
Mr. HARDY said he was not able to say the that
rob-
beries alluded to was to be attributed to the negligence of
the police. There had been notices of two robberies of
plants from windows, but the police had made two arrests,
though not the two he had mentioned. Under these cir-
cumstances he did not think the police were to blame.
(Hear, hear.)
ARREST OF A SICK DEBTOR.
Mr. C. GILPIN asked the Attorney-General if his atten-
tion had been called to a case recently reported in the
public papers of the violent removal of a debtor, Wil-
liam Watson, aged 72 years, from his residence for debt,
when in the last stage of consumption, and when
the certificate of a physician was shown to the sheriff's
officer stating that Watson could only be removed at the
risk of his life • to the fact that the—said Watson was for-
cibly taken to 'Horsemonger-lane Gaol, and died almost
immediately after his admission; and asked if the law of
England authorises a sheriff's officer thus to remove a
dying man ia the face of such a protest on the part of a
duly qualified physician ?
The AT TORN EY GENERAL said the law of England
did not justify the officer in removing the person under
the circumstances the hon. member had detailed. The
Sheriff was in a position of difficulty in the matter, be-
cause if the debtor recovered and escaped, the Sheriff
would be liable ; but this being the case, the law of the
land did not justify the sick debtor's removal. If the house
gave its sanction to the Bankruptcy Bill, no repetition of
these transactions could occur: (Hear, hear.)
BRITISH CONSULATE AT SAIGON.

Mr. VANDERBYL asked the Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs if any steps had been taken with a view
of establishing a British Consulate at Saigon, Cochin
China, at present under the Government of France ?
Lora STANLEY replied in the negative.
• THE POSTAGE OF LETTERS.
Mr. CHILDERS asked the Secretary to the Treasury
whether there would be any objection, as an experimetr
during the remainder of the session, to despatch from d
post-office in the lobby, at 7.45 p.m., asbcaogtlawntd,halnetteti
bearing two extra stamps, for Ireland,
northern and midland counties of England, in time for
the closing of the letter box at Euston-square railway
station.
Mr. HUNT said an arrangement was in progress in the
matter referred to, but it went the length of a general
measure; as matters were not complete ho would defer for
the present moving the question. (Hear, hear.)
THE BIRMINGHA RIOTS.
Mr. ITORSMAN said he wished to know whether the
Government had received any information on the sub-
ject of the part the volunteers took during the late riot at
Birmingham. He understood that Major Ratcliff had
forwarded a communication to the Secretary of War,
and he thought it was only just to that gentleman that the
purport of his communication should be made known.
Sir J. PAKINGTON said he thanked the hon. member
for thus affording him an opportunity of doing an act of
justice to Major Ratcliff. (Rear, hear.) Ile had first to
say that it had transpired tlett the paragraph in the Times
was entirely etruneous. Major Ratcliff, without waiting
for any communication from the War-office without the
least delay, at (Awe waited upon him and stated the whole
of the steps that hart been taken. It appeared that there
is a large room at Birmingham, called Bingley
and amongst other purposes for which that place was
used was a store for the arms of the Birmingham
volunteers, which was one of the largest corps at present
formed. It was in consequence of a communication from.
the magistrates that it would be of the highest importance
that these arms should be properly guarded. He would give
a portion of the letter of Major Ratcliff—it stated that. on
receiving the intimation from the magistrates Major Ratcliff
took with him about 110 of the volunteers, not even in
uniform, to guard the arms, which amounted to over 1,200
rifles. He was on duty day and night, and never quitted
the place until he was quite certain all was perfectly safe
and secure. Whilst there Major Ratcliff was applied to by
a Roman Catholic priest for assistance, but he told hint be
could not give him any, as he had but one duty to perform.
The rev. gentleman urged as a reason that his chapel
might be attacked, but Major Ratcliff told him it was
impossible for him, in his character of major of volunteers,
to give him the assistance required. Major Ratcliff, in
his (Sir J. Pakington's) opinion, did no more on the occa-
sion than was strictly his duty. (Hear.)
REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE BILL.

The hoire then weut into committee on this bill.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in refe-
•ence to The motion, which had occasioned some observa-
ioue the other evening —viz., the appointment 91 the

' Boundary Commissioners, said the Government had recon-
sidered the matter, and proposed that the Commission should, be constituted as follows:—Lord Eversion the Record•Jr,
Sir F. Crossley, Sir J. Duckworth, and Mr. Walters. it
might be said that the arrangement gave three Liberals
to two Conservatives, but he had not been animated in
the endeavour to secure the most efficient means by party
views. (Hear, hear.)
The consideration of the clauses of the Reform Bill was,
then resumed.
On clause 40 being proposed an amendment was moved,
to the effect that no person should givo more than, one
vote for any one place in respect of the possession of, more
than the qualification. The amendment was ul.cimatey
agreed to, although the division bell had been rung, and a
great number of members had made their appe..irance.
Mr. IIARDCASTLE moved another arnemunent to the
same clause, With a view of enabling him to introduce
words disfranchising "freemen."
Mr. LEEMAN oC7jected to this amendment, and raid he
had until that time believed the bill was one for exteudin.2
the franchise, aid not dimiuishinA it. (Hear, herx.)
Yet now it was imposed to disqualify "Ireerion"
although the bill gave the franchise to the owner of every
small hovel, and to a lodger who paid 4s. a-week. .fe eon_
tended that the "freent.w," whose associations of a life-
time had been connected with some particular. boroughs,
was more entitled to a vote than the occupier of a eclair in.
some of our towns. The amendment proposed wits a most
important one, because there were 9U places and 40,00 U
persons who would be affected by it.
[LEFT :PEAKING.]