The Sun.
London, England, 1858-05-29 00:00:00

THE RIVER THAMES,

Mr. GRIFFITH asked the First Commissioner of
Works the followiuw question :—Whether the principle
just put forth by Dr. Odling, the Officer of Health for
Lambeth, that the perpetual motion of the water of the
Thames, and the flux and reflux of the tide, affects the
oxidization of decomposing matters to that extent, "that
he has never been able to discover sulphuretted hydro-
gen in Thames water," may not be well worthy of
further investigation, as offering possibly the means of
escaping the haz irdous and expensive drainage engineer-
ing undertakings that have been under consideration?
Lord JOHN MANNERS was understood to say an
enquiry was now going on relative to this subject.
BREACH OF PRIVILEGE.

Mr. CLIVE brought f.ir ward his charge of breach of
privilege relative to the attacks on bins in the Carlisle
Examiner, imputing to Lim corrupt rnotves as chairman
of the North British and Caledonian Railway
Bill. On a former occasion the hon. and learned gentle-
man brinight the sulject under the consideration
of the house, when it was ordered that Hudson Scott,
the publisher, and Washington Wilkeß, the editor, should
this day attend at the bar of the house. Since that time
he had hoped there parties would have retrac'ed their
charges, and he would have been satisfied ; but instead
of that, they had been repeated in a subsequent publica-
tion of the paper. The bon. and learned gentleman was
proceeding to read the article in the subsequent publica-
tion, when
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE called the bon, and learned
gentleman to order. The printer and editor of the paper
were in attendance to appear at the bar of the house for
the complaint made against them on a former occasion.
lie thought it unfair that the offence they had to an•
swi-r should be exaggerated before they were called to
the bar of the house.

The SPEAKER said the hon. and learned gentleman
was in order.

Mr. CLIVE having read a portion of the second
article, Mr. Iluds.)n Scott aad Mr. Washington Wilkes
were called to the bar of the house.

In answer to a question put to 11,r, Wilkes, he stated
he was the printer, publisher, and editor of the Carlisle
Examiner. He published the article complained of in the
paper of the 15th May, believing the statements, from in-
formation he received, partly from a public and partly
from a private source, were true. He ,as not then
prepared to withdraw the article or give up the author
from whom be obtained his information, but he thought
if a commission were appointed, the parties who had
given him the information would come forward and sub-
stantiate the imputations contained in the article. He
had the information from a gentleman connected with
the line that was thrown out.
Mr. Hudson Scott stated that he was not now the
publisher of the paper, nor waa ho on the 35th May last.
They were then ordered to withdraw.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER then
moved three resolutions, to the effect that Washington
Wilkes had been guilty of publishing a false and
scandalous article, reflecting on the conduct
of the chairman of the committee (Mr. Clive)
and other members of that committee, and that
the Speaker do issue his warrant for his committal to
the custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL having seconded the
motions,

They were agreed to.
Tee CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER then
moved the discharge of the ordure for the further attend-
ance of Mr. Hudson Scott.—Agreed to.

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER'S

SPEECH AT SLOUGH.

Upon the order for the day of going into Committee
of Supply,

Lord J. RUSSELL (who was very indistinctly heard
in the gallery) said—l should not be disposed on the
present occasion to call attention to our foreign relations,
were it not from reports in the newspapers of what ap-
peared to tee to be a most extraordinary speech made by
the Chancellor of the Exchequer. (Hear, hear.) If it
were only a speech pronouncing exultation at the result
of a late debate in tbis house introduced by my right
hon. blend the member for Oxford, certainly neither I
nor any one would find fault with the Chancellor of the
Exchequer for even excessive expression of exultation
on that account. But there are other matters which
deeply concern the relations of this house to the Govern-
ment, and the relations of this Government to the Go-
vernments of other countries. (Cheers.) In the first
place, with regard to the relations of this house to the
Government, we are informed in that speech that when
the Earl of Derby was called upon by ber Majesty to
form a Government, that he stated that not above a
third of the members of this house were attached to the
party of which that noble earl was the head, and there-
fore that that was the only certain support on which he
could rely. I know there are many who at the time,
founding their opinion upon this fact —which it is now
stated has been communicated to her Majesty—thought
that the House of Commons ought not to consent to the
existence of the Government. Those who thought so
might have moved to address her Majesty, as has often I
been done, praying that an efficient Administration
should be appointed representing the majority in this
house. But that was not the course pursued. The
First Lord of the Admiralty told his constituents
some time ago that he believed there were a great
number of independent members in this house who
were not attached to any particular party, and he
said that although the present Ministers might not
possess the confidence of a majority of the house
upon their formation, yet their measures might
be such as would conciliate the support of those hide.
pendent members, and thereby place them in the consti-
tutional position of having the command of a majority of
the house. When I read that statement I thought it was
the best defence which could be put forward for the
situation of the minister?, and I thought it was a posi-
tion which might be constitutionally defended by those
who bad taken office. But the house will observe that
in that defence everything depends upon the conduct of
the Ministers. It was fer them so to shape the measures
which they brought forward in accordance with the opi-
nions of the majority of this house as to establish a solid
claim to public support. The great majority of this house
I think, accepted that view of affairs, and, so far from
having to complain of attacks, I thick the Government
have experienced the utmost forbearance. (Hear.) Differ-
ing as they do in opinion on many subjects from her
Majesty's Ministers, it would have been in the power of
gentlemen on this side of the house to array themselves
in active opposition to the Government, They have not I