The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-03 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

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

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The South Eastern Railway Bill and Southwark and
Vauxhall Water Bill were read a second time. The Wands-
worth Bridge, Richmond Gas, Furness Rtilway, Sidmouth
Railway and Harbour, Athenry and Ennis Junction Rail-
way, Cheshire Lines, Rochester- Oyster Fishery, Wilford
Bridge, Windsor Royal Gas, Abertillery Gas and Water,
Risca and Ponteymista Gas, Dublin Port, Manchester,
Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway Bills were read a third
time.
T:Ht(7I.I)GES! CHAMBERS BILL.
ThW.`to'OßliCjilildEtLOß,:! in nioviiig We'
second tealWointhis 1411:4atel tliat it had been sug-
gested to him by a noble gnd_learmici friend who had him-
self been a Judge in Chanabers that there should be a
clause introduced which should allow an appeal from the
decision of the Masters who wore to decide on points
argued in Chanibers to the Judges themselves. Ho (the
Lord Chancellor) considered this a very reasonable clause,
and one which could be advantageously introduced. He
therefore, with this aidition, now moved the second read-
ing of this bill.

It was then read a second time.
THE CRIMINAL LUNATICS BILL.

The Earl of BELMORE moved the second reading of
this bill, stating it was one which would greatly contribute
to the better regulation of the system at present pursued
toward criminal lunatics. It was a very short but a very
important one.
The Earl of SHAFTESBURY said that ho did not
object to the bill, which he considered a very good one,
but he certainly did object to the third clause of
the bill, which gave the power to her Majesty's Secre-
tary of State to discharge any criminal lunatic. This
he considered a dangerous-clause, and would urge upon
their lordships that the greatest circumspection should be
exercised in carrying out this important function. A
person committing a crime might be confined during
her Majesty's pleasure, and then, on the certifi-
cate of certain physicians, be let out to the
world again. It was a very serious question whether
when persons were guilty of the most horrible crimes that
they should be let out to the world again. He would im-
plore them to reflect what an affliction this —might
prove to society at large. He was afraid that
by the sense of impunity which this clause
would engender, it would increase the species of
crimes which resulted from madness. He (the noble earl)
remembered that on one occasion when he had gone
over Bethlehem Hospital, that the very Criminal
medical man who had accompanied him had
stated that he knew twenty men at least in
that establishment who had said that if ever they got out
they would break his head, and that they should do it
with impunity. As they were already declared to be mad,
he thought it was the duty of the Secretary of State to
be particularly cautious in liberating criminal lunatics,
especially as they might have simulated madness for the
sake of screening themselves from the consequences of
their crime. (Hear, hear.)
The Earl of KIMBERLEY would ask whether this bill
was not to extend to Ireland. There was an establish-
ment there at Dundrum, which was similar to the same
kind of establishments in England. He would call the
noble earl's attention to the subject.
The Earl of BELMORE said that he was not exactly
prepared to answer why the bill did not extend to Ireland.
He believed that it formed one of the bills peculiarly
adapted to England.

The bill vas then read a second time.
THE DUBLIN UNIVERSITY PROFESSORSHIPS

BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
THE GOVERNMENT OFFICES.

Lord REDESDALE gave notice of a motion with re-
gard to the offices in Downing-street, relative to
what could be, the advantage to the public of having these
enormous and expensive offices for public business.
They were paying a great deal for temporary offices. He
understood that the Foreign Office was to come down. He
should wish, when he made his motion, to know what
property had been purchased, and how much had been ex-
pended, and ask for a return of the amount of property
which had been purchased. •
RUSSIAN AMERICA.

In answer to a question from a NOBLE LoRD,
The Duke of BUCKINGHAM said that, in the absence
of the noble earl at the head of the Government, ho might
state that information had been received from St. Petersburg
that negotiations wore on foot for the cession of Russian
America to the United States, but that he considered that
although such a project might create surprise it would not
affect the interests of our British subjects.
The house then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—LAST EVENING.
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The following bills were read a third time and passed :
Caledonian Railway and Forth and Clyde Navigation
Companies, Enfield Gas, and Great Eastern Railway
(Steamboats).
THE REFORM BILL. '

Mr. D. GRIFFITHS gave notice that in committee on
the Reform Bill he should move an amendment, to the
effect that a well considered system of dual voting be in-
serted in the bill to act as a counterpoise against household
suffrage in boroughs.
BURLINGTON HOUSE.

Mr. LAYARD asked the First Commissioner of Public
Works whether the buildings to be erected at the
back of Burlington House for the accommodation
of the London University wero to be in the
same style of architecture as that edifice, and
whether the report was true that they wore to be in the
Gothic style ; whether he would give directions for the
exhibition, in the library, of the elevation and plans of the
new buildings, in order that the members might have an
opportunity of inspecting them, together with the plans
furnished by Mr. Pennothorne ?
Lord J. MANNERS said they were not to be in the
same style as Burlington House. Ho had no objection to
place the plans in the library.
TIfE CASE OF TOOAfER.

Sir J. COLLIER gave notice of his intention, on going
into committee of supply, to call the attention of the
house to the trial of 'roomer, and to move for papers
and memorials connected with the subject.
BRIBERY AT LANCASTER.

Colonel W. PAT TEN called the attention of the house
to the petitions presented relative to the Lancaster bribery
inquiry, and moved that the petitioners be heard at the
bar of that house upon their own petition if they thought
fit. Ho contended that all the evidence adduced
before the commission was obtained by an indem-
nity, and that many of the electors gave their evidence
thinking that the indemnity would protect them whilst
making their communications, and that the loss of the
franchise was not through the admissions that wore made.
lie had searched the journals to find what course the
house adopted in cases like that which ho had
brought before it, but ho could not find one
instance where the prayer of the petitioners had been re-
fused ; but, on the contrary, he had discovered thirteen or
fourteen instances where the petitioners had been heard
either by themselves or counsel at the bar. The hon. and
gallant gentleman concluded by moving that the mayor