The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-11 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF LORDS-THIS EVENING.

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack Al
five o'clock.

THE REFORM STATISTICS.
The Earl of DERBY stated that there would be no di
ficulty in placing before the house every information upon
the intended measure which was to be introduced relative
to the great question of Reform. (Hear.)
LORD REDESDALE AND MR FRANCE.
Lord REDESDALE said that he wished to call their
lordships attention to the report of the committee on
the accusations which had been made against him by Mr.
France ; and as the committee had declared those charges
to be unfounded, he would desire only to occupy them
a few moments with an account of the motives that had
induced him to take thee• course in the matter that he had
done. For a long series of years charges had been made
against him, which he utterly repudiated. Ho had weighed
all the matters connected with the bill, and had come
to the eonclusion he had done. As far as he (the noble lord)
was concerned, he was glad that the inquiry had
taken place, and expressed his satisfrction at the
conclusion which the committee had come to. Under
these circumstances, ho could not think but that Mr.
France was other than wrong headed, and that hardly
anything would have made an impression on him. As
far as he was concerned, he should not press for any-
thing against him, but treat him with contempt.
The matter, however, he left in their lordships' hands.
Lord TAUNTON contended that though Mr. France
used rough language towards the noble lord, yet it mus
in t
be taken into consideration that a person occupyg
the position of a judge was open to criticism,
and that the public had a right to employ it. Therefore
he thought that Mr. France, as he had had no personal
feelings towards the noble lord, should not be troubled
farther in the matter.
The Duke of MARLBOROUGH said that there was no
doubt in the minds of any of the committee relative to the
course they should take. The whole matter was of the
clearest description. He (the noble duke). did not know
what course their lordships might adopt in the matter,
but le thought it only right that as a
ntin noble lord
holding an important position, and represeg their
lordships' house, some mark of the censure of their lord-
ships ought to be given. (Hear, hear.)
gthsouagghainhset
t r
uis'
theed
tMarquise noble o f
loCrLd AwNo Ru
llde
tigeDnEo
spairdocetehdiatn
Mr. France, that still he hoped that this would be an
opportunity which they would take t_oimprovethe legis-
lation and jurisprudence of railways. 11. had long differed
hem the noble lord as to the manner
in which these
affairs had been administered. Under the present system
there wore many anomalies which could
works not be
were
pressed, -
and that when such great
being carried out of feeling, not only companies and share-
holders but the public at large, that there ought to be a
total alteration in the present regulations of the committee
of that house. If in any case the judgment of that
house was not to be commented upon, and if
it were so that it was to be considered to be a breach of
privilege, then all the freedom of public discussion would
be done away with. Thepresent proceedings in relation
to these bills was neither constitutional nor proper. There
ought to be a court and responsible body, and an open
court too, to inquire into matters relative to railways.
(Hear, hear.)
The LORD CHANCELLOR said that ;liter tho obser-
servations made by the noble marquis that it was just that
the house should know what were the circumstances
which had excited the indignation of Mr. France against the
nob!e lord the chairman of committees. The fact was
simply that, in the bill in question, it was considered
necessary that a proviso should be introduced, and
this would be done on the third reading-. This was
accordingly done, and it was at that period quite
open to the protnoter3 of the bill to have opposed this in-
troduction. Now it was difficult to make Mr. France un-
derstand this, and he had alleged nothing against the
personal character of his lordship.

(LEFT SPEAKING.)

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

NEW WRIT.
A new writ, on the motion of Mr. Brand, was ordered
to be issued for Boston, in the room of Mr. Staniland, who
has accepted the office of steward of the manor of North-
stead.

REFORM BILL FOR SCOTLAND.
Col. SYKES gave notice that on an early day he should