The Sun.
London, England, 1866-04-24 00:00:00

NEW WRIT.

Mr. BRAND moved that, a. new writ be issued for the
election of a member for ITelston.

Mr. D. GRIFFITH objected to the motion on the ground
that bribery had extensively prevailed at the last elec-
tion.

The motion was agreed to without a division.
INDE3IIITY TO BRITISH SUBJECTS.

Sir G. BOWYER asked the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer whether any demand had been made within the last
four months by the French Government on the British
Government relative to the repayment by the latter Govern-
ment to the former of an alleged surplus of the monies pro-
vided by France and paid to the English Government, in pur-
suanco of the Convention of Paris, 1815-1818, to indemnify
British subjects for their loses by confiscation during the re-
volutionary Government, or whether any communications
on the above subject had passed between the Governments
of the two countries ; and, if so, whether there was any
objection to lay such communications upon the table of the
house ?

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
did not think that there had been any representations
on the subject for a long time past. The last
he recollected was in 1856. They occasionally
had representations from persons that sums were due either
on the one side or the other, but no attention was now paid
to them, as the transactions alluded to by the hon. baronet
were considered by the Government as by duo course of
law, but for the information of the hon. gentleman ho
begged to say that there had been no communications
within his knowledge within the time mentioned in his
question.

FIRE INSURANCES.

In reply to Ix bon. member,

Mr. SHERIDAN said if he postponed his motion with
rsspect to fire insurance without some day being fixed, he
should peril the question being taken this session. He
therefore should be compelled to bring it forward.
THE REFORM BILL.—ADJOURNED DEBATE.
The adjourned debate was resumed this evening by
Mr. BRIGHT, whose rising was the signal for some
cheering from the Liberal benches, said—Before I ad-
dress myself to the questions before the house there are two
matters of a personal character which I wish to dispose of-
The right hon. gentleman the member forCalne, on the first
night of this debate, made a complaint to this house that in
a speech out of this house I had imputed to him, or quoted
as from him, words he had not uttered. The right hon.
gentleman was quite right to make that complaint, if he
thought it was worth while to make it, because there was
no doubt, and I am sorry that it so happened, that some
three or four words which ho had not spoken in that con-
nection, were added to the passage which he had spoken. I
regret that inaccuracy very much, and I have only the sa-
tisfaction of knowing or believing that I did not do the
right hon, gentleman any substantial injustice. Another
point refers to the speech of the noble lord the member for
King's Lynn. He retorted upon me the charge of conspiracy
with regard to two divisions, which took place some years
ago in this house—one with regard to the debate and divi-
sion on the China war, the other with regard to the division on
the Conspiracy Bill. In neither of those cases did the mover
of the resolution obtain a seconder from tho opposite side of
the house. But with regard to the first case—that of the
China war—l was not in Parliament during that session. I
was in bad health, out of the country ; and tho first thing I
heard of it was from reading an account of what had taken
place in this house in a public news-room in the city of
Rome. With regard to the caseof the Conspiracy Bill, hon.
members who were then in the house will recollect that on
the division on the first reading of the bill nearly 100 mem-
bers, I think the exact number was 99, voted in the divi-
sion against the introduction or the first reading of the bill.
Amongst those were Lord J. Russell, my right hon. friend
the President of the Board of Trade, myself, and many
others. The noble lord's friends warmly welcomed and
supported that bill. (Cheers.) Before the second reading
came on my right hon. friend the President of the Board of
Trade gave notice of a resolution which, on debate, was
carried by the house. The noble lord, I presume, certainly
his friends, departing altogether from their course on the
first reading, turned completely round on their own policy,
and supported my right hon. friend the President of the
Board of Trade, went into the same lobby with us, and
made a majority against the Government of Lord I:talcamme re-
ston. (Hear, hear.) If there was any conspiracy it
was a
from the other side of the house. (Hear, heart.) If
byeies which
lord and his friends. Now, these are inaccuracies dirty conspiracy, the dirt was imported into iurs
to make the
occur in debate, but I thought it necessary
to explain the
the noble
apology to the right hon. gentleman,
brought against
the words in which the
in this house, gene-
case which the noble lord inadvertently
the question before the
me. (Hoar, hear.) I come now
memberhouse,anf
for
toc btehsete
design of a resolution w
resolution
i _ntznavnpipFeni crhuhpa s been moved by the
of it comes out during debate, but the
rally the true mean
degree
dto hisview, and there in difficulty with regar t ere can be nothing
not in the 1
member for Chester did not leave us in the slightest
perfect right to his opinion—that he stands as the
he has
principalclearerthoapnphnise.ntlof dothis
measureeasotubtlliaemge
to
is opposed either reform at all, or to an extension
rhouinlndfotrhait; forhe
of the franchise to the degree Which the Government pro-
pose to carry it by this bill. And I suspect, if the truth
and judging from his speech, that if Govern-
ment lay on the table of the house a Seatsßill which
were kshnoouwlna,
may be as extensive with regard to that branch of the re-
form question as this measure is as regards the franchise,
it will meet with the opposition of the noble lord. (Hear.)
One thing being absent is made an excuse and a weapon for
destroying a bill that is present. That, I think, as far as I
can judge, is a fair statement of the position of the noble
lord. (Hear, hear, and No, no.) Well, when the Seats Bill
is placed on the table of the house we shall have an
balance of power" ioppor-
tunity of knowing what is the course the noble lordle Novi_t
take upon it. I come now to the speech of the noble
the member for King's Lynn, seconding the amendment.
blessr can-
did
That speech was much more ingenious andruulands us in the
during same position ; the noble lord
; it was much less straightforward,
words but it
that speech twice at
th° balance of power,',
least, if not more, used theon
~
of the people in this house.
lwvi
et hhraevgeaid• de tone the
pretty rresent a e p
m ttwith the balance of power on
anduch I hope the time will come when
we
ee
schoanitlinheanyteofnEpousruoche,pbras() as "the
I cheers and laughter from the Op-
position.) this house. (fron:sc`l
I think th
of this country, and although itrepresenta-
may
tivo of all the peep
i°d
f
not be desirable—auo
i r
those who think it is it may not
be attainable—that all persons should vote, yet far short of
that I am persuaded that the
house should be tho fair
ar-
ranged as that very person of poyreersyenctlaatsisown
will
lny leeblethsaot