The Sun.
London, England, 1835-06-29 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY SUMMARY.

In the COMMONS, on Friday, the Ayr Harbour Bill was passed.
Mr. GROTE presented a petition from Great Yarmouth, complain-
ing of practices adopted there at the last electic.n, and praying
for the protection of the Ballot. Mr. WASON stated that he
bad heard that two guineas, and two guineas-and-a-half a
head, were given for votes for one of the Hon. Members.
The same Hdn. Member, in referring to the late Ipswich
Election, gave notice that he should move on Monday that
Mr. Bignold, and other Magistrates of Norwich, should be
taken into custody. Mr. GISBORNE moved that the ATTOR-
NEY- GENERAL be instructed to prosecute Mr. Dasent. On a
division the numbers were—for the motion, 198 ; against it,
141. On a motion for the discharge of Mr.
Pilgrim,
after
some discussion, that person and Mr. Dasent were ordered to be
called to the bar and discharged. The other parties still re-
main in custody, that they may amend their petitions and ex-
press a willingness to give further evidence. After an inter-
ruption, occasioned by Mr. licissoN, Lord MORPETH intro-
duced his Bill respecting Irish Tithes, and the appropriation of
the surplus revenues of the Church Establishment in Ireland.
For a complete statement of the details of this important mea-
sure, we must refer to the Speech of the Noble Mover. The
principle of the Bill embraces—first, the final settlement of
the question of tithes in Ireland ; and, secondly, the future re-
gulations of the revenues of the Irish Church. No arrears for
tithes farther back than 1834, are contemplated by the Bill.
The measure is intended to be both prospective and retrospec-
tive. The remission of all sums due under the Million Act,
and the application of the residue of that sum are proposed.
Tithes to the amount of 12,0001. only had been collected,
and that by the aid of the military, and at an expense of
28,0001. Having disposed of the question of arrears, the
Noble Viscount said that he meant to convert the Tithe Com-
position into an annual rent-charge, to be paid by the owners
of first estates of inheritance ; this rent-charge was to be
73/. ss. for every 100/. of tithe composition, subject to a per
centage, and to be made payable of right to the Commissioners
of land revenue, so that if the clergy had any difficulty in the
collection of their tithes, then the Commissioners might levy
the amount of arrears. A distinction between lay and eccle-
siastical impropriators, favourable to the latter, is made. An
union of parishes and a diminution of income to the parson in
certain cases are contemplated. Where no duty is performed
51. is to be annually given to the clergyman of the next parish
for—taking care of it. (Sir R. PEEL wished to substitute 150/.
for this sort of duty.) Towards the conclusion of the Noble
Viscount's speech he said that the Bill, whilst it grappled man-
fully and fearlessly with the principles of appropriation—whilst
it attacked sinecures in whatever quarter or in whatever shape
they existed—still he believed it was a measure calculated to
give to Protestantism and to the Church the fullest security ;
and so fir from being, as had been argued, a measure likely to
promote pillage of the Church property, its effect would be to
re-open for it sources of vitality which had long been dried up.
Sir H. HARDINGE violently opposed the Bill. Mr. HUME
supported it, and " assured the Right Hon. Baronet that not
only would the Bill pass that House, but the other House
too, Those who refused the last Bill would refuse this, at
their peril." After speeches against the measure, by Mr.
OOULBURN, Sir R. PEEL, and Mr. SHAW, Lord J. RUSSELL,
in the course of his answer to the objection raised by them,
claimed credit rather for the principle now for the first time
iisserted, than for the perfect accuracy of the multiplicity of
details inseparable from a measure surrounded by so many
difficulties. The Bill at least would show that "the framers
'3.' the Bill had the moral and religious education of the people
on,. Ireland at heart. It would also prove to the people of that
and the
that, while the Protestant Church was provided for,
the Protestant people were protected, the Catholic portion
°T the community were not deemed wholly unworthy of the
paternal care of their Sovereign." Leave was given to bring
In the Bin: and, after being- read a first time, the House ad-
iourned at about Two o'clock.