The Sun.
London, England, 1866-04-21 00:00:00

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:—
Buckley Railway (Additional Powers), Columbia (Bethnal ,
Green) Market and Approaches, London and South
Western Railway (Poole and Bournemouth Junctions)
and Mersey Docks and Harbour Board (Shore Road
Purchase, &c.)
SITTINGS IN THE HOUSE.
Colonel S. KNOX asked whether it was not a breach of
the privileges of members for an officer of the house to
remove the hat of a member after he had placed it on a
seat. The greatest inconvenience arose from such a
course, and he wished to know whether the officer of the
house was justified in the course he had adopted.
Mr. HUNT said the course pursued by the officer of the
house was very inconvenient to members who were com-
pelled to attend to committees.
The SPEAKER said that some time ago a standing
order was passed to the effect that a seat could only be
secured by attendance at prayers, and an order had been
made rescinding it.
NOTTINGHAM ELECTION COMMITTEE.
Mr. ADAIR brought up the report of the Nottingham
Election Committee. The committee were of opinion that
Sir J. R. Clifton and Mr. S. Morley were not duly elected
to serve in Parliament, and that Sir J. R. Clifton, Mr. S.
Morley, and Mr. Paget were guilty, by their agents, of
bribery ; that the last election was a void election, and that
corrupt practices bad existed.
Viscount CRANBORNE said he wished to put a
question on the subject before the report was brought up.
The orders of the house not allowing this course,
The report was brought up.
Viscount CRAIsTBORITE said he now had to inform the
house that immediately the result of the committee was
known, three sheriffs' officers pounced upon Sir J. Clifton
and hurried him of to gaol. He was of opinion that a mem-
ber did not cease to be a member of the house until the
report of the committee was brought up. (Hear. hear.)
He thought a breach of the privileges of the house had
been committed ; and he therefore moved that the Sheriffs
of Middlesex attend at the bar of the house at 4 o'clock on
Monday to explain their conduct.
Mr. EDWARDS seconded the motion.
Mr. ARYTON thought the Sheriffs ought to be sum-
moned to the bar of the house forthwith.
Mr. ROEBUCK suggested that they should bring Sir J.
Clifton with them. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. WATKIN said he thought there must be some mis-
take, as he had met Sir J. Clifton some time after the deci-
sion of the committee ; therefore, he could not be in pri-

son.
Viscount CIUNBORNE said he had made his observa-
tion on the authority of one of the counsel engaged in the

case.
Mr. S. LEFEVRE said he had met Sir J. Clifton walk-
ing down Westminster-hall some time after the decision of
the committee.
The ATTORNEY-GEN said if stch a circum-
stance had taken place a gross breach of the privileges of
Parliament had taken place, but it would be well that the
hon. member should satisfy himself of the whole of the
facts, because it would be a particularly absurd position for
the house to place itself, if, when the Sheriffs attended,
they said they had not taken Sir R. Clifton into custody.
Sir E. BERING said he had not seen Sir R. Clifton
walking along with a gentleman. (A laugh.)
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said as it
appeared that Sir R. Clifton bad been seen in the posses-
sion of his full personal freedom. (No, no.) He had been
seen walkingwith a gentleman. (Cries of "A sheriff's offi-
cer.") Under all the circumstances the wisest course for
the hon. member to pursue was to withdraw his motion
until a later hour in the evening, when he would have time
to fully inform himself of the facts of the case. He thought
ho had only done his duty in bringing the matter under
the notice of the house.
The motion for the attendance of the Sheriffs at the bar
was then postponed.
rßoth the Sheriffs of the City of London and Middlesex
were present during the discussion, occupying seats under
the Speaker's gallery.]
THE SUPPLY OF COAL.
Mr. LIDDELL asked the Secretary of State for the
Home Department whether the attention of the Govern-
ment had been directed to the rapid exhaustion of our coal
fields ; whether they were in possession of accurate infor-
mation upon the subject which they were prepared to lay
upon the table of the house ; and, if not, whether they
were prepared to direct that further-scientific research be
made into this vitally important question ?
Sir G. GREY said the attention of the Government had
been directed to the subject. They were not in posses-
sion of any accurate information on the subject, and he
questioned very much whether any other person had such
accurate information as could be relied on.
EMIGRANT SHIPS.
In reply to Lord BURGHLEY,
Mr. BRUCE said that the sickness on board the Ger-
!" emigrant ship Hertha had been thoroughly inquired
into, and found to be small-pox and diphtheria. Sixteen of
the emigrants had died and been buried at sea, one three-
quarter miles from land, while the ship was lying at the
llotherbank. Some others bad been left behind at the
Quarantine Hulk, bat that hulk was so anchored that the
inhabitants of Ryde need be under no apprehension of
danger. He could not hold out any hope of changing the
anchorage of the hulk.
FINS BURY PARK.
Mr. M-C. TORRENS asked the hon. member for Bath ,
when purchase was likely to be completed, by the Metro-
politan Board-of Works, of the 250 acres of land they were
empowered to buy and appropriate for Finsbury-park by
the Act of 1857 ; and whether they had agreed to sell, for
Aetpo sbuilding purposes, 20 acres out of the
120 acres
sessed by them, contrary to the intention of the now
re-
ferred to.
Mr. TITE said the land had been purchased, but the
Board of Works had not parted with any portion of it.
POLLUTION OF RIVERS.
Lord B. MONTAGU asked the Vice-President of the
Committee of Council whether the Government had any
intention to introduce a bill to amend the Public Health
Acts ; and whether it would contain any clauses which
dealt with the pollution of rivers, in accordance with the
recent report of the Commissioners.
Mr. BRUCE said
hoped to be able very shortly to in-
troduce a bill to deal with the subject.
THE DANUBIAN PROVINCES.
In' answer to Mr. SANDFORD,
Mr. LAYARD said the Commence at Paris had not
broken up, and therefore it would be obviously impolitic
to place the correspondence on the table of the house.
AGRICULTURAL RETURNS.
Mr. II UN T wished to know when the returns relative to
the county franchise similar to that which had been af-
forded
with respect to the borough franchise
might be ex-
pected
? If his speech had been correctly reported it
appeared to him that he had hinted to the parochial au_
thorities not to make the returns without remuneration.
Mr.VILLIEES said such was not his intention. H
intended that his observationesnstihoonueldd. be
TtahkeenGi.onvteheenleigvhert
the hon. gentleman had
forn the statistics with res7eractentot
had given remuneration
the borough franchise, and the same course would be pur-
sued with respect to the returns for the counties.
Mr. DISRAELI said the returns relative, to the altera-
tion of the county franchise were of the greatest import-
ance if the bill of the Government for the amendment of
the representation of the people ever went into com-

mittce.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER assured
the right hon. gentleman that no unnecessary dela,y would
take place.

THE REFORM BILL.
The adjourned debate was resumed by
Mr. LEVESON-GOWER., who said he could not cona-