The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-12 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PLIILIAXEN

HOUSE OF LORDS—Lasr EVENING.
The LORD CIi_SNCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.
Earl DE GREY and RIPON, in reply to the Earl of
lillenborough, said that it was intended to appoint a corn- I
petent gentleman, assisted by a committee of advice, to I
take charge of the administration of Indian Military Funds.
The Public Schools Bills was read a second time.
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE moved the second
reading of the Tenure (Ireland) Bill. Its object was to
provide that neither landlord nor tenant should have a
locus standi in any court without there having been a pre-
vious written contract. It would abolish the power of dis-
traint, but in no way affect the ordinary law of landlord
and tenant in Ireland.
Lord DITITERIN said that the Government could not
assent to a bill which introduced principles of great im-
portance, and which were entirely new to the past legisla-
tion of the country, and would tend altogether to change
the destination of property in Ireland.
Lord LIFFORD urged that The measure shornment uld. l
i b.e re-
ferred -
to a select committee. Gove biln
other House, however, was far more objectionable.
The Earl of WICRLOW thought that the present pro-
posal should lie on the table until the other one came up,
when they could then both be discussed.
After some conversation,
Lord WODEHOUSE declined to enter into the merits
of the Government Bill which had been introduced in
the other house, although he was partly responsible for
its provisions. The question had been regarded by
the Irish Government not as a matter of bargain, but
as a question which imperatively required settlement.
He appealed to their lordships to consider the Govern-
ment Bill when it reached them dispassionately. No one
could suppose that the relations between
b landlord
and tenant in Ireland were satisfactory; ut he
admitted that the question of providing a remedy was be-
set with difficulty. The bill of the noble marqui
hone
dealt partially with the subject, and ho hoped thee
would not adopt it until they had the Government pro-
posals before them.
The Earl of DERBY said it was important to know in
what temper and spirit the Government were prepared to
deal with the question. He would not discuss the merits
of their bill, but he confessed he was sorry to hear Lord
Wodehouse declare that he was partly responsible for it,
since he regarded it as a measure which very seriously in-
terfered with the rights of property in Ireland. The
noble earl expressed himself strongly in favour of en-
forcing the rights of tenants, especially the right of com-
pensation for improvements, and he would enforce it by
law where it was not already enforced by custom; but it
was unwise and injudicious to encourage among tenants
the notion that so long as theypaid rent they had an inde-
feasible right to the land they occupied. He advised the
postponement of the measure until the Government pro-
posals came up from the House of Commons.
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE consented to the
postponement, and the motion for the second reading was
withdrawn.
Their lordships shortly afterwards adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—LAST EVENING.
The SPEAKER took the chair at 4 o'clock.

PRIVATE BUSINESS
The following bills were read a third time and passed :
Bristol and North Somerset Railway (Additional Capital),
Bristol and North Somerset Railway (Deviation), Dagen-
ham (Thames) Dock, Kingsbridge and Dartmouth Roads,
Leeds Borough, and Leven and East of Fife Railway.
THE CASE OF MR. EDMUNDS.

In reply to Sir J. FERGUSSON,
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said there was no doubt
that proceedings would be taken against Mr. Edmunds.
It was at first intended to institute the inquiry
in the Court of Exchequer, but that Court having to
make new regulations. it had been decided to
take the case to the Court of Chancery, which it was
thought was the most suitable tribunal. Proceedings
would be commenced within the next few days. Mr.
Edmonds would have every opportunity offered him of
giving any explanation he might have to the charges
brought against him.