The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-19 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PAR LI A.l/1 NT.

HOUSE OF LORDS .—(YEsTEr.DAy.)

PROBATE AND L'ETTERR OF ADMINISTRA.-

TION BILL.

The LORD-CIELNN CELLOR moved the second
reading of the Probates and Letters of Administration
Bill, and proceeded to state the alterations made in the
measure since it "was broeght forward bet session. In
the first place be proposed that the present judge of the
Prerogative Court should be the first judge of the new
Court of Probate, with a working salary of 4,0001. and
a retiring salary of 2,0001. a year. As under the new
Bill all disputed matters cf fact would be tried by a jury
in the common law courts, the labours of the Court would
be much reduced; he therefore proposed that the judge
of the Court of Probate should be the judge of the Ma-
trimonial and Divorce Courts, and that ultimately when-
ever a vacancy occurred in the Court of Admiralty be
should be judge in that court also. Oa this point he
was fortified by the opinion of Dr. Lushington, who had
recently repeated evidence which he had given 20 years
ago, to the effect that the-duties of all these courts might
be very will discharged by one and the same judge. All
the proceedings before the new Court of Probate were
to be viva voce; and in cases of wills, where the property
disposed of did not exceed 2001. personalty, or 3001.
realty, the judges of the County Courts were to have
jurisdiction. District registrars, if the testator died
within the limits of the district, were to have jurisdic-
tion if the property bequeathed did not exceed 1,5001.
The originals of wills proved in these districts would
be kept in the country registry, but copies would
be sent to the chief registry in Len.don' and in
the Probate-office in London there would be a de-
partment where testators might deposit their wills
so that their relatives might know where to look for
wills supposed to be in existence. The present bill did
not propose to establish a probate for real property, and
the right of appeal would be to the. Judicial Committee
of the Privy Council. Certain officials who might be
deprived of emoluments by the bill would be compen-
sated, and the whole .business of the new Court of
Probate would be left in the hands of the proctors.
The noble lord concluded by moving the second reading
of the bill.
After some observations from the Bishop of
BANGOR,
The Bishop of LONDON trusted that the claims of
the existing ecclesiastical registrars and chancellors
would be considered in committee.

Lord CAMPBELL gave his cordial consent to the
bill, especially as all approach to the Court of Chancery
was now avoided.

The bill was then read a second time.
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ENGLAND AND
IRELAND.

Viscount DUNGANNON asked 'the Postmaster-
General whether any final arrangements had been made
by her Majesty's Government with the Dublin Steam-
packet Company relative to the postal and passenger
communication between Holyhead. and Kingstown,
what was the na.nre of such arrangements, and how
soon they were likely to be carried into effect.

The Duke of ARGYLL was happy to inform the
noble viscount that an altered, and, as he hoped, an
amended proposal had been made by the Government
about a week ago to the united companies, with a view
to secure a more rapid communication between London
and Dublin. No answer bad yet been returned by the
companies, and he thought, therefore, it would be in-
expedient at present to enter into any detailed-explana-
tion as to the nature of the terms proposed. It would
be enough to say that they contained important, and,
be did trust, ample modifications 'of some points upon
which hitherto the greatest difficulties bad arisen.
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE remarked that the
Government bad the power of improving the communica-
tion between England and Ireland without going to any
company at all. In fact the service was better performed
during the time it was in the hands of the Government
when the Banshee used to make an average pas Sage, he
believed, of 4 hours 7 minutes, and the Llewellyn of 4
hours 11 minute 4. Not only, however, was increased
rapidity wanted, but greater facilities of communication,
both as regarded letters and passengers.
After a tew words from Earl FITZWILLIAIt and Vis-
count DUNGANNON the subject was allowed to drop.
The Dulwich College Bill was read a first time.
Their lordships adjourned at a few minutes after seven
o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-(YESTERDAY.)
THE PRINCESS ROYAL';; MARRIAGE.
MESSAGE FROM THE QUEEN.

Lord PALMERSTON appeared at the bar of the
house with a message from her Majesty to the following
effect :—" Her Majesty having agreed to a marriage
proposed between her Royal Highness the Princess
Royal and his Royalllighness Prince Frederick William
of Prussia, has thought fit to communicate the same
to the House of Commons. Her Majesty is fully
persuaded that this alliance cannot but be acceptable
to all her Mejasty's faithlul and loyal subject, and the
many proofs which the Queen has received of the affec-
tionate attachment of this house to her Majesty's person
and family leaves her no room to doubt the concurrence
and assistance of this house, in enabling her to make
such provision for her eldest daughter, with a view to
the raid marriage, as may be suitable to the dignity of
the Crown and the honour of the country."
The reading of the address by the noble lord was re-
ceived in silence.

The noble lord having brought the message to the table
handed it to Mr. Speaker, who read it from the chair.
Lord PAL MERS CON—Sir, I am sure that the house
will he desirous of taking the earliest opportunity of as-
suriug her Majesty cf the deep sympathy which this
house feels on an event so interesting to her Majesty,
and, I may say, so interesting to the country also, with-
out pledging any person in this house as to the details of
the manner in which this house may be prepared to answer
the appeal which has been made to it, at least we will
lose no time in assuring her Majesty that we will on an
early day take into our respectful consideration the Mes-
sage with which she has this day honoured the house.
The Athlress which I am about to propose has that object
in view. At the same time I cannot refrain from saying,
that those who have had the good fortune to be acquaint-
ed with the Princess Royal must have observed that she
possesses, both in heart and head, those distinguished
qualities that adorn her illustrious parents, and that she
bide fair to hold out in the country of her adoption the
repetition of that brilliant examplo which her illustrious
parents have held out in this country of domestic happi-
ness worthy of imitation either by the most exalted or the
humblest of her Majesty's subjecte. It is impossible not
to seo that this marriage, independent of the prospect
which it holds out of happiness to her Royal Highness
from the qualities of the Pi iece whom she bar eelected
as bur future husband, does hold out to this country po-
litical pro,pects not undeserving the attention of the
house. We all know how family alliances can mitigate
those asperities which from time to time must be produced
by those diversities of policy which must inevitably arise
occasionally between great and independent powers, and
therefore I trust that this marriage may be considered as
holding out an increased prospect of goodwill and cor-
diality among the great powers of the earth. I shall not
trespass further on the house on the present occoAnn.
On Friday next we propose to submit to the house the
arrangements which we think iittime for her Royal
Highness and this nation. On the present occasion
I shall merely propose an address, assuring her Ma.
jesty of the loyal attachment of the house to her
person and Throne, and stating that we shall, at the
earliest possible moment, avail ourselves of the opportu-
nity of taking into consideration her most gracious mes-
sage. The noble lord concluded by moving the following
addrees,.which was read by the clerk at the table;—
" That an humble address be presented to
.her Ma-
jesty, :to return to her Majesty the thanks of this house
for her most gracious communication of the intended
marriage between the Princess Royal and his Royal
Highness the Prince;of Prussia ; and to express their
satisfaction at the prospect of An alliance with a Prince
of so illustrious alamily, and-'which .they deubt not will
contribute to the happinessof her Majesty and her Royal
Highness, as well as prove conducive to the best inte-
rests of this kingdom ; and to assure her Majesty that
this house will itnmediately proceed.to the consideration
of her Majesty's gracious mcseage, in such a manner as
shall demenitrate the zeal, daty, and affectionate attach.:
ment of this hOuse to her Majesty, a just sense of the
rnerit;of her Royal Highness, and a due regard to the
dignity of the Royal family and the honour of this coun-
try." (Cheers.)

The motion having been agreed to,
Lord PALMERSTON—I shall propose that her Ma-
iestra most gracious message be taken into considera-
tion on Friday next. (Hear.)

SUPPLY-NAVY ESTIMATES,

The house then went into committee Of supply.
Sir C. WOOD said that it was perhaps necessary that
be should explain, especially as there were many new
members in the house, that the estimates which be was
about to lay before the committee were the same as those
which bad been placed before the late House of Com-
mons, and in respect of which a vote bad been taken on
account. It was right, however, that he should state with
respect to one subject, viz., the movement of troops, that
it would be necessary to submit some further estimates,
inasmuch as when the estimates were originally framed at
the commencementof the year, hostilities with China were
not amonght the matters for which the Government had
to provide. Further than theseexpenses fur the transport
of troops, he was happy to say that the war with Chita"
would not cast upon him the task of submitting any in-
creased estimates. The comparison of the' present year's
estimates with those of the past would not on this occa-
sion be of the value which ordinarily attached to that
process ; for the comparison being between a year of war
anti,one of peace, it was not possible to compare the
expenses of the country during the two years with great
practical benefit. Still, the house would see, upon I•:ok-
ing to the paper with which bon, members bad been
furnished, that a considerable reduction bad taken place ;
an'd there were items 37,1; in the estimates which, tough
inaposeil2e upon the first year of peace to reduce, might
yet be reduced with safety upon future occasions. At the
came time, he confessed thathe thought it would be some
time before these estimates could reach The low figure of
former years. We had learned several lessons during the
late war, and none more grave than that which warned