The Sun.
London, England, 1857-06-10 00:00:00

FEE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JUNE 10, 1857

might remind their lordships that they wers not legis-
lating for one class, but for all classes of the
community, and that they ought to consickr the effect
which might he produced by their legislation upon
what were called the lower orders of society. It was
said that they should not impose too stringent restric-
tions in the first instance, because if it were bund
necessary the law might subsequently be rendered more
severe. But all experience showed that it was much
easier to relax a law than to increase its stringency.
Lord CAMPBELL should support the amendment
of his noble and learned friend.

Their lorJships then divided, and tnenunabers were,—
For the amendment
Against
Majority —9
The amendment was therefore lost.
This and the remaining clauses of the Bill ware agreed
to, and the house resumed.
Llrd RED ESDALE gave notice that at a future
stage of the Bill he should, with a view to meet the
cases of Roman Catholics and other persons who had a
conscientious objection to applying for a divorce
a vinculo, move the insertion of a provision enabling
persona presenting a petition for a divorce a mensa et
thoro to make the adulterer a party to the suit, and to
petition that the divorce should be followed by penalties
similar to those imposed in consequence of a divorce a
vinculo matrimonii.

Their lordship adjourned at a quarter past 9 o'clock

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(YEsTExpAy.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
NEW MEMBER.
Mr. BEECROFT took the oaths and his seat for Leeds.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The following bills were read a third time and passed :
—Banff, Macduff, an& Turriff Extension Railway ;
Brighton, Hove, and Brenton Constant Service Water ;
European and Indian Junction Telegraph Company ;
Forth and Clyde Junction Railway ; New River C on-
pany ; Portsmouth Railway (New Title), and St.
Philip's Church, Liverpool Bills.
The following bill was further considered and ordered
to be read a third time :—Wycombe Railway.
The following bills were read a second time—London
Gas Light Company (Capital), and Mallow and Fermoy
and Great. Southern and Western Railways.
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR IRELAND.
Mr. ROEBUCK gave noticeithat on that day week
he would submit a motion for the consideration of the
house, substituting a Secretary of State for Ireland for
the office of Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland.
GRAMMAR SCHOOLS.

47Mr. W. EWART gave notice_ that on that day fort-
night he ehould bring under the notice of the house the
formation of grammar icllools throughout the country.
THE BALLOT,

Mr. H. BERKELEY postponed his motion on the
ballot from the 23.1 inst., to the 13th of July.
RETURNS.

Numerous unopposed returns were ordered to be laid
on the table of the house.
PAYMENT OF LOCAL CONSTABLES.
Mr. MILES asked the Secretary of State for the
Home Department, whether it was his intention to in-
troduce a bill for the payment of local constables ap-
pointed under the Act 3 and 4 Vic. c. 83, s. 16. during
the present session ?
Sir G. GREY said that the act at present in operation
had worked well for many years, and no difficulties had
hitherto arisen under it. The local constables had 'power
to go beyond their district to serve summons, &c., but
at the expense of the persons employing them. He was
not aware of any fund out of which constables could be
paid, but he would look into the lam.
CONSOLIDATION OF THE STATUTES.
Mr. POWELL asked the First Lord of the Treasury
what progress had been made by the Commissioners
appointed for consolidating the statute law in
the preparation of measures for that purpose, and
whether it was intended to introduce during the present
session a bill for the consolidation of any portion of the
statutes ; and, if such was the intention of the Govern-
ment, what portion of the statutes would be dealt with ?
Mr. BAINES said that the report of the commis-
sioners was ready, and would be laid on the table of the
house in a few days. It was the intention of the Lord
Chancellor, in a few days, to lay on the table of the
House of L-rds a series of bills that had been prepared
under the direction of the Statute Law Commissioners.
THE POOR-LAW BOARD.

Mr. CRAUFU RD asked the President of the Poor-
law Board, whether the hon. member for Boston still
continued to hold the office of auditor under the Poor-
law Board
Mr. BOUVERIE said that the hon. member referred
to was appointed by the local guardians, though liable
to be dismissed undercertain circumstances by the Poor-
law Board. He was not aware that his election for
Boston prevented him from holding the office of auditor,
which hitherto he had discharged with satisfaction.
PARK LANE.

Mr. BAILLIE asked the First Commissioner of
Work., whether, in pursuance of the recommendation of
the Metropolitan Improvement Committee of 1855, he
had been able to devise any plan for relieving the
great increase of traftc which now passed through
Park-lane, and had become dangerous to the public ;
and, whether there would be any objection to open to
the public the r'-ad through the park, from Stanhope-
street Gate to Hyde-park Corner I
Sir B. HALL, atter referring to the report of the
commissioners, said that he took proceedings last year
to carry out its recommendations, but he met with
opposition from eight or nine residents, and on confer-
ring with the la v officers of the Crown, they agreed
with the oij etions urged by the residents. It was,
however, desiraHe to. widen Park-lane if possible. With
reference to the second part of the question, he thought
It could not be acceded to, because if opened in the day
it must be at night, and that would be objectionable.
THE DEATH OF JAMS: WILLIAMS.

Mr. DILLWYN asked the First I;;;d---.Ftl:Trea-
sury whether her Majesty's Government had received
any information respecting the circumstances attending
the death of James Williams, a seaman on board the
John and Edward schooner, of Aberystwith, who was
killed in the harbour of Blleisle en the 24th day of May
lass, by a shot fired frets the French war schooner Ma-
ratcb.
Lord PA.L MERSTON said that her Majesty's Go-
vernment bad received information with regard to the
melancholy circumstance. It appeared that this vessel
entered the roadstead of Belleisle without her colonrs
flying, which was very wrong, becau-e a foreign vessel
entering a harbour ought to have her national colours
(Hear, h an) Unquestionably the c
duct of the officer in command of the French vessel
was unjustifiable, although he ordered two blank mus-
kets first to be fired. The non-compliance of the master
of the schooner was no justification of the French com-
mander's precipitation in ordering a shotted musket to
of the unfortunate affair was that he
ordered the hedeisehiaarngaetdagainst the schooner. (Hear, hear.)
His xP
personi'n who fired to fire high, the conse-
quence of which was the striking of the seaman referred
to. The French Government bad, however, given
shterratiNinlgaj
easgtyaig Government no opportunity of remon-
strating this act, for Count Walewski imme-
diately on the circumstance becoming known, volur-
taered a communication to her Majesty's ambassador
Paris, of the most satisfactory and handsome kind, ex-
pressing the deep regret of the French Government at
the occurrence, and stating that orders would be given
by the French Government to dismiss the French officer
from their service, who ordered the firing of the musket
—(hesr)--and that the French Government was about
to make inquiries to ascertain in what way and in what
degree it was possible in their power to mitigate the
afli ction of the family of the unfortunate seaman who
may have suffered from the sacrifice of his life. Nothing
could be more honourable or proper than the manner in
which the French Government had acted, and intend
still further to act in this unfortunate and melancholy
GRAND JURIES (METROPOLIS).
catastrophe. (Hear.)
Sir F. THESIGER moved for leave to introduce a
bill to dispense with the attendance of grand juries at
the Central Criminal Court, and at courts of General
and Quarter Sessions holden within the metropolitan
police district, except in particular cases. The hon. and
learned gentleman referred to the feeling of the public
against the continuance of grand juries, as well
as many of our judges ; and he referred to the
practice of grand juries throwing out bills, and
of persons going privately before grand juries,
and preferring bills against prisoners for the pur-
pose of extortion, and gave a variety of illustrations of
the working of the system in support of his argument.
The secrecy of the proceeding facilitated its being
abused. He proposed that no case should be tried in
the metropolitan districts without a previous investi-
gation before a magistrate, by which means attendance
of the grand jury might be dispensed with, and thereby
save much loss of time and inconvenience to persons
having to prosecute prisoners, from their not being re-
quired to attend before grand juries to prefer bills of in-
dictment. A great saving would also take place in the
costs of pr3secution.

. _
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that the measure
would receive the cordial support of the Government,
who had not touched the subject, from their having had
under their consideration a comprehensive plan con-
nected with the appointment of a public prosecutor,
which would have taken the subject under consideration.
After some remarks from Mr. BOWYER, leave was
given to bring in the bill.
_ LAND TRANSPORT CORPS.

Mr. T. DUNCOMBE then moved that the petition
of the members of the Land Transport Corps, complain.
ing that the War office had not kept faith with them, be
referred to a select committee. Ile stated several griev-
ances which this corps had suffered ; but the great
grievance was, that when they were disbanded a paper,
and not a parchment, discharge was handed to them,
which was treated as no discharge at all, so that the men
could find no employment, for masters were afraid to
hire deserters. They also complained that money was
owing to them, which they could not obtain.
Mr. TOWNSEND seconded the motion.
Lord YALNIERSTON said the parchment discharge
was given to all who applied for it. He had no objection
to the appointment of a committee, but he did not be-
lieve much good would come of it.
The motion was then agreed to.
WILLS OF BRITISH SUBJECTS MADE
ABROAD.
Sir F. KELLY moved for leave to bring in a bill to
give validity and effect to the wills of British subjects
made abroad. Thn hon. and learned member pointed
out that under the present state of the law no will made
abroad by a British subject, according to the form of his
own country,
was held to be valid in the United Kirg.
d ona. Several instances had occurred in which great in-
justice had been effected by the operation of the present
'law. In consequence of this state of things any British