The Sun.
London, England, 1861-05-04 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT,

HOUSE OF LORDS—YESTERDAY.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.

THE BALLOT.

Lord TEYNIIAM presented a petition from Birming-
ham in favour of vote by ballot.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The Tiverton Roads, Oldham and Riffonden Road, Lan-
cashire and Yorkshire Railway (Branches to Shawforth),
and Lancashire and Yorkshire (Extension to Settle) Bills
were read a second time.

The Wivenhoe and Brightlingsea Railway, North British
and Peebles Railway Companies, Brecon and Merthyr-7:
Tydvil Junction Railway (Additional Money), South
Shields Improvements and Quay, and Marlborough Rail-
way Bills were read a third time and passed.
ROMAN CATHOLIC PAUPERS.
Lord RAVENSWORTH presented a petition from Sea-
ham complaining of the grievances of Roman Catholic
children in workhouses.
THE IRISH MARRIAGE LAWS.
Lord LIFFORD presented a petition from Donegal,
praying for the uniform registration of marriages in Ire-
land.

THE BANKRUPTCY BILL.
The Duke of RUTLAND presented a petition in favour
of the Bankruptcy Bill. The prayer of the petition was,
that their lordships would be pleased to pass the bill with-
out referring it to a select committee.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said that while he entirely
concurred in the prater of the petition just presented, he
did not think it was in accordance with the rules of their
lordships' house that any petition could be received, as it
was irregular to specify the particular way in which the
petitioners wished bills to be passed.
LordCHELMSFORD
thewoolsack.oragreedwiththeobservations of
the noble

The Duke of RUTLAND said if he had infringed the
rules of the house he very much regretted it. He would
immediately withdraw the petition.

The Duke of RICHMOND said he had also vresentaa ~petition with a sitrna... proycv, tint- Inter wflat had passed
ue wished to withdraw it.

Lord OVERSTONE presented a number of petitions in
favour of the bill, amongst which was one from the
bankers, merchants, and others in the City of London, and
another from Manchester, which differed from the others,
inasmuch as it prayed that the" official assignee might be
retained. There was a very strong feeling throughout the.
country in opposition to the existing law.
The LORD CHANCELLOR presented a petition from
the Bristol Chamber of Commerce in favour of the bill.
Lord CHELMSFORD prosented petitions from a num-
ber of mercantile and commercial bodies praying for certain
modifications in the bill.

MESSAGE FROM THE CROWN-MARRIAGE OF

THE PRINCESS ALICE.

Earl GRANVILLE brought up a message from the
Crown.

The LORD CHANCELLOR read the Royal Message
to their lordships. Her Majesty communicated to
them her intention to sanction a marriage between
her Royal Highness the Princess Alice and the Prince
Louis of Hesse. The numerous proofs that her Majesty
had received of the loyalty of that house to her person and
family left her no room to doubt the willingness of their
lordships to make an adequate provision for her daughter,
such as might be suitable to the dignity of the Crown.
Earl GRANVILLE said this was not the time to go
into debate on the subject of her Majesty's message. It
was, however, his duty to ask that an address should
be presented to her Majesty on the happy event. They
would have great pleasure in doing so at the present mo-
ment, as her Majesty had so lately suffered a domestic af—
fliction.

The Earl of DERBY was convinced, from the deep inte-
rest which their lordships felt in everything that concerned
the happiness-of her Majesty and the Royal family, that
their lordships would agree to the address now proposed
with the same unanimous assent, and a much greater degree
of satit faction than they recently gave to an address of a
much more melancholy character which was recently sent
up from their lordships' house. The intended. marriage
just announced might not be one of so brilliant a character
as that contracted by the eldest sister of the Royal Princess,
but it was founded on the best security for happiness—an in-
timate personal acquaintance between the parties and a mu-
tual affection and esteem. He sincerely trusted that this
alliance would be productive, both to the illustrious Prin-
t cess and her consort, of the same happiness which had been
for so many years enjoyed by her Majesty, and which ho
believed was also enjoyed by her eldest daughter. He was
quite satisfied that their lordships would cheerfully concur
in making such provision for the Princess and her consort
as the other house might think fit ; and he had no doubt that
the other house would act with due and proper liberality
on the occasion. He had only to express a hope that the
provision made by the other house would not in the slightest
decree disarrance the Tliinent of the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer or add to the financial difficulties of the country.
(A. laugh.) ,Their lordships would, a was certain, cor-
dially concur in any proposal that might come from the
House of Commons, and he begged heartily to second the
motion.
The motion for the address was agreed to.