The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-16 00:00:00

POLAND.

Lord STRATFORD DE RE DCLIFFE wished to call
the attention of their lordships to a statement that
had appeared that morning in the public journals
with respect to disturbances that had occurred in
the capital of Poland. The statement was that there had
been great disorder and loss of life at Warsaw, and
he could not but say that the people and the
authorities that had been suddenly called up to
sat had done so with the greatest moderation. The
question he wished to ask was whether her Majesty's Go-
vernment had received any official information that was
calculated to give a true account of what had actually
taken place, and if they had such in their possession,
!thetable of the house ?
whether there would be any objection to lay the same

I Lord WODEHOTS.E said the Government had received
'from the Consul-General at Warsaw an account of
what had taken place there. He had received
'his noble friend's intimation of his intention of put-
ting his question so late as to prevent
him communicating with the noble lord the Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs. Under those circumstances he
must ask the noble lord to wait until Monday for an
'answer to his question, as to whether or not those papers
would be laid on the table.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The Clithoro Gas Bill was read a third time and passed,

CHARITABLE USES BILL.

Lord ORAN WORTH moved the second reading of this
'bill, the object of which was to improve the law with re-
'spect to persons making charitable bequests, and altering
the law of mortmain, which, in some instances, had been
,found to work prejudicially with respect to the intent of
1 charities .

The LORD CHANCELLOR said he would assent to
the second reading of this bill, but he felt it right to say
that he did so with no degree of satisfaction. The
law of mortmain was no doubt in a most lamentable
state, but he did not think the bill now before the house
would in any great measure improve it, or remedy the
evils which were so generally complained of. In
order to show that there should be some check upon
the definition of charities, the noble lord quoted several
curious cases, amongst which was a case of a person who,
iby his will, left £303 per annum to a person unsuccess-
ful in literature, on the condition that he should read
and uphold the testator's works. The works were unknown,
so the Court of Chancery had to be applied to ascertain
what they were, and it was ultimately decided that the be-
quest was a public charity. Another cause was where a
sum of money was left to 15 maidens between the
ages of 15 and 25, the prettiest in the parish,
and those who went most regularly to church
—(laughter)--and 15 spinsters with the like qualification.
Tho great difficulty was how to make the selectioi, and the
Court of Chancery was again applied to as to how the se-
lection was to be made, and whether such a bequest was
a public charity. (Laughter.) The Court held that the
object was a good charity, and the provisions of the
bequest were carried out, excepting certain portions of it
with respect to ladies going to church—so as long as the
sun shines the fifteen pretty maidens and spinsters 'would
be paid the sums bequeathed to them ley the testator.
Lord ABINOER opposed the bill

Lord WENSLEYDALE approved the prirAciple of the
bill, but thought the clauses required somie amendment,
which, however, could be done in committee,

Lord CHELMSFORD also supported the principle of
the bill. The prospective and retrospective clauses, how-
ever, required serious consideration, which he hoped would
be effected when each was discussed in detail.

Alter a. re w wuras in reply from the LORD CHAN-
CELLO Et, the amendment was negatived, and the bill read
a second time.

COMMITTEE ON THE MARRIAGE LAW.

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved the appointment of
the select committee on the Marriage Law, consisting of
the Duke of Argyll, the Duke of Bucoleuch, Lord Hastings,
the Earl of Donoughmore, Lord Colebrooke, Lord nodes-

isle, Lord Brougham, Lord Panmure, Lord Monteagle,
Lord Cranworth, Lord St. Leonards, Lord Wensleydale,
and Lord Chelmsford.

Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(YESTERDAY.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The following bills were read a third time and passed
—Bristol and South Wales Union Railway; Dublin
(City) Steam Packet Company; Dublin, Wicklow, and
Wexford Railway; Edenfield Chapel to Little Baton
'Road.

The Manchester and Milford Railway (A.beryritwith)
Bill was read a second time.

SMITHFIELD MARKET, &c.

On the motion of dr. C. FORSTER, the reports relating to
Smithfield Market, &c., were agreed to.

PETITIONS.

Several petitions were presented against the Parochial
Assessments Act, the Abolition of Churoh-rates, in favour
of closing public -houses on Sundays, and generally against
Sunday trading, &c.
Mr. ABEL SMITH presented a petition from the inhabi•
tants of Hertford, including the mayoress, clergyman, and
other inhabitants of Hoddesdon, and the minister and con-
gregation of Independants at Hoddesdon, in favour of
legalising marriage with a deceased wife's sister.
RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION IN SPAIN.

Sir R. PE :4.:L presented a number of petitions from vari-
ous parts of the country, including Manchester, Bath, and
Liverpool, respecting imprisonment of persons in Spain on
Account of expression of their religious opinions. He
begged to read the petition from Liverpool, which was
numerously signed by bankers, merchants, clergymen, &c.
as it conveyed the general sentiment pervading the country
on this subject. The hon. baronet then read the petition,
which prayed the house to direct their attention to this im-
portant subject, in order to induce the Spanish Govern-
ment to rescind those statutes of their code which rendered
the profession of Protestantism, under certain circum-
stances, penal, such a law being injurious to a
cordial understanding between the two countries, and cal-
culated to interfere with their commercial relations.