The Sun.
London, England, 1861-04-24 00:00:00

UNIVERSITIES ELECTION BILL.

On the motion for going into committee on this bill,
Sir G. C. LEWIS said, that before the Speaker left the
chair he wished to make some explanations in respect to
this measure, which his hon. friend, who introduced it, had
not done, and, therefore, the house was not•acquainked with
its provisions. Their universities were a peculiar body, as
regarded the election of their representatives, the constitu-
ency being limited to Masters of Arts, and the fact was,
such election was an act of convocation. The Master of
Arts were scattered through the United Kingdom,
and the consequence was that an undue influ-
ence was given to those who were resident at
the universities, who were chiefly (clergymen or engaged
in tuition, and the clerical element had an undue prepon-
derance in the election of those representatives. In order
to render these voters more exclusively clerical the bill pro-
posed that Masters of Arts, who were not rendered at the
universities, should be permitted to vote by letter. He
.-e-boated that it might bo more advisable under the cir-
cumstances to refer the bill to a select committee.
Mr. WALPOLE approved of referring the bill to a
select committee, and expressed his approval of vote by
proxy, particularly to elections at the University of Cam-
bridge.
Mr. WARNER said that he was not against
voting at these elections by proxy. If they passed this
bill they would be effecting a constitutional change in the
representation by throwing the electoral power into thQ
hands of the county clergy. He had great respect for
that body, and had no doubt they would exercise their
franchise properly, but it was a question whether from their
disconnection with the university they would render the
member selected less really a representative of the univer-
sity. He did not wish to oppose the• bill, and agreed that it
would be advisable to refer it to a select committee.

Mr. DENMAN said that it was a mockery to give the
franchise to 3,000 electors of the university, when only
1,000 of them could bo present at elections. He was in
favour of the bill, and he reminded the house that the
system adopted at elections for the University of Cam-
bridge was virtually by proxy.
Sir W. HEATHCOTE approved of referring the bill to
a select committee, but he did not think the measure was
calculated to effect the object proposed.
Lord ENFIELD said his name was on the bill, and
after the intimation of the opinion of the house he would
not oppose its reference to a select committee, but he trusted
the house would pass the bill without any unnecessary
delay.
Mr. DODSON, the mover of the bill, defended it at some
length. He agreed, however, to the suggestion that the
bill should be referred to a select committee, and concluded
with a motion to that effect.
Mr. S. ESTCOURT opposed the reference to a select
committee.

Mr. HENLEY said that there were special circum-
stances in reference to the constituency of the University
of Cambridge which rendered special legislation. However
the present bill proposed to extend considerably the pre-
sent system of voting by proxy, which might have the effect
of secret voting. Considering that the bill had not received
any discussion at its previous stages, he thought it should
be referred to a select committee.

—Mr. SLATER BOOTH, while he approved of the bill
being referred to a select committee, hoped it would not be
shelved, but would be passed this session.
After some remarks from Mr. HOPE and Mr. AYRTON,
the motion for referring the bill to a select committee was
agreed to.
NONCONFORMIST BURIAL BILL.

Sir M. PETO, in moving the second reading of this bill
said that he, when he had the honour of moving the first
reading of the bill he addressed the house at such length
that he thought he would best consult the feelings of hon.
members better if he reserved making any observations in
anticipation of the objections that might be urged, but re-
serve them until the objections had been made. Ho had made
inquiries to ascertain the working of the burial system in
their colonies, and had received information on the subject
which was of a most satisfactory character. A letter from
a clergyman of the Church of England in India, stated that
in that country the privilege of burial in consecrated ground
was not withheld from Dissenters, which worked
admirably. In America there was no dis-
qualification relative to interments in consecrated
ground, and anything in the slightest degree offensive. In
Canada, Nova Scotia, and the Cape of Good Hope, a simi-
lar system prevailed, and worked most advantageously.
The same remark applied to Scotland. In Ireland the va-
rious religious denominations had agreed to make applica-
tion for the burial of the deceased in the consecrated
ground, and if the minister refused this application, he
was bound to give reasons to the Lord Lieutenant for his
refusal. He referred to different cases with which he was
acquainted to show that the existing system was unjust in
its operation, and read the letter of a churchwarden to that
effect. He disclaimed any connection with the Liberation
Society, which he considered had done great injury to the
cause of civil and religious liberty, as the Church Defence
Society had injured the State establishment, which of late
years had been doing much for the promotion of religion
and enlightenment. (Hear, hear.) I herefore the object of
his bill was not to effect the achievement of the Non-Con-
formist triumph, and he appealed to the house to pass the
bill by a large majority.
[LEFT SPEAKING.]

REMARKABLE ESCAPE OF THE SOUTR-EASTERN
EXPRESS AND MAIL TRAINS.—On Friday night .one of the
most diabolical attempts at wholesale murder that we have
ever known was attempted on the South-Eastern Railway
between Edenbridge and Godstone. Indeed, we know of
no parallel, except in the Enniskillen case, in Ireland,
where an attempt at wholesale death or destruction was
made some few years ago. It appears that on the night
in question, just after nine o'clock, and but a few minutes
before the arrival of the up-express train and the mail
down .train, and which generally pass each ether between
Edenbridge and Godstone, some person placed an iron
rail across each of the lines, and but for God's mercy, the
most dreadful catastrophe must have occurred. As it
turned out, the express train cut or broke the rail into
three pieces, causing a sudden jerk, but nothing further.
The mail was as fortunate, though the result was different,
as in this case it did not remove the obstruction, but ran
over it. It seems really a miracle that some part of the
train was not thrown off the rails. We are grateful to say
that, excepting the shock, very slight damage was done, so
that the hellish designs of the wretch were completely frus-
trated. The mail stopped at Edenbridge and the guard
communicated to Mr. Gray, the station master, what had
occurred, and he immediately despatched some of the men
to see what it was, and to remove it; and some time before
the last train left Godstone, parties were sent down to the
spot to see that no further CobattliCtigi Wit§ ORM WA the
karfsss