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

TION BILL.

The LORD-CHANCELLOR moved the second
reading of the Probat3s and Letters of Administration
Bill, and proceeded to state the alterations made in the
measure since it wits brought forward last 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 of 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 Comte, and that ultimately when-
ever a vacancy occurred in the Court of Admiralty he
should be judge in that court also. On this point he
was fortified by the opinion of Dr. Lushingbn, who hal
recently repeated evidence which he bad given 20 years
ago, to the effect that the duties of all these courts might
be very well 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 London, 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 rigbt 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 let 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.

Tiscount DUNGANNON asked the Postmaster-
General whether any final arrangements bad 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 nature 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 Londou
and Dublin. No answer had 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,
he did trust, ample modifications of some points upon
which hitherto the greatest difficulties had arisen.
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE remarked that the
Government had 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,age, he
believed, of 4 hours 7 minutes, and the Llewellyn of 4
hours 11 minutes. Not only, however, was increased
rapidity wanted, but greater facilit;es of communication,
both as regarded letters and passengers.
After a few words from Earl FIT2WILLIAM 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 SPEAKER took the Chair at 4 o'clock.
NEW MEMBERS.

Sir D. Norreyi, Mr. Maguire, Sir W. Heathcote,
Mr. Egerton, Earl Bective, Mr. Calcutt, Col. Greville.
and Mr. W. Brown. took the oaths and their seats.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The following bills were read a third time and passed:
—Calcutta and South,Sastern Railway Company ;
Chepstow GAR ; Reversionary Interest Society ; and
South Devon Railway.
The following bills were conoidered and ordered to be
read a third time :—East Kant Railway (Extension to
Dover) ; Guildford Gas ; Guildford Water ; South
Shields Gas ; and Sunderland Gas.
The following bills were also read a second time and
ordered to be committed :—Dundalk and Enniskillen
Railway ; Great Northern Railway (Capital) ; Ne mry
and Enniskillen Railway ; Salford Borough (No 1) ; and
Salford Borough (No. 2).
PETITIONS.
Petitions were presented against the Civil Service
Superannuation Act ; from Lady Bulwer Lytton, com-
plaining of the carelessness of the postmaster of Lango-
len,by which a legal document addressed to her by a high
legal functionary never reached her, and praying for an
inquiry ; from the Scotch Protestant Association against
the grant to Maynooth.
GUANO.
Mr. BAXTER moved an address for copies of the
reports which have been received from naval officers on
foreign stations, including the coast of Africa, in conse-
quence of instructions sent out in 1844, 1852, and 1853,
directing them to take every opportunity of ascertaining
where any large supplies of guano existed, or were likely
to be discovered.—Agreed to.

ARMY ESTIMATES.
Sir J. RAMSDEN laid on the table the army esti,
mates, which were ordered to be printed.
In reply to a question from Sir de L. EVANS,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
army estimates would not be taken until after the navy
estimates were disposed of.