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

E SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDA-Y EVENING, JUNE "lo, 1857

might remind their lordships that they were not legis-
lating simply for one class, but for all classes of the
community, and that they ought to consider the effect
which might be 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 found
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 lordships then divided, and tnenumbers were,—
For the amendment
Against
. 37
—9

HOUSE OF LORDS.-(YESTERDAY.)

The LORD CHA.NCELLOa took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.
MUTINY OF NATIVE INDIAN TROOPS.
The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH had been in hopes
that it would not be necessary to draw their lord-
ships' attention to the lamentable mutinies which
bad taken place in the native army of India. The
news which he had read last night gave so
grave a character of the mutinies which had
occurred in India, that he did not think it consistent
with his duty to refrain from putting a question to the
noble lord the President of the Council.
Their lordships would, of course, be acquainted
with the mutiny of the 19th Native Regiment,
the march of that regiment, and its subsequent disband
meat at Barrackpore in the presence of five other native
regiments. They must a!so have perceived with apprehen-
sion the spread of disaffection amongst the native army,
but a circumstance had occurred that gave a more
serious &Teel to the affair, namely, the spread of
incendiary fires. From tbe 16th to the 25th of April
no less than seven incendiary fires had occurred in
the district occupied by the disaffected troops. A
regiment amounting to four hundred sabres had
been permitted to remain in open mutiny without any
effort being made to check the progress of the disaffec-
tion. He could not understand how it was so in Mee-
rut, where the Government had a strong force of
artillery, dragoons, and carabineere, who could have
been depended upon. Open mutiny was, in fact,
open war, and it was only to be met by open war.
There must have been some strange exagge-
ration Th the accounts that had been received,
but having carefully perused the accounts which had
been published in the Bengal territory, he could come
to no other conclusion than that the whole of the dis-
content was caused by the fear that the Government
intended to interfere with the religion of the natives of
India. He found the names of six officers, and several
other public functionaries all connected with the mis-
sionary proceeding ; and the Governor-General (Lord
Canning) was said to be a large subscriber to every so-
ciety having for its object the conversion of the natives.
The house must remember that the Governor-General
could not separate himself from his public character as
Governor General, and if any attempt was made to in-
terfere with the religious rites of the natives, a bloody
revolution would take place, the result of which would
be that the English would be driven from India.
The question he wished to put was, whether instructions
had been sent out to ladle, directing the several govern-
ments to make known to the army that the Home Go-
vernment would protect all their subjects in the undis-
turbed exercise of their religion ?
Earl GRANVILLE thought the noble lord had
taken a course which might lead to very disastrous
consequences in India. His question was based
upon a telegraphic despatch, which might give a
very exaggerated account of the state of the
native troops in India ; but he felt bound to
deft /vied Lord Canningfrom the aspersions that had been
cast upon him. He could assure the noble earl that the
Government would not for a moment countenance any
attempt to interfere with the religious rites of the natives
of India.
Lord MALMESBURY could not agree in regretting
the observations made by the noble earl. The noble
earl opposite bad admitted that rumours prevailed which
the noble earl had by his question given an opportunity
of contradicting. The communications on this subject
did rot depend entirely on the electric telegraph. If
Lord Canning had subscribed to any such societies as
was stated, he had not acted with his usual cool judg-
ment and prudence. Such societies could not and would
not abstain from making use of that fact. From his
knowledge of Lerd Canning's caution and judgment, he
coul I not believe that he would commit so imprudent an
ace.

Majority
The ameadtnent was therefore lost.
This and the remaining clauses of the Bill were agreed
to, and the house resumed.
L9rd REDESDALE 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
persons 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'cbck.

The Marquis.; of LANSDOWNE said it was of the
utmost consequence that Lord Canning's conduct should
remain unimpeaohed till there was clear and reliable in-
formation of what had occurred. He must entreat thei-
lordships until they heard what were the specific sub-
scriptions to suspend their judgment. He was sure there
was not a man in that house more aware than Lord Can•
ping of the danger of giving countenance to any attempt
to interfere with the rights of the native population to
protection in their religion.
Lord GRANVILLE, to show the vague nature of the
information, referred to its snurca, a paragraph in an
Indian journal, to the effect that the noble lord had sub-
Ecribed to a scientific association, which could hardly be
thought co have any religious tendency.
Lord ELL ENBOROUGH said that since a noble lord,
a member of the Gov. rnment, had said that if Lord Can-
ning had subscribed to associations for the purpose of
converting the native population, ho would not be fit to
remain at the head of affairs in India, that was quite
aufficient to remove any wrong feeling on the question.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE replied that he said
if Lord Canning had done anything to give countenance
to the rumours which were abroad, he would not be fit
to hold the position of head of the government in India ;
but that if he had subscribed to any religious association
he would doubtless be prepared to explain his reasons
for doing a
The entiject then dropped.
PRINCESS ROY...I.L'S ANNUITY.
Earl GRANVILLE, in moving the second reading of
this bill, said,--00 the assumption that your lordships
will agree with me in the principle that we ought to pro-
vide for the support of the institutions of this country,
and, monarchy being one of the elements of our consti-
lotion, that we ought to deal in a spirit, not of wasteful-
ness' but of just liberality to the Royal family—(ne.
—that the Royal family should be maintained in honour
and dignity, and that those illustrious ladies belonging
to it who go abroad should have a fair and liberal main-
tenance, it will not be necessary that I should trouble
you with many observations. This might have offered
a tempting opportunity to allude to certain qualities
of her Majesty ; but though the feelings of affection
and respect which we may entertain for the Sove-
reign may make us more anxious cordially and unani-
mously to adopt a vote of this description, still I should
be ashamed if I based it on any such affection and
respect. (Hear, hear.) I only ask your lordships to
take that course which I believe we are bound to do,
not so much for the dignity of the Crown as from a re-
gard to what is due to the feelings and natural pride of
the country, The provision proposed in the present in-
stance is reasonable, and being reasonable, I am sure it
will be unanimously adopted by your lord,hips. Look-
ing to the precedents in such cases, we find that for the
Princesses Royal, the daughters of George 11. and George
provision was made by a dowry of 80,0001., and
an annuity cf 5,0001. In this case the dowry is leas by
one-half than that given in former times, while the an-
nuity is larger, being 8,0001., instead of 5,0001 I know
there are some who have thought that to pay down a
large sum at once would have been a better arrangement,
but lam not of that opinion. I think that when an
lustrious lady is married into a great kingdom and int )
a powerful Hou-e our object should be not so much to
make provision for her children as to provide for that in-
dependence and that decent splendour which I am sure
every oce of pur lordships must think ought to at-
tend the eldest daughter of vie Sovereign. (Hear.)
For these reasons, without dwelling upon the feelings of
gratification expressed by your lordships on a former
evening at an event which is likely to reward her Ma-
jesty for the excellent education she has bestowed upol
• the Princess Royal, and to render the Princees Royal as
happy in her future life as we all desire, I now ask your
lordships to give a second reading to this bill. (Hear.)
The Earl of IVIA.LMESBURY said, although, accord-
ing to the old proverb, silence gave consent, yet in the
absence of his noble friend the Earl of Derby, he felt
bound on the part of noble lords on that side of the
house to express his satisfaction with the bill proposed
and his admiration of the manner in which her Majesty
had exercised her rule in these realms, and of the bright
example which she had set to all her subjects. (Hear )
With regard to the details of the bill, as it had passed
the House of Commons, it would be useless to discuss
the question whether any better plan could have been
proposed. For his own part, he was inclined to believe
it would have been better to have given a round sum at
once, which would have pieced the Princess Royal in a
rnoro dignified position than as an annuitant of this
country. It would be idle, however, to discuss that
question now, and he therefore bad only to express his
concurrence with the bill which was before the house.
The bill was then read a second time,
DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL CAUSES
BILL.
The house then went into committee upon this hid,
which had been recommitted.
Clauses 1 to 16 were agreed to.
Upon cause 17
The LORD CHANCELLOR said, since the bill
bad been printed he had received many communications
suggesting that the provisions of this clause might be
extended to husbands deserted by their wives. Tee
clause gave power to a wife who had been deserted by
her husband without reaseea'de cause to apply to the
Court for a divorce a merna et thoro, and he proposed
now an amendment in the 12th line, which would give
to husbands deserted by their wives the same right of
applicatien to the Court.
Lad ST. LEONARDS said this bid sanctioned for
the first time the pre! cpie that divorces could be
graetee up in the sole ground of desertion. That he
shredtousled up
to be a very dangerous principle, and would
door to great cohesion. The committee which
had coreedered this subject bad recommended that in
cases of desertion the Court should be empowered tr
grant the wile alimony,
Tbat'was a ouch but not to pronounce a divorce.
naerrie reasonable proposition, and he
sh,‘Ll I move as an
enat.h, je:ddnent in line 15 that the clause
be altered try
-the urt to grant alimony to ado
eel ted wife, instead of
EAII GREY roe.) to divorceorder' menaa et thoi-o.
Lord Chancellor had
prepe..eil an amendment line 12 and until that was
• • '1 of their lordships could nut diecuee an alt,era-
coenoee
tio:i in line le They ought to proceed accordin to the
/wog:deed titles and practice of Parliament. (La,
Lord ST. LEONARDS agreed with the noble el,)rl,
but maintained that the eonrse ho had pursued was I-
The elactimie
cu'ated to save the time of their lorchhipe.
as it stood provided that desertion by her husband Should
give a wife a right to divorce a mouse et thoro. The
Lord Chancellor now propo-eil to extend the clause co
as to inset the case of a wife deserting her beeband.
New, his argument was that neither husband nor wife
should have a right to divorce for desertion ; and if his
amendment to that effect were adopted by their lord-
ship:, there would be no necessity for discussing the
alteration proposed by the Lord Chancellor in line 12.
Earl STAN-HOPE thought that much of the irregu-
larity which arse in committee proceeded from the no-
Eatiafactory mode in which the amendinerits were
printed. They appeared, not according to the order ie
which they ought to be- taken up, but according to the
names ft he persons proposing them.
Earl GRANVILLE was of opinion that someletitude

should be allowed to their lordsbips in the discussion of I adding the punishment of imprisonment to that of Site,
lAMENT. amendments applying to the same clause. At the same because it savoured more of disgrace than a mere money
time he thought the house would gain much if it payment would, and it ought to be the policy of the
:save rather more authority to the person in the chair. Legislature to do all in its power to brand this offence
He could not make a proposal of that kind when the with infamy. He should later on move a clause to make
Lord Chancellor was presiding, because the noble lord ' it lawful for the Court to impose imprisonment as well
was a nominee of the Government; but he was at liberty as a fine, and also to give power to apply any part or
to say that if the chairman of committees, an officer se- the whole of the fine to paying the cost of the proceed-
lected by their lordships themselves, were invested with hogs.
a kind of mild despotism great advantage would result Clauses 22 to 25 were agreed to.
in the transaction of public business. The LORD CHANCELLOR proposed a clause after
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE desired to know clause 25, providing for the imposition of a fine on adul-
what was the question before the house. (A. laugh,) teroue parties.
Lord REDESDALE replied that the question was The Bishop of OXFORD proposed an amendment,
the amendment proposed by the Lord Chancellor in line that the adulterous parties should be liable to " fine and
12. In no circumstances would he have put any other imprisonment, or fine or imprisonment," and that it
question than that; but it was always open to any noble should be lawful to apply the fine to pay the whole or a
lord to suggest that, for the sake of convenience, two portion of the costs of the proceedings.
amendments bearing upon the same subject should be The LORD CHANCELLOR thought it would be
discussed together. better to limit the punishment to fine, as this was the
Earl FITZ WILLIAM wished to make an observe,- first time that such a principle had been introduced into
tion on a word in the second line of the clause. He the law.
thought that "separation" should be substituted for Lord DUNGANNON supported the amendment, as
" divorce" with reference to the proceeding here con- a fine only would be of very little effect in the' case of
templated as the result of desertion, wealthy persoup,
The LORD CHANCELLOR remarked that the clause Lord CAMPBELL thought it would be better to keep
as it now stood, provided that any wife deserted by her by the fine alone. In some cases a husband might feel
husband for two years should have a right to divorce's reluctance and even horror at taking a course which
mensa et thoro. Since the bin was printed he had received might send his wife, even though guilty, to prison.
HOUSE
gr
,0
RbFi
IN] i
vsCivvOwTeM.
rEemM readßEo I
TN saSBIt.EN:
a number of letters from husbands stating that a corre- The Duke of NORFOLK observed that in some cases
spending benefit ought to be given to them. He saw no a heavy fine would fall as a punishment upon the chil-
reason why thatrequestshould not be complied with, and dren,
he proposed to introduce words in line 12 giving a bus- The Bishop of OXFORD reminded their lordships
third time
band the same remedy if deserted by his wife as the clause that imprisonment was not rendered imperative by his The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
now gave to a wife if deserted by her husband. Last ses- amendment. It might be inflicted in extreme cases, but
sion great discussion took place as to whether in the case these would be very rare.
Mr. BESCROPT took the oaths and his seat for Leeds,
of unjustifiable desertion there ought not to be divorce a The LORD CHANCELLOR could imagine nothing
vinculo matrimonii, as was the law in Scotland. The more revolting to the mind of a man whose wife bad been
S*
and passed :
committee decided in the negative, but their lordships unfaithful to him than the reflection that he could not The following
llomwinedeff
anu Turriff Extension Rail wa ;
thought that some relief ought to be given, and it was at obtain a divorce without subjecting her to imprisonment. Brighton, Hove, and Breston.Constant Service Watery ;
his suggestion that, instead of being entitled to divorce ' Lord BROUGHAM objected to the amendment, European and Indian Junction Telegraph Company ;
a mensa et thoro for desertion, a wife was to be simply which gave a court a power to inflict a heavy Punish- Forth and Clyde Junctionital Rnaisiii4w. ay ; New River dem.
enabled to petition the Court, and obtain an order for ment of imprisonment without the intervention of a jury. prahniylip;,B Pcohrutaremb7th Liverpool. way.i (New Title), and St.
feoaldloawitnhgirbdiltlimwaes._furwthyeeroceittißdearieldweayn.d ordered
alimony. Since that time he had changed his mind upon No doubt the sole action of a court was sometimes use-
, the point, and his objection to alimony was that the hue- fun as in cases of insolvency or bankruptcy, but it was
bills we're read a second time—London
band might come back and deprive his wife of the relief not the same in respect of criminal proceedings.
granted by the Court. The Bishop of OXFORD observed that, by a new to
TTbehheerfollo wing
Lord CAMPBELL did not object to the husband hay- clause which would be proposed, there would be a trial Gas Li ht C
gCompany (Capital), and Mallow and Fermoy
ing the same right as the wife to obtain from a comps- before a jury.
and Great Southern awl Western Railways.
tent court on reasonable evidence a separation, equiva- Earl GREY said, as they were about for the first time
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR IRELAND.
lent to what was known to the law as a divorce 4 mensa to make divorce a part of the law of the land, it was
Mr. ROEBUCK gave n t• ith
ome at on that day week
et theme, which was not, in fact, a divorce, because the necessary to guard against that change by every possible he uld submit
t.a motion for the consideration of the
parties might come together again and live happily the precaution. A pecuniary fine might be sufficient in some house,w
bstit
su
of
Lord-Lieutenant
.a Secretary of State for Ireland for
rest of their days. It was proposed by some that there cases, but there were others in which it would be totally
the office d Lieutenant of Ireland.
should be no community of property whatever between inadetuate. There were special cases in which justice
! GRAMMAR SCHOOLS.
husband and wife, and he was surprised that the proposal could only be done by punishing the guilty parties by
PMr. W. EWART gave notice that on that day fert-
should have received the sanction of his noble and illus. imprisonment. In cases where a designing woman had
night he should bring under the notice of the house the
trious friend—(Lord Broughans)—illustrious for his pro- entrapped a man into adultery with the desire of being
formation of grammar schools throughout the country.
motion of law reform and his defence of the femele sex. detected, a fine would be of little use. Such cases might
With married persons there should be community of pro be rare, but that they did sometimes occur was a matter
! THE BALLOT.
perty as well as of persons; but when a new status was of history.
acquired by divorce ;mensa et thorn the community of The committee then divided Mr. 11. BERKELEY postponed his motion on the
, when there appeared— ballot from the 231 inst., to the 13th of July.
property ought to cease. The wife's property would then For the amendment 43
RETURNS.
be protected, and they would hear no more of the cruel Against it
33
unopposed returns were ordered to be laid
instances of husbands returning and sweeping away Majority —
on the table of Numerous uno
the house
everything belonging to their deserted wives. The amendment was consequently carried,lo and the '
The amendment was agreed to. clause as thus amended was agreed to. PAYMENT OF LOCAL CONSTABLES.
Earl FITZ WILLIAM said a woman who was sepa. Clauses up to 44 were agreed to. Mr. MILES asked the Secretary of State for the
1 TT
of Departmentwhether it his intentionto
retool occupied a different position from a woman who ef yon clause 45, the clause in which, on the motion
~. ,
Homere uce a bill for the payment of local constables ap-
was divorced. Toe general public did not understand the the Archbishop of Canterbury, words were inserted pro- " '.'
pointed under the Act 3 and 4 Vic, c. 88, s. 16. during
I legal distirction between a divorce ir vincalo and divorce hibiting persons divorced after being proved guilty of
ii mensa et thoro. He would therefore move to substitute adultery from marrying again, the present session I
the word "separation" for divorce is monsa et there. The LORD CHANCELLOR proposed an amend- Sir G. GREY said that the act at present in operation
Lord CAMPBELL suggested that, to make it more meet, 'he effect of which., he said, would be to restore had worked well for many years, and no difficulties had
intelligible, it should he separation from bed and board. the clause to the condition in which it originally stood, hitherto arisen under it. The local constables had power
The LORD CHANCELLOR would not pledge him. and to allow guilty parties to marry again. Withoutenter- to go beyond their district to serve summons, &c., but
self to the precise words, but thought they should insert ing into the Scriptural argument, he put it to his right at the expense of the persons employing them. He was
the words "judicial separation, which shall have all the rev. friends, could there be anything more scandalous not aware of any fund out of which constables could be
effect of" before " divorce li mensa et thoro." than an Act of Parliament which should compel a wo- paid, but he would look into the law.
Earl GREY approved of the amendment, because it man to remain single, or, what was very probable, CONSOLIDATION OF THE STATUTES.
would make the bill easily understood, should force her into prostitution I (Hear, hear.) U Mr. POWd e F Lord f the Treasury
Lord ST. LEONARD'S thought every one under- der any circumstances such a thing ought to be avoidedn. ELL ;
what progress hadaske beenth madeirst by theo Commissioners
stood what was meant by divorce /4 mensa et thoro. It but lot their lordships observe what an injustice they appointed for consolidating the statute law in
was divorce so far as it compelled each party to submit were perpetrating when they left the adulterer free to the preparation of measures for that purpose, and
to separation.
marry, while placing a prohibition upon the woman di- whether it was intended to introduce during the present
Earl FITZWILLIAM was understood to adopt the vorced in consequence of his licentiousness. He thought session a bill for the consolidation of any portion of the
suggestion of the Lord Chancellor as to the form of the for his own part, that there ought to be no restriction ; statutes ; and, if such was the intention of the Govern-
amendment. that a divorced wife ought to be at liberty to marry the ment, what portion of the statutes would be dealt with /
After a short conversation, in which Lords Wemley- adulterer or any one else, for he believed there was a Mr. BAINES said that the report of the commis-
leydale, Campbell, and Denman took part, the amend- large class of persons upon whom the apprehension of sioners was ready, and would be laid on the table of the
ment, proposing to substitute the words " judicial sepa- tieing yoked for life with their paramours would have a house in a few days. It was the intention of the Lord
ration" for "divorce k mensa et thoro,' was put and stronger restraining influence than either fine or irepri. Chancellor, in a few days, to lay on the table of the
agri-ed to without a division. Bement. (Hear, hear ) House of Lords a series of that had been prepared
The Duke of ARGYLL hoped it was understood that Lord BROUGHAM expressed his cordial approval of
under the direction of the Stabillstute Law Commissioners.
a corresponding substitution of terms would be made in the amendment,
the rest of the bill wherever it was necessary, The Archbishop of CANTERBURY, who was very Mr. CRAUFU asked e President of the The CHAIRMAN CHAIRMAN said, that would be understood as imperfectly heard, was understeon to say that both upon law Board, whetherßD the hon.th member for Boston still
a matter of course. Scriptural grounds and for reasons of public morality he continued to hold the office of auditor under the Poor.
On the question that the clause, as amended, stand did not think that guilty persons ought to be permitted law Board I
part of the bill, to marry again. He would therefore oppose the amend- Mr. BOUTERIE said that the hon. member referred
Lord ST. LEONARDS said, he thought the substi- relent,
to was appointed by the local guardians, though liable
tution of "judicial separation" fur "divorce n menu et The Duke of ARGYLL stated that several noble earls to be dismissed under certain circumstances by the Poor-
there" was a very unwise one, altering as it did, and had voted for the introduction of the words proposed by law Board. He was not aware that his election for
without, as it seemed to him, due consideration, a wel'- the Archbishop of Canterbury upon the supposition that Boston prevented him from holding the office of auditor,
understood Filtrate which had been known to the law they amounted merely to a prohibition of marriage be- which hitherto he had discharged with satisfaction.
from the earliest times, (Hear.) Their lordships c mid tween paramours. He could not believe that a majority
PARK LANE.
not define what "judicial separation" was. Besides, he of their lordships would wish to condemn a person guilt
3' Mr. BAILLIE asked the First Commissioner of
might remind them that an alteration of terms did not of adultery to perpetual celibacy, or probably to a life of Works, whether, in pursuance of the recommendation of
change the substance of the thing meant, and it was immorality. It was not improbable that acme so-called the Metropolitan Improvement Committee of 1855, he
therefore desirable to adhere to the old phraseology. The amendments had been proposed with a view to the re- had been able to devise • •
any plan for relieving the
noble earl (Earl Fitz william) seemed to speak of oindo jection of the bill elsewhere. (Hear, hear.)
great increase of traffic which now passed through
cial separation" as if it were something distinct from The Earl of DERBY said the amendment of the Arch- Park-lane, and had become dangerous to the public -
divorce i mensa et thoro, but it was, in point of fact, the bishop of Canterbury, which it was now proposed to ex- and, whether there would be objection to t '
eit,from open o
same thing. He (Lord St. Leonard.) believed the inten- allege, did not condemn the guilty party to perpetual the public the road through anythe park, Stanhope-
tion of the committee upstairs, on whose report the bill celibacy. It Provided that the husband or wile guilty street Gate to Hyde-park Corner IP r
was founded, was to adhere as nearly as possible to the of adultery should not marry while the husband or wife Sir B. HALL, after referring to the reportof th
l e
established law, but to give a new tribunal, and readier who bad obtained a divorce continued to live. If that commssioners, said that he took proceedings
metast year
means of access to that trihunal, to all classes of the provision were removed they would have the anomaly of to carry out its recommendations, but beewith
a person divorced a vinculo being in a better position
population.
opposition from eight or nine and
residents,
on confer-
The Committee divided, when there were— than a person divorced a mensa et thoro, because the with the law
officers of the Crown, they agreed
Contents - • ringf with the objections urged by the residents. It was,
Non-Contents 37 time of the person from which they were divorced. however, desirable to widen Park-lane if poseible. With
Majority
The clause was then agreed to
i
On cause 18,
The LORD CHANCELLOR stated, in reply to a given
question from the Earl of Donoughtnore, that he did not Earl GREY explained that on the former even. tog he
voted for the amendment of. the Archbishop of Canter-
bury, because he did not wish to see divorce a vinculo I without some safeguard ; but he thought it ill -
ful
filled that purpose, and, as they had now made adultery
propose to make any alteration in the existing law reiao liable to punishment, not only by fine but by imprison- reference to the
't could not be acceded
second part of the question, be thought
to, because if opened in the day
it must be at night, and that would be objectionable.
THE DEATH OF JAMES WILLIAMS.
Mr. DILLWYN asked the First Lord of the Trea-
sury whether her Majesty's Government had received
ing to alimony.
The clause was agreed to, as were ilso clauses 19, 20,
and 21.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said, he now rose to
propose a clause with reference to a
1 stoned considerable discussion when this bill was last
1
before their lordships--namely, as to the punishment 9f meat, he should vote with the Lord Chancellor to have
it struck out,
The Rshop of OXFORD said the object should be
to surround the innoceolt with the greatest number of
question which ocea. guards, rather than to leave the guilty exposed to the any information respecting the circumstances attending
the death of James Williams, a seaman on board the
j killedehn 'iran d
theE
possible inconvenience of marrying their paramours, tb. a stint
That was most eminently the character of the proposi- deetrd schooner, of Aberystwith, who was
lash,by_ harbour of Belleisle on the 24th day of May
tired from the French war schooner Ma-
raLeord PAL VIERSTO '
N said that her Majesty's Go-
persons who were guilty of adultery. It was originally tion of the Archbishop of Canterbury. All experience ernment had received infer tion %nth r e
ma iregard to the
proposed by this Bill that an action of crim. con, should showed that the purity of civilised society depended v lanchol circumst nce. It appeared that this vessel
not be brought until after a divorce had been obtained, more upon the absolute chastity of the woman rather me
entered the roadsteada
That proposition was very fully discussed, but it was than the principle of the man. The temptation to sin which was very of Belleisle without her colonrs
wrong, because a foreign vessel
not very satisfactory to their lordship; and it was re- assailed the man and the woman on two opposite sides flying, a harbour ought
to have her national colours
jested. The noble and learned lord opposite (Lord St. of their character. In the man the great temptation was o (Hear, titer.) Unquestionably the con-
Leonard's) proposed that adultery should be constituted the gratification of appetite, ' but it was not so in the flyina.the officer duct of
a misdemeanour, and he (the Lord Chancellor) bad con- woman. The fate Mr. Coleridge, in one of his admirable j tifiable al
The he ordered two blank mus-
sidered with great attention the propriety of carrying essays on the relation between the two sexes, expressed was
unjustifiable,
be dread.
that sugge-tion into effect. Ile bad, however, arrived the idea so forcibly that he would quote the words, kets first
of the schoonertwah uo justification of the French com-
lat the conclusion that it was riot desirable to make adul- "The desire of the man is for the woman ; the desire of disc'se precipitation in ordering a abetted musket to
tery a misdemeanour, for on many accounts it would be the woman is for the desire of the man." That was to be discharged against the schooner. (Hear, hear.)
extremely difficult, if not impracticable, to carry out ' say, that the woman was led astray, not by the direct His explanation of the unfortunate affair was that be
such an enactment. It would, for instance, be necessary temptation of sensual appetite, but by the proffer of affec- the person who iced t high,
o fire the cense-
to make exceptions where the adulterer was not aware tion—by the promise that what in early life she trusted orderedofwhim
that the woieal was married, for in many cases traps to be to her husband, but had failed in being—namely, quenceThe
Frwhas_the striking of the seaman referred
might be laid, and a mail might be guilty of adultery the object of attachment and affection—she would be to to,
her Majes y. G
t ,Bcov Government had, however, given
st
thin "n:fluent no opportunity of remora-
, being aware that be had committed any crime the tempter. Those married women who had fallen from
strating again act, for Count Walewski imme-
i known to the law. A very easy mode of extorting the direct temptation of appetite were very rare excep-
diately on the circthmstance becoming known, velure
J money would thus be afforded, and he thought the evil tiouv, and in 99 eases out of 100 tbey fell, because tbeir
teernd a communicationt to her Majesty's ambassador at
likely to result from such a change of the law would marriage had been unhappy in its consequences. To say
I
counterbalance its advantages. The two objects they
should endeavour to accomplish were, first, to render
the commission of adultery less frequent ; and, 2dly, to
take care that, when proceedings were adopted for obtain-
ing a divorce's vinculo matrimonii, there should be a therefore, that the woman should not marry for the mitt':
cal lifetime of the husband she dishonoured was to take
away from the tempter a prevailing bait and to give an
additional safeguard to her remaining innocent. Let
their lordships remember what the proviso was that was Paris, of theair/6 satisfactory and handsome kind, ex-
pressing the deep regretd of the French Government at
the occurrence,an stating that orders would be given
by the French.service, Governmenth to dismiss the French officer
from their_tsv o ordered the firing of the musket
bona fide resisting party, and that no collusion should embodied in the clause at the instance of the moat rev-
take place. He now proposed a clause with the view of prelate (the Archbishop of Canterbury.) It was not in
carrying out those objects. What he suggested was that any sense put in as a penalty upon either party that (hear)—and. that the French Government was about
to make tritium
.asce.rtain in what way and in what
degree it was possibte in their power to mitigate the
affliction of the family of the unfortunate seaman who
any person seeking to obtain a divorce 4 vincalo matri- they should be prohibited from marrying longer than
may have suffered from the sacrifice of his life. Nothing
monii should not be at liberty,
as he now was, to proceed they would have been prohibited :rem marrying another
against the wife alone, unless the court should declare if they had not sinned. The innocent party was allowed
could be more honourable or proper than the manner in
which the French Government had acted, and intend
that there were special reasons for sanctioning such a under the clause to marry again, and was it an extreme
still further ta act in this unfortunate and melancholy
course, and also a fortiori that he should not be enabled Punishment to say to the guilty person that he or she
catastrophe. (Hear.)
to proceed against the adulterer alone in the absence of should not marry again during the lifetime of the party
GRAND JURIES (METROPOLIS).
the wife, so as to fix adultery on her in her absence, but from whom he or she wae divorced ! It seemed to him
Sir F. THESIGER moved for leave to introduce a
that iu every case when the husband sought a divorce, ii monstrous to represent that as an outrageous violation of
vinculo matrimenii, on the ground of adultery, he should liberty. bill to dispense with the attendance of grand juries at
the Central Criminal Court, and at courts of General
present a petition praying that both parties should be After a few words from Loris Do Roe and DIINOAN-
and Quarter Sessions holden within the metropolitan
made resew:ideate or defendents in the case. Both the NON,
police district, except in particular case.. The hon. and
parties, the alleged adulterer and the wife, would thus The committee divided on the question that " the
be before the court, and the action •
would be bona fide words proposed to be left out stand part of the clause d gentleman referred to the feeling of the pubn
„ learne .
ic
, against the continuance of grand juries, as well
resisted. As to the punishment, he should propose that when the numbers were—
NETLEY HOSPITAL.
as many of our judges; and he referred to the
the Court should have power to impose a fine upon the Content
paramour, and that fiee with t e vie w of indicating that Not content
24
practice of grand juries throwing out bills, and Sir DENHAM NORREYS moved an address for
46
of persons going privately before grand juries, returns respecting Netley Hospital, showing by whom
it was not intended to be merely a nominal one, he Majority in favour of the Lord
and preferring bills against prisoners for the pur- the site was selected, whether any reports were made on
should propose to limit to an amount not exceeding Chancellor's motion —22
pose of extortion, and gave a variety of illustrations of its salubrity and general eligibility for its purpose, pre-
10,000i. He believed that the amount of the fine and The result of this division was to exp n from the
ge the working of the system in support of his argument. vious to selection, and by whom ; by whom the original
the publicity of proceedings would be effectual secs- bill the proviso carried on a former occasion
, on the mo-
tion The secrets,' of the proceeding facilitated its being plans were prepared, whether they were submitted to
ritiee against collusion.
of the Archbishop of Canterbury prohibiting the abused. He Proposed that no case should be tried •medicalauthority fapproval, I•whom th
in any
Lord BROUGHAM entirely approved the substitute husband or wife convicted of adultery * contracting
from the metropolitan districts without a previous investi- officially sanctioned, and whether any report was made
for the action of crim. con. proposed by his noble and another marriage during the life of the wife or husband • • by
gation before a magistrate, which means attendance upon them, and by whom, previous to their being sane-
learned friend. It was admitted on all hands that that from whom they had been divorced.
of the grand jury might be dispensed with, and thereby tinned ; also a statement of the alterations or additions
action must be aboliehed. That was the opinion of such Lord WENSLEYDALE tben moved to add a pro. save much loss of time and inconvenience to persons to the original plans which have been determined on,
eminent men as Lord Eldon,
Lord Grenville, Mr.. Pitt
, • that eitherparty
vino should not marry the person with having to prosecute prisoners, from their not being re- by whom they were recommended, to wbom they were
Mr. Fox, and Mr. Erskine, and their only difficult was whom the adultery was proved to have been committed, quired to attend before grand juries to prefer bills of in- referred for approval ; and a copy of oorrespondence or
to provide a substitute. If any one wished to know with and the Court in its decree for a divorce was to name dictment. A great saving would also take place in the reports relating thereto which have led to the adoption
how much hardship and injustice a woman might be that person,
costs of prosecution. of the amended plan,
treated by the action of erica. con, as it now stogod, he
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE could not assent to The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that the measure Sir ..1. RAMSDEN said he had no objection to the
would give them an exemple. He held in his hand five
letters from the falsely alleged paramour of an injured the amendment, which he thought would not tend prat- would receive the cordial support of the Government, returns being granted.
lady, and he would answer for it that the reading of those tically to promote the iuterests of religion and morality. who had not touched the subject, from their having had 111 r. STAFFORD said the return was just what he
He believed that in cases of this description women were under their consideration a comprehensive plan con- wished to be made, and if given fairly would, no doubt,
letters by one, two, three, or more of their lordships
would at once convince them that the charge against that generally led into error by passion, and those who had nested with the appointment of a public prosecutor, give great satisfaction both in the house andlo,
out of doors.
lady of having bad an amour with his late lamented lived long in the world were aware of the feeling with which would have taken the subject under consideration. He had made a serious charge against the Government,
which women who had so erred were regarded by their After some remarks from Mr. BOWYER, leave was and it was most desirable for the purposes of i v stiga
n e -
friend Lord Melbourne was absolutely and neceasarly
false. They had produced on his mind the most abso own sex. Even if women who had thus fallen remarried, given to bring in the bill. lion and elucidation that that charge should be adhered
lute conviction that the thing was utterly and entirely they were still in a position of great degradation, and it LAND TRANSPORT CORPS. to. Ho held in his hand a document which was for-
impossible. Yet this action was tried behind the back was difficult to estimate the punishment they suffered. Mr. T. BUNCOMBE then moved that the petition warded to Lord Pannture from all the medical men at-
of the lady, and but for the exertions of bin noble and The object of legislation should be to provide fcr the re- of the members of the Land Transport Corps, complain- Cached to the first hospital in London, viz., the Middle-
formation of offenders after they had suffered punishment iog that the War office bed not kept faith with them, be sex Hospital. It stated that all the ventilation of the
learned friend, then not her counsel, but that of the do-
. referred to a select
Er their crimes, but he believed the effect of this amend committee. He stated several griev- ho,Pital came from the north-east, which was an at-
fendant, her character might have been ruined for life,
ment, by depriving a woman of the opportunity of en,nes which this corps had suffered ; but the great moolThere highly prejudicial to the recovery of the pa-
she being all the time as guiltless as any other human
marrying her partner in sin, would be to degrade her grievance was, that when they were disbanded a paper, dente. There were also other matters referred to which
being. (Hear, hear, from Lord Campbell ) He pre. marrying
and to drive her to a course of prostitution, and not a parchment, discharge was handed te them, were most injurious, and which created what was called
ferred the infliction of a fine to making adultery a mis•
When they dealt with a burglar or a perjurer they al- which was treated as no discharge at all, so that the Men " a hospital atmosphere," leading to hospital gangrene
demeanour, on account of the danger of conspiracy
ways supposed that he might by repentance be qualified could find no employment, for masters were afraid to amongst the patients, and disease amongst ths
which beset the latter course, and against which he was
was
to resume, in some measure, that position in society hire deserters. They also complained that money attendants, that no precautions could prevent. These
afraid that no sufficient security could be provided.
to
which! he had occupied before he became a crimi- owing.er ..,_ them, which they could not obtain. statements were verified by Messrs. Shaw, Campbell,
Earl GREY thought that the clause as amended was
sal ; and were they in the case of a woman ni • TOWNSEND seconded the motion. Gordon and all the eminent medical men on the este
a great improvement on the original clause. He should
Lord PALMERSTON said the parchment discharge -
alone to refuse the opportunity of reformation, al-
bilehment, and he felt it his duty to protest against
be glad to see imprisonment enacted as a punishment
no objection 'yen to
though experience had shown that women who had was. gi all who applied for it. He had more public money being spent in propagating hospital
as well as a fine, and if no other noble lord undertook
he did t b
violated the marriage vow had subsequently be- th the appointment of a committee, but no e- diseases iu that direful fortn. On the 4th of May, 1857,
the task he should, later on in the discussion, propose
come faithful wives and good mothers, and bad shown liege much good would come of it. however, an additional communicationwas made by those
a clause to that effect. It was with great reluctance
themselves deserving of that limited respect which could The motion was then agreed to. gentlemen to Lord Panmure, with respect to the pro-
that he consented to legalise the divorce a viticulo. The
be gained by persons under such circumstances IHe WILLS OF BRITISH SUBJECTS MADE posed hospital at Netley. Capt. Laffan proposed to draw
present measure ought, however, to be looked on as an
agreed with a great legal authority who had said that ABROAD. off the air from a neighboursng field—(laughter
to Present
only, and if there were any signs of re-
laxe
cases of this description ought to be dealt with accord- Sir F. KELLY moved for leave to bring in a bill to then have it sucked down by an enormous furnace, the
d morality under the new system we ought at once .
to return
mg to the particular circumstances of each case, and he give validity and effect to the wills of British subjects windows being all the time closed. Those gentlemen ad-
to what had hitherto been the theory, not the
practice of the Ene;:i4i law. considered that the discretion ought to be left to the made abroad. Thn hon. and learned member pointed vises that the forcing of foul air f • •
up
Lord C
court. This amendment, however, if it should be out that under the present state of the law no will made —laughter)—bad been tried and found ineffectual, and
ANIPEELL cordially approved the clause as
amended, but
adopted, would deprive the court of any discretionary abroad by a British subject, according to the form of his the same result had followed the attempt of sucking
suggested that there should be no limit t
0,
the fine, but that it h .
power.
own country, was held to be valid in the United King- do WO the air. They proposed that the more simple me-
*l ould be left to td .
lion it according to
,i
.. .e Court to upper- Bishop of OXFORD, in supporting the amend. dom. Several instances had occurred in which great in- td of leaving the windows open should be tried. [The
the circumstances of 'the case and
;be means of the offender. went, observed that it was ueneceesary to repeat the justice had been effected by the operation of the present hon gentleman
. then read the communication which had
The Bishop of OXFORD arguments re had urged on a former occasion, but be law. In consequence of this state of things any British teen sent to Lord Panmuredescribing the disadvantages
concurred in the necessity of

The LORD ADVOCATE replied, after which leave
was given to bring in the bill.
HIGH WAYS.

Mr. MASSEY rose to move for leave to introduce a
bill to improve the management of highways throughout
the country. At present in reality the management was
vested in the parochial surveyor. He was an unpaid, and
therefore, of course, was an inefficient officer. The result
was a state of things which ought not to be allowed. The
parochial surveyor assessed the ratepayers —he levied
the rates, and at the end of his year of office he had to
lay his accounts before the special session—there was no
audit of those accounts—they could not be questioned in
any way, and he himself was the sole judge of what
money hal been misappropriated, and the highways had
falle❑ into great dilapidation. What he proposed was, to
divide the country into districts, and to appoint district
boards, partly elective and partly ex officio, composed of
magistrates and guardians of the poor.
Mr. WATKIN wished to know what course was inq
tended to be adopted with respect to the metropolis roads?
Mr. MASSEY. said that they wore excepted from the
operation of the bill.

Mr. WATICIN suggested that the measure should be
made still further effectual by dealing with those roads.
Mr. ADAMS complained that a large number of un-
necessary burdens were at present thrown upon the high-
way rates, and he should be happy to render every as-
sistance in his power to the passing of the measure.
Mr. SLANEY expressed his approbation of the mea-
sure, and be thought that the house was greatly indebted
to the hon. member for its introduction- He was anxi-
ous to impress upon the Government the propriety of
compelling the making of footpaths by the side of high-
ways.

Leave was then given to introduce the bill.
LAW OF MORTMAIN.
Mr. ATHERTON moved for leave to bring in a bill to
amend the law relating to the conveyance of land for
charitable uses. Tile bill was similar to that which he had
introduced upon several previous occasions, but which he
had not been successful in carrying into law.
The motion was agreed to, and leave given accord-
ingly.

subject dying abroad must make his will according to the
form of the country in which be is domiciled. There
wa no part of the British law which gave so much an-
noyance and created so many doub!s as ve‘tions con-
nected with the law of domicile. This state of the
law was one not generally known to the British pub-
lic, and it rested upon a decision pronounced by the
judge of the Prerogative Court in 1827, in the case
of the disputed will of a Mr. Stanley, an Irish gen
tleman and British subject, who had died and made
his will in Portugal, according to the English form.
Other canes of similar hardship had recently occurred,
among others the case eta lady who hai made her will in.
Paris, and the judicial committee of the Privy Council
ultimately decided, on the principle of "lex loci regit ac-
turn, ' that the will was invalid. The declion bad spread
great alarm through the country and among British re-
sidents abroad, and he had received numerous communi-
cations on the subject; but none of them lied been able
to suggest any reason why the will of a British subject,
made and attested according to British law, should be
set aside because the to-tator happened to have resided
for any period, whether long or short, at the time of mak-
ing such will, in Paris, Rome, or any elm foreign coun-
try. He proposed by this bill to enact that all wills and
codicils made and duly attested by British subjects
abroad competent to make them should be held to be
valid in this country, no matter in what place the testa-
/or may have resided, or have Fern domiciled. The bill
contained a clause declaring that the act should not have
any retrospective effect upon bills already executed and
attested. The hon. member concluded by moving for
leave to bring in the bill.
Mr. MALINS seconded the motion for the introduc-
tion of the bill, considering the present state of the law
on the subject of wills made abroad by British subjects
was most unsatisfactory, and unjust in its operation.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said while on the part
of the Government he had no objection to the introduc-
tion of the bill, still that permission to introduce it must
be accorded with some qualification. The origin of the
law was to be found in the universally acknowledged
rule that, with respect to personality, a man always car.
ried with him wherever he went his personal property.
It was important, therefore, that the house should not,
by hastily passing any measure, make the state of the
law in this country different from that which prevailed
in other parts of Europe.
Mr. SLANEY inquired whether it was intended by
the bill to enact that the property of British subjects in
France should be disposed of under wills so male, because
if so he was afraid conficts between the jurisprudence of
France and England would inevitably arise.
Sir F. KELLY' replied that the courts of France
would give effect to the probate obtained in British courts.
Mr. B. HOPE argued that there was nothing which
could so plainly show the animus of domicile as the form
of the testator's will.
Mr. BOWYER supported the motion, and expressed
a hope that when in committee the bill would be
rendered more complete, by rendering it necessary that a
man should look to the laws and practices of the country
where the legal act was executed.
Leave was then given to bring in the bill.
INCLOSURE ACTS AMENDMENT.
Mr. G. CLIVE asked leave to bring in a bill to
amend and explain the Inclosure Acts.
Leave was given.
LUNACY IN SCOTLAND.
The LORD ADVOCATE on asking leave to bring
in a bill to alter and amend the laws rel itieg to lunatics
in Scotland, referred to the report of the commissioners
as proving the necessity of such a measure. That report
was most admirably adapted for the purpose for which it
had been intended, but it was neither intended nor
adapted to be made the ground of a charge against
officia!s, as had been done, without their having any
opportunity of defending themselves, the other night, by
the hon. member for St. Andrews. His proposal was
merely to carry out the measure which his predecessor,
Lord Rutherford, had endeavoured to r Ivry. He pro
posed there should be appointed for Scotland a commis-
sioner, an inspector, a clerk, and a medical officer, who
should be the lunacy commission for Scotland. He pro-
posed to give the counties in Scotland an appeal from
that commission to the lunacy commission in England.
The commissioner would have the charge of granting,
renewing, and withdrawing licenses. He would gener-
ally have a superintendence of the district asylum*, and
he would be required to visit them twice a year. The
general expenses of the act would be thus divided—the
offices and management expenses would be defrayed by
Parliament, and the ether expenses would be borne by
the counties, and an assessment would be made on
them for the erection of the asylums. There wool!
be diatict boards for the purpose of making
the assessments. They anticipated that the asylums
would be nearly self-supporting, arising out of the fees
for license., and from the contributieai of the parishes.
There were miscellaneous provisions in the ball, such as
the punishment for maltreating lunatics. There was no
doubt that Scotland was behind this country with re-
gard to this subject, but ho trusted that the measure he
proposed would be productive of great improvement.
Mr. BAILLIE contended that the northern counties
of Scotland had never joined in opposition to the reform
of the law, but had always shown themselves anxiouafor
an improvement.
Mr. ELLICE reiterated his charges against the board
of supervision and the sheriffs of counties for their neg-
lect of pauper lunatics, and cited several cases from the
report of the Commissioners, where the Poor-law in-
spectors bad grossly neglected their duty. One parish
he cited where the lunatics were in a neglected state,
though the parish had been inspected by Sir J. M'Neill
himself. With respect to the bill, he thought it would
be better to put Scotland under the English Lunacy
Commissioners rather than to create a new Lunacy
Board for Scotland. He hoped the private asylums
would be everywhere put down.
Mr. DRUMMOND also thought that the Lord Ad-
vocate had byno means succeeded in absolving the board
of supervision arid the sheriffs from all blame in the
matter. The fact was that the Scotch officials attended
not to the care or comfort of the lunatics, but to the pro-
perty of the ratepayers.
Mr. COWAN supported the bill, and hoped the Lord
Advocate would not attempt to meddle with those public
asylums that were already in existence in Scotland.
Col. CLIFFORDI as an English Lunacy Commissioner,
promised the Government all the assistance that corn.
rniasion could give in carrying out their plans for Sco'
land,

of the proposed plan, by stating that it would make the
hospital a ho' bed of erysipelas.] When toe return was
laid on the table, he hoped the hou-i.e weel !see who was
the officer reeponsible for the great expense and the
highly inju licious arrangement proposed for the new
hospital, and which were altogether inconsi-tent with
those prudent and sanitary considerations that recent fee.
perience ought to have taught her Majesty's Government.
Mr. S. HERBERT hoped to have heard some x,le-
nation from the Government on that matter. He was
not one of those who felt surprised at a Government
estimate proving insufficient for its objects, because the
same thing happened constantly in commercial under-
takings. The Crystal Palace and many of our great pri-
vate undertakings might be cited in support 'of that
statement. Gieat deliberations often ended in failure as
well as success, and the present instance was one where
multiplicity of counsels had not inspired confi fence.
The difference between the hospitals at.Chathana and
Portsmouth was, that the latter had a long c irridor,
but the favourite scheme for a hospital now was,
that there should be seperate blocks for build-
ings. At Netley there was one great defect. It was ne-
cessary for hospitals to have not only air, but light and
sun. The corridor at Netley, however, looked to the
si:uth east, arid the hospital windows, which were really
the most important, received air from the north-east.
An improvement, ho eever, had been made subsequently
which partially remedied that evil. There was further a
question as to the site, the air of Southampton water
being stated to be of a relaxing character, but to patients
arrriving from the East he did not know that the relax
iog nature of the climate was any great objection. The
great of in his mind was the building of so large
an hospital at a long distance from the place whence the
invalids would be likely to be brought. It was inexpe-
dient both with regard to the invalids having to be
shaking about in long journeys to the hospital, and the
limited practice afforded to the students, who would see
nothing but as ,s (If chronic disease.
Lord PALMERSTON said he had never head any
comelaint about the healthy character of the site of the
hospital, but with regard to the character of the building
many different opiniana no doubt prevailed relative to
the construction of hospital.. The system of I I )ck
buildings necessarily created narrow courts between the
buildings, and as for baring large wards with a great
number of beds in each, that system bad been almost
universally condemned. The subject had received the
greatest attention from the Government, and they would
do their utmost to see that the hospital should be an in-
stitution for curing, and not propagating disease.
Mr. TITE said that all the systems of artificial venti-
lation, as witnessed by Guy's Hospital, and by the
House of Commons itself, had been brought round to the
Ample and natural plan of opening a window when air
was wanted. In the great hospital at Milan this plan
alone was pursued, and there were in that building 3.009
beds, and no better managed hospital existed. With
regard to the site of Netley hospital he was quite con-
tent to repose upon the well-known acuteness of the
monks for selecting salubrious spots for their favourite
retreats. (A laugh.)
After a few words from Sir D. NORREYS in reply,
Sir F. SMITH recapitulated the amounts of the vari-
ous tenders, showing a difference of about 90,0001. be,
'weep the highest tender and the tender accepted.
The return was then ordered to be made.

ECCLESIASTICAL ESTATES.
Sir G. GREY brought in a bill to further amrnd the
act relating to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, and
continue the act concerning the management of episco-
pal and canitular estates in England.
Mr. NEATE said he intended to oppose to the ut-
most that or any other measure having for its object to
interfere with the administration of the property of the
Church. lie should take no further steps at that stage
of the bill, but gave notica that he should oppose the
bill at a future period.
Leave was then given, and the bill was read a first
time.

REFORMATORY SCHOOLS.
Sir G. GREY brought in a bill to establish and pro-
mote the formation of reformatory schools in England.
Those institutions had been highly approved b, the ma-
gistratas and other itfluential authorities in various parts
of the country, and he was anxious to show that the Go-
vernment so far from Opposing would encourage the for-
mation of similar schools.
Mr. ALCOCK hoped the house would not hastily
commit themselves to the principle of that bill.
Mr. GARNETT hoped there wcull not be any provi-
sion for the maintenance of those establishments out of
the rates.
Sir G. GREY said he did not propose to charge any-
thing to the rates after the first formation of the schools.
Leave was then given to bring in the bill.
THE MARRIAGE LAW.
Upon the motion of Mr. GARNETT, a return was
ordered of the number of marriages that had taken
place under the 6tla and 7th Wm. IV., c. 85, s, 21.
INSPECTORS OF TAXES.
Mr. BLACK moved a resolution for equalising the
salaries of inspectors of taxes in England, Ireland, and
Scotland, which in England were 5051., Ireland 5001 ,
and Scotland only 3431. Similar discrepancies existed
with regard to the surveyors of taxes.
The SPEAKER intimated that the motion was not in '
a form in which he could lay it before the house, and it
was accordingly withdrawn.

IRISH MILITIA ACT.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL for IRELAND
brought in a bill to amend the Irish Militia Act.
COUNTY CESS IRELAND.
On the motion that this bill be read a second time,
Lord NAAS considered some explanation due for the
erraordinary course proposed in authorising the cess to
be levied upon the authority of a single magistrate.
Mr. FITZGERALD said it was owing to the form
of the existing Police Preservation Act, as applied to the
recent disturbances in the county of Donegal.
COURTS OF EXCHEQUER (IRELAND) BILL.
After a few words from Mr. WHITESIDE and Mr.
BLAND, the bill was read a second time.
JOINT-STOCK COMPANIES ACT AMEND-
MENT BILL.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the third
reading of this bill.
Mr. BLAND said the bill involved the question of
limited liability, and he moved that the order for the
third reading be discharged with a view to the bill being
recommitted for amendments.
Mr. WHITESIDE, after complaining of the conduct
of the Government last night, said that the bill was a
piece of patchwork legislation, that had been attempted
several times already by the shareholders in the Tippe-
rary Bank, in order to get rid of certain inconvenient
persons called creditors. He did not believe the Attorney-
General knew what he was doing in introducing that
measure ; but if he did, and justified and carried it, he
(Mr. Whiteside) felt confident that it would be rectified
in another house, where justice was in a general way
administered with something like fairness. He should
vote against the third reading, beeause he believed it
would form a precedent that at some future period the
House of Commons would be heartily ashamed of.
Mr. MALINS disclaimed the imputation that any bill
but one had been attempted to be introduced, and but
for the opposition of the hon. and learned member for
Enniskillen, the bill would have passed. The result had
been that the creditors of the Royal British Bank had
lost the payment of very large sums which they would
have received from various shareholders who wished to
compromise but could not obtain guarantees against
future proceedings. The hon. gentleman then cited I
several instances furnished by the solicitor to the official
manager of the bank, in support of his statement. In
one case, a general in the army, who was liable fcr
5,000/., had offered 20,0001. to be set free ; but being
unable to ohta'n the required indemnity, he had been
compelled to fly the country. The same thing bad
occurred in many other equally hard cases.
After a few words from Mr. BAGWELL against, and
Mr. WILD in favour of the bill,
Mr. SPOONER asked whether the present bill would
affect the appeal then standing before the House of
Lor.ls 1

The ATTORNEY•GENERAL said tbat if the pre-
sent appeal succeeded, the shareholders would be liable
to the last shilling of their fortunes. It was an appeal
against the decision of the Lord Chancellor upon the old
Iri6h act of Parliament, and would not be affected by
that biil except in a particular case not at all likely to
arise.

The bill was then read a third time and passed.
The house then adjourned at five minutes past one,

PRIVATE AND JOINT-STOCK BANKS.

The Bankers' Magazine furnishes the returns of circu
lation of the private and joint-stock banks in England
and Wales for the four weeks ending the 9th of May,
1857, and gives the following as the average weekly cir•
culation of those banks during the past month, viz. :
Private banks
R 3,831,402
Joint-stock banks
3,172,715

Average weekly circu1ati0n........... £7,001,117
On comparing the above with the returns for the pre-
ceding month, ending the 11th of Apr,' lass, it shows—
An increase_in the circulation of the private
banks of ..
£71,594
An increase in the circulation of the joint-stock
banks of

18,262

Increase on the month £89,856
And, as compared with the return for the correspond-
ing period of the preceding year—viz., liay 10, 1856, it
shows—

A. decrease in the circulation of the private
banks of
An increase in the circulation of the joint-stock
banks of

290,500

21,852

Decreaso on the year
On comparing the above with the amounts of the fixed
issues the following appears to be the comparative state
of the circulation :
The private banks are below their fixed issues £681,690
The Joint-stock banks are below their fixed
issues

130,642

Total below the fixed issue

R 812,332

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