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

CHARITABLE USES BILL.

Lord CRANWORTH 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
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 =Amain 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
(Ails which were so generally complained of. In
;order to show that there should be some check upon
;he definition of charities, the noble lord quoted several
;curious cases, amongst which was a case of a person who,
by his will, left £3OO per annum to a person unsuccess-
iful in literature, on the condition that he should read
rand 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 WII4 ultimately decided that the be-
quest was a public charity. Another cause was where a
,um of money was left to 15 maidens between the
,ages of 15 and 25, the prettiest in the parish,
iand those who went most regularly to church
,—(laughter)—and 15 spinsters with the like qualification.
!The great difficulty was how to make the selection, 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
shines the fifteen pretty maidens and spinsters would
lbe paid the sums bequeathed to them by the testator.
Lord ABINGER opposed the bill
Lord WENSLEYDALE approved the principle of the
bill, but thought the clauses required some amendment,
which, however, could be done in committee.
Lord CHELMSFORD also supported the principle of
he bill. The prospective and retrospective clauses, how-
,!ver, required serious consideration, which he hoped would
be effected when each was discussed in detail.
After a few words in reply from the LORD CHAN-
. CELLO it, the amendment was negatived, and the bill read
.1 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 Buceleuch, Lord HastingF,
I the Earl of Donoughmore, Lord Colebrooke, Lord :Redes-
lab), 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 tho chair at four o'clock.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The following bills were read a third tune and passed :
—Bristol and South Wales Union Railway ; Dublin
(City) Steam Packet Company; Dublin, Wicklow, and
Wexford Railway; Edenfield Chapel to Little Bolton
Road.
The Manchester and Milford Railway (Aberystwith)
Bill was read a second time.
SMITHFIELD MARKET, &c.
- -

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

PETITIONS.

Several petitions were presented against the Parochial
Assessments Act, the Abolition of Church-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-
;regation. of Independents at Hoddesdon, in favour of
legalising marriage with a deceased wife's sister.
RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION IN SPAIN.
Sir R. PE 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.
s 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.
TILE WARRIOR.

On the motion of Sir J. SMITH a copy of every corres-
pondence that may have passed between the Admiralty and
the contractors who built the Warrior in reference to the
non-fulfilment of their contract within a stipulated time,
was ordered.

NEW WRIT.
On the motion of Mr. BRAND, a writ was ordered for
the county of Sutherland, vacant by the elevation of the
Marquis of Stafford to the Upper House, in consequence
of the demise of his father the late Duke of Sutherland.:
ITALIAN CORRESPONDENCE.
Mr. HENNESSY gave notice, that on going into corn_
mittee of supply, he would draw the attention of the
house to the correspondence which had been laid on the
table in reference to Italy.
REMUNERAT lONITNESSE SOF PROSECUTORS AND
'W.

In reply to Col. SMYTH?
Sir U. C. LEWIS said he had considered this subjeeto
lnd did not think it advisable to recommend any general
increase in the remuneration of prosecutors' witnesses'ea, but
he would bring in a bill to enable any countY which dui
not think the present remuneration adequate o increase it
out of the local rates.
WAR EXPENSES IN CHINA.

In reply to Sir S. NonrnceTry
Mr. F. PEEL repeated the substance of his reply the
other evening to the effect that by ,this vote the expenses,
ordinary and extraordinary, had been provided for at horse
and abroad, but he could not enter
into further details at
present.
Sir S. NORTIICOTE gave notice that on going into
committee of supply he would draw attention to the subject.