The Sun.
London, England, 1861-05-04 00:00:00

ROMAN CATHOLIC PAUPERS.

Lord RAVENSWORTH presented a petition from Sea-
ham complaining of the grievances of Roman Ca*olio
children in workhouses.

THE IRISH MARRIAGE LAWS.
Lord LIFFORD presented a petition from Donegal,
praying for the uniform registration of marriages in Ire-
land.

THE BANKRUPTCY BILL.
The Duke of RUTLAND presented a petition in favour
of the Bankruptcy Bill. The prayer of the petition was,
that their lordships would be pleased to pass the bill with-
out referring it to a select committee.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said that while he entirely
concurred in the praer of the petition just presented, he
did nut think it was in accordance with the rules of their
lordships' house that any petition could be received, as it
was irregular to specify the particular way in which the
petitioners wished bills to be passed.
Lord CHELMSFORD agreed with the observations of
the noble and learned lord on the woolsack.
The Duke of RUTLAND said if he hsd infringed the
rules of the house ho very much regretted it. He would
immediately withdraw the petition.
The Duke of RICHMOND said he had also presented a
petition with a similar prayer, but after what had passed
he wished to withdraw it.

Lord OVERSTONE presented a number of petitions in
favour of the bill, amongst which was one from the
bankers, merchants, and others in the City of London, and
another from Manchester, which differed from the others,
inasmuch as it prayed that the official assignee might be
retained. There was a very strong feeling throughout the
country in opposition to the existing law.
The LORD CHANCELLOR presented a petition from
the Bristol Chamber of Commerce in favour of the bill.
Lord CHELMSFORD presented petitions from a num-
ber of mercantile and commercial bodies praying for certain
modifications in the bill.

MESSAGE FROM THE CROWN-MARRIAGE OF
THE PRINCESS ALICE.

Earl GRANVILLE brought up a message from the
Crown.

The LORD CHANCELLOR read the Royal Message
to their lordships. Her Majesty communicated to
them her intention to sanction a marriage between
her Royal Highness the Princess Alice and the Prince
Louis cf Hesse. The numerous proofs that her Majesty
had received of the loyalty of that house to her person and
family left her no room to doubt the willingness of their
lordships to make an adequate provision for her daughter,
such as might be suitable to the dignity of the Crown.
Earl GRANVILLE said this was not the time to go
into debate on the subject of her Majesty's message. It
was, however, his duty to ask that an address should
be presented to her Majesty on the happy event. They
would have great pleasure in doing so at the present mo-
ment, as he: Majesty had so lately suffered a domestic af-
fliction.

The Earl of DERBY was convinced, from the deep inte-
rest which their lordships felt in everything that concerned
the happiness of her Majesty and the Royal family, that
their lordships would agree to the address now proposed
with the same unanimous assent, and a much greater degree
of sate faction than they recently gate to an address of a
much more melancholy character which was recently sent
up from their lordships' house. The intended marriage
just announced might not be one of so brilliant a character
as that contracted by the eldest sister of the Royal Princess,
but it was founded on the best security for happiness—an in-
timate personal acquaintance between the parties and a mu-
tual affection and esteem. He sincerely trusted that this
alliance would be productive, both to the illustrious Prin-
cess and her consort, of the same happiness which had been
for so many years enjoyed by her Majesty, and which he
believed was also enjoyed by her eldest daughter. He was
quite satisfied that their lordships would cheerfully concur
in making such provision for the Princess and her consort
as the other house might think fit ; and ho had no doubt that
the other house would act with due and proper liberality
on the occasion. He had only to express a hope that the
provision made by the other house would not in the slightest
degree disarrange the Budget of the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer or add to the financial difficulties of the country.
(A. laugh.) ,Their lordships would, he was certain, cor-
dially concur in any proposal that might come from the
House of Commons, and he begged heartily to second the
motion.

The motion for the address was agreed to.
TRE BANKRUPTCY BILL.
The LORD CHANCELLOR moved that the house go
into committee on this bill.

The Earl of DERBY—My lords, I w•as in hopes atter the
intimation I had received—

The LORD CHANCELLOR—I quite understood that
the bill was to be referred to a select committee, and I made
the motion merely as a matter of form, in order to enable
the noble earl to move the amendment of which he had
given notice.

The Earl of DERBY—My lords, I was in hopes that
after some intimations that we had received, the noble and
learned lord would himself have moved to send this bill to
a select committee ; and that your lordships would thus
have been spared the necessity of hearing a single word
from me in support of my amendment. As it is, the an-
nouncement which the noble lord has made will render it
quite needless for me to trespass on your patience for more
than a single moment. In the first place, I have to express
my entire satisfaction that the noble and learned lord has
taken notice of the language of some petitions which have
been presented to your lordships' house. A petition has
been presented by a noble baron opposite, andseveral others
I couched in almost similar terms have come from persons of
the greatest eminence with regard to the bankruptcy law,
and are, therefore, entitled to some consideration. I have
no doubt that the general expression of opinion by numerous
bodies would materially facilitate the passing of a bill which
in its main features is generally approved of by the mercan-
tile public at large. But the point to which we are most
indebted to the noble and learned lord for calling attention
is that which refers to the propriety of these petitioners
suggesting that the bill should not be referred to a select
committee. Now, my lords, I venture to think that, how-
ever admirable judges the mercantle firms who have peti-
tioned the house may be with regard to the alteration that
ought to be made in the law of bankruptcy, your lordships
do not require any suggestion from any mercantile body
with regard to the course which your deliberations should
take. The petition presented by my noble friend opposite
was sent to me this morning, accompanied by a letter, in
which I am informed by the secretary of the Mercantile Law
Amendment Society that they regret to learn that her Ma-
jesty's Government, unable to resist my powerful influence
—daughter)—had consented to refer the bill to a select
committee. My lords, I must in the first place disclaim for
myself the honour of being supposed to possess a personal
influence capable of overbearing the determination of her
Majesty's Government ; and I hope Imay also, on the part
(of her Majesty's Government, repudiate an insinuation so
injurious and offensive to them as that they, from a fear of
political defeat on a question which really after all involveds
no considerations of party, should havegiven way, end
taken a course which is opposed to their own views
judgment. Far be it from me to suppose the pno:raw J
bi ers of
to give
there being differences of opinion between tile his,
as on all
the Government ; for wo all know that
other questions, they are unitedic
with
ntthotttethese:rviely(l.
intimation
mmaetcriSocetanlohnnitaatihrpull
emlaLosntuathLer'
de.
(Loud laughter.) From what quartheer
reluctanly
Governmente
GovernmentAnaendment hSaovcoiebtyeenhaosomrepceeiiivededvte:y
way to my influencel
that In adopting this
have acted upon their conviction
ton of what is the best mode
of dealing for the public
contains
details of this bill, which 24G clauses. The peti-
tionersainintesruer'sl
IhnlerakMeajtisoty.s'tsatements. One
to whoth
is that a re measure to a select committee would
mnch delay that it would beimpossible
to pass the bill in the course of the present session. This
[ anticipation shows great ignorance of the proceedings o
your lordships in select committees, and holds out very me-
lancholy prospects to such of your lordships as may be
placed upon the committee now proposed to be appointed
necessarily
(A laugh.) On the other hand, they expr)ss an apprehen
sion that if referred to a select committee the bill will re-
ceive such important alterations that it will not be adopted
by her Majesty's Government or be acceptable to the pro-
fession at large. My lords, it is not very complimentary to
the distinguished lawyer who is the author of the bill to
suppose that the examination of the bill by 19 or 20 of your
lordships who are most competent to consider its details
would at once lead to a total and entire change in its pro-
♦isions. My sole object in moving for a select committee
is because I feel that a bill of such extent and oomplexity
will be far more satisfactotily, effectually, and speedily dealt
with by a committee composed of 18 or 20 members of your
lordships' house, who would give their undivided attention
to it, than by a committee of the whole house. The noble
and learned lord said the other evening that he should not
object to the reference to a select committee, if it was only a
mere question of detail; but that ho should object to it it
the committee proposed to touch the great principles of MO
bill. It is difficult to state exactly what if a principleor IT.
cause e lie' I so o have
t h coursealt eet
what is a detail ; but there are undoubtedly four
.fie_.
leading points which will require grave and impartialea a
.ad the indefinite
which is given to the county courts., •.n . .
beration. There is in the first place the very 6.. t POWsr
Wu there ii tin relikttir.
, multiplicatiou of their funcli,'" /