The Sun.
London, England, 1850-07-10 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JULY lO, 1850.

the rejection of the equitable and judicious propo
sition last night brought forward by the Honourable
Gentleman the Member for East Surrey, in a speech
of excellent sense and great moderation. The applica-
tion was made on behalf of a numerous and
influential class who, through some strange omission,
were deprived of the privileges to which other person,
similarly circumstanced were entitled. The only
distinction was one of venue. The favoured parties
resided in what are termed " boroughs," which had
the privilege of returning Members to Parliament,
and where, in consequence of the smallness of the
constituencies, each vote was of considerable im-
portance. The others resided in rural districts
or, perhaps, in towns, which constituted parts of
different counties. Not only was the franchise
less valuable in such cases from the number of
electors, but the qualification was placed on a very
different foundation. In the one town every occu-
pant of a house of the value of 101. sterling per
annum was entitled to a voice in the election of E
Member to represent his wants and wishes in the po-
pular branch of the Legislature, and to assent tc
the taxation that might be required for the
liquidation of the national liabilities and
the maintenance of the national establishments
In the other, a person so circumstanced would not
only be excluded from the list of the voters, but even
if he occupied for his exclusive use a house cf
the annual value of 49/. per annum, and paid one-
third as much more for the general and local taxation
thereof, and also contributed largely to the
income-tax and other imposts, and was it,
every respect a man of education and re-
finement, not only well qualified to vote for but to
sit as a Member of the Imperial Parliament, he would
be totally excluded from what ought to be the birth-
right of every freeman who contributed in any de-
gree, however trifling, to the national Exchequer.
It was to remedy this strange anomaly that Mr.
LocKE KING, last night, asked leave to bring in a
Bill to assimilate the franchise in counties in England
and Wales to that in boroughs, by giving the right
of voting to all occupiers of tenements of the
annual value of 101. The Hon. Gentleman pointed
out the absurdity of allowing persons to be taxed, and
that heavily, without being represented. He showed
that "many men who had good houses in the coun-
try, worth something less than 501. per annum, who
kept taxed servants, taxed horses and carriages, and
who contributed largely to the expenses of the state in
the shape of income-tax and other assessed taxes, were
not allowed the privilege of a vote, while a man, who
held freehold property of the annual value of 40s. a
year, in forty different counties would possess as
many different votes," and pertinently inquired,
" why should a 101. householder in Andover be en-
titled to vote for two Members for that borough,
while a 401. householder at Basingstoke should not
be entitled to a vote at all," and " why a 101. house-
holder at Reigate should halve 1-198th share in send-
ing a Member to Parliament, while a person living
in a larger and better house at Croydon,
but paying something short of 50/. a year, was not
allowed to have 1-6000th share in returning Members
for the eastern division of Surrey?" There are
many similar cases that might easily be enumerated,
but it is unnecessary to do so. There is, perhaps, not
a single person in the entire country who could not
cite several cases of extraordinary hardship within bis
own knowledge, where the parties excluded are em
nently qualified to exercise soberly and discreetly
the inestimable privilege of which they are deprived.
The really working members of what are termed
the learned professions—the curate, who toils in his
vocation, carrying comfort and hope to many a
humble cottage, is not entitled to vote, because,
although a graduate of one of the universities, he
cannot afford to devote 501. per annum for
house rent out of the 1001. which he re

cei ves as a fitting remuneration for the
laborious duties of his profession ; the legal
or medical practitioner ; the bustling or retired
tradesman, the half-pay officer, who has devoted the
best years of his life to the service of his country, and
braved the dangers alike of armed foes and un-
healthy climates, are placed in the same category;
but no relief is to be afforded to those aggrieved par-
ties, and all because Lord Jour; RUSSELL chooses to
entertain a superstitious veneration for the Act
of 1832, or considers that Libersl Members
should yield an unreasoning and blind submission to
'he GJvernment. A more arrogant, a more petulant,
a speech in every respect more unjustifiable, could
not have been uttered than that in which the Noble
Lord resisted the Equitable proposition, end dared to
read a lecture to the Hon. Gentleman the Member
f,,r the Tower Hlmkts for the expression of a very
natural impatience at the snail-like pace at which
her MAJESTY'S Ministers were disposed to travel on
the path of reform.

The taunts as to bringing into power another party
may be responded to in a manncr by no means satis-
factory to the very Liberal Government that peremp-
torily rejects any extension of the franchise, however
trifling.

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

We have received the Paris journals of yesterday.
In the course of the debate on the law of the
press, M. ROUHER, the Minister of Justice, designated
the revolution of February a funeste catastrophe,
whereupon M. ENTICE DE GIRARDIN called upon I.l'.
Doris, the President, to call the Minister to order,
a demand with which M. Durex rcfust-d to comply ;
whereupon he was asked how he would have acted
had any one in the days of Louis PHILIPPE spoken
of the revolution of July as a catastrophe ? The
President became enraged, the Assembly followed
his example, and the debate was adjourned amidst a
scene of indescribable confusion. In the evening a
meeting of the Members of the Mountain was held
at which M. EMILE DE GIRARDIN proposed that
they should resign en masse, a proposition which,
although seconded by M. MicHEL DE BOURGES, was
rejected. It was ultimately determined to draw up
a protest against the language used by the Minister,
and deposit it on the tribune.
M. ROUHER, who has been guilty of this escapade,
is a little provincial lawyer, and a mere tool in the
hands of the parti-pretre. The National accuses
him of cowardice and treason.
" Yes, cowardice (it says), because in pronouncing
condemnation on the revolution, which is the origin of
the present government, and in despising the principles
which then triumphed, M. Rouher knew that he did so
with impunity, and treason, became the act against the
Republic is commited by a Minister of the Republic."
Even the Debats blames M. ROUHER. It says :
We are not republicans—we are not obliged to share
the virtuous indignation of the Mountain—yet we admit
that the word (catastrophe) does seem rather strange in
,he mouth of a Minister of the Republic. It must be,
however, admitted that the word has a meaning of a
very just and profound character, when we see the truth
thus peering through an official fiction."
It is ascertained beyond a doubt, that the lad
WALKER, who charged himself with intending to
assassinate Louis NAPOLEON, is mad. He is to be
transferred to an asylum.
PARIS BOURSE, JULY 9.—Latest Prices.—Five
per Cents. 95f. 30c. ; Three per Cente. 57f. 30c. ;
Bank Actions, 2,250 f.

BUSINESS DONE IN_FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE

LONDON STOCK-EXCHANGE, JULY 9.
Boulogne and Amiens, B—Dutch Renish, 2—East Indian,
75A—Luxembourg, 25,i—Northern of France, 1414—Orleans
and Bourdeaux, 3—Paris and Rouen, 2314—Paris and Stras-
bourg, 6%—Rouen and Havre, 938—Tours and Nantes, 34

SECHENDORF, the Prussian Ambassador. Imme-
liatply on hearing of his arrival his MAJESTY visited
the PRINCE. In the evening there was a grand court
Boner to the PRINCE and the officers of his suite, to
which the principal aristocracy were invited. The
PRINCE afterwards went to the theatre, and set out
early this morning for Germany.—illoniteur.

LLO YD'S SHIPPING.-(THIS DAY.)
LONDON, JULY 10.—Wind at noon N.W., light
breeze and cloudy.
DEAL, JULY 9.—Wind W., moderate ; P.M., N.W. to
N.N.E., squally.— And. Madras, Hillnerry, Serra
Leone ; Ringslund, Burke, St. John's, Newfoundland.
LIVERPOOL, JULY 9.—Wind N.N.W. Arrd. Ehza
Stewart, Henderson, Calcutta ; Rosalie, Williams, En-
sinada; William Wirt, Sampson, New Orleans ; James
Brown, Childs, New Orleans ; John Ravenal, Wanalu-
set, Charleston ; New England, Preble, Mobile ; Em-
pire State, Russell, New York ; Living Age, Snow,
New York ; Clontarl, Welsh,- Quebec. Sid. Acapitla
E4gle, La Guayra; Queen of the West, New York;
Princeton, Now York; Manhattan, New York; Wash-
ington Irving, Boston. The China, New York to Cali-
fornia, was destroyed by fire at sea previous to the
28th of May; crew arrived at Bahia in their boats. 011
port, Cosmopolitan, Africa ; Ben Muick Dhui, Elizz
hillock, and Gunnet, steamer.
PENZANCE, JULY B.—The Ecurneur, Bordeaux to
Belfast, has put in here leaky, with deckload and part of
cargo thrown overboard, and other damage.
PETERHEAD, JULY B.—The Polar Star, of Hanover,
left the ice fourteen days ago, arrd. off here yesterday from
Greenland, and reports the following vessels:—Eclipse,
of Peterhead, 9 fish and 201) seals; North of Scotland, of
ditto, 10 fish and 75 seals; Travelh r, of ditto, 3 fidi and
150 st als; Commerce, of ditto, 2 fish and 6,000 seals;
Uliion, of dots, 2 and 170 seals; and the Flamingo, of
Aberdeen, with 3 fish.
FALMoUTH, JULY 9.—Wind N., moderate.—Arid.
Mortina, Walker, Bahia.
DOUGLAS, ISLE (F MIN, JULY 5.—A vessl's mast,
heel upward:), with two winches, crab and single, at-
tached, and a main boom, jaws upward, apparently be.
longizg to a vessel sunk iu the gale of the 3d inst., were
seen yesterday, between the Orms Head and Light-ship
in 10 feet water.

CURRENT OF THE OCEAN.—FALMOUTH, JULY 9.—A
sealed bottle was picked up in the inner harbour this
morning, containing a paper with the following:—
" Brig Camperdown, off the Coast of Gains, 111 o'clock
P.M., blowing a Navy gale of wind, leak in the vessel,
working at pumps, not expecting to me land again, watc•r
gaining fast.—Captain Thomas ; Ist Mate James ; 2d
Richards, Jan, 12, 1846."

EMPEHIAL PARLIAMENT.

(THIS DAY.)

HOUSE OF' COMMONS.
The SPEAKER took tLe Chair shortly after Twelve
o'clock.

CONSIDERATION OF LORDS' AMENDMENTS.
The Lords' amendments to the Tewkesbury Severn
Bridge and Roads Bill, which stood for consideration
to-day, were ordered to be t2ken into consideration to-
morrow.

SECOND READINGS.
The following Bills were read a second time, and
ordered to be committed:--
Bishop of London (Saint Michael's Church, Chester-
square) Estate.
Somerville's, or Mills' (Barford Rectory) Estate.
RIVER LEE TRUST BILL.
Mr. F. MACKENZIE moved pursuant to notice that
the evidence of Alfred Swaine Taylor, M. 1)., F.R.S.,
Professor of Chemistry at Guy's Hospital, J. T. Cooper,
Consulting Chemist at Guy's Hospital, William Thomas
Brande, Professor of Chemistry, and Dugald Campbell,
Practical Chemist, given before the Committee on the
River Lee Trust Bill bo printed.
After a short discussion the motion was agreed to, the
understanding being that the printing was to be at the
expense of the parties and not the public.
Several petitions were presented for and against the
recent regulations in the Post-office.
Mr. COCKBURN presented ton petitions from places
in the Metropolis in favour of the Marriage Bill.
Mr. WAKLEY presented fourteen Petitions to the
same effect from various parts of the metropolis.
Mr. B. DENISON presented several similar petitions
from places in Yorkshire.
RAILWAYS.
Mr.oo WAN moved, pursuant to notice, for returns of
the names of the several railway companies against
which any charges have been brought by the Commis-
sioners of inland revenue for arrears of passenger duty,
on the ground of alleged non-compliance with the 7 and
8 Vic. c. 85, sec 6; copies of correspondence, since the
Ist day of July, 1848, between the Lords of the Treasury,
commissionary of inland revenue, or other revenue
board, and railway commissioners, on the one hand, and
any railway companies on the other, relative to alleged
non-compliance with the Act 7 and 8 Vic. c. 85, s. 6, on
the part of the said railway companies ; of la tters
written, since the passing of the above-mentioned Act,
by the railway commissioners, to any railway com
ponies or board of inland revenue, or other revenue
board, approving of the times of starting the trains of
such railway companies, without in the first placo being
applied to by the said railway ccmpanies for such ap-
proval ; of, any letter written by the railway commis-
sioners or board of inland revenue, or other revenue
board, to any railway- companies, intimating any
change of system on their part, to guide such railway
companies as to the course to be in future adopted by
them for obtaining the approval of the railway com-
missioners of the times of starting their trains, or con-
taining any caution or warning in consequence thereof :
and, of any receipts granted by the revenue to railway
companies, for their monthly payments of passenger
duty, during the period for which arrears of duty are
now charged, stating that such arrears were still due.---
Agreed to.

MONUMENT TO THE LATE SIR ROBERT

PEEL.

Lord J. RUSSELL said—Sir, I. beg have to give
notice that on Friday next, before the other
orders of the day, I shall move that the House
do resolve itself into a Committee of the
whole House with the view of considering the following
resolution, namely, " That an humble address be pre-
sentel to her Mpjesty, praying her Majesty to be gra-
ciously pleased to give directions for the erection uf a
monument in the collegiate church of St. Peter's, West-
minster, to the memory of the late Sir Robert Peel,
with an inscription expressive of the public sense of
the great and irreparable loss which the nation had sus.
tained in the death of that late Right Honourable Gen-
tleman, and to assure her Majesty that this House will
make good the expenses at ending the same.”—(Cheers.)
With the permission of the House, I will now move that
the House on Friday next do resolve itself into a Com-
mittee of the whole House, for the purpose of consider-
ing that resolution.

The motion was put and carried nrrnine contradicente.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.
Lord J. RUSSELL then stated that after the fore-
going resolution had been disposed of on Friday, he
proposed to go on with the Committee of Supply, while
on Monday next he proposed to resume the Committee
on the Ecclesiastical Commissions Bill.
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

On the motion. for going into Committee on this Bli
Sir G. PECUELL did not dispute the propriety o.
giving additional posers to the inspectors of weights
and measures, but he complained that while that was
the object of the present Bill, several most useful
Acts of Parliament would be abolished by which most of
the large towns in the kingdom were governed. He
hoped the Government would arrest the progress of
the Bill, because he believed it was a piece of legislation
which was wholly uncalled' for. So many important
considerations were involved in the measure that even if
the principle a ere approved of by the House, it
would not be advisable to press it until the subject had
been referred to a Committee of Inquiry. He concluded
by moving that the Houze should go into Committee
on the Bill this day three months.
Sir JOHN DUCKWOR TH said his object had been
to make the Bill as perfect as possible, and for that
purpose be had taken the advice and received the
assistance of those who were most conversant with
the working of the present law. The working classes
were the parties aho would be benefited most by the
measure, because they were more liable t) the frauds
practised upon the public by the use of chficient weights
and measures. He trusted that the House would not
accede to the amendment of the Hon. and Gallant
Member.