The Sun.
London, England, 1857-08-19 00:00:00

TnrE 6 iJN, LO rE.O WEDNESDAY EV E iN G AUGUS r 19, 7,

_permitted to_perform the marriage ceremony on either
of the divorced parties wuthilig again t 3 contract
marriage.
Loid LOVAINE would vote for the amendment if it
Wa4 pressed to a division, though he thowht it would
inflict great hardship on the innocent divorced persons.
Mr. BRISCOE hoped there would be no division on
the clause, because it was undesirable either party should
claim a triumph on this important point. He considered
the conscientious scruples of the clergy should be re-
spected, and he would rather that the suggestion of
the Attorney General should be adopted.
Mr. SPOONER asked the right hon. baronet (Sir
W. Heathcote) to withdraw the amendment, because it
would inflict injury on the innocent parties. If it had
been confined to the guilty he should have voted in its
favour.

Mr.MALINS also hoped the amendment' would be
withdrawn that the sense of the committee might be
taken on the question as suggested by the learned Attor-
ney-General.
Sir W. HEATEICOTE regretted that the discourage-
ment he thought shoal,' be given to the marriage pf
divorced parties was not entertained by the committee,
and as it appeared to be their wish to raise the question
relative to the clergy in another shape he would with-
draw'bis amendment.

The amendment was then withrawn.
Major WARBIJRTON moved at the end of clause
53 :—Provided always, and be,it enacted, that no priest
or deacon shall be liable to any suit, penalty, or cen-
sure for refusing or consenting to solemnise the marriage
of any person who shall be divorced by virtue of this
act. He considered his amendment was necessary, be-
cause by the bill the clergy would be called on to act
in opposition to their ordination vows. Without the
amendment he proposed the clergy would have to vio-
late their consciences or abandon their position.
Mr. WIGRAM supported the amendment as an act
of justice to the clergy. The marriage ceremony
was framed on the opinioq of the church, that marriage
was indissoluble; but the. house having decided to the
contrary, they were bound either to modify the marriage
ceremony so as to remove, the lawful impediment that
would exist under that service, or else give them an
option to celebrate it or not. He thought there was not
time to do the former this session, and as it was mad-
visable to force the clergy in.hostility to the law, es had
been the case in Prussia, on this point, it was better to
give them an optional course of proceeding. He never
recollected a memorial presented to Parliament so nu-
merously signed by .the. members of one profession as
that by the clergy on this point, which he looked upon
-as importing that 'the whole of the clergy were unani-
mous on it. He thought a few cases of marriage
of divorced persons that had been solemnized was no reason
for their withholding the relief asked for by the whole
body of the clergy.
Lord EBRINGTON supported the amendment.
General THOMPSON wished to know what clergy-
man was likely to be made a martyr under this bill. A
divorced person would not be likely to seek out a clergy-
man who would hot marry him, with a view of directing
attention to the misfortune under which be laboured,
but rather resort to a clergyman—and they were always
to be found—who would marry divorced persons.
Mr. C. FOSTER expressed a hope that the Govern-
ment would accede to the-amendment.

Mr. AYItTON ccnsidered that the amendment would
have the effect Of strengthening the power of clergymen
who were Romaniste in heart, and would enable them to
carry out their views of marriage being a sacrament and
indissoluble. He adMittei that the conscientious scru-
ples of the clergy should be resp?cted, but the same
liberty of conscience that they claimed for themselves
they should grant to others.' (Hear.) Whilst therefore
they" refused to perform the service they should
not have the power of shutting up the parish church
which was the property of the State, and prevent the
parishioners crone being married there by a clergyman
who war willing to perform the marriage ceremony.
Mr. WALPOLE supported the amendment on what
he considered nuanswerable ground, viz , that Parlia-
ment bad no right to impose on any person or class of
persons in this &pantry the painful dilemma of obeying
or clisobeyine two laws set before them—(hear, bear)
that of the statute of Charles II , that required ih r per-
formance of the marriage cerernorly in a particular man-
vier and the in lissolubility of marriage, and this bill
which made marriage dissoluble and allowed the divorced
parties to marry. For the sake of peace in the Church
he asked the Government to accept the amendment.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said he was moat
happy to et ete that he had been auth-arised by the notls
lord at the bead of the G)vernment to accept the amend-
ment with'a qua!ificatioa that be thought would meet
with the approbation of the-committee ; but before stat-
ing it he must call the attention of the committee to the
considerations that had weighed greatly with the Go-
vernment before fiiitlry bringing before them this propo-
-s,ition. He asked the committee first to consider if they
were or were not about to introduce a qualification that
might prove a snare to those for whose relief it was pro-
posed to be given. If it were found right to give this
relief here, where were they to stop ? It would pervade
the whole services of the church, especially those of
baptism, burial, and the holy sacrament, and lead to
disunion, and those evils iu the Church which it was
desirable to prevent, and which ha prayed they might
never see. (Hear, hear.) Ho presumed that the- hon.
and learned member had welt considered the eff:ct of
the proposed cbargP, and therefore the Govertinient
were prepared to accede to the amendment in these
words :—" Provided always and be it enacted that no
priest or deacon shall be liable to any suit, penalty, or
censure for refusing to solemnise the marriage of any
person whose adultery or crime has been the ground of
the diaFolution of any marriage." (Hear.) That he
thought woa'd meet the case of a wife and her adulterer.
The Government also proposed to add to the clause
words a ;repelling a rector to give the .use of the parish'
church to a priest or deacen of the Church of England_
willing s ing to el-ennise a marriage of parishioners to which i
the said rector had objectiOns.
Mr HENLEY approved of the clergy amendment of
the hon. and learned A.ttorney-General, but he' asked for
more time to arable the committee to consider that
part with reference to the use of the parish church.
After some remarks from Sir W. HEATHCOTE,
Mr. WALPOLE said that be did not agree with the
hoc. and learned Attorney-General that the relief given
in this, cane wouli have hereafter to be granted in
reference to the othrr services of the church, because
in this case the clergy had no additional po ter or autho-
rity given to them, but would only act under the decree
pr authority of the new Divorce Court. •
After some further discussion, it being near four
o'clock, the Attorney:General gave notice of his amend•
meta for consideration at six o'clock this evening, and
the debate was adjeurneid.
The CLIAIIIMAN then reported Progress, and the house
resumed.

MILITIA BILL
_ On the motion that the amendment of this bill be con-
si and agreed t
Col. NORTH asked for an explanation from the
Givernmont, relative to the caps and helmet covers of
the men sent to India. He behaved we were losing
many men in India from the want of these covers.
Sir J. TRELA.WNY gave notice of his intention to
put a question to the Un ler-Secretary for War, relative
to the sergeants of the army.
The consideration of the amendment, for want of
time was postponed. The other orders were agreed to,
and the morning sitting was suspended at 4 o'click.
The house resumed at 6 o'clock.
GOOD CONDUCT PAY TO SERGEANTS.
Sir J. TREtAWNY inquired whether arrangements
bad been made for extending the good conduct pay to
sergeants in the army
Sir J. RAMSDEN replied that, in accr)rdance with
the promise he gave at an early period of the session, the
claim of soldiers to retain their good conduct pay, after
promotion to the rank of sergeant, had been mattudy
considered, and the noble lord the Secretary for War
was most anxious to meet the'views which had been ex-
pressed on the snbject ; but there was a difficulty in car-
rying them into effect, It had been found that if they
made the good conduct warrant applicable to sergeants it
must be accompanied by certain other conditions which
attached to that warrant, as to the forfeiture of pay in
cases of misconduct which it was considered ought not to
apply in the case of officers. The War-office had, how-
ever, under consideration a plan- for accomplishing the
object by means of a different machinery, which they
hoped to be able to adept.

CLOTHING OF TROOPS FOR INDIA.
Mr. A. STAFFORD, referring to the answer of Sir J.
Ramsden to a previous question on this subject, which
he believed bad been misunderstood, inquired whether
the War-office had made any arrangement for supplying
the troops who had embarked for India with cool cloth-
ing during the voyage as well os on their arrival, and
whether it was true, as had been reported, that the medi-
cal comforts and medicines for the use of those troops
were embarked not with them in the ships in which they
eailed, but were to go out in other vessels which did not
even sail in their company I
Sir J. RAMSDEN said that with regard to the
clothing for the use of the troops during the voyage, by
the regulations now in force the soldier before emark-
ing received an advance of three months' pay, out of
which certain articles, called sea necessaries, were pro-
vided by the commanding officer, the total cost of which
amounted to rather more than 2/. per man, and the ba-
lance was made over to the commanding officer, to be
expended by him inthe purchase of such articles as would
conduce to the soldier's comfort during the voyage. He
should add also that he had made inquiry at the India
Board, and ascertained that whenever a transport was
taken up by the East India Company the owner was re-
quired to enter into a contract to provide sufficient awn-
ings to sprea'd over the deck of the vessel in order to pro-
tect the men from the heat of the sun. With regard to
the medical comforts, be had the authority of the Direc-
tor-General of the Army Medical Department for saying
that in every case the medical comforts and medicines
had gone out in the same ships with the men.
COMPENSATION FOR LOSSES CONSEQUENT
UPON THE INDIAN REVOLT.
Bar. DISRA.ELI—As we are not to have an Indian
financial
tsimtc.ate,ment this session I must trouble the right
with a
hoc.
gn-t
British su
question
n the President of the Board of Control
to know h Whein
ther it is intended to suhrnit any proposi-
tion for granting nomprehnesation for these loss,.s?
Mr. V. SIIITI3--
events
compensating
eetle?u,urt of Directors have under
their consideration a
ferers by the unfortunate uat have redoccu in
India for tE e pecuniary losoes trlanse,y,:h-hbaevtei suqtained. It
has not yet been submitted to
say that when it does coma before the Gted scarcely
will receive the fullest consideration. mearsrnment it
INCREASE OF THE Attley.
Colonel NORTH bad heard it reported that the ofa.
cers who had been named-to fill up the second battalio4,
of the line regiments were to be pin ...led on the recruiting
service on half-pay, and were to. receive nothing in addi-
tion but their 4odgiog.money. 110 wis4o !wow -

whether that statement was correct ; but as he had r rect in saying that the names of all the commissioners l
not given notice of the question he would repeat it to- were not appended to the report. A communication •
morrow . had been made to the Secretary for War by one of the
Sir J. RAMSDEN would answer the question to- commissioners, the right hon. gentleman the member for
morrow.
-
- Coventry, stating his inability to agree to the recom-
.
RESTRICTIONS ON THE INDIAN PRESS. mendations in the report, his intention to state his
Mr. DISRAELI moved for copies of any despatch reasons in a separate paper, and when that was received
from his Excellency the G ivernor General of India, it would be laid on the table.
stating his reasons for making the Act. No. 15, 1857, LAMBETH ELECTION.
for the restriction of the liberty of the press applicable Mr. GILPIN moved " That the minutes of the evi-
to the European portion of the population, as well as to i dence taken before the select committee on the Lambeth
the native; and of any memorial, petition, or remon- Election Petiti4 be laid before the house."—Agreed to.
strance, addressed to his Excellency th e Governor-General ; CUSTOMS BILL.
by the European population in consequence.—Agreed to. This bill was read a third time and passed.
POOR RELIEF.
' DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL CAUSES
On the motion of Lord ELCHO, certain returns in re-
(STAMPS) BILL.
fereoce to medical relief were ordered.
COMMERCIAL RELATIONS WITH TURKEY. The report of this bill was brought up and received.
Mr. HADFIELD, pursuant to notice, asked the ,THE DIVORCE BILL.
First Lord of the Treasury whether (under 14th protocol, The house went into committee on this bill, and pro-
page 59, of Conferences of the Plenipotentiaries of Paris, gress was resumed by
1856, relative to the treaty of peace) there had been a The eIIen:CIL:IN putting Major Warburton's proviso,
revision of the stipulations which regulate the commer- to add at the end of clause 53 the following :—" Pro-
cial relations of the Porte with other powers, or in the vided always, and be it enacted, that no priest or deacon
position of foreigners resident in Turkey ; and whether shall be liable to any suit, penalty, or censure, for re-
(agreeably to the recorded wish of the plenipotentiaries) fusing to soletanize the marriage of any person who shall
a deliberation had been opened at Constantinople, since be divorced by virtue of this act." To this an amend-
the conclusion of peace, between the Porte and the merit had been moved by the Attorney-General. " That
representatives of other powers, with a view of attain- no clergyman in holy orders of the united church of Eng-
iitg the twofold object in such a manner as to afford land and Ireland shall be compelled to solemnize a mar-
entire I atisfaction to all legitimate interests ; and if riage of any person whose former marriage may have been
there had been no such revision and deliberation, whether dissolved on the ground of his or. her adultery, or be
this country, in its commercial relations with the Porte, liable to any suit, penalty, or censure, for solemnising,
ranks amongst the most favoured nations, in all corn. or refusing to solemnise, the marriage of any such per-
mercial transactions, the residence of British subjects in son."
Turkey, fiscal and other duties ; and whether any bene- Mr. FITZGERALD said that he was disposed to con-
fioial or other change had taken place, since the coin. cur in the main in the opinions expressed on this subject
mencement of the war with Russia, or was intended ; by the Attorney-General, and could riot help thinking
and were negotiations in progress to facilitate the corn- that the concession on this point might prove a fatal
merce of this country with Turkey ? gift to the Church of England. It was impossible, how-
Lord PALMERSTON—It is perfectly true, as the ever, to pass over altogether the memorial of the clergy
hon. gentleman states, that under the protocol agreed to which had been so widely circulated. In his °pillion it
by the plenipotentiaries at Paris there was to be a mu- would be a case of great hardship if an innocent person
teal deliberation of the representatives of the different should be deprived of that to which the law said he or she
European powers and the Porte, for the purpose of ar- was entitled, because any one particular class considered
ranging more equal and favourable stipulations for the the law to be wrong. (Hear.) Still he thought it might
regulation of commerce with Turkey. But the hon. gen. be desirable to make some concession to the party which
tleman must be aware that from the period when the bal put forward their opinions so strongly, and he would
treaty of Paris was signed and ratified down to the pre. do so for the sake of securing peace -to the Church. He
s nt time many questions have been pending upon which believed in his conscience that marriage was indissoluble
the different parties to that treaty entertain different by the divine law, and that divorce was as inexpedient
opinions. Some of those questions are still udder discus- in policy as it was wrong in principle.
sion, and it would bepremature to enter into deliberations Mr. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN saki he was not
which could not be serried to a satisfactory result unless opposed to the indissolubility of marriage, because he be.
all the parties who shared in them entered upon them lieved the weight of religious authority was in favour of
without any difference of opinion upon certain matters it, but he would not force those clergymen to marry who
of considerable importance, which would necessarily be bad conscientious scruples against the performance of the
involved. Nothing has therefore yet been done, but cere nony between divorced parties. Divorce was a most
whenever those questions which are still pending shall be important question both to the clergy and the laity, but
finally and satibfactorily settled, then those dshberations he thought it was not right for that house, by depriving
to which the hon. gentleman alludes will take place. In the clergy of the liberty to refuse to marry, to assume
the meantime our commercial relations with Turkey rest to settle points of doctrine that had been disputed and
upon the treaty of 1820. No change has been made, discussed for centuries. He would give every clergy-
either during the war or consequent upon'it ; and, corn- man full liberty of conscience.
paring the amount of duties payable on imports and ex- Mr. HADFIELD said he was as much in favour of
ports in Turkey with the tariff, of other countries, it religions liberty as any man, but what a pretty state the
will be re3n that 12... r scale of duties is more favourable to Church would be in if every clergyman were allowed to
commerce than th )sis. of almost any other country with exercise his own discretion on -every point of doctrine
which we have commercial relations, that he might have conscientious scruples about. If a
Mr. HADFIELD—Do we stand upon equal terms clergyman thought the ceremonies of the Church were
with Austria and Russia in our commercial relations contrary to his c :nscience, let him exercise his liberties
with Turkey ? like a man, and leave the Church altogether, as 200 of
Lord PALMERSTON—I am not prepared to say on their forefathers did at the time of the Reformation.
what terms those powers stand ; but my general impress - Sir F. BARING said he was not much surprised at
Bien is that as far as our commercial transactions go, we the remarks of the hon. gentleman who last spoke,
are upon an equal footing with them. because it was scarcely possible to mention the words,
THE MILITIA BILL. "bishop" or "church," without that bon. gentleman
Mr. STAFFORD rase to inquire when the next stage givirg the house a declaration of Lis love of religious
of the Militia Bill was to be taken; and cmnpleiued liberty. He should support stile amendment of the hon.
that the consideration of the amendments had been and gallant member (Major, Warburton).
moved without due notice, just befereehe house rose at The committee then divided. The numbers were—
the m wising sitting, and when nearly ail the members For Major Warburton's amendment •56
bad left, notwithstanding that the noble lord (Palmer. Against 77
stun) had promised that an opportunity should be Maj city against te —2l
afforded of discussing the amendments and of calling The amendment was therefore lost.
attention, as he was desirous of (Hog, to certain cir. Mr. CRAUFURD then proposed as an amendment
cumstances connected with the militia. He must say. his to alter the words of the clause so as to make it read
was something like sharp practice on the part of the noble that no clergy man should be liable to censure for Belem-
lord. (" Hear" and "Oa.") There were other hon. gen- resin; or refueirg to solemnise marriage between parties
tlemea who were anxious to addreor the house also on on the ground of their adultery.
the same subject. (" Order," and cheers.) - Very well. Mr. W. EWART opposed the amendment.
Then to put himself in order he would move that the S:r DENHAM NORREYS thought it was mon-
house do now adjourn. • strolls to, make a law declaring certain marriages legal,
The motion having been seconded, and then grant immunity to those clergy who refused to
Mr. STAFFORD—Now, then, Tam in order. carry out the provisions of the law. It would be putting
Tne SPEAKER—No, you are not. I must first put the clergy above the State; and would be a most clan-
the question. (Loud laughter.) - - gerous principle to set up.
Tne question baying been put, The amendrient was negatived without a division.
Mr. STAFFORD resumed hit complaint. He had 'Mr. L WIG RAM then proposed to add a provisio
given notice to the Under-Secretary for War that though that parties declared gu;Ly of adultery should • not he
he did not intend to oppose the bill he intended to ask enabled to marry the person with whom the eclat-
certain questions with regard to the arrangements con- tery had been committed. If this provision were, not
fleeted with the warlike preparations for the Easts He enacted, the promise to marry would be constantly held
wished to know why, under such circumstanc w, he had out as an inducement for a married woman to commit
brought on the bill and advanced it a stage, unexpect- adultery. He considered that such marriages, if per-
edly, at 5 minutes to 4, just before the house rose, and mitted, would be a scandal to the land, and quoted the
whether the house would yet have the opportunity of en- opinion of the net Consul of France (at the time of the
deays yang to elicit boar Government such explanations discussion of the Code Civil), "That any law must be
and answers to the questions and suggestions which immoral which aethorised a woman convicted of /Wel-
might bo male on this bill, which the noble lord ad- tery to live with her paramour." He was also opposed
reined was at the present juncture a most important to imprisonment for adultery, because that punishment
one ? The hon. .and galiaia member for Westminster , fea chiefly on the man's wile and children.
had Bald tile other nig,Lt that there was some difficulty Mr. D. GRIFFITH thought that when an irrepar-
,in recruiting our army by enlistment. Now be was 1..0- .iii. 1"...,i1c ha -1 been committed, tile bet way was t,
pared to combat that statement. When the harvest was mend it in the readiest manner. He, therefore, oppOsed
gathered in, he believed there wooll be no ditiieu;ty in the proviso.
obtaining recruits. He thought it highly desirable 'that Lord J. MANNERS supported the amendment, art
the organ of the army in tnat house should explain au- necessary to remove the scandal that would otherwise
thorititively and in detail what arrangements bad been attach telhis bill from the facilities it would give for the
made for the comfort of the troops who were proceeding commission of adultery.
to India, and 'what precautions had been taken to avoid - The ATTORNEY-GENERAL opposed the amend.
those hardships to which our soldiers in the Crimea were meat. The law bad always permitted the marriage of
unnecessarily exposed, the guilty parties, on the ground that it was for the in-
Lord A. VANE :repeated Mr. Stafford's complaint terest of morality they should do so.
that the bill had been brought fervvarl at a time when Sir W. HEATHOUTE said that the guilty parties
no member who took an interest in the matter was in were net permitted to marry in Scotland, France, or
the heu,e. Austria, and these examples confirmed the policy of the
Lord PALMERSTON said be was sorry to dispel the course now proposed.
illusion which the hon. gentleman seemed to be under, Mr. BOVILL said it was useless to attempt to carry
that he was placing himself in conformity with the strict an amendment that did not meet the views of the Go-
order of the house, by making a speech on the subject of vernment, but, nevertheless, he could
parties to marry.ldpanrettrefrain froin
the militia on a motion for the adjeuraraeut of the house. protesting against permitting guilty
If he wished to be strictly in order he ought to have Such a permission would have the effect of increasing
confined himself to giving reasons why there should be adultery with:persons who, knowing they could marry
an a ijournment of the house ; and howevr there may after a divorce, would commit an act to dissolve the
have been laxity of practice, yet the hon. gentleman was marriage tie, that they might do so.
out of strict order, However, he would say notising about Mr. CLAY said he firmly believed that if they could
that. He could assure the hon. gentleman that be ex- tell a woman on the eve of committing adultery that she
ceedingly regretted that, throuth misconception or inad- was about to lose her husband, childreu, and her posh
vertence, the hon. gentleman should have been deprived tion, the crime would in the great majority of cases be
of an opportunity of offering his opinion on the state of prevented. ' The adulterer was generally a cool-blooded,
our military affairs at the stage of the Militia Bill which calculating seducer, and he (Mr. Clay) did not (nee
had just been passed. The hon. gentleman asked hint what became of him. Generally, nine-tenths of the
last night if the Militia Bill would come on then, and he crime belonged to the man, and nine-tenths of the suf-
replied that it would not, as there was a point -which re- feting to the woman. (Hear; hear.) For Heaven's
quired to be looked into, and that the report would be sake let them not tell the woman that no amount of re-
brought up to-day. He was not aware whether he said pentance could enable her to resume an honourable
it would be at the morning or the evening sitting; hut position in society.
the bill stood for its next stage in the orders for that The amendment was negatived without a division.
morning, and it was brought on-as usual eta quarter to Mr. WALPOLE congratulated the Government on
four, when the discussed business was over. As the the satisfactory concession they bad made towards the
hon. member and the noble lord seemed desirous of conscientious scruples of the clergy.
having an opportunity of entering at large into matters Sir W. HEATHCOI'E expressed his opinion that
connected with our military affairs, he would take care the concessions made by the Government would not
that the third reading should be so fixed that they might meet the difficulties of the majority of the clergy.
have that opportunity. - Mr. HADFIELD called attention to the difference
Lord A. V. TEMPEST—On what day ? of opinion expressed by the two last hon. gentlemen,
Lord
duo notice ALME
be RSgiven.TON—lt may be on Thursday, but members for the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge,
will
The moti in for the adjournment of the house was then on this pert of the bill.
withdrawn. After soma remarks from Mr. Henley, Mr. D. Griffith,
s
THEET
jiRROOYPEAALNMAAINLD STEAK and Mr. Wigraiu, .
abolishing actions for trim, con
AUSTRALIANA M PACKET
MAI AND The
L On
clauseclause,
5 4a,s amended
was agreed to,
COMPANY.
Mr. I. BUTT moved the omission of the clause.
Mr. MACARrNEY begged to ask the Secretary to The committee divided, and the numbers were—
the Treasury whether. previous to the Bth day of July • For the clause
last (upon which day a paper was issued by the directors
of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company to their AID gainst it 46 h ,
Majority
—32
shareholders, headed "Proposed Amalgamation of the: The clause was agreed to.
Royal Mail Steam Packet Company and the European- Clause 55 was agreed to.
and Australian Royal Mail Company"), any communie Upon clause 56 an addition regulating compensation
cation or proposition was made to either of said corn-- was °greed to after some observations by Mr. HAD-
panies, directly or indirectly, by the Treasury, that in. FIELD.
case of amalgamation the existing contracts to these corn-- A clause was then introduced regulating the payment
panics would be further extended for two years ; and if ofthe officers of the court by stamps. •
not, whether such a proposition (originating with one or Mr. ADAMS thought that some words should be in-
berth companies) was submitted to him at any time pre-- traduced- which - should provide- more directly that the
violin or subsequent to such document being circulated ; payments should in all cases reach the, officers.
and if so whether any decision had been come to thereon? The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that the fees pay-
Mr. WILSON said it was at all times an inconvenient ' able on the stamps could not be paid at once to the offi-
prectice for hon. members of that house to make partisan cars of the cameos it was provided that they should be
motions with reference to companies oat of doors, and paid into the consolidated fund. He would take care
to put questions to the Government which' were founded 1 that proper provision should be made to meet the case.
on no public motives, and only bearing on the interests Mr. HENLEY said that the Attorney-General hav-
of private companies ; it was making Parliament a vehicle 1 ing appointed the local courts, should have arranged the
for the rivalry of .companies out of doors, which ought fees so ass to fit them. This was aeluty which could not
not to be done, and he hoped the house would support . be done by the committee. They should first understand
him if he declined to answer questions of that descrip- bow the- local courts stood, and then settle the fees,
tion. • (Hear.) Again, repeated motions were made for otherwise they would be dealing with the fees without
returns at the instance of company against company,
which filled the table with returns which were of no - Attorney-General Idmake knowing how the courts were to be constituted. He
that the Would a proper
public interest. (Hear.) He had no wish to withhold .hoped provision herealter.
information, and he had no objection ,to answer the The 'ATTORNEY-GENERAL was understood tosay
question of the hon. gentleman, but hoped that this sort that he would attend te the suggestion.
S
!Du::: ATTORNIY-GENERAL
of questioning would be discouraged by the house, Tee ,t b
r3i
or l
awa
s.
eHwEe
rA.OTII agreede OTtEo
isaid
.t
si tpr
ecouldse n t
snboatp
eb.e done if
hon. gentleman asked whether, previous to an agreement
for an amalgamation of the Royal Mail Steam Packet
Company and the European and Australian Royal Mail could make tl then said that he,
le clause more stringent by adding the
Company, any communication or proposition was words
made to either of the two companies by the- go- The se tion was agreed to.
vernment. -No such proposition had come before him tadse with the addition
The a' -
"come from th
" eatrept as herein express provided.".
officially, and all he knew was that the two companies
15 which was originally
did send in a proposition on the subject of some con- it ...g into better shape clan
The clause was intended to meet
tracts, and he was told that a report had been made on h: very rude form,
4TorOdRs.NEY-GENERseAI then moved a clause,
the subject to the Admiralty, which wonld come bet-
jto
thinth
of
whichitet the
e foundedwwhaosl bill as it came
the Treasury to be considered, and when it did
lee to the
before them it would be considered with referee
1,4 e interestsMr HADFIELD said that the claim for compensa-
public interests, and not with reference to t
Was it under-
Mr, clause,
of one company or the other. •
clause 15 ?
Mr. MACARTNEY, in explaneti-stood •
: , the hon,
.that the clause was instead of
en
ouctpoiounar court being
ei
original thrown
. en, said non.
gentleman having imputed to him -
partisanship in putting grrete the &ease as in the Probate Bill.
this question on behalf of the companies, he begged to I - d by
of the Probates
say that every step he had taken in reference to the Mr. AYRTON said that the precedent
ase would stand on
subject of Australian postage was taken with referee- Mr. MALINS said that compensation would be
I Bill would not be followed, Each c
to the public interest„ and he returned with seer see i its own merits,
imputation that he toad done so from private no 'a the
M other clause was then added, putting ;_Ito
se
fo r,hape
'Mr. WILSON said he did not mean to - 'Aivee: the formal decisioa of t'-e committee as to divot.
putation on the hon. gentleman for put' east any ims
1 adultery coupled with desertion,
Lion, and be was sorry if he had be' -sing this quee- I /,
so ; but he had only woken of t. At supposed to dot 1 he ATTORNEY -
into effect a former decision of
putting questions of tease nature wo inconvenience of 1 clause which was to carry i
the courts to whom appli-
.. :me committee with regard to
be made. The corn. THE COMMIS,
',SION ON PURQP- ' cation for judicial separation should
had decided that the
chase in the arm AASE IN THE mittee, utter much discussion,
Mr. BIT' e ARMY • .
(county courts Were sot fit for the .
' purpose, but that j aria-.
GENERAL then proposed a
War , . ...J.t4EY begged 0
.nether he had r • -diction in this matter should
to frame a clause to carry
. '
comtnittiori
appoint received from the members of the i courts. He had iteavoured
The other local courts
. °-,,,K the Under Secretrary ford .
"e.d to inquire into the system of put.- 1 out the wishes of •Mcommittee.
of quarter session,
the report, an y who had not appended their names to j w ere, the courts of assize, the courts
so ? Y '.easous for their h.aving declined to do ' A the recorder's court.
i an would
Eli; J. V, -,,,, e. ,r, delicate matters which
see Edon was not. fit for the
e.
~..,theo4
sli'44ll. 1444 the off, gentle:ou irsol cof . bA brou hti beftwo it and be P"P" 4 WV
Now, the court of quarter.

courts having jurisdiction shoed be the courts. of assize
and the recorder's court. He moved a clauss to that
effect —that application for "judicial separation should be
made to the courts afforesaid in such city or borough in
or near which the parties should have been last resident.

and that the new clauses should be considered in corn•
mittee.

- The CR-AIRMAN then reported progrees.
CROWDED DWELLINGS" PREVENTION BILL.
Th 3 house the❑ went into committee on the Crowded
Dwellings Prevention Bill.

Mr. BOVILL said that application to the judge of
assize was very inconvenient, and almost impracticable.
He thought that a commission might be sent down, as
in lunacy oases. . _

Mr. AYE [ON moved the adjournment of the house.
Some discussion arose, in the course of which
Mr. LOCKE supported the motion for the adjourn.
ment. gentlemen who supported the bill did not
know where the shoe would pinch. The bill would en-
able the police to enter any man's house, and interfere
with him in the manner in which he should live in his
own residence. It was a ridiculous and absurd bill,
affect ng the liberty of the subject, and beginning at the
wrong end for legislation.

Mr. B.IITT did not agree that the county courts were
to be deprived of their jurisdiction. He did not think
that it was the intention of the committee to negative
the county courts. All they had decided was not to in-
troduce the county courts into one particular clause. He
agreed with the proposal of giving jurisdiction to the Re-
corder ; but there was this objection to petitions to the
assize, that it was not a permanent court, and only came
into the country at long intervals for.a few days. He
proposed that the jurisdiction should be given to the
county courts, in order to raise the question.
Mr. AYRTON said that a judge of assize tried only
questions which had had a preliminary inquiry before a
magistrate, and of which all parties had notice. But here
the petition was presented;and the other parties would
at once have to prepare evidence to meet it. How was
this to be done in the limited time in which an assize eat?
They could not traverse the bills to the next assiz3, as
these matters required immediate decision. He hoped
the Attorney-Gefieral would be able to put the clause
into a better shape. _ _

Lord PALMERSTOISi said it was easy to see where
the shoe pinched. It was a question between the specu-
lative builder, who wished to overcrowd his houses f r
profit, and the poor who needed protection. It was said
that every Englishman's house was his castle, but the
fact was that at present every builder's hou-e was his
dungeon. (Hear.) The Irish members ought, above
ail, to support the bill, becauie so many Irish working
people who depended on their industry suffered from the
existing evils. He hoped the house would support a bill
the purpose of which was to render the operation of the
Common Lodging-houses A crnhore effectual.

Mr. MALINS said that the committee had already
decided that the county courts should not have this juris-
diction. The principle of application to the court of ses-
sion had very properly been abandoned. Some local
court was necessary, and there remained the assize and
the recorder. Now, he did not think that the as-izes,
sitting at intervals of seven months, would answer thd
purpose.
Sir G. GREYsuggested that there was a thin I assize.
Mr. MALINS said that the third was only intended
for criminal matters, and even so there would be a delay
of four months. This was a'delay which, whatever might
be said, they could not tolerate in Chancery. Domestic,
quarrels required immediate attention, but there was
another objection. These domestic quarrels required
time and investigation to ascertain the truth. Now the
judges of assize were already pressed for time, and the
delay of a single day at one place would throw out all
the arrangements. They could form no opinion as to how
long these cases would take. None in his experience so
utterly set all calculations at defiance. The same objec-
tion of delay applied to the recorder, who only went his
circuits four times a year, and ther would be a delay of
four months. The recorders were often young unmarried
men, without the experience necessary for the purpose.
He thought the suggestion of the hon. member for Guild-
ford a good one—to adopt what had been found to work
so well in lunacy—viz., the sending do wn commissioners
under the authority of the superior court. As all the local
tribunals were unfit, ho thought that the commissioners
might be sent down to report to the court, and thus enable
the court to decide.

After a few—woids from Lord A. V. Tempest and Mr.
Henley against the bill; and Mr. Cowper in its favour
(the latter hon. gentleman undertaking to introduce-a
clause which would make it perfectly clear that the bill
should apply only to common I.dging-houses).
Mr. AYRTON contended that the bill would affect
the poor tenant and not the landlOrd. It was a bill not
to regulate common lodging-houseP, but to affect the
dwellings of the poor. It had not been effectually
amended in committee. As to common lodging-housep,
the present law was sufficient, and there was no need for
further leizislation.

Mr. HENLEY said as the house bad decided that
there should be a local tribunal, the learned gentleman
had done all be could in taking what courts he could find.
He (Hr. Henley) agreed that some of them were fit.
Now, as to the proposal-of the commission, they should
remember they were legielating for poor persons, who
could not bear the expense.
Mr. MALINS said that in the case of lunacy the
commission was expressly sent down to poor people, to
save expense, at little cost. _

Mr. KNIGHT opposed the bill, as tending to increase
the power of Government over the subject.
' Mr. NICOLL complained that the Government were
too mach disposed to follow the policy of the Govern-
ment of France. But the,Government of France when
they removed the places in which the poor had lived,
found other residences. But the Government of Eng-
land, while by metropolitan improvements they swept
away the dwelling of the poor, did not take the trouble
to provide dwellings for the poor to go to.
Mr. O'BRIEN' observed that he never came into the
house and asked who was up, but he was told the hon.
member for the Tower Hamlets. (Laughter.) That
hon. gentleman had shown an eloquence that they all
admired, but which they all deplored. (Renewed laugh
ter.) That hon. member objected to the pressing of such
questions at this period of the session, but he continued,
nevertheless, to protract the session. After some further
huwourous observations, the hon. member was followed
by Mr. Ridley, Lord A. V. Tempest, Mr. Cowper, Mr.
Henley, and Mr. Kinnaird. _
Mr. COX said the bill would authorise the police to
enter private dwellings. He asked whether the noble lord
meant to play f'i'at Tyler with the people of England ?
if so, he would Snd that the people would play the
tyrant against him.
Sir W. JOLLIFFE opposed the bill.
Lord PALMERSTON explained some previous ob-
servations. He was quits sure that if the hon. member_
for the To per Hamlets (Mr. Cox), who had compared
him (Lord Palmerston) to a person whom be supposed
to be a great tyrant, would look into the historical facts,
he would acquit him (Lord Palmerston) of any intention
to resort to arAtrary Government by imitating the ex-
ample of %Vat Tyler. (Much laughter.)
After some further discussion, the comuaitte divided,
when the numbers were—

Mr. HENLEY wished to know if it was relatively
little or absolutely little? [Mr. Mathis—Absolutely little.]
Now, he thought that the majority of these cases were
set on foot on account of alimony, and did not require
any great amount of legal knowledge. Country people
could not apply to the borough recorder, and the assizes
would be hurried and expensive. He approved -of the
clause as it stood originally, as the adjudication of the
small amount of property between the parties would not
be difficult. The number of cases would not be great.
Mr. M`MAHON thought that a little delay in such
cases was useful. Tney would have probably three as-
sizes in the year, which was as often as was necessary
under the circumstances. He did not agree that the assize
would not have time to try the case for want of notice.
Cases of murder had been tried when the 'murder had
only happened a week before. If they took the average
of Scotland, and applied it to the proportion of popula
tion in England, they would have 100 divorces in a ye,ar
and 200 separa'ions. Now, if they sent commissioners
in all these cases, they would constantly have commis-
sioners roaming the country at great expense. As to the
quarter sessions, he hoped the Attorney-General would
stand by the quarter sessions. The chairmen of quarter
sessions did their duty as well as recorders, and they
would do this duty much better than the recorders.
-Lord LOVAINE wished to know if no power of ap-
peal was to be given ?
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that besides the
judges of assize, there were in the commission of assize
many barristers, sergeants and Queen's council. He pro-
posed that the judge should have the p Tier of app .)int-
ing one or more of these gentlemen to hear and dispose
of those cases which the judges could: not dispose of
themselvss. The service of the petition c )uld bs easily
got over, as it might be sent up to the judge some day
before the as-iza, sealed with his seal, and then served
upon the respondent. Toe quarter sessions were not the
tribunal he should choose, bat he sboul I have no jec-
tion to allow these questions to be decided by the chair
man of quarter s,ssiond personally. - Ho would not give
his con,ent to the principle of the commission, it would
bl a varying and undignified tribunal, without the pro-
per authority. He proposed to move an amendment to
empower the judge to delegate the PoWer of hearing the
petition to any barrister named in the commission.
Mr. FITZGERALD thought the explanation of the
hon. and learned gentleman satisfactory, and that the
chairman of quarter sessions was a very fit person to be
entrusted with this authority. He would suggest that
the name of the assistant -,:chairman of quarter sessions
sheuld be inserted.

For reporting progress .. 22

35
-13

Against
_ Majgrity

Lord A. V. TEMPEST immediately moved that
the Chairman should leave the chair, which, however,
was not pressed to a division.
The tiee of the bill was then altsrel from "The
Crowded Dwellings Prevention Bill" to "The Common
Lodging Houses Act Amendment B H."

Mr. COWPER promised to place on the paper the
amendments ee proposed to introduce into the bill.
The first clause as amended was then agreed to.
The CHAIRHAN.then reported progress.
The remaining orders of the day ware disposed of, and
the house arjourned at -a quarter to three o'clock,

I:IEALT.H OF LONDON DUL'IJVG-' THE

WEEK.

Mr. PULLER thought that the suggestion of the
Attorney-General as to the service of the petition did
not go far enough. Notice should first be sent to the re-
spondent as to the matters contained in the petition.
Lord J. MANNERS felt bound to Express his satis-
faction at the proposal made by the Attorney-General.
Sir G. GREY said that they should read the clause-a_
second time, and then put the amendment into shape

upon it.
The elsuse was then read a seclnd time.

Mr. HENLEY hoped that the power over restitution
of conjugal rights would be given to the court, as well as
that over separation.
Additions were then moved to the clauses by the AT-
TORNEY-GENERAL, giving
.the power to any barri,ter
narned_by the judges And include,d in the commissi in,
or to the chairman and deputy chairman of quarter ses7

(From the Report of the Registrar-General.

stone.
Mr. BOVILL said that as the amendment stood
persons named in the commission would be required to
sit whether they liked or not. Now no payment would
induce many of these persons to act. He std not see
why the choiee should be limited to persons named in
the commis-don.
Sir G. GREY. said that there was a certain qualifiers-
tion in the person named in the commission, which was
better than opening the duty to the whole bar. As to
the enforcing the duty, the matter would by done as it
npoecwfownnas,thtehedujtuyd.
Mr. M`MAHON observed that it was a privilege muchge named some one who was willing to
sought by members of the bar, and considered -an honour.
Mr, AYRTON suggested that the general power of
the .court of quarter sessions Should he given to the
chairman of quarter sessions as tt administering oaths
and other maters.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL thought that the
words he propcsed woul I meet. that case.
After a few words from Lord_ Loved/en- and Mr.
PULLER, the amendment to the Clause Was agreed to, and
the clause as amended ordered to stand as part of the bill.
Another clause was then proposed, e ::powering the
deserted wife to apply to the nearest police magistrate ;
or if in a county, to a county magistrate.
The clause was agreed to. •
A clause was then proposed by the ATTORNEY-
GENERAL, regulating the compensation to be• given
to the proctors.
Mr. MALINS said that under the act many proctors
would not find it worth their while to go on with their
business. He thought thett the same principle should be
adopted in giving compensation as that adopted in the
Probate Bill.
Mr. HADFIELD opposed any compensation, to the
proctors, which was contrary to the spirit of the under-
standing previously entered into the course of the debate
both on the present and on the Probate Bill. The proc•
tors had already made the best bargaie that had ever
been made by any profession.
Mr. MALINS entered into some explanation of what
occurred in pre_vions debates. His objection referred to
the form in which compensation should be given eather
than to the amount.
Mr. HENLEY said that he did not see how the in-
ferior officers of the court were to be compensated.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that the inferior
officers expressed themselves fully satisfied by their posi-
tion under the bill. As to the proctors, he would not con-
sent to give them compensation tinder the bill upon the
same, principle as under the Probate Bill. By that bill
they were totally deprived of their practice. But under
the present bill none of their business was taken away.
A new court in which they could practice was estab-
lished, and the hon. and learned gentleman must not
press the case in favour of the proctors too far.
Mr. MALINS said that he was justified in believing
that the hon. and learned gentleman intended to adopt
the same principle in both cases. He was mistaken, and
should be contented without dividing the house. It
should be remembered that 10,000 competitors for busi-
ness were now to be introduced into the courts.
Mr. HADFIELD should take the sense of the com-
mittee as to whether any compensation should be given
to the proctors under the clause.
The clause was, however,sagreed to without a division.
Clauses B and 0, and one or two supplementary
clauses proposed by the Attorney-General, were agrPed
to, and ordered to stand part of the bill.
Mr. itIiMA.HON proposed the addition of a clause
which would make adultery with any married womanmisdemeanour, and this he considered was rendered
necessary
as a protection to the husband in consequence
of the abolition by the bill of the remedy which he po's-
eessed by means of an action of crim
~,:heATTORNEY-GENERAL objected to the clause,
whicho.sqer a few words in reply from Mr. M`MAHON,
was negatita:
4 without a division.
Mr. BUTT
pt::,nosed the addition of some words regu-
lating the jurisdicitioa:
of the proposed court, but it was
ultimately decided that tr!;9 clause should be considered
on bringing up the report.
The A.TTORNEY-GENERAL
p:ave notice of several
clauses which he intended to pro
pogo on bringing up the
report.
After some discussion as to the mode of procedure, it
We arranged that the Chairman 5110414 report progress,

, The deaths registered in London in the week that
ended on Saturday (Aug 15) were 1,187, and ex-
hibit a depraase on those returned in the Vireo pre-
vious weeks, when they ranged from 1, 209 to 1,238.
In the 10 years 1847-56 the averarre number of deaths
in the weeks corresponding with last week was 1,255.
But the deaths of last week occurred in an increased
population, and to admit of comparison the average
should be raised in propordon to the increase,
in which case it will become 1,380., The average
raLe of mortality would have produced more deaths
by 193 than the number in the present return ;
but it is proper to state that, as that rase is derived
in part from periods when cholera raged, it is too
high as a measure of health when the population is
happily free from such calamity, and the mortality
from all causes at present differs little from the
ordinary amount at this season of the year.
The deaths from diErrhoel, which rapidly rose to
302 in the last week of July, and in the next week.
declined to 258, ag tin exhibit a decrease, the num-
ber returned last we?k being 244. In the ten weeks
(of 1847-56) corresponding with last week the deaths
from this complaint ranged from 81 to 253. The
Lend ,n registers during the last 12 years reveal a
verystriking increase in the prevalence of diarrhoea,
for on referring to the returns for the sec.-md or third
of Aug. in 1840-45 it will be seen that the number
of cases in which it was fatal was as lo ,v as 20 or 11.
and did not exceed 79. Besides the deaths from
diarrhoea- th-re were 21,1aq week from " cholera"
and " choleraic diarrtoea,7 12 of which occurred
to young children. The registrar of the sub-district
of Woolwich Arsenal reports a death from ." Eng-
lish cholera" after an illness of 40 hours. The de-
ceased was a rigger in the dockyard, and had been
employed. for several days in raisin.. the convict
hulk Defence, and it 'appears that he suffered t.x-
tremely from what was, described by him as " the
awfnl stench" of the river during the performance
of his work.

Last week the 14tths of 875 boys and 7A3'gicls,
in all 1,618 children, were registered in London.
In the ten c3rre4ponding weeks of the years 1817-
56 the average number was 1,448.

At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean
height of the barometer in the week was 29.793 in.
The highest reading in the week was 30 in. on
Wednesday. The mean temperature of the week
was 63.7 deg., which is 2.1 deg. above the average
of the same week in 43 years (as determined
by Mr. Glaisher.) The mean daily temperature
was highest on Thursday, having been 68.6 deg.,
which is 7.1 deg. above the average. Ths highest
readings of the therthometer occurred on that
day, and were 83.6 deg. in the shade, and 105 deg.
in the sun. The mean dew-point temperature was
571 deg., and the difference between that and the
mean temperature of the air was 6 deg. The mean
temperature of the water of the Thames was
deg. The general direction of the wind was south-
west. Rain fell to the amount of 152 in., of which
as much as 1.12 in. fell on Friday. A thuder st irm
commenced at half-past 9 o'clock on Di ursday night;
it was very heavy during the first hour, and con-
tinued with intervals till 5 next morning. About
5 in the afternoon of Friday great darkness pre-
vailed, which was followed by a. very severe thun-
der storm, accompanied by hiiistones of unusual
size.

MORTALITY IN THE METROPOLIS
NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM ALL OAUSES REGISTERED

IN THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, AUG. 15
Zymotic Diseases
Diseases of Uncertain Seat
Tubercular Diseases " 193
Diseases of the Brain, Nerves and Senses ... ll7
Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels 3O
Diseases of the Lungs and other Organs of
Respiration .. 86
Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs
of Digestion
Diseases of the }Kidneys, &c.
Childbirth, Diseases of the -Uterus, &c.
Diseases of the Joints, Bones, and Muscles
Diseases of the Skin, &c. .. 2
Malformations ... 1
Premature Birth and Debility 32
Atrophy 57
Old Aga
sudden . . 3
Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemperance. 5B
Causes not specified ' 4

, -
DEATEIS FROM ALL CAUSES 1,187
Population Deaths in corre- Deaths
Enumerated. aponding week in the

1851. of 1856. Week,
West Districts
North Districts 490,396 - 237-
Central Districts - 393,256
East Districts 485,522
South Districts
4 .. -..... :229660

1,250 1,187
607
▪ 580
- 875
.-. 743

Totals
Males
Females.
BIRTIIS IN TUB WEEK.
Males •
• Females

Total

INDIA.—A coloured Map of Indnia;xwti,llAbuog.p2r3eg.eTntheids
grata with the Dispatch of Sunday
Map, measuring 17 inches by 12, will form a part of the
announced to be is ra tFued G t.
forthcoming Atlas o, and to
commence on October 4. Many thousands of pounds
will be expended in pror.lucing this truly invaluable work,
which, completed, will.be found the most comprehensive
and generally useful, in fact, the best Atlas ever pub-
lished, The "Dispatch Atlas" may, be ordered of any
Bookseller or Newsagent in the Kingdom •at
, or the
Office, 139, fleet-atreet.

Country Markets.

LIVERPOOL-AuG. 13.

There was a good attendance at market to-day, and a
few buyers from a distance. Wheat and fl,)ur met with a
fair demand for consumption at generally the full prices of
Friday, or 3d per 701b1, and 6d to is per sack and barrel
over the rates of this day week. Oats and oatmeal had a
moderate sale, and maintained their value. The same re-
mark applies to barley and beans, but peas must be quoted
is to 2s per qr. dearer. Indian corn in good request for
feeding purposes, at 30s 6d to 37s per qr. for prime mixed
and yellow American; 36s to 36s 61 for Ibraila, and 36$
6d to 375 per qr. for Galatz and Odessa.

HULL— AUG. 18.
To-day we had a small show of farmers' wheat, for which
extravagant prices are demanded,which somewhat checked
business ; a fair business done at 2s to 3s advance. Good
fresh foreign a ready sale at 2s up. Grinding barley met
a fair sale at full rates. Liberal supplies of oats, buyers
taking only slowly. Beans a slow sale, and peas in fair
demand. Linseed cannot be reduced more than 2s to 3s
per qr. Cakes meet fair consumptive demand for the time
of year.

Wheat, English red, 63s to 66s ; white 653 to 70s; oats,
27s to 2%; barley, 40s to 46s ; Indian corn, —a ; linseed
cakes, Hull, 10112 s 6d to 101 153; ditto, foreign, 8/ 15s to
101; rapo cakes, 6/ 7s fld to El 15s; guano, El. to 131. 10a ;
bones, 1278 6d.; flour, —s to - -a; tares, 32s to 363.