The Sun.
London, England, 1850-07-31 00:00:00

TO THE SECRETARY OF THE

BRADFORD REFORM ASSOCIATION.

Sir,—On Monday the 29th, the Member returned for
London was called to the table, and asked by the
Speaker, why he demanded to be sworn on the Old
Testament; to which he replied, that it was because that
was the form of swearing that lie declared to be most
binding on his conscience. On which he was directed
to withdraw.

Much skirmishing then ensued upon a motion, that the
Member be asked what Oath he claims to take, whether the
Roman Catholic or the Protestant Oath. On which nobody
succeeded in making plain, or even in asking, whether
the question meant, which of the two Oaths he pre-
ferred to take in substance but after his own form, which
was on the Old Testament,—or which of them he preferred
to take in tie form in which he would take nothing. If
it was the last, the House was desired to put itself into
the position of the Frenchman, who asked his chickens
which of two sauces they preferred being eaten with.
And on the cock's saying they did not want to be eaten
at all, the Frenchman cried " Question, question." If
it was the other, then it was apprehended the enemy
was ready with the assertion, that the Roman Catholic
Oath was rigidly and carefully limited to Roman Ca-
tholics. All of which probably operated in preventing
the point being pushed to an explanation.
This motion being withdrawn, motion was made that
the Member should be asked by the Speaker whether
he was willing to be sworn to the Oaths required of a
Member by Act of Parliament before he takes his seat.
Which being a manifest attempt to obtain an answer in
an adverse form, was opposed and negatived by 118
to 104.

Motion was then made that the House refuses to alter
the form of taking the Oaths. To which Amendment was
moved, that the Clerk be directed to swear the Member
for London on the Old Testament. And after an ad-
journment to five P.M. the original motion was negatived
without a division, and the Amendment carried by 113
to 59; the motive for allowing the original motion to be
thus disposed of, being apparently the conviction that
the Ite,o!utions promised by the Government would do
the busin-ss best.

On Tuesday shortly after twelve at noon, the Member
for London was again called to the table, and the Oaths
of Allegiance and Supremacy administered to him on the
Old Testament, the Member, at the instant of kissing the
book, putting on his hat, which may be apprehended to
be a trace of the Oriental feeling, by which an individual
who should uncover his head in presence of his superior,
would be thought guilty of as great a solecism as one of
our ancestors who should have exposed his shaven poll
by taking off his peruke in like circumstances.
The third Oath, that of Abjuration, proceeded in the
same manner till the Clerk came to the words " on the
true frith of a Christian," when the Member said "
omit those words, as not being binding on my con-
science," and immediately putting on his bat, said "So
help mo God," and kissed the book. Upon which he
was directed by the Speaker to withdraw, a considerable
number of the Members present crying out "No, no,"
sad " Sit down."

In the debate which ensued, the Member for Oxford

"torn" made one of the most luminous and able plead-
ings produced before any judges. The Attorney• General
fAlowed, and assigned his reasons for the unhappy opi-
nion put forward by the mouth of the Prime Minister on
the previous day, declaring his inability to agree with
the sufficiency of the Oath. Conscience is en intract-
able thing; but what conscience enforced the expression
of this opinion before the case was heard? 11 is plain
thqt the Government not only discharged their con-
science, but fired it off considerably too soon for a con-
scientious hearing of the question.
As bystanders are proverbially said sometimes to see
more than those who play the game, the observation may
be hezarded by one in that position, that it might have
been an improvement it on the Clerk's uttering " on the
true faith of a Christian," the Member had said dis-
tinctly " on the true faith of a believer in the Old Tes-
tament," and then finished his bath. This would have
added weight to the strong point of the defence, which
was that the weeds were part of the form
and not of the substance. It was stated
in conversation, that it would not do to alter
the words of the Oath. But a substitution of this kind
is a smaller alteration of the words of the Oath than leav-
ing them out altogether. Besides which, it strengthens
the claim for their being among the mututis mutandiv.
It further seemed to be an oversight in a leading ad-
vocate to volunteer the admission that his client " refused
the words of the Oath." It might be for an
adversary to urge, that he virtually refused. But
the concession should not have been made, and
having been made should be recalled. The fact
is that the Member did not refuse. He stated that he
omitted them as irrelevant. And the way to recover the
I,,st ground, would be that he should be brought up again,
and on coming to the words, should substitute "on the
true faith of a believer in the Old Testament." This
ould re open the argument,that he has a right to change
he form; which is exactly what the plea that " he has
refuted," is intended to preclude.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
AN OLD REFORMER.
London, July 31, 1850.

FALL OF A MILL AT STOCKPORT.

DREADFUL LOSS OF LIFE.

Yesterday afternoon, between one and two o'clock, a
very serious and alarming accident occurred at a mill
belonging to Mr. Cephas Howard, and rented by Mr.
Joseph Heywood as a doubling mill, while the hands
were at dinner. Oue of the main supports of the build-
ing gave way, and a great portion of it fell, burying 15
or 20 of the hands woo remained inside. Five people
were conveyed to the infirmary, of whom one has died,
and others are expected nut to live. At present, none of
those who were completely buried have been recovered,
so that the names are not accurately known ; but we
understand that, in addition to a number of girls who
were dining at the mill, there were some machinists
and workmen who were employed there temporarily.
It is a fine large fireproof mill, four storeys high; and it
will have to be almost entirely rebuil'. A great portion
of the machinery was all new, and has been entirely
destroyed.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.— CHESTER, SATURDAY:
About a quarter before twelve o'clock last night the exten-
sive steam saw-mills belonging, to Messrs. Dickin and Beards-
worth, situate near the Shrewsbury and Chester Canal offices,
at the Canal-wharf, in this city, were discovered to be on
fire. About one o'clock the flames had attained their greatest
height : the roof fell in with a terrific crash, and the fiery
elements illuminated the city and surrounding district. In
consequence of the wind blowing very strong at the time
from the north-west, the pieces of burning wood were carried
up in the air and fell on the houses of the residents in King-
street, Northgate-street, &c., to the great alarm of the inha-
bitants. There was a large quantity of timber in the yard
adjoining the mill, but this was fortunately preserved by the
rain falling heavily at the time, and the large quantity of
water thrown on it by the engines. In a very short time
after the fire was discovered, the fire brigade, under the di-
rection of Mr. Hill, were on the spot. As they had abun-
dance of water close at hand from the canal, they completely
succeeded, in extinguishing the burning embers of the wood.
The tire broke out in the first story of the mill, but whether
it was the work of an incendiary or not we cannot at preeent
learn ; yet it appears somewhat strange, as there had been
no fire lighted on the'premises from twelve o'clock'yesterday.
The damage done is considerable, but the exact amount
cannot be ascertained at present. The premises and stock
are, it is sad, fully insured.
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MONEY ORDEES.—A niasotticezighists,sueudazbetyte,thdeirPecteisotg-
master-General, appears
in
the suspension of the business of any
thatpo oi n future,
in
eewh e on
remoney orders have been made payable,
such orders shall be made payable at any other post-Office
which the Postmaster-General shall direct ;.that such mien
shall be invalid at the expiration of twelve months from
their date ; that money orders shall be payable within two
months after the end of the month of their issue;. such
orders, if not paid within the stipulated period to be repew-
able by fresh orders, less the poundage, OR application to the
postmaster-General, and subject to the regulations *trotting
a original orders.