The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-13 00:00:00

city of London should be permitted to be imperfectly
represented, without a step being taken to ascertain the
exact nature of the oath required to be taken by him be-
fore he could take his east.--(Wear, hear.) The nature of
these oaalis depended upon a vast variety of circum-
stances; fir there were no less than nineteen Acts of Par-
liament bearing on the subject, and Le could not say that
there were not more. It would be also important to con-
sider the mode in which Mr. Pease was adm.ttcd as a
Member of that House, in order to come to a just con-
clusion upon the subject of oaths. It was only within the
last few weeks, however, that he had learnt the exact
mode in which that Gentleman had made affirmation.
That Gentleman was admitted, it appeared, not in con-
formity with any express Act of Parliament, hut by a
re3olution of the House; and it would be important to
consider the various Acts of Parliament which bore upon
the question. It would also be important to consider the
mode in which the various religious denominations were
permitted to take oaths at the present moment. The 1t
and 2d of Victoria, chap. 105, was declaratory in this re-
spect; but it would be advisable that a further inquiry
should be instituted in this respect. With regard to that
_ declaratory Act, it would be necessary that the Com-
mittee should consider what was the exact state of the law
as to the taking of oaths by persons not professicg the
Christian religion; and it would be essential to ascer-
tain, as a matter of evidence, what was deemed a bind-
ing mode of administering an oath to members
of the Jewish persuasion. lie contented himself
with making this short statement, as he did not think it
necessary to argue the justice of the case at this moment.
But, in justice to himself, he might say, that he had not
brought forward this question simply on his own respon-
sibility. He had consulted lawyers of the highest
eminence 041 the subject, gentlemen who had sat on both
sides of the House; and they all concurred in the opinion
that the question of admitting Jews to Parliament was
a grave one, and that Parliament ought to decide upon
it without delay. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman
eancluded by moving the appointment of the Committee.
Mr. ARKWRIGHT denied that any case had been
made out for the appointment of this Committee. No
ease had been assigned why Baron Rothschild should
take his seat.—(Cries of "Question.")
Mr. NEWDEGATE, as one who had paid some at-
tention to this subject, should like to be informed whether
it was proposed that thin Committee should be empowered
to take evidence?
Mr. P. WOOD apprehended that that was a question
for after consideration, although he presumed that the
Committee would assume the usual right of calling wit-
nesses before them.—(Hear, hear.)
Major MACKENZIE was at a loss to conceive the
necessary connexion between the inquiry with regard to
the oaths taken by Members of Parliament and the oaths
and affirmations taken in courts of juetice.
Mr. PAGE WOOD said that he rested a consider-
able portion of his motion on the case of Mr. Pease—
(Hear, hear)—and with respect to the affirmation in that
case no record had been kept.
Sir ROBERT PEEL observed that he bad given his
cordial support to the attempt of the Noble Lord (Lord
J. Russell) to admit by law the gentleman to whom re-
ference had been made to that House; and if that Noble
Lord had introduced a Bill durir'e the present session,
no person would have volunteered a more cordial sup-
port than he would. He understood that the Hon. and
Learned Gentleman who proposed the Committee did
not intend to supersede by that Committee the functions
of Parliament.—(Hear,) Upon that understanding, he
(Sir Robert Peel) had no objection to the appointment
of the Committee. But the meat strenuous opponent of
the admission of Jews to Parliament could not regard
with greater jealousy than he should any attempt to su-
persede the authority of the House of Lords on such a
question.—(Hear.) Without entering into any argument
on the subject at the present moment, he trusted that
whenever the right contended for was established, it
would receive its due support; but it was necessary that
the House should suspend its judgment in the meantime.
and not adopt the case of Mr. Posse a; a precedent. The
Hon. and Lsarind Gentlerraa who had moved this Com-
mittee had stated that there were many grave questions
to be decided; but as far as the case of Mr. Pease was
concerned, it should be remembered that a distinction
had been drawn by statute between the case if Quakers
and that of other denominations of Dissenters.—(Hear,
hear.) He (Sir R. Pee!) repeated that he should watch
with jealousy any attempt at legislative enactment in such
a case independently of the House of Lords.—(Hear.)
Mr. S. WORTLEY agreed with the Right Hon.
Baronet who had lest spoken as to the necessity of
acting in concert with the House of Lords upon such a
question.
Lord J. RUSSELL said he did not conceive that the
EOM:, by agreeing to the appointment of this Commit-
tee, passed any judgment upon the question as to whether
a Jew could or could not take his seat without taking
the oaths usual upon such en occasion. He thought it a
matter of considerable importance that the question ft ith
regard to Acts of Parliament bearing on the subject, and
the interpretation put upon the case of Mr. Pc use should
be referred to such a Committee, although Le was at a
loss to understand how that geutlt man could hate male
the affirmatioa attributed to him, and that in the same
session there should have been an Act of Parliament
passed prescribing the manner in which that affirmation
should be made. It certainly appeared to him that if
the House had felt itself justified in admitting Mr. Pease
upon his affirmation, it was not necessary to pass a fresh
Act of Parliament upon the subject.—(Hear, hear.) He
did not throw this out as a matter of doubt, but of argu-
ment; and he thought it a matter which might be well
considered by the Committee.—(Hear, hear.) He did
not believe that any court of law would venture to decide
that a gentleman obeying the mandates of the House
would incur the risk of any pecuniary or other disabili-
ties—if they were to do so they would be acting in strict
defiance of the Bill of Rights.
Mr. WALPOLE fully concurred with the Right Hon.
Baronet the Member for Tamworth in the opinion that it
was desirable to have the fullest information on this
subject. There was ono portion of the motion, which
had reference to inquiries respecting the mode of ad-
ministering oaths in courts of law, which ho did not
think could have any bearing upon the question of oaths
to be taken by Mesabers of Parliament upon taking their
seats.

The motion was then agreed to.
On the, motion of Mr. FREWEN, a copy of the judg-
ment of the Judicial Committee, in the case of " Gor-
ham v. the Bishop of Exeter," was ordered to be printed.
Leave was given to Mr. DEEDES to bring in a Bill
to amend the Act for the appointment and payment of
parish constables.
On the motion of Sir D. NORREYS, returns were
ordered of the amount of poor-rates collected in the dif-
ferent uoions of the country daring the year 1847.
Tho School Districts Contribution Bill, and the Green-
wich Hospital improvement Bill, were ordered to be read
a snond time.

PROCESS AND PRACTICE (IRELAND) BILL.
Upon the order ( f the day being read for going into
Committee on this Bill,
Colonel DUNNE objected to its being proceeded with
at that hour, it being then a quarter past twelve.
Mr. SADLEIR stated that the Bill was one of consi-
derable importance, and was perfectly prepared to go
into Committee upon it.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL hoped that the Hon.
Gentleman would not pc rsist in his motion, as in conse-
quence of applications which he had made to several
Members, these Hon. Members had consented, at
considerable inconvenience to wait after midnight for
the purpose of going into Committee on the Bill. He
Would reserve for a future occasion any clause upon
which a lengthened discussion would ho likely to arise.
Mr. GROGAN considered the Bill as of far too
serious a character to be proceeded with with so much

The O'GORMAN lIJAHON supported the motion
for going into Committee.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL hoped that they
would allow the Bill to go on, taking those clauses to
which there was act likely to be any opposition.
Mr. VESEY inquired whether the Honourable and
Learned Member Er Dublin approved of the provisions
of the Bill?
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL replied that the Ma.
and Learned Gentleman had given him great assistance
in drawing up the Bill. Ile appealed to the House to
giv• an hour every evening for the discussion of the
three Irish legal Bills before it.
Colonel DUNNE would still persevere in his oppo-
sition.
The SOLICITOR-GENERA, L said that he must, in
that case, abandon his proposition.
Major BLACK ALL condemned the opposition to going
into Committee, so far at least as the unopposed clauses
went.
Mr. MONSELL begged his Hon. and Gallant Friend
to allow the Bill to go on. Nothing could be fairer than
the proposition of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman.
Sir D. NORREYS also urged upon the Hon. and
Gallant Gentleman to withdraw his opposition. If he
did net, ho thought that the sense of the House ought to
be taken upon the question.
Colonel DUNNE then withdrew his opposition t) the
motion, characterising, however, the conduct of the llon.
and Learnel Gentleman the Solicitor-General as unfair
and unjust towards the Irish Mi-mbers.
The House then went into Committee.
Clauses 1,2, and 3 were agreed to.
Clluse 4 was struck out.
Clauses 5 and 6 were agreed to.
Clauses 7,8, 9, and 10 respectively were agreed to.
Mr. GROGAN objected to proceeding further, and
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL assented to the Chair-
man's reporting progress, anti obtaining leave to sit
again on Thursday.
The House resutred, the other orders of the day were
disposed of, and the House adjourned at One o'clock.

INDEPENDENT AUDIT OF RAILWAY ACCOUNTS.—
The committee c representatives of various railway
companies haVe finally agreed to the draft of this Bill,
which will soon be published as an authorised document.
The Bill contains very stringent powers for audit, and
incrn,-;cs in many very important particulars the general
powers oF th sl:areholders in the election and dismissal
of director, the general constitution of theboards, &c.
An executlvo commiltes, consisting of the following
we, e EppDlriteil to carry the Bill through Par •
gentlemen,
ame),—For London and North-Western, Mr.
liament, L r
South-Western, Mr. Baker;
Ewan acid Mr. James;
Eastern Counties, Mr. Martin; Great Western, Mr.
Norris; York, Newea'itlo, and Barwick. Air. Douglas;
Midland, Mr. Pope ; Lancashire and Yorkshire, Mr.
Mellor. A deputation from this committee •% alted
on Lord Stanley, to request him to take charge cf
the Bill.

RAILWAY' 13ALANCE-SHEETS AND DIVIDENDS.—
The 'lonic' of Lords has ordered that ten days before
the second reading of any railway Bill copies of tbo
balance-sheets of each company for 1818 and 1849, to-
gether with copies of tho scheme for dividends on which
the dividends have been declared, with the date and
amount of such dividends, shall be delivered into the
office of the clerk of the Parliaments.