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

site? of London should be permitted to he imperfectly
represented, without a step being taken to ascertain the
exact na'ura of the oath required to be taken by him be-
fore ho could take his seat.—( Hear, hF ar.) The nature of
these oa'hs depended upon a vast variety of circum-
stances; for there wero co less than nineteen Acts of Par-
liament bearing on the subject, and he could not say that
ihere were not more. It would be also important to con-
sider the mode in which Par. Pease was admitted as a
Member of that House, in order to come t) 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
resolution of the House; and it would be important to
consider file various Acts of Parliament which bore upon
the question. It would also be important to consider the
mdde in which the various religious denominations were
permitted to take cants at the present moment. The lit
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 rezpcet. 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 professing the
Christian reliplion; 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. He contented himself
with making. thia short statement, as ho 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 h's own respon-
sibility. He had consulted lawyers of the highest
eminence on 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
canoluded 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 this 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 assurUe the usual right of calling w

ne7.ses before them.—(Hear, hear )
Major MACKENZIE was at a loss to conceive the
necessary connexion betwe-,n the inquiry with regard to
the oaths taken by (embers of PArliament and the ca:l2s
and affirmations taken in courts of justice.

Mr. PAGE WOOD said that be rested a considdr.

able portion of his motion on the case of Mr. Pease—
(Hear, hear)—and with respect to the affirmation in that
ease no record had been kept.
Sir ROBERT PEEL observed that he had given his
cordial support to the attempt of the Noble lArd (Lord
J. Russell) to admit by !aw the gentleman to whom re-
ference had been made to that house; and if that Noble
Lord had introduced a Bill during tne present cessior,
no person would have volunteered a more cordial sup-
port than he would. He understood that the Hon. and
Learred 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 fur was established, it
would receive its due support; but it was necessary that
the House ehoull suspend its jutlenent in the meantime
and not adopt the case of Mr. Pease as a precedent. The
Hon. and Learned Gentleman who had moved this Com-
mittee had stated that there were many grave questions
to be de ideal; 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 c f Quakers
and that of other denominations of DiKenters.—(ilear,
hear.) He (Sir R. Peel) repeated that he should watch
with jealeuiy any attempt at legislative enactment in such
a care independently of the House of Lerds.—(Hear.)
Mr. S. WORTLEY agreed wl,l the Right Hon.
Baronet who had 11,1 t 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
House, by agreeing to the eppointineut of this Commit-
tee, passed any judgment upon the question as to whether
a Jew could or could not take his seat without takirg
the oaths usual upon such en occasion. He thought it a
matter of considerable importance that the question with
regard to Acts of Parliament bearing on the subject, and
the interpretation put upon the case of Mr. Pease should
be referred to such a Committee, although L e was at a
loss to understand how that gentleman could have male
the affirmation attributed to bins, and that in the same
session there should have been an Act of Parliament
passed prescribing the menner in which that affirmation
£honld be male. 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
Aet of Parliament upon the eubiect.—(Hear, hear.) lie
did not throw this out as a matter of doubt, but of argu-
ment; and he thought it a matter which might be es ell
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 iucur 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 lion.
Baronet the Member for Tathworth in the opinion that it
was desirable to have the fullest information on this
subject. There was one portion of the motion, which
had reference to inquiries respecting the mode of ad-
ministering oaths in courts of law, which he did not
think could have any bearirg upon the question of oaths
to be taken by Members of Parliament upon taking their
seats.
Th• 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.
1433V0 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 unions of the country daring the year 1847.
The School Districts Contrihution Bill, and the Green-
wich Hospital Improvement nil', were ordered to be read
a second time.
PROCESS AND PRACTICE (IRELAND) BILL.
Upon the order of 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 gnattor past twelve.
Mr. SADLEIR stated that the Bill was one uf consi-
derable importance, and was perfectly prepared to go
into Committee upon it.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL hoped that the Hon.
Gentleman would not p;rsist in his motion, as in conse-
qeenee of applications which he had made to several
Irish Members, these Hon. Members Lad consented, at
considerable inconvenience to wait after midnight for
the purpose ( f going into Committee "o❑ the Bill. He
would reserve for a future occasion any clause upon
which a lengthened discussion would be likely to arise.
Mr. GROGAN considered the Bill as of far too
serious a character to be proceeded with with so much
baste.
The O'GORMAN MAHON 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 not likely to be any opposition.
Mr. VESEY inquired whether the Honourable and
Learned Member f Dublin approved of the provisions
of the. Bill ?

The SOLICITOR-G'ENERAL repliad that the lIJa.
and Learr.ed Gentlemsn had given him great assistance
in drawing up the Bill. lla appsaled to the House to
give an, hour every evening for the diseu:sion of the
threalriih kcal Bills before it.

ColOnel would still persevere in his oppo-
sition.. .

- Th...SOLICITOR-GENER AL said that he must, in
that east,., abanlon hi 3 proposition.
Majorl LACKKALL conlsmned the opp)sition to going
into Committer, so tar at least as the unopposed dames

BIONSELL begged his Hon. and Gallant Friend
to allow the Bill to go on. Noshing could ba fairer than
the proposition of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman.
Sir *D. NORREYS al urged upon the Hon. and
Gallint .Gentleman to wit%draw his opposition. If he
did not, he thought that the sense of the House ought to
be faken upon the question.
Colonel DUNNE then wieadrow his opposition to the
motion, characterising, however, the conduet of the lion.
and Learne 1 Gentleman tho S.,licitor-General as unfair
and uLjut towards the Irish M. mbers.
The House then went into Committee.
Clauses 1,2, and 3 were agreed to.
Chase 4 was struck out.
Clauses 5 and 5 were agreed to.
Clauses 7,8, 9, and 10 respectively were agreed to.
Slr. GROGAN objected to proceeding further, and
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL assented to the Chair-
man's reporting progress, at d obtaining leave to sit
again 'on Thursday.
The I.loute resutr el, the other orders of the day were
...disPDs9cl of, and the House adjourned at Ono o'clock.

INDEPENDENT AUDIT CF RAILWAY ACCOUNTS.—
The cotraittee +f presentatives of various. railway
companies have finarlrul
e:rbilt,...ti,reocl to the draft of this Bill,
which will soon be
tt 91 as an authorised document.
The Bill contains very
increases in many very icarpinifirt rwers for audit, and
ltr particulara the general
powers of the !harebolders in election and diarcip,al
of diroclot%, the general constitit,et,i
jail cf the boards, &c.
nen; of the tonDwin,
An executive commi•of.., consi:
gentlaner, were appointed to car •
ry tho Bill through P '
sr-
liament,_Lurnely—For London and N•li
Ewan arcs I.lr. J 2r:es; SAlth_wes.teth-Wvstern, M.
Eastern Coantir.s, Mr. Martin ; Greatrnivrt.l,rn. .132kcr ;
Norris; York, Noy:ea:tie, and Barwick, hi---"' 'r-
IVlidlanii, Mr. I.' ope ; Lancashire and yori.ipouglas;
ilellor. A deputation from this "ire' Mr•
committee .1.-t;• 1
on Lard Stanley, to retitle:it lalm to tat-. as ' ` ''€`
-,- caaarge cf
the Bill.

RAILWAY B LANCE.SIIEETS AND DIVIDENDS.--
The. House of Lords has ordered that ten days before
the second reading cf any riiiway Bill copies cf the
bllacce-sheets cf each comnany for 1848 and 1849, to-
gother with copies of the scheme fir crvidends 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.

isUYAL
Pmprlctor, Mr. W. Batty.
An entire change in the Scenes of the Arena.
New Grand Spectacle.
Continued success of the Dames of the Fox-hunting Chase, by Eight
principal E s of the Fstablishment.
Madlles. Oardoni and Amille on the Dculle Tight It.,pes In a petite
Ballet entitled The Hungarian Wood cutters.
THIS EVENING
The performance will commence at a Quarter to Seven, with a
new Grand Spectacle of THE GORSE DE LEON; or, the Brigand
of Savoy.
To be followed by a brilliant display of Batty's peerless scenes of
the Circle, supported by the accomplished artistes of the establish-
ment.
To conclude with TIIE DESERTED MILL ; or, The Soldier's
Widow.

Bc.x-oftice open from Eleven till Your.