The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-27 00:00:00

IKPERIAL P.ABLIAKENT

lIOUSE OF LORDS—LAST EVENING.
Tho LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on tho woolsack
at five o'clock.

THE COMPULSORY CHURCH RATES ABOLI-
TION BILL.
This bill was brought in and read a first time.
NON-TRADERS BANKRUPTCY (IRELAND) BILL.
This bill was committed and passed.

CONSOLIDATED FUND BILL.
This bill was read a second time.
LEGITIMACY DECLARATION (ILELAND) BILL.
Lord SOMERIIILL moved the second rea ling of this
bill, which was read accordingly.

FAIRS (IRELAND) BILL.
This bill was conunittod and pa,sed.
ECCLESIASTICAL TITLES BILL.

Earl STAN[IOPE moved that a select committee
be appointet to inquire into the bill which had been en-
titled " The E:clesiastical Titles Bill." flu would
remind their lordships that formerly it was for-
bidden to take any title by a clergyman not
of the Church of England. Thu noble earl (Russ .41), on
the occasion of Dr.Wisentan taking the title of Archbishop
of Westtninster, had objected to it. This measure was
then brought iu and passed, both in the other honso and
in this house, and it inflicted a penalty of £lOO against
any ono Ns ho .assarned au ecclesiastical title. How vain
has this victory proved. Lord Derby told thorn that the
returns of the penalties had been " nil," not a single
penalty had been inflicted. They must now consider
what injuries this act had inflicted. It might be
urged that no penalties had been enforced, but this
made the law most injurious. If there was a country
where respect for law should be enforced it was in Ire-
land; what must therefore be the feeling of the Irish people
when they found that this law was not enforced ?
The noble earl went into a detail of the objections which
affected the bill. The bill affected the episcopal as
well as the Roman Catholic bench, and the act was
bound to inflict a penalty on the one as well as on
the other. The noble lord also quoted from the opinion
of Justice O'llagan and eminent prelates, that the position
'of high ecclesiastical authorities-ought to be clearly defined.
The only object of the bill had boon to forbid what they
were not able to prevent. Ile would say to their lordships
make.toncessions while they could, so that they could
make resistance when it was required. The noble earl
concluded by moving the select committee.
Lord REDESDALE said that this was not only not a
party question, but also not even an ecclesiastical ques-
tion. It was the fact of a foreign potentate interfering
with the rightof this country, and if any one countenanced
the right of a foreign power to make appointments he
would be doing what was most pernicious. The movement
of the Pope iu this matter was most unlawful. From
the period of the Reformation down to 1851 there had
been no appointment in this country by the Pope, and
why should it be necessary than. It was an act of aggres-
sion, and most unfortunate and uncalled for. The act
alluded to'gwas a protest against this aggression.

Lord LYVEDEN looked upon the appointment of a
committee as premature, as there was a bill before the
House of Commons for the repeal of the act-
The Duke of SOMERSET did not think much advan-
tage would be derived from the appointment of a commit-
tee. He was still of the opinion he expressed when the
act was passed, that the act of the Pope in conferring
ecclesiastical titles upon Roman Catholic prelates in this
country was an outrage upon the Queen and the liberties
of the country.
The Marquis of CLANEICARDE said the act was a
grievance to the Roman Catholic prelates, and must be re-
pealed, but he doubted the expediency of appointing a
committee when the matter was pending before the other
House of Parliament.

Earl GREY said the bill before the House of Commons
repealed the act, but it was necessary to go a step further,
and to declare the effect which the act had produced.
The LORD CHANCELLOR, thought a case had been
made out for the appointment of a committee. Those who
regarded the act as a protest must now admit that it was
a protest made in a most inconvenient form, and accom-
panied by consequences which had proved eminently un-
desirable.

The Earl of MALMESBURY said the Government, as
a Government, had no objection to the appointment of a
committee ; but on the contrary regarded it as rather use-
ful than otherwise. He regretted the absence fvm the
house that evening of Earl Russell, who took so consider-
able a part in tho passing of the act.
The motion was then agreed to, and the house ad-
journed at 25 minutes to o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS--LAST EVENING,
The SPEAKER took the Chair at four o'clock.
LOCAL GO VERNMEN T ACTS.

In reply to Mr. PLu,
The Earl of MAYO was of opinion that great public
advantage would result if the Act was extended to Ire-
land; he was also of opinion that great improvement,
could be introduced in the taking of polls at municipal
elections in that country. With respect to the Towns'
Improvement Act, (Ireland), he hoped after the recess to
lay a bill on the table fur the improvement of that Act.
CAPTAIN WARREN'S INVENTIONS.

Colonel SY KIES asked the Secretary of State for War
whether the application of Captain Warren, R.N., whosJ
patent cooking apparatus had b3en adapted for use in the
army, would be referred to the "Standing Committee for
the consi leration of the claims of inventors to rewards."
Sir J. PAKINGTON said he did not propose to refer the
application to the committee named, as ho was of opinion
that Captain Warren had received sufficient reward by
having his apparatus purchased from his own agents on
his own terms. With respect to Mr. Jacques's invention,
ho was not acquaint3d with it; he would inqu're into the
matter.

INDIAN POSTAGE.
In reply to Mr. CRAWFORD,

Mr. S. BOOTH said the amount mentioned in the re-
turn referred to, viz., £27,643, was calculated upon the old
rate; and not on those now charged. The addition to
that sum from the increased charge would be about .£2,000
a month. An accurate account of the sums received from
the outward and inward India mail was kept.