The Sun.
London, England, 1868-05-21 00:00:00

DIPERIAL PARLIAFIENT

HOUSE OF COMMONS—YESTERDAY.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at 20 minutes past 12.
LIBEL BILL.

Sir C. O'LOGIILEN moved the house go into committee
on this bill, and in doing so assured Mr. Newdegate that
there was nothing adverse to Protestantism in the bill,
and under such circumstances ho hoped the hon. gentle-
man would withdraw his opposition to the bill.
Mr. NEWDEGATE said ho opposed the bill on general
grounds, and not upon any religious feeling. He was
quite satisfied with Lord Campbell's Act, and so, ho
thought, was the country and the persons affected by
the present measure. The law made the publisher
of any newspaper responsible for any libel it might
contain, which be thought a wise provision. Ho
had no desire to curtail the freedom of the press. He
wished to leave the onus of libel where it now rested,
and not to shift it to the sk.aker, who might bo
inaccurately reported. H.► cousi•lered the bill
one for the propagation of stands, and therefore he ob-
jected to goi❑g into committee.

Mr. ROEBUCK thought the bill.ought to be allowed to
go lute committee, where the obj,,ctio.is to it could be
thoroughly discussed. He thought it was of the
utmost importance that the public should be ac-
quainted wtth all that hid pile' at a public
meeting:, and not a portioa of it. Tiie reporters were,
11.11 ler the present law, prohibited from repenting anything
that was lipellous, ant, in the emit of their doing so,
their employers suffered, tle thought the present law re-
quired amendment, and therefore he should vote for going
into committee.

Mr. T. Cllkl-sIBELIS opposed the bill. it was a pure
sophism to say that a full report of all meetings would
propagate the truth, as aceording to his notion it depended
ou what the truth was that was spoken. Tile bill would
benefit none but the lovers of scandal, and therefore he
should oppose its going into committee.
Mr. NEUTE supported the bill. It was due he thought
that power should be given to reporters to represent facts.
Ile had seen reports of meetings which convoyed quite a
different complexion to that which actually took place.
The ATTORSEY-GENEEIA.L supported the bill, be-
cause it gave the power to the person who believed him-
self injured of contradicting the statement, and it still
fnade the newspaper editors who carelessly and
recklessly published a libel responsible for any
act of that nature, and also liable ti make compensa-
tion for the injury inflicted. Whale reporters were ad-
mitted to any meeting, it vvas highly necessary that they
should have the power of reporting the whole truth. He
thought the advantages preponderated over the disadvan-
tages in the bill, and therefore he should give it his sup-
port. (Hear, hear.)

Mr. WHALLEY opposed the bill, and said the per-
severance of tha hon. member for Clara was due to the
influence of Jesuitism.

Mr. Sergeant ARMSTRONG thought the third clause
gave sufficient protection to all parties, and as the bill
would prevent slander he should vote fur going into com-
mittee.

Mr. COLERIDGE objected to the bill, because it made
very important alterations in the law which he considered
altogether unnecessary, the law being now quite suffi-
ciently merciful to the publisher of false charges on any
party. Public statements on the public acts of public men
were already privileged statements. It was only when
the private acts of private men were attacked that the law
was at all stringent. Why should a private, inno-
cent, harmless man be chugged out of his privacy
by the publication of a slander in a news-
paper? Why should the publication of personal
slander uttered at a quasi-public meeting or a semi-public
meeting have an exceptional protection? Ile felt that the
third clause gave the remedy to the wrong person. The
hen. member for Sheffield said that truth was a great
argument, but the fact was the hon. member confounded
truth with accuracy. Truth they all worshipped,
but ho did not think that an accurate report
and a slander was what was required. Thinking the bill
made an alteration in the wrong direction, he should vete
against going into committee.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL for IRELAND thought
the bill altogether uuuecessary:

After a discussion, in which Viscount Amberley, Mr.
Lawson, Mr. Dillwyn, and Mr. C. Buxton took part, the
house divided, when there appeared—

For going into committeo ...
... 108
Against ... ... ••• ... ... 38

Majority ... 70
The house then Weut into committee on the bill.
On clause 1,

Mr. SA.NDFORD moved an amendment. The clause
was that no editor should be open to au action for libel for
publishing a correct report of the proceedings of a public
meeting; he moved the substitution of the word "speeches"
for "proceedings." _ .

A. discussion Ousued, but the amendment wa3 agreed to,
Mr. Wi.alley only saying "No."
Clause 2 was agreod
Oa olau3o 3 Wing proposed,

Sir R. COLLIER moves its ornissilti: He was afraid
that whilst they were iatcat oa sJctriag the liberty
of the Press, they were guiiig to liuut tho freedom of
deb ate. At presout a inan wits not liable for the effect of
wortls ho uttered, uuless were weA) im;;l:ed crimival
off Juc:.. By the clause as it now stood everything that
was written was actiouabls if it leaded to bring a aim
ioto ridicule au 1 contempt ; and if they were to agree to
such a propos,' as that it could not bat tail to restrict the
freedom of debate.

The ITT JRNEY-GENERAL said he was responsible
fur the drawing up of the clause. It was quite true it
alt •red the law of slander to some extant, sal the effect
of the clause would only be to cause peeiele to reflect upon
the character of authors before they made assertions which
were scandalous or untrue. If one person went to a meet-
ing, made a charge which was unjustitiabl,,, and refused
to apologise, then he was open to an a;;Lioa fur libel. He
did not s•'e much objection to that.

Sl'r C. 01,0G3LEN said the proposed change was
entirely consistent with the opinion of Lord Lyndhurst
and other men of the highest eminency, although it did
not go so far as their recorded opinions. He did not think
the alb:ration made was at all dangerous or objectionable
on solid grounds.

Mr. 'l'. CHAMBERS opposed the clause. It was not
in the present instance a case of rubbing Peter to pay
Paul, but robbing Peter to make an unnecessary present
to Paul. The clause, as it stood, would exempt a person
who had undoubtedly committed an offenca for the pur-
pose of making another liable who had not really done
so.

Mr. WFIALLEY again described the bill as one alto-
gether opposed to Protestantism.

Mr. K. HUGESSEN thought the clause wouM restrict
discussion, and work so badly that lie felt it his duty to
vote against it.

Mr. Sergeant GASELEE thought the bill a most dan-
gerous and uncalled for ono, and therefore he should give
it all the opposition in his power.
The SOLIOITOR-GENERA.L said he should give his
vote in favour of the clause.

Mr. FOSTER thought it going too far to make an editor
of a newspaper open to an action for libel for report-
ing the speech of a person who was turning
another into ridicule. Members of the house had
often been guilty of attempting to do the same thing. lie
was in favour of getting a slander in black and white
rather than letting it float about after it had been spoken,
but not reported, at a public meeting.
After some further discussion the house divided on the
question that the clause be postponed, when there
appeared—
Ayes ..
Noes 5l
Majority
Tho clause was then postponed and tho chairman re-
ported progrese.

- Thu Entail Aineadinent (Scotland) Bill was read a se-
cond time.

The Mines As essment Bill was ordered to be reprinted
with amendments.

The committee on the Sunday Trading Bill was post-
poned until the 23d of June.
The Courts (Admiralty Jurisdiction) Bill was read a
third time and passed. •
The Consolidated Fuud (Z 17,000,000) Fill passed
through committee.
The house then adjourned.

Fenian Mail Packet List,

MAILS

Ilustralia and New Zeeland, via Boutb.amptoa May 23
Ditto, via slarseilles ...June 17
Ditto, vla l'snatna . • 29
Llueno4 Ayres, and ..11oate Video ~„„ June 4

Ditto. by french paoket • ••• Mil 2:
Cepa Verde. by Urazil packet ...... June 4.
Uspe of Good Hope. Atwaslon. and St. tielena June 12.
Juin% Penang, and Singdapare, via South Imptoa ty 21
Ditto. ♦la Uarsellles ..... • ...... June 11.
Falkland 151and5...... .•..• • ....Juuaf.

dibraltar, via Souttianapioa
Soatliarapton O •••
Ditto, viA Marseil es . ..... Niay 2S
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Ditto, Marseille.; 11zy
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South‘mptoa

DIU 4 - Alenieinea .. June 8
Sewfoundland ...... ..... . ..... 2
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Ditto, bj pr le ship to Oporw -
Ditto itto to Lisbon
United States,: aurida, California, Am, by British
packet .. May 21
Ditto, by L. bitcd 3tates packet
Ditto ditto 'Now York,
Ditto ditto Nuw York)

Ditto dittt (Baltimore)
Ditto, by Canadian paeltet .......... 22.
Test Coast of Afri—s, Madeira, and Teneran •.. Juue 3
Set mules and Paoilio,exzept 51exioo and isatl4-
mas)
Cab and si exieo ........... ............... • ... May 2).
133.1.1a.na5, via New Y- . ........................ May 20.
Bermuda, via Halifax A - .
.. Awe 9.

SPURTING INTELLIGENCE—This Day.

VICTORIA CLUB BETTING.—This DAT.

DERBY.
2to 1 agst Lady Elizabeth (taken and offered)
7to 1 agst Rusicrucian (offered)
7.t0 1 agst Blue Gown (offered)
11 to 1 agst Orion (offered)
1000 to 80 agst Paul Jones (taken)
13 to 1 agst Speculum (taken)
20 to 1 agst Suffolk (taken and offered)
25 to 1 agst Tom Bowline c (offered)
40 to 1 agst Pace (taken)
40 to 1 agst Uncas (offered)
1000 to 15 agst Mercury (taken)
500 to 5 agst Earl (taken)
1000 to 5 agstLf-gislation (taken)
1000 to 2 agst Franchise (ofiered)
1000 to 2 agst Chelsea (offered)
1000 to 2 agst See Sew (offered)
1000 to 400 sgst Sir Joseph Hawbiy's lot (taken)
10.00 ;o 40 agst Green Sleeve, with a start (taken)
00 to 400 nu Ludy Elizabeth-1, 2, 3 (taken)
sto 2 agst Pnul Jones--1, 2, 3 (taken and wanted)
100 to 30 agst Speculum -1, 2, 3 (taken)
Bto 1 agst Uncas —l, 2, 3 (taken)

TILL PROSECUTION OF EX-GOVERNOR

El RE.

(Continued from our Fir.,t Edition of yesterday.)
Sir R. P. Collier said that they were relieved, and,
were glad to be relieved, of the necessity (.4
prosecuting on the graver charge. He was ini-,cft
obliged to them. But how were they relieN.Pfed?
Was it by the pressure of any scruple of conscie ace?
No. It was simply because they could not, do it.
They did not find themselves relieved ...Trail Sir
Thomas Henry refused to commit Mr. 'Eyre for
trial on the charge of murder. And now they
wished to make capital out of their •own defeat.
He contended that they were now a'cotempting to
separate the charge into parts, and proceed upon
each of them separately. Would it•have been coin_
petent for the Crown, after prosecuting certai4
persons for murder, on the grov.nd of their alleged
complicity in the explosion, at Clerkeu well, .and,
after their acquittal on tliat charge, to try them
again for the injury done to some individual who
had been wounded by the fragments of the barrel,
and, failing in that, to proceed against them for
creating au obstruction by placing the barrel on,
the footway ?

Mr. Vaughan said the charge which Sir Thomas
Henry declined to entertain was that of the murder
of Mr. Gordon, which was only a part of the gene-
ral question. This proceeding related to other
matters, and he could not ref Lls3 to entertain them,
because the charge failed as to Gordon's case. Many
of these matters arose after Gordon's case, and had,
not been shown to have any connection with it.
Sir It. P. Collier__l did not charge the imprison-
ment of Levier, or of Phillips, or of Vinen as
murder.

Mr. Vaughan said there was involved in this
case a great deal besides what came out then. For
instance, it would be one of the important questions
to be considered by a jury, whether Mr. Eyre was
justiaed in maintaining the proclamation and con-
tinning to execute martial law, not only down to
the time of the amnesty, on the 30th October, but
down to the 24th of November ; and if the case
rested on no other point, he should, on that point
alone, think it his duty to send the case further.
He should be of that opinion if this were the only
charge against him.

Mr. Giffard said he was not anxious to go on,
speaking for the mere sake of hearing his own
voice. If tha magistrate had made up his mind he
should not pursue the argument any further.
Mr. Vaughan was bound to say that unless Mr.
Giffard could address to him arguments of such
cogency as to make him entirely reverse the view
he had formel so far, it would be his duty to send
the case before a jury.

Mr. Ginn' felt that it was a great discourage-
ment to know that the learned magistrate had
already formed an opinion adverse to his case, but
he was bound to give any tribunal before which he
appeared credit for having an open mind to receive
and duly consider any arguments he had in his clay
to submit on behalf of his client.

Mr. Gitfard then went on to contend that this
was not the offence Mr. Eyre was charged with.
There was nothing about
,it in the suunnons,
had it been urged by Sir R. P. Collier.
Mr. Vaughan said there were two charges—that
of issuing an illegal proclamation, and that of com-
mitting, oppressive acts under that proclamation.
Now it appeared to his mind that if Mr. Eyre dil
not put au end to that state of martial law at the
time when he Wight have done so, then he was
guilty of oppression.

Sir R. P. Collier sail that when he made the
application for the summons he did enter into that
question.

Mr. Giffard said he could not enter into what
was said at the application for the summons. He
had only to do with what had taken place during
the actual proceedings. As to the necessity of
the proclamation, it appeared to him that those
who complain of the alleged oppression of certain
inhabitants of the colony treated the colony itself
with contempt. It ought to be borne in mind, and
he hoped the magistrate would consider it as a
definite means of coming to a conclusion, what
ought to be done in disposing of this case.

COMAIITCAL OF GOVERNOR EYRE FOR

TRIAL.

At the conclusion of the learned counsel's
address, Mr. Vaughan said he should have been
very glad if it had bee❑ consistent with his duty to
let the case end here, but he felt that it was a
case which ho was bound to send to a higher
tribunal.

Mr. Eyre, on being ca'led upon to make any
statement in defence, addressed the court in impas-
sioned language, and with much emotion complained
of the persecution to which he had been exposed,
but declaring his confidence in the judgment of
the court above and of public opinion being in his
favour.

Mr. Vaughan committed him for trial at the next
Court of Oyer and Terminer at the Court of
Queen's Bench, and bound him over to appear in
the sum of £l,OOO.

The Duke of Buckingham has issued a despatch
to the Governor of Natal, giving instructions that
any officiA taking part or aiding in the consecra-
tion of a bishop in opposition to Dr. Coleus° shall
be immediately suspended.

FALSE HorEs.—The Metropolitan Board of
Works have at length made arrangements for the paving
of the portion of the Thames Embankment between
Westminster-bridge and the Temple, adapted for foot
passengers, and the promenade will probably be thrown
open to the public in about a mouth from the present
time.—The Owl. •

REPRESENTATION OF MAORIS.--The last mail
brought news from Wellington, New Zealand, that writs
had been issued for the election of four Maori representa-
tives to sit in the General Assembly. The nominations
were to be made on the loth of April.

It has been intimated to Sergeant Armstrong, by
the ordinary Opposition agency, that no encouragement
will be given to his vote of want of confidence motion, the
leaders of the Liberal party considering that such a step
would interfere with the progress of the Suspensory Bill
and otherwise disarrange well-concerted organisation.
The Owl.
SUDDEN DEATH IN FLEET-STREET.--On Wednes-
day morning at tan o'clock Mr. Warren, the manager of
the Sporting News, died suddenly in the office of that
journal in Fle,t-street. It appears that the unfortunate
gentleman was suddenly seized with a sort of fainting fit,
and a messenger was at once sent off for assistance.. Be-
fore Mr. Brooks had time to arrive, Mr. Varren died, ap-
parently from the effects of syncope, or stoppage of the
heart's action. This melancholy event has produced a
pAinful feeling, not only among the immediate neighbours
of the deceased, but in sporting circles generally. Ths
eJroner Liss been cornainuicatod with, and an inquest will,
it is understood, be hold.
to conaid'eri;ast
aipknreonEpociosni
THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES ACT.—EDINBURGH,
Monday.—A crowded mooting of the electors of Edinburgh
washeld to-day in the Music-hall,
al
to adopt the Public Libraries Act ; the Lord Provost pre-
siding. The meeting was very noisy throughout. 'Tile
chief objection urged by the opponents of the movarnent
aAb-Ablacorstga. ththAa2taoslt:ltwethe:ol.erdreyevi.oshttituoulsiuwfflauipiisoihnabotywfnav:vioomofttbitorhazato•
rifoedfatsrhiebbra:a.di:n.
a°Pstie°rlltttio.afyt:hoyef
he votes has still to bs made,

LAST DAYS OF CAPTIVITY IN MA=ALA.

The very interesting letter of Lieutenant Prideaux in
the Pall Mall Gazette furnishes many phases of life in
Abyssinia which could not possibly have been supplied by
the special correspondents of the moaning papers. The
closing days of the captivity in Magdala form the subject
of one or two graphic sketches.