The Sun.
London, England, 1868-07-20 00:00:00

APPROPRIATION BILL.

This bill via; read a sacond time, and ordered to be
committed on Monday.

CORRUPT PRACTICES BILL.

The house went into committee on this bill.

Sir F. GOLDSMID proposed the addition of a new
clause, enacting that all votes given for candidates should
be considered as thrown away.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL opposed the clause.
Mr. B. ELOPE contended that it was decidedly news-
s try that the bill upon which they were engaged should
have such a clause as that proposed.
Mr. WILSON PATTEN said the clause, instead of be-
ing a protection, would in fact open the door to wholesale
fraud, and instead of decreasing corruption, it would lead
to the entire failure of the measure which had received so
much thought and consideration.

A short discussion ensued, at the termination of which
the house divided, when there appeared—
For tho clause 4B
Against it
Majority

Mr. FAWCETT moved an additional clause, providing
that at every election for any county or borough the ex-
penses lawfully incurred by the returning officers for the
provision of hustings, poll clerks, polling booths or
rooms, and any other necessary requisites for the
conduct of the election, should be defrayed in the case
of any county nr borough from the county or borough rate ;
Provided, that it should not be lawful for any person to
be nominated as a candidate at any such election, unless
he or some person on his behalf should before one o'clock
in the afternoon of the day preceding the day of nomina-
tion have paid to the returning officer the sum of one
hundred pounds. Where a poll should take place at any
such election, the returning officer shall apply the monies
so paid to him towards defraying the lawful expenses of
the returning officer relating to such election.
Mr. DISRAELI objected to the clause, as he thought it
would be most unwise to increase the rates of the country
for the purposes referred to.
Mr. GLADSTONE supported the clause, as it would
produce greater economy than was now in practice. It
was a mistake to suppose that the community did not
contribute at present to the expense of a general election.
It was most desirable the contests should be made
as inexpensive as possible, as it was a most
desirable thing that skilled artizaas should be.sent to that
hens:, especially as they would be the best representatives
-of the class by whom they would be sent. He was en-
tirely averse to maintaining a system which entirely pre-
cluded any but a rich man seeking a seat in that house.—
(Hear, hear.)
Mr. HARDY thought the present bill was not exactly
the right place to introduce such a clause. If it was de-
sirable to enact such a proviso, it ought to be done in a
different way to that now proposed.
Mr. MILL supported the clause.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said the whole of the
measure upon which they were engaged was one for the
prevention of corruption. Tue proposed clause was, in
fact, a proposal to benefit members of that house at the ex-
pense of the ratepayers, although it was well known that
both the country and borough rate was already over-
burdened. He hoped the house would not adopt the clause,
because it was an attempt to pass a provision entirely in
favour of themselves at the expense of others already vary
heavily taxed.
Mr. WHITE said the great expense so much talked
about would amount to about the addition of a farthing in
the pound.
The committee divided, when there appeared—
For the clause 7B
Against it 69
Majority in favour of the clause —9

A very angry discussion ensued, when it was an-
nounced that the clause and proviso had been carried.
The proviso was generally objected to, and various sugges-
tions were offered. Ultimately it was agreed to strike ii
out, the member for Brighton agreeing to bring up an-
other proposal on the reception of the rep3rt.

_ -
On the question that the clause stand part of the bill,
the committee divided, when there appeared—

Ayes
Noes
Majority in favour of the clause —B
Mr. CLAY then moved a clause rendering it necessary
that members, on taking the oath at the table after their
election, should be called upon to make a solemn declara-
tion that they had not committed, or been privy to, any
acts of bribery to procure his return. The penalty for
making a false declaration was put down at £5OO.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL thought it useless to
add the clause to the bill ; it had frequently been tried to
carry such a proposal, but all attempts had failed.
Mr. MILL was strongly in favour of the proposed
cla use.

The committee divided, when there appeared—
For the clause
Against it
Majority against the clauso —4o
Mr. DISRAELI appealed to the committee to allow the
discussion on the bill to close. Such a course would
greatly facilitate business., The consideration of the re-
maining amendments could be taken upon the bringing up
the report on Wednesday next.
The suggestion was acceded to, and the chairman then
reported the bill with amendments. It was ordered to
be reprinted, and taken into consideration on the day
named.

The house then resumed.
The Colonial Shipping Bill was read a third tiino and
passed.

The Admiralty Suits Bill was read a third, time and
passed.

The Hudson's Bay Company which was for the
purpose of enabling the lands and rights of the company
to be added to Canada, was read a second time.
The house then adjourned.

SHELBURNE IN THE OLDEN TIME.—In Rev.
Theophilus Packard's address at the centennial celebra-
tion at Shelburne, Franklin county, wo find the following
reminiscences of old-fashioned customs, sharply in con-
trast with modern habits :—Until 1818 no provision was
made for warming the church, except by foot stoves.
During service on cold Sabbaths the thumping of
boots together over the house was a significant
sign of what was wanted. In church music it
was customary to " line," or deacon," the hymn
as it was sung, and dissatisfaction was produced
by giving up the practice and by introducing in-
strumental music, and some would go out of church for
these reasons. Formerly the notices of intended marriages
were, according to law, " cried" orally by the town clerk
at the close of public religious service. People had their
seats assigned them in the old meeting-house by the town's
committee, according to age and property, until the house
was demolished in 1832. It appears from the town re-
cords that public offices were not always 'eagerly coveted
in former days. In 1788 the town was actually fined for
not sending a representative to the Legislature; and in
1780 four men, who were successively chosen as represen-
tatives, positively declined the office. The town used to
exercise a sharp discrimination respecting what kind of
inhabitants they would tolerate here. In the fi:st2s years
it formally warned one hundred and thirty-two persons ac-
cording to law to depart out of its coasts. Before th 6
division of old Hampshire county in 1811 all people had
to go to Northampton to do county business. Twenty-
seven years before, Shelburne, in town meeting, com-
menced efforts fur a division of the county. There was no
public conveyance to and from town till about 1819, and
no post-office till the Speaker's application to the Post-
master-general, M'Lean, in 1822, procured one. In regard
to the use of intoxicating drinks a vast change has trans-
pired, as in other portions of the country, in forty years.
Cider and cider brandy were once manufactured and sold
with large liberality among the inhabitants of the town.
Eight distilleries and five public hou es that sold such
drinks outside of the Falls village were once in operation.
Apple trees and the worm of the still at first stood
squarely in the way of reformation. When the first efforts
were made, some 40 years ago, to obtain signatures to the
temperance pledge, not half a dozen names could bo pro-
ciao dat the Falls. The temperance reform has now ex-
tendJd its salutary influence over the large mass of this
population,