The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-22 00:00:00

LAI3IJAN AND COAST OF BORNEO.

Mr. HUME moved fur the following returns :—Copies
of the instructions from Sir Francis Collier, to Com-
mander Farquhar, alluded to in Mr. Farquhar's report of
the 25th day of August, 1849, (page 9) ; of Sir Francis
Collier's report adverted to in Lord Eddisbury's lktter of
the 9th day of November, 1849 (page 11) ; of Sir James
Brooke's dispatch to Lord Palmerston, relative to the
building a fort at the entrance of the Sakarran riser,
noticed in Sir James Brooke's letter of the lit day of
October, 1849, and of the answer of Lord Palmerston
thereto ; and, of the depositions taken by order of Sir
C. Rawlinson, recorder of Singapore, respecting the pi-
rates destroyed by a force under the orders cf Com-
mander Farquhar, on the 31st day of July, 1849, for
which Sir U. Rawlinson has granted certificates for
bounty. He said be was induced to do so in conse-
quace of finding the papers which had been presen, ed
had been garbled. He wished to know why the instruc-
tions. given by Sir F. Collier to Mr. Farquhar bad been
withheld.

Sir F. BARING observed that there was no objection
ta these returns as far as the Admiralty was coneeruetl.
He had been pressed for the former return, and he had
given all the papers which were ready, and others would
shortly to furnished. Some, however, which bad been
asked for were not yet in the possession of the Admi•
ratty, but when they arrived in this country they would
be produced, but it would be necessary to send out for
others.

Mr. HUME stated that they would shortly be called
upon to vote 98,000/. for head money for the destruc•
Lion of pirates on the coast of Borneo, and, as he believed
the proceedings to have been illegal, he wished for all
the documents which could elucidate the matter, or es-
tablish the charge, and if these rapers were not in the
possession of 'her Majesty's Government they had not
acted in a way which was consistent with their duty to
the public interest.
Tl.e returns were then ordered, as was also an ac-
count of the East India Company's charges for steamers
and troops emplo3Ed at Labuan and on the coast of
Borneo from 1839 to 1849 inclusive.

REPEAL BILL.
AIESCLIEAfj MONEY)
The House resolved itself into Committee on this Bill.
On clause 1 being put,
Mr. HUME asked whether the Government hal yet
paid any portion of the 98,0001. to be voted for head
money in the present estimates? He also wished to
know whether they meant to call for evidence to show
the number of pirates really killed, and for whom prize
money was claimed. It had been stated that the number
was 2,140; but no depositions bad been produced or evi-
dence adduced, to show that they were pirates. He,
therefore, wished to know whether this money would be
paid Lefore it vv:ls proved that they were pirates?
Sir F. BARING replied that the payments were
made under a specific Act of Parliament, which it was
now proposed to alter. It would not be fair to those
parties to withhold payment under the existing law.
When the estimates came on, his Hon. Friend would
have ample opportunities of discussing the question,
when he would have in his possession all the papers in
the possession of the Government. He trusted the Hon.
Gentleman would allow this Bill to proceed without
going into the other question.
Mr. HUME said he highly approved of the Bill; but
he protested against the money being paid until evidence
was adduced to show that the persons killed were pi-
rates. For his own part, he was prepared to show that
they were not pirates, but injured and innocent persons.
Sir F. BARING said there was no power to withhold
payment under the existing law. Under this Bill the
decision for the future in a case of this kind would be
left to the discretion of the Admiralty.
Tho various clauses were then agreed to.
The House resumed.
The Brick Duties Bill was read a second time.
The School Districts Contributions Bill was con-
sidered.

The Judgments (Iceland) Bill went through Com.
mittee.

COUNTY RATES AND EXPENDITURE BILL,

- -•-•• • 4.•
On the °relir ot,the day for the nomination of the Se-
lect Committee on this Bill,
Sir J. PAKINGTON called the attention of the House
to the constitution of the Committee with respect to fill-
ing up the vacancies. It was painful to raise questions
of an individual kind; but his Hon. Friend behind him
(Major Beresford) had given notice of his intention to
move two changes in the Committee list, and he (Sir J.
Pakington) considered that there was ample ground for
that motion, and he should vote for it if his Honourable
Friend pressed a division. The Right Honourable
Member for Manchester must admit that a Committee
. upon such an important Bill should be so constituted as
to give no ground of objection. It was a measure to
effect great changes, and would require serious consi-
deration; and he appealed to the House if the decision
of the Committee, whether it came back in the form of
an altered Bill or of a report, would not be entitled to
more or less weight according to the constitution of the
Committee?—(Hear, hear.) The first element in its
composition should be the competency a the parties,
and in addition to members of the Government, it should
have consisted of gentlemen of long experience as magis-
trates, and of lawyers, who would be influenced by their
professional habits. He did not disparage any Hon.
Gentleman by merely saying that his life had not been
passed in the discharge of magisterial duties, or that he
was not a professional lawyer; but a great blot in the
constitution of the Committee was, the want of prcfes•
sional gentlemen, and cf gentlemen accustomed to act as
magistrates. lie did not wish to complain of the Go-
vernment; but looking to the circumstances under
which this measure had been brought in, the House had
a right to expect that the Committee should be so con-
stituted as to give weight to its decision.—(Hear, hear.)
Bt.t if the Bit went up stairs to the Committee now
proposed, the decision would not have the necessary
weight.—(Hear, bear.) He would suggest that, instead
of going through the tames seriatim, the whole list
should be withdrawn, and the Committee remodelled.
Mr. M. GIBSON said that his object had been to get
a fair and impartial Committee, and he thought be had
accomplished that object by the nomination as it stood.
There were county Members and chairmen of quarter
sessions upon the Committee. But the question now
was the withdrawal of the name of Sir James Graham,
and he then proposed to go through the rest of the names
and move their appointment.

Mr. NEWDEGAIE said that the object of the 01
Con of his Hun. and Gallant Friend (Major Beresfora)
was not a porty object, and defended his proposition.
Major BERESFORD said that although he saw hi
the state of the Rouse what would be the result of 1
division, he was determined to eersevere. His object°
to the C, maittee was a fair and proper one, and he re•
presented the sentiments of a large body of cowl
gentlemen, whom he had consulted, and who declared
their belief that this was an unfair Committee is
every e ay, the rasjirity of opinions being on ehe
side.—(Hear, hear.) He was, therefore, resolve':
to divine the House. If the Committee was constituted
as the Right Hoe. Gentleman proposed, the cowl
gentlemen would feel that their wishes and opioions
been slighted, and the recision by a small and Pairiv
majority would have no weight with the country. Erer'
one would know what value to set upon it. There eeted
two gentlemen on the Committee who were conneete
with the county of Lancaster.—(Hear.) The li°olll
Member for Stockport seemed to desire to confound
(Major Beresford) with a want of geographical /golf
ledge, and he assured him he was, not so geographies'ii
ignorant us not to know that part of the borough il
Stockport was in Cheshire, and the Hon. Member 01
he was Member for a Cheshire borough. But let 11911
gentleman look at the boundaries in the library newe„- ,11
the time ot the Reform Bill, and he would find tha:g.
a Stockport was in the county of Lancaster. s'i,
Hon. and Gallant Member then moved that the nse).
of Earl March be substituted for that of Mr. Kerslo'
Mr. SF OONEIt moved theadjournment of the d(b6te.
Atter a few words from Mr. HEYWOOD, et
Mr. AGLIONBY said the lion. and Gallant Owed
had, no doubt, a strong feeling upon this question. geis
had a perfect right to oppose this Committee, blilis
was rather extraordinary he should allude to the tba
ice of the House, caused by the absence of his
fele ids. But when the Hon. and Gallant Member 5e
ettaated that lion. Members en his aide of the
were pledgAl to get a majority in that Committee, 0r
t
answered fur himself, and he believed for the 0,
Members around him, that they were present in the °bre
(finery performance of their duty, in going through"ng
public business set down upon the votes of the evell4o;
—(Hear.) What ground had the Hon. Member
Birmingham for saying that the decisioe of the C°-e;
mittee would have no weight ? Were Hon. Gentleaitio
on the other side to be alone the judges of what
opinion of the country would be ? It might he
sorted with equal force, that the decision ot the 'ci Alp
mittee would be received with entire confidence.
should support the list as it stood.
;
After A few words from Mr. MIME and Nteee-
ItESFORD,
pal
Mr. FREWEN believed that there had been 141-
1
trouble in constituting the Committee, and that re tljel
gentlemen of great practical experience, when reenesibe
to serve, hail declined. He had been asked' by the
Right Hon. Gentleman to serve, and he would give
question the best attention he was able. for his coo'.
tuents felt very warmly on the matter. What the
re ~01
mittee would have to do was to alter the Bill as leDee
possible to suit the different circumstances of diner-p
counties; and cf which there was a great variety of
Lincolnshire there were three distinct Commissions .0
Peace, and Suffolk also had customs peculiar to itselfo
regard to the rates and expenditure; and the Conlrelit
would have little difficulty in framing the oiall
meet these vat.) ing cases. However, if it was the t i'itl
-et
of the House that the Noble Lord, the Meeabecni
West Sussex, should serve, he (Mr. Frewen) was
iif,)
to resign in favour of the Noble Lord.—(Hear. beves.
Mr. FOX MAULE hoped the Hon. Gentleman TO
site would not press his motion for adjournmeo"tto
there were sufficient Members present to clets:,e, ot
question, and it would be but fair to go into it. rlell-ot
the same time he hoped that Hon Members weni",:te
go into the old debate again.—(Bear.) With relte:',„ol
the composition of the Committee, his Right lion..e he
had taken every means to make it a fair one, sefing
thought that the country gentlemen of England, 11e:
magistrates, were better judges of these enetler"
themselves than lawyers ; and of that body of geedel
men he would say that if he thought this measure teh.d
t-) undervalue them, he would be the first to vote 431 s,
it. But he did not think that such was its tendeee're
while it would saisfy t'ae rate-payers that the rates w is
properly disposed of, and would, he believed, do Mile ee.
the present state of the country to allay the feeling oat
isting upon that subject. But what he had risen for to
merely to ask the lion. Member for Birminghnresee
withdraw his metion for the adjournment of the deLl'e
Sir JOHN PAIUNGTON did; not think it twee
able to press the motion to a division. Ho felt Ile
pain in the course he had been obliged to take in re be
be
once to the nomination of the Committee, but still
thought the Government were not free from resPel3„/0
bility in the matter—(Hear, hear)—and when he 11' to
Committee constituted as this was, he did nut hesitate pi,
eater his protest against such a constitution. Big °al
nion was more and more fortified that this change eejot
not to have been le ft in the hands of a private Me
,/
of Parliament, but if undertaken at all, should have beep
undertaken on the responsibility of the Governmerl,alo'o,
(Hear, hear.) He suggested, however, to his rll
Friend to withdraw his motion. He was extremely I"ntbs
that the Right lion. Gentleman had not acceded to
opinion expressed on his side of the House. The tenet
tution of the Committee would certsinly be forced uP.,t,
them, hut he could assure the Right Hon. Gentlet7ii
that none but those whose views were the same ns

own would approve of it. the
Sir G. PEUHELL expressed his satisfaction et 40
constitution of the Committee, and particularly 0 ;
circumstance of one of the Honourable Members ,11,"0
Sussex (Mr. Frevven) being upon it. In his handy `,„,"
inhabitants of Brighton would be st.fo. They c°,;ci
plained, with great justice, of a system which compOtb,
them to contribute enormous sums to the county /11 0,
out hlving the slightest control over their applicao°o
He hoped, therefore, that the Bon. Member would 13
withdraw his name. lbe
Mr. NE WDEGATE repeated his conviction that
Piloe
Committee would not carry any s% eight with it SS
posed to be constituted. Names had been suggested
the Right entleman, and if he would not anti' P:bi,
self of the facilities thus opened to him, the respoo6loo,
lity of a one sided selection would rest upon him at
He He hoped the motion for the adjournment of the (1",,
would be withdrawn. He had had to complain borcl'ibe
so few Members being in their places on his side olb
House, and he complained of it now; but the fact of ;600
absence would not juttify the postponement of a decii"
that he could not but lament. , of
Sir H. WILLOUGHBY suggested that the napaej to
the Earl 'of March and Mr. Desdes should be adde're
the Committee. The absence of lawyers had beel36
marked, and he could not but observe that, if some it
perienced member of the profession were not added'
would be a Committee in dccium. 00
The motion for the adjournment of the debate, The
then, by leave, withdrawn, and the House divided.
numbtrs were—

For Mr. Kershaw
Against
Majority .... --26
Mr. Kershaw's name was consequently placed uP°
the Committee. ht'
Mr. Cornewall Lewis, Mr. Frewen, and Mr. 11100‘
son were,appointed ; and on the motion that Lord
dleiham be adder', 0 tb.
Major BERESFORD reiterated his objections to
constitution of the Committee, and protested againstlwr
After a few words from Mr. F. MAULE, Lord
dlesham's name was agreed to. 010
Viscount Barrington and Mr. Osborne Wore
agreed to ; and,
t)'
On the motion of Mr. GIBSON, Mr. Deeded vrile
a Blf
pointed a member of the Commit:es in the place
James Graham. EigpS
The House adjourned at twenty minutes past
o'clock.