The Sun.
London, England, 1845-07-25 00:00:00

PRIVILEGE.

Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from J. Thomas
Russel, of 37, Percy-street, Bedfurd-square. It was a very
respectful petition. 'I he petitioner complained that he had been
grossly slandered in evidence given before one of their Lord-
ship's Committees by George Ledbitter, William M'Culloch,
and John Pope, who were witnesses there. He complained
that his character and good name had been injured, and prayed
that their Lordships would grant him some mode of clearing
himself from those imputations, which he was fully pre-
pared to do. By a recent decision of their Lordships' House,
he perceived that it would he a breach of privilege to bring an
action against those parties, and but for that he would have
done so. He moved that the petition be laid upon the table,
and next session he would move that it be referred to a Com-
mittee for investigation.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said he would be very will-
ing to render the petitioner all the assistance in his power, but
he should have laid his complaint before the House at an earlier
period.
Lord BROUGHAM said the petitioner stated in his peti-
tion that it was not until last Saturday he saw the printed
evdence.

The LORD CHANCELLOR—But he knew the nature of
he evidence before them. _

A NOBLE Loan said, that surely it was not too
late for a man to clear his character if unjustly accused.
He should certainly support the motion of his Noble 'and
Learned Friend, as their Lordships ought to throw
their doors open to persons who felt themselves aggrieved.
If it should turn out that the petitioner had been
unjustly traduced, that his character had been injured, they
ought to allow him to bring an act against his traducers, and
make provision that by doing so he should not outrage the pri-
vileges of the House.
The LORD CHANCELLOR—ProbabIy my Learned
Friend is acquainted with this gentleman.—(Laughter).
A NOBLE Loan said he was a member of the Committee
referred to, and recollected that the persons named in the
petition gave evidence before it.
The Earl of WICKLOW said it did not signify who the
person was who had been aspersed. They should disregard
his position, and give him some remedy by which he might
clear his character, if it had been injured by evidence delivered
in one of their committee-rooms. The period when the cir.
cumstance complained of occurred was immaterial.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said ho only referred to a
particular date.
The Earl of HARDWICK said he had to present a petition
to the same effect (we did net hear the name of the petitioner
or petitioners). The petitioner stated that he had purchased
a number of shares in the Dablin and Galway Company at a
large premium, in consequence of the favourable report of the
Board of Trade, and that he should suffer grievous injury if
the Bill was not allowed to proceed, in consequence of the way
in which the contract deed was signed. He therefore prayed
that the parties aggrieved might be heard at the bar of their
Lordships' House.
Lord BROUGHAM regretted that the petitioner had not
invested his money in a better project than the one he did.
However he had a remedy in his Learned Friend on the wool-
sa,lk, who had funds at his disposal to reimburse parties who
had lent their money in such speculations.—(Laughter.)
The Earl of DAL H OUS E defended the report of the Board
of Trade on the Irish Great Western, and considered that
the Board of Trade perfectly justified in the course it took. If
the petitioner had lost his money it was his affair, and not that
of those who made the report.
The Earl of BESBOROUGH said, as he had moved for the
Committee which had inquired into the allegations
against the Company in question, he wished to
say a few words with respect to their report presented to the
House yesterday. The Committee reported that they had
heard evidence on the allegations, and had arrived at the opi-
nion that systematic frauds had been committed to obtain
signatures to the subscription contract.
(LEFT SPEAKING.)

HOUSE OE COMMONS.
The House met at Twelve o'clock.
COMMITTEES.
The following Bills went through Committee, and were or-
dered to be reported on Monday next, at twelve o'clock : —The
Customs Laws Repeal Bill, Customs Duties Bill, Warehouse-
inn. of Goods Bill, British Vessels Bill, the Shipping and Na-
vigation' Bill, the Trade and British Possessions Abroad Bill,
the Customs Management Bill, the Customs Bounties
Allowance Bill, the Isle of Alan Trade Bill, the
Smuggling Prevention Bill (after a conversation in which
Mr. AARON CI!AP3IAN and Mr. WAWN sought to obliterate
the penalty which the Bill imposes on all merchant ships
hoisting the blue peter, but unsuccessfully), the Customs' Re-
gulations Bill, the Stock-in-Trade Bill, the Removal of
Paupers Bill, the Documentary Evidence Bill, and the Assign-
ment of Terms Bill.
CUSTOMS REGULATION BILL.
This Bill went through Committee, and was ordered to be
reported on Monday next.
STOCK-IN-TRADE BILL.
This Bill went through Committee, and the report was
ordered to be read on Alonday next.
DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE BILL.
The report on this Bill was received, and the Bill was ordered
to be read a third time on Monday next.
ASSIGNMENT OF TERMS BILL.
The report on this Bill was received, and the Bill was ordered
to be read a third time on Monday next.
The House then adjourned till Five o'clock.

The House resumed at Five o'clock.
The Earl of Onslow's Estate Bill was read a third time, and
passed.
BOLTON AND LEIGH, &c., AMALGAMATION BILL.
On the order of the day for the consideration of the Bolton
and Leigh, Kanyon and Leigh Junction, North Union, Liver-
pool and Manchester, and Grand Junction Railway Companies
Amalgamation Bill.
Mr. WILSON 'PATTEN moved the insertion of the
was totally unin-
telligible every system of amalgamation
dauses brought forward in the former debate.
took part, and which
A discussion ensued, in which Mr. Escott, Sir George Clerk,
agreed to should be such as to operate for the benefit of the
public as well as for the shareholders. Care should be taken
andA Arl.rD TA to.
Rt Dhß
euyn c o
gallery. i n be
thought
that the tolls and fares should not be extortionate.
After a few words from Mr. ALDAM, the Bill was read a
third time and passed.
THE MALT TAX.

in favourr of a repeal
of tax ; and several other peti-
tions, on various subjects, but their purport we could not learn,
owing to the low voice in which the Hon. Nlember spoke.
AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS.
Mr. SPOONER presented petitions from Birmingham and
other places, complaining of the agricultural distress.
(LEFT SITTING.)

DOG STEALING.--CAUTION TO ADVERTISERS.-
Yesterday the Act of Parliament, which came into operation on
Monday last, when it received the royal assent, was
printed, inti-
tuled "An Act for the further Prevention of Dog Stealing." It
is now provided that two or more justices, for a first offence of
dog.stealing, may either commit for a period not exceeding six
months
to the
common gaol or house of correction, or
fine the
offender a sum not exceeding :201. above the value of the dog. For
gutchh t imprisonment with or without hard y
itann months,pers shall publicly advertise, or
offer a reward for thereturn o
a second offence the party may be indicted, and suffer fine or im_
labour,pris onm
noten t ,t,
oo r
exceed
ee
both,
Offenders may be at once
apprehended without warrant, and taken before a magistrate. The
following provision in the Act requires to be generally known :
ofas shall
e of
"And be it enactud,telsii
noa any dog which shall
have been stolen or lost, and shall in such advertisement use any
words purporting
that
EE
use at any words in any public advertisement purporting that a re-
vei y o
questionsrsuch recoveryw
personili be
shall asked,
forfeit
rf o
crit
thesum make
re-
ward will be given or paid for any dog which shall have been
stolen or lost without seizing or making any inquiry after the per.
son producing such dog,
e
'251. for every such offence to any person who will sue for the same
by action of debt, to be recovered with full costs of suit."
t
Pursuant to
FORan o r
dr AGEDe o f
suit in which this charity is concerned, by which it was re-
ferred to the Master to appoint trustees to the institution,
Master Dowdeswell on Wednesday approved of Lord South-
ampton, the Earl of Aboyne and Enzie, the Hon. Col. Anson, Vice-Chancellor AND
DCAY DECAYED In'Ri;hEMASONS
Bruce, in a
M.P., B. B. Cabbell, Esq., and Dr. Crucefix, as such trustees.