The Sun.
London, England, 1819-02-19 00:00:00

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, FE3RtJAUY 18.

The Royal Assent was declared by Commission
to the Melt and Pension Duty Bill.
The Lords Commivioners were the Loan
CHANCELLOR, the Earl of SHAFTESBURY, and Vis-
count MELVILLE.

TAAFE'S DIVORCE BILL.

On tie question for the seconil reading of this
Bill. Counsel and evidence were heard.
Mr. WARREN, as leading Counsel for the Peti-
tioner, stated the case, and several of the intend-
ed witnesses were examined with a view to sub-
stantiate it.
The first witness was a Clergyman of the Ito-
man Catholic persuasion, who stated that Mr. and
Mrs.Taatie were married in January, 180 G.
Being asked by one.of their Lordships whether
there were regular registry books of the Roman
Catholic marriages kept, tinder the authority of
law, the Rev. Gentleman could not answer in
the afiii native ; upon which,
The Lonra CHANCELLOR observed, that such
Looks could not be received in evidence.
The next witness was a Gentleman of the name
of Daly, who stated that he Was present at the
solemnization of the marriage.
Prom the evidence of the subsequent witnesses,
it appeared that Mrs. Taaffe had three children ;
that Mr. Taafie having reason to suppose that his
Lade had formed an adulterous connexion with
Lord William Fitzgerall, brought his action
against that Nobleman, in the Irish Court of
. Common-Pleas, where he obtained a verdict for
50001. damages.
Two of the domestics,"a woman who had lived
with Mrs. Taaffe while she resided in Bruton-
street, and afterwards, for some time, when she
was on the Continent, stated, that about the close
of 1814, she attended the Lady to Brighton, from
which, in some time, she, went, accompanied by
Lord William Fitzgerald, to Dover, and shortly
after, they repaired together to the Continent,
where, at several places, they lived and cohabited
together as man and wife—the Lady going by
the name of Lady Elizabeth, or Lady William
Fitzgerald,
The second of these witnesses, a young man
who had lived as servant with Lord William, de-
posed to the same effect.
One of the witnesses intended to be brought
forward was Mr. Cline, the eminent Surgeon, but
Dlr. Warren said, it would he highly inconve-
nient for that Gentleman to attend in time this
evening, upon which
The Lotto CHANCELLOR observed, lie could at-
tend on a future opportunity ; and the farther
consideration of the case was adjourned till Tues.
day next.
The Bristol Gas Light Bill was read the se-
cond tune ; as was the Twenty Millions Exche•
Auer Bills Bill.
INTERESTING CASE IN CHANCERY.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said, he had a Pe-
tition to present to their Lordships, which com-
plained of a case, involving, in his mind, no small
degree of hardship, and one of such a nature as
be deemed peculiarly incumbent on that House
to attend to. The Petition was on the part of
two Lunatics, and the case to which it related
aye's one, wherein a Decree had been obtained in
the Court of Chancery in their favour, for the
safe of certain estates, which, or part of which,
being copyhold, and as it appeared that in the
Act under which the sale was made, die word
" Copyhold" was unfortunately omitted, it was
held that the persons in question could not make
nut a good title to the property, and therefore the
purchasers were not compellable to make good
their contract. The object of the prayer was,
that their Lordships would take the extraordi-
nary hardships of the Petitioners' case into their
consideration ; and cause the Act in question to
be so amended, as that the Chancellor may be
authorized to make such order therein as the na-
ture and justice of the case obviously pointed out.
The LORD CHANCELLOR expressed his regret
that there should exist the necessity for such an
appeal to the Legislature as that brought forward
by the Noble Marquis. His Lordship briefly
explained the nature of the case, and the import
of the Bill which was referred to. The Chancel-
lor was empowered to order the disposal of the
property of Lunatics for the payment of their
debts, and it was deemed necessary some time
since that a more particular enactment should
take place on the subject, and accordingly a Bill
wait brought in for the purpose by the then Soli-
citor-General, now Chancellor of Ireland. Upon
reference being made to the Master, in the parti-
cular case to which the Petition referred, in or-
der to ascertain what property was applicable to
the payment of the parties' debts, the Master was
of opinion that the copyholds should be disposed
of. On this, the Act being referred to, doubts
bad arisen as to part of its wording, in the way
stated by the Noble Marquis. There was no
doubt as to the intention of the Noble and
Learned Person who proposed the Act, but some
amendment thereof was certainly requisite, and
be was of opinion (without reference to the step
just taken) that some Legislative procedure would
be adopted, either to declare what whs the sense
and meaning of the Act in question, or to amend
it, so that the word " Copyhold" should be pro-
perly, included. Indeed, the proposition was so
reasonable in itself, that he had no difficulty in
saying, that if the matter had not been taken tip,
he would have come forward himself on the oc-
casion.
The Petition was ordered to lie on the table.

SLAVE' TRADE.

The Marquis of LANSDOWNE gave notice of his
intention, with reference to the questions he had
recently put upon the subject, to move to mor-
row for copies of the Instructions given to Mas-
ters of Vessels, tinder the Convention agreed upon
two years ago, on the subject of the Slave Trade,
and respecting the appointment of Commissioners
under tie said Convention. lie then moved that
the Lords be summoned for to-morrow, which
was ordered accordingly.—Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
'The SPEAKER acquainted the liou3e, that the
Can had expired withiu which the recognizances