The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-23 00:00:00

.to be kept in mind, that it was proved that the wealtilloi
classes—that all the respectable men in the town w,
cognisant of those transactions, and gave their sanction
to them. They were, therefore as guilty as those who
received the bribes, and should partake of the punish-
ment. Although the Commissioners were Lot directly
authorised to inquire respscting former elections, yet a
great deal crept out in the evidence which proved that a
system of general corruption hied long bi.en established
in the borough, extending to the whole constituency.
He believed, therefore, - that the disfranchisement was
inevitable; and as to the question what should be done
with the two votes, -he-would say that -the -House of
Commons had taken the best course in this Bill--
namely, to disfranchise the borough at once, and to con-
sider next year what shottd he done with the votes. Ile
therefore recommended their Lordships to pass the
second reading of the Bill.
Lord BROUGHAM highly eulogised the perspictimiti
statement of his Noble 'and Learned Friend, who was
the head and ornament of his profession. He agreed
with his Noble and Learned Friend that this borough
should be disfrandhised as an example to others. But
the disfranchisement of a' borough was a grave matter;
and he strongly objected to their Lordships passiog
such a Measure without hearin.g evidence at the bar.
His objection did not so strongly apply to the present
case, as the evidence was taken not before a Crown
Commission, but a Commission appointed by both HoMe.s,
and sanctioned by the Crown in the face' of an Act of
Parliament. It was grievous to witness the frightful
guilt exposed in this inquiry. There could be nothing
more degrading or more criminal than to swerve from
the discharge of a - public duty for the sake of sordid
lucre. These corrupt, venal, and degraded wretches
.were guilty of perjury as well as bribery—for, even
though the bribery oath was not administered, they
were as guilty of perjury as if they had taken the oath,
for they would have taken it if required. He thoug!,t
the most expedient 'course was to pass the Bill.
The Bid was then read a second time, and ordered to
be 'committed:
COUNTY CORONERS' BILL.
• The House then went into Committee on this Bill.
The Duke of RICHMOND said he had received some
cOrnmunications in answer to the objection which he had
made on a former evening to the increased allowance
for travelling expenses; but he still adhered to his;
opinion, that the coroners should be paid by salaries like
the other judges, and not, its it:vvere, by the head, no
cording to the number of inquests they held.
The Marquis of SALISBURY moved the omission Of
the 21st clause, which relates SALISBURY_
the payment of ex-
penses out of the county rates.
The Duke of RICHMOND seconded the motion.
After a few words from Lord CAMPBELL and Lord
WITA.RNCLIFFE in support of the Bill,
-Strangers were ordered to a ithdraw, but no diVision
took place.
The amendment was negatived, and the Bill passed
through Committee.
CHARITABLE TRUSTS BILL.
The LORD CHANCELLOR moved the second read-
ing of this Bill. There were a great number of chari-
table trusts in England which-were entirely exempt from
control. There were 13,000 trusts, • which did not
amount to more than 5/., 14,000 which amounted to less
than 101., and 17,1'00 which amounted to less than 201. It
was quite impossible that the Court of Chancery "could
exercise any control over thise trusts ; and yet it was
monstrous that trusts, amounting to 300,0001., should be
without control or protection. To remedy this evil, ha
proposed to give the Commissioners the power of ap-
pointing persons to inquire from time to time into the
state of these trusts, to examine their accounts, and the
manner of their administration. Another power which
he proposed to give was that of appointing more trustees.
All that he now asked, however, was that their Lord-
ships would read the Bill a second time, and he would
gladly receive any suggestions for its improvement in the
Committee.
The Bishop of LONDON thought the country was
greatly indebted to his Noble and Learned Friend for
taking up this subject. But he hoped he would not press
it through the Committee in the present session. The
Bishops would be shortly obliged to go into the country,
and he thought that no measure-affecting the Chnrch
ought to be discussed in their absence. This Bill would
affect the Church considerably, inasmuch as the great
majority of the educational trusts in the kingdom pos-
sessed incomes not exceeding 20/. a year.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said he did not intend
to press the Bill. •-
Lord WROTTESLEY regretted that the Bill had
been postponed to so late a period of the session.
Lord-CAMPBELLthought the measure one of very
great importance, and that it would, with alteration and
+amendment, prove to be a great improvement on the
present system. Still it was to be regretted that so great
a measure, affecting upwards of 30,000 trusts, and
13,000,0001. of property should be introduced on the 22d
of July. He had no objection to agree to the second
reading, on the understanding that no further pro 7
gress should he made in the Bill until next session.
The LORD CHANCELLOR only wished the Bill to
go into Committee, that he might hear what alterations
might be prepoSeri, but not to carry it through the Com-
mittee. As to the lateness of the session, he had pre-
pared the Bill at the beginning of the session, but he had
not had the opportunity of bringing it forwal sooner.
The Bishop of LONDON objected to the Bill going
into Committee in the absence tit the Bishops, who were
the best qualified to offer suggestions for its improve-
ment. He respectfully requested his Noble Friend not
to go further than the second reading.
The LORD CHANCELLOR was understood to say
that he would not proceed further in the present session,
unless with the assent of 'the Right Rev. Prelate, after
consulting with his Right Rev. Brethren.
The Bill was then read a second time.
THE CATHOLIC BEQUESTS (IRELAND) BILL.
Lord W'HARNCLIFFE moved the order of the
day for the third reading of this Bill, and the order
being read, he proposed several amendments, which were
agreed to.
Lord MONTEAGLE returned his thanks to the
Noble LOrd for the pains which he had taken with this
Bill, and his care to give satisfaction to the persons for
whose benefit the measure was intended. He would
take that opportunity of expressing the great pleasure
he felt at the intimation given in the other House with
respect to the improvement of Maynooth College. The
improved education of the clergy would 'do much to
elevate the character of the people.
The Bill was then read a third time and passed.
The Parish Constables Bill was read a second time.
- Several other Bills on the table were advanced a stage.
• The Unlawful Oaths (Ireland) Bill was read a second
time.
The Colonial Postage Bill passed through Committee
without discussion, and was reported.
The Assessed Taxes • Composition Act also passed
through Committee.
ROMAN CATHOLIC PENAL ACTS REPEAL
BILL.

Lord BEAUMONT moved that this Bill becomniitted.
The Bishop of LONDON said that the proposed Act
was neither more nor less than an Act to restore the
supremacy of the Pope in this realm.—(Hear, hear.)
He assured the House, that if they were to pais such a
measure—repealing the Act of Uniformity and thirty
other Acts, and at the same time interferingwith the pre-
rogative of the Crown—they would create great alarm
throughout the country. He moved that the Bill be
committed this day three months.
Loyd BEAUMONT was surprised that at this time a
Rev. Prelate could be found. to oppose the repeal of those
laws which still kept the scaffold and the axe susp:nded
over the heads of his Catholic fellow-subjects. Until
those Acts were repealed, no Catholic, however loyal,
was secure of his estates. He believed that there were.
people willing to bring into operation those obsolete .
Acts, as their Lordships had seen this day there were
persons seeking to enforce far less atrocious Acts. He
had no wish to injure the Established Church, but if the
Noble and Learned Lord onahe Woolsack would point
out, . amongst the Acts which he proposed to repeal, any
that were necessary to the safety or the power of the
Established Church, he would willingly leave them out
of his . schedule. The Commissioners of Criminal LaW.
Inquiry, in their seventh report, strongly, dwelt upon
the necessity of •stbolishing those laws, and they, quotOd
the eloquent language of Justice Blackstone condemna-
tory of those cruel and impolitic laws,
The Bishop of LONDON sxplained, He agreed that
many of those laws ought to be repealed. But Os-,
Noble Lord proposed to repeal some Acts
.the.s. werenecessary for the security of the Church. What he now
chiefly objected to was the season at Which the Bill was
brought in—a season when it could not be adequately
discussed, and when it eould scarcely be expeoted thit
it would pass the Howe this year. Surely, the Nolde
Lord did not think that in the next Gik months the
Roman Catholics would be in a worse condition than
they were now. It was certainly right that the liabili-
ties mentioned by the Noble Lord, although not enforced,
should be done away .with.. But no inconvenience would
be suffered by delaying it until the begianing of next
session, when the Bishops, the rulers and defenders of
the Church, would klp present in the House.
The LOW) OHANCELLOR said that he had him.
self eaantined the Bill, and had referred it to the Om..
missioners of Criminal Law Inquiry, who struck out
some of the clauses. He now believed that there was
not a single clause in the 13111, as it stood at present,
to which any reasonahle parson could object. He won-
dered that any one could say at the present day that it
was necessary for the security of the Church
.that any
one who a second time denied the ;supremacy of the
Queen should be transported. By that law every priest
who said mass was still liable to the severest penalties,.
He would remit:send the Noble Lord to withdraw his
motion, and the Right Rev. Prelate to withdistw his, so
that the Bill might be printed and every Member of the
House be enabled to see what its objects really were.
Lord cAmpuLT, was sure that if the Right Rey,
Prelate esstsminea the Bill he would find that is was not
!id* to the objection which the Right Aii,varend Prelate
supposed. He (Lord Campbelllsaggested that the Bill
should go into CommitSass?r(i.fornia.
. The Earl of \viola() w approved of the fill, which
would give great satisfaction to the Roman Catholics,
aspecially in Ireland, and could pat possibly affect She,
Established Church. Ho wea sorry that the Lill was
now to be obstrneted.—(Hear.) He thoe,g'ns that the
lateness cf the session and the abseroe of the Prelates
view not sufficient reasons for tutting off useful mea-
sures. Why were not the 11,3labops in their places as well
as other Lords ?—(Haar, hear.) HiS Noble Friend de-
served the thaeks of the Catholics and of all liberal-
minded men for bringing in his Bill.
The Bishop of LONDON would press his opposition.
The LORD CHANCE'.(sLOR said that after what bad
passed in the House, and what had been gutted in a pub-
lic print, it was absolutely neeessees: for his own justifi-
eation that he should ash 'their Lordships to print the
Bill. He 019,tizill the House might go into Committee.
pre forv,a, and the Bill be printed, that the Howse and
;he Public might see what the Bill ass. Ile had already
declared that he had struck out every clause that ivould
be doubtful.- - As for the aiserice -of the Bisheps, be did