The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-24 00:00:00

T

THE THEATRES.
LYCEUM.
thW,, e again witue,sed, on Monday, the representation of
Low Easter spectacle, " Ali Baba, or the Forty
it !'"e4," and were glad to find, as we anticipated, that
1
tapll3' ereives nightly in favour With the public. It is cer-
-1 one of the cleverest and most amusing extrava-
gaal!zas that have appeared for many seasons, and the
(jti,ng of the two Keelep, throughout, is in the richest
'lrto most grotesque style of humour. The house was
13.1arkablY well attended—indeed at 'half-price it was
rite erowded—and we never yet saw an, audience so
;lighted with an evening's performances. For the first
41:oe since it was built, the Lyceum bids fair to become
Popular and thriving theatre.

THE SCOTCH FREE CHURCH.
We copy the following account of the tyrannical pro
cec.3ings of the Free Kirkmen towards one of their own
body, from the Scotsman, a journal that lately has been
rather favourable to the seceders. It now throws them
overboard, and justly. We never have had but one
opinion of their principles and practice, and every fresh
act only confirms us in the belief that, by their disjunc-
tion from the Church, Scotland has been saved from a
more galling thraldom than any that ever afflicted the

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

race :
" A considerable sensation has lately been created among
Dissenters, by the publication of a pamphlet, from the pen of
the Rev. Mr. Waddell, late minister of the Free Church, Gir-
van, in the presbytery of Ayr. The object of the pamphlet
is to show the tyrannical treatment Mr. Waddell has ex-
perienced at the hands of the Free Church for the simple
avowal of, principles hostile to the compulsory support of
Christianity. We have hitherto refrained from taking any
notice of the case, in the hope that some explanation would
be forthcoming to show that the charge was unfounded ; but,
so far as we are aware, nothing of the kind has yet been
attempted.
It appears that, in October last, the Free Church congre-
gation of Girvan transmitted to the Free Church Assembly,
then sitting in Glasgow, a petition through their pastor, Mr.
Waddell, praying the Assembly to abandon altogether the
compulsory theory. Mr. Waddell added another on his own
account, requesting the Free Assembly to consider the 23d
chapter of the Confession of Faith, on the ground that it is
inconsistent with itself and the present position of the Free
Church. The Assembly's Committee of Bills, however, re-
solved to forward them to- the Assembly not as petit ions, but
as docunients affordinaterial for a case of discipline against
Mr. Waddell. Mr. Waddell protested, and was told that
he would-be allowed to state his reasons for dissenting from
the resolution to the Assembly. The Assembly, however,
broke up without any reference to the subject ; and just
as Mr. - Waddell was about to leave Glasgow • for Gir-
van, he received a letter re-directed from that town, a deed
of suspension, signed by the secretary of the acting Com-
mittee of-the General Assembly's Special Commission, of
which Dr. Candlish was convener. This document ordered
the petition to be remitted to the Presbytery, suspended Mr:
Waddelliund authorised Mr. Wallace of Barr to supply his
place, pto tem. Mr. Waddell returned to Girvan, and laid a
representition of the case and protest against the appoint-
ment of an interim minister before the Presbytery of Ayr,
who had appointed a committee to meet Mr. Waddell and his
friends. A private meeting between the committee and the
deposed- minister first took place, when the latter re-
quested answers to a set of queries on the interpretation
of the 23d chapter of the Confession of Faith. The Presby-
tery maintained its incompetency as a court to reply to any
such queries. The committee recommended Mr. Waddell
to endeavour to satisfy his mind on the question of
endowments by reading Oillespie's " Aaron's Rod Blossom-
ing". and ,the A Hundred and Eleven Propositions," to which
he naturally objected. A conference then took place between
the committee and congregation, Mr. Waddell not being pre-
sent. The former endeavoured to persuade the petitioners to
repudiate their petition, which all refused to do. Despairing
to move the petitioners, one member of committee, with the
concurrence of his brethren, proceeded to assure them, then,
that there was no necessity laid upon them to compromise
their .own standing in the Free Church, from any desire to
befriend their minister, for that his own petition would be
quite sufficient to insure his condemnation, if he should ad-
here to it. This announcement was highly offensive to the
petitioners, being a very
.palpable attempt to seduce them.
not only from the' rofession of their own principles, but from
the company of a solitary individual exposed to jeopardy in
defence of these principles.
" After other proceedings, Mr. Waddell was obliged to re-
sign, his theoretical Voluntaryism being the only thing that
could be brought against him.
" In concluding his published defence, Mr. Waddell says :
"
In pleading my own cause, at such a crisis, I plead the
cause of universal conscience. A gross outrage on the com-
mon sense, and on the spiritual freedom of the whole com-
munity, has been deliberately perpetrated in the case, and
on the person of a solitary individual. He has been driven,
by the majesty of aCourt amenable to no man, and scarcely to
God, into the corner of rebellion or despair. He might
quietly succumb ; or he might fly from persecution, if he
would—what of that? The atrocity of persecution remains,
and the scourge of the same disgraceful dilemma may be ap-
plied to the sides of any other soul."'

BT ST. JAMES'S.
~,pOBLER'S EXPERIMENT IN NATURAL
MAGIC.
no! certain learned pundit bath lately propounded a
theory of mesmerism—to Kit, that those persons
who
_ are in a state of mesmeric coma arc possessed of
th_ de...il• Now if this erudite personage were to witness
the teats of llerr Dobler he would no doubt come to
conclusion that Herr' Louis Dobler was the fiend
8 hiosself ; and he might advance many arguments in
the
of his conclusion. For instance, in polite circles,
e if ever mentioned, is spoken of as the " Gentle-
manin
liable Black," a description which exactly suits llerr
Dobler, who last night appeared, for the first time this
in"un on the stage of the St. James's theatre, attired
will! black velvet tunic, black silk ho!,e, and girt round
401.11 a black • leathern band ; moreover, he speaks
ori:nuage save erman—the originl language of the
for old Zamiel nthe original Der Fra
eischutz-7- and, as
self i
could s tricks, they are such as none but the fiend him-
atccomplish. Does he not produce from one
oi
bat flowers enough to stock Covent-garden
Liset,_? A male Medea, does he not resuscitate the,
he uY boiling them until they become alive?- True,
rat_uperates only on pigeons; but why may he not °pe-
e a bottle, and ban, breaking
un other things? Does he not compress a: cellar
produce frc:m it all sorts of wine, and,
the bottle, draw from its cavity a pocket
Aundi(er'llier ? Seeing these things, could our learned
it fail to believe that Herr Dobler was the " Gen-
linein,s3l.• in Black" in propria, persona? Joking apart,
f,:etis er, Ilt-rr Dobler is a very clever artist, and pert--
tricks with great neatness and dexterity. e
Nißbly amused by his performances last evening,
kser,lt,e glad _ to find that so many of his friends had
Fell-„v4Led to welcome his return. The house was very
kit "'tended , and every one seemed highly delighted
earl 'me peiform anCes, which were over at a reasonably
Y hoer;

RP, A -
--C,..,:VIZARD OF THE NORTH IN
/:'1,11.E COURT OF REQUESTS.
bourb"aving been made -generally known in the neigh-
or i--° °EI of this Court that the Wizard of the North,
Adl other terms, Mr. Anderson, now performing at the
ohew' Theatre, had been summoned for the cost of a
r t, alleged to have been damaged during the per-
ance at the Adelphi, by reason of the said Wizard
-'ing b
• was 31ced a plumb-pudding therein, every avenue
I'h'"'elY crowded.
plaintiff, a gawky and unwieldy farmer, named
lus'el n;' Orion bein,g called on to state the grounds of
ltereha.'n), produced from a sporting pattern silk hand-
tai 3; the London made," in question, which cer-
; n'Y be .
.t bei,, re every evidence of queer culinary treatment,
pate,
literally marked on the outside with dabs of
the and within, and upon. the white kid lining smears.
plaeee Yolk of an egg, most pertinaciously kept their
lead
_as if in readiness to perfect that adhesion to the
Pad upon a windy day.
said p!t° a. thinkin this be enough ground Muster Sirs,"
"gton, turning over -his hat with a most lugu
raa;t countenance, which convulsed the Court. "Ye
Ye 4 ',_llgll—am and laugh yer fill, but it I that can join
bre as how I payed a couple of shillings to see the best
The
beaver spoilt besides the guinea for the hat."
!'e countrymanwas evidently working himself
Into a state of forensic madness, but the Wizard
eeerm before him, and the laughter was sue-
grett— bY the most respectful silence. With
.‘ the t blandness of manner the Wizard addressed
fid onnuissioner, who appeared to be rather
getty at the near approximation of one to whom
tilatt,ttributed more than mortal powers. He stated
advethe had no excuse whatever to offer. It was an in
Ilian to The hat had been returned to the country
bu,„-11 the second seats by his " familiar," and, in the
tar 3` °f the performance, without the usual and neces-
abalistic words being mentally muttered over it,
so restore„,, it to its original purity. He was sorry, very
ba-(ii, and as soon as he had heard of it—for the man
---11, made no complaint at the period of the performance
aes had hastened to rectify the effects of his forgetful-
Plal i;,;,J,kdded he, " Will the Commissioners and the
what ~" " be satisfied with a hat equal in every respect to
one was ere it entered the theatre
f
very fair proposition, but the costs
—" "
replied the Wizard, " will pay the costs."
thTr,countryman smiled content, and at this moment
`'°lntnissioner had got the hat in his hand, about to
Iv; it over the long green baize-covereil table, when the
AZae,l,
tt at 4, suddenly producing a small ivory wand, pointed
e,,-,'"o hat, said, in a mild and gentlemanly tone, "It
ziew-:„rts well, if it be returned at all, it should be returned

E S'UN, LONDON, WtnNESD AY- MORNII NG-i APRIL 24,-

HOUSE OF LORDS, April 23.
The Earl of SHAFTESBURY, in the absence of the
Lord Chancellor, took his seat on the Woolsack. at Fiie
o'Clock.
Lord ROSEBERY presented a petition from a
Dissenting congregation in the neighbourhood of Man-
chester against the Dissenters' Chapels Bill.
The Bishop'of BANG OR presented several petitions
from places in Wales, against the union of the sees of
St. Asaph and Bangor.
PRO-CORN-LAW LEAGUE.
Earl RADNOR wished to ask his Noble Friend near
him (the Duke of Richmond, as we understood) and the
Noble Duke opposite (the Duke of Buckingham), whe-
ther a certain pamphlet, published under the au,p'ces of
the Pro-Corn-law League, was sanctioned by them;
for, in his opinion, a more discreditable work never
emanated from the press ?—(" Oh, oh !") He re-
peated the assertion, because it was dishonest.
The pamphlet laid down particular dogmas, with-
out at all giving data for their conclusions. (The
Noble Earl then read several quotations fi om the
pamphlet alluded to, in support of his assertion, and
concluded by repeating his question.)
The Duke of RICHMO.NI) said he thought that
the practice of asking questions ought not to
be extended. It was all very well to put
questions to the members of her Majesty's Govern-
ment, but certainly he thought it was not likely to
increase the dignity of their Lordships' Ileuse for a
member of the Anti-Cbrn-law League, as his Noble
Friend was, to stand up in his place and put a question
to him (the Duke of Richmond), who was a member of
a Protection Society.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) He
felt that the proper course to adopt was not to answer
so paltry a question, further than to say that he thought
the pamphlet a most excellent one, and that if it was
not a good one his Noble Friend would not find fault
with it. He thought his Noble Friend was quite as
much in error in the present instance as he was
when he last attacked him (the Duke of Richmond). In
that instance, instead of replying to him in his place, his
Hon. Friend published his answer in the shape of a letter
in the newspapers, with his name attached. The author
of the pamphlet was long known, and although of similar
politics to the Noble Lord, yet he did not seek to destroy
the agriculture of the country. It was true the Noble
Lord had taken the chair at a late meeting of the Anti-
Corn-law League in Covent-garden, where he certainly
exhibited as a great actor—(Laughter)—and, there-
fore, it was natural that he should wish to impugn a do-
cument which so successfully exhibited the Anti-Corn-
law League in its true colours. For his own part, he
!.hould say, in reply to the observations of his Noble
Friend, that he would never leave the Agricultural Pro-
tection Society until they had completely succeeded in
putting down the Anti-Corn-law League, than which
he believed there never existed in England a
more unconstitutional body. The Protection So-
ciety would never have been formed if the Anti-Corn-
law League had not attacked the tenant farmers of
England as they had done, and accused them of apathy.
He should only say further that he considered this
pamphlet quite as good as his Noble Friend thought it a
bad one.
After a few words from Earl RADNOR, the matter
dropped.
PRESBYTERIAN MARRIAGES.
Lord CAMPBELL presented a petition, complaining
of the late decision in the case of the Presbyterian
marriage question.
DISSENTERS' CHAPELS BILL.
The LORD CHANCELLOR stated to their Lord-
ships that, on Friday next, the day originally named, he
should propose the second reading of the Dissenter'
Chapels Bill, and go into Committee en the Bill upon
the following Friday.
FACTORIES BILL. _ _ _

found the Hon. Member for Knaresborough had left his
place, I inferred he had run away from the charge he had
preferred against us. Upon his refusing to join
issue here, ein the only place where such a
chage could be investigated, I for one, am most per-
fectly satisfied to leave this matter where it now
stands. The House and the public will be able to
judge of the conduct of the Hon. Member, and it will be
for the House to determine what course it is for them
to pursue under the circumstances.
Sir R. PEEL strongly advised the House, in a case of
such importance as the present, to let some interval
elapse before they should determine what course to pur-
sue. We cannot (said the ight Honourable Gen-
tleman) adopt, in this arena of free discussion,
where we permit the acts of public men and public au-
thorities to be discussed—we cannot adopt any proceed-
ing, either for the purpose of vindicating the ac-
cused or of censuring the accuser, without es-
tablishing a most important precedent.—(Hear.)
I think, therefore, it is most important, before we come
to any division, that we should look back to such records
as may be within our reach for the purpose of ascertaining
what course the House has taken under any circumstances
et all analagoue to these. The House will bear in mind,
that supposing a charge, were preferred against
a public officer, implying on his part great miscon-
duct, dishonourable conduct, by a member of the
minority, nothing would be so easy as for
the majority to support that public officer, to brand the
accuser, and to vindicate the accused.—(Hear, hear.)
A precedent, therefore, is very important, and.
if abused, might be dangerous ; and consider-
ing the immense constitutional importance of
perfectly free discussion in this House, and
considering that all objectionable precedents ori-
ginate in some exceptional cases, where, looking ab-
stractedly at the individualcase, indignant feelingsprompt
to some sudden and precipitate step ; adverting to these
considerations, my advice. to the House, taken as
I am by surprise on the present occasion, is to
adjourn the discussion, so as to allow time for determin-
ing what course should be taken.—(Hear, hear.) Sir,
I must say that since the day when the conjuror under-
took to compress himself into a quart bottle, there never
has been experienced greater disappointment than is felt
on this occasion.—(Great laughter.)
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said he had no objection to
offer to the adjournment of this discussion, and he quite
agreed with the Right Hon. Gentlemen, that it was ex
tremely desirable to take time to form a deliberate
opinion on a subject of this nature. At the same time
he had no hesitation to state at once what was his im-
pression. It was to have been expected that the Hon Gen-
tleman would that day have either repeated his charges or
have withdrawn and retracted those charges.—(Hear.)
He had taken neither course, and he had fled from the
charge without abandoning it.—(Hear, hear.) The
Hon. Member for Beverley, very naturally, in this state
of things, asked the House to interpose. He understood
him most distinctly to ask the House to interpose on this
subject, after the statements which had been made.
He added, most truly, that he was not the
person to bring this subject forward ; that so
fax as it depended upon him, it might have
rested ; but that having been brought forward,
he could not rest satisfied unless the House pro-
nounced some opinion upon it. He thought the demand
a most fair one. The Hon. Gentleman stood in a posi-
tion of great importance, and every one who filled the
situation of Chairman of an Election Committee was in-
volved in the question, whether the House would not
think it necessary to protect Members in that situation
against charges thus lightly made, and thus apparently,
but not fairly and honestly, abandoned. With respect to
the eourse (continued the Noble Lord) which we are called
On to adopt with regard to the Hon. and Learned Gentle-
man, the Member for Beverley, I think that that course
does not admit of any difficulty. The Hon. and Learned
Gentleman has read from a newspaper an extract of a
speech made by the Hon. Member for Knaresborough.
We have heard the Hon. Member for Knaresborough
state that that report is correct. I think, therefore,
with all due deference to ether Hon. Members, and more
especially to you, Sir, that if the Hon. and Learned Gen-
tleman to-morrow put in that newspaper, and has
the passage read, that the House of Commons
then come to a resolution to the effect that
an Honourable Member of this House, mentioning, of
course, the name of Mr. Ferrand, had acknowledged
himself to be the author of the speech produced, and
that the House is of opinion that the charge contained
in that speech against another Honourable Member of
this. House, is a false and calumnious charge.—(Cheers.)
I, for one, am prepared to take that course—(Loud
cheers.) If there is any one who, as the Honourable and
Learned Gentleman says, imagines that, for one moment,
there can be any doubt on this subject—if there is any one
who thinks that the Hon. Gentleman, in the discharge
of his duty, for one moment considered what course
it would be desirable for him to pursue in order to please
a Minister of the Crown—or that there is the slightest
particle of evidence to show that, in the execution of his
duties as a Chairman of a Committee, he in the slightest
degree permitted himself to be controlled by the Go-
vernment—if any :one entertained any doubt upon the
subject—it would be perfectly competent for that Hon.
Member to give expression to his opinions. For myself, I
have not the smallest doubt on the subject. I think that
after the assertion of such a charge, and after such a
contradiction has been given to it, such a resolution of
the House as that to which I have alluded is due to the
Hon. and Learned Member against whom the charge
was brought, and also due to the character of the House.
(Cheers.) The case of the Right Hon. Gentleman
is so far different, that he has not asked for the opi-
nion of the House. Ido not understand him to say that
he thinks it necessary to call in his case for any decision
of the House. At the same time ray opinion is, that
after the manner in which this matter has been stated,
some mode should be adopted by which an Hon. Mem-
ber in his place, imputing to a Minister of the Crown
that lie had procured a false report to be made by an
officer under his direction, for the purpose of bringinc,
charges against a Member of that House, was an utterly
groundless charge.--(Cheers.) The Right Hon. Gentle-
man himself does not make any formal complaint.
I think it necessary that we • should see
what resolution the House has come to on such subjects
on former occasions, when it has been thought neces-
sary to come to resolutions on the subject of the con-
duct of Members of the House. The last case in which
any resolutions of this description were come to, was
in the case of Mr. O'Connell, which stated that
all the Members serving on Election Committees had
been guilty of bribery. That was a general charge,
which I thought the House would have done well not
to notice. The House, however, differed from me in
opinion, and we have, therefore, a precedent on the
subject. I think that any general charge such as that
against all the Members composing Election Commit-
tees, ought not to be noticed; but it is different in the
case of a particular charge a specific accusation
brought against a particular Member, whether he be
holding an office under the Crown, or whether he
be entrusted with the discharge of important duties.
I am afraid that, on the one hand, if we invariably enter
into the general subjects of all imputations that may be
made upon the conduct of Members of this House, that
we should be involved in endless difficulties ; but, on the
other hand, if we pass over such imputations as those
which have been avowed by a Member of this House
we should render ourselves liable to the imputation of
being indifferent to the character of this House.—
(Cheers.) .I have thus stated, shortly, what my impres-
sions'are as tb the course to be pursued, and if any bet-
ter course can be suggested to-morrow I shall be quite
ready to listen to it ; and I think it would be better now
to adjourn the question till to-morrow.
Lord STANLEY—I concur with the Noble Lord in
the propriety of the House not taking any course now
upon these extraordinary circumstances, for I believe
that there is no case in Parliamentary history which can
fairly be made the ground of precedent for the extraor-
dinary circumstance which has occurred this evening.
I do not believe that, with regard to the groundlessness
of the Charge made either against my Right Hon. Friend
or my Hon. Friend, there is in this House the smallest
difference, or shade of difference, of opinion,—(Cheers.)
I do not believe that a man here does not believe—that he
does not feel confident not only upon the charge
itself, but on the- entire and absolute improbability of
proving them.—(Cheers.) But more than this, I be-
lieve that, at the time those charges were made, the
Hon. Member who made them had not the slightest
ground for believing that they were true.—(Cheers.)
This being the case, the Member of this House repeat-
ing those, calumnious charges in his place in this House,
is challenged to the proof of those charges, and with an
appearance of boldness, comes down to this House on
the following day pledged, as far as he can be pledged,
to substantiate those charges in the presence of that
tribunal to which the accused had appealed, and before
which he himself, in duty bound, was compelled to sub-
stantiate his imputations. On his second appearance,
when the case was ready to beleard—when the tribunal
was ready to which an appeal had been made—what
course was taken by the Hon. Member for e
Knares-
the
borough ? It was this that, at the appearnci nof
fisirdsetsoouftbthr eeakni nougsoe
btl y i atthnatural
fifeeling excited
gof h
o both
e
Hon. Gentleman, he demurs to the authority of this
tri-
bunal, and says that this assembly is notkone to which
he would appeal, or Lwhich he would tthinthaqtuatlified to
judge of the propriety of his
himself, he
was an
assembly between which and . himself had
stated, there existed no sympathy of feeling—(Cheers)
—and adhering to the charge which he had made,
not only declines to substantiatehad
been
seneedni
is the
nthabet
indignation
broughtont n
House
aue vftQoiettrhhttie-
draws, without allowing the accused themselves
to
I differ from the Noble Lord in thinking that
oriunsotmphiianstitcoeanrs e‘avwnh
pbtoy u er
grosshsxui pmea e. ?
sdsNlibtnielwelli
it entirely depends upon the feelings of the parties. The
Noble Lord draws a distinction between the case of my
Right Hon. Friend and the case of my Hon. Friend they
Member for Beverley. He said that the rlon. Member
pfoera
le
d Beverley
tothe
hadprotection app e aled
ot of the
s House,djugm
judgment t
anda and
thathad my
y-
Right Hon. Friend did not do so. Now that is not the
question which the House has to determine. It is not
with respect to the individual character of certain Mem-
bersg alone that we have to decide—we are not to ud e
by the indignation felt by one party or the contempt
which is shown by another. But it is for the House
to consider what course it will pursue for the mainten-
ance of its own character and its own honour. But I
am sure the Noble Lord will see with me—(Lord John
Russell made some observations across the table, which
induced Lord Stanley to sit down).
Lord J. RUSSELL then said—What I stated was,
that it made some difference as to the form in which
the House should proceed. As to the case of the Hon.
Member for Beverley, that gentleman could put in the
newspaper and have it read by the Clerk of the House,
as it was admitted by the Hon. Member for Knaree
borough ; but he thought that in respect to his Right
Hon. Friend, who *as a Minister of the Crown for the
Home Department, the form of proceeding should per-
haps be somewhat different.
Lord STANLEY was glad that the Noble Lord had

- -
given the explanation, and stated the distinction, which
he had drawn) but he must say,- that if they were to take
notice of the charge against one Member, and pass over
the imputations which had been cast upon another, they
would seem to give a sanction to the calumny. Ile had
only to repeat, that whatever course the House should
think proper to take in one case, they would take the
same course with regard to the other charge brought
forward by the same individual under similar circum-
stances.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL had not proposed that edif-
rerent course should be followed in the two cases. But

he had suggested the direct course they might ta!--e ii
the case of the Hon. Member for Beverley.
The SPEAKER said there was no question before th c
House ; but if the House wished to come to any future
determination on the subject, he would recommend tha t
the newspaper, which had been admitted by the Hon.
Member for Knaresborough, should be read by the clerk
at the table, and then the House could consider what
further was to be done.
Mr.-BLACKBURN wished to say a few words on this
occasion. On a former occasion, when he was
_Chair-
men of the Shaftesbury Committee, he had been foully
and calumniously assailed ; and he came before the
House to claim its support. His slanderers were
shielded and protected by the Noble Lord the Member
fur London, 'but he did receive support from the
Noble ford the Member for North Lancashire.
He would advise the House then, seeing that time was
to be given for reflection, to go back to the Shaftesbury
case, and he trusted that, in the present instance, they
would show a little better feeling than they had in that.
Sir ROBERT PEEL trusted the advice for delay
which had been given would at once be acted upon.—
(Hear, hear.) The House wonld lose nothing by this,
but would be in a much better position than now to de-
cide upon the course that ought to be pursued.
Sir R. INGLIS rose, but the rush of Members to the
door prevented him from being heard, and, in a few
seconds, the beaches of the House were comparatively
empty.
CONVOCATION OF THE CLERGY.
Mr. P. BORTHWICK rose for the purpose of pro-
posing the following motion for an " address to her Ma-
jesty, praying that her Majesty will be graciousfy pleased
to afford to Parliament, in all matters ecclesiastical, the
advice and assistance of the clergy in convocation as-
sembled, according to the Constitution and the ancient
usage of the realm." The Hon. Member was for some
minutes unable to proceed in consequence of the noise
from Members quitting the House. Some degree of
quiet having been restored, the Hon. Gentleman said he
must claim the indulgence and forbearance of the House
on the present occasion. The circumstances under which
he addressed the House, added to the disadvantages
which surrounded the subject he had to submit to their
consideration. That subject was no less than the most
cherished rights and liberties, which it was their pride and
privilege to defend at the present time, and transmit un-
impaired to posterity. Yet to the greater number of
those whom he was then addressing, little
more than the name of the institution, in
favour of which he was speaking, was known.
This was not a question of theology; if it were, another
place would have been the most proper for bringing it
forward. It would be well to know what a convocation
of the clergy was, what was its character, and what
were its uses. At the original introduction of Chris-
tianity into the country, the bishops of the diocese from
time to time collected the clergy to consult them on the
affairs of the Church. All matters of doctrine and dis-
cipline, and all matters relating to the efficiency of the
Church were discussed in those synods. In the course
of time those convocations were divided into two—those
of York and Canterbury. The Crown applied to those
convocations in order to obtain supplies for the public
service, they having the power of self-taxation. In the
year 1664, it was agreed that the clergy should give up
their privilege of self-taxation, and since that time there
was a singular want of care in calling that body together.
The convocation of the clergy at a time when its Mem-
bers shed their blood in defence of their rights, pro-
ceeded steadily in a course of action to which we owed,
at the present day, the salvation of the English Consti-
tution from the tyranny and oppression which was
brought to bear upon it. As a Member of- that House,
he was called on to legislate upon the subject of popular
education, and therefore he wished to have the opportu-
nity of those standing council to the realm, who had
been provided by the Constitution, and who were beat
able to inform him as to the proper mode of legislating
on so important a subject.
An Hox. MEMBER moved that the House be counted,
and, there being only twenty-seven Members present,
the House adjourned, at Seven o'Clock, until to-morrow.

PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS.

(From the Votes and Proceedtin s cd the House of Commons.)
MONDAY, APRIL 22.
NORTH BRITISH RAILWAY BILL.
Motion made, and Question proposed, " That the Bill be
now read a second time :"—Amendment proposed, to leave
out the word " now," and at the end of the Question to add
the wards " upon this day six months :"—Question put, " That
the word ' now' stand part of the Question :" The House
divided :

............
MAJORITY—NOES, 102.
Acheson, Viscount Ellice, E. Miles, P. W. S.
Aldam, William Ellis, Wynn Munts, G. F.
Arkwright, George Ewart, W. Murphy, F. S.
Balfour, J. M. Fitzmaurice, W. Ord, W.
Bannerman, A. Forman, T. Seaton Oswald, Alexander
Barnard, E. G. Forster, Matthew Patten, Wilson
Berkeley, Captain Fox, S. Lane Pendarves, E. W.
Bowing Dr. Fuller, A. E. Philips, G. It.
Bright, John Gibson, T. M. Plumridge, Captain
Brisco, Musgrave Gill, Thomas Rashleigh, Wm.
Broadley, Henry Gisborne, Thomas Repton, George J.
Brotherton, Joseph Gladstone, Captain Ross, D. R.
Busfeild, 'William tlreenall, Peter Rutherford, A.
Butler, Colonel Greene, T. Scott, Robert
Byng, George Grey, Sir G. Smith, Benjamin
Cavendish, G. H. Hastie, Archibald Smyth, Sir G. li
Chute, W. L. Hawes, B. Stanley, Hon. W.
Collett, W. R. Hay, Sir A. L. Stuart, Villiers
Collett, John Hepburn, Sir T. B. Strutt, Edward
Craig, W. Gibson Hill, Lord Marcus Thornely, Thomas
Cressweßi_A. J. B. Hinde, J. H. Traill, G.
Cripps, W. Hindley, Charles Trelawny, J. S.
Dennistoun, J. Hume, Joseph Troubridge, Sir T.
D'lsrseli, Benjamin Inglis, Sir K. Tufnell, Henry
Douglas, Sir H. Jervis, John Vane, Lord H.'
Douglas, Sir C. Johnstone, Sir John Vivian, John Duds
Duncan, Lord Kemble, Henry Wakley, Thomas
Duncan, George Labouohere, H. Walker, R.
Duncombe, T. S. Layard, Captain Williams, W.
Duncombe, A. Lennox, Lord A. . Wilshere, W.
puncombe, Hon. 0. Lowther, J. H. Wyse, 1.
Dundas,:Admiral M. Geachy, F. A. Yorke, R. H.
Dundas, David M`Neill, Duncan TELLERS.
Ebrington, Viscount Marshall W. Macaulay, T. 11,
Ellice, Rt. Hon. K Maule, lion. Fox Hodgson. R.

MINORITY—AYES, 23.
Blackburne, .I.lreand Fremantle, Sir T. Marton, G.
Buller, Sir J. Y. Godson, Richard Mauntell, T. P.
Clerk, Sir George Gore, W. Ormsby Shirley, E. P.
Clive, Viscount Gore, W. R. 0. Smith, Abel
Dalrymple, Captain Hanmer, Sir John Wall, B,
Duffield, Thomas Hornby, John
Egerton, W. T. Houldsworth, T. TELLIIIIII.
Forbes, William Lockhart, William Wyndham Colonel
Forester, Hon. G. Alarsham, Viscount Borthwick, Peter