The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-07 00:00:00

REDUCTION OF THE THREE-AND-A-
HALF PER CENT. ANNUITIES.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER gave
notice that he would, on Friday next, in a Committee
of the whole House, move a resolution for the reduc-

tion of the interest on the Three-and• a-Half per Cent
Annuities.

Mr. BLEWITT wished to call the attention of
the Right Hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for
the Home Department to a fact of great importance
to Chancery suitors. He was informed that the
whole of the books belonging to the Accountant-Ge-
neral's office were kept in a building which was not
fireproof. He thought this was a matter which de-
manded serious consideration.

Sir J. GRAHAM stated (as we understood) that
orders had been given that no fires should be lit in
the building in question, and he begged to remind the
Hon. Gentleman that ample provision had been made
for the safe custody of these books in the new Houses
of Parliament.

COUNTY CORONERS' BILL.
The House went into Committee on the County
Coroners' Bill, and clauses 1 to 16 were agreed to,
with a few verbal alterations, and without discussion.
Clauses 17, 18, and 19, were then agreed to without
discussion.

On the reading of the 20th clause, which proposed
:hat coroners should receive Is. per mile for travel-
ing expenses,
Mr. C. BERKELY moved the omission of the clause.

Mr. WILLIAMS supported the amendment of the
:on. Member for Cheltenham.

Mr. MACLEAN and Sir GEORGE STRICK-
LAND supported the clause.
The House divided, when the numbers were—
For the clause 93
Fur the amendment
Majority

Clauses 21 and 22 were agreed to without dis-
cussion.

The remaining clauses were agreed to, and the
the House resumed.
The Masters and Servants' Bill was read a se-
cond time, and also the Teachers of Schools (Ire-
land) Bill.
Sir J. GRAHAM, on the part of Sir Denham
Norreys, moved for a copy of a Report of W. J. Han-
cock, Esq., Assistant Poor-law Commisioner, upon the
late election of a poor-law guardian for the ward of
St. Andrew's, in the city of Dublin, which was or-
dered.

The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of,
and the House adjourned at a Quarter to Seven.

ATHLONE ELECTION COM-
MITTEE

(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)
Mr. TALBOT replied. After which the room was cleared.
On the room being re-opened.
The CnAuntAli declared that the Committee had come to
the following resolution :—That as it appears that the sum-
monses for the witnesses were not issued until Thursday,
29th February, and the money to pay their expenses was
not transmitted until the Ist March, it is the opinion of the
Committee that due diligence has not been used, and there-
fore it cannot agree to the adjournment required.
Mr. TALBOT in relation to the case of Mark Quin, now in
Roscommon gaol, suggested that the Chairman should move
in the House for the attendance of Mark Quin on the Com-
mittee. _ _

The CHAIRMAN thought the fact of his being in gaol ought
to be proved.
Mr. HAMILTON, M.P. for Dublin, stated that on Friday he
received a petition from Mr. Moss, stating that Quin was in
custody, that he was an important witness in this case,
and praying the House to request his attendance. He
had mentioned the subject to the Speaker, who had
told him that the more usual way was for the Chairman of
the Committee to request the attendance of the witness. He
understood from the Speaker that he had had a previous ap-
plication made to him on the subject.
The CHAIRMAN said that still there was no proof that Quin
was in gaol.
Mr. TALBOT put in the service of the Speaker's warrant on
Mark Quin, in Roscommon gaol, on the Ist of March.
Mr. AUSTIN—That was in time, and the only man they
have served in time is the man they knew could not come.
The CHAIRMAN thought that evidence was sufficient to
authorise him to move the House on the subject.
It being now only eighteen minutes to four the Committee
determined that the Counsel need not commence the opening
of his case, and adjourned.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
COURT OF CHANCERY, March 6
REGISTRAR'S OFFICE.

Mr. STEER, in the course of the morning, complained of
the manner in which he had been treated last night at the
Registrar's office. He applied there about five minutes before
six o'clock to see the papers 9f the business at the Court for
the day, and he was told by a person who swept out the office,
and who had on a leathern apron, that he could not see them
till six o'clock. He pressed upon the person, it being so near
six o'clock, to allow him to see them, but he would not do so.
He (Mr. Steer) supposed that he had not the papers in his
possession.
The Lou CHANCELLOR, after communicating with the
Registrar, requested Mr. Steer not to say anything further on
the subject at present, as he understood that Mr. Pym, the
person who made out the papers, but who was not then pre-
sent, had a very good answer to the charge.
Mr. STEER trusted the Court would allow him to conclude
the statement he was making, as the cream of the subject
was yet to come.—(Laughter.) The individual in the
leathern apron, when the cabalistic hour of six arrived, put
his hand into his waistcoat pocket, fetched out the papers for
the business of the Court for to-day, and stuck them up in the
passage to the Registrar's office. Now, he thought, to say
the least of it, this was a most uncourteous proceeding on the
part of one of the officers of the Registrar's office.
The LORD CHANCELLOR thought that the officer might
have been a little more courteous, but he understood that the
matter could be explained. Who the officer was he did not
know.

Mr. STEER said that he knew as little of the officer as his
Lordship, but the description he had given of him would
enable his Lordship to discoveFwyo he was.

The LORD CHANCELLOR said that Mr. Steer had certainly
given a very picturesque account of the officer.—(Laughter.)
The matter had at least relieved the seriousness of the usual
proceedings of the Court.—(Renewed laughter.)
Mr. LEIGH felt bound, in justice to 11r. Pym, to state that
he had often allowed him to see the papers before six o'clock.
It perhaps may not be generally known that the papers of
the business of the Courts are put up in the passage to the
Registrar's office, from six to seven o'clock every evening,
for the purpose of inspection by the members of the legal pro-
fession and the public; but so short a period, it must be
apparent to every one, is infinitely too limited for the con-
venience of the profession, in consequence of the increase of
the members of the Court, and the more speedy dispatch of
business.

STATE OF TRADE.
(From the Manchester Guardian of yesterday.)
The market continues in the same quiet and inanimate
state as during the last fortnight. The demand, both
for goods and yarn is limited ; but stocks being gene-
rally low, there is little or no change in prices, except
in printing cloth, which had been relatively higher than
other descriptions of goods, and which has declined 3d.
to 41d. per piece from the highest point.
ROCHDALE FLANNEL MARKET, MARCH 4.—There has
been a change in the market to-day for the worse ;
goods have been less inquired after ; buyers have been
fewer, and the prices offered unremunerating to the ma-
nufacturer. The wool market has also been dull ; there
is not the same eagerness to purchase as formerly, and
the fear of a further advance is much abated. Prices,
however, may be quoted as firm.