The Sun.
London, England, 1827-06-20 00:00:00

evils done there, under the controul of the Colonial Go-
vernor.

Mr. HUME said, that the Right Hon. Gentleman had
misunderstood the charge against Lord Charles Somerset
with respect to the alterations of the currency. The charge
was, that he had depreciated the currency by his issue of
paper money, against or without the consent of the autho-
rity at home.
Mr. W. HORTON said, that the subject of the Cape
was entered for discussion that evening, to which opportu-
tunity he would defer his observations.
Mr. FYSHE PALMER asked the Right Hon. Gentle-
man whether he had not been formally acquainted with the
intention that the motion he alluded to.would not be brought
forward that night?
Mr. WARBURTON said, that it was a strongly pre-
valent opinion amongst persons in the employment of Go-
vernment at the Cape, that if they came forward La wit-
nesses, or stated all they had to state fairly and fully, they
would be dismissed their situations. He knew such tr:• be
the case. So long as an apprehension prevailed in the Co-
bony that Lord Charles Somerset might be sent back, FO
long would evidence be withheld. It was, therefore, by
no means a subject of wonder that nobody in that House
would undertake a cause, when they expected that wit-
nesses, from fear of the consequences, would not make
their case good. This might he one reason why the Hon.
Member would not bring forward the case during the pre-
sent Session.

Mr. BARING disclaimed any personal motives against
Lord Charles Somerset.

Mr. W. HORTON rose again; but the Speaker re-
minded the Right Hon. Gentleman that there was no mo-
tion before the House, the simple question being whether
the petition should be printed. The question was then put,
and the petition was ordered to be printed.
Mr. MAXWELL presented a petition from certain Ma-
nufacturers of Frome, in Somersetahire, praying that a tax
might be imposed upon machinery.
Mr. HUME presented a petition from Earlesbury, in
the county of Fife, praying that foreign corn might be ad-
mitted upon the payment of a duty.

Mr. HUME moved for a Return of the Establishments
of the General Post Offices of Upper and Lower Canada,
and of the British North American Colonies, with the
amount of Postage received in the years .1E425 and 1526.
The House and the public were not aware that although
the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada had Representa-
tive Assemblies, and were supposed to be free of the power,
and unshackled by the authority of Ministers at home, the
Postmasters in both provinces were all appointed by the
Postmaster-General at home, and the Assemblies of the
Canada's knew nothing of the amount of postages levied in
their provinces, or how the money so raised was applied.
After a few words from Sir J. Newport, Mr. W. Hor-
ton, and Mr. Hume, the motion was agreed to.
Mr. WODEHOUSE presented a petition from Great
Yarmouth (Norfolk), praying an amelioration of the Malt
Laws.

Mr. COKE made some observations which were not very
distinctly audible in the gallery. We understood the Hon.
Member to state, that it was found very profitable to feed
horses on steeped barley, in Norfolk, but that steeping the
barley brought the parties within the operation of the
Excise Laws. He had received a letter from one indivi-
dual who had 33 horses employed for farming purposes,
and who was anxious to adopt this cheapest and most ex-
cellent mode of feeding them, but he was prevented by the
Excise Laws. This created a difference to him of 1201. a
year in the keep of his horses.
Mr. HERRIES believed this mode of feeding cattle was
confined to a small part of Norfolk. He was anxious to
meet the grievance, but the danger was, that by doing so a
door would he opened to frauds upon the Excise.
Mr. C. CALVERT said the Hon. Member (Mr. Her-
ries) was muds mistaken if he supposed that feeding horses
with steeped barley was confined to Norfolk.
Mr. MABERLY observed, that, if barley were to be
given to horses in a fermented state, instead of fattening, it
would kill them.

The petition was read, and ordered to lie on the table.
On the motion of Mr. PEEL, the amendments made by
the Lords in his four Bills for Consolidating and Amending
the Criminal Laws, were read and agreed to ; and Mr. Peel
was ordered to carry back the Bills to the Lords.

THOMAS FLANAGAN.
Mr. S. RICE moved the Order of the Day for Thomas
Flanagan to be called to the Bar.

The Order having been read,
The SPEAKER said, if he understood correctly the
nature of the notice given by the Hon. Member, it was,
that this person should be called to the Bar, for the pur-
pose of offering some explanation of the offence of which he
had been guilty ; and since Flanagan had been taken, he
(the Speaker) had received a letter, signed Thomas Flana-
gan, containing rcasons, which the writer seemed to think
entitled him to keep out of the way of the Order of the
House for a certain time. The Serjeant at Arm. had re-
ceived a similar letter ; and the Deputy Housekeeper (Mr.
Bellamy) had seen him (Flanagan) in the street, on the
Saturday previous to his being taken into custody. Perhaps,
the House would think it right to have these letters read,
and to examine the Deputy Housekeeper, and then call
Flanagan to the Bar to give an explanation of them, as well
as of his other conduct. _ _ _

The letters were put in and read. In that to the Speaker
it was stated the writer was unable to surrender to the
House at present ; but that he would do so by a certain
day.—(A laugh.)
The Serjeant at Arms produced his letter, which com-
menced thus :--" Mr. Flanagan has the honour to inform
the Serjeant at Arms, that he will deliver himself up by
Monday, and hopes the Serjeant at Arms will be genet one
enough to excuse him sooner."—(A laugh.)
Mr. Bellamy, the Deputy Housekeeper, was then called
to the Bar. That gentleman stated, that he met Flanagan
in the street on Saturday ; he knew his face but did not
know his name; suspecting him to be Thomas Flanagan.
he asked hint if that was his name, and he admitted that it
was ; he then informed him that he was an officer of the
House, and must take him into custody, pursuant to the
order of the House. Flanagan refused to go with Mr.
Bellamy, alleging that he had arranged with the Speaker
and the Sergeant at Arms when he was to surrender—(A
laugh) ;—ha also udded, that he should resist Mr. Bel-
lamy's taking him, inasmuch as he had not the warrant
with him. He (Mr. Bellamy) not having the warrant,
allowed him to depart.
Thomas Flanagan was then called to the Ber.
The SPEAKER informed him that the House had
found him guilty of forgery, in putting fictitious names to
an Election Petition,- from the Borough of Athlone. In
this he was deelared.guilty of a high breach of the pt4vileges
of that House, and had been called to the Bar for the pur-
pose of explanation.
Flanagan then bad the letters handed to him, and he ad-
mitted that they were his handwriting. He also admitted
that he had met Mr. Bellamy in the street, as stated by
that gentleman, but refused to go with him, because he
was pledged to other persons, who would be injured by
his appearance, to keep for a time out of the way. When
called upon to answer the other charges against him, be
went into a long detail of the circumstances of the Election,
and the manner in which the petition had been got up, but
he was for the greater part inaudible in the gallery. He was
then ordered to withdraw.
The Resolution declaring that Thomas Flanagan bad
been guilty of a high breach of privilege, by committing a
forgery of certain names to a petition presented to the
House from Athlone, was read.
Mr. SPRING RICE then rose, and after briefly recal-
ling to the House the facts of the case, moved that Thomas
Flanagan be committed to his Majesty's gaol of Newgate;
and that he, Mr. Speaker, do issue his warrant accordingly.
Mr. HUME opposed the motion, which he thought un-
necessary severe on the present occasion. He reminded
the House, that the persona whose names were put to the
amended petition, had previously signed a petition of a
similar nature; and on all these considerations, he pro-
posed, as an Amendment,. that Flanagan should be called
to the Barg and.be admonished by the Speaker.
Sir J. NEWPORT opposed the Amendment.
Mr. S. RICE admittel that the House had once been
too lenient, but urged that that was not a reason why it
should repeat that error, especially in so gross' a case as the
present.
The House then divided on the Amendment—
Ayes 7 I Noes
Majority in favour of the original Resolution 74

The Original motion was accordingly carried.
Sir HENRY PARNELL then moved for a return of
the Joint Stock Banking Companies in Ireland, established
since a certain period specified.
The motion was agreed to, and the return ordered ac-
cordingly.
Mr. HUME then rose to propose the Resolutions of
which he had given notice, for the regulation of Private
Bills during the next Session. His object in thin he stated
to be, to prevent Members from introducing nothing more
than skeletons of Private Bills, from which the House
could derive no informati.o as to their real nature. He
was desirous to have it made a rule of the House, that the
blanks shouki be filled up in Italics, or in some other mode,
so as to show what was the real intention of the original
Proposers, and distinguish what was intended to be perma-
nently retained in the Bill from what was intended to be
left for subsequent consideration. There was another
thing that Very much required correction. When a Member
brought in a Private Bill, it was read a first time, and then
it was left to the Member who had the charge of it to move