The Sun.
London, England, 1842-02-23 00:00:00

'WEST INDIA P;iCKETS.

In answer to a question from Captain PLUMRIDGE,
who was very indistinctly heard,
Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT said, that in the printed
pt.uers relating to the Admiralty regulation of the West
Luba packet stations, the word Liverpool was, by a
printer's error, substituted for Falmouth.
COMPTROLLER OF THE EXCHEQUER.

Coionel SIBTHORP begged to ask the Right Hon.
Gentleman, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether it
was his intention to submit any measure to the House
for regulating the manner of issuing Exchequer Bills,
and the other duties of the Comptroller and the Deputy
CoMptroller of the Exchequer.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER hoped
to be able on an early day to lay before the House all
that he proposed to do respecting the issue of Excite-
qt.er Bills. The subject was a matter of serious consi-
deration to the Government, as well as to the Comp-
troller-General of the Exchequer, and some proposition
in relation to it would shortly be made to Parliament ;
bat beyond that he was not able to make any statement
at present.. In respect to the latter part of the Hon.
Member's question, he should say that there was at all
events no intention of abolishing the office ofComptruller-
General.

Colonel SII3THORP then gave notice that it was his
intention on an early day to take the sense of the House
on the subject of both the offices of Comptroller and
Deputy-Comptrolle(Hear, and laughter.)
INTERMENT' IN TOWNS.

Mr. MACKINNON gaVe notice that he would to-
morrow move for leave to bring in a bill on the subject of
interment of- the dead in towns.
PUBLIC WORKS.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER gave
notice that on Friday next, in a Committee of the whole
House, he would call the attention of the House to the
Acts which regulate the advances for public works.
THE CORN-LAW;:it,--TIIE WAGES OF LABOUR.

•Mr. COBDEN gave notice that on the first opportu-
nity he would move, tha inasmuch as that -House had
repeatedly declared by its- votes and by the Reports of its
Committees, that it was beyond the power of the I-louse
to regulate the wages of labour, it would be manifestly
unjust to pass any law raising e price of food without
previously considering and determining what the opera-
tion of such law would be upon the rate of wages in this
country.—(llear, ltear.)
LEAVE OF ABSENCE.

Leave of absence was granted to several Hon. Members
until after Easter, or for shorter periods.
Mr. JERVIS moved that leave of absence should be
given to Mr. Grainger, to go on circuit.—(Loud cries of
" No, no.")
Leave of absence was granted to Sir Hesketh Fleet-
wood on account of ill health.

Mr. C. BULLER wished to call the attention of the
House to the exceeding hardship of refusing leave of ab-
sence to Mr. Grainger.—(Cries of "Question.") It ap-
peared to him that it should be the object of that House
to snake attendance upon their duties as couvenent to
lawyers as they possibly could.—(Laughtero He meant
as convenient to them as to:other Members, consistently
with the proper discharge of their duties. When this
question arose last session, it was snggested that as it
was in the power of the General CoMmittee of Elections
to place different Members on the several Committees as
they chose, the best coarse would.be to place those Hon.
Members who had to go the circuits upon those lists in
which they would not be called upon during the period
whilst the circuit lasted. Surely that was a course
which could not be attended with inconvenience to the
public business. What was tho state of things at pre-
sent ? The Northern Circuit commenced on Wednes-
day, and gentlemen were obliged to go down imme-
diately, if they intended to attend the circuit, without
knowing in what list their name would be placed.
If the suggestion to which he had referred were adopted
all difficulty would be removed.
Mr. JERVIS could not see what possible inconve-
nience would arise from granting leave of absence to
Mr. Grainger. Of course the ti.ne would allow but one
panel to sit before Easter. A barrister could not be
excus xl from. being placed upon a particular panel : but
the Committee had row the power, if leave of absence were
granted, to substitute another name for that of the absent
Member. Supposing that a certain number of gentlemen
of the legal profession were appointed to act as Chair-
; men, it was manifest that no Committee could sit
• before Easter,. except one ; and therefore there could
be no practical inconvenience arising if the indul-
gence Fought for were extended by the House ; in-
deed, if it was the ,object of professional gentle Men
to be dispensed with, or to escape the duties of attending
on Coinsnittees altogether, he (Mr. Jervis) would agree
with the. House that they should be obliged to perform
those duties ; but it was not so ; all they sought for was
to be exempted from those duties during the circuits; he,
therefore, hoped the House would reconsider their deter-
mination, ar.d that Hon. Gentlemen would not be carried
away by any feeling, that lawyers had any intention
or anxiety to shrink from the performance of the ar-
'duous and responsible duties of acting on Committees as
well as other lion. Members-on the whole, he Submit- 1
ted that indulgence should be extended to professional
gentlemen daring their absence on circuits.
Sir GEORGE GREY agreed withihis Honour- ,
Ale Friend in saying, that if Honourable. Gen-
t tensest were bona fide practising_ barristers, they should
be exempted from being on _Committees during the
circuits, . and their names reserved for those counties •
where they could attend and perform their duties con-
veniently and efficiently.
Mr. MURPHY observed that the subject was of first
importance to the profession ; it' they sought the relaxa-
tion alluded to for the purpose of escaping attendance'
altogether, he would say it was unreasonable.—(Hear.)
Ile thought it a very hard case that they should
be denied the indulgence which they sought,' it
being simply, not that they should escape any
duty, but that they might be allowed to defer
it. He trusted he should be excused for making
his first appearance before the House in a matter of a
personal consideration; but he thought it best openly and
at once to state his views on the subject, as he slu:Suld
consider it a great hardship if he were not allowed that
privilege which he now sought to obtain for another.
Lord MAHON thought the application before the
House was quite just and reasonable. The indulgence
claimed was not for the benefit of barristers only, but
the interests of the clients also might suffer much. He
did think the indulgence sought was one which the
house ought in justice. to confer.
Lord G. SOMERSET said it would not be convenient
at present to make an examination
thedesire of the intothepanels. He
should suggest, if it were House to
gi ant any indulgence, that it should not be done till after
The appointment of the.o aiit'us
House,
tie,
al
taineadvtehoef
agbesneenreael
shouldpttne s.
not Nbveo pressun.lrdanted ti ti
4th thee
expiration of that period
which would be' some time about the middle of next week.
As he had said before, to release the variou4 Mem-
Grs of' the legal profession from their duties in this
pest, would throw impediments in .the way of their, ex-
ercising their
Committees. discretion
E
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said he was inclined,
011 general grounds, to join with the noes .on the
motion for granting leave of absenee to 'Honourable
frequently Memberst under ordinary circumstances ; but it was
of the utmost importance to a
memberof the legal profession, and might, in fact, determine
the whole career of a lawyer, his being. able to
attend, or being debarred from attending a circuit.
In such a case, it was better that the mode of carrying
'it into effect should be considered by the