The Sun.
London, England, 1842-05-04 00:00:00

NATIONAL EDUCATION.

Lord LORTON presented a petition from Castle
Connor, in the county of Sligo, against the present sys-
tem of National Education.
BANKRUPTCY, LUNACY, AND LOCAL
COURTS.

Lord CAMPBELL asked the Noble and Learned
Lord on the Woolsack, what was the present state of the
Bill for amending the law relative to bankrupts. The
Bill had been introduced, but had remained stationary ;
he also asked the state of the Lunacy Bill, and the Bill
relating to Local Courts.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said, with respect to
the first question which the Noble and Learnea Lord
had referred, the Lunacy Bill, it had been read a first
and second time, and stood for the Committee ; it was
his intention to-morrow, to give notice for the Commit-
tee on Thursday. As to the Bankruptcy Bill,
it had been read a first time, and he would propose the
second reading some day in the ensuing week. With
respect to the third, the Local Courts Bill, he had
found such conflicting interests, and such difficulty-in recon-
ciling them, that he had not been able to lay it on the table;
but he trusted, after the explanation he had given, to
meet such a concurrence of opinion, that he should be
able to introduce it soon after the recess.
Lord ABINGER trusted the Bill would never be laid
on the table of the House ; but if it was, he should give
it his determined opposition.
The LORD CHANCELOR said his Noble and Learned
Friend had put so many questions to him, that he did
not recollect the whole of them at the time he had
given an aswer to the Noble Lord. He believed he had
given no answer to one of the questions with respect to
the Ecclesiastical Courts Bill, and he therefore begged
leave to inform him that the Bill had been prepared
and was ready to be introduced.
Lord BROUGHAM was exceedingly glad to find that
the intention of his Noble Friend was such as he had
stated ; but with respect to the policy of the Bankruptcy
Bill taking precedence of the Local Courts Bill, he (Lord
Brougham) entertained great doubt. If his Noble
Friend would look more narrowly into the subject, he
would find that such a step would create great incon-
venience, he should therefore wish to see it postponed.
The LORD CHANCELLOR begged leave to state
that the Bill was already laid on the table of the House,
and no inconvenience could result from the second
reading of the Bill, because, at any future stage, the
progress of the Bill might be stopped, if necessary,
until the other Bill had been read a second time.
He begged leave to state, that it occcurred to him
that it was not necessary to postpone the Bill,
and to proceed with the ether Bill, for this reason,
it was nothing more than extending the principle of the
Bill introduced by his Noble and Learned Friend, with
respect to the Court of Bankruptcy in London, which had
been found to operate so beneficially, that several mer-
chants of London had presented a petition to extend the
operation of the Bill to the whole country. In conse-
quence of this it was now proposed to extend the town
commission to the country. The Noble and Learned
Lord (Brougham) would see much to approve in
the Bill, inasmuch as it was founded on his own Bill.
Lord BROUGHAM entirely concurred, not only in
the principle, but the details of the Bill.
COPYRIGHT BILL.

The LORD CHANCELLOR said he should move
the second reading of the Copyright Bill on Monday
next (as we understood).
UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE.
Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from the
Provisional Council of the National Complete Suffrage
Union, dated the 15th of April. praying for Universal
Suffrage, Annual Parliaments, Vote by Ballot, and No
Property Qualification. The body from which the pre-
sent petition emanated was composed of between
ninety and one hundred delegates from different parts
of England, Wales, and Scotland. They met at
Birmingham, where they held several deliberative assem-
blies for the space of several days, and they came to cer-
tain resolutions. They afterwards convened a public meet-
ing, which was attended by many thousands of their fellow:
citizens ; that meeting consisted of persons of all descrip-
tions, among whom the greatest unanimity prevailed. The
middle eltbses showed the greatest anxiety that their
fellow citizens should be brought within the pale of the
Constitution. As the petition spoke not only the senti-
ments of the individual that had signed it on behalf of
the meeting, but also those of 3,300,000, and as its ob-
ject was,Universal Suffrage, Annual Parliaments, Vote
by Ballot, and No Property Qualification, he trusted their
Lordships would not think he was asking too much
when he requested that the petition should be read at
length.

The petition was then read at length at the table.
The Marquis of LONDONDERRY presented a peti-
t:on from the Magistrates of Durham, sitting at the
Petty Sessions at Stockton-upon-Tees, against the
Stockton and Hartlepool Railway Bill.
Lord CLIFFORD of Chudleigh, presented five petitions
from the Roman Catholics frequenting different Cha-
pels, praying that they might be put upon the same
footing, and enjoy the same civil rights as other persons
of different religious persuasions.
MADRAS PRESIDENCY.

The NOBLE LORD gave notice that he should, on Friday
next, bring under the notice of the House the subject of
the Madras Presidency.
Lord DACHE presented a petition from a parish in
Hertford against the provision in the tariff affecting the
importation of live stock.

Lord WHARNCLIFFE laid on the table certain pa.
pers by the command of her Majesty.
Earl FITZWILLIAM presented a petition from Ayr,
for the immediate abolition of the Corn and Provision.
laws.

The NOBLE EARL also presented a petition from the
congregation of some place in the parish of Sheffield,
against the bread-tax, and another against the alteration
of duty on the importation of foreign cattle and meat.
QUEEN'S PRISON BILL.

The Earl of SIIAFTESBURY brought up the Report
on this Bill, which was ordered to be received.

In consequence of Thursday next being Ascension Day
their Lordships adjourned till Friday.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, May 3.
The SPEAKER took the Chair shortly before Four
o'Clock.

PENRYN AND FALMOUTH ELECTION.
Mr. C. WOOD brought up the Report from the Select
Committee appointed to try the merits of a petition,
complaining of an undue election for the Borough of
Penryn and Falmouth. The Committee reported that
Capt. James Hallway Plumridge was duly elected.
STANIIOPE AND TYNE RAILWAY BILL.
On the motion of Mr. LIDDELL, the Lords' amend•
ments in the Stanhope and Tyne Railway Bill were read
and agreed to.
ATTORNEYS' CERTIFICATES.
Mr. LAWSON presented a petition from certain at-
torneys of Yorkshire, praying for an abolition of the
duty on attorneys' certificates.
Mr. DUNCAN presented a petition to the same effect
from the solicitors of Durham.