Star.
London, England, 1831-03-23 00:00:00

ILEFOIIIII IN CIIANCEILY.

The LORD CHANCELLOR said, as he had not heard from a
noble and learned lord (Lyndhurst), stating when it would be conve-
nient to etteral tee discussion on the bankruptcy bill, he considered it
better to remove all doubt respecting the next stage of the bill, by fix.
fng it for the first Monday after the Easter recess. The noble and
learned lord accordingly moved that the said bill be committed on Mon.
day the 18th of April.—Ordercel. He then observed that lie had stated,
sin a former day, what would be the saving to the suitors in equity under
the procisio:s of the bankruptcy bill, but he had not been understood.
There were two other bills relating to the officers of Chancery, which he
had also postponed, at the request of his noble and learned friend (Lord
Eldon). There was a fourth bill, for improving the Registrars and
Six Clerks' Office, which must also be postponed. Adverting again to
the Bankruptcy Judicature Reform Bill, the noble and learned lord
said. as some doubt hail been entertained by his noble and learned friend
fiord Wynford) as to the real amount of saving. he had gone over the
tarts again, and he found that the saving would be nearly double what
he bad mentioned. The present reduced expense of bankruptcy busi.
news was 63,1671. a year, and the expense estimated tinder his bill could
rot amount to more than 31,0001. but he would rather take it at
27.0001. making a saving under the head of bankruptcy alone of 36.0001.
a year. In the office of the masters and Clerks, there would be a say.
hg of :Montt!. and in the registrars' office and that branch, a saving of
18.3571. being in the whole a saving of 67,500 a year. including com-
pensation to the Chancellor. If they gave a compensation to the Lord
Iwnctilor, the saving would be about 60,0001. a year. This was not
so much a saving to the co:entry as a saving to the unhappy suitors in
equity, who would no longer have to pay extravagant fees for copies
and papers out of the different offices. It was of the first importance
that suitors should have justice without b:ing pea to unnecessary ex-
pense, anti the noble and learned lord added, " I will try to make the
relief expeditious. '
Lord WYNFORD expressed a hope that the Noble and Learned
Lead would afford the house an opportunity of knowing whether his
statements were correct, and where they came from. In the estimated
expense of bankruptcy business there must be an error. The Noble
and Learned Lord could have no objection to lay on the table some
papers upon which they could see how to legislate.
The LORD CH AiNCELLt 111 remarked, that his Noble Friend had
said he knew but littiL of the bill, and every word his Noble Friend
had uttered was a demonstration of his assertion.

Lard WY NFORD said he was prepared to discuss the subject.
The LORD CHANCELLOR thought his Noble Friend under
mistake in supposing he knew the details of the bill. He begged him
to apply his excellent understanding to it. The information he had
given to the house was founded upon the returns made to a circular
addressed to the Commissioners of Bankrupts and other Officers, chew.
lug the average amount of their emoluments annually during the last
three years. If his Noble and Learned Friend was to examine all the
Officers of Chancery he would come to the same result.
After a long conversation between the LORD CHANCELLOR
and Lord WYNFORD upon the correctness of the Lord Chancellor's
statements, the latter consulted with Lord Plunkett, and moved, with
the consent of the Noble and Learned Lord (►4ynfurd) that the Secre-
tary of Bankrupts be ordered to lay before the house a return of the
emoluments of the Commissioners of Bankrupts sitting in London,
received annually during the last three Tears.—Ordered.
Earl GREY presented 42 petitions for reform.
Lord DURH M presented a petition, signed by 25,000 inhabitants
of Glasgow, in favour of the measure of reform. Also one, to the
effect, from the parish of St. James, ►Pestminster.
Lord MELBOURNE gave notice, that he should move the second
reading of the Sub-letting Act on Tuesday next.
The Inelse then adjourned at half-past six o'clock.
HOUSE OF COMMONS, Mellott 22.

The house balloted fur a Conw,ittee on the Forfar Election Petition
Ti., 31embers of the Committee were sworn at the table.

3lr. MACKINNON presented a petition from Ipswich, in favour of.
the plan of Reform proposed by Ministers.
Mr. J. S •.ITII presented similar petitions from Bognor and Lime.
house, and a petition front ►►'estport, in the county of Mayo, complain-
mg of distress,
Mr. PRINGLE presentil a petition from the county of Selkirk,
against the proposed union of Scotch counties in the Ministers' plan of
reform. He considered the union of the counties as highly objection.
able in principle and dangerous in precedent. The honourable gentle.
man presented a petition from Glasgow, against the proposed tax on
steam-vessels.

Mr. Alderman WA ITH MAN presented petitions in favour of the
plan of reform proposed by ministers, from the parish of St. Sepulchre,
the Ward t f Breadattreet, the parish of St. Giles, Bloomsbury, and the
parish of St. Bride. all signed by almost every inhabitant in the respective ,
places ; and a similar petition from Greenwich, in Kent.
Mr. Alderman WOOD preavnted a petition from the county of Kerry
ia favour of Reform ; and several petitions from the Wards of Faring.
don, Aldgate, Cheap, and Billingsgate.
Admiral SOT HERON said, he would take that opportunity of
mentioning that his bon. colleague had a petition from Notting-
hum to present, signed by 2.5 of his constituents in favour of the
plan of reform in the bill of the noble lord. He had been ap- 4
plied to by his constituents to support that petition. His con-
stituents had returned him to Parliament five times. At his last I
election they inquired of hint whether he would support a reform
in Parliament, and he hail declared his determination to support
a moderate reform, and came down to that house last night de-
termined to support the second reading of the bill; but having
given his best attention to the discussion, he must say that, after
Laving well considered the speech that closed the debate last night,
la could not conscientiously any loner support the noble lord's
plan of reform. (Loud cries of Hear from the Opposition.) He
was aware that by opposing the noble lord's bill, which he must
admit was highly approveu of by his constituents, who had five
times done him the hanoar of sending him as their representative to that
house, he ran the risk of severing a connection that was most dear to
him ; but he must obey the dictates of his conscience and oppose that
particular plan of reform contained in the bill before the house.--
(Great cheering front the Op;.osition.)
Lott' J. RUSSELL by no means intended to impute any thing in.
Entionally unfair to the Gallant Admiral; he had no doubt that he was
p, rfectly sincere in the declaration he had made of the change that had
taken place in his opinions; yet he must say that the Gallant Admiral
been led into a course which was neither fair nor impartial. The
Gallant Admiral had heard all the discussion that had taken place on
the introduction of the bill, and had determined to vote for the second
reading ; but after hearing the objections made to the details of the
bill in the closing speech of last night, all of which admitted of a sada-
factory reply, but which there had not yet been any opportunity of
sialvering and disproving, the Gallant Admiral had changed his mind
without u ~iting to hear what answer could be given to the objections.
ettal determined to vote against the second reading of the bill. (Hear.)
This conduct he could nut but consider inconsistent with fairness and
jus::ce ar.)
Sir .1. YORK F. said, he coulu by no means agree in the opinion of
the noble lord. He thought his gallant friend, when he saw just cause
to change his opinion on the bill, had acted in a manly straightforward,
noble manor; in avowing that change, and his determination to oppose
the bill. (11.ar.)
Lord ALTHORP said, he hoped the gallant Admiral would believe
that he could attribute nothing to hint that was not fair and honourable;
(Hear, hear.)—but his noble friend complained that the gallant
admiral should have made up his mind without waiting to hear
the whole of the arguments, and he thought there was reason for
that complaint. Coming down as he did yesterday, to vote for the se-
cond reading, he should haves aired to hear the close of the argument
before he changed his mind. The learned member for Weymouth, in
the last speech that was delivered last night, had argued against the de.
tails of the bill, but all his arguments could be:tally answered, and the
gallant admiral should have waited to hear the tr.swer that would be
given by his noble friend before he decided against the bill.
Mr. BANKES, senior, said his gallant friend had a right to state
his reasons before the last speech on the second reading, when he would
have no opportunity, and should go before his constituents after the dis-
solution of Parliament, with which they were so often threatened, baying
voted contrar to their instructions, without assigning any reason.
Lord MORPETII said, he did not disapprove of the Gallant Ad.

miral's change of mind ; but he hoped the Gallant Admiral would hear
another speech that would hang him back to his former state of mind.
Mr. C. DUNDAS presented a petition front Berkshire, in favour of
the plan of reform proposed by ministers.
Mr. R. PALLMER said, the petition was very respectably signed,
and he was the only person present at the county meeting who did not
entirely approve of the plan of ministers. (Hear, bear.) He should
not object to the second reading of the Bill, be hoped it would be inn.
proved in the committee.
Alr. F. PALMER said, there was not a second opinion in the
county—all were in favour of the reform proposed by ministers.—
( Hear, hear.)
Mr. SPENCE said, he bad ascertained that his former constituents
in that county were unanimous in favour of the plan of reform proposed
by ministers, in which opinion be fully concurred. (Hear, hear.)