The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-02-14 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS—MoNDAY, Fan. 13.

The House met at four o'clock.
Colonel WATKINS took the oaths and his seat for
Brecknock.

In reply to Mr. Layard,
Lord J. RussELL explained, at some length, the instruc-
tions under which commanders of the combined fleets had
acted in the Black Sea, and stated that the recent return
of the fleet was owing to Admiral Dundas not finding the
anchorage at Sinope such as had been represented, and
the Admiral was of opinion that if he continued cruising
for two months, as had been intended, the efficiency of the
fleets would be so impaired as to endanger its power of
performing the service required of it. With reference to
the mission of Count Orloff, his lordship said that in the
objects the Count had in view he had entirely failed
papers on the subject would shortly be produced.
In reply to Sir de Lacy Evans,
Mr. S. HERBERT stated that the artillery practice at
Woolwich was impeded by the passing of steamers up
and down the river.
THE LIVERPOOL FREEMEN.

Mr. BRIGHT presented a petition, from the inhabitants
of Liverpool, praying for the disfranchisement of the
Freemen of Liverpool, and detailing the corruption which
prevailed in elections for that borough. He moved that
it be printed.
THE NEW REFORM BILL.

Lord J. RUSSELL, at a quarter-past five, rose to move for
leave to bring in a bill to further amend the laws relating
to the representation of the people of England and Wales.
He reviewed the circumstances under which the preceding
bills for reforming the representation were brought in,
and noticed especially the differences which prevailed
between the two houses of parliament in 1832, observing
that he anticipated no such great differences with respect
to the present measure. With regard to the approaching
war, he said he thought that war could be carried on as
it ought to be, and at the same time to carry out those
domestic measures of reform which have become necessary.
He referred to the state of the representation in 1797,
comparing it to what it is at present, with a view to show
the progress that had been made, and what remains to be
done, in order more fully to represent the people at large.
He said that although a large disfranchisement had
already taken place, many boroughs yet remained,
the population of which was not sufficient to
justify their sending members to the House of Commons ;
at the same time, he did not concur with those who
thought equal numbers necessary. There were twenty-
nine boroughs, containing 300 electors, of which the
population was under 5,000. These would cease to return
members. There were also thirty-three containing less
than 500 electors, and under 10,000 inhabitants, who now
return two members ; of these one member would be
taken away. He dwelt on the necessity of preserving a
balance of representation with respect to towns and
counties. With respect to the West Riding of Yorkshire
and South Lancashire, he would divide them into two dis-
tricts, and give four additional members to each division. To
towns containing a population of more than 100,000, he would
give three members—electors to vote for two candidates
only—the third candidate having a certain number of
votes to be elected to
.represent the miniority. The me-
tropolis was to be excepted from this arrangement—but he
proposed that Kensington and Chelsea should form one
borough to return two members, the Inns of Court should
return two members, and the University of London one
member. He would create the following new franchises
for boroughs and counties :—Receipts of £lOO salary pay.
able half-yearly, or quarterly possession of £lO a-year
from Funds, Bank, or Bast India Stock, or