The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-04-30 00:00:00

HOUSE OF LORDS.-TIIESDAY

The Marquis of WESTMEATH asked if the noble Marquis
(of Normanby) had not, in a letter to the lord-lieutenant of
the Queen's County, designated some gentlemen as a Romsn
Catholic " Rector.' Unless he had heard this from the
noble marquis himself, he could scarcely credit it, when he
recollected how anxious the Roman Catholic clergy were
to reassert those titles. . .

The Marquis of Normanby said, that in his answer to a
letter from Lord Rosse, he believed he had used the expres-
sion ; but he had done so in error, and quite unintentionally.
The noble marquis took that opportunity of reading letters
from various law officers of the crown, asserting that Mr.
Biddulph had expressed his satisfaction at the jury empanel-
led to try the parties who had attempted, as was alleged, to
assassinate him.
The Earl of CHARLEVILLE once more read the letter of
Mr. Biddulph, denying that he had done so, and said that
whichever party was right, justice had not been done, and
the public mind never could be satisfied, knowing that three
ribandmen were upon the jury.
The Earl of WicKLow said he was bound in justice to the
noble marquis to declare, without offering any opinion as to
the discrepancy between the parties, that he considered the
noble marquis to have been fully justified in the statement he
had made on a former occasion, and that he was also justified
in still retaining the same opinions.
The Marquis of NORMANDY felt it only necessary for him
to protest against the supposition that there were three ri-
bandmen on the jury adverted to.
The Earl of FALMOUTH presented a petition from Truro,
praying for inquiry into the reasons which had caused the
removal of the West India packet station from Falmouth to
Dartmouth.

-----
This lead to some discussion, in the course of which Lord
MELBOURNE stated that the Admiralty had deputed three
gentlemen to inquire as to the best port from whence the
mails should be despatched; -mid they bad reported in favour
of Dartmouth. The packets were really to depart from
Southampton, and were only to call for the mails at Dart-
mouth. _ .

--.
The Marquis of NORMANDY postponed the Drainage of
Buildings bill until Friday ; and their lordships adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—TuEsnAY

Notice was given by Mr. EASTHOPE that he would move,
on the 11th of May, for leave to bring in a bill for the abo-
lition of church-rates.

Mr. FRESHFIELD moved for the appointment of a select
committee, to inquire into the comparative advantages of the
southern ports of England, as points from whence to despatch
the West India mails. The hon. gentleman contended that
no port offered such extensive advantages as Falmouth, from
whence, however, the packets had been withdrawn in order
to be transferred to Dartmouth, from motives of private and
local interest. The public had a right, when an inferior port
was selected, to have an inquiry instituted with a view to
ascertain which was really the port best suited, or what might
be the reasons for selecting that which was manifestly least
suited for the purpose.
Sir C. LEMON seconded the motion.

vMr. F. H. BERKELEY contended that Bristol was the best
port for the purpose, particularly if the mails were to be con-
veyed by steam-vessels.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the go-
vernment had been solely actuated by the desire of consult-
ing the true interests of the public. They bad no power to
compel the company, who had taken the contract, to make
any port their station—they could only decide upon the place
at which themails were to be taken up, and they had, ac-
cordingly madecided upon Dartmouth.
Sir H. VIVIAN was of opinion that Falmouth was the
preferable port, from whence to send the mails, inasmuch as
it was 56 miles nearer to the. West Indies than Dartmouth.
Mr. O'CONNELL contended, that the best ports would
have been Valentia, Cork, or Bearhaven, in the south of Ire-
land, from whence a steamer would take only seven or eight
days to go to Halifax.
Mr. H UME thought the statement made by the Chancellor
of the Exchequer quite satisfactory.
Sir J. SEALE was of opinion, that Dartmouth was the
most eligible port, the harbour being remarkably safe, and
decidedly the best in the channel for the purpose.
After some further discussion, the motion of Mr. Fresh-
R a majority of 54 against 50.
TLIENERAL moved the appointment of a
fi e dh vre ass
oc
cr
reido, by
committee to consider the expediency of erecting a building
in the neighbourhood of the inns of court, for the sittings of
the courts of law and equity, in, lieu of the present courts
adjoining to Westminster Hall, with a view to the more
speedy, convenient, and effectual administration of justice.