The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-01-24 00:00:00

STOCKDALE VERSUS HANSARD

Mr. KELLY presented petitions from the sheriffs referring
to the resolutions of the house in the case, Stockdale v. Han-
sard, declaring that they had been guilty of breach of privi-
lege, and ordering them to refund to Messrs. Hansard the
amount levied, in which they expressed their deep sorrow and
concern that they had incurred the displeasure of the house,
especially as they had considered that they were only ful-
filling the duties which they had sworn to perform.
The petitions were read and ordered to lie on the table.
Mr. SLANEY gave notice that on Tuesday week he would
move for a committee "to inquire into the causes of the
discontent existing amongst a large portion of the population
in many of the manufacturing districts, with a view to remove
the evils and remedy the complaints, so as to strengthen the
affection of the people to the institutions of the country."
And he stated that Mr. Pakingtoc would on the same day
move for a bill to amend the laws relating to the sale of beer.•
Mr. F. FRENCH gave notice, that on the 31st instant, he
would move for an address praying her Majesty to appoint
a medical commissioner on board, for the purpose of improv-
ing the medical profession in Ireland.
Mr. MACKINNON gave notice that, on the 30th instant,

he would movefor a bill to improve the laws relative to turn-
pike trusts.
Mr. HUNIE moved for a return respecting all the sums
paid out of the consolidated fund to the several branches of
the Royal Family, in the years 1838 and 1839 ; also for an
account of all the sums paid, during the same period, to-
wards her Majesty's civil list ; which was ordered.
Sir R. INGLIS observed, that in order to make that re-

turn complete, it ought to contain the whole amount which
her Majesty would have received, provided she had not been
advised to give up her hereditary revenues.
Lord J. RUSSELL said that there could be no objection to
the production of both accounts.

Mr. HUME added, that the only difference between the re-
alm he had moved for, and that desired between Sir R.
Inglis, was that his return would show the actual amount of

the money received, while the one which the hon. baronet
wanted would only show an imaginary amount. He took
that opportunity of giving notice that if the proposition of
making an annual allowance to Prince. Albert of £50,000
should be persisted in, he should take the sense of the house
as reducing it to £21,000, so as to place the allowance on an
equality with that of the other members of the Royal Family.
Mr. KELLY then moved, on the petitions previously pre-
sented by him, that the sheriff's be called to the bar for the
purpose of being discharged from further attendance.
Sir R. INGLIS seconded the motion. _ _

Lord J. RUSSELL moved as an amendment the resump-
tion of the adjourned debate. The motion proposed by his
Lordship at the previous sitting, for the commitment of the
sheriffs, being again put,
After further and considerable debate, in which Lord

TEIGNMOUTH, Mr. LAW (the Recorder), Mr. Erle, Mr.
D'lsnAzu, &c. took part, the house divided on Mr. Kelly's
motion, for which there was—ayes 99, noes 210; majority
against it 111.
The house then proceeded to Lord John Russell's motion

of the former night, the proposition that the sheriffs be com-
mitted to the custody of the sergeant-at-arms, and on that
question the house divided—the numbers were for the motion
193, against it 93 ; mejority for the motion for the commit-
ment of the sheriffs, 101.
Lord J. RUSSELL then intimated that it was not hislinten-
tion to proceed against the under-sheriffs, or the sheriffs'
officers ' • therefore on his Lordship's motion, they were dis-
charged from further attendance. He would, however,
move that Mr. Howard, Stockdale's attorney, be called to
the bar ; but the propriety of examining him, so as to crimi-
nate ~himself, it will be observed, called forth discussion.
Adjournment was moved, to which Lord J. Russell said he

had no objection; but at the next meeting of the house, he
should proceed with the case. He was for proceeding with
the subject now.
Mr. KELLY said he should oppose the bringing to their
bar any other person on account of this transaction.
Mr. Litw proposed as an amendment, that the house do
adjourn.
Lord JoHN RUSSELL moved that Howard do attend on
Wednesday.
The house thereupon divided, and the numbers were—for
the adjournment, 39 ; against it, 113 ; majority against it, 74.
Howard was then ordered to attend on Wednesday.
Lord J. RUSSELL, in answer to Col. Sibthorp's inquiry,
said that be should bring forward the proposition regarding
Prince Albert ; but that the question of privilege would have
precedence.
Lord J. RUSSELL brought in a bill to carry into effect the
recommendations of the church commissioners, which was
read the first time.
Mr. E. TENN ENT obtained leave to bring in a bill for ex-
tending the copyright in designs in calico-printing from three
to twelve months.
-Col. SIBTIIORP said that he should move a clause making
the apnuity of Prince Albert cease, should he survive the
Queen, except he resided six months in England each year.
The remaining business being disposed of, the house ad-
journed. _

HOUSE OF LORDS—WEDNESDAY.
The House of Lords did not sit this day.

HOUSE OF COMMONS-WEDNESDAY.

Mr. Alderman WOOD gave notice that on the 27th instant
he will move for the appointment pf a select committee to
consider of improvements in the metropolis. '
Mr. FECTOR gave notice, that on Monday next he will
put some questions to Lord Palmerston relative Ito the civil
war in Spain.
Lord J. RUSSELL stated, in answer to a question from Mr.
Christopher, that he hoped to be able, before Easter' to in-
troduce a measure to effect certain improvements in the Poor
Laws.

The CHANCELLOR os the EXCHEQUER stated, in answer
to a question from Colonel Conolly, that he had no intention
of introducing a measure to repeal the drawback on malt.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER also stated, in an-
swer to a question from Sir R. PEEL, that he will, as soon as
possible, lay on the table returns showing the result of the
reduction of postage. _ _ _

Mr. F. MA. uLE stated, in answer to a question from Mr.
MACKINNON, that it is the intention of government to intro.
duce a measure, making certain alterations in the count)
constabulary act. _

The house then resumed the consideration of the question
of privilege, arising out of the case, " Stockdale v. Hansard."
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE moved for copies of the warrants under
which Stockdale and the sheriffs had been committed to
custody.
Lord J. RUSSELL said it was very unusual to make such
an application ; but the motion was ultimately agreed to.
Sir E. KNATCHBULL asked whether it was intended to
remove the individuals, now in custody, from the house ?
Lord J. RUSSELL answered that it was not. It was
stated that there would be, elsewhere, an application for a
writ of habeas corpus ? and, under all the circumstances, it
was deemed advisable to keep the prisoners in the custody
of the house for the present. The noble lord, having moved
that Mr. Burton Howard, the attorney of Stockdale, be
again called in.
_ _

Sir E. SUGDEN, as an amendment, moved to add the
words " for the purpose of being forthwith discharged." He
contended that there was no necessity for this further vindi-
cation of what were termed by the majority the privileges of
that house, by the exercise of a power that was already ex-

hibited in the committal of Stockdale and of the sheriff's into
custody.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL opposed the amendment. The
attorney had proceeded in the action, in the knowledge that
he was thereby acting against resolutions of that house. The
object of his commitment would be to deter others from act-
ing in a similar manner. There was no ground for hesita-
tion, and, unless the house agreed to the present motion,
they would stultify all their former proceedings in this mat-

ter.
A long and heavy discussion followed. Eventually the
house divided on the motion ; and it was decided by 178 for,
and 68 against the motion, that Mr. Howard be called to the
bar, reprimanded, and dischaiged. The motion having been
carried, Mr. Howard was called to the bar, reprimanded,
and discharged.
Ou the motion that the house resolve into committee on
that part of her Majesty's speech which related to the mak-
ing of a provision for his Serene Highness the Prince Albert,
Lord J. RUSSELL said that he had, as closely as possible,
endeavoured to follow precedent.
Mr. GOULBURN urged the importance of having the fullest
information possible on the subject, previously to being called
on to sanction any vote or proceeding.
Lord J. RUSSELL -said that, under such circumstances, he
was ready to defer his statement until Friday.
The Bill for the Exhibition of " a Bill for the Naturaliza-
tion of Prince Albert" was then considered, and proceeded
with. After some conversation, the house adjourned.

THE REWARD OF MERIT.—We remember seeing the im-
portant fact announced in the ministerial newspapers that
the Sultan, in consideration of the eminent services, and out
of respect for the great talents of Lord Viscount Palmers-
ton, had been graciously pleased to confer upon his lordship
the illustrious order of Nichan Iftihar, and to transmit the
insignia to his lordship, splendidly ornamented with diamonds.
The Semaphore of Marseilles states that the Sultan has
been also graciously pleased to confer the same important
and distinguished decoration on M. Soulier, the clown at the
Circus, "in token
of the delight his feats have afforded his
sublime Majesty." It is also to be conferred on the cele-
brated juggler Rodolphe. The distribution of this honour-
able distinction must be extremely gratifying to the Foreign
Minister of the thimblerig Cabinet.—john Bull.

- ---
For the amusement and information of teetotallers we may
state that the average value of the hops consumed in the
United Kingdom, amounts to £2,000,000, sterling, annually ;
and the 5,361,000 qrs. of malt to .Z 16,000,000, making a
totalof 138,000,000 per annum for beer. The actual value
of bread consumed, on a mean of several years, is £30,000,000
per annum.—Doncaster Gazette.

w which,
cohhv, Lat. PIECE OF MACHINERY.—A new piece of mecha-
nismlately been put in operation in the city of Glasgow,
eapalapebro_urra-saving machine, bids fair to surpass
everything of the kind ever invented. It is called by the
itniovnenotforthsthe 'Whig dographist, and seems to be a combina-
tion
to
been a work of
of signatures
but now, by calling and printing machines. The pro-
curing
anxiety on the subjectn otir l
Whig-radical petitions has hitherto
gmiense labour and considerable expense ;
oett but shall merely
with. We have neither time aid of the Whigradographist, all
of this novel engine,
eiour and expense is done away
nor space to give a minute de-
scriptionwith the help of a couple
off upwards of two thousand boys,signatures mention, that,;
it is capable of throwing
in an hour, in all their
o'Grelination, not usual grotesqueness, from the smallest'at hand to letters an inch
hurry,
long, and at all their wonted angles
ingradographist
the .anti-corn-law.
omit-
ting the flourishes if desired. The,
Ire of the
petition being in a desperate
as 25,000
one day this week was made to throw off as ,
signatures in ten hours, and we believe it is sti'll'ioing on at
the same rate of speed. We have not heard the
ingenious inventor, but we happen to know that
Edin-
burgh whig clique have ordered one for their sole use, a,that the radicals and chartists are in treaty for another, butn
the inventor is rather shy, the necessary funds not being
forthcoming in the shape of hard cash.—Edinburgh Evening
Post.