The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-02-15 00:00:00

LONDON.

HOUSE OF LORDS.-

MONDAY.

The Loan CHANCELLOR, in pursuance of notice, rose
for the purpose of stating the intentions of Her Majesty S
government on the subject of law reform. His lordshiPt
at some length, traced the progress of legal reform fro'
an early period. He considered that, as he had only bed
the great seal for a period of six or seven weeks, he ought
not to attempt to legislate for Courts of Common Law or
Chancery. The recent alterations worked well, and en,
increase of twenty per cent. in the number of writs issued
this year over last, showed that the public had every con'
fidence in the present system. With regard to the transfer
of land, he had adopted, with some alterations, the bill
introduced by Lord Campbell in 1851, His lordship also
proposed to reduce the statute law to a more simple
and systematic form, by striking out all those statutes
which have become obsolete. His lordship then resumed
his seat upon the woolsack, having spoken for one hour
and three quarters.
Lord CAMPBELL, at some length, expressed his entire
concurrence with the proposals made by the Lord Chan'
cellor.
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE rose for the purpose of
learning whether it was with the sanction of Government
that certain strictures had recently been made upon the
French Government by Sir Charles Wood, at Halifax ?
Lord ABERDEEN replied that it was the earnest desire
of Her Majesty's Government to preserve the most inti-
mate relationship between this country and France. 148
believed no person was more desirous of preserving th!t
feeling in all its integrity than Sir Charles Wood. U
lordship explained the circumstances under which Si!
Charles Wood had made the strictures referred to, and
stated that !Sir Charles Wood expressed his regret that he
should inadvertently have made use of any expressionS
which could have been interpreted as offensive to the
French Government.

Papers were not pressed for.
Their lordships adjourned at half-past eight o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-MONDAY,

Sir John Young, Chief Secretary for Ireland, took the
oaths and his seat for Cavan ; also, Lord Alfred Paget for
Lichfield.

Mr. DISRAELI, in the absence of Sir Charles Wood•
said, if it were more convenient to government, he would
postpone his question relative to words used at the late
Halifax election by the right hon. baronet, in relation to
the policy of France, until before the house went into
committee of supply.
Lord J. RUSSELL said the right hon. genlleman had
better put his questions now. (Hear.)
Mr. DISRAELI then read a passage in the speech is
question, which contrasted the proceedings of the French
government with our own, particularly with relation to
the press ; and asked Lord John Russtll whether the re'
port read was correct ? _

- Lord J. RUSSELL said the passages in question were
used not upon any motion in relation to our foreign policif
but in the course of soma observations relating to uni^
vernal suffrage; he had, however, received a letter from
Sir Charles Wood upon the subject, in which he said he
was not aware that the fact of his being a minister pre.'
eluded him from expressing his private opinion upon the
public events, but he had certainly no intention of using
language at all calculated to give offence to the Emperor
of France. (Hear.)

Mr. COBDEN, referring to a letter of Lord Mount Edge.,
combo, in the Times, of Saturday, stating he had peen,
liar means of knowing that the government of France had
greatly increased their naval preparations, asked the FO-
reign Secretary whether government had themselves re'
ceived the like information.

' Lord J. RUSSELL said that although it was true the
French Government had thought it right to increase and
improve their naval resources, that increase and improve..
ment, considering that France was a great maritime cowl'
try, had not been such as to lead the Government to
remonstrate, or to mako any question upon, with the
Government of France. (Hear.) More than that, the
relations between the two countries were of the most
friendly nature—(hear)—and the best understand-.
ing prevailed between the two Governments. With
respect to the information which Lord Mount Edge..
combe said he had received, he (Lord John Rue
sell) could only say he had received none such, but he
he did not attach any great importance to it.
In answer to a question from Mr. H. HERBERT, the
CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it was his intentiofl'
as soon as he had time to consider the subject, to bring 10
a hill for the better regulation of the Bank of Ireland.

The General Board of Health Bill passed through corn.
mittee with amendments.

Mr. MONCRIEFF, Lord Advocate of Scotland, asked
leave to introduce a bill to facilitate the procedure ill
Sheriffs' Courts of Scotland. With the view of obviating
the delay and expense attendant upon the present practice
of pleading and taking proofs, one leading feature of the
proposed measure would be to authorise pleadings and
proofs to be taken aurolly, and a check to be placed upon
vexatious appeals.

After remarks from Mr. HUME, Mr. BRUCE, Mr•
CRAWFORD, and Mr. DuNcAN, approving of the principle
of the measure, leave was given to bring in the bill.
On the motion of Sir JOHN SHELLEY, a Select Com-
mittee was appointed to inquire into the operation of the
laws under which dues or taxes are levied on introduction
of coals into the metropolis, the mode of collection, and
the expenditure of such dues or taxes.
Adjourned at a quarter-past seven.