The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-02-22 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-MONDAY.

The SPEAKER read a letter from the agents of parties
petitioning against the return for Maidstone, stating that
it was not their intention to proceed further with the pe-
tition. _

Mr. DIYETT, the Chairman of the Lancaster Election
Committee, reported that Mr. Armstrong, Q.C., the
sitting member, had not been duly elected, inasmuch as
as he had, by his agents, been guilty of bribery.
Lord ROBERT GROSVENOR, Chairman of the Tavistock
Election Committee, reported that the sitting member,
Mr. Samuel Carter, had not been duly elected, because he
did not possess the qualifications required by law, and
that Mr. Phillips had been duly elected.
Mr. KER SEYMER, Chairman of the Canterbury Elec-
tion Committee, reported that Mr. Gipps and Mr. Butler
Johnstone had not boen duly elected, and that the last elec-
tion was a void election. The Committee further reported
that extensive bribery had prevailed at last and previous
Elections ; and a motion was made for a Commission to in-
quire into the system of bribery, which was proved to have
been in practice at elections for the borough of Canter-
bury.
Ur. T. DUNGO/4135 ova notice that *wenn he

should move that a writ for a new election be suspended,
and that the evidence given before committee be printed.
The house was summoned to the House of Lords, to
hear the royal assent given by commission to several bills.
In reply to a question from Mr. F. Wilson Patten, Mr.
CARDWELL said it was the intention of government to
introduce a bill to establish the principle of limited liabi-
lity ; but in respect to bills now before the house, it would
be expedient to be careful in granting this power in cases
where the object would be accomplished by means of
competition.

Lord J. RUSSELL, in answer to a question from Lord
Dudley Stuart, stated that the British Minister at Flo-
rence was yet making representations in favour of Mr.
Edward Murray, a British subject, now imprisoned by
the Roman government, and would continue to do so ;
his own opinion was, that the evidence upon which
Mr. Murray had been convicted, would not have
been sufficient in a British court of justice to have
proved his guilt of the offence alleged against him.—
In answer to Mr. H. Drummond, Lord J. RUSSELL said
Mr. Murray was undoubtedly born of British parents.
As to his being a British subject, he had no further infor-
mation than was contained in the papers before the house.
On the motion that the House go into committee of
supply.

. .
Mr. Moone asked Government what were their inten-
tions with regard to the Established Church of Ireland,
He, in a verylong speech, urged that it was necessary for the
peace of Ireland that there should be complete religion's
equality between the several denominations into which the
people of Ireland were divided ; and he inquired whether
they would bring in a bill for that purpose.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said Government had no intention
of introducing any measure relative to the Established
Church of Ireland, other than one relative to ministers'
money, of which they had given notice.

Mr. OTLAHERTY, as an Irish member, stied the ques-
tion had been most injudiciously brought forward upon
the hon. member's (Mr. Moore's) own responsibility,
and would interfere, in his opinion, with the settlement of
the question of tenant right. The speech of the hon.
member on the Church question was perfect " moon-
shine "—(a laugh)—and calculated to increase the dif-
ferences which already prevailed.---Mr. LUCAS replied to
the last speaker, and said the Irish party would act inde-
pendently of all parties and all ministries until juttiee
was done to Ireland, by giving religious equality.
Mr. HINDLEY repeated the question he put on a pre-
vious evening, as to whether it was the intention of
government to prosecute parties charged with the circa-,
lation of placards dissuading young men from joining the
militia.

Mr. FITZROY, in the temporary absence of Lord Pal,
merston stated that it was not intended C 3 proceed with
the prosecutions.

Mr. BRIGHT, in reference to remarks of Lord Palmer-
ston of a previous evening, as to the gravity of the offence
in question, characterised it as uncivil and impolitic, and
produced one of the placards which contained pictorial
representations of the flogging of Somerville, with some
extracts from his book.

Lord PALMERSTON, who entered the house while Mr.
Bright was speaking, produced a letter he had received
from Somerville himself, enclosing a copy of the letter he
had sent to Mr. Hindley, which he requested his lordship
to read in the event of Mr. Hindley not reading it to the
house. Much amusement was excited by the reading of
this letter; Somerville complaining loudly of the Peace
Society, and declaring that soldiers would not be flogged
but for offences which they could easily avoid.
The house then went into committee on the navy e3ti-
mates.

Mr. STArLETON drew attention to the injurious effects
of flog2ing in the navy. _

Sir-JA;ms GRAHAM stated that punishment could not
be inflicted rashly or immediately.
After a long discussion on various topics connected with
the details of the service, the two votes of supply were
agreed to.
The House then resumed.
The Grand Jury Cess ( Ireland bill, was read third
time, and passed.

The House then went into committee upon the office of
Examiner Court of Chancery) bill.
The bill was not proceeded with, and the House again
resumed.—Adjourned at a quarter to one.