Debates an Vrocerbings alt Vadiament.

THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND.

In the House of Commons, on Monday, Lord JOHN RUSSELL moved that extracts front the several Speeches delivered front the Throne since 1833, on the subject of Church Reform, be read by the Clerk : which. having lw..n (lone, Lord Joitx moved that the Ecclesiastical Duties and Revenues t;ill be read a second time. He proceeded to recapitulate the history of the ,r: oral measures which had been passed, and of others which had been brought forward by Ministers, for the improvement of the internal administration of the Church. Ministers had proceeded in concurrence with the heads of the Church in the work of Ecclesiastical Reform. They h;,,1 equalized the revenues of different Bishoprics, and passed measures ee‘ abolishing sinecures and regulating non-residence. They new prope,,,d to diminish the number of Cathedral dignitaries, and with the funds thus obtained to raise all livings in England and Wales to the annual income of 300/. The amount required to effect this purpose would be 131i,-105/. per annum ; and that which would arise front the alterations lie proposed, would be 134,2571. It wits in coin- plianee with the stef;.7estion of the Bishop of Lichfield that the surplus of Cathedral revenues was to be thus applied. The Cathedral establish- ments would be reduced to one Dean, four Prebendaries, and four Canons. He declined going into the details of the measure at that stage, but could state that they were unanimously approved of by the Church ( '(onmissioners.

Sir Ilt,maa INGLIS strongly objected to the redistribution of Church property. Younger sons were destitute; and, no doubt, there were gentlemen in that House who would desire the redistribution of the paternal estate. Ile did not deny the destitution, but would object to the re,tistribution. So he utterly denied the justice of a measure which took property front Durham and gave it to Exeter, or took it from Exeter to be.tow it on Chichester. It was said that the Church property was corporate property, but lie saw no reason why corporate property de% ot...d to ecclesiastical purposes should be treated differently from that which e a, devoted to lay purposes- Thcre was no litferen re between the title On which the Custes, Minor Canou+, ;aid of I lereli■rd held their property and the Corpora- tion of I. ::dun lo hi heie,. If they were prepared to take the property of the City of London and give it to Liverpool, then, and not till then, he would admit that they could take the property of the Cathedral of St. Paul's and give it to Ilerchml. If they could take the dock-duties of Liverpool and give them to Iu,ver, then might they take the revenues of the Chapter of Durham for the relief of the poor and d.,:titute pari,heo in Wales. He could not sanction the destruction of the Vicars-Choral, Nolo had existed since the time of Richard the Second— The aggregate income of the Choir of Hereford was 4,700/, divided into au , not more than 831. to each recipient. Taking, therefore, only this among from the clergy who were already badly provided for, he could view euisaz; dereliction of principle ; and he could not sec the expediency of violatin;‘ principle for the sake of a saving so small as this. He contended that the d,. struction—not the reduction, but the destruction which was contemplated ,f such an ecclesiastical corporation—the sweepin away of such a body a,tte Choir of Hereford, without a crime alleged, or ab fault proved, would be of ihili such a blow to the hierarchy as it would notreadily recover from.

Mr. W. 0. STANLEY hoped that this sweeping measure would reedv, material modifications before it was suffered to pass. It would heft, sirable that it should be altered so as to give greater aid to that portico of the Church which needed it most. Nowhere was Church Ram, more wanted than in Wales.

Mr. lIrmE said, the bill did not go far enough, but he would suppor, it as likely to effect a partial reform.

Mr. 1'. B. ESTCOURT would not allow the bill to be read a second time without protesting against it. Many of its provisions were not to be tolerated.

Lord DUNGANNON avowed his entire concurrence with Sir Robert Inglis on this subject ; and protested against the bill.

Mr. LAW would vote for the second reading, with the reservatioa that he did not agree to many of the principles involved in the details of the measure.

Mr. GEORGE.' PALMER thought the bill defective in provisions for managing the property that would be left in the hands of the Cathedral dignitaries.

Mr. ANDREW WHITE supported the bill. There was a griever,; want of Church accommodation in Sunderland— There was not spiritual accommodation for more than 7,000 out of a pop. lotion of 50,000 ; while the Methodists, Independents, and Baptists afforded religious accommodation for upwards of 20,000. Except for the exertiobsof the 'Dissenters, in fact, the colliers would have been at present in a harbaroto state.

Lord CLIVE hoped Lord John Russell would fix the Committee% some day when Members from the Principality, who took great We. rest in the measure, could attend. lie hoped the Committee would it postponed till after Easter.

Lord Jons RUSSELL said, the pressure of other business renderedit impossible to put off the Committee till after Easter, but the considn tint, of the report might be postponed so as to give Members from Wales a fair opportunity of discussing any of its provisions.

Sir Ronmer PEEL spoke in support of the bill. He considered that the abatement of the extravagant demands for Church Reform bad arisen from observation that the Legislature was ready to effect prat. kcal improvements. He considered that the policy of a measure for altering the distribution of' Church property depended entirely upon the animus with which it was framed— If a proposition were made to divert such property to any lint ecclesiastical purposes, he would be the first to oppose it ; but if a measure were proposed which, in his conscience, lie believed was friendly in spirit to the Church, and which appropriated every shilling of the property to be distributed to purposu connected with the spiritual interests of the Church, then he could not say that he would resist it, on the simple ground that on no account whateva should the property of the Church lie interfered with by the Legidature. Take. for instance,lhe Deanery of Durham : however crying might be the demand for alteration within the district of that Deanery, according to the principle of the honourable baronet, Parliament must never strip its reMillfi of one shtlbug, however great might be the general spiritual advauta:fe gaited by the alteration. The Deanery of Durham might be worth 0,000/. a year; sometimes its revenue might amount to 14,0001. or 15,000/. a year: suppose in the great towns within the diocese, there were tens of thousands without the means of attending the service of the Church: suppose, owing to this ,attic, Dissent were to be found increasing, by the active measures taken by its leaden to draw from the Church those who would touch rather follow its doctrinea,if the means of doing so were afforded to them assuming such a case, lie could not, as a sincere friend of the Church, say that the property of the Deanery must, under such circumstances, remain intact, and that no measure of reform should be suggested, even though the best friends of the Church might agree in pronounci.tig tbr the alteratton as favourable to the highest interests of that Church. Ile could not see such a contrast 'between the splendour and wealth of a Deanery so situated, and the religions destitution assumed to he prevalent,

n

without at oce coming to the conclusion that sonic redistribution ought tole made ;and lie could only say, that if he was obligedto come to the conclusion that the principle I ill down I.v t he honourable baronet prevented all interference under such circionstElliCe,,, it W(111111 he, sincere friend to the Church as he was, with the deepest regret that lie would du so. If he consented to interfere for the redistribution of the Church revenues, it xvonld only be on the condition that he was first convineed that such interference was for the advancement of the real spirit mil interests of the Church and of religion. Such evidence, how- ever, being Abram' him, he could on no account consent to ;viola the rigid principle laid down by his honourable friend the Member for the Universitinf °Amt.

Sir Robert entered into some statements to show the great disparity in the incomes of livings, and the want of church accommodation in

populous towns and districts—two great evils which the bill was calcie lated partially to remove ; and therefore he, as a friend to the Church, would support it— The RIOT desire to support the authority of those (the Church ('ommis- siotters) who were appointed by Itis advice, and who had exposed theue.elcv,; to every species of obloquy in their determination manfully to state what rehirao were required in the Church, would alone have Induced him to stand forward on the present occasion as a supporter of this 1411: but that wily not the ground on which his vote would he given on the present occasion ; it was because, professing the utmost attachment to the Church of Englanih—lielieving that danger threatened from the increase of Dissent ammo, the lower (orders of the country, and that no decided effort was hying made to apply a remedy,—despairing provoring from the public fund; oily grant at all rominensuride with the object to he attained, unless the Church lwr,elf led time way,—he took at (Mee the position which alone, he believed, mmlil relieve the friends of the Church lion the dilliculty in which they were ',laved, and now gave his unqualified assent to the general principle of the present measure, by recording his support of the second readiug.

The bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Monday the 8th of April.

COPYRIGHT.

Mr. Sergeant TALFOHRD, on Wednesday, brought this subject before the House of Commons. He presented petitions for the extension of copyright, signed by William Wordsworth, Thomas Campbell, Samuel Rogers, Charles Dickens, Harriet Martineau, Sir David Brewster, J, G. Lockhart, Sir Walter Scott, Dr. Chalmers, Dr. Wardlow, Pro- fessor Wilson, Professor James Thompson, and Mr. Sheriff .Alison. He then moved the second reading of the Copyright Bill ; and proceeded to address the House in support of the motion. The main onestion was, whether the existing limitation of copyright was just ? On introducing the former bill on this subject, he had been unwilling to ask as a personal boon for authors, a measure which he thought Parliament ought to grant ou the principle of justice. Now, however, he was fortified by the petitions of eminent men, and he could state that, by an alteration in the bill he asked the House to pass, the opposition of publishers had been prevented. Be now contented himself with applying for an extension of copy- right in the cases of authors who had retained an interest in their works, and for books hereafter to be written. In the rare and peculiar case of joint and coextensive interest between the author and the pub- fisher, he proposed to grant the extension of copyright to both. The opposition of publishers having been withdrawn, he had to contend with that of printers and their allies, men who were mere speculators on the probabilities of the distant future- " All their apprehensions centre in one—that if the term of copyright he ex- tended, fewer books will be printed, fewer hands will he required, fewer presses set up, tower types east, fewer reams of paper needed, and (though 1 know tot whether the panne has penetrated to the iron mine, or ascended to the rag-lof4) that a paralysis will affect all those departments of trade. Now, if there were any real grown( for these busy fears, they would not want facts to support them. In the year 1814, when the term of copyright was extended from fonr- teen to twenty-eight years, the same class expresd similar alarms. The pro- jected change was flu more likely to he prejudicial to them than the present, as the numhor of books on which it operated was much larger; and yet there is no suggestion in their petitions that a single press remained unemployed, or a paper-mill stood still ; and, indeed, it is matter of notoriety, that since then

publications have greatly multiplied, and that books hare been reduced in

price with the increase of readers. The general arguments of these petitions are those Avhich the opponents of the measure urge—all resolving themselves into the assumption, that if copyright he extended books will be ilealvr; that cheap Woks are necessarily it benefit to the public ; and that the public interest should prevail over the chums of those who create the materials of its instruc- tion. But there is one petition which illustrates so curiously the knowledge which these petitioners possess on the sot ijeet of their and the modesty with which they urge them, that 1 must trespass on the patience of the House while 1 offer a specimen of its allegations," Mr. Tallimrd proceeded to quote and comment upon the all,gations of a petition agreed upon at a public mectins' at the Mechanics Insti- tute, Soto hampton Buildings, from '• compositors. pressmen, and others engaged in the printing profession." The petitioners maintained that his measure would. protect " trashy and meretricious" productions, but that the authors of works of " deep resstreh and intrinsie value" would not benefit by it ; that the profit of a hok depended not "oa the art a writing, but on the art of printing.," and that it was "unjust that authors 511(1111d endeavour to injure by exclusive laws a profession to shish they were indebted for the rank they held and the wealth they possessed." Mr. Talfourd ridiculed these claims of the printers- " Surely, the out critic, Dennis, who, when be heard the thunder roll over the mimic S1.011C4, used to claim it as his own, was moderate compared to those gentlemen of the Mechanics Institute. Whatever may be the benefit wh1ch the art of printing has conferred on genius—genies whiclt had achieved Mir- ridtable triumphs long before its discovery—it is astonishing to liter this claim ninth• by those who are now enga,.;ed in at simple mechanical pursuit. Ile manufiwtorer of bayonets or of gimpoteilor might as well insist that he, mid not the conqueror of Waterloo, was the recipient of national gratitude. Where would their profession be if no author had written? There are sonic more precious ereu than knowledge, and, strange as it may seem to the Utili- tarian philosophers, 1 venture to think gratit inle one; and if it is, 1 would ask those petitioners to consider bow many pre,sos have been employed and ho- noured, how many tainilies in their own Oa,: hare lacer enriched, by the un- ceasing labours of a single mind—that of sir Walter Scott—exhausted,

glimmering, perishing from this %veal.' in their service ?"

From the petition of opponents of his bill he would turn to those which supported it, in order to show that the present term of copyright was inadequate to the remuneration of authors, lie first cited the else of Mr. Alison, Sheriff of Lanarkshire ; who had abandoned the certainty of large emoluments in his prol'ession, and taken the not lucrative office of Sheriff of Lanarkshire, in order that he might obtain leisure to write a Ilistory of the French Revolution, He had written seven volumes, and expended 2.o00/a in the collection of materials. Fourteen years would elapse, according to the calculation, before the outlay would be repaid ; and unless the term of copyright were extended, Mr. Allson's labours would be almost. vain, as far as his family were concerned. Dr. James'Flonison, Sir David Brewster, and Dr. Cook, author of the History of the Church of Scotland, stated facts which proved the inade- quacy of the present term of copyright to secure remuneration to authors of not merely ephemeral productions. He would ask whether these petitioners did not deserve protection ?— " No,' said, amd will say, some of the opponents of this bill; 'none : we think that from the moment an author puts his thoughts on paper and delivers them to the world, his property therein wholly evases.'—What ! has he invested no capital ? embarked no fu n hill ? If human life is nothing in your commer- cial tables—if the sacrifice of prot'ession, of health, of gain. Is nothing—surely the mere outlay of hint who has perilled his fortune to instriwt mankind may claim some regard. (Jr is the interest itself so relined—so ethereal—that you cannot regard it as proporty,beeatisti it is not palpable to sense or to feeling? Is Ili re any justice in this ? If so, why do you protect moral character as a Than's 1114,A beams po•%e:sion, 111111 compensate the panty who starers in that ch.iraeter unjustly by damages ? hits this possossion any existence half so palpa- ble as themitluu s right in the printed creation of his I have always thi, no•lit it (me of the proudest triumphs oflunnan law. that it is able to rein-- nil,. and to guard this breath and liner spirit of moral 0(.6m—that it can lend its :nil in sheltering that imisilde property which exist= solely hi the action and affection of ,illiers: ;mil if it may do this, \shy may it not protect him in his riitlit—t hose %emits which. as Nick observed shy at great thinker, are, 'after all, the only things which last for ever?' From these examples of works of la- bour andlice itn-y out la t., 1 I urn to that of a poet, whose name Ins often been mentioned in the discus:fon of this measure, who has supported it by his pub- fished opinion, but who has now, for the first time, enforced it by petition. NIr. Wordsworth states, that he is on the point of attaining his seventieth year; that forty-six years ago he published his first work, and that lie has continued to publish original works at various intervals down to 1835. The copyright in a considerable part of these works is now contingent on his life; its a tew years the far larger portion will he holden by the same tenure; and a most extensive anti elaborate work, the E.rellr$ion, w,,tild be in this condition it' he should be spared for four years longer. lit' r...plyonts, tli.it having engaged and perse- vered in literary lal.,our,.1,Ss With the 1..X14.1.1:11thin of prodtwing speedy- effect, Mut with it view to 11[1,9.0,4 and 111:1111:i 11 11 remotely though permanently, his works, thou,,oh never out (W11011:11111, line 111:1111.7 their way slowly into gene• ral circulation and he states as a filet directly hearing on this question, that his works have, within the last four years, brinight a largor enlidionent than in all hie receding life, whieli ttould now be bounded by his death, and tlie greater. part of which, Whc had died intr y-ears ago, would hare born molly lost to his family. [low trill this ease 11....111,WCrel.? 1 suppose, as 1 laity' 11.71111 it, when less fully stated, answered heron., bent it proves that there is no neeessity for the extension (4' copyright, b:'' ere witlaiat its eiteistrigement a poet thus gifted lets been ready to devote his powers a:M.1st neglect :toil scorn to the highest and the purest aims. I trill not rely for my all,.•■ver on reminding those who urge this ungenerous argument, that there may nOt alieays be It:1'1;11111a on such rare endounients the means of elfering such a sacritiej, either from in- dependent resources or front simplo taste. I reply at /glee, tieit the argument is at utter v:rhaure with the plainest riles of morality and justice. 1 should like to heir how it would be received On a motion for a national grant to one

who hurl fiewlit his country's battles. I should like to hear the indignation

and the scorn which would he expressed tow.i.r,ls any rue who 71111111d ....mitre to snggest that the impulses which had led to heroic deeds were einnigh without reward ; that the love of tayintry and glori wont! tita.ays leap to similar ac- tions; and that. thereforo, out of regard ta t!t.• we oiyht to withholl all reward 11'1,11 the conqueror. Anil yet the tile let is till' StrIllIgl!r; fin: We 110 not purpase to reward him out of any foal but that which he hint- self creates—from any pockets but from thos.• of one whom lie ;torn-J(1,1311y biases: an;lowr t,watl cannot he mi.,,,prtea wilco we take time fur our arid- trator and posterity tar our witnesses."

He quoted the statement of I)r. Chalmers that be depended for the comforts of life mainly on the profits of his literary produetbms ; his regular income as a elergyman iu the Scotch Churelt having here always inadequate to his expenses. He was supported also by Dr. V1'artltaty ; and recently- he had l; con applied to by a sr:nelson of Dr. Ihoddridge to present a inetimrial to the Crown for rolief. ., mere of trifle on eseh volume of the hundreds of thousands of the works that eminent person, Imes. :111/1, ...ould :etiliee to preelttile the neeessity of such an application. that works ought to be cheap, lie would :r le whether it was not desir.ilde that they should he correct as well as cheap? " Now, ,his can mile be il by pormitting tlio family of the ,mthor

to watch over his faire. mohot

tanihiccd Ili: gifts of the Mr. Sauthey, tilin has ilynytlit the stalcimr, ,:f his case hate more i..o ...era. tire, has

me to ellicidate this t",e casse by his es:ample. Ile leis lately pii!."i•hed

e onplete illit"on of his ',I:111'101es which •'• • many years love pres-litisl tlam,..lve- to his ,er,•re 3,14Thelit : 11.!, (••;' 1111111V of the .11r.111, 1.0,••■1". will e.tl,ire ilk hi: lice; in the Ids i'amily will enjoy :111 interest, but in Ili,. origl•enl ll'7!■•' ; 71.'•1 it (via he in the pumer of *Arr. of 0iiy °Ili .:r of II, ' 1'. • : :rs of the public whit ”is e. itch over Ow dea,li',..11 of 1.• 7'

those y it', :all •I aa•I 1c•

„To,: blunders which ;leo alwzt ed(.11 s r‘las;,it oa.l.a.;•109

uo is t.-ion hot that or the printer. lint is it evon certain that the 1, thus

ear. las-ly printed will lie actually .•11:apor tit :,riee 6111 "I' iii,, d• Mt, of Ihr :111IL.,1" 1100i-hi-a 01,111 II' l.,11 It 11-.1 finis 'ar% reoeat iti:Thowes, prolitoeil iii the 1'11.4 eaz...iness of the to •:1. iiitees tif the trade to seize on and parade their spoils." '1 Was it always desirable t bat a work should be cheap? lie did not think that the people would _roil ;'o the small addition of price neces- sary to remunerate author, :eel their families- " I believe that those who II:1- },lead for the people are wholly no:3nII otized

by their foelings ; that rise p• ,r realms ate richer inspirit 1‘, .•- their

adveestes {h,•/0 o ./1 tl.,.y ti mild feel a pride i11 •. their contributions in the „n , et re-i.,,.1 to that grist hi Celle, try

whose fame is as much their- ;••• 0.1t• boast of the lobiest

not hollore that the poold, nl rr it Hit eXIIItalion lof th,.• who love successively sent :11/11■;7•,4 7'. '1'. "■• :111 ,iliti•1::, Of t111' /..t , 1/1/1'nfil,/t, :11.11 the ! that they lower price than if the un r, ' eh,/ thy: s, .• the living. I cannot e 11,0 :hey can ,-,/ - on fors.et their nn` who Ims :riven to their Is-se:Scot souldry a lice in till. i 111:1111:i1,1. W111,11 11'171.V well vompensate it the los-i of Ilya pole ioa1 they so marl, and so proudly: enjoyed. as to roma o Olt -;:ti-fre:. they nmy saN•t• by {hilt premat tire death ts hich g.,te Laeop..r glit,

. Ida

East it At a "nuns ,e.3 to -nt of •

lasting as life—lays aside all frivolous pursuits for one virtuous purpose—that when encouraged by the distant hope of that ' all hail hereafter' which shall welcome him among the heirs of fame, he may not shudder to think of it as sounding with hollow mockery in the cars of those whom he loves, and waking sullen crimes by the side of a cheerless hearth-stone. For such I ask this boon, and through them for mankind ; and I ask it in the confidence with the expression of which your weteran petitioner Wordsworth closes his appeal to you, 'that in this, as in all other cases, justice is capable of working out its own expediency.'" Mr. HUME moved that the bill be read a second time that day six months. lie considered that it would trammel the publication of works for the instruction of the people, and it was in evidence that it would not benefit one author out of five hundred.

Mr. WARBURTON seconded the amendment.

Mr. O'ComsEm., Sir HOBERT Ixolas, and Mr. SPRING RICE supported the bill. Mr. 11.stsEs, Mr. WARBURTON, and Sir Ronsner Roma.: op- posed it. Mr. WARBURTON said it was an author's bill, in which the public were not considered— The principle of the existing law was, that the value of the work published was to the public immense, hut to the author very small; and he thought that that principle was a just one, and one \Odell should not be departed from. Could it be promised, however, that the effect of the measure would be that which it must be supposed was to be desired—to benefit the author ? It might be true that such would he the case in sonic instances; but could it be guaran- teed that au author who was in icor circumstances would not apply for and ob- tain odes2 is of money upon his work front his publisher? If this were done, the whole ben ffit proposed to be produced would be lost ; and he thought therefore that the liouse ought to be extremely cautious before they adopted the bill. What, however, was the object of the measure, but to raise the prices of books ? if it were not so, wherein would coasist the advantage to the author? but if it were admitted that it was so, how could the bill be allowed to pass in jus-

' tice to the public? There might he many works which were out of print, or the sale of which was not prie,sed upon fhe public ; but were these to be the grounds why some publisher might not by his exertion procure them a fresh sale? lie could do so mica ; but the provisions of this bill would utterly pre- vent the possibility of stub a course being adopted, because, if it were intended notice most he given, and the immediate effect would be to set other booksel- lers on the alert, and they might be disposed to run the race with the indivi- dual who had originally proposed to L411;1_4111( it the public. There were many purposes, too, to which lie could see this bill could be turned. There were doubtless many political works which the public would be glad to see repub- lished; but as thhi eseffil lie done only under certain circumstances, the an- swer would be, when node(' was given, that a sufficient number of copies to supply the demand wire elready in the possession of the original publisher, and therefore the publication would lie restrained. Ile sincerely trusted. therefore, that tl:e would net permit the bill to pass ; and he foretold that if they did, they would deprive the public of many of the beaeats which they now en- joyed.

The House divided—

For the second reading 73 Against it 37 INTajority 36 On the motion that it be committed on Wednesday, Mr. WArtnun- TON said, that if it was determined to press the consideration of so im- portant a bill on a day when the Ministers were usually absent, he should avail himself of every form to oppose its progress.

The bill was ordered to he committed on Wednesday next.

PAili.r.m3IENTAIIV 'PRA NCIIISE.

!qr. O'Co Eff,r„ on 1'11w: lay, 1110Ve■[ for leave to bring in a bill "to asslieib.te the frasehise of P..rliamiMtary electors in England, Wales, and Issi..;,d, anul re:sier the seme more extensive." In support of his mei Jr, 31r. O'Conn..11 into comparative statements of the num- bee. ia-gistered oleetors. in r;roportion to the population, in England and land ; whie1; e! :I et in the latter country the proportion of

persees enjoyie:i: fi•oe',i,o was very much smaller than in the later. ilvelel; be mei .;;• ':•.• 1 !l;at in England an extension of the suf- fissee 'see: imoeratively reeelesl. k assorted that the principle of' the U ni.e; u;ss violated by fbe leeietenanee of this discrepancy, and that with it centinued, it Nee; a farce to sneak of Kent and Kerry as be- longing to the same s ono ivy. if his motion were negatived, he would repeat 1: every two sis tle-ee weeks. lie did not intend to use menacing but seould b,1! the {louse, that lw was authorized by the people c,f Ireland to heleee that they would not be contented. with time thing called "union" unless it were a real union.

Mr. Iltslit secooded tl; • motion.

Lot.' 3fotteisen reoreeed that his data compelled him at once to noise tive 11;s; metise, Ttere ought to be no uncertainty as to the in-

tentiel G: vein ..11 tire question. He did rot deny the dispro- port:0,1 of electors nienti. died by Mr. O'Connell. He would not under- take to justify iu every respect the existing electoral system; but he was evu rse to extensive elterotion in laws of vast importance and of recent date. For this reason chiefly, he would oppose the motion.

In the discussion wide!. followed, Mr. llEntirsinToss and Mr. VILLIERS STUART supported, and Mr. Sergeant J vrasox and Colonel CONOLLY oppused the motion. llr. JACKSON Teltlikkd Mr. O'Connell, that he had himself advocated the disfraechisenient of the fiifty-shilling free- holders, and had deelared the ten-pound franchise to be the best for

Mr. O'CosNeL1, ref,I 'il. and the House divided—

For the moi:os 92 s1gaimst it 135 Majority 63 PRIVATE BILLS.

31 is l'ori.lers. tiotasos, 011 TillIrSday, called attention to the Report Of the I •oneuittee of les; se s, ion on Private Business; and, after brief

re:eerie. nn the ree..—iiy impro‘ mount on the present mode of

conible,in:.i- if, mos., d of which the substance follows.

'Fla., Feral:lig Thirsts; Bill Committees does not

the pnri .e:e For it was framed, and that it be discontinued; that pew he eine. re :lord to the new divisions of' coun-

tie, ender the P,ereeiii t.; ; that a Committee of Selection be ap- penite 1, cos si.e :n; (:hair:mum of the ritanding Orders Commit- tee, the Chairman of the Committee and the three Sub-Committees7a Petitions for Private Bills, and that the said Committtee of Selection report front time to time to the House, with respect to proceedings 011 Private Bills ; that no Member be allowed to serve without malonga declaration of his readiness to serve throughout the proceedings an the bill referred to the Committee on which he is to be placed; that Members stating that their constituents have a local interest in any bill, may be added to the Committee on the bill ; and that the Cot, mitte of Selection may, according to their judgment, add other Mein hers, not locally interested, to Committees.

The first resolution was agreed to without remark. The secondn; opposed by Mr. lIttmE ; who described the mischief arising from the interference of Members locally interested. in bills, and moved as amendment, that " it is expedient that Members representing local interests he excluded. from Committees in which such interests ase concerned."

Sir Groans: SvrecKLAan seconded time amendment. Mr. AGT.IONBI suggested a medium course—that Members locally interested might attend the Committee, examine witnesses, but not vote. Sir Roust PEEL feared, that if such Members were excluded. from Committees, they would force the peculiar interests of their constitutents on the at- tention of the House itself' The simple question, however, was, would they prevent Members from doing their duty to their constituents? Captain PECIIELL would go three-fourths of the way with Mr. Hume; but lie would not vote to exclude himself from Committees on two bills which happened to be under his care. Mr. GREENE said, that the manner in which business was done in Private Committees gave great dissatisfaction: he could mention a case from his own town illustrative of the working of the system— A man called upon him to say that his land would be taken away by apt°. posed railroad. His answer was, "Why do you not appear before the Con. mittee ? "—and the man's reply was, "I meant to oppear, and had actual, presented a petition ; but its the mean time, the parties have bought oil Mr. So-and-so, who had joined me, by giving him a large price thr his land, and 1 am left ill the lurch to go on by myself" Feeling strongly that unless an entire alteration were made, and unless they removed local interests altogether, the present system would soon be revived, and the disgraceful system of print; canvass would he continued, he would support the amendment.

Mr. Wantivirrox mentioned an instance of corruption in a Member of the House— A railway was in progress ; am honourable Member was constant in his attend. once; lie voted for the bill. After the bill had passed both Houses, the Secre- tary writes to the Member, to say the bill had passed, the shares were at a premium, and so BRUIN. shares Were at his dispos4 ; anti the honourable Mos- her put the premium In his pocket, as a reward doubtless for tite support be

had given the bill. (" !") lie could give proofs, but he weald not mention the name. Such instances were notorious, and spoken of as passing every day. The question was, how they could prevent this corruption ? By closely limiting the numbers of Members of the Committee, and condensing the responsibility as much as they could. He believed also, that Members who had no local interest in the matter before the Committee would be must likely to give a decision with which the public would be better satisfied.

Mr. THOMAS llteicosing would not consent to the amendment. If it passed, who were to represent poor people especially interested, who could not employ counsel? Ile would not admit his own incompe- tency to protect the interests of his constituents.

Mr. Hustles amendment was negatived by a vote of 245 to 35. The second resolution was carried; as were all the others, with an alteration in the last, proposed by 3Ir. Wannuirrox, by which the Members added to the Committees by the Committee of Selection, as well as those originally placed on them, will be required to declare their readi- ness to serve throughout the proceedings.

Tuisszrwas ax WESTMINSTER.

At eleven o'clock on Thursday night, and after Lord SANPON had withdrawn a motion respecting Trance and Mexico, on account of the lateness of the hour, Mr. THOMAS DUNCOMBE rose to move a resolution- " That it is the opinion of this ITouse, that during Lent, no greater restric- tion should be placed upon theatrical entertainments, within the City of Westminster, than are placed upon the like amusements at the same period, in every other part of the Metropolis."

Mr. Duncombe said, although Lord Sandon bad thought proper to waive his motion respecting time blockade of the port of Mexico, he did not feel justified in waiving his motion respecting the blockade of Westminster by the Lord Chamberlain, In opposition to his motion on the same subject, the other day, Lord join' Russell had not conde- scended to offer a single reason. 'Therefore, if any apology was neces- sary for bringing forward the subject again, he should leave Lord John to make that apology. The grievance he wished to remove was fully set forth in the petition he had presented. a few nights before.

That petition stated, that while every other part of the Metropolis on the. Wednesdays and Fridays of Lent—while all the Theatres on the North side it Oxford Street and on the other side of the River were open—while parties, and balls, und concerts were going on—while levees were held—while her Majesty received her loyal subjects that chose to appear at her levees—the loyal inhabi- tants of Westminster alone were prohibited from enjoying rational entertain- ments its the evening. But not only did this fiat upon the inhabitants of West- minster, it fell also on the unhappy individuals the players and operatives of the Theatres. These persuus stated, that one-third of their incume was stopped in consequence of the prohibition of the Lord Chamberlain. An Inatourable and learned gentleman, the Metnher for Liverpool (Mr. Cresswell), stated ou former evening that those individuals made their engagements with a full know- ledge of this fact. That was not what those individuals complained of. They did not complain of their engagements, but they complained that they were prevented by these prohibitions from making efficient engagements, as they were only paid salary for thosa nights on which they performed. If these pro- hibitions were withdrawn, and they were placed on the saute footing :IA the other parts of the Metropolis, they would be paid for six nights' performance instead of four. It was clear, therefore, that one-third of their income was stopped by these absurd and unjust prohibitions. Ile would ask the right honourable gentlemen on the'Treasury bench—tic great perffirmers iii the political drama of the day—how they would like to have one-tItint of their weekly salary stopped ? (Great /uuyhter.) Ilow mad they like to have it stopped merely because there was no !louse I bfayhter.) did not think that Mr. Rice of Ihnviiing Street would, in that ease, swots, of the system any more titan Mr. Rice of the Adelphi. (Great how/tier.) Was it absurd or roveasonable that the people of Westminster should complain that they were nu

on the same footing with their neighbours of the Metropolis? Let those

i' 4, thought that there should be no entertainments, that they should be eon- 1 . cloth doing penance, that they should be continually devout and pious, that they ihould never think of eating or drinking, or listening to music, let them look at the -Mowing Post of that day. When he looked at the Morning Post, [ he that there was on Wednesday evening, being Lent, agent meeting at ' the Free!WWII'S Tavern, or what was called the Drury Lane Theatrical Fund Itioner. Everybody thew what. that dinner wits, and that they were enlivened lie singing and music. An illustrious individual, the Duke of Cambridge, /a.riasiileit; it is said there was a large party on the occasion, and it went WI with ilea used conviviality. In the course of the evening of this Wednesday in Lod, lie found that various songs were sung. One of the songs sung was .Rory O More;"

and Mr. Rice—be could not say whether it was the Chancellor ..'

of the Extbequer or not—but the Imper stated that Mr. Rice sang the "real Jim Crow." (Great laughter.) He also sang " Sidi a getting up stairs. (Continued !wider.) He was encored, and sang " Jim Crow " svith some new verses, lehleh the newspaper said they had attained, but for which they had no space ; and the account went on to state that Mr. Rice was very warmly received, and after the departure of the Duke of Cambridge was voted into the chair, to sustain the conviviality of " the after-evening." What said the Lord Cham- berlain to this? Let them look a little further, and see what Nsas going on at the Palace. There lie found that her Arajesty entertained a large party to ainneryesterday evening—the Royal dinner-party, as it seas call, d ; and ha ft iand that the band of the Lite Guards entertained the party with music. Amon.7st the distinguished individuals attending this dinner, and partaking of the musi- cal entertainments, the first Inoue on the list seas that of the Afarquis of Convnghamt the arbiter ehgantiaeran zoo! eustos worunt of the city of WeSt• teinster. (Laughtee.) it was far from him to say that the limit Chamber- lain did not stir rest to her Majesty, when the hand of the Lite C: Wards wits playing—nu doubt he did suggest, that they were doing eeactly what in his dice he hail thought props•r to prohibit kiting dune iti 'Westminster. lint he should like to see what was going on in high society; and he would take the account flan the :Ifiareie.i/ Post, the organ of that society. Ile theta it there announced that "the Martinis of Lansdowne hail a grand dinner-party." lre could not understand that her Majesty's 31 Misters would really utter this oppose di,: motion Irhich lie intended to propose to the House. But he would Le further, and he wailed to See how the Church was occupied. Ile fount iha yesteulay the Bisliep of Handal' eave an elegant dinner--( (!re.1 laughter) --,,,,,,,.; wine than we:ads—gine. an elegant dinner, at the Deataery of St. Peel's, to a lane, circle of gentlemen connected with his lordship's diocese. When i!itt lug phi of \V'estnalnister saw these things in the newsy:Tens, and sate the ::.1v is which the great people occupie:l themselves, lie wanted to know whether l'ti had not great ecanoit to complain that they were not able to eiljoy in ;heir city those rational S11111SelllelltS which (Mar people elijoyol: They aid :lot grudge lii•r Majesty the use of the band of the Life Guards, whom they contributed to hue ; but they asked to lie allownl to listen to similar entertain- ments from their own boxes in Drury Lane or Coveni Gar.1,,i 'lla all es.

He understood that his motion was to be opposed by Minisrenz, but on what ground he could not tell— There seas no lair, at least no general law, but merely the caprice of the Lord Chamberlain. It might be said that there was an out custom or usage to pro- itiliit these entertainments within the city of -Westminster ; but the. may how ire the subject Was the act of George the Second, which. ritydred that all ieet, :head be submitted to tlw examination 1001 appall al Or the Lord Chaat- i,it'leio. flow, then, had the Lord Chamberlain assumed this power? It was alone under the general words of the clauses of the act which gave Riot the veer to prohibit onv performances, even though they were licensed by the Censer. The Lord Chamberlain, tlwrefore, thinks proper to prohibit perform- ances on Wednesdays and Fridays hi Lent ; but the simple question was, whe- ther lie was right in so thinking, and in so exercising that discretion lie pos. "iissed. lf he was right, let the exercise he miiform threughout the whole town. Ile would now come to the only other plea that could be used toiainst this motion, namely, with regard to ita lt:'llig an old vii tom. Hew ninny old customs, admitting this to be one, lung esaidished, had been dory- :thee day abandoned. If they went back merely to the customs of Lent, they might retire 1111111y full as old, as plausible, ailil as respect:tide as this. For iiii,1allee, there was a Lenten custom recorded zo: having existed a short list.' previoustO the reign of George the Second, the time when the bill was passed under which entertainments were prohibited in Westminster. At that time there existed an officer denominated the King's Cock-erower. It was the duty of this officer during Lent to perambulate the precincts of the palace, evolving the hour of the night. 'rite Prune of Wales, afterwards George the Second, being at supper, this dicer entered the room, and letgan crowing the hour ; but the Prince, not being aware of' the custom, or not understanding the latiemai,e of the Cock- crower, pad thinking it watt a personal insult, seized the 6,A-crown., and rudely deprived him of the faculty of ever etauts i lig again. (Lueollier.) The result was that this absurd custom was put an end to. Hold customs were to be kept up, he did not see why the Lord Chamberlain should not revive the dim of King's cock-Grower. lie thought he had said enoneh to show that here MIS a grievance that ought to be pill- an cud to ; and that he had shown, that without any new act of Parliament, Ministers had it in their power to put an end to it.

Mr. Hume seconded the motion.

Lord JOHN Russiim. said that though this question might he made as amusing as any other, he did not think that a question which affected the established religion of the country—(Loud cries of "Oh, oh !")— 1,as fit to be discussed as a matter of entertainment. (Ilenurred cries if "Oh, oh !") • Ile found that that observation dial rant meet with the approbation of some gentlemen, who views he supposed coincided with those of the honourable Member for Pillsbury. All he could say was, Ilult since the last discussion he bad taken the opportunity of eoneating the Bishop of London upon the sub- ject—(Land laughter)—in the presence of am ic her distinguished prelate ; and that the Wshop ofLondon stated, fiat he conideved tint, out of respect to the established religion of the country, these theatrical performances should not be allowed in the city of Westminster on Wednesdays and Fridays in Lent- (" Oh, oh ! ").--and that it would be considered a want of respect to the esta- blished church and established religion, if' Government should advise her Ma- jesty to change the custom which had hitherto been observed in this matter. (Renewed cries of " Oh !") For his own part, he must say that upon a sub- ject of this kind he thought it behoved the advisers of her Majesty—placed in the situation which she was with regard to the Church—rather to refer to what was the opinion of the heads of the-elturch, and to what had been the custom from time immemorial, than to go over the river to Sorry, or across Oxfbrd Street to Marylebone, and finding the theatres open in those places, to declare that they should also lie open in Westminster. (" Oh I")

With respect to the law of the question, proprietors of theatres in Marylebone and Surry might be sued for penalties for keeping them

open; and he regretted the law was not enforced. The argument de- rived from the fact that dinners were given on Wednesdays and Fridays in Lent would, if good for any thing, justify theatrical amusements on Sundays, for dinners were also given on Sundays. lie begged also to remind the House, that though they might agree to Mr. Dmicombe's resolution, the Lords might pass a counter-resolution, and thus place the Lord Chamberlain in an awkward positi:.n.

Lord TEIGNMOUTH would trouble the House with but one or two ob- servations, after Lord John Russell's very able and satisthetory speech— (Roars of laughter)— He would only ask the honourable Member for Finsbury one question—whe- ther he would put a dinner, given by the Bishop in falfillnela or vhat mandate which ordered that lie ShoLlol exercise the riijits of hospitality—(lloors of laughter)—hottourable gentlenun might laugh, le.; he would repeat the ques- tion—whether the honourable Member et ould puf ,tilt a: ehltV on flu• part of a Bishop in comparison with the:tidiest tants:tt:tie inia though they might lie made, under proper mallet, to eitio-ributia to .!:.a morality Of the country, 0411 whieh it was impossiblewere unfortunately inseparahl sufficiently to comic:on. however excellent the er of the performances —however pore tit, reeture of the stea .art elm:tent—it WIN hut too Wen known that the theatres Were thronged :at alone with respectable butt ofpros- titattes and persica.: of the worst and vilest descriptions (" Oh, oil, oh!'. rind lear, hear, hear r') Mr. 11.,;•;.‘nrit wou,a not impute hypocrisy to Lord John Russell, but it looked very like hypocrisy to talk of the established religion hieing injured by openit;(:. (lit-tires on Wednestlat s and Fridays, when it was known how 1.101,:e et eninge, were spent by persons in the higher walks of life.

Lord Orm:ANNoN earnestiy supported the ma tti,n. lie wmild not have one law fur tie pan- and ono; her for the rielt, or ,.et enipi to make people re4.:aus by oppressive Sir J.1,nr.s GRAHAM cuinpiimentcd Lord John It ee-.. his bold and fearless perf irlinnee Or hits flaw. ikcart attiy felt bound to sup-

port the noble lord. Arcs-nil as lie was, w;tit his vote.

Mr. WA no begged to ask Sir James iCraliant, whether he was not going to preside at a great pul:lie dinner en l'riday in Lent Sir ,Luna GUAllAF1—'' It is a dinner nano: nod with a charity."

W.k1.11—" it 7 e i• " •i.va,. a dimmer settees. then:. • 1 1 tat of' es convivial a el:mew:i.e. as Iliac vas eel ma this

ni'reiliiess or a a 7:iy W0111J, iii; 1,1 ti theatres

t •: :i!I these

they e had Lid o law in

.tItt.til Lord

dinners of ever tooe place at ;me

great moralist 7,, it' tt,t;

lie thOlitt1::, .].ta: ‘ttt,

ilt tI:c chy

‘.••• •

concurring enestea, I:, i• .!.-,•1! should stand conelided 1.!!!!!!;!..! most properly ealleil this vauntrc rot. 1.. ,, ;tttti ttt

:.•

1)1,111,I■N 11:tt: tt. tt A t:

he e .dire illat . e : sea: , nee.

There wee etta in I . , 1:ta at BiS:Itql it,r .11,1ilier that there Wiis ?kit 0, i• 7 • the Qat:- it .,f ,;ruts, LiM11 question of morality, Mr. •WAnta-it-: se:A that 11'e.ist...1%. set theta: sues up ::.-ainst pub- lic and tiny would, he be defeated.

Mr. SPIUNCI RICE cai h, itAs":!•:'• Very to say that public opinion coincided AS hit al■A t n net onesdr our as the oracle of public opinion. He ()Wein' a n the intertZTenee of the House in this matter in any way except by Mr. Disn.,. cid st,el.e in support cf the ::c..tb.m. Tie arTned. that if Lent were to 11,C re:irio!,.aly, it should he ,,beeryed fir the entire forty days, with such " " and " mu as were acted by monks.

Mr. 1)i.-scomin,, replied on i•eme Int in(n.ons strain as in hie. opening speech ; and expressed his earliest hope Ilea by the vote of that night, cant and hypocrisy would meet with a signal defeat.

The I louse divided—

For the ,,,, t"on Against it :Ifejtnalts 20

The numbers were announced amidst loud cheers ; and the House rose at a quarter to

site. Ma. WYNN'S SEAT.

WyNN as; be understond Mr. John Jervis

That.' lotte the suljeet (.1' hi: bolding an the 1.0111-Iiiii of Denl,i:l'a 1 Lill --by which his scat nil it Irroper to r"0111 the liciv,•;. until lath, [Ma'. Vr: tile tolISQ.] A es to ln. -7-t.ta; `'-!' liouhl be pl:teed :• • 11,.. 'Members who had decided Mr. I laryey's wish tie - Ion of Sir Hobert Veer, neme for Mr. Wynn.,''. The -!' the Committee was;

It off to the next day : IChea there was .; louse :aid was not

made till Thur:uld.y ; Mr. _Harvey in the netimulaild having been re- flu 'MOOday, "Mr. intended to bring be that of of was vac:Vett, he rota the question hail b brief

on the LOCAL COURTS.

In the House of Lords, on Tuesday, the question having been put from the Woolsack that the Borough Courts Bill be committed, Lord BROUGHAM said he should take the opportunity of calling their Lordships attention to the general subject of Local Courts. He found that there were no fewer than twenty-one bills before the House in- tended to establish courts in particular districts : some were called Courts of Bequests, some Small Debts Courts ; some were for large towns, others were for places with an extremely small population ; but they were all substantially for the same purpose. Against all these bills there were strung objections. They. were partial in their opera- tion, governed by no general principle, exhibiting great variety iu their details: they were intended to create many offices, the holders of which were to be inhabitants of their respective districts—men who had never seen the light of Westminster Hall. It might be fairly said that the bills in question would create much jobbing—

When they saw places like Glossop, Liskem-d, Hatfield, and others less known, seeking- for these 1,1:1, they nal orally asked did the demand co me from

the suitors? There was one I. of suitors front which they Al proceed— the tradesmen and shopkeepers ; and ohse. se for IN II•tt. Not because justice was cheap—not because it was brought home to their own doors—not because it was admildstcred on a sound principle (the greatest benefit of all)---but be- cause the Commissiotters of those Courts were—who?—the shopkeepers them- seism, Eve, v oue of tint,' Courts had for its judges a page and a half of names much more obscure than the pit,ues themselves. The shopkeepers of those places mvere to be the jutl:.ois; whom 5 in one, 7 in another, 14 in a think and 3 in a fourth 111,1aulev, were to be a quorum. And now observe what billowed. I k. did not say that it was a practice for the Commissioners to try their Own cases. But this wits dome: A. B. C. would sit to-day, and try the causes of 1). E. F, ; then to-morrow I). E. F. would sit, and try the causes of A. B. C.; so that there was a (-Hist,. ot t-iiitlency in favour of the plaintiffs.

There was the strongest in, r.,ason for regarding with jealousy the establishment of moll tribunals. But against a better system a host of local interests, besides the already existing three hundred local courts, vas raised. By the exertion Of the influence alluded to, the Ecclesias- tical Courts li111, devised by one of the ablest Commissions that ever sat, was defeated. The Local Courts Bill, which he hod himself intro- duced, Would now have been law but for one vote. He need not say that he regarded the subject as highly important ; and he would wil- lingly relinquish it to the Lord Chancellor, who had, it' not more in- formation, better opportunhies of acquiring information on it, than any other person, and from his station possessed superior means of carrying any measures. Lord Brougham thus described the great advantages of local jorisdiet ion—

The people would have, in the first place, cheap justice ; in the second

place, tin- y neeld LA tee ; mud in the third place, they would have, Ns e'` was not leers valitoble, constant justice,—that was to say, constant access, not to ice it year only, but constant access to the judge. lie could conceive no one cit:in:.:•■• which would better merit the gratitude of the people or effectually insure their warm Catnks, than slOnc soch blessing as that. One great benefit that would he deel ett t;e41111 the establishment of those courts, would be that they w,-tilt be able to transact many important matters, which at present, for want of those courts, were either not done at all, or very ill done, and in a way that gave no Sit ti,fiwtion, or done by inefficient agents, instead of by agents fully aceantitEsIted. and Weil qualified. lle would refer in the first place to the eitapter of Police ; and be need not, he was sure, point out to their Lordships that it (-toad not much longer lie continued in its present imperfiait state. It was obminos that thy must soon legislate on the subject of flut.al Police, when the; reflected that the pr,si.nt force belonged to tunes when. an agricultural population wit, thinly scattered over the country, without com- merce or nittnutimet tires, and when manor courts were appointed with perhaps five constables. But, as they knew, police combined two departments,—one charged with the prevention of crime, and the other with its punishment. They could not take steps to vet-Offish such a force as came under the former, without attending to the esta:dishment of a judicial tribunal—the correction le of police, Ile the Freneh termed it. How much better it would be that the po- pulation should have constaut access to a good local criminal judge. His noble and leartte.I frk,La. (Lord Denman), the first criminal judge of the land, so far front heiog jealous oh' the establishment erssch courts, was convinced that they would prme at ble--1ng to tie country. According to the present law, a boy of tun ;tiiirs of age, tin- sty:dim:a few apples, might he sent to a prison by a zealous lthyistrate ; and though his punishment might be, after trial, only a few week+ or days impri-onment, his imprisonment before trial might extend to three or row- months, in the company of Mons, who were the proper inmates of the gaol, and fur whom alone its doors ought to be opened. He came in a truant hits—he went forth a felon, or prepared for the perpetration of felony in the after stty:es of his life.

lie etnisidered that in a great variety of cases, local courts might super-

sede the necessity of inquiries by -..11asiers in Chancery ; whose useful- ness he did not intend by any means to decry. Also, he was convinced that touch benefit would be derived from the appointment of a public prosecutor: some officer of that kind had become indispensable— Dad their Lordships witnessed the elution-dam-es attendant upon trials con-

ducted by a public prosecutor in Scothunk—the great advantage that time judge, the suiturs, and all concerned derived from the assistance of that officer; the

great advantage derived by the prisoners in consequence of none but pro- per hills being preferred,—they would agree with biotin opinion as to the great impure ace and advantage to be derived from the appoint unit of rt public prose- cutor. Ile was sure that the Central Crinthed Court, the jurisdiction of' which extended over upwards of two millions of persons, afforded an admirable opportunity if' trying upon at sufficiently great scale whether such an officer would he useful or not. He thought that this appointment was especially called for shire the passing of the Prisoners' Counsel Bill, as lie had heard Judges complain that in consequence of au able speech fbr the prisoner they were very often lthi1/441111 to kill 1 It little too much on the other side, in order to make the course of justice to run in a straight direction. This was not fair towitrds the prisoner, and it was an odious position for the Judge. He felt confident that the Government could not confer a greater benefit on their fel- low-subjects, than by taking up and maturing some improved system of local adjudication, such us he had pointed out. In whatever efforts they made to secure that object, they should have his best services as a zealous and not alto- gether inexperienced coadjutor.

Lord Chancellor Corm nA st entirely concurred wi th Lord Brougham as to the expediency of establishing some well-constituted judicial system throughout the country. The multitude of applications for local acts proceeded from the necessities of the public. He was aware that many of the existing courts were liable to the objection stated by Lord Brougham. It was an every-day proceeding in. the Court of Chancery to issue commissions for the investigation of cases in different parts of the country, because there were no local authorities invested with the requisite jurisdiction. Consequently, the business was done by persons specially appointed for the purpose, and at a great expense. He did

not undervalue the services of Magistrates at Quarter-sessions, but it could not be expected that the Magistrates should devote the whole of their time to the administration of criminal justice—the punishment of prisoners or the clearance of gaols. If some general system were adopted, the greatest benefit would be conferred on the community, Lord AntNotsu said, that nothing was more easy than to find fault with the existing institutions of the country. None were perfect ; abuses

would appertain to all, and be made the subject of declamation. He

did not deny that the criminal jurisdiction of this country was sus. ceptible of improvement, but lie was convinced that the appointment of a Superintendent Commissioner for the purpose of trying causes would raise a clamour throughout the country. Lord Brougham wished to have a public prosecutor, and would probably next strive to abolish Grand Juries ; but as long as Lord A binger had a seat in that House,

he would resist the abolition of Grand Juries. That institution was one of the greatest blessings of the country. He objected to place the

disposal of the most important cases in the hands of an officer directly appointed by the Crown ; and though he would not then discuss the details of the subject, he must protest against the application of the principle of local courts under the present circumstances of the country, Lord DEsstss,would also abstain from entering into details ; but he considered the observations of Lord Brougham and Lord Cottenhatu well worthy of attention, and he rejoiced that they had been made.

The Earl of Davos was certain that the Magistrates would not stand in the way of the much-needed improvement in the criminal jurisdic-

tion of the country. The Committee of' last year had requested him to prepare a bill for the punishment of juvenile offenders ; and he had only abstained front so doing because he heard that the subject was under the consideration of Government, and he thought it had better be left in the hands of the Secretary of State.

Lord Lsstassms bore testimony- to the great inconvenience felt front the want of competent local authorities throughout the country. He especially felt it in the administration of Chancery business. There could, he thought, be no diffieulty in establishing competent local au- thorities, under proper control, who might perform all the ministerial acts and a great part of the judicial acts of the Court of Chancery, The House went into Committee on the Borough Courts Bill; which was agreed to with slight amendment,

LORD NORDURY'S MunnEn.

The Lords were engaged for some time on Thursday night in a conversation respecting Lord Norbury's murder. The subject was

introduced by the Earl of CHARLEVILLE ; who read an article front the Dublin Mt, in which the statement respecting the " neatly-made" boot of the assassin was repeated, and the necessity of further Mgt& ries, especially the " sifting" of Lords Charleville and Oxinantown, was insisted upon. After repeating a former statement, to the effect that the mark of the boot was probably made by Mr. Toiler, a second son of the late Earl, and could not possibly have been that of the mur- der's shoe or boot, Lord Charleville asked the Marquis of Normauby whether lie had any information to communicate to the House on the subject ?

Lord NonstAxnv said, that the Irish Government had been in commu- nication with Mr. Brownrigg, who had been sent from Dublin to inves- tigate the circumstances of the murder ; and the statement of that per- son convinced hint that there was no foundation in fact for the rumour about the boot, which Lord Nonnanby had never heard of till it was mentioned in the House of Commons.

After this subject had been disposed of; Lord LYNDHURST rose to put a question to Lord Melbourne respecting Lord Ebringtou's appointment to the

LORD-DEUTENANCY OF IRELAND.

In Hansard's report of a speech delivered in the House of Commons, on the Irish Tithe Bill of last year, Lord Ebrington was represented to have said, that "although lie did not approve of the bill, he should vote for it, as it would render the war which was then raging against the Protestant Church in Ireland ntore formidable." Now Lord Lixn- nuttsr wished to ask, whether Lord Melbourne was aware of these ob- servations, when he appointed Lord Ebrington to the office of Lord- Lieutenant of Irelnd? If this question were answered in the affirma- tive, the inference would be, that Lord Melbourne himself had adopted these opinions ; and in that case, Lord Ebrington's appointment would be taken as a declaration of war against the Church in Ireland. An animated conversation then ensued.

Lord MELISOURNE was not aware of every expression which might have fallen from Lord Ebrington ; but he did know that he supported Government in their measures for strengthening the Irish Church. He was perfectly aware, however, of Lord Ebrington's general opinions respecting the Irish Church, :nal saw nothing in them to disqualify him for the office to which he had been appointed.

Lords WHARNCLIFFE and WESTMEATH said, this reply was most un- satisfactory. For Lord Ebrington's own sake, Lord Wharneliffe re- gretted that he was going to Ireland ; a country which Lord Westmeath described as " a mine which only wanted the application of a torch to explode."

Au altercation then arose between the Marquis of LANSDOWNE and Lord Ls:split:am Lord LANSDOWNE referred to Lord Lyndhurst's " alien" speech; remarking, that if any man was more interested titan another in preventing a particular expression from being made a dis- qualification for office, that nobleman was Lord Lyndhurst. To which taunt Lord LYNDHURST replied, that he was not ashamed of the ex- pression, which had been explained over and over again ; but with re- spect to Lord Ebrington's words, he would not allow it to be supposed that they might not have been used by him. They appeared in a cor- rected report ; they were commented upon in the debate ; they had been heard by persons whom he had consulted ; and he was sure Lord Ebrington himself would not deny them.

Lords HOLLAND, WICKLOW, BROUGHAM, and STRANGEORD, then took ort in the discussion. Lord HOLLAND maintained, that as it was one 'of the main principles of the Bill of Rights, that freedom of speech should not be questioned out of Parliament, the attempt to make a speech delivered in the House of Commons a disqualification for office, was unconstitutional. Lord WICKLOW said, that was not the question. Lord HOLLAND rose to order : there was no question. Lord BuoutaLtu interrupted Lord Holland: he moved— Lord HOLLAND—" You can't move, while I'm speaking to order."

Lord BaotrouAm—" Well, now I may move an adjournment. We have been out of order no doubt ; but not more disorderly than we have been every other night of the session." Lord Brougham proceeded to controvert Lord Holland's constitutional doctrines. It was, he argued, a most absurd mistake, to suppose that the term "questioned" meant any thing in the Bill of Rights except an indictment, impeachment, or prosecution. The words nn the context, "any other court or place," proved that. In fact, this interpretation had never been questioned except in a factious vote of the House of Commons, by which a Mr. Jones was imprisoned for propounding a question relating to Members of the House. Both Mr. Canning and Mr. Huskisson agreed that nothing so absurd had been done by the House of Commons.

Lord HOLLAND still maintained that before any thing could be founded on the expressions attributed to Lord Ebrington, it would be necessary to ascertain that he really used them, and that would be a

questioning" of the proceedings in the other House.

Lord STRANGFORD reminded Ministers of the successful opposition to Lord Londonderry's appointment, founded on a speech delivered in Parliament.

Speeches from Lords WICKLOW and RODEN indicated strong disap- probation of Lord Ebrington's appointment. Lord BROUGHAM with- drew his motion of adjournment ; and the subject dropped.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Semen JUDGES. The bill for increasing the salaries and retiring allowances of Judges of the Court of Session in Scotland, was read a second time on Monday, by a majority of 139 to 21 ; Mr. WALLACE, 3Ir. Otm.ox, and Mr. HUME opposing, Lord Advocate Mcansy sup- porting the measure.

SCOTCH SALMON FisuEntEs. Mr. WALLACE moved the second read- ing of the Salmon Fisheries Bill. Mr. CHALMERS moved to put off the second reading for six months. For the original motion, 29 ; for the amendment, 35. So the bill is lost.

CHILDREN IN FACTORIES. Mr. Fox MAtri.E, on Monday, moved the second reading of the Factories Bill. lie explained the chief provisions of the measure, which were intended to give more complete protection to the children employed in factories, by preventing frauds of various descriptions which interfered with the object of the existing law passed for the same purpose. By the new hill, greater security would be ob- tabed against false certificates of age ; against overworking under pre- tence of making-up lost time, and employing children in different the- tories on the same day, by which practice it became easy to defeat the law which limited the hours of labour. It was also provided that there should be at least two hours' schooling on each of the six working days, instead of giving all the schooling on one day and counting the school- hours of Sunday among the twelve required by the law to he devoted to instruction. Additional power would be given to Inspectors to enforce the execution of the bill.

Lord Asnutv, Mr. SLANEY, and Mr. Bitormarros supported the measure. Mr. HiNDLEY stated several alterations which it would be necessary to make, to prevent fraudulent evasion of its provisions. Mr. B.ttNES thought that mill-owners alone ought not to be put under restrictions in the employment of labour— They talked much of humanity in this city ; but were there not to be found here those who were worse used than those emploved in factories ? Amongst the milliners and dressmakers, there were to be found greater abuses than in factories. (Laughter.) So at least he was told—of course it was not within his knowledge. (Laughter.) It was not at all unusual for young females of a tender age to be employed twelve, fourteen, sixteen, and eighteen hours in the day. Now, if this were true, he did not know how Lord Ashley reconciled 'Holds luunanity to neglect eases like these, which were no very numerous,

and when the abuse prevailed all over England, so that a larger number of females were so ill-treated titan of children in factories. He was astonished those females had never attracted the attention of the noble lord. (Laughter.)

lie would only further say, that in legislating with regard to the owners of factories, they must bear in mind that there was one mode by which the num-

ber of the hours of labour might be considerably diuminished,—namely, by

!waking food more cheap—in reality, be repealing the taxes on food. Then, instead of having children employed for twelve hours a day, they might very well be employed only ten hours a day ; and the operation would not apply to children only, but would apply to alults; and he hoped Lord Ashley would turn his attention to this subject in the course of the legislation he was pur- suing with respect to the tirctory children.

Bill read a second time, and ordered to be committed on the sth of April.

CORN-LAWS. Mr. VILLIERS gave notice on Wednesday, of a mo- tion, for Tuesday the 12th 3Iarch, " That the House resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to take into consideration the Act 9th George the Fourth, regulating the importation of foreign grain." Mr. CHRISTOPHER gave notice of a motion to " call the House over" on that day. Mr. CATLEY gave notice that he should move the two following resolutions, as an amendment to Mr. Villiers' motion- " That, under the heavy debt and taxation of this country, its productive industry and vested interests require to be protected from the lightly-taxed produce and cheaper labour of foreign countries. ru "That the existing Corn-law, by the protection it has afforded top grower under low prices, and to the consumer of it under high, has esentAdy answered the purposes of its enactment."

NEW Warrs were ordered on Wednesday for North Devonshire, in the room of Lord Viscount Ebrington, now Baron Fortescue; and for. Wigan, in the room of Mr. Richard Potter, who had accepted the Chil- tern Hundreds.