emits anti 113roctetings in parliament,

IRISH PARLIAMENTARY AND MUNICIPAL FRANCHISE.

In the House of Commons, on Monday, Lord ELIOT rose to move for leave to bring in a bill to alter and amend the laws which regulate the registration, qualification, and polling of Parliamentary electors in Ireland.

The defects of the present law arise from the difficulty of challenging the voter's right to remain on the register, and from the facilities afforded for per- sonation and corrupt dealing; defects which are acknowledged by Members on all sides of the House. When the Irish Reform Bill was introduced, it was distinctly stated by Lord Althorp and Lord Stanley, that if experience should approve the registration system then introduced into England, it would be right to consider the propriety of extending its operation to Ireland. Some evils pointed out by ten years' experience were amended by the act of last ses- sion; and.the present working of the system is quite satisfactory. That sys- tem, then, rautatis rautandis, he proposed to introduce into Ireland. The Lord Lieutenant in Council will be empowered to divide the different counties into polling-diltricts, assigning to each such district a polling-place, at which a Re- maing-Barrister will hold an annual court of revision and registration. In Eng- land it was necessary to make a new creation of Revising-Barristers; but in Ire- land the existing Assistant-Barristers will he intrusted with the duties of revision. In England the right of appeal from the decisions of the Revising-Barristers has been vested in the Court of Common Pleas : in Ireland it will lie to the Court of Exchequer. As the Judges are much absorbed by business, seven out of the twelve will be allowed to constitute a quorum. The duty of preparing the lists will devolve upon Baronial Collectors in counties and on the Clerks of the Peace in boroughs. As in England, the polling will be limited to two days in counties, and to one day in boroughs. The names of the electors now on the register will not be disturbed, but will remain unchallenged for the period of eight years to which the voter is at present entitled, except in the case of the actual transfer of property for which the vote is registered. The suhject of qualification is at present in a very doubtful and unsatisfactory state. By the act of 1629, the forty-shilling freehold franchise was abolished : there were then 216,000 electors, of whom 102,000 were registered for seven counties. In 7831, before the Reform Bill passed, the number of electors in Ireland was 52,000; in 1843, 63,000; 11,000 only having been added in the twelve years by the effect of the clause relatirg to leaseholders. When the Reform Bill passed, the holding of the occupant leaseholder or freeholder was 'required to be of a certain "clear value to him ": those words were struck out in the House of Lords, against the opinion of Sir Edward Sugden, who said that the omission would occasion much doubt and confusion ; and to obviate the difficulty, Mr. Lefroy introduced the words "beneficial interest ": but those words have given rise to the most conflicting decisions as to what is beneficial interest, and the confusion is aggravated by the fact that the minority of Judges aAesistan t- Barristers refuse in the practical administration of the law to be W 140119s f the majority. Looking to the intentions of the Le- f the majority of the Judges, the franchise in England he established constitution, which requires that there Rerty arising out of land, Government have determined formable to the law of England and Scotland, and of the occupant leaseholder or freeholder should ke 10/. over and above all rents and charges. He ad- that solvent-tenant test would be to disfranchise the tent of two-thirds of the present number, which is would not be a number adequate to express the opi- he people. As it is expedient, however, to give to Ire- land substantial equality of rights and privileges with the people of England sod Scotland, it will be necessary to give some compensation for that deduction. The object is to supply a (lass of voters in an independent position : and to that end, the franchise will not be lased on the amount of rent paid, but take a roor-law-rating se tbe test of the franchise; and Government believe that a

man rated to the relief of the poor in the amount of SOL a year would be pos-

sessed of SU fficient capital or stock t o make hiln an independent elector. There are about 76,000 persons thus rated in Ireland ; but, making deductions for widows

and minors, and for persons otberwire qualified, the additional constituency will be about 51,CCO. After aliening a further deduction on account of the more stringent rreistratirn, the act increase on the whole would be about 30,000. Government also desire 10 create a class analogous to the English yeomanry; and they propose therefore that all persons in Ireland who possess a freehold of in- heritance of 5/. clear yearly value above quit-rents or any other kind of rent, or who possess a lease for lives renewable for ever, which is tantamount to a freehold of inheritance, shall he, eafter have a vote without actual occupancy, which will not be required in any freehold above 101. That the immediate effect of such a system would be considerable, he was not prepared to say : he had not been able to ascertain the number of small freeholds of inheritance in Ireland, but be believed it to he very small; whilst in many parts of the country perpetual leases are by no means uncommon. Such a system would, he be- lieved, hereafter have the effect of adding a curaiderable number of respectable and independent voters to the list.

The qualifications for voters in towns in England is the payment of poor- rates and the assessed taxes : in Ireland, the Reform Act requires that the voter shall have paid all county and municipal rates and cessmente. There are no assessed taxes in Ireland ; but, to render the system analogous to that of England, it is proposed to take the poor-rates, borough-rates, police-rates, and 46 town-rates," (for paving, lighting, and watching,) which would make up about the same sum as is paid by the English voter. The effect of the pro.- posed simplification in augmenting the number of voters must be a mere matter of guess.

Before sitting down, Lord ELIOT explained the nature of another bill, to amend the Municipal Corporations Act.

When that act was passed in Parliament, it was impossible to apply to Ire- land the English franchise—which is based on the occupation of a house and the payment of rates for a given time—because the Irish Poor-law had not been in existence long enough to allow the given time. Now, however, it is possible to remove one cause of complaint by assimilating the English to the Irish law ; and the municipal franchise will be given to every inhabitant householder who shall have been in occupation for three years, and have paid his rates and taxes up to that time. At present, a number of taxes are payable as a condition to the municipal franchise : in some districts there are not fewer than twenty-two of these local taxes, and as many as fourteen, fifteen, or even sixteen, may fall upon the same individual : the bill will give the franchise upon the payment of the same taxes as convey a title to the Parliamentary franchise. He regretted that the municipal corporations should have become normal schools of agitation. He thought it would have been much better if they had confined themselves to their own pe- culiar duties. But, however he might regret this, he could not divest him- self of the conviction that every man in a town who contributed by rates and taxes to the maintenance of that town, was entitled to have a vote in the ad- ministration of its local affairs' and he trusted, that after the temporary effer- vescence which now existed in Ireland should have subsided, all parties con- nected with municipal corporations would turn their attention to their own local affairs, and reserve the expression of their political opinions for a more fitting opportunity. A discussion, or rather a series of remarks, of a very general character, ensued. Mr. MORE O'Faanann applauded the spirit of the bill. He believed that Lord Eliot had gone as far as his party would allow. He had conceded almost every principle contended for by the Opposition, and had justified the complaints against the Irish Reform Act and the amendments to it ; but he had failed in carrying out the principles which he thus recognized. Mr. O'Ferrall objected to the new thirty- pound tenant-at-will constituency, as creating a class of electors sub- servient to the landlords ; and he pointed out the manufacture of votes by landed proprietors, who grant rent-charges for the basis of a fran- chise, as an abuse which claimed special attention. Mr. SHAW com- plained that no Irish Member had been aware of the intention of Go- vernment until that night. He expressed an opinion, that with the pressure of landlords upon tenants-at-will the tenantry will retain their objection to registering their votes ; and that till the system of agitation be abandoned in Ireland, the number of registered voters must gradually decline. He denied that any large number of voters is created in Ire- land by rent-charges. Lord JOHN RUSSELL objected to the new thirty- pound qualification, as a " Chandos clause," calculated to create more discontent in Ireland than it does in England ; for here, the tenant is usually willing to vote with his landlord, while in Ireland the case is very different. He approved of the five-pound freehold franchise ; but did not see why it should be higher than the forty-shilling franchise of England. He did not think that the bill carried out Sir Robert Peel's wish to have perfect equality in the English and Irish franchise. Mr. BELLEW expressed somewhat similar views. Lord Rovviox advocated a clause giving the right to vote according to the amount at which the party is rated, without requiring registration. He denied that there is much practical difference between the independence of a leaseholder and of a holder from year to year ; but thought that the three-pound fran- chise was higher than it need have been. Sir ROBERT PEEL reiterated, in different terms, some of Lord Eliot's explanation ; maintaining that the bill estabBshed substantial equality of franchise between England and Ireland. 'Mr. FITZSTEPHEN FRENCH, Mr. HUME, and Mr. Monaaw JOHN O'Cornisni, spoke slightingly of the measure. Mr. MONTAGUE GORE declared it to be perfectly satisfactory. Mr. WYSE said that the most valuable part of the discussion consisted in the doctrines which it had drawn from Sir Robert Peel and Lord Eliot, and which some years ago could only have been heard from the Opposition side of the House.

Lord ELIOT further explained a distinction between the thirty-pound clausend the " Chandos clause " : in England, the tenant-at-will - franchise depends on the payment of a certain amount of rent to the . landlord; in Ireland, it is made to depend on the payment of a certain amount of rates.

Leave was given to bring in the bill.

Lord ELIOT then formally moved for leave to bring in a bill to amend that part of the Act of the 3d and 4th Victoria, entitled" An Act for the Regulation of Municipal Corporations in Ireland," which relates to the qualifications of voters. Leave given.

The bills were brought in on Tuesday, and read a first time; to be read a second time on Friday 1he 19th instant. ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS REFORM.

lit the House of Lords, on Monday, the third reading of the Ec- clesiastical Courts Bill having been moved, Lord Cm-rm.:11Am, Lord Commix, and Lord DENMAN renewed their objection to the main- tenance of the Diocesan Courts ; a nuisance, said Lord Denman, of which all authorities recommended the abolition, while cases of op- pression could be cited which would make their Lordships shud- der. The Bishop of LONDON deprecated the use of such strong lan- guage. He admitted that hardships arose, especially in the indefinite sentences of imprisonment for " subtraction " of church-rates ; but he contended that the law might be amended without abolishing the courts. The bill was read a third time. On the question that it do pass, Lord CorrEnnAm moved the omission of the clauses continuing the courts, and afterwards the insertion of a clause transferring their jurisdiction to the Arches Courts. Both motions failed, and the bill passed.

It was read a first time in the House of Commons on Tuesday.

CRIMINAL APPEALS.

In the House of Lords, on Tuesday, Lord CAMPBELL introduced a bill to amend the law of appeal in criminal cases. In civil cases, the party prosecuting an appeal enters into recognizanees of double the amount in dispute, and the execution of the judgment is suspended until the decision is given on the writ of error ; an arrangement which pre- cludes all difficulty. But in criminal cases there is much doubt as to what should be done with the party convicted while the appeal is pend- ing: if the sentence were executed, the convict might be transported, for instance, and afterwards it might prove that the sentence was wrong: but on the other hand, if the sentence were suspended, the convict might delay and even escape punishment altogether. His bill provided that the sentence should be suspended until the decision on the appeal; the defendant giving security to the satisfaction of the Court, in any sum that the Court might direct, that any fine which might be im- posed should be paid, or that the defendant should appear to undergo any sentence that might be pronounced. The bill not to be retrospec- tive, but to come into operation on the 1st of August next.

JOINT-STOCK COMPANIES.

In the House of Commons, on Tuesday, Mr. GLADSTONE moved that the House resolve itself into Committee to consider the state of the law of Partnership, with a view to alter the law respecting Joint-Stock Companies- " For the registration of joint-stock companies, and for conferring on such companies certain privileges of corporate bodies, subject to the payment of cer- tain fees, and on certain conditions and regulations ; and for preventing the es- tablishment of fraudulent companies: for the regulation of joint-stock compa- nies: for facilitating and improving the remedies at law and in equity, in refe- rence to joint-stock companies, their members, directors, and other officers, whether inter se or in relation to persons not being members thereof; and for winding up the affairs of companies unable to meet their pecuniary engagements ; and for enabling private partnerships to register the names of their partners, and to sue and be sued in the name of their firm."

The greater part of his proposal was founded on the report of a Select Com-

mittee, which had sat in several sessions, for the purpose of investigating the subject. That Committee did not extend its consideration to banking com- panies; tut, with that exception, it had iavestigated the whole subject. There were two classes of evils which it was meant to meet, one which arose from the fact of fraudulent companies being frequently set up with the names of re- spectable persons as directors, which induced many unwary persons to join them, to their great and often ruinous loss ; the other referred to companies which, though not actually fraudulent, were ill-conducted. He should propose, first, to apply the most effectual remedy, that of publicity—to bring the power of public opinion to bear on the proceedings of joint-stock companies. For this purpose, he should ask leave to bring in a bill for the registration of joint- stock companies ; but in registering them, it would be necessary to recognize them as for certain purposes corporate bodies. He should propose that these companies, on being registered, and on submitting themselves to efficient in- spection both as regarded the persons who composed them and the manner in which their affairs were conducted, should acquire the privilege of suing and being sued, and therefore of doing certain legal acts for the purpose for which they were associated with as much facility as they could be dune by individuals. At present, such companies obtain some advantage to themselves by evading the restriction through the appointment of trustees; but in many cases the restriction acts as a bar to the advantage of the public, such as in obtaining re- dress. He proposed in another bill to provide for regulating joint-stock com- panies, principally by extending as a general law certain enactments already applied to particular companies. Lastly, a third bill would remedy analogous inconveniences arising from the law of private partnerships.

The House having gone into Committee, Mr. GLADSTONE moved re- solutions describing the three bills.

Mr. HAWKS inquired if there was to be any provision affecting the liability of the partners ? Mr. GLAnsantsE said that there would be nothing which would in any manner limit their responsibility.

The House resumed, and the bills were ordered to be brought in.

CHINA AND SIR HENRY POTTINGER.

On Monday, in the House of Lords, the Earl of ABERDEEN presented the supplemental treaty with China ; stating that the ports of that coun- try are now fully open to British commerce. He paid a high tribute to the merits of Sir Henry Pottinger ; which was warmly responded to by the Marquis of LANSDOWNE. Next day, Sir ROBERT PEEL laid the treaty on the table of the Com- mons: with a similar tribute, and a similar response from Lord PAL- MERSTON.

In Committee of Supply, on Monday, Sir CHARLES NAPIER asked whether there was any truth in the report that a misunderstanding had arisen between Sir Henry Pottinger and the naval and military autho- rities on the China station ? Lord STANLEY said, that the naval and military officers had been instructed, in the anomalous position of affairs in China, to render Sir Henry Pottinger every assistance ; and notwith- standing some difference of opinion between those gallant officers as to the strict letter of right under which the one was entitled to call for and the others to render the service required, yet, during the whole of the negotiations, no difference whatever existed between them for a moment to interfere with their cordial cooperation in discharging their respective duties.

COMMERCIAL RELATIONS WITH TURKEY.

On Thursday, Lord BEAUMONT drew the attention of the House of Lords to the commercial relations between the Sublime Porte and this country. In 1838, a convention was concluded which fixed all import-a duties on British goods in China at 3 per cent ad valorem, with 2 per cent in lieu of certain variable internal dues ranging from 2 to 9 per cent. Subsequently, Russia concluded a convention to pay the 3 per cent import-duty ; but nothing was said about the commutation of in- ternal dues, which are evaded by the Russian merchant. Had any ne - gotiations been set on foot to remove that inequality and unfair advan- tage ? The Earl of ABERDEEN said, that as against Turkey England had this remedy, that she might claim to be put on the same footing with Russia, as " the most favoured nation " ; but not one of the Con- suls, who had all been referred to, thought that it would be advantageous thus to renew the vexatious internal dues. Friendly representations, however, had been made to Russia ; and the Russian Minister at Con- stantinople had been instructed to negotiate a treaty of commerce on the basis of the English treaty.

DISTRIBUTION OF THE NAVY.

On Tuesday, Lord JOHN RUSSELL, after calling to mind the unani- mous willingness with which the House of Commons had voted the re- quisite number of men for the Navy, mentioned a report that the num- ber of ships in the Mediterranean is to be reduced to a very small num- ber—indeed, to a single one ; although important stations and great" British interests require the presence of a naval force in that sea ; and there are warlike signs on its coasts—as rumours of an invasion of Mo- rocco by Spain, and of a revolution in Italy.

Sir ROBERT PEEL remarked, that good grounds might be urged for having a large naval force in the Mediterranean, or in any other part of the world—the coast of America, the Pacific, or the Baltic. " Government, however, may have thought it advisable to have a Beet of eight sail of the line in the Channel for the purpose of exercise, and ready to meet any exigency. These vessels may soon he sent to the Mediterranean if their services are required there ; and it is surely a great advantage to have an available force in a position from whence their power maybe concentrated upon any station requiring its presence. I ask the noble Lord to allow the Execu- tive Government to exercise its discretion in the matter. Our interests in the' Mediterranean are doubtless very important ; but I need not here enter into the particular reasons which induce the Executive to appropriate our force in other quarters. I only appeal to the noble Lord whether if, in that confidence in his powers to which he has so just a right, he would take the command of the Channel fleet—(Loud laughter)—he will not allow that there may be reasons for concentrating a strong force in the Channel in a time of peace ; whence, however, it is ready to be sent to any part of the world." (Cheers and laughter.) Lord PALMERSTON would feel no want of confidence in Lord John Russell in command of the Channel fleet—(Loud laughter)--or in any other command in which resolution and determination might be re- quired; and if his spirit and determination were backed by the pro- fessional skill and experience of Sir Charles Napier, between them they would present a very formidable appearance to any power that might be disposed to take liberties with Great Britain. (Cheers and laughter.) Lord Pahnerston insisted on the right of the House, historically re- corded, to control the disposal of the fleet, and on the special necessity of maintaining a strong force in the Mediterranean.

Mr. HuarE deprecated any objection to reducing the naval force ; and quoted a letter from a naval officer at Malta, who said that the crews of large ships in the Mediterranean are in danger of losing their discipline while laid up at Malta.

Here the matter dropped.

MISCELLANEOUS.

IRIsm CHURCH TEMPORALITIES. On Monday, Mr. FRENCH obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend the laws that relate to the temporalities of the Church in Ireland; the bill to be referred to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners.

WELSH GRIEVANCES. Dr. BOWRING asked, on Monday, whether Govern- ment meant to introduce any measure for the redress of the grievances in Wales? Mr. MANNERS SUTTON answered, that the Commissioners had re- commended a legislative measure on the subject of turnpikes, which was under the consideration of the Secretary for the Home Department. It was also questioned whether some other points not confined to South Wales, should not be made the subject of separate and more general measures.

CONTROVERTED ELECTIONS. On the motion of Sir ROBERT PEEL. Lord Ashley has been added to the Select Committee on Controverted Elections.

SUPPLY: THE NEW PRIVY COUNCIL JUDGE. (ln the motion for going into a Committee of Supply, on Monday, Lord JOHN RUSSELL asked whether Government intended to support Lord Brougham's bill for adding a chief Judge and two other Judges to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council ; and whether there was any foundation for the report that the eminent person alluded to had thrice refused the office before it had been created ? Sir Ro- BERT PEEL replied, that the bill was not a Government measure, and that he was as free to exercise his discretion upon it as Lord John Russell himself. He dwelt upon Lord Brougham's services in the judicial business of the Privy Council ; adding, it was thought before the introduction of this bill, that the Crown by its own authority might create the office which the promoters of the measure thought to be necessary ; and an offer of it had been made to Lord Brougham, but not with any annexation of salary. Mr. REDHEAD YORKE regarded the whole proceeding as an unpardonable and indefensible job ; and he pledged himself, that if it came down to that House, he would take ad- vantage of all the forms of the House to prevent such an act from disgracing the annals of legislation. The House went into Committee, and proceeded with the Estimates under the head of Civil Contingencies ; with the usual objections from Mr. 'WIL- L/AM WILLIAMS, Mr. MIME, and others; Mr. Home, however, confessing that the present was the best estimate that he had seen for many years.

THE BUDGET. In reply to Mr. BASTTE, on Monday, the CHANCELLOR Of the EXCHEQUER said that the Budget would be introduced as soon as pos- sible after Easter.

THE BANK OF ENGLAND AND BANKING. In reply to Mr. GISBORNE, on Monday, Sir ROBERT PEEL stated, that soon after the recess he should call attention to the subject of banking; but he must reserve to himself till that period the right of stating what the measures contemplated by Government were.

MONTS DE PIETE. Mr. COWPER obtained leave, on Monday, to bring in a bill for the establishment of Charitable Pawn Societies.

New ZEALAND. The Earl of MALMESBURY presented a petition to the Ilouse of Lords, on Monday, from the inhabitants of Wellington in New. Zealand, praying for armed protection and for measures to :mule the titles to land. He asked whether any steps had been taken on either point ? The Earl of RIPON said that forces had been sent to New - Zealand from New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land, and the local Government was autho-

rised to raise a militia. Respecting the land-titles, instructions bad been furnished to Governor Fitzroy, which, it was hoped, would prove satisfactory.

THE ROYAL ASSENT was given, on Tuesday, to the Mutiny Bill and some other unopposed and private bulls.

NOTICES OF MOTION. Several notices stand over till after Easter : among them, Mr. WYSE'S, for a Select Committee to inquire into the State of Ire- land, is set down for the 25th instant. Mr. CHARLES BULLER is to move for a Sel.ct Committee on Colonization; time not fixed. Tim RECESS. On Tuesday, the House of Commons adjourned to Monday the 15th instant ; the House of Lords to Tuesday the 16th.