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the attention of the Ministers . The Colonial Department had communicated with the Treasury upon the subject , and he had the satisfaction of announcing that the contract would be immediately dissolved . The Treasury informed them that tenders for the new service would be invited without delay , with sucli modified regulations as experience had shown to be necessary , and the Lords of the Treasury stated that they hoped now to be able to put this service on a satisfactory footing . To avoid any inconvenience from the speedy removal of the present contract , the Treasury -would make temporary arrangements with the Royal Mail Company , or some other companies . The Colonial Office had informed the colonies of the dissolution of the present contract , and had reported that a temporary arrangement for the service was about to be entered into .
,- KENSINGTON GORE ESTATE . Mr . H . Baiung inquired of the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government proposed to take any steps for obtaining such portion of the Kensington Gore Estate as would suffice for the erection of barracks for the Guards , in lieu of the present quarters in Portman-street . —The Chancellor of the Exchequer said that her Majesty ' s Government had made due inquiry into this matter , but it was not in the power of the Royal Commissioners to enter into any arrangement of the land . It would be a violation of faith on their part , as they had engaged not to erect any buildings on the estate , except such as are connected with arts and
. KBWARDS TO MEMBERS . Lord Hothaji moved the following ' resolution : — ' " That it is contrary to the usage and derogatory to the dignity of this House , that any of Its members should bring forward ; promote , or advocate in this House , any * proceeding or measure in which he may have acted or been concerned , for or in consideration of any pecuniary fee or reward . " Members had t > een expelled from the House for receiving bribes in the performance of their duties . Mr . Aspinall -was expelled in 1667 , and ^ in 1694 , a predecessor of . the present Speaker -was expelled for receiving- from the City of London a thousand guineas for passing the Orphan Bill . In consequence of
these proceedings , an order was passed making it a high class misdemeanour for any one to offer bribes to members of tlie House . The next resolution which he found on tbis subject was in 1830 , when , in consequence of a member of that House having entered into partnership with another for the purpose of carrying on business as a Parliamentary agent , a resolution was passed condemnatory of the practice , and the partnership was dissolved hi consequence . Of late years , appeals from India had become , year after year , matters of more frequent occurrence , and , in consequence , a practice had sprung up which he thought it the duty of the House to put an end to . It had been publicly stated in India that the services of members were
obtainable by menus of money ; and would any one state that this impression should be allowed to continue ? { Hear , Item : ') It might be objected to his motion that the ; existing resolutions on the books of the House would meet such cases as those to which , he had referred ; but he contended that they had no legal right to > punish a member under the circumstances in question . A change in the law is therefore requisite . —Mr . Divistt seconded the rcsolutiojj ^ Mr . Boavyek said that , unless the noble Lord atited distinctly and explicitly what inembers of the Teamed profession in the House he had alluded to ,, flic motion would be highly objectionable , because ifSvua a general proposition which cast an in-? im 39 tton over tho whole of the learned members who
* icold seats in it . This would have its effect in the country , and it would have its effect abroad . If this proposition were once to be carried , it ought to go further , and other persons—even including the Attorney-General and Solicitor-General—ought to be excluded on principle . —Mr . 'Wbiteshms thought that these cases were not parallel . The Attorney-General and Solicitor-General apeak avowedly as the law officers of the Government . The motion appeared to him just and honourable , and ho should support It . —Mr . Bouveuik moved the previous question , observing that-a man -who is astute enough to evade the existing rules would laugh at the resolution . — Sir John Pakinoton suggested that , if the House should Adopt this resolution , the terms should ho general , covering every person and thing , and that the words , " in which ho may have acted or been concerned , " pointing to the logal profession , bo omittedsince they
, might be a trap to the consciences of members of the bar , and , in possible cases , lead to serious difficulties , as in Crown prosecutions . —Mr . Lajjouohere hoped the House would not follow the advice of Sir John Pakington , who would deprive the resolution of any meaning , or dilute it into a mere truism . —The Soliojtor-Gkneral expressed liis ' regret at the charges implied in tho speeches of Lord Hotham and Mr . Divett against members of the bar , and called for the ground of those charges , for which he believed there was no foundation whatever . —Mr . Serjeant Dbasy , on the part of tho bar of Ireland , fully concurred with the Solicitor-General . —The Arronnky-Gbkkral considered tho motion both uncalled for and utmeceaaary , and etatod that tho law officers of tho Crown would bo pTovonted by it from exercising thoir duties in Parliament . In regard to the Indian claims which enme occasionally before Parliament , members of * > r » F
the bar , being members of the House , might be asked their opinion upon a claim , and , if they gave the opinion that the case was one for Parliament , they -would by the words of this motion be precluded from advocating the claim when it came into the House . In his opinion , however , it was the duty of legal members of the House , in such cases , to refuse any professional engagement when it appeared that the claim would come before Parliament . — The resolution was further opposed by Mr . Malins . Mr
Gilpin , Mr . PisTBR O'Brien , Lord Johh Russelt , ( who thought the resolution already adopted quite sufficient , and who feared that Lord Hotham ' s proposal would be too wide ) , Mr . Bovill ., and Mr . Mellok ; and was supported by Mr . Bentinck and Mr . Roebuck , the second of whonv however , said he did not think Lord Hotham would gain much by going to a division . —Finally , it was resolved by 151 to 80 that the question should be put , and , upon a further division , the resolution was carried by 210 to 27 , showing a majority of 183 .
COLLECTION Oi' TAXES . Mr . LiNiisAV moved a resolution that the mode of collecting taxes , both assessed and income , is attended with great disadvantage and loss , and requires immediate attention . Parishes , after having been assessed and having paid their taxes , had , owing to the insolvency of the collectors , been reassessed and compelled to pay a second time . He proposed that the collectors should be appointed by the Government , who should take proper securities . —The motion -was seconded by Mr . "Williams . —Sir John Trollopb said the proper remedy was to revise the Act 43 rd of George III ., cap . 99 , and make a receipt given by a proper officer a suffix cient discharge . —The motion was supported by Mr . Ridxky and Mr . Inqham . —The Chancellor of the Exchjkqukr observed that Mr . Lindsay was justified in bringing this subject before the House , and no doubt the grievance was a serious one . Still , he hoped he would not press his motion , as the subject , which demanded very great thought and contrivance , was under the consideration of the Government .- —The motion was accordingly withdrawn . "¦¦ ' ; ' ¦ . ' . ' ¦ - v ' LUNATICS . . ' . ¦¦ ' ' '• ' . Mr .. Titk moved for a Select Committee to inquire into the laws relating to luuatics under the care of the Court of Chancery . There are 29 , 000 lunatics ; and they seem to have increased of late years at the rate of 10 O 0 a year . The asylums are thirty-eight in number ; and he was happy to say that the ratio of cure is fourteen per cent , annually . The lunatics under the care of the Court of Chancery are eight hundred in number , with property to the amount of 240 , 000 ? ., of which sum 160 , 000 / . are paid for their maintenance , which is at the rate of 200 / . a year each . The two inspectors , one a barrister , and the other a medical man , are required to visit the Chancery lunatics once a year . They have scarcely time to do this , scattered as tlie lunatics are over the land ; and they are paid the very inadequate salaries of 500 ? . a year each . —Sir A . H . Elton seconded the motion . —The Solicitor-General hoped the motion would not be pressed to a division , as there would be no time at this period of the session for a full and ample inquiry , to which the Government would oppose no obstacle . —After some remarks by Mr . Dbummond ( who urged the great importance of the subject , and suggested that the terms of the motion should be enlarged , so as to include the treatment and care of the lunatics in Chancery ) , the motion was withdrawn for the present session . MISCELLANEOUS BU 8 LNKSS . Lord JoiixV Russell moved for leave to bring in a bill to amend and consolidate tho laws relating to Bankrupts and Insol vents . ~ The ATTOKNKY-GKNKUALdid not oppose the introduction of the bill ; and , after some remarks by Mr . Headum ( who thought that the consolidation of the Winding-up-Acts should not be mixed up with the general improvement of tlie Bankruptcy Laws ) , leave was given . Mr . Cowbett moved for a Select Committee to consider the law and practice as regards tho taking of inquisitions ; the appointment , duties , and remuneration of the officers employed ; and whether any and "what alteration should be made in any such matters . —On the motion of tho Chancellor of the Exchequer , tlie debate wits adjourned . Some other routine business was transacted ; the Joint Stock Banking Company ' s Bill was read a third time , and passed ; and the House adjourned at a quarter to one o ' clock , Wednesday , June 23 rd . UKGISTBATION OP PAUTNKRSIIirS MILL . Viueount Goniaucii moved the second reading of this bill , and oxplained its object . It was proposed by tho bill that all persons who enter into partnership , na well aa all persons who tvado in any . other name thmi their own , or under tho indefinite appellation of a company , should bo required to make known to the public Avho und what they are ; and that for that purpose their names should be entered upon a register open to tho inspection of nil those who desiro to obtain tho information that such a . registry would afford . Ho dwelt upon the licccsHity for such a registry , as a means of apprising the public of the real position of a firm before entering into dealings with it , and reminded tho House tliat , through tho want of such information , frauds had been practised nnd losses had been incurred . Two instances
of recent occurrence would furnish specimens of this class of transactions . Tho iirst was -the case of Mr Stephens , of the Eastern Banking Corporation , and that case showed how it is possible that a man trading under the name of a company might be engaged in a vast number of transactions , and obtain credit for a considerable length of time in each of them . The other case to which he had referred occurred in Dundee . He urged upon the House to take measures for the discouragement of such practices . ° Mr . Collier moved that the bill be read a second time that day six months . It would affect the principle of non-interference with the-trading classes which had characterized all modern legislation . Its
pressure would fall chiefly on the poorer classes ^ Any person lending the smallest sum of money to any firm on terras of participating in profits must registerand the nice distinctions in the law of partnership would lead to continual litigation . The measure -was inquisitorial , and registration , so far from preventing fraud would be the parent of ingenious frauds . In fact , the principle would not work . —The amendment was seconded by Mr . Moffatt . — -The bill was also opposed by Mr . Warren , Mr . WKGU £ MN , Mr . Gubnby , Mr . Housman ( who , while approving the principle of the bill , thought its details most objectionable ) , and Colonel Pattbn ( who , though his name was at the back of the bill , took a similar view ) . On the other hand , the measure was
supported by Mr . Baxter , Mr . Baines , Mr . Spooner , and Mr . Gardweli ,, the last of whom said that "the bill had been opposed upon two grounds , one of which he considered untenable . It was said that it would give to the _ State duties which ought to be performed by private individuals ; but publicity was the principle of the bill , and secrecy is opposed to free trade , and is no ornament to the commerce of the country . The measure had , however ' powerful objections in detail , and the question was whether they should reject it on that account . Now , he did not think they should summarily dismiss a bill so powerfully backed by the commercial community ; but , on the other hand , they should not take it for granted that the commercial community had made up their minds on the subject . The bill might be referred to a select committee , and in this way its
probable effect , and the details by which the principle was to be carried out , would be discussed . If called upon to give a vote on . that occasion , he certainly could not declare that secrecy was a principle of free trade , and he should therefore support the motion for the second reading . "— -Mr . Henley considered that they wanted information on : this subject before passing this measure , and this information was only to be obtained by an open inquiry before a committee of that House . There were many difficulties in the details of the bill , and he hoped the noble Lord would not ask them , under existing circumstances , "to come to any decision upon the subject . —Lord Goderich having adopted the suggestion thus put forth , the motion and amendment were withdrawn , and the bill was discharged ; .
ELKCTION COMMITTKKS SCRUTINY BILL . Oa the order for the second reading of this bill , Mr . Warren moved to defer the second reading for six months , contending that the bill would derange the whole machinery of the election law . —Mr . John Locke , Mr . Stbuakt , and Mr . M'Mahon supported , and Mr . Barro"W and Mr . Gkeavks opposed , the bill . —Mr . Walpole said that , if the bill passed into law , nothing but bribery or treating at an election could affect tinvotes of persons whose names appeared upon the barrister ' s register . Did tho bill propose to do away witli
legal incapacities to vote ? If the provisions of the bill did not touch such cases , it would require considerable alteration in committee . —Mr . Coxlins explained that the object of the bill was to extend a principle already in operation , and to provide a remedy for the conflicting decisions at present given by the Election Committees . He thought the character of the measure should induce the House to allow it tp be read a second time , nnd , having obtained a decision upon the principle , he did not propose to press it further during the present session . — The House having divided , the bill was lost by 125 to 87 .
PIERS ANI > IIARUOUKfl BILL . Mr . Paull moved the second reading of this bill , the object of which is to savo tbo expense of applying to Parliament for private bills for piers and harbours . He proposed that when such bills had obtained the sanction of the Admiralty , they should be considered as public bills , and paid for at the public expense . —Mr . Warren seconded the motion , nnd believed the measure was of great importance . —Lord Lovainh suggested that Ibo bill should be read a second time then , and withdrawn , on account of the lateness of the season . —After some further discussion , tho second reading was affirmed by 136 to 33 . —A motion by Mr . Pauix was then agreed to , to tho effcot that the bill be committed that day three months .
MISCUIX . ANUOUS 1 UISINKHS . On . the order for resuming tho debate upon the motion for an address for a Royal Commission to inquire into the system of businosB of the establishment at Wecdon , Colonel lioLi > icuo moved thut it should be discharged , intending to bring tho subject forward on the next night of Supply . —Dissatisfaction was expressed by Mr * Nicola , and Mr . Conimgham , but ultimately the order was discharged .
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604 _____ _____ i . __ . _ , _ _ yQLJilg ADEli - ^ fNo . 431 , June 26 , 1858 .
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), June 26, 1858, page 604, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2248/page/4/
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