lithattouub =dingo iu Varlimutut.

PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OP THE WEEK.

HOUSE OF LOUD& Monday, Nov. 29. No business of importance. Tuesday, Nov. 30. Oaths in Chancery Bill, read a second time—University Tests, (Scotland,) National Education (Ireland); Government not to bringin Bills on these subjects.

Thursday, Dec. 2. Free-trade; Lord Clanricarde adopts Lord Derby's Resolu- tion, to be' moved on Monday. Priday, Dec. 3. No business.

Hamm or COMMONS. Monday, Noe, 29. New Watt-for Lisburn ordered—County- Franchise; Mr. Locke Ring's Motion postponed till after Christmas—Barliamentary Reform ; Mr. T. Duncombe to move Resolution after Christmas—Ballot; Mr. H. Berkeley to bring in Bill after Christmas—Bribery at Derby; Sir Alexander Cock- burn's Statement ; Select Committee to be appointed—Irish Common Law Reform Bill, read a second time.

Tuesday, Nov. 80. Ministers-Money (Ireland); Mr. Ragan's. Resolution; Pre- vious Question curled by 140 to 94.

Wednesday, Dee. 1. County Polls Bill, passed Committee—Derby Bribery ; Committee named.

"Monday. Dec. 2. Rate-paying Clauses of the Reform Act; Sir Be Lacy Evans to bring in a Bill to amend—Railway Amalgamation ; Mr. Walpole withdraws Mr. Henley s Motion for a Committee.

Dec. 3. Clergy Reserves (Canada); Goverinnent not to bringin a Bill— The Budget; Mr. Disraeli's Statement.

TIME - TABLE.

Tke Lords.

The-Commons.

Hour of Hour of

Hour of Hour of

Meeting. Adjournment.

Meeting. Adjournment.

Monday bh 6h 30m Monday ... . ...

. . .4 411 ... Oh 30En

Tuesday bh . Om Tuesday 9h .... 70 lam "Wednesday

No sitting.

Wednesday

Noon .... 3h Om

Thursday 5h 5h 35m Thursday....

..... 4h Oh On

Friday..

5h .... 5h lem Friday 4h .... Dli 151n

Sittings thLt Week, 4 ; Time, 2h 16111 Sittings this -Week, 5; Time, 21h On

this Session. ; — 17h 15m this Session. 1.7; — 765 Om MAJOR BERESFORD AND THE DERBY ELECTION.

There was a good muster of the Commons on Monday, when Sir Amex- anima COOK13URN brought under the notice of the House a petition from Derby,, alleging that bribery had been resorted to in the last election; that:" the Right Honourable William Beresford, a Major in the Army, a - Privy Councillor, Secretary at War, and Member of that House, was a party to such bribery" ; and praying for &full and searching inquiry into the whole case' more especially as Major Beresford had publicly declared that-these who had brought the bribery to light had been guilty of a foul and scandalous conspiracy, and to carry it into effect had resorted te " falsehmod and.sabomatien of perjury." Sir ohleeonder stated the facts as they had lima-stated told=

There were three candidate& at the last election,—Mr. Bass, Mr. Hey. worth, and Mr. Horsfall. Mr. Iterate11 had been introduced to the borough by a Mr. Cox, a member of a Derby family, one of whom was a solicitor, another a wine-merchant, and another at the head of large lead-works; and it was in the house of this Mr. Cox that Mr. Reveal resided during the election. Rumours that bribery would be practised to defeat the Liberals had been rife for some time ; and during the election information and details were reported to Mr. Moss, the chairman of the committee for Mr. Bass and Mr. Heyworth, that it was in course of perpetra. tion. It came to pass in this way. 'There was an attorney of the name of Flewker, who had long been an active Conservative agent. At the election before the last, mainly by his efforts, Mr. Strutt and Mr. Gower

were unseated on ; and Flewker, who had spent about 700/., could not get it refunded by his party. He felt.sore at this; and when the next election arose, refused to act as agent or take any part in the contest. Just before the last election' a final effort was made, by a person named Radford, to win over Flewker. Radford called on him and said that decisive arrange- ments had been made to secure the election by means of money,, and that a stranger was at the County Tavern "who was to do the trick.' Flewker, armed with a card inscribed, "Thomas Morgan, Chester," went to the County Tavern ; and on showing his card, was, after some demur, admitted to Morgan. Some allusion was made to Morgan's having come from Ches. ter : on which Morgan said, "I:don't come front Chester,I come from Shrewsbury ; Mr. Frail sent me." Flewker, who knew Frail, asked, had he any letter from Frail ? No, was the reply; but he had a letter which Mr. Lull had given him. It was prodsm:W ; and on seeing it Fiewker ex- claimed, "Whys this is Major Beresford's writing !" Flewker returned to B.adford, and told him Morgan did not come from Chester but from Shrews- bury. "It's all right," rejoined Radford; "and we've told him when the Jr. thin s done we'll give him 1001." Flewker was then induced to go to Not- tin m to obtain the assistance of a Mr. Hibbert. This was a person who h considerable weight in election matters; and he commanded a body of men thatended under him at elections. Hibbert promised to go to Derby. But while at Nottingham, Flewker saw a Mr. Cox, and told him what was going on at Derby ; and Mr. Cox informed Mr. Moss. Flewker went back to Derby, and again saw Radford; this time at Cox and Fountain's, the wine- merchants. As he went in alir. Lunn went out. Radford now told Flewker, that it was necessary to watch a house opposite the County Tavern, as it was much frequented by people on the other aide. Flewker soon after went to the County Tavern, and to Mr. Morgan in his room ; and Morgan said, Lunn had been there, and had "broughtthe needful." While Flewker was there, in came a.person named Rice, familiarlpknown as "Spring Rice " ; who brought a list of persons supposed to be not inaccessible to pecuniary considerations. Mor- gan complained that the lists were not " winning.-lists" ; and Rice said he would brine others. This took place on the nomination-day. On the next day, Flew& was again with Morgan ; who -wished hint to go and tell Bad- ford 'that "he had not sent Immo-nails enough." Flewker carried his mes- sage, and Wall told more "horse-nails" should be sent ; and subsequently that-the money had been sent. Mr. Cox of Nottingham, who had come over ono the first information received from Flewker, was all the morning kept duly informed; and he transferred the information to Mr. Moss. [Sir Alex- ander disclaimed any desire to defend the conduct of Flewker ; who had be- trayed his party, and stipulated for money : but offenders are often broughtto justice by means of information given from motives it was impossible to ap- prove.] Haring got the necessary information, the Liberal Committee called in the assistance of the Police ; and a Police-sergeant and three men in plain clothes set out for the County Tavern. They found the room guarded by a man who refused.to admit their leader; until, putting the fore-finger of his righthand on his upper lip, he said "It's-all right ; Radford sent me." The door was opened; Morgan, his money-265i. in gold, and 40/. in notes—his lists of voters, and the sums paid to them set dawn opposite their names— were captured also, along with the following latter— "A good and safe man, with judgment and quickness, is wanted immediately at Derby. I- suppose that you cannot lease your own place; if not, send some one whom. you can trust in your place. Let him go to Derby on receiving this and find the County Tavern, in the centre of the town. Send his card to Cox Brothers and Co., Lead-morks, as coming from Chester. That will be enough.

" M onday. Yours, W. IL"

Morgan made no secret of his business. "It's but a small affair : your voters,' he said, "are satisfied here with two or three pounds a-piece; in Shrewsbury a vote costs twenty times as much." The question now arose as to how far, uponthe evidence of that letter, the Secretary at War was accessory to the work of corruption. The letter had been sworn to be in-the handwriting of Major Beresford; it was found in an envelope addressed to Mr. John Frail, Clerk of the Course at Shrewsbury; Major Beresford had- never denied the genuineness of. the letter ; and Sir Alexander Cockburn assumed in his subsequent argument that it had been written by Major Beresford. [At this point, leaving the narrative style, Sir Alexander proceeded to argue on the facts before him, to show the connexion between Major Beresford and Mr. Morgan through Mr. Frail.] Morgan had been found committing bribery at the instance of Mr. Frail ; and he had minutely carried out the directions given in the letter. He had gone at once to the County Tavern - and-had sent his card to "Messrs. Cox Brothers and CO. Lead-works." Then it was clear that the letter to Mr. Frail could not have been written without previous concert with the parties in Derby : otherwise, how could Major Beresford have indicated the County Tavern, or know that it possessed facilities for the work ? Then for what legitimate purpose was a stranger to be sent from Shrewsbury to Derby ? Was there no "safe man, with judgment and quickness," among the Der jb • Conservatives ? But when bribery is carried on, a stranger is always selected to do it. Then there was the -false address: for. any legitimate purpose they did not want a false address, but it served to divert pursuit when the thing was done. On a criminal, trial, that letter, if "unanswered and unexplained," must be regarded as evidence of complicity. Sir Alexander would not say that letter did not admit of explanation ; what he said was, here is a prima facie case demanding inquiry. Here he would have left the-ease ; but Major Beresford, at a meeting of his constituents, had said that the facts brought to light were the result of a base conspiracy, supported by falsehood and perjury. Sir Alexander had also heard it said, that the letter found upon Morgan, though a genuine letter, referred to some eleotian prior to 1852; and he admitted that if it were 60, it would he ungenerous and unfair to rake up an old and stale transaction. Ila had therefore inquired into the 'facts; and as the charge of conspiracy had Int al on their mettle in Derby, material was not wanting to guide him in his investigation. He recited a variety of letters from a correspondence between Mr. Flewker and Major Beresford, showing that the latter had not interfered in the election in 1847 ; and that Mr. Frail was a total stranger to the borough of'Derby, as far as electioneering matters were concerned, up to 1/348. The first letter from Mr. Beresford was dated 21st November 1847, and was in. reply to a letter from Mr. Flewker asking assistance in his effort. to unseat the Members &rat and Gower, just then returned. Major Beres- ford promised 1001., and to "speak to Colvile." In the February following, mr. Beresford was glad "of the prospect of success in the Derby petition." Shortly- afterwards, he wrote again to Mr. Flewker, as follows- " Dear Sir—I have an agent who is skilled in all election-matters, and understands every manner of scheme with regard to petitions. He will be in Derby next Mon- day and will bring an introduction from me. You may trust him most implicitly ; andyou will get some very useful hints probably from him respecting your petition. " Yours truly, Wil.rasu BE11ESPOP.D. "77, Pali Mall, Feb. 25." Who was this agent, thus explicitly vouched for? The next letter showed. It was a letter of the same date as the last, the 25th of February ; and was addressed to Mr. Flewker, to whom it was presented by Mr. Frail two days afterwards- " Dear Sir—The bearer, Mr. Frail, is the person I wrote to you about. "Yours truly, W. BERWOHD." The next letter was dated the 3d of March ; it showed the relation which existed between Mr. Frail of Shrewsbury and Mr. Flewker of Derby. It gated that Mr. Beresford had tried to see Mr. Colvile, but that he.was hunt- jag; that he had seen Mr. Frail, "who gives me a good account of the case that can be made out against the sitting Members"; ; that Mr. Frail was told to "give every assistance in his power, and attend to everything the Herby party desire to be done." "I shalt be happy to assist you also when the Comsnittee sits." The next letter was from Air. Frail himself ; and it was written from Carlisle, where there was a. vacant mat to fill. Mr. Frail, writing to Mr. Flewker, said-

" Carlisle, Saturday.

"Ifyslear Sir—I have only just received your letters this day. I am much en- gaged with the,election ; it will be over on Tuesday, and.! hope to be in London on Wednesday. I have written. to Loudon for you : arrangements must be made for the lodgings of your witnesses, fkc. This shall be attended to without delay. If you can get Andrews and Alexander do, if not, Byles."

This was signed "John Frail" • but above were the words, "yours in great haste, very sincerely, William Nixson" ; and concluded with a web-- script--" My best wishes to Mr. Hibbert, or Thompson, not lohneott." Hibbert was the person at Nottingham previously mentioned; evidently, "Thompson" had been substituted at some election for " 'Ebbed," and by some mistake he had been called "Johnson." The last letter was from Ma. jor Beresford to Mr. Flewker ; it was written on a Saturday in 1848, and re- ferred to Mr. Frail's stopping at Carlisle. This correspondence appeared to establish that Major Beresford had had nothing to do with the Derby election in 1847; that Frail was a total stran- ger there until 1848; and therefore the letter in question could not have re- ferenceto the Derby election of 1847. But there was a subsequent election in 1848, after Strutt and Gower had been unseated; and it was possible Ma- jor Bereaford might have required a "safe and discreet" man for that elec- tion. Did the letter apply to that election ? The way to try that was to see whether it quadrated with the circumstances. Frail was asked to send a man over to Derby immediately, as he was too much occupied to be able-to leave his "own place." Praire place was Shrewsbury ; his occupations, horse-racing and electioneering : and, referring minutely to the circum- stances, Sir Alexander showed that there was nothing doing at Shrewsbury in 1848; but Frail had-gone to Derby-in-September 1848, appearing therein a jockey.coat, as the races were going- on ; he had calleclon Flewker, and found no money stirring. But at the time of the Derby election in -1852, there was also a hotly-contested. election in Shrewsbury; and Major Beres- ford weaquite right, therefore, inaupposing that Frail coubl not "leave, his own place." That was not all. The writer of the letter, written on Mon- day, directed Frail to send a man "immediately" to Derby.: Morgan ar- rived there on Tuesday.. And how did this agree with the electioain 1848.? The election in 1848- did not take place on a Wednesday and Thursday, but on a Friday and Saturday; and Frail (Rd not appear in Derby then until Thursday, the day of the races. Therefore the letter quadrated with the circumstances -a the election of 1852, not with those of 1848.

Sir Alexander then contended' against the allegation of conspiracy. Sim- posing Flewker capable of conspiring, one man does not make a conspiracy. Assuming that he had conspired,. and had been willing to include Major Be- resford in the charge, he must have confederates: But he did not rest his statements on his own testimony, he vouched a number of persons ; he vouched in particular Frail and Morgan ; and to establish a conspiracy, he was afraid they must include Mr. Bass and Mx. Heyworth, Mr. Moss, and a large number of Conservatives. But how came the letter in the hands of Morgan ? There was one fact which proved that it must have been given into his hands by Mr. Frail; for on the back of the letter were a few words in pencil in Morgan's handwriting, noting the stations at which he must

change carriages going from Shrewsbury to Derby—the words were "Stafford, Lichfield, Burton-on-Trent, Derby." If the charge of conspiracy were to be maintained, it would be necessary to implicate Frail; "a person whose zeal and fidelity to his party had never been excelled." He might appeal to many Members.to ,cenfirm that statement ; and Sir Alexander re- • gretted that the Chancellor of the Exchequer was not in his place, for he in- tended to have asked him to vouch for the perfect trustworthiness and zeal of Mr. Frail. (Laughter.) Morgan was Frail's confidential man devoted to him; when he got-to Derby he sent his card to Mr. Cox, and lied an in- terview with Mr. Redford; his door-keeper was one of Mr. Hibbert's men ; and could it be supposed that all.these were in a conspiracy ? If there had been aeonspiracy, would the aping of Mr. Hcanfall have come forward to defend Morgan ? Why, Mr. Forahaw, a solicitor of Liverpool, and agent of Mr. Minden, had attended at the examination of Morgan, and had directed Sale, another attorney, to advise Morgan. When bail was taken, two inn- keepers of Shrewabury appeared as sureties. Sir Alexander could not-doubt for a moment that there had been mo conspiracy; and he moved for the ap- pointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the matter of the petition. Sir Joan YARDE Mamma, on behalf of his friend Major Beresford, who continued silent, said, he was anxious that an inquiry should take place, and seconded the motion. Mr. STUART WORTLEY, without opposing the motion, protested against allowing these proceedings to be drawn into a precedent. For the last half century the House bd endeavoured to take from the jurisdiction of the united body of the House all matters connected with elections; and to submit them to a more impartial tribunal, the Election Committee. Re referred to some precedents, but none, he said, were exactly similar to the present case. There was danger that A precedent would he esta- blished for political parties to ledge two petitions, one a "hybrid" peti- tion like the present, and another in the proper office ; and parties might try before a Committee, who mild not be sworn, what statements they could extract which they had no right to.

Mr. WALPOLE laid it down, that the House had a right to inquire into bribery independently of statute law ; and also a right to entertain am charges made against a Member of the House or the Government. He thought that to refuse a Committee would be to deny Major Beresford a privilege he had a right to claim. He suggested that the appointment of the Committee should be left to the General Committee for Elections. tordjoine Russ= concurred with Mr. Walpole as to the constitutional view of theluestion.

Mr. HOW:WALL explained, that the Mr. Cox in whose house he staid, was not a partner of the firm of " Cox Brothers and -Co."; and that Mr. Forshaw had been instructed by him not to defend but to watch the ease of Morgan.

After some conversation, it was agreed that the Committee should he appointed, limited to five in number ; that the selection should be made -by the Committee for Elections ; and that the parties should have power to appear by themselves, or by counsel. On Weesday, the General Committee for Elections reported that they had selected the following five Members to take into consideration the matter of the petition of the inhabitant householders of the borough of Derby, and to report thereupon to the House—namely, Mr. Goullearn, Lord H. Vane, Viscount Barrington, Sir William Melesworth, and Mr. Deedes.

TILE FREE-TRADE POLICY.

After a conversation between the Marquis of CLANZICARDB and the Earl of DERBY, on Tuesday, the former agreed to give notice on Thurs- day, that he would move the adoption of resolutions =commercial legisa lation similar to those adopted in the House of Commons. He had in- tended, it appears, to give notice of motion for Monday ; but Lord Derby represented that many Peers had left town, and could not well get back by that day. Lord Derby was willing to take up such a resolution as should definitively express the opinion of the [House OD the Free-trade policy ; but he was not prepared to call on Peers who adhere to the pre- sent policy, and are prepared to carry it out, to sanction any resolution expressing opinions with regard to the past not in accordance with their own views. If the Marquis of -Clanriearde would he satisfied with arc- solution adopting the recently established policy for the future, he would concur with him; for instance, in passing -a resolution in terms some- thing like-these- " That this House thankfully acknowledges the general prosperity of the country ; and, recognizing the evils of frequent change in the financial sys- tem, of the country, is prepared to accept and adhere to the commercial sys- tem recently established, and would view with regret any attempt to dis- turb

It would be more satisfactory to adopt such a form of words, than to move &resolution conceived in such terms as could not fail to call forth a long and acrimonious discussion.

Contraryzto anticipation, no discussion arose on-Thursday night re- specting the resolution to be moved in affirmation of Free-trade.

The Marquis of CLANRICARDB explained the course he intended to fol- low. There would have been the greatest possible advantage in adopting the resolutions agreed to in the House of Commons, recording the un- eluinged opinicm. of the House of Lords, by & vote nearly unanimous, and avoiding personal and recriminatory- attacks. With these views, Lord Clanziearde took the amendment moved by the Chaneellar.of the F=elza,- quer, and framed a resolution on that, in substance the same. He then conferred with Lord Derby; but found that he preferred his own draft resolution; and, wishing that this matter should not be hestilelymoved or discussed at all, Lord Clairricarde would not oppose the adoption of the form of words Lord Derby thought advisable. At the mane time, ha thought it right to read the resolution he had. intended-to move,—namely„ "That -this House acknowledges with satisfaction that the cheapness of provisions, occasioned by resent legislation, has mainly contributed to im- prove the condition of the country and increase the comfort of the indus- trious classes ; and that unrestricted competition having been adopted, after due deliberation, as the principle of our commercial system, this House is of opinion that it is wise and expedient unreservedly to adhere to that policy." The Earl of DERBY was satisfied with the calm, conciliatory, and temperate manner of Lord Clanricarde. He too was desirous of avoid- ing a conflict of opinions. "Few myself, I shouldiaot have taken any great objection to the terms of the resolution just read, because I believe that undoubtedly, combined with other causes, the cheapness of provisions, occasioned by recent legislation, has contributed to increase the comforts of the labouring classes and of the working classes generally : yet I think it is more advisable that we should not raise the discussion invited by these words of the noble Martinis, by geiag back to the question as to what degree or to what extent that cheapnesa of, provisions has been the main cause of the increased comforts of the labour:- ing classes." The terms of the motion ought to recognize, to the fullest extent, the Ad- herence of their Londships to the principles now saveticarecl by the ozamtry and Parliament; and that would be best attained by wording, the resolution in reference to the future only. The terms of the resolution, which he sub- mitted to Lord Clanriearde for his adoption, were--"That this House thank- fully acknowledges the general prosperity, and, deeply sensible of the evils attending, frequent changes in the financial policy of the country, adheres to the commercial system recently established, and would, view with regret any renewedattempt to disturb its operations or impede Mr further. extension. ' That was as distinct and unreserved an adoption of the recently-established policy as could be desired. Many could concur in it who doubted the expe- diency of the change in the first instance, and who if we were to begin again would desire to see a different policy adopted, yet who felt the evils of' constant changes, and deprecated any further agitation. Lord Derby cor- dially joined in wishing that from this time the question ofa Protective or a Free-trade system should be pat an end to, amino renewed attempt be made to disturb it in future. (Cheers-) Lord CLANRICARDE agreed to adopt the words suggested. But, reply- ing to Lord Derby's suggestion that he should move the resolution at once, he said he thought it due to the House not to alter the notice of motion which stood for Monday next. Lord ELLE.NDORODOR thought there would be a debate if it wore postponed. Both resolutions were equally unneeessary, but he would agree to either in preference to having e‘de- hate. Here a pause ensued. Then Lord DBUDY said, it would be con- venient to the House if Lord Clanticarde would make up his mind; there was great good sense in the suggestion of Lord Ellenborough. But Lord CLANRICARDB, for fear of establishing an inconvenient precedent by making a motion without due notice, decided for Monday. Lord Dams; in a bantering tone, hoped Lord Clanticarde would not "make a prece- dent of the other House, which was ocoupied several nights in diaenaaing this matter."

Govamestass &ND roe Suszeitmzu.

A.eingular conversation marred in the House of.gommons on Thurs- day evening : we abstain from abridging the report in the Times.

Mr. Ilya's asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether it was the intention of tier Majesty's Government to introduce any measure for the ex- tension of the franchise, the protection of the voters, and the equalization of the number of electors to the number of representatives? The CRANcELLoR of the EXCHEQUER, rising with Mr. flume's question in his hand—" Mr. Speaker, whenever it is the intention of her Majesty's Government to introduce any measure for the extension of the franchise, the protection of the voters' and the equalization of the number of electors to the number of representatives,' they will think it consistent with their duty to give a formal notice to the House of that intention—(21 laugh) ; but it would not be respectful to the House that any intimation of such an inten- tion on their part should be first made to the country in answer to a mere inquiry coming to us from a private Member, without any more formal notice than I have received tonight." (" Hear, hear ."' and renewed laughter.)

Mr. GiEsoN—" Is it the intention of the Government to submit to Parlia- ment the same measure which they introduced at the close of the last session, for allocating the four seats now vacant to new constituencies, and which measure the Government then considered to be one of great urgency ?" (" Order, order .")

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—" I consider that question also to be a portion of the great subject of 'progressive reform laugh) ; and I prefer giving a more formal notice of the intentions of the Government than that which is to be elicited under the circumstances which have just taken place." (Laughter.) COUNTY Pous.

On the order of the day for the committal of the County Polls Bill being read, Mr. Bum suggested that the bill should be postponed until after the recess. Mr. PACKE moved that the House go into Committee that day six months. Mr. Burr moved that the Committee be instructed to introduce provisions for shortening the time between the proclamation and the day of election in counties to not later than ten and not sooner than five days, and the time of the receipt of the writ and the day of elec- tion in boroughs to within six days after the receipt ; two clear days' no- tice of the time of holding the election being given. At the suggestion of Lord Jolts Itusssm, Mr. Burr withdrew his motion, and it was agreed that he should bring in a separate bill. Mr. PACK& withdrew his amend- ment, and the House went into Committee. Two alterations were made in the bill—one altering the period at whieh the measure is to come into operation, from "after the passing of this act" to "after the 1st October 1853 " ; the other extending the hours for keeping open the poll, from four to five o'clock in the afternoon. A clause, moved by Mr. Atooes, limiting the cost of poll-booths, was withdrawn; the preamble was agreed to, and the House resumed.

RATE-PAYING CLAUSES.

Leave has been given to Sir DE LACY EVANS to bring in a bill extend- ing the period allowed for the payment of rates due on the 6th October to the 20th July following, instead of the 6th January. Mr. WALroLE did not oppose the motion ; but Mr. TRosiAs DUNCOMBE protested against it, as unsatisfactory" and "retrogressive," though "perfectly innocuous." It was "merely trifling, and frittering away a great subject.'

INTIMIDATION AT IRISH ELECTIONS.

The Earl of DONOUGHMORE having presented a petition from Cork complaining of the violence exercised at the late election, and praying for protection, Lord MONTRAGLE and Lord DERBY deprecated discussion. The latter, however, said, if it could be proved that, not in one but in several cases, any body of men prevented the free exercise of the right of election in Ireland, he would not say that Parliamentary intervention for the purpose of putting an end to such an infringement of the law and the liberty of the subject might not be necessary, COURTS OF COHMON LAW (IRELAND).

On the motion that this bill be read a second time, Mr. Frrzomiato stated that he was averse to hasty and ill-considered legislation ; and it was unwise to introduce distinctions into the commercial laws of England and Ireland. Besides, the bill left some things in an unsatisfactory state ; and while it professed to consolidate, alter, and amend, it did not go far enough.

Mr. Lows remarked that the bill did Mr. Whiteside great credit. It was far in advance of the Common-Law Procedure Act of last session. It did away with the absurd and obsolete technical division of actions ; and it introduced the just and valuable principles of requiring parties to verify their pleadings, and of permitting the assignment of chow in action, such as policies of insurance. But what east honour on Mr. Whiteside was a reflection on our system of jurisprudence; and it was not creditable to Parliament that two measures so very different as this bill and the act of last session should emanate from the Legislature. Although Mr. Lowe did not oppose the bill, be would suggest in- tended some points required reconsideration. Mr. Whiteside said that he to abolish forms of action ; but the bill merely declared, in the fifth section, that such forms should be " unnecessary "; and the language of the sixth section led to the inference that it was not intended that they should

be abolished, lest at the same time the distinction between law and equity should be abolished also. A law reformer who had got as far as this bill ought to be prepared to go a great deal further. It was necessary that these forms should be swept away, if they were to make any advance in the im- provement of common law pleading. If they once got rid of these technical forms, they would get rid of the distinction between common law and equity. Sir ALEXANDER COCKBURN made some observations on law reform generally, and especially with reference to the points under the consider- ation of the Commissioners.

Among these, were the various instances in which the jurisdiction in the sourts of equity could be conferred on courts of law ; the law of discovery ; whether juries should be necessarily, universal, or whether parties should not, by consent, be allowed to deal with questions of fact with or without the intervention of a Jury. The first thing was to make law and. equity one, to abolish all distinctions between them, and all distinctions of Jurisdiction. ' Mr. CROWDER confined himself to pointing out how far the present bill is in advance of the late act.

The Arronsgr-GEssaat defended the shortcomings of the Common- Law Procedure Act. The Irish lawyers had the benefit of English ex- perience. At the proper time improvements could be made in the recent act

Subsequently, and in the same spirit, Mr. COLLIER, Sir DENHAM Non- HEYS, the Soucrroa-GENERAL for Ireland, Mr. GEORGE, Mr. PHILLI- MORE, the ATTORNEY-GENERAL for Ireland, and Mr. Burr, addressed the House. The bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Monday. Misnaming-Moral,.

Mr. PAGAN brought this Irish question before the House of Commons by moving the following resolution— "That the House should, on Thursday next, resolve itself into a Coal. mittee, to take into consideration the law relating to the rate or tax caned Ministers-money in Ireland, with the view to repeal so much thereof as relates to the said rate or tax ; and further to take into consideration the act 3d and 4th Will. IV. e. 37, called the Church Temporalities Act,' for the purpose of amending the same, so as to provide thereby a substitute out of the revenues of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners as a provision for the Pro- testant ministers in certain corporate towns in Ireland, in lieu of the annual sums now received by them under and by virtue of the act 17th and 18th Charles II. c. 7."

Mr. WALroLE said that Government had taken great pains to settle the question, and a bill was in preparation. He would not attempt to nege.

tive the motion; but if Mr. Fagan would accept the "previous question" as an amendment, Mr. Walpole would bring the matter forward after the recess. Mr. Sergeant MURPHY and Mr. MAGUIRE urged Mr. Fagan to press his motion on the ground that the assurances of Ministers were not satisfactory. dr. NAPIER and Lord BERNARD contended that the Irish Members ought to be satisfied with those assurances. Mr. Exam thought that the peace of Ireland was of more importance than 15,000/. a year, and that the question ought to be settled. Amid cries of "Divide," Sir JOHN SHELLEY, Captain JoNEs, Mr. FORTESCUE, and Mr. MoNsELL, ad- dressed the House. Mr. FAGAN felt himself bound to divide; and the House did divide on the "previous question "—namely, "That the ques- tion be now put." There were for putting the question, 94; against it, 140; majority against, 46. Accordingly, the question was not put.

IRISH NATIONAL EDUCATION.

Replying to a question by the Earl of CLARE...433w, the Earl of DERBY said, that with every desire to conciliate those who were opposed to the system of National Education in Ireland, neither himself nor Lord Eglin- ton could see their way to the introduction of any change that would be effective without disturbing or materially altering that system; and they considered that "it would be a very great evil if they were seriously to disturb or alter it." Ministers, therefore, do not intend to bring forward any measure on the subject.

TESTS IN THE SCOTCH UNIVERSITIES.

This subject was brought under the notice of Lord Derby by the Duke of ARoirm.; who wished to know whether Government intended to bring in any measure in the course of the session for altering the law respecting the administering of tests to Professors in the Scotch Universities ? In reply, the Earl of Danny entered into the origin and nature of the tests. He was desirous of seeing a distinction drawn between two distinct por- tions of the tests—those which applied to doctrine, and those which ap- plied to discipline. Their object was to secure to the Universities a re- ligious character and an adherence to Presbyterian doctrines ; and if any alteration which, while it maintained their religious and Presbyter- ian character, would give the Universities the advantage of a selection from each, it would be worthy of the favourable consideration of Parlia- ment.

• RAILWAY AMALGAMATION.

Mr. WALPOLE, in the absence of Mr. Henley, moved for a Select Committee to consider the principle of amalgamation as applied to Rail- way and Canal Bills about to be brought under the consideration of Parliament. But, in deference to opinions expressed by Mr. GLADSTONE, General ANSON, and Mr. ELLIcE, that it would be desirable to extend the terms of the notice, so as to include other matters of arrangement be- tween companies, which take place without the necessity of an act of Parliament, and in order dearly to define the questions for consideration, the motion was withdrawn.

ENGLISHMEN ABROAD.

Lord GODERICH drew attention to the case of Mr. Francis Stead, who had been arrested at Berlin, and expelled from Prussia. Lord STANLEY explained, that Mr. Stead had laid his case before Lord Bloomfield, who had obtained an explanation from the Prussian Government. The Prus- sian Police allege that they expected, from information received, that a person of the name of Stead was coming from England, implicated in a conspiracy to assassinate the Ring of Prussia ; and when Mr. Stead ar- rived at Berlin, he was instantly arrested and expelled, under the impres- sion that he was the person described. The Prussian Government expressed regret at the circumstance ; but Lord Stanley was bound to say, the explanation was so unsatisfactory, that, an- other case having occurred about the same time, in which a British subject was treated with almost equal harshness, the Government of this country felt it their duty to remonstrate strongly with the Government of Prussia on their proceedings. There was nothing whatever in what had passed that could be considered as in the slightest degree affecting the character of Mr. Stead,

BUDDHISM IN CEYLON.

Sir Rolm= Imams having put questions respecting the connexion of our Government with the idolatry of the Cingalese, Sir Jon& PARING- TON made a statement in reply.

In the treaty between the King of Candy and Great Britain, provision was made for preserving the religion of Buddha inviolate. It had been urged that a treaty with idolaters was not binding; but Sir John could not berg party to such a principle—it would be unworthy of the Christianity of this country. But all connexion between the Government and the Buddhist re- ligion had long been discontinued. As to the custody of Buddha's "tooth, in 1845 it was ordered that the tooth should be given up. Pressed by the rebellion, Lord Torrington resumed the custody of the tooth, and the appoint- ment of the priests : and as this act had excited great discontent " among the Christians," Sir John had felt it his duty to prepare a despatch intended to put an end to the discontent. The tooth is to be given up, and a safe place for it provided. The priests are to have in land an equivalent to the 3001. per annum unjustly withdrawn by the former Governor. The ap- pointment of the priests is to be transferred to the Buddhists themselves. When completed, the despatch will be laid on the table.