Debatts anb Vrocetbinns in Vraliament.

GOVERNMENT OF JAMAICA.

In the House of Commons, on Monday, Mr. LABOUCIIERE moved the order of time day, for the second reading of the Jamaica Government Bill. He proposed that the same course which the House adopted on the Canada Bill should now be followed—that the bill should be read a second time without discussion, counsel then be called in, and the discus- sion take place on the motion for recommittal ; with the distinct under- standing, that no Member, by agreeing to the second rending, was com-

mitted in any way to the principle or details of the measure.

Sir Roneirr PEEL assented to the course proposed by Mr. Labou- chem. Ile hoped this very important measure would not be considered a party question. He would enter upon the discussion with no party feeliug whatever— Ile considered this question altogether apart from party feelings, and us a matter of time gravest importance; and if subsequent consideration should in- duce him to acquiesce in the muse proposed by Government, he should not feel time slightest difficulty in doing so, and he should consider that he was re- miss in the performance of Ids duty if he did not do so. On the other hand, after having heard counsel, auml with the interval of a few days, if her Majesty's Ministers saw reason to think that another and a better course Might be adopted, he trusted that they would not feel themselves in the slightest degree bound by this measure. 'rids was his general impression as to the manner in which this question ought to be discussed, for he did not feel it in the slightest degree a party question.

Ile thought it necessary., however, to say, that in his opinion, Parlia- ment must adhere to the Prisons Bill-- it was quite impossible to consent to the repeal of that bill :at the saine time, he thought it would be wise, considering the extreme embarrassment that must arise from suspending the constitution of :Jamaica, mid undertaking the government of that colony for five years, imposing toxation to the amount of nearly half a million, and that in a colony where a popular form of govern- ment had existed for two hundred years—he thought It would be most desir- able to resort to every alternative that would spare thein the necessity of re- sorting to the extreme proposed. if the necessity were shown, he should be perfectly willing to support the Government in their proposition ; but he thought it advisable to give to the Assembly of Jamaica, to the Local Govern- ment there, um opportunity of reconsidering their course. He thought that the Government was hound to acknowledge and maintain the oi'igumar right of the Imperial Parliament to pass the Prisons Bill, and they must express their determination to adhere to it ; but at the saute time, that they should areom pally the expression of that determination with an opportunity to the Local Government to reconsider their course, and to proceed, if they thought proper, to the execution of their duties.

It might appear necessary to provide for the contingency of the Jamaica Legislature persistiug in its present course, and refusing to perform its duties— He would only say, that if Government were willing to adopt this proposi- tion, and to give to the Local Legislature Of Jamaica further time for consi- dering whether or not they would resume the perffirmance of the ordinary functions of government, and if they convinced him that it was absolutely necessary, in order to provide for some existing difficulty or contiugency, should the Legislature still continue unwilling to listen to reason, Ise should be perfectly ready to intrust the Government with sufficient powers to meet any temporary emerttency that might arise, till Parliament should. have an oppor- tunity of consitrering the question. For instance, suppose they agreed to give an opportunity to the Local Legislature of reconsidering their course, atul of determining svhether they would undertake their duties or not, Parliament could not receive any answer to their connuunication through the Government till the next session, and the public interests might be prejudiced by the delay : he should be ready in such a case to consider in Idiot way the inconvenience could he best remedied.

Mr. LAnotettiou said be yielded with considerable reluctance to file Robert Peel's proposition, because it was only after mature considera- tion that Ministers had adopted the present measure, and he was

inxi-

out that the House should express its ()pillion ou the matter with the least possible delay.

On the motion of Sir Ronmer INcrts, Mr. William Burge, agent for the Island of Jamaica, ttppeared at the bar, and addre:sed the I Louse, on

his petition against the bill. Ire dwelt upon the unconstitutional nature Of a measure, which took away privileges solemnly guaranteed by act of Parliament, and which had been scrupulously respected for two hundred years. I he maintained that sufficient notice of the inten- tion to introduce this measure had not been given to those whose rights and interests it would so materially affect ; that there had been no occa- sion for hurrying the Prisons Bill through Parliament, as acts pre- viously in existence for regulating prisons would not expire till the end of the present year; that the conduct of Sir Lionel Smith had been most extraordinary, that he had libelled the Jamaica House of As- sembly, and not treated the Government at home fairly. He eulogized the general disposition of the planters, and assured the House that they were ready to deal tidily and kindly with the Negro population.

At the conclusion of Mr. Burge's speech, Mr. Sergeant Merewether came forward ; but, on Mr. BROTIIE!TON'S 1110ti011, the further hearing of counsel was deferred to the next day.

On Tuesday, Sergeant Merewellter addressed the House, as coun- sel for tfve hundred petitioners, " a portion of the people of Jamaica," who prayed that the bill might riot pass. 'rhe learned counsel entered into a long defence of' the conduct of the House of Assembly ; but his speech contained no new arguments or facts.

It was agreed, that on Monday next the entire subject should be discussed, on the motion that the " Speaker do leave the chair."

On Thursday, Sir ROBERT PEEL announced the course he intended to take on Monday next, in the event of Ministers proceeding with the

As tire the principal object of that bill was the suspension of the existing con- stitution of Jamaica, he found it so difficult to modify the bill to meet his views—which vere to permit the House of Assembly to meet again, and to continue their legislative ftinetions—thitt lie thought it would be better to take the sense of the House on it on the question that the Speaker do leave the chair, rather than tiny subordinate point in the Committee. Ile gave this notice conditionally, in case the Government were delisrmined to proceed with the hill. At the same time, he adhered. to the apinion synch he expressed the other night, that in the present difficulty it would he right to make provision for any such contingency as that of the House of Assenffily reffising to exer- cise their legislative functions.

MANNING OF VIE NAVY.

Sir EDWARD Connisoyox, on Tuesday, moved a resolution-

" That the system of reducing the crews of her Majesty's ships, in time of peace, below the number required to make them efficient in time of war, is in- jurious to the best interests of the service ; and that it is the opinion of this House, that all her Majesty's ships, when actively employed, or about to quit the British Channel, should in future have but one complement of men, whether in peace or war."

The First Lord of the Admiralty, who did not know what a seaman 'was, and he was sure would not know what to do with a seaman, had talked a great deal about the extra number of ships and extra quantity of stores. They who spoke in this iltshion were well informed respect- ing the patronage of their department, but were utterly L.:nor:int of the way to attach seamen to the service, lie could tell the house that the officers of the Navy were very much dissatisfied with the present sys- tern. They knew that the efficiency of the naval force did not depend upon ships or stores— Be would rather take the worst ships manned as they ought to he manned, than the 'best ships that were now built, and manned accordinst to the present Aystem. He was quite sure that the latter would not be tilde to fight the former for one minute. What, he asked, woulil have been the consequence if Commodore Douglas, with half-manned ships, hail come in conffiet with Admiral 13audin, having his ships fully manned ? What would he thought of those who hail, under such circumstances, subjected the British Nave tin dis- grace, if it had h,en defeated in tint conflict ? Sonic in that !louse, in knew, thought that party questions were the only things to las 1:011Sliterell. That was not his opinion. It was of more importance to him than any party question, to see that our Navy was able to do its duty upon all occasions. It did not matter much to him viro Wag provided that this business of the country was done. ("Hear,hear r from (Wane/. Sibilwip.) The business of the country was not done with regarrt to the Navy ; on the contrary, it was neglected. More reform was wai,ded in the Navy than in any other part of the public service.

Men preferred going in " a jackass frigate" to one of their tine new ships. A wet night knocked up a ship's crew. The officers were dis- tressed, when they saw the men would not and contd not come up with alacrity. He had asked for a return of the desertions from Admiral Paget's experimental squadron ; but he knew they would not like to give it. Officers were afraid of going into port, lest their men should desert, though no situation was better than that of' a seaman on board of a vessel of war properly manned. It was not right that a Member

of the House of Commons should be compelled to remind the Admiralty of its duty— The manning of the Navy was controlled by a landsman, who, being a First Lord of the Admiralty, had controlled the Board and compelled them to make the Navy inefficient, malting the reduction, instead of being one-eighth, to be one-tiftli. ()Il one occasion, suds 'was the manner in which the ship Napier was manned, that the officers hail to go aloft to show the men how to perform what was one of' the simplest ditties of seamen. As to the expense to be in- curred in itroperly manning their ships, it was ridiculous to talk about it. This lie was sure of, that ten slumps properly manned would he far more advantageous and serviceable than twenty ships manned as they were at present. The ,irtny was not governed in this way. The Army hail too much influence. The Navy had riot ,e) much influence; if it hail, it would not lie governed in the way it was at present. Ins full conviction, aml be was sure lie might ad(1 that of the gavot majority of the naval profession, WaS, that tio ship shoulrl be sent upon foreign service without lining lolly mantled op to what was considered the war compleimi.t. Let Ow Ilouse only conceive the state of a se..,.01 in which

each 32-1roundsr, 'aisle:id of having fourteen wen to .1, .111,l1M have on an

average only nine :on a half men. Sticli a ilisticiene■- of c‘is...ca a :hip to lie taken in battle, or to he wrecked on a lee-shore: riot he was sure' that one

took place.

ship so lost emdtt net V Ally It nose than W;1,: StrAt'll 1;a1.' ;Igl) had :I 11!1■111,Cr Of Shipi at al:y flamer hen au, but svitlioat men nhips were of 110 11,q, Lord IN,:w...rets: seconded the motion and Iinn.tioacd frets in con- firmation of Sir Edward Colring.ton's statement—

Ile recoil, eted, olten he was stationed in the port of :(Ialaga, sr 'c' there a

corvelse 1 :to Issiales of t weiity sain".s- the same -ize as the \N;tich wlikhl CmrsK,... tmly

t the .1.inerican corvette ttiiI fia.ty ablettt more thitis

ii0 cone oalided. (fli late years a habit hail green of sending out Sc ,eitt I a..1_,:11: ship: with a complement of four hundred 1111.'11. 4.011t.. Of theSe

,1111,, C the ilag-ship on the North America o station., was sent out thus itiner-nnimeil, and without her lower-deek guns. Nose, shortly

after the 1-ev,ilf oat hr Callalla, alai the :\ ItAlea n a iia:r 01'i:111n:11, the gbleienns were ::ent out in a transport. But suppose a war laid broken out with the United tttatc,, mot thys,t guns hail Inc ea (saint ured, what might not have the conscquence. But there was another evil in sending ships to sea without the 1.'111 tilt:niter of gulls tind men : suppose a ship were sent out with a short compLuitent of guns and men, the guns might be aftirwards Fent out, but how were they to lind Inn, ready cut :aid dried to work those guns? * * \\Awn Ile was in the ldisiliten..insan the ships were manned 0ith the most miser..ble n16141E', tic WaS :1,1tamed. to see in the British Navy. He had heard, hict he hoped it 1% US IDA the ease, that at that moment the Talavera WU Mr complement by 110 men. With ships maimed in ti is manner, it was not nil. licvarils either the officers or the men that they viii' till be called

into action, There could no longer exist that maritime saperiority or that nioral feeling aliout the service, that the English were invincible, If they were

rolled upon to ga anion upon such unequal terms.

INEr. ell ARIES NV.K.:1) sail, he emild oppose to Sir Edward Codrington men whose °pit:ions on naval subjects were entitled to as mucli con- sideration as Sir Edward's. 'rim peace complement was now higher than itt any former period since the war--

The peace complement of a lirst-rite Was actually at this mi»nent 220 men higher than was est:dill:died mm 18t5. The complement of a secund-rate was 95 men higher than was esttblished i rr 11.:16 ; that of a thira-rate Was 40 men higher ; and that of a fili-.1i-rate—for the fourth-tates were It new class of ves- sels, with it would ma lus nth. to make a oiniparisuit—that of the fifth rates (and Ire might instance row of that class of ships to which the honourable and gallant Member hail alluded, the Macedonia) had a peace complement actually higher by nine men than they hail as their war comudement.

As to keeping up the same complement of seamen in time of peace as in time of war, he considered it an absurd waste of the public money— It' honourable gentlemen Only CMISIdeVed the liiirerellee of the s.a.vice. that was required to he perffirined in time of peace and in time of war, they 'would see that in great difference ought to take place in the amount of their respective complements. In time of' peace, ships were not by any means so much exposed as in time of real', either tin the batile or the breeze; they hail neither to fight their guns nor tack ulna a has-shore: they were for the most part lying in the ports of' friendly states to protect our commerce; sin that the pea ...0 comple- ment of mein sv:is.: fully :idequate to the perlisrmance of all the duties-that were required. Woe 11.1 not break tort so suddenly as tia leave no time for prepara- twn ; anti he ono Snail from gallant officers on finseign stations that there VMS never any difficulty in tilling, up tin complement of a sliip in a foreign port, but that there was 11111fe frequently more difficulty in refusing than in seeking for hands.

He believed that the complaint of' the inferior quality of the crews W:IS

Ile believed that in flits t hoe of the war the complements of the ships in the Navy consisted on the averag,e (4'one-third able-hollied seamen, one •third ordi- nary seamen, and one-thirit landsmen. Now, in 1834, 181111, anil 1835, it ap- p.:n.0(1 in the returns of a very large number of ships, that there were fit per tel of able-bodied seamen, 32 per cent. of ordinary seamen, :mil 4 per cent. of landsmen. file was aware that it was imputed tel some officers that they were often dispo.sed to rate num as ahle-hodied seamen who were not so, in order to induce them to join the ship. But lie would instance the case' of the Rodney, commanded 1-y Captain Ilyak Parker, whom he was quite sure every gentleman in the !loose wonlil acquit of resorting to such an expedient ; and in this ship it appeared. in 1833, that of the cress. 83 per cent. 0 ire able sea- men, tmd that there was not one landsman in her. lit 18:1,z. her crew con- sisted of 77 per cent. Of scamcn, and 23 per cent, of ordinary men. \Vinod quoted a passage from tto anonymous pamphlet, attributed to Captain Napier, to show that want of smartness" was a fault found in ships fully maimed as well as in those which had only a peace corn- pleineut. For the reasons 'he Irel t.siven, ire' S110111(1. oppoSe Illtobtaiotnt.he Captain PBC!! ELL BelIK Elan' maintained British ships were under-InuMled. Intlitaill BERKELEY said- " The American frigates, 0 Lich !no,. us such a lesson in the last sv:ir, were aptly termed line- 1i-battle ships in disguise. Th,..y carried. .)1; 5it0, but of a he's calibre dtall Oat' gallS, and requiring Tim er hands til NiOrli. do-ill ; WhereaS, With a peace complement, one of our gun-lirigs of I.e.) guns hail eight guns mote for svant of hands to work them."

Sir Crimit.Es .1 its..4 could inform the House, hi opposition to the statements which II:unwell made, that Sir liobert Stopford considered the fleet lie commanded to be as well quttlitied to bear the British flag Mr. HUME was opposed to any increase of the naval force. There were now afloat one-third more vessels than were needed. He con- sidered it unfortunate that naval officers should be perpetually proclaim- ing that the British Navy was inferior to that of foreign countries.

The House rejected the motion, by a vote of 90 to 27.

ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS.

The proceedings in the Ecclesiastical Court of St. David's, against David Jones of Llanon, in Carmarthenshire, and Mr. James of Llanelly, in the same county, were the subject of discussion in the House of Commons on Thursday. The circumstances excited much attention at the time they occurred, and it is unnecessary to repeat many parti- culars. Jones was prosecuted by the Reverend Ebenezer Morris, for neglect to supply sacramental elements in the parish of which he had been elected Churchwarden. Jones's excuse was, that the parishioners refused to vote a church-rate, and, he being a poor weaver, could not afford to supply bread and wine out of his own pocket. He was con- demned for " contumacy," in the Ecelesiagical Car: ; and, by a process issuing out of the Court of Queen's Bench, arrested for the costs, and sent to Carmarthen Gaol, where he now lies. Jones is an Unitarian. Mr. James, of Llanellv, is also a Dissenter ; and having been elected Church- warden, neglectea to attend the parish-church for several Sundays. He was brought into the Ecclesiastical Court of St. David, also by the Reve- rend Ebenezer Morris, who holds the two livings of Llanon and Llanelly ; was condemned for contumacy, ordered to pay costs, and incarcerated for non-payment. Mr. James had been an active supporter of the Liberal candidate, Sir James Williams, at the late Carmarthenshire election ; Mr. Morris was a warm partisan of the Tory candidate ; and it is supposed that political animosity stimulated him to annoy Mr. James by the proceedings in the Ecclesiastical Courts.

Mr. HAWES stated these facts ; and then moved a resolution- 4, That, in conformity with the reconnnendation of the Commissioners on Ecclesiastical Courts in England and Wales, this House is of opinion that the jurisdiction of the inferior Ecclesiastical Courts should be abolished without delay.

Mr. W. 0. STANLEY seconded the motion.

Mr. PRYME admitted that a ease of hardship had been made out, but it did not authorize the immediate abolition of courts which had many useful and necessary functions to perform ; and he suggested that the words " without delay" should be omitted.

Mr. J. JONES asked, where people in the country, who had wills to prove and letters of administration to take out, were to go, if the Pro- vincial Ecclesiastical Courts were abolished? Would it not be a great hardship to bring them all up to London ? David Jones's case had not been fully stated. Jones might have procured a substitute, but he would not. The law compelled him to supply the sacramental ele- ments; and there were arrears of a former rate, which, had he collected them as he ought to have done, would have furnished him with the means of buying the bread and wine. Would the House believe, that on the very day he received written notice to attend the Court, Jones, in an alehouse, where he was served, used "horrible, blasphemous, and obscene language against the eucharist, which it would shock their ears to repeat ?" He denied that Jones had been harshly treated, and would . defend men whom he knew to be of the purest character. It had been said, but untruly, that the Reilerend Mr. Williams, the Judge of the Inferior Court, was editor of a Tory paper in Carmarthen : Mr. Williams did, indeed, occasionally write an article for that paper, but he was neither editor nor proprietor.

Mr. WYNN ELLIS supported, and Lord DUNGANNON opposed the motion.

Dr. LUSHINGTON restated the case of David Jones ; and expressed his opinion, that if the proceedings had been commenced in a superior Court, they would have been stopped, and the defendant let off with costs— The inferior Ecclesiastical Courts were armed with great power; the law in them was administered by clergymen ; and, however desirous those functiona- ries might be to perform their duties according to the best of their knowledge, information, and conscience, it inevitably happened that they were wholly ig- norant whether their proceedings were or were not consistent with law. Such a mess and medley as had occurred in the present proceeding, had seldom been exhibited. This made him heartily desirous of removing altogether from the judicial establishments of England a species of courts whose proceedings must alwavs be subject to doubt, and which on occasions might be made instruments of the grossest and most grievous injustice. The reform of these courts was necessary on three grounds,—first, for the sake of justice ; secondly, for the sake of their own characters; and, thirdly, for the sake of religion itself, which they tended day after day to desecrate, debase, and discourage. He could con- ceive nothing more injurious to the true interests of the Established Church.

Mr. O'CONNELL said, that the Reverend Ebenezer Morris discharged the duties of one of his parishes himself, and gave all the income of the other to his curate. That fact ought to be stated. But David Jones was illegally imprisoned—he was in gaol against all law and justice. His offence was not the use of foul and obscene language against the eucharist ; Mr. Jones, therefore ought to have foregone that part of his statement.

Mr. DARBY would not sanction the irregular course which Mr. Hawes proposed. It was almost unconstitutional in the House to de- clare that all the Ecclesiastical Courts should be abolished.

Mr. SPRING Rio.: gave his hearty concurrence to the motion.

Mr. GALLIC KNIGHT hoped Mr. Darby would withdraw his opposition. Lord GRANVILLE SOMF.RSET strongly disapproved of the wholesale condemnation of the inferior Courts, pronounced on an ex parte state-

ment, by Dr. Lushington.

Dr. Lusntsmos said, that on the face of the proceedings there bad been the greatest irregularity, and he could not in good faith have given any other opinion.

Mr. EASTIMPE, who bad presented petitions from Leicester, com- plaining of the proceedings against David Jones, strongly supported the motion. He considered the Ecclesiastical Courts a misfortune and dis- grace to the country.

Mr. ACLAND thought it most nowise to alter the Church as by law established, on the statement of a niere isolated case.

Mr. Harms agreed to omit the words "without delay ;" and the re- solution was carried, without a division.

ENCLOSURE BILLS.

Mr. HARVEY, on Tuesday, called the attention of the House to b. necessity of amending the Standing Order which was intended to pro: vide that in all Enclosure Bills care should be taken to set apart a suitable spot of land for the recreation of the peoples That Order had been allowed to sink gradually into a nullity, and he proposed stitute for it the following, which would enforce the intention of the House- " That in all bills for enclosing commons or wastelands, provision be made for leaving an onin space in the most appropriate situation, sufficient for putposes of exercise 1 recreation of the neighbouring population ; and that the Com, mittee on the bill have before them the number of acres proposed to be en- closed, as also of the population in the parishes or places inzuwahifehet the land to be enclosed is situate; and also to see that provision is sumeahdepsfroisrh,tht: efficient fencing of the allotment, for the investment of the same in the overseers of the parish in which such open space is reserved, efficient making amid permanent maintenance of the fences by be paid out of the poor-rate thereof; and that in any case where the in- formation hereby required is not given, and the required provisions are not made hi the bill, the Committee on the same be directed specially to report to the House the reasons for not complying with such standing order."

He had examined many breviates of enclosure bills, and wished he could say that as much attention had been paid to the rights of the poor as to the interests of the clergy— In one ease he observed the clergyman claimed. an allotment in lieu of the small tithes of geese, and time piece of ground set apart to him on that claim was worth 41. a year. He had no objection that the clergyman should have plenty of accommodation for all the geese in his parish; but hi that ease, the proportion to be set apart for the poor should also be attended to. In one bill before the House, extending to ninny thousand acres, there were only five acres to be set apart for the poor ; but one-fourteenth of the whole was proposed to be set apart for the lord of the manor. In another, no account was given of the quantity to be enclosed ; but one-fourteenth was again set apart for the lord of the manor, and the allotment so to be set aside was to be enclosed at the expense of the general fund. In the Great Milton Enclosure Bill, the quantity was 1,300 acres, while the allotment for the poor was only three acres and " not more." But the lord of the manor had one- sixteenth of the whole. In another enclosure bill of 500 acres, no allotment whatever was specified to he set apart for the recreation of the poor of the parish or district. In the Congleton Enclosure, county of Cambridge, it was provided that time quantity to be set apart should not exceed six acres for the use of the working classes ; and in many others there was no account given of the quantity of acres to be enclosed, nor of time relative proportion, nor popu- lation. In the Northumberland Enclosure Bill, which included an extent of 10,000 acres, it is stipulated that the quantity shall not exceed twenty acres, nor be less than ten. And the very dangerous power was given to Commis- sioners to knock down all cottages on the waste which appeared to them to be „ encroachments, on giving three months' notice. In these days of Commis- sionerships, he thought it would not be improper to have a "Poor Man's Com- missioner," to see that suitable reservations were made of ground for the re. creation of the labouring classes, and to protect their rights and interests. Land might have been occupied on the waste for twenty years by a poor in- dustrious man—the land which he might have brought into culture by his own industry after returning from his daily toil—and yet, because some great man wished to have the place included in his park, nothing was to prevent some one of these Commissioners from destroying the poor man's property.

Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSET entirely concurred in the spirit of Mr. Harvey's motion, but he thought there was a formal objection to it. Mr. Harvey would make a general law, that the expense of fencing the ground set apart for the poor should be defrayed out of the poor-rates; but under the Poor-law no money could be expended out of the rates, except for the sustenance and comfort of the poor. It was a bad prin- ciple to take money out of a public fund by the authority of a private

act.

The SPEAKER said, that Mr. Harvey's motion imposed a tax in the shape of a resolution. That was not a regular mode of proceeding; and he suggested that the proposed order should be altered, so that it

might declare generally that due provision should be made in each bill for maintaining the fences.

Mr. PEASE approved of the resolution, if modified according to the Speaker's suggestion. He did not think Mr. Harvey was justified in assuming that he was exclusively the poor man's friend.

Mr. HARVEY denied that he wished to monopolize the character of the poor man's friend. He would modify his motion in accordance with

the Speaker's suggestion.

The Order, thus altered, was adopted by the House.

THE PRESS IN MALTA.

In the House of Lords, on Monday, Lord LYNDHURST inquired whe- ther Lord Brougham intended to bring forward any measure respecting the Ordinance for regulating the Press in Malta? [Lord Lyndhurst

alluded to a motion made last week by Lord Brougham for a copy of the ordinance, which Lord Brougham had described as excessively arbitrary and monstrously absurd.]

Lord BROUGHAM replied, that such was assuredly his intention— As, however, he wished to give time to the Government to make up their minds whether they would adhere to so monstrous an ordinance as time one in question, he should delay his motion for a week. He was glad the point had been mentioned by the noble and learned lord, as it was to be inferred thence that the noble and learned lord had read this preposterous ordinance. (" Hear, hear!" from Lord Lyndhurst.) He should certainly, unless the ordinance were previously repealed, bring the subject on the next day week. The Marquis of NORMANDY laid on the table a Report from the Malta Commissioners.

The Earl of RIPON gave notice, that in the course of next week he should call the attention of the House to certain results from the recom- mendations of those Commissioners, which had not been pointed out to their Lordships.

In the House of Commons, on the same clay, Mr. IlAwEs asked Mr.. Labouchere whether he was prepared to produce the third Report of the Commissioners on Malta, a copy of the Ordinance respecting the Press, and the comments attached to that Ordinance ? He wished also to know whether Government would act upon the suggestion of the Commissioners, and abolish the Vice. Admiralty Court.

Mr. LADOUCHERE said, that he intended to lay before the House pa- pers relating to the whole question. lie was unwilling to answer Mr. Rawes's second question, because he could not then give some neces- sary explanations. He therefore thought it advisable not to enter upon the subjgt at that time.

MISCELLANEOUS.

THE ECCLESIASTICAL APPOINTMENTS SUSPENSION BILL was read a second time in the House of Lords, on Monday, on Lord MELBOURNE'S motion ; the Bishop of EXETER assenting to it, but giving notice that he should move amendments in Committee. He wished to know whether Lord Melbourne would produce the correspondence on the subject be- tween the Government and the Chapter of Exeter ? he would only ask for one letter. Lord MELBOURNE said, the correspondence was of so confidential a nature that he did not think it could be produced. The Bishop of EXETER called upon Lord Melbourne to state distinctly whe- ther the Chapter had not declared that they would not forego their claim to a free election of the Dean ? Lord MELBOURNE refused to answer the question. The bill was read a second time; and the Bishop of EXETER gave notice, that he should move next day for a copy of the letter from Dr. Bull to Lord Melbourne, dated 20th of April last, touching the vacant Deanery of Exeter, and for the production of other documents, illustrating the claim of the Chapter of Exeter to a free election of the Dean. On Tuesday, the Bishop of EXETER said, that as there were objec- tions to produce the papers he had intended to move for, he should con- tent himself with reading extracts from the correspondence between himself and the Chapter, which would show that he had not instigated the Chapter, to resist Lord Melbourne's claim to appoint a Dean of Exeter. The Bishop then read:a passage, in which he reminded the Chapter, that of all their privileges, the right to elect their Dean freely was the most valuable ; and that he himself was bound by his oath to take care that the rights of their body were maintained. He strongly advised the Chapter not to surrender their right till compelled by legal proceedings, unless it were Sir William Follett's opinion that it could not be maintained. Ile had not interfered further with the election of a Dean, but other persons had not been so delicate— A Roman Catholic Peer connected with the sister kingdom, and having no direct connexion with that part of the country, wrote to Lord Melbourne, re- commending that a clergyman of his diocese should be appointed to the vacant Deanery. The noble Viscount returned an answer, that it was not in the gift of the Crown : this he had reason to know, as he had seen a copy of the noble viscount's letter. The noble viscount returned a very courteous and pro- per answer, as he always did when lie communicated by letter ; for what he then did was the result of deliberation and reflection, and he challenged the noble Viscount to say that he did not write such a letter as he had described. Lord MELBOURNE said, he had written something very like it. The Bishop of EXETER resumed his statement— The clergyman who was the subject matter of the letter, and who was re- commended to the Deanery by the Peer whom he had alluded to4wrilked about the streets of the city of Exeter, showing the noble Viscount's letter. ,Informa- tion of this reached his ears ; and he wrote to the Chapter for information, and to caution them as to these proceedings : this letter reached them on the same day that they received her Majesty's letter appointing Lord Wriothesley Rus- sell. After the Chapter had been informed of the right that they possessed by the noble viscount's letter, was it at all likely that they would willingly give up their right to the election of this officer? When this was known, another letter was written to them, after some delay, stating that the Law Officers of the Crown and Sir William Follett were of opinion that it was ne- cessary that the Dean should be taken from the body of the Canons and Pre- bends Residentiary. The Chapter, however, were under the conviction that the appointment of Dean to the diocese of Exeter never was vested in the Crown, and that for nearly three hundred years it was always customary to choose a Canon Residentiary ; and although it received letters from the Crown on the subject of the appointments, it was only accustomed to regard them as letters recommendatory, and they generally adhered to them ; and they did not wish to depart from them in this instance. Lord MELBOURNE knew nothing of the reserved rights of the

Chapter of Exeter ; but since 1560, the appointment to the Deanery had been in the Crown. As to the letter to his Roman Catholic Peer alluded to, it showed that it was sometimes dangerous to be punctual and courteous in answering letters. He had been in communication with the Chapter of Exeter, and he doubted not that the difference would be amicably arranged.

The House then went into Committee on the bill.

The Bishop of EXETER moved an amendmeut to one of the clauses, in order to save the peculiar rights of the Exeter Chapter, with refer- ence to the election of a Dean. Lord BROUGHAM said, that the omission of four words in the clause —"nominated by the Crown "—would render other alterations un- necessary. The Bishop of EXETER withdrew his amendment ; Lord Brougham's suggestion was adopted, and the Bill went through the Committee. NEW WRIT. In the House of Commons, on Monday, a new writ was ordered for the election of a Member for Leith, in the room of Mr. J. A. Murray, appointed one of the Judges of the Court of Session in Scotland.

THE RATING OF TENEMENTS BILL was read a second time on Wed- nesday, after a division of 32 to 28.

THE HmuWAYS BILL was " considered" in Committee, and ordered to be "recommitted" on Wednesday next. FOURDRINIERS' PATENT. Mr. MACKINNON, on Thursday, moved to take into consideration the claims of Messrs. Fourdrinier for compen- sation for loss incurred in effecting great improvements in the manufac- ture of paper ; but, after some discussion, withdrew his motion, on a promise made by Mr. SPRING RICE to take the claim into favourable consideration.

CUSTODY OF INFANTS. Mr. Sergeant TALFOURD obtained leave to bring in a bill, founded on the principle of the bill rejected last session by the House of Lords.