POSTSCRIPT.
SATURDAY NIGHT.
Both Houses of Parliament met last night.
In the Lords, the proceedings commenced with a speech from the Earl of MINTO on the state of the Navy ; introducing a question whether our Government intended to send an additional naval force to the coast of Morocco. The Earl of HADDINGTON, replying to the question alone, said the force on the coast of Africa would be still further strengthened. When the question had been answered, the Marquis of LONDONDERRY, Lord CAMPBELL, and the Earl of ROSEBERY, rushed to the table to speak, and contended for precedence ; each loudly asserting his claim to priority of speech, amidst much laughter, and; in a manner which the LORD CHANCELLOR characterized as "most irregular." Lord LONDONDERRY maintained possession of the House long enough to ex- press his admiration of the manner in which the Earl of Aberdeen had conducted the affairs of the Foreign Office.
Lord CAMPBELL then moved the third reading of the bill for amend- ing the Law of Libel. The object of the bill was, to extend to Govern- ment prosecutions for seditious libels the rule admitted in the act passed last session respecting private libels—that the truth of the charge be admitted as evidence to be submitted to the Jury. The LORD CHAN- CELLOR opposed the bill, on the ground that there was little analogy between public and private libels. It was no defence of a libel calcu- lated to disturb the public peace to say the charges were true ; for dis- affection and disorder might be as effectually produced by truth as by falsehood. Lord BROUGHAM supported the bill. Lord DENMAN op- posed it ; and on a division the bill was lost, by a majority of 30, only three Peers saying " content."
The Committee to search for precedents on the Union of the Sees of St. Asaph and Bangor Bill, reported that it had been usual in such bills for the Royal assent to be signified at each stage.
In the Commons, the Poor-law Amendment Bill was considered in Committee. Colonel SIBTHORP stepped forward at the threshold to move the abolition of the Poor-law Commission : but that amendment having been pronounced irregular, it was withdrawn. The considera- tion of the " bastardy clauses " gave rise to much discussion : many di- visions took place, and a few alterations were made. One of them, proposed by Sir JAMES GRAHAM, was that the father should be liable to a summons at any time, on proof that he had paid money for the child's maintenance within twelve months from its birth. The question whe- ther appeal should be allowed from the decision of the Magistrates occupied a long time, and ended in allowing the putative father the right of appeal, and giving the woman the right of renewing her ap- plication before other Justices. The apprenticeship clause was amended, by the consent of Sir JAMES GRAHAM, so as only to give the Commis- sioners power to control and not to prescribe the conditions of binding. The bill proceeded as far as the 19th clause ; and at twelve o'clock the Chairman reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again.
A new writ was moved for Birmingham, in the room of Mr. Joshua Scholefield.
The House adjourned at one o'clock, till Monday.
Previous page
