NEWS OF THE WEEK.
AT length the House of Commons has been driven to it:psis/ate upon Privilege; Lord JOHN Russeaa having introduced a bill " to give summary protection to persons employed in the publication of Parliamentary papers." The production of the Lord Chancellor's or the Speaker's certificate that the publications were made by order of either House, is to stay proceedings in any action brought against the publishers. The Ministerial Leader admitted that the Commons want the power efficiently to enforce their claims: the privileges of the House are very extensive, but they cannot be maintained without " great practical inconvenience." Pity that Lord JOHN could not make this discovery before seven weeks of the session had been almost entirely wasted. The arguments for the bill were those of Lord Jonts RUSSELL'S opponents on the pri- vilege question ; coolly adopted by Lord JOHN and Lord STANLEY to support their change of opinion. Well, we who have all along argued that to this it must come, have no cause for displeasure on their conversion. From the first we maintained, that if Parliament ought to possess the privilege of unrestrained publication, an act of the Legislature should secure that privilege. But further, if the extensive dissemination of the information collected by Par- liament is des:rabic, the bill ought to extead protectisn to all who aid in performing so useful a service to the public. I am shoot to bring in a bill respecting Hill Coolies," says Lord Jonas Rus- SELL, "and it is fit that the public should know on what grounds I proceed ; therefore I demand immunity for the person who pub- lishes the evidence on which my bill is founded." And if the Times newspaper should give a much greater circulation to the evidence than Messrs. HANSARDS, and contribute far more effici- ently to the accomplishment of the Minister's object, is the Times to derive no benefit from the law which stays actions against the Ilsxsaans? If Lord JOHN RESSELL and Sir ROBERT PEEL state their true reasons for insisting upon the privilege of publishing Par- liamentary papers—if they really wish to enlighten the constituency m subjects of legislation and the conduct of the representative body —they will give a comprehensive operation to this bill, and stop proceedings against any persons for the lanai fide publication in any shape of matter printed in the first instance by order of Par- liament. Nor will they stop there, but go on to secure the liberty of the press in general, by amending the law of libel, and removing the odious presumption of malice from true statements published usefully. The only remarkable incident in Thursday's debate was the Soli- citor-General's energetic opposition to the bill proposed by the Ministerial Leadqr. Sir THOMAS WILDE declared his firm opinion that the Government was going wrong ; and, considering his duty as a Member of Parliament paramount to all other considerations, he should not scruple to oppose the Government whose officer . he is. The Solicitor-General thus preserves his consistency and independence, whatever may become of hjs prophetic vision of failure. lie thinks that the Lords will make alterations which the Commons cannot sanction ; and that, though STOCKDALE may be defeated, the privileges of the House will be attacked successfully in other ways by other persons.
Previous to the introduction of the Parliamentary Publishing Bill, an attempt was made to liberate Mr. Sheriff Evaxs, on the ground of health seriously endangered by confinement. Possibly the Sheriff's indisposition and the consequences of continued imprisonment were somewhat exaggerated by the benevolent zeal ot Lord AttitoN and other sympathizers. The cautious evidence ot Dr. Cnam neas, however, proved that want of fresh air and exercise, combined with mental anxiety, might convert a disorder of the liver into a fatal disease. It appeared that the prisoner
Could bear additional ailment ; his complaint had not assumed a decidedly dropsical character; there was no immediate danger
of life. Lord Jons Ressma., therefiire, saw no reason for re- leasing him l'roni custody ;"` and a majority concurred with Lord
Lord :TORN and his followers came to a different conclusion last night— ride Postscript. JOHN. The conduct of the House on this occasion has been too justly stigmatized, as reminding us of descriptions of military floggings and other species of torture, where the surgeon feels the sufferer's pulse to ascertain how much more agony the poor wretch can endure and yet live. Some Members were quite jocular on the subject of the Sheriff's illness. One thought the application for his release " ludicrous ;" another had "never witnessed a more flimsy affidr." Lord }Towles: proposed to send the Sheriff into the country, attended by a "messenger ;" and Sir JAmrs GRAHAM to let !din out on bail! Really, these Members have odd ways of supporting the dignity of PaOament. The Ministerial journals, too, make fine sport of the sick Sheriff; who is advised to "cherish his unfortunate liver" till it become "a magnificent pate: de foie gras." These jokes upon bodily infirmity ere intended by their authors to pass for witty ; we suspect, to the greater portion of well-ordered minds they are only disgusting. The respectable 'Minority of 90 supported a motion by Mr. EWART to abolish capital punishments. T he tone of the discussion must encourage Mr. EwAur to persevere. It is not long since a proposition to save even murderers from the gallows (for Mr. EWART'S proposition went thus far) would have been scouted in. Parliament. Now it is calmly and patiently argued. Prevention of crime, and the reformation of offenders, is admitted to be the. legitimate purpose of all punishment. The Tories are learning to lecture Whigs on th'a sin of jobbing, with a very becoming gravity of countenance. How Ministers could permit a Mr. STEPHENSON to hold two "incompatible offices," and take salary for both, Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSET cannot ima- gine: he told the House that it was almost incredible such things Should be. Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer BARING had no diffi- culty in showing that such things had been often enough, when the Bisturowrs and their friends were in power. No doubt, replied Mr. Gout.m: RN, but those were times of Toryism, sinecurism, and corruption ; whereas we now live in the happy wra of reform and purity Parliament sanctioned our jobs, it testifies by sundry acts against yours. To this there can be no rejoinder Cfor it is un- happily true, that the only defence the " Reform" Ministers have for many of their acts, is the tu (pope addressed to Tories. Lorl-LyNnnemsr 11:15 forced the attention of Ministers to the violation by the Neapolitan Governmont of a commerad treaty with this country. The trade in sulphur, an article extensively used in the manulheture of gunpowder, oil of vitriol, and many chemical preparations, has been thrown almost entirely into the hands of the French, who obtained a monopoly from the King of Naples. The loss to British merchants is very serious—Lord LYNIDIICIV.T was told 1,0001. to day. Lord MEratoraxn promised to act with vigour, and to insist upon the performance of the treaty by Naples.
The " Chinese papers" were laid upon the table of the House of Commons on Thursday night. Sir JAMES GRAHAM had threat-
ened, otherwise, to 1310Ve an address for their production forthwith. Accordingly, just before the Speaker left the chair, at half-past one in the morning, they were produced ; add discussion was warded off a little longer.
