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Leader (1850-1860), 11th July 1857, Edition 2 of 2, Page 4

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      Impmml' Parliament. ' - ¦ ¦ ¦ ' —?— \ Zi...

      place the advances made . —Mr . Scott pressed for more explicit information as to the total expense , and denounced the servility of the House to the Government . —The Chancellor of the Exchequer said he was not asking the House to agree to the vote , but to refer the estimates to a Gommittee of Supply . He would there give all due information . —The motion to refer the estimate to a Committee of Supply was subsequently agreed to , after a brief discussion on a point of order—Sir John Pakington complaining that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had taken an unusual and irregular course in making a motion without notice on an order day and a Wednesday ; and Mr . Labouchere , Sir George Gbey , and the Speaker , giving their opinion that the course taken was right , though the Speaker evidently felt some degree of doubt .

      The order of the day for the second reading of the Burials Bill was discharged . The House then went into committee on the remaining clauses of the Industrial Schools Bill , which were agreed to , after some discussion , and a few

      amendments . ELECTION COMMITTEES . Mr . Egerton , chairman , reported from the Borough of Oxford Election Committee , that Mr .. Charles Neate was not duly elected to serve in Parliament for that borough , having been by his agents guilty of bribery . The committee also stated that during the election 198 persons were employed by the committee of Mr . Neate as poll-clerks and messengers , of whom 152 voted for Mr . Neate . The committee did not think that the issue . of a new writ ought to be suspended .

      Mr . G . A . Hamilton , chairman , reported from the Maidstone Election Committee , that Mr . Beresford Hope and Captain Scott were duly elected . The committee also reported the evidence to have been very unsatisfactory and contradictory , and that , although there was no sufficient proof of corrupt practices , it appeared that a sum of 3000 J . was paid for the expenses of one candidate in 1847 , although there was no contest for the borough on that occasion . ( Laughter . * ) The Turnpikes Abolition ( Ireland ) Bill was read a third time , and passed . The House adjourned at six o ' clock .

      Thursday , July 9 th . THE PICTURE OF THE QUEEN ' S CORONATION . In the House of Lords , Viscount Dungasnon -gave notice that on Friday the 17 th'inst . he will call attention to the propriety and desirableness of placing a painting of her Majesty ' s coronation in the House of Lords , and will inquire -whether it is intended to purchase the original painting , now on sale , by Sir George Hayter .

      SALE OF OBSCENE PUBLICATIONS PREVENTION BILL . This bill passed through committee , on the motion of Lord Campbell , -who made some further remarks on the demoralising traffic which is carried on by the dealers in the disgraceful books and prints in question . He said he held in his hand a translation of the novel on which the opera of La Traviata is founded . While lamenting that such works as that are published , he did not propose to include it , or others like it , within the scope of his bill ; but he wished to allude to a list of advertisements at the end . That edition of the novel is sold at all railway stations ; yet it contains advertisements of about a hundred works of the most immoral nature . Amongst them is a book on which convictions have taken place again and again . It is illustrated by

      numerous coloured engravings , the character of which their Lordships might without difficulty imagine , and is described in the advertisement as a * celebrated work , ' -which , ' in the way of description , stands without a rival . * When this work was first produced in a court of justice , the price was one guinea ; but now the price ia 3 s . 6 d ., and Is ., postage . All who read the advertisements are invited to give an order to the publisher . They are requested to send poat-office stamps , and are informed that tlio book will be immediately forwarded . —Lord Wensleydale approved of the amendments which had been introduced , and , in consequence of the absence of Lord Lyndlmrat , who had met with an accident , proposed that the third reading should be postponed to next Monday . —This waa agreed to .

      Lord Brougham laid on the table a bill for improving the law touching the Convisyanob of Real Property . It was read a first time . The House adjourned about six o ' clock .

      REFORMATORY SCHOOLS I 1 ILL . At the morning sitting of the House of Commons , on the order for going into committee on this bill , Mr . Alcock moved to defer the committee for throe months , his chief objection to the bill being that it was compulsory , and would therefore intorforo with voluntary efforts . —This amendment was seoonded by Mr . Hanbury . —Sir George Grey eald the speech of Mr . Alcook had no reference to the bill , which he could not

      have read . The bill of last session was compulsory j but that principle had been expressly oxcludod from the present bill . —In the debate which ensued , the main objections urged Against the measure were that it would oast a hqavy burden upon the ratepayers , and impede voluntary action in the reformatory movomortt . —The amendment wos supported by Mr . Dnisoois , Mr . Buxton , Sir Henry Vbrnkv , Mr . Garnbtt , Mr . Barrow , and . Mr . Pbabid ; while Sir Edward Kbkrison , Mr . IIaokblook , Mr . Muwtbs , Mr . Beckett Dbnison , Mr . Baznrs ,

      and Mr . Charms Gilpin spoke in favour of the bill . — Upon a division , the amendment was negatived by 168 to 37 , and the House went into committee upon the bill , the details of which occupied nearly the remainder of the sitting . BUSY ( LANCASHIRE ) ELECTION . Mr . Hutt brought up the report of the Committee upon the Bury election petition . The report stated that Robert Leaham . Phillips was duly elected , and that the late election was conducted with unusual sobriety and

      order . THE MAYO ELECTION COMMITTEE . In the evening , Mr . Scholefield , chairman of the Mayo Election Committee , brought up a special report , stating that letters addressed to Colonel Higgins had been laid before the committee containing the information that certain persons n amed therein , ia consequence of their having given evidence before the committee , had been attacked and one of them seriously injured by a mob . —Mr . Walpolk called attention to this report , and suggested that it was right for the House to consider

      whether the matter should be left where it was without some ^ inquiry . — Mr . J . D . Fitzgerald ( the Irish Attorney-General ) said , in consequence of the production of these letters before the committee , it had been ascertained by a telegraphic communication that an outrage had been committed ; that two persons had been beaten severely , and that nine persons , charged as participators in the outrage , were in custody . He hoped to be in Dublin the next day , and anticipated no difficulty in placing these parties on their trial at the approaching Assizes . In the meantime any interference on the part of the House might be productive of great

      inconnce . The Lunatics ( Scotland ) Bill Was read a second time , after some desultory discussion . FBAUDULENT TRUSTEES , & C , BILL . The House went into committee on this bill , and a good deal of discussion ensued , some amendments being lost , and otheis carried . On clause 9 , the Attorney-General proposed a m odification of the punishment , with three years' penal servitude as the maximum , and then imprisonment for not exceeding two years , with or

      without hard labour , or simply a fine . — This amendment was adopted ; and the clause , as amended , was agreed to . —On clause 11 , Mr . Cairns proposed to add an enactment that nothing in the act should affect or prejudice any agreement entered into or security given by any trustee having for its object the restoration or repayment of any trust property or money misappropriated . —The Attorney-General did not object to the addition , although the clause was , he believed , perfectly innocuous . —The clause , aa amended , was agreed to .

      The 12 th clause , which enacts that no prosecution shall be commenced without the sanction of a judge in equity or the Attorney-General was much discussed , and Mr . Cairns moved to amend it by ertacSing that—• ' If in any civil proceeding against a trustee , or in any proceeding under the bankruptcy of any person being a trustee , it shall appear to the court or judge before whom such proceeding shall be pending that there ^ is reasonable and probable cause for a criminal prosecution against such trustee under this act , it shall be lawful for such court or judge to make an order sanctioning such prosecution , which order may be obtained upon motion Or petition in a summary way . "—This amendment was withdrawn upon an assurance being given by the Attorney-General that upon bringing up the report ho would introduce words to give the Judge or Attornoj--Goneral power to summon the party , in order that he might have an opportunity of being heard .

      In the interpretation clause , on the motion of Mr . Egerton , the word ' property' was made to include ' goods , raw and other materials . ' On the House resuming , the second reading of the Court of Session ( Scotland ) Bill was opposed by Mr . Black , Mr . Craufurd , and Mr . Bla . ok . buun , but was ultimately carried . Several bills relating to Scotland paused through committee ; other bills were advanced a stage ; and the House adjourned at one o ' clock .

      652 ^ The Leader. No. 381, Jrat 11, 1857...

      652 ^ THE LEADER . No . 381 , JraT 11 , 1857 .

      Election Committees. Maidstone,—This Com...

      ELECTION COMMITTEES . Maidstone , —This committee has boon sitting during the week . The allegations against tho sitting members ( Mr . Hope and Captain Scott ) are to tho effect that they resorted to bribery and corruption by themselves or their agents- Tho report of the committee , however , acquits them . Oxford ( City ) . —Tho allegations here are the same as in tho provious caae . Amongst those who stated last Saturday that they had been employed as messengers by the committee of Mr . Neata was a blind man , whoso

      claim for remuneration , however , was not allowed . There was also a man who was nfHiotod with paralysis , and others wlio were disqualified from doing any active duties . It further appeared that some of those who had been paid by tho committee of Mr . Neato had solicited to have their names put down as messengers . Tho report invalidates tho return of Mr . Noato on this ground . Cambridge ( Borough ) . — -This comralttQo mot again last Saturday , when tho argument as to whether tho votes registered at wrong booths should l > e struok out was resumed , and , tho committee having decided that they should not , tho scrutiny proceeded . When tho

      committee adjourned , the sitting member had a majority of one . - Mayo . —The case against Mr . Moore having closed on Friday week , Mr . Montague Smith on the following day addressed the committee on behalf of that gentleman . He said the committee was asked to set aside the election on the ground of a combination to defeat Colonel Higgins ; but combinations for such purposes are of frequent occurrence . The Anti-Corn-Law League used to take the most energetic steps at the elections to return members who would support its policy ; and so does the Ballot Society still . Such combinations , therefore , are not illegal . In the present case , the Archbishops and Bishops who signed the resolution at St .

      Jarlath ' s ( resolving to support Mr . Moore and oppose Colonel Higgins ) had no idea such a course would lead to a riot . A riot , taken simply by itself , argued Mr . Smith , would not invalidate an election ; it must be shown that it has affected the issue of the election , before the latter can be impugned on that ground . It had not been shown that Mr . Moore was responsible for anything that had taken place ; while , on the other hand , undue influence was exerted on behalf of Colonel Higgins , whose father is High Sheriff of the county , all the magistrates being adherents of his . —At the conclusion of Mr . Smith ' s address , a letter from the Rev . Mr . Reynolds was read , denying the charges brought against him by Mr . Edwin James . Iu reply to this

      letter , Mr . Edwin James offered to produce an analysis of evidence referring to the charges . The committee decided that the analysis of evidence should not be produced until the close of the case . The committee then adjourned till the following day , when a great deal of rebutting testimony was received . Some evidence was given on Tuesday , to show that the supporters of Colonel Higgins resorted to acts of violence to prevent their opponents voting . One of the witnesses said : — "On the way to the court-house , Dunlevie ( a voter ) was pulled off the car . He got into the booth , but a man named Taafe tried to get him away and dragged him off . When I got into the booth before the Sheriff , I addressed him as to what had taken place , when he told me that if I did not hold my tongue he would have

      roe put into the dock . Dunlevie said that if he did not plump for Higgins he should receive notice to quit his ladd . I advised him to go home and not vote at all , but he did vote for Moore and Higgins . I voted for Moore and Palmer . " Colonel North : " Pray , am I to understand that you voted , and yet you are under age ?" —Witness : " Why , I saw people voting there only thirteen yeors of age . Twill swear that . ( Laughter . ) Had I not as much right to vote as anybody else ? { Renewed laughter . ' ) The Sheriff polled his own son , and lie is only fourteen years of age . "—Mr . Buchanan : "The Sheriff has no power to ask any one his age , or . to refuse his vote on account of it . " - —Mr . O'Malley : " That is true , but of course the vote will be struck off on a scrutiny . "

      Bury . —At the sitting of this committee on Monday , Mr . Robert Gay , butcher , deposed that a voter , named Poutey owed him 51 . for meat . . On the Saturday before the election , Mr . Horrocks ( one of Mx . Peel ' s agents ) told him that if he would vote for Peel he would see Pouley ' s account paid . Mr . Gay declined . Horrocks then said , if he did not vote for Peel , lie would call in the money Mr . Gay owed him on mortgage . The butcher declined to vote for Peel , and the money was called in accordingly . —At the sitting on Tuesday , William Pcnnington , a moulder and a non-elector , was examined as to the non-elector canvass and tho payment of watchers , but nothing could be elicited from him . In crossexamination , ho stated that Mr . Whitchead , the solicitor to tho petition , and his clot k , a Mr . Jones , had promised to give him 50 / ., pay his expenses to London , and allow

      him 1 / . a day while he was there if he would give such evidence as would unseat Mr . Philips , In order to cure them of tempting poor men , he came to London and saw Mr . Coppook , who said that what had been promised him in Bury should bo performed . To contradict this statement , Mr . Coppock , Mr . Jones , and Mr . Whitohead were called . They denied tine expressions attributed to them by tho witness ; and Mr . Whitehcad denied that lie offered Pennington any money for his evidence , but stated that , Pennington having told him that ho could give information which was worth 50 / ., ho replied that ho should have any sum up to that amouut which his information might be worth . Ho sent him to London to sco Mr . Coppock ; but ho only treated with Peon ington for information and not for eviuoncc . Tho report declares tho sitting member , Mr . Philips , to have boon duly oloctod .

      Bury St . Edmund ' s—This coinmitteo sat for tho first time on Thuraduy . Tho potition , signed by Mr . Oakoa , the unsuccessful candidate , contuina allegations of bribery , undue influonco , and treating , against tho Bitting members , Mr . J . A . HardoaBtlo , by himself or his agents . Tho ovidenca up to tho present point has exhibited tho usual amount of drunken profligacy . Among other witnesses , William Clark , a tnilor anil a votor , who had voted for Mr . Hardoiiatle , said that tho night before tho polling ho slept at tho Grjflln tap , in thesamo room with a mun named Skater , whom ho generally oallod ' Swauks . ' Ho slept In his clothes . Ho wao n married man , but ho preferred Bleeping nt tho Griffin that night to going homo , booaiMjo ho was out on tho sproo . ' ( Laughter . )

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), July 11, 1857, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_11071857/page/4/