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    cause of the destruction of that constitution . But , at any rate , Kossuth comes here , liberated through Lord Palraerston ' s intervention with Turkey , and therefore he was bound not only to obey the mere general law , but to abstain scrupulously from involving England in any quarrel with any other state . Well , Kossuth might have done so ; but we must recollect the proclamation of his which lately appeared in the papers , calling on soldiers to rise against tlieir sovereign . That was an unjustifiable act in a man living quietly in a foreign country . Also , Kossuth has lately avowed his

    intention of carrying on war against a sovereign in amity with the sovereign of this country . All these things , coupled with the employment of Hungarians in the manufacture of rockets , made suspicion natural . As to " communications with the Home Office" on the subject , the police report all suspicious circumstances , from time to time ; arid as to communications with Austria , the Government of that country had asked nothing , but had stated that they considered it a grievance that persons levying war on them should be allowed to do so , undisturbed , in this country .

    Sir J . Walmsley reminded Lord John that the proclamation was written , not in this country , but in Kutayah . The matter could not rest there ; if nobody else moved for a committee , he would .

    REFT 7 &EES LETTERS . Mr . Phinn begged to ask the noble Secretary for the Home Department whether any directions or instructions had been given , or any warrant issued , authorizing the Postmaster-General to inspect or open any letters addressed to foreign refugees in England ? Lord Palmeeston said , that no such directions or instructions had been given by him , or , so far as he knew , by his predecessor ( hear , hear ) , and , so far a $ he knew , no letters addressed to any refugee in this

    country—no letters addressed to the person to wliom the hon . gentleman , be was aware , more especially referred , had been meddled with in any way at . the Post-office . [ Would Mr . Phinn ask Lord Palmerston whether letters , written , or supposed to be written , by refugees , and letters , coming from anywhere , addressed to other persons , not refugees , but supposed to be in communication with them , are opened at the Postoffice , or the Home-office , or anywhere in Great Britain ? One should put questions " by the card" to Diplomatic Home Secretaries . " ]

    BRIBERY BY SIB FREDERICK SMITH . Sir John Villiehs Shelley , first calling attention to the sessional order , which directed the prosecution of any member wilfully concerned in bribery at elections , pointed out to the House the report of the Chatham committee , and moved the following resolution : — " That , the Chatham Election Committee having 1 reported that Joseph Greathead , an elector of Chatham , had been bribed by a situation as a letter-carrier in tho Postoffice , obtained for liis son , Charles Greathead , by Sir John Mark Frederick Smith , the Attorney-General bo directed to prosecute the said Sir John Mark Frederick Smith for bribery at the last election at Chatham . "

    If Stephen Mount , a humble man , had been prosecuted for peijury , why not Sir Frederick Smith for bribery ? Sir Fkedktuck Tiiesicier pleaded for Sir F . Smith . The committee had not " exactly" accused him of bribery . The report said—" That it has been proved to the committee thnt Joseph Greathead , an elector of Chatham , was bribed by a . situation us a letter-carrier in tho 1 ' ost-oflice , obtained for his son , Charles Grcathead , by Sir . John Mark Frederick Smith . " True , Sir

    Frederick Smith hud given the ( situation to Greatheud ' s son before the father voted , but the father had promised ; Sir Frederick , " u straightforward honourable man , " considered ihe vote us secure an if given , and therefore could not regard the situation as any consideration for it . Hut touching the proposed prosecution , the House ought to consider , had the prosecution a likelihood of success , for an unsuccessful prosecution would not be creditable to the House . In many other cases such prosecutions had failed , for thero was , in fact , great difficulty in brininii " homo the case .

    In tho conversational debate that ensued , many members , Liberal as well as Conservative , admitted tho probable futility of a prosecution ; and somo pointed out the absurdity of punishing one man for an ofl ' eiicw long winked nt by the House , itself , and notoriously committed by many members . Mr . W . Wir / raAMtf thought Sir F . Smith ' s offence " light , " compared with other ciiHOH . Mr . Njcvdeuatk called it " venial" ( but denounced Greathead ' n conduct an " infamous" ); und Mr . M . Smith , another apologist for Sir Frederick , advised that the " witnesses" bo prosecuted instead . Mr . HitAMBTON ( one of tho committee ) evaded tho motion , not by exculpating Sir F . Smith , but by accusing tho House of being n party to tho crime . " In forming constituencies in dockyard towns , they luid laid a enuro

    for the candidate . " It would not be consistent with the dignity of the House to prosecute one man for a crime to which they themselves had been privy . Mr . Peilatt ( another of the committee ) should vote for the prosecution , it being abstractedly just ; yet " he would wish it withdrawn . " The wavering tone , of the debate ^ and the " fast and loose" talk of the members of the committee , seemed to disgust Lord Joiin . Russell , who , having been appealed to , explained the confused state of the case . The committee had made an ambiguous report ; it had pointed out a case of bribery , but had not clearly charged it on Sir F . Smith ; and the members of the committee now opposed the prosecution . This was absurd .

    " The justice of the House would be very ill-satisfied by resolutions to which they frequently came , that persons much distresseddn point of pecuniary circumstances should be prosecuted by the Attorney-General on account of corrupt transactions in which they had taken part ; the character of the House would hardly stand well if it should appear that they ordered a prosecution , without any hesitation , in the case of ten or twenty persons in a low condition of life , but that when it came to a person of distinction and station the House would not consent . "

    He did not want to urge the House to a prosecution , but certainly , if the House did not prosecute in this case , he never would vote for a prosecution in any other . Mr . T . Duncombe said , the question was , would a jury have evidence enough to convict Sir F . Smith ? He thought not . If the Chatham corruption was inevitable , the voters being dependent on Government , there should be no new writ issued for that place . But as the whole question would be dealt with by the Reform Bill , it was not worth while spending their time on the proposed prosecution . During the debate the House was extremely impatient , interrupting nearly every speaker with cries of " Divide . " But Mr . Henry Deummokd . first

    ironically apologising for " spoiling any gentleman s dinner , got a hearing for a short speech , brimful of cynicism , and bristling with cutting hits at the sore parts of our Parliamentary system . " It was said some time ago , in the Edinburgh Heview , to show the absurdity of enacting laws against the sale of game , that ' the Three per Cents , would buy pheasants . ' And , sir , in the same way , I say that the Three per Cents , will sit in this House —( loud laughter)—that bank directors will sit in this TTousn—that India directors will sit in

    this House—aye , that even railway kings will sit in this House . ( ' Hear , hear , ' and laughter . ) Indeed , we are threatened occasionally with a regular rush of what is called the railway interest . ' So long as there ia rich and poor you will never be able to persuade men that there is any . crime in taking and killing wild animals . ( ' Oh , oh , ' and laughter . ) Sir , there are only two ways of governing mankind—( ' Divide , divide' ); you must either govern by brute force , with the assistance of standing armies and police , or you must govern by self-interest . You may call

    it bribery , you may call it corruption , you may give it any hard name you like , but it is that which pervades your whole system , from , the palace of tho Sovereign , down through the House of Lords and the House of Commons , and throughout tho whole of your constituencies , and you cannot rule in any other way . ( ' Oh , oh . ' ) The bruteforce system , to bo sure , lias rather run to seed in France , just now . I admit that the Bastille and lettrcs da cachet are revived in a way very offensive to our notions ; but , pray is not our systom of national representation run to HPftfl P "

    Ho traced much of this to Lord Derby ' s conduct last year : — "Wo had then a Prime Minister going about in search of a policy . ( Kenowed laughter , and 'Ifear , hear . ' ) Ifo gavo four months' notice that lie was going out on this searching expedition , and forfhwith every attorney in tho kingdom determined that there should bo a contested election , and they consequently got candidates , and they also got up petitions . When tho battle is all over , Hie petition is brought here by the Coppocksanu the Browns , who play with members of Parliament as they would at a gaine of chess , giving a bishop for a rook [ roars of laughter ] , and oxehanging three iiilHO petitioiiH for three lighting ones .

    Why , sir , is there bucIi desperate anxiety to get into tins House P ( Renewed laughter . ) Why , because this House is a great bazaar , a place whoro scrip i . s Hold and bought . " Alluding to Sir A . Cockbuni ' . s Hiieee . ssful speech on the Paeilioo debate , and then to Mr . llowriug and Mr . Rich , Mr . Druinuiond became " pnrsonal . " " Why nro wo blenNed with ho many gentlemen of tho legal profession P ( Loud laughter . ) Is it not clear that it in becauso thoy find that a ( lash partisan speech in thin ITouse is a surer road to tho bench than bard fagging in their own chambers ? ( Hear , hear , and laughter . ) When you come down to this I foiise you must curry on bribery and corruption in one way or another . You do curry it on , and when you him to

    find a man particularly boring , why you send llong Kong . ( Loud laughter . ) I am Horry that tho noblo lord has not n great many Hong Kongn to dispose of . ( ltenowod laughter . ) I think thin IIouho would be much Irn- _ proved by it . What in tho weakness of tho Govormnont at this time P It arisen simply from tho want of places . ( Renewed laughter . ) There ih no dangor from any opposition on tho other « ido . What then is tho danger P Tho danger of tho ( lovormriont is , that it receives shots in tho roar . ( Roars of ' Inughtor . ) If tho Treasury bench were to bo symbolised , I Hhoiild say that it ought to bo worshipped , under tho attributes of Cybelo or of Tellus . What is tho consequence ¥ Why , what is ono of tho motions now upon tho paper for to-night , a motion from ono of tho

    friends of the Government ( Mr . Rich ) about India ? Is it not " the squeak of a pig that has got no teat P" ( loud Laughter . ) He did not even spare " another place . " You cannot bribe the House of Lords in any small way ; but ia it no bribery to make barons viscounts , and viscounts earls , and earls marquisses ? ( Hear , hear , and laughter . ) I think that the noble lord the member for the city of London , in some of his reform bills , prohibited giving a , few yards of fine ribbon to the wives and daughters of electors ; but I fancy you bribe in the House of Lords by three yards

    of green ribbon , or three yards ot blue , or ot red . ( Laughter . ) I am not censuring these proceedings—I am justifying them . ( Oh , oh , and loud laughter . ) I say it is the only system by which your Government can be carried on . " And he ended with a general advice to premiers , and to Lord John in particular , not to quit office save on a direct vote of want of confidence . The noble lord has been taunted with the situation which he now occupies . In my humble opinion it is the most honourable situation which he has ever occupied —( Cheers)—and I do beseech Mru , not as an individual , but as the head of a Government , thnre to remain until such a motion as I have alluded to

    shall be come to . ( Laughter from the Opposition , ) The right honourable gentleman over the way need not have quitted office if he had chosen to remain , and Lord Derby ought either never to have taken office or never to have left it —( Loud laughter )—for there is no doubt that theso continual changes are greatly to the detriment of the public service . This cynical effusion nettled several members . Mr . Hume , astonished at such a speech , bluntly protested against it . Mr . Rich , amid great laughter ,

    made a grave defence of himself as " a gentleman and a man of honour . " Sir J . Shelley , first protesting that no man was " less quarrelsome than he was , " required , in a very excited tone and amid great confusion , an " explanation" from Mr . Drummond . And Mr . Muntz stated that he was not " a pig who wanted a teat . " Amid noise and impatience Mr . Drummond said something equivalent to an explanation , and the House , heated and hurried , divided on the motion . The numbers were—For the motion , 18 ; against it , 188 ; majority , 110 .

    COUNTY FRANCHISE—THE PROMISED REFORM BILL . Mr . Locke King ' s motion , for leave to bring in a bill on the County Franchise , ( introduced with some of the old arguments , stated quietly , and with some effect , ) elicited , from Lord John Russell , an intimation that he has not forgotten the " Reform Bill" of next year . Referring to Mr . King ' s motion , he said , that whether it was wise or unwise , good or bad , to make that change , yet it was an alteration of very great importance , and must affect the representation of the country to a very considerable extent . " Such being

    the case , I think it would be a pity to deal with it without , as it were , the consent of all men . " He could only say that the present Government were not indisposed to consider the whole question . The hon gentleman who had introduced the motion " might not perhaps give him credit for any declaration which ho might make upon the subject ; " but lie could assure him that tho Government were duVy impressed with the importance of the question , and that he hoped to bo ablo to introduce a , me asure at a time and in a manner which would entitle it to receive the serious attention of the House . Several members of the Radical party pressed Mr . King to withdraw his motion , and he accordingly withdrew it . CJIAU 1 TAHT / K TRUSTS . The bill for the regulation of " Charities" was , on the motion of the Loud OirANOKM-oit , read a second time in the Lords on Tuesday . There are 28 , 840 charitable institutions in Mn ^ land , some an small as 2 / . a year , and two-thirds being below ' . \() L i \ year . Abuses have crept into the management of many ; in some eases tho intentions of the original donor havo become iimpplicate to any pood purposo through a change of circumstances , and in other ruses corrupt trustees had diverted the funds . One curious instance of the bad ellect of an old charity was lately disclosed :

    There was a village on the confines of Radnorshire , in wbieb thero was a charity called "Jarvin ' s Charity , " of ' MHK ) f . or 4000 / . a year , where the fund wuh appropriated to meat , drink , and physio for tho poor , without ( heir having tho power of devoting nny purl- of ( lie fund lo building . Tho result wa . s , that cottages roue to an enormous premium—the immorality , waste , and profligacy that prevailed wero frightful and tho charity became an intolcrublo iiui : miico . . 1 ' roeeedings were instituted to do away with it . The case was brought , before tho Court of

    Chaneery , but that Court' bad no power to legislate on tho subject . They could only execute tho trust according to tho will of tho founder , and sanction an application to ' Parliament lor the purpose of getting a portion of tho fund dovoted to tho building of schools jui <( tho education , of tho poor of the parish . There wuh another cuso in which certain funds of tho charity went dovoted to ulms-houHOB , and others to schools . Tho school fund was not Hullieionfc for tho purpose , and tho iiIiiisIiouno fund wuh more than wim required , and , an in tho former case , great abuses wore the consequence . Tho records of charities uro crowded with like cuhch and tho control of Olmncory and of 1 ' axliiuncnt is found

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    May 7 , | 8 § 3 . ] THE LEADER . 437

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), May 7, 1853, page 437, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1985/page/5/