Mr. Alexander Campbell opposed the Bill on the ground that it was most destructive, unconstitutional, and unworthy of a Conservative Government. He said, it was utterly inadequate to meet the demands of the people on account of two great principles. They contended that the true principle with reference to the relations of pastor and congregation was, that the latter should have a voice on the pastor being placed before them; and in the present Bill there was a Clause opposed to that principle. They also claimed that the Spiritual Courts should be independent in their jurisdic. tion; and yet there was a Clause in the Bill leaving those Courts open to the review of the Civil Courts. The Church ought to have been consulted before an alteration was made in its constitution. The Bill admitted the right of the congregation to object to the presentee: so that a person who merely sat in a Church-for the Bill did not say whether he should be a communicant or not-would have the right to object. This was the same as giving the schoolboy the right of choosing his schoolmaster. This was not the practice of the Church of Scotland, and it certainly was not the practice of the Free Church. It was a very dangerous thing to set up this new patched-up Church this new spiritual tyranny in Scotland. He hoped that the people of Scotland would not resort to Rebeccaism or riotous proceedings: still their injuries and grievances should not be neglected by the House of Commons.

Mr. Hope Johnstone believed that the measure would be hailed as a very great boon by the whole

Sir R. Peel reminded the House that the question before them was not the phraseology of particular clauses, nor the details, but the principle of the measure. He contended from analogy with Mr. Campbell's Bill, to regulate the exercise of Church patronage in Scotland," that Parliament might legislate without reference to the General Assembly; but insisted that the General Assembly had in fact expressly approved of the measure, when they said that it was desirable to settle the law, and that they "relied with perfect confidence on the intentions of Her Majesty's Government." He went on to maintain that the Bill defined the rights of the patrons, the people, and the Church, in strict accordance with ancient usages and practice, and he denied that the Auchterarder decision was reversed by it.

On a division, there appeared for the second reading, 98; against it, 80: majority, 18.

The opponents of the Bill renewed their attempt to throw it out on the Motion for going into Committee, when Mr. P. M. Stewart, who was supported by Mr. Hume, Mr. Boyd, and Mr. Collett, moved that it be committed on that day three months. James Graham and Mr. Pringle resisted this Motion, which was negatived by 85 to 54, and the Bill finally became law.

Sir

Some progress in the direction of Law Reform was made during this Session, though the pressure of other business did not allow the accomplishment of all that was attempted by the Government. The most important of these changes was the Registration Act, nearly the same measure which had been

former year, having for its object the correction of some inconveniences and defects which experience had disclosed in the Reform Act, relating to the Registration of Voters. The leading provisions of this Act will be well understood from the following statement of Lord Wharncliffe, ou moving the second reading of the Bill, when it came up with some material amendments from the Commons, where it was much discussed.

The noble Lord said, that representations having been made, as to the inconvenient operation of the existing law, it had been found necessary to introduce the present measure, which, it was hoped, would be found beneficial to all parties. The objects of the Bill were, first, to establish in every part of the country a real and bond fide list of voters; secondly, to settle certain doubts with respect to qualifications which had arisen in the revising barristers' courts; and, thirdly, to prevent the personation of voters, or the possibility of individuals voting twice at the same election. One of the greatest alterations in the Bill was that which related to the right of voting as it depended on the payment of taxes. As the law at present stood, a person could not have his name placed on the list of voters unless he had paid all his rates and taxes up to the time of making his claim. By this Bill it was provided, that persons should be allowed to have their names inserted in the list of voters if they paid, on or before the 20th of July next ensuing after making their claim, all the poor-rates and assessed taxes payable from them for twelve calendar months before the 6th day of the preceding April. A great

that the decisions of the revising barristers were final; but by this measure, an appeal from their de cisions, on legal points, was allowed to the Court of Common Pleas. Provision was also n ade to clear up doubtful points as to the right of voting in counties, and also with reference to the place where a claim to the right of voting should be made, when the party resided in an extra parochial district where there was no overseer. Another important point provided for by the present measure was that which related to votes on account of trusts on mortgage estates. It was now provided that no mortgagee of any lands or tenements should have a vote for Members of Parliament unless he was in the actual possession or receipt of the rents and profits of the lands or tenements mortgaged; but that the mortgager in actual possession, or in receipt of the rents or profits, should be allowed to vote in respect of the property notwithstanding the mortgage.

Another measure of considerable importance was likewise carried, by which some material alterations were made in the law relating to Defamation and Libel. The Bill was founded on the Report of a Committee of the House of Lords, and introduced in that assembly by Lord Campbell. It was very favourably received by the Legislature, though some ma terial alterations were made at the instance of the Attorney-General in the House of Commons. The most essential changes introduced by this measure, which received the Royal Assent at the end of the Session, are these it is made lawful to give evidence of the truth of the allegations complained of in

but subject to this limitation, that the truth shall not, ipso facto, constitute a defence, unless the party shall also make out that the publication of it was for the public benefit. Provision is also made for the case of publication of libellous matter by inadvertence in newspapers, which not unfrequently takes place, from one newspaper copying a particular paragraph from another. In such case the defendant is empowered by the new Act to plead the facts in extenuation, and also to pay money into Court by way of amends. An offer of apology is also in this and other cases to be admissible in evidence, in mitigation of damages. Other clauses are directed against that nefarious system practised by some of the more disreputable conductors of newspapers, who drive a trade in slander, and impose additional penalties upon those who make the publication of libels, or the threat of such publication, a means of extorting money from individuals. These are the principal provisions of this important Act, which is generally considered to have engrafted very beneficial amendments upon this branch of the law.

A measure for the Reform of the Ecclesiastical Court was brought in this Session, under the auspices of the Government, by Dr. Nicholl, the Judge-Advocate, the main object of which was to abolish a considerable number of petty courts and jurisdictions, and to introduce a more central administration of the laws affecting wills of personal property, and other matters of ecclesiastical regulation. Great opposition, however, was manifested to the plan, both in the

objected by many Members that the Church Courts required a more thorough reform, and out of doors, in consequence of the objections urged by numerous parties whose interests were affected by the Bill. It was ultimately postponed, in common with several other measures which, at a late period of the Session, the Government found itself obliged to throw over, from the pressure of business. A Bill for the extension of County Courts, proposed by Sir J. Graham, shared the same fate.

The Session, of which we have now recorded the most important results, having been protracted to an unusually late period, was at length terminated on the 24th August, when Parliament was prorogued by the Queen in person. The Commons having been summoned to the Bar of the House of Lords, the Speaker delivered the following Address :

"Most gracious SovereignYour Majesty's faithful Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland attend your Majesty with the Bill which closes the supplies for the present year. In granting these supplies, we have paid a strict attention to economy, at the same time that we have amply provided for the naval and military establishments of the empire; for, however much we might desire a diminution of the public burdens, under the pressure of that severe, although, as we hope, temporary distress which still exists in many parts of the country, we are satisfied that we best consult the true interests of the people, as well as the honour and dignity of the Crown, by fully maintaining the efficiency of the public service. During the pro

attention has been directed to various important questions of domestic policy, to the improvement of our institutions, and to the beneficial alteration of some branches of the law. We have witnessed with deep concern the unhappy divisions which have occurred in the Church of Scotland, and which have led to the secession of many of her most valued ministers. We have endeavoured, we trust successfully, to heal those divisions, and to restore peace to an Establishment which is fraught with such inestimable blessings to the inhabitants of that part of the United Kingdom. Another measure which has commanded our consideration, connected with the Church of England, we believe to be most important in its consequences; by facilitating the endowment of Churches in populous districts, and by thus seconding the views of those whose piety and munificence may dispose them to supply the spiritual wants of their poorer neighbours, we have laid the foundation of a wise and valuable extension of sound religious instruction among large masses of the people, under the auspices of the Established Church. Whilst we have been thus occupied in promoting objects of domestic importance, we have not disregarded the interests of your Majesty's subjects in those more distant lands which are visited by British enterprize and commerce, and which have the advantage of your Majesty's protection. And if the Session, which, by your Majesty's permission, is now about to terminate, has not been distinguished by measures of such prominent interest as that which preceded it, yet at no time have your Majesty's

selves more assiduously to the arduous duties which have devolved upon them: and their labours will be abundantly rewarded if they tend in any degree to the perma nent security of our institutions, and to the contentment and happiness of the people."

The Queen then delivered the following Speech :

"My Lords and GentlemenThe state of public business enables me to close this protracted Session, and to release you from further attendance on your Parliamentary duties.

"I thank you for the measures you have adopted for enabling me to give full effect to the several Treaties which I have concluded with Foreign Powers.

"I have given my cordial assent to the Bill which you presented to me for increasing the means of spiritual instruction in populous parishes, by making a portion of the revenues of the Church available for the endowment of additional ministers. I confidently trust that the wise and benevolent intentions of the Legislature will be aided by the zeal and liberality of my subjects, and that better provision will thus be made for public worship and for pastoral superintendence in many districts of the country.

"I view with satisfaction the passing of the Act for removing doubts respecting the jurisdiction of the Church of Scotland in the admission of ministers, and for securing to the people and to the Courts of the Church the full exercise of their respective rights. It is my earnest hope that this measure will tend to restore religious peace in Scotland, and to avert the dangers which have

"I continue to receive from all Foreign Powers assurances of their friendly disposition, and of their earnest desire for the maintenance peace.

of

Gentlemen of the House of Commons I thank you for the readiness and liberality with which you have voted the supplies for the current year. It will be my constant object to combine a strict regard to economy with the consideration which is due to the exigencies of the public service.

"My Lords and Gentlemen In some districts of Wales, the public peace has been interrupted by lawless combinations and dis turbances, unconnected with political causes. have adopted the measure which I deemed best cal culated for the repression of outrage, and for the detection and punishment of the offenders. I have at the same time directed an inquiry to be made into the circumstances which have led to insubordination and violence in a part of the country usually distin guished for good order and willing obedience to the law.

"I have observed with the deepest concern the persevering efforts which are made to stir up discontent and disaffection among my subjects in Ireland, and to excite them to demand a Repeal of the Legislative Union. It has been and ever will be my earnest desire to administer the government of that country in a spirit of strict justice and impartiality, and to cooperate with Parliament in effecting such amendments in the existing laws as may tend to improve the social condition and to develop the

a deep conviction that the Legislative Union is not less essential to the attainment of these objects than to the strength and stability of the Empire, it is my firm determination, with your support, and under the blessing of Divine Providence, to maintain inviolate that great bond of connexion between the two countries.

"I have forborne from requiring any additional powers for the counteraction of designs hostile to the concord and welfare of my dominions, as well from my unwillingness to distrust the efficacy of the ordinary law, as from my reliance on the good sense and patriotism of my people, and on the solemn declarations of Parliament in

support of the Legislative Union. "I feel assured that those of my faithful subjects who have influence and authority in Ireland, will discourage to the utmost of their power a system of pernicious agitation, which disturbs the industry and retards the improvement of that country, and excites feelings of mutual distrust and animosity between different classes of my people."

The Lord Chancellor then declared Parliament to be prorogued till the 10th October, and the long Session of 1843 came to its conclusion. Its results were not indeed of first-rate importance, nor productive of any essential changes in the institutions of the country, but it added some useful and practical measures to the Statute Book, and made some supplementary additions to the large commercial reforms of the preceding year. More might, perhaps, have been accomplished, but for the inconvenient and growing practice of protracting, by repeated adjournment, the