The Sun. — London, England, 1846-08-01 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, July 31. Their Lordships assembled at Five o'clock. Messengers from the Commons brought up several Bills. RUGBY AND LEAMINGTON RAILWAY BILL. The Earl of STRAFFORD moved the third reading of this Bill. Lord KINNAIRD objected to the motion, on the ground that the parties residing in Leamington had not been heard before the Committee, who deeided against bi ea ring them before they had had an opportunity of opening their case against the Bill. He concluded by moving the postponement of the third reading until Monday. Lord CAMOTS defended the Committee, and detailed their proceedings. No appearance was entered upon the petition from Leamington, so that they had no right to be beard. It was true an application was made to be beard, but the Committee decided against hearing them. But the case of the petitioners was fully heard on another petition, and therefore, whether they were heard or not in their case, their opposition was virtually heard, and was fully before the Committee, who were not guilty of any injustice. The parties had, however, no right to be heard, because their petition was not pre sented to the House until the 17th. Their appearance was not entered in time. He therefore should support the Noble Lord the chairman of the Committee (Lord Strafford). - The Earl of STRAFFORD said, he concurred in many of the statements which bad fallen fro m hi s N o bl e Friend who had just sat down. Lord KINNAIRD said, after what had fallen form the two Noble Lords, who were members of the Com mittee to whom the Bill was referred, he must persevere in his motion that the third reading be postponed till Monday. Lord MONTEAGLE said the question was—a Bill was referred to a Select Committee and the parties ap peared, and th ey were to be deprived of the power of being heard. If th e case was as stated by his Noble Friend, and that the parties did appear before the Bill was taken i n t o cons id erat i on, he did think it was unjust if they would n)t allow them to be heard. What earthly ground was there why this demand should be refused? —(Hear.) Except what he had heard in the House that night, he was not acquainted with the matter before their Lordships ; but, as a matter of justice, he thought the parties had a right to be heard. Earl GREY said it was very natural that the parties should appear in the first instance, because it would decide in what order the Committee should consider the Bill. Lord BEAUMONT said he was himself chairman of a Committee when the landowners were permitted to be heard when they came in due time. He did not think that any rule existed on this subject ; but it did appear to him that parties whose land was to be taken forciby away, had a right to be heard to the last moment.—(Hear, hear.) Let them suppose a case of a bad Bill which was to be pro posed. Before the parties opposing that Bill entered into the expanse incidental on opposing the Bill, they might wish to have some certainty on the question, and therefore he thought they were entitled to indulgence. The Earl of RADNOR said he thought that the rules of the Committee should be adhered to ; and, therefore, he conceived there were no grounds whatever for these allegations. Lord BROUGHAM said he thought the rule was to receive petitions up to the last moment. Now what he wanted was that the party should be compensated against the injury done him. Now there was a ease of an hotel, and the railway was to come within thirty-five yards of that hotel. Now it was not very pleasant to the parties stopping at that hotel to be subjected to the noise of the trains, and to have the dust which they would occasion thrust down their throats.—(Hear, hear.) Lord CA ;TOYS said the Noble Lord had brought forward a case quite different from that before the House. The promoters of the Bill had offered remuneration, hut those terms had been refused. He understood when the question was put, that the railway did not touch his property, therefore, ho did not come within the operation of the law of compensation.—(Hear, hear.) The Marquis of AYLESBURY thought that the pe tition should have been received, and the case of the petitioner heard. lie would support the amendment of the Noble Lord. Lord BROUGi - TAM again referred to the question of compensation, Instances could be shown where com pensation was given, though the property of the person who received it was not teuebed by the railway. The Commissioners, who lately reported on the central rail way termini, gave it as their opinion that even where there was no direct injury, such as the passing of the railway over property, compensation should be, given. Lord KINNAIRD would press the amendment to a division. Lord STRAFFORD said that after what had occurred, he hid no objection to postpone his motion till Monday next, agreeably to the desire of the Noble Lord. THE CHOLERA IN LONDON. The Earl of FITZIIARDINGE said he had seen an announcement in the Times newspaper of this day, on the authority of the Lord Mayor, that the cholera had broken out in London. The statement put forth did not distinctly state the species of cholera which had so * broken out, and in order to allay anxiety on the subject, be wished to ask his Noble Friend below him (the Mar quis of Lansdowne) whether the Government had received any official information on the subject. The Marquis of LA.NSDOWNE had seen the state ment in the Times of this day, and considered that great importance was attached to it on account of its emanat ing from so high an authority as the Lord Mayor of the City or London. His N o bl e F r i end, in using the term cholera, seemed to imply that it was of that virulent species which was denominated Asiatic cholera, which caused so much alarm throughout Europe and in this city some years ago. He did not think the opinion of the Lord Mayor was tantamount to create an impression that Asiatic cholera was existing in this city ; and he was extremely happy to make a statement which could not tail to be satisfactory to his Noble Friend and the House. It was strictly true that a very confident opi nion prevailed in this city that Asiatic cholera had existed for some time in London, but especially in the lower, and consequently densely -populated districts. Imme diately- on the Government being apprised of the exist ence to' such an impression, they employed an officer, who bad practised in the hospitals of this city, to in quire into the subject, and he was sent into all the localities which had been indicated as being affected by the cholera. He visited those houses and those lodgings, and reported in the course of the following day. that he could not find a single instance bearing the character or symptoms of Asiatic cholera.—(Heer, hear.) Not, however, content with this, ho visited the hospitals in the immediate - neighbourhood of these lo calities, and he did not find in any of these establish ments a single case of cholera.—(Efear, hear.) He cer tainly did find an increase of those diseases which were irequsnr ly found at hot seasons of the year, and a species of acrid cholera which was not unfreqaent in this country. Therefore he thought the /Luse might rely, that as far as this report was concerned, no alarm need prevail on the subject. Ha however, desired the facer alluded to, and another connected with the Medical Board, to be on the look out. He had been at the council-office that day, but up to that hour no iwi mation to the effect had been received. The Hon-c might prevent, in some measure, the spreading of dis ease in hot seasons of the year, by passing a measure before their Lordships for promoting cleanliness amongst the labouring classes. Lord BR )13 - Gll Of stated that nothing could be mere seeisfaciory th tie salternsnt of the Nobls Lard, because nothing could be more pre;urlicial than to allow such reports to remain uecontradicted if they were dp,_ void of truth. When he was in office he was in Formed that the cholera htid prevailed for some tiroo before the attention of the authorities was called io its existence. He apprehended, however, that the anticipated disease from the hot weather might be obviated by persons not exposing themselves to sud , l en chills, for at this period of the year—in the end 04 : July and in August —what was termed " Lammas-t'iood," in Scotland prevailed to a great r xtent. In the neighbourhood of Bedford-square, in the mews behind it, English cholera prevailed, but not to a great extent. He considered the Government ought to have information from week to week ; but he con oidered that there was no ground for alarm, that the cholera existed ; and no dangerous results mead be anticipeted- if persons did not expose themselves to chills, and did not eat raw vegetables. But there was an other kind of cholera which he called legislative cholere. He alluded to the Bill for the Recovery of Small Debts, and the Sugar Bill, which he called the Slave-trade Bill, which he feared, from the late period of the session, would not receive the attention they required. He hoped no dele,y would take place, and that these im portant measures would be brought before their Lord ships at •he earliest possible period. The Earl of FITZHARDINGE expressed himself ltatisfied with the explanation. Lord CAMPBELL, in presenting a petition from Wi,beach, in favour of the Small Debts Bill, urged the liana% to ease it without dr lay. The Earl of ST. GERNIXNS hoped the Go vernment would pot post pone the Pissing of this Bill. The Mar quis of L ONE said scarcely a day passed without his receiving m ost urgent entreaties to -pass this Bill. Under these cvirrcounistinces it would he the duty of Government to Bill. ceea at once with this After a few words from Lord Bar:rousse' and GREY, the matter dropped. Earl RAILWAYS. The Earl of CLARENDON reported from the Select Committee appointed to consider what Railway Bills should be committed during the remainder of the ses sion. That the Committee were of opinion that the following Bills ought to be exempted from the operation of the resolution of the 7th of May :—The Liverpool, Ormekirk, and Preson; the Glasgow and Belfast Union; the Tiff Vale Railway ; the Caledonian ; th e Caledo nian and Govan ; the Manchester and S out h ampton ; and the East and West India Dock Bill. The Noble Lord, therefore, moved that the resolution of the 7th of May be suspended in respect of those Bills.—A gree d to. BATHS AND 11r AS 'IHOUSES. Th© Marepie of LANSDOWNE moved the second reading of this Bill. EIIPLOYMENT OF THE PEOPLE OF IRELAND. Lord MON rE A.GLE rose, pursuant to notice, to move that a humble address be presented to her Majesty upon - the subject of the encouragement of industry' and of employment among the people of Ireland. He dui not bring th e su bj ect forward in opposi -- Zion to tile Government.—(Hear, hear.) It was a sub . ject tviiiCh deserved the a tt ent i on and support of Lai Noble - Lords present. It was a question involving no p considerations--it was a subject affecting the ' we ll- br ing of the people of Ireland. H e f e l t i t hi s duty to bring the matter furwsrd, and place it before the no : goo a dig GoielatlAat• ;IQ was Alie afie wituspep son who would deny that the late general distress in Ire alare present mingnat machinery ure.Hesh forould aen sorrhady e t. e i n n of t provinghe m thatos t the s hould be considered as casting any reflect c o nducting the legislation of Ireland was inadequate, he ion on the i l n ate th G e o h v a e h rn it m o e f n d e epe T n h d e in p:o g fo pe of that r l theirsup c p o l u y nt o r f y fho(a)dd upon been the lowest kind of diet, which had entirely failsd—he al luded to the failure of the potato crop. Great exertions were made by the late Government in introducing Indian meal, which had prevented famine from reaching that country, and it had also produced the most beneficial effect in a moral point of view. It was a most difficult problem to solve, in what manner a Government could interfere with the food of the country, but that problem had been most successfully solved by her Majesty's Go vernment in the course they had taken on this subject. He was happy to say that the four first Bills passed during this session of Parliament, were Bills for the im provement of Ireland, and for giving employment to the people of that country. He thought that the Govern ment would have to contend with similar difficulties in the ensuing year, unless they altered the present system with regard to Ireland. He was not himself an alarmist, but he really believed that the prospects of the ensuing year were more alarming than even the former year. There was a less quantity of land under cultivation for the growth of potatoes than in the preceding year, and the disease appeared to be likely to be far more prevalent. He thought there were symptons of an entire failure of the potato plant itself in that country. Alluding to seasons of scarcity that had previously taken place in that country, the Noble Lord said they were not to be compared to the amount of distress that was endured during the last season. He believed that not a less sum than 800,0001. had been ad vanced to alleviate the distress of the country ; large sum s hod been raised by private contributions. In the county of Clare, Colonel Wyndham had advanced 6,000/., Lord Kenmaire 3,000/., another private gentleman 2,0001., the district committees raised 100,0001., and Govern ment had come forward with large sums for the same purpose. There was also an immense amount of assist ance afforded by giving employment upon the laud. He believed that great praise was due to the Commissariat of Ireland. Commissariat-General Rowth and Gordon, also deserved great praise for their indefatigable exer tions. In the time of Lord Grey's Government, he (Lord Monteagle) introduced the Bill for the establish ment of the Board of Public Works, which was sub stituted for the other boards then existing ; but the im mense variety of business which came before them pre vented them from becoming so efficient on the late occa sion of distress as they otherwise would have been, had their duties been confined to the proper and legitimate business which was their peculiar function. He men tioned this for the purpose of showing the utter inade quacy of that board to discharge with effect the business which was lately imposed upon them. He lately applied to them, in conjunction with his friends Lord Clare and Lord Kenmaire, to procure e eployment for the relief of the poor people who were in distress in the county of Kerry; but early as that application was made, the pre liminary surveys were not yet made of those works, on which it was designed to provide them employment. The Noble Lord then went into a variety of details, for the purpose of showing that a better system of central management for the public works of Ireland was neces sary. By the Act of Union the treasury of the empire was as applicable to the wants of Ireland as to England and Scotland. Scotland received the sum of 400,0001., and the condition of the people of Scotland was ad vanced one hundred years by that outlay. He con tended that there was an actual gain to the kingdom by the expenditure of these grants. From 1822 to 1828, the revenue of the county Galway increased from nothing to 6,800/. yearly, which completely covered the outlay which had been made in that country, and to which alone this increased revenue could be attributed. The people of Ireland required superintendence more than money, for they were not sufficiently improved in knowledge to promote their interests in the best manner. If they had an efficient board of works, this good would be effected. In conclusion, he did not impute blame to the public works, nor to the exertions of the late Go vernment, but he hoped that some steps would be taken to have an efficient superintending board, for the pur pose of regulating the expenditure of the public grants, and providing employment for the people. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that he had listened with the greatest satisfaction to the address of the Noble Lord, and he admitted the general accuracy of the details entered upon. He hoped, however, the Noble Lord and the House would excuse him, if he did not go into a statement of the intentions of the Govern. ment in regard to meeting the evils complained of. He trusted also it would not be supposed that he avoided doing so, because he was not aware of the importance of it. He could assure the House that, as far as possible, it would be the duty of the Government to do everything, in its power to provide for the state of things referred to. In reference to the messures of the late Government, he must bear testimony that they had done great good, though it must be admitted that the machinery by which the relief was administered was very imperfect. He had no fault however to find with what they did, as they were called upon to act under circumstances of great emergency, and it was not to be expected they could bring into operation a perfect system of machinery. lie begged to inform their Lord chips that the Government for the last week had been, and would be for some time to come, engaged on the consideration of a measure for giving greater efficacy to the works, in order the more effectually to administer relief to the people of Ireland, and tor possessing full security for the application of the sums advanced, that they were used to forward the welfare and comfort of the people. He pledged himself to the general accuracy of the details of the Noble Lord. He was sorry it was not in his power to contradict him. Would to God that he could say that the great evil which was expected again to overtake Ireland was not such as had been represented 1 He could not say more at present. He felt thankful for the state ment made by the Noble Lord, that considering the late period of the session ' and seeing that th e p resent Go vernment had but so lately acceded to office, he trusted they would excuse him from further entering into the subject at present. In a few days a full and authentic statement would be presented to the other House of the expenditure of money which had been made under the Act which had been referred to, from which it would be seen how the funds had been applied. The Earl of DEVON hoped the House would allow him to address a few words on this subject, as it was one to which he had paid great attention. He thought there could be no dispute as to the present principle of employing the population on public works should there be a scarcity of employment. He would not therefore dispute that principle; but he would endeavour to show the difficulties and obstacles which had caused the measures adopted in relation to Ireland not being so successful as was expected. He thought the difficulties did not 'arise so much as to the employment of the people on public works, but as t i the employment of the people on the land. In the fill which had been paved to facilitate the employment of the people, so backward were the landed proprietors to take advantage of the clause which authorised the borrowing of money for improving the land, to be phi again with interest, in ten rears, that only one proprieroe, the late Lord- Lieutenant, took acivantele of it. The effect there(' le had been that scarcely Arty employment was found fbr the people through the operation of this clause. (The Noble Lord gave some other instances of the saes cha racter, to show the difficulties that trore found in carrying out the intentions of the Aces While on this subject he must compl it a vh i ee n nd o tths f ner t me k t e ibo p ny rodeedi ngs of the late Govern rathestartigashttog t in h '4 e -h :e c e h n t t s h k C ti t h ita t passed e e r o t n 6 i t s h e is i subject—that of fixing t@n rate of luterest, and the pa tied at which it Was to i$A r , aicl when applicetio n n for loans hat) Iner t for' it the m through the Heart of Works. He thought the Governthent had 11.9% acts in this !natter as they cu `ht to bk . -e clunk Ttie giving many a means Of 4!± honest livelihood would be the result of the itdarnation of this waste land. To say that no non would result from reclaiming waste Lehi appeared to him a perfect absurdity. These were points to which he alluded—not for the purpose of coin plaint, but merely that attention might be turned to the subject. The last report made by the society on that subject, showed that there were two thousand persons on the estate in Ireland where at one time there were not nine cabins, and not one of those individuals had been convicted of a single offence, —(Hear, hear.) It was, no doubt, of great importance that the people should be employed, and to give that employ ment was the great object they all had in view. It unfortunately happened, however, that the landlords of Ireland were not able to do this. The report of the Board of Works on this subject came too late to .enable them to turn it to immediate account, and he trusted that the House would act peremptorily in this matter. Lord CLANCARTY said he thought a most im portant consideration had been brought before the House. His Noble Friend had likewise brought before the notice of their Lordships the advance that had been made of public money. The officers of these public works had done their work efficiently. He trusted that a state of improved agriculture would be introduced, that would give to the people of Ireland—as in England —permanent employment ; but he thought at the same time. that too much importance could not be given to public works.—(flear, hear.) Lord MONTEAGLE sail, after what had fallen from the Noble Lord, he would not press his motion. Tne motion was accordingly withdrawn, and their Lordships adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, J 31. The SPEAKER took the Chair shortly uly before Four o'clock. On the motion of Mr. GREENE, it was agreed, after a short discussion, that the Lords' amendments to all th stilielavehdr°Nvuitotuftvo m the House oe amendments becon - shou1:1 have been notice, first su bmitted providedte. e Speaker such aker The report on Lord Ki nnaird's (Sir John * Webb's) Estate Bill was further considered, and ordered to be printed. THE STOCKPORT IMPROVEMENT BILL. Mr. BROTHERTON moved that the order of the day for the tiiird reading of the Stockport Improvement Bill be discharged, in order that a new Bill might be intro duced. Mr. T. DUNCOMUE presented a petition, signed by 5,096 inh a bi tants of Stockport against the Bill. The petitioners stat. , cl that nine tenths of the inhabitants of Stockport were opposed to the Bill. Ile would now move that th e Bill should be read a third time that three month s , as h e never would agree f - A) 1 !!' 9 1; : .' re d a . lY ing of such a t yrannical measure. ,1 u d. Mr. BROTHERTON said that the motion made was tant amount to reading the Bill a he h a d third tittle that day thre e mont h s. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE said that unless the Hor. o able Gentleman would agree to the proposition uti).-f postponing the third readin 4- for thre months he should feel it to be his duty to etck the ate motion. 7:4a igeasura was a Wost atausioaa cud ty. - rannical one, and no person approved of it except those who were to benefit under it. The parties who opposed the measure had asked the mayor to call a meeting, which he refused to do, or even to lend tli•m the Tow n hall ; the result was, the meeting was held in the market place, and - resolutions were adopted against the measure, which he believed to be a complete job. The parties bad been deceived with respect to the Bill, and did not know for some time who was the concoctor of the measure. He wished to know whether the Hon. Member for Sal ford would consent to the withdrawal of the Bill with• out the condition which he had stated, viz., on the un derstanding that he should be allowed to reintroduce it on a future occasion. If the Honourable Gen- tleman would agree to that, he (Mr. 151;nco; be) would abstain at present from entering at any further length into the merits of the Bill. The fourth clause proposed to give to the town council of Stockport the sum of 10.0001. out of the public funds ; and in the distribution of that sum the ratepayers would not have the slightest control. The proposition contained in that clause was one of the most disgraceful proceedings which any body of men calling themselves liberal could make. Mr. BROTHERTON said that he certainly should not consent to the withdrawal of the Bill on the terms proposed by the Hon. Gentleman. Mr. DUNCOMBE said he would then go at length into the objections which he had against this Bill. Mr.HUME trusted that the Hon. Member for Finsbury would allow him to suggest, that as the promoters of the Bill were anxious to have it withdrawn, he (Mr. T. Duncombe) would be saving the time of the House by abstaining at present from any remarks on the de merits of the Bill. Of course he would have the opportunity of making those remarks which he intended now to make, should any attempt be hereafter made to re-introduce it.—(flear, hear.) He himself bad received several letters from some of the most respectable ratepayers of Stockport, in confir mation of the statement of the Hoe. Member for Fins bury, and should the Bill be attempted to be re-introduced he should heartily join with that Hon. Gentleman in opposing the Bill, but he hoped that nothing would be at present said which would have the effect of inflaming the excited feelings of the people of Stockport. Mr. DUNCOMBE said he had no objection to con sent to the withdrawal of the Bill on the terms proposed by the Hon. Member for Salford. Mr. BROTHERTON refused to alter the terms of his prcwisal. Mr. MARSLAND said that, as he was interested in the question, being one of the representatives of Stock ton, he might perhaps be allowed to say a few words on this question. The Honourable Gentleman the Member for Finsbury had amused the mayor of being personally interested in the question. He could assure the Hon. Gentleman that the mayor had been represented as hostile to the measure, because he had kept aloof, as he had himself. They never were consulted as to whether the waterworks should or should not be pur- chased, and they did not know that it was in contemplation to do so until he saw the announcement in the Guardian. With respect to the observation that this was a job, it was very far from the truth, as he was positive that there was no job in it. He had with others objected to many of its clauses. The town council of Stockport were far more liberal than any body of the same nature to be found in Finsbury. It was composed of rate payers, and all were admitted from the highest to the lowest. It had been characterised as a gross job by one of the magistrates who was not a ratepayer, and who wished to make it a gross job. He begged to say that, having objections to some of the clauses, be had consulted as to the proper means of opposing them. Srl R. H. INGLIS said that the Hon. Member had offered to withdraw his opposition, provided that no other Bill were brought in. He (Sir R. H. Inglis) thought that the late period of the session would gau ran'ee that no other measure of the kind could be hr•aight in. Mr. ESTCOURT said he had been drawn into this mat ter, and he had had a good deal of correspond( nce on the subject. He did not think that if the House were to appoint a Committee—he was satisfied that it would not, in the opinion of the Hon. Member for Montrose, he such a Committee as would be satisfactory. But he would further observe that if the Hon. Member were to bring in another Bill, as he trusted he would, be should have his support. Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSET was afraid that, if another Bill were to be brought in containing the same clauses it would he equally unsatisfactory. Mr. BROTHERTON would emphatically deny the charges that had been made against the inhabitants of Stockport on this Bill. If the motion of the Hon. Mem ber for Finsbury for the withdrawal of this Bill were acceded to by the House, he should certainly bring in another Bill to the same effect. It was only the cot ton-spinners who wished the smoke of their factories not to be stopped, and the publicans who wished to keep their houses open on Sunday, and persons in ,a similar position. who were petitioners against this Bill. The Bill was for making parks. improving the streets, and making other sanatory regulations. Great numbers of Bills of similar character to this had been passed this session without a word ; and if the Bill were thrown out he should certainly bring in another Bill of the same kind. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE said that one division would do, and he should, therefore, move that the Bill be read this day three months. Mr. litTME was anxious to have for Stockport fair May. He thought, under the present circumstances. it would he the best course to allow the order of the day to be discharged. That done, he hoped, before the next session of Parliament, some general measure would Ise introduced for the regulation of police in all towns, and also a measure for market improvements. He hoped that at present the matter would be amicably settled without a division. Mr. B. ESCOTT wished the Hon. Member for Stock port to give some information of the meeting respecting the Bill which had been referred to. Mr. M NRSLAND could not give any information respecting the meet.ng. He had left the town before the meeting took place, and he had not had any com. munication with the parties to it since then. Mr. BRIGHT wished to bear testimony that the pro moters of the Bill had no other object in view than the welfare of Stockport. The Al difficulty perienced in that town was that the promoters of the Bill were desirous of having pawer for the levying of rates for the improvement of the town, while the small ratepayers were against it, and at pre sent refused the granting of any rates for that purpose at any meetings that might be called for that pur pose. No danger could arise from the passing of the Bill, because the power was vested in the town council, which represented the great body of the inhabitants. lie had risen merely to give his testimony in favour of the promoters of the Bill. Mr. DUNCOMBE said he would withdraw his amend ment on the understanding that the Bill would be with drawn. The amendment was then withdrawn, and the order of the day for the third reading of the Bill discharged. Mr. BROTHERTON then moved for leave to bring in a fresh Bill on the subject—the Stockport Improve ment Act, No. 2. Some discussion then arose as to wheti-er the Hon. Member was in order in giving notice of a second Bill ott the subject. The SPEAKER said that it was competent for the [lon. Member to move for leave to bring in a fresh Bill. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE thought the House should know sothething of the nature of the Bill about to be intro ducAl. Mr. BROTHERTON said he did not know what the Bill would bt; if he had leave to bring in a Bill he thought it would be one of the same nature as the pre= s lit Bill ; whieh had Wess approved of by the Inn, d the Committee of Ways and - Means, Mr. Greene. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE said that the Hon. Member the Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means hitd informed him that he had nothing to do with the Bill ; if; therefore, the Hon. M em b er for Salford proposed to bring in a Bill similar to the one approved by that Hon. Member, he did not know where it was to be found. Sir G. GREY wished to explain to the House the part he had taken in this Bill. Great objections were made to several clauses of the Bill, and it was suggested by the Hon. Member the Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means that it was a subject which should be brought under the consideration of the Home-office. He had accordingly examined the Bill, and had struck out several objectionable clauses. Mr. MARSLAND said that he had objected to se veral clauses of the Bill, but he thought it a very anomalous state of things that the Bury and Manchestir Improvement Acts should have been passed with pre cisely the same clauses as there were in the present Bill, and yet that this Bill was not allowed to be proceeded with. Mr. GREENE said, that on a former occasion when the Bill was before the House, he stated his oinion that several of the clauses were of a highly objectionable nature ; he was still of the same opinion. Mr. HUME hoped the Hon. Member for Salford would not 'press his Bill at the present time. He was sure that the Bill would not be allowed to pass with its present objectionable clauses. It was impossible for any man to suppose that it was possible to carry such a Bill as this through the House, and he, therefore, as a peacemaker, begged of his Hon. Friend the member for Salford not to persist in his motion.—(Hear, hear.) _ _ _ Mr. ESTCOURT approved of the suggestion of the Hon. Member for Montrose. There could be no ne cessity for pressing this Bill forward during the present session. The Hon. Member for Finsbury, as well as the Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means, had inspected the Bill, and pronounced it to be an unjust measure. Under these circumstances he should vote with the lion. Gentleman the Member for Finsbury. Mr. BItOTHERTON said he had no personal interest whatever in the Bill, nor had he any strong feeling either for or against it ; but he did hope that the House would exercise its discretion in this matter. Whatever their decision might be, he should cheerfully bow to it. No tice was given of this Bill in the regular manner, and it proceeded as far as this, the last stage, without any opposition. No petition was presented against it, with the exception of that presented by the Ron. Member for Finsbury. He did think that the town council of Stockport had been harshly used in this matter. Ho felt bound to divide the Ileum, on this question. Mr. DUNCOMBE Aid, that on e o f the Hon. Meru ••• •' " ' 3 --- --"ted a neti- ..n. am- cnocKporc (ivir. saarsiano) utsu pi 0...--. I --- I(ion, signed by between 5,000 and 6,0 N ratepayers of the borough, against the Bill. Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, when there appeared For the motiot Against It Azainst the Bill being' brought iR —8 METROPOLITAN SEWAGE MANURE BILL. el Ihe report an t i further consideration r of this Bill was 1 314 t1POW to igoadis,y 446 The British Guarantee Association Bill and the Sligo and Shannon Railway Bill were read a third time and passed. TENANT COMPENSATION. Mr. S. CRAWFORD presented a petition from a large body of the inhabitants of Castlereagh, praying the House to take steps to provide a permanent measure for providing compensation to tenants, after having regularly paid their rent, and were about.to be discharged from their farms, such compensation to he adequate to the out lay made by the tenant whilst in occupation. Mr. HUDSON presented a petition from Sunderland against the union of the sees of St. Asaph and Bangor. CONSTITUTION OF THE CHANNEL ISLANDS. Mr. CHRISTIE presented a petition from a gentle man of the name of Duppa, residing in Jersey, praying for an extension of the British Constitution to Jersey, and the other Channel islands. IRISH LANDLORD AND TENANTS BILL. Mr. S. CRAWFORD gave notice that on Monday next he should put a question to the Noble Lord at the head of the Government respecting the Bills now lying on the table for the direction of the Irish tenantry, and that he should also at the same time ask whether it was the intention of Government to issue any corn mission on that subject during the recess. SURVEY OF'IRELAND. Sir DENHAM NORREYS moved f , r a Select Com mittee on the progress of the trigonometrical surrey in Ireland. ASSESSED TAXES. Sir DE LACY EVANS moved for a copy of the list of defaulters in payment of assessed taxes for the year 1845, ending the sth day of November, 1846, and paST a.r,le (in order to election qualification) on or before the 20th day of July, 1846, or two following days. furnished in compliance with the 12th section sf the Act 6 Vic. c.lB by the assessors or collectors in the city of Westminster, and, if any reasons for non-receipt of these taxes in each or any case can be assigned, the same to be stated; and similar copies or the same list for the city of London and boroughs of Finsbury, Brighton, and Southampton.— Ordered. THE CHANNEL ISLANDS. Dr. BOWRING inquired whetheiiheGovernment would consent to extend the inquiries of the Channel Is lands Commission into the general state of the laws and their administration in those islands ? Sir GEORGE GREY said that he did not see why the criminal jurisdiction as well as the civil should not be extended to the Channel Islands. The subject was at present under the considerjttion of the Lord Chan cellor. Mr. CHARLES VILLIERS moved that the petition of Robert Maule Gillies and George Horne, respecting the duties on rye, peas, and beans, be printed. ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE. On the motion of Sir GEORGE GREY, it was agreed th,it the House at its rising adjourn till Monday, SPIRI Mr. MACKINNON said he had a motion for the equalisation of duties on colonial and British spirits. He wished to know from the Chancellor of the Exchequer when would he the most convenient time for him to do so? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the most convenient time would be at the time that the House went into Committee on the Customs' Duties Bill, and when they proposed the amount of duty to be imposed on rum. Mr. MACKINNON—When will that be? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—AII that he could say was, that it would be as soon as pos sible, but he could nat say exactly when. FLOGGING IN THE ARMY. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that as notice of motion had been given by an Hon. Member respecting flogging in the army, he wished to inform the House that he had caused the subject to be brought under the consideration of the Commander-in-Chief, the Duke of Wellington. The question was, therefore, at present under the con sideration of the Commander-in-Chief, not with the object of abrogating the power of inflicting corporal punish ment, but with the view of regulating it. He thought, therefore, it would not be advisable, till the result was communicated to the House, that the subject of flogging in the army should be discussed. Dr. BUWRING was willing that his motior should be postponed, so as not ,to interfere with the proceedings of the Government regarding the question. He would, however, wish the Noble Lord to understand that if the measure the Government submitted was not satisfactory, he (Dr. Bowring) should be at liberty to bring forward the whole question. Ile was bound, before tl,e en(' of the session, tobring the subject before the House Mr. B. OSBORNE said the intimation of the Noble Lord was so far satisfactory that he should not; under the circumstances, press the motion of which he had given notice. Mr. WILLIAMS wished to know if flogging in tht navy was also to be brought under consideration, and whether anything was to be done to regulate court martials in that 'department of the service ? Lord JOHN RUSSELL said the subject of the army. as he had stated, was under the consideration of the commander-in-chief; but he (Lord John Russell) hat not had any communication with the Admiraly on the. subject of the navy. He would, in regard to the Hon. Member for Bolton, take care that, in case the Govern ment measure was not considered satisfactory, he should have an opportunity of bringing forward his motion. After a few words from Mr. HUME, Mr. OSBORNE said he pledgFd himself not to press his amendment, if the Commander-in-Chief recom mended that the number of lashes should be limited. The Noble Lord had not given any express pledge that the Commander in-Chief would recommend a di minution in the number of lashes. Now, unit-se the Commander-in-Chief did limit the number of lashes. he should press his amendment. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER having moved the order of the day for the House resolving itself int a C(.mmittee of Ways and Means, ACCIDENTS ON EASTERN COUNTIES RAIL WAY. Mr. HUDSON said he was anxious to take that op portunity of making a few observations, in reference to the statements made on the previous day by two Honourable Members, with respect to the Eastern Counties Railway. He wished to make this state ment, for the purpose of allaying any public excitement that might have been occasioned by the re marks of those two Hon. Members. He had made in quiries from the secretaries of the company, and he thought that the result of those inquiries would satisfy the House that, as far as the ma nagement of that undertaking was concerned, the public had less cause to fear accidents when travel ling on that railway than on any other. Since the opening of this line, which was in 1840, 11,000,000 people had travelled upon it, and, with the exception of the late ac cident o , re t d ne e r in e oe h t a n d e o b p e e e n n i;lg o , n t ly hro o o n o e f w d h ea o t m h during the Foegrea whole ibnrj time.k ebroken, and There one h a a dd elbeendislocated t o o n d l only shoulder. twenty one had p ti a ie ss ir en The remainder of the accidents were of the most trifling description. He felt confident that this state ment would be most satisfactory to the House and the public. He would not as yet say anything in reference to the recent accident on the line, but the state ment which he had made he thought was but just to the proprietors and the public. There was as much if not greater security on the Eastern Counties than on any other line in the kingdom. Mr. HORSMAN wished to know what was the in tention of the Government in reference to the Com mission that had been appointed at the com mencement of the session in reference to rail roads. He wished to know from his Right Honourable Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government intended to do anything in order to allay the public excitement and confusion which prevailed on this subject ? Sir GEORGE GREY said he was not prepared to make any statement in reference to this question. He hoped to be able to bring _forward some, measure, during the present session, for the purpose of removing some of the inconveniences complained of in the report of the Committee lately presented to the House, which he hoped would come into operation before the next session. THE SUGAR DUTIES. On the motion for going into Committee of Ways and Means. Mr. SPOONER said that he wished to state briefly to the House his reasons for giving his vote in support of the proposition of Government. He thought it the duty of a christian nation to lay aside every consideration of profit and commercial benefit or advantage, if they were to be purchased by anything tending to increase the slate trade. He did not think that the proposition of her Majesty's Government would give the least stimulus to the slave trade ; if he thought it would Ile said he would not give his support to the proposition. After the very able speech of the Noble Lord the lieniber fin. Liverpool (Lord Sandon), he would net have tieeit id enter on the subject if the Noble Lord OP Member for Stamford had not risen after and made Eth attempt to invalidate his argu ments. That Noble Lord had characterised the speech of the Member for Liverpool as one that could not be comprehencled.=CHear, hear.) He (Mr. Spooner was of opinion that that speech was the most concise and the most coniplete answer to all the argu ments on the opposite side. lie said the demand for sugar had grown till it was more than the flintily. if, however, they excluded sieve-grown sugar from the market that only opened another market for it elsewhere im tve.liately ; a greater consumption of free--labour sugar at home was the consequence, and that created a vacuum on the Continent, which was again supplied with slave-grown sugar. He begged they would observe what the effect of this had been on trade and the manufactures of this country. The trade between this country and the Brazils was an important trade ; but since the treaty had ceased the Bra zilian Government had raised their duties. Toe merchants there had sent over their agents tc the Continent, and there they were buying German goods in the German markets with English capital, and carrying into their markets slave-labour sugar. It was a fact which could not be disputed, that their efforts to do away with slavery had failed, and it was therefore completely uselesss . t i e persevere in a system which pressed so hahSaavisyo upon the comforts of the people. Their . p that their interests were wholly neglected. 11. he gssooivuerilcaesthaoef whole, offence to the Brazilianee, who felt_ e was an advocate for protection, whichne believed was the foundation of the prosperity t . _tp e e country ; but if it were to be maintained, it sh h ould b endless injustice to fully debated in the new argument s otherwiee it would Howe, that he did not - hope to give an Y• it would not be parties.e teS ti° ll had already been so for its consideration, but he felt a. silent vote upon so consistent with his duty to give - 6 important a question. Sir IL H. INGLIS said that a mongst the many de feats which, in the course of his experience in that House, he had had to sustain, there was none which he felt more deeply than that which he sustained by the degiaia of the uglau T+105 1 14 last if bar way ( opposition of his he could hope to remove that decision, he trusted that he should not be found wanting in what be considered to be his duty ; but that decision of the House having been pronounced by a majority so large as to render any further attempt on his part, not merely hopeless, but probably irritative, and leading to a great hindrance to the discharge of public business, he did not desire to revive the discussion of Monday and Tues day last, and rose rather for the purpose of stating that, than of answering what ho thought might be easily answered— the opposition of his Hon. Friend the Mem ber for Birmingham—the latest convert to the doctrine of free- trade, and latest abandoner of the principles of protection. He would only state, that deeply as he re gretted the injury to be sustained by their fellow countrymen in the East as well as the West Indies, by the change which had been decided upon in the course of the last few days—deeply as he regretted the ma jority by which that change bad been produced, by such a combination of individuals and of parties as perhaps the wildest imagination of any man in that House, he was quite sure could neverexpect upon such a subject— still more deeply fi ding the change in our commercial policy, the greatest change which had been made in the course of three centuries—he meant this change in the slave trade—yet at the same time he saw the contest was hopeless, and he would not weary the House with arguments in reply, which had been used by far better and able r men than himself. He would therefore take upon himself the responsibility,. on a subject of so much importance to the interests of the West Indian colonies, aud the still higher interests of humanity and the world, of withdrawing all further opposition. Several Bills were brought down from the Lords, after which, The House went into Committee. Mr. D. BARCLAY opposed the resolution, and called upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer to distin guish between sugar the produce of free labour in the colenies, and sugar the produce of the unfortunate ne groes in the islands of Cuba and in the Brazils. He said this measure would destroy the little attachment betty: en the colonies and the mother country ; for what attachment, he asked, would Jamaica have to this coun try when the duties were eqealised, and Cuba and the Brazils had the same •advantages ? He said they were committing an act tantamount to dissolving the connexion between the colonies and this country. The only chance for the colonies would be to give their produce every opportunity of a market. If the inhabitants of Jamaica were their fellow subjects they .sere entitled to an equal treatment with the people of the country, and he did hope that there would be no obstruction thrown into the way of the consumption of free labour sugar. The simple alteration which he pro. propsed was, that instead of the duty varying for the first three years, that the foreign sugar should remain stedfast for that time at 215., and after that in the fourth year it should be reduced to 3s. 61 That alteration was so simple in its character that it could hardly be objected to, and he sincerely hoped that the House would not object to it. The CHAIRMAN said that the resolution of the Hon. Member could not be put at present. Mr. MOFFATT then moved the repeal of the differential duties on white clayed sugar and Muscovado, or other sugar not being equal to white clayed. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER opposed the motion, because it would be a great annoyance to the public if adopted. If the House was deal ing with colonial sugar only the Honour able Member would have a better ground for proposing his motion, but as they were now dealing with foreign as well, he believed that the resolution proposed would in flict great injury on those engaged in the sugar trade. He then read extracts from some documents, for the purpose of showing that the charges of oppression on the part of the custom-house officers, in the collection of the duties on sugar, were not well grounded. Believing that the reasons which existed at the time when those duties were first proposed existed now in even greater strength, he must say that he should oppose his Hon. Friend's motion ; at the same time he might state that he did not consider the present as a final measure. Mr. MOFFATT said, that after the explanations of the Right Hon. Gentleman, he would not persist in his motion at present.—(Hear, hear.) After a few words from Mr. P. M. STEWART. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the present measure was a final one, but he did re serve to himself the power of making a distinction on the white clayed sugar. The item of 18s. Bd. on white clayed sugar was then agreed to. Mr. JAMES moved that the item of brown sugar, be • ing Muscovado, or clayed, or any other sugar not being equal in quality, white clayed, not being refined, be ad mitted for three years at a duty not exceeding les. the cwt. He was against any duty being placed upon colonial .agar. He was'not actuated in making this motion by any hostility to the Government, but he considered that the House would confer a great boon upon the people if they agreed to his motion. He would not press it, how over, if it was not the wish of the House. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the reduction would interfere too much with the revenue. Mr. BERKELEY moved that the differential duty should exist for three years at a fixed sum of 21s. per ~wt., and in the fourth year there should be a further reduction to a fixed duty of les., as proposed by her Majes'y's Government. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that he could not agree to the proposition, which involved most evil consequences. He considered that the plan as proposed by her Majesty's Goverment had met very general approbation, and he, therefore, considered he would not be justified in' assenting to the proposition of the Honourable Gentleman. lie believed that under all the circumstances the gradual reduction of duty on the sugar was the mode best calcu lated to benefit the consumers and the trade of the country. With regard to the introduction of molasses, into distille ries, he had promised to give the subject his fullest and seirest consideration. He thought that there would be some difficulty in introducing it this session, but at some future period it would probably occupy the attention of the House. Mr. D. BARCLAY made some observations in reply which did not reach the gallery. The purport was (as we understood) to withdraw the amendment. Mr. BARKLY said, that in consequence of the variety of rates of duty in the Bill, which would in many mercantile houses cause a considerable less of time, the West India planters would be certainly deprived of the benefit of it. The slave owner would be able to throw in a quantity of sugar at such a rate as to render the West India planter unable to compete with them. He should certainly have felt it his duty to support the amendment of the Hon. Member for Sunderland if he had pressed it, but as it was withdrawn, he could only state that he heartily concurred in its principle. Sir JOHN RAE REID would put it to the House whether a great interest like the present one was to be sacrificed in this way. He objected to the hurried mode of its discussion, a6d he thought that its effect would be both cruel and unjust upon those engaged in the sugar trade. Mr. PATRICK STEWART entirely agreed with his two lion. Friends who had preceded him, that the next day's packet would take out very gloomy tidings to the West Indies. He did not wish, however, that the gloomy forebodings of his Hon. Friends should be carried across the Atlantic. Much as the sugar pro ducers dreaded the competition which was to be opened upon them, they would not so much care for it if the Government would only be prompt in the execution of those measures of which they held out hopes. If they would let them have a free and uninterrupted supply of free labour from every British possession on the globe, he should say to his friends on the other side of the Atlantic, that hard and severe as the measure was, they would survive the crisis if they moved the Government to fulfil its promise to them. Mr. P. BORTHWICK said that he hardly knew whether the motion of the Hon. Gentleman had been withdrawn br not If it had been pressed to a division he should have supported it by his vote, He agreed with the Hon. Gentleman who had just sat down, that look ing at the colonies, there was no such gloomy prospects as had been anticipated. He believed that in ten years from that time the colonies would be again flourishing. The question was, what was to be done with those who had property there, and who would be most materially injured by the passing of the present measure. He thought it was right, both in public and private policy, to look difficulties in the face, and he trusted that the Hon. Baronet, the Member for Dover (Sir John Rae Reid) would prevail on the wealthy merchants of Lon don to look at the question in this light. He hoped that these merchants would not have to send out, by to-morrow's packet, the dolorous news that it was their determination to put an end to protection as regarded the colonies. Mr. GOULBURN, who was at first inaudible in the gallery, said he was not prepared to have voted for his Hon. Friend's motion if he had pressed it to a division. Ho thought that the Government ought to be pressed to give those measures of compensation to which the West Indies had a claim ; that if the Government re i ncis d the duties to perfect equality, they should assist theta by a sufficient supply of labour, and also give some compeosation for the tardiness of that assistance. It was in the hope ;_hat Government would do something of this kind that he would support the measure of the Government. Dr. Bowa[Nct, confessed that the colonial claims deserved calm and me-swim: le consideration. The pro prietors_ had admitted to whose On his side the House the principles of free trade, anti be thought that taking up that position they were likely psta ' cl ht be given and blish fair aims. There were no doubt facilities thas` Di'he eeer ving always opportunities that might be opened ilea .t- d The ques the integrity of the principles of free dabs e.• lion had been unnecessarily es. this advantage the: the tinctions. He himself was an"ximoPulsiciahtraetherum s"; u ion had been settled ; but there colonies had by this meastirew,atsiat itahtehemcahrekaeptess t of m t a h r e . world were opened to them, to buy ket, and sell in the dearest. Mr. BERNAL said he did not understand what fell from the Bight Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer as to the change he proposed on colonial spirits. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, what he had said in reference to the West India proprie tors was, that all protection had been removed from them, and all protection had been removed against them. He only was anxious to know what they wished, and what obstacles they felt. He said the principle upon which the Government had acted, was, that the fiscal burdens on British and colonial spirits should be the same when they came in for consumption. Possibly the duty continued might be too much, but be did not mean to enter on that question just now. There was no duty on the spirits of the West Indies, except for fiscal pur poses ; and that British spirits and Jamaica rum might come in on precisely the same terms, he had reduced the duty to Is. instead of Is. 6d. A deputation of dis tillers had waited on him, who thought he had gone too far. He said he would hear the West Indians as to whether the ls. was too much, and the distillers as to whether it was not enough, aud he would adjudicate Wino 404 i wit 4 v&w to doiDsjusdoe. 11E1o/rid till* duty imposed was not for protection to any interests in this country, but only for the purposes of revenue. Mr. BERNAL wished to know how the Right . Hon. Gentleman could justify that arrangement, la which in Scotland rum at 9s. 4d. was le: in to meet a spirit at 3s. ad. Was not that protection ? Perhaps the Chan cellor of the Exchequer did not know that there was a spirit manufactured in Scotland, called the " Silent Spirit."—(Laughter.) It was alcohol having the appear ance and colour of rum, and was vended there duty free to the prejudice of rum. He asked why rum should not enter into Scotland on the seine footing as it did with English spirits in England ; why there was not a uniform rate for Scotland also ? Mr. HUME was pleased that this matter had been so amicably settled, but he though the Government might have made the concession asked by the West India into • rest, without injuring the great measure now before the Committee.—(Hear, hear.) He must, join with other Hon. Gentlemen who had already addressed the Com mittee, in h e ping that Government would act liberally with the Colonies. No one could deny the assertion that they had not been treated fairly ; and he, for one, thought, while they were adopting free trade at home, they ought to apply it to the colonies without any reservations whatever. Place the colonies in a situation of freedom in that respect, and he was satisfied that, so far from suffering from the change about to be made, they weuld be able to compete with any foreign producers. Now, this freedom could not be given unless a change took place in the system pursued at the Colonial-office. Hitherto that department had acted upon nothing but a receding policy, issuing orders one day, and counter manding them another, and acting all the year round upon a vice versa system, if he might be allowed to use the term,—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) An evil genius appeared to have invaded all the ranks of the Colonial office, but he hoped the Noble Lord would give them an assurance that, in this respect a change should be made, and the colonies permitted to have the management of their own fiscal affairs themselves.—(Hear. hear.) Lord JOHN RUSSELL had heard with gr‘ at plea sure the statement of his Right Hon. Friend opposite. But with regard to the observations of his Hon. Friend (Mr. Bernal) he thought it was better bath for the con sumer and the producer that the present distinction between rum scotch spirits should continue for a short while longer. These changes could not be suddenly made with advantage to either party. It required time to effect them, and if that time were allowed to Govern trent they would do their utmost to carry out the details of this change in a manner that should meet the views and wishes of most parties.—(Hear, hear.) They did not propose any variation of duties for the sake of protection, but with a view of ultimately leading to a final and satisfactory adjustment of the sugar duty question. With regard to the reduction proposed to be made in the excise duty of 6d., he relied fully upon the justice and integrity of his Right Hon. Frio d the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who he had no doubt would settle the question impartially, and in a manner calculated to pro tect the interest of all parties. It must be remembered, however, that the West Indies had been exposed to great changes in their social as well as commercial condition. They were now thrown open to the changes of free trade, if indeed there were any ; and he felt it to be the duty of Government to attend to all these little questions and details which it was supposed would close much benefit for the colonic s.—(Cheers) lie was very sorry to hear two Honourable Gentlemen opposite speak with so much despondency of the prospect of the West Indies. He owned, although, he had carefully con sidered all that was said on former occasions upon this part of the subject, he did not believe the prospects of the West Indies were so distressing and deplorable as some Hon. Gentlemen would paint them.—(Hear, hear.) He did really believe that, avith the advantegea of some trifling charge, and privileges, they would be well able to compete in the sugar market with sugar the produce of slave labour.—(Hear, hear.) The difficulties in their way were only those of the price and simply of labour, and he could assure the House that Government in tended taking these steps which should reduce the diffi culties year by year till they had entirely vanished.— (Hear, hear.) It would be their study and desire to establish a free intercourse between the African and West Indian colonies. Men could be brought from Africa to the West Indies, and there thoroughly taught the arts of civilisation before they would return to their native soil. This system, managed with skill, care, and attention, he need not point out to the Howe, would lead to the civilisation of the barbarous population of our African colonies.—(Hear, hear.) lie had stated these opinions on former evenings, and in repeating them then his only object was to add that he hoped shortly to see them carried into practical effect. But still he must agree with a Noble Lord, a late Governor of Jamaica, that it was impossible that any system of emigration could improve the cultivation of the West Indies, unless there were some slight sacri fice made on the part of the West Indians them-elves ; but upon this point he did not want to raise any contro versy. Still, however, it must he borne in mind that the efforts of that Noble Lord were in a great measure ren dered useless by the disputes which arose between the West Indians and the emigrants, relative to certain rights and privileges claimed by tie one, and refused by the other ; and while he did not pretend to say who was in the right or who was in the wrong, the advisers of the emigrants, or the counsel of the West Indians, he could not conceal froth himself the fact that these disputes had had the effect of retarding the progress of the colonies themselves.—(Hear, hear.) Happily, however, these disputes and disagreements had generally sub sided, and at all events he was glad that this obstacle would not lie in the future course of the Government. Upon these grounds, therefore, he did not look with any kind of despondency to the result of this measure. It was an experiment which had already been tried with great success. They had heard this in the course of debate from the Right lion. Baronet, the Member for Tatnworth, himself, and he felt confident the anticipations of those who were the most desponding would never be realised.—(llear, hear.) He could not quite agree with his Hon. Friend, the Member for Montrose, that there was hardly a colony which was not a burden to this country; not that he intended to say that every colony was perfectly satis fied with the rece,it policy of the Colonial-office ; but upon this point, all he could say was, that his Noble Friend, now at the head of the Colonial Department, would pay every attention to the subject.—(Hear, hear.) The Noble Lord, he was sure, agreed with him in the public course that ought to be pursued towards the cold vies ; and he felt convinced every thing would be done that could protect or promote the interest of the colo nies —(Hear, hear,) Where emigrants were settling in iarge numbers, he thought they ought to control the ex penditure of their own moneys without being sub jected to the dictation of any department of the parent state ; and, with those princip!es for their guidance, he had not the least doubt whatever Government would be able to work out a beneficial reformation in the colonies.—(Cheers.) Mr. PHILIP HOWARD fully appreciates] the liberal and patriotic spirit which had dictated the remarks of the Hon. Member for Sunderland, and the Hon. Mem ber for Rochester ; and after what had Fallen from the Noble Lard, who had just resumed his seat, he thought they might safely look forward to a speedy and perwa vent improvement being effected in the colonies.— (Hear, hear.) There wag no better way of attaining that improvement, in his opinion, than extending the contract under which emigrants were brought from Africa to labour in the West Indies. The time now, he thought, was too short to admit of the negroes ob taining a sufficient knowledge of the art of civilisation, to render his example of any value when he returned to his native home.—(Hear, hear.) Though these la bourers might at first be considered a burden, they would in a short time repay the trouble and expense bestowed noon them. He thought that this step would be a very great boon to the colonists, and it was one which the Government might very fairly concede. I would make the labourers in the West Indies more in dustrious. The remainder of the resolutions were then agreed to the House resumed, the chairman reported progress, and the report was ordered to be brought up on Monday next. COURTS MARTIAL IN THE NAVY. On the order of the day for the House resolving itse into a Committee of Supply, Mr. WILLIAMS rose for the purpose of calling the attention of the House to the manner in which courts martial were constituted and conducted in the British navy, and in doing so he said he was very unwilling to . detain the Speaker in the chair, but he considered him- I self called upon to entreat the House to condemn the present management of courts martial in the navy, Gentlemen connected with the navy stated that the ex isting laws inflicted the punishment of death for the most trivial offences; and with the view of making those courts more in accordance with the feelings of the .n tir s , and with the present state of criminal . law i this country, country, he begged to call existedthe att e m n i t t l h o n regard o f the House to to the law as it at present . . holding of courts-martialrequired in the British navy. That i to holding, and the powers of, The law with re The law, since that time, had w as a g o. t a o o r :be found in the 22d Act of Geo. 11., undergone a courts-martial , years material alteration with regard to holding t a branch of the public service as courts-martial in the army, and he thought it was high time that so important that of the navy should also receive a proper considera tion. The present law with regard to the holding of cour t s - martial required five officers at least to be pres en t at a court, and of those it was requisite that three should be post captains. Now it happened that if a ship were out at a foreign station, and charges were brought against the officer, three post captains could . not be elapsedayed to b e f t o h r e e t a h c e c used. accused lndeed,w a was put found, and the consequence was th at i n many instances justice months w o a ft s en del his trial. One case of recent occurrence had been i hrouelt under his noti ce of a 'lieutenant who had b e , 0, 7 put under arrest ; he was consequently disqualified front th2se performance of his duty; he was kept in a state of the tit.44. 2st anxiety for a period of twenty-two months. • That gent hon was stationed at the coast of Africa. The Right Hew. Gentleman the Secretary of the Admi ralty, it appeared, ode: ied the truth of the statement, but he (Mr. Williams) wo4 ld be able to prove it by the testimony of a gentleman t h e the highest respectability. He could bring forward many cases of a similar descrip tion, but he was not willing to tzsespass on the time of the House. Now, if the same law prevailed in the navy as that in the army, with respect to the holding of courts-martial, there need be no unnecessary delays• the In the army li eu te nants were permitted to film' flst mem bers of the cour t s , an d h e su b m itted that h lieutenants in the navy were quite as capable lieutenantsof deter mining on the c a s es occurring in the navy as g in that in the army were of judging upon citseso urin department of the public service. — ( H ea r, bear.) The Admiralty were bound in n com mon justice with an officer to have sent out a ship -martial to determine for the purpose of forming a crt to whom he had referred. on the case of the gentlem an most erroneous and was based on a The present system unjtut principle , pad_ it aught be , &trivivu +a but; manner possible, by qualifying first lieutenants to sit upon cees that came before courts-martial. They were quite as capable of discharging the duties of judges WC young men of twenty-two who had purchased their comasissions. The Hon. Gentleman then quoted some tases in which great injustice had been done to officer!, in the navy charged with non- observance of the rules or the Admiralty, in consequence of the great delay whiC. ll took place in the holding of courts-martial. Colonel FOX said he did not think it quite in order for the Hon. Member to bring forward a subject which g.ccurred fourteen years k., , 0 without notice, and when the Board of Admiralty had just entered into the per formance of their duties. Admiral DUN DAS' said that, if the Hon. Member would move for any papers with reference to the tram' action, he would he happy to furnish them to the House. Mr. WILLIAMS said that he was imputing blame to no ' person whatever in the matter. He was merely stating facts which he called upon the Government to disprove. The Hon. Member then alluded to the case of another court-martia l, which had been held contrary to the rules of the Admiralty , upon Lieutenant Bridge ; the result of which was that the young officer was dismissed from his ship in a manner whieh. s per fectly illegal:- All he wanted was, that there shemld be some check upon these proceedings, and that with reference to the sentence of courts-martial, the navy should be placed upon t he same footing as the army. An Host. MEMBER here moved that the House be counted. Strangers were then ordered to withdraw. There we re ' however, 40 Members present. Upon our re- admission to the gallery, we found of WI LLIANIS on his l egs , s till a dd ress i n g the House upon 11 : 1 subject of th e navy. 'lnc Hon. Member then saki that be b to apologi se for trespassing so long on the attention of the House. H e would not have done so upon any other s ub j ect than the present. Mr. WARD was quite surprised to hear the speech of the ° Hon. Memb er . H e had quoted the cases of two abu se ? is f authority, whi c h occurred thirteen and seven years ag o, reasons why the whol e system s h ou ld b e c h ange d. He sh°n g -; only say that the subj ec t s h ou ld rece i ve t h e ear l y consideratie of her Majesty's Government. Captain BERKELEY said that the case referred to w° much worse than had been referred to by the Hon. AleinheL' The crew of the vessel had « kicked up a row" with t; e and they were taken by the Turkish authorities , 11 ' . 4 br ught to the Commodore's ship, where the case was inquire into by the captain in presence of the lieutenant. Sir G. COCKBURN said that the statement of the 111, Member—that there was no appeal from the sentence Tog court-martial—was incorrect. As to courts-martial not so • competent authorities, he admitted that they were 013 " ter learned in the la w as t h e b arr i s t ers an d j u d ge s of WestiminS,.... hall. They were courts of honour, as well as courts of :;:b • There were a num b er o f qu i r k s , an d catc h es , an d flaws, „b were taken advantage of in the one case, but were not allowed 0 the other ; and with reference to the case of Lieut. Bridge , it 'L. proved that he had insulted the Vice-Consul, but his turn home the Admiralty considered the case, unstat e d re-i h ; to his position, and gave him the command of a Hon. Member was only incorrect in his statement that A t e miralty had se.:t out a ship with a post-captain, in order ; complete the number necessary for a court-martial. fo r it „, s- ( 1 happened that th e re were en o ugh captains on the statio n i "; t a as a proof there were eno u gh, the captain of 'that ship d „ ot to sit upon the court-martial at all. He warned iiis ts , meddle with the discipline of the navy.—( Hear, hear.• 7 as m Captain PECHELL reprobated the present sYa_ ,, " -- t the. pursued in the navy. When a court martial is held a hie,' present time, the parties are sent for to the captain's I 'l - d and the evidence is taken down by the clerk, but the ii" . 7 0 is not allowed to be present. Such was the course pursile".„, the case which was alluded to by the Right Hon. Gentleoltero and it could not be denied but that it was the source of greatest hardship. „ o ld' Sir CHARLES NAPIER said that he had always ti • 10 _a stood that there existed a great superiority in courts mar jit held in the navy to those in :he army.—( Hear, hear./ th e the one case the accused was kept in confinement mitt sod sentence was confirmed by the Commander-in-Chi ef, gi a esi whether the party was condemned or acquitted, he was °" 70 , 1 to remain in confinement until the sentence came bank ; or der more than that, the Commander-in-Chief had a power° „hat that a revision o f the sen t ence s h ou ld t a k e place. W ei l 'oesrt a power was th a t t o pl ace i n t h e h an d s o f an y person he er.) hear.) But such was not the case in the navy.— (11"r' COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. The House then went into a Committee of SupplY• o f tb. On the vote of 154,938/. for defraying the expenses disembodied militia in GreAt Britain and Ireland, roPe Mr. HUME thought th e m ilitia s hould be put on at - et her footing or disbanded altogether, and wished to know O" ber of the Bill ref e r re d t o some time ago by a Right Hon. A le131 0s• the late Government was to be proceeded with for the•r e v tion of the n tibia, or what was to be (loin t a id Mr. FOX MAULE said that the present Govern not intend to adopt that Bill, but the whole question Is co s op iets inquired into, and steps taken to place the milit ~ in 3 state of efficiency. gle be Mr. WILLIAMS expressed a hope that somethu.e vi° done to make the body efficient. r e 't Captain HARRIS said, that if th e m ilitia were no' ele‘ e in an effective condition by th e p resen t Government , s! Committee of the House should be appointed to aseeSn" steps should be taken for that purpose. The vote was then agreed to. al l o wance , 60,800/. was voted to defray the superannuatio n of persons formerl, employed in the public servic e ' igrantb 5,5001. was voted for the Toulonese and Corsica n em The following votes were also agreed to :-- fertil e 1,850/. for the National Vaccine Institution, of th e Refuge tor the Destitute, and 11,500/. for the subsistence Polish refugees and distressed Spaniards. On the vote of 7,0511. for the purpose of defraying _carlig _ ie small expenses chargeable upon the revenue of the Cr"eidi' for Mr. WILLIAMS objected to the grant of 40/. alio% „ tin % the purpose of granting gowns to a class of persons sub 6" ale r on charity, and called bedemen. He wished to know vb he .64 the charge was a permanent one, and if so he should o bi "'it The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that ti l: granteriy o was formerly made by Cha r le s the Second, find it 7 - chargeable la o , n a t n h d e i r t e Nsa revenues ues of the Crown. The itsum was '° ~i." . m now only 401., so that was on decline. Air. HUAIE did not see why Charles 11. had a right to any perpetual grant. He had ranted g to the Duke of Rich: mond the sum of Is. on the duty on coals, and the Governmeo t were afterwards obliged to bu y it u p for 795,0001., giving ' revenue of 19.5001. to the Duke of Richmond. The vote was then agreed to, as were also übli ° The sum of 3,2721., to defray the expenses of the D , ~, Foundling Hospital ;_ 13,220/. to defray the expenses or l'd Hou.e of Industry, Dublin • 1,000/. to defray the eXPen ses the Female Orphan House, bublin. lA a 2,500/ to defray the expenses of the Westmorlande- Hospital. The following votes were next agreed to :- 1,000/. fur the Lying-in Ho.pital, Dublin. 1.500/. for Dr. Stevens's Hospital, Dublin. 3.5001. for the Fever Hospital, Dublin. 500 t. for the ospital of Incurables, üblin. ntrelsl3 i 35,730/. for ce r tai n Protestant Dissenting Ministe rs 1 (the regiunt donunt ). a ppoint 3,400/. fur the expenses of the Commission 11Ppo digest the Criminal Statutes. 35,0001 for the execution of Public Works in Ireland. 7361. for the expenses of the Shannon Commission,- PLoasol° 1,000!. for th e repa i rs o f t h e B r i t i s h Ambassado r 0 PaAftris, —°° er a few words from Mr. WILLIAMS, di owere the Ambas s ad or was pa id we ll en ough to pay for pairs. The following votes were then agreed to:— T o AO 12,000/. for completing the building of the BY I sador's house at Constantinople. lion 50,000/ to defray the expenses of Again na' - ' 8 by way of the Red Sea. r a nads• t de' 15,500/. to pay the m iliti a an d volunteers 10 --- wow 3 .4,801/. to def r ay th e expenses o f the on'''" partment. 32,404'. fur half-pay p ens i ons i n the coOS° issaria : to be partment. o r der ed The House then resumed, and the report vise 1% ~5 , brought up on Monday next. AN 1 JOINT-STOCK BANKS (SCOTLAND LAND) BILL. „d tot The report on this Bill was brought u p and ogri e 3 o.. SPIRIT LICENSE AND DUTIES "a to This Bill went through Co mm it tee . r dere The House resumed, an d t h e repor t WO - brought up on Monday. V Ale 11 COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, t his I tew, On the mo t io n o f Si r GEORGE GRE I' coN read a second time, and the Bill was ordered to 101,ci time The Burial Ser v i ce Bill (N o . 2) was read a thir NISW passed. SO- be A to VILLE, and severally read a fi rst time, an The following Bills were brought i n b 9 and ." ordere" C ° l , read a second time on Monday:-- tion of inhabitants of parishes, 0 ships, and villages , from liabilit y to or Bill to continue the exern p be rated as suc h, f ti# Bi s ll o t e o ie c t o ie n s t . inue an Act to ame nd the laws relating to spent of stock in trade, or other property, to the relief poor. Bill to continue the Copyhold Commission. Bill to continue certain Turnpike Acts. of b ligli' Bill to continue an Act for author i s in g the application til g wa rates to turnpike roads. f Oa The other orders of the day were then disposed 0 ! House adjourned at a Quarter to Twelve o'clock. if . BotsyhoPADDINGTON of o London c C o n g s e t y e g r c a t r; dh l tp ° l: i i , 1 viLi net i t; dav C° m N o s r E n church, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, ci morning the in the Bis _ i t , ,„, Paddington. The church is perpendicular gothic style of the elegant structol; siStiLtP, and is a great ornament to period of Henrl4%l 3l A d hood. It has been erected a rapidly improving ;,,iesiv.e.,i.. ornamental work. The Rev. at a cost of 13,000/., improving eow nated by the Bishop t J. Miles, M.A., 1155 ' THE AP o the inc APPROACHING P ARTRIDGEunlbency. Pc' The . --- op counts proaching partridge are very favourable , stronga the win , and ge season.ver.r field r f the cove The broods are to spe' 01 l early harvest will enable are large, and the F or tbo . t b re. the Ist of S,ntenib e the sportsman to ell 000 0 IV spect to standin Aber without the usual rest ric g crops. ate • slit, '.-- On the 26 t h BIRTHS. ile gedfil f lady of Geor of July, at Sussex-place , ~dv 0 ge Roo On the 26 per, E sq. v ,of a daughter. , the J. ; Captain Sir Jam th of Julyat h• -t• Hall, Gool e ' i r te lr , Am t o f a chat t op 0 James Clark Ross, Royal Na'O' 0 , of On the 2"tl i 1 of July, Mrs. James Johnste lane, Lower 004 Thames-street. 11, • P'f il ' On the 27th of July, at the Grove, Cambers" OA Goss, of a dau hter Square' On the 9 g * Se ll' -Bth of July, at Keppel-street, Rug of lall e ' wite of Gillery Pigott, Esq of a son. err Oa the 28th of July D " E Paulson, of Chall e . , Irs. . a * daughter. s the MARRIED. ' ;gilds, - • •e bY F lo On the 27th ult., at St. Martin's-in -the- . Brun so' l the Rev. S. Ramsey, Mr. C. Webb, of Ju dd- street, 'son , of s ittire, to Emily, eldest daughter o f Mr. DO no Regent's-park. mini Dli vis- to On the 2lst of Triunity at Cambridge, the Elf. "" sarreP „f Gibson, 8.A., of College, Curate of ilanh ~, sq.? v n Hurrev e Anna, youngest daughter of the late Swan ttar ' Foxton, Cambridgeshire. novel ea On the 29th of July, at St. George's, g a of 3/33 Captain Sir Richard Grant R.N., to Lydia widow' Lambert, Esq., of Fowlers, Hawkhurst, Ken't. tl DIED. dieb .Sire' On the 24th ult., at Margaret-street, Cavtn George Hosmer, Esq. On the 28th ult., in Regent-street , T. Via -l u * daug hter : of l it. On the 20th ult., Emily li ese ltine, infant George Winter, Hawley-road, Kentish. WWII. __,,,,,,,0,0> On the 29th ult., at (rove - end -road, St. john'Slew`'"" Amelia, eldest daughter of J. R. Hall, Esq. d 71. On the 30th nit., at Deptford, Mr. G. Fe art, age a of 1 1 °' " r i e at London: Printed and Published by IIIVILDO YOUN-,a, prechoA Strand,Printer, at The Sun Office, N 0.112, Strand'ig.dgr, I. " of the Savoy, ha the County of Middlesex, Ss 1, 1846. • ' • apn ~ot~ °~n a 2~~ e ' ' e' 0 4 , 16, THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, AUGUST 1, 1846. ...