The Sun. — London, England, 1852-02-07 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, Feb. 6. The LORD CHANCELLO R took his seat on th e Wool sack at Fin o'clock. THE CAPE. The Earl of MALMES BURY inquired of the Noble Lord at the head of the Colonial Department whether he could take any means in this country to prevent gun powder being exported to the Cape for the purpose of being sold to our enemies in that colony. Earl GREY said he was aware that before the war broke out very great quantities of gunpowder had been exported to that colony, but he also knew that there was no law existing here to prevent i t being so ex ported. Hearing in September last that the exportation continued, ho sent a dispatch to the Governor, re questing him to take measures to prevent the powder being so used, as it would fall into the hands of the enemy. Steps had been taken to effect that purpose, which would to a great ex tent sto p the supply of gunpowder to the enemy, but he regretted to say that these precautions were adopted too late, as many tons of gunpowder had got to the enemy some mon t h s previously .. It was impossible altogether to pre vent powder being imported into the colony, as it was very much consumed by farmers and others w h o requ i re d it to shoot wild beasts with. The Kafirs frequently ob tained it from them by means of coercion and otherwise. The Earl of MALMESBURY said it appeared to him that if the sale of gunpowder at the Cape was placed under this restriction, that licenses would have to be procured from the Government by persons to whom it was necessary for self-defence, either against the Kafirs or wild beasts, we should h ave some guarantee aga i ns t the enemy obtaining it. The Nobl e E ar l h a d forgot ten that his question applied to arms as well as to gun powder. Earl GREY said there was no fault to find with the ordinance cf the Legislative Council, except that it ought to have been passed in the month of February in stead of November. The instructions he had given ex tended to the prevention of the trade in arms as well as gunpowder intended for the enemy. He had seen in the newspapers a report of certain shipments of arms from this country; but he had no reason to believe that they were intended for the Cape. The Earl of HARD WICKE was understood to make an inquiry about the use of arms by the population at the Cape; to which Earl GREY replied that he thought in that country it was the fashion for almost everybody to carry arms. RECALL OF SIR HARRY SMITH. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY referred to the statement made by the Duke of Wellington in regard to Sir Harry Smitb, and said he entirely concurled in the high eulogium which the Noble Duke had made upon him; he had obeyed his instructions to the very letter, and had evinced those distinguished military quali ties which had made his name reno vned. He, therefore, doubted the policy and justice of his dismissal from the Governor-Generalship at the Cape. He would ask the Noble: Earl (Earl Grey) whether the appointment of General Cathcart was that of the Horse Guards or of the Colonial Office? Earl GREY deprecated any irregular discussion on so painful a subject. If the Noble Marquis questioned the course adopted by the Government, ho should bring for ward a motion, and take the sense of their Lordships upon it; and if he did so, he (Earl Grey) would be pre pared to defend his conduct. It appeared to him that on the face of the dispatches now before the House, Sir Harry Smith ought to be relieved from his office, and his colleagues in the Government entertained the same opinion. He therefore thought it his necessary but painful duty to advise her Majesty to recall him. As regarded his successor he could a s sure t h e i r Lord ships that he did not advise the app o i ntment o f a succes sor without consulting the highest military authority in the cotintry. He consulted the Noble Duke (the Duke of Wellington), who said that if Sir H. Smith were recalled he did not think any officer could be selected who was more fit for such a eigh military employment than . liejor-Gen e r a l C at h cart . That, he hoped, was a satisfactory answer. He had the highest reepeet and admiration for the c h arac t er o f Si r 11. Smith, and never, in the conduct of public affairs, had he so painful a duty cat upon him as that of advising her Majesty to recall him, but he believed in his conscience that the step was necessary to be taken, and he did no: shrink from re commending it. 7 (Elear.) _ SCOTCH APPEALS. Lord BROUGHAM, in moving for returns of the number of Scotch appeals heard in that House, wished to correct a misapprehension that had got abroad with regard to what he had said when the subject was under discussion in that house in June last. It was said that he had suggested the appointment of ono or more Scotch judges or an assessor to assist their Lordships in cases of Scotch appellate jurisdiction. What he had said was directly the reverse—that there were great difficulties in the way of such an arrangement, and all who were ac quainted with the subject must know that the difficulties were insuperable. Without entering further into the question he (Lord Brougham) had then a suggestion to make to their Lordships, which, if adopted, would effect a very important improvement in the mode of conducting the appellate business of the Scottish courts. The sug ge‘ition was this—that they should take the Scotch ap peals tegiither and continuously at that period of the session which most suited the convenience of the faculty of advocates, whose presence in the two months' recess of March and May would materially facilitate the pro ceedings before their Lordship.—Returns ordered. COMMON LAW PROCEEDINGS AMENDMENT BILL. Lord LYNDIEURST wi3hed to know if the second reading of this Bill, which had been introduced by his Noble and Learned Friend on the woolsack, and read a fiat time on the previous evening, was fixed for an early day? He hoped the case was so, and not anticipating diboussion on the second reading he was anxious they should get into committee on the Bill at as early a day as possible. The LORD CHANCELLOR was understood to say that he would take the second reading on Thursday next. CHANCERY REFORM. Lord LYNDHURST said he observed it was intended to introduce a Bill on the subject of Chancery reform in the House of COCCIMOIS on Monday, the 16th instant. If he might be permitted to offer an opinion, he would say that such a measure would more properly originate in their Lordships' house; and he therefore threw the sug gestion out fur the consideration of his Noble and Learned Friend the Lord Chancellor. _ _ L.)rd BliOUGaAm entirely concurred with his Noble and Learned Friend who last spoke, that their Lord ships' House was the fitting place to originate such a raPasure. However, he supposed the cause of the Bill originating in the House of Commons was owing to the fact of the Commissioners being i'dembers of that Uouse. After a few observations from Lord CR A.NWORTH, The LORD CHANCELLOR wad he could give no undertaking that the Bill would not b 3 introduced in the Rouse of Commons, as originally intended. How- L e a r ' he would consider the suggeition of his Noble and rued F r i en d w h o i ntro duced the matter that evening. Their Lordabips then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 6. The SPUALER took the Chair at Four o'clock. Mr. AGLIO NBY PETlTlONS.presented a petition from a place in Lineoln.hire, praying for the compulsory Gnfran chiiemkurt of c,,pyholds. Mr. M. GIBSON presented a petition from a public meeting at M:inchester, Praying f a reform of the Pa tent laws; also a petition from Suffolk, in favour of an ocean penny Postage; and a petition from London, pra yjag for the repeal o f the paper and new s p a p er s t am p • duties Sir W. MOLESWORTII presented aetition from Sydney, p .1 - Z Australia, sign e d by the Bishop of' Syd ofesn Catholic Archbisnop praying that the H"se will ne7 and the . Vt;.. D.' ki4 immediate stepsto discontinue transpo:tat:oa an Linen Lund. Th e H onourable ; Baronet gave no: , .e Liao I that he would f ound a t- OU upon the petili )n. THE ADDRESS. Lord M an M r, brouzht up her alley, answer tha Address, which was ati follow' :—" have received with mach satisfaction your loyal and dutiful address, and you may rely on my earnest desire to co - operate with you in any measures 3:ou any deem nece ssary to promote, the welfare and happiness. of my people The answer was ordered to be entered en the journals of the House. THE CENSUS slr. DISRAELI gave notice of his intention next weplc to move f or a return of the pollation of each county in England and Wales given in tho sa me form as the census of 1841. ESTIIINSTER BRIDGE. Sir R. H. INGLIzi wished to know whether there would he any 613.1 , cti0n to lay before the House tile re port of tho Commis s i on appointed to se l ec t a bet ter site for Westaain6ter bridge.—( Hear, bear.) The recommendation of the Commission had, he no&rstooti, been confirmed by t h e reports o f two enceess i vo Committees of the House that hid at upon the subject, and he shoul,l,thereton, glad to know tvither it was in tendad to introduce a Bill to carry out that recommendation? no- Lord SBYMOUR said the report recommended that a new bridge should be conii,ruoied, an d he had, in couleur!, with that ree )rnmendatiori, given th 4 urcess!iry notice fora /3111, which would be brought in if he found the House tVh3 in fa.v6.ar of it.--(hear, hear.) Sir B. H. ItiGLI adted i it was intended to bring in a Bill to truusfer the Brit' E.“.ates from the Com missioners wh o now held it to the Commissioners o f Wo..da?--(Hear.) Lc " SRYNIOUR did not think a separate Bill would he neees.ary ot for that ohjoet, es it would be incor porated wi th the her Bill.--(Cheery.) The, report was then ordered to ani brui t? be laid on the table, ht n 9 by Lord ;3..valour forthwith. Sir R. H. INGLIS agaiti tvi4,11.41 to know from the Icloh!e Lord if he was prepared to introduce a Bill at once, be,buse if the bridge ought to be removed, it was of im portance that it should be done with as little delay as possible.—(Hear, h ear.) He waq sure the Noble Lord would find no objection made to it in the House. Lord SEYMOUR be that it was of importance that no time should be lost, and he would give a decisive answer on Monday. POLITICAL REFUGEES. Lord JOHN RUSSELL brought up a correspondence which had g ees residing talvinti t h is country ace on the subj ect of political refa- wiaich was ordered to be , printed. THE FLORENCE (TT RaGE. Lord DUDLEY S rLTART Wished to , it a question to the Nobl e Lord at the head of the Government respecting the outrage that wag committed some time ago on an English gen tl eman a t Flo- I rence by some Austrian officers. The Noble I Lard related the eircutastiLeeS attending the 1 outrage, as they have already appeared in print, 1 and added that the British Minister at Florence had made representations to the Austrian coaareander-in ! chief and the Tuscan Governmen', on the subject; but I he had failed to obtain any satisfactory explanation. All the information he could get was, that the officers would have been justified in putting Mr. Mather to death upon the spot, and the question he wished to ask the Noble Lord was whether it was his intention to take steps to obtain some satisfactory re dress in this matter?—(Hear, hear.) Lord JOHN RUSSELL said the accounts given in i the newspapers of the transaction were, he believed, substantially correct, though there was some difference between the English account and that given by the Austrian authorities.—(Hear, hear.) It ap peared that Mr. Mather, the gentleman in question, was walking behind the band of the regiment to which the officer belonged, listening to the music, and there being a slight crush in the street he was brought nearer to the commanding officer than was allowed by the rule of the service, and the commanding officer struck him with the back of his sword. Mr. Mather turned round and was about to explain how it was that he came to be so near the officer when he was struck in the face by another officer, when he put up his hand to cover his head, and the officer who struck him first thereupon drew his sword again and struck him down. He bled very mach, and was ultimately taken to the hospital, where he obtained every assistance that he required. —(Hear, hear,) Now, it was a usage iu the Austrian army not to allow an officer to be insulted while on duty without steps being immediately taken to correct the offend er , an d severa l o ffi cers h s d b een dis missed from the army for neglecting to carry out that rule. In this particular case, the officer, finding that he could not march at the head of his regiment owing to a person walking before him, who, he presumed from the shape of his hat, was an Italian Liberal—(A laugh) —used the flat of his sword to direct him out of the way. The officer ther e fore touched him on the s houlder re quiring him to stand out of the way, which he not doing at once, another officer struck him on the face, and then, as the Austrian account stated, Mr. Mather put himself in a posture of aggression, when, according to the rules of the Austrian service, the officer cut him down with his sword. The result was that this gentleman, walking quietly after the band, and intending no insult, was seriously injured, and was obliged to remain some days in the hospital under medical treatment. It appeared that the Austrian officers now said that it was a mistake on their part that any insult was intended by Mr. Mather, and as he (the Noble Lord) would have thought, when they became aware that there was no such intention, they would have been ready to come forward and offer a reparation.—(Hear.) Mr. Mather was told, however, that he must say that he did not intend any insult before any reparation would be offered. This he very naturally refused to do, and asked for a judicial inquiry, which was now proceed ing. He should mention that the Secret ar y fo r Foreign Affairs, Lord Granville, as soon as he heard of the occurrence, and before he got the report of the affsir from Florence, wrote to direct that the circum stances should be inquired into, and satisfaction required. Mr. Scarlett had, however, before these orders reached him, taken steps to comply with the request of Mr. Mather, in order to obtain for him a judicial inquiry. The result of this had not yet reached this country, but he (Lord J. Russell) certainly thought that Mr. Mather was entitled to some reparation.—(Hear, hear.) NATIONAL EDUCATION (SCOTLAND). In answer to a question from Lord MELGUND, The LORD ADVOCATE said that he could not at present say at what period it was the intention of Government to introduce a Bill on the subject of Na tional Education in Scotland. EAST INDIA COMPANY'S CHARTER. _ _ rilr. ANSTEY rose to ask the First Lord of the Treasury when the Committees on the East Indian Charter were to be moved for. Lord J. RUSSELL said he would state in the course of next woak. TRANSPORTATION TO VAN DIEMEN'S LAND. Mr. ANSTEY asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any late dispatches from Sir William Denison, on transportation, had been received, and how soon they would laid before the House? Ur. F. PEEL said that dispatches had lately been re ceived from Sir William Denison, but he could not say when he should be able to lay them on the table of the House. PERFORATED POSTAGE-STAMPS. Mr. GROGAN rose to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if any arrangement had been made with the patentee relative to the if supply of perforated postage stamps to the public, or it be the intention of the Go vernment to purchase the patent, or agree for the use thereof, so that the public may enjoy the convenience of these stamps? Mr. C. LEWIS said that some time ago a gentleman named Mr. Archer had offered an invention for per forating postage stamps to the Government. 600/. had been offered him, which he refused; and subsequently, by the advice of the Post-office authorities, a further sum of 2,000/. was offered him. This he refused also, and no further communication had taken place on the subject. PATENT AMENDMENT LAW. In answer to a question from Mr. CARDWELL, Lord J. RUSSELL said, the Government would not make any opposition to the moving for a Committee on this subject ; and would postpone the introduction of their Bill until its inquiry had terminated. METROPOLITAN INTERMENTS ACT. In answer to a question from Mr. LUSHINGTON, Lord SEYMOUR said that it was his intention to bring in a Bill on this subject early in the session. UNDUE ELECTIONS. Mr. BANKES rose to ask the Attorney-General whether the indemnity given by the Act of last session to witnesses whose testimony was received by the Com missioners on the St. Alban's inquiry has the legal effect of indemnifyi ng th ose w h o , h av i ng been witnesses on that inquiry, wer e a lso parties concerned in obstruct ing the proceedin gs o f t h e El ect i on Committee, by in ducing persons summoned as witnesses to abscond and withdraw themselves beyond the jurisdiction of the House? The Attorney-General not being, however, present, the Hon. Member said he hoped his Learned Colleague, the Solicitor-General, would reply to the question? The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said he had seen the Attorney-General that day, and expected him every minute, and he would rather the question should be re plied to by him. Sir DE LACY EVANS asked if the Hon. Member for Dorsetohire intended to renew his motion for a Com mittee on the corrupt election proceedings at Harwich? Mr. BANKS said he had originally proposed the Committee in consequence of a most respectable peti tion he had received from the borough. If he received a similar petition thi s sess i on, he should renew his mo tion for a Committee ; but the Hon. and Gallant Mem ber had given a notice which appeared to supersede this motiob. The SPEAKER then requested the chief clerk to read the following instrument of appointment, signed by the Right Hon. Gentleman:—" Pursuant to the provisions of the Act of Parliament, I do hereby ap point Lord Seymour, Sir G. Clerk, Mr. W. Patten, Mr. Thornely, Sir R. Ferguson, and Sir T Y. hullers, Members of the General Committee of Elections for the present session." The instrument was then recorded on the journals. Mr. BANKES gave notice that, on the earliest possible opportunity, he would move for a Committee to inquire into the subject to which his of the Crown had reference.question of the law officers E GUM BERED ESTATES BILL. Mr. F. FFRENCII gave notice that he should on llonday next ask how far the Government intended to c arry this Bill. It it were carried out, how were the proprietors liable to a mortgage to pay the money to the mortgagees? He should, therefore, ask that question on Monday. STAMPS ON PERIODICAL PUBLICATIONS. Mr. MILNER GIBSON said that Messrs. Bradbury and Evans, the eminent printers, had been pursued by au action at law, for the imposition of a stamp on a IR,- riodical work which in its entirety only appeared once a month. If he was rightly informed, it was against the law to levy any stamp on a publication like that to which he had al:udecf. He wiAled to know whether aay Bill was to be laid upon the table upon that subject? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that t it w as not t h e i ntent i on of the Government to intro- Court of T' any parti cu l ar measure , an d t h at f or the present l it t ' Exchequer. Wait they intended t o r est u p on t h e j u d gment o f the THE MILITIA. forma On the motion for the organizati o n of the Militia pro , Mr. lium E said that h e wou ld t a k e th at o pp or t un ity o f inquirin g the no sums w ould be 21110(1:leant of th e rt , cessary expense for the embodi ment of pose witho u t the detnmilaintited of the country for this pur- At any rate, ho hoped that subjected to the jurisdiction of the House proposition of the whole of the ex penses being Sir G. GREY said, into that I : e cessary of Commons. unnecessary there was no intention what- Id rise, of increasing niovefo ever of entering was simply brought in to _ u u p o n at : but without any in theelfteanffs o e i th T e h m is il ß iti i a ll , and of course to providefosrlse tendon, unless necessity outlay to the country, the practice in th leathyoe The Bill was then read a first time. COURT OP CHANCERY. The SOLICITOR - GENERAL rose t h a a ß nc il rj l r f y o , r improving and said that, no twithstandienHigh improvements which had bean made in the the many Ct°oubrqrlogf con. duct of the law courts, mach remained to be effected in the reformation of the superior courts of law.—w ear hear.) The first of these was the Supreme C ourt of Equity. In t h a t much bad been accomplished, by Lord Brougham, whose efforts were always admir ably useful; but of coarse could only be available for the time. Lord Brougham left office, and was succeeded in the end by Lord Cottenbarn whose unhappy ill ness Lod caused - - - the business to fall into areenr.—(Hear, hear-) It was not owing to any deficiency of that Noble Lord, but to the necessity of the case, and consequently many causes were left on the paper which it would have been better to dispose of. The object of the Bill which he • dto la on the table desire theY of the House was e vil which to obviate there was an evident necessity sion of :nto meet. The B i ll provision w ould further co nta i n a import ant nature, which was not recommended by the report of upon this subject. the Committee which had sat It _ would, in face, abolish the fee system..—(Hear, hear.) Now, the fee system had been a great nuisance Court to the suitors of the of Chancery, and he had no remedy, for the Committee uon look.. ing into the matter, had found this startling It that in the course of a year a suitor he resn -- upon something like 330.000 transactions. I to pay fees there had been paid 2981. in 393 pi a one case YERenta _.. ( s ear, lav ear, THE SUN, LONDON, hear.) There were 90 officers in the Court of Chancery, but of these 90 officers only 40 ratified the amounts they received by affidavit, and it was new propssed by one part of this system to abolish the payment of fees, which would involve a considerable saving of time and trouble, and to substitute for it a species of stamp, that would be issued to the suitors, and prevent their dancing attendance upon the nicety officers to whom he had already referred.—(Hear, hear.) But this was not the only benefit which the Bill would confer upon the suitor in respect of the fee sys tem. The suitors' fund, which consisted of two parts, amounted to something like four millions sterling, which stood invested in Consols in the name of the Accountant-General, and which produced an income of 112,0001. Oat of this latter sum the various officers of the Court of Chancery were paid, including the Lord Chancellor 6,0001., the two Lords Justices 12,0001., and the two Vice-Chancellors 10,0001., making a total of 28,0001. a year. Now it was obvious that the support of these latter officers ought to be borne by the Consolidated Fund. It was unjust to call upon the suitors to pay them; as well, indeed, might they call upon the tradesman who was robbed in the streets to contribute fees for the main tenance of the judge who tried the robber, and it was therefore proposed that, at some future period, the pay ment of the salaries of these judges in Chancery should be thrown upon the Consolidated Fund .—(Hear, hear.) The administrative part of the Court of Chancery would then only be left to be provided for in the payment of salaries to officers, but as this branch of the machinery was only used for the benefit of the suitors who put it in motion, such as in the ad ministration of trusts, there could be no possible objec tion to calling upon the suitor to pay for it.—(Hear, hear.) Another grievance which the suitor complained of, was the office copy system. Formerly they were compelled to pay Is. 4d. per folio for office copies, but a year or two ago the fee was reduced to 4d., which produced a saving to the suitor of no less than 28,0001. It was now proposed to go further, and by the Bill the office copy system, as well as some portions of the fee system, would be abolished altogether.—(Hear.) By the present Bill a number of offices now existing would ne abolished; for instance, the Lord Chancellor had six secretaries; of these, the first was his private secretary, whom, of course, it was not intended to disturb; then there was the secretary of injunctions, with a salary of 50/. a-year, which it was proposed to abolish; the secre tary of presentations, and the secretary to the commis sions of the Peace, now both filled, would be united in one gentleman at the first opportunity. The secretary , of lunatics, the registrar in lunacy, the secretary of bank rupts, and the chief registrar in bankruptcy, would be united in one officer, makinz a saving of 1,200/. a year. The three offices of chaff- vax, sealer, and clerk of the patents officert, whose salaries amounted to 1,8001. a year, would be entirely abolished. Of the two gentle men of the chamber attached to the Lord Chancellor only one would be retained, and that gentleman's salary would be reduced from 700/. to 5001, a sum which he (the Solicitor-General) knew personally would be not more than adequate for the valuable services which that gentleman rendered to the Lord Chancellor. The clerk of the affidavits would be abolished, and in fact the whole affidavit-office done away with altogether. The Hon. and Learned Gentle man then went into a detail of the salaries of the several subordinate officers, showing that there would be a saving of about 7,0001. a year. The Ac countant-General of de Court of Chancery was paid in a manner which was not altogether satisfactory. His salary was 1,5001., 4001. of which was paid to him as a Master in Chancery, and the rest as Accountant in Chancery. But, besides that emolument, the Accountant.. General, by au arrangement with the broker of the Court of Chancery, received three-fifths of the whole brokerage charged to suitors in the various transactions which took place in stock, the broker himself receiving two-fifths. That system had existed for hundreds of years. From that source the Accountant-General received about 3,700/. a-year, making his annual salary altogether upwards of 5,2001. By thin, with the other changes which were proposed, he hoped to realise a saving of at least 100,000/. a year. The conse quence was that the suitors would have to pay no more man was absolutely necessary far the security of their own cause.—(Hear, hear.) The money paid into the Court of Chancery, in fact, would be neither more nor loss than a payment into the hands of their own bankers. The =truth was that the Accountant-General paid the whole of the money into the Bank of England, and a cheque drawn upon the Accountant-General was equal in value to any cheque drawn upon the Bank of England.—(Hear, hear.) It was proposed then that the fees of the inferior offices and the duties of the officers themselves should be abolished.—(Hear, hear.) The object was to do away with the system of tees altogether and to pay the severalofficers by salaries.--(Hear.) They found that the clerks of the court could not be dispensed with, and they, therefore, proposed to retain them. But in this case, as well as in the one to which he had just alluded, the same evil existed, and the object of the Bill was to give the Lord Chancellor the power of' fixing those salaries. In order to show the evil, however, he would cite two instances. The first was that of a young man who was the clerk to a solicitor, and had to petition the court in a case of lunacy. That young man had saved 8001., and the costs which tic had to incur rose to the sum of 2661., of which no lees than 551. were spent in the fees of court. The other was that of a lady's maid, who had saved 8001, of which more than one-fourth had to be expended in even putting the affairs into train. Now he thought he had stated the principal features of this Bill; there were other minor details, but these would be seen when the Bill was printed, and came to be referred to a Committee.—(Hear, hear.) Originally this Bill con tained clauses for the abolition of the Master's office, but they had been taken out, and he need not delay the House with them.--(Hear.) A report from the Chancery Commission had been laid on the table recommending considerable modification in the Master's offices, and in fact the trans ference of the duties performed by the trus tees to the judges of each court. If that recommendation should be hereafter adopted, there would no longer be any necessity for the office of Master in Chancery, and it was therefore proposed to embody the recommendation of the Commissioners in a Bill.—( Hear, hear.) This Bill would save the suitor's something like 60,000/. or 80,0001., and when the other measures to which he had referred should be adopted, justice would be administered in the Court of Chancery not only cheaply but expedi in a Bill.—(fl eas , ) Leave tiously. — (Cheers.) Be concluded by mo ving for l eave to bring was acco r di ng l y given. METROPOLITAN WATER SUPPLY. Lord SEYMOUR moved for leave to bring a Bill for the better supply of water in the metropolis. The large amount of public and private interest involved in this subject made it im portant that the Bill should be introduced at this early period, and as the House had been well supplied with evidence upon this matter for some years past, it was not unreasonable to suppose that the House ought ,this session to be able to make up its mind upon the question. Ho imagined that the results which the House was de sirous of obtaining were these, viz., that the metropolis should be supplied with water of good quality of suffi cient quantity, and at a reasonable price. With regard to the quality of the water, and the mode of its distribu tion, a great deal of evidence had been taken. First, they had the report of the Board of Health; then the in quiry by authorised chemists on the quality of the water; and lastly, a laborious inquiry into the great amount of the revenues produced. He thought upon the question of the rates and charges, and modes of assessment, scarcely sufficient evidence had, as yet, been obtained. He would first deal with the sources of supply. It was quite right, to say what sources should be prohi bited. They should not allow water to be brought from sources that were objectionable. They had evi dence that the Thames, within tidal influence, was per nicious. Ho believed that the Lambeth Water Company was the only one that had abandoned this source for its supply. But the London, West Middlesex, Grand June tian, Chelsea, and Vauxhall Water Companies, would be affected by this Bill. He thought that power must be given toGovernment to appoint an inspector, so that be tore water is taken from any source, the inspector shall make his report, and the Government shall have power to prohibit a supply from such quarter. As to the quality of he water, a great many reports bad been received, some of them recommending that certain water should be pro hibited because it wes bard; others sayinrr that other water should be adopted, be cause it was so f t . t he was not pre pared to say that the qualities of soft or hard water were in themselves sufficient reasons for prohibiting it. He thought that the Thames water above any tidal in fluence was a very good source from which a supply could be obtained. The New River, too, would afford excellect sources of supply. lie was of opinion that it was unnecessary for Parliament to interfere further than that point, and that it would be unwise to do ao. It would be unwise on the one hand to adopt the recom mendation of the Board of Health, and to go solely to the sands of Surrey for supply. Let all sources be al lowed, so that care was taken that from whatever quarter water was procured they should have an assurance of its wholesome quality, and, if necessary, reser voir. He thought there was another point to bo at tsnded to, that when the majority of, the inhabitants of required a constant supply, any street a filtering y, that constant supply should be afforded. That could be done without any great difficulty. If the existing companies should continue the supply they ought to be prepared to accede to this demand. The great difficulty was in dealing with the houses of the poor. All houses rated under the value of 10/. should be supplied with water at a fixed rive. When he compared the charges of houses under 10!. value in the metropolis with those of other towns, be was induced to think that the rates in the former were very high. It would be necessary to examine the rates charged upon such houses in other towns in considering the rates that ought to be charged for those h ouses i n ho metropolis. The Bill being of that character which would render it necessary to refer it to a Select Committee, he had not entered any sum as should be charged for these houses. Under the Bill it mayas the Would be necessary for many o f t h e companies to come to the House f or new Acts i n or d er to comply with the tArnas of th e enactment. It would b o f or the House then C and to arrange th em in such a consider just. e e He e to , v review th e i r rates, Th great question Was, what heightmanagement and direction of th e water supply ought t o b et private enterprise from this s pl of water. The Board of Health recommended a Government Commission and Parliamentary r esponsibility . He did not think such a commission would give Y• did not propose to exclude satisfaction to that House. Then the Bill of last year recommended the fusion of the clif f, rent companies. He believed it would be much better to leevo the companies to act separately according as they found it conducive to their own interest. Another proposal was, that the al corporations. I n the first place, there ' mana gement should be left to the municipal corporat;ioa this town quali wmausnicniop SATURDAY EVENING, fled to undertake sues a task, and he doubted the expediency of creating a corporation for the purpose. The first thing for s uc h a b o dy t o d o wo uld be to louk out for new sources of supply, and a new mode of distribution. That in itself would be a heavy task to cast upon it. He believed that such a body being pressed by the ratepayers, and divided as they usually were by different parties amongst themselves, would be badly adapted to carry out such an important work, and that great delay would arise in consequence. He was more convinced of that fact when he saw the effect pro duced in respect to such a circumstance in other countries. Last year the Committee went into this ques tion at great length, and it appeared that many towns had given that power to their corporations. In Edin burgh, where the people were usually most attentive to their own interests, and where the corporation had the power to govern the water supply, they, notwithstand ing, abandoned it altogether in favour of a company. Now, that was strong evidence that companies might be allowed to undertake this task under a proper control. Whether it be undertaken by companies or municipal bodies he should be inclined to impose the same con ditions upon them—that the water should be approved of by an inspector; that the mode of distribution should be by properly-constructed channel-beds; and that the mode of assessment should be under the control of that House. He had seen large filtering reservoirs, at present in use, w hi c h appeared to him to meet the requirements of the Bill. The question really was, not whether Parliament should allow municipal bodies to undertake the supply of water, but whether it would proceed further and pro hibit private companies from undertaking it. Now he (Lord Seymour) was not prepared to adopt that step; but he was prepared to bring in a Bill to say upon what condition the supply should be conducted by those pri vate companies. The great objection to private compa nies was, that they naturally looked to their dividends and their own interests rather than to the interest of the public; but he thought that if, inviting the comps nthicossetoßoilblstapinronpeewrthis House took care that in classes were introduced to render them, as he now Proposed to do, subject to inspection and control, there would then be every security that the public could require, and that so far as carrying out the works were concerned, the existing companies would do so with more efficiency and economy, and without being so mush afraid of incurring a large expenditure of mo ney upon them, as municipal corporations would be. The object of the Bill was in fact directed to the interests of the consumer. It looked to protect the con sumer from a supply of bad water, from an insufficient supply,the mode of char ge , h e h u d o b ta i ne d re t urns u p on th a t from subjecf a r nd from all extravagant charges. With regard to the large towns in the country, and he found that the mode of charge between them and the metropolis differed greatly. He found also that the Lambeth comp any , wh i c h recen tly i n trod u ced a sy s t em cf chergo upon a new sca l e, h a d d eem ed it necess ar y t o abandon that scale and adopt another. On this account he had not introduced any scale of rates in the Bill, nor should he do so until further evidence had been fur nished upon the subject. He proposed, therefore, when the Bill came before the Select Committee to take further evidence upon the question of the mode of rating. There was one method of supply which had attracted some at tention of late, and doubtless if the water could be dis tributed at a cheap rate, that plan would be of great ad vantage to sufficient inf o r mat i on t o be certain that the method the public. But he was not possessed of referred to, and which was adopted at Croydon, would be the best for the metropolis. The general character of the Bill was that of a controlling Bill. It left the sup ply of water to private companies; and where they would not undertake it, to public bodies; but whoever undertook it, the measure provided that there should be some inspection on the part of the public, and that amount of control which would enable Parliament to ascertain that the supply was ample in quantity, good in quality, and cheap in price. trt w poas.. out at len gt h t h e necess i ty Mr. MOWAT T sa i d i t was his duty also to r i se , an d ask for l eave to b r i ng i n a Bill having partly t h e same object as th at o f t h e Noble Lord, to wit, the better sup ply of th e metropo li s w i t h Tes ter, and, further, a b etter system of d ra i nage. I t was needless for him to point o which existeddra draining, in f g o . r some T hThat t each w a s u m u ea u s m u e re nd a: d th sy e s o te n m e o h f e su d p e p s l i y re o d f w to ute i r n f t o ro r d t u h c e e. me i agreed on all h an d s th a t v e ry great necessity exist e d f or lie, and a l so ate amen d e d sys tem of f admitted by every one. And, indeed, the fact of the Noble Lord bringing in, as the Government did last year, a Bill for that express purpose. relieved him to a great extent from the duty of establishing the proposi tion. The essential difference between the Bill of the Noble Lord and the one he (Ur. Mowatt) desired to in troduce consisted in this. The Noble Lord had very properly characterised his Bill as merely a controlling and permissive Bill. His (Mr. Mowatt's) provided ex pressly the same objects which it was the entire design of the Noble Lord to provide for. But after giving no little attention to the subject,he said unhesitatingly that this,was notin anyway a question for the interference of the Govern ment, except so far as it concerned them to extend the municipal institutions of the metropolis, and enable its inhabitants to manage the supply of life for themselves. His (Mr. Mowatt's) Bill was essentially a ratepayer's Bill—that was to say, that the inhabitants of the metro polis who paid for the water, used the water, and were alone interested in the drainage of the metropolis, the o f should be the parties to dete rmine sources the supply of water, the system of drainage, and the mode in which those two services should be managed and con ducted; in other words, that they should have the management:of their own affairs in their own hands. He proposed, therefore, to give greater facilities than now existed to the ratepayers of the metropolis to take these two matters entirely under their own charge. He would first divide the metropolis into seventeen districts, and in every one of these districts the ratepayers should have the power to elect district commissioners for administer ing the affairs of the two services, under the direction and control of a central commissioner, in their own se parate districts; that was to say, that they should be in the position of bodies whose office it would be to watch over and protect the local interests of the in habitants in each of those districts quoad those two great services. He proposed that they should have the power, in proportion to th • mi. numbers and rating, to elect boards varying in number, but in no case fewer than nine, in order to ensure the requisite attendance of members to carry on the district business. In like man ner ho proposed that the district commissioners should have the power of electing from their own body a gene ral or central commission amounting in the whole to 41. To that number he proposed to allow the Government — should it think fit—to add four other commissioners— ono to represent the Woods and Forests, inasmuch as Crown property might be affected by the laying down of pipes and othe r wor ks , one to represent the Poor-law Board, and the remaining two to represent other boards which were also more esp ec i a n y .. under Government control. Thus, the Government would have a voice in the working of the commission, which, of course, he proposed should be incorporated for the purposes of the Bill. To enable the co mmissioners to raise the neces sary amount of money for establishing an entirely new system of water supply and drainage, and to keep in effective working order the management of the two ser vices—powers would be given in the Bill to the commis sioners to rate the inhabitants of the metropolis. Notwithstanding what the Noble Lord had stated, it was obvious, he thought, that water was a neces sary of life, the supply of whicb, in a vast metropolis like this, could har dl y be made the legitimate occupation of a mercantile company._(}lear.) And to him it was a natter of surprise that the Noble Lord should not have at once coma to the same conclusion, for all expe -1 rience showed that, however well they might administer any other service prompted by their own legitimate in terests, this was a c a se in which they could not meet the wants of the public. la Support of this conclusion he would only mention the known fact that all the me tropolitan water companies were originally, without a single exception, created by Parliament upon the express supposition that it would be for the interest of the public that there should be a continual competition amongst themselves for the supply of water. In almost every one of their Acts the pretneble set forth as a condition to their obtaining it, that there should be this competi tion amongst themselves , and it was assumed, though evidently without inquiry, that if there were that com petition, t h e interest of the public would be sufficiently considered thereby , But it h a dl on g been found out that the public had no guarantee or protection whatever against the acts of the existing water companies, though he must confess that it was much to the cre dit of those great bodies that they had treated the public so tenderly and moderately in the matter of charge as they had done. —(Loud laughter.) He did not propose to insert any Prevision in the Bill with regard to the source of the water supply, the particular system of drainage, or the m o d e i n which the sewage s h ou ld b e disposed of—for t h e obvious reason, that the commis sioners themselves would be the most proper parties to decide upon these points. In all probability, as soon as they found themselves installed, one of their first acts would be to advertise for tenders for the best mode of supplying water to the metropolis, the best system of drainage, and the most advantageous and economical method of disposing of the sewage. The Noble Lord had cited some instances of what he termed partial or entire failures in the supply of water by municipal bodies in small towns. But in his (Mr. Mowatt's) opi. nion these were not cases in point; for hardly in any , instance were these municipal bodies so free and unfet tered as the commission which he proposed to consti tute under his Bill. With regard to the interests of the existing water companies, whatever opinion might be entertained as to the value of their property, they would, under the provisions of this Bill, be entitled to the maximum of compensation for any loss they might sustain by legislation upon the subject. And to provide th e funds which would be requisite for this purpose, and establishing works, he proposed that the commissioners should have power to rate all pro perty in the metropolis at a sum not exceeding Bd. in the pound in any one year, and to levy a further rate of 4d. in the pound for the current expenses of the two departments of drainage and sewage. In the whole he would limit them to a rate not exceeding Is. in the pound for every branch of expenditure, including com pensation to the water companies. That sum alone would be a great gain to the public, inasmuch as it was less than the average rating of houses under the present imperfect system of supply. The value of pro perty in the metropolis rated to the poor was upwards of 12,000,0001. sterlin and at Bd. in the poun d this would return a Sum of g; 400,0001. per annum. To raise the necessary amount of capital which an entirely new system of water works and d ra inage, and compensation to the old companies would involve, he proposed to issue annuities, terminable or otherwise, for 20/. per annum, which, being secured upon the rating of the whole me tropolis, would constitute a favourable investment for the public, and by this means he anticipated the capital might be raised at about 3/. or 41. per cent. The association with which he (Mr. Mowatt) was acting had been led to connect the sewage of London with the supply of water for reasons which would be apparent to all; the two questions were closely mixed up one with the other, and in point of fact the question of ob taining a large supply of water neeetasarily included the question of how they wore to get rid of it ante use. Jo conclusion the Hon. Gentleman moved for leave to bring in his Bill. Lord EBRINGTON presumed that both Bills would be submitted to LI Select Committee. Mr. MOWATT—No. Lord EI3RINGTON—Was the Government Bill alone, then, to be referred to it? Mr. MO WATT—Yes. Lord EBRINGTON then proceeded to say that he was surprised to hear that the principle of competition in the supply of such a prime necessary of life as water should be still adhered to by the Government. The House should, however, carefully consider the conse quences of adopting the principle of Mr. Mowatt's Bill, and inviting the ratepayers in general to decide, by popular election. upon a question which required so much scientific knowledge and such deep study and calculation as the planning of a proper scheme for sup plying water to the metropolis. He could imagine, how ever, that Government might, with the various means and appliances at its command, advantageously lay down a general scheme in the first instance, to be afterwards worked out by a popularly-elected body. Upon this point, therefore, he was at issue with Mr. Mowatt; but the view which that Hon. Gentleman had taken and proposed to carry out upon the subject of uniting the consideration of water supply and drainage, was infi nitely sounder than the view taken by the Government. With regard to the Bill of his Noble Friend (Lord Sey mour), it seemed to leave every important question to which it was directed for the determination of a Select Committee; so that the inhabitants of the metropolis were left in ignorar ee even of what would be an approxi mation to tan rates which were to be charged upon them; of the limitations which were to be put upon the overwhelming power of the several water companies, from whose administration London had suffered so long and so grievously. In several towns the piping of the water supply had been executed at a rate of under 10s. per head of the population, while in Manchester, not withstanding great quantities of water were required for manufacturing purposes, the expenditure was only 10s. per head of the population; and he considered that in the metropolis a saving could be effected in that respect which would enable an ordinary dwel ling-house to be supplied at the same rate as that now charged by the water companies for supplying a single room. The House had reason to complain that the measure of the Government was proposed in such a crude state that it should be referred to a Committee. However, when he had seen the clauses he would take another opportunity of referring to the subject. Sir G. GREY said the Hoe. Gentleman (Mr. Mowatt) obj - ected to the scheme of the Government, and as he had paid great attention to the subject, he had embo died his views in a Bill, which he had asked leave to in• troduce that it might stand side by side with the Govern ment measure. It was hardly fair of the Noble Lord (Ebrington) to object to everything and propose nothing. He wished the Government to appoint a Commission to take the whole subject into their own management— a course to which the Government had strong objec tions, which he (Sir George Grey) had stated last ses sion, and the Noble Lord had not embodied his views in a shape with which the House could deal. He (Sir George Grey) bad stated last session there were pe culiar difficulties in the way of applying the re presentative system to the subject in the metropolis; but that was a fair question for the House to decide, and not a Committee, and let the House decide between the principle of the Bill of the Government and that of the Hon. Gentleman. But as to the Noble Lord's objection to referring the Bills to a Committee, the Noble Lord's own experience must tell him that Bills affecting interests of a mixed character must, according to the inflexible rules of the House, be referred to a Committee. Mr. SLANEY said that two points ought to be in sisted upon in the measure which should be adopted— , one, that the supply of water to the houses of the hum bier classes should be obligatory; the other, that those who had the management of the sewerage should have a sufficient command over the supply of water for the pur poses of perfect drainage. He was glad to find that the first point was made a matter of obligation, and he trusted the second would likewise be so. Sir J. JOHNSTONE approved of the general prin ciples of the Bill. Leave was then given to bring in the Bills. VENTILATION OF THE HOUSE. Mr. OSBORNE moved that Dr. Reid be called to the bar of the House and questioned as to the means at his disposal for ventilating the new buildings. Next to a supply of good water, a supply of goof air was neces sary, and he was almost inclined to bring in a Bill for a better supply of air to that House. He had strong ob jections to referring the matter to a Committee; for three Committees had already sat on the subject, and the inquiry had evaporated in a report, and that was all. As he wished to take a brief course, then, ho proposed to call in Dr. Reid, and propose to him the six following questions:—Was there any impediment to the due end properawsion of his plan for the ventilation of the House? Could he state what those impediments were, as a matter of fact and science, taking care not to enter into any of the differences between himself and Mr. Barry? What were the defects? Was it in his power to remedy those defects? What were the remedies? Could he name any house where the plan of ventilation was at present in existence the same as he proposed for the House of Commons? Lord SEYMOUR objected to the motion. He had himself asked Dr. Reid what the impediments were, and he had answered that there were impediments thrown in the way the last five years. If Dr. Reid were called in to go through a statement of all the impediments, and should make recommendations which would involve architectural alterations, it would be necessary that others also should be called in; and the better way, therefore, he thought, was to refer the inquiry to a Com mittee, who could prepare a statement for the House, with which it could deal. Mr. HUME hoped the Noble Lord would not object to the motion, which was a reasonable and absolutely necessary measure. What they wanted was something immediate, and not to wait until a Committee had made a report. What they wanted to know was, who had the direction from the Government of the ventilation of the House? The Noble Lord said it was Dr. Reid, but they did not know that it was. Who did ventilate the House? —(Laughter.) They knew it was not ventilated. Was it not strange that the Commons of England should be so treated? Two hundred thousand pounds had been s p e nt, from first to last in ventilating that House, and see the result! Mr. BROWN stated that a friend of his had got such a severe cold in the House the first night of the session from the strong draughts of air in it, that he was con fined to his bed since. Lord D. STUART urged the propriety of calling in Dr. Reid, who . could explai n a ll the difficulties in the way in ten minutes Lord J. RUSSELL certainly did not think the venti lation of the House quite perfect. At the same time he did not think the question quite so simple as Hon. Gen tlemen supposed. They might ask Dr. Reid, and he might explain in ten minutes what he considered the cause of this defect, and what he wished to be done. But the remedy he proposed might be in Mr. Barry's opinion destructive of the architecture of the House and of the character which belonged to it. It the House on hearing Dr. Reid should decide on adopting his plan at considerable expense, perhaps then it would be necessary to hear Mr. Barry us to whether he had any objections, and those were questions which would take up some days to consider, and it would be far better that the matter should be referred to a Select Committee. Mr. NEWDEGATE said, if the House heard Dr. Reid it did not necessarily follow that they should come to the conclusion to adopt his plans. The ventilation was certainly very imperfect, and whoever's fault it was Dr. Reid bore the blame; and the Hon. Gentleman op posite was right in moving that he be called in to ex plain. Perh aps the Lion. Gentlemen would re-consider the wording of his second question, as it might have a tendency to extend farther than was perhaps intended. Mr. BRIGHT said that every Committee that had been appointed on the subject had been baffled by some influence or other. The chief management of the ven tilation appeared to be uncontrolled by the House. He was not quite sure that Dr. Reid would produce any amendment; but, as the proceeding contemplated by the motion was a new one, he would support it. If Dr. Reid were called to the bar he might strike out some thing as a remedy, and afterwards a Committee might be appointed. If they went on as they were at present— it was net the Government merely, which some were desirous to destroy, that would be put out of existence, bat there would b e ne i t h er Government nor Opposition at the end of the session. Atter a few words from Mr. SCOBELL, Mr. NIOFFAT objected to the motion,.. and a san amendment, moved an a pp o i ntment o f a Select Com mittee. The House then divided, when there appeared : For the motion ••• ••• 55 Against it „, „, 24 Mai linty ..• —3l The motion was accordingly agreed to; and Dr. Raid was called in, and appeared at the bar. In answer to Mr. OSBORNE': Dr. Reid stated that he had been entrusted with the ventilation of the House, and that there had been several impediments thrown in the way of the working of his plans. The first impediment had taken place in 1846, when the plans laid down for the ventilation of the House were subverted, and notwithstanding these plans had been supported unanimously by a Committee of the House, and he had been placed with respect to the matter in the position in which he had remained ever since, no decision had ever been made since the p er i o d to which he (Dr. Reid) referred es a consenting party. In reply to further questions, Dr. Reid stated that the practical difficulty arose from the fact that the area o f boundary taken could be architecturally, but not pe 11 naut i ca lly defined, inasmuch as the cold air notna s h u t out. The evil s the Ho use was subject Was 'et to, there fore, were the currents of hot and cold air that played throught it. On the first night of the session so strong had been theso currents, he said, that the doors were torn off; and, consequently, as the House stood, it would be as unreasonable to ask him to control the winds that blow over the Bay of Biscay as those whi c h rus h ed through the passa ges into theno House. Th a t was t h e fleet difficulty. Th e second arose from th e i nnumerable chimneys in an d about theme, which were con stantly elaborating carbonic acid asln fact, th e Hutu() sat in an atm osp h ere of carbon g ic . acid gai; at that mo ment, as these chimnTetle s were pouring th e i r p ro d ucts into all the p assages. third evil arose f rom t h e light'. He had been informed that the lights would be ventilated; but if any gentleman went round the corri dors he would see that not a single light -la fact, to sit in the House was precisely was ventilated. sitting above a gas lamp. There the same as were other points, but . these were the most important Fifty members of the Royal Society had examined his Dr. Reid's) plan for ventilation of the lighting of the House, and approved r of it. To the old House no gas lamp would ha permitted until he s , ave nn opinion. In the present opicioa was overruled. These were the wain points; I but, as he had said, there were others which he would not enter upon at that moment. The LION. MENLIER having asked Dr. IZ id whether he hsd any remedy to propose for these evils, and if so what remedy ? Dr. R-id stated that he would provide; in the first place, a means for excluding the outward atmosphere, as was done by double doors at the Bank of England and in other establishments. In the second he would provide for the exclusion of the products of combustion from the various chimneys of the House. In the third he would instantly build a brick wall round the drains which now contaminated the House with their effluvia. He would next give the House protection ag dust the smell of the kitchen, which was quite perceptible at the bar, where he then stood. In two days be would put the House in a condition for the Members to sit comfortably in it, if he was permitted. For fifteen years he had done what he could to have a pierced floor, but he had failed in this House. The floor was contaminated with a thick oil, most offensive and oxydating, and injuring everything. He had spoken to Mr. Barry on the subject; and Mr. Barry's answer was, that it was used by the Admiralty. It was therefore impossible to work the effectual venti lation of the House with the means at his disposal. At present, in the galleries, there was a vast mass of heat on the brows of the M em b ers f r om th e lamps, and it was most dangerous. Asked how long it would take him to remedy theso defects? Dr. Reid said the greatest and worst defects he would undertake to remedy iu two days, without in any way interfering with the architectural plan or arrangements of the House. To the inquiry of how much lie thought it would cost? Dr. Reid could not say exactly, but he thought, per haps, about 2001. or 3001. In continuation, be stated that he could refer to one hundred places at least, in England, Scotland, and Ireland, where his plans were in successful operation; but he would select St. George's Hall, in Liverpool, where the ventilation was based upon the plans of 1846. He had worked those plans for a we k before 3,000 psrsons, and they were perfectly suc cessful. They were the same he would have worked in that House if he had not been prevented. Asked whether he had proposed his plans in time for the architect to act on them? Dr. Reid replied that he had, and that they had been (as was understood in the gallery) so acted on. They were proposed by him in 1834. In reply to further questions he said that in two days he would, if supported as he had been by Lord Besbo rough, undertake to render the atmosphere of the House supportable; and that he was quite ready to put on paper all that was required on the subject. In reply to Mr. BRIGHT, Dr. Reid said that the lighting had been taken out of his hands, and that he, therefore, could not enter into detail on the subject ; bat he did not consider that the waste-tubes for carrying off the air destroyed by com bustion in these lamps sufficiently large. The conse quence was that steam was evaporated and water con densed. He should most certainly make an alteration in the ventilation of the lamps—similar to that which he had made in Buckingham Palace, when the lamps had burned badly for want of ventilation. He was ready to submit his plan before Monday—indeed he was ready to submit it on the moment, es ho had always been pre pared for an emergency like the present. In reply to Mr. SANDFORD, Dr. Reid said that the ventilation of the lamps in the corridor would effect a great improvement in the at mosphere of the House. There were eight doors in the passage, and the products of combustion were continually pouring into the House. In reply to Lord H. VANE, Dr. Reid stated that his present plan was the same as that which he had been stopped from carrying out in 1846. There was nothing to prevent him from carry ing it into execution if the House ordered it and he was adequately supported. He had accumulated re sources all along to carry it into effect in contemplation oi' being called en, as he was that night. One of the principal points was the equalisation of the temperature in ;he House and in the passages. To questions put by Sir B. HALL, Dr. Reid replied, that he could put the House into a state of better ventilation, if he received the power to do so, before Monday. To questions put by Mr. BROWNE, Dr. Reid answered, that he could not put the lighting into the same position in the same space of time, but he could palliate the present evils arising from it. In reply to Alderman HUMPHERY, Dr. Reid said ho had had between 4,000/. and 5,000/. for the ventilation of the House of Commons since 1845. For an expense of some 7,000/. he could build, warm, and ventilate a room, in which the House could sit with comfort and all the Members see one another. He could not, of course, decorate it for that sum. In answer to Lord SEYMOUR, Dr. Reid said he proposed to put the gas lights on a better footing, beginning with the galleries; to put all the chimneys that were now pouring torrents of smoke into the House on a better footing; to build a portion of the vaults under the House where there was a drainage smell, and to consolidate his materials for ventilation in a chamber with a concrete floor beneath the slates, not as at present, with nothing beneath it. He was then ordered to withdraw, and he withdrew accordingly. Mr. HUME, after what ho had heard, proposed that Dr. Reid should be requested to place on paper his specific remedy, and tho cost of the same, to the end that those Members who were not present should be made acquainted with the plan. Sir B. HALL suggested that, under the circum stances, the wish of the House being known, it would be better to leave the matter in the hands of the Noble Lord (Seymour), who was the responsible officer in the case to Parliament. The Noble Lord was aware of what was desired; and an expenditure of 2001. or 3001. could not be a question for consideration when the ob ject was to make the House comfortable. Lord SEYMOUR was of opinion that it would be best to print the minutes of evidence from the short writer's notes in the first instance. As regarded the responsibility he would rather not undertake it, as he doubted when the 3061. was expended, if the House would be satisfied. Mr. HUME thought it would not be fair to cast the responsibility on the Noble Lord in the matter. Alderman COPELAND was understood to complain of the ventilation of the dining-room of the Bane. Sir G. S TRICKLAND agreed that as Dr. Reid had been perfectly successful in ventilating the old House of Commons they should at once give him the powers he sought, and allow him until Wednesday to carry his plan into execution. He should, therefore, propose a motion to that effect. Sir G. GREY thoug u h e t st i i tb . mr. E. oa better that the evidence of Dr. Reid should be print e d b e f ore t h e House came to any decisi o on sß onth N e gon le was afraid that would get rid of the whole question, as the difficulty would be in being a bl e to bring the subject again before the House. Having the advantage, then, he was desirous of keeping it. — (Laughter.) Mr. Barry had been intrusted with a very large sum for the purposes of ventilation, and he could not see why Dr. Reid should not therefore be trusted with the sum of 300/. for the same purpose. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that Mr. Barry was responsible for the building; but it was now proposed to direct Dr. Reid to do that which he thought fit at a cost of 3001. The House did not know what Dr. Reid proposed to do. It might possibly inter fere with the plans of the architect. It was therefore better to make some inquiry before tney proceeded fur ther in the matter. Mr. E. B. ROCFIE complained of the offensive and injurious atmosphere breathed in the House, and said, as Dr. Reid had proposed to remedy the ventilation without intertering with the architectural arrangements of the building, they should not, as rational men, hesitate to empower him to do so. He should, therefore, propose a motion to that effect. Mr. HASTIE seconded the motion. He bad never sat iu such a cold house in his life. Last year Mr. Barry had authority to spend 10,000/. to 15,000/. on decors, dons. Why should they hesitate to give Dr. Reid au thority to spend 3001. on ventilation now? Mr. HUME said that, as men of business, they should have Dr. Reid's plan before them in the first instance. He, therefore, asked the House to wait until then : Mr. :NE WDEGATE could see no difficulty in the adoption of the auggestiost of the Hon. Member for Montrose. After a conversation in which Mr. Gould, Mr. Tre law:iey Alderman Humphery, Mr. Ewart, Mr. Hinclley, and Alderman' Copeland took part, Mr. NE W.DEGATE, in order to give Dr. Reid an op. portunity of testing the practicability of his plan, m ove d Firstor t C t o l n :Ea i m ss i: on to er th e f as an amendment, " That the Woods and Forests should be instructed by the House o to get from Dr. Reid his plan for the improvement of the report th e amendment. ventilottion of the I!) t u A se N , D an s d ec t o o ri r d ht that this would not afford the House mA irL.;ei o ri n mua M Ani o Ec n d ot a hl y joE . u g means of judging to those Members who were not then present. BROWNE said th a t t h e lighting and the venti- Mr. lat m io r n . s ii h u ou l l i d E go hop,dthe together. N his propositi on th at the minutes of a evidence f Lord w u would wprinted. w The t e n H at AN l C in E is L t, L s Oß, of th e EXCHEQUER ob servedbreatho a bad atmosplere were het hou g ht i t was for the HOLI E work in a business-like manner.s than n o et t hoe a fr o !i y n more o Members,re Commonsto go to a nxious but to e verythiug could ha ve been got in order in a brief It was impossible that j period. He admitted there was much that was wrong that required setting right, but if Hon. Gentleman would exercise a little patience, those inconveniences insepa rable from getting into a new House would disappear. It was the duty as well as the interest of the Government to make the House as comfortable as possible, and t h e subject should certainly not be lost sight of. After same more discussion, into with a Mr. B. OSBORNE said he was p erfectl y s atisfied the result of his motio n. The y had g ot much informa tion from Dr. Reid , a nd had brou g ht the question focus. Lie wished the evidence just heard to be printed, and then would renew the subject next Wednesday. It was necessary to act with firmness on this question, and t o take the bull by the horns, beenf vf o e r r t e h t e a Hbeo sixteenufisneai ,s o eha u e : d , s h ought in two r ew e ro i still reluctant unfinished. ta years, ol 1 ct thatan they the now had already Houses go m it gr.thNnEt w pr p oc E rs u s, r i l in r d E vize s withdraw his amendment. to. read a first T T h h e e Samuietnodrsmeinnt Ch .n a s n t c l e )e ry n Reliefpu t and B a i agreed s time. _ The Water arid Draicage Metropolis Bill was read a fiist time. The ;louse adjourned at Nine o'clock. FEBRUARY 7, 1852. I THE COUNTRY MARIKF,TS, WAKEFIELD, FEB. 6.-- The arrival of wheat this week is small, and the demand being of a limited character, causes a slow trade, yet the full prices of last Friday are firmly main tained. I3arlel is held at a further advance, which checks the sale. Oats and shelling make full prices. Beans Is higher. 8. S . 43 to 45 46 50 40 43 42 46 40 42 43 45 39 42 43 45 44 48 3s 42 34 38 Old- WHEAT, per qr. 601bs per bushel : s. Suffolk, Essex, and Kent, red ... —to Ditto, white Norfolk and Hunts., red „, Ditto, white ••• Lincolnshire and Cambridge, red ... Ditto, white ... _ Yorkshire, red _ Ditto, white ••• ••• Dantzic and Konigsburg, white Lower Baltic and Ham burgh, red... Mediterranean, red ... ... BARLEY, per quarter of 8 bushels : Norfolk and Suffolk... Lincolnshire and Yorkshire Scotch ••• ••• ••• ••• Grinding per 30 stone ... Foreign ... ••• ••• BEANS, per qr. 631bs to the bushel : Small, fine ... ... 33 36 Ticks Foreign ... OATS, per stone : Mealing Feeding ,4 Foreign . —d d to —d lOd to Ild to —d 9d 10 •• --d to —d lOd to lld SHELLING, per load of 2611 b 26 27 MALT, per load o f 6 i mper i a l b ushels —.— 39 — 42 PEAS, per Imperi a l Q uarter ••• • Blue and white boilers Grey and Feed 29 - 32 30 - 3 4 30 - 31 27 - 28 29 -- 32 31 - 33 30 - 32 26 - 30 26 - 2 , 8 '2B - 3 2 AAR] Qrs. Wheat ... ... ... 5,206 Barley ... ... ... 2,267 Oats ... ... ... ... 247 Beans... ... ... ... 616 , 41 VALS. Rapeseed ..• Shelling 363 Linseed .. ~, .. Malt ... ••• • . 11 • Flour ... ... ... Peas ... ... ... ... Tares ... ... ... .., EXETER, FEB. 6.—There was a very small supply of fat bullocks this morning ; and quotations ranged from 8s to 8s 3d per score. Barreners were from 4s 9d to 5s 6d per score. There was a large number driven in, and nearly all were sold. Working oxen, of which there were but few, sold at about 241 per pair. Cows and calves sold at from 10/ 103 to 14/. Sheep were not plentiful, and quotations were the same as last week. Pork Carcases—A small supply this morning, at an advance in price —from Os 9d to 7s 3d per score. Pannier—Turkeys, 59 to 9s ; geese, 5s to Os each ; ducks, 4s 6d to 5s 6d ; fowls, 2s 9d to 4s; pheasants, 7s; partridges, 3s 6d; woodcocks, 65; snipes, ls 6d ; wild ducks, 4s 6d ; widgeon, 3s ; teal, 2s 6d pigeons, is 9d to 2s per couple ; hares, 3s each ; rabbits, Is 9d per couple; roasters, 4s 6d to 5s 6d each ; butter, is Id to Is 2d per lb ; eggs, 16 for Is. Corn Exchange—Wheat may be quoted at from 65 to 6s 3d per bushel. Barley, from 3s 2ci to 3s 6d ; oats, 2s 4d to 2s 6d. Flour, 35s per sack. In some cases a trifle more has been given. NEWBURY, FEB. s.—Our supply of wheat to-day is ex tremely limited, and the condition of much of it very indif ferent; the demand is good, and late rates have been fully supported, and an early clearance effected. Barley, short sup ply, and there being a good demand, prices have further ad vanced is per qr. Beans and peas, short supply, and in good demand at 6d to is qr advance. LIVERPOOL, FEB. 6.—ln the interim from Tuesday the bu siness in Brunswick-street has been inert as regards the con suming buyers, but a little speculation in Wheat and Flour. has preserved late rat es , an d no part i cular change has occur red in price. The interior markets being below ours for Wheat, deprives us of a demand from districts we are accustomed to supply. Farmers would appear satisfied with current rates for Wheat, this week's return showing an enlarged qnantity over previous re t urns , v i z., 111,925 quarters. The mark et to-day was very dull. Holders of Wheat and Flour generally demanded lute rates, but buyers were reluctant, and i n the moderate business done these were not obtainable. Indian Corn was 6d. pe r quarter c h eaper. Oats, Barley, Beans, an d Peas, remain as quoted on Tuesday. BRISTOL SUGAR-MARKET, FEB. 6. —Contrary to expects ,- tions, based on th e fi rmness apparent at the close of the market in London last week, we have again been rather dull here in week, hav e on l y w i th difficulty been su sugars since our la s t report, and prices especially t ow ards the close of the the sale compri se 200 cas k s of West-India, 1,000 boxes HO"' nahs, nahs, and 6,000 mats o f M auritius. Refined produce in stea dy request, at f u lly f ormer rates. Rum has been very Bristol Merc ur y. WETHERBY, FEB. s.—Whi te Wheat, 16s 6,1 to iSs, red ditto 15s Od to 16 s Od per l oad ; barley 32s Od to 33s Od per qr . ; beans 13s 6tl to 14, per lo a d ; oats 9d to 1 0 d per stone. RIPON, FEZ. s. —Whi te wheat 5s 3d to 5s 9d, red ditto .9 to bs 6d ; b eans 4 s Od to 4s 6d per bushel ; barley 29s to 331; oats 18s Od to 22 s p er qr . KNARESBOROUGH, FEB, 4.—Wheat Sc 3d to 5s 9d; beans 3s 9d to 4 s 6d p er b us h e l ; b ar l ey 28 s t o 33 s ; oa t s, 17 s to 219 per qr. ppo rted BANGOR, FEB. 6.—Wheat, 39s to 41s; barley, 29s to 31s oats, 18s to 20s; oatmeal. 27s per 2401b5. DENBIGH, FEB. 4.—Wheat 14s per 1681bs ; barley, from 9s 6d to 10s per 1471b5; oats, from 5s to 6s per 105111 S. LLAN WEST, FEB. 3. Wheat, from 13s to 168; barley, 98 to 103; oatmeal, I2s 6d to 13s ; potatoes, 6s to 6s 6d per hobbet. Witaxir.s.3l, FEB. s. —Wheat, 6s 6d to 6s 8d per measure; barley, 4s 6d to 4s Bd, with an improved tendency ; oats, 2 ° 6d to 2s 9d, few offered. Vegetables—Swede turnips, lOs to 12s per ton ; mangels, 16s to 17s per ton; potatoes, 2 s 4d to 2s 6d ; best quality, 2s Bd. Poultry—Turkeys, 7s to 8 s p er couple ; fowls, 2s 6d to 2s 8d ; chickens, 2s each ; butter, 14d 15d per 18 ounces. GLASGOW, FEB. s . —Holders manifest no anxiety to realise ar y kind of grsin, and prices have advanced 6d per boll on wheat and 6d per barrel on flour. There has not been so much animation in the tr a d e tbi s week, but in sales the above au,. vance has been m a d e. Barley is still scarce at an advan ce s! rd per boll, 21s tid having been paid for a parcel of DaniT e Oats and oatmeal are hi g h er, the former 6d per boll and the latter is p er l oa d. B eans and peas bring 6dd pe r boll o ver last week's quot a ti ons. I n Indian Corn there is little dointtib — o 4he d a it t; o, pe o r ld, qr w , ei w gh e i t i g ' in b tb ui pe: per iN b v u E st N el k , s 3 s B's Od to 40 3 ; bushel, OOs Od to 00s Od; barley, per quarter, viejg- vi n n g" 541 b per bushel, 23s Od to 25s Od ; oats, per quarter, Weighing 421 h per bushel, 20s Od to 00s Od. Oatmeal, per boll, 16s 8d to Os Od ; ditto second, 15s 6d to OOs Od ; barley' meal, lls 6d to Os Od ; peasemeal, 00s Od to Os Od; bran, Pe r stone, Os 7d to Os Od ; first flour, per 2801 b., 32s Od to 335 U second ditto, 26s Od to 27s Od ; oatmeal, best, per stone of 1 41 ' imperial, is 8d to Os Od; ditto second, is 4d to Os Od; barley' meal, ls Id to Os Od ; peasemeal, Os Od to Os Od ; first flouf! 2s 6d cash, 2s 9d credit ; second ditto, 2s Od cash, 2s 4d ern dit. Potatoes, per stone, 4d to Od ; beef, per pound, ,r; to 6d; veal, 4d to sd; mutton, 4d to 6d; pork, 3d to fowls, each, 12d to 15d; chickens, per pair, 12d to 16d; duck s+ Od to Od ; eggs, per dozen, 8d to 9d ; butter, fr, e ,V, ed to Od per lb; ditto, salt, 8d to 10d ; croudie (curds) , 2id ; four -pound loaf, cash, 5d to 6d ; ditto credit, sid to 60 , coals, per cwt, Pd ; hay, per stone, 7d to Od. imperia THE CLOTHING MANUFACTURES. Tim WOOL TRADE.—LONDON, FEB. s.—The wool . market _ ..... is steady. Th e week ' s imports are but 160 bales from Get' many and Madras. „ e , si t FOREIGN WO OL TRADE.—LEEDS, FEB. 6 '"'''' . is: 9 ' amount of bu s i ness h as been done in the market during , t of past week, b u t pr i ces remain firm, and with some prospe ct an advance at the approaching London sales. Excusit W00n..--LEED S FEB, 6.—There has been, le s : doing in sales thi s wee k , and the manufacturers buy en?' ti , supply their i mme di ate wants. Prices are without alters 5g LIVERPOOL WOOL.— lmports the past week consist of, 1; 33. bales E as t I n di a, 150 bales from Gibraltar, 4 bales 1 1,,u a Naples, and 6 b a l es from Malta. The market is quiet 1 a" prices steady. TRADE OF LE EDS , F EB. s.—We have to repor t dull° al.' „ A kets at our Cloth-halls both on Saturday and TuesdaY! e _ o ff there continues to be very little doing by direct deliveries the _,,,, the market days, notwithstanding which there is no great co : e , cumulation of stocks in the clothiers' hands, iw and, been dull in the quence, prices are steady. Business has also the exception of a warehouses since this day week, a a tnh n de y "' improvement in any limited business that is doing for market Canadian continues for T ei ß g A n n h E ous o e F s doinga L re EtcE s little. rett. . o notice I: very fiat, and we cannot shipping n sa n r e e r orders are g a e r a n e t e y r e a t t h l e re l c a e te iv a ed dv t a o nc r e e , li a e n v d e even at that the spinner thebra ne t; e d tt a n fe d w . . Yarns state they cannot replace them at the that they resort to working s hort though there i s not much doing 41 m M A RKET, FEB. 5.--W00r..--There is a desir e tt p hi r Ene e e se . .nt Wools pric BRADFORDe r of ra wools, 1' firm, 1 . s m n , to s. 11 ,1 u N% e 'o n o, ele iit but the h e t h s e p t 0 c i ri c c i n e s t s h o e u t g n h a t r k a e c as tt continues equal, a n tod the quence thet e demand of the trade. Nods and broker are scarce so few are m aking; prices firm. YARNS. —The quantit y pro d uc ed keeps barely equal to the demand ; the prices being so bad, the spi n ' ners prefer to allow their machinery to remain idle. Pligo's . —The demand is not improved, and the manufacturers ge ne ' rally are contemplating the desirability of reducing the quan tity made, till better prices can be realized. TRADE OF MANCHESTER, FEB. s.—The market both for goods and yarns was characterised by much the same features though they are offered as it was on Tuesday. 1 ,. been in a little better demand thae they were last week, andd, prices are rather firmer. Jaconets continue to be neglected, T t he lower d. qualities of shirtings T. cloths, and gr and demanded for yarns a few days since are not acceded to, long T be highp e l:rtilece-; spinners who are not under contract are disposed to abate t somewhat in terms. On the whole the market has been quiet without any material change. COAL MARK ET.--YESTIRDAY. Prices of Coal per ton at the close of the market :.--- ,A Carr's Hartley ..... 133 6d Eden Main ...... ...... 1 5 ° " A 165 9 `: Dean's Primrose 16s 6d Ilasting's Hartley ... 133 3d L4nibton Ord's Maim ... .. 12s 6d N.lletton Lyons ...... 1 55 ~d itedheugh Main ...... Ils OdPensher ............... 15s ~, South Peareth :1 'Canfield Moor f 14s 9 , autield Moor Butes l2s 3d l Whit we ll 15 5 6u West Wylam 1, Wall's End, &c. ICowpen Hartley Hebburn Walker l 4s 6d D eep V e i n Milf or d .. 22 9 Ships at market 91.. ...Sold, 59. _........ B!XTIJ . GF A SON. On the sth inst., at Milner-street, the wife of William Kershaw, Esq. On the 3d i ns t., a t th e Cl o i s t ers , Ly nc ombe, Bath, the ladi of Edward Harwood, Esq. OF A DAUGHTER. On the 4th inst., at Everinghain-park, the lady of C. Maxwell, Esq. On the 4th inst., the wife of G. B. Kerford, Esq °f Marlbo ro u g h- r o a d, St. John's•wood. MARRIED. On the 3d inst., at Kingsbury, Warwickshire, Captallir Henry Cracroft, of the Bombay Army, to Eleanor, claughtv of Charles F. Bullivant, Esq. On the sth inst., at St. Paul's, Covent-garden, the lle v ; Sydney Clark, M.A., to Ellen Rosa, youngest daughter T. Theobald, Esq., of Sheffield-house, Grays. EFs2x. DIED. On the 2d inst.. at Dover, Sarah , Lady Hamilton, wif e of Captain Sir John Hamilton, aged 80. On the 4th at Surbiton•hill, near Kingston-12011- Thames, Henry E. Thrupp, Esq., aged. 79. niott On the Ist inst., at Lang f o rd, near Bristol , John i-- m Bradford, Esq. On the 3d inst., at Lymington, Frances, widow of the late J. Bursey, Esq., of Milton and Barton Cliff, London: Pririttd and Published by MUJWO YOOL 44(1. 1 ( ; ) ,:, So. 112, Strand, Printer, at fThe Sun Office, N0•,,,, 1 0 : strand. in du Pweinel t h, s avny . tha eptiP ,l middiesex, Saturday, February 7, 1852. i yK' a ~ 1~,