The Sun. — London, England, 1845-06-13 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PA II LI AMEI(I T. The 4 HO USE OF LORDS, J une 12. I Fi ve o,eltoelTßercELLon took his seat on the Woolsack Theo., BAIL IN ERROR. th e tu9 CHA NCELLOR moved the third reading E nt in Error Bill, —A g reed to. T he btu 1) AN LIS ABOLITION BILL. . upon tabi o : Pet t of 'i's Bill was brought up and laid Joiri'lpiETAlCTS' COMPENSATION BILL. e sub. :lot of IORTAIAN rose to present a Bill n t tion to Ito/ 414 tue expediency of providing enmpel • lsa certain tu t. , of lands for improvements thereon . ir! k i4 e ,• Ile said it was with considerable difficulty hisile ~:ti!e3eiritehnedirl.ordships, after the statement which . s ein. , (Lord Stanley) had made last Mmo ‘ a . y s • u.at,' -ther e ws great difference between .nt cu rd ror t , - "' s a - his Noble Friend, r,lfli e ,„,, tnll s) Bill and that of e 'llt ela -" nis (Lord Portman's) Bill contained only ( 7i44 11 ( . 8 ,!s ti. that proposed . b his Noble lriend co_n llectesdle t li Ornber. Their 3 Lordships It would be 1 1 1 i it , had a'seented to the prisiciple , of his Bill, sh e as entrusted to a Select Committee ; '')ttk i -11 i n Committee he was convinced as it t ir k : 1 1 1 1 ,1 1 41' 11(4 I) : Vght to carry forward the Bill, _ I_ . !I °- " I fo • th eevils it was intended to remedy, IL tli 0 , 04 ce 1 4 others of a greater magnitude.. i ttl b„ 4l-14 Part s t41( ' Il e elne pains during the recess by inquiries 1,,, 4 to th. e l En glana to obtain information with . re . - l t 'koar ' slltueet, and to make suggestions which did te,, 44 of. r te t he otemberi of' the Committee.. Although yet, th ere to '.4ller ally were disposal to make and con too! aereitallrovements on their_ property,who ould not th, il , ll t t o ztl so me landowners lsll interfered with li t i t lop st , t e n ttriprovezne . nts if 4v . 14 rthhY to any was better to material extent. they He had no doubt I ti paip m - I Ps were of opinion that it th:ewne,":neTents effected Ly agreements . between .. the tm t t o 1 44 1 n rente r of land, which would . be binding other Pl . m• ir l d'qt} t „ ef both, than by k k tt it e e iag 4rir,pe3ent system there was a g u r a 3 e r a lv t difficulty in expired, to l t „ ahrn'tlant, whose lease had Ctiahi•trii",t.eolents by drainage k llt i, Yof tli :e t held by lease, on acc . o ) t n t r otherwisew• of the uncer o nearly on the that some other 1 ' t jil woul d en ur , ', and an impression ' ,.'''tht, -', reap the advantage The difficulty seemed Itrr , ;--anat they curb et had no law by whith d th l e a y id co ( u )u ld t q4ll`)t--isrerisation to a tenant who lET; rt to the la nd which he occupied. blntbteoeungghbttnt,o4 beto tp,N to - ' L T tion of the landowner, ' , ,`,, a 0il 'lill by legal These means 1., ,l'eli th e him to be—maeat:e.li. i,„:i";kl‘re.l4:ll, Parties ; and a arranged lease tbe t4° Tlth it 4, 1 u.; Proposed that it b y should an Act b e lawful within x a lean t c,f t d to demand compensation N e or a ge expiration of his lease, if for three lh °4Otp,."PlPards according to th , e . . _custom owe c r l utild b e ' 1 6 4 , regard to value, and that similar p t) )4,,,giti tt : lv en to the hndowner . and his agent, s M ing s to both parties, and that in 1 'll 'll. l ° lle - i a11 ,3' dispUte it should be . referred to two per d - 1h,,,, N ot Nom should be a justice of . the peace, an the b e of their decision being unsatisfactory, there t h 1 e(41 44 4ntic i a ppeal to the quarter sessions, or to one of made as to °ll ‘ .tilr itlii ; io n% No regulation could be Ti i tl ''' , .s t . - ee mpettiation, as that must depend on cir- I, kll G irt li b A w p a n s then read a first time. 'till f'4E postponed the second reading of his tL t Lu r°at litontLy next till Tuesday. rdoliips then adjourned. 1 11 N;lti ---------41"---7 l2. e St. tk SE OF COMMOAS, . Jun r hi itll took the Chair at the usual hour. s td,, the 14( • NEW WRIT. _ new wr it was t( „ edio_ iaon of Mr. YOUNG, a lted t.lhe eounty of Edinburgh, Mr. Ramsay having Th Chiltern Hundreds iitio4LEDONIAN RAILWAY BILL. T h l ttib . b a',.,as read a third time and passed. ths e hill AND PERTH. RAILWAY BILL. i ll ptstaa read a third time and passed. A r i l, s hiii ‘,.ALE JUNCTION RAILWAY BILL. It fat r, I t A "as read a third time and passed. -telle of the presented a petition from Edinburgh, , 1; 1 t4 : ' t he 8111 for the abolition ot tests in the It IN 4'ersities. Py i 4l i eor FEILEX presented a petition from . Lancashire Its ' tik: - a ten hours' Bill ; also a petttion_f . andtb iti o ,,„ at 11.;.3 "1 —. .upOrt against the medical Bill , et,'lttila.ateca Wales praying that, 'ltell''''d the.re' th evidence in those courts should cal courts should ill vetch, ' e 4,, ' ,'Nt. f , IRISH BANKING BILL. ''P t ean :i l l O'BRIEN, seeing the Right H .n o b n i o s u p r i a a h c l e e , t:,l t - "l Chucellor of the Exchequer 1 i?,' ll l' l: ) a r .s zt it him if he would postpone the Irish . Bally- N i(i llkh th Week, in order to afford the Irish public ,"tri n ,, ,e 7 had not yet had,opportunity of l 4 W ta e Provisions of the mea i su i r E e ?- 4t the CELLOR4N(Hear.) hs., Lai L of the EXt.d . QmUs3Tltbraetpltibede lo "Ira, ''' had been printed early in l i'i t th i dlict, 4 , l B . Which had been introduced into it had been aild 1, 41,24 i n concert with the bankers . of Ireland,. i4 l i'l, a nd Person s in that countreyninfoterreasnteyd further n rtb th e e r title:d that lie saw no _F ' , . 1. 'N;,-„ l 't at this late period e o n f s th it e w se as ssion. tr 4, 11 ' I O'BRIEN asked if intended to a l l htl ith the discussion on the Irish Banking Bill t ` , . I.4 N; 44 eELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the 4' 411 1 . 1 ' 4 t ' t ilt was, that the report should be bro th u e gh th t t u rt p t \NTI: and discussion should be taken on be bis'Nvt, 7 'll °u4 t%' "'BRIEN hoped the subject would not k ee eA 1 bottidv ate hour. csllBe set l° -4tencleet at, 1, 011 of the EXCH b E us Q in U es E s ß he s f a e i r d e th t e h y e hour the other 0 4 4 eos ". At, PETITIONS.. . 1 1 4. 4 'Ly e, tQa ' • - from Bury and . t4tl Pres 3 lnta on the Ministerial side A o sb f totinie (litio oe in il petition Itl i n s ot e biali w nat fa vour of a Ten . Hours' Bill; a Dr LE OF rates. s !ettlement Bill ; and petition n ion e 5i.,,. 1101171.1itIAX—CASE OF COLDECOHTernTe. se. 1 le' hT l , 4 ‘ (l ros e to inquire of the le el * , -t""er his attention had called ' .°4 l 'ltt " W un'sta nees under which John been th,t Il i , ts arrested and long imprisoned i Wate . r n s , lit 'O: iil l loti e s e ue n ln the Isle of Man ? iko rt ,order of his intention to ask the He qu b e a s d - Mhs tit ilty of , t ° give the Right . H n Gentleman an '41)41,-;lt.eirlitir,,eat'llecciltit.::rinsg into th ls e s zub e i n ec ( t ) . .J. W. Coldecott affidavit, charging 41144,hi'ving as n sault p e t d 9 his wife. The place w as he a r r. t tr4 atiat,w,_4a taken was not recorded. 4L te ent‘ a ". el l before Deemster Heywood, and was or 'lti l gl,t, ll , l ' e .r into securities to keep the peace n for a s i i .. x , d. 14 l ' l t ; ito h.committed to Castle Rushen g I 11 64- ha " . e ctu b f onted with his accusers. l'jtlli,ilied theri e g nio e r i e ng th c a o n n six r months, when he was o a ii ,' , og k t i. debt due to a person named Kermai k ki 4 fl t.,.1.1an for maintenance, it was alleged that , c l ,` ll bit l ni e t;', l , d ee i l i fur the assault on his wife . His h il i l m s , p ( a ": d ,'l,,', lef t i a " his property was taken '14 41 01. - state of destitution. applied to the 5 4 1p h' o who referred his complaint He o e Deetrister Hey -141.41314 Ordered Mr. Coldecott to be detained three t41 11 : 4 4, ah l :P h er in gaol. Such was the statement made V ail " W6hed toask if the Home Secretary• had li . ir 4 3' 11 4 , 44 . , .., ~, I lt , .(.14 1 les on the subject r L 'qk, h ' Riven PIAII said that, in consequence of the .4,1. had 'Y th e Hon. Gentleman on a torre_te t r . e e ve i n „ - h t t o 111 directed the Lieutenant-General of b Jt!e'„ vti,,!ti'',,i,iquiries into the matter, but he had not i ) ol ta,g,'‘!eport thereon. Iti;: P b . : ll %\r' ei-IURTS IN THE ISLE OF MAN.. t . 1, (41 110 hl i \ll 6: also begged to put the other question whether any 'pea f,a,,t,,ave 1 ,„ , given notice, namely, cja i4c) c 4 itl e il lt tli tl e s : iees t onfi k t e me n da t frii provide Pt i aBr against, the delay ofjus ;in the non-holding the Chancery %AN oat e . .He had been i n n f fo n r o m t ed te t s h s at ti t ta h n e ace involved a matter t tii„4, q b had solely l 'ti ' 4 'o " 4 RA.M said that the delay h' NI N tile f• li kn Y Ina. act of the Lieutenant-Guyern , csbeing I tt k o lloi mis Posed which had compelled him to resign e Note4l:l4,lt-e°t• ' lle trusted that matters would ba ' 4 ).1 t ° obviate the necessity of the Hon. and b e 4, , &,'lnter's future inquiries. ,Ito,, 4 0011, 1 4EGES BILL (IRELAND) . _ . I N' et ar ` 4 , wished to know whether the ß li l i l gh tl t m ll t o h n e . k ,! t i t' h , llt, in 1 ; 1 , 4 ,9 Put ()if the Irish Colleges i __ ,,u34, 1 ;‘ttetlir to give 'the Members of that . 11 %tPihtllekr:tltiTUlarlythe Irish Members, tinit, to con ,,Sl,lle a 4'4l:lents which had been made in it, before I N A u • Gi e „e„sion on the matter ? : a- - lett 1.-11IAM said that, although the amend l'ls'lnarlfut to be introduced in this Bill we t re een o! NNj tli,b,t inportant character, he did s Pcl tles, - s ° very imp. t nt as to justify the th r lot -pt, None ,'r ld a not, therefore, accede b tr t , be a nn further kui' l l'i t, ° ,l ( NI . e Dl u ember. To-morrow nig 11 6, "e th --,. 4 eo e money,- vote, as a preliminary step to Ti i P,lreitt ee . 4 tl , Cl/ A x.r.r4 S COTCH BANKING BILL. k g 'rd -.'",, CELLOR of the EXCHEQUER eic,t.P.PprZning of the Scotch Banking Bal. moved 4 , 1 % th MAULE did not intend to oppose the thll l ,"t it be fore the Bill was read a third time,. he Ill i ell2 or o llee "sary for him to enter his protest agl i t e i m ns i t i ''‘Jri t !,, n tert e . ,, Re could not do otherwise than condemn 1' s o --er lee with a system which had hitherto ll s ii. well ' 0( ) di lo Scotland. (1-4.a_ v ,,,." then read a thiid time and passed. l 'tqth e n ", AMENDMENT (SCOTLAND) BILL. ,k 4 'Rni t'er of the day being read for the second iii ft.Fouite Scotch Poor-law Amendment Bill, Ntr et a the44l-TLE presented a petition against the ata gen . I t , 4t., 1 - °NI Assembly of the Free Church of 111....k.0tz1i . t,: l ' d h i i" t i n () s it t t o h e tT . also presented petitions from Scot- At '/ rif th All VOCATE then moved the second Ether lt tr -.0 Rill wh a Tiat b • en w hoß 'APORD said he found the opinions of t ec kktt ala -e tlllthorit llii h °ll ver l i e to th • y was greater than his were un • ,0% bas in Bill. He thought there were great itIIAN "ea , 4 the existing system, but that if no tl'l,C,l,llt,, it° II:, :lone but this measure of the Go ki!'QlN, i ney w , O( Luicl not give satisfaction to Scot kra,4.4egi,la..itt:l;' have petitions from a e li quarters for renewed and ftr ci tl lltiat i t : an ills. britill)isiennossipraya ‘fveoelliitycigbs ofe.xcittment iaied.--...(V01ch he, for one, did not wish to see ' e at:Pro v o Ileac, The lawof Scotland, as it now 11 , i r aa kti a ll i d i l ` t ` l e a g bi t e ltat all those who were decrepid, impo 'or o tt j la t , / Par o , . t ' sustain themselves, should he sup '. e pro d the, lawental assessmeats, and in every paris_h ..o o t f . t t i a{ k lier o had established a parochial boaxdt• a T N I: ,' th,i;le.nanee of such persons, and for raisin; ,ari3Oarq t,aiteqate relief. In the borough parishes go o "es it 'ostsed of' the maaistrates in the county t il l ;11,114'ittliediof the herit'ors and ' the clerk of ses t4l e slaw alip port tie power to make au assessment 1: 14 . at p r of the disabled and incompetent poor. la l . t Rh% i t es tnt was anything but satisfactory. In e 4 oh the prt,rided that the assessment should 5 me ans and substance of all the inhabi- 0411\ THE SUN, LONDON", FR IbAA( MORNING, JUNk 13 18-15. for spiritual instruction to paupers of the Roman Catholic faith: Colonel WOOD considered that the effect of the Bill under consideration would be, eventually, to put an end to all settl, ment but that of birth, and to entail on the people of Scotland all the evils of the English poor-law. By fixing seven years as the period for effecting a settle ment, th practical effect would be, that the great mass of those not born in Scotland, but industriously engaged there, would not be able to gain a settlement. It would entail on the country all the evils of the 13th and 14th Charles 11., and lead to a war between parishes, as to which should be burdened with the maintenance of the poor. Mr. S CRAWFORD said he wished to make a few observations or. the Bill, which he would have looked upon as a step towards laying the foundation of a substantial system of relief for Scotland, had it not been proposed that those who formerly were entrusted with the ad ministration of relief were still to have it continued in their hands. It was his opinion that it could not be placed in the hands of worse persons--(Hear, hear)— as they had shown a most unpardonable neglect in the way they had acted towards the poor of that country, What was the condition of that country under the administra tion of relief ? It exhibited a system of extermination, in which the people were cleared away, and the country turned into extensive sheep-walks. Certain statements had appeared in the Times newspaper, to which he would call their attention. The Hon. Member then read ex tracts from the letters that have recently appeared in that journal, illustrative of the clearance system in the counties of Ross and Sutherland, especially in the parishes of Ardgay and Glencarrie. He would ask why the poor-law of Scotland had not prevented this deplorable state of things ? He wanted to know what the heritors and kirk sessions had been' doing to allow such proceedings to go forward. This clearing system was not confined to the district he had named, but extended itself over the whole Sutherland estates, there being many instances in which 30,000 acres of' pasture were only inhabited by a few shepherds, the land having been depopulated to make sheep-walks. If a proper poor law had existed such a state of things could not have taken place, as the poor would have had a settlement, and could not have been driven out. It was a system which extended mendicity and wretchedness among one class, and rendered the wealthy hard-hearted and callous towards the sufferings of their fellow creatures. These were most material points to be considered when they spoke of a poor-law for Scotland. Other parts of Scotland were suffering very much from the want of an efficient poor-law. In Glasgow it had been stated, upon authentic grounds, that hundreds died annually from the want of the commonest necessaries of life. If they went into the description of what had lately taken place in Sutherlandshire, they would find much *.o shock them. There was no protection for the poor man, and the whole country seemed in a state of desolation. If the accounts in the newspapers were true, this state of things should not be suffered to exist. He would not vouch for their truth—(Loud cries of "Hear, hear," from both sides of the House)—he repeated, he would not vouch for the truth of these statements, but thought it right to mention them there, so that they might be explained or contradicted by Scotch Members, The law would, he thought, be most severe in its opera tion as regarded settlement, and he entirely objected to the 17th clause of the Bill, which respected the removal of English and Irish. This clause pressed with peculiar hardship on the Irish, who had no settlement in Ireland by the present law, and who, when thrown upon the shores of that country, had no legal claim for assistance in any particular parish. The 72d clause was a most barbarous one, for if an Irishman who had been oncere moved again became Chargeable to the same parish, he was treated as a criminal. Sir J. GRAHAM—It is the law of England. Mr. CRAWFORD—Then it is disgraceful to England or any other country, to keep such a law on the Statute. book. Mr. LOCH said he wished to say a few words about a statement which had been made by the Hon. Member for Rochdale, relative to the treatment of the tenantry of Sutherlandshire. These accounts quoted by the Hon. Member were not true.—(Hear, hear.) There were no tenantry better treated than those of Sutherlandshire, nor none more flourishing ; no pains that could be taken by a landlord which had net been bestowed upon them, and they were a most industrious well-disposed popula tion. They had frequently been forgiven their rent, and 60,0001. had been distributed among them by the land lords. Sutherlandshire had wonderfully improved since 1828, and one village there, Glencarrie, which, in 1813, exported 3,500 barrels of herrings, last year prepared 37.000, employing no less than 3,900 people. Neither was there an illegal still in all Sutherlandshire, a great proof of the moral improvement of the population. The Hon. Member concluded by saying that the reports in the newspapers were grossly exaggerated, and that he was willing to give the Hon. Member all the facilities in his power to ascertain the fal ehood of these statements. The LORD-ADVOCATE said he would commence by adverting to statements which had appeared in the newspapers respecting what had taken place at Glen carrie, in the north of Scotland. And first, be must say, that he was by no means inclined either to approve of or defend a system of wholesale ejectment. He thought that if a landlord wished to diminish the num ber of tenantry on his property, if he found such a step necessary, he (she Lord-Advocate) thought it should not be done suddenly and at once, but gradually. But respecting what had taken place at Glencarrie, he be lieved the reports to have been greatly exaggerated, and his belief was founded upon inquiries which had been instituted to ascertain the accuracy of these statements. It was not a case of sudden ejection, for negotiations had been going on for a period of two years between the managers of the land and the tenantry. Arrange ments had, in fact, been concluded to the satis faction of the tenants who were to vacate those lands, and who gave their consent to that course. The lands were accordingly let to others, but the tenantry afterwards changed their minds and refused to go. To many of these tenants abatements had been made. Some of them had received sums of money and assistance towards emigrating, and they were so far from being in the state of destitution de scribed, that several hundreds of rounds had been paid . . to them, as the value of their stock. Notwithstanding the observations of his Learned Friend the Member for Leith, he thought there would be no difficulty in mak ing those alterations in. Committee, which would render the measure generally acceptable. He considered that sufficient provision was made in the Bill for the protec tion of the pauper against the parochial boards. With regard to the objection of his Learned Friend, that there was not an uniform system of rating adopted in Scotland, more particularly in means ad substance, he had not found in the five volumes of evidence collected by the Commissioners on that subject, anything against the fairness and justice of that system of taxation. Since the Bill ha . d been circulated he had received various communications approving of that part of the Bill ; and, moreover, he believed that public opinion was generally in favour of it. If the system was right, and had been found to work vie.ll in Glasgow and other places, as he could prove by the testimony of very high authorities, he would ask if it was advisable to prevent the people from resorting to this mode of assessment in preference to any other ? Nevertheless power was given in the Bill to adept a different mode of assessment on property, for instance, where it was thought proper to do so from local and other causes. Parochial boards would, no doubt, adopt a system best suited to the place. With regard to the objection of his Learned Friend, as to the extension of the period of residence from three to seven years, he believed there was a general concurrence of opinion that such an extension should take place—that opinion was entertained by all who had turned their attention to the condition of the poor in Scotland, wheth,=r in towns or in the country—Dr. Alli son among the number.ris Learnedyriend, was strongly opposed to the removal of paupers from England and Ireland,, and urged that their support was most oppres sive on the rate-payers of Scotland. Now, it did appear to him (the Lord Advocate) that they could not deprive an English or an Irish pauper of relief out of the poor rates, because there was not sufficient provision in their own country, though there ought to be,_ for a Scotch. man was not entitled to relief out of the poor•rates of Ireland. He considered that the erection of poor-houses should be left to the proper parties, and to consider whe ther they Would afford paupers relief in them or out of them. A Noble Lord (Lord Arundel) suggested that some provision should be wade for the spiritual wants of those who ditier,d in their religious opinions from ethers of the poor. There was nothing in the Bill to prevent such persons from being attended by the pastor of their own religion. He knew several parishes in which no medical officer was employed, and in many of them his services were rendered unnecessary .. by the longevity of the inhabitants.—(A laugh.) However, power was given in the Bill to apply a portion of the rates, in the shape of a subscription to hospitals, for the benefit of the poor. The Bill provided that funds should be provided for the relief of indigent persons in sickness, as occasional poor. The Learned Lord then referred to the general details of the Bill, and concluded by stating that no objections had been urged, or saggestious raised, which might not be adopted in Com mittee. He hoped, therefore, the House would not ob ject to its going into Committee, as it would be of great advantage to the poor of Scotland.—(Hear.) Mr. HUME thought that the objections had been fairly met by the Learned Lord who had just sat down. He could only say that the subject was full of difficulty. If they could steer between the two extremes it would be well. From the communications he had received from the boroughs which he represented, all differing in the tenor of their contents, but all agreeing in 'the end at which they arrived, that there was great difficulty in the question, and he thought therefore that upon the whole the safest plan would be to suffer the Bill to pass over till the next session. All differed on the great point as to the amount of relief which should be administered in those cases where it was impossible to appeal to the authorities, and he thought that it was somewhat unsafe t:) leave it, as the Learned Lord proposed, to the enlarged charity of the individuals in whose neighbourhood those cases of immediate distress occurred. The case was therefore evidently full of difficulty, and he thought it better therefore that the measure should be sub mitted to a Committee up stairs. Ho must admit that the Learned Lord had very fairly answered the objections of the Honourable Member for Leith, but still be had not obviated the evils which had been pointed out in the previous speech. He himself had been an advocate for the alteration of the poorlaw, but he must acknowledge that it had not alto gether fulfilled the expectations which he had formed of it. Little time would be lost by the delay, and as the advantage of giving a perfect measure was exceedingly great s he thought the better plan would be to defer the measure : and as he was sure that every Scotch Mem ber would feel it his duty to bring all the information which he could obtain, there would be grounds for deci sion fat superior to tiny which they now possessed, and he should therefore desire that the measure should be postponed for one , ear more. Mr.COLQUHOUN felt, equally with the Hon. Mem. ....... bet for Montrose (Mr. Hume), the difficulty of this ques tion, but he was compelled to differ with him as to the result. It was true that there was great doubt as to the measure of relief to be administered in cases of absolute destitution ; but, when he recollected that the board of supervision, which this Bill proposed to insti tute, would bring any cases of flagrant abuse be fore Parliament, he thought that there was suffi cient security for tiv just exercise of its powers. It should also be remembered that the kirk of session also possessed the power of interference, and notwith standing the changes which had lately occurred in the Church of Scotland, vet he believed that all parties would work consentaneoudy in carrying out the provisions of this Bill. And if they did not, it should be recollected that they were subject to the jurisdiction of the ecclesi astical courts. So that even from them there was a security by no means contemptible. It would, there foie, in his opinion, be far better to come to a decision than to hang up the measure even for another year. The Hon. Member for Leith was desirous of a change in the assessment, and he thought there was much in the objection. When it was remembered, as had been stated by that Hon. Member, that all the developments of Scotland had taken place within the last 65 years, it was evidently plain that the assessment ought to be thrown more largely on houses in towns. In those cases of emergency, where there was no opportunity of meeting the distress by the ordinary means, they had no resource but to apply to some extraordinary source. Such was the case at Stockport a few years ago. There the poor's-rate had proved entirely inadequate to meet the ditress.—(Hear.) It was, indeed, only intended to meet ordinary occasions from poverty, and when any great period of calamity, such as those which the variations of commercial existence were sure to oc casion, they could only be met by some extraordinary appeal to the public kindness and sympathy of human nature. These occasions had been so met in Stockport, Glasgow, and other places. But these were only extra ordinary occasions, and he thought that if there was to be any permanent provision for the wants of the able bodied labourer, it would lead to a system of demora lizing tendency which would ultimately lead to a total depravation of the popular mind. For these reasons, agreeing with the Hon. Member for Montrose as to the difficulty of the question, but disagreeing with him as to the danger or benefit of delay, and believing that there was au urgent necessity for interference, he s hould give his cordial support to the Bill. Mr. E. ELLICE quite agreed with the previous speakers in the difficulty which surrounded the question; but he thought that however great that difficulty, yet it was a duty of the House to encounter and overcome it. He thought that the suggestions of the Hon. Member for Leith were well worthy of attention ; but at the same time he differed as to the way in which that suggestion was to be carried out. The several parts of Scotland totally differed from each other in character and condi tion, and to endeavour to apply one and the same remedy to people in such very different circumstances, and with such very different wants, must turn out a total futility. The east and the west, and the north and the south of Scotland, were all under very different circumstances, and they were applying a mea sure which would act most unequally: To any one who, like him, had seen the Highlands, it would appear ridiculous to suppose that any board in that district would assess themselves. He believed that no one Bill could apply to all parts of the country, and he conceived, therefore, that it would be necessary to have one Bill for the Highlands of Scot land and another for the Lowlands. Scenes were at pre. sent enacting in the north of Scotland which reflected disgrace on any civilized country—(Hear, hear) —but was there anything in this Bill to put -a stop to those proceedings ? He believed not. Ile did not wish to mix himself up with the opinions of any person or persons, but looking at the reports which were now periodically sent from the Highlands, he could not help expressing his gratitude to any person, or body of persons, who were the means of bringing the state of the Highland poor before the country. He thought that the facts therein stated proved that unless parishes were compelled to give the poor com pulsory relief, certainly no voluntary assistance would be sufficient for that purpose, and most decidedly he thought that the poor ought to have some fixed system of medical relief. Another lieu, which would be greatly calculated to ameliorate the condition of the poor in the Highlands, would be to teach the children the English language. Why should property, he would ask, in Scotland, be exempted from an assessment to which it was liable in England and Ireland? He thought this Bill a most ill-advised one, and he trusted the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite would re-consider it. He did not think that they had evidence enough of the state of that country, for certainly a body of evidence had been supplied to the House by the Commissioners which fully illustrated the state of the poor; yet he would again earnestly entreat that the measure might be postponed for the purpose of re-consideration. Mr. IL SCOTT was strongly opposed to any post ponement of this question, for he was of opinion that the longer they deferred legislatinw on the subject, so long would the Scottish poor be kept in their present miserable condition. An Hon. Member on the opposite side had lamented that this Bill would place a greatly extended power in the hands of the Kirk Session. He did not think that power would be ill-bestowed, for during every period the Kirk Session bad proved them selves the friends of humanity and of religion. The poor-law in Scotland was good, the principle of it was excellent.—(Hear). He was glad to hear those cheers from Scottish members. It was only the want of an assessment that made the case of the poor so miserable. If they took the ministers from the north of Scotland, they would find a very large proportion of them in favour of a compulsory assessment. If they took the medical men examined, they would find that 80 per cent. of them were in favour of compulsory assessment. Most of the sheriffs' substitutes, and in fact . the large proportion of all the influential witnesses examined, were in favour of a compulsory assessment. What ought to be the course, then, for Government to pursue ? Why, simply to introduce into this measure a power of compulsory assessment in parishes where it might be required. Mr. P. M. STEWART regretted that Government seemed determined to force this Bill through the [louse in the present session, because, considering its vast im portance to Scotland, and, indeed, considering its im portance to the whole country, and considering the pre sent state of public business, he thought it would have been a fair concession to lion. Members connected with Scotland, and a relief to the Government themselves, if they had acceded to the request of the Hon. Member for Montrose, and referred the Bill to a Committee up stairs. He denied that the Bill, in its present form, would introduce any improvement into the present state of the poor of Scotland, and he thought it must be startling to every Scotch Member to find, that the mo ment the Kirk Session was discovered to be inoperative, a measure of this kind was brought forward, which he defied any Hon. Gentleman opposite, from the Learned Lord- Advocate downwards, to prove to him would be productive of any beneficial effect. Without detaining the ii use on the minute details of the Bill, he wished to proceed at or:ee to what might be considered the great point of the measure, namely, the two administrative bodies to act under the Bill. He would go at once to the Supervisional Board, which had already Leen demolished by his Hon. and Learned Friend the Member for Leith. Now, the whole constitution of that board was indefensible, and he took it to be a matter of one of those very points which would have to be settled when they went into Committee on the Bill. There were to be nine members of that Board, part of them to be nominated by the Kirk, part by the Sheriff, ant the remainder by the Crown ; but the only two members who would be favoured with the confidence g the people, would be the two provosts of Edinburgh and Glasgow. Such would be the constitution of the Board, which it was proposed to entrust with powers which appeared to him to be most anoma lous—powers which, instead of tending to relieve, threw ob stacles in the way of the poor obtaining their just rights, while, at the same time, they gave undue and unnecessary protection to the pariskauthorities. This appeared to him to be most unjust, for if one party ought to have been favoured at all, he thought that party ought to have been the poor and not the rich. It was said the Bill was to correct the mal-administration of a good law, but, in his opinion, the poor were in a better statenow than they would be under the Bill. All these points, however, were to be settled, altered, or improved in Committee ; but, considering the advanced period of the session, and considering that the Bill contained as many as eighty clauses, he thought it would be more becoming in Government if they were to put off the Bill till next session. They were going to apply ma chinery:which was constitutionally wrong, which could not work, and' which would increase instead of .abate the abuses under which his country was suffering... He. said, then, that the Bill, unless it were amended throughout almost to affect its principle, it would be impossible for any Scotch Member to give his vote in support of the measure. But of this he was quite sure, that if they passed it now, his Learned Friend the Lord Advocate would have to bring in a Bill next session to amend it ; and how much better, and how much more creditable would it be for them to obviate this necessity, and postpone the Bill for a short time with a view to its amendment. The poor would suffer no hard ship from this course, because the Bill contained no one re deeming quality, ,o far as the poor man was concerned. A distinguished writer, he believed it was Bailey, had said that legislation ought to be for the poor, because the rich could take care of themselves ; but the Bill, though professing to assist and care for the poor of Scotland, was decidedly against their interest. It was a Bill to protect the interest of the lairds and heritors of Scotland, and not to better the condition of the poor ; and if Government persisted in pu s hi ng it f orwar d, h e should give them his most determined opposition. Sir J. GRAHAM was surprised that the Hon. Gentleman who had just sat down, after entering so strong a protest against the Bill, had not concluded by making some motion which would have brought his opinion in a substantial shape before the House, because, if this Bill be not calculated to pro vide for the wants and abate the hardships under which the poor of Scotland labour, he did think the Hon. Gentleman, being a Scotch county Member, had failed in his duty in not moving its rejection.—( Hear, hear.) He would now trespass for a few moments upon the attention of the House while he adverted to a few of the objections which had been made to the Bill in the course of the evening. And, in the first place, he would call to the recollection of the Hon. and Learned Member for Leith, who had taken so creditable and active a part to bring under the notice of the public and the House the distresses of the poor of Scotland, that so far back as two years age,this subject was first brought under the consideration of the Government. He heldin his hand the report of a commission which was issued by the Crown in January 1842, and it was impossible to dissemble the fact, that the issuing of that corn ntisston had raised in a great degree the expectations of the poor of Scotland.—(Hear, hear.) The Hon. Member for Montrose laboured under some doubt as to the conclusion which the commission had come to, but notwithstanding this adverse opinion, he thought the Hon. Member would admit with him that with respect to facts, it was utterly impossible that the inquiry could have been carried further.—( Hear, hear.) All the facts that could possibly be discovered had been fairly elicited, and he was afr.tid the doubts of the Hon. Member for Montrose could not be removed by carrying the investigation further, and he begged to remind the Hon. Mem ber and the House, that the time had arrived when it woaiti be an absolute desertion of their duty if Government did not make some attempt to apply a remedy Of some sort. H e did think then it was not worthy of the House to institute a further inquiry, for the purpose of obtaining time, nor did he think it worthy to delay the Bill by sending it up stairs. It was to be dealt with by and in the House and immediately ; and if the proposition of her Ma jesty's Government were erroneous as well in principle as in detail, as the lien. Member for Leith had represented it to boa it was their duty to deal at once with the question.—(Cheers.) ' Now he must state that the Hon. Member for Montrose did his Hon. and Learned Friend the Lord Advoeate justice, and no more than justice, when he stated that the Learned Lord had fairly, grappled with all the objections which had been urged against it ; and so far as the Hen. Member was concerned, it appeared to him the answer of hi Learned Friend was satisfac tory. The Hon. Member who had just sat down had cor rectly stated that the poor-law of Scotland was sound in prin ciple, and humane in its policy, and effectual as far as a matter of less, but defective only from mal-aminis.tiation. Now it was precisely with defects in the administration of the law that Government were dealing and endeavouring to apply a remedy. He could not agree with the Hon. Member, whose knowledge and connexion with Scotland were certainly more extensive than his own, that the parochial board, from its very nature, was unconstitutional and defective. For of what was that body composed? It was composed, first, of heritors, or those who contributed in the largest degree to the poors' rates, and, in the next place, it was composed of ministers of the parish. if assessment became general, the present Bill introduced a most important change, by giving all the rate-payers in the parish a voice in making that assessment. But there were authorities of a high character opposed to the principle of assessment al together. Amongst them were Dr. Chalmers, and (as we un derstood) Lord Dalmeny. Bu: he thought that matters had now arrived when assessment was necessary. ( Hear. ) Still he thought it was desirable to leave assessment volun tary. He did not think it would be wise to make assessment compulsory in the first instance. It was true that the appeal given by the present poor-law of Scotland appeared to recog nise a more impartial tribunal than the English pauper had to appeal to. But, in point of fact the appeal in Scotland was altogether illusory.—(Hear, hear.) He had great objec tions to any delay of this measure, and the arguments of the • Honourable Member for Montrose had not con vinced him that delay would be productive of any good. The legal authorities in Scotland, who had paid the greatest at tention to this subject, were in favour of the Bill. The Solicitor- General for Scotland was in favour of it. The three Sheriffs who had been consulted on the subject, and who had the best means of judging of its merits—that is to say, the Sheriffs of Renfrew, Perth, and Forfar, were in favour of it. He did not think that if more time were given, there could be contrived a better tribunal than that which was proposed in the Bill. In Scotland the poor bad a rigbt of appeal, which the poor in Eng land had not—(Hear)—and as that right was to be confirmed, he did not imagine that any wrong could be done to the poor, if the decision of the local authorities was borne out by the de cision of the ultimate reference. The 67th clause gave an ap peal to the Sheriff, whose decision, if in favour of the appellant, would be conclusive, and without expense ; but it was not to preclude the pauper from a further appeal if the decision were against him. The B►ll would also establish in every parish an inspector of the poor, who would have the power of reporting on, and in some cases of revising, the de cisions of the parochial board. He was quite open to receive arguments which would alter his own preconceived opinions, and to alter the constitution of the boards of supervision. But he was astonished at the objection which was made to the pub licity of all the proceedings of those boards. What could tend snore to the cure of those terrible hardships of the poor in Scotland than the publicity of the proceedings of the parochial boards, and the agency of a controlling power? Much had been said as to the right of the able-bodied poor to relief. The law of Scotland did not give them relief ; and as to the occa sional poor, the 62d clause gave them a claim to relief.— (Hear, hear.) That clause would meet all the exigencies of eases which might reasonably be expected to arise, in the case 1 of the able-bodied poor, occasionally and unavoidably brought down. With respect to the distinction between burghed and rural parishes, all that the Bill did was to maintain and to regulate the existing law. The Bill el:attained provisions which were calculated to give aid to the poor in their respective localities. An Hon. Gentle man made a reference to the necessity of the assistance of me dical gentlemen in the Highlands of Scotland, which was quite impracticable and inconsistent. The establishment of medical inert in such districts would be, in his opinion, quite at variance with reason. Then with respect to the prolongation of indus trial t esidence from three years to seven. He did not say that seven years was the right period, but there were reasons why the time should be prolonged in that country. The migratory characterof those who laboured in the manufacturing districts rendered it indispensably necessary. It was nut ex pedient to postpone legislation on this matter, for this was the time to legislate. In principle there was no objection to this measure, but there might be objections in detail, which could be remedied in Committee ; the law itself was already sanc tioned by the feelings of the community at large. That House was the only place to discuss the question, and not in Com mittee upstairs, from which the people of Scotland would hear nothing. And he challenged the Gentlemen opposite to discuss this matter fairly with him. He hoped that the Gentleman opposite would not make the proposition which he intendod, and if he did make it, be hoped earnestly that the House would resist it. Mr. FOX MAULE said that Hon. Members opposite could not suppose that he had any other object in view than to provide for the difficulties, the extent of which he was ready to admit, but when he looked at this Bill, and read the provi visions of it, he could see no prospect whatever of bringing it into operation, if it were to be only discussed before a Com mittee of the whole House ; on the other hand, if the Bill should be committed to a Committee upstairs, he denied that it could be called a hole or corner meeting ; on the contrary, his opinion was, that the discussion on its merits could be car ried on much more beneficially to the measure, and more satis factorily to those to whose care it should be committed ; and if he did not think so he would be the last man to make such a proposition. His object was to have this Bill examined care fully, and have all its propositions put properly before the public when it should be brought down to the House. This was no unusual course, for it was one that had been adopted upon another Bill affecting Scotland in that House. He had heard the objections of the Right Hon. Baronet, and in answer to them he would say that if I.e were to regard them merely as a private landed propretor, he would let the matter pass quietly; but regarding this measure as he did, he could not help saying that the Bill appeared to him to be one which afforded pro teotion to the rich only. He would not detain the House by going into the details of the provisions as to the remedies at law given by the Bill ; but this he would say, that before a poor man could take his case before the Court of Session he would be materially intercepted. He next objected to the presence of the minister at the parochial board, because the funds collected at the doors of the church were not added to the poor funds, while those who had the management of them were to be mem bers of the parochial board. The Bill also proposed the dis qualification of a class of persons called beritors, to which he would also object ; because those who would have the best right to vote would be disqualified, while a landed proprietor m.ght have the power of conferring a number of votes. This was, in other words, what was called a plurality of votes, than which nothing could be more objectionable. He had to object likewise to what was called • the Superior Board, as well as to what was called the combination of parishes • but all these were topics which could only be fairly discussed in Committee up stairs. If they did not deal vi ith the measure with a view to a perma nent arrangement, it were far better they did not interfere at all, for they would be doing more harm than good. He, therefore, considered that it should not be referred to a Com mittee of the whole House. By referring it to a Committee up stairs, as he had proposed, they would gather the opinions of ail parties, and would be better able to form a judgment as to the course they should adopt. He should, therefore, feel it his duty, if his suggestions were not adopted, to take the sense of the House, that the whole question be referred to a Select Committee. Mr. P. BORTHWICK thought that the Right Hen. Gen tleman who spoke last, and the Hon. Member for Renfrew shire, were the last two Members is the House who should oppose the present measure. He did not hear a single argu ment advanced why the present Bill should be referred to a Committee up stairs. A committee of the whole House was, be con-idered, quite competent to deal with the measure, though it did consist of eighty clauses. Mr. ELLIS felt it his duty to say a few words, before the House came to a decision on the second reading of the He entertained a somewhat different opinion from most of the Members who had straiten on the measure.—( Hear.) He was not one of those who were very much in favour of centralization. He agreed so very much in the objection w hiz:: had been made to th!s measure by his Hon. Friend the Member foe Leith, that he could have wished that his Right Hon. Friend hat! sent this Bill to a Select Committee up stairs. He thought that some inquiries ought to have been made as to the propriety •f establishing the boundaries and unions in Scotland which this Bill proposed to fix. How was it possible that this measure could be fully considered in a Committee of the whole House, looking to the state of public business at pre sent. He trusted that no attempt would be made to alter the existing system of assessment.—( Hear, hear.) The difficulties surrounding this subject were great, and he trusted that they would fully and wholly be considered before this measure was proceeded with. Mr. MILES could not allow this Bill to pass without ten dering his thanks to the Government for having brought the measure forward. He thought that they would have been neglecting their duty if they had not done so. He could not but feel surprised at the proposition of the Right Hon. Gen tleman the Member for Perth of sending this Bill to a Select Committee up stairs. He felt great surprise at this, looking to the existing state of public business. He deprecated delay, and he trusted that they . would all unite in their endeavours to make this Bill as perfect in itself as possible. Mr. HASTIE did not think that this Bill would carry re lief to the Scotch poor. So far from that, there would be more difficulty in carrying such a law as this into effect, than there was now experienced in carrying out the existing law. With regard to the mode of assessment be considered it highly ob jectionable, inasmuch as it did not sufficiently define the dis tinctions to be adopted in the various kinds of property, while it was sufficiently explicit to create differences between the landal and urbal proprietory. In a word, so far from regarding the Bill as one calculated to give relief, he believed it would be but a further mode of depriving the population of Scotland of those remedial measures which other districts had been ac corded.—( Hear.) Mr. AGLIONBY (amid INd cries of " Divide, divide,") merely wished to satisfy the count v, that on both sides of the House an anxious desire existed to affoi.. l relief to the Scotch community, and he thought the greatest cri,sflit was due to the Government for having introduced a measure with that in tention. On the commencement of the discussia: he had thought it would be better to send the Bill to a Committee up stairs, but after the fair and unreserved explanation of the Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary for the Home Department, ' an explanation which removed every difficulty, and answered every objection, he should rather prefer entrusting it to the consideration of a Committee of the whole House. Mr. COLLETT (who from the repeated cries of " divide" was almost inaudible in the gallery) was understood to ask wherein the appointment of commissioners of assessment—five of whom he thought would be virtually required by the Bill— would be vested, and what their salaries would amount to. Sir JAMES GRAHAM replied that the officers would be appointed and paid by the Treasury, but as to the probable amount of salary he could at present give no idea. Mr. FOX MAULE did not consider that the question raised by the Hen. Member affected the principle of the Bill, which he stil regarded as unsound and prejudicial. On the question being put, Mr. CUMMING BRUCE (amid continued cries of " di vide" from every quarter of the House), suggested that if infal libility should be the result of this measure, it would meet with a success which but few Bills carried in that House could lay claim to or expect. Mr. HUME, after having heard the speech of his Right Hon. Friend the Member for Leith, and the reply of the Secretary for the Home Department, than which a more satis factory or fair explanation could not have been afforded, thought that it would not be consistent with the interests of those he and his friends consulted to divide on the present occasion. While in Committee the Bill could receive altera tions or amendments, and he hoped any propositions contem plated for the improvement of the measure would be reserved for that stage of its discussion.—( Hear, hear. ) Sir J. GRAHAM would wish, in accordance with the con venience of the House, to fix Monday sen'night for going into Committee on the Bill ; and on Thursday next the Member for Somerset, and others desirous of proposing, alterations, could lay their amendments on the table of the House. Con sidering the spirit evinced during the latter part of the discus sion, he would promise to give all the suggestions mooted- the fullest investigation, and as extensively as possible would admit them into the provi , ions of the Bill. Mr. P. STEWART, being the Belt that had led the forlorn hope, would concur in the suggestice t of withdrawing all further opposition for the present. stir. FOX MAULE would not T cress his opposition. After a few words from Mr. RT JT HERFORD, the amend ment was withdrawn, and the BM was read a second time, and ardereo. to be committed. - tants wherever such should be found, whether their po-sessions on the spot or in the public funds, their ships iu harbour or any other depository. The appeals to the courts of law could not be made but in the most unsatisfactory manner, and the whole machinery for apportioning and working the law in that respect was intricate and incomplete. There was already a sufficient safeguard that the relief to the poor would be administered upon a most economical principle. It was the rate-payers, those who were assessed, that held the check—to this he did not object. He thought it in the main a good principle, but it was all the more necessary to have an easy, expeditious appeal to the courts of law. Good care should be taken that this power of the rate payers should not be abused. What was the history of the administration of the poor-law in Scotland. He was not there to exaggerate, or to excite the passions against this law, but they could not conceal from them selves that the Commissioners declared in their report that tt+e present provision for the poor of Scotland was wholly insufficient. He spoke of the permanently-disabled poor. In some of those parishts the Cornmiz sioners stated (and, amongst other parishes, those in the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow) th.i when representations had been made to the magis trates that the provision for the poor was insufficient, those magistrates refused to increase the assess ment. He must therefore say that a cheap. expeditious, and easy appeal to the courts of law was above all things desirable. They had, then, unquestionably, this state of things, that by not giving to the poor an easy and expeditious appeal to the law, they took away one of its most necessary provisions, while, at the same time, the provision it did contain involved an extravagant expenditure of the funds intended to be applied for the relief of the poor, thus operating in one way against the poor, and in another against those who pay. for their support. Looking, then, at the names of those who signed that report (for every one of whom he had the most unfeigned respect) let him ask the House to consider what that report recommended. The Commissioners recom mended that the jurisdiction of the court of quarter sessions should be abolished ; but they did not propose that the sheriff, who, unlike the same officer in this coun try, was a judge of the land in Scotland, should have the jurisdiction ; they did not propose that it should be transferred to the central board ; no, they removed all jurisdiction, and left to the poor applying for relief to seek a r( medy at the hands of the parochial authorities, and the board of supervision, who were to report to the Secretary of State for the Home Department. It had been suggested that the grounds on which the scheme was founded were superficial, and his Hon. and Learnt d Friend in laying the measure before the House had defended these grounds. He knew how little public opinion would influence the principle of the measure as regarded the jurisdiction of the Court of Session. He (Mr. Rutherford) thought it was time that relief for complaints against inadequate support should meet with some redress, and the poor man ought to have an opportunity of bringing his case before that Court with facility. He was about to draw the attention of the House to one of the leading princi _ pies of the measure. It was proposed that a board of supervision should be established. If a poor man considered that the means of sustenance with which. he was supplied were not adequate, he must first make out a case before the board of supervision ; but that board had no power, under the Bill, to give the pour man ultimate relief. They could only say . to him that he has liberty to refer his application to the Court of Session. This restriction was not just or proper, when compared with the power which the parish possessed, of going at once without any inter ference to the board of supervision, to contradict what the poor man Might avouch with regard to his treatment. Now, in reference to this part of th subject, he thought it was worth while to consider what was the machinery employed in this measure. What was the board of supervision ? How was it constituted ? It was a board consisting of a number of members, in whice one was paid, with one paid secretary, and it had the power of ordering their own mem bers to any part of the country, or to employ others to make inquiries as they might think necessary. Ile wished to know whether the report made by the Commissioners to inquire into the Poor-laws (Scotland), a report which filled a most bulky volume, did not contain sufficient evidence to enable them to decide upon this question. Could they want more in formation on the subject of the poor-laws than that which had been furnished them during last year? Certainly not. He should have expected that in bringing forward an efficient Poor-law for Scotland the mode of rating would have been clearly stated. As the Bill now stood. the mole of rating was derived from the 'Act of 1779, in which the forms employed might be very well suited to those days, but was altogether un suited to the present time. He wantid to know what the Government had done to ensure a correct sys tem of taking the value of rateable property —what measure was to be adopted to regulate the rating on rental, tenantcy, land, and profit in business. He considered some clear and definite plan would have been suggested on the way in which this important part of the scheme would have been met. He thomeht it was not equitable to assess the rural parishes to the support of the poor in the burghs. Was anything ever heard of so unjust as to leave it in the power of the board of supervision to assess one rural parish to a burden from which other parishes similarly situated were exempt ? In making the rural parishes liable to such an assessment of the towns they would relieve the proprietors of all participa tion in the burden of sustaining the poor. The Bill provided among other anomalies, that the parochial board should have the power of di viding property into different classes and assign different ratings to different parishes. Thus in the parish A this parochial board should inflict upon certain properties situate therein a high rate of assess ment, perhaps six per cent., and in the adjoining parish B a low and insufficient amount was levied, and thus a different rate would be established, and a different classi fication adopted in every parish in the country. Surely these were matters of grave consideration, and made it imperative on the House, before dealing finally with the measure, to look into the anomalies and objections ex posed in it. In the sixteenth century the principle of rating and assessment was first introduced into Scotland, and the present prosperity of that country was mainly attributable to the amendments adopted in those original provisions ebout sixty years ago, it being in the year 1780, just alter the American war, that alterations in the previous principle were suggested and effected. The measure, in his opinion, required much more considera tion and many alterations, or it would inflict injustice on some portion of the people of Scotland, and be generally productive of litigation and legal difficulty. He had great doubts about the expediency of extending the settlement to seven years. If they were to extend the time from three to seven years they would render it so difficult to ascertain the settlement of paupers, that they %wed have to repeal that portion of the law, and return to the old period of three years. He considered that greater time ought to be allowed for the consideration of this important point. Then there was not sufficient protection afforded to parishes against the influx of paupers from England and Ireland, who are bound to maintain them until their settlements could be discovered which was often a very difficult task. This was ex tremely hard upon parishes such as Greenock and Glas gow, where ships of indigent parsons came. These were his objections to the Bill, and he approved of its prin ciple, and thought the object it had in view a good one, but he must again express his decided objection to the capricious Parliamentary line of boundary, which would in many cases be most unfair and unequal in its applica tion. They had not the least conception of the extent of the injury which it would in flict on private individuals by this capricious line. He had already mentioned the case of Edinburgh and Leidt, and there were many other cases where unequal pressure of this law was felt in a similar manner. The parish in which a poor man wets found, was to be liable in the first instance for his maintenance. To this he had not the slightest objection, but the proposition already existed as a law, and whatever the practice might be in particular parishes, the law was that when ever a pauper was found, the parish in which he was, was hound to support him. His Hon. and Leamned F r i e nd wa s t oo well acquainted with the fact to doubt it. The law, however, was not always carried out. At times considerable litigation arose amongst parishes as to the proper settkinent of a pauper. Of his own knoe ledge he woe in-cite:need with a case of pauperism, which had been litigated in the Court of Sessi,n during the List four or live years, and which, in ell probability, would continue for as many years longer without any definite conclusion being Derived at. The influences he had drawn Irons the objections he had raised were so numerous, and so strong, that he was satisfied the pro visions of the Bill, as at present constituted, were most imperfect, and totally inadequate to meet the require ments of the country fur which it was specially in tended. He would recommend . the . House to pause before conceding this Bill, and let. it be sent down into the country, in order that they might have the opinions of partiesthere to guide them in coming to a just and proper appreciation of the sub ject. The population in many parishes was thinly scat tered, and the provisions of the Bill were such, that it would be extremely difficult to supply the urgent de mands for medical relief which such districts required. Over such an extent of country, with such a thinly dis tributed population, it would be impossible for a medical man to travel, so as to supply the demands made upon his skill. There was nothing the parishes in Scotland were so much in want of as medical attendance to the poor, and he did not care how it was applied, whether by a single parish, or a union of parishes, so long as it was done. Another point to which he would refer was that of r.lief to able-bodied labourers. There had been much discussion on this subject during the last forty years, and a deciliiiin had been ob tained in a court of law, affirming the principle of re lief to able-bodied paupers, though he was of a contrary opinion. It was, however, necessary that this quest on should be fairly settled. A system of relief of thrskind should o nly be applied under a workhouse system. There might be cases in which relief should be extended to the able-bodied poor—such as in cases of great national distress, or when epidemic diseases prevailed. There ought to be a provision so meet eases of this kind—a provision of a temporary character —whereby a rate might be raised from the inhabitants of parishes ; but he held it ought not to be of a permanent character. He would not say that the Bill ought not to be read a se cond time, for it might be considerably amended either in Committee of the whole House. or in a Select Com mittee up stairs ; but entertaining strong objections to it in its present shape, he thought it was a duty which he owed to the country to state the grounds on which those objections rested. Lord ARUNDEL referred to a meeting held in Edin burgh, in 1842, under the presidency of the then Lord Provost (Sir James Forrest), respecting the admission of Roman Catholic priests into workhouses, and ex pressed a hope that, in the measure before the House, a tolerant spirit_ would be exhibited, by giving facilities IRIcH BANKING BILL. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved the order of the day for bringing up the report on the Irish Bank ing Bill, and proposed several verbal amendments. Mr. REDINGTON then rose, and begged to propose the adoption of the motion of which he had given notice, and which was a clause to this effect—" That whereat' by an Act passed in the Parliament of Ireland in the 21st and 22d years of the reign of his Majesty King George the Third, entitled an Act for establishing a bank, by the name of the Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland," it was, amongst other matters, provided, that nothing therein contained should be construed to enable the said corporation, or any person or per sons on their behalf, to lend or advance any sum or sums, to be secured by mortgage or sale of lands, tenements, or heredita ments, redeemable, or anything therein to the contrary not withstanding ; and whereas such provision is not contained in any Act establishing er regulating other banks of issue in this realm ; and it is expedient that the same should be repealed, be it therefore enacted that the same shall be, and is, hereby fully repealed." All he asked them to do was, to place the Bank of Ireland in the same po , ition as the Bank of England, and the other banks of this country. The clause was then brought up, and read a first time. On the second reading being proposed, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER opposed its adoption. The locking-up of capital on mortgage was a re prehensible principle and ought not to be encouraged, as its tendency was to cripple other branches of industry. The dan ger was, that if, in times of danger and difficulty, the Bank of Ireland was allowed to advance money upon security of the kind proposed, its proceedings might involve the whole coun try and produce the most disastrous effects. It was on these grounds that he opposed the clause. Mr. MASTERMAN agreed in the sentiments expressed by the Right Hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Ex chequer. Sir R. FERGUSSON thought it was rather hard to de prive the Bank of Ireland of a privilege which was conceded to the Bank of England. Mr. ROCHE supported the clause proposed by the Hon. Member for Dundalk. It was too bad that the Government itself should be the very first to throw overboard the report of the Commissioners that they themselves appointed. Mr. REDINGTON said the Chancellor of the Exchequer had thrown overboard the principle of which he himself was at one time a strenuous supporter—that banks should lend money upon landed security. The Right Hon. Gentleman might rely upon it that banks would be sufficiently cautious of their securities, and they might allow the banks to manage their own business in this respect, without any fear as to the consequences. There was no statute to prevent it. The Noble Lord was anxious enough to get a clause that money should be advanced for purposes in England. He did not go so far as the Noble Lord. They said that was a legitimate bank in Ireland, and he only asked for that which was left to every other banker. He had no hope of carrying his amendment, but he repeated it again, he only desired that the bank of Ireland might be left to manage its own affairs, and to enjoy the same privileges as every other bank in the t,nited Kingdom. The House then divided, when there appeared— For the amendment Against it Majority against the amendment Sir W. SOMERVILLE,said that he wished to know how the proposition would be entertained, of permitting united companies in Ireland to deposit monies in banks incorporated by Act of Parliament, or established by Royal Charter. The question then substantively was—Were banks, so incorporated or established, to be permitted to enjoy the same advantages as the banks in England? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that this was the first time he had ever heard of such a question, and he was not prepared to reply to it. but at the proper time he would give an answer. The difficulty, as it appeared to him, was, to ascertain what was the requisite accommoda tion for public bodies without either restriction or unneces sary looseness, but he would consider the matter, and give a reply hereafter, for it certainly was a point of considerable importance. The clause was then passed. On the clauses being put for regulating the amount of circulation, Sir D. NORREYS said, that he saw no reason which should influence the House or the Government to restrict the issues of the banks of Ireland, and merely by an assumed liberality give advantages to the public banks of enlarging their circulation which the private banks did not possess. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that if the Hon. Baronet looked to the principle of the Bill, he would see that no restriction whatever was intended. The number of the branches of the public and chartered banks was un limited, and it mattered little whether the circulation was issued by private banks or by branches of the blank of Ireland; all that he required was, that the circulation should only be increased in proportion to the gold in their coffers. After some few remarks from the O'Conoa Dose, and Mr. REDINGTON, the report with a number of verbal amend ments was agreed to. On the question being put that the Bill be engrossed, Mr. W. S. O'BRIEN rose to move the re-committal of the Bill. He said he had sat in the House for the last fourteen years, during which time he had witnessed nothing but bad legislation towards Ireland, and this Bill appeared to him to be in many respects no exception to the rule the House had hitherto pursued. He complained that due time had not been given to the people of Ireland for considering the Bill. It was only last Saturday that a number of persons connected with banks in Ireland waited upon him on the subject of the Bill, and certainly, at that time, those individuals had not seen it in its present form. Some most important clauses bad since been introduced into the Bill, and as he thought the people of Ireland ought to have an opportunity of considering them, he felt constrained to move as an amendment to the motion before the House, that the Bill be re-committed. The SPEAKER reminded the Hon. Member that he had allowed the time to slip by when he should have moved his amendment. The motion before the House was that the Bill be engrossed, and the Hon. Member must be aware that the time when he ought to have moved his amendment was when the motion was put, that the amended clauses be read a second time. Mr. W. S. O'BRIEN—Then I move that the debate on this Bill be adjourned for a fortnight. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER could see no reason for the amendment, except it was to put upon record the ob;ection of a particular party to the present measure. Sufficient notice had been given to the managers of all the banks in Ireland and there was no ground for the complaint of the Hon. Member that time had not been given. He did not think that the Hon. Gentleman meant to take advantage of the time of the night. But it was really the fact, that all the ()) jects of the Bill were made known to the Irish bankers be fore the Itill ways proposed. Mr. ROCHE said that not one of the arguments of the Hon. Member for Limerick had been met by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. For his own part, he hoped that the Bill would work better than it was expected to do in Ireland. How ever, on the part or his constituents, he must oppose the Bill. Lord BERNARD supported the Bill, and said that he could not agree with the Hon. Gentleman opposite, that the people of Ireland were opposed to it, for he had not received a single request to present a petition against it. He could not sit quietly in the House, and hear nine millions of people so talked of, by Gentlemen who pretended to represent the numerical majority of the people. But if they represented the numeri cal majority, they did not represent the intelligence or the property of the country. Mr. P. BORTH WICK said that the Irish Members who absented themselves from the House had no right to complain that the Members who attended to their duties in Parliament were ignorant of Irish feelings and Irish affairs. After a short conversation, Mr. S. O'BRIEN withdrew his amendment. The Bill was then ordered to be engrossed, and read a third time on Monday. THE IRISH CONSTABULARY. Viscount CLEMENTS moved for certain returns relating to the Irish constabulary, which, after a few words from Sir T. FREMA NT LE, were granted. The House adjourned at Half-past One. PARLIAMEN TAR Y DIVISIONS. • (From the Votes and Proceedings of the Mouse Commons.) WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11. DOG STEALING BILL. Order for Second Reading mad ; Motion made, and Question pro posed, " That the Bill be now read a second time :"—Amendment proposed, to leave out the word " now," and, at the eud of the Ques tion to add the words " upon this day six months :"—Question put, " That the word ' now' stand part of the Question." The House MAJORITY-AYES, 67. Aglionby, H. A. Denison, E. B. Mackenzie, T. Ainsworth, Peter Ebrington, Viscount ➢Mackinnon, W. J. Allix, J. P. Egerton, W. T. Manners, Lord J. Austen, Colonel Furman, T. S. Macjoribanks, S. Baillie, H. J. Freinantle, Sir T. Mildmay, 11. St. Join Barneby, John Fuller, A. E. N ilea, William Barron, Sir H. , Gaskell, J. M. _Newry, Viscount Beckett, William Gladstone, Captain O'Brien, A. S. Beresterd, Major Godson, Richard Peel, Jonathan Berkeley, Craven Gore, Montague Pringle, Alexander Berkeley, H. F. Graham, Sir J. Protheroe, Edward Bohirro, 11. G. Greene, Thomas Scott, Frances Borthwick, Peter Grimsditch, T. Smith, J. A. Bruges, W. H. L. Hamilton, W. J. Sutton, H. M. Buller, Sir J. Y. Hamidon, Lord C. . Vivian, J. H. Busfeild, William HaweS. Benjamin Wilmington, Sir T. Cardwell, Edward Ileathcote, G. J.. Wortley, John S. Clayton, R. It. Henley, J. W. Yorke, H. R. Clerk, Sir Georgo Howard, C. W. Young, John Cockburn, Sir G. Howard, Philip H. • Courtenay, Lord Hughes, W. B. TELLERS. Cowper, W. P. James, William Liddell, H. T. Dalmeny, Lord Jermyn, Earl Berkeley, Captain Darby, George Lindoln, Earl of MINORITY-NOES, 23. Balm, Walter Forster, Matthew Ricardo, J. L. Brotherton, Joseph Gibson, .T. M. Stalls&ld, W. It. C. Dennistoun, J. Hindley, Charles Warburton, Henry Divett, Edward Irving, John Watson, W. H. Duncan, George Loch, James Wawa, J. T. I)undas, David . Blitcalfe, Henry Eseott, Bickham Mitchell, T. A. TELLERS. Esmonde, Sir Thos. Norreys, Sir D. J. Hume, Joseph Fielden, John . . Ogle, S. C. Bright, John PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS. 'WEDNESDAY, JUNE IL The followir:g Bills were read a third time, and passed Newcastle and Demi& Railway. Bridgwater Navigation and Railway. NOTICES GIVEN AT THE PRIVATE BILL OFFICE. Bristol and Gloucester Railway (No. 2),—Committee on Bill, Thursday, June 19, at 1141 f after twelve. Brighton, Lewes, and Hastings (Ashford Branch) Rail way,—Committee on Bill. Thursday, June 19, at twelve. Birmingham and Gloucester (Worcester Branch and Chel tenham Extension) Railway,—Committee on Bill, Thurs. '' , v Tune 19, at twelve. day, J RAILWAYS. 1. Brighton, Lewes, and Hastings (Haetings, &c. Ex tension), 2. Gloucester and Birmingham (Worcester Extension, &c.), to be considered in Committee on Thursday, June 19, at 'clock. twelve o' THE CASE OF HAY: RIET MoNCKTON, AT BROMLEY . KENT.—Considcrable dissatisfaction continues to prevail at Bromley, with reference to the case of Harriet Monckton, whose body, it will be remembered, was found in a water-closet adjoining one •f the Dissenting chapels in that town, now upwards of fifteen months since, and respecting whose death an inquiry was opened at the time. That investigation not having been Aised up to yes. terday (Wednesday), some decisive steps are about to be adopted by thejurors to induce the Coroner (Mr. J. C. Carttar) to resume the inquiry. This is considered the more necessary, as the rumour about the neighbourhood tls to the cause of the young woman's death is that poison was administered to her. During Monday and Tuesday, the agents of the National Anti-Corn-law League circulated among the farmers and others at Welling ftlr the admirable speech of Lord Howick, M.P., on Mr. Cobden's motion tor a Committee to inquire into the causes of agricultural distr .ISS LAUNCH OF A. NOVEL STEAMER.-At high water on \Vedneaday, a singular iron steam-boat was launched from the yard of Messrs. Ditchburn and Mare, at Blackwall, being what is termed double-headed, and having a rudder at each end, thereby saving a great loss of time that necessarily occurs In bringing a vessel round, particularly when the tide is running strongly. She has been built for a party of gentlemen residing in the vicinity of Kew and Richmond, and is about 110 feet in length, and 15 feet beans. Her engines will be fitted by an amateur .cnginecr. RAILWAY COMMITTEUS. (YESTERDAY.) -•~--- HOUSE OF LORDS. THE EL.E.CIEBUR.N, BUENLZY, 11.CCIZIEM TON, AND COLNE EXTLIXTSV,...IT WAY. The Committee on this Bill commenced their sittings this day at eleven o'clock, Lord Somers, Chairman. The Bill was unopposed, and, the preamble having been declared proved, the clauses, with amendments, were agrcei to. 131.11111MISrzzxal AND reaIaicEMSTME ILIIILWELY AND CANAL. The Coromitee o►► this Bill also met for the first time this day, at twelve o'clock, Lord Coiborn, Chairman. The Bill is unopposed on the preamble, but there is to be a warm contest on the clauses. The preamble of this Bill was declared to be proved, and the clauses were then proceeded with. The Manchester and Laeds Railway Company asked for a clause in the Bill which would compel the promoters to furm a junction with their line. The Committee rejected this proposal. On behalf of Lord Stamford it was moved that the promoters should lay down pipes beneath the canal for the purpose of con. veying water to his Lordship's property. An arrangement was come to between the parties, and the opposition having been with drawn, the remaining clauses were agreed to with amendments, and the Bill gone through. The Committee then separated. Up to five o'clock the Standing Orders Committee were engaged in proving the standing orders relative to estate and improvement Bills. There are many railway Bills down for hearing, but it is impossible to tell when they will be taken. STANDING ORDERS. The following Bills came before Lord Shaftesbury at six o'clock this evening, and being unopposed, were declared to have passed— the Leeds and Dewsbury Railway, and the Huddersfield and Sheffield Railway. HOUSE OF LOMMONS. GROUP KK. EUXT'ON AND SOUT=POR.T The Committee resumed at the usual hour, Sir C. Lemon in the chair. Mr. Sergeant KiNGLASE proceeded to examine witnesses in sup port of the Euxton and Southport project. It may be mentioned that the main design of this line, which is about fourteen miles long, is to afford a place for recreation and for bathing to the inhabitants of Manchester and the other manufac turing towns. Southport is now a iourishing little town on the coast of Lancashire, and has grown up within the last forty years. It appeared from the evidence submitted to the Committee that recently public promenades and baths have been built there, and that many of the Manchester and Rochdale merchants take their families there for the purpose of sea bathing. The evidence of the medical witnesses examined this morning went to show that the inhabitants of the manufacturing towns were subject to nervous and spinal complaints, for which sea bathing and sea air would be in most cases desirable. It went fur ther to show that Southport possessed these advantages in a very eminent degree. Southport is 39 miles from Manchester, and the prpposed mode of communication between them is by the projected line to Euxton, thence along the Bolton and Preston line to Bolton, and from Bolton to Manchester almg the Manchester and Bolton Railway. Mr. Thomas Gooch, the engineer of the line, was then called. and stated that the proposed line had been laid out under his direction, and that it would commence at Southport, on a level with the streets of that town. The line was mostly level. The gradients would be favourable, the most difficult being I in 121. The estimated expense of making the railway was 150,0001., and if the Bill passed, the line might be completed in twelve or fifteen months. It would cross several roads upon a level, but he did not apprehend any difficulty therefrom, as the country was very thinly populated. It was impossible to cross the roads otherwise, from the flatness of the country. Being cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant BELLASIS, witness ad mitted that the rail passed through ground part of which was flooded by the sea. Had not seen snipes or skaters there. Had no doubt that the line might be constructed in such a manner as to be entirely free from all damage from sea-water or other local impediments. The route by Skelinersdale would be a mile shorter than by Rufford, and that line, passing on by Wigan, would be on the whole considerably shorter; but on this line the gradients were worse, and they would have the disadvantage of passing over four different lines of railway. Further evidence was given to show that there were no engi neering difficulties of any moment in the line, and that the ineory land through which it would pass was in course of drainage and improvement. The probable traffic on the Euxton and South port line would be 13,6171. 13s. 4d., from which deducting 4,5394, lett a net annual incume of 9,078/., yielding to the shareholders an interest of 6 per cent., The estimate was not, however, formed upon strictly accurate calculations. A good deal of laughter was excited by the evidence of one of the witnesses in his cross.examination by Mr. TALBOT. He raid that only five persons ravelled in six months by the first-class trains between Chorley and Southport, arid having been further pressed said that two and a half of them were up, and two and a half down, thus halving the odd gentlemen. The case for this project closed after some further formal evidence. Mr. HATHERTON said he appeared on behalf of the trustees of Sir W. Hesketh, a minor, and other gen+ lemen who opposed the project, as landowners; and contended that the projected line would inflict severe injuries upon them, an assertion which he would support by competent witnesses ; and also that the scheme could not be justified on public grounds. He would submit a much better scheme by Skelmersdale and Ormskirk, which all those gentlemen would approve of. Evidence was then given in support of these cases of private in juries, and the Committee adjourned till to.morrow morning. GROUP LL. This group met to-day at twelve o'clock. RICHMOND RAILWAY. IMPORTANT DECISION. Mr. CALVERT, at the sitting of the Committee, stated that the case for this Bill was closed. The room was then directed to be cleared, and en our re-admit. twice, after a few minutes, The CHAIRMAN said that the Committee had come to the de.. cision that the preamble of this Bill was proved, and that the line had met with their approval. The Committee then proceeded to dispose of the clauses of the Bill, which they got through before two o'clock. SOUTII-WESTEXIT EGAILIETAY EXTENSION. The Committee then tock under their consideration the clauses of this Bill which they had postponed from yesterday. After having gone through all the clauses of the Bill, it was or dered to be reported, and the Committee adjourned to next Mon. day week. GROUP MM. WEST LONDON RAILWAY. This Committee met at the usual hour, Mr. Granville Vernon in the chair. Mr. B. ANDREWS having addressed the Committee yesterday on the part of Prosser's Patent Railway Guide Wheel Corn. pang, and contended that the West London Company failed in the performance of their contract in not giving their line for the purpose of trying Prosser's Patent Guide Wheel, therefore his Company opposed the present Company. Mr. MEIMEWETIIER then put in the Bill which was filed itl the Court of Chancery to compel the performance of the agreement entered into with Prosser's Company by the West London. Mr. George Hadley, secretary to Prosser's Company, put in the agreement between the respective companies, znd the loss sustained by his Company in consequence of the West London Company not giving the oppertunity of trying the patent. Mr. Thompson, secretary to the West London, was examined by Mr. HOPE, on behalf of the West London, and he stated that this negotiation was broken oft' in consequence of the Directors retiring from office, and a negotiation with the London and Birmingham Company for a junction, the London and Birmingham refusing to form any junction with the West London unless Prosser's negotia. tion was given up. Mr. MER REWETII ER cross-examined this witness, but nothing was elicited. A long discussion took place as to the dates pending the nego. tiation between the parties and the formation of a new Board of Directors, who refused to ratify the agreement of the retiring directors, and a long correspondence between the solicitors was then put in and read. _ Mr. HOPE then addressed the Committee on the part of the West London, and contended, as far as regarded Mr. Prosser's patent, if the present Bill passed, his (Mr. Prosser's) rights would not be interfered with, and as to Lord Kensington's case against the Bill, he complain d that his building ground would be injured. His Lordship would receive ample compensation by a jury. He, therefore, hoped the Committee would be of opinion that the preamble of the Bill was proved. The room was then c'earcd, and after an absence of ten minutes, The Committee were of opinion that the preamble of the Bill was proved. The clauses were then gone through, and the Chairman was re quested to report the Bill, vOtth Its amendments, to the House. GROUP P. SOUVII WALES RAILITTAy. The Committee met this morning at twelve o'clock, and imme diately proceeded to the further consideration of the scheme be fore them. Mr. Brunel, the engineer, was examined by Mr. Aosrlar—He stated he had been engaged in 1836 in a scheme for making a rail. way through South Wales. Many influential persons and land owners were concerned in the scheme. At that time he recom mended a line to go along the coast to Swansea, from Gloucester, and the line coincided s cry nearly with the present proposed rail way, and it would admit of a further extension westward. The directors of the Great Western Railway had always contemplated the formation of a line similar to the present, and were willing to meet the views of the parties who proposed it. He had subse quently made a careful arid minute survey for the purpose of bringing the scheme before Parliament. He had in the survey considered what would be the best engineering line for the accommodation of the districts through which it would pass. The main line was 162 miles long, with a branch to Paton. in Pembrokeshire, of 20 miles in length ; and another branch to the Forest of Dean of 61 miles; and to Monmouth of 221 miles. There was a tunnel on the line of 1,3:10 yards in length, and there were no very peculiar engi. neering difficulties along the whole line, with the exception of the crossing at the Severn. The levels as far as Swansea were all very favourable, but beyond Swansea, the country being very hilly, the gradient: were rather severe, but still practicable for working pur poses. The steepest gradient consisted of 1 in 57, and was on the line near Fishguard. Beyond Swansea there were two inclined planes, which would require assistant power to surmount them. One ascending had a gradient of lin . 52, and another descending with a gradient of 1 in 57. At the summit of these places the tunnel of which he had spoken was situated. The levels generally were of such a nature as would readily admit of an easy and economical mode of working the line. t ß a y i n s e e d i e c w t l i n t g h th al e l c t o h as e t p li t n in e e t ipai he b p e l s ee t e e s or n m se un u i t ca h ti vv on ale ti s ad .toihveeT be hru e enw n ero ob rurbi n b i e es c° tio n n v . eyed The to e duce mean of f e f a l t l h t e h le x m i s i t n ti e i r g a m l d ed i s e t s ri o c f t s e o w re ou ra l u d at Neath and Swansea would be accommodated by the trunk line, as it passed very near them. There was a good anchorage and sufficient supply of water at Fishguard, and it would form an excellent point of communic a ti on t o t h e coast of Ireland, e of foer constructing had onos ft allowedruc}.tii Fishguard. sual tierr, O d 0 . : n h g e i i n ru to rp t o t ! : n and l i ; n n h h a is h t u t r m . p t a i o t n e n s e t:e a p M e n e s r e : C fo om r kashguard could be made at a very small expense as good a port as Milford Haven for steam-packet communication with Ireland. Its distance from Wextord Bay was sixty-seven miles, and from Wexford town siaty.nine miles. The port of Vs'exford was nut a very convenient port, but the bay was capable of being made an excellent harbour, as it was very well sheltered, and during spring tide, the rise and fall of water was only five feet. When the railway was constructed, he had very little doubt that the dis tance from London to Fishguard could be accomplished in five hours. The approbation and encouragement of Commissioners of Woods and Forests had been obtained to the formation of the branch line through the Forest of Dean, as they considered the benefits to be derived from the railway to the royal demesnes would be very considerable. The total estimate of the line, including every contingency, was 2,80 0 , 0001 . The line was throughout laid down on double rails, with the exception of the coal line, which was a single one. The only opposition on the line from a landowner, was from Mr. Lewis, at a place near Chepstow- it was proposed to make a short canal at the bending in the Severn, e Co as to connect the two bends of the riv er. Id be crossed by a drawbrid g e, and the river b y acr oss the Horse , The canal wou ld a stationary bridge. The proposed canal would hold a larger vessel than any canal that wculd go to 4c A. Q ,~~ ~ • V. vghS Club ' th• and' sdal and on !on !At° ts- If, nX na ::- '.. /1 .1.: '2' V?, viA