The Sun. — London, England, 1845-03-18 00:00:00

- IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, March 17. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat upon the Wool sack at Five o'clock. TEMPERANCE. The Bishop of CHESTER presented a petition from his diocese, in favour of temperance. The Earl of RADNOR presented two petitions from Belfast, to the same effect. GAME-LAWS. The NOBLE EARL also presented a petition from De vises, praying for an alteration in the game-laws. The Noble - Earl said he was gratified to see that a Select Committee had been appointed by the other House to Inquire into the subject. CONSOLIDATED FUND BILL. • This Bill was read a third time and passed. BASTARDY LAW. The Earl of RADNOR presented two petitions, praying their Lordships to amend the present law of bastardy. The NOBLE EARL, at the same time, introduced a Bill to repeal the law passed in the last session of Parliament on this subject, except that part which repealed the clauses of the former Bill. POST-OFFICE. The NOBLE EARL also brought in a new Bill relating to the stoppage of letters in the Post-office. The Bill was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on the 17th of April. PAROCHIAL SCHOOLMASTERS—SCOTLAND. The Earl of MINTO presented a petition complaining of the inadequate salaries of the parochial schoolmasters of Scotland, and of other grievances of that class. The Noble Earl thought that the best way of promoting the views of the petitioners would be to leave their case in the hands of the Government. The Duke of BUCCLEUCH said that the subject had engaged the attention of her Majesty's Go vernment, and after the fullest consideration of the subject, they had come to the determina tion that the best course would be to have the whole case inquired into by a Select Committee of the House. Accordingly he proposed to move this evening for the appointment of a Select Committee, and to morrow he would name the members. The Earl of MINTO expressed himself perfectly satisfied with the course adopted by the Noble Duke. The Duke of BUCCLEUCH thenmoved the resolution for the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the salaries, & e, of the parochial schoolmasters of Scotland, which was agreed to. The NOBLE DUKE then gave notice that to-morrow he would propose the names of the Committee. SOUTH SEA EXPLORATORY EXPEDITION. The Earl of MINTO wished to put a question to the Noble Duke opposite, to which he feared the Noble Duke would not be prepared to give a satisfactory answer. This question was—whether her Majesty's Government had it in contemplation to take any measure of itself to publish the papers con nected with the late antarctic voyage, under the coin mend of Captain Ross. That voyage had been undertaken with the concurrence of the most scientific men in this country and in other parts of the world. One of the great objects of the expedition was to ascertain facts connected with the magnet. The voyage and the experiments had been conducted with the utmost skill, and had succeeded beyond expectation. It had led to the most curious and important discoveries, and had added greatly to the ad vancement of science. Her Majesty's Government had very liberally contributed the sum of 2,0001 towards the expenses of the department of botany and natural his tory. But the Government had done little towards the expenses of the more important branch of the undertak ing, which was the magnetical and meteorological de partment. It had been in contemplation to publish that part of the observations at the expense of the Royal Society, but the means of that insti tution were found to be unequal to complete the work. He trusted that after their Lordships had sanctioned the expenditure of upwards of 100,0001. for the attainment of this object, they would not grudge the expenditure of 2,0001. or 3,000/. to complete it. The Russian Go vernment, he knew, had acted with the most ju dicious readiness. Of the great liberality of the French Government none could entertain a doubt, and he did trust therefore that her Majesty's Government would not be behindhand, but would fully enter into the spirit, and carry out this object to its fullest extent. The Duke of WELLINGTON said that his attention had not been at present called to the subject, and that therefore he was unable to give a satisfactory reply. But thus much he would say, that her Majesty's Govern ment were quite ready to give the fullest and most com plete information respecting the matter of the Noble Earl's inquiry. DEODANDS BILL. On the motion of Lord CAMPBELL, the House went into Committee on the Deodands Bill. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH said, that this was a very short Bill--that there was one part of it which he thought might be spared. There were two reasons given for one effect ; and that he thought one of these portions might with advantage be omitted from the Bill. He thought the fewer words that were introduced into au Act of Parliament, provided they were sufficiently intelligible, the better. Lord CAMPBELL said that he was prepared to re ceive whatever might fall from the Noble Earl with the utmost respect, but in this instance he thought he was mistaken. His object had been to make the Bill as short as possible—lndeed he conceived it to be a model of a preamble for it did not consist of more than three or four lines. h is object had been to preclude the verbosity of lawyers, and lie conceii ed that was one of the perfec tions of an Act of Parliament.—(Laughter.) He thought there ought to be no deodand where there was malice or wilful negligence, and, therefore, he would do away with deodands in cases of murder or manslaughter. A man might do too much. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH said that the Noble Lord had made a long speech on a short Bill, but nines tenths of it might have been spared. But as the other tenth related to him and his conduct in India, he would say that howls there ready at any moment to defendhis con duct from the aspersions of any man, great or small— noble or mean—and he only wished that what had been said in his absence might be repeated in his presence. Lord CAMPBELL said that, if the Noble Earl thought with him, he would suffer such things to take their course. If the Noble Earl was content with matters as they were, so was he, and he would not disturb them. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH said that he had ventured to give a word of advice to the Noble Lord opposite which was once given by Lord Chatham to a Member of the other House—" that, if he meant nothing, he should say nothing." Lord BROUGHAM said he could assure the Noble Earl that as often as anything was said in his absence, he was zealously, fearlessly, anxiously, ably, and success fully defended by his Noble Friend the Gallant Duke opposite, and as zealously, though God knew not so ably or successfully, by the humble individual who then ad dressed them.—(Hear. hear.) The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH said he owed a deep debt of gratitude, both to his Noble Friend the Gallant Duke and the Noble Lord opposite, but he could not venture now to speak on that subject. The House then resumed. PROPERTY-TAX. Loiki WHARNCLIFFE moved the second reading of this Bill. It merely contained the measure passed some few years since, and he should propose that the discus sion on this Bill, as well as on the income-tax, should be taken at one and the same time. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said both the melt• sures were of great public importance; but he quite agreed with the Noble Lord that one discussion would ar.swer every object.—(Hear, hear.) He thought the discussion could be more conveniently taken after the holidays, but he hoped this admission would not be construed into a confession that he was indifferent on the subject. It had been said that the people were enamoured of this measure, but he was far from enter taining that feeling. Lord BROUGHAM said if the measure had consisted of a mere property-tax many of his objections to the Bill would cease altogether. He agreed with his Noble Friend that it was convenient that these matters should be discussed all at once, instead of their being taken piecemeal. He therefore thought they had better postpone the discussion, but it was not to be understood from this that he was enamoured with the law. He was, however, inclined to endure it, for the sake of getting those fiscal changes which had ben premised by the Government ; and when the dis cussion was taken, he should be prepared to state what were the modifications he wished to introduce into the present measure. The Duke of WELLINGTON said it would be a matter of general convenience, if their Lordships' House would postpone the discussion on this question until the third reading, as many Noble Lords were absent who might wish to give their opinions on the measure. Lord ASHBURTON said, that though there were various opinions on the question in the other House and throughout the country ; and though it had been stated in other places what should be done, and what should not be done, in that House with the solitary exception of a Noble Lord there seemed to be but one feeling on the subject. Under these circumstances he thought it would be more convenient to defer the discussion till the third reading. The Bill was then read a second time and ordered to be committed to-morrow. RAILWAY COMPANIES CLAUSES CONSOLI DATION BILL. On the motion of Earl DALHOUSIE the Companies Clauses Consolidation Bill went through Committee, and the report was ordered to be brought up to-morrow. PAUPER LUNATICS. Lord MONTEAGLE said that he wished to draw attention to the Bill which he had had the honour of pro rating to their Lordships. His object was to obtain a better mode of treatment for pauper lunatics. It was well known that in many parts of the country the gaols were full—not of criminals—but of pauper lunatics, for whose care and medical treatment no provision whatever had been made. His object was to extend to Ireland the benefits which were already enjoyed partially in England, and he wished •to give to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland a power which he did not at present possess, namely, that of classifying lunatic asylums. This would be a great boon to the country, and if he could obtain the assistance of her Majesty's Government he should feel it most valuable, or if her Majesty's Government would themselves introduce a Bill on the subject he should be most happy to render whatever assistance he could to carry it to an early completion. The Duke of WELLINGTON said his Right Hon. Friend the Secretary for Ireland had given notice in the other House of Parliament of his intention to bring toilisard a measure on this subject, which he proposed to :perfect during his visit in Ireland. The 'Bill was then read a first time, and their Lord ebips immediately afterwards adjourned. ' HOUSE OF COMMONS, March 17. The gPEAKRIt took the Chair at Twelve o'clock. RAILWAY CLAUSES CONSOLIDATION BILL. Oa the motiort of Lord GRA:MILL SOMERSET, th THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY MORNING, MARCIPI Itl l ___ 1845. Bill, which was read a first, and ordered to be read a second time. The Fiscal Procurators Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed. On the motion of Mr. CLIFTON, the Blackburn and Preston Railway Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed. The Launceston and South Devon Railway was read a second time, and ordered to be committed. Mr. THORNELY brought in the Wolverhampton Waterworks' Bill, which was read a first time. Colonel ROLLESTON moved the second reading of the Sheffield and Newark Railway Bill. Mr. HUTT presented petitions against the Newcastle and Berwick Railway Bill, and the Newcastle and Dar lington Railway Bill.— Referred to the Committee. NORTH BRITISH RAILWAY. The North British Railway Bill was then read a second time. SOUTH DEVON RAILWAY. On the motion of Mr. BARRY BALDWIN, the South Devon Railway Bill was read a second time. BERKS AND HANTS RAILWAY. On the motion of Mr. GRIMSDITCH, the Berks and Hants Railway Bill was read a second time. GLASGOW, PAISLEY, AND KILMARNOCK RAILWAY. This Bill was also read a second time. SEES OF BANGOR AND ST. ASAPII. Lord CLIVE presented a petition from some place in Herefordshire, against the union of the sees of Bangor and St. Asaph. SABBATH TRADING. Mr. SHEPPARD presented petitions praying the Reuse to adopt measures for restricting the sale of in toxicating liquors on the. Sabbath. THE LAW OF BASTARDY. Dr. BOWRING presented petitions complaining of the present law of bastardy. THE POOR-LAW. Mr. BLAKE presented a petition from some place in Ireland, praying that they might not be forced to levy a rate in repayment of the money borrowed to build union workhouses. An HoN. MEMBER presented a petition from Corn wall against the sale of intoxicating liquors upon the Sabbath. defer the discussion on this subject, till he niors d the re to him that they wer' greatly wAli the ans wer of the Right Hon. Baronet the Hotne Secretary : in fact it had not been stated whether any warrant at all had been issued fur the opening of those letters ; and under these circumstances he felt compelled to adopt this course. . solution of the House. SUGAR. DUTIES. Mr. HAVES hoped the Right Hon. Chancellor of the Exchequer would not bring on the sugar duties at a late hour of the night. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER assured the Hon. Gentleman he would not commence the discus sion that night, if the debate on the Customs Act ex tended to a late hour. LAW OF SETTLEMENT. Sir ROBERT PEEL did hope the Hon. Member would not persevere in this course. There really would not be time to comply with his request.—(Hear.) There would be but to-morrow and the next day, during which he hoped to go into the question of supply, before Easter; and, as it would be a great inconvenience to the c,suntry to costpone that question, he did trust the House would not throw any obstacle in the way, such as that stated by the Hon. Member for Fisbury. Mr. WAKLEY begged to be understood as not wish ing to do so of his own accord ; he was only acting in compliance with the demand of his constituents.-._ (Hear, hear.) But in the circumstances in which he was placed, he did not think he would be discharging his duty towards his constituents, if he did not take the ' earliest opportunity of bringing the subject before the House. He regretted that the Right Hon. Baronet rendered it necessary that this should be done. The production of the warrant would have been quite sufficient, but as the warrant was not produced, and as his constituents did not know that there was any war rant, they were in the condition he stated—they were very much dissatisfied indeed. Sir PEEL said Le bad only that day and Wednesday to get through a great deal of public business, which was of the utmost importance to the public interests. They had 400 articles to go through, and though there were several of them with regard to which he did not expect any difference of opinion, yet it must necessarily take up a considerable time to go through them. There was not a day passed that he had not sixty letters with re gard to them. He did not deprecate the Hon. Gentle man's bringing forward his motion, but seeing the state of public business, and the importance to the interests of trade, that it should be speedily gone through with ; seeing also that the Hon. Member for Somerset had a motion which would occupy some time, he wished that the Hon. Gentleman would not press his motion. Mr. HUME hoped that his Hon. Friend would not press his motion, as it could he brought on after Easter without any great inconvenience ; and, as the Right flon. Baronet had said, every person was now anxious to know what would be done with the different articles in which they were interested. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said there was a clause in the Sugir Duties Bill, with regard tc, which there,was a great deal of dissatisfaction, alicl upon which there w uhf he some discussion. Loolt4: to the state cf the public business he thought the., lien. Member fur Finsbury would do well not to press hie motion, but postpone it till alter Easter. Mr. C. BULLER asked the Right Hon. Secretary of State for the Home Department if he intended to press the second reading of the Law of Settlement Amend ment Act on the day for which it stood ? Sir J. GRAHAM said the second reading was at present fixed for the 2d of April ; but as it had been re presented that the Quarter Sessions would be held on that day, and it would be inconvenient for many Hon. Gentlemen to attend, he would postpone the second reading till the 14th. FLOATING BREAKWATER. Captain PECHELL said,some months sirce several sec tions of the floating breakwater, invented by Capt. Taylor, ware moored off the port of Shoreham, and from the statements of pilots and masters of trading vessels it appeared the breakwater had entirely answered every purpose for which it was intended, ships being quite sheltered on the lee-side of it. He wished to know whether the Hon. and Gallant Officer (Sir G. Cockburn) had received any report of the efficiency of this great work of art, and, if not , whether the Admiralty had given nanydirection! , for an inquiry into its merits, for the purpose of obtaining such a report ? Sir G. COCKBURN was understood to say that an inquiry had been ordered, but that no report had yet been received. SERVICES OF SIR H. POTTINGER. Mr. HUME said on a former occasion he had asked the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of her Majesty's Government, why the name of Sir H. Pottinger was not included in the vote of thanks to the military and naval force employed in China, as it was owing to the exer tions of Sir H. Pottinger that the peace was concluded. He would now ask whether there was any intention, on the part of the Governnient, to propose a vote of thanks to that officer, or bestow any substantial reward on him SCOTTISH BANKING. Mr. DUFF presented a petition from some place in Scotland, praying that the system of banking in that country might not be interfered with. PROTECTION TO AGRICULTURE. Mr. H. HALFORD presented petitions from Leices tershire, praying for protection to agriculture. Captain PECHELL presented a petition from Duncan M'lntyre, of Fort William, North Britain, stating that he had given information to the Board of Ordnance in consequence of which, the pecu lations of a certain barrack-master had been dis covt red; that an inquiry had, been made, and re stitution had been recovered by the Gorernm, lit. but that the petitioner had not been indemnified iu con formity with the acts of William 111. and George IV., and praying the House to aford relief. Mr. Sergeant MURPHY presented a petition from Cork, praying for an alteration of the criminal code ; and another petition, complaining of the opening of letters at the Post-office, and praying the House to in stitute an inquiry into the subject, and more particularly into the opening of letters addressed to Thomas Slingsby Duncombe, Esq. Colonel RAWDON presented a petition praying for the repeal of all penal laws affecting the regular clergy of the Roman Catholic Church. MARITIME LAW. Mr. EWART presented a petition, signed by 249 of the ship-owners of Sunderland, complaining of the ope ration of the present maratime laws, and praying for their modification. THE ANATOMY BILL. Mr. MACKINNON presented IZ petition from the inhabitants of Maryborough against the Anatomy Bill. TOBACCO DUTIES. Mr. HUME presented a petition from the tobacco manufacturers of Glasgow, complaining of the present high rate of duties on that article, and stating that if these duties were not reduced, they could not carry on their trade, owing to the great extent and success of smuggling, and that therefore if the House could not enforce the law, they ought to repeal those duties all together. The Hoer. MEMBER also presented a petition from the inhabitants of Montrose, complaining of the reduced state of the profits of those engaged in the shipping trade, and praying for relief from the heavy duties on shipping. Mr. MILES presented a petition from the agricultu rists of Somerset, praying the House for a mitigation of the burdens which press upon agriculture, and that it would take their case into consideration. Mr. BRIGHT presented a petition, from a place in Buckinghamshire, against the game-laws. Mr. S. O'BRIEN presented a petition from Peter borough, complaining of agricultural distress. NOTICES OF MOTION. Mr. Sergeant MURPHY gave notice that, after, Easter, he would move for a Committee to inquire into the operation of the Act of the 17tth and 18th of Charles IL, relating to the rating of ministers' money in certain large towns in Ireland. Mr. THORNELY gave notice that, in Committe on the Smoke Prevention Bill, he would propose clauses for the purpose of exempting iron works from the operation of the Bill. Dr. BOWRING gave notice that he would to-morrow put a question to the Government, respecting the pro clamation for the alteration of the currency in Malta. Mr. ORMSBY GORE gave notice, that after Easter, he would present a petition, and bring the case of the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Railway Company before the House, with a view to their proceeding with the Bill in the present session. Mr. SHAW gave notice that to-morrow he would nominate the Committee on the Atmospheric Railway system. Mr. AGLIONBY gave notice that he would shortly move for certain returns relating to New Zealand. COPPER DUTIES. In answer to a question from Sir C. LEMON, Mr. PARKER said, that if he could not bring on his motion with respect to the copper duties to-night, he should postpone his motion until the Committee on the customs duties, after Easter. JEWISH DISABILITIES BILL. Sir R. H. INGLIS wished to know if the Right Hou. Baronet could inform him when he would take the se cond reading of the Bill relating to the Jews ? (Cheers from the Oppcsition.) Sir R. PEEL could not exactly state when he would move the second reading. The Estimates would be brought on early after Easter ; and due notice would be given of the second reading of the Jewish Diabilities Bill. He presumed his Hon. Friend would not object to the first reading of the Bill. Sir R. 11. INGLIS had no hesitation in stating that he would acquiesce in the first reading of the Bill. It was usual in Bills being brought from the House of Lords, that they should be read a first time without opposition. Within the last twenty years there had been but three exceptions to this rule. Had the Bill origi nated in that House, he would have opposed the first reading ; but, as it had come from the House of Lords, he should allow the first reading to pass. Sir R. PEEL—I move then, Sir, that the Bill be read a first time now, and I will fix the second reading for the 7th of April. The SPEAKER put the question, and Sir R. H. Inglis emphatically exclaimed "No I" amidst much laughter, The Bill was read a first time. for his services ? Sir R. PEEL hoped the House would not consider the answer he was about to give inconsistent with the great respect he felt for the character of Sir 11. Pottinger, and his high opinion of his services. But it was not the nsuol course for the House to vote its thank.~ to individuals enga g ed in civil services ; in the present case he did not think the precedent ought to be established. With re spect to the sense entertained by her Msjesty of the ser vices of Sir H. Pottinger. it had been proved by the honours that had been bestowed on him. Mr. HUME said that he would bring the subject under the consideration of the House after the Easter recess. SCOTCH BANKS. Mr. A. DUFF said, that as scene alteration in the Scotch banking system was intended, he hoped the Right Hon. Baronet would inform the House whether or not he would give some indication of the course the Govern ment meant to pursue regarding this question, before the Easter recess. Sir R. PEEL replied that he must take the same course in respect to Scotch and Irish as to English banks, and reserve all explanation until he brought the matter fully under the consideration of the House. Mr. DUFF—When does the Right lion. Baronet in tend to bring the measure forward ? Sir R. PEEL—At as early a period after the recesses as is consistent with our duty in respect to other mea sures of great importance, and of an urgent nature. COLLEGE OF MAYNOOTH. Mr. M. BELLEW wished to know from the Right lion. Baronet when he contemplated bringing forward the Irish business, and which Irish measures would have precedence? Sir R. PEEL said, the two first measures regarding Ireland which would be brought under the notice of the House were that in reference to the College of Maynooth, and that regarding academical education. He could not bring these measures forward immediately after the re cess, in consequence of the press of business, but at as early a period as possible. Tti E TARIFF. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was un derstood to say that he would not at present press the elatist-: to which the Nobk37Lord adverted, considering that they were now levying the duty on the resolution of the house, without the proviion of the Act of Parlia zutut. He would consider whether the clause might not be subsequently introduced in another form. Lord J. RUSSELL said the course proposed by the Right Hon. Gentleman would meet every view. He thought the proposition of the Right Hon. Gentleman would be better introduced as a separate measure, and the Right Hon. Gentleman could consider whether it would be necessary. Mr. HAWES said he had a motion on thq , clause re ferred to; but the course proposed by the B gh. Hon. Gentleman was satisfactory to him, and he would not press it. Mr. AGLIONBY would recommend his Hon. Friend the Member for Finsbury to postpone his motion until after Easter, seeing the importance of the measures of her Majesty's Government. After a few words from Mr. HAWES and the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, Mr. WAKLEY consented 0 withdraw his motion, and gave notice that he would bring it forward on the first Committee of Supply day after Ea-ter. NEW ZEALAND. Mr. C. BULLET : Wished to ask the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite whether it was his intention to bring forward the motion for papers respecting New Zealand, of which he had given io and to make a statement respecting the conduct of the Noble Lord the Secretary of State for the Colonial Department. He vas most anxious to give tha Government every oppor tunity- for explanation at the earliest possible period. He thought it rather hard that he should be accused of endeavouring to injure the Noble Lord at the bead of the Colonial department by the part which he had taken in this question he had acted only as was consistent with his public duty, and thought there was nothing in the terms of his motion fixed for to-morrow evening which should excite the anger of any Member of the Goverment, or which showed the least personality or ill-will. His motion was for .‘ C.,pies of all correspon dence between the Colonial-office and the Governor of the Falkland Islands, respecting the issue of inconver tible paper money. Civies of any instructions 10 the Governors of New Zealand, the Falkland Islands, or any other colony, authorising, the contraction of debts, and the issue of inconvertible paper." Surely there was nothing personal in that. Mr. HOPE said he was most anxious that the Go vernment should have the fullest opportunity of explain ing the course they had pursued iu reference to the affairs of New Zealand, and was glai that the subject would come before the House in such a manner as would admit of a full vindication of the conduct of the Noble Lord at the head of the Colonial department. Lord EBRINGTON put a question to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in consequence of a letter he had re ceived from a mercantile friend, whether the duties upon myrrh, rectified turpentine, and olbanum, would be affected by the change in the duty upon resins? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the Hon. Member would see that there wure reduc tions of the duty on turpentine and resin already made, and as to myrrh, It would come under the same category. Capt. BERNAL OSBORNE wished to know whether it was the intention of the Hon. Member for Louth to found any measure upon the subject to which be had ad verted with respect to landlords and tenants at Mort ? Sir R. PEEL said the Government were in communi• cation on the subject. Lord J. RUSSELL wished to know whether, if any measure was introduced, it would be introduced in that House or the House of Lords, and whether it would be introduced under the sanction of the Government or the Commission. Sir R. PEEL answered, under the authority of the Government. Mr. ROCHE wished to know from the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the Government, when the Irish Members might expect the remaining evidence of the Irish Land Commissioners would be laid on the table of the House. In the north of Ireland they had had the evidence that had already been printed with respect to that part, but Hon. Members were anxious to know what had been done with respect to the south. Sir It. PEEL would make inquiry on the subject, and in the interinkhe could not but congratulate the Hon. Gentleman in having got through the first portion of the evidence. ST. JAMES'S PARK. RELIEF TO THE AGRICULTURAL INTEREST. On the motion that the SPEAKER do leave the Chair that the House might go into Committee on the Cus toms Act, Mr. W. MILES rose to mese that it was the o pini o n of this House, " that in the application of surplus re venue towards relieving the burthens of the country, by reduction or remission of taxation, due regard ehould be had to the necessity of affording relief to the agricultural interest." The Hon. Member was, for soon: minutes. quite inaudible, in consequence of the noise occasioned by Members leaving the House. He was understood te say that be wished a subject of so much importance bad been entrusted to abler hands, but feeling it a daty imperative upon him, he would dis chergeit to the best of his ability - . He would, as con cisely us possible, state his re lens for bringing the euleksct under the, notice of the House. It was well known that a eurplus of three millions and upwards existed, and Hon. Members must be also aware of the cheering fact that the manufacturing &inlets eare Si. satisfactory condition. The Right lion. Baeonet at the head of the Government bad congratulated the House en the state of finaecial prosperity ; but it was not difficult to foresee that, in 1847, if the incoaie-tax were in the interim dis continued, there would be, instead of a surplus, a defi ciency. Before the House consented to any reduction of the duty upon sugar, he would ask them to consider the state of the agricultural districts,and whether some small benefit might not be extended towards them. It should not be forgotten that the agricultural interest contributed very largely to the income-tax, as well es to many other species of taxation ; and, surely, when there was a re• mission of taxation, they ought not to be cast aside. Ile would divide the country into three classes—manufac turing, agricultural, and commercial. Plans had been brought forward for the relief of commerce and nianu factures, whilst agriculture had been unnoticed. It had been said that one of the greatest burdens upon agricul ture was the malt-tax ;. but he (Mr. Miles) knew that from the large sum it yielded, it was one which the Ex chequer could not spare ; and, therefore, he would cot ask for its remission whatever clamour might be raised out of doors. It could not be denied that whilst the commercial and manufacturing communities were im proving the agricultural interest was declining. It might be said that the distress in the rural districts was only partial and confined. He owned that the deficiency in some parts of the country was greater than in others, and that no legislative enactments could control those partial misfortunes, but ha denied that the distress was merely local—he asserted that the agricultural dis tress was general. What aggrevated this distress was that during the last season the price of meat was low, although barley and turnips were scarce and high in price—this was siagular and unlike what had occurred in former years, and, of course, very injurious to the farmer. He suspected that whilst the price of provender was so high, that of meat had not risen either in Smithfield or Lesdenhall, showing that the fernier had no control over his own markets. Now, as to the price of corn, he would take the imports which had tsken place under the Act of 1842, and compare them in price and quantity with those which had taken place under the Act of IU.B. He would first take the thirty-two months subse quent to the Act of 1842. In 1842 there was imported into this country 2,612,816 quarters 15f foreign corn, and 524,000 cwt. of flour. In 1843, 1,658,000 quarters of coin ; in 1844, 1,110,255 quarters. The whole quantity of flour which was im ported during these thirty-two months was 1,237,190 cwts. The average prices of wheat per quarter was— in 1842, 555. ; in 1843, 535. ; in 1844, 51s. 3d. ; the average price being 525. 4id. per quarter. Let them now look at what took place under the Act of 1828. In the thirty-six months following the Act of 1828, there were imported into this country only 640,824 quarters, whilst in less than that period and posterior to 1842, 4,788,669 quarters had been imported, and a large quantity of flour. This year large quantities of barley had been imported from foreign countries; about 1,221,187 quarters had been imported, and the quality of Italian and other descriptions of foreign barley were quite equal to those of home growth. The Hon. Gentleman then went into a series of details, the import of which was almost in audible in the gallery, but the effect of which was to show that the price of agricultural produce and the pro visions for the people had declined since the tariff of 1842. The object of the other statements of the Hon. Member was to show that the agricultural interest paid more local rates than the manutieturing. The agricultural interest likewise complained of the pressure of the Police Act, bat he was afraid to enter upon that subject, as it would soon be regularly intro duced before the House ; but still he must say that it was hard that the tenant-farmer, living in a retired country district, who had never perhaps even seen the police, should have to contribute to the safety of those persons living in towns. He had a return from the county of Essex, in which, if he recollected rightly, it was stated that the assessed county rates, which in the year 1836 were 16,0001., now averaged 34,600/. He trusted that he had rendered himself sufficiently intel ligible to the House. He had endeavoured by these re turns to make out his case, that nut only did partial, but unfortunately general, distress exist in the country% He would now venture very' humbly to suggest to the Government what, in his opinion, would be as desirable boon, one of the very best which could psssibly be af forded to the agricultural interests—he meant that they should allow malt to be used for feeding cattle without the payment of a duty.—(Hear, hear.) Many Hon. Members had expatiated lengthily and feelingly upon the subject of agricultural distress, but few had brought forward any measures for its remedy. He would suggest two measures, one of which was advocated by the Noble Lord the Member for Yorkshire (Lord Worsley)--that Mr. WAKLEY, seeing the Noble Earl at the head of the Woods and Forests in his place, wished to know whether the gate - keepers of St. James's-park had orders to refuse admission through it of labourers in their working elcessea ?—(Bear, hear.) He had been informed that such orders had been given, by a gentle man who had .t-en a written instruction to that effect in the halide of the gate-keepers. - I Load LINCOLN said that, some years ago, instrue tions to the of eet alluded to by the Hon. Member had been ie;ued to the gate-keepers. Bat two or three years ago he had directed the gate-keepers net to act on those instructions, except in cases where persons in that dress were in a state of intoxication. GRINDING CORN IN BOND. Mr. HASTIE said, that as the Act authorising the grinding of corn in bond would expire in August next, he had been requested by many persons engaged in the corn-trade, to ask the Right Hon. Baronet, whether or not it was the intention of the Government to propose the renewal of that Act ? ir R. PEEL —We do intend to renew the Act. CUSTOMS ACT.—BURDE.KNS ON AGRI CULTUR On the motion that the order of the day for the House resolving itself into Committee on Customs Act be read, • Sir WALTER JAMES rose for the purpose of re questing the Hon. Member for Somersetshire to postpone the motion of which he had given notice, on the House going into Committee. It was an exceed ingly important motion, and he would ask the Hon. Gentleman to postpone it till after Easter. He made this request entirely propria Inc - tr. He had not spoken on the subject to any member of her Majesty's Government. He certainly did ask the opinion of the Hon. Member for the City of London—the senior Member for London.—(A laugh.) He said it n as ex ceedingly difficult to distinguish among Members of the City of London, and therefore he mentioned his Hon. Friend as the senior Member—(Renewed laughter)—he mentioned him on account of' the very high character he had in the House.— -(Continued laughter.) He did not at all wish to distinguish his Hon. Friend from the Noble Lord opposite—(Shouts of laughter)—of course he had not consulted the Noble Lord.—(Continued laughter.) But the Hon. Member to whom he alluded was a high authority on all commercial subjects—(Hear, hear)—and his Hon. Friend bad assured him that any delay in the passing of the tariff would produce a most injurious ef feet upon the commercial interests of the country — (Hear, hear.) Now he could not help thinking that ninety-nine persons out of a hundred in the country would be of opinion, after what had fallen from the Right Hon. Baronet the Prime Minister, that the mo tion of his Hon. Friend the Member for Somersetshire could not produce any immediate practical result.— (Loud Opposition cheers.) If the Hon. Member wished to make a protest, in a spirit of conciliation, the pro priety of adopting such a course was open to con sideration. He (Sir Walter James) would not say whether such a course of conduct was wise or politic, but it was at least open to consideration ; but he consi dered that 99 persons out of every 100 of common sense —(A. laugh)—must see that it could not make any im portant difference to the county Members whether the motion were brought on before Easter or after, and under those circumstances he hoped the Hon. Member would postpone his motion. He begged to say to his Hon. Friend that he put this question in the most amica ble spirit.—(Laughter.) He had the greatest respect for the character of his Hon. Friend, as well as for the county Members in that House generally ; but if he should not consent to the postponement of it till after Easter, then upon the county Members would rest the onus of the delay to the other measures of importance affecting the commercial interests of the country, of sus pending industry, and clogging the channels of trade, pro tar*, for the time.—(Laughter.) Mr. MASTERMAN begged to say, as the elderly gentleman allude:: t o —(Laughter)—that he could only repeat to his H o n. F r i e nd what he had said to him be fore in private, that he considered it would be a great inconvenience to bring on this motion now, and there fore he would be willing to givo precedence to the Cus toms Act.—(Hear.) Mr. W. MILES—I n answ er to the Hon. Member fa Hull, he re gre t te d to sa y t h a t he could not comply with his request, and should adhere to his original in tention of bringing on his motion on the day he had given notice of it.—(Hear)—and he hoped and trusted the Houle would agree with him in that motion ; though from what he had heard this evening it would appear as if Hon. Gentlemen thought that such a thing as the agri , cultural interest did not now exist at all—(Laughter) — that in fact there was no interest to be cared for in this country but the commercial.—(Hear.) If he consented to this motion lie had no doubt he would be looked upon as throwing 'the agricultural interests overboard al together.—(Hear.) POST-OFFICE ESPIONAGE. Mr. WAKLEY begged to intimate to the Right Hon. Bart., the First Lord of the Treasury, that upon the , Right Hon. Bart. bringing on his motion for the House going into a Committee of Supply, he would ask a question relative to the opening of Mr. Duncombe's letters. He was very unwilling to do this ; but he was compelled to it by the electors of Finsbury, 14 10 had communicated SCOTCH POOR-LAW. Lord DALMENY rose to put a question with refer ence to the poor-law of Scotland. • The House would, no doubt, recollect that a short time ago he had asked the Right Hon. Baronet whether it was the intention of her Majesty to propose in this session of Parliament any legislative measure for the amendment or alteration of the poor-laws of Scotland. To that question he had received a very courteous, but not a very definitive an swer;"and he now wished to ask whether it was the inten tion of her Majesty's Government to propose any legis lative measure for the alteration or amendment of the poor-law of Scotland ; and, if such were their intention, at what period of the session such measure would be laid on the table of the House ? Sir J. GRAHAM said that notwithstanding the great mass of business which had pressed on the attention of his collegues and himself at the commencement of this session, he could assure the Noble Lord that the important subject to which his question referred had not been overlooked by her Majesty's Government ; but he would venture to suggest to the Noble Lord and to the House, that the interval of the Easter recess should still be given to them before they returned a definitive answer. He would undertake that, on the first day after the Easter recess, either he himself, or the Lord-Advocate of Scotland, would announce definitively the course which Would be taken by her Majesty's Go vernment, on this subject. 'Whilst he was on his legs, seeing the Noble Lord the Member for Dorsetshire, ho begged to say that be observed that a very important Bill introduced by that Noble Lord stood for the second reading on Wednesday next, namely, the Bill re lating to calico print-works. That Bill was introduced on the 12th of die present month, and, as it bad not been in the hands of Members more than three or four days, he hoped his Noble Friend, considering . the extreme im portance of the subject, and the great interests involved in the Bill, would consent to postpone the second reading of the Bill until after Easter. Lord ASHLEY said he had been most anxious that the Bill should be proceeded with before Easter, but with a view to the public convenience he would post pone it until Wednesday, the 2nd of April. He must, however, be allowed to remark, that he.was astonished that her Majesty's Government should hesitate to affirm the principle only of such a measure as thet— a measure which went no further than to limit the labour of children under thirteen years of age, below a period of sometimes not less than thirty-six conse cutive hours. The order of 'the day for the second reading of the Calico-printers' Bill was then read for the purpose of its being postponed until April 2. AUCTION - DUTY. Mr. BRIGHT begged to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer a question with respect to the proposal of the Government, as to the removal of the auction duty. He did so on account of a letter which he had received from Haddington, in Scotland. The writer stated that it was there customary for things not only to be sold free of auc tion duty, but by parties who had no auctioneer's licence, if it were sold on the farm or the estate where it was prod used. It was stated to be quite impossible, on account of the small trade which was carried on, that it could be worth the while of parties to pay the auction duty ; and he wished to ask whether the Government proposed to con tinue to the produce of land the particular and special favour of being sold without the licence of an auc tioneer ? If not, he thought extreme hardship would be inflicted in the case of individuals placed in the same situation as the person to whom he had referred. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER must amended report of the Railway Clauses Conesidation Bill was brought up. On the motion being put for its being received, Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSET said, that he wished to attach a clause to this Bill, which he thought was necessary in order to render the Bill available, for all parts of the United Kingdom. The object of the clause was to oblige all Railway Companies in Ireland to make a deposit of 6d. in the pound, on the estimated cost, with the Accountant-General of the Court of Chancery in Ireland. He wished to extend the provision of the 2d Victoria, which provided for the expenses of the suits in Chancery to Ireland. The report was then brought up, and the clause was read a first time. On its being put a second time, Mr. lIAWES wished to inquire whether any regulation specifically similar to this had been introduced into the English railway Acts ? Lord G. SOMERSET replied that there had not been any such clause, and that this was entirely new. Mr. HAWES asked why, if these provisions were necessary, they were not applied to English Acts ? Mr. T. B. SMITH said that the object of this clause was, not to place Irish railways in any worse position than similar projects in England, but to rectify a mischief arising out of the effects of the standing orders of the Court of Chancery in Ireland. By the standing orders of that Court it was ordered that there should be an instalment paid into the hands of the usher of that Court, which constituted what is called the " Suitors' Fund." Great inconvenience has been experienced b making the usher the depositor of this money, and in 1783 an Act was passed for transferring this " Suitors' Fund" from the hands of the usher to those of the Account tant-General of the Court of Chancery. reserving a fee for the usher of the Court. He thought this was necessary, and it would place the railway companies in Ireland in no worse position than that of similar companies in England. The House then went into Committee on the amended re port, and on the 17th clause, which gives power to the Board of Admiralty to pull down the works of railway com panies which in their opinion obstructed or in any way affected the navigation or defence of any river on the coast, or creek, or other arm of the sea, being put, Mr. HAWES said that he believed that the Hon. Member for Plymouth (Mr. Gill) had had some communication with the Hon. Gentlemen the Secretary to the Admiralty relative to the introduction of some words, which would modify the power of the Admiralty to affect works constructed below high water mark. He thought the House were not aware of the enormous power which this clause gave to the Admiralty, or they would look a little more carefully into it. By this clause, after a rail way company had gone through the Committee and the House, by the simple word of the Admiralty Engineer the whole of their plans might be set aside, or even destroyed, if it should happen that they had been constructed before the veto was uttered. Now he thought that the better plan would be for an insertion in the standing orders to require that any company having works to construct that would be liable to the jurisdiction of the Lords of the Admiralty, that there should be plans deposited with the Admiralty concurrently with those deposited with the Committee of Standing Orders of the House of Commons, and that if the Admiralty had anything to object to to come and make the objection before the Committee. Mr. FITZROY said that, from a communication which he had had with Mr. Sidney Herbert, he believed that the words proposed to be introduced by the Hon. Member for Ply mouth did not meet with the concurrence of the Secretary of the Admiralty, and that the plan proposed. by the Hon. Member for Lambeth was incompatible with the usages of the House, as it would interfere, he conceived, with the Queen's prerogative. Mr. HAWES objected to the unqualified powers which the clause gave to the Board of Admiralty, and suggested that the Board of Admiralty, when they had cause to com plain of railway obstructions to navigable rivers, should go before the Parliamentary Committee of Merits, and there contest the points with the railway com pany. This would give both parties an opportunity of being heard, and remove all objection to the power at present possessed by the Board of Admiralty. He thought that some alteration might be made in the standing orders of the House to meet his views. The Hon. Member moved an amendment accordingly. Lord MARSHAM could see no objection to the clause. He believed the Board of Admiralty exercised the authority alike to the interest of the railway and the convenience of the public. He knew from personal knowledge that the Board never withheld its sanction from railway projects which did not ab solutely interfere with, or obstruct the traffic, in navigable rivers. In the late case of the Rossendale Railway, which crossed a navigable river, the Board of Admiralty were ap plied to for power to form a bridge or viaduct, and the Board seeing that the line was for the convenience of the public at large readily granted it. He believed they acted upon the same in .every case that came before them. Sir W. CLAY said they had heard a good deal of mur muring against the authority of the Board of Trade, and he thought the Board of Admiralty would become equally un popular if the dense were agreed to. The clause left these disputed points to a partial tribunal, but the Hon. Member for Lambeth would carry them before an impartial Committee, where the interest of both parties would meet with every attention. Sir G. CLERK reminded the House that in the course of last session of Parliament the subject of the encroach ments of railways on navigable rivers was brought ender the consideration of the Government by the Hon. Member for Montrose, who pointed out that the 46th of George HI. duly required that notice should be given to the Secretary of the Admiralty when embankments or quays were about to be made in navigable rivers. The Honourable Member thought that this was insufficient to protect the Interests of the public, and thought that much greater powers should be given to the Admiralty. His Right Hon. Friend the First Lord of the Treasury, on that occasion admitted that the sub ject was one of great importance, and • consented to the appointment of a commission to inquire into the subject, and to ascertain if it was necessary that additional powers should be given to the Admiralty. The Committee reported that, notwithstanding the required notices, very inconvenient encroachments and obstructions bad been made to our na vigable rivers, and it had therefore been thought necessary to introduce this clause into the present measure. But he could hardly understand how Hon. Members could object to ita provisions, for when railway companies proposed to inter fere with private property, Parliament never sanctioned it without the consent of the owner. Upon the same principle, the House should withhold its sanction to railway obstruc tions on navigable rivers, until the consent of the Board of Admiralty had been expressly and formally obained. He therefore could not support the amendment of the Hon. Member for Lambeth. After a few words from Sir D. NORREYS, who supported the clause in its original form, The House divided, when there appeared— For the amendment Against it Majority against it On our return to the gallery, Sir W. CLAY was objecting to the 17th clause, which related to the powers of a railway company dealing with the mains of gas or water companies. The Honourable Member thought the clause was not sufficiently stringent, and related one or two instances where great public inconveniences bad arisen from the indiscriminate powers given to railway companies. In the case of the West London, which connected the line of the London and Bir mingham Company with that of the Great Western, it would be recollected that a short time ago the western part of the metropolis was greatly incommoded from the circumstance of the line crossing three mains of the Kensington gas-works and water-works. For a time Pall-mall, Tottenham-court-road, and the principal portions of the west-end were left totally without a supply of water, either for domestic purposes, or cases of emergency, as fires, hc. It was to prevent the recurrence of such an inconve nience that he wished to make the clause more stringent. He was not prepared then to state the precise terms of the amendment ; but as there were deputations who were experienced in the matter waiting outside, he would suggest that it should be left to them to frame an amendment, and let the clause be postponed till the third reading. Mr. KEMBLE and Mr. HAWES admitted the import ance of the suggestion, and asked the Noble Lord to give it every consideration. Lord G. SOMERSET certainly felt that the clause was not sufficiently stringent to guard the rights of water and gas-works, and he had no objection to agree to an amend- ment which had been suggested on a former occasion by the Hon. Member for Maidstone. This amendment would afford ample protection to gas and water-works, he hoped it would receive the sanction of the House. 1 'After a few words from Mr. DODD, who consented to o stpone his amendment till the third reading of the Bill, Lord G. SOMERSET said he should take the third read ing to-morrow, at twelve o'clock. Col. SIBTHORP objected to the hour. The measure was of great public importance, and it was necessary that the final reading should be postponed to such an hour when it would be likely to have a full attendance of Hon. Members. Clause 27 gave powers to railway companies that were not only monstrous, but un-English, and lid should divide the House upon it. He moved an amendment. in effect restricting railway companies from going beyond 100 yards on the land adjacent to the line that might be required i'or temporary pur poses. In clause 27 11x9 number of yards was restricted to 500. He would therefore apose that the words 500 yards should be altered to 200, but the motion fell to the ground for want of a seconder. On the motion of Lord G. SOMERSET, that clause 31, as amended, stand part of the Bill, Mr. HAWES said that this clause was so vague and indefinite that he could not at all consent to its insertion. The power given to the justices of the peace for the adjudication of difficult points was far too large, and he should move the omission of the clause, or if that were objected to, as he believed that the House of Lords had adjourned for the holidays, and the Noble Lord' (Lord G. Somerset) was not now pressed for time, as it would now be impossible to get the Bill into the Upper House till after the recess, he would wish the clause to be postponed. Lord G. SOMERSET explained that the House of Lords had only adjourned till to-morrow, and then it was believed they would adjourn till after Easter, and he was desirous of getting the Bill read a first time before the recess. Mr. HAWES said that then he should move for the omission of the clause. Sir DENHAM NORREYS said that he would second the motion, for the term property or enjoyment of property was so vague that it was impossible for any right decision to be come to by parties. The SPEAKER explained that the clause might be amended, but could not be omitted, as it formedpartoftheßilL Lord G. SOMERSET said the amendment might be consi dered on the third reading, and that the Hon. Member for Cheshire (Mr. T. Egerton) had charge of this particular clause and he would perhaps devise so me me an s of obviating the objection. Mr. T. EGERTON said that he had consulted with his Hon. Friend the Member for Sussex (Mr. Darby), who had great experience in these particular matters, and he had as- Burred him that the term " enjoyment" was a perfectly legal term, and one well understood, and therefore not likely to occasion any difficulty. The amendment was then withdrawn. The remainder of the clauses were then passed with a few verbal amendments, and the Bill was ordered to be engrossed Id • sd a third time on Wednesday next, at twelve o'clock. . reek. a L " LAND CLAUSES CONSOLID A T ION BILL. On the motion of Lord G. SOMERSET that the report be brought up, Mr. GREENE brought it up, when Colonel SIBTHORP said that he found that all opposi tion to these Bills, which he considered neither more nor less than attacks on private property, was utterly . ineffectual ; and he should, therefore, refrain from it in this in stance, but he did hope that when they went to another place they would meet with rejection, and the country would learn that there was some feeling for the property of the small proprietors in Parliament. After several verbal amendments, the Bill was ordered to be engrossed and.printed, and read a third time en Wednes day next, at twelve o'clock. LAND. CLAUSES CONSOLIDATION (SCOTLAND) BILL. On the motion of the LORD ADVOCATE, the House went into Committee on this Bill. The Bill went through Committee, when the Chairman reported progress, and the report was ordered to be brought up to-morrow. The House then adjourned till Five o'clock. The House resumed at Five o'clock. Sir C. LEMON brought in the Corhivalllwa: relative to general inclosures. He thought a measure of that kind, if effectually carried out, wouid be of as much good to England and to the English labourer, and be somewhat analogous to a healthy system of emigra- tion.—(Hear, hear.) Let them once throw open a new channel for the industry of the lower class, s, and it would speedily be taken advantage of. But he thoueht that one general Inelosure Bill should be passed, for it was quite a hopeless task for private Members to try to accomplish this object without the aid of the Government. He earnestly hoped, therefore, that Government itself would undertake this task. He now came to a question which he would leave the House to deal with, for it was hopeless to e-.pect that Government would have to do with it. He (Mr. Miles) with two Hon. Membt rs had waited on the Right Han. Baronet the Secretary for the Home Departmt nt. The Government took time to consider his dt-anands, but up to that time he had heard nothing more upon the subject. He had now come t' the House to ask a small reduction. which he had good reason to believe had been thought of by the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of tilt Go vernment, and by the Noble Lord the Member for Lon &.t It would be in the recollection of the House, that in 1334 a Committee of the House had been proposed on the subject of agricultural distress; and among the Hon. Members who sat on tha. Committee woi.e the Right Hon. Baronot at the head of the Government, and the Noble Lord the Member for the City of London. The Committee divided the subject matter of their inquiry into four departments, from each of which emanated a distinct report. One of those reports, to which he would make particular reference, was that which resulted from the Sub-Committee over which the Right Hon. Baronet presided, on the subject of criminal prosecutions. This Committee, as he had already said, was a sub-division of the general Committee appointed to inquire into agri • cultural distress. He would read an extract from the re port issued by the Committee of 1833. The Hon. Member then read the extract alluded to, which stated that the whole subject of the county rates was one well worthy of the consideration of the House, and it recommended that the payment of the cost of prosecutions should be borne, not by the county, but by the Government. It charac terised the system of expenditure us anomalous in the extreme, and unfitted for purposes of general utility, and it called upon the House to give its deliberate attention to the subject. He now came to the report on criminal prosecutions which had been issued by the Committee over which the Right Hon. Baronet presided, and that also expressed a similar opinion with that he had read to the House. That conclusion had been partly carried into effi-ct, for in 1836 it wasdeterrnin,d, while the Noble Lord was in ottico, that the prosecutions in counties should he paid by the Garernment. HO -see the Noble Lord did not exactly carry out the re commendations made to him in that report. He could scarcely conceive, after the reading of these reports, what answer the Govemnient were now prepared to give him ; or why the recom mendetions made in 1834 should not be carried out in 1845. It would be in the recollection of the House that the Government had sent dean to the country inspectors to inquire into the condition of prison discipline. They acted upon ministerial instructions, and he (Mr. Miles) thought he bad a right to ask that the expenses end the maintenance of prisoners committed for trial should likewise be borne by the Government. The House must remember that the county rates were not levied upon the farmers alone, but upon the tenant. It was the humble cottager that was called upon to pay them, and though the aggregate amount must seem small it pressed heavily upon them, and its remission, without adding much to the expenditure of the Government, would appear a step in the right. direction, and be a re cognition of a good principle. He would likewise ask. that in particular cases the expenses of the Coroner's Court should be remitted. On the coast bceles ere frequently washed ashore, the Coroner was obliged to hold a❑ inquest on them, and the expenses came off the county rates. He asked them, in such a case as that, to remit at least half the expenses. Another circumstance which pressed heavily upon the ratepayers in counties, was the expenses incurred in printing the re gistry of voters, and this expense also, he conceived, should be borne by the Government. What a euld be about the total expense to the Govern ment, supposing the whole of those recommendations acre agreed to ? Let them take it in round numbers at 400,0001., but, deducting something from that. the whole amount would Lot exceed 350,000/. He had thus en- deavoured, ns shortly as possible, to brine before the no tice of the Ilouse the state of agricuhural distre:Rs' and the agricultural interests generally. lie had called the attention of the Government to certain recommendations which he conceived vvuld be of the uttn , _,st benefit v. the agriculturists. at the same time that he had pointed out the evils which peculiarly pressed upon them—wore particularly the poor-rates of the country. The con stituencies were more alive to the nec,ssity thit ex isted that the representatives should endeavour to carry out these objects—,:bieets calculated to i4uctit that class which placed the Itil . .;ht non. Baronet in the position which he then held. It had been said that the rents had been paid up, and that, therefore, the distress was transient and could not be general. Such was not the fact. The rents were paid up because it was quite im possible for any persen to hold a tenant upon his lands if he could not meet his expenses. But it was a certain tact that for the last few years they bad not made any profit. There was a want of confidence in the measures now brought forward by the Government ; they said that nothing could be worse than the position they now occupied, el it was but seldom that they heard now from the lips of her Majesty's Ministers any allusion to their interest. They stated that the few words given by the Right Hon. Baronet tsi the agricultural interest, at the close of his financial statement, filled them with distrust. In the very bathe sessien in which the corn laws were pessed they saw the duty on articles over which the shield of protection had been thrown suddenly removed, ' and the agriculturists very naturally said —" What is to prevent the cern-laws coming next ?"—(Hi ar, hear, and cheers from the Opposition benches.) leeiking a:. the burdens of agriculture, he said they had a right to protection, or if this protection was not. afforded ths as. it was nothing but right that they should be released from some of the taxes which pressed upon them. When he said this he was stating, not his own cpinon, but the opinion of the farmers, w ho thought the Government would do much to restore their former prosperity by uphold ing the cern- law& It was a knowledge of this circums stance which heel induced him to bring this subject be fore the House; but, at the same time, he must declare to the House that it was done without the sanction of the agricultural body. He had thought it' necessary, in bringing this discussion upon the fluor of the House of Commons, to state the sentiments of the faenters, and ho could assure Hon. Members that he bad mentioned nothing which he did not sincerely and conscientiously believe to he thunded in truth nod Justice; nod it now remained fur the House to say whether it affirmed or rejected his rssolution. Lord MARCH seconded the amendment, but after the able speech of the Elan. Member for Somersotshire, he would tree- pass upon the time of the House but for a very few minutes. tie had been sent there to represent a large agricultural con stitueney, who had returned him upon the firm determination that he would uphold agricultural protection. He did not think, therefore, he should be doing his duty by them, if he did not, on that occasion, express his entire coneurreece in the sentimen s propounded by his Hon. Friend. Every protection which had been afforded to agricultural produce had, within the last few years, been reduced to an enormous extent, an extent which, in his mind, was far greater than either the exigencies of the times called for, or was compatible with the interests of the country. The agriculturists had a fair right to ask, not as a favour, but as an act of justice, that they shoald be relieved from some of the burdens of local taxation. Great distress prevailed amongst the farmers of England—a distress which was sot peculiar to locality, but was to he found in every part of the country. In support of this statement, he could refer with confidence to the deputations which waited upon the Right Hon. Baronet some time ago, and stated to him their ideas and their sentiments open the subject, as well as to the numerous petitions that had been presented to Parliament from many parts of the country. 'He supported the corn-laws when they were originally brought forward, bat had he been aware that it was the intention to introduce the Canada Corn-Bill, no power on earth would have induced him to say a word in their favour. The House could not resist the appeal µ hich beg b een made to relieve the agricultural distress antler which they had been labouring. They did not ask the House to benefit them, but they looked to Parliament for justice, and he trusted they would not look in vain. Sir J. GRAHAM, who was more than usually indistinct, rose to declare the intentions of her Majesty's Government with regard to the amendment proposed by the Hon. Member for Somerset. But before doing so, he would take the opportunity of thanking the Hon. Member himself, and the Noble Lord who last spoke, for the moderation and temper with which he had brought the subject before the House. In the first place, he must observe, that they were not discussing the extent or the validity of protection. Nor were they discussing the propriety of continuing or discontinuing legislative pro tection to agriculturists.—(Hear.) His Honourable Friend who had brought the amendment forward, had entered into lengthened details with reference to the condition of agricul ture, and the distress which existed in the various parts of the country. In doing this his Hon. Friend had laid the founda tion, not for his motion on the paper which they were then dis cussing, but rather for the repeal of the existing corn-laws—a repeal of the Canada Corn Bill, or the re-consideration of some portions of their tariff. Before glancing at some portions of the speech made by his Hon. Friend, he would first bring under the coosiderationof the House what had been the financial policy of the Government smite the time they had first taken office. Certainly it had not been directed exclusively to the advancement of the landed interest of the country, but he believed it was generally admitted they had adopted a course which was cal culated, not only to benefit one, but the whale of the existing interests of the country. It would be remembered, that when they first came into office they found a very considerable deficiency in the revenue. There was a large expenditure which gleatly exceeded the public resources of the country. At this time it would also be recollected that the Right Hun. Gentleman the Member for Portsmouth had some short tines before strongly depreciated the continuance of this deficiency, and the Right Hcnourable Gentleman determined that a great efftot was necessary on the part of the country to meet the demands of a declining exchequer. The Right Hon. Gentleman's Government, of which he was a dis tinguished member, applied a particular remedy, and in doing so they drew largely on the resources of the consumer. They proposed to increase by five per cent. all the dudes of customs and excise, and the assessed taxes ten per cent. Now the re sult of that. experiment was well worthy of remark. The in crease of five per cent. upon the consumer, so far from pro ducing a corresponding increase in the revenue, lett still a deficiency of 1700/. Now what was the parti cular lesson which this financial experiment taught her Majesty's present Government? Why it convinced them that the limits of indirect taxation had been abso lutely reached, and therefore, if they wished to restore the prosperity of the country, they must abandon indirect taxa tion and introduce direct taxation to a greater extent than it had ever been before tested in a time of peace • consequently, in the year 1842, the Right Hon. Baronet at Ale head of the Government made two propositions. He proposed the imposi tion of an ins, me and property-tax upon the country, from which it was then anticipated that not oily would the public service be provided for, but an available surplus be obtained. It was contemplated, at the same time, that this surplus should be applied to the remission of indirect taxation, and in the year 1842 his Right Hon. Friend made a remission of no less than 1,135,000/.. upon articles of raw material upon which im mense capital andextensive labour was always employed. One of those articles of raw material consisted of timber, the remis sion of the duty on which not only gave large employment to the manufacturer, but proved a considerable relief to tte o 00 i interest and the earemnnitv. The results had shoe/01;000 alterations had not been made rashly, and he had the P» o ft state that at that very moment, the effect of the remits:4i duty on timber was made known to him by a return : 1 ;0e been placed in his hand within the last few days, a n , a rti lr turn was based upon the authority of an influential ad! turn see siding in Liverpool. The effect of the remission her, le a reduction in the price of American s t e n a l eel 1 less in the year 1841 than in the year 184'2. 1 , 1 ., i d ; slyi ti price was bed. a foot • but in 1842 the price 5 ,33 ' 3 u nit! A . , must be remembered that no portion of the eton ni e p .O more benefited than the landed interest. In a fee s e tn ea r tefri of his address, it would be remembered that be he's ra test tio his Right Hon. Friend made remissions t o the o ftheth s 1,135,0001., of which 24+ ,0001. was the proportion _ger imposed on coffee ; and upon 86 other articles, the ;Tast e of whose d l u n ti l e h s 43 am h o e un fur te t d h t e o r 278,0001 ., there wal,. o r O P o f the . toms duties were made; but in 1844, his r:lon. Frieno„,d; P i a remission of the duty on wool, amounting to 1 0 °P5e0; currants, 91,0001. ; and on coffee, 82,00(1. The rera.rit 0 the duty on wool proved a source of great pecuniaeco7edre the .landed interest of the country. He w as a fter la r eff this opinion by the fact, that four months mission was made, the price of British wool wes e°° o OI P.O increased, while before it was continually declininfloorseii The effect of the measures proposed by the ftigb! o stioll eor e Baronet in 184'2 and 1844, taking them in Ont o % at e, ar t the proposition which bad lately been breught f i n s ,' setel ii e greatly contribute to the prosperity of the larws' o s of England ; indeed, much more so than the rere Q eo ot el; local taxation of which the Hon. Member for Sr i 0 be l; plained. Then, again, the Government proposh l ° se kO s a to sugar would have the effect of remitting taxati:te t ast`es amount than 3,600,0001.; but they fully anticipttb7oo7o decrease in the revenue would be fully made tiP bl reda ril f er consumption of that commodity. And all theseb ode s or would reduce the expenses of the farmer and the,„, 0 104 prietor to a great extent. They proposed, also, "S a , to.a duty on cotton 2,200,0001., and on other ni eter a llo4 were articles of general consumption, 6000°1 " 1° 02, 451 ',0 1, whole the removal of indirect taxation amounting t e, ritl is In 1834 there were remissions upon stage . ee l _ e ...l ells es glass, and ether articles, affecting the agricultere:„oo.eset common with the rest of the community, arnounting_ned bl; and taking these together with the remissions ers°,,Z,(°,,S Right Hon. Friend, they amounted to 6 324,7 - ,010,,',11 hear.) In these reductions, the agriculturists b . :,9 Ole with the rest of the community--( Hear, hear)d o a° ll oo l this remission, there was still a considerable, an : o irse oil ing surplus of revenue above expenditure —in the eisreseer of which surplus the agricultural interest W u the lltPi s te every other.—( Hear , hear.) His Hon. Friend eat to I for Somerset asked if the landed interest suss rietelotesil some small participation in the benefit of he eat P e. t t taxation? Now, he (Sir J. Graham) thc'ug h e; h the Id Hon. Friend would look at the manner in wie - e se aere s 0 tax was contributed, he would see that the COhe ch seed other classes contributed in their proportion Friendi eoegV agriculturist.—( Hear, hear.) But his Hon. ' disset e e , that whilst the manufacturing and comme re ! s distr a lV been prosperous, the agrieulturiste were 'till 10 ,4 0 , ia th e (Hear, hear, from the agricultural benches.) oil ei tleessn we enmeeencernent of his speech the Hon. Gen , hela the distress was general ; but towards the ei°"' &emission that it was not so. A 1 01' Mr. MILES—No, no; I did not. eset tlelles e eo o Sir J. GRAHAM—Very well; the Hon gle,eete s still say that the distiees was gen , ral in the te yell; les he' —(" Hear, hear," from Mr. Miles.) Ver y tbst r , „;re ari look to Ireland. Now, he was prepared to s how . . . 001 , land, the agriculturiets had been more than useal l i a f Ill'osl since the tariff came into operation.—( Hear, br o r fiss! o pe land, again—and he could speak even mere P°' ri d be es pill, portion of the United Kingdom—agriculture ea d 0 , en s bit rous, and in no recent years had rent been Pe'. n d bstt.„,4l lB as in the last year.—(Cheers.) His Hon. fr es ie o ool, v oo o c speech, laid the foundation of a much larg er es f l' ls . g oer (Sir s J. Graham) must say, that if the argenl o e, ts., tied Friend were worthy of the attention of t he Hof 017 ore: tion would not be whether some remission tier tb7se tb' hundred thousands should be granted, but ech e ied, l '7 tr law. as it stood at present , should not be r e c fer„ .s ll' tariff undergo a considerable modification. ) ril t the garded the importation of esttle. —( Hear, he ir ;bet that Friend had gone into statistical details, t° rat s Illot , importation of foreign corn in the last three l in too. o osl very great. But it was to be remembered tha t i ' sc elselli h a l ose e ' the last three years, the production had bee° us' wee r a iew eient.—( Hear, hear.) e 4 hat, then, would har e s its, dition of the people if foreign corn bad not font) 00 e st; the coentry in those years ?—( Hear. he ar. ieereirate Friend forgot that the population of the Or thaseten the amount of more than 11+.0001) per annum , °r . e s issa; 01 more than 1,000 every forty-eight hours in thtessitten eas e hear.) What, then, would have been the Teereirdel l : r country, if it had not been for the ineportat ie° o o 4 „ r e e etb e ";f —(Cheers.) There would probably have Oob r;ibri o s on sion fatal to the landed interest, in comm to th e atO t atl —(Cheers.) His Hon. Friend went at led t o ta e ' IJ. - barley. Now, he should endeavour to illustraboy, el of the present corn-law by this very case °f t h ole/ eel hear.) In the last year, the importation 0. i or at b 1 A a r) 1,00 .000 quarters; and this not suddeltii , A n ele:_ ef , be . scarcity. but only to meet a regular dense" Ow"' $1 with a regular and equal return to the revenue.' r e f ad Mr. MILES—How much in the year? e bete, is Sir J. GRAHAM had heard somehodY 15 ;. ' ) _ ..... r liwt'sratt answered, I,2 , o.ooorters.—( Hear, he -. Blest tit tbe for the last ten years-(which the Right Idon'ss e e, t ie detail, but in so low, hurried, impossible to follow him clearly in these, I n o o ilec i t eef greater part of his numerical statements) m otet' i se ara s and indistinct 3 ' o ; ' ,,, SlO t bot,:; 1844, when the importation of barley was the f for lee! rtlie ohome-grown barley was the highest. eze e r b j., the : tip of (Hear, hear.) This proved to him irresistist J , by .0 increased supply producing an increased dent _Tools w ol i te agricultural interest had been materially henudee4lo)../ injured.—(Cheers. ) His Hon. Friend coLel: J. Or' - jet s ) importation of Canadian corn, which he i n str es u l:::ri, 0 glinted as a most useful subsidiary to the cn' s iteen s ee ( Hear, hear, and a laugh from the 107 . t e Ole The corn of Canada was prepared to b 0 l b ,rear this country, as SOOR as the ice brae n;'„t ebt, s ter e a se early in June, and to prevent the ruinous ene . :, 0a I. P At i rise, and the consequent influx of foreign ee'i o rree_t o P , s i bs would have upon the producers of the ens o '4o boi hear.) In that way, the importation of c 0,,, ot e k, the danger which he (Sir J. Graham)srijotrefey sliding scale was liable to.—(Cheers.) "l e alit; _ s ea further contended that the agrieulturists we the tee i'dn_",o of for the injury they had sustained w s 'ote r o 0 As of foreign cattle, dead and alive. This was legbt e-uh e rs d r and, in dealing with it, he should follow his ___ er, r o a Friend the late Chancellor of the Elteh"lr.;( e _re - t e ? sorry to see on the opposite side of the 11 °1d eSt7lo l 4e l ; laugh.) [The Right Hon. Baronet then r e t h e ter l ; OP - le that the importation of foreign cattle, since if eel tb a rty so iesignificant as in no degree O h : g ollerPt e but his fissures were not heard in t o . e b, mate respect. to one sear or one item.] Ire`'i. al'" it 0- 0 A his Honourable Friend what bad a o otle', is te , tendency to lower the price of home-bred ap es u• sa efl i 0;5 the importation of foreign cattle—in thc°!: the,l n t ett ea lt e thousands—it was the lowering of wages I ; rt , of 00 9 districts.—( Great cheering. ) 11l t he P t ber 111 if ) 01 where he resided, and which was a ltoge of fore th e 0 i district, they looked not to the ettant it l te eat l e is pel t t lo cattle imported, but to the state of eteploY ot ere ot li set / facturing districts —(Cheers.) Their Pre,wortst diet s 5 lest there should be an increase of foreign i st e tet ing f °ei there shouid be a relapse in the a n T s p u o reetn ee s ; ° lel , (Cheers)- because these could b s e uff n e o ri si t of ol e , 006 0 , 0 0 0 bl 1 ,0 of the community without the (Cheers.) He (Sir James Graham) I n a rt °foil s pea r s proprietor, that so small a dement' on th e P at forme I l e s O A turists never was made as that nose lifer.) ate Pp , t ei o Honourable Friend.—( Cheers and 120 ..00r' ta 0° eta i i i able Friend had dwelt upon the be i; e e. • e 1.., t o county rates as peculiar burdens of t ui deet, se n e ial vele agree with his Hon. Friend, but he " e lf tO Vrejet,laa question in detail. He would confine Ma" ssa s ini re et°:e present administration of the poor-law iota we bs eirpe r labourers as to the rate-payers Th e ulso / 01 e li , PLO 1813 to the present year, whilst the P°P des eea , 0 8, tee one-third, the number of paupers had es e bet e esbe e lie e o ; and the rates had decreased from 16 , er - eitetieest e ( Hear, hear.) The total of the rates os ho o(er e s ec e ir: 7,784,0001. to 6,848,000/., or about.., of 1 %0 0 hear.) His Hon. Friend had made 11 . . Let , 0 ethnesuceirfcruommsttahnecaobsoolifttiohnosoef wthheocdoetptoenriddeitierLtsh..eto:o4ooll;lsooooore The destitution of the hand-loom ros l ufac tute,'; o o,.dat extreme; but the interests of the nsen e, that bets 00 e s so tes o culturists were so extremely intersvol'en true tb" ,o 4 1 1 : 0b p well exist without the other. It waL t eliags. aft se s A s weavers had their looms and their o r w aftee o e ehe rLk . ' b at wives and their children worked fo u n ; but he r , i 4. a day for the sake of earning 6s. a v lee r w o 10 31 01 AO yg aid to come from ? why it must be ," of t he ft. l bs r t ebe e e Hon. Member then proceeded to se"' s Whe ' fo t" felc;11 w hat was the tact with r espect to thew ' an y co bia 11 r e: liea i ge opposite did not , akeir compulsory q t e e p e ith._ 4o o. e ., yi those to adopt it that chose. He adrelL some 1 0 " 00 070oe a te that the tithe commutation operates a T he tstbe co ' o ret t yr r ,/, upon the laud ; but the truth was,ts'e,:rithe oth e rr e e r o e nally a co- parcener with the soil, and . L v m sut e t ig ° h ba o be r O r had greatly assisted the landowner b, ''' tbaa h a t ad. e " . e t from the soil. He (Sir J. Graham) the the .se at tclOW 11 0 ,4 14 through the various points by wto _'. of t he t i• o fir endeavoured to make out the elaunebed p copes - o stb s , t ee" would now advert to the remedies he we d Of t eilo l ,o o was a general Inclosure Act; the . e_ had bee l e e d Ite .s s es de drainage. Now both these subjecl a he eelie ta 0 1 ;e 0 0 vestigation of the Governmeetean.uest his i :0! fli speak too confidently when he said ti he en a b led _ tally head of the Woods and Forests emu.'" , ae ssl7, a est _ OO de table of the House, during the prese° l l o he i l a ; 1 14 cos hears) t . w ide/keep I L, to :tie r his Hon. Friend was the allowing 0 , B i g ht s oeVoi both those subjects.--( Hear , of oivrils bbrolysentoo ruithericb:iesoto . 00 of feeding Chancellor cattle, t t l h e e , a E n x d eh t e h g a u t be _set sider.—( Hear, hear.) H e 110* ea ice, 11,1(1 v- 3 1r- 11' le of the Hon. Member for Sornersases,_.9 s ho co olu or" whole costs of prosecutions at . tee A feel pram' s ' from übjec t ' tl die -ry 40'0 resent In The 11 ! to o d e ed f Hroemusgta t ehh h peth e :ra c oadc o il u ouas t s i ainna t t y lteiienh r s a d t lwnl e t t e;un o 4let t ds h hehs e ahaap p divdu u tehbb b itn_le l i t eo: c nsui_ f e u mh: n :ii t eedigreto ,s yr._ % teusipreh.,..t:o e :Lo - 0 : 00 : 0 : 4../ E 4 00: :: e th ue o h u _ rite re-- i n ; tarsi:Teo/1 that the result was that the leurde p e ur c . :4 BTh tb se : g r i : i l: tr i el pthrehdceonutnttyeadnidsthuarlhf btyhethep hi se h e o rs le et b sh u i r r d e en th o e n h thperoppuldc tabgetineriot enoftgoat3o.loo:l; ;is, esthi:eothuneledcEeixsnsetieetuyrftoeivrfeeiniavnensdtthinteagr:tihaneng SiSlie,tinrictruecieotokaih,obeirsit 0,0111 mittee of 1834 first proposed th t ' " .. . se t of a P ss e oel i a .. e , l it o haieul(tshiart J. Graham rwahould )htahvecutghhetmos;tgsnu'e'llefit ;ati.i / a r t i t o be e r_ .jeti cr dr e loo, : be carried into effect with sonas i e" ghway s In t le c eiroe s poor and the mange • 1s ' of to the e vi l e b '.1110 1 ; .4 StatOte l a t he dr eie t eeil i t Ht o g oo : t d. h A e b r iee . e — mn h(ceaHr;erinaera,dmilit,:eltayor,.,..t)ffhet of. im obtuto f ion 3000:00, iri 0 as of the Co mmittee were importanetL,„ht 1 -1 0i stte ef oet_ s lh r Se sanction of Parliament, but tbareeith r e9r- ha be ; 0 1 ; _a a . in carrying them into effect. he thro' fi " ee t, JO 0 0b e,d t csbeuevmeenreanblutsntittiohgehstrhleyocawletinnhateitendattah°tei;:rlhna.-°dira cln:.!°CreitiC:ss_&iii:rtioorieee (Sir J. Graham) thought _t siic s es edS,.. re e a dl i oe of that officer on the re"' s ret etenptO; t ett o / j sonable ,• because it shouldhdoe h th'' , t-e l lo l i l l .o payers elected the coroner, a ..inena es. oo itt ir iettr ; , o plain at the payment of his (r os r_ , he ri a id _. 0 0 0 7, 0 1 have occupied the House so 1 eie .sio an a •le e r:Di this was no new procosition;luts o f eet t A it ireirite (Laughter.) Ile had the he r a G lia r 3 e 4 y. a s nd G in ve l r e n 3 m 6 e h n e t whether in the Government 0 0 . _!_ o d u ct, . 1 ; stotr de , lia a d nd a d h o e pt t e b r d e° t : b n er % 6lnis he e l 9 b e e s s siille ", t: 1141 strictly followed the same line ° t . cy .itst iol!l r for te f leo f iA his opinions now, and he felt n_ s a n k e : er ffi d e o m p r r‘. l , e i e tod el i st e, ro l? against the proposition of the 1 40 ° and for the motion that the SP t he , t he Pr ° ,73b ; .1 0 , 0 0 Mr. NEWDIGATE supports:l w oe t eos f i ne/ Member for Somersetshire. r e ..,,,e M , freaks t esee''eel stn riffr Baronet had entirely thrown 7 4e m ote i d Ov hsee down by his Hon. l''rierid. h e coo A O t t e he th m e d an n u i t i a h c i t o u g ri o n ta g te in o te f r it e g s r ts ic , tibituttrtees l ie je".