The Sun. — London, England, 1847-03-31 00:00:00

e o r VICE-CHANCERY.—(THIS DAY.) (Before the VICE-CHANCELLOR of ENGLAND.) mosLEr V. ALSTON.—THE OXFORD AND BIRMINGHAM JUNCTION RAILWAY COMPANY. THE LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY V. TU . 013.Thir WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) Mr. BOLT followed in support of the demurrer, and contendeZ at great length that there was no provisios in the Company's Clauses Act, which made it compulsory on any of the old directors to retire from office at the Second half-yearly meeting of the company, but that they continued in their situation of directors for one year of office, which would expire in October, 1E47. The Learned Gentleman had not concluded when the Court rose. DEMOLITION OF THE OLD HOUSE OF LORDS. This morning, at an early hour, a number of work men, under the direction of Mr. Barry, commenced the demolition of the old House of Lords, formerly well known as the Painted Chamber of the Palace, and the room in which Edward the Confessor breathed his last. Their Lordships held their last sitting yesterday in this place, associated with so many historical recollec tions; and the work of destruction now going forward is for the purpose of making the necessary entrances into the New Houses for the re-assembling of their Lordships after the Easter recess. Their Lordships will resume their legislative and judicial duties in the New Houses on Thursday, the 15th of April. REGISTRY of BIRTHS and DEATHS DURING THE WEEK ENDING MARCH 27. Deaths registered in the week. Births registered in the week. Males ... ... ... 484 Males ... ... ... 691 Females ... ... 545 Females ... ... 685 Total ---- . . 1,029 Total ... 1,376 IMPEIiIAL PARLIAMENT. (THIS DAY.) HOUSE OF COMMONS. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) WIDE STREETS (DUBLIN). Mr. GREGORY moved for a return of all sums of money handed over by Sir John Kingston James, late treasurer to the corporation of the city of Dublin ; also, of all sums paid by Lord Charlemont and the Wide Street Commissioners to the credit of the corporation of the city of Dublin ; and if same has been applied to the liquidation of the debenture debt, or to what other pur pose, and, if any part of 6uch debt has been liquidated, the date and particulars ; also a return from the Wide Street Commissioners of the city of Dublin of all snms of money lodged by the said Commissioners in court, as purchase money of certain premises belonging to the Dublin Corporation, the legal proceedings thereupon. the judgment pronounced by the Court, and the cost of such proceedings• and a copy of the deed of 180 ; by which trustees were appointed for the management of the debenture debt of the Corporation of Dublin, the legal proceedings to remove such trustees, the judgment pronounced by the court, and the cost of such proceed ings.—Motion agreed to. THE CASE OF DICKSON v. PAPE.—EXCISE LICENSE. Mr. GREGORY also moved for returns (in addition to the Sessional Paper, No. 662, for 1845) showing, in an additional column, and opposite each spirit grocer a name, the rate or amount of excise license duty which the judges decided, in the case of Dickson v. Pape, to be that which ought to have been charged and paid by each spirit grocer for his license respec tively ; and of the amount received by the Excise from each such grocer during the period he took out and renewed such license, from the sth day of July, 1838, until the sth day of July, 1844, similarly arranged. Also copies of all memorials addressed to the Treasury by spirit grocers i❑ Ireland, from the Ist day of January, 1845, to the Ist day of March, 1846, praying that such excess of duty received by the Excise should be returned to them; and copies of the answers returned to each such memorial.—Motion agreed to. BOYS IN THE NAVY. Mr. HUME moved for a return of the number of boys entered on bard her Majesty's ships or vessels of war, from the first day of January to the 31st day of December, 1846, according to the following form:— First Class 13oss, entered the Navy for first time second time Second Class Boys, entered the Navy for first time .... . second time Total From whence obtained : Greenwich Royal Naval Asylum Marine Society School Other sources Total.. Could write and read write or read only nether read nor write Good scholars Doubtful . Total Petty Officers, Seamen, or Boys, invalided discharged deserted deaths Total Motioß agreed to. APPRENTICES IN THE NAVY. The TION. 1ii131.1118 also moved for an abstract from the Rygister-General of Shipping, showing the number of boys apprenticed from the Ist day of January to the 31st day of December, 1846—for three years, four years, five years, six years, seven years, and total number. Agreed to. CHARITABLE TRUSTS. The HON. MEMBER also moved for a message to the Lords, that they would be pleased to communicate a copy of the minutes of evidence taken before the Select Committee of the House of Lords, appointed to consider a Bill, intituled, An Act for securing the due adminis tration of Charitable Trusts in England and Wales. Agreed to. NUMBER OF RECRUITS IN TIIE ARMY. _ _ The Hew. MEMBER withdrew the motion of which he had given notice respecting the number of recruits in the army who were enlisted from the Ist day of January to the 31st of December, 1846. REGARDERSHIP OF THE NEW FOREST. Mr. TRELAWNY mo'red for a return of the name of the officer who held the Regardership in the New Forest then vacant; the duties and emoluments of the office; when the last election of a Regarderer was con t:.sted, and the number of freeholders of the county of Hampshire who were polled at such election; the names of the present Regarderers, and the amount cf fees, sa laries, and emoluments received by each during the years 1843, 1144, and 1845, and the perquisites, if any, received by them. In consequence of some suggestion from Lord JOHN RUSSELL, which did not reach the gallery, the motion was withdrawn. SELECT COMMITTEES. Mr. AGLIONBY wished to call the attention of the House to the circumstance of his having been, as chairman of a Select Committee, Group No. 28, ap pointed to meet on the 19th of April, while at the same time he was appointed to serve upon two other Committees—the Standing Orders Committee and the Committee of Private Business of the House. He hoped, therefore, that the House would relieve him from one or other of his duties. PAUPER LUNATIC ASYLUMS. Mr. NICHOLL wished to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Majesty's Go vernment contemplated any alteration in the law respect ing pauper lunatic asylums, whereby counties or boroughs, having no asylum for the pauper lunatics thereof, will be relieved from the duty of erecting or providing such an asylum, in conformity with the _pro visions of the Act 8 and 9 Vic., c. 126, and 9 and 10 Vic., e. •4, or whether it is intended to enforce the perform ance of that duty? Sir G. GREY said that it was not in the contempla tion of the Government to propose any alteration in the law, and the Government would take care that asylums should be erected in the counties and boroughs where there were none at present. THE POOR REMOVAL ACT. Mr. REDHEAD YORKE asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it was the in tention of the Government to repeal the Poor Removal Bill this session, if there should be no general revision of the poor-law system? Sir G. GREY said that the Committee on the subject were pursuing their inquiries into the operation of the law, and till they made a final report he could not say what the Government would do with regard to it. The Prisons (Ireland) Bill and the Troops during Elections Bill were severally read a' second time, and the first was ordered to be committed on Mouday, the 12th April. IRISH LANDLORDS. Mr• HAMILTON rose to make an exp7anation con cerningßarone, t the c l ertain charges lately made by the Hon. Member for Marylebone, with respect to an Irish landl M. mbcr defendeordd of the name of Longfieid. The Hon. ing, that that gentleman Longfield, and concluded by say - hat committe m h,: had subscribed 23 'l. t 3 the re- Sir B. HALL a ~, r aid hl Property. that he m a d e hi s s tatements from that a return ordered by ~.,louse on the 4th of February, and he had no wi,h to 1.“191*C Irish landlords. present the conduct of any Mr. LEFHOY entered at some -ength int o a d e f ence of the Irish lan dlords, and reade , expreVmacts from severd letters he received from them g their indigna tion at the unjustifiable treatment they received in that House. SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR THE RELIEF POOR IN IRELAND. °F THE Mr. YOUNG wished to call the attention of th e House to a return which ha d been moved for in the anonth of February last, stating the amount of private subscriptions made in Ireland for the relief of the poor, aril giving a detail of names and amounts. He had re ceivers very many letters from Ireland of the report which lutist be made, in answer to that motion. —(ilor, hear.) It was a report which would do great injustice to all parties ; it would gratify the ambition of the rich and ostentatious, who wished to have their charity appear before the public ; while those less able to contribute, or more modest, would be passed over entirely. He did not think it was a return which ought to have been moved for, or i moved for, that ought to have been allowed by the House, considering the great personal injustice it would inflict necessarily on individuals. Lord BARRY VANE agreed with what had fallen from the Hon. Gentleman opposite, and thought that before the returns were furnished to the House steps ought to be taken to prevent their ever being published. If the Hon. Gentleman opposite would give notice that immediately after the recess he would move that these returns should not be presented to the House, he (Lard Fl. 'Vane) would second him. Sir G. GREY begged to correct the misimpression that the returns would be made with a view to gratify the ostentatious, but rather to show, by the example of some exceptions in Ireland, how a good landlord ought to discharge his duties. He might state at the same time that as regarded the whole amount of private charity, that might be found in the papers already be fore the House, and he did not think it would be neces sary to give it in a separate form. He believed, however, that it was perfectly legitimate fur the House to order a return of the amount of private charity in Ireland; but, of course, if it were intended to specify the sums against the names of the individuals as owners or occupiers, he could not concede that it would be either proper or prudent. Mr. YOUNG said he objected to the document only so far as it was intended to show the private charity of i the Irish landlords. _ _ Mr. POULETT SCROPE said if there might be ex ceptions, no one could yet doubt that the Irish landlords, generally, had neglected the poor. He had a mass of letters and documents which could immediately prove the contrary—were it disputed. He could not help referring to a report made by a Com mission of Inquiry, issued in 1834, about the time when the cholera was raging in Skibbereen. That decument stated that the subscriptions in aid of the suffering poor had nearly all been from the towns people, and little or nothing had been subscribed by the landlords. One of these proprietors, with a rental of 4,0001. a year, had given nothing ; another, with 1,5001. a year, had withdrawn his subscription from the dispen sary. The subscriptions made amounted to 471.55., and nearly all had been received from the town. They had written to the non-resident landlords, none of whom had given any answer whatever except four, and these had given 111. ss. out of a combined rental of G,OOO/. a year. These circumstances naturally made an impres sion on the public mind, under which they had thought necessary to provide for the poor by a compulsory impo sition on the landlords, and ho trusted he might see that fully settled before the end of the present session, which would be the only means of ultimately setting these dis cussions and causes of discontent at rest. .- Mr. S. O'BRIEN thought the lion. Gentleman who had just sat down had lost sight of a necessary distinc tion between his own remarks and those of the Mem ber for the Dublin University. The Hon. Member for the University rose to vindicate universal character, and, upon his resuming his seat, up got the lion. Member for Stroud, and made a general charge against the Irish proprietors, stating that he had a mass of documents and correspondence to prove that they had neglected their duties. Yet the Lion. Gentleman ended with a hope that these discussions might be set at rest. Why, there never would be an end of them if lionourable Gentlemen, without any connexion with that country, or local knowledge of it and the people, continually busied themselves in its affairs. It old stories and old charges were to be raked up in this way, the landlords of Ireland would be discouraged, and it would be one way to cause the great experiment they were about to make to fail—the poor would be embittered against the rich, and the poor-laws would work most ineffectually. He sincerely thanked the Noble Lord the Member for Durham (Lord H. Vane) for the observations he had made. Ho hoped his HOD. Friend would not interfere with the presen tation of the return, as the Right Hon. Baronet, the Secretary of State, for the Home Department had stated that there would be no objection to pro duce a list of the grants of public money side by side with the local donations. The imperfect n‘iture of the return ought to tell a lesson to the Government not to grunt returns so easily, and when they could not accurately give the intormation required. Now they were about to separate he thought it right to take that opportunity of thanking the Govern ment for the kindness and patience with which they had listened to the suggestions which had been made, and for the way in which they had passed the measures through the House.—(hear, hear.) Their desire for the amelioration of Ireland deserved the gratitude even of those who had opposed the measure, and he himself had proposed some amendments.—(Hear, hear.) In his capacity as a magistrate, he should carry out the measure in the temper with which it had been passed.—(Cheers.) Mr. V. SMITH hoped Hon. Members would not, when they were about to separate, prolong a discus sion of this nature. As far as the return went it was accurate, but it would not enable any one to judge of all that had been done. Even the name of a !fiend of his, who had greatly befriended the poor, was not mentioned. Much more could be done for the suffering people if landlords and others would personally superintend the distribution of aid, instead of leaving it in the hands of others. He would suggest that the Honourable Gentleman should move, when the return was brought up for presentation, that it should not be printed. He thought the measure ought to pass without obloquy being cast upon those who would be intrusted with the carrying out of the I measure. Mr. GOULBURN suggested that the Government, in the absence of the Hon. Baronet the Member fbr Maryleboue (Sir B. Hall), should intimate that a com plete list of the subscriptions would be furnished, as it was necessary that they should be informed what had been raised in addition to the grants made by the Government. The return in its present form was most fallacious, and would lead to the inference that many parties had neglected their duty who had, in fact, done a vast deal to assuage the sufferings of the people of Ireland. It was not right that they should stand be fore the country as criminals. With respect to the Bill, he might state that he was strongly in favour of a ge neral rate for the support of the poor. Mr. LABOUCHERE regretted that he was unavoid ably absent during the earlier part of the discussion. His Right Hon. Friend had intimated that there would be no objection to furnish ample lists of the Govern ment grants and the local subscriptions—(Bear, hear) —and his Hon. Friend would not lay the return referred to in the course of the discussion on the table until the Honourable Gentleman the Member for Cavan had had an opportunity of bringing forward any statements which he had to make with respect to it. Ho could not, however, help availing himself of that opportunity to state that nothing could be more unfair than to measure the amount of aid which had been afforded to the people by the amount of the subscriptions raised in the different localities, as many had expended money on the improvement of their estates, and in the establishment of soup kitchens in their immediate localities.—(Elear.) He hoped it would go forth to the public that subscriptions by persons in Ireland was not the best way of relieving the prevailing distress, as employment in cultivating or reclaiminr , land, or in some other way, was far more va luable.—(Hear.) Mr. TRELA WS Y said it had been urged that that was not the proper time to frame a poor law for Ireland, as the public mind was un settled on the subject, and consequently that it could not be properly carried out. Now, that appeared to him the coolest and most extraordinary statement ever made, as a ♦ast number of the people of Ireland were absolutely dying of hunger, and consequently standing in the immediate need of such a measure. Charity, he thought, was a most unequal and indivious mode of taxa tion. A Noble Lord in the other House (Lord Mon teagle) had stated, that out-door relief to the able-bodied would prove most dangerous ; but he had not shown how the introduction of the system would produce evil. The report was then brought up. Sir GEORGE GREY proposed the following amend ments :—Clause 1, after line IG, to insert the following words—" And of such destitute persons as being disabled from labour by reason of severe sickness or serious acci dent are thereby deprived of the means of earning a sub sistance for themselves and their families, whom they are liable by law to maintain ; and of destitute poor widows, having two or more legitimate children depen dent upon them." In Clause 2, line 7, after the word "disabled," to insert "Or destitute poor persons dis abled by sickness or accident as aforesaid, or such.desti tute poor widows as aforesaid." The amendments were ordered to be made to the Bill, and the report was agreed to. CUSTOMS DUTIES BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. ARMY SERVICE BILL. The House went into Committee on this Bill. Sir DE LACY EVANS wished to say a few words in reference to what had fallen from the Honourable and Gallant Officer the Member for Liverpool (Sir Howard Douglas) last night, and also in regard to some obser vations made by the late Secretary at War (Mr. S. Herbert). He regretted he did not sec the latter Right lion. Gentleman in his place, while he (Sir De Lacy Evans) made the few remarks he had to offer. That Right Hon. Gentleman had stated the fact, that with the exception of the non-commissioned officers in the army, the great bcdy of the soldiers were of 15 years' standing in the service—that was, he said, the natural period of the service in the army. He (Sir De Lacy Evans) must say, after that expression of opinion, and considering the well-merited respect which was due to the Right Hun. Gentleman for kindness to, and great care of, the army, he confessed he was astonished at the deduction which he made in recommending that the period of service should be reduced only one year. lle trusted that the Hon. Gentleman would alter his opinion of the question; and to induce hint to do so he would recta to hie recollection the warrants which he issued in 1845, giving the privilege of enlistment for twelve or fourteen years. The proposition of the reduction of one year would be perfectly nugatory as a benefit to the soldiers. With regard to what had fallen from the Hon. and Gallant Member, he :souid remark that what he had stated about the money c) 800,000 dollars must have arisen from tin error of the press. He (Sir Do lotey Evans) had looked over the dispatches, and was convinced that such must have been the case. The dispatch of the Duke of Wellington, which the Lion. and Gallant Officer had quoted in reference to the Peninsular soldiers, 50 far from going against the present measure, he was persuaded, was rather in its favour, as it showed that, ensteven li in the m id s t o f a mos t i mpor t an t war , a li m i te d meat had n o t b een f oun d preju di c i a l. Th e greater proportion of , tor ct,ll about b l o l u o t n . asa ra nd n G c a h lla r n e t la M tio e u mb t e o r's th a e ra ddre Q s a s . , however, sure before the House, as Tenderden steeple bore to Goodwin Sands. While referring to the Duke of Wellington, he would take this opportunity of thanking him for his recent elevation of so many officers from the ranks. During the past year no less than 43 non-com missioned officers had been raised to ensigns and cornets. —(Hear, hear.) This was but a tardy act of justice, and following out what had been done for many years in France, Russia, and other countries. There were no less than four individuals who, in his humble opinion, were far better qualified to come to a right decision on this motion than any General in the army.—(Hear, bear.) These were, the Noble Lord now at the head of the Foreign Department (Lord Palmerston), who had been for nineteen years Secre tary at War ; and the Secretary for the Colonies, who had also for some time been Secretary at War. The others were two gentlemen who had been also Secretaries at War. The Hon. and Gallant Member opposite had thought it right, because the Noble Lord at the head of the Government had declined giving the correspondence between the Ministry and the Commander-in• Chief, to assert that the Noble Duke at the head of the forces was quite opposed to the prin ciple which they had adopted ; and a morning paper had thought proper to abuse him for having differed from the lion. and Gallant Member opposite. But what was the:case? Why, if the Hon. Member would read the dispatches of the Noble Duke, who had not been lauded more than his illustrious services and illustrious charac ter had deserved—if they would read these dispatches a little more zealously, they would soon perceive that his opinion was very different to what it had been re presented. In his communications with the Go vernment when in Spain he had frequently told them that, although the troops sent over were at first in a high state of discipline, yet they soo❑ lost that discipline and the efficiency with which they first arrived ; and in all is"iese communications the Noble Duke had repeatedly pressed the necessity for improving the morale of the army, and had urged the wisdom of enlisting a better set of men, and of increasing the pensions of the men who were entitled to their discharge. This opinion, then, came in well to support the decision of civilians, and he was, therefore, justified in asserting that civilians were fully competent to judge of such a measure as this. The Noble Duke had stated that it was of all things most important to raise the character of the men in the army ; and in this opinion he was supported by a man eminent for his success in life—he meant Oliver Cromwell.—(A laugh.) Well, he believed that at the time the opinion ho was about to state was delivered that Cromwell was a civilian, for he believed that he was nearly forty years of age before he entered the army. It is well known that in the first two campaigns of the civil war that the Parliamentarian army was unsuccessful, and in one in stance a portion of their troops was driven into Brent ford, and it was recorded in the statement of a conversa tion that had taken place between Cromwell and Hampden, that Cromwell, to whose ingenuity and care the elevation of the character of the men was chiefly owing, had expressed great doubts of the ultimate success of the conflict. To remedy this defect, he said that he would go down into Lincolnshire, where he was well known, and enlist the sons of the yeomen there, whose hearts, as well as their hands, woulu be in the cause. He had done so, and it was, in his belief, owing to that movement of Cromwell. Mr. GOULBURN believed that, in the discussions on this subject, there had been one thing altogether over looked, and that was the fact that in the great majority of cases the service in the army was under five years' duration. If, therefore, they limited the service to ten years instead of fourteen, they would not be saving any evil, but they would possibly be losing a great benefit ; for it could not be denied that if the term of service were extended to fourteen years, the country would be deprived of the ablest assistance which the soldier could render, and of all the expe rience which he had acquired daring that period. He perfectly agreed with his Right Hon. Friend who ad dressed the House last night, that it would be wise and judicious to limit the time to fourteen years, dividing the period of service into seven years abroad and seven years at home. He felt, too, that it would be most im proper to regulate the amount of pay or pensions of private soldiers, and he hoped that subject would not be touched upon by the other Bills, which it %%as under stood Government had in contemplation for improving the efficiency and general condition of the army. Still, however, he thought the present system ought to be amended, it ought to be based upon more lib. , ral princi ples, and he would be quite willing to make legislative provision to that extent if he could see clearly that it would not cripple or interfere with the financial ma chinery of the State. After a few words from Mr. FOX MAULE, Clause 1 was agreed to. Upon clause 2 being proposed, limiting the term of years of enlistment, it was proposed to fill up the blank with the word " ten." Sir 11. DOUGLAS moved, as an amendment, that the blank should be filled up with the word " fourteen." Mr. HUME supported the original motion. He thought that, if anything, ten years was too long; and he woald be glad to see the term reduced even to seven years. He believed that the passing of the present measure would prove a glorious era in the history of the British army. Colonel LINDSAY supported the amendment. In his opinion the adoption of the term of fourteen years would tend to give a greater number of old soldiers to the army than the period of seven years. Mr. FOX MAULE could not agree to the amendment for the reasons he stated on the last night the question was before the House, and he still adhered to those opinions. Colonel T. WOOD said a limited service, in con lunction with a fourteen years' term, without the old period of seven years being also in the option of the re cruit, was preposterous, and he must vote again!! t the clause. After a few words from Colonel SIBTIORP and Major LAYARD, in explanation, ➢ir. J. COLLETT rose amid loud cries of " Divide," and said he must support the amendment, as the effect of the clause would be to withdfftw all opportunity from the private of rising in his profession. Sir IL DOUGLAS very briefly replied. The House then divided, when there appeared— For the amendment 27 Against it 62 Majority against the amendment —35 The clause was then agreed to. On clause 3 beirg proposed, . „ Colonel T. WOOD proposed the following amend ment:--Ist line, after the word " soldier " to omit the words "aftercompleting," and insert "during the last year of." He said that the object of the amendment was, that a soldier might be required to make up his mind in the last year of his service whether he intended to re-enlist in his own or some other regiment. Mr. F. MALI LE considered that the soldier should not be trammelled in the way the Hon. and Gallant Officer recommended; and that he should be allowed, if he thought proper, to leave his regiment, and to regain it in six months after if he thought proper, provided he could do so with the approbation of his commanding officer. On the suggestion of Colonel REID, Mr. F. MAULE consented to alter the clause from " for a further term not exceeding eleven years" to " for a further period of eleven years." Colonel WOOD was unwilling to divide the House. He considered that his suggestion was one which would prove advantageous to the soldier. Ile trusted the Hon. Gentleman would adopt it. He, however, should not divide upon it. The amendment was then withdrawn, and the clause agreed to. Clause 3, with a few verbal amendments, was then passed. On clause 4 being proposed, Mr. GOULBURN suggested the necessity of retain ing the compulsion in the service of pensioners. Mr. F. MAULE replied that he had reason to believe that the prospect of the -deferred pension was quite sufficient to secure the attendance of the pensioners ; and after some conversation between Mr. Goulburn, Sir De Lacy Evans and other Members, the clause was adopted, as were also the remaining clauses of the Bill. Major LAYARD said that as the whole of the clauses had now been adopted by the House, ho would take that opportunity of expressing his regret that the advantage of the Bill was not to be extended to those who are now in the service of her Majesty. When he had first taken up this subject, he had taken pains to ascertain the injury of the short period of enlistment, and he was quite assured not only that the Bill would be beneficial, but that it would be so beneficial that unless its influence was extended, that great injustice would be done to the men already in the army. They had not only in this House, but also in the other House of Parliament, apprehensions expressed that the setting men at liberty would be dangerous. But to this supposition he could attach but very little credit, and since the introduction of steam navigation, our sea-girt isle has been placed in a very different position to that which it had lately held and he conceived that . a great advantage would result from the existence of a set of people who understood the use of arms. As for the danger that was likely to arise from the adherence of old soldiers to carry out any factious or seditious design, he thought that they were too well acquainted with the utter futility of attempting to stand in a mob against re gular troops to do any such thing, For his own part he should as soon think of attempting to fly as to join a mob in the face of regular troops. He hoped, therefore, that the House would not refuse to give a ray of hope to those veterans who require the light of hope to cheer them in their rugged away along the chequered path of life. :Sir DE LACY EVANS seconded the clause. Mr. FOX MAULE opposed the introduction of the clause. The Crown already possessed the power to terminate at any time it thought proper, the en gagements of the soldiers ; and for this reason he considered the insertion of the clause would be wholly unnecessary. The Government propased to ex tend the beiefits of the measure to the present army, but he did not think it would be politic now to state to what extent the measure would be adopted. In every case the soldier had ample opportunities to make a statement of his grievances to the authorities, and he had no doubt that if it was considered as a grievance that they were com pelled to continue in the army for a longer period than ten years, while fresh soldiers were limited to ten years, he had no doubt that the statements of such grivances would be fully at teeded to. Sir DE L. EVANS said that after the statement of the Right Hon. Member the Secretary at War, he felt it his duty to siate his opinion that it was desirable for the Hon. and Gallant Member to withdraw his clause. . Colonel LINDSEY had the fullest couf d nce in the Government with regard to this clause, and had nu ob jection to leave the matter entirely in their hands. Major LAYARD then withdrew his clause. The House then resumed, the Chairman reported pro gress, and the report was ordered to be brought up o Monday, the 12th of April. FEVER (IRELAND) BILL. HARBOURS, DOCKS, AND PIERS CLAUSES BILL. PORTLAND HARBOUR OF REFUGE AND BREAKWATER. The reports on the above three Bills were ordered to be read a third time on Monday, the 12th of April. The other orders of the day having been disposed oF, the House adjourned till Monday, the 12th of April. THE WESTMINSTER COUNTY COURTS. Yesterday the Westminster County Court of Middle sex, was opened before D. C. Moylan, Esq., the judge, and Francis Smedley, Esq., the high bailiff of Wcst minster, for the trial of causes under the New Small Debts Act, at the Court-house, Castle -street, St. Mar tin's-lane. There were 83 cases set down for trial, and being tho first sitting, in any court, the proceedings ex cited an unusual degree or interest. The Learned Judge took his seat at eleven o'clock. EJECTMENT.—LANGLEY V. PARR. —This was a sum mons taken out under the 122 d section of the Act, which gives power to the judges to order possession of pre mises to be given up where the rent does not exceed 50/. per annum, to order the defendant to give up possession of certain premises which he occupied of the plaintiff at a weekly rental. Mr. Pierrepoint, a solicitor, who ap peared for the defendant, after admitting the service of the notice, said that, having looked at the Act of Par liament, he found that the 122 d section was ruled by the 126th section, which set forth that " if the person by whom any such warrant was sued out, had not at the time any lawful right to the premises in question, then the suing out of any such warrant shall be deemed a trespass." Now, what he wished to do was to proceed with an action of trespass against the plaintiff in a superior court, the de fendant questioning the lawful right of the plaintiff. He did not wish to enter into detail, but to give in bail. The Learned Judge said, before he could make an order that the warrant was bad, and that the execution of it would be a trespass, it was the duty of the defendant to give evi dence that the plaintiff had no legal right to the premises. Mr. Griffith, the plaintiff's agent, said he could prove that he held a lease of the premises from the Duke of Bedford, and that the defendant paid a weekly rent at the rate of 26/. per annum to him for his portion. Evi dence h occupied wa te sthengiven, showing th a t th e d e f en d ant h a d premises since February, 1840, and that he had been several times summoned under the Westmin ster Court of Requests for arrears of rent. The notice to quit the premises on the 15th of March was served on the Bth. After a lengthened discussion the Learned Judge made an order for the defendant to give up pos s2ssion within ten days. The defendant said if that was the decision of the court, it would be a loss to him of 500/. The Learned Judge was sorry to hear that, and trusted that soma amicable arrangement might be come to between the plaintif and defendant before the law was put in force. LAW OF LITERARY PROPERTY, AND AGAINST LITERARY PIRACY IN AUSTRIA. The Austrian Government has just promulgated a law on literary property and against literary piracy in the Austrian dominions. It bears the date of 19th Oc tober, 1846, and consists of thirty-nine articles. The following are the most important terms of the law : The author of a literary composition or work of art, may dispose of his property as best suits him, and allow its reproduction to whomsoever he likes. Similar rights of an author are enjoyed by the editor of a literary composition or work of art, by the editor of an anony mous work, or written under a fictitious name, and also by persons who undertake the publication of a work according to their own plan and at their own expense. Tne translation of a wot lc from another language is re garded as the property of the translator, and a transla tion of the same work, which should not offer any marked distinction, is regarded as counterfeit. The translation of an original work is not regarded as coun terfeit, unless the author has inserted on the title-page, or in the pi eface, that he himself intends having a translation of his work made ; in this latter case, any translation appearing in the same year that the original work was published, without the consent of the author, is regarded as counterfeit. The re-production of works of art, no matter by what mechanical process, is regarded as coun terfeit. The same protection is accorded, not only to an original production, but to any copy, made by the author or with his consent. The reproduction, without the author's consent, of public lectures for instruction, edi fication, or amusement, is regarded as countertieit, even should the editor have become the legitimate purchaser of the manuscript. Geographical and topographical maps, architectural designs and others, come under the category of literary productions and works of art, as also musical compositions. The quotations of passages from an author, in an original work, is not regarded as piracy ; extracts from works of the day, however, in books for instruction, may not exceed one sheet, and their source must always be given. Exceptions to this rule are variations, fantasies, or studios on musical com positions. The representation of a dramatic work, or the production in public of a musical composition, is the exclusive right of the author ; and neither the one nor the other can be produced without the consent of the author, or before they have been published. The law awards the privilege of enjoyment, not only for the author's lifetime, but for thirty years after the death. This privilege is extended to fifty years after the author's death, as regards works published by academies, and scientific and artistical societies under the auspices of the Government. Works published by other societies come under the category of thirty years. Works pub lished by the State come under the same category, unless the State thinks fit to allow their reproduction. The representation of a dramatic work, or the produc tion of a musical composition, does not become public property till ten years after the death of the author. Counterfeit is punished by the confiscation of all the counterfeit copies, and all the apparatus employed in printing them, accompanied by a fine varying from 2/. los. to 100/., and imprisonment in default of payment ; the fine from 2/. 10s. to 101. being equivalent to from eight days' to one month's imprisonment, that of 40/. to 1001. to from three to six months'. In case of a repeti tion of counterfeit, the right of publishing will be taken from the offender. Prosecutions for counterfeit can only be brought by the author, or by persons enjoying the author's rights. The law extends its protection to works of every species, without regard to the nation of the author; it is applicable to all the states of the Ger man Confederation. As regards works published in states not forming part of the German Confederation, this protection will only be extended to them in the Austrian states, on the ground of reciprocity. ETON COLLESE, MONDAY.—We believe we may now state that there is not the least chance of the Provost of Eton and the head master giving way on the subject of the hiontem. There is now (from what has transpired since Saturday) not the least doubt entertained that the Rev. Mr. Hodgson and the Rev. Mr. Ilawtrey are determined to abide by the determination they came to in January last, and that the festival h.. 5 been finally abolished. A new fives court, for the amusement of the Etonians, to be free to the whole school, is immediately to be erected in the close vi cinity of the college, by Subscriptions entered into by old Etonians, under the superintendence of a committee composed of the following gentlemen :—Rev. G. W. Cookesley, Rev. E. 11. Pickering, Rev. J. 6. Mountain, and W. Johnson and C. W. Johnson, Esqs. The head master, who had been con sulted on the subject, immediately expressed his approval of the plan. A man has been arrested at Nlenna on a charge of throwing stones at the windows of th e Imp er i a l P a l ace. He was found to be insane, and has been sent to a lunatic asylum. DIIITH ' , Kong DRINKING.—On Monday afternoon, as a cart was passing through the West India Dock-gate, Blackwell, the tail of the cart not having been properly secured, a puncheon of rum was tilted out, and th e cas k having started, it w as immediately surrounded by a H umbe r of individuals, who greedily swallowed the spirit, which was •39 degrees over proof. One man, named William Pattison, drank such a quantity that he was found yesterday morning, at one o'clock, by a constable, lying in a state of insensibility outside the Railway Tavern, Poplar. He was immediately removed to the Arbour - square station , when medical aid was sent for. Dr. Baillie was in prompt attendance, and, ou using the stomach-pion!), extracted no less than a pint and a half of pure spirit, and not a particle of food. Every effort that medical skill could suggest was used, but the unfortunate man gradually sunk till two o'clock, when he expired. ARTICHOKES AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR POTATOES.— It has latterly been much urged upon the cottagers the utility of extensively substituting in their allotments and gardens the Jerusalem artichoke for the potato. No weather hurts it, it appears to grow almost anywhere, and yields quite as large a crop as the most prolific potato. A friend of ours (says a Bath contemporary) planted in April last, and is now digging an average produce of half-a-peck to each root planted. EXCELLENT SUGGESTION.—Mr. Taylor, of Roby, has suggested, and we believe communicated to our parochial authorities, an excellent expedient in connexion with the regulation of Irish immigration into this town, If the au thorities have the power of putting Mr. Taylor's plan into operation, it would not only have important sanatory results, but would gradually tend to check the lavish importation of Irish paupers. The suggestion is, that all steamers or other vessels bringing over this class of passengers should be com pelled to proceed tip the river, direct to the lazarette, where the whole of the passengers should be examined, and none permitted to land but those who were in good health. Such a regulation would check the influx of fever patients into an already too insalubrious town, and would at the same time render proprietors and masters of vessels cautious how they took on board a class of individuals who would subject them to so much trouble and detention.—Liverpool Albion. MURDER S Br PoisoN IN NORFOLK. -We regret very much to find that the dreadful and insidious means of human life by poison has again been resorted to, andde destroying r t o h y e l tg ) object has been accomplished to a frightful extent in the county of Norfolk. The news is of so recent a date, and the place where they have occurred (Tibbenham) being four teen miles from Norwich, a full detail of the particulars cannot be given by this (Monday's) post. Suffice it to say that on Sunday evening, March 28, Mrs. Pearson, the wife of a farmer of that name, at Tibbenham, invited a Mrs. Eve rett, the wife of another farmer, in the same village, to take tea with her. She accepted the invitation, and these women and other persons of the family sat down and took tea to gether. Soon after each of the women, and several others of the party were taken ill, and we regret to say Mrs. Pearson and Mrs. Everett are dead, and others (whose names we are not able to give, nor can we say how many in number), are lying in a very precarious state, and some of those also may be dead by this time. At present we have no knowledge whatever of the means by which the poison (which, we un derstand, is arsenic) could get into the tea, or by whom it was administered. Mr. Pilgrim, one of the county coroners, will hold inquests upon the bodies of the deceased, when, in all probability, further information will be elicited. Tibben hem is a large agricultural parish, with a straggling popula tion of only 709 inhabitants, with 3,254 acres of land. It is about three and a half miles east of New Buckenham, and is in the hundred of Depwade. Di a FRUCTION OF CITY CHURCHES.—It is reported in the City, that the church of St. Benet, Gracechurch-street, is shortly to be removed, and that many others will ere long share the same fate. The churches of London are amongst the most valuable works which the country possesses, and we deplore the removal of any of them.—The Builder. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, Mardi 30. ROYAL ASSENT. The Royal Assent was given to day by Commission, at Four o'clock, to the Drainage of Land Bill, the Llynvi Iron Company, and the Whiteburn and Kelso and Lauder and Kelso Road Bilis. The Lords Commissioners were the Lord Chancellor, the Earl of Shaftesbury, and Lord Monteagle. Their Lordship then adjourned during pleasure. The LORD CHANCELLOR to&.k his seat on the Wool sack at Five o'clock. WATERWORKS CLAUSES BILL. This Bill was read a third cirnr and passed ; as were also the Gas Works Clauses Bill, the Markets and Fairs Clauses Bill, and the Commissioners Clauses Bill. GOVERNMENT PLAN OF EDUCATION. The Earl of CLARENDON presented several peti tions, on the part of the Marquis of Lansdowne, from congregations of Baptists at Oakham, from Protestant Dissenters at Bocking, in Essex ; and from Protestant Dis senters at Eddington, in the couiity of Bedford, against the Government scheme of education. POOR-LAW SETTLEMENT. The NOBLE EARL also pro:ented a petition from the rector and churchwardens of a parish in the county of Pembroke, praying for a rup‘ al of the Poor-law Settle ment Bill. The NOBLE EARL also presented a petition from the guardians of the poor of the Bath Union praying for a repeal of the Poor Removal Act, passed last session. The NOBLE EARL then presented a petition from the aldermen and corporation of Cork against the system of electoral division in the proposed Poor Relief Aat. GOVERNMENT PLAN OF EDUCATION. Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from the teachers of a Sunday-school at Salem, in the county of Dorset, against the proposed Government measure of education. POOR-LAW SETTLEMENT. The NOBLE LORD also presented a petition from the inhabitants of Shepton Mullett, praying for an altera tion of the law of settlement ; also a petition from the board of guardians in Glamorgan upon the same subject. BANKRUPTCY AND INSOLVENCY LAWS. The NOBLE LORD wished to correct a statement which had appeared in one of the Sunday papers, to the effect that he had changed his opinions a ith respect to arrest on memo process. The statement in question had caused him considerable annoyance by the nuceber of letters which he had received upon the subject from persons who were at present under arrest, and whose intention it was to take the benefit of the existing Acts. But it was possible that the wrong construction of the Act by the Commissioners might have worked the effect of which the complaint was made. The Commissioners had a power to imprison for twenty days, and in some instances for forty days, and it appeared that in some cases the power had been overstretched. This was cer tainly an evil, but it might very probably lead to the abolition, the more complete abolition °fiat prisonment for debt. He had received a communication from Nottingham in which it was stated that the labourers had a right to support from the produce of the land. Now he had not been able to pay much attention to the matter of this communication, and the petition on which it was based, but thus] much he might say, that, in his opinion, the labouring poor were entitled just equally to support from the whole of the national capital—from the funds, stock in trade, and all other capital of which the country is possessed. The only title which any poor man had, in his opinion, was upon the produce of his own work. It was the primeval curse, inflicted by a higher power than man, that he should obtain his bread from vas sweat of his brow, and he (Lord 13rougham) thought that it was perfectly right that it should be so; for he be lieved that if there was no such condition imposed there would be but little work per formed. The Bishop of LONDON—Surely his Noble and Learned Friend did not mean to say that no person was to obtain any subsistence but that tor which he worked ? Lord BROUGHAM—OnIy the able-bodied poor. SCOTTISH PEERAGE. Lord COLVILLE rose to draw the attenticm of their Lordships to the motion which he had been requested to postpone till to-night, in order that the true claims of the ancient nobility of Scotland for a certificate of their titles might be established. It was truly stated that in this matter he had no personal concern; but he ought to state that in cases where the Eng lish nobility had to set on their privilege, before they did so act they had to go before the Lord Chancellor and prove their right to the title. In Ire land there was a similar security, but in Scotland there was no such advantage, for at the election of a Peer of Scotland an individual had nothing to do but to state himself to have a right to the tole he claimed to be at once allowed to vote. He must now drew the atten tion of the House to a matter personal to himself. He had been represented in a Scotch paper as having brought on a conversation respecting him self. Now the person of whom he complained was the representative of Lord Colville w Oehiltree, while he was Colville of Kilross, and he would put it to the House whether he had not endeavoured to the utmost of his power to place the House in the right position with re spect to this matter, and he should, therefore, now restrict himself simply to the terms of the motion of which he had given notice. . _ Lord CA Al BELL thought their Lordships were very much indebted to the Noble Lord who had brought this matter before them, for it was not one in which the Scottish nobility alone were interested, but the tradespeople also, who were often defrauded, in consequence of the facility which existed of usurping the titles and privileges of the Scotch nobility. He hoped that it would be prosecute-d to the utmost. that the evil might be put down, and that ths Noble Lord (Colville) would continue to give it his attention, and after getting his returns would move for a Select Com• mittee. Lord BROUGHAM agreed that that was the proper course; but he hoped that the attention of the Select Committee would be directed to the resolutions which affected this subject, and were brought into their Lord. ships' House in 1832. Why, a mere mendicant might go into Holyrood House, and on the mere claim could vote and influence important questions. So that actually it became a matter interesting the Legislature. The Earl of ROSEBERY agreed that the law was defective in the respect mentioned by his Noble and Learned Friend (Lord Campbell), and he trusted that, if the matter went into Committee, it would be remedied. The motion, which was for a list of voters in the late election for a Scotch Representative Peer, was then agreed tn. BIRTHS, DEATIIS, AND MARRIAGES BILL. Lord BROUG HAM presented a petition from a number of parish clerks and schoolmasters against the Births, Deaths, and Marriages Bill. EDUCATION. Earl RADNOR presented a petition against the Go vernmwnt scheme of education. Lord MONTEAGLE presented a petition from New port Pagnall against the Government scheme of educa tion; he only presented it in order to express how far he dissented from it. Ile would take that opportunity of giving notice that he would, after the Easter recess bring the question of emigration before the attention of their Lordships. CRIMINAL LAW. Lord BROUGHAM moved that the Archbishop n Dublin be added to the Committee on Criminal Law. THE LAW OF MARRIAGE. Lord GORT presented a number of petitions from Bristol, Cheltenham, and various other places, against the law prohibiting marriage a ith d` deceased wife's sister. The petition was signed by many Dissenting ministers and medical gentlemen, who all bore testimony to the contusion created in families by the present law. Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition signed by 42 attornies and 2 barristers of the city of Bath upon the same subject, cemplainieg of the uncertainty which hung over the law as it at present stood. He begged, however, to state his opinion that there was no uncer tainty hanging over the law at present, for, by an Act carried through their Lordships' House by Lord Denman in 1835, such marriages were declared null and void, without being declared void by the ecclesiastical law, as was required by the statutes of Henry VIII. They add the fact, that a great number of marriages had been contracted since 1835 oa the speculation that the general principle of these marriages would be made valid ; and they wished, above all, to know whether the innocent children were to be legitimate or not. He thought, therefore, that there was a sufficient reason why the general principle should be opened up, for it was but natural that parents should desire to place their children under the protection of those who were the nearest re lations to them, and there was, therefore, sufficient reason for a full investigation of the whole question. Lord CAMPBELL did not rise with a view to ex press any opinion upon the subject, for upon that his mouth was closed by the result of a recent trial in the provinces. Upon the death of the prisoner's wife he married her sister, and while that woman was still alive he left her and married a third wife. He was indicted for bigamy, and the defence put in was that that marriage was void, because the second ceremony had been celebrated between him and the sister of his deceased wife. The cause thus raised the question, and it had been brought by writ of error before their Lordship's House ; there fore, he thought that that was enough for their Lordships refusing to give any opinion at pre sent upon the question. He would be very sorry to see the law upon this subject, the marriage of a man with his deceased wife's sister, altered, for the law which had been instituted against incest affected affinity as well as consanguinity. Lord BROUGHAM was very sorry that he had not been made aware of this case coming on before he ex pressed his mind, but still he would hear counsel upon the case, and if he saw reason, no doubt he would change his opinion. MARINE MUTINY BILL The Marine Mutiny Bill was brought up from the Commons, and read a first time. ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE.—THE NEW HOUSE OF LORDS. Berl GREY, with the view of meeting the conveni ence of Noble Lords in Ireland, proposed that their Lordships should adjourn till Thursday the 15th, instead of Tuesday, the 13th, and he begged to give notice that after the holidays their Lordships wou ld meet in the new buildings, her Majesty having been graciously pleased to appropriate a portion of her palace to their Lordships use. Their Lordships accordingly adjourned to Thursday, the 15th of April. HOUSE 01 COMMONS, Mardi 30. Tht SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock. ASSESSED TAX COLLECTORS. BENI3OW presented Aeveral petitions from the collectors of the income and assessed taxes, praying for a higher scale of remuneration for their duties. ROYAL ASSENT. The Usher of the Black Rod appeared at the table of the House for the purpose of summoning the Commons to hear the Royal Assent given by commission to several public and private Bills, for a list of which see Lords' report. SECOND READINGS. The following Bills were read a second time : Blackburn Improvement, Market, &c. British Commercial Insurance Company (No. 2). Coventry, Banbury, and Ozlord Junction Railway. Dublin Consumers Gas. Fultnouth Water.voas. Inverness Harbour and Navigation. Inverness Municipal and Police, &c. Rathmines Improvement. Tuustall Paving, Lighting, Cleansing, Watching, Im provement, and Market. SHIPLEY GAS BILL. Mr. GREENE wished to call theltention of the House to a special report from the Committee on the Shipley Gas Bill, showing a direct variance, on the part of the Committee, from the report of the surveying officers appointed under the Act 9 and 10 Vie., c. 106, to make the preliminary inquiries, and moved that the Bill be re-committed. After a few words from Mr. H. BERKELEY, Mr. HUME moved that the Bill should be referred to a Select Committee up stairs. After a few words from Mr. Brotherton, Sir W. Clay, Dr. Bowring, and Mr. Aglionby, Mr. CARIM ELL said, that as a Member of the Private Bills Committee, he wished to say one word, and he did not wonder that the Hon. Baronet with whom he had served was anxious that the proceedings of the Committee should not be judged by the present case. The circumstances were these : there was a large district which required ligliing by gas, and it was desirable by every means to save expense, and with the furtherance of that object the Commissioners had sent down surveying officers to see what really the state of the case was. Their repert was in every respect favourable to the object of the petitioners, but it was stated that the population of the district were quite unable to bear any heavy expenses ; and with a view to save the outlay, the Committee had agreed to avoid any of those preliminary expenses which are so frequently made the grand difficulty in obtaining an Act of Parliament. Notwithstanding all this endeavour the Lion. Member for Cockermouth wished the Bill to be treated as an opposed Bill, and this was the way in which the expense was to be saved. He sincerely trusted that the Hon. Member for Lancaster would oppose such a course with all his might. He had only to say that be had personally no interest whatever in the district ; but he could not but observe that he was now not at all sur prised at the way in which the able reports on railways had been treated when they had been made by the Board of Trude. Mr. STRUTT said it was extremely unfair to judge of the utility of those local inquiries by one instance. He should give his support to the original motion, but at the ,ame time he did not wish to cast the slightest slur whatever upon the report of the local officers. After a few words from Mr. GREENE, Mr. HUME thought if the local surveyors had been called it would have been satisfactory. But as it was not to be drawn into precedent, he would withdraw his amendment. The motion was then agreed to. SUTTON HARBOUR IMPROVEMENT. Mr. STRUTT moved that the Sutton Harbour Im provement Bill bo referred to the Commissioners of iilways, and that the said Bill be not considered in Committee until the Commissioners shall hava reported upon the Bills promoted by the London and South- Western Railway Company, in cohformity with the rei,ilutions of this House oo the 23d day of February. Agreed to. DUBLIN IMPROVE \LENT BILL. O:+ the motion for the second resting of this Bill, Mr. GREGORY begged Mr. Smith O'Brien to post pone the second rea.:ing till after Esstwr, in consequence •.f the absence of certain returns which he had moved for rela•i•e to the Bid, and he mowed accordingly. Mr. GROGAN setionded the motion. Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN had n 4. objection to the post ponetnent of the Bill if the Government considered such a course advisable. Mr. I). BROWNE o?posed the postponement. There had been no reason given to justify it. The corporation or Dublin, who were the promoters of the measure, re presented a constituency of 200,000 persons, and they were very desirous to have it carried into effect. He thought, therefore, it would be a great injustice to them If it were postponed, and would lead to the belief, already strongly impressed on them, that if it were postponed, and would lead to the belief, already strongly impressed on them, that Lhere was one law for Ireland, and another for this c,untry. Mr. 'HERBERT was in favour of postponement, that thy might have an opportunity of reading the evi dence, so as to enable them to come to a proper conclusion on the merits of the Bill. NIT. LABOUCHERE said he should not have inter. posed to prevent the Hon. Gentleman from pursuing the course he had thought proper to adopt, but he (Mr. Labouchere) must say that he still adhered to his opinions on the subject, and ho was prepared to give his assent to the principle of the Bill. He conceived the principle involved in the Bill was, whether or no the city of Dublin, the second city of the United King dom, should have municipal privileges equal to the cities in this country, and to which they were so justly entitled. There were some of the positions put forward by the corporation of Dublin to which he could not assent, but he was told that they were ready to withdraw what was objectionable. He would take this opportunity of stating that he held in This hand a petition, signed most numerously by the inhabitants of Dublin, in favour of this Bill. He was prepared to proceed in that course which had for its object the improvement of the municipal condition of the Corporation of Dublin. The Earl of LINCOLN said that the Bill stood at present before the House in this position. At the sug gestion of the Honourable Gentleman the Member for Montrose, the Noble Lord at the head of the Woods and Forests commissioned two gentlemen to investigate this subject, and they, after a careful examination into every point, reported most strongly against the Bill. Now, surely this was a prima facie case against the Bill. His Hon. Friend did not call upon them to reject this Bill, but he said they ought to ascertain the facts that had influenced those gentlemen in coming to a decision before they came to a decision in favour of this Bill. He thought that they should ascertain what the circum stances. had been that had influenced the promoters. Now, he should like to see the evidence before he would say that the report was borne out. If the Right Honourable Geutleman had carefully considered the subject he would be aware that these powers were, in a great majority of instances, not vested in the muni cipal corporation. Until very lately in Liverpool the powers for paving and lighting were not vested in the municipal corporation. It was a monstrous proposal to say, after persons had been appointed under the Act to make a legislative investigation of this subject, for the express purpose of saving expense to all parties, that they should not have time to hear any further evi dence upon the subject. He should therefore support the motion for the postponement. Lord NIORPETH did not wish to extend the dis cussion, and he rose to suggest, as the evidence was not yet printed, that the further consideration of the Bill be postponed till after Easter. At the same time, he might remark, that if the second reading was now agreed. to, it would not be against tee usual course .adopted in reference to private.l3ills, even when it was necessary that the evidence should be printed. Mr. HUME thought it was desirable to postpone the second reading of the Bill. He would certainly advise that until the evidence was printed and placed in the hands of Members of the House. Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL hoped that the suggestion for the postponement would be agreed to. Mr. S. O'BRIEN said. as the House appeared to be in favour of the postponement of the Bill, he would nut press the second reading at present. The measure was accordingly postponed till after Easter CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAILWAY (N.. 2) (EXTENSION AT CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD) BILL. On the motion that this Bill be read a second time, A short discussion ensued, in which Lord Sandon, Mr. W. O. Stanley, and Mr. R. Collett, took part, The Bill was read a second time. STEAM COMMUNICATION BETWEEN LONDON AND HARWICH. Mr. GOULBURN said he held in his hand petitions signed by the principal merchants of Russia, Prussia, and other continental countries, praying for a railway communication between the port of Harwich and London. He also held in his hand a petition from the inhabitants of Harwich to the same effect. GREAT W ESTERN RAILWAY. Mr. CRAVEN BERKELEY presented a petition from the Dean of Windsor against the Windsor and Great Western Railway. NOTICES OF MOTIONS.—PROVINCIAL BEER- SELLERS. Mr. SPOONER (in the absence of his colleague M r . Manta) gave notice of his intention to bring in a Bill to enable the provincial brewers to keep open till twelve o'clock, as was allowed to the metropolitan brewers. CHARITABLE TRUSTS. Mr. HUME gave notice of his intention to move for leave to bring in a Bill for the better administration of charitable trusts in England and Wales. MALT DUTY. Mr. BOND CABBELL moved for an address for ac counts of the a mount of duty charged upon malt, the of quarters pop o u f la m tio a n it u o p f on En w g h l i a t s a u n ch j W du a t l y ea w i a n s number of the am ount o f d uty charged number of quarters o f ma l t upon which y ee malt, r au a n t l:7 o d t t o h hu e et ; y was charged, and the population of the United Kingdom in each year, during the years 1840, 1841, 1842, 1843, 1844, 1845, and 1846, respectively ; of the amount of money received from the duty on malt, and the net amount available for the public revenue, in each year, during the years 1840, 1841, 1842, 1343, 1844, 1845, and 1846 respectively ; returns of the number of beer-shops licensed to sell beer to be drunk upon the premises, in each of such years respec tively ; of the number of acres of land now lying waste, uncultivated, and uninclosed in England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland respectively.--Agreed to. FOREIGN LOANS. Mr. DISRAELI moved that an address be presented to her Majesty, praying that she will be graciously pleased to lay before this flouse, copies of, or extracts from, any correspondence between her Majesty's Secre tary of State, or written at his desire, and the Govern ments of Spain, Portugal, Greece, Mexico, and the States of Sou,h America, respecting loans made by li►itish subjects to those Governments. Also, copies of any communications made to British Claimants from the Foreign-office oil the subject of such correspondence Agreed to. SUPPRESSION OF SEDUCTION AND PROST'. TUTION. Mr. SPOONER presented two petitions from congre gations in Bradfur(?, praying for a measure to su ppress. trading in s e d uc ti on , an d for t h e b etter protec ti o n or females. Lord ROBERT GROSVENO.R presented five pal' ti oL s to the same effect. MER(3!_IANT SEAMEN'S FUND. Mr. AGLIONBY wished to ask a question before, the order of Gin day w a s gone i nto . I t was o ne 0 1 the greatest importance t o th e pu bli c, an d bad refiTence to the Merchant Seamen's Fund some days ago, he had been led to understand that a Commission of inquiry was about to be issued , and he wishot to know if such were the fact. Captain BERKELEY said that he had every reason to suppose that the Commission would immediately ba issued and the inquiry gode into. BILL TO SUPPRESS TRADING IN SEDUCTION AND PROS ri UTION. Mr. SPOONER then proceeded to ask leave to intro. duce the Bill of which he had given notice for the ►or pression of the trading in seduction, and for the betterfi protection of females. He eo u ld assure th em t h at he felt great difficulty in bringing the question under the notice of the House, as he w as p ersua d e d h e cou ld 0 ,... 0 ; do it that justice it deserved. H e wou ld h ave b een bet te r satisfied had the measure been placed in abler hal and if the Members of the G overnment oppos ite taken it under their protection. Th ere existed ill lm ° metropolis an association— Mr. GRANTLEY BERKELEY—Sir, I r i se to point of order. The Hon. Member, to make go od hi! case, must bring before the House matters and details which are altogether unfit fur publication. I therefore call the attention of the House to the fact that there al l strangers in both galleries. The galleries were then cleared, and the debate Po' ceeded with closed doors. HEALTH OF TOWNS BILL. On our re-admission to the gallery of the House, W e found Lord MORPETH moving for leave to bring in & Dill for the establishing regulations f or the improvement Of the health of towns. This he observed was no new su'r •ject, for it had been repeatedly b roug ht un d er the net° of the legislature, and more especially of late by the i'° ports of Dr. Arnott, early in 1838 ; again, in January' 1839, by -a report of Dr. Southwood Smith ; again. 1° August, 1839, a general report was made to the Hous e by commis sioners engaged to investi g at e th e s tate of the country ; in January, 1840, a return had been made under the commission authoris e d by th e Marquis o f Normanby ; again, in 1842, there was a report of we general sanatory condition of Great Britain ; again, there were similar reports in 1843, 1844, 1845, and again there was a second report made by the commissioner s ' In 1845 the Earl of Lincoln had presented a report 1 0 the House on the state of health in t owns , an d from thi s report he would read a summary, so that the House might see that an amount of labour had been expend ed on this subject, and who had contrib u t e d t o furnish expend facts on which he desired that they sh ou ld legislate. Be was the more desirous that this should be made kneel to the House, as by that it would be perceived that b e had been no piny to the accumulation of these feet* but that he was come in, as he trusted, at the last hour , to the accomplishment of an important o bj ec t, though P, was not the party entitled to th e cre dit o f its achiev e , ment. He would place before the House the ell - cal, stances which, whether they were viewed in t hei r political, social, or statistical aspect, were worthy of 0 1 0 gravest consideration. But in doing thi s h e s hould ° ll il l take the primary features, and reserve the details S s , some future opportunity, but he f e lt that P could not do anything like justice to the subject, or P r° ;, i perly lay this matter beiore the Legislature, wit b° l , - 0 stating some of the evils which had r esu lt e d front t'• 0 neglect of the octant measure which he bad 110 t o introduce. lie was quite aware that there were sc la it , persons in that House with whom h e was no t so nate as to egret that it was not the duty of the Leg ls , he tore to take any steps for directin g o r i m proving l b° public mind. But if there w a s any ques tion on the subject of educati, n, there could be none upon their, ject that it was the bounden duty of the Legislatus e l :i overlook, ,uperintend, and provide for those physical 2 . c h extern ,1 necessities, under any circum s t an ces, ri bl o f might materially affact the health and the happin e l o t a people ; nor did he feel that there was anything could justify their dispensing with attention in this W to the welfare of the people, or that would exonerate tbee, from bringing these matters forward ; nor should h e r d , frain from doing so with all the powers he c ou ld cora l o ' o He found by the statement of Mr. Guy—the gentl e 0 , who had been appointed to make a report of the 0 , 0 , parative health of town and country districts, and l ets for his extensive hospital practice, had a most enr e P s ' e s a knowledge of the subject to which his attention w o , been directed—he found by the statement of that g e ol . tleman to the Rsgistrar General, that in the stu d districts, where the population only have the proper t s l o o 0f)99 to the square mile, the number of deaths was 19 ' 0 - in a million, while in the town dist r icts, where the el bi lation was .5,108 to the square mile, the number of des k s , amounted to 27,900; thus showing an excess in Prlie7-1, of upwards of 8,000 deaths that might have been 11112 4 ° 5g , The rate of mortality in country districts was 1 in h i s while in towns it was lin 37. He was aware that t,OB might be said to be the case of particular places; u 0 the present rate of mortality throughout England ' 1 in 45; while in the Isle of Wight it was 1 in MI of in the Isle of Anglesea in was 1 in 62; but in Lesil o instead of being 1 in 58, or 1 in 62, it was 1 in 39.,, it Leeds and Birmingham it was 1 in 37 ; in Sheffieluo was 1 in 33; in Bristol 1 in 32; in M anc h es t er 1 In and in Liverpool, which he regretted to perceives joyed a bad pre-eminence, instead of being 1 is 59 62, as it was in the healthy islands to whichahe b referred, it was lin 29. So that it followed, that 10 this capital the greater number of inhabitants, as e. °1 11; pared with the rest of England, were deprived of a d , years of their lives, and in Liverpool they were, see° l o l big to this statement, deprived of nineteen ye ars to , existence. The population of the great towns is c o d e puted at 4,000,000, so that the loss of life througlinn t s ' o o whole of the country was not less than 31,000 or 32n to annually. But all towns did not exhibit the same r . „, 0 as Liverpool. The average loss of life in that town .7 is about 38 in a thousand per annum. In Manchester Igkind 32 in a thousand ; in Carlisle it is 32 ; in Halifal, to Kidderminster it is 21 in a thou san d. If he turtle°, 1 , 7 the mortality of the counties be f oun d th e same ro le 0 f hold, for among the Cornish miners an d in some Per t o Wiltshire the average is 1 in 49 ; w hil e the In9rt t ee a Lancashire is as high a; lin 36. In Lanatish ire oo general age at death was 22, and in Wiltshire 35 ; „ c t iS general average of consumption th roug h o ut Eng l ,, e- ter 105 lbs. of butcher's m e at, w hil e in Yens -„per the aggregate amount is only 201b s . f or eac h per ll°- s stis annum. In manufacturing towns, the deaths from P,l O O, cular diseases was 1 in 13 of the general popu ri ll ';iog while in the country it is only 1 in 54. 11 : 1 i : s tet the prevalence of the cholera, the deaths in Man e % 50f daily were 343, while in the country the number vet i ati. so that no less than 4,700 lives would have been %on had the improvements devised by th e Government lett, brought into play. The whole result of these , es lo. latiuns was, that the average of death s i n Great o r ! the was 46 in 1,000 in the country, and 54 in 1,00 0 l e o towns, showing that not less than 14,949 lives h ad or sacrificed by the want of these sana t or y regulationstos one-s , ven:h of the whole number of deaths th at a ien. occurred in the country. This was M r . Guy's O P I 7OO. Nor was Dr. Southwood Smith less expli c it in the s to te went of his opinion, expressing hi s b e li e f in the %eel meat which he had made to th e R eg istrar-Ge" A bad that the whole of the evils endured were to beel e s - s eas to bad sewerage, the want of water, the want e s ,' sa d vengers, and the consequent accumulation of 0 , 1 "(Osto the generation of pestiferous miasma. They mig e _, P i s is• some idea of the evil which the Sewerage &S o ot stoners had been unable to remedy, that in the 'lle° districts, out of 16,000 cases of fever, upwards 0 ; n ee out of every 200 had been occasioned by the pre/ a l - tee of the causes which he had stated : and throughliost country not less than 700,000 unnecessary cases c O - 00 0 had occurred fr om this cause, and not less than ' a b r ar' deaths. According to the regulation of the lieg l 'h" see General, the whole of the country was divided irate. she provinces, with ten districts in each, to aseert?' l- i s ts. rate of mortality. In ten of the healthiest distr„,,o where the quantity of ground allowed to each persoh ^ 49 , 202 square yards, the annual rate of mortality is li t ° of In ten of the medium districts where the Vat ° I r e of ground for each person is 102 square yards, the ra on e mortality is l in 41, and in the worst districts it is s al in 36. The Rev. Mr. Kay, of Preston, who ha d i f e l- rai great attention to this subject, had divided the 6e 0 0 districts into four classes, and he found that , 1n healthiest districts the annual average of deaths is 100; in the bad districts it is 38 in 100; districts it is 44 in 100. In the parish of St. G e lid' Hanover-square, the annual average period at 00 % those in the upper classes die, is 45 yews, whilel 27 the labouring classes the average period of deat h r ifle years. In St. Giles's, and tho neighbouring e s , 4 od the usual term of life among those connboss'or with the gentry is 40, while among the 111 „„ 0 01, mg classes it is only 17 years. In LlT ° '`per the usual average period of death, amon the is classes, is 35, while among the poorer inha bitantwhole only 15 years. For the sake of convenience, thew, Bea of the country is divided into 103 districts by t but and fa the ss gistrar-General, and it appeared by the last rer r ip% one, that 43,582 deaths were registered in ti le 155 3 quarter ending June 30—a number greater by ter ' of than were registered in the corresponding qu ar o B44. 1845 ; and 4,731 more than in the June quarter n ew fa If the mortality bad not been higher in the tewne„ . ..._` she the poor country districts where the air is Pu'ooo. deaths in the quarter would not have exceeded San de' Within the last three months 10,000 lives have, bee h there 1 s stroyed in a part only of England, by causes wh i c h 1940, it every reason to believe might be removed. In ijiln e, o f the appeared from the reports, that from the deficiencL..ooo drainage of the ground areas, there was a eonetwn t aluu s at of malaria and volatile poisons arising from th e st as , ll gniseditches which surrounded London as other toseilo the surrounded by walls. In She ffi eld and Liverpo 1 .059 , number of deaths was one-third more from this f ri p than it was in London, and the mortality te'r„ b piclly increasing. The deaths had increased , u rz7oble the previous year in 1845 by 14 per cent. Th e Lord then went through a series of statement o ad occ ew n ß o u o r u l u r n s i l t b dt o r e l y r o , t s y l o i v d b e s e e r h a p o t a o l w ' o s ( 1 1 , r w t yh a h e n i cddhe excess,t t a h h i other e u rmre repetitionesi i s d i s figu rel ee' oule f i n l lf a e 66 : f 112 . u s.F rid a l/ l of a of the result of which was to show that the increese saswh This was no . h s( a(i n h t . t o m li o s u u n ff t e t r o ed m i o n re pr t e h v a i o n u s do e u a b r l s e . th e mortality' not obe wondered at when the nature of the summer schlep w e had had was taken into consideration , and t he state_f., the crowded lanes and dirty streets, which .were stantly throwing out a mass of poisonous muismatrer there was little doubt that if we were to have a BUT P° .t. like the last, that this mortality would be (PP" fu yc M 1 3 exe Wa reil the the ma