The Press.
London, England, 1854-02-11 00:00:00

CONSOLIDATION OF THE CODE.

Lord LYNDHURST having inquired, on Thursday,
what progress had been made in the revision of the
statute book and the consolidation of the British
code,

The LORD CHANCELLOR explained the results which
the commissioners engaged on that vast work had
already reached. Computations were made in the
reports which these gentlemen had published that,
out of MOW) or 17.000 statutes actually passed,
about 2,500 were still in force. The commissioners

werA now proceeding to consolidate these laws, having
classified them into groups for that purpose ; but
the plan could at present be looked upon as only
experimental.

LIMITED LIABILITY.

Mr. COLLIER on Tuesday moved for leave to bring
in a bill " to define and regulate the cost-book sys-
tem in mines, and to limit in some degree the lia-
bility of partners in cost-book mines." The hon.
member detailed some of the inconveniences and
responsibilities attending partnership enterprises
under the existing law, and enforced the expediency
of contriving some means of introducing a system
of limited liability. By such a change there would
be an opening made for the profitable investment of
small savings, speculations of sound promise would
be rescned from the hands of adventurers, and capital
and labour brought into closer approximation.
The ATTORNEY•GENERAL, without pledging himself
to the details of the proposed bill, approved of the
principle of limited liability, if carried out by proper
precautions, and stated that the Government were
themselves considering the subject.
The motion was supported by Mr. Hume, who de
dared himself a convert to the principle of limited
liability; by Mr. Moffat, Mr. Wilkinson, Mr. Vivian,
and Lord Goderich. It was opposed by Mr. Brown.
Mr. CARDWELL said that the Government would
express no opinion upon the question until after the
report of the commissioa now inquiring into the
subject was presented.
Leave was given to bring in the bill.
RAILWAY ACCIDENTS.

Lord MONTEAGLE alluded to the subject of rail-
way accidents on Tuesday, complained of the in-
creased frequency of such catastrophes, inquiring as
to the Ministerial intentions with respect to their
promised bill, and pressing for a more prompt and
frequent publication of the official reports always
transmitted to the Board of Trade concerning every
accident of consequence. Earl Frrzwii.Lum having
interposed with a suggestion that the bill in question
should be introduced in the Upper House,

THE

PRESS.

Lord STANLEY (of Alderley) recognised the extreme
importance of the subject, and stated that the Go-
veniment bill for the better prevention of accidents
on railways was in preparation, and would speedily be
laid before the Commons. He undertook also to lay
the Board of Trade reports relating to those casual-
ties before Parliament at shorter intervals than here
tofore.
Earl GREY pointed out that, as almost every com-
pany was applying for some new bill every session,
they had a ready means of reaching them by legisla-
tion, and might insist on any inquiries, or require
the insertion of any clauses, they deemed necessary
to protect the public.
CLAIMS AGAINST PORTUGAL. _ _

The claims of a British mercantile firm (Messrs.
Yuille, Shortridge, and Co.), carrying on business in
Madeira, against the Portuguese Government, were
advocated by Mr. T. Chambers in a long speech on
Thursday, and a motion made for the appointment
of a select committee to inquire into the case.
These claims were urged for compensation on ac-
count of losses incurred through breach of treaties
existing between England and Portugal. The hon.
member detailed the circumstances under which the
losses in question had arisen, and which he traced
to certain decisions of Portuguese tribunals, given
in violation of international treaties, and resulting
in the ruin of the firm mentioned.
The motion was seconded by Mr. Horsfall, and
supported by Mr. Atherton and Mr. Digby Seymour.
Lord J. RUSSELL warned the house of the incon-
venient precedent that would be set, and the trouble
that might hereafter arise, if they interfered lightly
with private grievances urged by British subjects
against foreign Governments. Such interference was
expedient only in rare and important instances, of
which the present case did not appenr to be one.
He would, however, consent to lay on the table all
the despatches relating to the subject, and the
house might then decide whether the injuries sus-
tained by the Messrs. Shortridge demanded their
interposition.
The appointment of a committee was still urged
by Mr. Butt, Sir J. Shelley, and Mr. Oliveira.
On a division the motion was carried against the
Government by a majority of 120 to 74-52.
PROTESTAN r BURIAL 'GROUND IN MADRID.
Replying to Mr. M. Milnes,
Lord Jour; RUSSELL stated that the Spanish Minis
try had offered a site for a Protestant burial-ground
near Madrid, which he had insisted should be en-
closed in such a manner as the British Government
might approve of. The subject was referred to the
Board of Works, and measures would be taken for
enclosing that ground. According to the Spanish
law it was not permitted to have any ceremony of
Protestant worship in burial-grounds previous to in-
terment. But they would not interfere with the con-
duct of Protestants within the enclosed site. These
interments, therefore, would be carried on with de-
cency within the enclosure.

CUBAN SLAVE TRADE.

In answer to Mr. Hume,

Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that, in consequence of
the remonstrances of Government, the late Governor
of Cuba had been recalled, and that since such
recal the state of matters connected with the slave
trade had been improved. His lordship, however,
declined to produce the correspondence on the sub-
ject at present.