The Express.
London, England, 1848-05-26 00:00:00

TICBLIC BUSINES4,

FIRR ilEADlNG.—iftCrupThlitit Olibe Bill.
CoSIMEITEKS.—PiabIie Health: Lair of Entail (Scotland) ; Bills.
ittrottr—Collertnrs of (less (Ireland) Bill.
THIRD RE %DlME—Joint-Stock Compa.dea Bill.
NOTICE to morms.—Butortat ELvcrioN.
THORP Kase police that, on motion for going into committee on
this bill, he should more that it be read a second time that day ais
month,.

NEW MEMBER.
Mr. MILNER took the oaths and his seat for the city of
'York, having been elected in the room of the late Mr. R.
Yorke.
TILE ROYAL PARDON TO SHEEPSTEALERS.
An hon. member we believe Mr. Morgan) inquired of the
right hon. baronet the Home Secretary the grounds upon
which the royal per ogative of mercy had been extended to
* notorious offender, named Frederic Williams, who had
been convicted last year at the Monmouth assure, of sheep.
stealing, and sentenced to tin years' transportation, and
whose um xpected return to the scene of his former crimes
bad created ronsiderable alarm ?
Bir G. GREY replied that the roan had been pardoned
on the recommendation of the commissioners, signed by Sir
B. Brodie, the medical inspector of prisons, stating that the
prisoner was labouring under pulmonary consumption, and
that further confinement would endarger his life.
THE BOROUGH ELECTIONS BILL.
In answer to a Tiestion from CoL SIBTHOR
Lord J. RUSSELL observed that he had stated on the
occas'.on of the second reading of the Baronets Erections Bill,
that it was not essential they should proceed immediately
with the next state; it was not therefore proposed t take the
committee as the first ceder, nor was it probable that it
would come on that evening at all, as his noble friend (Lord
Morpeth propo-ed to go on with the committee on the
Health of Towns Bill, which would, no doubt, occupy the
house until a late hour.
THE CASTLEBAR UNION.
Mr. BOURKE asked whether it was true, as reported,
that a sheriff's sale of all the furniture and clothing had
taken place in the workhouse of this union, and if so, what
provision had since been made by the vieveguerdians for the
support of the poor ?
Sir W. SOMERVILLE answered that when the vice-
guardians found the rates several thousand pounds in ar.
rear, while only 4481. bad been collected, and in conse-
quence of those arrears, which, notwithstanding their exer-
tions, still to % very large extent remained, they had been
unable to met the demands on the union, the sale
had
taken place by the sher.ff, as mentioned by the hon. gentle.
man. He wee, however, happy to say arrangements bad
been made by which the paupers still remained in the house
and received the accustomed re id.
THE SPANISH CORRESPONDENCE. SIR 11.
BULWER AND THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT.
Mr. BANKES.—I wish to ask the noble lord the Secretary
for Foreign Affairs whether he propane to lay on the table
any further correspondence in reference to the dispute which
his resul,ed in the order from the Spanish government to
our ambassador to quit Spain, and if so, what those addi-
tional papers are, and whether they will be produced pre-
vious to the debate on the subject to-morr .w
Viscount PALMERSTON.—I have considered it my duty
to lay c rtain additional paper. on the table, selected from
that correspondence, as tending to elucidate the subject.
The selection T have male is now in the hands of the
printer, and will, I believe, be laid on the table of the house
to-morrow, and be in the hands of members on the follow-
ing morning. Those papers will cans st of despatches
from it 11, Bulwer previous to the 10th of March, the two
notes which I referred to on a former occasion as having
pawed between Sir H. Bulwer and the Duke of Sotomayor,
and which I did not before pro sent, because they
were rather of a private than a public nature, being
merely personal explanations then going on between the
parties—together with seine other correspondence occurring
between that time and the date of the note to Sir II
Bulwer, directing him to leave Spain, which note will also
be produce dl wide the others. (Hear.)
Mr. BANKES.—I think it right to state that I have re-
ceived a communication hom Sir H. Bulwer stating that if
the question of which I have given notice should brought
on to-morrow it might be attended with disadvantage to
bins. Now it was not my intention to bring into
question Sir IL Bulwer's conduct, but merely to raise
the question as it relates to the instructions he re•
mired from the noble lord her Majesty's Secretary for
Foreign Affairs, and to confine my attention to the
correspondence the noble lord has already laid on the
table, which extends only to the 20th of April, up to which
period the conduct of our ambassador at Madrid had received
the full and entire approbation, not only of the noble lord,
but of the whole of her Majesty's cabinet. ( !fear, hear.)
It is, therefore, in my view of the question, in no way af-
fecting the conduct of our ambassador at the court of Madrid
that the House of Commons should be called on to give an
opinion as to the histructions which he had so impli-
citly obeys d. I now understand from the noble lord
that copies are to he produced of some commu-
nications which passed prior to those instruction.,
and it is passible that these may alter my view of the case as
far as it affects our •mhassailor, though I am not aware that
it will ,o es n, it apovore horn the paper we have that he
strictly followed his instructions; but ss debates are not
always carried on in the view or tone of the parties with
whom they originate, and as it is impossible to say that in
the course of this debate the conduct of our ambassador may
not be celled in question, I cannot but sympathise with the
feelings Sir 11. Bulwer expresses, and am, therefore, disposed
to postpone my motion until the next supply night, unless
the noble lord lit the head of the government
will ensure me a day to bring on the discus-
sion eei this important question as a substantive motion.
Lord J. RUei ELL.—It is for the hon. gentleman to judge
whether he wid bring on his motion to-morrow, according to
his notice, or not. The government propose to go into com-
mittee of supply, and to ask fur certain votes ou account to-
morrow, and the hon, gentleman can then, if he 'dews,
make his motion, or lie can, as he has intimated, refrain from
doing so. Sir H. Bulwer, it appears, has intimated to
the hen. gentleman that it would not be fair to him
the' his conduct should be made matter of discussion until
further information—which my noble friend proposes to pro-
duce—shall be in the hands of hon. members. So far as her
Majestv's government arc concerned they are perfectly ready
to meet the hon. gentleman's motion to-morrow, if he think
fit to bring it on—if not, he then having the opportunity, I
cannot undertake to fix another day for the purpose.
Mr. BANKES.—I will then keep my motion on the paper
for to-morrow. Perhaps the noble lord will inform me
whether the Spanish Ambassador, the Marquis Miratiores,
has arrived in this country ?
Viscount PALMEILSTON.—He has arrived.
Sir D. L. EVANS inquired whether there was any
reason for supposing that the discussion of this subject at the
preface time would have an injurious influence on the inte-
rests of this country in respect to any negotiations now going
on between the two governments
Viscount PALMERSTON.—I am not aware that this
discussion, taking place at the time for which it is fixed, can
have any hearing upon tho state of the negotiations now
pearling between this country and Spain.
Mr. HUME.—I want to hate this question put fairly
haste the homes. (bear, hoer.) Now, I understand from

the noble lord that the additional papers he proposes to lay
on the table will not be ready for delivery to members before
Saturday.
Viscount PALMERSTON.—I have already stated that
the correspondence is en the hands of the printer; it cannot
be printed to day, but I hope it will be ready before the
house meets to-morrow, and that it will be in the hands of
members generally on Saturday morning at the latest.
Mr. T. D'EYNCOURT.—It is very desirable that we
should know whether my hon. friend will persist in bringing
forward his motion to-morrow. It seems to me that it would
scarcely he just to do so under the circumstances. (Hear.)
Mr. DISRAELL—I understand that the additional
pipers will not be on our table before Saturday, and it would
no doubt be advisable that the discussion should taut come on
in the absence of the information they contain. At the same
time it is to be desired that no great interval should elapse
between the production of the documents and the debate ,•
and it would be meet unsatisfactory if we were to understood
that the only chance of our considering the subject—the
papers being printed--depended on the caprice of the almi.
nistration in compelling the question to be brought on on a
supply night. I trust the noble lord, on reconsidering the
circumstances, will feel that it would not be going further
tLan the respect due from him to the house and the country
warrants, if he were to hold out to us a prospect ofdiscutbing
the important subject to which the documents in question
refer. (Cheers.)
Lord J. RUSSELL. —I have no doubt, that after the dis-
cussion on the navigation laws, which commences on Monday
neat, and which 1 urn not willing to postpone, we shall
be able to propose an early day for going into committee of

_
strei MAIION.—It appears to be the determination of
the government that we are to discuss this question without
the documents or nut at all. Now, that is not an alternative
to which the government should reduce us. I must
say it would not be unbecoming the position of the
noble lord, as a member ot the government and as a member
of this house, if he were to hold out aome prospect of an
early and definite day when we shall have the opportunity
of discussing the subject. (Hear, bear.)
Lard J. EX SSELL.—I cannot now name a precise day ;
but, as noon as the debate on the navigation laws shall have
been concluded—supposiug the house should affirm the re-
solution and allow my right hon. friend to bring in his bill,
before the second reading of that bill a day shall be named
when the committee of supply shall come on. (Hear.)
Mr. BANK ES.—As I ant aware it is material that the
matter should be definitely arranged, so far as the noble lord
will permit it to be, awl as it appear t 3 be the general feel-
ing nut to discuss the question until the other papers shall
have been presented and hon. members have had an oppor-
tunity of considering them, 1 cannot take on myself the re-
eponsibilety of forcing on the discussion to-morrow. But I
hope that the noble lord will, on reconsideration, feel that,
for the sake of the character of the government and the
honour of the country, the discussion ought not to be post-
poned to any distant day. (Hear, hear.) I will, therefore,
leave my motion on the paper, but with the understanding
that it will not come on to-morrow. ( Ilear.)
DISTRESS IN JAMAICA.
(.Mre GOULBURN said that; as there existed a great de-
ficiency of information as to the state of the island of
Jamaica, in reference to the distress said to prevail there, and
as a West Indian mail had arrived within the last two days,
he begged to ails the hon. gentleman opposite, the Under-
Secretary for the Colonies, whether any information had
been received tram the euvernment of Jamaica, and if no,
whether it would be laid upon the tab's of the Ileum ?
Mr.:HAWES replied that by the packet which arrived
the day berme yesterday no information in relation to the
state of Jamaica had been received by the government. Ile
contemplated in a few days to lay before the house some in-
telligence previously received, and, in the meantime, if any
further information was received it would he added to it.
THE WAR BETWEEN DENMARK AND THE
GERMAN STATES.
Mr. P. HOWARD, geeing the noble lord the Secretary
for Foreign Affairs in his place, begged to ask whether now
or on any future day the noble lord would be prepared to say
what progress bad been made in the negotiations on foot
with regard: to the mediation between; Denmark and
Prussia.
Lord PALMERSTON said he was prepared to answer the
question, so far as was consistent with his duty as one of the
persons engaged in the negotiation referred to by his hon.
friend. Ile might say that there was favourable disposition
on both sides to consider the proposals made, and that dispo-
sition might lead to an amicable termination of the negotia
tions, but of course he could not answer for such a result.
He would add, that while on the sue hand the Danish go-
vernment had taken off some of the blockades which they
had begun to establish, on the other hand he had been in-
formed, within the last hour, that the Prussian government
did not mean to enforce the order of Gen. Wrangel for levy-
ing forced contributions from Jutland: hence it would seem
that there was a conciliatorydisposition existing on both sides.
EMIGRATION TO AUSTRALIA.
In answer to a qu. stion put by Mr. Dive rr,
Mr. HAW ES said that no intention whatever existed on
the part of the emigration commissioners acting under the
colonial department to lower the standard of emigrants in-
tended to be sent out to South Australia. On the contrary,
they were most anxious to uphold the standard of emigre-
Sou, which had hitherto given great satisfaction to the
cotonieu.
DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH ROME BILL.
Sir R. H. INGLIS begged to inquire from the node lord
at the head of the government whether he had heed in his
mind any and what day for the further prosecution of the
Diplomatic Relations with Rome Bill.
Lord J. RUSSELL replied he had not at present fixed
any day for proceeding with the bill, nor could he do so in
the present atete of public business.
PUBLIC HEALTH BILL.
On the motion that "the Speaker do now leave the chair "
for the house resuming the committee on the Public health
Bill being put,
Mr. SPOONER complained that on Friday last all the
clauses ',hide bad relation to the rights and interests
of the various waterworks companies had been withdrawn,
to whom great injustice had been done by the course taken
by the government not only last year but in the
present year.
Mr. MUNTZ seconded the amendment.
Lord MORPETH said he assured the hon. member op-
posite (Sir. Spooner) and the house that nothing could be
more painful or abhorrent to his feelings than even to appear
to have been wanting in a perfect sprit of fair dealing in this
matter. Ile should be perfectly willing to repair any sup-
posed breach of faith ; hut, on conferring with them, it did
not appear to those with whom he advised that the ;course
pursued in committee OH Friday was at all open to any such
charge. Tile bill originally introduced was without any
clause for the purchase of water-works, and also without
any compulsory power of purchase'; hut in consequence of
various representations made to him by several water-works
companies, urging their insertion, the clause, referred to had
been agreed to by the government, and appeared in the
first bill of the year. But he had given no po-
sitive Wedge that the conditions of those clauses should
be actually ratified. The last bill, however, contained those
compulsory powers of purchase. In the course, however, of
the discussion, it seemed to be the general feeling of the
house to adopt the propositions made by the hon. member
for Oxfordshire (gr. Henley), and subsequently agreed to by
the government, to the rttect that this bill should not take
any powers whatever to interfere with any local act for
paving, lighting, cleansing, regulating, supplying with water,
or improving any town. Therefore it become no longer ne-
emsary to lay down in the bill terms of purchase under which
the compulsory acquieition of existing water-works could be
made. lie apprehended, therefore, that the bill, as it now
stood, in fact contained no powers of dealing in any way
with the existingenter companies ; but to obviate ail mis-
apprehensions he was prepared sate, the 6fit la clause to enact
a proviso to the effect, " that it shall not bo lawful for any
local board of health to lay down or construct any
water-works within any limits with respect to which
water companies are already established, without the
consent, in writing, of such companion" established being
first had and ob (Hear, hear.) He should advise
the companies to take this immunity, because if the dis-
cussion was prolonged he feared unfavourable opinions of
the details of the clauses would be expressed.
Mr. NE WDEGATE said if any discredit belonged to the
clauses in question the onus was not on the cempanies, but
on the noble lord who hail adopted them. Ile joined in the
complaint that the clauses had been withdrawn in the ab-
sence of his bon. colle•gue, and without notice to the
part ice.
Mr. S. CRAWFORD felt it his duty to support the noble
lord (Morpeth) in the alterations; tae had jmalo with re-
spew to those clauses
Mr. We PATTEN said that he had been a party to the
arrangement under which the clauses had been agreed to,
and !Should have (calculatedn pd to fieow that
ales were not
unre imitable, or to lead to such lt as that
stated by the hon. member for Rochdale.
heir. HENLEY was of opinion that the public ACT, left in
a better posit:on without these eleue .5 thou they would bay,
been if they had lwen allowed to remain in the
Mr. BLANEY thought the noble lord who had charge of
the bill was fully exonerated from all blame.
Mr. HUDSON hoped the amendment would not be
pressed, hut that the matter would he amicably arranged.
In all large towns it was most iml.eetant that the existing
interests should he purchased.
Viscount MOItPEThI said that one re, son for withdrede•
log the clauses sets the probability that a better bargain
would be made with the existing water companies than if
the Ii cal boards were compelled by the act to purchase.
Sir W. CLAY thought that suniei .nt protection would be
afforded to existing interests by the clause now proposed by
the government. The compulsory power of purchase was
advantageous, in so far as the supply of water ought to be a
public concern, and not a private speculation ; for it had
been shown that cos petition never lasted, and then the mat-
ter became a monopoly.
Mr. W. P. WOOD thought the clauses ought to have
been retained, if only for the mike of settling the principle on
which compensation should be paid. To the existing water
companies the bill was a sentence of annihilation ; for all
householders would be compelled to receive the water sup-
plied under this act. In the case of Reading, 8,000/. had
been spent-3,0001. by the water company and 6,0001. by
the corporation; both which sums might have been spared
had the principle en which compensation Mould bo assessed
been recognised by parliament. The substituted clause was
certainly beneficial to the companies; and he hoped the
amendment would be withdrawn.
Mr. SPOONER asked when the proposed alterations
would be prtnted.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said they would be in
the hands of members before the " further consideration of
the report."
Mr. SPOONER then withdrew his amendment (leave
being given). and the house went inte committee.
Oa obtuse 105, empowering local boards to borrow money,
the knows Le UENEklet •ave some explanations, and in-
troduced some versal au.sidlMOnts, which were adopted, and
the clause was agree. to.