The Express.
London, England, 1849-06-14 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.—WzoNistus, Jun 13.
The &lux's Ink the chair at 12 o'clock.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.
SECOND READING.—Great Indian Peninsula Rail-
way Company Bill.
REPORT CONSIDERED.—DubIin, Ashbourne, Slants,
and Drogheda Roads Act (continuation and amendment)
PUBLIC BU
PETITIONS PRESENTED.
COUNTY COUNTIL—By Mr. PACKS, from Ashby•de•la-
Zonche, for the extension of the county courto.,
Iwr AAAAA lONAL ARBITRATION.—By Sir H.VANE, from
Stockton-on-Tres, in favour of international arbitration.
DUTY ox Phrna.—B7 Mr. COWAN, from Messrs. Chun.
btu, of Edinburgh, against the clu.y on paper.
SPIRITS (lIIRTARD).—By Mr. REYNOLDS, from spirit-
dealers in Ballibay, Newry, Carlow, Waterford, and other
places, praying to be placed upon a footing with the importers
of foreign spirits.
MAREIAOR BILL.—By Mr. COWAN, front several places
in Scotland against the Law of Marriage Bill.
PUBLIC HEALTH (.SCOTLAND) BILL.—By Mr. COWAN,
from .several plops in Eleritia against the Public Health
Bill.
SUNDAY TRADING.—By Mr. C. LUSIIINGTON, from
sixty Ashram. rs and poulterers, against Sunday trading.
BOP Dirrins.—By Mr. FREWEN, from
in the county of Sussex; Mr. FULLER (several), against
the hop duties.
LIVIRPOOL Poirrinis.—By Mr. CARDWELL, from the
operative porters of Liverpool, against the system of master
porterage.
Czunt.ry TO ANDwx.—By Mr.:COWAN, from several
places in Scotland ; the Ma.qub of DOURO, from Norwich ;
Mr. WILCOX, from Southampton ; Mr. BANKES, from
Bristol and Clifton; Mr. TUFNELL, Mr. AGLIONBY,
and several other hon. members, from various places; in
favour of the bill.

---- -- ---
BANKRUPTCY AND INSOLVENCY CONSOLIDATION BILL.—
By Mr. BROWN, from the Manchester Commercial Asso-
ciation, urg.ag the passing of this bill.

DUBLIN, ASHBOURNE, SLANE, AND DROGHEDA
ROADS ACT CONTINUATION AND AMEND-
MENT BILL.
On the consideration of the report of this bill,
Mr. REYNOLDS said that although be had a strong
feeling that this bill ought not to pan, he would reserve his
opposition to It for the third reading.—Report agreed to.
REVENUE OF IRELAND.
On the motion of Sir R. Fano:son the following returns
IMO ordered : &Went of the net produce of the revenue
of Ireland, paid into the Exchequer in the years ended the
6th day of January, 1847, 1848, and 1849, distinguishing
the years. Accounts of the net public income and expendt-
cure of Ireland kr the years ended the sth day of January,
1847, 1849, and 1849, distinguishing the years, and 'honing
the whole of the ways and means provided within the came
periods, together with the application thereof. Of the
amount of duties of excise in each revenue district of Ire-
land, in each of the years ended the sth day ef January,
1847, 1848, and 1849. Of the amount of duties of customs
of the revenue districts of Ireland, in each of the years
ended the 6th day of January, 1847, 1848, and 1849.
Statements showing the annual ge quantities of the
following articles retained for home consumption in Leland,
in each of the years ended the sth day of January, 1847,
1848, and 1849 respectively, viz —wine, spirits, foreign and
home-made tobacco, tea, coffee, sugar, flax seed, cotton
yarn, cotton wool, woollen and worsted yarn, silk, raw
and thrown, iron unwrought, timber, deals, and coals.
And, showing the annual ge quantities of the follow-
ing articles exported from Ireland, in each of the yens
ended the sth day of January, 1847, 1848, and 1849 respec.
tively, distingaishing the exports to Great Britain from treose
to foreign constrict, viz., oxen, sheep, swine, horses, bacon
and hams, beef and pork, cutter, wheat and wheat flour,
oats and oatmeal, Irish spirits, linen manufactures, linen
yarn, and cotton manufactures (in continuation of psrlia-
wintery paper No. 585, of session 1816). Accounts of the
amount of stamp duties collected in each stamp district of
Ireland, for the years ended the sth day of January, 1847,
1848, and 1819, distinguishing each year; and of the amount
of postage collected in each county of Ireland, for the years
ended the 6th day of January, 1847, 1848, and 1949, dis-
tinguishing each year.
NORFOLK ESTUARY, etc. BILL.
On the motion of Mr. T. ROEIITON, it was ordered that
Mr. Bagge, notwivhstanding he has not signed the declara-
tion the day previous to the sitting of the committee en the
N irfolk Estuary (Amendment of Acts and Powers of Con-
tribution by the Eau Brink Commissioners of Drainage, and
by the Corporation of King's Lynn) Bill, be permitted to
attend and vote on such committee if he signs the declaration
at the next sitting of the committee.
MOLME RESERVOIRS BILL.
On the motion of Mr. B. DENISON, it was ordered that
the minutes of evidence taken before the committee on the
Holme Reservoirs (Increase of Rates and Amendment of
Act) Bill, be referred to the committee on the Holme Reser-
voirs (Increase of Rates and Amendment of Act) (No. 2)
Bill, to meet on Monday next, or any subeequent day.
MANUFACTURED STATE OF BREAD.
Mr. BANKES, on Thursday, 21st of June, to 111/VO that
the house resolve itself into a committee of the whole house,
to take into consideration the manufactured state of bread.
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS BILL.
The Marquis of WORCESTER, in moving the second
reading of this bill, said that it was not a new bill, but an
improvement on the bill of 1835, the principal alterations
being to fine the owner instead of the servant in case of over-
driving bones in private vehicles, and to enable magistrates
to infl et a fine of 5f., which had hitherto been limited to
405., an alteration which the police magistrates of the me-
tropolis and of several large towns strongly recommended.
Mr. HUME fully approved of the principle of the bill, but
he wished to know if the existing laws were not sufficient.
No man was more anxious to prevent unnecessary cruelty to
animals or to men than he was ; but he ft seed that the mul-
tiplication of acts might render the matter difficult instead of
simple.
Sir G. GREY said that, as observed by the noble lord, it
was not a new bill, but repealed the existing law, and re-
enacted it with amendments, in some eases substituting inon•
prisonment for a pecuniary penalty. He had not the least
otjection to the bill, but he thought that in committee it
would require a most careful consideration.
Mr. HENRY inquired if there war any clause in it against
steeple chasing.
Mr. MACKINNON said there was no clause to that spe-
cific effect; but there was a power given by it to magistrates
to inflict a penalty where animals were overdriven. (A

laugh.)
Sir 0,, STRICKLAND said that as no one could object to
the principle of the bill, they had better not discuss its details
until they went into committee.
Mr. W. BROWN ir quired if it was to extend to Ireland
and Soctisnd.
Mr. ROME DRUMMOND had eo objection to the pen-
ciple of the bid, but when in committee he would move that
it shall not extend to Scotland. (Laughter.)
After a few words from Mr. RENLIY,
The bill was read a second time, and ordered to be com-
mitted that day weak.
COUNTY RATES AND EXPENDITURE BILL.
Mr. RUME said be should rot have felt it necessary to
address the house in moving that this bill be recd a acor d
time, but fotthe notice of the hon.gentleman opposite(Sir J.
Peking on) to oppose it in limine. In consequence of a
general demand made through paitions, her Majesty was
pleased to appoint a commission to inquire into the general
management of the county funds—the result of which was
a preliminary report presented Ilth August, 1835, showing
a careful inquiry iuto the different taxes, the amount
collected, and the manner in wb ich they were
applied ; and a second report, presented 2a6 June,
1836, containing the evidence of many of the best-informed
magistrates, who admitted the necessity of a change. Ile
was examined, and stated that he considered that the fiscal
reform which had been effected in the management of the
borough rates hed been ap; roved of ; and he saw no reason
why that reform should not be carried to the counties.
After that report was presented, he introduced a bill, called
the County Boards Bill, separating the whole financial
affairs of the counties from the judicial. It was read a first
Vane with the sanction of the government, buten the ',mond
reading w sleet through the opposition of t e county members
Since then he hal had nueser.us applications to re-introduce
' the hill, but be had declined, thinkirg it the duty of the
minieters to bring the matter before the house. flu., in
the early part of this session, he had been waited on by a
deputation from Lancashire, and, at their pre sieg request,
he had introduced the present bill, which materially differed
from that of 1837. Since that time the country had been
divided into parlaw unions, and the guardians w re a re-
presentative body. In the forty years between 1792 and
1832, the cost of maintaining bridges in the several
counties had risen from 42,000 to 74,0001.—an increase of
76 per cent. ; the expenses of goo* from 92,0001. to
177,0001.-92 per cent.; the maintenance of prisoners, from
43 0001. to 127,0001.-178 per cent ; cost of prosecutions,
from 34,0001 to 167,0001.-359 per cent.; constables, from
6591. to 26 6801.--4,303 per cent. On other item there was
also a marked increase, avenging 143 per cent., all showing
the neeemity of steps to control the county expenditure. In
1835, the total county expenditure of England and Wales
was 693,0001 ; in 1847, it was 1,100,0001., being an increase
of 74 per cent. in 12 years ; and the increase in Lancashire
alone had been 137 per cent. (Rear, hear.) Though this
increase was large, it would have been still larger had par-
liament not stepped in to the relief of the counties. In
1835, the expenses of pros, curiae% at a asions and assizes hail
been thrown on the Consolidated Fund, which, with other
Went, relieved the county rates to the amount of 152,0001 ;
and these payments had gone on increlsing till, in 1847, they
amounted to 533,0001, and in 1848 to 540001., forming in
all an aggregate of 3,532,0001. of expenditure, from which
the county rates had been relieved, although these rates had
nevertheless increased 74 per cent. The measure before the
house had neteataarily been framed so as to avoid the more
prominent objections raised to the former measure ; sad he
be lieved most county members were now disposed to assent
te the principle of county financial boards. Some hon. mem-
bers bed expressed a wish that the bill should give power for
assassins owners of property to the oat a viols and other
wow buildings; idings; but he dad not think such a provision could
be conveniently included in the bill. It might form the sub-
ject of a separate enactment, and it was one well worthy the
attention of the house. With the view of applying some
remedy to the evils existing in the county management, he
solicited the haws to jive this bill a second ratline, refer
ring the conadeention of the details to a select committee,