The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
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would look on these laws, and on the sulikct altogether. He
thought it would be better to amalgamate the B.lle.
Lord HOLLAND thought the !louse had better proceed to the
Committee en the first Bill, when the other Bills might perhaps be
better introduced him, and consolidated with it.
The Bill was then read a first time.
Lord SUFFIELD said he should not in the least object its the
introduction of such words into the former Bill ae 'Digit do away
with the necessity for the two latter. If it were agreeable m their
Lordships, it would be perfectly an to him. The Noble Lord then
moved the reading of the order of the day.
The Ilcuse thcn resolved itself into a Committee on the Spring
Guns Bill.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL moved the introduction of a clause
to prohibit the use of spring guns and str.el traps in all gardens,
orchards,
After a desultory esnyersation between several Noble Lords re-
lative to the introduction of this clause, strangers were ordered to
withdraw.. and the House divided on Clentriendtueht of the Earl of
Liverpool, when the numbers appeared--
Contents -2l I Non-Contents . b
Majority - - 23
During our absence, we understood several verbal amendments
were agreed to the Bill went through the Committee, and the Re-
port was ordered to be received tO-1110370W.
The House then adjourned.
HOUSE OF COMMONS, TUESDAY, 51.tacu IS.

METROPOLITAN WATER COMPANY.
31r. 31. A. TAYLOR presented a petition from the parish of
St. Mary. Paddington. praying to be heard by Counsel against the
Metropubtan Water AVorks Bill —Referred to the Committee.
Sir E. HARVEY presented another (rani, as we understood, the
River .Lee Lampany against the unit Bill.—Laid upon the table.
LIVERPOOL AND LANCASTER RAILROAD.
Lord STANLEY presented two petitions from Lancaster and
its vicinity against the propased Rail-road.—Laid on the table.
LIVERPOOL. AND 3IANCHESTER RAIL-ROAD.
Sir A. CHICIIESTEIt presented a petition from Belfast, in
favour of the Liverpool and Manchester Rail-road.—Laid on the
table.
ST. KATHERINE'S DOCKS.
Mr. C. CALVERT presented a petit-on from several rereetable
merchants of London against the St. Katherine's Docks Bill.—Re-
(Lined to the Committee.

EQUITABLE LOAN BANK.
Mr. S. WHITBREAD presented a prtiticn from the parish of
St. George, Ilanover-square, agaiLs: tile Bill for incorporating
the Equitable Loan Company.
Mr. P. I$lOOllE presented a petition from the inhabitants of
Whitechapel in favour of the same Bill.—Referred to the Com-
mittee.

OIL GAS BILL.
III?. P. MOORE presented a petition from the Imperial Gas
and Coke Company, praying to be heard by Counsel against the
Bill for ircorporating 'the Oil Gas Company.—Referred to the
Committee.
NEW COLLIER DOCKS.
Mr. P. MOORE brought in a Bill for constructing Wet-docks
and Basins in the parish of All Saints, Poplar, add the Isle of
Dogs.
SirJ. YORKE, while he declared it to be his opinion that this
was one of the best Bills now in progress through the House,
begged to know, whether his Honourable Friend had introduced
any compulsory clause which would force the colliers to make use
of these docks ? without something of that Lind he feared the river
would be as much blocked up as ever.
Mr. P. MOORE begged to assure the Worthy Admiral he was
so well satisfied the colliers would Lind it to be their advantage to
use these docks, that he had not introduced any compulsory
clause whatever.—The Bill was then read a first rime.
BARING'S DIVORCE BILL.
The Solicitor for Mrs. Baring was examined with respect to his
power of answering on her h2half„ and it was ordered that he be
served with notice of the Bill being now in progress through that
House.
METROPOLITAN FISH COMPANY.

Sir E. KKATCIIBULL presented peetitions for Ramsgate
and Greenwich against the Metropolitan Fish Company.
Alt. CA lA:RAFT said, he would take that opportunity to ob-
serve that he had been mistaken in the observations lie made on a
former evening with regard to this Company. He found upon ex-
amination that they had not mid any thing upon the subject of the
Dutch Fisheries, and he begged now to apologise fur the error ;
the fact was, that there were three Fish Companies in contempla-
tion, and he had argued from the prospectus of one with reference
to another. That could however make no difference in his opposi-
tion to a measure, which went to apply an enormous mass of capital
to the prejmlice of a most industnous class of individuals without
any good to the public. Fish was at present sold, he was instrurnd
to state, at the rate of seven farthings • pound, exclusive of her-
rings, sprats, and salmon, and lie was very much at a loss to com-
prehend how a Company, which professed to buy tip the fish
brought to the market by fishermen who now sold it themselves,
could, after allowing them a fair profit, sell it cheaper titan at the
price lie had stated. It Lord George Seymour and some other
highly respectable gentlemen whose names were at the bead of this
establishment chose to become fishmongers and sell fish themselves
he had no objection ; but he would oppose, whenever it came before
the House, this attempt to deprive a large and industrious class of
their present means of subsistence.
Sir J. YORKE likewise advocated the cause of the fishermen,
pronouncing it • most honourable and most ancient employment as
the Apostles themselves could testify. ( Laughter.)
Sir E. KNATC H BULL, while he felt it to be his bounden duty
to oppose this fill, regretted that from an informality in the peti-
tion, he was compelled to move that it be laid upon the table, in-
stead of being referred to the Committee, as i.e intended.
Sir E. HARVEY said a few words against the proposed
Company.
/llr. CURTEIS defended it.

.Mr It. BERNAL opposed it.
Me. S. WILSON was convinced their object was to do good,
and that such a Company was necessary to put an end to the pre-
sent nefarious practices in the fish trade. He had heard, and indeed
be believed he should be able to prove, that it was the constant
practice of the fishmongers to throw all the fish into the river which
might be above the quantity necessary for the supply of the
market, rather than allow it by glutting the market to reduce the
standard price. (Hear, hear.) Such practicer', this Company would
put an end to; and, therefore, he thought they were entitled to the
support of the House and the country. The Ilonourable Member
for Wareham had, he thought, in hit statement to the House of
the seven farthings price of fish, made out a very strong case in
support of the proposed Company. (Hear, hear.) If the fish-
monger purchased fish at that price, was it not necessary that some
one should interpose to prevent them from retailing it at the present
extravagant price to the public. (Hear.)
Alderman WOOD said, theta Company which had allotted to a
fishmonger 2,0001. a-year as a salary. and 23.0001. to purchase fish,
could not benefit the public. The very tact of any one going into
the market to purchase immense quantities of fish with such a
known capital would be the means of raising the price in the
mat ke!, and of course raising it upon the consumers.
31r. J. slim! defended the Company.
The petition was then laid upon the table.
Sir L. HARVEY presented a petition from Barking against
the same Company.—Laid on the table.
LEITH -DOCKS.

Sir R. FER(lUSSOP:resenteitiiitition from Dundee against
the proposed Leith Docks.
Mr. lIEJME supported its prayer.
Laid upon the table.
THAMES QUAY.
' Col. TRENCH moved for leave to bring in a Bill for making
• Quay from Craven-street, in the Strand, to Blackfriars-bridge.
Mr. CALCRA FT was sorry to be obliged to oppose this mo-
tion, the Standing Orders, in his opinion, not haviog been corn.
llied with. In the first place there had been no description of the
evel of the proposed road, nor of the number of feet it occupied,
lodged with the Clerk of the Peace. And secondly, in the list of
the dissentients to the measure, deposited in the proper office in
that Rouse, the names of the Duke of Norfolk and his tenants
bad been altogether omitted. These omissions ought, he thought,
at once to arrest the Bill in this stage without any further objec-
tion. But there were others which went to the principle of the
measure itself, and which he thought must convince the House
that it would be highly improper to carry it into execution. The
road as at present marked out would be upwards of twenty-two
feet above the level of Surrey and Arundel streets, and, as he
should be able to show, very little below the first floor windows,
obscuring all the lower port of the houses, and very much darken.
ing the upper. Ile was instructed also to say that it was consi-
dered highly injutious to the trade of the inhabitants, and by no
means desired, either m a matter of ornament or utility. The
cost, too, would be enormous. The Chancellor of the Exchequer
to be sure had been mentioned as likely to advance two hundred
thousand pounds. in addition to the subscriptions ; but he should be
much surprised if that Right Honourable Gentleman, with the
character for prudence which he at present possessed in that House,
would hazard his reputation by any such measure. But even if he
did give two hundred thousand, it was not tour hundred thousand,
or six hundred thousand, or five or six times that sum that would
tarry the plan into effect; for it was nut the actual cost alone, but
the compensation for losses of trade and for losses of property
which would swell the estimate beyond all previous calculation.
(Hear hear.) Lord Liverpool would not hear of this me.tsurr;
the Duke of Northumberland had got rid of it ; and he did not
know why the Duke of Norfolk should be compelled, at a great
loss, to have this splendid impomibility tied upon his property.
The Honourable Colonel was infatuated with his project, and he
(Mr. Calcraft) did not deny that it looked very beautiful on paper,
but before he could carry it into execution he must prevail upon his
Honourable Friend the Member fur Taunton (Mr. Flaring) to raise ,
the five or six millions which must be required. The Honourable
Member concluded by observing that if he found the House dis.
posed to support him he certainly would try to throw out this Bill,
and afford the Honourable Colonel more time to calculate its pro-
bable costs.

Mr. HODUOUSE was likewise sorry to be obliged •o second
what had been advanced by the Honourable Member for Ware.
ham. When he first looked at the plat be thought it a splendid
and beautiful project, which it would be his duty to support if
it could be carried Into execution ; but front what he had heard
since he was fully satisfied that it was, if practicable at all, only to
be effected at such an expense as would far exceed any calculation
of those who planned it. It was not, as his Hon. Friend observed.
the mere cost of the work, but the enormous sums they would
be obliged to pay in the way of compensation, which would render
this plan so caper:sire. It presented, too, no advantage likely to

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THE BRITISH PRESS.

compensate for such sacrifices ; and he should in the course of the
melting present a petition (rent two individuals, the possessors of
property on the line between Temple-bar and Craven-street, who
declared themselves unable to consent to the proposed arrange-
ment, from their sense of the inimetem !asses they must suffer in
whatever way the Honoursble Colonel proposed to pass his terrace
through their premises. He (Mr. Hoblfouse) had done all he could
to surmount the objections raised ageinet the plan by his consti-
tuents, hut he found their feelings an decidedly hostile that he coo-
sidered it liis duty to follow the course which his Honourable
Friend had declared it his intention to pursue. There was a mud
bank ton, which he understood would be one of the consequences
of the llonouable Colored's plan ; and which must prove a very
great nuisance. He was sure that every thing would be done to
remove it, and he had heard tomething rid of a plan fee that pure
pose. bat he mentioned it to show the numerous difficulties against
which he had to contend, and as one of those evils which would be
created by the very means takes to Lure it. One of the complaints
most general against this measure was, that it would drive away till
the present tenants from the banks of the river ; and he could not
but acknowledge that it would be very difficult to grant any com-
pensation for such a probable loss to the owners. The Honourable
Colonel had first proposed to begin at IFetorninster Bridge, but
Lord Liverpool had set his face against any terrace opposite his
house. Mr. M.A. Taylor too (a laugh) had denied it his counte-
nance. Then came the Duke of Northumberland ; he would have
nothing to do with it. The Duke of Norfolk now expressed his
disinclination to it; and he ( 51r. Holthouse) knew no reason why
his constituents should not he allowed the same indulgence. Why,
he would ask, had not the Lords of the Admiralty supported this
measure if it was likely so much to ben.fit the navigation of the
river. lit short, he would say to the Honourable Colonel, Stop M
once, and not ;mend your money and ours in fruitless projections.
Colonel TRENCH thought this Bill was eye of the most im-
portant improvensents which had been for many years projected in
the metropolis. In answer to the objections which had been urged
by the Honourable Member for Wareham upon the subject of the
Standing Orders, lie would trouble the ]louse with a few obser-
vations. It had been said that the Ihßshould not be received, be-
cause notice bed not been served on those interested for that
course the Committee had the authority of their legal advisers—and
it was expressly ordered that no notice should be given, because it
was intended that the plan should come under the head of those in-
tended for the improvement of the streets, but rather for the im-
provement of the navigation of the river, thereby saving the claims
which might be anticipated on the head of compensation. And
with respect to the navigation of the river, lie would here say, that
the Lord Mayor and Corporation of the City of London had not de-
nied that the measure would beof great benefit. All the opponents
of the measure seemed to be divided into two classes—those who
believed they will be injured, and those who wish to make others
believe sit, that they may increase their claims compensation.
That compensation lie had endeavoured to ovoid, by abstaining
from encroaching upon property ; and he had high legal authority
for stating, that unless they touched property, no claim fur com-
penution would be good. He had thus endeavoured to explain
away the objection upon' the subject of the Standing Orders not
having been complied with, and lie begged to assure the House,
that, with great ornament and utility. trade would be as hole ob-
structed as it was at present The subject be considered of cations)
importance. he Thames was a noble riser, but its banks were a
disgrace to this great country. In Dublin, where the river was
little better than a muddy ditoh, they had adorned its banks with a
noble and expensive quay 1 and hr trusted that the inhabitants of
London would not neglect the opportunity of enabling their city
to bear some comparison with it. The cost for the whole line had
been estimated at tklB,oool. ; and so far from there being any in-
cidental expeese anticipated. men eniitent in their profession were
ready, under a heavy penalty, to erect it for that sum. In expla-
nation of the difference in the estimatee, he begged to say, that the
sum of 40'1.000/. was the estimate of a plain brick and mortar
erectiol, to be defrayed by tolls, leaving a considerable expectation
of' profit to the subscribers; aid that it was to be left to the Option
of' Government whether they would not advance the 2130,0001. fur
an ornamental and splendid line of building. This was the cause of
the difference, and it would therefore be perceived that the esti.
mates were not named with so mueh absurdity as had been asserted.
It had been said that the pies should stop short at Watalembridge,
instead of incurring the immense expense of the continuance to
Illackfriats. In answer to that, be would remind the House that
the expenses were to be repaid by tolls ; and as it was reasonable
that one part notch frequented should defray the expense of the
either which was Clot, the Cummitteohad wise:y adopted the resolu-
tion of extending it over that space from which they were most
likely to receive a return for Owl: expenditure. The same reason,
however, which had operated for it* continuance on that side, had
caused it to be abandoned on the other; because the Committee
had no reasonable expectation of a return for the great additional
expense which might be incurred by the line front AVentruinster-
bridge to Craven-street. The lion. Menther concluded by mating,
that the small dock mentioned had been planned in compliance with
the wishes of eroprietors upon the line of the terrace, and that the
Committee had made so many concessions to the wishes of those
interested, he really felt some surprise at the present opposition. He
implored the Howse, however, to land them an opportunity, at
all events, for an atnple discussion of the merits of the project, and
not, by an untimely opposition, deprive the finest metropolis in the
world of such a magnificent improvement.
Mr. CHOKER thought it impossible to consider the Bill before
the House in any other light than as a strange anomaly. It was
brought before the Houle in the shape of a private Bill, but the
Hon. Gentleman with whom it originated argued upon it as if it
was a public measure. In fact it was looked upon in either shape
as suited the convenience of the Hon. Gentlemen who supported it.
The Hon. and Gallant Gentleman (Colonel Trench) stated that
the Committee had studiously avoided any recognition of the claims
of individuals for compensation. Now this, one would think, should
have been the first duty of a Committee.
Colonel TRENCH explained. He had only alluded to the
Committee of Management.
Mr. CHOKER resumed. It was argued that the propcscd plan
could not be considered as an invasion of private. property, as the
erection was to go no further than the banks of the River; and
surely, when persons had built houses on those banks, to build a
high wall opposite those houses was a serious invasion of property
The Hon. Gentleman had appealed to the candour and equity of
the House ; but in candour and equity the House was also bound
to take into consideration the injury likely to be sustained by thole '
who had buifithouses on the banks, and whose property would be
invaded by this Bill, in every way except by taking the ground.
Indeed he thonget the scheme would be more practicable it' the
ground should be taken. It wart true compensation must be paid
for it ; but then the projectors would have the ground to dispose of.
The Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Caleraft) considered the banks of the
Thames a very disagreeable object ; but this was a mere matter of
taste, in which mane differed from the lion. Gentleman. The
proofs of commercial industry which the banks disclosed were, in
the opinion of many, by no means disagreeable objects. There
was another consideration which bore directly upon the present
question. It was well known that at present that! great work, the
removal of London Bridge, was in agitation ; and the effect of such '
a removal upon the river has divided the opinions of the most emi-
nent architects. It is impossible to anticipate the effect which may
be produced by the removal of this structure, serving, in same mea-
sure, as a great dam. It had been calculated, however, that as
there was IL fall of four feet eight inches in the river at Lenden
Bridge, when the Bridge bad been removed, the basin of water
would be reduced nearly five feet in its level. Now this was a ma-
terial consideration, especially when it was recollected that the
depth of water opposite to Somerset House very little exceeded five
feet. Under those circumstances, it was more than probable that
some vey great alteration would take place on the removal of Lon-
don Bridge. What that alteration would be no one could predict.
51e. Hennie, who understood these matters as well as any person,
said he could not with confidence give any decided opinion. Ar ben
some considerable change, therefore, wee likely to arise, would it
not be better to defer the consideration of the present plan ? The
great experiment, the removal of the Bridge, will have been tried
at the end of four or five years, and then the utility and beauty of
the Quay could be advantageously discussed. The operations of
nature may, in the way he had hinted, render the present scheme
unnecessary; and, under all the circumstances, lie thought it better
to withdraw it for the present, and stop before the parties should be
involved in litigation.
Sir J. YORKE objected to the introduction of the Bill.
Mr. A. ELLIS was of opinion that the Bill should not be thrown
out without having its merits discussed.
Lord PALMERSTON snid, it would seem, from the manner
in which the Bill was treated by-Honourable Gentlemen opposed
to it, that the question before the House was, whether they should
adopt the plan or not. Now. the question was only whether they
should entertain the proposition. His Honourable Friend Cur.
(raker) objected to its having been brought forward as a private
Bill; but It did not depend on the lion. and Gallant Gentleman
(Colonel Trench) whether it should come before the House as a
private Bill or a public measure. It would have been more con-
venient for the Honourable and Gallant Gentleman to have brought
it forward as a public measure, but the Speaker had decided that,
under all the circumstance', it could only have been brought forward
as a private measure. It was said the plan might interrupt the na-
vigation of the river and obstruct commercial business; but where
was tjse proof of this ? Had not Paris and Dublin quays, whose
rivers were inconsiderable streams compared with the 'Thames ? As
to the removal of London bridge, the Honourable Gentleman (Mr.
Croker) said it would diminish the flaw of water. Had he said it
would increase the flow of water, it might be an objection to Col.
Trench's plan; but where the river is to be dry, would not a
beautiful and convenient quay be well substituted for an unseemly
mud bank ? But the proposed plan should be considered in an.
other point of view. Some new line of communication front east to
west was indispensably necessary. Could any person who should
set off from that House to the east end of the City at any hour alter
eight o'el ck in the morning, deny that a new line of communica-
tion is necessary ? Really, going through the Strand and Fleet.
street was like moving in a funeral procession, the way was so
much impeded with vehicles and passengers. When a stranger
views the banks of our maniticent river, the question he uniformly
asks is, why don't you get quays ? As to the right of individuals
which had been insisted upon by his Honourable Friend (Mr. Cro-
ker), there would be hereafter a full opportunity of discussing their
claims. He hoped the House would now consent to the introduc-
tion of the Bill, and that the Honourable Gentleman (Colonel
Trench), although he might not have to say (as was said of another
capital) that he found it of brick and left it of marble, but the
Honourable and Gallant Gentleman might have the satisfaction to
say that be found the banks of mud and left them of granite.
Sir R. WILSON would support the introduction of the Bill,
because, if the House considered that the proposed plan should be
advantageous at the Westminster side, be anticipated that a simi.
par plan would be submitted for the Southwark aide. He had
heard it said, that Paris and Dublin had beautiful quays because
their rivers were inconsiderable ; but at Petttsburgli the river was

of the finest description, and the quays were magnificent, and
would do honour to any capital.
dlr. Secretary PEEL thought that the time had not yet arrived
when a scheme of such extent as that contemplated by the
Rill could be advantageously attempted. Consid rng the impor-
tance of the proposed ineastite, ss regarded the navigation, he
thought it much better to postpone the consideration of the pro-
jected plan u the removal of London bridge should be executed.
Really, the state of the ricer was of very great import..n:e. He
(Mr. Peel) had seen a man standing under the fifth arc't of IVater-
loo bridee upon dry ground. It seemed to him that the water had
a tendency to recede front the Southwark side. Gentlemen said,
that strangers always asked were was our river ; but they might
indeed ask this question, when an enormous quay of thirty tent
high was built, blocking up the view. As to the facility of com-
munication, considering the exposure ot the new quay to the sharp
south wind, and that there shall be two turnpikes on the liac, he
(Me. Peel) doubted very much whether any indifidurl amid take
advantage of the new communication. He wished the Honourable
and Gallant Gentleman would take up some other project, useful
or ornamental, for four or five years, oral then he might come down
and ask tOr a discussion upon the project now belies the House.
Mr. A. BA RING considered that the increase of die toa n East
and West rendered a new line of communication not oily exrediect
but indispensable. This groat metropolis, containing so large a
population, had no better lines of communication than ninny in-
considerable German villages on the Rhine. He thought the
question was not one of ornament or utility, but one of actind ne-
cessity, if it was agreed that this great metropolis should have the
common conveniences of a tow,. He did not mean to argue that
the proposed plan was the very best which could have been dells d.
He thought that the erection ot spacious and beautiful markets were
much wanted. Some Honourable Gentleman said, that if th • later
quay was erected the Strand would be deserted, and urged this as
an objection to the proposed plan. Rut this was only an adinie-
Rion of the utility of the quay. The Right Honourable
man (Mr. Peel) thought no one would ever go the new quay in
preference to the Strand : both views in his ( Mr. Baring's) opinion
were greatly exaggerated. The erection of the new quay would
divide the communication. With respect to the effect which the
adoption of the new plan would have on the value of prnrerty held
in the streets leading fron. the Strand to the river, he thought it
would be highly advantageous : it would double the value of
houses in those streets. Under all the circumstances he trusted
the Douse would treat his Honourable and Gallant Friend's
proposition with common courtesy, and consent to the introduc-
tion of the Bill.
The House then divided—

For leave to bring in tile Bill - 85
Against it 45

Majority . 40
IRISH SI INI NO.
Sir R. SHAW brought up the Report on the Imperial Irish
Mining BilL—lt we read a first tlme, and onlered to be printed.