The Sun.
London, England, 1855-08-08 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
HOUSE OF LORDS—(Y. ESTE R DAY.)
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the wool
sack at five o'clock.
SALE OF BEER BILL.
Earl GREY presented 14 petitions in favour of the
above bill, siened by upwards of 6,000.
Lord MONTEAGLE presented several petitions to
the same effect.
Lord BESSBOROUGH presented several petitions
from Bradford and York against the Beer Bill.
'RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS.
The Earl of HARD WICKE presented a petition from
a gentleman named Mr. Edward Austen, the inventor of
a patented plan for raising sunken vessels, and also for
lifting them over bars. The petitioner stated that
ho had laid his plan before the Admiralty Board,
and they had reported favourably of the plan, but in
consequence of the board's hesitation to adopt the ap-
paratus, the petitioner applied to the Turkish ambas-
sador, who on the part of his Government was disposed
to accept the plan, and thepetitioner applied to the Board
of Admiralty for a copy of the report in order to
lay it before the Turkish authorities. The statements
contained in the petition were highly important and in-
teresting, and deserved the most serious consideration of
her Majesty's Government at this particular moment.
The noble lord proceeded to read a number of loiters,
all speaking in the highe•t praise of the invention, and
stated that there could be no doubt of its value. The
Board of Ad niralty had declined to produce the report
a ked for, aid the petitioner therefore applied to this
house for redress.
Lord REDESDALE presented a petition from the
Manchester Chamber of Commerce against the Limited
Liability Bill.
NEW RIVER COMPANY BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
INVERNESS BRIDGE BILL.
On the motion of the Duke of ARGYLL the standing
order No. 179, sec. 4, was considered and dispensed with,
and the Inverness Bridge Bill was read a second time.
NUISANCES REMOVAL BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
LIMITED LIABILITY BILL.
Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY then rose to move
that the Limited Liability Bill, having been introduced
and passed by the House of Commons, in conformity
with an unanimous resolution of that house declaring
that the law of partnership which renders every person
who, though not an ostensible partner, shares thek,
profits of a trading concern, liableto the whole of the debts,
is unsatisfactory, and should be so far modified as to
permit persons to contribute to the capital of such con-
cerns on terms of sharing their profits, without incuring
liability beyond a limited amount ; and the progress of
the bill having been delayed by the lengthened discussions
on the conduct of the war, which prevented it being
sent up to this house at an earlier period, and great in-
convenience being experienced from the suspeusionof many
undertaking,: of great importance, consequent on the
stoppage of all charters and acts of Parliament for giving
limited liability, in the anticipation of Parliament legis-
lating on the subject, the circumstances which render
legislation cn the subject matter of the said bill expe-
dient are of such urgency as to render the immediate con-
sideration of the saineneceisary. The noble lord proceeded
to urge the importance of the measure, which he said
involved a principle to which no well-founded objection
would be offered. It was of the highest importance to
pass such a measure, as the Board of Trade had refused
to exercise the power of granting charters to companies,
in consequence of the invidious position in which they
felt such a power placed them. A. vast number of valu-
able undertakings were waiting fur the settlement of the
question in order that they might be brought into
existence.
Lord REDESDALE opposed the motion on the
ground that the noble lord had failed to make
out that this measure was one of such urgency as
to demand a suspension of the standing order. He con-
tended that the Government were themselves to blame
for not bringing forward the measure until towards the
close of the session. He did not mean to pass any opinion
upon the merits of the bill itself. All he felt it was his
duty to do was to oppose the suspension of their
standing order on the simple ground that there was no
case of urgency shown in respect of this measure. The
effect of the standing order had been most beneficial in
facilitating the progress of business in both Houses of
Parliament.
Lord LYTTELTON would vote against the resolu-
tion, although ho strongly approved of the principle of
the measure ; but he had been told that the details were
much wanting in those guards and securities that were
necessary.
Earl GRANVILLE did not think that any objection
would have been made to the course which the Govern-
ment proposed to take that night. When his noble
friend proposed the order to the house last year, the
then Prime Minister pointed out the inconvenience that
would arise from adopting arbitrarily a rule of this kind.
After commenting on the absence of the powerful mem-
bers of the Opposition, who he said had had ample time
come to town if they intended to oppose the measure,
the noble earl observed that if their lordships wished
for a discussion of the bill, there could be an adjourned
debate on the second reading, and a full consideration
of its provisions in committee. He could only say that
if their lordships desired to have a delay of a few days,
to enable them to have that discussion, there would
be no objection on the part of the Government.
Earl GREY was greatly astonished when he heard
that Government had given notice of their intention to
propose the motion which had been moved that evening.
The adoption of the resolution had led to an improve-
ment in the mode of transacting business. He was un-
able to express his opinion decidedly on the effect which
the proposed alteration would have, but he was inclined
to favour the principle of the measure. It was clear that
the bill had received a very imperfect and a most hasty
consideration in the other House of Parliament. The bill
would greatly affect the commercial honour of the coun-
try. The Government might think to redeem the cha-
racter of the session and prove that it had not been alto-
gether an abortive one, but by the course they were pur-
suing they would lose more than would gain.
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE said that if their
lordships adopted the course recommended by his noble
friend they would do more to weaken the influence of
that house in the country than anything they had done
these many years, If ever there was a bill that called
for immediate and urgent consideration, it was this ; and
he implored their lordships to sit to September, if it were
necessary, but not to throw aside this important ques-
tion on any pedantic formality.
Lord ST. LEONARDS said that should the resolu-
tion moved be carried, and should the bill be read a
second time, he should propose that a week or ten days
be given, in order that noble lords who were not in at-
tendance might be in their places to discuss the measure
in committee. The law of the country, as it at present
stood, was not opposed to the principle of limited liabi-
lity, for any person or company in their dealings might
in their contracts limit the amount of their liabilities.
The persons possessing this privilege were compelled,
and wisely so, to submit to numerous regulations to pro-
vide proper safeguards, but none were provided by this
bill, nor was the slightest security afforded by it against
the formation and establishment of bubble companies of
the worst description. Her Majesty's Government
might carry the bill, but they would not obtain for it
the deliberate sanction of their lordships' house.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said that nothing was
required by the resolution before their lordships than
that which was provided for in the standing order itself,
which allowed bills of urgency to pass. He believed
that their lordships would strike a very dangerous blow
at the constitution of the country, if by any stringent
resolutions they refused to discuss measures of legisla-
tive importance.
Lord MONTEAGLE thought that it would be in
every respect better if they were to repeal altogether
the standing order, rather than suspend it upon an cc-
casi oe like the present. The present bill bad occupied
the House of Commons from May to August, and their
lordships were now called upon within a few days of the
close of the session to pass a measure which it had been
considered necessary to discuss at such length in another
place. While under discussion iu the House of Commons
the bill had been three times revised and reprinted ; and
he therefore called upon the house not to consent to con-
sider so important a measure under circumstances which
would totally preclude them from giving to it that calm
consideration which it imperatively required.
se Their lordships then divided, where there appeared, on
the motion for suspending the standing order—
Contents
Non-contents
Majority for the motion —24

The standing order was then ordered to be dispensed
with.

Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY thereupon moved
the second reading of the bill. In doing so he stated that
in the opinion of her Majesty's Government the time
had come when it was absolutely necessary that souse
measure of this kind should pass, and called the atten-
tion of their lordships to circumstances which had con-
vinced him of the absolute necessity of an alteration in
the law with respect to the grant of the privilege of
limited liability. He was convinced their lordships
would best consult the interests of the country if they
did in this matter what they had done in others, namely,
unfetter all the existing restrictions on the investment
of capital, and leave it to each individual to do with his
money what he thought would best conduce to his own
interests. Ile trusted their lordships would read the
bill a second time, believing it was one which was loudly
called for by the times in which we lived.
Earl GREY said his leanings were in favour of this
bill ; but he objected simply to their lordships discussing
at this time, and in the present state of the Peoraese!S
great change in our comwerciai law, to which like wz"
due
no opportunity at present of giving anything
committee
care and deliberation.
hieseether House of
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ehewraws 1.1,1
the measure had not received in
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WYNFORD and
very Parliament much thethart
After some observations
edvueresde.eliberatfriooninwhLtioc
sup passed
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tganh
The Sale of Beer, Stc., Bill. passedasecond
through
Lord DENMAN, the bill was
The Downing-street Public Offices Extension Bill was
read
Bill and the
ension Bill
committee.
reaTdhae Militia inßesodtsp
• Bill were advanced a stage,
Buildings
The Customs Tariff Act Amendment and Consolida-
tion The Dissenters' Marriages
sroal)l,ticnoutnamnciett(;.o.
2)
Bill was read a third time, as Was also the Customs
PASSENGER ACT AMENDMENT BILL.
Laws Consolidation Bill.
The
eis
Turnpikebillpasse dAteiti
a third time and passed. Bill was read
TURKISH LOAN BILL.
On the motion that this bill be read a third time,
Earl GREY, after complaining of the absence of the