The Sun.
London, England, 1855-06-27 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EV ENING, JUNE 27, 1855,

line, and not the branches. What he now complained
of was the branches.

After a few words from Mr. LUSHINGTON,
Mr. RICE was surprised at the opposition of the
hon. member for Richmond, recollecting the pledge
given by the South-Eastern Company, of which the hon.
member was chairman, not to oppose the formation of
such a bill.

Mr. RICH denied that the company had violated any
pledge.
Mr. RICE read the pledge, given by the Company
under their seal to the House of Lords, not to oppose
the construction of a direct line of railway to Dover.
(Hear from Mr. Rich.) With regard to the injury
complained of, in respect of the line passing in front of
the Lord Warden Hotel, he found it would pass at the
back of the property, and was approved of by the tenant
of the hotel:
Mr. JAMES MACGRE.GOR addressed the house,
describing this bill as one of the most extraordinary
that had been brought before the house. He thought
it a strange proceeding on the part of the committee not
to hear the South-Eastern Company against this bill
whose property was affected by it.
The amendment was ultimately withdrawn, and the
bill read a third time.

Petitions were presented by Sir T. Ackland against
the Church Rate Bill, an by Mr. Spooner against the
grant to the College of Maynooth. Several other peti-
tions were presented against the Church Rate Bill.

The house then resumed itself into committee on the
Metropolis Local Management Bill.
On clause 158 being proposed, which gave power to
the Board of Works to make bye laws,
Sir B. HALL proposed to amend it, for the purpose
of giving a similar power to the Metropolitan Board.
The amendment was agreed to, and the clause as
amended was ordered to stand part of the bill.
Clauses up to 160 were agreed to, with a few verbal
amendments.

Clause 161, relative to penalties on Gas Companies,
was withdrawn.

Clauses 162 to 173 inclusive were agreed to.

Sir B. HALL said that all these clauses were now in
operation in the metropolis, and he would take care to
inform the house upon clauses which involved any new
matter. This, however, would not arise until towards
the end of the bill.

On clause 174, making provision for damages and com-
pensation to be determined by a justice of the peace,
when not otherwise provided for by the act,
Mr. HENLEY objected to such an arrangement, as
the amount of compensation which might be awarded
by the justice was not defined, and suggested some other
tribunal.

Sir B. HALL did not see how the matter could be re-
ferred to any other authority except a justice of the
peace, but in order to meet the view of his right hon.
friend he would substitute the words " metropolitan
police magistrate" for those of "justice of the peace," and
would take care to embody in the clause some provision
for a higher tribunal, where the damages exceeded a cer-
tain amount.

The clause, as amended, was then agreed to.

The remaining clauses, with some slight amendments,
were also ordered to stand part of the bill ; which wan
fixed to come into operation on the let December next.
The postponed clauses were then proceeded with.
On clause 19,
Sir IL WILLOUGHBY objected that there was no
governing power in the corporate body. All the mem-
bers were co-equal. Supposing it was necessary to sue
the board, who would the right hon. hart. propose
should he sued. Must the whole board be proceeded
against ?
Sir B. HALL said his idea in this matter was to act
upon the same principle as was in operation in boards of
guardians. If, however, any hon. member could sug-
gest any improvement in this clause which should ac-
complish the object he bad in view, he should be most
happy to adopt the alteration.

Alter sone further discussion,—the clause was agreed
to, Sir B, HALL promising to take steps to amend it
in the repnrt.

Clause 21, which was one of the postponed clauses,
and which propwed that twp members of the Metropo-
litan Board should be selected for the City, was agreed
to by inserting three instead of two.

Clauses 22 and 23 were struck out.
Clause 24 was agreed to with a few verbal amend-
ments.

Clause 25 was postponed.
On clause 2G being put, which proposed that the no-
mination of the chairman of the Central Board should
be referred to the Secretary of State,
Sir B. HALL proposed to amend it by Inserting that
that officer should be appointed by the Central Board,
and that he should receive a salary of not less than
1,500/. a-year, and not exceeding 2,0001.
Lord R. GROSVENOR objected to the proposition
that the central board should decide on the salary of
their chairman.

After some observations from Sir W. CLAY, Mr. B.
BARING, and Viscount EBRINGTON,
Mr. HENLEY thought the' best dourse to pursue
would be to postpone the further consideration of the
clause till the Committee had determined upon the num-
ber of members that should constitute the Board.
The further consideration of the clause was then post-
poned.
The CHAIRMAN reported progress, and obtained leave
to sit again on Thursday, at 12 o'clock.

•
INDEMNITY DILL.
The committee on this bill was postponed to Thurs-
day, at 12 o'clock.
STOCK IN TRADE BILL.
The committee on this bill was also postponed to
Thursday.

ROYAL ASSENT.
Shortly before 4 o'clock Sir A. Clifford, the Usher of
the Black Rod, appeared at the table, and summoned the
House to the House of Lords, to hear the Royal assent
given by commission to several public and private bill,
for which see our Lords' report.
The house then adjourned to six o'clock.

The house resumed at six o'clock.
NOTICE OF MOTION.
Mr. WISE gave notice that, on Tuesday, July 10, he
should move that an humble address be presented to her
Majesty, praying that her Majesty may be most gracions:y
pleased to issue her royal commands for a complete revision
of the diplomatic establishments of the United Kingdom.

hon. gentleman who proposed it announced his intention of
withdrawing, by one of those surprises which sometimes
took place, and when no one expected a division. (Hear,
hear.) Eta could only say that he thought the recommen-
dations suggested in the speech of the hon gentleman who
moved the resolutions could not be carried into effect with-
out great injury to the public service.
Mr. WISE gave notice that, in consequence of the un-
satisfactory answer of the noble lord, he should, on Tues-
day, the 20th of July, move " That an humble address be
presented to her Majesty, praying that her Majesty may be
most graciously pleased to assue her royal commands for a
complete revision of the diplomatic establishments of the
United Kingdom."
CANADA AND THE WEST INDIES.

Mr. RICARDO asked the Secretary of State for the
Colonies whether any treaty for a remission or diminution
of duties had been made, or was contemplated, between
Canada and the West India Colonies, or any part thereof,
in which the whole of the British possessions were not in-
cluded ; and whether the Government had sanctioned or
would sanction the principle of a colony entering into a
fiscal arrangement which did not comprehend the whole of
the British Empire?
Lord J. RUSSELL said that no treaty was made or
contemplated between Canada and the West Indian colo-
nies for the remission or diminution of duties. There had
been a communication from British Guiana saying that
a proposition had been made similar to that which had
been made between this country and the United States.
He had referred the proposition to the Board of Trade,
which had reported very strongly against it, and he should
not, therefore, give any such proposal his support.
THE EXPEDITION TO KERTCH.

Mr. GIBSON wished to put a question to the noble lord
at the head of the Government in reference to the recent

operations at Kertch and other places in the Sea of Azoff.
Grave charges had been made against the character of
Englishmen and English officers which he did not believe,
and which. if not true, ought to receive a contradiction
from the Ministers of the Crown. He had seen statements
made in private letters and published in the public journals.
It was stated in the Times newspaper that when the allies
entered Kertch the population made their submission, and
offered them bread and salt, and they were assured they
would be protected, and their lives and property would be
spared. The correspondent went on to say that a great de-
struction of property followed, and more than that—that
towards evening Turkish stragglers from the camp, and
others who had fallen Int of the line of march, flocked into
the town, and perpetrated the most atrocious crimes ; to
pillage and wanton devastation they added viola ',ion ,and-
murder. The French patrols endeavoured to preserve order,
but there was the serious imputation upon the English
character that our lieutenant-general was the cause of these
destracive excesses from his apathy or neglect. Hediti not
believe this statement, but he wished to ask whether the
noble lord at the head of the Government had received any
information on the subject?
Lord PALMERSTON--Her Majesty's Government have
received no information with regard to the transactions to
which my right hon. friend's question relates. My atten-
tion was called to the statement he has quotedfrom a news-
paper, and my noble friend at the head of the War Depart-
ment will, without any delay, call for such report touching
these transactions as may be given by the officers in com-
mand in that sea.
CIF.CASSIA.
Lord J. MANNERS said the house was aware that all
the forts on the Circassian coast were now in the posses-
sion of the Circassians, and that, throughout the Confer-
ences at Vienna, no mention whatever was made of Cir-
cassia. The last despatch from Admiral Lyons stated that
Mr. Longford had been sent to Anapa to superintend the
political part of the question. He wished to ash in what
capacity Mr. Lonford had been sent to Anapa, and what
were the relations at present existing between her Majes-
ty's Government and the Circassian chiefs ?
Lord PALMERSTON said that Mr. Longford was her
Majesty's Consul at Monastir, and he had appointed that
gentleman when he was Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs, in consequence of his having passed much time in
that country, and being well acquainted with its manners,
habits, and language. When an operation was contem-
plated at Anapa, it was expected that the Circassian tribes
would co-operate with the allies, and Mr. Longford was ac-
cordingly sent there, being well acquainted with the peo-
ple, as au organ of communication between the allied com-
manders and the Circassian tribes. There were no rela-
tions existing between her Majesty's Government and the
Circassian chiefs, except those arising out of the co-opera-
tion in the attack upon Anapa.
Mr. BAILEY asked in what capacity Col. Lloyd had
been sent to Circassia last year, with a salary of 2,000/. ?
Lord PALMERSTON said that Colonel Lloyd was ap-
pointed to open communications with the people, and to
ascertain to what extent, and upon what terms, their co-
operation could be obtained.
NEW WRIT FOR THE CIIT OF LONDON.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE moved the issue of a new writ for
the city of London, in the place of Baron Rothschild, who,
since his election, bad entered into a contract for the public
service. He said he might have proposed to send this
question to a select committee, but he considered the law
of the case was so clear that be could not agree to take
such a shabby course. He read the terms of the act, anti
gave a history of the circumstances under which it had
been passed, and contended that the provisions of the act
would not be met if Baron Rothschild merely declined to
take his seat, for in that way 50 members might vacate
their seats and their constituents might be unrepresented.
He quoted from Mr. Fox and other members who took
part in the discussion when the law was passed, to show
that it was intended to embrace contracts for money and
obtained by public competition; and contending that the
case was clear, he moved that the writ for the seat of
Baron Rothschild do now issue.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL admitted that the law
was as the hon. gentleman had stated it, though perhaps
there were one or two ambiguous phrases in it. But, on
the other hand, he must remind the house that loan con-
tractors had repeatedly sat in that house since the act was
passed without any one challenging their seats ; and on
that ground, and also as Baron Rothschild was not in the
house to defend himself, he thought it would be better
to refer the question to a select committee. There was a
precedent for this course in the select committee which
was appointed to consider the case of Mr. Daniel Whittle
kiarvey, a member of this house, on his being appointed
registrar of hackney carriages.
Mr. WALPOLE seconded the amendment on the same
grounds.
Sir F. THESIGER contended that the precedent quoted
by the Attorney-General was not applicable to this case.
In the present instance there was no doubt as to the facts,
and he held there could be as little doubt as to the law ; so
that there was no reason whatever for the house delegating
its functions to a committee, who were no more competent
to the task than itself. It was very true that loan contrac-
tors had often sat in that house without challenge, but then
a blot was not a blot till it was hit. It was not a lawyer's
question at all ; every member of the house was as compe-
tent to decide upon the matter as he was. He would, there-
fore, support the hon. gentleman's motion.
Lord J. RUSSELL thought the case was by. no means
so clear. The difficulty to his mind was that so many loan
contractors had been allowed to sit in that house in former
times without challenge from any one, and it was hard to
believe that no one should have discovered the scope of the
law till the hon. member for Finsbury applied his atten-
tion to it. He reminded the house further that all who
had since taken shares in this loan had come under the
terms of the act as much as Baron Rothschild.
Mr. M. GIBSON also thought it likely that every mem-
ber of the house who load taken a share in the loan exposed
himself to the penalties of this bill. He further called
attention to the fact that the Secretary to the Treasury
had violated the provisions of the act by allowing a mem-
ber of Parliament to take the contract, and that Baron
Rothschild had incurred a penalty of 500/. for every mem-
ber of Parliament to whom he had given shares of the con-
tract.
Mr. HILDTARD denied that the act affected any one
but the contractor; and, even were it otherwise, he de-
nounced the morality which would tamper with the provi-
sions of an act for fear it should affect themselves.
After some further discussion,
Mr. BRIGHT suggested that the morality of the coun-
try, and especially of Parliament, had outgrown the pro-
visions of this act, and proposed that it should be referred
to this committee to consider whether the whole law re-
lating to contractors might not be repealed altogether.
Lord PALMERSTON was in favour of sending the
question to a select committee, and thought the suggestion
of Mr. Bright well deserving of consideration.
Mr. DUNCOMBE then withdrew his motion, and the
amendment for appointing aselect committee was agreed to.
CHARITABLE TRUSTS BILL (1855).
The SPEAKER announced that the Lords had agreed
to the Charitable Trusts Bill (1855).
SEBASTOPOL COMMITTEE REPORT.

Mr. ROEBUCK postponed his motion on this subjee
till Tuesday the 10th of July.

SUNDAY BEER ACT.

Numerous petitions having been present:3lcl against this
act,

Mr. H. BERKELEY rose to move foraselect committee
to inquire into the act of last session, for further regulating
the sale of beer and other liquors on the Lord's-day. He
said that when that bill passed into a law, it was hardly
known to any member of that house. There ware the names
of three members to the back of that bill, which were a gua-
rantee for it ; but he thought these hon, gentlemen had
made an oversight, and he opposed it on its third reading as
a measure that would be one-sided iu its operation,and that
it only curtailed the enjoyment of the humbler classes.
Every succeeding Sunday had betrayed the glaring injustice
of that, act. The greatest blessing that had been bestowed
on the working classes was the facilities that had been
afforded them of viewing the beauties of nature at a distance
from home. Mang thousands of the population had lived
and died without having been five miles from their homes,
and many of the inhabitants of London, though living on
an arm of the sea, had never seen that glorious expanse of
water. It was ridiculous to say that people who had been
hard at work for six days should spend the seventh on their
bended knees in some dingy chapel or church, listening to
the oily outpourings of some canting Stiggins. He did not
advocate a want of religion, but he did object to the in-
terference with the working classes, as this bill did.
He would follow a working and a rich man through a
Sunday's excursion. The poor man, when he had de-
termined on a day's pleasure, was up at five o'clock in
the morning, locked up his house—having nothing in it
he feared losing, and went forward depending on the pub•
lic-houses for refreshment. When he arrived by the train
he would find they were all shut, and would not be open
until six o'clock; but then the train started by that time,
and he was compelled to return, and got back to town too
late for the public-houses there ; and thus, having been
defrauded out of his dinner iu the country, he was obliged
to go to bed supperless because he had not a well-stocked
larder. The rich man, on the other hand, could go where
he pleased, and there was not an inn that would not open
its doors to him. He could there have luncheon, and when
he returned home his larder would supply him with every
luxury, and he could well afford to do without draught
porter for one day in the week, when his cellars were well
supplied by Messrs. Bass and Guinness. He could also, if
he chose, go to his club, whose door was never shut, day or
night, and could have whatever he desired. He might, if
he thought proper, go to any hotel, who would willingly
take him in. Therefore the law was one-sided in its ope-
ration, and he warned the house to beware how it tam-
pered with the enjoyments of the poor man. The h n. gen-
tleman then complained of the anomalousposition publicans
wore placed in by the total absence of any rule to guide
them or the magistracy as to what constituted a traveller.
Some magistrates held that a man in a poet-chaise was
a traveller, though in a fly he was not ; and one gen-
tleman held that brandy and water was not the refreshment
of a traveller, but was the drink of a pleasure party. Mr.
Trail, of Greenwich, will not allow parties on pleasure to
come within the meaning of the act, while the more liberal
bench of Ilford holds that any man going five miles along a
turnpike road, for any purpose whatever, was to all intents
and purpose., a traveller within the meaning of the act.
Mr. Hardwieke thought that a man stopping on his return
near his own house was not a traveller, while Mr. Norton
thought he was. The hon. gentleman quoted numerous
other instances to show the perplexity the public were left
in as to what really constituted a traveller, the complaints

from all parts of the country being universal that there was
no rule laid down for the guidance of the publicans, and
that they did not know what to do. He had received a letter
from a Mr. Atkinson, detailing the operation of the bill in
Liverpool, in which the same absurdities occurred ; for
while a man going to a village about two miles from the town
was allowed to be a traveller, he was not allowed to be one
if he went to a village one mile further on. As . a further
illustration of the evil working of this bill, he would men-
tion a case which occurred on Sunday, April 23. Oa that
day the landlord of the Angel Inn, Sutton, had his brother
and sister from London to visithim, and as the parties were
supping together, at half-past ten o'clock, two policemen
knocked at the door, and were admitted. After looking
into the parlour and other public rooms, they walked into
the private apartment where the family were at supper,
and seeing two decanters of wine on the table they de-
parted ; but, in the morning the master of the house was
taken before a magistrate, and fined 10 shillings and 15
shillings costs, although he offered to prove the lady and
gentleman were his sister and brother; the magisterial
answer to his offer being, " Theo you must not have your
brother and sister to supper." He (Mr. .Berkeley) be-
lieved the licensed victuallers were a very respectable
body of men, and if any of them were not so that re-
flected chiefly upon the magistracy of this country. (Hoar,
hear.) But whatever they were, he was not to be
told that any class of her Majesty's subjects was to be
treated in this way. Why, in Russia a man could not be
in a state of greater slavery. (Hear.) If the licensed vic-
tuallers were to be fined for giving a supper to their own
relations, what was the meaning of the term that an Eng-
lishman's house was his castle? (Hear.) He would now
call the attention of hon. gentlemen to those unlicensed
victuallers' houses, the clubs of this city. The hour was
past 11 o'clock, and the night was Sunday. Two gentle.
men were sitting at supper, one of whom was a magistrate.
They had been down to Richmond or Greenwich, and no-
body would presume to doubt that his worship was a tra-
veller. The parties, therefore, discussed their devilled
leg of a turkey, and washed it down with whisky punch,
and at 12 o'clock returned to their homes " comfortable."
(Laughter.) The next morning the magistrate might go to
his police-court, and the first case brought forward might
be that of an innkeeper who had been informed against
for giving a beefsteak and a bottle of wine at half-past
10 o'clock to his own brother ; and this magistrate, with
the taste of the whisky scarcely off his lips, would hurl the
statute at the head of the unfortunate publican, and knock
him down; fining him 1/. ss. (Hear, hear.) This tempted
him to exclaim "Handy dandy • which is the justice, and
which is the thief?" (Laughter.) He presumed the pur-
pose for which this bill was framed was to check drunken-
ness on the Sabbath—(hear)—but he conscientiously be-
lieved it had not had that effect. They could not make a
drunkard sober by Act of Parliament,but he could tell the
house what it had done ; it had made people hypocrites.
They had created a hole-and-corner drunkenness through
the country which was perfectly appalling. (Hear, hear.)
People now got drunk in coffee-houses and in brothels,
where debauchery went hand. in hand with drunkenness.
From a return which had been made of the cases of drunk-
enness occurring on Whitsunday, in 1851, in Birmingham,
Bristol, Bath, Bradford, Hull, Leeds, Liverpool, Not-
tingham, and Sheffield, it appeared the total number of
cases amounted to Si;• but from a similar return made in
the present year, the total number was 118—showing an
increase of drunkenness since the passing of this act of 33
cases, or nearly double that of 1854. The great fault of
the•bill was that it let the rich completely alone—(hear)--
and while it was professedly introduced for the better ob-
servance of the Sabbath, it was in reality only for the bit-
ter observance of the Sabbath. (Hear.) The act must
have been brought forward by those who were lineally de-
scended from the respectable gentleman who hanged a cat
on Monday for killing a mouse on Sunday. (Laughter.)
He hoped the house would give him a &lance of proving
some of the allega,tions.he had made. He thought he h
laid before them seine proof of the evil opera ions of the
act. All he asked was, that there'should be an inquiry,
. and, if the event was different from what lie supposed, he
would be the first to submit to it. (Hear.)
Mr. COBBETT seconded the motion. The hon. and
learned member referred to two cases of hardship under the
act, and said he was sure the hon. member for North Lan-
cashire (Mr. W. Patten) would be the last man who would
wish to continue the act, unless it was satisfactorily proved
that the object was so superior to the mischief and cruelty
it occasioned that it ought not to be repealed. There bad
been so many conflicting decisions upon the statute that he
would ask the hon. member what was his notion of a tra-
veller, and what distinction he drew between a traveller
and a bona fide traveller? (Hear.) Some magistrates had
decided that a bona fide traveller meant something more
than a traveller; and others, that it meant a traveller tra-
velling. (Laughter.) This was a case in which the house
ought to institute an inquiry, fur the reasons given by the
hon. member for Bristol.
Sir G. GREY said, that though ho did not concur in all
the opinions expressed by the hon. member for Bristol, he
would consent, on the part of the Government, to the in-
quiry he had proposed into the operation of the act ; but
ho must say that a very incorrect notion would be ob-
tained from the speeches of both the mover and seconder
of the way in which that act passed, and as to the motives
with which the hon. member for North Lancashire pro-
posed, and the house adopted it, It ought to be borne in'
mind that a strong feeling was expressed in the country
not in favour of this bill, but in favour of the total closing
of public-houses on the Lord's-day. He was ready to
agree to the nomination of a fair committee ; but he put'
it to the hon. member whether the inquiry could be bona
fide entered upon before the commencement of next session ?
Mr. BRAD Y was much pleased to hear that the Go-
vernment intended to grant this inquiry. He thanked the
hon. gentleman fcr bringing forward the motion, and he
gave it his best support.
Mr. W. PATTEN wished, as the author of the bill, to
make a few observations in respect to the speech of the
hon. gentleman who moved the motion, and more espe-
cially to that part of it in which he said that the effect of
the act had been to increase rather than diminish the-
amount of drunkenness. He could assure the hon. mem-
ber that if he could substantiate his case, ho (Mr. W. Pat-
ten) should not only support him, but be grateful to him,
and would join him in obtaining the repeal of the act. But
that was a question which the committee would have to
decide. Ho was bound to say that he had carefully
watched tho operation of the bill, and he did see defects in
it, more especially with regard to the question of bond
fide travellers. The difficulty of what constituted a bond
fide traveller did not arise with him. He had intended to
define in the act itself what was meant by that term, but
he was informed that he had better make the act more
conformable with those which preceded it; and he had ac-
cordingly drawn it not only according to the spirit, but
according to the very terms of previous acts. It had been
alleged, in opposition to the bill, that it was one brought
in by the aristocracy in opposition to the lower classes.
Never was a greater mistake committed in this country.
The circumstances were these : A committee of the house
was appointed to inquire into the subject, which sat for
two years, and before that committee the licensed vic-

tuallers were more especially represented, and their views
were considered. In consequence of the shoals of peti-
tions, signed by 480,000 persons, which were presented
during only one half of the session, he was requested to
take up the matter, and bring in a bill further to limit the
hours within which intoxicating drinks should be sold on
Sundays. He had never recei:ed one letter upon the subject
from the higher classes ; they were received wholly from
mechanics, mechanic and literary institutions, and places
of that description—(hear, hear)—and from persons who
had devoted their time to the improvement of the moral
and social condition of the working classes. He,would re-
peat, that there e over was such a mistaken idea as to sup •
pose that the measure had originated with the upper
classes. It might be a wrong line of legislation; but all
he said was, that it sprung from a body of men who had a
strong feeling on the subject, such as the house was little
aware of. He had had a good deal to do with the labouring
classes in connection with the present subject, and they
were as jealous as any of the interference of the rich.
Mr. H. BERKELEY explained that he did not say that
the bill was brought in or originated by the higher classes;
but it had the effect of making a difference between the
upper and lower classes. _ _

Sir. W. PATTEN would only again repeat, that so far
from the aristocracy having taken any part, it had been
from the labouring classes alone that he had derived his
information. (Hear, hear.) He wished to state that,
once for all, that all misunderstanding upon the subject
might be avoided.
Mr. WILKINSON thought they had begun at the
wrong end. Instead of trying to stop drunkenness by
shutting the public-houses, they should set about to edu-
cate the people, and render them less susceptible to the in-
fluence of drink.
Sir J. WALSH believed that those who were in favour
of legislative interference were actuated by the best acid
most religious motives; but, at the same time, he could
not but think that they wore very much mistaken in the
course they were pursuing.
Mr. VILLIERS thought that the legislative inter-
ference had bad the most beneficial effects. As chairman
of the committee, which sat for two years, he had gone
into the inquiry with a predisposition against any legisla-
tive measures • but he must confess that his opinion° were
changed by the evidence which was given; and he would
tell those who were opposed to the present act, to look into
the evidence, and satisfy themselves upon the subject.
During his experience on the committee, of which he was
the chairman, he never heard evidence from 'any person in
authority against the shutting of public-houses at twelve
o'clock on Saturday night. On the contrary, it was
the poor themselves who at that time prayed the Legisla-
ture to interfere even further in the matter. The opinion
of the public, he believed, had continued in the same di-
rection ever since. He did not object to the proposed in-
quiry, but trusted it would be conducted in a fair spirit,
and give full satisfaction to all parties concerned. (Hear.)
Mr. HENLEY was glad to hear it committee was to be
granted, and sincerely trusted it would be a good one.
Sir J. SHELLEY hoped the whole matter would be
fairly and properly inquired into. He had little doubt the
measure was to the general satisfaction of the people ; but
considering it passed hurriedly through the house, a com-
mittee of inquiry might adjust all matters of difficulty
which had arisen from that circumstance. He trusted
when he brought forward his motion for the opening, un-
der certain restrictions, of the Crystal Palace on Sunday,
that all those who, during the evening, had spoken in
favour of wholesome recreations on the Sabbath, would give
him their support. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. E. BALL said, so far as his experience went, he
believed the act at present in operation lad been attended
with the most beneficial results.

Mr. T. DIJNCOMBE was glad it had been decided to
have an inquiry, but was opposed to its adoption during
the present session.
The motion was agreed to.