The Sun.
London, England, 1855-07-25 00:00:00

THE SUN, .LON 00N. WEDNESDAY EVENING, JULY 25 1855

in view of the solution of this question, whether in or out of
the conferences, no longer form a determined base for tinc
execution of which it would be advisable to enter into en-
gagements, but rather furnish materials worthy ot' being take,.
into consideration, and which perhaps may serve, according
to the events of the war—unfortunately alone capable of being
decisive—towards an assured state of 'right and of peace, for
which the resolution of the Diet of Dec. 9 designates the four
points in their essential contents, as au appropriate basis. To
tie oue's hands in any manner whatever with respect to these
materials appears to us objectionable, and we would not even
counsel that to the Austrian Cabinet, and still less to our
German confederates. Such are the principal observations
suggested to us by the Austrian project just communicated
to us ; and I have to request your Excellency to inform Count
Buol of them, leaving him a copy of the present despatch. It
will be of great interest to us to learn to what an extent these
considerations, which we have deemed it our duty to express
to you openly and frankly, may influence the course which
the Austrian Cabinet will follow in this affair. Receive,
" MANTEUFFEL."

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS-(YESTERDAY.)

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.

The Duke of BUCCLEUCH presented a petition
from the Presbytery of Lorn against the Scotch Eluca-
.

Lion Bill

The Duke of MONTROSE presented petitions against
the Scotch Education Bill.

THE FIBRE COMPANY'S BILL.

The Earl of HARDWICKE rose to move that in con-
sequence of the proceedings upon the Fibre Company's
Bill having been superseded, by reason of the introduc-
tion of a general measure upon limited liability, and as
there is DOW little prospect of such measure passing
in the present session, it is expedient that
the said bill be allowed to be • read a second time.

The noble lord said it was understood that the Limited

Liability Bill would effect all that was asked by the Fibre
Bill, and that it might be inconvenient to legislate on a
private bill simultaneously with the introduction of a
general measure on the same subject; it was considered but
respectful to such an argument that it should be listened
to. The session had now, however, so far advanced as to
make it almost certain that the general measure cannot
pass this year for want of time, it being only now in com-
mittee in the other House of Parliament, and it was
therefore sought that the Fibre Bill must be allowed to
proceed. His motion was based on two grounds ; let,
The importance of the measure itself, from the very
great public advantages it was calculated to promote.
2d, As respects the standing order 176 ; the very con-
siderable doubt whether that order was applicable to
the Fibre Bill ; and the perfect impossibility of the
promoters of the bill to comply with such order, and to
conform at the same time to the requirements and pro-
visions of the Joint Stock Act, which now regulated the
preliminary proceedings of all companies. The import-
ance of the measure might be gathered from the fact
that it proposed to give powers for providing a remedy
for one of the greatest wants of the present day, viz.,
the supply of a cheap material for papr. The promo-
ters felt that they could not find a better argument in

support of their -views than that furnished by the con-
tents of an article published in the last June number of
the " Quarterly Review." It was entitled, " The Sup-
ply of Paper," and commenced thus :
"The literary world is just opening its eyes to an im-
pending evil of no little magnitude—even a scarcity of
intellectual food. Stubborn facts and figures warn us
th.t, unless extraordinary efforts are made to avert the

calamity, we shall soon experience all the inconveniences
arising from the deficient supply and consequent high
price of paper. Already a rise in price of one half-
penny per pound in that article has seriously affected
our public journalists, causing a loss, it is
said, to the Times newspaper alone of 10,0001.
or 12,0001. per annum, and inducing the proprietors of
that journal to offer a reward of 1,0001. to any one who
can discover a new and readily available material.
" The cause of our present dilemma is the increased
consumption of paper without a corresponding increase in
the supply of rags. In the five years from 1830 to 1834,
both inclusive, the amount of paper manufactured in Great
Britain was on an average 70,988 131 lbs. per annum.
This was prior to the reduction of duty on first.class papers
from 3a to its present equalised rate of 11d, per lb. Tak-
ieg the five years from 1849 to 1853, we find that the
average annual quantity produced had risen t 0151,234,175
lbs. The production of the year 1853 was 177,633,0091.,
being above 23,000,000 lbs., or 10,000 tons more than the
preceding year, and requiring for its production an ex-
cess of not less than 13,000 tons of raw material. The re-
turn for the year 1854 continues to show an increase,
caused by an increased export demand ; but the amount
does not ereatly exceed that of 1853. The figures are
177,896,2241b5. Taking into account the higher price of
paper-making materials, it is estimated that the cost of
produc7ion to our manufacturers during the present year
will exceed that which the same weight of paper would
have cost in 1852, by no less than 1,000,0001. sterling.
" This increased consumption of paper in Great Britain
is due to the vast demands of our periodical literature, the
more widespread ability to read and write among the
lower classes. the cheapness of books and newspapers, and
the facilities of communication by post." .7

tion from Poplar, praying that that township might not
be included in the same district with Bow and Bromley.
The Earl f FORTESCUE presented a petition from
Somers-town acrain,t portions of the bill.
Liird WODEHOUSE then moved the second reading
of the bill. He stated that the Government of the me-
tropolis as regarded local affairs was of the most com-
plicated and unsatisfactory character. There were no
less than 250 local acts relating to different portions of
the metropolis, and as many separate local bodies. Be-
sides these there was the commission of sewers. Since
1847 there had been no fewer than seven different com-
missions of sewers, and they had incurred a debt of no
less than half a million, and the cost of management was
as much as 28,j per cent, on the expenditure. There
was to be an end of this commission, and of the nume-
rous local bodies he had referred to. It was proposed
to extend to all parishes the provisions of Hobhouse's
Act, as regarded the election of vestries, and in the va-
rious parishes wards would be constituted. The parishes
of the metropolis were divided by the schedule of the
bill into two classes, schedule A and schedule B, and
they might be called parishes sole and parishes in
union. These parishes were 23 in number. The
rest of the metropolis was divided into 15 districts,
making a total of 38 districts, each of which would
elect a board. To these boards would be trans-
ferred the superintendence of paving and lighting,
besides the management of the local sewers. As
regarded the rating it would remain as at pre-
sent, the occupiers paying the paving and
lighting rates, and the owners the sewers rate. It was
also proposed that there should be what was called a
Metropolitan Board of Works, which was to be composed
of forty-six members. The central board would have one
most important duty to perform, namely, to consider a
plan for remedying that which was becoming every day
a more serious evil, the condition of the River Thames.
They would have to devise some method• of preventing
any of the sewage of the metropolis from being poured
into the river ; and if that object alone were accomplished
a very great benefit would have resulted from this mea-
sure. After having thus explained the main provisions
of the bill. his lordship concluded with a recommenda-
tion of it to the most serious consideration of the house,
as one affecting the welfare of all the inhabitants of this
metropolis, who formed so great a portion of the people
of England ; and he moved that the bill should now be
read a seeond time.
Lord PORTMAN regretted there was not time
enough remaining this session for the consideration of
the details of this bill, though he recognised its value,
and thought it most important that it should pass into
law. He had some suggestion to offer for its amend-
ment. The great questions were, the division of the
town into districts, and the mode of electing the district
boards. He thought it was hardly safe to invest a newly-
created body with all the functions which bad existed
by virtue of some 250 local acts of Parliament, which
were now to be repealed, unless the house were better
informed than it was at present of the nature and extent
of those various powers.
_

The deficiency was becoming so much greater by rea-
,on of our supplies of flax and hemp from l'ussia having
h•--en considerably reduced in consequence of the war.
From the thorough test which the proposed new flax
material has undergone at a very considerable cost—
from the fact that an edition of the Times newspaper
has been published upon it—the Fibre Company was in a
position to pledge itself that, should the Parliamentary
powers, sought by their bill, be granted, they would be
able in a very great degree to solve the difficult problem,

and to supply tile pressing requirement of a subsCitute foi-
rags. The necessity for the adventure being carried out
by a company must be evident from I consideration of the
magnitude of the operations required to prodilee a sensi-
ble effect, arid the wide range to which thdy must ex-
tend ; indeed it may almost he said, that to supply a re-
quisite quantity of the new material for papei making
would be as far beyond the capability and prudence of
private enterprise as it would be to undertake to supply
the whole of England with bread from one ibdividual
purveyor. The noble lord than proceeded to comment
on the standing order, and contended that it was at
variance with the practice of, the house, and therefore
the bill ought to be read a second time.
Lord REDESDALE opposed the motion. The noble
earl had argued the case just as if there was no way in
which cheap paper could be obtained except through the
instrumentality of this company ; but a patent hed been
granted for making paper of fibres ; and of that patent
any person or cainpany might avail themselves. He
begged to remind their lordships that this was the first
bill in which they had been asked to allow aliinited lia-
bility to an exclusively trading company. He believed
that what made the promoters so anxious to press this
measure this session was a wish to buy up the patent to
which he had referred, and thus establish a monopoly.
He denied that the standing order 176 was obsolete or
contrary to the acts of Parliament he had named ; nor
did he see any reasen why the order relating t 3 the pe-
lied at which private bills should be read a second time
should be set aide. It was true that the partiele bad not
pressed their bill, but they had abstained from doing se en-
tirely on their own responsibility, and not in consequence
of any promise on the part of the Government. He
trusted that the house would reject the motion, i
put a stop to a practice which he was sorry to at againoneelyto
springing up, the practice, namely, of persoollY can-
vassing peers in support of private bills. (Cloers.) It
was highly necessary, for the character of t house,
that they should discountenance any attempt tlt resort to
that practice by every means in their power. (Hear.)
The Marquis of CLAN.RICARDE, in supporting the
motion, declared that he had not the slightest personal
interest in the bill. He did not know that any one of his
acquaintances had any interest in it, hut he bid been so
far personally canvassed, that a statement of the com-
pany's case had been put into his hands, and after per-
u-ing that s atemen, he had come to the determination
to support the company's application.
Earl GRANVILLE admitted that be had recom-
mended the postponement of the bill until the Govern-
ment measure should tive been brought before them.
The Government bad no intention of abandoning their
bill, although he was certainly not able to, promise that
it would be passed during the present session. He
thought that it a standing order was a bad one it ought
to he repealed, but so long as they kept it on their books
they ought to enforce it, unless good cause was shown
to the contrary. On this ground he should oppose the
present motion.
After a few worth from the Earl of NARDWICKE in
The re
The Earl of DERBY said he thought this company
ha,l been hardly and unjustly dealt with. They were
not responsible for the delay which bad occurred, inas-
much as they brought in their bill in good time, and they
were not permitted to go on with it, as it was stated
there was a bill for limited liability in general, which it
was expected would pass this session. That bill, how-
ever, had not Passed through committee of the other
house, and they had passed the day on which their lord-
ships had determined they would not, except in case of
exigency, read a bill a second time which came from the
Commons. He was himself in favour of the principle of
the principle of limited liability without ample time and
limitedtloiaconsiderleisure
it. After the feeling which had been
expressed he did not think it would be discreet in his
noble friend to go to a division, as be would probably
be in a small minority ; but however small the minority,
if he did go to a division, he would support him.
The motion was then negatived without a division.
THE BARONY OF FERMOY.

Earl FORTESCUE also intended to propose an
amendment in committee. By this bill four great London
parishes, St. George's, St. James's, Marylebone, and
Pancras would continue for a time the election of their
vestrie, in the present mode, being exempted so far from
the obligation imposed upon other parishes and districts
of adopting the mole of election prescribed by this bill;
and in the meantime all the new powers which were
given by this bill would be exercised by the old vestries,
including the appointment of officers, fixing salaries, and
deputing representatives of tho 'e parishes to the central
board. He considered thi4 was objectionable.
The Marquis of SALISBURY thought the Govern-
ment had d ,ne well in attempting to improve the local
management of the metropolis, but expressed some
doubt whether this measure would prove more efficient
for the sewerage than other metropolitan sewers com-
missions which had been create in vain. He recom-
mended that, as in the case of the New Poor Law, this
measure should be only a temporary operation at first,
for a term of three or five years, so that its faults might
be corrected by experience.
The Earl of CARNARVON supported the objections
which had been taken by Earl Fortescue to the 7th
clause of the bill, relating to four large parishes of the
metropolis ; he thought it involved not only a practical
injustice, but almost a constitutional grievance, to em-
power bodies which had been elected for a different pur-
pose to perform duties which neither they nor their
constituents ever contemplated.
The Earl of DERBY concurred in expressing his re-
gret that this bill came before their lordships at a period
of the session when it was physically impossible for them
to bestow sufficient attention upon it ; but he frankly
admitted the great importance of passing the measure,
and the diligent consideration it had obtained from the
House of Commons, as well as from the Government.
He thought it improbable that he should be able to attend
when it was discussed in committee ; but he felt confi-
dent that Government would readily consider any sug-
gestions that might be offered. There was one feature
of it on which he would make some observations—he
meant the enforcement of an uniform system of voting
in, and election of, vestries throughout all the different
parishes. At' present only a very small proportion of
the parishes in London were under the operation of
what was called Hobhouse's Act. This bill did not
formally introduce that act in all the parishes ; but in
effect it did the same thing ; for while it repealed
Hobhouse's Act, it introduced the provisions of
that act, extending them over all the parishes, and
thereby established single voting, and negatived
the system of plurality in voting. Now he thought there
was a great deal to be said in favour of the system of
plurality of votes, as enabling the persons who contri-
buted most largely to the rates to exercise a proportion-
ate influence over the expenditure.. But many parishes
bad had this question referred to their own. decision ;
and the very class of persons who by this bill or by Hob-
house's Act would have the exclusive franchise conferred
upon them, had resolved that they preferred remaining
under Sturges Bourne's Act, which they thought was
more conducive to the good government of the parish.
Now he (the Earl of Derby) was not advocating one
principle more than the other, but he would put it to the
Government whether, for the sake of uniformity in the
mode of election in all the different parishes and dis-
tricts, they would make it compulsory upon them to adopt
a system which the parishioners did not prefer. He
did not see why it should not be left to their option.
No inconvenience would result from the central board
being composed of members elected by different consti-
tuencies, in different ways ; for example, the Senate of
the United States consisted of two representatives of
each state, but elected under different state laws and by
various constituencies. The working of the metropolitan
system constituted as he suggested would afford a valu-
able illustration of the problem of the best mode of elec-
tion, and the representatives of each locality would try
to rival others in good management.
The Earl of PO WIS throughout the vestries of large
parishes, like St. George's, were not suitable for the
transaction of such affairs as would by this bill be com-
mitted to them. He apprehended, also, that the effect Of
the first clause would be, though unintentionally, to put
an rnd to the burial boards, and to the commissioners of
baths and washhouses. It was inconvenient to begin
the operation of the bill on the Ist of December, when
the accounts of parishes were commonly made up at
Easter or Lady-day
Lord WO D EHOUSE briefly replied. With regard to
the observations of the noble earl opposite (Derby), al-
though Sturges Bourne's Act was a general act applying
to all parishes throughout the country, in the metropolis
a large number of parishes had got special acts ; and
there were scarcely two alike in the mode of electing
their vestries. If the arrangement suggested by the
noble earl were adopted, he feared it would excite more
heartburuings and jealousies than the application of one
uniform rule.
The bill was then read a second time.
DISSENTERS' MARRIAGE BILL.

Lord BROUGHAM moved the second reading of this
bill, which he stated to be for the purpose of remedying
a great evil to which dissenters were now subject.
Under the Dissenters' Marriage Act of 1836, when a
marriage between dissenters took place by the registrar
or by a dissenting minister, it was necessary to give
notice to the clerk of the board of guardians, and if the
marriage was to take pines without a license, a ;notice
was to be read at threo successive meetings of the poor
law guardians of the district in which one of the parties
lived. Many most respectable persons objected to
this, and many were thereby [deprived of the benefit
intended by the act of 1836. The object of the bill
was to substitute another mode of proceeding, and in-
stead of notice being given to the clerk of the guardians,
and the notice being read three times at different meet-
ings of the guardians, the notice was to be given to the
superintendent registrar, and be affixed in some conspi-
cuous in his office for 21 days. The measure was
much considered in the other house by gentlemen of all
sects, both of the Church and dissenters, and had come
up to their lordships' house with their full sanction.
After a few words from Lord REDESDALE the bill was
read a second time.
The following bills were read a second time :—The
Stage Carriage Duties, &c. ; Chinese Passengers' Ships;
Court of Jurisdiction (Prince of Wales Island) ; Conven-
tion with United States; Nuisances Removal and Dis-
eases Prevention Acts Consolidation and Amendment ;
Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Continuance ; Lunatic Asy-
lums and Regulations Acts Amendment ; Militia Offi-
cers' Qualification ; and the Turnpike Trusts Arrange.
ments Bills.
The Dissenters' Relief Bill after a short discussion was
withdrawn.

The Earl of DERBY said he wished to put a ques-
tion to his noble friend the President of the Council which
affected their lor,lships' privileges. Some time ago he
felt it to be his duty to bring under their lordships' notice
the circumstances under which the Crown was advised
to grant letters patent conferring the barony of Fermoy
on a gentleman lately a member of the other house of
Parliament, and at his instance the question had been
referred to a select committee of that house. He had
supposed that the honourable gentleman—he supposed
be must call him—when the validity of bis patent was
impugned, would have taken measures to establish his
right, and have claimed his right to vote for a represen-
tative peer of Ireland. Ile had not thought fit to take
that
icoourfsteh;e asnesdsiaetn,thwihseomany of the learned judges
period of the year, and the
whom they would have to consult, could not be in at-
tendance, and when, consequently, it would be difficult
to come to a conclusion, he (Lord Derby) should not
take any stringent course, but at an early period next
session, unless Government brought the subject under
the consideration of their lordships, and unless the hon.
gentleman in whose favour:the patent had been issued
should think proper to claim his right to vote, he should
meantime
tdti
mht the
oe question
prejudiceounes tw whether
i o n u ndtehre
anything
citheirneet lordships'question.
. would
be done in the
notice. He
Earl GRANVILLE said he had been under the ex-
pectation that the nob!o earl would himself bring for-
ward the question, but having waited several weeks the
noble lord (Lord Fermoy) bad consulted him, and
asked him whether be did not think that he should
claim his right to vote as a representative peer be-
fore the committee of privileges. He consulted bis
noble friend on the wool.ack, who told him it was
y steps to act on their
e did not know whe-
e to a question too late to get a decision this session on account of the
absence of Om judges, and therefore he (Earl Granville)
advised his noble friend to wait till another session. He
felt some slight difficulty in answering the question as to
twh whether
interpretationt
ihte
wr
aaGovernment
right
g o:t
theo
gl
aiwouldvwe, a because
take an
be
a n
theNlkGsElir.EeaNdtng BILL.
of
this
bill,
affect-
ing the prerogative of the Crown, but be might say that
her Majesty's Government would not, 'without °onside.
ration, advise her Majesty to do any act which would
prejudice the question.
METROPOLIS
theLOCAL
dayfor second
M -
On t h e order of
- The Marquis ofIVESTILINUER preseuied i - Pe V'
- .-

The Treasurer of Counties (Ireland) Bill, and the Sale
of Spixits(lreland)Bill, were severally read a second time.
Tho Turnpike Acts Continuance Bill, the West India
Loans Relief Arrangement Bill, and the Public Libraries
and Museums Bill were read a third time and passed.
The Piers and Harbours (Scotland) Bill, the Crown
Suit- Bill, and the Lunatic Asylum (Ireland) Bill, were
severally passed through committee.
The report of the amendment in the Merchant Ship-
ping Act Amendment Bill was brought up and agreed to.
MORTMAIN BILL.

On the motion of Lord BROUGHAM this bill was with,
drawn.
Their lordships adjourned at nine o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS-(YESTERDAY.)

The SPEAKER took the chair at 12 o'clock.

The Lords' amendments to the following bills were
considered and agreed to :—Airdrie Rural District Po-
lice (No. 2) Bill ; East Kent Railway (Extension to
Dover) Bill ; and the Surrey Gas Bill.
TENANTS' IMPROVEMENTS COMPENSATION
(IRELAND) BILL.
On the order of the day for resuming the discussion
on this bill in committee,
Lord PALMERSTON rose and said he felt be
move move that the bill be not further proceededa witho
t yield
session, The Government had been prep
their own opinions to what might 4 they took
Meng Ceehag of the people of Irelaucl, ad;
be ;:orn_esidered. the

. • .