The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-08 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF COMMONS.---This Day.
The SPEAKE& took the chair at a quarter past twelve.
FOREIGN ENLISTMENT ACT.

Mr. COBDEN moved an address for a copy of a me-
morial from certain shipowners of Liverpool to the Secre-
tary of State for Foreign Affairs, suggesting an alteration
in the Foreign Enlistment Act.
The motion was agreed to.
POISONED GRAIN, &c,, PROTECTION BILL.
Mr. PAULL rose to move the second reading of this bill.

He showed that great injury had occurred to vegetation
by the extermination of birds, while, in the districts where
that destruction had taken place, insect life had greatly
increased. He had no intention of interfering by this bill
with the game laws, much lesa to make them more strin-
gent than they are. It was solely in the interest of farmers
and agriculture that he asked the house to pass this bill,
which would prevent the indiscriminate slaughter of birds
not now protected by law. He pointed out the dangers
arising from the use of poisoned wheat, strychnine being
generally used, and sometime cosulus indicus and arsenic.
He mentioned a case in which two poisoned rats were
found inside a valuable sow, which had died suddenly from
some apparently inexplicable cause. He should, how-
ever, move the committal of the bill, in order that the
amendment might be printed.
Mr. FORSTER seconded the motion. I t was at one time
supposed that no poison could be used successfully except
poisoned grain ; but he cited the opinion of a practical agri-
culturist to show that vitriol was equally adaptable and far
more safe. He deprecated the cruel practice of poisoning
small birds with poisoned wheat. Scientific men had clearly
demonstrated that small birds were indapensable in the
economy of agriculture. On the grounds of public safety
they ought to pass the bill, for poisoned game found its way
to their tables. He begged to suggest to his hon. friend
that the penalty for using poisoned wheat should be in-
creased to £2O.

Mr. CAIRD supported the bill, and would be glad if
_ . .

could be made useful without being injurious to the agri-
cultural interest. It was, however, a mistake to suppose that
small birds did; not do a great deal of injury to game and

gardens.
Sir H. STRACEY ale) supported the bill, and read
letters to show that in one case, where birds were exten-
sively poisoned, the vegetables were covered with that de-
structive insect the caterpiller, which had not previously
been the case. _ _

Viscount GALWAY considered the bill indispensable.
In passing through Eton the other day he was surprised
to see for sale in a window of that academical village,
" Doubly strong poisoned wheat—warranted to kill any-
thing." (H.ear, and laughter.)
Mr. MARSH supported this bill, saying that plenty of
substitutes could be found bereft of danger.
Mr. HENLEY said there was a great deal of truth in
what had been said with respect to the destruction of small
birds ; but unless they were very careful they would pre-
vent sportsmen from shooting birds that came under that
definition. As the bill stood it would not stand the
test of legislative investigation, so that he should be glad
to be afforded an opportunity of examining the amended bill
promised. They would have a bill careful in defining
what vermin consisted of. It was an ugly word. (Laugh-
ter.) Was a fox so definable ? He should like to know
how the lawyers would describe him. (Hear and laughter.)
Sir G. GREY said, undoubtedly it was a mischievous
practice to expose poisoned wheat, as at the present time,
but he feared the bill would be impracticable in its present
shape, for he did not find that the proposed amendments
would improve it. He should, however, support the
second reading on this understanding that the hon.
member would reprint this bill ; but he apprehended it
would be more advisable for him to withdraw it and to in-
troduce an amended measure
Mr. SLATER-BOOTH supported the bill.
Sir J. SHEL bEY said he was a farmer of thirty years
standing, and had tried every system of protecting his
wheat from destruction by birds, and used wheat steeped
n arsensic. Farmers were much to blame for not drilling
their wheat deep enough.
After a few words from Mr. DUTTON, the bill was read
a second time, and the amended bill was ordered to be
printed and circulated.
CASUAL POOR (METROPOLIS) BILL.
Lord RAYNHAM moved the second reading of this bi

the object of which, he said, was to amend the present law
with respect to the immediate relief of casual, ailing, and
distressed poor in the metropolis.
[LEFT SPEAXING.I
____...........