The Sun.
London, England, 1837-05-04 00:00:00

110 USE OF COMMONS, MAr 3.

•
The SPEAKER took the Chair at the usual hour.
Mr. Campbell, from the East India House, appeared at
the Bar, and presented papers relative to pensions granted
by the East India Company.
WESTMINSTER ELECTION.

• On the motion of Sir GEORGE SINCLAIR, a new
writ was ordered for the election of a Member for the City
of Westminster, in the room of Sir Francis Burdett, who
since his election for that City, had accepted the Steward-
ship of the Chiltern Hundreds.

Mr. G. EVANS brought up the Report of the Com-
mittee on the Drogheda Railway Bill.
On the motion of Mr. M. PHILLIPS, the Lords'
Amendments to the Victoria Park, Manchester, Bill were
agreed to.

Mr. S. CRAWFORD presented a petition from the in-
habitants of Dundalk against the American and Colonial
Steam Navigation Company Bill, and praying that the
principle of limited liability might bp introduced into all
similar enactments.
On the motion of Mr. FORBES, the Clackmannan
Railway Bill was read a third time and passed.
The Report of the Committee on the Antrim and
Coleraine Road Bill, was brought up and laid on the
table.

On the motion of Mr. VIVIAN the Swansea Water
Works Bill was read a third time and passed.

Mr. KIRK brought up the report of the Committee on
be Belfast and Lisburn Road Bill.
CHURCH-RATES.

Mr. D'EYNCOURT presented a petition for the aboli-
tion of Chuich-rates, from the electors and inhabitant house-
holders of the borough of Lambeth, agreed to at a very nu-
merous meeting, assembled after the utmost publicity, and
open to all parties. It was signed by 5,700 persons, and
stated in substance that, considering the great extent and

value
of Church property, they deemed it unjust to call on
any of his Majesty's subjects, but especially on Dissenters, to
support the Establishment. There were three Churches in
the district, accommodating 5,040 persons, supported by
Church-rates ; whereas there were 51 Dissenters' chapels
and 18 Episcopal chapgls (in all 69 chapels), accommodat-
ing 56,240 persons, by means of voluntary contributions ;
and yet these parties bad also to pay for the other favoured
5,040, who had the benefit of Church-rates. The petitioners
concluded by strongly recommending the measure proposed
by his Majesty's Ministers.
The HoN, MEMBER then presented a petition from the
inhabitants of the parish of Tealby, in the county of Lin-
coln, praying for the abolition of Church-rates ; also a peti-
tion from a congregation of Protestant Dissenters assem-
bling at Denmark Chapel, in the parish of Camberwell,
Surrey, for the same object, and approving of the measure
proposed by his Majesty's Ministers.
Col. GORE LANGTON presented a petition signed
by 1,840 inhabitants of a pariskin the county of Somerset
praying the House to pass the Government measure for
abolition of Church Rates entire.

Sir JOHN JOHNSTONE presented a petition from
the town of Scarborough praying for the better observ-
ance of the Sabbath.

Mr. TOOKE presented a petition numerously and re-
spectably signed, by the Ministers and Congregations of
Wesleyan Methodists in Truro, praying the House to pass
a law for the better observance of the Sabbath.

Captain BERKELEY presented a petition from Glou-
cester, praying for the abolition of the punishment of death
for all crimes except that of murder.
Sir G. CREWE presented seven petitions against the
abolition of Church-rates.

Lord EASTNOR presented a petition from the parish
of Hullstone, in the county of Hereford, against the aboli-
tion of Church-rates.

Lord HENNIKER presented several petitions from
Suffolk against the Abolition of Church-rates.
Sir E. KNATCHBULL presented petitions from dif-
ferent parishes in Kent and Sussex, against the Ministerial
plan for the abolition of Church-rates. The Right Ho-
nourable Baronet also presented two petitions from Unions
in Kent, praying the House to pass a measure by
which the payment of the poor-rates on tenements
under a certain value might be charged upon the
owner and not the occupier. He trusted this subject
would come under the consideration of the House in the
course of the present session, and he begged to give notice
that unless some proposition emanated from the Poor Law
Commissioners upon the subject, which he trusted would
be the case, he . should himself pall the attention of the
House to it after the holidays.
Mr. BYNG presented a petition from the Vestry of
St. James, Westminster, praying for the repeal of the win-
dow tax. The Hon. Member also presented a petition against
Church-rates from Highgate ; also a petition from West-
minster, praying for an equal distribution of the land-tax.
Mr. C. LUS HINGTON presented a petition from a
parish in the county of Derby, in favour of the Ministerial
plan for the abolition of Church-rates. The petition was
signed by every rate-payer in the parish except the clergy-
man, and it originated with the members of the Established
Church, who had solicited the Dissenters to sign it.
Mr. W.ILKS presented a petition from an individual
who had for many years held the situation of Master of a
Workhouse in Middlesex, stating that he had been discharged
under the New Poor-law Act, and praying the House to
make some provision for persons in similar circumstances.
The Hon. Member then presented petitions from Devon-
shire-square Chapel, Bishopsgate-street, and Spencer-place
Chapel, Middlesex, in favour of the Ministerial plan for the
abolition of Church-rates.

NATIONAL EDUCATION (IRELAND).
Mr. SHARMAN CRA WFORD presented a petition
from an individual who complained
,of having been un-
justly dismissed from his situation by the Board of
Commissioners of Education in Ireland, and ,praying that
he might be heard before the House on this and other
matters connected with the Education Commission. He
proposed that the petition should be referred to the Com-
mittee then sitting on the plan of National Education for
Ireland.

Mr. VERNON SMITH said the Committee was in-
quiring into the progress and operation of the plan of Na-
tional Education in Ireland, and he did not know whether
the House would think that a►i individual grievance ought
to be referred to that Committee.
The petition was, however, as we understood, referred to
the Committee.
Captain VVEMYSS presented several petitions froth Dis-
senting Congregations in favour of the Ministerial Church-
rate plan.

M. LOWTHER presented a petition from the city of
York, in favour of the better observance of the Sabbath.
Sir E. CODRINGTON presented a petition from 401
seamen of North Shields, praying for the appointment of a
Select Committee to investigate the grievances under which
they laboured. They referred particularly to the circum-
stance of the quantity and quality of provisions allowed them
while at sea, and also to the fact of their being denied their
wages in the event of the vessel not obtaining a freight.
There was no class of men worse treated than the British
seamen, and he trusted these complaints would be inquired
into.

Mr. METHUEN presented nine petitions from parishes
in North Wilts in favour of the Government plan for the
abolition of Church-rates, and one for the better observance
of the Sabbath.
Mr. CHICHESTER presented a number of petitions
from places in the county of Radnor, in favour of the abo-
lition of Church-rates.
Mr.
WALLACE bad a petition of a very extraordinary
kind to present—the nature of whidh he would not then enter
into, as he intended to call the attention of the House to it
specifically on a future occasion. In passing, he would only
remark, that the petition contained six yards of grievances,
and threeyards of signatures, affirming those grievances. It
was fram the inhabitants of, Havre-de-Grace, Conception-
bay, in Newfoundland. He thought the.time was come
when it vvas the bounden duty of the House to afford relief

to the Colonies. Ile would move that the petition be
printed with the votes, and he gave notice tl'at he weru'd
call the attention of the House to the subject on Tuesday
next. The Hon. Member then presented a petition from
the inhabitants of Dunbar, praying for a reduction in the
rates of postage ; one from the Chamber of Commerce of
Greenock, praying for a reduction of the duty on marine
insurances ; one from the Writers of Glasgow, complaining
of the attorney tax ; one from persons inCardiff, complaining
of the privileges granted by the Post-office to a publication
called the Shipping List, and praying that another publication
of the same nature, might be put upon the same footing ; and
two from the merchants, bankers, &c. of Greenock, against
the Commercial Steam Navigation Bill, and the Colonial
Steam Navigation Bill. The Hon. Member also presented
a petition from the cotton-spinners of Glasgow, praying for
the abolition of the duty on raw cotton.
Mr. W. STANLEY presented several petitions from
different parishes in Wales, in favour of Sir Andrew Ag-
new's Sunday Bill.
Sir W. FOULKES presented several petitions from
different parts of Norfolk in favour of the Ministerial plan
for the abolition of Church-rtes.
Mr. HARDY presented several petitions from Bradford
and its neighbourhood, against the abolition of Church-rates.
A great number of petitions were presented in favour of
the Ministerial plan for the abolition of Church-rates.
Mr. VERNON SMITH presented a petition agreed
to at a public meeting at Northampton, and signed by the
Mayor, in favour of the Ministerial measure respecting
Church-rates. This meeting had been culled in consequence
of a meeting previously held there against the abolition of
Church-rates.—( Hear, hear.)
Mr. CARTWRIGHT said that those who had at-
tended the meeting from which he bad presented a petition
the other day were individuals who never meddled- with.
politics.—(Hear, hear.) That petition was signed by
1,300 gentlemen who were resident in Northampton,
whereas the petition which had just been presented, had
the signature only of the Mayor.

Mr-. VERNON SMITH held in his hand a ticket by
which persons were admitted to the meeting alluded to by
the Hon. Gentleman opposite, and which had these words
upon it—" N. B. The person using this ticket de-
clares he approves of the object of the meeting, and
consents to be governed in all cases by the decision of the
Chairman."—(Loud cheers.) He was surprised to hear the
Hon. Member say that that was the largest public meeting
ever held in Northamptonshire ; and when the Hon.
Member recollected the difficulty they experienced in
procuring a Chairman, they being obliged to send for
the Noble Lord the Member for North Lancashire, it would
be seen at once how erroneous such a statement was. He
denied, also, that the great bulk of the property of the
county had been represented at that meeting.

Mr. CART WRIGHT did not mean to state that the
meeting was the largest in point of numbers, but in point of
respectability.—(oh !)
Mr. HUME would be glad to know what the Hon.
Member's definition of respectability was. He looked upon
one man to be as respectable as another, if he honestly dis-
charged his duty to society, and did not pocket any of
the public money.—( Hear, and laughter.) He suspected
there were a great many public pensioners at that meeting.
Mr. HARDY presented a petition from Bradford, on
the subject of the new Poor-laws.—Referred to the Com-
mittee.

Mr. WARD presented a petition from St. Paul's,
Covent-garden, in favour of the Metropolis Improvement
Bill. The Hon. Member at the same time gave notice
that, on going into Committee on the Irish Poor Law
Bill, it was his intention to move a resolution on the sub-
ject of emigration.
Mr. MILES presented petitions from places in Somer-
set, in favour of Sir A. Agnew's Sabbath-day Bill ; for
the abolition of the Duty on Soap ; and a reduction of the
Four-and-a-half per cent. paid by the sugar colonies.
E WART presented a petition from Liverpool in
favour of Household Suffrage.

An Hon. MEMBER presented a petition from Gosford,
in favour of a reduction of the duty on Fire Insurances.
Mr. WA SON presented a petition from the Radical As-
sociation of Stockport, praying for a repeal of the Septen-
nial Act.

Mr.WAKLEYpresented a petition from the inhabitants
of Holborn, in favour of the Metropolis Improvement Bill.
Mr. HUME presented a petition from Newfoundland,
complaining of grievances and the conduct of the Go-
vernment of that colony.—(The petition was ordered to be
printed with the votes, and taken into consideration on
Tuesday.) The Hon. Member also presented petitions
from Sir R. Sidney, on the subject of fees charged in Com-
mittees on controverted elections ; from Leicester, in fa-
vour of household suffrage ; from certain mariners in fa-
vour of the Shipping Gazette, and against the Post-office
monopoly ; from Stirling, against the attorney tax ; from
the sextons in parishes in London, praying for compensa-
tion in case the general Cemetery Bills should be passed ;
and from the Radical Association of Edinburgh against
the Pension List, or persons whom he (Mr. Hume) did
not consider respectable, because they partook of the
public plunder.—(A laugh.)
Mr. A. TREVOR wished to know if the petition pre-
sented by the Hon. Member contained any such state-
ment as that the persons named in the Pension List were
not respectable ?
Mr. HUME replied that he had given his own inter-
pretation. He did not consider that those who received
public plunder were respectable.
Mr. A. TREVOR—That is not an answer to my
question.
The SPEAKER submitted to the Hon. Gentleman's
discretion whether he would persevere in putting such a
question ?
Mr. HU ME said he had no objection to answer it. The
expression he had used was his own, and not that of the
petitioners.
Mr. ROBf NSON observed that as the Hon. Member
for Middlesex had presented a petition, charging the Go-
vernment of Newfoundland with improper conduct, he
(Mr. Robinson) thought it right to say that lie was satis-
tied on investigation it would be found that these charges
were unfounded.
Mr. HUME observed that the petition which he had
presented charged improper conduct against the Colonial
officers as well as the Government of Newfoundland.

Mr. T. DU NCOM BE presented a petition from Fins-
bury, praying for an equalization of the land tax.
Sir C. Y. BULLER presented several petitions from
Devonshire in favour of Sir A. Agnew's Sabbath Day
Bill.

Mr. Alderman WOOD presented a petition from Mr.
Richard ,Gaythorne Butt, stating that he had, in 1814,
been convicted of a conspiracy with Admiral Cochrane,
.and fined 1,0001., and praying that the same favour which
had been shown to the Earl of Dundonald should be ex-
tended to him.

Col. THOMPSON presented a petition numerously
signed by a body of the working classes assembled at Gray's
Inn-lane, complaining of the little time that was applied to
the consideration of petitions in that House.
Mr. CLAY gave notice that on Monday next he should
present a petition, very numerously signed, from the Shet-
land Islands, praying for the repeal of the corn laws..
The Earl of LINCOLN, Viscount CASTLEREAGII, and
several other Members, presented petitions against the
Church-rates Bill from Nottingham, and various other
places.
RELATIONS WITH PORTUGAL.

Mr. ROBINSON gave notice, that on Friday next be
should ask some questions respecting our relations with
Portugal.
CHURCH-RATES.

Mr. A. TREVOR wished to know from the Noble
Lord opposite, if it was his determination that the Church-
rates Bill should be brought forward on the 22d of May ;
or, if not, whether the Government really intended to bring
it in at all during the present Session ?

Lord J. RUSSELL said that the Church-rates Bill
would certainly be brought under the consideration of the
House on the i).2el of May.

TITHES (IRELAND) BILL.
Mr. BERNAL having brought up the Report on the Irish
Tithes Bill,
Mr. CRAWFORD rose to •bring forward an amend-
ment of which he had riven notice ; but, after a short con-
versation, the motion for receiving the, Repert was post-
poned until Friday next, when Mr. Crawford expressed his
determination to propose his amendment, and to take the
sense of the House upon it.
Mr. A. TREVOR-moved, according to notice, that on
ev:ry Wednesday in future during the Session, public peti-'
tions should have precedence of all other business after the
Speaker should take the Chair ; but after a few observa-
tions from

Lord J. RUSSELL, objecting to such an arrangement,
the Hon. Niember withdrew his motion.
PUBLIC RECORDS BILL.

Mr. C. BULLER, after some observations explanatory
of the objects of the measure, moved the second reading of
the Public Records Bill.
Lord J. RUSSELL said he approved of many parts of