The Sun.
London, England, 1837-03-14 00:00:00

CHURCH-RATE:3-

The SPEAKER inquired if there ware any Church-rate
petitions ; when about 100 Members rose,' amid cries of
" Order, order," and great laughter. Petitions relative to
Church-rates were then presented by Mr. V. Smith, Mr.
Gaily Knight, Mr. Wilks, Sir A. Leith Hay, Mr. Miles,
Mr. A. Trevor and other Hon. Members. About 40, from the
Opposition benches, here rose, and proceeded to the table
with petitions on the same subject. The unusually crowded
appearance of the floor of the House, occasioned much
laughter.
Mr. BORTHWICK presented petitions from Evesham,
and other parts of Worcestershire against the abolition of
Church- rates.

Similar petitions were also presented by Captain Alsager,
from different parts of Surrey ; by Sir C. B. Vere from Fram-
lingham, and other places in the county of Suffolk ; and by
Sir W. Geary from different places in the county of Kent.
Mr. GROTE presented petitions from different parishes in
the city of London, praying for the total abolition of Church-
rates.

Lord G. SOMERSET presented petitions from Mon-
mouth against the abolition of Church-rates.
Mr. B. HOY presented petitions from Southampton against
the abolition of Church-rates.

Sir R. VYVYAN presented a petition from Bristol, signed
by upwards of 5,000 persons, against the abolition of Church-
rates. The petition had received so vast a number of signa-
tures within two days after the Government plan for the re-
duction of Church-rates had been brought forward.
Mr. PEASE presented a petition from certain lessees in
Durham, praying the House to be careful of their interests.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.
Lord J. RUSSELL would take that opportunity of stating
to the House tie course he meant to pursue in respect to the
public business. It would be necessary his Hon. Friend should
move the Navy Estimates on Friday, and it was his intention
to move that the House should go into Committee on the
Irish Municipal Bill on Monday, for which day the Bill stood
fixed. An Hon. Gentleman opposite had yesterday put a
question to him as to the resolutions on the affairs of -Canada.
He (Lord John) was as anxious as that Hon. Gentleman
could be to have an early day for the further consideration of
that question, and he hoped the House would allow him to
bring it on upon Tuesday next.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. ROBIN SON had a motion which stood first in the paper
for Tuesday next ; but he considered it of such paramount im-
portance that the House should come to a determination on
these resolutions, that he would willingly give way to the
Noble Lord.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL then moved that the order of
the day for the consideration of the Canada question be
postponed till Tuesday next.—Agreed to.
DUBLIN AND KILKENNY RAILWAY.'

On the motion of Mr. MORGAN O'CONNELL, the
Dublin and Kilkenny Railway Bill was read a second time and
ordered to be committed.
MANCHESTER AND LEEDS RAILWAY.

Mr. HARDY presented a petition against the Manchester
and Leeds Railway Bill.
ADJOURNED DEBATE.

On the motion of the day, for the House resolving itself
into a Committee of the whole House on the adjourned debate
relating to Church-rates,
Mr. G. PALMIER having referred to the sentiments ex-
pressed by Lord J. Russell on the passing of the Bill relating
to the see of Durham, and to the assurance that a crtain amount
should be paid over to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners in the
event of the income becoming reduced to 11,000/. per an-
num, wished to know from the Noble Lord what had induced
his Majesty's Government to alter the determination then ex-
pressed, upon the assurance of which he and other Hon. Mem-
bers consented to the passing of the Bill.
Lord J. RUSSELL said the Hon. Gentleman was right
in the fact stated by him respecting the obligation on the
Bishop of Durham to pay over a certain sum to the Eccle-
siastical Commissioners. As to the reasons which induced
the Government to take their present course, that was a ques-
tion which could best be answered by argument in the course of
the debate.
CORONERS (DURHAM).
In answer to a question from Mr. ARTHUR TREVOR
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said it was under the considera_
tiou of Government what might best be done with regard to
the change in the condition of the Coroners of the emnisy of
Durham, which had been effected by the passing of the Bill of
last year respecting the see of Durham.
Sir ROBERT PEEL wished to state that consi-
dera►ble anxiety existed to know the determination of
Government on the subject of maps and surveys con
fleeted with the arrangements for a voluntary commut
tion of Tithes.--(Hear.) Considerable uncertainty was fel-
t

as to the nature of these maps and surveys, and lie k.,ew Mat
the intention to enter into a voluntary commutation was for
some time suspended, until the determination of Government
had been known.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
question was under the consideration of the Lords of the
Treasury. The Commissioners had laid certain papers before
them with the view of inducing the Government to come to some
determination. On receiving the deputation he explained to
them the best course to be pursued, which, in his opinion, was
to move for a Select Committee, to consider the papers,
and to have them printed.—( Hear, hear.) The inquiry
would not be a protracted one ; it would simply be respecting
two or three plain questions, and the Lords of the Treasury
did not feel themselves justified in deciding upon the ques-
tion, without submitting it to the consideration of the
House. He would, therefore, now give notice of his inten-
tion to-morrow to move the appointment of such a Committee,
and he hoped in a few days to have the opinion of the House,
upon which they could act.
THE MISSING WHALERS.

Sir ROBERT PEEL said it would be in the recollection
of the House that a few evenings since a conversation took
Place, on the occasion of presenting a petition from
Dundee, respecting the missing whalers, and certain papers with
the correspondence which had taken place with Government
were promised. There was a strong feeling in the country
on the subject, and be hoped there would be no delay in laying
the papers on the table of the House.
Mr. BARING said he had already moved for the produc-
tion of the papers, and he thought they had been alreudy laid
upon the table ; if not, they should be so without delay.
The House then resolved itself into a Committee on the
Chancellor of the Exchequer's resolutions respecting Church-
rates.

Mr. Cayley, Mr. Gisborne, and Mr. Brotherton, then rose
to address the House, each gentleman insisting upon his right
of pre-eminence; ultimately, however, all of them gave way,
for the purpose of allowing.
Sir W. FOLLETT addressed the House. The Hon. and
Learned Gentleman, said that he felt himself indebted to the
kindness of the Hon. Member for allowing him a precedence
to address the House. It was not his intention in entering
into the present discussion at all to embark in any obser-
vations upon the financial statement of the Right Hon. Gent.
opposite. He should abtain from doing that for two reasons,
partly because it was impossible for him, or any other
man, to add anything to the clear and convincing.
statements of his Right Hon. Friend which remained un-
answered, and he believed them to be unanswerable ; and
also because the objections he felt to this resolution would be
equally strong, ever, if the financial statements were as accu-
rate and correct as he believed them to be incorrect.