The Sun.
London, England, 1837-06-08 00:00:00

Mr. WAKLEY thought that, instead of complaining,
the Hon. Member had reason to rejoice ; for he himself
admitted that he had received a correct report in all the
other pipers.—(A laugh.) He was sure that, under these
circumstances, the Hon. Member must have been delighted
when he read the report in the papers the next morning.—
(A. laugh.) He hoped the Hon. Member would consider
that, having mentioned the circumstance to the House, he
had done sufficient for his Furpose, and that he hrd suffi-
ciently justified himself to his constituents.—(Hear.) The
Lion. Member hsi certainly admitted, as well as he under-
stood him, that there was distress in the country, but he
raid ihtit 11r trri§ted tlicro wai or,;.rgy enough in the country
to enable it to recover itself. He deprecated contests of
this nature with the Press, for in every contest of this kind
they were sure to come off the worst.--,(Hear.)
Mr. H. HUG HES trusted that his Hon. riend would
consetlt 1.0 withdraw his motion.
Mr. T4QMP4i por'ntly flgrcccl in all that fallen
from the Hon. Gentleman who had pre;cdod him, atut he
would venture to recommend to the Hon. Gentleman to act
upon the suggestions that had been thrown out.—( Hear.)
4i4 qt, cf.,,,!,!! it wise or politic to urge mattera t-s!*
this kii extpni.,,lftcar.)
11fr. FORSTER, after what 'had occurred, would with,
draw his motion.

WitbilfeYe!:
leord (.41.1 NDO!,se presented a petition from the county
of Southameton, in favour of Sir 4udrew Agnew's 11,11, fee
the Metter ebeereanpe ei; the Olabhath.
PUBLIC WetsLl.S AND INSTITUTIONS BILL,
Mr:BUCKINGHAIII moyed the sececind epeding of
this BA
Mr. TOOKE, consistently with the course which he had
adopted for the three last Sessions, begged to move that
this Bill be read a §Pcond time this day Ox months: He
objected that this Bill conferred on small meetings a power
of taxing the inhabitants of towns and boroughs to the extent
of tid. in the pound for malting public walks under' this
Captain 13 EC II E LL, 4s the representative of a horoegh
which contained 40,000 inhabitants, could say that the en-
closing of walks for the recreation and amusement of the
people, had been attended with the best effects. He was
sure that there could be no objection entertained to the
principle of the Dill,
Mr. BROTHEIiTON hoped the Bill would be allowed
to proceed, In all the manufactnring towns there was a
very strong fooling in its fayoler. As to the objection to
the power of taxation created by the Bill it required that
two-thirds of the inhabitants should agree to the tax Were
it could be levied.
Mr. WAKLEY supported the Bill,
Lord SANDON feared time would be some difficulty
in working out the provisions of the Bill, but would not
oppose going into Committee,
Major BEAUQLERK said that there seemed to be no
objection to the principle of the Bill, and the detail* might
be improved in committee,
Mr. 11. THOMSON did not think there being a ob-
jection to the principle of the Bill was any reason why they
should vote for its second reading if the details were felt
to be highly objectionable or altogether impracticable.
However, that was not the case with respect to the present
Bill, fbr though there were many details that would re-
quire great altcratiPil in Q4COMittge, yet he thee ;ht it
highly desirable in large and populous 'towns, and he would
give his cordial support to the second reading.
Mr. C. BARCLAY hoped the Hon. Member for
Truro would withdraw his opposition? since he saw tile
generel seppeet 144 the Pillsecelyed,
Mr. TOQIi,E would not needlessly detain the House,
and he wished them joy of the Bill,
Sir R. INGLIS protested against the doctrine that
they ought not to oppose a Bill the principle of which
they approved, if the machinery was of such a nature that
the Bill could not work. He, for one, felt bound to ob-
ject to the establishment of theatres under this Bill.
Mr. BUCKINGHAM was so gratified at the manner
in which the all had been received, that he would riot de-
tain the House, With respect to the observations of the
Hon. Member for Oxford, the theatres meant were in-
tended merely for the delivery of soloutific lectures, and
not for dramatic performances.
The second reading was then agreed to without oppo,-
sitioni and the Committee ordered to be taken on Wed-
nesday nest.
MERCHANT SHIPPING REGULATION BILL.
Mr. BUCKINGHAM moved the Order of the Day
for the second reading of the Merchant Shipping Regula-
tion Bill,
Mr. P. THOMSON was sorry the Hon. Member had
not thought proper to adopt the suggestions which he had
given him. The details of this Bill were of so extraordi-
nary and of so novel a character—so contrary to the mere
cantile laws of this country, and calculated to establish a
new and arbitrary power—that he thought the Hon. Gen-
tleman would scarcely press the Bill to a division. If it
should pass a second reading and go into Committee, it
could not, on coining out again, contain a single clause
which was now in it.—(Hear, hear.) He would support
this assertion by reference to some parts of the Bill. In
the first place, it proposed to establish a very extensive body
co constitute a marine board. To that lie did not see any
great objections, but the propriety of establishing it must
depend on the power it was to have. The Hon. Gentle-
man proposed to make this board supreme. A great deal
had been said about the power of the Poor Law Commis-
sioners and the Fectery Commissioners, but more poser
would be given to this board than to the Legislature it-
self. The Hon. Gentlemen proposed that it should have
the power of meking a code of commercial laws, which,
after being promulgated in a cheap form, should be conclu-
sive, and everybody should act upan it. He also proposed
that the board should decide cases of dispute which now
came before the Courts of law, and that their decision
should be final, setting aside altogether the Cow is of Law.
There were one or two points in wdich he concurred. lie
agreed that an inquiry should be made with reference to the
Causes of shipwreck.—(Ekar.) As to the examination of
masters, he had no objection to establish a voluntary exami-
nation fur those who chose to be examined, and thereby
become entitled to certificates of efficiency. In the Pilot
Bill which he brought forward, he (Mr. Thomson) pro-
posed to introduce a clause in the course of a short time, fur
the purpose of placing the examination of pilots, so far as
efficiency was concerned, under the controul of the Trinity
House. Although he should be glad to assist in carrying
these objects into execution, the whole B:11 involved con-
siderations of such importance, that he did not feel justified
in giving his assent to the second reading.
Mr. INGHAM supported the motion. •
Mr. TOOKE would support the motion.
Mr. PEASE agreed to the principle of the Bill, and
would support it, if' it were sent to a Committee up stairs,
where its clauses would undergo revision.
Mr. HUNIE said that the Bill contained a clause (clause
13) of the greatest value—that which enabled them to in-
stitute inquiry, before a proper tribunal, into the causes of
shipwrecks. He thought the Government itself ought to
have undertaken the subject. He trusted the Bill would
be allowed to go into Committee.
Mr. G. F. YOUNG agreed in the view taken of this
subject by the Right Hon. the President of the Board of
Trade. It had been stated in evidence before the Com-
mittee that a ship had been given into the command of a
boy of fourteen years of age, and was subsequently lust ;
and from this a general conclusion had been come to as
to the carelessness of shipowners ; but the fact was, that
this statement had been made owing to a clerical error in
recording the age of-the commander in question, who was,
instead of fourteen years, of the mature age of forty-five
years. He would assert that the Bill could not be followed
out with any beneficial result. It was, therefore, only
wasting the time of the House to attempt to carry it for-
ward.—(Hear.) He felt it to be his duty to move that
the Bill be read a second time that day six months.
Mr. A. CHAPMAN begged leave to second the mo-
tion of his lion. Friend.
Sir E. CODRINGTON thought the Bill would be
productive of much good.
Mr. LABOUC HERE thought it would not be for the
interest of the country in general that the Bill should pass.
Mr. BARNARD expressed a hope that the Bill
might be withdrawn.
Captain PEC II ELL thought that the Bill ought to be
sent to a Committee up stairs. Many clauses might be
improved, and the Bill eventually made of great utility.
Colonel THOMPSON thought that if the Bill was
not allowed to be read a second time great dissatisfaction
would arise throughout the country.
Mr. HUTT thought the Bill would not be found of any
practical utility.
Captain DUNDAS thought it would be useful to refer
the Bill to a Committee.
Mr. BUCKINGHAM s iid that when the subject had
been referred to the Committee last year it had been
proved, after most patient examination, that there was an
annual sacrifice of property to the amount of 3,000,0001.,
and of lives to the number of one thousand. It was also
shown that two-thirds of this amount of property and
half the number of lives might be saved.—(Bear, hear.)
The Committee then set themselves to the task of consi-
dering the best means of preventing this evil, and they
came to the resolution that a Board for examination would
be the best means of effecting their object. That Board
could decide whether ships were seaworthy and Com-
manders competent. If the Government chose to take up
the subject, lie was quite willing to resign it into their
hands. He would now, however, persevere in dividing the
House on the second reading, on the understanding that
if it passed the Bill should be referred to a Committee
up stairs.
The House then divided, when there appeared—
For the motion 2B
Against it
Majority