The Sun.
London, England, 1839-08-10 00:00:00

BILL.

The Report of this Bill was brought up and received.
The Bill was ordered to be read a third time on Wed-
nesday at 12 o'clock.
The Bastardy Bill was read a third time.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL brought up a clause,
providing, that parties against whom the Justices had
an order of affiliation, might, by giving securities, appeal
to the Quarter Sessions, which was agreed to and added
to the Bill.
Mr. FR ESHPIELD then rose to move the following
amendment in clause 1, line 8, after the word " heard":—
" Nor shall it be necessary for such Justices to require
that the evidence of the mother of such bastard child shall
be corroborated by other testimony, in cases in which such
Justices shall be satisfied without corroborative testimony."
He believed that improper affiliations were very seldom
made, and he had been sorry that in the former Bill the
House had thought it necessary to legislate for the excep-
tion, putting the rule aside.
The SOLICITOR GENERAL could not agree with
the amendment, because it proposed, not an amendment of
the Bill, but an alteration of the law, which he thought it
would not then be expedient to make.
Lord G. SOMERSET would be very glad to see the
amendment of his Hon. Friend, because the law was so
vague that •it had given rise to varied practice in almost
every part of tlie country. He thought the discretion of the
Justices ought to be trusted.

Strangers were then ordered to withdraw and the gal.
lery was cleared, but the clause was negatived without. a
division.

The 'Bill was then read a third time and passed.
SOAP DUTIES' BILL.

On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the EX.
CHEQUER the Soap Duties' Regulation Bill was read
a third time and passed.

METROPOLIS IMPROVEMENTS BILL.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved
.be third reading of this Bill.

Mr. HAWES said, this Bill professed to be a Bill .for
the Improvement of the Metropolis ; but the title of the
Bill could not be relied or,, because the boroughs of Lam-
beth and Southwark, which were entitled to be considered as
a part of the metropolis as much as tile Tower Hamlets, were
altogether left out of-the Bill. The proposed improve-
ments were to be effected out of the money derived from
the coal duties, and as all parts of the metropolis con.
tributed towards the coal duties, they had a.'right to share
in the benefits that might be conferred by the Bill. What
he would wish to propose, therefore, was that the Com-
missioners of Woods and Forests should have the power of
applying part of the funds to the improvement of Lam-
beth and Southwark.

Mr. CLAY said this Bill was the-result of the labours
A' the Committee that had been appointed to inquire into
this subject. That Committee had pursued its investiga,
tion for three years, and three plans of improvement had
been submitted, but the Committee felt that with the
limited means at the dispossl of the Commissioners,
they could only recommend those improvements mentioned
in the Bill. He was aware that mauy improvements were
required in Southwark and Lambeth, many improve.
ments would also be desirable in Westminster, both as
regarded draining and the thoroughfares to the Houses of
Parliament, as well as access to the Palace.- But it had
been proved that Whitechapel stood in the greatest need
of improvement. From the report, of Dr. Southwood
Smith, it appeared that the population of 20 metropolitan
unions amounted to 851,229, among whom in the eouise
Hof last year, there occurred 5.692 cases of typhus fever.
being a proportion of 6-10ths, or more than one
half per cent. whilst in the Whitechapel Union,
which was one of the twenty Unions, the population
was 64,000, and in that Union there were no less thati

1,505 cases of t3pus, being 2:1- per cent. of the population,
Thee cases of typhus were traced to the want of drainage,
,nd the Committee had recommended that a drainage
should be opened in that neighbourhood. His opinion was,
that when a few improvements were effected in the metro-
polis, public attention would be attracted to the subject,
and that there would be a willingness on the part of the
inhabitants to' submit to a slight taxation so as to enable
all these improveMents to be effected in the metropolis
that were so much wanted.

Mr. H U MPH ER Y said, that if the expenditure of the
money arising from coal duties were managed in a judi-
c;o.* way, there would, after all those improvements were
roc tod which were contemplated by the Bill, be a largo
surp!tis which might be applied to the improvement of
-rotttr-prirta of the metropolis. One improvement cwrge-
ste-
was-lh: making of a road from NV,stminster to London_
biidt,e, which would make a diffcr..nce of three quarters
of a mile, and which would not cost more than 50,000/.
He (lid hope that.the ainendinelit of hii Hon. Friend would
be a.rced to:
HINDE supported the amendment.
Afte7 u few words from Sir T. FREEMANTLF„
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHQUER said he
shculd object to the prOposed amendment being made to
the Bil!. In the first place, the Bill before the House was

not F.. . -
or the purpose of effecting the contemplated improve-
ments, but only for the purpose of giving to the Commis-
sioners of Woods and Forests the means of ascertaining,
during the recess, what would he the expense of com-
pleting those improvements, and it would be fur Parlia.

ment to determine next year whether those improvements
ought or ought not' to take place. The present Bill had
been unanimously recommended by the Committee,
which was not a packed Committee, and he (the Chancel-
lor of the Exchequer) was the only Member of Go-
vernment on it. The improvement in Lambeth he
was ready to admit was of great importance to the whole
metropolis. But he was not going to discuss the merits of
these different plans, but to carry out the objects of the
Committee, which he was most anxious to do.

Mr. H. 1-IIND E explained, after which the Bill wr.s
read a third time.

Mr. HAWES then proposed to add the following
words:—" And also to make and complete such streets
and roads in the borough of Lambeth. as may be approved
by the Commi,sioners of Woods and Forest."
The House divided—
For the motion 34
Against it 8
Majority.. 26

The Bill was then passed.
The Stage Carriages Bill was read a third time and
passed.

JOINT-STOCK BANKING COMPANIES BILL.
On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the EX-
CHEQUER the House went into Committee on this Bill.
Mr. HUME said it would give great satisfaction to the
public, if an inquiry should take place next.yeir into
the state of banking generally. The Hon. Member for
Tamworth had stated the necessity of this inquiry, and he
( Mr. Home) considered that it ought to have taken place
during the present year.
Toe CHANChLLOR of the EXCHEQUER had
understood the Right Hon. Baronet the Member for Tam-
worth: to say that an inquiry ought to take place before
,he expiration of the Bank Charter. He entirely agreed
as to the necessity of this inquiry, but whether it ought to
rake place before 1840 or not, he could not at present
state.

The clauses were then agreed to, and the House re-
sumed.

' (Laughter.) I mean, that this is the place.Avhere it ou;ht
to come in.—( Laughter.)
• Mr. 'HODGES moved a clams:: for facilitating the ca,r-
mutation of fruit tithes.
Mr. DARBY said the clause was a mast proper one.
Agreed to.
Mr. HODGES then moved a clause to remcve doubts
as to the validity of agreements for the commutation of hop
tithes.—Agreed to.
Mr. AGLIONBY begged' now to propose a clau=e, to
which the Noble Lord the Member for Lincolnshire had
expressed his decided concurrence. He did not know if
the Noble Lord the H 'me. Secretary had seen it.
Lord J. RUSSELL intimated his, assent to it.
The clause was then brenght, up. It provided for the
settlement of disputed boundaries in parishes, by agree-
ment among a majority of the landowners.
In answer to -Mr. DARBY,
Mr. AG LIONBY said the clause was meant to prevent
the expense and vexation of legal arbitrations.
The clause was agreed to.
- The House then resumed, and the Report ordered to be
received on Monday.
Lord J. RUSSELL postponed the Poor. rates Wee-
ion Bill to the same day.
EXCISE LICENSES BILL.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved
that this B• 11 he committed pro fie ma, in order that it
might be reprintA, as he was engag,ed in communications
with parties interested which might lead to some alterations.
Mr. AG LIONBY expressed his fear that the Right
lion. Gentleman, uho bad originally introduced a good
Bill, was now spoiling it by acceding to the representations
of that powerful body the Licensed Victuallers.
The Bill went through Committee pro Prom.
SLAVE TRADE SUPPRESSION BILL..
Lord PALMERSTON rose to move that in this Bill
the Standing Orders might be su.petided, so as to allow it
to pass' through ail its stages to-night.
This we understood to be agreed to.
The NOBLR LORD then moved the second reading of the
Bill.—Agreed to.
On the NOBLE LOWS motion the Bill went through
Committee. and
Mr. BERNAL brought up the Report amidst great
cheering.
On the question that the. Report be received,
Sir T. FRE EMANTLE said lie should like to hear
some explanation of the objects of the Bill.
The CHANCELLORof the EXCHEQUF:R—There
was a full explanation last night.._( Hear, hear.) -
Sir F. FREMANTLE—I was not here last night.—
( A laugh.l
Colonel T.' WOOD—The Bill has not been circulated
among Members.
Mr. P. HOWARD—It has been some time.
Hon. Member cannot have read it.—( Laughter. )
Lord PALMERSTON said he had stated at consider-
able length last night the objects of the. Bill. He under.
stood that the 'grounds of the rejection of the former Bill
by the tiouse.of Lords arose partly from misapprehension
and partly fr,,m an ohjection in point of form. And he
hoped that thei.e objections . had been removed by what
hid subsequently occurred in the Upper House, and liy the
alterations which. had Wren made in the Bill.
After a few words from Sir Thomas Freemantle and
Captain Pechell; the Report was received. .
Col. T. WOOD did not at all acquie,ce, in the prin-
ciple of the Bill. -It was quite a novelty and was depart-
ing from the usual custom obserVed with regard to the
affairs of nations. There"veas no necessity.for the BA.
He did not see why the Executive Government should not
take the. respons'bility on their own shoulders, if Portugal
receded from her Treaty, and make reprisals. If there was
a difficulty in disposing of those reprisals, then they might
come to Parliament.

The

~. The ltcport was then ordered to be engrossed, and the
Bill to be read a third time oh Munclay".
On the motion of Mr. Cr. WOob, the Courts in
Counties Bill was a read a 'second time.

, .
The; Parents for Inventions. Bill, the Sheriffs Exemp-
tion Bill, the Real Estates Liability Bill, and the Pri-
soners Trial Bill were severally read a second time, and
ordered to he rommitt.,l on Moriday..
STATE OF THE' COUNTRY.

On the Order of the D.,,y being read for going into
Committeo of Ways and &leans,
Mr. T. DUNCOIIBE rose to move the following re-
solutions:—

" That in agreeing to provide the means for an in-
crease of her Majesty's military forces, called for by the
Executive Government at an unusual time and under pecu-
liar circumstances, it is the duty of this House to declare—
" 1. That the troubled state cf the country arises from
causes which the application of repressive means against
large classes. of her Majesty's subjects will not remove.
"2. That the existing discontents are in no small degree

to be attributed to the ri—ep,lect of Parliament, in not taking
measures for the improvement of the social and political
condition of the people.
". 3. That, in particular, in the present Session Par-
_ .

liament has refused to remove restrictions on the foreign
trade of the country, especially the trade in corn, thereby

limiting the demand for English ,labour, and diminishing
its remuneration, while the cost of subsistence is increased ;
and the new Poor-law is enforced with the view of teaching
the people to rely on their own resources, by the Same Le-
gislature which prevents the poor from exchanging their
labour for tbe cheaper food of foreign countries.
" 4. That the measures promised at the commencement
of this Session, for rendering justice cheap and accessible
to all, have been abandoned, while the salaries of Judges
and Magistrates have been augmented.
" 5. That the grievance of Church-rates remains unre-
dressed.

-;;-6.That for a national education a very small and
inadequate proiision has been made, while the military and
naval expenditure has been greatly augmented.
' "7. That any necessity for an increase in the army is
mainly occasioned, by the disturbances in Canada, 'and
that, until a satisfactory arrangement of the affairs of that
colony be effected, the relief of the people of this country
from the expense of -its military occupation is not to
be looked for; notwitlistand:ng which, the Session has
passed away without any attempt by Parliament to effect
such settlement.

" 8. That the prayers,of the people for further reform
have been disregarded.
" 9. That protection to the elector, in the free exercise
of the suffrage, was denied by the rejection of the motion
to establish voting by Ballot.
" 10. That this House has not only refused to grant any
extension of electoral privileges, but even to take into
consideration the prayers of upwards of a million of her
Majesty's subjects, who solicited attention to their claim
of franchise.

" 11. That no hope has been held out to the people
that at any future time Parliament will grant redress of
their social and political grievances.
" 12. That, until the spirit and course of legislation in
the Imperial Parliament be changed, and proper regard
had to the welfare and wishes of the whole people, instead
of the interest of predominant classes, no security from she
recurrence of such disturbances as the Government now
demands the aid of- Parliament to repress, can be reason.
ably expected."

The Hon. Gentleman observed that the HoUse hiving
recently consented to place at the disposal of her Majesty's
Government the means of increasing the military force of
the country, he thought that, as the representatives of the
people, they owed it to the distressed millions from ,‘,ll,se
pockets the means of increasing the force came, to place
something more on record than a mere money vote and a
vote of coercion. The manifold grievances of which the
people complained Were not altogether unfounded, and
coercion • would not repress their complaints. It
might be 'very easy for those who were basking in the
sunshine of a Court, and who were enjoying all the tiles.
sings of affluence and prosperity, to blame the people for
their ithpatience and unreasonableness.—( Hear.) It was
also very easy to attribute the distressed state of the coun-
try to the exorbitaney of their demands, but if the House
would look a little into their own conduct they could not,
as honest and impartial men, say they were altogether ex-
empted from blame, with regard to the condition in
unfortunately, the country was at this moment placed. He
was ready to admit that !natty of the charges and allegations
contained in the resolutions might be extremely di,aArce.
able to many Hon. Members in that House to affirm, but
if they were true (as he maintained they were) they ought
not in the present state of the public mind to shrink from
acknowledging the justice of the charges. He was not so
vain as to suppose that when the Speaker went up to the
other House to meet her Majesty on the prorogation of
Parliament, that these resolutons would assist hint to solve
the perplexing quection of what they had done for the last
six months, but he could not help thinking that when II tn.
Gentlemen =et their constituents at those numerous mt et.
ings and dinners that usually took place during the recess,
and when they would bp called on to state what they had
done—he could not help thinking that if Honourable
Gentlemen would do him the honour to take this bill

of fare to those dinners, they would Enid a complete answer
to many of those inconvenient and perhaps disagree-
able interrogatories --(" Hear, hear, hear," and laughter. )
He must warn the House of the course they should pursue.
They %ould deal with ail% resolution as they thought pro-
per, but it would not be sufficient in the eyes of the public
for them to put upon the resolutions one of their cold,

chilling, and contemptuous negatives.—( Cheers.) He
asserted fearlessly that the House ought to adopt these re.
solutions. He would not dwell loi.g upon upon them,' but
he could not help asking with reference to a few of them
whether they could be denied ? Could they deny that in the
present Session the House had refused to remove the re.