The Sun.
London, England, 1839-08-06 00:00:00

METROPOLIS IMPROVEMENTS.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved that the
Report of the Committee on the advance of money for the Im-
provements in the Metropolis should be received.
Lord J. SOMERSET would not oppose the reception of the Re-
port, but he felt bound to state that he had great objection to some
of the provisions in the Bill, it gave power to the Commissioners
of Woods and Forests to send surveyors to inspect any property
they pleased, while there was no schedule in the Bill pointing out
any specific property that was to be taken for the purposes of im-
provement. He trusted the Chancellor of the Exchequer would
revise the Bill.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER defended the clause
to which the Noble Lord had alluded, on the ground that after much
consideration the Committee determined to retain the clause.
The Report was then received.
COUNTY AND DISTRICT CONSTABLES BILL.

Lord J. RUSSELL moved the second reading of the County and
District Constables Bill.

Sir E. WILMOT thought the Bill would be a most useful mea-
sure, but in Committee he should propose a few alterations in its
details.

Mr. EWART observed that by the Ist clause of the Bill it
would appear there was to be a permanent power vested in the
Magistrates of appointing the police. He thought the appoint-
ment of the police ought to rest with the rate-payers.

Lord G. SOMERSET was friendly to the principle of the Bill
but suggested the propriety, if possible, of throwing the expence
of the force completely on that part of counties that required a
constabulary. He was sorry the Bill had been brought forward
at so late a period of the Session, when so many gentlemen qua.
lified to give an opinion on the subject were absent.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL would certainly have been very glad to
have postponed the consideration of the Bill to another Session,

when It was likely there would be a more full attendance, but he
did not think the present state of the country would justify such a
course being adopted.—
(Hear, hear.) With regard to what had
fallen from the Honourable Member for Wigan, it was certainly
proposed that the Bill should be a permanent measure,
The Noble Lord opposite appeared to think there ought to be a pa-
rochial rate rather than a rate for division. He (Lord John) was
afraid if that were done, a feeling would be raised up among the
constabulary, that they were independent bodies, and thus that
uniformity which was so desirable would be totally destroyed. He
had been told by several Hon. Gentlemen, and among them the
Right Hon. Baronet the Member for Pembroke, that the force
would be more applicable in divisions of counties, but he (Lord
John) should not like to break the divisions into small districts.
Mr. HODGSON lIINDE was in favour of the Bill.
Mr. ESTCOURT would be sorry to throw any impediment in
the way of the Bill. He hoped this measure would be the ground.
work of some general system for providing through the country a
really efficient constabulary force. He wished to inquire whether
it would not be just that in parishes where the new police would
be introduced, the inhabitants should not be burdened with the
old constabulary.

The Bill was then read a second time and—
Lord JOHN RUSSELL proposed that the Committee should be
taken to-morrow, suggesting that the Speaker should take the chair
at three o'clock, and there being few but Government Bills, he
should not adhere very strictly to the order on the paper—this Bill
on early.
he3sihr.ounldo, lboGwEevser,abskriedng
that the Bill should be put off till
Thursday.

Lord J. RUSSELL, however, would not assent to it.