The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-22 00:00:00

AT BIRMINGHAM.

Mr. DOULTON gave notice that he should to-morrow
ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department
whether the owners of licensed places of public entertain-
ment were responsible for the safety of life and limb of per-
sons undertaking to perform dangerous feats; and if not,
whether he would undertake to introduce a bill next session
to amend the law, enabling the police or other local autho-
rities to compel the adoption, in every case, of steps which
would prevent a recurrence of so shocking an accident as
that which had occurred at Birmingham, by which a woman
had lost her life.

NON REMOVAL OF CONVICTS-BERKSHIRE.

➢lr. WALTER said some time since a batch of prisoners
were sentenced to penal servitude at the Berkshire assizes,
and had been detained in Reading gaol until within the
last few weeks, instead of having been removed, in the
ordinary way, to the Government gaols. Parliament
annually voted a large sum of money for the maintenance
of these prisoners. Owing to the long period the convicts
specified had been left in the Reading gaol, considerable
cost had been thrown upon the ratepayers. In consequence
of this a charge of £2OO was made upon the Home-office,
which was referred to the Treasury, which replied there
was no precedent for making such a payment, and refused
to accede to it. He desired to learn from the right hon.
baronet the Secretary of State for the Home Department,
whether, in cases of this kind, counties were not entitled to
compensation ?

Sir G. GREY replied that it was the practice of the Go-
vernment to remove prisoners from the county to the Go-
vernment prisons as quickly as possible, but this, of course,
depended upon there being room in those prisons for their
reception. Unfortunately, in consequence of the increase
of crime, it had been found very difficult to find room for
all the prisoners, and he regretted that in consequence
serious inconvenience had been ceased to some of the
county gaols. It had been considered by the Government
whether, when prisoners were detained an unusually long
time in the county gaols, a sum of 4s. per week ought not
to be paid for each. Nothing, however, had yet been done.
Additional cells had been constructed in the Government
gaols, and he could only hope that the inconvenience com-
plained of would not occur again.

CATHOLIC REFORMATORY, LEICESTERSHIRE.
In reply to Mr. CAVE,
Sir G. GREY said he was sorry that the reports of the
inspector had been of the most unsatisfactory kind, and he
toad recently instructed him to intimate to the managers
unless an amendment t)ok place the certificate would be
revoked. Since then he had been informed by the inspec-
tor that the institution had been placed under new manage-
ment, and that a great improvement had taken place. Fur-
ther, he had instructed the inspector to pay an early visit to
the institution and to report thereon.
STATUTE LAW REVISION BILL.

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL, on moving that the
houae go into committee, briefly explained its nature. It
was based upon the labours of two commissions which had
respectively cost the country £37,000 and £21,000, and had
been contemplated for a length of time by the Government.
Such a measure was imperatively necessary, and would, in
his opinion and that of the Government, work exceedingly
well.
Sir F. KELLY stated several objections which he enter-
tained to the bill, and expressed his regret that it was not
framed upon the recommendation of the Statute Law Corn-
mission,which had been disregarded and departed from. But
nevertheless it was a good and important measure. Unless,
however, they accompanied expurgation by consolidation
they would do little good; indeed, this was the only way
to destroy anomalies. He earnestly pressed upon the Go-
vernment to adopt his suggestion, and so make this great
and excellent work, as far as it went, thoroughly praetical.
He hoped the bill would be followed by other remedial
measures.
Mr. HENNESSY contended that a bill of this important
kind ought only to be introduced in a committee of the
whole house, and as from its voluminous nature there was no
time to consider it this session, he moved that the house
go into committee this day week.
Mr. J. B. SMITH seconded the motion.
Sir H. CAIRNS strongly supported the bill. When the
proposed scheme in its entirety was carried out, the 43
schemes which contained the operative statutes would be
compressed into about eight.
Mr. HENLEY said the bill had only been printed nine
days, which, looking to its voluminousness, was totally
inadequate for its proper consideration by that house, and
therefore he advocated its postponement until next session.
Accuracy was of greater consequence than speed.
Mr. CLAY appealed to the hon. and learned member for
Queen's County to permit the house to go into committee.
Let not the house earn the character of being glad to adopt
law reforms.

Mr. AYRTON had carefully examined the bill and
round it exceedingly defective as a compendious revision of
:he existing statutes. Hence he should support the motion
For dela,.

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL replied. The opposi-
tion to the bill was conceived under a misapprehension
which, on account of the voluminousness of the subject,
was very difficult to dissipate. It was impossible to avoid
taking a good deal upon trust. No good would arise from
deferring the bill to the next session, because they could
only go over the same ground, and again arrive at :the
same result, namely, that the bill before the house, or a
similar one, was imperatively required for the consideration
of the law.
reference to
Mr. HENNESSY withdrew his amendment.
The SPEAKER explained that bills having
religion and trade must be originated in committees of the
whole house; it was not so, however, with bills that came
down to that house from the Rouse of
Lords.
The house then went into committee.
Mr. HENNESSY moved that the
Chairman report pro-
gress.
The question was put and negatived.
On the motion that the preamble be agreed to,
Mr. HENNESSY moved that it be postponed. In sup-
port of this he cited the 15th Charles 11., c. 11, which the
bill said the Commissioners of Inland Revenue should be
regarded as repealed. The bill empowered penalties and
double costs on commissioners giving improper judgments
to the injury of havers and publicans. Such a summary
mode of proceeding as this was exceedingly objectionable.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL explained that this act
had been dealt with in past consolidations.

The clauses were agreed to after a short discussion.
On the schedule
Mr. HENNESSY moved that all the words affecting
MagnaChart:r be omitted.

The bells were rung for a division, but on the question
being put the schedule was adopted in its integrity. The
other schedules were agreed to.
The bill then passed through committee, and was ordered
fur third reading to-morrow.
BRITISH COLUMBIA BOUNDARIES BILL.
This bill was read a second time.
COLONIAL ACTS AMALGAMATION BILL:

This bill passed through committee.
CONSOLIDATED FUND (APPROPRIATION)
BILL.
This bill passed through committee.
LAND TAX COMMISSIONERS NAMES BILL.
This bill was read a third time and pa' sed.
CLERGYMEN (COLONIES) BILL.
This bill passed through committee,
RUM DUTY BILL.
This bill was read a second time.
The house adjourned at 10 minutes to 6,