The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-03 00:00:00

SECOND READINGS.

The following bills were read a second time—Dare Valley
Railway, and Launceston and South Devon Railway.

The house, for a 'Wednesday, was unusually full in con-
sequence of the interest excited by the Public-houses Bill,

LISBURN ELECTION.

The members of this committee, appointed to try the
merits of the petition against this election, were called to
the table and sworn.

PUBLIC-lIOUSES BILL.

Avery large number of petitions were presented in favour
of this bill. Mr. HADFIFLD presented 73, signed by 19,136,
in favour; Viscount ENFIELD two, but he begged to inti-
mate that he entirely dissented from their prayer—(hear,
hear) ; Mr. VANSITTART, with a similar disclaimer—(hear,
hear) ; Mr. PEASE, from a place in Ireland, praying that
the bill might be extended to that country; Mr. H.
BERKELEY, two against the bill, on the ground that its
provisions would contravert the liberty of the subject—
(hear) ; Mr. Cox, several to the like effect; also by Mr.
RoEiruck, from 24,000 to 25,000 of the male inhabitants
of Sheffield, which he looked upon as an expression of the
opinion of the town on the subject; Mr. J.B.SMITH7 several
from Stockport.
Mr. SOMES then moved the second reading of the bill.
Had the bill been placed in other and better hands, greater
justice would have Leen done to the subject. He feared it
would suffer from his advocacy, He disclaimed being
actuated, in proposing this bill, by a blind and bigoted
zeal for the Sabbath; neither had he any desire to trench,
as he had been accused, upon the liberty of the
working classes. No one more sincerely desired to
promote the true interests of the industrial classes than
he did. The opening of public houses fur eight hours on
the Sabbath was a great evil, constituting a temptation and
a snare to working men on a day when they were at leisure,
and had some portion of their wages in their pockets. In
Manchester, last year, 3,373 people were taken into custody
for drunkenness, and 1,549 of these cases occurred between
10 o'clock on Saturday and Monday mornings—far more
than all the apprehensions for the rest of the week.
Several magistrates and judges gave it as their opinion,
based upon their magisterial and judicial experience,
that drunkenness was the fertile cause of all crimes.
Mr. Broughton, the magistrate of Southwark Police-court,
declared that theta was more drunkenness on Sunday in
London than in all the capitals of Europe. The sight of
drunken women was very sad, and in every case it happened
that where the wife and mother drank the family went to
ruin. And a committee of that house had distinctly de-
clared that drunkenness was the sole course of the misery
and the crime in the country. Justice Coleridge said
scarcely a criminal came before him who had not been led
into evil courses by strong drink. Baron Gurney said the
source of every crime could be traced to drunkenness. Mr.
Justice Patteson, when on the bench, declared that he
should have nothing to do except for the prevalence of
drunkenness. Earl Shaftesbury said that nine-tenths of
the pauperism and woes of the industrial classes were
caused by their own pernicious habits, and especially from
the terrible evil of intoxication. (Hear, hear.) Dr. Chal-
mers entertained a like opinion, and the chief physician of
the London Hospital said that 75 out of every 100 cases
were attributable to drunkenness. The bill simply asked
the house to extend a principle already laid down that where
the welfare of the country required it special legislation
should be adopted. The bill was in consonance with the
feelings of the working classes of this country.
For instance, up to the 2d of June 4,101 petitions, with
693,255 signatures, had been presented in favour of the bill,
and 110, with 148,577 signatures against, and probably this
day petitions in favour of the bill, with 100,000 additional
signatures, had been presented—considerably over half a
million signatures altogether, and chiefly from the indus-
trial classes and their wives and daughters. (Hear, hear.)
Even the drunkards were in favour of the bill, for three pe
titions from well known and avowed drunkards had been
sent up to him by the curate of Altringham in Cheshire,
desiring to have a restraint placed upon their weakness.
(Hear, and laughter.) The important parish of St. Pancras
had been canvassed on the subject, and the result was
that 25,051 were in favour of the bill, and 18,289 against
—giving a majority of 7,462 in favour. Many
of the publicans of Liverpool had signed petitions in fa-
vour of the bill. Ihe hon. member saidhe had the opinions
of between 80 and 90 magistrates and police constables in
favour of the bill. A restrictive act of the nature he sought
had been in operation in Scotland for nine years and with
the best effect, and a Royal Commission appointed to re-
port on its operations had declared their opinion that it
had worked exceedingly well. (Hear, hear.) Restrictions
of the like nature prevailed in New York and Tasmania.
He was so satisfied that the bill would constitute a great
boon to the :public, that he was prepared at any trouble
or cost to himself to extend its blessings to the indus-
trial classes, (Hear.)
Mr. PEASE seconded the motion, declaring that it
would be one of the greatest boons yet conferred upon the
industrial classes ; nor would it restrict the liberty of the
subject of what the house was naturally very jealous. It
would promote religion, education, and common decency.
He pointed to the fact that the Sunday school teachers
were universally in favour of the bill, who saw much of the
evils of drunkenness, in proof of its efficacy. He beggedthe house to let the bill go into committee, where the bill
could be amended. _

Capt. JERVIS moved that the bill be read a second time
this day three months. Drunkenness had not increased ;
but, on the contrary, had greatly diminished from year to
year, and yet they were asked to make it a penal offence.
The system of petitioning that had been adopted in favour
of the bill was of an extraordinary character ; a more care-
fully organised system had never been heretofore witnessed.
(Hear, hear.) The petitions had been in the course of pre-
paration for some months, and all at once the house was
everwhelmed with them. And then some of the petitions
had been proved to have been forged. Notwithstanding
the restrictive act in Scotland, it did not appear, from the
returns, that drunkenness had lessened, or that the con-
sumption of spirits had decreased. (Hear, hear.) He was
told that the petitions were got up by a society the members
of which paid ss, a year, but which had other objects in view
than the closing of publie houses on the Sabbath—namely,
reduction of the income tax, and no examination of weights
and measures. (Laughter.) The result of the passing of
the bill would be (and in his opinion he was borne out by
the opinion of Mr. Arnold the magistrate) the illicit sale of
spirits on the Sunday. He saw no reason why excursion-
ists and others should be deprived of refreshments on the
Sabbath. Instead of working men using public houses
under good management and proper police supervision,
drinking clubs would be established all over the country,
as was the way in Scotland. (Hear.) Cottages a little way
off the towns were advertised for, and rules drawn up for
their guidance, that the members should not split. (Laugh-
ter.) His experience in the army showed that the more
openly soldiers were permitted to drink, the less drunken-
ness was there. If a colonel shut up a canteen it usually
led to an increase of drunkenness.
Mr. K. SEYMER seconded the amendment. He de
precated the language, such as " canting hypocrites," used
by the journals in the publichouse interest towards the
hon. member for Hull (Mr. Somes), and those who acted
with him, as he believed they were thorougly sincere in
what they were doing. Enactments of this kind would not
promote the morality of the people. Would it not be un-
just to prevent a working man, who walked for miles
through the streets, probably oarrying a child, in order to
see the green fields, to have his glass of beer to refresh
himself, when they and others could go to their clubs, and
drink what they liked. (Hear, hear.) Class legislation of
this kind• would greatly irritate the people as in the past.
(Hear.) This bill might be adapted to small villages, but
could never be brought into operation in large towns. When
they closed the Post-office on Sunday it was supposed to be
an act in accordance with the feeling of the country, but as
soon as it was effectuated the whole country rose against it,
and it was rescinded by the house without a trial. Such
would be the case if this bill were passed, and they would
probably have a renewal of the Hyde-park riots. (Hear.)
They would find it heard to separate John Barleycorn
from the people of this country. (Hear, hear, and a laugh.)
He trusted the common sense of the house would reject the
bill ; most assuredly if it were adopted the house would be
compelled in a great hurry to rescind it. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. CLAY would do everything in his power to lessen
drunkenness, but as he did not consider this bill would have
that effect he regretted he could not support the proposition
of his hon. friend and colleague. Were the bill endowed
with a permissive character, like the Health of Towns Bill,
he should be prepared to support its going into committee.
Mr. HORSFALL supported the bill. He had obtained,
since the mover of the amendment (Captain Jervis) spoke,
a return of the consumption of spirits since the passing
of the Forbes Mackenzie Act in Scotland, and instead of the
consumption of spirits continuing the same as previously,
there had been a falling off in the consumption in five
rnlyear-
st
of no less than 75,000 gallons. And the Royal
sioners reported most favourably of the moral
the chief
effect of the change. Eighty-two out of nof
i. The Chief
towns in the country were in favour of the b
reported that
member (Captain Jervis) represell
Constable of Harwich, which the honezrable
t the habits of the
there had been a great improvernruenakenness
and
quiet on
and gallant
town, especially in regard to d
of tho bill, so that they
Liverpool petitioned in fe. act. A very large majority of
rest on thews abba
the Sabbath. heven hundredva barrnen and barwomen of
might get
and he cited statistics in
pool were in favour of the closing
at
every town and rural v
the householders of .Leie P
it would be found that a majority of the
lags were polled
of toe same opinion as the people of
inhabitants were
bill wouldconfer The bill
coofnPfiurbini iacthi Boer: thisl:th opinion. Sra b
Liverpoo •
l
were lofbtt
al
classes of this country. (Hear.)
Mr. W. MARTIN opposed the bill. If passed in its pre-
he bill wthereeypaosseldd
o
pre-
sent form the people would be unable to get even their din-
_neirf a
orvsi
cutpoprye robveeerron commontSabbath.heeen4
quickly find that they had strung the bow to w tightly, feel-
rigs of irritation on the part of the people would be created,
n
and they would have a repetition of the Hyde Park riots,
when the house would, as on that occasion, have to go
through the undignified course of giving way to a mob
pressure from without. People would drink actually out of
spite, aed thus drunkennThey will drink who e
suse v •eorudd be promoted.
rank before,
And thole who always drank will drink the more
(Laughter.)
Mr. BAINES supported the bill. The signatures to the
petitions in favour of the bill were tour-fold; those against,
Which constituted a sufficient manifestation of the opinion
of the public out of doors for the house to act upon. He
was satisfied that the passing of the bill would elevate the
moral and physical condition of the people. Originally he
was opposed to this bill, not to its principle, but because
he objected to the total closing of public-houses on the Sab-
bath, being in favour of evening closing; but he gave way
to the desires of a body of respectable working men who
approved of closing public-houses on the Sabbath.
Mr. PACKE apposed the bill on account of its tyran-
nical character.
Mr. LAWSON viewed the subject as a police question,
considering that unless so viewed
they would have no right
to interfere is any way with the liberty of the people in re-

gard to the consumption of strong drink. He cited the
opinion of the Under-Secretary of State for the Home
Department (Mr. Bruce) in favour of the bill, though he
said he objected to interfere with the "recreations of the
people." (Hear, hear.) The legislation of past years had
been attended, beyond all dispute, by a diminution of
drunkenness and this being so, it would be well for tho
house to take a step in the same direction, because increased
good could not fail to result from it. In order to avoid
any appearance of hardship he should be willing to support
in committee the insertion of a clause permitting public-
houses to be open for two hours per day to accommodate
travellers; but merely to accommodate London was no
reason why drunkenness on the Sabbath should be per-
mitted all over the country. (Divide, divide.)
Sir G. GREY said he voted for the introduction of the
bill out of respect to those who promoted it, but he could
not shut his eyes to the fact that its promoters would not
stop short of the provisions of this bill, were it adopted,
but would seek to place a prohibition on all Sunday recrea-
tions whatever. (Hear, hear.) If the bill were
passed, not a single glas.3 of beer or spirits,
could be legally purchased throughout the whole of=
England on the Sabbath--not from 11 on Saturday,
evening till 6 o'cl, ck on Monday morning. (Hear, hear.)
Now, he was bound to say, if the house was so ill advised
as to pass this measure, its provisions could not be carried
out. (Hear, bear.) Everything tended to show that
drunkenness was greatly on the decrease all over the coun-
iry, and the right hon. Daronet cited figures with respect to
persons taken into custody for drunkenness in the n3etropo-
litan district which supported his statement. In the last
twoin:lr
et iaosne of
of
th
2,00e0 i n the me-
tropolis, e -
oppopulation.-
And he could report a similarly improved state of things
troyleis aothtweriethe hadtaubdeiceng a
thedim in
in Liverpool and other large towns, a circumstance he attri-
buted t the improved education and habits of the people.
The reaction which the passing of the bill would creato ire
the minds of the people would be fraught with danger, The
habits of Scotland were different from those of England; not
obser-
vance of the Sabbath was in accordance with the desire of
beer but spirits was chiefly consumed; and a rigid
that country. In London, at oue o'clock on Sunday, they
would see crowds of young men and women respectably
dressed fetching their dinner beer. Now why should they
and many families be deprived of fresh beer, and compelled
to bottle it and place it in a secluded place for use
on Sunday. The bill would be a great injustice to excur-
sionists and others. He blamed the promoters of the bill
for seeking by acts of Parliament to improve the morals
and alter the habits of the public; by doing so they would
retard the happy progress now taking place. (Cheers.) lie
asked the house to reject the bill.
Mr. H. BERKELEY referred to his committee of 18b5,
and defended its acts, As to this bill he should oppose it
as an attempt to cripple the liberty of the subject. (Divide,
divide.)
Mr. ADDERLEY rose amidst loud cries for a division.
The bill was aimed solely against drunkenness, and it
couldhe easily amended in committee so as to be adapted to
the reasonable desires of the respectable class of the com-
munity,
Sir S. M. PETO said, as one of the largest employers of
labour in the country, he was not prepared to adopt a strin-
gent measure of this kind. They must deal equally be-
tween all classes, Let the seller and recipient of fish on
the Sabbath be punished. He could support a bill for a
restriction of the hours of selling beer and spirits on the
Sabbath, but he could not do otherwise than vote against
the second reading of this bill. (Divide, divide.)
Mr. NE WDEGATE would support the second reading,
on the understanding that this bill was rendered permissive
in committee. (Divide, divide.)
Sir H. CAIRNS would support the bill, in the belief
that it would lead to a restriction of hours.

Sir J. SHELLEY opposed the bill.
Mr. HUNT was in favour of a bill restricting the hours.
Mr. H. B. SHERIDAN should vote against the bill, be-
cause it was not endowed with a permissive character.
Mr. HARDY opposed the bill, and trusted the Govern-
ment would introduce one to amend the licensing system.
The house (five o'clock) being very impatient for a divi-
sion, Mr. SOMES briefly replied, and being appealed to by
Mr. AYRTON whether he would endow the bill with a per-
missive nature, stated that he should abide by the pre.
amble.
After a few words from Lord H. VANE,
The house divided, when there appeared—
For thegcond reading lO3
. .
Agams
Majority against
The announcement was received with loud cheers by the
opponents of the measure.
The bill was consequently last.
SHEEP AND CATTLE (SCOTLAND) BILL.

This bill was read a second time.
SALMON FISHERIES (IRELAND) BILL.
Mr. M'MA.HON postponed the second reading to Wed-
nesday next.
METROPOLIS TURNPIKE ROADS ACT AMEND-
MENT BILL.
Bill recommitted pro forma.
FISHERIES (IRELAND) BILL.
On the motion of Sir R. PEEL this bill was road a se-
cond time. He should propose to make a day sitting for it
next Thursday ; he should then make a statement of the
nature of this bill.
SUPPLY.—DAY LICENCES.
On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the EX-
CHEQUER, a resolution was agreed to in committee of
ways and means to fix the charge for occasional licences to
sell beer, spirits, or wine at 2s. 6d. per day, such licence
not to exceed six days in all.
The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and
the house adjourned shortly before six o'clock.

FOURTH EDITION.

SUN OFFICE, EIGHT O'CLOCK.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.--This Day.

ASCOT RACES-THIS DAY.

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.
ROYAL HUNT CUP.

Victok ....
Glenorchy
The Knave 3
Twenty-nine ran.
SCRATCHED —Catch'em Alive, Zelle, and Polynesia.
SWEEPSTAKES.

Santhal
Dirt Cheap .
Lord of Linne
ELEVENTH TRIENNIAL STAKES.

Becky Sharpe 1
Catastrophe
Mdlle. de Chesnois

Eight ran.
CORONATION STAKES.

Lady Augusta
Fantail
3
Grafton Lass

Five ran,
ASCOT DERBY STAKES.

Oneaander
Queen Bertha 2
.. 3
Blue Mantle

Seven ran.
FERN HILL STAKES.

Tomato
Lady Abbess
Midnight Mass

Five ran.

VISITORS' PLATE.

Millionaire
Paste
Vinegar Hill .

Nine ran.
FIFTH BIENNIAL STAKES.

Sac,charometer

Judea •. ••
Tom Fool

Nin© ran.

NAVAL PROMOTIONS—This Evening•

The following appointments were made at the Admiralty
this afternoon :
Commander—David Miller, to be Captain.
F. W. Sutton (B), engineer, to the Indus, as supernuw
merary.
Edward Tewell, acting engineer, to the Orlando.
Asia
Thomas Catehpool, assistant-engineer, to the , for
the Charger.
Thos. Scott (B), to the Cumberland, as supernumerary.
James Legate, to the Edinburgh, for tenders. •

HEALTH OF LONDON,

-

(From the Registrar-General's Weekly Return.)
In the week that ended last Saturday the total
number of deaths registered in London was 1,296,
exhibiting a slight increase on that of the previous
week, which was 1,259. The average number, as ob-
tained from the returns of corresponding weeks in
the ten years 1853.62, and corrected for increase of
population, is 1,139. The number contained in the
present return is, therefore, 157 more than it would
have been if the average rate of mortality had pre-
vailed.

The births in last week exceeded the deaths in
the same period by 701.
Sixty-eight deaths from smallpox were registered
last week, 21 of which occurred at the age of 20 and
upwards. Typhus was fatal in 46 cases, diarrhea in
12, scarlatina in 78, measles in 39.

Of 178 deaths assigned to diseases of the respira-
tory organs, 93 were caused by bronchitis, 54 by
pneumonia, Bby asthma. Phtbisis was fatal in 159
cases. The son of a labourer, residing at Plum-
stead, died from the effects of poison, the paper on
the walls of the bedroom containing large quantities
of arsenic, A girl, aged 14 years; died in the West-
minster Hospital from tetanus. A man, aged 57
years, died from carbuncle. The deaths of four
persons were caused by delirium tremens, and one
person died from intemperance. Six deaths oc-
curred from burns or scalds ; five children and one
adult were suffocated.
The deaths of two nonagenarians were recorded ;
were aged respectively 94 and 98.
week the births of 1,005 boys and 992 girls,
in
a 115,997 children, were registered in London.ilP
the ten corresponding weeks of the -
eats 185362
,be average number (corrected) was 1,170,