The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-24 00:00:00

MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS IN SCOTLAND.

Mr. BLACK asked the Lord Advocate if the penalty
which was incurrable by the medical practitioners of Scot-
land under the 41st section of the act 17th and 18th Vict.,
c. 80, is repealed by the 14th section of the act 23d and
24th Vict., c. 83 ; and if not, did he intend to take the
necessary steps to procure a repeal of this enactment, and
so place the medical practitioners in Scotland on a footing
of equality with the medical practitioners in England and
Ireland.

The LORD ADVOCATE said that the sections of the
act alluded to were not repealed, but their stringency had
been relaxed. With regard to the second part of the ques-
tion, he had to inform the hon. member that it was not his
intention to bring in any bill on the subject.
THE NEW BRIDGE TO REGENT'S PARK.

Mr. H. LEWIS asked when the new bridge leading to
Regent's-park over the canal would be completed and
opened to the public ?
Mr. COWPER said that the bridge was nearly com-
pleted, and would be open to the public at the end of the
month.

COWES TRINITY PILOTS.
Mr. CLIFFORD asked the Secretary to the Admiralty
whether he had received a memorial from certain Cowes
Trinity pilots, complaining of improper interference with
their avocation by Government pilots, and whether he
would issue orders to prevent the recurrence of such in-
terference,
Lord C. PAGET said that the memorial alluded to had
been received, and the matter was under consideration.
PRISONS BILL.
In reply to questions from lion. members,
Sir G. GREY said that on Tuesday next he would be
able to:say whether be would proceed with this bill on the
following Thursday.
COURTS OF JUSTICE BUILDING.
On the motion for going into committee on this bill,
Sir H. WILLOUGHBY moved that the further consi-
deration of the bill should be postponed fora month, in
consequence of some of the objections which were enter-
tained as regarded its provisions.
The AT T ORNEY-GENEEAL, who 3 resented petitions
in favour of the bill from different members
coftheent to the
bar, ex-
pressed a hope that the house would not consent
amendment of the hon. baronet.
The amendment was negatived, and the house went into
committee, and several of the clauses of the bill were
agreed to.

•
OTT, TS OP JUSTICE CONCENTRATION (SITE)
BILL.
On the motion for the second reading of this bill,
In reply to Mr. BOLT,
Mr, COWPER said that on carrying out the provisions
of thiS bill Government had no powers to make a bridge
over the streets or a canal under them.
The bill was then read a second time.
BANK NOTES ISSUE BILL.
On the motion for the second reading of this bill,
Mr. BUCHANAN made some observations in which he
raised the question as to the right of Government to im-
pose a tax on the issue of bank notes, and he also objected
to the general principle of the bill. The language used.by
the Chancellor of the Exchequer last year had led to the
expectation that Government would this session have 6_
troduced some general legislation on the currency. lie
moved, as an amendment, that it was expedient to inquire
into the working and effects of the Acts of 1844 and 1845,
regulating banks of issue, and that in the meantime the,
second reading of the bill should be postponed.
After some observations from Mr. BAXTER,
_ _

Mr. WHITE urged the necessity for a thorough iriquiry
into the operation of the Bank Acts, which, in his opinion,
were capable of great improvement.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied -to
the arguments of former speakers, and contended that the
last session of a moribund Parliament would be a most in-
convenient moment for legislating on the currency. The
present measure (which he admitted was more limited than,
it might be) grew out of a proposal of a practical character
by certain parties who were in possession of the privi/ ego
of issue, but desired a freedom in banking which they did
not now enjoy, and in consideration of obtaining thAt free-
dom were willing to fix a term at which their right of
issue should absolutely cease.
Mr. HUBBARD feared that in proposing this measure
the Chancellor of the Exchequer was deviating from a firm
adhesion to the principles of which he ought to be guid.ed,
and thought that the opening he proposed to make in the
restrictions now existing on private banks of issue might
have the effect of postponing, and possibly of frustrating%
the ultimate accomplishment of what he looked forward to
with satisfaction—namely, the inclusion of the whole of
the paper money in ono uniform shape and expression.
31r. HANKEY was in favour of perfect freedom of
banking, but objected to giving a lease of 25 years to par-
ties, as such a measure would perpetuate restrictions so far
as the present generation was concerned' and remove tho
subject beyond the purview of Parliament.,

Mr. MALINS deprecated a system under which the
value of money was subject to violent fluctuation; and
was disposed to think that much of the panic of last
autumn was to be traced not to pressure on the Bank but
to unnecessary apprehensions in the Bank.
Mr. GOSCIIEN was disposed to think that the value of
money ought to be regulated by the same law of supply
and demand which governed every other commodity,
With regard to fluctuations in the rate of interest he wa.3
only surprised that
.they were not more frequent and more
violent.

Mr. T. BARING did not think the act of 1844 perfect,
but at the same time would regret to see a change not
based upon experience or some evidence of its necessity.

The amendment of Mr. Buchanan was ultimatelywi.Ch-
drawn, and the bill was read a second time, and ordered to
be committed on the 16th of March.

The British Kaffraria Bill and the Bankruptcy and In-
solvency (Ireland) Amendment Bill were read a second
time.

The Civil Courts Procedure (Ireland) Act (1864)
Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed.
The -Elections Petitions Act (1848) Amendment Bill
passed through committee.

Leave was given to the LORD ADVOCATE to introduce a
bill to alter and amend the system of the registration of
writs relative to land in Scotland.
The house adjourned at half-past eight o'clock.