The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-28 00:00:00

c.VIPERIAL PARLI AAIE N T.

HOUSE OF LORDS—(YESTERDAY3
The LORD CHANCILLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.
LIVERPOOL ASSIZES.

In reply to -Lord CAMPBELL.
The LORD CHANCELLOR intimated that in con•
tequence of his communication to the Mayor of Liver-
pool respecting the removal of they sizes from St.
et.eorge's-hall to the old courts formerlsed, that lune-
tionary bad arrived in London and communicated to him
the particulars of the alteration. The Mayor stated that
the only reason for the removal was, that the smell of
paint and the scaffolding occaeonut by. the deco-
rations now in progress in St. George hall ren-
dered it impossible for the courts there to be
used during the present assizes. and that the removal
had nothing whatever to do with the visit of her Majesty,
or the forthcoming meeting of the British Association
The Mayor also stated that the old courts had been put
into a comfortable state, and that, in addition, two or
three rooms at the town-hall had been offered for the
use of the bar and other persons attending the asAzes.
In reference to the assertion of Lord Campbell on a former
occasion, that the cholera hal generally raged in the
neighbourhood of the old courts, the noble and learned
lord said the Mayor had it& brined him that the town
was never in a healthier state than at present.
Lord CAMPBELL said within the last few hours he
bad received a telegraph message from Liverpool, men-
tioning that the existing state of St. George's-hall would
interpose no difficulty whatever in the way of occupying
the courts during the present assizes.
Lord BROUGHAM thought there was a great want
of management in commencing the decorations at a time
when the assizes were about to be held. He entirely
concurred with his noble and learned friend as to the
unfitness of the old courts for the assizes.
After a few words from the Earl of HARROWBY and
Lord BROUGHAM', the subject dropped.
MERCHANT SHIPPING BILL.

On the motion of Lord STANLEY of ALDERLY,
this bill was read a third time and passed
MERCHANT SHIPPING 'ACTS REPEAL BILL.
This bill was also read a third time and passed.
VALUATION OF LANDS (SCOTLAND) BILL.
This bill passed through committee:
STANDARD OF GOL D AND SILVER WARES
BILL.
This bill was read a second time.
BOROUGH RATES BILL.
The bill passed through committee.
SALE OF BEER, &c., BILL.
The Earl of HARROWBY, in moving that the bowie
go into committee on this bill, stated that there were
two or three amendments which he proposed to intro-
duce, but of which he would give notice, and move on
bringing up the report.
Lord BROUGHAM suggested that it might be con-
venient if his noble friend would state at once what was
the nature of those amendments.
The Earl of HARROWBY said the object of the hill
was to impose restrictions beyond those imposed by the
existing law on the consumption of liquors in public-
houses on the Lord's Day, and the measure so far as the
limit proposed on the hours during which such heusee
might remain open on the Sunday morning, had, he be-
lieved, received the approbation of all parties, as being
calculated to promote morality and order. In Scotland,
under a recent act, such places were closed altogether
on the Lord's Day, and though a law going to that ex-
tent might interfere somewhat with our notions of
liberty, he believed that act had given universal satisfac-
tion in the country where it was in operation, and it was
proposed by this bill to follow that example to a certain
extent iu England, but to allow houses of entertainment
•to be-open during part of the day to enable the working
classes to obtain beer, and such refreshments as they
might require. It hal, however, been suggested by per-
sons engaged in the trade, that the object of the measure
might be answered by the adoption of somewhat less
severe restriction ; and that by allowing the houses to
remain open for a somewhat longer period the public
would be subjected to less inconvenience than if the bill
remained in its origival stringency. Communications
had been held between the promoters of the bill and cer
taro persons conne-sted with the Licensed Victuallers
• Protection Society upon the subject of the restriction it
would be desirable to introduce, and, in consequence of
those communications, the hours during which puhlic-
houses should be open had been fixed at front 1 to 2 in
the middle of the day, and from 6 to 10 in the evening.
Subsequently some qnestions had arisen whether that
was sufficient, especially in reference to houses in the
suburbs, and, on further consideration, be was not sure
whether-it would-not be desirable to extend the hours for
remaining open from 1 to half-past 2 in the middle of the
day to- enable the working claSses to obtain their dinner
beer, and that in the evening whether it might not. be
well to allow the hours to open at 5 instead of 6, in or.
der to provide for the convenience of persons who made
excursions into the country, and who might require re-
freshments. It had been further represented to him that
the closing hour of ten would be impracticable in the
suburbs of London in those public places and gardens
where thousands of persons sometimes assembled in the
summer, the difficulty being to get rid of them at so
early an hour. (Hear, hear.) He believed, however,
there would be no objection to the service of refreshments
being closed at 10, provided the -premises were allowed
to be kept open until 11. This, he believed, would sa-
tisfy all parties, and tend to the public convenience. He
admitted that the question was one extremely difficult to
deal with, tut be trusted the alterations he had indi •
sated would attain the object he bad in view, and, whilst
tending to the proper observance of the Lord's Day and
the promotion of social order, would not trench upon
the comforts and conveniences of the people, and of the
working classes in particular. (Hear.)
Lord BROUGHAM would regard with great satis-
faction the relaxations which his noble friend proposed
to introduce into this bill—(hear)—believing, as he did,
that they would in' a great degree obviate the main ob-
jections to it. He meant no offence to the authors of
-the bill, when he declared his repugnance to this kind
of legislation, which pressed on one- great body of the
community and did not press at all upon the others.
(Cheers.) And that repugnance was the greater, inas-
much as the part of the community upon which it had a
tendency to press, if it did not clearly do so was the
working classes—the common people of this - so;
ntry
(hear)—that used to be called "the •lower eaueq,"
which comprised the great body of the people. On them
this measure tended to press; whereas the upper chvises
and the greater part of the middle classes were not at all
effected by it. It would not prevent him (Lord
Brougham) from going to any of the club-houses or
hotels in St. James's-street on the Sunday—they were
open at all hours on Sundays, Good Fridays, Christmas-
days, and every other day.
The Earl of HARROWBY--But the clubs are pri-
vate houses.
Lord BROUGHAM—They could hardly be called
private, for they were open to 600 or 700 persons. To a
certain degree they were pullic, and though not so pub-
lic as every person had a right to enter them. But he
did not intend to dwell upon this objection, because
knowing that there was a very strong and prevailing
feeling in favour of some measure of this description, he
was for one certainly disposed to gratify that feeling -
considering also that he was told that experience in Scot
land was that the more gereial and stringent measure in
operation there had had an excellent effect in preventing
the various social disorders which formerly prevailed in
some parts AV that c >wary on Sundays. (Hear.)
The LORD CHANCELLOR took that opportunity
of stating that he had received a petition from au indi-
vidual named David Cook, the landlord of a public-
house near Glasgow. The petitioner complained that in
consequence of the wording of the Act of Parliament,
he and others of his trade were placed in a position of
the greatest possible difficulty. An exception being
made in favour of bona fide travellers, the petitioner in-
ftohermed him (the Lord Chancellor) that the justices of
peace were not agreed on a definition. The e,nse-
quence was that publicans were very much hampered
in their trade, and perhaps the presea bill would be a
the legislature. ity forexactly defining the intentions of
The Marquis of. CLANRICA. RDE thought their
id
their lordships should consider
rth is bill with the greatest
abridgment of the liberties of
hear)
deliberation, as being an ab
the working classes. (Hear,
should not forget that there was
noe .
nation Their lordships
t in the world
in which the working classeares hadosouv., recreation as
in this country.
habits gave them fewer festivals aysnesandtecminr
were enjoyed by the
The
people of the continua
t.
noble earl had called attention only
to placesbut their in the
lordships
neighbourhoed of the metropolis ;
had heard of a "railway arrangement called excursion
' trains, the object and use of which were to conve-
ythe
hard-worked mechanic out of town on Sunda
holidays for a little fresh air. He had been s
informedend
that the definition "bona fide travellers" was held not
to include excursion trains. He begged to impress upon
• their lordships the hardship that this must inflict
on large classes of their fellow subjects. All
along the coast of Lancashire, it was known that
there was was no enjoyment that the people prized
so much, as to repair as often as the intervals of
labour would allow them to the sea side. An early riser
might get to places of the distance of Brighton or Graves-
end- and back in the day, and have ample time to attend
divine service ; but if the regulation was so stringent as
to prevent his getting any refreshment, a great impedi-
ment would be thrown in the way of a most healthful
and salutary practice. He hoped, therefore, that some
. provision protecting travellers by excursion trains would
be introduced.
t The Duke of ARGYLL admitted that the subject was
one of considerable difficulty, and should be treated with
caution- At the same time, it must be remembered that
immense benefit had accrued from the restrictive measure
passed for Scotland, and most remarkable returns had
oeen seat
since the closin 14,1:rhif the
showing the diminution of delinquency
Lord ALVAN
public houses on Sundays.
be free of the EY did not see why travellers should
one else. Pu'ho houses on Sunday more than any
• the case to which
The
marquis °f CLAIb4.I)IPARDE repeated his hope
carethatd for. had called attention would be
Lord CAMPBELL expresim
bill-fixed certain hours, satiefietion that the
said nothing about divine
service, as the different hours rding divine services
in some parishes had giver) rise to
ogard to the _a_egal.clifficulty. With ,
vawilY TI" kilo ill thought it

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