The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-16 00:00:00

Chation in the government of the college which rested in
tie dean alone; andi t must be admitted that for the pur-
poses of the bill the governing body in this instance was an
imperfect instrument. At gasenose, the body was a very
narrow one. The choice now was between retaining the
phrase "governing body," subject to the defects which ac-
companied it in one or two cases, and discarding it altoge-
ther and adopting some other. Ho thought it not desirable
to constitute any new governing body for the purposes of
_ the bill; but the mode he proposed was to make it apply to
two-thirds of the foundation, being also members of convo-
cation, in each college.
Mr. LABOUCHERE was glad to see that the right hon.
gentleman seemed to feel the weight of the objections which
Lad been urged. He should regret to see the optiou of ac-
cepting reforms from the commissioners left to such small
bodies as the governing bodies would be in some instances.
He hoped that the Government would reconsider the
clause.
:The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, the
most convenient course would be, as no one was prepared
~with exact words for the purpose intended, to consider the
•rilatter between this and the bringing up of the report.
After some further discussion,
Mr. VERNON withdrew his amendment, on the under-
derstanding that the clause would be reconsidered.
Mr. HENLEY moved that the Chairman report progress.
Sir W. TTEATHCOTE remarked that towards the end
of the clause, it was provided that if the governing body
of a college should declare in writing that the ordinances
and regulations of the commissioners were prejudicial to
the college, "as a place of learning and education," the
same should not take effect. Now, it might so happen
that the ordinances and regulations might be prejudicial
to the college in other respects than as a place of learning
and education. For instance the preamble of the bill re-
cognised the colleges as necessary for the advancement of
religion, and the ordinances and regulations might be de-
trimental to them in a theological point of view. He
should, therefore, move the omission of the words "as a
place of learning and education." (Hear.)
The committee divided, when there appeared :
For the amendment
Against it .................
Majority —4B
The clause was then agreed to, and the house having re-
sumed,
The CHAIRMAN reported progress, and obtained leave to
sit again this day.
WAYS AND MEANS.

The report of the resolution passed yesterday for increa-
sing the duty on sugar used in breweries was brought up.
Mr. DISRAELI complained that no notice had been
given of the nature of this resolution. He understood
that the object was to increase the duty chargeable on
sugar used in breweres, but on the paper was a bill by
which the use of sugar in breweries was prohibited. This
was an inconsistency which should be explained.
- Mr. J. WILSON replied that the explanation had been
- given yesterday. The prohibition in the bill referred to
was consequent upon the change in the malt duty, it being
considered that it would not be safe, considering the dif-
ferences between malt and sugar used in brewing, that the
advantage in favour of sugar would be so great under the
new duty that it would not be safe to allow the practice to
continue. Since then, however, the Inland Revenue Com-
missioners had saisfied themselves that by adopting a
system of licensing by which they would be enabled to
know and have access to the breweries in which sugar was
used, the revenue might be protected, and the object of
the resolution was therefore to increase the duty on
sugar so used to make it equivalent to the increased malt
• duty.

The resolution was then agreed to.
COMMON LAW PROCEDURE BILL—MORNING

SITTINGS.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL proposed to fix the eom-
. mittee on this bill for Monday, in order then to fix it for a
• morning sitting on some subsequent day.
Mr. DISRAELI repeated his objections to the practice
of morning sittings, especially at so early a period of the
• session. At the morning sittings the legal members could
not be present, and those who were engaged on committees
up-stairs were necessarily absent, and amongst them were
always- some of the most distinguished and the most prac-
tical members of the house. Another objection to morning
sittings was that members came to the duties of the even-
ing sittings with exhausted energies. Never was there a
session when it was so little necessary to sit in the morn-
ing as this. True, Government had brought forward many
important measures, but they had abandoned the greater
number of them, and the state of public business at the
present moment certainly did not justify that proceeding.
Beside> the session could not be unnecessarily curtailed at
a time fike the present. When the country was at war it
was desirable the House of Commons should be sitting to
sustain the Ministry in the event of disaster, and to sym-
pathise with them in the event of success ; or it might
happen that the presence of the House of Commons might
be useful to counteract any lack of spirit, and to encou-
rage Ministers to prosecute the war with becoming vigour.
(Hear, hear.) For these reasons he must oppose the pro-
position of the Attorney-General for fixing this bill for
a .morning sitting, and he hoped the noble lord would not
impose upon him the disagreeable task of opposing the
Government in reference to the conduct of the business of
the house, and that he would fix some later period of the
session, July or August, for the commencement of the
morning sittings.
Lord J. RUSSELL reminded the right hon. gentleman
• that he had not himself followed the practice he recona- •
.; mended, for when he was leader of the House of Commons
. in 1852, he commenced the morning sittings on the 31st of
May. (Hear, hear.) No doubt there were inconveniences
. in morning sittings, but it was a balance of inconveniences,
and in the month of August, when the right hon. gentle-
- limn would commence them a large proportion of mem-
- hers,- distinguished and undistinguished, were invariably
absent, having left for the session. Now that they had
- arrived at the middle of the month of June, he thought it
was desirable, looking at the amount of business still to be
. got through, that they should appoint morning sittings,
for the consideration of some important bills. He should,
therefore, propose that on Thursday se'nnight they should
sit at twelve o'clock for the purpose of considering this
bill. Other bills, including that of the Lord Advocate,
- might be considered at morning sittings ; as well as the
. Mercantile Marine Bills.
. Mr. DISRAELI said when he proposed a morning sit-
ting, at the end of May, it was in consequence of the noble
lord pressing for an early dissolution of Parliament.
(Cheers from the Opposition.)
Mr. MALINS urged that the bill under discussion ought
to be taken when members of the legal profession were
present. (Hear, hear.) The same observation would ap-
ply to the Mortmain Bill, which could not be properly dis-
. cussed without the members of the legal profession.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said he had not antici-
pated, from the way in which his bill passed the first and
• second reading, that no opposition would be offered to it.
He understood that some of the details were objected to ;
• and as these were matters which would hardly interest a
full house late at night, ho hoped the members of the legal
profession would for once make a sacrifice, and attend a
morning sitting to discuss the bill.
Cob BLAIR urged the postponement of one of the bills
•• fixed for this day—the Valuation (Scotland) Bill—or at
least that it should not be taken first.
The LORD ADVOCATE could not consent to alter the'
arieingereent that had been made.
Mr. WALPOLE said it was very natural that Govern-
inent should desire to get to the end of the session, but
when members were attending there from 12 in the day
till 2 in the morning, it was impossible that they should
be in a condition properly to attend to the business that
• came before them. He could declare from his own expo-
rieace that this was the case, and he was convinced that if
morning sittings were commenced too early, the business
of legislation would not be so satisfactorily conducted.
- Mr. K. SEYAIER asked the noble lord to name a day
when the Drainage Bill would be brought on at a morning
sitting.
• Lord J. RUSSELL suggested Thursday next; and the
bill was appointed for that clay.
Mr. CR AUFURD protested against the Sugar Duties
• Bill being proceeded with until hon. members had had
time to examine its provisions.
Mr. V. SCULLY said that much time was lost by hav-
ing a seearate set of bills for Scotland, and another for
Ireland. By having the same legislation for the three
Countries, a great deal of time would have been saved.
• The motion that the Common Law Procedure Bill should
be taken at a morning sitting on Thursday se'nnight was
then agreed to.
The Bills of Exchange (No. 2) Bill was fixed for the
same day.
• Lord J. RUSSELL suggested that, if morning sittings
-were adopted, they should not sit so late at night. (Cheers.)
REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS (SCOTLAND) BILL.
The other orders h-wing been postponed,
Mr. DISRAELI moved that the order for the commit-
tal of the Scotch Registration of Births Bill, which was
fixed for the morning sitting of this day should be dis-
charged, for the purpose of being postponed. (Hear, hear.)
Lord J. RUSSELL said that he was rather surprised at
the motion—(cheers)--.because it seemed to be the genet al
opinion of the house that the bill should be discussed to-
morrow morning. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. STIRLING said that several of the Scotch mem-
bers would not be able to attend to-morrow, as they would
be engaged upon an important committee.
The LORD ADVOCATE said it was generally under-
stood amongst the Scotch members that the bill would
come on to-morrow. (llear, hear.)
Colonel BLAIR said that he would not object to the
other bills being discussed, but he certainly would object
to the discussion of the Scotch Valuation Bill.
Lord ELOHO said the Valuation Scotland Bill was on
the paper for t
Mr. PORTIA aya as fixed for to-morrow.
Mr. COWAN hoped the bill would be postponed.
would wish to have the bill delayed for
several
amendment days,s. inAortdetrheto give sufficient time to consider the
Imre them explained by
same time, he would not object to
morrow. the learned lord in committee to-
Mr. CRATITURD said that the question was not as to
the Valuation Bill, but to the Registration Bill. (Hear.)
Lord
at D. STUART disliked
arngineviTngs, and parti-
present, there being
gret
til'eeling abroad
cularly
that the Government were anxious to
orfouvghalemszi
soon as possible, lest the sitting
sion
as
sprove inconvenient to them at this particular junc-
should
Hear, hear.) At the same time, as the question of
ture. (
the morning sitting had been discussed, and as he (the
noble lord) thought, it was hardly fair in the right
hon. gentleman to re-open the question, and he could not
give him his vote. (Laughter.)
Mr. J. BALL appealed to Sir J.Pakington, as the chair-
man of the committee on thiengbussiitnteinssgs.
of the house, to
support the proposal for m
Mr: DISRAELI explained that the reason he did not
divide at an earlier
period was because the question then
before the house related to a morning sitting on Thursday
so'nnight. (Hear, hear.)
1
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
expressed disputed
the accuracy of this explanation emit
concurrence of the house.
The house then divided—
Ayes
Noes

58
131
Majority —73
The motion was therefore lost, and the house ordered to
to meet at twelve o'clock to-day.
The house adjourned at twenty minutes to two.

WINE AND SPIRIT LICENCES.—A parliamentary TO-
,
turn states that in 1850, 1,642 wholesale and 35,446
retail licences were is-,uel in the United Kingdom for
the sale of wines, and 3,864 wholesale and 34,406 retail
• licences were also issued for the sale of spirits. In
I 's.sl there were issued 1,695 wholesale and 36,216 re-
.
• „ tail wine licences, and 3,945 wholesale and 84,942 retail
dr, : „dp, spirit licences. In 1852 the number of wine licences
C*a AL . :Abed was 1,609 wholesale and 37,300 retail wine
ii.,,71tt.:„..l cgpces, and 3931 wholesale. and 86, 492 retail spirit
6:/,,,--ri,,,;,Z,-417-t:-lilleAcea. 1n... 1853 wine licences were issued to the num-
_,:.:.....;--.:;,4.p ~,ker,, cif 1,6;-,2 wholesale and 38,455 retail, and spirit
4--4("4.4r*:- k•:; lieences to the number of 3,988 wholesale and 87,618
~4, :. ~. :, , retail.
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