The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-20 00:00:00

EDUCATION BILL.

Mr. T. DUNCOMBE asked Lord John Russell
whether he had any intention of hereafter bringin, the
metropolitan districts within the operation of his'Edu-
cation Bill ?

Lord J. RUSSELL replied that be had no present
intention of bringing the metropolis within the operation
of the Educational Bill.
ADMISSION OF JEWS INTO PARLIAMENT.
Mr. M. GIBSON wished to ask the noble lord the
member for the city of London a question relative to
the admission of Jews into Parliament. It would be
remembered that some short time ago a bill was intro-
duced for the removal of Jewish disabilities. That bill
passed through the house but it was afterwards rejected
by the other house of Parliament. Now the city of
London had returned a Jew to represent them in that
house, but the gentleman who so represented the city
was unable to discharge his duties, owing to the state of
the law. The seat however was full and a new writ could
not therefore be issued. The question which lie had to
ask the noble lord was this—What course did the noble
lord propose to take in the present position of affairs ?
Holding the noble lord responsibk for the management
of business in this house, he wished to ask the noble
lord what course he would advise the house to take with
reference to the peculiar position of the City of Lon-
don, and also whether the Government mean to make
any effort during the present session, or at any future
time, to settle the important question. (Hear.)
Lord J. RUSSELL said with respect to the import-
ant question which his right hon. friend had put to him,
he had to state in the first place—that he did not think
this question could be settled by allowing things .to re-
main as they were. His opinion was, that it was much
more probable that it would be settled by a bill which
should make a general alteration in the oaths taken by
members, than by again recurring to a bill of the
nature of that which had just been rejected by
the House of Lords. As to what time such an
alteration ought to be proposed he could not at present
undertake to say. However, he might observe that
there had been a bill introduced into the other house
for the alteration of the oaths. Ho had not seen that
bill, but it was possible the bill might ultimately come
dew n to them in such a shape as to remove the difficulty
in which they now found themselves. (Hear, hear.)

WAYS AND MEANS.
The report of the committee of Ways and Means was
received, and leave given to bring in a bill founded upon
the resolutions.

CUSTOMS,' Etc., ACTS.
The report thereupon was received.
EXCISE DUTIES ON SPIRITS BILL.
On the motion for the second reading of this bill,
Captain JONES said he was bound to express his
strong apprehensions of the results of this bill. In 1842
the Government of the late Sir R. Peel proposed to raise
the duty on Irish spirits by is. a gallon, and he then
told the house what would be the consequence of the
measure. He told the house then that it would not in-
crease the revenue, but that it would have the effect of
encouraging illicit distillation, and of filling all the gaols
in Ireland. Such turned out to be the case, and ulti-
mately the increased duty had to be abandoned. From
1834 to 1839, the consumption of spirits in Ireland varied
l ti
from 10,000,000 to 12,000,000 gallons, but in 1842,
when the duty was increased by 1s• a gallon, the
spirits brought to charge in Ireland fell to 5,000,000
of gallons. It must not be supposed that this was owing
to any falling off in the consumption of spirits in Ire-
land, but it was owing to the increase which took place
lin the manufacture of illicit spirits. Now, such would
be the effect of the present measure. He calculated that
if the law was allowed to stand without alteration, the
quantity of spirits that would come into charge
in Ireland would be something between 9,000,000
and 10,000,000 of gallons, but if the bill passed the re-
venue would be injured and the ;,,aols of Ireland filled as
before. He must therefore protest against the second
reading, though he should not put the house to the
trouble of dividing upon it. (Hear, hear.)
The bill was then read a second time, and ordered to
be committed on Monday next.
CUSTOMS DUTIES ON SPIRITS BILL.
This bill was read a second time, and ordered to be
committed on Monday next.
AFFAIRS OF INDIA.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL, in moving that the Speaker
do leave the chair for going into Committee of Supply,
took the opportunity of stating, that on Friday, the 3(1
of June, leis right hon. friend the President of the Board
of Control would state the views of the Government
with regard to the Government of India.
Mr. RICH said, with reference to that notice,
he must be allowed to express his opinion that it
would be both for the interest of the Government and of
India that the subject should be more maturely consi-
dered before it was brought on for discussion. (Hear,
hear.) The appointment of the Indian committee took
place at a very late period, while the heads of inquiry
that were submitted to it were exceedingly numerous.
The house had only just received a report upon one of
these heads, and much information remained behind to
be communicated to the house. He therefore contended
that it would be most inexpedient to legislate in the
matter until the whole inquiry was brought to a close.
Ile believed that the agitation of this question would be
conducive to the ultimate tranquillity of India itself. He
therefore thought we ought rigidly to inquire be-
fore legislating. The committee which had been ap-
pointed, although composed of the most eminent men in
that house, had committed such blunders as would have
disgraced the youngest members. Instead of inquiring
into the condition and well-being of the people of India,
they had confined themselves simply to inquiring into