The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-20 00:00:00

foresaw great difficulty in carrying that provision into
effect, though it might tend to check the abuses which
were now so greatly and he might add so justly com-
plained of. It was of great importance that the law
should be so altered as to prevent railway companies
from exempting themselves from liability by means of s
special contract, a contract which might almost be said
to be void, on account of the duresse under which
it was entered into by one of the parties to it.
It was not sufficient to place railway companies under
the same responsibilities as common carriers. Common
carriers were not bound to carry persons, and
that was an important distinction in the case.
He was far from wishing to press hardly on rail-
way companies, whose importance to the commer-
cial part of the community could scarcely be over-
rated ; but it must be recollected that practically they
enjoyed a monopoly because it was impossible for
any one to enter into competition with them. A capital
of 243,000,000/. was invested in railways, and
15,000,0001. was said to be divided annually. All the
hardship, all the wrong done, all the imperfect and no.
gligent proceedings, were not on one side. They coin.
plained of railway companies, and the railway companies
had no little cause to complain of the Legislature. How
many railway bills had been passed in which companies
were in the position of defendant.,? It was proved that
in one year the South-Eastern Railway Company was
compelled by a regard for its interest to take part in the
proceedings with regard to twenty-seven bills, only one
of which was promoted by the company itself. The ex-
pense incurred by this one company alone was 500,0001.
in ten years, or 50,0001. a year, in consequence of the
course of Parliamentary procedure on private bills. He
would not be satisfied till the same form of procedure was
common to both houses of Parliament. He would not
be satisfied with the mere substitution of examiners in
that house, for his belief was that a joint committee of
both houses should be substituted for the system of sepa.
rate committees. (Hear.)
Earl GREY said that there was nothing in the propo.
sition he made of attaching certain conditions to the
granting of private bills which would be derogatory to
the dignity of Parliament.
Lord CAMPBELL said he would not say a word
against the second reading, if time were given to consult
his brother judges before the bill was committed.
The bill was then read a second time.
BOUNDARY SURVEY (IRELAND) BILL.
This bill passed through committee.
SANITARY IMPROVEMENT.
The Earl of HARROWBY presented a petition from
the Metropolitan Sanitary As-ociation, praying for all
inquiry into the question of drainage of towns and of
water supply, and moved for a committee to take the
same into consideration.
Earl GRANVILLE, on the part of the Government,
said that in the present state of public business it would
be inexpedient to appoint a committee.

The motion was therefore withdrawn; and their lord+
ships adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—(YESTERDAY.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The fullow:ng bills were read a third time and passed
—Bolton Imp-ovement ; Bradford Corporation Water.
works; Great Western Railway (Stratford, &c.) ; Kings.
ton upon Thames Gas ; Shrewsbury and Chester Railway;
Trowbridge Roads.
The North Yorkshire and Cleveland Railway, and the
Winchester and Petersfield Road were considered, and,
ordered to be read a third time.
PETITIONS,
Petitions were presented by Mr. Goulburn from King's
College, Cambridge, praying for the establishment in that
university of two additional professorships of theology ;
by Mr. Cobden and other bon. members, against the
opening of public-houses on Sunday • by Mr. Spooner,
from Warwickshire, against the alteration of Oaths Bill ;
by Mr. John Macgregor, from Glasgow, against all reli•
gious endowments ; by Mr. G. Berkeley, from Evesham,
praying for the abolition of church-rates; by Mr. Weems,
from the Port and Harbour Commissioners of Drogheda,
praying for the most effective Government survey of the
eastern coast of Ireland, in order that a harbour of refuge
be co istructed in the most eligible position along that
particularly dangerous coast.
IRISH FAIRS.
Mr. COG AN asked the Secretary for Ireland, if it is the
intention of the Government to bring in any bill for the
regulation of fairs and markets in Ireland, in accordance
with the suggestions of the co'nmissioaers' report.
Sir T. YOUNG said a bill would shortly be laid on the
table ; but it was not intended to proceed with it this
session. It would partially carry out the recommendation
of the commissioners.
THE BLACK WARRIOR.
Mr. HUTCHINS asked Lord John Russell, whether
the Government have received any correspondence from
Madrid relating to the affair of the Black Warrior, and
wh ther they are prepared to place all the information
from there and from her Majesty's Minister at Washing•
ton, upon the table of the house.
Lord J. RUSSELL said their certainly had been a
correspondence with Madrid on the subject, but the hen.
gentleman must understand that the Government had
taken no official part in the matter. The communication*
which had taken place were merely those which always
pass between friendly Governments when matters of this
sort occur, and he could not, therefore, say that it would
be right to lay the correspondence on the table. He could
state, however, that the last accounts from Madrid gave
hopes of an amicable settlement of the dispute. (Hear.)
1 THE ANDES.

Mr. COWAN asked the Secretary to the Admiralty a
question relative to the Andes which was employed to
carry the First Royals to Gallipoli. He wished to know
whether any accounts bad been received from the officers
who embarked in this vessel, of the treatment they received
while on board.
Mr. B. OSBORNE found that the Andes, with the First
Royals on board, made the passage out within 15 days, and
when she arrived at her destination all wore well and per•
fectly satisfied with the ship. The ()leers had presented
a testimonial to the Captain for his courtesy and kindness
towards them.

LAW OF PARTNERSHIP.
Mr. HORSFALL asked the Secretary of the Treasury
if the report of the Royal Commissioners on the law of
partnership is printed, and wi;en it may be expected to be
in the hands of the members of' this house.

Mr. WILSON said a portion of the report had already
been laid on the table ; the rernainaer would be ready it
about a fortnight, and then the whole would be printed.

OATHS' BILL.
Mr. SPOONER observed that the second reading of the
Oaths' Bill stood for Thursday next, and he should be
glad to know if it was intended to go on with it on that
day.
Lord J. RUSSELL replied, that if the financial resolu-
tions were not disposed of on Monday, he should propose
an adjournment of the debate until Friday, with the view
of taking the Oaths' Bill on Thursday,
CHURCH RATES.
Sir W. CLAY gave notice that, on Tuesday next, he
should move for leave to bring in a bill for the entire abo-
lition of church rates.
BOYS FOR THE NAVY.
Mr. ALEXANDER asked the First Lord of the Ad-
miralty, wtiether the Board of Admiralty are prepared to
take, as apprentices to the Royal Navy, boys from the
workhouses in Ireland.
Sir J GRAHAM should be sorry to believe that boys
so sitaated could not rise to become most gallant and ex-
cellent seamen—(hear, hear) —but he must tell the house
that from friendly services the supply of volunteers was
larger than the Admiralty could take, and as there was a
prejudice against boys coming from workhouses, it would
affect the supply from these sources if they were taken,
and therefore it had heen determined not to take any for •
the present. (Hear, bear.)
LOSS OF THE TIGER.
Mr. HUME wished to ask the right hon. baronet a
que-Aiou relative to the report that one of our ships of war,
namely, the Tiger, had unfortunately got aground and been
taken possession of' by the Russians. He wished to know
if the Admiralty had received any account of the occur-
rence.
Sir J. GRAHAM said the only account that had
reached the Admiralty was a telegraphic message received
yesterday by a merc.mtile firm, which this morning bad
been diligently transmitted to the Admiralty, by
Lloyds. It repagresentuedl near that
to thOdessa,e screw-steamer
and had been
ethe -
theone itarsosia%s ;
but as the Tiger was not
sTiigzeer d hab cyl
a
sc7ew, but a paddle-wheel steamer, ha had hopes that
there was some error in the matter. He was the more in-
duce.l to think so because, the other day, it was as confi-
dently reported that the Amphion had been taken in the
same way in the Baltic; but it afterwards turned out that
there was no foundation for the report. (Hear.)
STAMP DUTIES ON PROMISSORY NOTES.
In reply to Mr. HUME,
Mr. WILSON said this subject bad been for some weeks
before the house, and he thought if the house was to post-
pone such measures from time to time there would be no
chance of carrying on the business. He, therefore, hoped
the house would allow him to bring forward the resolutions
on this subject. (Lear.)
EXCISE DUTIES BILL.

The house then went committee on this bilL

In reply to Lord NAAS,
Mr. WILSON said he thought the noble lord was mis-
taken in his facts as to the consumption of whisky. The
consumption in 1852 was 9,820,000 gallons; in 18534 it
was 10,000,000 and upwards.
Col. DUNNE maintained that the quantity consumed
was made up in a large degree by illicit distillation.
Mr. GOULBURN sail the real facts of the case were
that the convictions for smuggling had considerably
decreased.
Sir J. YOUNG said he hoped ere long that the Govern-
ment would be able to make the Irish oonstabulare
available to act in collecting the excise duties.
Mr. FRENCH hoped the Government would never 5r,_.:
sent to any such determination, as it would materia!lY
affect the utility of the most efficient police force 5117
Go-
vernment ever had at their command.
The clause was then agreed to.
On clause 2,
sinus until
Mr. WALPOLE said that the clause enooonte
tax should commence on the Bth May e
3 fide ratification of
the sth of July in any year next after t early in
.d that the
concluded
peace. If, therefore, peace should
ftohre
aautumn e
fttehri spNeVahcleChwwe
was
es
estornary in ',Wing
Mr. WILSON said it had been c
x
should cease ; anul
l'tewcould be con,
tinned
osnewln,:l
pe ice being concluded, at which
duties for war purposes,
theytostate
it was a convenient time for
aspecific period aft er
in order that.
arranging the balances. Another sth July was chosen, because it
reason
was,
than the war itself, and,
accounts of 1816, it would be found.'
reference made to the
ear when the war had juit.
the tax should be continued longer
that the expenditure of that y
any year during its continuance.
WALPOLE said, ifthe object to continue the
tam
after the war was ended, in order to defray
ceamserd, was larger than in
tax for a year
the current expenses of the year, and the peace occurred.
that object. The.
words ought to b© just before July, you could not affect
" one mouth after the conclusion of
peace."
Mr. WILSON said it was not intended to meet the cur-
rent expenses of the year in whi h the war ended, but OA'
penses, generally, incurred in the war.
After a few words from Mr. HENLEY,
Mr. GOUL BURN said you could not put an end to the
duty immediately on the conclusion of peace, becausq you
- must allow time for dealing with the stock in baud of clig*
tillers. Ifthearfetewr
was
the alteration
conclusion
yncionof the words.. ilb oughts to b
monthsp
Pe W44.1)01Z tai4 tie 44 nob rift is qpir'
.