The Sun.
London, England, 1853-03-19 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS—(YESTERDAY.)
The Royal assent was this afternoon given by com-
mission to the Mutiny, Marine Mutiny, Consolidated
Fund, County Election Polls, Grand Jury Cess, Indem-
nity and Commons Inclosure, and Inland Revenue Bills.
The Commissioners were the Lord Chancellor, the
Duke of Argyll, and the Marquis of Breadalbane.
At five o'clock the LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat
on the woolsack.
The Earl of EGLINTON presented a petition from a
place in Scotland, praying that the ordnance survey of
Scotland be continued.
Lord CAMPBELL presented a petition from Dun-
fermline, against tests imposed on professors in Scotch
universities.
The Bishop of St. DAVID'S presented a petition
against the admission of Jews into Parliament.
The Bishop of EXETER presented petitions from the
city of Devon to the same effect.
The Earl of CARLISLE presented a petition from
Colchester praying for Parliamentary papers.
THE SIX-MILE BRIDGE AFFRAY.
The Earl of DERBY rose to ask whether there would
be any objection to lay before this house copies of all the
papers relating to the Six-mile Bridge affray, being
identical with those which had been moved for and
granted in the other house last night.
The Earl of ABERDEEN said there could be no pos-
sible objection.
The Earl of CARDIGAN complained of the course
which had been taken by the Government in placing the
soldiers on their trial after the assurances which he had
heard from the noble earl at the head of the Government
that no distinction should be made between the priests
and the soldiers. He also expressed himself as greatly
astonished at the doctrine which had been propounded
by the Chief Secretary for Ireland, that any man who
stood for a populous place without a very perfect chance
of success was answerable for all the excesses which
might take place at that election. - -
- • _›!
The Earl of ABERDEEN deprecated the irregular
introduction of the noble earl's remarks. The noble
earl opposite (Derby) had moved for papers, no doubt,
with the intention of founding some motion on the sub-
ject. It would have been better if the noble lord had
waited until that occasion. He also deprecated any
allusion to the proceedings of the other house of Parlia-
ment.
The Bishop of EXETER was glad to hear the last
remark which had fallen from the noble earl. If such
were his opinion, he hoped that the noble earl had
already intimated, or would immediately intimate, to a
right hon. colleague of his in the other house (Sir W.
Molesworth), who, some few nights ago, had done him
(the Bishop of Exeter) the honour to allude in not very
favourable terms to some remarks which had fallen from
him in this house. (Hear, bear.)
The papers were then agreed to.
THE OVER-CROWDED STATE OF THE
METROPOLIS.
The Earl of SHAFTESBURY rose according to no-
tice to move that for the future every company coming
for a bill before their lordships' house, and proposing to
take any houses occupied by the labouring classes for the
purposes of their undertakings, should be obliged to prove
that by taking such houses they would not run the danger
of over-crowding neighbouring houses, and in cases they
should not prove that such would not be the case, that the
company be obliged to provide houses of the same capa-
city, as near as possible to the locality of the houses
destroyed. The noble lord proceeded to describe the
hardships which had been inflicted by the ejection of the
inhabitants occupying the houses destroyed by the for-
mation of the Victoria-street, the Blackwall Railway,
and other undertakings of a similar nature. Those
masses were driven from the locality in which they had
resided, and to which they were attached by proximity
to the scene of their labour, to seek for work at a great
distance from the place of their employment, and were
compelled, if they did not go to "a considerable distance,
which in many instances would involve almost the ruin
of families, to reside as near as possible to the spot, in
dwellings already overcrowded, teeming with filth and
engendering disease. His proposition would not inter-
fere with any existing rights, and it was only fair, when
a company.came forward to ask for new powers, very
considerable in extent, and affecting the condition of
hundreds of thousands of the poor, that they should
exact such conditions as would render the improvements
that were proposed, and which could not produce any
direct or immediate benefit to the poorer classes, as little
oppressive as possible to those classes. He might be
told that this evil prevailed only in the most crowded
and central parts of the town. It was perfectly true
that its worst form existed in the most densely populated
localities, and it would perhaps be better that the stand-
ing order should in the first instance extend only to such
localities. But it was said the rule ought not to apply
to railways, because it would convert them into building
eompanies. Why, railway companies were at present
great builders of houses, and at Rugby, Swindon, Co-
ventry, and Wolverton, great masses of dwellings had
been constructed by them ; besides which, there were
the great hotels at Paddington and Euston-square. In
fact, railway companies had no hesitation now in be-
coming the owners and managers of docks, packets, fac-
tories, foundries, hotels, dwelling-houses, and everything
that could subserve their interests, and therefore there
could be no reason why they should not be required to
provide houses for the accommodation of those of the
poorer classes whom their enterprises displaced. It was
said that this proposition might operate as a bar to in-
ternal improvement, He did not believe it would have
that effect, but he was sure, however persons in com-
fortable circumstances might delight in the improvement
of London and other towns, that in a large proportion of
instances these improvements, so far as regarded the so-
cial condition of the humbler classes, were no improve-
ments at all, but on the contrary much increased the evil
under which the large mass of the people laboured, and
that unless some check of this kind was adopted the evil
would become absolutely intolerable. The principle for
which he contended was already recognised by the other
house of Parliament in the standing orders with respect
to inclosure bills, in which a provision was required to be
introduced for leaving an open space in the most appro-
priate situation, sufficient for the exercise and recreation
of the people. He could assert of his own knowledge
that the people of this country did look to their lord-
ships' house for the redress of many of their grievances ;
and he did trust—and he ventured to say further, he be-
lieved—that their wisheS in this respect would not be
disappointed. (Hear, hear.) The noble lord concluded
by moving in the terms above stated. _
The Bishop of LONDON entirely concurred with
what had fallen from the noble lord, and begged most
cordially to second his proposition.
Lord REDESDALE trusted that their lordships, in
considering this subject, would not merely look to the
evils which bad arisen from the overcrowding of the
population in certain cases—an evil tp which no one was
more opposed than himself, and for 'which he acknow-
ledged the importance of providing a remedy ; but he
hoped they would consider the practical effect of passing
this standing order. It might be right in the case of
certain bills for internal improvements ; but that was a
very different thing from passing a standing order, mak-
ing a provision of this kind compulsory in all cases.
The Earl of DERBY thought their lordships must
feel greatly indebted to the noble lord (Lord Shaftes-
bury) for bringing before their notice a subject of great
importance, to which the noble lord himself had always
devoted his own attention, and which, perhaps, had
not hitherto received from the Legislature as much at-
tention as it deserved in itself, and as it was entitled to
receive from the helplessness of the class whom it chiefly
concerned. He quite concurred that in the considera-
tion of bills for the construction of railways and effecting
improvements in towns, too exclusive
strictatttentionhad,
perhaps, been given to the rightso otfhprroipArtsy,
ya
were
the
of that class of persons who,
called, and too slight attention talthoeugh.
possessed eo t e ry
evi-
dence of the actual amount and measure of a property, could yet produce the same
.they sustained, as t
th t in the case even
He further concurred a
property. hose who were the owners of real
effected for sanitary objects,
provements, which had been .
of many improvements so-called, and doubtless real im-
crowding in particular
been to aggravate the evils of over
the almost inevitable consequence in some instances.. had
• l evil from arising,
neighbourhoods. Indeed he could not see bow it was
possible to prevent such an incidental
and therefore he agreed with his noble friend (Lord Re-
and
that the imposition of too strict a set of condi-
tions would render it almost impracticable to carry into
effect any improvement. He would, therefore, suggest
to his noble friend (Lord. Shaftesbury) adulating that
the house ought to take steps for inquiring into what
would be the effect of improvements of this nature, upon
the comforts and convenience of the working-classes,
whether it would not be advisable that he should recon-
sider his proposition, with the view of ascertaining if he
could not embody its principle and object in words of a
'
less stringent and inflexible character.
The Earl of ABERDEEN said it was quite unneces-
hhs aoar yud
si
onf otro
view hdimo
justice
orno s
bringingfortio e at noyt
hotothhiosehrjqemuc
question
i wbo enhri
before
f 0 their ee
ti rhel
nobleomrds h
Tei
aphrs
ei
miedo
quite
gt i
evdea sg
ra
no
efde
drt the
oi
with
noblede
;e
na
orblbul
but he
uh
lordse t
(bt ehweuhnEoi
av
had
lra sdoaflpl
Ayo i
bna
ect.
erkddneooew-
un
t\
,
that in his desire to obtain a great good the noble earl ,
had proposed that the execution of which was clearly
impossible, and they must take care that in attempting
to accompli
sh an object in which all must agree,theY
they did not incur those practical difficulties which
would render vain all their efforts. He (the Earl of
Aberdeen) need not trouble their lordships with repeat-
ing the objection which had been already stated to the
course proposed by the noble earl, because it appeared
to him to be quite conclusive. The subject, however,
was well worthy of the attention of their lordships,
and if the noble earl thought fit to inquire more fully
into the matter by means of a committee, he (the Earl
of Aberdeen) was sure that there could I'3e no objection
to a proposal of that kind. (Hear, hear.) ' But their
lordships were clearly not in a position to pass a com-
prehensive standing order like this, professing to em-
brace all matters of this description which could come
under their consideration. He would suggest to the
noble earl to withdraw his resolution for the present,
and upon further consideration to bring in some practi-
cal measure which would have a better prospect of effect-
ing the desired result. (Hear, hear.)
The Earl of HARROWBY entirely agreed in the
opinion that it would be more advisable to give the sub-
ject greater consideration before they made any standing
order, and he was not sure whether it would not be bet-
ter to refer the question to a select committee, to inquire
into the best way of effecting the object proposed by his
noble friend.
The Earl of CARLISLE most cordially concurred
both with his noble friend (the Earl of Shaftesbury) and
with the right rev. prelate who had spoken with regard
to the magnitude of the evil complained of, and the great
desirableness of affording some effectual remedy.
The Earl of WICKLOW paid that there could be no

doubt-of-the-good intentions by which the noble earl
had been animated in bringing forward this resolution,
but it appeared to him (the Earl of Wicklow) that he
had not given to the whole subject that consideration
which it required.
The Earl of SHAFTESBURY said he should be
happy to accept the offer which had been made to him
by the noble earl at the head of the Government, and he
would now, in withdrawing his resolution, merely
observe that, so far as he was concerned, he should not
rest until, with God's blessing, he had attained his end.
(Hear, hear.)
The motion was then withdrawn.
THE CHURCH IN THE COLONIES.

Lord MONTEAGLE presented a petition from the
diocese of Sydney, protesting against the introduction of
any system of church government into the colonies in
which the bishop, clergy, and laity should not meet in
one council with one jurisdiction.
The Archbishop of CANTERBURY believed that
some legislation on the subject was necessary, but at the
same time he considered it was matter of great difficulty.

The Duke of NEWCASTLE declined to enter into
any discussion, but explained that the colonial bishops
had not impugned the Queen's supremacy.
After some further discussion, in which the Bishop of
EXETER and Lord MONTEAGLE differed as to the consti-
tutional origin of the Queen's supremacy,
The petition was ordered to lie on the table.
THE ADJOURNMENT.

The Earl of ABERDEEN then moved the adjourn-
ment of the house to Monday, the 4th of April.
The Earl of DERBY said that, although the noble
earl had moved an adjournment of rather longer dura-
tion than usual, he was not about to offer any objection
on the part of the house to the length of that adjourn-
ment, nor to the period to which the noble earl pro-
posed to adjourn. If the noble earl had proposed, ac-
cording to the usual practice, to adjourn to a period
three or four days later than the time fixed upon by the
House of Commons, he should have seen no reason for
objecting to that longer adjournment. He should be glad '
to hear, and he was sure it would meet the convenience
of their lordships, if the noble earl would assure them
that it was not the intention of the Government to pro-
ceed with any business of importance during the first
three or four days after the reassembling of the house.
He trusted the noble earl would inform their lordships
whether the object of meeting at the time mentioned
was not rather to carry on the legal business of the house
than to proceed with any questions of political import-
ance. He could not allow the house 'to separate with-
out taking the opportunity of repeating a question
which he took the liberty of putting to the noble earl at
the commencement of the session, and to which he was
unsuccessful in obtaining, an answer—namely, what are
the measures to be submitted on the part of the Govern-
ment to the consideration of your lordships' house dur-
ing the present session ? (Hear.) At that time the
noble earl declined giving him any information with re-
gard
to the measures of the Government, but stated
that shortly afterwards the noble and learned lord on
the woolsack would declare the intentions of the Go-
vernment with regard to great and important questions
of legal reform ; and, accordingly, three or four days
afterwards, the noble and learned lord entered very much
at large into the consideration of legal reform, begin-
ning by observing that upon one question the noble and
learned lord who had preceded him had done so much
that nothing more remained to be done ; that upon an-
other question there was a commission already existing ,
for the purpose of making certain inquiries ; that upon a
third branch it was important to obtain further informa-
tion before proceeding to legislate • and the noble and
learned lord at last arrived at the conclusion that the
amount of legislative progress in the matter of legal re-
form would, in the course of the present session, be of the
slightest possible description. In point of fact, the noble
lord stated that he had taken upon himself, apart from
legislation, a task of very considerable importance
and duration—a task which he confessed he had
taken up in a romantic sort of enthusiasm. (A laugh.)
He could only say, he sincerely hoped the noble and
learned lord might have life and health to carry into
effect the great object which he wished to accomplish ;
and if he should be spared to carry out his intentions,
he certainly would be blessed with a longer life than
that generally allotted to man. (A. laugh.) So far as '
legislation was concerned, ,the noble and learned lord
had confined himself to the reintroduction of a measure
which had been introduced for the last 20 years, for the
registration of assurances, which was rejected last year,
and rejected in the previous year, by the House of. Co-
mmons, and with regard to which the noble and learned
lord, in the course of the present session, had introduced
one important modification, which appeared to him (the
Earl of Derby) to be contradictory to the main principle
of the bill—the main principle of the bill being to pro-
vide for the publicity of registration, but the objects of
the amendment being to enable parties to keep their
deeds secret. The bill which had been previously re-
jected would probably again meet the same fate. The
statement made by his noble and learned friend the late
Lord Chancellor had shaken his confidence in the prac-
ticability and desirability of the measure, and it was
probable that it might not undeservedly meet the same
fate as the bill of last year, and consequently the amount
of legal reform in the present session would be nil.
(Hear, hear.) In the other house of Parliament the
estimates had been passed for the naval and military'
services of the country, founded upon the amount of
force laid down by the late Government, and to which
he was happy to find the present Government had taken
no exception. Beyond that, there had been introduced
into the House of Commons.a bill for enabling persons
of the Jewish persuasion to sit in Parliament. That
bill had formerly been rejected by the House of Lords,
and he trusted their lordships would reject it again.
(Hear, hear.) In that respect, again, the amount of
legislation would be absolutely nil. (Hear, hear.)
Another bill had been introduced, to which he felt the
strongest objection, because he thought it interfered
most unjustly and unconstitutionally with the provision
for the Protestant clergy in Canada. These measures
completed the whole progress of the legislation of the
Government. Their lordships had been told that, in
the course of the session, the noble lord the leader of the
House of Commons would inform the house what course
the Government intended to pursue upon the great sub-
ject of education. The Reform Bill, to which the public
attention had been directed, it was announced would not
be brought forward in the course of the present session ;
and with regard to the education question, the noble lord
had intimated that it was not his intention to bring for-
wrrd any extensive or comprehensive scheme. They
had been told, and he hoped erroneously, or at least he
trusted the Government would reconsider the question—
they had been told that it was the intention of the
Government, during the Tresent session, permanently
to legislate on the affairs of India. That was all
that had been announced on the part of the Govern-
ment up to the present time. If the Government
contemplated the introduction of any other mea-
sures he thought the time had arrived, now that they
were about to adjourn for the holidays, when the houses
of Parliament ought to be informed as to the nature of
the business to which their attention was likely to be
directed. (Hear, hear.) He was anxious that the old
system should not be followed, under which bills were
brought up at a late period, and often without previous
notice—their lordships being kept waiting for four or five
months, and then being called upon to legislate on sub-
jects of great importance at the end of a session when
very few peers were present. If the Government in-
tended to bring forward no measures of importance, let
them say so at once. If it was their intention to bring
forward measures of importance let them be brought
forward without delay. Let their lonhips have a fair
share of business throughout the session, and let it not
be huddled together into a short period at the end of the
session. (Hear, hear.) If this suggestion was import-
ant with regard to anything it was particularly so with
regard to the affairs of India. The affairs of that
country were now beginning to excite the greatest in-
terest. The noble earl had announced his intention to
permanently legislate upon a portion of the question
during the present session. If the noble earl had deter-
mined so to legislate he must have determined so to
legislate without waiting for, and consequently without
being influenced by, the examination and report of the
twhu timeohr
uiee's
which
committee appointed to consider the subject, and there
was, therefore, no reason why the legislation on that
part of the subject on which the Government had made
up their minds should not be placed before Parliament
with the least possible delay. He was anxious to ascer-
tain what measures the Government intended to submit
to Parliament, and. he was anxious to receive an assur-
ance from the noble earl that whatever measure it might
be his intention to propose should be placed before their
lordships in due time, and thus avoid the serious evils
of procrastination until within the last two or three
weeks of the close of the session of Parliament. (Hear.)
The Earl of ABERDEEN was surprised at the in-
quiry of the noble earl, considering it altogether unusual
to demand such information. He could assure the noble
earl that he need be under no apprehension that their
lordships
likelyw ou d
tnoo th
occupya v e
share
oo
ff thethe business Leg iel a .
that was
that measures would be introduced in such
was his intention to
as to afford opportunities. for that full discussion
did not think himself called upon, after
noble earl desired.lt
ampleand
a notice before introducing subjects into the
ontrtpheensutbhjaetctsuaht
subject
te
he
ereswenats
moment. (
give the
The noble earl had alluded to
theahl e subjecttoa stateud h
thatoef
house a notice would
that
measurepromei
contemplated
enHtteeoms
hear.)
etemaeadtroirin
e o
n theh
be
yfigtriti shmt
eedaty
Government.th e
consider
that
Theireti n o
matter,
tottrehdre:
ven of the introduction of the
ships would have ampleuoffretehrsde wei
their
orf
for
rd isnthhti rpeoisr-
consideration. With respect to,
house, full time would in a
danudce.dgiennteoratlhlye
Hs poeuaskei nogf
the observation of the
bull ness beyond the
'Cwetchllere'vcaheensersetar
beeia sat
uf sithe
days o n which
noble
day a
as
thear l
Houserelative
of
fo
Commons,t h he lordships meetingght s
state
et the same
was not intended to enter on any
legal proceedings, and giving notice o
certain business would be proceeded
)
The motion was then agreed to, andwith. (
theirH
adjourned till the 4th of April. eloarrdships

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-(YESTERDAY.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
The following bills were read a second time :—Bays-
water, Paddington, and Holborn Bridge Railway ;
Monmouthshire Railway and Canal.

HULL ELECTION.
Mr. LABOUCHERE gave -notice that on Tuesday, the
sth of April, he should move for an address to the Crown
for a commission to inquire into the state of the represen-
tation of the borough of Hull.
NORWICH ELECTION PETITION.
..
- -

Mr.. T. DUNCOMBE; gavo notice that on the
sth of April, he should call the attention of the house to
the report of the select e-intuittee on the Norwich election
petition, and move that the resolution of the house on the
14th of February last, for discharging that,petition, be re-
landed.

AUSTRALIAN MAIL SERVICE.
Lord JOCELYN gave notice that on Monday, the 4th
of April, he should move for copies of certain contracts and
negotiations entered into by the Government with respect
to the Australian mail service.
CLITHEROE ELECTION.
Mr. M. GASKELL gave notice that on Tuesday, the sth
April, he should move for an address to the Crown for a
commission to inquire into the representation of the bo-
rough of Clitheroe.
TAXES ON KNOWLEDGE.
Mr. MILNER GIBSON said that, on Thursday, the
14th April, he -would bring on a motion relative to the
taxes on knowledge.
Mr. V. SMITH gave notice that, on Thursday,
CAMBRIDGE ELECTION.
April, he should move for an address to the Crown for a
the 7th
commission to inquire into the state of the representation
of the borough of Cambridge.
MALDON ELECTION.
Lord R. GROSVENOR gave notice that, on Tuesday,
the sth of April, he should move for an address to the
Crown to issue a commission to inquire as to corrupt prac-
tices alleged to exist in the borough of Leeds.
EDUCATION.
Lord J. RUSSELL gavo notice that, on Monday, the
4th of April, he should state the intentions of the Govern
ment on the subject of education in England and Wales.

THE BUDGET. -
Lord J. RUSSELL also said that, on Monday, the 4th
of April, the Chancellor of the Exchequer would state on
what day—and it would be an early day—he intended to
make his financial statement to the house.