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

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
HOUSE OF LORDS—(YESTERDAY.)
had not given to the whole subject that consideration
The Royal assent was this afternoon given by corn- which it required.
mission to the Mutiny, Marine Mutiny, Consolidated The Earl of SHAFTESBURY said he should be
Fund, County Election Polls, Grand Jury Cess, Indem- ethappy to accept the offer which had been made to him
pity and Commons Inclosure, and Inland Revenue Bills, by the noble earl at the head of the Government, and he
The Commissioners were the Lord Chancellor,
the would now, in withdrawing his resolution, merely
Duke of Argyll, and the Marquis of Breadalbane. observe that, so far as he was concerned, he should not
At five o'clock the LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat rest until, with God's blessing, he had attained his end.
on the woolsack. • . (Hear, hear.)
The Earl of EGLINTON presented a petition from a The motion was then withdrawn.
place in Scotland, praying that the ordnance survey of THE CHURCH IN THE COLONIES.
Scotland be continued.
Lord CAMPBELL presented a petition from Dun- Lord MONTEAGLE presented a petition from the
Sydney, protesting against the introduction of
fermline, against tests imposed on f in Scotch pro essors diocese of .
any system of church government into the colonies in
universities.
which the bishop, clergy, and laity should not meet in
The Bishop of St. DAVID'S presented a petition one council with one jurisdiction.
against the admission of Jews into Parliament. The Archbishop of CANTERBURY believed that
The Bishop of EXETER presented petitions from the some legislation on the subject was necessary, but at the
city of Devon to the same effect, same time he considered it was matter of great difficulty.
The Earl of CARLISLE presented a petition from The Duke of NEWCASTLE declined to enter into
Colchester praying for Parliamentary papers. any discussion, but explained that the colonial bishops
THE SIX-MILE BRIDGE AFFRAY, had not impugned the Queen's supremacy.
The Earl of DERBY rose to ask whether there would 1 After some further discussion, in which the Bishop of
be any objection to lay before this house copies of all the EXETER and Lord MONTEAGLE differed as to the consti-
papers relating to the Six-mile Bridge affray, being' tutional origin of the Queen's supremacy,
identical with those which had been moved for and The petition was ordered to lie on the table.
granted in the other house last night. THE ADJOURNMENT.
The Earl of ABERDEEN said there could be no pos-
The Earl of ABERDEEN then moved the adjourn.
sible objection.
The ment of the house to Monday, the 4th of April.
Earl of CARDIGAN complained of the course
The Earl of DERBY said that, although the noble
which had been taken by the Government in placing the
earl had moved an adjournment of rather longer dura-
soldiers on their trial after the assurances which he had
tion than usual, he was not about to offer any objection
heard from the noble earl at the head of the Government I
on the part of the house to the length of that adjourn-
that no distinction should be made between the priests
I ment, nor to the period to which the noble earl pro-
and the soldiers. He also expressed himself as greatly :
posed to adjourn. If the noble earl had proposed, ac-
astonished at the doctrine which had been propounded
cording to the usual practice, to adjourn to a period
by the Chief Secretary for Ireland, that any man who
three or four days later than the time fixed upon by the
stood for a populous place without a very perfect chance
House of Commons, he should have seen no reason for
of success was answerable for all the excesses which
objecting to that longer adjournment. He should be glad
might take place at that election.
The Earl of ABERDEEN deprecated the irregular to hear, and he was sure it would meet the convenience
of their lordships, if the noble earl would assure them
introduction of the noble earl'
s remarks. The noble that it was not the intention of the Government to pro-
earl opposite (Derby) had moved for papers, no doubt,
with the intention of founding some motion on the sub- teed with any business of importance during the first
e ihr e or four days after the reassembling of the house.
ject. It would have been better if the noble lord had
He trusted the noble earl would inform their lordships
waited until that occasion. He also deprecated any
whether the object of meeting at the time mentioned
allusion to the proceedings of the other housuof Parlia-
was not rather to carry on the legal business of the house
ment.
The Bishop of EXETER was glad to hear the last than to proceed with any questions of political import-
ance. He could not allow the house to separate with-
remark which had fallen from the noble earl. If such out taking the opportunity of repeating a question
were his opinion, he hoped that the noble earl had
which he took the liberty of putting to the noble earl at
already intimated, or would immediately intimate, to a
the commencement of the session, and to which he was
right hon. colleague of his in the other house (Sir W. unsuccessful in obtaining an answer—namely,
what are
Moiesworth), who, some few nights ago, had done him
the measures to be submitted on the part of the Govern-
(the Bishop of Exeter) the honour to allude in not very
dur-
favourable terms to some remarks which had fallen from ment to the consideration of your lordships' house
him in this house. (Hear, hear.) ing the present session ? (Hear.) At that time the
noble earl declined giving him any information with re-
The papers were then agreed to. gard to the measures of the Government, but stated
THE OVER-CROWDED STATE OF THE that shortly afterwards the noble and learned lord on
METROPOLIS. the woolsack would declare the intentions of the Go.
The Earl of SHAFTESBURY rose according to no- vernment with regard to great and important questions
tice to move that for the future every company coming of legal reform ; and, accordingly, three or four- days
for a bill before their lordships' house, and proposing to afterwards, the noble and learned lord entered very much
take any houses occupied by the labouring classes for the
at large into the consideration of legal reform, begin
purposes of their undertakings, should be obliged to prove
ning by observing that upon one question the noble and
that by taking such houses they would not run the danger
learned lord who had preceded him had done so much
3' that nothing more remained to be done ; that upon an-
of over-crowding neighbouring houses, and in cases the
should not prove that such would not be the case, that the
other question there was a commission already existing
Company be obliged to provide houses of the same capa- for the purpose of making certain inquiries ; that upon a
city, as near as possible to the locality of the houses third branch it was important to obtain further informa-
destroyed. The noble lord proceeded to describe the tion before proceeding to legislate ; and the noble and
hardships which had been inflicted by the ejection of the learned lord at last arrived at the conclusion that the
inhabitants occupying the houses destroyed by the for- amount of legislative progress in the matter of legal re-
mation of the Victoria-street, the Blackwall Railway, form would, in the course of the present session, be of the
and other undertakings of a similar nature. Those slightest possible description. In point of fact, the noble
masses were driven from the locality in which they had lord stated that he had taken upon himself, apart from
resided, and to which they were attached by proximity legislation, a task of very -considerable importance
to the scene of their labour, to seek for work at a great and duration— a task which he confessed he had
distance from the place of their employment, and were taken up in a romantic sort of enthusiasm. (A laugh.)
compelled, if they did not go to a considerable distance, He could only say, he sincerely hoped the noble and
which in many instances would involve almost the ruin learned lord might have life and health to carry into
of families, to reside as near as possible to the spot, in effect the great object which he wished to accomplish ;
dwellings already overcrowded, teeming with filth and and if he should be spared to carry out his intentions,
engendering disease. His proposition would not inter- he certainly would be blessed with a longer life than
fere with any existing rights, and it was only fair, when that generally allotted to man. (A laugh.) So far as
a company came forward to ask for new powers, very legislation was concerned, the noble and learned lord
considerable in extent, and affecting the condition of had confined himself to the reintroduction of a measure
hundreds of thousands of the poor, that they should which had been introduced for the last 20 years, for the
exact such conditions as would render the improvements registration of assurances, which was rejected last year,
that were proposed, and which could not produce any and rejected in the previous year, by the House of Corn-
direct or immediate benefit to the poorer classes, as little mons, and with regard to which the noble and learned
oppressive as possible to those classes. He might be lord, in the course of the present session, had introduced
told that this evil prevailed only in the most crowded one important modification, which appeared to him (the
and central parts of the town. It was perfectly true Earl of Derby) to be contradictory to the main principle
that its worst form existed in the most densely populated of the bill—the main principle of the bill being to pro-
localities, and it would perhaps be better that the stand- vide for the publicity of registration, but the objects of
ing order should in the first instance extend only to such the amendment being to enable parties to keep their
localities. But it was said the rule ought not to apply deeds secret. The bill which bad been previously re-
to railways, because it would convert them into building jetted would probably again meet the same fate. The
companies. Why, railway companies were at present statement 'made by his noble and learned friend the late
great builders of houses, and at Rugby, Swindon, Co- Lord Chancellor had shaken his confidence in the prac-
ventry, and Wolverton, great masses of dwellings had ticability and desirability of the measure, and it was
been constructed by them ; besides which, there were probable that it might not undeservedly meet the same
the great hotels at Paddington and Euston-square. In fate as the bill of last year, and consequently the amount
fact, railway companies' had no hesitation now in be- of legal reform in the present session would be nil.
coming the owners and managers of docks, packets, fac- (Hear, hear.) In the other house of Parliament the
tories, foundries, hotels, dwelling-houses, and everything estimates had been passed for the naval and military
that could subserve their interests, and therefore there services of the country, founded upon the amount of
could be no reason why they should not be required to force laid down by the late Government, and to which
Provide houses for the accommodation of those of the he was happy to find the present Government had taken
Poorer classes whom their enterprises displaced. It was
no exception. Beyond that, there had been introduced
said that this proposition might operate as a bar to in-
into the House of
Commons a bill for enablin arsons
ternal improvement. He did not believe it would have
of the Jewish persuasion to sit in Parliamengt.p That
that effect, but he was sure, however persons in cons-
Portable circumstances might delight in the improvement bill had formerly been rejected by the House of Lords,
and he trusted their it
of London and other towns, that in a large proportion of lordships would reject again.
(Hear, bear.) In that respect, again, the amount of
instances these improvements, so far as regarded the so-
cial condition of the humbler classes, were no improve- legislation would be absolutely nil. (Hear, hear.)
ments at all, but on the contrary much increased the evil Another bill had been introduced, to which he felt the
under which
the large mass of the people laboured, and strongest objection, because he thought it interfered
that unless some check of this kind was adopted the evil most unjustly and unconstitutionally with the provision
would become absolutely intolerable. The principle for for the Protestant clergy in Canada. These measures
which he contended was already recognised by the other ,6.,onarlentinedentthe wholeTeir progressorsis ofmtdhebeleegistloallontholft,ttel
house of Parliament in the standing orders with respect
to inclosure bills, in which a provision. was required to be the course of the session, the lordships
lord the leader of the
introduced for leaving an open space in the most appro- House of Commons would inform the house what course
and
sub-
priate situation, sufficient for the exercise recreation the Government intended to pursue upon the great
ject of education. The Reform Bill, to which the public
of the people. He could assert of his own knowledge
did look to their lord- attention had been directed, it was announced would not
that the people of this countrybe brought forward in the course of•the present session;
ofgrievances ;
ships' house for the redress of many their
he be- and with regard to the education question, the noble lord
and he did trust—and he ventured to say further, had intimated that it was not his intention to bring for-
lieved—that their wishes in this respect would not be
wrrd any extensive or comprehensive scheme. They
,disappointed. (Hear, hear.) The noble lord concluded
had been told, and he hoped erroneously, or at least he
by moving in the terms above stated. ith trusted the Government would reconsider the question—
The Bishop of LONDON entirely concurred w
d most they had been told that it was the intention of the
What had fallen from the noble lord, and begs Government, Government, during the present session, permanently
Cordially to second his pioposition.
in to legislate on the affairs of India. That was all
Lord REDESDALE trusted that their lordships, that had been announced on the part of the Govern-
considering this subject, would not merely look to the
~Went up to the present time. If the
Government
evils which had arisen from the overcrowding of the
contemplated the introduction of any other mea-
Population in certain cases—an evil to which no one was
sures he thought the time had arrived, now that they
more opposed than himself, and for which he acknow-
were about to adjourn for the holidays, when the houses
ledged the importance of providing a remedy ; but he
of Parliament ought to be informed as to the nature of
hoped they wouldconsider the practical effect of passing
the business to which their attention was likely to be
this standing order. It might be right in the case of
directed. (Hear, hear.) He was anxious that the old
certain bills for internal improvements ; but that was a
system should not be followed, under which bills were
very different thing from passing a standing order, mak-
brought up at a late period, and often without previous
Lug a provision of this kind compulsory in all oases.
notice—their lordships being kept waiting for four or five
The Earl of DERBY thought their lordships must
months, and then being called upon to legislate on sub-
feel greatly indebted to the noble lord (Lord Shaftes-
jects of great importance at the end of a session when
bury) for bringing before their notice a subject of great
very few peers were present. If the Government in-
iniportance, to which the noble lord himself had always
tended to bring forward no measures of importance, let
devoted his own attention, and which, perhaps, had
them say so at once. If it was their intention to bring
not hitherto received from the Legislature as much at-
forward measures of importance let them be brought
tention as it deserved in itself, and as it was entitled to
forward without delay. Let their lorships have a fair
receive from the helplessness of the class whom it chiefly
share of business throughout the session, and let it not
concerned. He quite concurred that in the considera- be huddled together into a short period at the end of the
thin of bills for the construction of railways and effecting
session. (Hear, hear.) If this suggestion was import-
improvementsh in towns, too exclusive attention had,
ant with regard to anything it was particularly so
;la
Perhaps, been given to the rights of property, strictly so
regard to the affairs of India. The affairs of
t
Called, and too slight attention to the rights and claims - were now beginning to excite the greatest -
of that class of persons who, although they were not country in
The noble earl had announced his intentioniotno
Possessed of a property, could yet produce the same evi- serest.
legislate upon a portion of the question
they of the actual amount and measure of the injury permanently
session. If the noble earl had deter-
they sustained, as those who were the owners of real during the presentlegislate he must have determined so to
-Property. He further concurred that in the case even mined so to
waiting
for, and consequently without
of many improvements so-called, and doubtless real im- legislate without
by, the examination and report of the
Provements, which had been effected for sanitary objects, being influenced _
d to consider the subject, and there
the almost inevitable consequence in some instances had committee appointe
the legislation on that
reason why
ad made
been to aggravate the evils of overcrowding in particular was, therefore, no
the Government h
neighbourhoods. Indeed he could not see how it was Part of the subject on whichtbe
placed before Parliament
Possible to prevent such an incidental evil from arising, up their minds should no
He was anxious to aster
therefore he agreed with his noble friend (Lord Re- with the least possible delay.
ent intended to submit
'desdale) that the imposition of too strict a set of condi- tarn what measures the Govern!"
to receive an assur-
,tions would render it almost impracticable to carry into to Parliament, and he was anxious measure it might
effect any improvement. He would, therefore, suggest ante from the noble earl that whateverb
placed before their
to his noble friend (Lord Shaftesbury) admitting that be his intention to propose should
_e'd the serious evils
the house ought to take steps for inquiring into what lordships in due time, and thus avoid
Would be the effect of improvements of this nature, upon of procrastination until within the last two or three
t. (Hear.)
the comforts and convenience of the working-classes, weeks of the close of the session of Parliamen
at the in-
whether it would not be advisable that he should recon- The Earl of ABERDEEN was surprised
unusual
Sider his proposition, with the view of ascertaining if he quirt' of the noble. earl, considering it altogether
,could not embody its principle and object in words of a tdemandsuch the noble
information. He could assure
less stringent and inflexible character. earl that he need be under no apprehension that their
lordships would not have their business
The Earl of ABERDEEN said it was quite unneces- full share of the . .
wary for him or for any other member of their lordships' that was likely to occupy the attention of the Legisla-
aouse to do
justice
to the objects which the noble earl t ure, and measures would be introduced such
had that in
bad in view in bringing this question before them. The time as to afford opportunities fordiscussion that full
the noble earl desired.
Motives of the noble earl must be universally acknow- which. It was his intention to
notice before
'edged and reco 'd • but he (the Earl of Aberdeen) give ample . introducing subjects into the
guise ,
had pointed out house, and he did not think himself called upon, after
Quito agreed with the noble lord who
that in his desire to obtain a great good the noble earl that promise to say more on the subject at the present
(Hear, h ar ) Thenoble
hadproposedthat the execution of which was clearly moment.. e
.. earl had alluded to
i that in attempting the subject of education. Upon that subject he was
olpossible, and they must take care
theymeeting
accomplish an object in which all must agree,
able to state that on the first day of the of the
they did not incur those practical difficulties which to
house a notice would be given of the introduction of the
Would render vain all their efforts. He (the
Earl of
measure contemplated by the Government. Their lord-
Aberdeen) need not trouble their lordships with repeat- ships would have ample time to consider that matter,
ing the objection which had been already stated to tbe
and, generally speaking, whether measures were intro-
course proposed by the noble earl, because it appeared duced into the House of Commons or into their lordships'
„0 him to bequite conclusive. The subject, however,
house, fpll time would in all cases be afforded for their
Was well wor
" qthy of the attention of their lordships, consideration. With respect to the observation of the
and if the noble earl thought fit to inquire more fully noble earl relative to their lordships meeting on the saute
da as the House of Commons, he might state that it
into the matter by means of a committee, he (the Earl Y
not intended to enter on any business beyond the
Of Aberdeen) was sure that there could be no objection was
to their legal proceedings,
and giving notice of the days on which
1 a proposal of that kind. (Hear, hear.) But
rtmin business would be proceeded with. (Hear.)
lordships were clearly not in a position to pass a corn- cc ' then agreed to, and their lordships
The motion was
Prehensive standing order like this, professing to em= The
till the 4th of April
under their consideration. He would suggest to the
'liable earl to withdraw his resolution for the present,
and upon further consideration to bring in some practi-
ea,i
. measure which would have a better prospect of effect-
ing the desired result. (Hear, hear.)
The Earl of HARROWBY entirely agreed in the
?Pinion that it would be more advisable to give the sub-
ject greater consideration before they made any standing
:abler, and he was not sure whether it would not be bet-
terto refer the question to a select committee, to inquire
40 the best way of effecting the object proposed by
his
Ruble friend.
pit The Earl of CARLISLE most cordially concurred
h with his noble friend (the Earl of Shaftesbury) and
"h th •
t_. e right rev. prelate. who had spoken with regard
_,O the magnitude of the evil complained of, and the great
oesirableness of affording some effectual remedy.
The Earl of WICKLOW said that there could be no

MPE RIAL PAHL IAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(YESTERDAY.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The Redruth and Chasewater Railway Bill was read
a third time and passed.
The report upon the Salford Extension and Improve-
ment Bill was considered and agreed to.
The following bills were read a second time :—Bays-
water, Paddington, and Holborn Bridge Railway ;
Monmouthshire Railway and Canal.
PETITIONS.
Mr. Alderman CHALLIS presented three petitions
from working men in the metropolis against the Crystal
Palace being opened on Sundays.
Mr. PIGOT presented a petition from Reading against
the occupation of Roman territories by French troops.