The Sun.
London, England, 1853-03-15 00:00:00

the whole question was, whether they should pay off the
whole debts, on which they now paid interest, while
they had a large balance at their bankers, or whether
they should apply that. balance in discharging those debts
and interest, and put the surplus into the pockets of the
public, (Hear, hear.)
Mr. WALPOLE wished to know—supposing it ap-
peared to the lenders of the money that the London-
bridge Approaches Fund was insufficient to guarantee
them the repayment of the money they had lent—whe-
ther his right hon. friend was perfectly certain that by
putting this charge on the Consolidated Fund, and re-
leasing altogether the land revenues of the Crown, which
ought never to have been charged—(hear)—the whole
principal and interest were likely to be paid.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
felt the greatest' possible certainty on the subject. The
population of London might be decimated—for they did
not know what calamities might not occur—but advert-
ing to the rate at which the coal fund now yielded,
nothing to his mind was more plain than that the " Ap-
proaches Fund," and the other assets which were liable,
would be amply sufficient to guarantee the whole of the
debt and interest.
The bill was then read a third time ; and, on the ques-
tion that it do pass,
Sir W. JOLLIFFE moved the addition of a clause,
providing that an annual account should be rendered by
the Treasury of the sums paid into the Consolidated
Fund, and of the disbursements therefrom under the
authority of the bill.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
had no objection to the clause. He wished to say, in
correction of a statement he made the other night, that
the whole proceeds of the present act were pledged.
First there came a charge of 88,0001. to the corporation
of the city of London, for past improvements, and then
another charge which would absorb the whole surplus
for certain other improvements not yet defined.
After a short conversation the clause was agreed to,
and the bill was passed.
JEWISH DISABILITIES BILL.

The house having gone into committee on this bill, Mr.
W. Patten in the chair,
Admiral WALCOTT objected to the principle of the
bill, on the ground that its obvious result would be to de-
prive the Legislature of its exclusively Christian character.
He protested against the admission of a class of religionists
into Parliament, who, unhappily for themselves, cllt be-
lieved in the divinity of the Son of God.
Mr. VANSITTART characterised the course which the
noble lord (Lord J. Russell) proposed to take with regard
to this bill as most unfair, inasmuch as it would effectually
prevent a full expression of opinions on the third reading.
He complained of the Clergy Reserves (Canada) Bill hav-
ing been postponed without notice, by which many mem-
bers were taken by surprise. He urged that the third
reading of the present measure ought, in common justice,
to be deferred till after Easter.
p Lord J. RUSSELL said he had only postponed the
Clergy Reserves (Canada) Bill for the purpose of making
alterations in it. The course he had taken would, in his
opinion, facilitate public business ; for if the third reading
of the Jewish Disabilities Bill were postponed till after
Easter, it might happen that there would not be enough to
occupy the attention of the house the whole of Friday
evening. The subject had been so thoroughly discussed
that he could not anticipate any new arguments upon it.
Mr. WALPOLE had himself no objection to the bill
passing through committee to-night, nor to the third read-
ing taking place on Friday; but it would undoubtedly be
more satisfactory to his friends around if it were postponed
till after Easter.
Lord J. RUSSELL said he could not consent to postpone
the bill, but he would undertake not to bring it on at a
late hour on Friday. He would not bring it on after ten
o'clock.

Mr. NEWDEGATE could not understand what the no-
ble lord would gain by pressing the bill through its remain.
ing stages so rapidly as he proposed. He would remind
the house that if he succeeded, the measure would have
gone through three stages within one week. This was not
the ordinary course of business with bills of so much im-
portance. He supposed, from what he had heard, that he
was not to hope the noble lord would consent to postpone
the bill till after Easter ; but if ho did not, he would be
accepting the division on the second reading as evidence
of a feeling which did not really exist. As for the argument
of economy of time, there was nothing in it, for there was
plenty of business which might be taken on Friday instead
of this bill, by which no time whatever would be lost.
Under such circumstances he trusted the noble lord would
not be guilty of what appeared to him a manifest disre-
spect to the feelings of the country by pressing the bill.
He assured the noble lord that the feeling in the country
was growing on the subject ; and the more it was debated
the greater would it be shown. He could see nothing
likely to create greater jealousy of the conduct of the Go-
vernment than an impression that they were attempting
to thrust this bill through the house contrary to the ex-
pressed feelings of the country.
Mr. MILES urged the noble lord to postpone, the third
reading till after Easter. Easter came this year very early;
and it must be remembered that after the holidays Go-
vernment proposed to take another day, so that they might
select their own time for the third reading.
Mr. HUME deprecated any further delay. Not a single
individual could bring forward a single new argument on
the subject, so that any postponement would be only a
waste of time. He thought the noble lord had exercised a
wise discretion in endeavouring to get rid of the question.
(Hear, hear.)
Mr. W. M. SMITH, as representing a large and impor-
tant constituency upon the verge of the metropolis, who
entertained strong opinions upon this question, implored
the noble lard to pause before he proceeded further with
the measure, until the feeling of the country had been as-
certained.
Sir B. HALL represented a large constituency, who
formed part of the metropolis. The place ho represented
numbered 409,000 inhabitants, who were assessed at more
than 2,000,0001. sterling ; and, speaking to some extent
their opinions, he must appeal to the noble lord not to
think for one moment of postponing this measure. This
was no new topic. It was the most unprofitable discus-
sion the house could have ; and surely when it had been
so long debated on both sides, it was much better to ar-
rive at a conclusion at once, for he was sure that, what-
ever eloquence might be displayed, not one single vote
would be turned by it.
Mr. WHITESIDE said the request for a postponement
was most reasonable, and it was a mistake to say that the
principle involved was not new. The fact was the bill in-
troduced a novel principle into the whole system of the
laws of England. It might be right politically to admit
Jews into Parliament, but it was certainly opposed to the
ancient laws of the country, of which Christianity was a
pate. Under such circumstances, he contended that it was
only reasonable that some delay should be accorded.
Lord D. STUART contended that ample time had been
devoted to the consideration of the subject, and said that
the petitions in favour of admitting Jews to Parliament
had increased in the proportion of six to one.
Mr. NEWDEGATE said that in 1847 he had stated
that many of the petitions were spurious—that the parties
procuring the signatures were paid for them at the rate of
3s. per hundred, which remuneration was afterwards
changed to 58. per day. He had offered to prove this be-
fore a committee of the house; if the noble lord (Lord D.
Stuart) would move for one. The noble lord had never
moved for that committee ; and he had no doubt that the
signatures to the petitions were paid for now as they were
in 1847. But as to the petitions on the other side, he
could answer for it that the signatures were not only
unpurchased but unsolicited.

Mr. NAPIER believed the noble lord would be pro-
ceeding with undue precipitancy if, under existing circum-
stances, he pressed the third reading on Friday. Many
members were already leaving town for the recess, and it
was unusual for a question of such importance to be enter-
tained on the day of the adjournment.
Lord J. RUSSELL reminded the honourable and learned
gentleman (Mr. Napier) that the bill had been opposed
upon its introduction, and also upon its second reading.
The house, therefore, had already expressed its opinion
twice on the subject, and after that he could not expect
that its opinion would be changed. Besides, he had already
undertaken not to bring it on at a late hour on Friday.
This subject was a constant source of delay, and delay only
would be the result if he assented to the suggestion, for, as
he was now told that members had left town, he should be
told the first week after Easter that they had not arrived.
Mr. J. A. SMITH said he must give to the statement of
the hon. member for North Warwickshire (Mr. Newde-
gate), as to the signatures to the petitions in favour of
this measure, the most positive and absolute denial which
courtesy would enable him to give. If the hon. member.
really entertained the opinion he expressed, he (Mr. J. A.
Smith) should have the greatest readiness in meeting him
on the subject, (Hear, hear_)

Mr. NEWDEdATE" said that when he made the allega-
tion in 1847, the hon. gentleman was sitting by the side
of the noble lord the member for London, and if the
noble lord would not afford him the means of proving
the charge it was rather hard to contradict him after
five years had elapsed. Under such circumstance the hon.

gentleman must forgive him if he did not retract tieti,;ser

The clauses were then agreed to, the report was received,
and the bill ordered to be read the third time on Friday.
The second reading of the Pilotage Bill was postponed
till the 4th of April.
LANDS IMPROVEMENT (IRELAND) BILL.
This bill was read the third time.
ACCIDENTS ON RAILWAYS.
Mr. H. BROWN, before moving a resolution of which
he had given notice, wished to know whether it was at all
probable the select committee on the amalgamation of rail-
ways would make a report of practical use to the house
Mr. CARDWELL had no objection to the words of the
hon. gentleman's motion, which were—" That it is the

_--
,
duty of a good government to propose to this house all
such measures as may appear necessary for the public safety.
That the great increase in the number of accidents which
have of late occurred on railways demands the espe-
cial attention of the house, and that it is the duty of her
Majesty's Government to propose more effectual measures
than now exist for securing the safety of the public
while travelling on railways." The answer he would
make to the question of the honourable gentleman was
that the committee appointed by the late Government was
now sitting to inquire most carefully into a subject in
which he could assure the hon. gentleman that both her
Majesty's Government and the members of the committee,
and he believed he might and every member of the house,
felt the deepest possible interest. (Hear, hear.) Since he
had been a member and presided over the committee, they
had examined many of the most eminent persona con-
nected with the railway interest. They were about to
examine other witnesses not connected with the railway
interest, and they should consider with the utmost pains
111 question which the hongentleman wished to bring
under the notice of the house. lt would be presumptuous
and premature to anticipate t. he result of the committee,
giL
which had hitherto been occupied in taking evidence, and
had not yet come
ue and importance of the subject, the
itth_ an
sidering the ma y opinion. (Hear, hear.) Con-
earl period of ,sd ession, and that many witnesses had
not yet been called he was sure the honourable gentleman
would approve of the
ecominittee, and having hitherto come
to the house with an
teslion of opinion, and under the
circumstances the honoxgea
matTur,eth
gentleman would be by no
public if he allowed the
means wanting in duty
committee full time to
tak-
ing the sense of the house on hiseir judgment before
With regard to what might be anticipated tinlic motion. (Hear, hear.)
mittee, all he had a right to state was,ted from the com-
a committee which devoted more • that he never saw
pains to the subject
hand, and he should be extremely disappointed if in
the la-
bours should not 1 result in measures beneficial to the public
interest. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. BROWN, after the assurance of the President of
Board of Trade would be quite content to await for a time
the result id the committee, though he confessed he saw
very little hope of
that result being any practical principle
He should therefore
which the house might adopt. defer
the consideration of his motion until after Easter. (Hear.)
The I L ear.)
The house then
adjourned at eight o c oc