The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-01 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS-(THIS DAY).

The SPEAKER took his seat at the table a few minutes
before twelve o'clock, but he did not take the chair
until 25 minutes to one, there not having been a suffi-
cient number of members present to make " a house."
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The Lords' amendments to the North Metropolitan
Bill, and the British Guarantee Association (No. 2)
Bill, were considered and agreed to.
PETITIONS.

Petitions were presented by Mr. HADTIZLD, from a
place in Yorkshire, against the opening of public-houses
on Sundays ; and by Mr. HORSPALL, from the South
African Association of Liverpool, praying for the better
performance of the African Mail Service.
COMMON LAW PROCEDURE BILL.
The committee on this bill was then resumed, com-
mencing with' clause 37.
The remaining clauses were agreed to, and the house
resumed;

• - BILLS OF EXCHANGE (No. 2) BILL.
On the 'notion for going into committee on this bill,
Mr. GEACH said this bill involved a very important
• principle ; it purposed to assimilate the law of
England with regard to bills of exchange with that of
Scotland, and if it passed, a party registering a bill of

exchange would be enabled. to -obtain an immediate

• judgment against the acceptor in the event of the bill
. being dishonoured. The trading system of Scotland
. was so widely different to what it was in England
that the two laws could not be assimilated with
safety ; for instance, in Scotland, it was the in-
variable rule to make bills of exchange payable
at local hankers, who retained possession of them with-
out putting them in circulation ; but in England the
practice was different, because it was the rule and not
the exception to make bills payable at some banking
house in London, whose hands it did not reach

until it had been in extensive circulation. Little
difficulty was experienced in Scotland in renewing bills
of exchange, but without the bre ithing time which the
existing English system allowed, but which this bill
would abolis traders havi rig dishonoured bills of exchange
running might be suddenly driven into bankruptcy, al-
though with a slight indulgence their estate might be made
to yield 30s. in the pound. Under this bill, a man wh )
could not take up adishonoured accceptance within 6 days
after the dishonour, would be liable to have judgment
taken against him. and since it would largely increase
• the creditor interest where it was not wanted, he must
• move that the bill be committed this day three months,
with a view to an inquiry being had before so great a
• change was made in the law.
Sir E. PARRY argued that the bill was founded
upon sound principles of jurisprudence, and therefore lie
supported it. The bill would si►nplify and economise
the law of bills of exchange by rendering an expensive
procedure to recover the amount of a dishonoured b►ll
unnecessary, and he could not help feeling that such a
change would confer lasting advantages upon the trading
portions of the community, though it might to some
extent diminish the banking operations of the

country. The system which the bill proposed to
establish existed already, not only in Scotland, but
also in France, Prussia, Spain, Portugal, and Holland,
and remembering that it was approved of by a large
portion of the commercial community, while it had been
thoroughly investigated by a select committee of the
other house, he hoped the house would not be induced to
adopt the amendment which the hon. member for Co-
ventry had moved.
• Mr. SPOONER admitted t'iat it was essential that
contracts should be speedily and economically enforced,
but that did not prove the necessity for the present
measure. The evil proposed to be remedied by this
bill was imaginary, because Mr. Geach had shown
• that out of 240,000 bills which had passed through
a bank in Birmingham, only 30,000 were re-
turned dishonoured, and of that number the amount
of loss did not exceed 2,0001. It could not be said, then,
that bills of exchange were largely abused under the
. existing system ; but if they passed this bill the conse-
quence would be this—it would break up all the small
traders of the country, who carried on business through
the means of bills of exchange ; because, in the event of
_ their requiring time upon any of their running bil s,
they would be driven into premature bankruptcy if it
_was refused. This measure would inflict great mischief
upon the country by breakin: up the circulation of
bills of exchange, while it would enable the fraudulent
debtor give a preference to favoured creditors.
to
Mr. WILSON supported the bill, and denied that it
would have the disastrous
operation which its opponents
seemed to fear.
Mr. JAMES MACGREGOR did not think that one
, class of creditors ought to have advantage over anoth(-r,
and as that would be the direct tendency of this bill, he
would certainly entreat the house not to go into corn.
mittee on this bill at this period of the session.
The house then divided, when there appeared—
For going into committee.. ........... 56
Against it
Majority 3O
The house then went into committee on the Q 2.6
On clause 1,
Mr. JAMES MACGREGOR moved an amendment
with the view of providing that the bill should notceonmt,e
into operation until the 24th October, 1855, in order
that the mercantile community might have due notice of
the change in the law.
Mr. GLYN suggested that the better course to take
would be to exempt al bills from the operation of the
measure which are accepted before the lst of next Jan.
After some discussion, this suggestion was adopted,
and the clause, as amended, was agreed to, as were also
clauses 2 and 3.
Mr. MASSEY moved the omission of clause 4, pro.
viding for the appointment of a registrar“ in the city,
with the view of inserting these words— The master;
of the court of Common Pleas shall keep a register in the
office of the masters of the court of Common Pleas for
the registration of protested bills and promissory notes
as hereinafter provided."
After some discussion the Chairman was directed to
report progress, and ask leave to sit again.
The house then resumed.
REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS, &c. (SCOTLAND)

The Lords' BILL.
and agreed to. amendments to this bill were considered,

METROPOLITAN SEWERS BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
. REFORMATORY SCHOOLS (SCOTLAND) BILL.
The Lords' amendments to this bill were con6idred
and agreed to.

SALE OF BEER BILL.
The Lords' amendments to this bill were considered
and agreed to. ,

SUPPLY.
The report of the Committee of Supply was brought
up and agreed to.