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

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.
, After a few words from Mr. W. M. SMITH,
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. NEWDEGATE 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
gentleman must forgive him if he did not retract the asser-
tion.

Colonel SIBTHORP hoped that, whatever might be the
manoeuvring of the noble lord, his friends on the opposi-
tion side of the house would not forget what was due to
the country on this question.
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.
On the question that the bill do pass,
Mr. FITZGERALD moved the introduction of a pro-
Sision in clause 36 giving a power of appeal from the com-
missioners to the assistant barrister as a judge, in cases
where the tenancy exceeded 501. per annum.
Mr. NAPIER objected to the amendment, on the
ground that it would be a departure from the act of 1847,
which was the foundation of the present measure. Nothing
could work better than the act of 1847, which had no power
of appeal, and, as a proof that such a power was unneces-
sary, the commissioners under the act of 1847 had only
been called upon in four cases to adjudicate between land-
lord and tenant. In all the other numberless cases the
parties had mutually agreed between themselves on the
amount of rent to be added for the improvement of the
land, and he thought a useless power of appeal, which
must lead to delay and litigation, would be prejudicial to
the beneficial operation of the act.
Sir J. YOUNG said he would as soon have the bill with-
out the amendment as with it, but he agreed to accept it
as a compromise rather than be forced to insert a more dis-
agreeable clause.
After a conversation, in whioh Mr. Stapleton, Sergeant
Shee, Mr. R. S. Moore, Mr. F. French, Mr. Whiteside,
and Mr. Kirk took part, the amendment was agreed to,
the words were inserted, and the bill passed.

OATHS IN CHANCERY BILL.
The house ac we it into co u-r4tee on the Oaths in
Chanceiy Bill, some verbal alterations, on the motion of
the SOLICITOR-GENERAL, were made in the clauses,
and the Chairman reported the bill to the house.

ACCIDENTS ON RAILWAYS.
Mr. H. BROI TN, before moving a resolution of which
he had given notice, wis'red 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, fo-• Le 1 :rg the safety of the public
while travelling on rai' .vays." The answer he would
make to the question of the horourable gentleman was
that the committee appointed by the late Government was
now sitting to inquire most carefully into a suLject in
which he could assure the hon, gentleman that both her
Majesty's Government and the members of the committee,
and he boliev: he might and every member of the house,
felt the deepest possible interest. (Hear, hear.) Since he
had h:311 a membe,. and presided over the committee, they
had examined many of the me:. t, eminent persons con-
nect-I with the railway interest. They were about to
examine other witnelse-, not connectA. with the railway
interest, and they should consider with the utmost pains
the question which the hon. gentleman wished to bring
under the notice of the home. It would be presumptuous
and premature to anticipate the result of the committee,
which had hitherto been occupied in taking evidence, and
had not yet come to any opinion. (Hear, hear.) Con-
sidering the magnitude and importance of the subject, the
early period of the session, and that Tway witnesses had
not yet been called, he was sure the honourable gentleman
would approve of the committee, and having hither to come
to the house with an expression of opinion, and under the
circumstances the honor-able gentleman would be by no
means wanting in duty to the public if he allowed the
committee full time to mature their judgment before tak-
ing the sense of the hou.,e on his motion. (Hem-, hear.)
With regard to what might be anticipated from the com-
mittee, all he had a right to st,,- Le was, that he never saw
a committee which devotad more pains to the subject, in
hand, and he should be extremely disappointed if the la-
bours should not re-,alt 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 of the committce, though he confessed he saw
very little hope of that result being any practical principle
which the house might adopt. He should therefore deter
the consideration of his motion until after Easter. (Hear.)