The Sun.
London, England, 1853-07-15 00:00:00

JUVENILE MENDICANCY (No. 2)_ BILL.

On the order of the day for considering the report of
amendments on this bill being read,

The Earl of SHAFTESBURY was understood to
say that he proposed to limit the operation of the bill
to children under the age of 10 years. He regretted to
find that some remarks he had made on a former occa-
sion with reference to the President of the Poor Law
Board had been misunderstood. He was most anxious
that no misconception should exist as to his intentions,
for he would be sorry to say a word that could be con-
sidered disparaging of a gentleman of such amiable dis-
position, and who had so satisfactorily discharged the
duties of a most important office.
Lord CAMPBELL observed, that there were in this
metropolis a number of children, both boys and girls,
most of them under the age of 10 years, who were em-
ployed ostensibly in sweeping the street-crossings, and
who then asked remuneration for what they had done,
but who were, in fact, beggars. Some of the female
children employed in this manner were certainly not
more than seven or eight years of age, and there could
be no doubt that if they continued such a course of
life they would become prostitutes, and that the boys
who followed a similar calling would become thieves.
He would suggest to the noble earl whether a clause
might not be introduced into this bill to meet the case
of children placed in such a position.
The Earl of SHAFTESBURY was understood to say
that he would endeavour to carry out the views of his
noble and learned friend.
The report was then agreed to.

The Convicted Prisoners Removal and Confinement
Bill and the Chancery Suitors Further Relief Bill were
read a third time and passed.

MANNING THE NAVY.

Lord COLCHESTER begged to ask, in consequence
of measures which had been brought forward in the
other house by the First Lord of the Admiralty with
reference to the manning of the navy and the formation
of a body of naval volunteers, whether her Majesty's
Government would object to lay upon the table of the
house such portions of the evidence taken by the com-
mittee of naval officers appointed by the Board
i of Ad-
miralty on the 6th of July, 1852, to inquire into the
present system of manning the navy, or of their report
as related to a system for the establishment of a coast
militia, and to the training and subsequent employment
of the boys educated in the schools of Greenwich Hos-
pital ? He thought it was very desirable that these por-
tions of the evidence should bo laid before the house, but
if it would be inconvenient to the Government to pro-
duce them, he would not press the matter.
Le Earl of ABERDEEN believed that the report of
the committee to which the noble lord referred was con-
sidered to be of a confidential natu re, but he would com-
municate on the subject with the First Lord of Admiralty,
and, if there should be no objection, the documents
asked for by the noble lord should. be laid on the
He must say, however, that he baclined to the opinion
that the papers ought not to be produced.
The house adjourned at a quarter to 8 o'clock.

ROUSE OF COMMONS--(YESTERDAY.)
INVALID SOLDIERS.
Col. KNOX wished to know from the right hon. gentle-
man the Secretary at War whether it was true that 40 sol-
diers, 30 of whom were invalids, had been embarked on
board the Oberon at Malta without sufficient provision
being made for their health and accommodation. It ap-
peared that the space allotted to these soldiers was much
too small, that they were exposed on deck for 24 hours,
that the wet penetrated the vessel, which was obliged to
call at Gibraltar in order to have the decl caulked ; that
only ten hammocks had been provided, of which six only
lcould bo hung in the space allotted for thes e 40 soldiers. If
these facts were correct, he felt quite cos &dent that the

right hon. gentleman would not allow them to occur again.
Mr. S. HERBERT.said that the usual practice was to
send.lorne invalids in transports. But as the Oberon was
returnine, home for the purpose of being repaired, the
Admiral thought that it offered an opportunity for sending
home invalids, and he offered a portion of the space in the
vessel for that purpose to the officer in command at Malta,
which he thought would afford additional comforts to the
invalids, and especially to women and children. He be-
lieved it was correct that in consequence of the state of
the vessel the wet had penetrated. With regard to the
hammocks he had received no information, and he could
assure the hon. and gallant gentleman that everything
would be done to prevent the recurrence of such inconve-
nience in future. (Hear.)