The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-20 00:00:00

SALE AND PURCHASE OF LAND BILL.

On the motion of Mr. DRUMMOND, the second
reading of this bill was postponed.

PETITIONS.

Mr. CHRISTOPHER presented a petition from Lin-
colnshire, in favour of the alteration of the law of settle-
ment for the poor; also two petitions from Gains-
borough, in favour of the distribution of Parliamentary
papers to literary societies.
Mr. J. MACGREGOR presented a petition from
Kent, against all taxes on knowledge.
Mr. MACAULAY presented three petitions from
Edinburgh, praying for the abolition of the taxes on
gradations in the universities in Scotland ' • also, several
petitions, numerously signed, against the Public-houses.
(Scotland) Bill.

Mr. FORBES presented a petition from the county of
Fife, against the abolition of the Scotch university tests.

POOR LAW.

_ -
Mr. VERNON moved for returns of all applications
made to the Poor Law Board, according to the provi-
sions of so much of the act 13 and 14 Vic. c. 57, as re-
lates to preventing the holding of vestry or other meet-
ings in churches ; such returns to specify the applica-
tions granted and refused : of all cases where, under the
provisions of the said act, lands or premises have been
taken on lease or purchased, and sales or exchanges have
been effected for the purpose of obtaining building suit-
able for vestry meeting : of all cases where the Poor
Law Commissioners have given authority for money to
be borrowed for such purposes, and charged to the Poor
Rate : and, of all appointments of vestry clerks under
the said act.
Agreed to.

Sir J. WALMSLEY moved for returns showing the
amount of annuities for lives and for terms of years
granted in each of the years ending the sth day of
January, 1852 and 1853, and the amount of capital stock
cancelled in each of the said years on account of such
terminable annuities : and, of the amount of the annui-
ties for lives and for terms of years which have ceased
in each of the said years, ending the sth day of January,
1852 and 1853 (in continuation of Parliamentary Paper,
No. 657, of Session 1851).
Agreed to.
REPEAL .OF DUTIES ON SOAP.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
he wished to make a statement ,with regard to an error
in the custom resolutions lie had laid on the table,for which
he took blame. Among the class of articles on which
he proposed to reduce duties, was that of soap, and in
the resolutions it appeared that the duty on hard soap
was to be reduced to 16s. ; on soft 'soap, 18s. ; and on
Naples soap, 16s. These figures were prepared by him
before he had an opportunity 'of submitting to the
Government his proposition for abolishing altogether the
Excise duty on soap, and before it had been determined
to submit that proposition to Parliament, and owing to
the pressure of business, it had escaped him to strike
these duties out of the resolutions. It was his intention
that the duty on the importation of foreign soap should
cease altogether when the Excise duty was remitted at
home. (Hear.),
PUBLIC HOUSES (SCOTLAND) BILL.
The house then went into committee on this bill, Mr.
Bouverie in the chair.

On the first clause being proposed,
Sir F. H. DAVIE moved the insertion of an amend-
ment for the purpose of preserving the life interest of
grocers in the sale 'of spirits, on the ground that some
protection should be afforded to those who had invested
their capital in business in expectation that they would
be allowed to deal in spirits.
Mr. F. MACKENZIE considered that grocers could
not have a vested interest in the sale of spirits in Scot-
land, as their licenses had to be renewed every year.
His object was to put an, end to a practice which was
productive of the greatest mischief in Scotland ; he
alluded to persons who went to shops to purchase small
groceries, spending their small balances of coppers, or
the discount they received, in whiskey. The principle
of the bill was the separation of grocers from dealers in
whiskey, and to this the amendment of the honourable
gentleman was directly opposed. He considered that
combining grocers and victualling shops was the cause
of the chief evils which existed in Scotland in regard to
drunkenness.

Mr. JOHN MACGREGOR supported the amend-
ment, and protested against the principle of the bill,
which he did not think would have the effect of remedying
the evils of drunkenness which he grieved to say existed
to a great extent in the country. '
Mr. EWART said every Scotch member must be
anxious to remove from their country the dreadful stigma
which now rested upon it, but he bad very great doubts
of the government success of Legislation upon such
matters, for it was contrary to the principle of freedom
of trade.

Mr. C. BRUCE, considering that the main cause of
drunkenness in Scotland -was to be- attributed to the
facility of selling spirits over the counter in grocer's
shops, he would vote against the amendment, because if
it were agreed to, it would defeat the real object of the
bill.

Mr. HUME suggested that the bill should be post-
pond in order that an inquiry might be made by select
committee into the licensing system in Scotland, similar
to that which was about to take place on the same sub-
ject in England.
Mr. F. MACKENZIE said a select committee was
appointed many years ago on the Scotch licensing sys-
tem. It was composed of men of all parties who were
well acquainted with Scotland, and the present bill had
been founded on their report. He could not assent to
the suggestion of the hon. member.
[LEFT SITTING.] •

ELECTION COMMITTEES.-(THIS DAY.)

BARNSTA?LE.

This committee resumed. this i norning at 11 o'clock.
F. M. Clay and S. Kingson, agents of Lord Ebrington,
were called to give evidence as to the persons who can-
vassed at the last election.'

S. Kino•son, in answer to questions put by the com-
mittee, stated that it was notorious that bribery existed
to a considerable extent among the freemen, at every
election for Barnstaple.
F. M. Clay fully corroborated this 'statement.
Lionel Metcalfe was town-clerk 01' Barnstaple. Was
canvassed -by Sir William Frazer. illessrs. March and
Saville were with him. Saw iforni)y, on the polling
day, bringing up voters to the. poll; ~most of the voters
were dreadfully drunk.

Mr. James then proceeded to sum up the case on
behalf of the petitionerr, and was proeeekding when our
report left. •

MAYO.
At the meeting of the committee, this •moriling, Mr.
Bovill proceeded to sum up the case of tl ie petitioners,
and had not concluded his address when o
,report left.