The Sun.
London, England, 1836-06-25 00:00:00

-4 •
.

40,

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, JUNE 24.
The House was occupied from three o'clock to a quarter
past five in hearing further evidence on the Stafford Disfran-
chisement Bill.
The LORD CHANCELLOR then took his seat on the Wool-

sack.
Lord HATHERTON presented a petition from Bilston in
Staffordshire, against Church Rates. In 1827 a large sum of
money was raised on bond for building the church, and as church
rates had been successfully opposed in that parish the bondholders
in some cases were in great distress. They prayed that the
House would take some steps for settling the question.
The Duke of WELLINGTON presented a petition from
the under-graduates of King's College, Aberdeen, praying for
delay in the Scotch University Bill.
PRISONS.
The Duke of RICHMOND wished to ask a question of
much importance of the Noble Lord at the head of the
Government. Last year, a Committee of their Lordships
had reported that the state of the City Pererison, New
bo gate,
rne
was a disgrace to the country. They w fully
out in that by the evidence which they had laid on the table.
It was impossible for any one to see the prison without being
convinced no prisoner could leave it without being much worse
than when he was put in. That Report had been corroborated by
the Report of the inspectors of prisons who had since visited
it, and it was proved on all hands that they were a disgrace
to the country, and it wouldbe a disgrace to that House if they
allowed such a state of things to remain. He wished to
ask the Noble Lord whether it was the intention of Govern-
ment to remove the prisoners from Newgate to the Peniten-
tiary—as they had the power to do under an Act of Parlia-
ment of last session. Had they taken any steps to remove
the evil complained of, or would. they do so ?
Lord MELBOURNE said the reports alluded to
had been under the serious attention of His Majesty's
Government. The Noble Lord the Secretary for the
Home Department, had already given the matter his ut-
most attention, aria there was a Bill now in preparation for
amending the Gaol Act according to the Reports of the In-
spectors of Prisons. From the late period of the Session he
was afraid the Bill would not be passed this Session ; but early
next it would be introduced. With respect to Newgate, all
that the Noble Duke had stated was perfectly correct. A
proposition had been made by the Government to the
City authorities, which, if accepted, would remove the
eNils which now existed there and in all other City
prisons. No answer had yet been returned, but there
was reason to believe that the Corporation would accept
the measure as proposed. He was not aware of any intention
to remove the prisoners to the Penitentiary—he trusted that
that measure would be rendered unnecessary by the remedies
which had been proposed.
Earl RIPON was glad the Corporation was likely to ac-
cede to the proposition of Government.
The Marquis of WE STMEATH said the returns upon the
table respecting the Church revenues of Ireland were ex-
tremely incorrect, and he should move on Thursday that they
be amended.
The Duke of RICHMOND wished to know whether pri-
soners were to be removed from Newgate to the Penitentiary,
as the Secretary of State was empowered by law to do?
Lord MELBOURNE said that every attention would be
given to the subject, with the view to remedy the evil corn
plained of.

'ti.~~ ~e

r