The Sun.
London, England, 1849-06-30 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, June 29.
Their Lordships met at Five o'clock.
. 0 ATMS' BILL. -
The Earl of WICKLOW said—l rise to exercise a
privilege that is the right of every Member of this
House. I now lay on the table a Bill to alter the oaths
to be taken by all persons required to take the oaths of
allegiance, abjuration, and supremacy, which I now
move be read a first time.
The Bill was read a first time accordingly.
VANCOUVER'S ISL AND.
Earl GREY moved the second reading of the Ad-
ministration of Justice (Vancouver's Island) Bill. The
colonization of Vancouver's Island was intended to take
place by the Hudson's Bay Company. No political
power was conferred on that company, but grants of land
bad been made to them, as had been made in former
times to other colonizing companies, but under much
greater restrictions. The company were bound to provide
for the defence of the island. They were also bound to
sell lands, and to expend the receipts in the colonization
and improvement of Vancouver's Island. The Govern-
ment was entrusted to a governor appointed by the
Crown. The present Governor had been recommended
by the Hudson's Bay Company, but lie believed he was
well qualified for the office. No body possessing the
power of taxation was to be established in the first in-
itance, but the Governor had power of creating
a legislative body, and the Bill also enacted
that persons accused of crimes should be tried in Van-
couver's Island, and not in Canada, as was the case with
persons accused of crimes in other parts of the territories
of. the Hudson's Bay Company. If Vancouver's Island
were not speedily colonized, it would be occu-
pied by squatters. The Government could not
incur the expense of immediately colonizing the
island, therefore it must be colonized either by
private individuals or by the Hudson's Bay Company.
It was hopeless to attempt to colonize by prtvate enter-
prise, but the Hudson's Bay Company had the means of
colonizing it. They were connected with Pugets Island
Company, and they had already a small settlement in
Vancouver's Island. Whether it would be profitable to
them or not he was not aware. Many of the shareholders
were opposed to it, but whatever might be the result, as
regarded the company, it was the interest of this country
that the settlement should be effected as speedily as
possible, and that could be best effected by the interven-
tion of the Hudson's Bay Company.
Lord MONTEAGLE would not oppose a Bill for the
better administration of justice, if it was confined to
that merely ; but with regard to t§e, %01, -r A lof
Vancouver's Island, he believed itth
es and thi' -'IY
conducted. It was a principle of co:.,
one had m;nounedng
could be more wrong than to make gear-
y far tl cks
of land to individuals, or companies, esisaud a the ete
ing the Crown of its power. No one had iteaeftee.a.said
this doctrine than the present Secretary for the Colonies.
The importance of Vancouver's Island had been
universally admitted, and never had its importance been
more insisted on than at the time of the Oregon treaty.
The importance of that island had been since greatly in-
creased. It contained the only large supply of coal in
that part of the world. There had been large settle-
ments of American citizens in that neighbourhood in
consequence of the discovery of gold in California.
Now a grant of the whole of this island had been made
to one company. When Prince Edward's Island was
granted, not to one company, but to five or six
individuals, no one had commented more severely on that
grant than his Noble Friend. But here wes a grant of
a whole island to a trading company, whose pur-
suits of the fur trade incapacitated them for the
administration of the new functions which de-
volved on them as colonizers. If ever there was
a company that had shown itself incapable or
' unwilling to perform the duties of colonizers it was the
Hudson's Bay Company. This company was originally
- founded by charter in the time of Charles 11., the grants
of which were so extravagant that there could be no
"-doubt that portions of it were void. In the time of
William 111. a Bill was passed conferring the charter
for seven years, and on their application for a renewal,
:the Bill was thrown out. Here was an admission that
without a confirmatory law the charter was unavailing;
that confirmatory Bill had never passed, and therefore
there were good grounds for doubting of the validity
•, of the charter as a whole. The charter was therefore
- at best questionable, and ought not to be lightly dealt
with. There was a standing order that no Bill for con
• firming the charter should pass into a law without
setting forth the charter in the recital, and,
therefore, if they passed this Bill without rais
ing an objection they would be estopped for the future.
- He contended that it was inconsistent with the public
welfare to make a eant of this island to a company, least
of all should they make it to a company such as the llud-
son's Bay Company. It would have been wiser—ay,
. and more constitutional too -for the Colonial Govern-
ment to have brought the extent of those powers, before
. they were granted, under the notice of Parliament—es-
pecially as they were intended to transfer the jurisdic-
. aim, and government of Vancouver's Island from the
• Crown to the Hudson's Bay Company. He had been
, informed that the land in Vancouver's Island was to be
sold at a restricting price of 20s. an acre. On the oppo-
site of the sound in which that island was situate. he was
-informed that the American Government was selling
• land equally fertile at 51. 31. an acre. Now, how could
, their Lordships expect to find purchasers so absurd as
to give 20s. an acre for land when in the same vicinity
they could get land equally fertile for a fourth of that
..t 'Amu'? Besides, how was that land to be granted? Up
~,ts) she present time all the grants of the nudeon'. Bay
Company ha% 11 en ace 'oaaputi,,,d with terms of rood
~. degrading and exasperating slavery that no capitalist
had ever submitted to take them. That was one among
many reasons why the Hudson's Bay Company
Bbould not be intrusted nith the business of colobial-
lion. Moreover that company was a great monopolist. I
Their Lordships artrs doubtless imagining that they
were establishing; a free colony Red free institutions
in Vancouver's Island. But if there were any
settler whom the Hudson's Bay Company wished to drive
from that island they had a very easy and, with them, a
very well known system, of driving him from the set-
tlement. They were an exclusively trading company.
None but their vessels could carry freight to their settle-
ments; and thus, by making all commerce on his part
impracticable and by charging him with rates for
freight which deprived him of all chance of obtaining
_ any remueteration for his industry, they could drive him
as certainly from their dominions as if they were em-
- powered to banish him by sentence of law. This was a
grave charge, but it was capable of proof, for
ar war
only cmat a(si
..only the process of expulsion which they had
into execution on the banks of the Red River and else-
, where. But it was said that precautions had been taken
.4 ,to,prevent the injurious consequences of such a system
of_ persecution, for the grant of the island was void in
case they did not settle it within five years. But if a
single family was settled ou the island within that time
the condition of the grant was fulfilled, and there would
: be no legal power to reverse it. Again, it was impos-
sible to look at the present condition of North and
. South America without seeing that, in a few years the
world must have a passage across the isthmus of Darien.
When that passage was completed Vancouver's Island
• would become a commercial position of great import-
- ance; and yet that position the Mash Government
was --ow going to sacrifice and destroy, and for the sake
cc an exclusively commercial and monopolizing corn-
.. pany.
The Earl of SELKIRK rose for the purpose of repel-
ling imputations which had been unjustly cast by the last
speaker on the Hudson's Bay Company, of which he had
the honour to be a director, and of noticing some graver
. imputations which had been cast upon it elsewhere, but
which he would not formally answer on this occasion.
The Noble Lord had confined his observations to two
topics—first, the incompatibility of colonization with the
pursuit and management of the fur trade, and secondly,
- the legality, not of the charter for Vancouver's Island,
but of the original charter for the Hudson's Bay Com-
pany. He took the latter subject first, and after vindi-
cating at some length the validity of the charter granted
by Charles 11. to the Hudson's Bay Company, proceeded
-- -- to refute the argument that because that company was a
-- --fur trading company, it was inconsistent with its interests
• to encourage colonization—in other words, that it would
• e discourage the settlement of Vancouver's Island from a
wish to preserve the wild animals in its interior. Now,
the land in the centre of that island was said to be ex-
ceediiagly fertile; and it was a well-known fact that
- wherever the land was sufficiently rich and fertile to be
• favourable to the growth of corn and vegetables, the fur-
• bearing animals either did not exist, or their fur was little
of value. The best furs were derived from the most inhos-
.. pitiable climates, and therefore, as a fur-trading station,
e Vancouver's Island was not of great value to 'the
company. The Noble Lord had attacked the company,
and had stated that they were incapable .of conducting
colonization, because they had never carried it on in re
' regions of sterility where colonies could not ezast. In
the countries granted to them by their charter corn
would not grow, because those countries had ten months
of winter, and had a climate most inhospitable. How
could the Hudson's Bay Company, or any other com-
pany, colonise there, where the food of man could not
grow? In the only district within their charter where
corn would grow they had planted a settlement, and that
• settlement was not in an unfiourishing condition. The
e ,-- Noble Lord had also ventured to assert that the Hud•
son's Bay Company was unwilling to coloniz -. This,
too, he (Lord Selkirk) denied. To encourage the set-
tlement on the Red River, they had gone to the expense
of conveying vessels to that coast for the purpose of fill-
. ing up cargoes; but when you had got the cargoes the
'vessels were sometimes detained by the severity
'of the weather at the York settlement for a
• - whole year before they could get an oppor-
tunity for sailing. He then proceeded to contend
-- that there was no unwillingness on the part of the
company to colonize. It was essendal to its interests
that it should have on the western coast of America a
place on which it could set its feet—in which it could
• stock its cattle and could grow its corn, and from which
it could supply its ports on the continent of British Ame-
,, - rice and also in the grounds leased to it by the Russian
s. . Fur Company—for the whole western coast of Anierka
in those latitudes was absolutely barren. This was the
reason why, the Hudson's Bay Company wishcd to get
Vancouver . Island, of e hieh the centre was yet unex-
plored, and of which the . fertility was, he believed, ex-
aggerated. The company had therefore undert.ken the
~. expense of exploring and c 1 ;o.on. : ; ~z ng it. ~ it were as
fertile as was represeuted, and were left to remain
waste, it would soon be overrun by a multitude of
.squatt: rs. Now, the Hudson's Bay Company was bound
• by its , recent charter to keep the island free from
sqlnailet4ekiiiEß it did not perform that obligation
7--- rm• d have the powtr of resuming it;
grantat the ekpi ion of five years. The Noble Lord,
fey'
1/0 having stat - the price of land in Vancouver's
c;•ei '' -Island *All .:its,:s? cre, and on the opposite side of the
14)
sees' „Wand %vice: n e • lower, had asked whether it was
posstla-thae
,FV old ever be settled? Now, he was
not;-slither . American Government had located
rand until it was located and placed
rdeAt-mo— nd of regular Goverment, it was impossi- '

ble for any person to acquire a legal title to any land
which he might purchase there. There had been strong
accusations brought against the Hudson's Bay Company
both imprint and in speeches, which professed to he re-
ports of what had taken place elsewhere. Those accus
sationa charged the Hudson's Bay Company with pro-
ceedings of great violence and irregularity, and of down-
right illegality. Every circumstance contained in those
accusations he could deny from his own knowledge, both
on account of himself and of the company.
Lord BROUGHAM said that as reference had been
made in the debate to an opinion of his, he felt bound to
address a few words to the House.
Lord CAMPBELL—There is no reference to ip in
the Bill.
Lord BROUGHAM said there were many things in a
debate which were not to be found in a Bill.—( A laugh.)
The validity of the charter had been very fully consi-
dered before the opinion to which allusion had been
made had been given. That opinion was given by Sir
Arthur Pigott, Mr. Sergeant Spankie, and himself, after
great consideration ; but they had what was better than
any opinion—they had the Act of Parliament, the 2d
of William and Mary, which said in the preamble that
the charter was to go on only for seven years. He had
a great respect for the opinion of Sir S. Romilly and Mr.t
Joha Bell, but he must say that if he was to have an
opinion upon a point which was not one of equity, not
one of Chancery practice (and both Sir Samuel R )milly
and Mr. Bell were Chancery barristers), but one of mere
common-law practice, he would not take the opinion of
Sir Samuel Romilly and Mr. Bell against that of Sir
Arthur Pigott and Mr. Sergeant Spankie, and he would'
say further, with respect to the opinions of all lawyers,
whether of Chancery or the Queen's Bench or the Cum.;
mon Pleas, including his Noble and Learned Friend op-
posite (Lord Campbell), if they said the charter was
legal he would not care a rush for their opinions, because
he found by the Act of Parliament that that opinion
could not be right.—(Hear, bear.) It was monstrous to
say that a charter from the Crown could authorise a
company to subject persons to pains and penalties, to
seize upon their goods and ships, and to seize all inter=
topers upon the soil. He would not believe that if it
was stated by all the lawyers and all the courts in Eng-
land; but he did not believe that Sir Samuel Romilly or
Mr. Bell had ever said any such thing—they might have
said that some parts of the charter were legal, but he
was sure they never said the whole was so.—(Hear.)
The Earl of ABERDEEN—I am not at all disposed
to find fault with the arrangement made by the Noble
Earl for the settlement and colonization of Vancouver's
Island. The great object of that arrangement is the
satisfactory colonization of the island.—(Hear, bear.)
My persuasion is that, except by some such mode as
that adopted by the Noble Earl. that colonization would
never have taken piade.—C• ttear, hear," from Eirl
Grey.) I believe the Hudson's Bay Company, under
the restrictions imposed upon them by the Noble Earl,
and under the conditions on which they are to occupy
the island, will be able to effect that colonization, and
that the public will have that interest in the settlement
of the island which it is desirable to secure. The Hud•
son's Bay Company, having so vast an extent of terri-
tory, had for some time past made it a great object to
hold possession of cultivated lands; and farms were
established in that district which has since been ceded
to the United States. They are no longer in posses-
si.n of that territory ; and if Vancouver's Island
afforded them cultivated grounds, which, under the
circumstances, were much more valuable than
hunting grounds—(" Hear, hear," from Earl Grey)
they would have the means of facilitating the
colonization desired. I always considered this posses-
sion as one of very great importance—(Hear, hear)—
and one which it was fur the interest of the Government:
and the country to manage in the best manner possible.
Indeed, I have perhaps more reason to have its impor-
tance impressed on my mind than most of your Lord-
ships, because in the whole period of my official life it is
the only subject which ever gave me a moment's uneasi-
ness with respect to its possible effect on the peace of the
country. The question between the United States and '
this country lay within very narrow limits; it was, whe-
ther the boundary of the 49th degree of latitude should
stop at the continent or be carried through Vancouver's
Island to the ocean. Had it been carried beyond the
continent, it would have deprived us of the southern
part of Vancouver's Island, and we should have lost the
ports which will there afford facilities for commerce. I
mention this to show that it was a subject the import-
ance of which formerly occupied my thoughts very
much; and I am happy to have the opportunity now of
bearing my testimony that the conditions under which
the arrangement with the Hudson's Bay Company has
been made will, as I believe, give full t ffect to the ad-
vantageous possession of Vancouver's Island.
Lord WUARNCLIFFE, while he fully acknow-
ledged 'what the Noble Earl had done to secure the
territory of Vancouver's Island to the British empire,
must be allowed to express his dissent from the conclu-
sion at which the Government had arrived with reference
to the arrangement with the Hudson's Bay Company.
He would not indeed go the length which others had
shown themselves willing to go in regarding as proved
the complaints made against that company, and in im-
puting to them gross and extensive misconduct- But
the question now at issue was simply whether the Noble
Earl, in providing for the colonization of Vancouver's
Island, had taken the proper course, and whether he had
promoted the interest of this country in handing over
the territory of that island to the Hudson's Bay Company
—that company being endowed with- very doubtful
powers under their charter, and being engaged in pursuits
and associated fur objects which were foreign to the pur-
poses of colonization. The Noble Lord then referred to
,Aa. eorvesoonawneewhich had passed between Sir J.Peily,
Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company, and her Majf-sty's
' Government, showing that the original application was
to have the company confirm( din the possession of cer-
tain lands qt the southern point of Vancouver's Island,
( where they had loaned a settlement. When the position
of the Hudson's Bay Company, independently of their
peculiar pursuits, was kept in view, the question still re-
mained whether they were fit persons to carry out that
colonization. They were now suddenly called upon,
without any special reason for presuming fitness on their
part, no reason being traceable in the papers, to engage
in other than their ordinary operations and devote their
attention to a fertile district. A country which was va-
luable on account of its minerals was to be handed over
to a fur-trading company. That company had further
shown itself in no way qualified to carry out the culti-
vation or colonization of Vancouver's Island. The real
motive which had induced the Hudson's Bay Company
to embark in this undertaking was most probably one
which was by no means unnatural on their part, though
the public interest was not involved in it,—namely. the
desire to complete and consolidate that great monopoly
which they had so lone held.
The Duke of BUCCLEUCH was understood to state
that he could not concur with those who argued on the
possibility of eoloniz tag on the north-western coast of
America. That district was described as barren and in-
capable of cultivation, as a dreary and miserable waste.
It was only necessary to read the accounts which had
appeared of the difficulties encountered by the servants
of the Hudson's Bay Company, of the straits to which
they were often reduced, and the starvation to which they
were often exposed, of the dependence in which they
were placed on supplies from the south, whence they had
to obtain buffaloes for food, as well as vegetables and
grain—it was only necessary for bear in mind these cir-
cumstances to be satisfied that the sterility of the country
was hopeless, and that no improvement of climate could
bo anticipated which would facilitate cultivation. The
colonization, so far as it writ, which had beets carried
out under the auspices of the Hudson's Bay Company,
had been a successful colonization; and the spirit
in which they were disposed to act appeared
from the course they had taken with reference
to the appointment of a bishop to be stationed at the
Red River settlement, whose diocese exteaded over Ru-
pert's Land. With respect to Vancouver's Island, it
appeared to him that if a colony was to be established
there, the Hudson's Bay Company, having a regular
system establLhed in a country which was so difficult of
access, were likely to ineuce persona to settle more
readily through their instrumentality than by any other
means. It showed that they had some turn for the cul-
tivation of the land, that they had, as he understood,
very considerable and flourishing farms on the Columbia
River, within the territory which had been ceded to the
United States. He had risen because it appeared to be
supposed that they could deal with those parts of British
America to which allusion had been made as they could
with Australia, and because it seemed as if it were in-
ferred, from those districts lying to the west and on the
sea coast, that the climate must therefore be warm and
genial, and the soil fertile, whereas it was notorious that
the climate and soil were of a character directly the
reverse.
Earl GREY replied—lt was extremely satisfactory to
him that the Noble Earl, to whom the country was so
much indebted for the pacific possession of Vancouver's
Island, approved of the arrangement which had been
.kted by her Majesty's Government. Although
Pt ex-
Lord ". 1....4 been taken to that arrangement, no Noble had bee...AAa
ce
.tz.point out any other means what-
ever by which the act be carried out.—(Hear,
1.1 the
oNwobelte
ehLzetoerzd;tn
e,
hear.) The principarOt
.W was foundedt on a
the cross•bench (Lord Motirn
doubt as to the powers of the Ilea
Bay Company
ppaolfissessed was thl.
under their charter. But that charteyyr
that
tantdhe teheempoenel
GVraenyer hvaedr'assslusmlaenddth;
ordinary power of suing and of being sued. The Go-
vernment had conferred no political rights on the com-
pany, but had merely confirmed them in the possession
of Vancouver's Island. In the the case of South Aus-
tralia very extensive political powers were given; but in
the course of a few years it was found necessary to
repeal the Act which established that anomalous sys-
tem and conferred such monstrous powers. But in the
present instance no political powers were given ; the
administration would be carried on like that of other
British colonies. The only thing conferred on the Hud-
son's Bay Company was the property of the soil, in ac-
cordance with the precedents set in the c tee of Canada,
Australia, New Zealand, and other colonies. They were
compelled to sell the land and expend the money so ob-
tained, after a moderate deduction for necessary outlay
and risk, on the cultivation and improvement of the soil.
—(ilear, hear.) The Noble Lord (Lord Munteagle) said
it was absurd to offer land for 20:. an acre, when it could
be had far cheaper in the United States. But he believed
the Noble Lord was mistaken in his views as to the ab-
surdity of the contract, for it would be found, in his
(Lord Grey's) opinion, much cheaper to pay 20s. an acre
where the purchase-money would be nearly all applied to
the improvement of the land, than to pay nothing for
land where nothing was done for it.—(Hear, hear.) For
example, in West Australia, where land had been given
to the settlers for nothing, the bargain had been ruin-
ow. In South Australia, on the contrary, it had been
sold for 81 an acre, and the settlers had had to con-
gratulate themselves on their success.—(Hear, hear.)
In the same way the Hudson's Bay Company would find,
Dots ithstanding the competition from the United States,
not a numerous but still a fair supply of settlers, unless
the discovery of California and its produce should lead
them away in that direction, as the Noble Lord (Lord

Monteagle) suggested. The company had already sent
out a ship with a number of coal miners, and in three
weeks another vessel would be dispatched with similar
passengers. Ile was persuaded the public was deeply
indebted to the company for taking on themselves the
whole risk and expense of settling an island which other-
wise would have remained a mere waste, not in any way
ministering to the wants of man. Of what were the
Crown, the public, or the nation deprived by the grant of
Vancouver's Island, or of what value was it to them if
left to lie bare in it: present state? If there were other
parties desirous of settling in these regions, and if the
Noble Lord could form a company, and find the neces-
sary capital, he" could assure him the Crown possessed
sufficient land to cultivate—for instance, Queen Char-
lotte's Island, in the immediate vicinity of, and as richly
endowed as Vancouver's Island, and he would not heal-
,:,tate to advise her Majesty to make a grant of it to the
Noble Lord on similar terms.—(A laugh.)
The Bill was then read a second time.
The County Cess (Ireland) Bill having passed a third
reading, their Lordships adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, June 29.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock.
LORDS' AMENDMENTS.

The Lords' amendments to the following Bills were
considered and agreed to:—
East Anglian Rsilways (Ely and Huntingdon Railway
Extension of Time) Bill.
York, Nevrcaale, and Berwick Railway (Barmoor ai,d
Alnmouth New Branches, &c.) Bill.
THIRD READINGS.

The following Bills were read a third time and passed :
Great Nortlern Railway (Amendment of Acts, De-
viations and Enlargements at and near Boston, Bentley,
Lincoln, and Ring's Cross) Bill.
Holm) Reservoirs (Increase of Rates and Amendment
of Act—No. 2) Bill.
Stirling and Dunfermline Railway (Deviation of
Branch to Alloa Harbour; Diversion of certain Works;
Extension of Time for completing Line and taking Laud;
and Amendment of Acts) Bill.
REPORTS.
The following reports were considered and agreed to:—
Eastern Union and Eastern Counties Railway Com-
panies (Amendment of Acts, and Power to Lease, Sell,
or Amalgamate to or with the Eastern Counties Railway
Company) Bill.
. Norfolk Estuary (Amendment of Acts and Powers of
Contribution by the Eau Brink Commissioners of
Drainage, and by the Corporation of King's Lynn) Bill.
• PETITIONS.
Mr. BARNARD presented a petition from Greenwich
in favour of the .People's Charter.
Mr. LACY presented a petition against the Mar-
,
rkwe DM.
ford DUDLEY STUART presented a petitiol from
a person who described himself as an author, stating that
the Palace Court was altogether illegal, and praying that
a commission might be appointed to inquire into the
authority by which it exercised its jurisdiction.
Lord CHARLES MANNERS presented a petition
from Ashby praying for protection to British industry.
General E VANS presented a petition in favour of pro-
tection to women.
Mr. CHARLES LUSHINGTON presented a petition
from an individual residing in Westminster, praying for
an extension of.the suffrage, and also praying that the
House of Peers might be abolished.
The SPEAKER intimated, after examining the peti-
tion, that it could not be received, and it was accordingly
returned to the Hon. Member.
Mr. HOBHOUSE presented 18 petitions from Lin-
coln, in favour of protection to women.
Mr. P. WOOD presented several petitions from Man-
chester, praying that a system of general education of a
secular kind might be adopted, to be supported by local
taxation.
Mr. DUNCAN presented a petition from the royal
burghs of Scotland against the Public Health Bill for
Scotland.
Mr. COWAN presented a petition against the Mar-
riage Affinity Bill.
Mr. GLADSTONE presented a petition prayinz that
the regulations of the benevolent society for the benefit
of servants might b© adopted by the Government and
incorporated with the system of the National Debt-office.
SPATE OF THE NATION. . .

Mr. lICME said he had been %%Tahitig to know what
the motion was which the Hon. Member for Bucking-
h =shire (Mr. Disraeli) intended to bring forward on
the state of the natio,' ; but whatever that motion might
be, he proposed to move the following amendment.—
(Loud laughter, in the midst of which Mr. Disraeli entered
the House.) Perhaps his (Mr. Hume's) lion. Friend,
Mr. Disraeli, would state the precise words of his
motion which stands for Monday ?—(Cries of " The
amendment," and laughter.)
Mr. DISRAELI said the Hon. Member might have
known the exact language of his motion, for it had been
on the table of the House for some days; he should now
be happy to hear the amendment.—(Laughter.)
Mr. rILTME proposed to move, by way of amend-
ment, that although the free admission of food by the
repeal of the corn-laws had contributed to relieve the
distress of the country during the late period of suffer-
ing, and although the recent relaxations in our commer-
cial system must tend to increase the means
of subsistence of the people, nevertheless in the
present state of the nation the state of the
finances demanded a thorough revision, that Parliament
might be enabled to stimulate the industrial resources of
the country by the reduction of taxation, lie proposed
to move something positive— (Laughter)—instead of the
'lon. Member for Buckingham's motion.
EAST INDIAN RAILWAY.
Mr. AULIUNISY rose to correct an error *bleb
hai occurred in the Morning Herald of that day, regard-
ing what was stated in the (louse last night, on East
Indian Railways, wherein it was stated that the contract

with tho Eist Indian Railway Company would be shortly
annulled. He (Hr. Aglionby) believed the very reverse
of what was stated.
NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.

Mr. GREENE wished to correct an answer which he
had given to a question put to him last night by the
Hon. Member for Middlesex (Mr. Osborne) respecting
the estimate of the expenses for completing the new
Houses of Parliament. The Hon. Member asked whe-
ther the estimate of two millions and a half included the
furnishing the official residences. He thought that was
not included in the estimate, but he had since ascertained
that the furnishing of the official residences was included
in the estimate.
LEGISLATURE OF NEW SOUTH WALES.

Mr. SCOTT wished to ask whether her Majesty's

Government had not received a c‘immunication fro'm the

late Governor of Australia, Sir George Head, respecting
a double Chamber for New South Wales, and whether

the Government would lay the same on the table of the
House before going into Committee on the Australian
Colenies Bill.

Mr. LABOLICHERE said the question came within
the province of his Hon. Friend the Under-Secretary
for the Colonies, who was not in the House, but the Hon.
Gentleman should have given notice of his question.
Mr. SCOTT said he would repeat the question on
Monday.