The Sun.
London, England, 1849-05-26 00:00:00

PROTECTION OF WOMEN BILL.

The Bishop of OXFORD, in moving the second
reading of this Bill. said that be trusted there might be
no occasion for him to enter at length into any details
on She painful subject to which it referred, and which
rendered it necessary. But if, unfortunately, any one of
their Lordships should think it their duty to offer any
opp-;sition to the measure, he begged to say that he was
prep2red with statements to make good his case, that
there was a great practical evil, the remedy for which
must ho &Agit!. in legislation. He was sure that their
Lordships would agree with him in thinking that it was
far better to avoid any allusion to the harrowing details
of this question; but, on the other hind, if the object ho
had in view could be attained in no other way, then he
was resolved that no f:-,&ing of false delicacy should
stazd in his way, but he would reluctantly make the
statement which, for many reasons, Le was anxious to
avoid.—(Hear, hear.) He wished to inform the House
that he had received a letter from the Lord Chief
Justice of England, who was unable to attend
that evening, in which the Noble and Learned Lord
ex r, r,l3:eit his intention of not opposing the
Bill, but suggested an alteration in the second
clause, to provide for which, he (the Bishop of Oxford)
hill prepared a clause which he should move in Com-
mittee. It was possible that his Lordship might hear
some murmur of opposition to his measure, but if incon-
venience in certain cases should be the only objection
urged against it, he hoped it might not be suffered to
prevail. The Right Reverend Prelate then moved the
second reading of the Bill.

Lord BROUGHAM said he approved of the principle
of the Bill, and of the suggestion of the Lord Chief
Justice.

Lerd CAMPBELL said that, though he approved of
the object proposed by the Right Reverend Prelate, yet
he thought the Right Reverend Prelate had not done
justice to the common law of England, which he (Lord
Campbell) conceived was fully adequate to meet the
class of off.nces embraced in the BM before the House;
and ha doubted, indeed, whether there was one that
could escape it. Attempts of this kind to legislate
upon this subject had been made constantly ever since
the sitting of the Long Parliament. First of all,
the offence was made a misdemeanour, then a felony,
and then a capital offence without benefit of clergy.
The Acts of Parliament which thus established the
common law upon the subject were all of them
more or less objectionable in their operation ;
but he conceived that this was the most objec-
tionable of all. There was nothing in its provisions to
protect a person from a trumped-up charge—indeed, it
was rather celculated to induce one. The common law,
he was persuaded, was able to meet those cases, but still,
being equagy desirous with the Right Rev. ?relate to
give as much protection of a practical character as legis-
lation could afford, ho should not oppose the Bill, and
would even hope, contrary almost to all experience, that
it might prove productive of good.—(Hear, hear.)
The Earl of MOUNTCASHEL said, he regretted
that the Noble and Learned Lord who had just spoken
should have taken such a view of the subject as he had,
because, undoubtedly, it was one with regard to which a
great legislative effort ought to be made. The number
of petitions presented that evening in favour of the mea-
sure prcciaimed the interest which was felt upon it out
of et ors, and that being so, it was their duty to respond
to that feeling as completely as the nature of the object in
view, andlhe state of the law, permitted them. That the
common law in this respect was imperfect, was suffi-
cit•ntly evidenced by the fact, that in many recent cases
of seduction, the Judges had expressed their regret
that the law was unable to reach the offenders. Al her
Majesty's subjects ought to be protected, but at present
the families highest in the country were unsafe, as he
knew by experience of several cases. To that end be
should move the insertion of a stringest clause when the
Bill tell under consideration of the Committee.

TI .e Bishop of OXFORD said that although it was
not the practice in Englaild to look to France for an ex-
ample in morality, yet it might be said to our reproach,
that in France offences of this kind were dealt with and
punished which by the common law of England was not
yet possible. The only Act for the purpose was the 9th
of George IV., c. 39; and there were a multitude of cases
which were exempted from its operation, such, for in-
stance, as where the girl, however young she might be,
had willingly left her father's house, or ever so igno-
rantly; or where she was above sixteen years of age, or
where she went away with the permission of her
guardians: These were cases in which the law afforded
no remedy; indeed it was against the craft of the law
that it should—(Laughter)—and therefore he did not
doubt that the loose would see the propriety of a new
measure upon the subject.
The Bill was then read a second time, and their Lord-
ships adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, May 25.
The SPEAKER took the Chair five minutes before
Four o'clock.

PRIVATE BILLS.

The Lords' amendments to the following private Bills
were considered and agreed to :
Bury Saint Edmund's Gas Company Bill.
Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Society (Incorpora-
ting and Conferring Powers) Bill.

AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS.
Sir J. BULLER presented a petition from 8,800
owners and occupiers of land in the county of Devon,
complaining of alarming agricultural distress in that
county also a petition from owners and occupiers of
land iu Kingsbridge, in the county of Devon, signed by
1,200 persons, to the same effect.
JAMES BERRINGTON'S INVENTION.

Colonel TROMPS ON ;resented a petition from James
Berrington, twenty-seven years a veterinary surgeon in
the army, praying that the House would take measures
for carrying out an invention of his for a modo of car-
rying the wEi4ht borne by infantry soldiers.
IRISH SPIRIT DEALERS.
Mr. REYNOLDS presented a petition from certain
merchants and traders in Irish manufactured spirits in
Dublin, Tipperary, Dungarvan, Ardee, Castleblaney,
and other towns in Ireland, complaining that they
are compelled to pay for a quantity of spirits which their
casks will not hold, and are not allowed anything for
evaporation. The Hon. Gentleman also presented a
petition from the Mayor, Aldermen and burgesses of
Dublin, fully concurring in the alteration in the law re-
lating to the process of attachment in Courts of Record
in Dublin.

AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS.
Sir R. LOPES presented a petition from Devon,
complaining of agricultural distress in that county, and
praying for the re-imposition of protective duties on
agricultural produce.
PRISON DISCIPLINE.
Mr. C. PEARSON presented a petition from Dr.
Rice, as the representative of a very large body of
gentlemen, magistrates, inspectors, and chaplains of
prisons, assembled in the City to discuss the question of
prison discipline, and praying that the petition may be
referred to a Committee to inquire into the truth of its
statements.

EXTENSION OF COUNTY COURTS.
Captain PECHELL presented a petition from 200
tradesmen in Brighton, praying that the jurisdiction
of the County Courts may be extended to debts of at
least fio/.

THEiTEAM•BOAT ACCIDENT IN THE IRISH

CHANNEL.
In answer to a question from Mr. CARDWELL,
Mr. LABOUCLIERE said Captain Denham had re-
$11112"1 4914 hi's visit Of 14gintiti011 to I.4iTerpool, into the

recent calamity which happened on the voyage of a
steam.vesel between Liverpool and the coast of Ire-
land • but unfortunately a domestic affliction had pre-
vented Captain Denham presenting his report to the
Board of Trade. He thought, however, the re port
would be received tomorrow, and there would be no
objection to lay it on the table of the House.
PRIVATE BILLS.
The Cockermouth and Workington Railway (Branch
to Bridgefoot, Amendment of Act, and Power to lease
to Whitehaven Junction Railway Company) Bill was
read a third time and passed.
The report on the Transfer of Sheffield Canal to
River Dun Navigation Company Bill was considered and
agreed to.
IJISCELLANEOLTS ESTIMATES.
Colonel SIBTIIORP would beg to ask the Chancellor
of the Exchequer when the House was likely to have a
discussion on the civil contingencies and miscellaneous
estimates?
Mr. PARKER said it would come on on Thursday
next.

Sir J. GRAHAM said surely the discussion on that
subject would not come on so early as Thursday
night ? The papers had not yet been circulated
among the Members.
Mr. PARKER said that was owing to the papers not
having been printed yet.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM said (with some warmth)
that surely the matter would not be pressed on on Thurs-
day night.
Mr. PARKER said the Right Hon. Gentleman had
better repeat his question when he saw the Chancellor
of the Exchequer in his place.
Sir J. GRAHAM—Pooh!
FISCAL DUTIES OF IRISH GRAND JURIES.
Mr. S. CRAWFORD rose to ask the Secretary for
Ireland whether it was the intention of her Majesty's
Government to submit any measure for the amendment
of the laws relating to the fiscal duties of grand juries
in Ireland during the present session.
Sir W. SOMERVILLE said a Bill was in course of
preparation on the subject.
A NEW BOOT FOR THE ARMY.
In reply to Mr. C. LUSHINGTON,
Mr. FOX MAULE stated, that as Secretary at War,
he had nothing to do with the discipline of the army.
It appeared that a Mr. Dohey, a very respectable
person, had taken out a patent for a certain
description of boot, which having been tried by
several commanding officers and men, was generally
approved of; and, like all tradesmen, he applied to the
Board of General Officers to make the boots what was
called a "sealed pattern;" they inspected it, and re-
ported against the application. The board at the
same time intimated that they saw no reason
why the soldiers should not purchase the boot for their
own use at their own expense ; but by some means or
ether, for which he was not responsible, the permission
thus given had Not been allowed.—(Hear, hear.)
THE ECCLESIASTCAL COMMISSION.
Mr. HORS MAN inquired if the Noble Lord intended
to proceed with his motion with respect to the Ecclesi-
astical Commission on the Bth of June, and if he was in
a position to state to the House any particulars with
respect to the rectory of Bishopswearmouth.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL replied that he did not intend
on the Bth of June to proceed with the motion in ques-
tion ; he should merely do so pro forma. The
question of the rectory of Bishopswearmouth had been
under the consideration of the Ecclesiastical Commission,
and the result of their deliberations had been placed in
the hands of the officers of the Crown. When he
had received further information he should be happy to
communicate it to the Hon. Gentleman.
Mr. HORSMAN inquired it the Bill for amending the
constitution of the Ecclesiastical Commission would be
introduced during the present session ?
Sir G. GREY replied that he feared there was not a
reasonable prospect.
THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF THE
GOVERNMENT.
In reply to Mr. DISRAELI,
Lord J. RUSSELL intimated that next week he
should propose to proceed with the Committee of Sup-
ply. Until the Elousa had made some progress
with the miscellaneous estimates, the statement referred
to would not be made. He calculated that it would be
made about the middle of June.
SPATE OF IRELAND.
Mr. MONSELL, in the absence of the Noble Lord,
the Member for Arundel, inquired whether after the
recess the Government would be prepared to lay before
the House the existing state of the people of Ireland in
the distressed unions, and the amount of aid afforded to
them out of the funds of the Government.
Sir GEORGE GREY said at the beginning of the
present month a statement was laid before the House.
Further information would be laid before the House ;
also the applications made for aid from the Poor-law
Commissioners.
IRISH POOR-LAW AND INCUMBERED ES-
TATES (IRELAND).
Lord J. RUSSELL, in answer to a question from Mr.
Stafford, said that he proposed proceeding with the In-
cumbered Estates (Ireland) Bill on the 4th, and the
Poor-law (Ireland) Bill on the Bth of June.
ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE AND MIS.
CELLANEOUS ESTIMATES.
Lord J. RUSSELL then rose to move the adjourn.
ment of the House to Thursday next, and on doing so
stated that it was the intention of the Government to pro-
ceed with the Miscellaneous Estimates on that day. Any
item that was objected to might be postponed. Generally
speaking, the estimates were the same as last year.
Sir J. GRAHAM said that considering the estimates
were not yet in the hands of Blembers, that they
ought not to proceed with I them on Thursday.
They might proceed with the Civil Contingencies on
Thursday, as Members had received them.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that until the Miscella-
neous Estimates had been passed, the Budget could not
be brought forward.
Mr. DISRAELI condemned the principle of putting
off the financial statement to so late a period of the
session.

Mr. CARDWELL complained of the postponement of
the budget to so indefinite a period.
Mr. GLADSTONE could not understand what con-
nexion there was between the budget and the miscella-
neous estimates.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL stated that it was usual to
proceed to a considerable extent with the estimates be•
fore bringing on the budget.
DISTRESS IN IRELAND.
Mr. HERBERT wished to ask the Noble Lord at the
head of the Government whether he was aware of the
fact that a body had been cast ashore in Ireland, and
that the starving population had eaten the body to' allay
their hunger?
Mr. P. SCROPE wished, before the Noble Lord
answered the question, to call the attention of the
House and the Government to the awful responsibility
they incurred in not doing something more effectual for
the relief of the suffering and starvation of Ireland.
Who was responsible for this dreadful misery and suf-
fering? In no country in the world could such a state
of things be found as that to be witnessed in the United
Kingdom. On the one hand, they had unbounded free-
dom, with the people enjoying themselves in every kind
of amusement, and revelling in luxuries ; and, on the
other, within a twenty-four hours' journey, the people
were dying by thousands from the absolute want of
food. Let it not be said that the people of England were
responsible for this misery, for they were ready to sanc-
tion any measure Government might propose
.to mi-
tigate, if not to remove it.—(Hear, hear.) With the
Government, then, must rest the responsibility,
as they had it in their power to apply to Parliament for
additional advances, or to propound some scheme fur
the profitable employment of the starving Irish people.
Lord J. RUSSELL had certainly net received any
official information of the circumstance referred to by
the Honourable Member opposite who asked the first
question, but he would cause inquiry to be made into it.
With regard to the second question of the Hon. Gen.
tleman behind him, all he could do was simply to direct
the attention of the Hon. Gentleman to what had already
been done for Ireland in the present session. No less
than 80,0001. had been advanced for relieving the mise-
ries of her people, besides the other measures of a reme-
dial character, and whatever the Honourable Gentleman
might say about the responsibility of Government,
be could only reply !that Government had done, and
were still anxious to do all in their power to improve the
condition of Ireland.—(Cheers.)
NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.
In reply to Sir H. WILLOUGHBY,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER stated
that before any vote could be taken for the new Houses
of Parliament a report of the Commissioners appointed to
inquire into the state of the building would be laid on
the table.