The Sun.
London, England, 1849-06-27 00:00:00

tUtttn

SUN OFFICE, Seven o'Clock.

STEAM COMITIUNICATION WITH

AUSTRALIA.—(TfiIS DAY.)
A public meeting was hold this afternoon at Willis's
Booms, St. James's, to determine on the most desirable
steps to be taken for promoting steam communication
with Australia; the Right Hon. the Earl Talbot in the
chair. _ _ _

The CHAIRMAN expressed the great interest which be
felt in the colony of Australia, which was growing day
by day of greater importance, and therefore required a more
direct steam communication with the mother country.
One route =suggested was by Singapore, another by the
Cape of Good Elope, and a third by the Isthmus of Pa-
nama and the Pacific; but it would not be advisable to en-
ter into a discussion upon the comparative merits of them,
for that was a mere matter of detail, and ought to be left
for after consideration. Their sole object now was to
force upon the attention of the public and the Le-
gislature the necessity of a quicker communication
with those distant dependencies of the empire. To
show the increase of commerce with them he might
state that, while in 1800 the quantity of wool im-
ported from Sydney was 650 pound 3, it had since then
gradually increased until, in 1848, it amounted to 46,612
pounds. The exports from this country to Sydney of
German wool amounted to 17,000 bales. The whole of
the wool imported from Sydney amounted now to within
1,000 ba'es of that brought from foreign countries, thus
showing how much the trade of our colonies would in-
crease by a rapid and more regular communication with
England.

The Hon. FRANCIS SCOTT, in rising to propose the first
resolution, said that this important subject had been
played with by the Government, that they had dealt
with the dependencies of England as mere baubles and
toys, and in a way totally inconsistent with the cha-
racter of a great empire. Every one connected with
these colonies had felt the great inconveniences which
arose from the delays inseparable from the present mode
of intercourse. This subject had been cast about from
one department of the Government to another, between
the Post-office and the Admiralty, the Admiralty and the
Treasury, and between the Treasury and the Exchequer-
office, until at last those who had subscribed their capi.
tal, to carry out the object which they had met to pro-
mote, turned away in disgust. It was calculated that
each inhabitant of Australia consumed eight or ten
pounds worth of goods, the produce of British industry,
while the inhabitants of foreign countries did not take
more than at the rate of a shilling a head. The
relationships between these two sums would at
once show the advantage which would arise
from a more prompt intercourse, because by that means
they would offer an inducement to men of capital, intel-
ligence, and influence, to settle in Australia. With
a little zeal and energy, and determination, however,
they might expect to ultimately force the Government to
grant them some assistance to accomplish that object.
The Son. Gentleman concluded by moving that the rapid
increase and importance of the Australian colonies Yen.
eered the establishment of a steam communication be-
tween them and England highly desirable.
Lord LYTTELTON seconded the resolution. He had,
some years ago, been connected with the administration
of colonial affairs, and he had then seen enough to take a
most lively interest in everything connected with the
colonies, but more especially with Australia. There
could be no more doubt that a steam communication
would ultimately be established with Australia than
that the sun would continue to rise. It would not only
benefit this country, but would eff,-ct a considerable
improvement in the political and social government of
the colony. _ _

Mr. MONTGOMERY MARTIN supported the motion.
He said that Australia was the only portion of our
transaaarine dominions which had no direct communi-
cation; and it was the only colony which had been
called upon by the Government to contribute to the
establishment of mail rackets. India and North Ame-
rica had not been called upon to contribute a single
shilling towards such a❑ object, r.nd )et Australia had
scarcely put the English Exchequer to any-expense.
The resolution was carried unanimously.
Mr. Sergeant MEREWETHER propcsed the next reso-
lution—" That the inhabitants of the Australian colo-
nies having, through the medium of their respective
Legislative Assembtrei, evinced the deepest anxiety to
approximate their dependencies will' England by steam,
it is advisable to co-operate will them in this country
for the attainment of that important object." Be
would not have intruded himself upon the
meeting if he had not been in constant
communication with several dear friends in the colony
and kt.ew something about it. They told him that there
ware wide extended pla.ins in the rude productiveness
of nature, ready to yield all the riches which they con-
tained, and waiting only for labour to be applied to them.
The means of the country were unbounded, and there
was scarcely anything useful which it could not produce
if we transplanted there the skill and enterprise of the
British charac'er.

Mr. MARK BOYD seconded the resolution, which, after
a few observations from Sir William Vernon and other
gentlemen, was put and carried.
Mr. MONTAGUE GORE moved a resolution to the
effect that it was the opinion of the meeting, that an
appeal should be mule to the Government, and peti-
tions presented to Parliament, pointing out the expe-
diency on imperial as well as ( n colunial grounds, of
establishing a direct system of cuminunicltion' between
this country and Australia.
The resolution was seconded by Mr. MAcanzuoß,
P., and carried.

A resolution wa; then passed appointing a cm:intake
to carry out the chjects of the ine,ting.

Earl Talbot was compelled to leave the meeting Ee-
fore it terinfrwed, owing to an eng,gerrient, and he was
succeK!ed in the chair by Sir W. Vernon.

After a a vote of thauk3 to both of those gentlemen,
the meeting separated.

A great nuaiber of influential gentlemen were present
many of whom were largely interested in the colony o
Australia.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

(THIS DAY.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
• The SPEAKER took the Chair at Twelve o'clock.
NEW WRIT FOR THE CI ry OF LONDON.
Mr. JOHN ABEL SMITH moved that a new writ
do issue for the election of a Member for the City of
London, in the room of Baron Lionel Ds Rothschild,
who had accepted the office of the Stewardship of the
Chiltern Hundreds.—Agreed to.
PRIVATE BILLS.
The following private Bills were read a third time and
passed :---
Lancaster and Preston Junction Railway Acts Amend-
ment (powers to alter tolls and for appointment of
officers).
Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway
(Consolidation and Amemirnet.t of Acts).
The report of the Committee on the following Bill was
considered anti agreed to:—
Lanarkshire (East and West Lice) and Glasgow and
Shutt Turnpike lioads (Amendment of Acts, &c.)
DUBLIN IMPROVE..viENT BILL (No. 2).
Mr. REYNOLDS moved that Mr. William Fagan,
Mr. Thomas Meagher, Mr. John O'Connell, and Mr.
Tennent, be added to the Select Committee on the
Dublin Improvement (No. 2) Bill.
Sir W. SOMERVILLE objected to this motion, on the
ground of its being an unusual procedure.
The SPEAKER reminded the Hon. Member for the
city of Dublin that his motion was not seconded.
AI. REYNOLDS would, therefore, move the follow-
ing:—That the repors and evidence of and before the
surveyiue. officers in the years 1847 and 1848, in the case
of the Dubin Improvement Bill, and the minutes of
evidence taken before the Committee on the Dublin Im-
provement Bill in the last session, bo referred to the
Select Committee on the Dublin Improvement (No. 2)
Bill. —Agreed to.
Mr. REYNOLDS then moved that the petition of the
Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses
of Dublin, against the Collection of Rates (Dublin)
Bill, together vith all other petitions, praying to be
heard against the said Bill, be referred to the Commit-
tee to which the Dublin Improvement (No. 2) Bill stands
referred.—Agreed to.
Sir WILLIAM SOMERVILLE moved that the mi-
nutes of the evidence taken before the respective Com-
mittees which sat on the Dublin Improvement Bills in
the sessions of 1847 and 1848; and also the reports of
the :•urveyito.; 0---cees appointed under
the Preliminary
Inquiries Act, together wrcia the ,vidence taken before
them in relation to tie Dublinimpeoeemeat hats in the
sessions of 1847 and 1848. be referred to the Cornraituse.
on the Dublin Improvement (No. 2) Bill.-,--Agreed to.
PRO ITC nos OF WOMEN.
Mr. G. HAMILTON presented a petition from
several Dissenting coegregatiefs in Dublin in favour of
the Bill for the protection of women.
Mr. S. CRAW FORD presented similar petitions from
Dissenting coegregationa in Rochdale.
Sir T. BIRCH presented similar petitions from Wes-
leyan Methodists in Liverpool.
IRISH SAVINGS BANKS.
Sir H. WILLOUGHBY gave notice that on the
House going into Committee of Supply he would call
the attention of the House to the state of the National
Debt, and especially with reference to the savings banks
in Ireland. _

PROTECTION OF WOMEN.
Mr. CHARLES PEARSON presented petitions from
the congregations of Grove Chapel, Camberw,ll, and of
several other Dissenting Chapels in Lambeth, in favour
of the Bill for the protection of women.
Lord GEORGE MANNERS presented a similar pe-
tition from a place in C:imbridwshue.
Sir E. IaLX TON presented similar petitions from
Waltham Abbey arid several r places in Essex.
BAN KR UPTCY LAW.
Mr. CARDW ELL presented a petition from bankers,
merchants, and others in L vicrpool, in favour of the Bill
for the consolidation of the Bankruptcy laws.
IKISIi MAILS.
Mr. GROGAN inquired the reason why the Govern-
ment afternoon Irish mail was net to be allowed to carry
newspapers? The greatest inconvenience would result
if this order of tho Postmaster was to be carried out.
pe,,ple of Ireland were deprived of six hours later
n'e than they might otherwise receive. •
I Mr. HAYTER entered into an explanation, from
tipt!\ it appeared that the train in question—the
..
netyst Western five o'clock rat express—was
Mit, is mail in the strict sense of the term,
attr`ivas not in any way under the contr,d
'01) Vie Post-office. Letters were, however, sent
'i't in order to facilitate their conveyance; and it was
fought by the Postmaster that the bulk of the news-

capers would be too heavy to be conveyed by that train;
if, however, additional facilities were proved to be ne-
cessary, the Postmaster-Genera; would take the matter
into his consideration; but at present he did not think it
right to incur additional expense. There was no inten-
tion to put an additional mail train to Edinburgh and
Glasgow. He had r.O objection to produce the cones-
pndence that had taken place on the matter.
The matter then dropped.
PRISON DISCIPLINE. _ _

The adjourned debate upon this Bill was resumed by
Mr. BROTHERTON, who said that the systems of
prison discipline that bad hitherto been tried had failed
to repress crime, since at least 3,500,000-1 in 7i or 8
were paupers; 1 in 133, criminals; and 2,000,0001.
a year were expended in the punishment of of-
fenders. The number of criminals was on the
increase, and he feared that they must erect
additional cells for their reception. When the money
expended in wine, beer, and spirits amounted to
19,000,0001.—greater than the whole of their exports—
when the public-houses outnumbered our churches and
schools—they could do nothing by prison discipline to
repress crime. They could do nothing unless they
struck at the root of the evil, the suppression of intem-
perance; and the upper classes set the example, as he did,
of temperance, crime w ould continue at its present amount,
and all their reformatory works would be altogether
abortive.
Sir HENRY HALFORD said, having been a visit-
ing magistrate in Leicestershire, he could state that
there was a less number of prisoners in the gaol which
Was built in 1845 at the present time than when it was
originally opened, which he attributed to the silent sys-
tem recently introduced. He thought the necessity for
a purative system had been shown by the crowded state
of the gaols of the country, and no one could doubt that
the separate system was not inconsistent with hard
labour. He thought the more the subject was considered
the more necessity there was for a system of separation.
Was it to be tolerated that a poor boy for robbing au
orchard was to be made the associate of the worst felons;
and that a poor servant girl for leaving her place should
be made the associate of procuresses and prostitutes?
The Honourable Member concluded by moving the ap-
pointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the
prison discipline of England. and Wales.
Mr IRE WEN opposed the motion and supported the
amendment.
Mr. Alderman SIDNEY thought that nothing was so
prolific of crime as the state of the prisons in this
country, and the sooner their state was altered the
better. He would vote for the amendment, believing
that if it was acceded to it would effect everything that
was contemplated by the motion of his Hon. Friend the
Member for Lambeth.
Lord MAHON thought it impossible to refer to the
subject of prison discipline without congratulating the
country on the great improvement which had taken place
of late years. lie thought that great praise was due to
the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the Home De-
partment, and also to the Right Hon. Baronet who had
preceded him in that office. The system of inspection
and of frequent returns being made to the House had
been productive of great benefits to the prison system.
He wished,to call the attention of the Right Hon. Baronet
at the head of the Home Department to one particular
point. He had said that great praise was due to the
system of frequent returns to the House, but he ques-
tioned whether these returns were not often so volumi-
nous that they discouraged Hon. Members from look-
ing,into them.—(Hear, hear.) With respect to the
plan of the Honourable Member for Lambeth,
he though that a self-supporting prison would
be a great desideratum, but ho agered with an
observation which had fallen from the opposite
side of the House, that the Hon. Gentleman had not suf-
ficiently considered the question. He also thought that the
Hon. Member for Leicestershire would much better
serve the purpose he had in view if he withdrew his
amendment, and renewed it at the beginning of next
session.

Mr. DENISON wished to read a report from
the visiting justices of the West Riding of
Yorkshire, by which it appeared that the num-
ber of committals had been much reduced under
the adoption of the separate system. Much had been
said about the increased expenditure on the county
rates, but he must call the attention of the House to the
fact that this increase was not cawed by the greater
amount of crime, but by the expense of building these new
prisons. He thought great credit was due to the Secre-
taries of State for the last 10 years. He thought it was
absurd to appoint a Committee in July for such a pur-
pose. He should vote against the original motion.
Mr. HARRIS entirely concurred with the Hon.
Member who had just spoken.
Mr. R. PALMEit read to the House a comparative
statement of the present and past expenditure of the dif-
ferent prisons in Berkshire, which showed the great
superiority of the separate system. He thought this
system had worked well, and he should be very sorry to
see it ran down.
Sir G. GREY said that as be had stated his views on
a former occasion, in reply to the Hon. Member for
Lambetn (Mr. C. Pearson), he should not trouble the
House with many observations, but there were one or
two points to which he must advert. In the first place
then, with regard to the system of prison discipline, it
had now had several years of trial under every variety
of circumstances, and the result bad been one which was
quite satisfactory to the public officers. Then as to
tee two objects of reforming the offender and the repres-
sion of crime, the report was equally advantageous. The
Hon. Member for Berkshire had taken the opportunity
of giving from his personal experience a comparison of
the different expenses of the old system and that which
was at. presAant_
it was ascertained that the several cells of York
Castle cost 1,2001. per cell, and those of Milibank cost
5004 per cell, while the cells in Maidstone gaol cost
only 300/. per cell, and those of Reading, of which so
much had been said, had only cost 200/. per cell, while
he believed that the prisons of Manchesti,r, Birmingham,
and Leeds had not cost more than from 140/. to 1502 per
cell. This statement would show the difference between
the old and the present systems, so far as expense was
concerned.
Mr. B. DENISON—And that was not an annual
expense.
Sir G. GREY—That was a very important observa-
tion. The expense incurred was incurred once and tor
ever, and thus the benefits were annually increasing.
Then with respect to the representations which had been
made with regard to the moral condition of the pri-
soners. his attention had just been very strongly drawn
to this subject, and he had only just issued a circular to
the inspectors and superintendents of prisons direct-
ing that their reports should be confined to the
facts which came under their notice, and not
contain any observations of their own upon those
tacts, observations which tended to impair rather
than to enhance the value of their reports. For
his own part, he had no objection to the appointment of
a Select Committee for an examination of the whole
subject, and if that suggestion were adopted, he would
take care that the matter was made one of the first con-
sidered in the ensuing session.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. HUME said he believed that during a long expe-
rience there was hardly a gaoler of old standing with
whom he had not conversed on this subject, and he was
sorry to say that the replies derived from the
whole of them went to show that, whether under

the silent or any other system, that there was very
little hope of the reformation of aft-nders. The greater
part of the committals were, in three cases out of four,
those of offenders who had previously been intimate wi h
the rules of prison discipline.— (Hear, hear.) By far
the best plan would be to prevent rather than cure the
evil; and it would be far better to send those persons
who were usually the inmates of prisons out of the
country with credit and at their own expense, rather
than in disgrace, and at the expense of the country. He
thought it was absolutely necessary that some system of
general education ought to be adopted, compulsory, if
necessary, but voluntary if it could be obtained,
and paid for by a rate levied on the owners of pro-
perty if the resources could not by any other means
be procured—(Hear, hear)—for he believed that in the
end such a rate would prove to them the cheapest
remedy that could possibly be adopted.—(Hear, hear.)
Then he thought by far too much attention was paid to
the comfort of the prisoner, who in fact enjoyed more
of the benefits of life than the hard-working man, who
refrained from any breach of the laws.—(Hear.) Taking

the whole matter; ha conceived that education was the
best remedy; and if by being made compulsory it was an
interference with the liberty of the subject, it was fur the
benefit of the subject.—(Hear.) He should be sorry to
vote against inquiry, but seeing the disposition evinced
by the Right Hon. Baronet the Home Secretary, and the
readiness he had mani!'ested to grant a Committee, he
would recommend to his lion. Friend to withdraw his
motion.

Mr. ADDERLEY said there was such an overwhelm-

in g amount of crime in this
p country,rt..4tethia,,ctlacs3rtsiamtoeers
dmwp:egae:s feltpersons
the greatest possible difficulty how to act, and, there-
fore, they adopted that course always which promised
1 D-nY, the slightest, mitigation of the evil ; and hence
of the infelicity of thelegislation on this sub-
ject. 7gt„
~veld recommend that the prison at Park-
h
mrned into a penitentiary for the
hurst should
reception of that inil
s of offenders called juve-
,tiu be calledleffe: dtehnresa
n:le misdemeanants, whoseoculats,
at all, but dealt with as an ought
tionrotut
thrown upon this country for
present system of prison discipline, virtue w.„13-
by being placed on a par with crime, and degraded
by
nified by being put on a par with virtuous misfortune. rc,
she uld have much pleasure in voting for the amendment
before the House.
Sir JOSHUA WALMSLEY entirely concurred with
all that had fallen from the Hon. Member for Montrose
on this question. It was the great mass of juvenile de-
linquency that they had to deal with. In the gaol of
Bolton, which he was in the habit of visiting, there
were from three hundred to four hundred young
persons confined, from nine to twelve years of age,
and most of whom were committed to gaol eight or ten
times in the course of a twelvemonth. They could
obtain no means of livelihood when they came out of
prison, from the bad character which attached to
them, aad they had no alternative but to commit
frksh depredations, :o that they might be agt:in
'alien tob prison, or starve. The dealing with that
class of persons was a mutt important question
even in a pecuniary point of view fur this country;
and there was no way of dealing with it satisfactorily
and effuctually but by a well-digested scheme of edu-
cation.

Mr. WODEHOUSE gave it as his opinion that this
que,tion bad been too long delayed, and hoFed it wcaild
be taken vigorously up by the Government on the cum-

mencement of an, ther session.

Sir JOHN PAKINGTON said the separate system
of imprisonment was at variance with our common

law. Or all the systems of prison ditc!pliae the separate
system was the very best that bad y-c t been discovered;
yet at the same time he could not lit 1p regarding it with
very great jealousy and doubt. It had been said the sepa-
rate system made very good prisoners, but not very good
men after they were released, He thought this a proper

Subject for a Committee of Inquiry, and he w fluid vote
for the motion of the Hon. Member for Lambet h, but on
this understanding, that by doing so, he did no.t wish to
imply any reflection on the separate system..
Atter a few words from Sir GEORE Garr, who
explained with reference to giving his assent t;o a Commit-
tee of Inquiry, that the Committee would not be limited
to the consideration of one system only of prison discip-
line, but would embrace a liberal consideoation of the
whole question.
Sir HENRY HALFORD, in deference to the wishes
of the House and of the Secretary of State for the Home
Department, would withdraw his amendment, but on the
understanding that the same objections should prevail
against the motion of the Hon. Member for Lambeth.
Mr. C. PE ARSON rose to reply. The separate
system was one of great cruelty, and had the effect of
increasing the number of criminals. Under this system
no hard labour was allowed; the only approach to it was
a crank wheel, at which ten persona worked, this being
just the amount of labour to employ the mind. Education
was the great work carried on there, as appeared from
the examination of a visiting magistrate at one of those
establishments. The prisoners were too well treated.
It would be seen that a great number of offences against
the prison discipline consisted of destroying the food
which had been given them in too great quantities. It
was not right to inflict a punishment upon a man which
left him at the end of the punishment less able to earn
an honest living than ho was before, and this was the
effect of the separate system. He was prepared to
prove that whatever might be the effect of the grega-
rious system, they were not to be compared with those of
the separate system against which he raised his voice. At
Reading gaol, where they had a trades instructor dressed
out in all the accoutrements of official dignity, the whole
amount of the year's labour in the gaol was 6/. 2s. Bd.
The Right Hon. Baronet had told them the cost had been
2001. pee cell, but he thought the Right Hon. Baronet
was wrong ; that might be the first cost, but many ad-
ditious had been necessary. From the reports
of the inspectors they would find that in this
gaol great attention was paid to the comforts of
the worthy gentlemen who were confined here. They
had yards to exercise in, and contrivances by which, if
it rained or the sun shone too strongly on them, they
could cover themselves, and walk without allowing
the wind of heaven to blow too roughly upon
them. The great names of Howard, Burning, and
Bentham had been used in favour of this system.
Bat he could not think that this was fair. It was not
unlikely that in the voluminous works of gentlemen
some sentences might be caught up and converted into
arguments in favour of this system. If the House would
give him a Committee on this subject he would stake
his seat in it upon the fact of proving all that he had
stated. He would not divide the House upon his motion
on the present occasion, but he would in the first week of
the next session renew the motion in its present shape.
During the ensuing recess he should visit some of the
principal towns in the kingdom, in order to ascertain
their opinions upon the subject.

After sump observations'from Viscount BARRINGTON
and Sir J. FAILING roN, the motion was withdrawn.
BANKRUPT AND INSOLVENT MEMBERS BILL.
The House then resolved itset into a Committee on
this Bill.

Mr. GOULBURN objected to the further proceeding
with the Bill. He thought if the House
_were to pass
this Bill, and deprive Members of Parliament of their
privilege of being free from arrest for debt, they ought
not to legislate with respect to the payment of debts of
Members, but leave them in that respect on the same
footing as other persons.
Mr. HUME took the same view of the subject.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL thought such a pro-
ceeding would be worse than the one proposed, for a
Member might be arrested and left in prison, and his
constituents remain altogether unrepresented.
Mr. C. WYNN thought they were proceeding rather
too fast. If they passed the present Bill they would place
themselves in an inferior position to the other House of
of Parliament. He thought the further consideration of
the Bill should be suspended, and that a resolution should
be passed to the effect that they would not enforce their
privilege of freedom from arrest.

Mr. LAW moved that the Chairman report progress.
—(Loud cries of " Divide, divide.")
After some discussion,
Mr. MOFFATT appealed to the law officers of the
Crown to state their opinions.
The ATTORNELGENERAL thought it would be
well that the Chairman should report progress.
The galleries were cleared, but no division took place,
the motion being agreed to.
The House resumed, the CHAIRMAN reported progress,
and asked leave to sit again.
BENEFICES IN PLURALITY BILL.

Mr. FREWEN moved the second reading of this Bill,
and stated that its object was to apportion districts to
the population.
Mr. HUME said this Bill raised the whole question
of pluralities, and he should be glad to know if the Bill
bad the support of the Government. He had moved
for returns on the matter, to show the numb: r of plurali-
ties granted since the Act. He opposed the Bill because
it recognised the existence of pluralities, which he con.
sidered should not longer exist.
Sir G. GREY was not prepared to assent to the Bill,
the principle of which the Hon. Gentlemen had nut
stated. The only restriction proposed to be introduced
by this Bill over the present system was in regard to
the value of the benefices. At present a clergyman was
permitted to hold two contigious benefices of small in-
come.

Mr. FREWEN, after some observations, withdrew
the Bill —Bill accordingly withdrawn.

The House went into Committee on this Bid.
Mr. BAINES said that he proposed to establish an
official board by which the claims of one parish upon
another might be enforced; and this he proposed to du
by an order of the Magistrates of the Qua' ter Sessions,
equivalent in those respects to an order of the Court of
Queen's Bench. This he would do by striking out the 16th
clause altogether, and making such an alteration in the
17th clause as would render it applicable to all purposes.
The 16th clause was then struck out.
Mr. BAINES then proposed the words by which this
alteration was to be effected.
Atter a few observations from Mr. W. Miles, who called
the attention of the Attorney-General to the subject,
and some observations in reply from Mr. Baines, with a
suggestion from Mr. Beckett Denison, the clause, with
the amendment of the Learned Commissioner, was
passed.
On the 18th clause being read,
Sir J. DUCKN ORTH suggested that in cases of
bastardy, after the evidence of the woman had been
given, that an opportunity should be afforded to the
putative father of waking an appeal. It had happened
that before the usual time for making the appeal the
woman had died, and the man had no remedy, but bad
been saddled with the expenses without any prospect of
remedy.
The suggestion was adopted, and the words being
embodied, the clause was passed.
The other clauses of the Bill were then passed with-
out comment, and the Chairman was ordered to bring
up the report to-morrow.

The House then resumed.
PROTECTION OF WOMEN BILL.

Several petitions on this subject were presented from
the women of Stroud by Mr. BUNBURY and other
Members.

Mr. SPOONER rose to move that this Bill be read a
second time. In the first place this Bill originated and
had come down from the I iouse of Lords. Further, he
would state that this Bill had received the autho-
rity of, and, he believed, had been framed by the
Lord Chief Baron. The object of the Bill was,
to remedy a great and notorious evil, the extent
of which could not be known except to those
who had charge of the Bill. Its purpose was to
enact that any person who had been convicted
of having been guilty of causing the seduction of
any female for the sake of lucre should be severely
punished. Having stated this, he proposed to go into a
Select Committee, and submit to such alterations as
would render it practically useful.
_ _

Mr. ANSTEY said that he believed that it had been
condemned by all the law Lords in another place.—
(i iear, hear.) The principle of this Bill was to punish
any woman, who had caused any man to have carnal
connexion with a woman—(Laughter)—with two years
hard labour. But this was a one-sided Bill, for it did
not provide any punishment for any man having
connexion with a woman.—(Great laughter.) It
did not provide in any way for the punishment of
seduction.—(Laughter.) Nuw it was directed against
those unfortunate females who were already seduced,
and had no other means of gaining a livelihood than
that which they now pursued. It was notorious that
the Bill was directed against certain houses, and it was
we'll known that these acts arose out of false pretensions.
It arose only out of a morbid feeling, and the passing
of it would only gratify that feeling, and he was only
discharging a duty to society and to humanity in doing
anything which would prevent the position of those
females to whom he bad alluded from becom-
ing more intolerable than it was at present.
If the Bill had been levelled against seduction it should
have had his best support. But seeing that nothing of the
kind could be effected, that the law was already stringent
enough, and if the magistrates refused to administer
the law as it stood, how could it be expected that they
would put a new statute into force. Seeing this, he
should certainly divide the House on the question, and
ovo that the Bill be read this day three months
Mr- 1113tIVio Bt..re the care,
a certain religious society was
reported
e de,cr
joort
°ant elies tt possession,hoy
wanted
of
houses of a
this k
shtohuo.lad go to the universi-
ties,e
‘nwltorewliglecenthine
tahee-
have a law of this kind, they
and take the opinion -of
knowledged authorities on morality
country. He should certainly vote with the Hon. mEm..
ber who had just sat down.

_
Sir J. JERVIS said the Bill was not only directed
against these who, fur lucre or gain, procured a eArrle.l
ci,mmunication between any man and any woman, but
there must also be the consideration of false pretences.
This Bill did not seem to him to be necessary, nor did
he think it was at all calculated for the protection of
women. He should certainly vote against it.
After a few words of explanation,
Mr. SPOONER proceeded to call the attention of the
House to a number of cases which he held in his hand,
of women having been seduced by false representations,
and who were now sunk into the lowest rank of
society. The object of the Bill was to put down all
such traffic. The Hon. Gentleman quoted the autho-
rity of Mr. Baron Parke, that the present common law
was not sufficiently comprehensive. He contended
that the principle of the Bill would embrace many
offences which now escaped unpuuished, owing to the
imperfect state of the law.
A'tcr a few words from the ATTORNEY-
G ENERAL,

Mr. ELLIS begged the House to allow the Bill to
go into Committee.
Pilr. LAW hoped that the House would not throw

out the Bill, imperfect as it was, because it was capable
of great improvement, and had a most important object
in view.

Mr. NE WDEGATE trusted that the objections that
had been raised to the Bill would not prevent the House
from acceding to its principle.
Sir G. GREY opposed the second reading of the Bill,
considering it
_one that was confessedly intfficient
for its object. It the Hon. Gentleman who had the
charge of the Bill would give him an assurance that he
would make its provisions effective, he would not oppose
the second reading of the Bill.

Mr. SPOONER would most readily give the Right
lion. Baronet the assurance he required.
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the
House divided, when there appeared—
For the amendment 6
Against it ..• 130
Majority against the amendment...

-124

On our admis,ioti to the gallery we found
Mr. M. GIBSON on his h-gs, expressing a hope that
as the Governmet had supported the second reading of
the Bill, they would do all in their power to make it
effective.

Mr. HUME thought the course pursued by the Go-
vernment was a strong proof of moral cowardice.

„
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL defended the course
pursued by the Government.
After some observations from Mr. C. Anstey, Mr. H.
Berkeley, and Mr. Spooner,
Colonel SALWEY moved that the debate should bo
adjourned.
Mr. HUME seconded the motion, andlin the course
o? his speech, the hour of Six o'clock Laving arrived,
the House adjourned amid much laughter.

NEWCASTLE RACES.
(THIS DAY.)

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
The Grand Stand Stakes.

Post-tempore ...
Osbaldestort ...
Luxury ... ...

The Free Handicap.

Miss Ann
Malton ..

Licentio

.., 2
... 3

... 2

LLOYD'S SHIPPIN G--(THIS DAY

LONDON, JUNE 27.—Wind this day at noon W., light
breeze and fine clear weather.
DEAL, JUNE 26.—Wind W.N.W. to N.N.W.; nine
PM., nearly calm.-22d, Arrd. Hendrik Jan, Wap,
Batavia fur Roth rdam; 23d, Progreso, Whitteveen,
Africa for Antwerp; 26th, Labelle, Lanfesty, Buenos
Ayres. Arrd. from the River, Tamar, Stayner, Sydney,
New South Wales; Lima Tall, Moreton Bay, New
South Wales; City of London, Balls, Ceylon; Monarch,
Stephen, Coquimbo; Solide, Westerrnark, Rio Janeiro.
Arrd. from the River and sailed. Cheapside, Lewis,
Adelaide, South Australia; Eliza, Dixon, Puri ash.
FALMOUTH, JUNE 26.—Wiod W N.W., fresh breezes.
—2sth, Arrd. Valleyfirld, Dougal, Sierra Leone; Con-
cordia, Ekerman, Havannah; Triton, Von Barger°,
Porto Rico.

LIVERPOOL, JUNE 26.—Wind N. W.— Arrcl. 25th,
James Stewart, M'Fr.rline, Macao, sailed 9th May;
Herald, Macao; London, Fish, Antigua; Sultan, Dea-
con, New Orleans; Euphrasia, Bunting, ditto; Retublic,
Marshall, ditto; Huguenot, Gardner, Mobile; Isabella,
Briggs, Savannah; M. A. Peters, Brown, ditto; 26th,
Georgina, Williams, Calcutta; Kyaeite, Lister, Antigua;
Douro, Arica or Iquique; William Putout], Dicker, New
Orleans; Calcutta, Cruillard, ditto; Maryland, Berry,
ditto; Rochester, Weeks, ditto; Lancashire, Hadley,
Mobile; Shoodiac, Porter, ditto; Rowland, Norcross,
Apalachicola; Caleb Grinyihaw, Hoxie, New York;
Indus, Carlo, Cumberland, Nova Scotia. Sld. 25th.
Friendship, Honduras; 26th, Victory, Halifax, Nova
Scotia; Argo, Quebec. Off port, Frances, Ceylon; Ro-
bert Finnie, Bahia ; Orleans, Orleans; Solon, Apa-
lachicola ; Irene, Erin-go- bragb, Uriel, Glenswilly,
Devonshire.

SHEERNESS, JUNE 25.—The London Merchant
steamer was i❑ collision with the Providence smack.
Bullinaria, of Rochester, near the Mouse Light yester-
day. The Providence sank on the Cant shortly alter
wards; crew saved.

FALMOUTH, JUNE 26.—Acrd. Alexander Barclay,
Brumerkoop, South Seas, for Bremen, out forty-six
months, with 2,600 brls.; Louis de Geer, Hanson, Rio
Janeiro; Vater Gruner, Kehrmann, Porto Rico, for
Bremen. 25th, Off port, Ocean Queen, Jewell, Callao;
Anna Louisa, Koster, Jeremie, for Antwerp.
GUERNSEY, JUNE 22. —Sld.Dispatch, Bahia.

MARLBRO'-STREET—(THIS DAY.)
James O'Loughlin, John O'Loughlin, and Thomas
Macarthy three stout, able-bodied Irishmen, were brought
before Mr. Hard wick, charged with begging.
Horsford stated that on the previous afternoon, about
six o'clock, he observed the prisoners following several
ladies in Oxford-street. He watched them into Hanway-
street, where he saw them go up to some ladies who
were looking in at a shop window, and in a most impor-
tunate manner demand money from them. The ladies
were so much alarmed at the prisoners' appearance, that
they ran into the shop for refuge. Witness, having pro-
cured aszistance, took them into custody and conveyed
them to the station, where they were searched, and 2s.
2d. found upon them.
The prisoners, who denied the charge, were severally
cc"' ,:747 Yiafr4 lair Ted itheer7nreeetoSullivanr Iw4erde"Ctarged
with obstructing the officers in the execution of their
duty, when (aking the above prisoners to the station.
llorstord stated that as he was taking the three men
to the station the two women came up to him and as-
sailed him with the foulest abuse. On requesting there
to go away, they called him " a b- thief, and said he
ought to have been hung years ago." He then called a
policeman and gave them into cthaody.
Mr. IlAttpwicK _find them si. each, and, in default,
committed them for seven days.