The Sun.
London, England, 1849-02-28 00:00:00

Drouet's establishment at Tooting. He did not see why
the poor in large n asses should be farmed out at ail. Ile
had always felt that the Poor-law Amendment Act was
deficient in many respects, and he had constantly
opposed it, but he thought that a great mistake
in allowing any other mode of relief than that which
was administered in the workhouses. Now the same
decct existed in this Bill as had subsisted under the
general poor-law. There was in it no provision what-
ever for a constant supervision of these houses in
which the poor were farmed. Ile could not see
how a board sitting in Lcndon could possibly exercise
the necessary supervision over these different places in
the country. He would not do more than allude to the
shameful proeeedings which had occurred at Andover;
but he did believe that some provision should be made
for the proper oversight of paupers farmed out. To what
body this right of oversight should be transferred, he
could not say; but probably the magistracy of the king-
dom. He sheuld like to hear the opinion of the poor-
law board.

Mr. BAINES said that whatever might be thought
of the wisdom of farming paupers, no doubt whatever
could exist as to the legality of the practice. The sys
tem was first adopted in 1722, under the 9th Geo. 1.,
and was consequently more than a hundred year,
old. That Act was in a great degree modified
in 1767, by the Act called Han way's Act
from the name of its benevolent framer, James
lianway. By that Act it was rendered
imperative on the overseers of the poor to send same
persons, or to go themselves, to supervise treatment of
such paupers as might be farmed out by the different
parishes., That Act remained in force until the year
1844, when it was modified by the 7th and Bth
Victoria, an Act which had been introduced by
the Right Honourable Baronet the Member for Ripon
(Sir James Graham), then Secretary for the Home
department, by which the compulsory power of super-
vision was to a great extent restrained. Since he (Mr.
Baines) had held the situation which he had now the
honour to fill his attention had been especially called to
this subject, and he found that the practice of farming
out children was confined almost exclusively to the me-
tropolitan parishes and even here it was
now likely to be altogether superseded, for
a workhouse on a large scale, and in a
very salubrious situation was at the present time being
erected, which from its size would be sufficient for the
accommodation of all the outpaupers of the metropolis.
In the country, as he had said, the system of farming
but very little prevailed, and in London he found that
there were only seven institutions, two at Stepney, and
one at Peckham, the latter of which was, from the in-
stitution he had spoken of, very likely to be d:spensed
with at an early day. Besides these there was at
Norwool, which contained 1,200 children, agree-
ably :and healthily placed, and admirably conducted.
There were two other establishments in Margate where
paupers were received from different workhouses, and of
them no complaint had been made. There was one at
Welling, in Kent, and one at Brixton. Without going
into the events that had lately taken place at Tooting,
because that subject was under the consideration of
a criminal tribunal, he thought all would agree
with him that further powers were necessary for
the regulation of these establishments, and what he
proposed was, by the Bill, which, he trusted, would have
the effect of removing all the evils complained of to
give powers to the Poor-law Commissioners to issue
rules and regulations for these establishments; to mould
the contracts entered into between the guardians and
contractors; to lay down certain terms upon
which the children should be received; to
enforce the observance of those regulations by
penalties, and by a power of summarily dismissing
she contractors which tho Poor-law Commissioners
could not do at present. The Bill also gave the
Poor-law Commissioners the power of dismissing the
secretary of these establishments, and also a pow er to the
clergymen of the parish in which the establish-
ments were situate of visiting the establishments,
and reporting to the Poor-law Board. He trusted that
these powers would accomplish the end that all must
have in view, and that after this measure became
law they should hear no more of the fright-
ful occurrence which had lately taken place. The
Right lion. and Learned Gentleman concluded by mov-
ing that the House should resolve itself into Committee
on the Bill.
Oa the question that the Speaker do leave the Chair,
Mr. HENLEY thought that though some of the pro-
visions of the Bill might seem somewhat stringent, yet
no man brought himself under the oparation Of those
provisions except by an act of his own free-will; and
he thought the Government bad done all they could do,
in the Bill, to give pauper children the best provision
for their sa:ety and security.
Mr. P. SCROPE thought it was absolutely necessary
fur the safety of the lives of pauper children that their
proper care shoulei devolve upon some party, and upon
no one could it devolve more efficiently than upon the
poor-law commissioners ; but it ought to be remembered
that the greater part of those powers were con-
ferred by the Act of 1844, and it was only
by the improper exercise of those powers that such
lamentable results had recently taken place. It was
most unfortunate that former Commissioners had not
examined into the contracts respecting the farming
of pauper children, and had not rescinded those that
were deemed objectionable.
The House then went into Committee upon the Bill,
and after making a few verbal amendments the Bill was
read a first time.
POPULATION, &c. (IRELAND.) _

On the suggestion of Sir W. SOMERVILLE,
Colonel DUNNE withdrew his motion for a return 01
the population, area, valuation, and rates in each town-
land, in each electoral division, in each union in rreland,
togeiher with the number of paupers receiving relief
from each townland, rahether in-door or out; stating
the number of families, and distinguishing the ablebodied
and inrm males, females, and children.
The other orders of the day were then disposed of,
and the House adjourned a few minutes before Six
o'clock.

THE WEATIiER.

SUN OFFICE, QUARTER TO SEVEN.

Since three o'clock the Barometer has gone down 15
points, making the depression since yesterday afternoon
78 points--nearly an inch. It has rained heavily all
day; and now, hal-past six, the wind has gone round
to N.W. to N. with a heavy fall of snow.

EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY.
(THIS DAY.)
The usual half-yearly meeting of the proprietors of
the East'ra Counties Railway was held this afternoon
at the London Tavern.
At one o'clock the directors, headed by Mr. D. Wad-
dington, M.P., entered the large room of the tavern,
which was densely crowded, and that gentleman took the
chair amidst a scene of the most indiscribable confusion,
and cries of " Where's Hudson?" " Off, off." " Turn
them out." When silence was restored.
The CHAIRMAN proceeded to explain the cause of Mr.
Hudson's absence.. Nobody was more surprised at that
gentleman's absence than himself ; but, in the absence of
the chairman of the board, it was his bounden duty,
though it might be a painful one, to preside on this oc-
casion, and he hoped he should have the support and
patient attention of the meeting., (Hear, hear.) The
first time that he heard of Mr. Hudscn'a intention not
to be present was on Monday, when it was communi•
cated to him in the following letter :
" Newby Park, Thirsk, Feb. 25, 1849.
My dear Sir,—As I feel I cannot go strongly along
with you in reference to the steam-boat question, I have
made up my mind not to attend the meeting on Wed-
nesday next. I sincerely, wish you well through it. I
hope if any attack is made on me you will, if you can,
defend me with reference to your company. I unfortu-
nately hold a large stake, and bought at a very great
pries, and lose terribly by the concern; they invited us.
they were in a ruined condition both as to stock and
credit.
" I shall resign whenever it may suit you and the
board. By not attending I shall avoid the Norfolk ques-
tion, which I could not but throw over.
" I am yours, very truly,
(Signed)
" Gxo. HUDSON."
To this letter he had bent the following answer, but
whether Mr. Hudson was from home he knew not, but
he had not condescended to send any reply:—
"London, 26th Feb., 1849.
" My dear Sir,—Vpon receipt of your letter I con-
vened a meeting of our directors residing in London,
and read your letter to`them. It leaves us all in consi-
derable difficulty as to the best course to be pursued, but
my impression is, that as the steam-boat matter is ap.
proved of in the report of the board, and as no vote on
the Norfolk amalgamation will have to be taken
at the meeting, it is difficult to explain
your absence from the meeting on any ground
stated in your letter. Besides which I read
your letter, as not wishing your opinion on these two
matters to be brought forward, lest they should disturb
the action of myself and the board at the meeting, as
entertaining opposite opinions. It appears therefore to
us, that as you have determined on resigning your seat,
it would be better for you to do this previous to the
meeting. Should Sou concur in this, sand
send me the resignation, to be at the board
prior to the meeting, You can give such
reasons for the step as you wish, and I will make them
known. The feeling of all is one of regret that we shall
lose the valuable services your experience and know-
ledge enable you to give to every company with which
you are associated. I will not fail to notice .the point
named in your letter if you are attacked.
"I am, dear Sir, y ours very truly,
4,1./AVID WADDINGTON."
Inquiries had been made to ascertain if this letter had
reached Mr. Hudson, but no information could be ob-
tained on the subject. The electric telegraph bad been
put in motion for this purpose within the last hour, but
the answer returned was that the York wires would not
work.—(Roars of laughter.) He trusted after this ex-
planation the proceedings of the meeting would be lis-
tened to with attention, and without unseemly interrup-
tions.—(Hear and cheers.) It was then proposed that
the common seal of the company should be affixed to the
register of proprietors; but it was opposed by a number of
shareholders, on the ground that the register contained
an account of certain prefereatial Nurfulk shares which
ought to be there.
The CHAIRMAN, however, assured the meeting that it
cowained no such thing, and the seal upon this assur-
ance was allowed to be fixed to the register.
Mr. RoNRY, the secretary, then read the following
report : .
" The directors h. g to announce that the total capital
up to the 4th of January last, entitled to interest and
dividends, including the bonus of 1,087,000/.. amounts to
12,556,8201., including the capitals of the Northern and
Eastern arid of the Norfolk R olway Companies; of
which amount 12,056,820/, will receive dividend or in-
Wrest out of the revenue, and 500,0001. will receive in-