The Sun.
London, England, 1849-03-14 00:00:00

RAIL WAYS.

On the motion that the Eastern Union and Eastern
Counties Railway Companies (amendments of Acts, and
power to lease, sell, or amalgamate to, or with the Eistern
Counties Railway Company) Bill be read a second time,
Mr. AGLION BY moved an amendment, that the Bill
be read a second time that day six months. If there
were facts to be inquired into the Hiniso could ascer-
tain them by going before a Committee ; but if there
were no objectionable principles on the lace of the Bill,
as he contended there were, then it was the duty of this
House to stop it in limine, and prevent its going before
a committee. The Bill was what was called an amal-
gamation Bill; but the more important part of it was
found after the preamble, and provided, among other
things, for dividing the old shares among the cormany.
For what purpose? Why,for re-issuingthem asnewshares.
The effect of that arrangement, which was alluded to in
the third section, was to reduce the value of the shares
in the market. He then came to the fourth section.

By this clause of the Act it was declared v that,

no resolutio❑ should be taken which was not sanctioned
by a certain number of shareholders assembled
in public meeting. He was borne out in this statement
by the representations of the Hcn. Member opposite,
fur if they were to take that Hon. Member's assertions,
and give them credit, he would call their attention to
the terms of clause No. 4. It was all very well to say
that any majority of the members of the company might
alter the bye-laws, but every one knew that it was easy to
overule the intentions of a minority. He might deal i❑ the
same way with sections 6,7, and 8. Ha trusted, there-
fore, that the House would refuse its sanction to this
Bill, and moved that it be read this day six months.
A message was here brought from the Lords.
Mr. COBBOLD, who spoke amidst great interruption,
trusted that the House would not listen for a moment
to what had dropped from the Hon. Member, for no re-
presentations could have been more erroneous.
Mr. BROTHERTON objected to the second reading
of the Bill, but thought it should not be delayed fur so
long a period as six months.
Mr. HUME trusted that his Hon. Friend, the Member
for Cockermuuth would not persevere in his amendment
fur delaying the Bill for six months. If he did so he
would move as an amendment that the second reading
should be postponed for a fortnight or a month.
Mr. AGLIONBY then withdrew his amendment.
Mr. HUME observed that he understood the com-
pany could not meet legally within a month, and he
would, therefore, move as an amendment, that the second
reading of the Bill should be postponed for a month.
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and tho
House divided, when there appeared—
For the second reading ll3
For the amendment 54
M xjority

-59

The Bill was accordingly read a second time, and or-
ered to be committed.
THE BRAZILS.

Mr. M. GIBSON postponed until that day fortnight
his motion for chilling the attention of the House to our
relations with the empire of Brazil.

THE CONVICT MITCHEL.
Mr. W. LOOKHART moved for copies of any in-
structions which were given, and of any letters which
were addressed to Commander Edward Wingrove, of
her Majesty's steam-sloop Scourge, in relation to the
convict Mitchel, by the Board of Idmiralry, or by any
other department of Government in Great Britain or Ire-
land; of the correspondence which passed between the
Naval Commander in-Chief in the West Indies and

---
Commander Wingrove on that subject ; and of a letter
of the Secretary of the Admiralty addressed to the Corn-
mander•in•Chief in the West Indies in reference to his

correspondence with Commander Wingrove.—Agreed to.

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.
Mr. ADDERLEY wishcd to ask the Under-Secretary
rot. the Colonies, whether he would lay before the House
those communications which have been stated to have

been lately received from the Governor of the Cape, in-
timating that the announcement of his intention to !end
convicts to that s,ttlement had excited very general dis-
satis!'action among the colonists? Also, to what part of
the settlement c nivicts were to be sent, and wheth,r
under any further restraint than is supposed to exist in a
ticket of leave.
Mr. HAWES said a dispatch had boon received on
the subject from the Cape of Good Hope. Certain papers
had ben moved for by the Noble Lord the Member for
Hertford, which related to the matter, which would be
laid on the table as soon as they were received.
Mr. ADDERLEY said some communication was
stated to have been received by Earl Grey
from the Governor of the Cape of Good
Hope, sand he Wislwl to litaolT whether that

communication would be laid before the House. Earl
Grey h.:el st,ded in the other kii>uie that this communt-
earoa intimate•i that very general dissatisfaction hal
been express, din the colony on the subject to which his
question related.—(ll.ar, hear.)
Mr. HAWES was not aware that any communication
whatever had been received on the subject. A dispatch
had been sent out, but no official answer had been
rtturned.—(Hear.)

Lord MAIIOI, hoped when that answer was re-
ceived it would be laid before the House.
Mr. lIAWES promised that it ehould.
CHICORY.
Mr. ANSTEY gave notice that to-morrow he should
ask the Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer if
111 had any objection to produce the Treasury Minute of
1840, authorising the use of chicory for the purpose of
adulterating coffee ? (Hear.)
SC [HIES WIG-HOLSTEIN.
Mr. GEORGE SANDARS wished to ask Viscount
Palmerston, as the armistice between the Danish and
Russian Governments on the affairs of Sehleswigeliol-
stein is to cease on the 26th instant. and as there exists
great desire on the part of the merchants trading to the
Elbe and the ports on the Baltic to knew the present
state of tkte question, how the question stands; and whe-
ther, after the 26th inst., he antt&pates a renewal of hos-
tilities, and a bleekeding of the ports under the Ger-
' manic Confider:alert, and if so, whether the property of
British merchants, in either British or foreign ships, will
be hen tree from capture and forfeiture.
Lord PALMERSTON said the question which the
Honourable Member had put to him was one of
great importance to this country and the com-
merce of Northern Europe. It was, too, of
equal importance that there should be a sue-
cessful termination of the negotiations now going
on the subject of Schleswig-Holstein. It was
true, as the Honourable Member had mentioned
in his question, that the Danish Government
had given notice which they were entitled to do by the
the condition of the arrangement on the Schleswig-
Hols:ein question, to terminate the armistice on
the 26th of the present month, but in that no-
tice the parties concerned had at the same
time declared in writing that it was not
their intention to commence hostilities, and
their object in terminating the armistice was
rather to express a wish to make some diffe-
rent arrangement with regard to the Provi-
sional Government of the Duchies of Schleswig-Hol-
stein. With regard to the present position of the negotia-
tion, all that he could say was, that Government were
favouring the endeavour to bring the two parties to
an understanding not merely upon the points with re-
gard to the suspension of hostilities, but with regard to
the basis upon which the permanent arrangement should
be concluded.--(Hear.) He could assure the House
that no effort would be wanting on the part of the
Government to bring these two parties to an under-
standing, and when he considered the vast magnitude of
the interests which were at stake, and the various exteo-
sive and disastrous consequences which would arise
from a renewal of hostilities between the contending
parties he could not but persuade himself that a speedy
conclution of the negotiation would be arrived at; and
he was convinced that the spirit 'which animated both
parties, if it lasted, would ere long induce them .to come
to a good understanding upon their affairs.—(Cheers.)
TRANSMISSION OF PAUPERS TO GLASGOW..
In reply to a question from Mr. H. HERBERT,
Sir G. GREY said, on Saturday last he received a
deputation who stated that a large number of Irish
paupers who had not obtained a settlement in this
country, had been sent chiefly from Glasgow, over to
Ireland. It was stated that 12,000 had been sent over,
but he had no positive information that so large a
number had been removed. Since he had seen that
deputation he had received information from Scot-
land that a society had been established at
Belfast, which was supported by voluntary contributions,
for the purpose of returning Irish paupers back to Scot-
land. The fact, therefore, was, that the paupers were
legally removed from Scotland to Belfast, and illegally
removed from Belfast to Seotland._7(flear, hear.)

SALE OF CORN.
Mr. OSBORNE asked the Chancellor of the Ex•
chequer it corn merchants were compelled to furnish
return of the quantity of corn which they sold?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied
that, by the Act passed in 1842, corn dealers in Lon-
don, and in various country towns, were compelled
make returns of the quantity of corn sold, which were
required for the purpose of determining of tithe-rent
charges.

RATE IN AID (IRELAND).
In reply to Sir AnTritru BROCKE and Mr. STAFFORD,
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said he proposed to take the
st cond reading of the Rate iu Aid Bill on Monday, the
26th inst. The Bill, which was now printed, would be
delivered to Members to-morrow.
IRISH PAUPERS.
Mr. J. O'CONNELL said, as the Right Ilon. Baronet
stated that he had received information of the establish-
ment of a society in Belfast, for sending Irish paupers
to this country, he wished to ask him whether he had also
received information that a large number of te rsopg
who were sent from Glasgow tog Belfast had beh pe
en located
fur some time in Glasgow, and had partly contributed to
the wealth of that city.---(Laughter.)
Sir G. GREY said he had received no further informs'
tion than that which he bad already communicated to
the House.

REMOVAL OF THE POOR.
An RON. MEMBER inquired whether the Hon. Ban)"
net the Secretary of State for the Home Department
had heard of the case of the removal of a child three
months' old, in the charge of a Scotch pauper, from
Glasgow to Belfast, end another case of extreme inhu-
manity of a nearl_c• similar nature?
Sir G. GREY said he had received no information.

JEWISH RELIEF BILL.
Mr. GOULI3URN presented a petition from Arbroath
praying that the Jew Bill might not become lam'''.
(Hear, hear.)

ABOLITION OF CHURCH-RATES,
➢Tr. THOHNELY presented a petition from the Pro-
testant Dissenters, praying to be relieved from duce!).
rater.

Mr. BRIGHT presented sienilarpetitions from Hitchin
and Derbyshire.
Mr. OSBORNE presented a petition from Denbigh to
the same effect.
Mr. LOCKE presented it similar petition to the some
eff ct ; as also did Mr. G. TtromPsoss.
Mr. TRELAWNY then rose to move " that it is the
''pinion of this House that effectual measures should b:
immediately taken for the abolition of church-eateg•
He said he should first take a review of what had been
done with respect to this important subject. In 1831.
a measure was introduced for the abolition of
church rates, and the substitutioa in lieu thereof 01
a land rate ; but it was opposed by the Die
seaters, who considered that the propositiott
rather favoured the Church than the Dissenters, Bed
besides, the property of the Dissenter would halt",',
become liable for the payment of the rates'
and after it had passed he would have had no opportu-
nity of escaping from it. In 1837 Mr. Spring Rico
brought in a Bill on the subject, but it was open to the
objections he had named. The rate was to have been
paid upon that improved management of Church lands.
—(Hear, hear.) Subsequent legislation had taken
pl .ce, but, nevertheless, the question °5
been left in its present unsatisfactory state'
It appeared to him that that state of things was very
much calculated to injure dissent. Ho sincerely
hoped he might induce Right Honourable Mew
bers to agree with him, that something ought to he
done. Lord Althorp, on one occasion said that church;
5:
rates were a tax laid on upon our class at the discretion 0'
others, and the Dissenters were compelled to pay towards
a system of worship of which they did not approve. Tn
he (Mr. Trewlawny) thought was a strung exPrhi "e,
sion of opinion from a Noble Lord so moderate in f
opinions, and so warmly attached to the Church °
Eugland.—(flear, hear,) Lord Stanley had °II°
said, when speaking on this subject, that " he was rev);
to acknowledge that church-rates formed a serious
and substantial inconvenience to Dissenters.
Was it not lamentable after that, that year,
t,
after years had passed away without any 5,,e9
Clement of this question? In July, 18';
when John Thorogood, a Protestant Dissenter, „
committed to prison for the non-payment of church,
rates, the House of Commons came to a recof
,
lution that it was highly expedient to we
such an alteration in the existing law
of
church-rates, in the ensuing session
of
Parliament, as should prevent a recurrence
similar violence towards any of her Illajesty'a Sub
jects who conscientiously dissented from the OW",h,
In the first ease a rate was made, which the Pa;
rishioners refused, and the rate was nevertherd
levied. In the next case, the rate was earr„id
with an amendment, that the money she -s,
be applied to other than church porposei,
Eventually the case came tolbe argued before the Cotir.,:
and it was decided that the amendments were bad, °l'd
that the rate was good, for the vestry was
solely for the purpose of making a church-rate:ke
(Hear, hear.) He would then state some of 1..%
cases in detail: the first was that of a man of the n 575,
of Riddle, in Cambridgeshire, whose goods were uo,,
trained, and who was himself subjected to an imprisfte.
went for three months for the non-payment of the
The next sufferer was subjected to an imprison:o%
for six months. The Hon. Gentleman then went into
detail of a variety of cases in which the imposition 0t?
of
church-rate had bean oppressive to several members,or
the Society of Friends and other individuals. In theicin
1837 there were petitions signed by no less than 67i' to
persons, against the system of church-rates, presented,sol
that House. The principle on which he took his 110
was that a tax which created more private Pill I,tieb
public good should be abolished, and that a law 0. he
was impracticable ought to be repealed. The remedy
iee
would leave in the hands of other Members to determine
after after his resolution had been adopted. It would beet
petent for gentlemen on the opposite side of the oase
to add anything they pleased to his motion. The svdes
evils of the system were of such a nature that theY;, a
mantled redress, for nothing could be more unwise in
social point of view. The tribunals, too, before w"cies
prosecutions for the recovery of church-rates were tam`
ego were of an objectionable nature. Socarens,,,et
ego the Noble Lord at the head of the Government
stated his willingness to introduce a measure
.dt.tree'so,
front that now in existenee, but had not n°" the
Ile (Mr. Trelaw ny ) had thrown the subject beforesci he
House, in the hope that it would be taken up,.,
and by
trusted that Hon. Members would come forward
_.ohurch-ra
the support they lent, put an end to the grievong "lea
tien in connexion with the recover of c
which existed throughout the country. The n Gen
tletuan concluded by submitting his motion. _
..y what
had fallen from the [lon. Member, but fromb
ob.:"
Mr. P. WOOD had heard but very
speech, e
could gather from the Hon. Member's
s sure that he could concur in his view • no
no mean
tertalm
conscientious scruples en
_Li
nos
every respect for the
5h9114"
py 1.456014er5, Jae muss sAy Oat lies Woe -
insperfectiw.
3_ be