The Sun.
London, England, 1836-07-08 00:00:00

turists in the neighbourhood of Durham, complaining o f
agricultural distress, and stating that they would be utterly
ruined unless some speedy remedy were interposed.

HORSE PATROL BILL.
This Bill went through a Committee.
RAILWAYS---LLOCOMOTIVE ENGINES.
The Duke -of 'RICHMOND brought up the Report of
the Committee appointed to enquire whether any danger
was likely to arise from locomotive engines passing through
towns. The Committee stated that whatever difference
existed among the witnesses as to the extent of dagger,
the Committee were satisfied that unless due precaution was
systematically adopted, the danger would be considerable,
not only in passing through towns, among crowded houses,
but also with respect to plantations,cornfields, &c. It did not
appear to the Committee that any plan had as yet been
devised that could be considered as completely effectual,
and at the same time not injurious to the operation of the
engines. The Committee were not, therefore, prepared to
recommend a legislative enforcement of any plan for that
purpose ; but they considered that if the Companies were
made liable for any damage that might be done, the interests
of the Company would lead them to be cautious. The
Noble Duke moved that the Report be printed.
IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.
The LORD CHANCELLOR, on the application of
Lord Lyndhurst, postponed the second reading of this Bill
till Monday next.
PRISONERS' COUNSEL BILL.
At the request of Lord WHARNCLIFFE, Lord LYND-
HURST postponed the bringing up of the Report on this
Bill till Monday next.

CHANCERY BILL.
Lord PLUNKETT gave notice that he would move
the second reading of this Bill on Monday next.
MANCHESTER AND CHESHIRE RAILWAY.
On the motion of the Earl of WHARNCLIFFE, this
Bill was read a second time.
JUSTICIARY COURTS (SCOTLAND) BILL.
On the motion of the LORD CHANCELLOR, this
Bill was read a second time.
DIOCESE OF DURHAM BILL.
The Marquis of LONDONDERRY gave notice, that
on Thursday he should present a petition from 130 Clergy-
men of this Diocese, respecting this Bill, and at the same
time move that the further consideration of the Bill be
postponed until next Session.

The Archbishop of CANTERBURY presented a peti-
tion from Aberdeen, against the Scotch Universities Bill.
THE ENGLISH TITHE BILL.
The Marquis of LANSDO WNE rose for the purpose
of moving the second reading of the BilLfor the Commuta-
tion of Tithes in England and Wales fa Bill which, he
would venture to say, was inferior in importance, with re- •
ference to the domestic government of the country, only to
that great measure to which the Houselad given its as-
sent about two years ago, and the benefits of which were
now beginning to be felt, by doing away with that great
accumulation of abuses under the name of Poor Laws, which
had almost taken deep root in the country. By the course,
however, which had been adopted, that great check on the
industry and morality of the country had been removed.
He had said that this Bill was only inferior in impor-
tance to that great measure which he had alluded to,
but, important as it was, some measure of the kind had
become absolutely necessary. He required all the atten-
tion their Lordships could afford to him to be able to
succeed in explaining the principle and detail of the mea-
sure before them. He felt, however, that it was not neces-
sary for him, on that occasion, to go into any lengthened
description as to the antiquity and origin of that particular
description of property to which the Bill related, and
which some persons asserted had been founded ages long
anterior to Christianity, but which, at any rate, had existed
from the earliest dawn of Christianity in every country in
Europe. Nor did he intend to trace the progress of this
description of property in different parts of the civilised
world, nor the means—not always the best. and most proper
—that different people at various times had resorted to to
relieve themselves from the burden which it imposed on
them. This country confirmed the remark that had for-
merly been made with reference to other nations, as regar-
ded the collection of this species of property, that although
it might be liable to few objections in the early times, that
since the great improvements that had been made in modern
ages, since the great ingenuity- that had been applied to the
cultivation of land, since capital ,had been so extensively
applied to it, the system became more and more objection-
able—it became more and more liable to the objection, that
it checked and diverted capital from employment in agri-
culture, and that it tended to prevent that free develop-
ment of industry in which the prosperity of every country
was so much mixed up. In this country various individuals
had availed themselves of the opportunity—sometimes
under the sanction of the law, and sometimes by other
means--sof adopting steps to guard landed property, against
having this burden imposed on it. To what extent this
had been done it was impossible for him to state,- nor
should he endeavour to make any calculation on the sub-
ject ; suffice it to soy, that in any Bill which was intro-
duced for the remedy of the evils of the tithe system, of
which they heard so many complaints, it would be neces-
sary to' make provision to guard that property which in any
way had been freed from the operation of that which ap-
plied to the great mass of property in the country, namely,
the payment of tithes sometimes in kind, and sometimes in
the shape of composition. He should not refer to the
attempts that had been made in other parts of the world
to alter the vexatious nature of this description of pro-
perty, nor should he attempt to describe the remedies,
which he thought should properly have been applied.
Ile might, however, in as few words as possible, attempt
to detail the different steps that bad been taken in
attempting to attain the object in view. If Noble Lords
were of opinion that it was practicable to effect a change
in this species of property which was affected by so
many peculiar circumstances, grafted on it by various events,
by the application of one uniform principle to all the different
kinds of property of this nature—if Noble Lords enter-
tained such a hope or expectation, they must be disappoint-
ed. It was not in the nature of things, when there were
so many interests mired up, where the habits and feedings, •
and the prejudices, and the good and bad inducements of so
many persons had been so long involved, that it was possi-
ble to legislate on one uniform principle with perfect justice
to all. Their hope would be disappointed if they expected
to attain this great good by the adoption of one principle,
sound in itself and beneficial for the security of property.
It was in conformity with the feelings which he had at-
tempted to describe that the present measure was proposed.
He would now merely attempt to explain as shortly as pos-
sible the various clauses of the Bill. The first clauses, about
twelve in number, of this Bill, as the Noble Lords would
find, applied to that which was necessarily the foundation
of what was intended to work out the measure—he meant
the appointment of Commissioners. It was proposed that of
the Commissioners to be appointed, two of the number should
be named by the Government—that was, by the Secretary
of State for the Home Department—and one should be .
named by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and that all these
Commissioners, should be removable at pleasure. The
Commissioners were authorised to appoint Assistant-Cona-
missioners ; he stated that at the outset. When these
Commissioners were appointed, the first object the Bill
contemplated was, that as much of the change as possible
should be effected by voluntary commutation. Tlie Bill
afforded every facility to parties voluntarily disposed to act
according to the principles of the Bill, and to effect a sa-
tisfactory arrangement between themselves. It was pro-
posed, therefore, that in every parish, any one or more of
the landowners, or titheowners, whose interest shall not
be less than one-fourth part of the whole value of the
lands subject to tithes; or one-fourth part of the whole
value of the tithes of any parish, may call a parochial meet-
ing of landowners and tithcowners within the limits of •
the parish, for the purpose of making an agreement for
the general commutation of tithes within the limits of
such parish. This first step being taken, the meeting
being called, the landowners and the titheowners respec-
tively, whose interest; in the land and tithes of the parish
shall not be less than two-thirds of the land, subject to
tithes, and two-thirds of the great and two-thirds of the
small tithes of the parish, would be invited to see whe- •
ther they cannot come to an agreement to fix the amount
of tithes, and for the payment of an annual sum by way •
of rent-charge for the future, in lieu of the payment of
tithes. Supposing this to be effected, it would only require
the sanction of the Commissioners to make a permanent
settlement. When engaged in making a permanent settle--
ment, and when the amount proposed is agreed on, there
may arise, and arise justly, reasons why the specific amount
thus stated should be waived, and be settled again by the
Commissioners. After, then, the sum to he paid has been
agreed upon by three-fourths of the 'tithe-owners and the
tithe-payers, it would be for the tithe-payers to meet and
settle in what proportion each individual must con-
tribute to the amount determined on to be paid by
the whole of the parishioners. So far they proceeded when
there was pothing but a voluntary agreement. But cases
might and would occur in which the landowners and the
titheowners agreed as to the amount to be paid by the
whole of the parishioners, but they might not be able to
agree as to the specific amount to be paid by each tithe-
payer. The Bill made provisions for this, and directed the
'appointment of valuers for the purpose. It was proposed
that the valuers, through whom this apportionment was to
be made, were to be nominated thus : half of the num-
ber of valuers in a parish to be chosen by a majority of
the tithe-payers in respect of number, and 'the other
half by a majority in respect of interest of such
landowners then present. Supposing, however, that after
a period of three months no such valuers are appointed,
the compulsory part of the Bill would come into operation.
iS wiglit I 1,. ,z., possi!)!:'
sonic Noble Lords might think that this period of three
months was too short a space of time, and indeed he rather
entertained this opinion himself ; he should have no, objet'