The Sun.
London, England, 1847-07-01 00:00:00

UNITED STATES.

Mr. HUME gave notice that to-morrow he should ask,
whether loans bad been granted in any of the United
States, and, if so, why they had been omitted from the
papers presented to the House to-day. He understood
that the sums lent to these states were very largo.
PUBLIC PROSECUTOR.
Mr. WAKLEY wished to know whether there was
any law under which the Government might appoint a
public prosecutor ? And whether, if there was, the
Government intended to avail themselves of it, and to
appoint a public prosecutor?
Sir G. GREY said there was no law under which the
Government might appoint a public prosecutor. The
subject had been under the consideration of the Govern-
ment, not certainly, however, respecting the appoin!mcnt.
of a public prosecutor, but with respect to a decision of
the House respecting the conducting prosecutions,
and the mode of defraying the expenses. Some plan
would be submitted to the House, not exactly for the
appointment of a public prosecutor, but as a step in that
direction.

EDUCATION IN IRELAND.
Lord JOHN MANNERS wished to know if the
Noble Lord -would have any objection to lay on the table
copies of the communications whi,:h had taken place
with respect to education in Ireland ; and whether
he would also lay the correspondence of the Right
Honourable Baronet, the Member for Tamworth,
Lord J. RUSSELL had no objection to produce the
correspondence, but he doubted much whether there
was any record of the correspondence with the Right

Hon. Baronet.
Mr. 1.4 E ATDEGATE moved that the petition of the
clerks, masters, and matrons of workhouses, re•
lieving otficer3, assistant overseers, and other officers
connected with the administration of the laws relating
to the relief of the poor in England and \Vales be
printed with the votes.
THE RAJA OF SATTARA.

Mr. EVELYN DENISON wished to ask the Hon.
Member for Montrose whether the motion of which he
(Mr. Hume) had given notice, and which had been put
otf several times, with respect to the Raja of Sattara,
would be again brought on by the Hon. Member.
Mr. HUNIE said that the notice stood for to-morrow
upon going into Committee of Supply, and it was his
intention to bring it forward then.
HEALTH OF TOWNS.

Lord MORPETH presented a number of petitions
from various parts of the country in favour of the Health
of Towns' Bill.

NAVIGATION BILL.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL moved the order of the day
for the second reading of the Navigation Bill for the
pnrpose of postponing it.
REPRESENTATION OF TIIE PEOPLE.

Mr. E. DENISON said that there were several Bills at
present before the House relating to the representation o
the people—he had counted as many as five—one of which
had been introduced by the Noble Lord. The subject
of these Bills was one which was very interesting, espe-
cially at the present moment, and he wished to know
whether it was the intention of the Government to per-
severe with any of those Bills in the present session.
Lord J. RUSSELL stated that he was only enabled
to answer the question of the Hon. Member as regarded
the Bill which he (Lord J. Russell) had introduced. It
was a very important Bill, but at the same time, con-
sidering the late period of the session, he did not mean
to proceed with it at present. He wished to have the
Bill read a second time, in order that the House might
go into Committee pro forma upon it, and he thought
that no objection could be entertained to such a
course. With regard to the other Bills referred to
he was not answerable for them ; but, as the
Hon. Gentleman had asked his opinion, he would state
that at the present period of the session it was not de-
sirable to proceed with any Bills which would make
any alteration as regarded the representation of the
people.
COLLIERY EXPLOSION AT WIGAN,
Mr. T. S. DUNCOMBE said that Le wished to ask
the Right Eon. Secretary for the Home Department a
question, and also to call his attention to a subject
which required the prompt interference of her Ma-
jesty's Government. The Right lion. Gentleman was
aware that an express had arrived only that afternoon
announcing a most calamitous explosion in a
colliery near Wigan, which took place on Tuesday
afternoon last. It was the wish of the parties that the
case should be represented to the Right Hon. Baronet,
and that a commission should be sent down to investi-
which the accid
has arisen. According to the information he had re-
gate the case and the causes from ent
ceived the colliery was situated about two miles from
Wigan, and it appeared that for some time past
of this
the men bad been representing to the proprietor
colliery that it was not in a safe state, and so much so,
that on the very morning on which the explosion took
place the men went to the man at the bottom of the
shaft, and requested him to take them up, as the pit was
not safe. The man refused, and told the men to go
back to their work, and in a few hours after the ex-
plosion took 'lace. Two men were brought to the
mouth of the pit, and died instantly, and six or seven
others were brought up blinded and in such a state as
not to be expected to live. Six men were left in the pit,
and although the most experienced men offersal to go
down and see if it were possible to rescue, them, the
proprietor refused to allow them. Ho i.oped that the
Government would take such cognizarace of the case as
would render these horrible acciderscs less frequent.
Sir G. GREY was not acquainted with the facts, as
they had not come under lais notice officially, but he
believed that an inquiry v;as in process of taking place
before the coroner, and he trusted that the coalowners
would be found to 'oe blameless; but, in the meantime,
he could give no ¶spinion. If the conduct of the coal-
owners should seem to require it, a strict investigation
would be comsn*nded by the Government.
Mr. I'. DUNCOMBE said that no time ought to be
lost, for it was intolerable that six bodies should be
unaccounted for; and that although persons had volun-
teered to down
Sir
DE
aa(.,y.thepits, liberty to do so was refused,
at-War what d
br,catis go
jud!,ii they might
restoration_ght be afterwards examined before a
EVANS wished to ask the Secretary-
the House at different ofeTion had been come to respecting the
sinners, so snanyt:fir Pensions to the commuted pen-
' ing of the amount they the arrearsntclti'm
petitions have been laid before
times during this session; and re-
spectingpensions, been made known sontu;lyti the
have petitioners,
received
hcaodn s
theist-
warrant of 1834, authorising
Mr. FOX MAULE said
inttdt4eet:
pensioners
ofsettlementsinenta had been held
allowance.many
of arrange-
hte
Ana restoratione rie a of
eon
r these
fou r
stated formerly that in 1832 thought he had
allowed out to the
years' commutation of their
ment was an unsatisfactory one, and
sion.ers were thrown destitute upon the colO'nef the pen.
not think that the principle should be anis did
pensioners who had commuted their pensions should now
be permitted to resume them, and not only so, but to be
allowed also the arrears of their pensions from the date
of entering upon that agreement.

JOINT-STOCk COMPANIES' BILL.
Sir R. H. INGLIS said the Joint•stock Companies'
Bill stood on the list for to-night. It was a most im-
portant measure. It gave great power to joint-stock
companies, and repealed the provisions of all former
Acts relating to joint-stock companies. He trusted,
therefore, that it would not be brought forward for dis-
cussion at a late hour of the evening.
Mr. M. GIBSON was understoosl to assent to the re-
quest of the Hon. Baronet, but denied that the Bill
either infringed the letter or the spirit of former Acts.
Mr. ROSS rose for the purpose of making an expla-