The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-18 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARMA MEN T

HOUSE OF LORDS, June 17.
44411' Lordships met at Five o'clock, when the Enrl of
giedrrEssualr presided, in the absence of the Loraoltancellor, for some time, during which several Bilis
were
brought up from the Commons and laid on the
table.
wThe LORD CHANCELLOR having taken his seat on the
44' other Bills were brought up and forwarded a
stage.

PORTUGAL.
Lord BROUGHAM wished to ask the Noble Mar-
Pis the Lord President of the Council whether it was
true that Conde Bomfin and the Portuguese troops had
peritient to Angola for greater security, brcau- e the
?iie of Madeira were favourable to their release?
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE thought not.
..,dord BROUGHAM—Oh, but has the Noble Mar-
VA any doubt about it?—(Laughter.)
, HEALTH OF TOWNS BILL.
"1 1 DENMAN presented a petition in favour of the
lit
cablth of Towns Bill.
J4RMINGHAM AND OXFORD JUNCTION
RAILWAY.
cord LYNDHURST then rose to move the further
t„..lelderation of the report of the Committee appointed
enquire into the truth of the allegations contained in
ZPetition of the Great Western Railway Company re-
-
Il7'
',le ng to the Birmingham and Oxford Junction Railway.
'f Noble Lord then proceeded to say that the directors
hcoo North-Western Company had purchased 4,000
aces in the new company, and read over the names of
s.O eeteral of the directors, engineers, solicitors, locomotive
rintendents, and clerks, who had purchased those
among whom the names of Mozely and Tootal
Zer-Fupied a prominent place. He would ass their Lord
pPs what they thought of such a proceeding? Now,
hatW a S the next step which was taken? A meeting was
M 137 ytised, for the purpose of appointing an additional
Tactilledber of directore, and at that meeting six more were
the u to the original eighteen, under the direction of
Ives 1/° th-Wr.:stern Company. The next step taken
put, ° try to remove four of the old directors. The dis-
sebsewaa then brought into the Court of Chancery, and
the), Wently- into the Court of Queen's Bench, and how
P ~4*Alld succeed there it was not for him to say.
11. -Ali was then brought into Parliament to obtain the
Clime of the agreement, and the Bill was reported on
11rably by the Committee who sat upon it. Some
ussion afterwards arose upon it, and it was re-
"gannitted, with the same result, and the sanction of
Parliament was subsequently obtained for it. The Bill
C" then brought before their Lordships, and it
„Pained for them to decide what course they should
him in reference to those strange prcceedings. Let
ire
suppose, for a moment, how this matter would
the
stood ff an agreement had been entered into by
obr Great Western Company to accomplish a similar
teet. Would anybody for an instan suppose that a non-
alpliance with the standing orders would in any way
non-
11S Prevented the consideration of the merits of the
tif
nor that it would in any way have affected the de-
t,„•_ to of the Committee? It was perfectly evident to any
the possession of common sense, that these shares
3107 been placed in the hands of the present holders
fro4aitor tho honest purpose of deriving an income
teretot!ltra, but in order to obtain a preponderance of in-
to): au the concern, with a view to influence the opposition
4 obtaining the defeat of the Bill. This was the rea-
-40, why they were placed in such a situation, and he
s quite sure that, considering the matter in that light,
citheir Lordships would not allow any merely tech-
-4°,leal obstacle to stand in the way of substantial justice to
1 Parties. And he felt the greater confidence on this
point, because, its fact, at the time the report of the
Committee was made, they were not aware of the precise
eition in which the Bill stood before the Committee of
Sling Orders, and should, therefore, move, that, in
ience with the instructions which they had received,
uommietee should be directed to take the evidence,
St °n into the merits of the 1301 pending the deci-
(ln of the Committee of Standing Orders.
• conversation here ensued across the table between
d Lyndhurst, Earl Grey, Lord Brougham, Lord
4tedesdale, and the Duke of Richmond, at ti e
of which
The Earl of DEVON moved that the Committee do
Proceed in the usual way.
The Duke of RICHMOND then explained that it
tts the custom of the S:anding Orders' Committee to
allow of one month to go to the shareholders in the
bent
u of there being a non-compliance in any particular.
ee ell was, in fact, the position of the Bill at the present
moment.
Lord KINNAIRD said on a former occasion be voted
against going into Committee, because he did not think
It wise for the Legislature to interfere in the matter
while it was before a court of law, but their Loidships
biltving decided to appoint a Committee, he was
l• ined to support the motion for going
z_?•ether into the inquiry. It was alleged that
the directors having delayed the issue of the sealed cer-
tificates deprived the shareholders of the power of
,
directors upon the Bill, but urged in justification of the
atrectors that these shareholders had purchased their
Shares for an object. He had no doubt whatever that
Such was the case, but he altogether disbelieved the
Statement.. that the shares were purchased with the funds
of the London and North-Western Company.
r, Earl FITZWILLIANI supported the motion for in-
quiry, He had supported the appointment of the Commit-
e, because he thought inquiry necessary for the public
!,,°;54:1) and because he thought it behoved their Lord-
Ps to assert the powers which they delegated to the
promoters of that railway, and which powers were
Ltolght to be turned aside by the conduct of cer-
tel_ri parties. He regretted that the Commit-
-7 had not gone into the inquiry, and with
411 due respect and regard for the Noble Lords com-
posing it, he would support the motion of the Noble
!led Learned Lord, or he would go further and support
the appointment of a new Committee, who might take a
different view of the proceedings.
Earl CHICHESTER said that as chairman of the
Committee: which had been appointed by the House,
;thought it necessary to make a short statement of
Ida grounds upon which the Committee had come to
report a •
from gamst proceeding without further instructions
their Lordships. The further observations of the
Noble Earl were perfectly inaudible.
Lord BEAUMONT thought there were two distinct
questions before the House. The case as brought before
ethem by the Noble Lord was, whether they should or
.Should not suspend their own standing orders, and whe-
ther it was wise to suspend them or not depended on the
truth of the allegations in the petition presented to their
Lordships. The Committee appointed to investigate that
Was most competent to form a correct judgment, and he
therefore thought it should report to the House
Whether the allegations were true or not. It
Would be then for the House to say whether they
would„ suspend the standing orders. He thought, however,
ukey should not stop there, but take steps to prevent a
repetition,.. of similar acts in future. His own opinion
Was, that they were common, and he was of opinion
that the time had arrived when they should put an end
t°, them. For that purpose, he would suggest the ap-
vointment of another Committee to report specially on
that subject.
Lord PORTMAN thought that certainly the Com-
mittee ought to report to the House, for the whole of
the argument of his Noble and Learned Friend fell to
the ground, when it was recollected that the agreement
tad been entered into by a number of gentlemen, who
ad been elected to the responsible position of directors,
With
h full powers to make any arrangement which would
e bidding on the shareholders ; and it was hardly to
be. supposed that was at all consistent with equity or
ttia:ness, to allow their decisions to be set aside through
the
shsonduct of a few of the shareholders, ureess there
, seine equitable or legal deficiency in their proceed-
ings. If a Committee then was appointed at all, he
trusted that his Noble Friend, and the N ,ble Lord next
him (Lord Brougham), and other Noble Lords who were
tore conversant with legal and judicial inquiries than
many Hon. Members of their L.irdAips' House, would
consent to render their assistance in the investigation.
The Earl of DEVON was understood to cite some in-
stances of similar purchases of shares, and to show the
effect of them upon the interests of the different com-
panies, but the way in which his Lordship spoke, ren-
dered him quite unintelligible in the gallery.
Lord REDESDALE said that he could not see how
the statement wade by many Noble Lords with respect
to the London and North-Western Company, having
purchased a monopoly in the Birmingham and Oxford
shares, had been borne out. It was confidently asserted
that the funds of the North-Western Company had
been employed to get the line into their hands. Now,
what was the fact—lt was said on the other side, that
the shares were not purchased by the North-Western
Company, but by individuals, who, having purchased
those shares, considered that they then had a right to
vote as to the disposal of their property. He looked
upon the manner in which one-sided statements were
received in that House, as highly injudicious and even
dangerous. The charges made against the North-Western
Company were all received by the House as proved.
It would fall upon the commissioners to report whether,
in the quarter of Oxford and Birmingham, the broad
gauge should be continued farther. That was a most
important matter for the public, and therefore he moved
that proceedings on the Birmingham, Oxford, Wolver-
hampton and Dudley Junction Railway, and the Bir-
mingham and Oxford Railway, should be intermitted till
the important questions pending in the Courts of Law
should be decided. He was surprised most of all that
8114 a. motion should ever have been heard as that the
4,,,,,telidiug orders of their Lordships' House should be sus-
v`dad. The standing order alluded to was framed for
thell safety of the shareholders, and was one of the most
;
461Portant for the public that existed on the records of
their Lordships' House.
The Earl of WICKLOW said he would support the
amendment moved by the Noble Lord who had just sat
wn• For he had voted against the original motion
-c'for a Committee of Inquiry as a course which could not
result in anything useful ; and now that he had heard
the Noble and Learned Lord, after the Committee had
ePorted, his opinion was noways changed. He thought
that their time, especially at this part of the session, was
store valuable, and might be more usefully employed
than in prosecuting an inquiry so abortive. Why should
Committee of that House be formed to inquire into
what Was the intention of the Legislature in an
Act of Parliament whether one company had
Power to sell, or another company the power
tk(Lb,tly? It appeared that the Great Western were
'lons to become lessors of the line, and were in pos-
sessionZ of a vast amount of the shares. The Great
Northern wished to have the same line ; they bought
up
a', many of these shares as they could find in the
l markset ; they purchased from the Great Western them-
selves, who could not resist the temptation, and thus
got Possession of the line. That was the case, the whole
-.7.940, as far as any result which any Committee of their
Lordship's House should ever be able to arrive at.
Lord BROUGHAM thought that the Noble Lord, who
Ztcl Just sat down, had made a distribution of his goods,
'rote to the one side, and his speech to the other.
Bat Whatever might be said, there could be little doubt

HOUSE OF COMMONS, June 17.
The SPEAKER took the Chair shortly before Four
o'clock.

REPORTS.
The following reports on Bills were brought up, and
ordered to lie on the table:—
Hartlepool and Stockton Junction Railway.
Lytham Impra,ement.
Nest caste an't Berwick Railway (Cramliinzton and Percy
Main and Killing, orth and other Branches).
Nev. c and Berwick lv. ay (East Coast Line, Blyth,
Seaton Sluice, and other Branches).
Wakefield Gas.
THAMES CONSERVANCY.
The report on the Thames Con,ervancy Bill was,
upon 0,, motion of Colonel T. WOOD, ordered to be
taken into cnnsideration to-morrow (Frida%) week.
CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS.
The report- on the following Bills were further con-
sidered and agreed to :
Eastern Counti..-s Railway (Purchase of the North Wool-
wich Railway, &c.)
Edinburgh and Not thern, and Edinburgh, Leith, and
Grantan Railways Amalgamation.
Edinburgh, Leith, and Gratiton Railway (Leith and
Granton Junction).
Leeds and Thirsk Railway (Eaglescliffe and Stillington
Extension).
Leeds and Thirsk Railway (Branch from Melmerby to
Northallerton, &c.)
Leeds and Thirsk Railway (Harrogate and Pateley
Branch, &c.)
York and Newcastle, and Newcastle and Berwick Rail-
ways Amalgamation.
York and North Midland Railway (Harrogate Branch,
Boroughbritlge and Knareshorough Extension).
LORDS' AMENDMENTS.
The Lords' Amendments to the following Bills were
considered and agreed to :
Commercial Gaslight and Coke Company.
British Commercial Insurance Company (No. 2).
THIRD READINGS.
The following Bills were read a third time and
passed : '
Birmingham and Oxford Junction Railway (Deviation
of Line, &c.)
Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Dudley Railway
(Stnurbridge and West Bromwich).
Bristol 13uilding and Improvement.
Chester and Holyhead Railway (Extension at Chester
and Alteration of Levels).
Croydon Commercial Gas and Coke.
Great Northern Railway (Deviations between Gains-
loort.uh and Doncaster).
Ipswich and Bury St. Edmund's Railway (Branch from
Ipswich to Woodbridge).
Leeds Central Railway Station.
Leeds, Dewsbury-, and Manchester Railway (Ossett
Branch and Dewsbury and Morley Stations).
Leominster Canal Navigation Sale.
Limerick Docks and Harbour.
Liveriool Corporation Waterworks.
Lt
tin Manchester, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne Junc-
tion Railway (Alteration of Main Line and Hawes
Branch).
Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne Junc-
tion Railway Acts Amendment.
London and Blackwall Railway Improvement and
Branches to the St. Katharine and London Docks.
London and North-Western Railway (Lease and Pur-
chase of the Huddersfield and Manchester Railway
and Canal, and the Leeds, Dewsbury, and Manchester
Railway).
London-bridge Railway Termini General Enlargement.
Lynn and Ely, Ely and Huntingdon, and Lynn and
Dereham Railways Amalgamation.
Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway (Branch
to Chapeltown and Thul viand Coal Branch).
Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway (Shef-
field Canal Purchase.).
Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway June.
tion with the Midland Railway via Barnsley, and
Branches therefrom).
R til way (Extension from near Leicester viii
Bedtot d to Hitehin and to Northamp:on and Hinting-
, don, an i Enlargem-nt of the Lea:ester Station).
),inland Railway (Gloucester and Stonehouse Junc-
tion)
North British Railway (No. 1).
North- West,irn tilw,iy (Diversions at Skipton, Cas•
tenon, and S. dbergh).
Oldham Alliance Railway.
Reading, Guildford, and Reigate Railway.
South-Eastern Railway (Widening of the Greenwich
Railway and Arrangement and Enlargement of the
London -bridge Station).
South Yorkshire, Doncaster and Goole Rail-No. •
e (Penistone, etc. and Purchase of Sheffield, Roth r)
ham, Barnsley, Wakefield, Huddersfield, and Goole
Railway, Dun Navigation, and Dearne and Dove
Canal)
Swansea Harbour.
Westminster and Part of Middlesex Sewers.
York and Newcastle Railway (Wearmouth Doak En-
largement).
HATE.-PAYING CLAUSES.
Sir DE LACY EVANS presented a petition in
favour of the abolition of these clauses.
HEALTH OF TOWNS BILL.
Lord MORPETH presented petitions from the clergy
of Leeds, the inhabitants of Suffolk, and several other
places, in favour of the Bill.
Mr. W. PATTEN presented a petition from the
mayor and burgesses of Wigan in favour of the same
Bill.

EDUCATION.
Mr. M. MILNES presented a petition from certain
Roman Catholic clergymen its favour of the Poor Roman
Catholics participating
ORTUGALin the vote for education.
P
Mr. B. OSBORNE gave notice of a motion in oppo-
sition to the amendment of the Hon. Member for Fins-
bury, to the effect that, as Government had interfered
in the affairs of Portugal, it was just and proper for the
intervening parties to guarantee the full constitutional
rights and liberties of the people of Portugal, and, if
necessary, to enforce the same.
Mr. HUTT said he wished to ask the Noble Lord
(Palcaerston)lwhether the blockade was likely to continue,
as it would affect the interests of the British merchants.
Lord PALMERSTON said that n 3 the Junta had
accepted the terms offered by the Government he hoped
that the blockade had been taken off before this time.
Mr. B. OSBORNE said that the Queen had issued a
decree infringing the personal freedom and the liberty
of the press, and he wished to ask the Noble Lord if it
was the intention of the Government to support this
policy?
Lord PALMERSTON said that the latest advices
received at Bristol contained no account of what the
Hon. Member alluded to.
Sir DE LACY EVANS—Sir, I would observe with
respect to the prisoners now confined in Fort St. Julian,
that I trust they will not be deprived of their liberty
after the official assent of the Junta has been recognised
by the Governmew of this country.—(ll,!ar.)
Mr. B. OSBORNE—Has the Noble Lord any objec-
tion to state, in conclusion, what course he intends to
pursue for the future with respect to the affairs of Por-
tugal ?—(Laughter and cries of " Oh, oh I '')
Lord PALMERSTON—It is quite unusual to make a
statement of what a Government intends to do, especially
in a matter of this kind—(Loud cheers)—we cannot state
hat we intend to do.—(ilcar.) It is sufficient to state
what we have done suceesiully, and to ask, after su:i'a an
explanation, if you approve of the course we have taken.
The subject then dropped.
CURRENCY OF PORTUGAL.

On the order of the day beingreadfor going into
committee on the Poor Relief Bill,