The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-24 00:00:00

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LONDON, WEDNESDAY, fEBRUARY 24, 1847,

The House of Lords met at Five o'clock.
The Destitute Persons (Ireland) Bill was, after a
short debate, read a third time and passed.
The Royal assent was then given by commission to
the Buckwheat Importation Bill, the Brewing from
Sugar Bill, the Distillation from Sugar Bill, and the
Chelsea -Pensioners' Bill; after which their Lordships
adjourned.
The House of Commons met at Four o'clock.
Mr. ELLICE moved that all railway Bills in the pre-
sent session be referred to the Railway Commissioners,
for their report to this House upon the following
points, previously to such Bills being considered in
Committees of this House:—That every sport so to be
made upon each Bill should state the amount of the
capital proposed to be raised, and of the loans proposed
to be authorised by the Bill; and if, under the pro-
visions cf such Bill, any powers were to be given to any

company already incorporated, of raising further capital
or loans, or of making alterations, branches, or extensions
of their existing lines, or of purchasing or leasing any
other lines made or to be made, or of subscribing to the
capital, or guaranteeing the capital of, or amalgamating
with, other companies ; such report should also state
the powers granted by any former Act or Acts to such
companies already incorporated for any of the above
purposes, and of the manner in which, and extent to
which, such powers had been exercised ; and the report
should further state the opinion of the Commissioners
thereon, and also their opinion as to any special pro-
visions with which it may in any case be expedient to
accompany the grant of any special provisions of any
powers for any of the above mentioned purposes. That
every such report
,be referred to the Committee of this
House appointed to consider the 13111 to which the same
may relate.

Mr. Ilunsow would not object to the motion.
Lord J. RUSSELL thought considerable benefit would
arise from the motion proposed.
The motion was then agreed to.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE moved for leave to introduce a Bill
to amend the Reform Act, the object of which was to do
away with the rate-paying clauses of that Act.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL felt it his duty to oppose the
motion.

Mr. GISBORNE supported the motion, as did Sir Da
LACY ETANS.

Mr. P. HOWARD opposed the motion.
Mr. HUME regretted to hear that the Noble Lord at
the head of the Government opposed the motion.
Sir B. HALL thought the repeal of the rate-paying
clauses absolutely necessary.
Mr. D'ETNCOURT was in favour of the Bill.
_ _

Mr. WAKLET thought that those who had attempted
to show cause against the Bill had failed, and he
trusted it would be pressed to a division at once.
Sir G. GREY opposed the Bill.

Sir C. NAPIER thought that the franchise should be
more extended, and therefore he should support the
Bill.

After a few words from Mr. WILLIAMS, Lord G.
BENTINCE, Mr. B. ESCOTT, and Colonel Wool), the
House divided, when there appeared—
For the motion for introducing the Bill 3B
Against it
Majority against the introduction
Sir J. PAKINGTON then moved for leave to bring in a Bill
authorising the trial and conviction of juvenile offenders
in certain cases, without the intervention of a Jury. The
House was addressed by Sir G. GREY, and eventually
leave was given.

Lord J. MANNERS obtained leave to bring in a Bill to
amend the law relating to charitable bequests.
The House adjourned at a Quarter to Eleven.

Although the introduction of an organized system
of National Education is reserved by the Govern-
ment for some subsequent opportunity, we are re-
joiced to behold a determination in both Houses of
Parliament to anticipate that important measure
in as far as juvenile offenders are concerned. The
necessity which exists for some interference with the
germination and development of vice among the more
impoverished portions of the population is not a new-
born necessity springing from some mushroom over.
sight on the part of the Executive. It is a necessity
which has acquired an appalling magnitude and
im-
portance from the miserable length of its continuance.
To employ the epithets, not in odious mockery, but
with sentiments of the truest sorrow and humility,
we only perceive in that necessity "an aged vice, a
grey iniquity." We only perceive in it a lamentable
indication of the insufficiency of our criminal
cede for the suppression of the social maladies
arising from neglect and ignorance. Nor can the
pernicious consequences of this inattention to the
wants of the poorer members of the eommunity be
regarded as but just recognised by the representa-
tives of the more affluent and instructed. They have
for years been acknowledged in Parliament—they
have long occupied the attention of the benevolent
and patriotic—they have originated philanthropic
establishments in the metropolis—they have found '
eloquent and suppliant voices in the reports of the