The Sun.
London, England, 1841-03-18 00:00:00

TliP, SUN, LONDON, THURSD Y, MARCH 1-3, 1841,

IMPE RIA L PARLIAMENT.

ROUSE OF COMMONS, Manor 17.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'Clock.
STAFFORD AND RUGBY RAILWAY.

Mr. GIS BORN E moved that the second reading of
the Stafford and Rugby Railway Bill be post, oned un-
til the 24th instant, in order to allow time for the Re-
port of the Government Railway Commissioners (pre-
sented to the House on the 15th instant), on the sub
ject of the best line of railway communication between
London, Edinburgh, and Glasgow, to be printed, and in
the hands of Members, as such Report contains infor-
mation bearing upon the merits of the proposed measure.
The Hon. Gentleman addressed the House at cons:-
derable length, but the noise was so great, that it was
quite impossible to hear a single word in the gallery.
Lord FRANCIS EGERTON was also from the
same cause quite inaudible in the gallery. We under-
stood the Noble Lord to refer to the Report of Sir
Frederick Smith, and to say that there was nothing in
it that directly affected the Bill. But whatever was in
it, he would give notice of a motion which should bring
it under the full consideration of the Committee.
Ho thought the House would see no reason for delay-
ing the second reading of the Bill, and he should there-
fore oppose the motion of the Hon. Gentleman.
Mr. LABOUCHERE said ho did not rise for the
purpose of expressing any opinion on the merits of this
Bill, but, on the contrary, he did not consider this
to be a case on which the situation in which ha stood
called upon him to express an opinion. He thought
it was a subject on which every Member of the House
could give an opinion, and he should therefore act in
accordance with his general rule, namely, to abstain
from all interference with the private business of the
House, except some principle was involved which he
thought called for his interference. The only reason,
therefore, for his rising was to ask the House to
allow him to make an observation on account of
an allusion that had been made to the Report of Sir
Frederick Smith. That Report was upon the table of
the House, but was not printed. But he (Mr. La-
bouchere) had asked Sir Frederick Smith yesterday what
was the nature of his observations on this particular rail-
way. Sir Frederick Smith assured him they were entirely
of an incidental nature, and did not go at all into detail;
consequently he (Mr. Labouchere) felt bound
to state that he thought the House would be satisfied
there was no reason to delay the consideration of that
Bill on account of the Report of Sir F. Smith. Whether

was advisable that the Bill should be read a second

time to-day, it was not his intention to express any
opinion, but he thought it his duty to furnish the House
with such information as he possessed, to enable them
to come to a correct conclusion on the subject.

Mr. WILBRAHAM wished to state the reasons
why ho should vote against the second reading of
the Bill. He had voted two years ago in fa-
vour of the original Bill, but it was then
in a different situation. It was then an extension Bill.
But the Bill which the House had passed was aban-
doned—( Hoar, hear)—and therefore the whole Vaing
now stood in a different position. It was then an ex-

•
tension Bill, but now there was no other place to ex
-end it to, and therefore, though he voted for the former
measure, he was consistent in opposing the present.
The Bill was only brought in for the purpose of stand-
ing in the way of any great measure which might come
before the Hoase in the course of a fow years. The ob-
ject was merely to pre-occupy the ground. The promoters
of the Bill never intended to carry the project into exe-
cution. They desired to exclude any more direct commu-
nication with the central and manufacturing, districts than
was afforded by the Grand Junction Railway. They
wanted to perpetuate the monopoly of that line. He
therefore thought himself bound to oppose the Bill, and
if it were not withdrawn he would vote for its being
read a second time this day six months.
Mr. MARK PHILIPS was surprised to hear
the statement of his Hon. Friend. It was true that
although he was so near to his Noble Friend, he had
not been able to hear one word of his argument.—( Hear,
and a laugh.) He heard him say at tho close of his
speech, that the only intention of the projectors was to
pre-occupy the ground against any other railway. On
the contrary, lie could assure the House that his
Honourable Friend had formed a very erroneous
estimate of the character and motives of the gentleman
who had promoted this Bill. Ho (Mr. Philips) hell
in his hand a petition from a large number of the most
respect ,ble inhabitants of Manchester in favour of the
measure, and he could assure the House that the dis-
tricts which would Le affected by it were almost unani-
mous in its favour, and that it would undoub!e'lly he
completed if t'-e house gal dit the sanction propesA
in the preie it Bill. No 8.11 had cvar been more
thoroughly sifted in Committee than this.—(Hear.)
Tne estimates whicli were hid before the Committee
in 1839 had never bon questioned, and they were

as moderate as any that ever were known. The
le•.e's were of the rco t favourable kind, and tt.e
whole line was calculated greatly to improve the com-
munication betwee❑ the central counties and Liverpool
and the metropolis. The money had been bona file
subscribed, and 10 per cent. had been dcpositel.
fist BA had been w;t:idratvn in consequence of the
:tate of the money market. But in the short time
:hat had since dapsel the rew Company had been

!ornieJ, and J' its capital bad been subscribed, notwith-

staiding that it was proposed at a time when the
inoncy market was still depressed. Tnis showed the
confidence of the public in tie utility of the measure,
and in the intu;tions of the projectors.—(Hear, hear,
and cries of .‘ Question.")
S:r ROBERT PEEL supposel that any Gealeman

who called " Que tion," would vote for the motion that
the Bill be referred to a Committee.—(Hear, hear.)
Ile supposed they agreed with him that the House w:is

oat the fitteit arena for the discussion, and that it 3

merits could best 12e ascertaired ahcva ttirs.—(Hear.)
He bad a duty on this occasion to perform to his coo-
stitu-nts, who had ettrustel him with a petition, signed
by 700 of the most respect able inhabitant 3 of Tam-
worth, in favour of the 13:11. He agreed with the

Right Hon. GeAleman opposite (Mr. Libouchere) that
a gentleman in his (Mr. L.'s) position in that House

ought not to interfere with a private measure, unless it
involved some public principle. AlthOugh be (Sir It.
Peel) was only a private individual, act from his long
conresion with office, it might, he supposed that he pos-
posted some influence with a part of the House, and be
therefore abstained on the same principle as the Right
Hon. Gentleman frond interfering in private measures.
—(Hear, hear.) But. the interest which his constitu-
czits felt in this 811 obliged him, as their representative,
to state his reason for giving it his support, assuring Hon.
Gentlemen at the some time that he had net or at-
tempted to influence the vote of any individual upon
the subject. The proposed railway had several reeom •
mendations. In the first place it would connect the
two important termini, London and Liverpool, with
the inland countica, by a communication 9} miles
shorter between Manchester and Liverpool, and
9} miles shorter in the line with London,
the gra!ients on the new line were much more favour-
able than on the oil line, and of course it was a coni-

peting line as regarded so much of the London and Bir-
minhamline, and so much of the Grand Junction line

,s extende 1 from Rugby on the one hand and Staf-
ford on the Lthe-. It professel to make a new
hoe r.long the valley of the Trent, which was
the most judicious line, taking into consideration the
features of the country. Now, the average of the
gradients on the presort line were one in 545, in a
length of 501 miles ; the average of the gradients on the
proposed line were one in 650, in a distance of 39 miles,
trEcting a saving of 9i mil:s and obtaining much better
gradients by taking the valley of the Treat, which iva3
the proper line of level. Toe subject had been before
previous Committees of that House, and he trusted
they would not now sanction any furtherse delay. A great
portion of the same lino was before the House in 1839,
and it was met in this way--459 objections of a trivial
charaettr were
4G
dbefore the Committee of Peti-
oommitcteoce,
taannddionsnlyo
Orders C a ,
battle
House afterow f
odu
el
dl
a fourdelay.
e heard
days
tai
,vyi
rnes,
Peti-
tions, ihoen s
s, these objections were referred to
OrdersTh Committee dismissed
mttte e for sixty-two
discussion the Standing
all.—(Hear, bear.)
them
mind that the Bill was in
days, and the battle fought was am
Committeetheinterestirl ofh Selection,
five se
c,lN,lheembehresd chnoosen
lobey,i
:ler° placed on the Committee. tThee
the whole of the ca!e, and the whole of they
looted Members, consisting of gentlemen who bad sno
e.
local interest, were in favour of the Bill, and came to a
resolution to the following effect. It was a very
singular one, and only justified by the nature
of the opposition the Bill had received :—" That
the Committee, after an inquiry unusually pro-
tracted, had come to a resolution in favour of
the 13;11, and in case the late period of the Session at
which their labours had terminated, would render the
parties unable to submit a Bill to the other House of
Parliament, they advised the House that every facility
should be afforded to the promoters of the Bill in a fu-
ture Session, that the ru!es of the House per.
mittcd.—( Hear, hear.) Now, he did not mean
to deny that the present was an important com-
petitor to existing lines. It was a formidable one
from itq very nature. They could not save nine and a
half miles between Liverpool and London, or between
London and Manchester. They could not have a lino

without tunnels and very favourable gradients without
making it a formidable competitor to the existing lines.
But was it right that them great monopolies the House has
created should have the power of crushing every rival
establishment, on the ground of an interference with
their interests. What became of the interests of the
postmasters and the canal companies, when these rail-
ways were first established? Was it not said
that these interests must give way to the
convenience and advantage of the public ? and
now these monopolists turned round and told the
House, that it must have a regard for vested interests,
and that it must on no account interfere with the me-
nopoly of the existing Railway Companies. If the
House of Commons refused inquiry into a proposal like
the present for a competing line, they would be
perpetuating one of the completest monopolies that
ever was established, If the opposing party said that

they were a small establishment, making very small
profits, and that their success was yet doubtful, there
might b, some ground for the present opposi-
tion. But what was the fact with regard to
the London and Birmingham Railway. He could
assure the House that 20,000/. had been offered
to the promoters of the present scheme to induce
them to withdraw it, and the London and Birmingham
Company were well able to make such an offer. What
were these profits. They had divided 10 per cent. upon
their paid up capital. But let them compare the value of
the shares on the Ist Feb. 1841, with the original outlay.
The profit then was 3,737,500/. That was compar-
ing the then price of shares with the outlay upon the
railway. They had made that of profit, and there-
fore he thought they had no right to come for-
ward and oppose the establishment of another undertak-
ing. There was one objection to this railway, and only
one ; he did not wish to hide it from the House, the
proposed line was intended to join the two other lines
at two points of existing railways. The question for
consideration was, would the public safety be compromised
by such junction—would the saving in point of time ex-
ceed the delay which must necessarily take place
consequence of the precautions requisite for the public
in safety. That was a fit subject for consideration, but it
was for the consideration of a Committee ; let them
send the Bill to a Committee, and let them call Sir F.
Smith before the Committee, and inquire fully into
the merits of the whole case. A fair case had been
made out for sending the Bill to be considered
in Committee, and after the opposition which the Com-
pany had met with, he trusted the House would not
permit an effectual opposition to be made to it in that
stage. He appealed to the gentlemen of Ireland, and
the gentlemen of Scotland—they were deeply inte-
rested in the matter, and, with their assistance, he
trusted the Bill would be fairly considered in a Com-
mittee up stairs.
Lord STANLEY said that whatever might be the
decision to which the HOMO might come, he hoped that
they would not be led away by that argument to their
own impatience which his Right Hon. Friend (Sir R.
Peel) had addressed to them—(Hear, hear)—because
although it might be very convenient for gentlemen
who were tired of a discussion, to say that it
was not a subject fit for their consideration, there
was no place where it could be so well considered
as in that House. But the same time although ques-
tions
.might often be very conveniently considered in
Committee, yet such a plan was often attended with
great expense and other disadvantages. If the
House had a reasonable doubt whether there was
sufficient ground for c msidering the matter in Committee
they ought not to consult their own convenience, and
subject parties to unnecessary expense and unnecessary
waste of time. If he did not mistake, his Right Hon.
Friend had lately sated to the House that the parties
interested in this railway had already lost a sum of
9,000/. or 10,000/. in discussions and conflicts
as to whether the undertaking should be con-
tinued or not. If his recollection did not de-
ceive him, his Right Honourable Friend had sug-
gested that with a view to get rid of the expense and
inconvenience of referring the matter to a Committee,
the matter should be submitted to the decision of Sir
Frederick Smith, who was to be consulted as to
the propriety of sanctioning the project. For his
own part he had no interest, direct or indirect, in the
transaction, and he had no communication with any of
the parties concerned in it since the commencement of
the Session. If he had any interest in the matter it was
that as he travelled very frequently backwards and for-
wards on the Grand Junction Reilway,his journey should
be accomplished as rapidly and as economically as possible.
He had, therefore, no other interest in the matter than
that which must be felt by the Hon. Members for Man-
chester, or the Hon. Members for Scotland or for Ire-
land, to whose feelings his Right Hon. Friend had ap-
pealed in the latter part of his argument. His Right
Hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade,
had, as it appeared to him, thrown an invidious objec-
tion in the way of the motion of the Hon. Member for
Ca-low. His Right Hon. Friend had said that he had
seen the opinion of Sir Frederick Smith privately, and
that that opinion could cot materially affect the question.
Now he (Lord Stanley) had been given to understand
that Sir Frederick Sinithjn commenting on the best,
the cheapest, and most rapid line of communication be-
tween London and Edinburgh, and London and Dub-
lin, had expressed an opinion that the saving of ten miles
to be accomplished by the proposed railway might be coun-
terbalanced by the loss of time et the new terminus, and
the fact of a change of engines being unnecessary.
He would refer for a moment to the question of time.
He quite agreed that alloy of those questions to which
his Right Hon. Friend the Member for Tamworth had
adverted were questions for the Committee, and not
for the consideration of the House ; but if it should
bae,
accomplished
iilhe
ea
dr tob yt the House
expenditure that no
of greatnat
isaving
capital,voull
be accomplished, and that there was no great reason to
apprehend that there would ho any competition what-
ever, and mnreov.ar that this caving of time was to be
I amounting to 1;300,000/., or 1,500,000/, then the
\
' House ought to pause before it came to such a decision.
The. Grand Junction Company made their arranae.nents
in conjunction with the London and Birrningbau Rail-
way, and they so timed the arrival of the trains in
Birmingham, as to leave no greater interval for stop-
page than was necessary to proceed from one train to
the other. When they arrived at Rugby, they had to
wait till the train came in from Birmingham ; gentlemen
might prefer waiting at Tamworth. They must wei',
till the train arrived from Birmingham, to carry them
en to London. Therefore, el:hough gentle,nen might
suppose that there would be sornee hat less time
occupied in the actual operation of travelling,
yet as between Liverpool and London, or Manchester
and London, it was his firm conviction that not even
the saving of a single ten minutes as between Liver-
pool and London would be effected by the pro-
posed expenditure of l ,300,000/.—( Hcar, hear.)
His Right Honourable Friend who had just sat
down had said that he would not attempt to conciliate
any interest on the other side by denying that there
would be a formidable competition. He (Lord
Stanley) did not seek to gain support on that
side of the House when he declared that, in
his opinion, there would be no competition whatever.
The argument of his Hen. Friend the Member for
Chester vitas a correct one ; that if the plan had been
to carry on the line to Manche.qer, instead of merely to
Rugby, then there would have been competition, because
then there would have been an inilep..ndent terminus.
But what did this line propose to do? His Right
Hon. Friend had said, with all the ingenuity and art
with which he knew so well how to dress up a state-
ment for that llouse—(Loud cheers from the Minis-
terial benches)—his Right lion. Friend had said look
et the important termini of this Railway—you have
London on the one side, and Manchester, with the
manufacturing districts, and Liverpool, on the
other, and if you look to further termini, if the
expression of a terminus beyond a terminus be allowable,
you have Ireland as a terminus on the one side, and
Scotland as a terminus on the other. Now, with all
respect to his Right Hon. Friend, he (Lord Stanley)
must be excused for saying that this statement was en-
tirely a mistake. The termini were the highly-re-
spectable but certainly not very important or
opulent towns of Rugby on the one side
and Stafford on the other ; and there was
no other terminus whatever. Go where they
would, travellers by this road must join the Grand
Junction at one end, and at the other the London and
Birmingham, and those railways might in consequence
crush in the bud any infant competition. If the object
was to produce competition, it should be a competition of
independent linns, but to expect any advantageous corn-
peftion from inferior and dependent lines, needed
not the experience of the North of England and Mid.
land Railway to prove an entire delusion. These
shorter lines must always regulate their movements by
the greater lines; terms of agreement would be come
to between them, and who ever entertained a hope that
an inferior and dependent line could successfully enter
into competition with a larger and independent lino
would inevitably be disappointed.—(Hear, hear.)
He was obliged to the House for the kindness
with which they had heard him, and regretted
exceedingly that any vexatious delay had been inter-
posed in consequence of the Standing Orders last ses-
sion. He never had been and never would be a party
to such vexatious delay. He thought the lion. Mem-
ber had better consent to withdraw his amendment, and
ofeletboutocuns
o andf savingn of
increased time an
pd ohlio accommodation, expense,
of reduction
the sense of the House upon the plain question,
a
whether in their judgment a sufficient case had been
m
teonosram fares,nction the expenditure of 1,500,000/., besides the
benefit
of lawyers and
pensesandvexationugsendtee,lahyos
twhoifchn,o other
persons, gra
persons, inevitably attended the subjecting of any Rail-
way Bill to a Parliamentary investigation.—( Cheer s.)
Mr. GISBORNE rose amidst cries of " Divide,"
which renderdedhihsim e
the ar
amendment
completely inaudible,(We understoods)soon
after resume.
Strangers were then ordered thadnrdawhen.
to withdraw, and the
House divided, when there appeared—
For the second reading of the 13111 94
Against it... ...........
Majurity against the . s•
...... ;1;;;:iing :
On our return to the gallery we found
ound 61%rd
STANLEY making an observation which excited e' it
considerable laughter in the House, but which was
not understood in the gallery. The Noble Lord
also said that he was incorrect in stating that he
had had no communication with any person on the sub-
ject, as he now recollected having spoken tu a gentle-
man respecting it.
The Charity Inclosure Bill was read a second time,
and referred to a Select Committee.
Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSET moved that
the Members for Monmouth be added to the Committee
on the Severn Navigation Bill.
Mr. LABOUCHERE would offer the motion every
opposition in his power. It might be proper that the
House should alter its rules for the regulation of private
business, but so long as these rules existed, they ought
to be strictly adhered to. There were many practical
difficulties which would arise, if the present motion was

acceded to. There were other Gentlemen connected
with the adjacent counties who had very naturally and
properly given notice of similar motions, and which, if
the present was acceded to, they could not refuse. On
these grounds he should certainly oppose the motion.
Mr. H. BERKELEY said his constituents were
deeply interested in the Bill, and he had voted for the
second reading. He was, however, perfectly satisfied
with the jurisdiction to which it had been referred. If
the House thought it proper to add any other M •mber
to the Committee, he would feel it his duty to move to
add his own name.—(A laugh.)
Mr. G. BERKELEY said the county of Gloucester
was also deeply interested in the fate of the Bill, and
if the House found that its rules were bad, and worked
injustice, the sooner they departed from them the
better. It was a complete farce to refer such a Bill to the
Worcester list—everybody knew how they would vote.
He thought many more gentlemen ought to be added to
the Committee. He would, therefore, cordially sup-
port the motion of the Noble Lord.
Mr. WINNINGTON said the Bill had been very
properly referred to the Worcester List, because all the
works contemplated by the Bill were in Worcestershire.
Mr. EASTHOPE opposed the motion. He thought
the county of Monmouth had no such interest in the
undertaking as should induce the House to contravene
the Standing Orders in behalf of its Members.
Mr. HOPE said the Hon. Member for Worcester
had admitted that there was partiality in the Worcester
Members with respect to this Bill, because he said
there would be 18 against, and 12 for, the Bill.
Such an admission was an argument why the
other interest should be represented. They did
not desire to obtain a preponderating interest,
in point of numbers. A great deal had been said abaut
the practice of the House. That was the first Session,
and the first case of any importance, in which the Stand-
ing Orders had come into question. On former occa-
sions it was usual to have all the Members upon the
Committee who might be supposed to be interested.
Sir EARDLEY WILMOT said be proposed the
Members for Birmingham because he believed that
that neighbourhood was interested, and he thought it
fair that they should be appointed.
Lord G. SOMERSET said the Hon. Member for
Worcestershire had assumed that the interest of Mon-
mouthshire was adverse to the Bill. The county of
Monmouth was to contribute very largely to the forma-
tion of these works, and should, therefore, have a voice
in the arrangements with respect to them. If the
county of Worcester would have the goodness to pay
for the works, they would then be allowed to monopo-
lise the whole matter. Alll he wished was to have a
Committee which should fairly discuss the merits of the
question.
Straneers were then ordered to withdraw. No divi-
sion, however, took place, and on our re-admission to
the gallery we found,
Mr. C. WYNN on his legs. He contended that a
Bill like the present for regulating the navigation of the
whole course of a large river could nst be considered
in the light of a strictly Local all.
Mr. W ARBURTON thought the House ought to
adhere to the Standing Orders. To the Members con-
nected with the locality immediately affected by the Bill,
there had been added a sufficient number of Members
unconnected with it, to secure impartiality. If addi-
tional Members for places interested in the Bill were
put upon the Committee ; then a corresponding num-
ber of important Members should also be added.
If the Standing Orders were improper they ought to
alter them, but whilst they existed they ought not to
break through them for any individual case.
After a few words from Sir G. GREY, strangers
were ordered to withdraw, and the House divided,
when there appeared—

For the motion B4
Against it ll7
Majority agAinst the motion -33
Sir GEORGE CLERK moved, that the pct. tion of
David Robertson (presented March 16), together with
th 3 Poloe. and Govan Railway Bill, be referred to the
Seect Committee on Petitions for privats Bills
to consider and report thereon. As the t'rne
of the House had been alre idy occupied at
such length by private business, he should not detain
them by entering into any detailed statement of the
facts in the petition.
Mr. LOCKHART felt great regret in opposing the
motion of his Noble Friend, but the Bill was evidently
a third class Bill, and the proper notices had not been
given.
Sir GEORGE GREY also opposed the motion,
which was then withdrawn.

Mr. W. MILES, moved for returns of the amount
of salaries and other payments receive 1 in 1840, by the
Poor-law Commissioners, clerks, and directors, and all
other expenses incidental to that deputment.
MEDICAL PROFESSION.

On the Order of the Day for the second reading of
the Medical Profession Bill being moved, almost every
Member of the House rose to present a petition for or
against the Bid, amidst great laughter.
Petitions sv:xo presented against the Bill from the
medical practitioners of Kent, 131etchingly, Bury St.
Edmond's, Spalding, Bedford, Brighten, Somerset, the
Royal College of Surgeons of London, from Mancl:es-
ter, Wolverhampton, Walsal, Northaroptan, Welling-
borough, Carnarvon, Bath, Exeter, Dawlish, TauntGn,
Sidmouth, South Molten, Cheverley, Bridport, Lime-
house, the British Medical Association, Stock-
port, Manchester, Winchester, the Pot:ntees of
Medicine, and the Governor and Company of the
Apothecaries' 11,11 of Dublin, and other places
inc; in favour of the Bill, from the medical prarAioners
of Elinhurvh, from Perth, from Cornwa, the Lie of
Wight, Carlisle, from the Cour.c 1 of the Medical As-
sociation, from delegates of the various Medical Asso-
ciations assembled in London, from Gateshead, and
other places.
Mr. SHAW had received a letter from the Com-
pany of Apothecares' Hall of Dublin, who were ex-
tremely anxious that the measure should be postpo:ed
until the profession were made acquainted with its pro-
..

visions.
Sir THOMAS TROUBRIDGE really hoped the

Hon. Member would not proceed with his Pill, because
it appeared to meet with very general opposition. The
army and navy surgeons were against it, and every party
complained that they were unacquainted with its pro-
visions.
Mr. WAKLEY hoped the Hon. Member would go
on with the Bill to-night, if he meant it to be read a se-
cond time at all.
Mr. M‘LE AN understood that the College of Sur-
geons were preparing a measure on the subject, antil if
the Hon. Member postponed his Bill for a little, he
might 1:e elle to improve it very materially.
After a few words from Mr. PRYME,
Mr. HAWES slid he saw reason whatever for
postponing tLe zecond reeling of his 1311. He
nt ro
thats
thaoiktwe
was
that
a su p a theps
plan
suddenly
dl
supported
l hy e
aand and without
should compress whatever he had to saj on
the subject into as small a compass al possible.
bwt adopted
seinehvvo uats
dnileo
let wasbae
rcaa t prepared
to
o
of the most distinguished medical men now living—
supported not only by men who had given evic'eace on
the Committee, but bye others who by their publica-
tions, and by the public proceedings of their own pa, ti-
cuter bodies, sanctioned, to a greater or less extent, the
measure which he now proposed. All the witnesses
examined before the Committee concurred that there
should be some one superinten ling body constitute 1, to
which the interests of the profession should be entrusted.
It also appeared in evidence, that the medical body had
no confidence in the existing Medical Corporation, and
and that that corporation had not the power to protect
its o vn diploma. He would refer to the case of Dr.
Harrison in support of that statement. That gentle-
man was in great practice as a physician and surgeon,
without being a licentiate of the College of Physicians,
and yet. on showing that his practice was of a surgical,
not a medical nature, he evaded any penalties which
the College might be enabled to inflict upon him. The
College of Physicians, as it now stood, did not re-
present the great body of that profession.
With regard to the Apothecaries' Company,
it was impossible that it could obtain the con-
fidence of the profession at large. It was not, then,
matter of surprise that the medical practitioners, who
derive no advantage from the corporate body, should bo
desirous of some change being made. The Hon. Gen-
tleman here referred to a pamphlet written by Sir C.
Bell, to show that there were the most ample grounds
for calling on Parliament tointerfere on the part of the
Government, and create some new body, with new
powers, for the benefit of the profession. The extracts
read from the pamphlet by the Hon. Gentleman, went
to show that the College of Surgeons knew that the
young men, proposing themselves as candidates for di-
plomas, were improperly and imperfectly educated—
that they were crammed with words, but knew nothing
of their business. That state of things lasted during
thirty years of Sir C. Bell's experience. It had been
suggested that it would be a more advisable coarse to
reform the existing corporation ; but if he attempted
to do so, he should be just as strongly opposed. He did
not propose to affect existing corporations.—(Hear,
hear.) He had turned to the evidence given be-
fore the Committee that sat in 1534, to look
for principles and authorities by which he could shape
his course. He would refer to a high authority in fa-
vour of a General Board (that of Dr. Kidd), which
was decidedly in favour of the plan embodied in his
Bill. Was it to be supposed his plan was unsup-
ported up to this time ? Even in 1834, Sir Benjamin
Brodie had given evidence before the Committee in ft-
your of a General Board, Mr. Green, who had re-
cently published pamphlets on the subject, which were
entitled to great attention, gave similar evidence in fa-
vour of this measure. He could also quote the names
of Drs. Elliotson, Arnott, and others, as entertaining
similar opinions. No one would contend that there
should not bo a well qualified body of medical practi-
tioners, or that the present system was calculatld to
create or maintain such a body. To show that at pre-
sent there was not such a body, he would state that out
of 1,830 who had been engaged under the new Poor-
law Act, there were 900 who possessed no regular qua-
lification.—(Hear.) He had referred to high autho-
rities, Brodie, Elliotson, Cooper, and others, by whom

his measure was supported. There had been no
petitions against this Bill as a Medical Bill. Some
medical corporations were opposed to it, becauso. they
would be placed under surveillance if it became law.
But the great corporations in Eugland, Scotland, and
I, a end had not disapproved of it. \V,th respect to the
chemists and druggists, he never had any intention of
interfering with their trades ; and to guard against the
Bill having an injurious effect upon them a clause pre-
pared by the solicitor to that body had been introduced
into the Bill. He proposed, instead of the nineteen
self-elected corporations which at present had the whole
government of the profession, this Bill should constitute
one council, to be elected by the whole of the profes-
sion. He regretted that the measure had not been
taken up by abler hands, but as there was no Bili on
the subject before the House, he was induced to un-
dertake the introduction of one. In conclusion, he
could only say, that it received the approbation of the
greatest part of the medical profession in Great Britain
and Ireland, and now moved the second reading of the
Bill.

Mr. E WART seconded the motion. Whoever
looked at the state of the medical profession must see
that it was in a state of disorder, and that it required
the amendment that would be supplied by the present
Bill.

Mr. DARBY was surprised that the Hon. Member
for Lambeth, in quoting the opinions of eminent
authorities, should have overlooked the provisions of his
own Bill. The Bill, as it stood at present, would only
affect professional men connected with public institu-
tions. Its provisions differed widely from its preamble.

An HoN. MEmnEtt here said he was sorry to inter-
rupt the Hon. Member, but he begged to move that
the House be counted.

Strangers were, accordingly, ordered to withdraw,
when there being only thirty-three Members present,
the House adjourned at a Quarter to Eight o'Ciock.

A HIGHLAND OUTLAW -DEFI-

ANCE TO THE CIVIL POWERS.

( Abridged from di-J- Inverness Courier.)
About the centre of Loch Quoich, under the shadow
of two high mountain terraces, streaked with snow, is a
small island, scarcely more than half an acre in extent,
on which are seen a few birch trees. It is about
a quarter of a mile. from the nearest mountain,
and is as solitary as the heart of hermit or recluse
could desire. On this spot resides a Highlander,
now old and stern, who bids defiance to all the
civil powers, and lives a free denizen of nature. Some
forty years ago, Ewan MePtiee, a fine sprightly, athle-
tic Highland lad, enlisted in a regiment of which his
proprietor was an officer. He was promised, or was
led to believe, that he would soon be preferred in the
army. He went through his exercises with correct-
ness and regularity, but preferment came not, and
Ewan deliberately one day marched out of the ranks,
and betook himself to the hills. His retreat was
discovered, and two files of soldiers were sent to
apprehend him. With the concurrence of the late
Glengarry, Ewan was seized, handcuffed, and carried
off a prisoner. As the party proceeded through
Stratherick, the dauntless Highlander watched
a favourable opportunity, made a tremendous leap
over a precipice, and bounded off from his escort.
The party discharged their muskets after him, but
without effect, and, hi caking off his handcuffs,
by dashing them against a rock, Ewan was ;again
a free man among the wilds. He established himself.
oa Lochiel's property in Corrybuie, an out-ofahe-world
retreat, where he lived unmole tad for many years, hunt-
ing, fishing, and rearing goats, without any man daring
to make him afraid or presuming to speak of rent. As a
companion was wanting to soften or enliven his sortude,
Ewan wooed, won, and ran off with a clamed of fourteen,
now his wife, and the mother of five children. At
length, however, the law prevailed for a time, and the
adventurer was ejected from Corrybuie. He sub-
mitted quietly, and took refuge in this little
island in Loch Quoich, where he deems him-
self safe and impregnable. With turf and birch
trees he raised a hut, and found or made a boat to
enab'e him to communicate with the mainland. He
has about fifty goats, which he quarters on the neigh-
bouring hills, and his gun and rod, we suppose, supply
him with fish and game. In winter the situation of
this lonely family must be awful. Ewan's strong, mus-
cular, and handsome frame is still clad in the Highland
costume, and he never ventures abroad without
his dirk by his side. Some of the tenants fear him
from his daring character, and others reverence him
for his supposed witchcraft or supernatural power,
which is firmly believed in the glen. In this way, a
boll of meal now and then, and perhaps a sum of
money, finds its way to the lonely island, and the home
of the outcast is made glad in winter. He believes himself
that he is possessed of a charmed life, but a loaded
gun is constantly at his bed-side during the night,
and his dirk is ever ready by day, to supply mortal
means of defence. When Mr. Edward Ellice
visited Glen Quoich, after purchasing the property.
Ewan called upon him, like a dutiful vassal in the
old feudal time, doing homage to his liege lord,
and presented some goats' milk as a peace-offering.
His terms were simple but. decisive. He told Mr.
Ellice, not that he would pay rent for his island, but
that he would not molest the new laird, if the new
laird did not disturb him in his possession ! The
grizzled aspect, intrepid bearing, and free speech of
the bold outlaw struck the Englishman with sur-
prise, and Ewan instantly became a sort of favour.
itc. It is probable he will not again be disturbed :
for the island is not worth a shilling to any person
but Ewan M'Phee, and it would be cruel to dispos-
sess even this daring and desperate man, now upwards
of sixty years of age. The situation of his family,
growing up in wild neglect and barbarism, is the most
painful circumstance ir. Ewan's singular story. His wife is
still compaeatively a young and agreeable-looking person,
and as she had some education, it is probable she may teach
her ebil lree a knoeledgeof their letters, and same outline
of Christian duty and belief. Of this, however, the people
of ttee glen arc wholly ignorant. The few who hale
had intercourse with Evan represented him as
strongly attached to his family, and of thie, we bad
indirectly a sort of proof on the day we were in the
glee. One of E man's children bad died died
in his soli!ary Patmes, which was destitute of neigl.-
hourly aid or consolation. Overwhelmed with grief
the old man took his boat and crossed to a shepherd's
hut, begging the shepherd to assist him in making
a coffin for the dead child, as he could not steady
his hand under the blow of this calamity. " Oee
touch of nature makes the whole world kin," says
Siiakspi are. The assistance was freely given ; some
birch staves were formed into a coffin, and the child
hill, in a day or two, be interred in a spot exactly
suited to Esan's last Ca and character ; for the ancient
church-yard used by the simple people of Glen Quoich
is also an island, small in extent, which rises out of the
waters of the Quoich, near its junction with the lake.
This incident is in keeping with the whole history of
this wild, unconquered Highlander—one of the last
tvrei of a fierce and hardy race, in whose nature strong
Passions were mingled, both for good and for ca.