The Sun.
London, England, 1841-02-26 00:00:00

STEAM-VESSELS.

Lord SANDON wished to call the attention of the
Government to a subject which had recently excited
considerable interest. His attention bad been called to
the subject by the melancholy instance in which loss of
life had lately occurred in consequence of the absence of
a distinct rule with regard to steamers as to what side
they should pass. The House was aware that a rule
had existed a great time with rega►d to sa 1 ng► vessels,
but there war no rule which prevadA universally for all
vessels. He wished to ask whether the Noble Lord
was prepared to call the attention of the House to it,
or to introduce any measure on the subject.
Mr. LABOUCHERE said the subject had engaged
his attention some time before the melancholy catas-
trophe to which the Nol,le Lord had alluded, but he
found that a strong opinion existed in the minds of
those he consulted on the subject, that such a course
would not be desirable. The Trinity had issued re-
gulations on the subject for steamers, and also as to the
lights to be displayed, and these they had rendered im-
perative on their own vessels. The same rules had
been adopted by the Admiralty, and were imposed upon
the Government steamers, and it was also circulating
throughout the country, and generally ado[ted. The
rule for sailing vessels depended not upon enactment,
but on general custom and understanding, and it had
been found advisable also to allow the_e regulations
to rest upon general understanding likewise, and
he believed there was no doubt that if any acci-
dent occurred in consequence of any steamer neg-
lecting these regulations, the Court of Admiralty, and
other Courts, would severely punish the offenders, as
much as if they had trespassed upon a positive enact-
mer.t. He thought it desirable also,• that foreign
countrier, especially those whose steamers entered
the waters of this country, should adopt the same rules
as were laid down for our steamers ; but on the best
consideration, and from the best information he could
obtain, he did not think it advisable to rutrodOce any
Bill upon the subject.
Lord SANDON inquired whether any communica-
tionhad been made to foreign Powers.

Mr. LABOUCHERE said that no formal commu-
nication had taken place, but the subject had been treated
of informally.
Mr. GIL LON gave notice that on the 11 th of
March he should move for a Committee of the whole'
House to address her Majesty, praying that she would
be graciously pleased to grant assistince and support to
Mechanics' Institutions and Schools of Alt.
PACKET STATION.

Mr. FRES HIFIE Lll gave notice that on the 3d of
March be should move an address to her Majesty for
copies of the correspondence between the Lords of the
Admiralty and the Commissioners appointed to survey
the different harbours on the coast, on the subject of the
selection of a proper port for the West India mail pac-
ket station.

Captain PECHELL gave notice that to-morrow he
should move for raurns of the number of mates in the
Royal Navy, showing those who had passed their exa-
mination for Lieutenants, with the date of their com-
mission?.

EMIGRATION TO THE WEST INDIES.
Mr. MACKINNON gave notice that on the Ilth
of March he should move the appointment of a Select
Committee to consider the expediency of introducing
labourers into the West India Colonies.
ARMS (IRELAND).
Mr. Sergeant JACKSON begged to ask the Nobit
Lord the Secretary for Ireland whether it was the in-
tention of the Government to effect any change is the
lav with regard to the registration of arms in Ireland,
as it was generally understood that arms had got into
the hands of improper persons in various parts of the
country.
Lord MORPETII believed that there were powers
which might be excreter by the Magistracy to remedy
flo.t. evil. Toe Government had received several sug-
gestions on the subject, but they were not quite certain
whether there was not sufficient powers in the law as it
at present stood, without call:ng for fresh enactment?.
Mr. O'CONNELL. wished t) know whether the
Noble 'Lord meant to confirm the statement of the
lion. and Learned Gentleman, that arms had got into
the hands of imprqper perstins.
Mr. JACKSON had made the statement on the
authority of Magistrates.
Lord MORPETH was understood to ray that the
Government had reason to believe that a-ins had got
into the hands of improper persons.—(Loud cheers from
'the Tory benches.)
IMPORT DUTIES (WEST INDIES.)
Mr. E. TENNENT begged to ask whether the
Government had ree&ved any information of a measure
proposed by the Legislative Assembly of Jamaica to
place an import duty of 5 per cent. upon all goods im-
ported into that colony, and whether that proposal was
1 kely to meet the sanction other Majesty's Government
Lord JO EIN RUSSELL said Government had
received information that such a measure had passed
the Jamaica Legislature, but it had not yet been taken
into consideration.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.
S.r E. SUGDEN said,that the Noble Lord had
given notice of his intention to proceed to-morrow first.
with the Customs' Duties Bill, and secondly with the
Canty Courts Bill. Now he had not the least objec-
tion to the Noble Lord's proceeding with the first Bill,
but with regard to the County Coults Bill, he
thought that ought not to be proceeded with nat.]
the Local Courts Bill was before the House.
Should it be proposed to proceed with that Bill to-
morrow, he should feel it his duty to Mile that it be
real a second time that (lay tour months.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said, that with regard to
the Orders of the Day for to-morrow, he proposed to
take the Bill for the equalization of the duties on East
India Rum in the first place ; with regard to the other
Orders of the Day, he was not prepared to state hew
ne should take them at present.
Sir E. SUGDEN objected to proceeding with the
County Court-s' Bill until the Local Courts' Bill should
be before the House. Many Members had prepared
them.e!t-es under tho idea that the two Bills were to
fee dilcusscd together, and as they both formed part o
one great measure he should certainly object to pro.
ceeL.. :in with the one without the other.
Loral JOHN RUS
situation,
whosaid
had e
he wasvcr
regularlytbefirst
-,,Pieeresnonno°ticrue of
PYing his
the Orders of the Day he intended to
given
first, but if he were pressed to fix precisely the
tohled
Oprradcetriscew,oaunldd
betaken
Orders that were to have precedence, he should be-
ans'
Right Hon. and Learned Friend.
misunderstood his
Noblel
i
Lord to fix the exact pre.
I t
eee answer to
st aafina
course.
Sir oqubura esesekt. iou np thate
Sir ROBERT PEEL thought the Noble Lordhad
He did not press the •
twaekreen ,t
wboutßites
merely
f which was printed and the
on the same subject, one
bo
cedence
bolter not to proceed with
other was not, it would e
in tlolopinOiordnetrbs 'asth, oauslttebree
tewdhichhis
should be printed, so that tae Members PI
the discussion of the first Bill. until the secondjgh