The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-06 00:00:00

•
THE SUN)
the peoples of Ireland. Th LONDON SATURDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 6
.--,......------i--- ...L.A.M. .1P
ntry had. been doubled within 6,
'any perman.ent dist)" Y.
population of that coi,".
j the last twenty years, and i; was :perfectly cl: ar that the
land could never provide sucTicierit employment f;r the
poor of that country, and they would be driven into some
extensive measure of colonisatissn to relieve the country of
its surplus population. He -had always advocated
some system of colonisation, yet if .1 were to be
carried out to any effective extent, it would require
an outlay of at least 4,000,0001. or 5,0 ,1,000/. per an-
num. This was not a greater sum than the plan pro-
posed by his Noble Friend in the other House, and he
did think that if that plan were adopted, it would, by
facilitating intercourse throughout the county, be
productive of excellent results, and return a
large advantage to this country for the outlay
that was made to effect it. Yet, at the same time, he still
believed that the Government would be driven into
some great and comprehensive scheme for the perma-
nent improvement of Ireland.
TRANSPORTATION.
In reply to the Al arquis of SALISBURY,
Earl GREY stated that the papers on transportation
would be laid on the table in the course of a few days.
EDUCATION.
The Marquis of LANSDO WNE, after laying some
papers on the table, proceeded to state to their Lord-
Ships the nature of the minute which the Privy Coun-
cil had lately adopted with respect to education. He
said he might have laid the minute on the table without
offering any remarks with respect to it. as the altera-
tions which it proposed would be carried out without
the intervention of either Houses of Parliament ; but
he thought it right, as early in the Session as possible,
to put their Lordships in possession of the views which
her Majesty's Government entertained on the subject of
the education of the people. He confessed it would
have given great satisfaction to him if he had been
enabled to state that the Government were prepared
with a plan of public education for the people of this
country, so large, so comprehensive as at once to put the
population, with respect to education, in that condition
in which it was in some parts of Europe, in which an
uueducated child was an almost solitary exception, and
in which it might be said, " that education was con-
sidered universally necessary." But he was bound to
state that it had not appeared to her Majesty's Govern-
ment that they could practically effect a system of
education upon a large and universal scale. It un-
doubtedly might have been attempted, but it could only
have been attempted with serious, if not with over-
whelming, difficulties. It could they thought only be
made comprehensive, or, at least, eo comprehensive as
to include in the same plan, and in the same schools,
placed under the control of the Government, not only
all conditions of the people, but of all religious denomi-
nations ; and the longer he had observed the progress of
the question, the more convinced he had become of the
difficulties which would have to be encountered in
attempting a system of education on a scale so enlarged,
and with views so extensive. These difficulties were
not new, and he appealed in corroboration of this to his
Noble and Learned Friend (Lord Brougham), who had
been so honourably and so valuably connected with the
progress of education, and stands connectedwith the pro-
motion of a general system of education, such as her Ma-
jesty's Government would consider proper to be sup-
ported. It might be said that that which individuals
had failed to do the Government might effect. This
was not so in the case of education, as all the efforts of
Government would be met by feelings of mistrust and
jealousy among two classes of the people, one of whom,
consisting of perhaps the most pious and conscientious
persons, objected to education being carried on at all in
a mixed school ; the other class being that not unim-
portant one which deprecated entirely all interference of
the state in matters of education. When he stated that
these were two powerful classes of objectors, he did not
mean to say that their opinions were at all universal.
It could not, however, be supposed that there were not
many learned and religious persons who considered that
although the dangerous path to learning should not be
trod without the light of religious instruction to
guide them, still he thought that it was
quite possible to educate under the same roof
children of different denominations, and holding
various religious opinions. The Government had there-
fore come to the conclusion that it was not expedient
to introduce any general or extended measure of educa-
tion. It did, however, appear to the Government, that it
was necessary to give, under various heads, some assist-
ance towards the establishing and extension of
education beyond that which had hitherto been
set apart for that purpose, and also to stimu-
late efforts of those individuals and societies under
whose patronage the schools had already been supported.
Their Lordships would be glad to know what had been
the operation of the existing Bill. He was glad to say
that there had been a progressive increase in the grants
that had been made between the years 1833 and 1846.
The grants during that period amounted to 490,0001.,
and this sum had secured education annually for 700,000
children. All the schools to which grants were made
had been inspected, and he was glad to say that a num-
ber of schools who did not require grants had petitioned
the Council to have inspectors sent down to
examine into the condition of their institutions. In
addition to those included in the grants he had
mentioned, there were a number of diocesan
and normal schools that had received assistance.
We now come to the suggestions which, though not of
great importance, yet th©y sit in the right direction.
The first was, that the inspection be more frequent, and
that the establishment should be sufficient for inspection
once a year. To insure this, the addition of three
or four inspectors was made. The next subject to
which he would invite the attention of their Lordships
was the reports from the schools. Most of these reports
showed one great difficulty, and that was not only a de-
ficiency of masters competent to their duties, but also of
assistants fit for their duties. It was, therefore,proposed
that in all good schools the masters should be allowed to
take apprentices from among the best boys, and for each
apprentice the master should have an allowance granted,
the guardians, inspectors, and visitors, having the right
of recommending those boys who were most fit
for the duty, and thus a regular supply of school-
masters instructed and trained for their position.
It was proposed, beyond this, that from the apprentices
so trained for the purpose of adding to the general stock
of schoolmasters, a certain number should be selected
for the purpose of entitling that number, having con-
ducted themselves well, and usefully contributed to carry
on the discipline of the school—he said a certain num-
ber would be selected for the purpose of having exhibi-
tions for normal schools, thus constituting another
element in thir progress towards the station of school-
masters. But not only was it their intention to grant
these exhibitions, but, as there would be probably
a certain number of persons intended for
the office of schoolmasters that might not
be after all, although they might have con-
ducted themselves properly, although they might
have taken pains to avail themselves of the ad-
vantages offered them, although they might have bene-
fited to a certain extent, still after all this training, they
might not be found fitted for the office of schoolmasters,
and it was, therefore, proposed that an arrangement j
should be made in which he had the satisfaction of
stating that the Noble Lord at the head of the Treasury, '
and his Right Hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer, had expressed their entire concurrence. An
arrangement had been made by which a certain
number of these apprentices, not becoming school-
masters, should be entitled to employment in the
revenue departments of the state. This would con-
stitute a double encouragement for these young men, by
which a greater number might be qualified to attain the
office of a schoolmaster ; and if found unfitted for that
office, still Government would not lose the benefit of
their services in another of its departments. There
would be of course for the purpose of carrying out this
system, a periodical examination of the pupils, and this,
also, would have the effect of advancing them in their
progress towards that office. He now came to another
subject which he considered must be materially altered
to affect the general course of education.—(Hear.)
There was no class of men in this country who had more
claim upon the gratitude of the country, or who were
better entitled to the attention and favour of the Govern-
ment than the schoolmasters of England. There was no
class of melt more unlikely to reap, in a worldly
sense, the reward of their toils and exertions.
Many of those who had considerable influence over the
character and interests of the children, saw them ad•
vancing to prosperity while they were themselves
chained down to their laborious exertions in a state of
hopelessness and without requital, and, in many in-
stances, dispirited by their want of success ; their feel-
ings chilled by want, and checked by penury. It was,
therefore, proposed that a small provision should be
made for the schoolmasters in their old age ; and that
any person who could show that they had for fifteen
years conducted, in an unexceptionable manner, a
public school should be entitled to the provision.
—(Hear, hear.) This provision would be made
upon the reports of the inspectors made to
the Treasury at the period of their visitation.
It was proposed, in connexion with these schools to es
tablish places of industry, or workshops, so that children
during their leisure hours might receive instructions in
some useful craft, and the gentlemen in the neighbour-
hood would be stimulated to give their assistance and
co-operation to those schools ; but it would also tend to
obviate what had always been felt as a groat evil,
namely, that of parents withdrawing their children from
the school, from what they considered useless'. earning,
with a view of putting them to something which they
thought would bo more useful to their families. He
trusted, however, that the introduction of this system
would effect a great change. Some of these schools
see indeed already established, and are very successful
at ;the ' present moment. He was happy to say
that ho had found a very general co-peration
and desire for improvement among all the ministers of
religion, but he should not be doing his duty if he did
all doomiriations he had received the
notmo most
declare e
ablecl ar e among
assistance from tti Plergy of the Church
of England. Not a day passed without receiving letters
continually complaining of the want of snob intsrection
for the children of their parishes, and he was happy to
say, that the exertions they had made had been emi-
nently successful in alleviating the evil. An excellent
account of the benefit which was wrought by this diffu-
sion of education was given in the pamphlet of a clergy-
man named Dawes, who had succeeded in establishing
a school in his parish, and had so completely altered the
character of the place, that whereas it had been distin-
guished for vice and immorality ten years before it was
how equally eminent for the reduction of crime, and the
improvement of the whole of its inhabitants. He had
class haebeetl ul.l'ne away
e,;e2 succeeded by the success of his schools, that he had
complete;;
broken down prejudice, and the feeling of
their children to the sae.. schools as
labourers attended. And -
from distant parts sent their it
was
''
village, in order th:tetnla
tending on Mr. Dawes schools.
triumph. This was at
made, because it urea tt striking This statement he (the with, and the farmers sent
those which their
-ven a fact, that farmers
• - board in the
their children to .
arciuis ofThii:anssydaoswialoii greatad
sc at-
might have the benefit o. .
sng'a Salford, in Hampshire.
proof of the benefits of

education. As another instance of the benefit of these i
schools—in one of these schools 153 children had been,
out of their little savings—out of the pre;enes of their
parents, been enabled to purchase 15/. worth of books.
—(Hear, hear.) He anticipated great advantage from
the establishing of these industrial schools,: and
especially from their connexion with the workhouses, for
it was also intended to associate them with 'the work-
houses, and to establish libraries in them. Great com-
plaint had been made of the want of books, and of the
difficulty of obtaining cheap sets, and it was, therefore, :
intended, out of the grants of last session, to give sets of
books to these schools. He was quite aware that this
scheme fell far short of the necessity of the case, and of
providing a general instruction for the whole of the peo-
ple. but yet it was a great step, and he trusted it would
prove effectual in at least approaching to a remedy of
the evil. From his own experience, he fully anticipated
that every assistance would be rendered by the ministers
of religion, but he must repeat that he should not be
doing his duty in speaking of the zeal of those gentle-
men, if he did not say that, of all denomin itions, the
clergy were pre-eminent, short as it was, he believed the
scheme would prove beneficial to the country.
Lord BROUGHAM was sure nothing could be better
than this system which he had just proposed of coming
to Parliament for the money to carry out some plan of
education. It was evident they had no sufficient plan.
He lamented as much as his Noble Friend that they
found themselves just as far as ever from having a
national, a public, or general system. That was no
fault of theirs or any other Government, but it arose
from some evil in the state of society, which while it
lasted would baffle all attempts to obtain universal edu-
cation. He was no friend to compulsory education.
People who generally complained of the want of educa-
tion, wished to know why they did not adopt the system
of Prussia. Did they know there the system of educationwas
almost a military system? Did they know that if they took a
recipe from a physician in this country, he could not, as
happened to a friend of his, get it made up when they
applied to a druggist, without going through the hands
of a physician regularly educated there? Everything
there was compulsory. But that sort of thing would not
do here, although it was all very well in Prussia, where
the people were too ignorant to feel the evil. An Eng-
lishman was not to be forced, for the more you at-
tempted to compel him, the farther he would recede. Let
them, however, provide cheap schools, and they would
stimulate private beneficence, and the people would be
encouraged to send their children to the schools, and
then by degrees, but only by degrees, would they lead to
general education. Let them give a portion of the money
necessary for these sehools, and they would bring the
sympathies and the co-operation of the people into play.
The Board of Education had adopted this plan with a view
not to supersede, but to aid private exertion, and nearly
500,0001. had been advanced very advantageously since
1832 for that purpose. Education was the best aid of
religion and the best guardian of morality. All his own
experience, and all the experience of the criminal law
which he or other judges concurred in, the opinion was
that punishment was no preventive of crime compared
with shame. But compel the criminal to refund the
thing he has stolen within forty-eight hours, and he
would never again commit the same offence. No man
committed a crime without an object, and that generally
was to avoid shame. The forger, unless he attempted
to run away, committed forgery in the hope of avoiding
the shame of bankruptcy. That was the sort of view
taken of the subject, and, in very few cases, and in a
very small degree, punishment was not heeded. What,
then, was the remedy? Why, prevention. The crimi-
nals came 'in almost all cases from an inferior class of
society. Their Lordships were not members of that
class.—(Hear.) It was not persons in their rank who
helped to swell the list of criminals. The proper remedy
for this evil was to educate the youth of the country at a
very early age, and then to instil into their minds such
feelings, as in their Lordships and the higher classes,
prevented the outbreak of such evil passions. Their
Lordships might depend upon it that a wide spread and
general infant education would do more to prevent crime
than all the criminal laws, executions, transportations,
and penitentiaries. These were his reasons why a ge-
neral and well defined system of infant education should
be brought forward and supported by the Government.
The Church and Dissenting communities were most zea-
lously bent upon improving the education of the masses.
It would be ungrateful for him not to notice their e xertions.
But between the Church and the Dissenters, however,
there was a feeling of controversy which marred their
united exertions, the sole object of each party seemed
to be victory, and both of the parties threw impediments
in the way of an extended scheme of education, which
were all founded upon controversial opinions and
dogmas. It was his opinion that a system of super-
vision could not be maintained over the Dissenters,
because they were divided into so many sections—the
Church of England was one, and could therefore be
more easily cultivated by the regulating body, and he
was therefore of opinion, however he might have op-
posed it before, that it would be much the best
way to bring forward a general scheme of education
under the control of the Church. Such a system
should be at once introduced, and if the Dissenters did
not like to take the benefit of the measure, they must
leave it alone ; but he was quite sure that all the better
class of Dissenters would soon adopt the measure, and
thereby incalculable advantages would result to the
State. He thought it would be also advisable to estab-
lish central normal schools in various parts of England,
for the purpose of educating and preparing a class of
schoolmasters and teachers. In the schools established
he thought, too, that it would be a good thing if the
Government were to adopt the system of taking quarter
pence from the children. The parents were much
snore likely, when they paid something for their
children's education, to see that they attended the school
regularly. With respect to the proposed plan for giving
pensions to the schoolmasters, he thought that the
period named, fifteen years, was too short a period to
entitle them to a pension.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE—That term was to
the minimum period.
Lord BROUGHAM—In that case he would not have
so much objection. He also thought that an improved
system of education was highly desirable. Ile wished
in conclusion to impress upon their Lordships the neces-
sity for establishing upon a large scale, infant schools
for the education of the children of the poor.
The Bishop of LONDON said he should trespass
very shortly on their Lordship's time after what had
been said by several Noble Lords, but the subject was
one which he could not allow to pass without some ob-
servations. He wished, in the first place, to express the
satisfaction with which he had heard the clear and
candid statement of the Noble Marquis. He thought
the steps which the Government proposed to take were
exceedingly wise and judicious. The important features
of the plan were inspection and encouragement by pecu-
niary grants and pensions to those engaged in normal
or training schools. He considered that no system,
however wisely contrived, unless properly and vigilantly
superintended—not a superintendence induced by
jealous or private curiosity, but a superintendence by
real friends, who were anxious to have the funds voted
by the Government, or given by private and public
beneficence, devoted to the purposes for which they were
intended, and not wasted and thrown away, was the
only superintendence that could really promote a good
and efficient system of education. From the first
introduction of education, aided by grants from
the Government, he had pressed upon the
clergy the great advantage which they would
derive by calling in the inspectors, and the preju-
dice formerly entertained with respect to them had de-
parted, and the assistance of the inspectors was found
most beneficial. He thought it right to state that the
inspectors had discharged their duty with courage in the
most unobjectionable manner, and with the utmost con-
sideration and regard for the feelings of the clergy—
and so long as they continued to follow that line of
conduct, so long would they meet with the utmost
facilities during their periodical visits. Then normal
schools had not so much to contend against the want of
funds as the want of efficient means to work them.—
(Hear.) Such as the schoolmaster was, such would be
the school. Therefore, he was satisfied that her Majes-
ty's Government could not act more wisely than in pro-
moting the extension of normal schools, and by training
up schoolmasters in the way mentioned, would induce
them to emulate each other, and to fit themselves to
perform a creditable part in the exhibition which took
place from time to time. He could not help suggesting
to the Noble and Learned Lord the expediency of his
paying a visit to some of the best conducted normal
schools in which he would find that many of
the suggestions he had made were in actual
operation.—(Hear, hear.) For instance, lineal drawing
had not only been practised for some time in the
National, but in the Normal schools also.—(Cheers.)
Then the Noble and Learned Lord had suggested the
establishment of such schools in different parts of the
kingdom, but at that time there were several in exit
ence; there was one in Chester, one in York, Durham,
Salisbury, and Exeter; so that that great want of which
he had spoken had been partially supplied. He also
suggested the expediency of making the children pay,
what he called, " quarterly pence." Now, there
was scarce a National school, especially in
London, where " weekly pence" was not paid.
the payment quarterly was objectionable. In fact, if
the payments were not more frequent, there was a great
probahility that none would be made. In some cases a
great portion of the expense of the schools was paid in
this way. He only mentioned these things in order to
show the Noble Lord the great improvements that had
been made during the last few years in those schools.
In the school at Chester to which he (the Right Rev.
Prelate) had alluded, there were several pupils who
when the proper time came, would_ pass their examina-
tions, and evince perhaps as much knowledge of morals
and philosophy as those in the schools of modern
Athens, for whose institutions the Noble and
Learned Lord had so much respect.—(Hear, hear.)
There was one part of the statement of the Noble Mar-
quis on which he should reserve his opinion until he had
obtained further information—he meant the workhouse
schools, the importance of which could not be over-
rated; and it should not be forgotten that it was ad •
visebin that those schools should be assimilated to the
nations l schools so far as the mode of instruction was
concerned. Ile had visited some of these workhouse
schools. lie had visited one in his own parish (Ful-
ham), and he was sure, another in which the children
were more happy, more cleanly, or more sensibly
amused, did not exist —(Hear, hear.) In looking
at the children, he could not help contrasting their
condition with what it would have been, if they had
been under the roofs of their parents. He had, as his
Noble Friend knew, taken a lively interest in the esta-
blishment of infant schools ; he had been instrumental
in establishing the first infant school at Chester. He
that nothing of a controversial nature could be was aware, °win. to the tender ages of the children,
e.
in-
troduced ; but as they were seminaries, or nurseries to
the training schools, religious instruction ought to be
'-earted at the earl!,7°l. Periodin the large towns-
-- se • -esnecially as owing Le the frequency
_
(Hear, hear).- _
Pre taken from the schools,
with which the children
for the purpose of being set t 4 work, they were deprived

of the benefit of religious training•. That instruction
ought to be imparted even if there was no chance of fi-
nishing it. He earnestly hoped that no disparagement
would be thrown on the national religion in carrying
out the impvovements and extensions which the Privy
Council had adopted, for which ho begged to thank them
most sincerely.
The Bishop St. ASAPH bad no objection to the se
lection of teachers from the lowest ranks of the
people; but he considered that a great evil would be in-
flicted on the country if they were all taken from those
ranks. The majority of the schoolmasters and school-
mistresses in England were taken from the ranks of lit-
tle shopkeepers or small farmers, who were but a step
above the labouring classes. Out of twenty he found
that only two had been in the national schools. Ho
considered that the teachers ought to be selected from
the middle classes. Such a class might be selected from
the old fashioned grammar schools.
The Earl of WINCHILSEA ccnsidered that no sys-
tem would be efficient except it was based on the prin-
ciples of the Established religion of the country, and
under the control of the clergy, who, if they zealously
devoted themselves to tke subject, might save the ex-
pense of the Government inspectors. Many of the
people were living in:a state of infidelity and heathenism,
and it was, therefore, the duty of the Government to
do all in their power to promote their spiritual welfare.
He approved of the plan submitted to their Lordships by
the Noble Marquis.
The ARCHBISHOP of CANTERBURY said his
views on the subject had been so well expressed by the
Right Reverend Prelate, who had just addressed their
Lordships, that he thought it unnecessary for him to
trespass on their time, beyond sincerely expressing his
thanks to the President of the Privy Council, for the
attention which he had paid to the subject of education,
and for bringing the plan he had before the House.

a storm and lost ; and that they were not captured or
murdered by the inhabitants.
PENINSULAR MEDALS.

Sir ANDREW LEITH HAY %ished to put a ques-
tion to the Secretary at War as to the steps which had
been taken to carry into effect her Majesty's gracious
intention of granting medals to the officers of the Penin-
sular army.
Mr. FOX MAULE said, that in carrying out the
gracious commands of her Majesty the details of the
measure had been attended with considerable diffi-
culty. He could assure the Honourable Member,
and the House, who had expressed so strong a
feeling on the subject at the close of the last
session, that no unnecessary delay should take place in
conferring on those gallant officers the rewards which
her Majesty had been graciously pleased to appoint.
RUSSIAN DUTIES ON HERRINGS.

Sir ANDREW LEITH HAY wished to put a ques-
tion to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs relating to
the duties levied in Russia and other countries on her-
rings exported from Great Britain ; he wished to know
whether it was the intention of that Government to
lower the rate of duties levied upon that article of
export?
Lord PALMERSTON said that each country regu-
lated its own tariff according to its own interests, real or
supposed, and it was a question in which other Govern-
ments could not interfere. He regretted, therefore, that
he was not able at present to give any satisfactory answer
to the question of the Hon. Member.
THE BLACK CAT.

Mr. MUNTZ wished to know upon what Authority,
or upon what grounds, the schooner Black Cat was de-
tained in the river, and why all information upon the
subject WAS refused to the owners by the Custom-house
authorities.

Several reports were then received and brought tip,
and forwarded a stage ; and their Lordships adjourned
at a Quarter-past Eight o'clock.

Lord PALMERSTON replied that the Black Cat
was detained at the request of the Portuguese Minister,
who represented that tke Black Cat was laden with con•
aiderable stores, to be used in hostilities on the coast of
Spain. . _

HOUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 5.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock.
NEW MEMBERS.

Mr. MUNTZ gave notice that, on Thursday week, he
should bring the subject of the detention of the Black
Cat under the attention of the House.—(Laughter.)
In answer to a question from Mr. O'CormiELL,
Mr. LABOUCHERE replied that Dublin would not
be excluded from the operation of the Destitute Persons
(Ireland) Act.
Mr. AGLIONBY wished to know if Government in-
tended to bring in any measure this session to correct
the evils attendant upoa the collection of the Merchant
Seaman's Fund.

Earl GROSVENOR and Lord ROBERT GROSVENOR took
the oaths and their seats—the former for Chester, in
the place of his uncle, and the latter for Middlesex,
in the place of Mr. Byng, deceased,
SECOND READINGS.

The following Bills were read a second time, and or-
dered to be committed:—
.

Bristol and South Wales Junction Railway and Aust

Ferry.
Direct London and Portsmouth and London, Brighton,
and South Coast Railways Amalgamation.
Doddington Rectory Division.
Glasgow, Airdrie, and Monklands Junction Railway
(Cowlairs, Carmyle, Central Junction, and Coplavr-
hill Branches, and Montrose-street Terminus).
Glasgow, Airdrie, and Monklands Junction Railway
(Cowlairs Branch).
Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr Railway, and
Ayrshire and Bridge of Weir Railway (No. 3).
Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle Railway, and Glasgow,
Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr Railway (No. 2),
Kingston-upon-Thames Small Tenements. _ _

Mr. WARD replied that it bad been determined to
institute a further inquiry into the subject, and a com-
mission would be appointed for that purpose. Upon
the result of that commission a measure would be
founded for remedying such evils as might be found to
exist.

Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne Junc-
tion Railway.
London and North-Western Railway (Purchase of the
Earl of Ellesmere's interest in the Manchester south
Junction and Altrincham Railway).
Liskeard and Launceston Branch Railway.
Lynn and Ely Railway (Extension to Spalding and
Holbeach).
Lynn and Ely Railway (Extension to Bury St. Edmund's).
Llynvi Iron Company.
Manchester and Lincoln Union Railway Deviation.
Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railways
(Louth and Horncastle and East Lincolnshire Junctiun
Branches).
Manchester Markets.
Norfolk Railway (from Thetford to the Lowestoft Rail-
way near Reedham, with a Branch to Hales worth).
North-Western Railway (Diversions at Skipton, Caster-

ton, and Sedbergh). -
Pres-ton and Wyre Railway.
Reading, Guildford, and Reigate Railway.
Wharfdale Railway (Skipton and Cayley Hall Delia-

tions).
Wear Valley, Bishop Auckland, and Weardale, Wear-
dale Extension, and Wear and Derwent Railways,
and Shildon Tunnel Amalgamation.
CAMBRIDGE AND THETFORD RAILWAY.
This Bill was read a first time.
LONDON IMPROVEMENTS BILL.
This Bill was brought up, and read a first time.
LONDON WATERWORKS.
This Bill was also read a first time.
OXFORD-STREET IMPROVEMENTS.
This Bill was also read a first time.
STANDING ORDERS.
It was reported from the Committee of Standing
Orders, that in the cases of the Bristol and Yeovil Rail-
way, and the Glasgow and Tregarthan Railway, the
standing orders ought not to be dispensed with.
PUNISHMENT OF DEATH.

Mr. BROTHERTON presented a petition from
certain inhabitants of the city of London against the
punishment of death.
POOR REMOVAL ACT.
Mr. W. 0. STANLEY presented petitions against
the Poor Removal Bill.
BREAD.

Mr. JOHN O'BRIEN presented petitions from the
inhabitants of Limerick, and also from ale corporation
of that place, praying that the bakers might be com-
pelled to sell bread by weight.
TEN HOURS' BILL.

Mr. FERRAND presented several petitions from
places in the manufacturing districts in favour of a ten
hours' Bill.

LAW OF SETTLEMENT.
Mr. ETWALL presented a petition from Stockford,
in Hants, against the law of settlement, and stating that
their rates had been largely increased by it.

LIGHT-llothikS AND BUOYS.
Captain PECHELL presented a petition, numerously
signed, from the shipowners of Sunderland, praying
that the cost of lighthouses and buoys should be de-
frayed out of the Consolidated Fund.
_ POOR BLIND.

Lord JOHN MANNERS presented a petition which
stated that the number of blind persons in the
several asylums of the country was upwards of nineteen
thousand, while there was only provision for the educa-
tion and religious instruction of two thousand.
REDUCTION OF THE DUTIES ON SPIRITS.
The NOBLE LORD also presented a petition from
several places in Scotland against the proposed reduction
on ruin and other foreign spirits. The pestitioners stated
that this reduction would occasion a loss of 2,000,0001
to the country.
TEN HOURS' BILL.
Mr. SPOONER presented a petition from Bolton in
favour of this Bill.
SECURITY OF TENURE.
Mr. S. CRAWFORD presented a petition from the
guardians of Broadhurst (as we understood), setting
forth that insecurity of tenure, and the want of a law
compelling compensation for the outlay made by tenants
in improving .the soil, were the great causes of the pre-
sent distress in Ireland, and that if the lands of that
country were properly cultivated remunerative employ-
ment would be given to the whole people, and that
they would thereby be enabled to support themselves
during similar calamities
from the Government, and prying the House to pass a
law to promote security of tenure.
MALT DUTY.

Mr. WODEHOITSE presented a petition from Nor--
folk, praying for the repeal of the malt duties.
amended
the
burdense law
d ;on
REDUCING THE DUTIES ON SPIRITS,
Mr. lIUME presented a petition from distillers in
Forfarshire, praying that the propo,ed reduction of the
duties on spirits might not be carried out.
LAW OF SETTLEMENT.
Mr. PALMER presented a petition from the board
of guardians of the Abingdon Union, complaining that
of
fsetthile
enientpassed last session imposed great
towns, and praying that it might be
m
that the support of the poor might be made a
national charge, and that all kinds of property might
be equally rated.
ENCLOSING COMMONS.

Mr. AGLIONBY gave notice that, on Thursday next,
he should move for leave to introduce a Bill—notice of
which he gave last sessioa— to facilitate the enclosure of
COOIIIIOII9.
LOANS TO IRELAND.
On the motion of Mr. BROWN the following returns
were ordered:—The account current of moneys which
have passed between Great Britain and and since
the union. Loans contracted by
the Irish rel
Govern-
ment, and the progress of the Irish national debt,
from its commencement down to 1801 (the union).
Subsequent loans contracted by the Irish Exchequer
until it was abolished, in 1817. How the debts con-
tracted before and after the union were disposed of, and
the sources from which the interest was paid. The re-
venue and expenditure of Ireland, from the sth of
January 1841 to the sth of January 1846, inclusive.
The taxes imposed in Great Britain and the taxes im-
posed in Ireland, and the amount of each tax during the
last ten years.
WINDOW DUTY.
Captain PECHELL moved for a return o the amount
of window duty assessed for the yeay 1845 for the twelve
towns paying the largest amount, with the net amount of
duty received for the same on the sth day of April 1846.
—Agreed to.
POOR-LAW COMMISSIONERS.
en of Lord
Palmerston
Captain PECHELL also moved, on behalf of the
Hon. Member for Weymouth, for copies of all
r. BO NV
corre-
spondence which had taken place between the Poor-
law Commissioners and the board of guardians for Wey-
mouth.—Agreed to.
toR tNhEeGT detentionE wishedT DETENTION
:f OF
IF
el
ot
rhCne a
0 aßtnNt
d maize in the
e
port of Ancona, bought for English account, and in-
tended to be shipped for this country, and to inquire
what measures had been taken in consequence.
Lord PALMERSTON stated that several represents-
!ions had been made to him on the subject, and he had
issued instructions to the Consul upon the subject. The
detention of the grain complained of did not arise from
any act of His Holiness the Pope, as had been stated,
but from the local authorities of the port of Ancona.

WRECK OF THE lIIGiIFLYER.
Dr. BOWItING wished to know whether the Govern-
ment had taken any steps in order to ascertain the
truth of a rumour which had spread as to the capture
and destruction by the natives of four persons who were
supposed to have been cast ashore on the coast of
Abyssinia?
Lord PALMERSTON said, that he had caused in-
quiries to be made upon the subject, and the answer
which he had received was, that after the most minute
investigation into the circumstances, it was the opinion
the persons employed to make the inquiries, that the
boat containingths four persons had been overtaken by