The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-27 00:00:00

CORN-LA WS.

The Earl of RADNOR presented a great number
of petitions for the repeal of the Corn-laws, from Barn-
staple, St. Alban's, Horteord, Bihton, Taunton, several
places in Somersetshire and Cornwall, and from various
other places, of which we could not catch the names.
The Earl of CARLISLE presented petitions from
Morpeth, and other places, in favour of the Drainage
of Towns' B;11 ; also a petition from a place in Middle-
sex for the abolition of Church Rites ; and a petition
from inhabitants of Hackney, for the abolition of tolls
on the Metropolitan Bridges.
The Duke of WELLINGTON presented a peti•
tion from the Mayor, Aldermen, and Barcesses of
Hastings, in favour of the Jews' Declaration B 11; also
a petition from Bath against the County Courts' B 11.
The Eail of FALMOUTtI presented a petition
from medical practitioners in Cornwall, agaiest the
Mtalical Reform B 11.

The Archbishop of CA'NTERBURY p7es?,nted a pe-
tition from 13atli-Easton, in the county of SJinersct, for the
exclusen of Roman Catholics from Parliament. Ile
thought, under present circumstances, it would be im-
possible for any reasonable man to concur in the prayer
of the petitiu'.
SUBMARINE MINES, CORNWALL.

Lord DUNCAN NON said, that in consequence
of what ha I fallen from the Noble EArl opposito
(the Earl of Falmouth), respecting the claims of
the Duchy of Cornwall to the produce of mines
which wire worked under the sea, he had in-
quired into the subject, and the correspondence thereon
was too voluminous for him to read through, but. he
would say that the 1 tw•officers of the Crown and the
Duchy had been consulted, and by their advice ,it was
ntcndcd to try the right of the Duchy to the produce
n question.

The Earl of FALMOUTH said that the proprie-
tors of those mines had engaged their propel ty
in the submarine produce from time immemorial.
The present claim was a revival of an obsolete
right which had never existed but in theory, and had
never been enforced. The Nullum Tern pus Act shut
out the Crown from receiving claims to rights which a
subject had exercised for 61 years, and it was supposed
that the Duchy of Cornwall was included in that Act.
It now appeared that through some technical error the
Duchy was omitted. If an advantage were now taken
of the oversight to interfere with the rights of individuals,
the whole of the county would rise as one man against
the injunction.
Lord DUNCANNON said that none of the mines
proceeded against or to be proceeded aiainst it, including
the mines of 'the Noble E trl himself—(Laughter)—
had been worked under the sea to the invasion of the
rights of the Crown more than 40 years.—(Heir, hear.)
After a few words from Lord ABINGER and the
Earl of CAWDOR the conversation dropped.
The Earl of WINCH ELSEA presented several
petitions from places in Suffolk and Essex against any
further grant to the College of Maynooth ; also a pe-
tition ;from a place in Suffolk against a repeal of the
Corn-laws ; also a petition from the Archdeacon of
Sudbury against the Tithe Commutation Act ; also a
petition praying for certain alterations in the new
Poor-law, for a limitation of the power of the Commis-
sioners, and for authorizing the guardians to grant
out-door relief in certain cases only.
METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENT BILL.

'Viscount DUNCANNON having moved the se-
cond reading of the Metropolitan ImproveMent Bill,

The Earl of WINCHELSEA wished to ask the
Noble Viscount whether it was the intention of the
Government to take measures for opening as much
as possible the Regent's Park to the public,
and whether they were resolvel on forming a park at
the eastern end of the metropolis ?
Viscount DUNCANNON said that he bad great
pleasure in stating that her Majesty's Government were
prepared to open the whole of the grass part
of Regent's Park, as far as it could be done with a
due regard to the rights of those who had laid out
large sums in the purchase of villas in the neighbour-
hood. The whole of the Park would be thrown open
to the public except the private enclosures. He
was most anxious to throw the Park open as quickly as
possible.
Lord ASHBURTON thought it was a great mis-
take to suppose that throwing open every part of the
Park was the best way to consult the pleasure of the
public, for the preservation of the ornamental gardens
was as necessary to their enjoyment as was the access
to the open parts surrounding those necessarily inclosed
spots.
The Bishop of LONDON, in connection with the
subject of the improvement of the metropolis, wished
to bring the attention of the House to the state of the
churchyards of the city of London. It was such, that
he was most desirous to see a general law passed
for the purpose of preventing any future interment in
that city.— (Hear, hear.) He thought that it.
would be possible to frame an Act for the general
establishment of cemeteries in the neighbourhood of the
metropolis, without injuring the pecuniary interests of
the metropolitan clergy, one of whom had suffered a
diminution of 2001. a year in his income, in conse-
quence of the interment of his parishioners in the ce-
metery at Kensal•green. The Reverend Prelate was
most desirous also that those of the cast part of
the metropolis should participate in the proposed im-
provements. He wished to know from the Nobl.e
Lord at the head of the Woods and Forests, whether
it was intended to provide a Royal Park for the East
end ?
Lord DUNCANNON said that he was most
anxious to do the Ltmost to improve the neglected and
unhealthy' localities in that part of the metropolis to
which the Rev. Prelate alluded ; and, in fact, in the Me-
tropolis Improvement Bill, and in the Drainage Bill, that
object was to some extent provided for. But with re-
spect to the proposed purchase and planting of the
Royal Park, he thought it better not to state at present
what his intentions were, for by doing so he should
render it impossible to carry them into effect.—(Hear.)
The Marquis of NORMANB Y said that he
was desirous to frame such a measure as the
Right Rcvcrcnd Prelate had alluded to, for the
prevention of interment in the metropolis, and for
providing cemeteries. But be had found the subject so
beset with difficulties, that he had as yet made no pro-
gress with it. However, he did not despair, and he
would be very happy to assist the Right Rev. Prelate,
if the latter would take the question into his own hands.
The Bill was then read a second time.
The Ecclesiastical Commission Amendment Bill was
read a second time, on the motion of the Archbishop of
Canterbury.
Lord ['ATHERTON prctented a n:!ti.ion from 500
boatmen on the Liverpool and - Canal, praying the
House to take steps to prevent the necessity of their
working on Sundays.
The Earl of ABERDEEN prevented a petiiion from
a Chamber of Commerce in Scotland, praying that no
alteration might be made in the Banking System of
Scotland.
SUNDAY TRADING ON CANALS.

The Marquis of NORMANBY, in rising to move that
a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into the ex-
pediency of preventing Sunday trading on Canals, Navi-
gable Rivers, and Railways, said he could not consent to
any measure which would tend to limit the innocent en-
joymmes of the people, or even to interfere with those oc-
casional pursuits which the state of society rendered ne-
cessary—all be wanted t 3 do was to give relief, and the
means of moral and religious improv merit to those who,
under the present state of the law were compelled to
work revers days each week. The present system was
one which subjected the boatmen to much misery.
asd the inhabitants along the line of canals
to much inconvenience; it was also the cause
of much of the leaser crimes, as they had an op-
portunity of pilfering on Sunday, when the people were
engsgad in the services of the day. lie proposed to ex-
tend the provisions of any measure to the carriage of goods
by railways on Sundays, for it was rendered wholly unne-
cessary by the rapid communication now established
throughout Oie country, and it would be giving then an
unfair advantage over canals if they were allowed to carry
goods while it was prohibited on water. There were some
chfliculties in the way, but he did not think they were in-
superable, and he hoped they would in Committee find
means to overcome there.
The Bishop of LICHFIELD *e motion of the
Noble Marquis would be received throughout the country
with great sstisfactien—he could answer tor it that it would
be hai!ed with gratitude by the whole of the people in his
diocese, which Ives more intersected by canals than any
other in the country. Not only the boatmen employed on
the canals, but the carriers, were anxious that Sunday
traffic should be put a stop to, and numerous petitions had
been presented to their Lordships on the subject. Some
respectable and high-minded men had stopped their boats
from travelling on Sundays, but in consequence of their
doing so they lost their turn in the trade, which was a se-
lious detriment and loss to them, and they were obliged to
put them on agsin. They nose, however, most anxious
that some legislative enactment should be framed to put
an end to the system. Many of the boatmen lived in these,
canal boats, and the consequence cf their trading on Sun-
days was, that their wives and families were equally de-
prived of the proper observance of the Lord's day.
Lord COLCHESTER inquired whether it was in-
tended to include navigable rivers, and to prevent vessels
arriving from abroad from entering ?
The Marquis of NORM ANB Y said he thought such
a measure would he produetiv of great inconvenience,
and he would remind the Noble Lord that they were not
now legislating.
be
egislating, but merely arranging as to tire duties of
a Committee of Inquiry.
Lord HATHERTON said that was one of the diffi.
culties of the subject. He wished to know how estuaries
and tide rivers were to be considered ; but as regarded
Thethe
canals and canal rilcrF, he thought goods and merchandize
public.cositn
ompnpitetedeonwaSsutnhden ayiapwpit,,hinotuetd.any inconvenience
to
Bill
Lir reOmßovDingCdllo,ukbNtsCal4s: LtoLtOheßliaTidlityonto the
mnitsabe a
Punishment
of Peers and Lords of Parliament, in certain casesof felony.
The Marquis 01 IiORMANBY laid on the table the