The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-19 00:00:00

szzeronn BRANCH.

Mr. Sergeant Waawcue 31 opened on. behalf of this branch,
which is to form a continuation of the London and York
branch, but the evidence is to be taken to-morrow.

GROUP XLVII.
This Committee met to-clay at twelve o'clock, the Hon.
E. Yorke in the chair.

WILSON TOWN, MORNINGSIDE, AND
COLTNESS (BRANCHES TO BENBAZ)
BILL.

This Bill was then proceeded with.
It was petitioned against by Mr. Mann, the agent of Mr.
Dixon, an iromnaster in the district, for whom Mr. Sergeant
Murphy appeared. Mr. Andrews was for the promoters.
Mr. ANDREWS opened the case, stating that the line was
a short mineral branch, to open up the Benhar mineral dis-
trict with Glasgow and Edinburgh. It was estimated to cost
24,7051., and would prove highly remunerative. The coal
and limestone that would be opened up amounted to many
millions of tons.

Mr. M'Creath, mining engineer, gave evidence as to the
mineral capabilities of the district, and the benefits which
the line would insure.

Mr. William M'Creath—He had examined the coal-fields
and reported to the promoters of this project. He had bored
in two places and found that the aggregate depth of the
working seam was ten feet, abd that there were some
16,000,000 of tons in all, that might be brought to the sur-
face. The whole country was rich in coal, and he had never
heard that a doubt had existed as to the existence of coal in
great quantities in this particular locality.
Mr. Williamson, mineral surveyor, gave similar evidence.
He had no doubt that the opening of these fields would, in a
considerable degree, lower the price cf fine coals in Edin-
burgh, and he believed that the furnaces=some seventy in
all, would be principally supplied from Benhar.
The Committee adjourned at four o'clock.

PETITIONS ON PRIVATE BILLS.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(THIS DAY.)
(Room 23, before Mr. Examiner MAY.)
CORNWALL AND DEVON CENTRAL PLYMOUTH
RAILWAY.
This case, which is on the opposed list, again came under
the consideration of the Examiner. After a number of
formal proofs had been tendered the case was further ad-
journed.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—(THIS DAY.)
Their Lordships sat to-day in the new House of
Lords for the tint time to hear appeals. 'The Peers
present were the Lord Chancellor, Lord Brougham,
Lord C-nlapbell, and the Bishop of Hereford. -•
THE EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW RAILWAY COMPANY v.
THE PR.,YosT AND TOWN COUNCIL OF LINLITHGOW.
Mr. BETHELL replied at coniiderable length to-day
in this cast., the arguments in which were part heard
prior to the Easter recess.
Tneir Lordships postponed giving judgment.

IMPERI A L PARLIAMENT.

( HIS E VENING.)

HOUSE OF LORDS.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat upon the Wool-
sack at Five o'clock.

The Earl of EULINGTON presented a petition from
the malt distillers of the west of Scotland against the
Customs Duties, and praying tf at they might be allowed
a drawback equal to the difference in the duty on rum
and spirits.
The Earl of WALSINGHAM presented a petition
against the law of settlement.
The Earl of CLANCARTY presented a petition,
pita) ing for poor relief in Ireland. The Noble Lord,
who was very inaudible, was understood to say that the
present question was one that required considerable con-
sideration. There could be no doubt that there were
many obsta-les with which those who were unacquainted
with the subj:_ct could have no conception of.
Several Bills were brought up from the Commons,
and read a first time.
GOVERNMENT EDUCATION PLAN.

Lord BROU(IIIAM presented a petition trom the
Protestant Dissenters of Reading, Banbury, and Abing-
don, against the Government seln me of education. In
doing so he wished to ask his Noble Friend what
was the reason of the change which the Corn •
niittee of Education had decided upon since the
. plan 1839. He could only say that the accession
of the Disbenters would only be obtained by some such
system being adopted as the plan of 1839.
The Marquis of LAIsTSDOWNE said that in the plan
of 1839, and of that subsequently propounded in 1841, it
was fully intended that the Scriptures should be made a
part of the system of education; but so much of opposi-
tion had been shown that it was determined that none
but the authorised version of the Scriptures should be
adopted, but the reception of the system was to be left
opiional.
Lord BROUGHAM had always been a party to any-
thing than the use of the authosised version, and he
believed that no school would be allowable without the
use of Scriptural instruction, and the reply therefore
was no answer to his question. The Noble Marquis had
I stated that none but the authorised and regular version
was to be used. But it should be recollected that there
was one version used in England, and another
in Scotland. In England there were but two
schools which would require Government assist
ance,.though in Scotland there would be more, and in
Leland, in all probability there would be many who
would have a right to this aid. The question, there-
fore, came. with great force as to what was the autho-
rised veiseie of
.the Scriptures. There was the Cathblic
version, a,tCct:llNere.:`s4as the Protestant.versiop, but. he.
was atonished that any question should be raised ebbed
either in this year, not oe-1447., or 1547, but in the year
1847; and he regretted that in this year there should be
mixed up on this great question. the broiling spirie of•
bigotry on both sides.
Lord BEAUMONT wished to ask what was the
system which the Government intended to pursue.
No other minute existed but that which bore date the 3d
of December, 1839. There was no other published but
that, and he thought it wi.uld require some igenuity to
construe that minute into the meaning given to it by
the Noble Marquis, namely, that one particular
version, of the Scriptures must be used in its
integrity, and the words us, .d in their minutes were
or p duns of the Old and New Testament. Now that
formed a great objection to Catholics attending
these schools. It was a great source of rtgret to him
that the explanation of the Noble Lord was calculated
to create still further sectarian divisions and dislike to
spiritual education. He hi d hoped to see under the
same roof, and instructed by the same masters,
and inspected by the same men, both Catholics
and Protestants receiving education together, and by
that means, in course of time, to do away with that ill
feeling which resulted from sectarian differences. The
question he wished to ask, therefore, from the Noble
Marquis was this, was there any other minute, any un-
published minute, with regard to the use of the autho-
rised version of the Scriptures, besides the minute dated
the 3d December, 1839.
The Marquis of LAN. SDOWNE was understood to
lie wished to stit:t
say, that there was no minute which would bear
'seen made had reference, put upon it by the
the construed()
that the general observation
of the Scriptures, Noble Lord
schcols, judgmentb
,ruetnee, not to the authorised version
that had
only
reference to Roman Catholic
would be delivered when a fur-
ther amount of knowledge eawvaes obtained. He had hoped
been made to the measure
that no objection wouldgh
hßadit(aTtoGgettlhAerMelbiesgegueddersteedxpl_oin.
If His
the Noble
eu .
of the Government.
Scriptures were
t. read in
Friend had
au-
thorised version of the
schools the ertholies would not reeeive' the
Earl RADNOR wished to make a few observations.
(LEFT SITTING.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The SPEAKER took the Chait. at FouroVeek.