The Sun.
London, England, 1840-06-05 00:00:00

must be always remembered these regulations were
adopted for meeting the case of the physical condition
of the great majority of persons subjected to prison dis-
cipline, which, previous to that Act, had been much
neglected. He thought himself that public attention
required to be more directed to those who had fallen
under these regulations, and that the amendments that
had come up from the House of Commons did not
meet the evil. Ho would not relax or show any in-
dulgence to persons because they were born in a higher
sphere in life, but still they must consider how those
things operated as hardships on one class which did not
upon another. He thought, therefore, that the amend-
ments of the Commons might be carried a little further
with respect to those who had been convicted of minor
offences ; still he thought there was great objection to
giving this discretionary power to the Executive Go-
vernment, and it was only for the purpose of putting
an end to that evil that he had proposed his amendment
to their Lordships. He had shown that amendment to
the Lord Chief Justice, and he was of opinion with
him that it would be best to adopt the amendments as
they had come up from the House of Commons, adding
thereto the amendment he had proposed. He was
quite ready to postpone the consideration of those
amendments if be thought he could carry a general
measure on the subject.
Lord BROUGHAM thought one part of the Noble
Lord's statement was quite satisfactory, namely, that
directions had been given to inquire into the truth of
these allegations. Very opposite accounts had been
given, and he bad no doubt from the character of the
'gentleman employed, there would be some light thrown
upon the subject. The postponement of the power in-
tended to be conferred by the clause would not have
the effect of postponing the indulgence which he under-
stood had been already shown to that gentleman.
The Duke of RICHMOND thought the best thing
that could be done would be to refer the Bill to a Select
Committee. He thought when gentlemen were guilty
of a violation of the law, they ought to be punished with
as much, if not more severity than the humbler classes.
They ought to be very cautious in making any changes
in the great principle of prison discipline, because a man
might say he did not care for committing an offence, as
his health was weakly, and when sent to prison he would
receive indulgences. In his opinion, the best way to
deal with offences was to make the punishment certain,
and of that degree of severity that it would deter per-
sons from violating the law.
After a few words from the Marquis of NOR-
MANBY,
Lord BROUGHAM suggested that instead of in-
troducing such a law in the shape of an amendment to
an amendment in a Bill sent up by the House of Com-
mons, it should be brought in as a substantive measure.
In its present shape, he was satisfied their Lordships
would never agree to it.
The Earl of DEVON agreed to the principle, as
proposed by the Noble Marquis, as by it the Judge
would be enabled, when passing sentence on the pri-
soners, to state the class in which he should be confined.
The consideration of the amendments was then post-
posed, until that day week.
The Custody of Insane Persons Bill went through
a Committee. _

Lord MONSON moved the second reading of the
Payment of Wages Bill. The Noble Lord stated the
object of the Bill to be to put an end to a system of fraud
which was practised by the railway contractor upon
their workmen, by paying them with tickets instead of
cash.—The Bill was then read a second time.
The Bills on the table were advanced a stage, and the
House adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, JuNE 4.
The SPEAKER took the Chair shortly before Four
o'Clock.
On the motion of Mr. BET HELL, the Committee
on the Kingston-upon-Hull Docks Bill was revived,
and leave was given for it to sit on Thursday, the 11 th
instant.
On the motion of Sir E. WILMOT, the Aston
Small Debts Bill was read a third time and passed.
On the motion of Mr. BELL, the Lords' Amend-
ments to the Newcastle-upon-'Tyne Water Works Bill•
were agreed to.
Mr. ROUND brought up the Report of the Taff
Railway Bill.
Mr. BERNAL brought up the Report of the Com-
mittee on the Stroud Church Bill.
On the motion of Sir P. EGERTON, the Com-
mittee on the Weaver Churches Bill had leave to make
their report on or before Monday, the lath inst.
Mr. B ARN EBY brought up the report of the Com-
mittee on the West Stirlingshire Roads Bill.
ROYAL COMMISSION.
Mr. Pulman, Deputy Usher of the Black Rod, here
appeared at the table, and summoned the House
to the House of Lords, to hear the Royal As-
sent given by Commission to several public and private
Bills, (for which see our Lords' Report).
On the motion of Mr. 'IIIOS. DUNCOMBE the
Committee on the Clerkenwell Improvement Bill was
ordered to sit again on the 11th of June.
Mr. BROTHERTON presented two petitions
against any restriction on the importation of Hill
Coolies to the Mauritius.
Dr. LUSHING'rON presented two petitions from
places in Lincoln, against the importation of Hill
Coolies ; also a petition from a Union in Middlesex,
against rating stock in trade ; and a petition from Lime.
house, against Sunday trading.
Sir J. STYLE presented a petition from the Bap..
tist Congregation of Scarborough, against the impor-
tation of Hill Coolies.
Mr. HOSKINS presented a petition from the
grocers of Cardiff, praying for a reduction of the duty
on Sugar.
Mr. VILLIERS presented a petition from a place
in Yorkshire, against the Colonial Passengers' Bill ;
also petitions from Yeovil, in Somersetsbire, from places
in Derby and Chester, and from certain inhabitants of
Wellington-street, Sloane-street, Essex-street, and other
parts of London, praying for a repeal of the Corn-laws.
Dr. LEFROY presented a petition from the Rev.
Robert James M'Ghee, Minister of Harold's Cross
Parish, in the county of Dublin, complaining of the
assumption of temporal power over a portion of her
Majesty's subjects in Ireland by a " certain foreign Po-
tentate, commonly called the Pope of Rome," and the
promulgation of a Papal Bull, having for its object the
restoration to the Papists of forfeited estates now in the
possession of Protestants. The petition was read at
length by the Clerk at the table.
Mr. BA I LEY presented a petition from Worcester,
praying for a reduction of the duty on colonial sugar,
the produce of free labour.
Mr. G. PALMER presented a petition from Chelms-
ford against the employment of climbing boys for sweep-
ing chimneys.
Sir E. WILMOT presented a petition from Lincoln
against the exportation of 11111 Coolies from India.
Mr. ROUND presented a petition from a parish in
Essex against the increased power proposed to be given
to the Commissioneis by the Bth clause of the New
Poor-laws Amendment Act.
Mr. G. S. BARRY presented several petitions from
Cork county against the importation of foreign flour into
Ireland.
Lord 'WORSLEY presented a petition from Lincoln
against the Poor-laws Amendment Act.
Mr. GREG presented petitions against the Corn-
laws.

Mr. Alderman THOMSON presented a petition
from some Northern Ports complaining of an undue
preference to the Cinque Ports.
Capt. FITZROY presented a petition from Lewes
against the Constabulary Act, and
Mr. BERNAL, from Rochester, in its favour.
Mr. BAINES presented a petition praying for pro-
tection to the Hill Coolies removed to the Mauritius.
DISTRESS OF THE WEAVERS.

Mr. BROCKLEHURST presented a petition,
signed by about 1,000 to 1,200 silk weavers at Mac-
clesfield. To his thinking he had never presented one
more justly deserving the serious consideration of the
House, for it was virtually the petition of 800,000
hand-loom weavers against any further reduction of
duty on East India manufactured good. The
petitioners stated, that when foreign manufactured
silks were admitted to home consumption in the year
1826, their wages fell 40 to 50 per cent., entailing
upon them unprecedented distress—demoralization and
disaffection followed in the train ; that corn and tropi-
cal articles of consumption remained, owing to taxation,
as dear as when the change overtook them ; that they
had no hope put to throw themselves upon the House
for protection against any further reduction of their pre-
sent miserable amount of security by duty ; and prayed
to be heard before the Committee sitting to consider of
the equalization of duties betwixt England and India.
MR. O'CONNOR.

Mr. T. DU NCONIBE presented a petition from
the Charter Association of Edinburgh, complaining of
the treatment of Mr. O'Connor in York Castle.
Mr. F. DUNDAS presented a petition from Tot-
ness praying for a total repeal of the Corn-laws.
Mr. CART\VRIGHT presented a petition from
the Guardians of the Poor-law Union in Northampton-
shire, against the Poor-law Amendment Act. In pre-
senting that petition, he would take the opportunity of
stating he could not agree with the prayer of the petition,
for he thought the Poor-law Amendment Aet on the
whole to be an excellent measure, although it might
perhaps in some respects be capable of improvement.
Mr. A. WHITE presented a petition from the In-
dependent Congregation of Sunderland, praying the
House not to consent to any relaxation of the Order in
Council regulating the exportation of Hill Coolies from
India.

--
DUTY ON RAILWAY PASSENGERS.
Colonel SIBTHORP gave notice that in Commit-
the on the Railway Regulations Bill, when they came
to the consideration of that clause which imposed, a
duty of one halfpenny upon every four passengers per
mile, he should move that the duty of twopence be sub-
stituted for that of one halfpenny.
On the motion of Lord C. FITZROY certain re-
turns were ordered.
IL ND-LOOAI WAVERSORT. COMMISSIONERS
REP

Mr. G. DERNELLY seeing his lion. Friend d)