The Sun.
London, England, 1847-05-19 00:00:00

STONERS.

Mr. FERRAND wished to give notice to the Hon. Mem-
ber for Bolton, that on Friday it was his intention to put a
question to him relating to the positive contradiction made last
night by the chief Secretary of State for the Home Department,
of a most solemn declaration made by a late Secretary of State
that Mr. Mott had been dismissed from his office as Assistant
Commissioner for conduct of which the Hon. and Learned
Gentleman was acquainted, and which declaration the Hon.
and Learned Gentleman stated at the time was sufficient to
clear his character as a Member of that House.
Dr. BO WRING said he should be much indebted to the
Hon. Gentleman if he would put his question.
Mr. FERRAND was prepared to do so. It was. Whether
the Hon. and Learned Gentleman was now prepared, after the
positive contradiction—the solemn declaration—of the late Se-
cretary of State for the Home Department with regard to Mr.
Mott, to take any further steps for further clearing his own
character, and the character of his constituents in reference to
the same subject ?
Dr. BO WRING did not know in what manner his charac-
ter was involved in any thing that had taken place on a former
aight.—(Cheers. )

FLOUR.
Mr. FERR AND desired to ask the First Lord of the Trea-
sury, as it was calculated that 183,120,000 lbs. weight cf the
best flour was annually used merely for the purpose of dres-
sing the warps for weaving, besides an immense quantity for
the purpose of daubing cottons with flour paste, to defraud the
public, whether it was his intention to bring in a Bill to pro-
hibit the use of flour for such purposes ?
Lord J. RUSSELL said that he begged to assure the Hon.
Gentleman that he had no such intention.
EDUCATION.

Mr. THOMAS DUNCOMBE moved that an humble
address be presented to her Majesty, that she will be graci-
ously pleased to give Cirections, that there be laid before this
House, by the Committee of Council on Education, within
twenty-one days next after the commencement of every Ses-
sion of Parliament, the following returns, made up to the Ist
day of the month in which such returns are so presented :
Of every school, alphabetically arranged, to which Govern-
ment aid has been voted in the preceding financial year, dis-
tinguishing Church of England from British and Dissenting
Schools, showing the amount advanced in each case, and
specitying whether given for building, repairs. furniture, books,
field gardens, or workshops, or for salaries or pensions of
schoolmasters, schoolmistresses, pupil teachers, or stipendiary
monitors; of the name, profession, date of appointment, amount
of salary, allowance, and travelling expenses of each inspector;
of every school making application for aid, distinguishing the
applications wanted from the applications refused, and the
grounds of such refusal ; and, in all school-building cases in
which the application has been successful, showing the sum
which, according to a certified estimate or other reasonable
calculation, would have to be provided by voluntary subscription.
He considered that the Government measure conferred a vast
amount of too much patronage upon the executive. He also
was of opinion that the salaries of these inspectors was exceed-
ingly high.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said he should not have any ob-
jection to the return, but the Hon. Gentleman was quite mis-
taken if they were to have seventy inspectors in that House.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE would call the attention of the House
to the petition of the inhabitants of the borough of Sheffield
(presented May 13), complaining of the Magisterial conduct
of Wilson Overend, Esq. He moved for a copy of the con-
victions which had taken place before him, and a re-
turn also of those which had afterwards been quashed.
It appeared that Mr. Overend was a gentleman in very exten-
sive medical practice, but he hoped that his physic was better
than his law. He was generally called in where there was any
disagreement between the employers and the employed, but it
was very singular that he never sided with the employed. The
trades in the town of Sheffield were attached to trades unions,
but the magistrates not taking the same view of the benefits of
such a system as the tradesmen themselves, they accordingly
set their faces against them. However, most of his convictions
were quashed. The first feelings of the inhabitants was to have
Mr. Overend dismissed, but they afterwards considered that the
course which they ought to adopt was the one which he now
was pursuing ; and by these returns they would see
how much justice was done to the character of Mr. Ove-
rend. He believed that the administration of justice
on the part of this gentleman was very much open to challenge.
The Government aught to appoint in these districts stipendiary
magistrates, who would be far removed from local anti trade
prejudices. There was no objection made to the other magis-
trates, and certain,y it was very singular that such a number of
convictions obtained before Mr. Overend should subsequently be
quashed. It was prima facia. evidence that there was some-
thing wrong in the matter. It was quite proper for trades-
men to combine if their masters combined ; but he considered
that when a combination existed for the purposes of intimida-
tion, the guilty party ought to be punished.
Sir GEORGE GREY said he had no objection to the re-
turn, but he was bound to say that no communication, save in
praise of Mr. Overend, had reached the Crown. He under-
stood, however, that a fearful state of intimidation and com-
bination existed in the town of Sheffield. He would be glad if
the opinions expressed by the Hon. Gentleman respecting in-
timidation were generally adopted by the parties whom he re-
presented upon the present occasion.
Mr. B. DENISON said that he knew Mr. Overend, and
could bear ample testimony to his character as a most upright
and humane gentleman. He should inform the House that Mr.
Overend was the only active magistate in the town. Others
came in from a distance, and certainly gave valuable assistance.
He would beg leave to move, in addition, for copies of the me-
morial sent to the Crown from the Town of Sheffield upon this
subject.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that he
was bound to bear testimony to the character of Mr. Overend,
which he always understood as most unexceptionable.
Mr. STUART WORTLEY said that he knew Mr. Over-
end, and there was not a more upright or more conscientious
gentleman in the kingdom. All the convictions which had
been quashed were so by reason of some informality, as parties
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Mr. Overend had received numerous letters from
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of the utmost fortitude on the part of those
who administered the law. A law had been passed
upon the subject a short time since, and the consequence of the
state of things existing in Sheffield was most deplorable. He
would, therefore, entreat the Hon. Member to use his influence
with the persons belonging to the different trades unions in that
town, to alter their course of conduct, which would if perse-
vered in lead to the utter destruction of the trade in that town.

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Mr. HENLEY thought that if the magistrates hadacted
•rongly, the Court of Law was the proper place to set such
conduct right, and if the interference of a Court of Law was
not advisable, then he thought that the Crown was to be
called upon to exercise its high functions. He thought that if
the proposed motion were to be agreed to. it would be setting a
premium for persons asking this House to decide as judge
and jery in all matters that might be brought before it.
Mr. WARD entirely concurred in many of the observations
which had fallen from the Hon. Member opposite. He lie-
lieved that these unions were the most difficult thing which a
magistrate had to deal with ; and if ever there was a case in
which it was necessary to show exemplary patience and free-
dom from prepossession in opinion, it was the question of the
trades' unions as at present existing in Sheffield. There was
no doubt that some of those unions were beneficial to the par-
ties,
resolutions among themselves to obtain their ends,
carryimorat force or by moral influence, but by some-
thing bordering upon threats, and always followed by
and were deserving of support; but when theyca menotot
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of
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acts of violence, he thought that such conduct indicted
an injury upon the working classes such as was almost impos-
sible
of depression. He had known several persons who
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so. He was sure that there might be faults upon
manufactories in that town, but who had, in consequence of
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bring both parties into some amicable arrangements; but he
influence of threats and violence, which were sure to be visited
at last by the strong arm of the law.
Mr. PARKER concurred in the opinion expressed by the
Hon. Member for the West Riding (Mr. S. Wortley) and the
Hon. Member for Sheffield (Mr. Ward) as to the injurious
effects upon the trade of the town of Sheffield by the improper
conduct of some of these unions.
Mr. T• DUNCOAIBE said that it was for the purpose of
promoting a good understanding between the masters and men
that he was induced to connect himself with the cause of the
workmen to the extent which he had done. He had no oppo-
sition to offer to the motion of the Hon. Member.
The motion was then agreed to.
DUTIES ON COPPER ORE.

Mr. MUN TZ postponed his motion for a Select Committee
to inquire into the operations of the law regulating the existing
duties on copper ore until Ist of June next.
FEES IN COURTS OF LAW AND FQUITY.
Mr. B. ESCOTT moved that the following Members be ap-
pointed a Select Committee to inquire into the fees of the
Courts of Law and Equity—Mr. Watson, Sir J. Graham, The
Attorney General, The Solicitor General, Sir F. Thesiger,
Stuart Wortley, Mr. Romilly, Mr. Walpole, Mr. B. Escott,
Mr. Roebuck, Mr. Cardwell, Mr. Parker, Mr. Hume, Sir
J. Hammer, and Mr. Ewart.
Motion agreed to.
COMMITTEE ON RAILWAY BILLS.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved for a
Select Committee to consider whether it is expedient that any
measures should be adopted for suspending further proceedings
in all or any of the Ra►lroad Bills in the present session, and
er s
Hume, :—Thei‘ir
.Ch an -for enabling the parties, under certain conditions, to proceed
with the same in a future session of Parliament; also, whether
standing orders of this House relative to Bills for the construe
it is advisable that any future provision should be made in the
tion of Railroads, and to report their opinion thereupon to the
House from time to time. He would also move that the Cm-
oatl
her, manner,immediately s o as to
Hud-
son, Sir G. Clerk, Mr. Charles Russell, Mr. Baring, Mr.
Yhdeerwpollismiiethpkortant point was that of
Strutt, Mr. Chaplin, Mr. Ellice, and Mbry.
existing
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There were several ►mportant points to be referred to the
Committee, (Ale of them was the important question with
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