The Sun.
London, England, 1841-02-26 00:00:00

STEAM-VESSELS.

Lord SANDON wished to call the attention of the
Government to a subject which had recently excited
considerably interest. His attention had been caltad to
the subject by the melancholy instance in which loss• of
life had lately occurred in consequence of the absence of
a distinct rule with regard to steamers as to what side:
they should pass. The House was aware that a rule
bad existed a grcat time with regard to sailing vessels,
but there was no rule which prevailed universally for all
levels. He wished to ask whether the Noble Lord
was prepared to call the attention of the House to it,
or to introduce any measure on the subject.
Mr. L A BOUC H ERE said the subject had engaged
his attention some time before the melancholy catas-
trophe to which the Noble Lord had alluded, but be
found that a strong opinion existed in the minds off
those he consulted on the subject, that:such a course'
would not be desirable. The Trinity. had issued re-
gulations on the subject for steamers, and also as to the
lights to be displayed, and th#e they had rendered im-
perative on their own vessels. The same rules had
been adopted by the Admiralty, and were imposed upon
the Government steamers, and it was also circulating
throughout the country, and generally adopted. The
rule for sailing vessels depended not upon enactment,
but on general custom and understanding, and it had
been found advisable also to allow these regulations
to rest upon general understanding likewise, and
he believed there was no doubt that if any acci-
dent occurred in consequence of any steamer neg-
lect•ng these regulations, the Court of Admiralty, and
other Courts, would severely punish the offenders, as
much as if they had trespassed upon a positive enact-
ment. He thought it desirable also, that foreign
countrie-, especially those whose steamers entered
the waters of this country, should adopt the salve rules
as were laid down for our steamers ; but on the best
consideration, and from the best information he could
obtain, he did not think it advisable to introduce any
Bill ripen the subject.
Lord SANDON inquired whether any communica-
tion had been made to foreign Powers.
Mr. LABOUCHERE said that no formal commu-
nication had taken place, but the subject had been treated
of informally.
Mr. GIL LON gave notice that on the 11th of
March he should move for a Committee of the whole
House to address her Majesty, praying that she would
he graciously pleased to grant assistance and support to
Mechanics' Institutions and Schools of Art.
PACKET STATION.

Mr. FRESHFIELI) gave notice that on the 3d or
March be should move an address to her Majesty for-
copies of the correspondence between the Lords of the
Admiralty and the Commissioners appointed to survey
the different harbours on the coast, on the subject of tha
selection of a proper port for the West India mail pac-
ket station. .

Captain PECHELL gave notice that to-morrow be
should move for returns of the number of mates in the
Royal Navy, showing those who had passed their exa-
mination for Lieutenants, with the date of their com-

lIIISSIonF.
EMIGRATION TO THE WEST INDIES. h
Mr. MACKINNON gave notice that on the I ltt
of March he should move the appointment of a Sel?.e
Committee to consider the expediency of introducing
labourers into the West India Colonies.

ARMS (IRELAND).
M-. Sergeant JACKSON begged to ask the Noble
Lord the Secretary for Ireland whether it was the in-
tention of the Government to effect any change in the
law with regard to the registration of arms in Ireland,
as it was generally understood that arms had got into
the hands of improper persons in various parts of the
country.
Lord MORPETH believed that there were powers
which might be exercised by the Magistracy to remedy
thot evil. The Government had received several sug-
gestions on the subject, but they were not quite certain
whether there was not sufficient powers in the law as it
at present stood, without calling for fresh enactments.
Mr. O'CONNELL wished to know whether the
Noble Lord meant to confirm the statement of the
Hon. and Learned Gantleman, that arms had got,into
the hands of improper persons.
Mr. JACKSON had made the statement on the
authority of Magistrates.
Lord MORPETH was understood to say that the
Government had reason to believe that arms bad got
into the hands of improper persons.—(Loud cheers from
the Tory benches.)
IMPORT DUTIES (WEST INDIES.)
Mr. E. TENNENT begged to ask whether the
Government had received any information.,of_tai measure
proposed proposed by the Legislative Assembly °l'll goodsn
place an import duty of 5 per Cept•
urpothnataproposal was
im-
ported into that colony, and
whehreth.e Majesty's Government,
likely to meet the sanction of
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said Government had
received information that such a measure had passed
the Jamaica Legislature, but it bad not yet been taken
into consideration
tThHatEthl-eIONUobSIE'
Noble
Lord had
BUSINESS
sOaidF
S'r E. SUGDEN
given notice of his intentiontion to proceed to-morrow first
with the Customs, Duties
and secondly with the
County Courts Bill. Now he had not the least objec-
tion to the Noble Lords proceeding with the first Bill,
but with regard to the County Courts Bill, he
thought that ought not to be proceeded with until
the Local Courts Bill was before the House.
Should it be proposed to proceed with that Bill to-
morrow, he should feel it his duty to move that it be
read a second time that day four months.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said, that with regard to
the Orders of the Day for to-morrow, he proposed to
take the Bill for the equalization of the duties on East
India Rum in the first place ; with regard to the other
Orders of the Day, he was not preparei to state how
he should take them at present.
Sir E. SUGDEN objected to proceeding with the
County Courts' Bill until the Local Courts' Bill should
be before the House. Many Alembers had prepared
themselves under the idea that the two Bills were to
be discussed together, and as they both formed part of
one great measure he should certainly object to pro-
ceeding with the one without the other.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said he was the first
person, occupying his situation, %rho had ever regularly
given notice of the Orders of the Day he intended to
move first, but if he were pressed to fix precisely the
Orders that were to have precedence, he should be
obliged to fall back upon the old practice, and state in
answer to any questions, that the Orders would be taken
in the usual course.
Sir ROBERT PEEL thought the Noble Lord had
misunderstood his Right Hon. and Learned Friend.
lie did not press the Noble Lord to fix the exact pre-
cedence in which the Orders should be taken, but he
merely st ited his opinion that, as there were two Bills
on the same subject, one of which was printed and the
other was not, it would be better not to proceed with
the discussion of the first Bill until the second
should be printed, so that the Members might