The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-05 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, March 4.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Woo]
sack at Five o'clock.

LIGHT-HOUSES.
The Earl of EGLINTON presented a Petition from
Aberdeen, praying that the cost of light-houses might
be defrayed by the State.

JUVENILE COMMITMENT.
Lord BROUGHAM moved for a return of the docu-
ments relating to the commitment of a boy to Tothill-
fields, on the 19th of February last, for felony. The
boy was but five years and two months old, and the
present motion was with a view to the removal of the
magistrate.
Lord CAMPBELL said the only question to be con-
sidered was as to whether such proceeding should
originate in their Lordships' House or elsewhere, be-
cause the action to which his Noble and Learned Friend
referred was monstrous.
Lord BROUGHAM said, he had conferred with his
friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department,
as well as his Noble and Learned Friend the Lord
Chancellor, and they agreed with him (Lord Brougham).
He agreed with his Noble Friend as to that House not
being the proper place for these proceedings: but yet he
thought, under the circumstances, they should be
granted.

The motion was then agreed to.
NAVIGATION AND EXPORT RETURNS.
The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH moved for the aaviga-
tion and export returns for the last two years, with a view
to Comparison, as there had been a diminution in some
~of the most important exports to the extent of 3,329,0001.
In sheep's wool there had been a falling off to the
amount of 1,500,0001b5. There was a great diminution
also in articles that were necessary to the perfecting of
manufactures ; in dyes and dye stuffs there was a small
increase ; but in cochineal and madder there was a de-
crease. There was • marked falling off in madder root,
snd in indigo to the amount of two-ninths of the
whole usual imports, and in bark to the extent
of 97,000 cwts There was likewise considerable
decrease in the import of barilla ; in untanned hides to
the number of 210,000. In cocoa nut oil there was a
slight increase, but in all the other articles there was a
serious falling off. There was a diminution in these
articles of import, but especially in the raw materials,
Lee subject of our manufacturing industry. He had
h
been making mk ntion of certain diminutions, but he
Must say that the trade of Britain appeared
Upon the whole, not going back, but stationary ; that
seemed to be the result. Perhaps it would not be pro-
per for him then to raise any inferences upon the details
which he had just mentioned. He ought to mention,
nowever, that there had been an increase in the export
of machinery and of metals, to be used no doubt in the
manufactures and the railways of other countries. The
Noble Lord added that perhaps it might be desirable to
have returns, similar to those for which he had moved,
Tor the last six months of 1844.
The Earl of CLARENDON said there could be no
objection to the returns just moved for, as he believed
Y would enable them and the country generally better
L estimate their prospects and their present condition.
The Noble Lord, in moving for the returns, had referred
to different details and diminution, but he believed that
satisfactory reasons could be given for these diminu-
tions.

Lord ASHBURTON wished to know from the Noble
Earl whether it was true that there had been a very
great importation of woollen cloths into this country
from Belgium, in consequence of the recent reduction of
the duties on goods of foreign manufacture, and whether
this importation had interfered with the manufactures of
this country?
The Earl of CLARENDON had heard of that im-
portation from Belgium, but he had heard of no com-
plaints from the woollen manufacturers of this country
With reference to it.
The motion was then agreed to.
LABOURING POOR (IRELAND) BILL.
The Earl of CLANRICARDE moved the com-
mittal of this Bill.
Lord MONTEAGLE thought that the Government
deserved praise for having attended in this Bill to the
suggestions he had thrown out. He cordially approved
of the principle of encouraging as much as possible
Voluntary contributions, rather than the mode of com-
pulsory payments, in support of the poor. He
Would not throw any obstacle in the way of
.the further progress of the present measure. He
hoped that no consideration would have the effect of
causing them to fail in making the present measure as
effective as possible.
The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said he was quite
opposed to any compulsory clause on either land or land-
lord being introduced into this Bill. It was his con-
scientious opinion that if such a clause was introduced
it would prove pernicious.
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE explained that
the terms of the Act showed that the objection to the
indemnity clause was not justified. It certainly was
largely framed, but it was yet sufficiently explicit and
defined.

Lord BROUGHAM said—lf his Noble Friend had
said that this clause was loosely, instead of largely,
framed, he was sure that everybody would have agreed
with him. The meaning of the Act was to indemnify the
Government, and those who acted under the Government,
from any evil consequence; but in consequence of Mr. La-
bouchere's Act this intention was in a degree frustrated.
The present measure would give an indemnity to all
persons who had acted illegally under the Act, and any
presentment made under the Act were to be indemnified
from all penalties. He looked with great apprehension
nn the measure, which gave powers which he did not
think the Government intended to give.
The Marquis of LANSDO WNE said that no doubt
the words of the Act were capable of a very large inter-
pretation, but he did not think they were quite so loose
as the Noble Lord had supposed. The Act was intended
only to afford indemnity to all such persons as had acted
under the authority of Mr. Labouchere's letter.
Lord BROUGHAM thought that power might be
vested in the Lord-Lieutenant to give indemnity to such
persons as he thought proper ; if it were not so, persons
who had acted with mala fides would be indemnified.
Lord CAMPBELL thought that his Noble and
Learned Friend need not be under any apprehension
that persons acting with mala fides would be indemnified
under the second clause of the Act. It would only ap-
ply to those persons who acted bona fide, or who might
are considered that they were acting in a strictly bond
fide manner.
The House then went into Committee. The various
Clauses of the Bill were agreed to, and the report ordered
to be bronght up to-morrow (this day).
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE laid on the table
iapers relating to the state of union workhouses in
refund.
Their Lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, March 4.
The SPEAKER took the Chair shortly before Four
o'clock.
Papers from the Accountant-General's office were
presented.
On the motion of Mr. GREENE, the following resolution
was agreed to :—" That in order to give time for the
breviate to be laid on the table ono clear day before the
second reading, the York and Newcastle Railway (Har-
tlepool Dock and Railway, and Great North of England,
Clarence, and Hartlepool Junction Railway Lease and
Purchase) 13111 be read a second time on Friday, notwith-
standing more than seven clear days will have elapsed
since the first reading thereof."
EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY (ENLARGE-
MENT OF LONDON AND STRATFORD
STATION AND AMENDMENT OF ACTS).
On the motion that this Bill be read a second time,
Mr. FOSTER said the title of the Bill did not convey
..the exact object of the Bill, which was tor the purpose of
raising capital to create a steam-boat company in con-
nexion with the railway; he, therefore, felt it his duty
10 move that the Bill be postponed until that day fort-
night,
Lord SANDON seconded the motion.
jMr, A. HAS LIE said he was not aware of the ob-
ectionable clause in the Bill, and consented, on the part
of the promoters of the Bill, to postpone the second
reading for a fortnight.
Lord SANDON stigmatised the Bill as one framed
for the purpose of deceiving the House, as under its title
it sought to vest the railway company with power to
raise capital for the purpose of becoming
Steam-boat proprietors. It was the incumbent
duty of the railway department of the Board of
Trade to see that Bills which professed to be simply
railway Bills had not another object in view before they
came before the House, as it could not be expected that
the House could find time to analyse the nature of all the
railway Bills which came before it.
Lord G. SOMERSET agreed with the Noble Lord
that the railway department of the Board of Trade
should revise railway Bills before they came under the
consideration of the House.
The motion was agreed to.
PROTESTANT DISSENTERS AND GENERAL
LIFE AND FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY.
This Bill was read a third time.
MANC EIESTEP BUXTON, M ATLOCK, AND MID-
LAND JUNCTION DEVIATION BILL.
• Mr. EGERTON postponed the second reading of this
Bill until Tuesday next.
GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY (LINCOLN AND

GRANHAM).
This Bill was read a seco T
nd time.
TEN HOURS' BILL.
i Sir A. L. HAY presented a petition from millowners
Iyiberdeen, employing upwards oflo,ooo men, expressing
their alarm at the Ten Hours' Bill, and praying the
horse not to consent to any alteration in the present
arrangements between the employer and the employed,
they considered that any such alteration would be in-
us to to both.

LIGHT DUES.
An Rox. MEMBER presented a petition from Glasgow
--mPlai"ing of the excessive charge of the light dues.
Mr. FOSTER presented two petitions to the same effect
RAILWAY TRAVEr LIINTG ON SUNDAYS.
b Mr. SPOONER presented five petitions from Shrews.
turY, Ipswich, and York, regretting that railway
.ct had been passed allowing the running of
orfujils on Sundays ; setting forth that the running
a trains on that day was contrary to law ;
and Praying the House to repeal *he clauses in the
various railway Acts permitting this practice, and not
~Z,,Pass any railway Bill which contained a similar pi o-
f ""n. Ile should move to-morrow that the petition
.r2n! York be printed with the votes, as it was his in-
',_otion to call the attention of the House to the question
on a future day.
RAILWAY REGULATION BILL.
Th.)ON. MEMBER also presented a petition from
theagainst
.uirectors of the Birmingham and Oxford Railway
against this Bill.
Mr.ANATO VIY ACT.
Neat
presented two petitions from places
1„11 t,128. t Riding of Yorkshire against certain clauses
this dim