The Sun.
London, England, 1847-05-13 00:00:00

BILL

Mr. ROMILLY said he would not press this Bill
during the present session ; but he would postpone it
till this day week, and on Tuesday next he would move
for a Committee to inquire into the operation of tke law
on Roman Catholic charitable trusts.

The second reading was then postponed to this day
week.

POOR-RATES (IRELAND) BILL.

This 13111 went through Committee pro forma.
On bringing up the report,

Mr. ST-AP-FORD O'BRIEN, who had risen at the
moment when the Speaker was leaving the chair, said
he wished to have entered his strong protest
against this Bill, and to have moved that it should
be committed that day six months. He protested
against any change in this matter now, after what had
passed upon the subject during the present session ;
and, second, against a private blember of the House
dealing with so weighty a matter, and he called upon
the Government to come forward and state their opi-
nion upon the principle on which rating ought to be
founded in Ireland. He therefore moved that the report
should be received that day six months.
Sir GEORGE GREY said he had stated shortly the
grounds on which he agreed to the second reading of
the Bill at that time. He thought the Bill was one of
considerable importance, and when in Committee it came
before them clause by clause he would state his opinion.
But he was not prepared to say that the law at present
was in a satisfactory state, nor did be mean to say that
the principle of voting ought to continue as it was, or to
be subjected to change.
Mr. YOUNG thought the Bill was either a very ridi-
culous one, or one that would not be practicable.
Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD thought the House
would grant him a hearing for a very few moments.
He had proposed to expunge the 6th clause, not because
be thought it better to expunge that clause from his own
view of its merits, but from the opposition that
had been made. In all cases the tenant was
compelled to pay the rate, with right afterwards
to deduct it from the rent, but the tenants were so com-
pletely in the hands of the landlord arid agent that they
were not able to get back that portion of the rate to
which they were entitled. That had been stated to him
from good authority. He alluded to what had
been stated respecting the Earl of Wicklow's
estate. The valuation of their land was justly lower
than the rent, which had a most beneficial effect upon
rack-renting landlords, but he thought that it
was most unjust to charge the tenant more than
his due proportion of the rate. The country
would be deceived if it supposed that the pre-
sent rate could be collected, or, in a ward, that a
rate could be collected when no means of paying it
existed. It was high time that a different mode of levy-
ing rates should be adopted. The high courts of law
then might appoint a receiver on the estates of those
who did not act justly. He would not give up the other
clauses of the Bill.

- -
Sir R. FERGUSON explained that the statement
respecting the Earl of Wicklow had been contradicted
—(Dries of _Divide, divide.")
Mr. LABOUCHERE thought that if the Bill were
stopped at the present stage the House would be taking.
an unusual course. The second reading of this Bill
had been agreed to, and the lion. Member who had in-
troduced the Bill said that he was ready to make
amendments in his measure.—(Cries of " Divide.")
Mr. GOUILBURN thought it was proper that this
Bill should not be longer kept in agitation.
The House then divided, when there appeared—
For the motion 55
Against it
Majority
The Bill was consequently lost.
SEAMEN'S ENLISTMENT BILL.
_ _

On the motion for the second reading of the Bill,
Sir CHARLES NAPIER said the Earl of Minto had
stated that they must give a bountyd.d to secure the en-
listment of sailors. not
to think that was a
creditable course for the Admiraltye pursue.
no t t a
ke
lAnother
evil was, that whether war did or did
those who enlisted were entitled to the bounty.
His proposition was that a proclamation should be issued
calling out a certain number of men, and that the mas-
ters of the different merchant vessels should be obliged
to discharge that class, and take men into service who
did not come within that description. The men would
then be driven to enter her Majesty's service.
They might call it impressment if they liked,
but it was a far milder method than that
which had been hitherto practised. Ho very much
doubted if they could pursue the old system in this en-
lightened age. He very much doubted if the Lord Mayor
would grant a warrant to press men into the service.
He hoped that the House would call on the Government
to make some such law as the present. When they
were in hourly expectation of war with France
the line of battle-ships were not half manned. While
vessels in the French service had nine hundred
men on board, those in the English of equal size
had only seven hundred or seven hundred and fifty.
He did trust that the Government would take some
means to correct these evils. It was the last opportu-
nity he would have of addressing the House for some
time, and he therefore was the more urgent in his appeal.
Mr. WARD said that be was sorry to have to
oppose the Gallant Admiral upon this Bill, as he said
that it was the last he would introduce for a con-
siderable period to the attention of the
As to the general principles stated by the Gallant
Admiral he fully agreed, but the provi..ions
were not calculated to effect the good he desired.
Mr. CORRIE expressed his surprise at the provisions
of the Bill, and the speech with which the Gallant Mem-
ber had supported it.
' Sir C. NAPIER replied—He said the Secretary of the
Admiralty had quite missed his argument; he had failed
to answer it. He offered a
prospect of something being
done at a future time ; sotihtilww
The gallery asdaoiliw2iyos,
theanti so it would
be, and there would be n, i
was then eleare'd, but thet se en°.
of the Bill was negatived without a divisione"ci reading