The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-24 00:00:00

rated at ''
vo little above 5/. ;so that all, with the exception of
te.een, were entitled to have a vote according to the avowed
.eJ.ets of the Reform Bill. Only 45.000 votes had been added to the metropolis. This was the result fifteen years after the
ntnisng of the Reform Bill. In fact, the constituency was di-
as•eierte hing instead of increasing. In Westminster there
,h0wi_23,295 rated householders, but only 13,e6ti voters
atth ug that Westminst( r was in a worse state than
184 time Sir Frances Burdett was elected in 1807, when
levoted, A similar result had taken place in Southwark.
ie Liverpool the number of rated householders was 44,924,
etrueoerv4l4,97o were voters. Ir. the City of London the con-
_ay. ea Bihllad been
greatly reduced since the passing of the
o which was mainly to be attributed to this rate-
!,
eing clause. In fourteen parishes in the City of London,
tr,tiiiireonvetrhseeeirasvityould not put any man on the register unless he
ties #fel to be rated ; so that the parties had all the technicali-
put in force against them. The decision of the
10‘'etitawmilort pleas in the great Stockport case, was another reeare-
tascie .3' they should abrogate this clause. Eight rates w
teoeinehat town in the course of a year, and it was con-
t.hat a voter ought to make eight different claims to rhe-
ve
/utter vote; and Chief Justice Tindal, in deciding on
.t e
iee, ' "it was like keeping a vote by continual claim.
I,e, Certainly this was not intended by the Reform 8111.
eujrt4e Honourable Gentleman was here interrupted by the
rt_i.,anwee of Sir Augustus Clifford, the Usher of the Black
to5:1 ho sunatnoned the Plouse to hear the Royal assent given
everal Bills, a list of which will be found in oer Lords'
Perel
the return of the Speaker,
Illfeeta,lettrh'i,Bl7NCOMßE went on to state that he could not be-
t,(ortntnali.anything so vexatious as this was intendedd.bdy
notihe
Gentlemen connected with. counties i
was
essin.asdire.tohowiem Clause only pressed in cities and boroughs.
oppt es living in those places were open to considerable
ever sin new neglectptlahteht. of overseers and others. This
It had been the subject of complaint
teen -trice the passing of the Reform Act. The Hon. Member
ses;aereead an article which appeared in the Times—which
h
intsual4 'onus of the evils of the system. It was never t
'Pee fen
of the Reform Act that such abuse should occur.
Y:hould they make a difference between county and city
1(44'. This question should be made an oen one, in order tot
wka
nitl the more fully to the operation of public opinion. I
6 eere' Ya• question of the reform more or less, and therefore
I,o,lteet to move for leave to bring in the Bill.
the JOHN RUSSELL—I stated to my Hon. Friend at
eernMencement of the discussion that if it was his desire
,ioneY his Bill upon the table of the House, without any discus-
te arch the present time, that I should not he averse
support a course, but that I could not premise him my
has thou as
a future occasion. But my Honourable Friend,
premiseight it better to have the discussion now, unless I should
reading him the support of the Government on the second
yens °f the M • Honourable Friend has not entirely
prehended what was) the ancient law. He has read pare-
tifia''ss!Ths from newspapers to the effect that this was an entirely
theektineiPle, introduced by the Reform Act, no person
4otins' et Paying rates to be allowed the privilege of
sieeeri-t'v elle was mistaken. The state took the
of bore tueY thought necessary• and so in regard to
vo'-' where there was a common law right
the iIU' and
where there were no particular charters to res.trict
those hat etewas vested in householders, but with this qualifica-
The mean;" e"e7 should be householders paying scot and lot.
So it hase'ng of this was that they should pay the poor rates.
with re beee interpreted by the cough of justice. Therefore,
burghs ard to country voters, there was a security, and in
Perseo; was held that they shoed' not be chance lodgers, but
Which" g a house and capable of paying the poor lees,
sons
weertified and assured
to the State that they were per-
the Prthe to be intrusted with the right to vote ; therefore
steei:teTeiple is not a new one introduced by the `Reform Act.
stitets r the Reform Act might do to change the ancient con-
setnel_e!l of the country, the principle that occupiers should pay
'erred
et the rates due by them, was an ancient principle trans-
said thlt;e° the provisions of the Reform Act. My Hon. Preen
eetee,:` ,the Reform Act did not extend the franchise so very
"'"'Y as I calculated. The calculations which I formed
th,eat hide on a very wide basis, and I could not expect
But `se would turn out with a critical accuracy.d
teat I do think that the Hon. Gentleman himself has prove
by t: very great extension of the franchise has been effected
ee isteform Act. Lambeth has the powers of returning
"aetAuers of Parham' ent• so has Finsbury ; so has the Tower
Liets• The Hon. Gentleman has stated that 45,60 e persons
kat, new metropolitan burghs possessed the righ of. voting.
Powerchester, Leeds, and Birmingham had now obtained the
te of of
Members to Parliament ; so had Bath, and
bat on
sof other places, not on the scot and lot principle,
teith°4 10/. house qualification, and a test similar
the a' of the scot and lot principle, which meant
belief payment of poor-rates. According to my own
tf when you do intrust the franchise to persons
eoPrePery, you
are more likely to have a better than with a
cti?,ll.:sitettrtsiaelhlutt:rpaagye. I own, I think, that if you take away the.
rates and taxes, you would be running a rosk
4litrinttrusting the franchise to persons not worthy of it. And I
eeneK we have improved upon the practice of scot and lot. 1
,41_,"°t, therefore, consider that the Bill is in point a good one,
t 17 it would be a great innovation on the Constitution of this
a?„ontre, that persons, not in the possession of any property,
'aid be intrusted with the right of voting. I shall, therefore,
leDese the introduction of this Bill.
re Me. GISBORNE said he should support the Bill. He
'tent the occupancy of a House quite enough, and saw no
t7as, onable grounds to deprive a man of a vote because he had
"t paid his rates on a particular day. He should, therefore,
"Apart the introduction of the Bill.
Sir DE LACY EVANS was in favour of the Bill. The
real qt estion they had to consider was, did the rate-paying
clauses operate in the way originally estimated. He sub-
mitted that they did not. They were no test of the solvency
of the parties' as he could prove from several instances which
load happened in the city of Westminster. In the parish of St.
George's no less than 339 persons had been disfranchised by
those
clauses ; yet these parties resided in St. James's-square,
'elgrave- quare, and Great George-street. Was it to be said
that these were insolvent persons ? Now it was a remarkable
fact that not one of these had been disfranchised for the.
paid the
of the poor-rates, but because they had not paid the
e.toe
the taxes. He trusted that the House would allow
--•
Bill to be read a first time, and that in a future stage the
question might be folly discussed. Ile asked the Horse to do
11° When they considered that in the metropolitan boroughs
there were not more than 50,000 qualified electors, while at
least 100,000 occupiers were deprived of votes by the operation
of these clauses.—( Hear, hear.)
Mr. P. HOWARD could not agree to the principles of
the Bill sought to be introduced by the Hon. Member for
rinsbury. If they gave up the rate.paying qualification, he
would not see hew they could stop short of universal
_suffrage.nnver.
It was the duty of every man to pay the poor-rates and Govern-
anent Itrient taxes, and therefore he thought the provisionsiet
de-
cided the
Reformeßill should be maintained. He would give his
eldest 'negative to the present motion.
Mr. HUME agreed with the last Hon. Member, that every
Mad ought to pay his rat. es arid taxes, but there were ether
Means of inducing him to do so than by the provisions of this
Bill. He regretted to hear the intimation of the Noble Lord
at the head of the Government to oppose the Bill. The Noble
Lord, when he introduced the Reform Bill, said he believed
that it would be the mesas of giving satisfaction to the country.
This had not been the case. The Reform Bill had not given
satisfaction to the people of this country. They were
tenerally against the Bill in its present shape, arid especially
Iteinst these clauses. Why, at the present time, there were
but 12 males in every 100 who had a vote. The Noble Lord
would also recollect that his prophecy about the Reform
Bill
had failed. He stated in introducing the Reform Bill, that
if it Carrie into operation there would not be. borough withs
,„", than 300 voters. At the present moment there were 3
rretlghs which had less than this number. Some of them, in
act, had as few electors as 150. He trusted the Noble Lord
Zould take these matters
.into his consideration, and withdraw
lloPposition to the Bill
eiZS,ir B. HALL thought that the repeal of the ratepaying
-7"8 was absolutely necessary. In many of the principal
roughs these clauses were most oppressive. He knew from
ZlPerience that a. great number of most respectl persons
Vt'd been disfranchised by the non-payment of
!sted, that the Bill would he allowed to proceed, andtt.hta.tmeif
provisions were riot agreed to, that at least a longer i
eiNtlitsl be. allowed than at present for the payment of rates..
The • D EYNCOURT was in favour of the present Bill
form statement of the Noble Lord had proved that the Re-
scHill had come far short of his original calculation when
ot introduced the Bill. The Noble Lord had referred to the
lot voters before the passing of the Reform Bill, and
field I,
tri„ t' at the Reform Bill carried out in another form the
c"e'leie of the previous qualification. He could not agree
7tt_
.th that proposition, as the Government taxes load nothing
isatever to do with the right of scot and lot voters. If there
ew_ anything unconstitutional in the Reform Bill it was taking
Tray the scot and lot qualification that formerly existed; and
rlithe Noble Lord would introduce a measure to restore that
fietion, he (Mr. D'Eyncourt) would support it.
eeli.tihs ought that under the present system there were cases
required some alteration of the law, and therefore
.he
sned that his Noble Friend would either give them this Bill,
.tlte the matter into his own consideration.
hu`'aPtain PECHELL thought that any person holding a
use, for which he paid 10/., ought to have a voice in the
representation of the borough to which he belonged. The
`,j°titY of the people of this country were very much die-
yisisosed with the present system as framed under the Reform
and thought that considering the present pressure of the
--"trY, and the quiet state of the people, it was most extra-
ordinary that the Noble Lord refused to allow this Bill to
come to a first reading. He could only say that
.having been
intrusted with a petition from his constituents, asking them to
repeal these hateful clauses of the Reform Bill, he felt bound
to support the measure.
Me. WAKLEY trusted that a division would take solace at
once, and if it were to oceupy another night, when the same
arguments only could be used, it would be a waste of the public
time. The Noble Lord had, in his opinion. failed in chewing that
the measure of the Hon. Member for Finsbury was an unjust
one. Although the Noble Lord had spoken earnestly—more
earnestly than usual—he did not appear to be actuated by a firm
conviction. 'fhe Noble Lord seemed to advocate the principle
that the man should be excluded from the registration.
latiohat whichPPe'aed that meet were made poor by improper legis-
n, and tleen they told him that he should be deprived of
every free man ought to have—a right to vote in
thein, r,e
Tatirely
every free
of his borough. Under the present cir-
---S..,ane'es many who had a right to vote were influenced
their landlord, or some tyrant of a steward, who
forced them to vote inconsistently with his opinions.
tbeught the present system was merely a trick
eo-o .P 6 the poor man of what the law pretended
give him, namely, a 10/. franchise. He called upon the
v4overntnent to show to the satisfaction of the public and of the
.v.ouse, why the borough voter should be deprived of the pri-
aileilege enjoyed by the county voter. He was surprised at the
ont the which
ce which prevailed on the Treasury bench, and he called
to show any good and valid reason why the Bill should
not lie
G
treater
G. GREY said that the Hon. Member who had just
tr:en had complained of the silence which existed on the
•tei-eeantrY benoth ; but he (Sir G. Grey) thought that any fur-
ea r explanation on their part was rendered unnecessary by the
-,aairiternent of the Noble Lord. The Hon. Member had also
eves' that the arguments adduced against the Bill were of no
~-g"t• There were many of those arguments which went
ond the Bill; but he differed from the Hon. Member when
aaid they had no weight. The argument of the
cevneerttiraianblyle Gentleman the Member far Finsbury, did
tst aut entirely go the length of universal suffrage, but
welet. on to an indefinite extension of the franchise.
it:tines quote clear that the Bill would fail to satisfy the expec-
not 'is
of a lerge class of the people of this country, but it PM
peitiat I"Pre mode to speak of the Bill, to say that it had
Cher'disap-
(l expectations of the country. His Noble Friend,
ee the Reform Bill was passed, gave it as his opinion, that
the would be better to adhere to the old constitutional maxim, of
It pap; sent of rates, as included in the scot and lot principle.
had been pointed out that there were many abuses
aht"in existed under this system by cant'idates paying
Let tile.,"" of voters a few (lays before the election,
,_ re would be considerably more difficulty in adjusting
ar.xneasure of the Hon. Member, and it was for that reason
"t's he, as a Member of the Government did not support it.
Fin G. NAPIER was very glad that the Hon. Member for
„et 1,41 tory had succeeded in unsealing the mouths of some of the
be
hers of the Government. and he (Sir C. Napier) would
•!. very glad to hear the opinions of the Hon. Members for
a ~
elo zed the Tower Hamlets on this subject. He lied
unders:nr‘d that this eleuse was for the perpose of male-
ing faes_ the People pay up their rates ano taxes, but it had evidently
Let,' tit that object He thought that the franchise ought te
'fie extended, and therefore he should support the Bill.
•:‘ll WILLIAMS did not think the scot and lot system had

ever answered its purpose. The Noble Lord, in introducing
the Reform Bill, had allowed a very large number of the voters
of this cotintry to vote without any qualification at all. He
alluded to the freemen and burgesses. He had always been one
of the Noble Lord's best supporters ; and were it not for the
good deeds he had done in former days, he believed he should
not now support him. He believed that about 3,003 of his
own constituents were honest men, although they might not be
able to pay rates.—( Laughter.) And yet a qualification was
required from the others, who were not more honest men.
Lord G. BENTINCK said that the Hon. Member who had
just sat down had charged his Noble Friend with a backward
movement. Now he thought that all the Members of the House
who remembered 1831 and 1832, should support the resolution
of his Noble Friend.
Mr. B. ESCOTT was inclined to support the notion of his
Hon. Friend, because it would prevent that wholesale system
of bribery, which exhibited itself in a donation of coals and
candles.
After a few words from Colonel WOOD,
The House divided, when there appeared,
For the motion for introducing the Bill
Against it
Majority against the introduction —2o
SPEEDY TRIAL AND PUNISHMENT OF JUVE-

MR. STRUTT'S BILL «FOR REGU-
LATING THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE COM-
MISSIONERS OF RAILWAYS, AND FOR
AMENDING TIIE LAW RELATING TO
RAILWAYS."
1. Objects of the Act-(Preamble and Clause I.)
Recapitulates the titles of the Acts 1 and 2 Vic. c. 98 ;
3 and 4 Vic., c. 97 ; 5 and 6 Vic., c. 55; 7 and 8 Vic.,
c. 85; 8 and 9 Vic., c. 20; 23; 9 and 10 Vic. c. 105;
and states that it is expedient to make further provision
for regulating the proceedings of the Commissioners
appointed by the last named, and to amend certain de-
tails of the others. Accordingly, in Clause lit is
enacted that 9 and 10 Vic., c. 105, and the present Act
shall be construed together.
2. Interpretation-(Clause 2.) Declares to what ex-
tent of application words in the singular number and
masuline ender only shall be understood; and what
g
meaning shall be attached to the words-" Persons,"
Lands," " Month," " Oath," " County," " The Com-
missioners," " Railway," Railway Company," and
" Promoters of a Railway."
3. Short Title of the Act-(Clause 3.) This Act is
to be cited as "The Commissioners of Railways Act,
1847."
4. Surveying and other Proceedings by Railway Pro-
moters, preliminary to Application for Bill-(Clauses 4
to 31.) 4. Promoters are to apply to the commissioners
for power to survey, at any time, in the year ending on
the 31st of December, preceding the year in which they
intend to give notice of application for their Bill in
compliance with the standing orders. 5. Notice of such
application is to he given ten clear days before in the
London Gazette, aid some newspaper printed or circu-
lating in each county through which the railway is to
pass, specifying the course of the line, the termini, and
the towns through or near which it is to pass. 6.
The Commissioners, on being satisfied that due
notice has been given, and on the deposit of a
sum not exceeding 5001. for each mile as security
for expenses (or the giving of satisfactory security),
shall, by we rrant Under their seal, signed by ten of
their number, authorise the promoters to survey and
mark out the line; and may limit the time within which
this is to be done. 7. 'The money deposited is to be
paid into the Bank of England, and placed to "The ac-
count of the Commissioners of Railways, ex pane the
promoters of Railway;" and the cashier of
the bank, if required, is to give a receipt to the person
paying in the money. 8. The Commissioners may draw
chequens for payment of expenses incurred prior to the
passing or throwing out of the Bill. 9. The Bank of
England is to keep separate accounts, and certify
balances in respect of every deposit to the commissioners.
10 Not later than one month after the Bill has passed
or been thrown nut, the commissioners are to pay over
the balance remaining, after expenses are paid, to the
promoters. 11. In event of irregularity or failure in
giving the notices prescribed in clause 4, the commis-
sioners may direct such notice as they think fit, to be
given either before or atter the 31st of December. 12. By
virtue of the warrant of the commissioners the promoters
may, before the expiry of the time limited, or if not limited,
before the 31st of March next after its date, enter
on the lands through the railway is to pass, survey, run
levels, fix posts or marks, dig, probe, and bore (but not
cut or injure trees). 13. Before entering they shall give
not more than seven, and not leis than two days' notice
to the occupying tenants. 14. They are to mark out the
line by a trench or furrow, not more than nine inches
wide, and to put up posts to show the levels. 15. Occu-
pying tenants may require the line to be marked out by
stakes, not more than thirty yards apart, instead of a
furrow. 16. Any person obstructing the survey incurs a
penalty of 51. for each offence. 17. The promoters are
to make compensation for damage occasioned by their
survey. 18. Complaints of damage by survey, for which
no compensation has been made, must be presented to
the commissioners within three months after the making
of the survey. 19. The commissioners shall order pay-
ment of such compensation as shall seem to them just :
their decision to be final. 20. When the amount of corn-
pensatien awarded does not exceed the amount ten-
dered, and in some other cases, the commissioners may
order part of the expense of inquiry to be retained by
the promoters, out of the sum awarded. 21. Plans and
sections of the survey are to be lodged with the Commis-
sioners on or .e.,fore the 15th of April first at ter the date
of the warrant, or on or before the fifteenth day after the
expiry of the time limited for the survey. 22. After the
deposit of the plans and sections, the Commissioners may
appoint one or more engineers (or other competent per•
sons) to inspect the line or any part of it ; the persons
thus appointed may give public notice of the time and
place where they will attend to receive information or
suggestions respecting the railway. 23. Special reports
of such inspections to be made to the Commissioners.
24. The Commissioners, after considering reports, may
authorise amendments and empower promoters to sur-
vey and mark out altered lines within a limited time.
25. Plans and sections of the line as intended to be ap-
plied for to Parliament to be lodged with the Com-
missioners on the 31st of July next before the session in
which application is to be made. 26. The Commissioners
are to certify that these provisions have been complied
with as soon after the lodging of the plans and sections
as they conveniently can. 27. The commissioners may
authorise the deposit of plans of a varied line proposed
to promoters by an owner, occupier, or other person in-
crested. 28. When application is to be made for leave
to vary a line for which an Act has been obtained in the
preceding session, or for power to construct a railway
substantially the same as one applied for in the pre-
ceding session, the Commissioners may dispense with
the whole or part of these proceedings, and require any
others. 29. The Commissioners, on application are to
give promoters a certified copy of any certificate in-
dorsed on or annexed to plans and sections. 30. De-
posits of documents not to be made later than 6 P.M.
en the day fixed, or on the day preceding should it
fall to be Sunday or Good Friday. 31. Railways, of
which plans and sections have been deposited and
certified, are to be advertised by the Commissioners in
the London Gazette not later than the 15th of October
each year.
depo-
sited
part 32 to
t3bse) .-2.
Commissionersll'hen
mays. Survey and Inspection of Proposed Railways and
Examination of Pending Bills by Commissioners (Clauses
p plans,
an
na
:171 thee, lin havee o beenr
any
to be surveyed be themselves or some competent officer.
33. Specific ohjectians in writing to the whole or part of
any railway may be submitted by any parson to the
Commissioners within such time and subject to such re-
.
gulations as they shall appoint. 34. The Commissioners
may hear the objectors and the promoters by themselves
or their officers in such manner and under such regula-
tions as they may appoint. 35. Far purposes of survey
or inspection, the Commissioners or their officers are to
have each powers, and be subject to such liabilities as
are given to or imposed on them by Act 10 Vict., c. 105,
and have moreover power to possess.
6. REPORT TO BE MADE BY COMMISSIONERS ON
PENDING BILLS (Clauses 36 to 38).-36. The Commis
sioners, at the commencement of each session, are to re-
port to both Houses the railway Bills pending before
Parliament, and to suggest the groups in which they
may most conveniently he considered, and any other
matters tending to facilitate their due examination.
37. They shall also report to each House specially on
every Bill:-the length of line, the gauge, the gradients,
the curves, the embankments, and cuttings, the tunnels,
the bridges, the level crossings, the sufficiency-of esti-
mate, the engineering merits, the capital and loans, the
subscriptions and deposits, the assents and dissents, the
tolls, fares, and charges, the Post-office service, the tolls
on connected lines, the union with other undertakings,
and the general merits of the project. 38. In the case
of competing lines, the Commissioners may include two
or more Bills in one report.
7. PROOF OF COMPLIANCE WITH STANDING ORDERS
(Clauses 39 to 41).-39. " If either House of Parliament
assign to the Commissioners the duty of ascertaining
whether the standing orders of such House has been
complied with," they shall, by themselves or officers,
make inquiry and report thereon. 40. As soon as this
duty is assigned to the Commissioners they shall make
and publish the necessary regulations. 41. Copies of
all
such regulations made since the last preceding session
shall be laid before both Houses within one month after
the meeting of Parliament.
8. OPENING OF RAILWAYS (Clauses 42 to 47).-42.
Repeals so much of the Act of 5 and 6 Vic., c. 55), (i. e.,
clauses 4,5, and 6), as confers powers of control over
the opening of railways on the Railway Committee of
the Board o Trade. 43. Before any railway company
open any part of their line they shall give at least thirty
days' notice to the Commissioners. 44. Not earlier than
twenty nor later than thirty days after such notice the
company shall give a further notice to the Commis-
sioners, naming the day (not less than ten days after) on
which they propose to open. 45. After receiving the
second notice, the Commissioners shall order the railway
to be inspected, and allow or disallow the opening as
they see fit. 46. It shall not be lawful to open railways
before the inspection and allowance of the Commissioners.
47. For opening without such notices or allowance any
company shall pay a forfeiture of 1001., and 20/. ad-
ditional for every day the railway coetinues open with-
out allowance.
9. TOLLS, FARES, AND CHARGES OF RAILWAY
COMPANIES (Clauses
48 to 56).-48. Every company
shall make returns fromtime to time to the Commis-
sioners of the tolls, acof those actually taken. . they are authorised to take, and
be set up at every station, 49. Tables of tolls, &e., are to
under
a penalty of 20/., and
201. further for every day
which the neglect con-
tinues. 50. Companies are to the Commissioners
thirty days' notice, and the publ%iv fiefteen days' notice, of
their intention to alter their tolls, &c.; and if they alter
without such notice, they shall incur a
for every increased toll so taken. 51. Tolls
op
lelns penalty
may of 201.
re
re-
duced in special cases without notice; but a report of
each reduction, and the reasons for not giving notice,
must be made to the Commissioners. 52. The Commis-
sioners are to report once in every year to Parliament
the tolls, &c., every company is entitled to take;
what it does take; and to note any alterations since
last report. 53. Commissioners are to direct the at-
tention of Parliament to all matters revising to tolls &c.,
which they think affect the public interest. 54. They
shall intimate in their annual reports, when the time for
receiving the tolls, &c., of any railway approaches, and
state whether any alteration ought to be made. 55.
They are to settle disputes as to tolls, &c., between rail-
waypostmaster-genera 56”. They
companies and the
are to define what trains are " express trains in the
sense of an Act which allows higher tolls, &e., to be
charged on them than on ordinary trains.
RIVAL or
10. TIMES OF DEPARTURE AND ARR
7 -
WAY TRAINS.-(Clauses 5, to 66 ) • 57. Companies RAIL
are
to make returns of the arrivals and departures of all
I ter
their trains at all their stations within one weele tf
being required by the Commissioners, under penalty (.
every failure or false return) of 201. 5B• No alteration
to be
in the times of arrival and 'departure of trains
made without sufficient notice to the Commissioners
ullO- the puldic. The time of such notice (except in
special eases allow,.(1 by the Commissioners) to he
teen days, when the alteration is to take place on the
Ist day of a month ; one month when on any other
day. 60, The Commissioners are to require a register

NILE OFFENDERS.
Sir JOHN PACKINGTON, in introducing a Bill for the
more Speedy trial and Punishment of Juvenile Offenders, said
that the want of a system of education seemed to him to be
the great cause of crime; and, therefore, he thought that an
extended system of national education ought to be enforced, in
order to prevent the growing evil. An attempt had been
made by the present Government to remedy this evil, and he
(Sir J. Packington) would tender his heartfelt thanks to the
Noble Lord, or the Right Hon. Baronet opposite, if he could
in any way put a period to the present defective system.
He would limit himself to the second branch of the subject,
viz. the trial and punishment of juvenile offenders, and not-
withstanding the value which he set on the trial by jury, he
believed he could show the reasonableness of doing away with
it in the ease now before him, and the judiciousness of adopt-
ing summary convictions in the place of it. He would take one
instance to show the folly of retaining the trial by jury. The
circumstance occurred in the county of Worcester. A boy was
committed on the 13th November for stealing twopence, and
was not tried until the first week in January, and thus
suffered seven weeks imprisonment. There was another case
of a little girl, who had been committed for stealing a quart of
milk. In the petition submitted the other night to the House
of Lords by Lord Brougham, it was stated that out of 50,0(0
prisoners committed; fully 5,000 were prisoners under
fourteen years of age, and, from his own expe-
rience in the county of Somerset, he could state
that more than one•sixth of those committed were under 16
years of age. Such was the extent of the number of the
juvenile offenders. He would now turn to a very high autho-
rity. In the report of the inspectors of prisons it was stated
that there was an evident necessity for an alteration of the law
with regard to juvenile prisoners. In 1844 a s.;ommittee was
appointed, of which the Right Hon. Baronet the Member for
Tamworth was the Chairman, and one of the subjects for the
consideration of that Committee was criminal prosecutions,
and in the report which they made to the House they stated
that there was a g;eat need for the establishment of some
tribunal for the summary trial of young prisoners, and he
trusted the Right Hon. Baronet still entertained the same
opinions as he did at that time. The authority to which he
would turn, was one to which he attached great importance, and
which, he trusted, that her Majesty's Ministers would concur
with him in giving it the great weight, which he believed it
possessed. That was the opinion of Sir Edward Ryan, who,
at the time he expressed it, was Chief Justice of India, and he
had Sir Edward Ryan's permission for using his name in saying
that he still retained the impression that it was absolutely ne-
' cessary for some change being made in the process of
examining and convicting juvenile offenders; and he
thought that the doing away of the trial by jury
would be cheaply purchased by the advantages to be
obtained by the summary conviction of young offenders.
The Hon. Member then read a series of extracts from the
report of the Criminal Commissioners in 1837, all tending to
show the wisdom of giving some authority to the magistrates
for the conviction and punishment of prisoners of tender years,
charged with trivial offences. He need not say that, from the
eminent position and character of the persons from whom this
report emanated, that it was worthy of the utmost attention.
The magistrates were, indeed, at present placed under the
most cruel embarrassment, for while some of them did not
hesitate to send the young offenders brought before them to
prison for the crimes of which they were clearly guilty, others,
who were of more doubtful minds, felt themselves obliged
to send young offenders to another place for trial, and
in one instance the judge, before whom one of these offenders
was tried had sentenced a prisoner, after conviction, to one
hour's imprisonment. He held in his hand a report which
had been prepared by Mr. M. Hill for the Law Amendment
Society, and which was founded on the returns made from the
town of Birmingham, which went to the same effect. It had
been suggested that young offenders should be tried by small
juries at petty sessions, in the event of their doing away with
the trials at general sessions. To this he could be no party,
for he believed that the benefit to be derived from it, saving
the contamination of a prison, would be entirely lost by that
plan. He would propose that a power should be given to two
magistrates to decide upon all cases of offenders who had com-
mitted felony while under fifteen years of age. and who were
committed for offences under forty shillings, and to adjudicate
them to six months' imprisonment. He proposed to
give to the parties so convicted the right of
appeal to the general quarter sessions. Further
than that iu all cases of difficulty he would give to the magis-
trates the power of sending any offender for trial at sessions.
Such was the outline of the plan which he proposed to adopt,
but he was aware that it was open to objection, but
he trusted to be allowed to bring in his Bill and
that he should have the assistance of the Govern-
ment in carrying it out ; for
netshhr he
held
hlafdereparlrttiihe
mdeoafosnotst
utiffihintregcet
edhi
the,rnanomutwhgehafitEell
eeifd-f
emwnlih3nanta. rhlohenal edamtw
evereaawt
atbphiaydirsht
nmci
tanhnteeg,o enußlodit ngAhhioait urvi
Hrei
tnebenrrei.
m
benefit than he would confer upon his country.lath gt rheaant
Wkser
for the attention which he had enjoyed from the House, he
would move for leave to bring in the Bill, and that it be read a
, first time.

Sir G. GREY felt grateful for the attention which had
been bestowed upon this very important subject, and though
he would not commit himself to the principle of the Bill, he
was quite ready to accede to its being brought in and read a
first time. He was fully impressed with the importance of the
subject, and the Hon. Member might he assured that it would
receive the best attention of the Government.
Mr. HUME wished the Hon. Gentleman to consider whe-
ther the punishment of juveniles could not be obviated by
some improved system of education. He did not join in the
opinion the Hon. Gentleman had expressed that great improve-
ments had taken place in the present system of education. For
his part he could not discover where the improvement had
taken place, and he regretted, and believed the country joined
him in that regret, that Government had not brought forward
an extensive system of national education. Government was
alone to blame for the present anomalies of the law. It was
monstrous to punish a boy or a girl with several months' im-
, prisonment for stealing an article scarcely of the value of 2d.
They claimed to be a civilised country ; but he would venture
to say, that in a country they were pleased to style as barbarous,
he meant China, there was no such abominable system.
Mr. SHAW did not agree with that part of the Bill which
related to appeals ; but with regard to its other provisions,
speaking generally, he agreed with them.
Colonel T. WOOD said education was net sufficient to re-
form the system. Something rn•lre was required to prevent
juvenile crime, and he would suggest that Government, at the
public expense, should build a number of penitentiaries in dif-
ferent parts of the country, where juvenile offenders should be
kept distinct from other offenders. At present the good was
mixed up with the bad, and the consequence was, juvenile
offenders never were reclaimed.
Leave was then given to bring in the Bill.
CHARITABLE BEQUESTS.
Lord JOHN MANNERS moved for leave to bring in a Bill
to amend the law relating to the disposition of property for
pious and charitable trusts. The chief provisions of the Bill
would be comprised in a clause requiring that all wills
bequeathing property for charitable or pious purposes should
be signed three months before the death of the testator, and a
clause providing that all landed property bequeathed for the
same purposes should be converted into fur ded property.
Sir R. H. INGLIS said the Bill was sery similar to one
the Noble Lord had unsuccessfully brought forward on a
former occasion, but the improvements she Noble Lord had
introduced into the presert one though not inconsiderable,
were not sufficient to mitigate his objection to the Bill. He
should, however, not divide the House upon the present occa-
sion, but leave the measure to Ire fully and amply discussed on
the second reading.
Sir GEORGE GREY expressed his approbation of the
alterations but he was bound to add that he did not think they
were sufficiently extensive. He would, however, reserve his
objections for the second reading.
Mr. COLLETT wished to know whether the Noble Load
had intended that the r.m• of the will not being signed three
months previous to the ifeath of the testator should invalidate
the will generally?
Lord JOHN MANNERS said that the will would be in-
validated only as regarded the bequests for charitable purposes.
Leave was then given to bring in the Bill.
loCf Hin,AmllirSygEN AL.
CHARGES AGAINST OFFICERS IN THE WOOL-
bDectforNe CthoeACl.BuWErt, in movin
fionrs instituted uctoe;dsy of f
the
ee
month
bncoef
taken"
April, 1845, by the Board of Ord'rianze,rraetdthbe Royal Arsenal,
aWgaciontswticwh.iltloiatninv
jesutniegsa,tedteThuatrig
estsjekee storekeeper; ytAolseotahneierl
wTiotnhe
arf
copy of the charges and The report thereon.;
the charges preferred, and the evidence given agai,nsat cgaynioel
Toner, late a labourer in the Royal Arsenal, Wool••
with, by Mr. Reed, a clerk in the Storekeepers' de-
partment, before Lora Bloomfield, Colonel Money, end
Mr. Chatham, in 1845, with their report thereon ;
said that he was compelled by the difficulty which intervened.
between the application for copies of papers from the Arsenal
of Woolwich, and the production of them, to bring the matter
thus publicly before the country. Daniel Toner stated that,
in consequence of his having thus brought charges against his
superior officers, he had been prosecuted, while those charged
had been advanced. He (Mr. Duncombe) would feel it ne-
cessary to call for those papers, before he took another step on
the subject.
Colonel ANSON said that if his Hon. Friend, the Member
for Finsbury, had taken the trouble to look at the report which
was furnished, and which he (Colonel Anson) requested the
Hon. Member for Finsbury to examine ; if he had looked at
the statement, the House might have been .T .red the in-
fliction of these details.—( Hear, hear.) There had not,
and he would appeal to the Hon. Member for Finsbury
himself, appeared one word on the subject of convict labour.
He had no objection to give the evidence taken before the
court of inquiry in April last with respect to the charges
preferred by Toner against Jones ; but with respect to the
other evidence, given against Toner by Reed, he did not think
that the production of such voluminous evidence would tend t
any advantageous result.
Mr. HUME did not know whether the first papers were
necessary for the investigation, but, as pilfering was admitted,
he would ask, how was the public property to be protected,
unless a check was given to those practices? He 'lid not think
that any one who exposed this system should be subjected to
punishment, and he hoped the House would grant the docu-
ments, and that they would be the means of having an inquiry
instituted into the mode in which the whole department was
conducted.
Mr. BOLDER() detailed the circumstances of the inter-
view he had with Toner, and was of opinion that, from the
course then pursued, no injustice had been done to him. With
regard to the subsequent proceedings, and his dismissal, he
could offer no opinion.
Mr. T. S. DUNCOAIBE replied.
The gallery was then cleared for a division, but as there
were only thirty-one Members present the House adjourned at
a quarter to Eleven o'clock.

IMPORTANT TO TIIE HERRING TRADE.—We are
row given to understand that Lord Palmerston has succeeded
in inducing the Ituss;an Government to remove the discrimi-
nating duty in favour of Swedish and Norwegian herrings,
but that hitherto the Qe!giln Government remains inflexible,
end will make no conceFsion wlisiev,r in the tariff that
favours the Dutch. The differential duty in favour of Dutch-
cured herrings in Belgium is rot less than 16 francs per
barrel, which is to all intents and purposes an entire prohibi-
tion of the import of British (mud fish.—Rosshire Advertiser.

TIME SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVE FEBRUARY 24

of times to bo kept by every company. 61. Tile corn-
panics are to appoint an officer at every station to keep
such register. 62. The officer is to keep the re, ister of
each week suspended at his station for public ins,'aecti,on .
for such period as the Commissioners shall direct. 63,
The officer at the end of each week is to transmit to the
Commissioners a copy of the registnr for as many pre-•
ceding days as they shall direct, 64. The penalty ar
neglecting to appoint a registrar of times is 201. for eN rea •37
day the neglect shall continue. 65. Every comr at ly
shall pay a penalty of 101. for each default of e; rea
registrar, and the officer himself a penalty of 5/. 66.
The Commissioners shall report once every year to
Parliament on the punctuality (or want of it) of r. r.l 'l-
- companies, and on any matters connected therewitl
I.
11. CHEAP TRAINS (Clauses 67 to 73).-67. T h e
Commissioners may limit the time of stoppage of cheei
trains and regulate the times of their arrival at termin i.
common to two or more railways. 68. Cornpan s
failing to conform to the Commissioner' orders o'
these matters to forfeit 20/. for every day the (le
fault continues. 69. The, Commissioners may fix e
number of passengers to be conveyed in every carrie :e
of a cheap train, and that number is to be marked c n
each in legible characters. 70. Every cheap train c: u. -•-
riage to have a light fixed in every separate divisi, at
between one hour after sunset and one hour before su a -
rise. 71. The regulations of cheap trains are to be hu a g
up at stations. 72. The penalty for contravening the S e
regulations respecting cheap trains is 201. for eve r:y
offence. 73. In computing the tolls, &c., of cheap trait ti
no fraction of a mile less than one-half is to be tali, a a
into account, and for any greater fraction not more th,
half the toll, on a mile.

12.-CONVEYANCE OF NAVAL, MILITARY, AND POLIO a
FORCES, STORES, AND AMMUNITION.-(Clauses 74
78.) 74. Repeals so much of the Acts 5 and 6 Vict
e. 55, and 7 and 8 Viet., c. 85. as relates to these mat
ters. 75. On the production to the clerk at any static, t
of a route or order for march, transport, or removal 4 A
stores, the following rates of charge to be made:-F,
Ir
every commissioned officer two-thirds of the fat .e.
charged for the time being; for every sailor, soldie.
marine, private of militia, or police-constable ‘,
or the wife, widow, or child of teelve year s
of age or upwards of such, two-thirds, and fol
every child, if three years and upwards and below s
12, one-third of the cheap train fare, and no charge fox
children under three years of age; for every ton of bags
gage, stores, &c. (gunpowder excepted), twopence per
mile, the assistance of the 'military, &c.. being given in
loading or unloading; for gunpowder and other combus-
tible matters, such reasonable sum as shall be demanded
by the company, or approved of by the Commissioners.
Commissioned officers may travel by any train, in any
carriage they please, and shall be allowed the usual
l q u a,newisrt
weather,
grown
ohl ofwe trnriu
a pavgenegarlds
oginne ,
shall
inos.
bed t,
ea
cpeahsl sitl
ler,tiawha i
heo
dn 1 c
a
f 71r2er%i),asttsgei
ca.o
years
t secure
privates,_
eguugrpaelgseafrrefdemsr
8
everyt
ua edd.
clw2t.. for77,e rlefr yt
hceh i ledr
do
ef
r 3 sh-eeaarr s t
td
tuhpewtarredesp, s a nedr
n
tstoreseeeblhp subsequent
Daierssreeieivssi
jott:dooutemirTd.a, beu;
i:lnscfni
hofi
not,oi forwarded aoh
BETWEEN
aheeandpe
dt forthwith,
etrrAi
etol
rlehnitf,si
additional
ve the.
gtA,
fhooy,cer
cffiaeys,Noe,sse3te phr:rp)ee,aiAc
ndsfii
Naaeril
yrseEete
atsltrea:marts-neiceal
as.
settle
disputes non-compliance with these enact-
mentsß
r7ft' ahNBtei de-
fault hse
ineeNaPT:tE'
en continued.oirs. 803.
TheLIN LINES-om(Clause,
er7B9
areto Btle.
asfdloe.to.pie
alBoAblawl.keLtE,erii
,thseAueoeyenrh
penaltyccc
eooorl3mnd palsntsN.
oisrier: havingF.sosesNpo-(Clauses
Cis.
contravention
Tvgaeount
schcte.oietsonLrinstLue2omrz.
fmothtoßiehnrßeso
of
f.sT-tTr lines,ordersaßsiNn2 RETURNS
to be run, their times, &c., as may conduce to the public
is 201. for every day it is persisted in.
FROM
Repeals as much of 3 and 4 Vic., c. 97, as relates to this
matter. 83. Repeals as much of 5 and 6 Vic., c. 55, as
relates to this matter. 84. Empowers the Commissioners
to call for returns from railway companies in relation to
fares, charges, receipts, and expenditure ; to numbers,
kinds, and salaries of officers ; to rules for the govern.
orderca cause e
to thete teat eo
theinment ; to accidents ; and to other matters connected
with accounts, management, and concerns of the com-
ot
ornhinei si shisopneeertse
inspected
pipaales9; boBols:s,TBshce.
iascc2uor aLcyf,eorf
each
cut uhr nrse.fuBs6a.l Tehrehpenalty for
and 201,
yer non-compliancediem
during its continuance.
15. EXERCISE OF THE COMMISSIONERS' POWERS OF
INSPECTION AND INQUIRY.--(Clauses 87 to 97.-
87. The Commissioners may make regulations to guide
themselves or officers in inspections and inquiries. 88.
The officers of Commissioners are to be conveyed on rail-
ways free of charge : the company refusing to carry an
officer to forfeit 20/. 89. The Commissioners em-
powered to summon witnesses. 90. The Commissioners
and their officers may administer oaths to witnesses, and
any person giving false evidence before them is liable to
the penalties of perjury. 91. The penalty for refusing
to produce documents called for by the Commissioners
is 201. 92. Witnesses duly summoned and failing to ap-
pear to forfeit 5/. 93. The Commissioners may direct
the reasonable expenses of witnesses on survey, inspec-
tion, or inquiry to be paid by the promoters or pro-
prietors of the railway ; out of a deposit if such have
been made, or otherwise to be recovered, as after
provided. 94. The expellees of the Commissioners and
their efficers, or other persons employed by them, to be
paid by the promoters or proprietors of the railway ;
the debt to be considered due to the Crown, and
the Commissioners' certificate to be conclusive
evidence in all Courts. 95. " Inspector-general
of railways" in the Acts recited in the pre-
sent to be construed as meaning any inspector.
96. The appointments, orders, &c., of the Commissioners,
are to be signed by their secretary, or some officer ap-
pointed by them, and thus signed, they are to be re-
eeived in evidence in all courts. 97. Orders, notices,
&c., shall be deemed served on any railway company, if
delivered to the secretary, or any clerk, at one of their
offices, or put into the post-office addressed to the com-
pany or their secretary, at one of their offices.
16. BYE-LAWS ON RAILWAY COMPANIES.--(Clauses
98 to 104)-98. Repeals so much of 3 and 4 Vie., c. 97,
as relates to this matter. 99. Railway companies are
to send copies of their bye-laws to Commissioners when
etn
required. 100. Failure to comply subjects to a p
y
of 201., and the like sum for every week that the default
is wilfully continued. 101. No new bye-laws, after the
passing of this Act, are to have force till allowed by th
Commissioners. 102. The Commissioners are to allow
or disallow bye-laws sent to them as soon as p035110:ile;
ws un
103. The allowance of bye-laws is to be testified
-la so
e
hand and seal of the Commissioners; and all by enal
allowed are to be binding on all persons, and received as
evidence in all courts. 104. The Commissioners may
disallow existing bye-laws,
TIIEREOF.-(Clauses 105 to 109).-105. Repeals as
much
~
motsfasyLl so:
order
dd
e2r NEARVie.,any c
company
RAILWAYS DURING THE
106. The Commissioners, on the application of two jusi
the necessary police near the line while
pBaon,
yastereplaaytesthteo
107. Any two justices may appoint special constables
number not exceeding that mentioned in the Commis-
sioners'order) along the line, or within two miles °
MAKING
same. 108. Any two justices may dismiss such con'h
tiles, and appoint others in their stead. 109. Every suc
constable is to receive from the company such reasonable. 3
expenses
hxiipsse:saeakstistnet
of
salary as the justices may appoint, and the salary to
recoverable by distress.
18. RECOVERY OF FORFEITURES AND •
(Clauses 110 to 118).-110. All penalties and
made under this Act are to be sued fur and recovereder_
debts due to the Crown; and when incurred b)
more
ePach
sons than one each shall be deemed due from
all
"11 res. to
severally. The penalties not being forfeitures
the crown may be recovered by summary
Prod, and the
before two justices in England and Ireland,
of the
Sheriff in Scotland. 112. Prescribes the ferns
Immediately
summary proceedings for recovery.
113. and costa if;
on adjudication the amount of the penalty'and Ireland,
forfeitures
to be levied by distress and sale in
England When the ap-
by poinding and sale in Scotland.
half to the one-
halfover-
is to go to the informer, and one-
o iction is to be
seers of tne parish poor. 115.
The
e-rinVa schedule ap-
drawn according to a form contained
i under this Act
pended to the Act. 116. Proceedings_
plication of penalties is not otherwise provided for
crier courts.
certiorari or otherwise into any of the su
amended or se-
be
19-(Clause 117).-This Act may
led this session.
are not to be quashed for want of form or removed by

nineß O L I
OC,
cal To. cAk , T
aTsE Mt
the
c.
aboDut"
private watchman, Was examining ,daaYlonngigwhitthlatshte
the new_scrheoott
epremises
in Elmbank-place, they went into a room whe h private
is enclosed round with bricks. On taking out the ashes
from the fire-place, he found a large piece of clay which he
—O'
-latcl'hilmuarns
watchman had been in the habit of kind.ling a fire, which
beer bottle was
an earthenware gingr--
and , concealed,
which he broke in pieces, to his astonishment
took up and broke, and found un the coating of clay
discovered that it had been filled with gunpow-
der. Had the nian, as he commonly does, kindled the fire
. having
t sto secretedb e
hoped lead
that f o
trbteh
perpe-
trator epr
pu
er --
without takingeaonuntottbhee
gauselieses, tin)alitslliteorctantinmote
atecheoubnottftoler
would have exploded, and most likelythe
have killed him on
the spot. Who the perpetrator
guessed
i attempt on the poor
some men employed about the building, whom he had been
Crescent.
pose o ors will be found out
trator or perpetrators
Glasgow and punished, as such
conduct richly merits.— Post.
man's
otherwise elri Wei se was,
than
Ties RivEit PLATE.—FALMOU TII, PE B. 21.—The
packet Peterel, Lieutenant. Creser, has arrived here from Rio
de Janeiro, whence she sailed on the 12th ult., leaving there
the means of dteatkeecntinagwaays
the British ships of war Curacoa
Exchange 284. No freight, and not a syllable of news.
A man, condemned to death by the Court of
Assizes of the Ardeche, has petitioned the Minister of Ju tf
to permit him to undergo his punishment by inhalingce
ether, death by such means, he understands, being withoupain. t
We regret to state that M. Gervase Parker Bushe,
attache to the British Embassy at Vienna, died in that
capi-
tal on the bth instant of fever. He was only
son of the late
Gervase Bushe, Esq., of Kilkenny, Ireland, and was
ber of the same family to which the late Chief Jus* a mem-
ber Bushe
belonged.
OSWESTRY.--SHOCKING DEATH IN T g
RE ..,NOW —A.
poor man, named William Miller, by trade a
.
bell-hanger,
was yesterday morning discovered in a sunken fence,-
Pork-
ington Park ; his right leg was broken, arid the in
features dis-
figured by vermin. He had not been seen •
night, the Bth inst., and, its
is
supposed,
had
takensince Monday
cut across the park, and, in leaping the f a near
fence, broken his
leg, and perished through the inclemency
Echlowes' Shrewsbury Journal. of the weather.—
JOINT- STOCK PROVISION COMPANY
A proposal has been issued in Elgin for the establishment Is ELG IN.—
a working-men's provision association, establishment of
1,0007., in shares of 20s. By purch •
, the capital to be
best markets, the promoters expect toasulg
bread, and groceries at lower than c
I establishment is included
for cash in the
supply meal, wheat,
in
the current prices. A baking
proposal. A y,nh► rrlet-
• I jag, laid. On Wi3dnesday wt:ek, •
draw up the basis of the society. .11iSi..,inoiiritect a CullllllLtlee LO
been successfully carried on in the southar associations have
Scotland.—Ross-shin Advertiser. -western counties of
Talbot, e,
enantdhe work of