The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-14 00:00:00

SUPPRES-,ION OF TRADING IN

SEDUCTION AND PROSTITUTION.

A numerously attended and respectable meetinc, of
gentlemen was held yesterday at the King's Arms Hotel,
New Palace-yard, Westminster, to support Mr. Spooner's
Bill for the suppression of the trade in seduction and
prostitution, which is to be real a second time this
day in the House of Commons ; Captain Gladstone,
M.P., was called to the chair.
Prayers having been offered up by the Rev. Mr.
Craig,

The CHAIRMAN said he was sorry that it had not
fallen upon his Honourable Friend Mr. Spooner to oc-
cupy the position in which he had been placed. He was
sure that they were all obliged to that gentleman for the
excellent manner in which he bad introduced his mca
sure to the House. The speech he then made did
credit to both his head and his heart, and he hoped that
no formidable opposition would be offered to that mea-
sure on its second reading. He had heard only of two
objections having ever been made to legislative inter-
ference on this subject. The first, that it was extremely
difficult to legislate on a subject so delicate as the oie
which they had met to cunsider. That objection ap-
plied to several other questions. Now it wns
very difficult to prevent bribery, but that had not
prevented the Legislature making enactments
from year to year. The next objection was,
that by legislating on this subject they were giving an
injurious publicity to the question, but he thought that
by making public the means that were used towards
those who were the objects of seduction, it might be of
great service, by producing greater vigilance on the part
of those who had the custody of females. He would
conclude by calling on Mr. Hansard to propose the first
resolution.

Mr. L. J. HANSARD said he came there not to address
the meeting, but to subscribe 1001. towards the object
which they had in view, even if it were the last farthing
he possessed. It was for them to consider whether the
resolution which he would propose would or would not
have their approval. It was to this effect—" That the
meeting deplored the existence of a trade in seduction
and prostitution to an immense extent."

The Rev. M. LUSIGNAIC seconded the resolution,
which was carried unanimously.
The Bishop of NORWICH, in proposing the next reso-
lution, said—He came there; rather to show himself
friendly to the principle, and to promote a measure
which had a tendency to correct one of the greatest evils
that existed in their country, and which reflected
on the very civilisation of their country. From
what he learned himself, from unquestionable
sources, the evil which the Bill proposed
to remove was far worse than it was represented to be.
Cases had come before gentlemen who had proofs clearly
of the guilt of the parties, whose names he would not for
obvious reasons mention, but they had found such a
difficulty in bringing them under the operation of the
law, that they were obliged to drop all proceedings, and
the criminals escaped. Though he did not
believe that an Act of Parliament would
prevent what they all deplored, it might
effect much good. There were ramifications in
this subject which could nev.•r be conceived but by a
person acquainted with all the details. Human nature
actually revolted from the conduct of some who called
themselves gentlemen. He would conclude by moving
the second resolution.

Mr. BAILLIE, M.P., seconded the resolution, which
stated that the meeting considered it the- duty of Go-
vernment to enact efficient laws to put a stop to the trade
in seduction and prostitution.
The resolution was carried unanimously.
The Rev. CHARLES CLAYTON proposed, and the Rev.
DANIEL COOKE seconded, a resolution approving of the
principle of the Bill emanating from the Associate In-
stitution, and earnestly hoped that it might be passed
into a law, which was carried unanimously.
The Rev. Mr. MUIR proposed the following resolu-
tion

" That the cordial thanks of this meeting are beret)]
.presented to Mr. Spooner for his efforts in this cause
and that a petition in favour of his Bill be signed by thi
chairman, in the behalf of this meeting, and forwarder
to Mr. Spooner for presentation to the House of Corn
mons to morrow."

Mr. LASCELLES seconded the resoluticn, which was
carried unanimously.

Mr. SPOONER, M.P., said he was deeply affected by
the display of approval that was shown to his measure.
It was one that was extremely difficult to be brought
forward, and which required moral courage on the part
of its proposer. He had always had a conviction that it
only required that the subject of the Bill should be
brought before the House and the public to insure its suc-
cess. He had also a deep sense of the responsibility that at-
tached to a person holding a seat in the House of Commons,
and it was acting upon those feelings that he had intro-
duced his Bill. It was a matter of regret to him that the
gallery had been cleared, and that the public were de-
prived of an opportunity of having had brought
before them matter of a most essential na-
ture.'k He believed that Mr. Berkeley was actuated
by good motives, but in his (Mr. Spooner's) opinion.
it would have effected considerable good if publicity hi :d
been afforded to his statements. It was, owing to the
good sense of the House, rendered unnecessary for him
to enter into details, for when he applied to them. and
stated that he was prepared to do so, they were satisfied
with his mere assertion that a great trade was carried on in
the bodies and souls of their countrywomen. The manner
in which they had received his humble efforts was
such as would always be remembered by him with gra-
titude. He was quite convinced of the ultimate success
f the measure ; and Sir George Grey had asserted
that the subject to which it referred was one that
was entitled to every consideration. After some further
observations the Hon. Gentleman concluded.

A petition to Parliament, praying the adoption o
the Bill, was then agreed to.
Thanks were voted to thQ Chairman, and the meet
ing separated.

COURT MARTIAL.
FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)
PORTSMOUTH, TUESDAY.-A court.martial was held
this morning, at nine o'clock, on board the Victory, in
Portsmouth harbour, on an able seaman of the iron brig
Recruit, named James Smythe, for deserting from that
ship on the 24th of last November, when in the harbour
at Devonport.

The following officers composed the Court :--Rear•
Admiral Parker, President; Captain Pasco, of the Vic-
tory; Captain Chads, of the Excellent; Captain Codring-
ton, of the Thetis ; Captain Milne, of the St. Vincent ;
and the Judge-Advocate, George Greatham, Esq.
Thero was no evidence to prove that the man had
deserted on •the day laid in the charge, but direct
evidence to show that he was on board the ship and
attending to his duty on the 25th, the day after the
charge is laid—in the face of which, however, the charge
was declared " fully proved," and the poor fellow
adjudged to receive fifty lashes, to be imprisoned twelve
months in Winchester Gaol, and to forfeit all pay due to
him by time of service.

RAILWAY COMMITTEES

(YESTERDAY.)

lIOUSE OF COMMONS.
GROUP I.

The Select Committee appointed to consider the merits
of the Bills comprised in this group re-assembled in
Room 30 this morning, for the first time after the ho-
lidays ; Lord Granville Somerset in the chair.
THE SOUTH-EASTERN SCHEMES.
Mr. AUSTIN completed the case for these lines by
putting in a number of returns and documents relating
to the electric telegraph, and the passenger and parcel
fares to be charged on the lines.

Mr. AusTat—intimated that, now that the South-
Eastern case was closed, according to the practice of
Parliament, the time had arrived for going into the land-
holders' opposition.
The CHAIRMAN said the Committee were not disposed
to pursue that course in the present instance. They had
to decide between the merits of the two competing lines,
and the Committee were of opinion that the case for the
Brighton Company ought now to be gone into. He had,
therefore, to call for the report of the Railway Com-
misioßers upon these schemes.

Mr. TALBOT replied, that as yet the report was in the
bosom of the Hon. Mr. Strutt.
The CHAIRMAN said, the Committee then had no
choice but to go on with the landholders' opposition.
Mr. TALBOT said, all the returns had long since been
made to the railway board, and the report would have
been laid upon the table of the House yesterday had not
the board fallen into the error of thinking that the Com-
mittee would resume their labours on the 15th instead of
the 13th.

Mr. W. 0. STANLEY said, before they went into the
cases of the landholders he wished to have the room

cleared.

Strangers were accordingly ordered to withdraw, and
the Committee having consulted together for a few mi-
nutes, the parties were recalled, when
The CHAIRMAN announced that the Committee had
determined to proceed with the opposition of the land-
holders, but the Committee thought it right to intimate
that they did not wish to go into the case of any pro-
perty lying between Maidstone and Chart, as they were
of opinion that no case had been made out to support
the preamble of the Bill for making the line from Maid-
stone to Chart.