The Sun.
London, England, 1840-03-13 00:00:00

HILL COOLIES.

Sir J. GRAHAM said a Committee bad been ap-
pointed in 183 S by the Governor-General and Council
of India, to sit at Calcutta, for the purpose of inquiring
into the transmission of Hill Coolies to the West
Indies. He understood that that Committee had
made a Report, and he begged to ask the Noble Lord
whether he had any knowledge of such a document ?
Lord J. RUSSELL was understood to reply in
the negative.
Lord STANLEY said that he understood that
a report had been sent over to this country from
Demerara, the object of which was to encou-
rage the emigration of the Hill Coolies. That report
however had been disallowed. He wished to ask the
Noble Lord if there would be any objection to lay
that Report, and other dispatches connected with the
subject before the House.

Lord J. RUSSELL said that the Noble Lord was
right in stating that the Report he had alluded to had
been disallowed. He believed that a communication to
that effect had been already made to Parliament, and
that he could have no objection to lay the dispatches be-
fore the House.

A message from the Lords brought up certain Bills
which were read a first time.
PRIVILEGE.

Sir EDWARD SUGDEN begged leave to post-
pone the motion, of which he had given notice for to-
night, in order to give the Noble Lord an opportunity
of stating to-morrow what were his intentions on this.
subject.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL was ready to state now
how the case stood. He should not know to•morrow
the exact course which he should be prepared to advise
the House to pursue. The Committee on Printed
Papers would meet on Monday, and he thought the
other Members of that Committee would be glad if
the Right Hon. Gentleman would attend on that day.
He expected they would make some Report, and his
own opinion was, that they would lay before tho House
precedents of publications which had formerly taken
place.
Sir E. SUGDEN had only remained aloof from the
Committee on account of the incarceration of
the Sheriff. He should be glad to facilitate their labours
by every means in his power.
LIGHTING THE HOUSE.

Lord ELIOT (who appeared with a large bundle
of papers under his arm) begged to assure the House that
they need not feel any alarm at the huge bundle
of papers which he lied brought with him, as he should
not intrude at any very great length on their time, but
divvtheii
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oc
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as by the resolution he was about to propose he was
about to request the House if not to rescind a resolution
er this question. Mr. Gurney had pre-
sented oer
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atto
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egyri
deti
already been adopted by the Trinity House. The
Bude Light was the invention of Mr. Gurney, and con-
sisted of passing a stream of oxygen gas through an
argand burner, and the light was so brilliant that the
Trinity House adopted it. Mr. Gurney offered to
light the House with the Bude Light, and to be at
the expense of the experiment. The Honourable
Chancellor of the Exchequer, however, had objected to
this being done at Mr. Gurney's expanse, but had
granted 1001. towards making the experiment, which
had been conducted under the superintendence of the
Commissioners of Woods and Forests. This experi-
ment bad proved so satisfactory that the House had
appointed a Select Committee to consider the subject.
Of the Committee which had been appointed he (Lord
Eliot) had been a Member ; and he certainly admitted
that, knowing the abilities of Mr. Gurney, and from his
experience of the Bude Light, he was predisposed in
its favour, yet not so much as to be unal-
terably prejudiced against any evidence. Even this
slight predisposition, however, could not be alleged
against other Gentlemen on the Committee, who were
entirely disinterested either way.—( Hear.) The Com-
mittee had examined Professor Farraday, SirD.Brewster,
Dr. Ure and Dr. Arnot, and not one of them expressed
unfavourable opinion on the light ; nay, they were
decidejlv in its favour.—( Hear, hear.) They, however,
stated that Lt'. ere was a
great necessity for adopting some
means to improve t:, 4? ventilation of the House, and that
this
i
this light would afford faci:!es for that object by giving
opportunity for having a desceafling current ; at all
events, an improvement of the ventilation would prevent
the annoyance of dust through the chinks in the floor of
the House. The Noble Lord had stated further that many
practical gentleman, such as Mr. Rixon (of Hancock
and Rixon's), had declared that a finer light. than the
Bude never was witnessed.—(Hear, hear.) The
Noble Lord, adverting to the chandeliers, remarked
that they weighed several hundred weight each—
with the massy shades—(many yards in circum-
ference) and that suspended to a small chain—their
safety was at least questionable—indeed, a day or two
ago one had fallen and grievously injured a workman.
Then as to the expense of the Bade light, it had
cost some 7001., but that included a stock
which would last through the session, and the
chandeliers had already cost upwards of 5001., and
divers decorations had been added by the Gallant
Officer (Colonel Sir F. Trench). He considered
that it was clear that the experiments bad not
been fully made, and that, therefore, the wishes of the
Committee and the orders of the House had not been
complied with. He trusted, therefore, that the House
would accede to his motion, and if, after a fair trial, the
House should be convinced, under all the circumstances,
that the present mode of lighting was preferable to the
Bude Light, he for one would not again venture to be
its advocate.
Mr. JAMES seconded the motion. He did not be-
lieve that there was any Member in that House who
suffered more from defective sight than he did, and he
must confess that he experienced the greatest possible
relief when the unseemly chandeliers were taken away
and the Bude Light substituted, and which he hoped
soon to see restored.
Sir F. TRENCH said the only object he had in
view was that Hon. Members should have that light
which was most agreeable to them. He would not say
one word in favour or against either mode of light,
jug, as Hon. Members were competent from the
experiments that had been made to form their own
opinions. There was one circumstance, however, to
which he was anxious to call the attention of the
House. It bad been stated that an accident
had occured on Monday in consequence of the weight
of the chandeliers. Now, in consequence of that, he
had taken the trouble to obtain an account of
the weight of different chandeliers in public buildings.
The Hon. and Gallant Member then read a comparative
statement of the weight of the lustres and chandeliers
used in Almack's, Drury Lane Theatre, the National
Gallery and the King's Theatre, to show that
no danger was to be apprehended from the weight of
lustres in the House. But the cries of " Divide,
vide," to which he at length gave way, prevented the
particulars from being heard in the gallery.

! Sir C. LEMON thought the object of these ex-
periments was not so much for the present convenience
of Members as to afford a safe guide and test for the
lighting of the new House,. At present they had three
chandeliers, some high, some low, with a long petticoat
to one, and a short skirt to another (alluding to the
pieces of green silk affixed to the shades, in order to
protect the Speaker's eyes from the glare of light), so
that the whole view of the House is impeded. When
he entered the House the first night of the Bude Light,
lie was struck with the beauty of its proportions, and
he was of opinion there ought to be no large opaque
body in the centre.—(Hear, and laughter.)
Mr. GOULBURN agreed with his Hon. Friend
behind him that this was a question of feeling, and his
feeling was, that he saw better by tliu wax light than
bw the 13ucle Light. He must protest against the doc-
trine of the Han, Baronet who just sat down, that
they were to. be subjected to a series of experiments for
the lightinc, of the new House, of which probably they
might not lie Neroh,ers,
stir TI-AOMASI A GLAND said they had already
incurred 7001. in experiments upon the Bode Light, and
surety trey would not refuse 50/. more to make those
experiments successful,--(Fl ear, hoar.)
The House divided, when the nurnbt:,.rs were—
For the motion
Against it
Majority -50
HEALTH OF LARGE TOWNS.
Mr. SLANEY moved for the appointment of a Se.
lect Cowmittee to inquire into the circumstances affect-
ing the health of the inhabitants of largo towns and
populous districts, with a view to improved sanatory re-
gulations for their benefit.—Agreed to.
*'BEER SHOPS IN MONMOUTHSHIRE.
Mr. HUME moved for a Return of the number of
persons licensed to sell beer in that Collection of the
Excise department in which Newport (Monmouthshire)
is situated, distinguishing those licensed under Acts 1
and Will. 4, c. 64, and 4 and 5 Will. 4, c. 85 (the
New Beer Acts), from those licensed under Act 9
Geo. 4, c. 61 (the Magisterial Licensing Act); and,
at the suggestion of the Noble Lord, he would move
that the number of persons licensed to sell beer by re-
tail in the district of Pontypool be also included in the
Return.—Ordered.

CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN THE NAVY.
Mr. HUME moved for a Return of the number of
Corporal Punishment: inflicted in the Royal Navy, in
each of the years 1838 and 1839 (in continuation of
Parliamentary Paper, No. 371, of 1838). To this Re-
turn there was no objection, and he trusted that it
would show a considerable diminution of corporal pu-
nishment in the Navy. He was anxious for a more de-
fined statement, which would show the number of corpo-
ral punishments inflicted in each ship within each year.
This had been objected to, but he still was exceedingly
desirous of obtaining it, because he understood that in
some ships no corporal punishment whatever had been
inflicted, wnile in others it had been inflicted in a variety
of cases. Such a Return would be useful, as showing
the state of discipline in a ship, and as illustrative of
the character of the officers as well as the men. He
thought it would also have a tendency to check corpo-
ral punishment, and he thought that corporal punish-
ment was one great objection to persons entering an
Navy.
Mr. GOULBURN did not think that the Returns in
question should be granted, at least, as a matter of
course. He feared that such Returns might be attended
with a bad effect.

After a few words from Lord J. RUSSELL and
Mr. HUME, the motion was agreed to.
FIRST-FRUITS AND TENTHS.
Mr. AGLIONBY, as Chairman of the Committee
on the First Fruits and Tenths of the Clergy, brought
up the Report of the whole House, by which it was re-
solved—" That it is expedient to make provision for the
abolition of the First Fruits and Tenths of the Clergy
as at present enforced in England and Wales, after the
next avoidance, and in lieu thereof to levy an assessment
of one-tenth part of the clear annual value upon all
archbishoprics and bishoprics, and all dignities and be-
nefices and other spiritual promotions above the dear
yearly value of 3001., to he applied in the first instance
to the augmentation of the maintenance of the poor
clergy, and afterwards to the building and re-building
of churches, and to such other purposes as may conduce
to the interests of religion, and that a Bill be brought into
Parliament grounded on this resolution."

Mr. G 0 IA BURN said that having already explained
his sentiments on this measure, he should move to nega•
tive the Report.

Mr. BAINES should merely say, that in the Bill,
which, with the leave of the House he should introduce,
it was not his intention to adhere rigidly to the assess.
ment of annual Tenths, though he conceived that this
would generally be considered very productive. He
should, however leave it to the House, in the progress
of the Bill, to regulate the amount of payment to be
made out of the higher livings for the augmentation of
the lower, and to award to the labouring clergy such
proportion of the real annual income of all livings above
300/. a-year, when they ceased to be held by the pre-
sent incumbents, as Parliament might think necessary
to maintain the station of the labouring clergy, and to
secure to them and their families a competent Support.--
(Hear, hear.)
The House then divided, when there appeared—
For bringing up the Report 46
Against it ........ .
Majority --8
And so the measure is lost.
HORSE-RACING.

The Horse•racing Bill went through Committee, ate!
a few words from Mr. HUME, Lord STANLEY, and Mr.
WARBURTON.

The Report was received, and the Bill was orderer
to be read a third time to-morrow.
MUTINY BILLS.

Sir GEORGE GREY brought in the Mutiny Bill,
and the Marine Mutiny Bill, which were severally read
a first time, and ordered to be read a second time to-
morrow.

The House Adjourned at a Quarter to Seven o'Clock.

PERTHSHIRE ELECTION.

(From the Glasgow Chronicle.)
The Perthshire election. has terminated in a manner
quite unexpected, to all who were not aware of the exact
number of votes at the command of the Conservative
landholders, and the extent to which fictitious votes
had been manufactured on the Tory side. Mr. Home
Drummond has been returned with the sweeping ma-
jority of 459, at the close of the first day's poll : the
number who had voted at that period being, for Drum-
mond, 1,556 ; for Stewart, 1,127.
In addition to the activity of the Tories in the Regis-
tration Courts, we regret our being again obliged to re-
fer to the interminable Non-Intrusion question, but it
has been so mixed up with this Perthshire elec-
tion, that there is no avoiding it. From the first
appearance of Mr. Robert Stewart, and the other Go-
vernment officials, in the Perthshire canvass, we most
unhesitatingly condemned their interference with the
veto question, and the concessions they promised the
Church ; both from the offence they were certain to give
the Dissenters, and Radicals ; and also, from their utter
ignorance of the merits of the question itself. The
result of the contest now proves that our worst feats
have been more than realised. All accounts agree,
that almost no votes have been gained by the promised
subserviency to the vetuist ministers ; and that the prin-
cipal cause of the speedy and triumphant success of Mr.
Home Drummond was the offence given to the Dissen-
ters by Mr. Stewart, and their refraining to go to the
poll. At the Scone polling station alone, 22 Radi-
cals and Dissenters refused to go to the poll for Mr.
Stewart on this account ; while all the support he ob-
tained from the Non-intrusiomsts, so far as has been
ascertained, was three ministers and one layman at the
Perth station. Even the Rev. Mr. Thomson, Presi-
dent of the Perthshire meeting of Non-intrusion minis-
ters, declined voting for Mr. Stewart, after he had
recommended him to the support of the Non-intrusion-
ists of the county.
The result of this contest will, we hope, teach Mr.
Stewart and Mr. Fox Maule the value of their devo-
tion to the veto. We hope, also, it points out to Lord
Melbourne and Lord John Russell the course that
Ministers should pursue on that question, and likewise,
whether they will be most successful in their endea-
vours to retain office by satisfying tine Reformers with
their measures, or to satisfy the Tory Non-intrusionists
of the Church.

It appears that throughout Perthshire, this election,
when it came to the polling day, excited less interest
than any election that has preceded it since the passing
of the Reform Acts. We are fully warranted in stating
that this was also the case in this part of the country,
and that high as the expectations of the Liberal interest
were raised, in regard to the issue of the contest, when
it commenced, before the result was known it was
looked forward to • with much indifference. We feel
ourselves warranted to state further, that the course
that has been pursued by the Dissenters and Radicals
of Perthshire, has been fully approved of by their
brethren in the west of Scotland.

EXPLOSION OF GAS.—Between five and six
o'clock on Wednesday evening the neighbourhood of the
Quadrant, Regent-street, was alarmed by a loud report, re-
sembling the discharge of a cannon, which was soon found to
have been occasioned by an explosion of gas on the premises
No. 3, Igzrylebone-street, in the occupation of Mr. Cabell,
brace-mandacturer, &lid Mr. Davis, auctioneer. It appears
that a smell of an escape of gas ha-iing been noticed by the in-
mates, the gas-fitters were sent for t examine the pipes, and
immediately on their usinc, a light for that purpose the explosiOn
took place, breaking the glass its the kitchen window and setting
fire thereto. FgrOmately the premises being directly opposite
the engine hot'sa of the Comity Fire-office, Carter, the fore-
man, and West, the en-ineer, Instantly drew the Mipps out,
and succeeded in subduing the flames without any material
damage bean; done. The St. James's engine, and those of the
brigade, were also promptly in attendance, but their assistance
was not required. 'llO premises are insured in the British
Fire-office.
A penitentiary has been established in Toias,
" not," says a New York paper, " before it was wanted I"
CONGRATULATORY ADDRESSES.—A great
number of addresses of congratulation to the Queen, Prince
Albert, and the Duchass of Kent? continue to be carried.