The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-26 00:00:00

PROGRESS OF PUBLIC BUSINESS.

Lord STANLEY gave notice that —to-morrow he
would put a question to his Noble Friend the President
of the C..uncil, as to the course which the Government
intended to pursue with regard to public business. They
were now in the sixth week of the session, :and
it was a general complaint that there was at pre-
sent no business of any sort before the House.
This had frequently been a subject of complaint in
former sessions, but he never recollected so strong
a case as the present one. At the meeting of the House
this day, there was not a single Bill, nor any sort of
business or notice before them, with the exception of one
from his Noble Friend fixed for to-morrow. Farther
than that, he understood that the Government
intended to postpone. till the 7th March the Bills
which they proposed with reference to Ireland. He
should therefore ask the Noble Marquis to-morrow
what course her Majesty's Government intended to pur-
sue with regard to the progress of public business. He
should also put a question with regard to the nature of the
duties proposed to devolve upon a commission recently
appointed for the discharge of business hitherto intrusted
to the Commissioners of the Duchy of Lancaster.
LABOURING POOR (IRELAND) BILL.

On the motion of the Earl' of CLARENDON, this
Bill was read a first time, and ordered to be read a
second time on Monday.
Their Lordships they adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 25.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock.
SECOND READINGS.
The following Railway Bills were read a second time,
and ordered to be committed :
Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Stour Valley Rail-
way (No. 2) Branches.
Cornwall Railway.
Dublin and Belfast Junction and Navan Branch Railway.
Dublin and Drogheda Railway (Branch from Navan to

Kells).
East of Fife Railway (Markinch Deviation).
Eastern Counties Railway (Ilford to Tilbury Fort and
Southend, with a Branch from Vange to Battle Bridge).
Great Northern Railway (Branches to Sleaford).
Great Northern Railway (Extension to Leeds and
Wakefield, Deviation of Methley Branch of Wakefield,

Pontefract, and Goole Railway).
Great Northern Railway (Purchase of Ambergate, Not-
tingham, and Boston and Eastern Junction Rail-
way, &c.)
Oldham Alliance Railway.
Paisley and Renfrew Railway (Sale and Improvement).
St. Helen's Canal and Railway (Warrington and Black-
brook Branches, &a.)
A number of Private Bills were brought in and read
a first time.
THE CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAILWAY
(EXTENSIONS AT CHESTER AND HOLY-
HE AI )) BILL.
This Bill, which was on the paper to be read a second
time this evening, was postponed till this day fortnight.
GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY BRANCHES BILL.
Sir R. INGLIS presented a petition from the Cor-
poration of London, as trustees of St. Thomas's Hospital,
against, the branches and extension of the Great
Western Railway Bill.
NEW MARKE I.' AND CHESTERFORD RAILWAY
BILL.
This Bill was read a second time.
IRISH POOR-LAW.

Petitions for the amendment of this law were pre-
sented by Mr. Collett, from Athlone ; by Mr. 11. Hind,
from places in the county of Cork ; and by Mr. John
O'Connell, from several places in different parts of the
country.
REPEAL OF THE RATE-PAYING CLAUSES
OF THE REFORM BILL.

Mr. W. COWPER presented a petition from Hertford
in favour of the repeal of these clauses, amidst the
laughter of Mr. Thomas Dunuombe and several Members
near him, in which the Hon. Member heartily joined.
TENANT RIGII'IS (IRELAND).
Mr. S. CRAIVFORD presented a petition from Bel •
shane, praying for the protection of the rights of out-
going tenants in Ireland.
THE TRUCK SYSTEM.

Mr. THOMAS DUNCOMBE presented a petition,
signed by nearly 40,000 members of the National
Association for the Protection of Industry and the
Employment of Laboar, praying that the present
punishment by pecuniary fine on masters who paid in
goods might be exchanged for that of imprisonment, a
prayer in which he heartily concurred.
WILLOW WORKERS.
Mr. T. DUNCOM BE also presented a petition from
the willow and straw manufacturers of London, stating
the distressed condition of their trade, and praying the
house to take measures for their relief.
H DISTRESS.
Mr. J. O'CONNELL presented a petition from the
clergy of the district of New Ross. The petitioners
stated that they were the clergy of half a million of
people, and that unless some steps were promptly taken
by the Government, that part of Ireland with which
they were connected would be depopulated by famine.
MINISTERS' MONEY.
Mr. J. O'CONNELL also presented petitions from
the Corporations of Dublin and Kilkenny praying for the
abolition of ministers' money.
POOR LAW—IRELAND

Mr. J. O'CONNELL also presented a petition from
the inhabitants of Kilkenny for an alteration of thepre-
sent extent of the unions of Ireland, and stating that
they had paid 6s. in the pound, and were now paying 35.,
although other places were absolutely paying ing noth
Sir CHARLES NAPIER presented a petition from
Marylebone, numerously signed, in favour of the claims
of the Raja of Sattara.
Sir CHARLES LEMAN presented a petition against
the Poor Removal Act.
Mr. C. VILLIERS presented a petition from Bilston
against the rate-paying clauses of the Reform Act.
Captain CLIVE presented a petition, complaining of
the operation of the Poor Removal Act.
An HON. MEMBER presented a petition from a place
in Cornwall against the Roman Catholic Relief Act.
Sir J. Y. BULLER presented a petition complaining
of the law of settlement.
Sir D. NORREYS presented a petition from Mallow,
praying the House to adopt an improved system of raising
the rates for the relief of the poor in Ireland.
Colonel T. WOOD presented a petition from Staines
complaining of the law of settlement.
Mr. M. GIBSON presented a petition fsom Man-
chester against the salt monopoly of the East India
Company.
Dlr. MACKINNON presented a petition against the
Poor Removal Act.
Mr. ALDAM presented a petition praying for the re-
duction of the tea duties.
Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL presented a petition from
Killarney against the present system of rating to the
poor
DUTY ON BUTTER AND CHEESE.
Mr. in
BDI.
Esc°
'IT gave notice that, on an
early day.
he would move for the repeal of the existing duties on
butter and cheese.
AFFAIRS OF SINDE.
Mr. RIME postponed for a fortnight his motion re-
speim OFFICERSSinde IN TUE ARMY.
s ci
DOUGLASCALs oF
said that it was his intention to
trn H. tph ue I
call the attention of the Government to the state of the
medical officers in the army.
REGULATION OF THE REVENUE.
Dr. BOWRING gave notice that, in consequence of
, the indisposition of the chancellor of the &chequer, ho

would postpone his motion on the subject of the revenue
fora fortnight.
NATIONAL FAST AND HUMILIATION.
Mr. PLUMPTRE gave notice that, upon an early
day, it was his intention to move that an humble addreso
be presented to her Majesty, praying her to appoint a
day of national fast and humiliation.
QUEEN'S PRINTERS' PATENT (IRELAND).
Mr. HUME moved for copies of all correspondence
since the Ist day of January, 1846, respecting the
arrangement made by the Treasury, on the expiration
of the Queen's Printers' patent in Ireland, for the
several matters of business formerly done by them.--
Agreed to.
PORTLAND BREAKWATER.
Mr. HUME moved for a copy of the reports and plans
submitted to the Board of Admiralty for a harbour of
refuge and breakwater at the Isle of Portland, in the
county of Dorset, and the minute of the Board of
Admiralty and Treasury approving of the same; also
a copy of the correspondence with the Treasury,
and an estimate of the probable expense to be
incurred for the purchase of land, and for the formation
of the breakwater and harbour, as approved of.—
Agreed to.

CRACOW,
Mr. HUME gave notice that he would to-morrow
move for returns of the amount of goods annually im-
ported into Cracow, and the tariff at present levied
upon those goods.
TENANT RIGHTS, (IRELAND).

Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD rose, in pursuance
of the notice he had given, to move for leave to
bring in a Bill to secure the rights of occupying tenants
in Ireland, and thereby to promote the improvement of
the soil, and the employment of the labouring classes.
He did not think it necessary to enter then into details
which he had so fully laid before the House when the
Labouring Poor Bill was under discussion. But he
hoped that he would be able to show that security to
the rights of the occupying tenants would, in a
great degree, forward the improvement of the soil
and of the people. It had been said that small holdings
had been the ruin of Ireland, but he would maintain
that not the small holdings, but the insecurity on which
the small holdings in Ireland were held, had been the
ruin of that conntry. He. had made a comparison be-
tween the counties of Down and Limerick, and he found
that in the one, where the tenant right existed, there
was comfort, and in the other, where it did not, there
was nothing but misery. The Hon. Member then read
from agents in Ireland facts confirmatory of his statement,
and proceeded to say that his object was to secure by
law that which at present existed only by sufferance. To
secure that simply was the object of.the Bill he wished to
introduce. Now, the farms in Ireland might be classed
as follows:-306,915 of 5 acres, 251,158 of 15 acres,
and 48,312 of 40 acres. If the occupiers of the second
class could be induced to spend to the value of 101. in
labour on the land, it would realise 2,514,0001.; and if
the other classes would spend in the same proportion,
6,000,0001. would be realised. This expenditure would
give employment to 3,822 individuals, and support to
900,000 families. From the official returns, it appeared
that the better class of farmers invested their money in
savings' banks. This they did, because, if they ex-
pended it on land, they would have no security
of a return. If they altered the present system, and
made the farmer believe that he had security for what
he laid out, they would make him expend. Give him
a tenant-right to his land, and he would
of course, wish to improve that land.—(Hear.)
He believed that there was no intention to oppose his
bringing in this Bill, and he should, therefore, move
that the Bill be brought in and read a first time.
Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL seconded the motion.

Mr. LABOUCHERE had no intention to oppose
the introduction of this Bill, for he thought that
the opinions of one who had paid so much at-
tention to the subject, and especisily as he
was an Irish landlord, were worthy of all attention, and
ought tberefore to be embodied in a _Bill, and thus be
brought under the notice of the House. He had already
stated on a previous occasion that it was the intention
of the Government to bring in some measure for this
object, and he thought, therefore, that the better plan
would be to delay the consideration of this Bill until that
was also before them. In the meantime he most cordially
gave his assent for the introduction of this Bill.
The Bill was then brought in and ordered to be printed.
CAPTAIN WARNER'S LONG RANGE.
On the motion of Sir C. NAPIER, the report of the
officers appointed to inspect the trial of Captain Warner's
long range was ordered to be printed.
EXPIRING LAWS.
On the motion of Mr. PARKER, the following
gentlemen were appointed the Committee on expiring
laws:—Mr. Parker, Mr. Tufnell, Mr. Attorney-General,
Mr. Labouchere, Mr. Greene, the Lord Advocate, the
O'Conor Don, Viscount Ebrington, Mr. Gibson Craig,
Mr. Hawes, Mr. Ward, Mr. Milner Gibson, the Solici-
tor-General, Mr. Sheil, and the Secretary-at-War.
COLLECTION OF RATES, IRELAND.
Mr. CRAWFORD rose to move- the second reading
of the Bill for the better collection of the poor-rates in
Ireland, and he might say that his first object in this
Bill was to render the landlord, as well as the
tenant, responsible for the poor-rates. His first
principle was, to protect the poor tenant from
paying his landlord's rates as well as his own.
He proposed after the Bill was read a second time, if the
House should consent to read it a second time, not to
press the further stages of the Bill until the whole
of the measures of the Government were brought before
the attention of the House.
Colonel CONNOLLY was sorry to be compelled to
oppose a measure introduced by the Hon. Member for
Rochdale; but he felt it his duty to do so on the present
occasion. The Bill proposed to confer most unheard-of
and most uncalled-for powers on the Government; he
believed also that there would be great difficulty in
carrying out the provisions of the Bill. He had no
objection to support the second reading, on condition that
it was not proct eded with until alter the Government
measures were laid upon the table of the House.
Sir G. GREY concurred in the opinion expressed by
the Honourable and Gallant Member, that there
would be considerable difficulty in the practical
part of the measure ; the principle might be
a sound one. He would therefore recommend the House
to consent to the second reading, and postpone the fur-
ther consideration of the measure till the measures of
her Majesty's Government had been brought before the
House.

After a few words from Mr. P. SCROPE and Mr. B.
Escorr, the Bill was read a see3nd time.
FAIRS AND MARKETS CLAUSES (IRELAND)
BILL.

The House then went into Committee on this Bill. i
Mr. HUME, on asking whether the Government had any
Bill under their attention for the object of town improve-
ments, was told that that was not the subject then before
the Committee. The Hon. Member said he merely asked
the questions, as several inquiries had been made of him
on the subject.
After some desultory observations from Mr. HUDSON,
Mr. HUME, and several other Members,
Mr. HANDLEY remarked that it was useless to
adopt any general Bill for the direction of private Bills,
unless the clauses which were intended to apply gene.
rally were more carefully drawn than they had been
hitherto.
Lord G. BENTINCK thought that the practice of
reading Bills a second time, and passing them
through Committee on the next day, was certainly
something like acting with very great haste. He had
no doubt that considerable opposition would be made to
the Bill when it was well considered by the House.
Mr. GISBORNE was understood to approve of the
principle of the Bill.
The clauses of the Bill were gone through seriatim,
and agreed to.
Lord J. RUSSELL said there were certain clauses in
the Bill which would have to come under the considera-
tion of the Select Committee on the Standing Orders,
and if any amendments were deemed necessary, they
could be made on bringing up the report.
Lord GEORGE BENTINCK hoped that some time
would be allowed to elapse before the report was con-
sidered, in order to give the country time to examine
the provisions of the Bill.
The House then resumed when the Chairman reported
progress, and the report was ordered to be brought up on
Thursday next.
COMMISSIONERS CLAUSES BILL.
The House then went into Committee on this Bill.
The several clauses of this Bill passed through Com-
mittee without amendment.
GAS WORKS CLAUSES BILL.

This Bill also went through Committee, and was
ordered to be read a third time on this day week.
WATERWORKS CLAUSES BILL.

This Bill went through Committee, and was ordered
to be read a third time on this day week.
MILITARY BARRACKS.
Mr. HUME, after a few observations, moved for the
following returns, stating—The number of barracks for
the royal artillery, engineers, and army in the United
Kingdom, distinguishing England, Scotland, and Ireland,
where situated, and the areas in square feet of
the buildings of the parade grounds attached
thereto. The date of erection, if known, and the mate-
rials of which built. The number of officers and men
each barrack is calculated to accommodate. The num-
ber of men, women and children usually occupying it;
also, what regulations there are respecting the accom-
modation of married non-commissioned officers and
soldiers. The greatest number of men, women, and
children lodged in each of these barracks and rooms
thereof, at any one time in 1846. The number of rooms,
distinguishing those for the use of the officers, non-com-
missioned officers, and privates severally, the dimensions,
length, and width of each room. The number of men
each room is regulated to hold, compared with the cubic
feet or space of each room. The number of windows in
each room ; the number of fire-places, and any other
means of ventilation in each room. How the barracks
are supplied with water, whether from wells or rivers,
and whether laid on in each floor of the barrack, or
th in
each room used for cooking, or in what part of
building, and whether there is a sink or pipe for the
waste or refuse matter ; also, whether the barracks are
drained, and how. What accommodation each barrack
affords for cooking, for the men bathing, for washing,
and for the men cleaning their clothes and accoutre-
ments, and other necessaries ; and in what parts of the
building these several places are situated, and whether
the floors of the barrack are planked or laid with stone
or brick. The numbers and charge of the whole establish.•
ment of each barrack (barrack-masters, barrack-see cants
and labourers), so as to exhibit the entire expensej
of the barrack establishment in the year. The expense
of building and repairs at each barrack, and all other
contingent charges, so as to exhibit the aggregate charge
for building and repairs, for each barrack, in the last
year. The total amount of barrack damages
officers and men respectively in each paid by
barrack, in the
year 1846. Return of the amount of canteen rent re-
ceived at each barrack, and the aggregate amount of
the rent of all the barrack canteens, and how the same
was appropriated in the year. The ns regard-
ing the "of spirits, beer, coffee, and Wier articles

sold in the canteens, stating by whom the prices
are fixed, and whether any committee of of.
cers or men have had the management of the
canteen. Return of the reading rooms in each
barrack for non-commissioned officers and pri-
vates, the dimensions, and whether supplied with
books or other articles by Government, or by subscrip-
tion of the officers or privates, and at what total expense
it is conducted in the year. Whether any and what ac-
commodation exists in each barrack for schools for the
soldiers or their children, the average daily number of
each in attendance on the school in the year 1846, and
from what funds the teachers and requisite articles are
supplied, and the expense thereof. What places and
means of amusements are attached to the barracks, and
also whether any and what kind of rooms or other
places are prepared for confinement for minor offences in
the regiment or corps. Return of the dimensions of the
wards in the hospital, and the number of wards, how
the wards are ventilated, and the number of patients
each ward is calculated to accommodate, and the space
in cubic feet altowed for each.
Colonel FOX said there could be uo objections to the
Returns moved for by the lion. Member, and intimated
that many improvements bad already been effected in
the barracks.
After a few words from Mr. HENLEY and Colonel
ANSoN the Returns were agreed to.
The House then Adjourned at a Quarter-past Seven
o'clock.