The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-04 00:00:00

TILE SUN, _LONDON', FRIDAY

expiration of his sentence. The effect of the new system,
though an improvement, was far from satisfactory, a
few months after the introduction of this system into
Van Diernee's Land, the Governor gave a most
distressing account of the situation of that colony
arising from the generally impoverished state of the
country. The Right Hen. Bin-met then proceede I to
read at considerable length the report of the governor
upon that subject). Other papers were also laid upon
the table of the House which would fully bear out the
statements of that gentleman. Upon the earnest solici-
tations of the colonists a large amount of money was
advanced from the Treasury to meet the demands thus
Made upon the colonists by the large influx of the trans-
ports from this country. With respect to the moral ren-
dition of the colony he could not do better than r. ad a
letter on that subject, addressed to Lord Stanley when
in office, setting forth the miserable condition of the
people in that respect. The subject was maturely con-
sidered by Mr. Gladstone, who succeeded Lord Stanley
in his office at the head of the colonial department, and
a letter addressed by that Gentleman to the then
Secretary of State for the Home Department (Sir J.
Graham) also setting forth in strong terms the moral
condition of the convict p pulatien of Van Dienien's
Land. What then was the condition in which the
Present Government were placed when they entered
office? It had been recommended by his predecessors
that the system of transportation to Van D:ernen's Land
should be suspended fora period of two years, leaving
Norfolk Island as the only place to which convicts from
this country were to be sent. This, of course, entaile,3
Upon the Government the. necessity of adopting some
measure to provide employment for the mass of
convicts thus thrown upon the hands of the Govern-
ment. The Government gave the most anxious,
consideration to the subject, and the Government felt
fully convinced of the necessity of breaking up as speedily
as possible the criminal establishment at Norfolk
Island, and the utter impossibility of renewing the sys-
tem at the expiration of the ten years, as proposed by
the late Government. The papers laid before the House
fully bore out the opinion of the Government in this re-
sPect. He would advert to the report of the Legislative
Court of Van Diemen's Land, presented to the House on
the 15th of March, upon the subject of the resutnption of
transportation to that country. (The Right Hon. Baro-
net then proceeded to read various extracts from the
report referred to, all of which tended to show
the_ impropriety of the resumption of the sys-
tem; protesting against it, and denouncing it
as a most demoralising system, and also expressing re-
gret that the Government at home were still disposed to
Rightthe dote: table and pestilential system). The
'night Hon. Baronet also read a letter from Mr. Pitcairn
to Lord Stanley upon the same subject to the same
s,Tect• He thought, therefore, that these fully merited
o‘ a adoption of the course proposed on the present oeca-
Ran
er' the Government for the remedy of these evils.
Galso read a letter from the Bishop of Van Diemen's
ran to LordiGrey, setting forth that the most fearful
l prevailed in the colony from the want of proper
esieifortnatory discipline. He now came to the plan whir'.
e the Government proposed—that the just portion of
penal punishment should be passed in this
e---`0„„,17, or, at least, at no great distance from it ;
and that it should be of a strictly reformatory cha
t•l'lleter, and that when they were sent to the penal set-
;tistithat probation papers should be given to them.
."0 system they proposed to adopt was that which pre-
Pentonville prison—the majority would be
sent to the Australian colonies, and he trusted that the
reformatory discipline to which they would be subjected
before being sent abroad would prevent much of the
evil which was strongly complained of. They might
then have their wives and families, and might, no doubt,
become goad members of society. The time of punish•
went
livos sentenced;veoulddepend upon the term to which a person
but the strictly penal part of the punish-
em p would be passed in this country. The transporta-
Z_ n of persons to New South Wales would depend upon
understanding to be come to with the authorities of
foe eth°l"Y• Arrangements were at present being made
the e erection of a prison in Ireland, similar to
Pentonville prison ; in fact, the plan there
adopted had proved so favourable that it had
been adopted, as far as was practicable,. in many of the
- 'us built before it. The Right Hon. Baronet then
oreferred to the last report of the Commissioners of Pen-
es nville Prison, which stated that the system of separate
intneeahent, combined with education and industry, had
improvement of the moral condition of the
anrners; and had led them to form habits of industry,
0.. that they were generally cheerful and and industri
e_s in their confinement. They said that separate con-
finement prevented contamination and recognition, and
tohuebeostir.esults had accrued to the unfortunate per
sys-
tem ld n)
tonseeonfided to their care; but they added that the
be carried out properly with the utmost
eliretion and vigilance. He also read an extract from
re Itoort to Earl Grey, stating that plenty of employ
ateen could be found for exiles sent to Port Philip.
1,'_1,:•1 that those who had been sent, had
behaved wellfact, that they were the best
persons in the colony, and he sincerely hoped
the modifications about to be made, would show
;au tat the unfortunate persons, to whom it was about to
applied, would not abuse this indulgence. A report
;7.7..ht1y presented to the French Chambers, after re-
AZitlg the system of separate confinement in France,
America, and in this country at Pentonville, concluded
_.e.orecommending that a similar system should be
evert'pted for the future in France. There were, no
exceptional cases to this reformatory principle—
tualy they ay eases occured in which it was utterly ineffec-
The; were the exceptions, and not the rule.
in thPr°Posed that the first term of punishment
atarnoinreath'ss country should not be less than six, and
of eighteen months' duration ; eighteen
ban
the greatest term for which per-
were imprisoned in the Pentonville Prison.
The object of the Custody of Offenders Bill would be
to render available any spare accommodation which
Could be given from the ordinary prison establishments.
Arrangements would be made with the magistrates of
those counties of which the prisons were not entirely
Occupied, so as to enable the Government to occupy a
certain portion of these prisons for the purposes
already stated. A certain rent should be paid, and
the engagement was to terminate by six months' notice
on either side, so that if crime should unhappily in-
crease in the country, or the Government become dissa-
tisfied, the arrangement would at once cease. He was
Well aware of the difficulties which would attendr the
carrying out such a scheme of punishment. The sud
denness with which the demand had come upon them,
had disenabled them from trying any preliminary
experiment, so that, at first starting, they would labour
under somewhat disadvantageous circumstances. He
thought that this matter required the most careful and
serious attention of the Legislature, and he thought that
Much credit was date to all those gentlemen who had
devoted their attention to this very important sub•
jeei--(Hear, hear.) He had been for some time
Net taking Retire steps to provide the increased accom-
modation which this new system would require, and with
Plans had already bsen framed for the erection of such
establishments as would be required. With regard to
the system of transportation for life, Lord Stanley had
stated, that it was quite impossible that he could be
eonaidvred as a convict for the whole of this time,
although he might not be admitted as a fit person to re-
turn to this country. A limited period would be as-
signed for the compulsory labour of persons under such
an infliction, and the remainder of their lives would be
%A their own disposal, although they would not be
allowed to return to their native land. He was very
happy to see, that in the Chamber of Peers, when this
measure was adverted to, the French Government had
coot expressed the slightest alarm, that any great or in-
.. ti.venient influx of convicts would take place upon
their shores in consequence of the discharge of these
Peerscins, after they had undergone their terms of
ill4,"lernent and penal labour in this country.
i
e great object will be, to restore them to their condi-
tionin society, and enable them to enter into a new way
of life. He was quite ready to admit that a large and
eXtensive change ought to be brought under the attention
of Parliament, but being unable to satisfy themselves
Upon what particular plan they should adopt, they ab
stained from a further interference. He had said nothing
with regard to the new colony of North Australia, as
the subject did not bear any reference to the question
Of transportation. In fact, it appeared that it was
He
a place not intended for the location of convicts.
hoped that establishments would yet be formed in
this country to which boys of tender years
might be sent, where they would be instructed
and rendered back to society as useful members. He
considered that he had now stated the whole of the out-
line of the plan which her Majesty's Government
desired to adopt, and he conjured the House not to judge
harshly or condemn rashly. Let them consider the
vast amount of documentary evidence which had been
brought to bear upon the question. The Government
desired to make an experiment upon the advice of Dr.
Naylor, who recommended that criminal labour should
be made publicly useful, thus inflicting a punishment
Upon crime, while they conferred public advantage. In
conclusion, he would say tisat be would be happy to
receive any advice or any assistance which Hon. Gentle-
Men might be willing to afford the Government in carry-
ing out their proposition.
Lord MAHON said that he would regret very much,
should any party spirit interfere in the discussion of the
question. He felt a very strong objection to the sudden
?_easing, of the punishment of transportation. Since he
had the honour of a seat in that House, it was one of the
greatest changes which he had seen attempted. There
Was another objection to the measure which he
also felt strongly, namely, the fact of recording
a nominal sentence of transportation, when
there was no intention of carrying it out. They all re-
membered the debates which had taken place upon the
question of capital punishment, and the miserableness of
Passing sentences which were not to be carried into
esoolilletaurty yi°sn. Nor did he consider that the success of the
stem was sufficient to warrant the deductions
thittik`e Right Hon. Gentleman. He was disposed to
l
which favourably of the separate system of imprisonment,
varied the periods of imprisonment from six to
eighteen months. However, he did not see that it
could be stretched in the mariner that had
Len done by the Right Honourable Gentleman.
'
, Low came to the second mode of punishment, namely,
labour in the hulks. Now it was voted some years ago
that the number imprisoned in the hulks was by much
too great ; yet, in defiance of that vote,
the Right Hon.
Gentleman came down to the blouse, and desired to in-
crease it. Some of the most eminent statesmen of
France regretted the system of governing bands of cri-
Etinals etnp:oyed upon public works, such as those at
Toulon and at Brest. They praised the system of Eng-
land, which found means of providing for their criminals
abroad, and who did net, at intervals, let out bands of
Pciticasatipbellerte and ,anrefurnaed criminals. Yet such was the
proposed, lie did think it could not be prac-
- ahlauldnational system. He had received the °Pi-
nion
of the Hi,
works should come
of Australia, who stated that public
„mu coma first, and separate confinement atter-
YYtth respect to sending ,he prisoners abroad

— -
fter confinement, the scheme proposed originally by the
Right Hon. Gentleman (Sir G. Grey), was essentially
diff, rent from that now proposed to he adopted. It
would have been better if the Right Hon. Gentleman
had produced some other document than this letter of
20th of January. Mr. Clay produced an instance of
a man who asserted that he would not be redeemed from
his career of vice if he were sent back to his old as-
sociates, and that he conceived to be a strong proof
in support of the view which he was now advocating.
Lord Denman and other high judicial authorities who
were supposed to be competent to judge on this ques-
tion, were opposed to the principle of this measure.
The Committee of the House of Lords had not yet, he
could understand, concluded their labours, hut be
thought sufficient information had been already ob-
tained to enable the House to judge of this question.
He did not deny that evils existed under the system of
transportation, but he denied that it was shown that
these evils were inseparable from the system, or
that under a better administration it might be made
useful to the community and beneficial to the convict
himself'. Sir James Mackintosh was in favour of this
system. But it might be said that he did not possess
sufficient acquaintance with the subject to constitute
him a sufficient judge; but Sir James Franklin, whose
competency to judge on this question, could not he
denied, had expressed himself favourable to the prin •
ciples of transportation, though he did not bind himself
to any specific plan ; and in one of his dispatches
lie stated that ha considered transportation essen
nal to the welfare of society. The Reverend
Mr. Fry had put forward a similar opinion.
As regarded the inferior appointments of the colony, a
great mischief had been committed by under-paying those
who held them. He complained, too, that there had been
a discrimination of the differing circumstances of diffe-
rent colonies. But the circumstances of the penal
colonies must be taken to explain the origin of those
complaints, which had arisen concerning the governor
of the colony. It ought to be remembered that it was
determined all at once to discontinue banishment to New
South Wales, and the whole tide was necessarily poured
in upon Van Diemen's Land. And, again, the system
thereof had not been administered- in accordance
with the spirit. Why, it was found out that
the officers, to save themselves more trouble, for the night
used to lock up the prisoners from six o'clock in the
evening till eight o'clock next morning. This was
Against their instructions. How then could they expect
the system so worked to work well ? That item being
remedied, he thought they must further ensure an effi•
cient service of the inferior officer by better payment.
From long consideration and experience, he had come to
the result, that such a system of penal settlement in
the colonies might be established with the advantage
which was contemplated in the first establishment of
these settlements. He concurred that Lord Grey had
acted bla,meably in abandoning the settlement in
South Australia. He acted on a sudden ; on a
sudden he recalled the Governor and ordered the settle-
ment to be abandoned. He was to blame also for stating
that transportation would in no future time be resumed.
Chat was a question which he ought to have left open,
stating no more than that an intermission of a period of
rears would occur. The Legislature of Van Diemen's
Land had exacted a pledge that transportation would
not be again resumed, and they had bound the home
Government by conditions. That was not the relative
position which the colonies and the mother country
ought to occupy. The colony of New South Wales was
established especially for a penal settlement—(Hear,
hear)—and he thought, so long as proper care was taken
that a sufficient admixture should be gained of the popu-
lation, it ought to have been continued as such. On
those two points, Lord Grey was to blame, and he (Lord
Nlahon) felt strongly that the change was improper, and
he must protest against it.
Sir WILLIAM MOLESWORTII could not agree to
the conclusions which the Noble Lord had come to.
['his question had two aspects. One was, whether the
system of transportation was necessary or desirable ;
and if not, what would they substitute in its place ?
['hey had to consider if the present system should be con-
tinued; and if they decided in the negative, what they
could offer in its stead. In answer to the Noble
Lord he was prepared to prove that in every form trans-
portation was a bad system of punishment, and that no
alteration of it—no improvement that could be made,
would render the system effective. In doing so, he
would have somewhat to trespass on their time, but he
claimed their indulgence in doing so. On a former oc-
easion, some few years ago, he was a chairman of a
Committee which investigated this subject, composed
of several of the leading Members of the House ; and
the report of that Committee, unanimously agreed to,
recommended the abolition of the assignment system.
The investigations they made into the whole question,
led the Committee to the determination they had come
to regarding the assignment of convicts. (The Hon.
Baronet here read an extract from the report in
Tie-tion, setting forth the grounds on which the Com-
mittee had come to their decision. Such were the views
which had been taken by the Transportation Committee,
which the Noble Lord ( Mahon) would fain revive.
Last year Mr. Gladstone, the Colonial Secretary, took
occasion to ask the opinion of the Governor of the colony
of New South Wales whether they were desirous to
have a renewal of transportation. The matter was re-
ferred to the Legislative Council for their consideration,
and he referred the Noble Lord, and those who thought
with him, to the report which the Select Committee, to
which the matter was entrusted, made on the question.
That report was, that on no grounds could they give their
assent to a renewal of transportation. They declared
that no conceivable modification of the system ought to be
again introduced into New South Wales. (The Hon.
Baronet read an extract from the report, to the effect
stated, setting forth, in detail, the reasons the Commit-
tee had come to the conclusions why no renewal of the
system of transportation was advisable.) The Committee
over
nay id persons
Ntt,h,heaertetechreos
we
dedbut were
that
theynot tos be
should
assignedld h e di
spteor
spelcda
al
of hundredsxp
thus it wasonentry, not
in
gangs, but separately, and
expected
thtohaastant eds yo
fwoulda
abse. able Nosy to
thgeeyt
sh.douldbe armed in order to defend their huts and flocks,
and what would be the result ? Why, they would be
an armed banditti prowling about the- C
country, and no
man or woman would be sate from the most violent out-
rages.—(Hear, hear.) They would oreudld thus secure a perpe-
tual
did they
nothar onesho step :fur-
to colonize. He re-
gturaelttwedildtehrantesths
the Noble
rd
IoL
her than he had done, and
statement to the House the evils of the s tewn ina
y The
Noble Lord, however, had taken steps ins thein. right
direction, but unfortunately Lord Stanley succeeded to
office, who completely undid the good already
effected. Lord Stanley greatly increased the number
of depots fur transportation. Now the probation
system was intended to improve the drove and
chain gangs. Now, he desired the attention of
the house to this part of his statement, as he
intended to prove the utter failure of all attempts to
Improve the system. The probation system was this—
in the first instance, the convict was transported to Nor-
folk Island, and after a year's good conduct, he was en-
titled to be sent to a private person and receive pay-
ment for his labour. For the second year's good
conduct, he was entitled to a ticket of leave.
How did the system work? that it should do so well,
two things were requisite proper inspection, and power
to enlbrce obedience. Lord Stanley frequently com-
plained of the utter want of information which existed
upon the subject, and, after three years, lie declared that
it was impossible to obtain any that was satisfactory.
This was rather an evident proof that the in-
spection was by no means efficient, otherwise the
desired information could easily have been obtained.
When Mr. Gladstone succeeded to office he desired
information from the governor of Van Diemen's
Land, and in accordance with that wish several
reports were submitted to the Government, all of which
tu.‘
hhl
coo
rl
wouldei
tsis
evso rot
nhn)toht es
tnprdoaeuratbvl:e)
fu rttehhdee
p!ainly proved the position which he (Sir William
usutoobujseecdtew.mitollitilsoatnrpayrteeidu—iret(theledireaatrhu.e).
failurehis of
warningthe
disregarded,t he time it
andas
the brought
consequencesforuw
nk
rd,
but
had been most distressing. With regard to
Island, the systems of punishment pursued there were of
three descriptions, namely, cruel, indulgent, and relaxed.
Only the two latter, however, had been attended with
any success, and, of late, he understood the Governor of
New South Wales had been instructed to adopt a system
of extreme indulgence. From the best evidences he
could collect, it was clear that the extreme indulgent
system was the best ; it produced better order amongst
the convicts, made them more moral and rational in
their conduct, and induced them to feel more deeply the
degrading nature of their situations.—(Hear, hear.)
The extreme indulgent system had been successfully
tested under Captain Maconochie, who reported that the
punishment of transportation, where that system was
adopted, always produced the best results upon the
moral character of the convict, while where
the cruel system was resorted to, the convict
became hardened and brutal, instead of awakened
to a sense of his degradation. Major Child gave similar
testimony ; and in his reports upon the operation of the
different systems under his supervision, he related a
number of anecdotes, strongly contrasting the beneficial
effects resulting from the extreme indulgent
system with the cruelties and atrocities which
were always attendent upon the cruel system.
At the expiration of those two years the governor of
Van Diemen's Land thought proper to inquire into the
condition of the convict population, but no information
had been given to him during that period with reference
to the working of the measure ; and it was not until at
the end of that period Lord Stanley awoke as from a
trance and wondered how his new system worked. He
charged him, therefore, with neglect, with the conse-
quences of that neglect, with the hideous, horrible, and
disgusting state of things which now existed, be-
cause he had not appointed proper officers to su-
perintend the convicts, and require them to make
regular reports to him. lie would refer to the
opinion of Mr. Baron Alderson given in the
appendix to the report of the Criminal Law Commis-
sioners. That opinion was deserving of the most serious
attention of the House. (The Hon. Member then pro-
ceeded to read various extracts from the evidence of his
Lordship, in which he attributed the faiure of the
system of transportation to the want of proper discipline
thought that the only
prior to the convicts bein sent out of the country.) He
youthth of the lower orders of the people,
checking crime was by granting a general and
wide-spread system of efficient education for the
proper and efficient mode of
Househemfrom their parents. But the question before the
was the best that had been devised
for
modeofwas, which was the best substitute for the present
punishment. He thought the
solitary system
ob-
ject—that of preventing crime, preventing g the demorali-
zation of the persons by me,n
worse character,aatitahre.ePfoarladtingapdit associations with others of a
also tended to improve
the moral condition of the prisoner, by affording ample
time for reflection and improvement. P h urns ment could
not bo looked at in a n
pc. '
because a good system of pecuniary
point of view,
, even though it
might require a larger outlthan
ay a bad system, still

the benefits to be derived from the good system to the
public at large, were such as infinitely to counterbalance
the consideration of the expense. It had been said that
the solitary system was one likely to affect the healths,
and impair the intellects of the prisoners. He did not
think that such were the effects of the system ; all
punishment tended in some degree to impair the health of
the prisoner, but even if the solitary or separate
system did impair the health, still it should be borne in
mind that there was none of the disastrous effects upon
the morals of the prisoners, and none of those vicious
habits contracted which invariably followed punishment
upon those systems in which the prisoners were indis-
criminately mixed together. The Archbishop of Dublin
proposed a plan by which convicts would be enabled to
go to the colonies. The only colonies, however, which
they could be sent to, were those which were too weak
to refuse them, or who were willing to receive them.
He did not think, however, that New South Wales or
any other convict colony, was the proper place to
send liberated offenders as by going there, there
would bo a likelihood of their falling into the
old habits—the consequence of which would be, that they
would be only emptying their own jails to fill those of
the colonies. The utmost the Legislature could do was
to open up a way for the liberated offenders. The Right
Hon. Baronet proposed to make another alteration, the
Bishop of Dublin's plan, which would have a worse
effect than making their transportation compulsory—he
meant the separating the convicts into a distinct class
after they arrived in the colony. He maintained if the
convicts were sent abroad to these colonies the Govern •
ment would have no control over them. lie considered,
moreover, that the inhabitants of New South Wales
would not withhold consent to this compulsory transpor-
tation, and the petition presented from them recently
gave ample evidence of this feeling. He thanked the
House for the attention with whi. h they had heard him,
and thongh he concurred generally in the scheme he
hoped the Government would reconsider those parts of it
to which he had objected.
Mr. BANKES could not assent to the further pro-
gress of these two Bills. He considered it inexpedient
and unconstitutional that the Royal prerogative should
be exercised as far as this modification of the law rela-

tive to transportation, unless in the usual direct manner.
He considered that the speech of the Right Hon. Gen-
tleman, though exceedingly luminous, had but little to do
with the subject on which he professed to treat. The one
Bill provided simply for the removal oflrish criminals into
this country, and the other to give new powers to the
commissioners of Pentonville, Parkhurst, and Millbank
Prisons ; but it appeared to him, that it would mate-
rially alter the government of the prisons throughout
the whole country, and the high prerogative vested in
the Home Secretary, would be transferred to a com-
mission, when the magistracy, he humbly believed, had
not abus©d the trust placed in them, and were quite
capable of managing the prisons in their respective lo-
calities There were to be seven new commissioners ;
some of the present offices would be abolished and
remodelled ; but, in truth, the patronage of the
Government would be increased by them, and
this they were heartily prepared to meet with from
those who, in opposition, were rather prone to cut down
and abolish offices.—(Hear, hear.) It seemed to him,
therefore, that the Hon. Gentleman the Member for
Montrose had not been vigilant on this occasion, and
allowed his friends on the opposite benches to induce:
him to give them his support, much tte.ainst his avowed
principles of economy. It was true tha Commissioners
were liable to be removed by the Lords of the Treasury.
The Go ernment was empowered to " turn them all off."
—(Laughter.) And surely this was patronage.—(Laugh-
ter.) If the Chief Commissioner, as it seemed, was to
usurp the power of the Secretary of State—for he was to
have the power of appointing the different officers of the
prisons, he considered the salary of 8001. too small for
the discharge of such important duties. If the object
sought. to be attained by the Bill was not a greater de
gree of supervision over the convicts, he should like to
know what other possible object could be attained ?
The Right Hon. Baronet in his speech addressed him-
self partly to this point, that the present system had
proved a failure.—(Hear. hear.) He thought that in
endeavouring to amend that system, the Go-
vernment were trying a rash experiment. He
could not but consider that if the Government had
made up their minds to change the present system, they
should do it by a Bill more specific in its nature, than
the present, they should remember that it was adverse
to the highest opinions in the land. The House of Com-
mons should not be called upon to pass doubtful Acts of
Parliament. Under these impressions, though perfectly
impressed with the defective state of the present
system of transportation, and thinking that the present
session should not close without an amendment of theta,
yet he considered that it was their duty to oppose at an
early stage the proposition of the Government.—(Hear.)
Mr. EWART moved the adjournment of the debate.
Mr. HOPE desired to know what would be the con-
dition of the convicts on their arrival to the colony ?
Sir GEORGE GREY—They will be in the same
position as if they had obtained tickets of leave.
The motion for the adjournment was then agreed to.
LOAN DISCOUNT BILL.
In answer to a question,
Sir G. GREY said that the Loan Discount Bill would
be the first business to-morrow, but he understood that
it would not occupy the attention of the House for a long
period.
BURGH POLICE (SCOTLAND) BILL.
The !louse went into Committee upon this Bill.
The Bill went through Committee.
HIGHWAY RATES BILL.
On the motion for the order of the day for the second
reading of this Bill,
Sir W. JOLIFFE said that with the Turnpike Acts,
which were annually renewed, they found great evils
perpetually recurring. The functionaries employed
under the Turnpike Acts were unable, from want
of funds, to prosecute defaulters. He did think
that a mass of evil existed under the present
system, which was a disgrace to the Legislature
and the executive, and he thought that the subject ought
to be taken into consideration by the Government, with
a view to its amendment.

After a few words from Sir G. GREY,
The Bill was read a second time in order to be com-
mitted this day.
The following Bills were then read a second time:—

Stage Carriages, &e.„lluties Bill.

Snap Allowances Bill.
TRUST MONEY INVESTMENT (IRELAND)

BILL.
This Bill went through Committee.
PRINCE EDWARD'S ISLAND.

Mr. lIUME moved for copy of an Address from the
House of Assembly of Prince Edward's Island to her
Majesty, praying for a responsible Government in that
colony. Copies of all applications and correspondence
between the colonies and the British Government
respecting the establishment of free ports in the colonies
since 1840. Agreed to.
LIGHTHOUSES (BARBADOES).
Mr. HUME moved for copies of the official corres-
pondence relative to the erecting a lighthouse at Bar-
badoes, alluded to in the Governor's speech in 1845 ;
of the dispatch of the Colonial Secretary to the
Governor of Barbadoes, stating the readiness of
her Majesty's Government to contribute half the
expense of such erection. Of any documents
in the Colonial office, which explain the refusal of the
Council at Barbadoes to appropriate the money depo-
sited in the Colonial Bank for their express purpose.
Agreed to.
The House adjourned at a Quarter to One o'clock.