The Sun.
London, England, 1840-07-17 00:00:00

On our return to the Gallery,
Captain PECHELL was moving the following
clause :—" Provided always, and bo. it enacted, that no-
thing in this Act contained shall extend to any town,
parish, or place now under any Act of Parliament for
watching such town, parish, or place, which, by the last
Parliamentary enumeration of the population, contained
more than 30,000 inhabitants."
Mr. F. MAULE objected to the clause, as being
identical with the one on the rejection of which the
House had already decided.
The SPEAKER considered there was a sufficient
difference between the clauses, for the House to pro-
ceed with it.
After a few words from Captain PECHELL, the '
House divided, when there appeared.—
. For the clause 2O
Against it 37
Majority againa the clause —l7
On our re-admission to the Gallery, we found
Mr. HAWKES proposing the clause of which he
bad given notice, with a view to protect places having-
Local Acts from being called upon to pay local rates, in
addition to their own constabulary.
Mr. F. MAULE did not object to the clause.
The clause was then agreed to.

Sir EDWARD KNATCHBULL moved the
following amendments :—Clause 16, line 1, after the
svord " Constables," to insert, " and where no chief
constable shall have been appointed, the Clerk of the
Justices." To add these words at the end of the clause
—" And be it further enacted, that it shall be lawful
for the Justices in Petty Sessions assembled, in all
cases where no chief constable for the whole county
_shall have been appointed, no nominate and appoint one
or mere chief constables for the purposes of this Act."
He wished the Bill had been referred to a Select Com-
mittee. Ho believed that ere long the whole measure
Would have to be brought before the House for revision.
Ile feared that the consequence would be to bring the
conduct of all the police of the country into the bands of
the Government. He did not think the measure would be
liked by the country; it was said the measure was permis-
sive, but it was permissive in this way. If the counties did
not choose to adopt this Bill, they must remain under
the present system. Now this was a great hardship,
and it was with a view of remedying it that he proposed
the clauses of which he had given notice. Did they
mean to establish the police for other purposes than
for the repression of crime, because if they did not, the
machinery was too cumbersome and expensive merely
for the suppression of burglaries, horse stealing, and
such crimes. If it. were intended for the repression of
breaches of the peace, as the Government by this Bill
took upon themselves the responsibility, of course they
Would herceforth exonerate the hundreds from the lia-
bility they were at present under, to make good any
damage that might occur in their districts.
Mr. FOX MAULE thought the principle of the
Hill had been sufficiently discussed on the second
reading. With reference to the amendment, it
bad been moved, in a clause which could not
come into operation, except in places where
the Act was adopted, and therefore it was
unnecessary. The latter amendment of the Right
Hon. Gentleman would leave the local constables still
to be appointed by the local magistrates, and open to
those local attachments and prejudices which at present
rendered them so inefficient. He must therefore object
to the amendment of the Right Hon. Baronet.
Mr. ALSTON said that he had seen a letter from
the Rev. Jonath Townly, who, on the introduction of
Vie police into Essex, was opposed to it, but who now
highly approved of it. This showed that where the
Bill was in operation it worked so exceedingly well as
to turn its opposers into approvers.
After a few words from Mr. E. RICE and Mr.
lloncEs, the amendment was negatived without a divi-
sion.

Captain PECHELL proposed that clause 20 should
be restored to the form in which it was first introduced.
Mr. FOX MAULE objected to an alteration of
this kind without any notice.
The amendment was withdrawn, and the Bill was
passed.

EAST INDIA MUTINY BILL.
Sir J. C. HOBHOUSE moved the third reading of
this

Mr. KEMBLE complained of the rapidity with
Which the Bill was pressed.

Sir J. C. ROB HOUSE said that the Bill merely
enforced with regard to the East India army those pro-
visions which now existed with regard to the Army in
this country.
The Bill was then read a third time and passed.
CUSTOMS ACTS BILL.

Mr. LABOUCHERE moved that the Housa
go into Committee, pro forma, on this Bill for the pur-
Pose of enabling him to introduce into it certain alter-
ations.

Mr. GOULBURN objected to the motion. He
thought that the Right Hon. Gentleman should have
stated the modifications which he intended to, introduce
into the Customs Duties for the information of the
country.
Sir E. KNATCHBULL objected to the introduc-
tion of the Bill at that late period of the Session. He
believed that it would seriously affect the agricultural
interests.
Mr. LABOUC HERE said that there was only one
alteration in the Bill which could affect the agricultural
interest, and that was the alteration in the duty on
'bustard seed and mustard flour.
Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSET inquired whe-
ther it was the intention of the Right Hon. Gentleman
to (like off any portion of the duty upon foreign tin ?
Mr. LABOUCHERE was understood to answer in
the negative.
The House then went into Committee.
After a short discussion in Committee the House
I.,,.‘'sumed, sill leave was given to bring in a Bill.
METROPOLITAN POLICE COURTS BILL.
The House then went into Committee on the Metro.
Poliran Police Courts Bill.
The first five clauses were agreed to.
UPOn the 6th clause being proposed,
thColonel WOOD objected to that portion of the
use which allowed paid Magistrates to interfere with
e jurisdiction of the unpaid local Magistracy, and
moved as an amendment that it be omitted.
vMr. P. MAULE opposed the motion.
,
KNATCHBULL and Lord GRANVILLE opposed
the clause.
The Committee divided, when there appeared—
For the clause
For the amendment
Majority against the amendment —22
On our re-entering the gallery, we found
Colonel WOOD moving the omission of the clause
altogether.
After a few words from Mr. GRIMSDITCH, the
amendment was withdrawn, and the clause, with
elaus.cs 7,8, and 9, agreed to,
Oa clause 10 being proposed,
Mr. HAWES said he much regretted to see the
police made the common informers of the metropolis.
Ile thought it would be much:better, if such persons
were necessary, that special officers should be appointed
for the purpose.
Sir ROBERT PEEL said it was quite a new
rel.APle to prevent her Majesty's subjects gc-
Y from laying informations, and instanced
cruelty to animals as cases in hich such a ower mi
be beneficially exercised. Hew also thought p
it necessary
for the efficiency of the police that they should stand
Well in public estimation.
tL M. WAKLEY thought it was not right to expose
ue Police to the odium which would necessarily attach
to
them as the public informers. He would suggest that
parochial constables and beadles" should be inserted
in the clause.
Mr. PDX MAULE admitted there was a good deal
'n what had been said about the odium which would attach
to the police as public informers, but at the same
time it was necessary to get rid of the common in•
formers, who were in the habit of levying a tax upon a
teiertain .
portion of tne community not to inform against
ern, a practice which it was desirable to put an end to.
Alter a few words from Mr. HAWES,
Mr. GOULBURN said he thought in every
Point of view the proposed system was objectionable.
~
bM,r. FOX MAULE said there was another clause
-"mil gave the Magistrate a discretionary power as to
receiving informations.
t Sir ROBERT PEEL thought that clause would
end rather than otherwise to the advantage of corn-
Inon informers, since, if the Magistrate refused the in-
formation, they had still the power to carry the case to
Quarter Sessions. Moreover, the common informer
could still levy contributions on the public as before, by
thr!atening to cause the police to lay the information,
!,vhile he would be himself relieved of the odium attend-
ing it. He thought the clause altogether defective in
He had as great a dislike of common in-
farmers as other gentlemen, hilt at the same time it
must not be forgotten that great good was sometimes
effected by persons acting with improper motives.
After a few words from Mr. NN AKLEY,
The clause was ordered to stand part of the Bill.
On clause 11 being put,
Mr. F. MAULE proposed to strike out the words
- common informer" and to substitute " any person."
The amendment was agreed to and the clause as
amended__ was ordered to stand part of the Bill.
1,7 The remaining clauses were agreed to and the Report
as ordered to be brought up on Monday.
RATING STOCK-IN-TRADE BILL.
m
..ead
Committee on this Bill was postponed till
".
The Toll on Lime Bill was read a second time.
M. F. MAULE moved the third reading of the Ju-
venile Offenders Bill.
berg wer
Upon that motion th-2 House divide,, when the num.
For the third reading
Against it
16
,„ Majority for the third reading
—55
he Bill was then read a third time and passed.
The Grand Jury Cess (Ireland) Bill was read a
sec
time, and ordered to be committed ; as were the
Court
Ireland) (Ireland) Bill, the Insolvent' Debtors
d)and the Court of Exchequer (lielsod)