The Sun.
London, England, 1841-02-12 00:00:00

NEWSPAPER STAMP DUTIES.

Mr. T. DUNCOMBE presented a petition from
the proprietors of a periodical publication in Wales, of
which the name was not heard in the gallery, complain-
ing of the conduct of the Commi,sioners of Stamps in
subjecting the publication to the duty upon newspapers,
although they did not publish as much news as other
papers, which were exempt from the tax.
Mr. LISTER presented a petition from the North
Midland Railway Company, praying for a Bill for the
extension of their powers.
Mr. HODGES presented petitions from Bramley
and five other parishes in the County of Kent, against the
Bill for the continuance of the powers of the Poor-law
Commissioners.

Mr. Sergeant TALFOURD presented a petiticn
from Glasgow, in favour of the Copyright of Designs
Bill ; and also a petition from the Socialists of Reading,
pra)ing for an inquiry into their doctrines.
Mr. V. SMITH presented a petition from certain
rate-payers of Northampton, against the Poor-law
Amendment Act.
METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENTS.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE presented a petition from
certain inhabitants of Clerkenwell, in favour of the
projected improvements in that parish.
EXTENSION OF THE SUFFRAGE.
Mr. HUME presented a petitinn agreed to a public
meeting of the inhabitants of the borough of Anderston,
praying for an extension of the suffrage. The petition
stated that the situation of thc people was at present vcry
deplorable, and that through want of work, low wages, and
dear food, they were suffering great privation. These
evils it attributed to the defective state of the represen-
tation, and concluded by praying for the extension of
the suffrage.—Ordered to lie upon the table.
ELECTION COMMII'TEES.
The SPEAKER read the liat of Members who are
liable to serve upon Election Committees during the
present session. Several Members were exewedoiits
being one
of her .
the ground of their being above sixty years of
age.
Lo
rdl) almer
i‘a
jstys p
s toin:as,exci i p
a e
excused theetariesrou otln fof i
State
mve
..
Baring,uihl
Lord John Russell was excusedquoenr,theisr
ground of his holding
waTs
ehxectiCsleidanfcreolnloi rseorfvitnhge
onE xtchhee
that office. _ _

NOTICES OF MOTION.
Lord ELIOT gave notice that on Thursday, Feb-
ruary 18, he should call the attention of the House to

EVENING EDITION.

he Report of the Commissioners appointed to consider
he method of preventing ships being struck by lightning.
POOR-LAW.
Sir EARDLEY WILMOT gave notice that in tho
Committee on the Poor-law Bill he should move an
amendment on the apprenticeship clause, requiring the
masters of apprentices to produce the paupers in their
employment before the Guardians every half year, in
order that their condition might be inquired into.
Colonel WOOD gave notice that on the 27th clauso
of the Poor-law Bill being discussed in Committee, ho
should move that all cottages the annual rental of which
did not exceed 31., should be exempt from Poor-rates.
Mr. WHITE, Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSET, and Mr.
DARBY also gave notice of their intention of proposing
amendments in the Committee on the New Poor-law
Bill.

Mr. WALLACE gave some notice on the subject
of the County Courts' Bill. Tne Hon. Gentleman also
gave notice of his intention of bringing forward a mo-
tion en the subject of the expense of conveying mails by
railway.
RETURNS OF THE POOR-LAW COM-
MISSIONERS.
Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSET wished to ask
the Hon. Under-Secretary of the Home Department
when it was probable that certain Returns relating to the
Poor-law Commissioners, for which he had moved,
would be laid on the table.

Mr. Fox MAULE would make inquiries on the
subject ; he should see the Commissioners to-morrow,
and would ascertain when it would be probable th,.)
returns in question would be made.

LORD KEANE.
Lord J. RUSSELL gave notice that to-morrow he
should move a Committee of the whole House to con-
sider her Majesty's Gracious Message relative to Lora
Keane.

Mr. HUME gave notice that on that occasion h 3
should take the sense of the House against the proposi•
tion of the Noble Lord.

THE NIGER EXPEDITION.
Lord INGESTRIE said he had been given to un-
derstand that a great delay had taken place in the
sailing of the Niger Expedition, and that it would not
start for a month or six weeks. In such case it was
likely to arrive at its destination in that unhealthy
climate in a most unhealthy season of the year. He
wislied to ask the Noble Lord whether he had been
correctly informed.
-Lord J. RUSSELL said that the delay had arisen
from the circumstance of the last steam-vessel that
went up the Niger havingbeen detained in consequence
of the river not being high enough. It had conse-
quently been deemed expedient that the vessels should
not enter the river .until the cnd of June. He should,
however, make inquiries on the subject.
Mr. HUME wished to ask whether the Noble Lord
had any objection to lay before the House a copy of the
instructions under which the expedition was to sail.
Lord J. RUSSELL believed the different objects
of the expedition had been stated in a letter which Lad
been laid before Parliament by the Colonial Office in
the last Session of Parlilment. lie was not prepared
to state what the precise instructions were.

Lord INGESTRIE said that June or July was the
most unhealthy part of the year, and what he wanted
to know was, whether the expedition would go out
at that season or not ?

Lord J. RUSSELL said that doubts now arose as
to what was the fittest time for entering the river. The
matter under consideration at the present time, was
what might be the most heathful season for entering
the river.