The Sun.
London, England, 1841-03-12 00:00:00

ROUSE OF COMMONS, MAncu 11.

The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'Clock.
Mr. ALSTON brought in the London and BlAck-
wail Railway Bill, which was read a first time.

SEVERN NAVIGATION BILL.

Mr. ESTCOURT wished to call the attention of
the House to the Report presented yesterday by the
Committee of Selection. It would be remembered
that the day berme yesterday it had been tnoved and
carried that it be an instruction to the Committee
of Selection to consider whether the rile usually
adopted in ordinary cases of private Bills, of referring
such Bills to a Select Committee chosen from names in
the Speakers list of gentlemen connected with the par-
t ct.lar counties to which such Biti referred, together
with certain othergentlemen unconnected with such loca-
litieF, should be adopted in the ease of the Severn Navi-
gation Bill, or whether in the Committee on that Bill it
would be better entirely to omit all those whose
names appeared in the Speaker's list, to have it
composed of gentlemen eutircly unconnected with
the localities to which t'ee Bill related. The
Committee, in consequence of that instruction had met
yesterday, and had agreed to a Report, to which he
now wished to direct the attention of the House. The
Report stated that the wording of the instruction
plainly indicated that it was intended that the Commit-
tee of Selection should exercise a discretion in the
mattee ; but as the Committee had been appointed for
a particular purpose, and bad no power of sending foe
persons, papers, or documents, they reported to the
House that they were not in a condition to form a
judgment, and he Gould not but think that it was im-
possible for them to exercise any discretion re-
specting the matter of the instruction. It was
a great objet that persons should be selected who
were perfectly unbiassed and uninstigated by any
pertial;ty. He had lost no time in stating to the House
these preliminaries to the motion he had to submit,
which was, that the Order of the House that bad lei to
the embarrassment should be discharged. All that
he had been aexious to do was to rescue the House
and the Committee from the embarrassment into
which it bad got. The Hon. Member concluded
by moving that the Order of the 9th of March should
be discharged.
Mr. L A BOUCHERE said that the statements of
the Hon. Member opposite must satisfy the House that
the Committee of Selection bad done all that they could
do. To those Members who were present yesterday he
need not say that he had heard with regret the decision
which the House came to, as he considered it was
likely to break down those orders which the House
had previously made. He could sot but think thrt
the course taken by the Committee of Selection had
releued the House from a situation of great 'per-
plexity. He concurred with the . arguments the
Honourable Gentleman had brought forward,
and he would therefore support the motion he
had made. He thought the House was greatly
indebted to the Committee of Selection for Cie course
they had adopted. . _ _

Lard G. SOMERSET said that when the order
was discharged, he should give a notice for a motion on
the subject to-morrow.
The order teas then discharged.

Lord G. SOMERSET then gave notice that he
should tu-inorrow move that the Severn Navigation
Bill should be referred to the Committee on Private
Business instead of the Committee of Selection.

Mr. EVANS presented a petition from a congrega-
tion of Protestant Dissenters in Derbyshire, praying the
House to adopt measures for the extinction of Church-
rates, for the abolition of Ecclesiastical Courts, and
for the immediate liberation of Mr. Baines ; believing
that such measures will put an end to strife between re-
ligious parties, and promote the prosperity of the
Church.

Mr. RAIKES CURRIE presented a petition from
Long Buckby, in Oho county of Northampton, to the
same effect.

Mr. FRES HFIELD presented a petition from
Penryn and its vicinity, deprecating the connection which
exists between the British Government and the super-
stitious idolatries of India.

Mr. ROUND presented a petition from the Poor-
law Guardians of a union in Essex, against the in-
crease of the powers of the Poor-law Commissioners in
the management of the infant and infirm poor ; and
complaining of the expense which attends the present
sy stem.

Mr. PEASE
may.
towns may be ext
resented a petition from the town of
Stockton-on-
-
praying that any regulations which
the House Tee:
,nodpti for the improved cleansing of
adopt for the improved cleansing ot
towns may be extnded to that place.
Mr. BOWES presented a petition from some of
themr G. uNair,KEN
diaus of the Union of Stockton-on-Tees
against the 25th section c( to that place.
Mr. BOWES
of the Poor-law Amendment
ZIE presented a petition from Peebles,
praying for the total abolition of Church Patronage
in Scotland.
Mr.
a petition from three
i
sheriff' HODGES presented s
bailiffs, complaining of loss which they
have suffered under a recent act of Mr. D. W. Har-
vey, veyilra.nGd
IpLraLyiongNfoprrecsoemntpeednsaaptieotniton from the Prevost
.
Magistrates, and Town Council of Greenock,
that the system of registralion of bit.," , Praying
I,,deaths, and
marriages, be extended to Scotland.
Mr. DAIRY presented a petition from a place in
the county of Hants against the Poor-law Amendment
Bill, and praying for a large reduction in the number of
Assistant Commissioners.
Mr. G. KNIGHT presented two petitions, with a
similar prayer.
Mr. E. BULLER presented a petition from the
county of Stafford, praying the House to pass some
measure giving to the rate-payers a more efficient
control over the expenditure of the County Rates.
Mr. M'KINNON presented a petition signed by
two thousand inhabitants of the parish of Christ.