The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-03 00:00:00

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LONDON, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1846

The Lords met to-day at a Quarter past Five o'clock.
Several petitions were presented from different parts
of the country against any alteration in the corn-laws.
Lord CAMOYS presented petitions from Oxfordshire
in favour of an alteration in the corn-laws.
Lord RINNAIRD moved, pursuant to notice, for a return
of the amount of fees incurred by the introduction of
railway Bills into this House during the last session of
Parliament; and by petition against such Bills; and how
applied.—Agreed to.

In answer to a question from Lord MONTEAGLE,
The Earl of ABERDEEN said he had no oljection to
the production of the report of Mr. 'Walker, relative to
;he alteration in the American tariff.

Their Lordships then adjourned.

The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock.
Tue names of Hon. Members exempt from sitting on
Election Committees were read.
A new writ was moved for the borough of Ripon for
a Member to serve in Parliament, in tho room of the
Right Hon. T. B. C. Smith, appointed laser of the
Rolls in Ireland.
After the transaction of private business,
Mr. SYDNEY HERBERT, in answer to a question, stated
that the Government hope,' to be enabled to raise the
militia by a method less onerous than the ballot.
Sir R. PEEL in answer to a question from Mr. P. M.
STEWART said that, with regard to the duties on colonial
spirits and molasses, it was not the intention of the Go-
vernment to propose any alteration in those duties.
On the Order of the Day for the second reading of the
Drainage of Lands (Ireland) Bill, being read,
Mr. F. FRENCH complained that the Bill gave powers
to the Commissioners for Drainage with which it would
be highly improper to trust them. He objected to giving
to any body of men the entire superintendence of all
public and private works of experiment in Ireland. The
landowners were perfectly competent to decide in what
manner employment was to be given to the poor of Ire-
lan I on their respective estates.
Sir T. FREMANTLE believed that the general impres-
sion throughout Ireland was that the members of the
Board of Works had performed their duties exceedingly
well, and were deserving of confidence. He considered
that it would be almost impossible to carry out these
works properly except under the superintendence of the
Commissioners.
Sir R. FIRGUSON considered that, in consequence of
the enormous powers given to the Drainage Commis-
sioners, a great number of landowners had been pre-
vented from taking advantage of the provisions of the
Drainage Act ; therefore he must object to any increase
of those powers. He considered the Bill as one of the
most objectionable that had ever been introduced with
regard to Ireland.
Mr. O'CortriELL supported the second reading of the
Bill ; but he hoped that in Committee various modifica-
tions would be introduced into it.
The Bill was then read a second time.
On the motion for reading the report of the Public
Works (Ireland) Bill,
Mr. FITZSTEPHEN FRENCH objected to certain clauses
of the Bill, as giving too much power to the officers of
the Government.
Sir T. FREMANTLE explained that he had before
given notice, that on bringing up the report he should
propose a clause which would obviate all the objections
of the Hon. Member.
Sir R. FERGUSON would suggest the propriety of
leaving out the fifth clause altogether. It was necessary
to restrain the compulsory powers given to the authori
ties under this Bill.

Colonel CONOLLY would be sorry to retard the pass-
ing of the measure, but he objected to the compulsory
presentments, as calculated to cast a stigma upon the
grand juries of Ireland.
Mr. O'CONNELL supported the motion.
The report was then brought up, and several verbal
amendments were agreed to.
On the sth clause being proposed,
Sir R. FERGUSON said that, if it were persisted in, he
should take the sense of the House on it.
Sir T. FREMANTLE must press the clause.
Mr. F. FRENCH hoped the clause would be withdrawn
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCUEQUER trusted the
House would support the Bill, as a means of providing
employment fur tho people of Ireland in improving
existing public works, as well as in forming new works.
Mr. S. CRAWFORD disapproved entirely of the system
of compulsory assessments, but if it were to exist he
considered that there existed the same grounds for just
tifying it in this case as in other cases.
Mr. HAMILTON, under the circumstances of the case,
hoped that the opposition to the clause would not be
ersevered in.
Sir R. FERGUSON was determined to take the
sense of the House on the clause.
On a division there appeared—
For the clause
Against
Majority for the clause 394
The report was then agreed to.
Mr. BRIGHT moved the reappointment
to.
of the com-
mittee on the ga:no-laws.—Agree

Sir T. FREMANTLE moved for leave to bring in a
Bill to afford encouragement to the construction of small
piers and harbours calculated to extend the fisheries in
Ireland.

After t► few obseryations from Mr. FITZSTENIEN