The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-18 00:00:00

PEACE BETWEEN NATIONS.

Sir JOHN EASTHOPE presented a petition from the
members Of a Peace Society at Leicester, praying that all dis-
otes with foreign nations should (instead of appealing to arms)
ae referred to arbitration.
CORN-LAWS.

Mr. PHILPOTTS presented a petition from Gloucester
,n favour of the Ministerial measure, but expressing their
regret that the abolition of protection should not be immediate.
CALLING OUT THE MILITIA.

An HON. MEst sea presented a petition praying the
House not to sanction the calling out of the militia.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE presented petitions against the en•
-xl.ing of the militia—one from Norwich signed by 1,600
persons ; one from a place in Yorkshire sinned by 2,000; and
niters from Hamilton, Berwick, and other places.
THE TEN HOURS' BILL.

The Hex. MEMBER presented a petition in favour of the
Ten Hours' Bill.
METROPOLITAN DISTRICT ASYLUMS.
The HON. MIC-1111Eft also presented a petition from the guar-
Mans of St. Luke's, Chelsea, against the Metropolitan District
Asylums Bill. They clmplained that by a late order of the
Poor-law Commissioners they were dependent on seven other
arge parishes. The petition stated that there was already in
he parish sufficient accommodation for the casual poor. They
tad made a representation to the Poor-law Commissioners, and
they had also memorialised the Home-office, but they had had
to satisfaction. He moved that the petition be referred to the
Committee on Metropolitan District Asylums.—Agreed to.
Mr. HUME presented a petition from the shipowners of
Wells, in Norfolk, praying that the Government would make
some provision for the improvement of the harbour. The pe-
ition was most numerously and respectably signed.
THE MILITIA.
Mr. HUME presented a petition from the women of
Northamptonshire, praying that the militia should not be
called out.

CORN-LAWS.
The HON. MEMBER also presented six petitions from different
parishes in Fortarshire praying for the immediate repeal of the
present corn-laws.
Mr. PL VMPTRE presented a petition from a parish in
Kent, in favour of protection to agriculture.
Lard MORPETH presented petitions from the West Riding
Yorkshire, in favour of a total repeal of the corn-laws ;
,lso petitions against the re• organization of the militia;
aid also in_favour of the Ten Hours' Factory Bill.

SOAP.
Mr. H UTT postponed his motion with respect to the opera-
tion of the Excise Laws on the manufacture of soap in this
country for a fortnight.
POOR-LAWS.
Mr. WODEHOUSE gave notice that, on Thursday next,
he should put a question to the First Lord of the Treasury with
respect to the intentions of the Government as to the poor.law.
VAN DIEMEN'S LAND.
Mr. EWART postponed, for a fortnight, his motion with re-
respect to a mlishing the banishment of convicts to Van Die-
men's Land, and the abrogation of transportation as a punish-
ment, except only as a supplement to the previous punishment
of imprisonment.
CASTLEREAGH WORKHOUSE.
The O'CONOR DON wished to ask the Right Hon.
Baronet the Secretary of State for the Home Department,
with respect to the refusal of the guardians to open this work-
house for the relief of the poor, whether he was aware that they
had come to a resolution, which was carried by a majority of
ten to eight, to open the workhouse.
ten to-eight to open the workhouse.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM said he underitood that the guar.

dians had refused to open the workhouse, but he was not aware
that they had come to a resolution to alter their determina-
tion. He should have no objection to lay on the table the
papers with re pest to the subject.
FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

Mr. T. S. DUNCOMBE, in rising to bring in a Bill
to amend the laws relating to friendly societies, said
that differences of opinion had arisen with respect .to
the provisions of the Act now in operation. The Act
to which he referred was the 10th of Geo. IV., c. 55, which
consolidated certain Acts relating to various societies which
had been established for benevolent purposes. '1 his law was
amended by the /Vet of William IV., c. 40, which extended
the objects of friendly societies. Very recently a case had
arisen with respect to the South Shields Investment Friendly
Society, whose rules were certified by Mr. Tidd Pratt. A dis-
pute ensued between the parties, and an action was brought.
The case was referred to the Court of Queen's Bench, and
Mr. Justice Wightman decided that the society in question
did not come under the provisions of the Benefit Societies' Act.
If this opinion was held to be correct, he believed that two-
thirds of the friendly societies 'in the kingdom would
be illegal. He felt satisfied of this, and it was for
the purpose of settling the doubtful point that he wished to
introduce the present Bill. The amendments he in-
tended had received the sanction of all parties in
the country interested in friendly societies, and
had been submitted to Mr. Tidd Pratt, by whom
they had been approved. With these observations he begged
leave to bring in a Bill for the amendment of the law relating
to friendly societies.
Leave was then given to bring in the Bill, which was read
a first time, and the second reading was fixed for Wednesday
week.