The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-09 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

(THIS EVENING.)

HOUSE OF LORDS.

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the
Woolsack at Five o'clock.

Lord STANLEY presented a petition, signed
by 12,3339 owners ar.d occupiers of land,
and trapesmen, manufacturers, and labourers of
the north division of the county of Lancaster. He had
examined the signatures to this petition, and he had
found them all to be genuine, and to belong to the dif-
ferent classes of trades and callings enumerated in
the heads of the petition. The petitioners stated
that their confidence in the continuation of
the protection to agriculture was such that they
had been induced to expend capital in extensive
improvement in agriculture and manufactures. It fur-
ther stated that it was the opinion, not only of the
owners and occupiers of land, but also of the working
men and manufacturers, that it was of the greatest im-
portance to their different trades that the protection
to agriculture should be continued. The petiticners
also complained of the unconstitutional, they would not
say illegal, interference of the Anti-Corn-law League.
with the constituency of the country. He had also
several similar petitions from different parts of the
county of Kildare in Ireland.
Lord REDDESDALE said he had a petition of a
similar nature to present from the county of Oxford.
Lord BEAUMONT presented several petitions frcm
tenant farmers and others connected with agriculture in
favour of protection to agriculture, and expressive of the
great alarm those individuals felt at the proposed
chonges ; and he also begged to give notice, on the part
of his friend the Duke of Richmond, that, on Thursday
next, the Noble Duke would move for certain returns
regarding local taxation.
Lord FARNHAM presented petitions against the
repeal of the corn-laws.
Lord GREY presented :several petitions from tenant
farmers and others connected with agriculture, in favour
of the propositions of her Majesty's Government. They
had only two objections to those propositions ; namely,
that the abolition in corn and sugar were not immediate.
Almost all the tenant-farmers in this country con-
curred in the opinions expressed in the petition. He
had great satisfaction in presenting that petition, and he
hoped and believed that the opinions therein contained
were entertained by the first farmers in this country,
whether they were at once opposed to protection, or in
favour of a delay of three years.
Earl ST. GERMAIN said, that with regard to the
motion he was about to submit to their Lordships, he
anticipated their fullest consent. This was a Bill for the
further amendment of the Act now in force for the ex-
tension and promotion of the public works in Ireland.
The proposed measure divided itself into two questions;
first, that of loans, and second that of grants. In regard
to the first of these, the alteration upon the old law was
very small. It was proposed to place at:the disposal of
the Commissioners of Public Works for Ireland
the sum of 50,0001.; the sum originally placed
in their hands being :now reduced to 6;9001„- and
the present grant a further suppty. The al-
teration in its administration was, :that
whereas formerly the application had to be made
through three magistrates, it was now proposed to be
made through two magistrates, assisted by three rate
or assessed. Respecting the second division, that of
loans advanced for the improving and reclaiming of
lands, the old law required that such advances should
be paid back in three years after the improvements
were effected. This was found be impracticable,
and now it was proposed in the Bill to
extend the period to twenty years. lie had no doubt
this measure would work benefially in developing the
recourses of Ireland, in connexion with three or four
other measures which were submitted.—(Hear, hear).
He believed that no measure could act more lbeneficially
for the people of Ireland than the drainage measure.
The Bill of which he then spoke was eminently calcu-
lated to extend and enlarge the power of the Bill intro-
duced by the Noble Lord who preceded him, as it ena-
bled the commissioner of public works to give employ-
ment to the people—(Hear),—which was essential in the
existing emergency. The Harbour Bill would also be
introduced, which would further enable the people to
avail themselves of the kindness of Providence. An-
other Bill would also be introduced, which would enable
grand juries to appoint presentment sessions for the
carrying on of public works without requiring the
sanction of an assize. A more profitable outlay of capi-
tal they could not have; and he called on the Noble
Lords to entertain the measure kindly, particularly in
the present moment when the people of Ireland were
threatened with the disastrous consequences of a general
failure in the crops and propably a grievous famine.
Lord MONTEAGLE said that at the present moment

it not only behoved Noble Lords to pass the Bill, but,
further, that they should pass a series of measures, of
which the present was but a component, for the
improvement of the condition of the people of Ireland.
He had heard it stated that the pressure on the people
of Ireland was but slight, and not entitled to serious
consideration. A greater or more grievous mistake
could not be entertained, and could only hare pro-
ceeded from a misapprehension of the real facts.
It was by no means a trivial matter in the present posi-
tion of political affairs between the two countries, that
no individual Member of that House should be repre-
sented to the people of Ireland as indifferent to their in-
terest, particularly when the deficiency of food in that
country at present was considered. It would be of great
importance that it should not appear that that House was
indifferent to this state of things. He should say, that
the magnitude of the evil in respect to food in Ireland
had by no means been exaggerated. The Noble Lord
then read extracts from the reports made by Mr.
Lindley and Mr. Playfair upon the state of the
potato
by one-half,
eb.ybawhich ittbapatptebaerreed
wtheaultdtheelsocrboep de-
ficientawdaesfiei-
encyof
seed
; beande
tphpartebtheeedreedsulite wolureldleebde tfhritotrethee
scarcity of food would be most awful and appalling.
distress to
The Commissioners stated that it appeared from un-
doubted authority that out of 32 counties not one had
escaped the failure of the potato crop, and that out of
the districts aronnd 130 poor-law unions, not one
was exempt from the failure. To those vi ho were con-
nected with Ireland this presented a very sad aspect. He
remembered, in 1822, being commissioned with some of
the most useful men (amongst whom the late Mr. John
Smith was conspicuous) to inquire into the cause of
distress in Ireland. At that time, when they had at
their disposal 300,0001. subscribed by the English na-
tion, and which sum was afterwards doubled by Parlia-
ment, they had only to cope with the partial distress of
ten caunties, and that distress did not begin until
the spring, They had now to deal with the dis-
tress of thirty-two counties, and the distress had
begun before the month of February. They knew by
sad experience that not only the want of food in the
country would be felt, but they also knew that other
bteo
wt ho anti,
dc onuont ryth he
raedf,or e
refer however, bt,oe e
tnh set amt epda
rbtyi
eoutl ha
re
lrys
calamitieso would follow. The benefits which had been
dannde
Nc e
What
vvweh
ato
htu
eg hp loadtu
public
bol
cbe
n worett hh kee
streatmentresultsn dpd
uue
bne
cl
yoc
But he could not help saying that the treatment which
ta o y
ae Irelandpeetgb
loci uco
benefit,gehn ttr tyo. r e
works in Ireland ? But it had been suggested to her
Majesty's Government that considerable good might be
done by Government if they made a better appropria-
tion of the constabulary and police rates in the

several counties. This was a iobject that called r
for the peculiar attention cf the Ministry.
Whatever difference was made in he appropriation of
public burdens, or whatever pressure was removed, the
relief should be granted in agreement with justice. In
the present instance the measures by the Government
on the constabulary rate acted ii an inverse ratio
to this principle. Take the counties of Down and
Tipperary. In the county of Dovn, which had been
tranquil and prosperous, and where the constabulary
rates had been light, the relief muld be much less in
proportion to that of Tipperary, in which for a long
time the rates had been very high, arising from the in-
security of life and property. If a remission of
the constabulary rate was b be made, the
alteration should be such as to appropriate the
benefits in the same ratio as the rates had
been imposed—apportioning ITN' in proportion to
the tranquillity or disturbance that might respectively
prevail. lie doubted much whetter the proposed re-
mission would be an improvement, especially the
taking away the constabulary force from under the
local magistracy. Great advantages bad resulted from
this connexion both in the discilline of the force and
the benefits resulting from this ?mployment ; and if
they took away this corps from unier the control of the
magistrates, it would make the c•ostabulary force as-
sume the character of a foreign gels d'armerie force. lie

I sgged of thefiGovernment not to lissasociate the force
from the local protection under vhich it had hitherto
been placed. In proposing measures fur the relief of the
people in Ireland, it was his opinion more would be done
for the tranquillity of that country by the employment
of engineers, the construction of public works, draining
and such like measures for giving the population em-
ployment, than by any other course that could be devised.
If they did an act of justice or generosity, let it be
directed by wisdom, as that course alone would be at-
tended with success. With respect to the repeal of
taxation, though it might be very popular at the
time it was proposed, it was soon forgotten—it
would not survive the session in which it was agreed to.
He trusted that if those measures should be adopted,
they would exercise a beneficial and useful in-
fluence upon the people of Ireland. He had
spoken upon this subject at greater length
than he had intended, but it was one in
which he felt a great interest, for he had the welfare
of his country sincerely at heart, and was most
flexions to see her condition ameliorated. He had
had communication with several Members of
that House as well as with some of those
of the other House 01 l'arname,,,, situ ne lola not met
with one who had any interest in land in that country
who did not appear to agree with him in opinion upon
this subject.
The Deice of WELLINGTON said he had no
doubt the Noble Lord was right in taking this
opportunity of speaking upon this subject. But it
should be remembered that this was a Bill not yet
before that House. It was a Bill which had received all
the attention from many Noble Lords which it was
possible to give it in the short space of time allowed, but
he could not say that they had agreed to adopt the
proposition it contained. It was well known that the police
tax had always been a tax upon the land, and it should
be admitted that it ought not to be allowed to continue so.
There was at present a Bill in the hands of Government
which would relieve counties from the police-tax. They
had received a strong recommendation from the Com-
missioner on the subject, and before they came to any
determination on the subject they would take into con-
sideration that recommendation. No person was more de-
sirous than he was of making such improvements as would
draw forth the resources of that country. There were
other measures in contemplation, which would come on
in the course of the session, and which would have the
effect of giving relief to Ireland ; and, therefore, he
wished that his Noble Friend would postpone the dis-
cussion util the matter came before the House in a
more regular manner.
Lord STOURTON said that he should feel him-
self wanting in his duty both to England and
Ireland, if he did not express his entire and full concur-
rence with the measure proposed by Government for the
benefit of Ireland. The labour of Ireland was now
about to be absorbed in resources which—and he said it
to the disgrace of this c)untry—had been kept for 600
years in darkness. He would refer to the year 1817,
when it appeared that no less than 65,000 per-
sons passed through the fever hospitals of Dublin.
He hoped also to be allowed to express his concurrence
in the perfect truth of the report which emanated from
the House of Commons in the last session, in which the
absolute necessity was declared of bettering the condi-
tion of the Irish people. That statement was also made
ten years ago; and now that they had it in their power
to cement an union between the people of England and
Ireland—cementing them in a manner that no repealer
could break—(Hear)--he called on them to act wisely and
boldly. He would wish to see the peasantry of Ireland
raised to a proper level ; and he should say it would be
a much more gratifying circumstance if the people were
less dependent upon land. Mr. Forster, in 1825, stated
that "the Irish must have laed, as they depended on
it." Now that was a most grievous circumstance.
Therefore he should say that their policy, their interest,
called on them to support the present measure ; and he
should shrink from his responsibility as a Member of
that House, if he did riot advise them to combine and
endeavour to advance such a policy.—(Hear, hear.)
If they placed a police force in the stead of the military
force which it would be otherwise necessary to maintain
in the counties of Ireland, Government ought
to recommend that the quota of the expenses
should be borne by each county, or by each town-land
in which the police force might be required. Ile
thought, and the Commissioners were of opinion,
that this course might remedy the evil complained
of. But he thought it not only necessary that they should
patronise public works, but that they should
also give every assistance to agricultural improvement,
for this was not only required for the happiness of the
people at present, but for their future prosperity also.
He felt, as a resident landlord in Ireland, that this mea-
sure would be of great benefit to that country, and there-
fore he had no hesitation in saying it should have his con-
currence There were some clauses in it he could not agree
to—he meant the compulsory and mandatory clauses, and
he trusted they would be modified. He had listened
to the speech of his Noble Friend opposite with
great attention; but he could not believe that
the distress anticipated by the Noble Lord in so
short a time as he had stated would take
place, at least in that part of the country, the north
of Ireland, where he resided; and if great distress were
apprehended in other parts of that country be trusted
that the Government would adopt such measures
as would tend to avert that calamity. With
regard to what had been said in reference to
the police force, ho was ready to admit that that
was a most useful body ; but he could not but
feel that the magistracy of the country had often been
put aside by the power which the Government held over
them ; and he also thought that some communication
ought to have been held with the magistracy before this
step had been taken to make that force a species of yens-
d armerie. The landed gentry of Ireland felt this neglectvery
much. They were anxious, as magistrates, to do their
duty, as they had hitherto, he believed, done; but they
thought they ought to have been consulted. He would,
as far as the present Bill was concerned, give it his sup-
port, and when it was in Committee he would
call their Lordships attention to certain amend-
ments to several of the clauses, which he considered
very objectionable, especially those proposing to take the
powers out of the hands of the grand juries, who were
made up of the resident gentry, and therefore those best
calculated to know what ought to be done.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said there was no
difference of opinion as to the principle of the Bill,
which had his entire concurrence.—(hear.) He had
no desire to prolong the discussion raised by the
suggestion of the Noble Lord :(Montettgle) respect-
ing the remission of the county rates for the maintenance
of the constabulary force. He (the Marquis of Lans-
downe) believed that suggestion first came from the
members of the Irish Landlord and Tenant Commission
as a most desirable arrangement, and that it should be
done upon the principle of equality. It was then recom-
mended irrespective of other considerations but the relief
of Ireland, but now it was brought up as part of a general
measure of justice to the occupiers of land, in conse-
quence of the great and important scheme of improvement
submitted to Parliament for the relief of the country.
He held, as a general principle, that grants for public
works would be more beneficial than any other measure
that could be devised, as it would be always reminding
them of the services rendered by Parliament to that
country. He believed that the relief from the consta-
bulary tax would be greatly beneficial, and was a mea-
sure of great importance, but it was not the measure
that her Majesty's Government should adopt for the
relief of a distressed country.
After a few words from Lord COTTENHAM,
Earl DEVON fully concurred in the course of policy
imreeriaanl
d.andThpehr)e'the
istuggweosuteldd bybuythee
tNbeobleeffLeoertd
owfhiompprroevciendgedbohtihm,
e condition n o o
second
e ot
nh
de
opinionpeop people
ar)
sf
to the necessity of the Bill before the House.
Lord MOUNTCASHEL said that the present cir •
siccaoluldb
cumstances of Ireland deserved every consideration. He
had only arrived from that country within the last few
days, and lie could assure their Lordships that the wants
of the peasantry were not in any degree exaggerated in
the south of Ireland. Want and famine were staring them
in the face. In a short time the poor-houses would be so
filled that there would be no room for applicants. What
was then to be done ? He had been glad to see that every
endeavour had been made by Parliament to meet fh
wauti of the people, but he was informed that the
railway bills would not be forward enough to give em-
ployment to the people. In his own neighbourhood po-
tatoes were selling at the prices usually received in the
'tenths of June and July, and there was every appearance
of their reaching a higher price. He happened to live in
a very peaceful neighbourhood, but within the last fort-
night there had been very unpleasant symptoms exhi-
bited. Large bodies of men were going about armed,
and several murders had been committed. It was a
common declaration that in two months they would
have civil war. lie might be allowed to
state one word with regard to a matter
which had, perhaps, no connexion with the present Bill
but which had been moved by the Noble Lord who
brought it before them. It was the intention of the
Government to bring forward another Drainage Bill.
That Bill was viewed with a great deal of apprehension.
The Noble Lord then proceeded to read extracts from
a letter he had received from some millers in the north
of Ireland, who expressed a hope that no measures would
be suffered to become law which would have an injurious
effect upon their property; they alluded particularly to
the Drainage Act.
The Earl of ST. GERMANS expressed a hope that
no alteration would be made jn the Bill now before the
House, which would affect injuriously the present bur-
dens upon land.
Lord COTTENHAM said a few words in reply, which
were inaudible in the gallery.

Earl ST. GERMANS said that it was his intention
to move the committal of the Bill on Friday next.
Their Lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at a few minutes before
Four o'clock.

NEW ME MBERS.
Lord MORPETH took the oaths and his seat for the
West Riding of Yorkshire. On the entrance of the
Noble Lord, who was introduced by Lord John Russell
and Mr. Byng, he was greeted with loud cheers from all

sides of the House.
Mr. WCARTHY, who was introduced by Mr. O'Con-
nell avid another Hon. Member, took the oaths and his

seat for the city of Cork.
THE AYSHIRE AND GALLOWAY RAILWAY.
Sir J. Y. BULLER brought up the Report of Sub-
Committee No. 2, when
Mr. HODGSON said that before the report was or-
dered to lie on the table, he wished to make a few ob-
servations. He wished to put a question to the Attor-
ney-General on a point of law, but at the same time he
had no desire to impugn the judgment of the Committee.
The objection which had been taken to the contract of
the Ayrshire Railway was, that the contract deed was
invalid, inasmuch as two of the trustvs who were bound
to perform the covenants were also shareholders in the
Company. The Committee, when this objection was
urged, came to the resolution, that by standing order
No. 40, the contract deed was invalid, and did not bind
the trustees to the performance of its covenants. It was
a Scottish Bill, and he thought that the objection which
had been raised could not consistently be maintained.
He wished now to appeal to the opinion of the highest
constituted law officers in that House, whether or not
the fact of a certain number of trustees holding shares in
the Company would render its contract invalid.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that under the
standing order which had been referred to by his Hon.
Friend, all that was required was, that the parties sub-
scribing should bind themselves to the performance of
the subscription deed. It appeared from the facts of the
case that the trustees were also shareholders, and agreed
to pay the amount of their subscriptions in common
with the other subscribers, and as trustees they also
covenantee to see the due performance of the contract,
so that in point of fact the covenanters were also
covenantees. He was of opinion that the whole deed
was not invalid. The question was whether the sub-
scription deed was a compliance with the standing order.
I 4 ,--ro,.tly true that in a court of law no action
would hold, because no party could sue himself, but La a
court of equity a party would be bound by the deed, and
would be obliged to pay the amount of his subscription.
Ms opinion undoubtedly was, that the standing order
had been complied with, and if the case bad occurred
with respect to an English railway, there would have
been a compliance with the standing orders, because the
parties would have been liable, if not in a court of law, at
all events in a court of equity.
Sir J. Y. BULLER said it would not become him
after the opinion expressed by the Attorney-Ge-
neral to discuss a point of law. He could only say
that the decisions to which the Committee had come
were in accordance with the decisions of Sub-Commit-
tees of last year. He thought, after the opinions which
had been expressed, that the better course to pursue
would be to allow the Bill to ttake the usual
course, and for it to be referred to the Standing
Orders' Committee, as the:Standing Orders' Committee
would, of course, act upon the opinion which had been
expressed by the Attorney-General and sanctioned by
the House, and such an opinion should be taken as a
guide for the future.
Mr. HODGSON had no objection that the Bill be
referred back to the same committee.
CORN-LAWS.

Sir H. HALFORD presented a petition from the
town and county of Leicester, signed by 2,000 persons,
engaged both as manufacturers and agriculturists. The
petitioners stated that they heard with alarm of the
scheme proposed by Government for the purpose of re-
ducing those duties which protected native manufactures
and agriculture, and they thought that the best means of
security consisted in affording every facility for the de-
velopment of the produce of our own soil.—(Hear, hear.)
That security would be amply afforded under the exist-
ing corn-laws. The manufacturers stated that there
were documents before the House which would prove
the extremely low rate of wages, at present existing in
a district where there were more than 100,000 persons,
both manufacturers and agriculturists, and the pro-
duce of which amounted to 2,500,000/. annually.
Mr. BAMPTON presented a petition in favour of the
measures of commercial reform proposed by her Ma-
jesty's Government.
Mr. NORRIS presented a petition praying for a con-
tinuance of protection to agriculture.
Mr. R. YORKE presented a petition praying for a
total and immediate repeal of the corn-laws.
Mr. LIDDELL presented a petition, signed by up-
wards of ten thousand persons in the county of Durham,
against the proposed alteration in the corn-laws.
Mr. M. CLARKE presented a petition in favour of
the repeal of the corn-laws.
Lord DALMENY presented a petition of a similar
nature.
An Holz. MEMBER, whose name we could not learn,
presented a petition, signed by nine thousand of the in-
habitants of Sussex, against any alteration of the corn-
laws.
Sir J. C. HOBHOUSE presented a petition, very nu-
merously signed, in favour of the contemplated altera-
tion of the corn laws.
Mr. MUNTZ (Birmingham) presented a petition from
the merchants, traders, and other inhabitants of Bir-
mingham, complaining that none of the restrictions on
copper ore were about being removed by the Go-
vernment.
Mr. DUNCOMBE presented three petitions from
Dundee, the seat of the linen manufacturers, in favour
of free trade, which stated that they (the petitioners)
were not afraid of competing with the whole world, al-
though every restriction should be removed.
Lord MORPETH (who was very loudly and gene-
rally cheered on rising) presented a petition from Wake-
field and Halifax, very numerously signed by merchants,
bankers, and others in Yorkshire, strongly expressing
their approbation of the Government measure respecting
the corn-laws.
Mr. FERRAND said he should wish to ask the
Noble Lord a question. He should wish to learn
whether the signatures to these petitioners had been
the free and unbiassed act:of the petitioners?—(Cries of
" Order, order.") He was prepared to prove that the
working men—(Order, order)—were obliged to turn into
the counting-houses of the large manufactories and sign
these petitions, before they received their weekly pay-
ments.—(Loud cries of " Order.")
The SPEAKER observed that the Hon. Member
might put put a question, but the rule of the House did
not permit that he should make a speech.
Mr. FERRAND—WeII, then, he would put the
question—were these signatures of the kind that he
described ?
Lord MORPETH—He had only to say that, to the
best of his belief and to the entirety of his convictions,
the signatures to the documents which he had pre-
sented were the free and unbiassed acts of the peti-
tioners.
Sir W. MOLES WORTH presented a petition from
the borough of Southwark, in favour of a total and im-
mediate repeal of the corn•laws.
The SPEAKER observed, that perhaps it might be
better for the House to receive petitions on the corn-
laws after the order of the day had been gone into.
Mr. OWEN STANLEY gave notice that in the Com-
mittee on the corn and provision laws, he would move as
an amendment, a fixed duty of ss. on wheat, 2s. 6d. on
barley, and 2s. on oats, and so on in proportion.
Mr. M. MILNES gave notice that in committee on
the resolution relating to the corn-laws he would move
the omission of all words after 1849.
Mr. S. CRAWFORD gave notice that he would call
the attention of the House to the propriety of extending
the power of poor-law guardians, so as to enable them to
grant out-door relief to the people of Ireland.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE moved for a return of :the
number of all persons who had removed from the agri-
cultural to the manufacturing districts, particularly in
Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cheshire, in the years
1841, 1842, and 1843.—Agreed to.
Lord Somerset, Lord Sandon, Sir George Grey, Mr.
Wilson Patten, and the: O'Conor Don, who constitute
the committee on parliamentary election petitions, were
then sworn at the table.
Captain POLHILL gave notice of a motion, to the
effect that he would on a future day move that the duty
to be paid on foreign corn for the next three years
should be given to the tenant farmers, who would
be injured by the measure of her Majesty's Ministers.
Dr. BOWRIING would ask whether any and what
measures had been taken by her Majesty's Government
to inquire into the character of the disease said to have
broken out at Roa Vista in consequence of communi-
cation with the Eclair.
Sir G. CLERK said that such measures had been
taken as would meet the case.
NEW WRIT.

On the motion of Mr. YOUNG, a new writ was
ordered to be issued for the election of a knight of the
shire for the southern division of the county of Notting-
ham, in the room of the Earl of Lincoln, who has ac-
cepted the office of Secretary for Ireland.
FACTORY SCHOOLS.

Mr. BRIGHT wished to ask the Right Hon. Baronet
the Secretary of State for the Home Department re-
specting the proceedings.of the factory inspectors. He
found from their report that Mr. Horner had given 1501.
to schools connected with the Established Church, and
30/. to schools belonging to the British Society of Dis-
senters ; while another inspector had given 2701. to
scbools connected with the Established Church, and
to schools not so connected. Now, it was the
intention of the Factories Act that the sums
appropriated by the Governmet for this purpose, should
be freely and equally divided amongst schools where
factory children were being educated ; and he wished
to know whether these grants were in future to be made
in accordance with the spirit of the Act.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM (who spoke in so low a
tone of voice as to be scarcely audible in the gal-
lery) was understood to say that the funds appro-
priated by the Legislature for the benefit of fax.
tory schools would be divided equally, and without
favour to one sect or another. The inspectors had, he
thought, made the distribution referred to by the Hon.
Member in this spirit, for most of the Catholic schools
refused to receive aid from those fund., while the:British
schools had only taken the money at the request of the
inspector himself.
Sir R. H. INGLIS hoped he should not be deemed
wanting in courtesy to the Right Hon. Baronet
if he asked, without notice, whether the
sum be apportioned to the several schools,
was to depend upon the number of children educated in
the schools, or whether a certain sum was to be appor-
tioned to each, whatever the condition of that school
might be ; he thought this was important, and there-
:ore he wished to ask whether the same sum was to be

apportioned if the children educated were 50 or 100 in
the school—in fact, whether the sum given was to be in
proportion to the number in the school.
Sir JAMES GRAH A.M was under the necessity
to give the same reply as he had just made to
the previous question. They had first to ascertain
the number of scholars, and the revenue of these
schools, and the relief would depend on those circum•
stances.

JUVENILE OFFENDERS.
Mr. LIDDELL had a question to ask, for which he
hoped to be excused, but in the absence of the Noble
Lord, the late Member for Dorsetshire, who it was

known had taken a great interest in the condition of the
juvenile population, but who, in consequence of his feel-
ing upon a point of honour, had resigned his seat, and
was, therefore, unable to put the question himself, he

hoped he should be excused for asking it without notice
Vitt such an inquiry was required might be gathered.
from the remarks lately made by a j udge in one of the
criminal courts. No subject was more deservedly

worthy of the attention of the house. As he had stated
his views to the Right Hon. Baronet, he would not then
detain the House by any observations, but simply ask
the Right Hon. Boronet if the gentleman was prepared
to take any steps towards the improvement and re-
formation of juvenile delinquents ?
Sir J. GRAHAM said the subject had occupied the
serious attention of the former, as well as of the pre-
sent Government. Up to 1838, there was no institution
in this country devoted exclusively to the punishment
and reformation of juvenile offenders. Shortly
after an institution was formed in this metropolis
in which 300 of these persons were confined. In that
year, with the sanction of that Howe, Parkhurst prison
was erected, which he thought had beeen conducive to
the moral improvement of those who were consigned to
it. In that institution there were now 660 confined. In
addition 200 juvenile convicts were confined in the Pen-
tonville prison (as we understood). If it was
the pleasure of • hat House to sanction what
would be brought forward by the Government on the
subject, and to give au annual grant for the mainte•
nance of all those young prisoners after their conviction
by a jury, he would endeavour to induce the magistrates
of the various counties of England to set apart a portion
of the prisons under their direction for the reception
of juvenile offenders.—(Hear, hear.) If this
plan were carried out in each county,
he had no doubt that benevolent persons would aid the
Government in putting these unfortunate persons, on
leaving prison, in the way to earn an honest living, and
to restore them to society.—(Hear.)
DRAINA.or BILL (IRELAND).
Sir WM. SOAERVILLE inquired if it was the
intention of the Right Hon. Gentleman (Sir J. Graham)
to move that the House should go into Committee on
this Bill to-night.
Sir J. GRAHAM was understood to say that he
should make a motion to that effect to-night.
REPEAL OF THE DUTIES ON CORN.

Sir ROBERT PEEL then rose and said I am
desires to make a statement with reference to the ques-
tion which the Noble Lord the Member for the City of
London. put to me the other night, respecting the repeal
of the"Auties on corn—foreign corn—immediately after
the passing of a resolution to that effect by the House,
The reply which I gave to that question has created an
impression in the City that the Treasury intend to
repeal these duties, as well as other duties, as soon. as
the House shall have signified its consent. I answered
that the Treasury would . remit the duties
on foreign corn after the assent of the
House had been given to the resolution. I
find that my impression was a wrong one. In every
case wherein the corn duty had been altered by Par-
liament the reduction of the duty had taken place from
the passing of the Act, and the Treasury have never,
in any case, undertaken to remit the duty. Now, Sir,
I should be exceedingly unwilling to assume, on the
part of the Treasury, any authority for which there
was no precedent, and I should also be exceedingly sorry
to assume it in this case, because I fear that an
assumption of thai authority for the first time would
have a tendency rather to prejndice than promote the
final success of the measure. It is the intention of her
Majesty's Government, therefore, to adhere to the
course which has uniformly been pursued at all former
periods of an alteration in the corn-laws, and to make
the reduction of the duty—if the measure should be
sanctioned,by Parliament—take effect from the passing of
the Act. I believe in point of fact, that there will be
delay in taking corn out of bond, for if
there should be any chance of the measure not receiving
the sanction of the Legislature, parties would take corn
out of bond, when they were certain that, after a short
interval, they would be compelled to pay a duty of 175.
At the same time, it is of much importance that the
decision of Parliament on the subject should be known,
and that the trade should have an assurance as to
the principles which are to operate in the corn trade; and
her Majesty's Government propose to give &preference to
the corn-bill before all other subject, and as far as the
Government are concerned they will take no other Go-
vernment business until the decision of this branch of
the Legislature with respect to the proposed new corn-
law shall have been taken. We shall, therefore, not go
into any other amendment of the tariff until this house
shall have given its assent to the new corn Bill.
Mr. M. PIIILLIP wished to know whether, if the
debate should be adjourned on Tuesday evening it would
be continued on Wednesday, and ii so, whether the sit-
ting on that chty would be a morning one.
Sir R. PEEL said that if on adjournment took place
on Tuesday the House might proceed with the debate
on Wednesday ; and in that case he apprehended that
there would be no alternative but to commence at twelve
o'clock and adjourn at six, because the House had
already passed a standing order on the subject of Wed-
nesdays sittings. He thought, hawever, it would be
more convenient to consider the subject to-morrow

eTening.
In answer to Sir G. PALMER.,
Sir R. PEEL said that he woull not exclude himself
from any interval during the progress of the Bill which
he was about to introduce on the corn-laws, but he might
inform the House that it was his intention to proceed
with that Bill without delay until its final stage.
Sir G. PALMER was proceeding to make some fur-
ther remarks, but resumed his seat amidst cries of " Or-
der, order."