The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-07 00:00:00

amount of railway undertakings which had sprung up,
and which were absorbing the capital of the coentey.
It had been proposed that Parliament should nut pro-
ceed with the rail we v °fere it without I.ite
ing a moo Trig of tire heliters of the various blies.
so that no Bill should be gone on with tit the
sanction of the great majority of the shareholders was
obtained. He would propose that no sanction should
be given to any reilsvey Bill where, after a meet-
ing of the sh seeholders, the II ,1.1•30 was petitioned by
a majority of that meeting, not to allow such Bill
to proceed. This would prevent many of the schemes
which were not likely to turn out good speculetions,
from being passed. Be hoped her Majesty's Govern-
ment would give this iteeeortant matter their fullest eon-
sideration.
Sir R. PEEL said there were few nereons in that
Rouse who could not at first have seen that many of the
railways which were sought to he sanctioiled were Tie
profitable
speculations. There had been a spirit of sp.,
culation for some time past, but hr thought it ceul linat hr
checked by that !louse. The ep sedation in railways wa
the same as the speculation in ei,,uthAmeriean Bonde,ani
the interference with one would be an ivterference wi'l
the other. The experien cof time would provere
these railway speculations from bring trio large!)
indulged in. lie thought !het there was st
greater right to interte.re with this queeeloe
than in the ordinary remenercial speculations,
fir he went on the principle that every persen was „he
best judge of his o,vre comae-tee and was best competent
to manage his ewe lief:lire, At the same time, consoler-
ing the extensive pee ere the I feuse had in railway spe-
culations, it was in sorrier iii.ri-ure a party to them.
Speculations or this iiind elilTerlel from
1t• in reaper that the
the ordinary run ,f upecit.u.lon_rie
Legislature was called upon to tike ewe.), and interfere
with private property fur public purposee, and it at,.
peered to diet the 800,. :night. there:, ire, to ter-
pose with respect to that sprrrA:s nt speeuer. toe. -
far itS the in lividly's!, teemselves wet- tee
he had lie pity fel- them, fear this sir spfecola
would never he eerie toed except Iron tine per-
sonel sutltrieg of the parey—(llear,
anany of the speculeteire diverted their niri:rey ti;
their ordinary comer.), and from the trait, IT ',et
which they derived their subeietencte At the commence-
ment, he,Etin the part of her Nlajesty's Government, gav,
it as his opinion that it 'night be possible to interfere with
this habit by putting a check upon sons of the rade av
Bills. He spike with cerisiderahle hesitation on this
subject, as It might be unwise ler flou at to interfere
on this .eubject. His [lon. Friend the Member foe Liver-
poet a dled the at' entron of the louses to teei,s elbirait
It would be for the House to consider whether it had the
power to interfere indirectly in putting a stop to those railway
speculations. It would be in the recollection of the House
that a vast number of Bills were projected last year, but after
they had been prepared a great change of circumstances took
place; for instance, the amount of capital became greater than
had been anticipated. It appeared that the profits were not
likely to be what had been anticipated ; the difficulty of pro-
curing money had been increased. The hope was entertained
during the railway fever that money could be had at two and a
half per cent. ; but when it came to be applied for it was
found impossible to be had even at five per cent. ; and all these
circumstances had acted very powerfully to deter many from
engaging further in railway speculation.—( Hear.) As the law
now stood in reference to railways, he apprehended the
case to lie pat thus :—a railway was projected—parties took
shares and held scrip, and they appointed a provisional com-
mittee and directors. Well, a great change took place, such a
change as made it desirable on the part of the sub 'cribers to
dissolve the company ; and if it was found that the line would
not be a profitable one, or that it would not be for the benefit
of the public to make it, he could not see why there should
mot be a power in the legislature to dissolve it. In such a
case he would ask what test should the House apply in order to
ascertain that it was desirable to dissolve the company ? He
should say the test would be the feelings of the subscribers.—
(Hear.) If a majority of the subscribers were of opinion that
the company should be dissolved, he could not see why this
House should not lend its sanction to such a proceeding. He
was aware of some Scotch companies in whico the shareholders
were a good deal alarmed, when they had heard that their Bills
had pissed the Standing Orders' Committee, and they came to
the resolution to dissolve the company.—(Hear, hear.) He
knew another case in which 100,0'01. had been subscribed,
10,0001. of which had been expended in preliminary proceed-
ings, so that 90,000/. remained vested in Exchequer-bills ;
but the directors and subscribers having become convinced that
the lint would not be a profitable one, they came to a rest lu-
Con to dissolve the company ; but then there was 90,0001.
still invested, arid in the meantime a few of the
subscribers objected to the dissolution of the company.
Even supposing the Bill were to fail in the present session, the
directors would not be relieved from their ob'igation to do all
in their power to get the schemesanctiened by the Legislature.
He was not aware that the directors had power to dissolve the
company, or the shareholders the power to absolve the directors
from their obligations, even supposing the Bill had failed to
pass the Standing Orders' Committee; and yet it was mani-
festly for the advantage of the public that such a company
should be broken up, and the balance of their subscription
divided among the shareholders ; but a single shareholeer
might file a Bill in Chancery, and prevent this enurse being
adopted. Now he thought the House ought, with a-, little
delay as possible, to pass a Bell enabling the majority of the
shareholders to diseave the company in the event of their
aeeertaiiiing that the scheme would net, in the end, prove a
profitable undertaking. !le should propose, however. that the
liability of the directors and the parties to the original agree-
anent should still remain, and they should became j Untie liable
for the debt of any crelitor of the c rmjant. It might be
necessary to have some kind of an raft est assigner', to See ii
the balance of the funds were properly aopreeriated, and the
claims of creditors fairly and non° r ii,q,utlated. It, the
House would sanctien a hill of thisu a Y yowl, en-
able
the majority of the shareholders tPrin'llik'u tsliehY and prevent the public from incurring; ctrheea inicasttiv''etnellefmnc,juleahn:riie; establishing undertakings which held gout ne
advantage, or of yielding any profit to the parties promoting the undertaking, and prevent the majority of atheiesshia)rt:h7ll;e7 falling a sacrifice to a few surveyors, solicitors, and engineers,' and be at the same time of incalculable advantage. He thought
they
aught to make some provision that a majority of sub-
scribers in point of number, and in point of amount of shares
held by teem, should be taken as a fair and full represeniation
of the opinion of the subscribers at large, and he thought that
the parties ought to be allowed to present a petition to Parlia-
ment, expressing their willingness to withdraw the concern ;
and he thought also that Parliament should give th
power to the parties to make that representa-
tion. There would be no principle of selection or
interference, and he believed that if they were to pass such a
Bill, it would effectually relieve the money market. He hoped
that in the course of to-morrow a full explanation would be
given with respect to the subject.
Mr. LABOUCHERE had always been of opinion that this
matter should be taken up by the Government, and he had
felt great disappointment, when the Committee upon this sub-
ject was appointed at the commencement of the session, that
some proposal was not made by the Government to that Com-
mittee. He regretted very much that the question had not been
taken up before by the Government, as an earlier interference
would have been more effectual than an interference now.
As far as giving facilities to those parties who had embarked in
these undertakings to get rid of them, he would have no ob-
jection, and he thought such a measure would give universal
approbation, but if they attempted to go further then they
would pursue a course full of embarrassment. It seemed to
him that iv. they rejected a Bill on the ground that it was not
right the capital should be so applied, it would be an interference
with capital which he thought objectionable. He would not,
however, he so wedded to abstract principle as not to conside-
the subject, on good cause being shown to ;;that effect. He
thought that something was required to be done, but he was of
opinion that the scheme proposed by the First Lord of the
Ttrigestu[iynnw.asßanroothectalculated to have the effect intended by the
Sir G. CLERK said, with respect to the Committee
appointed by the House to fix the amount of capital.
that Committee was not authorised to limit the numbere
of railway Bills totaken this session. The Right
Honourable Baronet had
properly said that it would
he very impolitic to interfevreeriyn
11,tey degree with the applica-
tion of capital, and that nothin
mut a question of the greatest
necessity would justify the Govegrnitjeynotnin such an interte.-ence.
He could assure the Right 1100• his
Committee, he
if be had re-
ceived any encouragement from
been prepared to put this case before them eZu,wthoaerstsheoubaddhareve-
ceived no encouragement, he did not think it
to raise any discussion on the sebject. The case, howeh hvise while
now in a different position, fsr in various parts of the caotiuriotwriirave
especially in Liverpool, there was a strong feeling te
facility should be given to persons who, in the course of last
autumn, had embarked in those schemes, and who were now
convinced of their fully, of withdrawing from them, care being
taken that all agreements entered into by the m, and all ex-
penses incurred, should be discharged. Ile trusted that the
measure alluded to by the Right Hon. Baronet would be of
such a nature as to carry out the obj.ett the petition ha I in
view, while no injustice would he done to the promoters of any
of those schemes whit might have been actuated by a wish to
further the public good.
Mr. WARD said that he thought that the Right Hon. I
dulae-
ronet had taken the right view of the subject, and, with all
deference to his Hon. Friend near him, it was material in the
present state of the public mind, that the option should be
given to the majority of the shareholders, that on theirapplitics-
tion the Committee should not proceed with their Bile
NI
is
r.
Hon. Friend had spoke,' nt previsional directors. lie (
Ward) did not believe that in three years such an animal as a
in the three
live provisional director would exist
kingdoms. The Commiteees of 'he House would be willing to
act on the wishes of the shareholders. when a majority 01 them
expressed their opinions that the Bill should not be proceeded
with, and he thought that it would have a happy effect on all
those large claws of witnesses now connected with the railway
interest.
Mr. W PATTEN said that he acre, d with the Hon Gen-
tleman who Paul just es,oken, but it must be recollected hat the
measure would only give power to the company to dissolve
itself on the vote of its shareholders. A crest trej rity of
these Bills were under consideration, or in the course of being
committed, and an enorm ,us amount of expense was incurred
without any power on the part of the shareholders to prevent
it. The proposal of the Right Hon Baronet was well worthy
of the attention of the House. He thought. it of great
impedance that it should be known to the country, that any
petition presented to the House requesting the withdrawal of
Bills would be referred to the Committee on the Bill ; and it
would then have its due weight on the consideration whether
the Bill should be proceeded with or not, and that if the share-
holders wished to withdraw a Bill a petition to that end would
have due effect.
Mr. P. STEWART said that the only consideration was,
that although it, had been i
suggested that t should he compul-
sory am scrip holders to report their opinion of the lines with
which they were concerned, before Permission was given ,y
law to the construction of thef stchhm e, the proceeding would
be attended with diffieulty. opinions were gathered
and compared, it would relieve Parliamentese of a great respon-
sibility, and also tend very considerably to remove a weight
from the money market.
Mr. BARING should feel very stronglydisposed to hesitate,
unless a very strong reason indeed we re given, before he con-
sented to limit the capital for railways.
Mr. B. DENISON was of opinion that, were the share-
holders resided in different parts of thecouetry, the introduc-
tion of the clause would occasiongreat
line,
inconvenience;he
t sfor
instance in the case or the London
and Yorkare-
holders were spread all over the kingdom, and it would be postersus to call them together at a meeting in order that pre-
the might give in their opinion that the Bill ought to be
Y
e
ceeded with. It would be the interest of existing
railways for
the promoters of them to induceparties who had taken up with
new lines from going on with them.
Mr. BERNAL was of opinion that it was perfectly possible
for any shareholder to vote by proxy. The shareholders might
go b fore a magistrate and make an affidavit, in any distant
part, and it might be transmit ted ae his vote to any place, how-
ever distant, where the meeting should be held.
After a few words from Mr. HODGSON, who briefly ex-
Plained the Manner in which the affairs or railway companies
were wound up,
Sir R. PEEL observed that he was before unacquainted
with the mysteries of winding up. He would defy any man to
With
"7 tQuidengs at 414 Want Of whit ought to be

adopted with respect to railway affairs ; and the Government
isteurred no blame in acting in the combined manner they did
with respect to these subjeets. It would not be wise to inter-
fere too early, or before the fever had abated. What he pro-
poses: was, that the original shareholders, end those who had
sold their interest, should have no voice whatever in the choos-
ing whether this scheme should be proceeded with or not. He
was of opinion, that if a certain number of share-
holders should present a petition to Parliament set-
ting forth that it was l heir opinion that the scheme, if
carried out, would not be beneficial to the public ; in that
case he shou d think it advisable that proceedings in that
House with respect to the Bill ought not to be carried any fur-
ther. It. should, however, be clearly understood, that the peti-
tion so presented should receive the signature of the majority
of the shareholders; and that, at whatever stage of the Bill the
petition should be presented, all further proceedings should be
immediately stopped, so that it would be unnecessary the Bill
should be read a third time. Of course, the original share-
holders, who had fasted with their shares, would not be
allowed to have a voice in the matter. It must be observed
that the directors of the company had no certain knowledge
who the shareholders of the company were, and therefore, to a
great. extent, any collision between them would be prevented,
and each would act as a check upon 'he other. It appeared to
him that all parties would carefully look after their own in-
terest. They would also have a 1 wits pettifentia, by which they
would he enabled, if they thought proper, to he relieved of
th r project to a termination.
He stir,e.scmibiseibvielirtyy Epetehses any objection against the
sorry
rcya rtroy,i.rxi
principle of the clause ; but some restrictions with respect to
the regat at' r I of the majority of shareholdere should be
to a
introduced.
Mr. Ewes and the Cie A weer:Loa of the Excel EQII ER. made
I,ervati,rs but to so low a tone that they were quite
some 0 .•
ineuilibls in the gallery.
Air. ('OLLE I T cog tirlered that it was incumbent MI the
Government to lay down some definite plan by which railway
affairs might be regulated. The same difficulty ead occurred
with refeiteime to gauges, and no disticer plan had been decided
on. Al important Commission hid been inves'igating this
matter newards of three months, and their report had not yet
been produced. lie theueht. that it was highly desirable that
lion. Members should Insve an opt nullity of perusaag that
rep-,rt. during the Easter recess and hoped that it
woold he very shortly laid upon the table. He
was very glad that the Right 800. Baronet hail
drum a proper line between shareholders and seripholdets.
He Inn, keit forward to this as a measure which would afford
great relief to a considerable portion of the public, and hi
truster' it would prove to be such. It would also be very
important if it afforded relief from responsibility to those
who had signed the deed of register ; of course, after due
regard being had to all the just claims of creditors.
Lord al 0 RPETH said, he looked upon this Bill as a most
prudent and proper measure ; but it would be well that
care should be taken, in all cases where companies were
to be di.severed, that the scrip holders had expressed a wish
to that effect:
Mr. RUTHERFORD said he quite agreed with the Right
Honourable Baronet that this was a very necessary measure,
but he thought it would be defective unless it. contained a clause
protecting all parties who had fair and just claims on the Com-
pany. and to take care that those clainis were satisfied before
the company could be dissolved. There was also another point
of importance to which he would wish to call attention ; it was
this—suppose that while a Biil was under investigation before a
Committee a number of shareholder, should send in a petition
praying that the proceedings should not go on any further,
what, difficulty could this House have in declaring in favour of
that petition, before this Bill had passed? This course might
be adopted viithont affecting the liabilities if the parties.
Lord GRANVILLE SoMERSET gave notice that he
would postpone the third reading of all railway Bills until after
Easter.
Mr. RICARDO hoped the Bill would provide against men
of straw signing the deed of register, and thereby prevent a
great deal of fraud.
Mr. C. BULLER said he hoped that the House, before it
hie ke up, would adopt a resolution by which the public would
be made aware that it was the intention of the Government to
propose such a measure as this, in order that parties might be
prepared to act upon it.
In reply to an observation made by Mr. JOHN ABEL
SMITH, which. was inaudible in the gallery,
Sir R. PEEL said it would be better to abstain from en-
tering into those details at present ; but it would be advisable to
have a clause in the Bill, empowering the. Standing Orders'
Committee to dissolve a company under the circumstances
already stated; and also a clause requiring that a meeting
should be held, at which a majority of the shareholders should
declare in favour of dissolving the company.
Lord SAN DON hoped that no delay would be given to the
measure.
Mr. J. O'CONNELL would wish to observe, that in refe-
rence to Irish railway Bills, though a great desire had been
manifested to facilitate the passing of them, with a view to
giving employment, yet many Bills had been passed towards
the carrying out of which not a single step had been taken.
He, therefore, hoped that some measure would be introducest
by which parties would tie compelled to complete a line in a
given time after the hill had been passed.--( Hear, hear.)
The motion was then agreed to.
Lord SANDON presented a petition from the merchants,
bankers, and brokers, in Liverpool, praying the House not to
encourage the great excess of railway speculation which had
arisen this year. lie also presented, on the tart of one of the.
Members for the city of London, a petition signed by every
member of the Stock-Exchange praying that, with a view of
benefiting the general commercial state of the country, those
persons who had embarked in railway speculation should have
facilities afforded to them of withdrawing' trorn the schemes.
NOTICES OF MOTION.— ECCLESIASTICAL ItE•
VENUES IN IRELAND.
Mr. ELLIS gave notice of his intention to ask the Right
Hon. Baronet the Set retasv of State for the Home Depart-
ment, whether in was the intention of Government to take any
steps to restrain the Ecelesantetat Commissioners of Ireland
intro expending the capital of sum, of money arising from the
celestas' ical revenues der,verl from land in that country.
Mr. W. COLLET ( who was very imperfee;lv heard) gave
newer that it was his intention, on going into Committee on
he Protection to Life Ireland Bill, he would move for a
clause to give compensation to the teeant farmers who might
be injured by the passing of the Bill.
Mr. S. O'I3IIIEN saint that he would postpone his motion for
a Select Committee to inquire into the organisation and admi-
nistration of the co' stabulary force in Ireland, and of
the Dublin police ; and also his motion for a Bill to
amend the laws relating to grand juries in Ireland. He
also gave notice of his intention of moving, after Easter,
that an humble address be presented to her
Nlajesty, urging en her consideration that not one
of her Majesty's advisers or :Ministers of State, was, by a re-
sidence in the country or in any other way, acquainted with
the Irish people, mid also that the executive officers of the
local Government of Ireland were perfect strangers is Ireland,
and yet held situations of the highest responsibility. And
under these circumstances it was not surprising that it should
be found that in the conduct of those officers there was a disre-
gard of Irish interest and of Irish fe, ling ; and also a total
want of confidence in those officers on the part of the people.
He also gave notie, of his intention to move on Thursday next
that, with a view to diminish the expense of the railway projects
of Ireland, all inquiries into the merits of Irish railways,
which had hitherto taken place in this country, should after
the present session be allowed to take place in Ireland.
PROTECTION TO LIFE IN IRELAND.
Sir R. PEEL said that be did not know what probability
there was of the House coming to a division that evening, on
the first reading of the Bill for the protection of life in Ireland,
but supposing that it did net, he would ask of those Hon.
Members who had notices for tn-morrow to allow the debate to
proceed. He did not wish to interfere with the full discussion
of the measure, but if the House would allow him to take the
discussion on the Corn Bill, a considerable amount of good for
tke nation might be effected, and if Hon. Members could con-
clude the discussion that evening, and permit the discussion of
the Corn Bill to be proceeded with to-morrow, they would
render the nation a most essential service.
Mr. S. O'BRIEN said that he could assure the Right
Honourable Baronet that every one of the Members on
his side of the House felt as deeply as he did
the inconvenience suffered by the country from the course
taken in the conduct of these Bills. The Right Hon. Baronet,
hoe ever, had it in his power to move the adjournment of the
debate till after Easter. and to continue the discussion on the I
Corn Bill. As far as he himself was concerned, he would give I
way to the discussion on the Corn Bill, but would not in any
way facilitate the discussion on t he Coercion Bill.
The SPEAKER said that the Hon. Gentleman should de- !
fer his speech until after the motion for the reading of the
order of the day.
On the motion that the order of the (lay he read,
Mr. S. O'BRIEN said he did not wish to adopt any con-
cealinent
in the course he was about to take. It was the
bounden duty of tine Irish Members to take care that the dise
cussion on the Coercion Bill should be a discussion in which
the misgovernment of Ireland should he fully canvassed, and
that every opportunity should be given for the exposition of the
wrongs of the country, and for the suggestion of such measures
as would conduce to the removal of those evils which the op-
posite party se utterly denied.
Sir it PEEL said
that in permitting, after due?discussion,
the Hill to be read
ita first time, the lion. Gentleman would
Wave an opport ma
of
speaking on it in its eubsequent stages.
of the Right tr -id that he wished to ask a question .
was the intentiona"et. He had heard a report that it
Gough from Ind,* of the Government to rectal Sir Hugh
report was true' • le would wish to know whether such a
Sir R. PEEL
said
as the one alluded that he (lid not. know of any such report
vt•enl liar Majesty to
mto
inter
lir Hon. Member. He bail just ad-
aetm er the Ir.nour of a peerage on Sir
Hugh
(tough,
and
th
proceeding would not show any inten- '
tion of re-calling him.
Mr. .1. O'CONNI-F.1.1. said that
Bill, it. was a measure which he with regard to the Coerclon
ieved would be injudicious
for the ends it was intended to anew
outrages which it proposed to put- deorwsoit wlout was
increase those
Bill which
would harnisb from the minds of the Irish people ' all chance
any feeling for any sympathy which homishoawotothe atof
This Bill would never reconcile the differences between
the
two countries, but would produce results of a most disastrous
nature to the people of Leland. The people of Ireland saw
that during the seven centuries of oh. connexion between
the countries. they could not look back to any but a
mischievous operation of our Government. It was time that
th s state of thine.; shroud be changed. He believed that the
interest inf the two cowl •
• tries was b nund up in the con, exion
t
between them, and in the wish to preserve that connexion he
t
would rather that this measure were pne
tioned ; and he did not
believe that the Government would b
lose
anything by the delay,
Had the Special Commission sent out by Government failed, or
was there anything to encourage anything like a renewal of the
the bad
than increasing
experiment ? Arty expense was better
feeling of the country. If the Government. proceeded with the
Corn Bill, mid adjourned the present measure, they would be
able to try the force of their hands. When the
Government at some future period could say that it had
tried every remedial measure, and that they had failed, it
would find a support from his (Mr. O'Connell's) aide of the
House that it had never calculated on He was sorry that an
accusation had been made against the opponents of the Coercion
Bill by a leading journal of that morning, as having offended
public opinion. Whatever accusation might be made against
them, a great heat of feeling had arisen and would continue
threughnut the course of this debate, and he had himself been
betrayed into some warmth on the question. He certainly
could net consent te give up this measure so as to facilitate the
Corn Bill. It was his country to which he had to look, and
it was for the welfare not of one but of both countries, if this
Bill were well considered before it was allowed to pass.
Sir R. PEEL said that he was not. aware that, on any occa-
sion, he hail been betrayed into any heat on the subject. He
had asked the Hon. Members on the other side of the House
to allow the orders of the day to have precedence, and had re-
ceived an answer. He hoped Hon. Gentlemen would proceed
to the orders of the: day without further delay.
Mr. COLLETT would ask the Right Hon. Baronet to what
period the House would adjourn for Easter ? The state of the
public business required that such an adjournment should bo
for as short a period as possible.
Sir DE LACY EVANS said that he thought that the perti-
nacity of the Niembers for Ireland was excusable. Considering
the extraordinary nature of the Bill, it was wished to bring
before the House, he thought that Hon. Gentlemen had not
made it clear what the determination of the House was as to
the entire to he pursued. According to the determination of
his Hon. Friends on this side of the House, neither the mea-
sure under discussion, nor the Corn Bill, would be advanced
at all.

After a few words from Mr. C. POWELL, which did not
reach the gallery,

Lord MORPETH said, that while this subject Witt before
the House, he could not refrain from reading a letter which he
had received from York. It did not bear immediately on the
q, uestion• but it related to it its some degree. It stated, that
rti nes; cte were h e
state of rem
decision
a ontheCerixrtnlte d
ll
7 tariff,presdsto,and that tradteatnda
largeco
body of operatives of a respectable class were in a state
of destitution, and depending on charity, The question of
trhfeerre d
hand,w i th
he
in
thispriority e
measure
discussionte;bu h
he must
sntot say, n
tthhaet
locanstthientoe
hoped that ample means would be given for the termination of
the debate.
Sir It. PEEL said that he would inform the House of the
length of time for which he would adjourn the House, from
Tursday next, to-morrow (this day).
Mr. P. SCROPE could not see any reason why the Coer-
cion Bill should be proceeded with at once, and the Corn Bill
adjourned over Easter.
Sir R. PEEL said that it was clear that the House would
make no progress if it took the Corn Bill to-morrow; it would
be of great advantage to the nation if it was proceeded with
at once. He had asked Hon. Gentlemen to pospone their
motion for that purpose, and he had received his answer—he
did not wish to press the question further.
Sir J. GRAHAM said that he had offered to Hon. Member,:
that the Bill should be read a first time as a mere matter of
courtesy to the other House.
Mr. WARD said that the Right Hon. Baronet was under a
misconception as to the words he had used, for he had said that
he did not ask this first reading as a matter of courtesy betweeo
the two Houses of Legislature, but the time was arrived when
it was necessary that the opinion of the House should decide
what was to be done on this question.
Sir J. GRAHAM said that it had been remarked that he
had wished the first reading of the Bid under pretest, but he
thought that such a precedent, was one from which considerable
incoevenience and disorder was likely to arise, and he could not
encourage such a principle.
Sir W. SOMERVILLE said, if the determination was
come to to adjourn the debate, it should be adjoirned till some
tnne after Easter. They might th, ngo on with the Commit-
tee on the Corn Bib to-morrow night. In such a case, they
would get through with that Bill before the holidays. If the
Govermneet would go on that night, on them rested the re-
sponsibility.
Atter a few words from Mr. BROWN, in concurrence,
Colonel R A WDON suggested that if her Majesty's Govern-
ment would go on with the Corn Bid, and if lion. Members
who had motions for to-morrow night would give way, as he
had no doubt they would, there would be no difficulty in going
on. They would then have a free stage le:fore them. If they
o (mid persist in going on, he would move the order of the day
fur the adjou-ned debate be read that day thre months.
Mr. C. POWELL inquired whether certain returns, re-
lating to the outrages committed in the disturbed districts of
Ireland, had been received, and were ready for production?
Ste J. GRAHAM said he had not yet received all the re-
turns.

Colonel RAWDON said he would move that which he be-
lieved was more regular than that he intimated to do. He
begged leave to move that the other orders of the day be pro-
ceeded with

1.-)rd AIORPETH hoped the Hon. and Gallant Member
would not press his motion, but would allow the debate to pro-
ceed.

Mr. B. ESCOTT said, though opposed to the measure, he
could not consent to meet it in such a factious and unusual
manner. If the Bill was not taken now, the Corn Bill would
not be proceeded with that night, and the evening would be
lost. He hoped they would proceed with the debate at once.
Mr. J. COLLETT said he should wish to hear the case of
the Hon. Gentlemen opposite. It must be a bad one else they
would not seek to meet the Bill in this unbecoming and left-
handed manner.

Sir R. PEEL was not to be provoked by the course taken.
There had been a full understanding on 311 sides that they
should that night. proceed with the dis,:uvion of the Irish Pro-
tection of Life Bill. He did hope therefore they would be
allowed to proceed with the adjourned debate at once.
Colonel RAWDON, in deference to the feelings expresssed
by lion. Members would withdraw his amendment.
On the order of the day being then read,
_ _

Mr. CHRISTIE asked a question of the Home Secretary
about the poor-laws, the purport of which did not reach the
gagery.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM replied that he had not heard of
the matter referred to, and could not give any answer about it.
If notice of motion was given, then ha would be prepared to
meet it.

Mr. M'CARTHY presented a petition from the city of
Cork agtiost the Irish Coercion Bill. It was agreed to at
a meeting presided over by the Mayor, acrd signed by about
3,000 mo.t respectable persons. It deplored the state of
Ireland, but attributed the outrages that prevailed to
agrarian causes and the social condition of Ireland, especially
the law relating to landlord and tenant. As the petition was
one of great importance, he would give notice that to-morrow
he would move that itbe printed with the votes.