The Sun.
London, England, 1848-07-01 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

110 USE OF LORDS, June 30.
ROYAL COMMISSION.
Tile Royal Assent was this day given by com-
mission to the following Acts :—Great Yarmouth
Freemen Disfranchisement Bill—Poor-houses (Ire-
land) Bill—Collectors of Cess (Ireland) Bill—Mid-
land Railway (Wellingborough Approaches) Bill—
North Western Railway (Skipton Diversion) Bill—
Aberdare Railway Act Amendment Bill--York,
Newcastle and Berwick Railway Improvement Bill—
North British Railway (No. I—Division of Capital)
Bill—Kendal and Windermere Railway Act Amend-
ment Bill—Yale of Neath Railway Bill—Bristol
and Exeter Railway (Glastonbury Navigation
and Canal) Bill—Waterford, 'Wexford, Wicklow,
and Dublin Railway Bill—Norfolk Extension Bill—
Great Yarmouth Coal Duties Bill Lanark and
lianaiiton Court-house and County-rates Bill—
Oswestry Markets and Fairs RlM—East and West Looe
Harbour and Bridge Bill—Barrow Harbour Bill
—Derby Waterworks Company Bill Oxford
Paving Bill—Liverpool Gas Light Company and
Liverpool New Gas and Coke Company Amalgamation
Bill—Brentford Gas Light Acts Amendment Bill—
Brighton Gas Light and Coke Company Bill—Forth and
Clyde Navigation and Airdrie and Con thridge Water Bill
—Herculaneum Dock Company Bill—Bristol Docks
Transfer Bill—Queensferry Passage Bill—Tyne Direct
Ferry Bill—North of Scotland Fire and Life Assurance
Company Bill—Patent Galvanized Iron Company Bill—
Battle-bridge and Holloway Road Act Repeal Bill—
Nantwich and Wheelock Turnpike Road Bill—Dundalk,
Castle Blayney, Roads Bill—Hamlyn's Estate Bill.
The Lords Commissioners were the Lord Chan-
cellor, the Earl of Shaftesbury, and Lord Campbell.
Their Lordships then adjourned during pleasure.

Their Lordships resumed shortly after Five o'clock.

IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT (IRELAND) BILL.
This Bill was, after a few observations from the Mar-
quis of ULANRICARDE, read a second time.
PETITIONS.

The Earl of RADNOR presented several petitions in
favour of the Health of Towns Bill.
The Bishop of OXFORD presented several petitions
with a similar prayer.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE presented petitions
from the mayor, town council, and inhabitants of Bristol,
from the clergy, from the whole of the members of the
medical profession, and from all the directors of the
board of guardians in the same city, in favour of the
Health of Towns Bill ; also, similar petitions from
Halifax and several other places.
Lord CAMPBELL presented several petitions with a
similar prayer.
The Earl of EGLINTON presented several petitions
against the Scotch Registration Bill.
HEALTH OF TOWNS BILL.
Lord CAMPBELL rose to move the second reading
of the Health of Towns Bill. This was a measure that
was more particularly for the lower orders of society.
It might be most properly called the Poor Man's Bill.-
-(Hear, hear.) It would not be doubted that many of
the causes of disease were under the control of legisla-
tion; and he would briefly show the effects of over-
crowding, filth, and bad ventilation in two counties—
one agricultural and the other manufacturing. In West-
moreland, taking a population of 10,000, twenty-three
persons died of epidemic diseases, whilst in Lancashire
the proportion was fifty-five to 10,000. In the former
county the deaths from diseases of the respiratory organs
were forty-seven in 10,000, and in the latter eventy-
three in the same number. Of those who died prema-
turely, that was between the ages of twenty and sixty,
the number in Westmoreland was forty-nine and in Lan-
cashire sixty-eight. The Noble and Learned Lord then
went into a comparison of the state of health in an agri-
cultural union in Lancashire and a manufacturing union
in the same county—the union of Ulverstone and the
union of Liverpool, which showed that the average
rate of mortality was much higher in the latter place.
In the union of Ulverstone, in a population of
10,000, 13 persons died from epidemic diseases, whilst
in the union of Liverpool 75 persons died from the same
causes. In fact he might safely say as to Lancashire,
that, taking the average, every person there was cur-
tailed of nineteen years of his natural life. He would
now state some of the good effects that had taken place
from proper attention to sewerage, drainage, and venti-
lation. Every one must remember that formerlv the
gaol fever often carried off judge, juries, and prisoners
together ; but now, in consequence of proper attention
being paid to t the health of gaols, the gaol fever was
never heard of. The Noble and Learned Lord cited
other instances of a similar character. The sufferings
of the lower orders from the want of efficient sanitary
measures had been very great, and had naturally at-
tracted the attention of the Government. Lord Nor-
manby in 1841, and Lord Lincoln in 1844, had brought
the subject before Parliament; and finally, he was happy
to say, his Noble friend, Lord Morpeth, had succeeded
in carrying this Bill through the House of Commons.
The Noble Lord the❑ went into an explanation of the
nature and objects of the Bill, and concluded by moving
that it be rend a second time.
The Duke of BUCCLEUCH gave his cordial assent
to the Bill, which he thought had been delayed too long.
He did not think it desirable to include London in a
general Bill applying to the whole country; but be re-
joiced to know that a Bill was to be brought forward
applying to the city of London, and he hoped it would
be soon brought forward. He thought more stringent
powers should be required to carry out the Bill.
The Earl of DEVON made a few observations, which
were not heard in the gallery.
Lord PORTMAN thought the country must feel
greatly indebted to the present Ministry for bringing
forward so excellent a measure—one which would be
productive of the greatest good to the whole commuiiity.
He regretted it was found necessary to add another rate
to the kcal taxation of the country, which was already
too high.—(llear, hear.) The people of this cou 3try
were paying 20 per cent. on account of local tamedoia,
under rates of various names. It would be a great 'aoora
to them if all these different rates were consolidated and
placed under one management.—(Hear, hear.) The
taxation also was very unequal.—(Hear, hear.) Vario us
kinds of property did not contribute their fair propor-
tion towards the burdens of the country.—(Hear, hear.)
He knew that this subject was one of great difficulty,
but it was well worthy the attention of the Government
and of their Lordships.
The Bishop of OXFORD begged to call the attention
of the Government to the 74th and 75th clauses esf the
Bill, which gave authority to the local boards to shut up
burial-grounds within towns. They might do this for
their own interests if they were proprietors of a burial-
ground outside the town. He would therefore suggest
that the consent of the bishop should be obtained before
they could do so. He also thought that the power given
to the local boards, with respect to the rights of the poor
to parochial sepulture should be modified. He rejo iced
that such a Bill had come to their Lordships' Houses be-
bauae he entertained a deep feeling of its necessity.
Lord REDESDALE hoped that sufficient time would
be given to consider the Bill before it was committed, as
it must be the object of all to make it as perfect as pos-
sible before it passed into law.
The Duke of ARGYLL concurred in the opinion of
the utility and value of a sanitary Bill. Ile therefore
hoped its provisions would be extended to Scotland, as
no places stood more in need of it than Glasgow and th©
old town of Edinburgh.—(Hear.)
Lord CAMPBELL said that the observations of the
Right Rev. Prelate would be considered by the Govern-
ment. The same reason that existed for not applying
the provisions of the Bill to the metropolis existed with
regard to Scotland. The law of Scotland was different
to the law of England; the same machinery did not ex-
ist there, and therefore a separate Bill would be required
for that part of the United Kingdom. The Noble Lord
was understood to say that at a future period he hoped
a sanitary Bill for Scotland would be introduced.
The Bill was then read a second tim o and ordered to
be committed on Friday next.
The House then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, June 30.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock.
REPORTS.
The following reports were considered and agreed to:
Leith Municipality and Police Trusts, Markets, Paving,
and Sanitary Improvement Bill.
London and Blackwell Railway (Connecting Branch,
&c.) Bill.
Crossford Bridge and Manchester Road Bill.
With respect to the first,
Mr. BERNAL intimated that, in the ensuing 80 scion,
he should propose a measure to bring within its scope
all Bills of this nature relating to Scotland.
The LORD-ADVOCATE coincided in the lion.
aGreisnetleirmemen'esueh a views,m and considered that much good "w Quid
Junction and Altrincham Railway.
LORDS' AMENDMENTS.
and Wolverhampton R '1
The Lords' amendments to the following Bins, were
agreed to:—
Yorkshi e
Oxford,Cmh I et) ct
be reWorcester,
veCemetery.rorc Southes
t e r ,
Bills were read a second time:-
-Increase of Capital). al way (No. I
Wbitehaven Junction Railway,
lel o wa inndg
SECOND READINGS.
Acts and Regulat' 'r Railway (Amendment of
ion of Capital)
Newton's Estate,
L al; chaes hfior

EXTENSION OF REFR
Mr. BROTHERTON presented petitOionMs. from Salford
in favour of Parliamentary reform.
Mr. W. BROWN presented petitions from Manchester
agreeing with the statements of the Prime Minister
with respect to universal suffrage and vote by ballot, and
praying that enactments to that effect might be brought
about, but preferring the Charter.
Mr. S. CRAWFORD presented petitions from Roch-
dale to the same effect.
Mr. SCHOLEFIELD presented petitions from Wal-
sall in favour of Mr. Hume's motion.

Mr. AGLIONBY presented family petitions, signed
by ninety-nine persons, to the same effect.
Captain PECHELL presented petitions to the same
effect.

Colonel SALWEY presented petitions from Man-
chester, complaining of lavish expeneliture, and in favour
of Mr. Hume's motion.

Mr. O'CONNOR presented 110 petitions in favour of
the Charter.

Sir B. HALL presented petitions in favour of Par-
liamentary reform.
Colonel THOMPSON presented petitions from Wes-
ton and other places in Yorkshire, in favour of the Mi-
nisterial declaration that universal suffrage and annual
Parliaments were preferable to household suffrage and
triennial Parliaments, and praying for the former.
Mr. HUME presented 67 petitions from different
parts in favour of reform.