The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-15 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
(THIS DAY).

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at Twelve o'clock, but it was
a quarter-past before forty Members could be got together to
form a House.

NEW MEMBER.
Mr. Pox MAULS (Secretary at War) took the oaths and
his seat as Member for the city of Perth.
STOCKPORT IMPROVEMENT BILL.
Mr. BROTHERTON moved the third reading of this
Bill.

Mr. T. S. DUNCOMBE hoped the Bill would be, post-
poned for a few days. A more gross job he never knew, and
was astonished it should have proceeded from aLiberal town-
council. He bad some amendments to propose, of which he
had given notice, but they had not been printed with the
Votes to-day, as he expected, and therefore he wished the
matter delayed, that Members might really know what the
amendments were. He hoped, also, the Government would
look into the Bill, and see what was the real character of the
measure. Unless the Bill were altered he should oppose it
in every stage.
After some conversation, Mr. BROTHERTON consented
to postpone the third reading till Friday next.

METROPOLITAN SEWAGE MANURE BILL.
Colonel THOMAS WOOD moved, That it be an instruc.
tion to the Committee of Selection, that they appoint the
sitting of the Committee on the Metropolitan Sewage Manure
Company Bill for Tuesday, the 21st day of July, if they shall
so think fit. That all petitions against the Bill presented on
or before Monday, the 20th day of July, be entertained by
the Committee, if they shall think fit.—Agreed to.
ARGYLL CANAL BILL.
This Bill was read a third time and passed.
RAILWAY COMMITTEES.
Mr. ESTCOURT moved, That the Committees upon the
Railway Bills comprised in the several groups appointed to
sit, on Monday the 20th day of this instant July, have leave
to sit and proceed on that day, notwithstanding seven days'
notice in respect of such Bills has not been given in the Private
Bill-office. And that it be an instruction to such Committees
to entertain any petitions against the Bills comprised in their
several groups, which shall have been presented to the House
on or before Friday, the 17th day of this instant July.—
Agreed to.
The Lords' amendments to the following Bills were agreed

Caledonian Railway (Glasgow, Garnkirk, and Coatbridge
Railway Branches).
Dundee and Perth Railway Amendment.
North Union Railway.
Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne, and Manchester Railway
(Whaley. bridge and Hayfield Branches).
LEAVE OF ABSENCE.
Leave of absence to Mr. Walker was obtained for one month
on account of ill health.

COMMITTEE ON PRIVATE BILLS.
Mr. HUME moved that Sir George Grey and Lord Ebring.
ton be added to the Select Committee on private Bills.—
Agreed to.

COMMISSIONERS OF SEWERS (WESTMINSTER).
Mr. HUME moved for an account of all sums rated by
the Commissioners of Sewers for the city and liberty of West-
minster, and part of the county of Middlesex, in each year,
between the Ist day of January, 1841, and the 31st day of
December, 1845 ; distinguishing the amount collected, at
what rate, and how the same has been expended, under
distinct and separate heads of Works, Establishment, Con-
tingent Expenses, &c., in each year, and the aggregate
amount in the Ave years ; stating the titles of the Acts of
Parliament that have been passed since the Ist day of Jan-
uary, 1841. Similar account from the Commissioners of the
Holborn and Finsbury Sewers,. within Holborn Division, from
the Ist day of January. 1841, to the 31st day of December,
1845. Similar account from the Commissioners of the
Holborn and Finsbury Sewers, within the Finsbury Division,
from the Ist day of January, 1841, to the 31st day
December, 1845. Similar account from the Commissioners
of Sewers for the Tower Hamlets, from the Ist day of
January, 1841, to the 31st day of December, 1845. Similar
account from the Commissioners of Sewers within the dis-
trict called the South Division and the East Division, for
the limits extending from East Mouldsey, in Surrey, to
Ravensbourne, in Kent, from the Ist day of January, 1841,
to the 31st day of December, 1815 (in continuation of Par-
liamentary Paper, No. 319, of Session 1843).—Agreed to.
SELECT COMMITTEES ON RAILWAYS.
Mr. HUME moved that Sir George Grey be added to this
Committee.—Agreed to.

FUSTIAN CUTTERS.
Lord JOHN MANNERS moved that the petition
from Manchester and other places, for regulating the trade
of fustian cutters (presented on the 13th of July), be printed
with the Votes.—Agreed to.
SOMERSET SMALL DEBTS BILL.
Mr. DICKINSON moved the second reading of the Bill.
Mr. HENRY BERKELEY moved, as an amendment,
that the Bill be read a second time that day six months.
Sir G. GREY hoped the Hon. Member who moved the
second reading would postpone his Bill, as the Government
intended to bring forward a general measure to regulate
Small Debts Courts. Should the Hon. Gentleman persist,
he must certainly give his opposition to it.
Mr. DICKINSON would have no objection to withdraw
the Bill, provided-he had an assurance that a general mea-
sure would be introduced by the Government.
Mr. ESTCOURT agreed with the Right Hon. Gentleman
(the Home Secretary), and should certainly vote against the
second reading of the present Bill should it be pushed for-
ward. He hoped the Government would lose no time in bring-
ing in a general measure, and that at the same time they
would introduce a Bill to regulate the Ecclesiastical Courts.
Mr. HENRY BERKELEY thought the Bill exceedingly
objectionable. It extended over an area of a million of acres,
and contained many provisions of a harsh and objectionable
character.
After a few words from Mr. DICKINSON,
Sir JAMES GRAHAM said, he hoped the Government
would proceed with the Bill on the subject of Small Debts,
which was now before the other House. That Bill was the
result of eight years inquiry and much deliberation, and was
of a character that would meet all that was required by the
Bill now before the House. He hoped the Bill prepared by
the Hon. Member (Mr. Dickinson) would be withdrawn.
Mr. SPOONER trusted no time would be lost, in pushing
forward the general measure, as a remedy for the present
state of things in many localities was much wanted.
After some further conversation, the Bill was withdrawn.
POOR REMOVAL BILL.
In reply to a question from Captain PECHELL,
Sir G. GREY stated that it was intended to take up this
Bill after it had passed through Committe pro
forma, and to ask the House to agree to
those parts of it which referred to the law of
settlement, or which provided for settlement by means of
residence. The other portions he proposed should be post-
poned till a future occasion.—(Hear hear.)
SAOKE PROHIBITION BILL.
This Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be com-
mitted.

COMMONS INCLOSURE BILL.
The House then went into Committee on this Bill.
Mr. HUME thought all these Inclosure Bills ought to be
consolidated into one Act, and rendered comprehensive to
people of ordinary capacity.
Sir J. GRAHAM admitted that it was usual in passing a
new Act of Parliament to consolidate previous Acts on the
same subject with it; but the rendering of the whole of the
Acts into one Bill, so as to be intelligible to persons of ordi-
nary capacity, as desired by the Hon. Member, was an
utopia which could not be realised.
• The Bill then went through Committee pro forma.
CHARITABLE TRUSTS' BILL.
BillOn the question being put for the second reading of this
,
Mr. HUME said a clause ought to be introduced pro-
viding that the accounts of charitable trusts should be de-
posited in some place or office, where they could be always
open for inspection.—(Hear, hear.)
Sir G. GREY had no objection to the second reading of
the Bill, but it must be understood that he should move, in
Committee, certain amendments to remove the objections he
had to the present construction of certain clauses, and es-
pecially to exclude a particular class of charities which
were included in the Bill.—(Hear, hear.) A large and com-
prehensive measure on the same subject was now under the
consideration of Government.--(Hear, hear.)
After a few words from Dr. BO%VRING,
Mr. BERNAL hailed, with feelings of the utmost sa-
tisfaction, the announcement that Government had under
its consideration a large and comprehensive measure upon
the subject of charitable trusts.
Mr. STAFFORD O'BRIEN was glad to bear that a more
comprehensive measure was about to be introduced into Par-
liament, but while he admitted that great abuses had been
;committed in respect of charitable trusts, he must protest
against the idea that Government had any right to inter-
fere with or control all charitable trusts.—(Hear, hear.) He
moved that the Bill be read a second time that day
six months.--( Hear, hear.)
Mr. B. ESCOTT said the reason the abuses
existed was that the persons whose duty it was
to administer the trust laboured under the impression that
they were not accountable, and although hereafter a more
comprehensive measure might be introduced upon the sub-
ject, the present Bill applied a partial remedy, and in the
meantime it ought to be passed.—( Hear.)
After a few words from an Hon. MEMBER,
Mr. SPOONER complained that the objects of the Bill
were not sufficiently defined. How far was it to extend,
or how was it proposed to alter the present law, by which all
large charities were amenable to the Court of Chancery?
Sir DE LACY EVANS supported the Bill.
Mr. ESTCOURT said many charities had not sufficient
funds to enable the trustees to employ a clerk, and it was
not fair to put the trustees themselves to the expense of
eheGoar.,)erntrinnednert
existingprepringeiarecucomusnttsanefeos,r registration.—Hear, ?deal
divided the House, he should feel it to be
to withdraw the Bill ; but if the Hon. Member who move,'
the amendment,
his duty to vote against him.—( Hear, hear.)
Sir JAMES GRAHAM said the present measure was only
a small portion of the larger measure introduced by the late
Lord Chancellor, and if they could carry out the recommen-
dation of the Hon. Member for Montrose, there could be
no doubt it would act as a most salutary check
upon the misapplication of charitable trusts.—(Hear, hear.)
He thought they had arrived at that stage at which it was
the duty of the Legislature to make the trustees of such
charities accountable for the moneys entrusted to them. A
measure somewhat similar to the one before the House was
passed some years ago, compelling the trustees of turnpike
roads to render an annual account of their finances. The
adoption of this plan had had the effect of reducing the debts
of such trusts from eighty to about forty millions. And the
revision of the laws relating to charitable trusts was abso-
lutely necessary, as there could be no question that the
most enormous evils existed in great numbers of
the large charities of this country. As he
had stated, the time had arrived when all
charitable trusts should be compelled to render an annual
account of their stewardship. On these grounds he should
give his cordial support to the second reading of the Bill.
Mr. NEWDEGATE considered that accountability on the
part of the trustees would in some measure endow them with
a right to dispose of the funds placed in their charge as
they thought proper. The House ought to pass any measure
of the kind with the greatest caution.
Captain EGERTON thought the Hon. Member (Mr.
Hume) should give the House further information on the
subject before they were in a position to pass a measure
placing the charities in connexion with the Church of Eng-
land, the various colleges, and the Wesleyans and Unitarians,
under other supervision than at present.
Mr. HUME explained that the subject had for many
years been under the consideration of the House, and if they
visited the library of the House they would find numbers of
volumes having reference to the subject, and detailing the
abuses that existed. He had not brought in the Bill without
mature consideration • and his only object in doing so was to
have the moneys belonging to such charities expended
according to the wishes of the donors. Nineteen years ago
he proposed a motion, calling on the trustees of turnpike-
roads to render an annual account of their expenditure, and
he thought he should have been
,eaten up in
consequence, but when the returns were made and
those trusts were placed under better supervision,
Hon. Members who then opposed him, admitted the advan-
tage of the motion, and if it had been carried out to a greater