The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-17 00:00:00

THE GAUGE QUESTION.

Lord LYTTELTON presented several petitions from various
persons complaining of the report of the Gauge Commis-
sioners, and praying the House to take the report into further
consideration.
OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE RAILWAY.

Lnrd BROUGHAM presented a petition from a person of
the name of Brown ;against the Oxtord and Cambridge Rail-
way, and designated the promoters of that scheme as a parcel
of speculators.
The Earl of HARDWICKE denied that such wa3
the case. He himself held a number of shares
in the line, and he was no sp. culator. His
reason for connecting himself with it was because
it passed contiguous to his property. Other parties, also, who
had shares in it were locally interested, and were no speculators.
They wished to have some control ever its management.
The Duke of BUCKING HAM presented several petitions
against the Oxford and Cambridge Uailway, from the city of
Oxford, front Bedford, and other places.
Lord DACRE concurred in the observations of the Noble
Earl (Hardwieke). He was aware that many parties can-
fleeted with that railway were locally interested, and ought
not to he designated speculators.
Lord BROUGHAM said he had not the slightest. doubt as
to the truth of his Noble Friend's statement. He (Lord
Brougham) did not charge the promoters as being mere
land-jobbers and share-brokers, but he said that was gene-
rally the case in such undertakings. It appeared that the
shares in this railway were in the hands of gentlemen locally
interested, but he prayed their Lordships' attention to this,
that the Noble and Gallant Lord who spoke first told their
Lordships that he was obliged in self-defence to take shares in
railways that proposed to pass over his property', so as to
preserve it from the destruction with which it was
threatened. That was not the case with his Noble
Friend behind him ; he was not a speculator, but a large
landed proprietor in the district through which this railway pro-
posed to pass. He (Lord Brougham) admitted that all that
were engaged in that railway were respectable people. But his
Noble Friend had said that he (Lord Brougham) had mat,e a
coloured statement. Now what was that coloured statement ?
It was this, that a respectable gentleman, whose name he had
given, and who was High Sheriff of that county last year, com-
plained that the railway would destroy his house and park.
Why that was not a very coloured statement, unless it was
true, as his Noble Friend behind him would have their
Lordships believe, that it was very doubtful whether the gentle-
man said so or not. The Noble Lord had said he did not know
his property. Why that was the very reason that the,e
statements should be taken for true, because it came from
the person that did know this property, namely, the proprietor
himself.—( Laughter.) Surely, Mr. Brown did not dream
that he had a building which cost a considerable sum of money—
his was no castle in the air or in Spain, and he ( Lord
Brougham) therefore hoped that the petition of this respect-
able gentleman, who complained of great annoyance on the part
of the proprietors of this railway, would receive the most atten-
tive and favourable consideration of their Lordships.
EAST AND WEST YORKSHIRE JUNCTION
RAILWAY.

Earl FITZWILLIAM presented a petition from a Mr.
Berkley against the East and West Yorkshire Junction Railway.

LORDS HARDINGE AND GOUGH.
The Earl of RIPON moved the postponement of the fur-
ther consideration of these Bills till some day in the ensuing
week.

The Duke of RICHMOND wished to know the intention of
the Government with respect to their Lordship? amendment.
Earl GREY hoped he should have an opportunity of lc-
cording his vote against the amendment.
ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE.
Lord STANLEY wished to know whether their L.)rdships
would adjourn over Thursday, the 18th of June, being the an-
niversary of the battle of Waterloo?

The Earl of RIPON stated that it was not the intention
of the Government to press any important business upon
that day.
Lord BROLIGHAIII—You cannot adjourn the judicidl busi-
ness.

The LORD CHANCELLOR—The House could not ad-
' journ ; there was a commission appointed for that day ; accord-
ing to usual custom the House would not assemble for the dis-
cussion of any important measure.
The Duke of RICHMOND said he thought that it was
necessary to explain, after what had fallen from his Noble
Friend the Earl of Ripon. He had the other night gone over
to his Noble Friend, and asked what course the Government
intended to pursue. The First Lord of the Admiralty had
overheard all that passed, and he certainly thought he was en-
titled to all the information he had requested, If the decision
of those of their Lordships who had been attending Committees
since twelve o'clock. and then came into the House until it rose,
were to be overturned by those of their Lordships who went
comfortably home to dinner, and who had hen.ct nothing of the
argument in the first stage, certainly he was not surprised at
either of the observations of his Noble Friend, or at any combi-
nation which might be entered into.— (Criesuf " Hear, hear.")
The Earl of RIPON was sorry that he should have to explain
that he had misunderstood his Noble Friend the Duke of Rich-
mond,or that his Noble Friend had misunderstood him; hut
he at any rate felt himself justified in reserving himself for the
opportunity to which he had alluded.
Lord STANLEY said, that he did not mean to say
anything which would be in the least disrespectful to the
Noble Earl. What he did complain of was, that there was no
notice of the amendment which hadbeen moved. According to
the forms of the House, such was a requisite proceeding.
He was exceedingly surprised at the course which had been
pursued. The amendment to the Bill would have been fatal to
it, as the House of Commons, without waving a privilege
which he hoped they never would surrender, would not sane, ion
a Bill of the kind having suffered such a material alteration.
The Duke of CLEVELAND said, he was greatly surprised
that the amendment had been introduced without the ordinary
notice having been given.
Lord MONTEAGLE was glad that his Noble Friend had
brought the motion forward; he supported him on that occasion
and he would support him again when it was brought forward.
Nobody could impute to the Noble Duke any intention of
taking the House by surprise, for the truth was that it
originated with himself.
After a few words from the Earl of St. Germans, the Duke
of Richmond, and the Earl of Ellenborouohs the subjec
dropped.