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

HOUSE OF LORDS

The Earl of SHAFTESBURY took his seat on the Woolsack
at Five o'clock.
SELLING SPIRITS ON SUNDAY.
The Bishop of LONDON presented petitions from Llantres-
san, in Glamorganshire Sunning-hill, in Berks ; Northaller-
ton and other towns in Yorkshire; Seaham Harbour, in Dur.
ham; Lanark, and other places,
praying that a clause should
be introduced in some Bill to, enforce the closing of houses for
the sale of spirits from the hours of twelve on Saturday night
to one on Sunday. The system had been found to work well
in London, and petitioners prayed that the same might be ex-
tended to the provinces.
Messengers from the Commons brought up several Bills.
THE OREGON TERRITORY.
The Earl of ABERDEEN laid on the table several papers
and documents in reference to the negotiations between this
country and the United States of America respecting the
Oregon territory.
SUPPLY OF WATER TO EDINBURGH.
_ The Duke of BUCCLEUCH presented a petition from the
Sanatory Association of Edinburgh, praying that the supply of
water in that city should be placed in the hands of a public
trust, and not a private company. There was no town worse
supplied with water than this city, and the petitioners were
desirous that the supplying of it should not be left in the hands
of speculating companies.
_ FREEDOM OF SCOTCH BURGHS.
Lord CAMPBELL presented a petition from Edinburgh in
favour of local free trade, and in support of the Bill before Par-
liament for the doing away with the present system of freedom
in Scotch burgh. His Lordship stated that many of the peti-
tioners were possessed of the freedom of Edinburgh them.
'elves ; nevertheless they cordially supported the Bill.
Lord KINNAIRD
presented a petition from the royal
borough of Dundee, on-the same subject.

THE LAW OF DEODANDS.
Lord CAMPBELL laid on the table of the House two
Bills, whose object was to abolish the law of deodands, and
to enable parties injured by gross negligence to insti-
tute civil actions for compensation. His Lordship
said that he took this step with considerable reluc-
tance and hesitation. He bad been persuaded to do it at
great hazard. The maxim of the common law of England
was, that wherever a wrong was done there should be a rented
but there were two strange exceptions. 7 be one was where
death took place, or a limb was broken; but if the party injured
could not prove malice, there was no liability. Another
maxim was one which he admired very much ; and it was this,
twat wherever there was an injury there was a civil remedy.
One the Bil:s which he now introduced was to abolish the
present sti:serstitious laws of deodand, which it was strange still
CO :14412E1 paiddlo of the 19th ceutury. Tho other jial

was to substitute a civil action, whereby, although there should
be no no negligence, which would make it a case of manslaugh-
ter, a railway company, or the proprietors of any other public
undertaking, would be compelled to make compensation to a
party injured by the negligence of themselves or their ser-
vants. A law simil,a to that which these measures would
establish in England was already in force on the other
side of the Twead, and it was a matter of great
surprise to him that the Legislature had not before this altered
the law in this country on this subject. It was quite unneces-
sary in this stage further to explain the object of the Bills.
He earnestly entreated the consideration of her Majesty Go-
vernment to them.

LONDON AND YORK RAILWAY.
The Earl of HARE WOOD presented a petition against the
London York and Railway. Be moved that the petition be
referred to the Committee on the Bill.

RAILWAY BILLS.
The Earl of DALHOUSIE said that he took that oppor-
tunity of rising to enter on the subject referred to by
the Noble Lord ; and he intended to offer to their Lord-
ships some Wervatimis on the proposal he had to make
to them. He wished to draw their Lordships' atten-
tion that evening (and he ought properly to have
given notice of his intention) to the subject of railways, but
he thought it most desirable that whatever proposition Govern-
ment had to make, should be made forthwith.—( Hear, hear. )
With this view, therefore, he wished to direct their attention
to the state of the Railway Bills now before that and the other
House of Parliament, and the course which it was propoed
Parliament should adopt upon the subject. It would be
hardly necessary for him to request their Lordships' re-
collection even idtidentally to the state in which the
country was placed during the last twelve months: Even to-
wards the close of the year 1844 the public mind was in a very
feverish and excited state on this subject. In the last session
248 railway bills were introduced before Parliament, which at
the time was looked upon as an immewe number, as unprece-
dented and unmanageable, and many Hon. Members thanked
their stars that such a state of things would not continue.—
( Hear, hear.) In this, however, they were mistaken,
for so far from the number of Bills diminishing spe-
culation in these matters, they waxed more hot
and fierce_ During the summer the excitement was
on the increase, and in autumn this spirit spread through every
class in the community,• young and old, rich and poor ; and he
was sorry to add that it extended to the one sex as well as the
other.—( Laughter, ) The practical result of all this was, that
as was shown in the ',Tort of the Joint Stock Registration-
office, the number of Bills brought forward was greater than
before. On the 31st December the number of schemes pro-
visionally registered amounted to upwards of 1,400. He need
not state the large capital which was supposed to be involved,
because that, in fact, had no existence. In November not less
than 800 of these Bills were brought before the Board of Trade.
By the 31st of December this number had slightly diminished,
although not to a great extent, as the number of projects de-
posited at the Private Bill-office was 700. The attention of

the Government was very early directed to thiS subject, and
they endeavi,ured to make such arrangements before the meet-
ing of Parliament as would facilitate legislation with re-
spect to them. But it was not in the power of the
power of the Government to come down to the Houses of Par-
liament at the commencement of the session with any definite
`plan, as the faeti on' which' heY-Weil to recommend the adop-

lion of any new line not fully developed They
could not take any steps until those projects had
been submitted to the tests of paying the deposits
and passing through the Standing Orders Committee.
The adoption of this plan had enabled them to ascertain that
not more than one-third of the whole number of projects would
ever come before the consideration of Parliament. They felt
that it was their duty as far as practicable to save the time of
Parliament by not delaying their intentions with respect to
them, which would certainly come before Parliament in the
present session, and the Right Honourable Baronet at the
head of her Majesty's Government (Sir Robert Peel)
moved the appointment of a Committee to consider the course
to be adopted in this session with respect to the great number
of railways which had been submitted for their consideration.
He (Lord Dalhousie) also moved for and obtained a similar
Committee of their Lordship's House. These Committees sat
several weeks, and came to the determination that it would not
be prudent to make any selection from those Bills during the
present session, or to arrest the course of them, It
was not for him to make any remarks on their decision.
as he had on all occasions, both in that House and in Com-
mittee, held this opinion, that it would be both unsafe sad
unfair to interfere with the voluntary speculation of indi-
viduals in railways.—(Hear, and cheers.) But he thought
There was a wide distinction to be drawn between interfering
with persons disposing of their capital without the assistance
of Parliament, and to interfere with parties who applied for
special and in many instances most objectionable powers to
carry into effect railway undertakings.—(Cheers.) As the
Committees were of this opinion, arrangements were
accordingly made to divide the railway business
as equitably as possible between both Houses of
Parliament. Since that period Parliament and the public
had had their attention constantly directed to the subject, and
much discussion had ensued in both Houses with respect to it.
Recently, however, these discussions had assumed a substantial
form, through the consideration of Parliament, and from the
statements and opinions contained in the petitions and memorials
which had been presented both to the Government and Par-
liament. These memorials stated, that great injury had been
occasioned to all branches of trade, and to the promoters of
railways themselves, by the undue speculation which had taken
place:
The price of material was greatly enhanced as was also the
price of labour. To the latter he had no objection if
he thought it would be of a permanent character, and not
operating injuriously on those who were engaged in those
works. But it was because it would be of a temporary, and
not of a stable and permanent character he considered it would be
injurious. In addition to the increase in the price of material
and the price of labour, there would be, further, a great de-
mand for money, which would exert an injurious influence on
every other branch of trade, which would be cramped and made
to suffer. But it was not only the other interestes he referred
to that would be effected, but the railway companies already
in existence. It had been found thae the share in
many of the old railway companies hail fallen in value
considerably ; and if many of these new schemes were pushed
forward, it would be impossible, from the state of the
money market, for the former companies to make any in•
crease of their accommodation by new branches. The
effect of the whole would be, that it would be found
the calls sought for those new lines and extension of old lines
could not be obtained. In Ireland, especially, the case would
be worse than in this country. He understood from a No-
ble Friend of his that her Majesty's Government had received
applications fur assistance from two of the best
schemes in Ireland, He referred to the Waterford
and Limerick in the south of Ireland, and the
Newry and Enniskillen in the nor:h. The Waterford
and (Limerick was represented to be a must valuable
undertaktng, to he Irish in its origin— and in
those who had subscribed the capital for it,
and one that ought to be accomplished. It was one
which was laid dos n by the Commissieliers in 1527; yet both
this scheme anti the Newry and Inniskillen, were in the most
depreciated state, and called upon the Government for
s.sistanee. In the beginning of the present Session of
Parliament many Irish Bills were brought forward, and it
was held out that the passing of a number of these
would be a great boon to Ireland as a means of em-
ploying labour. In consequence of this feeling many Bills
through Committee with the greatest facility ; and if they
were agreed to by Parliament, they would only, he
was persuaded, interfere prejudicially with the companies
already sanctioned, and thus the object sought to be obtained
the giving of employment would be defeated. At present
many of the schemes agreed to last session of Par-
liament could net carry forward their wishes from the
difficulty of obtaining the necessary capital; and if a
of other schemes were pushed forward, the difficulty would be
much increased by the greater demand for money. With regard
to the general question in the last session, the passing of a
Bill operated immediately on the Sock Exchange to raise
the value of shares, whereas in the present session a fa-
vourable decision had entirely an opposite effect. He knew
this to be especially so in Scotland, the country
with which he was connected ; for he had been in-
formed of two companies who had carried their
Bills through the Committees of the House of Commons,
after which they called their shareholders together, and
agreed to wind up their affairs.
(LEFT SPEAKING.)

LORDS' SUMMARY.

The Lords met at five o'clock, and shortl afterwards

The Earl of DALHOUSIE rose to detail to their Lordships
the course which it was the intention of the Government to
pursue with regard to railway legislation. After going into
the past history of railway legislation, the Noble Earl pro-
ceeded to state the plan proposed by the Government.
The statement made by the Noble Earl did not at all differ
from that made by Sir ROBERT PEEL last evening on this
subject in the House of Commons. He concluded by stating
that he should introduce a Bill on the subject shortly after
Easter, when the matter would be fully discussed.
Lord MoNTEAGLE was glad to find that the attention of
the Government had been at length aroused to the impor-
tance of the subject.

LATEST PRICES OF SHARES.
IN BANKS, ASSURANCE, AND OTHER COM

PANIES' STOCK.

From te Official List,
PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY EVENISii

LONDON, TUESDAY, APRIL 7.
JOINT-STOCK BANKS.

_
Dividend Amount
Name of Company. per of Paid. Price
Annum. Share.
------
£ s. d. X s. d.
Australasia ••••• • .• •• 6/. per cent. 40 0 0 40 0 0 26%
Britsh forth American 51. per cent. 50 e 0 50 0 0 4434
Commercial of London 51. per cent. 100 0 0 20 0 0 22
';olonial .• ••...• .. • • • 51. per cent. 190 0 9 25 0 0 16
Londn and Westminstr 61. pur cent. 100 0 0 20 0 0 763,4
London Joint-Stock ... 61. per cent, 50 0 0 10 0 0 14
Metropolitan - 25 0 0 710 0
Provincial of Ireland.. 61. per cent. 100 0 0 25 0 0 4634
Ditto, New... ••• • .• Si. per cent. 10 0 0 10 0 0 17%
National of Ireland .. 51. per cent. 50 0 0 20 0 0 18
Nat. Provncial of Eng. 51. per cent. 100 0 0 35 0 8 3534
Ditto, New... ...... 3/. per cent. 20 0 0 10 0 0
Union of Australia •••• 6/. per cent. 25 0 0 25 0 0 28
Union of L0nd0n..... 51. per cent. 50 0 0 10 0 0 12
INSURANCE COMPANIES.
Dividend Amount
r_ .d.
Price
of
Name of Company. per
Annum.
Share. 1"
_-- -----
x e. d. £ a• d.
Albion .. • • •• • • - • • . • 31. 105.
100 0 0 11 0 0 i.”
500 0 0 50 0 0 74
Alliance grit. and For. 6 per cent.
Ditto Marine ••• • •0 0 8 0 0 1634
163./ . . per . cent,. h . 100
50 0 0 50 0 61:
Atlas . •ham 50 0 0 80 0 7.4
.. 7s. per s
British Commercial
Clericl,bled.&Gen•Life Si. per cent. 100 0 0 210 0 6%
31. 100 0 0 10 0 0
Crown •••••• • • • • • • os. 50 0 0 5 0 0 -
• 1
6e. 50 0 0 80 0 53
Eagle • •
Economic Life. • • t &30s.bs.
Eng.& Scet•Law ••• • •• 51. per cent. 50 0 0 20 0 234
European Life ...... 534 per cent. 20 0 0 All paid. 20
51. per cent. 20 0 0 3 0 0
Freemasons'
6/. per cent. Stock. - 138
Guardian •.•••• • • • • • • 51. per cent. 100 0 0 36 10 0 4g
Imperial Fire
imperial Life • •
'lndemnity Marine •. • 11. sh. & 138. 100 0 0 813 I 29
Law Life...-. .
Legal and General Life - 50 0 0 28 9 6%
London Fire •••• • • -10 s. 25 0012 10 0 1534
London Ship •.••• • • • 10s. 25 0012 10 0 15%
Marine.. ••••• • • • • 5/. per cent. 100 0 0 15 0 0 10%
Med. Invlld&Gen.Life Ili/. per ct. 50 0 0 20 0 3
Nettonal Loan Fund• • 51. per cent. 20 0 0 210 0' 234
National Life •• • .
Palladium Life 5l. per cent. 50 0 0 2 0 0 21. 2s.
Phoenix • • - - 205
Pretector Life. •.•• .. 5/. per cent. 20 0 0 1 0 1/. 4s.
Provident Life ..... ... 1/. ss. 100 0 0 10 00 0 23
dock Life. •••••• • •• • • 41. 50 0 010 0 41z
/s Royal Exchange .••••• Si. per cent. Stock. - 180
Sun Fire • • - - 210
Ditto Life .--• • . • • 11. 6s. - - 49
universal Life •• • .... .10341. pr cot 100 0 615 • 20

X s. d. £ s. d
Commercial .... •••• , 3/. per cent. Stdck.
East and West India... Cl. pr cent. Stock. 1
East Country ••••• •• .1 11. per sh. 100 0 0
L mdon
St Katharine •• • • 5 per cent. ' Stock.
Southampton •••• • • • • 4/. per cent. 50 0 0 50
LIST OP SCOTTISH COMPANIES' PRICES

140

115%
104;4
30

Dividend Amount
Name of Company. per of raid. 1 Price
Annum. Share. 1
1 ---- -- !--
.Z 9. (I. £ s. d 1
Bank of Scotland
Royal Bank of Scotland 6/. per cent. 100 0 0 1 159
British Linen Company 81. per cent. 100 0 0 i 224
Commercial hank •• • • 6/. per cent. 100 0 0 1.62}4
National Bank. .....
Union Bank of Scotland 7!.;::,/.. jr cent. __ 50 0 0 92
Western Bank..
North of Scotland Bank 61. per cent. 5 0 0 N
Clydesdale Bank ••• . 1 6/. per cent. 10 0 0 13%
Eastern Bank • •
Caledonian Bank ••.. • !7"11. pr cent. 210 0 1 414
Edinh.&,(lltisgiiiw Bank ' 6/. per cent. 50 0 1 6%
'
City of Glasgow Bank . 5/. per cent. 10 0 0 13
Scottish Union lns.Co. 51. per cent. 20 0 0 1 0 0 I 245.
Hercules Insurance Co. 71. per cent. 1100 0 0 10 0 0 1 14%
Incur. Co. of Sekithid• • 51. ter cent. 110 0 0 All paid. 1 944
North Brit;sh Imiur.• • ii;i2 /. pr cent. '2OO 0 0 10 0 0 1 28
Caledonian Fire Incur. 10/. I:er cent .•100 0 0 10 0 0 24
Edinburgh Life Insur. 61. per cent. 100 0 0 12 10 0 I 16;
Edin.gztllasg. Railway 11.108. Acre. !':() 0 0 50 6 0 , 72
Ditto, to Shares— 7s. Cl. p.s. 12 It. 0 ~-',il path. : 171.;
i'Ain.. Loith, Or (;,:ti.th no 0 f 20 0 0 ii
(41itsgw B.r Ayrshir Rail. 157. percent. 50 0 0 All paid. 1 ''in
(;ias,w& i :reelid, Rail. 2/. per coot. 25 0 0 All paid. ,; 19
:;),zw&Gaialkirk Bad. 5/. per cent. 25 0 0 All paid. 1 401.,
olee&Arirrothoth Rail. , Gt. per cent. 25 1.1 0 t.. 0. paid. 39,4
Svicdp.rd Lll, Assnrucv.i Til. 1,, rent, 50 0 0 210 /,`, , 8