The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-20 00:00:00

THE GAME LAWS.

Mr, WILLIAM MILES, in the absence of the Hon.
Member for Cheltenham, gave notice that to-morrow it was
the intention of the Honourable Member to ask the
Bon. Member for Athlone whether he had lodged affidavits in
the hands of the Secretary of State with regard to Sir Charles
Taylor, aryft whether he intended to take further steps in the
case, or to allow this ratter to rest as it was?
LE AVE OF ABSENCE TO LORD CLEMENTS.
Ce:ionel RANDOM rose to ask for Kaye of absence for
fourteen days to Lord Clements. His Noble Friend was one
is®t in the habit of neglecting his Parliamentary duties, but his
neighbourhood in Ireland was in such a state that he WAS re-
quired to be on the spot, in order to use his exertions to find
employment for the people.—( Hear. )—Leave granted.

PREVENTION OF SMOKE.
Mr. M XCKINNON gave notice that he wouldon Tuesday,
the 26th instant, bring in a Bill for the prevention of smoke.
ROMAN CATHOLIC RELIEF BILL.
Mr, B. ESCO I T presented several petitions from Oxford-
shire in favour of the Roman Catholic Relief Bill.
FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND.
Mr. FOX MAULS presented 115 petitions, signed by
14,000 persons, from
sparts of Scotland, praying the
liouse to adopt some measure to enable the petitioners to oh-
worship.
tain sites on which to build place
Mr. Y. M. STEWART also psroesented petitions of a similar
nature.
Mr. FOX AI AULE then rose to move for leave to intro_
dace a Bill to enable Christian congregations
any statements with
obtain sites for budding places of worship, in Scotland to
i
ny
houses. He would not then enter intt manses, and school-
reference to the Bill. Not seeing either the Lord-Advocate
or the Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary of State for the
Home Department in their places, notwithstanding that they
were aware of his intention to introduce the Bill tonight, he
concludet that trey had no objection Ito ;the (introduction
of the Bill.
Sir R. H. INGLIS wished to know what the Hon. Member
meant by the term religious congregations? The object of the
proposed Bill was to give to certain persons, describing them-
selves as Christian congregations, the power to take a certain
portion of their neighbours' property—it was to enable Chris.
tian congregations to take their neighbours' property at fixed
prices, and before he gave any such power, he would like to
have some further statement respecting it.
Mr. FOX hIAULE said that he was perfectly ready to go
into a full statement of his grounds for proposing this Bill.
But if the Government officers were willing to concede to biro
leave to bring in the Bill, he would reserve the discussion upon
its principles till a future occasion ; he was perfectly willing to
abide by any proposition of the Government with reference to
this measure.

Sir JAMES GRAHAM said he had the most grave objec•
dons to the principles of the Bill, and he did not anticipate that
any exposition of those principles by his Hon. Friend on any
future occasion would be able to remove those objections.
After what bad been said in that House, in the course of a dis.
cussion on the subject of the Free Church of Scotland, he
did not feel himself authorised in making any agreement
on the part of the Government with his Hon. Friend. He
had, however, no objection to the Bill being read a first time.

The 1301 was then read a first time, and the second reading
was appointed for Friday next.
CUSTOMS' DUTIES BILL.

On the question being put that this Bill be read a third time,
Mr. STAFFORD O'BRIEN rose to ask a question of the
Government with reference to agricultural statistics. During
the present Parliament, said the Hon. Member, he believed
in the year 1r1441, the question of agricultural statistics was
broaght before the House by the Hon. Member for Manches-
ter, oho was supported by the Hon. Member for North
Lin soln, than whom perhaps a more experienced agriculturist
did not occupy a seat in that House. The Hon. Member for
Manchester consented to withdraw his motion on the understand-
ing that her Majesty's Government would take some steps to ob-
tain an alteration in the mode of obtaining those statistics.
He believed that it was understood that the Government of
that clay were unfavourable to the course which the Hon.
Member for Manchester proposed to pursue. But still there
was an impression prevailing that they would take the matter
into consideration, and under the difficulty that Hon. Member
was allowed to withdraw his motion. He tried an experiment
to get from the several counties information respecting the
actual facts of the ease, but received the answers from only
27 of them. It would he recollected that Sir John Sinclair,
who was some years since at the head of the Board of Agricul-
ture, had endeavoured to obtain the same information also for
the Government. Sir John Sinclair prided himself on the
knowledge of the counties of Scotland, and had furnished in-
formation to the Beard of Trade on these points. He did not
mean to say that the Board of Trade were in a condition to act
at that time, but this much he would say, that when the ques-
tion had been proposed of a change in our system, that the
clergy had expressed a readiness to acquiesce in the
change, at the time this change was most advisable,
and not as row, when it was likely to prove
most disadvantagedus. He trusted, therefore, that this
House would not consider that the agriculturists IL:1 no inten-
tion to secure a protection for themselves. Looking at these
things, he felt himself not only called upon to express his
regret, hut also to say that he felt he had a right to
complain that the Government had not taken up this
subject. He believed that when these discussions were
originally before the House they might have obtained
the information which would have been of essential service.
He believed that he and those with with whom he acted had
made out a strong case, and that this was not the time for
legislation. Instead of taking the subject at the best stage,
they had taken it up at the worst, and the clergy and the agri-
culturists expressed alarm at the changes now contemplated.
He would say, that if the farmers of this country were at all
aware, or in any way acquainted with the great value and im-
portance of such statistics, they would have taken care to have
demanded them of the Government with so much perse-
verance that care would be taken always to have them ready.
He would say that, since the year 1770, when so great a change
too's place in the value of agricultural produce, a greater boon
could not be conferred on the agriculturists of this country.
The reason why he had brought forward this measure now in
its present form was to prevent the possibility of having
technical difficulties and objections thrown in its way. But
there was another reason, and a more important one, which in-
duced him to bring this Bill forward; and when he stated it,
he was not without the hope it would be deemed one of import-
ance by this House. A Bill of a similar nature was brought
before Parliament some time ago, but he would not take up the
time of the House by speaking of that measure, but this he
would say. that though there might be some scepticism raised
to his measure, he would still persevere with it, and
would bring it on again and again, if the
session should be permitted to advance much
later without the Government taking any step on the subject.
He could not repeat too often that this was a measure upon
the necessity of which the House was unanimous, and upon the
importance of which they were all agreed, and the best proof he
could give of its importance was the fact, that in all the debates
upon the subject of agriculture that had taken place in that
House, the statistics of the agriculture of foreign countries were
continually referred to and easily had. He beseeched the Go-
vernment, as he had always sat in his place in that House for
the interest of the farmer, not to put him off again as they did
the lion. Member for Manchester two years ago—merely with
a letter from the Poor-law Commissioners of Somerset-house—
but to take into consideration the question whether an inquiry
might not at once be made with reference to these statistics,
and to the Highway Act.
Sir GEORGE CLERK said, as it had been understood
that no debate should take place on this subject, he trusted that
the lion. Member would excuse him if he did not follow
him through all his arguments on this subject, but rather
confine himself to the questions put by the Hon. Member.
He was very happy to inform the Hon. Member that the Go-
vernment had anticipated his wishes in this respect, and had
fulfilled his desire that they should proceed very cautiously in
this matter in the first instance, in 0: der to avoid exciting any
jealousy on the part of the farmers. He was anxious to ascer-
tain whether he could obtain any satisfactory information, by
means of the existing machinery, of the occupiers of land.,
rather than by resorting to new and expensive machinery. He
could state that an experiment on a small scale had been tried.
A portion of a county in Scotland had been selected, and
also a portion of a county In Ireland, from which they endea-
voured to obtain information. They selected the northern
division of the cour ty of Hampshire, and also the northern di-
vision of the county of Cavan. The information was collected
by the labour of an intelligent and experienced person. In
the county of Cavan, in some parts, these inquiries were more
difficult, in consequence of the great subdivision of lands, than
they were in other parts of the country, where the farms were
larger. The requisite information had been received with re-
ference to a union, which only extended over 6,000 acres.
In Scotland they endeavoured to obtain the information
through the means of the parochial schoolmasters, who
had printed forms sent round to them—which forms they
sent to every occupier of land, who, in their turn, were to
fill them up with statements of their stock on their lands.
He was happy to say, that from that county in Scotland the
information had been obtained. The returns were filled upon
a tabular form. With regard toampshire, he was sorry to
.ay, that they had endeavoured tgali obtain the information, but
had not completely succeeded. Forms were prepared, and
ordered to be left with each occupier of land, and a feeling of
jealousy had interfered ; but many of the farmers and land
occupiers had given all the information in their power. He
believed, if the information was voluntarily obtained, it would
be more accurate than otherwise. He trusted he had satis-
fied the Hon. Member, that the Government had exerted
themselves to procure the information referred to, and he
trusted that they would succeed in procuring it from every
county in England.
Sir ROBERT INGLIS had no doubt that, if the clergy
were applied to, they would be as desirous to furnish such
information as they had done thirty years ago.
Mr. STAFFORD O'BRIEN considered that the clergy
were better adapted to give statistical information than the
poor-law guardians.
Lord G. BENTINCK said, as the House was upon the sub-
ject of statistical information, he would ask, whether there
were means of procuring accurate statistical information with
reference to manufactures. It had been stated that the home
consumption manufactured was 18th the whole production,
whereas he thought it might be shown that it amounted
to 2-3rds.

Mr. BRIGHT considered, from the speeches of the Noble
Lord, the Member for Lynn, that he was well acquainted with
the returns of the quantities of raw material imported into
this country, and the amount of manufactured goods imported.
If the Noble Lord would take 500,000,0001. or 600,000,0001,
as the amount of the raw material imported,
into this country in one year, and then ascertain the quantity
exported in the same year, he would then, by the simple rule
of subtraction, be able to find out the quantity left at home for
home consumption.—(Laughter.) There might, perhaps, be
some difficulty in obtaining the exact amount, as the returns of
some of the goods imported were taken by weight, whereas the
accounts of the exports were taken in various forms. He was
convinced that the manufacturers would do their utmost to
furnish any useful information to the country with reference to
their manufactures. When it was proposed by the Hon.
Member for Manchester to obtain agricultural statistics, it was
with the intention of benefiting the farmer, and not from any
wish to inquire as to what agriculturists were doing. If the
Noble Lord could show any means by which anything could
be done by the manufacturers to beneht the country, he was
sure they would do it. He thought, the more they knew, the
better would it be for all classes of the community.
After a few words from Mr. MILES, the Bill was read a
third time and passed.
QUARAN TIN E LAW S.
Dr. BOWRING rose to submit the following. motion, that
an humble address be presented to her Majesty, that she will
be graciously pleased to direct such correspondence or extracts
on the subject of the Quarantine Laws as has taken place with
foreign Governments since the last returns to Parliament, to
be laid on the table of this House ; and that this House will
see with pleasure such relaxations in the existing system as
may be compatible with a due regard to the public health, and
jthe general interests of the nation. This was a sub-
ect, he said, which was of great interest and importance, espe-
cially with reference to our commercial and maritime concerns.
Since the last time this matter had been before the House,
many circumstances had occurred tustify au inquiry into the
system, and he was the more induce to urge it, from the cir-
cumstance that the able and distinguished individual who had
done so much to disabuse the public of the impression that
pestilence was so easily spread, had expressly declared his opi.
nion that the plague could not be communicated by contagion.
The circumstances to which he had alluded materially con-
firmed that impression. He must acknowledge at the same
time, that he had little hope of any assistance from the Go-
vernment in doing away with the inconvenience, and altering
the system of our quarantine laws. It would be recollected
that the Eclair steamer arrived last year with an alarming
fever on board from the coast of Africa, and that all sorts of
communication with the vessel was prevented. He believed
that she arrived on the 30th of September, with the yellow
flag flying with the black ball in the centre, intimating that
there was death on board from fever. On inquiry, it was as-
certained that there were thirty-two already dead, vet
no communication was allowed. It was immaterial whe-
ther it was the yellow or the black fever, neither of
them could have been detrimental to the public.
Fresh provisions were sent to the vessel, yet no medical aid was
rendered, and the vessel itself was ordered for a cruise in the
North Sea. Boats were ordered to row round her to prevent
next morning it was signalled
the ship. The
any communication from shore, and to hinder. any one from
escaping from
thatwtehdr,e
ae
nmd osroe
imt
eeonnhad t
inu died,
edb
for
oit
two n o o
r thres communicate;;, w
nays.
Thisa s
waset
owing to the absurdities of our quaran!..ine laws. He believed
that there were always medical 'Lien—heroic men— to be found
who givenani
the. assistance that those individuals re-
quired,valuable lives might have been saved.
What was the opinion given by Dr. M'William, who published
a report on this disease ? He said, that in the Niger expedi-
tion would
aii havethus
230 were attacked with fever, and two out of the four
medical men who attended on the sick were the last attacked.
well
This proved that the disease was communicative from one to
be termed a contagious one. The
another, and it might
into the character of this
had issued a commission toinquire Right Hon Baronet was aware that the Russian Government
disease, and he (Mr. Bowring) wished that that inquiry had
Grand Cairo the clothes of persons who had died of fever
been fully carried out. It was well known that in the bazaars at
were exposed for sale, and they were charged for
at the same rate as any other garments.—(Hear. )
which the Commission of the Academy of Medicine of Par
What were the conclusions, the unanimous conclusions, to
had come to with reference to the plague ? The first Was, that
it was endemic in Egypt, Syria, and Turkey; he believed it
constantly prevailed in those countries to a greater or a less ex-
tent, and its presence was almost invariably to be found in a
certain period of the year. They came to a second resolution,
in which they stated that it was their belief that the plage was
to be attributed to spontaneous action, and local, atmospheric
causes, and not to importations from distant countries.' But it
was evieent that the plague was in a grienat measure removed by
promoteTusean y
the
ee
phoenatilnthe
the attempts which had been made
Ifartshhees wpeeorpelei;ein2te ffailmetrhpenrooft
vcountries
thlto
e
At this moment, in
injurious effects which they had on the
were being gradually removed. The fourth resolution?eop e
which they arrived was, that the disease was ede. to
fifthly, that the plague was propogated by atmosprieericmle
in-
fluence, and not by contagion. Sixthly, that it was not con-
veyed by goods or merchandise. It was, therefore, an ab-
surdity to keep up these obnoxious quarantine laws.
He believed in his conscience that there was ne more evidence
of the security given against the introduction of plague by our
sanatory regulation—no more evidence in favour of that sys-
tem, than was to be given of the existence of witches and
ghosts. The quarantine laws were most oppressive, and at
the same time most unequal in their operation. A: steam-
vessel, arriving from the plague countries in sixteen or seven-
teen dayst Tras allowed to pas; i( any jam.