The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-07 00:00:00

that House, and then require their attendance at another
period in the other House for a smiliar purpose. He hoped
therefore, that they would endeavour to carry out this
suggestion. He knew it would be said that the adop-
tion of such a proposition as this would give facilities to
speculations, but he apprehended that the saving of
useless expense, and simplifying the mode of legislation
with respect to these Bills, would give them a better op-
portunity of encouraging useful prects by the giving
better facilities for investigation. He could not help
calling attention to the great mista they knot
help
with respect to railway deposits in the present session.
What could be more indefinable than to prescribe to all
parties that they should make the deposits in money,
giving them the option of investing them in the public
funds, and refusing them in the first instance
the option of making them public securities.
Their Lordships should not forget that the check at-
tempted to be put upon unfair speculation by the exist-
ing Act of the Legislature did not attach to those for
whom it was intended. Those who thought so had
surely come to that opinion upon a mistaken view of
the case. The injury fell upon third parties ; it fell
upon the mercantile interests of the country—upon
those who came under the name and character of fair
mercantile speculators. The fault was, however, that of
legislation, and he hoped that the House would agree to
any measure which would give a different effect to the
standing order of the House.
The Earl of Stradbroke said, that although there was
nothing like an approaching famine in this country or
iu Scotland, he was of opinion there was such an expec-
tation in the south of Ireland, and he would favour any-
thing which had a tendency to relieve that.
The motion was then agreed to.
MITIGATING PENALTIES IN CRIMINAL.
CASES.

Lord DENMAN brought in a Bill, which he had
prepared last year, to alter the existing law, so far as
to give the courts of law power to mitigate extreme pe-
nalties in cases of felony.
LOCAL BURDENS.

Lord BEAUMONT gave notice that, on a day next
week, to be afterwards named, he should move that a
Committee be appointed to inquire into the burdens
affecting landed property, more particularly poor-rates,
and what was generally termed local taxation.
GENERAL BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.
Lord CAMPBELL said, that before the House ad-
journed, ho should wish to make a suggestion to their
Lordships, as it had been determined that certainßailway
Bills might be originated in their Lordships' House, so
he thought it would be expedient that measures of a ge-
neral nature contemplated by her Majesty's Government
should in the same way be begun in their Lordship's
House. At present they only met to adjourn again, and
they would go on in probably the same way until within
two weeks of the prorogation, when there would be sent
up Bill after Bill, and their Lordships would find that
they had no means of duly considering them. If Bills I
were to be brought forward at all, it was necessary for
their due consideration that they should be introduced
in time. It would be well if the Government would
follow the example proposed for railroads in the intro-
duction of measures of great national importance.
The Duke of WELLINGTON said he would take
care that the suggestion of the Noble and Learned Lord
was conveyed to the proper quarter:—(Hear, hear.)
The LORD CHANCELLOR intimated that he should
also see the matter attended to, only he thought that any
decision on it should stand over for several days in order
that it might be properly matured.
Lord CAMPBELL said it was important that they
entered on the business early in the session, so that the
measures proposed might be properly considered. The
early part of the session they usually had nothing to
do. It was July before they had any business brought
before them, and then the Bills were read the first,
second, and third time, in such a hurried manner, that
it was perfectly impossible to consider them. The ar-
rangement he proposed would be far more satisfactory.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said that if the Noble
and Learned Lord had employed his leisure with as
much advantage to the public as he had done in his re-
cent learned work, the public would have no reason to
regret.
Their Lordships then adjourn ed at six o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, Friday, Feb. 6.
The SPEILZR took the chair at Four o'clock precisely.

RAILWAY PETITIONS. -
Numerous petitions for leave to bring in various rail-
way Bills were presented, of which the following were
among the most important, viz.:—The Leeds, York, and
Manchester; the York and North Midland Junction;
the Rugby and Huntingdon; the South Wales; the
Eastern Counties Extensions; the Great Eastern and
Western; the Monmouthshire; the Liverpool and Leeds;
the Cambridge and Lincoln; and the Great Western
Extensions.
A great number of other railway petitions were pre-
sented, the nature of which could not be heard in the
gallery, owing to the noise which prevailed in the House.
They were all, however, referred to the Committee on
Private Bills.

NEW WRIT.
Lord RENDLESHAM moved for. a new writ for
Lhe election of a knight of the shire for the eastern
division of the county of Suffolk, in the room of Lord
Henniker, who had accepted the stewardship of the
Chiltern Hundreds.—Agreed to.
RAILWAY BUSINESS.