The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-10 00:00:00

JUVENILE OFFENDERS.

Mr. LIDDELL had a question to ask, for which he
hoped to be excused, but, in the absence of the Noble
Lord, the late Member for Dorsetshire, who it was
known had taken a great interest in the condition of the
juvenile population, but who, in consequence of his feel-
ing upon a point of honour, had resigned his seat, and
was, therefore, unable to put the question himself, he
hoped he should be excused for asking it without notice
that such an inquiry was required might be gathered.
from the remarks lately made by a j udge in one of the
criminal courts. No subject was more deservedly
worthy of the attention of the House. As he had stated
his views to the Right Hon. Baronet, he would not then
detain the House by any observations, but simply ask
the Right Hon Baronet if the Government was prepared
to take any steps towards the improvement and re-
formation of juvenile delinquents ?
Sir J. GRAHAM said the subject had occupied the
serious attention of the former as well as of the pre-
sent Government. Up to 1838, there was no institution
in this country devoted exclusively to the punishment
and reformation of juvenile offenders. Shortly
after an institution was formed in this metropolis
in which 300 of these persons were confined. In that
year, with Cie sanction of that House, Parkhurst prison
was erected, which he thought had beeen conducive to
the moral improvement of those who were consigned to
it. In that institution there were now 660 confined. In
addition 200 juvenile convicts were confined in tie.) Pen-
tonville prison (as we understood). If it was
the pleasure of thatErlouse to sanction what
would be brought forward by the Government on the
subject, and to give an annual grant fur the mainte•
nance of all those young prisoners after their conviction
by a jury, he would endeavour to induce the magistrates
of the various counties of England to set apart a portion
of the prisons under their direction for the reception
of juvenile offenderi.--(llear, hear.) If this
plan were carried out in each county,
he had no doubt that benevolent persons would aid the
Government in putting these unfortunate persons, on
leaving prison, in the way to earn an hem st living, and
to restore them to society.—(ilear.)
DRAINAGE BILL (IRELAND).

Sir WM. SOMERVILLE Lquired if 'it was the
intention of the Right Hon. Gentleman (Sir J. Graham)
to move that tha House should g ) into Committee on
this Bill that night.
Sir J. GRAHAM was understood to say that he
should make a motion to that effect that night.
REPEAL OF THE DUTIES ON CORN.

Sir ROBERT PEEL then rose and said I am
desirous to make a statement with reference to the ques-
tion which the Noble Lord the Member for the City of
London, put to me the other night, respecting the repeal
of the duties on corn—foreign corn—immediately after
the passing of a resolution to that effect by the House.
The reply which I gave. to that question has created an
impression in the country that the Treasury intend to
repeal these duties, as well as other duties, as soon as
the House shall have signified its consent. I answered
that the Treasury would remit the 'duties
on foreign corn after the assent of the
House had been .givtn to the resolution. I
find that my impression was a wrong one. In every
case wherein the corn duty had been altered by Par-
liament the reduction of the duty had taken place from

evening.
In answer to Mr G. PALMER,

TUTEE I•'.A.Y MORNING, FEBR

the passing of the Act, and the Treasury have never,
in any case, undertaken to remit the duty. Now, Sir,
I should be exceedingly unwilling to assume, on the
part of the Treasury, any authority for which there
was no precedent, and I should also be exceedingly sorry
to assume it in this case, because I fear that an
assumption of that authority for the first time would
have a tendency rather to prejudice than promote the
final success of the measure. It is the intention of her
Majesty's Government, therefore, to adhere to the
course Which has uniformly been pursued at all former
periods of an alteration in the corn-laws, and to make
the reduction of the duty—if the measure should be
sanctioned by Parliament—take effect from the passing of
the Act. I believe, in point of fact, that there will be
no delay in taking corn cut of bond, for if
there should be any chance cf the measure not receiving
the sanction of the Legislature, parties would take corn
out of bond, when they were certain that, after a short
interval, they would be compelled to pay a duty of 17s.
At the same time, it is of much importance that the
decision of Parliament on the subject should ba known,
and that the trade should have an assurance as to
the prieciples which are to operate on the corn trade; and
her Maje sty's Government propose to give a preference to
the Corn Bill before all other subjects, and as far as the
Government are concerned they will take no other Go-
vernment business until the decision of this branch of
the Legislature with respect to the proposed new corn-
law shall have been taken. We shall, therefore, not go
into any other amendment of the tariff until this House
shall have given its assent to the new Corn Bill.
Mr. M. PHILIPS wished to know whether, if the
debate should be adjourned on Tuesday evening, it would
be continued on Wednesday, and if so, whether the sit-
ting on that day would be a morning one ?
Sir B. PEEL said that if an adjournment took place
on Tuesday the House might proceed with the debate
on Wednesday, and in that case he apprehended that
there would be no alternative but to commence at twelve
o'clock and adjourn at six, because the House had
already passed a standing order on the subject of Wed-
nesday's sittings. He thought, however, it would be
more convenient to consider the subject to-morrow

Sir R. PEEL said that he would not preclude himself
from any interval during the progress of the Bill which
he was about to introduce on the corn.laws, 'but he might
inform the House that it was his intention to proceed
• with that Bill without delay until its final stage.
• Mr G. 'PALMER was proceeding ta make some fur-
ther remarki, but resumed his teat amidst cries of "Or-
der, order." _ .