The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-28 00:00:00

REPORTS.

The following reports were brought up, the amendments and
alterations agreed to, and the Bills ordered to be engrossed,
viz. :
York Improvement, Midland Railway ( Nottingham and
Mansfield), Forth and Clyde and Alonkland Navigation June.
tion Railway, Ballochney Railway (Shotts Branch), Scottish
Central Railway (Crieff Branch ), Grand Junction Railway
( Huyton and Aston, and other Branches), Midland and Eastern
Counties Railway (Cambridge to Weedon), Herculaneum
Docks, Hamilton Gas, Heywood Waterworks, Newcastle-upon.
Tyne ( m Drorement,
London and Croydon Railway (Thames

Junction Branch), Windsor, Slough, and Staines At-
mospheric
Railway, Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne, and ,
Manchester Railway (Whaley Bridge and Hayfield
Branches), Frilford (Berko Inclosure, Solly's Estate B:11,
Edinburgn and Bathgate Railway, Airdrie and Bathgate
Junction Railway, Glasgow Municipal Police and Statute
Labour, Buckinghamshire Railway (Tring to Banbury), Mid-
land Railway (Burton-on-Trent to Nuneaton and Ashby
Canal Purchase), Fleet Wood, Preston, and Wert Riding
Junction Railway ; Lough Swilly and Lough Foyle Draining
and Embanking, London and Birmingham Railway (Camden
and Euston Stations Enlargement), Eastern Counties Railway
( Epping Extension)
CITY OF LONDON COAL MARKETS' IMPROVE. '
M ENT BILL.
This Bill was read a third time and passed.
BOLTON WATERWORKS.
The Lords' amendments on this Bill were read and
agreed to.

MANCHESTER AND BIRMINSHAM CONTINUA.
TION AND WELSH JUNCTION RAILWAY.
On the motion of Mr. GREENE, the order of the 13th of
March was discharged, and the Bill withdrawn.
BROMSGROVE DIPROVEMENT (No. 2) BILL.
On the motion of Mr. GREENE, the Committee on this
Bill was directed to be appointed forto:morrow.

EVENING, MAY 28, 1846

was fraught with danger to the interests of the people of this
country.—( Cheers from the cross benches.) He thought it
necessary to say these few words upon the subject. The petition
merely expressed their individual opinion.
Lord BROUGHAM quite agreed with the Noble Lord, that
this petition was one expressing the opinions of individuals
But if it be true that such a petition could so easily be brought
forward by his Noble Friend upon such a question, he pro-
nounced the City of London to have totally changed their opi-
nion since his Noble Friend presented their memorable petition
against the corn-laws, in the year 1815.
Lord MONTEAGLE did not consider that the signatures
to this petition might not necessarily infer a perfect una-
nimity of opinion upon the subject. It did not follow,
that a petition of (pita another effect might be presented here-
after. He hoped the Bill would not be disposed of by the vote
of to-night, he therefore invited his Noble Friend to use all
his influence with the merchants of London to produce a
counter-petition from them.
Earl DALHOUSIE did not intend to provoke any dis-
cussion on this occasion. He did not state that it was a pe-
tition of the City of London, but a petition, signed by mer-
chants and bankers of the City of London, and wished to draw
the attention of their Lordships to the respectable nature of
the signatures attached to it.
The Duke of RICHOND —I should like to know, my Lords,
how many of these persons have got any of the bonded corn ?
—( Hear, hear, and laughter. )
Lord BROUGHAM must say that the Noble Duke had
made an ingenious observation in the form of a remark, but he
confessed he did not hear the same observations made when the
petition was presented in 1820.—( Hear, hear.)
Lord ASHBURTON said the petition alluded to by his
Noble and Learned Friend contained an expression of the
opinion of the merchants of the City of London against re-
strictions in trade generally, and not against the corn-laws.
He doubted, however, whether even that petition was signed
by the majority of the most considerable merchants of the City
of London.

Lord BROUGHAM wished to ask his Noble Friend whether
the petition against the restrictions on trade generally contained
any exception as to corn.— ( Hear, hear.)
The Duke of CLEVELAND presented a petition from the
landowners and tenant farmers of the county of Essex against
the Corn Bill.

Lord DALHOUSIE presented petitions from the mer-
chants and brokers of Liverpool, from certain operatives
of Stockport, from the merchants of Kingston-upcn-
Hull, and from the Commercial Association of Man-
chester, in favour of the Corn Bill.—( Hear, hear. )
Also a similar petition from the American Chamber of Com-
merce, Liverpool.—(Hear, hear. )
The Marquir of CLANRICARDE said he had received a
communication from Dr Reid in some degree explanatory of
the intense heat which their Lordships had suffered on the
last night of debate. Ho had also received a communica-
tion from a Mr. Gurney, who offered to ventilate the
House upon a new prtnciple. He would not recommend
them to adopt any theory, but to resort to the good old prin-
ciple by which the former (louses of Parliament were venti-
lated, and which succeeded perfectly well. (Hear,
hear.) There was one fact which he would
state to their Lordships with reference to Thursday,

He would ask that the letter might be laid befor the House.
Lord BROUGHAM had no objection whatever to make to
his Noble Friend's motion. He had experienced much injury
from the excessive heat en Monday night, and what he wanted
was not explanation, but air.—( Loud laughter.) He should not
care a straw for any explanation which might be offered to their
Lordships by the ventilation of the House.—( Hear, hear.) It
was a hard that he was to be tortured like some low animal by
Dr. Reid, or any other doctor.—(Laughter.) He really
believed that at the bottom Dr. Reid was a heartless de-
ceiver.--( Laughter and cheers.)
Lord CANNING handed in the letter alluded to by the
Noble Marquis.
CORN-LAWS.—ADJOURNED DEBATE.
Earl GREY—Before I address the House on the subject of
the order of the day, 1 beg to present two petitions relating to
that subject,—one from the Town Council of Hastings, beg-
ging your Lordships to pass the Bill now before the
House immediately and unimpaired; also a similar petition
from Wilts. My Lords, I am conscious that the subject
which is now before the House, has been both in and out of
Parliament, by speeches and writings so long and so fully dis-
cussed, that your Lordships may well be of opinion that no
new argument remains to be urged upon it. and that you must
therefore naturally be anxious to bring this debate to a
close. My Lords, I can assure you I should not have
contributed to the delay. I should not have ventured to tres-
pass upon your Lordships' attention on the last night that we
sat, with what, I fear, must be thought pertinacity, were it
not that having for many years taken a deep interest in this
question, I could not reconcile it to myself to stand aloof from
this, I trust, the final battle of that great cause, or to
allow this debate to conclude without showing the deep interest
I took in the debate. My Lords, I must further say, that one
strong inducement--one principal reason which urged me to a
strong desire to address your Lordship., was my feeling
that a great impression had been made upon your Lordships by
the speech which s d on the first night of the debate, and
which was listened 1110111 sueh just and general admiration_
of course I mean lie speech of my Noble Friend
the late Secretary for the Colonies, for whose absence this
evening, from whatever cause it may arise, I may greatly
regret. —(Hear. ) My Lords, I can assure you I listened to
that speech with as much delight as any of your Lordship*
because, though I think my Noble Friend made an admirable
speech, he was much misinformed in what he stated to your Lord-
ships. His reasons were unsound, and his conclusions were
unjust; but still his arguments were so ingenious, and were
put with so much skill, and clothed in language of such ex-
treme beauty—in fact the w hole speech was so brilliant a dis-
play of rhetorical talent, that for upwards of three hours and
received the attention of every Noble Lord who listened to
it, making it unlike most other speeches—not a labour
but a pleasure to hear. I know that some of
the arguments in that speech have already been answered, es-
pecially by the Noble and Learned Lord who followed him in
the debate, and by a Noble Friend of mine, who now sits
behind me, and who spoke on the subject last evening.
But it seems to me that there sre still some por-
tions of that speech to which it is required that your
Lordships attention should be called I am not vain or pre-
sumptuous enough to suppose that I am fit to enter into
the lists with my Noble Friend, but I have such confidence in
the powers of truth, that I believe that the cause even in my
humble hands may be successfully recommended to your Lord-
ships, and that on some of the more important parts of my
Noble Friends speech, I shall succeed in satisfyin your
Lordships that he has been wrong.
.The first observa-
tion I shall have to address to your Lord-
ships is, that through the whole course of the
debate it has struck me very forcibly that those Noble Lords
who have been opposed to the Bill have all avoided explicitly
reviewing and defending that which I take to be the main
point and hold of the existing corn-laws, as well as all other
laws upon the same subject. It is clear that the real
aim of these laws and the object of all laws intro-
duced is that of securing a remunerative price of
corn, or in other words to raise the price of food to the

(LEFT SPEAKING.)

NEW ASYLUM FOR INFANT
ORPHANS.
SECOND ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL.
The second anniversary festival of this truly charitable
and benevolent Institution took place at the London
Tavern, on last evening,
Lord MORPETH in the Chair.
The usual loyal and national toasts having been given
and drank with enthusiastic applause, a curtain un
veiled, and displayed thirty-nine infant orphans, who
sang a hymn. This scene was most interesting and
impressive.
The eldest of the children did not appear to be more
than ten years of age. They were cleanly, and neatly
dressed, and their complexions spoke sigmlicatitly that
they were well and comfortably provided for.
The Own-mem said he confessed the sight which he
had just witnessed struck him with the deepest interest,
and he felt sure that the scene formed a most appro-
priate and pleasant prelude to the toast which it was his
duty to submit to the meeting that etening. When pre-
siding at similar charitable associations; he felt that their
merits were sufficiently tested by a long and prosperous
experience, Their present society had not yet obtained
that notoriety and expansion which he trusted it would
obtain ; but there was something in the principle on
which it was mainly founded which he considered most
commendable, and which i nevertheless; might be looked
upon as rather new and eitietinienteli There were
institutions in the metropolis erected as asylums of
orphans, and he considered it an unjust and querulous
mind that could find a reasonable fault with
the principle of eueh ihetittitioils 1 Mid thoiigh he was
aware that there were some objectors, there had been
none to objet t to their leading principle; and to say
that it was the legitimate object of benevolence to pre-
vent, and net to palliate crime, yet he would have them
remember, although he must say he admitted the theory,
that until they had suebeeded iii ptsiventitig bed; it was
their duty to deal With its Symptoms—Wear, hear).-.-
and if they could not get at the root, they should not re-
fuse to uncurl the leaves of the diseased tree) and though
there might still be ifiipeovidetice, though there still
might be drunkenness—and there still might be vice--
they should not leave the little ones to their heritage of
suffering, over the let of whom angels would weep. It
was not the province of man to harden his heart.— (Hear.)
There wise only one similar institution to theirs; but it
was founded me an exclusive Systerh. lie did nlit, nor
could he quarrel with the exclusive system, and while
there were so many mingled and multifarious foram of
wretchedness, they could not quarrel with whatever ins_
tigated the distress of their fellow-man, nor could the
principle of exclusiveness in any degree interfere with
the pubiic benevolence.—(Hear, hear.) They had asked
no crozier to point out the limits of their charity, nor any
mitre to sanction their humanity—they went on the
broad principle preached by their Redeemer, of uni-
versal love and good-will to all men.—(Hear, hear.)
They cared not whether the objects of their love and
charity were brought up in the Divine lessons and
sainted piety of a Watts or a Doddridge, the spirituality
of a Taylor, the fervid zeal of a Wesley, or the self-
denying labours of a Fenelon or Bouromeo. Little chil-
dren were indifferent to those denominations and dis-
tinctions—they did not find their way into their infant
bosoms. They would not interfere with religious dis-
tinctions ; they here resolved that the education of
their proteges should be strictly scriptural; they should
be taught that a watchful eye of tenderness
was over them, and- they would be taught
to look up to the Supreme Author of their
being with love and gratitude, compared to whom
their best of earthly benefactors presented but a
faint and feeble image.—(Hear, heir.) They should be
taught to look up to the Saviour, who had said " Suffer
little children to come unto me."—(Hear, hear.) They
need not fear the denunciations of Westminster or the
decrees of the Council of Treat ; they would show that
they wished to commisserate infant suffering, and that
they attached weight to the great principle of reli
gious freedom.—( Hear, hear.) He was informed,
since he came into the room, that the pre-
sent institution only held thirty. six children,
whilst it was calculated to receive one hundred, and that
i
after the next election forty-seven children mere
would
their
be admitted—(llear, hear)—and they would
utmost to turn as few from their doors as possible. The
institution gave a preference to suffering virtue ; but, at
the same time, when there were so many public sinners
in the world, they would not adopt too much of the
spirit of the philosopher, and close their door on the
claims of those who were the sufferers, and not the
wrong-doers. But for the gentlemen he saw around him,
and the other benefactors to the society, those little
cherubs whom they saw that night would have had no
one to teach them their Maker's name, or clasp their
tiny fingers in prayer to heaven. They might not have
had even the shelter of a roof to protect them from the
" eeseon's difference," and worse than all, far -
ar worse, they

might, nay, it was too certain, that many of theni vvould
have falle❑ into evil associations, and into habits of vice
and profligacy. But the charitable Society, which they
had assembled to celebrate, has stepped forward to
rescue and save them. The cause, then, of the suffering
orphans was certainly in better, abler, and more zealous
hands ; and he confidently relied on their future pro-
sperityand success.

Lord DUDLSY STUART, in returning thanks, as one
of the Vice-Presidents of the Society, took occasion to
advert to Poland, and stated that the first recipient of
the bounty of the Institution was the orphan of a Polish
nobleman, a refugee. The Noble Lord concluded his
remarks by a glowing eulogium on Lord Morpeth,
whom he declared to have distinguished himself', even in
his earliest years, by carrying off the first prizes in Ox-
,ord.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. HANDLEY, M.P., said he supported the Institu-
tion, as it was founded on the first principles of Christian
amnesty, and as it did not confine its benefits to any
class or faith.

The report and the subscription list were then read.
It appeared a sum over 1,0004 was the result of the days'
subscriptions.—(Laud cheering.)
The CHAIRMAN then gave " The health of the Minis-
ters who had made charitable ap;,eals for the benefit of
the Institution."—(Three times three.) " The Stewards"
and " The Ladies."

The meeting did not separate until an advanced hour
ir the night.
The artistes who assisted during the night were,
Messrs. G. F. Taylor, C. Kenny, C. Gengo, Farquharson
Smith, and Bland. Numerous arias were given, with a
great deal of taste.and execution.

BURDENS AFFECTING LAND.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE
OF LORDS, TO CONSIDER THE BURDENS
AFFECTING LAND.
The following are the recommendations contained in
the report of the Committee of the House of Lords, ap-
pointed to consider the burdens affscting hied:—
" 1. The improvement of the law of real property;
the simplification of title, and of the forms of convey.
ante; the establishment of some effective system for the
registration of deeds.
"2. An extension of the measure of 1835, by reliev-
ing the counties and boroughs from the portion of ex••
pense to which they continue liable for criminal prosecu•
lions, as well as the maintenance and conveyance of pri-
soners. This measure, however, should be accompanied
by an adoption on the part of the State of an effective
control.
"3. The adoption of the liability of the owner of
houses under the annual value of 10/. to the rates at
which the same are assessed.
"4. Where establishments exist or may be required
for the support of lunatics, and where there are obvious
reasons, both of economy and of humanity, for central-
ising the administration, and where, above all, the re-
sources of the State can be made available, without any
risk of aggravating or increasing the evil proposed to be
remedied, the Committee are not prepared to justify the
imposition of the whole cost upon one description of pro-
perty. The Committee, therefore, submit that the
charge for the maintenance of pauper lunatics through-
out the empire ought to be undertaken by the public.
"5. To a certain extent the observations made on
lunatic asylums may he applied to some branches of the
expenditure for the maintenance and relief of the poor.
Mr. Cooke shows, from official documents, that the
establishment charges, inclusive of salaries, amount to
17 per cent. on the total expenditure for the relief of the
poor, and states that these charges might be provided
by the Government, without leading to any evil conse-
quences in the administration of the poor-law.
" 6. A charge is periodically cast upon the land for
the militia rate • this is not now levied, the militia being
disembodied; but, considering the object of the militia
to be general, and not confined to any particular class,
the committee are of opinion that this charge should be
provided for by Parliament, care being, however, taken,
that if the public assume the responsibility of the charge,
the Government should have authority to insure the effi-
ciency of the force.
" 7. It is most desirable that the experiments for test-
ing the process of malting barley for the purposes of
fattening cattle should be repeated, with the co• operation
of persons of acknowledged skill in agriculture.
" These measures appear to the Committee to be ne-
cessary because they are just. They have confined their
recommendations of change in the sources from which
certain charges should be defrayed to matter in which
every interest is equally concerned, and the expense of
which ought to be shared by all.
" The committee considered themselves limited to an
inquiry into the relative burdens on different descrip-
tions of property within the kingdom ; a more itn-
portant consideration would probably be the proportion
of burdens on the cultivators of land in this country as
compared with those borne by the cultivators of foreign
countries intended to be admitted into competition with
them in the same market. On this subject some infor-
mation has fallen from Messrs. Cramp and Banfield,
who have been acquainted with the condition of farm-
ing in countries bordering on the Baltic and in the
north of France, but the committee were of opinion their
instructions precluded them from following up this de
scription of inquiry.
" The committee have directed the minutes of evi-
dence, with an appendix and index thereto, to be laid
before your Lordships."
One Noble Lord, a Member of the Committee, who
did not approve of the report as agreed to by the Com-
mittee, drew up another report, which he caused
to be printed, and which contains the following re-
commendations :
"1. The improvement of the law of real property,
the simplification of titles and of the forms of conveyance,
the establishment of a general office for the registration
of deeds ; thus applying principles already adopted in
Scotland, Ireland, and almost throughout the Continent
of Europe, whereby the security to landed property has
been increased, and its value augmented several years'
purchase.
"2. An extension of the measure of 1835, by reliev-
ing the counties and boroughs from the portion of ex-
pense to which they continue liable for criminal prose-
cutions. The measure, however, should be accompanied
by an adoption, on the part of the State, of an effective
control. The establishment of an office of public pro-
secutor, and the conduct of all prosecutions, is recom-
mended in the strongest manner by the example of
Scotland and of Ireland, as well as by the reason of the
case.
" 3. The revision of stamp duties, not with a view to
the reduction of revenue, but to a better appointment of
burdens—an adoption of an ad valorem scale of duty,
relieving small properties from the present unjust and
disproportionate charge, and making an equitable dis-
tribution of all duties on the sale and transmission of
property real and personal, whether during life or after
decease, both on ordinary conveyances and in the shape
of probate or legacy duties, so as to remedy all existing
inequalities, and to repeal all undue and partial exemp-
tions,
" 4. The adoption of periodical and compulsory re-
valuations for the levy of all local rates, so as to avoid
the injustice and inequality of the present most anoma-
lous system, This is consistent with the recommenda-
tion of the commis dopers on local rates, and with the
evidence now taken.
" 5. The consolidation of the present numerous rates,
levied by multiplied and sometimes conflicting authori-
ties. There new exists in law, if not in practice, 24
rates, and 54 species of officers for their imposition,
levy, and administration. The number of these officers
is now estimated at 180,204. The fact that many of
these officers perform gratuitous service does not neces-
sarily very the case ; it is far from being universally
true that gratuitous service is always the cheapest.
"6. It has been explained by Mr. Blake, that the
expense of erecting gaols, bridewells, shire-halls, and
similar buildings in Ireland, is provided for by the
public, Advances are made by the Treasury to meet
these heavy branches of expenditure ; these advances
are Made Oti the security of the county-rate, and are
repayable, without interest, by easy instalments. There
appears every reason why this system should be extended
to Great Britain.

establit hments are introduced, as in
the last session, fat tho support of lunatics, and where
there are obvious reasons, both of economy and of huma-
nity, for centralising the administration, and where,
aboie all, the resoureed of the State can be made availa-
ble 4 without any risk of aggravating or increasing the
evil proposed to be remedit d, the committee are not
prepared to justify the imposition of the whole cost upon
one description of property. The committee, therefore,
submit, whether the charge for the maintenance of luna-
tics in public asylums throughout the empire ought not
to be undertaken by the public.
" 8. More hesitation should undoubtedly be felt it; re-
speet to any part of the expenditure for the maintenance
and relief of the poor ; but, to a certain extent, the ob-
servations made on lunatic asylums may, with proper
safeguards, be made applicable to other branches of
medical relief.

" 9. A charge is periodically cast upon the land for
the militia rate ; this is not now levied, the militia being
disembodied ; but, considering the object of the militia
to be general, and not confined to the Interests of a par-
ticular class, the committee are of opinion that this
charge should be provided for by Parliament, care being,
however taken that if the public assume the responsibi-
lity of the charge, the Government should have autho-
rity to ensure the efficiency of the force.
" 10. It is most desirable that the practical experi-
ments for testing the chemical conclusions to which Pro-
fessor Graham, Thompson, and Dr. Lyon Playfair have
arrived should be repeated, under proper superinten-
dence, but with the co-operation of persons of acknow-
ledged skill in agriculture. Without impugning the
scientific acquirements of the eminent men consulted
by the Government, it is highly interesting that this
question should be disposed of in a manner to leave no
reasonable doubt on the decision which may ultimately

be pronounced.
These measures appear to the Committee in them-
selves
t time,
e, i
ri makingdefensiblebe these
beau becausethey
suggestions,a re j
they
ust; butare
fullyat he
same
aware that the burdens imposed by law directly upon
land in England do not bear so high a proportion in
England to the whole taxation of the country as is the
case in many foreign states. So far as Prussia and parts
of Germany are concerned, this fact may t' deducted
from die evidence of Mr. &Infield. The same results
!Lay be found in respect to Franc?, the Netherlands,
Denmark, Sweden, and other foreign states. This fact,
however, ought not to vary the views which may be
taken either of justice or policy, neither should it be in-
ferred that the proportion of land taxes borne by Isoreign
countries enters into the cost of production, or raises the
price of produce abroad, any more than similar taxal;ion
has boon shown to do at home. The facts are, therefo."e,
referred to as bearing upon the principle of upportioo-
merit between one class of the community and another,
and not for the purpose of suggesting that the cost of
raising corn and other agricultural produce is governed,
by one principle in England, and by another principle on
the conoput of Europe."