The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-07 00:00:00

After a few words from Mr. WOOD.
The House went into Committee on the Bill, and the
several clauses were read, and agreed to.
The House resumed, and the report was ordered to
be brought up to morrow.
COURT OF COMMON PLEAS BILL.
This Bill was read a third time and passed.
„Tne reporti of the Copyhold Bill, the Turnpike Act
'll, the Stock•in-Trade Bill, the Highway Rates
,15
and the Loan Societies Bill were read and received,
and the
Bills were ordered to ba read a third time to-
morrow.
4. The Forms (Assessed Taxes) Bill was read a second
"me, and ordered to be committed to-morrow.
THE SPIRIT LICENSE BILL.
On the motion that this Bill be read a third time,
, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
he had lately received a deputation from the chemists
In London, and he had desired them to go to the chair-
man of the Board of Excise. Pie had understood that
all objections were removed, and came into the House
with that impression; but since he came into the House
e found that they were not entirely so. He was ready
to make such alterations as might be considered
necessary.
WAKLL'Y was by no means satisfied with this
;_u"l- It would be supported by the wholesale dealers
because it would throw a monopoly into their hands. It
take
render it necessary for 3,000 more druggists to
44e out licenses under this Bill, or they would not be
!ale in having a still or even a retort upon the premises;
besides, the Bill had only been in the llouse eight days.
'le, therefore, wished to ask whether it was just or
equitable that a Bill, affecting in such an extensive way
II large class of persons, ought to be pushed hastily
through the House, without time being allowed for dis-
cussing it? What the persons who would be affected
'anted was, more time, to enable them to become ac-
quainted with its provisions, as the chemists and drug-
gists, whom it would most materially affect, knew no-
thing of its nature.—(Hear, bear.) They considered
that the principle sought to be introduced was altogether
unnecessary with respect to them, as the object of the
Government might be obtained by less objectionable
means; as it required them to take out an annnal license,
at the cost of 2/. 2s. a year. The feeling against the
excise laws was sufficiently strong already, but they
would render those laws more objectionable by placing
3,000 persons under the surveillance of a supervisor. If
a measure was necessary to prevent fraud, it ought not
to be hastily passed, He would not move any amend-
ment, but would press the Right Hon. Gentleman to
Postpone the measure until Monday week, in order to
afford time for deliberation. He was authorised to state
that no factious opposition would be offered : on the
contrary, the parties would do their best to promote the
object the Government had in view.
Mr. HUME wished to know if any report had been
Presented to the llouse, relative to the evils which
existed under the existing law? If such a report had
not been presented, and he did not think that it had, he
thought the House ought not to pass a measure which
Would affect 3,000 persons. Some case ought to be
Made out, yet he had beard nothing of the subject ;
nothng of th frauds on te . No reason had
beeni assig
nede by the Chancellor ofrevenue xche the Equer and
the measure ought to be postponed until they had in-
formation on the subject. He agreed with his Hon.
Friend (Mr. Wakley) that the excise-laws were objec-
tionable enough.
Sir DE LACY EVANS also advocated the postpone-
ment of the measure, on the ground that the Bill had
only been printed since Friday last. Even many Hon.
Iletnbers had only been able to obtain copies within the
last hour. He trusted, under all the circumstances, the
Right non. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer
fvt:_ould see the necessity of postponing the third reading
or a week or ten days.
After a few words from Mr. DUNCAN, which did
not reach the gallery,
_ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
Bill was prepared by the late Government in conse-
quence of great frauds which had been committed on
the Excise, and the real object of the Bill was to provide
against a recommittal of such frauds.—(Hear, hear.)
Ile had, however, no objection to take the third reading
then, and defer its passing till that day week. He
bad some amendments to make to the Bill, and
these amendments should be added and the Bill after-
Wards reprinted.
Me. B. ESCOTT presumed that they were to take
the consideration of the Bill on the question that the
Bill do pass.—(Yes, yes.) He thought that some time
8110111 d be given for the consideration of the measure.
„Mr. WILLIAMS said it was strange, at the close of
lue session, for the Government to push forward the
present, Bill. He complained that the Excise laws,
aiready so stringent, should be further extended, and
ttt9at new parties were to be brought under their opera-
ThereLlM was no necessity, in his opinion, for the
'ea-sure.
Mr. HENLEY thought the Bill should be recommitted
4,11(1 printed with the amendments, so that the country
'might be aware of the nature of the measure.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER con-
,z
Zdered that the course he proposed was a fair one. It
:aid not ba recommitted at that stage. His proposal
0111 d enable the Bill with the amendments to be
t,reinted, and time would be given for their provisions to
fully considered. The Bill would not bring fresh
parties under the operation of the Excise laws, but
a irnPlY under the operation of the officers of the Excise
tt,
-the extent proposed in the measure.
saZe.ESCOTT—What he wished to say was, that he
sui;.no tofference between putting parties not hitherto
xe'lect them under the Excise laws and under the
the inasmuch as the officers could only act through
Alr. WAKLEY wished, for the way in which this
Bill would affect London, that the clauses to which he
had formerly alluded should be postponed or amended.
The CIIANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER would
think of it.
The Bill was then read a third time, and ordered to
be engrossed.
Several Bills, brought down from the Lords, were or-
dered to lie on the table.
GAUGE OF RAILWAY BILL.

On the order of the day being read for going into
etnntnittee on this Bill,
Mr. P. M. STEWART opposed the Bill as being of a
very unsatisfactory nature, and did not tend to settle the
Point in a proper manner. Uniformity of gauge was
perfectly desirable, and this Bill would only multiply the
evil by adding 500 miles more of the broad gauge than
was at present existing. There were 2,700 miles of the
narrow, and only 300 mile 3 of the broad gauge.
Mr. M. GIBSON said that Parliament was responsi-
ble for this Bill, and it was brought forward simply for
the purpose of carrying out the recommendations of the
Commissioners appointed by both Houses of Parliament.
Ile did not think the proposed Bill would at all multiply the
evil of the break of gauge. It would have the effect of
preventing an increase in the number of those breaks by
amending certain Bills which had received the sanction
of the Legislature without containing any provision as
to the gum of the railways. Uniformity was certainly
very desirable, but that uniformity would not be obtained
'without the outlay of very large sums of money.
Mr. PROTHEROE said that the broad was much the
best
gauge in existence, and the carriages moving upon
the broad gauge lines were much more commodious and
much better ventilated than any others ; and they were
able to travel at a much greater speed. lie thought the
inconvenience of the break of gauge was not so much to
be deprecated as the break of management which there
had been in certain cases.
The House then went into Committee on the Bill.
Upon clause 1 being read, a short discussion arose, in
which Mr. Ewart, Mr. Russell, and another lion. Mem-
ber took part, upon the subject of locking the doors of
the Great Western Railway, which ended in
Mr. RUSSELL saying that the directors of the Great
Western Railway were anxious to afford every possible
convenience for the public ; but he was sure that every
arrangement made would be always attended with some
partial inconvenience.

Mr. P. M. STEWART thought the country must
soon come to the decision of obtaining uniformity of
gauge, and he thought it would be better to grapple
with the difficulty when there were only 300 miles to bo
tered, instead of having, as they shortly would if this
ill were passed, to alter 800 miles.
Clause 1 was then agreed to.
Clauses 2 to 4 were also agreed to.
Upon clause 5 being read,
Mr. SPOONER made some remarks on the necessity
of giving to Birmingham a competing line, on the broad
gauge, to London. This could not be effected by the
provisions of the present Bill, as there would be three
inconvenient breaks of gauge.
After a few words from Mr. M. Gibson, Sir J. Pak-
ington, Mr. Williams, and Sir B. Ferguson, clause 5
Was agreed to.
The remaining clauses of the Bill were agreed to.
The House resumed, and the report was ordered to be
received on Monday next.
NAVAL MEDICAL SUPPLEMENTAL FUND
SOCIETY BILL.

This Bill went through Committee, and the report was
ordered to be received to-morrow.
The Steam Navigation Bill and the Rateable Property
Bill were postponed till Monday.
DUBLIN WIDE STREETS BILL.
This Bill was read a third time and passed.
FISHERIES (IRELAND) BILL.
On the order of the day for going into Committee on
this Bill,
Captain JONES expressed his dissatisfaction with the
8111, and after referring to the law relating to the
fisheries, contended that the evidence taken before the
Commission, a report of which he held in his hand, was
entirely opposed to the provision of this Bill. The
Whole of the North and Ireland were opposed to it, and
he was surprised that, under such circumstances, the
measure was proposed to the House.
LABOUCHERE said the subject was a very com-
plicated one, but having looked carefully into it in all its
bearings he had come to the conclusion which his pre,
decessor had arrived at, namely, that the Bill was the one
best calculated to do the greatest amount of good.—
(Rear.) It was supported by the majority of the influ-
ential people of Ireland, and he did not think the oppo-
sition of the Hon. and Gallant Member opposite was well
founded.—(near.)
Sir R. FERGUSON pretested against the system
which the Board of Works pursued towards the fishing
interest of the north of Ireland.
Mr. PIGOTT said the Bill had been introduced at the
I‘liggestion of a number of highly respectable individuals
interested is the trade, and based on their suggestions,with the recommendation of the Board of Public Works.
salmon
the Bill passed this present session, the season of
_, lemon fishing would expire on the 20th of August, and
T benefit of the extension of the period sougt would
thus be lost for the present year. •
Mr. P. M. STEWART thought the Government
ought to pause cue they passed such a Bill. A similar
measure
had been tried in Scotland and had failed in
producing
any beneficial results.
After a few words from Captain JONES, to the effect