The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-27 00:00:00

The Duke of WELLINGTON said he could see no ob-
jection to the House sitting on Wednesday if they wished to
do so; but it had always been the practice of the House not
to sit on Friday, which was the anniversary of the restoration.
Lord ASHBURTON was anxious to say a few words be-
fore this discussion should close; but he had no objection to its
teminating on Thursday.
The Earl of WICKLOW said he had put the motion in the
way he did, because he learned that day that it was the in.
tention of the Noble Earl (Earl Grey) to move that night at
the dose of the debate, that the House do sit on Wednesday.
He (Lord Wicklow) therefore determined to have pre-
cedence of the Nole Earl, and therefore he thought
it best to make the motion he had done. Having been put in
possession of the House, he would not consent to give way to
the Noble Earl, or waive the usual practice of the House unless
they decided aocording to the suggestion of the Noble Marquis
opposite. Should the motion be carried, he (Lord Wicklow)
would claim his right to open the debate on Thursday.
The Duke of RICHMOND said, perhaps the Noble Earl
would go on now, and his Noble Friend could open the debate
od Thursday evening.
Earl GREY would give precedence now to the Noble Earl,
and open the debate then.—(Laughter.)
Lord BROUGHAM hoped, if they adjourned till Thursday,
they would endeavour to finish the debate that night.
But as that might prove fallacious, he would intimate, in
order that it might be perfectly understood, that should the
debate not be brought to a close he should move the adjourn-
ment till the day after. That would require them to attend
church. But he could not see what harm attending the sermon
could do them, and there was no reason why Noble Lords
should have any objection on that account.
Lord CAMPBELL said it appeared that the present dis-
pute was a struggle between two parties, which could only be
determined by the majority of the Peers ; and as the settle-
ment of precedence might be attended by some difficulty, he
would, in order to get rid of it, me that the Noble Lord,
Earl Grey, be now heard.—(Loud cheers.)
The Earl of WICKLOW rose in a veextzited state, and
with violent gesticulation protested against course
en now
taken. He was proceeding to address the Housee
when , from
the cries of " Order, order," and noise that prevailed,
he was
obliged to sit down.

The LORD CHANCELLOR put Lord Campbell's amend-
merit, which was agreed to.

Earl GREY then, amidst considerable laughter and cheers,
moved that the debate be adjourned.

The Earl of WICKLOW—UntiI Thursday next.
The motion, with the addition of Lord Wicklow, was then
put and agreed to, and the House adjourned at Two o'Clock
till Thursday next.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, May 26.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock.
MORAYSHIRE RAILWAY.

The report on this Bill was brought up and agreed to, and
the Bill ordered to be engrossed.
GREAT NORTH OF SCOTLAND RAILWAY.

The report on this Bill, including the Eastern Extension,
was brought up and agreed to, and the Bill ordered to be
engro'sed.
EDINBURGH AND NORTHERN RAILWAY.

The report on this Bill (Branches from the Dundee and
Arbi oath Railway and Tay Ferry Improvement) was brought
up, and the Bill ordered to be engrossed.
NORTH KENT RAILWAY.

Mr. RICE, on the further consideration of the report of
the South Eastern Railway (Greenwich Railway to' Chilhain,
near Canterbury with branches, No. 2,) Bill, moved that the
Bill, together with the North Kent Railway Bill, be re-com-
mitted to the full Committee as originally constructed. The
North Kent Railway had been condemned before its merits
had been thoroughly investigated by the Committee ; and the
South Eastern Company, which was the only company that
could properly carry out the line, would be perfectly justified,
under the present circumstances, in studying their own in-
terests in preference to the convenience of the public, by not
carrying out the contemplated extension of their line.
Mr. PROTHEROE defended the decision of the Committee,
of which he was chairman, on the North Kent Railway. As
chairman, he had felt it his painful duty to give a casting vote
against the further progress of the Bill, as it contemplated the
construction of a railway through part of Greenwich Park.
Upon this instance, as upon many others, he found the benefit
of the reports of the Board of Trade ; and the Committee
considered that the South-Easterly line was far preferable to
the North Kent. The Committee had been sitting from the
middle of March to the middle of May, and they had given
the whole scheme their utmost attention ; and he deprecated
the investigation of such subjects in the House, as it would
tend very much to weaken the authority of the Committee.
Mr. BAILLIE supported the motion. The Committee
had passed a Bill which gave power to the Admiralty to stop
the progress of the railway at whatever point they chose. He
did not know what the shareholders would say to such a Bill.
Sir ROBERT INGLIS said he was aware of the inconve-
nience which would arise from a scrutiny of the decisions of
Committees, but unless it could be proved that Committees
were immaculate, he considered that the House was the last
tribunal of appeal. He believed that a disturbance sufficient
to destroy the accuracy of an astronomical observation would
be produced by the passing of railway trains. He thought the
Bill, if recommitted, should be referred to another Committee.
He grounded his objections against the Bill, not because it
did not afford a direct communication to the coast, but the in-
jury it would cause to science in passing so close to the Obser-
vatory.
Sir JOHN RAE REID presented a petition from Dover,
signed by the mayor and burgesses, in favour of the line.
Sir GEORGE COCKBURN said that an application had
been made by the North Kent Railway Company to the Admi-
ralty to ascertain whether they had any objection to the railway
passing through the park. Vast powers had been given to
the Admiralty to regulate the trains, or to step
them altogether., The Admiralty had no objection to allow
the line to pass through Greenwich Park, provided the interests
and the observations of the Observatory were not affected.
The Company had assented to make such regulations as would
prevent this mischief, and the Admiralty had accordingly with-
drawn their opposition.
Mr. T. DUN COINIBE—The fact was that this matter had
passed through the Committee by a very small majority, consist-
ing in fact of himself, who it was well known was able to act in a
double capacity, and it was on the faith of his statement that
this decision had been come to.—( Laughter.) The Hon.
Gentleman it appeared had a very great taste for the pic-
turesque, and had accordingly proposed the carrying of this
line through Greenwich Park. He had accordingly gone
down to survey the line himself, and had no doubt
dined there—(Laughter)—with all the appliances of
a gentlemanly entertainment. (Continued laughter.)
On his return he had waited upon the Admiralty to give the
results of his observations, and it was upon his representation,
and he might say, that of the South Eastern Company,
that the Honourable and Gallant Admiral's report was
founded. The truth was, that the South Eastern Company
were at the bottom of this decision of the Admiralty ;
for they were themselves desirous of making this line. Now,
it should be observed that Professor Airy bad not been called
before the Committee at all, but he had expressed his
opinion that in the experiments he had made the
transit of the trains would in no way affect the observa-
tions of the Observatory. The North Kent Company had
employed Professor Robinson and another gentleman to make
experiments, and they had given it in as their decided opinion
that no public inconvenience would ensue. The North Kent
Company, therefore, had decided upon running their trains
through the park by means of a tunnel.
Lord EMLYN was a member of the Committee, and he
had arrived at his decision on public grounds solely. He could
not see any reason why the Bill should be committed again.
They had not refused to hear any evidence, nor had any alle-
gation been made that such was the case. In fine, he con-
sidered a recommitment of the Bill would not lead to any
public good, and he would, in consequence, object to it.
Mr. HUME considered that the members of the Committee
had not acted wisely or properly in their conduct, and he would
therefore vote for the motion. _

Mr. PLUIVIPTRi said that the Astronomer Royal had satis
fled himself that no injury would result to the Observatory if
the line were constructed, and at any rate the South-Eastern
Company had acceded to the conditions required from them,
being satisfied that the danger apprehended would not arise.
Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSET moved that the debate
be adjourned for a fortnight, in order that the Admiralty might
have further time to consider.
Mr. C. WOOD seconded the motion.

Mr. J. O'CONNELL protested against some observations
that had been made in consequence of the Hon. Chairman
having consulted the Admiralty on the subject. He did so at
the especial request of the Committee.
Mr. JERVIS did not object to the adjournment of the debate.
This matter ought not unquestionably to be left open be-
tween the North Kent and South-Eastern. The whole matter,
including the North Kent Bill, should be again remitted to the
Committee, in order that the discrepancy complained of might
be explained and got rid of.
After a short discussion the further consideration of the
subject was deferred for a fortnight.
NORTH KENT RAILWAY.

Mr. REID presented a petition from Dover, in favour of
this Bill.
Several Reports of Railway Committees were brought up.
CALEDONIAN INSURANCE COMPANY.
This Bill was read a third time and passed.
BRISTOL WATER WORKS. i

This Bill was;lis;;;;1 ail;ird time and passed.
Mr. H. BERKELEY moved that the petition of George
Whieldon, Esq., be referred to the Committee to whom the
London and Birmingham Railway (Coventry to Nuneaton)
Bill stands referred, and that the petitioner be heard by his
counsel, agents, and witnesses, notwithstanding his petition was
not presented three clear days before the day appointed for
the first meeting of the Committee.

EAST AND WEST YORKSHIRE JUNCTION RAIL
WAY BILL.

Mr. LAWSON moved that this Bill, be further considered.
Sir G. CLERK wished to call the attention of the House
to the maximum charges in this Bill, which were higher than
those generally charged.
Mr. LAWSON said be was not aware that such was the fact.
The Bill was then adjourned ; and the same HON. MEMBER
moved the second reading of the Knaresborough and Leeds
and Thirsk Railway Bills, and the Harrogate Gas Bills, which
were agreed to.
On the motion of Mr. LAWSON, also, the Dublin and
Kingston Railway Extension Bill was read a second time.
Mr. EWART brought up the report of the Manchester and
Birmingham Extension Railway Bill.
Lord DALAIENEY brought up the report of the London
and Birmingham Extension Railway Bill.
Sir C. DOUGLASS brought up that of the Reading, Guild-
ford and Reigate Railway Bill.
Mr. E. Denison, Lord Morpeth, Mr. Hindley, Mr. Ag-
lionbv, and several other Members, brought up reports of rail-
way Bills.
Jr. SPOONER moved that the standing order No. 121 be
suspended, in the case of the amendments proposed to be made
on the third reading of the Boston, Stamford, and Birming-
ham:Railway Bill, of which notice had been given in the Private
Bill Office.
KENNINGTON LANE LIGHTING BILL.

On the motion of Mr. HA WES,,this Bill was read:a second time.
Mr. GREENE said it was useless to oppose the progress of
this Bill, but a great public inconvenience arose from the
anomaly in the clauses of private Bills, of which a notable ex-
ample was presented in that before the House ; and he thought
a great improvement might be made in the practice of our pri-
vate legislation, if some uniform rule were to be adopted for
framing the clauses of private Bills, which interfered with pro-
perty.
After a few words from Mr. HAWES,
Mr. HUAIE said the House ought to put a stop to this irre-
gular kind of legislation. In one town in the kingdom sixty
private Acts were in force; and two Acts were passed in one
year which contradicted each other ; and, therefore, the
general law of the land was over-ridden by enactments passed
without sufficient deliberation. There were two authorities
in the same town, which awarded different punishments for
the same offence. He considered that these facts were suffi-
cient to justifying him in calling upon the House to stop the
further progress of this Bill until the Committee were enabled
to make their report, which would take place in about fourteen
days.—( Hear, hear.)
After a short discussion the further consideration of the Bill
was postponed for a fortnight.
The following Bills were read a second time :
Edinburgh and Northern Railway (Branches from the Dundee
and Arbroath Railway and Tay Ferry Improvement).
Edinburgh and Northern Railway (Strathearr& Deviation).
Edinburgh and Northern Railway (Newport Railway and
Saint Andrew's Branch).
Arbroath and Forfar Railway.