The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-29 00:00:00

J. Christie, Esq., to be Captain, vice E. F. Erskine, deceased,
April 22.
Commissions by the Lord-Lieutenant of Ayrshire.
115th, or Prince Regent's Royal Regiment of Ayrshire
Militia—T. Davidson, Esq., to be Captain, vice R. M'Der-
ment Fergushill, resigned; P. Warner, Esq., to be Captain,
vice W. Rankin, resigned ; Ensign R. Mackay to be Lieu-
tenant, vice T. Davidson, resigned, April 8.
BANKRUPTCY SUPERSEDED.
Joseph Quarton, grocer, Stamford-bridge, Yorkshire.
BANKRUPTS.

Charles John Bond, tailor, Blackheatb, to surrender May
8, and June 12, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Whit-
more, official assignee ; Englekeart, Great Knight Rider-
street, Doctors'- commons.
Hannah Waldeck, chemist, Nelson-square, Blackfriars-
road, May 5, at two, and June 9, at eleven, at the Court of
Bankruptcy. Alsager, official assignee, Birchin-lane ; Bevan,
Old Jewry.
James Laws, grocer, Broad-street, Golden-square, May 12,
at two, and June 9, at half-past one, at the Court of Bank-
ruptcy. Edwards, official assignee, Frederick's-place, Old
Jewry; Burn, Great Carter-lane, Doctors'-commons.
Charles Pulling, potato salesman, Hay's-wharf, Tooley-
street, May 12, at half-past two, and June 9, at two, at the
Court of Bankruptcy. Edwards, official assignee, Frederick's-
place, Old Jewry ; Maples, Pearse, Stevens, and Maples,
Frederick's-place, Old Jewry.
Alfred Birchall, share broker, Manchester, May 14 and
June 14, at twelve, at the Manchester District Court. Hob-
son, official assignee, Manchester ; Reed and Langford, Fri-
day-street, Cheapside ; Sale, Worthington, and Shipman,
Manchester.

James Hampson, iron founder, Manchester, May 14 and
June 11, at twelve, at the Manchester District Court. Hob-
son, official assignee, Manchester; Coppock, Cleveland-row,
St. James's, or Coppock and Woollam, Stockport.
Thomas Crewdson, stockbroker, Liverpool, May 7 at
eleven, and May 29, at twelve, at the Liverpool District
Court. Morgan, official assignee ; Gregory and Co., Bedford-
row, London ; Green, Brunswick-buildings, Brunswick-street,
Liverpool.
Owen Hughes, linen draper, Holyhead, May 15 and May
29, at twelve, at the Liverpool District Court. Cazenove,
official assignee, Liverpool; Sweeting and Byrne, Southamp-
ton-buildings, Chancery-lane, London ; Roberts, Carnarvon ;
Curry and Co., Liverpool.
George Leather and Charles Wetherell Wardle, earthen-
ware manufacturers, Ma' 14 and June 18, at eleven, at the
Leeds District Court. 1 oung, official assignee, Leeds; Sud-
low and Co., Chancery lane, London; Shackleton, Leeds.
Edward Hill, hosier, Stourport, Worcester, May 11 and
June 8, at one, at the Birmingham District Court. Bittleson,
official assignee, Birmingham ; Pritchard and Ingram, Stour-
port; Rawlins, Temple-row, Birmingham.
William Perry, iron founder, Wolverhampton, May 9 and
June 6, at eleven, at the Birmingham District Court. Whit-
more, official assignee, Birmingham ; Bennett and Thorne,
Wolverhampton.

John Parsons, edge tool manufacturer, 'Wolverhampton,
May 8, and 13, at eleven, at the Birmingham District Court.
Christie, official assignee, Birmingham ; Motteram and
Knowles, Birmingham.
[Dividends, &c., in our next. j

MARKET INTELLIGENCE.
(From the London ...Yew Price:Current of April 28.)
SUGAR.—To-day West India Sugar of all kinds was sought
after by grocers and refiners; a largebusiness was transacted
considering the indifference and smallness of the show, and
the rates paid were 6d to is. per cwt. above those of Friday,
for brown, yellow, and grey kinds.
REFINED.—To-day Relined goods of all sorts were pnr
chased with eagerness by the home trade, and further ad-
vanced rates were paid, brown melting lumps selling at 64s
6d to Gss, brown grocery 65s 6d to 663 and standard lumps
66s Id to 67s per cwt.—indeed, tha market has been nearly
cleared. Bonded Crushed Sugar has fallen in value, 33 to
33s 3d per cwt. having been taken for several parcels of first
quality for forward delivery.
MAURITI I:S.—This afternoon Mauritius was in extensive
request, and the parcels offered at auction, amounting to
10,987 bags 28 casks and 36 barrels were readily disposed of
at an advance on former rates of Is per cwt.
EAST INDIA. —This afternoon yellow llavannali Sugar
was purchased with less freedom, 1,565 chests at auction
mostly found buyers, but rather under former rates.
Cocoa.—There has been little desire evinced to operate
privately in West India, and none has been submitted to
public competition ; former rates are not obtainable, and the
stock is a large one. Foreign is dull of sale, and 184 bags
Bahia at auction were taken in.
FOREIGN.—This afternoon Bengal Sugar met with in•
cpilieicaessed attention,
exhibiting
an advance and 2;4nBeoeof i
bagss at auction were all sold at
Mor.AssEs.--In West India a goodp pert cwt.
business has been trans-
acted, and at prices rather above those previously current.
low to fine b;inging 20s 6d to 24s 6d per cwt. Bengal Treacle
has met with more attention, and the parcels sold privately
were at folly former rates.
COFFEE.-'Phis afternoon Mocha Coffee was purcha,ed
with caution, and two parcels offered at auction, amounting
to 629 bales, 981 x; bales were only in part sold upon rather
lower terms. _ _

SPinrrs---There has been a strong desire shown to pur-
chase Jamaica Rum of all descriptions, and the rates offered
have been ld to 2d per gallon above those previously current,
but business has been checked by the small supply at
market. Leeward Island is much wanted, and prices con-
tinue on the advance. In Demerara a good business has
been transacted, and at improved rates. Calcutta has
been extensively dealt in, and higher rates are paid
Although Brandy can be obtained upon lower terms, still the
purchases made have been limited in all descriptions. Fine
Geneva fur home consumption is wanted at 2s 8d to 3s, but
the common export sort is dull of sale at 2s ld to 2s 2d.
British Corn Spirits have been purchased with caution at
lOs 6d per gallon nett cash.
INDIGO.—The quarterly sales of East India have termi-
nated. The quantity of Indigo disposed of at this sale has
been much greater than was to be expected from the pre-
viously depressed state of -the market.
SALTPETRE.—To-day three parcels of Calcutta, amounting
to 2,093 bags, were offemd at public sale; there was little
desire evinced to operate, and the whole was taken in at
barely former rates.

OILS.—In Southern Oil prices have slightly given way.
In Cod a good business has been transacted privately;
holders manifest firmness. Prices do not improve for Seal,
although a fair quantity has been disposed Of since our last
report. Sperm has been, purchased with less freedom, and
there are sellers privately upon rather lower terms. The de
liveries of Fish Oil have again exceeded the arrivals, yet
prices still shciw a considerable decline, in comparison with
those of last year. Cocoa Nut has been sparingly dealt in
privately. Of Palm ma ny parcels have been taken, but
better rates are not obtait 'able. For Linseed Oil lower rates
have been taken. There are sellers of Rape Seed upon
lower terms, but few buyers are to be met with. In Olive
Oil many purchases hive been made, and holders evince
firmness. _ .

TALLOW. —The business transacted in Russian on the
spot has been extremely limited and prices are going down.
There are few purchasers to be met with for forward delivery.
but 42s fid to 435. per cwt, duty paid, are the rates insisted
upon for the last three months of the year. For Australian
Tallow a good demand has existed on the spot, and previous
rates are sustained. Other kinds have met with attention
and brought fair market rates.

RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS.
BRISTOL, Amur. 28.
STOCK EXCANGHE.—The sales are—Bristol and Exeter, New, 9%
—Birmingham and Gloucesl er, Quarter Shares (issued 734 dis.), 31%
—Caledonian, 6 7-16—Midland, 150—Welsh Midland, 1%.
31ANCJ JESTER, Aran. 28.
STOCK EXCIIINOE.—The sales are—Blackburn, Darwen, and Bol-
ton, 2 dis.—Buckingham and Bletchly Junction, 34 dis.—Chester
and Manchester Direct, 134" dis.—Clitheroo Junction, 1 dis.—Derby
and Crewe, 2 p.—Direct Northern, 114 dis.—Eastern Counties, 23'/
—East Lancashire (No. 2),. 2 P.—Glasgow and Dumfries, 44 dis.—
Goole, Doncaster, Sheffield, &c., 54 dis.—Great Grimsby and Shef-
field, 5 dis.—Huddersfield, Halifax, and Bradford, 1% p.—Hudders-
field, and Manchester ]zany M lay and
Canal, 44 dis.—Ditto, Extension,
54 Ms.—Huddersfield ant. Sheffield Junction, 41%s p.—Leeds and
Thirsk, 5% dis.—Liverpoo I and Bury, 8 p.—Ditto, New Shares, 13(
P.— Liverpool and Leeds "Direct, % dis.—Liverpool, Ormskirk, and
Preston, 11s. 6d. p.—Liver) mol, Preston, Manchester, and Southport,
11 dis.—Loudon and Manchester (Remington's), 114 dis.—Manches-
ter, Buxton, and Matlock., 1-16 P.—Manchester and Birmingham,
781 —Ditto, Quarters (A), 8% —Ditto, ditto (B), p.—Ditto,
ditto (C), 7%—!Manchester and Leeds, Halves, 1734 p.—Ditto, Quar-
ters, 75i p.—Ditto, Exterslon, 16s. P.—Northumberland and Lanca-
shire, 17s. dls.—North Stall fordshire, 244 p.—Oldham, Birkenhead,
&c.,
19s. 6d. dis.—Preston and Wyre, Halves, (B), 13-16 p.—Preston
and Wyre Extension, % dis.—Sheffield and Lincolnshire Junction,
3s. 9d. dis.—Sheffield and Manchester, Quarters (No. 2), 2% p.—
Ditto, ditto (No. 3), % p.—Sonth Eastern and Dover, Halves (No.
4), is. 3d. dis.—West Riding Union, 2p.
HULL, APRU. 28.

STOCK EiterwiciE.—We have had a rather spirited market to-day
in scrip, particulowly Hull and Barnsley. Heavy stock, of which
little is offered b ere, was also more inquired after, at much better
prices. The sales are—London and Brighton, 6414—Blackburn,
Darwen, and F;olton, 21. Bs. 9d.—Huddersfield and Sheffield Junction,
12—Newcastle and Berwick, 203(—Nerth British, Half Shares, 8%
—Ditto, Car'dsle, 395. 6d.—North Wales, 15s.—Armagh, Coleraine,
and Portrusit, 123.—Bradford, Wakefield, and Midland, 30s.—Chelms-
ford and Br try, Ils. 9d.—Derby and Gainsborough, 13s. 6d.—East
Lincolushi• :e, 13s. 3d.—East Coast, 225. 3d.—Grimsby, Louth, and
llonicasti e, 235. 6d.—Hull and Barnsley Junction, 265. 6d.—Hull and
Lincoln, '2ls. 6d. —Leicester and Tamworth, 201. 6d.—North Staf-
fordshire, 41. 12s. 6d.—South Midland, 425. 9d.— Shrewsbury and
Binning/ tam, 214 —Tean and Dove Valley, 143.—West Riding Union,
4—York .shire and Glasgow Union, 235.

• LEEDS, APRIL 28.
Siva : EXCIIANGE.-The sales are-Eastern Counties, York Ex-
tension , 275. 6d. p.-London and Croydon, 22-Manchester and Leeds
Eaten/ ions, 2 p.-East Lancashire, No. 2 (late Accrington), 2 c. p. -
Great Orimisy and Sheffield, 4ii dis.-Huddersfield and Manchester,
1 dis.- -Ditto, Extensions, 1 dis.-Huddersfield and Sheffield, 3% c.
p.-Le eds and Bradford, 26% p.-Leads and Dewsbury, 2% p.-
Ditto, New Branches, Is. 6(1. p.-,Ditto, New Extensions, ss. p.-
Livtal ,00l and Bury, 1% p.-North British, New Carlisle Branch,
15s. p.-Ainbergate, Nottingham, and Boston, 255. dis.-Bradford,
Wakefield, and Midland, 21s. 6d. dis.-Chelmstbrd and Bury, 17s.
ells. - -Direct Northern, 255. dis.-Essex and Suffolk, 15s. 6d.-Glas-
dis -Leeds and York, 235. dis.-Lelcester and Bedford, 14s. 6d.
rßlairmnd
gd3owrv. ;L.
uweso andr
Northumberland
ehrnti Dumfries,
d2i28., -1.
dLiisvirpweoels,tonrmia;skirk, and Preston, 10s. p.-Loudon and York,
171. I tis.-Manchester, Buxton, Matlock, and Midland, 2s. 6d. p.-
M,
msby and
St, sffordshire,
Knand,
Ch eltenham, 17s. 6d. dis.-South Midlands, 6d. dis. - Welsh Midlands,
2 %
p;
Ni naognr
thdah►l n
Lancashire
Western.
d dis.-Oxford,
Junction,-n and WelshxoripsJunction,
wdidis.-North
reyN oal r
t7nsidi
t :mien, 1/. Bs.- --ag Union. 31. 18s.-York and Carlisle, 265. 6d.
dis. -Yorkshire and Glasgow Union, 265. 6d. dis.
SHEFFIELD, APRIL 28.
S Tc'ez
Excrials°z.-The sales are-London and -Brighton, 64%-
15s --Ditto Railway
, , , ' and Dock. 2-Grand Union (Nottingham to
Lynn), ...IL-London and Windsor,' 12s. 6d.-Leeds, Wakefield, and
Sheffield, Extension, U. 25.-Ditto, Quarter Shares,
~,:lo_n_ lap Extension, 31s. 6d.
---, -Sibeffield and Lincolnshire, 215.- Sheffield and Lincolnshire Ex-
INs -Manchester and Lincoln Union and Canal, 1/. is. 6,1.
til burgh, GI
srocz , EXETER, Aran, 28.
Sheffield, Buxton, Leek, Potteries and Crewe, 14s.
Tr irk Excrusoß.-The sales are-Eastern Counties, 24-Ditto,
1: Extension, 1 7i, - Devon
tovil, and Dorchester, 1%.
STOCIC E GLASGOW, APRIL 27.
2ts.___A xcrresos,-The sales are-Aberdeen, Banff, and Elgin,
yr and Galloway, 315.-British and Irish Union, 435.-Cale-
-Caledonian and Dumbartonshire June-
I. I:an , 303.--Cornwall and Devon Central, 30s. 6d.-East Indian Rail- 1
- -.Ynt 95- 9d--Edinburgh and Glasgow, 721.-Ditto, New, 16%-
London, Bristol
rthern, 955.-Ditto, Lochgelly, 19s. 6d.-Edinburgh and Peebles,
Glasgow, and Dumbarton, 19s. 6d.-Edinburgh and
275.-Forth and Clyde Junction, 355. 6d.-Glasgow General Ter-
minus, 9L-Glasgow and Belfast Union, 345. 6d.-Glasgow, Kil-
marnock and
' Ayr, Quarter Shares (5 per cent. guar.), 18/. -Glasgow,
Dumfries, and
SRII, 27s.-Glasgow and d Dundee Junction, 335.-Glasgow Barbour
Mineral, 315.-
Carlisle 375. 6d.--Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ardros-
Inverness and Elgin, 20s. 6d.-Lanark and Lothians,
40s. 6d.-Larne, Belfast and Ballymena, 125.-Lestnahagow, 425.-
eNfieiweil 3114-Perth and Inverness, 31s. 6d.-Scottish Central and
----°lllan Julletbri, 26 6d South Midland, 395.-South anti Mid-
land Junction, 20 g.
• ..---
Dunfermline, 355.-Wishaw and
, and South' Wales, 20s. 6d.-Midland, 1461.-Ditto,
s.--- Stir'n g and
Coltness, 47%.

wereel
/sT
° —°KE.—Ou Thursday last two boys applied to a
ownerwrn of the field
gentleman hi the town of Hatlicigb for permission to draw a few
turnips from a large field close by, which was readily granted ; but
immediately
wicked young urchins, not satisfied with helping themselves,
ted,ately spread the report that the proprietor wished to have the
whole field cleared. Whole families in Benton-street, and some
rtiooitill other parts of the town, who might have known better, rushed
lylr.Secretary Gladstone spot with baskets, sacks, barrows, and even horses and carts
when 'laded ; a regular traffic was kept up for nearly two hours,
en there could not be less than 200 present ; but suddenly the
others took
to their heels and tumbled over the fences in all directions,
the r:
begged his pardon and deposited their previous loads. How
Presented himself, and was amazed at the scene ;
mom' atter will end will be seen ; but if they had reasoned for a mo-
ent that a
tke refuse, they might P 1 ded that the good portion of the
crop wauld.not h t have cope U
Express. are been disposed of at cheap
number of shee were penned in one corner eating
Mr
Brighton. arrived in town yesterday from

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
HOUSE OF LORDS, April 28.
Their Lordships met at Five o'clock.
SUNDAY TRADING.
Lord REDESDALE presented a petition from the parochial
authorities of St. George the Martyr against Sunday trading.
The Marquis of ANGLESEY presented a petition from
St. George-in-the-East to the same effect ; also one against
the Charitable Trusts Bill.
LONDON AND YORK RAILWAY.
Lord KINNAIRD presented a petition in favour of the
London and York Railway Bill.
THE BUDE LIGHT.
The Earl ST. GERMANS presented a petition from what
he termed a very ingenious gentleman, Mr. Gurney, praying
that inquiry be made as to the eligibility of the Bude light for
the new Houses of Parliament. The Noble Earl moved that
it be referred to the Committee for Ventilation.—Agreed to.
MINISTERS' MONEY.
Lord CAMPBELL presented a petition from the Mayor,
Aldermen, and Common Council of the city of Waterford,
praying for the abolition of ministers' money. They repre-
sented a strong case for the consideration of their Lordships—
namely, that while the whole population of Waterford
consisted principally of Roman Catholics, personal tax,
as they stated, was imposed upon thorn, which, they
considered, was fraught with great hardships; and, besides,
was wholly unnecessary, as the funds of the Irish Protestant
Church were abundantly sufficient, if properly applied, to defray
the expenses of public worship in the city of Waterford.
SELLING SPIRITS ON THE SABBATH.
The NOBLY LORD also presented a petition from several re-
spectable inhabitants of Tervay, Bedfordshire, praying for a
repeal of the law which allowed the sale of spirituous liquors
on the Lord's-day.
ST. ASAPH AND BANGOR.
A NOBLE LORD presented a numerously signed petition
from a place in Cornwall against the union of these sees.
SCOTCH BURGH BILL.

Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition against this Bill.
CHARITABLE TRUSTS BILL.
Lord REDESDA LE presented a petition from the " Mae-
ter Filers and Seamen of the Trinity House" against this
Bill. It stated that James 11. granted certain privileges and
revenues to the Trinity House to be applied, amongst other
things, to the relief of the widows of those who had suffered
shipwreck. They prayed that those revenues might not be
placed under the operation of this Act, as they were quite
ready to have their accounts inspected.
THE PROPOSED RAILWAY BILL.
Earl FITZ WILLIAM said they were now about to enter
upon the second reading of the Bill that had been introduced
for the purpose of regulating all futUre railway Bills. He ap-
proved of the measure entirely, for he did think it was
time to put an end to the disgraceful mania
for railways that had existed, and which had been most mis-
chievous to the country at large. He would now beg to move
that there be laid upon the table of the House an account of
the total estimated cost of all railways for which peti-
tions had been presented in this session of Parlia-
ment, distinguishing between the Bills that had been
withdrawn and those that were now pending. It
was an absurdity to call these railway Bills private Bills.
They should have been dealt with with more extended views,
as Bills involving the means of communication with all parts
of Great Britain. They were national Bills, and should have
been dealt with as such. He proposed some years since to have
a general survey of the country, with a viaw to establish
a general system of railway communication. The answer that
he received was, that it was too late now. He differed from
people who thought that if they swamped a great number of
the present railway Bills this session they would hear no more
of railways for the future. There would always be a great dis-
position to speculate in railways. They had always been pro-
fitable investments. He believed it was not too late to take
the initiative so far as it could be taken in the matter, by esta-
blishing a railway department in connexion with the State,
something en the principle of the Poor-law Commission.
The Duke of CLEVELAND fully agreed with what had
fallen from the Noble Lord. Such a motion would have the effect
of relieving many from theposition in which they had placed them-
selves from the fever which seized them in railway speculation.
The whole system of railway legislation required a complete
change. Nothing could be more frightful than the state of
things which prevailed, promoting bankruptcy and gambling to
a great extent, yet what had been done had been encouraged
by the Government and Parliament. If they looked to the ses-
sion of 1844, leaving out of view the projects of the present year,
they would find that more schemes were brought forward than
had been projected from the formation of the first railway up to
that period. The present system completely dissipated the
finances of the country, as well as corrupted its morals.
Last year they had stopped the gaming houses in Pall-mall and
Aber places, and he could not see what difference there was
between gambling carried on in such houses and that which
had taken place in regard to railways. While in the former
ease it was limited to a few places, in the latter it had become
widely extended. It was necessary, in order to cheek this gam-
bling, that Parliament should retrace its steps. During the
continuance of the undue speculation, many persons who were
wholly irresponsible took upon themselves the office of direr:-
.ors, not for the purpose of projecting schemes for the benefit
of the public, but for the express purpose of obtaining money
from the public for their own purposes. Why should there
not then be a Board of Works, to whom the plans of new lines
.hould be submitted, and who should give their opinion whe-
t her the railways ought or ought not to be made ?—( Hear,
kear.) This, in his opinion, would prevent the promulgation
of futile projects, and consequently render essential benefit to
the community. At present, parties might take a map of
England in their hands and project a line through any part of
it which had not a railway; and they might do this, although
persons possessed of neither influence nor capital, and totally
unconnected with the locality for which they proposed a rail-
way. Landowners ought not to be allowed to oppose projects
simply because they passed through their land, if it could be
proved that they would confer benefits on the country, but they
ought not to be at the mercy of engineers and solicitors in
country towns.—(Hear, hear.) The Government ought to
bring in a new Bill with respect to railways, and appoint such
a tribunal as the one he suggested ; they would then have good
railways instead of bad ones, and would put an end to all those
bubble schemes of which they had heard so much. But if they
did not adopt some such plan, they might rest assured that
such projects would increase instead of diminishing.
Lord AIONTEAGLE said it was his intention to call for
some further information bearing on the question. It was not
always they could get an estimate of the cost of construction of
railways; and even when they only got a list of Bills, they did
net get at the root of all the mischief, because such a list would
not contain those projects on which money had been paid and
expended, but which had not come before the consideration of
Parliament. The documents he wished for were these :—he
would wish to have a list of all the motions for Bills that had
appeared in the Gazette ; he would wish for a list of all the
Bills of which notice had been given at the Private Bill-office;
an account of all the capital
_proposed to be raised and to be
borrowed ; and, as the most important of all, an account of the
number of shares issued in order to raise this capital. His
object was to show the House the necessity of putting an end to
this system of gambling.
Lord CAMPBELL rose to speak to the motion, when
The LORD CHANCELLOR proceeded to put the motion.
Lord CAMPBELL still insisting upon addressing their
Lordships,
The LORD CHANCELLOR—WiII the Noble Lord allow
me to put this motion ? He can, then speak on the second
motion.
The motion was then put and carried.
Lord CAMPBELL—I am very glad that we are able to jog
on a little in our business. It certainly is not, however, owing
to my Noble and Learned Friend. The part of the House in
which he sits is generally the most irregular quarter of the
House.
The LORD CHANCELLOR—I have no authority, like
the Speaker of the House of Commons, to call Noble Lords
to order. If I had, I have no doubt 1 should have occasion
every day to call the Noble Lord to order.—( Laughter. )
Lord CAMPBELL—I know my Noble and Learned Friend
has no power to call Noble Lords to order, but he has the
power of preventing disorder. The most disorderly quarter of
the:House is that which is nearest the woolsack.—( Laughter.)
The Noble Lord went on to say that he thought there should
be a railway department in connexion with the Government.
The loan appointed last year had failed, because their powers
were not defined by an Act of Parliament. He trusted that
the suggestion thrown out by the Noble Lord would meet with
the serious attention of the Government.
The Duke of WELLINGTON—The Railway Board of
last session was appointed in consequence of the proceedings
of a Committee of the House of Commons, and a report of the
House of Commons. Its powers were limited in consequence
of that report. It was a measure imposed by certain private
transactions which came before Parliament, to enable the
promoters of these transactions to carryinto
them execution.
The Noble Lord might be right ; Parliament did not, per-. haps, give sufficient power.
Lord BROUGHAM thought the Government could not
have done worse than getting up a report, but the Board of
Trade was materially crippled by it. He agreed with the
Noble Lord behind him that a Board should be formed, for not
only a railway department, but for all private Bills. He
looked upon the manner in which such things were conducted
by our continental' neighbours. He was perfectly satisfied
that the decisions of such a Board in every instance would
make the law, and they would have constant and economical,
but, above all, right and just decisions. It was impossible that
the Committee at present sitting on railway Bills, could satis-
factorily perform their duties. It was better done in that
House than in the Representative House, from their Lordships
being a more judicial body; still it was not performed in the way
that it ought to be done. He hoped that some such salutary
measure as that he referred to would be adopted.—( Hear. )
Lord ASHBURTON perfectly agreed with the Noble and
Learned Lord, and with the feeling expressed by their Lord-
:hips, that the whole system of railway legislation should be
altered, and some responsible and efficient Board appointed.
He hoped that they would not have to wait much longer before
the Government did something in the matter, or if they did
not, he trusted that a Committee of that House would consider
some plan for meeting the state of things complained of.
The Board suggested by the Noble Duke should be constituted
so as to command the respect of those whom its decisions
would affect. But he apprehended that it would not, be-
cause they had an instance in the Poor-law Commissioners—
men of respectable position and influence—being made an ob-
ject which parties, whom their decisions affected, treated
with considerable obloquy. He was afraid that such a tribunal
would not meet with the approbation of the public. If the
Committees, in deciding on the Bills submitted for their con-
sideration this session, paid particular attention to the amount
of capital invested, and to the wants of the districts through
which they were designed to pass, he believed that no projects
save those required would pass into law. He could not sit
down without expressing his strong conviction that the mea-
sure brought forward by the Government was loudly called
for, and would effect great good.
Lord BROUGHAM said, although the Noble Lord abused
roads, be (Lord Brougham) could state, that they had been
really improved during the last four or five years.
The Earl of DALHOUSIE said, he conceived the House
would not wish him to express any decided opinion on the
question hofore the House. He wished, however, to ad dress a
few words, calling attention to the fact, that his Noble Friends
about him, and his Colleagues in the other House, were not
responsible for the absence of any measure forcontrolling railways
In the very first session after her Majesty's Ministers obtained
power there was no appearance of a number of railway Bills at
all, but in the next session, when there was likely to be a
great demand for projects of that kind, her Majesty's Govern-
ment took the subject into their consideration, and in the very
first week of that session a Committee was appointed on the
subject on the motion of the President of the Board of Trade.
The subject was minutely gone into by that Committee, and
their report, after fully entering into the subject of railways,
and their superintendence, recommended that a department of
the executive Government should be entrusted with a certain
preliminary authority on railway Bills, before their coming
into Parliament. The Committee recommended that that
department should be entrusted with some authority, and
should report on the desirability, or not, of such Bills ; and
in their recommendation the province of dealing with these
Bills was assigned to the Board of Trade. He need not re-
mind their Lordships that at that time there was an extreme
degree of jealousy on the part of the representatives of the
people, and not less jealousy on the part of their Lordships,
against any assumption of control over those projects by the
Government ; and, therefore, the Committee distinctly laid
down the powers which should be given to that de-
partment—exactly what they should inquire into, and no
more. He had the honour of being placed at the
head of that department. He could state, with perfect confi-
dence, that no labour was spared on his own part, and on the