The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-14 00:00:00

SUNDAY TRADING.

Mr. WAKLEY also presented a petition fr, m the
church wardens, overseers, and guardian. of the poor of
St. Luke's parish, praying the House to introduce a
measure to prevent Sunday trading.
Mr. FIUME presented a petition from the Tower
Hamlets, praying that that district might not be included
in the operation of the Small Debts Bill. Also a petition
from a merchant of Liverpool, complaining of being
harshly treated by the Trinity House authorities, and
praying the House to substitute inquiries into the
powers and management of the trustees of that charity.
Also a petition from a parish in the county of Norfolk
complaining of the enormous amount of poor rates levied
on them (15s. 6d. in the pound), and stating that the
neighbouring parishes were supplied with labour from
their parish. They prayed that a general rate might be
limited in all parishes, instead of the rates being limited
to particular parishes.
The IION. MEMBER also presented a petition from the
inhabitants of Brentford praying for the abolition of
corporal punishment in the army as soon as it could
possibly be done, and any other made of discipline sub-
stituted.

The Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod here attended to
summon the Commons before the Upper House to hear
the Royal Assent given by Commission to several Bills.
Mr. HUME presented a petition from James Sedge-
wick, Esq., a barrister-at-law, stating that after a long
service in the Excise and Board of Stamps, he had
been removed from that office, and placed on
a retiring allowance of 3001. per annum. The
petitioner prayed for a Select Committee to in-
quire into the allegations made against him, and prayed
that until such inquiry were made the retiring allow-
ance might be withdrawn, and that in case of such alle-
gations being discovered to be without foundation, that
ho might be reinstated in his office. The Hon. Member
gave notice, that to-morrow he would move that the pe-
tition be printed with the votes.
Lord MARCUS HILL presented a petition in favour
of the Small Debts Bill.
_ FLOGGING IN THE ARMY.

Mr. ESCOTT said he had a motion on the paper
on the subject of flogging in the army but he under-
stood that the Right Hon. Gentleman the Secretary-at-
War objected to make the returns required. He did
not know what the Right Hon. Gentleman's objections
were, and in the absence of any intimation from the
Right Hon. Gentleman upon the subject, he still re-
mained of opinion that the returns were necessary to
supply the House with ample and accurate informa-
tion with regard to the extent and amount of corporal
punishment which had recently tisken place in the army.
The Hon. Gentleman concluded by moving for a return
of persons flogged in the army in Great Britain and
Ireland, in the years 1845 and 1846, to the end of July ;
specifying, I. The offence. 2. The regiment, the place
of station, the time. 3. The sentence. 4. The order
for its execution. 5. Whether the trials were open to
the public, or only open to the regiment, or with closed
doors. 6. The number of lashes inflicted, and the
day. 7. [low soon after punishment the man was able
to return to his duty, and at what place he was then
quartered. 8. Whether death has followed within twelve
months of the flogging, and the date of such death. 9.
Whether the punishment was inflicted, if in cavalry re-
giments, by the trumpeter or farriers ; if in infantry re-
giments, by privates or drummers, and with what instru-
ment. 10. Copies of the surgeon's minutes of all such
punishments, and any subsequent observations on their
cmsequences.
Mr. FOX MAULE had hoped that after the recent
discussion on this painful subject, and after the deter-
mination et the Commander-in-Chief on the subject, the
matter would have been left at rest for the pre-
sent. With respect to the returns sought, he had no
objection to give them for the last year—noting the
number of cases of flogging, the offence, the regiment, the
pla?,*4 of station, the
and the svntence. He did not
see much tt,e in giving the order for in execution, though
be would have no objection to that. With regard to the
tri,:.ls, the custom u ie,ll) war, to conduct c I.irzs-inartiz.tl
with open doors, and he had never heard any complaints