The Sun.
London, England, 1851-03-07 00:00:00

FRIDAY EVENING,

Mr. SPOONER objected to the Bill on the ground
that the principle of it was to set aside the
claims of all the creditors of tho company unless
they became partners in the undertaking, which had for
many years been in a bankrupt state. A gr.-at number
of debentures had been issued by the company, and the
effect of this Bill would be to render them entirely va-
lueless, except where the hulders of them chose
to become proprietors. Ile, therefore, hoped the
House would not give its assent to Po unjust
and monstrous a proposition. The Honourable Member
moved that it bio read a second time this day six months.
Sir DE LACY EVANS supported the second read-
ing of the Bill.
Mr. MUNTZ would be exceedingly sorry if this
Bill were passed, and be thought that everybody be-
longing to the concern would be sorry too that they had
ever got it.
Mr. BOOKER protested against the principle of this
Bill being entertained by the House.
Mr. MACGREGOR supported the second, reading of
the Bill.

Mr. BROTHERTON thought that the Bill ought to
go into Committee, in order to give opportunities for
investigation.
Mr. G. C. LEGII opposed the Bill.
The I-louse then divided, when them appeart-d
For the second reading
Against it
Majority —s7
The Bill was then read a second time.
PETITIONS.

Mr. TANCRED presented a petition from the Catho-
lics of Banhur) against the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill.
Mr. L. HODGES presented a petition against the re-
moval of Smithfield C' the Market.

Sir DE LACY EVANS presented a petition from
Wu stminstcr praying for the repeal of the window-tax.
Mr. S. ADAIR, presented a petition praying for a re-
peal of the taxes on knowledge.
Sir R. H. INGLIS presented a petition against the
Papal aggression. and praying for the auppretsion of
Jesuit a%tablishraents.

Sir GEORGE STRICKLANI) presented two p ti•
tions from Preston against the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill.

Mr. Alderman SIDNEY presented four petitions
against the Government measure for the removal of
Smithfield, and a petition trom the butchers of Enfield
praying to be heard by counsel against the Bill,
BOARD OF CUSTOMS.

Mr. MITCHELL gave notice that on an early day
he should move for the appointment of a Select Com-
mittee to inquire into the management of the Board of
Customs, with a view to its improvement—(Bear, hear)
—and saving expense to the country.
Mr. MACGREGOR and several other Hon. Members
presented petitions to the House, and postponed motions
of which they had given notice.
CHANCERY REFORM.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL gave notice that it was his
intention to bring in a Bill on an early day for a reform
in the practice of the Court cf Chancery.
THE KAFIR WAR.

Sir DE LACY NVANS begged to adi the Noble Lord
at the head of the Government a question respecting the
intentions of the Ministry in providing for the expenses of
the contest. He put this question in the hope that :the
colonists would have to bear the weight of their owncon-
flicts.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL replied that all he could
say at present was, that his Noble Friend at the
head:of the Colonial Department had written to the
Governor of the colony, enjoining him in the strongest
manner to take care that no expenditure should
be incurred in the event of a Kafir war which
would fall on the Government of this country. The co-
lony must, therefore, be expected to bear its own ex-
penses. At the present time it was impossible to say
more thin this—that with the exception of sending out
a necessary reinforcement, no expense would be incurred
in respect of the war without the sanction of the House.
Sir W. MOLES WORTH wished to know whether
the Under-Secretary for the Colonies had any official
information with regard to the commencement of the
war

Mr. HAWES said, as soon as any dispatches were
received they would be laid on the table of the House;
but he might observe that be believed too much
importance had been attached to the information which
had been circulated among the public. No diepatch had
yet been received from the Governor, and the only
dispatch which the Government were in possession of
was that of tb Colonial Secretary, which communicated
fba nature or the events in the colony up to the
4th of January last. The reason why no dispatch
was received from the Governor was that at that time
he was surrounded by a large body of Kafirs.—(Loul
laughter.) Since that date Sir H. Smith, with that eha-
racteristie gallantry, skill, and courage which belonged
to him, had emancipated himself frrn all his difficulties,
and gallantly cut his way through hordes of b:rbarilns.
—(Cheers.) A steamer was expected every hour with
fresh advices, bringing accounts up to a period three
weeks later than those last received.
EXCISE.

Colonel SIBTHOBP wished to know whether it was
true that the chairman of the Excise, Sir John Wood,
had received an increase of 5001. a year, in addition to
his salary of 2,0001.?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, if
the Gallant Member would move for the necessary mi-
nute on the subject, he would be glad to state the rea-
sons why that increase ha,' be, n made.
In reply tr; Mr. BAILLIE,