The Sun.
London, England, 1858-05-12 00:00:00

MINING OPERATIONS

Mr. RICARDO presented peitions from the copy.
holders and inhabitants and the mayor and corporation
of the borough of Hanley, in the Ste ffordshire potteries,
complaining of the peril to their lives and property to
which they were subjectei by the mining operations
under tho Duchy of Lancaster ; and moved that a select
committee be appointed to inqWre into the allegations of
the petitioners, and to report whether any and what
remedy can be afforded to them, should the grievance of
which they complain be proved to exist. He stated that
the mining operations in question undermined a large
amount of property, and thereby ruined it, besides caus-
ing a serious risk of life. It was a matter fur serious
investigation.

Mr.BAINES said that there had been an immemo
rial commercial cutom in these copyholels under which
those who build upon the land have been made aware of
the risk they run on account of the land being situated
above the mines, and have received an allowance in the
purchase money in consequence. Moreover, the matter
was not under the control of the Duchy of Lancaster,
but depended upon Itases granted to a private family,
that of the Granville,.
Alderman COPELAND thought that the case de-
manded inquiry. Much property, which some years ago
had cost large sums, had been altogether destroyed by
these mining operations. He urged the appointment of
a committee.
Mr. WALPOLE would, on the part of the Crown,
offer no objection to the committee, if he thought
that it would be of any use. But he was convinced
that inquiry would lead to no result, as the question
involved points of law which the house could not possi-
bly decide. The best course to adopt would be to sub-
mit one case to legal decision, by which the others should
be governed.
The Marquis of HARTINGTON said that no ground
of complaint had been substantiated on the part of the
petitioners.

Vilcount INGESTIVE thought that inquiry ought to
be granted as an act of clemency torards the povrta-
classes.

Sir R. BETHELL oppwted the motion for a commit-
tee. What would the house do after the committee bad
made its report ? He protested against so dangerous a
precedent for meddling in a matter which ought to be
brought before the courts of law.
After some observations from Mr. WISE and Mr.
ATHERTON,
Mr. RICARDO replied, and the house divided-7
For the motion 63
Agaimt it
Majority 65
PRIVATE BILLS.
Lord R. CECIL moved a resolution, that it is expedi.
ent that the investigation into the merits of private bills
at Present. conducted by select cominittee3 of the house,
should in future be conducted by a paid and permanent
tribunal.

Mr, W. PATTEN said that private buiiness of e

house had of late years greatly improved. He did not
think that the proposal of the noble lord would work
practically, and he therefore felt bound to oppose it.
Lord STANLEY denied that t he members of the house
were unfit to perform the duties of deciding upon private
bills. Still he thought that the practice of those com-
mittees could be much improved.
Tire discussion was continued by Mr. Ingram, Mr.
D. Griffiths, Lard Ebrington, Mr. .W. E wart, Mr. T.
Egerton, and other members, after which,
Lord R. CECIL withdrew his motion.
BARRACK ACCOMMODATION.
Lord EBRINGTON moved a resolution to the effect
that the mortality of the British army was caused by the
bail sanitary condition of the barrack accommodation.
That while the house viewed with satisfactien the efforts
hitherto made for the improvement of the soldier, much
yet remains to be done with regard to barrack accommo-
dation —first, for its incre tee with a view to the discon-
tinuance of the billeting system ; and secondly, with a
view to the healthy accommodation of the troops in gene-
ral, and to the decent accommodation of the married sol-
dier ; and that, in the opinion of the house, such increase
and improvement are imperatively called for, not less by
good policy and true economy, than by justice and
humanity. He compared the mortality in the army with
that of other classes of the community, to show that its
bad accommodation was the cause of its great relative
mortality,
Sir F. SMITH yielded to no man in the desire to im-
prove the accommodation of the soldier. There was no
doubt that of late years the amount of accommod Alan
given to each soldier was much increased. They no longer
slept two in a bed, or one over another. He referred to
barracks where there was a less proportion of dubc feet
per man the mortality was not so great as in wale where
there were more cubic feet. The amount of duty was not
of so much consequence as the character of that duty, tho
running in and out instead of taking the duty " right off"
as the pen, eman did. When a policeman bad done his
night duty he went home, had a cup of tea, and went to
bed. But the soldier was not allowed to turn down his
bed in the day time, and he had his accoutrements to
clean. The married soldier was better off; he went home
like a policeman, had his tea, and went to bed; and by
the time ho got up his wife had cleaned half his accoutre-
ments for him. The army was much indebted to the noble
lord for bringing on the question, but they must not run
away with the notion that it was the small num-
ber of cubic feet alone that caused the mortality.
There was much less mortality amongst Sappers
and Miners, chiefly from the circumstance that
they had only about one-tenth the night duty that other
regiments had.
Capt. ANNESLEY read some statistical statements,
comparing the police with the brigade of Guards, which ho
said were about equal in number.. He observed that the
greater portion of the police were married, and their pay
allowed them to live in comfortable houses. A policeman
could retire by giving a month's notice. The soldier must
serve his time unless he was invalided. Bad characters and
drunkards were discharged from the police, and policemen
were not imprisoned, whereas the colonel of a regiment
could not get rid of them in so summary a manner, but,
must have them punished by imprisonment with hard la-
bour, and came back with health impaired. Ids compared
the number of men required to keep up the str ingth of the
police and of the Guards respectively. There were 25 men
per week discharged from the police, sothatinl
o.efm67otohos,
1,300 new men were required to keep up a force
while the Guards only required 623. If the army could get
mid of their bad characters and unhealthy men at that rate
they would beimmortal.
Mr. W. WILLIAMS said a barrack was one of the best"
buildings to look at in London, so there must be some great
mismanagement in the interior arrangements. The house
had been charged with niggardliness, and the Commander-
in-Chief was reported. whether correctly or no, to have
said in another place that ho could not get money enough
from this house to repair the barracks. He did not know
whether that was after dinner. The sums laid out in bar-
rack 4 for the last few years was enormous. In 34 years it
had been upwards of 7. millions. It was said that the
night duty did the mischief, and it was suggested that the
police should be ernidoved to do the duty, but he was sure
that no gallant officer in that house would wish that the
soldiers should have police to take care of thew. He un-
derstood that there was a costly pavilion erected for the
Queen at Aldershot. It was a strange thing for the Queen
of England to require a pavilion in the middle of a camp
of soldiers ; but if she wished for it the house did
not grudge it to her. Only it was not fair to say that money
could not be got for barrack accommodation. The soldier
was a costly article, and should be taken care of on grounds
of economy.
Col. NORTH said the thanks of the army were due to
the noble lord. He could not understand why the soldier
should not be allowed to take off his great coat. Of course
ho must wear his accoutrements to guard against surprise,
but a man was better prepared to act freely without his
great coat than with it. But the real reason was that in
most of the barracks there was no means of hanging up the
great coats. It was a mere question of pounds, shillings,
and pence. There were sometimes two pegs, but that was
not sufficient. He was quite sure that after dinner or at
any time his Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief
would be found to speak the truth, and would show him-
self, as be had always been, a true friend of the soldier.
Mr. PEASE said that however they were satisfied that
there was a right thing to be done, there was also a right
time to do it. They ha spout three and a half millions on
barracks within the last three years, and with the expense
of the war on our hands, and our financial affairs only just
patched up by the clever arrangement of the Chancellor of
the Exchequer, he had great doubts whether this was a
proper time to undertake fresh barrack expenditure, with-
out first a,scertaieing whether the expenditure at present
going on was to any purpose.
Sir J. PAXTON said it was agreat mistake if the house
supposed that the three and a half millions referred to had
been spent in giving improved barrack accommodation.
It was applied in providing barracks for the greater num-
ber of men required in consequence of the Russian war,
Scc. He would recommend that all these town barracks
should be sold, and that the money should be appropriated
to the erection of barracks out of town.
Sir H. VERNEY thought the motion a good one. It
would be productive of good to the seller, and of economy
to the country.

Co). BOLDERO advised the adoption of the motion.
Lint PALMERSTON thought the army would be
greatly indebted to the noble lord for bringing forward
this motion, which he hoped would be adopted.
Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT had no wish to make any
objections to the accuracy of the statistics that had been
advanced by the military commissioners in reference to
the mortality of the Guards. He thought the great want
was of a statistical department in connection with the
military department of the Government. (Hear, hear.)
The right hon. gentleman thought that intemperance was
not the real cause of disease amongst soldiers, but that it
arose generally from the bad ventilation of barracks.
General PEEL said that every man who had the welfare
of the military at heart would thank the noble lord for
bringing forward Lis motion, to which he should offer no
objection. The accommodation hail no doubt been bad,
but the attention of Government would be directed to the
subject. '
Colonel PENNANT supported the motion.
Sir W. CODRINGTON advocated an extension of bar-
rack accommodation.

Colonel KNOX thought there might be better plans for
the accommodation of soldiers id barracks. He trusted
also that some means would be taken to improve the ven-
tilation of the barracks.
Mr. S. HERBERT explained.
Mr. MONSELL said that the report with respect to
barracks bad not been acted on, simply because no new
barracks had been constructed since it appeared. The
bast mode or rasing money for the buildinc, of new and
efficient barracks would be selling old and useless ones.
Lord BURGHLEY also pressed the necessity of an im-
proved ventilation in barracks.
After a few words from Lord EBRINGTON and Mr. B.
JOHNSTONE, the motion was agreed to.
TURNPIKE TOLLS (NIETROPOLIS).
Oa the motion of Mr. BYNG, it was agreed that an
humble address be presented to her Majesty, praying that
she will be pleased to issue a royal commission to inquire
and report as to the best means of air rding to the inhabi-
tants of the metropolitan districts, within six miles of
Charing-cross, a relief from the abolition of turnpike-gates
and toll-bars similar to that which the legislature has
already granted, on the recommendation of a royal com
mission to the metropolis of Ireland.
E EJECTION COMMITTEES.
Mr. COLLINS moved for leave to bring in a bill to fur-
ther limit and define the jurisdiction of election commit-
tees in cases of scrutiny, by extending the provisions of
the act of the 6th Vic., chap. 18, sec. 98.—Agreed to.
ASCENSION DAY.

Lord R. CECIL moved th .t all committees of the house
stand adjourned over Thursday next, being Ascension Day.
Mr. WALPOLE said it. was usual not to sit until after
two o'clock on Ascension Day.
After a brief discussion the motion was withdrawn.
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
_ _

On the motion for the second reading of this bill,
Mr. I3RO WN could only assent to the second reading
on the understanding that by passing it through that stage,
the deliberations of the select committee, to which it was
to be remitted, should not at all be prejudiced.
Mr. HORSFALL opposed the bill.
The second reading was postponed until Tuesday next,
PROPERTY QUALIFICATION BILL
Mr. BENTINCK gave notice that when it was proposed
to go into committee on this bill, he should move that that
stage be taken that day sir months.
The report of supply and ways and means was then
brought up.
The Stamp Duties on Drafts Bill was read a third time
and passed.
The house then adjourned at 20 minutes to 1 o'clock.

CENTRAL CRIMIN AG CO ti .RT.—May 11.

OLD COURT.
(Before the Recorder.)
THE CASE OF THE REV. GEORGE RADCLIFFE.
George Radcliffe, 55, described V a clerk, was
placed at the bar to plead to three indictments, the
first of which charged him with feloniously forginc,
the signature for a transfer of st ck to tie amount
of 1,0281. 63. 3d., with intent to defraud the Gover-
nor and Company of the Bank of England, .and
the others wi:h forging certificates of a death and
burial of the person interested in the stock in ques-
tion.

Mr. Giffard appeared for the prosecution ; Ser-
geant Ballantine was specially retained, with Mr.
Bodkin, on behalf of the pr &iner.
It will be remembered that the prisoner, who is
a clergyman, was committed upon the. charge of
forging the signature of a gentleman who was his
co-trustee for certain stock in the Bank of England,
and at the same time representing that this gentle-
man was dead, and producing certificates of his
death and burial, which certificates were the founda-
tion of the other two indictments.
The p-isoner, who appeared to be suffering acute
mental anguish, pleaded guilty to the whole of the
charges.
Sergeant Ballantine said he appeared with his
learned friend on behalf of the prisoner, and upon
a consideration of 411 the facts and the position of
the prisoner and his connections, they had come to
the conclusion that the most advisable course to be
taken was that the prisoner should plead guilty,
and that the matter should be left ent'rely in the
hands of the conr',
The Recorder then addressed the prisoner, and
said that he had pleaded guilty to three indic:ments,
all no doubt connected with the same transaction

but involving an offence of a very serious descrip-
tion, and for which only a few years ago his life
would have been forfeited. It was very painful to
have to pass sentence upon a person in his position ;
bat he should not be doing his duty to the public
if he were to pass over such an offrnce with a light
ponishment, and he therefore felt compelled to
order him to be kept in penal servitude for ten
years.

[

I

1,