The Sun.
London, England, 1835-02-27 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS, FEB. 26,

The Sruataa took the Chair at a quarter to four o'clock.
Sir FRANCIS BITIIDETT, who had been in waiting for nearl
an hour, took the oaths and his seat.

A messenger from the East India House presented the prc-
ceedings of the East India Company relative to certain com-
pensations to reduced officers.
Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSET brought up the Re-
port of the Committee on the Great Western Railway.
Mr. E WART gave notice that on the 31st March he should
renew the motion of which he had given notice last session
relative to the state of the Royal Academy.
THE FACTORY BILL.
Mr. BAINES presented a petition from the parents of chil-
dren employed in the cotton factories of a place in the West Rid-
ing of Yorkshire, praying for the repeal of certain provisions in
the Factory Bill. It appeared that those parties who were
most anxious to procure the passing of that Bill were now the
most anxious for the repeal of its provisions.-4 Hear. )
Lord GEORGE LENNOX presented petitions from dif-
ferent parishes in West Sussex, praying to he relieved from
the burden of county rates.
BOROUGH OF STAFFORD.

Sir R. FERGUSON, we believe, gave notice that early in
May he should move for leave to bring in a bill to disfranchise
the Borough of Stafford.
GENERAL REGISTRATION.
Mr. WILKES gave notice that unless his Majesty's Go-
vernment previously brought forward a measure of that nature,
he should, on the 16th April, move for leave to bring in a bill
to establish a national civil registration of baptisms, deaths, and
marriages.
Lord KERRY gave notice of a motion relative to the Malt
Duties, the purport of which we could not hear.
THE FACTORY BILL.
Mr. MARSHALL, seeing the Right Hon. the Secretary
for the Home Department in hi.; place, would beg to a,k
whether it was the intention of his Majesty's Government to
take any measures for the alteration or regulation of the Fac-
tory Bill.
Mr. GOULBURN said that the Bill had not yet come
into that extensive operation that was contemplated by its pro-
jectors, and the Government could not therefore at present take
any steps upon that subject.
Mr. MARSHALL then gave notice that it was his in-
tention to introduce a bill to repeal the Act called the Fac-
tory Regulation Bill, and to substitute in lieu thereof
an Act to restrict the employment of persons in factories
worked by steam or water power, under 21 years of age, to a
certain number of hours per day.
IRISH POOR.

Mr. RICHARDS begged to ask when the House might ex-
pect the report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into
the state of the poor in Ireland ?
Mr. GOULBURN could not give the Hon. Gentleman
any information as to the time the report would be ready.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.
_

Mr. EWA RT rose to bring forward his motion, to the
effect that no new business should be introduced in the House
‘fter the hour of 11 at night. He had a strong impression of
the ,7Qcsssity of such a regulation as this, both as respected the
Members .7f
that House and the public. It was well known
that at present,
great deal of the most important business of
the House was trait qacted after midnight, when members
were unable effectually discharge their duty to the
public, and were most of them Slumbering on the benches
in motions the most unbecoming.—(A laugh.) It was at
such times as these that advantage was taken to smuggle
obnoxious bills through the House, and on the contrary, those
who opposed bills, had an opportunity of throwing them out.
Such a practice was contrary to all sound principles of
legislation.—(l-fear, hear.) There was never an instance
of an assembly carrying on business at such hours.
It might be truly said, that the debates after two or three
o'clock were carried on under the influence of sleep--
Sleep the tired members slumbering all around,

And sleep the clerks below.—(A liTugh.)
lie hoped his suggestion would be approved of, as he thought
it would greatly facilitate the conduct of public business.
Major BEA UCLERK seconded the motion,

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
thought the Honourable Member could hardly be in earnest in
taking the sense of the House upon this important proposi-
tion—( Hear, hear). It was quite clear that the whole
condition of the public business must be reviewed, be-
fore they could admit such a change as this—a change
which would only leave six hours for the transaction of
public business.—( Hear, hear.) If, indeed, they began
public business at ten o'clock in the morning, it was possible
that it would be competent to the House to establish a limit of
this nature.--( Hear, hear.) Above all, it should be re-
collected that a very great part of the public business
was done in Committee, and that, too, the most useful
part, for the debates in that House were very often the
contentions of party—the real business being most fre-
quently done in committee.—( Hear, hear.) If this were so,
would it not be most convenient to curtail the time of
those Committees ?—( Hear, hear)—besides he did not think
that the motion would effect its object, which was to prevent
the introduction of new business after eleven o'clock. Now
the Hon. Gentleman complained that there was a good deal
of somnolency about twelve or one o'clock, yet he does not
object to the debates continuing to that time ; he only refuses
us the opportunity, by the introduction of new subjects,
to excite some interest.—( Hear.) There were besides
many matters of form, such as the orders of the day, which
it was necessary should Pass before the House rose, and this, too,
the Hon. Gentleman's motion would prevent. On the whole,
he-hoped the Hon. Member would defer his motion till a later
period of the Session, when the new Members would be better
able to form a judement upon it.
Major BE AUCL E Rh: hoped the Right Hon. Gentleman
would take the matter under consideration, for he could speak
from experience of its bad effects • as he had been compelled
to wait for sixteen nights, on a bill brought in by a Learned
Sergeant last session, until after one o'clock in the morning.
03 these grounds he thought, therefore, that some fixed
time ought to be appointed bey end which no new business
was to be entered on, and he trusted tile House would
take it under its consideration, that some steps might be
taken for tile House adjourning at an earlier hour. They are oil
now assembled men of business, and he was convinced that, by
meeting at a somewhat earlier hour, they would be enabled to
carry on their deliberations with equal, if not greater, advan-