The Sun.
London, England, 1835-06-30 00:00:00

TIMBER DUTIES.

_ __.....
The Earl of ABERDEEN presented a petition from the
merchants of Liverpool, praying that no alteration might be
made in the Scale of Timber Duties.
AFFAIRS OF SPAIN.

The Marquis of LONDONDERRY moved for a copy of
the Order in Council by which the Foreign Enlistment Act
was suspended, and also for copies of all the correspondence
that had taken place between the Spanish Government and
the Secretary for Foreign Affairs on the subject. He trusted
that the Noble Lord would not object to their production.
Lord MELBOURNE said he had no objection to the pro-
duction of the papers moved for.—Ordered.
THE NEW HOUSES.

The Earl of WICKLOW wished to know if any arrange-
ments had been made for their Lordships' better accommodation
for the long period, probably five or six years, that the new
houses would take in building.
. . .

Lord DUNCANNON said that he believed the new
Houses would only take two years in building. He had, in
consequence of the instruction of the House, seen Sir R. Sinirke,
who in a letter had stated that it was impossible to increase the
size of the present House in consequence of the walls being
composed of chalk and other materials, but that a new and
more convenient House might be built at the small expense
of 4,500/.

Lord BRO LTG HAM bore testimony to the extreme incon-
venience of the present House.
Lord DUN C A NNON said he would lay the letter of Sir
Robert Smirke before the Committee to-morrow.

Mr. BERNAL brought up the Sugar Duties Bill, which was
read a first time.
THE EARL OF DEVON.
Lord DUNCANNON stated that he had received a let-
ter from the Earl of Devon, thanking their Lordships for
their vote of approbation of his conduct during the period he
filled the office of Clerk of the Parliament.

On the motion of Lord MELBOURNE, the Noble Earl's
Letter was ordered to be entered on the Journals.

Several petitions were presented on different subjects, and
their Lordships adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, Juxm 29.
The SPEAKER took the chair at half-past three o'clock.
DROGHEDA ELECTION.

Mr. G O ULB U R N brought up the Report of the Committee
on the Drogheda Election, which declared Mr. Randall Plun-
kett entitled to sit for the borough, and that Mr. C. O'Dwyer
was not duly elected. The Clerk of the Crown was directed
to attend and amend the return.

An HON. MENIIIER, whose name was unknown in the gallery,
moved the second reading of the Haverfordwest Improvement
Bill.

Mr. SHEPHERD moved the second reading of Spencer's
Estate Bill.

NEW MEMBERS.

Mr. VIGORS and Mr. PLUNKETT tooks the oaths and their
seats, the former for the county of Carlow, and the latter for
Drogheda, in the room of C. O'Dwyer.

GREENWICH AND GRAVESEND RAILWAY.

Mr. Alderman WOOD presented petitions from Gravesend
in favour of this Railway Bill.
Upon the•motion of Mr. HALIBURTON, the Newtyle
and Glammis Railway Bill, and Newtyle and Angus (Cupar)
Railway Bill, were severally read a third time.
DUTY ON GLASS.

Mr. J. OSWALD presented several petitions from Glas-
gow praying that the Duty on Glass might be taken off.

STEAMERS ON THE THAMES.

The same HoN. INlEking presented a petition from the
watermen and lightermen of the River Thames, complaining
of the rate at which steamers were in the daily habit of pass-
ing through the river, from which a great many accidents
had arisen, and several lives had been lost. The petitioners
prayed that immediate measures might be taken to prevent
the recurrence of such accidents.

Alderman WOOD had the honour to introduce a Bill upon
this subject in the last session, but there appeared at the
time an unwillingness on the part of the House to legislate
upon the matter, and the Bill was thrown out. The time,
however, was now come when something must be done, for
not less than 16 lives had been lost within the last three
months upon the river, and these unfortunate accidents were
entirely owing to the rapidity with which the steamers nivi-
gate the crowded part of the river. The masters of steam vessels
were liable to a penalty of 51. for going beyond a certain speed,
and there was a good deal of activity on the part of the Thames
Office, but the Steam Packet Companies had largre purses,
and cared little for a penalty of Si. They could also appeal
to the Sessions, and put the prosecuting parties to upwards of
201. expense. The Act was consequently quite useless, and
it would be impossible to go in a small boat upon the river, if
some enactment were not introduced upon the subject.
Mr. THORNLEY having been a good deal upon the
river, would suggest that the boats which ply below bridge
should be built upon an improved construction. They ought
to have higher gunwales, or the lives of the public would not
be safe.

Lord S AND ON regretted that the opposition of one Hon.
Member, who had moved that the Bill be read a second time
that day six months, had thrown out the Bill. He suggested,
that the worthy Alderman should bring in that Bill again as it
had been amended in Committee, and he was satisfied that it
would receive very general support. There ought also to be
some provision for the sea-worthiness of the boats plying below
bridge.
_ _ _

Alderman WOOD observed that there were a very large
number of boats, upwards of 2,000 (as we understood the
Hon. Member), and if the suggestion of the Hon. Member
fur Wolverhampton were to be acted upon, a very large sum of
money would be necessary, as the owners had not the means
to make the alterations . suggested
_ _ .

The petition was then laid on the table.
Mr. E. S. RUTHVEN presented a petition from 1,000
silk-weavers of Dublin, complaining of the distressed state of
their trade.