The Sun.
London, England, 1861-04-17 00:00:00

oppose the second reading, they had reserved the greater
part of their observations until they went into committee
on the bill. The House of Commons had been gravely ac-
cused of precipitation and of sending up a bill which they
had not properly considered. Now, he had known the
House of Commons many years, 9.nd he must say that lie
never remembered an instance of a bill, with the exception
' of the Reform Bill, which had occupied so large a portion
of the attention of the house. When the bill was is com-
mittee there was a large attendance of members, all the
clauses were carefully considered, and everything likeparty
spirit being set aside, the house devoted itself to improving
the measure. Several of the most important improvements
in the bill came from his Conservative friends. After that
deliberate consideration of the bill by the House of Com-
mons he felt that he should neglect his duty if he consented
to send it to a select committee, and he would most respect-
fully, but to the last, oppose such a proceeding. The whole
commercial world had been informed in the morning how the
clauses of the bill had been dispat ed of in the House of Com-
mons on the previous evening; and now that the bill had
come up to their lordships' house it would not be respectful
to send it to a secret tribunal where many of the clauses
might be smothered in secret. It was with deep regret he
heard the view expressed by Lord Kingsdown, whose
opinion:he respected as much as that of any man alive ; but,
at the same time, he knew that the current of authority for
the last 50 years was against the barbarous distinction which
now existed between a trader and a non-trader. With re-
gard to the objection that family settlements would be dis.
turbed by the bill, he had to remind their lordships that a
provision similar to that now proposed had long been the
law in Scotland, and had worked most beneficially. The
noble and learned lord, in conclusion, said that, when the
bill went into committee, he would enter at greater length
into the different objections which had been urged against
it that evening.
The bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be
committed on Monday week.

LUNACY REGULATION BILL.
The report of amendments in this bill was considered and
agreed to.

The following bills were read a third time and passed :
Law of Foreign Countries Bill, Mutiny Bill, Marine
Mutiny Bill, Exchequer Bills Bill, Consolidated Fund
(£3,000,000) Bill.

Their lordships adjourned at half-past 8 o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—YESTERDAY.
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The following bills were considered, and ordered for third
reading : —Elland Gas; Leeds, Bradford, and Halifax
Junction Railway; and Oldham and Ripponden Roads. •
The Charing-cross Railway (City Terminus) Bill was
read a second time.
STREET RAIL COMPANY BILL.

On the motion for the second reading of this bill,
Mr. CHILDERS, on the part of the promoters, moved
that the second reading be postponed for a fortnight.
Mr. SCULLY moved that the bill be read a second
time that day six months. He contended that this was a
bill which should not have been brought before the house.
The object of the measure was to give a monopoly to a par-
ticular company t 1 enable them to possess themselves of all
the streets throughout the kingdom. It was not a bill of a.
public character, and if passed would enable the promoters
to lay down rails at discretion, and he contended from the
importance of the object that it should have been brought
forward as a public bill. (Hear, hear.) With regard to
the provisions of the bill he drew the attention of the
house to the fact that when the proposed tramways
were laid down there was no power to take them
up. The hon. and learned member read a section of the
act in support of his assertion.
Sir J. SHELLEY seconded the amendment for the read-
ing of the bill that day six months. The gentleman
who had proposed the postponement of the bill
for a fortnight had shown no ground for his
proposition. The house was now full, and the amendment
of the hon. and learned member (Mr. Scully) having been
on the paper, members were aware of what they were now
called on to consider, so that they came to the house pre-
pared to deal with the question. Mr. Train had laid down.
one of these tramways in Victoria-street, and having inspected
it, he was satisfied that the system could not be extended with
safety to the crowded streets of London. He heard that a
serious accident occurred that morning in Bayswater,
which arose from the fact of there being no means of pre-
venting horses running away. He objected to the bill, also,
on the ground of its conferring a monopoly.

Mr. BRIGHT said that arguments might be urged
against the bill, but those which had been used were of the
most antequated, and might have been applied with equal
force to the construction- of railways 30 years ago. With
respect to the accident alluded to, he believed that any
one acquainted with the mode of transit proposed by
this bill would see that it was calculated to diminish the
occurrence of accidents in the public streets. The bill was
merely permissive, and did not give any such powers as was
alleged, but merely enabled a company to treat with those
Persons who were authorised to deal with the question of
public transit in the metropolis and throughout the kingdom.
There was only one matter to which the house could object
in reference to this bill, and that was the limitation as to
the description of vehicles to run upon these tramways,
which we're intended to provide a remuneration to the pro-
moters of the company. Ho thought, of course, that that
company should look to compensation, but the question
should be referred to a select committee. He had put his
name on the bill from a belief that it was likely to promote
public benefit, and as he was anxious that it should be
fully considered he would vote for its postponement for a
fortnight.

Mr. MASSEY objected to the bill on the ground that
from its importance it should have been brought forward
as a public instead, of a private bill, for it was in reality a
public measure. (Hear.) From clause 14th it was evident
that the bill proposed a monopoly to a certain company,
to which he strongly objected, considering that the object
prop csed was one of a public character, and he contended
that a bill like the present should be introduced only with
the sanction of the Government. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. CHILDERS said that after the intimation of the
hon. member who had just addressed the house, he would
consent to withdraw the bill provided there was an under-
standing that the subject would be taken up by her Ma-
jesty's Government.

Mr. HENLEY eonsidered that it would be batter to ac-
cede to the proposition for the second reading that day six
months, which would merely pledge the house to a disap-
proval of form in which the bill was brought forward,
namely, as a private bill and not of its principle.
Lord FERMOY opposed the bill. The amendment for
reading the bill a second time that day six months was
agreed to without a division, and the bill was accordingly
negatived.

BELLIGERENT RIGHTS.
Sir G. GREY appealed to the hon. member for Liver-
pool (Mr. Horsfall) to postpone his motion which stood on
the paper, relative to the unsatisfactory state of the subject
of belligerent rights at sea, as his noble friend the First
Lord of the Treasury was unable to be present from
the state of his health. He promised on the part of the
noble lord (Lord Palmerston), that every facility would be
afforded the hon. member for bringing forward his motion
on an early occasion.
Mr. HORSFALL acceded to the application and post-
poned his motion.
THE NAVY ESTIMATES. •
In reply to Mr. B. COCHRANE,
Lord C. PAGET said that the navy estimates
would not be proceeded with until next week.
DUTY ON LANDED ESTATES (IRELAND).
In reply to Major S. lixox,
Mr. CARD WELL said that he had been in communica-
tion with the Irish judges and other legal authorities, and
hoped to be able shortly to make some statement to the
house on the question.

WAR OFFICE (ACCOUNTS BRANCH).
On the motion of Mr. BARING an address for a copy of
the second report of the committee appointed to inquire
ißbo the accounts passed by the War-office was ordered.