The Sun.
London, England, 1861-05-08 00:00:00

METEOROLOGICAL REPORTS.

This Day,
t etween 8 and B. E. M. D. F. C. I. S.
9 a.m.
Nairn 10.01 j3B 31 N.N.W. 8 3 C. 6
Aberdeen .... 2.".92 I 37 I 35 E.N.W. 5 4 c. 3
Leith
Berwick 29 92 146 43 N. 4 6 c. 3
Ardrossan
Portz, sh
Shields
Galway 29 99 48 45 E. 6 9 0. 4
Scarborough 29*96 40 39 N.N.W. 3 9 a. 4
Liverpool 30.02 42 38 IV.N.E. 2 6 c. 1
Valentia
?auremenostitly. n.
: 2(93:ta 51
41! NYE. 4 56
I°o.. t 33
London 29.96 42 39 N.E. 1 9 o.
Dover 29'90 45 42 E. 2 7 0. 1
Portsmouth
Portland
Plymonth
Penzance ... : 29.85 53 62 N.E. 1 2 b. 1
Jersey ••••• 29 88 53 50 I N. 3 2 b. i 2

tion,

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—(Tms DAY.)
The F.PrAurn. entered the Horee shortly e.fter twelve
o'clock, but it was fully twenty minutes past that hour
before fourty members assembled, when the hon. gentle-
men took the chair.

PRIVATE BILLS.

The Portsmouth Water Bill was read a third time.

The Great Dover•road (No. 2) Bill was read a first time,
as were also the following—the Caledonian Railway Bill,
the Romney Railway Bill, the Salisbury and Dorset Junc-
tion %Railway Bill, the Rliguny Railway Bill, and the
Staffordshire Potteries Water Bill,
PETITIONS.

Pctitions were presented in favour of the Budget by Mr.
Baxley from Manchester, and against the Master and
Operatives Bill by Mr. Gaskell.
FRIENDLY ASSURANCE BILL.

Mr. S. ESTCOURT brought up the Friendly Societies
Assurance Bill, which was read a first time and ordered to
be printed.

NOTICE OF MOTION.

Mr. MAGUIRE gave notice that to-morrow he should
ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he would
consent to the appointment of a select committee to inquire
into the operation of the export duties en foreign rags as
affecting the manufacture of paper in Ireland ?
LABOURERS' COTTAGES BILL.°

Sir L. PALK, in moving the second reading of this bill,
drew attention to the crowded state of the cottages of the
humbler classes in the rural and agricultural districts of
this country, from which immorality, indecency, and even
fearful criminality arose, and remarked that while in towns
and cities efforts have been successfully made to remedy
these great evils, still the plague was permitted to run riot
without check in the districts to which this bill was intended
to apply. To show the necessity for such a measure, the
hon. baronet cited a recent prosecution of a labourer for a
criminal assault on his own daughter in his cottage, almost
under the shadow of the towers of Windsor Castle, and
to another case where an hitherto virtuous young girl 1 ad
become pregnant by her own brother ; all of these and simi-
lar cases owed their origin to the present crowded condition
of the cottages of the labouring classes. The whole object
of the bill was to extend to those rural and agricultural
districts the provisions of the act for the improving the
dwellings of the labouring classes in the metropolis, and
also of some of the provisions of the Sewers and Drainage
Acts. He did not mean to say that the bill was perfect or
that its details were not capable of improvement, but he
believed all the details could be improved when the bill
got into committee. (Hear.) He was ready and should
be happy to adopt any alterations that might be suggested,
but he called upon the house to take this step in order to
secure those sanitary regulations and provisions for moral
improvement which had been secured to the inhabitants of
large towns. He concluded by moving the second reading
of the bill.

Sir G. C. LE WI S admitted that the cottages of labourers
were quite open to improvement, but he believed there
existed among solvent landowners a desire to improve
this class of dwellings, and to put them in as good a
condition as the means of the landlord enabled
him to do. Such was the case in the county in which he
himself resided, though in other counties it was probable
that good and wholesome accommodation was provided,
excepting the sleeping apartments. To the object of the
bill he was not opposed, but he feared the provisions by
which those objects were proposed to be carried out would
be found impracticable. For instance, the bill proposed to
enable any landlord to raise by mortgage a sum not ex-
ceeding £l4O for the erection of each cottage, under
the sanction of the Chairman of Quarter Sessions. This
would be an entirely new function to be imposed upon
the chairman of Quarter Sessions, and was objectionable,
and equally so was the proposal to fix upon the Home
Secretary the duty of deciding what should be considered
a proper cottage accommodation. To the principles of the
bill he was not opposed ; and, therefore, should vote for
the second reading, but to the machinery he must reserve
to himself the right to object on a future day.
Mr. R. DUTTON supported the bill as much called for
in the agricultural districts, and ho trusted it would be
allowed to go into committee, where it would be so modi-
fied as to meet the evils which it was designed to cure.
Mr. B. COCHRANE also supported the bill, and
suggested that the several improvements could be best
effected by the Government making the necessary advances
in the same way as under the Drainage of Lands Act, as by
this the objection raised by the right hon. baronet the
Home Secretary would be got rid of. After the speech of
the noble lord at the heal of the Government recently at
Romsey, he thought the subject might well be left in the
hands of the present Administration.
Sir W. JOLLIFFE remarked that recently great im•
provements had been made in various districts by landlords,
who found it to be greatly to their own advantage to amend
the habitations of their cottager tenants. While he gave
every creait to tne originators 0/ the UM, ne, ruougat the
evils now existing arose from the operation of the present
law of settlement which prevented the erection of proper
residences for the poorer classes in agricultural parishes,
lest the demand on the parochial funds should be increased.
He feared that the bill would not be productive of the re-
sults which the hon. baronet LSir L. Palk) anticipated, and
looking at the impracticabilityof the details of the measure,
he therefore 'must hesitate before he gave it his support.
Sir B. LEIGHTON defended the county he repre-
sented from the imputation that the landlords refused tr
improve the cottages of their tenants, lest the parochial
rates might be increased. He concurred in the opinion
which had been expressed as to objectionable and impracti-
cable details by whichthe object of the measure was sought
to be achieved. He held it to be impossible for non-resi-
dent landlords to prevent the overcrowding of the cottages
of labourers, for though a resident landlord himself he
found a great difficulty of effecting that great desideratum.
Mr. COLLINS admitted the desirability of such a mea-
sure as the present, but suggested that it should be sent to
a select committee.

Sir J. TROLLOPE objected to the reference of the bill
to a select committee, which would destroy its prospect of
further proceeding during the present session. He sug-
gested the substitution of the Enclosure Commissioners for
the Chairmen of Quarter Sessions, as the proper authority
to carry the provisions of the bill into effect. The bill
could be amended in committee, and with that view he
should support the motion for the second reading of the
bill.

After a few words from Sir G. C. LEWIS in explana-

Mr. SLANEY gave his hearty concurrence to the prin-
ciple of the bill, and expressed a hope that the hon.
barinet who had introduced it would not be discouraged
by the technical objections which had been raised to it.
The bill would be equally advautageous to the landlords
and their humble tenants.

Mr. HENLEY scrutinised the details of the bill, which
he believed would be practically inoperative, and remarked
that the improvement of rural cottages should be rather
left to the good feeling of the landed proprietary, and con-
tended that of late years a vast march in that direction had
been made. He strenuously opposed the proposition to fix
these new duties upon Chairmen of Quarter Sessions ; and
concluded by recommending his hon. friend (Sir L. Palk)
to undertake, after the second reading, to reconstruct the
bill, in order that its provisions could be remodelled and
rendered less objectionable than in their present form.
Mr. WHALLEY supported the bill, and joined in the
recommendation to substitute the Enclosure Commissioners
for the Chairmen of Quarter Sessions. •
Mr. BARROW concurred in the views expressed by the
right hon. gentleman below him (Mr. Henley), and
strongly objected to the reference of the bill to a select com-
mittee, because he considered that its provisions should be
publicly discussed for the full information of the public.
Lord HENLEY remarked that there was one objection
to the measure which ought to be got rid of before the
house consented to give the bill a second I eading.
The point was the amount of interest which
was to be paid for advances made for the
purpose of carrying out the act. He could state from his
experience ci raising money for county improvements in his
own district, that there was great difficulty in raising
money to be repaid in instalments at five per cent., and
yet the bill limited the rate of interest to 4 per cent. There
were other points of objection which he entertained to the
measure, but as (the house seemed disposed to concede a
second reading of the bill, he would abstain at present
from entering upon them.
Mr. S. ESTCOURT supported the bill, and hoped in
Committee the bill would be so remodelled so as to be un-
objectionable.

The bill was then read a second time, and was ordered
to be committed pro forma en Monday next.
AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS ACT AMENDMENT

____-,—__
BILL.
Lord RAYNHAM asked permission of the house to post-
pone_ the second reading of this bill for three weeks, inni:tw
that he might see what course was taken with the measure
referring to the assaults on women and children,
been introduced by her Majesty's Government. The second reading of the bill was consequently
post-
poned to this day three weeks. which had
BILL.
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS PREVENTION
Lord RAYNHAM,
rt.o r su.
eTahl
also
proposed
pl
oaslesdo
id the existing law by ren! bill, said its objects were to saline
dog-fights and cock-fights
in moving the_ second reading of th
denng all persons present
liable to convictioloistiri
punishment of persons convicted
sought to increase the punishment
film three to six
of skinning icithershaarnddlababollet
months imprisonment in which it was
to increase the area
now compulsory for
rs to wearbadges, so as to secure their convic-
tion drove .t committed beyond
tion for brutah Y
,the metropolitan dis-
tricts ; and lie f
further sought to facilitate the prosecution
and conviction. o persons charged with working horses in
an unfit or diseased state. The noble lord concluded by
moving the second reading of the bill.
Sir G. LEWIS was of opinion that the Act of 1849 had
been found sufficiently operative and effectual for the ob-
jects which the noble lord had in view ; at all events he
contd.-state that no complaints had reached him (Sir G. C.
Lewis) in his official capacity that the existing law was at
all inefficient in bringing offenders to justice. He there-
fore suggested to the noble lord the propriety of not fur-
ther pressing this measure.
fir, . 114141A.U4Wki til9ught tho la was very crudely

prepared, and it would be best for the noble lord to with-
draw it.

Mr. HENLEY said if not withdrawn, ho should now
move that the bill be read a second time that day six months.
Lord RAYNHAI‘,I expressed his readiness to withdraw
the bill.

Mr. HENLEY withdrew his amendment, and eventually
the bill was withdrawn.

VALUATION (SCOTLAND) ACTS AMENDMENT

BILL.

Mc. BLACKBURN, in moving the second reading of
this bill, stated that its scope was to require the assessors to
return the net value of the property assessed to county
rates instead of their gross value, as required by the existing
law. In fact the bill was designed to extend to Scotland
the same principle as the Government by the Parochial
Assessment Act of this session established in England.
The LORD-ADVOCATE objected to the bill on the
ground that it would raise the franchise in burghs, and
would completely overturn and put into complete confusion
the system of rating which at present prevailed in Scotland.
The bill would have the effect of reducing the property tax
in Scotland by 20 or 25 per cent. He must therefore move
that the bill be read a second time that day six months.
Mr. S. E ST COURT gave his support to the second read-
ing of the bill on the ground that it went to assimilate tha
practice of assessment in Scotland to that which was suc.
cessfully adopted in this country.
Mr. F. PEEL urged that the bill was objectionable oil
the ground of its interference with the amount of income
and inhabited hcuse taxes which at present was levied in
Scotland.

Mr. G. W. HOPE supported the second reading of ilia.
bill, which went to remove a great injustice which at pre...
sent existed in Scotland.
Sir G. C. LEWIS denied that the Parochial ASSOSS-.
ment Bill ho had introduced would interfere with the basis
on which the franchise existed, or that on which any of
the Queen's taxes were levied. This bill, however, pro-
posed to do both, and therefore was wholly dissimilar front
the measure he had brought forward.
Mr. MUM supported the bill, and contended that the
objections to it would be found on examination to be wholly
untenable.
Mr. BLACK reminded the house that a similar bill had
been rejected last session, and that this year the people of
Scotland had petitioned almost unanimously against its
reintroduction daring the present session, because they felt
that its operation would greatly interfere with a system
working well and satisfactory at the present moment. Re
should therefore vote for the amendment.

Sir E. COLEBROOKE also ;Posed the bill, consider-
ing that the system of assessment in Scotland was based on
a better principle than the system which existed either is
this country or Ireland.
Lord J. MANNERS said that he should, with much
pleasure and satisfaction, give his vote for the second read,
ing of this bill.

kr. FINLAY also supported the second reading of the
bill, for he could not acquiesce in any of the arguments
which had been advanced against its principle.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
as responsible Finance Minister he felt bound to give his
most strenuous opposition to the bill, which welt to sub..
vert the whole principle on which the income tax was based
in this country.

Sir J. FERGUSSON gave his support to the preamble
of the bill, and should therefore vote for the second reading.
Mr. POLLARD-URQUHART supported the bill, re-
marking that the system of valuation in Scotland was
fraught with hardship and injustice.
Mr. BUCHANAN objected to the bill, which was so
crudely drawn that it could not be easily remodelled. The
house ought to deal with the,measure as they found it n•w,
and to reject it without making any attempt in commutes
to frame a new measure.

Mr. BLACKBURN replied, and said he by no means
sought to interfere with the income tax, which could be
levied on the gross valuations as at present. He only
sought to establish the net valuation for the purposes of
local taxation.
The house then divided, when the numbers appeared—
For the second reading 7B
Against it
Majority —6B
The bill was accordingly lost.
COUNTY VOTERS (SCOTLAND) BILL.
On the motion of Sir E. COLEBROOKE this bill was
read a second time and ordered to be committed on the 4th
June.

TRAMWAYS (SCOTLAND BILL.
The house then resolved itself into committee on the
Tramways (Scotland) Bill, Mr. MASSEY in the chair.
After several verbal amendments the clauses were agreed
to.

On the motion of Sir E. COLEBROORE, a clause provid-
ing that tramways should not be laid down in burghs
without the consent of the magistrates and council was
brought up and agreed to, and the house having resumedl
the bill was reported with amendments.
MASTERS AND OPERATIVES BILL.
Mr. NIACKINNON said that he brought forward the
bill under the belief that without some legislative enact •
ment it would be impossible to put an end to the system of
strikes which unfortunately had prevailed, and were still
existing. This bill was identical in its provisions with that
he had introduced last year, and which had not only passed
this house without any opposition, but had received a se-
cond reading in the House of Lords, where it had been
referred to a select committee, who had not closed the evi-
dence before the session terminated. The bill had received
the support of the public in all parts of the coun-
try, and the only opposition which had arisen was
that of certain coal owners, who desired
to be exempted from the operation of the
measure, and with a view that they should be fully heard
he would consent to refer the bill, after Pi second reading,
Ito a committee up stairs. He should therefore now content
himself with moving that the bill be now read a second time.
The SOLICITOR GENERAL said that while he ad-
mitted that it might be desirable and expedient to establish
means by which the disputes between masters and work-
men might be speedily terminated by arbitration, still he
objected to the scheme or plan which the hon member, the
author of the bill, sought to accomplish the design he had
in view. At present there was existing a law-sth George
IV., cap. 96—by which, by a reference to a justice, the
award could be enforced ; and he much feared that
if this bill were passed it would lead to a
confusion as to the authority by which these strikes
and controversies were to be ended and settled. The bill
proposed to . establish a concurrent jurisdiction with that
which already existed; it was cumbrous and expensive in
its machinery, and yet no provision was made or suggested
as the means by which :the expenses which its operation.
would involve could be defrayed. He, therefore, should
certainly object to the bill aleogether.
Mr. KINNAIRD regretted the opposition he had just
heard from the hon. and learned Solicitor General to
a measure which was in reality the result of the
labours of two select committees after a full examination
by both. The bill was permissive, and the expenses would
of course be defrayed by those who sought the adjudication
of the councils of arbitration, which the bill sought to
establish. In the absence of any Government measure, he
hoped the house would give its sanction to the second
reading of this bill.
Sir J. SHELLEY expressed his concurrence in the view
taken of this bill by the hon. and learned Solicitor-General.
The subject, if taken up at all, ought to be so taken up by
the responsible Government of the country.
Mr. W. FORSTER objected to the bill, because he
thought the controversies would best be settled by personal
intercourse between masters and men, and he believed that
the establishment of these councils would only tend to
increase disputes and controversies. He should therefore
vote against the motion on the second reading of the bill.
Mr. LIDDELL doubted much whether this bill would
answer the purpose contemplated ; but in the hope that there
might be good arise, he should give his support to the mo-
tion for a second reading, then to be referred to a select
committee.

Sir J. PAXTON supported the bill, which he Gond-
dered would be of the greatest advantage to skilled artisans,
as the councils of arbitration which had existed 70 years in
France had effected.
thisS
in again presenting it to the
Sir G. Cur.eLtEheWaes.atidcrlaitt
fwohriltehehpehgialavneLepayntwhhoricohf
ofhi hits in
Legislature, he could not, for
easr
es
feonrte
,tobtuhte
wfuirththreergprreet:
consideration
d actuatedera tin
the reason stated by his hon. and learned friend the Solici-
tor-General,
bill
bill,
l and ohtah
reher
aes
d, gavehaoul
dhti
secondhs
time this day six months.
GOWER admitted 'the great difficul which
evBesothatf
thist h
beset this question, and thought that many of the objections
raised in the course of the present debate were well
founded, and it was with regret he felt constrained to vote
in favour of the amendment.
Mr. CROSSLEY opposed the bill, because he was con-
vinced it would be i noperative, and because he thought
these disputes could be better settled by masters and men
themselves than by any council that could be established.
He advised the house "to leave well alone," and to reject
this bill.
Mr. MELLOR also opposed the bill.
Mr. AYRTON rose and was addressing the house in
support of the bill when a quarter to six arrived, and the
debate was necessarily adjourned.
The other orders having been disposed of, the house ad-
journed.

CRESTE.R RACES.—(This Day.)

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.
CHESTER CUP.

Ben Webster
Chere Arnie
First Lord
Millionaire
..............
Sixteen ran. Won easy.
LATEST BETTING.
CHESTER CUP.
3to 1 agst Chere Arnie (taken)
sto 1 agst Ben Webster (taken)
6to 1 agst Man-at-Areas (taken)
6to 1 agst Wallace (taken)
1 agst The Brewer (taken)
20 to 1 agar
1 agst Jealousy
15 to 1 agstt
Oirpetrnimeis(tta(ktaekne)n)
(taken)
aget Light (taken)
20 to 1 agst Satellite (taken)
:2:stottoe