The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-12 00:00:00

CH-. MICH RITES.

CENTRAL AMERICA.
In reply to a question from Mr. WILDE,
Lord PALM ERSTON entered into a detailed state-
merit of the condition of Central America, and
said that her Majesty's Government had stationed, or
was about to station, a sufficient naval forte to protect
British property and subjects in that port.

ETURNS.
Several unopposed r Returns were granted.
AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS BILL.
Mr. DILL WYN moved for leave to introduce a bill to
repeal the Act 16 and 17 Vio., c. 30, and to make better
provision for the prevention and punishment of
aggravated assaults upon women and children, and
for preventing delay and expense in the admi-
nistration of certain parts of the criminal law.
He said the present law bad been a failure, and that was
his reason for re-introducing this bill, which he !aid be-
fore the house last session. The hon. gentleman read vari-
ous statements relative to aggravated assaults committed
on women and children from the police reports of the
metropplis and other parts of the country. It was a
crime of frequent occurrence, and the present law did not
tend to its decrease. From returns he found that in
1854 and 1855 there were 877 convictions in the metro-
polis alone for aggravated assaults and in the last year
it amounted to 374. The diminution he contended did
not arise from the operation of the present law, but from
accidental circumstances, because he found that many of
these men had been convicted over and over again. He
proposed as a remedy to diminish the period of imprison-
ment and substitute flogging for it. (Hear, bear.)
He did not look upon this question as one between
man and wife, and therefore a difficult one to deal with,
but as brute force against helpless weakness, and he bad
no doubt that his remedy would have the desired effect,
for it was invariably found that the men who committed
these assaults were great cowards.
Mr. BENTINCK seconded the motion.
Sir G. GREY said that though he had no confidence
in these remedies, he should not oppose the bill. He did
not consider the present law so defective as the hon.
mover believed, but rather that it had been beneficial.
The number of cases that now came before the public
arose from the summary procedure of the present law.
Leave was accordingly given to bring in the bill.

SALE OF BEER.
On the resolution of Mr. HARDY, the house went into
committee to bring in a bill to amend the laws relating
to the general sale of beer by retail and to regulate certain
places of public resort, refreshment, and entertainment.
All must agree that this subject required alteration, after
a careful scrutiny, and he considered there were facts
sufficient before the house to enable them to legislate
with satisfaction to the public. He referred to the
anomalous state of the law as regarded public
houses and beer-shops, under the law of 1830.
He bad no wish to disturb the licensing of the
present public-houses, but to compel beer-shops to apply
to ruagistraLes for licenses as a check on the conduct of
the keepers. lie proposed also to put in force the Tip-
!An Act, and prevent the recovery of debts for beer,
&u. He wished to put coffee shops, where they sold
spirits, under the control of the police.. He reserved
any further remarks t:11 another stage of the as
he understood there was to be no opposition to its in-
troduction.
Mr. KERR SEYMOUR regretted that this had not
bem made two bills instead of one, by separating the
beer houses from the coffee-shops. He considered that
magistrates were nut the proper persons to grant
licenses, because they had no means of judging of the
requiremeots of a district.
uir J. PA K INGTON regretted that Government bad
not taken up the question, and asked the Government
to consider the report of that committee, and ultimately
bring in a bill. Should the Government adopt that
course, he would su,,cy:et the withdrawal of the bill
from the doubt of its being passed through inn house
this session.

Sir G. GREY doubted if the bill was a sufficient
remedy for the evils complained of. When they con-
sidered the amount of capital invested in the trade it
required careful consideration. He saw no such difficulty
relative, to beer shops and coffee-shops. He could not give
any hope of bringing in a bill on an early day on this
cult ect. He thought great benefit would arise from a
discussion of the question, but he should be aliged, on
the second reading of the bill, to oppose it.
The resolution was agreed to, and the house resumed.
PROPERTY QUALIFICATION.
Mr. LOCKE KING moved for leave to bring in a Lill
to abolish property qualification for Members of Par:ia-
meet. He considered that this was an appropriate time
for bringing on'tbis question, and observed that in Scot-
land there was no property qualification ; scas of
peers, the members for the university, and the eldest
sons of knight, of the shire sat without any qualification
being required of them ; but the latter, when they suc-
ceeded to their father's property, must have a property
qualification.
Lord PALMERSTON did not intend to oppose the
introduction of the bill, but he thought it was urlei-
stood that all questions of reform were to be in abeyance
till next session. At a future stage of the bill he should
oppose it, unless it was allowed to remain en the tittle
of the house for consideration till next session.
Leave was given to bring in the bill.
After the transaction of Borne other busintaP, iccludirg

Sir J. TRELAWNEY gave notice that on the 26th
May he shou!d ask for leave to introduce a bill for the
abolition of the church-rates.
BOARD OF TRADE.
Mr. UORSFALL gave notice that on the 26th May
he should move for a Select committee to inquire into the
origin of the past and the present constitution and
powers of the Board of Trade, with a view to its better
adaptation to the requirements of the country.
METROPOLITAN WORKHOUSES.
Viscount RAY.NH..A.M gave notice that he should, on
that day fortnight, wove for a select committee to en-
quire into the state of the Metropolitan workhouses
and the mode of giving relief.

Sir J. TRELAWNEY, inBURIALS the absence of Mr. Hard-
castle, gave notice that that gentleman would, on the
26th May, ask for leave to introduce a bill relating to
burials in consecrated and unconsecrated places.
LONDON CORPORATION REFORM.
Mr. LAURIE asked the Secretary of State fer the
Home Department, whether the Government meant to
proceed with the Corporation of London Bill this ses-
sion
Sir GEORGE GREY said that he could not give an
answer to the question until be saw what progress bills
of a more pressing importance bad made.
PETTY SESSIONS CLERKS (IRELAND).
Mr. GREGORY asked the Attorney-General for Ire-
land, whether it was the intention of her Majesty's Go-
vernment to bring in any bill during the present session
for the regulation of Petty Session Clerks' Salaries in
Ireland.
Mr. FITZGERALD said it was his intention to re-
introduce the bill of last session with some modifications.
AGRICULTUR A.L STATISTICS.
Mr. CAIRD asked the Vice President of the Board
of Trade, whether the Government intended to take any
steps for collecting Agricultural Statistic.; in England.
Mr. LOWE said he was not aware if it was the inten-
tion of her Majesty's Government to introduce such a
measure at present. (gear, hear.)
THE KING OF OUDE.
Mr. FAGAN asked the President of the Board of
Control whether it was intended to apply any portion
of the money borrowed by the Government of India
from the King of Oude to the payment of public and
bona fide debts still unpaid and Flyable to the creditors
of that Prince ?

Mr. V. SMITH said that the matter was under inves-
igation, and all bona fide claims would be paid out of
he revenue of that country.
SUPERANNUATION FUND.
Mr. MACA.RTNEY asked the Chancellor of the
Exchequer when the report of the Civil Service Super-
annuation Commissioners would be la:d upon the table ;
and whether the Government contemplated introducing,
at an early day, a bill to alter the system under which
the superannuation ail iwances were at present provided.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
that he had been informed that the report would be pre•
sented to the house next week. Until that was done
he could not state what would be the intention of the
Government relative to ft.
PASSING TOLLS.
Mr. HUDSON asked the Vice-President of the Board
of Trade when he intended to introduce a bill for the
abolition of the passing tolls ; also, whether he proposed
to introduce auy bill for the abolition of the charges on
shipping at Liverpool and other places, and also for
taking away the power of the Trinity-house at New-
castle in the appointment of pilots for the poi t of Sun-
derland ?
Mr. LOWE said that it was the intention of the Go-
vernment, when the state of public business permitted it,
to bring in a bill founded on that report.
ECCLESIASTICAL COMMESSION.
Lord R. CECIL asked the Secretary of State for the
Home Department whether it was his intention to bring
in a bill embodying such of the suggestions of the com-
mittee of last session upon the Ecclesiastical Commis-
sion as required the sanction of Parliament.
Sir G. GREY said it was the intention of the Govern.
ment to do so, and be hopod shortly to be able to intro-
duce it.