The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-27 00:00:00

MERCHANT SEAMEN'S BILL

On the motion for foTih; order of the day being read for
going into Committee on this Bill,
Admiral DUNDAS said he thought this Bill ought to
be postponed for a few days, as it had only been in the
hands of Members twenty-four hours.
Sir C. NAPIER thought this a most important Bill,
and it ought, therefore, to be proceeded with at once.
Lord INGESTRE thought the Bill ought to proceed.
Mr. WAWN complained that the Bill was a Bill of
Pains and Penalties on shipowners and seamen.
After a few words from Mr. HUME, the order of the
day was read, and, on the "lotion that the House do re-
solve itself into Committee,
Mr. S. HERBERT said that, so far from this being a
Bill of Pains and Penalties. it was a remission of penal-
ties. It was very common for British seamen in
foreign ports to be very harshly dealt with, and it was to
protect them against oppression and injustice that this
Bill had been brought in. The Bill had been for a con-
siderable time before the public, and ample opportunity
had Ewen given for its consideration. Under these cir-
cumstances he hoped the House would support him in
his endeavours to pass the Bill into Committee. If,
however, Hon. Gentlemen should wish the Bill post-
poned he would consent to do so, and fix it for Monday
at twelve o'clock.
Captain PECHELL, after complimenting the Hon.
Member for Wiltshire (Mr. S. Herbert) on his ability
in filling the office of Secretary of the Admiralty, said
he would support the principle of this Bill, but with
many of its details he could not agree.
Sir C. NAPIER hoped the Bill would positively be
brought on on Monday.
Mr. WAWN moved as an amendment that the Bill
should be committed on Wednesday next.
Mr. FORSTER seconded the amendment.
Admiral DUNDAS said it would be impossible for
him to be here on Monday.
Sir CHARLES NAPIER trusted that the Secretary
of the Admiralty would persevere in moving the Com-
mittee on Monday.
Mr. HUME thought the Bill ought not to be com-
mitted till Wednesday, in order that they might have a
proper Bill that would meet the sanction of all parties.
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the
House divided, when there appeared—
For Mr. Wawn's amendment
Against it 36
Majority against the amendment —27
On our admission to the gallery we found
Captain PECHELL on his legs, trusting that the
Hon. Gentleman would postpone the Committee till
Wednesday.
After a few observations from Mr. FOSTER,
The Bill was ordered to be committed on Monday.
The Woods and Forests Accounts Bill was read a
second time, and ordered to be committed on Monday.
The Grand Canal (Ireland) Bill was read a second
time, and ordered to be committed on Monday.
The South Sea Company Bill was read a second time
and ordered to be committed.
The Spirits (Ireland) Bill was read a second time,
and ordered to be committed on Monday.
The Fisheries (Ireland) Bill was read a second time.
and ordered to be committed on Monday.
The Customs (New South Wales) Bill was read a
second time, and ordered to be committed on Monday.
The Clerks to Attorneys Bill was read a second time,
and ordered to be committed on Monday.
The Piccadilly Improvement Bill was read a second
time, and ordered to be referred to the following Select
Committee on Monday :—The Earl of Lincoln, Mr.
Young, Captain Rous, Mr. Leader, Colonel Wood, Mr.
Pringle, Mr. Masterman, Mr. Gaily Knight, Colonel
Fox, Sir Charles Lemon, and five to be added by the
Committee of Selection.

The Militia Pay Bill went through Committee, and
was ordered to be reported on Monday.
PROTECTION TO PURCHASERS (IRELAND)
BILL.

The House then went into Committee on this Bill.
Clauses from 1 to 33 were agreed to, without discussion.
Mr. SHEIL rose to move the clause of which he had
given notice, for the purpose of providing compensation
to Mr. O'Dwyer, the Secondary of the Court of Exche-
quer (Ireland), whose rights will be affected by the
operation of this Act.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
he proposed to add a clause to the Bill, by which pro-

vision would be made for the proper compensation of
this officer, whose salary, under the new Act, he pro-
posed to fix by the average receipt of fees during the
last seven years. If the new Bill brought in any
surplus above this amount, it would be paid into the
Treasury.
Mr. Shen did not press his clause, and the proposal
of the Chancellor of the Exchequer was agreed to; and
the clause having been added to the Bill, it went through
Committee. The report was brought up, and ordered to
be received on Monday.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE (MIDDLESEX) BILL.
The House having resumed,
Sir J. GRAHAM moved the order of the day for
receiving the report on this Bill.
Mr. FIUME asked the Right Hon. Baronet if he would
lay on the table the correspondence that had taken place
between him and the magistrates with respect to this
measure ? He also wished to know to what expense
the county would be bound by the Bill.
Sir J. GRAHAM was sorry the Hon. Member was
not in his place on the previous evening when the Bill
was fully discussed, and when he read to the House the
only letter of any importance he had addressed to the
magistrates.
Mr. HUME—I have seen it to-day.
Sir J. GRAHAM—If the Hon. Member had seen it,
he had seen the only document of any consequence that
had passed between himself and the magistrates. He
did intend to consider the past services of a gentleman
who, upon the whole, had discharged his duties effi-
ciently, but he was not bound by pledge to that gentle-
man ; nor did he intend this measure to lead to the
general establishment of any particular system of prison
discipline, although he did intend to provide for the
proper preservation of order in the prisons, and the pre-
vention of the contamination of some description of pri-
towns by the others,