The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-16 00:00:00

BOROUGH OF SUNDERLAND.

Mr. ELPHINSTONE wished to know when the Re-
port of the evidence taken as to the state of the borough
of Sunderland would be laid before the House ?
Sir J. GRAHAM said that his Hon. Friend the
Member for Cambridge had already presented the Re-
port, and he (Sir J. Graham) thought it had been printed.
COURT OF REQUESTS PRISON, BIRMINGHAM.
Mr. W. 0. STANLEY wished to know from the
Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary of State for the Home
Department, if he would lay before the House copies of
the correspondence which had taken place respecting the
state of the prison of the Court of Requests in the bo-
rough of Birmingham ?
Sir J, GRAHAM said that the Hon. Gentleman
having been kind enough to give him notice of the ques
tion he was prepared to give him a reply. He had re-
ceived from the Mayor and Recorder of Birmingham a
report respecting the statement of the prison- of the
Court of Requests iu that borough, from which it ap-
peared that the prison was in a state which was deroga-
tory to the authorities, and that it was unfit for the re-
ception of debtors. He had, in consequence, directed
au inspector of prisons to proceed to Birmingham.
That inspector had made his report, which entirely con-
firmed the complaints that had been made, and he (Sir
J.tGraham) then considered it his duty to inquire who
were the parties who were responsible for the state of
the prison. He was referred to the Commissioners of
the Court of Requests of Birmingham, and he imme-
diately sent them the complaints he had received, re-
quiring them forthwith to remedy the evils complained
of, with an intimation that if they neglected to do so, he
should put the law in force with regard to the prison.
Within the last four days he had received a representa-
tion from the Commissioners, stating that they had
complied with his request, and informing him that the
prison had been visited by the Mayor and Recorder,
who had expressed themselves satisfied with it. He had,
however, sent down the same inspector who had before
reported on it, to ascertain if he.coneurred with the
Mayor and Recorder, and in the course of to-day or to-
morrow.he should receive his report, when he should
bo able to give the Hon. Gentleman every information,
Mr. STANLEY expressed himself satisfied with the
explanation, and believed he should take the most judi-
cious course by leaving the matter in the hands of the
Government.

QUARTER SESSIONS.
Mr. HAWES said that a Bill respecting the quarter
sessions in cities and boroughs had been brought in by
the Hon. and Learned Member for Worcester (Sir T.
Wilde). As thu Bill was first introduced; the Right Hon.
Baronet the Secretary of State was not prepared to
support it. Since then some alterations had been made
in the Bill ; he now wished to know whether they were
such as the Right Hon. Baronet would have wished, and
whether in its present shape the Government was pre-
pared to support the Bill
Sir. J. GRAHAM said the alterations that had been
made in the Bill were certainly introduced at his (Sir
J. Graham's) request ; but he had received some repre-
sentations from several Recorders on the subject, which
he thought were entitled to further consideration ; he
thought, also, that there was not much necessity for
legislating on the question at all, since the Secretary of
State had powers, under the Municipal Act, to make re-
gulations according to varying circumstances.
Mr. lIAWES said the Bill stood for to-morrow. He
wished to know if it would come on so early.
Sir J. GRAHAM said the Government bad no wish
that the Bill should be proceeded with.
POOR-LAWS.
Sir R. PEEL (by command) laid papers relative to
the Poor-laws on the table of the House.
EXECUTION OF CRIMINALS IN THE EAST.

Mr. M. MILNES wished to know from the Right
Hon. Baronet at the head of the Government, whether
he had any objection to lay on the table of the House
when convenient, the papers respecting the negotiations
between her Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople
and the Ottoman Porte, with regard to the execution of
criminals on religious grounds. He understood that
those negotiations had terminated in a manner satisfac-
tory and honourable to all parties.
Sir ROBERT PEEL said, he was not prepared
to lay all the papers on the subject on the table, as the
publication of them at the present moment might be ob-
jectionable.