The Sun.
London, England, 1850-06-12 00:00:00

officers in this matter. In England and Wales there
were no less than 269 cities and boroughs that sent 360
Members to that House, and the population in those
cities and boroughs amounted to seven millions and
several hundred thousands; and yet, until now there had
never been a complaint against the present system of
revising the burgess list which bad been in operation for
seventeen years. He objected to the Bill because it
would entail an extremely heavy expense on the diffe-
rent boroughs which had rates enough to pay already.—
(Hear.) He moved that the Bill be read a second time
this day six months.

Mr. Alderman. SIDNEY seconded the motion, though
he did so for different reasons from those of the Honour-
able and Gallant Member who had just spoken.
The instances of partiality shown in the revision of
burgess lista he considered were very rare. He was ac-
quainted with several towns of considerable importance,
where party spirit ran very high, and yet he never
heard of a charge of partiality being made against
any of th• revising courts, which were pre-
sided over by the mayor.—(Hear, hear.) One
of the principal objections which he entertained to the
present Bill was, that it would impose a large additional
expense upon the country. The Hon. and Gallant
Member had stated that the cost of revising the lists of
Parliamentary electors amounted to 30.0004 a-year,
and if the same system of revision was extended to
burgess lists the additional cost would amount to more
than 100,0001. The Bill, in his opinion, was not wanted,
and as it would entirely do away with a system which
was at present working very satisfactorily, and would
levy a large and unnecessary cost on the public, he would
cordially second the amendment of his Hon. and Gallant
Friend.

Mr. BERNAL reminded the mover of the amend-
ment teat the Bill was only proposed to extend to Eng-
land and Wales, and not to Scotland or Ireland. The
measure was grounded on a very wholesome and
sound principle, . that of not allowing a man
to hear and determine any case as judge in
the eventual results of which he might be either directly
or indirectly interested. The expense entailed by the
Act would not be greater than that arising from the
present system of revision by the mayor. Although,
however, he approved of the Bill, he thought it might
be greatly improved by making the adoption of its pro-
visions by corporate towns entirely permissive.—(Hear.)
The case involved in the Bill was in a nutshell. Mayors
of boroughs had an,interest in'maintaining the strength of
the political party to which they belonged, but a revising
barrister would be subject to no such influence or impu-
tation, and he really could not understand how the
change proposed by this Bill could ba objected to.
Lord GALWAY objected to the measure because it
interfered with the principle of local self government.
Mr. SHAFTO ADAIR also opposed the Bill.
Sir GEORGE GREY observed that the law as it now
stood provided a remedy for cases of partiality on
the part of the mayor. No complaint had been made
against the existing system by any other borough but
Rochester, and he saw no necessity whatever for the'
change proposed by this Bill.
After a few words from Mr. SHY= and Mr. GEORGE'
HunsoN, who both opposed the Bill, the amendment was
agreed to, and the Bill ordered to be read a secoud time
that day six months. •
SMALL TENEMENTS RATING BILL. '
Mr. P. SCROPE moved that this Bill be read a third
time this day six months, on the ground that its object
was to rate the houses of the poorer classes who were
now excepted from paying rates, which was a
most unjust principle, and would be most in•
jurious in operation. One million of the poor occupiers
of cottages in this country were already exempted from
the payment of rates on the benevolent assumptio❑ that
such was their poverty that they were wholly
unable to pay them; but on that great number of
poor persons this Bill would inflict a serious grievance.
The object of the Bill 'was to get from one party or
another the rates, either from the landlord
or the occupier; and hence its being sup-
ported by the Government. The result would
be that half a million of money, now paid by the
higher and middle classes in the shape of local
taxation' would be transferred to the poorer class
of people, whose inability to pay rates the
Legislature had already charitably assumed. If
this Bill were to pass, the landed proprietors, having to
pay the rates on their small tenements, would be de-
prived of almost all inducement to build small cottages
on their estates for their peasantry ; so also would the
great class of builders be discouraged from building
small houses; and the consequence would be that the
increasing poor population of this country would be
driven to live in localities already too densely populated.
Mr. HUME said the House ought to proceed very
cautiously with this Bill, because it was introducing a
dangerous precedent, inasmuch as it changed the princi-
ple of taxation from the occupier to the owner. He
would vote against the Bill.
Mr. BROTHERTON supported the Bill on the
ground that it was meant to meet the practice of collect-
ing the rent of small houses weekly by the landlord,
which was formerly collected quarterly, by which prac-
tice the landlord defeated the tax gatherer.
Mr. ROBERT PALMER opposed the Bill.
Mr. BAINES supported the third reading of the Bill.
All that this Bill did was to follow the principle which
had been recognised in local Acts of Parliament
applied for by the inhabitants of those localities; and one
object of this Bill was to give powers under a
general Bill which had already been given in many
local Acts, and so prevent the necessity and
expenses of parties constantly coming before Parliament
to apply for kcal Acts. He did not think that this
Bill would be injurious to the poor; if he thought so he
would be the last man to support it.—(Hear, hear )
Mr. S. CRAWFORD supported the amendment of the
Hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. P. Scrope), from his
knowledge of the operation of a similar principle in Ire-
land.

Sir G. PECHELL would give a conditional support
to the Biil.
Sir H. WILLOUGHBY opposed the Bill.
The Marie then divided, when there appeared—
For the third reading... ... 94
Against it ... 15
Majority in favour of the third reading —79
Mr. CO,a-BURN moved the insertion of this clause--
"And be it enacted, that where the owner of
any tenement shall be rated to the relief of the
poor by virtue of this Act, instead of the occupier
thereof, and such owner shall have paid all money
due on account of such rates in respect of such
tenement, such occupier shall be entitled to all privi•
leges and franchises to which he would have been
entitled, if he himself had been rated, • and had
paid such rates ; and if such owner so rated
as aforesaid shall not have paid such rate or rates,
it shall be lawful for such occupier to ten-
der to the overseers of the poor or other
person authorised by law to receive the same, the
amount of any rate or rates then due from such owner
in respect of such tenement; and such overseer or other
person so authorised as aforesaid shall be bound to re-
ceive the same ; and such occupier shall, on the
payment or tender of such amount, be en
titled to exercise all such privileges and fran-
chises ai hereinbtfore mentioned : provided always,
that any occupier so paying any rates in respect
of any tenement where the owner is rated to the same,
shall be entitled to deduct and retain the amount so
paid by him from the next payment of rent to be made
by him to such owner, or to recover the same from such
owner as money paid to and for the use of such owner."
Sir J. GRAHAM suggested, ,as it was only three
minutes to six o'clock, that the consideration of the clause
should be postponed.

Sir GEORGE GREY thought it would be better to
postpone the clause.

The clause having been withdrawn,
The further consideration of the Bill was then posi
poned until this day three weeks.
The House then arijournel at Six o'clock.

STATE OF TRADE.
(From the Manchester Guardian of this day.)
MANCHESTER, TuEsruy.—The transactions of the
day in yarns have been on a limited scale. The home
consumers of medium numbers have hesitated to pay the
required advance, which is now 'considerable; the Ger-
man and Mediterranean merchants have also proceeded
very charily, executing, it would seem, only such orders
as were required by the customers in the way of assort.
ment; while the Indian houses have shown little incli-
nation to operate. The dulness of yesterday's cotton
market, giving, as it did, an advantage of about I. per
lb. to the buyer, has contributed to this inanimate state
of things with us. But the spinners have maintained
their ground with unflinching firmness, and the full rates
of last week have been obtained to the extent of the
business efected; indeed, the spinners of the better qua-
lities of No. 60's and upwards, suitable for the York-
shire and Russian trades, have realised a fair advance.
Throughout the, whole of the year, the latter market
has taken from us a greatly diminished supply, as will
be seen from the table of exports given below; the
apparent commencement of an improved demand has,
however, arisen to-day. The buoyancy of this depart-
ment of otir market springs, on the 'one hand, from that
growing• home demand 'which the great extension of
•wegeitig power has occasioned, together with the in-
de'asing requirements (not more than moderately ;
and, on the
sup-
plied) of northern and central Germany
other hand, from such an indifference about sel-
ling as is naturally manifested by a body of pro-
(lacers, who, while possessing considerable orders for
various articles, and holding out little stock of any kind,
still find themselves placed, as regards the great bulk of
yarns, in a most unsatisfactory position, by the dispro-
portionate value of the raw material. The sales of goods
bare been of small extent; and there is not the same elas-
ticity of prices in this department as in that of yarns,
although the quotations are unaltered. The contracts
for 40-inch shirtings and other English fabrics are con-
stantly coming to a close; and the merchants show no dis-
position at present to renew them. Light twilled print-
ing cloths are still wanted and scarce; and the lower
qualities of plain 7-Bths continue in request, but the ex-
treme rates of a week ago are less easily obtained than
they were then. Some purchases of T cloths have been
made; and the manufacturers of domestics look for a
continuance of that advance, which, hitherto, has hardly
at all diminished the loss attending this branch of trade,
the effect of which is beginning to show itself in the
failure of three or four small firms within the last week.
RouRDALE, MONDAY.—Considering the time of the
year, we have had a tolerably lair business doing to-day
in flannels, with little or no change in prices. The wool
market has been more unsettled, owing to the extensive
colonial wool sales in London, which commence on
Thursday next. The more timid, or perhaps the
more speculative, of the manufacturers, have pur-
chased more freely, which has induced the seller to hold
out for better prices; while the more wary and cautious
have acted upon the reserve, thinking that an exten-
siVe sale, in the faca of *new clip coming into the inar-
ket in so shcfrt a time'" hence; may give a backrard
tendency to prices.
MACCLEISIIZIA WrIZSDATe—The improved market, for I