The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-20 00:00:00

praying for the withdrawal of our squadron from the
ccait of Africa.

TEN HOURS BILL.
Mr. BANKES presertcl several ret'tiors from diffe-
rent mills in Lancashire and Yorkshire :n favour of this
Bill.

COUNTY-RATES EXPENDITURE.
Mr. PORTAL presented a petition from a place in
Hampshire, praying for the eztablishment of county
financial boards.

RAILWAY BILLS.
Mr. E. ELLICE moved, pursuant to notice, that in
all railway Bills during the present session, it be an in-
struction to the Committees on such Bills to insert the
following clause:—Provided always, and be it enacted,
that all mortgages or bonds, or guarantees of interest or
dividends on shares or stock, or agreements to guarantee
such interestor dividends made or granted by the company
(or ccmpanies) betire the passing of this Act, and which
shall be in force at the time of the passing of this Act,
shall, during the continuance thereof, have priority over
any mortgages or bonds, or guarantees of interest or
dividends on any new shares or stock respectively, to be
wade or granted by virtue of this Act; and that nothing
in this Act contained shall in any way be held to diminish
or injuriously affect the security of such previous mort-
gegen or bonds, or guarantees, or agreements to guaran-
tee. All he asked the House was to reserve their rights
as creditors over the pro' erty of the company. Bills had
been introduced which had tor their object the destruc-
tion of the security which was possessed at present, and
he was glad that one Bill of this nature hat been re -
jected by the House last night. These attempted
measures of spoliation had created considerable alarm
among the holders of this species of property, and
a great depreciation in its value had followed.
Now he thought the remedy for all this would be
found in adopting this clause. There was a great
public principle involved in this matter in which the
good faith of the House was concerned, and with which
the House alone ought to dial. Since he had
come down to the House he bad had an in-
terview with his Right Hon. Friend the President
of the Board of Trade, on the subject, who agreed with
him that it required great consideration, and upon the
assurance of his Right Hon. Friend that he will direct
his attention to it, in order that the interest of all par-
ties may be secured, ho should have no objection to
withdraw his motion, and leave the matter in the hands
of his Right Hon. Friend.--(Hear, hear.)
Mr. W. PATTEN said it was his intention to have

opposed the clause, but under all the ci;ctimstances—he
agreed with the Hon. Mover of it, that it was better to
leave the question in the hands of the Right lion. the
President of the Board of Trade, to see if he
could not devise some remedy which could not
inflict injury upon other parties.—(Hear, hear,) He
would not infringe on the property of persons who had
shares in railroads; but he would remind the House that
there were several Bills before it now, wherein chair-
men of railways themselves were seeking the interfer-
ence of this Home, in consequence of the circumstances
of their companies. He would move as an amendment,
that it be optional with the railway companies
to adopt the clause moved by his Hon. Friend (Mr.
Edward Ellice), or not, as they pleased, which he thought
would protect the interest of the preference shareholders.
Mr. LABOUCHERE supported the amendmen'.
The Government had been closely watching the system
of preference shareholders, and had inserted clauses in a
great number of railway Bills with a view to correct
the evil complained of. He was quite willing, however,
to reconsider the subject hereafter.
The motion was then withdrawn.

Mr. WILSON PATTEN moved that on Thursday,
the 18th day of April, and on every alternate Thursday,
until the 16th day of May inclusive, orders of the day
have precedence of notices of motions, without giving
priority to Bills introduced by the Government, which
was agreed t), after a few words.
AUSTRALIAN COLONIES.
Lord J. RUSSELL presented a petition from certain
Australian colonists stating that the Australian Colonies
Bill was calculated to promote the prosperity of those
colonies, and praying that it might be passed as at pre-
sent framed.—(Cheers.)
SUPERANNUATION FUND FOR POOR-LAW