The Sun.
London, England, 1850-02-05 00:00:00

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.

Mr. BRIGHT moved for copies of the petitions and
memorials which had been presented since the 31st
January on the case of the woman who had been lately
executed at Glasgow; also of the petition in favour of
Charlotte Harris, who lately had been condemned to
death at Exeter; together with the,numbers of the peti-
tioners, tnd a copy of the verdicts of the juries in each
case.

POOR-LAW GOVERNMENT.
Captain PELHAM, seeing her Majesty's Home Se-
cretary in his place, begged to ask whether her AJa-
jesty's Government had any intention of bringing in
any measures for abolishing er altering the laws of settle-
ment and removability, and the treatment of vagrants;
for altering the rating for the support of the poor, either
in reference to the chargeablity, or the property to be
assessed; or for transferring any of the charges now levied
upon the poor-rate to other funds; whether her Ma-
jesty's Government will bring in any measure for facili-
tating the borrowing of money from the State, or pri% a'e
capitalists, by landowners in England and Wales, for
the purpose cf improving the condition- of estates; and
whether her Majesty's Government will bring in any
measure for facilitating the sale or exchange of landed
property in England and Wales, in settlement, with a
view to the relief or mutual improvement of estates, and
the better cultivation of the soil?

Sir GEORGE GREY said that the subject of the law
of settlement had been long and anxiously considered by
her Majesty's Government, and that it was now in the
hands of the Chief Commissioner of the Poor-laws, and
that'the papers would very shortly be,laid on the table of
the House, which would give much information on the
subject. With regard to the second question, he was ena-
bled to say that the Government had no present inten-
tion to facilitate the borrowing of capital or of altering
the system hitherto adopted on that subject.—(Hear.)
He believed that about two millions had been set aside
for the relief of land, and that a considerable portion
of that sum had already been expended. He
would also state that many applications had been re-
fused, not because they did not come within the
specifications of the Act, but because the means had
already been disposed of to previous applicants. The
Government would consider whether it would be
necessary to make any further advances fur this purpose.
With regard to the other part of the question, he be-
lieved that sufficient powers were give❑ by the Bth and
9th of Viet., and if any further powers were necessary,
Government would bring in a Bill for this purpose.
Mr SADLEIR rose to ask the Solicitor-General, if
it was the intention of the Government to introduce,
Welt) Easter, a Bill to amend the Irish Incumbered
Estates Act of last session.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said it was not the
intention of the Government to bring in a Bill to amend
the Irish Incumbered Estates Act of last session until
the working of the Act had been more correctly ascer-
taieed. Possibly, after a little experience, some
alterations would be required in its provisions ;
but the Government had no present intention on the
subject. With respect to the particular points men-
tioned by the Hon. Gentleman, he could hardly with
propriety make any observations upon them on the pre-
sent occasion.
REGISTRATION (IRELAND) BILL.
Mr. SADLEIR wished to ask the First Lord of the
Treasury, if it was the intention of the Government to
introduce, before Easter, a Bill to provide for a national
civil registration of births, deaths, and marriages, in
L eland, so as to provide for a better system of vital
statistics throughout the United Kingdom?
Lord J. RUSSELL replied that a Bill on the subject
was in preparation, but was not in a sufficient state of
firwardness to enuble the Government to bring it in
before Easter.