The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-19 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING,

~..

l'er" net generally used on the transfer of personal
preperty. With respect to the secoed rieeetioe, he could
L'l.} sa3 Flat theme were many thing, which he would
Y"Y t.) do ; but he did not wish to encumber
t
e subject 4f hia proposition.
c Mr. SCULLY could net egree with the Right Hon.
° "'ewer' as regarded his prereei ion to increase the
?resent stamp duty oe leases in helmet. It was r f great
ttrhepertenee that beeps should be generally granted in
at entirtry, aed that increase f duty would irterlere
them
Tqc CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said his
pi4rk)P 'itten on the wool I conitlorahly i educe the
ift'atcp duty on bates in Ireland. On some classes of
would, no d4ubs-, iecie a;e them; but upon tie
n'tle there would hr a reduction.
'1"e1 SIB 11-1()RP thought it hardly fair of his
-.441
the
eit,flon. Friend to Maima surplus while ihe debts of
G ountry remained still unpaid. Ile was sorry the
r ovetomenc hal given no intimation of an intention to
duce the duty on fife insurances. If they did reduce
ethat' duty one-half he was satisfied they would obtain
d
alithle the ere:. nt ye venue fro:n them.
co'rt.r. REYNOLDS admitt Vie proposition cf the
ercmeat was an improvement up )n the present sys-
,ehiln ot bet he regretted that the Rieht Hon. Gentleman
"
- extend the indulke nee shown to this country to
114 'lt'd- Ely the late regulation of the st tmp law, Ire-
it (I had 150,000/. a year additional placed upon her for
oti eressel stamp duty—no doubt by the way of comport-
iorr the income-tax—though Ireland had no clear
incoine in existence. He was sorry that the Right
Gentleman (lid not propose to relieve solicitors
ipu attorneys in Ireland, who had to pay 8/. per annum
upthe country and 1.4 in Dublin, though the st imps
15rip their indentures end admission cost no less than
l• At rega-ded the stamp duties upon hills, the
e,PJIaI of the Right Hon. Gentleman would be a dis-
ki:n:,,ige to the poorer class of bill-drawers by making
l stamp necessary, when a 6d. ',tamp was now
spie
lent in bills under 10/. He regretted, also, that the
ip uW lax was not abolished, though it was not paid
ittreland; for he thought that in no well-governed
po try should there by en impost upon light and air.
is,l:
or. HERBERT was understood to say that the stamp
pit Ia
lease above 100/. a year would cause a higher tax
the tenant than was now paid.
kr, he CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
tries, to assimilate the stamp duties in both Conn-
of"' The effect would be to reduce the duty on leases
b(' low amount, and increase it on those of a high
lam arrow
There were some cases of exception in Ire-
"d If Irish liph•Members preferred to retain these excep-
did'', he could not help thinking them in error; but he
kpt deiirlvesint.t to raise the question if Irish Members did
walls ri FORBES said the proposition of the Government
ktor ludicrous as a compensation fur the distress and
bed under which, as the Right Hon. Gentleman
to gornitted, the country now laboured. The Chan-
tpi„°r of the Excht quer professed great sympathy for the
thheil tenants; but he (Mr. Forbes) should have
11e,-1;14 more of the Government if the Right lion. Gen-
-11);"4 bed proposed to relieve them. The reduction of
trp„Tirop duty on leases would not relieve the tenant—
InVdeLlillY in Scotland, where they were settled without
Ite Of stamps. The flourish about icon brick duty was
Ben more ludicrous. What benefit ld it confer on
sti:t4nd, where houses were fur the most part built of
Oland
or upon' many of the agricultural districts in
Oland and Ireland ? The Chancellor of the Exclee-
bpirithsd spoke of a probable rise in the price of corn ;
&Ire
e had not stated the probable amount, nor what
•
it, it would be likely to stand at, between 34e. the
rte r,
the present price, and 565, the price which was
80 remunerating to the farmer. Nor had the Right
Ilitll. Gentleman stated when he would come forward
pole] proposition calculated to raise the present ruinous
eli,littr- FAGAN reminded the Chancellor of the Ex-
-14 quer that a great majority of the holdings in Ire-
nd
NI Were under 50/., and so far as that country was
trieernei tho principle of the measure, which was to
The
the humbler classes, could not be carried out.
r" CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said,
QeWere questions of detail, and it would be better to
Tae resolution was then agreed to.
4 lie House resumed, and the report was ordered to
received to-morrow.

The DRAINAGE OF LAND.
a House then went into Committee on the drainage
ltoProve'ment of land.
iahre CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, he
the Propese to the House a resolution, authorising
tedr Lords of the Treasury to advance, for the purposes
Ireland
and improvement of land in Great Britain
'it
des tea
a sum not exceeding 3,000,0001. sterling.
deelia unnecessary for him to refer to the benefits to be
et„ It'al from the measure, and he should therefore con-
k hitns,if with moving the resolution.
BLACKALL suggestedthe propriety of extend-
dg the objects for which the money would be granted
).tke
Treasury.
ka
4° CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER had
littta his resolution so large, and in such general terms,
is, it would be competent for Hon. Members to propcee
°ther objects. It would be inconvenient to express
aiiti°pinion upon that point now, but the Hon. Gentle-
la, Would not be precluded from moving grants for
tother proper mode of improving land.
tart• lIILDYARD said this appeared to him a very
ttjet'etioneble mode of proceeding. It was raising reve-
th,aat of capital, as had teen done by some of the rail-
euinpauiee. Whether the money was to be ad-
-44,74 from the money in hand, or was to be raised by
1411ying, was immaterial to his argument. He un-
tlt„ laed the money was to be repaid by instalments, in
itoeoarse of the next twenty years, and he wanted to
,t,ht: whether these repayments were to be carried to
%ft'eanunt of the revenue, supposing there happened to
lirr,4ficit, or were they to go to a fund to be appro.
tl'd expressly for the reduction of the i'eate
ittat:la CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
`ln ter was exceedingly simple. Non-payments of that
iht had ever—so far as he was aware—been carried to
ni,etedit of the revenue; nothing could be more won-
!Oa than such a proceeding; but those sum! had
i'4,143 been carried to the credit of the Consolidated
tali' He had stated the other night that, as these re-
Sti'lsuents exceeded the advances and began to accu-
ns,,,,4a he hoped that some future Chancellor of the
hale would do what he would then be justly
tar" upon to do—namely, to apply the money to the
laqion of the public debt of the country.
Nbti answer to questions from several other Hon.
r
lt„°° CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
k 41 Were nearly all questions of detail which it would
inttlhllloh better to reerve until the Bill was printed and
ke hands ef Hon. s
Members.
lair. SCULLY regretted the sum to be advanced to
41(1 was so small, and thought that the construction
;Certain lines of railway would be more advantageous.
1.• MONSELL wished to know what was the real
let: of the case with regard to arterial elrainage in Ire-
?ta' and whether abuses in the management of the
Prevailed? He suggested that the Right Hon. Gen-
Qe'it4tl should be prepared to make some statement on
1, head before the Bill again came on for discussion.
CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it
Perfectly impossible that the Treasury could exer-
IttO Control in detail over the drainage works going on
kt-•,11, quarter of Ireland. They had done all they could,
Ilal°1; sent over an eminent engineer officer to overlook
Ll:Vectors of drainage in Ireland.
ltd td NAAS said the statement that had been made
Ennavery pool reason why they should have an amend-
of the Drainage Act.
44„" CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
Sh-,!°ver anything went wrong in Ireland the Govern-
Ve,'fas asked to bring in an Act of Parliament. If
Wet& Lord had any complaint to make, he ought to
r
kil to the Board of Works, and not to the Treasury.
itZa
Vt• STAFFORD said, after what they hail heard,
Intj'nuld not be much surprised if there was a very ani-
d debate in the next stage of the Bill. He had el-
k 'ts felt that although there might be some advantage
41(1"(18'1 sort of grants. there were also disadvantages,
tepersonally, therefore, he would never take a farthing
It, get money. The Right Hon. Gentleman said it was
telt),4aible for the Treasury to control those abuses, but
Pew system might be devised.
140,u° CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said no
thing, lie had not admitted the existence of any
18--he had stated that in ell those cases applications
(1„ tld be made to the Board of Works, and not to the
Pa'll4nry, The Government had had appeal after ap-
!i;' from the Irish Members, and they had been told
and over again that where three parties were in-
k4:4tad in land, and wished to have it drained, they
),Zt could aeree unless the Government interfered.
, t. HENLEY said it had been shown in evidence be-
nt the Miscellaneous Committee, that the Board of'
ts,'ltte was very much overloaded with duties. Giving
ittY credit to the Government for a wish to do their
they' he thought it was impossible they could do it in
ltiPresent case. He was not surprised to hear coin-
tia`llla from the Irish Members as to the way in which
111,,Iablic works had been carried on. He believed that
ta tit estates had been taxed in a manner not very satis-
4tY to them.
tell,,t• GROGAN did not think that the Government
the ' do anything better than to advance the money for
!tit,,Plsrpese named. He would suggest to the Govern-
'et:t the propriety of permitting the immediate parties
K' tested in the arterial drainage to execute these im-
45„Nsents themselves, under the supervision of the
tta7td of Works. All unnecessary expenses in the exe-
-414 or these works would be thereby avoided.
Itte t• TRELAWNY felt it necessary to enter his
Otttst against any of these grants being made, as he bad
instructed by his constituents to say that they had
I,llleney to apply to these purposes. There were many
ilitli'veuiences emending the present preposition. One
that the Hon. Members themselves did not agree
alp the way in which the money was to be divided,
4,‘' another was holding out an inducement to the Irish
larpl'esentatives to demand mercy for railways and other
littilcises. There was no end to these demands. He did
41 tee where they were to stop. It appeared to him
ke,-„tihis was but a part of a great Socialist or Corn-
t's"tat scheme. The Chancellor of the Exchequer him-
had furnished the best argument that could he male
the proposition when he said that it was impos-
e that there could be a supervision of the management
, Optojeeteil imp.
lOOßllANrovemeete MAHON reminded the Hon.
kar?'ber that this was net to be a grant, but a loan of
tleb'Y upon most excellent security. They had the evi-
Qat of the Right Hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of
ltt,k4chequer himself that these loans had been paid
kips by Ireland than any other portion of the
r'rn.
Air. FORBES explained.
tee,,l.• BRIGHT had spent some days during the last
aell in visiting those extensive works, and he was
bpi to say that the mode in which those works were
44R carried on wits, to him, extremely satlafectory.
AOertttiluded particularly to Cestlebar, Galway, and other
"51211 of the west of Ireland. He examined those
tlit4 minutely.-he went through the system of Wok-

keeping, wrges, chr quos, and control which the superior
officer in Dubiin hits over the expenditure of the money,
and the whole :.eenied to him to b.? well arranged and
conducted in such a manner as to make it impos.itile
that there could be any waste of money or any default
in the expenditure. He ha-I the satisfaction of seeing a
large number of persons employed and receiving in-
struction in various kinds of labour. Without meaning
to defend any particular works, or to say that thy were
judicious or not, he was sure that there were able men
at the places ho had named superintending these works
and pruparing large tracts of laud f proper cultivation
which only for their exertions would lie for a great por-
tion of the year entirely waste and unproductive.
Col.mel CHAT fERTON observed that the Board of
Works ha I made themselves very unpoptiar in Ireland.
The resolution was then agreed to, the House resumed,
and the Cf ai.rman reported progress.
PARLIAMENTARY VOTERS, &c. (IRELAND)
BILL.

The House then went into Committee upon the
above Bill.
On clause 7, which was the case of joint occupiers,
b ing proposed,
Mr. MONSELL said he was not going to ob;cct to
the clause, but he wished to call the attention of the
Government to the position in which many of the
borough constituencies in Ireland would be after the
Bill was passed. In England there were 187 cities aad
boroughs, of which 11 had constituencies less than 300.
In Ireland there Nero 33 cities and boroughs, 10 of
which would have constituencies under 300. This was a
state tf things deeply to be deplored, inasmuch as it
gave rise to the greatest bribery and corruption. In
Wales or Scotland there was no such small constituen-
ciw, tclause the system of combining the smaller
boroughs together, for the purpose of forming a [roper
number of constituents to be represented by one Member,
was fully carried out. Although there were many ob-
jections to that system, yet upon a balance of two evils
he thought it was the least, lie wished to impress upon
the Government the propriety of applying the same prin-
ciple to Ireland, aad thereby to lessen the temptation to
bribery and corruption. He trusted that the Govern-
ment would be prepared to say that they would consider
this suggestion during the Easter recess, and that they
would state their views upon the paint upon the resump•
Lion of business aft-r the holidays.
Lord J. RUSSELL said that if the Hon. Member

meant that boroughs at present returning Members
should be combined together, he (Lord J. Russell) would

have the greatest objection to sucn a propositionoas it
would have the effect of reducing the present number of
representatives. But if he meant to combine boroughs
having small constituencies with neighbouring small
towns, for the purpose of increasing the number of con-
stituents, he confessed such a proposition was not open
to such objections. There were, however, many difficul-
ties in the way of forming the limits and boundaries
of boroughs thus extended—difficulties to be consi-
dered both in principle and detail. He certainly did
not see such objections to this proposition as ti induce
him to say that the Government would certainly oppose
it if it was brought forward. The question was one
which would be duly considered by the Government, and
they would be piepared to state their views before they
took any decisive course upon it.—(Hear.)
After a few words from Mr. G. A. HAMILTON,
Sir D. NORREYS was understood to object to the
proposition of the Hon. Member for Limerick, on the
ground that it would have the effect of reducing the
number of county electors.
Mr. MONSELL said that the proposition, if carried,
would not affect his constituents, inasmuch as the county
which he represented cuutained nu borough within it.
Not so as regarded the Hon. Member for Mallow; for,
according to " Dod's Parliamentary Companion," his
influence was unbounded in that particular borough.
The Hon. Member, did not, therefore, look at the ques-
tion with quite so impartial an eye.
Mr. F. FRENCH said that the suggestion of the Hon.
Member for Limerick was very important, as many of
the Irish constituencies would be considerably reduced
by the operation of this Bill.
Colonel RAWDON thought that the proposition of
the Hun. Member was well worthy of consideration, but
it should be recollected that the great antagonistic inte-
rest to the landlords was in the towns.
Mr. B. OSBORNE said, that whatever was proposed
by the Hon. Member for Limerick was proposed in a
spirit for the benefit of Ireland. No one had the wel-
fare of the country more at heart than the Hon. Member,
and he deserved the thanks of the House for the sugges-
tion he had made. It was one which the Government
would do well to consider, not only as regarded Ireland,
but also England. By uniting those boroughs they
would do more for the purity of election than by any
measure they had as yet adopted. As an example, he
would take New Ross. Its constituency under the Re
form Bill was 190. At this moment the constituency
consisted of 80 people. If they enacted this 81. rating
they would have it reduced to 50 people. It; however,
they joined this borough with Enniscorthy, or other
towns, they would be sure to have a highly respectable
and numerous constituency.
Sir D. NORREYS explained.
Mr. GROGAN hoped the Noble Lord would direct
his attention to the subject, with a view of introducing
some measure to meet the sugg scion, us Hon. Members
on both sides of the House were unanimous in their ap-
proval of it.
Mr. SADLEIR also expressed himself in favour of the
proposition.
Colonel CHATTEIiTON was understood to refer to
the last election for Cork as a proof that the people there
were f sveurablet to protection. He ob:erved that the
apathy that prevailed was the cause why numbers whose
names might be on the registry did not appear there. He
declared himse:f in favour of au anneal rcvisiou of the
registry.
Mr. REYNOLDS understood, he said, that the pro-
position of his Hon. Friend the Member for the county
Limerick, was that all boroughs where there wero less
than 300 electors should be tor election purposes asso
elated with neighbouring towns.—( Hear.) He thought
that was a very reasonable proposition, and the best
proof that it was so was the present, and what he ex-
pected would be the future, condition of the borough of
Portsrlington.—(Elear.) That borough would have, une
der the present Bill, 110 persons rated to the relief of the
poor at 81. and upwards. Deducting., as his Right lion.
Friend the Secretary for Ireland said ought to be de-
ducted, one-fifth from that number, they would find the
constituency reduced to 88, and the Hon. and Gallant
Member fir Portariington stated that the constituency
would not be more than 75. It the HOD. aed Gallant
Member wore correct in his figures he asked if there
were any person to say that the borough of Portarlington
was ref ormei, when, having 177 voters under the pre-
sent law, they were to he reduced to 75 under the new
reform law ?—(Hear.) He was reminded that there
item no freemen to be found in Portarlingtun. He was
glad to hear it, because it' there were, they would be as
everywhere else—like cattle in the market, and to be
sold to the highest and best bidder. They had been
told by the Hon. and Gallant Gentleman who had just
sat down, that the party of the Protectionists had tri-
umphed in Coil( by a majority of 209. Now if there
209 who voted exclusively from the love of protection,
and not for love of money, then they must have so voted
fame a love of a dear loaf. He (Mr. Reynolds) knew
the people of Cork well, and he was sure they had no
such inclinations as the Hon. and Gallant Gentleman
ascribed to them, and he invited the Hon. and Gallant
Gentleman to test that constituency on the point when
the new constituency under the present Bill was formed.
It was his opinion, that the suggestion of the Hon.
Member or Limerick must ho adopted, or they must
throw the represent.tion cf Portarlington into the
Queen's County at large ;. for, to give to a town with
75 voters the power of returning a member, would be
as absurd as to enfranchise Old Sarurn or any
other of the rotten boroughs.—(Hear, hear.) As to the
objection made by the Honourable Baronet the Member
for Mallow, that the proposed plan would weaken the
popular strength in the counties, he must say that he had
no such apprehension; and he asked if it would not be
an improvement in the estimation of the Hon. Baronet
that Fermoy and Mallow should have voices in the re-
presentation of Mallow, either by himself or another.
He thought, too, that it would be an improvement if
Cashel, which, under the new law, would have 130
votes, should have added to it the important towns of
Tipperary and Thurles.
An Hoer. MEMBER—And Nenagh.
Mr. REYNOLDS—Yes, and Nenagh; he had not the
least objection to Nenagh being included. The making
thes• changes could not weaken the popular power.
They would not take more than 1,000 voters, and he
believed that under the provisions of the Bill there
would be 16,000. In Tipperary the deducting of the
voters for the boroughs would not have any effect in a
county that had always been remarkable for sending in-
dependent Member, to that House. He remem-
bered his Right Honourable Friend the Master of the
Mint being returned by a majority of 1,300. That was
a period prior to there being imposed upon him
what ho called a lucrative taciturnity.—(Laughter.) But
he trusted to see him recognised, as he had always been
by him, as the living leader of the Irish people, and he
was one who would be exceedingly sorry that any com-
bination of circumstances should diminish the number of
his Right Hon. Friend's supporters in that or any other
part of Ireland.—(Hear, hear.) He thought, too, that
it would be no loss to Dundalk if it were associated with
the patriotic town of Ardee. They had always heard of
the purity of the borough of Athlone, yet pure as it was,
it would not suffer in its independence if it were asso-
ciated with the neighbouring towns of Roscommon and
Westmeath. With regard to Ennis, be was sure that
his Hon. Friend would have no objection that the elec-
tors of Ennis should be enlarged, because it would afford
to him an advantage of a large number of his country-
men attesting their sense of his merits, his virtues, and
his integrity. lie would therefore beg to connect with
Ennis the town of Kilrush.—(Laughter.) Ho trusted
that Ennis would yet become whet it had once been—an
exec.° lingly important town. He was glad to hear the
Noble Lord had responded to the suggestions of the
lion. Member for the county Limerick.
Sir W. SOMERVILLE wished that lion. Members
would proceed with the consideration of the Bill.

Mr. i'AG AN hoped that time would be given to them
to a:certain the opinions of the people of Ireland on the
subj,.ct. It was his opinion that the popular interest
would be eudwigered by the preposition of the 110 n.
Member for Limerick.

Mr. G. A. HAMILTON remarked that there was an
increase of the constituency in the counties, and a
decrease in the constituency in the towns caused by
this Bill.

Mr. S I'AFFORD remarked that the effect of the pro-
posed change would be, for instance in Clare, that Kil-
rush, which bad two votes for Members of the county,
the electors there, if this proposition were adopted, would
have but one vote.

Clause 7 Ras agreed to.
Upon clause S being proposed,
Mr. FAGAN moved that a proviso be added to the
clause, which would have the effect of continuing on the
registry for eight years those who had that right at pre-
pout. By the 4 Bill they deprived the househOdus of

their votes and continued the freemen, whom they
repudiated and, r their reformed cATorate sys:etn.
Sir NV. SOMERVILLE opposei the proviso. It
would establish in boroughs a right which they had al-
rerdy decided should not be extended to counties. By
this Bill the voters should be revised every year, and
eemen would be so obliged to register under this Act.
Mr. BRIG IIT observed that tee Bill proposed to
make a very considerable addition to the constituency.
It did so in the counties ; but the case was very different
in the boroughs, where the effect would be to dimi-
nish the nutnber of electurs—and that, too, electors under
a Ref trm Bill franchise. He considered it a very
serious thing for that House to disfranchise any elector
whose corruption was not proved. Those electors in
boroughs were surely as worthy of sympathy from every
portion of that House as were the freemen.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL objected to the pro-
viso as oppostd to the principle of the Bill.
After a few words faun Mr. F. French and Colonel
Dunne in support of the proviso, and M. Grogan in
opposition to it.
Mr. REYNOLDS called the attention of the Com-
mittee to the condition of the householders,
,who were
unjustly trotted by the bill. At present they wers
not liable to rates, and now they would he
deprived of their rights, and if voters would
have to pay poor rates before being regist.Ted
Mr. G. A. HAMILTON said it struck him that the
amendment went farther than the Hon. Member for
Manchester seemed to think, and that any person who
possessed the qualification now, would have it perpetu-
ated after the expiration of the eight years.
The Committee then divided, when there appeared—
For the proviso
Against it ... ..„ 80
Majority against the proviso ... —42
The clause was then ordered to stand part of the Bill,
as were also clauses to the 14th inclusive.

On clause 15, enacting that the clerk of the peace in
counties should prepare lists of persons now registered,
Sir R. FERGUSON proposed the omission of the
words, " excluding nevertheless from such lists all per-
sons registered under the said Act in respect of any qua-
lification heretofore requiring the elector to be or to have
been in the actual occupation of the premises." The Hon.
Member explained his object to be that when once a
voter was plsced on the registration list his name should
he retained there unless notice of disqualification should
have been served.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL objected to the
amendment, and said that the clause as it stood would
prove more simple and far less expensive in its ope-
ration.

Mr. VESEY—The Bill had been brought in as a
boon to the people of Ireland. According to the clause
as it stood, however, he denied that in many eases it
would be considered as a boon; for, under this clause, no
matter whether a person wished it or not, if he possessed
the qualification required by the Bill, he was at once
placed upon the register, and must be invested with the
right of voting. No person, who knew anything of Ire-
land, could fail to be acquainted with the agitations and
heartburnings which were attendant upon elections in
that country. On the one hand, the clergy were anxious
to drag the voter to the hustings on the popular aide;
while, on the other hand, the landlords were equally
anxious to drag him to the poll to serve their purposes.
The evil of this system was felt to be so great that in
numerous instances in Ireland the people had refused to
come forward at all; hence the small number of electors
in that country bad given rise to the necessity fur this
Bill. His own county supplied an apt illustration of
the truth of this.

Sir G. GRE f said that if the amendment were
adopted it would not remedy the inconvenience com-
plained of.
Mr. ANSTEY supported the clause.
Major BLACKALL said if the House passed the
clause as it was, and if they thus caused those parties to
be put upon the register, one-half of them would not pay
their poor rates in order not to be in that position.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL Mended the clause.
After a few words from Mr. G. A. HAMILTON and Mr.
GROGAN,
Mr. SHEIL said that whatever might be the evil of
an electoral contest, let them, for God's sake, avoid a re-
gistration contest. Deprecating the undue exercise of
influence of the landlord on the one band, and of the
priest on the other, he, for that reason, opposed the
clause proposed by his Hon. Friend.
Colonel THOMPSON said the coming amendment of
the Hon. Member for Kerry (the ballot) would give a
better remedy than any that had been proposed.
After an observation from Mr. FORBES, the Com-
mittz;e divided, when there appeared—

For the amendment
Against it ...
Majority •••
On clause 15 being proposed,
Mr. CLEMENTS moved an amendment with the
view to the substitution of the clerk of the union for the
high constable, as the officer to prepare the lists of per-
sons qualified to rote, to make the objections indictved
in clause 19, and to receive general claims and objec-
tions; and the clerk of the peace as the officer to cause
them to be printed and exhibited; also that the lists
should he made out by parishes and townlands alpha-
betically. He then would propose the postponement of
the next clauses down to clause 19 inclusive, with the
view of introducing the clauses which had been delivered
as a separate paper.

... 42
••• ... ... 145
... ... --103

Sir V. SO(ERVILLE wai prepared, on the part
of the Government, to acquiesce in the amendment,
which he thought an improvement, as tending to save
expense and facilitate the operation of the Bill.
The clause was then agreed to, with amendments;
and clauses 16. 17, 18, 19 were struck out.
On clause 20 having been proposed, a long and desul-
tory conversation ensued, and various verbal amend-
ments were suggested. Af er some discussion,
Mr. FRENCH moved an amendment, the effect of
which was understood to be to save the franchise in case
of a change of residence.
Thp Committee divided on the proposition, and the
numbers ware—

For the amendment ... 57
.Against it ... ... 144
Majority against it ... ...-87
The clause, as amended, was then agreed to.
Oa the motion of Sir G. GREY, clauses from 21 to
26 inclusive were struck out, for the purpose of being
af.ervvards brought up with amendments.
Clauses 27 and 28 were agreed to.
On clause 29, which enact.; that the town-clerk should
give notice requiring the payment of the poor-rates,
Viscount NAAS opposed the clause, as being one
which would entail unnecessary expense.
The clause, however, was agreed to.
Clauses 30. 31, and 32 were agreed to.
Sir D. NORREYS moved the addition of the follow-
ing proviso to the latter clause:—" Provided always,
that whenever any person shall have been rates in re-
spect of several tenements and premises of the ♦alue of
Si. and upwards, the payment of all poor-rates due by
him in respect of any such premises or tenements, being
f the valae of 81. and upwards, shall he a sufficient pay-
ment of poor-rates for the purpose of this Act."

The ATTORNEY-GE'NgRAL objectei to the pro-
viso as uselese.

The amendment was withdrawn, and the clause was
added to the Bill. •

On clause 33;

Mr. REYNOLDS moved a proviso to the effect that
any person on the register not having given notice in
writing of changing his place of abode on or before the
31st of July, shall not be entitled to be placed upon the
register.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the adoption of
the proviso would give rise to gn at inconvenience. He
should therefore objet to it.
Mr. REYNOLDS said the object of this proviso
was to compel parties on the register to prove their re-
sidence. He would carry the principle to 201. and 501.
freeholders.

The gallery was cleared for a division, but none took
place. The mo►tion was withdrawn, and the clause was
agreed to.
Clauses 34, 35, 36, and 37 were also agreed to.
The House then resumed, and the Chairman was or-
dered to report progress on Thursday, April 11.
MUTINY BILLS.

On the motion of Mr. FOX MAULE, the Mutiny
Bill and the Marine Mutiny Bill were read a second
time.

On the motion of Mr. BOUVERIE the Fees (Court
of Common Pleas) Bill was read a second time.
The School Districts Contributions Bill passed
through Committee.
The Committee on the Chief Justices' Salaries Bill
was postponed till Friday. in consequence of an objec.
tion raised by Mr. SPOONER, who thought the Bill
ought not to be proceeded with at so late an hour.
The reports of the Committees of Ways and Means
and the Committee of Supply were brought up.
Mr. HAYTER, in the absence of the Chancellor of
the Exchequer, obtained leave to bring in a Bill to re-
peal the duty on bricks.
Mr. W. P. WOOD moved " that the Committee of In-
quiry as to Oaths of Members do consist of 21 Mem-
bers, and that the following Members do farm such
Committee :—The Earl of Arundel and Surrey, Lord J.
Russell, Sir R. Peel, Sir J. Graham, Mr. Gladstone,
Mr. Goulburn, Mr. Wynn, Sir R. H. Inglis, Mr. Attor-
ney• General, the Lord Advocate, Sir F. Thesiger, Mr.
Cockburn, Mr. Disraeli, Mr. Henley. Mr. Hume, Mr.
Napier, Mr. Roebuck, Mr. Turner, Mr. W. Patten, Mr.
Walpole, and Mr. Wood." As he understood the
Hon . Member for Buckinghamshire would be unable
to attend; he proposed to substitute the name of Mr.
Herries.

Mr. B. OSBORNE did not wish to offer any objection
to the appointment of the Committee, but could not help
expressing his regret that the Hon. Member for
Youghal hail nut been named, as he had taken great in-
terest in the q❑estion two years ago.
Major BERESFORD could not agree to the appoint-
ment of the Committee unless he could obtain some
pledge that its proceedings would be in accordance with
the Hon. end Learned Gentleman by whom it had been
movvil. If the Committee should make any report
affecting the admissibility or non•admissibility of the
Je•w otherwise than by means of the introduction of a
Bill, he should consider its proceedings unfair; and un-
less he received an assurance from the llon, and Learned
Member or the Government that the report of the
Committee would be confined strictly to the result
of th• inquiry, he should divide the House on the sub•
ject.—(lleac, hear.)
Mr. W. I'. WOOD could enly repeat what he had
stated on the former occasion as to the intentions of
the Committee. When the Committee should be ap-
pointel it would be impossible for him to say what
they might or might not think fit to do. But his
object was simply to obtain a Committee of Inquiry,
following the precedent in the case cf Mr.
Pease. As in that case the Committee would report
on the various Acts of Parliament, sad the precedents
which existed with respect to the admission of Quakers
without forming any opinion; and so fur from going
iota the Committee at all prejudiced, be alsould consider
t hie duty to lay before them every Act of Parliament

and every precedent bearing on. the subject, whether fa-
vourable to his views or otherwise. The functions of
the Committee would be of a judicial nature, simply to
report to the House the result o their inquirieg.—(Rear.)
Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL moved, to onable the lion.
Member for Youghal to be placed on the Committee, that
the Committee do consist of 22 members, but subse-
quently withdrew it,
Major BERESFORD observed that there were 13
members who were in favour of the Jewish claims, and
only 8 against them; he would repelt, there:ore, that
the Committee was unfairly chosen.
Mr. B. OSBORNE moved the omission of the name
of the Earl of Arundel and Surrey, in order to substi-
tute the name of Mr. Anstey.
The motion was negatived without a division.
The names were then agreed to till the SPEAKER
came to the name of Mr. flume, when

Mr. B. OSBORNE inured the omission of the name
of Mr. Hume, as the Hon. Gentleman ii,,sured him he
could not attend.

Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the
Howe divided, when there appeared—
For the motion ..„ 16
Against it ... 47
Majority —3l
The remaining name-, were then agreed to.
The Brick Duties Bill was brought in and read a first
time.

Mr. HUDSON wished to know whether any provision
was made for allowing drawback to the brickreakers who
had stocks upon hand. It would be a great hardship
upon them if some return of daty was not provided for.
Mr. HAYTER said it was provided for in the Bill.
The House adjourned at Oae o'clock.

COMMUNICATION WITH FRANCE
The important question relative to the transmission
of the mails between London and Paris, having occu-
pied considerable attention, the following extracts
from the report upon the subject will be found well
worth the attention of our readers :
BOULOGNE.
The westerly or south-westerly winds prevail in
the Channel full nine months of the year, and the
swell rolls in from the same quarter ten months,
having no impediment between the exposed and
dangerous western coast of the Pas de Calais
and the distant shores of America. In thick,
dark, and foggy weather, the coast in the neighbour-
hood of Boulogne is no less difficult than dangerous
to approach ; it is fringed with reefs, having deep
water close to; a vessel cannot therefore feel her way
by the lead, and there being no light except at Point
d'Alprecht, it is a work of immense peril to ap-
proach such a shore in a dark night, particularly at
low water, under the ordinary circumstances of wind
and sea as above adverted to.

The'port of Boulogne dries at low water spring
tides, and has frequently three or four feet bar in face,
the sluices not being so effectual as those of Calais.
The entrance of the port is also narrower than Calais,
and the piers being solid, form a dam across the
tide; and as these piers are of unequal length, the
western considerably outside the eastern, the cur•
rent running to the eastward with great rapidity
round the west pier is met by a counter western
stream between it and the eastern pier head. This
counter-action is so strong, even under ordinary cir-
cumstances, as to endanger vessels losing command,
and probably causing their wreck against the
west
pwieesrieralyndgainlea,a
tdhaerkduntiy of pointing a vessel forght, during the prevailing
the harbour thus becomes a service of immense
peril. The egress is equally dangerous, for in south-
westerly gales a violent sea is created by the action
of the tide, and immediately a vessel gets without the
west head she takes the sea on her broadside that
sweeps her round towards the stone work which ex-
tends beyond the eastern works, and is in danger of
breaking her wheel, or (what may be worse) en-
tangling it with the buoys which mark this stone
work.

The communication by boats is much more difficult
at Boulogne than at Calais during winter, when a suc-
cession of S. W. gales setting in, will sometimes cause
an interruption for several days together. The cir-
cumstances of this duty having to be performed in the
night, and on an open coast, with the frequent
attendant difficulties of darkness, thick rainy weather
and a heavy sea, are obstacles of so insuperable a
nature, that frequent delays and serious probable
accident will ensue in carrying on so perilous a ser-
vice. There have been several fatal accidents in
Boulogne Bay, even by daylight. One happened a
few years ago, in landing the mail from her Majesty's
packet Beaver, when it was not only daylight, but the
wind' off the land, the boat was upset by the breakers
on the shore, and Mr. S. Hare (second master), the
French pilot, six of his crew, and two passengers
were all drowned without any possibility of rescuing
them; and even so late as the 17th of last November
sixteen French seamen were drowned, part in attempt-
ing the harbour of Boulogne, and others in its imme-
diate vicinity.
The distance from Dover to Boulogne is six miles
further than to Calais, and in dark winter weather the
passage is much more dangerous to the latter port, the
course lying athwart the track of ships running up the
Channel ; it also leads directly among the numerous
English and French fishing vessels which congregate
about the " Varne and Ridge," and also the fishing
ground on the coast between Grisnez and Boulogne.
It is longer and more difficult to get to Boulogne
against a strong wind at S.W., and a spring Hood,
than it is to get to Calais against a strong east wind
and a spring ebb.
The difference of the passage between the two ports
will be in favour cf Calais, in fine weather about
!'alf an hour, and in bad weather from an hour and a
half to two hours.

The port of Boulogne is not adapted for a perma-
nent mail station, in consequence of the peculiar na-
tural difficulties, arising from its exposed locality and
the nature of the coast. The important conditions of
punctuality and certainty of safe performance of the
service at the most economical cost, are not to be ob-
tained at this place, in consequence of the several
opposing circumstances stated in the foregoing
remarks. It is confessed by all nautical persons
acquainted with it to be fit for fine weather only, and
as such it may be suitable enough for vessels whose
sole object is the conveyance of passengers, and who
can suit their proceedings so as to avoid the difficulties
of the tide and the risks of weather. But for mail-
packets, whose duty is to be fulfilled punctually,
without reference to these matters, and are regulated
only by the arrival or departure of trains, it will be
found totally unsuitable.
It may be reasonably predicted, that if the packets
continue to use the port of Boulogne in the night, as
they have done since the commencement of the last
year, that some of them will eventually
be lost, for
it is frequently impossible, in a dark night, to know
the danger a vessel is coming into until too late
to extricate it, and the lights and signals on shore
are by no means to be trusted to. Both the risk and
the wear and tear, with the concomitant expense,
may be safely estimated at 100 per cent. more than at
Calais, the exposed nature of the Boulogne coast ren-
dering it frequently unsafe to anchor, and a steamer
consequently consuming fuel and other stores, wear-
ing her hull and machinery,
and exposed to accidents
to both, in a manner which would not be the case at
Calais, where the intervals of being kept from enter-
ing the harbour are much shorter, and where safe
anchorage can be obtained, in most cases, during
such intervals.

In reference to the transit of the mails between the
coast and ,the interior, I know the French authorities
have offered to accelerate the trains between Bou-
logne and Paris, and to perform the distance in five
hours and a half, instead of seven hours and a half,
as at present; by which they propose to afford
nearly seven hours for the sea
passage instead of four
hours and three quarters as now.
As the journey from Paris to Calais is now effected
in nine hours and three quarters, the present rate of
travelling on both roads being about the same, it fol-
lows as a matter of course that the whole route to
Calais (which branches from the others at Amiens)
accomplished
mb
pe
ish
proportionally tni on all
seveny accelerated,hour s
and a
half, thus gaining and the distance
on the longer road two hours and a half, as two hours
are proposed to be saved on the shorter one.
The sea transit by Calais requires only four hours
to cover all probable contingencies, and thus pursuing
the safe route by Calais, the bags by the night mail
may reach the French capital earlier than at present,
and by the day mail leave later, affording about four
hours at Paris to return an answer in thirty-two hours
from London ; or allowing about eight hours in Paris
to return a reply by the night mail to London in
thirty-eight hours—that is to say, a person may leave
London on Monday at Bh. 30m. P.m., reach Paris at
10h. 3Dm. on Tuesday, leave again by day mail at 2h.
30m. P.M., and be in London at 4h. 30m. on Wednes-
day morning; or he may remain about eight hours
in Paris, and by leaving with the night mail at 7
P.M., will be in London at 10h. 30m. on Wednesday
morning, say thirty-eight hours from his departure.

CALAIS.
The port of Calais is sheltered from westerly winds ;
the water is, then, smooth along shore ; it is easy to
enter the harbour, land in boats, or anchor on the
coast, which is a good roadstead. The coast of
Calais may be approached with perfect safety in
dark or
graduallytowards rt h ick h
weather.te
shorelth
is sandy, a
and shoals so
vessel m
ay
stand in without risk, and feel hir way by the lead,
even when the weather is so thick as to render all
objects invisible, except at very short distances.
The piers project so far to seaward that a
vessel feeling her way by, the lead along the
shore at tide-time cannot miss them, and at low
water they can, without risk, be approached so near
as to hear a bell, which, in foggy weather, is kept
ringing. The light is a most brilliant one, and so
situate, by its position in reference to the tide light on
Port Rouge, that a vessel may with certainty run in
between the piers, even though so dark as not to be
able to see them.
The port of Calais is so much improved by the
newly-constructed sluices and the extension of the