The Sun.
London, England, 1850-02-06 00:00:00

SCO IC 11-MARRIAGES BILL.

Lord CAMPBELL asked the Noble Earl opposite
(Aberdeen) when he intended to introduce the Bill fer
amending the law regulating Scotch marriages, which
he had promised to introduce last session, when the
Registration Bills were defeated? The Noble and Learned
Lord then read some letters, showing the abuses which
had arisen, in consequence of t' e facility with which
marriages might be contracted in Scot! and.
The Earl of ABERDEEN admitted the existence of
the evil complained of, and would support any measure
to prevent the evasion of the law of England by Eng-
lish persons going to Scotland to be married, but he
considered that the Scotch law of marriage was superior
the English law, and the Scutch were satisfied with
it. He would be satisfied with the law which his Noble
and Learned Friend had introduced in 1835, and again
in 1846, to remedy the evil, but he must decline intro-
ducing any measure himself.
Lord BROUGHAM was sorry to find that his Noble
Friend declined tl introduce his promised Bill. He
would give up the subject t) his Noble Friend, and
would support, as he had no doubt his Noble and Learned
Friend opposite would support, any measure to amend
the existing state of the law.
RAILWAY AUDIT.

Lord MONTEAGLE rose, pursuant to notice, to
move that certain returns relating to railway accounts,
for which he had moved on the 3d May last, should be
made forthwith; and to move for certain additional re-
turns relating to railroads, and to ask the Vice-President
of the Board of Trade whether it was the intention of the
Government to introduce a Bill for the better audit of
railway accounts. It was proved that, in many cases,
railway companies had paid dividends out of their capi-
tal, and he asked if such a system could have been pur-
sued had theta) existed a good system of audit of railway
accounts? and-he would contend that had not these frau-
dulent practices occurred the present depreciation of rail-
way propertyavould not have taken place. Thepermanent
interests of the shareholders and the public had been sa-
crificed, far the purpoie of keeping up for a few days the
price of shares upon the Stock Exchange. The Noble
Lord then went into the history of the two Railway
Audit Bills which he had himself introduced during the
two preceding sessions, which he denied were intended
to introduce a Government audit, and concluded by
putting the question of which he had given notice. Ile
wished before he sat down to draw their Lordships' at-
tention to the fact that there were 61 applications for
railway Bills, and.he would suggest the propriety of a
standing order that before any railway Bill should be
read a second time the whole financial accounts of the
company:applying;for the Bill should be laid before their
Lordships.
Earl GRANVILLE did not object to the motion for
making the returns forthwith. With regard to the Bill
of last session, it was impossible to pass it
in the Lfaco of the great opposition which it
received from railway shareholders. He believed that
they were now inclined to introduce a Bill for auditing
railway accounts themselves, and he would, therefore,
wait awhile to see whether such Bill would be introduced
by the railway shareholders themselves, but if such Bill
were not speedily introduced by them, or if, when intro-
duced, it should not prove satisfactory, he would then
state what steps the Government proposed to adopt.
Earl FITZ WILLIAM was glad to hear tho announce-
ment made by the Noble Earl who just sat down. He
regretted this and the other House of Parliament did
not intend to go further, but to leave the =Ur to the
directors of these railways. His Noble Friend (Lord
Monteagle) seemed to think that the depreciation of
railway shares was owing to the malversation of the
directors; but believing, as he did, that railway pro-
perty was, like other' property, and liable to the same
changes, he could not agree with him. The directors
of the North-Western Railway were entitled to great
respect for good management, and yet its shares had de-
preciated, as well as others. He thought, however, that
some measures ought to be taken for the better manage-
ment of those companies than already existed.
In answer to a question from Lord BEAUMONT,
Earl GRANVILLE stated it was the intention of the
Government to introduce the Bill which did not pass
last session, enabling railway companies, which could
not proceed with their underaskinge, to wind up their
affairs, and that measure would be so introduced early
in the next week. .
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE laid on the ysio of
the House returns from the Poor-'aw Commissioners,
showing a decrease in pauperism.
After a few words from the Duke of RICHMOND and
the Marquis of SALISBURY, impugning their accuracy,
their Lordships adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 5.
The SPEAKER took the Chair a few tniuutes after
Four o'clock.

RIVER NESS.

Mr. CAMPBELL obt tined leave to bring in a Bill for
building a bridge over the river Ness.

SUNDAY LABOUR IN THE POST-OFFICE.

An HON. MEMBER preientei a petition from Bromley,
praying far a cessation of Sunday labour in the Post-
office.

COUNTY FINANCIAL BOARDS.

Mr. WILSON PATTEN presented a petition from
Cheadle, in Staffordshire, praying for tho establishment
of county financial boards. • •
AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS.
Lord HENRY MANNERS presented a petition from
Cambridgeshire complaining of azricultural distress in
that county, and praying for relief.
Mr. SIMEON presented a petition from a place in the
Isle of Wight praying for an equalization of the burdens
upon land or a return to protection.
LAW OF SETTLEMENT. . _

Sir DE LACY EVANS presented a petition from
VVestminster, praying for the abolition c f the law of
law of settlement.
CHELSEA HOSPITAL. _ _

Mr. HEADLAM presented a petition from Robert
Armstrong, an out-pensioner in Chelsea Hospital, pray-
ingfns, the better regulation of that institution.
SUNDAY LABOUR IN TEIE POST-OFFICE.
Mr. CORNE WALL LEWIS presented a petition
from a congregation et Wesloyans• in Herefordshire,
praying for a cess..tion of Sunday labour in the Post-
office.
AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS.
Mr. TAYLOR• presented a petition teem the county of
Kerry, praying for the imposition of such a moderate
fixed duty on the importation of corn as would relieve
the agricultural distress in that county.
Lord BERNARD prsented a. petition from a place
in Cork; complaining rf agricultural distress,.
LAW OF SETTLEMENT.
Mr. DISRAELI asked the Chief Commissioner of
the Poor-laws when the reports of the Committee on the
law of settlement would be laid upon the table of the
House?

Mr. BAINES said he had had an interview with the
Secretary for the Home Depart scot on the subject, and
he (Mr. Baines) hoped to be -able to place the reports in
question on the table of the llouge tomorrow.
NOTICES OF MOTIONS.
Mr. DISRAELI fixed his tneCon on the subject cf
the poor-laws for this day fortnight'.
Kir. P. SC ROPE gave notice that this day fortnight
ha should 'call the attention of the House to the exter-
inication cf Lish peasantry which had been carried pn
for some tint( past, under the sanction of the law, and'
with the aid of the executive in the Kilrush and other
unions in the vest of Ireland. _ •

Sir It A. IN rose to order. lie thought the
rule was, that no expression of opiiiiou ought to be con-
yeyed in any notice of motion.

Mr. P. SCROPE thanked the Hon. Baronet for his
suggestion, and promised to alter the phraseology of his
notice before he placed it on the paper.
Mr. HEY WOOD gave notice that, on the 17th inst.,
he would move an address to her Majesty, praying for
the a;:pointment of a Royal Commission to irquire into
the state of the universities and colleges of Oxford;
Cambridge, and Dublin, with the view to their im-
provement.

Mr. P. WOOD gave- notice that, this day fortnight,
he would move for leave to bring in a Bill t ) enable per-
sons refusing to be sworn to substitute an affirmation.
ROYAL PALACES.
On the motion of Colonel SIBTHORP, a return
cf the sums of money already voted for the different
royal palaces for the last three years, the amount
actually paid, and the amount due at the present period,
and whether such sums already voted will be sufficient
to complete the contemplated expenses at the period such
were stated to be necessary, was ordered.
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, and a copy of tho verdicts of tho juries in each
case.