The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-23 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, March 22.
Their Lordships assembled at Five o'clock.
The Bishop of CHICHESTER presented numerous
petitions against Sunday trading.
CASE OF MR. NASH.
On the motion of Lord BROUGHAM,
Mr. Nash was called to the bar, and, in reply to
questions, stated, that Mr. Staple, Lord Courtown's soli-
citor, had admitted that the document which he bad put
in was a copy of the document in the Private Bill-office,
and denied that Mr. Staple bad said he would admit
the copies provided on examination they should be found
to be accurate copies of the documents in the Private
Bill-office. Mr. Nash afterwards admitted, on being
much pressed by Lord Brougham, that the understand-
ing with Mr. Staple was that if the copies should be
found not accurate they should be made accurate.
Mr. Staple, the solicitor of Lord Courtown, was then
called, and stated that he had said the copies should be
admitted provided on examination they should be found
to be true copies, but he should reject every copy that on
examination he should find not to be a true copy. He
had not examined the copies.
Mr. Dickenson, of the Journal-office, was then called,
and said that Mr. Nash had seen the document in ques-
tion in his office, and that he had had it in his
possession for some hours, for the purpose of making an
inspection of it. He did not remember ever having seen
the document after Mr. Nash went away. The witness
had the custody of the document. He had searched for
it and had not been able to find it.
Mr.W.Wood, accountant in the employ of theWexford,
Wicklow, and Dublin Railway Company, was then
called, and examined by the Earl of Granville as to the
returns which had been made by the company in obe-
dience to the orders of the House.
The witnesses were then ordered to withdraw.
THE EXHIBITION OF 1851.

Lord BROUGHAM, in moving' for certain returns
relating to tails subject, took occasion to reiterate his
objections to the proposed exhibition taking place in
Hyde-park. 119 admitted the validity of the objections
of his Noble Friend (the Earl of Carlisle) to Victoria-
park, but he could see no objection to the
proposed exhibition taking place in Regent's-park.
He also objected to the funds being raised by
voluntary contributions. Many shopkeepers subscribed
their money under a species, he would not say of com-
pulsion, considering those who exercised what the
French might call une donee violence, but at the solicita-
tion of customers. The object was a national one, the
expense should be defrayed by the nation. There had
been a meeting of 168, not tailors but mayors, at which
his Noble Friend had indulged in observations
which he might have thought intended for a sneer, but
however volatile be might be, he certainly should not
take a flight from the House of Peers to the House of
Mayors, to notice in the former House what might have
taken place in the latter.—(A laugh.) H+, however,
protested against this species of influence which was
exercised over the London tradesmen to induce them
to subscribe to the expenses of this exhibition.
The Earl of GRANVILLE considered that the Noble
and Learned Lord had somewhat exaggerated the incon-
venience which might arise to the public from the pro-
posed exhibition taking place in Hyde-park. The pro-
posed site was a narrow strip of lama nearly opposite
Knightsbridge-barracks, which was scarcely at all f+ e•
quented by the public. He could not but notice some-
what of inconsistency in the conduct of the Noble and
Learned Lord, who at a meeting in Westminster
had stated that he had interrupted judicial
proceedings, and had broken through a rule that he had
laid down for the last twenty years in order to attend
the meeting for promoting the proposed exhibition, be-
cause, he considered it a national object. Now, certainly,
his speech of the other evening had not being ea'cu-
let -d to premote that which, at the Westminster meet-
ing, he had declared to be a national object.
Lord BROUG HAM contended that he had
not been inconsistent. He had stated at the
meeting, and on the other night, and he
repeated it now, that the immediate effect of the exhi-
bition would be to lower prices of commodities, but that
ultimately it might produce benefit. He had said that
he would not subscribe, as a consumer, to promote an
exhibition which would be immediately beneficial to him-
self', but for a time injurious to the shopkeeper.
Lord OVERSTONE said there was not a class in the
country which had not put forwardatheir most distin-
guished members to aid in promoting this exhibition,
and with regard to the meeting of yesterday-, it was
a most remarkable event to find there eminent statesmen
of al parties', and eminent representatives of every branch
of industry, assembled to bear their testimony that this
exhibition was based upon the wisest views, and would
promote the permanent industrial interests of the coun-
try, of those who, on farmer occasions, had been eulo-
gised by the Noble and Learned Lord as the represen-
tatives of the best interests of the country, and he was
surprised to find the NOble and Learned Lord now
corning down to denounce this exhibition, after having
at the Westminster meeting proposed one of the reeolu-
lions, and after having apologised to the meeting for
leaving it, and declaring that he had interrupted solemn
judicial proceedings to attend it, the object of that meet-
ing being to raise voluntary subscriptions to promote
the objects of that exhibition. Then with regard to the
site, they had a warning not to yield lightly to the sug-
gestions of the Noble Lord, who now came down to
declare that the suggestions which he had made the
other night as to the site of the building
for the proposel exhibition was altogether erroneous.
The Commission did not proceed lightly, it was
deeply impressed with the responsibility which
weighed upon it, and it t sok no step without
due consideration. The site had not been chosen with-
out thought or deliberation. It had been chosen on the
almost nnanimous decision of the most eminent
scientific men of the age. Hyde-park was more
level than Regent's-park, and Regent's-perk was the resort
for recreation of the middle and inferior el4sses of society,
while Hyde-park was &most exclusively the resort of
the richer classes, end it would be most unjust to de-
prive the middle and inferior classes of their recreation
ground; and, besides, it was desirable that the building
should be erected on a site that might bo easily
restored to its original condition. The Noble
Lord had expressed a fear that the building would be
permanent. The greatest security against that would
be to erect it in Hyde-park. The Noble Lord con-
cluded by pronouncing a high eulogium upon Prince
Albert fir the great labour he had undergone in origi-
nating and promoting this undertaking.
Lord STANLEY said that after the able and excel-

Qrs.

fent speech of the Noble Lord who had just spoken it
would be unnecessary for him to allude to the general
question, but he could net pass altogether unnoticed the
speech of his Noble and Learned and very discreet Friend.
He certainly did express his regret that the notion that
the proposed exhibition would damage the interests of
the tradesmen of London had received countenance from
the authority of his Noble and Learned, and he feared
he had added, somewhat volatile Friend (Lord
Brougham). He acknowledged that he did use that ex-
pression, and partly on the grounds stated by the Noble
Lord opposite, that he thought that on that particular
question he hal seen some sudden inconsistency and
change of opinion, and views between the language used
by the Noble and Learned Lord at the Westminster
meeting, and the language he had used in that House
the other night. But he really thought his Noble and
Learned Friend would have taken it as a compliment,
only, he must admit, very far below the amount of power
and the extent of merit of the noble individual to whom
he had alluded—(Laughter)—for in truth, in point of
quickness, activity, pungency and energy, sal volatile
was nothing to him—(Laughter)—for they might pre-
vent the essence of that salt from escaping by putting a
glass stopper over it, but he defied any human power,
even his Noble Friend himself, to put any stopper—
whether of glass or any other material—over the inten-
sity of the activity and pungency of his own mind.—
(Laughter.) Yet he must do his Noble and Learned
Friend the justice to say that he believed, although the
activity and energy of his mind, and the wit and readi-
ness of his speech, were as quick and pungent as volatile
essence, still they did not partake to the full extent in the
offensiveness and acrimony of that essence; and
he hoped that the long friendship which had subsisted
between them would not be disturbed for a single mo-
ment by that expression.—("Hear, hear," from Lord
Brougham.) Ever hereafter he should form a more
correct estimate of his Noble Friend's qualities. He
'should look on him, on his own showing, no longer as
one of those quick, active, energetic men, who were
prompt to take up any question and make it important,
and who were readily and easily capable of dealing with
any and every question, not only one after another, but
in such rapid succession that it might almost be said he
dealt with them all at one time.—(Laughter.) On the
contrary, he should consider him as of a grave, serious,
plodding, proper, slow, heavy nature—(Laughter)--not
hasty in forming his judgment, nor rash in expressing
his opinion, never pronouncing on any matter with which
he was not familiar, nor dealing with many subjects at
one and the same time, but by intense labour and delibe-
rate study making himself master, and thoroughly mas-
ter, of one question at a time, and no more, and never
venturing to speak on that or any other subject
until he had acquired a knowledge of all its bear-
ings and details; and above all, never making use of any
expression which at any time ho might be desirous of
recalling. That was the view which, on his own show-
ing, he should from that time take of his Noble and
Learned Friend; but if anything should occur to dis-
abuse him of that impression, ho would candidly confess
his want of judgment, and withdraw all ho had said.—
(Laughter.) The Noble and Learned Lord had said
that he had been so long under his (Lord Stanley's)
tuition, that he had contracted something of his cha-
racter, but although they sat on the same side of the
House, still their opinions were not the same on all sub-
jects. The Noble Lord (Brougham) must forgive him
when he spoke seriously for saying that he was asto-
nished that he did not contract his habits as sitting so long
on the same side of the House with him, and should ven-
turewit h
determined ti
ro hitn
yn ot
ntoh
asa
ut s
puhpbeoj
re(
tcL. t o
tr
He
a eSt
srhho uo gue hl
openly
mha
d)yd should not speak
avowed
that h e whaes was
per-
fectly assured that the great majority of the people of
London were strongly of opinion that this grand and
noble institution would be of the greatest benefit imagie
nable to them, and he (Lord Stanley) therefore thought
that the Noble and Learned Lord should couch his ex-
pressions in such a manner as not to lead to the opinion that
this great majority of the inhabitants of the metropolis
were very great tools, and were totally deluded in sup-
theeh think. If
objects
posing that such an institution would affect their busi-
ness with advantage, when in reality it would be a seri-
oushe wouldseriously
them to
support
of the institution he was astonished that ho did not
the
e Nobleinjury
Lord t o thn,
meant as
avail himself of the Lord Mayor's dinner, but he should
say that, perhaps, his modesty prevented him from
making his acknowledgments at that dinner of the
very great importance he attached to this excellent in-

stitutior.
Thu Lake of Arg)le and Lord Brougham rose to-
gether; the former gave way.

Lord BROUGHAM said, that he thought that the
Noble Lord (Lord Stanley), from his long experience in
Parliament, shook! afford him an opportunity of reply,
and for the advice that he had so kindly given him
(Lord Brougham) on the subject of the use of a
figure of irony, he begged and requested of him
(Lord Stanley) to receive a suggestion from him,
which he gave with the most perfect sincerity of
purpose, and with all the kindness and benevolence
of feeling that he could entertain for another, and that
was, that the Noble Lord. when ho disavowed the opi-
nion of another, should allow him an opportunity of de-
fending himself, for such he looked upon as the unvary-
ing and inflexible rule of society. But such the Noble
Lord (Lord Stanley) did not do, but he goes off three
miles distant to the Mansion-house, and there gets the
laugh of him, but such he looked upon as a dull joke,
which, if it be reported, would be followed by only the
word " laughter." He had listened with much pleasure
and satisfaction to the Noble Lord (Lord Overstone) on
his first speech, and was happy to state it as his opinion,
from that speech, that the House and the country might
expect great service and advantage from a person pos-
sessed of such ability and experience as the Noble Lord,
and the cause which he would support would obtain con-
siderable strength and effect from his advocacy. The
Noble Lord again adverted to the remarks of Lord Stan-
ley, and expressed his willingness to give every support
in his power to the institution.
On the motion of the Marquis of LANSDOWNE, the
Mutiny Bill and the Marine Mutiny Bill were read a '
second time. The Noble Marquis was understood to
propose that their Lordships should meet to-morrow to
pass these Bills, which would enable him to move that
their Lordships should adjourn on Monday night for the
Easter holidays.
PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS (SCOTLAND).
The Duke of ARGYLE rose to pre sent several peti-
tions from various parts of Scotland, praying the House
to refuse its consent to any Bill that may be proposed
purporting to alter the constitution of the parochial
schools of Scotland. The Noble Duke said that his mo-
tive for trespassing on their Lordships' attention for a
short time, as he intended, was because there was a
Bill in another place which tended materially to alter
the constitution of the parochial schools of Scotland, and
which he felt convinced would be of very great injury
to the cause of education in Scotland, and which would
be most repugnant to the feelings of the people of that
country. The Noble Duke then referred to the aggres-
sive system of some of the Independents, and also of
Roman Catholics, which were endeavouring to uproot
this parochial system that existed from time immemorial,
and hoped that their Lordships would oppose this Bill
on its introduction from the other House; for nothing
could be more obnoxious to the people of Scotland than
that a system of education that they had kept intact
from generation to generation should now be altered
against their will, for the purpose of establishing na-
tional schools.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE concurred with the
Noble Duke that it was of importance to preserve and
enconrage the parochial schools in Scotland, seeing that
they had given great satisfaction; and, with respect to
the other schools, he thought they might be established
in that country without any aggression on the present
system of education in Scotlan3 which, it must be ad-
rnit'ed, was most perfect, and sfeli"ch to be admired. In-
deed, he might add, that the system of education which
had been carried on in Scotland gave to that country a
just pre-eminence. lie took that opportunity of saying
how much he felt acknowledgment to be due on this
subject to the efforts of the Established Church in Scot-
land, and also of the Free Church in that country ; and
it was gratifying t) see that both were met in a spirit of
conciliation and concession on this most important
su)iect.
Lord BROUGHAM entirely agreed in the opinions
and eulogies expressed by the Noble Duke and the No-
ble Marquis en the parochial schools in Scotland ; and
thought with the Noble Marquis that an extension of
education might take place in that country without any
innovation upon, or change in, the constitution of the
parochial schools in that country.
The petition was then laid on the table.
CHARGES AGAINST THE OFFICERS AND
CREW OF THE SOBRAON.

The Earl of MOUNTCASHELL moved " That an
humb'e address be presented to her Majesty for a copy
of the minutes of the proceedings affecting the character
and c•induct of the surgeon-superintendent, master, and
otli..!ers of the emigrant ship Sobraon, referred to in dis-
patches No. 116 and No. 242 from Governor C. A.
Fitzroy to Earl Grey last year." He thought it de-
sirable not to postpone his motion to a future day,
seeing that the quettion was one of great importance to
the public. Ho thought that the intimation that the do-
cuments were voluminous was no excuse why they should
not be laid on the table of their Lordships' House.
Their Lordships were aware that letters had lately ap-
peared in the public papers from one or two of the par-
ties implicated in the charges of ill-treatment of the or-
phan emigrants on board the Sobraon, and both tried to
exculpate thecnselves;,but he (Lord Mountcashell) hoped
for the sake of the public, the parties injured, and
of what was due to their Lordships, that the
matter would be strictly investigated. The captain
on board the vessel complained that he was not allowed
to bring forward his own witnesses, and that none of the
witnesses against him were sworn on their examination.
Their Lordships would see that the charges made of the
ill-treatment of the female emigrants, by the officers and
crew of the vessel, were of the most grave character, and
that one of the unfoi tunate females had lost her life as a
consequence of that ill-treatment on her passage to the
colony. He (Lord Mountcashell) wished to know whe-
ther the investigation was conducted in the manner al-
leged by the implicated parties, and whether the wit-
nesses were or were not examined on oath. One of the
charges was supplying bad and insufficient food and
water to the emigrants, which wasa violation of the Pas-
sengers' Act. Another charge was, that spirits were
sold on board, tied that the females were induced to par-
take of there. S one of the poor orphans who had been
ill-treated were foundlings, from Dublin, and some were
poor girls from poor-law unions in Ireland; and the su-
perintendent surgeon of the vessel, instead of taking
steps to protect them, proposed, as one of his first steps
on the vessel sailing out, that the officers should take
them as servants into their cabins. Their Lordships
might easily conclude what happened under such a course
of conduct as that. One of the poor girls, described Us a
most interesting creature, died, it was said by some, of
fever, and by others from a different cause. It was
reported that " drugs" had been a, lministered to her to
produce abortion, and she never reached the colony. He
held in his hand a report, taken from papers, relative
to emigration, by a Committee of the House of Com-
mons, on the 31st of July, 1849, and in page 7, it was
charged that the master did not prohibit or prevent in-
tercourse between the officers, crew, and female emi-
grants; but that, on the contrary, he allowed unrestrained
intercourse between them. The evidence was that of
one of the young females miscarried on board, and fell a
victim to the ill-treatment to which she had been sub-
jected, and that another of them was now pursuing a
life of prostitution upon the streets of Sydney. Another.
who had waited on the captain, was also in a state of
prostitution, although not yet publicly so. The Com-
mittee then say that the charges were clearly proved, and
recommended that gratuities, which had been established
as an encouragement for proper care of the emigrants,
should be withheld from those parties who had miscon-
ducted themselves. The matter was one of great import-
ance, and he (Lord Mountcashell) had still to learn whe-
ther any proper inquiry had bean made into it. If the pa-
pers fur which he moved were laid on their Lordships'
table, they might then get some information on the
subject. He considered it due to their Lordships that
they should be granted, so that their Lordships might
deliberately read them; and, above all, that it was due
to the public that they should be laid oa the table, that
it might be seen who were really the offenders in charges
so grave, and that the matter was not kept in the dark.
He asked for those returns as a protection to the people,
and as a safeguard to emigrants, who trusted for pro-
tection to the promises of the Government—promises,
he regretted to say, which appeared not to have been
performed. The public, he repeated, would expect
those papers to be furnished, and he hoped the Noble
Earl would not withhold them. The Noble Earl then
adverted to the Equestrian emigrant ship, and said that
some of his charges with respect to the bad meat ship-
ped on board the emigrant vessels at Liverpool had been
complained of. He did not mention names when he
made those charges, but Messrs. Powell and Sons,
of the City, took offence, and called on him, and said
that they had purchased 900 tierces of meat, but
not to put on board the emigrant ships, and that
they had it to suit different parties. He repeated,
without naming parties, that bad meat was pur-
chased at Liverpool for shipping purposes. On board
the ship Ratelais several females had been cruelly
flogged. He mentioned their names, and if they gave
him a Select Committee he would establish beyond
doubt the fact of the cruel treatment to which they
were subjected. The voyage was characterised by de-
moralization, bestiality, and brutality, to as great an
extent as in other vessels which he had before alluded
to. The Noble Lord produced the rope with which
the females had been flogged on their bare backs. Was
not that proof, he asked, of the indignity to which they
had been subjected? Ho could produce witnesses who
would swear that with that identical rope the backs of
unfortunate female emigrants were severely flogged.
He trusted the Government would take such measures
as would prevent a repetition of those revolting and un-
pardonable occurrences. As a remedy for the evils
which he sought to have corrected, he suggested that
greater precaution should be adopted in the selection of
the surgeons—that married men ought in all possible
cases to be selected—that the seduction of women on
board ship shall b© met by summary punishment, and
that in the event of the matron misconduoting herself, it
shall be competent for the passengers to select one from
among themselves. The Noble Earl also suggested that
a system of medals shculd be adopted for the surgeons,
and he concluded by expressing a confident hope that
the Colonial Secretary would put an end to the abuses
which had been so long suffered to exist.
Earl GREY said that inasmuch as no practical object
could be effected by the production of the minutes of the
proceedings instituted regarding the character and con.
duct of the sureeon, superintendent,
master, and officers
of the ship Sobraon, he should not consent to that part
of the motion. No doubt the conduct pursued on board
that vessel had been most lamentable and disgraceful;
but when the Sobraon arrived at Sydney the case was
fully inquired into, the evidence taken was published, and
the charterer of the vessel mulcted in 5001. If the minutes

were republished they wouldbeB: much waste paper,
and no person would ever think of looking into them
except the Nob'e Lord himself'; but he could have access
t ) all the documents in the Colonial-office connected
with the case as long as he pleased. He did not tee why
the public should be put to the expense for the Parlia-
mentary publication of useless documents. With regard
to the subject of general emigration, he considered that
the_, Noble Earl, by turning too wiling an ear to the
stat,ments of, puhaps, intcresLtil partieg, had ettifurckt
himself to be misinformed and misled. Some of his state-

meats had no foundation whatever. With the best possible
motives, the Noble Earl was frequently deluded. He
asked was it fair or just that men in their position, respect-
able surgeons, should be risking their character through
such charges? Ile considered that tho Noble Lord
should not make those charges in that House, but on the
ground where the crimes were alleged to have been per-
petrated. All he had to say was that cleanliness,
order, and decorum were universally observed on board
those emigrant ships, and that the attention and capa-
bility of the surgeons were beyond all question of doubt.
He considered that the Noble Lord should not bring
such grave and important charges so lightly end loosely,
for he could not designate the charges brought against
Mr. Bell, which were alleged to have occurred ten years
ago, as any other than frivolous and unnecessary. In
that case the Commissioners of Emigration had been
perfectly satisfied, and he could assure their Lordships
that they would be ever most vigilant in the discharge of
their duties in this respect, as well as in any other.
The Earl of HARROWBY said that he was perfectly
convinced that many of the emigration officers had not
acted as they should have dono in their investigation of
this case, fur he had not the least doubt that immorality
prevailed to a very great extent on the part of some of
the surgeons of those emigrant ships, as he knew that
many of the passengers had not been dealt fairly or
morally with by those surgeons. He believed that if the
paltry economy practised relative to the payment of
surgeons was put an end to that they would value their
positions, and never run the risk of losing a good
situation.

Lord MOUNTCASIIELL said he felt very great re-
gret and sorrow that the Noble Earl (Earl Grey) should
refuse to comply with his motion, and he felt aaured
that it the treatment and seduction experienced by the
unfortunate girl from the Dublin union-house had hap-
pened to a female emigrant from England, that the press
would strongly and vehemently denounce such conduct
and public meetings would be held in all parts of this
country to bring the offenders to a condign punishment.
He thought it was but fair, for the sake of Mr. Bell's
character, that his motion should be granted, as such
would relieve him from the suspicion attached to his
character, and also the public mind from an impression
of hid fault.

Earl GREY said that it was not true that there was
any case of abuse except the one case of the unfortunate
woman who died in her accouchement on board the So-
braon, and in this case all the punishment that could
be inflicted was imposed on the offending surgeon, the
whole substance of which inquiry was then on the table
of the House. When the Noble Lord required
to know the name cf this woman he • should
say that nothing could be more unfair or inju-
dicious than to publish the names of any female, whose
friends, in this country or in Ireland, would be pained
by such a publication. He fully concurred with the
Noble Earl (Earl Horrowby) when he stated it was
morally impossible to preserve perfect order and perfect
morality in emigrant ships, particularly when it was
well known that such did not obtain on shore, where
there was more vigilance exercised for their preserva-
tion. How could the Noble Lord be astonished, that
out of twenty or thirty thousand persons on a vo)age,
there should be one or two of bad character? The
Emigration Commissioners have stated it as their
opinion, that it is impossible to send single women out
as emigrants, with eafety for their virtue, unless they be
under the care of their relatives, or f some private
party who would take charge of them. He should, in
reply to the Noble Lord, state that the pay of the sur-
geons has been increased, and that they are likely,
therefore, to have a greater interest in holding their
situstions in that service; and should emigration con-
tinue, he felt assured that general satisfaction would be
given by ain't° men who are tried, and proved fit for
their duties. He should add, that the morality and in-
struction of the emigrants would be, fur the future, very
much enhanced, as there were schoolmasters in each
emigrant ship.

The motion was then negatived without a division.
Their Lordships then adjourned to Four o'clock to
morrow.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, March 22,
The SPEAKER took the Chair a nw minutes before
Four o'clock.

PETITIONS.

Mr. ELLIS presented a petition from Leicester pray-
ing the House to pass a measure for providing a system
of secular education throughout the country.
Mr. H. BERKELEY presented a petition from the
journeymen tailors of Bristol complaining of being com-
pelled by their masters to work on Sundays, and praying
for relief.
Sir H. DAVIE presented a petition from Addington
against the Marriage Affinity Bill.
Mr. BAILLIE presented a similar petition from
Inverness-shire.
Mr. PLUMPTRE presented a petition from attorneys
in Faversham praying for a repeal of the duty on attor-
neys' certificates.
Lord DUNCAN presented petitions from Greenwich
and other places praying for the repeal of the window-
tax.

Mr. GEORGE DUNDAS presented a petition from
Kinloch against the Marriage Affinity Bill.
Mr. COWAN presented a petition, signed by the
Lord Provost and magistrates of Edinburgh, praying
for a repeal of all stamped receipts for sums below 1001.
Mr. FORDYCE presented petitions from several
places in Scotland against the Marriage Affinity Bill.
Mr. CHRISTOPHER presented petitions from trades-
men and agricultural labourers in villages in Lincoln-
shire, complaining of agricultural distress.
Mr. -111 ACGR EG OR presented a petition from factory-
workers in Glasgow in favour of the Ten Hours Bill.
Mr. BANKES presented a similar petition from fac-
tory-workers in Rochdale.
Mr. CARD WELL presented a petition from mer-
chants in Liverpool complaining of the adulteration of
coffee with chicory, and praying that a duty may be
levied on chicory instead of coffee.—(A laugh.)
Sir G. BOOTH presented a petition from Sligo pray-
ing fir a plan of emigration for able-bodied labourers.
Mr. BRIGHT presented a petition from a place in
Oxfordshire praying for an international penny postage;
also a petition from Southampton in favour of a more
equitable adjustment'of tithes.

Several petitions were presented praying for a cessa-
tion of Post-office labour on Sundays.
Mr. POWER presented a petition 4ona Cork praying
for measures of relief for Ireland.

Sir W. MOLESWORTH presented a petition from
Southwark praying for a better supply of water to that
part of the metropolis.
Mr. B. OSBORNE presented a petition from the in-
habitants of Clerkenwell praying for a repeal of the
window-tax as a sanitary measure.
Mr. FORBES presented a petition from the General
Assembly of the Church of Scotland praying for a ces-
sation of Sunday labour in the Post-office.
Colonel RAWDON moved for a return of the local
funds in aid of which grants have been made by the Com-
missioners of National Education in Ireland, either for
building, teachers' salaries, or school necessaries; and
the 'security on which the said local funds rest.—
Agi'eed to.
Viscount DUNCAN moved f)r a copy of all reports
on the experimental improvements on the Crown estate
of King William's Town, in the county of Cork, sub-
mitted to her Majesty's Commissioners of Woods and
Forests, since the Bth day of August, 1844 (in continu-
ation of Parliamentary Paper, No. 612, of Session 1844.)
ME MBE RS' QUALIFICATION.
Mr. OSBORNE gave notice that on an early day
after Easter ho should move a resoluton that the qualifi-
cation of lembera of Parliament in England and Wales
should be made the same as that in Scotland and Ireland.
WOODS AND FORESTS.

Lord DUNCAN, seeing the Noble Lord at the head of
the Government in his place, he wished to ask him a
question on the subject of the Woods and Forests. He
wished to know when it was the intention of Govern-
ment to proceed with the Woods and Forests Bill. The
second question he wished to ask the Noble Lord was this.
Lord Carlisle had stated in another place that he no
longer presided over the woods and forests, and perhaps,
therefore, the Noble Lord would be good enough to state
who it was that at present executed the important duties
generally entrusted to the Chief Commissioner of Woods
and Forests.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL, is reply to the first ques-
tion, said he should bring the Bill on as early as possible
after Easter; with regard to the second question, Lord
Carlisle still held the office of Chief Commissioner, and
would continue to hold it until his successor was ap-
pointed, or the office abolished.