The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-18 00:00:00

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IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
HOUSE OF LORDS, March 17.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat upon the Wool-
sack at Five o'clock.
TEMPERANCE.
The Bishop of CHESTER presented a petition from
his diocese, in favour of temperance.
The Earl of RADNOR presented two petitions from
Belfast, to the same effect.
GAME-LAWS.
The NOBLE EARL also presented a petition from De-
vises, praying for an alteration in the game-laws. The
Noble- Earl said he was gratified to see that a Select
Committee had been appointed by the other House to
Inquire into the subject.
CONSOLIDATED FUND BILL.
• This Bill was read a third time and passed.
BASTARDY LAW.
The Earl of RADNOR presented two petitions,
praying their Lordships to amend the present law of
bastardy.
The NOBLE EARL, at the same time, introduced a Bill
to repeal the law passed in the last session of Parliament
on this subject, except that part which repealed the
clauses of the former Bill.

POST-OFFICE.
The NOBLE EARL also brought in a new Bill relating to
the stoppage of letters in the Post-office. The Bill was
read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on
the 17th of April.
PAROCHIAL SCHOOLMASTERS—SCOTLAND.
The Earl of MINTO presented a petition complaining
of the inadequate salaries of the parochial schoolmasters
of Scotland, and of other grievances of that class. The
Noble Earl thought that the best way of promoting the
views of the petitioners would be to leave their case in
the hands of the Government.
The Duke of BUCCLEUCH said that the subject
had engaged the attention of her Majesty's Go-
vernment, and after the fullest consideration of
the subject, they had come to the determina-
tion that the best course would be to have the
whole case inquired into by a Select Committee of the
House. Accordingly he proposed to move this evening
for the appointment of a Select Committee, and to-
morrow he would name the members.
The Earl of MINTO expressed himself perfectly
satisfied with the course adopted by the Noble Duke.
The Duke of BUCCLEUCH thenmoved the resolution
for the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire
into the salaries, & e, of the parochial schoolmasters of
Scotland, which was agreed to.
The NOBLE DUKE then gave notice that to-morrow he
would propose the names of the Committee.
SOUTH SEA EXPLORATORY EXPEDITION.
The Earl of MINTO wished to put a question to
the Noble Duke opposite, to which he feared the
Noble Duke would not be prepared to give a
satisfactory answer. This question was—whether her
Majesty's Government had it in contemplation to
take any measure of itself to publish the papers con-
nected with the late antarctic voyage, under the coin-
mend of Captain Ross. That voyage had been undertaken
with the concurrence of the most scientific men in this
country and in other parts of the world. One of the great
objects of the expedition was to ascertain facts connected
with the magnet. The voyage and the experiments had
been conducted with the utmost skill, and had succeeded
beyond expectation. It had led to the most curious and
important discoveries, and had added greatly to the ad-
vancement of science. Her Majesty's Government had
very liberally contributed the sum of 2,0001 towards the
expenses of the department of botany and natural his-
tory. But the Government had done little towards the
expenses of the more important branch of the undertak-
ing, which was the magnetical and meteorological de-
partment. It had been in contemplation to publish
that part of the observations at the expense
of the Royal Society, but the means of that insti-
tution were found to be unequal to complete the work.
He trusted that after their Lordships had sanctioned the
expenditure of upwards of 100,0001. for the attainment
of this object, they would not grudge the expenditure of
2,0001. or 3,000/. to complete it. The Russian Go-
vernment, he knew, had acted with the most ju-
dicious readiness. Of the great liberality of the
French Government none could entertain a doubt, and
he did trust therefore that her Majesty's Government
would not be behindhand, but would fully enter into the
spirit, and carry out this object to its fullest extent.
The Duke of WELLINGTON said that his attention
had not been at present called to the subject, and that
therefore he was unable to give a satisfactory reply.
But thus much he would say, that her Majesty's Govern-
ment were quite ready to give the fullest and most com-
plete information respecting the matter of the Noble
Earl's inquiry.
DEODANDS BILL.
On the motion of Lord CAMPBELL, the House went
into Committee on the Deodands Bill.
The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH said, that this was
a very short Bill--that there was one part of it which
he thought might be spared. There were two reasons
given for one effect ; and that he thought one of these
portions might with advantage be omitted from the Bill.
He thought the fewer words that were introduced into
au Act of Parliament, provided they were sufficiently
intelligible, the better.
Lord CAMPBELL said that he was prepared to re-
ceive whatever might fall from the Noble Earl with the
utmost respect, but in this instance he thought he was
mistaken. His object had been to make the Bill as
short as possible—lndeed he conceived it to be a model
of a preamble for it did not consist of more than three or
four lines. his object had been to preclude the verbosity
of lawyers, and lie conceii ed that was one of the perfec-
tions of an Act of Parliament.—(Laughter.) He thought
there ought to be no deodand where there was malice or
wilful negligence, and, therefore, he would do away
with deodands in cases of murder or manslaughter. A
man might do too much.
The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH said that the Noble
Lord had made a long speech on a short Bill, but nines
tenths of it might have been spared. But as the other
tenth related to him and his conduct in India, he would say
that howls there ready at any moment to defendhis con-
duct from the aspersions of any man, great or small—
noble or mean—and he only wished that what had been
said in his absence might be repeated in his presence.
Lord CAMPBELL said that, if the Noble Earl
thought with him, he would suffer such things to take
their course. If the Noble Earl was content with matters
as they were, so was he, and he would not disturb them.
The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH said that he had
ventured to give a word of advice to the Noble Lord
opposite which was once given by Lord Chatham to a
Member of the other House—" that, if he meant nothing,
he should say nothing."
Lord BROUGHAM said he could assure the Noble
Earl that as often as anything was said in his absence,
he was zealously, fearlessly, anxiously, ably, and success-
fully defended by his Noble Friend the Gallant Duke
opposite, and as zealously, though God knew not so ably
or successfully, by the humble individual who then ad-
dressed them.—(Hear. hear.)
The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH said he owed a deep
debt of gratitude, both to his Noble Friend the Gallant
Duke and the Noble Lord opposite, but he could not
venture now to speak on that subject.
The House then resumed.
PROPERTY-TAX.
Loiki WHARNCLIFFE moved the second reading of
this Bill. It merely contained the measure passed some
few years since, and he should propose that the discus-
sion on this Bill, as well as on the income-tax, should be
taken at one and the same time.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said both the melt•
sures were of great public importance; but he quite
agreed with the Noble Lord that one discussion would
ar.swer every object.—(Hear, hear.) He thought
the discussion could be more conveniently taken
after the holidays, but he hoped this admission would
not be construed into a confession that he was indifferent
on the subject. It had been said that the people were
enamoured of this measure, but he was far from enter-
taining that feeling.
Lord BROUGHAM said if the measure had consisted
of a mere property-tax many of his objections to the
Bill would cease altogether. He agreed with his Noble
Friend that it was convenient that these matters should
be discussed all at once, instead of their being taken
piecemeal. He therefore thought they had better
postpone the discussion, but it was not to be
understood from this that he was enamoured
with the law. He was, however, inclined to endure it,
for the sake of getting those fiscal changes which had
ben premised by the Government ; and when the dis-
cussion was taken, he should be prepared to state what
were the modifications he wished to introduce into the
present measure.
The Duke of WELLINGTON said it would be a
matter of general convenience, if their Lordships' House
would postpone the discussion on this question until the
third reading, as many Noble Lords were absent who
might wish to give their opinions on the measure.
Lord ASHBURTON said, that though there were
various opinions on the question in the other House and
throughout the country ; and though it had been stated
in other places what should be done, and what
should not be done, in that House with the
solitary exception of a Noble Lord there
seemed to be but one feeling on the subject. Under these
circumstances he thought it would be more convenient
to defer the discussion till the third reading.
The Bill was then read a second time and ordered to be
committed to-morrow.
RAILWAY COMPANIES CLAUSES CONSOLI-
DATION BILL.
On the motion of Earl DALHOUSIE the Companies
Clauses Consolidation Bill went through Committee, and
the report was ordered to be brought up to-morrow.
PAUPER LUNATICS.
Lord MONTEAGLE said that he wished to draw
attention to the Bill which he had had the honour of pro-
rating to their Lordships. His object was to obtain a
better mode of treatment for pauper lunatics. It was
well known that in many parts of the country the gaols
were full—not of criminals—but of pauper lunatics, for
whose care and medical treatment no provision whatever
had been made. His object was to extend to Ireland
the benefits which were already enjoyed partially in
England, and he wished •to give to the Lord Lieutenant
of Ireland a power which he did not at present possess,
namely, that of classifying lunatic asylums. This would
be a great boon to the country, and if he could obtain
the assistance of her Majesty's Government he should
feel it most valuable, or if her Majesty's Government
would themselves introduce a Bill on the subject he
should be most happy to render whatever assistance he
could to carry it to an early completion.
The Duke of WELLINGTON said his Right Hon.
Friend the Secretary for Ireland had given notice in the
other House of Parliament of his intention to bring
toilisard a measure on this subject, which he proposed to
:perfect during his visit in Ireland.
The 'Bill was then read a first time, and their Lord-
ebips immediately afterwards adjourned.

' HOUSE OF COMMONS, March 17.
The gPEAKRIt took the Chair at Twelve o'clock.
RAILWAY CLAUSES CONSOLIDATION BILL.
Oa the motiort of Lord GRA:MILL SOMERSET, th