The Sun.
London, England, 1844-02-17 00:00:00

LAWS RELATING TO GAMING.

The Duke of RICHMOND said that the Committee ap-
pointed to inquire into this subject had found that they could
not proceed with their investigation, in consequence of its being
necessary to warn the witnesses that they were not bound to
criminate themselves. To obviate this diffieul' yhe had now
to submit to their Lordships a Bill to indemnify any witnesses
who might be examined, against the consequences of the evi-
dence which they gave.
Lord CAMPBELL concurred in the object of the measure,
and said he anticipated great public benefit would result from
the inquiries of the Committee.
The Bill was then read a first time, and ordered to be read
a second time on Monday next.
METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENTS.

The Duke of BUCCLEUCH brought in a Bill, the object of
which was, he said, to carry into effect certain projected im-
provements in the city of London.
Lord MONTEAGLE said that though he objected to the
principle involved in the Bill, of allowing the Bank of Eng.
land to grant money on mortgage, as being a dangerous one,
the object of the measure was so good, and the amount re-
quired so small, that he would waive his objection.
He proposed that the Commissioners of Woods and Forests
should annually lay before Parliament an account of the sums
advanced. He had drawn up a clause to that effect, which he
would hand to the Noble Duke, as he wished it should be in-
troduced into the Bill.

The Duke of BUCCLEUCH believed that the Commis.
sioners already made returns to Parliament, which would fur-
nish the information which the Noble Lord was desirous of ob-
taining. If there were no technical objections to the clause.
he would have it introduced on the third reading of the Bill.
The Bill then passed through Committee, and their Lord.
ships adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 16.
The SPEAKER took the chair at Four o'Clock.
POOR-LAW RETURNS.

A clerk from the office of the Poor-law Commissioners pre
rented certain returns.
COMMITTEE ON STANDING ORDERS.

Mr. ESTCOURT moved the appointment of the Select
Committee on Standing Orders :—Mr. Estcourt, Mr. Wilson
Patten, Mr. Pendarves, Mr. William Miles, Mr. Cumming
Bruce, Sir Robert Ferguson, Mr. Ord, and the Chairmen of
the Committee and of the Sub-Committees on Petitions for
Private Bills.—Agreed to.
REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE.

Mr. W. WILLIAMS presented a petition from Bridgewater,
praying the House not to consent to any increase in the mai.
tart' establishment until the people should be fully represented.
Mr. SCHOLEFIELD presented a petition from Birming.
ham with a similar prayer.
LIN ERPOOL GAS BILL.

Leave was given to introduce the Liverpool Gas Bill.
STOPPING THE SUPPLIES.

Dr. BOWRING presented a petition, signed by 2,300 of
the inhabitants of Bolton, complaining of th state of the re-
presentation, and praying that the supplies might not b)
voted till the grievances of the people were redressed.
Mr. STANSFIELD presented a petition with a similar
prayer.
Lord MARSHAM presented petitions from places in Kent,
praying that publicans might be placed on the same footing
with shopkeepers with regard to the window duty.
Mr. WALLACE presented a petition from Mr. Cadogan
Williams, complaining that Railroad Companies acted upon a
system which deprived the working classes of those benefits
which railroads ought to confer upon the public generally, and
that the proprietors acted exclusively for their own benefit
without reference to the public. The petitioner expressed his
opinion that the poorer classes were stowed away in third class
carriages, with straw, canvass, and leather, which were thought
of equal value.—( Laughter. )

PROTECTION TO AGRICULTURE,
Sir J. TROLLOPE presented a petition from Spalding,
and several petitions from other places in Lincolnshire, praying
for a continuance of agricultural protection.
THE ARMY.

Mr. VILLIERS presented;. petition from Liverpool,
praying that no supplies should be granted until the military
force of the country had been reduced, as the petitioners
stated that a standing army was a great temptation to .a
Government to rule the country in a despotic manner.
NOTICES OF MOTION.
Mr. WALLACE gave notice that. on Monday, he should
move for a return of the names of the Commissioners of her
Majesty's Customs, the age of each, and the period at which
they entered the service. He should further move, on
Monday, for a return to show the number of
actions that had already been commenced, and what informa-
tions had been filed with respect to the frauds on the Customs.
He also gave notice that on Monday he should inquire of the
Under-Secretary of the Treasury at what time the free postage
writing paper would be issued, and what the cost would be to
the public.

Colonel RAWDON gave notice that on Monday he should
move for a return of the naval force that had been employed on
the coast of Ireland from the year 1834 to the present time.
ARMY AND POLICE IN IRELAND.
Mr. W. WILLIAMS moved for returns relating to the
number of the military and police employed in Ireland during
certain years, 1810, 1815, &c., to the present year ; also, for a
return of the amount of money voted in the years named re-
spectively, for the maintenance of the police force in that
country.—Ordered.
Mr. BARRY BALDWIN moved for a return of the
amount of stock transferred from England to Ireland since the
Ist of January, 1841.—Ordered.
moved
from
returnsdforlB2Bto l
relating
to
the M fro. r eAi gl Aldermann
urinesrm an Ti
nEIIVdP, inS theN years
in-
clusive.—Ordered.