The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-10 00:00:00

forward those measures during an early part of
the session. Formerly it was the practice to send up
great number of Bills to the other House at the
end of the session, when the Peers could not discuss
them ; but now the evil was extended to both Houses.
So important a measure as the Poor-law Bill was sent
up from that House when there was no time for the other
House to consider it; but, on the other hand, many mees
sures had come down from the House of Peers when
there were scarcely forty Members here to discuss their
provisions. Circumstances had prevented his attending
the House in the latter part of the session ; but lie did
not think it could be expected, after four or five months'
attendance in Parliament, Members would remain, in
order to go minutely into these late measures of legis-
lation. He would say more—he did not think that a
very prolonged session was at all advantageous to the
country. He thought that many Members of Parlia-
ment did more for the advantage of the country by at-
tending to local interests than by a late attendance' in
that House. He had now concluded his observations,
which he had offered, he hoped, in no party spirit and
from no party hostility to Hon. Gentlemen opposite.
His views differed from theirs on many subjects, but
still there were questions on which they might agree,
and by which the interests "of the people might be pro-
moted, and he 'had thought it right to state some of
these questions, and the manner in which he thought
they ought to be treated.
A message from the Lords here brought down their
Lordships' assent to several Bills and amendments.
Sir R. PEEL said that the speech made by the Noble
Lord was so divested of party spirit—(Hear, hear)—
in his observations he attributed so little of blame to
the Government., that he (Sir Robert Peel) was
relieved from the necessity of making any ob-
servations in reply in a spirit different from
that which characterised the speech of the Noble Lord.
The Noble Lord said he was content to leave the ques-
tions connected with the foreign policy of the country,
which were now pending, in the hands of the Govern-
ment, and he did not call on this occasion for any re-
newed declarations on the part of her Majesty's Govern-
ment, or seek an expression of opinion which might by
possibility prejudice their endeavours to maintain
peace consistently with the honour and interests of the
ountry. In some of the observations made by the
Noble Lord he entirety concurred. He thought that
there was great public disadvantage in the extreme
length to which the seesion of Parliament extended ;
their first duty to the public was to perform those duties
which devolved upon them as Members of Parliament, but
stall there were few Members who had not important du-
ties connected with the general administration of the law
throughout the country, and their severance from those
duties was attended with great public inconvenience. In
the writings of Mr. Burke, in reference to the French Re-
volution, if he recollected right, he depre-
cated a proposition then made to devote a consi-
derable portion of the year to the performance
of legislative duties, and he urged the great inconvenience
which there would be in enjoining upon legislative bo-
dies a constant attendance to Parliamentary duties ; and
he thought that that portion of time which might be
devoted to the performance of local duties would qualify
them better for the discharge of their legislative functions.
'They were then sitting in the middle of August ; yet
it was impossible not to see that in the latter part of the
session there had been a very great economy of public
time. He was afraid that the first part of the session
would ba oecupied in brining forward the grievances
which were supposed to have accumulated during the
recess. They could not expect that in the early part of
the session the details of legislation would occupy seri-
ous and continuous attention ; but still he did think
that by a prevalent feeling on the part of the Members
of that House, and the concurrence of political parties,
they might enable Parliament to separate at an earlier
period. lie was sure that no parties could have a greater
interest in shortening the duration of the session than the
Government ; for it was almost impossible fur them, as
the Noble Lord must be aware, properly to attend to their
executive duties, and to sit in Parliament for six or
'seven months in the year and for eight or nine hours a
slay. The attendance of a Minister there was unavoid-
able. It he were absent, it was perhaps supposed that
he was enjoying his ease, alien in fact he was attending
to his official duties for the neglect of which he would be
responsible. He was rather sorry to hear the vague in-
timations of the Noble Lord with respect to measures
for improving the condition of the labouring classes. In
-the importance of that subject he entirely concurred.
He could not conceive anything more important than that
those to whose labours they were so much indebted, and
who constituted, in fact, the stamina of the country,
should be in the condition in which they could desire to
see them. lie should listen attentively to at, proposal
which might be made for ameliorating their condition,
but he did not wish to encourage the expectation that a
Committee of the whole House could enable the labourer
to obtain a fair day's wages for a fair day's
work. With respect to
.the Noble Lord's encourage-
ment to the agricultural interest to expect some
reduction of the malt-tax, and also some reduction is
the amount of the county expenditure, the Noble
Lord seemed to admit that those were burdens which
pressed upon agriculture, and, therefore, that there ought
to be protection to agriculture.
Lord J. RUSSELL said he had always stated that.
Sir R. PEEL was very glad to hear it, and he was
glad that the Noble Lord came down to the House at the
close of the session to give an assurance to the agricul-
turists that he did not wielyto deprive them of protec-
tion. He did not wistc-flowever. to purchase the good-
will of the agricultu.rists by giving any assurance with
respect to the malt-tax.—(Bear, hear.) The Noble
Lord said he did not intend to take a review of the
legislative measures "of the sessien, and he (Sir
Robert Peel) had not the slightest doubt that
he did not take that course because he thought on
general principles such a course objectionable. But, al-
though the Noble Lord had not taken that course, he
ventured tee say that there never was a session in which
there had been more important and more efficient
legislation than in the present one. It was trite
that the Ecclesiastical Courts' Bill had been
postponed, because it was stated by its op-
ponents that they were determined it should
not pass into law ; but with respect to the general
measures of legislation he re-affirmed that there never was
a session in which the Government had been more suc-
cessful in passing measures of importance to the well-
being of the country. He must, at the same time, admit
that in many of those measure's her Majesty's Govern-
merit had received a cordial support uninfluenced by any
party feeling from Gentlemen on the other side. Well
now, as the Noble Lord would sot, he (Sir R. Peel)
would just take a review of the measures which had been
passed during. the present session.
Mr. HAWES--With the dates of the Bills.
Sir R. PEEL thought that would be rather an un-
interesting subject, though he was glad that the Hon.
Gentleman, who attended so sedulously to his duties,
had laid the foundation of so much agreeable
amusement during the vacation.--(Loud laughter.)
Now, in the first place, he would refer to
the Poor-law Bill. Through the temper and
ability of his Right Hon. Friend that Bill had been passed
with the concurrence of those who were at first inclined to
oppose it. An important measure had been passed. regu
luting the hours of labour in four great branches of the fac-
tories. With respect to financial matters, it could not
he said that the Ministry had not done all that could be
done : 2,500,0001. had been saved to the country an-
nually, by the reduction of' the Three-and-a-Half per
Cents. • That was an honourable and permanent saving.
Then, with respect to the currency, it was to be hoped
'that they had placed it,u.poir a safe and judicious footing
The Bank Charter Bill had been also passed without any
opposition, and the future regulation of joint-stock banks
had also been placed upon a sound foundation; added to
this, the law had been amended with respect
to insolvent debtors, and •a final blow had also
'been struck against the imprisonment for debt.
The Government had also passed the Dissenters' Chapels
Bill, which would put ate end to endless litigation, A
Bill had been introduced also for the purpose of placing
upon a proper feundetion Presbyterian marriages in
Ireland. They had also passed a Bill with respect to
Charitable Donations and Bequests, which he had very.
little doubt would be productive of the best results. " How many limits stand
These measures, although of less importance, still add( d Between a wealthy and a happy land."
to the aegregate amount of legislation. Then there had He thought that a measure ought to be introduced, and,
been two very important Bills passed, applying the grin- if no one else did so he would introduce such a measure,
ciple of prescription to the property of the Duchy of to regulate the price of wages. He hoped to do so next
Cornwall, thus settling questions which had [vett the session, for he believed this would be a great element in
eutticet of litigation for man y years, Oleg the the happiness of the people.
Duchy tenants a more permanent interest in their hold- Mr. VILLIERS would recommend the Hon. Member
ings, and promoting, he firmly believed, the permanent for Bridport to study, during the recess, the subject of
interest of the Duchy itself, Another very itn- restrictive duties. He (Mr. Villiers) bad merely risen
portant Bill was thnteefiii regulating the con- tto express his dissent from an opinion that had been ex-
struction of buildir•deln the metropolis. He thought pressed by the Right Hon. Gentleman and concurred in
he had TAM said enough to show that by the Noble Lord, that there were particular burdens
the etatsenent with which he set out, was correct—that on agriculture. He defied any person to prove this.
there had ntvue been a session more remarkable for The Right Hon. Baronet had only mentioned two bur-
the amount tit` useful and beneficial legislation placed dens—the county-rate and the malt-tax.
urn rennrd. If, therefore, the Noble Lord had been Lord STANLEY—The poor-rate.
dtspesed to imitate the example of others, and give a re- Mr. VILLIERS said that was not mentioned, be-
as!,:w of the session, he would have been able to have cause, of course, the lower the price of food in the
Legven a much more satisfitetnty account than others had country, the less would be the amount of the poor-rates.
en able to give of former sessions. The Right Hon. The fact was the great cause of dissatisfaction was the
Gentleman opptg to had made a reference to some recent high rents. The Hon. and Gallant Member for Lincoln
re'eeedinge in Ireland. Now he (Sir Robert Peel) said the farmers were not discontented-e(" Hear, hear,"
would bet be provoked into entering upon any dis- from Colonel Sibthorp)—but the farmers were exceed-
"-'am of that subject.— (Hear, hear-) The only ingly discontented at the continual meddling with the
pert of the Noble Lord's speech that took the character corn-laws in that House.—(Hear, hear, from the
of an attack upon the Government, was that in which j Ministerial benches.) Yes, dissatisfied because some
he made a reference to these proceediogs• He stated (bat permanent legislative measure had not been introduced
the Government had given no notice of their intention to ; ehich would guarantee to the starving agriculturist a
prohibit proceedings which they thoughtdangerous to the I fair price for his corn, and at the same time enable the
public peace; at length the Government did vindicate the consumer to purchase it.—(Hear, hear, from the Oppo-
law, Peel charged the parties engaged in them with a sition.) He thanked the Noble Lord for the expression
conspiracy. '1 he acts from whieh the evidence of that of his opinion on the subject of the corn-laws which he
conspiracy were to be gathered extending over a period 1 had given that evening, and for his determination to
of several months. And with respect to the law on the tagitate that question.—{Hear, hear, and laughter.)
Pubject of conspiracy, he had no hesitation in stating Colonel SIBTHORP said he felt perfectly 'satisfied
that the judgment of the Irish Court of Queen's with the conduct of the Government, and thought they
13euch was unanimous. Mr, Justice Perrin differed had conferred more benefit on the country during the
from his brother Judges on some points of detail, but present session than the Whigs bad during the ten years
pn the law cf the case he believed the judgment of the they were in office.—(Laughter.) He was not more
Court was unanimous. would not enter into all the rejoiced at any circumstance than in
witnessing the de-
facts connected with those proceedings, or do anything cline and fall of the Anti-Corn-law League, and he
that would bring on a discussion in which persons were thought their agitation had now been all but crushed,
inrolTed who were absent, and who were now suffering and they would soon have nothing to look at but empty
the sentence of the law. Whatever advantage, then, the lockere.—(Laughter.)
Noble Lord might derive from his ex parte statement, Lord EBRINGTON said it certainly was somewhat
he woul I not, on the last day of the session, bring on a i strange to see the Hon. and Gallant Member for Lincoln
discussion upon the conduct of parties who were absent express such entire confidence in the present Ministry,
from the House. Her Majesty's Government had on though he had opposed them ell the Dissenters' Chapels
two occasions determined to issue proclamations against ' sill, the Factories Bill, and the Sugar Duties Bill.
two several meetings, and it was only rendered unne- .It was then agreed that the llouse,at its rising, should
cessary to do so by the intention of holding them being i adjourn until Thursday,- the sth day of September. .
abandoned. But it was entirely without foundation to i DOMINICA. •
assert that the Government forebore to declare its in- Mr. HAWES put a question to Lord Stanley
gre-
tentions for the purpose of entrapping the parties intoarding the recent riots in Dominica, as to what intel-
a violation of the law, and having an opportunity of ligence he had received concerning them, and whether it
collecting evidence of their misconduct. Into other con- we
-s. the intention.
of the Government to enforce the law
siderations, which had been referred to by the Right against: all those in custody, 80 or 90 individuals. He
Hon. Gentleman, as to the exercise of the pre- believed the riots-had occuried through a misapprehen-
regative of the Crown, he shoUld not enter. sion of the native population in the _objects of the Go-
teem them tie should feel it his duty to raaintein verament by taking the, census. He complained of the
an entire silence. —(bear, hear.) He should content 1 mode of 14draiDiSterillg justice in that ifla44) whet)) it was

10 0

100 0 0

100 0 0

IL 4..
14 11..

10 0 •
30 0 0
3.5 10 0
XI 10 0

Epee cent.
Cp_et cont.
Aps. and
na.64 be. j

0 • .14 0 0
• 0 110 0
O 0 3 0.0
003 0 0
007 • 0

mat.
4 per cent
Om cent

! 25
50 0 8 50

O 0 100 0 0
e_o 99 0 0
O 0
90 50 0 0
0
O 0 0

.IST or

PANIES' PRICES.
844.

IS per cent.
6 per sent.
8 per cent.
6 per cent
7 per cent.
6 per cent.
'per cent.
6 per cent.
per cent.
g per cent.
Dper cent.
riper cent
per cent.
5 per cent.
3 per cent.
I% pot cent
IN per cen t

10 0 0
1000
10 0 0
10 0 •
12 10 •
1 0 0
2 10 0
30 0 •
50 0 •
25 0 0
•5 • 0