The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-15 00:00:00

MANCHESTER POST-OFFICE.

Mr. M. GIBSON said just before the adjourn-
ment for the holidays he had presented a petition
upon the subject of the Post-office arrangements in
connection with Manchester, and had intimated his
intention of inviting the attention of the House to
them. That petition had enumerated several griev-
ances. Many of them, however, and these not the
least important of them, had been redressed during
the past week. The complaints as to the Yorkshire
mail had been remedied ; and he was also happy to
say that between Manchester and the south
there had been an acceleration of speed of one hour.
In consequence of the Post- office employing the Grand
Junction Railway in conveying letters the post-office
at Manchester was closed one hour sooner than was
necessary. This was a serious grievance in a place of
business like Manchester. He wished to know from
the Right Hon. Gentleman, the Secretary to the
Treasury, why the Post-office continued to send the
letters by the Grand Junction Railway, instead of
sending them by the Manchester aad Birmingham
railway ? A long correspondence had taken place on
the subject. The Post-office had agreed to the pro-
posal of the Manchester and Birmingham Railway
Company, but just as the agreement was on the
point of being carried into effect, some objections had
been started on the part of the Post-office; these ob-
jections had been renewed on two or three occasions,
and the correspondence had lasted eighteen or twenty
months—the Post-office being always the party to
break the agreement. The inhabitants of Man-
chester felt that they were in disfavour either
with the Post-office or the Treasury. They could
not tell which, for when they made application
to the Post-office on the subject they were told
that the matter was under the consideration of the
Treasury, and when they applied to the Treasury the
answer was that the subject had been referred to the
Post-office. Under these circumstances he thought
the petitioners had done wisely in applying to the
House, and he therefore moved that the petition of the
Town-Council of Manchester, relating to the Post-
office arrangements in that borough, be taken into
consideration.

Sir G. CLERK said, he was happy to find from
the statement of the Hon. Gentleman, that the greater
part of the complaints made by the Commissioners
had been removed in consequence of the arrangements
carried into effect by the Post-office authorities in the
course of last week. With regard to the other point
referred to by the Hon. Gentleman—namely, the
delay which was occasioned to the trpnsmission of
Manchester, letters in consequence of the mode by
which they were sent; he believed that those letters
were not delayed longer than half an hour or at most
three-quarters. Very strong representations were
made against changing the line by the inhabitants
of Macclesfield and Congleton, and other places,
who would suffer what the petitioner complained of,
if the mails were sent by the Manchester and Bir-
mingham line, instead of the Grand Junction. He
trusted that ere long the Manchester and Birming-
ham Company would assent to the proposal which had
been made to them, as there was every disposition on
the part of the Post-office authorities to extend Post-
office communications.
Mr. M. PHILLIPS thought the explanation of the
Hon. Gentleman was anything but satisfactory.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
said the Government were anxious to give every pos-
sible accommodation to the people of Manchester.
Dr. BOWRING complained that letters were not
delivered in Bolton until two hours after the delivery
in Manchester.
Sir R. PEEL also stated the willingness of the
Government to afford every facility to those towns.
the only check upon their desire in this respect was,
that they subjected the public to great expense by
making terms with railways. Railway proprietors
would, he believed, best consult their own interest,
and promote their receipts by passengers, if they ob-
served a disposition to facilitate communication by
letters.

Mr. WILLIAMS, on the part of his constituents,
complained of the conduct of the Railway Companies
as capricious and unjust. lie thought her Majesty's
Government ought to exercise their power so as to
secure the conveyance of letters to every part of the
country ; and if the railway companies would not
give facilities for that purpose, they ought to be com-
pelled to do so by law.
Mr. M. GIBSON said the Manchester and Bir-
mingham Railway Company did not object to carry
the Macclesfield and Con Teton bags, provided they
were paid for it; but the Post-office had wished them
to do so for nothing.
ASSESSMENT FOR TITHES.

Sir R. H. INGLIS wished to know from his
Right Hon. Friend near him (Sir J. Graham), whe-
ther it was his intention to propose any revision of
the laws relating to parochial assessment for tithes ?
It was a subject which had been for the last four
years under the consideration of the House, and he
hoped his Right Hon. Friend would state that the
question was one likely to be soon settled.
Sir J. GRAHAM acknowledged that the matter
had been already frequently mooted. If be had the
honour of occupying the situation which he then held,
he proposed to ask for leave to bring in a
Bill which would effect very extensive altera-
tions in the poor-law. It was impossible to overrate
the importance of this subject. In the Bill for al-
tering the present poor-law they intend making ex-
tensive alterations in that part which affected the laws
of settlement and assessment, and till that time his
Hon. Friend had better postpone the subject.
COUNTY CORONERS' BILL.

In reply ton question from Mr. B. HAWES,
Sir J. GRAHAM said the County Coroners' Bil
would be postponed until Friday next.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.

Sir J. GRAHAM gave notice that he should, on
Friday, move that the Orders fixed for that day should
be taken in their rotation.

CROWN PROSECUTIONS IN IRELAND.
Mr. BELLEW wished to ask the Noble Lord the
Secretary of State for Ireland, whether the Govern-
ment was prepared to give any explanation as to the
case of a person who, having been confined seven
months upon a charge of publishing seditious ballads,
was discharged without being.brought to trial? He
was informed that the accused person had been com-
mitted to prison upon the evidence of two.policemen,
who obtained ballads in the disguise of itinerant bal-
lad-singers.
Lord ELIOT said that the attention of the Go-
vernment had been turned to the subject, which was
now under investigation.
SUPPLY.

The House then went into Committee of Supply.
A vote of 4,1641. for the improvement of Holy-
head Harbour, was agreed to without discussion.
On the motion that 50,0001. be granted for the
Caledonian Canal,
Mr. WILLIAMS expressed his strongest objec-
tions to the vote, upon which, however, he would not
divide the Committee. He considered the whole
affair as the " job of jobs."
The vote was then agreed to.
On the vote for 26,8711. for defraying the expenses
of public works in Ireland,
Mr. WILLIAMS wished to know why the sum of
5,000/. and upwards was to be voted for the Phoenix
Park in Dublin? This park had been a great cost
to this country, as a large sum had been annually
expended upon it. The time had now arrived when
the House ought not to endure the expenditure of the
Woods and Forests. During the last five years
upwards of 503,9001. had been expended by the
Woods and Forests without the authority of the House.
A check ought to be placed in the way of the manner
in which the public property was managed by the
Commissioners.
Sir G. CLERK said the Hon. Gentleman made a
similar statement with respect to the public parks
just before the recess, when the Noble Lord the Chief
Commissioner made a statement in reply, that, he be-
lieved, was considered very satisfactory. He ex-
plained that the item of 5,0001. for the satisfactory.
Park
was expended in repairs of the Vice-Regal residence
and the residence of the Secretary.
After a few words from Mr. BELLEW and Lord
ELIOT, the vote was agreed to.
The next vote was 8,000/. for the repairs of Kings-
town Harbour, which was agreed to without discussion.
The next vote was 59,3501. for salaries and other
expenses of the officers of the two Houses of Parlia-
ment. On this being moved—
Mr. WILLIAMS said when this vote was before
the House last session, his Hon. Friend the Member
for Montrose (Mr. Hume) had objected to voting so
large an amount of money without the items being
given. As that House assumed the right of holding
the purse-strings of the nation, he (Mr. Williams) did
not see why the House of Lords should not give
in an estimate for such sum as they might want,
the same as every other establishment did. Out of
common respect to the House of Commons this ought
to be done.

Sir GEORGE CLERK said this was one of
the objections annually made, and annually refuted.
Up to the year 1805, at the end of the session, each
House presented an address to the Crown, praying
that expenses incurred by it might be paid. Since
then the better arrangement had been arrived
at, of taking a direct vote from that
House. This had been found both expedient
and satisfactory, except perhaps to a very few
whom it was difficult at any time to satisfy. He
(Sir George 014 k) Thai& it would bs mast unwise