The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-30 00:00:00

SMOKE.

Mr. PROTHEROE said that, seeing the Hon. Mem-
ber for Lymington in his place, he wished to ask him
whether it was his intention to bring in a Bill to remedy
the evil of smoke?—(Laughter.) He hoped that the in-
quiries of the Committee would not end in smoke—

(Great laughter)—as great interest was felt on the sub-
ject in the manufacturing districts.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. MACKINNON said he had received several appli-
cations on the subject to which the Hon. Gentleman
referred. It was impossible for him to state what course
he should pursue, until he knew what were the inten-
tions either of the Right Hon. Gentleman, the Secretary
of State for the Home Department, or the Noble Lord
at the head of the Woods and Forests. The recom-
mendation of the Committee, that the Government
should bring in a Bill in the first instance ; and that, in
case they declined to do so, he (Mr. Mackinnon) should
bring in a Bill, as Chairman of the Committee. He
thought the best course he could adopt was to give
notice of his intention to put a question to the Govern-
ment on Monday next.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM said that he was fully aware
of the importance of the subject, and if his Hon. Friend
would introduce a Bill in accordance with the views of
the Committee, that Bill should have his best support.
DROPPED NOTICES.

Lord PALMERSTON gave notice that he should
bring on his motion in reference to the Right of Search,
after Easter.

FISHERIES.

Captain PECHELL called the attention of the Go-
vernment to the state of the fisheries, in consequence of
the regulations adopted by the Convention between
England and France. It appeared that two French
fishing boats had been fined for not having the requisite
numbers and letters on the bows of their boats. He
wished to know whether arrangements had been made
for the purpose of informing the fishermen of France in
what manner they were to regulate their conduct in ap-
proaching the English coast.
Sir R. PEEL said that he had informed the Hon.
Gentleman some time ago that he believed it was the
intention of the French Government to submit a project
of law on the subject to which he had referred to the
Chamber of Deputies. He would make inquiries in the
two cases to which the Hon. and Gallant Member had
referred.—The subject then dropped.
EXPIRING LAWS.

On the motion of Sir G. CLERK the following Mem-
bers were appointed on the Expiring Laws' Commit-
tee :—Sir George Clerk, the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer, Sir Thomas Fremantle, the Attorney-General,
Mr. Pigot, the Solicitor-General, Mr. Sheil, Lord Eliot,
Mr. Baring, Mr. Wilson Patten, Sir George Grey, Mr.
Charles Wood, Mr. Greene, Mr. Gladstone, and Mr.
Home Drummond.
ATMOSPHERIC RAILWAYS.

Mr. SHAW gave notice of his intention, on Monday
next, to move for a Select Committee, to inquire into
the important principle of atmospheric railways.
_ ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE.

On the motion of Sir R. PEEL, it was agreed that the
House at its rising do adjourn till Monday next.
FACTORIES BILL.
Sir J. GRAHAM said, that before moving the Order
of the Day for proceeding with the Factories Bill, in
order to withdraw it, perhaps the House would allow
him to present a petition of great importance, from
sixty-two firms in Manchester, employing upwards of
30,000 labourers, who were assessed to the poor
to the amount of 44,000/. a-year, and embracing,
as he had been credibly informed, nine-tenths
of the capital employed in the cotton manufactories of
that town. The prayer of that petition was, in his
opinion, well entitled to the consideration of the House.
They stated that they had heard with excessive alarm
that an attempt had been made to reduce to ten hours
the employment of persons in factories. They stated
that that would reduce their profits one-seventh—
that it would reduce the capital which was em-
ployed to the same amount—that it would
have the effect of reducing wages, and also the exporta-
tion of manufactures abroad. It also stated that the