The Sun.
London, England, 1845-08-05 00:00:00

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trusted that his bon. At ion ,
. _
for its effect was this : I • kn eiat e Y ity ift
.the
morning that this tnorfievitit
airpLii--and the ent.-
sequenre was, that theltratbs ofq ebbiftley rose as the
other fell. He thought that the House Ought to look
with suspicion on a motion like this upon the third read-
ing of any Bill.
Mr. DARBY would take that opportunity of saying
that the original share list was before the Committee,
and every word of the deed was discussed and com-
mented on, and there never was a hint thrown cut
against the respectability of the persons who had signed
the deed.
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw. No di-
vision, however, took place, the motion having, as we
understood, been agreed to.
After a few words from Mr. COLLETT,
Mr. B. DENNISON then moved that the London and
ork Railway Bill be read a third time.
Mr. HAWES said he wished to say a few words on
this subject. After what had taken place on the Gal-
mil?' gill, and alter the allegations contained in the peti-
tio;i grh;,ell had been presented to the House, he thought
investiggth..n was highly desirable. It had been
stated tient pie subscription contract of the Lon-
don and York was unimpeachable, but such
was not now the case. Now, it appeared that all the
cenepanies had agreed nil, th,ty would not imFeach the
contract deeds of one another be; 're the Standing Orders
Committee, so that in fact these .deeds might, for
anything the House knew, have bt. pn *together
fraudulent ; under such circumstances, was not at
all surprising that these deeds should not have been
sooner impeached.
Mr. ROEBUCK said, he would move that the :hird
reading of this Bill take place upon that day thige
manths. His reasons were numerous—first, the Legisiaa
Lure had ordained that, as a protection for the pablic, the:
Bills should be examined in the Standing Orders
Committee : it was distinctly understood that the
contract deed should be of a bona fide character—that
was, that the subscriptions and addresses of the par-
ties should be genuine. If the Standing Orders Com-
mittee was worth anything, it surely aas requisite that
a full and searching inquiry should be gone into. The
petition befere the House alleged a fraud—he did
not mean to say that his lion. Friend opposite (Mr.
Dennison) was in any aay privy to or cognizant of
these frauds, but the question was, would the House in
the face of this allegation pass the Bill ? Why, the fraud
could not be denied. It was easy for the Hon. Gentle-
malt (Mr. Dennison) to shake his head, but
would ,he disprove the allegations contained in
the petition in Committee ? Everybody knew that the
proceedings relative to the Standing Orders Committee
were carried on in a manner that astounded the whole
community. The disclosures came upon them like a
thunder clap. They could not go anywhere
without hearing " railway shares" in everybody's
mouth. In fact, every man and woman in bo•
ciety talked of railway shares The present rail-
way excitement was a monstrous phenomenon. If it
were asked why he came at the eleventh Lour he would
answer, it was only at the el venth hour the frauds had
been discovered. These frauds had now reached the r
height, and it was their duty now to stop its growth—
should not the House stop the progress of the Bill, when
parties were ready to prove that fraud had been com-
mitted ?

Mr. HAWES seconded the motion.
Mr. WILSON PATTEN said it was really too bad,
if, after the Committee had spent eighty days in
investigating all matters connected with this rail-
way, and after an expenditure of 100,0001., parties
were now at the eleventh hour allowed to come forward
and stop the progress of the Bill. Even suppose the
contract deed were fraudulent to the amount of 600,0001,
there was still ample capital to carry out the under-
taking. If the passing of this Bill were postponer',
he would never again sit on a Railway Committee.
Mr. AGLIONBY knew nothing of the merits of the
Bill, but he rose to answer one observation of, the Hon.
Gentleman who just sat down. As to the standing
orders—it was an error to suppose that they gave to the
public the protection which they were intended to give.
One mode of defeating this object was that, when there
were two rival companies for the same line, those com-
panies agreed mutually not to oppose each other in the
Standing Orders Committee, lest both Bills should be
lost. The Committee had no means of preventing frauds,
but he hoped that the House would by next session take
measures to prevent the repetition of such frauds as had
been detected this session. With respect to the asper-
sions which had been cast upon some Members of that
House, he would pledge himself to the house, that so
long as he was in a Committee of a judicial character he
would have nothing to do with any railway. He hoped
something would be done to prevent the combination of
great companies to sacrifice the interests of the public.
Mr. WARD said there was one point which the Hon.
Gentleman had not looked to, that was the large amount
of money that was expended upon the northern railway
projects, before they came before the Standing Orders Co-
mmittee. The sum expended amongst these —successful and
unsuccessful—was upwards of 100,0001. Under these cir-
cumstances it was not fraud upon the• public or
the House, but to prevent the sacrifice of so
much money.—(llear, hear.) With respect to what
his Hon. Friend had said of Members taking shares in
railway Companies ; he, for one, was not ashamed to
say that he held such shares—(Hear, hear)—and ho
thought it was of importance to the public that men of
station and responsibility should be so connected with
railways. lie (Mr. Ward) never felt happier in his life
than when he saw any of those great enterprises carried
to a successful conclusion.

Mr. AG LIONEY did not iu the slightest degree in-
:end to reflect upon the conduct of any lion. Member in
Ault house.

Mr. B. DENNISON said many observations had
been made respecting the compromise which had been
entered into l-,etw een the parties respecting the
standing orders. That compromise did take
place, and he was glad to have the opportunity
of explaining the matter to the House. Be
received himself, in February or March last, a note
from Mr. Lang, of the Beard of Trade, appointing
an interview. In consequence of that note. he
went to the Board of Trade, and Mr. Lang
proposed to him that all contention before the
Standing Orders Committee between the respec-
tive parties should be suspended.- , On the part of
the London and York Company he at once agreed
to the arrangement, provided all other lines com-
peting with the London and York would agree to
the same terms. The agreement was drawn up by the
solicitors, and was signed by the respective parties.
That agreement was religiously kept by the London and
York Company, and he put it to the House whether
it was good taste in the persons who had signed the
petition that had , been presented that evening, to come
to that House and complain of the London and York,
one of those parties being chairman of an opposing line.
After a few words from Mr. B. COLLETT, strangers
were ordered to withdraw, but no division took place.
Mr. HAWES, amid the noise which followed, was
understood to say that he had a particular wish to have
the Bill printed.
The Bill was then read a third time and passed.

PROPERTY- rAx. a
Captain PECIIELL presented a petition from a pri-
vate individual, complaining of the maLner in which he
had been oppressed by the levy of the property-tax.
Mr. MARK PHILIPS presented a pe'ition from the
tailors of Manchester, complaining that they were com-

pelled to work in unhealthy- places.
Mr. GROGAN presented a petition from the inhabi-
..

tants of the North Dublin Union, praying for certain
amendments in the Irish Poor Relief Act.

Mr. MACKINNON said he begged to give notice
that he would, early in the ensuing session, bring for-
ward a motion against interments in or near large towns.
INDIAN CORN.
Mr. ESCOTT begged to give notice, that he would,
next session, move that all Indian corn imported into
all ports of the kingdom be admitted free of all duty.—
(Hear, hear.)

ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE.
Sir R. PEEL begged to give notice that he would,
to-morrow, move that the House, at its rising, do ad-
journ till Friday.
COAST OF PORTENDIC.
Mr. SMYTIIE said he would postpone until next ses-
sion his motion for a Select Committee to consider the

report on the papers laid on the table of the House relative
to the claims of her Majesty's subjects, arising out of the
measures adopted by the French Government in the
years 1834 and 1835, on the coast of Portendic.

WESTMINSTER BRIDGE.
Sir R. H. INGLIS said that, seeing his Right Hon.
Friend the First Lord of the Treasury in his place, he
wished to know what the intention of her Majesty's
Ministers were respecting Westminster Bridge? The
House would recollect that last year a Committee was
appointed to inquire and to collect evidence. Mr.
George Rennie, Mr. Cubitt, and Sir John Rennie, with

two other eminent engineers, concurred in the opinion
that it was highly desirable to rebuild Westminster
Bridge ; while Mr. Walker, the engineer. and Mr.
Cubitt, the builder, considered that it might be repaired
in a manner to make it efficient for all public purposes.
The Committee did not concur in the opinion of the three
engineers,_ and preferred to spend a large sum in repairs.
Under these circumstances, the House separated last
year, the majority concurring in the recommendation
of the Committee's report. Last winter the injuries
which the bridge received in the autumn of 1843 had
been very much increased. He would, therefore, ask if
her Majesty's Government had any course under consi-
I deration, and also what alterations they intended to
make? The expense already gone to was enormous;
and yet all bad been ineffectual in making the bridge
efficient.
Sir ROBERT PEEL said that, in answering the ques-
tion, he would remind the Rothe of what was done by
l
the Committee appointed by the House. That Com-
mittee, after the examination of witnesses, decided by a
they to
smallmajtohreitpyulg thatin the
down
o e e
present".as nborti sufficientbridge,
as
warrant
thought it might be repaired at a moderate expense.
There had beea two estimates for rebuilding the bridge
placed before the Committee, one for 260,0001., and
another a much larger sum, he believed 350,0001. This
was independent of approaches. Since that time fresh
inquiries had been male, and fresh evidence received.
On this evidence the reports had been founded, which
had only been sent to the Board of the Treasury
three days ago. These reports were now under consi-
deration ; and he begged to inform the Hon. Gentleman
that the whole subject would undergo the fullest exa-
amination. He (Sir Robert Peel) was not prepared to
offer any further information at present.
THE CONDEMNED PIRATES.
Mr. CHRISTIE, who spoke amid so much confusion
in the House that hi; firA sentences could not be dis-

tinguishcd, said in reference to the late trials at Exeter,
for murder on the high seas, for which seven men were
condemned to death, that the judge on the circuit, Mr.
Baron Platt, had refused to entertain a point in arrest of
judpment moved by the counsel fur the defence, and
under these peculiar circumstances, and knowing that
the lives of seven of their fellow-creatures, and those

were foreigners, were at issue, knowing too that the
counsel on both sides were not prepared with authorities
upon the point—under these circums•auces he hoped
that the Right Hon. Baronet would advise that these
unfortunate men should have the benefit of these
appeals.
Sir J. GRAHAM said the question put by the Hon.
and Learned Member was one of the highest importance.
He had heard the particulars of the case, and after
giving the matter every consideration he had communi-
cated with the learned judge who had presided over
those trials, and he had consented to reserve the point.