The Sun.
London, England, 1845-04-23 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, April 22.
The Loan CHANCELLOR to his seat on the Wool,ail
shortly after Five o'clock'
hem of CANTERBURY presented petitions
„ern different parts of Kent against the grant to the College of
"A!Zoooth.
eThe Bishop of WINCHESTER also presented similar pc •
ti
Lions from Downahire and other places.
The Earl of ENNISKILLEN presented similar petitions.
Lard ST ANLEY presented several petitions from Bed_f_ord,_,
eitrisedthot.her places, in favour of the grant to the College of Mae
The Duke of NORFOLK a gave notice that on Friday he
aiotoLL,ld Present a petition from the English Catholics in favour
1e fault to Maynooth.
THE SEES OF BANGOR AND ST. ASAPH.
The Earl of POWIS presented several petitions against the
roam to Maynooth; and a petition from Chester and its neigh-
/i 'hand against the union of the sees of Bangor and St.
4 had The Noble Earl, in pursuance of a notice
_which
ririon.givnen on Friday la.st, stated that it was his in-
the Bill e Tuesday. next, move the second reading of
Lrdsle ?n the subject, which was now lying upon their
himself the
)10,rer 'Ps table. He should reserve to
the °f making such alterations as the circumstances of
efte
the iibe_ might require. He would, at the same time, take
the "Y of moving their Lordships to order the report of
the ermMittee, appointed last year to search for precedents of
71..,e. of the Bangor and St. Asaph Bill, printed.
*ions ° LORD CHANCELLOR remarked that any altera-
se, ?oght to be stated to the House before the motion for the
rieding was made.
ieent ar iof POWIS was not prepared at the present rno-
precise's_ state the precise nature of the alterations, or the
his will:eerie be might hereafter be disposed to take. It was
of the'lierti° give her Majesty powerw, byo
the advice
but,
sseeerth y Council, to appoint t
repeal e mss, he might only be disposed simply to
the ever Act of union of the two sees.
.He was not, how-
he intllrepared to pledge himself to any particular course which
to him •
feet ti;:loredt to pursue, because he wishedthteon
reservethought. advisable.
Lord of adopting what course he
any of . oIpNTEAGLE asked whether the Government hail
f re the Bill
tres eeetton to lay on the table cf the House,
the Lef'd a second time, a return showing the before
state
of
state of clergy in these two dioceses, and exhibiting the
h".1,91e episcopal fund ?
tieal ""hoP of LONDON observed that the first Ecclesias-
tura ,‘-'?l'nruission had already made such a return, and that re-
's Printed some time ago.
Lore vis IRISH LAND COMMISSION.
the
Port HARNCLIFFE laid on the table of the Ho_nse.th:
ereiendof the Commission respecting the occupation of land
fIAiL
The Earl "Y CLAUSES CONS .BILL.
e., rl of DALHOUSIE movedOLIDATION the third reading of this
Lord
loresh• BROUGHAM had so often addressed their
he dip on the subject of railway
legislation
Present not think it necessary for on the
hnn,that
length occasion, to trouble their Lordships at any great
Purloin The mischief of the course they were now
and Was threefold. The first was the very great
renett.
the )m as
unavoidable haste with which several 1
varioorailwaY measures must be carried through the
stoie branches of the Legislature, inasmuch as it was phy 1
c impossible for those branches of the Legislature be-
themtotai.,
ef
~.°Per attention either on the principle or the dle
4441 measure while there were 240 railway Bills i
piiedsetne session before Parliament. He thought thatwaepre
sow be/6 a certain extent, to the two Billsh whichtought it
esiott koere the House for third reacting,
erioeii sJudicious of the Government to
Bills. At
ea
number of
that' rtes, a' they had done in those At the same
than ~„was his opinion that nothing could be worse contrived
s
lover "" Railway Board. He did not say t a
aide Fend (Lord Dalhousie) was not well qualified to pre-
hie, r it, or that his Noble Friend had not sedulously devoted
tiee:htt to the discharge f his new duties. But then the ordi-
Witc,:a,"Mess of the Board of Trade was quite heavy enough
ante?"' this addition. And as it was admitted by all
ita tii:l4_,ers that there were riot more than 24 hours
1845:„ "Y, if he consumed every day in the
.year
could 1,.." was Physically impossible that the additional business
one es"' done. Therefore, they admitted that they only heard
the In of
toe •ouse each case, and on the information thus obtained
of Commons,; which heard both sides, was
the tloverned. That was not the blind leading the blind, but
Board'," leading the seeing—( A laugh)—the blind. Railway
Ohut the the seeing House of Commons. But it was said
tot .1e decisions of the Railway Beard did not decide the ease.
seherit"ie fact was indisputable that if they decided against a
jetted!, it was one hundred to one but that scheme was re-
tele e they decided in favour of a scheme, it was
vet 'udred to one but that it was adopted. He
alTmost ignorant of the practices of that depart-
Woojd but this was what an uninitiated understanding
laropert conclude from the facts as they appeared.
was very
great h much implicated in this. Here were
s areholders vesting 10,000/. in a railway concern,
And another class, who did not vest more than 10,000 pence,
An had. also an interest. These were the speculators.
;a this Railway Board
was of grat importance
in
to
en
._teltermining the value of immse property,e for a report e
and ir a
of the railway would raise the value ten per cent.,
report against would tumble it down 10 per cent.
They heard only one party which was in favour
and never heard the adverse tide. Now, of
had
great interest in the South-Western Railway,snPpose
the railway,
!lad almost :A
andtha t
that h e
h he
lt_ _ evidence sufficient to destroy all chance of a report
thcwfavour of the South-Eastern Railway, he would not be
rett.i to urge one objection, and the only person hearr.l2vas
dWaY projectors of the South-Eastern Railway. Then
if he inwould tumble his stock in the other railway ; whereas.en
ON) ",!'LI been allowed to be heard, his adversary would in al
Poiseles'''litY_ be defeated, and his railway would have been post-
-larPrQtie believed that this was not without precedent, an
'cgent of very great importance, for it came not. only
es'eel'ert
hifonsideraion but from a person of experience,
the very
h rank. Indeed it had royal authorlty,.for
asje"ividual wasgno less a person than King James I. King
the Csll9,n,e day went into a court of law, and took the seat of
th 'Mustice and after hearing the argument on one side.
Intrae"aieet, he professed that he was quite ready to give his
taightel)it; but it was delicately hinted to him that his decision
Rive eta ° dispensed with, and that it was rot customary to
Neel °Pinion without hearing both sides. Hy, however,
*hit t, r that it was vet y easy to decide upon hearing one side,
subthe °r or ;
a.gaalst, but that hearing both sides so overloaded
toe, elect woh difficulty, that it was next to imhposwsia
in
%kit `Xart_y decision at all ; and this was just t Yon
2.1341 Cele ktadWay Board acted. They heard the evidence.
ke eve in order thtttthey might decide ; and they failed to
ease because they sat for the purpose of assisting the.
biota fo,,,yommons in their decisions. They gave their opt-
tittle data''e benefit of both Houses when they had not suffl-
- oforming an p• •n at all. There was something
leteth9le way in eihictloi- lin°
cases were decided. There was
1i,h0411136..i_n the majority o theßoard, because if the majority
"11 wee e° gentlemen was only as three to two, the probabi-
afr„ that the minority was right and the majority was
eiliistalll4l;;ebil:hdol:se. should be inclined ne'more to put faith in the
"13' of these
gentlemen than he did in. that of a certain
titer ohie Frr tie spoke with all deference in the presence of
give .end (ord Beaumont); but he could not altoge-
%fleet entire faith to everthing which he heard, and he re-
het .84 instawe
the
rilatitht, in Which
onee.t mightw occur in that House
s as three to twa, and yet
of
trthenaljaotilirteyiyerere provedrntajbri majority
for after the matter had
0 0 W
.g
e.onsidnertee, theat H majorit' me over to the opinion
tnejoritmluosit
theyea often found that the
etaare d Yarn! tn the wr Theonse three and the two in the
eve v
el-- Arad° might decide any given case. It was
twos
rTeehatrotitrat it was material to know
, which wrong. Suppose the Board should be two
and
fete to" happened in the case of theiSouth.E.ast ern Railway.
, Of viZeje two and two, and the casting vote of that
%0 of n$ 41° 1, the Chairman, turned the balance.
it In point
thekkithorityat, was., decisive, but in point of authority was
tee., every or:. 441 either way. It was ad.rule of the Board
~ vett, e; en, whether he agreed ordisagreed with the
"at fairman, whether not fair. It was
it so t, e report. Now that was
P the subject of the report, because it tended to make
keohTreonatri4t. the party defeated bad been defeated by the
iet4es of b of the Committee. It was not. fair to the
e4ridesi to
bament, which the authority of this Board was
the"uarY to aid,.k because it tended to show them what was
-.eard the fact, namely, that all the five members. of
eotterte.iit coo Were unanimous) y
.agreed upon recommending a
rl4 of , bat it was said that this', was the common
euy . Proceeding in the other departments. Could there
eVer altoila_reity in the proceedings of the Board of Trade and
,11,/ ether
forLaa was Pertinent of the Government ? From the one
to;"' Thereat while from the other an opinion was put
eet.rd it
eetare it was that he held the constitutionobjecotfsthfoirs
411teh irad
,Miennenetly calculated to attainte the
hitse-114ed from°em onstitated. rlaving sa_ d thus much, he
merely invidious remark.s. But there was one
the, the gn had great weight in his mind, arising
441 had
,_secresy of this tribunal—one consequence
of
pie'!_fferobeeen that it had given rise tot speculationsns-
etely,e or iti%,..nd if not actual jobbing, at leasto great
Wo:lstajois
_...l,hey would never be able to eradicatetone. If
from
If it
etor° ati ape:* Long as that tribunal was
.a seerehhour
ofties ofeCrailes no man could entrap by false
e toard. he had picked up as to the his
nbelag le esolntions
hie or see Nc.). one could overreach
ahwisirasorferiehnd irn the pur-
that there was
atelatigttreent `v:trway. shares. H as_
for e Y, the t which might be adducedw in favour of the Board,
tiler*, endeacof courts to delay the business be-
tittaihreor...out thatadvantage was greatly overborne by_ the
heerroerii7s,:.he had referred to. He did not deny to the Board
eote,-'.industry. He had nothing to say against the m.ein-
or„,of 117" g that Board, but he did object to the cons.rucd-
it'd, ° Board itself. The infallibility of the Boar
fe;-aLlse in ewould on this occasion be greatly doubted,
th aurtibi throe
of many Bills which the Board had reported
Y on if
h: moaned
would be found that Parliament
waspwuld reject
t,
tlidopted
isz))vse which they had rejected would, he persuaded,
voitke Roos: the House. Thus, instead of assisting the labours
5,07 reve.: the Board would be only found an obstruction
reLuay g,;,‘20 another matter—namely, that the evils of this
eigmveet 'via would he to a certain degree attempted to be
Pr Skew Y, the IBM before the House, and that the frenzy
14esteda'aet,'°!) which had arisen in this country would be re-
,at the A." kept within limits. He could not help thinking
Zepee Position of Parliament was to encourage speculation
.I.lstioeadnspecsttlation. The
.Bill was pregnant with some good
,7_10n3. to r, but he complained of. it as. giving too much
d ;la sort of legislation, driving it on. with railway
t of wholesale species of. Act of Parliament manthui)
h'etsious one statute had contained no less than •
and another, the Land Clauses Act, about
eels' -any
rci ledup• rik°re• They were methodizing, systematizing
I)lWay rig to a code the principles which were to govern all
e.ts (unless some peculiar exceptions), giving the same
oirsteroe.ZQ facilities to all—promoters and objectors—the same
j alert tic
.°Pe_thodical plan, taking away the right to private
Ntie,acilitating, expediting, quickening in the same sys-_
:unftk„.;Uutle, and by a sort of corpus furls, subvertig and
elt.ltitZisut_f{ all the rights of private property. Why shouldse
ifteili‘i'Matic, methodical mode be adopted for the purpo
epiatiee to 14! the passing of railway Acts? What was the ems-
tLeY speoe,°e drawn from this ? Why it would seem that rail-
ty wer!lation was the very breath of the community ; that
tea:lier„," essential to the welfare of the kingdom ; and that
anent wished by every means in its power to promote
"%he l'ng of railway Bill. and to encourage all sorts of
a'land
!Way Arailway speculations.
.If twenty or even thirty
e rieceev's were only passed in a single session, it would not
that thee_•°r7 to form such a code. Could they,. after having
et'arTaelves to this speculation—after having encouraged
14,e°111d 14j-this frenzy of speculation as it has been termed
increeY c"aplain—could they wonder if those specthu;
it ole len ased-4 this railway-share gambling covered
ad er bigtb and breadth of the land—could they wonder at
1„4111d theme it? Could they otherwise than pity it, and
IsereieleY not reflect a little before they helped to promote
e_era,„,“?°* a system, which instead of mitigating an evil
eettee- tte-which instead of a I•
a remedy, and en-
t'oe °Ng to g
wh,_ spread over a space of three years that speculae
4:Meted would now be compressed into one,
se °We , nurtured it, and maintained its vitali.ty.
'Jolt not the
re place Y when the reaction came—when the revulsion
J'etisiort-ewhen the money market was oppressed—when a
I,elels bed re. that convulsion in the money market took place,
th!'„_at thenaaPPened in former times from causes infinitely lessi
themselves those now in operation—should they. not reproach
4el fever that they had done nothing to mitigatt. or relax
do °f sPeculati u? When that day should arrive, could
other • •
wtee titan blame themselves as having been par-

ties, at least, to this delusion, when about December or Jan-
uary next they should be reaping the bitter fruits of their
present conduct. In his opinion they were much to blame for
having allowed their neighbours the French to get so much
ahead of them as to the sound method of dealing with
this quest'on. In that country the Legislature took the
matter into their own hands—not as a matter of course, not
without opposition, the speculators were against it, but the
Government in the most statesmanlike manner took the matter
into its own hands. Fe v railways were allowed to be con-
structed at first, and those were constructed on well-founded
inciples. Another thing they had done for the benefit of
the public. The railways were not allowed to be vested in the
companies beyond a term of years—five and forty, five and
fifty, or five and thirty years. After the lapse of that time
they reverted to the public, who might renew the lease upon
advantageous terms, such as lowering of fares. Now here all
control over the companies was given up. It would have been
better if we had adopted a similar course to that which had
been adopted in France. He deeply lamented that
sonic steps had not been taken to damp the mania
for railway speculation. lie did not mean to say that
there ,hould be no railways at all. It would be absurd—it
would he ridiculous to say so. Under proper regulations they
were the greatest possible public ben fits. He did not mean
to say that there should he no railways, but that there should
be only a certain moderate number constructed at present, and
thatthe others should be postponed because this mania ought
not to be encouraged. The only other subject with which he
would trnub!e their Lordships was in reference to the powers of
those railways companies. Since he had addressed their Lord-
ships on thi3 subject, be had heard of some what he should call
really heart-breaking circumstances of oppression of poor
people who were trampled upon by the agents of railway Bills,
because they had not the means of resistance. In fact the
agents to the Bills assumed to themselves all the power of these
Bills as if they had passed, so sure were they they would pass.
Since he last made some observations upon this subject in that
House on Thursday last, he believed was some parties who
had been complaining had he understood received some satis-
faction. But he would now implore their Lordships to listen
to this. If a line was proposed to pass wools be any pa
certart
of re-
of the
lands of a Noble Lord, he, of course,
dress ; there was no fear of him ; but, to make up for this,
the gardens of poor cottagers were cut up without the least
hesitation, because they had not the same means of defence
that the occupier of a noble house had. Such were the
common devices and contrivances of those companies, to call
their acts by no other name. Then, on the other hand, if it
was proposed to run a part of a line through a nobleman's
kitchen garden, he was satisfied if it could be avoided, to permit
the line to run over his avenue. It was like a man submitting
to have his head cut off in order to save his leg from a similar
operation, or he was willing to sacrifice one eye to save the
other. He had received a letter from a clergyman who com-
plained that a proposed line would be sure to darken his study
and library ; but the writer added that he was but the mere
incumbent, his patron was also a patron of railroads, and there-
fore he (the incumbent) had nothing to do but sit down
and quietly submit for the remainder of his life. Now, any-
thing more grievous than this he had never heard. The clause
in the Bill to which he principally objected, and which he
singled out as the one which appeared to him to systematise in-
justice in the most marked manner, was that clause in the
Railway Consolidation Bill in the 32d section of the Bill. This
was the clause—" That it shall be lawful for the company, at
any time before the period limited for the completion of the
railway, to enter whenever they pleased, without making any
previous payment, or tender, or deposit on any land, within the
prescribed limits, or if there were no prescribed limits, on any
land not being more than 200 yards distant from the centre of
the railway. And not being a garden, orchard, avenue, or walk;
and that it should not come nearer to any mansion than the
prescribed distance, and if there was no prescribed distance
then not nearer than 500 yards therefrom, and the com-
pany might keep the said land as long as it might be
necessary for the completion or repairing of the
railway, or any accomodation works connected there-
with, as might be required for any of the following pur•
poses : —For the purpose of taking earth or soil by side cut-
tings ; for the purpose of depositing soil therefrom ; for the
purpose of obtaining materials therefrom for the construction
or repair of the railway, or such accommodation works es
aforesaid, or of roads to and from, or by the side of the rail-
way ; and it shall be lawful to make deposits for the manufac-
ture of brick works, and also to dig or take from any such
land clay, or stone, or sand, for the purposes of such works,
or for the purpose of erecting any workshops or buildings of a
temporary nature." Such was the clause—a clause which
ought not, he thought, to be very agreeable to their Lord-
ships. They could take two hundred yards on each side of
the railway, making in the whole four hundred yards, or a
quarter of a mile, all over the country through which
the railway run. Now, in the case of a farm in Essex, con-
sisting of two hundred acres, it was proposed that seven rail.
ways should pass over it, and the consequence was, that nearly
the whole of the farm was absorbed. And all this arose from
their extraordinary love of railway legislation. True, compen-
sation was provided by the Bill for the taking of land; but the
House must remember that only the damage actually done
was to be paid for, and nothing more. There was but another
remark, and that was the last he intended to make before he
moved his amend:nent of that 32d clause. If these powers
were necessary, at least the parties who concocted the measure
ought to know what way they meant to go ; they ought at
least to have made up their minds as to where their line ought
to run; for he thought that if they did desire to change their
minds and to go through another close than the one which
they had marked down on the plan—but he wouid not give
them a rower of deviating to the extent of 100 yards to
the
right side or the left—and if, through any unforeseen contin-
gency, they were obliged :to deviate, then, at least, do so
with the consent of the owners. The owners were quite
enough at the mercy of the companies already. They now
came to the owners after the passing of the Bill, for before they
never thought of making any proffer at all ; but after the passing
of the Act, they came to the owners, and then gave whatever
they pleased. The object of his clause was to diminish the
power of deviation to twenty yards, and that, with the permis-
sion of the owners. He had felt it his duty to make these few
remarks, because he had reason to believe that the instance he
adduced the other evening was not without its use. He had
been told that the circumstance which he had stated of the ap-
plication of a devisee in trust to the Court of Chancery had
stopped an extensive railway. lie thought, therefore, that
these powers were too extensive to be permitted without some
check. He had received the thanks of many clergy, for what
they were pleased to call the moral tendency of his exertions
in preventing this species of gambling, which led to others of a
worse description. For his part, he could say L'berari animum.
He had deemed it his duty to take the part which he had
taken ; and he hoped he had given no offence to individual,
but if so, he had done his duty sincerely and conscientiously.
The Earl of DALHOUSIE had explained to the House the
nature and objects of the Bills now on the table when he moved
the second reading, and he would net now enter into any dis-
cussion upon the principal one. But he would ask their Lord-
ships how mach of the time which his Noble and Learned
Friend had occupied was devoted to the business before them.
His Noble and Learned Friend devoted three quarters of an
hour to censure the Railway Board, and a quarter of an hour
to a lecture upon the evils of railway speculation. Really, he
(Earl Dalhousie) never saw a smaller pennyworth of bread to
so huge a quantity of sack.—( A laugh.) He would only say
that, of all his Noble and Learned Friend had stated, there was
only one thing to which he (Lord Dalhousie) could give the
least assent—and that was, that there are but twenty•four
hours in the day.—( A laugh.) His Noble and Learned
Friend said that it was a fact which could not be denied, that
the Railway Board heard only one side. Now, to that asser-
tion he must give a most unqualified and unhesitating denial.
His Noble and Learned Friend said that the Board received
deeutations from railway directors, and no others were ad-
m tted. To that he (Lord Dalhousie) gave a most distinct
and positive denial. The Board sought interviews with no
one. When they were ready to go into the inquiry, they
stated as much in a public advertisement, and they received all
persons who had any public matters to submit to the Board;
but by the constitution of the Railway Board, they
:roo were pre-
cluded m going into the consideration of any private matters.
At the same time, they never concealed from those
to whom they granted interviews, that it would he
its
deliberate written statements only, to which the Board could give
deliberate consideration, that any decision could be come
to. And the decision to which the Board had come to on
every case was founded on the fullest and most impartial con-
siderations. As to the speculations to which his Noble and
Learned Friend said the Railway Board gave rise, he (Lord
Dalhousie) did not deny that there were speculations—but he
did deny that since the constitution of the Board, speculations
had been carried to a greater extent. In former years the
speculation was of greater extent, and of a more reckless
kind. He could cite many cases, but their Lordships had
not forgotten that of the Brighton Railway in which fortunes
were made and lost in one day. The price of shares fluctuated
from day to day, and hour to hour, as the favour of the Com-
mittee seemed to fluctuate. His Noble and Learned Friend
said that the institution of the Board was calculated to promote
speculation.
Lord BROUGHAM had not said the institution; he said
the constitution.
Lord DALHOUSIE said—Allow him to say what he
meant. He did not attempt to state or explain what his Hon.
and Learned Friend said or meant.—( A laugh.) His Noble
and Learned Friend had formerly alleged, and had now repeated
that partial revelations had taken place. Now, when these
allegations were made, he (Lord Dalhousie) required to be
furnished with specific allegations. In the three cases which
were before alleged—that of the South-eastern Railway, with
which it was said a person in the employment of the Board of
Trade was connected—to that charge, his Noble and Learned
Friend admitted a complete answer was given. The next was—
that some shadowy individual obtained information somewhere
and used it somehow, on some day, in some place, in specula-
tion in some railway, by which he made forty thousand
pounds. How was that charge to be met?—( Hear, hear.)
It was also charged, that in consequence of impropsr informa-
tion, upon the day when the Board came to a decision, the
shares of one or two rival companies rose, and those of the
other went down. The fact was, that the rise in the price was
occasioned by the union of the successful company with one al-
ready established.—( Hear, hear.) He (Lord Dalhousie) put
it to their Lord-hips to postpone their judgment on the unfit-
ness and inefficiency of the Railway Board until the end of the
session, when they would have all the results before them. In
conclusion, he must remind their Lordships, that if they struck
this clause out of the Bill, a similar one would have to be in-
troduced into the special Act.
Lord ASHBURTON admitted that in some instances great
disappointment had resulted from the proceedings of the Board
of Trade ; but, in his opinion, it was utterly impossible for Go-
vernment to take steps to avoid this. It was quite impossible to
prevent railway speculations, but at the same time he was far
into
the agreeing that improvements could not be introduced
the constitution of the Railway Department of the Board of
Trade. But he objected to the provisions of this Bill being
confined to railways which were to be hereafter made. Some
of them ought decidedly to apply retrospectively to railways
already in existence. There was, for instance, the ninth
clause, which provided that no partiality should be shown by a
railway company either in the transit of goods or of passen-
gers. No individuals, or body of individuals, were tout have
partiality shown to them by the railway company, ball
were treated alike ; and certainly this clause was very essential
for the ends of justice, and he could see no reason why the
same provision should not be applied to railways already in
existence. There was another clause which ought to
be extended to the existing railways. He alluded to
the one which enacted that future railway com-
panies should provide separate carriages for the con-
veyance of felons and lunatics. Why should not the clause
be applicable to existing railways? It was only the other day
that he heard of a gentleman who got into a railway carriage
and found himself seated by the side of a couple of felons who
were chained together. Th.s was decidedly a bad system,
and he hoped the G bvernm sit would take steps to put a
stop to it.
The Duke of BEAUFORT complained that some time ago
persons were allowed to go about and circulate that this and
that line had been sanctioned by the Board of Trade, while in
other instances they as particularly asserted that they knew
from private informstion that such and such a line would be fa-
vourably reported of by the Board. It was those reports which
had led to so much speculation in the railway market, and, of
course, had the Board of Trade never existed, they never could
have been made.
The Earl of WINCHILSEA bore his testimony to the able
and impartial manner in which the Railway Department of the
Board of Trade had discharged its arduous duties, and declared
his intention to support the third reading of the Bill.
Lord CAMPBELL thought the Bill before the House would
have the beneficial effect of lessening the expense of procuring pris•
vale and special bills for the construction of railways. He wished,
however, to draw the attention of the Noble Lord to the ttbso-

late necessity of another Bill being brought in to meet the '
eases of the Noble Lord ( Lord Ashburton), who followed the
Noble Earl. He agreed with that Noble Lord that there ought
to be a uniform rate of charges established on railways, in
order that the public might not be subject to the caprice of any
particular company. In some cases railways would carry goods
almost for nothing at all, in order to ruin a neighbouring canal
company, and he thought Parliament ought to adopt some
course which should effectually put a stop to this system of op-
pression. Then, again, the public suffered a hardship through
the railway company not being liable to make good any
damage which might. ensue to a private carriage during its
transit over the railway. The damage was frequently occa-
sioned by the negligence of the company's servants, and he
thought it was the bounden duty of Parliament to make some
alteration in the law, so as to throw the injury upon those
who deserved, and were best able to bear, it.
Lord BROUGHAM, in reply, stated that he did not think
that his charge, that the main body of those admissible to the
Railway Board was that of the railway projectors, was confuted
by the Noble Lord opposite. He did not believe that the Noble
Earl had understood his ( Lord Brougham's) argument. What he
stated was, that from the Board being constituted to work
in the dark, that certain persons were enabled to go into the
City, and pretend to have private information that the Board
had intimated its intention of throwing out one scheme (r
adopting another. With regard to the South-Eastern Railway,
a friend of his, one of the greatest capitalists in London,
assured him that information was possessed by certain parties
that had been the cause of a rise in the speculations. He
grounded the fortification of his own statement on the fact that
at a great distance from town such information was possessed
long before the decision was given by the Board. These things
would exist as long as this tribunal acted in the dark. If their
proceedings were made public, no one person could have a
greater advantage than another in speculating. He objected
to see railways multiplied over the whole country, upon the
principles that now actuate the parties that brought them
forward. (Cries of " Hear, hear,") Let them
be adopted without violating principles or property, and he
would give them his support.—( Hear, hear.) He thought
that by doing so they would avoid the gambling speculations
that had taken place, and the monetary capital of the country
would be expended in a proper and righteous cause.—(Hear. )
The Bill was then read a third time ; and, on the question
that it do pass,
Lord BROUGHAM moved that several amendments should
be added to it by way of rider, all of which were negatived
without a division.—The Bill then passed.
The Lands Railway Clauses Consolidation Bill was read a
third time and passed.
The Lands Clauses Consolidation Bill was read a third time
and passed ; as was also the Lands Clauses (Scotland) Bill.
The House adjourned at Half-past Eight o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, April 22.
The SYEAKER took the Chair at the usual 'tour.
NEW MEMBER.
Mr. Bartle, the newly-elected Member for Greenock, in the
room of Robert Wallace, Esq., was introduced by Mr. Hurre
and Mr. Bright, and took the oaths and his seat.
RAILWAYS.

The Chichester and Portsmouth Railway Bill was read a se-
cond time.
Captain PECHELL and another Hon. Mnsinza presented
petitions in favour of the above line.
Sir W. SOMERVILLE presented petitions In favour of the
Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle Railway Bill.
Colonel ROI.LESTON presented a petition in favour of
the Newcastle and Berwick Railway Bill.
Mr. REDHEAD YORKE presented a petition against the
Cambridge and Lincoln Railway Bill.
On the motion of Mr. BUSFEILD, the Bradford Gas Bill
was read a second time.
Mr. CURTEIS presented a petition against the South-
Eastern Railway Company. The Hon. Member was proceed-
ing to complain, in support of the petition, that the Company
had divided their Bill into five parts, when he was called to
order by the Speaker.
On the motion of Mr. GREENE, it was then ordered that
the time for reading the South-Eastern Railway (London and
Greenwich Widening and Extension), South-Eastern Rail.
way (Tonbridge to Tonbridge Wells), South-Eastern Railway
(Bianch to Deal, and Extension of the Canterbury, Ramsgate,
and Margate Railway), South-Eastern Railway (Maidstone to
Rochester), and South-Eastern Railway ( Ashford to Hastings)
Bills a first time, be extended till Monday, the 28th day of

April.
The following Bills were read a second time and ordered to
be committed:—The Preston and Wyre Railway, Exeter and
Creditors Railway, and the Monmouth and Hereford Railway.
The third read►ng of the Liverpool Docks Bill was postponed
till Monday.
Petitions were presented in favour of the Lincoln and Cam-
bridge Railway Bill.
Sir R. INGLIS presented petitions from South Newington,
in Oxford, against theatres ; from Dorchester against the
Jewish Disabilities Bill ; from Dunmore in favour of Church
Extension ; and from Chichester against the Government
grant to Maynooth.

MAYNOOTH.
Mr. BANNERMAN nresented three petitions against the
grant to the College of Maynooth.
Mr. BRIGHT presented four petitions from Manchester,
four from Sunderland, and other petitions from several
places in Glamorganshire, the names of which he could not
pronounce—(Laughter)—all against the grant to the College of

Maynooth.
Mr. COBDEN presented several petitiona from the neigh-
bourhood of Lancashire in favour of the grant.
Mr. WILLIAMS presented petitions from Hereford, and
from several other places, against the grant.
Mr. DUNCAN and other Hon. Members presented several
petitions against the grant to Maynooth.
SCOTTISH BANKING SYSTEM.
Mr. LOCKHART presented a petition from Lanarkshire
against any alteration in the currency of Scotland; also a
similar petition from Caithness, and a third petition to the
same effect, signed by upwards of 7,000 farmers and proprietors
of land.

BANKRUPTCY.
Mr. BAILEY presented a petition from some town, the
name of which we could not hear, praying for some alteration
in the law of bankruptcy.
LIGHTHOUSES.
Mr. HUME presented a petition from the Edinburgh,
Leith, and London Shipping Company, respecting lighthouse
dues, and praying the House to make some inquiry, with the
view of effecting some reduction in them.
Mr. HUME presented a petition from Arbroath, praying
that the monetary system in Scotland might not be inter-
fered with ; and a petition against the granting of any endow-
ment to any sect or religious body whatever.
Captain PECHELL presented a petition from Burford
against the Parochial Assessment Bill.
Mr. WARI3URTON presented a petition praying for a re-
peal of the Bankruptcy Act of last session.
STANDING ORDERS.
Mr. ESTCOURT brought up the report of the Standing
Orders Committee.
WATERFORD RAILWAY.
On the motion of Mr. WYSE, leave was given to bring in
a Bill to make a railway from Waterford to Kilkenny, with a
branch to Limerick.
WOLVERHAMPTON RAILWAY BILL.

Mr. GODSON brought in the Wolverhampton Railway Bill.
Mr. CUMMING BRUCE presented four petitions from
congregations of the Free Church of Scotland against the grant
to Maynooth ; also four petitions from congregations of the
Scotch Free Church against railway travelling on Sunday.
Mr. SPOONER presented petitions from Birmingham
against the endowment of Maynooth College, and against the
union of the sees of Bangor and St. Asaph.
Sir HOWARD DOUGLAS presented severalpetitions from
members of the Established Church of Scotland against the
endowment of Maynooth.
Mr. CHOLMONDELEY presented a petition to the same
effect, hot we did not hear the designation of the petitioners.
Mr. MACAULAY presented three petitions to the same
effect from Edinburgh.
INNOVATIONS IN THE CHURCH.

Lord CASTLEREAGH presented petitions from parishes
in the county of Down against innovations in the service of
the Church.
Mr. S. CRAW FORD presented a petition against the May-
nooth grant.
Colonel T. WOOD presented a petition from Mr. Guthrie,
one of the Council of the College of Surgeons, praying that
the charter to that college might undergo revision.
Mr. EVANS presented petitions against the Ma.nooth
grant.
Mr. REDHEAD YORKE presented petitions from Staf-
fordshire to the same effect.
Mr. TRELAWNY presented similar petitions from
Cornwall.
Mr. BROWNRIGG presented petitions in favour of the
Government measure. The petitioners expressed their satis-
faction that some justice was about to be done to a large body of
their fellow-subjects.—( Hear, hear. )
Mr. FERRAND presented petitions from Yorkshire, and
from a place in the county of Cork, against the grant to May-
nooth.
Mr. C. BULLERvesented similar petitions from Liskeard.
Mr. LASCELLES presented a petition, signed by nearly
all the clergy in the bishoprics, against the union of the sees
of St. Asaph and Bangor.
An Hose. MEMBER presented a similar petition.
Lord S ANDO N presented a petition from a Mr.
M'Langhlan, in Liverpool, against the grant to May-
nnoth ; also petitions from Manchester, Liverpool, Roch-
dale, Coventry, and other towns, praying that the
limit of imprisonment should be reduced from 20/. to 51. ;
also petitions from Liverpool against the proposed amendments
in the law of settlement ; and a petition from Manchester,
signed by a majority of the clergymen, the leading manufac-
turers, and the great body of the operatives, praying that young
people and children should not be allowed to labour in factories
without having a certificate of being abla to read.
Mr. EWART presented a petition against the Endowment
of Maynooth Bill.
Notices of motion were then called on.
Slit HENRY POTTINGER.
Mr. HUME gave notice that, upon that day fortnight, he
would move an address to her Majesty on the subject of the
services of Sir Henry Pottinger.
NEW ZEALAND.

Mr. BULLER postionedhiirmotion relative to the pro-
duction of papers connected with New Zealand.
Lord J. MANNERS called the attention of the House to a
petition which he had presented on the 14th of March.
COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.
Colonel WOOD moved that the petition he had presented
from the College
DUBLIN of Surgeons
UNIVERSITY.rinted t h the votes.
Air. WYSE gave notice that on that day week he would
bring forward his motion reAYgardinNOOg Dublin University.
MTH.
Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD gave notice that,
in Committee on the Maynooth Endowment Bill, he would
move that the expenses of the extending, improving, and fur-
nishing the College of Maynooth, including the vote of
30,0001., be deducted from the revenue arising from Crown
lands in Ireland received by the Commissioners of Woods and
Forests.—( Hear. )
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
Mr. J. YOUNG moved that the House be furnished with a
copy of the report of the geological survey of Irelan(L-
-Agreed to.
Captain PECHELL moved for copies of the reports to the
Board of Admiralty, relative to the steaming and other quali •
ties of her Majesty's vessels Rattler and Alecto, during the late
trials, stating the tonnage and amount of horse power of Ise en-
gines of each vessel; also copies of the reports of the sailing
and other qualities of her Majesty's sloops Mutine, Water-
witch, Pantaloon, and Osprey, whilst proceeding in company
to their several destinations on foreign service.
AUCTION DUTIES.
Mr. RICARDO wished to know when the duty upon auctions
was to cease ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER stated that
the duty upon auctions was directed to cease from the time of
the report of the resolution, and that communication bad been
given to that effect.
The House adjourned at Half-past Five.

,500 f. (20,0201.) per annum, and when re.
THE SWEEPINGS OF THE PARIS STREETS.-A
journal states that the sweepings of the streets of Paris„ sold in the
portions, after having been kept in pits to rot,
mtraeiastluelosPurnroain '
inlugecasesthan 3,600,000 f. (144,000/.), being disposed of at
the rate of 3f. to sf. the cubic metre or yard. Twenty-two years
age the mud of Paris was contracted for at 75,000 f. (3,0001.); in
1631 for 166,000 f. 0,54014 ; and now, for more than half a