The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-06 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, MARCH 6, 1845.

LONDON AND WESTMINSTER
BANK.

been declared—a dividend which was not obtained by that
attractive, or, perhaps, he should rather say, clap trap
system, which was adopted by some other banks, of allowing
a per centage upon current accounts, and which was, on
that account, the more gratifying.—(Cries of "Hear, hear.")
He did not know whether or not the Directors were
sufficiently remunerated ; but he rather thought that
an increase ought to be made in the scale of allowance.
At all events there was another class of persons to whom
they were greatly indebted for their prosperity, who he
believed, were not adequately paid for their
services. This subject was one which he though
well deserved the consideration of the Directors. The
duties of such persons were laborious and responsible; and as
the bank was in a thriving condition, he was of opinion that
the scale of remuneration ought to be revised. Ranking, as
they did, as the first joint-stock bank in the country, it was
mainly to the exertions of their clerks that they owed that
position.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. NrAucatAN, in seconding the resolution, expressed his
concurrence in what had been said in reference to the remu-
neration of the clerks of the Company. lie also expressed
a regret that the reports were not of a more detailed nature.
It would be desirable, he thought, that they should
have an account of the expenses of the Princes-street
and Pall-mall establishments. The establishment in
St. James's-square, with a resident Director, must entail
a large expense on the Company. He very much doubted
the propriety of the step which had been taken, thinking,
as he did, that it would be better to concentrate the business
of the bank in the central office.
Mr. LEVY said he considered that the Proprietors had
no right whatever to interfere with the salaries of
the clerks; that was a matter which should be left altogether
to the Directors, who knew better than they did what was
the best course to be pursued.—(Hear, hear.) He had
known three cases in which persons, whose salaries had beenincreased, had afterwards run away with the
money .of the bank.—(Laughter.) There was one
point in connexion with the amount of business
to which he wished to call the attention of the Chairman.
They all knew that Sir Peter Laurie was a patriot—a very
great patriot.—(Laughter.) Now when Sir Peter proposed
Sir W. Heygate as Chamberlain, he made it a condition that
he should place his accounts, which bad formerly been kept
at Smith and Payne's, in the Union Bauk.—(Loud
Laughter.) When Sir William Heygate died, and
Mr. Brown was solicited to fill the vacancy, be also having
extensive accounts, had the same request made to him by Sir
Peter.—(Laughter.) He recommended this example to the
Chairman and the Directors.—(Laughter.)
Mr. TITE concurred in what bad been said as to the desira-
bleness of giving more detailed accounts. He had often heard
the subject mentioned amongst men of business. He thought
the accounts should be similar to those of the Bank of
England.
The CHAIRMAN said the question mentioned by the last
speaker was undoubtedly one of great importance. It should
be taken into consideration by the Directors, and the sug-
gestion should either be complied with, or some satis-
factory reason should be assigned at the next meeting
for withholding more minute information.—(Hear, hear.)
With regard to remuneration, he thought they had
better resign this subject to the board of Directors.
They might feel assured that the same liberal
spirit which had prompted the remarks made on
that point would actuate the Directors themselves. With
they
respect
mightto theirneve never
branch
make
a worse
,)n
fl y
moneyhop e d
thantha
in that
they had done in the case at least of that St. James's-
square. The whole establishment, so eligible in itself; had not
bcoystthtehelemttimngoreef tthhaenatla2,blooo,
ingl:aanndd that amount apmarotaun
oft wasthe
e reduced
building
which were not required for the purposes of the bank.
The resolution tor the adoption of the report was then
carried unanimously.
Mr. MURRAY proposed the following resolution :—" That
the cordial thanks of the meeting be presented to the Directors
for their able and successful government of the bank during
the past year; and this meeting congratulates the Directors
that the privileges for which they had so long contended have
at last been so successfully obtained."
Mr. Cox seconded the resolution, which was put and car-
ried

The eleventh annual meeting of the Proprietors of the Lon-
don and Westminster Bank was held at, the Central Esta-
blishment in Lothbury, yesterday. The chair was taken
at one o'clock, by P. M. Stewart, Esq., M.P.
The CHAIRMAN said, before submitting to them the
report of the eleventh annual meeting, he hoped he should
be allowed to occupy a few moments by adverting to the cir-
cumstances which had characterised the period that had
elapsed since the last annual meeting. These circumstances
had rendered that period one of great importance to the
banking interest in general, and one of special importance
to the joint-stock banks of London and the country
at large. His principal remarks at the last annual meeting
were made in contemplation of the obstacles and hindrances
which the laws of the land, in relation to banking affairs,
then cast in the way of establishments of that nature ; and
they resolved to do their utmost, in the then opening session
ofParliament, to get those obstacles and hindrances removed,
and to secure the privileges to which they considered them-
selves entitled. In looking back to that period, he
had to congratulate them that every one of the
obstacles to the easy dispatch of their legitimate
business were removed, and that they were now ac-
knowledged as a national banking establishment, not only
legally established, but also legally invested with every pri-
vilege which could properly belong to such establishments.—
(Cheers.) The meeting would recollect that the Act of 1833,
from which that bank sprung, was defective, inasmuch as
it did not give to large partnerships, such as theirs, a facility
of suing and being sued. They of course thought that in an
Act which called them into existence as the proprietors of a
large banking establishment this defect must be inadver-
tent ; and in the year 1834 they applied to Parlia-
ment for an Act to invest them with the
required privilege. They carried the Bill on its own strength
and merits triumphantly through the House of Commons, in
spits of the opposition of the Government of the day, who felt
themselves pledged to what had been overlooked in the re-
newal of the Bank Charter in the year preceding. But
they were stopped in the House of Lords; and the
only alternative which they had was one which, though
clumsy in its nature, was still effective in its operation. In
order to give the public the advantage of suing them, and
to obtain for themselves the reciprocal advantage
of suing the public, it was necessary that a
special contract should be entered into for this pur-
pose between the customers of the Bank and the
trustees, who had the management of its affairs. Now, he
was glad to say that the Act of last session had done away
with that obstacle, and they were now invested by
law with the manifest right, as well as the
necessary privilege, of suing and being sued, being
placed in the same situation as joint-stock banks
throughout the country which were not established within
sixty-five miles round London. Another privilege which
they had erroneously thought would never be denied to
them was that of accepting bills. They imagined that they
had that power, as a matter of course, the moment
their existence was acknowledged by the Legislature, and
they acted accordingly. They thought that the refusal of
such a power would be a mockery, that it would be like saying
to an individual, " You may correspond with another person,
but it will be at your peril that you answer his letters."—
(Hear, hear.) A suit, however, was commenced against them
by the Bank of England in the year 1835; and after they
had run the round of the law courts, it was, in 1837, declared
by the collective legal wisdom of the country that the views
taken by the Bank of England were based on a proper
interpretation of an old statute ; for that, although
legally established as a bank, they were acting
illegally in accepting bills of exchange. The wise
discovery made on that occasion by the judges was
that Queen Anne was not dead—(A laugh)—that an old
statute of her reign was in force at that moment ; or, in other
words, that a statute of 1707, manifestly enacted to prevent
bankers of that day from issuing notes, was to be interpreted
in 1837 as preventing bankers legally established from ac-
cepting bills of exchange. Not damped, however, in their
ardour by that result, they soon adopted a remedy.
Their customers adopted the habit of issuing their
bills without an acceptance being inscribed upon them ; and
that practice continued until the Act of last session was
passed, which freed them also from this hindrance; and they
were now invested with the full and just privilege of
accepting bills of exchange in the same way as any other law-
fully established bank.—(Hear, hear.) He might say, in
passing, that, besides contending for these privileges,
the Directors and Managers, assisted by the members
of the General Banking Committee, struggled for the
general objects sought to be obtained for joint-stock
banks throughout the country ; and the result was
that they were successful in securing a modification of the
measure as it was first propounded to Parliament in the last

Captain MANDERSON moved " That Matthew Boulton
Rennie, Charles Gibbes, and William Haigh, Esqs., be re-
elected as Directors."

Mr. SITARLAND seconded the resolution, which was put
and carried unanimously.
Mr. BADDELEY moved " That the cordial thanks of this
meeting be presented to James William Gilbert, Esq., the
general manager, and the other managers and officers of the
Bank, for their effective services. _

Mr. MORGAN having seconded the resolution, it was agreed
to unanimously.
Mr. MortsoN proposed " That the cordial thanks of the
meeting be offered to P. M. Stewart, Esq., M.P., for his able
and courteous conduct in the chair."

ession.—(Hear, bear.) In some minor instances, indeed,
hey were unsuccessful. He himself had humbly endeavoured
o obtain an alteration in one or two points which he
thought important to the banking interests of the country;
but finding that he was opposed by the author of this
measure, he thought it would be useless to persist. He
must, on that occasion, acknowledge that in all
the conferences which the representatives of the
joint-stock banks had had with Sir Robert Peel,
they were met by him with the greatest courtesy ; and
the moment having arrived for revising the law they had
found comparatively little difficulty in obtaining that acknow-
ledgment of their rights and extension of their privileges
which were now enjoyed in common by all establishments
of that description.—(Hear, hear.) The situation of their
branch had, he thought, greatly improved since the last an-
nual meeting. They had obtained all the legal facilities for
which they were formerly about to struggle; they were now
invested with the power of accepting bills of exchange;
they had further the valuable privilege of suing and of being
sued ; and for this latter purpose they had registered their
trustees in the name of any of whom a legal process might
be commenced. Having secured these privileges, the Direc-
tors did not think that the interest of the Proprietors re-
quired that they should seek to acquire power under theict of
last session for the regulation of joint-stock banks. Their
simple reason for coming to that conclusion was, that by ob-
taining a charter they would acquire very little, if any, addi-
tional power; whilst it would have subjected them to the in-
convenience of entirely remodelling the constitution of the
bank. Another inconvenience would have arisen from the
adoption of that course. The charter was limited in its dura-
tion to twenty years, and they did not like looking forward at
the youthful age of eleven years, feeling perfectly satisfied
with the powers and privileges which had been conferred upon
them, and believing that they would work well for the Com-
pany. Such was their foresight, be it prudent or be it far-
fetched, that they did not like to invest themselves with a
charter which would expire in twenty years, and then throw
them back again into the hands of the Legislature of the
day.—(Hear, hear.) Nor was this a mere fanciful objection.
They were eleven years old that day ; the old lady over the
way was about Iso.—(Laughter.) If they continued grow-
ing as they had done in the early part of their ex-
istence, there was no saying what might happen—
as they now surpassed her in modesty, they might
by and bye surpass her in other attractive qualities—
(Laughter)—and the young lady in Lothbury might attain
by her sturdy solidity—for that was her character—
(Hear, hear)—no less celebrity than had been en.
joyed by the old one in Threadneedle-street.—(Laughter.)
The only advantages which a charter conferred were that of
enabling a bank to hold real property without the interven-
tion of trustees, and that of enabling the company to
sue and be sued in its own name, without the
interference of any of its officers. On these grounds
the Directors did not feel called upon to encumber the esta-
blishment with a charter. So much with regard to their
present position. As respected their future prospects,
he was happy to say, that they were as fair and
promising as any which could be presented. They
had struggled through a period when money was of so
little value that it was difficult to find any profitable em-
ployment for it. He trusted that the stimulus which had
been recently given to industry and commerce, would en-
hance its value, and enable them to give a better account of
their stewardship. There was one very favourable circum-
stance—it was, that the proprietary of this bank were
gradually centering more and more in London. In the coun-
try, wherever Shareholders lived, they might forward the in-
terest of the bank ; but Shareholders in London could render it
much greater assistance.—( Hear, hear.) He would illustrate
the fact which he had just stated. During the last year, the
sale of shares in the London market was about 7,000, 4,000
of which came from the country, and 3,000 from London ;
but in the buying of those shares only 2,203 had gone
back to the country, and 4,800 had been retained in
London ; so that the proprietary in London had been
increased to the extent of 1,800 shares. One word
before the report was submitted to the meeting. The
sum and substance of that report was a statement
on the part of the Directors that they continued to be
enabled to declare a dividend at the rate of 6 per cent. per
annum. On account of the cheapness of money the Directors
had experienced some difficulty in bringing about this result ;
but not only.had this result been obtained, but they had further
been enabled to add 3,0001. to the reserved fund; it now
amounted to 70,0001. He would remark that there had
been paid in dividends to the Proprietary, during the exist-
ence of the Bank, upwards of 350,000/. Although they had
begun at a low figure, he did think that they acted wisely
in pursuing that course, following the maxim of old
Dr. Johnson, that it was pleasanter to see smoke brighten
into flame than flame dwindle into smoke.—(Laughter.)
If they continued to proceed as they were then doing, he
hoped that some present would be recipients, even if he
should not have to declare it, of a higher dividend.—(Hear,
hear.) If the present report did not satisfy them,
taking into account, as they should, the difficulties with which
the Directors had had to contend, why, he could only
say, in the language of his countrymen, that they were
" uric°, ill to please."—(Hear, and laughter.) Good as that
report was, it was a vouclierfor the faithful discharge of duty
on the part of their servants. Still, though they might be
satisfied for the moment, let them not be so perspectively—
(Hear, hear)—let them aim at a higher result still; and in
order to do that, while the Directors endeavoured to discharge
their duty in their own sphere, let the proprietary, now in-
creased in number at the doors of the establishment, assist in
their efforts, as far as lay in their power.—(Cheers.)

The resolution having been seconded, and carried by ac•
clamation, _ _

The CHAIRMAN briefly returned thanks, and the meeting
separated.

RAILWAY COMMITTEES.

Sub. Committee No. 4 assembled in No. 8 Committee-
room. Present, Mr. Aglionby, Chairman, Mr. Thornely,
Mr. Buller, Mr, T. Egerton, and Mr. Barneby.
CORNWALL RAILWAY.

The CHAntAtAN—inqUired if Mr. Harvey appeared upon
his petition ; but no one answered, and the Bill was about to
be proceeded with as an unopposed Bill, when

Jr. SMYTHE applied to appear on a petition presented by
Mr. Thomas against the Bill on Friday last.
The CHAIRMAN said that no one could appear on a petition
which had not been presented three days before the sitting
of the Committee to which it had been referred. Mr. Smythe
could not therefore appear; but the Committee would call
evidence if they thought proper.
Mr. BURKE then proceeded with the case in support of the
Bill.

Captain Moorsom was examined as to the accuracy of the
plan. Several minor inaccuracies wore discovered, and the
Committee reported accordingly.
At the conclusion of Captain Moorsom's evidence strangers
were ordered to withdraw, and the Committee, after delibe-
rating for nearly an hour-and-a-half, decided that they were
satisfied with the evidence on the plans, and they did
not require any other witness to be examined. They laid
it down as a rule, however, that they would hear any wit-
ness who might be in the room, and who was ready to be
examined on any point, upon which the Committee might
entertain a doubt.
The Committee then adjourned.

STEAM-BOILER EXPLOSION AT
BLACKWALL.

(ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.)

The names of the sufferers are as follow :
Killed—Thomas Wright, Richard Grimes, James Chapman—all la-
bourers. _ _

Scalded and wounded—Jonathan Smith, fitter; Joseph Beddow's,
smith ; George Neale, boiler-maker • Thomas Whltcombe, engine-
driver ; William Ingledew, labourer ; Alexander Mahoney, labourer ;
Joseph Vincent, labourer ; and Mr. Lowe, the manager of the works,
who experienced a very narrow escape when the explosion took
place on board the steam-ship Gipsy Queen, in November last, when
ten lives were lost.

As many erroneous statements have been already given relating to
the terrible calamity of yesterday, and the causes which led to it, we
are induced to lay before our readers the following correct version of
the facts :

-- ----
At the mouth of the River Lea (there called Bow-creek),
and close to the Thames, is a range of factories, which steam
navigation and other improvements have called into being.
The most prominent are the Thames Plato Glass Company's Works
and the steam-engine factory of the Samuda Brothers, one of whom
was killed by the explosion on board the Gipsy Queen last November.
The business has since been carried en by the surviving brother, Mr.
Joseph Samuda, a gentleman of the Jewish persuasion, whose name
and that of his brother, as connected with many improvements in the
arts and sciences, and particularly with the atmospheric railway sys-
tem, is well known. The factory, dwelling-house, and workshops oc-
cupy an area of about an acre and a half on the banks of the Lea.
The machinery of the factory was put in motion by a steam-engine,
or rather two of eight horses power each, and the steam was supplied
by a large tubular boiler, which first begun to work about three
months ago. This boiler was originally intended for a new steamer,
and was tendered with the boat in which it was placed. The
boat was built by Messrs. Pairburn, the engineers, and the boiler was
manufactured by the same persons from a design of Messrs. Milner
(formerly Braithwaite and 3111ner), of Bath-place, City-road. The
engines of the boat were made by Messrs. Milner. After the re-
jection of the boat by the Waterman's Company, the boiler was pur-
chased for the low price of 30 guineas by Messrs. Samuda, for the
purpose of supplying steam to the engine in their factory at Black-
wall.

Yesterday morning, soon after the men employed in the factory had
returned from their breakfasts, and the works were in full operation,
the boiler gave way with a loud explosion, dealing death and destruc-
tion around. Every man in the engine-house was either killed or
wounded, and the steam-chest and outer casing of the boiler were
shattered and distributed in all directions. The explosion was distinctly
heard along the whole line of the Blackwell Railway, from Fen-
church-street to the East India Docks, and in Greenwich, Woolwich,
Bow, Bromley, Stepney, and Limehouse. The mischief done on the
premises, and in the immediate locality, was terrific. The engine-
house was in an instant reduced to a heap of ruins, and the principal
part of the materials hurled to a considerable distance. The premises
of the Thames Plate-glass Company's works, the Crown Tavern, and
numerous tenements adjoining, are damaged, and the windows and
frames blown out. Portions of the boiler were found in the Plaistow-
marshes, on the opposite side of the river, about 150 yards from the
factory. In the same place the body of one of the unfortunate suf-
ferers, which had been blown across the creek, was picked up in a
mutilated condition. It is believed that he was on the top of the
boiler and in the act of easing the safety-valve when the occurrence
happened. The other victims were found close to the spot where the
boiler stood, and they appeared to have been killed instantaneously.
The outer casing of the boiler, and the steam-chest, are completely
destroyed, and the top row of tubes bent, and thrown over on the
side. The other rows of tubes, with two or three exceptions, have
escaped injury. The destruction of the engine-house was complete.
It was a building about 100 feet square, and not more than nine feet
high. The engine itself did hot sustain much damage.
There appears to be only one opinion as to the cause of the acci-
dent, and as it has been given. by more than one practical man, there
can be no harm in publishing it. It is necessary to premise that the
steam-chest was found divided in three pieces. One piece, and the
largest of the whole, weighing about half a ton, was carried a
distance of 200 yards towards the premises of Messrs. Turner and
Co., of the tar and turpentine works, carrying away in its pro-
gress a portion of the parapet wall of a house, and passed over
the road, where it fell against the side of a warehouse door with such
tremendous force as is shatter the door-post, and demolish a portion
of the brick-work. The next largest piece, about six cwt., was car-
ried in an opposite direction towards the Thames Plate-glass Com-
pany's works, and the piece where the connexion of the steam-pipe
was made was found in a field in the rear of some premises on the
opposite side of the road. A quantity of the fallen materials fell into
the Creek, and pieces of iron, nuts, bolts, and screws, connected with
the boiler were found in the yards at the back of the Crown
Tavern, and in the grounds in the rear of the adjoining
Lowe, the manager
ectiotrang;rhoertheef yMarrd., also suffered, and
premises. At a moderate computation there were not less than
five thousand panes of glass broken by the concussion. The
window-frames were shattered in several dwellings, and the
ftiofrntnieturweortsrascietuda.
toTahteot
every window was broken. The residence of Mr. John Howard,
foreman grinder of the Thames Plate-glass Works, situate near the'
Western corner of Mr. Sainuda, s premises, sustained considerable
down.
The windows were all broken, and the parapet was blown
Mr. Joseph Samuda, the surviving partner of the firm, was at
Croydon, on business, when the explosion took place, and a mes-
dstaern
senger was sent after him immediately afterwards. Ho appeared
possoakm. He stated that he believed the
much affected on hearing of the awful occurrence which has followed
so close on the one which deprived him of a brother, and caused him
a severe pecuniary loss. Mr. Samuda stated that he had nothing to
gas was generated
do with the manufacture of the boiler, and that he purchased it merely
to drive the works of the factory, because he had not time to make a
new one, and that it had not been used more than five or six times
when it came into his
afwdsetrogeon
steam,
various
tea: yneds lowan
statements made
rumours
explosioni nt h the h
tb o 1 lweerrr
e,
u theal
circulation,
consequence.thateh ,
and
Queen, last November, when Lowe narrowly
Therehe
waterbi instead t
the
ha ed
pressure of
steam on the boiler. None of them, however, can be depended upon.
The boiler was certainly capable of bearing a great pressure, but there
men employed on the premises respecting the
is great blame to be attached to some one, and the deplorable acci-
dent on board the Gipsy
escaped with his life, does not seem to: have operated as a warning to
him. He has, however, the reputation of being a very careful and
skilful man.

The Secretary then read the following report :
" In making their eleventh Annual Report, the Directors
have to state that the profits of the past year, after defraying
the current expenses, paying the income-tax, and making
provision for all bad and doubtful debts, amount to
51,0811. 18s. 11d. Out of these profits the Directors paid last
September, a dividend at the rate of six per cent. per annum
for the half-year ending the 30th of June, and they now de-
clare a dividend, at the same rate, for the half-year ending
the 31st of December. After the payment of these dividends,
amounting together to 48,0001., there will remain a surplus
of 3,081/. 18s. Ild., to be added to the reserved fund, which
will then amount to 69,9041. 15s. 4d.

" Last year the bank obtained the power of accepting
bills drawn at a less term than six months' after date, and of
suing and being sued by its registered pablie officers—
privileges for which the Directors had been contending from
the commencement of the Bank, and the acquisition of which
removes a great obstruction to the conducting of its business.
`• The three Directors whe go out by rotation, are Matthew
Boulton Rennie, Esq., Charles Gibbes, Esq., and William
Haigh, Esq., all of whom being eligible, offer themselves for
re-election.

c an.), Hartley, 16s 6d ; Chester Main, 16s ; Holy-
well Main. 17s; Morrison 's Hartley, 15s; Nelson's West
Hartley, 16s ; New Tanfield, 15s 3d ; Ord's Redheugh, 15s ;
Pott's Primrose, 15s; Ravensworth WestldoH7nsa6rtdle;y:le6llso;e,Tla9ys-;
lor's 'West Hartley,
15s 9d ; W.E., Hilda, 17s td ;
, 17s ; Lambton,
1939 d ; Russell's Hetton,. , Shotton, 19s 9d ; Stewart's,
Hdyol
ul 'gs
hlla ent,toln7,
s2o9sd 3; d East;fieHt tOl
gnlhll9,
seT2t.ohtsoon;m,
iHle7y3s.,l6t
20s ; Caradoc, 19s 6d ;
Leasinthorne, 19s ; South Kelloe, 198; Trimdon, 19s 6d ;
Adelaide, 19s; Barrett, 18s 3d; Bitchburn, 18s 6d; Mac-
lean Tees, 17s ; South Coxhoe, 17s 6d ; South Durham,
18s 3d ; Tees, 19s 6d; West Hartley Netherton, 16s.—Ships
arriyed, 20.

House further than to put the questions, which he be-
lieved the Noble Lord was prepared to answer.
Lord LINCOLN was in hopes that he would be able
to m?.ke the mind of the lion. Gentleman easy upon the
subject of his first question, for he did not think there
was any ground for apprehension that the cost would ex-
ceed the estimates except by a small amount, and that
arose only from additions to the original plan, and
through the fault of the architect.—(Bear, hear.) He
should be prepared to morrow to lad before the House
the total estimate of the cost, in which it would appear
that the exce,s above the original estimate was caused
only by two items, one of 8004 for alterations in the
Victoria Tower, and, as we understood, one of 2191.
for enlarged accommodation for her Majesty ; so that the
whole amount of the estimate would be but 928,913/.
lie would also lay on the table to-morrow the half-
yearly report of the architect, which was made up to the
28th of January.—(Hear.) As to the third and last
question, whether the new House of Commons would be
prepared for their reception by tho session of 1847, he
(Lord Lincoln) had to answer, that he had seen the
architect that morning, who assured him that be saw no
reason to withdraw the declaration which he made last
year, namely, that the new Houses would be ready in I
1847.—(Hear.)

PROPERTY-TAX.
On the motion for reading the order of the day for
going into Committee on the property tax,
Capt. BERNAL OSBORNE said, as he had not had an
opportunity of expressing his strong objections to this
odious and oppressive tax, he took this opportunity of
moving that the House go into committee on that day
three months.—( A laugh.) He assured the Right lion.
Baronet that he did not do to with the view of offering
any factious opposition to the measure.
The SPEAKER informed the Hon. Member that the
motion before the Ilouse was for reading the order of the
day, and nut that he should leave the chair.
TURNPIKE TRUSTS.

Lord EBRINGTON asked whether it was the inten-
tion of her Majesty's Government to bring in a general
Bill, this session, on the subject of turnpike-roads ?
Sir J. GRAHAM said it was not his intention to
bring in any measure on this subject at present.
FRAME-WORK KNITTERS.
Mr. FERRAND said, as he had received several let-
ters, stating the extreme anxiety of the frame-work
knitters to know when the report of Mr. Muggeridge
would be laid on the table, he wished to ask the Right.
Hon. Baronet the Secretary of State to use his utmost
influence with the Commissioners to have the report
produced as soon as possible.
Sir J. GRAHAM was understood to say that the re-
port should be furnished without delay.
INTERMENT IN TOWNS.
Lord MAHON wished to ask a question with respect
to a subject that had been brought under the no-
tice of the House by the Honourable Member for
Lymington (Mr. Mackinnon), viz., interment in cities
and towns. The House would recollect that, in 1842, a
Committee was appointed on this subject ; in its report
it stated that the duty of framing a Bill on this subject
could be most efficiently discharged by her Majesty's
Government, and this duty was earnestly recommended
to them by the Committee. Such having been the recom-
mendation of the Committee, as a member of it, he might
add, its unanimous recommendation ; and as two years
had elapsed since the report was made, he begged leave
to inquire whether her Majesty's Government had al-
ready framed, or were now engaged in framing, a mea-
sure that would remedy the evils of which the Govern-
ment had acknowledged the existence ?
Sir J. GRAHAM could assure his Noble Friend that
he had repeatedly, and with the utmost anxiety, directed
his attention to the subject; but be was bound to say
that the more consideration he bestowed on the question
the more he was convinced of the difficulty of legislating
effectually upon it. He had not been able to frame
any measure to which he could give his approbation as
likely to be attended with advantage, or that would
meet the wishes of the great body of the people. He
was not prepared to lay any measure on the subject
before the House.