Star.
London, England, 1825-03-31 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The SPEAK'S took the Chair at four o'clock.
Mr. W. WILLIAMS brought in a Bill to enable the Cape of
Good Hope Company to sue and be sued, in the name of their
Seer etary.
Sir M. W. RIDLEY presented a Petition from the Shipowners
of, Leith, against the Compulsory Cloillati in the Isle of Dogs Collier
Dock Bill.— Laid nn the table.
Mr. Alderman WOOD presented a Petition from certain indivi.
duals,agaiust the Sandwich Harbour Bill. Referred to theCnmmittee.

Mr. W. SMITH obtained leave to bring in a Bill enabling the
Tropical Free Labour Company to sue and be sued in the name
of their Secretary.
Mr. BRIGHT presented a Petition from the Fishermen of
Margate, in favour of the Metropolitan Flab Company.—Laid on
the table.
Sir H. PARNELL brought up the Report of the Committee of
Inquiry into the State of Ireland.—Ordered to be printed.
The same Honourable Member obtained leave to bring in a BM
for the further improvement of the Roads between Holyhead and
London, and the Roads between Dublin City and Howth Harbour.
Mr.W. SMITH presented a Petiticrn from the Parish of St Luke
(London), praying a repeal of the House and Window Taxes.
Sir M. W. RI DLEY moved Per certain returns of the Amount of
Dudes on Glass, and the quantity imported and exported. Ordered.
Mr. F. BUXTON said, that as he saw the Hon. Member for
Grampound (Mr. Robertson) is his place, be wished to learn front
him whether he had stated that he (Mr. F. Buxton) was " the
Champion of the Joint Stock Companies in that House," antiqf
so, on what grounds be had made that statement, or else to retract
the expression?
Mr. ROBERTSON was proceeding in a low tone of voie to
make some remarks, when
The SPEAKER rose and said, that it was wholly incondittit
with the forms and the convenience: of the House to permit Him.
Gentlemen to ask and answer questions put under such circaln-
stances. He united that the House would support him in his opi-
nion that the questioti'otigin not to be answered--(Hear, hear).
Mr. F. BUXTON obeerVed, that he was
,ever ready to bow to
the decision of the. House, particularly as he had in private ex-
plained the affair to the Honourable Gentleman of whona.he had
asked the question.
Mr. CA LCRAFT requested the Hon. Member for Staffordshire
('Mr. Littkton) to postpone his motion, relating to the Elective
ranchise in Ireland, to some later day han that he bad hied fbr
the discussion.
Mr. LITTLETON said, that he was ready td comply with the
wish of the Hon. Gentleman, from the 14th April to the Vat.
The Sheriffs Court Fees Bill was read a third time.
Mr. HOBHOUSE presented a Petition from certain individuals
against the Chelsea Church Bill.—Laid on the table.

QUARANTINE LAWS BILL.

On the motion for the second reading of this Bill,
Mr. C. GRANT entered into an explanation of the nature and
character of the measure.
Mr. J. SMITH said, that he had paid great atten-
tion to this subject. He would refer the House for

information about the plague to the works of Dr.
Maclean, who was better acquainted with it tan any
man living. It was a common belief that plague had
often been introduced by woollen and Cotton goods,
but he would venture to say that no instance was ever
proved where the plague had been so introduced. At
Marseilles, which was particularly exposed to such
contagion, it appeared from examination that it was
not the case. At Amsterdam, the Lazaretto Laws had
been relaxed to a mere nullity, in consequence of the
more correct notions respecting the plague. It was
well known that the plague was not so disseminated at
Aleppo. This was clear enough from the fact that the
plague rarely lasted beyond October. With respect to
the plague of 1665. many eminent physicians doubted
whether that was the real plague. The Hon. Member
then referred to the examination which t' ok place be-
fore the House in 1814, and cited the opinions of
several physicians, who held that the plague was not
contagious. Other physicians held it to he con-
tagious ; but they differed on every other point as to
the symptoms and progress. He inferred from this,
that the subject as yet was not properly understood.
He hoped that the inquiry might be renewed. The
quarantine laws were a great impediment to science,
commerce, and even to travelling for amusement.
He approved of the present alteration in those laws
made by the Board of Trade, and hoped they
would go further. From his own observation, he could
say, that since ltil9, a vast number of medical men
had changed their opinions on the question of the
plague being contagious. This was chiefly due to the
writings and zeal of Dr. Maclean. The Honourable
Member then quoted the opinion of Di. Armstrong,
that in many cases of fever, the typhus for instance,
the symptoms were the same as those of the plague..__
And yet people were not so alarmed about typhus as
they were ablaut the plague. The Hoaourable Member
:hen mentioned an instance highly redounding to the
credit of the Government. A ship arrived at Liverpool
not long ago, with a foul hill of health. This foul bill
arose from the circumstance of a female dying of what
.-as called the plague, at Alexandria. On her arrival at Liverpool,
Government relaxed the Quarantide Laws, and no injury bad yet,
or ever would result from it. This 'hewed the great liberality of
the Government. The Honourably Member concluded by saying,
that the contagion of the plague was never contained in goods or
lading. No instance had ever occurred of it. He would eat have
troubled the Noose, if any other Gentleman had been disposed to
draw the general attention to it—(Hear).
Mr. WALLACE agreed in the very high importance
of the subject, and hoped that before long some minute