The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-08-13 00:00:00

*maid parliamtnt.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—THURSDAY.
Lord DUNCANNON moved the second reading of the Shan-
non Navigation Bill, a bill which he said would be of im-
mense benefit to Ireland.
The Duke of WELLINGTON believed the measure would be
one of great utility, and did not mean to oppose it. He,
however, protested against the immense issue of exchequer
bills, and asked if it would not be possible to throw the issue
over a larger space of time.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said it was not intended that
any large proportion of the amount should be issued at
once. Not more than £60,000 of exchequer bills would be
issued in the course of thQ first year ; and the work would
extend over four, five, or six years.
After some further discussion, the bill was read a second
time, and ordered to be committed on Monday.
Lord DUNCANNON moved the second reading of the Un-
lawful Oaths (Ireland) Bill. He should only allude more
particularly to that part of the bill which enabled the autho-
rities, where pass-words were found in the possession of any
individual, to declare that such individual should be consi-
dered equally guilty as if he actually belonged to assemblies
of that kind.

Lord WHARNCLIFFE said, it was very clear that some-
thing beyond the existing law was necessary to reach these
most dangerous associations. He had seen no notice of this
bill until after the evidence taken before their lordships'
committee on the state of crime in Ireland ; and he claimed,
therefore, for that committee, whatever merits were attach-
able to this bill.
After a long debate, the bill was read a second time.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—THURSDAY.
RAILROADS.
Sir J. CAMPBELL moved for a revision of the standing or-
der requiring a deposit of 10 per cent. on railroads. In il-
lustration of the benefit derived from this mode of commu-
nication, he stated that on Tuesday he had conducted a pro-
secution of great importance at the Warwick assizes; and
the same evening, at six o'clock he was in his place in that
house, ready to bring on his motion, if he had not been pre-
vented by the house having been very unfairly counted out.
The House of Lords had inquired into the subject, and
found that 5 per cent. was a sufficient deposit ; but as this
house had come to the conclusion that the deposit should be
10 per cent, the mitigation in the other house of parliament
was wholly unavailable. HP proposed that the deposit of 10
per cent should be paid by two equal instalments—the first,
of 5 per cent, before the bill was brought in, and the second,
of 5 per cent, before the concern was commenced. As an
instanre of the injurious effects resulting from the present
rules of the house, he mentioned the railroad now in contem-
plation from Newcastle to Edinburgh, an undertaking ap-
proved of and supported by men of capital and substance.
But they found it a serious matter to deposit 10 per cent. on
the capital required to carry out the line, which might be
locked up and totally useless for a period of two years.
Mr. P. THOMSON opposed the motion. The only case
his learned friend had instanced of inconvenience was Edin-
burgh, and his motion said in effect that the inhabitants of
such a city as the metropolis of Scotland were so poor, so
miserable, and so badly off, that they could not pay up 10
per cent on the sum required for an undertaking from which
they expected so much benefit. His learned friend ought to
have asked the house to repeal the standing order in regard
to Edinburgh alone. He denied that 5 per cent would be a
sufficient check on gambling speculations.
After some discussion the house divided, when the motion
was lost by a majority of 62 to 45.
Lord J. Rtissum, presented a petition from the Medical
and Surgical Association, consisting of nearly 1,200 mem-
bers, expressing their opinion that the present state of medi-
cal education, and power of granting degrees or licenses to
practise physic and surgery, were in a most unsatisfactory
state ; that there were not less than 16 modes of acquiring
the necessary education and passing examination ; and pray-
ing that persons practising medicine or surgery, in the three
kingdoms, might be qualified according to the well-known
and uniform rules.
POOR-LAW CONTINUANCE BILL.

The order of the day for receiving the report on the poor.
law commission continuance bill having been read,
Mr. DARBY moved that the following clause be introduced
in the bill :—" That it shall be lawful for the guardians of
any parish or union, if they shall think fit, to give relief in
any parish or union to any widow having a family, or to any
able-bodied person who shall have been married before
the passing of the 4th and sth of William IV. c. 76, and
who shall be unable by his industry to maintain his chil-
dren, the issue of such marriage, notwithstanding any pro-
vision contained in this act, or in the said recited act, or
any order or orders issued by virtue of this act, or of the said
recited act, to the contrary. Provided always that no part
of such relief to such able-bodied labourer shall be in
money."
Captain HAMILTON was confident that the guardians under
the poor-law bill would very generally view this clause with
great objection.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL considered the clause inconsistent
with the rest of the act, and calculated to produce great dis-
satisfaction among the labouring population, by dividing them
into two classes.
Lord G. SOMERSET should support the clause, as he had
no confidence in the commissioners, who had not acted with
sound discretion with respect to out-door relief.
Lord ELIOT thought the commissioners had acted with
very great and proper discretion, and that this clause would
lead to great dissatisfaction among the labouring classes.
Mr. WAKLEY asked English gentlemen whether they
would put their feet on the necks of the poor, and say, Your
condition is comfortable enough, and we don't care for you.
With respect to the poor, he maintained that they had a right
to relief from their country, and not in a gaol, which he took
a workhouse to be, and nothing else. Nothing was more
preposterous than making a distinction between those mar-
ried before and after a particular day as to right of relief
Wherever destitution existed, relief should be given. He
wished to know whether the noble lord (Lord J. Russell)
was prepared to relax or not.
Lord HOWICK said the question was whether they should
revert to the old principle of giving relief in aid of wages. If
he were called on to make this great and fatal change, he
would rather do so boldly and avowedly than go that length
by successive steps, and practising delusion on the public as
to their intentions. The honourable member for Finsbury
admitted, that no harsh treatment had been. proved, either
on the part of commissioners or unions with regard to widows ;
and where, then, was the necessity of legislating on the sub-
ject at present? In answer to the question whether it was
intended to relax the poor-law bill, his noble friend (Lord
John Russell) had stated that next year he would introduce
a measure with a view of correcting any defects which he
conceived to exist in the working of the bill at present.
Mr. ESTCOURT saw nothing unfair in the clause.
Mr. J. A. WOOD denied that the poor-law bill had afforded
any practical relief to the country.
Mr. BRAMSTON opposed the clause, and the house divided,
when it was lost by a majority of 77 to 42.
A clause, moved by Lord G. SOMERSET, authorising the
giving relief to widows left with a child or children, without
reference to the date of marriage, without requiring such
widow to receive relief in a workhouse, was lost by a majority
of 64 to 43.

A clause, proposed by Mr. T. DUNCOMBE, to prevent fe-
male paupers, of upwards of sixty-five years, from being kept
at hard work, was negatived without a division.
The report was then received, and the bill ordered to be
read a thud time on Friday.
The report of the Bastardy Bill was received, and the bill
ordered to be read a third time on Friday.
The County and District Constabulary Bill went through
a committee.

A clause was moved by Mr. EWART, that the bill should
remain in force only till 1841, in order that the country
might have an opportunity of considering the question.
The clause was lost by a majority of 77 to 21.
On the motion for bringing up the report on the Poor-
rates Collection Bill,
Mr. T. DuNCOMBE maintained that there was no occasion
for so obnoxious a measure, and moved the addition of a
clause to prevent the operation of the bill being extended to
parishes governed by local acts, which was negatived.
The Rogue Money Assessments Bill, the Metropolis Im-
provement Bill, &c., were forwarded a stage.
On the motion of the ATTORNEY-GENERAL, the Lords'
amendments to the Imprisonment for Debt Bill were agreed
to.

Lord Howic lc obtained leave to bring in a bill for enabling
justices of the peace to act in isolated parts of other counties
included within their own county.
Lord PALMERSTON moved for and obtained leave to bring
in a bill for the more effectual suppression of the traffic in
slaves. He was quite satisfied that by this bill the crown
would have powers effectually to check the trade.
Sir R. I s oLis and Capt. PECILELL urged the importance
of passing the bill without any delay.
Lord PALMERSTON afterwards brought in the bill, and
gave notice that he should move on Friday the suspension of
the standing orders, so that he might take the bill through
all its remaining stages.
The bill was then read a first time, and ordered to be read
a second time on Friday.
The house adjourned at a quarter after two o'clock.

HOUSE OF LORDS.--FRIDAY.
Lord DuNcANNoN deferred the second reading of the
Sheep Stealing (Ireland) Bill till Monday, the Duke of Rich-
mond having expressed a doubt as to the propriety of the
mitigation of punishment proposed by the bill.
The Postage Duties Reduction" Bill was read the third
time and passed, on motion of Lord DUNCANNON-it now
only awaits the royal assent to become the law of the land.
The Soldiers' Pensions Bill, and the Public Works (Ire-
land) Bill, were severally read the third time and passed.
The Dublin Police Bill was read the second time.
Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from a Mr. Taylor,
of Bury, surgeon, who had been captured at Birmingham as a
rioter, when, in fact, he was assisting the police, sent to
Warwick Gaol and there stripped, his hair cut, and in other
respects treated like a felon. His lordship also complained
of the harsh treatment to which Vincent, the chartist, is sub-
jected. Lord Brougham added, that he did not know whether
this was to be taken " as a sample of the manner in which
the threat used by the home secretary," in the House of
Commons, two nights ago, regarding the administration of
justice, was to be carried into effect.
Lord MELBOURNE said that the case should be inquired
into; if the representations were correct, there certainly ap-
peared some ground for complaint.
A conversation arose on the Metropolis Police Courts Bill,
Lord DUNCANNON, who moved the second reading, sug-
gesting that the discussion on it should be taken on the ques-
tion of going into committee.
The Highway Rates Bill went through committee. The
third reading was fixed for Monday.
The Poor Law Commissioners' Continuance Bill was read
the first time ; after which their lordships adjourned till
Monday.