The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-03-17 00:00:00

imprrial Varliaturnt.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—MONDAY.
Lord DENMAN, in moving the second reading of the
Protection to Life (Ireland) Bill, stated his objections to
several of its clauses. His lordship was of opinion that a
murder, or an attempt to murder, afforded no pretest for
the proclamation authorized by the Government bill ; and
that the treatment it was supposed to inflict on persons
who might refuse to keep within their own doors, after a
certain hour, was much too stringent ; that it ought to be
a sine qua non, that more than one magistrate should be
present, in order to warrant the committal of an offender,
and that transportation for 15, or seven years, was too se-
vere a penalty for a conviction under the law, unless for a
repetition, for a 2nd and 3rd time, of the offence. With
regard to a clause which empowered a change of the venue,
be thought it ought to be adopted, and that a distinct
enactment for the prevention of the intimidation of wit-
nesses ought to be framed. _ _ _

The bill was read a second time, Lord St. Germains
stating that he would give every attention to the sugges-
tions of the Lord Chief Justice.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—MONDAY.
Sir ROBERT PEEL stated that it was intended to reduce
the duties on rice, Indian corn, and buck wheat to one
nearly nominal from the period of passing the act; but as
regarded Indian corn and buck wheat, it a•as intended to
admit them duty free, for a limited period, from the day
when the report of the committee should be agreed to,
taking securities for the payment of the duty should the
bill not ultimately be sanctioned by parliament.
The house then resolved into committee on the corn
importation resolutions, and after some conversation it
was agreed that in the committee all further opposition to
the measure of the government should be withdrawn, and
that all the objections on controverted points, such as
brandy and silk, should be reserved until the report
should be brought up.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—TUESDAY.
Mr. IV] wants moved, pursuant to notice, for an ad-
dress for inquiry to be made into the state of education in
the principality of Wales, especially into the means afforded
to the labouring classes of acquiring a knowledge of the
English language. He adverted to the impoverished state
of the clergy, which rendered it impossible for them to
remedy the defect, owing to the extraordinary manner in
which the church property of Wales had been despoiled
by Henry VIII., Edv.ard VI., and Queen Elizabeth. He
gave several instances of verdicts recorded contrary to
evidence, and mentioned the case of a prisoner, who was
sentenced to death without understanding a syllable of the
evidence given against him, or of the sentence under which
he was condemned to die, until they were subsequently
explained to him by an individual in court, whom he bad
asked why the judge was looking so grave and speaking so
solemnly.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM said government were now en-
gaged in a comprehensive plan for improving the social
condition of the working classes of Great Britain. He
despaired of establishing a general system of education,
but hoped to establish a separate scheme of education for
all sects of Christans among the labouring classes in
Wales. The motion was withdrawn.
Mr. DUNCOMBE moved an address to the Queen to
consider the petitions of the people in favour of Frost,
Williams, and Jones. The motion was negatived by a ma-
jority of 166 to 31.
Mr. NEWUEGATE obtained the appointment of a select
committee to inquire into alleged fraudulent and vexations
objections and claims afforded by the present system of
registration of county and borough votes.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—WEDNESDAY.
The following bills were read a second time :—Coven-
try, Nuneaton, Birmingham, and Leicester Railway ;
Ambergate, Nottingham, and Boston, and Eastern Junc-
tion Railways ; Leicester and Bedford Railway ; Shrop-
shire Union lt ail ways and Canal (Shrewsbury and Stafford
Railway) ; Stamford and Spalding Railway.
Colonel ROLLESTON presented a petition, praying the
House to legislate so as to prevent the operatives in lace
manufactories working more than sixteen hours a day.
The Friendly Societies Bill went through Committee
pro forma, it having been arranged between Sir James
Graham, Mr. Duncombe, and otber hon. members most
immediately concerned in its progress, that with a view to
the consolidation of certain clauses the further considera-
tion of the bill should be postponed for a fortnight.
The Salmon Fisheries Bill was read a second time, and
ordered to be committed on the Gth of May.
Mr. B ESCOTT moved the second reading of the Roman
Catholic Relief Bill. A measure of a similar nature had
already been introduced into the House of Lords by the
Lord Chancellor; the provisions of his lordship's bill,
however. did not entirely correspond with the provisions
of the bill before the House; but as the character of the
two were identical, it might be preferable to consolidate
them, and form out of them one measure. He detailed,
at some length, the grievances still suffered by persons
professing the Roman Catholic faith within the United
Kingdom ; such, for instance, as inability to practise in
the ecclesiastical courts, or to teach, unless upon each
taking an oath, whet was repulsive to many conscientious
individuals. These inconveniences were acutely felt by
numbers upon whom they pressed, and it was due to the
Roman Catholic population, no less than to the interests
of the Established Church, to remit at once this unjust
and disgraceful stigma.
Sir R. Is:cr.'s was anxious to return to the practice of
the Augustan age in England in reference to religions
matters. That practice was wholly irreconcPeable with
the contents of the bill before the house, which appeared
to be based upon the legislation of 1829, and succeeding
years, the dark ages, as they might be called, in this
country. No practical grievance had bean substantiated
by Mr. Escott ; for as for what be had stated about tbe
obstructions in the way of Roman Catholics teaching,
they were notoriously unreal, as any person might have
a licence granted upon application to the bishop of his di-
ocese. Our colonial legislation might be regulated in re-
ligious matters by the doctrines of the Established
Church, and then no valid complaint could be made, be-
cause the Roman Catholic Bishop of Malta was precluded
taking his seat in the Legislative Council of that Island
by the imposition of a religions test. The present mea-
sure would in effect repeal the Act of Supremacy, as well
as the law for the expulsion of the Jesuits, and would af-
ford encouragement to various public processions adopted
in the ceremonial of the Romish Church. He moved
that the bill be read that day six months.
Lord MORPETH referred to various provisions in the
existing law which the Bill before the House would annul
as practically inoperative, though not on that account un-
deserving legislative notice. The: statute against preach-
ing, for instance, was notoriously ineffective, the obno-
xious doctrines being promulgated without let or hindrance
in all parts of the land. Still that enactment, while it re-
mained upon the statute-book, might be appl'ed to a ma-
licious purpose, and so of others of a like kind. Sir R.
Inglis had anticipated, from the passing of this measure,
the prevalence of various public ceremonies, such as the
Procession of Corpus Christi, and the Procession of the
Bost. But what was the fact in America, where the ut-
. most toleration was afforded ? There these ceremonies
were never known. So, likewise, he believed the threa-
tened inundation of the Jesuits would he found to be a
mere chimera when this measure became law. He urged
upon the House to abolish all such restrictions as those
against which this Bill was directed ; and as England was
the asylum of political refugees, so let it be also the haven
for persons of every variety of religious belief.
Mr. FINCH would subscribe to that part of the bill
which repealed the law against Roman Catholics exercising
the office of teachers; but to other portions there were
grave objections. He feared, for instance, the danger
that young and indiscreet persons might be prematurely
conmmitted to religious vows from which they would have
no subsequent means of escape. There was also great in-
convenience to be apprehended from the license which
would be afforded to Roman Catholic bishops, to assume
the titles of prelates of the Established Church. He ex-
pressed himself particularly solicitous, respecting the zeal
of the Sisters of Mercy. He should oppose the bill.
Mr. COLCIL HOUN, though approving of that portion of
the bill which related to the means of Roman Catholic
education, yet disapproving of other parts of a more im-
portant character, should give the bill his opposition.
Ile reprobated tbe principle of persecution, and would
;lot recognise its aid in support of the Established Church.
That he feared so much the evils which would result from
any recognition of the Pope's authority ill temporal mat-
ters, that he would never consent to repeal the Act of
Elizabeth, which vindicated the sovereign's right in these
dominions. He also dreaded the influenceof the Jesuits,
and in conseqeence of that dread, would have all legal
means enforced for restraining their power. Believing
the present measure would interfere with their safeguards,
be intended to give the second reading his opposition.
On a division the second reading of the bill was carried
by a majority of 66 to 43. _ _

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-FRIDAY.

The following hills were read a second time :—Wear
Dock Railway ; Bath Waterworks ; Royal Asylum of
St. Anne's Society ; Trent Valley Railway (Alrewas
Branch); London and South-Western Railway Acts
(Amendment); Manchester and Birmingham Continua-
tion and Welsh Junction Railway ; Liverpool and Pres-
ton and Manchester and Southport Railway; Lancashire
and North Yorkshire Railway ; Willingham Inclosure
and Drainage; Leeds, Wakefield, and Midland Junction
Railway ; Norfolk Railway Extension (Stowmarket, Wy-
xnondham, and Attleborough Branch) ; Manchester and
Leeds Railway Extensions ; Exeter, Yeovil, and Dor-
chester Railway ; Birmingham Cemetery ; Shrewsbury,
Oswestry, and Chester Junction, and North Wales Mine-
ral Railway Amalgamation, North Staffordshire Railway
(Pottery Line); Dundee and Arbroath Railway Exten-
sions (by order); Southport Improvement (by order.)
Sir J. GRAII AM took an opportunity of stating to the
house that he had yesterday received a communication
from the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, respecting the ex-
tent of the failure of the potato crop, and consequent dis-
tress and fever in that country, which rendered it impe-
rative upon him to move at once for leave to bring in a
bill to make temporary provision for destitute persons la-
bouring under fever in Ireland. He regretted to say that
not only in all the provinces, but almost in every county
in Ireland, this melancholy state of things prevailed ;
and it therefore became necessary to make temporary
provision for the difficulty. By the bill which he was
about to move, power would be given to the Lord Lieu-
tenant to establish a board of health in Dublin, consisting
of not more than five commissioners, who were already in
the public service, end to whom, therefore, no additional
salaries would be paid. To these a medical officer would
be added, and on the report of this board the Lord Lieu-
tenant would have power to appoint a medical officer to
each union at the public expense. He would also be
given power, on the report of the medical officer of any
union, to direct the building of temporary fever hospital;,
or taking houses suitable for the purpose, at the expense
of the union ; and also to have provided the necessary
Incdical assistance aid attendants, &c. The bill would
be of temporary duration, bring to expire in September,