The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-02-10 00:00:00

The Public Works (Ireland) Bill was read a third time
-

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—WEDNESDAY.
Captain PECHELL moved for " a copy of any letters
and general rules issued by the Poor-law Commissioners
relative to the employment of Paupers in grinding and
crush;ng bones, or in preparing bone dust, together with
copies of any answers from the several Boards of Guar-
dians, remonstrating- against such general rule." The
gallant officer prefaced his observation by alluding to the
case of a lab uring man who had been brought to di ath's
door several years ago in the Eastbourne Union, owing to
the system of grinding and crushing bones then adopted in
that workhouse. lie bad brought that case at the time
under the notice of the House, and had elicited from Sir
J. Graham a strong expression of his disapprobation of the
practice of putting pauper's to such degrading and disgusting
work either as employment or punishment. The Poor-
law Commissioners had, nevertheless, permitted the con-
tinuance of the practice; and from returns which he had
obtained last session it now appeared that it was still in
force from nearly 200 unions in the country. The gross
and grievous case of the Andover Union had at last com-
pelled Sir J. Graham again to interfere; and he had un-
derstood that an order had been at last issued by the Poor-
law Commissioners directing an end to be put to this prac-
tice of pounding and grinding bones. It was rumoured
that several Boards of Guardians had remonstrated against
that order, and had by some means obtained a suspension
of that order. He trusted that Sir James Graham would
persist in the course upon which he had entered, and
would, by insisting on the suspension of the suspending
order, complete the humane work which he had under-
taken.

Sir JAMES GRAHAM would not offer any opposition to
the motion. He had always been averse to this mode of
employment, from feeling that it was of a degrading cha-
racter, and that it partook more of a penal character than
became a
.workhouse. Having found upon investigation
that the Poor-law Commissioners had the power of regu-
lating labour in workhouses by a general order, he had
pressed upon them the expediency of issuing such a ge-
neral order as would 'Prohibit that particular mode of em-
ployment, of which Captain Pechell so justly complained.
The l'oor-law Commissioners had acted upon his sugges-
tion ; and the result was, that the existing provisions for
empoying paupers had been much deranged. Though
this pr.ctice had been adopted in 200 out of 500 union
workhouses in England and Wales, there were only nine
in which it had been found necessary to allow some short
interval to enable the Guardians to adapt their mills to
some other occupation. In those nine cases he had upon
his own responsibility consented to a suspension of the
general order of the Poor-law Commissioners for three
months from the Ist of January last. On the Ist of April
through England and Wales this particular employment
would no longer be legal.
Sir J. GRAHAM stated, that in the course of the present
session he should ask the House to consent to a supple-
mental Bill for regulating the procedure, and for extend-
ing the jurisdiction, of Courts; of Requests in all parts of
England in cases of debt not exceeding £2O.

--.4•---- .
HOUSE OF LORDS.-THURSDAY

The Earl of DALHOUSIE reported from their Lord-
ships' Committee on railways the following resolutions :
That such portion of the standing order, No. 224, as
requires from the promoters of railway bills a deposit of
one-tenth of the whole capital subscribed should be sus-
pended. as regards all bills commencing in the House of
Lords, during the present session. That no railway bill
be read a first time unless a deposit of one-twentieth of
the subscribed capital be paid before the 6th of February,
and that no such bill be read a third time until a further
deposit of one-twentieth be paid."
" That no petition for a railway bill be received after
:Monday, the 23rd February instant."
The noble earl gave notice, that on that day he would
call the attention of their lordships to the proposed altera-
tion on the standing orders.
The Earl of CLANCARTY, conformably with notice,
moved for the appointment of a select committee, to in-
quire into the state of the poo! in Ireland; also to inquire
into the various mod s of medical relief in that country.
Lord BROUGHAM expressed a hope that the recom-
mendation in her Majesty's speech, with regard to mea-.
sures for the improvement of the condition of Ireland
might be brought forward without delay.
The Duke of WELLINGTON said he would attend to the
suggestion.
The committee was then appointed.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—THURSDAY.
Sir. R. PEEL, in answer to a question from Dr. Bow-
ring, said that the government had not received any in-
formation of any retaliatory measures contemplatld by
Spain with the view to obtain the introduction of the su-
gars of Cuba on the same terms with those of Manilla,
Venezuela, and the United States, nor did he believe any
such measures were contemplated.
Lord JoHN RUSSELL wished to know whether the go-
vernment had had any further correspondence with the
Spanish government relative to the sugar of Cuba.
Sir R. PEEL said that a further correspondence had ta-
ken place, which he would take care should be laid before
the house previous to any discussion taking place.
Sir R. PEEL in answer to a question from Mr. Pattison,
said that, generally speaking, it was intended that the re-
duction of duties in the tariff should take place immedi-
ately upon the passing of the resolutions to that effect.
The Right Hon. Baronet also stated, in answer to a
question from Lord John Russell, that he proposed that
after the resolutions had passed and been reported, that
the reduction of duty on corn should take place immedi-
ately.

—Mr. WATSON moved for leave to bring in a bill for the
further repeal of pains and penalties upon Roman Catho-

Lord JOHN MANNERS said, if hi's hon. friend perse-
vered bringing in his bill, he should feel it his duty to
support it, believing that it was injurious to the Church
of England to retain those pains and penalties.
Mr. O'CINNELL deprecated the continuation of a law
that punished virtue and devotional exercises.
Lord JoriN RUSSELL thought it was the duty of the
house to have the law with respect to Roman Catholics
placed m:on some reasonable footing, which it certainly
was not at. present.
Leave was then given to bring in the bill.
BANKES, in moving for various returns relative to
the applications for the stewardship of the Chiltern jinn-
dreds and of the forms and grants, &c., said that it was

important that inquiry should be instituted into the mo-
tives which led members of the house to make applicati-
ons for the office.
The CHANCELLOR of the ExctinaUEß said there was
no objection to the motion.

Mr. 5. O'BRIEN then moved for two new writs for
Dorsetshire, in the room of Lord Ashley and Mr. Sturt,
who have accepted the Chiltern Hundreds.

HOUSE OF LuIths.—FRIDAY

Lord BEAUMONT put a question to Lord Aberdeen
respecting the detention by the Sardinian Governmf.nt of
a gentleman named Graham, who chose to fancy 414 this
detention arose out of hatred to his patronymic, and not
out of a mistake, as was satisfactorily explained by Lord
Aberdeen.

The Earl of DALHous i then moved the adoption o
the new resolutions respecting the railways, and urged
the great benefit which the public would derive from the
adjustment of the amount of business between the two
houses, as well as the great nece-city of an early provision
for employing the people of Ireland.
Lord MONTEAGLE explained more fatly the nature of
the proposed alterations as affecting Irish railway bills;
and commented very severely on the plan pursued with
respect to railway deposits for the present session. In
his opinion it was impossible to conceive anything more
mischievous to the mercantile classes than the existing
system. The motion was agreed to.

The valley of the Meuse is one sheet of water, owing to
the late rains. In Leige people are conveyed from house
to house in boats. The waters are still increasing, and if
the rains continue, the most fearful consequences are en-
tertained. From Malines to Brussels, on each side of
the road, the waters extend, for a quarter of a mile, se-
veral feet in depth. The cottagers in some places are
unable to descend below the first floor of their dwellings,
and all communication with the neighbourhood is kept up
by means of boats.
FRANCE.—A discussion took place in the chamber of
deputies, on Monday, on an amendment to the paragraph
in the address relating to the foreign policy, to the effect,
that it was desirable that the course of action pursued by
France should be independent of England. M. Guizot,
in replying to M. Remusat, the mover, maintained that
such was the case ; and said that, if it did not imply a
censure on the government, he would not have opposed
the amendment. M. Thiers attacked the ministry for in-
terfering respecting the annexation of Texas, in deference,
he said, to England, M. Guizot replied, that they inter-
fered at the instance of the Texan chargi d'offaires at
Paris. On a division, the ministry had a majority of 68,
which is considered a great triumph.—The French minis-
try gained another triumph, on Tuesday, in the chamber,
having defeated an amendment on the right-of-search
question by a majority of 73, with a full house. Thus the
absurd procrastination by the opposition of the discussion
on the address, which has already occupied fourteen sit-
tings to the exclusion of all real business, has had no other
effect than a series of defeats of the party.

AMERICA.
(From our Second Edition of Tuesday last.)
By the paeket-ship Yorkshire, Captain Bailey, which
arrived in the river this morning, we have received New
York papers to the 18th ultimo, being four days later than'
previous advices.
In Congress on the 12th ultimo, on the motion of Mr.
Allen, the joint resolution for giving the twelve months
notice to Great Britain of the dissolution of the treaty of
joint occupation of the Oregon territory was taken up,
when Mr. Allen moved that the resolution be postponed
t ) the 27th ultimo. Mr. Wcstcott argued for a longer
postponement, and moved the substitution of the 10th of
February. Mr. Calhoun said he should vote for the
longest time, and the 10th of February was fixed on after
a short debate, by a majority:of 32 to 18.
On the motion of Mr. Hannegan, his resolutions de-
precatory of a compromise on the line were also post-
poned to the same day. Of course the postponement of
the debate has been variously interpreted. Some think
it a favourable symptom, indicating the complete post-
ponement of the whole business to another year, and
another Congress. According to the Washington Union,
the act of giving notice is looked upon as a peaceful mea-
sure, merely empowering the President either to continue
or to open negociations. The public excitement was
rapidly cooling down, and the tone of the advices is much
more pacific than any we have received from the States
for some time.

The famous article of the London Times of the 4th De-
cember, relative to the corn laws, had been received in
New York, and is freely commented on in the journals
before us. There had not been time to ascertain the
effect which the announcement had had upon the Ameri-
can markets, as the intelligence was only received on the
15th ult. The effect, however, was anticipated to be, that
prices of flour and grain would particularly feel the influ-
ence of such accounts, and that a very extensive demand
for those articles, and large speculative shipments, would
take place. Every one seemed on the very tip-toe of ex-
pectation of the news by the Hibernia steam-ship from
this country, to the 4th ult., and until that arrived, busi-
ness was in a great degree suspended.
A project has been introduced into the senate for build-
ing a steam navy. It was in the shape of a bill from the
naval committee, which has been ordered to be printed.
It appropriates 5,165,000 dollars, and gives authority tc
the President to build ten steam-ships, and to complete
all the ships on the stocks.
New York, Friday, Jan. 17.

BAEADSTUFFS.—There was a little more JOing, to-day,
than was previously noticed, and the market is also more
firm at our last quotations. Sales were made in Gene-
see, for export, at 5 dots. 75 cents, and in Southern at 5
dots. 75 cents. a 5 dots. 871 cents.

COTTON.—There was a moderate enquiry to-day, and
the sales amounted to about 600 bales. We could not
learn of any change in rates, but rather more cotton has
been brought out on the market, wh'ch gives the buyer a
greater choice in his selections. We continue our quota-
tions, as follows :

LIVERPOOL CLASSIFICATION

Upl. Sr Flor

Mobile 8c N. 0.
. 6k,i 64-

inferior
Ordinary
Middling
Good Middling
Middling fair .
Fair
Fully fair
Gond fair
Fine

-a -

61a 61
61a §i

da 7
71a 7i
714 71
813 Si
Sia Si
9 a 9}
%a 91

7 a 74-

7o 7i

71A
Bi 4 84-
Saa 84
8a 9

10-alO4

CONGRESSIONAL COMPLIMENTS.