The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-02-13 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-MONDAY.

Mr. GLADSTONE moved the appointment of a select
committee to consider the standing orders relating to
railways, and whether any, and what, change should be
wade in these orders; and likewise to consider whether
any, and what, provisions ought to be introduced into
such railway bills as should tome before the house during
the present or future sessions, for the advantage of the
public and the improvement of the railway system, and
to report their opinions thereo❑ to the house. The right
hon. gentleman said he should propose that this commit-
tee be empowered to inquire into the propriety of modi-
fying the rule that required a deposit of ten per cent. on
the subscribed capital, with the view to assimilate it to
that of the Lords, which only required one of five per
cent. He also proposed to submit to it the consideration
of discouraging competing lines, unless the public advan-
tage was clearly shown. Likewise the general system of
charges, and the neglect of comfort in third-class car-
riages.

The motion was agreed to.
Mr. PATTISON having naively asked whether the sugar
duties were to be altered this session,
Sir R. PEEL answered, amidst much jocularity, " That
is a question which I should have expected would have
been asked by the youngest member of this house, for
certainly nothing but the circumstance of a member being
the youngest among us could justify such a question at
this period."
Earl JERMYN reported her Majesty's answer to the
address of this house, as follows :—" I thank you for this
dutiful and loyal address. The declaration that you are
anxious to co-operate with me in my earnest desire to
promote the welfare of my people is most gratifying to
any feelings. It is the unvarying object, and the constant
care of my life, to promote the happiness and to merit the
confidence of my faithful subjects."
Mr. BLEWITT having inquired if the report that her
Majesty was in debt had any foundation,
Sir R. PEEL replied: " I am greatly surprised that the
honourable member should be so credulous as to believe
any such report as this, and I should have thought that
any man, who had seen the course which her Majesty
bas pursued from the commencement of her reign to the
present moment, might have been enabled, by referring
to that course alone, to give the most positive contradic-
tion to any rumour of the sort. I can assure the honour-
able gentleman and this house, that there is not one syl-
lable of truth in the report, and that her Majesty is not a
single shilling in arrear."
This assurance from the Premier was received with loud
cheers.

Mr. GLADSTONE moved the appointment of a select
committee on the Merchant Seamen's Fund.

Mr. LABOUCHERE regretted that a legislative measure,
instead of a select committee, had not been prepared.
The motion was agreed to.

HOUSE OF LORDS.-TUESDAY.

The Duke of RICHMOND called attention to a circular
which had been addressed to the Clerks of the Peace for
the various counties of England, the effect of which would
be that the property of prisoners convicted would t o to
the Crown instead of going to repay those who had been
instrumental in the prosecutions. The property ought,
unquestionably, to go to the benefit of the county rate.
Ile concluded by moving for the production of a copy of
the letter.

Lord WHARNCLIFFE said there was no objection to
the production of the letter, and explained with reference
to the course to be adopted in regard to the property of
persons charged with offences, or convicted upon such
charges, that the magistrates would act according to the
best of their discretion.
Lord BROUGHAM and Lord CAMPBELL objected to the
terms of the letter, as loose and indefinite.
After some conversation on the subject of the Chinese
treaty, the House adjourned.