The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-08-18 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-FRIDAY

On the motion for the house resolving itself into com-
mittee of supply,
Mr. H um E moved a resolution to the following effect:
—" That with the view of lessening the temptations to
drunkenness and immorality, and of promoting thereby
the welfare of the working classes especially, and also of
society generally, it is the duty of a Christian legislature
to open the British Museum, the National Gallery, and
all similar public places calculated to afford innocent and
instructive recreation, for the reception of visitors on
Sundays and on holidays, at such hours after morning
service as gin-shops and public-houses are open."
Lord J. RUSSELL was quite willing to promote the
object which the hon. gentleman had in view, in opening
our national institutions freely to the public, and he
believed no one had done more than he had to advance
that object. With respect to public gardens, he would
say at once that they ought to be opened on the Sunday,
for they were conducive to public health ; but this could
not be said of an institution like the British Museum.
It was said that opening the museum on Sundays would
have a tendency to check immorality; but, so would the
representation of a play of Shakspere ; and yet it did not
follow that the theatres should be opened on Sunday.
lie thought it would be better to leave the matter in the
hands of the trustees of the museum. _ _ _

Mr. WAKLEY thought the speech of the noble lord
upon the whole favourable to the motion, and intimated
that religious difficulties as regarded the attendants might
be got over by employing Jews to attend the museum on
Sundays. Mr. WILLIAMS supported the motion.
Mr. SHAW thought that, as a Christian community,
they should oppose the opening of such institutions on
Sundays. If they gave way upon this point, it would be
impossible to prevent the opening of the theatres also.
After some observations from Captain PECHELL,
Mr. OUULIIIIRN expressed his opinion that the adop-
tion of the motion would lead to great desecration of the
Sabbath.

After some observations from Sir W. Clay,
Dr. BOWRING said, in his opinion, the object which
Mr. Hume had in view was one of the best ways of con-
secrating the Sabbath. . . .

Mr. liumE was so far satisfied with what had fallen
from Lord J. Russell that he would not press his motion
to a division.

The motion was consequently withdrawn,iand the house
went into committee of supply.
In reply to a question from Mr. WILLIAMS,

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER intimated that,
owing to the failure of the potato crop, he would, on
Monday, propose a further grant for the relief of the
people of Ireland.
A discussion arose on the vote of a sum for altering
and improving Buckingham Palace, but it was:carried by
a majority of 56 to 6.
Various other votes were agreed to, after which the
house resumed, and several bills on the paper were for-
warded a stage.

Mr. Vinniaas drew attention to the errors recently
discovered to the Corn Importation Bill in reference to
the duties on peas, beans, and rye ; and moved that the
house should resolve itself into a committee of the whole
house upo❑ the subject.
Lord G. BENTINCK had no doubt that her Majesty's
late Government had fallen into this blunder. As, how-
ever, it told in favour of the agriculturist, he did not feel
disposed to give up the advantage ; and he hoped her Ma-
jesty's Ministers would not feel themselves called upon
to bring in a bill to remedy the blunder of their prede-
cessors. If they should do so he would give such a mea-
sure his decided opposition.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER did not think it
advisable, at this late period of the session, to bring in a
bill for altering the Corn Importation Act.
After some discussion, in which Mr. E. Yorke, Mr.
Henley, Mr. Warburton, and Mr. Escott took part.
Mr. VW lERS withdrew his motion.

Mr. HAWES obtained leave to bring in a bill to make
better provision for the government of New Zealand,
which, he hoped, would have the effect of consolidating
the government of that colony, and put an end to those
wars which had been so recently desolating those beauti-
ful islands. _

Mr. GouLnußN said the bill was one of such impor-
tance that it ought not to be hurried through parliament
at the close of the session.

Mr. C. BULLER. said the hill was nearly identical with
one prepared by the late Government, and which the
present ministers found in their offices on their accession
to power.
After a short discussion the bill was brought in and
read a first tine? and ordered to be read a second time on
Monday next.