The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-08-13 00:00:00

Emperial parliament.

H OUSE OF LORDS.—MONDAY.
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE, in l•resectiriga petition
from certann leaseholders of Church property in Notting.
hamshire, complained of the conduct of certain ecclesi-
astical commissioners in refusing the renewal of life leases,
and intimated his intention to move fur a searching in-
quiry into the subject in the next session of parliament.
The Bishop of LONDON said the commissioners were
appointed to make the possessions of the Church available
in the greatest possible degree for the relief of the spiri-
tual destitution of the hingdom, and they would, there-
fore, be guilty of a dereliction of duty if they did not
make the roost they fairly could of the property intrusted
to their management. The principle on which the com-
missioners went, was to give the leaseholders the full
value of the surviving lives; and such being the case,
although the commissioners courted inquiry, he did not
see why parliament should interfere when they would not
think of doing so in the case of private individuals.
The Earls of RADNOR. and BESBOROUGH defended the
commissioners, and the conversation ended.
The debate on the third reading of the Railways Bill
was then resumed, and terminated in the adoption of the
Bishop of London's amendment respecting Sunday tra-
velling, and the adoption of a clause proposed by Lord
Warncliffe, to the effect that when railway companies run
any trains on Sundays, one train at least should contain
third-class carriages.
The Earl of MINTO then rose, and after calling atten-
tion to the state of our relations with foreign powers, and
questions pending in America, and especially with France,
which threatened a rupture with those countries, pro-
ceeded to condemn our present naval establishment as
wholly inadequate to the wants of the country. When
the present government came into office, though at a
time of profound peace, there were 16 or 17 ships of the
line in the Mediterranean, whereas now nine ships of the
line comprised the whole of our home and foreign naval
establishment, and we were consequently at the mercy of
any enemy who might choose to sweep the channel or the
coasts of our colonies. One of the results was the recent
affair of Tahiti, which he believed would never have oc-
curred but for the neglect of which, in this respect, the
present government had treated British interests. The
noble earl concluded his speech by moving for returns of
the number of ships on commission at the ptesent time,
and the number stationed at Tahiti from Ist September,
18-12, to the period of the latest advices from that country.
The Earl of HADDINGTON said such speeches as that
which had just been made were most inconvenient to the
public service, and highly censurable when there was no
parliamentary case to justify them. The means of defence
possessed by this country were overwhelming, and al-
though the number of ships cf the line actually in com-
mission were small at present, they were much more ef-
ficiently manned than the larger force maintained by their
predecessors. Moreover, additional vessels were being
actively built in all our dock-yards, and onr steam marine
was being considerably strengthened. He maintained
there was ample power in the Pacific to watch over British
interests, and that a still larger force could not have pre-
vented the recent outrage Lbut on this subject he would
say no more at present. He could not grant the returns
moved for.

The Duke of WELLINGTON said that when he censured
the late government it was for carrying on war with a
peace establishment. He believed the number of men
voted this year was equal to that of any previous period
of peace, and that, at the present time, and in every part
of the world, British interests were adequately protected.
With respect to the recent eccentricities in the Pacific, he
would say no more than those who committed them were
responsible for them, and that their responsibility was now
the subject of negotiation.
Their lordships then proceeded to the discussion of the
Poor Law Amendment Bill.
Earl FORTXSCUE considered the alterations proposed
by the present bill wise improvements, with the exception,
perhaps, of granting permanent relief to widows out of
the union.
The Earl of HARDWICKE considered the amendments
generally were ameliorations, but defended the existing
law as essentially humane, and declared that he had never
known among the poor in the agricultural districts any
other feeling respecting it than the belief that it had bet-
tered their condition.
After a few words from several peers, the house went
into committee pro forma, and resumed.
The other bills on the table were forwarded a stage, and
their lordships adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—MONDAY.
The Leeds Vicarage Bill was read a third time and
passed.
Mr. HARDY and Sir ROBERTPEEL said that Dr. Hook
was entitled to the thanks of the country, and of Leeds in
particular, for consenting to the bill.
Sir R. PEEL moved the second reading of the bill sent
down from the House of Lords to repeal the obsolete penal
acts against the Roman Catholics. No security provided
by the act of 1829 was touched by this measure, the effect
of which was to place all Roman Catholics, takjpg the
Roman Catholic oath, on the same footing with Ptotest-
ants in respect of franchises and civil rights, and to repeal
some acts which had become a dead letter. One of these
made it a crime to maintain the supremacy of the Pope,
another made it punishable to neglect attendance at
divine service on the sth of November; and another pro-
hibited a Roman Catholic from having a horse worth
more than £5. Really, in repealing such laws the legis-
lature was not so much conferring a favour on the Ca-
tholics as relieving its own statute-book from a disgrace.
So far from being bulwarks to the church, these laws
were outwarks which might be need by reason and ridi-
cule against her. The pstahlialment in these days must
be maintained, not by defences of that kind' but by sound
argument and the affectionate attachment of the people.
The bill was read a second time.
Mr. HAWES asked whether it was intended also to
repeal the obsolete laws affecting Protestant Dissenters.
Sir B. PEEL, without pledging himself on a subject not
then before the house, was ready to declare that if there
were any law imposing heavy penalties on dissenters for
absenting themselves from 'divine service on account of
conscientious objections, he would support the repeal of
that law.
On the order of the day for the third reading of the
Irish charitable Donations Bill,
Mr. D. BROWNE expressed a hope that it would be
postponed. The Roman Catholic hierarchy of Ireland
were opposed to it, and Mr. Wyse's approval of it was
no reason why it should pass, for that gentleman did not
possess the confidence of the Roman Catholic clergy.
lie believed it, indeed, to have been proposed in a spirit
of conciliation ; but still that was not, with him, a suffi-
cient inducement to support it. He moved that it should
be read a third time this day six months.
The amendment found no seconder.
Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL said, that after the best con-
siderations, he had felt it his duty to abstain from joining
the opposition to this bill. He liked its spirit, which he
thought of more importance than its words. It had no
cumpulsory operation ; and it effected a great good by
raising the worldly condition of the Homan Catholic
clergy without diminishing their influence over their
flocks.
The bill was read a third time, and passed.
The house having gone into committee on the Insolvent
Debtors Bill.
Mr. M. PHILIPS objected to the clause abolishing im-
prisonment for debts below £2O. It would prevent a
poor man from obtaining credit.
Sir J. GRAHAM said, that the bill had been so framed
as to give to the creditor every facility of proceeding
against the goods of the debtor. But as the abolition of
imprisonment was the very essence of the measure, he
thought it would be best to postpone this clause now,
and take the discussion of it upon the third reading.
The committee then proceeded with the remaining
clauses.
Lord SANDON brought up the report of the Secret
Committee on the postoflice.
The house adjourned, after some other business, to
five o'clock in the afternoon, when Mr. Gladstone ob-
tained leave to introduce several bills, for the purpose of
their being printed and circulated during the recess. Most
of them were consolidation bills ; the last was for amend-
ing the laws relating to the relief and support of merchant
seamen, their widows, and children.
At 7 o'clock the house adjourned.

HOUSE OF LORDS.-TUESDAY.

- -
A great number of bills received the royal assent by
commission.
The Commons' Amendments to the Art Union Bill
were agreed to.
The Duke of WELLINGTON rose and said be appre-
hended that their lordships had participated in the public
joy on the occurrence of that day, and that their Lordships
must be anxious to avail themselves of the earliest oppor-
tunity of expressing their congratulations to her Majesty
on her safety, and upon the joyful event of the birth of a
prince. (Cheers.) He therefore moved, in conformity
with the usual practice, and without giving notice, an
humble address, congratulating her Majesty upon the
birth of another Prince, and assuring her Majesty that
every increase in her family, and every addition to her
domestic happiness, afforded the most unfeigned joy and
satisfaction to the house of Lords. (Hear, hear.) The
Noble Duke concluded by moving an Address accordingly.
Viscount MELBOURNE seconded the motion, which
was carried mem. dis.
The Marquis of NORMANBY moved for a return of the
'lumber of days and hours their lordships had sat for the
purpose of legislation since the commencement of the
present session, and contended that there was a vast deal
of mismanagement in the mode of conducting public busi-
ness.
The Duke of WELLINGTON said the business of Par-
liament was now conducted in the same way as it had
been conducted for the last 150 years. The Government
brought forward as many bills in their lordships' House
as they thought ought to be originated there, and he
denied that Government should be held responsible if the
Commons, did not send up their bills at an earlier period.
The Marquis of LANDSOWNE said that by the present
model: of proceeding, the House of Lords was reduced to
the level of a mere Court for registering the bills passed
of
by the House Commons. He hoped that what had
just passed would lead to an improved mode of proceed-
ing next session.
Lord Wn ARNCLIPFE
fruitful one,contendedetlthat the present session
bad been a most
measures of trherdships ha.ving passed
a great number ofgreatest importance,
several of which he enumerated.
The motion was agreed to.
On the motion that the house should resolve itself into
was Bill,
no time for
committee on the Poor Law Amendmenttree
The Bishop of EXETER said that h
great importance,
their lordships to consider a bill of
such
and it would be, therefore, far better to drop the bill for
this session, and for their lordships to take up the bill in
its present shape, in the next session of parliament.
Under this impression, he would move that the bill be
committed that day six montilv.

The Duke of WELLINGTON said that the measure had
been under the consideration of Parliament for the last
three or four years, and it was therefore out of the ques-
tion to say that it had not been fully known to the House
and the pudic. He was surprised at the course taken to
the Right Rev. Prelate, who was so strongly oppcsed by
the existing Poor-law; for this bill which he also opposed
was an amelioration of the harsh provisions of the law of
which he so bitterly complained- if the bill on the table
did not go far enough in the way of amelioration, the
Right Rev. Prelate, might, in Committee, propose further
amendments.
The House divided, and the amendment of the Bishop
of Exeter was negatived by a majority of 17 to 1.
Their lordships then went into Committee, and the dis-.
cussion of the various clauses occupied the remainder of
the evening.

HOUSE OF CONIIIIONS.—TUESDAY.
The house went into committee on the Lords' Amend-
ments to the Railway Bill.
Mr. THORNgLY said he was very glad that the principle
upon which his amendment was founded, that if trains
were to run at all on Sunday, there should be trains for third-
class passengers, had received the sanction of both houses
of parliament. He felt it his duty now to propose that
the charge for the conveyance of passengers by the Sunday
trains should not exceed the price charged for conveyance
by the week train, viz., ld. per mile.
Mr. Thornelv's amendment was agreed to: the other
amendments of the Lords' were agreed to; the Chairma❑
reported progress, and the report was received.
Sir R. PEEL said—l am convinced I shall be acting in
accordance with the unanimous feeling of this house if 1
avail myself of the earliest opportunity of proposing that
we should offer to her Majesty our cordial congratulations
on the happy event which has taken place this day.
(Cheers.) lam sure that there will be one feeling of uni-
versal satisfaction throughout this country that an addi-
tion has taken place to her Majesty's family, and thatthus
there is an increased guarantee that the throne of these
realms will long continue in the direct descendants of her
Majesty. Every increase of domestic happiness to her
Majesty will, I am sure, be a cause of grateful satisfaction
to her faithful commons. And I therefore beg to move
at once, that this house do present an address to her Ma-
jesty, expressing the sentiments which 1 have uttered.
(Cheers.)
Lord MARCUS HILL seconded the motion.
An address, which was the echo of the Right lion. Ba-
ronet's speech, was then read by the clerk, put by the
speaker, and agreed to.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE wished to know upon what day it
was intended to adjourn the house and for what period.
He was also desirous of knowing when the decision was
likely to take place in the case of the Queen v. O'Con-
nell.
Sir R. PEEL said that no decision would be given till
the judges came to town. and he understood that when
they did so they were anxious to have a conference. The
prorogation, however, would not take place until the deci-
sion in that case was given. It was his intention either
to-morrow or Thursday to move the adjournment to a
certain period, with a view to have the opinions of their
lordships on the case of Mr. O'Connell.
Mr. HAWES brought under the consideration of the
house the petition of merchants and importers of deals
and other woods, presented to the 22d of July last. The
hon. member, at some length, stated that the timber trade
was suffering under great depression in consequence of
the alterations made in the late tariff.
Mr. GLADSTONE trusted that at this late period of the
session the hon. member for Lambeth would not perse-
vere with any motion on the subject. He could assure
the house, although the alteration of the duty in the first
instance caused a temporary loss to the revenue, it
was now every month increasing, and the public were sup-
plied with cheaper and better goods. In the month end-
ing in July, 1814, the amount of duty paid on timber was
between £15,000 and £20,000 more than the correspond-
ing month of the year 1833.
After a few words from Mr. WARBURTON,
Mr. HAWES withdrew his motion.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—WEDNESDAY.
The Merchant Seamen's Bill was read a third time and
passed.
Others Bills were forwarded a stage, and conferences
were held with the Commons on the subject of amend-
ments to bills with respect to which the two Houses dis-
agreed.
The Fisheries (Ireland) Bill went through Committee.
Several other Bills were forwarded, and their lordships
adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.--WEDNESDAY.
Sir R. PEEL gave notice that he would, on Friday,
move an adjournment of the House.
Sir R. PEEL having declined to answer certain ques-
tions of Lord Ebrington, relative to the conduct of the
French in Africa,
Lord PALMERSTON complained of the concessions
made to America, on the boundary question, and to
France with respect to Spain and Africa, and expressed
his conviction that that policy which sought temporary
peace at the sacrifice of the rights of the country must
tend to difficulties of a most serious nature than those
which it was intended to put an end to. (Cries of " Hear,
hear.")
Sir R. PEEL denied that the present Government had
made any concessions that were injurious to this country
or its honour. He perfectly admitted that the Govern-
ment bad not acted in every respect on the principles of
the noble lord ; but, as regarded every object of impor-
tance to this country, be contended that there never was
a period when the name and honour of the British Go-
vernment stood higher than they did at that moment.
bp
The Roman Catholic Penal Acts Repeal Bill was
reported, and ordered to be read a third time on Thurs-
day.
The Insolvent Debtors' Bill was, after some discussion
read a third time and passed.
Sir J. GRAHAM, in moving for leave to bring in a bill
for the better regulation of medical practice throughout
the United Kingdom, said its object was to amend many
of the provisions of the present imperfect law. To put
down quackery was hopeless, but he thought encourage-
ment ought to be given to the clever man. He proposed
no restriction to private practice. (Hear.) His principle
was this, that none should be eligible to fill medical or
surgical offices except those who were declared to be so
by competent authority. He proposed by this bill to re-
peal all acts and charters which imposed restrictions on
the medical profession. The most important feature of
the bill was the establishment of a Council of health in
the metropolis, in direct connexion with the executive
Government, with branches in Scotland and Ireland.
He proposed to have a register kept of all the physicians
and surgeons ; that the present bodies should have power
of granting licences, but it should be at the option of the
Council of health whether they would register them or
not, and every person that was not registered could not
hold any public situation. He proposed to enact that,
with regard to licensing the vendors of medicine, the
licensing bodies should have the power to grant that de-
gree to no person under twenty-one years of age. The
latter's testimonial would be founded upon an examina-
tion both in medicine and in surgery, by one or other of
the seventeen licensing bodies. With respect to surgeons,
he proposed that the license to practice in surgery should
be issued to no persons under the age of twenty -five years ;
and with respect to physicians, the age at which a license
could be obtained would be twenty-six years. At these
several ages the respective parties might obtain licences
to3uta tqualifytheme
pernseoenwishing
ee tosrhy
ibneegx registered,
registeredbhaving
th
as
e previously
physician,a
licensing
goneh bodies.o
had not qualified in the manner required by havin w
gra-
duated in some university, would not be eligible for regis-
tration until he had attained the age of forty years, and
had been examined by the Royal College of Physicians in
England. After explaining some of the minor provisions,
he said, that with respect to persons at present practising,
it was not his wish to make it a harsh measure. He there-
fore proposed to give to those who were now in practice
in the United Kingdom a period of twelve months within
which they might apply to be registered. There was ano-
ther clause about which he felt some hesitation. It pro-
vided that none but registered persons, or those who
could have been registered before the passing of the act,
were entitled to recover at law for medicines, attendance,
or advice. He meant it as a warning clause, and he
hoped that it would be so understood. Those who falsely
pretended to be registered were to be liable to the
punishment awarded to those who were guilty of misde-
meanour.
The motion, which was seconded by Mr. Macauly, and
supported by Mr. Warburton, Mr. Wakley, and Mr.
Hawes, was agreed to.

HOUSE OF LORDS.-THURSDAY.

In the course of a short discussion which arose upon a
petition presented by the Marquis of Normanby respect-
ing the treatment of missionaries by the French autho-
rities in the Pacific,
The Earl of ABERDEEN observed that the existence of
a war party in France rendered it necessary that the ne-
gociations on the part of this country should be con-
ducted with justice and moderation—he used the word
justice lest concession should be inferred from the word
moderation. With respect to the recent outrage at
Tahiti, he would only say in reference to the question as
to whether Mr. Pritchard was or was not British consul
at the time of his arrest, that it was in his opinion one of
little consequence. He was a British subject, and as such
entitled to the protection of his government.
In reply to a question from the Marquis of CLAN-
RICARDE,
The Earl of ABERDEEN said that the conversion of
Spanish Passive into Spanish Active Stock appeared to
him to have made no progress. There was some hope,
however, in fact that the present Minister of Finance in
Spain was the most upright and honourable of any who
had for years occupied that position. It was a question,
however, which the British government, as a government,
had nothing to do with.
The Poor Law Amendment Bill was read a third time
and passed.
A great number of bills were forwarded a stage, after
which their lordships adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.--THURSDAY.
The Roman Catholic Penal Acts Repeal Bill was read
a third time and passed.
In reply to a question from Mr. R. YORK'S,
Sir R. PEEL said that the late Government and the pre-
sent one had received so little encouragement in their at-
tempts to reform the ecclesiastical courts, that he could
not pledge himself to re-introduce a measure upon the
subject in the next session of Parliament.
In reply to a question from Mr. Wyse,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that great
complaints had been made of the injustice to newspapers
not fully established of publishing the usual stamp returns,
c 1 1t was, therefore, determined not to pub!ish the
ofnum-
-1 ber stamps issued to each paper, but to give the total
number issued to all.