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

Varliamtnt.

HOUSE OF LORDS.-MONDAr.

The Lord Chancellor communicated her Majesty's
gracious answer to the address of their Lordships on the
speech from the Throne. It was in the following words:
" I thank you for your loyal and dutiful address ; the
first object of my wishes is to promote the welfare of my
people, and I rely with confidence on your assurances of
support in framing such measures as the interest of the
country may require."
The answer was entered on the journals of the House.
The Earl of ABERDEEN, in answer to some observa-
tions made by Lord Brougham. said that it was perfectly
true that the French Government bad desired such modi-
fications of the treaty touching the right of search as
might make it more palatable to the French people with-
out impairing its efficacy. The French Minister was as
anxious to see an end put to the slave-trade as he (the
Earl of Aberdeen) or his noble and Learned friend could
be. (Hear.)
Lord BROUGHAM wished a noble Duke (Richmond) to
postpone for a time his bill regulating horse racing.
The Bishop of LoNnoN expressed his opinion that the
bill would have the effect of encouraging betting on
races. _ _

The Duke of RICHMOND said it would have an entire
opposite effect—it would altogether put an end to fraudu-
lent betting, and greatly reduce betting generally. He
bad no objection to postpone the bill for the present.
Lord CAMPBELL could scarcely give his support to a
bill which made betting recoverable at law.
Lord DENMAN moved that the bill be referred to a
Committee.—Agreed to.
The Duke of RICHMOND subsequently moved the fol-
lowing as the select committee to consider the laws affect-
ing gaming, &c., and to report thereon to the House :
The Lord Chancellor, the Lord President, the Duke of
Richmond, the Marquis of Normandy, the Earl of Cla-
rendon, Lord Foley, Lord Brougham, Lord Strafford,
Lord llonteagle, and Lord Campbell.
A conversation took place with respect to the absence
of any Government,measure to improve the sanatory con-
dition of the lower orders, after which their Lordships
adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-MONDAY.

Mr. GLADSTONE moved the appointment of a select
committee to consider the standing orders releting 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 come 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 thereon to the house. The right
bon. 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
my 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. BLEwirr 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
has 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 RICIIMOND 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 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.
lie concluded by moving for the production of a copy of
the letter.

Lord WHARNCLIFFE said tkere 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.