Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-09-11
FRo4ouR LONDON CORRESPONDENT
LONDON, AUGUST 20, 1852.

III " present uearth OF SUBJECTS Oh Interest-ior
the bufest haunts Of the city, even where FINER
chantsm ost do congregate" and rumors are gone
rally tie rfest, and the large diurna sheets of the
morning papers dull, stale, and Improbable"
to the Purveyor of news-it may not be unaccepta-
Bile toinany of our American friends to have brief
summary OF the dongs of the late British Parlia-
ment sluring the session which terminated on the
LIST ofJuly last S56
The late Parliament was elected in August 1847
it exifed therefore, four years and ten MONTHS and
had to eglsate and provide for the countrys safety
and prosperity during period of considerable diff
cultye commencing with the effects of the Irish
famine, and the commercial crisis in 1847 con-
tinuing with the revolution in France, the political
which extended nearly throughout Eu-
rope and the Chartis disturbances at home in 1848
and the repeal Of the navigation laws in l849.
Since then 1t accomplished the reduction Of the
sugar, timber, and stamp duties, the repeal of the
odous window tax, and the excise upon bricks. 1t
has attended to many social and sanitary questions
but It has had many shortcomings on these points
The colonies have necessarily engaged much of the
attention of Parliament CANADA, we think, has
reapsd the benefit Of that attention. and in consequence
prosperous and quiet than it has been be-
forey liberal constitution has been granted to the
CAPE OF GooD-HopE As respects the harassng and de-
solatng war which exists and seems likely to continue
there whilst amentits effects we here enter into
any dissertation respecting its constitution has
granted toNEw ZEALAND adapted the wants
Of colonists and conformabe to the spirit Of the age
decentralization Of the law has been relieved from
much antiquarian barbarsm and made better Of
getting truth and doing jusrice, by
Of be rules of evidence Nor the alterations in the
administration of equity be regarded in any other light
thai loq odv adp an1i
natial communication have during the existence Of the
Parliament been extended to unparalleled degree
and With an unexampled rapidity. Parliament has, it is
true had nothing do with the electric telegraph the
great Exhibition the extraordinary discoveries of gold in
the countries bordering the Pacific, with any of
the mechanical improvements and the advance
Of and SCIENCE since 1847 but is to the credit Of
the late Parliament that it did nothing to impede the adj
vanages which these great events and discoveries
calculated to confer upon society," having on the contra
exerted its legislative functions to assist in their de-
veopment and increase their utility.
The late Parliament bequeathed to its
diton of unexamped prosperity, and of tranquility un-
disturbed except by religious dissensons, which to med
die with is 70 encourage. We wish to say nothing in dis
paragemen of the old legislature but certainly the
one to be il unison with the advancing spirit of the age
be great improvement the just dissolved.
We sincerely wish it may prove We will not doubt
that it will.
The queens printer has just completed the printing of
the acts of The last session of Parliament We find that
the number those acts without including those relating
to priyate matters, amounts to eighty in all
large PROPORTION of which are however, continue
ton or PROVISIONAL acts which, Notwithstanding
rise to much debate. You know, from long and annual
experience how many wearsome speeches originate in
the yearly appropriation bills and John Bull has many
orators in The House of Commons who wish to distinguish
themselves % advocates of economical REFORM by opposing
almost every appropriation Of public money During the
last session If the British Parliament without taking into
account the supply acts, the army, navy and marine
mutny acts and the annual indemnity act which, for
good constitutional reasons only passed for year at
time there were no fewer than nineteen acts which
merely continue former temporary acts, many of which
might with great saving of time, well be made per
at In addition these there are fourteen
others which be ranked under the category of pro
visional temporary legislation. The bills ror publ
Oorks are few and unimportant. new Office is 70 b
built for the RegisrarGenera of births, marriages
deaths. Improvements to be made at Buckingham
palace and in public buildings Belfast and Edinburgh
The only acts relative to public parks and pleasur
grounds is for the enclosure of the Charsts
place Of meetng-Kennington Common. due regar
to the health and safety Of the people has been paid in tn
passing act for regulating the qualifications phar
maceucal chemists Among the sanitary acts the fo
supplying London Nth rraer is of frst-rate importance
BY this act il is not lawful for any company supply
water for domestic purposes from any part Of the river
Thames below Teddingon Lock- from any part of the
tributary streams Of the Thames below the highest point
to which the tide flows All reservoirs within FIVE miles
of ST. Paus be covered over unless the water be
afterwards filtered Every company is required to filter
all water supplied by them for domestic The new
act for regulating the burial Of the dead the metropolis
empowers her Majesty the representation of Secre-
tary of State order the dscontnuance of burals in
any part Of the metropolis any new burial ground
be used in any part Of the metropolitan districts without
the sanction of Secretary of State. Here good step
has been taken but much remains to be done before
the present nuisance is sufficiently abated Under the
head of land and land TENURE account has been passed
for the Communication of immortal rights and for the gra
dual reimbursement Of lands held by copyright
tomary tenure This is another abrogaton Of antquated
feudal law and useful smp6caton of the mode Of hold
ing real estate An act to legaze the formation Of indus.
trial and popdea societies step in the right direction
towards amending the law Of partnership, and enabling
persons in comparatively humble condition to avail
themselves of the power Of combination to carry trade
for their profit Only has passed during
the session in relation to the subject of education being
an act to encourage the building and promoting Of
schools colleges for the of yeomen Others"
The new patent lao we alluded to in former commun
cation The principal merit of this act is the very great
reduction in the expense of patentng invention. The
Convention with FRANCE for establishing International
copyright IN literature and The fine arts win prove useful
to authors and artists in both countries-the English