3 and passed. Burial Service; Election Notices (Ire-Orders of the Day which stand for this

land).

PETITIONS PRESENTED. From Alfred Day, of Wincanton, for the Abolition of Judicial Oaths.-By Lord Campbell, from Rochester, and other places, in favour of the Small

Debts Bill.-By the Marquess of Breadalbane, from the

Free Provincial Synod of Caithness, and other places, for
the Better Observance of the Lord's Day. From the
General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland, praying
Regulation of Factories.-From Weobley, for Repeal of
Lunatics Act and Lunatic Asylums and Pauper Lunatics
Act, so far as respects the Expense of Building and Main-

for a Shorter Period for Labour in, and for the Better

taining County Lunatic Asylums.

evening, with reference to which I wish to make some observations. The first is the Highways Bill, which stands for the second reading, the principle of which has not been adopted by the House. I observe that several petitions have been presented against this Bill, and different opinions are entertained respecting it; and, looking at the period of the Session, the length of the Bill, and the progress made in the Bill, I think it would be better that I should at once withdraw it, and let it become a dropped order. With respect to another Bill, the Poor Removal Bill, that has been read a second time; and I confess I am most anxious that, at least as to some portions of that Bill, some progress should be made in the present Session; and I allude more particularly to that part of it which provides that persons residing for a fixed number of years should have the right of not being removed from their residence. There are other parts of the Bill which I am of opinion are not necessarily concomitant with that provision, and for which it is not necessary to demand the sanction of the present Parliament. But, considering that this is a measure of so much importance, I do not think it expedient that an individual Member of the House should take charge of it. I should be quite willing, if it be the wish of the House and of Lighthouses, Floating Buoys, and Beacons on the Coasts the noble Lord opposite and his Colleaof the United Kingdom, should be henceforth defrayed gues, to take charge of the Bill, to which out of the Public Revenue.-By Mr. Morris, from Rich-I attach great importance; but, upon the

HOUSE OF COMMONS,

Monday, July 13, 1846.

MINUTES.] NEW WRIT. For St. Ives, v. William Tyring

ham Praed, Esq., deceased.-For County of of Kilkenny,
v. Hon. Pierce Butler, deceased.

NEW MEMBERS SWORN. For London, Right Hon. Lord
John Russell.-For Tower Hamlets, Charles Richard

Fox, Esq.-For Halifax, Right Hon. Charles Wood.-
For Devonport, Right Hon. Sir George Grey, Bart.-For

Taunton, Right Hon. Henry Labouchere. For Chester,

John Jervis, Esq.- For Evesham, Lord Marcus Hill.

For Greenwich, James Whitley Deans Dundas, Esq.
For Gloucester, Hon. Maurice Frederick Fitzhardinge
Berkeley. For Nottingham, Right Hon. Sir John Cam

Hobhouse, Baronet.-For Tiverton, Viscount Palmer-
ston.

PUBLIC BILLS.-20. Ordnance Survey; Western Australia;

New Zealand Loan.

Reported. Baths and Washhouses; Battersea Park.

PETITIONS PRESENTED. By Mr. Compton, from Minister, Churchwardens, and Principal Inhabitants of the Parish of North Stoneham, against the Union of Saint Asaph

and Bangor, but at the same time providing for the Immediate Appointment of a Bishop to the newly erected See of Manchester.-By Mr. John Dundas, from Shipowners and Agents of and at Kingston upon Hull, praying

that all Expenses for the Erection and Maintenance of

ard Bullock, late of Sheffield, in the County of York,

and now of Islington, in the County of Middlesex, complaining of Loss of Practice consequent upon the passing of the Act to Amend the Law of Insolvency, Bankruptcy,

and Execution, and praying that his Case might be taken

into consideration, and some Compensation or Employment granted him.-By Lord John Manners, from Merchants, Tradesmen, and other Inhabitants dwelling within

the Jurisdiction of the Newark Court of Requetss, in favour of the County Courts Bill (1844).-By Mr. Smith,

from Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses of the City and Borough of Norwich, respecting the Employment and

Reformation of Discharged Prisoners.- By Lord John

Manners, from Fustian Cutters of Manchester, Salford, Warrington, Lymm, Heywood, Royton, and their Vicini. ties, for the Adoption of some Measures regulating their Trade. By Viscount Adare, and Mr. Christie, from seve ral places, for Repeal or Alteration of Lunatics Act and Lunatic Asylums and Pauper Lunatics Act.-By Mr. Barnard, from Members of the Justices Clerks' Society,

for Alteration of the Poor Removal Bill.-By Captain Pechell, from a number of places, praying that Trading

in Prostitution may be made a Penal Offence.-From Wholesale and Retail Traders, Householders, and Inha

whole, I think, subject to the concurrence of the House, that it will be better to leave it in the hands of Her Majesty's present Government, who will deal with it in such a manner as they shall think best for the public good. I propose, therefore, to postpone this Order of the Day till Thursday next; and on Thursday the noble Lord will say what course he will take with respect

It

to it. The other measure I refer to has come down from the other House; its principle has, I believe, received the sanction of this House. I attach great importance to this measure, with respect to which there is no great difference of opinion. is a measure for enlarging the powers given to the Enclosure Commissioners respecting disputed boundaries; and, generally speaking, for improving and enlarging the powers given by the Act of last Session. There are some clauses which I wish to introduce BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE-HIGHWAYS into this Bill, and I hope the House will allow it to go through Committee pro SIR J. GRAHAM: There are three formá; and if this arrangement is conve

bitants of and in the Vicinity of Lincoln's Inn Fields, Westminster, for Redemption of Tolls on Waterloo and

other Bridges.

BILL.

nient to the Government and to the House, it would afford the House an opportunity of exercising its judgment upon the subject. These are the arrangements which I propose to make with the consent of the House.

stood when those great measures of commercial reform which had just passed through Parliament were proposed that the Poor Removal Bill, the Highway Rates Bill, and another Bill, for the purpose of giving some sort of compensation to the tenant-farmers, were to be part and parcel of those " great and comprehensive" measures, and that the Government of the day were pledged to the passing of them-as a portion of their great and comprehensive scheme of commercial reform. These three measures, in short, were proposed as a sort of inducement to the country Gentlemen to permit the passing of the great and com

MR. V. SMITH suggested to the right hon. Baronet whether, instead of withdrawing the Highways Bill, he could not proceed with parts of the Bill which were not objected to, and which might pass with the consent of the House. It was a measure very much wanted. There was one provision making it compulsory on districts instead of parishes, which was a valuable arrangement, as well as the putting high-prehensive measures of commercial reform. way rates under a more effectual audit. The right hon. Baronet had earned so much honour by this measure, that he hoped he would not cast off a Bill which was so beneficial, and parts of which he had an opportunity of passing without any difficulty whatever.

He had said at the time the promise was made that he entertained some suspicion as to the good faith of the Government with respect to these measures, and that the people of the manufacturing districts had just cause to complain of their conduct with regard to the Poor Removal Bill. The right hon. Baronet (Sir James Graham) had said, and the late First Minister of the Crown agreed with him, that the honour and faith of Parliament were pledged to these measures, and that he would see to their being carried and conducted to a safe and successful issue, so that they and "the great and comprehensive measures of commercial reform" might go on pari passu. Well, what was the course to be taken now with regard to the Highways Bill? The right hon. Baronet had now thrown it over; and now, when they came to the Poor Removal Bill, that he presumed was also to be thrown over by the noble Lord; and the right hon. Baronet said now that it was not imperatively necessary that these measures should be carried if the consent of all parties could not be obtained. If the pledges of Ministers were to be thus broken, he wanted to know what the public and the labouring classes would think of the pledges of the Ministers of the Crown? They were bound to pass the Poor Removal Bill before the Irish Coercion Bill. one occasion, when the Coercion Bill was brought forward, he contended that the Poor Removal Bill should be taken into consideration first, because he foresaw what was about to take place. And what had taken place since? The late Government had, in his opinion, been guilty of a gross breach of faith in not having proceeded with these measures which were held out as measures of compensation to certain parties. What the noble Lord was MR. T. DUNCOMBE said, he under-going to do with the Poor Removal Bill he

SIR J. GRAHAM: I am not disposed to shrink from any personal labour in endeavouring to carry the measure referred to by the right hon. Gentleman; but when I look at the late period of the Session, and at the amount of business of paramount importance which remains to be transacted, I cannot think it possible that in the present Session sufficient time can be given to this Bill. Regarding the enactments to which the right hon. Gentleman attaches importance, namely, that the management of highways in districts should be made compulsory, that is the essence of the measure, and the machinery to carry it out is contained in the Bill; that is the best part of the Bill, and yet it is objected to in many quarters. So that, upon the whole, it seems better that the measure should stand over till another Session. But if the right hon. Gentleman pleases, I shall be glad to hand over the measure to him.

SIR G. GREY: I think the principle of the Bill is a good one; but, looking at the opposition it has met with in various quarters, the postponement of it, I think, will tend rather to advance than retard the

measure.

Order of the Day for the second reading of the Highways Bill put off till that day six months.

POOR REMOVAL BILL.

On the Motion that the Order of the Day for the committal of the Poor Removal Bill be postponed till Thursday,

On

vernment.

knew not; but he thought that he should | the hon. Member for Finsbury. As I undernot be far wrong in saying that that Bill stand the right hon. Baronet now, and as I would not pass this Session of Parliament. understood him before, it was his intention, Those who were responsible for it-those if he had continued in office, to go on with who had introduced it, had deserted it; this measure, and to add to its provisions and he would only add that consequently that the poor should not be removable under the working classes had been hardly dealt it without a union settlement. The right with, and that they had just cause to hon. Gentleman now thinks it better that complain of the conduct of the late Go- the Bill should be left in the hands of the present Government. Now, I assure the hon. Member for Finsbury, not only that we mean to proceed with this measure, but that it is the very first measure we mean to proceed with. But the House will do me the justice to recollect, that upon the instructions moved by the hon. Member for Malton, I expressed a very strong opinion as to union settlements, and considerable doubt whether, though they might be beneficial in certain cases, they would on the whole operate beneficially. Now, my right hon. Friend the Member for Devonport hopes on Thursday next to go into Committee on this Bill, and settle whether the period shall be five years or shorter, to enable poor persons who have resided in a particular district to establish their claim to relief in the district in which they have resided. With respect to that part of the Bill which relates to union settlement, I propose to leave out that part of the Bill, and to make it a matter for inquiry. The hon. Member for Evesham has given notice of a Motion for a Select Committee to inquire into the Poor Law; and I believe the right hon. Gentleman opposite was not prepared on the part of the late Government to offer any objection to a general inquiry into that subject. At any event, if there be any likelihood of this inquiry being prosecuted with effect in the present Session, or if not, then in the next Session, I would not object to an inquiry into the whole law of settlement-it is a most difficult and complicated question, and I think most important evidence can be received with respect to it. I am not satisfied now with the adoption of union settlements by this House without further inquiry; but I do trust that a Bill which will give all the benefits of the Bill as first introduced by the right hon. Gentleman, will pass during the present Session. Having said thus much with respect to the Poor Law Removal Bill, I may perhaps be permitted to make a short statement to the House. Her Majesty's Ministers have but lately accepted office; since that period they have been in distant parts of the country for the purpose of their elections, and, as they

SIR J. GRAHAM: Sir, before the noble Lord (Lord J. Russell) addresses the House, as the hon. Member for Finsbury has brought a charge against the late Government of a breach of faith, I hope the House will allow me to make a few observations. The hon. Gentleman says that the measure has been thrown over by the Government. I think he should have said that the Government itself has been thrown over, having lost the confidence of the House. If I had now been one of Her Majesty's advisers and enjoyed the confidence of the House, I should not have had the least difficulty as to this measure, and it would have been my duty to proceed with it. So far from the measure being abandoned, I am yet to learn that Her Majesty's present advisers will not, in the present Session, obtain the consent of Parliament to that important provision for giving the poor the great advantage of residence. I am of opinion, and I think the majority of the House is of that opinion, that this is the most important part of the measure; and my opinion is, that unless accompanied with a union settlement, many parts of the Bill will be attended with great hardship. I am willing that other parts of the Bill should be tried as an experiment; but I think that the parts which the hon. Member for Finsbury thinks of the most importance will prove harsh without a union settlement. I should say that such of the separate clauses of the Bill as had received the sanction of the majority of the House might pass into a law; but as to charging the late Government with a breach of faith, I assure the hon. Member that if we had remained in the service of Her Majesty it was our fixed intention to have proceeded with the measure, and I hope the noble Lord will proceed with it, and that it will pass and become law.

LORD J. RUSSELL: After what has passed, it may be convenient that I should state to the House the intentions of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the Poor Removal Bill, which may tend, in some degree, to remove the suspicions of

have not all assembled yet, I do not think it will be wise or advisable now to state the particular measures with which we shall proceed, or in what respect it may be advisable to adopt or alter the Bills now before the House; but I will take an early opportunity of making this statement, and I hope to do so on Thursday next. There is one subject in particular with respect to which I will make a statement on Thursday as to the day when I will bring forward my proposal-I mean the important question of the Sugar Duties. I am aware of the importance of that subject, and the injury done to the trade by a protracted suspense. I will therefore on Thursday next fix an early day for that discussion. I believe, also, it will be necessary to give notice of a Bill to continue for a further limited period the present duties, as the measure which I may introduce may give rise to considerable discussion, and it will not be desirable to lose the present amount of duties. I know not whether I have any further statement now to make to the House, and I trust that the House will give me till Thursday next to make the statement to which I have referred.

The

afforded to the inventor. Before long he was confident that the subject would attract a great deal of attention. The noble Lord entered into an examination of the correspondence, at various times laid upon the Table, and read an extract of a letter, dated the 25th of May, 1842, to show that Sir R. Peel had been mistaken, in point of fact, when he stated that Mr. Warner had required a direct promise of 400,000l. for his invention. He also read passages from letters to the Master General of the Ordnance and to other persons, in order, as he said, to remove the erroneous impression that Mr. Warner was a swindler and an imposter. His Lordship maintained the reverse; and insisted, on the authority of the whole body of pilots at Brighton, that when the experiment was tried off that town, there were no ropes hanging from the exploded ship but such as had been used to tow her from Shoreham. The noble Lord also adverted to the subsequent offer of Mr. Warner to communicate his secret to Sir G. Murray, Sir R. Peel, and the naval Lord of the Admiralty, and expressed his regret that they had not consented to investigate the matter. right hon. Baronet always, when applied to on the subject, paid great attention to it, as far as referring it to the ordinary channels; but on the latter being applied to, their invariable answer was, that they had no authority to act. The House was aware that there were two classes of inventions brought forward by Captain Warner -one which he denominated the "invisible shell," and the other, the "long range.' Now, Captain Warner had always been most anxious that the first of these inventions should be investigated, and placed before the country on its own merits, before the other was at all considered; and he had repeatedly expressed his regret to him (Lord Ingestre) that he had ever been induced to mention the subject of the long range until the subject of the invisible shells was first in some manner disposed of, as both together had to so great an extent been made topics of amusement and ridicule. It was agreed on by the ComVISCOUNT INGESTRE rose for the pur- missioners appointed to investigate these pose of again bringing under the notice of inventions, that the invisible shells should the House the invention of Mr. for he was first be investigated; but the correspontold that he must not call him Captain-dence which took place on this subject Warner. He was aware that he incurred ended in an offer to appropriate a sum of a great deal of ridicule by his perseverance 500l. to the experiment, though Captain on this subject; but he was aware, too, Warner had previously repeatedly stated of the value and originality of the dis- the amount which the trial would require; covery, and that no fair trial had yet been and it was, therefore, absurd to suppose

MR. WAKLEY had heard with great satisfaction the statement of the noble Lord. He had taken the right course on a subject which was of great importance, and had attracted great attention in the country. The noble Lord had promised an inquiry into the whole subject; and he, therefore, trusted that the Committee would be appointed early in the next Session, and that nothing further would now be done than giving the poor the protection of relief after a residence for a certain time. He believed the noble Lord to have proposed the best course, and he hoped it would receive the sanction of the House.

SIR J. PAKINGTON, also, expressed his high satisfaction at the course about to be taken by the noble Lord.

CAPTAIN WARNER'S INVENTIONS. On the Motion that the Speaker do leave the chair for the House to go into a Committee of Supply,