award hard labour and the costs of the prosecution in all cases.

SIR J. GRAHAM said, that the clause proposed by his hon. Friend was a very important one. He looked with very great jealousy to any extension of the powers to the Criminal Courts in the manner proposed by the clause. It required great consideration before they came to any decision on so important a change as the elause contemplated. He could not say he was quite prepared to oppose the clause until he had heard the reasons of his hon. Friend.

Trusts Bill.-From the Cuckfield and Chesterton Unions, for the Adoption of a Measure making the Landlords of Cottages where the Rents are under £6, liable to the Poor Rates. From the Burgh and Regality of Canongate, in favour of the Burghs (Scotland) Bill-From the High Constables of the City and Liberty of Westminster, and the several Divisions of the Hundred of Ossulston, praying to be heard by Counsel against the High Constables Bill. -From Burnley and Habergham Eaves, for the Better Observance of, and to prevent the Sale of Intoxicating Liquors on, the Sabbath.-From the Mayor, Aldermen, and others, of Doncaster, for the Adoption of a Measure for the Employment and Reformation of Discharged Prisoners. From Guardians of the Banbury Union, complaining of the frequent Introduction of Small Pox into that Union, and praying for a more complete and compulsory System of Vaccination.

THE CORN LAWS.

LORD ASHBURTON said, that he did not in any way wish to anticipate the important discussion on this subject which would shortly come before their Lordships. They were all aware of what had passed elsewhere. That information they gained from the Votes of the other House. He was now only anxious that when the Corn Bill did come before their Lordships there should be no delay, as far as he was con

MR. LAW explained, that the clause was merely an extension of the powers contained in sec. 63, chap. 74, of the Act of Geo. IV. He knew of several instances of aggravated assault, which had been very inadequately punished, in consequence of the provisions contained in the 7th Geo. IV. not meeting the case. By the present law, in case of conspiracy and of assault, the parties who brought the criminal to justice were not allowed the expenses of the prosecution. That had been the sub-cerned, occasioned by the calling for any ject of animadversion day after day for years, and it had not yet been remedied. The object of his clause was, to give the Criminal Courts the power of awarding reasonable costs in all cases prosecuted or tried before them.

Papers which he might consider requisite for the consideration of this most important subject. He did not wish to delay the discussion of the question, and therefore he would now move for two or three Papers which he thought their Lordships should have before them, before they proceeded to the discussion of the Government measure. Their Lordships were pro

SIR J. GRAHAM should feel greatly obliged if his hon. Friend would withdraw his clause for the present, and propose it again on the bringing up of the Report.bably aware, that that measure would have This would give him time to consider the matter, and as it was a very important subject, the clause should not at this moment be pressed.

Clause withdrawn.

The House resumed. Report to be brought up this day week.

House adjourned at ten minutes to Five o'clock.

HOUSE OF LORDS,
Thursday, May 7, 1846.

the important consequence of letting out of bond something like a million and a half of quarters of wheat. Now, that quantity was something like four or five times more than ever had been in bond during the last six or seven years. If the measure were passed at all, their Lordships ought to pass it with their eyes open, and with a full knowledge of all the consequences which it was likely have on the whole of the agricultural population of this country -a subject which, in Parliament as well as out of Parliament, was now treated with too much levity and indifference. He, with this view, therefore, should wish to have a Return, made up to the latest period, of the quantity of wheat and wheatflour, of oats, oatmeal, and barley, under bond in the United Kingdom. To this there could be no objection, and it was a return which could be made with great distinctness. Next, he should wish to have a return of the quantity of the same imnoble Lords, from several places, against the Charitable ported since the commencement of the pre

MINUTES.] PUBLIC BILLS,-1a Friendly Societies; Polling Places (Ireland).

2. Western Australia. Reported. Burghs (Scotland).

3 and passed. Railway, &c. Deposits; Deodands Abo. lition; Death by Accidents Compensation. PETITIONS PRESENTED. By Lord Redesdale, from Clergy and Dissenting Ministers of Wigan, for the Adoption of

a Ten Hours' Measure, and for the Better Regulation of

Factories.-By Lord Campbell, from Edinburgh and
Paisley, praying that a Bill may be passed for compensat
ing Proprietors of Lands for the Purchase of Sites for
Churches. By the Earl of Clarendon, and several other

sent year, and of the quantities entered | spoke from some practical knowledge of the for home consumption; and of the rate of subject, that the farmers had grievously duty paid thereon. He would also wish suffered from the delay in passing the Corn for a return of the amount payable for Bill. Noble Lords seemed to think that every 1007. of tithe assessed under the the home growers were to be perfectly deTithe Commutation Act for each year luged with wheat when they removed the since the passing of that Act down to dam and let in the grain now in bond, 1845 inclusive. which during the last six months should have been flowing in to the market in a regular current. He did not think that the farmer would suffer in consequence. The farmer had suffered considerably, and in some parts of the country the price of wheat had been lower, in consequence, as he believed, of foreign wheat not having been admitted. It was notorious that a great quantity of the last harvest's wheat was so bad from the wet and other causes, that it was utterly impossible to grind it without old and foreign wheat. He knew that in the north of England that was almost universally the case with the wheat; and he was convinced that in that part of the country, and he believed that throughout the kingdom, it would have been an immense advantage to the farmers if the ports had been opened in November or December last, so that they might have had foreign wheat to mix with their own inferior grain.

LORD BROUGHAM agreed in the necessity of having the important documents moved for by his noble Friend before them. His opinion decidedly was that the letting of that one and a half million of quarters out of bond would produce a fall in the price of the commodity; but he should endeavour at the proper time to satisfy their Lordships that that depression would be only temporary. After the delay which the Corn Bill had already experienced, he trusted that it would now be expedited as much as possible. He hoped, also, that the Land Burdens Committee would endeavour to lay their important Report upon the Table of the House as early as possible.

EARL FITZWILLIAM recommended that the statement should extend back to the year 1828, when the last Corn Bill but one was passed. The information might be on the Table in another form; but it was desirable that the same Paper should contain the whole. The quantity of corn in bond at present was unusually great; but it was to be accounted for by the fact that the present Corn Bill had been virtually announced, and before the country for the last six months; and that being the case, of course no merchant in his senses would hurry to take his corn out of bond.

The DUKE of RICHMOND said, that there never was more corn upon the farmers' hands than at this moment. If the corn now in bond had been let in to consumption, he believed that the price of corn would have been much lower. The delay, however, in passing the Corn Bill had prevented that great reduction in price; and so far the farmer had been a gainer by it. They talked of that question as if it were settled. He (the Duke of Richmond) did not believe that it was settled, for he could not imagine that so many noble Lords on the Ministerial side of the House had changed their opinions; and he thought that there were still some fixed duty advocates on the opposition, who would not be induced by a party feeling to vote against their consciences.

EARL GREY was of opinion, and he

LORD BEAUMONT said, he should probably be able to lay the Report of the Land Burthens Committee upon the Table of the House early next week; and he should hope for great and important measures resulting from that Report.

Motion agreed to, Returns ordered.

VENTILATING THE HOUSES OF
PARLIAMENT.

The MARQUESS of CLANRICARDE was understood to inquire whether Mr. Gurney was to be permitted to give evidence and to submit estimates for ventilating the New Houses to the Committee now sitting.

VISCOUNT CANNING said, that some years ago a Committee of both Houses had recommended the adoption of Dr. Reid's system of ventilation, and they had voted sums of money to carry it into effect. Mr. Gurney had made an application to him (Viscount Canning) upon the subject; but he conceived that in a matter of this nature, on which a Committee of the House had expressed a decided opinion, it did not become him to depart from the usual course. If, however, their Lordships thought fit, and the Committee now sitting reported that an experiment should

be made of Mr. Gurney's system, there was no objection on the part of Her Majesty's Government to give it a fair trial.

LORD CAMPBELL said, the cause of complaint seemed to be getting worse and worse. When he came down to the House in a morning, the air was not respirable; it was really quite stifling. He was therefore most anxious that Mr. Gurney should have a trial, for it was impossible he could make the air worse than it was.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA BILL.

LORD LYTTELTON moved the Second Reading of the Bill for the better Government of the Colony of Western Australia, the principal provisions in which his Lordship briefly explained.

should be given to it; and he had strong hopes, almost amounting to a certainty, of being able, in the course of the Session, to introduce some measure upon the subject.

Bill read 2a.

OPPOSED RAILWAY BILLS.

LORD REDESDALE said, it was important both to their Lordships and the public, that there should be some certainty as to the time after which the House would not name Select Committees for the

consideration of opposed Private Bills. It very often happened that as the Session advanced, doubts arose in the minds of the promoters of Bills whether they would have time to carry their measure through that House; and, therefore, it was desirable to give notice of the last day upon which Committees would be appointed to decide on Bills which were opposed. The day he proposed to name was ten weeks from Monday next; because, beyond that period there would be great difficulty in obtaining Committees to sit on Bills so as to give them due consideration. He begged to

move

EARL GREY was glad to find that some amendments were about to be made in the government of this Colony, but he could not approve of all the provisions of the Bill. His opinion was, that the ancient system, by which Colonies were allowed to manage their own affairs, was infinitely safer, wiser, and better than that which of late years had been pursued. The condition of the whole government of Australia required immediate redress, and to be put in a con"That the Committee appointed by the House dition for permanent improvement. Un-to name the Select Committees for the Considerless something was done with this view, ation of Opposed Private Bills shall not name we could not expect the Colony to make any such Committee on any Opposed Railway that progress which, from its natural ad- Bill after Monday, the 20th of July." vantages, it might be expected to exhibit. With these opinions, if he entertained the least hope of success, he would give his opposition to the Bill in its present shape; but as he had no anticipation of any great support, he would not give their Lordships any trouble upon the subject.

LORD LYTTELTON thought it would be most unfair to throw the burden incident to self-government upon the Colony, without knowing the sentiments of the olonists.

The EARL of WICKLOW thought the proposed interference most unjust. There never had been such an accumulation of business as during the present Session, and many of these Bills had been suspended, in order to give precedence to Bills introduced by Government. The Bill introduced by the noble Lord the President of the Board of Trade (the Earl of Dalhousie) suspended all Railway Bills; and he considered the practical effect of that measure, together with the Resolution now proposed, would be to deprive the country of those

The DUKE of RICHMOND complained that nothing had been done by Her Ma-projected railways which had been brought jesty's Government as regarded convicts. If some means were not taken for their improvement, he should, as an independent Peer of Parliament, feel it his duty to move for a Select Committee of Inquiry; for in no country calling itself Christian was there a class in a worse state of depravity than were the unfortunate men who had been transported.

LORD LYTTELTON assured the noble Duke that Her Majesty's Government had given to this subject the consideration which on a former occasion he promised

before Parliament at great expense. Why should a particular period be fixed when it was not known whether Parliament would sit so long? The Resolution, under any circumstances, would have the effect of throwing out a vast number of Bills, and in his opinion it would be unjust both towards the promoters and the public to adopt it.

LORD REDESDALE, in reply, stated that so far from private business in that House being in arrear this Session, he had never known it so advanced. A large

The LORD CHANCELLOR: My noble and learned Friend should not be quite so credulous in believing the rumours which have reached him. Perhaps they may have been circulated only for the purpose of teazing my noble and learned Friend.

body of Railway Bills had been commenced | curred in the measures which he proin that House, which was a novel proceed-posed. ing; many of them were now in progress through the House of Commons, and a considerable number had come up from the House of Commons, some of which were now before their Lordships' Committees. Last Session their Lordships had no Bills before them until a late period, yet they got through a larger amount of business than he had ever known before, and he feared that more railways were then sanctioned than would be advantageous. The present Motion was not made for the sake of the House, but for the sake of the parties themselves who had Railway Bills to promote; for they would know what chance they had of getting through that House when they knew the exact time up to which opposed Bills might go before Committee.

Resolution agreed to.

LORD DENMAN said, the Deodands Bill proposed to abolish a remnant of a barbarous and absurd law, and he therefore hoped the Bill would pass: and as deodands were the only security now against death being caused by reckless conduct, the abolition was a strong argument in favour of the other Bill. He thought his noble and learned Friend was far too sensitive; for he believed that when these measures came to be well considered, the other House would be convinced both of their merits and their necessity: if they passed, infinitely more care would be taken for the preservation of the lives of Her

DEODANDS ABOLITION, AND DEATH BY Majesty's subjects than those who were

intrusted with them at present thought necessary.

66

LORD CAMPBELL: There is one objection to these Bills which I have heard. It has been said, Suppose the Lord Chancellor were to meet with an untimely end by a railway accident, which we all pray may never occur, how would the Jury estimate the loss to his family? What would be considered as the value of the tenure of his office? [The LORD CHANCELLOR: Hear, hear!] What would be considered a fair compensation to be awarded to his family for their loss?" I have that regard for my noble and learned Friend that I hope his valuable life will never be exposed to any such peril. A railway company would be extremely sorry if my noble Friend were to have a limb broken through any negligence of theirs, because then he might bring an action and recover; but they would not care one farthing if his invaluable life were at once extinguished, because they would then say, "the law affords no remedy against us whatever.' For the sake, therefore, of my noble and learned Friend, though I hope he will never require the security, I do trust these Bills will meet with that support in another place which they have so unanimously re

ACCIDENTS COMPENSATION BILLS. LORD CAMPBELL moved the Third Reading of these two Bills. The noble and learned Lord said he was sorry to announce that a disastrous rumour had reached his ears, that when these Bills went elsewhere, although they had both been passed unanimously by their Lordships, they were likely to meet with the same fate they experienced last Session. He would only say that the principle of these Bills was approved of by the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Chief Justice, by all the law Lords, and by the Judges of England. All the law Lords in that House had most deliberately considered them, and he supposed they were quite competent to form a sound judgment. Notwithstanding all this, he was told they were immediately to be thrown out of the other House, that deodands were still to be continued, and that if deaths took place by gross negligence, there was to be no compensation. He could only invite the attention of Her Majesty's Government to the subject, and express his earnest desire that the noble Duke opposite (the Duke of Wellington) would draw the attention of Her Majesty's Ministers in the other House to these Bills, hoping it would be borne in mind that this was the only civilized country in the world where, under such circum-ceived in this House. stances, the law afforded no relief.

The DUKE of WELLINGTON said, his noble and learned Friend had spoken to him some time ago on the subject of these Bills, and for himself he fully con

The LORD CHANCELLOR: There is a much more difficult case to estimate for compensation than the one which my noble and learned Friend has had the kindness to suggest. If my noble and learned Friend

{COMMONS} should unfortunately fall a sacrifice, how would any jury be able to estimate the value of his hopes?