Feb. 14. The New Houses of Parliament--Order of the Day for the New Zealand Government Bill-Order of the Day for the House to go into Committee on the Bill, read-Clause 4 (after Debate), and Clauses 5 and 6, agreed to-House resumed-Report to be Supply-Mr. Anstey-Motion of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, 15. The Loss of the "Avenger"-Question and Explanation Portugal-The Protocol of May, 1847-Question Affairs of Italy-Motion of Dr. Bowring for the Production of ... Shipwrecks and Collisions of Merchant Vessels-Motion of Mr. Hume, For a Select Committee to consider whether in all cases of Shipwreck, and of Collisions of Merchant Vessels, at- tended with Loss of Life, an Inquiry as speedily after the Acci- dent, and as near as possible to the Place, should be appointed" Law of Landlord and Tenant (Ireland)-Motion of Sir William 66 16. Roman Catholic Relief Bill-Order of the Day for the House to go into Committee on the Bill, read-Amendment of Mr. Law, That the Bill be Committed that day Six Months"—Amend- The Bank Charter Act-Resolution moved by Mr. Herries, rela- 18. Government Control of Steamers-Question The Budget-Financial Statement-House in Committee of Ways and Means-Two Resolutions proposed pro formá, by Lord John Russell-1. For granting 8,000,000l. out of the Consolidated Fund, towards making good the Supply-Resolu tion to be reported-2. For Increasing the Income Tax from 21. Supply-Financial Statement-Order of the Day for the House to go into Committee of Supply, moved by the Chancellor of the Exchequer House in Committee-Motion of Mr. Ward, "For a Vote of 245,410l. 19s. 7d. to defray the Expense of the Naval Expenditure beyond the Grant of Last Year"-Vote withdrawn-A Vote of 800,000l. for the Wages of Seamen for the Ensuing Year," and Two other Votes agreed to-Motion of Mr. F. Maule, For a Vote of 1,800,000l. on Account for Passengers' Bill-Emigrant Vessels-The Second Reading of the 22. Expenditure of the Country-Motion of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, "For the Appointment of a Select Committee to Inquire into the Expenditure on account of the Navy, Army, and Ordnance, and to report their Observations thereon to the House; and also the Appointment of another Select Committee to Inquire into the Expenditure for Miscellaneous Services," &c.-Motion agreed to-Committee appointed ... The Slave Trade-Motion of Mr. Hutt, "For the Appointment of a Select Committee, to consider the Best Means which Great Britain can adopt for providing for the Final Extinction of the Slave Trade"-Motion agreed to ... 23. Treaty of Adrianople-Charges against Viscount Palmerston- Charges preferred by Mr. Anstey against Viscount Palmerston, respecting the Foreign Policy pursued by that Noble Lord- Reply of Viscount Palmerston, interrupted by the Speaker, intimating that the time for adjourning the House had arrived, and that the Debate must stand as an Order of the Day for the ... 1056 1091 ... 1132 ... 24. The Window Duties-Motion of Viscount Duncan for Leave to ... 25. Loans and Grants to Ireland-Question and Explanation Income and Expenditure-Order of the Day for the House to go into Committee of Supply, read-On the Motion that Mr. Speaker do now Leave the Chair-Amendment of Mr. Hume- "That it is expedient that the Expenditure of the Country should be Reduced not only to render the Increase of Taxation this Session unnecessary; but that the Expenditure should be Reduced as speedily as possible to admit of a Reduction of the present large Amount of Taxation"-Amendment negatived Caffre War - House in Committee of Supply-Motion of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, "That a sum not exceeding 1,000,000l. be granted to Her Majesty towards defraying the Expense beyond the Ordinary Grants for the year 1846-7 and 1847-8 for Army and Ordnance Service occasioned by the Caffre War"-Amendment of Mr. Hume, "That the Chairman report Progress, and obtain leave to sit again"-Amendment negatived-Division Lists, &c.-Vote agreed to-Vote of 245,410l. 198. 7d. for Navy Excess in 1846-7, also agreed to 1375 certain Article which appeared in the Northern Star newspaper The Ayes and the Noes on Mr. Law's Amendment to the House going into Committee on the Roman Catholic Relief Bill ... 757 The Ayes and the Noes on Mr. Herries's Resolution relative to the The Ayes and the Noes on Mr. Hume's Amendment to the Mo- HANSARD'S FIRST SESSION OF THE FIFTEENTH PARLIAMENT THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND, APPOINTED TO MEET 21 SEPTEMBER, 1847, AND FROM THENCE CONTINUED TILL 18 NOVEMBER, 1847, IN THE ELEVENTH YEAR HER MAJESTY QUEEN VICTORIA. SECOND VOLUME OF THE SESSION. MINUTES.] Took the Oaths. Several Lords. PETITIONS PRESENTED. From Clergy and others of Trigg Minor, and other places, against the Admission of Jews into Parliament.-From Cheltenham, and Liskeard, for the Removal of Jewish Disabilities.-From Oxford, for Alteration in the present System of Militia Service.- From the Magistrates and others of the Royal Burgh of Cupar, in Fife, for Alteration of Law respecting High- ways (Scotland).-From Masters of Workhouses, Reliev- ing Officers, and others connected with the Administra- tion of the Laws relating to the Relief of the Poor in England and Wales, for Provision and Superannuation of all Meritorious Officers who may become Permanently Disabled.-From Inhabitants of Launceston, Van Die- men's Land, for Preventing the further Transportation of Criminals to Van Diemen's Land.-From Cheltenham, in favour of the Health of Towns Bill.-From Inhabi- tants of Disley and Neighbourhood, for Imposing the Se- verest Penalties on all Roman Catholic Priests who shall Denounce Persons from the Altar.-From Inhabitants of MINUTES.] NEW MEMBERS SWORN. -For Lancaster PUBLIC BILLS.-1o Administration of Justice (No. 1); Ad- Petty Sessions; Protection of Justices from Vexatious 20 Land Tax Commissioners' Names. PETITIONS PRESENTED. From Electors of Cheltenham, respecting the Cheltenham Election.-By Mr. J. Dundas, from Tradesmen of Greenwich, for Abolishing the Privi- lege now granted to Members of Parliament of Freedom from Personal Arrest.-By a great many hon. Members, from various places, for and against the Removal of the Jewish Disabilities.-By Sir R. H. Inglis, from Bath Church of England Lay Association, against the Roman Catholic Charitable Trusts Bill; and from the Grand Protestant Associations of Loyal Orangemen of Roch- dale, Portsmouth, and Bury, complaining of the Conduct of the Roman Catholic Clergy (Ireland), and against the Roman Catholic Relief Bill.-By Mr. T. Baring, and other hon. Members, from several places, for Considera- tion of the West India Colonies.-By Mr. Baines, from of the country had been neglected, and that men of high character and reputation had made representations on the subject, not only to the present but to preceding Governments, which it was said had been disregarded. He wished to know, therefore, whether, if he moved to-morrow for a copy of any representations or statements as to the defences of the country which had been laid before Her Majesty's Advisers, there would be any objection to the Motion on the part of the Government? He considered, that if such representations had been made, the House ought to be in possession of them before they were asked to grant supplies for additional ar maments. LORD J. RUSSELL: I do not think there are any documents of an official nature of the purport referred to by the hon. Member which can be laid before this House. I stated, on a former occasion, when I asked the hon. Member for Middlesex (Mr. Osborne) to postpone a Motion of which he had given notice on the subject, that I would take an early opportunity of informing the House what had been done by former Governments and by the present Government in the way of naval and military defences; and I shall take the opportunity of giving that information when I lay the financial statement before the House. THE NAVIGATION LAWS. MR. ROBINSON wished to ask whether any correspondence or communication had taken place between the noble Lord the Secretary for Foreign Affairs and the Minister of the United States on the subject of the Navigation Laws; and, if so, whether the noble Lord intended to lay such correspondence on the table? have no objection whatever to lay these communications before Parliament, and I will endeavour to do so on an early day. ENCUMBERED ESTATES (IRELAND). MR. OSBORNE wished to ask at what period it was the intention of Her Mafacilitating the sale of encumbered estates jesty's Government to introduce a Bill for in Ireland? LORD J. RUSSELL: It will be intro duced in the other House of Parliament in a few days. THE LAW RELATING TO MAGISTRATES. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL then rose to move for leave to bring in four Bills: "A Bill to facilitate the performance of the duties of Justices of the Peace, out of Sessions, within England and Wales, with respect to persons charged with indictable offences:-A Bill to facilitate the performance of the duties of Justices Wales, with respect to summary convictions and of the Peace, out of Sessions, within England and orders:-A Bill to regulate the holding of Courts of Special Sessions and Petty Sessions:-and a Bill to protect Justices of the Peace from vexatious actions for acts done by them in execution of their office." Though there might be difference of opinion in the House as to the expediency of intrusting to the unpaid magistracy the large powers they now possessed, all must agree that it was the bounden duty of the Legislature to afford all possible assistance to gentlemen who discharged such duties as were devolved upon them. Now, at present, the law upon the subject was to be found scattered among many Acts of Parliament, and many recorded decisions of the courts; and it was difficult, if not almost impossible, for magistrates to exeVISCOUNT PALMERSTON: There has cute their various functions without being been a correspondence between the Ame- subject to prosecutions or actions in the rican Minister and myself on the subject honest performance of their duty. to which the hon. Gentleman refers. The felt that it would have been vain for him American Minister intimated to Her Ma- to attempt to put all this branch of the jesty's Government the disposition of the law into the shape of a code; he thought Government of the United States to go he should have discharged his duty if he hand in hand with the Government of this succeeded in putting into better form that country in any relaxation which Parliament portion of the law with which he now proand the Government might be disposed to posed to deal. With some labour, and asmake in our Navigation Laws. The an-sisted by others, he had collected all the swer Her Majesty's Government returned expressed their satisfaction at that communication, and stated that it was their intention to submit to Parliament a proposition on the subject, to which they hoped Parliament would give its sanction. I He statutes and decisions applicable to the proceedings and duties of magistrates in the commitment of parties chargeable with indictable offences; and he believed, that if he should receive the assistance of Gentlemen conversant with the subject, and if |