tion; the House will reject it. [See proceedings under the reports of the committee of the House of Commons, of which Mr. Warburton was the chairman, a few

years since.] As regards railway bills, no subscription contract will be valid, unless it be entered into subsequent to the day fixed in the Session of Parliament previous to that in which application is made for leave to bring in the bill to which it relates, as the last day on which petitions for private bills may be presented, and unless the parties subscribing to it bind themselves, their heirs, executors and administrators, for the payment of the money so subscribed. (H. C. 40.) The Lords' Order requires it to be entered into "subsequent to the commencement of the Session of Parliament previous to that in which application is made for the bill, &c." (H. L. 224, sec. 5.)

The subscription contract (in the case of other than railway bills) must (by the Orders of both Houses) be entered into subsequently to the close of the session previous to that in which application is made for the bill to which it relates. (H. C. 34. H. L. 224, sec. 5.)

In cases where the work is to be made by means of funds, or out of money to be raised upon the credit of present surplus revenue, belonging to any society or company, or under the control of directors, trustees, or commissioners, as the case may be, of any existing public work, a declaration (stating those facts and setting forth

the nature of such control, and the nature and amount of such funds or surplus revenue, and given under the common seal of the society or company, or under the hand of some authorised officers of such directors, trustees, or commissioners) may be substituted in lieu of the subscription contract, and in addition to the estimate of the expense. (H. C. 30. H. L. 224, sec. 2.)

Where the work is to be made out of money to be raised upon the security of the rates, duties or revenue, to be created by, or to arise under, any bill, under which no private or personal pecuniary profit or advantage is to be derived, a declaration (stating those facts and the means by which the funds are to be obtained for executing the work, and signed by the party or agent soliciting the bill, together with an estimate of the probable amount of such rates, duties or revenue, signed by the person making the same) may be substituted in lieu of the subscription contract, and in addition to the estimate of the expense. (H. C. 31, H. L. 224, sec. 3.)

Copies of the subscription contract must be delivered (printed at the expense of the proprietors, i. e. suitors for the bill) at the Vote Office previous to the presentation of the petition; and these copies must be accompanied by an alphabetical list of the subscribers' names, stating the amount of deposit paid up by each (or where a declara

tion and estimate of the probable amount of rates and duties are substituted in lieu of a subscription contract, copies of such declaration and estimate must likewise be so printed and delivered at the Vote Office.) (H. C. 35; H. L. 224, sec. 6.)

PART II.

CHAPTER I.

ORDER OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

66

[A railway bill must originate in this House, being regarded as a money bill," as it imposes burdens on the subject, and contains authority to levy tolls and rates in the shape of fares, &c. With regard, however, to alterations on this point introduced for this Session, see chapter on "Special practice for the present Session, 1846."]

Presentation of Petition for Bill.

No Private Bill can be brought into the House except upon a petition being first presented. (The petition must be in exact conformity with the notice in the gazette.) It must be signed by the parties or some of them who are suitors for the bill. (H. C. 101.) (All private bills also must be under the charge of a parliamentary agent, according to the practice of Parliament.)

A book, called "The Private Bill Register" is kept (in pursuance of Standing Order 126 of the

House of Commons) in the "Private Bill Office," in which are entered by the clerks appointed for the business of that office, the name, description, and place of residence of each parliamentary agent in town, and of the agent in the country (if any) soliciting the particular bill. In the same book are likewise entered all the proceedings from the petition to the passing of the bill—such entry specifying, briefly, each day's proceeding in the House or in any committee to which the bill or petition may be referred; the day and hour on which the committee is appointed to sit; the day and hour to which such committee may be adjourned, and the name of the committeeclerk. This book is open to public inspection daily, in the said office, between the hours of eleven and six. Any person (not a member of Parliament) may become a parliamentary agent, and is registered (as above described), upon subscribing a declaration in the Private Bill Office of the House that he will obey all the orders and pay all fees and charges when demanded, and if required, enter into a recognizance in 500l. to observe this declaration. This latter proceeding is not insisted on. In case of misconduct, an agent may be removed by the Speaker, who, however, is bound to state in writing the causes of such removal. An appearance (stating also the solicitor, if any) to act as parliamentary agent upon any bill is required before such bill