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Northern Star (1837-1852), 9th March 1850, Edition 2 of 3, Page 7, £^r t criminal Court

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      Y^ Lw®- - T^^Q^Mm ^A^ ¦ 7 P Criminal Cou...

      y ^ lW ® - - T ^^ Q ^ mM ^ A ^ ¦ 7 P

      £^R T Criminal Court

      £ ^ r t criminal Court

      -* Rt^Nined Its Sittings Monday Before T...

      - * rt ^ nined its sittings Monday before Tlii » con «^ flie Lord Mayor , the Recorder , f lTSs W BK ; Sfr C . Marshall , and Salomons , S <^ ' 5 ^ ?^ £ ^ 2 r Ttfs ^ f j ?* . « Under sheriffs , At , & c—The cal-S ^ JJJSJnam es of 185 prisoners for trial at ^ r S ^ SBBEBY . -William Bradley sor-CB **? , Xe his trial upon a charge of stealing jgnded w ^ i tf and seventeen and a half yards fl ^ Jdi nroner ty of George Stagg and another . — 5 ^* 5 Srf fl * i n ^^ en are Messrs . Stagg JfcePj ^ " ^ ho carry on an extensive business an * ^ , nd silk mercers , in Leicester-square ; s iraposr ^ that on the 24 th of Dec . the day and 'ST flie alleged felony was said to have heen o *?!» a the prisoner had heen in tbeir service as 600111 o for a period of four years . Upon the day sbopi ^ H according to the evidence for the proj , qo 25 " . ' jonsequence of some suspicion that was in hicn tne

      se ined ° ^ manner w prisoner conente ^ V-jujgi ^ awatch was set upon his pr pceed-- ^ and he was observed to cut off a portion of a i >!& ~ r Tdvet , and also to take a silk dress , and he ^^ dsced both the articles between some boxes ^ f / { he counter . It seemed that anions the -Maers of the prosecutor was a French milliner "fj ^ ssniaker , named Madame Rontens . who car-\ i oaher business in Charles-street , Soho-square , athis Wy « it appeared had a credit account with A ? firm anu on tue monun S the 24 th December a 2 L ^ d wassent by her to the shop for some trifling j L p , which were furnished to her by the prisoner , ^ ffluly entered . La ter in the day a boy , also in the servies of Madame Routens , went to the pro-Motor ' s shop to fetch two pairs of gloves and . some Sjjgng lining , and the pris'jner served him , and vhen be had tied up these articles he was observed tanbce the velvet and the silk into the parcel , and

      £ 2 boy left the shop , it appeared to De tne custom If the prosecutor ' s business , that the shopman iLinT supplied any article upon credit , tbe cusrl ' o sb 0 Uld immediately cause an entry to be made K deft employed for that purpose , and it appeared Srf the winner had caused the gloves and the £ ng to be entered , but made no mention at the £ e " of the other articles . Immediately upon the E leaving the shop , he was followed and brought w « - and the silk and velvet were found in his pos-Sn and it appeared tbatalmost , at the same Salt the p risoner went a second time to the enterteS rk , aid required him to make an entry of fe < ilk and velvet being sent to Madame Routen s

      on approval , and it was alleged on tne parcot tne Section tbatth * prisoner did not do this until W that the boy bad been brought back with the property . Upon the prisoner being questioned , he Lerted that he had caused the entry otthe goods to be properly made , and also said that Madame Kontens had given him the order for the velvet and the satin on the previous day at her own house ; but the prosecutors not being satisfied with the explanation given to them , gave the prisoner in charge , { aid be was examined at Marlborough-street Police Court , when the magistrate , upon hearing the defence set up by the prisoner , directed that Madame Bonten s should be sent for , and upr . n her evidence le dismissed the charge against the prisoner . It appeared that after this Mr . Humphreys , the solicitor far prisoner , wrote to the prosecutors , and applied

      on his behalf for some wages that were due to bun , and at the same time required that they should make a written acknowledgment that there was no foundation for the charge ' ihey had preferred against him , snd stating that unless they did so the only alternative the p risoner would have to clear his character KOnld be to bring all the facts before a jury . Tbe odv notice taken of this letter by the prosecutors vas to refer -Vr . Humphreys to their solicitor , and it appeared that sborily afterwards the present indictment was preferred before the grand jury ; but in reference to this part of the r-ase Mr . Stagg stated that before Mr . Humphreys' letter was received , Jirecaons bad been given to bis solicitor to proceed with the case by preferring a bill before the grand jnrv , notwithstanding the charge having been disiaBjed bv the magistrate . The counsel for the

      prisouer cross-examined the several witnesses for tbe prosecution at considerable length , and endeavoured to show that the prisoner had given ^ the prosecutors warning shortly before the transaction , and that he was about to setup in business on his own account in die neighbourhood of the prosecutor ' s shop ; but the evidence did not show either of the allegations to be founded on fact . —Mr . Clarkson , in addressing the jury for the defence , complained of the manner in which the prosecution had been got up , and urged the unfairness of Madame Rontens not being called as a witness , when it was well known that the prisoner had all along asserted his innocence , and that fids lady had actually engaged him to supply her with the articles in question . The learned counsel then commented at c . nsider-ible length upon the facts of the case , and said that it appeared perfectly clear that the prosecution was only instituted by the

      prosecutors in order to shield themselves from the conseqnences of tbe legal proceedings with which th-y were threa tened on behalf of the prisoner . —Madame Eoutens , the lady referred to , was then called as a witness for the prisoner . She stated that she had been a customer of Messrs . Stasg and Mantle for nearly five years , and as the prisoner spoke French hegenerally served her with the articles she required , aad Mr . Mantle had himself requested hiai to pay particular attention to her ; and during tbe last year and a half the prisoner had been in the habit of visiting her and her husband , and they were en friendly terms . The witness then said that on the Fridav

      before the 24 th of December tbe prisoner was at her home , and she requested him to send her the velvet and silk , the former being required for the purpose of making seme bonnets that were ordered ; but the silk was to be returned if it was sot approved of . She also said that the prisoner came again to her house oa tbe Sunday , and she complained of his not having applied thearticles in question . —This testimony was confirmed by two other witnesses . —Mr . Ballantine havingrepliedupon this evidence , the Recorder summed up , and tbe jury almost immediately returned a verdict of " Not Guilty . "—The prisoner was ordered to be immediatt-ly discharged .

      Robbekt bt a Clerk . —John Macarthy , aged 40 , clerk , was convicted of stealing the sum of £ 40 , the property of his master , Henry Dolan and others . — Tiie facts tf the case were that the prisoner had been fer twelve months in the employment of the prosecutors , who are the army agents , of St . Martin ' slane , and wassent . on tbe 4 th of February , with a cheque for the amount in question to the Commenrial Bank , where he got it cashed , and absconded . Nothing more was heard of him till the 35 th nit , when he came to the police-station in an intoxicated state , and gave himself up , a'leging that he had lost the mocey . —The prisoner made the same defence this day . —The court sentenced him to Qitteen months' imprisonment and hard labour ,

      Bcsglasy . —T . Cocker , 21 , was indicted for a burglary in the dwelling-house of Mr . James Eades , asd stealing £ 7 10 s . his money . —The robbery imputed to the prisoner was committed under aggiavated circumstances . The prosecutor , who is a poor fMlabonriugman , residing at TJxbridge , had saved up ihe amount in question out < f his hard earnings , and it was placed in a box in his bed mom , and it appeared thst the prisoner having watched him out of his cottase on the 12 th of February , took the opportunity to break into tbe house and stole the whole Ofthe old man ' s hoard . He was taken into custody soon afterwards , when £ l 12 s . was found in his possesion , and amongst the cuius so fonnd was a shilling with a holein itwhich the prosecutor positively

      , identified as having been stolen from him , with tbe other money . —Thejuryfound the prisoner " Guilty , " and he wassentenced to be transported for ten years . . B- bbeey . —Marie Sells , 45 , a Frenchwoman , was indicted for stealing twenty-seven sovereign ? , a gold ? aich , and other articles , the property of James Rmst , her master . —The prisoner , it appeared , had introduced herself to the prosecutor , who is a landin g-waiter in the Custom House , and representing that she was the widow of a person who had formerley been engaged as an interpreter at Dover , and that she was in great distress , he humanely interested himself in her behalf and engaged her to act as his servant until something permanent could be

      provided f « r her . It sppeared that while so engaged sne took advantage ofthe prosecutor ' s absence while fcjgapa in his duty to steal the money and the other ^{¦ tes mentioned in the indictment , and started for f ^ Z stone ky the railway , but tbe prosecutor having "nnnatel y discovered his loss he employed the aectric telegraph , and the result was that the prisoner was taken into custody at Folkstone with the F « aterpart of the stolen property in her possession . "• The jury returned a verdict of" Guilty . ' '—The P"secutor recommended the prisoner to the merciful tonsideration of the court , on the ground that she ? asa foreigner , and that he had himself shown some ^ prudence by allowing her to see where he deposi ted the money . —The Recorder sentenced the feaer to be kept to hard labour for six months .

      3jedals Of James Moris02? , The Htgbist,...

      3 JEDALS OF JAMES MORIS 02 ? , THE HTGBIST , AXD GREAT JIEDICAL REFORMER , « aycehaflof all the Agents for the sale of Morison ' s Pills . ITJCE ONE SHILLKG EACH , % InBronze , 10 s . fid 5 in Silver , 2 J . ; in Cold , 1 SL fteiniiBartal HAEVEr proclaimed me circulation of the ^ sbs 2 io ^ v-, thenvgeistnroclahned--Sf — ^ t he rital principle is in the blood . Ijjjjp —' 1 ° ah diseases arise from impurity of . the jj ? % — -Hat such impurity can only be eradicated by a {^ gbve ath a iUorison's Vegetable Universal Medicine fid "tisu CoL * * Se of Health , Uew-roau , London . ( jtjj ^—I & at the , £ aaly poisons used as medicines by the •^ are totally uu necessary in the cure of diseases .

      Sw ^F-Nshrso Has 1 ^Commenced On The Twe...

      sW f-nsHrso has 1 ^ commenced on the Tweed , jj ^ . close time of fou » * months . The river is i at condition and a good season is expected .

      Ittttenwfjarttariftm.

      IttttenwfJarttariftm .

      Saturday March 2. House Of Commons.—The ...

      SATURDAY March 2 . HOUSE OF COMMONS . —The O'Coknob Law Company . —Sir B . HAix . rose pursuant to notice , to present two petitions , one signed by twenty-ei «* ht allottees in the Minster Lovel estate , and the other by forty-five allottees in the Sni g ' s End estate complaining of the conduct of Mr . 0 ' Connor in re ^ ference to the Land scheme . He had forwarded a copy of the petitions to the hon . member for Nottingham , to whom he proposed to ask a question on the subject , but beyond that he should refrain from making any comment on the allegation of the petitioners , or to enter at all into the merits of the case , nor did he propose even to state the substance of the petitions , as he was anxious to avoid saying anything which might give rise to angry discussion . He would simply move that one of the petitions be read by the clerk at the table .

      Several hon . members—The prayer , what is the prayer ? SirB . Hauc , - would rather leave it to the clerk to read the prayer as well as the allegations of the petitioners . The petitions having been brought up , the clerk proceeded to read the one from Snig ' s End . It stated ' * That the petitioners were members of the Land Company of which Mr . F . O'Connor was the chief promoter , and that Uiey were aUottees ofthe estate at Snig ' s End ; that thev had been induced to join the Company bytlie aUuriug ' statements contained in certain letters written by Mr . O'Connor , and published by him in his newspaper , the Northern Star—the benefits granted to the members ofthe Company were , to the holders of two shares , for which £ 212 s . was charged , two acres of good land , a comfortable houseand £ 15 ; of three shares three acres of land , a

      , house , and £ 2210 s . ; and of four shares four acres of land , a house , and £ 30 ; the house and land to be aUottedto them oii such conditions as should enable them to become freeholders , and to live in comparative comfort and independence on the produce of their own property—that they had confidence in Mr . O'Connor , knowing him to be a barrister and a man ot considerable experience , and in an evil hour al ' . owed themselves to be deluded by his representations , and to leave their employment to setile on these allotments : that no one of the many promises made to them by Mr . O'Connor had been fulfilled ; that the petitioners were informed before they took possession of their auotments that they would be well tiUed and manured , and prepared for cropping , but that the amount of labour bestowed on the land was wholly insufficient , and that the petitioners were charged most exorbitantly for all

      that had been done ; that , in consequence , their , means had been exhausted ; thattheyhad been going wrong ever since ; that all their , capital was expended on the land , and that the return had been wholly insufficient to enable them to obtain even the common necessaries of life ; Uiat , although , as they could prove , no industry had been wanting on their part to tiU aud sow the ground , many of them never tasted animal food or malt liquor , but were compelled to subsist on cabbages , turnips , and such like vegetables , and had been unable to procure a single article of clothing ; that the property was whoUy vested in Mr . O'Connor , and , as they believed , had been conveyed to him , and was his absolutely iu law ; that he had never given any conveyance

      ofthe allotments to tbe petitioners , as promised ; but had , on the contrary , exercised the power of distress as a landlord , though , as the petitioners believed , UlegaUy ; that until the report of tiie committee of the House of Commons appointed to inquire into the subject , they were not aware that the scheme was illegal ; that without disputing the general accuracy of the accounts of Messrs . Grey and Fiulaison , the auditors , there was one item they did not understand , that was , the amount which was stated by them to have been advanced in aid . It was stated in their accounts that Mr . O'Connor had paid £ 1 , 400 to the aUottees on the estate , but from inquiries the petitioners had made from house to house they could not ascertain that more than £ S 3 a had been advanced on that account

      The petition concluded by praying the house to take their case into consideration , and to devise means for relieving them from the consequences of belonging , through uo fault of their own , to an iUegal society , and by a commission of inquiry or otherwise to obtain information as to the true state of the estate and the occupiers , with the view of winding up the undertaking-. Sir B . TJall would now put the question of which he had also given the hon . member for Nottingham notice . The question he wished to put was whether the hon . and learned member intended to convey to the allottees the title be himself held in his property , or to take any steps to wind up the concern , either by means of a bill or otherwise , and what was the amount , he calculated , would be returned to each ofthe 7 , 000 shareholders . ( Hear . )

      Mr . P . O'Coxxoa would first answer the hon . baronet ' s , question , and then proceed to reply to the statements contained in tbe petition . Mr . Hume rose to order—be wished to know whether that house was prepared to enter into any or every petition which , might be presented respecting all the speculations of past years ? ( Hear . ) If the House of Commons were to become the arbiters in tbe case of disputed accounts arising out of such speculations , where was to be the limit ? ( Cheers . ) And if questions as to the private affairs ef hon . members were allowed to be put and answered in that house , , what controversies and difficulties , and what delay in the progress of public business might not result ? ( Cheers . ) He appealed to the chair , therefore , whether the question which

      had been put was a proper one . ( Hear , hear . ) There was an act of parliament to facilitate the winding up of joint-stock schemes , which might be made applicable to the present case ; but , whether or not , it was not for the House of Commons to become the arbiters between the parties . ( Hear , hear . ) Tbe Speaker said it was the practice when a petition was presented reflecting on the character of any hon . member , to indulge that member so fatas to allow him to give any explanation or to make any defence he might think necessary . ( Hear , hear . ) Therefore , a petition having been presented reflecting on the character of the hon . and learned member for Nottingham , if that hon . and learned member desired to enter into any defence or give any explanation in reference to the matters alleged against him in the petition , he was , according to

      the usage of the house , at liberty to do so . ( Hear . ) But with regard to the questions which had been put by the hon . member for Marjlebone , he had much doubt whether they were strictly in order—( hear)—inasmuch as they related not to any measure before the house , and , strictly speaking , all questions put in that house should refer to some measure before it . ( Hear . ) Sir B . Hall would then confine himself to this , which he submitted would , be strictly in order . It would he recollected that there was a bill introduced in 1543 in reference to this Land Company , which bill was referred to a select committee , but was not afterwards proceeded with . He wished to know if it was the intention of the hon . member to renew any measure of that kind in the present session , or to take any steps to wind up this scheme ? ( Hear . )

      Mr . O Cox son said that he would first reply to the queries of tbe hon . baronet , and then he would call the attention of the house to the malicious fabrications contained in tbe petition presented by Mm . Firstly , then , with regard to the winding up of the Company , the hon . baronet was aware that he ( Mr . O'Connor ) was anxious to assign the whole property , now vested in him , to trustees , for the benefit of the members . The noble lord , the member for Bath ( Lord Ashley , ) was one of those he proposed , and the hon . member for Rochdale ( Mr . S . Crawford , ) was the other ; and to prove the great interest that the hon . gentleman feels for bis

      dupes , he wonld tell the house that the hon . baronet told him ( Mr . O ' Connor ) exnltingly , that Lord Ashley would have nothing to do with it . ( Laugh . ter . ) Then as to the question of winding up , he ( Mr . O'Connor ) had paid moneys out of his own pocket to insure the complete registration ofthe Company—it was set down for hearing upon the last day ofthe last term in the Queen ' s Bench , but by some fatality or other it was postponed , notwithstanding the deep interest that was expressed on behalf of the subscribers . ( Hear , hear . ) But to come pertinently to the question , he told the house that it was his intention to have the affairs ofthe Company wound up , and he would take the advantage of the very earliest day that the government would grant him . ( Hear , hear . ) Tbe petition , however ,

      was the subject to which he wished to call the attention of . the house—that petition was confided to the guardianship ofthe hon . baronet , who had been counsel for tbe government upon the committee . ( " Order , order . " ) Ay , and there , opposite him , sat the Judge Advocate , who was chairman of that committee , and who stated that he had spent six mortal days in preparing his report , but which report was unanimously rejected by the committee . He was the tool of the government . ( Order , order . " ) Did the right hon . gentleman as critically scrutinize all the juggling of the Commissioners of Woods and Forests , for he sat upon that committee too ? They had bad committees to inquire into the conduct of Ecclesiastical Commissionersthe Woods and Forests Commissioners—into the

      management of Radways and Savings Banks—but had the affairs connected with those juggles been as minutely criticised as the affairs ofthe Land Company ? And would any man , connected with any of them , be able to give suchan account of their affiars as he ( Mr . O Connor ) could give ofthe Land Company ? He would now proceed to read the report unanimously accepted by the aommitt ^ A ( "Order order . " ) w eu , if if S coSy £ order to defend his character in that house , he would briefly state the substance of the renort which was to the effect that although the aXnts " were regularly kept , that irregularity told against bun ( Mr . O'Connor ) and not in his favour . The

      government auditor who examined those accounts was fully occupied for two or three weeks , and for the last four days , as he stated in his evidence before the court of law , for fifteen hours a day . He ( Mr . O'Connor ) did not profess to keep his accounts ike a practised banker or merchant , but he produced Ms bankers' books , the cheques given upon each bank , and the block of those cheque books , in a majority of eases , receipted by the parties who received the moneys . The account was submitted to another , though not a more experienced auditor , and he confirmed its accuracy . Those . auditors stated that the Company owed Mm ( Mr . O'Connor )

      Saturday March 2. House Of Commons.—The ...

      * 8 , 400 . TJpoh the following year the accounts from that date were submitted to a Finance Committee of seven interested and- intelligent men , and were previously ., submitted , . to the government accountant ; and that committee reported that the Company owed him . ( Mr . O'Connor ) , an additional sum of £ 1 , 200 , making a total of £ 4 , 600 . In none of those accounts was there a fraction charged for his ( Mr . O ' Connor ' s ) expenses , out of pocket , which . frequently amounted to £ 3 1 ) a-week , for visiting estates in Devonshire , Cumberland , and various parts of the country , and then attending auctions to bid for those estates . Uo interest charged upon the £ 3 , 400 in the last balance-sheet ; and it was his pride , and his boast to say , that he

      never gave a bill on behalf of that Company—that he never accepted a presentfrom tradesmen , to whom he had paid thousands of pounds , although valuable ones had been offered him . ( Hear . ) And it was his pride to be able to stand in that house , or in a court of justice , to be tested as he was , and defy mortal man to charge him with a mean , a dishonest , « r an ungentlemanlike act . But , he would now come to the pith and marrow of the petition presented by the honourable baronet , which had been skillfully drawn up by an artful attorney . . ( Order , order . ) Well , he would come to the consideration of the question . The petitioners charge him ( Mr . O'Connor ) with having set down £ 1 , 400 in his balancesheet as Aid Money , given to the allottees at Snig ' s

      End , while they state that—now , mind now—after going from house to house , and after more than 20 have left—that those remaining had hot received more than £ 835 . Now figures were stubborn things , and he would bring the house to the report of Mr . Grey , the auditor . Upon that estate hej-eports that there are thirty-four four-acre allotments , thirteen three-acre , and thirty-six two-acre . He reports that four four-acre allotments had been transferred to parties who were not ballotted , one threeacre allotment , and four two-acre allotments , which would leave thirty four-acres , twelve three-acres , and thirty-two two-acres , making in all two hundred and twenty acres , which , at £ 5 to the acre , would amount to £ 1 , 100 ; and , no doubt , the .

      parties now presenting their petition made no inquiries as to those who left . ( Hear , hear . ) But if his account was to be taken in its entirety , like all other accounts , and admitting that his accounts had been imperfectly , though honestly kept , he would call their attention to an important fact—namely , that Mr . Grey gave him credit for £ 1 , 538 Aid Money for tbe Minster Lovel occupants , while he ( Mr . O'Connor ) held Mr . Doyle ' s balance-sheet in his handone of the directors who zealously and honestly managed tbe affairs on that estate , and paid all the money—and in that balance-sheet , the honourable baronet would find theso items : " For allottees , £ 1 , 400 ; for allottees , £ 347 16 s . 8 R " . These items , including some tradesmen ' s bills which

      were not otherwise charged ; thus showing £ 210 in his ( Mr . O'Connors ) favour ; while Mr . Clarkanother director , to whom he ( Mr . O'Connor ) had given £ 500 to pay to some ef . the allottees at Snig ' s End—returned £ 105 , for which the Company got credit ;' and let it be strictly borne in mind , that this government audit was made before Mr . Clark ' s account of the Aid Money he paid could be . rendered . Now he ( Mr . O'Connor ) thoug ht that these items would show a balance in bis ( Mr . O ' Connor ' s ) favour , while he was now ready ag ain to submit the whole accounts to the strictest and most searching audit .. ( Hear , bear . ) What did he care for money ? If lie had a hundred thousand pounds , or a million , he would spend every fraction of it in rescuing the

      slavish labourer from the gripe of the capitalist . ( " Oh , oh . " ) Ay , and he . would tell them more , that he had offered to surrender tho whole of the amount due to him , if the ungrateful vipers , who wore ? actuall y plundering the poor unloeated members ,, would surrender their miserable hovels and barren soil . Suppose such a fact as this could be urged against him ( Mr . O'Connor ?) Suppose he bad induced poor men to invest their hard-saved earnings in a fund of which he ( Mr . OConnor ) was the trustee ? and suppose he had applied those funds to the erection of a- bridge across a brook , and the construction of an avenue from the high road to his house ? And suppose he told his juggled dupes that their moneys had been invested in the

      purchase of property—that the deeds were buried under the foundation stone of that bridge , and that the depositors could only receive interest upon their capital ? Uow , did the lion , hart ., who presented the petition , ever hear of such a case as that ? And what would be tbe manifestation of reprobation against him ( Mr . O'Connor ) if he had practised such a juggle f But , to show that one man will be scoffed at , while another will be ealogised for the same act , let him call their attention to a great fact— " It is now ascertained , by practical experience , that a man can support himself , wife , and family , upon two acres of land costing £ 2 S , including conveyance . Richard Cobden , M . P ., Wm . Scholefield , M . P ., patrons . " That was

      advertised in several newspapers ; and he ( Mr . O'Connor ) did not repudiate it , because he believed it . ( A laugh . ) Ay , those landed proprietors might laugh , but let him assure them that they now had but the option of bringing their land into the retail market or being bankrupt . But let them look on that picture and on this— " It is now ascertained , by practical experience , that : a man and his family must starve upon four acres of land , -costing £ 50 . an acre , highly cultivated , tons of manure put out , £ 50 Aid and Loan Money given , a cottage and outbuildings built of the best materials , the allotment partially cropped , and no rent paid for two years and a half . Feargus O'Connor , patron . " ( Cheers and laughter . ) Now , in answer

      to those dissatisfied allotees , who complained of the condition of their allotments , let him inform the house that in July , 1848 , while the committee was sitting , he took down two noble lords ( Lord Talbot , and the noble Lord the member for Dumfrieshire , ) the hon . member for Hochdale , the hon . member for the County of Limerick , and the hon . member for Kilkenny , to visit and examine two of those estates , the one being Snig ' s End , where they had been but just located , and all expressed their astonishment and delig ht at what they saw . But , to prove still further the value that some set upon the land , some received £ 120 , some £ 100 , and many £ 80 for their allotments . He had now explained his sinceritv , and he hoped his honesty , with regard to

      this Land Plan ; and to show the jealousy with which he managed the funds of the Company , let him inform the house that be gave to one occupant , who was not entitled to any money £ 14 out of his own pocket ; to two £ 10 each ; to three £ 5 each ; to one £ 3 to ; another £ 7 ; .. for agricultural premiums at O'Connorville , £ 15 ; and other sums which he could state to the bouse , amounting to £ 339 , all of which he might have charged to the Company . ( Hear , hear . ) If he was to estimate the amount that this Land Company had cost him at £ 8 , 000 he would be under the mark , and this was his thanks . But however he mi ght be reviled—by the Pi ess—by the house—or by the most fortunate—after twenty-eight years of continuous

      political and social agitation , he threw down the gauntlet , and defied any man in that house , in this country , or in the world to charge him with a mean , a dishonest , or ungentlemanlike act . His principles and his plan must be dear to him when for that time he had advocated and upheld both against the reviling ofthe Press and the antagonism of faction , while it was his pride and his boast to say , that he had never eaten a meal or travelled , a mile at the expense of any man . And now he told the noble lord opposite , that if he was anxious for the protection ofthe poor man ' s fund—79 , 000 of whom vfere interested—he ( Mr . O'Connor ) would accept the earliest day that was allowed him to bringin abill to wind up the affairs of tho Company , and would allow the

      noble lord to nominate his own trustees . ( Laughter . ) Why laugh at a proposal to give his dupes the benefit of governmental patronage —( 70 , 000 of them)—to protect them against his-juggling . It was not to be wondered at that those who were desirous of keeping down and oppressing the working classes should look upon him with hatred , and that , as far as they could make it , the Land Company should be tbe reviled of all revilers . Gross charges were made against him in the committee , and every gentleman who went into the committee went there with the strongest prejudices against him ; but , thank God , they left the commiitee with those prejudices removed . Strange as it mi ght seem , he could assure the house that it was nevertheless

      a fact , that not a fraction of the £ 130 , 000 ever came into his hands , it all passed through the directors into the bankers' possession , and every voucher and every book relating to it was produced before the committee . He had recently received a letter from one of the allottees at Snig ' s End stating , that the writer still continued to hold his allotment , that it paid him well , and that if the others were as industrious as he was they would be equally prosperous . He was ready to give a more extended explanation if the rules ofthe house , would permit , and he should be nrenared to-morrow ' to wind up the Company ,

      and hand over the whole ofthe property to government , if the house would give him a bill for the purpose . He had , nevertheless , full confidence in the Plan . He had now made his statement , and given a distinct refutation to the charges preferred against him . He had not been guilty of any dishonourable act , nor had he wheedled the people out of their money , as ho had been charged with doing , and God forbid that be should be such a wheedler as he could prove two hon . gentlemen , members of that house , to be ( "Oh , oh , " and " Order . " ) The subject then dropped , and the two petitions were ordered to lie on the table .

      MONDAY , March 4 . HOUSE OF LORDS . —Inquest on a Solmer ' s Wife anu Guild in Guernsey . — Lord Brougham had to move for the production of papers of which he had given the particulars relative to two inquests which had been holden in Alderney and Guernsey , touching the deaths of an nnfortunate woman and her child , the wife of Riley , a private in the 16 th Regiment . The noble and learned lord proceeded

      Saturday March 2. House Of Commons.—The ...

      to say I move for these' papers" 'for " the purpose of having transactions ; brought before your lordships into which an imperfect inquiry has been instituted , and the matter cannot < end there . I have the opinion of learned and reverend judges ofthe land ; that manslaughter is to be imputed to some parties , if not murder ; and if upon the production of these papers , the conduct of any parties should assume an equivocal aspect , or a desp tc 4 )) le , a 8 pect ,- / or a detestable aspect ^ it will be their own . deeds , and not my words that will cause the slander ^ and that slander will rebound from them on the service which they may continue to defile . —Ordered ' " ' '

      railway AuniT .-Eavi Granvilie moved tho first reading of the Government Railway Audit Bill , by which it was proposed to secure , with the smallest amount of interference , an independent and continuous audit of railway accounts by means of a permanent central board composed of delegates elected by the proprietors of each company ; these , delegates to have , one or more votes , in proportion to the capital paid up by the . several companies . Ample powers were t 0 be given to this board , who were to Jay their reports before parliament at the beginning of each session . Lord Monieagle expressed his satisfaction that the government had at last introduced a bill of this kind on their own responsibility ^ and the . bill was read a first time .

      National EniJCATioN .-THBMAjJAaEMESiCLAusES . —LordStanley ,, on presenting the . petition from a parish ^ n Monmouthshire , from ; persons , principally laity , connected with the Church oof England , interested in the erection of national schools , said he did not intend to discuss tbe question , but the petitioners principally complained of the insertion of clauses which prevented their submitting any differences which might arise to tho arbitration alono of the bishop of the diocese , in consequence of which they could not participate in the grant made by the Committee of Privy Council . The Marquis of Lansdowne did not intend to go into any . argument on the subject ; but he would merely say that the clause referred to by the

      petitioners was an exceptional clause , and whether it should be so or not was matter of argument . The noble lord had thought it not convenient to enter into a full discussion of tho merits of the general question , neither did he wish to do so if no other person entered into it ; but he must state . to the noble lord and the house that a notice having been given by a right re v .. prelate , which , it was understood would lead to a discussion on this . subject , he deemed it highly inconvenient to allow any statements to be made on presenting petitions—he should think it , in fact , delusive to the public to allow any such statements to be made—without entering into

      a full discussion of all the erroneous opinions and facts , as they were called , which had been stated to tho public , and which he was prepared to discuss with a view to prove their entire falsehood . ( Hear , hear . ) The Bishop of Lonuon wishing to avoid what he considered the " great calamity of a discussion of the controversy that had occurred with the Committee of the Privy Council , recommended the appointment of a select committee to inquire into the whole operation of the Education Bill . The Archbishop of Canterbury supported the motion , believing that information was wanted , as there had been errors and false suspicions on both sides . ¦ :

      Lord Brougham regretted that the constant desire of all parties to promote education , and the efforts made by the legislature for that purpose , should be in so great a measure frustrated through the anxiety of churchmen and dissenters , respectfully ,, to obtain the ascendancy . The Bishop of Chichester hoped to see tho committee appointed , The Bishop of St . . David ' s would be * glad to have information on the subject , but did not oelieve that any satisfactory result could be expected from the inquiries conducted by a committee . The Marquis of Lansdowsb , referring to the late meeting at Willis ' s Rooms , declared that almost every , statement there made could be contradicted on unquestionable authority . The Church of England , which was at that meeting pronounced to have been neglected , had in fact received the full

      proportion of the amount at the disposal of the government . His lordship then stated the amount of benefit that had already resulted from the educational grants . No less than 800 schools had heen founded with the . assistance of these grants , and remained in close connexion with the Privy Council . With respect to the motion for . a committee , he saw no sufficient reason for its appointment . The investigation would be one of appalling magnitude , and would hardly aid tbe Privy Councilin the execution ofthe difficult t-- « ooi s *«•*•>« . «! . . . At all events , ho trusted that the present system would not be suspended pending the inquiry . The p etition was then laid on the table with some others of a similar nature . . '; Party Processions ( Ireland ) BiLL . —On the motion for the committal of this Hill ,

      The Duke of Wellington said that the measure did not go far enough . At funerals and other occasions of ceremonial or festivity , when crowds were gathered together , causes of disturbance would inevitably arise , and the only way of securing quiet was to prohibit the possession , or , at all events * the carrying of arms by any person who could not produce a game certificate . , The Marquis of Lansdowne objected to turn the Processions ^ Bill into an Arms Bill . After some observations from Lord Monteaole and Lord Stanley , the bill went through committee . The Ecclesiastical Commission Bill was read a third time and passed . Their lordships then adjourned . HOUSE OF COMMONS . — The Speaker

      announced that the petition presented against the return of one of the members for the City of London ( Baron Rotschild ) had been withdrawn . The Easter Recess . —Lord John Russell said it was his intention to propose the adjournment of the house from Tuesday in Passion week until Monday , the 8 th of April . Affairs of Greece . —Mr . Hume asked in what state were our political relations with Greece ? He hoped we mig ht receive speedy accounts of matters being adjusted there . Lord Palmerston said it had been , thought necessary to . make a peremptory demand there , and that the application had been made without , success .

      That demand having been refused , reprisals were commenced , which consisted in getting in pledge certain property and to hold it as seenrityfor the demands . Meanwhile , the good offices ofthe French government had been accepted , but the negotiator had not arrived . The diplomatic relations between this country and Greece had never been suspended . Mr . Wyee had continued in diplomatic communication with-the country ; and , as a proof that no courtesy had been omitted on our side , when the anniversary of the Queen of Greece had arrived , our fleet saluted with all the honours . ( ' « Hear , hear , " and laughter . )

      Parliamentary Voters Ireland Bill . —The house then went into committe on this bill . Sir R . Ferguson moved the omission of the 2 nd or " joint occupancy " clause . Lord J . Russell said the government had no objection to omit the clause if the Irish members would consent . A number of Irish representatives spoke in answer to this appeal , but their judgments differed considerably as to the advisability of omitting tho clause ; and Lord J . Russell observed that under the circumstances the government would persist in retaining it .

      Lord J . Manners made some sarcastic remarks upon the want of unanimity shown by the members for Ireland , to whose verdict Lord J . Russell had appealed . ' The discussion was prolonged for some considerable time , and excited much diversity of opinion . Several liberal representatives objected to the clause on the ground that it would tend to enhance the already excessive power of the landlords ; and many opposition members arrived at a similar conclusion , under the belief that it would encourage the manufacture of fictitious voting .

      Sir It . Peel , who closed the debate on this amendment , characterised the system of fictitious voting as " abominable , " and attributed many of the social evils that afflicted the country to the great stimulus to the vote manufacture afforded by the 40 s . freehold qualification introduced by the Irish Reform Bill . He coincided in wishing to give an extended franchise to Ireland , but only upon such a principle as would secure its being bona fide . On a division , the clause was carried by a majority of 144 to 104 ; majority , 40 . On tho third clause .

      Sir F . Tiiesiger argued upon the impropriety of allowing parties to enjoy the franchise who had paid no rates , nor even possessed any beneficial interest in the property , of which they were the nominal owners . He proposed an amendment to the clause , so drawn as to render more stringent the propertv qualification required under the Clause . Lord J . Russell persisted in believing that the £ o annual value of property , held in fee for life , as proposed in the clause , was quite high enough by way of qualification .

      Lord J . Manners , the Attoiinei . Geneual , Mr . Hamilton , Mr . Reynolds , and Mr . Sadlem continued the debate , after which the committee divided , when the clause was carried by a maionty of 106 to 30 ; majority 76 . Some further amendments were iifterwards proposed to the third clause , leading to a very miscellaneous debate , the contest being principally carried on between Sir / John Jervis and Sir F . Tiibsickr . The clause was ultimately adopted with some alterations .

      Clauses 4 and 5 were agreed to without a debate . On clause 0 a long and confused discussion arose , in the course of which a declaration was elicited from Sir O . Grey , that the bill was not designed to interfere with any species of qualification under which

      Saturday March 2. House Of Commons.—The ...

      the franchise was at the present moment conferred . Another division took place on an amendment moved by Mr . GROGAN , which was negatived by a maioritv of 170 to 83 . . > J J Mr . Reynolds moved an amendment , reducing the rating qualification from £ 8 to £ 5 . He called on Mr . llume , and the English reformer ' s , to support his motion , which would much extend the electoral basis , and even , in some instances , prevent the constituencies being considerably reduced , as they would bo if the . £ 8 rating were established . Sir W . Somerville felt compelled to oppose the amendment . He recapitulated some of the reasons and calculations that had led the government to fix the qualification as it stood in the bill , and declared their intention of adhering to it .

      Mr . French supported the amendment , as did Sir T . O'Brien and Col . ErAwnoN . Mr . Roebuck said that the small borough constituencies in England were the great hot beds of corruption , and that the £ 8 qualification would create a vast number of similarly contracted and corruptible electoral hodiesin Ireland . To reduce the £ 8 to £ 5 would so widen the basis as to effect a cure of the evil to a very considerable degree . Mr . M . J . O'Connell pronounced the bill under the £ 8 qualification a mockery of justice to Ireland . . The amendment was supported by Sir D . Norreys , Mr . Sadleir , Mr .. Maurice O' Connell , and Mr .

      Scully . A division was then called for , and . the gallery partially cleared , when Lord Castlereagii expressed his hope that some member of the government would condescend to give some reply to the arguments that had been adduced by so many Irish members in favour ofthe reduced qualification , - Lord J . Russell briefly explained the reason which had prompted -the various changes proposed by the -bill ;¦ and supported the £ 8 rating qualification , on the ground that it was sufficiently moderate , and that a lower tariff would have involved a troublesome precedent for England .

      After considerable discussion the committee divided , when the proposition was negatived by 142 against 90 . - ¦ Mr . Grooax then moved to add " grand jury cess and police rate" to the poor-rates , which the occupier is required to have paid for the year to entitle him to a vote . Lord J . Russell objected , and the amendment was negatived . ¦/ The sixth clause being agreed to , the Chairman reported progress , and obtained leave to sit again on Monday . The Registrar of Metropolitan Public Carriages Bill was read a second time . The other orders having been disposed of , the house adjourned at a quarter-past 1 o ' clock .

      TUESDAY , March 5 . HOUSE OF LORDS . —This bouse sat about an hour . ; ¦ . ¦ Commons Inclosure Bill . —On the motion of Earl Granville this bill was read a second time . During a brief conversation upon this measure , Lord Portman suggested the propriety of obtaining correct statistical returns on all agricultural subjects . Earl Granvillb confessed the importance of the suggestion , and declared that the attention of tho government would be directed towards procuring information upon tho topics alluded to by the noble lord . -. ¦ ¦ :

      Tho Earl of Mountcashell , alluding to the recent cases of ill-treatment and mismanagement of emigrant ships , moved for papers relating to the Earl Grey emigrant vessel . ; Earl Grey consented to the production of the papers , but explained that many of the alleged cases of misconduct charged against the officers of emigrant ships had been disproved . In one instance be confessed , the complaints had been substantiated and the owners fined £ 600 . Removal of obstructions in the Corn Trade ( Scotland ) Bill . — Lord ; Brouoham moved the second reading of this bill , which was agreed to . HOUSE OF COMMONS . —Social Improvement of the Working Classes . —Mr . Slaney rose ,

      pursuant to notice , to move for the appointment of a "Standing Committee or unpaid Commission to consider and report on practical plans ( not connected with political changes ) , for the social improvement of the working and poorer classes . " He observed that , in the years 1817 , 1819 , 1824 , and 1830 , the attention of the house had been called to the social condition of the working classes , and " all men who investigated the subject united in the opinion that the poorer portion of the community were in a most depressed condition ; This would be sufficient to show that some improvement was requisite in the investigation of matters relative to tho position of me- ~ o ,. fcj n { r classes . He would ask hon . members opposite , whetner » - c . « nf . of unblemished

      character and industrious habits were not an exception to the general rule if he had any prospect before him at seventy years of age , except that of becoming an almoner on the parish bounty ? If his wifo lived with him , and brought up a family in industry and respectability , had she any chance , on the death of her husband , or on his inability to work , except becoming a recipient of parish relief ? ( Hear . ) Well , was this tbecondition in which the industrious agricultural classes should remain ? He would how turn to the large class of persons engaged in towns —in mines—and in great cities—and what was their condition , as it had appeared from reports laid before the house , and resting upon tho evidence of commissionersand of committees appointed by that

      house , who were fair and impartial witnesses to the facts they related . Duringthelast fifty years the increase of working men in towns had doubled tbe number of residents in rural districts . In 1838 a Poor Law report drew attention to their condition , which was followed in 1839 by a further account of the sufferings of the poorer classes . In 1840 acommission was granted for tbe purpose of investigating ! the condition of the inhabitants of great towns . The result of their inquiries showed that evils ofthe most afflicting nature prevailed , regarding the health and comfort of the poor in l .-uvre cities . In 1842 the report of Mr . Chadwick fortified that of

      the commission , and m 1843 a commission was appointed by Sir It . Peel to inquire into these matters . In 1844 the first report of that commission was issued , and in 1845 a second report appeared , both of which demonstrated gross neglect in largo towns of all the regulations for the health and comfort of the working classes . In 1845 further proofs were obtained ofthe vastinjury to the puhlic health arising from causes capable of removal , In 1840 , the Children ' s Employment Commission reported that , in the great majority of instances , the places of work were defective in ventilation , in cleanliness , and that nothing had been done to provide innocent amusement and healthful recreation to tho children

      employed in factories , tho consequence heing , that their moral and physical health were alike injured ; they were stunted in growth , pale , and sickly . This state of things remained to the present day . [ The hon . member more than once took occasion to complain of the inattention of the house . ] He was glad to find that one lion , member was listening to him , but he saw that hon . gentlemen would turn to almost any subject rather than the one he was bringing before them with so little success . The summary of tho Report of the Children ' s Employhient Commission was , that in a largo portion of the kingdom , the moral condition of the children was lamentably low , and that no means appeared to exist of effecting any improvement in

      the physical or moral condition of tho young children employed in factories . That report was made in January , 1843 , and since that period nothing effectual had been done . Another numerous bod y consisted of nearly 000 , 000 hand-loom weavers , dispersed through different parts of the country . They were reported to be , as a body , in a state of distress , and the only hope of improving their condition was , that they should betake themselves to other avocations , wherever practicable , and use as much economy and forethought as possible , when wages were good . There were also 600 , 000 railway labourers at work , in different parts of the country , for whose comfort and means of living no provision was made , and who were compelled to live in close

      and unwholesome , dwellings . What had been the effect of this neglect on the part of the Legislature ? That there had been an immense increase of crime , pauperism , disease , and discontent , throughout the country , and an excessive mortality among tho humbler classes , whose expectation of life was , in some towns , only twenty years , while that of the upper and middle , classes was thirty-seven and twenty-seven years respectively . The illness from preventible causes was doubled ; and it was proved that , for every person who died among the working classes , throe were ill , and their- illness extended over a period of six weeks . Crime had increased in a rapid ratio . The committals in England and Wales had increased from 10 , 500 in 1821 to 30300

      , , in 1849—so that it appeared crime had increased six times as fast as the population of this country . The summary convictions in England and Wales bad increased from 14 , 800 , in 1837 , to 35 , 700 in 1845 . The number of prisoners brought before the justices in the second seaport of the kingdom , was , in 1840 17 , 400 ; in 1848 , 22 , 000 . Tho committals in the district ofthe metropolitan police had increased from 4 , 000 . in 1840 , to 5 , 900 in 1847 . Tho number of personVacouBed of crime in France was , in 1825 , 7 , 000 ; in 1835 , 0 , 900 ; and in 1845 , about the same number as in 1835—so that while our criminals

      were increasing at this rapid rate , crime in a neighbourhing country was almost stationary . If hon . gentlemen opposite believed that crime was confined principally to our great cities , the return showed , that from 1800 to 1841 , in six agricultural counties , with an increase in population of fifty-five per cent ., the increase of crime was equal to that of six manufacturing townsj where the increase of population had been equal to ninety-two per cent . He now wished to call the attention of the house to the cost to the country of this neglect of the welfare and improvement of these numerous classes . From a calculation made by a commission , it appeared that the cost of crime was £ 11 , 000 , 000 per annum .

      Saturday March 2. House Of Commons.—The ...

      The poor rates , at that time , amounted to £ 5 , 400 , 000 ; and herb be might remark that the poor rates of ' 1848 had increased ten or fifteen per cent , on the former year , and had gone on increasing ever since 1834 . ¦¦ The cost of hospitals , and the loss from illness arising from preventible causes was £ 5 , 400 , 000 . The cost of police , gaols , transports , and p enitentiaries were estimated at £ 1 , 600 , 000 . Altogether the calculation , which washot in his belief exaggerated , was , that crime , tho poor-rate , ' hospitals , loss Of time , and other causes which would be diminished by the improvement of the condition of the working classes , cost the country £ 27 , 500 , 000 per annum for England aud Wales alone . The sum total , including Ireland and Scotland also , was , that there was an expenditure

      and loss of £ 40 , 000 , 000 , which was to be diminished gradually and effectively by taking measures for the improvement of the condition of tho working classes . Their condition had never yet been looked into by any government , but there were three things it was the duty of the government to do ; first ; to give the working classes instruction for their children ; secondly , protection for their health ; and , thirdly , fair play and reasonable facilities to aid their forethought and stimulate their industry . Tiie poor man ' s health was his only property ; but tho house had only just , at the eleventh hour / passed an Act of Puhlic Health . He trusted that this measure would be found to be of great benefit to the working classes ; but , had we had a council , a department of statea deliberative body , or a

      stand-, ing committee or commission , composed of members taken from both sides ofthe house , to consider these subjects , there would have been a remedy found for theso great evils long before . lie asked the house to agree to the appointment of such a standing council or department of state to inquire what practical measure mig ht bo brought forward for the improvement of the condition ofthe working classes . It had been proved'that the wages of the three classes of workmen engaged in the cotton , woollen , and hardware manufactures were amply sufficient for their comfort and support , if theso men had the means of spreading them over a given period of seven years . A bill had passed that house for the extension of the Benefit Societies Act , bufc '

      the words ofthe act were liable to technical objection , and the working classes had no power to unite in order to provide against that constant calamityillness . " ' The benefit societies confined their assistance to cases of the illness ofthe members , and could give none in the case of the illness of his family . There were also no means of securing by these ; societies small annuities for persons when , they were too old to work . It was proved that ha those places where the populations of large towna were devoid ofthe comforts and decencies of life , and were living in a state of ignorance , there the number of improvident marriages and illegitimate children was the greatest . Was it the faui t oi _ the humbler persons in those districts that such things

      should be , or was it not rather the fault of the great and opulent ? ( Hear , hear . ) He asked that , instead of erecting penitentiaries and workhouses , they should attempt a remedial process , and that , instead of being called upon to reform those sunk ia crime , they should try the experiment of dealing with the young and docile , and saving them from contamination . ( Hear , hear . ) He asked tho house to give the working classes safe investment for their humble earnings . There were in the rural districts places were savings banks were hardly known ; and , besides , a working man who received a legacy ol £ 50 or £ G 0 could not place that sum in the savingsbank , and had often extreme difficulty as to tha mode of investing it . It was for that and such other

      objects as he had before mentioned that he novf brought the pr esent motion before the house . ( Hear , hear . ) Mr . Trklawny opposed the motion , chiefly on tha ground that it would tend to injure the working classes rather than to improve their condition . Ha must say that the more he knew the working classes the more he was disposed to trust them , and to g | ve them suoh privileges as they were entitled to possess ; but when a proposal like the present , that could not be realized , was brought forward , he felt that the house would be guilty of unintentional deception towards them if it gave that proposal Ha sanction . ( Hear . ) ' The hon . gentleman had notj given to the house anything like a plan , or laid down any feasible scheme for remedying those greais

      social grievances which all so much deplored . Hq ( Mr Trelawny ) wished to see the working classes , bjr their own savings and forethought , provide for their own improvement , instead of making it tha duty ofthe state , and he did not think that , as a body , they made any claim ofthe soit . The hon - gentleman spoke as if it was their duty to pass an . set of Parliament to g ive the working classes forethought . [ Mr . Slaney had made no such proposal . J flol'fr . ai ^ lj * -- **** J « .. « a ** . n ,., T-. iv /\ i . j ! e . linh-flin hrvrk- o *>— - tleman proposed that the house should do for thej working classes whatthey ouchtto do for them delves . By repealing the corn laws they had no doubt dona a great deal to improve the condition ofthe people and be knew no other way in which so much could be done for their benefit as by relieving thoir

      industry , and enabling them successfully to carry out schemes for their own advancement . ( Hear , hear . ) Sir G . Grey was justified from all he kenw of ( Mr . Slaney , ) and from the communications he had with him , in testi f y ing to the liberality of bi » intentions towards the working classes . He had given ample proof of his sincerity in promoting the object ; he had in view , and on every occasion he believed he was prepared to give his time , his talents , and his attention for the purpose of promoting their welfare . ( Hear , hear . ) Having said that , however , he must observe that the measure which ha had proposed to the house was not of such a practical character as was likely to be of any advantage in effecting the social improvement of tho working

      classes . He was unable to ascertain what was tha precise nature ofthe duties he would impose on tbe commission or standing committee he wished to ha appointed . He understood the hon . gentleman to propose that a committee of that house or a com * mission should be appointed to receive during thQ recess , or at other times , such suggestions a ml proposals as might be made to them in regard to tha improvement of the working classes , and to consider the practicability of any plans that might then be submitted to them ; ( Hear , hear . ) This was , no doubt , an object important in itself , but one whica he feared could not be carried out in the way pro * posed by the hon gentleman . ( Hear , hear ;) Ha thought that the only effect of such a plan would bs to cause a large production of blue books and to overwhelm Parliament with information upon many

      points that it was already in full possession of , and that it would , after all , leave Parliament as helpness as it was now with regard to the removal of many of the evils to which tho hon . gentleman had referred . ( Hoar , hear , ) When any proposition calcu « la ted to promote the improvement of tha working classes was clearly and distinctly recognised , there was no necessity for a commission to carry it out . Another objection to the motion was , that indefinite expections of great legislative changes would thereby be produced in tho minds of tho working classes . And as to measures for promoting the public health , thera already existed a public health establishment , which was exercising powers committed to it by parliament with great advantage , so that on that question a commission was altogether unnecessary . ( Hear . ) The hon . gentleman proposed to exclude from tha

      consideration of the commission or committee all questions connected with political changes , bus where the line was to be drawn ho did not know > unless he meant to say that they were only to ba excluded from considering matters connected with reform in parliament . He hoped , in conclusion , that the hon . gentleman would not press his motion ,, He gave him full credit for sincerity , but , if he pub his motion to the vote , he should be reluctantly compelled to oppose it . ( Hear . l Mr . Soiheron thought the objects aimed at by Mr . Slaney would be better accomplished by a combination of gentlemen united together for bev nevoloKt purposes than by any commission of tha government , though he . felt bound to say tbat ^ hisj hon . friend deserved credit for the perseverance with which ho had continued to bring before tha house the social condition of the working classes * ( Hear , hear . ) Mr . Hume did not think the obiect of Mr . Slanev Wl , 11 U 1 UU U 1 U UUt , blJilill bUV UL'JVVU U » . Mil . KJHHIGJ

      could bo carried out by any committee that could bo proposed ; but for the establishment of a benevolent society an excellent precedent would ba found in tho one established by Sir John Barnard , a full explanation of the principles of which was to be had , along with tho rules , in the library . Mr . M . Milnks hoped the present discussion would lead government to eousider how far it might * be possible for them to give encouragement to tha improvement of tbe social condition ofthe working classes , and to assist those who mig ht be desirous of removing the enormous social evils that pressed upon the country . He did not think tho working classes of this country were likely to get into tho habit of looking to government for aid in their undertakings ; but there were several matters in which the Executive might with propriety interfere , such as in the improvement of large cities , with a view to seeing that proper dwellings were provided for the .

      poor . , . , .... Mr . D . Herbert said he had a petition , which he should shortly present , from Rochdale , signed by about 3 , 000 persons , who had sustained an enormous loss by an institution which they believed to have tho security of government . ( Hear , hear . ) If industrious people were thus to have their savings swept away in a day , no greater blow could be given to habits of frugality and industry . Ha would call the earnest attention of the government to tho necessity of considering the condition Ot parties who had suffered so severel y , while they mada , provision for a better regulation of savings bank in future . For a series of years tbo governmen had just interfered so far with these establishments as to lead to the belief that the depositors had tha > security of the state ; hence the parties who had suffered had a strong claim for relief . He fihottbj

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), March 9, 1850, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_09031850/page/7/