House divided Ayes 16; Noes 81: List of the AYES. Archbold, R. Dawson, hon. T. V. Collett, J. Baillie, H. J. Morris, D. TELLERS. Etwall, R. List of the NOES. Houldsworth, T. Jocelyn, Visct. Bouverie, hon. E. P. Committee, on the first division, against LORD COURTENAY, as the organ of the Committee, did not feel justified in doing otherwise than taking the sense of the House on the Motion which he had been ordered to make as Chairman. Dennistoun, J. Douglas, Sir C. E. Duncan, G. Dundas, D. Morgan, O. Round, C. G. Smith, rt. hn. R. V. Somerset, Lord G. Trollope, Sir J. Trotter, J. Waddington, H. S. Young, J. TELLERS. Duncombe, T. Pakington, J. S. BRIDPORT ELECTION. The Order of the Day read for the Ad. journed Debate on the Bridport Election, upon which MR. HENLEY rose to move the fol lowing Amendment, to add at the end of the question after the word "Romilly”— parties to the Petition, or others, for withholding "And whether any means were resorted to by from the consideration of the Committee matters fordshire should not be agreed to. The authority of the Committee ought to be supported. It was appointed under the Act known as Lord J. Russell's Act, by the first section of which specific tribunals were to be established for the purpose of deciding such questions. That Committee had exercised its discretion. No new evidence was afforded, no new petition had been presented, and he agreed with the Speaker in thinking that if a Committee were would have no better means of deciding now appointed, they the case than the Bridport Election Commitee had. The Committee now moved for would, in fact, be a court of appeal from that Committee. On the other hand, it was still open to the electors to petition, and a Committee might then be appointed which would have much greater power than a Select Committee of that House. MR. WAKLEY denied that there was no new matter before the House; but, after all, the real question was, whether the House desired to be left in ignorance of what their own tribunal had done. The character of the House was suffering through the conduct of the Committee. He gave them credit for the best intentions; but out of doors every one was laughing at the decision of the Committee. They were bound to inquire whether the tribunals they had established for the trial of election cases were efficient. If it turned out that the Committee in this instance had discharged its duty, the investigation would redound to the credit of the House. The House divided on the Question, that the words proposed by Mr. Henley be added:-Ayes 48; Noes 80: Majority 32. Trelawny, J. S. Villiers, hon. C. Alexander, N. TELLERS. Bankes, G. List of the NOES. Baring, rt. hon. W. B. Bernal, R. Egerton, W. T. Humphery, Ald. Neville, R. Pennant, hon. Col. Phillpotts, J. Somerset, Lord G. Somerville, Sir W. M. Stewart, J. Thesiger, Sir F. Graham, rt. hon. Sir J. Troubridge, Sir E. T. Herbert, rt. hon. S. It was then ordered Vane, Lord H. TELLERS. Young, J. "That the Petition of William Rockett be referred to a Select Committee, to be appointed to inquire into all the circumstances under which Jo seph Welch gave Evidence before the Select Committee on the Bridpoft Election Petition, that William Rockett voted for Mr. Romilly." THE COLONIAL OFFICE. MR. V. SMITH adverted to the appointment of Mr. Rogers as additional Under Secretary in the Colonial Office. He thought the Office ought to have been remodelled, rather than a gentleman nominated in disregard of the claims of those who had long been connected with the department, and who had efficiently discharged their duties. Mr. Rogers had been Registrar General under the Joint Stock Act, and had hitherto had nothing to do with the Colonial Office. The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER wished the right hon. Gentleman had given him notice of his intention to introduce the subject. It was proposed to appoint an Assistant Secretary in the Colonial Office, for the purpose of aiding Mr. Stephen, particularly in reference to Colonial Acts. Mr. Stephen had pointed out the necessity of having a person to look after these. The gentleman who held this appointment would also perform the duties of Third Commissioner of Emigration, without receiving any additional salary. An appointment which had lately fallen vacant in the Colonial Office had not been filled up, and new arrangements were in contemplation for remodelling the Office, and reducing the number of the chief clerks. Subject at an end. notice, on the part of himself and his friends, that so long as the Irish Coercion Bill was before the House, they would feel it their duty, as Irish Members, to oppose the Motion for giving preeedence to Orders of the Day over Motions on Thursdays; and, failing in that, it would be their duty to move Amendments on the Orders of the Day as they came on. MR. T. DUNCOMBE said, of the Poor Removal Bill, that it had been originally settled, as he thought, to proceed with it, pari passu with the Corn Importation Bill. Now, however, it seemed that the Poor Removal Bill was to be postponed indefinitely, as well as the Highway Bill and other Bills connected with it. The House was to be called upon to waste week after week on the Irish Coercion Bill; and in the meantime what was to become of the Poor House adjourned at a quarter before Removal Bill? He trusted that in a short Eight. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Friday, May 29, 1846. time the other House would have passed the Corn Bill; but, as he had apprehended early in the Session, the Poor Removal Bill would be left to shift for itself. There was another Bill of which the right hon. Baronet had said nothing, and regarding which he (Mr. T. Duncombe) must ask for some information from the Secretary at War. He alluded to the Bill for the enrolment of the militia. He had mentioned it long before Easter, and had been informed, that it would be brought in before Easter; but now Whitsuntide had arrived, and it had not been heard of. He had all along feared that it would not be introADJOURNMENT AND BUSINESS OF THE duced till it was too late to consider its MINUTES.] PUBLIC BILLS.-1o. Drainage. Vernon, and others, respecting the Increase of Tolls on HOUSE. SIR R. PEEL rose to move, in pursuance of notice, that the House at its rising do adjourn to Friday next, and took that opportunity of explaining in what order it would be his duty, on the part of the Government, to propose to bring on public business immediately after the recess. SIR G. GREY wished the right hon. Baronet to state what was intended by the Government with respect to the Poor Removal Bill. It had been a long time before the House, and there was a great deal of interest felt in it out of doors; and it was therefore desirable that the country should be informed what were the intentions of the Government with respect to it. SIR R. PEEL said, he should give the earliest day after the Irish Bill had been disposed of to the Poor Removal Bill. MR. J. O'CONNELL begged to give clauses. It had not been even seen yet, though the least that could have been expected was, that it would have been upon the Table before Whitsuntide, and a good deal of interest was felt about it by the public. As to the Poor Removal Bill, he must say that the right hon. Baronet would not be using the House quite fairly if he did not enable it properly to discuss, and afterwards to pass the measure. SIR R. PEEL admitted frankly that he had justified some expectation that the Poor Removal Bill would be brought on on an early day; but he hoped the House would make allowances for the difficulty of the position of Government. He and his Colleagues were ready to devote sixteen or eighteen hours a day to their public duties in the House; still they had hitherto only had two days in the week for Government business. So anxious was he to fulfil every expectation he had raised, that he was ready to take the Poor Removal Bill on Friday next, instead of the Votes in Supply. | swer I can give to the hon. Gentleman is to He believed that there was still money say, that though we have not received enough in the Treasury to go on with the official intimation of the actual signing of public service; but he considered Minis- the Treaty, we are yet in possession of such ters bound to press forward the Irish information as to render it exceedingly proBill. bable that a Treaty has been signed; and I think I am justified in expressing a hope that it has been signed. In a letter dated 30th April, Sir Stratford Canning says that Redschid Pasha was going to the Russian Minister, who had authority from his Government to sign the Treaty. SIR J. GRAHAM said, that the hon. Member for Malton (Mr. E. Denison) had given notice of an instruction to the Committee on the Poor Removal Bill, and if it were carried, it would be indispensable to alter the whole framework of the measure. It must be recommitted pro formá, in order that it might be remodelled. He apprehended, however, that one night would be sufficient for the discussion. MR. HUME expressed a strong desire that the Poor Removal Bill should have precedence, as he knew that great anxiety was felt upon the subject in agricultural districts. He recommended that the Irish Coercion Bill should be postponed to other business, with a view to save time. If the right hon. Baronet intended to stop all the useful business of the country for the sake of that measure, he would find himself involved in new difficulties. He stated not only his own opinion, but that of almost everybody out of the House. There was hardly one person who did not express a hope that Government would not interfere with the progress of the Poor Removal Bill. MR. BANKES said, the right hon. Gentleman would recollect that it was distinctly understood that an opportunity should be given of discussing the principle of the Poor Removal Bill. That could not be done if the debate were confined to the Motion of the hon. Member for Maldon; and he trusted that, in assenting to the course proposed by the Government, he should be understood as doing so in the anticipation of having an opportunity for fully discussing the general principle of the measure. Motion for the Adjournment agreed to. TREATY BETWEEN RUSSIA AND DR. BOWRING wished to know from the right hon. Baronet the First Minister of the Crown, whether any Treaty had been signed between the Russian Government and the Ottoman Porte, equalizing the duties paid by foreign nations under the existing capitulation, and removing the disadvantages under which British subjects have laboured? SIR R. PEEL: The best possible an THE OREGON QUESTION. MR. HUME said, it was known to the public, through the newspapers, that the President of the United States had received directions to give notice to this country that the regulations which now existed for the joint occupancy of the Oregon territory should terminate within a year. He wished to know from the right hon. Baronet, the head of the Government, whether the American President had given notice to this country of the intended termination of the existing convention respecting this territory? SIR R. PEEL: In answer to the question of the hon. Gentleman, I beg to state that the American President has given notice to this country that the termination of the existing convention should take place at the end of the year. In giving that notice, however, he has adopted the terms which were ultimately assented to by both Houses of the Legislature of the United States, viz., that the Notice shall be given with the view of leading to an amicable adjustment of all the differences and disputes in respect to this territory. RETIRING ALLOWANCES TO NAVAL OFFICERS. SIR C. NAPIER begged to observe, that more than twelve months ago, a proposal had been circulated by the Board of Admiralty to the effect, that a retiring allowance would be given to those naval officers who thought proper to send in their resignations. A number of officers, in accordance with this proposal, had sent in their resignations, but had as yet received no intimation whether they had been accepted. He wished the Government would urge upon the Admiralty the propriety of stating what were their intentions relative to these applications, or, if they were not to be acceded to, to return the letters of the applicants, that they might not stand in judgment against them. SIR R. PEEL: My impression was, that | the Admiralty made a certain proposal with this reserve, that unless a certain number of officers accepted that proposal, the Admiralty had the entire power to set it aside. The number required not having accepted the proposal, it has accordingly fallen. My impression was, that the Admiralty had publicly notified that it was not to take effect, and that they had under their consideration some other plan. COMMERCIAL POLICY-CANADA. SIR R. PEEL: I have great pleasure in giving the noble Lord all the information I possess upon the subject on which he has just put the question. I had yesterday made an appointment with the Secretary for the Colonies, to meet him at half-past one o'clock this day; and when my right hon. Friend attended that meeting, he brought with him a letter from Lord Cathcart, containing an Address to the Crown-I know not whether unanimously adopted or not--but of the general purport to which the noble Lord has referred, LORD G. BENTINCK rose to put a namely, expressing apprehension at the question to the First Minister of the Crown, consequences of the adoption of the comwhich might appear at first sight to impugn mercial measures of Her Majesty's Governthe fair dealing, frankness, and truth-tel- ment. I certainly understood my right ling of a Member of Her Majesty's Govern- hon. Friend to say, that this despatch had ment; but he had reason to think, from the reached him in the course of the morning; explanation he had already received, that but for myself I must say that, at any rate, no such imputation could rest upon the I had no knowledge of its arrival till two Earl of Dalhousie, to whom his question o'clock to-day. When the noble Lord was referred. It was probably within the know- good enough to state to me that he would ledge of every Gentleman in that House, put the question, I told him that I thought that a statement had been made last night it probable the Earl of Dalhousie had no by the Earl of Dalhousie, that the Canadian earlier knowledge of the purport of the Colonies were perfectly satisfied with the despatch than I had; but since then I have commercial policy of Her Majesty's Go- received an assurance that noble Friend vernment, and that, so far from entertain- was entirely unaware of the receipt of this ing any feeling of apprehension and alarm, despatch at the period when he spoke last all that the Canadians asked was, that the night. It must be obvious that when denominal duty of one shilling, which was spatches arrive, especially at a late hour, it proposed to be retained on Canadian and is quite impossible that their contents can other wheat, should be reduced to a penny. be simultaneously communicated to the That was the statement which they had all Members of the Government, however improbably seen imputed to the Earl of Dal-portant they may be. If there is not to be housie; and he (Lord G. Bentinck) might state, that he had heard it with his own ears. Now, the question which he had to ask of Her Majesty's Minister, was this whether or not the Canadian mail had not arrived, bringing an Address to Her Majesty, which had been unanimously voted by the Legislative Assembly of Canada, of which the first paragraph ran in terms -something like this :--- "That this House views with most serious apprehension and alarm, and as detrimental to the future peace and prosperity of these Colonies, the adoption of the proposed principles of commercial intercourse now under the consideration of the Imperial Parliament ?" That such an Address had been unanimously voted, he had the best reason for knowing, inasmuch-["Question!"] Well, the question he had to put was this, whether, when this statement was made by a Cabinet Minister of the Crown, he was in possession of the information to which he had just referred? my a meeting of the Cabinet on the day of their arrival, they are put into circulation among the Members of Government, and some time must necessarily elapse before they all receive information of them. THE POOR LAW. MR. CHRISTIE asked whether the Poor Law Commissioners had made any inquiry into the circumstances of the case formerly referred to at Barrow-on-Soar, and whether any steps had been taken in consequence of the inquiry? SIR J. GRAHAM replied, that the Poor Law Commissioners had instituted an inquiry into the circumstances of the case referred to, and had received a report from an Assistant Poor Law Commissioner on the subject. In accordance with the suggestions contained in that report, the Comsioners had determined, if the master of the workhouse did not tender his resignation, to order his immediate dismissal. |