head to a point in the London and Birmingham Railway was superior to a competing project from Port Dynllaen. That it appeared at one meeting (of which the hon. William Owen Stanley was the chairman) that Captain Beechy, R.N, had, for or at the instance of the parties interested, surveyed the Harbour of Holyhead, and reported upon its fitness for the intended purpose, and that his opinion in favour of Holyhead, had been delivered in and was quoted to the meeting by Captain W. J. Deans Dundas, Secretary to the Ordnance. That, under such circumstances, and after the decided part taken in the matters in dispute by the promoters of the Holyhead line and the Secretary to the Ordnance, the appointment of the said Captain Beechy, R.N., who had already given judgment professionally in favour of that conclusion which so greatly served the purpose and interests of the interested parties, was not, in the opinion of your petitioners, consistent with that impartiality and that perfect fairness to all persons or interests concerned or affected, which ought to be insepa rable from the proceedings of Government acting on behalf of the Crown upon a public question of the very greatest importance." He had made enquiry, and he could not find that any such petition as was here referred to had been presented to that House, but he found that such a petition had been presented in the other House of Parliament; and he held it to be a breach of the privileges of this House to allude to a petition which had not been presented. He must also complain of want of courtesy, in the fact that a petition which alluded to him by name had been presented without his receiving any notice of it. Lord J. Russell said, that admitting all that had been said by the hon. Gentleman, he did not see in what way a breach of privilege had been committed. He wished the right hon. Gentleman, the Speaker, would give his opinion upon the point. The Speaker said, he had no hesitation in stating that he did not understand the petition in any way to involve a breach of privilege. The words referred to by the hon. Gentleman could only be taken as part of a petition that had been presented to that House. The petition certainly reflected upon the conduct of persons employed by the Government, and of Members of that House; but it referred to them in their private capacity, and not to their conduct as Members of that House. If any breach of privilege had been committed, it had been a breach of the privileges of the House of Lords. Subject at an end. COUNTY CONSTABULARY.] On the order of the day for the third reading of the County Constabulary bill, Captain Pechell objected to the third reading of the bill on several grounds. He had resisted the measure in every stage last Session, but he had been foiled in his endeavour to exempt the towns that had a police force, and the present bill remained in its original objectionable form. The bill gave unqualified dissatisfaction to men of all parties in the towns, Tories, Whigs, and Radicals. If, however, this bill were rejected, the Act of last Session, which was not liked, would still remain. He hardly knew whether he ought to divide against the third reading; he felt inclined to give the hon. Gentleman (Mr. Fox Maule) a chance of re-considering his opinion, and to agree now to a clause exempting the large towns. Mr. Law Hodges said, that although the Act of last year might be required in some counties, yet the desperate remedy proposed was not wanted in several; and, therefore, it was that he had introduced his own bill. As a remedy for the defects of the existing Act he did not object to the present bill. Bill read a third time. On the question that the bill do pass, Mr. Denison moved the re-insertion of the 24th clause, which prevented magis. trates in Middlesex, Kent, Essex, Hertfordshire, and Surrey, from voting at Quarter Sessions upon questions on this bill, unless they were possessed of a certain property qualification within the district, and which had been rejected in committee. Unless this clause were introduced, the metropolitan magistrates, having no property in the district, might saddle the counties with heavy expenses. Mr. Rowland Alston said, there were many magistrates in Hertfordshire who had acted with great credit, who would consider this clause a great stigma cast upon them; and as he thought no such implied censure ought to be passed by the House, he would oppose the clause. Mr. Fox Maule having withdrawn the clause in obedience to what he deemed the general feeling of the House, although he retained his former opinion of its utility, could not now consent to its re-introduction. Sir Edward Knatchbull said, that if this clause were inserted, they would lose in of sessions in West Kent, and he could not | Baring, rt. hn. F. T. Sir Adolphus Dalrymple next moved the insertion of the clause of which he had given notice, to exempt large towns, in the following words :— "And be it further enacted, that the power to appoint, and pay, and to make and levy rates for paying constables, under any act of Parliament made for watching any town, parish, or place, which by the last parliamentary enumeration of the population contained more than 30,000 inhabitants, and the powers and duties of all constables appointed by the commissioners for the execution of any such act, shall continue and be in force, notwithstanding anything in this act contained, or any law or act to the contrary." Mr. Craven Berkeley assured the hon. Baronet that the town which he represented would be very glad if his amend. ment were rejected. If the hon. Baronet would move to exempt Brighton alone he would vote with him, but he could not agree to a general clause, which would exempt all large towns. Mr. Fox Maule thought it unadvisable to adopt this clause, because it was not desirable that a town situated in the centre of a county should have a police differently governed from that by which the county was watched. There was a broad distinction upon the case of an incorporated town, because in that case the officers by whom the police was governed were selected by the inhabitants. Mr. Darby thought that large towns, being without corporations, had a right to be placed upon the same footing as incorporated cities. The House divided on the question that the clause be added to the bill :-Ayes 20; Noes 46 Majority 26. Alston, R. Barnard, E. G. Dalmeny, Lord Captain Pechell moved that the following clause be brought up : "Provided always, and be it enacted, that nothing in this act contained shall extend to any town, parish, or place, now under any act of Parliament for watching such town, parish, or place, which by the last Parliamentary enumeration of the population contained more than 30,000 inhabitants." Clause brought up and read a first time. On the question that it be read a second time, Mr. F. Maule submitted that the House had already expressed an opinion sions, and that it was out of order to disupon a clause exactly similar in its provicuss and decide upon two clauses of the same description. The Speaker was of opinion that there was a sufficient difference between the two clauses to render it competent to the hon. Member for Brighton to persist in the present motion. The House divided :-Ayes 20; Noes 37: Majority 17. TELLERS. Pechell, Captain Mr. CUSTOMS, &c. DUTIES BILL.] Labouchere moved the Order of the Day for going into Committee on the Customs. Acts. He proposed to go into committee pro forma, merely in order to introduce a bill, and he would defer his statement until a future stage. Mr. Goulburn objected to the course which the right hon. Gentleman proposed to take. He thought the right hon. Gentleman ought to state at once what modifications he proposed to make in the customs duties. It was most desirable that the country should be made acquainted with them. The more regular course would be for the right hon. Gentleman to move the schedule of duties in committee. On the 6th clause, Colonel Wood moved the omission of the latter part of the clause, for he could not consent to the ambulatory paid police magistrates under this bill, being permitted to supersede the county magistrates in their own courts. Mr. F. Maule could not consent to omit any part of the clause. Mr. Hawes said, some provision of the sort was necessary, unless measures were taken for carrying the Police Act thoroughly into effect. The Committee divided on the question, that the words proposed to be left out stand part of the clause: Ayes 51; Noes 29: Majority 22. List of the AYES. Baring, rt, hn, F. T. Mr. Labouchere said, that was undoubtedly the proper course when it was proposed to increase any duties. But in the present case they did not propose to increase a single duty, only to reduce some duties. Sir E. Knatchbull objected to the intro-Hall, Sir B. duction of so important a measure so late in the Session as the 16th of July. Serious injury might be sustained by the various interests in the country by the delay. In his own part of the country parties were suffering very severely from the uncertainty which existed with regard to the intentions of Government. Mr. Labouchere would at once state, that the only alteration in the existing duties that could at all affect the agricultural interest, was one on the duty on mustard seed and mustard flour. Hawkins, J. H. Williams, W. Yates, J. A. TELLERS. Seymour, Lord List of the NoEs. Aglionby, H. A. Blair, J. TELIERS of sessions in West Kent, and he could not Baring, nt. hn. F. T. Muskett, G, A, consent to its introduction. Barnard, E. G. Norreys, Sir D. J. Motion withdrawn. Berkeley, hon. C. O'Connell, M. J. Parnel, nt. hon. Sirll. Sir Adolphus Dalrymple next moved Bernal, R. Bewes, T. Pendarves, E.W.W. the insertion of the clause of which he had Brotherton, J. Rice, E. R. given notice, to exempt large towns, in the Bruges, W. 11. L. Rundle, J. following words : Buller, C. Sinford, E, A. “And be it further enacted, that the power Cavendish, hn, C. Campbell, Sir J. Sheil, st. hm. R. L. Somers, J. P. to appoint, and pay, and to make and levy Clay, W. Thornely, T. rates for paying constables, under any act of Parliament made for watching any, town, pa- Dalnieny, Lord Clive, hon. R. II. Troubridge, Sir E.T. rish, or place, which by the last parliamentary Denison, W.J. Tufnell, II. enumeration of the population contained more Vernon, G. II. Divett, E. than 30,000 inhabitants, and the powers and Westenra, hon. II. R. duties of all constables appointed by the com- Hawhins, J. II. Harcourt, G.G. Wood, G. W. missioners for the execution of any such act, Hobhouse, T. B. Wood, B. shall continue and be in force, notwithstanding Hodges, T. L. Wyse, T. Yates, J. A. anything in this act contained, or any law or aci to the contrary." Hoskins, K. Inglis, Sir R. II. Stanley, E, J. sented would be very glad if his amend. Captain Pechell moved that the folment were rejected. If the hon. Baronet would move to exempt Brighton alone he lowing clause be brought up :would vote with him, but he could not “ Provided always, and be it enacted, that agree to a general clause, which would nothing in this act contained shall extend to exempt all large towns. any town, parish, or place, now under any act of Parliament for watching such town, panish, Mr. Fox Maule thought it unadvisable to adopt this clause, because it was not meration of the population contained more than or place, which by the last Parliamentary entie desirable that a town situated in the cen- 30,000 inhabitants." tre of a county should have a police dif Clause brought up and read a first ferently governed from that by which the time. county was watched. There was a broad distinction upon the case of an incorpo On the question that it be read a second time, rated town, because in that case the officers by whom the police was governed were House had already expressed an opinion Mr. F. Maule submitted that the selected by the inhabitants. Mr. Darby thought that large towns, upon a clause exactly similar in its provibeing without corporations, had a right to cuss and decide upon iwo clauses of the sions, and that it was out of order to disbe placed upon the same fooling as incor same description. porated cities. The House divided on the question that The Seaker was of opinion that there the clause he added to the bill :- Ayes 20 ; clauses to render it competent to the hon. was a sutlicient difference between the two Noes 46 : Majority 26). Member for Brighton to persist in the pre- sent motion. Baker, E. Perceval Colonel The House divided :- Ayes 20; Noes 37: Majority 17. List of the Ayes. Grinditch, T. Wahley, T. Aglionby, II, A. Polhill, F. Hamilton, C. J. B. Williams, W. Baker, E. Pryme, G. Round, J. Dalrymple, Sir A. Vigors, .. A. Johnson, General Wyndham, W. Darby, G. Wahley, T. hnatchbull, nt. hon. TIR, llawkes, T. Williams, W. liector, ('. J. Mackenzie, T. Pechell, Captain Woul, Colonel Holgson, R. Wyndham, W. Koatchibull, nt. hon. TEITIR. Acland, Sir T. D. Alston, R. Sır E Pechell, Captain CUSTOMS, &C. DUTIES BILL.] Mr. Labouchere moved the Order of the Day for going into Committee on the Customs. Acts. He proposed to go into committee pro forma, merely in order to introduce a bill, and he would defer his statement until a future stage. Mr. Goulburn objected to the course which the right hon. Gentleman proposed to take. He thought the right hon. Gentleman ought to state at once what modifications he proposed to make in the customs duties. It was most desirable that the country should be made acquainted with them. The more regular course would be for the right hon. Gentleman to move the schedule of duties in committee. Mr. Labouchere said, that was undoubtedly the proper course when it was proposed to increase any duties. But in the present case they did not propose to increase a single duty, only to reduce some duties. Sir E. Knatchbull objected to the introduction of so important a measure so late in the Session as the 16th of July. Serious injury might be sustained by the various interests in the country by the delay. In his own part of the country parties were suffering very severely from the uncertainty which existed with regard to the intentions of Government. Mr. Labouchere would at once state, that the only alteration in the existing duties that could at all affect the agricultural interest, was one on the duty on mustard seed and mustard flour. Acts read. Resolution, "That the chairman be directed to move the House for leave to bring in a bill to amend and alter the laws relating to the Customs Duties," agreed to. House resumed; Resolution reported; Bill ordered to be brought in. METROPOLITAN POLICE COURTS.] House in Committee on the Metropolitan Police Courts Bill. On the 6th clause, Colonel Wood moved the omission of the latter part of the clause, for he could not consent to the ambulatory paid police magistrates under this bill, being permitted to supersede the county magistrates in their own courts. Mr. F. Maule could not consent to omit any part of the clause. Mr. Hawes said, some provision of the sort was necessary, unless measures were taken for carrying the Police Act thoroughly into effect. The Committee divided on the question, that the words proposed to be left out stand part of the clause: Ayes 51; Noes 29: Majority 22. List of the AYES. Baines, E. Hawkins, J. H. Morpeth, Viscount Warburton, H. Williams, W. TELLERS. Seymour, Lord List of the NOES. Aglionby, H. A. Blair, J. |