Palmerston, Viset.
Praed, W. T.
Protheroe, E.
Rolleston, Col.

Sandon, Visct.
Seymour, Lord
Sheridan, R. B.
Smith, rt. hn. R. V.
Somerset, Lord G.
Spooner, R.

ful supervision, and the sooner that was | Packe, C. W.
effected the better. The Bill did not pro-
pose to continue the Commission under
which the evils complained of had existed,
but to elect a new Commission altogether,
with new powers, new duties, and new
salaries; and he thought, of all the pro-
posals in the Bill, that of a permanent
Commission ought most readily to receive
the approbation of the House. An ad-
mixture of medical men and barristers
on the Commission was the best course
that could have been adopted. The hon.
Gentleman then passed a high eulogium on Duncan, Visct.
the exertions and talents displayed by Lord
Ashley as Chairman of the Lunacy Com-
missioners, and expressed a hope that he
would continue to exercise the duties of
that office when the new Commission was
formed.

Lord Duncan was disposed to support the Amendment; but as it was then four o'clock, he moved the adjournment of the

debate.

Sir J. Graham hoped the hon. Member for Finsbury, and the noble Lord the Member for Bath, would be satisfied with the discussion which had already taken place, and would consent to take the sense of the House upon it, with the understanding that the House should go into Committee on Monday.

After a short conversation, Lord Duncan withdrew his Motion,

The House divided on the Question, that the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Question :-Ayes 66; Noes 1: Majority 65.

List of the AYES.

Egerton, W. T.

Sutton, hon. H. M.

Ashley, Lord
Cardwell, E

List of the NOES.

TELLERS.

Duncombe, T.
Crawford, S.

Committee postponed to Tuesday.
House adjourned to five o'clock.

POOR LAW AMENDMENT (SCOTLAND).]
The Order of the Day for going into
Committee on the Poor Law Amendment
(Scotland) Bill, was read.

On the Question that the Speaker do now leave the Chair,

Colonel Rawdon expressed a hope that before the House went into Committee, the right hon. Baronet the Secretary of State for the Home Department would state the intentions of the Government with respect to the clauses affecting the rights of Irish paupers, as the right hon. Gentleman had been requested to do by a deputation of the 1ish Members.

Sir J. Gran said, the best course to adopt would be to proceed with the Bill in Committee until the clauses referred to were arrived at.

Mr. Hume said, if the Members for Ireland objected to particular clauses of the Bill, he should object to the measure altogether. The Government had already postponed great number of measures, Graham, rt. hn. Sir J. and he was anxious that they should adopt

Etwall, R.
Forster, M.
Fuller, A. E.

Greene, T.
Grimston, Visct.
Hamilton, W. J.
Harris, hon. Capt
Hatton, Capt. V.
Henley, J. W.
Hollond, R.
Jermyn, Earl
Johnstone, Sir J.
Kemble, H.
Knightley, Sir C.
Lowther, Sir J. H.
Mackenzie, W. F.
Martin, C. W.
Mitcalfe, II.
Morris, D.
Mundy, E. M.
Nicholl, rt. hn. J.
{}

Third

the same course with regard to the present Bill. It was so large, and contained so many provisions, many of them most uncertain and undefined, that it would, if carried, prove to be only an Act to create dissension and litigation. The time would be very brief until next Session, and in the mean time the measure might be fully and fairly considered in Scotland, and many important and necessary amendments suggested. The opinion prevalent among the best informed parties in Scotland was, that if the Bill passed into law in its present form, another measure to amend it, would, as a matter of course, have to be introduced next Session.

P

Mr. Ewart agreed altogether in what | The Report of the Commissioners had had fallen from his hon. Friend who had been before the public for twelve months, just sat down. The measure was one and had been under the consideration of which all parties united in saying could Government during the whole of that not be satisfactory or successful, and the time. If, therefore, the measure then probability was, that if it now became before the House could be called crude law, it would have to be amended next and imperfect, the fault must lie with the Session. The delay would also produce Government who had prepared it, as ample the advantage of enabling those hon. Gen- time and full materials had gone to its tlemen who, though Members for Scot- preparation. Besides, the principle of land, had unfortunately the misfortune the measure had been approved of by a not to be born in Scotland, to become very large majority of that House. Neibetter acquainted with the subject. ther could it be said that the House had been taken by surprise. The Bill was

Mr. P. M. Stewart said, he would go a step further than the two hon. Gentle-introduced at an early period of the Sesmen who had last addressed the House, and would ask the Government to apply their own principle to the Bill which they had relied on when another Scotch question had been before the House a few nights ago, and to allow their decision upon it to be regulated by the petitions that had been presented from Scotland on the subject. Though the measure was one which was of vast importance to Scotland, he believed there had not been a single petition presented in its favour, whereas numerous petitions from all persons interested in the state of the Scotch poor had been presented against the Bill. All these petitions concurred in representing the great necessity of legislation on the subject of the poor of Scotland, whereas they, at the same time, described the Bill introduced by the Government as an ill-digested and an ill-adapted measure. They stated, that it would not allay the discontent existing against the present measure, and that the poor had no interest whatever in it. That it would have the effect of overloading the Statute Book with eighty clauses, most of which would, as a matter of necessity, be repealed next Session. In fact, the measure was one which would do no good to the poor man, while it would have the effect of throwing him beyond the pale of the Constitution.

Sir J. Graham, in answer to the appeal of hon. Members opposite, would begin by stating, that if ever a measure had been brought before the House which was completely divested of party character, it was the Scottish Poor Law. It was also admitted that the law for the relief of the poor in Scotland, was in such a state as to require immediate alteration. There ha been full inquiry, and ample materials immediate legislation had been obtai

House would at once go into Committee, strenuously the progress of this Bill, in when there would be an opportunity of consequence of the injustice inflicted upon adopting any improvements. He had the Irish residents in Scotland by it. By always found that the Lord Advocate one of the clauses an Irisbman was prehad been willing to listen to suggestions vented getting a settlement in Scotland; for the improvement of the measure. The although he might have spent his youth 16th Clause had been so much amended, and his manhood in that country, such an as to remove nearly all the objections to it. industrious man, engaged in manufactures

Mr. E. Ellice confirmed what had been for twenty or thirty years, was liable to stated by the hon. Member for Paisley be sent to Ireland at a moment's notice. (Mr. Hastie). The condition of the poor | Unless the right bon. Baronet abandoned of Scotland within the last eighteen the clause, he trusted that his hon. and months, compared with what it had pre gallant Friend would move that it be comviously been, had been made much better i mitted that day three months. If his by the discovery of the actual state of the hon. Friend did not do so, he certainly law with regard to them. This was not would. a party question here or in Scotland; Mr. T. Duncombe said, that it was he had conversed with men of all politics rather singular that only on Wednesday upon it, and had met with but one evening last, one of the reasons urged by opinion--that, if the Bill passed in its the right hon. Baronet the Secretary for present shape, it would be likely to pro- the Home Department, for the rejecduce very mischievous effects. The alletion of the Scotch Universities Bill was, gations of the petitions against it were, that no petitions had been presented in that it would deprive the poor of their pre- favour of it; but to-night, in answer to sent remedy against the herilors, and the remark that there was no petition in subject them to an irresponsible power favour of this Bill, he replied, that it was in order to put the law into effect. He not customary to present petitions in gave the Government credit for honest favour of Bills, and, above all, of a measure intentions; but they only knew the state like the present. He happened to know of the people of Scotland, through a that there existed a very strong feeling prejudiced channel; with respect to Scot-against the Bill in many parts of Scotland, land, they appeared to be subjected to and more particularly in several of the some infuence that blighted all they large towns. He had no connexion with took in hand. Had their measures with Scotland; but petitions had been intrusted respect to the Scotch Church, or any to him against the measure from many other of their measures with regard to places, some of which had thousands of Scotland, been satisfactory to the people? | signatures attached to them. The Scoi. Had they not all met with general con- tish labouring classes generally considered demnation? On a subject of such vast that the Bill would place them in a worse importance, ample time ought to be position than before, it being altogether given for consideration; as the know- destructive of that right of appeal in their ledge of the provisions of the Bill ex- favour, which had only of late been dis. tended, the objections to it would in- covered to exist. crease. He hoped the Government would Colonel Rawdon said, that almost postpone it till next Session; if not, he every Scotch Member who had spoken on hoped other parties in another place this subject had opposed the Bill, and on would prevent it from passing this year. the part of the Irish Members there was

Mr. Duncan was constantly receiving a united action against it. He begged communications from Scotland stating to move that the House go into Committee objections to the measure. He felt that c the Bill that day three months. it was only common justice that it should Sir J. Graham would put it to the be postponed to another Session. He had gallant Member whether, as the objecnot received a single letter in favour of lions he and other Gentlemen near hiu The Bill. He was anxious for an amend advanced, were objections to details, ment of the present law; but, instead of it would not be better and fairer to discuss this imperfect measure, they had better them in Committee? He had stated 10 wait until next year, when they could get a deputation of Members, who called upon a well-digested Bill.

him at the Home Office, and of which the Mr. Ross felt called upon to oppose hon. and gallant Member was, he believed,