POSTSCRIPT.
SATURDAY NIGHT.
Collectively the two Houses of Parliament sat for a long while yester- day, and transacted a great deal of business; but the discussions presented little interest, and may be very briefly described.
The House of Commons began at twelve o'clock, with questions from Lord GEORGE BERTINCH and Mr. HUTT, respecting certain commercially hostile demonstrations on the part of the German Zollverein; which Lord PALMERSTON explained— In the Prussian States Gazette had appeared a paragraph representing that the British Government had threatened to retaliate for the protective system of Prus- sia; but that representation is wholly erroneous. The case is this. By a treaty made in 1841, Great Britain consented to regard the Elbe and the 51ense as ports of the Zollverein, which in return was to grant certain privileges to British ves- sels. The Zollverein now complains of our restrictive Navigation-laws, and threatens not to renew that treaty. As the treaty, however, has only benefited our shipping to a small extent—last year 500 tons—it is a matter of indifference to ns whether it expire or not. Overtures have been made to the Hanse Towns to become members of the Zollverein; Bremen seems disposed to do so; Hamburg and Lubeck hold back.
The House then proceeded to the order of the day for the second read- ing of the Navigation-laws Suspension (No. 2) Bill. Lord GEORGE BENTINCK resisted it, as virtually an attempt to repeal the laws in the name of suspension; and he entered into statistical details to show that the necessity for suspending the laws had passed away— At Christmas last, freights were high and ships to convey corn from foreign countries were scarce; but by reports of May 20th there were 40 ships at New Orleans, 37,000 tons of shipping at New York; on the 11th of June, 926 ships in the Baltic,—all waiting for corn-freights. Freights had fallen proportionately,— for example, from 12e. 6d. per barrel for flour in the United States to 2s. Instead
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of a scarcity, there is a glut n the freight-market. Lord George proceeded to contend against the repeal of the Navigation-laws; arguing that without them we should be unable to man our Navy. Lord Jona/ RUSSELL protested that the bill was solely meant to fulfil its professed purpose—merely to suspend the laws; and he gave a distinct assurance that he should approach the question of repealing or modifying the Navigation-laws with a mind totally unbiassed by the passing of the present bill— Thus far, the suspension of the laws has been eminently beneficial. It has ad- mitted to our ports 688 ships, with a tonnage of 63,555. When the Navigation- laws were first suspended, the price of corn had reached 68e. 10d. per quarter or 70s. 10d.; it has subsequently been as high as 1008., 108s., and even 115s.• and the average of the last six weeks is 94s. 10d. The necessity, therefore, has not passed away.
On this assurance, several Members who deprecated repeal of the Navi- gation-laws joined the supporters of the present bill; and Mr. HUDSON, observing that there is a feeling in the country in its favour, advised Lord George to withdraw his opposition. Lord GEORGE BENTINCH obeyed that suggestion; and the bill was read a second time.
The House then proceeded to dispose of various other measures. In the midst of a discussion on the annual Stock in Trade Exemption Bill, Lord GEORGE BENTINCH made an attempt at a" count-out." The purpose of this manceuvre was to impede the Health of Towns Bill; its mode may be explained. By a rule of the House, it cannot be counted out between noon and four o'clock; by the usage of Members, it never is counted out between four and five, if the morning sitting extends to so late an hour. At a quarter to four, however, Lord George twitted Sir George Grey with being alone on the Ministerial benches,—about fifteen Members being present in all,—and, glancing at the clock, hinted that he would favour him with even greater leisure than the hour appointed for the Speaker's refreshment. [If counted out after four, the House would have stood ad- journed till next clay.] He continued to speak, evidently against time; repeating his glances at the dial. Sir George Grey looked uneasy: it wanted less than a minute of four, and he was still unrelieved. Just then, however, appeared Mr. Ward, who had probably heard of the impending manceuvre; and others followed. At four o'clock, Lord George, disregard- ing the usual courtesy of forbearance, made his move for the counting; but by that time forty-one Members were there to show themselves to the Speaker; and the leader of "the Country party" was foiled. Sir DENHAM NORRRYS renewed the discussion about the report of the Dish Relief Commissioners, with an importunate demand for the detailed reports; but without any new result. Mr. BOWMAN raised a discussion on the question of interment in towns; and obtained from Lord MORPETH an assurance, that as soon as he should have passed a bill for improving the health of towns in respect of sewerage and drainage, he should introduce a measure to prevent interment in towns. The House went into Committee on the Health of Towns Bill; and, with much bickering, got as far as the 17th clause.
Among other measures that were disposed of, the bill to advance 136,0001. to the New Zealand Company passed Committee; and the House adjourned at one o'clock this morning.
. In the Upper House the principal subject was the Poor-relief Adminis- tration Bill, which stood for Committee. Lord BROUGHAM emphatically renewed his objection to the part which brings the Chief Commissioner into Parliament. That officer would be removable by every party change, thus acquiring neither the experience nor the habits of firmness requisite for the due performance of his duties: be would be blown about by every wind of doctrine' and would feel compelled to maintain his conduct, good or bad. The bill was defended by the Marquis of LANSDOWNE and Lord STANLEY; but without the smallest particle of novelty. The House went into Committee, and the bill passed that stage. In the course of the pro cess, however, the interpolated clause which provided that married couples above a certain age should not he separated in the workhouse, objected to by the Earl of STRADBROKE, was struck out, without discussion or division.
The Royal assent was given, by commission, to the Baths and Wash- houses Bill, and seventy-two other public, private, and railway bills.
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