HC Deb 18 May 1836 vol 33 cc1064-6

The third reading of the Over, Cambridgeshire, Enclosure Bill having been moved,

Dr. Bowring

opposed the motion. The Bill was another encroachment on the few remaining rights and privileges of the poor. He thought it was that of which no well-wisher of the poor could approve. Those who had property in the neighbourhood of these enclosures obtained compensation, but the poor, who had only privileges, procured little, often nothing. It was a very general opinion, and he feared it was too well founded, that these privileges of the poor were, and long had been, too little considered. With respect to the present Bill, he was authorised to say, that the poor and labouring classes in the neighbourhood of the proposed enclosure were unanimously against it; and that it was supported only by a few of the aristocracy of the neighbourhood. He should therefore move as an amendment, that the Bill be read a third time that day six months.

Mr. Hodges

seconded the amendment. He believed that the poor had been most unmercifully used by such Bills as the present. Some small sums had been given for their privileges on commons, ? and then those invaluable rights were extinguished for ever. After all that had passed, the House ought to look with extreme jealousy on all such measures, especially as the poor had now so few of these privileges remaining, and the more particularly after the passing of the Poor Laws Amendment Act, which threw the poor on their own resources more strictly than ever.

Mr. Hughes Hughes

entirely concurred in the propriety of this amendment, and in the correctness of the sentiments of the hon. Member for Kent. If he thought it could be requisite, he could read to the House a most touching appeal against this Bill, signed by 130 individuals, whose privileges of common would be sacrificed by this measure, and their means of existence materially diminished. He thought the House ought most anxiously to desire, not to deprive the poor of the slender privileges and means that still remained to them, especially after the passing of the Poor Laws Amendment Act.

Mr. Hume

said, that the Bill would deprive the poor of the right of feeding their cattle and sheep. It was a downright robbery.

Mr. Townley

defended the Bill, and said that the explanations made in the Committee had satisfied those who were originally opposed to the measure.

Mr. Richard Potter

said, that a few rich persons, who originally opposed the Bill, were, it is true, satisfied, and then the attorney employed against the measure threw his poorer clients overboard.

An hon. Member said, that the Bill was now opposed only by a few persons, some of whom were in the workhouse.

The House divided on the original question. Ayes 6l; Noes 64—Majority 3.

On the question as amended—namely, that the Bill be read a third time this day six months being put,

Mr. Goulburn

protested against the decision to which the House had come. There was no objection urged against the Bill which did not apply to all Enclosure Bills. It was not true that the poor were deprived of their rights by the Bill; on the contrary, allotments of land were set apart for them, which would be enclosed for them gratuitously. He believed that few of the Members who had taken part in the division, were acquainted with the merits of the question; and, in order to afford them an opportunity of reading the evidence which was given in the Committee upon the Bill, he would move, as an amendment, "that the Bill be read a third time that day fortnight."

Mr. Hughes Hughes

hoped the House would not depart from its usual practice, in a case where the rights of the poor were concerned. The Bill was lost to all intents and purposes.

Mr. Hume

said, that the amendment proposed by the right hon. Gentleman appeared to him to be quite unprecedented. He hoped that those who before voted in favour of the Bill would now vote against it, in order to maintain the regularity of the proceedings of the House.

Mr. William Miles

supported the amendment, and contended that allotments of land under enclosures were much more beneficial to the poor than a common right of pasture. Not one inhabitant in ten of a parish made use of a common for purposes of pasturage; but when allotments were made, every inhabitant participated in the benefit.

Mr. Roebuck

said, that if the amendment should be agreed to, he would then propose, as an amendment, that the Bill should be read a third time that day nine months; and if that should be defeated, other hon. Members would move amendments which would have for their object the getting rid of the Bill.

Mr. Pryme

said, that he had carefully attended to the proceedings in the Committee on the Bill, and he saw no reason whatever for objecting to the measure. Indeed, the only opposition to the measure proceeded from two cattle-jobbers, who were in the habit of turning 200 or 300 cattle on the common at a time, to the injury of the poor inhabitants. Allotments were more valuable to the poor man than common rights.

The House divided. Ayes 88; Noes 84—Majority 4.

Bill put off for six months.

[We give the Lists only of the names on the last division, which includes all those who voted on the first division.]

List of the AYES.
Agnew, Sir A. Gaskell, D.
Alston, R. Gordon, R.
Attwood, T. Guest, J. J.
Baines, E. Hawes, B.
Barnard, E. G. Hay, Sir A.
Berkeley, hon. F. Heathcote, J.
Biddulph, R. Hector, C. J.
Bish, T. Heron, Sir R.
Blackburne, J. Hodges, T. L.
Brady, D. C. Hughes, W. L.
Bridgeman, H. Hutt, W. H.
Brocklehurst, J. Jervis, J.
Brotherton, J. Langton, W. G.
Browne, R. D. Leader, J. T.
Brownrigg, S. Lennox, Lord G.
Buller, C. Lennox, Lord A.
Chalmers, P. Lushington, C.
Codrington, Admiral Lynch, A. H.
Crawford, W. S. Mangles, J.
Curties, E. B. Methuen, P.
Dalmeny, Lord Mosley, Sir O.
Duncombe, T. Murray, rt. hon. J. A.
Elphinstone, H. Musgrave, Sir R.
Ewart, W. O'Brien, W. S.
Fergus, J. O'Connell, J.
Fergusson, rt. hon. R. C. O'Connell, M.
Fleetwood, P. H. O'Ferrall, R. M.
French, F. O'Loghlen, M.
Parker, J. Talfourd, Sergeant
Parrott, J. Tancred, H. W.
Patteson, J. Thompson, Colonel
Pease, J. Thornley, T.
Pechell, Captain Tulk, C. A.
Potter, R. Villiers, C. P.
Poulter, J. S. Wakley, T.
Robinson, G. R. Walter, J.
Roebuck, J. A. Warburton, II.
Rundle, J. Ward, H. G.
Ruthven, E. Williams, W.
Scholefield, J Williams, Sir J.
Sharpe, General Young, G. F.
Smith, B.
Stanley, E. TELLERS.
Steuart, R. Bowring, Dr.
Talbot, J. H. Hume, J.
List of the NOES.
Astley, Sir J. Knight, H. G.
Bagot, hon. W. Knightley, Sir C.
Balfour, T. Law, hon. C. E.
Barclay, C. Lees, J. F.
Baring, H. B. Lemon, Sir C.
Baring, W. B. Lygon, hon Colonel
Bateson, Sir R. Maclean, D.
Beckett, rt. hon. Sir J. Mahon, Lord
Bell, M. Miles, W.
Blamire, W. Mordaunt, Sir J.
Bolling, W. Morpeth, Lord
Buller, Sir J. Y. Neeld, J.
Canning, rt. hon. Sir S. North, F.
Chaplin, Colonel Packe, C. W.
Chapman, A. Penruddock, J. H.
Clive, Lord Perceval, Col.
Clive, hon. R. H. Plumptre, J. P.
Cole, Lord Praed, J. B.
Conolly, E. M. Price, R.
Copeland, W. T. Pryme, G.
Darlington, Earl of Pusey, P.
Duncombe, hon. W. Ridley, Sir M. W.
Eaton, R. J. Rooper, J. B.
Egerton, W. T. Ross, C.
Egerton, Sir P. Rushbrooke, Col.
Elley, Sir J. Russell, Lord John
Finch, G. Sanderson, R.
Fleming, J. Scarlett, hon. R.
Folkes, Sir W. Scott, Sir E. D.
Forbes, W. Sheppard, T.
Forster, C. S. Somerset, Lord G.
Gaskell, J. M. Stanley, Lord
Gisborne, T. Townley, R. G.
Gore, O. Trevor, hon. A.
Goulburn, Sergeant Twiss, H.
Graham, rt. hon. Sir J. Wilson, H.
Greisley, Sir R. Wodehouse, E.
Hale, R. B. Wrightson, W. B.
Hamilton, Lord C. Wrottesley, Sir J.
Hardinge, rt. hon. Sir H. Wynn, rt. hon. C. W.
Henniker, Lord
Hope, J. TELLERS.
Johnston, A. Freemantle, Sir T.
Ker, D. Goulburn, rt. hon. H.
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