Lords Sitting of 14 March 1845

MINUTES.
BILLS. Public. — 2a. Fresh Water Fishing (Scotland); Deodands Abolition.
3a. Jewish Disabilities Removal Stamp Duties Assimilation; Consolidated Fund.
PETITIONS PRESENTED. By the Bishop of Hereford, from Dean and Chapter of Hereford Cathedral, against the Union of St. Asaph and Bangor.—By Lord Campbell, from Parochial Schoolmasters of Inverness, for Inquiry with a view to their better remuneration.—By Lord Kenyon, from Newhall, against any further Grant to the College of Maynooth.—From Walsall, for the Suppression of Intemperance.—From Proprietors of Worcester and Birmingham Canal Navigation, for regulating Charges of Conveyance of Goods by Railway.—From Birmingham, for Repeal of 57th Clause of the Insolvent Debtors Act Amendment, and for the Establishment of Local Courts to decide all Claims under 20 l.

THE CORPORATION OF LONDON.
Lord Broughammoved for a Return of the Number of Non-Freemen made Freemen, or of persons who have taken up their freedom during the year ended 5th July, 1844. He wished to state, in order to relieve the alarm which the worthy Members of the Corporation appeared to entertain

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at the Bill he had introduced on a former evening, that their alarm was perfectly groundless as far as regarded any intention of hurrying the Bill through Parliament. He hoped that he should not be considered guilty of any disrespect to the Corporation, of which he had the honour to be a Member, in moving for this Return; for he had received a communication from the highest authority in the city, the Lord Mayor—that was not from the Lord Mayor himself, because of course the Lord Mayor could not condescend to communicate with him in person—but from the City Remembrancer, who had written to him (Lord Brougham), stating that he was directed—(that of course was the proper mode to be used by so great a potentate)—to inform him (Lord Brougham) that he (the Lord Mayor) was concerned that he (Lord Brougham) had thought fit to introduce such a Bill into Parliament without communicating with the Corporation on the subject. Their Lordships' House was certainly reduced very low; but they were not yet reduced to so a low an ebb as not to have the power of introducing into Parliament any Bill without previous communication with, or without the approbation of any Corporation whatever.
Return ordered.

JEWISH DISABILITIES BILL.
The Lord Chancellorhaving moved the third reading of this Bill,
The Duke of Cambridgesaid: My Lords, I wish to say a few words to express my hearty concurrence in the Bill which my noble and learned Friend has introduced to your attention. I have had occasion for some time to know the good which persons professing the Jewish religion have done, and particularly with reference to the different charities to which I belong; and I can certainly say that it is to them that we owe a great deal, and that they contribute a very large portion to the funds of all the charities over which I have the honour of presiding. Two of the individuals whose names were mentioned in the speech of my noble and learned Friend on the Woolsack on a former occasion are personally known to myself. One was formerly High Sheriff of the county of Kent, (Mr. Salomons,) and I can bear witness to the good which he has done. Also, there was Sir Moses Montefiore, who, about five years ago, was Sheriff of London; and I must
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state, in justice to him, what occurred between him and me whilst he held that office. I happened to be requested by the Bishop of Winchester to preside at a meeting for the purpose of increasing the number of churches in that diocese. I went down to Winchester, and I happened to be walking in the garden, when I met Sir Moses Montefiore, who had come down on a very melancholy occasion, to attend the death-bed of a favourite niece. He came up to me, and learning what was the object of the meeting which I was about to attend, he gave me a very handsome sum which he desired me to present. I will not mention what the sum was, for it would be a violation of good taste to do so; but I think it only just to mention his name, and to show that I really feel that we owe a great debt of gratitude to gentlemen professing that persuasion for the good which they have done. I must say, that in that kingdom over which I was placed as Viceroy (Hanover), and in which I resided many years, that I can speak to the care which these persons evince in bringing up the orphans belonging to their persuasion in useful trades, so as to make them worthy members of society. I must at the same time declare that my sentiments of attachment to the church to which I belong can never waver or change; but, whatever toleration can be shown which does not impair the church to which I belong, the Established Church, I shall ever be most ready to support by my vote. I must now return my thanks to your Lordships for the attention with which you have heard me, and I hope you will excuse me for having said so much.
The Lord Chancellor: I feel very much gratified at the expression of interest and assent on the part of his Royal Highness to this Bill.
Bill read 3a and passed,

STAMP DUTIES ASSIMILATION BILL.
The Duke of Buccleuchmoved the third reading of the Stamp Duties Assimilation Bill.
Lord Monteaglesaid, that the Land Commissioners for Ireland had recommended that the stamp duties on agreements between landlords and tenants under 50 l. a year should be abolished. He hoped that by agreeing to this Bill it would not be considered that their Lordships were precluded from bringing this question forward on any future occasion.
The Duke of Wellingtonsaid, that he did not consider that by agreeing to this Bill, either the Government or the noble Lord would be precluded from taking that Report into consideration, or from bringing this question forward, if they should think proper, even in the present Session.
Bill read 3a and passed.
House adjourned.