the unit, they would supply the public with data upon which to form an accurate estimate in future of the power and capabilities of any vessel they might engage. He now came to another part of the subject having reference to the change which he proposed to introduce into the system of measuring steam-vessels. In substituting a new system for that already in practice, he thought that nothing could be easier than to rectify an error which had crept into the present system. In every ship now built the builder was perfectly acquainted with the "displacement" of every vessel that left his yard-the quantity of water which she put aside, and displaced in her immersion in the water. All that he desired now was to have a register of the displacement, which would give the weight of the hull of a vessel, and indicate what she could carry in weight. The present measurement might be retained; and having thus accurately shown both the roomage and tonnage, any merchant engaging a vessel would be enabled to calculate exactly what she would be able to carry. At present, when a vessel was constructed upon the stocks, the builder was compelled by law to mark an indelible line upon her stem and sternposts and amidships, showing her draught of water, previous to receiving on board any of her equipment or engines, and thus the exact weight of her body was ascertained. He now proposed that, in addition to the launching draught of the ship, her light draught, showing the displacement of water when she was fitted up with machinery and rigged and equipped for service, and also her deep draught, representing what she would carry when loaded, should be marked in indelible marks upon her stem and sternposts and amidships. A clause embodied in the Bill would compel the builder, under penalties, to delineate these lines upon the hull of the vessel. Under the present law it was perfectly impossible that a merchant could know even what roomage tonnage he would be entitled to have, because the roomage tonnage must depend upon the quantity of fuel put into her before the use of her was obtained. Suppose a vessel of 5,000 tons displacement were engaged to make a passage of 1,000 miles, at the rate of eight knots, or miles an hour, 172 horse-power would be all that would be required to propel that vessel, and she would be enabled to carry a cargo of 2,738 tons. But if she were engaged to go the same distance at the rate of ten miles an hour, she would require 336 horse-power, and would be enabled to carry a cargo, not of 2,738, but of 2,524 tons. To go at the rate of eighteen miles an hour-a speed now frequently obtained she would require 1,961 horse-power, and would only be able to carry a cargo of 585 tons. If they wished for a speed of twenty miles an hour, she would carry no cargo at all, because upon a voyage 1,000 miles driven at that speed her whole available space would be required for the coal she would consume upon her voyage; and this, he thought, was an additional reason why they should know the actual capacity of a ship. He had thus shortly endeavoured to state the grounds upo which he desired that the law should en able us to obtain the weight-carrying powers of our vessels, and at the same time their true powers of propulsion and speed. He had ventured, also, to put into the Bill a clause which, he thought, would be of great value to the passenger traffic of the country, forbidding any steam-vessel having passengers on board to load beyond her deep-draught water line. If this were done, it would effectually secure to the passengers safety from those accidents which now often arose from overloaded ships, while, on the other hand, was not too much to require from the builder and the merchant, on the part d the public, that the immersion of the ship should not be inconsistent with her perfet security. He was confident that at the present moment, and according to the present mode of dealing with shipping power and tonnage, no man would be very willing to engage in shipping affairs wh had not some previous knowledge on the subject; but, if these matters were placed upon a clear and intelligible footing, s that the buyer and the hirer might know perfectly what they were about, it would tend very much to the improvement of the shipping interest generally, by inducing many persons to enter into the business He was sure that this subject would be taken up by the public, and that the Government would be compelled to adopt st some period or other, if not the details, at all events, the principles of the Bill the second reading of which he now proposed. If they permitted routine to interfere on this occasion-not proper and necessary routine, but that which, under cover some obsolete law, took no heed of the science and ability of the country-he was convinced that ultimately this subject would be forced upon Parliament from out | Government refused to open their eyes and of doors. Let the Government call to ears to the recommendations of men of gether scientific men and take up this quesscience. So far from this being the case, tion, acting on the advice of those who the Government were at all times most could guide them; and, if they did so, ready to receive any objections to the exhe should with great pleasure place this isting system, or communications as to the Bill in their hands, and leave it to them introduction of a better; but up to this to pass into a law, with such improvements moment not one single objection had been as they might think fit. urged to the present mode of measurement, either by the Mercantile Marine Boards or the Admiralty; and, therefore, he thought no sufficient case had been made out for the adoption of a new system. Besides this, he had consulted with the principal authorities, with the Surveyor of the Navy, the Assistant Surveyor, and the Chief Engineer, who assured him that the plan proposed in this Bill was impracticable, and that, even if it could be carried into effect, it would be useless. All seemed to depend on this-whether it was possible to ascertain the draught-water line upon launching a ship. Now, as he was informed, it was impossible to ascertain this until the vessel actually went to sea, and even then it depended upon many circumstances which were not always the same. Four eminent shipbuilders had decided against the plan proposed by the noble Earl, and how could it be expected that in all the ports of this country, where ships were built, ordinary shipbuilders would be able to fix the line of flotation? The noble Earl had stated that by the plan which he proposed it would be known at once what amount of goods a ship contained; but he thought that the system at present in use effected that purpose. The noble Earl had also stated that the present system was an arbitrary one; but, in his opinion the plan proposed by the noble Earl would be equally so. He himself was not competent to deal with such questions, but he had been guided by the opinions of those who were most competent to do so, and all those persons whom he had consulted were unanimous in favour of the existing system, and thought that no substantial benefit would be gained by adopting the present proposal. The present mode of measurement was adopted, with variations, by all the nations in the world; and, as at present advised, he could not ask their Lordships to change it for the system set forth in the Bill of the noble Earl. Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a. LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEY said, that if the noble Earl, with all his professional knowledge of the subject, felt its technical difficulties, he might well be excused if he owned that it was impossible for him to argue this question upon its own merits and to enter into details with which he was not competent to deal. But he hoped, on general grounds, to show sufficient reasons to induce their Lordships to believe that they would not be committing an error if they declined to entertain the second reading of this Bill. The object of the measurement of ships was, first, to procure a test of the size of a ship for the purpose of paying light, dock, and other dues; and, secondly, to get a fair estimate of its capacity to carry. Of the two modes of testing the capacity of a ship-first, by displacement, in order to ascertain her weight; and, secondly, by measurement, to ascertain the available space-it was obviously, for ordinary purposes, more important to ascertain the number of cubic feet in a vessel; and to accomplish that object the late alterations were made, in accordance with the principle formerly observed, so as to give a more perfect and accurate measurement of the capacity of a ship in cubic feet. The subject had been brought before the consideration of the Government by a Commission, which heard evidence and considered plans from different parts of the country. That Commission recommended Moorsom's plan for adoption, and this plan was submitted to all the local marine boards, the Trinity House, Lloyd's, and to the Admiralty, in order to ascertain whether they thought the mode of measurement in question was the best which could be adopted. The result was, that these important bodies universally recommended the adoption of Moorsom's plan, the only dissentients being one assistant-surveyor and one master shipwright in Her Majesty's dockyard. The system now in operation was not, therefore, as had been stated, an obsolete and effete one, showing an adherence to routine of the worst description, nor had the VOL. CXXXVIII. [THIRD SERIES.] Amendment moved to leave out "now," and insert "this day six months." LORD COLCHESTER maintained that the present system of measurement was 4 E extremely defective, and, therefore, he thought that their Lordships ought to be much obliged to his noble Friend (the Earl of Hardwicke) for having called their attention to this important subject. He thought that the Bill which had been proposed adopted those scientific improvements which the reports of various Commissions justified, and he hoped, therefore, that their Lordships would give it a second reading. Clause 124 agreed to. Clause 127 (Provides for three separate and distinct rates for sewers, lighting, and general purposes). MR. HENLEY said, he objected to this clause upon the ground that the expenses of recovering the rates would thus be increased. It would be better, he considered, to make one rate, including the poor rate, as was done in St. George's, Hanover Square. SIR BENJAMIN HALL said, he must beg to explain, that his object was to ena ble the local authorities to collect the rates at different times, if they thought proper, so as not to bear so heavily upon the poor ratepayer. THE EARL OF HARDWICKE replied. He thought that the noble Lord (Lord Stanley) had overlooked one fact entirely, namely, that no system of tonnage registration existed. That which was now called the tonnage was, in fact, the roomage of a ship. He would illustrate the nature of the present mode of measurement by an example. A ship might be MR. MONTAGU CHAMBERS said, filled-all her so-called tonnage entirely he begged to ask what would be done with occupied by ladies' bonnets, and yet she the Inns of Court, and other extra-parowould not draw one foot more water than chial places? she did when empty; while, on the other hand, she might be laden with cannon balls which would barely cover one of her decks to the depth of one foot, and yet bring her down below her water line. To it was intended to make to the Bill should put the matter on a more satisfactory footing, and give to every one the means of knowing the real capabilities of vessels, was the object of this Bill. But even if the Government were resolved to reject his system of measurement, there was no reason why they should decline to adopt the other part of his Bill-that which related to the establishment of a register of marine horse-power. On Question, that "now" stand part of the Motion, Their Lordships divided:-Content 21; Not Content 28: Majority 7. Resolved in the negative. Then the Question as amended was agreed to; and Bill to be read 2a on this day six months. House adjourned till To-morrow. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Thursday, June 21, 1855. MINUTES.] PUBLIC BILLS.-1° Haileybury Col- SIR BENJAMIN HALL said, that this was not the proper time to explain that part of the measure, He would promise that all the amendments or additions which be printed and placed in the hands of Members on Saturday, or, at latest, on Monday morning. SIR WILLIAM CLAY said, he had some apprehension lest, if these rates were demanded along with the poorrate, at one time, the effect might be to disfranchise many of the poorer voters of the metropolis, by calling upon them for a larger sum than could at once be paid. It would be better to levy the poor rate separately. Clause, as amended, agreed to; as were also Clauses 128 to 133 inclusive. Clause 134. SIR HENRY WILLOUGHBY said, he wished to call attention to the serious importance of authorising, as it was proposed by the words inserted here, the Metropolitan Board of Works to tax any district of the metropolis for the cost of works of drainage, according to their notion of the benefit which the locality would derive from it. SIR BENJAMIN HALL said, that the object of the clause and the amendment he proposed was to prevent particular districts from being taxed for sewers when nothing had been spent in those districts, and therefore it was proposed to have, in Order for Committee read; House in addition to the general rate, a special Committee. METROPOLIS LOCAL MANAGEMENT BILL, district rate. Clauses 135 to 158 were agreed to, | ARREARS DUE TO WOUNDED SOLDIERS with some yerbal amendments. The House resumed; Committee report progress. NEW PALACE, WESTMINSTER QUESTION. LORD SEYMOUR said, he begged to ask the right hon. Baronet the Chief Commissioner of Works, in reference to a Return presented on the 19th day of June, showing the proposed extension of buildings connected with the New Palace, Westminster, first, whether he had sanctioned the plans and estimates for 280,2721., on account of which sum 107,1757. had, it was stated, been voted in this Session? Secondly, whether he had approved the plans and estimates for further works proposed, to the amount of 651,2851., which were not included in the plan of the buildings laid before Parliament with the Estimates of the present year? SIR WILLIAM MOLESWORTH, in reply, said, he must beg the House to distinguish between the two classes of Works referred to in the Return in question :1st, works indispensable for the completion of the New Palace of Westminster which had received the sanction of the Government, and were in progress; secondly, additional works suggested by Sir Charles Barry as expedient and desirable, but which were not indispensable for the completion of the New Palace, and which had neither been sanctioned by the Government nor commenced. With regard to the first class of works, it had been estimated that the sum required for their completion was 280,000l. on the 31st of March, 1854; of that sum 107,000l. was voted last Session, and 85,000l. this Session. With regard to the second class of works, he should explain that, in consequence of wishes expressed in that House by many hon. Members, he had requested Sir Charles Barry to report to him his views respecting any additional works which he might consider to be desirable and expedient. He had received from Sir Charles Barry a statement in reply, with an estimate that the additional works suggested by him would cost about 650,000l. Those works had not in any way received the sanction of the Government, nor had they been commenced. His (Sir W. Molesworth's) report with regard to them was under the consideration of the Treasury. It was included in the Return referred to by the noble Lord, and raised questions deserving the consideration of the House. -QUESTION. MR. STAFFORD said, he had two questions which he wished to put to the hon. Gentleman the Under Secretary for War. The first related to a subject to which he had six times previously called the attention of the House since February last. His first question was, whether any arrangements had been made for payment of the arrears due to those sick or wounded soldiers who had returned from the Crimea ? And the second was, whether it was intended to place invalid soldiers on board the hospital-ship Britannia before the hospitals on shore were filled? It was well known that the soldier disliked nothing more than to remain on board ship. MR. FREDERICK PEEL said, that the reason why the back claims of the soldiers had not been settled was, because the Government were not yet aware of the amount of money due to the men up to the period at which they left the headquarters of their regiments in the Crimea, and they were also not aware of the amount due to the men for the period they were in the hospital at Scutari. These returns had been delayed in consequence of the state of confusion which the accounts of the paymasters in the Crimea had been in. Three months ago peremptory instructions were sent to the paymasters to furnish the required returns, and additional paymasters were also sent out to bring up the arrears. Several lists bad been already sent in showing the amounts due; the returns from Scutari were still wanting, but were expected shortly, when all arrears would be filled up before the men were sent to the ship referred to by the hon. Gentleman. ARMY COMMISSIONS-QUESTION. MR. HEADLAM said, he begged to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, whether he would lay upon the table of the House the new regulation for the army, whereby officers are entitled to bequeath the regulation value of their commissions under certain circumstances; also, whether the noble Lord would lay upon the table the new warrant, under which pensions to officers' widows were to be increased? LORD HOTHAM said, he would beg, also, to ask the noble Lord whether a grant of money would be necessary to carry into effect the increased pensions to which the hon. Member had referred? VISCOUNT PALMERSTON, in reply, | TENANTS' IMPROVEMENTS COMPENSA said, that the other evening he had stated what the intentions of the Government were with regard to this subject-those intentions could only be carried out under a new warrant, which was in preparation, and, as soon as it was ready and duly sanctioned, it should be laid before the House. With regard to the question put by the noble Lord the Member for the East Riding, he could not at present say whether any grant of money would be nenessary, but apprehended that, should it be so, the House would readily give their sanction to such a grant. TION (IRELAND) BILL. Clause 4 (Reclaiming Waste Lands, &c.) MR. HORSMAN said, he would now move the Amendment on this clause, of which he had given notice. Amendment proposed, in page 5, lines 6 and 7, to leave out the words "The reclaiming of waste lands or cut-out bog ground, by converting the same into arable or pasture land." MR. FRENCH said, he should take the sense of the Committee upon the question of the withdrawal of this important pre ROYAL MILITARY ASYLUM, CHELSEA vision, and he regretted that the Secretary QUESTION. MR. OLIVEIRA said, he begged to ask the hon. Under Secretary for War, whether arrangements were being made at the Royal Military Asylum, Chelsea, for receiving the 120 additional children of soldiers on foreign service, promised by the late right hon. Secretary at War, on the 5th day of May, 1854 ? MR. FREDERICK PEEL, in reply, said that fifty additional boys had already been received, and the remainder would be admitted as soon as some buildings now in progress for the reception of the monitors and pupils of the normal school, which was a branch of the establishment, had been completed, which would be at the expiration of about three months. COLONEL NORTH said, that on the 4th of May last year the House ordered that 120 additional children should be admitted to this establishment. On the 20th of September last he received from the right hon. Gentleman the late Secretary at War a letter, in which he stated that he had approved of the plans and specifications for the erection of buildings, to be completed at the end of the last or the commencement of the present year, when the 120 children would be admitted. Ten days ago he (Colonel North) went to see what was being done, and there was positively hardly a brick above the ground. He wished to know whose fault it was that the orders of the House had not been carried into effect? MR. BOUVERIE said, that, as one of the Commissioners for the management of the Hospital, he would beg to state that the building referred to was nearly ready for roofing. No addition could be made to the number of children admitted until it was completed, as it would be obviously unwise to overcrowd the existing buildings. for Ireland should have proposed its omission after the repeated admissions which had been made of the practicability and expediency of reclaiming waste land, and the promise which the Government of the noble Lord the Member for London had held out on the subject. MR. POLLARD-URQUHART said, an Irish Secretary who had any personal knowledge of Ireland and its resources would not attempt to pass such a mockery of a Tenants' Compensation Bill as one which excluded the reclaiming of bog ground, sa improvement more required than any other in that country. MR. BLAND said, he fully concurred in the suggestion of the hon. Member for Roscommon (Mr. French), thinking it most important, in a national point of view, tha waste lands should be included in the compensation provided by the Bill. MR. HORSMAN said, he entirely con curred in the importance of the question of encouraging the reclamation of waste lands in Ireland, but the question was not whether the reclamation of waste lands ought to be encouraged in Ireland, but whether it was one of that class of improvements which ought to be fairly brought into the Bill now under discussion. It was thought desirable to insert in the Bill only that class of improve ments concerning the compensation for which there could be little or no difference of opinion. It had been said that this class of compensation had been inserted in previous Bills; but none of those Bills had received the sanction of the Legislature, and the Government wished to frame such a measure as might pass. MR. MAGUIRE said, he had a strong desire to hear the Attorney and Solicitor Generals for Ireland give expression to |