tisfaction in laying on the table all the correspondence.

day, and the intelligence had only reached him that morning through the telegraph. He had immediately consulted with the physician attached to the Board of Privy Council, Sir W. Pym, and had given orders that the parties should be relieved from quarantine. The physician had gone down himself, and would communicate such orders as were necessary to the quarantine station.

The EARL of ST. GERMANS: Has any accommodation been provided for the parties on shore?

The EARL of LONSDALE had already

The EARL of LONSDALE said, that with respect to the question the noble Earl had addressed to him he should be happy to give his noble Friend all the information in his power on this subject. The circumstances connected with the letter of the 2nd of September to which his noble Friend had referred were these: It was represented to the Council by official authority that malignant cholera was raging at Dantsic and several of the principal ports in the Baltic, and the advice under which the Council acted in issuing the let-stated that he had sent down orders that ter to which reference had been made, was the parties should be relieved. He also regiven by one of the most skilful physicians peated his statement that he had sent of the present day. His noble Friend had down the physician of the Board to the quacomplained of the letter of the 2nd of Sep-rantine station to give the proper directions. tember as an act of severity and restriction LORD STANLEY of ALDERLEY was on the part of the Privy Council; but his uuderstood to remark upon the inconnoble Friend was under some misappre- sistency of our sending a representative hension in this respect, for if he would at the Sanitary Conference at Paris, to take the trouble of referring to the Act of impress upon the other deputies that the 6th Geo. IV., he would find that the cholera was not conveyed by contagion, Board of Customs had the power to send to while we were renewing our quarantine any quarantine station any vessel arriving restrictions in our own ports. The memfrom a foreign port with any infected per- bers of the Conference were of opinion, son on board. The late Quarantine Act that cholera could not be conveyed by conallowed the Privy Council to give in each tagion, and a report had been made by a case such orders to the Board of Customs congress of American physicians, and had as the case might require; and the letter been recently published by the Board of of the 2nd of September mitigated several Health in this country, in which it was provisions of the existing law. His noble stated to be their unanimous opinion that Friend said that he could not understand no quarantine regulations were of any avail that letter. He was surprised at such an in preventing the entrance of the cholera, assertion, for to him it appeared that its if the atmospheric and other causes necesmeaning was clear enough. The letter sary for its production were present. It mitigated the Act of George IV. very con- was not likely that we could make satissiderably, as it ordered those only who factory progress with the Convention, if, were actually attacked by cholera to be while our representative at Paris was urdetained on board. He would not enter ging these views on the one hand, on the into any discussion with his noble Friend other the President of the Council was enon the subject of contagion and non-conta- forcing more stringent quarantine regulagion, for he knew that eminent physicians tions with respect to cholera. had not only differed from one another, but, at different periods, even from themselves, on these points. [The noble Earl here read, in a low voice, several conflicting extracts from the reports of the College of Physicians and of the Army Medical Board on the subject of contagion; and, in reply to a question of the Earl of St. Germans, said, that there were some physicians who denied contagion, but he believed that not merely three-fourths but nine-tenths of the profession advised all who consulted them to avoid contagion.] With regard to the news respecting La Plata, that vessel had only arrived that

The EARL of LONSDALE said, that the regulations issued by the Privy Council were not more stringent, but were in fact a relaxation of the powers with which the Council were invested by the Act of George IV.

LORD STANLEY of ALDERLEY remarked, that it seemed very extraordinary that our representative at Paris, instructed by the Foreign Secretary, should there maintain views on this subject quite different from those entertained by the President of the Council.

The EARL of MALMESBURY also protested against the idea that the repre

sentatives of the British Government had | had drawn the attention of the public to been instructed to abolish all regulations of this matter; and he believed that the safety quarantine; they had only been instructed as well as the convenience of the public to mitigate and regulate them, and to ren- really required some attention on the part der the burden of them less intolerable; of the Government, and the adoption of and that was their object in attending some regulations which might enable them the Sanitary Conference at Paris. If his to interfere a little in these matters. He noble Friend fancied that he could per- knew that there was some little difficulty suade the representatives of foreign coun- in moving in this matter; because, whentries to believe that cholera and other ever any attempt was made by the Governdiseases were not contagious, he believed ment to interfere with them, it was urged that his noble Friend, on trying it, would that to interfere with the railway compafind that he was very much mistaken; nor nies would diminish their responsibility. would any convention ever be concluded if But he was convinced that there were many we were to wait until we had brought them points in the management of railways on to that conviction. Whether diseases of which the interference of the Government this kind were infectious or contagious, he would be most useful. His reason for did not know; but foreign countries were drawing the attention of the House to this convinced of this-that they were catching. subject, arose partly from the responsiLORD STANLEY of ALDERLEY said, bility which the House had cast upon him he did not suppose that the different na-in the office in which they had placed him tions of Europe could be induced to forego as their Chairman of Committees. It was all quarantine regulations; but the greatest number of medical opinions were certainly against the contagious character of cholera. LORD WHARNCLIFFE was understood to say, that nothing could be more preposterous than to subject a vessel to quarantine for yellow fever in our latitude, and in the month of November. The yellow fever depended on the thermometer. It was never known to exist when the thermometer was below a certain point. It was well known in tropical climates it ceased its ravages with colder weather. In New Orleans it was well understood that the first frost put an end to the yellow fever. When we were pressing upon other Governments the propriety of relaxing their quarantine laws, it placed us in an awkward position to be found enforcing our restrictions with respect to a disease so unlikely to spread as the yellow fever.

RAILWAY LEGISLATION.

LORD REDESDALE wished to ask his noble Friend the Vice-President of the Board of Trade (Lord Colchester), whether there was any intention on the part of Her Majesty's Government to bring in any Bill for the regulation of railways. He believed that there was an almost universal opinion amongst persons in this country, with the exception of those personally interested in railways, that some further regulations should be adopted, and some further control exercised in regard to matters connected with these concerns. The accidents which had lately occurred, and which had certainly been more than usually numerous,

supposed that that functionary should exercise an almost complete control over the regulations to be enforced with regard to Private Bills. Now, unquestionably from the manner in which the House had always supported the Chairman of Committees, he had considerable power; but still no Chairman of Committees, and certainly not he, for one, could presume to lay down on matters of this kind a code of legislation which he would feel justified in imposing on all railways whatever. This could only be done by Parliament itself acting legislatively at the instance of the Government. To him it appeared that all the railway companies stood in a position which rendered such a course of legislation justifiable-because for the last thirteen years a clause had been inserted in every Railway Act subjecting the companies to the operation of any general Act which might be introduced with respect to railways. No railway company, therefore, would have any right to complain, whatever the interference of the Government might be. He thought that advantage should be taken of the present Session for the introduction of a measure of the kind to which he had referred; for if it was allowed to pass without this being done, their power of obtaining a control over railway companies would be materially diminished. It was also most important that such a measure should be introduced on account of the character of many of the Bills likely to be introduced-Bills to effect important amalgamations. Now, it was impossible for any person to look to a great extension of

drawn the attention of the Government to the subject thus early. If the Government were not prepared to introduce a general measure for the better regulation of railways, he trusted that, at least, they would frame beforehand some clauses, directed to the purposes he had specified, and to other matters of importance to the safety and convenience of the public, to be inserted in all Railway Bills in the present Session; but he believed they would find that proceeding by a general Act would be the least trouble to them, and more effective.

234 amalgamations without some apprehensions | want of punctuality. A reform in railway | as to the consequences that might arise management, by which punctuality should from them to the public interests. To a be enforced, would be more beneficial to incertain extent he entertained no objection dividuals, and would even affect a greater to the amalgamation of companies, but he number of persons, than the reform rethought that proposals for that end should cently introduced by his noble and learned be taken up only with the greatest caution. Friend on the woolsack into the Court of Measures should be taken to protect the Chancery. In a new Parliament, like the public against the consequences which present, it would be difficult to obtain that might naturally be expected to follow from attention in the other House to the many some of these amalgamations, if they should Railway Bills which would come before be carried out, for they would certainly them in the course of the present Session partake in a considerable degree of the na- which their importance required, on acture of monopolies. It was only, there- count of the number of election petitions, fore, in proceeding by a general measure, which would necessarily occupy the time assuming the necessary powers of control, of many of those who were best qualified to that they could expect to give the public act as Chairmen of Committees; and the confidence in the administration of railway consideration of these matters must consebusiness. He had to the last opposed the quently not only be more hurried than abolition of the Railway Commissions; and usual, but also in many cases be left to the he hoped to see them re-established with decision of new and less experienced Memmore extended powers, and properly sup-bers. It was on that account that he had ported by the Government of the day, which they never had been before. There were many points as to which he thought it highly expedient that some power of control should be taken. For instance, there should be some authority able to regulate the proceedings of the railway companies in putting on and in taking off trains from different lines, for at present the conduct of the railway companies in regulating such matters was in many cases opposed to the convenience of the public. You found that when there were two railway companies conflicting with each other, you came by one to a point from which you must travel by another, and that the train by which you wished to proceed on your journey had started just ten minutes before your arrival by the train of the other company, and that you must wait three or four hours until you could start by another train. It could not be productive of any mischief to vest power in a general Board to correct such abuses on receiving a representation from the inhabitants of a district, or from another railway company; and it would be just to enforce such arrangements, for the lines were given to the companies by Parliament on the faith of their giving that accommodation to the public. There was another point on which he thought it necessary that Government should interfere with the management of the railway companies. There should be some stringent regulation to exact from them punctuality in their times of departure and arrival. Almost every accident on the railways arose from

LORD COLCHESTER was ready to acknowledge that this was a matter which the noble Lord had done well in bringing before Parliament, for it was one of great importance to the public safety and the public convenience. He was afraid the answer he had to give to the questions put might not be quite satisfactory to his noble Friend. The attention of the department to which he had the honour to belong was constantly devoted to this subject, but no new measure was at present in preparation. With respect to the number of new Railway Bills that might be expected to be introduced in the present Session, their information was at present necessarily very imperfect. They had only the official notices inserted in the Gazette by which to judge of the probable number, and the entire number would not be known until the 30th of November, the last day for depositing the notices, and even then it must be remembered that many intended undertakings probably

would not be carried out, and perhaps the desirable theoretically it might be that Bills not even introduced into Parliament. there should be one code of regulations At present the number of Bills for which which should guide and govern all railway notices had been given was forty-two, companies, past, present, and to come, and fifteen of which were for the incorporation that Parliament should, by an ex post facto of new companies, thirteen for the con- regulation, lay down rules for the guidance struction of new works, eight for continua- of a railway company, thus interfering with tions, five for amalgamations, and one for its internal management, not only would it extension of powers. The whole subject, be impossible for Government to carry any in the opinion of Government, was of such measure through Parliament, but, if it were difficulty and importance, as only to be possible, it would be an extraordinary inadequately dealt with by a Select Com-terference with the internal regulations of mittee, and, therefore, Government had come to the determination of moving the appointment of a Select Committee to consider it. At present he was not able to give a more decided answer to the questions, than that the subject was engaging the earnest attention of Government.

railway companies, which were most of them much better judges of what was conducive to their own and the public interest, and much more capable of attending to it than any Government Board could be. He could not, therefore, hold out to the noble Lord who had just sat down any expecLORD BEAUMONT observed, that in tation that it was the intention of Governhis opinion, the necessity of an Act re- ment to introduce any measures of railway specting the management of railways did regulations which might tend, according to not depend upon the number of Bills which the sanguine views which the noble Lord in the course of the present Session would took, to render impossible the occurrence be introduced into the Legislature. What of inconveniences and accidents to the pubthey wanted was this, a code of laws-a lic, or which would amount to any serious general code of laws-respecting the man-interference with the powers and privileges agement of railways, which should apply conferred by Parliament on the existing equally to all railways, both those that companies. He would not, however, hesimight obtain Bills in future, and those tate to say that, as experience showed from that had already obtained them, and had day to day the necessity of legislation consequently now no occasion to come be- for particular purposes, and as opportunifore the Legislature. A Bill might be ties arose for dealing with particular quesframed so as to prevent the vexatious pro- tions, he thought it exceedingly desirable, ceedings which now so often take place and indeed necessary, that they should between conflicting railway interests, and avail themselves of the fresh references to which always result in inconvenience to Parliament that would become requisite on the passengers, and loss to one or other the part of the companies, for the purpose of the parties. What they wanted was of introducing such modifications of the exsuch a general Bill as would lay down isting system as experience had shown to a rule to enable persons who had grounds be necessary or desirable for the public inof complaint to right themselves. Of terest. One question raised by his noble course such a Bill could alone properly Friend in which Parliament might probably emanate from Government; and he (Lord interfere with advantage, was in the conBeaumont) thought, therefore, he might nection of different trains with different ask his noble Friend if, in the Office of railways communicating with each other. the Board of Trade, this question had In such cases there might usefully be given been considered, whether in consequence some power of arbitration or arrangement of the numerous accidents which had re- under a Government Board to prevent the cently occurred on railways, and the enor- inconvenience now inflicted upon the public, mous loss incurred by the necessity of for the purpose of making them travel the applying to Parliament for amalgamations greatest length possible upon the respecand other desirable objects by separate tive lines of the different companies. But and special Bills, the Government intended any measure of that kind would require to introduce any measure of a general na- much care, because it might involve an inture which would put an end to this state terference with the details of management; of things, by an enactment in the nature and their Lordships must recollect that in of the Lands Clauses Consolidation Act, every case where Parliament insisted on which would be of general application? particular times being observed, Parliament must become responsible also for the in

The EARL of DERBY thought, however

convenience and danger which might be [ject, with the view of remedying the preintroduced by running corresponding trains sent imperfect states of railway legislation. on other lines, and which, if great atten- The EARL of HARROWBY denied that tion were not paid, might be of a very in any contract the Government were at serious description. There was another the mercy of the railway companies. It subject to which he wished to call the at- ought to be remembered that the public tention of the House, and with respect to required from the latter a vast amount of which he considered that a great mistake duty. Look at the vast bulk of newshad been made by neglecting it at an early papers and books which the railways conperiod of the existence of the railway sys- veyed, and for which the means of transit tem-he meant the making provision for were never required under the old system. the conveyance both of mails and troops by This should be remembered when noble the different companies. He believed that Lords were told of the large amount of at present Government was absolutely and payment to railways by the Post Office. entirely in the power of a railway company All experience showed that railway amalas to the terms-not on which the mails gamation, under wise and proper regulawould be conveyed, indeed-but on which tions, was the best system. Parliament other conditions most essential to the pub-might order trains to be run at particular lic service, in the conveyance of troops and hours, but they could never regulate the similar objects, would be performed. There-action of hostile parties. Companies with fore, when railway companies came to Par- rival interests always began with extraliament for new and amended Bills to ex-vagant competition, and then combination tend the powers they already possessed, he eventually followed, to cover the expense thought the opportunity should be taken of of all the losses caused by competition. introducing such fresh regulations for the It would have been much better if Parlia furtherance of the public service by facili-ment had carried out properly the scheme tating the conveyance either of mails or of Lord Dalhousie. If they had not left troops, as might be found expedient. His noble Friend the Postmaster General (the Earl of Hardwicke) had very carefully considered this subject, and prepared clauses which would be submitted to Parliament for its approval, and which, if adopted, would provide greatly increased facilities for the transmission of mails and troops by railway companies. He differed, however, from the noble Lord as to the extent to which Parliament ought to legislate for the regulation of existing railways.

The MARQUESS of CLANRICARDE said, he had heard with great satisfaction the remarks of the noble Earl; because he was fully aware of the great inconvenience to which the Post Office and other departments were put by the present system. The sum paid by the public for the conveyance of mails was now of an enormous amount, and exceeded, when he left office, 400,000l. a year. He was sorry the noble Earl had not held out greater hopes that the subject would be considered by Government. He did not approve of ex post facto legislation. It would be very unfair to resort to any measures of that kind, except when railway companies came to ask for some boon. He thought, however, there would be no hardship whatever in taking measures by which redress would be af forded in case of the breach of public engagements. It was very desirable that consideration should be given to the sub

the construction of lines to the mad speculation of private parties, they would have had a much more economical and efficient service. The best remedy was, to keep in view the original views of Lord Dalhousie, and to assign somewhat of a monopoly to each railway company over their respective districts, under proper regulations for the protection of the public. Monopolies on railways were, and must be. Let Parliament avow that they were, and deal with them as such, and all would be easy. But if they treated railways as undertakings to which the ordinary law of supply and demand was applicable, causes of complaint against railway management would always exist.

EARL GRANVILLE doubted whether so many towns would be now connected by railway, or whether so many trains would be run, if the Government had originally assumed greater responsibility, or had been intrusted with the management of railway matters. He thought it desirable that a Parliamentary Committee should be appointed. In many instances the railway companies would be grateful to have some of the questions between them settled by the superior authority of Parliament.

LORD BATEMAN said, that a passenger in Yorkshire ought to have the power of booking himself through to London without being compelled to change his carriage when he came upon the line of any other