the support both of the friends and enemies of the discor very. In many instances he was sure that failure was une justly imputed to the cow-pox, as a preventive of the variolous distemper. For instance, he knew a case him self of an American lady, who, as she supposed, had her child vaccinated, after which it was seized with the smalle pox; but it turned out that the child had been actually inoculated with small-pox matter. He confessed, however, that he did not think vaccination in every case an infallible preventive of small-pox. The college of surgeons, in their report, had stated the cases of failure to be about one in three hundred. And he himself knew an instance in which a lady had had her child vaccinated by a skilful medical man, by whom he was afterwards attended; and though the child, upon being afterwards exposed to catch the natural small-pox, was proof against the infection, yet he caught the small-pox upon being inoculated. What he would propose, therefore, was, that a central institu tion should be formed in London, the heads of which should be chosen from the colleges of physicians and surgeons, to whom all cases of failure should be submitted; and that they should be empowered to grant certificates to proper persons, to enable them to propagate vaccination according to the most approved method. The whole expence of such an establishment would cost only about 1500l., certainly not more than 2500/., a small sum compared with the benefit which might be derived from it. Mr. Rose concluded with moving a resolution to this effect.

Mr. Davies Giddy confessed that the evidence before the house was sufficient to shew that, in most instances, vaccination was a preventive to the small-pox. But he thought it better that the discovery should be allowed to take its course than that the legislature should at all interfere in the business.

Mr. Fuller said that at Calcutta the small-pox was entirely annihilated by the introduction of vaccination, and a proper system of regulation; and he was of opinion, that by proper superintendance the same result might be attained in this country. He thought also, that without having recourse to compulsion, the children in the respective poor-bouses ought to be vaccinated, by persons properly qualified.

Sir Thomas Turton thought it would have been a pre

ferable mode of proceeding to move for a committee to in vestigate the subject. There were already three institutions in London for the express purpose of propagating the cow-pox; and, in his opinion, the object which the right honourable gentleman had in view was more likely to be obtained by private subscription, and by any assistance which government might think proper to grant in aid of such subscription, than by an institution formed expressly under the auspices of the legislature.

Lord Henry Petty contended that, as the evidence was still in some degree incomplete respecting the efficacy of vaccination as an infallible preventive of the small-pox, it was highly proper that the investigation should be per severed in under the eye of the public; and as this was one object that he conceived the right honourable gentle man to have in view in his institution, he thought this object more likely to be attained by one general institution, than by a number of small institutions, some of which were not perhaps altogether exempt from the im putation of being guided by party motives.

1

Sir Francis Burdett reminded the house of the different complexion which the discovery had now assumed, from that under which it was first introduced to the public. It was at first said to be a thing so simple in itself, that any old woman might perform the operation, whereas it was now described as one so extremely difficult, that it ought only to be intrusted to men of great professional skill and experience. There was some danger, therefore, that we might be fostering a very dangerous mistake. With this impression, he confessed, that in the present circumstances, he felt considerable difficulty in voting for any measure, the object of which was to disseminate it. He thought, at all events, that before tying the house down by a resolution, it would be better to appoint a committee, further to inquire into the efficacy of the discovery.

"Mr. Wilberforce said, that in foreign countries there was a firm and decided opinion of the efficacy of vaceinasion as a preventive of the small-pox; and he did not think that the instances of alleged failure in this country were sufficient to shake our confidence in it. -But if any doubts were entertained, he did not see that there could be any better method of solving them than by forming an institution of the nature of that proposed

by his right honourable friend, to whose investigation every case of failure in future would be submitted.

Mr. Rose read the report of the college of physicians of London, in which they strongly recommended it; and of the college of physicians of Edinburgh, in which they declare the evidences in favour of vaccination to be so strong and decided that they also recommend its univeral adoption.

Mr. Canning declared that though he considered the discovery now alluded to, to be of the very greatest im portance, he could not figure any circumstances whatever that should induce him to follow up the most favourable report of its infallibility which might be brought forward, with any measure of a compulsory nature.

Mr. Wilberforce and Sir Francis Burdett mutually explained.

The house divided:

COMMUTATION OF TITHES IN IRELAND,

Mr. Parnell said a communication had been made to him, by which he was given to understand, that the subject of a commutation of tithes in Ireland had for some time been under the consideration of government; and that a proposition to that effect would, on the very first opportunity, be brought before the house. He therefore thought it proper to withdraw the motion of which he had given notice on this subject, intimating, however, that if not originated by government early in the next session, he should esteem himself bound still to bring it for

ward.

Mr. Fitzgerald wished to say a few words; but being informed by the Speaker, that the honourable member (Mr. Parnell) had a right to dispose as he thought proper of his own notice, and that there was no question before the house, he (as we understood it) gave notice of a similar motion to that withdrawn by Mr. Parnell, on a petition from the county of Kerry.

BREACH OF THE UNION.

Sir John Newport brought forward a motion, of which VOL. III.-1808.

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he had given notice on a former night, complaining of the detention of certain woollen goods sent from Cork to Liverpool, for the purpose of being exported; and which, af er payment of the import duties from Ireland, had been detained till export duties were again paid on them, contrary to an article of the union between the two countries; by which, goods, the produce or manufacture of one of the two countries, was to be exported from the other as if they had been exported from the country where they were produced. On the goods being so detained, a memorial was presented to the custom-house board, and the return was an answer sanctioning the conduct of their officers. The honourable baronet now called on the house for its interference, and to do it effectually, he moved for the production of the memorial and answer in question, and that they be referred to a committee to inquire into the matter, and to report what should be the interpretation given to the clause of the articles of union, on which the export duty was demanded.

Mr. Rose admitted the statement of the honourable baronet, and that redress ought to have been given. This, however, he thought, would have been better procured by an application to the treasury than by a motion in that house.

Mr. Perceval was of the same opinion, and hoped the motion might be withdrawn, there being no doubt that Messrs. Mahony would obtain redress.

Lord Henry Petty, Mr. Ponsonby, Mr. Grattan, &c. bore testimony to the propriety of their honourable friend's (sir John Newport's) conduct in bringing the matter before the house. It being understood that this put the question to rest, they were satisfied he would withdraw his motion.

Sir John Newport had no objection to do so. He was happy he had brought it forward, as the knowledge of the interpretation in future to be given to the clause in question, would now spread through Ireland more rapidly than if it had not been mentioned in the house.

The motion was accordingly withdrawn.

Mr. Huskisson obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend the act of last session, for the better prevention of smuggling. His object was to ascertain the right of the captors to detain the persons as well as the goods; also to make it transportable felony for any persons pursued as

smugglers to avail themselves of the protection of the enemy's batteries.

Lord Castlereagh postponed the third reading of the local militia bill till to-morrow.

DUBLIN POLICE BILL.

On the motion for the house going into a committee on the Dublin police bill, a conversation took place between Mr. Beresford, Sir A. Wellesley, Sir J. Newport, and Mr. Grattan; the two latter disapproving of the bill, though they admitted the difficulty of forming a bill which should secure a good police to the citizens of Dublin, without a vast increase of that patronage which it was necessary to repress..

The house having gone into a committee,

Sir J. Newport suggested that the jurisdiction of the police, instead of extending eight miles round Dublin, should be limited to four miles. In this he was supported by Mr. Shaw, and opposed by Sir A. Wellesley and Mr. Croker.

A division took place on the clause as it originally stood:

A yes
Noes

Majority

40

17

23

Upon the clause respecting the number of districts, Mr. Ponsonby moved, and was seconded by Mr. Shaw, that the number be four instead of six; on which a long conversation arose, in the course of which the amend ment was supported by Messrs. Shaw, Grattan, Williams Wynne, Sir John Newport, and Mr Beresford; and opposed by Sir Arthur Wellesley, Mr. Dennis Brown, Mr. Fuller, and Mr. Croker; when the committee divided:

Ayes
Noes

Majority

$2

65

93

Mr. C. Beresford hoped that, with such a thin attendance of Irish members, the honourable baronet would not press the proceeding on the bill further this night.

Sir A. Wellesley, however, thought that there was no