queen, any gun, pistol, or other description of
fire-arms whatsoever, although the same shall not contain explosive or
destructive substance or material; or if any person shall strike, or
attempt to strike the person of the queen with any offensive weapons, or
in any manner whatever; or if any person shall wilfully throw or attempt
to throw any substance whatever at or on the person of the queen, with
intent, in any of the cases aforesaid, to break the public peace, or
with intent, in any of the cases-aforesaid, to excite the alarm of the
queen; I propose that any party so offending--that is, intending to
hurt the queen, or to alarm the queen, shall be subject to the same
penalties which apply to cases of larceny; that is, he be subject to
transportation not exceeding seven years. I propose, also, another
punishment, more suitable to the offence, and more calculated to repress
it, that there be a discretionary power of imprisonment for a
certain period, with authority to inflict personal chastisement." In
continuance, Sir Robert Peel expressed an opinion that such a punishment
would awe miscreants capable of harbouring such designs, and that the
provisions of the bill would be amply sufficient for the purpose of
protecting her majesty. "For," he added, "observe what we have to guard
against--it is not any traitorous attempt against the peace of the
nation by conspiring to take away the life of the sovereign, but it is
the folly or malignity of wretches who are guilty of acts prompted by
motives which are scarcely assignable. The law, in its charity to human
nature, has omitted to provide for the case of any being formed like a
man who could find a satisfaction in firing a pistol at a young lady,
that lady a mother, and that mother the queen of these realms. It
never entered into the conception of former law-makers that anything
so monstrous should arise, as that the queen of these realms should not
enjoy a degree of liberty granted to the meanest of her subjects. I am
sure the house will respond to the proposition to give the security of
this law for the protection of her majesty." The bill was passed with
unanimity.

POOR-LAW AMENDMENT BILL.

During this session government proposed and carried a bill re-enacting
the poor-law commission for five years, abolishing the Gilbert unions,
and forming districts for the purposes of education and various minor
matters. This bill, however, was not carried without much oppo