The Express. — London, England, 1847-01-22 00:00:00

ha no re.tricion, and who have agreed that in Menai" 1843 1. these duties shall be reduced to oae shelling, they can have now no difficulty in agre e ing that fur some tame they ought to be suspended, hocasiv they will hardly say that that which is a goal law in times of the greatest abuts lance shall , not be the law at a time when great privation exists, and ' when we have a d faculty in finding a sufficient supply of food for ea. people. I will n pats to another sub ject, which I have said is closely connected with the one I have been dwelling upon. It is the subject of the navigation lawn. With respect to these laws, 111 they at present stand, they lead to a catieialeralce difficulty in the importation of cora. Then• diffictioties leave been greatly en banceel by the Auserima ships, which have given rise to an lateen*. in the frciahtage. But we hove a general deficiency of shipping for sec large a quantity of tonnage as is required for the importation of the guano ity or cone. I have mentioned that the freight ILO been raised very considerauly. I will state to the house wh it have been the original freights for a quarter of corn, and what nave been the freights Lately paid. From the I) mule, the freight on a quarter of corn woo 10s. —at present, it varies from to 11s. The original freight from Odeast was Ss., :tad now it is from 13s. to 135.61. From the Vnted St ales of America it was s..—now it is from 1'2%. 6.1. to 13.. 61. Fro:a the Ilai•ic it was from 3a. 91. w 411. 6.1., and now it is Irian 5.. to oa. 61. There were some instll4Cei of freights still more remarkable,and still more affecting the supply of Ireland with c om. The original freight of a gitarter of corn, from London to Cork, was from le. to Is. 3d. It is now from 3s. to 3s. ad. This arises from the difficulty of getting vusels for the purpose. It is obvious, then, .bat by the suspension of the ul‘igatioli laws, chips will be in duced, to &certain deigns e, to ewer their freight., and our ships will be allowed to he employed in this trade. The present are restrictions which, in time of privation. shoat" not exist, and therefore I propose tee suspension of thou laws with regard to the importation of foreign corn for the same period as the suspension of the 44. duty on corn is praptoed to remain art existence. With respect to the venal principle of the pre sent laws with regard to corn, I if, not wish to enter into guy comment on the in otter in any other way than again main taining that whatever may be my views, or the views of others, on the subject • it must be oar eel that the time has arrived when their operation ought to be suspended. Ido not know that I ought to nay antthing further. Ido not wish to enter into any discussion, and I son still less willing to provoke any hostility by the observations I make. (Hear.) I therefore propane that the chairman put the question that lure be given to bring in a bill to suspend all duties on foreign corn and the navigation laws to the Ist of September of the present year. Mr. BANK ES tee to second the motion of the noble lord, and felt no difficulty in doing so front the tone in which the noble lord made the prop ...ham. Tne uoble lord stated that from the propene" of a temporary suspension of the duty un corn he anfeipated no diventient voice. They could not but expect that that would be the feeling of the noble lord, but if on essential benefit should be derived from the WY pension of the duty, parliament should have been called together for that porrpoac. The noble lord was aware that those who mane:duel the principle that dudes were for the benefit of the country were ready dosing the whole couroe of lase ye or, at any one period when privation in Ireland was refl.., red to, to agree to as iminedi Ito supensi on of tlice duties.. The prime minister could nut but be aware that if he, in the course of his duty, thought it expedient to pans inch a measure, it was in his power to have called the legis lature together—it might, indeed, be true that ouch a course would hive been inconvenient to the Irish members—but the English represent eaves would have at once cheerfully consented on the behalf of Ireland to the proposition, or any otter which would have been proved t o them was for the benefit of Ireland. But he thought the noble lord htd less excuse for not calling parliament together at an earlier peri al fur an alterati on in .he navigation laws. They had been told that there was plenty of grain to be found in different part. of the world, and coruequently the only ditHeulty that was to be met with was a want of the means of convey-roc s, gad that difficulty could only be obviated by the suspension of the navigation laws. The ministry might have obviated the inconvenience by calling parliament together shortly after the prorogation tat ye3r, and, as be had before observed, if it had been inconvenient for the Irish members t a attend, the Eotalisli members were ready, on the part of Ireland, to attend for the sanction of the suspension of the navigation laws. His iufunuatioa dif fered from that of the liable lord with respect to the late harvest. He believed that there was more than an average crop of core in the west of E gland, although it might be deficient in (totality, but he believed that titre was more than average quantity, and indeed isolative to supply the deficiency of the potato crop. The farm, re, by some lacuna or the other, in the part of that country in which tie was staying, anticipated that a scarcity would tike place, and that at or before this time, a nee in the price was sure to meter. And he might mention, to the credit of those farmers!, that they did not withhold their corn from the markets, but did continue a regular and steadsupply rather larger than on ordivary occasions. A had sio slow been taken by the friends of protection, that at a period when the want of corn would be felt in this country, the prices of corn in other nations woul.l be guided by the prices in the English markets. Such appeared to Ice the case now, and it was to other and more distant countries that they now required to look far the supply which was now required. He had the sincere satisfaction of expressing un the present occasion a full, a free, and an entire concurrence in the proposition of the noble lord. He shared with him in the apprehension that no great benefit would result from the suspensieu of the duty, but if there was the smallest benefit to be derived, lie agreed with the noble lord in saving that they would be to blame if they withheld the supply of corn for one mumeut. (Hear, hear.) The noble lord proposed to remove the restriction for a longer period than was gene rally anticipated, but it was not proper to inquire into that matter, lout they must rely on the government for having used a sound discretion in the de mand they had made. All he had to say was, that on his part—and he believed that he spoke the sentiments of those sitting about him—he acquiesced in the propontitton with the greatest possible good will. It was said by the hon. and learned gentleman, the member for Bath, that the right hon. baronet the member for Tumworth was entitled to the praise of the house with reference to his f aesight in regard to the famine in Ireland. All he would observe with refer. ence to that remark was, that the right hon. baronet met with no opposition in regard to any remedy he proposed for the relief of that famine. The only measure on which he met with opposition with regard to Ireland was in respect to the Coercion Bill, and he did not know whether the hon. and learned member for Bath considerc t that the preposi tion for a coercion bill would have relieved the !amine in Ireland. He thought it right to remind him, as well as all the members in the hirsute, that in regard to the famine in Ireland, as far as it was anticipated by the right honour. able baronet, he met with no opposition. The very offer made by the agricultural moorhen to consent to a tem porary suspension of the carndaws was rejected. Under these circumstances he trusted that those who have been the advocates of protective duties would not appear to Irish members to have deserved any blame, for they never stood in the way of relief to their cannery, and never would. The question haring beer put, air H. W. BAIIKON said that it was a matter of deep regret to him that this measure was not brought forward long before. He had been in Waterforol on Monday, and he therefore had some idea of the state of destitution in which the people were. Not only hundreds, but thousands of people woe living there oar a seamy meal a day, and yet labouring at the public works at the wages of led. a day, which was not sufficient to procure themselves and their fami lies anything like suateuance. The misery was unparalleled which elided in every part of that neighbourhood. Parlia ment had no idea of the terrible destitution which pervaded Ireland, while, from what he read in the public print!, the neople of England appeared yet unconvinced of the dreadful sondition in which the unfortunate millions of Ireland were living. Oa Thursday last, in the city of Waterford, no less than 107 applicants were refused admission into the union workhouse, solely on account of the want of sufficient room to locate them. The physician reported to the board that it would be dangerous to the lives not only of the applicants themselves, but to the inmates of the house, from the crowded state of the wards, if they were a Inlet d. Under these circumstances they were forced to re use admission to the 107 applicants,but he wasglad to my that the board, upon their own responsibility, had since taken another building, capable of accommodating 100 individuals, and he hoped that they would be shortly able to afford relief to every single individual that claimed it. It was hinted most ignorantly and flippantly that the landlords had not done their duty. He was one of those who had imposed up n himself a taxation of 28s. in the pound on the property of the baronies for the support of the poor for only three months of the year. He attended regularly at the sessions where be resided, and other places where the country gentlemen were accustomed to ensemble, and where these matters were regulated, and he had net seen one single instance where a landlord had set himself up in opposition to the principle that property was bound to support the poor; and yet they were told gravely by the prey of this country, and that statement was retailed second hand in that house by some accondsh and lawyer —( laughter) —that they had not performed their duties In reference to the poorer claws of their country, and that they were mise rably deficient in all the duties which they owed towards those who were entitled to reli 4 from the more affluent por tions of the community. He averted, without fear of contradiction, that there was not in the whole world a class who had come more liberally forward towanti the support of the poor, or had anted more magnanimously towards them, than the landlords of Ireland on the present occasion. They had done this in the mode that was most acceptable, and which clothed the et. with proper grace and dignity, for ley had done it lolocrilly, and without any distinc tion of party or sect. (Hear, hear.) Though great was the calamity that imp -aide el over his unfortunate country, yet he mold not help thinking that it might yet b' of con siderable advantage to that country, cad rescue it from many of the borrows that were inherent in the organization of the country, and the vitiated state of its political condition, and he trusted that speedily it would be delivered from the horrors that now cast a gloom over it. Mr. GOULUCRN would not follow the hon. baronet throughout the details of his address: he had recently arrived from a place where the greatest distress prevailed, and conse quently he was well able to depict the nature of the suffer ings of the people to the house. It was perfectly natural for a gentleman so situated to press in warm language epon the house the dreadful nature of the cala mity which had visited his country, and it was equally natural that he should feel irritated at statements in his opinion, reflected upon the character of his ... co a, and that he should take the earliest opportu nity diving them. But the hon. baronet would ht. cm "' • not suppose that h ~ was in the leant degree iadifferent to the sufferings of that cow. ,7 , 7 of he expressed his opinion that that wan not the OCCIAiO.I me which he should have taken an opportun i ty o f e„t„ing i n to ouch a divavion. (Mean) They all knew and felt for the 'we", existing in Ireland, and considered that it was Ose duty of England come forward and to relieve the detresser of the Irish people. lie had but a single observation to offer to the house. He j entirely concurred in the measure which the noble Ined had proposed, and he thought also that it WAS meet esecutial that that concurrence should be universal, and that that concur isnee should carry with it to the people • conviction of the interest which Euglsnd felt in the welfare of Ireland. lie would not, however, avail himself of that opportunity to advert to the past proceedings of the house with respect to this subject, excest t., state that the adoption of such a step at an earlier p:riod would have gone far to have alleviated the difficulties which it was not prepared to meet. (Hear.) The question they had to consider was, were they likely or not to derive isdvantege from ,he mewure, though not to a great extent? To the proposition he gave his entire as sent, and he could out, in doine so, help expressing hi. opi nion, teat the adoption of such a enure', at an antecedent period, would have been most advantageoue; as at the pre sent time the grain of the foreign countries to whom we looked for supplies, was already engaged by other purchasers ' who were competing fur its possmoiou ; yet it was newt de sirable to obtain pmeession of whatever surplus remained through the suspension of the clasiee, as the continuance of the duty might divert those supplies from our shores t o other countries. With regard to the suspension of the navigation laws this argumeut epelied even with greater force, ass France had suspended her navigation laws fur the purpose of getting corn into France; arid, therefore, they hail not the same ad vantage with their ship: as they would have had if France hail not adopted such • cetric. Corn from America, fur imitance, would be carried to Franco is American ship., when they were informed in America that the nos igation laws of France were hu-pended. In order to put wire-lees oa a footing with foreign countries the suspension of the navigation laws during Hai, period of urgent distress, was a measure from which noose would dis emit ; but at the same time he reser... d to himself the ques tion of any further suspension of those law., or the Drop, nay of interfering with them on any other occasion hereafter. lie had only further to express a hope that the measures which were about to be taken mght be the means of aiding those supplier of fad which were so essentially necessary fur the welfare of the country. (Hear, hear.) Mr. EWA ItT thought the measures which had been pro posed ought to here b en taken a long time ago ; and while , the hon. member fur Dorsetahire declared himself is favour of a temporary suspension of the corn and navigation laws, he must say that he should like to see their immediate total repeal. , The navigation laws, which originated at an unenlightened period in the reign of Henry the Seventh, had lons been a burden on commerce, and he was at • loss to know why they were continued in the present day. (Hear, hear.) He should like to see another mode of liberating the labour of the country taken into consideration—namely, by an altera tion of the law of settlement, which, in its present state, was a serious impediment to the labouring dassu. (Hear.) The CIIANCKLLOIt of the ',XCHEQUEIt wished to state some of the reasons why the government had not adopted the measures of r lief which they now proposed at an earlier period. In October of last year. as well as at the present time, the price to which corn bed risen was a specu lative price; and as soon as it was known that it was the de termination of the government nut to open the ports, the prices immediately ielL (Hear, hear.) By the packet which arrived from the United States of America at the end of October, information was received that large quantities of corn were ready for shipment to this country, and inquiries were mule of uaerchante in the city and in Liverpool on the subject, and the government were told by them that a great number of vessels had gone out to America, attracted by the high freiehts, and would be likely soon to return laden with corn. (Rear, hear). He held in his hand a letter from a gentleman in Liverpool, dated the 14th Jan., stating that there were then laden with corn, in New York, for Great Britain and Ireland, no less than 37 vessels of 24,000 tons, and, in New Orleans, 33 vessels of 19,0(0 tons. In addition to that, 29 vessels, of 17,000 tons, had just cleared nut from Liverpool fur America. Therefore, there were 70 vessels which in all probability would bring home corn from Ame rica. There was every reason to suppose that large supplies would be brought into this country ; but the expectations held out by the merchants had not been realised, inasmuch as the supplies bad not come in to the extent expected, al. though the imports had increased to a very considerable extent within the last two or three weeks; hut the present time we were in whst was termed a dead period of the year; the spring trade. however, would begin before long, when there would be a much greater demand for shipping; and it was, therefore, most important to relax the laws affecting the importation of corn at the present time. The government also looked to Odessa and Galati ; and as soon a , those ports were open, vestals os the spot would be enabled to load earlier than ships which might go out from England, and in that case the suspension of the navigation limes would be most beneficial. (Hear, hear.) It must also be remeineered when on the subject of the anticipated supplies, that, as yet, not a grain of Indian corn of the crop of 1846 had been re ceived, and it was stated to have been the largest crop ever grown in the United States. Nearly the whole of the crop of 1814 had been brought into this country ; but the crop of , 1846 could not be available for importation until last 1)e -;t umber, or the present month. The supplies from New Orleans might be expected to arrive iu two or three weeks ; but until the internal navigation was open, we could not hope to get corn from the more central parts of America. (Hear, hear.) The measures which his noble friend had that night proposed, would be in time to become subservient to all these great advantages, in obtaining • large supply of feod—advan twee which could not have been gained by an earlier sus pension of the corn and navigation laws. (Hear, hear.) He was anxious to avail himself of that opportunity for the pur pow of stating the course which the government had pursued for providing fur the importation of con to Ireland, the more especially as so much misapprehension existed on the subject. At the close of the lain session the government stated that they would not be importers of corn. If the government had gone into the market u purchaser s to a urge extent for Ireland, they would have raised the price of fool to the people in other partiof the kingdom, and it must be remembered that the poor of Scotland, and of England, too, were in • state of great distress, and suffering from the present high price of provisions. (Meer, hear.) The orders of the government were to buy the corn imported into the country, always fallownes s , but never leadeig, the ma ket. (Hear, hear.) They had purchased all the Indian corn that was to be found ; they next bought barley, and then rice ; and a few days ago, in consequence of the purchase of the latter article by the London committee and the government, there was scarcely any more to be obtained. The govern ment had purchased altogether upwards of 200,000 quarters of groin of one sort or another. The total quantity of wheat, Indian corn, and meal of both sorts, which had been im ported into this country by private enterprise, since the pass ing of the late corn law, was 3,700,000 qrs. The average con sumption of that period in Ireland was 802,000 qrs., and if that was deducted front the quantity brought in—assuming that the failure of the potato crop left only two months' supply, there would be enough left to support upwards of eight mil lions and a half of people for four months. (Hear, hear, hear.) A less quantity of con by 1,500,000 quarters had been imported from Ireland this year than in preceding years. The finer flour from the corn so imported was con sumed in England, whilst the coarser was sent to Ireland; and he had been informed that in December, 33 vessels wire loading with Hour at Liverpool for Ireland. (Hear, hear.) The government had thought it advisable to leave the grind. tug of corn in Ireland to private enterprise ; but ever since the beginning of the autumn they had employed the Ad miralty mills, at Plymouth and Portsmouth in grinding corn to send to the depids in Ireland; and they had also taken large mills at Rntherhithe, and at another place on the river, for the same purpose. (Hear, hear.) As had before been explained, the government had now 28 depots in Ireland, including a reserved one in Dublin. It was certainly advisable, so long as the people could maintain themselves from their own re-ourccs, that they should do so, and there fore great caution was necessary in opening these depots, because the moment the government appeared to interfere, private efforts ceased, and, in some casts, the opening of food depots, by elesing private stores, tended rather to aggravate than to mitigate the distress. (Hear, hear.) It was understood that up to about Christmas there would be a supply of food, and at that time orders were given to open the depot, whenever it might be necessary. (Hear, hear.) If the people of Ireland would have to buy their food in , future, as had been stated, it Was most desirable that rectal] suppliers of food should be encouraged to esta blish themselves in the country, and the govern ment had acted on this view of the question as respected them. When it was stated that no means had I been taken to relieve the people, it must have been forgotten that nearly half a million of men were now employed on the public works, who earned wages ene ugh to maintain them selves and their families. (Hear.) The government had also been told that they had taken no steps to relieve the aged and infirm out of the workhouse. The government had throughout the sutumn given money to the relief cont. minus, who alone could supply the necessities of that class of persons; and although they had been instructed to sell their food at cost price, they had been told, when the mer man became 1eve1..., to give it away. It would also appear by I a letter from the Commissariat Relief-office, on Dec. 3, that , the regulations of the Government authorised gratui tous relief out of the funds of which the Lord Lieutenant had the control, to the aged and infirm poor, when the workhouses were full, to be aided, when necessary, by do nations from the government. (Hear, hear.) A report from Mr. Inglis, dated Skibbereen, 21st December, stated that he had met the inhabitants of the district with a similar sum to that which they had subscribed, and which would enable them to open places for supplying the people with soup for three months, and he had promised that he would solicit the government to give a further sum equivalent to that which might be further subscribed. (Hear.) From a report as to the mortality at Skibbereen, it would appear that it had been confined to a class of persons whom it was impossible to relieve except by local committees. There were a great number of persons in Ireland, who lived in a state of mendicancy, and the moment the supply of potatoess. failed, they were without the means of subsistence ; and no matter what the price of corn might be, they existed on charity. It was that description of persons amongst whom there had been ao much mortality. On the 30th of December, Sir ltandolph Routh wrote to Clue, and also to the county Leitrim, desiring to have food given to the infirm. On a sub sequent occasion he wrote from Skibbereen, saying that two mill. in the neighbourhood were at work, and that the government depot was open. Thus, from the 3rd of December, the system of giving food gratuitously to the in firm was in operation. And in the autumn there were depots open for the supply of food. In Kilmore, in the neighbour hood of Skibbereen, there was an active committee which got their own supplies an long as they could, and when they were not able to do so any longer, the government sent them supplise. He wished the gentry throughout Ireland would exert themselves in the same manner. Instead of looking at the meeting which was held in Dublin with apprehension, . he hailed it as an important circumstance, because he hoped they would now exert themselves in their own localities,with oat which, it was impossible that anything effective could be done by government. It was impossible for government to . become relieving officers, or to undertake the distribution of food throughout Ireland. That could only be done by local 1 estate. The government was willing to give liberal aid, and THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 22, 1847. if the local agents did not shrink from their duty, he hoped to carry the body of the people through the seise. Re feared that too many victims must fall in remote districts, but it was only by portions on the spot [het they could be preserved, and for this purpoce, where the governmeut assistance was required it would be stiren. (Hear.) Mr. HUME aid that if the right boo. gentlemen had put the papers contaicing the statements which be made to night in the heeds of members it would kave prevented a great deal of what had been said. They would not then have heard charge+ repeated arming the government, to which it seemed the re was a complete answer. (" No, no ") Well, it would have prevented the impression going abroad that government slid nothing when it seemed they had been active, lie was seldom so much disappointed as he was that night at th e men sum propounded,for he t hough t that they were at once to have trade thrown open, and that they would not retain any of the dregs cf an olioua system. What use was there in throwing open the ports, thon, when the ports of Europe were closed against them? If they were to be opened he thought they ought to continue open. With regard to the navigation laws, he expected they would have been done away with. Looking to the proceedings in Mon treal, the noble lord must know that he could not maintain the colonies if he deprived them of en easy transit for their produce. In consequence of them an Amer ican bad an ad vantage over the Canadian of one dollar per bushel. Three dollies is. New York were equal to four dollars in Montreal, in conocquesce of the additional freight in English ships. the col•mies were deprived of protection, though he (Mr. Hume) slid not consider it protection, they ought to have the benefit of cheap ships. Elegised manufactured for a great portion of the world, and she would also build ships for it if placed in a sithation to enable her to do so. He thought that for this purpose the timber duties ought to be removed. Thu evidence of Mr. J. Young and Mr. Mitchell, before the Import Committee, in 1810, showed the injury done to com merce by those laws. At Rio Janeiro, out of 110 ships, more than one-half were E iglish, the ki.d's of which met 50 per cent. more than foreign vessels. If the noble lord bad brought on his measure five months ago, they would have been if far more benefit. What theydid was to direct prayers to bet:leered up to avert the famine, while, at the same time, there was a tax to prevent fool from coming in. (Hear, hear.) lie urged the nob:e lord to take a comprehensive view of the subject. Lord J. RUSSELL said he did not wish, at any time, to dis,ppoint his hon. friend, but he thought he had nut spoken with his usual good sense on this occasion. lie (Lord J. 'Wesel)) stated that it was his desire in the present dearth of the country, to take immediate =were* by which the evil might be relieved; his hon. friend had told hies he should not take that course, but should undertake three separate questions—first, a total aad immediate repeal of the corn laws, a measure which he was in favour of, and which he supported last sea., but to curry which he would have to struggle through the wine difficulties that were experienced last year, when there was the very best chance of success. Then, with regard t, the navigation laws, notwithstanding what was suggested by the opposition of the right hon. gen tleman the member for the University of Cambridge, his hoe. friend told them that they would lie of no use wiles. the timber duties were removed, because in Rio Janeiro there was a difference of 50 per cent. iu British, as compared with foreign vessels- That might be the right course of policy, but it would .be nec.ssary to propose a considerable tax to replace the revenue derived from tire •er. (Hear, hear). Therefore, when his hon. friend proposed, as immed iate re lief, three great measures, every one of which would excite violent opposition, he was afraid—though glad of his advice —that he could not adopt it. (Laughter.) Col. CONOLLY said he did not mean to dispute the statement of the right hon. gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer, but with regard to the county of Donegal, which he represented, he ft It bound to state to the house that there was a wont of pro visions for the people. The people along the coast were in an awful st•te of destitution. They bad to go to Sligo to buy provisions ; they had sent 3,0:101. to Liverpool for food, and in the face of these facts it could not be said Use the people of Donegal had provisions. The commissary general aril the government offi-er might say what they pleased about mills and factories and traders, but he would a-k hon. gentlemen to read the statement of Mr. Foster, a Quaker from Norwich, who travelled through Donegal, in mower to these statements. (Hear.) He bore TA-admen,' to the humane efforts of the Quakers in relief of the destitute in Ireland. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that in no part of his statement did he say that there was not destitution in Ireland. On the contrary, he admitted the destitution ; but he said, and he now repeated, that the go yernment, according to their pledges, had. established depots —some in the autumn, and others, for the distribution of food to the infirm, in December. Col. CONOLLY said that depots had been established, but food was not distributed. That was the di-tinction. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the depot in S'igo had been open throughout the autumn. Col. CONOLLY denied that, up to Thursday last, a single • pound of government grain had coma from that depot. Mr. IL GRATTAN said that he, as a member of the raid' committee in Dublin, had been a party to a grant of money to Donegal on the representation that the people were without food. He was of opinion that the Chancellor of the Exchequer should have made the statement he made that night at the opening of the session, because it would have prevented erroneous opinions and stets meets being eirculatel through the country. He thought he ought to have given notice to members that he intended making such a statement. But in what he had read he had not heard a word denying the truth of the statements which were contained in a letter addressed by • magistrate of Skib bereen to the Duke of Wellington. He did not think there was much wisdom in the statement that no less teen 3,700, 0 0 0 quarters of grain had been exported to England from Ireland in the seven months up to the 31st of Decem ber. How many lives had been lost in eonseeuence of the non-distribution of that ? The government did not act with promptitude. They should have recollected that qui cilia dal, his dbl. They did not complain that the government did not do what they wish-d, but they corned lined that they did not do what they ought. How differently they acted in France. There the King of the French bought corn and sent it into the country; here they bought corn, but they did not give it to the people. He denied that the gentry of Ireland were remise, or neglected their duty. They were actively engaged before any commissary-general came amongst them. Same government officers who came amongst them displayed such thorough ignorance of the country, such incapacity of action, and such superciliousness of manner, that they were not likely to do much good. The right hon. gentleman spoke of soup kitchen being established by the government, but the relief committees had fitted them up in many place.. He receive I a letter a few hours ago signed by some ladies, stating that they had formed themselves into a relief committee for the distribution of soup. ;Hear, hear.) Surely when they knew how contagious typhus fever was, and found persons thus exerting themselves on behalf of the sufferers, they could not accuse the gentry of Ireland of neglecting their duty. Mr. P. SCROPE said if precautionary measure, had been so extensively and generally adopted through out Ireland, as was stated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, it was strange that so many deaths had occurred. (Hear, hear.) He still thought that the government bad been too sparing in providing depute and in distributing' amongst the poorer inhabitants of the country funds with which they might obtain food. The orgaaisation provided by the 130 poor-law unions had not been sufficiently ap plied, and the government had manifested an unfortunate prepossession against out-door relief. On the whole, he thought the conduct of the government contrasted unfavoux ably with that of the more absolute governments of Europe. Dar. H. GRA'TTAN said he wished to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if he would send 100,0001. worth of corn to the western coast of Ireland ? (A laugh.) No sneerer was given to the hon. member's question. Mr. BRIGHT asked if it were intended that the sus pension of the navigation laws should have force with respect to vessels which brought cargoes consisting partly of corn and partly of cotton, or other articles than grain ? The reason why he asked the question was, that, so far as the United States was concerned, the insurance offices frequently refused to insure ships 'kith entirely with grain. It was notorious that vessels often came into Liverpool laden with four or five hundred bales of cotton and with a large quantity of corn ; and it appeared to him that if it were necessary that the ships to which the suspicion was applied should be laden only with grain, • great portion of the expected benefit would fail to be realised. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the simple proposal was that grain may be imported in vessels of any country, coming from any country, for home consumption. (Hear, hear.) It was per fectly immaterial what also the ship contained; all corn, wherever it came from, or in whatever vessel, would be admitted free of duty. If the vessel contained other articles, those articles would certainly not be admitted free of duty. Mr. BRIGHT wished to know whether a vessel coring from the United States into the Mersey laden partly with corn and partly with cotton, would be allowed to discharge a cargo consisting of other articles than corn ? (Hear.) The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the whole of the cargo which did not consist of corn would be subjected to the ordinary duty. (Hear.) Mr. ROEBUCK said the question was whether a Dutch ship going to the United States, and returning laden partly with cotton and partly with corn would be allowed to enter the Mersey without coming uader the operation of the old navigation laws The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that such a vessel would be allowed to discharge her corn, bat not her cotton, (Hear.) Mr. BRIGHT said it was the opinion of parties well ac quainted with the subject, that such a suspension an that pro posed would be of very little use. The suspension should be complete ; and no person connected with the shipping trade need fear the change, at any rate daring the present yea:. The government would not be justified in the sight of the country if they slid not afford the freest possible opening for the admission of corn from foreign countries. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the government had followed the precedent established by the act of 1817, which was passed under a similar pressure Mr. M. PHILLIPS thought that the be ' defeated, if the suspension were limited in the manner ex plained by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. He was not disposed to cavil at the conduct of the government, but he thought the mutter uuder discussion deserved their serious eonisideration. He also impressed upon the government the necessity of taking care that a sufficient quantity of seed was saved to meet the wants of Ireland. . . TA74 J. RUSSELL thou g ht it ver b natural for the hon. member for Durham to raise the point that he had done; but he should consider the difficulty in which the govern ment was placed. They had t prevent an evasion of the navigation laws. No one would think it desirable, that if a vessel came to this country with a single quarter of grain, and with a large quantity of other kinds of produce, the navigation laws should be suspended in favour of the owner. Or suppose they declared that a certain portion of the cargo— say, for instance, • third, half, or two- • A. .onsist of corn; how difficult would it be to say whether the provision had been fulfilled. He owned that these 'difficulties had struck bim very much, and he had thought it better to follow the precedent of 1817. Mr. ROEBUCK said the great object in view was to lower the freight, and it did nut matter how this were done lithe result were the admission of a sufficient quantity of Corti. Mr. T. BARING said, that if the suggestion of the hon. member fur Durham were adopted, the result might be that Anserle.in tea cargoes would come int a English ports, and the regular course of trade would be gifted', interfered with. (Hear, hear.) France had suspended her navigation laws with regard to corn, and it was sufficient for this country to do the tame thing. The noble lord had shown in a manner which was quite satisfactory to his (Mr. T. Baring's) mind the difficulty of allowing cargoes which consisted of other articles besides corn to be landed. His own impression was, that except as evincing sympathy with the Irish nation, the proposed changes would practically produce no beneficial effect. Was there any gentlemen w ho did not know that the great carriers of the world were the commercial marine of this country and the United States, and that under the existing commercial laws the commo dities of the United State. could be admitted into this country ? (Hear, hoar.) If the noble lord's measure ex tended to the repealing of the navigation laws, he must ex pect to receive a very strong remonstrance. ((tear, hear.) Mr. BRIGHT said he never felt so rejoiced that the hun. member for Huntingdon was not a member for the City of London as when he heard hint make such speeches as that which he had just delivered. (Laughter.) Although that hon. member represented one of the largest commercial houses in the world, yet it did not follow that he knew a great deal more than other persons as to what cargoes were brought from America. His predictions of last session had not yet been fulfilled. (Hear, hear.) He (Mr. Bright) knew that vessels having both cotton and flour on board were at that moment discharging their cargoes in Liverpool ; and, under the regulations now proposed, foreign ships must take their cotton, rice, and other articles, to foreign countries. As regarded the question of insurances, he had the authority of the honourable member for South Lancashire (Mr. Brown), one of the largest merchants in Liverpool, for stating that it was quite common to charge an extra insurance for vessels laden entirely with grain. Lord G. BENTINCK said he thought it required some asanrance for the hon. gentleman who had just sat down to charge his hon. friend who had preceded him with ignorance of the subject upon which he had been speaking. (Cheers.) The hon. member for Durham might have recollected that, over and over again, at every meeting of the Anti - Corn . law L^ague which he had attended, he had assured the people of this country that the effect of repealing the corn laws would be to give a large loaf and cheap bread to the Introple—(hear, hear, and laughter)—and not only so, but also to increase the exports of the country. (Hear, hear.) After they heel lately heard that in the county of Lancaster alone 500 mills were working short time, and that the exports of the country had fallen off about 6,000,0001. sterling in the face of a free trade iu corn, he repeated that it required some little assur ance for the honourable member to charge his (Lord G. Bentinek's) honourable friend, who was by all persons acknowledged to know more of the mercantile affairs of the country than any other gentleman in that house, with igno rance in any of the predictions that ho had made. (Hear, hear.) With regard to the navigation laws, he was pre mier! to support his noble friend's measure, if it were re stricted to the importation of grain; but if it were attempted, under the pretence of importing grain, to get in the sharp edge of the wedge and to abolish the navigation laws altogether, he could not give his noble friend his sup ' port. (Hear, hear.) That was a great political and na tional question; arid though he had always predicted that the effect of having free trade in one thing would be that it would be followed up by a demand for free trade in everything else—(" hear, hear," tram Mr. Home) — and though he had told the shipping interest, when they joined her Majesty's government and the Anti Corn-law League, in forcing free trade in corn, that their turn would come next; yet I.e for one, wold not avenge the cause of the agricultural interest by lending a hand in the repeal of the navigation laws. They (the protectionist members), had not forgotten that there was a time when the Dutch had the carrying trade of the world, and when they were enabled to send their Admiral Van Tromp, with a broom at the mart-head, to sweep the Thames of British commerce. (Ilea:, hear.) He would r.sist to the utmost any attempt to repeal the navigation 1.1116. He agreed with those who argued that if the navigation laws were to be sus. peuded, it would have been better had the suspen sion taken place some months ago, but as such a ' calamity as had happened could not be foreseen., he acquitted the government of all blame in the matter. With regard to the other question, the suspension of the corn duties, though he was prepared to withhold any oppo . sition from her Majesty's government, he must say that he must not be understood as predicting, or assenting to the prediction, th it the consumer would get bread one farthing cheaper ou account of the suspension. (Hear, hear.) lie did not, with some hon. members, censure the government for ' having so long delayed the suspension of those duties; on the contrary-, his regret was that they had been led by clamour, and forced by a pressure from without to change their origi nal intention of letting them remain intact. He was not looking at this question solely as an agriculturist. Look ing at it in a financial paint of view he considered it unwise. From the silence of ministers on fiscal questions he augured that the pockets of the Chancellor of the Exchequer were not no overflowing an to permit of a present sacrifice of revenue; and yet this would be the sole result of the proposition of govern ment. Let them look at what posed in the City yesterday, on the announcement of the intention of ministers to suspend the corn duties, He held in his hand the circular of very eminent brokers, Messrs. Usborne and Sons, of New London , street, which spoke volumes upon this subject. " The effect , on this day's market," they said, " was to depress barley and malt, in which scarcely any transactions took place; but bonded corn advanced in value to the extent of the reduction of duty, with a fair consumption, and buyers of loaded cargoes of wheat, ready at hand, rose their price from 2s. to 3s. a quarter." Here was clear evidence that the reduction of the duty would go into the paakets of the corn merchants— ' the regraters and foreetallers of whom they had so much rea son to complain—instead of into the pickets of the con sumers. What, therefore, he did complain of was, that ministers showed to, gre it a .egard fir the in'erelits of these , corn merchant. at a time when they could ill spare the rove , nue the Chancellor of the Exchequer wan now about to put into their pockets. Why, what did they suppose wnuld be the extent of the loss? Assuming four million quarters of grain likely to be imported during the next 12 months, the effect of the remisaion of duty would be a least* the revenue of 800,030/. This was no trifle, especially as no benefit to the consumer was to arise from it. For his own part he believed that if the old corn law had been retained on the statute book, government would now, in every way, have ' been in a better position. They would have had more revenue in the first place; but the goat good effect would have been, in their having three millions of quarters of grain in bond, on which they might have laid their hands to feed the people of Ireland. Under that law, the duty upon grain at the present time would nat have fieen more than 10s.; the government, instead of suffering a dead loss, might have paid that 10s. per quarter out of one pocket, whilst they put it into the other ; and the country would have had the immense advantage of a store of corn, lathe face of which the dealers mould never bare attempted to keep up their prices. For the change in the law, however, which he so much de hlored, the present government was not responsible. Where e did blame them was for not having, at an early period, laid a prohibition upon Irish exports. It was a fart, which I appeared by an official paper, which he held in his hand. that whilst there had been imported into Ireland only 400,000 or 500,000 quarters of grain during the last eleven months, the quantity exported from that country exceeded 1,700.000. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—The im ports are only imports of foreign grain ; there is no account of imports of English grain. Lord G. BENTINCK believed that the right hon. gentleman would find on inquiry, that the statement he had just made, was substantially correct, and that, taking it in any way they pleased, there had been nearly 15,000,000 quarters of grain exported above the quantity imported into Ireland. Why, if they had prohibited exportation, they would have now had on hand enough corn to maintain two millions and a half of people till after the ensuing harvest. (" Hear, hear," from the protee tonista.) But it had been said that all the countries of the world had been ransacked for corn. Now, in the face of that statement, he could not forget what had been asserted by the President of the United States in his address to Congress oa the Bth of December, when he declared that "the home market of the United States was quite incapable of consuming the surplus food produced in that country even if it was sold at the most reduced prices, and that from the immense surface of their territory there could be little doubt but that they could supply the deficiencies of the whole world." The official statements of the United States also showed that in 1845 no less than 776,600,00 D bushels of cern had been grown in that country, being tens of millions of bush, Is more than could be required for her consumption. The growth of 1846 had been in advance of that of 1845, so that it did seem to him that there was really no necessity for prices here advancing higher than they now were, and that it was only necessary for the government to furnish Ireland with sufficiently large depots of food in order to keep down prices in that country. A friend of his, now travelling in Ireland, assured him that the stacks of grain on many of the farms were larger at the present time than was usual at corresponding periods of former years, and that farmers and corn dealers were only awaiting higher prices to offer considerable quantities for sale. He was assured, also, that merchants, in some of the ports, had made ten and twenty thousand nounds a piece by holding back their grain. In the face of these statements he did consider it unwise on the part of the government to listen to the doctrines of political economists, and keep back that supply of corn which would at once tend to reduce the prices. They might take a useful lesson from the conduct of an Eastern potentate;—Nadir Shah, when there was ones a great famine, in Persia, was told that the merchants refused to sell their corn. " These men have done well," said he ; " make proclamation of a reward of ten thousand tomauns to the man who shall produce the largest stock. There was great competition, but an Armenian gained the prise. "Sit down, friend," said the , Shah, " and count your gold." The Armenian obeyed, and reported the payment to be correct But, it was told, that thereupon Nadir Shah frowned severely, and turning to his chief executioner (en ironical "bear, hear" from the minis terial benches)—yes, turning to his chief executioner, he said, " Lay hands on him ; take him forth ; tie the tea thousand tomauns to his feet, and hang him on the highest gate of the city of Teheran, as a judgment of the Shah on one who has dared to make profit upon the judgment of his God !" And this was the mode in which, in • milder and • mitigated form, he (Lord G. Bentinek) would have dealt with those forestallers and regraters who had starved the people of Ireland, had be been prime minister of England. (Loud laughter, and ironical cheering from the Radical makingpay . ) lie p fi o t u 1 d nut h a v o e f dealt theirtrh, n m g e n . w u h n o t r e ) :e a th , b u y s sending cargoes of grain into their ports, and thereby obliging them to sell all the corn that they held. Confident slid he feel, that if ministers had adepti,d that course, they would not now have hail to lament the occurrence of deaths from starvation in Ireland. He concluded by protesting against being held remonsihle for the consequences of the policy to which he pave his support. Mr. W. BROWN (South Lancashire) observed that, as the noble lord had been pleased to tell them an Eastern tale, he would venture to rail his recollection to an historical fact. In the time of the Emperor Julian, Antioch was visited with a famine. Julian undertook to feed the people. lie fixed a price at which food should he sold. As memhanta were compelled to sell at that prize, it followed that none of them would send their ships to that port, and consequently the people of Antioch were nearly starved. (Loud cheer. from the miciiiiterialida). Let him contrast with this historical incident, another of a later date. At Bombay, some few years since. there was a great Wore of rice and other food, at a time when there was a famine in the northern province! , of India. It was suggested to hoard this store, but the government, with great wisdom, permitted it to go out, feeling pretty sure that, situated as they were on the high reed to India, they should not fail to have ships calling in to see if they could get a market for their cargoes. When it was known to neighb wring eosin:ries that ships might freely enter that port in search of a market, there was no lack of a sufficient supply; indeed, scarcely a day passed without some vessel dropping her anchor at Bombay, and offering for sale the cargo with which she had been freighted. (Hear.) These were facts which illustrated the reverse of the position taken up by the noble lord. An hon. member who sat nesr him had, in the c curse of the evening, remarked on the difficulty of shipping cargoes of grain in America inconsequence of the small depth of water in many of the ports. This was a difficulty felt only in some of the smaller southern ports, and it our navigstion laws were properly relaxed there would be no lack of a supply of ships adapted to those harbours. Some censures had been passed upon the dealers in grain. For his own part he regarded corn merchant: as a very useful etas.: of society; and he had been in hopes that the time had gone by when they were called regraters and extortioners. Corn merchants in the present day applied their capital to buy up the surplus corn in times of plenty in order to afford a supply of it in times of scarcity. At the present time he begged to ask what should we do without the supplies they afforded us? (Hear, hear.) And as for any extra charge which they imposed, he begged it to be remembered that every extra shilling we paid at the present time fir grain enabled the corn merchant to go further and further into the interior of Rule is and America to obtain a supply, and consequently to extend our market and afford us a security for more equal supplies hereafter. He begged to thank the house, in conclusion, for the attention with which they had listened to the few observations he had for the find time addressed to them. (Marked cheerir.g.) Sir C. NAI'IER remarked, in reply to Lord Geo. Ben tinck, that AO far fro n believing the navigation laws to be useful to our shipping interest, he regarded them as their greatest bane. There would be much more coterie ise and exertion without them. Seamen would get greater protee tiun ; there would be a mom extended trade, and England would have better ships. He believed if these laws were entirely rcpt sled, that the en 'ray and intelligence of Briti-h merchants an 1 seamen would rise with the occasion, and that no nation, except, perhapa, America, would be able to compete with us on the seas. With regard to the suspension of those laws, he was only astonished that they had not been suspended three or four months ago, and now that they were once to be taken off, he Vested they would never agsin be pat in operation. Mr. ROEBUCK said that if he had previously had any doubts about the capacity of the noble lord opposite (0. Bentinek) his speech of that evening would have entirely settled thrMi. He first of all said he belie, ed that measures world he mischievous, and then he Witt that he intended to support them. Afterwares he had told them an Eastern fable. hinting that if he were Prime Minister he should, in a milder and a mitigated form, follow Nadir Shah's humane example: the mildness consisting probably in banging upon a lower gibbet, and the mitigation in putting the ten thou and tomaur.s somewhere else than on the culprit's feet. (A laugh.) Th. noble member for Hug said that the new law raised the price of corn. Now,what said the returns from June to December last. In June the averaae duty under the new law waste ; under the old law it would have been ISs. In July the duties were 55.. Gs., 71: . Ss. ; under the old law they would have been 10e. and 18s. In Au _wit the duties were 75., SW, 95., 10e. ; ui.der the old law they would have been 204. In September the duties were 10,, 10e., 10e., 95.; under the oln duties they would have been 205., 205., 20a , 20s. In October they were Be., 74., Gs., 4s. ; under the old law they would have been 205., 205., Ifts., 164. In No yember th-y were 45., 45., 45., b, ; under the old law they would have been 155., 135., 125., 12s. In December they were 45., 45., 4s. 45.; under the old law they would have been 12a., 125., 125., 12s. (Hear, hear.) It was really sur prising that the noble lord who pre , umeil to the office of Chancellor of the Exchequer sbould'come down to the house, and,with vio'ent gesticulations andeitssordinary modulations of voice, put forward statements which could at once be refuted by on very plain and clear a tale. (Hear, hear.) Mr. D'ISRAELI said that when the house con sidered under what circumstances of difficulty the pre s_ sent government accepted office, it was the duty of every member to meet any measure they might prop. , r, in reference to the fearful exigencies of the country, in a spirit not simply devoid of party feeling, hut full of an earnest desire to aid them to the utmost possible extent in mitigating and abridging the evil. He only regretted that the noble lord's proposition bad not been at ouee aaoptad, and that any discueeien should have occurred wh'eh might give the public the idea, the totally erroneous idea, that there wee any difference of opinion in the house on this par ticular subject. Mr. ESCOTT cordially supported the government pro position. As to the reproach tut upon government by various members, for not having opened the ports long ato, the fault was quite as much in the house itself. The ap proach ,of the famine in Ireland had been proclaimeel last session, and there was then a prope-rition made for doing that which government was now reproached for not having done before. Where then woe the hon. member for Line rick, who thus now so severely put this reproach upon government. Why was lie not in his place to make or support • motion for throwing open the ports in time. Again, there was the right hon. member for Cambridge. who concurred in the reproach; why, the right hon. member himself was one of the chief obstacles who had prevented the right hon. member for Tomworth from m eking the reproah he now cast forth. (Hear, hear.) As to dis tress, let it be borne in mind that the distress was not limited to Irelanl or Scotland; there was fearful distress here in England, too, wh i ch must le looked to. In all the Wen of England parishes with which he was acquainted, the potatoes, which formed three-fourths of the food of the people, were consumed, and subscriptions were going on in every directinn for the miserably distressed populntioa. Lord JOHN RUSSELL acquitted his noble friend (Lord George Bentinek) of the charge of vituperation. Ile he lieved th.rt his noble friend's opinion, were erronesus, but certainly he had not expressed them in words at which offence could be taken. With respect to forestallers and repeaters he had been surprised to hear his noble friend's denunciation of such men, seeing that so many persons open to the title were numbered amongst his noble friend's sup porters. When his noble friend proposed the example of Nadir Shah, he (Lord John Russell) felt some surprise, and be feare I that when on the following morning such a decla ration appeared in the public prints, it would have the effect of frightening from his noble friend's ranks hundreds of rr spectebte men. (Laughter.) He had not thought it neeesaar~ to notice the speech of the hon. member for Huntingdon, although he entirely dif fered from its conclusions, because it had found a complete reply in the speech of his hon. friend, t h e member for Lan e obire, for whose valuable information the house had every reason to feel grateful. (Hear, hear.) AU he should do, seeing that the proposition of the government had been so well received, would be to propose that the chairman report forthwith ; that the bill be brought in and printed, and that to-morrow (this day) it be allowed to more through all its subsequent stages. (Loud and general cries of " Hear, hear.") Mr. FINCH regretted that the government in this masers had not introduced the mane limitation of term, es in the case of the navigation laws. He feared that in its present form it would disturb the unanimous fe ding ill &your of remedial measures, and give rise to agitation en the subject of the malt tax and other similar topics. The resolution was agreed to, and reported. Lean was then given to bring in the bill, the standing orders being es ded for the purpose. ESPENSION OF THE NAVIGATION LAWS.— The house resolved itself into committee on the navigation burs ; and the formal resolution for suspending the operation sttitese laws was agreed to. On the motion of Lord J. RUSSELL that a bill be founded on the same, Mr. HUME withdrew all blame from the noble lord for fie limited mope of the bill. The noble lord knew better then him r Mr. Hume) what was likely to be acceded to by res absurd opposition. (A langh.) Kr. B. OSBORNE complained of the harsh terms in .which the Chaneell, of the Exchequer had spoken of the Irish landlords. The right lion. gentleman should know that at that moment the landlords of Ireland were reducing their establishments, and parting with every luxury, in order that they might be enabled to support the poor of their reepective districts. He blamed the government for not ceiling parliament together earlier for the introduetien of dam muures, the consequence of their delay being an eggravation of all the horrors of famine. At diet moment Man were going on in Tipperary v high rivalled the wont alb of the Jacquerie in France. But six days since two INIGIen had been actually revved fir the rake of 2.., which their murderers took to buy food. (Hear, hear ) Final els had been drawn between this country and Ireland, while there was in fact no similitude in their condition. Ireland had no merchant* ; as a proof of which he could state that in its greatest crammer. cial town (Clonmel) there was only one merchant who re tailed Indian meal. (Hear.) He (Mr. Osborne) was now paying 191. par ton for that article, when he could have laid it in in autumn for 81., but he had been deceived by the statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that the prier would not go beyond a penny • pound. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER denied bas ing ever promised so absurd • thing se • fixed price for an article of commerce. He had merely said that the pries sf Indian meal was then a penny a pound, and that it was as cheap as potatoes. The motion was agreed to, and the house resumed. Lone was given, as in the previous case, for the immediate pro gress of the bill. FAMINE IN IRELAND.—Mr. B. OSBORNE moved ibr copies of correspondence between Col. Knox Gore sad her Majeety's minister; relative to the famine in Ireland. Lord J. RUSSELL objected to its production oa the ground of its being private. Mr. 'RIME enquired when the returns as to the amount of money expended in the various establisheil by the Government in Ireland for distributing corn would be pro. &wed. Thu CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER could not exactly say when, the government lacing 1111.1a0411 that they should be made up to the latest moment. AMERICAN CORN.—Mr. D. ESCOTT wished to know whether he had rightly understood the Chance Meg of the Exchrquer, when he supposed him to say that all the Indian corn which had been up to this time hr aught into our ports was of the crap of 1845, and that we had not ye commenced to import from the crop of 1846 ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—Yes; I did say that I believed that we had not yet received from the United Stales any of the crop of the year 191 G. Generally the crop of the dear does not come in until the month of December, and up to the present time I believe we have im ported no portion of that of lost year. (Hear.) POLICE AND PAVING CONSOLIDATION BILLS. —Mr. AGLIONDY inquired whether the bills for consoli dating the various local acts for regulating the police, paving, and hghting of towns had bees prepared during the recess, an promised by the government ? Sir G. GREY announced that discretion had been given to prepare them, they were inn very f•'roard state, and he hoped in the course of ten days to be able to lay them on the table. The boon adjourned at a quarter past ten o'clock. DIVISION ON MR. RIVARTS MOTION. Queseon—" flat Committees on slilento Bithy u sett to on 24. way Bills, coadit or Fire 31,mliers, neither irmionnily 110, indirectly interested in the question submitted to their considenition :“ Ayen, 36 ; Noes, 103. AYES. AisHanby, 11. A. Crawford, W. ti: bill, T. Sibtborn, Col. Allis, J. P. Di nnisinun, J. Greens, T. Stant., W. 11. Arksrright, G. Divett, E. II aim., J. Trelassiy, J. S. Pernal, R. DuipLui, Vi4c. James, Sir W. C.Wilhains, W. Ilnirring, Dr. Dunenn,G. Napier, Far C. Woisl, C.l. T. Bright, J. Dui:numbs., T. Osbame, IL 'Earle, 11. R. Dram, W. lieett, B. Pawl, Cnt. Christie, W. D. Etwall, It. !la7sniciss, he Col 'Pe .. Mr. Eseart. Tr Utile s Clar, sir W. Fielden, J. Colic; J. Ferranti, W. 11. Scrape, G. P. Mr. Thornrly. . . NOE°. Bailey, J., Jun. Fergusn, R. A. Lamella% W. S. Planiridr, Capt. Haim, W. Vinch, IL Layard, Capt. Reid, CM., Bankes, G. Forbes, W. I.efroy, A. Rim, E. It. Murky, D. French, E Le Marthant, D. Ras% D. It. • liking, Rt. Hon. Gardner, J. D. Lincoln, Earl of Ittasell, Lard J. Barnard, E.G. Gibson, T. M. Lock J. Rutherford, .A. Berkekr, Capt. Goring. C. lorkbart. A. F.. , ey - mour, Sir li. Boman!, vt-et. Walborn, H. Lygon, Na. Gemtimith, J. A. 'Whin, W. H. Orry, Sir G. Maitland, T. Smith. IL limit Borthsiek, P. Grimoditch, T. Manners, Unlit. Somerset, Id. O. Bonk% Adinirol I !LAMM'. Mr J. Maule, Rt. lin. Esanerrille.thr W. Brandon, J. Ilasbe, A. Plurpedi, Vim. Spooner, R. (Indwell, E. IlillyarrlJT. B. T.Mon. a, Iln. E. staristkld, W. IL Christopher, R.A.Hill, Lord M. 011 i len, A. H. Skutt, E. Clifton, J. T. Himlley, C. O'Brien, W. S. Sotton,lln.H.lC C ire, Viscount llobnome, Sir J. trinnor Don Traitor*, Mr./. Colebrooke, T. Ellothaom It. Ord, Wm. Talbell,. IL Compton. H. C. Hope, sir J. Parke, C. W. .one, Lord H. Cowper, W. F. Hope, G. W. Pakington, Sir J. Wall, CIL Craig, W. G. Howard, C.W.G. Palmerston, Vi.. Ward, it. G. Dickinson, Y. H. llowmd, P. li. ParLer, J. N Vann, J. T. Douglas, Sir IL Hutt, W. Pr el, J. Workhouse, it. Douglas, Sir C.E.lngl la, Sir R. 11.M.8p% G. R. Wo Id, lin. sir C. I J. Ti. 8. James, W. Phillpotb, I, Wortley,llB.J.S. L=th, J. TJaillik, MrW.G.Pluinptre, J, P. Wrightson, W.B. Modes, Adm. Laboaeliese, H. Tram far the Naas, Mr. Wilma P.dges and Mr. Neirdette. SACRED lIARMONIC SOCIETY, EXETER. HALL—On TUESDAY EVENING, January 2G., will be re. prated HAYDN'S ORATORIO, THE CREATION. Principal Vann Performers—Mies Birr4 Alr. Lackey. and Mr. H. Phillips. The Rand end (boron will eweed of Aviv Rid Perbrinera. Teketa, 3e. each; Itewrved Wain, So., mar be obtained of the eipal Muefe-aellens: of Mr. bosky, (.luring-crow; Mr. Rail. Int, gerund; or of Mr. Mitchell, Mk (flaring-crow, THOMAs BREWER, Ilea. See. rrHE GRAVE YARDS or LONDON.—Mr. G. A. WALKER will deliver THIS EVENING, Jan. 12 at half tr.t.4 Elsha iN t i te MECHANICS' INSTITUTION, Southampton Buildings. -Lute, the SECOND of a Sr:RIES of LECTURES on the actual that of the METROPOLITAN OMAR TARIM. their injneitras Peels on Public , Health and Public Morality. l ESTITUTE HIGHLANDERS.-Mr. IVII II will prise an ENTERTAINIIEVI on the PONGS al tea IItIiIILANDs, in the Prinores's Concert Room Costleetnet, Word. street, on TCESDAY Err:SING nest, the 2.ith Janth7, at Eight o'clock, the procenb of which will be given to the FUND for the RE.I.IEP of the IW4TITUTY. 1110111.%NDERS, when it is limped there will be a great gathering of the eons of the mountain and the glen •ifil9 hoer an ear for their ostler etrains, and • heart that MU feel for the &Mem of their per countiymen.- -rickets and pro. gramme. may he bad at the principal mode-Maps. ADR ILLE PA It T 1 ES.—The OItGUE kIELODIUM LENT for qandrille and other musical portals for trbkh it Pi remarkably adapted, ors performer upon it lx`ing elluM to a smell bond. Terms to bo had at th, rooms of the agent, J. P. Myers, &I, Charlotte-street, Fitzroy-square, where a spacial perfor mance by a talented mivictan takes plaoe daily, commencing of 1 and ending at a. This performance irwisih overtures, fantaakiii, quadrilles, wait," polkas, &EWA, and choruses. Admission ;midis. SOIItEES NIUSICALES.--Madame DULCKEN beg. to inform the Nobility and Gentry, and the Amateurs of Hulk generally, that she intend. giving THREE SOIREEet MUM CALKS at her Itavidenee, SO, Ilarky-.tree!, on the WEDNESDAY EVENINGS, January 2: and Fehruury 10 and 20, for the perfor mance of the moat ceielicated quartet and pianoforte compoteticor. executed by Madame IndeLen, )Iran. Willy, Goffrie, Hill. Lwow, How ell, and sa.nton. The matrumental perfornvoom will be inter. veined with vocal morocans, by 11111,•en 'Warmth. Birch, Dolby, William% Meadmiw F. Lahloche an.l Web., Mewm. narrwia, Locke'', Weiss, and F. Lablache. Oonductors—Mr.o, Erne:lkt, C. an; V. Wallace. Each performance to eminence at half-past E igh t lareeim/Y. — Frognunme. and Ticket', may be !yenned at the mieqe-warehounes of Aleaca. Cramer and Co. cb.ppen. (rai•ler. Leader, .teldhon ; and of Madame Dulcken, 80;11arlepatteet, Caren. th<b-aquue. • EGYPTEGYPTIAN -HALL, PICCADILLY.—LAICTUA lAN-HALL, ETHIOPIA:4 SERENADERS, TO-NIGHT, J. it and every Evening during the week. The Grand Rome has been fined up vitt everr attention to the minion of s nat tr., in order to rive hill effect to their highly poplar Entertainment, and that oringuLarly beautiful iirtrummit the lANTUM. The programme will ie varied every evening, forint.m an ever-cheering Tenor of Alone and Song.— Dawned meant 2*. ; Bork PrAtA, I...—Ltaa4 open ur half-paot Seem. soinneenee at Eight—Morning performance Tu. day and Thursday. semeneerins at Three o'clock. ETHIOPIAN SERENADERS.—NOTICE.—AII the tickets pmehened far the entertainment given by the Ethiopian Sereroders Pell, Haringten. White, Stanwood. and Her* man !from the St. Jennie Theatre', at the Harm, graillectos, hid er•ping. that were unable to on adenimion, will be nbedleel ei WEDNE,IhtY EVENING, FeF. ant, or the money memo& Wow plying at the Homo- The yrogrnnune 'or Wednesday. M. got. ember* revere! Porcine*, including The It - whim Lement.. 4 llol6 was he Ole Vhwinny," and 4 11 y Stip I. au the Shore. (es pw- hem( *bre bee Iluteety at Arundel Ceatte. Ticket/. may be ebb., • at the Rome, amt et the dohs as the Matt of performance. • ETHIOPIAN SERENAI)ERS.- ALBION HALL, 111. —The orlelgated PLAN SEILANADERn ,from the .4. Jornes's Theatre' will give their lonallAble entert.inintmt at the above Doll on FRIDAY EVENING, Jan. 29, and MONDAY, Feb. I, cornmencinn mei el era/4gal N o'clock. —Tirltets may to had of Mr. Brown, at 1.1. 1141, and at the doors on the nights of pgrformsnee. I---- - - riIE.I,THR ROYAL, AIIELPHL. Olorious Chris nnen Anesement—Decided hit of the new Dram of " Wombs, the Conde= Sister." The wonder of theme. the celebrated "EntortiLitioniets," and the magnificent Kure Spectacle, founded as Giselle."—THlS EVENING, the Romantic Gra - ria of " COLOM the Curitienn Sister." M-cars. Howe, lambert, Selby, Wright. P. Redrew!, 0. Smith, Med. Celeste, Mrs. Yates, and Mks Wooliar. —With the celebrate! " Irancirtilationcts," Mr. John Lees and his Three Pupile.—And " TIIY. EGAN MN DANCERS, at the Wilia Bride." °belle, Made. CeLeete. THE PARLIAMENTARY TONGUE, and /lOW IT WALK—Can we bare Cheaper Mehom? by Church-Moose —The Dentin of Pall M 11—Downfll of the Golden Calf, by Aladdin —The Barber's Chair, mid Mr. Netts on the Owens. Speech-Smith. field Bombes—Venni Interests of Beasts—C.ng and Mason's Gowu p " Nothrars and Bullion—lron and Gold—All the News of the W The DA:ohs in P.ohament—erirms—Casualties—Law—PaUee—Litor rature —Mama—Music -Fine Arts. rte., ie INIU6LAS JERROLD'S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER ot TO.MOIIKOW. ENLAKGED ONR THIRD, to On columns. Prior (as heretofore) Gd. Order of all Newsmen. ate prOgi. MAILS. The overland elorud mails, ria Marseille., to the Mediterranean. Rent, Aden. Ceylon, lath., Bong Kong, Lim., will be made op an the VVlllrtif of the 2ith January. The made for Vigo, Oporto, Lisbon, Madeire, Cadit, and Onetaltar. will be made up on the morning of the 27th January. The mail. for New South Wale., Von Diemen'. lAnd, and New Zealand will be made up on the evening of the .let January. - The mails for Sydney, Van Diemen'. Land, &c., will be made op on the evening of the 31.1 January. The Wog India made, ineluding Mow for Heaton, Monde... end the Ilay.mnah, be made up on the morning at the and February. The mail. for Brinah North America, Bermuda, old the (tailed States, will be madg up on the evening of the sted rebruarr. overiori Maibi for Gibraltar, Malta, Greene, the lonian Windy Fgrpt, Aden, Ceylon, India, Hong-Koug, and China, no Sonthanaptem. will be made up on the morning of the Zed of February, me molls for the Breads, the Rivet Plate, Monte Video, Penmen. buco, BALM, Ma leira, and Durso. Agree, will be d.apatched on the evening ot the 4th February. ... Adnrtionnei taws( be at the TO CORRESPONDENTS. no intended for The Erpren, Lando. eveningpapir, Mee by Two o'clock on the day of publication. MOH WATER AT LONDONARIDOL ......... Iwo DAY. —Moring, 4 min. pea S; Aftenson, 9 oda pit 6. To-ituaeow—Murniog, 31 min. past 6; Afternoon, Si min. pan 6. LONDON, FRIDAY, JAN. 22. THE events of 1846 would lead us to form very great doubts of the boasted political wisdom of the King of the FRENCH. What is most manifest in these occurrences is a total reversal of the policy, *ad a deerection of every aim, observed an 1 followed during the commencement of his reign. To snare the amity and alliance of England, to make this alliance the budder with which the encroachments and menaces of the Eastern powers were to be Re pelled, and yet, at the same time, to avoid rendering France and its new dynasty obnoxious to courts, as the patrons of revolutionary ideas and anarchic parties, these were the earl aims of King Lode PLCILIPTE. What do we now see as effects of his late policy ? Coldness with England, and not merely menaces, but encroachments, on the part of the Eastern powers. To judge of the altered position of France in 1847, one has but to ask, what would have been the conse quence of Austria's absorbing Cracow in any year between 1830 and 1840? History itself answers the question. What was the consequence of Austral's threatening to ills ade the Romagna in 1632 ? The French instantly sent an expedition, and seized An cona. But France was then sure of the assistance and •