The Sun. — London, England, 1846-02-10 00:00:00

Sir R. INGLIS said be was now witnessing a party which orete once united, firing into each others vessels.—(Laughter. ) He could not help asking himself what would become of the Honourable Gentleman the Member for Durham, or rather the Member for Southport. What would become of all the new converts at the other side of the House, if his Noble Friend thad not come to the rescue.—( Laughter.) He hoped he would not say (for it was not his wish) an unkind word to provoke an angry feeling; but he could not help thinking what unpleasant feelings must be entertained by those who found that their party was divided. There were three propositions proposed, which would give full and entire satis faction to all political economists, but he begged leave to state that these propositions were not supported by any argument on the part of the Noble Lord (Russell). He stated he would not raise en angry feeling, and he would apply himself to that part of the question of most importance, and would only occupy their attention for two or three minutes.—(hear.) His view of things was this that in trade we should to procure all articles at the most moderate market. Looking at the products of Europe generally, he found that averages could not be made of crops as if they were the products of steam-engines. Much would depend on the state of the wea ther, for the variations in it would create great difference in the averages, and consequently in the price of food. The largest average was 140 per cent., and that was an average extending over a period of twenty-four years. In Prussia the average was 212 ; in Saxony it wss 269; and in Westphalia it was 340. But as he told them himself in his remarkable speech, the countries which produced potatoes prohibited their € x port. From Sweden, from Belgium, from Holland, the distress was there so great, you could have hoped for nothing. lie also told you that Turkey and Egypt refused t permit the higher kinds of grain to be exported. But might they not supply the wants of Ireland with an inferior grain.—(Hear, hear. ) He was quite aware that he could from the pages of " Hansard" prove various inconsistencies on the part of those who now advised this measure. But it was needless, as the very authors of it in the strongest terms admitted them. His Noble Friend (the Member for London) had himself made great changes in his opinions on the subject of this very question. He neither taunted him or the members of the Government with what passed. He did not accuse him of having been interested in any such change, and he not only did not accuse the Right Hon. Baronet ef having been ir,fiaenced in his change by im pure motives, from his personal knowledge of him, but from that which was clear to every one, that he had no conceivable motive for those changes, and that he had every conceivable motive from retraining from them. He was at the head of the largest majority that ever sat in that House since 1834. It was a party on whom he might have looked with some satisfaction.—(Loud cheers.) A party who certainly looked up to him with respect, and only regretted that they were not earlier acquainted with his weaknesses.—(Cheering and great laughter.) He hoped, however, that his Right Hon. Friend would forgive him if he exactly distrusted his powers as a statesman in the same proportion as he had suddenly changed the opinions formerly held by him.—(Hear, hear.) if he were now a great statesman all his former acts were those of a person insensible to the wants of the country. In these observa tions he was speaking his cool and deliberate conviction. They could not admit the purity of his motives without impeaching his claim to guide the destinies of a free country. —(Cheering.) His suddenness of change was such, that there might not be another change in another month. With re spect to his Noble Friend the Member for the city of London, if he gave him a pledge that he would support the Irish Church, he knew that he would carry out that pledge to the utmost extent, and nothing could induce him to swerve from his promise, he therefore knew to what he had to trust, and he would much rather trust an open enemy.—(Cheering.) (Here the Hon. Gentleman paused for a few moments.) " I stopped," continued the Hon. Baronet, " for my own sake— I will not pursue the subject."—(lmmense cheering.) He would not put the Government into the hands of the Gentlemen opposite. With respect to the Noble Lord op posite, he had, however, to observe that his change had been at least four years old. While he deeply deplored the part taken by the Government, he could not help asking at what time were these measures brought forward? They were brought forward at a time of profound peace. Ireland had not at that time her monster meetings; England was arrived at a pitch of prosperity &most unexampled, to which she had grown under the very system now proposed to be altered. Wh then should they, when well, take physic and die? He pledged himself to the fact that, in every instance, the actual produce was greater last year than the year before. Under these circumstances he. for one, could not see why the Govern ment measure should be supported. Captain FITZMAURICE, who spoke most inaudibly, said he confessed his view of the question of protection was very different from that of the Right Hon. Baronet. He regarded it as a compensation for the industry of the agriculturist, and as a security against the competition of foreign avicul turists, in consequence of the peculiar burdens which fell to the land of this country. He defended it, therefore, on those grounds—on the ground of the burdens which pressed on the agricultural energy of the country. He defended last year the protection which was given to the West India planters on the same principle. The Right Honouraele Baronet him self, in 1844, had given expression to the same ideas. With regard to the present measure which has been broright before the country, it was stated by the Right Hon. Baronet that he rested it upon the famine, which was apprehended in Ireland. He would ask the Government had they taken that view of the question which other countries had adopted under similar anticipations? Had 'they attempted to prevent exportation. Had they adopted those other expe dients which the necessities of the case seemed to warrant ? In Ireland, exportation of corn and provisions had been proceeding to an enormous extent since October last. 'The Right Honourable Baronet had taken protection off this country when the country had a great impulse from public works—for instance, such as from railways. Let him take the county of Wiltshire; they had no shipping which could bring about a benefit to that county by importation. How, then, could the present measure—how could free trade oenefit that part of the country ? Manufactures were carried on there, agricultural pursuits were prosperous there, but free trade, with all its importation, would not be of any advantage to its inhabitants. Now, let there be a railway constructed through that county, and the people would be greatly benefited by such a project.— Hear, hear.) It was said that the manufacturers of this eoun'r' would be received by foreign countries in exchange for their corn. Let them take Poland for instance. Now he spoke from information furnished by a gentleman residing in that country, and he would say that the growers of corn there, when the duties would be taken off in this country, would send corn from there at .30s. the greater. Let them take America. They were told that the growers of corn there would take the manufactures of this country in exchange for their grain, but he had good grounds for saying that they would want gold and not manufactures. It is well known that the American shipping left this country, after getting rid of their corn, in ballast, and, that would be the very way in which they would leave our ports when free trade became a law. What said the Right Hon. Baronet in 1844? At that period he complained that the principles of free trade were delusive and visionary. Such was not his opinion now, however. There was one way of remedying the evil of a famine without bringing forward the present measure, and that was to be done by taking the price of corn at the weight, and not by the measure. If this had been done, corn and bread would now be more corresponding in price, and still protection he upheld. Can it be expected that farmers will lay out their money in making improvements, when the law which protects, or rather ought to protect him, is to be changed by the Right Honourable Baronet, who had always led them to believe him their best friend, by his having always spoken in their favour. It was said that "woman's vows were traced in sand." He should like to know what men's vows were traced in. Were they traced in adamant ?—( Laughter.) He should like to know what the Right Honourable Baronet's vows were traced in ?-- ( Hear, hear.) He (Captain Fitzmaorice) thought they were traced in steam.—( Great laughter.) The Honourable !Baronet had made vows, but they were all broken ; all the pro mihs made had been abandoned, those who kid supported him were not taken into consideration, their opinions, their influ ence, and their interests were alike disregarded. He might well say— " Blow, blow, thou wintry wind, Thou art not so unkind, Nor is thy breath so rude As man's ingratitude." - The Hon. Member sat down amidst some applau=e. Mr. SYDNEY HERBERT said that of all the speeches which had been delivered against the present measure of her Majesty's Goverment, he might select the last two speeches as argurstents in 'its favour.—(Hear, hear.) Those changes bad not been forced upon the Government by any choice of their own, but by the advent of circumstances which it was not possible for any human power to foresee. He wished he could be convinced that the position of Ireland was really not such as had been represented, or that he could be justified in declaring that the contemplated change in the law affecting the price of food would be unnecessary, but they had had too many proofs to the contrary not to be satisfied of the justness and ex pediency of this measure. The Hon. Member had stated in his speech, that there was deficiency of food in Ireland, or rather that there was an average supply, and that therefore the appre hended loss or deficiency need not be apprehended. Sir R. INGLIS said he alluded to the potato crop. Mr. SYDNEY HERBERT continued by saying that the potato crop was not the exclusive food of the people of that country. It would not be necessary for him now to expatiate upsn the miseries and misfortunes of a large mass of people who were accustomed to subsist upon that article of food. They had already heard a great deal as to the state of that portion of the population who were compelled to depend upon this worst kind of subsistence for the greater part of the year. But if the Hon. Members had followed out his argument by quoting the returns, the state of the crops for several years past, he would have found that in _many, instances there had been actual deficiencies for the supply required, even where the crop was stated to have been an verage one. During the whole of those discussions he should sa y' t hat he had heard no arguments or statements which had the effect of 'este ng the truth of the reports the Government bad received fro:the mistrac and constabulary in Ireland on this subject. The G o vernment l had neither lent too willing an ear to the reportathat state of the prevailing th ey had received as to the exaggerated tions with regard to di s tre sslrelan d b eing on the one hand, or of the asser- But, with regard to the actual st a t e a fwd's paradise on the other. persuade of the potato crop in Ire land, he wished he could de himself that the reports the Government had received, as to the actual deficiency, were really erroneous or exaggerate of facts upon which the Govern r m. hail acted, were too pal he melancholy combination pable to be disbelieved, and ther e fo re some measure was neces sary to avert the apprehended calam it y. e, for he had was this state of things confined to Ireland alone , glan d d ascertained, upon where the good authority, that in the West of En potato crop was extensively cultivated, it had . t a l l i s e o re failed to as great an extent as any part of 'lreland. As had been stat ed b? the Noble Lord the Member for London, the otatecro p was one which presented this singular parado P x c rop was a was often pronounced to he an a ve rage crop when it wa s , in fact, of so inferior a quality as to be almost unfit for food. If they looked at the returns of the year 1839, it would be seen that the prices had been raised precisely in that same way as had occurred in November, 1845 ; but there was a great dis tinction to be noticed between the causes upon these two occasions. For instance, it would often be found that the e qua was lity not s wa wheat crop was an ave ra g e crop butrom, bad, and v y et the bread made f th d it ; the result was , that bad brea d was not made, but that a greater quantity of inferior wheat was required to make the same quantity of bread than would have been necessary if the wheat had been good. This had the effect of lessening the price of wheat, while no change whatever took place in the price of bread. No, he would not hesitate on an occasion like this—for he, like many others, had a change of opinion to announce—to declare that his opinion had undergone a change upon this subject, because he had seen that the law of 1842 had most signally failed.—( Hear, hear.) This might have resulted from a combination of circumstances that no Government could have foreseen. But Hon. Members, while they argued in favour of the corn-laws, seemed to forget that those laws were enacted in order to meet the expediency caused by a transition from a state of war to a state of peace, and now that the time came when they ought to be abolished, for they had seen that other countries had met the circumstance of a scarcity of food by throwing open their ports to all the world. He regretted that the course then being per med had net been adopted by Hon. Gentlemen at the o A Noble Friend, who preceded him, had express ed it his OD that ' the present measure was one which should not- have leemni ro duced.by the Right H on . Bar o net at the head of her Maj est y' s int- Government. Now he ( the Hon.Member)had nohesitaiionin saying that he was strongly of opinion, and had advocated the ; meaty of its sdoptieu ) that the measure theald to left is TfIE SON, LONDON, TUESDAY E;VENiNG, FEBRUARY 10, 1846. other hands.—( Hear, hear.) He had expected that the N oble I Lord (Lord John Russell) at the opposite side, who had spoke of past differences, regarding the sliding scale, though a convert to free trade principles, only since last November, would have had a better right to bring forward the present measure than had the Right Hon. Baronet.— ( Hear, hear.) He regretted that the Noble Lord had made use of an expression which should convey a slur on the Hon. Members opposed to him, which was to the effect that, had the same support been given him by Members who at present sup ported the Right Hon. Baronet, he would have carried a simi lar measure. Lord JOHN RUSSELL—I alluded to the year 1841. I did not refer to anything that has occurred recently. Mr. HERBERT continued— He should admit the sound ness of the Noble Lord's arguments; but at the same time he should say that no support was ever more frankly or freely offered than was theirs.—( Hear, and cheers.) He wished to know, if ruin was to come on the land, through the importation of foreign grain, by reason of the present measure. He wished it would be told what countries the abundance would come from.re( Hear, hear.) If they went to Dantzic they could purchase Polish wheat ; but he doubted if it could be got free on board at as cheap a rate as it could at present be purchased at home.—( Hear, hear.) So far from the corn-laws having produced an unsteadiness in price, if they looked to the last twenty years, they would find that fluctuation was less at present than in the year 1815. In Spain, where corn was grown cheaper than in any country in the world, they had to import grain from America ; and he (Mr. Her bert) should say that he found a great alteration of opinion amongst the public at large, and particularly amongst the agri culturists and tenant farmers on the question of protection.— ( Hear, hear.) It was not long since that a meeting took place in a part of the country called Goatacre. He was not prepared to deny that these working men were not drawn together by their own agencies, but he would say that all the statements they advanced as to the manner in which they lived were per fectly true. He, for one, lived in the midst of a population of considerable extent, and he scarcely knew how they existed, lie knew, however, that whether these facts were or were not true, the investigation of them could do no harm to the Go vernment.—( Hear, hear.) He confessed he had heard other arguments more cogent than the extension of commerce, and the advancement of the trade of the country. He saw that the question must be settled, and that this was the time in which it could be best settled with honour.—(lronical cheers from the Protection benches, and loud cheers from the Op position side of the House.) Honourable Gentlemen might have a different opinion as to what constituted a settle ment of the question, or to the honour of which he was speaking. He was speaking, not of the honour of the Government, nor of personal honour, but of what he con ceived was justifiable and expedient as an honest man.— (Ironical cheers.) lie said, after much inquiry and careful deliberation he, as an honest man, had found good reason for changing his opinion on the corn-laws. He had not lightly abandoned the opinions and convictions he had previously en tertained, but, despite the threats which had been held out, against the advice of many friends and advisers, and though the terror of his constituents had been employed to intimidate him, he had followed the dictates of his conscience rather than their influence and dictation.—(Hear, hear.) He said that all this would take place, and that it would be the subject of deep mortification to many ; but, at the same time, he knew his duty to them, as well as what he owed his country.— (Hear, hear.) He had, there fore, taken his present course, honestly to act for the public good. So much for personal honour ; but the honour to which he alluded, when interrupted, was the honour of the country gentlemen, who had now the opportunity of conceding the measure without danger. There was no danger in the qui st:on at present, whatever there might be if it was de layed. They could now allow the question to be settled with honour, which would not be the case did they succeed in de feating the proposition submitted to the House. They had against them parties of great weight, independent of the agita tion of the Anti-Corn-law League—an association conducted by men of great energy and perseverance, who would not stay their exertions till they succeeded in their object.—( Hear.) He did not however call on the country gentlemen to yield to that agitation, but to the dictates of reason. If they did not yield to reason, they would be obliged to yield to another power—not a power of reason or agitation, but a more material and dangerous force. But he would suggest a stronger motive than any he had done. The public mind was not in the same state it was in 1815. In those days the Government had not the support of the people. In 1841, when the Noble Lord the Member for the City of London brought forward his budget, he (Mr. Sidney Herbert) supported the principle of free trade, but objected to its application, thinking corn an exception to the rule. He had seen reason to alter that opinion, and now the public mind was more enlightened, and men of all political parties and commercial and trading interests joined together to give effect to this measure, They saw that the corn-laws were a tax to benefit one class at the expense of another. Honourable Gentlemen had said that the Parliamentary party of the Go vernment was broken up. Surely they did not mean to say that the great Tory or Conservative party were bound together only by a question of customs or imports—that they placed their existence on a mere political arrangement. The corn-laws were not a part of the constitution, but rather opposed to its spirit._ In former times the public mind was so sensitive regarding an import of this kind, that when the duty on corn was but sixpence a quarter, that duty had had to be suspended. He maintained that these laws were contrary to the whole spirit of the constitution. He was not one to make that constitution more democratic than it was, as democracy was in some instances rather more like despotism than what it professed to be. He wished to preserve the aristocratic elements in it, as he con sidered them essential to the proper working of the Constitu tion ; and on these grounds he said to them, do not act in opposition to the measure—do not in any manner interfere so as to occasion its rejection. Let them recollect that great changes had taken place in their manufacturing and spcial arrangements. These manufacturing arrangements had been increased to an enormous extent. There might be many - who doubted the propriety of these extensions—who questioned the morality of numbers congre gating—who doubted where fidelity to the state could exist in such multitudes. But he could assure the House that one of the means of diffusing wealth was the keeping up the springs of society. Their wealth was that which maintained their colonial empire—that which had given them the dominion of the world. Let them remember, too, that if they wished to disseminate their religion, their liberties, and their faith, they could do it in no surer way than by the very menu fac' ores that they sent abroad. —( Cheers.) Let them also recollect that the men who extended these benefits were entitled to some portion of them. His Noble Friend who had opened the debate on the first night bad, in a most eloquent address, fully characteristic of himself, stated that the Conservative party were interested in the security, peace, and welfare of the Constitution of this country. How much more then were they dependent, who had all to lose and nothing to gain by any interruption to the peace of the country. Manufacturers had for a long time flourished, not because they were of the customs' growth, but because they were of the same existence with the country. He wished to see the agricultural and manufacturing interests at peace, joined in an inseperable union. He believed that the Government wished to cement that union—and he believed further that when the agriculturists themselves came properly to appreciate their position, they would be glad of the chance that had offered of thus extricating themselves.— ( Hear.) He believed that they would now pursue their avocation without doubt or apprehension, and he believed also that that prejudice which had before existed between classes would be swept away. The Government now offered them the oppor tunity of repairing the greatest error that was ever committed by any body of men. —( Cheers.) But the landed proprietors of this country had also contributed to the burdens of the State. They had assisted its resources; they had provided its eminent men in every department. But, however, he might affirm this, he was willing to admit that the law of 1815 was a great error.—( Hear, hear, and cheers.) The Government now wished to repair the error.—(Hear, hear.) Would they accept it ?—( Cheers.) His own mind had been long made up. He hoped he had now done his duty. He believed that the propositions of the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the Government were not only intended for the benefit of the country, but the agriculturists themselves. He trusted they would throw all prejudices aside—that they would weigh the question aright; and let them be assured of this, that these propositions had been made for the good of the coun try and for that alone.—( Cheers.) 'The debate was then adjourned. CITATIONS (SCOTLAND) BILL. This Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be com mitted to-morrow. DRAINAGE (IRELAND) BILL. The committal of this Bill was postponed till to-day. GRAND JURIES (IRELAND) BILL. Sir JAMES GRAHAM obtained leave to bring in a Bill to authorise Grand Juries in Ireland, at the Spring Assizes of the present year, to appoint Extraordinary Presentment Sessions ; to empower such Sessions to make presentment for county works, and to provide funds for the execution of such works by loans of public money. The Right Hon. Baronet subseqently brought in the Bill, which was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time to-day. The remaining orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at One o'clock. • COURT CIRCULAR. The Queen and Prince Albert took their usual early walk in the garden of Buckingham Palace. Prince Albert after wards rode out on horseback, attended by Colonel Wylde, Equerry in Waiting. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, Prince Alfred, the Princess Royal, and the Princess Alice were taken their accustomed airings yesterday. Her Majesty and Prince Albert honoured the performance of the French plays with their presence yesterday evening. The royal suite included the Marchioness of Druro, Hon. Miss Kerr, the Earl of Morton, Colonel Arbuthnot, and Colonel Wylde. Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also honoured the performance of the French plays last evening with their presence. The Queen and Prince Albert yesterday inspected a hand some salver, presented by the parishioners of Alverstoke, Rants, to their late rector, the Bishop of Oxford, which was submitted by Mr. Payne. The Duke of Cambridge visited her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester yesterday, at Gloucester House. A deputation from the West India body, consisting of Sir J. R. Reid, Bart., Mr. Barkly, M.P., Mr. Colville, Mr. S. Ilibbert, Mr. Davidson, Mr. Macgregor, and Mr. M'Chlery, had an interview with Sir Robert Peel on Saturday, at his official residence in Downing-street. Prince Castelcicala was present at the debate in the House of Commons yesterday evening. Mr. Aglionby, M.P., Mr. Charles Buller, M.P., and Mr. Hutt, M.P., had an interview with the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone yesterday at the Colonial-office. The President and Vice President of the Board of Trade had an interview with Sir Robert Peel yesterday. Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-office, from the Governor of Sierra Leone. Lord and Lady Augustus Fitzclarence arrived at Farrance's Belgrave-street, yesterday, from their seat in Berkshire. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yes tveriedea_ye.haTneheeliolr.oirtnsigphrteßsent were the Lord President, the of Cornwall, and Dr. Lu If ruce, Mr. Kindersley, Queen's Counsel , Chancellor of the Duchy pe:lant on an appeal from Madras,'nsel' ?qr. Chilton, Queen "Arbuthnot v. Morton." , Th case was adjourned. for the respondent. 's Counsel, was he w a a rd s heard for the ap- readers are pro ,ade in grain, the . last four years C c t ° , R b N ii . t w ° it ur h - A FREE TRADE the ni fa , though detlia ba ,ly not aware of recollected, we have had a perfectly free-trade ta ily not for a long period—the exemption i,m e i e n r g : la ted just one day. It will probably be tiobert Peel's corn .law came into operation on the that a Sir fore the weekly averages were made up under it ; anci r ce e r . tain parties, amongst whom r . s'as a house connected with this - town, cleared a large quantity of grain, paying the duties under protest, on the ground that, until the averages had been duly made up, no duty was payable. They subsequently brought an action against the collector of customs, we be lieve at Liverpool, for a restitution of the amotua not duties so paid, and a verdict hav in g been given against them, brought the matter by writ of error before the judges in the Exchequer Chamber. That writ of error has just been de cided, and the result is, that the Government will have to repay to the parties all the duties which they had received on the day in question. What the total amount is, we are not at present informed.—Blanchester Guarcgan. The THIRD EDITION' .of The Sun of last evening contained— The conclusion of the day's proceedings before the va rious Railway Committees of the House of Commons. The state of the Betting at Tattersall's up to Six o'clock. An Account of the alarming Riots at Inverness. Important Intelligence from Mexico. Parliamentary Intelligence of the evening, being Reports of the proceedings in both Houses of Parliament up to a Quarter before Seven o'clock. There was an Express Edition of The Sun published at Half-past Eight, containing the conclusion of the evening's Debates in the House of Lords, and a Re port of those in the Commons up to a Quarter after Eight. The whole extending to eleven columns. CORRECTED THROCCHOUT BY THE NOBILITY. Now ready, in one vol. Bvo., with upwards of 1,500 Engravings of Arms, 8.1 - c.„ price 385. bound, ATR. B U A R D K / E S STAGE,P EER A GE 1.7 Flr 1846. • CONTAINING ALL THE NEW CREATIONS. " The most complete, the most convenient, and the cheapest work of the kind ever ofered to the putdic."—Sun. Henry Colbuni, Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough-street. THIRD AND CHEAPER EDITION. Now Ready, complete in I vol., with Illustrations, 10s. 6d. bound. THE HISTORY OF MARGARET CATCIIPOLE. A SUFFOLK GIRL. By the Rev. R. CODBOLD, of Wortham, Suffolk. " Compressed into the compass of one volume, this biography will probably become a standard work_; for altogether Margaret Catchpole was sufficiently remarkable in character and fortune to take her place among the celebrated pers onazes of times past."—Britannia. Henry Colburn, Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough-street. THE PRINCE'S CLUB-lIOUSE, Corner of St. James's-street, in Piccadilly. Notice.—Noblemen and Gentlemen are respectfully informed this establishment is now prepared for their reception, with aug mented arrangements and increased accommodation. Princes' Club, St. James's-street. Entrance in Piccadilly, No. 162. TIIEATItE IVOYAL, DRURY-LANE. Tllfs EVENING Will be performed anori;Onal Opera, entitled DON QUIXOTE. Don Quixote, Mr. Weiss ; S'utcho Panza, Mr. Stretton ; Camacho, Jr. King ; Rovedos, Mr. Jelnes ; Basillus, Mr. Allen ; Quiteria, Miss Rainforth. At the end of the Opera Pi!ofessor RISLEY and his SONS will go through a Series of their Clas deal and Popular Exercises. To be followed by the Diveilissement of LA BAYADERE. To conclude with a new grand Christmas comic rantomlne, called HARLEQUIN GULLIVER ; or, Giants and Dwarfs. Harlequin, Mr. Wieland ; Clown, Mr. T. :Nlatthews ; Pantaloon, Mr. Howell ; Columbines, Miss Hicks and :Miss Mott. THEATRE'. B.CrIAL, HAYMARKET. TAILS EVENING Will be repeated THE CR ICK ET ON TILE HEARTH. A Fairy Pale of Home. John Pee_rybingle, Mr. Stuart; Tackleton, filbury; Caleb Plummer, Mr:. W. Farrell ; Stranger, Mr. H. Holl ; Jot, Miss Fortescue ; Berths., Mrs. Seymour ; May Fielding, Miss Telbin; TUly Slowboy, Mr. B uStstone. Between the acts of the; Drama the Band will perform the " Annen" and " Cerito Polk is," "La Ketarina, Cellarius Waltz," the Overture "Effie du Merger." and "Polka, Cricket on the Hearth." After which an original Comedy, entitled THE OLD SCHOOL. Principal characters by Messr 5. l'arren, 'loll, Brindal, Mrs. Clifford, and Mrs. Yarnold. To conclude with a Grand N eW Extravaganza, entitled THE BEE AND THE ORANGE TREM; or, The Four Wishes. Principal Characters by Mr. Hudson, :lir. James Bland, Mr. Caulfield, Mr. Clark, Miss P. Horton, Miss Jvdia Bennett, Mrs. Caulfield, and Mrs. Stanley. THEATRE 11 OYAL, ADELPHJ. THIS EVENING Will be performed the Dran In of LEOLINE : or, Life's Trials. Principal characters by Messrs. 0. Smith and Wright, Mrs. Yates, and Miss Woolgar. To be followed by a New F arce, entitled TILE PHANTOM BREAKFAST. Supported by bix. Paul Bedford, Mr. Wright, Miss Woolgar, &c. To conclude with a Burletta, .e.alled POWDER AND BALL ; or, St. Tibbs's Eve. Principal characters by Messrs. Selby, Wright, Munyard, Sanders ; Mrs. Fran k Matthews and Miss Woolgar. THEATRE P .OYAL, LYCEUM. UNDER THE MANAC,EMENT OF MRS. KEELEY. The Cricket on the Hearth," and " The Enchanted Horse" every Evening u ntil further notice ! THIS EVENING WILL BE PERFORMED THE CRICKET ON THE HEARTH: A FAIRY TALE OP HOME. The Principal Characters by 11Lr. and Mrs. Keeley, Mr. Emery, Mr. F. Vininw, Mr. Meadows, and ?ass Grove. To he followed by the original REDOWA WALTZ, music com posed by M. Jullien, by Miss Yr ampton and Master Forrest. After which will be repeated a, N ew Grand Romantic extravaganza, entitled THE ENCHANTED HORSE; or, Prince Firouz Schah of Persia and the Princess of Benk,:al. Principal Characters by Messrs. Keeley, Wigan, F. Matthews,. Collier, Turner, Kinloch, &c. ; Mes dames Keeley, Villars, Hodson, 3:w.wson, Howard, Arden, &c. Stalls, ss. ; Boxes, he. ; Pit, 2s. ; Gallery, Gd. PRINCESS'S THEA.T:RE, OXFORD-STIIEET. THIS E VENING Will be performed a New Drama, entitleci. THE VIOLET. Andre, Mr. IVallack ; Trinquet, Mr. Or anDy ; Armand, Mr. Murray ; Mar chioness D'Orville, Mrs. Fosbro Blanche, Miss Stanley ; Blan chette, Mrs. Stirling. To be followed by a DIVERT lASE3IENT, in which Mr. Gilbert, Mr. Marshall, 31. Adrien, Miss liialin, Miss Marshall, and 3ldlie. Duval will appear. After which, a New Farce, called 'TOO MANY COORS SPOIL THE BROTH. Gregory Granite, Mr.. Compton ; George, Mr. Oxberry ; Fanny, Miss E. Stanley. To conclude with the New Cbaildmas Pantomime, entitled THE KEY OF THE KINGDOM ; or, HARLEQUIN AND THE FAIRY BLUE BELL. Harlequin, Mr. NV . 11. Harvey ; Columbine, Miss Ballen ; Clown, 31r. Flexmore ; Picataloon, 3fr. T. Bill. ROYAL OLYM YIC THEATRE. Lessee, Miss X ate Howard. - THIS EVENING Will be performed the Domestic Drama, called OUR VILLAGE. In which Messrs. Waldron, C. 110 . yee, Romer, Cockrill, G. Wild, Miss Hamilton, Miss Bromley, and Mrs. Lecicrcq will appear. After which will be repeated TVE CRICKET ON OUR OWIT HEARTH. Dot, Miss Kate Howard . To be followed by ANGELS AN) 0 LUCIFERS. In which Mr. Wild will appear. And concluding with the new Pant omime, unapproachable for glee and g randeur, called FORTCNAI US ; or, THE MAGIC CAP. Fortunatus, Miss Hamilton ; Prime Megrim, Mr. Cockrill ; Fairy Queen, Miss Bromley ; Harlequin. 3 ;r. Smythers ; Pantaloon, Mr. ilharles ; Clown, Mr. Jetrerini ; Coatis abine, Miss Laidlaw. NEW STRAND IPHEATRE. TWO MORNING PERFORMA:MES DURING THE WEEK. M. PIIILLIPPE will (by desire), :and in consequence of the im mense overflows which have atte ndt ?d his Morning Performances, give Grand Juvenile Entertainments every Wednesday and Sa turday Mornings, commencing et Tiro o'clock. M. Phillippe's most Popular DCel Tt one and Peculiar Experiments will be repeated every Evening, varied by the Amusing Per formances 01 the Chiarini Family, r‘ ad the astounding Feat,. of the American Brothers.—Doors open at a quarter past Seven, to com mence at a quarter before Eight. Stalls, 3s. ; Boxes, 2s. ; Pit, 15..; Gallery, 6d. ; Private Boxes, 11. Is., and lie. 6d. ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPlil TPIEATRF OF ARTS. The most extraordinary Novelty evt r produced.—The New Grand Oriental Spectacle, which has bees I playing in Paris with repeated success. THIS EVEIVING Will he performed a New Drama, entitled THE RAJAH OF NAGPORE ; or, the Sacred Elepharets of the Pagoda. In winch will be introduced the performing Colosea; Elephants and Camels, whose recent arrival caused unprecedented s ensation in the metropolis. New Scenes of the Circle, comb' nini the talent of the French and English Artistes. To conclude with a favourite Aft'trp iece. DAVIDOE'S ROYAL SID tREY THEATRE. Full llonses -- e;el : 3 7— Nlghl. -- SeVe — nt.h .- I,l"eek of the " Mendicant Son" and the Pantomime. Last Six .13 - ights of the Pantomime. THIS EVEIsrING Will be performed THE ME:6IC ANT SON ; or, The Jew of Southwark. Supported by Mespre. Hughes, Johnson, Rogers, >well, Maynard, Lewis, Heslop ; Mesdames 11. Vining, Martin, and Daly. After which a new Drama, entitled NORAII CRENA. Cha racters by Messrs, Rogers, Johnson, Lewis ; Mdmes. H. Vining and Daly. To conclude with a new Grand Christmas Pantomime, entitled HARLEQUIN AND THE OLD WITCH OF TEDDINGTON ; or, The Golden Days of Good Queen laws. Harlequin, Mr. Cormack ; .:olumbine, Miss Smithysi ; Clown. Mr. Paul Herring ; Pantaloon, Mr. Anderson; Sprite, Mr. Stilt. ROYAL. VICTOICIA THEATRE, To surpass so much Novelty and Attraction is i•.npossible. Second Week of the New Grand Rom anee of " The Prisoners of the Seventeenth Century." First Veek of " The Cook at Kenning ton." Third Week of " The Darned house at Millbank." THIS EVENING. Will he performed a new Drama,. entitled, THE MARCHIONESS DE lIBINVILLIERS ; or, The rbisoners of the Seventeenth Cen tury. Principal characters by :11 Jews. SavLlc, Fredericks, Dale, and Miss Vincent. To be followed by THE COOK AT KENNINGTON ; or, No Followers Allowed." Characte es by Messrs. Janes, Herbert, Searle ; Miss Terry, Mrs. Lee. & c. To conclude with TILE RUINED HOUSE AT MILBANK. Supported by Messrs. Saville, ktrederieks, Dale, Hlggie, Searle, Herbert, Misses Vincent, Terry 13 ichardson, &c. THE WEATHER.-4Subt OFFICE, FEB. 10. THERMOMETER, Lowest, 30; Highest, 40; Noon, 36, BAROMETER, 30.4 6.--WIND E., frosty. RION WATER AT LON - DON-BRIDGE THIS DAY. Morning .. 3a minutes after I. J _Evening .. 55 minutes after 1 stt• L• /.:;„ 4 Pga i Jl - 7' • Ai 4 SECOND EDITION. .„„ -0) twat 1)1 LONDON, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1846. Their Lordships commenued business shortly after Five o'clock. Lord STANLEY presented a petition from the county of Lancaster, signed by 12,339 persons in favour of protec tion to agriculture. Several petitions were presented by Lord BEAUMONT and the Earl of REDESDALE. Lord BEAUMONT gave notice, for the Duke of Mori- MOND, of his intention, on Thursday next, to move for certain returns regarding local taxation. He also moved that their Lordships should be summoned for that day. Earl GREY presented a petition from the tenant farmers of Forfar in favour of the Ministerial plan for the reduction of duties on the various articles of food The petition, however, deprecated the delay of three years, considering it injurious to their interests. The Noble Earl trusted that the opinion of the petitioners would have weight with her Majesty's Ministers. Earl ST. GERMANS moved the second reading of the Public Works (Ireland) Bill. He thought that the measure would be found most beneficial in developing the resources of Ireland. The Bill would bring home to the peasantry of Ireland employment at their own doors. the L c o o rd nd l u l c r o lis th a e cL G E o s v u e p rn po ni r e ted nt in o ft l n d d deprecated ingl.romthe consideration of Parliament the Athol(' of the reports they had received relative to the probttble condition of Ireland in consequence of the failure ()tithe potato crop. The Duke of WELLINGTON assured the Noble Lord that the consideration he had suggested to him on Fri day last had been fully looked into, and every attention would be given by the Government to the wants of Ireland. Measures would be introduced in the course of the present session for that purpose. Lord SToURTON supported the Bill. The Eurl of DEvoN supported the Bill, and trusted the Government would be liberal in their grants, not only to improve public works in Ireland, but the con dition of the agricultural labourers in Ireland. The Earl of RODEN supported the second reading of the Bill, but there wore some clauses in it which he hoped to see improved and altered in Committee. He hoped the condition of Ireland, in consequence of the failure of the potato crop, would not turn out to be so serious as was anticipated. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE concurred in the prin ciple of the Bill as far as it went. Lord COTTENBAM agreed to the principle of the Bill, but he considered that its details would require altera tion in Committee. The Earl of MOUNTCASHEL was assured that ere long there would not only be famine, but disturbances, in Ireland. He trusted, therefore, that every facility would be given, and that without loss of time, to the employment of the poor of Ireland. After some observations from Lord CAMPBELL, the Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Friday next. The Earl of WILTON presented a petition from Man chester in favour of free trade. Their Lordships then adjourned. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock. Lord Mon.PETti took the oaths and his seat for the West Riding of Yorkshire. The Noble Lord was intro duced by Mr. BYNG, the Member for Middlesex, and Lord JOHN RUSSELL, and was most enthusiastically cheered. Mr. MiCARTHY, for Cork, took the oaths and his seat. The Hon. Gentleman was introduced by Mr. O'CONNELL. Leave was given to bring in several railway Bills. The Edinburgh Waterworks Bill was brought in, read a first, and ordered to be read a second time. Mr. KENBLE brought in the London and South- Western Railway Bill. The report of the Sub-Committee on the Ayrshire and Galloway Railway Bill, reporting that the standing orders had not been complied with, was ordered to be referred back to the Committee, after a short discussion. Sir H. HALFORD presented a petition from Liverpool, signed by 2,000 persons, against any alteration in the corn-laws. The Earl of MARCH presented a similar petition from Sussex, signed by 9,000 persons. Mr. LEADER presented a petition frcm 'Westminster, in favour of a total repeal of the corn•laws, signed by 73,000 persons. _ _ Several other petitions having been presented on the subject of the proposed alterations in the commercial policy of the country, among which were 103 by Lord MORPETH (who was received with enthusiastic cheer ing), from various places in the West Riding of York shire in favour of the Ministerial measures generally, with the exception of that part which related to the corn-laws, of which laws they prayed the total and im mediate repeal, Mr. FERRAND asked if the signatures to those peti tions were affixed to them with the free and unbiassed wills of the parties signing, because he was prepared to prove that many of the workmen bad been forced ? The SPEAKER—The Hon. Member may ask a ques tion on the presentation of a petition, but he cannot make a speech. The Hex. MEMBER repeated his question, to which Lord MORPETH replied that, to the best of his belief and the entireness of his conviction, the signatures had been affixed by the free and unbiassed will of the parties signing. Mr. W. 0. STANLEY gave notice of an amendment in the Committee on the Customs' Act, t 9 the effect that wheat should be subject to a fixed duty of 55., barley of 3s. 6d., and oats of 25., in place of the Ministerial proposition. Mr. M. MILNEs gave notice of an amendment to omit in the resolution with regard to corn all words referring to the duties payable after 1849. Several unopposed returns having been agreed to, The Members constituting the Committee on Parlia mentary Election Petitions were then sworn at the table. In answer to Dr. BOWRING, Mr. CARDWELL explained the measures which had been adopted for the purpose of carrying out the recom mendations of the Committee on Colonial Accounts. Mr. BRIGHT wished to ask if it was not the intention that the sums levied as fines on factory owners should be fairly divided among all schools, and not as they had hitherto been, distributed at the rate of lON. to schools connected with the Established Church to 301. to schools connected with Dissenters. Sir J. GRAHAM said that the sums were to be fairly distributed, but that be understood that few applications had been made for Dissenting or Catholic schools. Sir R. INoms wished to know whether it was intended that an equal sum should be given to Church and Dis senting schools, or a proportionate sum ? Sir J. GRAHAM said that it was intended that the sum should be apportioned to the wants of the school. Mr. LIDDELL asked if the Government was prepared to take any steps for the improvement of the juvenile population of the metropolis ? Sir J. GRAHAM explained the steps which had been already taken for the improvement and reformation of juvenile offenders in the metropolis; and stated, if it were the pleasure of the House to vote the necessary funds, he would feel it his duty to propose further mea sures for the reformation of juvenile offenders. Sir R. PEEL explained, in relation to his reply to the Noble Lord's question the other night as to his answer on the subject of the reduction of the corn duties, that he could find no precedent for the Treasury sanctioning the reduction of the duty on the receipt of the report, and that, therefore, he could not consent to any reduction on the corn duties until the proposed alteration should become law, but so convinced was he of the necessity of proceeding with the alteration in the corn-laws at once that he proposed to proceed with the measure for the 'alteration of the corn-laws, in preference to any other public measure, and to every other alteration in the tariff until it should become law. In reply to Mr. M. PHILIPS, Sir R. PEEL said that if the debate should bo ad- jonrned over Tuesday, there would be no alternative but to resume the debate on Wednesday at twelve and finish it at six. The Right lion. Baronet also explained that necessarily there must be an interval between the first and second reading of the Corn Bill, during which he might bring forward other articles in the tariff; but that be would proceed with the Corn Bill with all the speed that the forms of the House would permit. On the motion that the order of the day for the House resolving itself into Committee being read, a host of petitions on the subject of the corn-laws were presented. After the presentation of the petitions, which lasted until after six o'clock, Mr. PHILIP MILES rose to move the amendment of which he had given notice, viz., that the House should resolve into Committee this day six months. The pro posed change in our commercial policy was a change even greater than that proposed by the Reform Bill, and on a question involving such vital interests, the constituen cies of the country ought to be consulted, more especi ally when it was considered that this Parliament bad been elected upon protectionist principles. He ad mitted the failure of the potato crop in Ireland, but the uat crop and the wheat crop in that country was above the average. There was no fear of a famine. He could well understand that the Right Hon. Baronet might feel alarm at the state of things in Ireland, but if he had watched the state of the markets he would see there was no cause of alarm. He would say' if there was danger of a famine, open your ports, but he contended that there was no danger whatever .4 famine, and, looking at the course pursued by the Right Honourable Baronet, he could not but come to the conclusion that the cause of protection had in the Right Hon. Baronet's mind been long doomed. He thought the agricultural interests of the. country was entitled to moderate protection. He recollected the talent with which the Right Hon. Baronet had upheld the doctrines of protection, and he could foresee the ability with which he would control them, but he feared not because ho felt that he had a large minority in that House, and a large party out of it. Three months ago the Member on the Treasury Bench supported 'the doc trine of protection, and if his opinions had undergone such a change, he should have felt bound to follow the example of the Noble Lord the Member for Dorsetshire. He could not see where these changes were to end, and if these were agreed to, greater still must follow ; changes which would shake tho public credit. The Hon. Gentleman then proceeded to take a review of the history of our commercial policy since the aceoLsion of Sir R. PEEL to office, and contended that the pros perity of the industrious classes had been owing, not to the free trade measures of the Government, but to the immense increase of our railway system, which had created a demand for labour, and in consequence of which the prices of iron had risen enormously—to the cessation of war in India—and to the succession of good harvests ; and he believed that much of that prosperity would have taken place if the Noble Lord opposite had been in power. Ile denied that the amount of exports afforded a fair indication of commercial prosperity. Foreign markets were glutted with our goods. It was the home trade which afforded the finest ele ments for the calculation of the amount of our commercial prosperity. With regard to the corn-laws, the law of 1842 had worked well ; it fled secut'ed steadiness of price, and he could not con sent to its alteration. The Right lioiguratle Baronet had said in 1842 that 565. was a fair price for the I farmer. He would like to know what he considered fair price now ? The Right Hononurable Baronet said that his proposed measure would not lower the price of wheat, what then became of the argument of the cheap loaf? There was a vast difference between cheapness produced by a good harvest and cheapness produced by importation. Mr. Huskisson had said that cheapness produced by importation was the sure forerunner of a scarcity. He considered that a free trade in corn would lead to greater fluctuation in price than had ever been known ; that it would be of greater advantage to foreigners than to ourselves ; that it would produce agricultural distress, and lower wages. If the mea sure passed, all other protective duties must be repealed; navigation laws and reciprocity treaties must be all swept away. Would the League dissolve if this measure passed ? or if they should, would not others rise: up in their place to agitate other questions ? The manufacturers would find it exceedingly diff cult to compete with foreigners unless they reduced their wages. Ice, every other item except wages, the manufacturers of this country were in every respect equal to the foreigners. The manufacturer could do without protection better than the agriculturist, because his position was better. He could keep a closer superintendence over his work men than the agriculturist. He was not de pendent upon the weather. He could secure his twelve hours' work, while the agriculturist could not, he thought they ought not to be subjected to the swim laws. The manufacturer was less burdened than the agriculturist. On a factory paying 30,000/. per annum wages, the burdens were ordy 500/. a year. The burdens on agriculture were greater in proportion, and the compensation proposed really amounted to nothing. The agriculturists would have been better pleased if the Right Hon. Baronet had offered them nothing at all. Then with regard to sugar --scarcely had the free-labour sugar been admitted, than they were told the colonists could stand a little more competition. Would not the same course be pursued wieh regard to the farmers? With re and to the colonies, he would say treat them as integral parts of the empire; extend free trade - to them, and do not let the manufacturers enjoy the mono poly of the colonial market. He considered that the manufacturing interest had been stimulated too much. The progress of our manufactures was really alarming, and he considered that he was best promoting the interests of the country by maintaining the present system of pro- tection. Sir W. HEATHCOTE seconded the amendment. He con sidered the measure visionary and delusive, but he did not join with those who accused the Minister of acting dis honestly, although he could not but think that the shock given to faith in public men by the conduct of the Go vernment was much to be regretted. The scheme, (yen if impartial, would not have met with his approval, and lie considered the free-trade legislation of the last 20 years had produced most disastrous effects, which had only been remedied by the increase of our colonial trade. But the scheme was not impartial, inasmuch as it did not equally depriv_ all parties of protection. That branch of labour to which manual labour entered most largely was entirely deprived of protection, which protection was continued to industry connected with machinery, which did least require it. The English farmer, living in a country where taxation was heavy, and the money-price of articles very high, was not in a position to compete with the foreigner; and the position of the English farmer rendered it diffi cult to award to him any sufficient compensation. He could not be insensible to the danger of depending upon foreigners for a supply of food, nor could he forget that the farmers now fed a populaion three times the amount of that fed fifty years ago, or that at this moment England was the only European country possessing a full supply of food. He would have supported a measure for facili tating the introduction of colonial corn, but the prf sent measure was essentially anti-colonial. He would not go into the question of compensation, or any particular ques tion, for so convinced was he of the impolicy of the mea sure, that he should oppose it generally. He was not indifferent to the fate of the Ministry ; he would not transfer his support to the Noble Lord and his friends, for he differed with them even more than he did with the Right Hon. Baronet. The Right Hon. Baronet was bound to consult his sup porters as to his measures, and if, because they differed from him, he chose to throw up the Government, on him, and not on them, rested the responsibility. Mr. W. LASCELLES had watched with jealous care the course which the Government had pursued since they first came into office, and he denied that this change had been a sudden or an unexpected one. The alteration in the Tariff involved the whole principle of free trade, and when the Right Hon. Baronet had been asked if be intended to alter the corn-laws, he had stated that he did not then intend to propose any altera tion, but that he wot?ld not bind himself to their main tenance under all circumstances. In every instance in which the principles of free trade had been adopted prosperity had been the result, and their experience had confirmed the theory of free trade. He, therefore, should feel it his duty to support the Government measure, however painful it might be to him to differ from many of his friends. Lord NORREYS regretted that he was obliged, not only to oppose the Government on this question, but to withdraw his confidence altogether from the Right Honourable Baronet. He had refused to pledge himself to oppose the Government measure until he knew what it was. He considered the conduct of the Cen tral Protection Society unconstitutional, and had re fused to give any pledges, but having beard the Right Hon. Baronet statement he felt bound to offer him every opposition in his power. He thought the Right Hon. Baronet ought not to have returned to power until he had cpened the eyes of the agriculturists, by telling a Noble Duke, who had taken a great interest in these questions, to endeavour to form an ad ministration. and the Right Honourable Baronet would have found less difficulty in carrying his measure. But he could scarcely have expected that the Right Hon. Baronet, who in 1840 had objected to an Bs. duty, should now propose a 4s. duty, to end in total repeal He did not tax the Right Honourable Baronet with dishonesty but with want of political foresight. if the question were carried, it would be only because the House preferred having the question by the Right Hon . Baronet, to having it settled by the Noble Lord al thoagh, for his part he doubted whether they would not be better off in the hands of the Noble Lord than in those of the Right Hon. Baronet. Whatever might be the confusion resulting from this measure the Right Hon Baronet must be responsible for it. Mr. BAILLIE COCHItANE went through the history of the corn-laws from the time of Henry VI. up to the pre sent time. He could not see in all this any question of principle, and he thought a corn-law admitted of every variety of enactments. Neither did - he consider that, even upon a question of principle, it were requisite to appeal to the people. and quoted the autho rity of Mr. Pire. in support of his opinions. He denied that the House of Commons was a mere assembly of dole. gates, it was a deliberative and a legislative assembly, and Members had a right to change their opinions. The question of the corn-law was one of great difficulty. It was impossible to propose an unalterable law on the subject ; indeed, whoever imagined .an unalterable law was an unalterable fool. Looking to the social changes which had taken place in the last sixteen years—to the increase of our population and of our manufactures, he could not contend for an unalterable corn-law. It was necessary to alter our commercial policy in consequence of these changes, and of the changes introduced by the Reform Bill, so as to make it in accordance with the feelings and interests of the people. The country had confidence in the present Government, and. he should support the commercial alterations which they had pro posed. He believed that there had been a great change in the feelings of the farmers of late with regard to the repeal of the corn-laws, espe cially in Scotland. The Right Honourable Baronet was neither a god nor a tyrant, but he believed him to be a man anxious to do good for his country. He voted for this mea sure because ho had confidence in her MAJESTY'S Ministers, and because he was anxious for the welfare and happiness of the poorer classes of his fellow subjects. Mr. DEEDES could not support the proposition of her MAJESTY'S Government with resnect to the corn-'aws, believing that that proposition would shake public confidence, and drive the English agriculturists out of the English market. The measure with respect to corn had been revised and corrected in 1842, by Parliament. and it was astonishing that the very men who then pro posed that revision and correction were now declaring that it was wrong. In early life he had looked up to the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the Government RS his political leader ; but he could consider him in that light no longer. He considered that the agriculturists of this country, under the existing law, had not had more protection than they were entitled to. He believed that the proposition of the Government was only an experiment upon the native industry of the country. He felt convinced, that if those propositions were to become law, the country would ke placed at the mercy of foreigners for the necessaries of life. On that ground alone, he should feel himself bound to op- Pose the measures of the Government. 'lice liouae was Lbea addressed by bit' J. WALSH and Mr. 13. blori, ag441,5t the blin,isterial proposition. Lord SANDON, although he did not approve altogether of doing away with all protection, would yet, consider- ' ing the circumstances of the case, vote in favour of the Ministerial proposition. Lord J. RUSSELL, although he would have preferred a measure for the total and immediate repeal of the corn laws, would yet vote in favour of the Ministerial propo sition. The Noble Lord, in a very caustic manner, contrasted the conduct which the Whigs were pursuing, in giving their support to the Conservative Ministry to carry Liberal measures, with the factious opposition which was offered to the Whig Ministry by Sir R. PEEL and the Conservative opposition. Sir R. INaus and Captain FITZMAURICE spoke against the Ministerial proposition. Mr. S. HERBERT supported the measure, and defended the course that had been pursued by the Government, and the change that had taken place in their opinions with respect to the corn•laws. He derided the notion of the corn-laws being part of the constitution of the coun try, because they were contrary to it. He believed that the proposal of the Government was calculated to cement the interests of the agriculturists and the manufacturers, and gave an opportunity of repairing one of the greatest errors that was ever committed by the Legislature of this country. He was confident of the success of the measure in that House. The debate was then adjourned to to-morrow. The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at One o'Clock. Much interest, it appears, had been excited in various quarters by the first night's debate on the eorn-laws in the Commons. The House was thronged last evening at an early hour, and numerous groups were col lected in the • streets, as if in anticipation of some momentous disclosure, or splendid oratorical displays from leading Members on both sides of the House. But never was disappointment greater ;—for, taking the discussion altogether, it was from beginning to end the most heavy, dull, contempti ble Parliamentary exhibition that could well be imagined. Ob solete opinions raked up, old tales repeated, Tory abuse of the Tory leader, lamentation over the downfal of the strong Ministry, speeches without argument, and quotations from old songs, and of the most com monplace and even ridiculous character, occupied the popular branch of the Legislature for some six or seven hours. Even the speech of Lord Ram RUSSELL possessed the smallest possible interest. He had nothing new to tell, he had no arguments to• answer; not one of the speakers on the other side advanced any charge against him or his party, 'and the same scene will be repeated for at least three or four nights more. On no occasion in the history of Parliament was there ever such a lack of even third-rate speakers (for those of the first and second class do not exist), as are to be found among that party who regard themselves as the 'pillars of the State, the guardians of England's rights, and the only real friends of the poor, helpless labourer, the oppressed farmer, and even the operative manufacturer ; It is unfortunate, as well as singular, that such a good cause should be so destitute of defenders, and that all the able men of both parties should be so blind to the best interests of their country as to forget even their poli tical animosities and unite in ruining these pa triots and philanthropists. A fatality has seized. our statesmen. PEEL and Russ Enc and O'CON NELL end HUME, have formed . a most unholy and dangerous alliance, the very Court has lent its ski to carry out their mischievous schemes, and there are few to resist their machinations except such men as MILES and FITZMAURICE, and BUCKINGHAM and Iticamostis, backed by the Spitslfields' weavers. What the result may be our readers can easily divine • Mind must prevail over matter, and statesmen of long expe rience —men, too, * who have no interest in changing their opinions, except for the welfare of their common country, who, for this, have sacrificed political ties, personal friend ship, and renounced long-cherished principles from the fullest conviction—must in the end obtain the victory and carry their plans into eflect. In the meantime, however, their task is very irksome. They are compelled to listen to the most vapid and incoherent harangues, and nothing is advanced by their• opponents except what excites ridicule or contempt. Mr. lIorE compares PEEL to WOLSEY, tells why the LORD CHANCELLOR sits on a sack of wool, and laments that the commercial system of centuries is to• be put an end to, like " a mere flea-bite." Captain FITZMAURICE showed that it came to the same thing, whether a man was killed by one thrust of a sword or by inserting into his body ten thousand needles ; that Sir ROBERT PEEL'S views were traced in steam, and after lamenting the protracted agonies of British farmers, said they might well sing " Blow ye wintry winds." These are fair specimens of the orations made by the protectionists last evening, and we fear also of those yet to come. The public, however, will bear with them patiently, for they are of good omen. They announce that monopoly will be destroyed without further agitation, and that the most important commercial reforms that ever distinguished and blessed a nation will be carried by the most peaceable means. • The accounts from Ireland of the progress of famine and of its attendant pestilence are really fearful. We have re ceived from Mr. SvNtiorr, the Secretary of the Dublin Man sion-house Committee on the Potato Disease, the recently published report of the Committee on the subject, which gives us returns from every part of Ireland up to the 22d of January, 1846, being nearly two months later than the accounts which have been laid on the table of the House of Commons. On the Bth of November the Com mittee sent circulars to the ministers of religion of every denomination throughout Ireland, to the deputy lieutenants, justices of the peace, and landed proprietors, and to all the Poor-law Boards, containing, among others, thefol lowing queries : " Ist—Whether the crop of potatoes was in point of quan tity an average crop? "2d—What proportion of the crop has been already lost by decomposition, or otherwise? " 3d—What is your opinion as to the probability of the re maining portion continuing sound during the year?" 983 letters, from all parts of Ireland, were received in answer, between the 12th November and the 6th December, 1845, and from these it appears that in 415 cases the crop was above the average ; that in 409 in stances there was an average crop ; and that in 117 cases the crop was below the average ; that the proportion of the crop lost by disease, up to 6th December, 1845, Was in 292 cases under one-third; in 291 cases fully one-third; in 242 cases one-half ; and in 81 cases more than a halt Then, with regard to the chances of saving the remainder: 428 of the respondents declared themselves unable to form an opinion, 185 thought the remainder might be saved, ant; 262 were of opinion that it could not be saved. Be it remem bered, that during the whole of this time, and in the very face of these facts, the monopolist party in England and Ireland were loudly denying the existence of any failure of the potato crop, and when at length compelled reluctantly to admit that a disease had existed, they as loudly proclaimed that it had ceased, and that the supply of sound potatoes was stilt ample. Now let us test those assertions by facts. On tin. 10th of December the Mansion-house Committee ad dressed the following queries to their former corre spondents " Ist—ls there any change, and especially is there any favourable change, in the potato crop in your vicinity since the date of your last letter? "2d—Do you see any reason to alter or add to the opinions given by you in that letter? If so, be so good as to state the same. "3d—What, according to your judgment, is the present prospect of there being a sufficiency of potato food for the people in your locality for the coming seasoa? "4th—What quantity of the potato crop in your neigh bourhood do you consider to have become unfit for human food?" They had received 523 letters in reply up to the 22d of January, 1846. In ninety instances it was stated that there was a prospect of a sufficiency of potato food during the en suing season—in 364 instances the supply of potato food was insufficient. Then, with regard to the quantity of the po tato crop unfit for human food, in 111 cases it was under one third, in 110 cases it was one-third, in 148 cases it was one half, and in 84 cases it was more than one-half. Already have the people of Ireland suffered severely from at, insufficient supply of food—already has fever, the conse quence of famine, made its appearance in the south of Ire land. Its ravages at Dungarvan have been fearful. If, within the next two months, something is not done to secure to the poor Irish a sufficient supply of cheap and nutritive food, they will be dying by hundreds of actual starvation, and a famine and a pestilence, more horrible and more ex terminating than ever before afflicted this unhappy country, will rage throughout the length and breadth of the land. And yet Mr. PHILIP MILLS, last evening, with all that cool ness which is so characteristic of the rashness of ignorance, declared in the House of Commons that notwithstanding the failure of the pototo crop, there was no danger of a famine in Ireland, because there had been an ample crop of barley and oats. As well might he have said that there had been an ample crop of pine-apples. " The Irish agricultural labourers and their families," says my Lord DEVON, in a report which Mr. PHILIP MILES should have carefully studied before he ven tured to give an opinion as to the probability of the occurrence of a famine in Ireland—" the Irish agricultural labourers and their families are calculated to amount to more than four Millions of human beings, whose only food is the'potato, whose only drink is water, whose houses are pervious to the rain, to whom a bed or blanket is a luxury almost unknown, and who are more wretched than any other people in Europe." How are these unfortunate persons to purchase barley and• oats at monopolists' prices. Admit foreign grain and maize, and they may become purchasers, because by increasing the supply the price of, food in Ireland would be decreased, and that, and that alone, could place corn food within the reach of those who have hitherto depended entirely on the potato for subsistence. The Government has proposed to the Legislature a measure, which, by throwing open the ports, will go fr-r to wards increasing the supply and decreasing the price of fl),,e in Ireland. On those who, for their own srlush and avari cious purposes, shall obstruct the progress of that measure will rest the responsibility of whatever may occur in Ireland, in consequence of such obstruction, as on those who, in November, thwarted in the Cabinet the wise and beneficent measures proposed by the Premier rests the responsibility of whatever has occurred there up to the present time. -- The Paris papers contain Lo news of imiwrtntice. 'Da JounKildes .Ptd!at4 lies a long article ou the protracted dia, .0 cussions and the numerous amendments made during t period often days on the Address in reply to the Speech from the Throne, and naturally expresies great satisfaction at the result. In every division the Opposition bad been defeated by much larger majorities than were anticipated, although the topics urged were generally those of a popular character — such as the right of search, the policy with regard. to the differences between England and America, and the entente cordiale. On the entire of the Address the majority was larger than any gained by the Ministry since the accession of M. GUIZOT. The Opposition journals are quite silent on these subjects, but several of them make an undeserved attack upon M. DE LADIABTINE for honestly expressing his sentiments in opposition to those of Tnisens, DUPIN, and other Deputies of that class. M. " LAMARTINE had written to the Constitutionnel and National, to state that, by mistake in the division en the whole of the Address, he had put his ball into the wrong urn, for it was his intention to vote against the amendment of the Opposi tion, on the ground that they tended to er courage A nte rica in her . territorial aggressions, and also to favour the slave trade. To both these he is decidedly opposed, and be declares so in strong language. On Saturday evening Lou Puturrr received at the Tuileries a deputation from the Chamber of Deputies with the Xddress, which was read by the President, and returned the following reply. Hie DI ti JaTY appears to have been greatly delighted with the r es of the discussions on the Address : " Gentlemen,—l receive this address with very great sa tisfaction. lam happy to find in it so striking a manifesta tion of the support which you lend to my Government, and of that loyal and steadfast concord which is at once the basis of its strength, and the guarantee of all our liberties. Public opinion is every day more convinced that it is by th e regular progress and the p er f ec t concor d o f a ll t h e po sers of the State that France has attained the high de gree of prosperity upon which it is so delightful to me to be able to congratulate you. Yes, gentlemen, it is with joy that I express my confidence in the prospects of our country. This confidence is fortified by the sentiments you have just uttered. I see in them a presage that this harmonious °Pe' ration, becoming every day more complete, shall continue t o future generations a greater de ve l o p men t f that well belci (Lien etre) at present so much enjoyed b y a ll c l ass es °' society. Such, for a long time, has been the wish of my heart and the object of my efforts. For myself, my most de lightful recompense will be found in the reflection that I In e Y safely hope that my government shall have contributed t° ensure such benefits to my country." Very little business was done in the Funds on Sunday, O ld ;he quotations were nearly the same as on Saturday. BUSINESS DONE IN FOR EI4 N RAILWAYg AT TIIS LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, FEs. 9. Boulogne and Amiens, 117 —Bordeaux and Mediterranean, 1 Bordeaux, Toulouse, and Cette ( Mackenzie), 2%—Ditto (Espelew 2% —Dutch Rhenish, 7%—East Indian, I%—Great Indian Fend" sular, s —Jamaica North Midland, .3i —Louvain ana Jemappe, ~ , —Luxembourg, 2.ll—Madrid and Valentia, 1% —Nam ur an d Lleg" 3%—Orleans and Bordeaux, 12—Rouen and Havre, 28 ox dlr. It is strongly rumoured in political circles that a larg e number of Conservative Peers have determined not to opP o ' e Sir ROBERT PEEL'S Corn Bill on the second reading, o r going into Committee ; but in Committee to support an amendment for making Sir R. PEEL'S proposed sliding' scale for the next three years permanent. It need not be said that the carrying of such a measure will be a serious embarrassment to the Minister, as it is impossible that, 03 the Bill so amended returning to the House of Commons, t he Liberal party could agree to the amendment. A rumour was in circulation yesterday that Lord Asol, was to succeed Lord Lmrcour as First Commissioner 01; the Woods and Forests, and to be rais e d t o the House 31 Lords. We have good reasons for believing that the lat ter part of the report is without foundation. HOUSE OF LORDS.-(THIS DAY') THE CORPORATION OF GLOUCESTER V. OSBORN AND SURN.I'I The House sat to-day, at ten o'clock, for the purpos.e°l: hearing the further arguments in the p ar t-h ear d appeal p e at respect to the will of Mr. James W oo d, th e l a t e emin t e ie banker of Gloucester. The Peers in attendance were Lord Chancellor, Lord Cottenham, and Lord Campbell. . The arguments occupied their Lordships the whole morn PRIVY COUNCIL.-(THIS DAY.) The Judicial CoMmittee of the Priv Council sat to 01l at the Council Chamber, Whitehall. The Lords present O r e the Lord President (the Duke of Buccleuch), Lord Brouglia,r l : 3 the Vice-Chancellor Knight Bruce, the Chancellor off Duchy of Cornwall (Mr. Pemberton Leigh), the Judg e ii the Admiralty Court (the Right Hon. Dr. Lushington) , A. East, and Sir Edward Ryan. ARBUTHNOT V. NORTON. 1 In this appeal fro t h M a d ras th e i r L or d s hip s reverse 4' judgment of the Court below. Lord' Colonial appeals of no general interest occupied their ships the remainder of the morning. QUEEN'S BENCH.-(THIS DA l ' ) (Before Mr. Justice IV'Glamor.) do n At the sitting of the Co ur t thi s d ay , a case was cane. t he which is not likely to conclude before the rising ° I t wo Court. It is an action arising out of a dispute between ba d Frenchmen, one of whom (the plaintiff) alleged that he t o invented a filter, for which he was t o rece i ve a certain 'ibti from his partner (the defendant), who denied the dein). case is of no interest to the public. COMMON PLEAS-(THIS GAMBLE V. KURTZ. (I se re ' This part-heard case was resumed this morning, an- t to ral witnesses were examined on the part of the defend" the show that his apparatus was not an infringement ° w ith plaintiff's patent, and was not constructed in agreement i,c ot the specifications. Am ong th e w it nesses wer e Dr % ,1 1 4 Playfair, Dr. Pratt, of Liverpool, and s e vera l manufac'u chemists. (The case was going forward when our report left') CLERKEN WELL.—(THIS DAYl e a John Waldere, a stout fellow,was placed at the bar, ?ha ly r i tli byMr. Howard, builder, of Charles-street, St. Luke S stealing 801bs. of leaden pipe. , 0 44 It appeared in evidence that, on the night of the 1 9, _ s o• about eleven o'clock, the prisoner was seen, by police-t.„ stable Edwards, 32 C, in St. John-street, Clerkenwell,_,; rying the property. On questioning him as to his P o the sion of it, he said he had brought it a long distance, 5 go request of a man, who was to pay him for his trouble; bin , took the prisoner into custody, on which he tripped l e ss (the constable) up, and endeavoured to throw . til e w r i o9 upon him. Witness succeeded in again seizing him, the prisoner commenced a violent attack upon him I)3' '" i e yjd he was so severely injured that he had been ever sine ws of up unfit for duty. Inquiries were made, and the pli ni v i c.l s Mr. Howard were traced to have been plundered. N l ' foreman to Mr. Howard, identified the property. fallf The prisoner said nothing in his defence, and he 10 committed for trial. TO THE EDITOR OF THE 51.11 4 Sin, —ln the Third Edition of your paper of last e r ror I find it stated that: the, " Liverpool, Ormskirk ton Railway" was thrown out on its merits last year:,,, kid this not being the case, I shall be glad if you will 'c ev ioF , Hough to correct it in your Country Edition of this 0.6 Ls I fear the report is calculated to prejudice the_pr(ject'o act is, that it was thrown out on 4 , Standing Orde,l o o year, hud nut on the Bill.—Yours very truly and obe4110:4, ROBERT J'ACS' -, ,-•"'--.-- Saturday 3furning, Feb.. 7. 0 0 The Earl of Harrowby, V iacount and Lady 11 :4 Sandon and family have arrived in Grosvenor-square ffe re t , - > Hall, Staffordshire, for the season. The Noble and Vener e) ; 4in the enjoyment of excellent health. • ; Vs CABINET LiINNER.—Sir Robert Peel gives L 1 16 05 ce ll ' Cabihet dinner this season to-morrow, at his private re , ' t, , Nhiteli4ll-gardens. As , 0 1 Lord Elleoborough has appointed Wednes- 40 0 Ath of March, to preside at the anniversary dinner of the 9 il t Hospital Society, at the London Tavern. • •. ;iO O • et , Sir Robert and Lady Peel have issued invlia e 6 0,0 a grand entertainment on Saturday next, to which S iz h -2.1., :.,d , Foreign Ministers are invited. Lieutenant 'Wm. Pee1 , ,,..„,""0ci5 - ,01 1, aas been on the West India station, under Admiral Sir x7mou'os :noun, arrived at the family mansion last evening from Se e- il e having landed there from one of the West India steamers' ~15 the bearer of important dispatches for the, G overnme nt. i c o i u t o The grand dinner party at Buckingham rill,: Ad evening is in celebration of the anniversary of her Maie gY - ~,,tl' crince Consort's marriage. .„, T ej aos THE METROPOLITAN PETITIONS FOR TO - .., IS" REPEAL OF TELE CORN-LAWS.-On Monday the Council o f ti 21,01, f o r received at the office, Fleet-street, the total amount Of 0 .1•om the various boroughs in which petitions had been ch:`,lo(o7jtf the total and immediate repeal of the corn-laws. The 10 o ciits8 :he amount of the signatures as separately collected fr°„' D st ll ,DOil e i end borotigh :—The city of London, 64,066 ; the city of o f fai•',„D 11,406; the borough of Lambeth , 67 , 680 ; the borough ° Do e tit" 43,720 ; the ben ough of the Tower Hamlets, 83,400 ; a c 0 6,1!,,, ° , Southwark, above 40,000 ; the parishbo ,of St. Pancras,:arLl' .• arish of Marylene and Paddington, 25,000; the P ri '" 8 rfe s' ,735.—T0ta1, 470,773. CO l o' THE PRINTING oF RAILWAY BlLLS.—(From sl e of C P . pondent.)—Owing to the short period allowed by the il e ' t t l i t e 114 mons for the presentation of Private Bills this session' o f s e rf , 'A trade during the last week or two has been in asi a`"o3, on e Many clerks and agents of lines took up their abodes / 0 , i ot „8 ,„ in s offices during the whole of last week, and sustaille' o til t l' 0 , ,,, off atigue truly astonishing, never quiting their duties t he los r' ;., livery of the Bills on Friday night. Six o'clock 108, to e_,,elte,ii pointed for that purpose ; as late as five o'clock, many' o ' oo sl e d Op tion contracts, &c., were in progress of correction b 7 lO l%. a L e after which they were printed oft; and, in one instaric:',,,orl o ts'• 4 stitched by clerks while riding rapidly in cabs ,!;',ot in 'of itephen's, which they reached as the Speaker was '"oill t io , „4 Iris seat, and fortunately succeeded in placing th e nr oit r e, ,al hands of the Member engaged to introduce it. In the,.redit;iit'oe the documents there was an utter recklessness of e3 ,.. A 1 :, - ag n 9, 000 railway honour was sorely tried, many of the agents tn t . l 13ii i d e , olt gratuities to the managers of offices to accelerate th` a ' in p r co ot prejudice of their opponents. Many promoters O r to ' lc their Bills, owing to the inability of the printers the work. • !te'lle' EMMY. A re, to On the 7th inst., in Wimpole - street, Caven dish-giu Arthur Phillott, Esq., of a son. da t rl oo go d On the 7th inst., Mrs. John G. Perkins, of a sols.„ an ey, -, prw On the 7th inst., at Tulse-hill, Brixton, Mrs. IL ' - , 0 , 74' 00' On the sth inst., at Exeter, the lady of Captain siali - .ci, dap. Guards, of a daughter. A, afie l „,,, On the sth inst., Mrs. John Clark, of Ponder's - e n ' sando" is ,ool' On the 6th inst., at the Royal Military College, er, A Paton, of Grandhome, of a daughter. f a d o ugh t On the 7th inst., Mrs. Samuel Woods , ju n., 0 f• ton-grove, near Liverpool. Ci AtAtu€ AfARRIED. Trio" , ,, 'ot 4- tog n On the 7th inst., at the Church of the DAY__ o ld W. Place, Esq... of. Delhi, in the East Indie s, to 110•1i'' A pra of 6. F. Stallard, Esq., of Upper Clapton. z h ettj' DIED. r ot., Sie tj t il Li c l 2. On the 26th ult., at Winterbourne AbbaS, P ° of Henry Sherrin, jun., Esq. On the Ist inst., at the Grove, LlanstephaUl.S r ot h eo l i iiis o e , ;,•' e if tr e Emily Annie, the daughter of Captain and liJrZ ew higtoi s fis ° ° On the sth inst., John Graham, Esq ,el ' i cellf , t ol nington-road, aged 54. yliclisrds of On the sth inst., at Woodford, Georgian a , wide' of Richard Ileatley,Esq. ea 59 if e ° On the 6th inst., at Cornwa.ll-terrace. Le e ' Ilebeces.s _ r „ _ ii ,' I late Captain Anthony Ludlam; aged 8 3 . ~•,,„ J o quic j s t 4 i ,;,; til v ioa , On the 6th inst., at Boulogne-sur-rater ,--- i Old I,o:it-Iv a " cov o t tS a tlty On the 6th inst., at Thirza-places We t ' 1 ,- 11 , Themes Tatlock, Esq. Air• On the 7th list , Mr. David Legget , t °f Vling-s of tbe daugh ter a- A On the 7th inst., Eliza, ~, "Met v iol. niel Cowles, Esq. the youngest eldest eft 01 01- On the Bth inst., Mary Elizabeth. the '` ri , aun Loci(' gs 4,, Baylis, of Botolph-lane. On the Bth inst., Lucy the wife of IV ' rt. 0, CO'S° House, Maidenhead, Berlts. ,_ I „ ti lt° .. fr i o , 4 9, •On the Bth inst., Mr. George Watt, late loc i ' ,uter of ' dit'* On the Bth Inst., in New Bridge b " :r ot Charlton, Esq., aged 90. On the Bth inst., at Stockwell -place, t he ' To, rig _.‘l7 s. : "ray, Esq. , i Mr. 5 * '''' -- --- of>`".l 4. On the Bth inst., at Blackheath -hi , ~o• o 1.,/• _ ,,/ London Printed and Publishecl , ... by Notrilltlfi'at'cr';(ll4'l:: lei'lv ',trail:, t', i,o,r, at 'fix 4 , ^ L ~.- . 51; ,34 3 :;'>, o. the S4NO,y, in the Cefuli °'• 19, 1846. th a thicA h. 6,4 tey r , i