The Sun. — London, England, 1846-03-24 00:00:00

:_ ~~-._,.: - -4 - number of schools and scholars—t'; e former being 273, the latter 3.7 ;U. The G ov'rnmr nt also proposed the e:tablishinent of m. drl sch.ols in each e‘itrity in Ireland. The grant to May nooth bed been productive of great good ; and the new establistted to furnish a sound and liberal education to the middle classe-, wooed also be produc:ive of great benefit. After a few words from Earl IiRE Y. arid Earl St. GERMANS had spoken in reply, Their Lordships:divided, when the numbers were— For the motion Against it Majority The Calico Prints Bill went through Committee. The Consolidated Foul Bill was read a second time, and also the with Sea Company Bill. The other orders 01 the day were then disposed of, and their Lordships adjourned at Half-past Twelve. h 4 it --"'?"."'"'"""17-'"*--w ''' — '"" ey t . It rinat•er .f ineifference whether that property should tent l2tied exelusively To tee one :wet or to tee other; oei the s toti i ‘ r_Y a he iveum look et the real teurtdm ton of justice, vie he th e ta " l, y that they ouch: rather to apply it to the wants of the fewnY, than to make•it appltceble orey to the purposes of tg 4 _, geof those wealthy classes of the community who main de their chapleins in their own hotisee. That they might ,Y,trith this still ict he had no doubt, but when his Noble 1 fililbearned Friend spoke of putting down agitati in, perhaps 4 444 Fitzwilliam) might be allowed to ask, if anything had psi tut) for Ireland that had not been extracted je st i *Wand by agitation? If they had acted perfectly ,„oteards Ireland and all her Members, then indeed there 4 - 4 '7, 4 be something in his Noble and Learned Friend's views a hsebjeet—soefeihing in his expressions of putting down legation But his Noble and Learned Friend knew well that snes an ds-(' had never got any ttreg except by aeitation. and there- t a T icr his Nobl e an d L earne d F r i e nd's dictum to put down agi -1,414, was saying neither more nor less than , put down the HOUSE OF COM MOLN S, March 23. f getting anything for Ireland. what measure had The SPEAKER took the Chair at a few miutues to Four. tar got now ? One to prevent men from being out in the dis- SECOND READINGS. districts after sunset or before . sunrise. On these The following Bills were read a second time and k m __ he wood snppeirt the motion brought forward by his passed, viz • ktt ;t o yriend. lie thought that it eminently deserved the , • Rich n of the country, for they were intimately connected Scottis Central Railway (Denny Branch). ,lithe well-being of Ireland. The aristocracy of that coup- Scottish Central Railway (Alloy Branch). Wlwere in an anomalous position, as anomaly perhaps as any Scottish Central Railway (Crieff Branch). bp f e : l bing in Ireland. The aristocraey in England had grown Scottish Central Railway (Perth Termini and Stations). t ees , the people ; but the aristocracy in Ireland was super- Sirethte,y arid Breadalbane Reilway. Rioting upon the people, and if ever there was an oligarchy Caledonian Northern Direct Railway. t i ing in any country, it existed in Ireland in her Irish House Caledonian Railway (Langholnse Branch.) peers, and still more in her House of Commons. Sirlingshire Midland Jutiction Railway. BROUGHAM r d„ explained. Caledonian Railway (Clydesdale Junction Railway De- T he ep olls dlarquis of CLAN RICARDE would beg to trespass viation), I Iris the attention of the House for a few moments. He Caledonian Railway (Glasgow Termini 'and Branches). " rn Is cit re more induced to speak upon this matter, because the Caledonian Railway (Carlisle Deviation). k ,'_' Duke had said, in alluding to a petition which had been ~ 7ehteri b y him e olloc and Govan and Clydesdale Junction Railways (Lord Clanricarde) some two years age, that beflietence of the Established Church was one of the A inalgatnetion. ;Tunics of Irelands The Noble Duke, he was sure, spoke Caledonian Railway (Glasgow, Garnkirk, and Coat li;ltTmt any distinct recollection of the words in his peiition ; bridge Railway Parelitiee). 42e would take upon himself to assure the Noble Duke that Glasgow, Strathaven, and Lesmahagow Direct Railway. 4 ;4 wrong in so stating, for he (Lord C lanricarde) had Glas g ow, Paisle y , and Greenock Railwa y (Bridge of Irel6gned a petition stating that the C hurch of En g land and Weir Branch). eee laird was a grievance to the people of Ireland. An d he mi g ht Caled o nian , Polio° and Go v an , and Clydesdale J unction , c e :_ that th e Noble Lords who with him sigued that petition, R a il wa y s A ma l gama ti on . iir s e not a body whoentertained that opinion. Heagr eed with the Glasgow, Barrhead, and Neilston Direct Railway e te bleLord who opened the debate, that it was a most fortu (Branches to Paisley). o spe e ,treumstance the - . the Irish Church had been brought for te„,. i n* connexion Viith any abuses that it would be difficult to Edinburgh , , Leith. and Granton Railway Amendment. 01 1 - `"Yi But he did not agree with him that the Irish itiltogow, Gernkirle. and Coatbridge Railway Ext e n s ion. s e i l l!eh was at the bottom of all the evils in Ireland. 'that fetti:df , inf. Chichester, and Portsmouth Railway. Itt oo 'en had never been entertained by him; and when the Wesaan-iuper-Mare her. h „,f'e Lord quoted the opinion of Grattan, he ought to have Bat•tiseire Railway. Zusbered that in every motion he introduced for Catholic Bridhense Seweeing, Draining, and Lighting. cl!eilati on he avowed his determination to maintain the Pis - mouth Cemetery. orolisheti Church of Ireland; and he was sure, also, that on Tilunton Gas. .4secords of the Committees, in the other House of Parlia- Yeovil Market and Fairs. • liss. t 2. t hey would find, in the evidence ot Mr. O'Connell, re- Stockton Gas. ititra over and over again, that the existence of the Church eland was not considered a grievance. Muc h mi g ht be Dudley Canal and Birmingham Canal Companies Anna ls:* to rem: dy the evils complained of, by reg and Stour Valle ulat- g. k ir the temporalities of that Church, and reforming the Birmingham, Wolverhampton, y Rail buses that ex i s ted.—(Hear.) But to one princ i p le lie way (Stour Valley Line.) e t h )4l(l never consent, namely, to take from the revenues of that Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Stour Valley Rail etttljeh, and appropriate them to the support of the Roman way (Birmingham, Welverhampton r and Dudley Line.) % p i:elle clergy. Noble lords en the other side had, in hi- didlatid Railway (Leicester and Swannington Railway Ret e ', ° ° , mixed up two matters which ought to have been kept Alteration and Branches.) f e ,,, e 'Y distinct, namely, paying the Roman Cathelie clergy Midland Railway ( Burton-upon-Trent to Nuneaton). CI the funds of the Government, and preserving inviolate SOUTH WALES it AILWAY. -- -rev,, 11,, revenues of the English Church. He considered, however, Mr. VIVIA.N moved the second reading of the South v i t Z tl a surplus fund might be formed for the purposes of pro le, g a joint education of the people. He was perfectly aware Wales Ralway Bill, when kin the voluntary system was the very worst that could be Captain BlettleELEY hoped that the Hon. Member kj a P tl l j ed in Ireland, but he would himself cheerfully submit to would not prises the second reading. It was well kuown th e u - taX for the support of the Roman Catholic clergy, at that the Rierd of Admiralty were (pried to the crossing o k , same time that he would , remind Noble Lords of the river Severn at the Aust. forty, which was cern lei; it was not so easy to establish such a system as template(' by the South Wales Company; and when the te e e L Persons might imagine, for not only would the consent of Bill should be carried before the Committee of the es 6`ergy, but of the laity, be required. H e (th e Marquis house, with this fact before them, it was certain that ,ti., i.. s.uricartle) was almost sorry to hear the Noble Duke that the Committee would not allow the work to be pro CReaking so cheerfully on the state of Ireland. They had ieeded with. He understood that, in order beget over this tf 4te " the Coercion Bill the other day on the most meagre . difficulty thc parties promoting the measure had a It 4 n 'ent, and with the slightest call ever made by a Minister, which they proposed to carry the railway I , ad been usual, when proposing such a Bill, to lay papers P'an '4 uten the t a bl e ; i t h a d b e en usual to give them strong proof older the river by means of a tunnel. The ee _l such a meas ure was really necessary, bet the Noble Earl Berard of Admiralty would, in his (Orden, iTueite had only made one speech, and he quoted f rom docu- ibject, quite as strongly to that mode as by the t its which were not bef o re the House, yet their r'ormer propesed plan ot a bridge, as it would completely tdship s ' vote d f o r that measure, not on account o f prevent em\ future imprevement in the navigation of the tlo noble E ar l' s single speech, but be cause it was u niversall y Severn. The lion. Gentleman then re ad a letter which it 'n to them that the state of the country w as such that there lied been received from the Admiralty Board, in which 4 0 110 security for life or poverty. They had taken measures hei r Lerdships expressed their strongest objection to k to p rov id e f o od for the pour of that country ; a sufficient tie river being ?nosed by a bridge ; and, in fact, any :°f, he thought , that the resources of the coun t ry w e re un -I°ll to its requirements. It' they looked at the country in his method of crossing the river which should ititerlere with .(sbe I er navigation. He hoped thet the second reading moist a.pect, they would find the Queen's Govern- O l t denuded of all authority, and the represents- of the Bill would be put .'ff t, •r a week, in order that the si ri l or blajes'y occupying a position somewhat opinion of the Lords ef the Admiralty as to the proposed le e 'er to that of a superintendent of police. flannel might be obtained. Ile sh, uld, therefore, move Ceti he sa id, a l so , h e knew that G overn ment h a d no hold on that the second reading of the Bill be adjourned to this th e e "wtty, they had not a t t em p ted to restore the influence of lay week.e legitimateauthority,Ministry he said that the Queen's Mr. RUSSELL biped the House would bear i n mind : e re alo ne t o blame forthis state of things, He would ask, the cireur sta ces which attended the proposed railway. • 18 not the country in a different state wheu they received it . ' l ' - n He could assure the Hon. Gentlrnan that the Bill was Il ' h l o their hands 7 He would prove from the chmges of judges new fremed in a mode which was deemed satisfactory i,,ld° in 1842, that . the country was in a state of tranquillits. diier9 One of hese charges confirmed that fact positively. He tee the Admiralty. He had in his poseessien a letter * n not wonder at the attachment of the country to repeal, i rem the First Lord of the Admiralty,. which stated that fi t t i ldering the w ay in which their rights had been treated of else Admiralty Beard would ' give their entire assent to % f t Jeers. What was the couree pursued with regard to their the mode propostA by crossing the river by means of a I,4 . ive franchise t It was all but useless to the people of Ise- tunnel. to o t Who in that House could f eget the contests wh ein Captain BARCLAY said, if he hail known that the re b Place a year after, on the municipal f r a nchise? In Adrntralty had given th e ir consent to the making of a en : ltatl, Sir R. Peel made some observations in Parliament, tunnel , he would not ha ve o pp osed the second reading ,trie subject of a remedy not having been fou n d for that of the Bill. e.„ Ir s ! ,, l vance. He called it a disgustieg eta eof things, and he The question was then put from the Chair, and the 71 eyed he used some harsher term They had arrived at the i ,, i , , W as reed a se ettel time and erdered to bee:omitted. fskster of feeti and now thee were teld that after the other ''" e llsiness had been disposed of, ;omething of a Registration Bill NIIDLAND RAILWAY.—PURCHASE OF OAK Mould be bro ug h t forward. Th e resu lt was that the parties in HAM CANAL. Ireland were disf ranc hi sed, an d did no t enjoy the right of doing Mr. PACKE opp ised the second reading of this Bill , tt they dal in England. Under present ci r cumstances, a general as he did not deem it advisable that the c.inal should be electio n might be expected before loeg, but even in the natural stopped. It was a queetion which involved the whole kite lad yet Parliament we must have one it, less than two years, ca ll a' into rest o t the kingdom, and he would ask the the . people of ireland were not in possession of their elective rights, and a moment ought not to be lost in giving it House to consider how far a railway c impany should be .° them. His. Honourable Friend seemed to think it allowed to interfere with the working. a canal, and whether such a mode of proceeding would not cot ntuaoy la rather wonderful that Mr. S. Crawford should have ob ,ned leave to bring in a Rill fur fixity of :enure, but prejudice the interests of the public. De begged to move 'he would refer to the langu trio of Sir Robert Peel, they that, the Bill be read a second tin,' this day week. Would see that when they advised that the Bilt should not he Colonel SIB CIL HOP thought it was high time taut Lead a secon d time for fear of a defeat , he spoke in very n ild situne check eletuld be given to the monopelising system eee ' r ins- Sir Robert Peel said , " he felt it necessar y to discou- of the various railway companies. "ifie what was termed fixity of tenure; at the same time he Mr. FINCH thought there was no good and valid rtts not pr e p a red to say that Government , fur fear of an unjust objection to the second reading of the Bid. The canal Planatio n , should retrain from givieg the subject that censi- which the Honour tble Gentleman had spoken ot was the aeration which was necessary to ascertain the difference be - w( get in the kingdom. and the great beefy of the proprie ,. Ut- .e t e n the law in points of England and Ireland, in order to see t o r s of the canal were f4vourabli', to its sale. The rail i',Lt would justify the applicanou of a different system of law. ugre was also a Bill brought forward by a Noble Lord , and way company proposed to furnish a better mode ' W hich he (the Marquis of Clanricarde) had been accused of of coniepttice tu,..ifi that which was furnish ed at 13 PPosing. The principle of the Bill was, that the p resent b y the canal ; and he therefore trusted t enant should have compensation for any improvement th.,t the lion-.e would not entertain the ob j ection et ne e IT:1on his farm, provided that he did not remain the MA sI. Gentlemn to the second reading of the Bill. g t g enough on the farm to make a profit of it- After a f ew words from Lord G. SOIIERSE I', • ;' , as a just law jest in itself and consistent with every Sr JOHN TROLLOPE said that the Co m p an y Zgat of property and sound principle of law. He said that, would enter into any arrangement to make the Canal ii:People of Ireland were in some degree alien cted from Par- • mere advantageous to the public. nent, and had no confide-ice in it , and that a g reat deal The amend me n t was then withdrawn. e,,t °re Lid at the door of the Government; for the method of mi • FOit'Pß AND CLYDE RAILWAY. °f the the law must materially affect the confidence Mr. FORBES presented petitions from Stirlingshire l ltepeople of Ireland in the Parliament. An objection Itl 'uld U • and Perthshire in favour of the Forth and Clyde Rail s _ entertained to placing a man of violent part") , feel- In i ,g to preside over a court of criminal law, but there waY 'staid b e no o bj ec tion to placing such a man in a civil A.IANCH ESTER, LIVERPOOL, AND NEW *pot, Sir E. Sugden was - a most distinguished Member CASTLE JUN , ...:TION RAILWAY. I . the other House, and a most violent party man, and did An HON. MEMBER presented a petition signed by 1/41)Y man in Ireland blame the appointment of Sir E. Sugden 4,000 persons. in favour of the abeve railway. lie t law court on the ground of his being a party man ? Mr. GREENE brought up the report on the Scottish 4 0 polities of an indisidual did necessarily affect his appoint- Grand Junctien Railway Bill, which was ordered to le bathe4t He had the assurance of experienced persons, that the laid on the table. of Ireland had never been fraught with so much danger ltir. ENTWISLE presented a petition from the e interests of England, or to the empire, as it was at that Lancaster and Carlisle Railwa'; Company against the ' t i ‘ ll mea . t. He had received those assurances from persons who North Briiieh Railway. 1 4 " e old enough to remember and speak of t he time p revious ~ the y ear 1798, and he would believe what he heard, that at LON DO N AND NEWCASTLE RAILWAY. tr time of those disastrous prri ,, ds was there so much danger Mr. I )UNCAN p resented two petition* in favour of ?be apprehended, Under these circums ta nce , an d concur- this Bell. dg is he did with the views ot his Noble Friend, he felt it his BOLTON WATERWORKS BILL. t ttj to give this motion his support. Mr. muNTz presented a petition from the township .jhe D u k e of WELLINGTON said he was ver y anxious of Little Bo l ton , in Lancashire, a g ainst the Bolton Water- Zit to o m it a w o rd which he saw in the pape r, an d wh i ch t e nded works Bill. the interest of the people. W EST RIDING UNION RAILWAY. The Marquis of WESTMEATH said he felt it necessary to The HON. GENTLEMAN then moved that the ntinutes t Z ree to some observations of the Noble Earl who had spoken of evidence taken before the Sub-Committee on tht t,2, last but two. The Noble E a rl had said that the arise,- petatioe for the West Riding Unit n Railway Bill , on the .racy of this country had grown from the people, but that the 12th and 13th days of February, 1846, be referred to the ,:utaerar at Ireland were affitcted upon the people. He their ancestors, ask, whether there we' any great diff "'ewe between Counnittee on tree petition for the West Riding . Unior ba nd, ancesters, who came over in the earlier ages sword in Railway Bill, presented on the 10th day of this instant " 4 ", and the manner in which the aristocracy had been March. 14 inicted i n Ireland? The Noble Marquis opposite had stated Sir G. CLERK considered that this mode of pro - litat the people of Ireland had no respect for the Imperial Le- ceeding would be altogether irregular. The promoters Mature of the country. He denied this to be true. An hal had the consent of the Ctonteittee appointed to in e'lltation, he admitted, had long been going on to al i e nate the quire into their petition , and they had leave from this ft'e ctions ot the people, not from the Imperial Par l ia ment, but , s ottt this country. T fresn petition agitation, he was glad to say, had Ceir : niittee under peculiar circumstances , to p resent a , ''' Q t succeeded, and the people were as strongly attached as tion to that House for lea v e to in. i re a fresh Bill. But the p resent p etition e ver to the Government and the country. • Th e D u k e o f RICHMOND said, after the speech of the was to refer the evidence taken by the Com toittee Noble Earl with respect to the Irish Church, it was quite im- upon a former occasion to the Committee which might Ixissibi e fur him to support the Noble Earl's resolution. He be appointed to hear the petition since presented. Hi' 44 1 not h o wever, wish it to be understood that he had in didi not Ct resider that it toll awed that the Bill now t o be il l ' 0 slightest degree any confidence in the Government, be- brought in upon the new petition was similar to the Bill .tease he had not ; and what was more he never should have i ntro d uce d upon t h e fi rs t p e cition. He had heard Lain, no , re;tson stated why the petition should be acceded tee, Th e M arq uis of LONDONDERRY said he opposed t he and he must. • thereft ire, objece to the motion of his I etton, and attributed the distress of Ireland io absenteeism. Honourable Friend. It was a, motion of an unusual f Noble Lords who had estates in Ireland, instead of residing St Brighton, or Paris, or other places on the contine nt, character ; the petition upon the present Bill l 'uuld occasionally visit their preperty, and see justic done to was altogether a new and substantive measure. It their t enants , t h ey would be troubled with very few complaints weuld have to stand upon its own merits. Another • horn the Irish people. Committee would exercise their own discretion upon it, The Earl ST. GERMANS said that at that late hour it or they might call further evi ence, and would obtain t.l:mite impossible for him to follow the Noble Earl. for the al, tot' information they might require. lie could nut, ;, Noble Earl had opened a wide field for discussion, and had therefore, see how evidence taken upon a former OCCa ,,,Ph4en of agrarian outrages , the administration of justice , the se , - " u tela, the landlord and tenant commission, and the important siert t ' soul . l be made to apply to rho measure under con sideration. -" eesure of fixity of tenure, every one of which subjects would ' Pillire the reater art of an evening to consider. The Noble -bard MORPETH considered that the customary Zwrt who followed the Noble Earl had animadverted with course of proceeding in this House would be against esihie severity upon the conduct of the Government in the other entertaining the motion at present. With reference to ` Lu bse of Parliament for not resisting Mr. Sharman the- Bill to which this petition applied, the promoters i?rewford's Bill upon the subject of fixity of tenure. Now, were fully confident of its merits ; they did not e had looked over that Bill, and he could wish for any concealment whatever.—(Hear) The lure their Lordships that he found no mention whatever Bill to be brought in was a fresh proceeding alto tiler, and they would have the us ua l m ea ns of opposing ' 4 the su bj ect o f fixity of tenure. The Noble Earl h ad told 4 , 111 ° House, that these agrarian outrages were connec ted en- it , ; and he th ere l b re trusted that the House would c or n - Wig with political grievances. Now, if that w er e so, the ply with the recommendation of the Hon. Member for l ame s' w ould cause would produce the same effect elsew here, and they Oxford. anti not, entertain the Petition. ould have the same amount of agrarian ou t rag es in the nor- Mr. MLIN'FZ ,aiti that he was not aware that he was ..w Ile and midland counties, as they had in the western. seeking for anything irregular in moving for the evi "e said, therefore. that the supposition of the Noble Earl Bence, He was not an interested party in the Bill, and 1158 wholy unfounded. Government were o oinion hat th **elationl of landlord arid tenant in Ireland was fp not in t a satis e- he weuld he the lest person to press for anything ir- factor state. Accordinelv, in the ce urse of the last session', regular ; he would , there f o re, ho g leave to wi t h d r aw his they introduced a Bill for improving these relations. There motion. was. however, not sufficient time to get it through t he House, LON DON AND BRIGHTON RAILWAY. 414 • d it was, therefore, withdrawn. But there was ano ther Bill Mr. O'CONNELL brought up a rep o rt fr om Group 15 att, L, the course of preparation, and he trusted it would shortly be on the London and Brighton Railway, which was ordered " 144 before their Lord-hips It would respect the rights of pro to lie on the table. tY , and at the same time improve the condition of the tenant. Mr HUNIE said he had two petitions to prevent, ith respect to the measure of Catholic Emancipation, he the Noble measure and the other parties 'who partly ref a private nature, and yet they might be called 'brought forward that measure. At the time of the union with i•uhlie, w hen the iinpaitance of the subjects to which Ireland,ne the Protestant religion was the religion of the coutstry , they referred was considered. They related to the nee I,Z" by the Act of Union they were bound ro preserve it in- ,iiiccition of the country. The one was from the Parlia 44:date. And as regarded the opinions of Mr. Grattan and lir• 1 inentary trustees on the river Clyde. It stated that a nukett, they always maintained a reservation in their railway company, which had brought in its Bill last speeches. The eviden ce given by the Catholic prelates and . Session, and which was for eleven days before a Com . t k ot , h e_r advoctitett of th_e Catholic emancipation , was also e oisimilar nature. They did not. wish to affect the tern- mittee, and which was at length rejected, had rraitties of the Protestant Church. They entertained no such I this year come forward with the same propo (*sir. Their welates did not wish to sit in their Lordshi 's anion, The trustees had opposed them, at an expense tiltu_"' , They wished to keep their Church apart from t h e State,i of 5.0001., and they begged to be protected against this fk. '” wished t o b e a religious body only, and such he I eontinual anneyance. The other petition was from the „it would be the general opiaion of the people of this country. . inhabitants of the town of Warrington. against a rail- Z e t e onsttiered teere had been great exaggeration yin h rete- way compahy which had made three several attempts to . to the revenues of the Irish Church ; the whole amount ' of the revenue be _,. did not exceed 3001. per annum for each locum - eniss the Mersey. 3,000,000 tons of goods passed up and down this river annually, and the powers they habeen TheNob , eLord then ref e rred forto them b e e a o s e u fi r t e s o f w ht c h sought would be a ereat injury to the navigation. Ile And... 2 adopted by_ the_ Government . the . • . Ire ter the grants for edusation—to the great increase is th e begged to say that he would ut some future time call the THE SUIT, ' - 'l4 - 0141 - EYON't TU2SDAY NIORNiIyfG MARCH 24, 194&. - ate ration of the House to this suliject, in order that , reports of the Board of Trade within the last year. Now, he that these vet} . ai /rue meams might be devised to prevent the annoyance I should remind that Right lion. Gentleman that he (Lord mei expose. Ebriugton), as also many Hon. Gentlemen on both sides of thewith whichflot-ise, expressed reports their ad approbation w drawn of Ms. B ANKES prsseeted two petitions againet the `Midland Rude ay, from the residents and landholder* onot .h_e (li ability e a r, hear). He considered they were to blame in not attending the banks of the Oalshain canal. The petitioners stated more to the suggestions of the Board of Trade. Not only the that. the Company was about to purchase and disuse the House but her Majesty's Government had overlooked the labo canal, and tl;at would interfere with certain privileges rions exertions and able investigations of that Loard. He which they enjoyed under the Canal Act. - thought that in this respect the Government had not paid Lord WORSLEY moved that it be an instruction to sufficient deference to the decisions of their own friends. the Committee on Railways, Group No. 9, to proceed Sir R. PEEL said the Hon. Member was labouring under wi- h the consideration of the Glasgow Harbour Grand a mistake respecting the duty of the Government. The Junction Rail , ay Terminus till, but after a short dis- Government, as a Government, in Isis (Sir R. Peel's) opinion, euasien, in which Lord G. Somerset and another Hon. be had noyight to interfere with the private Bills; and be would sorry to adopt a principle to the effect that they had, by Member took part, the Noble Lord withdre w his motion. ad opting the recommendations of the Beard of Trade. It AM ALGANIATION OF RAILWAYS'. was only when a great principle was involved that the Govern- Mr. W. PATTEN then moved that a Se lect Commit- ment, in its capacity as such, was found to come forward in tee, to consider how far, and under what reguattions, the support of the reports of the Board of Trade. Beyond this fur. her amalgamation of railways would be consistent they could not reasonably interfere. with a due regard to the commercial and general into. Lord EBRINGTON said, in speaking of the Government, rests of the country. In making this motion he did he only alluded to what the Right Hon. Baronet had stated in not itieen to dispaiuge :melee metions of riala - ays an the discussion that took ',lace early in the session. eens ral. because he did believe that, with proper tegu- Mr. H. HINDE confessed, for one, that he had looked to see latieus arid proper restrictions, arnalgnmata ins might be the Government supporttent eth reportsde of the great judgment oard of Trade, as those s had mnerally been ma with rendered more beneficial to the promoters an d more con and discretion. He l' thought greater attention should have ducive to the general interests of the couutry. The ex ' been paid to the recommendations of the Board of Trade. If tent to which it was proposed te carry amalgamations the present Committee was agreed to, and parties hal to be wos so great that, in his opinion, it was desirable submitted to its ordeal, and then had to pass through a that the House should be in possession of more accurate Select Committee appointed to inquire into the merits of information and more practicable results in relation to their Bills, the delay and expense would be very great. atnalgametion generally before the House proceeded to If some means c ould be devised by which the investigation of nit itself to the extent now propesed. The amal- one Committee would he sufficient instead of two—a great ad gamation Bills before the House amounted to thirty- vantage would be obtained. Powers ought to be given to the three, and they cempris; d railway communications ex- Committee to inquire into all the matters for which two Corn busi - - tending frern one end of the country to the other. At m oe i s t s e o e f s, t 7 e co ll m e h u e , g e tow thewere e i n tr e e w se r n e t mode of conducting the first sight, it would only appear that some . of these Bills Sir GEORGE GREY agreed qlre with the Right Hon. re:atcd only to particular districts, but in two in- Baronet ( Sir Robert Peel) that the Governmnent ought not stances there were Bills by which five or six separate to interfere with private Bills. After the discussion which had companies were proposed to be placed under one ma- taken place, he confessed he thought that the appointment of a nagementeand which proposed to remove that competition Committee, before the Committee on the Bill, was unneces iv hich the public had hitherto relied upon for protection. sary. If a preliminary Committee were to sit, it would only There were some of these Bills to which he thought perform the functions of the Board of Trade of last year. He public attention was not sufficiently drawn, though they hoped that the inquiries of the Committee would be limited to tnatrrially affected the commerce of the country. It was some definite and particular object. Mr. PAKINGTON as a the of the Classification Hon. heat the suggestion of the to amalgamate or unite with the railways the object being Committee of Selection, whose object in making the sugges t/ imt reaniiestly to encourage the old se stern of wan r lion was to draw the attention of the House of Commons to the carriage, which was found to be most inconvenient. The magnitude and importance of the subject. This question of qui mien assumed such an importance, that he believed if amalgamations was not only the most important, but one of the the House did nut take measures to regulate and restrain most difficult questions connected with railway subjects. the speculations of capitalists, the result would be very It was more so-mow; there were no less than 33 amalgams ruinous to the country. To give an illustration of what was tion schemes before the House at the present moment. The ' he place, he might mention that there was a going to ta s , Committee, therfore, thought it their duty to bring the r under the idonf. He ideredat mat project to connect Scotland with the c it y of Bristol, if the Committee hadgone g oa lie qu H i ouse cons etly allowin that state of crossing an immense district of country. Now , it stru ck things to go on, they would soon have had all the g communica him that it would be impossible to get a company who tion of the country in the hands of two or three gigantic corn could raise a sufficient capital to carry out such a project. panies. He begged to state, that so far as his own opinion He would not have objected to the Chairman of the was concerned, he would be content to follow the course indr- Committee of Selection appointing a group of Members cated by the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the Govern possesoing the confidence of the House, to make the ment. uecessery arrangements which were sought to be obtained Mr. BARING considered that the House was get by the motion which he (Mr. W. Patten) now sub- ting into a state of considerable confusion. There were a witted. He for one, however, at the same time must mass of railways before them, the merits of which should be say that such a course would be an unusual one, and disposed of without unnecessary delay. The House had three one to which some objection might be taken. It was a proposal - ins before it as to the_ manner of dispoang of these question also that might be left to the consideration momentousii)ntl)(l,er e f s e t r ion lorth i. Lancashire (Mr Entwisle), for the of the Committee appointed at the seggestion of the appointment of a Select Committee to determine certain Hon. Member for Internees (sir. Morrison), and he (Mr. general principles which were to govern the arte u u p s o m int. Patten) would have no objection to its being referred tees in dealing with amalgamation Bills hereafter. Then came to thee Committee, providing the inquiry into these the proposition fur the Committee of the Hen. Member for amalgamations could he proceeded with at once. It Inverness (ear Morrison), of which the Right Hon. Baronet, wa i ittipertant that on such a subject no delay should the Vice-Presalent of the Board of Trade, had justly said talc' place. If the consideration of the suleject was put that they would have quite sufficient to occupy their attention off till the middle of the session, the consequence would with'iut attending to the question of amalgamation. And then tie, that many of the Bills would either have to be adju- they had a proposition of the Right Ho n . Baronet at the f the Government, which he (Mr. Baring) must ti dimmed on without the result of the inquiry, or else the head ° considered the most business - like Triode of dealing s with the Bills would have to be put off till next session , to q ue s tion —that a Special Committee be appointed , to whom, :he great inconvenience of the promoters of these as a group, all the amalgamation Bills would be referred, and schemes. It wire to obtain the opinion of all parties who, having examined these Bills, should report to the House througaout the country, whose practical knowledge and upo n the sub;ect. He (Mr. Baring) differed with the Right exoerience enabled them to give advice, and iu order Hon. Baronet only on one point—he would have wished that t t plece the best information on the subject before the the Committee should have been empowered to examine into the House, that he proposed the present Committee. merits of the various Bills, and not have be e n confined, as was —(Hear, hear.) He thought the report of the B oard of proPlosaernd, at t i o e th s e m i l e re t e h sc e a u m gh in t examination t of e the tendencies ht to d c i o d f ,, u those o rrade on this question had not been atten ded to a th m e a c g omparati n ve merits of the Bills brou Y eht before them. He enough last session. Had the Committee acted mere thought that these amalgamation Bills should be all grouped .in the suggestion of that rs port than they did, much of to and that it would give rise to sets inconvence to the the evil complained of would have been avoided. promoters of the several Bills. Let them go to that Corn- Mr. ENT WISLE concurred in the remarks that fell mittee, and let it determine on the nature of these Bills, for front the Hew m em ber w h o sup p or ted the appointment why should they subject them to a remote trial. He did not of the Committee. consider that the suggestion of the Member for Bath could of the Committee. He believed that it would be found, upon by any means be adopted, as it would be a source of endless investigation by the Committee, that the amalgamations pro- confusion ; what he would recommend was, that they should posed tiy existing companies were, in many instances, and extract all the amalgamation Bills, and put them into one group. most instances of a defensive character. The amalgamations They should then refer them to a Committee of five, to be em took place in order that the companies might the better defend powered to examine into flair merits, and make their report themselves against rival schemes, which were only started to to the House, which report should be decisive of the fate of terrify the existing companies into a compromise. He be- these Bills, they wonld thus obtain the very report for which lievsd that !he Committee would be of great benefit to the they were new seeking. He should like to hear what arga country. He therefore heartily seconded the motion.' ments would be urged against giving to this Committee a Sir G. CLERK said this question was one of paramount im- power to decide upon the merits of this Bill. !romance; but he confessed that he did not exactly gather Mr. PACKE said that if the motion were agreed to, the from the speech of his Hon. Friend chat was the precise ob- public would suffer much loss. jeer. to which the Committee was_to direct its investigation: Mr. IefORRISON did not think that the sending of those If that Committee was to lay down several rules under which Bills to a Committee, for the purpose of considering their certain railways, should amalgamate,. and .under.what eircurne merits, would be the proper plan. They had had enough of stances amalgamation should not be. permitted, it appeared to such legislation ; what they now wanted was the laying down him that they would have little else to .do but to give' Parlias -of i principle which the Government should apply in all cases. mentary sanction to the principles which were laid down. in For instance, before they were prepared to decide upon this the twenty-first - report of the Board of -Trade last year. ale great question of amalgamation, as had already been suggested bought that it that were .the object of thd Com- by his Hon. Friend, it should be determined to what extent mittee, it was an exceedingly desirable one.--(Hear. ) they would sanction the amalgamation of such great railway The question was ; in what manner could these general rules be, companies as now possessed what must be called great made applicable in individual cases ? He hoped that whatever, legal monopolies.—( Hear, hear.) If that had been tribunal these.cascs might be brought before, that they would done some years ago many evils of which they look with extreme jealousy *mon all those proposals of .amalga- had now to complain in railway matters would not merlon. He had no doubt that many advantages could' be ob- now exist. He thought that railway companies coming now tamed by the public by a uniformity of management. These before the House, praying for powers to amalgamate should be benefits might, howevere be effective, by means of arrange- treated as new companies, and therefore subjected to all those ments in the different companies ; these..arrangernents would preliminary conditions to which the promoters of all new Bills out possess that • permanent nature which a Parliamentary had to submit.—( Hear, hear.) But, independently of that, sanction would give them ; they might he altered and modified there were a great many things that had been quite neglected, by the company. The Board of Trade last year had pointed which were very necessary in these m fitters ; and those things out some objeetionsewhich it would have been quite as' welt for could have been dor:e without at all affecting their tariffs. For the interest itf the public had they been-acted . upon. In con- instance, he might quote the present system of carrying elusion, he considered that the Committee appointed by the Hon.• goods on railways, which much needed amending. They Member for Inverness (Mr. Morrison) should be instructed to ought to require that railway companies should charge every inquire how far these general rules might be made applicable person alike ; and ho would propose that if one party was to individual cases. charged more than ano th er , he should have power to reco ver Mr. BARING considered that the q uestion as to the manner back ' the overcharge in one of the legal tribunals. These in which the House was to deal with future railway legislation matters ought to be settled at once, and they could easily do it, was not a question t o b e di s cu s sed a t that for whenever a company came for new prices their line ought time. He tho u ght t h a t was a f u t ure cons id era ti on , to be treated as a new one. There ought in his opinion to be He weuld recommend that a Committee of five should be one general rule applied to railways, and all company's required formed, to whom they would give a power, in cases of unopposed to charge one rate of fares. But he might be told, that a line Bills, to send for any witnesses they might choose. He was which passes through a poor country could not charge so low very much afraid that f r om th e c omm ittee for w hich the Hon. fares as a company which ran through a populous country. His Member had moved they would get no report, except a very answer, however, to that was very simple. If the line would not hurried one. His Hon. Friend had said very pertly that the pay at particular fares, the line ought never to have been made. report of toe Board of Trade had not been sufficiently attended Mr. LABOUCHERE thought that if the Vice-President to by him. but that very report stated o That nothing could be of the Board of Trade were to apply his attention to the amal more difficult than to lay down any general principle for cases emulation of railways, the result of his opinions would furnish a of amalgamation ;" and if they were not to lay down a rule, much better guide than could be obtained from the appoint they would ever have the seine uncertainey. Their only course, ment of the proposed Committee. therefore, was to refuse to appoint the Committee, and throw Mr. DUNCOMBE was of opinion that the amalgamation it upon the Government t o b r i n g f or w a rd some meas ure on of railway Bills was a matter attended with very considerable their own responsibility which w o uld m eet the difficulties of the difficulty. He had, on one occasion, been a member of a case. Committee which had to deal with the amalgamation of the Sir ROBERT Pe EL said, that it would appear from what Grand Junction line and the Birmingham and Gloucester the Hon. Gentleman had said, that her Majesty's Govern- Ralway. In that inquiry the Committee complained very ment hail very much neglected the subject of railway legislation. much of having no distinct reference to guide them in coming Mr. BARING—Last year. to a decision. He was of opinion that a preliminary Commit- Sir ROBERT PEEL—The Hon. Member should recol- tee should be appointed, as the House at present certainly was lect that the House must take a share of the blame with her not in a position to deal with the amalgamation Bills. The Majesty's Government—( Hear, hear)—because they had in a Hon. Member for Inverness seemed to be satisfied that some great measure acted contrary to the advice of those who had of the amalgamation Bills might be allowed to pass. Hon. been appointed to consider the question of railway amalgama- Gentlemen used the term amalgamation in too loose a man tion. They had not received very favourably the r.-port which nor, and frequently in ignorance of what this term really the Board of Trade made last year. That report laid down meant. He ( Alr. Duncombe) supposed that amalgama the principle upon which (speaking gent rally) einalgamatien two meant that the conducting of the affairs of two should be permitted ; and it then proceeded to apply those railways should be brought under the superintendence principles to every case of amalgamation which was brought of one Board. But there existed two kinds of before Parliament during the last session. It was distinctly amalgamation, one of which consisted of union for the public admitted in that report, that it was very difficult to lay down advantage, and the other of union to promote private interests. universally the principle on which 'an amalgamation should Now it was to provide against the monopoly which the latter proceed.—( Hear, hear.) And -it was admitted, that there kind of amalgamation would result in, that the House should might be cases in which amalgamation might be permitted be specially careful. He thought that a Committee should be with the greatest advantage to the public interests—( Hear, appointed to make a preliminary inquiry into the nature and hear)—because, wherever there was a number of distinct objects of any proposed amalgamation; and such Committee and independent lines, forming a great channel of co i n- would not at all interfere eith the motion of his Hon. Friend, munication between distant parts, and the proprietors of the Member for Inverness. those lines desired to amalgamate, it would certainly be to the The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER entertained interest of the public that the d es i r ed amalgamation should be similar °Onions with thoee pronounced by the Hon. Gentle permitted. On the other hand, the Board of Trade declared man who had just sat down. He believed that it was neces it to be their conviction, that an amalgamation between power- sary that some definite rules should be aid down l with respect f u l companies, whose lines of railway lay in the same district , to the amalgamation of railways, for it was perfectly true, could be thine would deprive the public of many advantages which railway as the Hon. Gentleman had observed, that no e co mmunication was ca lculated to afford.— ( Hear, hear.) more indistinct than the case of amalgamation which had Although the House did not receive th a t re port of the Board been brought before the House. He must say, that looking of of Trade last year, be still thought that the recommendations at the subject in all its bearin g s, the best modeproceeding in that report were w ise and com p rehensive, p articularly as appeared to him, to appoint a Committeein which the House 1 ich Committee the far as amalgamation were concerned ; and he only asked could have confidence, and of W I •. Vice the House to bear a share of the r e s ponsibility which had been President of the Board of Trade should be chairman, to in- t thrown upon the Government. The House must recollect vestigate the merits of the various amalgamation Bills, and that they had jealously overruled the decisions of the Board . of report their tite opinion xee accordingly. uer)th atlt struck him (the . Chan- Trade. However, they were now convinced justifiable,by .experienee cellar . of E . h q .. t h is mode of proceeding would be and not interfere with the motion of the Hon. Member for Inver that amalgamation in certain cases might would, at the same time, tend connimive to the public interest, and lie believed, that with nest, l and tineof e the progress E would publichumbly submit business. to the House that no his Hon. Friend.—(l-lear, hear.) Now, with ) had their more amalgamations of railway companies should be allowed to of railway Bills, namely, those which . portant class the metropolitan dis• take place until the report of the Committee of 1845 had been termini in the city of London, or within . . them for the consideration of a produced, and he would further propose that the consideration ti lets, they proposed to reserve Crown f every dby the ; and o f o case of amalgamation should be postponed until th Special Commission , to be a pp ointed for the report of the Committee which bad been appointed to inquire course the progress of those Bills would be suspended. . h b•ect should be obtained. adopt this comae present. Now, might they not . . with respect into t esu j Mr. W. R. COLLETT considered that whenever I ama gee 1 to amalgamation, substituting a Committeefor the Commission, relation had taken place, the public had been greatly benefited— them,and refer the amalgamation Bills, which were at present before the fares had invariably been lowered, and everyp - ins had been to the best Co emittee they could appoint, who should to meet the public convenience. He had always enter- Bills consider the question of amalgamation as bearing upon those taken . d the opinion that the House was favourable to the amal consider before them, and leave it for the general Committee to tattle . - railways, and felt • elation of at its leisure the principles which ought in ga desire to thro r a difficulty in the y future to guide them, when dealing with amalgamation e exist deIIARRY VANE suggested that certain wa general prig general 1 Bills? They would thus have a Committee or, t .. les might be laid down, so that those who had to deal with general subject of railway legislation, a Commission to consider L th ip e matter might be able to form some efiite judgment as to railways which had their termini within the metropo lean h d h the practicability and utility of any proposed amalgamation. trios, and a Committee upon the amalgamation Bills, w i h e e He could not see that any bad result le the consequence were now pressing, who might give their opinions tot of postponing the consideration of the amalgamation Bills to House as to what other tribunals these amalgamations should i nether session. Until the matter had been thoroughly sifted, he referred in future, and as to the general pr es app ic- a ld be difficult to say, whether, when deciding on any able to railway amalgamations, so far as present the session it wou amalgamation Bill, the Committee were not preventing the con was concerned.—( Hear.) truction of a line which would be more beneficial to the public. Mr. FOX MAULS regretted that the House did not last s of Trade Mr. WILSON PATTEN then briefly replied, and proposed year carry out the admirable report of the Board appointeden that the adoption of the report of the Railway Committee of this subject, but he hoped the Committee, if they 1845 should be added to the original motion. one, would be directed to take this report into their particular In reply es a question from Mr. SMYTHE, consideration.—( Hear. ) In reference to the ama g I ation Bills, te c h Alm . should merely report cn them with re ference to the prince w• PATTEN said it was not hi s i n tention to exclude if it was proposed to refer th em to a Committee,w . le the con sideration of the amalgamation of canals from the atten - tion of the Co mmittee, and he wo uld insert the word "canals" of amalgamation, it was so far well; b ut if the Committees railway. t in every case after should be empowered to go into the me rits of the Bills, i The resolution as amended, was then from the Ch • and put Chair, would only be getting up a system of rivalry between the lines under consideration and rival lines. His own o p inion was a greed to. Mr. HUN ] E wished t o ask two questions of the Nob le that, if the Committee proposed by his Hon. Frie nd should be the President of the Board of Control. He wished to appointed, there should be some general measures lai d down, Lord . if there was any truth in the which appeared in somewhat, he would suggest, similar to the rules adopted by knew with respect to reports ' our affairs in India? The the Bord of Trade, and which rules should be adhered to by the Paris paper s which he the House. That was the only way, in his opinion, to do 1 second questionwished to have answered was Government had justice to tee 1311 , ; but whatever course would be adopted he I whether the taken into their consideration system of communication ' ( Mr. Maule) was prepared to support the proposition of his ', the present. , with India by our over- Hon. Friend opposite. I land mail ? He thought that the Government should do some- Lord EBRINGTON said it appeared to him that the act i thing to save them from depending upon such reports, by of amalgamation was a Voluntary act. The subject of amalga- ; establishing abetter means of comm un i ca ti on , more es p e ci a lly mation was so important, and pressed so generally on the corn- I when it wa s shown by DI r. Waghorn that he had been enabled munity, that the Committee moved for could not possibly de- I to anticipate the overland mail by forty-eight hours. tide on the question. The question, it appeared to him, de- Lord JOCELYN said that, as the Indian mail had not pended on this—whether they would adopt the principle of yet arrived, he could not give a positive answer as to the cor competition. or take security on behalf of the public azainst rectness of the reports in the Paris papers. With respect to monopoly—thus sanctioning monopoly, but putting it under the second question, he would say that the Government had it proper regulations ? He was certain the result of the Commit- under their consideration, and would, no doubt, adopt some tee, keeping such object in view, would he most beneficial., measure to meet the inefficiency of the present means of com- New, how were they to deal with railway legislation in gene- - munication. ral? The Right Hon. Baronet opposite (Sir Robert Peel) la- Sir R. PEEL wished to inform the House how this in mented that more attention had not been paid to the very able formation had reached the Government of this country, as the subject was most important to many, perhaps his ex planation would go far to allay any anxiety. Tile intelligence was telegraphed trots Marseilles to Paris, and the French Government immediately communicated it to her Majesty's Government. This was all the authority at present for the re ports in question. Lord PALMERSTON wished to put a question to the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of her Majesty's Government, with respect to their relations with Buenos Ayres. He wished to know if they were at all acting in the war which was going on between the Republic of Buenos Ayres and Monte Video? The language of the Government in Parliament was the language of peace, but the acting of their ministers at these places were the acts of war. There had been advertisements for ships to remove the British subjects f. om Buenos Ayres to Monte Video, and this looked as if the Government of this country had taken part with the latter republic. If they were at war with Buenos Ayres it was right that the Govern ment shouldcommunicate the fact, and if not it was proper that such should be stated. He thought it necessary for her Majesty's Ministers to say whether or not they ha 4 sanctioned the acts of their ministers at these places. Without reading the instructions of the Government to their consuls, it was difficult to make out whether or not those gentleman had acted for peace or war. He wished to know from the Right Hon. Baronet if the country was at war with Buenos Ayres? Sir R. PEEL thought, as the notice.of the Noble Lord was not very formal, it would he better that he should simply answer the question, and he would recommend that no discussion should take place. It was with great reluctance that her Majesty's Government had interfered with the affairs of Buenos Ayres, and it was not till protesting became almost intolerable that this country interfered. The independence of the republic was established through the interference of this country, and it was acknowledged by the Brazils. The inte rests of England were g eatly connected with the two repub lics, and the mercantile interests were very much injured by the continuation of hostilities- The Government of this country represented to Prance that the war was most injurious to the mercantile interests, and in conformity with those re presentations, treaties were made and accepted in 1841 by Monte Video, and rejected by Buenos Ayres. By these treaties England had no other object hut the restoration of peace—no accession of territory was sought, for that was out of the question. England and France at. a later period sent a special mission, recommending a cessation of hostilities, and, if possible, to restore peace. The proposals were again accepted by Monte Video, but were rejected by Buenos Ayres. It was then agreed by the two Governments that they would not in terfere by force unless actually compelled. The instructions which had been given by this country to their Ministers there were now laid on the table, and he could assure the Noble Lords and the House that those instructions did not amount to a declaration of war. The question put by the Noble Lord was, whether we were or were not at war with Buenos Ayres? This country was not at war with that republic, although it wastrue that a blockade of Cuba and the River Plate, by the instructions of the Government, had taken place • but this did not amount to a declaration of war. The expedition up the River Panama had not been contemplated by the Government, but no doubt the explanation of the minister there would be quite satisfactory as to such a proceeding. With regard to the removal of several of her Majesty's subjects from Buenos Ayres, the Noble Lord, he apprehended, was under an erroneous im pression. The fact was this, some subjects of her Majesty, being alarmed for their personal safety, left Buenos Ayres and went to Monte Video, and applied to Mr. Owsley for assistance and protection. Their removal was quite voluntary; Mr. Owsley contributed as much as he could to their comfort and safety, but being persons of agricultural pursuits, and the country not affording scope for the exercise of their pursuits, Mr. Owsley found it necessary to remove them, with their own consent. He believed that he had then answered the questions of the Noble Lord as far as was nece-sary ; further than that he could not go, without provoking a discussion. Lord J. RUSSELL said he rose to express a hope that the Right Hon Baronet would give, either at that moment, or as soon as pceaible, some further information on the subject. The Right Hon. Gentleman had admitted there had been ships taken and ordered for sale. Now, certainly, it required some Order of Council to justify the Admiral in such proceedings; and with respect to the operations of the troops, he wished to know how they could be accounted for. Sir R. INGLIS wished to make an observation, About two centuries ago—( Laughter )—a fleet sailed up the Medway, and laid waste everything. They had an instance, also, of a Rus sian fleet committing the most enormous ravages. Now, be tween these cases and the present he saw no difference what ever. to satisfy the friends of peace. How, for instance, could the Quakers be satisfied that England was not at war with Buenos Ayres, when all the incidents of war that occurred at Navarino, and in other naval engagements were enacted? He wished to know what the distinction between war and peace was, when under both forms there was loss of life and destruction of property ? If such constituted peace, he again wished to ask what was the difference between it and war? Sir R. PEEL said that if the Hon. Baronet referred to the records of the year 1828, the period of Navarino, he would find that there was a declaration of war, and that England ac tually was at war.--( Hear, hear.) In the present instance, the blockade was directed by the command of her Majesty's Ministers, and whatever responsibility attached to such the Ministers and representatives of her Majesty were ready to undertake. He thought her Majesty's subjects, sailors and soldiers, engaged in the blockade, were entitled to the greatest credit for their gallantry in the affair; and he should conclude, by stating, that he was not then prepared to lay before the House further information in respect to the matter, but as soon as he couli do so, consistently with the public interest. of course he would take an early opportunity of laying it before the House.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. MILNER GIBSON said, that in the last session of Parliament he had presented several petitions in reference to the subject then before the House, and he then begged to say that whatever the policy of Government might be, he hoped they would protect the free navigation of the River Plate. MINISTERIAL MEASURES. Mr. S. CRAWFORD presented a petition from Rochdale, signed by 8,000 persons, praying for an immediate reduction and abolition of taxation on articles of food, as contemplated by the Government. The petition was ordered to lie on the table. Sir R. PEEL said he had been requested to present two petitions. The first was from Liverpool, and the commercial interests of that city prayed that the Government would not delay its decision in abolishing protective duties. No petition was ever more respectably signed than was the present by gen tlemen of all parties. He had been informed, that in the course of a few hours 414 of the signatures of the most respect able gentlemen in that city had been attached. Every banking hou-e in the city subscribed to the document. It bore the sig natures of 214 merchants and shipowners, and 191 ship brokers. The petitioners stated that every branch of trade was paralysed by the uncertainty and indecision tha at present existed ; and they prayed that the Go vernment would, at as early a day as possible, pronounce its decision. The second petition was from Manchester, and bore the signatures of 1,122 gentle men, attached in the short space of twenty-four hours. It had been signed by the eminent bankers, by fifty-five members of the tovrn.couneil, and by the greater number of the large houses engaged in the East and West India trade, the Canada, Russian, and American trade; and be (Sir R. Peel) had been assured that the capital possessed by those on whose behalf the petition was signed, d;d not fall much short of thirty millions. —( Hear, hear.) The petitioners stated that they observed with much satisfaction the course adopted by her Majesty's Government, and prayed that, while they admitted the pro priety of giving due deliberation to mattes of such grave im portance, the House would pronounce its decision on as early a day possible.—( Hear, hear. ) The petitions were ordered to lie on the table. An How. MEMBER (whose name we could not learn) pre sented 46 petitions from Buckingham, against the measures in troduced by her Majesty's Ministers. Mr. ET WALL presented some petitions in favour of the measures submitted by Ministers.—Ordered to lie on the table. THE CORN-LAWS. On the order of the day, that this Bill be read a second time, being put. Mr. ELIOT YORKE said that, unaccustomed as he was to address the House, and, knowing his own deficiency, he hesitated to appear before them ; but he was urged on to the discharge of the duty by the petitions which he held in his hand, signed as they were by an immense number of agricultur ists, and therefore he could not then, as formerly, give a silent vote on the question, lest the truth of his own opinions should be doubted, and the sincerity of his professions sus pected.—(Hear, hear.) His intention on that occasion was to move that the Bill be read a second time that day six months. —( Hear, hear.) In advancing to that subject he would say, if the Gentlemen ou that (the Ministerial) side of the House felt as he did, he entreated of them not to be deterred by what had taken place, but by every form which the House recognised, and by the adoption of every course which it sanctioned, to unite and exert themselves for the defeat of the measure then before the House.—( Hear, hear.) He objected to the Bill because it sought to repeal a pi inciple which had been recognised by the people of England as identified with their best interests.—( Hear, hear.) It was stated that no apprehension is manilestedin the agricul tural districts on this subject, but he could answer that the sen timents of the district which he represented were not in its favour. That district was an area of 1,600,000 acres. It was formerly a wilderness, now it was a great corn-growing district. But in order to bring it to this state a large expenditure had taken place. Not less than five millions had been expended to bring these wastes into cultivation ; and all this had been done on the faith of proteetion.—( Hear, hear.) At the present moment they were subjeeted in that district to an annual tax of from Bs. to 12s. per acre, or an aggregate tax of 80,0001. per annum. If prices fell, as he expected they would, the amount of distress that must result would be appalling. He did not expect a reduction in prices this year, while so much capital was expended on public works; but as soon as that capital was withdrawn their prices would fall, and general depression over • take all engaged in agricultural operations. The Hon. Gen tleman then read several extracts, from correspondence he had had with parties in the agricultural districts in support of this view of prices, showing that, next year, with the Government measure in operation, and an average crop, the price of wheat would be from 40s. to 455. per quarter, and that the wages of the labourers would have to be reduced at least 2s. per week. He had that day received a letter from a gentleman, stating that at the present moment an eminent corn merchant in Gloucester had imported wheat from Odessa at 375. per quarter. He had also received information that several parties engaged in agriculture intended to remove abroad, and de vote themselves to the raising of wheat, if the Government measure was carried into effect. All this showed that it was impossible for the farmers go on under the new system, and meet payments. He had been furnished with several calcula tions on the subject. One was, that in a farm of 400 acres, on which there was a loss under, protection of 3171., under free-trade the loss would be 8561. 9s. 2d.—(Hear, hear.) On another farm of aOO acres, it was calculated that the loss under the corn measure would not be less than 665/. 11 s. Bd., or a sum nearly equal to the whole rent.—( Hear.) Yet this was a farm that paid 1,200/. per annum for labourers' wages. The Hon. Member then referred to certain returns respecting the amount of disease to the agricultural districts in various years, showing that in those years when corn was cheapest disease and distress most abounded. He also referred to the tables of prices, furnished by Mr. Crooke, showing that the effect of an overabundance was to produce a state of suffering and distress in the agricultural districts, and among the labouring classes. The present law gave fair and moderate prices, and was all that could be required, unless the Government wanted low prices. If they did so, then he had shown that 'low prices meant distress and low wages to the labouring classes —( Hear.) the to On this point he would refer to the authority of Lord Fitzwilliam, who said, that the repeal of the c orn-laws meant ruin to the farmers and destitution to the labourers.— ( Hear, hear ) He (Mr. R. Yorke) would therefore oppose the Bill by every means i n his p ower, so as to s e d p o e r or f e nv a -e t l at t hw h e e s j o u( n i oyeuecorporation operation that t h w he a e e ws l e i uk a lid t n i g o g n toh o es f t h in repeal th offer protec tion principle. In the year 1844, the rates in the agricultural districts were much higher than in the year 1842, though, in the former period, the system had been relaxed. He further objected to the measure before the House, on account of its injustice. He did not deprecate the law from any selfish or exclusive grounds, but because it would be an act of spoliation in a great and important interest, which they were bound to defend. And if the measure was carried by the Government, he hoped they would not escape without that denunciation and desecration which they deserved, and which their treachery had justly earned.—( Hear. hear.) He ob jected to this measure because, while it took away all protection from the agriculturists, it left on land and houses all the great public burdens of the country.—( Hear, hear.) He did not avow these principles for the purpose of making a speech. He felt deeply upon this matter. They must look labourers erSuff)lk had arrived to such a state of . .o their employers that they set fire to their corn-stacks and dwelling-houses, and even the women and children jeered those who attempted to save the wreck, and loudly cheered as the burning roofs of their employers' houses fell to the earth. Nothing but the great respect which he entertained for the superior wisdom of the Right Hon. Gentleman at the head of the Government could have induced him to give his support to the present measure, for he believed him when he acid that they would have a tendency to put a stop to such a frightful spirit amongst the labouring classes of this country. That the present system of protection had not benefited the farmers was acknowledged by the farmers themselves. He would conclude by expressing his most earnest hope that when these great measures had passed—and pass he trusted they would—( Hear, hear) —they would proceed to other measures, having for their object the improvement of the moral and in tellectual condition of the great bady of the people of this country.— ( Ilear, hear.) And he could not but think that the vast sums of money, which it appeared had been raised by the Anti-Corn-law League, would be handed over to the mem bers of the Government for that most laudable purpose. There was a great fund belonging to the Anti-Corn-law League, which he hoped would be applied to the raising of some peaceful trophy for the benefit of the poor, and which he trusted would not be employed in carrying out a most questionable, and for themselves a most perilous agitation. He would merely state in conclusion, that he would give a most cordial and dis interested support to the measures of her Majesty's Govern ment, convinced that they would tend to promote the interests of all classes, and that it would place the prosperity of the country on a sure and proper basis, namely, on the loyal af fections of a united people. Mr. I'ACKE observed that the League fund was raised for the purposes of agitation, and for no other purposes would it ever be applied. He did not consider that he had heard one single argument from the Right Hon. Gentleman in the whole course of the debate which would induce him to alter his opinions. One reason which had been assigned was the cistress in Ireland, but in his mind the returns laid upon the table would not bear nut the statements which had been made respecting the scarcity existing in that country. Hon. Gentle men opposite seemed to imagine that corn was to be produced in the same manner in which wool was woven, and that by the application of some power at present unknown a greater quantity than at present existed might be produced but he could tell them that farming might be pushed too far, and that land may be so highly cultivated as to yield more straw than at present, while the quantity of corn would be greatly diminished. Ile had attended a very influential meet ing of farmers and gentlemen in Nottingham, and one of the resolutions adopted by them was in these terms—" That an entire abolition of the corn.laws, in the teeth of the most powerful arguments made in their support by the Prime Minis ter and Secretary of State for the Home Department when in opposition, would have the effect of diminishing the confi dence of the people in public men.' Now he entirely agreed with th e sentiments embodied in th at resolution, and that the pre sent conduct of her Majesty's Ministers must for the future diminish the confidence of people in any Government what soever.—( Hear, hear.) He objected to this measure, because he had heard no kind of reason for its adoption—because he believed it would inflict a lasting evil on the best interests of the country and, because it was a breach of faith ; and, to adopt the words of a late Noble Member of the Cabinet, " Because I cannot support the Government in it without a violation of consistency and of honour." Mr. F. M NITLE said that he considered it right for Hon. Members on his side of the House .to state the grounds on which they supported the proposition of her Majesty's Government ; and he would, in the first place, state that that proposition had not his entire approbation, because it did not go to the entire extent of his wishes, and because it fell short of that which he considered the remedy of the difficulties which then existed, but, nevertheless, he, for one, would accept it with gratitude, and h e would endeavour to give it his most cordial support. He felt it his duty to investigate what were the feelings of the farmers in the country upon the measure, and he had no hesitation in saying publicly, that there was no panic among thelandlords, nor a mongst the farmers ; and, in spite of all that had been said, agricult ura l energ y was proceed ing with an increased prosperity from day to day—( Hear, hear) —and notwithstanding the dissent expressed by gentlemen below the gangway, he could produce practical examples of what he stated. When the proposition was first made, there was a document laid before the public, emanating from an Hon. Member, and from the nature of the advice which he gave, and the method in which he placed the question, he con sidered the country owed' him a deep debt of gra titude ; he meant the Member for Stockport.—( Hear, hear. ) Within ten days after the publicatien of his letter, in which he had developed the nature of this measure, the farmers in many of the largest market-towns came to the conclusion that, in stead of being benefited by the three years, their interests would have been best consulted by an immediate abolition. This was their conclusion, and such also his (Mr. F. Maule's) conclusion. He looked with regret at the fact that the repeal of these laws should be put off for three years. He could not forget that the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of her Majesty's Government had said, that so great was the distress of the country as to incline him to open the ports in last November. He (Mr. Fox Maude) had hoped that before the Easter recess this measure would have passed. But he must regret that there was another measure connected with Ireland, which, judging from the length of Irish debates in that House, narrowly into this subject, and they should not have hie assent they would be prevented (from taking she thirst reedit, o r t -, to the proposed change unless they consented t o remodel the Bill tillafter the recess. Ile believed that the landlords of his taxation of the country. He did not hesitate to say, in the country would be as safe after the passing of the measure as latiguatee which the Right Hon. Baronet the Home Secretary they are now.—( Hear, lee ar. ) He was acquainted with one in 1839 used, that the Government had been guilty of a gross county where they li md te : l ien thei r support from the Govern fraud upon the public. He would save word to the new proselytes ment and given it to a Neible. Duke in the other House, aho below him. It was the same with apostasy in politics as in here led the opposition against this measure. He knew two farms re li g ion. The proselyte was only used to strike a blow , and belong in g to that Noble :peke, one of them had been let, since the blow having been struck, the apostate was kicked over, be- the introduction of this measure, at an advanced rent of 901., ceris e he was not then trusted by those who had used him. and there was an es p eciata g reement that this rent was to be He (Mr. Yorke) begged to move that t he b ill be read a second paid in money. Now, this was a proof that no such injury as time that day six months. was anticipated to the landed interest would resulto—( Hear, Sir J. Y. BULLER agreed with the views expressed by his hear.) As to the exact increase of the ethef farm, he Hon. Friend, and, supporting those views, he could not corsent wee not so well informed; but this he could say, to allow the Bill further to proceed. He had supported the that it had materially advanced upon the old rental. last alteration in the eern-laws, believing that no further alter- From one and all of the farmers, lie learned that, where a anion would be proposed, at all events during the present Par- farm was to let, the rent had increased most materially. I n th e liament, He had been greatly disappointed when he had heard county of Haddirigtom a meeting was called for the purpose of of the determination of the (iovernment. He had not yet re- apposing the measure brought in by her Majesty's Govern covered from that disappointment. ment, and for upholding the protection to agriculture. A Mr. APGE ACHY would support the measure of her Ma- friend of his, who had taken a leading part at that meeting, had jesty's Government, because he believed it wise and politic. not only asserted that no injury would accrue to the landed Having supported the reductions in the tariff, and looking to interest by the measure, but he had since stated that he the effect of those reductious, he thought there was hail gained an advanced rent for two leases, and it was Said every encouragement to proceed. ( Hear, hear.) by him that all leases of land were sought after with Every man who looked candidly and fairly into the position, avidity at a very high increase of rent.—( " Hear, bear," and the difficulties of the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of from Sir Robert Peel.) A farm in Seetlarid whielroae to , let had been taki n at five guineas an acre, which bail faro the Government, during the last year , would n ot. in his 1 tnerly been at a much lower rental. Many a sensible farmer far opinion, use any harsh expressions towards him fo r the mea- had complained to him of the bee spirit which had grown up votes is high he had brought forward ; they would in fact con fess that he hail meted the part of a wise and experienced between them and the manufacturing districts. They re. statesman. Every dispassionate man, who viewed the pos i t i on ;;vetted that such an evil spirit prevailed, and expressed r wish that the discussion on the ecoin-laws was at of the poorer classes of this country, would refrain from c har g - thei an end. They said they could rot make all ins the Right Hon. Baronet with inconsistency for having p ro- f a r mor?, and if the interests of time would allude for a moment, as he conceived that the prevalence their tons posed his present measures. There was one point to whieb lie !country generally were not looked to they would not be able to of the present system was injudicious, and injurious to the in- . give their families the means of maintaining themselves. terests of the country. Ihe Whig Marty themselves, until a —( Hear, hear.) He was sure. after the measure had sassed, very recent period, were protectionists, and a great portion of the Honourable Gentleme n who had o pp osed it would, after the political difficulty of the present crisis was increased by the I the turmoil of this discussion lied passed away, give her feet of the Noble Lord, the Member for London, havin been Majesty's Ministers credit fir the g reat advanta g es they lad g unable to accept the reins of Government, which had bees i conferred upon the country by the repeal of these laws. abandoned by the Right Hon. Baronet and his colleagues. It i Looking at America, what was it that caused so friendly wee evident that the cause of that non-acceptance of office was 1 a feeling in that country, and so great a desire to preserve the weakness a n d di ssens i ons o f t h at po li t i ca l party. Such a . their friend l y relations with ns• advantages which course would surely l ea d t o t h e most injurious con - s . euences. What would be the p rac ti ca l resu l ts of such a course? q Why, i they, in common with ours elves, would derive from the results governed by th e Exeter-hail or iof this great commercial question. He was of oplaion that this that the country w ou ld b e i i measure would meet the esigenc ies of the countr y , and that Anti-lela enooth Committ ee , or by 17, Old Bond-street or the i..t this support the full interest of the people generally, and Central Protection Society, and all its reason he would give it his most cordial support. a t et remote provincial 1 branches. But there was one other ornonwhich he would otM:CHOLMONDELY would allude to a portion of the touch. It had been laid down by Hon. p Members th a t it was speech . of . the Hon. Member . for . Huntingdon, who alluded to the duty of Parliamentary representatives tin to vote in unison *dissolution of Parliament in connexion with this measure. with the pledges they had given at the hu e s jug such a course would be contrary to their hgons, es n t otwith stand- He (Mr. Chohnondely) regretted that i . i . itt question_ should . be convictions. under the discussion of the present Pal eament. He might be But he trusted that the gentlemen of England would do their met by having it said that it was not necessary to take the duty fearlessly and independently of the remonstrances of their sense of the countryon measure. right; but the Now, constitutionally constituents, and for the interest of their fellow-countrymen.— this was theoretically Right w' Hon. Baronet (Hear, hear.) He would quote the advice of a great states- had not long sinc told the house, that when he man, and a great asserter of popular rights—he meant first found the measure necessary for the country, so great a Mr. Burke, who cautioned members of the Legislature from an question was it that lie k himself bound to resign. abject obedience, in all instances, to the caprice of their con- True, he had also informed the House th ; nt he was not con siituents. His sincere advice to them was to consult the inte- stitationally bound to do sobut looking . at the magnitude rests of the country at large rather than those of an isolated of the changes which were necessary to) the well-being of the party of men.—( Hear, hear.) They had had an example country, he considered that h e was bound t o act as he hall done. durins the present session of the unjust operation of the doe- Surely then it was net at this late period of the debate to take trine that had been laid down as to the obstinate adherence to the opinion of the country upon the measure.—( Hear, hear.) pledges given at elections. If there was any other man who, With regard to the state of Ireland, he thought that more than another, had a right to a place in that House it was even the misery of that country, to use a homely the Noble Lard, lately the Member for Dorsetshire, and yet he phrase, was too weak a peg to hang such a measure on. He had been ejected from Parliament by the exercise of the op- hoped that such an expression would not be thought as sport pressive doctrine that had been laid down by Hon. Members ins with the distressed condition of Ireland, for he did not use who belonged to the protectionist party. Now there was a second it in such a sense, although words used in that House were alternative that had been proposed by the protectionist party, very often laid hold of, and from which it would be ar for the removal of the present crisis. That remedy, if he gued that there was a disinclination on the part of Hon. rightly understood the sp eelies of the Hon. Member for Members to consider the state of that country, but he was Newark, and of other Hon. Members, at an early stage of this sure that no such indifference existed in the minds and wishes debate, was, that there should be a compromise of a fixed of Hon. Members on his side the House with regard to Ireland, duty. Now, it as peered to him, that if there was one course As far as the distress in Ireland was concerned, it could not be which more than any other would involve the greatest amount be denied that throwing open the ports would conduce much of political dishonesty on the part of the Conservative party, more to the relief of that country than would the present mea it was that very course of a fixed duty upon the importation of sure, inasmuch as while the ports were allowed to remain open foreign corn. When the sliding scale was brought forward, in it was equivalent to the utter and entire abolition of all duty. the year 1841, and it was proposed by the Whig party that in- Another thing that struck him as being rather singular was, stead thereof there should be adopted a fixed duty, they were that a p ermanent remedy should be applied to the relief of a met - in the most clamorous manner by the present protec- temporary grievance. There had been a great cry Lion party, who declared that they would oppose any such pro- got up, in the House and out of the House, posal, and they were prepared to stand by the sliding scale. against the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of her Majesty's How, then, if they talked of political tergiversation, could the Government. in which he could not join, nor could he partici some protectionist party come forward now, and say that they pate in it. It was true he could net approve of or support the were prepared to accept a fixed duty.—(Hear, hear.) Would measure then before the House, yet he should give the Right they now pledge themselves to support the proposal for such Hon. Baronet every credit for the sincerity of his motive in Porn . a duty as had been proposed by the Hon. Member for bringing forward so comprehensive a measure in the fair, can fret? if they would, they would prove themselves to be guilty d i d , and upr i ght manner in which he had brought it on. of the greatest political dishonesty upon the question of the Mr. SCOTT said he stood on the present occasion in a corn-laws.—( Hear, hear.) But no, they would pledge them- position of some peculiarity, a position which he knew would selves to nothing.—( Hear, hear.) They would only clamour render him obnox ous. In taking the course which he then for a dissolution of the present Parliament—( Hear, hear. ) was compelled to take, he was riot adopting a course congenial because on the return of another, they anticipated a trium- to his own sentiments, or in accordance with his foregone opi phant majority, pledged to a more indefinite amount of inde- nions. He had never been a supporter of the Right Hon. Baronet finite protection.—( Hear.) But such a Parliament ac that before 1836, when he found it absolately oeeessary to join could not exist for one single month. Even if another Parlia- his party ; and since that period, he every day became more ment were returned, 'they would find themselves compelled to and more convinced of his great sagacity, political wisdom, and propose and adopt the very same measures as had been pro- integrity.— (Loud cries of " Hear, hear.) He hoped his agri posed by the present Government.—(Hear, hear.) He would cultural friend would not be alarmed at the idea of the large now take a glance at the justice of relaxing the present restric- amount of corn that was likely to come from America ; for the tions upon the freedom of commerce. Looking at the mea- distance was such as to render the quantity not at all likely to in sures that were introduced in 1842, and having seen the ad- terfere much with the market of this country. It would soften vantages which had been derived from the relaxation then intro- the asperity of the population of the west towards this country, duced and passed, he confessed that his views in favour of pro- would induce a healthier feeling than that which at present ex teetion had been changed, and he would cordia l ly su pp ort the isted. From what he knew of Canada, also, he did not think measures now proposed for the further relaxation of corn- the feeling there was such as hail been represented ; nor did he merce.—( Hear, hear.) But he could notbut believe that the think that colony would be at all injuriou ly affect•J. He did effects of the proposed changes had been greatly exag- not- attach such importance to the change at opinion on this gerated by the protectionists on the one hand, and question as some Hon. 'Members on that able of the House by the friends of free-trade on the other. On the did. He thought a man might change his opinions conscien one hand there would be an increased demand for food tiously on this question ; and when such was done, as a by the people, who would have increased employment, and matter of expediency ; and when time state of the country that increase in the demand would consequently lead to an required a remedy for the evils that existed, he considered Hon. increase in the price of corn. Ho believed that no man Members perfectly justified in giving up protection and support could luny estimate the effects likely to be produced by the hig the present, measure. For himself he would say, thou,ell present measures in favour of the agricultural tenantry of this be had supported the. sliding-scale, he bad never been ena country.—( Hear, hear.) Their feelings were estranged by moored of it. And it was the three years following 1842 d the present law from the landowners of this country, It ap- that completed his conversion to free trade. lie had change peared to him that the strongest argument for a change in our conscientiously, and had done so, as he believed, for the l e c ne es policy was the necessity of the social condition of the country. of the country. Under all circumstances, he must support the He could not conceive that men who had at heart the improve- . measure before the House. ment of their fellow-countrymen would oppose these measures. i Captain BERKELEY said he had come into the House to He could not but regret that in these days the science of poll support the agricultural interest, but nevertheless he bad al tical economy was not studied for the purpose of developing vraes voted for inquiry, and supported the Hon. Member for the industry of the country. For, according to a political au • Wolverhampton in hie motion on the corn-laws. Ile desired in. m hority of the greatest weight, it was to that end that all politi- quiry. and that was the reason he had always voted for eel Governments should direct their attention. A good law any motion that went to that effect. Such had been his pre must most assuredly produce a good effect upon the condition of viol's course, But now that lie cats the Noble Lord he had the labourer, and yet which of them would contend that that hitherto followed (Lord .Tohn Russell) juin with the Right condition was a prosperous or a comfortable one at the present Hon Baronet ( Sir Robert Peel) on the other side, to carry out moment, as regarded the tillers of the soil? Why it was a the measure of total repeal ; and when he heard the strong common expression now-a-days, " It's a wonder how they live." ennui-mon sense of the Hon. Menilser for Sioekport on the ques - ( Hear, hear.) The case ef the agricultural labourers of this Lion, he must support them in time course they had taken. That country was at the present moment similar to that of he believed was now the only safe, prudent, and expedient line the peasantry of France in 1759, and he would of policy to pursue.—( Hear. ) ask whether it was patriotic, wise, or statesmanlike to Sir R. H. INGLIS said, notwithstanding the elaborate oppose measures which had for their object the alleviation speech of the Hon. and Learned Member (Mr. Vernon), he of their present sufferings? What was the etlect of the I must adhere to the views on agricultural protection he had pro present restrictive laws upon the peasantry of England? In viously maintained. He ( Sir R. H. Inglis) had listened at the month of July, 1844, the then Bishop of Ely, in a letter tentively to that speech, and must say, notwithstanding all its `.O the clergymen of his diocese, stated that the agricu ltural , p rofessions, that the p ublic virtue of the Hon. and Learned - hatred ts Member must date itself from June 11th, 1845 ; for, on re. _ _ (erring to what took place on the 10th of June, he found that the Honourable and Learned Gentleman was one of a majority of 254 who, considering that an abolition of the corn-laws would prove injurious to the country, voted against the proposition of the Hon. Member for Wolverhamp ton.—(Loud cries of " Hear, hear," and laughter.) He (Mr. Vernon) was not the person to lecture Hon. Members who voted with him (Sir R. H. Inglis) as to the course they ought to pursue, seeing that the 1-ton. and Learned Member thought as they did, no Conger back than the 10th of June last.—( Bear, hear.) The Hon. Member for Perthshire (Mr. F. Maule) had referred to larger rents having been obtained lately in cer tain parts of Ireland, though the Government measure was before the public. The reason of that could easily be explained. These parties were not yearly tenants, but took their farms from parties who had held them under 19 years' leases, and who had taken them at a period of great depression. It was, there fore, no wonder that an increase of rent had been obtained. His chief objection to this measure was that it was obtained for one class at the expense of another. The cost of this experiment was enormous. The revenue to be lo,t in the corn-duties was not less than 333,0001. The revenue that was risked was 2,333,000/. This was a most grave and serious consideration. There would be a loss of above 450,0001. to the country. This would be absolutely and irrevocably lost to the country in 1849. That was independent of the loss to be sustained upon articles upon which the duty was only partially reduced. There must be a great loss in the article of spirits, unless there should be a large increase in the importation of spirits, which would be a great evil upon the country. The change which took place some years ago was forced upon the tithe-holder, and therefore that Parliament should take care that the bargain then made should not be violated. The tithe-owner had to receive an unvarying quantity at varying prices. ' c ould not participate in the improvements its agriculture. They did not benefit him, and therefore Parlia ment should be very careful of his rights. H ow could they reconcile this measure with justice to the tithe-owner ? It was impossible to do so, It had been said that the agriculturists are to be compensated by contemporaneous measures. The measures, however, were not contemporaneous. He thought the best mode of giving compensation to tho landed interest would be to take off some great burden on land at. once.--( Hear, hear.) He gave the Right lion Baronet at the head of the Government every cre dit for purity of motive ; but while he did so, he could not but regret the change which had taken place. He could not see how the proposed measure could be a remedy for the temporary evil which was deplored. He considered that this was an incon sistent measure. He believed that it was essential to the pro sperity of the country that the agricultural community should be protected ; and, with this opinion, he should cordially sup the amendment of his lion. Friend. Mr. CHILDERS was ready to support the Government proposition, for he believed that a repeal of the corn-laws o Lb r o n untd h o l i tn t w h wa i a s ss c na s o o u cl n he t se r sa y pa . a e g x et of r a p orri bread c d e i n o a f r y n e , would not rleepndeuta,cretrhatathhteet priceiriaeavne r a tlr s tum i e n isgt a ha n tt y elan p l art of the globe. At Odessa, it appeared that bread was 'lid. per pound, which was decidedly higher than the price of bread in Fngland, and he therefore be lieved that the passing of the present measure would not be followed by any reduction in the price of bread.. In the month of October, 1843, whilst the price of corn in London was 495. IQcl., at Marseilles it was from 51s. to 59e. per quarter ; in the month of November it was 475. at Lone don, whilst at Ostend it averaged from 50s. to 60s. ; and in the month of December the price of corn was, at Marseilles, from 535. to 00s., whilst at London it was only 455. 9d. From these and innumerable other statis.ics, therefore, it would appear that the principles of free trrde would not affect the price of corn,' where the demand for it was great. He could also show that the same results followed with regard to wool, meat, end other articles. As an agriculturist., he felt no difficulty in voting for the second read ing of the Bill—( Hear, hear )—and although he divided the other night against a total abolition, yet he should prefer the total and immediate repeal, did he not consider that the reasons which bad been laid down by the Right Hon. Baronet, at the head of the Goverment, for a temporary delay should be conceded. On the motion of Mr. R. COLLETT, the debate was adjourned until this evening. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at a Quarter to One o'clock. The Earl of Derby, we understand, fully intends to leave Knowsley shortly after the Easter recess for t own , th e object the Noble Earl ha s for coming to the metropoli s b e i ng to vote with the Govern ment in the division on the Corn-law measure. The Noble Earl, from contiaued infirmity arising from impaired health, has not as vet taken the customsry oaths as a Member of the House of Peers since her Majesty e accession to the throne. THY; WEATHER—The papers front all parts of the country notice the recent extraordinary change in the weather from the mildness of advanced spring to the cold and snows of winter. The railway trains and the coaches in the north have been impeded by the depth of snow, and our Newcastle correspondent states that on the railway to. North Shields, between which place and Newcastle the dis tance is usually performed in twenty minutes, the trains were delayed three hours. in many places the snow was two feet deep. 1 1.10 1 •"'