The Sun. — London, England, 1844-02-29 00:00:00

rrtieularly ex p ress i ve countenance.—(Cheers and l aughter. The modesty of the landlords is truly most remarkable. They think us unreasonable because we seek not to be overcharged for our bread, and required to pay the landlord tax out of our own pockets. I should like to see the Minister of these landlords come down to the House of Commons, and demand that the manufacturing portion of the community should p a y th e t axes w hi c h s h ou ld i n j ust i ce f all upon the farmers—perhaps I am wrong in using the word farmers ; it should, more properly, be the landlords. Lord Beaumont was also at that meeting.— (Laughter, and hisses.) You have often heard before of silly lords—(L aug h ter )—b ut t h ese A nt i -L eague Meetings seem entirely to be g o t up f o r th e p u rp ose o f making exhibitions of all these unfortunate individuals. --(Cheers and laughter.) Lord Beaumont said that the theory of free trade was a very beautiful one, but n o t was only a th eory , an d t h ere f ore cou ld ot be p er f ect. I always thought that such a • sentenc e as this would, amongst any reason able set of m on , b e put d own as s h eer nonsense . tree trade be a theory, and that it be beautiful, I hold that it must be said' to be perfect. We have no a uthority to show that a restriction of industry and sointnercial intercourse with other nations ever confer l'ed the s li g h test benefit upon this country, while we • have the authority of some of the most eminent men in the kingdom to prove that it would be attended with the "nest beneficial results. He said that the profits of the manufacturers wore admirably protected in this country; Yet three quarters of all our manufactures are exported I ? foreign countries ; and if Lord Beaumont tells us how .arliament gi protectsy goods in China, the Brazils, and Atameries, . anyon, I certainly shall say of him to la ft Wiser Lord than ever it has been my good fortune Meet before.—(Laughter.) Why, I know many L ea vers in my country would not argue with, but ugh b _ 94 s uc h ar i stocrat i c reasoning as t h is o f my Lor d ' en umont's. Th ese m ono p o li s t s , w h en t a lki ng o f th e ie o f wages, always take their parallels fr o m Poland, asul, and such places, but they never make the of the allusion to that great country at the other side f , ° , l the Atlanti c , w h ere t h e l a b ourer i s pa id at t h e rate ;" .3 41 1. a-day. N e i t h er d o t h ey ever reverse t h e p i cture , turn to Ireland. On the last night when we la3sembled in this building we were addressed the representative of, if not the whole, at , a lit three-fourths of the Irish nation—(Tre a7:ll,ous cheering and waving of handkerchiels)— f,7 he showed the ratio of prices doled out to the un 'llunate labourers in that country.—(Cheers.) A per- L l l n amed Godfrey Wentworth got up at that meeting, L" Move that a committee should be formed for the pro irtion of British industry. What a misnomer For ..ritish industry ? It should have been for the protec ,l4,,,°n of British idleness—to protect the " do-nothings."— l',i'_heers and laughter.) There is another Noble Lord to I shall allude, although I know that he does not ea ll 'and very hi g h i n th e es ti ma ti on o f th e au di ence now r e cted in this th ea tr e —l mean Lo r d Winchilsea— ialals.)--who called them a bloody and revolutionary ek --- (Groans.) If he meant to refer to the term ' of terror," which prevailed at one time in a 'aighbNM ouring country, the sense in which it was then anclerstood and acted on, the Noble Lord is much t i ,, stak en ; but I believe that in a literal sense 4 - term is applicable, for I believe the Anti Corn- zW League is bringing on a reign of terror Binst certain monopolising classes in this country.- 7 hi ,: e era and laughter.) The man who comes to this . sy l ing and who positively shudders, may be said fiato h ' ave something 'of terror upon him. Certain light gered gentry feel the same kind of terror when those r n e , tl who wear large blue coats, and who wear girdles f i rd their waists, make their appearance.—(Laughter.) W is e monopolists accuse us of using harsh language. men do not take straws to cut down oaks.- -"ears a b Why should those who are in earnest go t ou hi„„ with bated breath, and whispering hum or-Tr before mon who trample on the people ter his country ? Every one knows the charac the 0 . • the monopolists—every one knows that 1 , have clutched the existence of the people. th ey have for years held in their grasp the property of whaolndustrious classes of this empire. They are men t are remorseless for what they have done—who are theof the cruelty they inflict upon the poor, and ~_ are determined that, whatever the result may be, lae Y ieußill perpetuate the injustice of which they have . so at a „g b ee n guilty ; the proof of which is to be seen in the • ' 4 a lll of thousands—aye, of millions of this , ao‘ra._ --k Cheers.) Oh I they are a sensitive class night there was a motion brought forward in the hi t :" of Commons by certain gentlemen who A• bout great affection for Don Carlos.--(Lauhter.) five hours of the time—the valuable time—of hi`ue collective wisdom" of the country was expended xio l t debate upon the merits of that very respectable and uldis rt un ate Prince.—(Laughter.) There was a great to Position evinced to hear that debate on the part of a % and there was a still greater indisposition to hear I m to which was ex p ec t e d t o come on after the one ll Don Carlos, upon a proposition to allow 1414 and flour to come from the Cape, the East 1rh e ,:, 8 .2 and Australia at the same duty as is -" and flour now comes from Canada—that ha tes no duty at all.—(Loud cheers.) It was , r h l ued that the motion respecting Don Carlos should • h o ; rowa overboard, in order therefore to throw over atihV the other motion, which they considered a little Denna in g of the corn-laws. But, however, it so hap , 4 4 7 that there was something else to talk about, t em e IY, certain actions, which go by the name of qui laea t t tl °ns, in which certain Noble Lords and Hon. *lra non are deeply concerned, owing to some mat , turf ° t very reputable, which are connected with the • altia et , aorse-racing. It wag amusing to see what 3 en ' !,he b w , eBa • there was shown with respect to %Jae . "Priety of - P e - -- (llfear, hear.) The monopolists were seen in eougatitelltr attitudes and postures, and with expressions of kri o „. a nee which could betoken little less than a - . Per s COnSpiraey against the State. They tried to 1441,„ each to 6 4 _ other that it would be a dreadful thing 11. 0th `tu r , ri ng wheat from India—that freight all the way pratu,"l,leutta was a matter not to be considered, and „„,tllia motion should be carried then agricultural tai 11 ,.. - ""on would receive a " great blow and severe dis feei-gelnent."—(Cheers.) Well, now I confess that I o f kUnmitigated and unspeakable contempt for that class dated who go into either House of Parliament, and who th ev ery motion and every Bill with an apprehension Tentsl3l some trick or other it is likely to diminish their Dee rs a Y some very small sum. The Ministerial party ap view now firmly compacted. They are cemented by th e B of self-interest. Their country is forgotten, all th ens alliferings of the p oo r a r e un h ee d e d, and they bind thaelves together to maintain their own interests, and lttat own class. They are not disjointed as they were ' Oh i s t es sinn, but th e y are a h a ppy and united family. 114 is delightful to see brothers dwelling together in the :i---(Cheers.) You have no doubt often passed tetoilational Gallery. You must have seen the kk Happy %kJ , " Pent up in a cage there. I saw yesterday t herm: a l ta -- -(Loud laughter)—nestling and warming oth et :sill'es under the warm fur of a cat, which, under fri: l _, re llmstances, would have been their deadly enemy. ske w ea of mine who was with me asked the keeper Prop,: : M anaged to suppress their natural instinct and a ach -kt ies, and make them so tame and friendly to fri eod other, "Do you starve them into it ?" said my pli Oh, no, y our h onour , I fe e ds 'em well," re the 41 4 t co t a lan•—(Loud cheers.) This is the secret of Oa e . - Pactnes s of the Ministerial corn-law majority. Plttee'rtY luxuriate in the enjoyment of power, and mien' an d . patron age , w hi c h they widely distribute ta b ,' I f %their follow ers w h enev er the opportunity occurs, shear o e t , make new places whenever there is the slightest • per h - n ne cessity; while the others bind themselves toge h Sir R. Peel has promised them, or they say • tollar--I confess I should not be inclined to place any Annil ic e in his promises made in his character as t hat Minister—they Sir Robert Peel has promised L . ne y say 'Tin g th rill' maintain the corn-law, and the corn-law aels es s basis of their high rent rolls, they bind them they otogether, and they are a happy family, because t here - Well fed.—(Loud cheers and laughter.) But l eak great insecurity amongst them. They do not swith confidence in the Houses of Parliament, but r„ al ' in bold terms when they are in some snug Loin, s ome inn at Ayl es b ur y, or a t B uc kingham, or ;hey ti t , Place, but they will not do so in Parliament. ' l oon ' ll ° l v that there is a spirit rising up pt th e people of this country which will TheyZ denied, and which cannot be deluded. bl ,„ e lltet, axe lately had a proof of it in the county of So ' - geeti o a t ts meeting called by themselves. To get that • g they turned the county upside down. The m etin g oi l g was held in a small town, occupied and sur tax four or five thousand agricultural inhabi roritc▪ riu th Yet, I declare, upon the most respectable au- No r y' th at at a majority of eight or ten to one voted in 1 1 * a vote of thanks to the Anti-Corn-law League. i k kag l ,;`,_ehe . ers.) The pubhcations which the Anti ,!Opot„._•-akeieties are issuing to the world with so much the ex Znee, assert that seven-ninths of the population of "ley et ,",,LrY are with them. But, notwithstanding this, get, h'ullot get a unanimous vote, nay, they can N ' i lleiat ikl.dl Y a bare majority in favour of the i the tao4lo,w,hich they wish tO secure, and which %l a b , niers are voting to maintain. Why, let them 1 , 3 1„„e144 . _Your metropolis. We have 57,000 registered we to : cif the League in London.—(Great cheering.) ;slab n3 J t rangers from Lancashire, too—(Cheers)—a ; s al re apeo u t ;,!to voted for Mr. Pattison, while none of rere merchants gave him any support! The thr . t asse . a, .they said, were not with the . League. to this is, that 57,000 of the inhabitants of metro4,e p a i d s P° l la have fairly registered themselves, and i lo r t a of th e ° , l , l !let.hing for registering their names as mem do hey, B.,aZational Anti-Corn-law League. I should • to aid SO much, but that I have been driven to adslcierable"6 I find that there is still in this country „oer,_ reverence for even the bad amongst the rein ,Conealthough your conduct may make some of baret ieloirtr We shall get rid of this false and worth 11°t thi .-- (Cheers.) It is bowing down to Baal. or t tl ie wor tivorship of intellect, industry, and virtue, g o 11 gaff e B . nl P of pomp and riches—riches obtained out c'd in • !l ugs of the people. I have no hostility to the stitution d iT l e th at „ phi _ s of the country, but I will always op sr. 13 the , if continued, I believe, will some time is r , opte n e 1.• la w no this country much further than they th e vie ,? icl ls to go.—(Cheers.) We obey the law eiriboiiiinneidicate the law, when that law is I ttnd lv ilen i t i nt of just principles. We reverence the eott wh en it • in accordance with Christian principles, in tl.tryrnen. is in accordance with the interests of our th e r r e st reets, But the aristocracy that we see walking gor geo s or riding in their carriages, and entering tolslet ur us mansions, and taking their seats in the e--these is ho' and who men who are never known to do any woi,t,llest and scorn you because you do something that get r id l of You; s r eful— these men, I tell you, are not wits, or _orship and respect, and the sooner you th e ,tilt ed i 7 l l raise and mischievous principle, which kar,, c Ple,?.Y°u in your childhood—the sooner will th -Apr of. thin Country°u sy 0 e SS the m shake off the burdens which ught and they may then stand forth, as "srld ferth, the greatest, the freest, the happiest, and the most virtuous people on the face of the globe. (The Hon. Gentleman sat down amidst the most enthusiastic cheering.) The CHAIRMAN then came forward and said, I beg to remind you that our meetings will be held on Wednes day evenings until further notice. I am sorry to have to say, that in consequence of the alteration in the ar rangements, many parties who came a long distance from the country to attend last week's meeting, not having paid sufficient attention to the alteration, mere disappointed. I propose that we now close the proceed ing of this very interesting meeting by giving three cheers for the gentlemen who have addressed us. Three hearty cheers were then given, and the meet ing separated at ten o'clock. that not one single individual of the Society's tenants had ever been compelled to apply to the workhouses for any relief whatever since the Society came into posses sion of those estates, nor had any, with the exception of one of them, found it necessary to come over to Eng land, as was their usage, in the harvest season, to earn money which they could not get in their own country. Means, it appeared, were also taken by the Society to extend the advantages of education to the peasantry, which they had not enjoyed previously. The Secretary then resumed the reading of the ordi nary Report of the Directors, in which Colonel Robinson's report was embodied, and from it, it appeared that there were 323 shares to be declared forfeited. be printed with the Votes of the House, and said that on an early day he should bring this matter more fully before the House. Mr. DUNCOMBE presented a petition from Ludlow (as we understood), praying that as an immunity had been granted to certain noblemen and gentlemen forpast actions, to relieve them from heavy legal liabilities, the same course would be adopted towards those Dissenters who were now being sued for church-rates. I'OSTAGE.—AMERICA. Mr. WALLACE presented a petition from a nume rous! class of persons connected with philanthropic so cieties, complaining of the high charges they were called upon to pay for printed papers published by charitable institutions in that part of the world. The petitioners had, on some occasions, paid as high as fourteen shillings for the postage of a report or other document. They prayed that an uniform rate of postage might be estab lished. Mr. CARROLL inquired how the original property stood. It was desirable that the Proprietors should know the number of shares they could look to in case of a fresh call. ebtrb ambition The CHAIRMAN said, that that information was always given at the general meetings, and would of course be furnished at the present. The property consisted of leases. Mr. MAUDE, a Director, then read a statement of the Society's receipts, disbursements, and assets. The CHAIRMAN said it would have been delightful to him to discover, in his intercourse with Ireland, more instances in which improvements, like those effected by . Col. Robinson had been carried out. The great pre vailing erorrs were that plans were formed which it was found impossible to carry out, and that there was a want of attention to details, without which no substantial improvements could be hoped for. He was happy to bear his testimony in reference to the estate of Ballynakill. Having had many years acquaintance with the lower classes of Ireland, he had never witnessed anything with more pleasure in that country than !the distribution of the prizes on the mountain of Ballynakill in August last.—(Cheers.) He had the satisfaction of personally observing the progress made by the poor persons on the estate, who, it must be recollected, were actually engaged in learning the first rudiments of agriculture.—(Hear, hear.) Their busi ness as a society was not to adopt scientific modes of farming, but to give the labourer the first impulse towards improving both himself and the land which he cultivated. On the occasion when the prizes were distributed, a very general feeling of satisfaction was evinced by those who received them, and every promise was afforded of pro gressive improvement.—(Hear, hear.) He felt a confi dent hope that by degrees, however slow, the exertions of this Society would:become appreciated in Ireland. He firmly believed that they were laying the foundation of a very substantial improvement in the habits and condition, as well as leading the way to a considerable increase in the general productions, of the country. One means by which they sought to attain their object was, by showing the people that the land would, under proper care, produce several species of grain, or more commonly, of artificial grass,: which they had never before thought of cultivating.—(Hear, hear.) A prize was given to the farmer who produced the greatest breadth of green crop on a given surface ; and thus a stimulus was given to the improvement of the crops. Prizes were also given for cattle with a si milar object. The tenants kept the cattle in the house during the winter; this gave them an opportunity of ob taMing manure, and at the end of the winter a prize was given, which was found to have a very beneficial effect. He was quite sure that no individual connected with the Society would grudge the small outlay which was required for this purpose.—(Hear, hear,) He might mention one rather amusing circumstance in connection with this subject. The President ended the day when the distribution took place, by proposing that a prize should be given to the wife of the poor tenant who should send her husband to the next meeting with the fewest holes in his coat.— (Loud laughter.) It was the habit of many even of those whom they called farmers to go to the meeting dressed certainly not in the neatest manner possible.—(Hear.) In conclusion, he begged to observe that while, by training the lowest and poorest classes of the Irish people in habits of in dustry, and by inducing them to apply their energies to the cultivation of the soil, they hoped that they were securing some advantage to themselves, they also confi dently believed that they were laying the foundation of permanent benefit to Ireland. Mr. CARROLL said he entirely concurred in all that had fallen from their excellent Chairman. He would suggest, however, that in the present position of their affairs, it would not be prudent to extend their specula tions by purchasing new land, lest they should find themselves hampered in their movements. The CHAIRMAN thought that the principle of the Hon. Proprietor must be taken with some limitation.—(Hear, hear.) He did not at all mean to advise a reckless extension of their undertakings ; at the same time he thought circumstances might arise which would justify an enlargement of the present sphere. In any further steps which might be taken, the Directors would be cautious not to fall into the error which they committed in the outset, of giving too high a price for land. Colonel ROBINSON said he thought it necessary to ex plain that when the Society commenced its operations at Ballynakill, the tenantry were in a state of extreme po verty ; they literally possessed nothing at all. This was not the case, however, on some of the other estates. At Kilkerrin, for instance, the tenants were not exactly paupers •, they possessed some little property, al though from their extreme ignorance they were unable to make a right use of it. With such per sons this Society dealt in a manner which resem bled the course pursued by parents who taught children first letters, and then words, and then led them on to sentences. They led the tenantry forward by a gradual course ,of improvement.MHe . trusted that numbers of them would, in the course of three or four years, be in a state of comparative affluence, as the result of the course adopted. With respect to the point referred to by Ml. Cal full—the extension of their operations— be begged to state that on undertaking the management of his department of duty, he had expressed his deter mination not to be a party to any new undertaking until the estates already belonging to them yielded a profit. The CHAIRMAN said there was one point which he thought it very desirable to mention before the discus sion closed. Gentlemen who knew anything at all of Ireland were aware that that part of it which was called Connemara was not always very easily managed. Upon the estate of Kilkerrin there were formerly a great quantity of tenants. They occupied very much in common, and had a sort of kingdom among themselves, which they managed in their own way, and they were very jealous of any improvements, or divi sions into farms. Of course under these circumstances the Society bad found it necessary to rearrange the holdings. There were now 139 tenants located on the estate ; and he was happy to be able to state that they had not lost one tenant, and that not a single disturbance had taken place, as the result of the course they had pursued. Those persons were now regular holders, and were going on quietly, peaceably, and industriously. It was a point of great importance to convince the lower classes of Ireland that they meant to benefit them; that was the very foundation of success. Mr. WRAY moved, and Mr. CLARKE seconded, " That the Report be received; entered in the minute book of the general meetings, and printed for distribution." The resolution was carried unanimously. Mr. CLARKE moved, " That the resolution of the Court of Directors of the 2d of November last, declaring the forfeiture of 323 shares for which the third call has not been paid, be confirmed." Captain BOND seconded the resolution, which was adopted unanimously. A resolution was then moved by Colonel SHAW. and seconded by Mr. MORRIS, reducing the number of Di rectors to twelve, and Mr. Ronan Ronald, one of the acting Directors, was re-elected. Mr. CARROLL moved a vote of thanks to the Chair man, which was seconded by Captain BOND, and carried by acclamation. The CHAIRMAN, in acknowledging the compliment, said that long experience had satisfied him that it was only through minute attention to details, and the exertions of individuals in particular localities, that any great good could be effected in Ire land ; and it was this conviction which had induced him to join a society which was likely to carry out that object.—(Cheers.) A vote of thanks was also given to CoL Robinson, and briefly acknowledged, after which the meeting se parated. ROMAN CATHOLIC OATH. Mr. VERNON SMITH gave notice that on this day fortnight he should move that an alteration be made in the oath taken by Roman Catholics before entering Par liament. SUN OFFICE, Seven o'Cloch. SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS FROM THE EVENING PAPERS OF THIS DAY. GLOBE.—Certainly, the party in power are curiously chequered in ecclesiastical policy. On the one hand, they have a Stanley, a Graham, and (facilis descensus) Perceval directly charging, or inditecty insinuating perjury on the part of those Roman Catholics who show any disposition to help the Anti-Ascendancy Pro testants in their efforts to " subvert the present Church Establishment, as settled by law within this realm," and " disturb or weaken the Protestant religion or Protestant Government of the United Kingdom." On the other hand, they have the Monckton Milnes, John Manners, Smythes, and the rest of those tasteful Young Eng landers, who have " softened and elevated" their minds of late years by a sort of steeple-chase throughout Roman Catholic Europe, and are striving, sub rosu, to smuggle those ultra-montane doctrines into old England, which si milar geniuses, on thrones and offthem, have been seeking, like w.se, to revive on: he Continent.: Lord J. Manners thinks that if we had only an ambassador at the Papal Court, and free trade with Italy—not in corn, but in monks and nuns—there would be no risk of riots in Birmingham and Manchester. How he accounts for popular tumults and military precautions lately in Rome, we are not informed. Mr. Milnes thinks we should " soften and elevate"—by paying—the Irish priests. And we are credibly informed that one or more of the j Cardinals of Rome have almost daily correspondents from Oxford. Thus we have one section of the Tory party strenuously repelling, and the other strenu ously promoting Romish agencies on our institu tions. And both these sections of this most united party profess themselves to be pulling these oppo site ways equally out of pure love of the Church. What is it possible for plain men to make out of these opposite bents of Tory Churchmen ? The one set of them tend to reunion with Rome ; the other to war with Ireland. Each of them, as it appears to us, though by opposite routes, would travel towards re storing undivided ecclesiastical dominion over the spirits of men. The exclusive Protestant aims at this by main taining for Protestantism an universally marked as cendancy. The Churchman of the new Oxford school aims at it by edging towards Rome; to show her prestige and traditions. This is the party which has sought avowedly to un-Protestantise the National Church, and to which the payment of the Irish priesthood seems naturally only a sort of Church Extension. If Sir Ro j bert Inglis thought as Mr. Milnes does of the Romish Church, he would consider his plan to subsidise it simply as carrying out his Church Extension views. Now zealous men of either school may rejoice in prospects of union in the Church, either by Protestant absorp tion of Roman Catholicism, or Protestant assimilation with it. We rejoice, for our part, to think that neither the one nor the other is possible by their me thods. Of course we hope for the ultimate triumph of truth • and we have our own views of truth. But we deprecate the triumph of an undivided ecclesia tical power—and that is the triumph which Ascendancy Protestants on the one hand—Romanising Oxonians on the other—would achieve. We deprecate all assistance by the secular power to the ascendancy of any Church. A Church which is that of the majority of a people will naturally receive that treatment from its representatives which the feelings of that majority dictate. But we consider it a political advantage (we speak of no other here) that the several divisions of an empire should not belong to one Church. There is the less risk of success to that everlasting ambition of churchmen to dictate the whole direction of mental training, of moral inquiry, and thence, in the end, of social and political institutions. Two Churches are better than one ; three better than two ;—spaaking po litically. We are latitudinarian enough to think none of them may monopolise true religion ; and we are very sure that to aid one of them to monopolise establishment is no true policy. Such is the source of our alienation from an Anglican Church-ascendancy in Ireland. We rejoice that the Scotch wrenched it from our hands ; and we wish the Irish had done so three centuries back. But when Churchmen of the peculiar colour of Young England adopt the plan of State payment of the Irish Catholic clergy, we are forced to ask ourselves— Is not this tending by an opposite way from Sir Robert Inglis to the renewed ascendancy of one Church ? It is certain that the tendency is that way in the minds of our Romanising Churchmen. Now, although we do not think there is much danger of their getting the upper hand, and establishing their mode of interpreting the Thirty-nine Articles into consistency "with the decrees of the Council of Trent," still, we must say distinctly, that the very motives which draw them near Rome, keep us farther from it. We should look upon what they would call the renewed union, and what we should call the re v. -al ce'itralisation, of the Church, as the greatest of all evils. iG e iota on its existing outwara arrision— greatest of all benefits. Whatever course we would take, therefore (we make no pretension to unerring in sight in the matter), we should take from exactly oppo site motives to those which dictate the exactly opposite courses of old and new Oxford Divine-politicians. STANDARD.—" What is the League about ?" asks a contemporary. Why " the League is about many things," we may answer. The League is holding meetings with closed doors in the manufacturing districts, where it has been long known—and handing over to policemen and gaolers all intruders on its privacy. In the rural districts, which it has but lately honoured with its acquaintance, it is getting handsomely beaten, and its emissaries getting all but horse-ponded, as the other day at Thirsk ; and in the metropolis, it is delighting to honour " Mr. Daniel O'Connell," the great father of the science of " rent robbery," which it prosecutes with so great success. On the 12th prox. Mr. O'Connell is to be entertained at a dinner at Covent-garden Theatre, to which dinner the Leaguers will, of course, be the prin cipal contributors ; but surely this cannot be all that it is proposed to bestow upon poor old date oliolum in the day of his distress. A dinner, even a fortnight off, is a good thing, and it is on many accounts convenient to the aged mendicant to have an excuse for remaining in Lon don. In Ireland he must attend the Repeal Associa tion meetings, and, perhaps, say things that it would be inconvenient to have remembered on thelsth of April; besides, who knows? His bail is at present com paratively light, and the Folkestone Railway places Lon don within five or six hours of the French coast. There is a great probability that the collection of rents of all kinds approaches its end, and why should a patriot give his presence for nothing to an ungrate ful country, or place himself under the obligation of being strongly lodged at its expense ? These are all advantages which Mr. O'Connell derives from the politeness of the Leaguers' promise of a dinner— an excuse for not attending the Association and an apology for fixing himself within a five or six hours' run for the Continent ; but this is not all that the Leaguers ought to do for their old friend; why, even in the trifling business of the Factory Bill, he had 1,0001. from them for only changing sides—will they do nothing for him now that he has almost given them the opportunity of a rebellion —to fish in the troubled waters. " What is the League about?" We never expected to rattle Mr. O'Connell's begging-box, but the shameful neglect of " the League " forces us to do so. GREECE. Mr. B. COCHRANE postponed his motion on the subject of Greece until this day fortnight. SUPPLY —GRIEVANCES. Mr. S. CRAWFORD gave notice that on the motion for going into supply to-morrow, he should move that the several petitions he had presented, complaining that that House did not truly represent the people, should be referred to a Select Committee, and that until such Com mittee had reported, the grant of any supplies should be deferred. POOR-LAW AMENDMENT BILL. Mr. COLVILE gave notice: that when this Bill again came before the House, he should move several amendments upon it. CORN. Mr. HUTT postponed till some future day the motion, of which notice stood for to-day, that corn imported into the United Kingdom, from the British possessions in South Africa, India, and Australasia, be made subject to the same duty as corn imported from Canada. POST OFFICE. Mr. WALLACE gave notice of a motion for this day fortnight on the Postage Acts. RETURNS. Mr. GREGORY gave notice that on a future day he should move for several returns connected with the Paving Board, the Police, the Grand Jury, and other public establishments in the City of Dublin, Mr. JERVIS moved for a return of the names, ad dresses, professions, and occupations. of the several auditors appointed under the Poor-law Amendment Act, together with the dates of their respective appointments. Agreed to. IRISH WASTE LAND IMPROVE MENT SOCIETY-(THIS DAY.) IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. (THIS EVENING.) The usual Half-Yearly General Meeting of the Share holders of this Society, was held to-day in the King's Head Tavern, in the Poultry, in conformity with the Act of Incorporation. Shortly after one o'clock, the chair was taken by the Earl of Devon, Chairman of the Society. Among the gentlemen present were the following Directors of the Society :—William Blount, J. M. Maude, Colonel Robinson, R. P. Staples, and Newman Smith, Esqrs. ; also Mr. William Wray, Samuel Ware, W. H. Maurice, G. F. Knott, Edward Carroll, &c. &c. The Secretary having read the advertisement calling the meeting, proceeded to read the usual half-yearly Re port of the Directors of the Society to the proprietors. It stated, in effect, that Colonel Robinson, to whom the Society had entrusted the inspection of their estates in Ireland, had visited t lose estates, and superintended their advantageou' management, and that the report which the Gallant Offio;r had drawn up in consequence of his visit wou!d be read to the meeting by Colonel Robinson himself. HOUSE OF LORDS. In the absence of the Lord Chancellor, the Earl of SHAFTEsnunY took his seat upon the Woolsack at Five. HORSE-RACING PENALTIES BILL. The Duke of RICHMOND said he' should move that the Horse-racing Penalties Bill, as brought up from the Commons, and the amendments, be printed, and to morrow he should bring the matter under their Lord ships' consideration. FREE TRADE. At the instance of the Earl of RIPON, Lord RADNOR consented, in consequence of the ab sence of the Duke of Wellington, to postpone the pre sentment of his petition from the county of Somerset on the subject of free trade. Their Lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS. The SPEAKER took the Chair at the usual hour. Colonel ROBINSON then read his report, from which it appeared that the principle upon which the Society pro ceeds is that of reciprocal co-operation and mutual be nefit between landlord and tenant. It will be seen by the following statement of the former and present con dition of the three estates belonging to the Society how this principle has been adhered to, and what the benefits derived both to landlord and tenant from its being carried into effect, are— On the estate of Ballynakill, county Galway, the landlords' improvement s a t t h e t i me o f t h e C ompany ' s cominginto possession in the year 1838 were valued at 2001. ; the Society's improvements since that; time are worth 1,3671. On the estate of Gleneask, county of Sligo, the landlords' improvements were valued, in 1838, when the Society came into possession, at 1,2741. —they amount now to 2,2251. On the estate of Kil kerrin, county of Galway, the landlords' improvements, in the year 1841, when the Company came into pos session, were valued at only 1371.—n0w they amount to 1,4401. The value of the tenants' im provements on the three estates respectively, at the former periods mentioned, and at present are :- 1838, Ballynakill, 13/., now 3341.; 1838, Gleneask, 1391., now 5531.; 1841, Kilkerrin, 2,400 L, new 2,904/. The tenants' property on the estates at the same periods re spectively amounted to, on the Ballynakill estate, 191., now 3941. ; Gleneask, 1974, now 1,2671. ; Kilkerrin, 2,2001., now 3,1601. At the time when the Society entered into possession the rental of the first estate was nil, it is now 1371. Of the second estate the rental was 411., it is now 448/. ; of the third estate the rental was 500/., it is now 687/. It was also mentioned in Colonel Robinson's report Mr. DENISTOUN presented a petition from Berwick, praying for a repeal of the corn-laws. Mr. H. BERKELEY presented a petition from 32 persons connected [with the tobacco and snuff trade in Bristol, complaining of the heavy duties imposed upon those manufactures, and praying that the Government would adopt, some measures for the relief of the mann factufers. THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 29, 1844. improvement. In St. George's, Bloomsbury, a street, called Plum-tree-street, had been pulled down, and had so remained for twelve months. Application had been made to the Woods and Forests to know when the houses were to be rebuilt, but no answer could be ob- tained. The tradesmen in the immediate vicinity com plained, and not unnaturally, of their trade being much injured by the loss of customers. The assessment to the poor rate, which in that district was made on a valuation of 35,0001. was, in consequence of the destruc tion of the street, reduced to an assessment on a valuation of 14,0002, and the rates were thus very mach increased upon those which remained. They had only to employ more workmen and the difficulties would be got over. He thought the public convenience ought to be considered, and where buildings were pulled down they ought to be erected again as soon as possible. He he had presented a petition on this subject, and he thought he was in duty bound fo make the observations he had done. The Earl of LINCOLN was quite aware of the in convenience complained of by the Hon. Member, but he could assure him it was not the fault of the Woods and Forests. In many parts the purchase of the land had not been completed till a short time since, and it was, therefore, impossible to take any steps. He had no doubt, however, that ultimately the constituents of the Hon. Member for Finsbury would be benefited ; for the rating on the houses, instead of being, es it was at present, 35,000/.2 would amount to 46,000/.—(Hear.) Leave was then given to bring in the Bill. SHIPWRECKS—HARBOURS OF REFUGE. Mr. RICE then rose, pursuant to notice, "To call the attention of the House to the Report of the Com mittee on Shipwrecks, with reference to Harbours of Refuge, and to move an humble address to her Majesty, praying that a Committee of scientific and competent persons might be appointed to consider and advise the best means of carrying into effect the recom mendation of that Committee." It was his in tention to confine himself to that part of the Re port which had reference to the harbours of refuge. In doing so, he would not trouble the House by alluding to that part of the report or evidence, which referred to a great number of places which were submitted to the Committee, for the construction of harbours in different parts of the world, nor would he refer to that part of it which alluded to - particular localities for their construction, though he might have his predi lections in favour of the place he had the honour of representing. But he was warranted by the report in stating it as his conviction, that the formation of one or more harbours of refuge in narrow seas was, not only a measure of national utility, but of urgent neces sity. He would read shortly from the report that part of the evidence to which he referred. It says that witnesses of the highest authority were called, and gave evidence in proof of the want of har bours of refuge accessible at all times, no matter what the state of the tide was, and of the necessity of erect ing them in places where they did not exist at pre sent. With regard to the places for their construc tion, the Committee *commended that this part of the subject should be left to the consideration of competent and scientific men, whose attention should be exclusively directed to the subject. He had adopted, in his motion, as nearly as possible, the words used in the Report. The Report went on to say, that as large appropriation of the public funds as could be made should be applied to the con struction of harbours of refuge in such places. A great number of professional persons of the highest authority on the subject, had been produced before the Committee. Mr. Cubitt, the engineer, had been examined, and several civilians who were interested on the subject. lie would now only refer to the evidence of two o r three persons who, from their high situations and professional experience, were eminently worthy the attention of the House and the country. The first of these gentle men was Captain Washington, who was employed by the Admiralty to survey the Eastern coast. He stated that he had turned his attention to the subject of harbours of refuge, and that there was a great want of them on the eastern coast. Between the Thames and Portsmouth there was also a similar want, and, looking at our contiguity to France, he con sidered this not the last important part of our coast.. He would next turn to the evidence of Captain i Buller, who was directed by the Admiralty to follow in the steps of the Commission of 1840, and who !gave it strongly as his opinion, that a great security would be given to the commerce of the country and the integrity of the coast, by the formation of a harbour of refuge between Portsmouth and the Nore. Another witness was Mr. Cubitt, who was one of the Commission of 1840, and who was first examined with respect to Dover, and who stated that the strong opinion of that Commission had been given as to the necessity of a harbour of refuge between Portsmouth and the Nore. The Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports (the Duke of Wellington) was the last witness whose evi dence he would then refer to. The chief part of his Grace's evidence was in reference to the pilots and pilot system. His Grace, however, took an opportunity of distinctly expressing his opinion that it was absolutely necessary to form a harbour be tween Portsmouth and the Thames. He further stated that, in case of a war, he should consider the want of protection and of refuge, which now existed, would leave the trade of .that part of the coast, and indeed the coast itself, in a very precarious situation. He would not trouble the House with any further evi dence on this subject. He did not care so long as har bours were established, whether the Government made them harbours of refuge or harbours of defence. A good harbour of defence was a good harbour of refuge, and a good harbour of refuge was a good harbour of defence. This was a subject which required the most serious attention of the Government. It was the duty of her Majesty's Government to provide the means of security, not only for our commerce, but also 'sec urity for our coasts. He recollected perfectly well that at the time Napoleon meditated his descent upon England, the coast was in a very defenceless state. He was quite sure that, if at that time steam-vessels had been in use. Napoleon would have been enabled easily to have landed 15,000 or 20,000 men on the coast. He did not mean to say that such a landing would have been at tended with much success to Napoleon ' • but it would have have had this effect—it would have destroyed that confidence which was now felt in our insular position In considering this subject, the Legislature ought take into account the great alteration which had been made of late years with respect to steam navigation, and the use that power might be applied to in the event of another war. He was present at a large meeting in Devon some time ago, on the occasion of the opening of the rail way, and at which all the most influential persons of the town were present, all of whom expressed strong hopes that those harbours would be constructed. They should recollect that the French Government were acting upon the old proverb, that to be prepared for war was the best way to secure peace, and were daily increasing their naval force, and more parti cularly their steam fleet, andhe thought it was incumbent uyon the British to make the navy equally effective. At Boulogne and Calais harbours of refuge had been constructed by the French Government ; and at Cher bourg, when he was last there, no less thau 400 men were employed in improving the harbour. He hoped that there would be no financial objections raised to the con struction and improvement of this harbour. A Com mission had been appointed to examine the esti mates for making this harbour. The Report was laid before the Houee by the late Chancellor of the Exchequer, and it was found that the expense would be 500,000/. for the first three years; and for the subsequent ten years, to keep it in repair and perma nent condition, about 100,0001. would be required; and he thought that this comparatively small sum ought not to stand in the way of such a great national object. He felt convinced there was no person in that House, not even his Honourable Friend near him (Mr. Hume), who was so vigilant in his guardianship of the public purse, would have the slightest objection to the expenditure of the sum he had just named, when they reflected upon the great importance the construction of those har bours of refuge were in a national point of view. He felt that this was a subject which he was hardly warranted in pressing this matter so strongly upon the Government. But not only as one of the Members for the Port of Dover—(A laugh)—and, also as a Member of the Committee which had sat to inquire into the sub ject, he thought he might be justified in moving for an address in the terms of which he had given notice. Sir JOHN RAE REID said that as a merchant and shipowner he felt a great interest in this question. He agreed with his Hon. Colleague that the in port of Devon could be made one of the finest harbo urs the world.— (Laughter.) He did not say so on account of his con nexion with the town, but only as a merchant and ship owner.—(Laughter.) He did not wish to interfere with the financial arrangements of the Right Hon. Gentleman (Sir R. Peel), but he would say that there would be no difficulty in raising any amount of money that might be required at a very low rate of interest, and nothing could give him greater gratification than to be intrusted with raising the monies. —(„Great laughter.) He was glad that his Hon. Friend had brought the attention of the House to so excellent and desirable =object. He se conded the motion. Sir R. PEEL said that the subject was certainly one of very great importance, and well deserving the consi deration which the Committee had given to it. But the Committee was appointed to consider the best means of preventing shipwreck, and the inquiry respecting har bours of refuge was a natural and incidental part of their subject. He had not the least doubt, that if .the Honourable Mover had been the repre sentative of any other borough than that which the seconder described as the very best harbour of refuge in the world—(A laugh)—he would have brought forward this motion, and that he was not at all influenced by re gard to the interest of the locality.—(Hear and a laugh.) But it was rather odd that the mover and seconder should both be the representatives of the port, which claimed to be the best site in the world for a harbour of refuge.—(Hear, hear, and a laugh.) But if the House were to listen to Members for towns on the eastern coast, they would be told that on that coast were the best situations for such harbours, and that there they were most wanted. The Right Hon. Gentleman then read extracts from the evidence before the Shipwreck Committee to the effect—that for two hundred miles south of the Humber, there were no har bour of refuge, although there were several situations where one could be constructed at an expense of not more than five hundred thousand pounds. If they went from the East coast to the West, he thought he had quoted the mos t conc l us i ve reasons for establishing harbours of refuge on the West coast, for the purpose of facilitating the communica tion with Ireland. As !tir as considerations of public policy were concerned, and the promotion of the public interest, he should select Holyhead as the place for a harbour, which would bring Dublin within a very few hours reach of England.—(Hear, hear.) With re spect to the ch anne l, h e was a t one ti me much inclined . to attend to the report made by the highest authorities, recommending the constraction of three harbours, but hey would cost two millions each. He under valued none of the considerations stated. In these reports and evidence ; bearing in mind the altered rela tions of different countries, both in their commercial in terests and their means of offence and defence, created by steam, he thought this might be an additional reason for considering the necessity of establishing h arbours of refuge. There had been certainly strong opinions expressed by some professional men in favour of Dover, but there were other very high authorities who were against the selection of Dover. It had been asserted that during certain states of the wind, shipping could not enter the harbour of Dover, and that, therefore, it was a proper place for the constriction of a har bour of refuge. Her Majesty's Government had been embarrassed in making up their minds, apart from the consideration of expense, as to what would be the best port to select for a harbour of refuge. They should make up their minds to begin withone, and to make that one as complete as possible. It would be better to make one harbour to complete that commerce thence. There were three points to be considered in the construction of this harbour. In the first place, it was to be considered with regard to its advantages as affording a place of refuge for merchant vessels. Secondly, as a great naval harbour for purposes of offence and defence during time of war, and thirdly, they must consider the facilities for defending the harbour. They must ascertain whether all these advantages were combined before they fixed. The Government required further evidence on the subject. They were not at present prepared to submit any plan to that House. The subject was still under their anxious consideration, and he considered it 'ought to be sub jected to further :consideration. The Government pro posed to appoint a Commission, composed of some of the most eminent naval officers, of some eminent autho rities among the commercial marine, of one or two eminent civil engineers who were the best versed in the action of the tides, and In the effect produced by breakwaters in the deposition of mud, and of some Osdnance officers. Heiwould not say one word in favour of Dover, or against it. He should leave the matter entirely to the investigation of the Bommissioners. He trusted he had said eonughto show that the subject was under the anxious consideration of Government, but they would not be prepared to submit any proposition to the House on the subject until the Report of the Commissioners should have been made and con sidered. Lord R. GROSVENOR wished to know, whether the Government contemplated entering into arrange ments with the Chester and Holyhead Railway Com pany, as it seemed to have been determined that Holy head was the proper place for the packet station for communication with Ireland. Sir ROBERT PEEL said that he considered Holyhead to be the fittest port for causing a communication with Dublin and Ireland generally. Some reflections had been cast upon the officers who had originally reported in favour of Holyhead. Since then other gentlemen had been appointed to report, and among those gentlemen was Mr. Walter, the President of the Society of Civil Engineers. They had confirmed the former report. With respect to the Railway Company, the Government had had communica tions with it, in the course of which the Com pany had come down in their demands from 80,000/. to 40,000/. Only yesterday he had received a communication from a new Company, offering to con struct a railway without cost. The Government had not determined on the subject, and therefore he could not atpresent make any declaration as to the intentions with regard to the railway. Sir C. NAPIER said that the winds did not admit of Dover being a good harbour. He thought that Dover being made a harbour was entirely out of the question, because the winds that would permit ships to anchor safely in the Downs, would render their anchoring at Dover impossible. The Downs was alone the proper place for a har bour in his opinion, and he hoped the Govern ment would give their preference to it. With respect to Holyhead, he thought it was admirably calculated for communication between this country and Ireland. He trusted that this subject would not lead to the perpetration of a job. ,Sir J. R. REID explained. Sir T. TROWBRIDGE was satisfied to leave the sub ject in the hands of the Government. _ _ _ Mr. RICE in reply, referred to the evidence of Captain Washington, to show that Dover was the best place to erect a harbour of refuge. He had not referred to Dover, because he thought he was best consulting the interests of Dover in leaving it to rest on its own claims. He was perfectly satisfied with what had fallen from the Right Hon. Baronet. He hoped he would not have to trouble the House any more on the subject. He hoped the Government would take the matter up, and he trusted it would not be made a job of.—(Hear, hear.) The motion was then withdrawn. (LEFT SITTING.) THE ANTI-CORN-LAW LEAGUE. The Anti-Corn-law League is not yet extinct. It still lives. Nor does it exhibit the slightest symptoms of any diminution of its vitality. On the contrary, if there be any difference, it is more vigorous now than it was four weeks ago, when the Premier's declaration in favour of the present system was supposed by the monopolists (the wish was father to the thought) to be in effect the passing of sentence of death on the League. The League is made of sterner stuff. It is not to be thus easily annihilated. It has not, it is true, the seeds of immortality in it. When its work is done it will willingly dissolve itself; but, until it have accomplished the objects for which it has been established, it will continue, not only to live, but to flourish in more than its wonted vigour. There have been dark intimations in some of the Ministerial prints, and in the speeches of monopolists at county meetings, of an intention on the part of Government to put down the League. Let Government dare attempt to carry the menace into died. The League would rejoice to see the effort made. It invites col lision with Ministers. It has already defeated the monopolists in argument ; it will triumph over Ministers should they ad venture on the bold step of endeavousing to put it down by forcible means. Let them, if they can screw their courage to the sticking place, attempt to deal with the League as they have done with the Repeal agitation in Ireland; let them, if they have a mind, issue a Covent-garden " proclamation," in imitation of their Contarf " proclamation ;" let them do this, and see what will be the result. One infallible conse quence of the collision that will ensue will be, that the Mi nistry and the corn monopoly will fall together. It will be well if these be the only results. Providence be praised, the Liberals of England are not yet reduced to that condition of helplessness into which centuries of oppression have brought the people of Ireland. Here we have a power, as well as the disposition, to vindicate our rights, should they be unconstitu tionally assailed. Ministers know this, and will not there fore venture on the experiment. Straining the law, though a game at which Governments have too often played with success in Ireland, is one at which Home Secretaries and Colonial Secretaries, despite their won drous valour, dare not attempt to carry too far in England. We have no fears for the League ; it has none for itself. It will receive no molestation at the hands of Government. It will quietly, but steadily, proceed in fulfilling its righteous and merciful mission, until that mission has been fully worked out. We know not whether it be worth while to advert to a species of molestation of another kind, with which the League is threatened from a different quarter. But for the frequency of the allusions made last night to the new mono polist League, we should have passed it over in silent con tempt. The organization of that body is the desperate effort of desperate men. It is a mere flash in the pan. It will end in smoke. The money collected will be soon spent, and then the whole affair will come to a close. What do these landed Leaguers mean to be at.? Is it not enough that they have the Ministry and the Parliament—a Parliament of their own selection—at their beck? How will Sir Robert Peel relish ' the kind of aitl which they propose to afford him ? Will he not resent this new agricultural organization as an insult to himself? Will he not look on it as the embodyment of a suspicion still lurking in all landed breasts, that he cannot be depended upon, but must be goaded on to the performance of his duties to the monopolists? What is the new League, in reality, but an instrument of torture, to be held in terrorem over the head of the Premier, and to be applied without mercy to his back whenever he shall betray a disposition to desert the landed oligarchy? There must be no snore tariffs ; no more modifications of the corn-laws—not even of the slightest kind. The rod now placed in the hands of these monopolist Leaguers, will keep him in check. The appre hension of its vigorous application will teach him the neces sity of not meddling in 'future with " vested agricultural in terests." We are right glad to see the humiliating position in which the Premier is placed. He has no claims on our pity. He has not the manliness to resign himself to the impulses of his own mind, and get rid for ever of the monopolist crew, by pitching them overboard. He had not the courage, though he might have done it with the 'greatest ease, to keep them in due subordination. The result has been, that they have mutinied against him. They have now achieved the mastery over him. He is allowed nominally to remain at the helm ; but only so long as he steers in accordance with their wishes. The Duke of Richmond is the only captain whose authority the monopolists recognise, and whose commands they obey. His Grace is in reality the Minister of this country. How long will Sir Robert Peel submit to remain in this degrading position? We can hardly believe it will be long. lie must still have spirit enongh remaining to burst asunder the fet ters which hold him in so ignoble a thraldom. A breach between him and the imperious landlords must be at hand ; and when it comes it will be irreparable. Sir Robert will then, of necessity, throw himself into the arms of the free traders. The monopolist League cannot fail to contribute materially to the acceleration of this event, and therefore we rejoice in its organization and operations.—Advertiser. AN ADROIT SWINDLER.—A fellow is going round the neighbourhood of the Hampstead-road, dressed as a respectable groom, ringing the changes upon the people in the following manner:—He called upon a respectable widow who lets furnished lodgings, and represented he had authority from his master, with whom he had lived some years, to take apartments for him ; and after the little preliminaries were settled, she asked for a deposit, and he readily agreed to leave 55., and gave her half a sovereign, she returning him a half-crown, two shillings, and sixpence. He then said, it was nothing but right to mention his master was a great drunkard, and when in that state extremely boisterous and unruly. Of course, the widow declined taking him as a lodger, and tendered the fellow the half-sovereign back again, when he re turned her a half-crown, two shillings, and sixpence, and left the house. Soon after he was gone, she found the half-crown was a bad one. _ WEATHER.—We have, during the last few days, been visited with a storm which rivals the severity of mid-winter in its angriest aspect. The snow of Tuesday and Wednesday was followed by a still greater fall on Thurs day night and Friday; and up to Sunday evening it may be said to have continued with very slight intervals. The frost has, at the same time, been very intense. During Thursday, large masses of ice floated down the river, and the harbour at one time became so densely filled, that the steamers could with great difficulty force a passage out or in ; and on Friday morning the space between the bridges was one unbroken sheet of ice, having been completely , frozen over in the course of the previous night, nowithstand ing the strong current and the action of the tide. Yesterday morning at an early hour the fall of snow increased in heavi ness, and continued till mid-day, accompanied by a tempestuous wind from the north-east, which caused a severe drift, and rendered it the most unpleasant winter-like day we have ex perienced this season. The London mail was, notwithstand • ing, only about two hours beyond its usual time of arrival. In .the north, however, the downfal has been very consider able, and the Perth mail has, in consequence, been much de layed.—Glasgow Argus of Monday. RAILWAYS. Sir C. DOUGLAS presented a petition from War wick, praying the House would adopt some means by which the several lines of railways should be thrown open to general competition. Mr. M. GIBSON presented a petition, signed by 458 persons, representatives of various commercial firms in Manchester, with a similar prayer. AGRICULTURAL PROTECTION. Lord WORSLEY presented a number of peti tions from various parts of Lancashire, praying that the House would sanction no legislative measures which would tend to diminish the fair protection which should be given to the agricultural interests of this country. THE GAME LAWS. Mr. WALLACE presented a petition, signed by a number of noblemen, gentlemen, magistrates, and other influential persons in the counties of Lanark, Renfrew, and Ayr, complaining of the evils attendant upon the present laws for the preservation of game. They stated that those laws tended to induce persons to be out at night with fire-arms for the purpose of killing game, and thus led them into the commission of offences of which they would not, under other circumstances, be guilty. The Hon. Gentleman moved that the petition PRISON DISCIPLINE. Mr. MACKINNON gave notice that he would, on this day fortnight, move for a Select Committee to in quire into the state of discipline in prisons, with a view of making such improvements in their management as might be safely adopted. Mr. Sergeant MURPHY presented two petitions from the municipality of Cork, complaining of certain parts of the Municipal Corporations Act for Ireland, and praying the House to amend them. Sir G. CLERK presented a petition from certain pa rochial schoolmasters in Worcester, praying for an alteration of the system under which parochial schools were conducted. Mr. lIUTT presented a petition from certain parties engaged in an action in the Court of Exchequer, brought against them by the corporation of Sunderland. The petitioners stated that some returns had been made to that House which were important evidence in the cause, and they therefore prayed that the officer of the House might be permitted to produce the said returns on the trial of the cause. The Hon. Member moved that the petition be printed with the Votes of the House, and gave notice that, to-morrow, he should move that the officer of the House be ordered to comply with the prayer of the petitioners. MANAGEMENT OF THE REVENUE. Mr. HAWES wished to ask the Noble Lord opposite when the labours of the Commission which had been appointed to inquire into the management of the reve • nue, were likely to be brought to a close. Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSET said, the inquiry was ot say progressing as speedily as p oss ibl e , b ut h e coul d n ow long it would be bef ore it wou ld b e termi nated. . _ _ r ESPARTERO. Sir HOWARD DOUGLAS said a paragraph in a newspaper had just caught his eye, in which it was stated that he had charged General Espartero with want of personal courage. The courage of that officer was un questioned as it was unquestionable. His (Sir R. Douglas) observations had applied to the corps d'armee. He had great pleasure, therefore, in availing himself of this opportunity of giving this explanation with respect to an individual who was absent and in adversity. RAILWAYS. Mr. WALLACE wished to know whether any clause that should be introduced in any_Railway, Bill brought forward during the present session, would be held to be binding, as well with respect to the branch and exten sion lines as the old lines? Mr. GLADSTONE said he understood the Hon. Gentleman to ask, whether a clause that was recom mended by the Railway Committee was to be inserted in all Railway Bills brought before Parliament this ses sion, and whether that clause would apply only to junc tion: lines and extension Imes, or in each case to the entire line ? Llis answer was, he believed that in all cases were railways were brought before Parliament by Bill, in which any new powers were to be given, those Bills would be brought under the operation of the clause. He need not now explain what the purport of the clause would be, but as he understood it, it would apply to the whole line in each case. BUILDINGS IN THE METROPOLIS. Lord LINCOLN rose to bring in the Bill of which he had given notice for regulating the construction of build ings in the metropolis and its neighbourhood. The numerous reports which had been laid before the House, not only from commissions and local authorities, but from Committees of Parliament, must have made such an impression Upon Honourable Members that it would be useless for him to recapitulate the statements of those reports, or occupy the time of the House by making extracts from them. In 1840 the Hon. Member for Newark introduced a Bill upon this subject. It was a measure not only of essential, but of para mount importance, and the first Bill brought terminated. time, in by a Noble Lord in the other House was rea d a second but it Inwas carrie dl B n 4 o t tthe B dwasth through ough again when the session brought in, was read a first time, and reached the second reading in . this House, but i n consequence of the di sso l u t i on of Parliament it mad e no further progress. - I n 1842 a Bill was again introdu ce d, b ut b y the consen t o f all parties it was referred to a Committee of the House of Lords. The Committee sat the whole of the session, but came to no resolution further than to publish the evidence. By the advice of his Right Hon. Friend the Secretary for the Home Department, he (Lord Lincoln) had undertaken to look into the Bill, and to prepare a mea sure on the subject. For that purpose he had consulted eminent and experienced builders and carpenters, and looking to the number of towns which would be affected by so general a measure, many of them having already local Actsj for the] same objects, he thought it was de sirable to bring in an Act for the metropolis alone, and wait to observe the effect of its operation. here, before it should be extended to the rest of the country. With that view he brought in a new Bill in 1843 ; but the pressure of business during the session prevented its being gone through with. He did not regret that, as it gave him Tan opportunity of introducing improve meats into the measure ; and he hoped that in its present form it would be likely to be effi cient, and productive of great public advantage. The House was aware that the Act which was at present in existence for the purpose of regulating the buildings in the metropolis had been passed seventy years ago. In the present extended state of the metropolis it was obvious that many of the provisions of that Act must be inapplicable to the present state of things. He pro posed to repeal that Bill altogether, and to introduce a separate measure, em b o d y i ng the provisions of that Act relating to the prevention of fire. It would be unnecessary to trouble the House with the technical de tails of the measure, which would be not only uninteresting but unintelligible. The House w ould find that the greatest possible care and attention had been taken in the framing of those details, and he had every reason to believe that they would be palatable to the parties con cerned. In the Bill of last year, provisions had been in troduced for the general regulation of draining. He had omitted those regulations in the present Bill, because the great question of the drainage of the metropolis and of other large towns, and also of affording an adequate supply of water to populous places generally, was now un der the consideration of the Commissioners who had been appointed to consider the means to be adopted for pro moting the health of populous places, and he hoped to be enabled to introduce a general measure for the regu lation of drainage, founded on the Report of those Commissioners. The only regulation he had intro duced into the measure on the subject of drainage was, that for the future no house should be erected without a proper provision being made to se cure adequate and proper drainage. The mortality produced among the poorer classes by the want of pro per drainage, and by the over -crowding of their habita tions, was exceedingly great,. and he proposed t o pro hibit the use of cellars as habitations, except under cer tain circumstances. lie also proposed to introduce a 1 clause prohibiting the carrying on of dangerous trades which might occasion fire, or tr a d es nox i ous to health in crowded localities. He proposed to have dis trict surveyors appointed by the magistrates. Such sur veyors not to be under thirty years of age, and not to be magistrates ; and he also proposed that the appointment of surveyors should be confirmed by the Secretary of State, so as to secure the services of a superior class of officers. Although he objected to making new officers, yet he felt that it was absolutely necessary, to prevent expensive litigation, that official referees should be appointed, to determine disp u tes, and he, therefore, proposed to appoint them by this measure. There was a provision for extending the operation of the Act round the metropolis ; but not further than twelve miles from Charing-cross. There was also another pro vision, new to this Bill, and which was not in the Bill of last year ; it was one for vesting the power of deciding on the report of the official referee in the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, in cases where any exceptions were taken to his r e p orts . H e earnest l y hoped, that though the Bill was of a technical nature, and therefore not of anature to command the attention of the House, that it would receive its best consideration. On the question being put, Mr. DUNCOMBE said h e did not wish to oppose the Bill but he wished to call the attention of the Noble Lord to a petition he had presented from a p ort i on o f hi s consti tuents. complaining of the dilatoriness of the Woods and Forests in rebuilding houses, in some cases whole streets, which they bad pulled down for the purpose of EAST INDIA HOUSE. THANKS TO THE SINDIAN ARMY. Yesterday a Special Court of the Proprietors of East India Stock, was held at the East India House, con vened by the Court of Directors, for the purpose of laying before the meeting resolutions of thanks adopted by the Executive body of the Corporation, in reference to the recent military operations in Sinde. The Chair was taken by Mr. John Cotton, and the minutes of tho last Court were read. The CHAIRMAN acquainted the Court that since tho last meeting various papers relative to compensation, &c., had been presented to Parliament, copies of which were now laid on the Proprietors' table. He (the Chairman) said he had to acquaint the Court ofX.roprietors, that it had been specially summon e d to consider resolutions that had been passed by the Court of Directors, which would now be read. The Clerk then read the following resolutions : " At a Court of Directors, held on Tuesday, the 20th of February, 1844 " Resolved, by the ballot—That the thanks of this Court be given to Major-General Sir Charles Napier, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, for the emi nent skill, energy, and gallantry displayed by him in the re cent military operations in Sinde, particularly in the two decisive battles of Meeanee and Hyderabad. " Resolved unanimously—That the thanks of this Court be given to the several officers of the army, both European and native, serving under Major-General Sir Charles Napier, for their unwearied zeal and conspicuous gallantry. " Resolved unanimously—That this Court doth highly ap prove and acknowledge the brave and meritorious conduct, displayed by the non-commissioned officers and private sol diers, both European and native, engaged in the operations of Sinde ; and that this resolution be signified to them by the Commanders of the several corps." _ _ Gentlemen ' when we last met in this Court we were engaged in a discussion of the policy and justice of the late proceedings in Sinde. We are now met under dif ferent circumstances. I am not about to say one word as to the policy of what has been done; that is certainly beside the present question. My duty is now with military services, and with military services alone; and in that view I desire to present to your notice Major- General Sir Charles Napier and the gallant force under his command in Sinde. You are all aware, that after a most distinguished career in the Peninsular war, Sir Charles Napier was placed by her Majesty on the staff of the army in India, and that he was removed in Au gust, 1842, from the quiet station at Poonah, to the important command of the British forces in Beloochistan and Sinde. Whilst executing this military command, he had to send his troops against the Beloochees, and, need I say, what has been admitted and declared by the highest military authorities in this country, that in the performance of his duty he displayed remarkable vigour and skill, and undaunted courage, and obtained brilliant and decisive victories over large bodies of a brave and determined enemy, under circumstances of unusual difficulty and danger. The particular exploits are so familiar to you and the public, that it would be an un necessary occupation of your time to enter into a detail of them. Suffice it to say, that the battles of Meeanee and Hyderabad may be considered as worthy of being ranked among the most brilliant achievements of the British army. I must further add, that the staunch qualities of the British soldiers and sepoys were seldom exposed to greater trials, or more successfully estab lished, than in those battles, and the medals for dis tinguished services in the field were never better or more gallantly earned than those which are to be con ferred on the brave troops engaged on these memorable occasions. Gentlemen, the motion which I have to submit to you shall now be read. The Clerk read the motion, which was an echo of the resolution passed by the Court of Directors. Sir JAMES LAW LUSHINOTON rose to second the mo tion. As having been connected with the army of India, he had great pleasure in supporting the resolutions. To ensure unanimity the resolutions had been framed so as to avoid discussion, and that the thanks to Sir Charles Napier, and the army of Sinde, might be passed without opposition. For himself he could not suffi ciently express his admiration of the undaunted courage, skill, and perseverence that had been displayed by that gallant officer.—(Cheers.) lie had indeed shown himself a master of the art of war. His Grace the Duke of Wellington had expressed himself in the strongest terms as to the manner in which Sir Charles Napier had conducted the great operations in Sinde. That gallant officer was not only entitled to the thanks of the Court of Proprietors, but to the lasting gratitude of the coun try.—(Hear.) The promptitude that had been exhi bited in the attacks of the Sindians at Meeanee and Hyderabad, without scarcely an hour's delay, deserved the utmost praise. He (Sir J. L. Lushington) hoped there would be no dissentient to the motion. As to the valour of the troops, both European and native, there could be but one opinion.—(Hear.) Their courage had been equal to that of the best of the British army. Mr. SULLIVAN said he must object to the resolutions, to which he would give his most strenuous opposition. The Hon. Proprietor then went into the history of the Sinde war, and the conduct pursued towards the Ameers. He quoted copiously from the " Blue books, " but as the matter has already been sufficiently referred to in the debates in Parliament, and at the East India House, it is not necessary to report this portion of his address to the Court. He contended that Sir Charles Napier had the option of preserving peace, but he preferred war. The Gallant General held the pen in one hand, and the sword in the other. He (Mr. Sullivan) ap plauded the skill and valour of Sir Charles Napier, but condemned his policy. He had resolved to attack the Ameers wherever he found them. The war was a bloody and wanton one, and therefore he could not thank Sir Charles Napier or his army. There had nut been, he contended, the least necessity to move a single troop. He trusted the Proprietors would not stain the records of that Court by having inserted upon them the resolu tions that had been come to by the Court of Directors. He should move a direct negative to them, and wished to ask for the proceedings of the Court of Directors on the subject. Mr. FIELDER asked if there were any dissents among the Directors to the proposition ? The CHAIRMAN replied in the negative. It was not usual to proclnce the proceedings of the Court of Direc tors upon matters brought before them. He should ob ject to the reasons being given. Mr. WEEDING said had he known the course the Hon. Proprietor (Mr. Sullivan) intended to adopt, he would have come prepared to rebut the statements that had that day been made. A perusal of the papers that had been presented relative to the affairs-of Sinde, had con vinced him (Mr. Weeding) that Sir Chailes Napier de served praise for his humanity as well as for his military skill.—(Hear, hear.) In one of the dispatches he wrote to the Governor-General that he kept up the strictest discipline, so as to protect the people of the country. At :the battle of Meeanee, while emerging from the desert, he had to perform the most extraordinary duties. After the battle of Hyderabad, the wounded Be loochees, who fought under the belief that no quarter would be given, were collected, while the sword had scarcely been put into the scabbard, and as sistance rendered to those unfortunate individuals. Under all these circumstances, he (Mr. Weeding) was surprised at the mawkish opposition of the Honourable Proprietor. Mr. MARRIOTT was opposed to the vote of thanks. The Gallant General was bent on war. That was his animus. The agent of Sinde was sick and tired of war, but his was a moral illness. Wyrotat animo magis guam corpore. Mr. FIELDER held that this was not a political but a military question.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. TwINING expressed regret that a unanimous vote could not be come to. There had been a combination of military skill and humanity, which was so distinguished a feature on the part of English commanders. The highest compliment had been paid to Sir Charles Napier by the Duke of Wellington, whose military career commenced in India, and was crowned at the battle of Waterloo. He (Mr. Twining) would most cordially support a vote of thanks to Sir Charles Napier, and the gallant officers and soldiers under his command. Mr. SULLIVAN, in explanation, observed that he had not denied the military talents of SirCharlesNapior,who might have had peace if he had not have preferred war. Sir R. CAMPBELL (a Director) condemned the policy of Lord Auckland, but his excuse might be the example set by his predecessor ; and he (Sir Robert) considered Sir Charles Napier felt himself perfectly justified in the course he had pursued. Sir JEREMIAH BRYANT contended that this was not a political question. He strongly eulogised the character of the Sepoys. Mr. BOLT MACKENZIE considered there was no diffi culty in separating the military from the political ques • tion. lie thought that the civil - lets of Sir Charles Napier could not be approved of, as they had led to the necessity of military operations. tile, therefore, would give the Gallant General thanks for his military, but not for his civil acts. The Duke of Wellington had committed a political blunder at Vienna, but no one could dispute his glorious military career. No army would accept thanks if a leader such as Sir Charles Napier was excluded.—(llear.) General GALLOWAY (a Director) spoke in favour of the motion, though he did not approve of the conduct of Sir C. Napier. If ever they had a great military man, such a man was Sir Charles .Napier.—(Cheers ) The CHAIRMAN then directed the clerk to read -the first resolution of the day. On the question being put, the resolution was carried by a large majority. Only four hands were held up against it. The second and third resolutions were car ried unanimously. Mr. SULLIVAN gave notice of motion for the next Court, for' the production of the minutes of the proceed ings in the Court of Directors on this subject, &c. The Court then, adjourned. „ COLBURN'S NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE FOR MARCH. —The utmost that need be said of this number of Mr. Col burn's popular periodical is, that, both for variety and inte rest, it even surpasses the two preceding Numbers of the pre sent year. The opening paper is a Legend of Languedoc, by " Ingoldsby," entitled " Th e L or d of Th o ul ous e," spiritedly illustrated by Leech, in which magic and teetotalism form the subjects of the writer's facetious powers. This legend is one of the best Ingoldsby has yet given us. The third part of the curious " Talleyrand Papers" divulges the secret his tory of the intrigues which led to the capture and imprison ment of the Spanish Princes at Valencay. The Marchioness of Londonderry describes in a very lively manner her visits to the Mosque of St. Sophia and the Seraglio, and her pre sentation to the Sultan. Mrs. Trollope concludes her spirited history of " The Butt," the denouement of which will greatly surprise her readers. The " Letters from Hong-Kong and Macao" are also concluded in this number, and give a very characteristic picture of the condition of the population of China. " The Old Forest Ranger" contributes some stirring passages from his Indian diary ; and Mr. Lamar! e ßlApe_ha n zl Cook's, aca gives us one of his pleasant papers called "Enqui_r_. Within." ' e tr e actthe B an e d sid a l so s th on es e e f a r r o t m icl t es h , e t p h e e n re o i f s m a c iss haz n in e t tr r esd of an D l s _ l 7 tal nouvellette entitled "The Genoese Mask, and a highly e ts ly to to Pe a a t Socie ties." The pap er, greatest attention is that on the Censorship of the English Drama, as exemplified in the prohibition by the Lord Chain humo humorous artideemhb"lowej;!enrg, sundrywhi is berlain, of Unhistorical comedy of " Richelieu in Love." 1