The Sun. — London, England, 1850-03-08 00:00:00

MPORTA.NT NEWS of sin JOHN FRANKLIN. EThe followikg official communication from the Adiniralty appeared in our Third - Edition of yes- t9rcray.—] With reference to the article in this day's Aluriang Herald, in which it is stated " the writer of the letter states that he had seen a gentleman from Kamschatka, who informed him that he had seen Sir John Frank lin, that he and all his party were quite safe, and coming through the North-West Passage," we have been furnished with the following copy of a letter from Mr. Samuel Peck to the Lords of the Admiralty, by which it will be observed that no mention is made of Sir John Franklin having been " SEEN" by any one. (Corr.) TO THE LORDS OF THE ADMIRALTY. Liverpool, March 6, 1850. Mr LORDS,—I hasten to give the intelligence I have received regarding Sir John Franklin and his expedition, which I believe to be the first, and I trust will prove correct, as I can give full evidence to the honour and truthfulness of the writer, my son. Herewith a full extract of the letter, dated San Francisco Bay, California, Sunday, Dec 30, 1849 " There was a gentleman on board this ship yes terday that has just arrived from Kamschatka, with the news of the discovery of Sir John Franklin and all his party. They are all well, and have come through the North-West Passage. (Signed) " CHAS. WILLIAM PECK." My son writes from on board the English ship Blakely, of Liverpool. I trust, my Lords, that I shall have been the first to give the intelligence of the missing expedition. The truth or erroneous information conveyed by the gentleman alluded to by my son, must shortly become known. I give also a postsCript to my son's letter : " P.S.—This is favoured by Captain Askew, late of the barque Chillian, of London, who has kindly offered to post it for me at Panama, to clear the Yankee postage."—C. W. P. I have, &c., SAMUEL PECK. GERMANY. A telegraphic dispatch from Berlin of the sth inst. mentions certain rumours of an unexpected delay which, it was believed, was impending on the convo cation of the Erfurt Parliament. The correspond ant of the Kolner Zeitung asserts that these rumours are devoid of foundation, and that the Parliament is to meet on the day appointed, viz., on the 20th March. The draught of the Message to that Parlia ment has been confirmed. The Allgerneine Zeitung has letters from Munich of the 2d instant, stating that the conferences of Munich have at length led to the conclusion of a treaty between the Kings of Saxony, Bavaria, and Wurtsmberg. This treaty is intended summa rily to dispose of the affairs of Germany. It was signed on the 27th of February. II mover has not as yet consented to join the three other king doms on account of certain differences of opinion between Hanover and Austria on the subject of the propositions respecting the German Constitution, on which" Austria, Bavaria, and Wurtemberg are already agreed. Mr. Starve, the Hanoverian Premier, withholds his sanction from the Austro- Bavarian scheme, on account of its want of guarantees for its future stability. He objects to it because Austria will not consent to a state chamber, or to a twofold representation of the Governments. Austria in her turn stands up for a single chamber to represent the in terests of Germany. She offers to make the greatest sacrifices, and proposes to join the Confederation with all her provinces, with the exception of those of Italy. She demands a Diet of 300 members, in which she proposes to represent the 33,000,000 of Austrians by 100 members, the 16,000,000 of Prussians by another 100 ; and t4se 17,000,000 of inhabitants of smaller states by the third hundred. In the Directory of seven votes, Austria claim; but a single vote. The Bre3law Gazette says that the Countess Casi mir Batthyany, who accompanied her husband on horseback during the whole Hungarian war, and afterwards followed him into exile, has just had con fiscated her family jewels, estimated at 80,000 florins. They had been buried in a secret place known only to a domestic ; this man having fallen dangerously 111, communicated the secret to a priest, and the priest made it known to the military authorities, who im mediately seized the je:;•els. PORTUGAL. Advices have been received from Lisbon to the Ist of March. _ _ Tne Royal Family and the Prince and Princess of Joinville continued at Mafra. The Co - tint of Thomar had laid before the House of Deputies his annual report of the Home Department, and presented twelve new projects of law relating to reforms in the internal administration, division cf territory, recruitments, mines, statistics, &c. The House had passed the Bill for confirming the privileges of the Bank of Portugal ; the principal modifications which it makes in the original Bank decree are the reduction of the capital from 11,000 to 8,000 contos, with power to reduce it to 5,000 contos, or 1,125,0001., when the old notes of the Lisbon Bank and the Confianca Company shall have been paid off. The privilege of issu ing notes as a circulating medium is re stricted to the district of Lisbon, but the Bank is empowered to establish branch agencies in different parts of the country. The concessions granted by the old Bank Charter of 7th June, 1824, are again revived, and it is specially stated in the Bth article, " That the Bank may negotiate and discount bills and all other papers of credit used in commerce, which bear the number and quality of signatures required by its statutes, and that the effects of all drawers, acceptors, endorsers, and guarantees, shall be consi-• dered as tacitly and legally hypothecated for its pay ment without the necessity of registration." A project of law, presented by the Deputy M. Francisco Antonio da Fouseea, for taking off all duties upon the export of grain and relieving the vessels from tonnage dues, was likely to be adopted by the Government. The Committee of Deputies had formed, upon the government project, a complete code for the represssion of abuses of the press. It retains the trial by jury composed of citizens eligible to be elected membeas of the House of Deputies, but proposes the establishment of an exceptional court of appeal, composed of three members chosen by the House of Peers, and three by the Deputies, under the presidency of the President of the Supreme Tri bunal of Justice, which would naturally feel itself un justly slighted by such a transfer of part of its functions to a political tribunal subservient to the Government, which will name the Judges through the Cortes. There was some talk in Lisbon of referring the American claims upon the Portuguese Government to arbitration. ITALY. The Piednsontese Gazette of the 2d publishes a proclamation of the Sy n di c o f T u ri n , an n o unc i ng th a t a solemn religious service would he celebrated in the Church of the Mother of God, on the 4th of March, the second anniversary of the proclamation of th e Constitution, and of the instituti on o f t h e N at i onal Guard. We find in the same paper a circular, addressed by order of the Minister of the Interior, to the Intendants-General o f pro- vinces, for the better organization of the National Guards, containing directions for the distribution of arms to those who had not yet received any. In the sitting of the Chamber of Deputies of i Turin, of the Ist, Dr. Zunini moved that the Cham ber should celebrate the anniversary of the 4th of March with peculiar solemnity. Dr. P . olto seconded the motion, adding that the President should be empowered to arrange matters, so that the Chamber and National Guard might be present toge • ther at the ceremony. Both motions were agreed to unanimously. Another motion by M. Chenal, that the 4th of March be declared a perpetual holiday, was so far agreed to that the Minister of the Interior was instructed to pr esen t a law on the subject. Th e dis cussion of the Bill on postal reform was then resumed, and advanced to Art. 24. PnILADELPHIA, FEB. 18.—Antiquarians w ill f ee l deeplyinterested i n the discovery of vast regions of ancient ruins near San Di ego , an d w i th i n a day ' s ma rch of the Pacific Ocean, at th e h ea d o f t h e G ulf of California. Portions of temples, dwellings, lofty stone pyralmids (seven of these withi n a m il e square), and mass i ve gra nite rings, or circular walls, round venerable trees, columns and blocks of hiero glyphics—all speak of some ancient r ace o f men now for ever gone, their history actually un k nown to any of the existing families of mankind. In some points, these ruins resemble the recently discovered cities of Palenque, &c., near the Atlantic or Mexican Gulf Coa s t ; . in others, the ruins of ancient Egypt ; others, again, the monuments of Phoenicia ; and yet in many features they differ from all referred to. The discoverers deem them to b e an t e dil uv i an , w hile the present Indians have a tradition of a grea t c i v ili z ed nation which their fero cious forefathers utterly destroyed. The election of Lord Rector, Aberdeen, has been made in favour of Sheriff Gordon, who had a majority of 72 over his opponent, the author of the Latter Day Pamphlets—Thomas Carlyle. INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS. On 'Tuesday, March 5 (William Cubitt, Esq., Pre sident, in the chair), before the business commenced, it was announced by the Secretary, that an electric telegraph dispatch had been received, communicating the gratifying intelligence that. at seven o'clock in the morning of Tuesday, three locomotive engines and :aunty-two loatle, coal wa,, ,, g0n., vvPi , Aing in all three hundred tons, had passed through the Britannia tube, over the Menai Straits, with perfect safety, and very satisfactory to Mr. Stephenson, the engineer. The discussion was resumed on Mr. Taylor's sys tem of Street Paving, and was extended to such a length as to preclude the reading of any paper. It was contended that a rigid and unyielding sub stratum had been tried by Mr. Telford many years since, and had been used with success in some parts of the City paving, up to the present time. The average duration of the pavement of the streets in the City was stated to be eight years, but that it was constantly subject to injury, from being moved by the water and gas companies. The pave ment on London-bridge by Sir John Rennie was instanced as a good, but expensive, example of the use of long narrow stones; and that by Mr. Walker, on Blackfriars-bridge, was quoted as another instance of the success that might be attained by great care in the preparation of the substratum, which was of con crete, and the stones of the pavement being laid with more than ordinary skill and care. The results in both cases were eminently successful, but it was allowed that such an expensive system, however beautiful, was not applicable to the ordinary streets. It was admitted that, although the principal streets of the City and the main thoroughfares of the Wrest and East ends were well attended to, yet it must be allowed, that the paving of the majority of the streets was not in a satisfactory state, and it was attributed, in a great degree, to the want of a definite system being adopted; there being too many autho rities in the shape of parish paving boards, each of which had a separate surveyor, too often equally in efficient and ill paid. The water and gas companies appeared to vie with each other in their endeavours to destroy the paving ; and a portion of the Strand was quoted as having been removed thirty times within two years. With respect to Mr. Taylor's system of paving, it was contended that the Mount Sorrel granite was a very superior material, both as regarded its toughness and durability, and that its natural structure enabled it to be worked very advantageously into the small cubes. The main feature of the system was the selection of the material for the substratum, and the careful preparation, so as to afford a sufficiently rigid, but yet imperceptibly elastic bed, whereon the small cube stones should rest. These stones being well driven down by repeated blows of light rammers, attained a degree of solidity which defied the heaviest traffic ' • and in the towns where the system was em ployed, considerable economy had resulted. The sur face of the paving appproached as nearly as possible that of a macadamized road, affording even a safer foothold for the horses, and with less noise of passing vehicles. The surface possessed extraordi nary durability, and it might be considered as a solid mass of granite. It was announced that within a few weeks there would be specimens of Mr. Taylor's system of paving laid down at the entrances of Hyde park, where they would be subjected to regular traffic of a destructive nature, and which would be under constant observation. A model of an improved crossing point was ex hibited by Mr. Duncan, of Leeds; the notch in the rail was shown to be done away with, and the two rails in it were so dovetailed together, as to render any vertical motion between them impossible, thus materially strengthening the crossing. A piece of brickwork, set in Greave's blue lias lime, and which had been kept under water for nine days, was also exhibited. This material was com posed of one-third of lime to two-thirds of burnt clay; and it was stated to have been used with great suc cess in the tunnels on the Great Northern Railway, as well as in many hydraulic works, in which it was as durable as cement. At the monthly ballot for Members, the following gentlemen were duly elected :—Mr. E. 0. Tregelles, as member ; and Messrs. J. A. Agnew, W. Bevan, E. Goddard, J. D. M. Stirling, G. B. Thorneycroft, C. C. Williams, and Lieut. Douglas S. Galton, R.E., as associates. The next meeting was announced to take place on Tuesday evening, March 12, when an interesting paper will be read, " On Tubular Girder Bridges," by Mr. Wm. Fairbairn, Al. Inst. C.E. THE COUNTRY MARKETS. LOUGHBOROUGH, MARCH 7.—At to- day's market we have bad a supply of all grainawheat, and barley, each is lower. Other descriptions of grain as last quoted. DERBY SMITHFIELD MARKET, MARCH s.—The show of fat stock to-day was decidedly good, and higher prices were asked; the attendance of purchasers was large, ard we thought the demand was somewhat improved. The supply of sheep was also good ; the trade in the early part of the morning was very inactive, but there were only a few lots left on hand unsold. Fat and store calves were pletinful. Fat pigs about the average. Beef made from 5d to bid per lb. ; mutton, sid to 6d ; veal, 5d to sid per lb. ; pork, 75,6 d per score. Rough fat, 3s 6d per stone of 14lbs. Hides, lid per lb; calf skins 2d to aid per lb. . - BOSTON, MARCH 6.—Wheat, red 2 7 s to ,as Od, white 36s to 395, extra 41s ; oats 103 to 16s ; beans, 18s to 2.5 s ; peas 21s to 25s per quarter: LYNN, MARCH s.—Wheat 30s to 345, fine 36s to 40s ; barley les to 20s, fine 22s to 26s per qr. NEWARK, Maness 6.—Wheat, white 41s to 425, extra 44., red 36s to 375, extra 38s ; barley, malting 24s to 265, seed 275, grinding Os Od, foreign Os to Os; oats,; feed 1611 to 18s, seed 20s to 233 ; beans, 25s to 265, seed 27s ; peas, white and blue 28s to 30s, seed 34s ; spring tares, 36s to 40s per qr. EDINBURGH GRAIN MARKET, MARCH 6.—Wheat— The quantity of wheat brought forward to-day was 842 qrs, being 128 qrs less than last week. Top price is down, and the average 5d up-96 qrs unsold. Barley—The quantity brought forward was 377 qrs, being 9 qrs less than last week. Price on the top 6d, and the average Is 2d up-55 qrs unsold. Oats—O this kind of grain we had 1,081 qrs brought forward, or 181 qrs less than last week. The top price the same, and the average Is 7d up-67 qrs unsold. Beans —The quantity of beans to-day was 257 qrs, or 70 qrs more than last week. Price on the top the same, and the average ed up-10 qrs unsold. Top of Wheat ... 64i1b. 43s Od „ Barley ... 59ilb. 26s Od „ Oats ... •.• 45i1b. 22s Od „ Beans 66i1b. 30s Od EDINBURGH CATTLE MARKET, MARCH 6.—The supply of cattle this morning was 518, being 256 less than last week. Demand good, and prices the same as last market. Top price, 7s ; current, 63 to 6s 6d ; middling and inferior, 4s 6d to 6s per:Dutch stone. The supply of sheep this morning was 1,817, being 45 less than last week. Sales were slowly effected at about last week's prices. Top price of best mutton, 54d per lb ; current, od. to 5d ; inferior, 4d to -lid. Nearly all sold. DUNBAR, MARCH s.—Wheat, weighing 64ilbs, brought 365, and prices to 2.15. Barley, weighing 551bs, brought 20s, and prices to 00s. Oats, weighing 42i lbs, brought 19s, and prices to 13s 6d. Beans and peas, weighing 001bs, brought 335, and prices to 265. CORK, MARCH 6.—Flour—First 12s Od to 13s; extra 14s; seconds, lls Od to 12s ; households 9s to Ils Od; thirds, is to 84 per cwt. Oatmeal 10s to 10s 6d; Indian meal is to 7s 3d ; wheat meal. lOs to 005 Oct per cwt. Indian corn 132 s 6d to 135 s per ton. Bran 3112 s 6d to 3115sper ton. Hay—Farmers 25s to 353; average 32s ; dealers 32a to 38s Od; average 363 per ton. Straw— Farmers 19s Od to 25s Od; average 225; dealers COs Od to 00s Od; average 00s Od per ton. Bread—Wheaten loaf tid to bid; household loaf 5d to 5d per 41b. Fresh butter, 8d to 10d per lb Eggs-3s 10d to 4s lid per hundred. Coals— Newport 15s; Lydney 17s ; Landore 15s ; Best Neath Culm 14s per ton. Tallow 40s Od to 00s per cwt. Vcrhisky, 25 o. p., 5s 9d per imperial gallon. Meat —Beef 4d to 6d; mutton 4d to 6d; veal Od to Od ; pork 44 to Od; bacon 64 to 74d; sausages 5d per lb. Hops 131 Os per cwt. Bangor slates 3/ 2s 6d to 3/ 5s pet ton. Bark—Barbary 71 5s to 8/ 51 ; Valonia 14/ tool; French 71 53; English 01 per ton. Fleece Wool 10s to 12s per stone. Hemp 321 tooo/ per ton. Fish—Scotch herrings 16s to 171; re d ditto 20s to 22s per barrel ; Newfoundland 9' Os to 11/ pet ton. Timber—Memel, 85s per ton ; deals, first quality, les; second quality, 16e per 100. Hides—Market 14s to 20s; salted 15s to 21s per cwt ; calf skins 2.td to 2d per lb. Potatoes, white 8d to 9}d; Minions 12d to 13d; Guano— Peruvian, 111 10s; Icbaboe, 91 per ton; Tar—Archangel, 191 per barrel. A SUBSTANTIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT.—Capt. Cook, and the crow of the British barque Sarah, have been the objects of special attention in New York during the past fortnight, for their noble conduct in the rescue of the passengers and crew of the packet ship Caleb Grimshaw. A purse of 8,600 dollars was made up among the mer chants, and distributed as follows to the officers and crew of the Sarah:—To the captain, 5,600 dollars; chief mate, 750 dollars; second mate, 400 dollars; carpenter, 350 dollars; to the steward and able seamen, each 125 dol- LarKs;ingto ordinary u ary7izg, seamen . and apprentices, each 100 dollars. Feb. 6. BRITISII COLONIAL BANK AND LOIN COM P A NY .-- The ninth annual meeting of this company was held at the offices i n Moorgate-street on Wednesday, Mr. Stuartb in the c h a i r , w h en a report was pre pented,w their hich said beliefaidth h the directorstata material m h a a tea dth l es atisfaction of stating improvement had taken place in the condition of the Australian co l on i e s in the course of the last year, and that the property of the company, in common with all other property in these colonies, had risen in value. The directors recommended the shareholders to declare a dividend of two per cent. The directors v ery much re gretted to say that the suit in Chancery to which they alluded in their last report had been decided against the company, thus occasioning a dimi nution in the value of the property of the com pany to the extent of 4,582/ . 10s., in which amount was included the sum of 1,312/. mentioned in the report of last year. The accounts showed the amount of the capital to be, shares, 164,2051 ; liabilities, 5,027/. 135.; profit and loss, 2,7551. I Is. Id.; together 171,980/. 4s. ld.; which waq thus accounted for: — Preliminary expenditure, 5001. ; loans per Sydney books, 164,955/. 13s. Id. (of which 126,550/. 19s. 6 . d. are foreclosed); cash, 4,1711. Bs. ; bills receivable, 2,3611. 2s. 10d. On the profit and loss account the re ceipts (including a balance of 3,3941. Bs. 6d. from the pre vious accounts) amount to 8,946/. 6g. 2d.; and the expen• diture (including the last year's dividend of 2,881/. Is. 11d.) 6,190/. 15s. ld., leaving a balance of 2,755/. I Is. ld. After considerable conversation as to the practicability of re ducing the expenditure and selling the surplus property of the company, and also as to the advisability of endeavour ing to merge the company into some of the other Aus tralian companies, the report was adopted, the dividend declared, the directors authorised to take such steps as they should deem advisable to pay off the loans duo by the company, and a vote of thanks given to the chair man and directors ; th e meet i ng then separated. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF OF LORDS, March 7. The DIIIII CfrIFT.T.OR took hiS scat on theWool ia,:k .hortly before Five o'clock. NEW PEERS. Lord LoNzooortot7“it enri Lord Ovr:ar,,NE took the oaths and their accts. Lord Londe borough was intro duced by Lord .Fol',y and Lord Eddisbury, alit?. Lard Overstone by Lord Portman and Lord Campbell. THE CASE OF THE REV. MR. DOBBIN. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said he had re ceived a letter from the Rev. Mr. Dobbin, stating that the letter which he had recently read to their Lord ships was a forgery. The Rev. Gentleman did not, however, deny that he was the writer of the first letter which he had read to their Lordships, calling upon him to substantiate the statements he had made in his place in their Lordships' House. PETITIONS. Lord STANLEY presented a petition from the agriculturists of Ripon, praying for the imposition of a protective duty on foreign corn. He gave notice that on Tuesday next Lord Redesdale would draw the at tention of their Lordships to the present depressed state of agriculture. The Earl of ST. GERMANS presented a petition against the Sunday Trading Prevention Bill, the pro visions of which were tyrannical. He hoped the second reading of the Bill would not be pressed this evening. The Earl of HARROWBY said the Bill was founded on the report of a Committee of the House of Commons, and under such circumstances he thought it hardly fair to oppose the second reading of the Bill. He should certainly press the second reading of the Bill this evening. The Duke of RICHMOND presented several petitions in favour of a Ten Hours' Bill and against the relay system; also some petitions complaining of agricultural distress, and praying for the re-enactment of protection; among others, one from Dorsetshire, from a,public meeting. Lord PORTMAN should have taken the oppor tunity of expressing his regret that the meeting had been held, had it not been that a melancholy occurrence which had then taken place would soon become the sub ject of judicial investigation. The Duke of RICHMOND was sorry if any unfortu nate occurrence had taken place, but he rejoiced that the meeting had been held by the farmers, who, they might depend upon it, would not suffer the Free-traders to ride roughshod over them. LORD-LIEUTENANCY OF IRELAND. The Earl of MOUNTCASHELL asked if it was true that the office of Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland was about to be abolished as had been stated. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE could give the Noble Earl no information as to what might be the future in tentions of her Majesty's Government, but he would re mind the Noble Earl that the office could only bo abolished by Act of Parliament. REMOVAL OF OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE CORN TRADE (SCOTLAND) BILL. Lord BROUGHAM moved the committal of this Bill. The Duke of RICHMOND urged the postponement of this Bill until May, in order to give time to consult the landlords of Scotland on the subject. Lord BROUGHAM had every wish that the Bill should receive tho amplest consideration, but if he were to postpone it until May he would risk losing the Bill. He would move the committal now, and would not object to postpone the next stage until after Easter. The Earl of MINTO considered it important that time should be given to the people of Scotland to con sider the Bill. The Duko of RICHMOND would be satisfied if time was given to consider the measure, which greatly affected the rights of the landlords of Scotland. Lord BROU,GIIAM would not object to any delay which would not throw out the Bill. The Bill then passed through Committee. PARTY PROCESSIONS (IRELAND) BILL. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE moved the bringing up the report of the amendments to this Bill. He sug gested to the Noble Duke (Wellington) the propriety of permitting the report to be now received, and of moving the clause of which he had given notice on the third reading. The Duke of WELLINGTON agreed to the sugges tion of the Noble Marquis, and gave notice that on the third reading of the Bill he should move a clause pre venting any person appearing in arms in Ireland out of his house. Lord MONTE AGLE gave notice of his intention to move certain clauses on the third reading. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH suggested some verbal alterations in several of the clauses. The LORD CHANCELLOR explained the legal effect of the clauses as at present worded, and of the alterations suggested by the Noble Earl. After a short conversation, in which Earl Grey, the Marquis of Lansdowne, Lord Stanley, and Lord Beau mont tock part as to the legal meaning of the terms " shall," " will," and " may be lawful," Lord BROUGHAM suggested that his Noble Friends opposite should reconsider the wording of the Bill, for the purpose of making it uniform throughout. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH gavo notice that upon the third reading he would move an amendment on the second clause, which would give magistrates the same discretion with regard t ) attending the meetings, as they would have in publishing the proclamation. The report was then received, and the third reading fixed for to-morrow (this day). SUNDAY TRADING BILL. The Earl of HARBOWBY, on moving the second reading of the Sunday Trading Bill, said he would not enter into any statement on the subject, as it would be proposed to send the Bill to a Committee up-stairs. The Bill was then read a second time, and their Lord ships adjourn e I. HOUSE OF COMMONS, March 7. The SPEAKER took the Chair shortly before Four o'clock. PETITIONS. Several petitions were presented against Sunday labour in the Post-office; also several petitions in favour of the Martine Bill. Sir W. PATTEN presented a petition from Lancaster in favour of county financial boards. Mr. B. HUGHES presented a petition from Carnar von to the same effect. Mr. MINTZ presentei a petition from Birmingham against the excise duty on paper and the advertisement and penny newspaper stamp duty. Mr. SPOONER presented a petition from Rugby in favour of county financial boards. Mr. HEYWOOD presented petitions from Chorley and other places in Lancashire praying for a reduction of the duty on tea. Mr. CHARTERIS presented several petitions from places in Scotland against the Marri age Bill. Mr. PLUMPTRE presented a petition from a place in Kent praying the House to take into consideration the remuneration given to surgeons in the Royal Navy. Mr. 11. BERKELEY presented a petition from a place in Gloucestershire in favour of county financial boards; also petitions from Wakefield and Bristol in favour of the ballot. Mr. BUCK presented a petitio❑ from a place in De vonshire against the duty on tea. Mr. HUME presented a petition from a union in Yorkshire praying for the establishment of county financial boards; also petitions from Norwich and other places against taxes on the diffusion of knowled ge . Mr. PILKINGTON presented a petition from a place in Lincolnshire praying for an alteration in the law of removal and settlement. _ . _ Mr. BANKES presented a petition from Halifax in favour of a Ten Hours Bill. Mr. WRlGHTpresented a petition from Manchester signed by 19,000 persons, praying for a reductio❑ of the duty on tea; also petitions from Galashieis and Dalkeitli praying that an affirmation might be substi tut-d for an oath where persons entertained a conscien tious objection to take the latter. Mr. MILES presented a petition from Salisbury against the Marriage Bill. REAL PROPERTY. Mr. LOCKE KING gave notice that this day fortnight he should move that, considering that the recent legis lation of the House bad conferred large benefits upon all classes but the landed interest, it was expediedt to remove the existing restrictions on the transfer of real property, and allow real property to be bought and sold according to the same rule that prevailed in reference to• personal property. ADMISSION OF JEWS INTO PARLIAMENT. Mr. P. WOOD gave notice that on an early day he should move the appointment of a Committee to search the journals of the House for any precedents which re late to the admission of Jews to a seat in the House without being previously sworn on the Holy Gospel; also to inquire into and report upon the circumstances under which Mr. Deedos, in 1833, was allowed to make an affirmation to the effect of the usual oaths on taking his seat; and to inquire into and report upon the legis lative enactments which allow Jews and persons not professing Christianity to make affirmation in courts of law, and be sworn on the Bible where oaths on the Evangelists are usually reguired. LORD-LIEUTENANCY OF IRELAND. Mr. REYNOLDS gave notice, that at the sitting of the House to-morrow he should ask the Noble Lord at the head of the Government if it were the intention of Government to introduce or support during the present session of Parliament any measure for the abolition of the Lord-Lieutenancy of Ireland. SARAWAK. Mr. HUME gave notice that this day fortnight he should call the attention of the House to the proceedings of her Majesty's forces in Sarawak. He also took that opportunity of complaining that certain papers which he had moved for on the subject had not been presented to the House, and said it would be his duty to adopt some means for securing obedience to the orders of the House. QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE. Mr. B. OSBORNE wished to call the attention of the latlltioteeun to Hon. Member of l . a matter of privilege. He had seen t o -d a y in the Mor n i ng Ch ron i c l e an a d vert i sement to t h e effect that .Nete House mhberfor toa Cambridgematter thatintendeodccutorrecd in call the recent debate in that House. Ho (Mr. B. Osborne) wished to know whether it was competent for the Hon. Member to comment upon a former debate. The SPEAKER said an Hon. Member could not comment on a former debate without transgressing the rules of the House. Mr. HUME asked whether it was proper for any Hon. ifember to advertise in the public papers on suc h a subject?—(Great laughter, which drowned the reply of the Speaker.) Mr. CAMPBELL said it was his intention t o h ave come down to the House this day to call the attention of the House to a metier personal to himself, p ersonal to the inhabitants of Kensington, and personal to the Hon. and Gallant Member for Middlesex (Mr. B. Osborne). He (Mr. Campbell) thought in what took place a short time ago he bad suffered considerable misrepre sentation on two pints at the hands of the Hon. and Gallant Gentleman.. The first point was with reference to the intercourse with that Hon. and Gallant Member's constituents, and, secondly, with reference to language in this House, with regard to that intercourse. Ho had been advised by several very respectable friends - -(Llught-r)--thnt he hwi b ttcr leave this complaint and thi . inquiry until after the debate, which was fixed far the 28th of February.—(Hear.) Since he had cores (Ira n to the Hothe, he had been informed, that his Noble Fri , od at the head of the Government, had some important matters to suggest, and as he was always ready to make private convenience subservient to the public service, he was desirous of reserving what he had to say until a future opportunity.—(Herr, and laughter.) Yet, at the same time, he must say that he was exceed ingly desirous that the matter upon which they were now engaged should be brought to as speedy a conclu sion as possible.—(Laughter.) Several Members behind him were using badinage, but it would not affect him, except in so far as it would prevent his explanation. The SPEAKER said that the Hon. Gentleman was perfectly competent at the present moment to make any explanation ho pleased. Mr. CAMPBELL then said that in a speech he had intended to make he had been interrupted in what ho had intended to say, or he should have been able to declare his sentiments to the House. He had received a communication from the secretary of a Reform Association at Kensington, inviting him (Mr. Campbell) to take part in a meeting there. He (Mr. Campbell) wrote to the secretary to say that he did not agree with the views of the association, but ulti mately consented to attend the meeting, and at a great inconvenience did so. He had left the House to do so ; and he believed the Hon. Gentleman the Member for the University of Oxford was on his legs at the time, and he must apologise for leaving him.—(Great laughter.) On arriving at the meeting he found that it was not fully assembled, but consisted in arly altogether of boys.—(Laughter.) After some others had spoken, be was requested to address the meeting, although the secretary was aware of his (Mr. Campbell's) views on the subject; and he complied with that request because it would have been uncivil not to have done so. A Chartist rose up on a bench just opposite him— (Laughter)—not the Hon. Member for Nottingham (Mr. F. O'Connor), nor the Hon. Member for West Surrey (Mr. Drummond), but a Chartist, who attacked him because he had a seat in the House of Commons, and who declared him (Mr. Campbell) to be a fair specimen of .that assembly—(Loud laughter)— and he confessed he met that charge with considerable indignation.—(Continued laughter.) He regretted to find that the character of that House did not stand in such high estimation in Kensington as it did in other places.—(Loud laughter.) Great confusion took place at the meeting—(ae we understood the Hon. Gentleman, who, we may mention excited the greatest amusement and hilarity in the House owing to the genuine simplicity with which he deliverel his address)—in the midst cf which he retired, and arrived at the House at the time of the division, and explained what had taken place to his lion. Friend near him. He hoped the House would acquit him of any disposition to make any false representaticns. With regard to the language which the Hon. and Gallant Member ascribed to him, he begged to assure the Hon. and Gallant Member that he was quite mis taken in supposing that in speaking of the inhabitants of Kensington he made use of the term low people." lie would not dispute that the Hon. Gentleman might have been under the impression that he did use that language, but he did nut find it in any of the reports of his speech, and therefore before the Hon. and Gal lant Member spoke so positively on the matter he ought to have satisfied himself that the language really was used. It was almost unnecessary fir him to say that the sentiments ascribed to him by the Hon. and Gallant Member with regard to the working classes were not at all the sentiments he held about them. The conduct of the working man was highly deserving of commenda tion, while his character was entitled to every respect.— (Order, order). The SPEAKER was quite sure the Hon. and Learned Member would see the necessity of refraining from any further observations. It was not usual to refer to what had passed in a former debate in this way, and if any Hon. Member had misrepresented the views of the Hon. Gentleman, the Hon. Gentleman ought to have made his explanation at the close of that Hon. Member's speech. If the Honourable Member wished to clear up any mis representation as to his character, he ought to be strictly limited to that.—(Hear.) Mr. CAMPBELL said he would only thank the House for the indulgence they had given him, and he would assure them that it was not unappreciated. Mr. B. OSBORNE said, after the very simple story which had been told to the House by the lion. Member for Cambridge, it was really unnecessary to trouble the House further with the matter. He (Mr. B. Osborne) could assure the Hon. Member that what he had said with regard to the respectable people of Chelsea and Hammersmith was perfectly satisfactory, and he ac• cepted his apology with the greatest kindness.—(Rears cf laughter.) EPISCOPAL REVENUES. _ _ Mr. DEE DES asked the First Lord of the Treasury whether it was the intention of the Government to bring forward this session any Bill founded on the report of the Episcopal and Capitular Revenues Commission? Lord J. RUSSELL was understood to say tLat the subject a ould be brought before the House after Esster, but he could not say what time after Easter. TILE IRISH POOR-LAW. Mr. CLEMENTS said he had seen from the report of the Irish Poor-law Commissioners that they were in course of declaring the working out of the commission with reference to Connaught. He would ask the Secre tary of State for the Home Department what was the reason that they had taken a very small portion of Con naught, viz., the county of Leitrim, for that commission? I❑ the county of Leitrim there were three portions— small ones it was true, but not, nevertheless, to be neg lected o❑ that account—which seemed to have been left out of the calculations of the authorities; and he wished there fore to inquire whether there was any design of intentionally leaving out these the ee portions? Sir G. GREY was not aware that these portions bit] nut been touched. The arrangement of these mitters laid exclusively within the duty of the Poor-law Com missioners, and he was not, therefore, in the possession of sufficient information to give any definite reply, but he would make the requisite inquiries in order that he might give a satisfactory answer to the question. REDUCTION OF LIGHT DUES. Mr. FORSTER wished to know whether it was the intention of the Right Honourable Gentleman the'Pre sident of the Board of Trade to bring in any measure this session for the reduction of the lighthouse dues chargeable upon sea-going vessels. Mr. LABOUCHERE said that certainly when the subject of the Trinity Board was before the House last session ho had incidentally allude.] to the light dues, hoping to lessen the expenses which now resulted from them, but he had this session introduced several impor tant measures connected with the mercantile marine, not one of which had he had an opportunity of bringing before the House, and he should therefore feel perfectly unjustified in bringing any other matter before the House until these were disposed of. DIVISION OF IRISH UNIONS. In reply to a question from Mr. li. HERBERT, Sir G. GREY said he did not know enough upon the repl y, tur e day. He was not at but would obtain the subject necessary a ! informationpre en present to g give a r a future all aware that there was any intention whatever to divide the unions. THE NEW LORD CHIEF JUSTICE. Colonel SIBTLIORP rose to ask a question of which he had given notice, namely, whether such appointments as made, since the last session ofbrn Parliament, o willrna way t be subject to such reductions in their salaries and allowances as may be recommended by Parliament, and especially the recent appointment of the Lord Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench; and, whether Lord Campbell accepts the same salary as Lord Denman did, viz., 8,000/. par annum, instead cf 10,0001. as the Act of Parliament grants. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that Lord Campbell had accepted the office of Lord Chief Justice at the same salary as Lord Denman —namely, 8.0001. per annum. lie ought also to state that the arrangement with respect to the diminution of the salary of the office had been made by the Lords of the Treasury without any Bill being passed fur the purpose in Parliament ; but he should presently give notice of a Bill for that purpose. It was not proper to bring in any nit asure without consulting Lord Denman, and he might say that this Bill would have Lord Der,man's full approval. With respect to Lord Campbell, he had been informed at the time that her Majesty's pleasure had been notified to him that the salary would be 8,000/. per annum. He might also state that it was intended to reduce the salary of the Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas to 7,000/, per annum. With respect to the first part of the question, he could not state that it was generally intended to reduce all the salaries of officers appointed since the last session of Parliament, but some salaries would be reduced, and those officers whom it was intended to reduce had re ceived notice. Mr. HUME wished to know if the pension which Lord Campbell was to receive had been settled? Lo - rd J. RUSSELL said that n) arrangements had yet been come to. Colonel SIBTHORP wished to know if Lord Camp. bell would still continue to be a Minister ? Lord J. RUSSELL said that Lord Campbell had already ceased to hold a seat in the Cabinet. ELECTIVE FRANCHISE. Lord NUGENT asked Sir De Lacy Evans whether ho might be understood as engaging himself, in any event, to press forward to a discussion and division, on the earliest open day after the Easter recess, the measure which he postponed on Tuesday evening last, respecting au extension of the elective franchise? Sir DE LACY EVANS replied that it was his inten tion to press the measure, but if any unforeseen circum stance should arise to prevent him, the Noble Lord was at liberty to bring forward the subject himselt. Lord NUGENT said the House would perhaps allow him to give a conditional notice. That in the event of his Hon. and Gallant Friend not considering it necessary to bring forward the question on an early day after Easter, he should feel it his duty to give notice that on as early day after that period he should move for leave to bring in a Bill to the effect that all occupiers of dwelling-houses assessed to the poor-rates or taxes, should be qualified to vote for Members of Parliament.—(Hea r , hear.) ECCLESIASTICAL COMMISSION BILL. This Bill was read a first time. KILRUSH UNION. Mr. P. SCROPE called the attention of the House to the social state of the union of Kilrush, in the county of Clare, for the purpose of moving for the appointment of a Special Commission to inquire into the same, and into ha means that might be adopted for its amelioration. He hoped that some suggestion might be made, or some plan devised by such a Commission, to rescue from starva tion and the grave the unhappy population of this union, which he said was situated at the western extreme of the county of Clare, and formed an acute right angle. The population was 80,000 in 1841, and the raluation in 1845 was something under 60.0001, and though it would appear to be a densely populated district, the average number of acres per 'head was consid A-ably larger than n many other unions. Capt sin dy gay tile f )110 wing aecount of the p.pulotion in I,ls:—The Captain repre setitc.l the as to be a set of amphibious polio grAvr,ng, fish coll. ,. cting, and turf gathering r pula.ion. As had fishers as they were farmers, occupy ing potato land for which they paid three pounds an acre, although it was not worth fifteen shillings, and subject to the casualties of the season, without receiving any assistance of their landlords. Assistance of that kind as a general rule was never given, and the landlords not only neglected their property, both as re gards their own interest and that of their tenants. No wonder then that a population so situated should have felt the pressure of the poteta failure in 18-16 with most overwhelming severity. Not only did they lose their means of subsistence, but they were ex posed to the exorbitant rents which they had to pay. All classes, therefore, suffered, and it was not to be wondered at that when the relief granted by Par liament in 1846 and 1847 was afforded to them, the en tire population of the district should have rushed with one accord on the relief works. No wonder that there should have been a sort of general scramble for it, and that the expenditure on the occasion should have reached an extraordinary magnitude. The House would hardly credit it, bat he could assure them it was a fact, that in the county of Clare alone the expenditure on the relief works was no less than 470,0001.; and in the parish of Kilkenny alone the expenditure on the relief works reached to the enormous sum of 110,0001. The county of Clare was most remarkable fur the amount of destitution, for the rapacity of its relief committees, and for the difficulty with which its destitu tion was relieved. In many instances the money in tended for the poor was withheld from them and dist , ibuted among the friends and favourites of the relief committees. In the year ending August, 1847 the union of lEilrush had actually received no less an amount of public money than 143,0001. If that money had been wisely expended he (Mr. P. Scrape) would hardly have objected to its being granted; but it was expended in a manner rather tending to increase the destitution of the district than to enable it to become self. supporting. In August, 1847, the board of guardians of Kilrush entered on their office, and in the preceding month of July no less a number than 51,000 of the in habitants had been relieved by the soup kitchen mode of relief. The Hon.Gestleman then read several extracts from the reports of poor-law unions, in which it was stated that the whole of the business had been very loosely conducted, that the inmates were wanting every necessary, that 535 deaths had occurred in the several unions, that the arrears of poor-rates were prin cipally owing from the guardians themselves. The fact was, that the really destitute were made to give place to the able bodied. In the union of Kilrush, on the sth if January, there were 1,250 in the workhouse, but there were 7,000 and upwards of out-door paupers who were altogether without the commonest necessaries for the sustenance of physical existence. The system adopted seemed to be to reverse the natural order of things. On this point Captain Kennedy remonstrated with the guardians, but unsuccessfully. The consequence was a frightful amount of mortality among the destitute evicted peasantry. Captain Kennedy's account stated that these evictions were carried to a great extent, and the misery and destitution had increased, in consequence, to an amount which tho House would scarcely credit, unless it had studied the authentic documents on this subject. Captain Kennedy's picture of the awful effects of these evictions was frightful to read. He had said enough to show that a frightful amount of destitution had been produced by these evictions. The treatment of the poor man had really been most cruel. The ordi nary process of the law was not resorted to for the pur pose of ejecting him from his home, but his house was pulled down in his own presence, and he was thrown pennyless upon the world. Captain Kennedy's reports gave frightfal details of these evils, and many (This &seri f , Cons reminded them of the history cf a savage race, rather than an;:account of the sufferings of a civilized people. The Honourable Member read several letters written from gentlemen in Ireland, depicting the destitu tion and misery which resulted to the popula tion from the system of eviction, many of them being wholly unable to obtain the means of subsistence, and betaking themselves to the ditches to languish and die. Those harrowing sights were most frequent in the western unions of Ireland. The amount of relief af forded was insufficient to maintain existence; therefore, he contended that it was not legal relief, or in accord ance with the requirements of the law. He then pro ceeded to bear testimony to the amount cf destitution existing in the union of Kilrush. No country ravaged by a hostile foe could be reduced to a more appalling condition. If a hostile army had landed on the coast of Clare, the Government would have spared no expense to check its progress; but similar active steps had not been taken to check the progress of famine and cholera, which left desolate thousands of families. In such a manner, then, had the relief been given to those poor creatures during the last winter, and he would ask the Noble Lord at the head of the Government who was responsible for the refusal to give relief to the poor in that union? By the English and Scotch Poor Law, those who adminis tered that law were held responsible for its proper admi nistration and answerable fur any deficiency in such ad ministration, and why should it not be so in Ireland? In the Kilrush Union, during the years 1848 and 1849, the rates had only been collected to the amount of 4s. or 4s. Gd. in the pound, so that there seemed great neglect on the part of the guardians in that respect; but supposing that the local rates had been exhausted, was it not a case in which Government ought to have come forward and not allowed the poor of that union to starve? In 1846, the then Secretary for Ireland, stated that the great object the Government had in view, and one which it vas bound to carry out, was to see that not a singe indi vidual should die of starvation in Ireland, and that sen timent was repeated by the Earl of Carlisle, in the House of Lords, in introducing the Rate-in-Aid Bill to that House; but he would take upon him to prove that since that time thousands had died of starvation in Ireland, and hundreds in the union to which he was alluding. In 1837 there were two courses open for the Govern ment to pursue in affording relief to the Irish poor. They could have either fully carried out the poor-law they had established, enforced payments of the rates made under that law, assessed rate after rate (in terms of the suggestien of Sir Charles Trevellyan) on the owners of land in Ireland, until they were either compelled to pay or give up their places to those who would, or they might have said to the dis tressed unions in Ireland, " You admit you are un able to fulfil the duties imposed upon you in respect of the poor, and you ask us to aid you in doing so. We will give you that aid, but we will give it you in such a form that you will soon become self-supporting. We will give it you in such a way as that it may be appropriated in the improvement of your district at the same time that it gives work and sustenance to your poor; but if you refuse to take the money, and lay it out in that manner, we will undertake your duties; we will employ the poor with this money in the improvement of your estates, whether you consent or not, and then charge your pro perty with the expenditure." That was the principle laid down in respect of the relief granted to the High lands in 1846, and if the Government had acted on it in this instance, or even if they had adopted the other al ternative, different and more favourable results would have followed. But instead of doing either, they con tinued to dole out driblets of money from month to month, barely sufficient to keep the people alive, while they relieved the landlords and gave them an opportu nity to clear their estates of the poor who were resident upon them. The proposal he now made was to appoint a Commission to inquire into those matters he had alluded to which, if appointed, would, he had no doubt, be the means of suggesting the adoption of such steps as would relieve the union he had alluded to from its present frightful condition. Mr. A. STAFFORD seconded the motion. Sir W. SOMERVILLE said, in replying to the Hon- Gentleman who had just sat down, it would not be pos sible for him to allude to every particular he had brought forward. The Hon. Gentleman had had before him the long correspondence which had taken place on this sub ject contained in the various blue-books, and had gone into details on the different topics suggested by these, so that it was impossible, not knowing the particular points the Hon. Gentleman was to dilate upon, that he could answer specifically every point to which he had alluded, The correspondence contained in those blue-books had been long under the consideration of the House, and from it could be traced the unfortunate position in which the Kilrush union was situated. No one could read that correspondence without feelings of regret and pain, while at the same time it must be clear to those who studied it that the situation of that union before the famine was not at all satisfactory, so that as an unavoid able consequence that famine fell with increased and desperats severity on that union. What Government had had to do during and since the famine, was to re lieve that distress so far as they were able. As to the distress whioh prevailed, he knew nothing more pain ful than many of Captain Kennedy's reports, and he might say, ' in passing, that he thought the compliment the Hon. Gentleman had paid to that gallant officer, was well and fully merited.—(Hear, hear.) There could, therefore, be no doubt that those reports were painful, not only, however, as detailing the misery which existed in the union, but also as detailing the low state of morals among the people resident in the union; the frauds they had recourse to for the purpose of extorting relief, and many other matters which he thought unfit to be recapitulated in that House. There were, therefore, many elements at work, all tending to augment the dis tress; and prominent amongst these were the amount of evictions which had taken place in the union; and it was the ♦ery fact of those evictions taking place which in duced the Government in 1848 to pass the Act for the protection and relief of the destitute poor evicted from their dwellings in Ireland. The Hon. Gentleman was therefore wrong, when he accused the Government of doing nothing to shield the poor from the effects of those evictions. That Act might have failed in accomplish ing all that it was desirable it should have done, but it was adopted with the full intention of protecting the poor, and to a considerable extent it did so. The Hon. Gentleman had said those evictions were carried on under the eye of the Government ; that Government stood calmly by and saw them carried out, and the poor driven helpless and huaseless upon the world, but the Act ho had named refuted that statement; and he would ask the House would it have been right or proper for the Government to have stepped in, and prevented those who owned the soil taking possession of it from those who persisted in occupying it without paying any rent ? —(Hear, hear.) Ho hoped ha would not give utterance to a single word that would give the least encourage ment to such a system of evictions, but he thought it un fair on the Hon. Gentleman to charge the Government with indifference in not stepping in and adopting mea sures, which he was sure the Hon. Gentleman himself would not be prepared to sanction. As to what occur red in the Kilrush Union during the autumn of last; year, the Poor-law Commissioners considered that the elected board of guardians had not used the dili genes they ought to have dope in the collection of their rates, and they accordingly declined to afford them Rey relief feeers the treasury. the: , hsd &me so, he thought, from the g:encral tenour of the I lonourahle entlemsn'i speech, that he would "nave hr/n dissetisfied with their conduct, but in consequence of t} lit r. fess!, tile re„peneibility we ti;roviet on the elected hoard of guardians, and the first stop - nage of re lief detailed by the Hon. Gentleman had taken place; as to the second stoppage of relief in January last, the Poor-law Commissioners considered that the board of guardians, in causing it, had been guilty of an error in judgment rather than any desire on their part to deprive the poor of relief, and they, therefore, did not think it requisite to go to extreme measures with them. The Hon. Gentleman had concluded by moving for the ap pointment ofa, special commission on the subject. Now, he did not see to what practical benefit that would lead. Its duties could not he confined to the Kilrush union alone, but they must extend its operations to the other distressed unions; and certainly when he considered the numerous reports of commissions, and inspectors, and boards of guardians, which had been laid upon the table of the House in respect of the condition of those, be did not think that much additional information could be got by appointing such a commission as that moved for. It would, in his opinion, give rise to hopes which never could be realised, and do away with that feeling of self-reliance among the people, without which they could never expect to see them attain any thing like prosperity. He would not say that any great ameliora tion in the condition of the Kilrush union bad taken place, but this he would say, that the rates in that union were now in steady course of collection; that the guardians of the poor were fully alive to their duty, and exerting themselves cordially and earnestly in the per firmance of it. The rate collected in the union for the week ending the 291 i of December last amounted to 732 g., and had since been going on more or less increas ing. For the two months ending January last the amount collected amounted to 4,656/., so that as far as the collection of the rate was concerned matters were in a satisfactory state, and there was, besides, no lack of funds in the hands of the guardians for enabling them to afford relief. There had been from time to time large ad vances made to the Kilrush union from the Treasury. During the two years ending the 29th of September Ls', 23,0001. had been advanced to that union, and since the 29th September 5001. had been advanced to the union to enable the guardians to erect an addition to the work house, which addition had been erected, and was capa ble of affording additional accommodation to 575 indi viduals, Independent of all this there was still admi nistered a large amount of out-door relief, for he found that during the week ending the 23d of February last, there were 12,470 persons on the out-door relief list. In the whole of Ireland, on the 9th of February last there were 140,000 individuals in the receipt of out door relief; of these 15,000 belonged to the unions in the province of Connaught, and 35 to the Kilrush union and the other unions in Clare. So far, then, as rates and workhouse accommodation was concerned maters were satisfactory, as regarded the Kilrush union, while at the same time there was an anxious desire evinced on the part of the guardians to do their duty. He 1 elieved no practical result would follow if the motion were granted, and do not let them adopt a course which may be of no pos sible advantage whatever. He could assure his Hon. Friend that the Poor-law Commis:iuners had been watching, and would watch, the proceedings of the Kilrush union very cars fully, and the guardians who administered its affairs. They had already au able or ficer on the spot in the person of Captain Kennedy, and if they were able to discover that they did not do their duty, such steps should be taken as the necessities of the union demanded, Mr. MONSELT., said that from the latest accounts he had received the Kilrush union was getting) , worse instead of better, and unless the Government did' something at once the state of the population will be dreadful indeed. The assistant barrister of the court (Mr. Major,) in hold ing quarter sessions in Kilrusb, some few days since, said that lie never witnessed such patiet.t agony of sufferings, which were beyond human endurance. Did his Right Honourable Friend the Chief Secretary for Ireland, know that the poor in that union were often compelled to come 16 and 20 miles for relief, and after wards allowed to go home without even having their claims investigated or receiving a single meal? What amelioration, therefore, can have occurred in the con dition of the people ? And if the union itself be in a better state, or the peor-rates lower, it was bccame the pee/:e perished from sheer starvatior. Surely if such a syste m were to be carried on no poor-rate at all would be necessary in a short time; but he appealed to the House and to the Government, whether it was right to improve the social condition of the people, or of the union, over the graves of hundreds, and perhaps thou: ands, of their fellow-creatures. lie, himself, had been over the union, though not connected with it, and so much human misery as he taw it was impossible to conceive. For miles and miles nothing could be seen but a dreary waste; nothing to be witnessed like farms or farmers, and only a few patches here and there culti vated. Let not the House imagine that the people in that locality were not good labauters, fur he had been informed by Count Strelibekey that in the union of Belmurry, which was. except Kilrush, the worst part of Ireland, he had seen 350 men employed, under the in spection elan engineer from Plymouth, and anything like the zeal and anxiety to perform their laborious dale a was never witnessed. The gentleman under whom they were employed informed the Count that, when he went into the locality, such was the miserable condition of the labouring poor that he had to feed these 350 men for a fortnight before they were able to go to work. Since th, n nothing could be more praiseworthy than their cot duct. He thought the ordinary operations of the law ought to he suspended in that union, and the manage ment of it given to Mr. Twistleton, or Count Strelibekey, and let them apply its resources to draining, emigratior, or the cultivation of the laud, and charge that land with the improvements so made, in order to give em ployment to the people. Something of that kind must be done, or the whole population would be swept away. An Honourable Friend of his, a Member of that House, had been at Rattle!), and witnessed evictions, by one or two individuals, of the most heart rending description. A five days after being informed of what had occurred, he (Mr. Monsen) visited the locality, and in a yard, not half the size of the floor of that house, saw seven, eight, and nine persons huddled in cabins, with no bed-clothes to cover Item at night, having no bed to lie on but the cold ground, and scarcely any clothing to cover them in the day. Those poor creatures were exposed to such an accumulation of misery that he solemnly declared he thought one description sufficient to kill them. Fever raged in one or two of those cabins or sheds, and altogether it was impossible to witness without horror such a state of suffering in a Christian laud. Surely neither the Govern ment nor the House would allow such a state of things to go on; and most certainly if some person was not sent down there, armed by law with abitrary and dictatorial powers for a season, and apply the labour in the district to the cultivation of the land, which was a perfect waste, the most fearful consequences must ensue.—(Hear, hear) By doing that all would be benefitted; they would not have to be taxed in this country for advances made; the land would be improved and the people saved from death. He entreated the Government not to disregard the pro positions he bad suggested, and if a commission were allowed to down there to collect informa tion, as proposed by the motion of the Honourable Member for Stroud, it would not place the Govern ment in a worse position than it was at the pre sent moment. He believed the Right Honourable Gentleman the Secretary for Ireland, could not deny that under the existing state of things in Kilrush thou sands of lives must be sacrificed if some remedy were not proposed. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that the Hon. Gentle man who had just sat down made a speech and de scribed scenes that occurred in Kilrush that did great credit to his benevolent wishes to improve the condition of the union; but when he (Lord J. Russell) considered that the Hon. Gentleman proposed what Parliament and she Government should do, he owned it appeared to him to be, if possible, a plan which would make the evil greater. What, in fact, he suggested, was this; that th© people of Kilrush being in a miserable condi tion—that the landlords appearing to have grossly neg lected their ditties, in ejecting and evicting the wretched tenants who had hitherto lived on means which no longer existed—that farmers being there without skill or capital to improve or cultivate the land, and were really but "scratching" the ground, as the Hon. Gentleman said, to secure a crop—that either through inability, or the fault of the poor-law guardians, they cannot obtain the smallest subsistence, and under these circumstances he proposed a plan for an alteration in a condition of things which ought not to be allowed to exist. What be proposed, then, was, that the State should step in and take the management of affairs into their bands which was usually done by individuals; that in the first place they should furnish all the necessary seeds for sowing, and the agricultural implements to set the far mers to work; that they should advance the wages to enable men to cultivate the land properly, and having done all that, and gone to a vast expense, no doubt with the immediate benefits of producing good crops, and employing great numbers of the people, now living in a miserable way, the proprietors should afterwards come in, and enjoy the benefit of their lands, being im proved at such an expense, and the rents of persons, who had so grossly neglected their duties, increased by the state. Mr. MONSELL begged to explain that his plan was totally the reverse of what the Noble Lord stated. What he suggested was, that fends should be raised from the electoral divisions of the unions, and the amount ex pended on the land itself, so far as to give employment to the people. If the rates so assessed wore not paid, part of his suggestion was that the land should be sold. Lord JOHN RUSSELL contended that that plan would not meet the evil as the lion. Gentleman pro posed. At present, as the House was aware, it was one of those unions where rates sufficient to meet the wants of the people, or for their common sustenance, had not been raised, and surely it was quite impossible that an additional rate could be levied fur the purpose mentioned by the Hon. Gentleman. It was, in fact, the state un dertaking to farm the land—to do that which private in dividuals ought to do—and thereby incurring an in creased responsibility, which no state ought to incur. Ile (Lord John Russell) had seen very lately some letters from a gentleman who travelled in the worst parts of the west and south of Ireland, in which he stated that a spirit and exertion were evinced, and a determination to employ the people in the cultivating and sowing the crops, highly encouraging, and which gave him very great hope of the future improvement of the country. It was also curious enough that he alluded in these letters to a statement of his (Lord Juhu Russsell'e) in that House, in which ho alleged that many parts of Ire land were rapidly improving, a statement which he says be deemed exaggerated when he read it, but was now convinced, from what passed under his own eye, that it was just and accurate. But if that House were to say, here was a union in which persons grossly neglected to pe -wen their duties ; that union, however, shall haie s pe pecial fund, and the state shall undertak e to irepht the farms, would they not say in other union s that it 110 LlNt` toe them to exert th e mselves when those o w t eoelected t'air elutits were much better tr eated by e tat , .—(llear, hear.) The plan propc,sed by (;+.nth-m , ol n ay have a good eff , ct at present —it allay wretcher 'less and misery for some mouths, but it in the it,iliction of more serious ''',jurY , not only to Kilrush, but other distressed the Hon. unions in Ireland. who would expect to ba treated in a similar manner. He regretted deeply them isery and wretchedness which existed ; but he must say , what he was obliged to repeat, that there w ere cer t ,in exertions and certain duties to he performed hieh ought not end cannot be left to any Legislature or :my Government, duties of landlords and tenants one to another, and both to the labourers by whom they should be employed; and if these are not sufficient)Y performed, no Legislature nor Government can perform them. There was. however, a change now going °n under the operation of the Encumbered Estates Act ' pa , seci last session, which, if extended to the Nilrush union, and if it so happened that estates in that district could be sold under it, he believed, considering tha t tl superabundant population did not exist there, that es" pi tnlists would find labourers quite ready to give their best exertions for nothing more than a fair and mode' rate remuneration. He believed that that Act we n , make a great change in the social condition of Irelenuj but he did not think that such a remedy as that proposai by the Honourable Member for the county that the lands in the union of Kilrush hoo'? ' be cultivated at the expense of the state, woulZ do nothing more than set a very bad example, and e t A . feted a mischievous precedent hereafter, which, lust"' of improving, would make things much worse in various parts of Ireland. Mr. HORSMAN being alluded to by his Hon. Frie nd the Member for the county of Limerick, would sal a few words. It was certainly his misfortune to be present at certain scenes in Kilrusb, and he verily be li( ved, that if they travelled Europe they would on ort find such a concentration of misery as he witnessed Limerick: that occasion. The Right Hon. Gentleman the Scor e ' tary of State for Ireland said that one-fourth of the money advanced to the distressed unions in Irel and wet given to Clare, and was not that a sufficient proof c).! the ex'ent of misery which existed. The Noble Ler ° ea the head of the Government observed, tha t if tbeY acceded to the proposition of his Hon. Friend , the state would Le taking that upon itself which prop eri f,hl; longed to individuals. But were they not doiog every day, by aivancing money to the distressed oein-et° and even to Kilrush at that very moment? Vi h Y s f7 o - ril then, step oat of the ordinary course, us",, The relief to this distressed part of the countrY •it High t Hon. Gentleman said they would be in life with the rights of property; but was not huree°,4la of more value? And if they went back to first oruv e. cipleF, was human life to he sacrificed to protect property? His Hon. Friend proposed to Pi n e , the union in a state of commission, that inasmuch e s te ' to landlords had grossly reflected their duty, rb, e s kor ought to step in and save the lives of the peoPi r ,l 4 .. the his own part he believed f-om the beginning to ll- 1 , 0 motion could not be acceded to by the Governraee',A,.. believed his Hon. Friend's purpose was to rai se state `" cusoion, but something should be done to remov e 0 0 of things which was a reproach to that House and 1° country. Mr HUME agreed in the general principles laid OW:I by the Noble Lord, but was it not worth their wbi le ' -- money was already advanced, to obtain the fullest inforavi ation as to why so much distress prevailed in that e ni°lll s His Hon. Friend said that so much distress did n ot . el" in the civilized world, and ought they not, as credi°r!ii i to have an examination made en the spot, to ascertan r the landlords were in such a condition as to givesb‘°„ild. to the people, and if not, that the lands should be That Ire considered was a legitimate course to be ter for when information was obtained, the Go vernleeu ge would be in the same condition as they now were. 66 .. therefore hoped the Noble Lord at the head of thf vernment would grant the commission prayed for by mr tion of his Hon. Friend. Colonel DUNNE belived that no one in the 11°1 would refuse the commission, if they hoped er beljec i f i it would do any good. But what was its object? the t v he first place, to obtain facts. He submitted that, - 0 House was already in possession of sufficient fact s ',, t a ° ol the report of the board of guardians and of the g' - be jury, and that no commission whatever could add to t of information of the House. As to the present eteite;,,s. the union, the second object was to devise reelet';,;ig They laud already had many remedies devised whi, cl3 „;tett, net been acted upon, and others which had 112 " most injuriously. Oneof these remedies to o to the management of the poor out of the h a nds el 0 . landlords, and to put it in the hands of paid failedgur This bad been the case in liilrush itself, and hau de, to do any good. One proposition which had been 111:105 by an Hon. Member he altogether dissented fr om ' ad' of confiscating the property of the landlords. The 4 : 1o . lords of Ireland bad no more right to have tbei A r i r r as perty taken from them in that way than the lon' ( : of this country. Nor were they, as a body, the catt - e lf o ur • that pauperism which it was proposed to saddle upon them, even to their ruin. Lord NAAS concurred in much that had fallen 641: that tP re 'e the Noble Lord, but, at the same time, seeing i n ord e . o . were not called upon to institute an expensive and ' 18 „ - 9 - 0 system of relief, but merely to inquire into the ° to which had produced such gigantic misery, devise means for it; removal, he did not feel hinasel h f i r ) titled in voting against such a motion.—(He ar ' - , w e s ti Had the Noble Lord held out any hope of tnetolir",,- fors relief from outer sources to that union or elservbf r 7l s ge the spring advanced, he should not have voted motijr. Lord J. RUSSELL—I did mention various o ° liretti from whence relief might be hoped for. • P i t Lord NAAS bad understood the Noble Lord slots to look for this relief from the operation of thee 7,00 which had been recently passed, and not from any 1. „1 0 - ass or direct intervention on behalf of the suffering ti" %: 0 11 and despairing of these producing such an atneliorro of the existing distress as was imperatively requLre,r,) should feel it his duty to support the motion.- - ( ne s bra Sir G. GREY said the Noble Lord opposite ba 9c sing support of the motion entirely on his despair of te ef fio the Government produce any particuiar and sP e ke & measure for the relief of the Kilrush union. Il e °s a t if that was a reasonable ground on which to SuPP:, - iyer measure which he himself believed would be de' ti f ." - t bs because it would raise expectations on the part %jell people who were now sunk in the deepest miser,' a. could not be fulfilled, and therefore would be colt to gravating the evil they all deplored. With r ese t Was the motion of the Hon. Member for Stroud , " brought forward on two grounds, first, in ord er to es, lect information; and second, to devise remedies; h oe would ask if it was possible that the House could 410 0 more explicit information or fuller details than which were already before the House from various clttii,-tt ters; and if any further information was roaairecolas was not necessary to appoint a special Government JO, mission to procure it.—(Hear, hear.) As to reale for they had in the House the Honourable Meteb„eret Limerick, who was well acquainted with that ,PLisen the country, and the Honourable Member for u x — , lei mouth, who had been an eye-witness of the se'li r v ea which existed in it. He would say that any Bigg s- Ole' as to remedies that might be made by these lionenropts Gentlemen would be much more valuable tha n the ivto nions of a Commissioner sent down to i n q uire lsor d these matters by the Government. But the Noble fi e nd said he should support the motion, as his Nolel! fosa (Lord John Russell) had not promised any sPee'a. -toe.* sure for the Kilrush union. True, no such tne ss sad were contemplated, but his Noble Friend thong" 'frogs he thought, that there was ample g round for hePelesecls the operation of the measures they had already p t 60 ,3 and which were calculated to extend emploYm el f , bad . prosperity throughout the whole of the country. over tf been generally agreed that one great cause of the P n oes' and want of employment, was to be found in the PThiol sion of the land by owners who were unable to sa l e r ov t , those who live upon it, and were surrounded by P e me dl ary difficulties; and further, that the only way t ° le is etior . that was, by selling the land free from these 1- 0 w ho brances, and letting it pass into the hands of tb° s e pitst had capital, and who were willing to employ tb st oder in the improvement and cultivation of the soil. _ d t ae that opinion the Government had propo sed, ia Parliament had passed the Encumbered Estate: '7 2 , tbe order to effect a legal release of estat es it° o possession of those who had neither the esP i nsfer perhaps, the will to employ labou r, and their t t vi rti o sn to those who had botb. — (Hear , hear.) l'Pe t o elli r important measute, and should be allowed tig ° f ; t ose rate before any premature judgment as tt? r i h t : ro ost in fluence on the country was arrived at. A" , : ri t waneui,f portant and essential measure of irnprove °l `; (lo Zs labour should be employed, and it ought te 0 03 of voluntary agency, not by the direct interfere° gerleet Government.—(Hear, hear.) But the 1 1 °, ° 0 • 0• 0 .4 0 for Montrose appeared to wish that thee, j yaose - should step in and confiscate the property had not paid the poor-rates. gia nt Mr. HUME—No. LO. Sir . G. GREY—WeII, then, the Hon. Itsfeeiretroh4 what he (Sir G. Grey) meant, that by the °Pessold b e 5 the Encumbered Estates Act those propert le WI 6 gradually transferred to new proprietors, who t h° t, se si means of employing labour, and setting 011 . tv of t,. 1 ". improvements on which the real pres i V i n' o ped t o ; country must depend.—(Hear, hear.) suPP Noble Lord opposite would not be induced t° e tthe the motion by any idea that the Governneen,t e ":t s s ted, 0r indifferent to the amount of distress whi e " hirther in that they were not going to propose anY could 650- ge sal,o into sures when these might be required. him that such was not the case. And he mu e rror i° "ig the liberty to correct what he considerei en e d to t i , t3 s which the Noble Lord had fallen. He see e L er e to° i f that the resources of the Kilrush units? '`,.. otf but l f exhausted. That did not appear to be th 'm 1 .• e operA ti°ll it were, the estates would come tinder toe effec t a the Encumbered Estates Act, and would thus „ a se b e alteration for the better. tion, ° Go' Mr. H. HERBERT supported the me _ t of the t0 . ,° ° 04 1 thought there was a disposition on the par had vernment to underrate the difficulties tend with in Ireland. This was CO dout ThY(l3in N o nou'r . t re on their part, but it was not less true. monger, but t intenuanbio Baronet opposite was a great proports,,; from i m provtild were districts in Ireland which, 6 f were growing worse. There were so far received no relief, but the r .a next )0. districtse s o u r e e 9 w o h f whic h were so much diminished that before_ t . h a t .i r e i l iet o f bit io X li they would, unless assisted, be ound t rupt unions. Among stiese called attention last sea s the of List ore!, to which ho had ha might m ention the I Tton. Ho quits understood the (eliafficulltiyeesd v g t a li t f w t hhiee P:t c o r ; Noble Lord ha to deal, but he be le the distil did now. In well se law was left to epe7ate , a' i" he vats . 0 „ a g Listowel and Clonturk, with w the saw° tend few quaintel, it would reduce them to w i s hed fer ° c ad Kilrush. While on this subject he letter he had re : e 7 for moments to draw attention to a ". SeTO contradicting the statements of the KAv THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 8, 1850 ~~