The Sun. — London, England, 1847-03-16 00:00:00

W ag serry to he obliged to sa y th a t, judging from the speech Sof s t t h r, e ,n l- , lo f n ;ei ll irg a i ron c t the Member for elarylebone, there was in that House against the Irish proprietors, a nd a ' desire to inflict on them what was called stringent Measures. Ile was sorry to say that he had often seen in -I;heset where charges were brought forward in that House !jeig indisednals, and those charges were afterwards cur.- ;"red as affecting a whole class.—( Hear, hear ) He was i i:4 rY that the Right Hon. Baronet, in his observations, had not t ' n , l Sed fairly upon both sides of the question, hut had, without amn lil means to inform him-elf of tie correctness HQthe statements, openly inflietell upon two iethvirleals not light panisliment of denouncing them in that House. " : %d in his possession a letter from a Mr. Leader, a gentle bMao 'n Kanturk, stating that at the presentment sessions there tu. )1 - were vo t e d for the public works, and that, too, at a when it was believed that the whole sum would have to be repaid. The writer went on to say, that Sir B. Hall had been rillinfertneel in the statement be made the other night in the 0 "ter and that in the union of Kanturk there was not any O ne single individual possessing a property of 6,0001. per 10 4 : l e 'ns After the able statements which had already been t rouble ' e on the subject it would not Le necessary for him to le es , the 'louse any further. He believed that no 50 ,7 alember entertained any objection to the mea es hen before the House, althoueh they were calelated . to entail such severe burdens upon Irish property. t id e e 'ornnaissioner s said, that at that moment there was a de thaet" spirit , of improvement abroad, and since , the furnishing of 1, report the same fact had been abundantly coefirmed. He snxious that the House should take care that that spirit of ";P r nternent should not be checked or crushed, because in t ,i t i t e e i tie Ireland e . ould be lost, If . an thine were wantin to to o ,r 'end in the scale nations it would be an incitement and therefore he prayed the House not to act on r,, - , ast ily formed and crude opinions, nut to give by a system O S s i - e "' door relief to the poor of that country an which m e - it :tees and thus neutralise the whciesome feeling had re, 6 " 7 so extensively spread throughout the country.. He ~,.,r et ted (last the Go:ernment had not promoted this spirit, by t s , - J u ine to the measure lately introduced for the purpose of th - s s Tllng industrial improvement in Ireland. He would, with 1 8 ;,'eave of t h e House refer to certain statements given in e l " , whic sh owed the number ote populaton leach ot oreidistrietsh of Ireland, the house acc h ommodati i on, the e extent st se ' rl d eeltivat e d an d uncultivated, &c. He found, for in ',Wiles, that in the county of Mayo ttsere were 1,360,000 acres t o ,, d % Population (excluding towns of 370,0; 0. The accom sod ' ti 'n was divided into four classes of houses, The the returns gave the means of these families. result s h owe d th a t the valuation of Mayo, t 55 . 99 !li.the 5; county levee were 39,2e9/. ; leaving a net ni<M °l2 (io.o - 62/. The lumber of families were 67, 000 ; the ' l. of individual. 370,000; and of these 255,987 above tl 4„ ; e , s a rs of age could not read or write. The number of first ''"ses was 217 ; of the second class 312 ; of the third bind ° e r 2 eO; a n d of the fourth 3,8;t3; thus showing that the xll a would fall uon those least ably to bear it. The Hon. st e i n ' st u . e r then proceeded to illustrate his argument by similar th at •KA from different parts of the country. He considered 14, 4 was the first duty of Government to take temporary e sm. '! l res for the relief of distressed and starving people ; anri . he r ie , a fltli regretted that the Ministry, instead of introducing Iselin ' it res calculated to stimulate and vivify the industry of 11 ) 4 , had in the measure before the House, disappointed e t l o '9ntry by a promise of relief, which would end only in I " 'lst been JOHN O'CONNELL, was sorry that this measure had co e en introduced at a period when the minds of men were th e m' a nd when they would be prepared to temperately discuss fo r ; tn Portant question of the poor-law, instead of bringing it te o a ,d at season when the crisis of a starving population dis- N` I M their attention, and required their fullest consideration. to b 4t the report he had received from Ireland, there appeared yes. "re prospect of a more direful famine occuring next the fa,fld Government ought therefore to take steps to prevent Pel t amity bearing down the landlords, rather than to corn ye to maintain an extensive system of out-door relief. ntai g e °l ght, moreover, when it was too late to remedy the ride n, Government would regret that they had not pro :leth s eed to ensure a sufficieny of autumnal crops. On the eta t 4 o " March, 20 per cent. of the labourers at present and - , 3ed on the public works would be di-missed, thi s there was nothing for them to fall back upon, I nise t ," e t would have the effect of increasing the tlt and suffering of Leland. A good deal of land would be tic: n e ther th rown out o f cu l t i vat i on i n con sequence of the tle ill,' of Gov ernment net to a ll ow t h e h o ld ers temporary relief, Were bee as fully convinced that the measures of Government . s ° h is inefficient to meet the emergency, he should give t emei Pport to the Bill before the House, because he was glad to 4 11 0 anything which was calculated to prevent some of his t 4 , w ; beings from dying of starvation. Still, he felt tet e i' n ned the measure would never succeed. Its direct ilre. -ne Y was to encourage rather than suppress pauper esdand he was very much afraid it would ultimately earl y It n augmentation of the paupers of the country, which aMounted to between two and thi ee millions. But he oi still stronger objection to this Bill. It must inevitably ‘Ol 4 ll. the small ratepayer. There were many industrious per kor In Ireland who contributes! towards the support of the At* Peri IQ t ile workhouses who themselves would be reduced to * to tot if they were called upon to increase their payments hurrit I ntain an ext ens i ve s y stem o f ou td oor re li e f. H e h a d a fe ee ° , er of letter s i n hi s possess i on , wr i tten b y persons i n dif too"' Parts of Ireland, complaining of the clause which II to increase the number of ex-qtlicio guardians. one of these letters he found that in one s nnee, the e l ect i on o f two gentlemen as ex officio guardians S ir, r efused, on acco un t o f th e i r k nown lib era l v i ews, name l y, e r "'M. So mmerv ill e an d t h e Marquis of Ileadtord. If the Twits clause were carr i e d , i t wou l d open the dome still fur !hter to religious di ssens i ons , f or i n many parts of Ireland the ot . .estant s might predominate, while in another the Catholics r ight b e i n the majority, and the result of the 'sassing of this c lause would be to increase religious dissensiona in Ireland. 'le did not wish to cast any slur upon those gentlemen ou bt t w h h o *ere eligible to become es. , llicio guardians. No is Were highly est:mable in tbeir pr r a t e c h aracters as country gentlemen, but they were but men, and he did not wish to trust them with the power of limiting the operation of a bill W hich taxed themselves for the m a i n te nance o f t h e poor. :ate the Noble Lord had called upon Irish Memb e rs, if th e y 4 ' 41 ( 1 do so, to propose a better m e asure. He was not pre tart'd to say that he was in possession of a better measure, but s V b .he beer, asked to advise her Maj •ste's Ministers upon the eri J e e ets he would have recommi nded them to pass a very oio"gent psior-la..v of a temporary . character.—( Cheers. ) The leZ 7 d adeanced was no•hing mere than money extracted from *itf,: s " Means of a measure passed n opposition to the Lee e, fl n l the Irish people He thought that a larger loan than of j4,t.„,e advanced would have been nothing more than an act it e. At the time of the union of the two countries c `Msidered that Ireland should not bear a ull ni t) , ' 4 of th e charge of the public debt, and the Act of liobilitiexeressly enacted that unlessoat ion ot . the taxes and ! Wes, to e ' l should take place n the condition of Irelani * ire b Permanentl • and materially improved. If there spy hit e ' d th r , e refere, any meaning in words, he contended that the e athament in 1616 most illegally and unconstio.ition- E r e zi) , (4 edr by means of the Consolidation Act, the liabilities th e i lland, and which, it was expressly stated at the time of the tp r in ns should not ' be Jenne by Ireland. He thought, l e‘t , n res that as some reparation for the injustice done, that at wh(nne large loan should be made to Ireland. But, after II it ~.a t was the charity that had been afforded to Ireland ? siren s al an actual grant, it would be no more than justice to Wilbut it w as not hi ng more t h an a l oan , one h a lf o: which 1 14: 1 0 , 11 anced upon the security of the property of Ireland, and e " e r seas to be re aid in of the taxation of the country. t kl ~h ari te' of individuals in he s t ountry had been most liberal of te,„ -a neworthy, but the charity (if such it could be called) ti tG u flouse was of the most niggardly and beggarly descrip. 11 ,tel o"e thought that the loan ought to have been a great elsp o -r ger than it was. The Government ought also to have !!,iter t i .l% tax upon the rich absentee, and not attempte . d . to th e d own the poor ratepayers of Ireland by the imposition eete o r rfl Poseel law. Irish Members had been taunted by the ,7 etc would the advocates of repeal do if the union 'nfo t s r l e aletl, ? Why, where was the lower depth to which that ttav'tinate country Could have fallen than that which it has al ' t ttr" N ebed under the legislation of this country? If, how 14 ie ' i t th , Could obtain the repeal of the union, they would im mediately. There were ample resources in Ireland ben eeded to be developed, and which could be . applied for t it h , e at of the country if there were a Paliamenr sitting the:e. , t4 o heard mere than once in that House a great talk to ` ll OO 2 - " h e et that taxation should he increased in Ireland. He t kle' .. , t t however, that it would be much the better course to tit at te to remOve the feelings which had been created in ~.l i t t t' l, ‘ ; "ee of the measures passed for Ireland during the "' th e ft years, by equalising the condition of the various classes Ldrs Country. 'l3RTEN AY felt great pleasure in being able to ,„egos '• Most cordial support to the measure before the ,t t ; If he had looked at this measure unconnected with 4 1s t4jr tneasures which he hoped to see shortly laid upon k b % e „ e of the House, he should feel indeed that it was a 'toe ' ," not entitled to , his support. He would impress upon Itele,l'able Members connected with Ireland, the necessity of "ng. not only as Members of that House, but also as '''assip 4-5 ' by every means to ameliorate the condition of all W ith t °f the country. He would ask what were they to do he ad existi ng s t ate o f t hi ngs i n I re l an d ? The Noble Lord '` e l'ats u r sad of the Government had plot that question to the % , ,ef,"°n th a t h a d wa i te d upon hi m . H e (L or d C ourtena y) withed that h e h a d yet h ear d no satisfactory r e ply to it. 0101(140rd to the Labour-rate Act of last cession, he was I Der e ,,,, to say that though he could not altogether L 'ese of it, h e th oug ht it h a d been the h orr or of saving thousands of people from the Ptt starvation. The system of out-door relief proposed r e esent Bill was, in his opinion, sufficiently hedged round %e ' le 'i s ' i etions to prevent any abuse . He thoueht, however, ;eel . ei t Mille would be to limit the out-donr relief to the ''r „end infirm so as to snake room in the house ors 'e able-Ix:died, If they did this the law of ie, l would be rendered giveuncessary —(Hear . , hear.) He r l N 'rted th e propoSltion as hole, because It appeared to It I rsught with the greatest good to the people of Ireland. I W ould t eol.o operate as a tax upon absenteeism. and incite the t tit e Proprietors to give additional employment to the elesti 041',etosiern. their estates. ' Without pledging himself . to . all .e the Bill he would give his cordial support to the principle die Nes e ENHAAI NORREYS did not agree in the opinions ter i n "e d, by Mr. John O'C onne ll, w ith res p ec t t o the man sill • "'lnch ex-tleicio guardians where constituted to the I t h he t ' re lt ii irk ,,ti ste a d of exciting it would be the means of allaying regfs differ ences th a t th e H on. G ent l eman an t ic i pate d 0f "ld excite. He then proceeded so advert to the state . r lees, °ll ' Benjamin H a ll w ith res p ec t t o M a llow and oth e r th, I nd contended that England herself was to blame fo r n 1 th e y at e of things that wits to be eeen in Ireland first • Y 3 of Henry the Second to the present time, since thu ne m . - "flexion of the two countries, nothing but misery e 5 all" e "ion have b een t h e port i on o f I re l an d. What were "es '" landlord s b ut w h at England had made them ? It se Is e l, l lrY well for Eneland to snake the landlords ei7 t th e -4 % , 11er scape-goats. Now, he would ask, 141 Yro,k 0 '• been always making them do her eoh - -(Laughter ) As long as they could, they pe nel ehd e , Irish landlerds . their tools.. As (amongoos ahe could ;tee Irish o c l'les ehsci na d sowed religious dissensions . 'Xes e • enabled the landlords, who were her instruments, s:htlitat stun„leioni over the leaseholders, and of e t e . p e t e c , rn t 5 0 , , r 'ra, hut now when the pockets h I 1 1 . 1 st m w e ` r d Y were touched, they turned round and said, k etl e t of thing o s not . want you any longer." Look at the 14 • y 4 which has sprung up untieer your mismanagist . tio deni ed must cow bear the responsibility of all these eri s. LigliaeadetOphatically that the guardians of the poor in Ire btl ,r t re to cheat. the poor, as had been imputed to them. it i ir t e ' l the poor-laws fell upon the oceupier—( Hear) ; . p o e ,ebi er 44 4 they fell upon the landlords alone, and not the tOtioe o y ( :_that there was a material difference between the s 4,Po es . we r- e n glisli and Irish landlords; but if the support of r e , 'd n ot re made a national charge, the Irish landlords I • hp4tented fo r c e the o bj ect i ons t h ey h a d urge d, an d wou ld be h e ihr i , n. bear th e i r fair share in the support of their poorer strart! show the importance of rating electoral divisions. e s ,;,leit ow.l 7 'net the poor-rate of the town of Mallow was 2s. th Only lid. inChurchtown, an agricultural village th a ltl . t erue e u t ' sh . Owing the impoliey of union rating ; and by • tt dee e with which he had been furnished, it appeared dti nt , e ,h a t' r e _r , sOn s who had been cleared from estates must be . - ) te,iit:eigr:ibaihet to e the Mallow district. He had felt it his e s e u hle the House with these remarks, becau-e it was compelled to be absent when the clauses 0 -il s earn, • te _, v v ._ • minutely under consideration. ,4le eted 'eth",..;Y, denied that the landlords; of Ireland had li ef t het th e 1 , rant as landlords and as guardians of the poor, • %, th e h ,l ' t ad given niggardly contributions towards the re reur, ism compelled them to resort to the public works. T:re HINAL of Lords, recorder of iblin, at • >f cricatual ions Ur n tiou of th• [e would, divir atior? I a , h e t hout 4 h° Dp to ~, , _:.,- - - 3 ,-~ ^` { THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY prietors be sufficient to support the destitute withcut external std? He believed that it would not. sinless great exertion was made, and it was to stimulate this that the present Bill was pre !iared. lie believed that it would Ise impossible to struggle through without great exertion on the part of Irishmen them :elves; but with his knowledge of Irishmen and Irish energy, it was his belief that the poor-law would prove a stimulus, and, instead of crushing. would rouse arid inv:gerate them. —( Hear, hear.) A gcod deal of discueion had turned on:the conduct of the Irish landlords, and sweeping condemnations had been made. He agreed with several Hon. Members, that great injustice had been done them, as it was unfair. in esti eating their conduct, to leave out of view the pecuniary dif ficulties in which they were placed. And he believed that if as great exertion had been made to bring to light the conduct of those who had done their duty in the crisis, as had been displayed in bringing obloquy on others, a very different im- I pression would have beets produced on the House and the country. He thought that if the con- Net of many of the small proprietors, especially the great sacrifices of the clergy had been placed before them and the public, it would be seen that great injustice had been done to the proprietors of Ireland as a whole. At the same time, he must say that the Legislature had not received from others that support which had been expected. lie never liked to give names, but as several Scotch proprietors had been most deservedly mentioned for the exertions they hail made to relieve the destitute, he wished to name one Irish landlord who could bear comparison with them, and he was but one of many ethers he might cite. He knew nothing of the gentleman personally, and the information he had derived was from one .f the officers employed under the Government in that part of the country where the gentleman resided. The Right Honourable Gentleman here read an extract from the let. ter of the officer, which stated that Sir Robert Rooth the gentleman referred to, resided in the county of Sligo, where he had a large estate. He had at his own place opened two soup boilers of 140 gallons each, and daily distributed 180 gallons of soup. During six days in each week, he also distri outed 180 loaves of bread above 41bs. weight each daily, be -ides selling 30 tons of Indian corn in the week at a reduced etiee.—( Hear, hear, and cheers. ) Besides this, he distributed quantities of biscuit, oatmeal, and other articles 01 food. lie ad, at the date ,if the letter, 527 tons of Indian corn in Stand, mid had ordered 2,375 tons of Indian torn more, besides a quantity of beans, peas, and other produce, for the consump tion of the neighbourhood. He had expressed a hope that. the Government woulc: assist him in the matter which they had clone. fhis Gentleman had never desired his name to be mentioned, though it deserved to be, as well as many others in Ireland who had acted in coequally meritorious manner. At the same ime it was equally true that many proprietsrs who were deriv mg lark! incomes from Ireland had totally neglected their fury, and failed :n contributing to meet. the destitution which wevailed. He rejoiced, therefore, that the present Bill would bilge them to contribute in curse to the support cf the destitute. It was important that these parties should :snow that if they did not exert themselves to provide employment for the people, they would havn 0 support theta out of their incomes.--( Hear, hear.) This, le thought, was the most valuable portion of the Bill. Ho rtaol now stated the general reasons why he trusted the House xould assent to the principle of the Bill. Having agreed to hat, the details of it could be better considered in committee ; is the) would then receive all the consideration which they leserved In conclusion, he trusted they would now affirm the main principle of the measure, which was that Irish property hould be charged with Irish distress, and leave all the details o be fully and c,refully discussed afterwards.—( Cheers.) Mr. S. O'BRIEN said that, with reference to the people of England, it was impossible to exaggerate their munificence o the Irish people; but he had said, and he repeated the as.. stertion, that a national government in the country would have , een able to guarantee every individual in that country from starvation. He was not disposed to question the liberality of s'arliament. He considered 10,000,000/. alas a sacrifice made by thew, but he believed that the money which had been xpended might have been done so more advanta. "eously for the psople.--( Hear, hear,) He considered that if the State said to the Irish railway companies hat they would advance half of the capital Mari passe necessary te advance their troperty, a great and material benefit would have been conferred. No reproductive work had been under 'alcen for a long time, and the capital which could have been •alled forth was suffered to remain quiescent and languish. A treat part of the session has been lost in attacks upon the Irish proprietors. He was not about to undertake their tefence, but this he would say, that there were instances tf generosity and liberality which equalled, if they lid not surpass any that could be brought forward. If the Irish party effected but a friendly intercourse between Gentle nen on the opposite side of the House, they would have tchieved a great good —( Hear, hear.) He was not a party to heir resolutions, and he, consequently, was not subject to the animadversions which had been cast upon them, for, in his teinien. a system of poor -Jassy was absolutely necessary for the welfare of the country. Mr. ROEBUCK, the opening portion of whose speech, as well as various other parts, were perfectly inaudible in the iallery, was understood to say, that the Hon. Member for the tfniversity of Dublin had, on a recent occasion, stated to the louse that he was perfectly at a 1 iss to discover the mo•ives for his (Mr. Roebuck's) conduct. The amenities—continued •he Hon. and Learned Member—of that gentleman's mind could suggest to him only one motive as actuating his, which .vas that of English spite towards Irish landlords. Spite, against Whom ? against what he (Mr. Shaw) was pleased to call the andlords of Ireland. He t Mr. Roebuck) did not know who he landlords ot Ireland were; he hat! never been able to dis inguish or to learn who those gentlemen were. For his part the against mortgagee.tthe t .ie thou g ht th a t th e rea l l an dl or d s o f I re l an d were t h e tax .s ar and her a never expz m sed o a r ?: p gatherer Novr, o tsagee. He was perfectly aware that there were ' , tally persons in Ireland called landlords, who fancied ' hemselres to be proprietors of land, but who riad not the means of supporting the dignity belonging to their ration, as such, and he ( Mr. Roebuck) had often suggssted hat such persons should be removed from their false position, shish they occupied as merely nominal proprietors of land in reland, in order that Ireland might be disencumbered 'Tom those who were hanging, like a dead weight, upon her nergits and resources, and allow the real proprietors of her and at once to be called into activity and exertion, and be wade instrumental in promoting the interests which they soses•ed in that country. What did the House, however, now tropose to do. He would venture to say that, upon the pre• .nt occasion, there were two separate questions before the 'louse, an' two really different and distinct things spoken of )3 , Hon. Gentlemen who had spoken upon those questiens. some Hon. Gentlemen said " Oh, we are agreed upon all hugs except upon the principle ot out-door relief ;" arid then .ireetly some other lion. and Irish Member would get up and nake a speech against all poor-laws whatever. If the House would permit him, he would dwelt for a few moments on these circumstances, and then say a word or two with respect ~ s the real feelings of Honourable Gentlemen opposite, What was it then that the House was endeavouring to do? and what was the mode in which it was proposed to brill , about the end it had in view? At the present moment. there ,ppearod to be in Ireland a remarkable collision of classes. Large masses of her labouring population were not subsisting upon wages but depended for their subsistence upon their :mall holdings of land By a peculiarity connected with that country the landlords have been induced to divide heir property into innumerable small portions, and , he result of their infinttessimal division of holdings Would be. that if anything like what had happened last year should occur again, the same disastrous results would take place as had marked the history of Ireland during the present year. A large multitude of persons were dependent upon these small patches of land for their maintenance and sup port, and if a failure should take place, or anything like a gene al calamity come upon the people, a general and universal .amine was the result. There was also another peculiarity at .ached to these small holdings of land, which was, the agrarian disturbances which always overspread the country. These fisturbances arose entirely out. of these small holdings. It was :rot because one portion of the people were starving and another was not, that agrarian disturbances took place. It was because 'hose small holdings of land were essentially necessary for the txistence of the people. The law had not been their protector. And the consequence had been that the people had had secourse to every species and system of self-defence for the purpose of maintaining their holdings. But they had seen driven to this by dire necessity; the very exigencies if their condition had driven them to attempt a stand against the tyranny of their imperious landlords, who strove upon every slight pretence, and upon the most ine.licient grounds to eject them from their holdings. They were not so in England. Snd why ? The poor man knew full well that there was a poor `muse and a poor-law to afford him shelter. In Ireland, on rhe contrary, the poor man saw death—nothing but death staring him and his family in the face, and he wa, compelled out of dire necessity to fall back upon some means of slit-defence. Icy which they could maintain their holdings against the do mination of their landlords, and hence it was that conspiracies spread from one end of the country to the other, and threats from shore to shore. Hence it was that numerous combing tions had been formed for the purpose of carrying out this wild spirit of justice, and the instruments or assassins of the combinations had been brought from the north and from the :ouch in order to carry into execution the wild determinations of prigs of secret conspirators. What was their object? It was nothing more than to maintain the poor man upon his eolding, and to protect him by a species of wild justice in the tbaence of milder forms of law against the imperious domi nation of the merely nominal proprietors of the soil. Such was 'he condition of the large labouring population of Ireland, And unless England stepped in and brought some measure to hear upon this state of things, such would continue to be their wretched condition. And the same wild spirit of justice, and unhappy, and unchristian mode ot maintaining the means of *hat existence would continue. The House would, however, by the adoption of the proposed measure bring the people under the mild spirit of the law, anti snake the property of Ireland the means of providing for the exts'ence of the poor, insure a spirit of mildness, gentleness, and subservience to tile law, in ;dace of the conspiracies. and the ill-feelings, and the secret societies which previously existed. Who were the ac cusers of these righteous measure.? The landlords of Ireland. It was a noble sight to see the land lords of Ireland laving aside their personal conside rations, putting aside all their feelings of aggrandisement, and devoting themselves to the improvement of the condition of the people, but there was not a more degrading or a more debasing sight than to see those who were rich in this world's goods banded together for purposes of defence and aggression against the poor, and bringing to bear all the power which their station and intellect could command, to crush what should be considered by all right-thinking persons as the rights of the poor. Could he not then ask the House to look upon this picture and upon that. The people of England asked that a law equal to that which existed in England should be passed for Ireland. He would not be told that that which was bene ficent legislation for the poor in England would be the ruin of Ireland. But that was an argument which hail been vary strongly put forth by the Right Hon. Gentleman the Member for the University of Dublin ( Mr. Shaw ). Ireland, said that Right Hon. Gentleman, was ruined. He (Mr. Roebuck) should like to know what the Right Hon. Gentleman meant by Ireland. Did he mean the millions of her working population, or the narrow-minded sects of one of which he had been a favourite born child—sects that instilled feisling,s of the bitterest hostility against the English into the mind of the Irish people? —( A cry of " Divide.") Divide ! there would be no division ; there would be much talk, but no min had pretended that this question would go to a division.—(Hear, hear. ) Now, in what position were they placed with regard to this lin r g en i (i n er Ireland, ela the n d, enactment but the inte o l ; t opinion N or, p i o question? It was no lon g er doubtful that Ireland mus t have a real and efficient poor-law, similar in spirit to the poor. law England.of such a law necessary .—( Hear, hear.) Such a p oor-law onl meant that there was a ri g ht, on the p art of oft this country, the feeling the destitute poor to relief—( Hear, hear )—a ri g ht to receive relief somewhere, and in some satisfactory manner. It did not involve the law of settlement—it did not involve the law of removal, and those points they did not quarrel about. Now, they already had the houses and the adminis trators of the law ; they had g ot the law of settlement and the law of removal, and all that Gover nment wished to add was out-door relief, upon its being clearly ascertained that the re espient was really destitute and in wa nt. Irish g entlemen, however object e d to this, and in doing so it would seem to ar g ue that Irish landlords ought not to he called upon to pay in this way for the relief of the poor. And when these gentlemen dis cussed:lrish qu es ti ins .th e ques tion itself invariably m e a nt them selves. Ind ee d, w h en I re l an d was t a lked about by them , Ireland meant nothing snore nor less than Irish landlords, and because they were called upon to fulfil those duties their property imposed upon them, they declared that Ireland was being ruined.—( H ear , h ear , an d laughter.) Now, far frog i ts being ruined, Ireland was just in a condition when it 'to most They had admitted more people into the workhouses than they were in ordinary cases ca!eulated to hold. They had also ex pended large sums in (Irninage, in order to give employment to the poor, and 100,c00/. had been contributed by kcal com mittees for the reli4 of the poor. Ile regretted that the Go vernment proposed to institute the out-door relief test, bec , ust he believed it would open a door to fraud. lie quoted the m;inions of Mr. Lewis and nfr. Twisledon, Assistant Poor-lay: Commis :loners, to show the greet disadvantages which conic not fail to attend the adoption of a large plan of out-door relief. They agreed in opinion that such a system would impoverish those who, like agricultural labourers. had some work to do, and would throw a burden of the landlords which they would be unable to bear. Until the social condition of Ireland was assimilated to that of England, such a poor-law as the ono proposed would be found most impo litic, and Ireland, instead of being, as he hoped, the right arm of . - England, would become a far greater difficulty than heretofore. Major LAYARD fully agreed with the Hon. Gentleman who had just addressed the House, that it would have been happier for the House and fir the country if, instead of at tacking the landlords of Ireland, a closer attention had been paid to the circumstances of the calamity with which they had now to deal in Ireland. He (Niajor Layard) was one of those who, ever since he had known L-eland, now fifteen years. has been convinced that no good would ever be done there without a poor-law. lie had prophesied, when the poor-law whirl now existed was paswol, the necessity would very shortly arise for the adoption of a measure of a wider character ano a more extensive operation. He, for one, was an advocate ' of a system of out-door relief. If such a system were no , now brought forward, how could they expect any law, situated as Ireland now was, to be benefic'al to the people? The workhouses could not now receive one-twentieth of the ap plicants for relief, and many thousands would inevitably perish if they were compelled to wait while the poor were being built.—( Hear, hear.) He admitted that many very great difficulties surrounded this question. He ac knowledged that from the position in thick they ware placer' many cf the landed proprietors of Ireland could not but grudge taking that part which they were called upon t, play in coming to the aid of their countrymen ; but the majority of the people should be the cons.ideration for that House to decide uport. and tln.ugh it might be proved tha seme few would suffer, still the good of the many muss prevail.--(Hear, hear.) It was not the fault of the people that•they needed the charity of the House. There were in dustrions men who had no opportunity of earning a litre' hood by the sweat of their brow ; and there were the wretched and the pauperised, who by no exertion of their own could rise from the state to which they had been reduced.-- ( Hear.) The Government dr served great. credit for proposing the 10th cla. se of the by which it would be enacted, tha after 2s 6d. in the pound had been paid out of the borough rate the expenditure would then come on the electoral district The towns would then be relieved of an enormous burden of vagrancy and mendicancy, and the tax would be equally divided over the land. He had heat d Hon. Members threaten to bring forward a Bill to impose an absentee-tax ; but thei• ohj et would effectually be attained by the measure now before the House. A poor-law was the best absentee-tax. When a poor-law was carried for Ireland it would be the interest ut many proprietors to remain resident on their own estates, in order that, by extra care and carefulness, they might compen sate themselves for that loss to which they would be exposer when they had to maintain the poverty of the country. Then only alternative would be to furnish employment to does, dependent on them, and in this way the great capabilities of the country would be fully developed. They would not be able to carry an absentee-tax for Ireland, without im posing one also upon England. Hitherto, the punr had sup ported the paupers, and the time had come when the land ant' the landed gentry ought to support the poor; and un til they adopted some suck measure, the interests of that country never could be advanced. —( Hear, Not having much property in Ireland, he might not be a suffi cient witness, but lie could not get rid of the impression that the landlords ought to be responsible for the support of the poor. He gave the present Government full credit fur the exertions they had made for the improvement of the poor it Ireland ; and he trusted they would be carried out. When the Noble Lord who introduced the measure for the formation of railways had stated that this could only be a tempoiars measure, he was anxious for a permanent measure for the relief of the poor. Lord JOHN MANNERS conceived that unless some permanent measure were introduced, it would be worse than useless, for, unless that were done, it was only weak ness to legislate. Out of a population of five hundred thou sand, this measure was only calculated to give relief t, three hundred thousand labourers. Admitting that this measure was calculated to administer relief to sin hundred thousand heads of families, yet it was evi dently inadequate to the circumstances of the case. They had then to look to the measures of the Government and he must confess that thee measures which they proposed was totally inadequate for the purpose which they professed to serve, anti admitting all the facts which the Noble Lord hat adduced at the commencement of the session for the improve ment of the wt.ste lands in Ireland, he still could no perceive that there was anything like an assurance that these measures would answer the purpose for which the . , were propounded.—( Hear, hear.) On the remark , of his No ble Friend the Member for Lynn. he would offer no comments but he might say, that on the facts which he had adduced n. one could express the slightest doubt. That Noble Lord ha. stated that by his project employment would be provided fro upwards of five thousand heads of families as su periotendents of the works which he had advocated. and none of those assertions had been contradicted. and then the House looked to the opportunity which was af forded for the employment of the people, he thought that the House would be assured that the measures of the Government would in no way prove superior for the advantage of the people Admitting that 5,000 heads of families were to be provided fo, he the scheme of waste lands, he then came to ask what was to be effected by any scheme for increased emigration. The Noble Lord had said that he did not intend greatly to increase the facilities for emigration, and supposing Gist the increase would accommodate 5.000 heads of families more, they the came to the extended fisheries. With all these schemes —thy drainage—the education scheme—and the fisheries—publ•c works—there could not be more than 100,000 heads of families provided for. He asked then, what became of the half million of persons which remained.—( !dear, hear. ) What was to become of them, and what measures did the Government intend to adopt for their relief. He would put before tle House the reasons which induced him to think that they hat still population to provide fur. Ile agreed that they had a right to expect increased exertions on the part of the Irish landlord and increased cultivation of the land. They ought to rely greatly on the Irish landlord for the employment of these la bourers, and there-fore they ou g ht to take care to give such poor-law as would not depress, but facilitate the exertions of th. Irish proprietors. The measure was one of the greatest im portance, and ought to be approached with the greatest caution Ir was a measure which ought to.enahle Irishmen to look bard with pleasare, instead of sorrow, to the period of the calamity which afflicted them. lie felt that a portion of this Bill tended in the most direct manner to interfere with the exertions of Irish landlords. It made no difference between those landlords who spent their incomes in the improvement of their estates and the amelioration of the condition of the peasantry, anti those who spent their incomes uselessly at Bath or at Naples The present measure would destroy the last remnant of that ancient parochial and territorial system which had tended so much to the benefit of the country. Let them conceive the feelings of the man who was rated for his portion of the expenses, when he had exerted himself to the utmost in the maintenance of his own poor, and who had forborne to place a burden upon those who were in distress let them conceive his feelings when rated equally with the• man whose tenantry knew or slice nothing of him, except a , certain periodical visits. He could riot bring himself tee sup port such a system—a system which pressed equally upon the man who did his duty and the man who neglected it in every respect. lie thought, unless the House would show a Insider wisdom than had hitherto been shown by her Majesty's Go vernment, they would extend a curse rather than a boon to Ireland, by an extended poor-law. They should make Irish property answerable to the Irish poor, but not in the way in which her Majesty's Government proposed to do. Unless that care were taken in imposing a Poor-law upon lrelano session after session, would Irish misery form a never ending heme of discussion in that House, and one which would never be properly remedied unless greater caution were adopted.— ( Ilear, hear). He agreed with the Noble Lord (Lord J. Ruasell) in the hope that the old feuds and old jealousies of bygone years would be extinguished in Ireland. He hoped that in this great affliction that had fallen on the nation thus , old jealousies would he buried in oblivion, and that the future historian, after recording the sad struggl,sa between the two rival communions and the two hostile races, and after painting the horrors of this eventful warfare, would be able in a new chapter to say— .' Henceforth all discord ends, One common woe hath made two rivals friends." Mr. LA BOUCH ERE said that he should not direct his at tention to the details of the Bill before the House, several of which- were most important, but to that which he believed to be the main principle of the measure. He should not, there fore follow the Noble Lord who had just sat down into the ques tion of whether the s) stem of rating should be placed upon the unions or upon the electoral divisions; nor should he advert to the proposition made by several gentlemen, of increasing the number of ex officio guardians ; because he thought that in stead of mixing up all these details into one general description it was the rule of that House to consider them severally is committee, when the clauses relating to them were brough. forward ; and it would be of more use to c , fine themselves to the general principles of the measure. That principle was one of the must important kind—it was whether the system of out door relief should, however slight, be extended to the able-bodied poor its Ireland Hr confessed that, for his own part, he should be willing to take the justification of the measure which ban been proposed b) her Majesty's Government from the 'perches which had beet made in vindication of its prim iple by gentlemen connected with Ireland, and which had beets addressed to the House in the cimrse of the evening. He alluded particularly to those speeches made by the Noble Lord the Al , mber for Down shire, his Hon. Friend the Alember for Waterford, and the lion, anti Gallant Member representing Londonderry. The) were three gentlemen entitled, by their experience as Irish landlords, their intimate acquaintance with she local concerns of Ireland, and the honourable anxiety which they had evinced in their respective localities to improve the condition of the people around them, as well as any Members of that Ilouse could be, to express an opinion upon this subject. Thme three g entlemen could not be influenced by y ie E t he ng "i lirh 'Ailtie'mb nattributed t theuse namely—that lush anA le_m t b h t Members o b f y sotnetit t support ing the measures devised for the relief of Ireland, without any indivirtual regard to Irish interests. Tne flon.Me Member had it said that he opposed the introduction of out-door relief, as was introducing a dangerous priociple into operation ; but the question was, a great calamity had overtaken Ireland, the potato-crop had failed, and henceforth the people of Ireland must either starve or he enable to earn wages. Such was the state of things, and he said it was no longer possible to leave them to chance, or to the support derived from voluntary contributions, but that a provision must be made by the Legislature to support these persons. They had now ar rived, if not to the end of the discussion, at least to the second night of it, and he had heard no aeswer to the question pro pounded by the Noble Lied at the head of the Government in his opening statement, which was the alternative before them, either to maintain the pea le or allow them to starve. No one had said let them be lett to perish, or that. England, or the imperial treasury, should maintain them. On the contrary, though it. was admitted that Ireland at present had peculiar claims on this country, it was held right that the destitute people of Ireland should be supported by the property and the soil of Ire land. This was the principle of the present wi.thyi, s which only elhtehad no doubt would be agri ed to by acs immense r of English, but of Irish Members, and be ma.ie the law of the land. The Noble Lord who had just sat Bowe, stated that he was not against the measure, but he objected to it, because it was not accompanied by oti.er large and comprehensive mea sures. He (Mr. Labouchere) admitted that the Bill should be viewed in connexion with the general scheme of the Government, but he could not but see that the main objection of the Noble Lord arose from the rejection of the favourite scheme for railways in troduced by the Noble Lord the Member for Lynn. This constituted the main objection of the Noble Lord, but he (Mr. Labouchere) could not see how the measure could have met evils of the case. The Hon. Member for the University of Dublin had referred to the state of the county of Mayo, and asked how it was possible fir the proprietors, under such cir cumstances, to support the destitute? This was an extreme case which the Hon. and Learned Member cited. But sup posing that Mayo was kit as it was, he (Mr. Labouchere) would ask another question, would the property of the pro- EVENING,_IIARCH 16, 1847 likely to advance in the progress of civilisation.—(Hear, hear.) Ireland, according to Irish Members, had been retrograding since the Union, but he had lately seen more and better pigs and cattle imported into Liverpool than were brought from Ireland twenty years ago. The fact was, Ireland had improved within the last ten or twenty years mote than any other country in Europe, and it was well known that those who had a bright arid fair prospect before them inyaviably complained mom than these who were sunk into the depths of degradation.—( Hear, hear.) One Hon. Gentleman had that afternoon told them that the Irish landlords had made presentments of two sums of 86,0001. and 68,11101., being 2s. in the pound of the whole rental of the country ; but who paid the money ? Why, the Fngliah Exchequer; so that it was England that paid equal to 2s. in the pound of the rental of the country. Mr. W. S. O'BRIEN—Yes ; but the money is to be re• paid. _ _ Mr. ROEBUCK never trusted such repayments. One '_C hen, again, paid do wn was wort h twenty s hilli ngs promised. _Chen, again, was said the landlords were ruined. An How. MEMBER—No, no. Mr. ROEBUCK —Well, if they were not, why didn't they pay ?—( Hear and laughter.) They must either admit that they were ruined and could not pay, or they must confess that they were not ruined, and pay --( Hear, hear.) Another mode of meeting Irish questions was the cry of " Let me have a national party, then Ireland will be safe." They had lately had a specimen of the " national party," and, when the party met in Palace-yard, they found the Hon. Member f or Li mer i c k, d ec l ar i ng he would have nothing to do with their acts, and flying to the east, while Lord Mounteashel. being of a similar wind, marched towards the Treasury ; and w hat with some flying to the east. and others to the west, two gentlemen were left to call themselves the " Na tional party of Ireland." Until sectarian differences were got rid of he had no hope for a national party. Until he saw the Hon. and Learned Member for the University of Dublin lying quietly down with the Hon. Member for Cork, and he found them united together in harmony and good fellowship upon all points, he should have no faith in the truth or sincerity of their reconciliation. But the fire of bigotry still smouldered in the breast of the booms able and Learned Member for the University of Dublin, and it might still break oat in all the fury of 1810, or fifteen years ago, when the Emancipation Bill was being agitated. The fire was not yet dead. They had a proof of this the other day when tne Hon. Member for Kinsale brom zht forward a proposition to rend away th- last ragged reninantof olden bigotry, when that fight Hon. Gentleman and that party wno seemed to b• in xtasies for the social improvement of Ireland, voted against it. The Noble Lord the Member for Lynn, did the same. He begged the Noble Lor is pardon. The Nord , . Lord displayed more liberality than the rest, and recorded his vote in favour of the Bill. Were not these frequent and significant instances of what was now going on in Ireland ? And did they not show that the good of Ireland was to be found, not in those hollow-hearted coalitions and interested confederations, but in the good sense of the English and Scotch people on this aide of the Channel? He felt every hour the pressure from without with regard to the condition of that country. He found that from every part of the country they were asked how it was that a representa tive assembly like that—representing the working millions of this great country—threw their shield over those who deserted the duties of their situation, and abandoned the unfortunate beings who had an undeniable claim on their protection and support.—( Hear, hear.) The Right Hon. Gentleman, the Member for the University of Dublin, had been casting bout for the motives which influenced him (Mr. Roebuck) in ex posing the criminal delinquency of the landlords of Ireland, and set his conduct down to popularity hunting. He would not stop to notice these imputations. He did not deny that he sought his country's approbation, and he thought he would take the most successful steps to obtain it by imposing a stringent poor-law on Ireland, that would make the landlords of that country understand their own interest, and discharge their duties to their destitute poor.—( Hear, hear.) H e wou ld ask the Hon. Gentleman ( the Recorder for Dublin) to meet any portion of his countrymen, and he (Mr. Roebuck) would meet any portion of his on this subject, and he had no hesita tion in saying that not a man in any town of England would be found who would dare to oppose such a proposition.—( Hear, bear.) And yet one half of it only had been sought to be sanctioned by that House ; a partial application of it was merely proposed, at present ; but as sure as the sun would rise to-morrow—and he had no doubt of that— (Laughter) —a long time would not elapse before that measure would be carried out in all its entirety—a mea sure which was a great act of justice due to the Irish people— due to them from England which bad too long neglected and suffered their just rights to be withheld, and had too long fostered the pernicious system which had tended to demoralise them, and generate those social and moral evils to which Ire land was now a prey.—( Hear, hear.) And as he hope that the real benefit which he anticipated from this measure would be worked out for the country, he would support the proposition of the Noble Lord, and it should be his future object to show how inadequate for the relief of the present evils of Ireland was that proposition, which he would now most cordially s upport.—(Cheers.) Colonel VERNER disapproved of the measure. It proposed to be a Bill for the relief of the Irish, but ho believed it would create greater. far greater evils than it purported to remove. Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL said he was anxious to offer a few observations in reply to the statements of many Hon. Members who had addressed the House, as he understood it was not the wish of the House that the debate should be adjourned.— (Cries of " Hear, hear.") What he complained of was, not that Honourable Gentlemen in this country supported this poor-law for Ireland and sought the approbation of their countrymen in doing so, but that in the discharge of that duty they were in the habit of introducing topics—and the system was very prevalent amongst the party of which the Hon. and Learned Gentleman for Bath was a member —for the sole purpose of aspersing Irish landlords.—. ( Hear, hear.) That was all be complained of, as he had, after the most mature deliberation, come to the conclusion that the measure was one which it was his duty to support. But the Hon. and Learned Gentleman had been guilty of much in justice. First, he had spoken harshly of the conduct of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman the Recorder of Dublin (Mr. Shaw ). He (Mr. M. J. O'Connell) had, during the greater period of his life, opposed the principles of the Hun. and Learned Gentleman, but for nothing did he respect hint so much as for his conduct on the Irish questions. which had come under the consideration of the House during the present se , sion. He respected him because he believed he had acted conscientiously, and because he eonsidered he was promoting the advantage of Ireland by the course he lad adopted. Hut whether they dif fered with the Hon. and Learned Gentleman or agreed with him, he alike censured them ; in fact, he was as, apt illustration of the drummer, who. finding the soldier whom he was punish ing did not relish its infliction. exclaimed, " Strike high or low, nothing will please you." Though a man differed with him in opinion, he should not use harsh terms towards him. Then he attacked the Hon. Member for Limerick for the observations he made, that he and others intended to vote against certain portions of the measure, which was most unjust, then it was borne in mind that bosh the Honourable Member for Limerick (Mr. S. O'l3rien) and he, in tended to vote in favour of the out-door clauses. The queition of rating divided itself into three breeches —rating upon unions, upon electoral divisions, and upon smaller portions of property, lie had heard many statements during the course of the debate, but he confessed he had heard nothing which de served the definition of argument. lie was in favour of the tenth clause, which prope s . d union rating. and when the pro per time arrived, he should be ready to state his reasons for doing so ; but if Hon. Gentlemen could show him that rating smaller districts would benefit good landlords, arid not lead to the confiscation of p ro p erty, he should not hesitate to alter his opinion. Many Hon. Members, in speaking on out-door, relief, had made most extraordinary statements. There were two provisions in the Bill—one for out-door relief to the helpless poor, and, second, for affo, ding the same relief to the able • bodied, which was opposed by many Hon. Gentlemen.; but if either clause was to be viewed with apprehensiou—it was the first—as there was considerable danger of its adding mate rially to the heavy burdens already imposed land, and of opening a door of immorality an d fraud. The Irish party who had been styled the " happy family," had come to the conclu sion to oppose the clause w hi c h proposed to afford out-door relief, for which he could not help exp essing his reg ret. It was clear the calamity which h a d v i s i te d Ireland, would not pass soon away, and therefore it was their duty to g ive a greater amount of aid to the poor than they had heretofore given. It was cheaper to pay rates than to allow a continuance of the existing distress. To restrict it as much as possible to those who are bedridden, helpless, and maimed from other causes. On the first clause he had this objection. Such he might say of the second clause but he was glad to say that th ere was a much better spirit than had of late prevailed. It might be all very well for the Hon. Member for Bath to say that they only agreed when there was something to be got, but he was happy to say that on the pre sent occasion the agreement was for sonsething to be gotten for Ireland, and he thought it was something worse than charity to raise up the questions of sectarian differences and allege against them those differences. He regretted that such a propli l t n it n T , had ever been made ; but if he talked of them, he to the propositions of that Hon. Member with rega rd 'l'otuo India. With great respect for his talents , t he still could not help ing that if the same principle had been adopted with conclusionrear.d to Ireland, that he would come to a very different Mr. CALLAGHAN would not enter into the several questions which had been introduced to the House ou the une before the House. He would simply confine bins elf to the matter stated by the Noble Lord with respect to the relief to be granted to the able •bedied poor outside of the house ; and with regard to that he was desirous only of expressing his opi nion as to the power to be given, by the Reuse to the Magis trates for granting that relief. I n his opinion that power was excessive ; and he deeply regretted that any such power had been conceded. For his ow npart, he could not but conceive that such power wou ld be mischievous in the extreme, and likely to do anything than be of service to the Irish people. He would 'ake the liberty of saying to the Noble Lord at the head of the Government that he (the Noble Lord) had not given any one reason why lie should increase tips ex-officio guardians. It rri.gh , be very trite to say that electoral divisions ought to be taxed, but the truth was, that these divisions sent into the t owns the great bulk of their iei ii p r. a inu)aptn r paupers. It paupers. t e I te The xwcaeseNd the great object in Irela nd to send No ble Lord, to provide f or this, said, their w tha t ls. 3d. in the pound, the excess should be chargeable upon the general union. The Noble Lord ought to knew that the rate could never reach that height unless upon the occasion of a general famine like the present He thought that the rates for the poor ought to come as a general charge on the country, and then the rate-payers would te have a better contr o l over the raising and expending of h money. He adjured the Noble Lord not to listen to the voice of one party or the other, and not to give to any but the rate. payers the power of taxing for the relief of the poor, Sir A. BROOKE wished to give his reasons for not giving his assent to the meas ure p roposed by the No b l e Lord. He thought that the systematic plan of having 800,000 or 900,000 people maintained out of doors by public works was one most dangerous and fatal to the interests and character of the Irish people. He did not see any s ecur i ty that the poor would derive by their maintenance from the satisfylrish him onpropert property generally. He would , if th e Noble Lord could these two points, be very much disposed to support the measure before the House, but otherwise he should feel justified in p op posing it. He cons idered the present time was not the time for such attacks as those made b y the F lon.a ß nd igh L t ea p r n i n o - e n er Member for Bath , whose speeches contrasted most unfavour ably with the calm and tem p erate address o f the Gentleman the Secre tar y for Ireland, and th e Noble Lord at the head of the Government, in his statement of Friday night last. Lord JOHN RUSSELL begged leave to explain e - point which had been omitted i n his statemen t of Fridarnight e last, and to which his attenti on had been dr awn by a note received from Lord Mon tea g le. In the i nterview he had had with the deputation of Irish gentlemen when the subject of the relief of the poor wa s brou g ht under his (Lord John Russell's) attention, they stated that they were willing to bear any expense that might b e re q uired for the extension and erection of workhouse ac commodatio n , so as to admit of in door relief to the poor. His answer at the time was, that he did not think the suggestion capable of being practically carried into effects—( Hear.) The House then went into Committee pro forma , and the Bill was ordered to be re - co mmitt ed on Friday next. Lord JOHN RUSSELL observed, 011 the Chairman re porting progress, that he hoped there would be no renewal of the debate on Friday. QIIAINAGE (IRELAND) BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. GENERAL REGISTER HOUSE (EDINBURGH) BILL. This Bill was read a second time , and ordered to b e corn- . mated. MUTINY BILL. This Bill was also raid I woad time, vsd ordered to be coammittul o 4 Think. AGRICULTURAL TENANT RIGHT BILL. On the motion that this Bill be committed, Mr. STRIJIT suggested its postponement. Mr. CRAVEN BERF-s:ELEY hoped they would not go into Committee to-night, as he had a must decided objection to certain portions of the Bib, which he intended strenuously to oppose. Lord GEORGE BENTINCK said that the Bill was one which created the greatest possible alarm in the country, and he trusted that the Hon. Gentleman would give a little more time for its consideration. The nature of the Bill was one of a very objectionable nature, and the country would require time to in vestigate it. Ali:. E. DENISON said that a petition had been got up by per,nns who had never seen the Bill, in order to &feat it. 'There was nothing in the Bill at all calculated to excite alarm or annoyance After 2 few words from Mr. ACKLAND and Mr. STAFFORD O'BRIEN in support of the measure, Sir J. YARDE BULLER hoped that the Hon. Gentleman would consent to put off the Bill to a later day than Friday, in order to give a better opportunits : fcr the reading of the Bill. It was impossible to give it a fair reading and investigation be tween that time and Friday. Mr. PUSEY said that in order to meet the wi-hes of Hon. Members, he would postpone the Bill until Friday week. The second reading of the Poor Relief Supervision (Ire• land) Bill was then po:tporkd until Friday next. The Earl of LINCOLN obtained leav • to bring in a Bill to facil-tate the drainage of lands in Great Britain. fhe Noble Lord said the object of the Bill was twotold. It was to enable persons, without the enormous expense of a private Bill, to take measures for draining their estates ; and secondly, to allow them to take sites for the erection of mills and other machinery for such purpose. Mr. VESEY moved for aeccuhts of the amount of sums ap plied for at the various presentment sessions held between the Ist day of October, 18-16, and the Ist day of" March, 1847, specifying the various works, and distinguishing those for p.iblie works and those for drainage; of the amount sanc tioned by the Treasury for each work ; of the amount ex pended on each work up to the 14 day of March, 1847 ; of the sums actually paid to the labourers on each work, specify the nature of the work, whether done by tali or otherwise; of the sums paid to the officers employed in carrying on the var:ous works in each district, as well as the cost of the imple ments necessary for such works.—Agreed to. Mr. WARD moved for and obtained leave to bring in a Bill to empower the Commissioners of her Majesty's Woods to purchase land for the purposes of a harbour of safety at Holy head, in the county of Anglesea ; and also mowed that Mr. Ward, Admiral Dundas, Captain Herkeley. Mr. Bankes, Vis count Morpeth, Mr. Bernal, Mr. Christie, Sir James Graham, Mr. Parker, Mr. Seymour, and five Members to be added by the Committee of Selection, be nominated the Select Com mittee on the Portland Harbour of Refuge and Breakwater Bill. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at One o'clock. PARLIAMEMTARY BUSINESS. (From the Votes and Proceeding, of the House of Comnwns. MONDAY, MARCII 15. The uncial-named Railway Bill was presented, read a firs' time, and ordered to be read a second time :-- Glasgow. Kilmarnock, and Ardrossan (Amendment, De viations. and Branches, &c.)--" to enable the Glasgow, Kil marnock, and Ardrossan Railway Company to make certain Branch Railways, and to make certain Deviations from the line and levels of the said Railway, and to amend the Act relating to the said Railway." The following Railway Bills were read a second time, com mitted, and referred to the Committee of Selection : Midland (Mangotsfield to Bath). Glasgow, Paisley, and Greenock '(Branches at Port Glasgow), Glasgow, Paisley, and Greenock (Branch to the Caledbnian Railway and Diversion of Canal). Parkgate and Chester and Birkenhead Junction. STANDING ORDERS COIIIIIITTEE. The following Resolutious were reported from the above Committee : 1. That the Committee having considered the special report made by the Examiners on the Kilmarnock and Ayr Direct Railway petition, are of opinion that, with reference to the facts therein stated, the standing orders have been complied with; and that, with reference to the non-com pliance stated in,,the;report of the said Examiners, they are of opinion that the standing orders ought to be dispensed with, and that the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill, with the exception of that part which enables them to make a Branch of about two furlongs in length, in order to effect a junction between the Main Line and the proposed Glasgow and Belfast Union Railway, and on the insertion of a Clause, restraining them from taking, for the purposes of the Branch Line to the Harbour of' Ayr, the properties numbered 120, 122, and 123, in the parish of Newton-upon- Ayr, and also from interfering with the roads numbered 119 and 121 in the same parish, without the consent of all parties interested therein respectively. 2. That in the case of the Dublin Improvement petition, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with :—That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill, with the ex ception of those parts which enable them to purchase or take by compulsion, either the property comprised in schedule E) annexed to the Bill, or any property for the improve ment of any of the existing streets, lanes, or passages within the borough of Dublin, or to vest, by compulsion, the Dubin Royal Exchange, together with the powers, duties, rights, and liabilities of the trustees thereof, in the Corporation of Dublin. 3. That in the case of the Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow, and Dublin Railway ( Repeal of Act) petition, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with :---That the parties be permitted to proceed NT ith their Bill on inserting the notices for three successive weeks in seine newspaper published in the county of Kilkenny. That the Committees on the three preceding Bills do exa mine, in the first place, how fir such orders have been com plied with ; and do report the same to the House on the re port of the Bill. 4. That in the case of the Waterford and Limerick Rail way petition for leave to read the Bill a second time, the sessional order ought to be dispensed with :—That the par ties be permitted to read their Bill a second time on giving due notice thereof in the Private Bill-office. 5. That in the case of the Edinburgh and Northern Rail way ( Brat:ch from Burntisland to Dunfermline Branch, &c. 2) petition, for leave to deposit ke petition ter a Bill, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with :—That the parties be permitted to deposit a petition for a Bill to enable the Edinburgh and Northern Railway Company to make de►•iation and extension of their Branch Railway to Dun fermline, to make another Railway from their Strathearo Deviation Railway to the Scottish Central Railway, and to make an alteration in the manner of constructing the said Branch and St rat !learn Deviation across certain ro.di and the Ilalbeath Railway. 6. 'That. in the case of the Edinburgh and Glasgow, Monk. land and Kirkintillock, Ballochney and Slamannan way,. Amalgamation, Sale, or Lease petition, to read the Bill a vecond time, the sessional order ought to be dispensed with : —That the parties be permitted to read their Bill a second time on giving due notice thereof in the Private Bill-office. 7. That in the case of the Gravesend Cemetery petition, for leave to deposit a petition fora Bill, the standing orders ought not to be dispensed with. 8. That in the case of the Great Western Railway ( Branch to join the West London Railway, Widening wi r d Enlargement of the West London Railway, and Branches to Hammersmith, and to join the London and South-Western Railway near Lambeth) petition, for additional provision, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with :—That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill. First, second, third, fourth, fifth, iath, and eighth resolu tions agreed to.—Report to lie on the table.. NOTICES GIVEN AT THE PRIVATE BILL-OFFICE. The following Railway Bill is appointed to be read a second time on Wednesday, March 17:— York and Newcastle (Main Line Improvement, &c.) DEATH of COLONEL GORE LANG TON, M.l'. FOR EAST' z-sOMERSETSIIIRE. We have to record the decease of Colonel Gore Langton, one of the oldest as well as one of the most distinguished Members of the House of Commons. He expired on Sunday last, at his residence in Grosvenor-square, in the 88th year of his age, and after service as a legislator since the year 1815. This gentleman's name has been familiar in political circles owing to his determined opposition to the corn-laws. Though one of the largest landed proprietors in the kingdom, he was the greatest enemy of protection, which he considered to be as detrimental to the cause of agriculture as to that of commerce. Though suffering from extreme bodily debility during the greater part of last session, he went down to the House, or rather he was carried there, to vote for the second reading of Sir Robert Peel's free-trade measures. He ob served on the occasion, that " He would give his vote though he should die in the lobby." Colonel Langton was also a prominent supporter of the Reform Bill, the Roman Catho lic Relief Bill, and other measures of a liberal tendency. The deceased gentleman has died one of the wealthi:st commoners in England. Ile was the eldest ,on of William Gore Lang ton, Esq., of Newtown Park, who assumed the name and arms of Langton, in addition to those of Gore, on his mar riage with Miss Langton. Ile was twice married, and had four children. He is succeeded by his grandson, Mr. Lang ton, who married, a short time since, Lady Anne Grenville, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Buckingham. Colonel Langton for many years held the command of the Oxford The works on the Avignon to Marseilles Railway are approaching their termination. The long tunnel of thy Nert he is so far advanced that the opening of the line may be looked for in November. The execution of the iminenst works on this line will render, it is said, a loan necessary. MENDICANCY IN BELGIUM.--411 consequence of the overwhelming influx of mendicants from Flanders into Brussels, the government came to the resolution of removing them all.back to their respective communes. The Brussels journals of the 6th present a mournful picture of this opera tion. At six in the morning of that day upwards of 1,000 of these poor creatures were marched out by the gate lead ing to Halle, escorted by gendarmes and other policemen, the sick and infirm being put into three large waggons. The crowd assembled to view this sad procession were painfully affected by the sight of so. many wretched beings, among whom were feeble men in the last stage of life, women and young children incapable of helping themselves. SiNnan No SAILOR.—IVe are every day disproving the wisdom of the ancients ; whatever Sinbad might have been in the "Arabian Nights," he is evidently no sailor in these days. The crew of the Sinbad, provision vessel, en gaged in distributing biscuit on the Irish coast, have made a report to the admiral of the station that their Sinbad is no sailor—indeed, is hardly sea-worthy with the quantity of biscuit she has on board, dealing in rolls as she does on her own private account. They confess that she labours hard in the service in which she is engaged, but she allows her feel ings to be almost too much for her, indulging in them to a terrible pitch now and then, indeed being quite ungoverna ule. Again, some of the crew are fearful that in some of her antics they shall leave her in the lurch, by rolling overboard. We have heard that the Sinbad is one of Sir %Villain Sy. mond's build. (Query ?) Would it not be well to s, nd for the "surveyor" to Ireland to survey the vessel—and the biscuit ?---Nurtfical Standard. WATERLOO.—" What did you think of Waterloo ?" I inquired of an old fellow I found one morning digging in my garden, where he had been hired to assist by the lazy head gardener. " Think of it, said the old crab, stopping and leaning upon his spade, " I thought it hell upon earth. 1 was utterly deaf with the continued roar of artillery on one side or the other, and the sound of the musketry of the men beside me. I could not see my companion's face for one minute (as he stood next me) for the thick smoke; and the next I found him choking, fetching, and vomiting in the agonies of death, and clutching my very feet. Sometimes a shot went tearing through our ranks, and almost shaking the part of the square where I had been for some hours standing, seem ing to loosen our files as it knocked the poor fellow's head over heels, like nine-pins on a bowling gr en ; and then we heard the familiar tones of the old colonel, to prepare for cavalry, as those devilish Cuirassiers poured upon us, and we were wedged together into a wall of iron again to receive them. That is all I know about my feelings, Sir," said the old soldier. "It was a terrible sight and awful to look upon. It was hell upon earth," he muttered, as he resumed his spade, and commenced digging with fearful energy.—United Setiicc Igaiaain4 COURT CIRCULAR. The Queen and Prince Albeit took their usual early walk yesterday, in the pleasure-grounds of Osborne House. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal, went to the sea- beach yesterday m •rning, and their Royal Highnesses Prince Alfred and the Princess Alice took an airing in the pleasure -grounds. • Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Kent and the Duchess of Cambridge, honoured the performance of the French Plays with their presence Yesterday evening. Lady Fanny . Howard, Sir George Couper, and Lord James Murray, were in Waiting on the Duchess of Kent. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge yesterday, a! Cambridge house. A deputation from the General Ship Owners' Society, eon sisfingof Mr. Duncan Dunbar (chairman), Mr. G. F. Young deputy-chairman, Mr. William Tindall, and Mr. Anthony Ridley, had an interview with the Earl of Clarendon yester day, at the Office of the Board o f T ra d e . The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Marquis of Lansdowne, Lord John Russell, the Earls of Chichester and Powis, the Bishops of London, Winchester, Chester, and Lincoln, and Sir George Grey, attended a meeting of the New Biahoptics Commission in 11'hitehall-place, on Saturday last. A deputation from the Steam-ship Owners' Association, had an interview with the Earl of Clarendon yesterday, at the Board of Trade. The deputation consisted of Viscount San don, M.P., Mr. Brown, M.P., Mr. Masterman, M.l'.. Mr.. Forster, Kr., Mr. Pa• tison, M.P.. Mr. llull, Mr. Williams, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Hodges, and the Secretary, Mr. Morgan. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. TATTERSALL'S.—MoN DAY. All the events now in the market were more--or less noticed, but we cannot name one on which there was any considerable outlay, or that underwent any change of import ance. It is only necessary t o s t a t e , therefore, - that the horses most frequently in demand—some of them at slightly im proved prices —were Halo and Doleful, for the Northampton Handicap; The Liberator, for the 2,000 Guineas; Antler, Punch, Camera Obscure, Mickey Free, and Newcuurt, for the Chaster Cup; and The Liberator and two or three out siders for the Derby. The latest prices were as follows LEAMINGTON STEEPLE CHASE. 9 to 2 agst Mr. Ouselev Higgins's Pioneer 8 to 1 agst Mr. Preston's Brunette NORTHAMPTON HANDICAP. 8 to 1 agst Duke of Richmond's Halo—taken 8 to 1 agst Mr. Gratwicke's Doleful 100 to 12 agst Mr. Gregory's Euclid colt—taken 10 to 1 agst Mr. Mostyn's Queen Mary 20 to 1 agst Mr. T. Dawson's the Magnet 25 to 1 agat Mr. G. Moore's Watchdog 7 to 2 agst Halo and Doleful—taken NEWMARKET HANDICAP. 9 to 1 agst Lord Stradbroke's Lynceus 12 to 1 agst Lord E. Russell's Sting—taken 16 to 1 agst Sir J. Hawley's . Humdrum—taken THE PORT STAKES. 2 to 1 agst Mr. NV. Scott's Sir Tatton Sykes METROPOLITAN HANDICAP. 8 to 1 agst Mr. Stephenson's Sheraton 20 to 1 agst Mr. Gregory's Euclid colt—taken 25 to 1 agst Mr. itamsbottom's Pine Apple—taken 35 to 1 agst Mr. H. C. Ibbetson's Pimento—taken Two THOUSAND GUINEAS STAKES. 8 to 1 agst Mr. O'Brien's Liberator—taken 10 to 1 agst Mr S. Conwav's Christopher—taken 12 to 1 agst Mr. Payne's Sister to Cobweb colt—taken 500 even between Conyngham and the Liberator. CHESTER CUP. 17 to 1 agst Herbert's Antler—take 20 to 1 25 to 1 apt Mr Mostyn's Camera Obscura—taken 28 to 1 Itgst Mr. Wilson's Punch—taken 30 to 1 agst Mr. Irwin's Mickey Free 30 to 1 agst Mr. B Green's The Lamb—taken 40 to 1 agst Mr. Skerratt's Intrepid—taken 40 to 1 agst Captain Pettatt's Newcourt—taken 40 to 1 agst Mr. Meiklam's Inheritress 50 to 1 agst W. Scott's Sir Tatton Sykes 66 to 1 agst Mr Greville's Jonathan Wild—t. 1000 to 10 66 to l'agst Mr. Payne's Queen Mab 1000 to 15 agst Lord ri's Plaudit—taken 6000 to 90 agst Mr. Collett's Chatterbox—taken 1000 to 15 agat Mr. J. Clarke's Maid of Lyme. • Dainty. 6to 1 agst Lord Eglinton's Van Tromp—t. and aft. off. 10 to 1 agst Mr. Mostyn's Planet—taken and aft. off. 12 to 1 agst Mr. Bowes's Epirote— taken and aft. offered 20 to 1 agst Mr. Mostyn's Glentilt—taken and aft. off. 30 to 1 agst Mr. O'Brien's Liberator—taken 40 to 1 agat Mr. Bowes's Lunedale 50 to 1 agst Mr. Payne's Sister to Cobweb colt 50 to 1 apt Duke of Richmond's Red Hart 50 to 1 agst Mr. Hyde's Will- o'-the -Wisp—t. and aft. off. 50 to 1 agst Mr. S. Conway's Christopher—taken am afterwards offered 50 to 1 agst Mr. Bouverie's War Eagle—t. and aft. off. 1000'to 15 agst Mr. Westenra's Pavilion—taken to 20001. 2000 to 25 agst Mr. Fuller's Oxonian—taken 600 to 500 on Conynham agst Liberator. OAKS. Bto 1 sgst Mr. Payne's Clementina—tak. and aft. off. IRISH PROVISION SQUADRON. The following is the distribution of her Majesty's vessels on the coast of Ireland, employed in conveying provisions to tilt distressed population, under the command in chief of Rear- Admiral Sir Hugh Pigot, C. 8., K.C. H. : The Tyne, '2B, on passage to Galway, to discharge sup plies. The Madagascar. Andromeda, and Andromache. frigates, are depots moored respectively at Torbert, Kil libegs, and Galway. The Cockatrice, schooner (tender). left Cork on Saturday for Castlemaine Harbour, with provisions, on account of the British Relief Association. The Mercury (tender) and the Gipsy, are gone with supplies on behalf of the British Relief Association to ihilydehob. The Adventure, transport, has proceeded with 2,345 barrels and 49 sacks of meal, to Kenmore, where she is to be moored as a floating depot. The Lively, lighter, is gone to Clifilen and Tarbert, and is to return to Cork. The Devon, lighter, is on her way from Baltimore to Cork, for further supplies. The Ant is gone to Limerick ; the Sinbad to Tralee, Killarney, and Torbert. The following are the steam-vessels and their distributiot. on the coast : The Dragon, steam frigate, arrived Elton Portsmouth, with meal and biscuit, and accompanied the Tyne to Galway; from that place the Dragon proceeds, and there discharges her cargo, for Sligo. The Odin, steam frigate, has proceeded with s.ed and supplie s t o B a lly mu ll e t, an d is to return to cork; discretionary orders w, re given to Captain wit llama to land part of his freight at Kenmare if he thottait it necessary. The Scourge, steam ,loop, has been to Live:- pool for supplies and old clothing, &c., furnithed by tit, .Society of Friends, and is distributing them along the it.rth-west coast. The Bulldog, steam sloop, has left Cork for Kenmare, with the Adventure, transport. ne Blazer. -team vessel, left Cork with the Coekatrice in compan% , :Or Castlemaine Harbour; she is to land her freight .it Castletnaine, for Killarney. The Geyser, steam sloop, is on her way to Cork from Dingle to Tralee, where she has landed supplies. The Tartarus, steam vessel, ha, distributed soup boilers along the coast; after landing her meal at Arran Island, on the west coast, she is ordered to Galway, to relieve the Urgent. The Zephyr. Holyhead steam packet, is at Colic, and has taken on board supplies on account of the British Relief Associa tion, for distribution at • Bantry Bay. The Myrmidon, iron steam vessel, has been sett to Waterford to afford protection to the provision b.)ats passing between Carrick rod Clonmel. The Lucifer, steam steam vessel, is attached to the depot at Sligo, for the conveyance of provisions in that locality. The Dasher steam vessel is conveying pro. visions to Westport. The Acheron steam vessel is stationed -it Black Sod Bay, for the protection of meal vessels passing that way from bei )g plundered. The Pluto steam vessel is .tt Kildvsart, to afford protection to meat vessels passing be , ween Limerick and the river Fergus. The Comet steam vessel is at Limerick attending to that neighbourhood, as Also the Swallow. The Alban steam transport is in the river Shannon, attached to the Madagascar depot. DRURY-LANE TuEATRE.—This theatre was crowded in every part last night, the attraction being the benefit of Mr. Bunn. The performances were of a very varied descrip tion, including the services of many popular artists, whose contributions were received with great enthusiasm. In the course of the evening Mr. Bunn addressed the house in a brief speech suitable to the occasion. SACRED HARMONIC SOClETY.—Handers oratorio. " Illshazzar," will be performed by the Society, for the first time, on Friday next. Although Belshazzar has lain dorm sti lor many years, it is one of the great composer's finest works. Thelibretio is understood to have been written by Mr. Jennen , , who compiled for Handel the text of the Messiah. MR. i3EULER.—This gentleman gave his annual concert last evening at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, and as usual, had a full attendance. The comic songs of the veteran were the staple of the entertainments, all of which were received with great merriment. The remainder of the programme was made up of songs and duets executed by Mr. E. Day. Mr. Trenklee, Mr. Sporle, Mr. Shoubridge, Miss Stewart, Mrs. Aveling Smith, and others. SPINNING-HOUSE RIOTS.—Our streets still present from time to time lingethag evidence of the ill-couditioned crusade against Proctorial authority, of which we hope some of the instigators are now ashamed. On Monday , vening a commotion arose on Market-hill, a little after eight o'clock, in consequence of the impertinence of a few dirty little boys ; larger wiseacres by and by interered. and there was the usual hooting and shouting and mobbing of the Proctors, until at last a rather serious row was gene rated in St. Andrew's-street, and missiles flew about, so that the windows of the Bird Bolt Inn, and the lamp over the entrance gateway, were smashed. A silly fellow, named Wilson, was captured, and on b e i ng brought before the borough bench on Tuesday morning, was sentenced to pay a fine of 5/., or suffer two months' durance vile, for his ridiculous display of the preceding night.— Cambridg, Chronicle. EXTRAORDINARY ACCIDENT AT LOWESTOFF.-0i: Friday last one of the men engaged in pile-driving on the South Pier was observed to Nave his hand to some per sons who were passing in a boat; just at this identical time the bell of the engine, weighing 21 cwt., was descending. and forced the hand of the unfortunate individual in con tact with the head of the pile. A sad mutilation was the consequence. When conveyed to the Infirmary it was deemed necessary to amputate the limb. With a view of sparing the pain necessarily attendant upon. so severe an operation, the narcotising process with ether was employed, but so far from its producing a sedative effect, the most vio lent and uncontrollable excitement ensued. At the end of two or three minutes this abated, when the poor fellow allowed Mr. Worthington to remove the limb, which he bore with the utmost composure and fortitude. At present he is doing well. —lVOrwich Mercury. SUICIDE OF A POLISH NOBLEMAN.- - On Saturday an inquest, adjourned from Thursday last, was resumed and concluded before C. C. Lewis, Esq., coroner for Essex, at the Crooked Billet public house, Woodford, on the bed) . of Mr. Herman Poznaiiski, aged 37, a native of Polanl, and a nobleman of that country. who committed suicide by shooting himself through the head, under the following cir cumstances:—lt appeared from the evidence of the father of the deceased and other witnesses, that for some time past the deceased had been in a low and desponding state of mind, caused by being reduced from affluence to the most dire state of distress. On Sunday morning he lett home, and between twelve and one o'clock on that day the report of a stol was heard in Epping Forest, between Chigwell and Woodford. On some persons proceeding to the spot, they found the deceased lying upon the ground, with blood flow ing from his mouth, and by his side a pistol, recently dis charged. He was removed to the Crooked Billet, where a surgeon attended, who found that the deceased had put the pistol into his mouth and fired, the ball passing through the larynx and lodging in the neck. Although so seriously in jured, the deceased lingered until Wednesday, when he died. All that was found on his person was two duplicates, a half penny, a pair of gloves, and a letter addressed to Lord Dudley Stuart, thanking the Noble Lord f u r the part he had t a k en in trying to obtain the regeneration of Poland, which he (th e writer) despaired of seeing ever carrie,i into effect On the 4th instant the funeral of the unfortunate Victims of the destruction of the Grand Ducal Theatre was solemnized at Carlsrhue. An immense crowd of th e inhabi tants formed a dounl e li ne to_ in the cemetery ga t es . Th e as h es of the victims were enclosed n eight coffins, ill Om taut* which were laid ,~~ .Mrr ~ 8 LP ry i ,;,- , INSTITUTION for the TROT Ogii OF FEMALES F M D RO SEUC," 11)$, ----.-... te Yesterday a meeting of noblemen and ganit&iiiiii, held at the London T avern , Bishopsgate-s4ef;s:tti, port measures for " the more effectual" petiviiiiiltrsee trading in seduction and prostitution, whiclt lkete s, introduced this evening int o th e H ouse of Commons by ' ( LW Mr. Spooner. The meeting was a very numerous one. Sir E. N. Descries, in the absence of Lord R. Gres venor, M.P., was voted to the chair. He said the objeei of the Bill they were met to consider was to prevent the crime of what he might call the English slave trade, oe which persons induced by force or fraudful persuasion young females to become prostitutes iu the great cities of this country. It was not necessary to enter-largely into so distressing a subject, but he could not avoid men tioning the defects in the law that punished promptly and severely other offences, whilst it had no provisions to check the atrocities of those men and women Who made it the business of their lives to decoy:young females into a course of prostitution, and so destroying their minds, bodies, and souls. The Ite , 4 Mr. HUGHES, Of St. Pancras, moved the first resolution:--" That this mete ine recoguisee and de pleres ttie baneful influence of a cyst. matic and exten sive trailing by procurers arid brothel keepers in the seductitin of temale children and young women" It was very painful to state ths.t the law was inoperative to pre vent this nefas ions trade, and that so twiny were allowed to carry it on with impunity-. The law as it stood was 0 surrounded with difficulties, and therffore it was of the greatest importance that something should be done to make it effectual. Mr. CLEWES seconded the resolution. The Earl of MOUNTCASHEL said the subject had en gaged his attent on for many years, and he had the sa estaction of this king that he was the first individual who had suggested an institution for improving the laws tor the protection of women. In these reforming times it was astonishing that no steps had been taken to amend the laws on this subject since the da)s of George If. [.'hat law was defective, and (lid not go to the root of the evil. The law required was one that would effectually prevent the system of trading in prostitution. Was it nut shocking that, in this moral anti religious country,a set of people should be tolerated, who lived by corrupt ing females, and selling their bodies and souls for the vilest purposes? Yet such was the case. There did exist a set of beings—wicked demons be would call them —who lived by betraying their fellow• creatures into a course of the most dreadful misery and infamy. Ought they not to exert themselves in every possible way to stop this system of evil—in checking which they were interested as fathers, brothers, and Christians? He would lot go into long details of the evils caused by this system of seduction, but would confine himself to one melancholy case, of which he had a positive knowledge. About two a- three years ago, a baron t—a gentleman belonging to an oft family, of large property and great respectability, who-had been sheriff of his county—had two daughters, young ladies brought up according to their rank and age, whom he sent to Paris, to an excellent school, to complete their education. At vacation time they were to return by Boulogne, and embarked there in a steamer for Loudon. At the landing-place servants were wait ing for them, but the steamer did not arrive until the middle of the night, and the servants having returned home, the passengers landed, arid the young ladies had not been heard of by their families ever since. All that could be learned was, that a well-dressed female had paid them great attention during their voy age, and the oiliclusion eventually come to was, that she had decoy ed them to some infamous house, and that they were now either physically or morally dead. Such a calamity might come home to any man's family, and the parties causing it might escape with impunity. In a country not so much vaunted for morality as our own—he meant Ft-twee—Lite code penal would be found to contain mere salutary laws for the protection of young females than he statutes of England. This was a disgrace which he hoped to see removed, and he would aid eery measure that tended to do so. The resolution was then put and carried. The Rev. ROBERT Minima, Chaplain of the Bridewell Precinct, moved the second resolution, to this effect— . That by an enactment of the 25th of George 11., the Legislature of this country not only sanctioned the letinciple that prosecution against hi othel keepers should be ermine aged, but endea voured to afford the requisite facilities for carrying eut the principle. Lengthened experience had shown that the facilities afforded by that Act are not sufficient for the obj. ct which it contempiates, and proves that the existing law is ins equate to the protection of female shastity." He considered the proposed Bill would do a great deal of good, and therefore it should meet with his most cheerful support. Mr. BUCKINGHAM seconded the resolution, 'and con sidered it disgraceful to the country that prostitution should be carried on more openly than in any of the , enintries he had travelled in, whether European, African, Asiatic, or American. Mr. W. EVANS, M.P., supported the resolution, and eousidered that the happiness, honour, and strength of tny society depended, in a very great degree, on the character of its women. Whenever their character was lowered, it must tall on the whole mass of the come tnunity, and therefore he was most anxious that every.. thing should be done that the law could do to prevent injury to female character. The Rev. Mr. GLANVILLE also spoke in favour of the resolution. The resolution was carried unanimously. The Rev. - Mr. CRAY moved the third resolution— " That in order to the effectual protection of female ihastity it is reqeisite that the law should declare the ,rocurer to be criminally responsible as well as the brothel keeper; and that, in order to the duo execution if the law against both parties, the cheap and speedy :irocess of a prosecution before a magistrate should be , atictioned before Parliament." Tile Rev. Mr. BROWN having seconded the resolution, c wets adopt. d. The tellowints resolution. proposed by the Rev. Mr. LUSIGNAN and seconded by the Rev. Mr. WOODYER, vita next carried:—" That this meeting approves of he Bill which is to be intr. du •ed into the House of Commons by Mr. Spooser, M.P., and desires to ex press their most hearty thanks to that gentleman fur 'eking the prominent position he has iu the advocacy of this cause." Mr. hPUONER, M P, said that he had promises of sup port from many Members of Parliament who formerly used to laugh at the notion of legislating for the prone : ion of female virtue. A petition was drawn up, and signed by the chairman on behalf of the meeting, to be presented to Parliament, praying for the adoption of the proposed, or some equally. efficacii.us measure. Thanks having been passed to the chairman, the meet ing separated. SCHAMYL, THE CIRCASSIAN CHIEF. We extract the following account of Schamyl, the chief of the Circassians, from a letter dated Constantinople, 17th ult., in the Univers:— "It is said that the power of Schamyl Bey is on the in, crease. Circassia, in place of ceasing the unequal struggle in which she has been engaged for so many years, appears, on the contrary, to find new resources in the courage and the alliance of the surrounding tribes. The Caucasus has be come the refuge and the rampart of all the mountaineers who defend their ancient liberties . ; and such is the general coot': dence in the future, that this military leader is alr e ady con sidered as the founder of a monarchy around which the popuo iations of Georgia, Armenia. and Daghestan are to be grouped_ Russia has no longer to put down a partial revolt. The point for her is now to hold firmly against a rising and_ creating power, . which opposes numerous and strong nationalities to her own. The vag u e reports collected relative to Schamyl represent him as an able and fortunate warrior, surrounded with a court, and possessing 'a 'Warlike army, disciplined by Polish refugees in the European manner. On Fridays, public prayers are offered up for hii afety—a Mussulman ceremony in honour' . of Royalty, Money is struck with his mark. We do not say his effigy, for the poverty of the country clod not permit the use of metal for money, but only of leather, which; however, is received in all places where his authority extends, and is even preferred to Russian money. Schamyl is of middle height,.well-made, and of a robust constitution which enables him to support with ease all kinds of fatigue; continually on horseback, at the head of a chosen band of determined troops; composed of Polish lancers and Cossack hulans, be never ap pears but with the ornaments of his rank anti in Lull uniform ; liberal to profusion, he distributes all the booty with those who share his dangers ; fond of literature, he has around his person poets who celebrate his triumphs in popular songs; prompt to conceive plans of strategy and still more so to execute them, be flies from one extremity of his territory to the other, and falls r r a e n o d a a r b t e on the Russian outposts .with loss,therapidit occasioning them serious y returns o f t o l ig h h i t s c each of artillery l piece hu is si a tasmr"suyrrwhich ounds I has cost the enemy dear. . ' him with a religious respect; he, 'i • u b "u t nan with an elevated and • tolerant spirit,leaves to all his soldiers as well as to the popula tions under his authority , the free and full exercise of their worship. Liberty in this respect contrasts so advantageously for him with the religious despotism of the Russiam Go vernment, that it has gained him the sympathies of all the Christians persecuted by the official church of the Emperor." GERMAN RAILWAYS. — RaiIway communication is proceeding rapidly in Germany. Next year the line will be complete between Cologne and the extreme frontier of th. East, North, and South of the Germanic Confederation. Vienna, Breslow, Berlin, and Elamburgh are now connected together by a continuous railway. The Augsburg Gazette. inf.rms us that a meeting has just taken place between the directors of the different railway companies possessing this vast range of lines. Between Vienna and Stettin there is is distance of 225 French leagues, and between Vienna And Hamburgh 250 leagues. This is the greatest extent that a railway line has yet run. The various directors have agreed on an arrangement of de partures in correspondence with each other, so that the d . 3" tance between Vienna and Hamburg may b e cleared in forty eight hours, comprising stoppages, and between Vienna and Stettin forty hours. The train leaves Vienna at seven in the evening, and arrives at Breslaw the next day about noon, and leaves Breslaw at four o'clock, and arrives at Berlin at five in the morning • it lea ves Hamburg and Stettin. The back trainlea a g ain at se ven f or leaves Hamburg at hate night,after leavesnoon,andagaSitnettaitn a o t ne ni i n n e t eleven,a at four ; rritivreseacahtesßrßeseiraliwn next day at eleven, and at Vienna the second day at seven in the morning. The works on the southern line—from Vienna to Triest e —.are proceedi ng ra pidl y. Wh en t hi s li ne is fi nished ,trave llers may book themselves from Hamburg to Trieste. COUNTY OP ROSS FAIRS PRICES.—CROP, 1846. — Wheat, first quality, per quarter, 31.45. 8 1 / t d. ; Wheat, second quality, per quarter, 31.55. ; Barley, 11.18 s. lid. ,• Bear,or Bigg, 21. Os. filAd. ;. Oats, first quality, 11.135. sd. ; Oats, common, or second quality, 1/. lls. 7id. • Oatmeal, per 1401 bs, 1L 3s. 91d.; Barleymeal, 18s. 444.; Pease, 21. 15s. 24d.; Beans—no evidence. It is somewhat. remarkable that the second quality of wheat was fixed rt a higher rate than the first, and can only be accounted fin' on the supposition that the greater part of the first was sold before the rise in the price, and that the greater part of the second was sold after.. —lnverness Journal. The German journals announce that the canal which will unite Bavaria with the Danube and the Rhine, and which, in honour of the King, is called the Ludgwiga Canal, is to be opened throughout its whole length On the 15th inst., if the state of the weather shall permit. - 44 ' kat I''' „, k .-,0 1 1 - --- i\ . - N ..."..) )\ '-,' ~--`,.•':* 4 i.J,Kp _ - 1-- '''' ' • <;: