The Sun. — London, England, 1847-03-09 00:00:00

-E. enlbr s°4 tes , ths t has pre eertainl at odd s [andicap, qnninent lid colt, ed with all bets 2,oventry should a capitalat bale them to rby bets to 11 t° tor to N'so 4o art, tho r ere CC' WO t°rly • I°°L I,o o° W nB tI Iree or ott to I :‘• MA.GAZINES—(CONTINUED.) TAI T. Mr ' Gi always takes precedence, es he should of tho c ontr ib utors to Tait. H i s L i terary P ortra it Ica: March is of' no less eminent. a modern than George ü bt'e, who is not inaptly termed " the poet of the , i lste plac es of creation." In analysing the genius of ‘" tie ra n i iir, G.ilfillan evinces his usual keenness of poreep laud, eliding our author for inasmuch as he deserves ,ties "ion, and contemning him for inasmuch as the qua- Paper lee cannot but remard as rather extravagant, a r t be e i l 7, where th e reviewer speaks of Crabbe's calmness lee The result of the asbestos character of his intel t• article, however, is so coloured with enthu ira,, so enliven e d w i t h ill us t ra tion, and at times so ( C a lmed with eloquent ejaculations, that we can par ta such casual eccentricities of phrase. We by no v i iihs reg ar d the disparity of vigour in the minds of anern and Ma caulay as Mr. G ilfillan re g ards them, d e he observes that "in Wilson's great shaggy sou! A ek b °dY there is what might make many Macaulay& 1,1 n uwiedgin g as we do the genius of old Christopher th o e rth, we cannot, on that account, so far depreciate li,t i g i e Litts,of one of the mellowest writers in the Eng o 14, - , an gulge. We cannot conceive that the author of of s ,-- g'ret Lindsay," and the " Lights and Shadows author Life," is so immeasurably, it at all, above the i, o f. _ ' the "Ccitioal and Historical Essays," and the igs of Ancient Rome." If at all—we repeat it. has ir e disposed t o j u d ge a man ra ther by the things he l y - e ' t ( Me tha n b y the th i ngs he i s capa bl e o f doing.. Were le ,„i ) ,d o otherwise, our estimate of our insular intellect Sty " v accillate with every conjecture, and never acquire yh "eful permanence, Two fictions are introduced in the able°f "Luke Willingham" and the "Two Millionaires " awe r estricti on to one of these would have been prefer . b oth in preserving the original quality of the type, t ents i l diminishing the ephemeral character of the -i con- UPon a su g gestion derived from Loudon's cc+ k ut ' h 4 works, and christened by him " Orthographi pros.”eus,” Mr. D e Q u i nce y f a vours us with a long Ing contribution. His subsequent paper, upon Pra ° ,, aa 01 Arc," in reference to M. Michelet's History of p u i a - t ee, is much superior in point of purpose, and also in ti - 1 of ' thi ng', It will repay perusal to all interested T ait e character of that heroic enthusiast. Formerly de„stlts remark a bl e f or the purity and excellence and g -tle ° of its poeti c al c o ntributions. It has latterly tiroerated i n t o d oggere l t h a t w ould go far to beggar ti u , r imtation of C atnac h. We challenge all competi ue m absurdity and ill-taste with the two pieces signed WnYn Barnaby. One of them is inscribed " The and dashes off in this fashion — After snort and a tramp, the war horse came." thunderinitorn us that this war horse wss " like a y cloud"—a metaphor most un-equine—that his te tti a „, t , t 'ere "of flame," that his breath was " a mist Proceeds and his snort was like a trumpet, the poet 111 3 tramp was like march of ten thousand men, C ite And its echoes like march of another ten? thousand' enough : ten and ten, that's twenty l loof sand 4 ' Why the horse must be a very centipede on 3 to sound lik e twenty t h ousan d. The dow n hi s fl an k s, i n a s t ream ing flood, the sweat it ran, and the sweat was blood." lorry e u s weat it ran Was ever pronoun put to a more Nll - ; se— to patch up a bungling metre. But the e u ,,i e llt4Boos are too precious to be squandered in a ( NI 11 zal iu the second, we find them repeated all again - gait ' --- the eyes, " two fires of flame"—the snort 13 04 -, as " the f orce of a m i g h ty sto rm"—and his ,b,reath vil lo i ce m ore mentioned as being " fiercely warm ; —the e verse end' with this magnificent couplet of ock avti.., ~ ja -i ci h .. poesy_ At he s snort (again !) was the blast of a clarion_ , far, ire hue sniffed the battle and neighed Ha ha I sa y f 'te not the patience to examine these silly . lines O ther n ailer, or to refer to more than two lines in the tog p r oduction by the same contributor, the first th e "Sunbeams are God's ladders;" vemul mentioning iten, " Flower-cups closed up neatly." N e tiering the admirable verses which at one time he au e ! l the pages of this magazine—among others the tiful J. „ Songs of the Mcnths," by the poet-labourer tit), are grieved to see this deplorable " falling of With some ju di c i ous and e l a b orate cr iti ca l notices Null% Ilowitt's recent publication of the " Homes and oas ll4 of English Poets " and of the " Romance of ~ and the conclusion of Mr. John O'Connell's ar _l4•nts f or the Repeal of the Union, " the number for Arch is of average ability. aaaimin==minmem. C°4l3 URA' S UNITED SER VICE MAGA ZINE. The articl e on P or t uga l w i t h w hi c h t hi s num b er I) ens is ev id ent l y t h e production of an English Afran- IQ°,°, and therefore must be taken cam granis, but en he, Cabralista as he is, admits that Costa Cabral ' 11 (1 lost the confidence of all honest men because they tea him enriching himself and his family with the distinctions money, " receiving brib e s, and s e lli ng h onorary `,, i l ltinctioris to the highest bidders;" notwithstanding a ll 'Qich th e writer laments the expulsion of this honest "'Allister, and denounces as traitors all those by whose :irons theexpulsion was brought about. The writer distends that Costa ii h. 4 o o such thing. The Court were parties to and ens in the p ro d uce o f th e bribery and plunder of vq l • el l, Cabr a l was gu il ty N ot an ac t did he commit erdi ti had net b een previously sanct i one d b y Dietz and C. 41 : 1 c1 Coburg, as th e P o rtuguese call the King -4h,:°11, and this is according to the instinct of all hifi ll h ee sadn Courts. Following the example of , Lonis i 544 1,.. %P a o ; ethe Afrancesado Sovereigns of the I enin during their whole reign been employed th ey 443issing large fortunes, and investing a portion_ any satil foreign securities, so as to be prepared lo w r . that may chance to arrive. The writer, h anh o i a viiiiPel‘.,equainted with Oporto, imagines that tit no t succeed in storming the entrenchments of that 4ti and that afflirs must be settled by an accommod it y l 3 ,„ T,he "history of the British Intercourse w ": is continued, and we have in the present number f irtivp`iirugilt copy of the letter written by the Empe . rL , ' a ta ll d b' is jarne s I and also of the charter of privileges . h e the British subjects trading to „ I rltri E m peror to s ettling in the country. Among other articles uee which Japan used formerly to export to and Nl) t i Was tea, the quality of which is re . pre_sep o te na d ri,ll.,RLtriuch superior to that of the tea obtamed ,. fr as zi 7 , 4 'ne "History of the Seikhs and the Punjaub' is,wc f. ` 4 114 - ", ; e 2 conclude", bein ,, brought down to the period o the f,`i:eatian of the treaties of Lahore and Umritsir. In 4 er' st tee the ' fll ing observations, as to the man thil: W , h ,ic l . l the rewards and honours to . those engaged tribt4te orilliant campaign of the Stale) have been dis (lla tinA ;,,we think all our readers will concur. After re ps`e honours and distinctions which were so I''rit444 t ennf erred on Lords Ilarding t°4e and Gough, the li nt ‘ th ile rewards and what a soldier prizes more, retieand distincti have been showered on those two r. 44- 3 ," Z unda unted °n n s ien,we cannot, and it is evident h ( 11 .1 th f ,,! h s u cannot, refrain from regretting th at Sir Harr y ".`e tLa ert, wo con queror of Aliwal, sad Sir AN alter Raleigh 3 hnegallendistinguished himself at Feroze the fledbraveel th desperate charge at Sobraou, ttaw,i„laotbrisahvae_ s,SirJohnantly e Littler and Sir Joseph Thackweit, trd, Lea in a greter degree the public thanks and "wered on Si a r Henry Hardinge and Sir Hugh Lee SHILLING MAGAZINE. 'l , Ve first article in this number is the continuat i on o f th e „se brearner and the Worker," which hardly fulfils t oo Frq miss of its earlier chapters. We have somewhat ale of the dreamer, and his dreams are occasion uonee,;""lnlnn-place. The last article in the number, sno re the c ont i nuation of " St Gil es an d St. Jam , es,' Dr eg th en mak es up for any short comings in The tp C o mer and the Worker." St. , James once more gives Whiel:enaptation, and instead of obeying his first impulse, with ri w as to release Clarissa, determines to consult Limb N-rossbone on the subject ; and the advice given to Y th,that worthy, as may imagined is, •‘ to take In the meantime, the 14 ) ' )(13 the gods been proride be hi e w as ." discoNered by Snipeton, Rh o her retreat has L ots bi►ea Tom Blast ten guineas to conduct him to the tha t Sn , petott co nceals himself in a room adjoining -. o f Notaries°. . i•?nipeton had resolved to watch from his biding - place: Ni _ l 4e n to the words of St. Jam es an d his wife, that he • and so he Promised himself th a t h e wou ld su ff er t h e i n terview, _and ai 411 Y— very calmly—li s t en . S uc h was hi s thought. Weak St. James was about to turn the key, .when Snipeton. h it4 '4l the strength of madness, sprang upon him, 11 4 from the door. In a moment, St. James's sword was in and whirled ga m , who, re e li g , in the next, through the bod , of Snipeton; 4 g4 drew a pistol and tired. St. James was scathless ; et th e , stai r bullet did its mischief; fur Tom Blast, rushing_ up tru4,B4 received the unwelcome piece of letd—a sad alloy, it 4 owned, to the ten gulden guineas.of Gild . now the cottage is filled with visitors for Capstick, c 'faci e t'.Bright Jem, and Jerry IN histle 7 AN it'll a couple of kith fri ends_ —arrive at the door. Snipeton, speechless, Ltris 3 -° " of mixed agony and hatred, pointed towards S . si Whistle at once divined the truth. :1) 14 Lord, I ax your pardon,' said . the polite official. ` 41 14" 41r e My prisoner.' St. James slightly bowed, and m„ away, followed by the two opcers. qd € .' n d there's another,' cried Tom Blast, there's. him, 4,11.4----horse stealer—returned convict—you know . hi No y; )11 inust know done for—but it's some k. to h ang hat dez ' - at do w+ • • St. Giles, you must to c oil 0 mate,' said \\ histle to 4.4\0 trinet. 11° thia 't i t ' a ll my heart !' answered St. Giles. '1 see there's ca g left me but to die; may be at peace end h Mick tried to speak, when his eyes filled t w n. ith k t ,, w e seized St. Giles by the hand, and grasped ittear,si heart,r)4"--and hoped better—but take heart yetm e a a n,:take " .I ' l3 atieri aid Capstick, VI hilst Bright Jem shook his h d and I, end'ile in, come in directly.' cried Mrs. Daws, with her killed f an Upon Crossbone. -4 11ere's the good r —mur dered.' gentleman Wi•°3Bborie looked at Snipeton—felt his pulse—end said, 4 " have thought it? So he is.'" I„ a, A Cu ..gnes Worrall was taught to be Respectableis " d ot ne 'nded in the present number, and we are afraid it of i ala tut.) true u picture of a too common case. Myriads ah r i:lan hearts are daily sacrificed at die unhallowed by 1Z () f the Moloch—respectability. " Prison Pets," t ho gut not , i s a paper - we would recommend to all for .who are labouring under the disease of admiration of e'ntoresting criminals. l Our friend Paul is the genius ki) o u s lti A t a"n sense, and most pleasant is it to see him koraflYPocrisy of every sort aLd description. " The fire the Potato Rot" is an eloquent and argumenta koret) ead ing against the present law of real property, f tffketzParticul ar l y the law of primogeniture, from the ° which, as this writer observes— sj h e e all t suffer, even when we are fortunate enough to re tteverty of the prophet, and are given' neither e ei riches' f rom this distribution of property. All Nor 4";: e a Latertnediate b e t ween th e ver y r ich and the very 1141:114httitill Pverty more than crime—for the former is by g umB atame, while the latter ef,Citpe,i with a hort and sharp penalty, and seeking wealth more than virtue, because it is more highly honoured—make the pur suit of riches the one great business of their lives. The great inequality of !roperty, like a false light held out by a Cornish wrecker, 4 . tiides the v,iyager on the ocean of life to destruc tion. Following it, and aspi ing to be verb• rich, we unfairly trample on one another, and convert the brotherhood of man into a perpetual contention." The present distress of Ireland he traces directly to this cause. "Nowhere is the vicious distribution more apparent than in Ireland. Such man as the Duke of Devonshire, the Marquis of Lansdowne, Earl Fitzwilliam, the Archbishop of Armagh, with 17,6701. a year, derive immense incomes from that country; while the peasantry on their estates—in most favourable seasons—have little else to live on than potatoes, are lodged in miserable huts of one room, with no more fur niture than a kettle and a table, and no bed but straw, and no clothing but rags. More destitute than the negroes—who have plenty of food—and a climate which makes nakedness and an airy dwelling luxuries, it is impossible that they should lose any of their possessions and continue to live. Lower in the scale of subsistence they cannot sink. At the best of times the bulk of the Irish have nothing to spare. New comes the potato rot, and deprives them of nearly all their food. They have nothing wherewith to buy food, and they must be fed, or perish. Interest and humanity alike forbid the latter. Poor as they are, their toil gives value to the nobleman's estate. Their labour pays his tent; allow them to perish, and rent will perish too. If humanity were dead, interest would plead; and duty, enrorced by the public voice, comes to the aid of s:ill living humanity. " Those who have monopolised the land are responsible for the lives of the people. If they will not allow them to have the land to feed . themselves, they are bound to feed them. The source of the obligation on the landowners and the Government to sustain the people, denied by some on the ground that naturally one man is as able to provide food for himself as another, is the monopoly by the Government and the landowners of the whole soil. Throw it open to all; throw even the waste and unoccupied land open; give equal freedom and equal rights to all ; and the obligation---except AS an act of charity and love for a brother in distress— would have no existence. The monopoly of the soil—the main source of inequality of property—carries with it the obligation to feed and save fro:n starvation the habitually destitute peasantry of Ireland. It Is only by fulfilling this obligation, that the landlords can hope to be secured in their possessions. Duty, humanity, and self-interest, all combine to make the rich sacrifice their superfluity, and lessen their own wealth to relieve the poor of Ireland. Because the de stitute people can give up nothing more than their lives, the potato rot inevitably carries with it a reduction of the wealt:; of the wealthy, and an approximation to equality of property." And the moral of the potato rot is, that if we wish to avoid a constant recurrence of failure we must legislate in accordance with the laws of nature, and encourage the distribution rather than the accumulation of landed pro perty. This article is of great permanent value. We should like to see it reprinted as a tract, and circulated throughout the kingdom. LITERATURE. GEORGE LOVELL. 3 Vols. By James Sheridan Knowles. When a great dramatic poet undertakes the produc tion of a novel—whether it be condensed into a dozen chapters or expanded into three volumes octavo—he ensures to that novel a more than ordinary attention. What, let us imagine for a moment, would not be the curiosity excited by the discovery of a prose fiction from the pen of Racine, of Calderon, of Home, of Farquhar, or of Metastasio? We should turn to the narrative with feelings rather higher than those of mere inquisi tiveness; we should examine the plot, the characters, the purpose, and the diction of the story with peculiar and not unpleasant emotions, with a desire to know how that genius had fared in the enchanted grounds of romance which had disported itself in the loftier regions of the tragic and comic drama. But our curiosity would be marvellously heightened were the tale found to have particular`allusion to the contempo raneous habits, vices, morality, and disposition of the author. Our anxiety, for example, would be great to hear from the lips of Racine a description of the pecu liarities of the age of Louis Quatorze, to receive from Calderon a delineation of the Spaniards of his own generation, from Home an account of the expanding genius of Scotland in the days of Robertson and .Macpherson, from Farquhar, a sketch of the profligacy of London society during the reign of our third William, and from Metastasio, a portraiture of the Italians of his century. Whenever a dramatist has entered upon the arena of romantic liters!sure—und unhappily there have been these exceptions—they have found no deficie nc y of readers, and, in most instances, no lack of admirers. Who can ever forget the one domestic fiction written by Oliver Gold smith— that simple bat inimitable ta l e which in the work before us (Vol. 1, p. 261.) is called, oddly enough, but very truthfully, " the sweetest novel and the grave st tract!" Who again can lose a recollection of La Esmeralda, of Captain I.'hoshus, or of Quasimodo, t h e creatures born of the imagination of the greatest of the modern dramatists of France I To descend to the lesser of those who have ventured upon the produc ,ion of a comedy or a tragedy, who can lose the memory of Charles Lamb's most exquisite story about "Rosamond Gray I" Among the many volumes lying about us and awaiting their turn to pass through the alembic of criticism we have found this novel in three volumes by no one less eminent than James Sheridan Knowles. We welcome the work with cordiality, and from the distinguished position which its a'ithor has long since assumed, in, perhaps, the noblest branch of our literature, we give his romance the precedence, to which it is thereby entitled. At once, and without the smallest hesitation, we will acknowledge the , we opened the first page of the first volume of " George Lovell" with a sense very much akin to that of prejudice in its favour. But who shall quarrel with us for so doing ? who shall scorn us or de ride us tor looking with partiality at any book from such a source in the first flush of our expectation ? Admiration for the masterpieces of dramatic art which owe their existence to the poetic genius of Mr. Knowles may readily be taken as an excuse for such a momentary dereliction of our duty as a dispas sionate reviewer, for the tragedies of Sheridan Knowles form an epoch in the literary history of our country. To the impassioned auty of " Vie ginius," to the eloquent and patriotic energy of " Wil liana Tell," to the pathetic grace and various fervour of the " Hunchback," are mainly to be attributed the pre servation, in the popular mind, of a love for the symmetry, the dignity, and the endless di versity of the drama. With the current of opi nion strongly opposed to theatrical representation, excepting it be representations set off by the mere tricious decorations of the melodrama, the spectacle, the opera, the ballet, the burlesque, or the extravaganza, the dramatic works of Sheridan Knowles have been principally instrumental in sustaining an affection for what is termed in the hack phrase " the legitimate drama." Putting aside the question, however, whether the plays of Sheridan Knowles are the legitimate or il legitimate offspring of his fancy, they are univer sally acknowledged to be worthy of a full and lasting admiration. By the common adjudi cation of his contemporaries, the name of Sheridan Knowles is accorded an eminent place among the most illustrious dramatic authors in the language, always with the exception of Shakspere. With Beaumont, and Nlassinger, and Wycherly, end Fletcher, and Fa. - quhar, and Jonson, and Congreve, and Vanbrugh, the name of Sheridan Knowles may be, and has long ago been, classed without d rogation on either side. It re mains, of course, for the dramatic analyst to award their relative position to each, but it would be frivolous to deny that among that famous group of writers Sheridan Knowles has every right to be enumerated. In some respects he is un questionably inferior to these his renowned predeces sors; he is in a great measure without the rugged vigour and daring illustration of the Elizabethan poets ; his equivoque is without the delicate inge nuity of Cougreve, his humour has not the irre sistible tartness of Wycherly, and his sarcasm is not to be compared with the caustic glitter of Vanbrugh. But in pathos, in enthusiasm, in the ex pression of scorn, as in Icilius; of depravity, as in Appius Claudius; of affection, as in Virginia; of arro gance, as in Gesler; of patriotism, as in William Tell; and of stalwart valour, as in Dontatus, Sheridan I:inowles is their equal, and very frequently their supe rior. In the fabrication of his plots and the disposition of his incidents, as well as in the construction of his . soliloquies and dialogues, he has evinced a perfect knowledge in the mysteries of composition. He has shown, indeed, a thorough familiarity with the different recommendations contained in that sentence of Cicero, where, in his masterpiece, "De Oratore," he mentions the husbandry and the classification of ideas (Lib. ii., n. 314)—" Ergo za in oratore optimus quisgue, sic et in oratione (Tully, of course, including here dramatic as well as forensic declamation) firrnissimum quodque sit prim= : duni Wed !amen in utroque teneatur, ut ea gum excellent, serventur etiam ad perorandum : si gum erunt mediocria, (nam vitiosis nusguam ease . zportet locum) , in me diam turban', atgue gregem conjicean fur: Upo . n that beautiful scheme, Knowles has modelled first his dramas, and then the constituent parts of his dramas— fur it is the art of a dramatic poetto begin in versely with the broad outline of his creation,. and like a painter, to elaborate i t s details afterwards. Knowles has invariably given his several plays, his se veral scenes, and his several speeches a certain solidify and compactness at their commence ment ; i he has n them, grouped together at their interior , as t were, the least remarkable excellences of the whole ; and, finally he has accumulated the utmost stretch of passion in the catastrophe of his tragedies and the climax of his soli loquies—the catastrophe and climax being, to them, what the peroration is to the harangue of an orator. That is a gee at part of the secret of his success, but the main cause of that success is of a loftier character, arising, as it does, from the genius with which he has unquestionably been gifted by nature. The possession of that genius has been evidenced in the poetic treasures with which he has adorned the language of his native land ; and the appearance of these three volumes of " George Lovell" brings irresistibly to the recollection of us all the ques tion—How THE GENIUS OF SHERIDAN KNOWLES HAS BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED BY HIS COUNTRYMEN, AND HOW THE LITERARY LABOURS OF THAT GENIUS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED AND REWARDED? That question, we repeat it, is necessarily called to mind by the publication of the novel now under consideration. For we naturally ask ourselves the reason why such a man as Sheridan Knowles, after achieving so much fame, and achieving it by such honourable and laudable means, should be toiling now at his matured age, when the labours of his youth and manhood should have ensured him tranquillity and leisure. The pleasantest recollection in the meagre records preserved to us of Shaksp?re's life is, that that immortal man closed his career in the indolence of a country gentleman in a handsome house in his native village. We English pride ourselves on not being a half barbarian race, like our Elizabethan forefathers. We boast this, and yet Sherida n Knowles g oes unthanked, untionoured, and unrewarded. Thanked and honoured he is by every generous and intelligent mind, and re warded he is by the celebrity he has acquired ; but substantially thanked, honoured, and rewarded by Government, he is not. How comes this ? Thomas Hood ekes out his subsistence on a sick couch by the sweat, not of his brow, but his brain. He dies—his widow and his children have a pension. Haydon, the historical painter, battles manfully against pecuniary distress for years, without aid. He blows his brains out in a paroxysm of despair, and efforts are at once made for the assistance of his family. Leman Blanchard cuts his throat with a razor, in a fit of madness, brought on by incessant work as au author—measures are taken to alleviate the sorrows of his orphans. Hewlett sinks down into the grave in the very prime of his life, through the slow poison of a malaria, and the exhaustion of his mind and benevolence, is at once actively em ployed in behalf of his children. Is this, we ask, as it should be ? Are the gifted beings who sap the very vigour of their constitutions by adding to our enjoyments to be offered merely the flatulent sustenance of " the bubble reputation ? " We by no means depre cate the charity which is extended towards their widows and their offspring. God forbid that that one posthu mous solace should be taken from them in their solitude! Is it not, however, better that men should reap the fruits of their own sowing themselves, and not by proxy? Is it not better that the pensions should come to them directly e hen living than indirectly when dead? Is it not better that the tew gold guineas in which this after glory is reflected should be showered down betimes, in stead of falling barrenly when they are in their coffins? Upon these simple and solemn prineiph s we maintain that Sheridan Knowles should receive the recompense of his long and illustrious exertions as a poet, as a pa triot, and as a moral instructor of the people. Of the morality of his writings there can be no question; for, of Knowles, in regard to English tragedy, may be said what the eminent German critic Schlegel said of Coleman in regard to English comedy, " since that time the morals have been irreproachable, and much has been done in refined and original charac terization." If any additional testimony were required as to the morality of the writings of Sheridan Knowles, it would be found to he incontestibly exhibited in these volumes. " George Lovell" is literally a tale founded upon the Atruggles of vice against virtue, and the ultimate victory of innocence over guilt. Phcebe, the heroine, is one of those ideal creatures whom the purest imagination alone could conceive. Armitage and his profligate as sociates, again, form a repulsive group, illustrative of the licentiousness and depravity still prevalent in this civilised generation. The novel is of a domestic cha racter, and is hence calculated to enlist the sympathies more readily ; and to instil the truths more aenerally which it was written to enunciate. As an interesting and honest-hearted tale, it is excellent; and, as the production of a dramatic poet of such extra• ordinary powers, it is a literary curiosity. It can be compared to no other at ry that we just now remember, though this is scarcely matter for astonishment, consi dering the varieties and fluctuations which are perceptihle in this species of composition. On this head Voltaire has already observed, that the arts which depend solely upon the imagination, have as many revolut ons as the kingdoms of the earth ; and that they change in a thousand different ways, even while we are striving to give them a classification and a stability—" dans les arts qui dieendent purement, de l'imagination, it y a autant de rholutions que dans les etats ; ils changent en mills manieres tandis qu' on cherche A les fixer." An exam ple of one of these changes is the novel of " George Lovell." But that our observations have already ex tended so considerably, we should be tempted to make several quotations from its pages, especially one earnest paragraph addressed to Rowland Hill. Quotations, however, we take it, would be superfluous, seeing . that everyone will, as a matter of course, themselves refer to " The Last Work by Sheridan Knowles." The inauguration of his Royal Highness Prince Albert will probablv take place, in London, on Thursday week.—Cambridge Independent. Viscount Palmerston received a large circle of his Parliamentary friends at dinner on Sunday evening. Sir Robert and Lady Peel entertained a select party to dinner on Sunday, at the family residence in White hall-gardens. OPENING OF NEW OXFORD-STREET.—On Satur day evening the thoroughfare of New Oxford•street was opened to the public. PUSEYISAI AT FALMOUTH.—The church at this place is now hung with black cloth, the candlesticks on the "altar," which are usually covered with white lace, are now covered with black crape, and the worthy clergyman, who at other periods of the year preaches in white kid gloves, now preaches in black—these are the outward and visible signs of humiliation in Lent.—Desonport Telegraph. SEIZURE OF FOUR ILLICIT STILLS.--41 - 1e seizure of unlicensed distilleries by the officers of Excise continue to be made with gi eat vigilance. On Saturday morning, Messrs. W. Bayford and J. Lewins, officers of Excise, ac companied by Mr. C. Atkinson Davis, one of the •detective officers of Customs, proceeded to premises in Queen's-road, Norland-square, Kensington, where they succeeded in gain ing an entrance, and found an illict distillery of great magni tude. The process of distillation was in full operation, with two stills running off strong spirits, one of which was capable of containing upwards of 200 gallons; the other was a smaller one of nearly 50 gallons. The fittings and 'utensils were of the most extensive and valuable description, and had evi dently been in use for a long period. More than 500 gallons of molasses fermented wash had keen prepared for the day's working, which was destroyed on the premises. In another part of the premises the officers found two more stills, manu factured of earthenware, which, there was no doubt, were intended for the production of spirits •f nitre, but were not fixed for working, and were of a similar description to some of them seized at the extensive illicit distillery in the Globe road, Stepney. This is the fifth seizure made by Bayford and Lewins within a few days. THE GREAT BRITAIN.—BRISTOL, SATURDAY.— The stormy meeting of the proprietors of the Great Britain, which has most unexpectedly lasted through three days, was closed this afternoon. At the meeting a most angry discus sion arose as to the directors not having insured the stranded vessel, which cost nearly 140,0001, for more than 17,0004, which was nothing like an adequate amount as respected her value, and the directors were also blamed for having re turned the passage money, and for not having taken imme diate and efficient measures to get her off. It was con tended that in accordance with the ordinary duties of trus tees the directors were bound to insure the ship in an adequate amount, and it was asserted that in addition they had given a pledge to do so, or to give notice to the pro prietary that they might themselves insure their interests respectively; that it was contrary to mercantile usage to return the passage-money, and that therefore the directors should not have done so ; and that as soon as the vessel was stranded they ought to have obtained the services of the most eminent engineering talent to get her off, instead of wasting time as they had done in a correspondence with the underwriters, whose stake was so small. The directors in reply stated, that the passage-money having been received for a voyage from England to New York, and the vessel having been stranded at the very commencement of that voyage, that they were bound as honest men to return the passage-money, and in support of this view they produced letters from various steam-ship companies, declaring that they should have done so. With respect to the insurance they stated that upon the two previous voyages the Great Britain had been insured for 50,000/. each time, and that they had used diligent means to insure her on the last voyage, and that as to the measures which they had taken subsequent to her unfortunately being stranded, they had taken the best they could adept. At the second day's meeting Captain Claxton, R.N., with the view of meeting the views of all parties, and of obviating the strong objection which had been manifested to the motion " that the directors' report be re ceived and adopted," proposed, " that the report be received and adopted without prejudice to the protest put in by Mr. Abbott and others." At the close of the third day's discus sion this motion was adopted, and also one proposed by a director to meet another ground of opposition, " that the list of the proprietary of the company be open to the inspection of the shareholders." It is generally understood that the property of the company will be at once sold, and its affairs wound up. FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—An inqvest was held yesterday at the Infirmary, by Mr. Chapman, on the body of John Davies, of Wringle3 ,in the parish of Dean. The de ceased was a stoker in the employ of the Manchester and Leeds Railway Company. On Wednesday morning last he was on a luggage-train, which was on its way to Bolton, and at Farnworth, the rails being very slippery on account of the frost, he got off to sweep them, in order to enable the train to ascend the incline with greater ease. Having done this he got up again, and whistled and sang alternately until the train passed Green-lane-end. Suddenly the voice ceased, the engineer missed his companion, and heard him cry, " Tom, stop ;my leg is cut off" The engine was stopped as speedily as possible, and the stoker was found lying on the rails. Ile said, "I slipped my leg off the footboard, and went under the wheel." There had been a drizzling rain, and it is supposed that the footboard had become slippery. The wheel had passed over the middle of his right leg. lie was taken home at his own request, but soon afterwards he was brought to the Manchester Infirmary, and died there about nine o'clock the same evening. A verdict of " Accidental death" was re turned.—Manchester Eraminer. BOILER EXPLOSION AT CLIFTON. Yesterday afternoon an inquest was held by Mr. Rutter, county coroner, at the Seven Stars Tavern, Clifton, relative to the death of James Winterbottom. The deceased, who was 72 years of age, was foreman of the engine-house at the Spindle Point Coal-pit, at Kean;ley, belonging to the trustees of Mr. Fletcher. On Tuesday, whilst the work men were at dinner, and the engine was standing, the deceased went into the fire-hole, and was pulling a clinker from between the bars, when a slight " fizzing noi3e" was heard, and immediately afterwards the boiler exploded. The deceased was projected from the fire holesy.er v oa him .hiai but us washands. hTew severely e:eedr surgeonsel y on scalded e d e e r d e calledth etionfaettelo7 to a distance of five y , ards, into a lodge of water close nn b attend orde Wed nesday night. The engineer, William Lomax, was the only other person in the engine -house at the time; he escaped unhurt. The engine, after having been thoroughly ex • amined, was fitted up about two years ago, and had been in regular work ever since. About a fortnight ago it was ex amined again, and a slight repair of the steam pipe, which seemed all that was necessary, made. The explosion, it seems, was attributable to the fact of one plate of the boiler having, from some unknown cause, become exceedingly thin. The engine is a high pressure one, and at the time of the explosion, the safety valve indicated a pressure of only Sibs. to the inch, although it was calculated to carry 40 lbs. Lawrence F o gg stated that he had been employed at the pit for '27 years, and that this was the first accident of the kind which h a d occurred there. Verdict — " A c c idental death."— Manchester Examiner. THE LATE MURDER AT DAGENHAM.-- Th e Government have issued instructions for the prosecution of Sergeant Parsons and the other police - constables belonging by them to the K division, for alleged perjury committedhe held their evidence before the coroner when the . in questin comrade Clarke, who, it will be on the body of their found in a corn-field murdere on th remembere was f the Treasury, has re e 28th of last d, June. Mr. Maule, o ceived directions from the Government to prosecute the men to the utmost. During the p ast week seveal parties connected with the Governme nt, and Sergeant Kendall, in of the detective police force, hav e been actile e l C y rengaged Mr. getting up the evidence on behalf of t Lewis, the coroner for Essex, who h eld the inquest on Clarke's body, and the various witnesses w ho were examined by that functionary have been subpoenaed by the Government to be in attend a nce at the assize court, Chelmsford, to-mo r -1 row (Monday), to prefer a bill against the parties.— Weekly Paper. It is understood that the Admiralty have ap pointed Mr. Smith, whose screw-propeller is adopted in her Majesty's vessels, to be superintendent of the works con nected with it, and all matters relating to the fitting of the screw are to be under his directions. The salary to be 6001. year.--Ilwapshire Telegraph. THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY_SIORNING, MARCH 9, 1847. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, March 8. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Woolsack shortly after laco'cloclc. IRISII DISTRESS. The Duke of BUCKINGHAM wished to ask the Noble Marquis (Lan,downe) whether he had any objec tion to lay on he table of the House, from time to time, reports of the expenditure of the money allowed by Government for the relict of Irish distress ? The Marquis of LANSDOWNE had no objection to lay a return before the House of the amount graned by Government, but was uncertain as to the possiuility of stating the expenditure, at least for some time to come. The Duke of BUCKINGHAM wished to know what was done with the money collected under the Queen's letter. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said the subscriptions, under the Queen's letter, were not strictly under the supervision of Government, but he believed that, as the money was collected, it was from time to time trans mitted to Ireland, and there di:ponsed under the super vision of a coniini!tep; but h e did not speck otilcially, for the reason to which he had allud,d. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGII said that it was plain that some per son ought to be responsible fur the management of this subscription, but the Government appeared to have introduced a new system. The Marquis of LAN,DOWNE was quite willing to afford eve!y information in his power upon the sulject The Earl of ELLENHOR O UGH c onceived that it was plainly evident that some one person ought to have . the uirtction, and be responsi bl e f or th e distribution of this fund. IRISH PAUPERS. Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from the Lord Provost, magistrates, and town-council of Glasgow, complaining of the influx of Irish paupers into Glasgow, and praying also had a s t a t ement i n hi s han d f rom t he rnagis for an efficient p oo r-law for Ireland. fie trates of Liverpool, from which it appea red that, on Wednesday last, 1,778 paupers arrived in Liverpool ; on Thursday, 1,081; and on Friday, 2,o36—making, on an average, for the three days, between 1,600 and 1,700 perm ns. The consequence of this state of thin gs was t h at typ h us f ev er and disease was rapidly spreading through that town. He also had a statement from several persons in Ireland, complaining of the very great misery to which the people were reduced, and the inadequate assistance they received from those from whom they ought to have received it. The non-resident lauded pr.( prietors of one parish that gave them a rental of 25,587/. just contributed the sum of 208/. for the relief of the distress. In a parish near Cork three-fourths of the inhabitaws were paupers, all the landlords were non-resident, and not a farthing of relief had the relief committee of the parish been to get from them. The wealthy barristers in Dublin, who receive 5004 a year did not even answer the application. though some of his own tenantry were on the public works. A high dignitary of the Church, in the receipt of 45i I. a year, contributed the munificent sum of 1/. (Laughter.) And the secretary of the committee wrote to him again, stating he must have made a mistake, but was informed in reply that it was no such thing— that he had made no mistake, and would give no more.—(Laughter.) He had a statement also from Ballina, respecting which place he made some remarks a few evenings ago, and was then told by a Noble Earl, who he regretted to see was not i n hi s place, that the ejectments to which he then referred were only suits for rent, and not summary proceedings. He found, however. that at the last quarteresas.sions in Tyrawley, on the 11th January. there were from 1,500 to 2,000 ejectment processes entered, at the suit of sixteen or eighteen landlords, for rent due at November last, and for the over-due rent of 1846. The Noble Lord further read several extracts from documents which he had received ; one from the parish priest of Tyrawley and 13sDina described the injurious effect which processes brought for non-payment of rent had upon the ppulation. It stated that out of a parish of one thousand p ersons , in September last, the writer did not expect to hav , i , 200 remaining in August next. lie also read se vera l l e tt ers describing the jobbing winch had been carried on in the appointment of (deers in the Board of Work s . LordiDEVON said, that as scrutineers were required, it was therefore necessary to appoint responsible persot s. Lord BROUGHAM said that he perfectly agreed in the justice of the observation. The statements which he read were more showy than satisfactory, but they were useful; for if they did not look most carefully to the expenditure of the public money, this demand for it would never cease. The Earl of MOUNTCASHEL objected :to the course pursued by the Noble Lord, in reading state ments to the House, yet refusing to give the au thorities substantiating them. He did so the more especially as they contained such serious charges. If such an occurrence had taken place recently, there would have been full inquiry. If it had occurred twenty years ago, it might have been suppressed, but if it had occurred recently it would have been published far and near. The county of Cork was one of the most peaceable and well-conducted counties --- in Ireland. If, then, the ejection of a large body of people should have made so great a wise, how was it that the ejection of a larger number was passed off so silently 2 He could say, from his own know ledge, that the gentry there had not spared themselves, and though he regretted to find so small a subscription, yet he was not at all surprised at it. Ile ascribed it to the circumstance that the landlords were sort ly pressed by their creditors. lle knew that they were in great difficulty; and, though he lamented the smallness of this subscription, he thought the circumstance was sufficiently explained by the fact which he had just stated. Lord BROUGHANI felt it hard that he should be complained of because he had, in the first instance, refused the manes of the parties of whom he spoke, and still more that he should have been now complained of that he did give those names. He would now read the name of the gentleman who had furnished him with the information which he had used. That was Edward Howe Vernon, of the Sligo Champion, and he thought there was ample reason to speak of the paucity of the assistance which had been rendered by the Irish landlords when he found in one district a contribution of only 2001. from proprietors of estates which yielded an income of 28,5001. a year. He still withheld, and as he thought advisably, the names of the clergymen with whom he had been in communication. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY conceived that it was not right thus to run down the Irish landlords, for they had under the difficult circumstances in which they were placed done all that they could. In the County Down there was considerable distress, and he knew that, what from marriage settlements, mortgages, and the various obligations to which property was liable, but little came to the hands of the landlord. In the town of Down —not in the district—there was ex cessive distress, and he had been the first to head a subscription for the establishment of a soup kitchen, but the clergy had rather discountenanced the project, from the belief that it would draw the poor from other districts, and so increase the distress, If the Noble Lord (Brougham) did right he should pro pose a Select Committee to inquire into how the Irish landlords had:behaved in the p rese nt state of that co untr y . Such a course would b e much more proper than to indulge in these indiscriminate tirades, the materials of which were furnished to him by interested and evil disposed persons,w ho were quite regardless of truth in the statements they made, and were influenced by the most improper feelings towards those who were involved in these statements. After a tew words in explanation from Lord BROUGHAM and the Marquis of LoNDoNDEnar, The subject dropped. THE CRIMINAL LAW. Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from the Corpora tion of Kingston-on-Hull, confirming the complaints made in the petition lately presented from the magistrates of Liverpool on the subject ot the amendment of the crim inal law. Tsix cases which the petitioners cited were exactly similar to the fourteen cases enumerated in the Liverpool petition, each of whom had been committed nine times before sentence ot trans portation was passed upon them. He would new, in accord. ance with the notice he had given, move for a Select Com mittee to examine into the subject of the execution of criminal law, and particularly with regpect to its operation on juvenile offenders. He was sure the result would be favourable to the views he already expressed on the subject, and the recom mendation of the Committee would be that transportation, if not altogether suspended. should be considerably modifed. Lord STANLEY said that upon this subject—that of cri minal punishment—he hoped to hear an explanation as to what he entertained an opinion more was the intention of the Government re.peeting transportation. He understood that it was V eir desire to suspend the unish ment of transportation for two years without applying p up a - lheniFeruitend. But to suspend it for two liament for its sanction for such a proceeding. With regard to y t ransportation favourableearsseemed ee m et hda t than s hh a ii s t in PNu t i o 'oibB be an experiment of such a magnitude as should not be attempted without applying to Parliament •, and, in his opinion, it would be a serious abuse of the preroga. tive of the Crown. He hoped the Government would intro duce a Bill, and thus afford an opportunity to'loth Houses to discuss the measure. Earl GREY said that since the year 1843 no convict , with sen tenced to transportation for seven years had the sentence car ried into effect, the criminal was confined to the hulks, or a s h e a n d t namely the Th p e la i c , : , na w l h l e a r h e en o v ne w p e a u r h t ih of e in. to Bermuda. Although he considered transportation as control convict punishrrent, yet he was aware that it had its attendant advan tage. The Noble Lord had mistaken the intention of the Government. Transportation would not be abolished, it - continue to be the c s e a non m uadt nneut country under precisely nd er igei but en tt eeoinni sentence eidni shouldff e thist e n c h e e , observa tion of the Government, where they would and check the abuses which took place, 3 a butme control would be discharged in Australia, under the was placed by the present system. Therefore he ventured trot as he " th i e t was il maetdiparteesent would say, that the change was not so substantial as to make it to sary for them to apply to Parliament. The more e it neces it was perfectly competent for her Majesty's Governmentspecially as make it without any Act of Parliament upo n the subject. to Lord BROUGHAM protested against the law a by his Noble Friend. He denied th power of thelaid down would suppose an Act of Parliament requiring a Crown. He one brindred and twenty-one years' transportation,punishment of de sired to know was it competent to impri,on him now he hun dred and twenty years, and transport hint fni. the for one portion of the time. The principle was the remaining ap plied to any period of time lie admitted that an same as Act was passed, some fifteen years, power to the executive in a certain class of which gave a cases. he referred to was the sth George IV, eh The Act chapter 83. could doubt the power of the Crown to pardon No man e • ttpi But if it be legal for the Cr own to oversettal offences. every the inhabitants of Bridport, who intrusted punishment, him with the pre sentation of a petition praying for the a b o l . • ent of death, had mistaken their abolition of the ap pliedpunish- ment at once to the executive. way, they should have Lord CAMPBELL said that, asst con sidered that all that his Noble Friend proposed t o d o m i g h t b e present ad v i se d , he effected without any Act of Parliament. T which had been adopted wag, in every case of transportation general ru l e for a period of seven years, the Government did t ransportation tint carry it into effect. Now no one ever objected to such a practice, and, o he considered that the rule applied to fourteen, % twenty years. It was most desirable that the House should have an opportunity, however, for a full discussion upon the matter. Lord ASHBURTON said he considered it most objection able for the judges of the land to pa s sentences which it was never intended to carry into effect. if any great change was to be effected, it ought to be done with the sanction and under the authority of an Act of Parliament. He wished to know whether a criminal could insist upon his sentence being car ried out ? Lord CAMPBELL said that, in his opinion, he could not ; the power was given to the executive to transport if it was desirous of so doing, but there was no compulsory obligation. Lord BROUGHAM said, that he desired to know whether his Noble and Learned Friend was of opinion that the Execu tive could imprison for life after sentence of transportation for life had been passed ? Lord CAMPBELL said that he certainly was of opinion that tnere was such a power vested in the Executive. Lord LANSDOWNE said that it was not the intention of his Noble Friend to advise the Crown to a course which m'ght appear to be even indirectly illegal, although really le.:al. But the Act of Parliament was perfectly clear upon the subject, and seemed framed to meet the objection of the Noble Lord. The Act expressly gave the Government power to trans port or retain in prison. (The Noble Lord then read the words of the Act. Now, in no cas•e could he become entitled to his liLerty, even if he had Leen cor.fined contrary to his sen tence. He said that this cl-.use provides that no m , n could be prevented from suffering the imprisonment to which he was sentenced, whether for one month, one year, or even for the a hole term of life. Ile was quite ready to admit, that sup posing Government was quite ready to give all the operation which his Noble Friend desired, yet-he felt quite assured that it was quite necessary to have the experience t hat this Bill re commended. He did not consider this as a permanent altera tion, but as a temporary trial. This was a departure, a limited departure from the old practice, and his Noile Friend, who was lately Secretary, would, he felt assured, be convinced that it was not intended to depart from the established practise without sonic sufficient reason, and that reason was to be as certained by •he trial that was soon to be made. Lord BROUGHAM felt that from the construction of this very clause, that it was intemied to do away with the principle of transportation. If they were to punish offenders by impri sonment instead of by transportation, transportation for seven years was either too long or too short. It was too long for imprisonment, but too short for transportation, for, in fact, the people were sent out for three or four years, and not for seven. Lord Lyndhurst had no recollection of what had transpired when., he brought in his Act when he was Attorney-General, but the principle had been adopted by him of modifying the system of transportation; but he had left it to the usual prin ciples of the law to rectify the abuses, while he preserved the principle. Lord ASHBURTON conceived that there was no sufficient time for testing the principle, and that the clause would never effect its purpose. He thought, therefore, that there ought to be some change so as to bring the experience within a shorter period. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH conceived that the change could not be made, unless there was some assurance that the Noble Earl, who was now Secretary for the Colo nies, would remain in office until its results were fully ascer tained. The Earl of CHICHESTER thought that, however the rule might work with respect to adult offenders, it would not apply to juvenile offenders, for it was unwise and unjust to send a boy sentenced to transportation to Pentonville, when another person under the same sentence was sent abroad. There was no equality of punishment between the two offenders. Earl GREY quite agreed with his Noble Friend, that this princip'e could not be universally adopted. In 1841, when a motion was moved in the House of Commons, it had been mooted that there was no such equality. for the fact was, that by far the greater number of convicts sentenced to transporta tion were for seven years, the greater part of whom were in tt-nded to be sent to the hulks and kept at home, and when they had suffered a certain degree of punishment they should be set at liberty. After a mutual explanation between Lord BROUGHAM and the Earl Of CHICHESTER. The LORD CHANCELLOR put the motion, that a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into the execution of the criminal law with respect to transportation, and especially with respect to juvenile o ff en d ers . 1 he Earl of ELLENBOROUGH complained of being taken by surprise. The LORD CHANCELLOR offered to put it again, bat this was declined, and the Comraittee was agreed upon. CENTRAL TERMINUS AT GLASGOW. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE laid on the table the report of Commissieners appointed to inquire into the necessity of a central terminus at Glasgow. JUVENILE OFFENDERS The Martins of LANSDOWNE also laid on the table the report of Mr. Burrell, magistrate of Queen-square Police (Ace, respecting the committal of John Hockham to Tothill fields Prison. LABOURING POOR (IRELAND) BILL. The amendments moved on this Bill were adopted, and it was read a third time and passed. Their Lordships then adjourned. ROUSE OF CWIMONS, March 8. The SPEAKER took the Cr.air at Four o'Clock. Returns from the Poor-law Commissioners, and other public bodies, wore then kid upon *hp table of the Howie. NEW WRIT. On the motion of Lord MARCUS HILL, a new writ wai ordered for the city of Canterbury, in the room of J. Bradshaw, Esq., deceased. SECOND READINGS. The following Bills were read a second time, anti ordered to be committed:— The Birmingham and Oxford Junction, and Birming ham, Wolverhampton, and Dudley Railways Amalga mation Bill. The Dublin, Dundrum, and Rathfarnham Railway (Ex tension to Stephen's Green) Bill. CONIMII'rEE',..4. ON PRIVATE BILLS. Mr. GREENE moved that no Committee for markets ani fairs—for appointing commissioners to carry out works—for gas works—for waerrrorks—for improvine and regulating the paving, draining, cleansing, lighting, and watching towns and populous districts, and other wise promoting the health end convenience of the inha bitants thereof—for making cemeteries—for making har bours, docks, and piers—shall report the Bill to the House till the sense of Parliament shall have been taken on the Clauses Consolidation Bill applicable to the pro visions of each such private Bill respectively.— Agreed to. PUNISHMENT OF DEATH. Mr. REDHEAD YORKE presented a petition si,gned by 800 influential persons in the city of York, praying for tho abolition of the purii,hinent of death. INFLUX OF IRISH PAUPERS. Mr. DENNISTOUN presentA a petition from the pro vost and the prir.cipal inhabitants of Glasgow complain ing of the influx of Irish paupers, and praying that the House would grant some remedy. IRISH POOR-LAW. Mr. S. CRAWFORD presented a petition from the inhabitants of Rochdale, praying the House to pass a complete poor-law for Ireland, assimilating the system of out-door relief to that which prevailed in England. LIGHT DUES. Mr. CIIRISTIE presented a petition from a number of shipowners praying that the light dues might be abo lished. OUT-DOOR RELIEF (IRELAND). Mr. SHAW presented a petition from a number of Roman Catholic gentlemen residing in the King's Count) against the system of out-door relief. SPANISH BONDHOLDERS. Lord GEORGE BENTINCK presented a petition from the chairman and deputy-chairman of the Spanish bondhellers, praying the assistance of the House in obtaining redress from the Spanish Crown, in the matter of a debt of upwards of 71,000,000/. sterling, alleged by them to be due from the Spanish Government, princi pally to British subjects. The petitioners stated, that out of 78,000,000/. debt, no interest h id been paid, ex cept on 7,000,000/, although the Spanish revenues had more than doubled since the 7th of August, 1834 These petitioners further stated that that country had for years past been increasing in prosperity, wealth, and resources, and that the country had entirely restored her credit with her native creditors, and they went on to say that it was not to poverty or inability to meet their engagements or debts with British creditors, that their defalcatiens were to be ascribed. On the contrary, with regard to debts which she had contracted with native capitalists long subsequent to the period when these debts with Great Britain were contracted, Spain had faithfully and accurately discharged the interest, and still con tinued to discharge faithfully and punctually the i n t e rest due upon such debts. The pe titioners went on to state that by a decree of the Cortes, the national revenue of Spain had been rendered liable to the payment of these liabilities; ne vertheless the Spanish Government did not discharge the interest accruing to British capitalists. Under these painful circumstances the petitioners took the advice of the most eminent jurists and counsel learned in the law of this country, and they had consulted her Majesty's Attorney-General, and the result of that con sultation was that an opinion had been received that Ihe only mode of redress left against the bad faith of Spain - was to make application to that House or to the Government. They stated that their opinion was that the long oppression to which they had been subjected by Spain constituted a casus telli. Under these circum stances they had come to the House to beg that their ease might be taken into consideration, in order that some mode of redress might be given to them, such as might seem fit to the Government. The coeclusion of the petition prayed that the House would allow them to be heard by counsel at the bar. Mr. POULETT SCROPE presented a petition, praying for the introduction of an effectual system of poor-law in Ireland. LIGHT DUES. Mr. HUME presented a petition numerously signed by shipowners, praying for a reduction or abolition of the light dues. An 110 N. MEMBER presented a petition from the magistrates, clergy, and rate-payers of the parish of Moira, in the county of Down. against the out-door relief of the able bodied post, and against any extension of the present electoral divisions. NOTICES OF MOTION. ABOLITION OF RATE-PAYING CLAUSES. Mr. T. S. DUNCOMBE gave notice that after Easter he should move the following resolution : Whereas an Act a hieh was passed in the reign of his late Majesty William the Fourth, intituled an Act for am. nding the representation of the people of England and Wales, has failed to fulfil the just and lawful exraetations of the people, aid such an Act ought not, and cannot, be final; and it is expedient to amend the same by a repeal of the rate-paying clauses in that I Act, and by the insertion of provisions calculated to pre vent any undue influence being exercised in boroughs or counties, whereby the representation of the people may be prejudiced." IRISH MISCELLANEOUS ESTIMATES. Mr. HUME gave notice that on an early day he would move that the Irish Miscellaneous Estimates he referred to a Select Committee up stairs. THE RAJA OF SATTARA. The Hoy. MEMBER also gave notice that on ThursaLy n.xt be would move fur leave to lay belia e t' a House cei t di& documents of the Court of I>irectrifs ce the East India Company relative to the ex-R .ja 0 , Sattara. JUVENILE OFF EN DERS. Sir JOHN PAKINGTON presented a petition from the Mayor, Aldermen, and Corporation of Carli,le, praying for a more summary mode of dealing with juvc nile offenders. THE TREATY OF VIENNA. Mr. S. WORTLEY, seeing the Noble Lord the Fo ! reign Secretary in his place, wished to s.sk hire a ques tion, which he hoped the Gevernrmnt would be atilt , to answer without detriment to the public survice. It WI.S whether he could produce any document relative to the Convention of 1831, in which words were shown to have been introduced into the treaty of Vienna at the instance of the Russian Ambassador? Lord PALNIERSTON answered that he world be prepared to lay on the table of the Douse this evening certain instructions of the two Russian Pknepotentieries in 1831, relative to this question. Also some extracts from the dispatches of Lord Londonderry, bearing oil the same subject__ A - A;ENDED DRAINAGE ACT. Mr. EDWARD ELLICE, jun., seeing the Right lion. Baronet the Secretary of State for the Hom, De partment in his place, wished to ask when it was the in tention oldie Government to proceed with the Drainage Amendment Act. There hA been many parties who were pursuing at this crisis a ceri gin course on the faith of this Bill being pass d, and it would th,re't-re be ex truni.ly satintact ! , ry t. them if they kilo., when the Go verment intended to bring it before Comtni.tue. Sir G. GREY said thAt it Was the intent Con of t} e Government to proceed with the measure on Wed',,sdny next,. lie had received several communications frem gentle lien in the N est of Scotland, urging the G, Tern ment to proceed with the measure as speedily as p'ssible. SLAVE. TRADE. On the ciesti. , n being put that the order of the day for going into Committee cn the Landed Property (Ire land) Bill, Mr. HUME said he wished to ask the Noble Lord the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether there was any intention on the part of the Government to rer eal the Act passed in the year 1845 respecting Brazil, making the slave trade piracy? Lord PALMERSTON replied, that until Brazil en tered into a treaty with this country for the suppression of the slave trade, Government did not feel it to be their duty to repeal the Act passed in 1845. Mr. HUME said it would be remembered that a short while ago an occurence took plane where certain British officers and men were murdered by inhabitants of Brazil, and when the murderFrs were brought to trial here they escaped in consequence of some illegality. He wished to know whether any measures had been taken to prevent such an occurrence again? Lord PALMERSTON said, not having received any notice of the question, he was not prepared to answer it. POOR•LAW AND LANDED PROPERTY BILLS (IRELAND). Mr. ROEBUCK said it was proposed that they should go into Committee on two Bills; one for the relief of the poor in Ireland, and the other relating to landed pro perty. Now he wished to know if the Noble Lord at the head of the Government did not intend to propose the continuation of the Poor-law Bill if these two passed, or would the Noble Lord go on with the Poor-law Bill, and not the Landed Property Bill? Lord JOHN RUSSELL replied that he was anxious that the two Bills should go through Committee toge ther. But perhaps the Honourable Gentleman would state his reasons for expecting the abandonment of one of them. _ _ Mr, ROEBUCK said he inferred as much from what had fallen from the Noble Lord on a former evening. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said what he stat*d was, that he intended to move that these Bills be pro c eeded with pari passu, so that both the Landed Property Bill and Poor Relief Bill might be read a third time at the same time. He still intended to carry out that plan. He could not state when the Poor•law Bill would be proceeded with. GRANTS TO SCOTLAND. An HoN. MEMBER wished to know what sums of money had been advanced by the Government for the purpose of relieving the destitution in the highlands and islands of Scotland ? Sir G. GREY said the Government had intimated that they would make grants equal in amount to the local subscriptions raised with the view of mitigating the distress in those parts. This had been stated to Sir Edward Caffin, and the Government, in accordance with his recommendations, had given grants to two places, Tobermory and Fort William. The Hoar. MEMBER inquired the amount of the grant ? Sir G. GREY repeated that the amount was to be equal to the amount raised by local subscriptions. The subject then dropped. POOR-LAW (IRELAND). Mr. SHAW intimated that it was not his intention to offer any unreasonable objection to the main provisions of the Irish Poor-law Bill, but he certainly should op pose that portion of it which proposed to give out door relief. CUSTOMS DUTIES BILL. In reply to a question from Lord G. BENTINCK, The CHANCELLOR of the EXt;HEQUER stated that he should be prepared to proceed with this Bill on Friday week. LANDED PROPERTY (IRELAND) BILL. On the motion for the House - going into Committee on this Bill, Mr. HUME roaelto inquire when the Bill for lending money to tenants would be proceeded with. He was at a loss to know why so much delay had taken place in bringing it forward. Lord J. RUSSELL understood the Hon. Gentleman to allude to the Bill for affording landlords the means of selling encumbered estates. Mr. HUME said that was the Bill to which he alluded. Lord J. RUSSELL said the Bill was one which re quired the most careful consideration, and besides the Government bad experienced great difficulty with re -1 spect to many of its provisions. The Bill, how ever, had been prepared, and would be shortly brought into the other House by the Lord Chancellor, and would have all the benefit of his authority on the subject. It would be afterwards brought into that House, and with as little delay as possible. Lord DUNCAN wished to know if the Bill, with re spect to encumbered property, was also to apply to Scotland?—(Laughter.) Sir. G. GREY said the subject was under the con sideration of the Lord-Advocate, and that he would bring forward a Bill on the stAject without delay. Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL hoped that the Bill with respect to Ireland would be first proceded MEASURES OF RELIEF FOR IRELAND. Mr. ROEBUCK rose to make the motion of which he bad given notice. It was that any plans of relief fur the distress of the Irish poor, by means of loans to the owners of property in Ireland, would be unjust and impolitic, unless accompanied by a system of taxation which would subject such property to the burdens al- ready imposed upon all property throughout Great Bri tain. He said he was utterly at a loss to know what argument was wanted on the present occasion beyond stating the question. The proposition he had to wake was, that in any system of taxation proposed for Ireland, the principle should be precisely the same as that pursued in England. He could not understand how they could object to this proposition. The matter was exceedingly simple, and he did not see why any reasonable opposition should be made to it. He was pre pared, and well prepared, to meet opposition from the Members for Ireland—from both parties belong ing to that country he expected not only opposition, but abuse. Still, as the mceion would call up opponents iu the quarter he had stated, he thought it was his duty to take note of whatever arguments which be thought were likely to be advanced against it. Before he came to the arguments that were to be expect( d from the Irish opponents of the proposition he would deal with the rational objections that might be urged. It was clear that the interests and obligations of both England and Ireland were the same. The artizan, the merchant, and the landed proprietor, all subscribed to the general exchequer, while the p, ople of Ireland were exempted from many of the taxes that wale imposed on these. In comparing the taxation of the two countries he found that there were three great dis tinct branches of taxation from which Ireland was ex- empted. The assessed taxes was one. Now what were assessed taxes ? They were taxes on houses, win dows, horses, servants, arms, and a variety of other articles of a similar character ; yet the gentry of Ireland paid none of these. When he crossed the Channel, he found the gentlemen of Ireland, with perhaps their twenty servants, with their horses, and their carriages, and they paid no tax for either ; and when the Irish gentlemen crossed the Channel, he was altogether free from any claim which would diminish his resources, when he wanted to make a display. He (Mr. Roebuck) knew that in Ireland it was a painful thing to tax display, for it constituted one-half of that country's pleasure.—(Hear, hear.) He would proceed now to the poor-law. Ireland was exempt from the necessity for supporting her poor. The gentleman in Ireland, the artizan, and the trader in Ireland, were exempt from that which every English gentleman, aye, and every Englishman, felt to be his duty,.namely, to maintain the poor—(Hear, hear)—but the Irish gentleman, the Irish artizan, and the Irish merchant, all thought that a matter truly and entirely beneath their consideration. (Hear, hear). The Irishman had nothing to do with the poor; therefore, in Ireland, they were exempt from this tax. An English gentleman, or it might be a Scotch gentleman, had promulgated a sen timent which should have struck the death-blow to display in Ireland. It was this, that " property may have its duties as well as its rights." That sentiment had been responded to in every English bosom, but he wanted the respouse from Ireland, and he got none. That which should have returned it was corrupted and spoiled, the sounding board was good for nothing, and they got no response from Ireland. But the good feeling of the people of England, assisted by the good feeling of the people of Scotland, would bring a response from Ireland. But there was nothing of the sort as yet; the rich had escaped from any tax to provide either for the poor or the ge neral necessities of the state. He asked hat pro perty should be taxed in Ireland as well as in England— he asked it in the name of all that was good—or ail that was humane—of all that was just—heasked the Irish pro. proprietor to bring his quota to the national t xchequer for the purpose of meeting the national expenditure. What was his (Mr. Roebuck's) proposition? It was simply this, that every man in Ireland wh s earned 1501. a year from land, or from his own intellects, or from trade, should be taxed as in England. He knew the tax was in some degree unequal, but what was sauce for the goose was sauce for the gander.—(Hear, hear). His answer to the Hon. Gentleman was, " pray be honest in your generation, the debt which you owe is a debt due to the nation, that is, a debt whichyou have not paid, and I find you mightily tl- pay; and for the non-payment « ircl,, tea find a great many pretext:; ; blessn,T, of God, we v, ill see wh a t 3 Tne Hens would see how th ey did their are made $3% . ' duty, snd when they threatened that House with "repeal," let these gentlemen beware that the_ _House and the country did not give them " repeal."—(Cheers.) Let them bewure that those who were now loudest for repeal were not overwhelmed by the terms they ?Joked lor.--(Cheers.) Oh, there is :(said the Hon. Member) that coming of which Ireland will know and feel, the commencement of which I have seen. There has been nothing so small as the almost whhipeting song of the repealers in this Housa anti in this country sirce real calamity has been impend.: over their country. Was there ever such a spectacle esiihited ? A people, with its leaders, who, in its time of prosperity and wealth, were all ter sea-government ; for repeal ; all against the Saxon, all for the Celt! It has pleased God to visit them with a famine ; at once all this hurly burly ceases. Th. re sas an utter, a complete prostration of body and mod ninon" the whole of her rampant and turbulent (mature. They had nothing to propose, all to ask for ; their whole limbs and bodies—everything except their tongues—were inert and useless; and with their tongues th y cried " Give, give." They had nothing to 'pro po,e but the dictator to the Saxon. The Celt crept into his hidine-place, and all that was heard of him was a whispering voice supplicating the aid of the Saxon. Such Was a true picture of a thorough-going repealer.— (Cheers.) Whin, however, be (Mr. Roebuck) turned to England, what was the contrast ? saw, to lire the language of Milton. " a great nati,,n bearing its ills with a fortitude which corn neouls and with a perseverance which wins a:.d enianours." But was that true of Ireland? lie red ,etee lucubrations which bad appeared in the pages of the Alerniny Chronicle, contaieed in a letter w I teen co Lot d Russel. The writer of that letter was a Meru!), r of that House, and that House was the proper place for his prop , sitar's for the regeneration of the coon ry to be b: ought forward. Wby should they go to the I\ We Lord? Was the House to depend upon them? God forbid. They must learn to depend upon themselves. Let him tell us their wants. Let him tell us what was wanted for his country. Let him come there and explain to them abet was really necessary for the welfare of Ire land.— (Hear.) The lion. Gentleman the Member f,r Limerick said " Hear." He knew what that Hon. Gentleman meant. He was going to propose repeal. He taw it in the Hon. Member's eye.—(Great laughter.) But the Honourable Gentleman would propose something for the benefit of Ireland which he knew would not bo carried ; but he would tell the Honourabie Gentleman that the time might come when it would be adopted—(Hear, hear) — and nobody would so thoroughly rue it as those who now cheered it. Let any Irish gentleman propose what was required for Ireland. and if it were reasonable and jusa and rational, it would be passed; but if present proceedings were carried on one step further, it might happen that England would cut the rope that connects Ireland, and allow her to drift on the waters of misery, and die unaided and uncared for.—(Hear, hear.) He had occupied a position in Irish debate— A VOICE—" A very unenviable one." Mr. ROEBUCK—Among those persons who came to him were some Irish Catholic priests. (He hoped the Honourable Member for Kilkenny would listen.) The Rev. Dr. Collier was the name of one— he tied their tames with their own consent and the ee her was the Rev. Mr. M'Carthy. They came from Mallow, and they said that they were deputed from the Catholic priests. And what was their first statement to him? After he had asked them to be, seated—(A laugh)—they said, " We do not believe that the gentlemen in the House of Commons coming from Ireland represent Ireland." He (Mr. Roebuck) said " Sir, I am extremely glad to hear it.—(Loud laughter.) " Sir," said they. " they are the representatives of pro perty in lrelatio. We are conversant with the feelings of the people, from moving among them and mixing with them, and we are deputed to tell you the feelings of the Irish people.) Sir:" " said they, "do not listen to one Word that is said by them in the House of Comons about Ireland."—(Hear, hear.) He (Mr. Roebuck) said, " I shall religiously obey your instructions."—(Loud laughter.) These en tlemen said, " They do not represent the poor people of that country, they represent the rich," and they were following out most carefully the peculiar interest of the rich chs,es of the people. He would tell the House why. these gentlemen had stated before they began. Thoy said, "We will give you the perfect opportu nity and authority to use our names i n thi s statement," &c. They then continued, " Round 'Mal low there are a number of gentlemen of large property —(they gave him the names, but he had forgotten them, and they had promised to send him a list, but they did rot)—there are six gentlemen of about ten thou sandedadmfn: eed r tndhb, s e‘ y. bt starvation)—we c teea r or i c p pNo. l t are i tooi coroners' en s ws s_e f ,r o iem r n 2 u t ah h eba e ssvtosel relief ubttheeeelyyn ponnds per ann um eac h ; we have been round e f orws t o o tft,turrn t ev h sdit e sna s ttgra e ovtaeat g tdhti e et( n h,str: t eo l_e gt m hien(a t n . i . a, n ei and from every one of them we asked for relief for their starving brethren, and from none of them did we get anything but the minutest trifle tor the purpose.' There was a heartiness in the manner of the rev. gentlemen, which he rather liked ; in fact, it won upon him. It was not what he had seen as usually comin from Ireland. His eyes twinkled as he spoke to him. " Sir," continued the Rev. Gentleman, " one of those gentlemen has seventy dogs living on good meal and milk, while every morning anti every day there are coroners' inquests held almost at that man's gate." He (Mr. Roe buck) ,said, "My God ! sir, do you tell me that this is the fact!" and he said, " Sir, you know who I am. I have stated to you this fact, and you can give my name." This had passed within a few miles of Mallow, and men had died from starvation, while dogs lived. He appealed, not to Irishmen in that House, but lie appealed to his own countrymen—he raised his voice to the whole of England and Scotland, and he asked if' they were pn pared to hear this thing? He would say that it could not be done, and be knew that when he said that it should not be done, the voices of millions would be raised in confirmation. But then if these Irish landlords were this class of men —he did not know why they should be such a class of men—they were made so by the system of legislation. They were a class very much like the slave holder. He would call them white slave holders. Their unfortunate country had been conquered, and this country was the conqueror, and its iron grasp had caused to a great extent the evil now felt. They carried out the bias—the feeling of oppression which once rankled in English hearts with respect to Ireland—but there is no such feeling in England now.— (Cheers). It has gone from the hearts of the con querurs, but it rests in Ireland.—(Hear, hear.) There fore he wished the English people to have a " strong hold" on those Irish landlords. It should be so in all things connected with the poor, and, as he said at the commencement of the session, " we will mort gage the land of Ireland for the support of the Irish Poor." They hall done immense injury to the poor of Ireland by protecting the landlords ot Ireland; but this state of things could exist no longer. They shal maintain their own poor—they shall contribute to the maintenance of the indigent in a proper way. Now, he would ask the Noble Lord, what objection he had to his proposition ? He said that was not the time to make it. Why ? " Oh," he said, " the Irish landlords have not received their rents." Now, an Honourable Friend, conversant with the sub ject, had informed him that Irish landlords received their rents very well just now. He was sure the Hon. Gentleman would not object to his pointing him out.— (The Hon. Gentleman pointed towards the door of the ll , )use, but we could not discern the Hon. Member to whom he referred.) It was true, in some districts the rents might not have been received; but they had been received throughout tho majority.— (An Hon Member—" No, nor) All he could say was, that the Hon. Member was one of those who had not received his rents; but nothing was more easy than to prove who had. Let all the gentlemen connected with public companies and with land, state what they had received, and let an income-tax be imposed on all who received 1501., as in England. But it was said that the Irish proprietors had influence with the Cabinet on this question, because a great pro portion of the Government were themselves owners of Irish property. It was stated that the Administration were favourable to the claims of the Irish party, and that they did not in reality wish the Irish property to be made r sponsible fur the relief of Irish distress. They outside of the Cabinet knew all about it. The Times newspaper had been the great Bude light which had revealed the secret workings and feelings of the Govern ment. It was thilefore necessary that he should state ell about it. It was necessary, in order to show how their feelings went, to inform them that the Marquis of h Lans downe, one of the Cabinet, was a principalo pro prietorot and that the Earl of Clarendon, her met/iber a should further state that Lord Mont ot the Cabinet was the same. It wueagnieec,ewsshaor,yifthoaotthae He might also l a ughter)—was also a landed prdopyi was beating at tbe door footroar.dmHission—(Loud Minister, advent to o s t a te that another N a o e b t le E Lo ar r ope rn t a he s C h a a b k i i n n e g t : whose as the Lord Palmerston. He might also nam e _ who, also an Irish landed proprietor. He meant Duke of Devonshire and another Noble hle Lord,_ influence over not in the Cabinet, had considerable o p v ri e e r to i r t— s a h r e laa meant Earl Fitzwilliam ho wer e iufl how the latter Noble Earl had f or L ynn, and se that din Ireland. Thesuppor t ed House — nn, how ww t h o e ul g d ra r n ec cl oet the knowledge of that fact had pro ject of the Noble Lord the Member d e mo r faooryLtyo surmise to declare in its favour. the Government would have Mem le With these, as members of th e Government, or influenc ing its decisions, he (Mr. Roebuck) could realise the feelings of the N oble Lord the Member for Lynn, when he asked for sixteen millions, but other influences had proved stronger, and he ani they had to succumb. Still the declaration of the 2.1 ,, b1e Lord (Earl Fitzwilliam) showed the feeling which animitild these Irish proprietors. One more instance he might give, though the nobleman he would now name, he must say, bore an excellent and admirable character that was Lord Besborotgb. He was likewise an Irish proprietor. He could give more; but with this, as connected with the Govern ment, he weuld ask, was it decent, was it just to the people ot E..el4nd to a: k exemption t - orn the burdens itnpie,eit ott the United Kingdom? He had always given the Noble dat the head of the Government credit for courage, he hail thought him brave; and he agreed with him for this, though he liked his policy almost in nothing else; but he must deny him even this quality, if he gave way to the Irish landlords on the poor-law He would tell the Noble Lord what they would do ; appeal to the country and outvote him.—(Hear, hear.) He was cer tain of carrying a majority against the Noble Lord. He had never spoken so strongly before in that House, but be felt strongly upon the subject. The Noble Lord had not satis factorily explained his intentions upon this question. The manner—as if answer to the question which he (Mr. Roebuck) had put was given in an off-hand manner—a sort of fe stive it cor.cirred not the lives of the people of this countr y . It was not the fi at tuestion which he (Mr. R o ebuck) had put this session which had been answered for the . m same reason. They had a Chancellor oi the Exchequ er fighting against the First Lord of the Treasury on the most vital questions affecting the lives of eight millions of her Majesty's subjects. He must say that the whole Ministry put him in mind of a story whick had been t o ld him by an old sailor a bout the A g amemnon. She was in se rotten a condition , that when they took her into port and drew the water from her eke L