The Express.
London, England, 1847-02-03 00:00:00

MOE! WATER AT LONDMI-BRIDOP,

Tam DAT. —240;1113:ff: 57 mtp, past i; Alkrnoon, 12 min. past 4.
To.lloasow—Morning, 27 min past 4; Afternoon, 45 min. post 4,

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, FEB. 3.
In the House of Lords yesterday, on the motion of
the Duke of RICITMOIVD, the select committee of 1845,
on entailed estates, was reappointed, with a view to
considering the propriety of extending the provisions
of the existing law to Ireland, in order to enable the
proprietors of entailed estates to avail themselves
of loans, for the purpme of draining and permanently
improving them. Lord BROUGHAM trusted the com-
mittee would report speedily, as it would be a most
unexceptionable mode of affording relief. Lord
STALES, in reference to the Sugar Bill, not yet be-
fore their lordships, expressed his hope that it would
not be passed as a permanent measure without the in-
terests of all parties being fully and fairly considered.
Lord CLARENDON intimated that full opportunity
would be afforded for due consideration. The Mar-
quis of LANSDOWNE, in reply to a question from Lord
STANLEY, stated that it was intended to remodel the
Poor-law Commission, and that it was proposed one
commissioner should be resident in Ireland ; further
than this he was not prepared to state at present.
In the House of Commons, Sir F. THESIGER in-
I formed the house that the Court of Exchequer Chamber
had that day reversed the decision of the Court of
Queen's Bench in the case of " Howard against the
Seljeant-at-Arms." The Labouring Poor (Ireland)
Bill, after a debate of some continuance, was read a
second time ; as also were the Poor Relief (Ireland),
and the Destitute Persons (Ireland) Bills.

TUE debate, wisely confined to the general and
temporary measures for Ireland, closed last night in
the House of Commons. The difficulty of ministers
lay not so much in defending their measures, as in
knowing what to defend. The sole attacks on the
policy of the last year were made by Irish landlords.
But against these the power of retort was so great,
that the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Mr.
LABOUCLIERE bad need rather of showing mercy than
of putting forth strength.
After the total waste of more than half yesterday's
sitting, the Secretary for Ireland rose, chiefly to im-
plore tke house to shorten the debate, and to vote the
measures of relief. Hereupon Sir ROBERT PEEL
seized the opportunity to make one of his character-
istic speeches. He began by a world of panegyric,
a perfect shower of au gared sweemeata to all the world.
He complimented the ministry, andthehouse, and the
Irish landlords, and the Irish ladies, and the Board of
Works, and Mr. TREVELYAN. Towards ministers he
assumed the most bland, and approving, and patron-
ising tone. In the midst of this, however, he let fall
the usual drop of selfish bitterness, the one little sar-
casm, which was intended to stand forth as the proof
at once of Sir ROBERT'S superiority and Sir ROBERT'S
kindness.
The ex-Premier declared that he would confise
himself to the temporary measures, leaving the
permanent ones, according to Mr. Lanorenent's
suggestion, to future and detailed discussion. Still,
he could not help having a fling at the most vulner-
able of them, inflicting a gentle ridicule upon Lord
JOIIN RUSSELL'S scheme of reclaiming Irish bogs.
I We were sorry to perceive that the house thought it
a good joke.
Sir Itonewr laid great stress on the maxim of
" Help thyself." And he declared that this was the
fit political maxim to be applied to Ireland. The
English government should teach the Irish to exert
themselves; but, beyond the funds necessary for
charity, it were better to grant none, except perhaps
in a little drainage. It is quite evident, that the cur-
rent of opinion in the house runs this way, and Sir
ROBERT very ingeniously prepares and stretches
forth his arms to swim with this current, which may
thus be made to counteract all the efforts and plans
of ministers in the way of permanent measures for
Ireland.

We should sincerely regret, if the result was to
thwart them in these measures, and thus limit the
future action of England upon Ireland to a system of
charity. An immensity of money must be spent in
Ireland. Shall it be given away, or can it not be
given or lent, so as to ensure future repayment in some
instances, increased produce and provision in others,
or relief of the labour market throughout? Sir R.
PEEL b'CCMS to agree with those who think that the
money must be given away. This appears to us a
grave and deplorable decision.
In forming an estimate of the worth of any mea-
sures for Inlaid, it is not their absolute, but their
relative merit thd t should be considered. The losing

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