The Express.
London, England, 1847-03-06 00:00:00

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LONDON, SATURDAY, MARCH 6.
IN the House of Lords, yesterday, the Earl of
RADNOR desired to know whether the goverumaot
had carried out its expressed intention of diminish-
ing as fast as possible the number of persons em-
ployed on relief works in Ireland. The Marquis of
LANSDOWNE, in reply, stated that the most positive
instructions had been sent to the Lord-Lieutenant for
the discontinuance of the relief works . gradually, in-
..

terdicting, also, the commencement of —others, -unless
under circumstances of the most urgent neceaaftty.

Lord BROUGHAM expressed his apprehensions
that the course which had been pursued
was one from which it would be found very
difficult to recede. The Earl of ItioustressaELL con.
sidered it would be impossible suddenly to stop the
works upon which the support of so large a number
of persons entirely depended ; besides, they were not
half finished, and if stopped now, the money already
expended would be thrown away. Earl GREY, in
moving the second reading of the Criminal Offenders
and Prisons Bills, took the opportunity of stating the
views and intentions of the government with re-
spect to the punishment to be substituted for
transportation for the future, stating, that it
was proposed virtually to abolish the exist-
ing system of transportation to the colonies,
with the exception of Malta and Gibraltar. The
noble earl proceeded to enter into an elaborate histo-
rical detail of the system of transportation as it had
been carried out in New South Wales, Van Diemen's
Land, and Norfolk Island, with respect to the latterot
which, the state of things which had grown up, the
noble earl said, was so frightful, such a disgrace Is
the British nation, that the breaking up of the CAP
bliahment was absolutely and imperatively neeeswary.
With regard to future punishment in lien of
transportation, it was intended to employ convicts
on public works ; and in every case of good conduct,
and where the convict did not incur fresh punishment li
while undergoing his sentence, he would be di..
charged from punishment at the termination of half
the period for which he should be sentenced. It was
also intended that criminals, while undergoing the
latter portion of their punishment on the public
works, should be allowed wages nearly to the full
value of their labour, to accumulate so that at the ex-
piration of their sentences they might have the means
of emigrating, the condition of the pardon being
that they should not remain in England. Having
been taught branches of industry which were of most
value to the colonies, he had no doubt, when they ar-
rived in Australia with their families, they would
be well received by the inhabitants. He attached
great importance to the circumstance of their families
going out with them; because, to go on with the
system which would keep up the frightful inequality
of the sexes which existed in Australia, would be
wholly inexcusable. With regard to female
convicts, it was intended, for the present,
that they should continue to be sent to Van Diemen's
Land as heretofore.—Lord BROUGHAM expressed his
satisfaction at the statement of the noble earl, but
could not refrain from expressing the doubt he enter-
tained as to the propriety and expediency of abolish-
ing deportation altogether as a punishinent. Lord
STANLEY thought the government, on contemplating
the existing evils, were adopting too summary and
hasty a measure, by altogether departing from a
system which he was free to admit had been subject
to considerable abuse. He entertained great doubts
as to the policy or prudence of abrogating
the punishment of transportation. whether as
a punishment to deter others from crime,
or as a means of reforming the criminals
themselves. Lord DesIVAN rejoiced that the establish-
ment at Norfolk Island was to be broken up, but
when he heard that the terror of transportation was
intended to be withdrawn altogether from the minds
of criminals, he regarded the expression of that
opinion with the greatest possible dismay. The
Duke of RICHMOND thought it would be better to
diminish the periods of transportation rather than
abolish them altogether. Earl GREY having replied
to the objections raised by the noble lords who
had addressed the house, the bills were read a second
time. _ _ _

In the House of Commons, Mr. MILNER GIBSON,
is answer to Dr. BOWRING, stated that the only new
quarantine regulation which had been adopted, was
with respect to ships from Turkey importing non-
enumerated goods, which were to be exempted from
quarantine if they were provided with clean bills of
health, and the crews and passengers free from suspi-
cion in a sanatory point of view. Mr. LABOUCHERE,
in answer to Lord DUNCAN, replivd that the Poor-law
Commissioners had issued explicit orders that all de-
faulters in the payment of rates in Ireland should be
summarily dealt with, the collectors throughout that
country having been directed to require immediate pay-
ment. Capt LINDSAY moved an address for an inquiry
into the canteen system in barracks, and as to whether
it would not be advantageous to discipline and to the
moral improvement of the troops to prevent the sale
of spirituous liquors therein, or within the precincts
or proximity of barracks. On an assurance from
Mr. F. MAULS, that the whole canteen system should
undergo the most rigid investigation with a view to
rendering it next to impossible that it should
tend to the deteetoration of the morals or health
of the army ; and after some observations from
other honourable members, Captain LINDSAY with-
drew his motion. Mr. J. O'CONNELL in an ex-
planatory speech, drew the attention of the
House to the advisability of employing the labouring
population now engaged on the public works in he-
land, in the tillage of land. Mr. LABOUCHERR was
not at all surprised that the hon. gentleman should
avail himself of the forms of the house to bring the
calamitous condition of Ireland under its notice, but
as regarded the proposals made by the hon. gentle-
man, he conceived it to be the duty of the govern-
ment unreservedly to state, that, it would be impossible
for them, as well as impracticable, to act upon them.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL lamented very much that,
in certain districts, tillage had not been pro-
ceeded with, but he still hoped it would be found
more general than was anticipated, that hope being
grounded upon the well-understood determination of
the government not to interfere in the manner pointed
out by the hon. member for Kilkenny. The house
then went into committee of supply, Col. ANSON
moving the ordnance estimates ; after which the navy
estimates were proceeded with, the discussion on
which occupied the remainder of the sitting.

LORD STANLEY'S is a chivalric temper, that
kindles willingly for what is deserted and left of all
mankind. Lord STANLEY is a generous lover, but it
is always of an antiquated mistress, whose beauty has
departed, but whom the political knight-errant is
still ready to proclaim the fairest of the fair. If there
be an exploded idea, a well-nigh extinct prejudice, a
venerable abuse—all these, which the regular
Tory of the old school would defend from
mere habit, obstinacy, and tradition, Lord
STANLEY gets into a romantic affection, a veri-
table passion, for. The old cern-law was the idol of
his affection last year. We were wondering what
old abuse would this year be enthroned as his poli-
tical mistress; and even we are startled to fmd that
the transportation system has obtained that honour.
Public inquiries and opinion have been directed
for these several years to the subject of tranoporta-
tion. The very first drawing aside of the curtain
revealed such horrors, that every one drew back in