The Express.
London, England, 1848-03-10 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

Thee]SE OF LORDB.—TIMISDAY, MARCH 9.
W) GIANCIILLOS took kis seat at 5 o'clock.
THE LATE DISTURBANCES.
The Marquis of SALISBURY begged to call attention to
a paragraph which reflected on • stagnant@ of meteo-
polls, In connexion with the riots which had recently taken
place in the metropolis. On the first day there were multi
persons taken before the magistrate at Bow-street, and the
first case heard war that of • young man charged with ex-
citing the mob and throwing stones. The primmer, in reply
ts the charge, said it was impossible for the officer to disein-
soda who was the aggressor, and denied having
made use of some observations attributed to him.
/Ir. Hall thereupon ordered him to pay fine of
Mts. Another person was charged with assaulting the police
in the execution of their duty, the sergeaat stating that past
before he took him into custody he had been assailed by a
large Indy of stones The prisoner in his defence said that
he had just parted from some '
rim his friends when he receiim,
ved
a blow on the head from a polim which stunned h
and the report added:—" Ordered to be discharged by Mr.
Hall, the constable being enable to explain why he had need
the truncheon in such as indiscriminate and cowardly man-
ner." Now he considered the cowardly manner.' most
fully jug:died by the law. Mr. Justice Coleridge at the
assizes at Hertford, in reference to a riot, had explained to
the bread jury that a blow given by one cf the parties en.
gaged in unlawful acts must be considered as the blow
of the whole, and it did not appear that Mr. Hall
was acquainted with that interpretation of the law,
In the case at Hertford Mr. Justice Coleridge sentenced the
prisoner to six months' imprisonment and hard labour for
precisely the same offence—namely, that of assaulting a
policeman in the execution of his duty during a riot; whilst
Mr. Hall thought a fins of 20e. sufficient. He did not see
why a policeman's life was not to be protected as well as
that of other persons. (Hear, Theyhear.L performed their
duty with great forbearance and • doses, and conducted
themselves very well, and they ought to be protected. (Hear,
hear.) If, in the outset, more severe sentences had been
upon the rioters in the metropolis, order would have
passed
at once restored. The agricultural riots of 1829 were
the result of these sort of timid sentences in the first in-
stance. (Hear, hear.)
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that it was possible
expressions might be adopted incorrectly by papers
and he believed the passage complained of had not appeared
in all the newspapers. He was, however, not surprised at
the observations which the noble marquis bad made upon
the paragraph in question. He had been himself struck
with the singularity of the expressions attributed to a most
able and upright magistrate ; and he mutt do that magistrate
the justice to say that, beforo an inquiry could fan made on
the subject, he bad attended at the Home-office (seeing
the effect which such a report must necessarily have) and
totally denied the use of the expressions attributed to him,
stating that he had not made use of any language reflecting
on the police, and that he bad pasted sentence on all the of-
fenders who bail been brought before him for the late dis-
turbances, except the iodividu it referred to, and considering
theme was some doubt of his being a participator in the dis-
turbances, and also taking into cousicleratioa that he had not
altogether escaped punishment, he did rot think it necessary
to pass a sentence on him. Ho (the noble margins) had no
doubt that the person in question (with many others) had
been cured of his love of excitement in w itnessing a mob,
by the necessary interference of the pike. (Hear hear.)
In the metropolis, as well as in the north of England, the
constabulary force had exhibited the greatest promptitude,
firmness, and forbearance in the performance of the duty
which had been imposed on them, conduct which had been
duly appreciated by their fellow-citizens. (Hear.)
Lord STANLEY was glad to hear the statement which
had been made by the noble marquis, and to bear his
maretesti-
nan to the good conduct ef the police. There never was •
contemptible mob one with less purpose, and exhi-
biting greater cowardice.
Their lordships then adjourned at air o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—TIIURSDAY, MAncra 9.
The SPEAKER took the chair atBUSINES. o'clock.
PUBLIC
SECOND RFADINGS.—Quern's Pri.wa, Exemption of Small Tene-
ment, from Riding Bill.
THIRD READlNG.—Passengers' Bill.
COMMITTEE OF PRIVILEGES.
Lord HARRY VANE brought up the report of the Com-
mittee of Privileges, which was ordered to by printed.
CASE OF ANNETTE bIEYERS.
Lord NUGENT wished to know from the right hon.
baronet, the Secretary of State tot the Home Depart-
ment, whether government had received any further report
from the Chief Baron, respecting the case of that most unfortu-
nate and deluded person, Annette Meyers—Cob, oh)—and
whether the right hon. gentleman intended to recommend
the case to her Majesty's merciful consideration ?
Sir G. GREY said that he should best discharge his
public duty by declining to answer any questions on the
subject
ENGLISH ARTISANS IN FRANCE.
Mr. A. STAFFORD wished to ask the right hon. baronet
whether he hud received any official information respecting
the summary expulsion of large numbers of British artisans
and labourers from France, who were arriving in this country
jut now in great numbers and misery ? lie %lobed also to
ask whether government contemplated any measures of re-
taliation? (Oh, oh.)
Sir G. GREY said he would answer the last question first.
Government had not the slightest intention of adopting any
measures of retaliation. (Loud cheers.) On Monday last
be had received a letter from his noble friend, the Secretary
for Foreign Affairs, enclosing a statement from oar consul
at Havre to the effect that the French workmen in the rec-
tories at Rouen bad demanded the dismissal of all the Eng-
lish men and women emOoyed there. In consequence of
this conduct a considerable number bad been obliged to
leave Rouen so suddenly so to come away uithout their
wages, and in many instances without their clothes. Our
consul' went on board the steamboat in which they had come
down, and, finding them in a destitute condition, and acting
on directions given generally to our consuls abroad, and
somewhat extended recently in the ease of French ports, he
immediately made such provision as woo necessary fur their
present comfort, and sent them over to Portsmouth, where
, they arrived on Saturday night. Some had remained to
look after their goods and debts in Rouen. Immediately on
receiving this information, he (Sir 0. Grey) had written to
the mayor of Portsmouth, desiring him to make provision
for their arrival, and had received an answer from that gen-
tleman reporting that two vessels had arrived, the Brighton
and the Dieppe, having onboard 97 flax.workers, andstating
that he had taken from them an account of their names
and places of residence, and of the amounts of wages due
to them in France, as also of whatever goods they might
hive left behind. The mayor added that arrangements
would be made for conveying them to their homes. Of the
persons who had arrived, several were from Dundee and
Glasgow ; but the greater number were from Dublin and
Belfast. The arrangements bad been made with a proper
regard to economy, and the p irties had expressed themselves
grateful for the attentions they had received. Our consul
had applied to the commissary of Rouen for redress ; and,
in Paris, Lord Normanby had called on M. de Lsmartine, and
received an assurance from him on the pat of the govern-
ment, that the parties should receive the met liberal com-
pensation for their summary expulsion. (Cheers.) M. de
Lamartine added that he had sent down to the commissary
orders to prevent the recurrence of such outrages. (Cheers.)
Col. MUIR asked if government had received any intima.
tion of cases of similar treatment experienced by English
workmen in other parts of France?
Sir G. GREY—No such information had come under hie
official cognisance, but he believed at Granville and some
oth. r places English labourers employed on the railways
had been compelled to leave their employment.
Mr. LOCKE, in answer to Lord DUNC N, said that he
had heard that in the neighbourhood of Tours many Eng-
lishmen had been sent away who had been working on the
railroads.
IRISH POOR LAW ACT.—THE QUARTER-ACRE