The Express.
London, England, 1847-06-08 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—MONDAY, JOSE 7.
The LOAD CIiANCULLOSI took hie MC at 5 o'clock.
PUBLIC BUSINESS.
Irll'IT(ONB.—B Earl af•avan, hem then Ammonia the General
▪ N praying that hce hale maybe relieved
MrlotEatatfiofY dor, on bequest...a to them.
11hADWGO.— Debtor mulereMtor; BegemmatatDo Perm
&01110;11; Lana* Asylums Orel= 1) ; Turnpike Ronde (Ireland)
COMMIT MR.—Poor Removal ;England and Seotlandl Bill.
REFORM—L=4:c Asylums; Tones 1 aprowment Clauses;
BiTHlh.
IRD READINOIL—Drainage of lands; Naval Prisms; Billa
NOTICES OP SIOTION.—En Fireariu.tme, cm
numbs nest, to move an instruction to the committee cm emMra..
Oa me eolonnstan, that the etabied of public works In Delad be
Sim /sea oonelalsrsnos by t.ta menathlem
!MR IN IRELAND.—POSTPONEMENT OF THE
ASSIZES.
Lard BROUGHAM inquired whether it were true, as
=lthat day, that the Irish judges intended to postpone
e alms= for two or three month., in consequence
et fa shwa grated by infectious fever, forgetting that the
Om" would errata in the gads during that perioa ?
The WED CHANCELLOR gave a short answer, which
was se lidletinetly heard as to be wholly unintelligible in the

Paerf.
Lord CAMPBELL observed, that at the time when the
cholera raged in Englend, such a course as that mentioned
had never been thought 01. Judges, counsel, and witnesses,
all faced the danger. ear, hear.)
AFFAIRS OF PORTUGAL.
Lord BROUGHAM said that, as the papers on this sub-
ject had not yet been presented, he should postpone any
observations which ho might possibly have to make until
Tuesday in the ensuing week.
The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH desired to call the at-
tention of the noble marquis (the Marquis of Lansdowne) to
a rep yt he had that day seen in the French newspapers, re-
specting a despatch said to have been sent to the Prince de
Joinville, directing him to proceed with his squadron to
Lisbon. He wished to know whether the co-operation of
the Prince de Joinville would take place, and further,
whether, according to the usual practice where combined
forces belonging to different nations acted together, the senior
officer would take the command of the whole squadron; that
is whether the Prince de Joinville would have the cmimand
of the combined fleet?
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE mid he only knew that
certain French ships had been sent to the Portuguese coast ;
he was not aware who was the commander.
POOR REMOVAL (ENGLAND & SCOTLAND) BILL.
Lord CAMPBELL moved that the house should go into
committee en this bill.
Lord BROUGHAM seconded the motion.
The Earl of WICKLOWmid that thi 4 was themoat unjust,
unemmlitational,and iniquitous bill ever brought forward since
he had boa in parliament. He ventured to say that the
noble end learned lard who had seconded the motion for the
committee had never read either this hill or the act which it
was designed ee asend. (Laughter.) The bill was sup-
ported on the ground that 236,000 Irish paupers had arrived
in Liverpool. He contended that the advantages which
Liverpool had derived from the high prices of food much
more than counterbalanced the evils to which it was sub-
jected; yet the bill had originated solely in the clamour
raised by the inhabitants of that town. It was said that the
existing law was inoperative. It could only have been in-
operative because the magistrates of Liverpool had neglected
to perform their duty ; no precautionary measures had been
taken, on account of the expense which such me see
would have involved.
Lord BEAVMONT maid he had heard nothing from his
noble friend to justify the strong language with which he
had set out. The Irish paupers m England did, in fact,
claim and receive relief at the present time, and some new
remedy for such a state of things appeared absolutely neces-
sary. Under the bill, the pauper had the fullest power of
objecting to his removal.
The motion was then agreed to, and the bill passed
through committee, and was ordered to be reported.

THE GAUGE COMMITTEE.
The Duke of RICHMOND wished to mention to their
lordships, with reference to the committee appointed last
Friday upon oertain railway petitions, that the Earl of
Plkdmesbury, after the appointment of that committee, had
dbamd that he happened to be a holder of a few shares in 300
d railways indirectly interested. Immediately on
addss the discovery, the noble lord had desired that hi.
111111141 t be removed from the committee, sad
Illieb
Lord Irdhurst and himself (the Dake of Richmond)
having setthat day, had decided, in consequence, to ream-
mend to their lordships that the name of the Earl of Shef-
field be substituted for that of the Earl of Malinesbury.
He moved their lordships accordingly.
The motion was, as we understood, agreed to.

THE EDUCATION QUESTION.

The Bishop of EXETER, pursuant to notice, role to ask
her majesty's government certain questions upon this subject.
Under ordinary circumstances he should not feel himself at
liberty to put any questions to a member of the administra-
tes as to what had passed between a particular deputation
and say individual meter of her majesty's government ;
but in the premed ingrate he thought he should be excused,
inasmuch as the facts were stated to have been related in
another place, and therefore it became desirable that they
should be equally within the cognisance of their lordships
Trusting, therefore, that he should not Le thought intrusive,
he begged to snake the following inquiries—whether any
ealtatesteller had pared with the AVesleyan body upon
eh molds= sad whether any promise bad been made to that
body of alterations to be made in the spirit or letter of the
minutes of council ? Also, in the event of such a communi-
sation having passed, whether any record existed of the par-
titulars of the same ?
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE (who spoke with his
back to the gallery, and was moot imperfectly heard) was
ssdentood to admit that, under the circumstances, there
see nothing in the questions which would be considered in-
tuitive. It was quite true that soon after the minutes of
,fond] were laid upon their lordships table, communica-
tor were sought with the members of the administration,
end informatics was looked fir upon a variety of different
psi= The bigniries he referred to emanated from parties
of the gamiest respectability representing bodies of
Alias= pennesions. The Wesleyan, to whom the right rev.
prelate had alluded, were among the first to apply for infor-
mable. Griot anxiety was expressed on behalf of that body
to he Mimed se to certain points in which they considered
ties sedise passliarly interested, and he believed he might
ssy dud thaem=Mioes which were given thereupon proved
ry. A record certainly
.did exist of what
Milbsakripenauraap. end ultimately
t it wou
That ld come
would
resrotwlarthecaturtre
parport of the onuenaicatioo was that there would be no
alteration is the "irk air of the minutes recently or pre-
viously adopted by the eematittee of council. Great anxiety
was empreowl with 111117011.0* to one or two peculiar points
upon wig& he (Me Marquis of Lansdowne) thought the
apprehends= =the Wesleyan were much exaggerated, but
ha reopen to sil Mile= es
_he said before, he believed the
laphastissa veto tered. satisfactory. He (the Marquis
of Imenimene) =mkt have no objection, if it were
s.eonsiteulL=n to state what were the points
=deli on was evinced by this body. (" Hear,
Mar," AIM Bishop of Exeter.) He did not know that
be had the ppm in his pocket, but ho remembered that
nee elthese_pdats was, whether schoolmasters would be
✓iew= he any Aloe in the church, or to perform any
eteashirste eteistercel duties ? To this it was replied that
heimassit as the inspectors (who were clergymen) were in-
flamed, upea =King office, that they would not be permitted
to whim =deal duties whilst they held brpectonhips, so
nod= would he prohibited from performing such duties
during the =Mod they might hold their masterships.
The Bishop of EXETER said that, having understood
from the noble i_sde th= ao }rmei. exercising eoclenas-
Seal functions west be lifeekiW to the office of school-
master, he wished to know whether the same ride was to
apply to all deneedurious ?
The
Marquis LANSDOWNE =id that the exclusion,
so far as it was one, would spOp to the members of all other
denominations, as well auto these who exercised ecclesiastical
functions in the established dwelt. . . .

Lord STANLEY said these was one point with respect
to which he was not chair. He did not know from the
noble marquis's iftessiesd, whether, in schools con-
nected with the Nations& Ns/My, the fact of a person's
being in deacon's en** though without any special
cure, and having no snississlisel duties, properly speak-
ing w elighsoge, Weald IMOD SS a disqualification to
his balky the dike of sandemmeter. If that was
the Weak* nething snails min uniwtunate, as nothing
was mese Ray to sass the elkaraskse of the schoolmaster
dna the halifteg cot te the Wham orders in the church the
=of menbishig the Ake of schools*** with the
dry held in the aired. He could as bet think,
orb, ll* sue of the peat wants of the church of inland at
the prow* time was wisely the want of that elan of in-
takes elmgy who wend be mined in these slimly He
set man * say that doting tie time of perisrasinfc the
intim • whaelowest anal else when the duties of
leininma elan awn* bad believed that the
polielen to the bratidiw the church to bold the
dies of easseineeler, would. at the same time, benefit the
rnhosissasker and that aim of clergymen ; nor could he
see say seam why the Amato* should object to an ar-
rangers* which would only be an Incidental and subsi-
diary basal to the Chareh sfWwd.
The Mortals of LANSDOWNE said that the objection of
the dimes** was that any part of the money which was
contributed by the whole stale, and by persons of all deno-
minations, for the purposes solely of education, should
be given to the ministers of any particular religion, and it
would be inesasinent with the object of the grant that it
should be se enpleyed. It was always understood that the
schatimester vote apply himself to the care of the school,
and te walks else. He did not, however, mean to say that
the wimmalse of the privy council were precluded from eon-
titi** appliesson eta person in deacon's orders, who
We all thought of devoting himself to the church
as a preheat*
The Hisisep of EXETER said that it was clear, from the
18th question in the minutes of the privy council of 1839,
when the Idle marquis held the same office which he now
holds, that the sehoobnaster was not precluded from fol-
lowing sereAher ossapation.
The Nara of LANSDOWNE said what he meant to
convey was, that the person holding the office of school-
master was not to follow any other profession, or occupation
equivalent to a profession, which was likely to distract his
attention from his duties as a schoolmaster.
REPRESENTATIVE PEERS (SCOTLAND) BILL.
The Earl of EGLINTON, in moving the second reading
of this bill, said it was absolutely necessary to interfere in
some way to put a stop to the misrepresentations, fraud, and
even forgery which existed under the present system. The
roll of peers at the time of the union with Scotland, was the
one et present in use at the election of peen; but in the 140
years which had elapsed since that period, many peerages
had become dormant, and many new claims had been pre-

fared. He proposed by his bill that every peer-
age of which no vote was recorded diuriag the
present century, should be expunged from the roll,
by which he did not mean to interfere with the claims which
any person might prefer to a peerage, but to prevent the
name from being called over from the roll. He also proposed
that in case of a peer protesting against a Tote, the protest
should be sent to this house with the proceedings at the elec-
tion, for adjudication ; and if the vote was found to be in-
valid, that the peerage on which it was tendered should not
be called over at any future election. These were the prin-
cipal provisions of the bill, and he thought it much better to
proceed by legislative enactment than by resolution.
Lord CAMPBELL admitted the aeoessity of providing a
remedy for the abuses of the present system, but considered
it would be better to proceed rather by way of resolution, to
be directed to the Lord Clerk Registrar of Scotland, than by
legislative enactment. He thought it was mere expedient
to proceed by a resolution of the house than by act of parlia-
ment.
Lord REDESDALE thought the generality of the sum-
mons could only be limited by act of parliament All that
the bill proposed to do was to prevent peers from voting
until they had proved themselves qualified to do so to
the satisfaction of that house. He did not see that any diffi-
culty could arise, and therefore he hoped their lordships
would consent to the bill.
The Earl of ROSEBERY thought an act of the legis-
lature would be preferable to a resolution.
The Duke of RICHMOND was satisfied that the only
safe and efficient way of regulating these elections was by
set of parliament.
The bill was then read a second time ; to be committed

to-morrow.
PUNISHMENT OF VAGRANTS, dce. (IRELAND)
BILL.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE stated that he should
move the second reading of this bill on Thursday.
Their lordships theu adjourned at a quarter before eight.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—MoN DAT, JUNE 7.
The SPEAnaI took the chair at 4 o'clock.
PRIVATE Kamm
SECOND READINGS.—Hereet (irergemat) Estate ; Warwick
County Primo, bills.
REPORTS.—Ashtos Gas; Blrmighsee end Wird hinelise Rail-
way (arrialks of line, Ma.); RboOnerms. Wogeadissmoloa,. end
Dolby Railway (Smartt*, sad Wed lemsoldh); Meter end
Halftime ladlway at Clesten sal allsoellen Of both) ,
Emirs flails Myna Sal ley Warm, sea
Railway, sag sal Denim Itilliway sme);
berg! sod Northern Lbw (Imporeineet et the terry between
=2:im Crsir seat Rn meth store at the River Day); ;
1414.. b. awl Grimlen berg Math *teen** BINT,
and Ralkeen 11. reer's and Newel Ilsetwor
Breed= mg 18ve1Ordos (Newport Rineweidadsnier ji
Kilsiseneek Tear ass llmposemena ; Cleibliken
Penmen* mid lassert lasi mei TIM* LW.
ken 401.11. j Immlein.rd;
Leeds sell Wog le
Ise.); Lade and Meth =gisendl Palo* lark
ke.); Limped Oman Om; Lyme art Illy owl
and Lynn Eel Denteim Rellways ; Nerlli=4
(branch has Nandi * with aliened Wreath treisharn);
Reading, Clandlied, aft ; glidtport limed* Tolb
and Bridges ; Weimitnmplea (Imenl ; Tat sled New.
castle Railway Preermselk Dee ;
_Trek and New-
castle Railway (Pw Tyne Deckle..
alealbesoiral, 101.
THIRD READINGS.—Rad Wein RoalreViih.Olereal
Paisley, and Greenock Beltway (InenklellisOiNdesissi y
dirermon of aunt ; seßings sot Cowl ore to
the London end Nor* Were sm) ttlesela )illdland
ionctioa Railway Om* to
PUBLIC
Nr. Hawn Imes penal reellthein of London,
against the Illiglieellee NIL
SECOND RZADINGR—IIethe and Weelaseses; DNB** Per-
sons. Ireland (No. 2),
COMMITTEE.—PoIIee arms; liselm Service: IdH Har-
bour and Docks ; Primes Remevel
REPORTB.-111gbway Mee Neweemeltmg Goverment; Stage
°trews. he., Dance; Rep MU
THIRD READINGIL—TeneIks Alb Ontlemence; Dm* Police
(*Wand) ; Jove** Celbein ; End Mow laysitamet (biased),
OWL
RETURNS ORDOIRD,-Kiwi et Si Waal•• of 1848,
regulating the preireallee at age of the maw daffy after
the expiration of liethen snierig pease.—Oa die melba* Or R.
I Frnotuos, retorted asisidalyaa Needle In kink Bathe bail
years 1148 sod ISO ; dike gassag halm lesonit Mebane:
' sad eft e. of reef spittle aileridtsr hem sammiglimis
Inked Redo aim • ebn tithe neither at datestkies at
fir MINI irilla4 at of the number et paver con-,
=strerth hr
be allimmriest the laws for the sapped= of
iWdtYrim am
NOINill Off ISCITION.—Csaa Masa Dawsos.—Nr. lataaao,
on menden loom Into eoemnitise *lmply, to wee tar Simmers
easmiltial of to plo nk
re=INAND LIVISATIMIN LAWIL—Lai 3. Run= illaKllTOetti.
day) te seem the emelimeemse of the Ilimiendon Action these met • ts
for a Imbed parks..
WARWICK COUNTY PRISON.
Oa the motion of Sir C. DoVOLAI, this bill was read a
sowed time. On the motion that the bill be committed,
Mr. DUODALB opposed the further progress of the bill,
and moved, as an amendment, that it be committed that day
three months.
After a discussion, during which Messrs. Williams,
Spooner, and Newdegate opposed, and Lord Brooke, Mr.
Adderly, and Sir C. Douglas, supported the bill, the house
divided—
For the poatponemeat of the committee 6O
Against it
The bill was consequently lost.
MILITARY ACADEMY, WOOLWICH.
In reply to a question from Col. Rottistorr,
Sir G. GREY said, that the report of the commissioners
appointed to inquire into the state of this school, had only
been in his hands three days. That report was under consi-
deration and would be shortly produftd.
NORFOLK ISLAND.

In answer to ariTnWirif;om Vieoount Manotr,
Mr. HAWES said, the present Lieut.-Governor of Van
Diemen's Land, when he left this country, took with him
discretionary powers to break up the establishment of Nor-
folk Island if he should think fit. As no report had yet
been received from the governor, he (Mr. Hawes) could not
say what course had been adopted : if, however, the estab-
lishment were broken up, care would be taken against the
public buildings in the island going to ruin.
BRITISH INTERVENTION IN PORTUGAL.
. .

Lord G. BENTINCK urged on Mr. Hume the propriety
of further postponing his motion on this subject from Thurs-
day till Monday next, the papers on the subject not having
yet been delivered, and as there would not be sufficient time
to consider them by Thursday.
Mr. HUME—As Thursday bad been fixed by common
consent for the discussion, and as he could not supppoosea that
the papers would require more than 48 hours' 000ddoration,
,he must decline to secede to the noble lord's request. Be-
sides, he had other engagements for Monday.
Sir R. PEEL inquired whether the papers would be
delivered that evening ?
Lord J. RUSSELL said that they would be printed that
evening, but not in sufficient quantity for delivering until
to-morrow (this day).
Lord G. BENTINCK wished to put a question to the
noble lord respecting the British squadron on the shores of
Portugal. The practice, he believed, had been, in the can
of joint operations, both in the military and naval service,
that the superior officer should command the whale. He
therefore wished to aik whether, in the event of any joint
operations between this country, Spain, and France, against
the naval force of Portugal, his Royal Highness the Prince
de Joinville, as Lord High Admiral of France, and conse-
quently the superior officer, would have the command of
those operations ? (Laughter.)
Lori J. RUSSELL said that no arrangement had been
made for putting the forces of the different nations under the
command of any single officer. On the contrary, orders had
been given to Sir W. Braker, not to take the command of either
the Spanish or French force, although there was no doubt
that they would listen to any opinion he should offer.
Respecting the Prince de Joinville, it was unnecessary for
him to make any remark, as he had no reason for supposing
his royal highness intended to proceed to the coast of Por-
tugal. (A laugh.)
HOLYHEAD HARBOUR BILL.

Mr. WARD moved the nomination of the select commit-
tee on this bill—via., Mr. W. 0. Stanley, Viscount Sendon,
Colonel Pennant, Earl Grosvenor, Mr. Hamilton (Dublin
county), Mr. Goulburn, Admiral Bowles, Viscount Morpeth,
Mr. Parker, and Mr. Ward, with five other members, to be
chosen by the committee of selection.
Mr. W. WILLIAMS objected to the nomination of this
committee until the report of the commission which had
already been appointed, and the evidence on which that re-
port was founded, should be in the hands of members. The
expense of this work, es estimated by the government engi-
neer was 000,0001., but he undentoodshat Sir J. Rennie and
other competent , authorities had put it down at nearly
2,000,0001., and that even then it would be altogether ineffi-
cient as a harbour of refuge. He moved that the debate be
adjourned for a fortnight.
Mr. WARD did not wish the committee to proceed with
their inquiry until the report of the commission was in their
hands; he believed that report would be ready by Thursday,
and he was most anxious that then no time should be lost in
deciding whether or not the arrangements which had been
entered into by the previous government on this subject
should be carried eut, and that the bill should not be lost
by delay.
Lord SANDON thought the proceedings of the committee
should not commence until the report was in their hands,
but that being understood, he had no objection to the naming
of the committee at once.

Mr. HUME took the same view as Mr. Williams, and
spoke in favour of postponing the motion.
Mr. W. COLLETT referred to the arrangements which
had been made by the late government and the Chester and
Holyhead Railway Company for the purpose of making
Holyhead a harbour of refuge, and to the large sums voted
by parliament, and subscribed by the company respectively for
carrying out those arrangements, and deprecated any delay
which might prejudice the passing of the bill during the pre-
sent session.

--- ---
Capt. FITZROY said a few words which were not heard,
and

Mr. BANKES observed that the question was not merely
one of expense, but whether Holyhead was the best place
for a harbour of refuge that could be found on that coast.
He thought the opposition was a very reasonable one.
Sir H. PEEL thought no question had been mere dis-
tinctly settled than that—whether Holyhead was entitled
to a preference over any neighbouring port, so a harbour
for facilitating the intercourse between Great Britain and
Ireland. These commissions (he believed), all of tliem com-
posed of eminent and disinterested men, had reported in
favour of Holyhead, and upon grounds which appeared to
him decisive. ( Hear.)
Mr. 0. GORE was in favour of delay, and expressed a
doubt whether, in consequence of the insufficient anchor-
age, Holyhead could ever be made effective so a harbour of
refuge.
In answer to a question front Lord SANDON,
Mr. WARD said the commissioner, had been directed to
remain in town, in order to give evidence before the com-
mittee. if required.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE objected not only to the nomina-
tion of the committee, but to the manner in which it we,

proposed to be constitated. Why was not the house to ap-
point the whole fifteen members warily if they were lOW
patent to appoint the ten, they were competent to appoint
the who& ember. Where two millions of money were in-
edged the Mom ought to be Willed that it was upon pub-
Be reamirsisse the nsisimidadat wesmade. He hoped
theism. Ipollemegns 101 Illemetery te the Admiralty would
duryils =Sim mill bad sa opportur.iry of nading
Crividieltme el the
Mr. WARD esidlelit named the committee under the
direction of the gumshoe, to whom he appealed.
The SPEAKER Paid that the motion was in strict con-
formity with precedent. The rule was, in the cage of bills
partly private and partly public, that the committee should
be composed of semi gentlemen connected with different
public departments, some having a local interest and the re-
mainder to be chow" by the Committee of Selection under
the ordinary rule.
After some further discuesion, in which Lords Curs and
SAINDON concurred in the opinion that the question ought to
be postponed until the report was in the hands of members,
The motion was put and agreed to, as was also a motion
empowering the Committee of Selection to appoint five addi-
tional members.
THE PRISONS BILL.

_
Sir F. KELLY inquired whether the government scheme
was to substitute some specific period of imprisonment, com-
pulsory labour and exile, which would have reference to the
sentence of transportation, and be guided accordingly ?
Sir G. GREY said he bad distinctly stated the other
evening that the period of imprisonment and hard labour
which was to precede the vet of deportation would not be a
definite period ; but that a maximum and minimum period,
having reference to the term of transportation, would be
fixed, which, however, it would be in the power of the con-
vict to shorten by good conduct.
IRISH ASSIZES AND ELECTIONS.

Mr. LABOL CHERE (in reply to Mr. Twine), said that
as yet the Irish judges had not come to any fine' decision
respecting the postponement of the mires. With respect to
the shortening of the duration of elections, the s-.bject had
received the consideration of the government, who were of
opinion that, as regarded counties, there would be eonsidera-
ble difficulty in limiting the polling to one day, as a greater
number of polling places should be appointed, and that
could not be done without making important alterations in
the whole electoral system of counties. He regretted that,
owing to the pressure of Irish business, it wee not in the
power of the government to introduce a measure this session
for the reconstruction of that system ; but the case of
boroughs being widely different, he hoped shortly to lay on
the table a bill for limiting the polling in boroughs to
one day.
REGISTERING OF BIRTHS, &c. (SCOTLAND) BILL
The LORD ADVOCATE moved the order of the day for
going into committee on this bill.
THE LATE 'DEBATE ON COLONIZATION.
The Earl of LINCOLN wished to snake an explanation
personal to himself, arising out of the motion he brought
forward on Tuesday last, with reference to Irish Colonisation.
The noble lord at the head of the government had intimated
i that there was reason to suppree, from whet had been stated
I by a deputation which waited on him upon this subject, that
he (Lord Lincoln) intended to bring forward a motion
founded on Mr. Godley's plan. He begged pardon, he was
mistaken ; it was not the noble lord, but the hen. gentleman,
the Under-Secretary for the Colonies, who had made that
statement. The hon. ;endemism had not put the statement
in a form to which he could then reply ; but since then there
had been a distinct intimation elsewhere, that it was
stated by that deputation, that they were authorised
to say, that if they were not successful in that in-
terview, he would propose Mr. Godley's plan. To that he
wished to give an explicit denial. He had stated to Mr.
Godley and the other members of that deputation, that he
did not intend to bring that plan before the house, and he
stated to them the form in which be should make his motion
from which he had never varied. It was also due to Mr.
Godley that some explanation should be made, because the
, charge implied the commission of a positive falsehood on his
part, and that of the deputation. (The noble lord then read
a letter from Mr. Godley, which contained a poeitive denial
of his having ever made any such statement). He would
call on the hon. member for Devonshire, if he was present,
to confirm what he had now stated, and perhaps the hon.
member for Kerry would corroborate it.
Mr. 81..1. O'CONNELL said, that when the deputation
went to the Colonial-office they wished to lay two subjects
before the government—one was the plan of Mr. Godley, and
the other that an inquiry should be granted similar to that
proposed by the noble lord. If the government declined to
grant an inquiry, Mr. Galley said he was authorised to state
that the noble lord would bring forward a motion on the
subject
Lord J. RUSSELL said the noble lord was mistaken in
supposing that he had made a statement that he understood
the noble lord would bring forward Mr. Godley's plan.
That statement was made by his hon. friend the under-
secretary for the agonies, and he, on being corrected by the
noble lord, admitted that the noble lord must be more cor-
rect than be was. What had been stated by the hon. member
for Kerry was in conformity with whathad occurred. The de-
putation broogbt forward two subjects—one was Mr. Gedley's
plan, and the other was the granting of a commission to in-
quire into the subject of colonisation. It did net appear to
him that Mr.Godley's plan was one which should be adopted
by the government. It was then urged on him to grout a
commission of inquiry, when he stated it want their inten-
tion to grant it. He ur,derstood Mr. Godley to say that the
subject would be brought before the house by Lord Lincoln.
He was left in doubt whether the general subject of coloni-
sation or a motion for a commission would be brought for-
ward by the noble lord ; but he never knew that Mr. Godley's
plan was to be made the question. He was not left long in
doubt, for the noble lord gave notice of his motion. He
never thought the noble lord intended to bring forward Mr.
Godley's plan, but to make his motion on the subject without
pledging himself to that or any other plan.
THE CASE OF SIR EARDLEY WILMOT.
Mr. SPOONER begged the indulgence of the house while
he made a statement of a case which had excited great inte-
rest out of the house, and be hoped, when he brought for-
ward the facts relating to it, would excite interest in the
house. It was not his intention to make any attack on any
official connected with the case; kis only wish RIO to clear
the character of an honourable man, who had represented
North Warwickshire for years with credit to himself and ad-
vantage to the county; who had been twenty years chairman
of the quarter sessions, and rendered there great public ser-
vice, and met with the support and approbation of the magis-
trates. He deeply regretted that he was deprived of the
consolation to be derived from an acquittal of these charges,
but it would be at least a consolation to a mourning widow
and afflicted family, if the result of his statement
should be to convince the house that those charges
were unfounded. Great interest had been excited
by the come, and the universal question was : What are the
charges ? The dispatch in which they were made was so
vague and undefined that it merely gave rise to impressions
and surmises, but the charge itself was never communicated
even to Sir E. Wilmot himself. He had never known what
it wee, and who were the persons who had uttered this
calumny against him behind his back. The charge had
been oorantunieated to his family, and was to the effect,
" that he had been living in scarcely concealed concubinage
with certain women." Three gentlemen came to this country
front Van Diemen's Land, and made certain communications
to the Colonial Office. Two of them had not placed any
restriction on the publication of their names, but the other
did, and he was not at liberty to allude to it. He was not
however, permitted to mention the names of the
other two, and perhaps they were rightly withheld.
Having made these charges Mr. Gladstone sent a public
dispatch to Sir E. Wilmot which did not allude to those
charges. With that he (Yr. Spooner) had nothing to do,
nor did the Wally of Sir E. Wilmot wish to question any
decision of liso presensmat with regard to his public con-
duct. (The ham. sandman then read the private despatch
of Mr. 131aladeste, doled Aril 30, 1846, which stated that
rumours had rendsed him as to Sir E. Wilmot's private
conduct widish beim& him to recall him, and stating his
inability to rsommand him for any office under the crown
until they were eisaredipin) It was to be observed that
the charges wire not ed ; it only stated that certain
rumours had noshed from a variety of quarters; but
the quarters wire mot mentioned, and there was nothing to
guide Sir B. Wilmot in the vindication of his character,
but he was Ise le deal with vague and uncertain charges
coming from unknown quarters, and which were made the,
foundation of his deprivation of any future employment in
the public service. Before he went further he would say, in
justice to the late Secretary for the Colonies, that he had
been placed in most painful circumstances. He knew the
quarter from which his information came, and the right hon.
gentleman could not, consistently with his duty, do other-
wise than believe and act on it ; and the blame chiefly lay
with the individual who had given the information, who
should not have ventured to assail the character of a gentle.
' man holding the high position of Sir E. Wilmot, unless he
was prepared to give up his authority, and who, while he
compelled the Secretary for the Colonies to act, 'should have
afforded him the means of showing the grounds by which he
awasnd infltuutenoed.h.
alha,id beenh aid that
hthoomdeesp:tedh
jleatiapried-
vats, and that Sir E. Wilmot alone bad made it public,
his character to the government. Had he not re-
mained he would have given a verdict of guilty against
himself, and he therefore appealed to those who were eye-
witnesses of his conduct, and who had it in their power to
confirm) or deny the charges. He had a precedent for this
course, for when charges were made against Sir G. Arthur
he pursued the same course—he laid them before the execn-
L tive council. While the matter was under discussion by the
' home government, a paragraph appeared in the Natoli and
i Military Gazette, in which the charpes were in substance
. repeated. Upon this, the chief justice of Van Diemen's
' land, unasked by Sir E. Wilmot, wrote to the editor a letter,
• in which he gave an unqualified denial to the charges.
[The hon. gentleman here read the letter, which was dated
October 11, 1846, and which stated in effect that the para-
graph which stated, that in consequencerof the conduct of
' Sr E. Wilmot, no persona entered the Government-house
1 except on business, and that no ladies could, was distinctly
and notoriously false ; and that all those who signed
it, who had families, constantly visited there.] It was
• signed by the Chief Justice, the Colonial Secretary, the Cola
louial Auditor, the Attorney and Solicitor-General, tke
' Master of the Supreme Court, and other public functionaries.
[ But this was not the strongest point of Sir E. Wilmot's jus-
. titication. It was contained in Sir E. Wilmot's reply to Mr.
Gladstone's despatch. [The hon. gentleman then mad the
letter, which was dated 13th October, 1845, and which was
to the effect, that if anything could lessen the pain he (Sir
E. Wilmot) felt at the public despatch, it was the letter
which accompanied it; for being wholly blameless in his
r private character, he felt confident that justice would be
done him for the double lose of character and office. After
stating that they were false, he proceeded to say that he
could not grapple with such vague charges ; and the only
answer he could give to general accusations was, a general
denial—he had no knowledge of his accusers, or what were
their accusations, and he (-lewdly requested there might be a
specification of the dates, places, persons, and circumstances