The Express.
London, England, 1847-03-26 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—TfiIISDAY, MARCH 25.
The LORD Cwanent.LOß took his seat at tire e'en:o.
PUBLIC BUSINESS.
PErrrnes.—By Lord Bel:0111,I, bun vestry c
00l inhabitants of
Christchurch, 8/Rabid; complamtret a tiara.. moioned by the
149.9 Or bosh lowan, and in favour of an efficient poor-law for
Ireland ; from Medford, against the law of ornament. Leal 1
drama from the Isle Of 'Menet anion, for rating the °memo in-
steed of 'ocotiolers of mall tenement.. to the ester of the pace.
COMMITTEES.—Markets and Vora Das Works; Waer works;
(bminiaioners ; Chases
1111R1) READING —Mantas a Land Bill. 1
RE TURNS OiWERED.—On the motion of Lord Sr simmv, care-
Wombat, bctireen the Calamalothee and the Governor of Van Die-
men). Lim% 'apeman the pecsonal conduct of S.c Kann y
On tLell3oiWllef Lord lileLe,e,ol, a copy of Coptale Wyone's report ,
remretine the rob.l WWI, in CI lee.
NOTICE OF MOTION.—Agar Scaviez fliu.—The Mamas of
Tommanotaar as Monday neat, to ask wee:User the Army '
Bill bad woraid the sanction of die Coalliliatier-In-Chief, and also.
thee it bad °damned at his recouintentLati .n, or at Mat of any burnt
of officers ; and whether any warrant arena to that of 'dui wnuld
be demo' es to the pensions of non-comm.s.ionad One, and ecereers.
CHARGES AGAINST SIR EAEDLEY WILMOT.
L red STANLEY, in moving for the cerrespondence be-
tween the colonial-office and the governor of Van D:enien's
Land, as to the personal conduct of Sir E. Wilmot, observed
that though Lie motion win somewhat unusual, yet as he '
understood no °ejection wood be made to it by the govern-
meat, it wool.: be only necesory for him to state very chortly
the nature of the motion and the grounds on venei he
br. ught it forward. Ile made this niolioa not on hie own
accord but to !ilia the earnest wish or: a gentlem at lately in
the service of the government, who souiplainrd that while
absent on that unite, in a colony 16,000 milee diatarot teem
this country, he had been made the victim of accusation
and apertion on ills private character, which, he odd, he
could prove to be untouuded ant calumnious. Ha (Lord
Stanley), would not then enter into the question of the pub-
lic conduct of Si: E. Wilmot, as governor of the colony, for
that wa.aquestion alto:tether beside the present motion, het
merely obarve, that tit • strictest morality in the priva.e
conduct of the goneruor of such a colony as Van Diemen'.
Land was of the moot essential importance. (Hear.) lie
did not deny that, in lii-, when he (Lied Stanley) held the
office of eolouial Secreterv, many reports came to his heeds
imputing immorality and improper conduct to Sir E. Wilmot,
and stating that the conduct at the gevenaatent-house was
of the most mantling and indecent description; but these re-
port. were always waned to the merest allegations, unac-
compenied by particulars, nr any thing like c rrobonitive
statements. In the year lels, in the Nora:and
Gozetle of this country, in as article which perported to be
a letter from Melbourne, in _Australia, the impuratMo against
Sir E. Wilmot wag Br t put forward, and in that article it
was asserted that it was notorious that such was the s .andal•
ous misconduct of the governm:nt-house of Van Diemen's
Land, that no female of decent society could go there. That
statement, which ke did net me, and which, there•
fore, did not attrect his attention, Teethed the
colony in Anti), and was at once met by a decleration, on the
past of all the principal persons there, that that which hod
been stated in England as a r.oturioua foes, was in Van
Diemen's Land believed to be a notorious falsehood. This
counter-statement was cent from the colony in April 1511,
and woo received in this country in the October following.
When this refutation was sent, his right hen. friend (Mr.
Gleilstone) who suceeeded him (Lord Stanley) in the office
of Colonial Secretary, having head those rumours, and
having upon other grounds determined upon removing Sir
E. Wilmot from his office, thought it his duty to address to
him a despatch, merkesi secret, in which he informed Sir E.
Wilmot that • uch rumours of improper conduct had reached
him as Secretary cf S-ite, and that if they were not satis-
factorily- refuted, it would he imp itelele f,r him to advise
her Majesty to employ Sir E. Wilmot again in any
capacity. On the 24th of September Sir E. Wilmot re-
ceived the tint intimation of tie recall, and ie a few days
afterwards, the temperer, administrator who was to suc-
ceed him arrived at Van Diemcn's Land. On the
sth of October this effect despatch reached him,
to which he immed*.ately replied, stating that he was pre-
pared to give the meet peremptory and absolute contradic-
tion to the rumours is question, which he said were entirely
without foundation, and he added that ho was determined to
remain on the spot in order that his conduct might be sub-
ected to the strictest Mee stiention. On the 11401 C day he
laid this secret despatch before the I violative council, inti-
mating his earliest wish that hie conduct, during the period
he had been in the colony, should receive the most rigid and
suite inquiry. The council stated that they thought the best
mode of oinking such an inquiry would be by a committee
of their own hotly, aided bv the chief justice, the com-
mander of the forces, the archileason, atd another reverend
gentleman, the clergyman of one of the principal churches
in the colony. The archdeacon refused to act, but the others
conuuted. ; und by. the gentleman who succeeded Sir E.
Wilmot in the adounistretion of the affairs of Van Diemen's
Land, the matter was referred to the committee so composed.
This committee reported that no such inquiry as that pro-
pmed was practicable, inasmuch as there were no direct charges
brought —thut nothing had been alleged against Sir E. Wilmot
that wee capable of being euherantiated, and that, cense.
quently, there was netting for the committee to inquire
into. They suggested that there was only one mode which,
under such circumstances, could be adopted. That war, to
invite all who had charges to prefer against Sir E. Wilmot
to come forwent and substantiete them; but that, though
Sir E.Wilmet was perfectly willing to sebmit to such a mode
of investigation, they considered this coulee would be open to
many very grave objections, and would be establishine a very
dangerous precedent, and that, were it persevered in, state-
meets might be mode in the course of the inquiry, not
against Sir E. Wilmnt only, hut against third parties, whose
names had not bets brought forward, end who might
be thereby injure.), though such statements might not
be substantirceiL On these grounds they reported that
in their opinion it was not expedient to enter into such
an inquiry, but while they were of opinion that the investi-
gation proposed was for these ressons impr.cticable, they
considered is due to S r E. Wilmot to certify, that so far as
their oboe, vetion of Iris conduct had gone during a private
and official intercourse of three years, nothing had transpired
to justify the allegation that he had been guilty of any vio-
lation of the deffecies of private life. The report was signed
by the parties he had already referred to as forming the
committee, by the chief officer of police, and by the Rev. Mr.
Minnes, the minister of Se Andrew's church, Hobart Town.
The principal inhabitants of Hobart Town. though many of
them differed from Sir E. Wilmot as to his general policy,
had thought it their duty, at a meeting held for the purpose,
to give the mast uuquaiified contradiction to the reports
against the private conduct of that gentleman. These state-
ments' had been forwarded to the colonial office, and he
had the authority of his right honourable friend, the
late Secretary of State, for stating that he had
no objection to their production, nor to the produc-
tion of a letter, which on the receipt of those statements he
bad felt it his duty (though no longer in ollice) to address to
Sir E. Wilmot; and in a case like this, however un-
usual the course, when the conduct of a pnblic officer was
assailed by rumours which were not capable of being sub-
stantiated by proof, and when he remained on the spot where
the misconduct was alleged to hove occurred, and voluntarily
*objected himself to the facet inquiry by the society which
he had been charged with having, by such misconduct,
scandalised, and when, after all the investigation that it wan
possible to make by that society, the charges contained in
those rumours were met by the most positive denial ; and
having been informed by the Secretary of State, that unless
he refuted those charges he could never again be employed
in the service of the mown in any capacity, he (Lord Stan-
ley) thought it was only just that the papers containing the
refutation should go before the public
Earl GREY under ordinary circumstances should think it
most incouvenient that the correspondence ending in the
coal of a colonial governor should be laid before parliament;
but in this cave the circumstances were so peculiar that, in
hutice to Sir E. Wilmot, he considered the correspondence
ought to be produced; and as his right hon. predeceelor in
the office of Colonial Secretary had no objection to the pro-
duction of those papers, he should not oppose the motion.
Their lordships adjourned at a quarter before six.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—TarmDAY, MARCH 23.
The SPSALES took the Chair at 12 o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
RECORD READlNGS.—Xitotaroodt and Air Direct Railway;
Forth British Railway (N 0.2); Bill,.
Repottrt.—Cbettrotem Waterworks; Damen Waterworks and
s.iiereeire; Shipley Gas; Doddingtow Rectnrr Diviaioa ; Bills.
PUBLIC BUSINESg..
. .

" -
:PETITIONS.—By Mr. Lore/WM hart arrbo cterks of Scotland, in
several presbyteries; Lord DALYII.I• r, from Various places In Scotland:
against Me Births, &c., RiMMTatiOLI (Scotland) BILL—CoLWoori, from
Board of Guaril inns in the !aloof Angles, y,:ln twour of owners instead
of oecuplere being rated ir the relief of the poor.—Mr. W. S.
O'Rairt. hom Rev. W. Mnberlev, sa English clergyman officiating
in Ireland, for the linpmament of Lord John Rafael, in consequence
of hls police with Women. to Irish Menem.— itr. Buz, from ahlp-
owners of hi Northumberland, against alteration of eavitt.tlon
laws.—Dr.Boverto, from Bolton; Mr. A• S. VAR... from a religious
ecmgreption in fortham; toexhire : against the government ethane
of olutotion.—Mr. Jorrs CO'Commu, from Ralflnrehik in faaaar at a
union rate; and from a place in Westmeath, against the hicalose of
the number of ez-rallelo guardians.
NOTICES Relief (Irelend)
NOTICES OS' MOTlON.—Lsoacr Durv.—Dr. Boum° after
Easter, la call the a:tenth:in of the home to the aulilmt of Metope/
duty on prorrrtS of permit, not resident in the tented Kingdom at
the time of their decease.
Ihrietv (hammer.—Dr. 1301•11.0, After Eater, to submit •
=lon on the aultject of • decimal currency.
PIALIAIMT‘Ia ELLCTIOIttI—Mr. Fox MAUI", to-morrow (Ms
• to move for leave to bring Ina bill to regulate the stations of
sofiliera during the period of parhamentary elections.
REV. DR. DEALTRY.

-
On the motion of Sir O. GREY, the thanks of the house
were soted to the Rev. Dr. Deeltry, archdeacon of Surrey,
for preaching before it yesterday in the church of St. Mar-
garet.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.
At the request of Sir O. Grier, Mr. DENISON end other
members having motions on the paper for that day, con-
sented to postpone them, to allow the government to pre-
mid with the Poor Relief (Ireland) Bill.
SPAN ISII BONDH OLDERS.
Lord O. BENTINCK (in n ply to a question from Dr.
Bowring) stated that it wee his intention aPer L.o.ter to
move an address to the mown, praying her Majesty to take
decisive and effectual menu; to obtain redress for each of her
British subjects as were Spanish bondholders.
POOR RELIEF (IRELAND) BILL.
On the order of the Jay for going into committee on this
bill,
Mr. J. O'CONNELL milled the attention of the eovern•
gent to a lett...r he hod received from tle. Rev. Mr. Durkan,
pari.,ll priest of Kiltemaegh, in tLa county Mayo, and to
other letters ae.dreesed to the Freeman's Journal, anticipat-
ing most deplorible consequences from the order of the go.
vernment to reduce the number of persons employed on the
public works 20 per cent., if that reduction were to he carried
out without due consideration being paid to the particular
circumstances of each locality. To carry it into effect at the
preseat moment, before the introduction of the temporary
Hair Bill, would be to consign the people, thereby with.


drawn from employment, to certain death, for they had no '
resources of their own to fall back upon. The letters to 1
which he bad referred, while they expressed the most dismal 1
forebodings of such a step, gave credit to the people for being , I
wonderfully patient and peaceable. But they could not i
aspect that state of things to continue under the pressure of
absolute starvation ; and unless the government speedily
interfered, he apprehended that they would hear of outrages
upon property and acts of violence of the worst kind being
committed. He therefore implored of the government,
pealing the introduction of the measure of temporary relief,
either to withdraw the order they had Issued, or to direct that
depots be opened and food be given to the people, who should
be deprived under that order of the means of subsistence.
Mr. W. S. O'BRIEN concurred in this appeal to the
government, and hoped they would seek- e melt the order, or
appoint relief committees to give out-'..or relief.
Mr. LAI3OCCIIEItE said he had only to repeat his
former statement, namely, the order of the government
was, that upon a certain day a reduction of twenty per
cent. should take place upon the aggregate number ot per-
sons employed on the public works, but nut irrespective of
localities ; leaving it to the discretion of the Irish govern-
meat to make the reduction more than twenty per cent.,
where it could be safely done, and less, where the part'calar
circumstances of the place rendered twenty per cent.
dangerous or inadvisable. The goveniment had come to
the conclusion that that was the most prudent, the wises.,
ctrl the safest course; to adopt, with a view to pet an end to
the present system of relict. He had no other answer to
make to the hon. gentleman who had just spoken, but ho
could net nit down without expressing has deepest gratifica-
tion at the rescounts which hod reached him of the immense
quantities of provisions which were pouring into Ireland by
means of the ordinary operations of traders ; a means which,
as he had ventured on a former occasion to predict, would
effect more fir the country than any direct int( rfirence on
the part of the government. He bail already had occasion
to refer to the import of provisions into Cork, but he was par-
ticularly struck with an account, which he bed yesterday recta
in a newspaper, of the quantity of provisions which, by the
operations of trade alone, were imported into the port of
Limerick. It was to the effect that " taking a retrospective
view of the imports into Limerick since the pressure of
scarcity, we :Ind that the vessels which entered t'at port
since September last hove landed above 23,000 tons of bread-
stutfs—a quantity quite unperallelled in the annals of this
city ; " the same paper stating that uo leas than 150 vessels,
cerrying provisions, were in the Shannon ou Monday last.
Mr. SIIAW coacurred in the propriety of reducing the
number of persons on the public works as speedily us pos.
Bible; but thought they ought to be removed by no fixed
rule, unless where relief committees were established. He
thought it was not at present safe to adopt • general system
of reduction by percentage.
Sir O. 0111:Y agreed with the right hon. gentleman, if he
ref reed to an absolute suspension of the winks. By looking
at the papers on the table of the house, ho would find that
it was not intended that the works should anywhere be
discontinued till the new system of relief was in operatMu.
The number of persons on the works had now increased to
300,000, and the lord-lieutenant had urged their gradual
decrease. There was reason to apprehend that though the
culture of the land was going on in some places, yet in others
it was quite suspended from causes over which tho govern-
ment had no control. The landlords were unwilling to
advance money for the purchase of mod without security for
the payment of their rent, while the tenants world not sow
the land because they owed rent, and were afraid
the crops would be taken to pay it. In the last
report from the Board of Works which had been
received, it was stated that the injurious effects
of employ:lag the labourers on the roasts had been felt,
not only by the farmers, but by the officers carrying on the
works ender the Drainage Bill, for the proprietors were un-
able to induce the labourers to come from the public works.
The attraction, therefore, of the labour under the Board
of Works was so great that proprietors, who were willing
to employ labourers, found a difficulty in obtaining them.
They had, therefore, directed a reduction to be made, not a
general, but an aggregate one, which sees to take place in
those districts where circumstances would allow it. He be-
lieved that there was now ample labour for the employment
of those who were struck off the public works.
Aft. r a few words, is explanation, from Mr. Shaw,
Lerd G. BENTINCK said he could not allow the cheer-
vntions of the right hon. gentleman the Secretary fcr the
Home Department to pass without notice. The right hon.
gentleman said that the cultivation of the laud was going on
in some parts of Ireland, while in others it continued sus-
pended from mutes over which the government bad no
control. The Earl of Beshorougb, in January last, wrote a
pressing letter to the noble lord at the head of the govern-
ment, urging them to supply seed, which the farmers
would not otherwise obtain; and Captain Wynne wrote to
the same effect; and the government, in the first fortnight
of the session, stated their intention to supply 60,0001. for
the purchase of seed, yet, at the eleventh hour, and four
months after they had given the Irish people reason to be-
lieve they would receive this assistance, they disappointed
them, and this had had a most pernicious influence on the
cultivation of the soil. Hundreds of farmers who had
heard that the gocemment intended to advance 50,0001.
for the purchase of seed, and knew that the Lord Lieu-
tenant had pressed them to supply corn-seed, relied upon
receiving it, and yet, at the last hour, when it was too
late to purchase seed from their own funds, the Chancellor
of the Exchequer came down to the house, and told the pen-
ple of Ireland that the 60,0001. would be advanced, not for
the purchase of corn-seed, but of green crop-seed, which
would be of no use till the summer. Ho wanted to know if
the government was not to blame for the vacillating course
they had pursued with regard to seed. The right hon.
gentleman the Secretary fur Ireland had glorified himself
and the eeeernmeat for leasing allowed the supply of pro-
visions, and be said that since September, 60,000 tons
of provisions, hail come into the port of Limerick ; but he
(Lo:d 0. Sentinels) recollected that in ono week in this
year 30,000 quarters of grain had gone out of the port of
Limerick, and, therefore, after all, %hat did this 50,000 tone
amount to ? It might be true that provisions had been im-
ported by private speculators, but what compensation would
that be to the 230,090 persons who had died of starvation and
pestilence, originating in famine, while waiting for these sup-
p:ies i whereas, if the government had showed one-tenth of the
sympathy for Ireland which had been shown in Boston, in
the United States, all this food might have been supplied six
months ago. Trey were told that, although the number of
meal-depots bad been decreased, their extent was greater
—although there were now only 24 instead of 93.
What had been the issue of provisions ? It was 262,0001bn
a week, or 1,048,00016 e a month—not the eleventh part of
the food distributed by tho late government, in June, when
the famine was not a ninth of what it was now. The right
hon. gentleman the Secretary for Ireland would have little
cause to congratulate himself when he reflected on the hun-
dreds end thousands who had died during his administration

in Ireland.
Mr. WILLIAMS said it wasimportant, when such charges
were made against the government, that there should be a
weekly statement of the number of person+ employed on the
public works in Ireland, and the money which was paid, so
that they might see what the landlords were doing for the
poor compared with what was done in England. He saw by
a paper that in a small town in Wales, where distress existed
the gentry ant and subscribed on the spot 3,0001. for food
for the people, and an order was sent by that night's poet for
1,000 quarters of corn. Why might not the same kind of
exertion be made in Ireland ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER hoped that
they might be alowed to go into committee on the Poor
Relief Bill without any further general Meting= on the
affairs of Ireland. In reply to the hon. member for Coventry
he would say that the last return had been laid on the table
of the house ; it was a weekly return, was ordered to be
printed, and it would be continued. He would only say fur-
ther that he would not be tempted to notice the repetition of
his speech of the other night which had been now made by
the noble lord (G. Bentinek), as bethought it more important
to go into committee, and he did hope they might
be allowed to make some progress with the bill.
Colonel RAWDON deprecated the attack which hadbeen
made by the noble lord, and the contrast which he had
drawn between them and the sympathy which had been
shown fur Ireland in the United States. He rose principally
to say, that he had received accounts from Wicklow of
Saturday lest, in which a feu was expressed that the public
peace would be endangered by the discharge of men from
the public works: 3,000 had been discharged in one barony,
and 000 in another.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he had
a letter from Colonel Jones, who stated that the reduction
which had talus' place had passed off quietly, and there had
been no disturbance. It was of course impossible to answer
for the whole country, but it had as yet been generally the
Major LAYARD thought the attack of the noble lord the
member for Lynn, on the government, was unjust and Un-
founded.
Viscount SANDON wished to ask the right bon. gentle-
man the Secretary for the Home Department whether, with
reference to a difficulty which was felt in Liverpool, as to
the disposal of Irish paupers who came there, and the num-
ber of which was increasing, be was prepared with any plan
to ewe the action of the existing rule for the removal of
paupers ?'
Sir G. GREY had received a representation from Liver.
pool as to the legal difficulty of removing Irish paupers.
There was no disposition to sold them back so long as they
could be provided for. When this bill was passed, he
thought the provisions of the law relating to removal ought
to be considered, but he thought it should be done by this
bill and not by the Vagrancy Bill.
Mr. F. SHAW raid that there ought to be an investiga-
tion at Liverpool, as to whether persona who were called
Irish paupers were really so.
Sir G. GREY said his attention had been directed to this
subject, and inquiry had been made as to the number who
really came front Ireland, and those who Mee out from their
ordinary abodes in the town. It appeared that 60,000 hai
arrived from Ireland since the beginning of the year, of
whom 20,000 came with a view to emigrate to America,
and had since gone ; so that 40,000 remauted in Liverpool,
or were dispersed over Lancashire.
After le few words from Mr. NEWDEGATE, in which he
said that what had been aid by the hon. member for
Carlow was inapplicable to what had fallen from his noble
friend the member for Lynn,
Mr. CA RD W ELL said he had received a letter from the
stipendiary megiatrate at Liverpool, in which it was Ariel,
that no one desired to remove those Irish paupers without
some provision being made for them at home, that the influx of
paupers increased, end that in the last three days 2,000 a day
had arrived ; and that in • few days a new fever hospital
would be opened. This shswed that prevision were made
to meet the evil.
Mr. P. SC ROPE said, that if immigration was going on
at the rate of 2,000 a day since the return alluded to by the
right hen. baronet (sir O. Grey), the numbers must now be
100,000. Ile thought it would be impossible to solve the
great problem, how to put an end to the distress in Ireland,
unless there was a cessation of party attacks.
Mr. OROOAN urged the government to bring on the

THE EXPRMB, FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 26, 1847.

Vagrancy and Mendicancy Bill as soon ea possible. He saw
lsy the papers that gentlemen of all ranks in life were being
appointed under the relief committees in Ireland, and that
Sir J. Burgoyne had received an appointment. He wished
to know how these gentlemen were to be paid.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—By a vote
in sup
li• RPSSELL said that the Vagrancy Bill was al-
ready prepared. It hal required great consederation in its
preparation, and would require great consideration in that
house. He could assure tile hon. gentleman that it would
be introduced is soon es possible. With regard to the pre-
servation of the pub'ie peace, the government were respon-
sible for it ; and from the information he hail received from
Colonel M-egregor, the head of the police, he bad no doubt
that tranquillity woul•I be preserved, notwithstandivg the
numbers of the escorts of unhurt. and police required for
the conveyance of previsixis. ne trusted that every gin.
tleman connected with Ireland would ass:et the government
in preserving public peace—(hear, hear)—acid he could add
that predictions as to its being likely to be disturbed were
calculuted rather to cause it than otherwise. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. CALLAtiII AN said that, with regard to Deed nail
the sowing of the ground, there was a general complaint in
Ireland of the neglect of the government on that point. He
knew districts where the potato had failed, where they were
wholly without reed.
After a few words from Mr. Bellew, Sir A. Brooke, Mr.
Dillon Browne, and Sir Walt, r James,
111 Mr. G. A. HAMILTON ho did not understand the
' observaii,na of the nob:- lord the member for Lyon to
charge the government wilt not stropplyinj seed, bat with
basing held out expeetatioria o: their inttation to do sss, but
which promise they had niece felt it inexpedient to fulfil.
NEW BISHOPS. . . . .

Mr. J. COLLETT said the noble lord nt the head of the
gsvernment had n a former °cession told him that tour new
bishops were to be appointed. He wished to know if these
four bishops were to be appointed under the provisions of the
Bill for amending the Acts f,r the appointment of the En-
glish Ecclesiastical Commiseioo, of which the noble lord had
given notice ?
Lord J. RUSSELL said that he should bring in the bill
for emending the ecclesiastical commission on the first Tues.
day after the Easter hondays. The bill was intended to
alter the ecclesiastical C 011171166101% in some respects, but he
did not intend to include four new bishops, or even one, in
that La
POOR RELIEF' (IRELAND) BILL
•

The committee on this bill wan then received.
On clause 11, beczion 11, which goes to enact that the
number of er o,fficio guardians of the poor shall be increased
from one fourth to half of the whole number, being put,

Mr. O'CONNELL rose pursuant to reotiee,-to move
that it I* struck out. He maintained that if the number of
ex officio pruardians was increased, instead of being nn act of
justice to Ireland, as it was proposed to be, it would inflict a
most serious injustice upon the majority of the population of
that country. The prtheiple of this increase had been de-
nounced by authorines whose opinions were entitled to re-
spect ; he allude I to the puhlished sentiments of Dr. Cant-
well, the Roman Catholie Bishop of Meath, to the opinion.
exprevied in the petitions presented to that house from the
board of guardians at Cootehill and Ballinos!oe, and lastly.
to the resolutions condemnatory of the douse recently passed
at a meeting held in the city of Cork. The interference with
the religious feelings and rights of the Roman Cathelie
paupers was already severely felt in ninny parts of irelend,
sine yet it W:l9 proposed by the clause ti increase the means
of that interference. It hod been ascertained that
there were in Ireland about 2,600 Protestant county
magistrates, while the number of Roman Catholic county
magistrates wan only 410 ; and, therefore, as the borough ma-
gistrates were not to be allowed to become ex officio guardians,
it was clear that the boards would consist of es officio mem-
ber., who were not of the religious faith professed by the
vast majority of the paupers, and upon them would devolve
the centroul of, and interference with, all the matters re-
lating to the teaching the children who were inmates of the
workhouses, and in relation to the religious feelings of their
pauper parents. This had already, under the existing law,
been felt in the North and South Dublin Union Work-
houses. Is one case, the Roman Catholic chaplain and
guardians had unanimously protested against a particular
act done, and a grievance of which they complained, and yet
they had been outvoted by the Protestant guardians, who
bad been backed mid supported by the poor-law commis-
sioners. And what would be the effect of this clause,
if carried ? Why, only to increase the number of in-
tolerant ex officio guardians, who would have the
power of controlling the Roman Catholic chaplains
in every union, of dictating the course of religious education
and instruction to be given to the children, and of practising
every species of bigoted tyranny. The noble lord at the head
of the government, in introducing this clause, expressed a
kepi that a better state of things was opening to Ireland, in
limaammence of the charitsble conciliation which appeared to
have taken place between members of that house pro-
' hosing different religious persuasions. The hope expressed
by the noble lord sees benevolent, and he (Mr. J. O'Coneell)
wished that it had been realised. Look at the facts Au
Irish party had been formed, and was supposed to he united
by mutual concession. One section (the Roman Catholic)
made great mom:miens, for be submitted that they would, in
the present circumstances of Ireland, which bad almost
drained the ircperial coffers, have been justified in
milling for the application of some of the revenues of the
Protestant church in Ireland, to meet the cala-
mity and distress which prevailed. They, however,
had been comparatively silent on that point ; and
hod not brought forward any suggestion of that character or
deecription. Had there been any similar corrosion made
by the other section of the Irish party ? On the contrary,
bad they not come down and not only voted but !peke
against the bill introduced by the hon. and learned member
for Kinsale (Mr. Watson) to remove a few words from a
statute which was the last thread of the remnant of wort
out bigotry ? The votes of the ascendancy party on that
bill afforded a clear indication of what night be expected
from an increase of ex atria guardians which necessarily
must be composed of that clam, iu reference to the helpless
andinollensive Roman Catholic paupers mister their control.
He submitted that the clause now under consideration would
enable the guardians to tyrannize over the Roman Catholic
population, and if passed, would be the signal of each a re-
ligions agitation in Ireland as had not yet been witnessed in
that country. If it passed, he should certainly press the
two clauses which stood in his name on the business paper,
and which would have the effect of making it imperative
upon the guardians to have in each union separate chapels
fur the sects of all denominations. In a political view the
clause was a contradiction, inasmuch as the complaint was
that the Irish landlords had closed their pockets against the
claims which the existing distress raised, and yet by stroll-
tug them es officio to the boards by whom rates must be
made, it would enable them closely to seal their pocket..
On all these grounds he implored English members to sup-
port bins in his propoeition for the rejection of this clause.
Sir G. GREY said, that ho could state the anxious desire
felt by her Majesty's government that the rights of con-
science Amid be fully and entirely
.respected, and in pro-
peeing this clause they did not anticipate any such results as
those which had been mentioned by the honourable mem-
ber for Kilkenny (Mr. J. O'Connell). He (Sir G. Grey)
regretted that the clause should on this occasion have
involved any religious considerations, and he thought, with
the hon. member, that proper precautions ought to be taken
to prevent the members of the Roman Catholic Church from
being subject to: any infringement or invasion of that reli-
gious liberty to which they were entitled. (Hear, hear.)
The clause had been introduced, because, on looking at the
returns on the table, it was believed that it would prevent
the exercise of such tyranny as had been alluded to, inas-
much as every magistrate resident in the Union, whether
Roman Catholic or Protestantweuld immediately be let in by
the clause as an ex officio member of the board of guardians.
With respect to the provisions as to the erection of separate
chapels, and the non-interference with the education of the
Roman esthete children in the warehouses, it would receive
the consideration of the government before the bringing up
of the report. It was a proposition which would be met bed
by a direct; measure of positive enactment, rather then, by
limiting the number of guardians, to take the chance of,pro-
siding for it.
Mr. SHAW defended his vote on the bill introduced by
the hon. and learned member for Kinsale (Mr. Watson), on
the ground that it went to disturb the great settlement of
the Catholic claims in 1829, and denied that be had been
actuated by any bigoted feelings. With respect to the
clause now before the committee, he felt called upon to give
it his support. He could see no real difference between the
interests of the landlord and of the tenant ; what was in.
jurioun to one would be so to the other. It was extremely
desirable to avoid the neceseity of making a selection of ex-
officio guardians; and this might easily be done by a very
slight alteration in the clause. But this was a point on
which he did not think it worth while to insist.
Mr. BELLEW did not think that the right hon. secre-
tary for the home department bad made out any case for the
increase of ex-officio guardians on the ground of security
to property. In a majority of eases magistrates would be
elected guardians for their own parishes and property would
be sufficiently protected in this way. Th,c religious part of the
question was mor: difficul4to deal with. As there were in Ire-
land about 2,600 Protestant magistrates to 400 Roman Ca-
tholic, it would necessarily happen that the religious feelings
of the representatives of property would be largely ranged on
one Bide, and those of the representatives of the people on
the other. Some alleviation of this might be gained by ad-
mitting borough magistrates as ex officio guardians, sad he
trusted the government would consent to amend the bill so
far ; this would he a great means of preserving union, which
was so important to the proper working of the bill.
Sir J. WALSH said that this measure only raised, inci-
dentally and remotely, any religious question whatever; and
ho sincerely hoped that religious animosity was not carried
so far in Ireland as might be supposed from the speeches of
some hon. members. At all events, it would be extremely
unwise to recognise such differences in legislating for Ire-
land. The best course would be to assimilate the law to the
English poor-law, which made all the magistrates ex officio
guardians. In many unions the ex officio guardians were
chairmen and vicechairmen, and their services had been
duly estimated. In Ireland the intelligence which the ex
officio guardisnevrould bring to the discharge of their duties
would be an important clement in the success of the law.
With this opinion, he should cordially support the clause of
the government.
Mr. W. S.,CRAWFORD said the question was whether the
landed proprietors had a right to claim so great an influence
in the boards of guardians, and whether such an influence
would operate beneficially for the country. Looking at the
pest conduct of the landlords, he contended that their admi-
nistration of the law of landlord and tenant was the source of
the teat crils of that country ; and on that account they
were not fit to be entrusted with the extended influence now
proposed. A still more important question was, whether
this increased influence would tend to the better administra-
tion of the low. Recollecting that a vast number of their
body had presented a protest to government against the
principle of out-door relief, it woo not to be supposed that
they would carry out this principle in a very willing or
effective manner. He was decidedly of opinion that the

failure of the Labour Rate Act was attributable to the reck-
lesss manner in which the landlords had acted, by making
useless presentments, and by neglecting the ordinary
precautions for the suppression of clamour. Many of them
even refused to pay their rates; and it was well known that
rates were more easily collected from the poor than from the
rich. Under thecae circumstances, be must oppose this
clause, which gave increased influence to the landlords.
Such a clause was wholly unnecessary ; for, if the landlords
did their duty, the people would elect them as guardians, in
preference to any other individuals. If placed in that shun-
thin by the people therr.selves, they would be mach more
effective members of the board. It was their duty so to act
as to secure the willing support of the electors.
Mr. W. S. O'BRIEN did rot think any. ground had been
for the proposed increase of ex officio guardians. He
denies' that the suggestion for she increase had proceeded
from what was called the Irish party. It had been said that
in England all the magistrates were es officio guardians;
but he believed it as ould be found that their numbers did
nat exceed one-third those of the elected guardians. He was
thoroughly convinced that this propesal would tend to gene-
rate ill-wid in Ireland, mid to keep ul:ve chuoleeling.
The CHANCELLOIt of the EXCHEQUER said there
had been no concession to any party, or any religion, in this
clause ; it was, as near as puss le, an assimilation of the law
to that of England, which gave the right of being ex-off rho
guardians to county, but not to Lorough, maoistratow. lie
sincerely hoped tliat the effect of the low would he
to extinguieh all religious animosity, and to "mite
all el uses in the efficient administration of the law. (Hear.)
It' knew that in many unions in England the business
would not be warned en but for the ex-efilcio guardians,
owing to the difficulty in procuring the attendance of the
clectesl guardians. lie had frequently sat as chairman of
the board of guardians with two ex-officio guardians
by his side, transacting the whole of the business. In Ire-
lead it was a matter of great importance to the classes
who would 1w elected as guardians; and the busieess would
probably. largely devolve on the ex-officio guardians. In
a, me unions the number of magistrates was considerably
greater than the number of elected guardians; and on that
account it had been thought necessary to limit the number
of ex-officio guardians, to that it miglt not exceed that of
the elected guardians. Thus, it would be seen that the
government had done all is its power to assimilate ti:e pro-
posed law to the low in England.
Mr. D. BROWNE said he should oppose this clause, be-
muse it would give an undue ascendancy to the landlords ;
it would render them most unpopular in Ireland, au would
entir. ly prevent the good working of the law. All the
scenes of party warfare would be revived, and the
utmost distraction would prevail throughout the country.
He was ihtoeished that the noble lord who was such an
advocate for reform had introduced such a clause es this. It
was not oven a finality measure, but it was a resrograde mea-
sure. For his psi the would sooner see a coercion bill than •
measure of this land. This clause went against reran-tenta-
tive government fur Ireland, and would raise a discontent
which wool ! prevent the working of the biil. He would
vote fur the amendment of the hon. member :or Kilkenny.
Mr. FITZGERALD said that the landlords of Ireland
were remarkable for their religious bigotry, but he hoped
that these things were now at an end. Ile impressed upon
the noble lord the necessity of restoring to the people the
church proper:y. If such a measure were granted, there
would be nu occasion for a poor-law, Maynooth grants, or
educetien grants, and they would not now he under the
necessity of giving money from the treasury of this country
to support the starving people of Ireland. With regard to
the clause in question, he thought that it would excite reli-
&ins animosity. He thought that the number of rnagie-
the s who were now ez.ojicio guardians was not sufficient
f.l the object which they had in view. So convinced wen
he that it was necessary to withdraw this clause from the bill,
that he would support the amendment which was moved for
its omiss 0,1.
Mr. LEFROY expressed his entire satisfhetion with the
clause introduced by her Majesty's government. The Secre-
tary for the Home Department had given sufficient reasons
fir increasing the number of ex officio guardians.
Mr. CALLAGHAN said that notwithstanding the atten-
tion which he had paid to what he had heard from those who
supported this clause be was totally adverse to its introduc-
tion. He did not think that the people of Ireland had such
respect for the magistrates as to render it advisable to thrust
in more of them amongst the poor-law guardians, elected by
the rate-payers of the country. There was not a single part
of Inland which sought for such an increa-c in the Dumber
of ex-effieio magiatrates. From what he knew, in his part
of the country, there was a general desire to get rid of them
altogc'her. They got up discussions on every little matter
relating to religion, and the business of the unions was
neglected.
Mr. V. STL'ART said, that though he did not doubt the
integrity of the magistrates in Ireland, yet he hoped that,
in deference to the feelings of the people, the government
would not persist with the adoption of the clause.
Major LAYARD thought that, instead of this chose
making this bill effectual, it would have quite a contrary
effect. Thu° were 2,000 Protestant magistrates in Ireland ;
whereas there were only 410 Catholic magistrates; so that
it mull not be expected that this was likely to give aatiefac-
non to the people. It would. have the effect of nullifying
this bill—sa the Chandos clause had on the Relorm Bill.
Mr. STAFFORD O'BRIEN said a few wards in favour
of the bill, and was followed by
Mr. B. ESCOTT who, amid loud cries of " divide," ex-
pressed his disapprobation of the clause.
The house divided—For the amendment 26
Agaiust it
Mr. SHAW was understood to move the foil wing amend-
ment:—" That the justices resident in the poor•law unions
shall be ex-affirm° members of the board of guardians of such
unions."
At the suggestion of Lord J. ReseELL, the amendment was
withdrawn without any discusaioa.
The clause, was then agreed to.
On clause 11 he ing read,
Mr. J. O'CONNELL maned tha' borough magistrates be
ex-oiteio guardians to the extent of onc•half witk the county
magistrates.
Sir C. GREY thought such an amendment would give
rise to great practical inconvenience, and he did not see how
it could he carried out, He therefore felt bound to oppose it.
Mr. W. S. O'BRIEN did not ace that there would leo any
practical difficulty in the matter.
Mr. P. HOWARD regretted that the government objected
to the infusion of a snore popular clement into the boards of
I guardians. Ile should support the amendment.
Mr. J. O'CONNELL then withdrew his amendment.
I Upon the question that "the clause de stand part of
' the bill,"
Mr. J. O'CONNELL said he expected to have had more
:remold supped, and was surpriie'd at the manner in which
• his motion had been received ;he would, however, give hon.
• members an opportunity of recording their votes, and he
must, therefore, divide the committee.
The committee divided—For the amendment 21
Fer the clause 133-112

The clause was then agreed to.
On clause 12 being natl.
Mr. V. SMITH proposed to add to the clause a provision
to the effect, that if the guardians negheted to kvy a rate
within three months after it was made, it should be lawful
for the poor-law commissioners to direct them to proceed,
and if they disobeyed such order they should be subject to
the penalties imposed by the 102nd section of the Irish Poor
Law Act. It was monstrous to find thousands of people
starving without poor-rates being levied and collected when
they were made.
Sir O. GREY said the power of procee.ling under the
102nd clause of the act referred to would, he feared, be found
to be inoperative. He;thought in future the guardians
would discharge their duty in levying and collecting the
rates more efficiently than they had hitherto done ; and he
believed that a large portion of the present outstanding
rates would be collected.
Mr. HAMILTON believed that in many instances the
boards of guardians had been very. unjustly blamed.
Mr. SHAW thought that in some of the western
districts of Ireland it would be impossible to collect the
rates.
After a brief conversation, in which Mr. V. SMITH, Mr.
ARCHBOLD, and Mr. T. Senors took part,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he did
not think the amendment, even if passed, could be carried
into effect.
After a short conversation the amendment was negatived,
without a division, and the clean was agreed to.
Cleans 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, were agreed to.
Mr. SHAW moved the following clause: "That the
owners of tithe rent-charge be rated accordirig to their net
annual incomes."
Si, G. GREY would agree to the clause, so far as it
placed Irish tithe-owners on the same footing em tithe-owners
an England, but no further.
After some conversation, the clause was postponed till the
bringing up of the report, with a view to consider how it
should he worded.
The house then resumed, and the chairman reported pro-
gress, and obtained leave to sit swain on Monday neat.
NEW BRUNSWICK.
Mr. HAWES, in laying a paper on the table by command
of her Majesty, said he thought it right to state that it was
a copy of a despatch from the Lieutenant-Governor of New
Brunswick, conveying to his noble friend at the head of the
colonial department a vote of 1,250 f. by the legislative
assembly as a subscription towards the relief of Irish dis-
tress, that being the second contribution from the colony.
The house adjourned at a quarter before seven.

RELIEF OF TILE FAMINE IN IRELAND AND SCOT-
LAND.—Yesterday, the committee of the Britiah Association
acknowledged the recent of 100 barrels of meal, and 100
barrels of flour from Boston, in the United States, and
1,2601. voted by the House of Assembly of the province of
New Brunswick, in aid of the above object. The total
amount placed at the disposal of the association is 251,7051.
19a. ; of this 26,0001. has been remitted to Scotland, 1,5001.
to remote districts in Ireland, and 137,3001. expended is the
purchase of pro isioris, leaving a balance of 87,2051. 19s._

Vie v prow.

MAILS,

•
l'ObT-OFFICE NOTICE.—The following Post-office
notice has been issued:—" The Postmaster-0 neral having
been informed by the Director-General of the French Post-
office that correspondence forwarded by, the l'r,neh Mediter-
ranerm pockets to the Papal States is liable to a further
charge on delivery ; lettere henceforward addressed to there
states, when directed to be forw.,rdcd by French pseket..,
cannot be paid in advance to their destination, although
they may still be forwarded unpaid, as at present.
POLISH EXILES.—We have received a letter from
M. Zienkieorie; contradicting some statemcms t..15.1x in a
communication to this journal, relative to the meeting of the
l'oliah exiles. M. Z., in contradiction of these statements,
declares that it was not he who convened the meeting, or
sent invitations for it. lie neither drew up the resolutions,
nor brought any supporters with him, as alleged. The re-
solution., instead of being passed by a large majority, passed
unanimously. M. Z. inserts that thou were ninety Poles
present, and that it was not a private meeting.

The mails for Vigo, Oporto, Lisbon, Idoulehn, Gad* and Gibraltar,
willbe smile no en the morning of the 2;th March.
The mails for New South Wales, Van Diernen'a land, and New
Zealand will be made up on the evening of the 31st March.
The West India malls, including thews for Mexico, Honduras, and
the tievannah, will he male up on the morning of the End April.
The mails for British North Ameriee, Bermuda, and the United
halm, will be made np on the evening of the 3rd April
Ito uver/an4 mails mr Gibraltar, Molts, Greece, the lonian Islands,
Egypt, Aden, Ceylon, India, Gong-Kong, and China, via Southampton,
will be made up on the morning of the 3rd A, ril.
The mile for Ole Bnails, the hive Piste, Mrmte Video, Pernam-
buco, Bahia, MA !C ill; sad Bum.. .Iyro,, will be made up on the
evening of the 3th April.
Tie overland °hoed mails, via Marseillea, to the Mediterranean,
Egypt, Aden, Ceylon, India, Hong Kong, he., will be made up on the
earning of the Aprll.