The Express.
London, England, 1847-02-13 00:00:00

DISTRESS IN BANTRY.

Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN wished to know whether the etten-
tion of the right hon. gentleman the Secretary for Ireland had
been called to Ike distrera in Bantry, where, by the most
recent accounts, not less than fifteen coroners' inquests had
been held in one day, with verdicts of " death from starva-
tion.,•
Mr. LABOUCHERE said he bad himself written to the
Irish government calling their attention to the distress of
Bantry, but without that, he was sure the attention of the
government would have been given to the subjoct.
SPANISH MARRIAGES.

Mr. ROEBUFlCwithed.to ask the noble lord at the
bead of foreign affairs • question relating to a matter
which appeared in the Morning Chronicle of that day. In
that paper appeared a despatelt dated the 11th of
February, signed " Palmerston," and directed to Lord
Normanby, respecting certain transactions which had
occurred in the diplomatic relations between France
and England. The matter of the despatch it was not
his intention to notice, but only the simple fact that a
despatch bad appeared in • newspaper that morning, which
had been sent yesterday from the Foreign Office ; accord-
fog to the amount of the newspaper itself, before Lord
Noemsnby could have received it, and before it could have
been rearmed according to the forms of diplomatic inter-
course by the court for which it was intended, thereby contra-
vening the rule' of ordinary diplomatic relations, and contra-
vening al-o the constitutional ground on which he might
make his demand, namely, that no communication of a
despatch like tho present should be made to a newspaper
previously to its official communication to both houses of
parliament. He felt the more bound to make this statement,
because he was exceedingly grieved at the circumstance
believing and feeling, (having read with attention the papers
laid on the table of the house), that the conduct and good
faith of the diplomatic agents of this country, and of
the noble lord himself, had been completely vindi-
cated hitherto by the publication of these papers. (Great
cheers.) Although he did not agree with the conclusion
drawn by the node lord, still be was so rationed that the
faith, and honour, and candour of the country had been
carried out by the noble lord—(hear)—that he was sorry
that at the last and concludinw portion of it, anything bad
been done which might give umbrage to a nation like France.
The question be wished to put was, whether the noble lord
bad any cognisance of ouch a document being communicated
to the newspaper in question.
Lord PALMERSTON said, the question of the hon. and
learned gentleman was, perhaps, a natural one, because he,
like others, had not attended to the proceedings of the house
yesterday. The fact was, he (Lord Palmerston) laid on the
table yesterday a continuation of thecorrespondence whichhad
been already laid before it, containing the last despatch of
M. Guizot to Count St. Aulaire, officially communicated to
her Majesty's government ; the despatch from himself to
Lord Normanby, 'Swing that there was no intention on the
part of her Majesty's government to reply to the last des-
patch, the government feeling, and thinking that their case
had been already fully stated. (Hear.) He must return
his thanks to the hon. and learned gentleman for the kind
and handsome manner in which he spoke of the conduct of
her Majesty's government as contained in these despatches.
(Hear, hear.) These papers also contained a despatch from
Lord Normanby, complaining of the inferences that might
be drawn from certain statements, which had been made in
the French Chambers, and his (Lord Palmerston's) answer
enuring him that the confidence of her Majesty's govern-
ment in him was out shaken by what had passed. (Heat,
hear.) These papers were presented yesterday, and the hon
and learned gentleman might know that when papers were
laid on the table of the house, it was usually a matter of
courtesy that copies of them should be also sent to what
were called the ordinary channels of communication. He
was sorry that by some accident the papers had not been
generally delivered, but he begged to tender the hon. gen-
tleman his own copy. (Laughter.) If the hon. grentlemaa
looked to the votes of their proceedings, he would find the
papers. (Chews.)
RAILWAYS (IRELAND) BILL.
On the order of the day for the second reading of the
Railways (holland) Bill,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER proceeded
to disclaim and to deprecate the introduction of any party
feeling into the discussion of the measure. Her Msjesty's
government felt that they could not undertake the respon-
sibility of carrying out the noble lord's plan, and that the
only course which they could pursue consistently with their
views on the subject, was that of decided opposition. An
attempt had been made on the previous evening to par
down the measure. bet if that were to be allowed it would
lane the comprehensive character which the introducer had
given to it. He thought that the noble Iced at the head of
the government had punned a strightforward, honest, and
manly course in stating so early what were the views enter-
tained by the ministry; and the anxiety which, as had been
represented to him (the Chancellor of the Exchequer), ex-
isted in the money market and amongst the monied interest
upon the subject rendered it necessary that the house should
come to a speedy and final decision. Notwithstanding the
exhibition of a little disposition to attribute party motives lo
the government, he did not admit that such motives existed,
and, though it had been stated that the noble lord (Lord G.
Sentinel) had summoned his friends from all parts of the
country, be hoped that from the noble lord's mind also'all such
helms had been dismissed. With regard to the measure itself,
his haling of alarm had beets in no degree removed by
having seen it in the shape of a bill. He thought the pro-
'Mem of the bill were rather calculated to favour
showeisolden than either to assist distressed persons in Ire-
land, or to afford security to the public. He did not doubt
that the noble lord had thought of little else than the distress
eflealand ; but when he saw on the hack of the bill the name
ef the Lord Mayor of York (Mr. Hudson) so deeply interested
in reilways—( laughter), and the name of the member for
Westmoreland (Mr. Alderman Thompson), so largely
latersnad is blemishing the materials with which railways
were eendreetsd, be amid certainly have felt surprised
IMO imiersees at newsy 'etors and shareholders had
set beim adequately . (Laughter.) He admitted
theillsi was no reason why the measure should not be fairly
dimmed; bat it josh(.' ffa is looking upon it with more
caulks than if it were a swim imply for the benefit of
Woad. (Hoer, Yew.) Now, be um willing to concede to
the aside and that the *manias of runways would be bene-
iial tested, and afford sespheyement to • certain number
Mdatiteta labeeram, but that was net sellidant to warrant
Idea In giving the measure his support. He had baud
netbing to marina bias that it would be advantageous
IM P the Ade to booms a groat beder, and ,
I A Ad, ewe wilways wadiwry AAA inflek*atint
aseerity ; are had be bawd anything which meld satisfy
hint that the Mach to be derived by destitute paeans would
be at all aommeasurate with the amount of messy to be
raised ; while in the present state of the finances of this
country, and wLI the distress which prevailed, he should
i net feel Justified in homing any such burden as was now