The Express.
London, England, 1847-07-15 00:00:00

POOR LAW ADMINISTRATION BILL.

In answer to a question from Mr. FEHRAND,
Sir G. GREY declined to state the course which would be
pursued in reference to the lords' amendments to this bill,
when it returned to this house, but said that ample notice of
that course would be given.

COLLIERIES ➢ILL.

Mr. T. DUNCOMBE, in moving the second reading of
this bill, alluded to the recent coal-pit accident near Wigan,
and pointed out the extremely dangerous effects of the use
of gunpowder in coal-mines. The bill provided that, on re-
presentation being made to the Secretary of State. inspectors
might be sent to ascertain the condition of any colliery, and
to report thereon. Ile proposed to restrict the operation of
the bill to those collieries which were confessedly dangerous
--in the language of the miners "fiery." Thus, nearly the
whole oollienee to the north would be excluded. The fifth
and sixth clauses, imposing penalties on the owners, if
thought to go too far, he should be willing to withdraw.
Sir G. GREY regretted that this bill should be pressed,
after the decided opinion that Lad been given as
to the impropriety of attempting to legislate on the
subject in the present session. The power given
to the Secretary of State was certainly desirable;
but in the course of his experience he had never found it ne-
cessary to be armed with such power, the utmost facilities
being always afforded by the owners of coal-mines. He
doubted not that, in a short time, arrangements would be
made by which an efficient inspection would be provided
for. The penalties imposed by this bill were extremely
heavy ; as much as 601. was imposed on the owner of a mine
if a lighted candle was used in it without his knowledge. To
pass such a bill as this would very much obstruct the ar-
rangements which might otherwise be satisfactorily adopted.
In reference to the late explosion, finding that there was to
be an examination of the mine, he had directed a competent
person to attend and to report the result to government. He
should move that the bill be read a second time that day
three months.

Mr. W. FATTEN said, that no parties were more anxious
for the prevention of accidents than the owners of the collie-
rice themselves ; but it was most unjust to subject them to
beery penalties for that of which they were wholly ignorant.
Mr. HUTT hoped the bill would not be pressed. Some
regulation was moat desirable; but the proposed bill was so
ill-considered, that it was alike unjust to the coal-ownen and
to the hon. promoter of the measure.
Mr. WAKLEY did not think that any bill would be sa-
tisfactory to the coal-owners. Its object was to give a power
to the Secretary of State which he did not at present pos-
sess, but which was highly necessary. The discussion
hitherto had turned on details which ought to be considered
in committee ; this was not fair, when the question was the
second reading of the bill. This stage passed, his hon. col-
league (Mr. Duncombe) would probably so modify his bill,
as to remove all the objections that had been stated. Could
any one deny, after the serious losses of life which had lately
occurred, that some legislation was necessary ?
Sir G. GREY said he had not objected to the bill as un-
necessary, but because, in his belief, it would embarrass
arrangements which were now in progress for establishing a
system which might render these appalling accidents teas
frequent.
Mr. LIDDELL assured the House that the coal-owners
would not object to any fair and reasonable proposition by
the government. The present bill was so objectionable that
the hon. mover had at once abandoned half of it. There
was not a colliery in England which wasnot moutons'',
supowibthiwjereentpthtor:plp%ddarctiopte, aoginf which con
ven sequently
thcs2.nisFecuredeilrytlbytowdooful.shdtaiho.tewrviithdini
be desirable ; for, however beneficial general orders might be
in most cases, in some they might be wholly inapplicable.
As government had taken the matter in hand, he hoped that
the house would not sanction this hasty legislation.

Mr. BERNAL said he had joined in promoting this mea-
sure from a belief that it would be generally beneficial, but
he would not consent to the fifth and sixth clauses ; and this
be had stated to his hon. friend the member for Finsbury.
One good point en the bill was the supervision proposed to be
vested in the Secretary of State ; and he did not think it was
any objection to say that his supervision would not be im-
mediate, because he could avail himself of the knowledge of
others. He thought it right to provide, as far as human
foresight mull provide, against such frightful accidents as
had lately occurred in the mining districts. Although he ap-
proved of a great part of the bill, he did not think that any
advantage could be gained by pressing the bill at the present
late period of the session, but the subject must force itself on
the attention of parliament next session.
After a few words front Mr. Limiest,
Mr. HINDLEY said he was prepared to support the bill.
As to the inspection of the Secretary of State and the right of
inquiry into the causes of accidents in collieries, he believed
that the owners of collieries were most anxious that inquiry
should be made into the causes of them accidents. The most
frequent cause was the want of ventilation. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. FERRAND said that the speech of the hon. gentle-
man was the best he had beard in favour of the bill, because
one of its objects was to require proper ventilation, and for
this purpose it proposed to punish men as well as masters.
He deprecated the leaving a state of thiags which was dis-
graceful to the country to be dealt with in the next session.
He believed that the consequence would be that the colliers
would meet in tens of thousands on this subject, for the pur-
pose of obtaining redress. There was always a party in that
house which was opposed to the rights of the working classes.
Mr. R. YORKE thought that the principle of the bill was
irresistible, and ought not tote resisted. He would, however,
after what had been said by the right hon. gentleman the
Secretary of State, recommend the withdrawal of the bill,
which, however. if peeved to a division, he would vote for.
Mr. NEWDEOATE seas anxious that protection should
be given to the colliers, but the provisions of this bill were
altogether of too stringent a character. He was in favour of
inspection, and he hoped that the Secretary of State would
exercise rigorously that power of inspection which he al-
ready ;moused. He thought the imputations cast on the
coal-owners were most unfair and undeserved.
Mr. F. MAULE said there seemed to be little difference
of opinion with respect to the object which his hon. friend
had in view by this bill. The only question was, as to the
time when each a measure might be moat advantageously
introduced. It was the duty of the government to watch
over the lives of the people, but they ought to take care how
they interfered w ith the capital invested in working the coal
mines, on which the greatness of this country so much de•
paneled. He thought that a bill of this kind ought to ema-
nate from the responsible government of the country. He
admitted that the Secretary of State had the power of in-
spection to a certain extent, but he also thought that be
should have the power of enforcing precautionary measures.
(Hear, hear.) Ho deprecated the conduct of the hon. mem-
ber for Knaresborough in holding up that house as a body as
hostile to the working classes of the country. He hoped his
hon. friend would not press the bill to a division.
After a few words from Mr. FERRAND in explanation,
Mr. FORSTER denoneced the bill as the most unjust and
unfair that was ever laid on the table of that house. The
fact was that the bill was the bill of Mr. Roberta who was
going about the country exciting the colliers on this subject
for his own purposes. He (Mr. Forster) knew that the coal-
owners were most anxious for inspection.
Mr. TRELAWNY would oppose the present bill on the
same grounds that he opposed other measures of a similar
nature—namely, that he was opposed to all interference
between masters and men.
Mr. 130UVERIE said that he would support the second
reading of the bill if the hon. gentleman pressed it to a divi-
sion, because, after the late accidents which had occurred, he
thought that some legislation was absolutely necessary,
although he did not think that any interference would alto.
gether prevent their occurrence. He thought that coal-
owners should be made responsible in the courts of law for
the injuries which the men received in their works, as was
the case in France. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. DUNCOMBE said that he proposed the bill only for
a short period, till the government were able to introduce a
perr.anent measure on the subject in the next session of
parliament. lie agreed that the government ought to be the
parties to introduce such a bill ; but it was not his fault that
they had not done so. He complained of the attack that had
been made on Mr. Roberts, who was not present to defend
himself. He denied that the right hon. gentleman the
Secretary of State possessed the power of sending down in-
spectors to investigate the causes of accidents, because the
right hon. gentleman himself declared that he had no such
power when he (Mr. Duncomhe) asked him to send down
persons to investigate the facto in the Kirkless colliery ease.
The principle of the coal-owners was, " Perish the colliers,
save our coal." (" No, no ") He maintained that that wasthe
principle acted on by the owners of the Kirklem colliery. He
should like to know how half aolezen hon. gentlemen would
feel if they were shut up in that room with a fire burning, and it
was said, Oh, they must be burned by this time." (Laughter.)
Whatever was considered objectionable in the details of the
bill he was prepared to alter, but he would press the second
reading to a division, and thro .7 upon the government the
responsibility of the loss of life which would occur in the next
six months. (Hear, hear.)
Lord IL VANE expressed his astonishment that the hon.
member for Kendal and other members should rate for the
second reading of a bill the details of which they objected to.
The right hon. gentleman the Secretary for the Home De-
partment having given a pledge that a measure would be
brought forward on the subject next year, he hoped hon.
gentlemen would not seek to legislate hastily on the subject
now.
Mr. ESCOTT hoped the hon. member for Finsbury would
not press his motion to a division.
The house divided—For the second reading 23
Against it
FARLTA.MENTARY ELECTORS BILL.
On the motion for the second reading of this bill,
Sir D. L. EVANS said the object of the bill was to pre-
vent electors from being disfranchised from accident or fraud.
He thought the payment of rates in towns should be regu-
lated by the same principle as in counties. This bill did not
interfere with the Reform Bill. It was in itself the most
moderate measure of reform that could be proposed on the
subject, and he was sure that those hon. gentlemen who
might oppose it would support the old horoughmongering
system, if it were again sought to be imposed en the country.
Mr. NEWDEGATE objected to proceeding with a bill of
this character at so late a period of the session. He should
obstruct the hill in every stage.
Sir W. CLAY said the bill only consisted of one clause of
about 15 lines, and therefore the period of the session was no
objection to the introduction of the bill, if it was a good one,
which he believed it to be. It did not do all that he wished,
but it was a step in the right direction, and he should there-
fore vote for it,
Mr. WAKLEY thought it was most unjust to make dis-
tinctions between the payment of rates in boroughs and
counties. He considered the payment of rates and taxes
ought to be abolished altogether. The bill before the house
would, however, afford a small amount of relief, and he
should, therefore, vote for it. Wealthy men were often
disfranchised, on account of the non-payment of rates, as
well at poor men; and the Governor of the Bank of England
bad himself been disfranchised from such a cause. (Hear.)
Blr. CRIPPS opposed the bill, and moved that it be read
a second time that day six months.
Sir B. HALL supported the bill.
Mr. HENLEY opposed the bill. A liberal and reform-
ing party in parliament, having the stick in their own
hands, had settled the question many years since. One
great objection to the bill was the temptation which it would
hold out to the poor man to run into arrears with respect
to rates—a temptation which would operate very injuriously
towards the poor. Under any circumstances, it was quite
impossible that it could pass during the present session; and
should it over pass, its benefits, if any, would be almost
confined to the metropolis.
Capt. PECH ELL denied that the payment of rates would
be at all delayed by the passing of the bill. For election
purposes payment was now deferred ; for parochial purposes
the parish officers would always take care that there was no
greateccumulation of arrears.
Sr D. L. EVANS said that all that he could hope
for at that period of the session was to obtain the assent of
the house to the principle of the bill ; but, ander the cis,
cumstances, that assent was extremely important.
The house divided—For the amendment
Against it 54
The numbers being equal, a loud shout of laughter fol-
lowed the announcement of the result.
The SPEAKER gave his casting vote against the amend-
mend.
The house again divided on the question that the bill be
now read a second time.

For the motion 62
Agaimurt it
BANKRUPTCY AND INSOLVENCY BILL.
_

mittee, which sat upon the cue of Mr. Whittle Harvey on
1 the other side. In that state of things he should refrain
from giving. an opinion, seeing that, by asserting ineligi-
bility, he might prejudice those who had been selected for
the office, while, on the other hand, if he said that the
judges were qualified to sit, he might practically disfranchise
those who should be led to vote for an ineligible candidate.
(Hear, bear.) Under those circumstances, he thought it best
to abstain from giving any answer to the question.
Sir J. GRAHAM felt that the bon. and learned gentle-
' man bad put forward most excellent reasons for declining to
I answer his question ; but, as the law was admitted to be
very doubtful, he (Sir J. Graham) should persevere in his
intention to move, on the third reading, a clause disqualify-
ing the judges of the county courts for sitting in that house.
Sir 0 GREY said he had stated last year, in committee on
the bill, that it was the opinion of the Lord Chancellor that
the duties to be performed would be incompatible with the
bolding of a seat in that house.
Mr. Hamilton's clause was then withdrawn and the report
received.
DESTITUTE PERSONS (IRELAND) BILL.
On the motion for the third reading of this bill,
Sir G. ORE Y stated, in reply to Mr. Hamilton, that the total
amount of subscriptions received under the Queen's letter
for destitute persons in Ireland was 171,5331. 16,. 2d. Of
this sum 170,0001. had been paid over to the committee of
the British Association. The committee had collected
254,7541., making the total which had passed through their
hands 424,7541.
The bill was then read a third time.
COPYRIGHT (COLONIES) BILL.
Viscount MAHON thought the bill had been brought in
at a very late period of the session, and complained of the
scanty information which had been given in order to justify
it. He would not, however, oppose the third reading.
After a few words from Mr. M. GIIISON,
. .

The bill was read a third time and passed.
MILITARY KNIGHTS OF WINDSOR.
Sir G. GREY said that the hon. member for St. Albans,
who had a motion on this subject, had promised him certain
additional documents which had been discovered, which should
go before the law officers of the crown, but which had not yet
been received. He thought the question was one which
would be better settled in a court of law.
Mr. B. CABBELL said he had the opinion of Lord Camp.
bell that if a certain deed were in existence, which he now
had in his possession, the right of the military knights of
Windsor to some property which was in question was
undoubted.
Col. REID suggested that the motion should be withdrawn.
The motion was then withdrawn.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.

In answer to a question from Sir J. GIIAHANI,
Sir G. GREY said the house would meet at three o'clock
to-morrow (this day); public business would commence at
half-past three, when tho committee on the Consolidated
Fund Bill would be taken ; after which, be proposed to take
such third readings as were unopposed, in order that the
bills might go up to the House of Lords, and then the
Bishopric of Manchester Bill would be brought on.
The house adjourned at twenty minutes af.er four o'clock.

BISHOPRIC OF MANCHESTER, &c., BILL.
Drzisoni in favour of second reading of this bill.—Ayee, 124; noes, 11.
AYES.
Acland, Sir T. D. Disraeli, B. Jermyn, Earl Parker, J.
Acland, T. D. Douglas, J. D. 8. Jervis, Sir J. Patten, J. W.
Allis, J. P. DuelsworthAir J.Johnstone, Sir J. Perfect, P..
Austen, Col. Dimino, Admiral Jollide, Sir W. o.l.ltilipps, Sir R.
Baring, T. F. Dundee, Sir D. lows, Capt. Pinney, W.
Baring, T. East, Sir J. B. Nnightley, Sir C. Plumrldgc, Capt.
Barringtoss,Vist. Ebrington, Via Lao:ellen, 11n. W.Pollington,Visc.
Bennet, P. Egerton, W. T. Lefroy, A. Prime, It.
Bentinck, 14.0. Entwine, W. Le Mainhant, D. Reid, Cot.
Bentinck, Id.lf. Evans, W. Liddell, Hon. H. Rendleaham, TAL
Berkeley, Hn. C. Ferguson, Sir R. Lindsay. Col. Russell, Lord!.
Blackburne,J. L Permed, W. B. T.ygon, lbs. Gen. Rutherfuni, A.
Bodkin, 3. J. Fitzroy, Hon. H. Macaulay, T. B. Sondon, Visc,
&Afield, B. Forester, nom o.2leGeochy, F. A. Somerville,BirW,
Bowles, Mm. Faller, A. E. Manners, lALC.B, Stanley, Hon. W.
Buck, L. W. Gore, M. Manners, Lord J. Tollemacke,lGLF
Buller, C. Gore, lion. R. Motile, RL lln.lo.Tollernache, J.
Byes, 0. 8. Goulburn, 11. Mildmay, H. Verner, Sir W.
Cisrew, W. H. P. Greene, T. Miles, P. W. 8. Vceey, Han. T.
Chaplin, W. J. Grey, Sir G. Miles, W. rams, Viso.
Christie, W.D. Oroevenor, Ld.B.Monahan, J. IL Vyee, H.
Christopher,R.A.Homilton, 0. A. Morpeth, Vise. Wadilington,ll.S.
Clive, Vile. Hamilton, LcrdC.Morris, IL Walker, R.
Clive, Hon. R.H. Hatton, Capt. V. Mundy, E. H. Ward, 11. 0.
Ondrinoton.BirW Heathcote, iiirW.Neeld, J. Wood, Sir C.
Corry, Itt.Lin. 11.1Iculey, J. W. Newilegute, C. Worcester, Marq.
Courteuay, Lord Flildyorti, T.B.T. O'Brien, A. S. Wortley, lie, J.S.
Cowper, W. F. Hubhouse, Sir J. Ogle, 8. C. IL Wynn, C. W. W.
Craig, W. G. Hope, O. W. Parke, C. W.
Crime, W. Ilomby, J. Palmer, R. Tr .
Denison. J. E. Inevetre, Vise. Palmer, 0, Mr. Tufnell.
Denison, E. B. Inglis, Sir R. H. Palmenton,Viec. Mr. Rich.
NOES'.

Aglionbr.M. A.Dmptn, G. --Mole/morn'. W. rrT ill&
Alrlam, W. Evans, Mr D. L. Thornely, T. Mr. Hume.
Bourene, An. E. Emetic, A. Trrllll.llY. J. S. 31r.T. Duncombe,
Brothcrton, J. Ilindley, C. Wakley, T.
Colktt, J. 11011.101, E. W.

fit Preoo.

MAILS-.

- -7 -
The West India mails, excluding those for Mexico, Tlnntloraii, and
the Ilayannah, will be made up on the morning of the 17th July.
The mails for Vigo, Oporto, Lisbon, Madeira, Cadiz, and Gibraltar
will be made up on the morning of the 17th July.
The mails fur British North America, Bermuda, and the United
States, will be made up on the evening of the 19th July.
The overlarel mails file Gibraltar, Aldta,Orecos, the lonian Islands,
Egypt, Aden, Ceylon, India, along-Hong, and Chinn, via Southampton,
will he made up on the morning of the 20th July.
The overland closed malls, ries Marseilles, to the Mediterranean,
Cent, Aden, Ceylon, India, 'long Kong, Re., will be made up on the
evening of the 25th July.
The mails for New South Wales, Van Dlemen's Land, and New
Zeeland will be made op on the evening of the 31st July.
The mails for the Brasil% the River Plate, Monte Video, rectum.
bow, Bahia, Madeira, and Buenos Ayres, will be made up on the
evening of the 4th August.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.
••• Robertlyenb Istowied by Tar E emirs, London eveslng yybyy
at H
Oily. by Two o'clock se tb• 4sy of pubtleatios.

HIGH WATER AT teOI3I3O3I.IIIRIDOC.
Tm• 1344-1114.135, 47 ula. peat 3; Mumma, 6 ode. Put 4.
To-llossow—Marales, 77 alt. P..M 4 , 1/4441500n, 47 ma. No 4.

LONDO_V, THURSDAY, JULY 15.

AT the morning sitting of the House of Commons
yesterday, Lord MORPETII, in answer to Mr. It.
YoasE, said he could not afford any sanguine expec-
tation that the new House of Commons would be
ready for occupation at the commencement of the en-
suing session, expressing, however, a hope that the
desired event might be looked for shortly after that
period.—Mr. T. DCNCOMEE moved the second read-
ing of a bill for the Prevention of Accidents in Mines
and Collieries, Sir GEonnE GREY stating that his reason
for opposing it, and moving that it be read a second
time that day three months, was that the subject
was under the serious consideration of the government,
with the view of framing a measure which would not
be liable to the very serious objections which existed
against the present bill. After some discussion, the
second reading was negatived by a majority of 56 to
23.—Sir DE LACY EVANS moved the second reading
of the Parliamentary Electors Bill, the object of the
measure being to enact that the payment of rates up
to the sth of October of the previous year, instead of
the sth of April of the current, should entitle electors
to the right of voting for members of parliament.
Mr. CRIPPS moved that tho bill be read a second
time that day three mouths. On a division the num-
bers were found to be equal, 54 to 54, when the
SPEAKER, in accordance with precedent, gave his
deciding vote against the amendment, which was
consequently lost. —The house then proceeded to
divide on the original question of tho second
reading, when the bill itself was doomed to a
similar fate, it being rejected by a majority
of one, the numbers being 52 to 53. —On
the report on the Bankruptcy and Insolvency
Bill, Mr. HAMILTON moved that the terms " barris-
ter " and " attorney" should imply members of those
professions both of England and Ireland; but, the pro-
position being objected to, the hon. member withdrew
it—Sir I. GR kIIAM gave notice that on the third
reading of the bill, ho should move a clause to render
certain that which appeared at present doubtful,
namely, that a judge of the new small debts or county
courts should be ineligible to sit in the Commons
House of Parliament —On the third reading of the
Destitute Persons (Ireland) Bill, Sir G. GREY stated
that the amount raised under the Queen's letter for
the relief of distress in Ireland was 171,533!. 16s. 2d.,
of which sum 170,000/. had been handed over to the
committee of the British Association ; the committee
also having received other subscriptions to the amount
of 254,754/., the whole sum which had passed through
their hands was 421,7541.

Onii;iiringing up of the report,
Mr. HAMILTON moved the introduction of the follow-
ing clause:—" And be it enacted and declared, that in
the construction of this act, and the several acts herein re-
!erred to, the expression barrister-at-law, or barrister, shall I
mean a barrister at.law called to the bar either in England
or Ireland; and the expression attorney-at-law shall mean
as attorney-at-law either for England or Ireland, except
where it is otherwise provided."
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL opposed the clause.
Mr. ST I:ART advised the mover of the clause to withdraw
it for the present.
Mr. 800 VERIE was sorry to see the Attorney-General
in favour of keeping up the monopoly of English lawyers,
Mr. HENLEY opposed the clause as a piecemeal affair.
Sir J. GRAHAM wished to put a question to the Attorney-
General. lie had heard that one of the judges appointed
to a county court was a candidate for a seat in that house in
the next session. Certainly, in any concern which he had
had in the preparation of the County Courts Bill, he by no
means contemplated any such eligibility on the pert of the
judges. The bill then about to be passed imposed upon the
judges fresh duties, and there could be no doubt that, with
their attendance on circuit, their time would now be fully
occupied. The office was, he believed, a new one under the
statute of Anne ; and he would ask the Attorney-Genera]
whether in his opinion, as the law then stood, the judges of
the county courts were not disqualified from holding seats in
that house ? If the Attorney-General should ho of opinion
that they were not disqualified at present, he (Sir J. Gra-
ham) would, on the third reading, bring up a clause abso-
lutely disqualifying them. (Hear, hear.)
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said he had directed his
attention to the matter, and he would state to the house
the view which he entertained as to the propriety or
impropriety of answering the question. The act of
parliament did not give to the crown the power of ap-
pointing the judges of the county courts ; but said that it
would be lawful for the Lord Chancellor to appoint them.
The question for consideration would be, whether the office ,1
in question was or was not an office of place or profit under 1
the crown ? Precedents might be cited on both sides. The
precedents adduced from the election committees in favour
at one Tiew might be met by the precedent of the select com-

THE Mexican war is evidently drawing to a close.
The two parties which have shown all the ferocity
of hatred, without any of its energy, towards the
Americans, have been deposed from influenc3 and
power. They are the military and the ultra-demo-
cratic parties. These are the part;es which, blending
together and exciting each other, undertook the
defence of France against the united and overwhelm-
' iog force of the rest of Europe in 1789. Soldiers and de-
mocrat/in Mexico have by uniting but rendered defeat
more overwhelming, and their own wcakneFs more
conspicuous. SANTA ANNA and 0031E2 F inIAS have
each and both had fair trial, and been found wanting.
The quiet and timid civilian party re-appear, with
ilmtnen t, no doubt to make peace, and, no doubt, on
very disadvantageous terms.
And yet we see enough in the American bulletins to
feel that Mexico might have been defended. Gen.
SCOTT'S communications with Vera Cruz and his
own depUts have been completely cut off by
guerillas. All that is wanting is to multiply these,
and for the towns to show the same hatred, and to
make the same sacrifices, that the Spaniards did in the
peninaular war, in order to render the advance of the

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, JULY 15, 1847.

American army impossible. To burn the towns,
destroy or remove provisions, give the Americans
welcome nowhere, bat harass them front and rear,
and cut off communication—this would evidently make
an end of General SCOTT, and force the United States
to much greater efforts, or much more lenient terms.
But it is quite evident that the Mexicans are pre-
pared to do no such thing. The clergy fraternise with
t he Yankees, the farmers give them provisions in return
for promissory notes, and the Americans are quite at
home at Puebla as at Vera Cruz. All this is the
fault of the villainous governments of free Mexico, its
corrupt and selfish statesmen, its miserable com-
manders. Despotism is a bad thing, but despotism
itself had not the effect of so completely crushing
every spirit of nationality as the system which called
itself a republic, and which was more base and is
more cowardly than any nation under any regime.
The contemplation of such a state, of such men
and such events, prompts one to turn attention alto-
gether from Mexico itself, and consider merely the
ruinous effect that so great a conquest must have
on the future conduct and fortunes of the great
western republic. Internal influences, too, are at
work, which will more immediately, and not less
powerfully, contribute to shape its course. Of the
leading questions upon which parties in the United
States have divided few are more vital than that
which relates to the action of the central government
in respect of internal improvements. The waste lands
of all the territory of the Union arc by the constitution
vested in the Congressional government. Many of
the best statesmen of the country have earnestly
1 urged the application of the proceeds of the sales of
these lands to the opening of great trunk roads and
1 canals, and the effecting of such improvements as by
developing the national resources would enrich and
strengthen the whole republic. The jealousies of the
party, which, in its fear of central power, maintains a
view of state independence almost leading to anarchy,
has hitherto thwarted the advocates of this
policy. A great move is on the eve of being
made in the cause of internal improvements. A con-
vention has been summoned to meet at Chicago, on
Lake Erie, to deliberate on the beat mode of com-
pleting the water communications between the sea-
board and the Western states. New York has ap-
pointed deputies to take part in the proceedings of
this convention. So has Philadelphia. And, what
is scarcely less important, Mr. BENTON, and other
leading members of the party hitherto opposed to
the feeling of internal improvements, have either pro-
mised to attend, or expressed their regret at their
inability to be present, and their syinpahy with the
objects of the meeting.
The circumstance that such a convention may be
able to unseat the present government, and change
its internal policy, is, perhaps, its least important fea-
ture. The improvements contemplated by those who
have been instrumental in bringing about the conven-
tion would accelerate the development of the
immense mineral region which has yet been only
scratched at Pittsburgh and Wheeling ; and the
additional power which the management of these
improvements would vest in the authorities at Wash-
ington would go far to impart greater reality to the
Congressional government. Since the breaking up of
the National Bank, the Supreme Court of the United
States is the only felt national institution in the
Union. The material power of an internal improve-
ment commission would confirm the authority of this
eminent and high-minded court. The powers of the
central government would be increased without one
real liberty of the Stites being encroached upon. And
therepetition ()fetich lamentable examples of weakness
as were exhibited when the frontier Hunters' lodges
of the state of New York set at defiance the autho-
rity of the government at Washington would in time
be rendered impossible of recurrence.

IT would be a great mistake to suppose that the
return of Dr. POWER, for the county of Cork, ought
to be received as anything like a fair indication of the
probable results of the next general election in the'!
Irish counties generally, or even in the county of
Cork itself. When less than a fourth of the constitu-
ency could be brought to the poll, the contest must
have been merely nominal, and the victory a matter
of little interest either to the electors or the candi-
dates. A seat which could only be retained for afew
days was no very tempting prize, particularly when
it was generally understood that the result of this
preliminary contest would have no influence whatever
on the issue of the more serious battle, necessary to be
fought at no very distant date. The great parties
between whom a severe struggle is imminent nevcr
appeared in the field; as in the thirty years' war it was
customary before any pitched battle to have a
preliminary skirmish between the undisciplined
light troops on each side, for the purpose of making
the rival commanders acquainted with the nature of
the ground, so the repeal lagers under Dr. POWER,
and the Brunswick Croats under Mr. LEADER, were
thrown out from the snain armies on both sides, while
the commanders of bath great parties watched with
greater interest the nature of the skirmish than they
felt in ita issue.

Mr. LEADER fought under decided disadvantages ;
one of his family contested the county some thirty
years ago as an avowed radical, and his name there-
fore rendered him an object of suspicion to the old
conservatives—a body of which it may be said, at
least in the county of Cork, as it was of the Bourbons,
that " they have forgotten nothing and learned no-
thing in the course of a generation." They look
for the return of the days of Protestant ascendancy
with the same desperate faith that the Britons ex-
pected the re-appearance of King ARTHUR, and
the Portuguese the restoration of Don SEBAS-
TIAN. They remember that in their youthful
days they achieved a decided triumph over PONSONBY
and LEADER, by returning Lord BERNAr.D and the
Hon. RICHARD MARE ; subsequent defeats they
ascribe to the " spells, conjurations, and mighty
magic" of O'CONNELL ; now that the wizard has been
removed they deem that the charms by which their
strength was suspended for more than a quintet of a
century are broken, and that political affairs will re-
I sums what they deem their natural course, that is to
say the renewed reignof the LONGFIELDi, the BOYLES,
and the BERNARDS. The name of LEADER which had
in old times been found at the head of a revolt against
this dynastic oligarchy filled their minds with horror;
it seemed to them as unnatural as that a COBDEN
should come out as a candidate chief for protectionists,
or a HUME seek to be elected on the strength of a
high church party.
The younger conservative party to which Mr.
LEA DER belongs, and on the strength of which he
came forward, is as vet in a chaotic state ; its strati-
fication has been sadly disturbed, so that its faults
and dislocations are full of perplexities to the
students of political geology. Tho source of all
its anomalies is want of faith: it does not believe
the traditions by which it professes to be guided, and
yet contends for purity of creed with greater earnest-
ness than was manifested when every one of its
dogmas was a living principle. There is a supera-
bundance of assertion in rhetorical phrases, hut not a
particle of earnestness of conviction manifested in
action. They will dilate by the hoar on the disgrace
of having the Yorkshire of Ireland represented by a
person whose only claims are that his opinions are
diametrically opposite to those of the aristocracy, and
indeed almost the entire reseectability of the county,
but they will make no exertion in purse or person to
redeem the constituency, unless they see an immediate
prospect of pecuniary reward. Mr. LEADER'', com-
mittee could tell strange stories of the demands
made for posting and other travelling charges
by the Brunswick squires and country gen-
tlemen who were the loudest in urging him
to come forward and rescue the county from the
repealer. Had he consented to comply with such
exorbitant demands, he would now bo the sitting
member. It is said that ho menaces an exposure of
I the shabbiness of these most patriotic gentlemen,
and, should ho fulfil the threat, we may hope to be
amused by one of the most edifying illustrations of
Irish political life which has appeared since the days
of Sir JONAH BARRINGTON. . .

-.-
The strongest party in the county of Cork is one
that, for nearly thirty years, has been all but apa-
thetic: it is the old liberal party, which, without
being exactly whip, may be regarded as the natural
ally of the whigs in England. Among the landed
proprietors, more or less identified with this party, are
the Duke of DevoNstitae, the Earls of SIIiiNNON,
KINGSTON, CORK, and LBTOWEL, the remnant of the
old catholic aristocracy, and several English pur-
chasers of Irish properties, such as the TIFRNETS, the
ARERCROMIITS, and others. Were it possible to effect
any arrangement between this party and the moderate
conservatives, so that liberals having local claims
could be brought forward as candidates, there would
not be a chance for the repeaters on one side, er for