The Express.
London, England, 1848-06-06 00:00:00

tors of the kingdom to be relieved from the defy on their
certificates. If his right bon. friend would give him that
assurance he would not prom his natation for leave to bring in
a bill on the subject.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that in
the present state of the finances of the country he could not
spare the amount which this tax raised; viz., about 140,0001.
He would, however consider the claims of the individuals
alluded to. but at 'the same time he must guard himself
against being supposed to make any dietinet promise as to
the course which might eventually be taken.
Lord It. GROSVENOR said that he wld not bring on
his motion without giving due notice to his right hon.
friend.
PUBLIC RECORDS.
Mr. M. MILNES inquired whether it was the intention
of the government to bring in a bill for the erection of •
proper of ice fur keeping the publictime records, which
oods and
wen at
present in a perilous state ?Some since
Forestalled appropriated part of the Rolls estate as • site for
this purpose, and no.ices to quit had been given to tenants
in possession in Chancery-lane and the neighbourhood, and
he hoped no time would be lost in adopting measures to pre-
serve the great muniments of the empire, which at present
were exposed to daily peril.
Sir G. OItEY leashed that it his noble friend at the bead
of the WOUII/1 and Forests was to bring in a bill this year the
matter would not be much advanced, because he was afraid
his right hon. friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer
was not at present in a condition to grant the means for ear.
Tying out the works.
THE CHARTIST MEETINGS.
Mr. G. THOMPSON had a question to put to the right
hon. baronet at the heed of the Home Department on the
subject of the oecurrences which had taken place yesterday
(Sunday) in various parts of the Tower Hamlets. He (Mr.
G. Timely on) hod had communications from a number of
persons who had been on the spot, where conflicts had taken
plate, and where persons had gathered together in consider-
able numlwrs, for the purpose, as he was informed, ot dis-
cus,ing political matters ; and he begged to ask the right hon.
baronet whether he had received any official information on
the subject, and upon what authority the police, by violence
wholly unprovoked—(oh, oh)—uuprovoked, as he was in-
form, el, hal undertaken to disperse the persons so 'assembled ?
Ile had been told by those who had taken a leading part in
the proceedings yesterday that two meetings had been
held its Bonner's fields—one at two and the other at
five o'clock—and that both bad been commenced, had
continued, and had ended without any interruption to the
public peace, and that, after the business had been gone
through, the people had been enjoined to disperse quietly,
and atter large numbers had left the field on their way to
their respective homes, the police inside an unprovoked
attack on those eh) remained, and who suffered consider-
able injuries. (Oh, oh.) He was not there to assert or
deny the wait of the statements which had reached his
ears, but he wee anxious, after such serious conflicts, that the
house should have the benefit of any information which the
right hon. baronet might have in his penessiou.
Sir G. GREY—It the lion. gentleman had given me
notice before I came down to the house of his intention
to ask the questii n he has put to me, I would have brought
down some documentary evidence from which the house
would be lel to believe that these meetings were of a
very different character to that stated by the honourable
pen lemma. (Hear, hear.) I have no hesitation in
creaming to myself the whole responsibility of the
police, acting as they did under the direct instructions I gave
to the police commissioners not to allow meetings to be held
at unssaisonalie hours. (Cheers.) After the experience of
the last week or ten diked, loud. general, and just complaints
have been made from the ii.habitants el the districts in which
these meetings assembled, and which meetings had led to
acts of violence to person and property, against which the in-
habitants had a right to look to the government for protec-
tion. (Cheers.) They have been assured that that protect
lion shall be afforded, so far as the law wia allow us to afford
that protection ; and I believe the law will be found com-
pletely effectual fir that purpose. (Hear, hear.) The meet-
ing which the hon. gentleman has referred to in Bishop
Bonner's fields was not interrupted by the police, because it
was not held at au umr.asonable hour ; but immediately on
the breaking up of that meeting an attack wee made on a
church in the neighbourhood. I believe it was supposed
some policemen were concealed in the church, and they
were in the neighbourhood. A number of windows were
broken, end on tho police interfering for the purpose of dis-
persing the mob thus riotously assembled they were
assaulted, and a conflict took pities. lam happy to say they
succeeeed in dispersing the mob, but not until about 30 of
them had been seri .usly injured, one man being stabbed
through the hand (the blow having been aimed at his breast),
and several others having suffered very severe injuries. Sir,
in consequence of the experience we have had of former
meetings, where the parties assembling at them had not any
plausible pretext for saying that they were held for a legiti-
mate purpose, we have thought it our duty to direct the
police not to allow those meetings to be held, if composed of
the class of persons who have recently met for that purpose,
which meetings have given rise to serious complaints on the
part of the inhabitants, and to breaches of the peace; and
effectual measures will be taken for their prevention in
future. (Cheers.)
ENGLISH INTERFERENCE IN ITALY.
Mr. MUNTZ said he was informed that there was a gene-
ral feeling in Italy that E was aiding the Austrian
part), and that the late horrible massacre in Naples had not
been without the sanction of the English ambassador.
(Laughter.) However absurd the supposition might be the
belief had gained ground, and it was therefore desirable that
the assertion should receive a decided contradiction from the
government, for it was alike prejudicial to Englishmen and
to English commercial affairs. He therefore wished to ask
if the gm raiment had interfered in favour of Austria ; and
if so, to what extent
Viscount PALMERSTON said he was glad the question
had been put, as he knew many meet absurd, false, and
calumnious reports had been circulated in Italy with regard
to the conduct of the Britisa agents. and the instructions
and acts of Brit sh government. He had great satisfac-
tion in assuring the house that there was no foundation
whatever for those reports. (Hear, hear.) The British
government, though • party to the treaty of Vienna, by
which certain arrangements were made, was not bound by
that treaty to interfere in an' manner in the events now tak-
ing place in Italy. Though the government nad been in
ancient alliance and friendly relations with the empire of
Austeis, it could not but feel a strong sympathy with the
successtul endeavours which had been made of late by the
people of Italy to obtain for themselves free and constitu-
tional liberty. (Hear, hear.) The natural and proper posi-
tion of Great Britain, with regard to passing events, was to
be a spectator of what was going on, hut not to interfere,
either directly or indite cdy. (Hear, hear.) Judging from
the offisial reports Which the g ive.nment had received, the
events which had lately taken place at Naples had been very
much misrepresented in their character. In consequence of
what had passed he should lay on the table of the house the
account of those transseti ms which had been received from
her Majesty's charge d'Affaires at Naples, which we uld show
that he bad had nothing to do with those events; and would
alsoshow that those events did not bear the character which,
in many of th^ public prints, had been attributed to them.
Mr. ANSI-RV asked if the noble lord had any objection
!Slay before the house copies of despatches to the detlereat
governments of Italy in which he might havesignified those
strati me nts ?
Viscount PALMERSTON was not prepared to do so with-
out examining what portion of the despatches were proper to
be communicated to the house, but would answer the
question on another day.
LAW EXPENSES OF PUBLIC DEPARTMENTS.
Mr. AGLIONB a' moved for certain returns connected
with these expenses, which he said he believed were un-

opposed.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER protested
against hon. members assuming that returns would be on.
opposed without communicating with the department
from which they were to come.
Mr. V. SMITH said the printing of unopposed returns
was a source of very great expense. He intended to submit
a motion requiring notice to be given of all such returns, so
that they might be opposed either by the government, or by
any individual member. Frequently, long lists of names
were printed, in which no one took the slightest interest.
After a conversation,
The motion was withdrawn, Mr. AOLIONBY Mating
that he would bringi t on in its course, after the orders of
the day were disposed of.
NAVIGATION LAWS.
Mr. RICARDO asked the noble lord at the head of the
government whether it was probable the debate on the
navigation laws would be resumed that evening t
Lord J. RUSSELL bald that if the debate on Spanish
affairs lasted so toms as ten o'clock he should certainly not
think it advisable to resume the discussion on the navigation
laws that evening, but would pmtpone it tilt Thursday ; or he
would ask those hon. gentlemen who had notices tor to-morrow
to postpone them till Thursday—then to have the preference
—and to proceed with the navigw ion laws te-morrow.
JAMAICA AND BRITISH GUIANA.
Mr GOULBURN asked if any official accounts had been
received from the governor of Jamaica by the recent packet ?
Mr. HAWES was understood to reply in the negative.
In answer toe question from Mr. RomsnioN,
Mr. HAWES stated that despatches had been received by
the lut packet from the governor of British Guiana.
PRUSSIA AND DENMARK.

Mr. URQUHART asked in what position this country
stood with respect to the mediation between Prussia and
Denmark ?
Viscount PALMERSTON said that the negotiations were
carried on between the Prussian government as represented
in the German ennfedcration sod the Danish government.
The mediation of this country was going on singly, not con-
jointly with that of any other government.
SPANISH AFFAIRS.
Mr. URQUHART wished to know if the noble lord (Pal-
merston) had any objection to lay before the house copies of
the application of the Spanish government to this govern-
ment for aid under the quadruple treaty, and of the reply
sent by this government; also an account of the monies due
from the Spanish Government.
Viscount PALMERSTON said that the papers in which
the Spanish government had claimed aid under the quadruple
treaty would be found amongst those relating to the affairs
of Portugal. If the hon. member would furnish him
with a list of the other documents he asked for he (Lord
Palmerston) would state afterwards whether there was nay
objection to their being produci.cl.
BOROUGH OF HORSHAM.
Mr. GORING moved that a new writ should issue, for this
borough, in the room of John Jervis, Esq., whose election
had been declared void. Ho was induced to make this mo-
tion on the ground that the Borough Elections Bill would not
interfere with this case.
The motion being seconded,
Mr. HUME expressed his surprise that this motion had
been brought forward. (Hear, hear.) If the reform be ad-
vocated were adopted, he hoped Horsham would never re-
turn a member again, but only ea one of s series of boroughs.