The Sun.
London, England, 1852-03-17 00:00:00

THE

of improvement lay in a system of well-directed emigra-
tion.—(Hcar, hear.) Ile did not know whether there
might not be cases in whit h grants of public money
might not be made, but he would advise the Chancellor
of the Exchequer to Le very cautious. It appeared to
him that this did not seem to be one of the cases in which
such a grant ought to be made.
Mr. TREL A WNY said if they had any spare cash in
the public Treasury there were other prtions of the
kingdom in which the money might be more advan-
tageously laid out than in the Highlands of Scotland.
For instance, they had at present no direct communica-
tion between Portsmouth and Plymouth, although that
was most essential to the national defences. Teen, they
required an extension of the electric telegraph. It
should be borne in mind that they had only 2,000
bayonets in Portsmouth, and if an enemy suddenly ap-
peared on the coast the whole of the ships might be de-
stroyed and the arsenal burned. It was also, he thought,
essential that they should have a line of railway between
Plymouth and Falwouth, which it might bo advisable to
carry out. It appeared to him that this was an attempt
to adopt Protectionist principles by encouraging, by
means of public grants, those particular undertakings.

Sir D. NORREYS reminded the House that they
were aware, from the blue books that had been pub-
lished, that there was great distress existing in the west
of Ireland, but it was utterly impossible to aid theta by
means of these grants. If a commission were ap-
pointed by the people of Scotland to inquire into the best
means of relieving the existing distress, the Government
might perhaps be induced to interfere.
Mr. BOOKER said it appeared to him that the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer had overlooked one very im-
portant consideration—namely, that there was extreme
distress existing in the Highlands and Islands of Scot
land. He did think that it was an object of the first
consideration with a parental Government to efford pro-
fitable industrial employment to the people, without the
necessity of their transporting themselves from the
shores of their native country. He thought the Hon.
and Learned Member for Newark was entitled to the
best thanks of the House for the able and lucid state-
ment he had put before them. It was impossible to
calculate the effect of the construction of a railway, as
the traffic rapidly developed itself as soon as facilities
wore afforded. He should like to have the assurance of
the Government that they would be prepared to con-
sider the matter in the event of the parties themselves
raising a portion of the capital. He understood the in-
habitants had offered to defray two-fifths of the expenses
of the preliminary survey.
Mr. F. SCOTT thought the case that had been
brought forward by the Hon. Gentleman presented pe-
culiar features, not only with regard to the amount of
toe distress, but with regard to the extensive tract of
country over which its benefits would extend. He had
hoped that the Right Hon. Gentleman would have
afforded more countenance to the project than he seemed
inclined to grant, and it appeared to him that the
matter was deserving of further and more attentive
consideration.

Mr. P. HOWARD hoped the Commissioners would
not persist in his motion at present. The Right Hon.
Gentleman had not entirely negatived the motion of the
Hon. Gentleman, and it might be advisable to submit to
him a more matured plan. He did not think it would
be possible to induce the landed proprietors to subscribe
unless they had some anterior encouragement from the
Government. As ha thought the matter deserving of
further consideration, he should move the adjournment
of the debate to Tuesday, 30th March.
The motion having been seconded, was put and
agreed to.