The Sun.
London, England, 1852-05-18 00:00:00

the colony in obviating the unfavourable results anti-
cipated from the recent gold discoveries. It had
been stated by the Secretary of State for the Colonies
that four companies of the 59th Regiment had been
asked for by the colonists, to aid in the preservation of
peace aiid order; wed the First Lord of the Admiralty
had received a requisition to send out a ship to Mel-
bourne to assist in the same direction. The Noble
Lord went on to say that ho had many misgivings as to
the character of the emigrants who were now going oat,
and who were of a class from whom he feared much
danger was to be apprehended, and who were liable to
the gold fever. Their first impulse would bo to rush to
the gold diggings at once; and the influx of a large po-
pulation composed of classes not very disposed, perhaps,
to consider their best interests, would tend rather to in-
crease than alleviate the evil. At the same time much
evil would result from the abandonment of many fields
of labour, in which it was desirable as much as possible
to augment the supply of labour.—(Hear, hear.) It
was the duty of the Government to facilitate the trans-
mtssien of emigrants, and they would avail them-
selves to the utmost of the funds at their disposal,
in order to avert the evils which otherwise must re-
sult from the great influx of labourers selected only
from classes least likely to consult their own real
interests.—(Hear, hear.) It was a great question
whether, after all, those who devoted themselves
to agriculture might not realise more money by
the high prices which would result from the abandon-
ment of so many fields of employment, and the great
quantity of gold, than by going to the gold diggings.—
(Hear.) And he believed that this would, in fact, be
the case, and that such persona would at once earn a
great debt of gratitude from the country, and derive
great advantage to themselves—(clear)—proventing the
waste of a large quantity of capital now invested in flocks
of sheep, wandering (it might be said) without a shop-
herd.—(Hear, hear.)
Lord PORTMAN wished to call the attention of the
Noble Lord to the regulations of the Emigration Com-
missioners, which were, many of them, so minute that it
was scarcely possible to comply with them, and they
were evaded or disregarded in a way which the Com-
missioners would rather disapprove of. For instance,
there was required a certificate of registry of birth and
baptism. This might be easily obtained in country
places, but in large towns there were vast numbers who
would find it very difficult to discover the place of re-
gistry.—(Hear.) Then, again, the payments required
to be made by the mechanics were larger than those re-
quired from agriculturists; and yet the mechanics were
of as much use as the labourers. The certificate was too
stringent in its requisitions, and was often on that ac-
count signed without much scruple with respect to the
character of the persons proposing to emigrate, it being
believed that the man who was rather an idle fellow, and
somewhat of a poacher withal at home, would make a
very good colonist or emigrant abroad.
Earl GREY said the subject was of extreme import-
ance, and his opinion had always been that the money
to be expended in emigration ought to be expended
with a primary view to the welfare of the colony, being
derived from the purchase of lands in the colony; and
this principle had been laid down by Parliament, and
had been pursued by various Secretaries of State. In
conformity with this principle had been his instructions
to the Emigration Commissioners, whom he had desired
to consider themselves trustees for the colonists, and
bound so to spend the money at their disposal as to pro-
duce the greatest possible advantage to the colony, and
not to consider the interest of the landowners, who were
pressing them with the object of getting rid of such
persons as would rather be an incumbrance than an ad-
vantage to the colony. His Noble Friend (Lord Port-
man) entertained an opposite opinion, but he (Lord Grey)
believed that an idle and drunken man at home would
be an idle and drunken man abroad. In spite even of
the existing regulations, attempts were made from time
to time to defeat the vigilance of the Commissioners
by giving false certificates; but the Commissioners
would, to the utmost, resist those attempts, and
would avail themselves of all the powers of the law
to punish such scandalous misconduct.—(Hear, hear.)
The Noble Lord objected to the regulations as too
stringent, especially with regard to mechanics. But
these regulations were established at the earnest desire
of the colonists, and when, some years ago, they had
been relaxed, the result had been complained of by the
colonists, as tending to give them mechanics instead of
agriculturis's. Men were very much the creatures of
habit, and those who were accustomed to live in towns
would not be content to live in solitude, keeping sheep.
As regards the limitation in the number of children, it
had arisen from the fact that illness always broke out
when a great number were on board a vessel. He quite
agreed that the money sent over by the colonists should
be expended as speedily as possible—(Hear, hear)—con-
sistently with the due selection of emigrants. He was
not unaware of the dangers referred to by the Noble
Earl (Desert), but he believed they would not be di-
minished by any attempts to diminish the current of
emigration. Since labour hail become more abundant,
applications had been made to reduce the amount re-
quired to be deposited, so as to increase the facilities for
emigration; but he hoped advantage would be taken of
the gold fever to increase the sum thus payable by the
emigrants.
The Earl of DONOUGHMORE said he thought the
class of young persons now shut up in workhouses in
Ireland would be very fit for emigration to Australia.
It was obvious that the class of persons now going out
were going out only for the gold diggings. But he be-
lieved that the young persons to whom he referred would
stay with the parties by whom they were hired. The
result of their emigration would be greatly to relieve
the over-burdened workhouses of Ireland.—(Hear.)
Lord WODEHOUSE said the position of the Austra-
lian colonies interested this country greatly in conse-
quence of the trade in wool; and to relieve the colonists,
and benefit that trade, it was rtquisite that the emigra-
tion should be not only abundant, but immediate.—
(Hear, hear.) And the question was, whether a suffi-
cient number would be obtained in a sufficient time
without relaxing the regulations of the Commissioners.
—(Hear, hear.) The effect of these regulations seemed
to be that none could emigrate except a class of persons
whom we should be sorry to see go.—(Hear, hear.)
The Duke of ARGYLL said the question was whether
the regulations might not be to a certain extent relaxed
—(Hear, hear.) The Noble Earl, lathe!
y
nkat
the head of
—(Hear, hear)—and yet eligible emigrants be sent out
the Colonial Department, seemed taobte
left that
them.theßre-
yltacred in some degree,
and he hoped would be altered yet more.—(Llear, hear.)
towns,
ignu lfaactito,ntshe were ehraedtoarlermeaadiyn
The population of manufacturing
such as Paisley,
periodically recurring periods of de-
pressionwere exposed to
and distress; and in consequence of this, and
from
the constant change of occupation manufacturing to
• ltural, the weavers were found very well qualified
agricultural, bexeeanetia
Etc. Yet a regulation of the Commissioners excluded
the weaver from the advantages of emigration.—(Hear,
for a good deal of farming work—ploughing, fencing,
hear.) He was persuaded many of these regulations
c
might be altered with advantage to the mother country
and to the colonists.—(Hear, bean)
Earl GREY said the Commissioners wished not to
take weavers if they could got labourers. As to the
to the regulations of the Commissioners, which, in some
cases, had been fraudulently evaded,
gra
otifon the, itbboaarddboefengastaorpdpiaendaiinn
noton conforming
sequeue of
Irishth conduct eai
The Earl of HARROWBY said there was another
consideration besides the character of the class of e
emi-
grants who would most benefit the colony, and that was
the lapse of time.—(Hear.) It might happen that the
best possible class could not be obtained in the shortest
time. And he wished to say that the weavers formed
by no means the worst class of emigrants.—(Hear.)
The Earl of SHAFTESBURY said they had been
found the best shepherds ever sent out.—(hear.)
Lord REDESDALE said it must be borne in mind
that it was eheaper to send the emigrants to America
than Australia.—(Rear.)
The Earl of DESART said the Government were
anxious to spend on emigration the funds at their dis-
posal for that purpose; and that if the emigration were
not sufficient, it would then be considered whether a
relaxation of the regulations were advisable.—(Hear.)
The motion was agreed to.
PROTESTANT DISSENTERS BILL.
The Bishop of SALISBURY rose to move the second
reading of this Bill, which was, in substance, the same
as had on two former occasions been introduced into
their Lordships' House, and, on one occasion, had passed
through it. When the Toleration Act was passed, in
the reign of William 111., Protestant dissenters were re-
quired to register their places of worship in the court of
the bishop, and before the clerk of the peace. The rea-
son was that the Act relieved them from penalties under
various statutes, of the administration of which the
bishops might naturally be considered guardians. The
lapse of time and change of opinion rendered it desirable
that regulations, which originally might have been very
proper, should now no longer be continued. No one
imagined that Protestant dissenters, who worshipped
God according to their own consciences, should on that
account be subjected to penalties. However much he
regretted that any portion of his fellow subjects should
be separated from him in worship, they ought not for
that reason, to be exposed to any penalties in courts
civil or ecclesiastical. He did. not desire, therefore,
that the registration should continue to be made in
the ecclesiastical courts, and proposed that it should
bo only before the clerk of the peace, (1
Tho measure, therefore, would provide that, and would
be agreeable, ho hoped, to the dissenters. It
.vott E!. so
be acceptable to the -Church of England •
us re loving her
from a duty which did not properly attach to her. No
e htration, but •
doubt it was merely a mattcat.co.
licence;l.g
and as la
common parlance it was
.c 11.d.there
was a certificate of registration given, the meetings
houses were called "licensed:'
Tne Archbishop of CANTERBURY said the Incon-
veniences of the present system were so evident, and the
remedy proposed by the Right Rev. Prelate so clear and
simple, that it was unnecessary to say anything in con-
firmation of what he had stated. He should give the
measure his support.
The Bill was then read a second time.
The Bishopric of Christchurch (New Zealand) Bill
was re-committed and the report received.
The Disabilities Repeal Bill was read • a third time and
passed.
The Repayment of Advances (lreland) Acts Amend-
ment Bill was also read a thtr • d Limo and passed.
The Committee (Al Captain Warner's invention was
nominated, and
Their Lordships then
adjourned.

ROUSE OF COMMONS, May 17.
The StEAKER took the Chair shortly before Four
o'clock,

• NEW EMBER.
mabrltrh.eDn.. JUNE; took the M
oaths and his seat for Car

PRIVATE BUSINESS.
teasTisfaelisderufeallrobwouinrg. Bills were read a third time and