The Sun.
London, England, 1830-03-17 00:00:00

EXCHANGES ON LONDON.

HAMBURG, MARCH 9.-13 154 ; two months, 13 131
PETERSBURGII, FEB. 26.-10 13-32.
BRE➢IEN, MARCH s.—Two months, 620.
BERLIN, MARcH 6.—Three month., 71g.
CHRISTIANIA, FEB. 20.—Three months, 632.
AMSTERDAM, MARCH 12.-14 40; two months,l2 30,

We are extremely glad that the proceedings
of the Irish Poor Committee will be under the
superintendence of Mr. SPRING RICE, not only
on account of his thorough knowledge of the
real condition of Ireland, but because lie is a
strenuous opponent of the introduction of Poor
Laws into that country. It is really amazing
`hat, with the English Poor Rates and their
effects before their eyes, men should be found
willing to countenance any scheme having for its
object the infliction of a similar system upon

Ireland. " Something must be done with the '
Irish Poor," is a phrase in every one's mouth—
but, urgent as we believe the necessity of doing
that " something" to be, we are convinced that
the institution of Poor Laws would be plunging
Ireland into Scylla in endeavouring to save her
from Charybdis.
The question for the consideration of the
Committee is not merely how to relieve the aged
and sick poor, but how to provide for the able-
bodied population of' Ireland that subsistence
with which their labour, by reason of its redun-
dancy, will not supply them. Ireland is not
notoriously deficient in hospitals and charitable
institutions, as Mr. RICE shewed by reference
to many of her establishments of this description,
though there is probably room for more than at
present exist ; and to this point the Committee
will, of course, direct its attention, for the duty
of taking care of such of its members as are
physically unable to help themselves must ever
be imperative upon all societies, and stands in-
dependent of any question as to improving the
condition of those who are able to work,
but whose work yields them an inadequate
value in return for it. In speaking of Poor
Laws, we do not, therefore, refer to a provi-
sion for the infirm poor in hospitals, &c.,
maintained at the public charge, but to a system
like that practised in England by virtue of the
Constitution—be it right or wrong—that has
been given to the Act of ELIZABETH.
It is superfluous to remark, that the English
system has aggravated the mischief it was de-
signed to remedy, and that its abolition, so far
as regards the relief of able-bodied men, has
been recommended by Mr. STURGES BOURNE,
Mr. NOLAN, Sir JAMES SCARLETT, and other
Members of Parliament, who have turned their
attention to this branch of legislation. This
recommendation has been particularly confirmed
by the Report of the Emigration Committee,
and the opinions of Mr. MALTHUS and other
witnesses of weight examined before that Com-
mittee. The opinion has, i❑ fact, become all
most general that relief ought, after a certain
time, to be withheld from able-bodied paupers,
and that the whole administration of the poor
laws requires deliberate revision. Increasing
rates—increasing litigation—increasing abuses,
and increasing paupers—are the distinguishing
features of our system. Our Legislation has
become a by-word for its folly throughout
Europe—it has involved us in a dilemma from
which other countries have taken example, to
beware of such an evil—and it has been de-
scribed with great truth by the French Com-
mittee of Mendicity, who, when it was once
proposed to establish a poor rate in France,
in rejecting it, thus expressed themselves on
that of England :—" Cet exemple est une grande
" et importante legion pour nous, car indepen-
" damment des vices q'uelle nous pr6sente, et
" d'une depense monstreuse, et d'un encourage..
" ment necessaire a la faineautise, elle nous de-
" couvre la plaie politique de l'Angleterre la plus
" devorante, qu'il est egalement dangereux pour
" sa tranquillite, et son bonheur, de detruire ou
" de laisser subsister."
If this " plaie politique" ever crosses Sti
George's Channel, Ireland will be undone. It
would preclude all hopes of remedying the re-
dundancy of her population, and would saddle
her capital which is gradually, though slowly
augmenting, with a burden that would most
grievously check its advance, and thus render
the disproportion between labour and capital
greater than it mow is. Nor would it in any way
check the migration to England of Irish paupers,
because it would not raise the wages of labour
in Ireland to the level of those in England, and
the stream would therefore continue to set in to
the direction of the place where wages are com-
paratively high. The cause of the Irish immi-
gration is plain enough, and the immediate de-
fensive remedy for it is by altering the Laws of
Settlement, so that Irish paupers shall not be
entitled to relief from our parishes. Though
even this regulation would not prevent the value
of labour here being affected by the Irish labour-
ers who should continue to visit us ; and, in
fact, no effective remedy can be applied, until a
change is wrought in the condition of Ireland
herself. How t his is to be done is the problem
to be solved, and, strong as their zeal may be,
we doubt whether Mr. SPRING RICE'S Com-
mittee will do much to clear up the difficulty.
Things are come to that pass that experiments
must be tried, and we have not yet heard of any
that holds out so fair a promise as emigration.
Ireland has commenced an emigration of herself,
and has, in fact, decided the question whether it
shall or shall not take place. Mr. WILMOT
HoRTON has shown how the 100,000 Irish
labourers who pass half the year in England,
earning a million of money, and taking home
probably 300,0001. or 400,0001., of which Eng-
land is deprived, can, by an advance equal to
60,0001. per annum, be located in Canada, with
a safe prospect of the repayment of the advance
within a few years. Let people only read the
Emigration Report of 1827, and judge for
themselves whether it does not develope a plan
rather more likely to set Ireland to rights than
the subjecting her to the poor laws. But it is
the whole kingdom, not Ireland alone, that re-
quires to be relieved,—for Ireland we have
always with us,—and the poor we have always
with us,—and the longer we let them go on as
they are, the more grievous will both these bur-
thens become to us. Yet in what a state of
society do we live that we are forced to call
burthens, a naturally rich and fertile island, with
a strong and spirited race of men as its popula-
tion ?

The election will commence to-day, and
already our city is crowded with the friends and sup-
porters of the rival candidates. The Sheriffs have made
the best and most judicious arrangements for affording
accommodation. Counsellor ODELL, who gave his pro-
fessions) assistance to the returning officer at the Limeri
election, has been selected as the assessor on this occasion.
We have been informed that Mr. DANIEL CALLACMAN
will be proposed by Colonel LEINGIIELD and seconded
by Mr. SAMUEL LANE. We have not heard the names
of the gentlemen who arc to propose and second Mr.
NEwENHAst, but no doubt they will also be of the first
respectability."... Cork Com.titutioti, Saturday.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.-(THIS DAY).

COURT OF CHANCERY.

IN RE SIR GREGORY PAGE 'TURNER, A LUNATIC.

Mr. PHILLIMORE stated that in 1823 Sir Gregory,
prior to his lunacy, mortgaged part of his property to
the amount of 45,0001. to a Mr. Sturch. The mortgage
was to be for seven years, and ;at 5 per cent. Subse-
quently the committees mortgaged the same property for
2,700/. more, of which Mr. Starch accepted an assign-
ment. The period for the mortgage expiring was the
end of the present month. The committees had applied
to Mr. Sturch to ascertain whether he was willing to con-
tinue the advancement of his money, and to allow the in-
terest to be reduced from five to four per cent. He had
refused to accept of less than 5 per cent. The committees
had under such circumstances made an arrangement with
three other persons that they should, if the Court saw no
objection, take the assignment at per cent. and pay Mr.
Sturch his money. The petition prayed therefore that
the matter might be referred to the Master to enquire and
report whether or not this arrangement should be effected.
The LORD CHANCELLOR asked what the amount of
Sir Gregory's property was, as not a week passed away
without some application being made to the Court in this
matter?

Mr. PHILLIMORE could not state the amount of the
property. It consisted of a great many thousand pounds
a year; and the numerous applications to the Court had
been occasioned, in the first place, by reason of the great
extent of the property; and, in the next plase, in conse-
quence of its extreme entanglement.
The Loan CHANCELLOR next inquired what the amount
of the debts was?

Mr. PMILLIMORE was also unable to answer this ques-
:ion.—Reference made.

A WARD.-FAIRCLOTII V. WEBB.

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL applied that a petition in
this case, relating to a female ward of the Court, might be
ordered to be heard in his Lordship's prirate room on Sa-
turday next.—Order made.

SUPPOSED UNSOUNDNESS or 51IND.

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL stated, that in a matter in
which he was to have applied for a commission of lunacy,
a great number of affidavits had been filed. After a care-
ful perusal of those affidavits, he (the Solicitor-General)
found that the gentleman's mind in question had been en-
feebled simply as an effect of severe bodily indisposition ;
that not only was he recovering from his bodily infirmity,
but his mental powers were also improving, and indeed
had so far been restored that the Learned Counsel did not
feel, in the exercise of his duty, it right that he should
proceed to press for the commission, but would submit to
have the petition dismissed, the costs of it being to be paid
by the family, all of whom were before the Court, and
who did not object to this course, which it was confidently
hoped would be the means of allaying all irritation.
Mr. KNIGHT, who appeared to oppose the issuing of the
commission fully concurred in the propriety of all the So-
licitor-General had said.

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL thought it very desirable
that publicity should not be given to this extent of pro-
ceeding here, as it was more than probable that it would
never be necessary to have a commission of lunacy taken
out against this gentleman.
The LORD CHANCELLOR could have no objection, but
he had no wish that what had passed in Court this morn-
ing should be concealed from the public. The proceeding
reflected on no one, nor was it calculated to injure any
one. The allegation bad never been carried further than
that the very respectable gentleman alluded to (under the
care of his daughter) had had the powers of his mind im-
paired from bodily illness ; and that now it appeared, the
health of his body recovering, the perfect state of his
mind (as it was highly probable would be the case) was
also coming round.
Notwithstanding the Solicitor-General's suggestion, we
have deemed it a duty, as nothing passed at all calculated
to injure or discredit in any way the innocent object of the
petition, and as the matter has been noticed in the public
prints already, to give this sketch of what transpired this
morning.

VICE-CHANCELLOR'S COURT.
TuNSTALL V. TRAPPER.

This tremendous case, in which upwards of twenty
Counsel were engaged, and which, upon the hearing, oc-
cupied the Court six days, came on again to-day for argu-
ment upon the minutes. The parties in the case are so
numerous, and their rights' so complicated, that eyery
paragraph in the proposed minutes was objected to, and
long arguments addressed to the Court upon them. One
day has already been occupied in arguments upon the mi-
nutes, and the present day does not seem likely to bring
those arguments to a termination. We understand that
his Honour's paper of this day of further directions and
exceptions, contained almost every case of that description
set down before his Honour, a thing almost unparalleled
in the annals of the Court of Chancery.

THE FUNDS.-(THIS DAY.)

CITY, TWELVE O' CL 0 CK.

LivEaroot, MARCH 15 —There has been a fair busi-
ness transacted this week in British Plantation Sugar, the
sales amounting to 850 hhds. at steady prices.—The de-
mand for Cotton in the early part of the week was limited,
but subsequently there has been a very animated inquiry
for that article.—The demand for Pine Timber has been
very limited during the week, and dealers seem more de-
sirous to make sales than to purchase cargoes ; one cargo
of St. John's, of superior quality, was sold at 22d. per
foot,; inferior is very difficult of sale. We have no al-
teration to notice in Baltic Timber; prices as before.