The Sun.
London, England, 1837-02-18 00:00:00

73. All persons to be considered rate-payers who do not
deduct the whole of their rates from rent, and who receive
rent from which deductions for rates are made.
74. All rate-payers to have votes. Property rated under I
50/. to give one vote-under 1001., two votes-under 150/
three votes--under 2001., four votes-and above 200/., five
votes. Persons not entitled to deduct any part of the rate
from rent, to have double the regular number of votes.
75. The County cess-payers are to be taken for rate-payers
in the first instance, and so form the nucleus of the rate-paying
body under this Act.
76. Joint rate-payers are each to vote in proportion to their
several payments. If one only claim to vote, he shall be pre-
sumed to vote for the whole property rated.
77. Guardians to be elected by a majority of the rate-
payers. The election, when made, binding on the Union,
unless set aside by the Commissioners.
78. Rate-payer may vote by proxy ; such proxy to be evi-
denced in writing.
79. No rate-payers can vote, unless his rates be paid up till
within the last three months.
80. Corporations to vote by any of their officers.
81. The returning officers at elections to be appointed by
the Commissioners.
82. The Commissioners, with the consent of the Lords of
the Treasury, may issue Exchequer Bills in payment of monies
borrowed under this Act.
83. No contract entered into by a Board of Guardians to
be valid, unless conformable to the general rules promulgated
by the Commissioners. Contractors violating their contracts
liable to prosecution, by order of the Commissioners.
84. No Guardian or officer of the poor to hold a contract
while in office, either in his own name or the name of others,
under heavy penalties.
85. No accounts to be passed without being publicly audited.
86. No payments made contrary to the rules of the Commis-
sioners to be allowed.
87. The Commissioners are to appoint Auditors, who are
to be assisted by the Justices at the Petty Sessions in conduct-
ing the audit. They are empowered to strike out and reduce
all items which they may consider unjust or exorbitant,
88. Advertisements relative to this Act arc not to be charged
stamp-duty.
89. All letters on business relative to this Act to be free of
postage. Every abuse of this privilege to be punished by dig
missal from office, and a fine of 100/.
90. All summonses duly served under this Act, if left at the
last place of abode of the persons, to be cited.
91. Penalties recoverable by summons and the decision of
two Justices.
92. Officers disobeying the orders of the Guardians to be
liable to a fine by order of two Justices, not exceeding 5/.
93. Masters of Workhouses and Officers convicted of pur-
loining or embezzling property under this Act to forfeit 201 ,
and treble the value of the property purloined and embezzled.
94. Contempt of the Commissioners, or their orders, punish-
able by two Justices by a fine not exceeding 5/. for the first
and second offence. Subsequently to be deemed a misde-
meanour, punishable by fine, imprisonment, and hard labour.
95. Forfeitures and costs to be levied by distress and sale of
property within seven days of seizure. The, money to be paid
into the Poor-rate Fund.
96. Every rate-payer is to be considered a competent wit-
ness under this Act.
97. Persons appointed to carry this Act into operation to be
held irresponsible for prosecutions defective in form. No
plaintiff to recover for trespass, if the tender of sufficient amends
be made.
98. Appeals against the decisions of Justices to be made to
the Assistant Barristers, at least within four months of the de-
cisions complained of.
99. The Assistant Barristers to decide finally. In cases of
appeal against a rate the Assistant Barrister may quash it, and
order a new one, or confirm it, as he sees meet.
100. When a rate is quashed or reduced by order of the
Assistant Barrister the money must be returned to the rate-
payer, if already paid.
101. Persons appealing against rates are to give the Guar-
dians fourteen clays notice of such appeal.
102. Rates appealed against may be levied as if no such
appeal was lodged, at any time before the final decision is
given.
103. Persona appealing must enter into recognizances five
days after notice given to try such appeal at the next quarter
sessions, and to pay the costs if such shall be awarded against

them.
104. The decision of the Assistant Barrister final and bind-
ing upon all persons whatsoever.
105. Of actions against Commissioners and their servants
twenty-one days notice must be given. No action to com-
mence after the lapse of three months from the (late of the
plea urged as a ground of action. The defendants in such
actions to recover costs and damages.
106. The orders of the Commissioners are only remove-
able by a writ of certiorari into the Court cf King's Bench,
Dublin, and are binding till declared by that Court illegal.
107. No writ of certiorari to be moved for before ten days'
notice is give❑ to the Commissioners.
108. Before moving for writ recognizances to the amount of
501. to be entered into to defray costs and penalties.
109. Contracts not to be affected by decisions of the Court
of King's Bench.
110. After the passing of this Act the " Poor Law Com-
missioners for England and Wales" shall be styled simply "the
Poor Law Commissioners," and to sue, and be sued, under
this title.
111. The King may appoint another Commissioner to the
three already appointed.
11th The Commissioners may sit as a Board either in Eng-
land, Wales, or Ireland.
113. The Commissioners are to have a common seal, and
such seal shall be received as evidence.
114. One Commissioner may act as a Board in Ireland.
Such, in substance, is Lord JOHN RUSSELL'S Bill for
the Relief of the Irish Poor. We cannot compliment the
framers of it upon the manner in which they have drawn it up.
With a few slight alterations, we would undertake to strike
out forty clauses at least, without in the slightest degree
affecting a single one of its enactments. Provisions the most
dissimilar are jumbled together in a manner the most strange
and inconsistent. But these are evils which can be easily
remedied when the Bill is in Committee. What is really
important is the principle of the Bill, and that is deserving
of the strenuous support of every friend to the. well-being
of Ireland. We confess that we have many objections to
offer to the several clauses of this Bill. Nevertheless, if
we fail hereafter in convincing the legislature of the correct-
ness of our views, we shall not theiefore decline to give
it our best support. Of one thing we are certain, namely,
that this Bill, if carried into operation, will in five years
change the whole aspect of the social system in Ireland.

The affairs of the Peninsula are now assuming a more
favourable aspect. When accounts reached this country of
the revolution effected at St. Ildefonso by the troops, and
of a similar revolution at Lisbon, nothing was heard of from
certain parties but the most dismal forebodings. The whole
system of Constitutional Government, according to them,
was at an end—the Court was stripped of its power and
prerogative by a handful of troops under the command of a
sergeant—the tlistinctions and privileges of the Cortes were
usurped by the army—and there was no hope for the Penin-
sula till the voice of the nation could be heard, and signal
vengeance taken on the mutinous soldiery. Many persons
in this country, friendly to political liberty, concurred in
these sentiments, partly misled, we admit, by the state-
ments of correspondents of newspapers. Indeed, there was
a general feeling againit both these revolutions, because the
people of England confounded the principle on which re-
form ought to be founded in a long-established Constitu-
tional Monarchy, with that which it might be absolutely
necessary to adopt in a country torn by civil dissensions—
where the voice of the people could not be heard through
their representatives, and where every constitutional attempt
to obtain redress was frustrated by the intrigues of a corrupt
Court and a degraded nobility. In Portugal signal proofs
have been given that the feelings of the great body of the
people are in unison with those of the army. The counter-
revolution, attempted in November, miserably failed. Both
army and people in the capital united against it, and their
decision on that occasion has been affirmed by the electors
throughout the kingdom. A great majority of Mem-
bers have been returned in favour of the " revolu-
tionary" Government. The Ministry are occupied, not
in destroying the Constitution of 1820, but in carry-
ing its principles into effect—in curtailing unnecessary
expenses—in removing from office persons appointed
through Court intrigue or corruption—in attempts to im-
prove the trade and finances of the country ; and so con-
vinced do the people appear to be of their good intentions,
that neither the minions of the Court, nor the supporters of
the expatriated nobility, can venture on any new intrigue to
drive them from office. The address of the Cortes in an-
swer to the QUEEN'S Speech, detailing the course which
the Government intend to pursue, is remarkable for the
goad sense and judgment "which it displays. " Aware,'
say the Cortes, " of the wants of the country, the represen-
tatives of the people will proceed in the discharge of their
duties in conformity with the spirit of an enlightened age
always keeping in view that a great majority of the Portu-
guese nation desires order, and stability, and security, and
to enjoy at length the benefits of constitutional freedom pro-
mised them since 1820, but never realized." An equally
beneficial change is observable in Spain. Since the com-
mencement of the contest, Don CARLOS has never been re-
duced to such extremities as at present ; and it is not too
much to hope that he may finally be driven from the coun-
try through the exertions of a Government placed in power
by a " mutinous" soldiery. It is to be regretted that reform
is not effected by more constitutional means ; but in a coun-
try like Spain, or France as it was before the -Revolution,
there appears to be no other alternative. Till the French
army was purged of traitorous Generals, and the corrupt,
intriguing, and privileged nobility were driven from the
country, constant attempts were made to bring about