The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-26 00:00:00

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The following bills were considered and ordered to be
read a third time :—Nottingham Gas, Rugby Water, Scar-
borough Water, and Norwich Poor.
PETITIONS.

By Mr. Ccx, from Clerkenwell, praying that the 4cl. coal
tax might he paid over to the Metropolitan Board of -Works,
41so in favour of the removal of the turnpike gates in and
near the metropolis; Mr. M‘Meriox and Colonel DVNNE,
trom various places in Ireland in favour of the Salmon
Fisheries Bill.

DISTRESS IN THE COTTON DISTRICTS.
Mr. POTTER gave notice that after Easter he should
move for a select committee to inquire into the state of tin
cotton manufacturing districts, and how the poor law
and relief funds had been administered therein; also to
eport as to the policy ofaiopting emigration as a means of
relief. (Hear, hear.)
DISTRESS IN IRELAND.

At the request of Sir ROBERT PEEL, Air. Scully post-
poned his motion on this subject until after Easter.
PILOTAGE.

On the motion of Mr. INGHAM, the following return
was ordered—Return of the payments at the several ports
of the United Kingdom, for the year 1860, as indemnity for
the abolition of differential duties on pilotage, distinguish-
ing the sums paid at each port for sea and river pilotage
respectively.
SIERRA LEONE (MR. FITZJAMES).

On the motion of Mr. ROEBUCK, a return was ordered
for copies of or extracts from all papers relating to or
connected with the appointment of Mr. Fitzjames to the
offices of Queen's Advocate and police magistrate in the
cilony of Sierra Leone, and all papers relating to or con-
nected with the dismissal of Mr. Fitzjames from the said
offices.

SALMON FISHERIES (IRELAND) BILL.
The adjourned debate, on the motion for going into com-
mittee, was resumed by
Mr. CONOLLY, who opposed the bill, on the ground
that it would entirely unsettle the value of property which
had been purchased in the Encumbered Estates Court, and
otherwise all certain privileges secured to the owners by
the act of 1842. He admitted that there were evils
in the present system which he should be happy
to see remedied, but the measure of the honour-
able member for Wexford (Mr. M'Mahon) was of far too
sweeping a nature, and would utterly destroy property of
the annual value of £lOO,OOO. The fisheries in all the rivers
in Ireland were in a good and progressive state, and the
interference with them proposed by this bill would be
wanton and unjust. The hon. gentleman submitted
statistics in support of his assertion. Many important rights
held without dispute from time immemorial would be now,
for the first time, abrogated if the bill was passed into a
law; indeed, it could not be passed without the insertion
of a clause to afford compensation to those whose property
in the fisheries would be damaged. It was a curious cir-
cumstance that cot and rod fishers had increased, and they
were the parties who would be most benefited by the bill.
The hon. and learned gentleman had evinced great assi-
duity in bringing the subject forward, and as he could not
possibly desire to commit injustice, he ventured to suggest
that he should consent to the amendment, and thus have
the bill referred to a select committee, so that the rights of
the landowners and others might be properly investigated
and determined.
Col. WHITE suggested that it would be well to refer
the subject to ten Irish members, who, he doubted not,
would be able to frame a bill which, probably, the Govern-
ment would not be indisposed to adopt. (Hear, hear.) In
order to afford the hon. and learned gentleman an oppor-
tunity of adopting his suggestion he begged to move the
adjournment of the debate (Divide, divide.)
Mr. LO N GFIE LD supported the bill on the ground that
stone weirs and stake and bag nets, so many of which were
permitted by the Act of 1842, were a violation of the rights
of the public, and, besides, materially tended to destroy the
propagation of fish. The legislation of 1842 was hurried,
and the e, raucous course then taken should be at once cor-
rected by the passing of the present measure. The Law
Courts had over and over again asserted that the use of
these " infernal machines"—for so he was justified in styling
these Irish traps—was opposed to the law, but the owners
were too : powerful to be dispossessed by the poor people
whose livings were thus taken away by them—
the cry of the poor peasant against the peer had not pre-
vailed. The rights of the people of Ireland in these
fisheries could not be safely left to the Treasury benches,
fur hon. members thereon knew nothing about them,
and besides some of them, like the hon. and gallant
member (Colonel White), were interested in the fisheries ;
so that the poor fishermen and the pnblic had little to ex-
pect except from the House of Commons in its collective
capacity. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. MACDONOGH said the question was a very im-
portant one to the nation at large, and should be treated in
a judicial spirit. He had nu personal interest of any kind
in the subject before the house, save the protection of the
salmon fisheries of Ireland for the• service of the public,
and after listening to all the speeches delivered during the
two debates, he had deliberately arrived at the opinion
that it would be best to refer the bill to a select committee,
for investigation should precede any further legislation.
Many of the fi-hery rights.which would be destroyed by
this bill had existed for hundreds of years, and been often
sold and resold with the land on which thee abutted. These
rights could not be destroyed without compensation being
afforded to the owners. The subject should be approached
without temper, and with a desire to deal fairly between all
the parties interested. A fair compromise would doubtless
be acceptable, and it would be well that a measure dealing
with the subject should be conducted under the auspices
of the right honourable baronet (Sir Robert Peel). H e
quoted figures to show that the export of salmon
from Ireland had materially increased during the last two
or three years. He deprecated the introduction of per-
sonalities into these debates, and held that the assertion
that men of the highest honour and fame who had seats in
the various committees which had investigated this sub-
ject bad all been actuated by personal motives was en-
tirely untenable, and, moreover, unjust. (Hear.) The
balance of all testimony was in favour of past legislation.
He denied that the laws of England and Scotland with
respect to salmon rivers could be applied to those of Ire-
land, on account of their great dissimilarity. (Divide.)
Mr. ESMONDE supported the amendment to refer the
subject to a select committee, not with the view of creat-
ing delay, but simply on the score of justice, and in the
earnest hope that the subject would be properly taken up by
her Majesty's Government, and brought to a satisfactory
termination with the least possible delay.
Mr, GEORGE considered that the bill, if passed, would
commit a series of acts of spoliation. The law was, how-
ever, in a state of ccnfusion, and it was the duty of the
Government to bring in a measure that would be acceptable
to all parties. The present bill would not work justly.
Lord FERMOY stigmatised the conduct of the hon. and
learned member (Mr. Longfield) in impugning the motives
of the living and the dead for the part they took in past
legislation. It was exceedingly bad taste to attribute cor-
rupt motives to hon. members connected with these fisheries.
There were several eminent lawyers in the former commit-
tee who would certainly not bear an unfavourable compari-
son with the hon. and learned member. (Hear, and
laughter.) The bill of 1842 was a compromise, and was
not passed in a hurry, but after much examination by a
c.omrsitt e up stairs and full discussion in that
house. (Hear.) It was said that the committee of 18j2
did not take the evidence of the parties interested ; but the
fact was, that none of the par ties connected with the fishing
interest expressed a desire to be examined. The fact was,
that all parties had the utmost confidence in the committee.
If, as was said by some hon. members, stake and bag nets
were illegal in the rivers and estuaries, why did they not
put the law in force instead of seeking a new one. Let the
hon. and learned member for Mallow (Mr. Longfield)—if
he had faith in his own interpretation of the
with the Shannon. He had the means, and he was sure
he did not lack the courage. The bill before the
house would not, in his oeinien, increase the quantity of
salmon. A compromise would be the best mode to adopt
in this business, and this could only be properly effected
by the Government. By good legislation they could have
in a few years 100 salmon where there was but one now.
(Hear.) He d the Government, therefore, to take
the matter up. On a re-assurance of this kind—that as a
Government they would deal with the matter—be would
withdraw his amendment. All rational people in Irelapd
would support the Government in legislating in this wise
on the matter.
Mr. WHITESIDE hoped the debate would take a prac-
tical turn, It was the object of both sides of the house to
produce as many salmon as possible. What should they
do ? A select committee would be a tedious affair. He
ventured, therefore, to suggest that the right hon. baronet
(-ir R. Peel) should, during the recess, address himself to
the bill, so as to endeavour to reader it acceptable to both
sides of the house when they meet again after the holiday:.
(Hear, hear.)
Sir H. BRUCE hoped the Government would take the
bill in hand and reconstruct it in the way suggested. But if
not, that the noble lord (Lord Naas) would take the bill out
of the hands of the hon. and learned member for Wexford
and bring his great experience in connection with the Go-
vernment of Ireland to bear upon the question. (Hear,
hear.) The measure, as it stood, was most objectionable,
rights,tionable
and would, if passed, confiscate many ancient
(Divide, divide.)
Colonel VANDELEUR avowed himself as a proprietor
of the lower Shannon, though he derived little advantage
from it, and deprecated those attempts year after year to
wrest property from persona, the ownership of
which had been confirmed by Acts of Parliament.
If they had in any way violated the law, let its
provisions be rigidly enforced. It appeared, however,
that the hon. member for Mallow (Mr. Longfield) was not
so disinterested in this matter as he appeared to desire
should be believed, because not long since he got a petition
presented to the house praying that a road might be knocked
through the Duke of Devonshire's estate at Lismore,
which would have greatly benefited the hon. and learned
member. (Hear, hear.)
Col. DUNNE said they were wasting their own time
and that of the country in these discussions. (Hear.) No
progress had been made. It would be well to refer the
matter to a committee composed partly of Irish and Eng-
lisb members, as suggested by the hon, and gallant mem-
ber (Col. White).
THE HEALTH OF GARIBLADI.—A correspondent Mr. HASSA RD rose amidst cries of " Divide." It
would be well, he thought, to adjourn the debate in order
of the Sleek, writing from Turin on the 21st inst., to give time to consider what would be the best course to
says •.—" Garibaldi's health engrosses us all here; it is adopt with respect to the measure.
certain that the alarming news which have bee". dissemi- Mr. MONSELL agreed with the hon. and gallant mem-
nated by several journals were exaggerated, but it is not ber who last spoke. No measure,, to
.be effectual, could be
less certain that his recovery is excessively slow, and that used during .Would ent seesion without the aid of the
flovernment,the right hon. baronet take charge of
at this moment it makes no progress. I am told that the such a bill ?
General intends to quit Caprera very shortly, and take up It now bring a quarter to six o'clock, the
_illeetees,i?n
his abode on the main land. It would assuredly have been was brought to a close, and the debab.Ntsc°.morarromwg.'
rules of the house, was adjourned entd
he
more prudent to recommend him to go to Naples or Sicily, SUNDERLAND DOCKS
WEIR NAVIGATION
'TAMP nu 11ES ON PROXIES).
by which means he would evidently have diminished his
rheumatism. Caprera, situated in the midst of the Medi- The house
o b rtbe went into committee, and the bill was
eportedHlP LAW AMENDMENT BILL.
terranean, is naturally a damp place, where the mists
,of ""rgiPART
the sea accumulate. No wonder, therefore, that Ged."l-: This bill, on the motion of Mr. SCHOLEFIELD, was
The foot and ordered to be referred to a select committee.
is always suffering from rheumatic Pal"'
„ling and the closing of The Inclosure Bill was read a third time and passed.
the leg being still inflamed, the
the wound are The house adjourned at 10 minutes to six o'clock.

As to the Greeks themselves, they must be
anxious to put an end to the present interregnum.
The state of the country is at present one of anarchy
—not anarchy in the worst sense of the word, but of
a kind sufficiently dangerous to make all prudent
men desirous of filling the throne as soon as possible.
The finances of the kingdom are in confusion, and
must remain so as long as there is only a Provisional
Government, without the power to enforce taxation,
or the reputation which can inspire confidence in the
minds of foreign capitalists. Although the Govern-
ment has given very praiseworthy signs of Et desire
to economise, yet these savings can effect little
unless the permanent ruler of the country be at
once installed, and its institutions take the form
which European Governments believe to be neces-
sary for national progress. In Prince William the
Greeks will have a King almost as closely connected
with English Royalty as Prince Alfred himself, and
when they have elected him they will be in a posi-
tion to claim the fulfilment of England's promise to
cede to them the lonian Islands. It would be
strange if, with all these advantages, they should
hesitate to approve the candidate whom the Eng-
lish nation presents to them.
But there is another report, which, if true, com-
pletes the triumph of the Danish family. It is that
the Princess D gmar, who is now in her sixteenth
year, is to be Effiinced to the Cesarewitch Nicholas,
•.% ho is of about the same age. Such a series of
events, which would place on thrones prevent or
future four of the children of a Prince who, but a
tew years ago, was not even in the front rank of
European personages, wou d be certainly a singular
instance of Fortune's favours. But it is thus that
he goddess acts, end we may be glad that in this
case her blessings would be showered on a family
which all allow to be eminently worthy of the
highest stations to which they may be called.

INNISKILLING DRAGOONS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE sing.
your report of the question which I asked the
Secretary of War on Monday night with reference to the
late court-martial in the Inniskilling Dragoons, and the
death of the late Regimental Sergeant-Major Lilley, lam
made to say, " It appeared that the death of the sergeant-
major arose from an excessive use of ardent spirits, rather
than from confinement." What I said was that a state-
ment to that effect had appeared in a general order of his
Excellency Sir Hugh Rose, the Commander-in-Chief in
India, and I wanted to be informed if its truth had been
inquired into. I am now in a position to state that it has
been proved to the satisfaction of H.R.H. the Commander-
in•Chief that the charge made against Sergeant-Major
Lilley in the general order above referred to was entirely
groundless, and I can add from my own knowledge, as well
as from what I have been told by officers who have lately
served, and by others who are still serving in the Innis-
killing Dragoons, that there was not in the British army a
more upright, truthful, sober, well-conducted man, or a
better soldier, than the late Regimental Sergeant-Major
Lilley, or one more respected by both officers and men of
his reisiment.-1 am, Sir, your obedient servant,
ME RVYN ARCH D ALL,
Late Captain, Inniskilling Dragoons.