The Sun.
London, England, 1839-03-20 00:00:00

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LONDON :
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 1639.

The Earl of RIPON seems to have been roused into
unwonted activity this Session, and last night announced
that he is to bring the affair of the Maltese Commission
before their Lordships when he has obtained all the in-
formation on the subject the Ministers can supply him
with. .

The Earl of ABERDEEN moved for the production of
some papers in order that their Lordships and the country
may know what we are fighting about in A 2'gbanistan. We
however, are happy to learn from Lord MELBOURNE,
that the disputes there may yet be adjusted. His
Lordship, however, was not well pleased with some
of the remarks of the Earl of ABERDEEN, and
complained of them. The Earl of ABERDEEN con-
gratulated the Noble Lord on learning in good time
what are the duties of Peers when in opposition.
After a short conversation, it was understood that Lord
MELBOURNE was to take a day or two to examine the
papers asked for before laying them on the table.
The sufferings of the hand-loom weavers attracted
their Lordships' attention, on the presentation of a pe-
tition ; but they did not for one moment think of re-
moving the tax from the bread of those who earn five
shillings a week, labouring fifteen hours every day. The
Peers scarcely toil at all, they have thousands upon
thousands, and, to increase their income, they tax the
band-loom weavers' bread. Can injustice—can cold-
blooded, unfeeling, extorting avarice go beyond this ?
The Bristol and Gloucester Railway Bill was read
second time in the Commons.
Mr. HawEs' motion that no Bill for constituting
Courts for the recovery of small debts shall be com-
mitted till the 9th of April was agreed to, after a short
conversation.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL, in answer to a question, said
at present there was no intention of calling out the
Militia.
Mr. LAW is on Friday to move that the City of
London be heard at the bar, against the City Police
Bill.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL is to lay on the table further
regulations of the Poor-law Commissioners ; but he is
doubtful whether he will be able to introduce a Bill this
Session for the amendment of the Poor-law, and if he
does it will not contain a provision affecting parishes
under local Acts.
Mr. BANNERMAN postponed his motion relative to
the Acts which prohibit the importation of beef, cattle,
fish, &c.
A short conversation took place on the system of
education in Ireland, on Mr. GRATTAN moving for some
returns, which serves to show that the more the Legis-
lature enlarges its sphere of action, the more subjects of
party dispute arise, till the Parliament will be unable
to get through its business if it could sit every day in
the year, and make every day sixty hours. The Orange
party properly spoke of education as a crusade against
them.
Lord SANDON, after presenting a petition from mer-
chants of Liverpool, on the interruption of our trade
with Mexico, proceeded to move for copies of me-
morials addressed to the Secretary for Foreign
Affairs, relative to our trade with Mexico and
Buenos Ayres. His Lordship dilated at great
length on the neglect of the Government, and on its not
having protected our commercial interests. Lord
PALMERSTON defended himself, and declared that no
Government bad ever paid so much attention
to those interests, and afforded them such adequate
protection, as the present one. A considerable
debate on this point took place and occupied the
remainder of the evening. The Tories, on their party
principle, complained bitterly of the Ministers, and took
our commerce under their fostering protection. This
amuses us after their conduct on the Corn-laws. They
cut off the root of trade and then busy themselves pruning
and training the decaying branches, and by expensive
hand-glasses forcing the withering and sap-deficient
fruit i..to the appearance of goodness. They bind
the legs and arms of trade, infect it with disease, curse
it with lameness, blast it and deform it, and then they cry
out against their opponents that they do not employ
all the national power in cherishing it. We admit that it
is the duty of Government to protect trade ; that
duty is as efficiently performed, we believe, as possible ;
for every merchant who goes abroad cannot have a
line of battle ship or a regiment of soldiers to
protect his store. For the nation, that would
be buying trade at too great a price. But ad-
mitting that it is the duty of the Government to
protect trade, it must, a fortiori, be its duty not to in-
jure it, and we cannot enough condemn the folly of the
Tories who, by their Corn-laws, cut it up by the roots,
who despise and scorn the men who carry it on, and
who, at the same time, when their opponents are to
be attacked, accuse them, of we know not what neglect
and what criminality, because they have not carefully
watched over one of its smallest and least important
twigs. Out upon the hypocrites ! The motion was ul-
timately withdrawn.
Leave was given to bring in a Bill to amend and con-
solidate the Excise laws relative to the duties on bricks,
after Mr. Hume had objected, that only the extrava-
gance of Government caused these duties to be con-
tinued.

The Report of the Committee of Supply was brought
up without any opposition, and at Half-past One the
House adjourned.