The Sun.
London, England, 1865-12-12 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 12, 1865.

mortgaged, and a very large proportion of the com-
pensation money instead of going to them went to
the mortgagees, who were resident in England, and
the proprietors were left in a state of pauperism.
The speaker cited a case where five estates had been
preserved in cultivation by the energy and expendi-
ture of the landlords, but where 15 had been allowed
to go out of cultivation in consequence of the pauper-
ised condition of the proprietors, and as had been
forcibly said—" the bush had been made to grow up
between the negro and civilisation." Having re-
commended an Incumbered Estates Court system
for the island of Jamaica, the rev. doctor concluded
by expressing a hope that in this case, as in most
events of an apparently disastrous nature, " good
would come out of evil." (Cheers.)
Mr. J. CROPPER felt very deeply and deplored
very sincerely the state of things in Jamaica, not
on account of the island itself, but on account of the
freedmen inAmerica. America was watching us very
closely, to see what we would do. We boasted of the
great things we did in emancipating the slaves, and
it was our duty to carry out and accomplish the
1 great work of our fathers. In conclusion, he cor-
dially seconded the resolution so ably and satisfac-
torily proposed by the Rev. Canon M‘Neile.
Mr. E. LAWRENCE (ex-Mayor) supported the re-
solution.

Mr. F. SIIAND proposed the following amendment
" That this meeting, while deeply deploring the late
rebellion in Jamaica with its consequences, and de-
siring the fullest inquiry into the circumstances,
consider that the mode of conducting such inquiry
is best left in the hands of her Majesty's Govern-
ment." Mr. Shand said he thought his resolution,
being briefer and to the same purpose as the original
resolution, it would be more appropriate to the oc-
casion. The proceedings of the meeting had taken a
different course from what he had anticipated, and
he was glad to find that there would not be, as he
feared, any attempt to prejudge the case. Amidst
considerable confusion Mr. Shand handed his amend-
ment to the Mayor.
Mr. B. HALL seconded the resolution, and said
he had no wish to prejudge the case on either side ;
but having been personally connected with Jamaica
for 30 years, and having travelled there last year, he
would tell them something of the real condition of
that island, and of the black population. Here the
speaker was so violently interrupted that, after vain
attempts to make himself heard, he retired, and Mr.
Shand then withdrew the amendment, amidst loud
cheers and hisses.
The Mivon then put the original resolution,
which was carried nent con.
The Rev. W. M. TAYLOR moved—" That the
Mayor be respectfully requested to forward a copy
of the resolution now adopted to the Right Hon.
Earl Russell." The rev. gentleman thought that the
only matters to which they should direct attention
were the appointment of a commission, and the
powers with which that commission would be armed.
He urged that the gentlemen forming the commis-
sion should be well qualified by intelligence and po-
sition to act—that they should be gentlemen of per-
fect independence, who had no preconceived opinions
on the subject, and as far as possible removed from
being partisans. They wanted a searching, patient,
and impartial investigation, and the commission
should be empowered to investigate all matters,
long antecedent to the outbreak, which might bear
upon the question.
Mr. Councillor CIIILTON seconded the motion,
remarking that a searching inquiry was alike due to
Governor Eyre and the Government of this country.
The motion was carried.

bate, that the case that was submitted to the At-
torney and Solicitor-General, and upon which their
opinion with reference to the illegality of the pro-
posed change in the constitution of the Commission
of Sewers was founded, was got up either by him-
self or by some other member of the commission,
and was not fairly and truthfully stated. He said he
thanked God that he could state that he had never
seen the case until the opinion was given, and that it
was prepared by their solicitor upon his own respon-
sibility, and under the instructions that were given
him. He then proceeded to reply seriatim to the
different charges that had been brought against the
commission, and contended that nothing had been
shown that would justify any candid or reasonable
person in coming to any other conclusion than that
the Commissioners of Sewers, whether with refer-
ence to cleansing the streets, to public improve-
ments, or any other of the important subjects en-
trusted to them, had performed the duty zealously
and to the best of their ability, and that there were
no just grounds of complaint against them. (Hear.)
He had had the honour of being elected chairman
of the commission, but if the object that was
sought to be attained was that he should be re-
moved from that office—and he really could hardly
imagine what was the precise object some of the
parties who had taken an active part in the present
movement had in view—all he could say was that
he was quite ready to resign that office at any time
when he should be called upon to do so, and the
only result would be that he would be able to de-
vote a great deal of time to his own private pur-
poses which was now occupied in the public inte-
rest. Mr. De Jersey then referred to the various
acts of Parliament under which the Commission of
Sewers exercised its powers, and expressed his opi-
nion that the court would be acting in contraven-
tion of these acts of Parliament, and particularly of
the one passed in 1848, if they agreed to a motion
like the present, and that it would have a most mis-
chievous and injurious effect in their relations with
Parliament and the Government.

Mr. RUDKIN then briefly replied, urging that the
court had full powers to take the course that was
suggested, and he expressed his opinion that instead
of such a proceeding being likely to be attended
with evil consequences to the corporation, it would
be the commencement of a new and vigorous life.

The question was then put, and the Lord Mayor
declared the amendment to be carried. A division
was demanded, when there appeared—

For the amendment

Against it 7O 12

The announcement was received with loud cheers.
Mr. MEDWIN was then about to propose another
amendment, it being half-past 4 o'clock, and there
were loud cries of " adjourn."
Mr. MAYNARD moved that the court do now ad-
journ.

The motion was put to the show of bands and
declared to be carried. A division was, however,
called for, and there appeared—
For the adjournment Bl
Against it 66-15
The court consequently at once adjourned amid a
scene of great confusion.