The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-28 00:00:00

HENNESSY'S motion, the thoughtful and moderate
tone of the debate showed how prevalent was the
sense of Ireland's grievances, and how great the
desire to give her real and durable assistance by
prudent and enlightened legislation.

Lord TAUNTON, in presenting petitions from Mel-
bourne and other places in the colony of Victoria for
the permanent abolition of the transportation of
convicts to Australia, revived a subject which for
some time past hasbeen virtually dropped. Although
it must be admitted that the Government have acted
wisely in deferring to the repeatedly expressed
wishes of the colonists on this question, we cannot
help feeling, when the matter is discussed, that pre-
judice has prevailed, and that through the influence
of most mistaken motives the colonists have inflicted
a grievous injury upon the unhappy class whom it
is the object of enlightened legislators to reclaim, as
far as possible. Besides putting this country to ex-
pense and inconvenience, Lord TAUNTON seemed
rather led away by his subject, and entered more
fully into the wishes and claims of his petitioners
than was altogether necessary, considering the cir-
cumstances of the case. When he said that never
had petitions been presented to the house which
more truly expressed the unanimous sentiments of
those who forwarded them, he was only paying a
poor compliment to the objectionists after all, for
there is neither consistency nor consideration in their
conduct. The very places which profess the most
pious horror, and to be the most virtually indignant
at the idea of having convicts sent out, are those
that in their rude and rough beginnings profited
most largely by the labour of convicts. Now that
they are in no more need of this timely assistance
they begrudge it to others, and seek to throw all
kinds of obstacles in the way of their obtaining the
same advantages. Besides the selfishness of
such conduct, the absurdity is that Western
Australia receiving these outcasts would not
materially affect the other places which are at
an immense distance, besides being separated by a
country difficult to traverse. It is rather too bad,
now that unfortunately our Government for pru-
dential reasons have had to give in to the prejudice,
that praises should be showered upon those who
have allowed their narrow views and partial notions
to militate against many important interests. Lord
TAUNTON said that the unhappy report of the Royal
Commission had excited the policy of the colonists
in a great degree, and had led them to believe that
in England their desires were slighted and their
wishes disregarded. If they thus thought, they
must have been most bewildered under the influence
of prejudice, and the representation of one-sided
partisans, for a more unreasonable notion never
entered the minds of the people at home or abroad,
than this mania which has sprung up against trans-

portation.
Certainly if anything were wanting to put a
climax to the persistency of this vehement opposi-
tion on the part of the colonists, it would be their
now again reviving the subject by presenting peti-
tions that seek to stop transportation immediately,
when at any rate they are not worse off than they
were. Lord GRANVILLE very properly discussed
the matter, and got out of a very awkward posi-
tion with his usual dexterity by saying that it was
not: now the occasion to pass these remarks that
might once have been made since the question was
settled, and that one connected with the Govern-
ment could not appropriately take up any of the
objections that might perhaps at one time have been
taken to certain portions of the conduct of the colo-
From these remarks of the noble earl,
tie may glean that he at any rate is not one of those
who can see nothing extraordinary in the course
pursued by the colonists. The noble earl very justly
defended the commission whose efforts had been
regarded so unfavourably by Lord TAUNTON. Ile
said that it was presided over by personi who had
great " legal and judicious knowledge," and that
they did not come to their conclusion on selfish
views respecting the mother country, but they had
before them a great deal of evidence concerning the
desires of Western Australia to receive convicts.
There was also reason in Lord GRANVILLE'S re-
marks respecting the nature of the petitions then
presented. Three years have been allowed as the
" specified time," and of course it will be necessary
that some such period should elapse in order that
the due preparations may be made in this country
in the shape of additional prison accommodation.
For these purposes it will be necessary to consult
Parliament, which will very likely be done this year
in some form or other. However, when people get
an idea fixed in their minds, be it founded upon
correct notions or based upon erroneous supposi-
tions, they are very apt to let it run away-with
them, and so we find that the Australian colonists
are resolved to have their say out, and to let no pos-
sible opportunity slip whether the occasion be ap-
propriate or otherwise, of protesting against the
recommendation of the royal commission. Such
pertinacity does them very little honour, and in the
long run cannot improve their position with respect
to the opinion entertained in this country of their
moderation and their magnanimity. Every one can
or ought to make due allowance for excited feel-
ings, and agree to the honesty of opinions that are
opposed to their own convictions, but when an end
has been violently put to a complicated affair, it is
1 time to stop discussion, and to give up the mention
of irritating arguments and oft told reasons, pro
and con on the vexed question. Why or wherefore
these petitions should have been sent or presented
it is difficult to understand, for they have done no
good service, to the cause that has been taken up_ so
warmly and advocated so strongly on previous occa-
sions, that the subject has been exhausted ; and
as they rather seem to throw a doubt or cast a sus-
picion upon the validity of the promises made by the
Home Government, they are at once uncalled foi
and unbecoming in their nature and character,
Lord CRANWORTH made some very appropriate
observations respecting the reasons that had prevailed
with the commission to influence them in recom-
mending the increase of transportation to Western
Australia. The noble lord adverted to one fact,
which certainly shows very clearly how far preju-
dice may prevail over the minds of many. The dis-
tance from Western Australia to Sydney by sea is
greater than that from Cork to North America, and
as the convicts cannot cross the country by land,
there is in reality leas chance of their getting to
New South Wales, than of men in a similar position
reaching New York from England. It is impossible,
however, notwithstanding the reasoning of philo-
sophers, and the experience of ages to controvert
prejudice when once it is firmly rooted in the mind,
and as a triumph of prejudice, unquestionable and
determined, must be regarded the resolution of the
Australian colonists not to permit the continuance
of transportation to their shores,

nists.

THE LATE VISCOENT COMBERMERE.--With a
characteristic and kindly regard for the sorrows of
others, her Majesty the Queen, during the last illness of
Field Marshal Combermere, caused frequent inquiries to be
made by telegraph as to the condition of his lordship; and
shortly after his decease Lady Combermere received from
her Majesty a letter of condolence, written by the Queen
herself—a mark of attention, it may be said, deeply appre-
ciatedby the afflicted lady. The funeral of the late veteran
soldier is appointed to take place on Thursday next, in the
family mausoleum of the Cottons at Wrenbury, in the
county Qf Chester.