The Sun.
London, England, 1838-02-09 00:00:00

VICE-CHANCERY.-(THIS DAY.)

His Honour the VICE-CHANCELLOR, after disposing of several short
causes and unopposed petitions, proceeded with the part heard cause of
Attermore v. Williams," which had not concluded when we left.

EXCHEQUER COURT.-(THIS DAY.)

The Court was occupied the whole of the morning with actions upon
bills of exchange, the facts of which were of no public importance.

LLOYD'S SHIPPING.-(THIS DAY.)

DEAL, FEB. B.—Wind W.S.W., fresh breezes.—Arrived and pro-
ceeded for the river the Amazon, from Lunerick ; Hero, Smallwood,
from Singapore : Naiad, Budd, from Terceira; Argus, Barclay, from
the South Seas. A Deal boatman was drowned in attempting to board
the Naiad.

---
poRTSMOVTII, FEB. B.—Wind S.S.W. to W., fresh breezes, squally,
with rain. No arrivals. Sailed the Sir F. Head, —, for Hull; Gates_
head Park, —, for Shields ; Mary Laing, Fair Arcadian, Hortensia, Ca.
nadian, and several others, for London.
MARGATE, FEB. S.—Arrived off port the Argus, Barclay, from the
South Seas.
Cowes, FEB. S.—Arrived the Majestic, Henckley, from New York.
ILFRACOMBE, FEB. 7.—Arrived the Emilie, Turner, from New-
.
fiAmdland.
CLYDE, FEB. 7.—Arrived the Laurel, Paul, from Demerara.
WATERFORD, FEC. (I.—Arrived the Kilkenny (steamer) London.
PLYMOUTH, FEB. 7.—Wind S. to S.S. W..—Arrived the Honfleuraise,
Guinea, from Merans; Sultan, Barns, from Demerara ; Elizabeth,
Dyer, from Limerick. Sailed the Montoeal, Lawsons, and Briton's
Queen, for London. The Trois Amis, Arrol, from Bourdeaux to
Havre, has put in here in a sinking state, and is discharging her cargo.
FALMOUTH, FEB. 7.—Wind S.S.E. to S., fresh gales, with rain and
thick weather.—Arrived the Fanny, Williams, from Waterford; Torre-
macha, Guillen, from Havannah ; Isabella, from Limerick; Georgiana,
Williams, from Galway ; and Ramona steamer, King, from a cruise.
LIVERPOOL, FEB. 8.--Wind W.S.W., moderate.—Arrived the In-
trepid, Stuart, from Demerara ; John Troughton, Jordan, from Charles-
town ; and Wolfsccre, from St. John's, New Brunswick. The Creole
(a ship) it telegraphed inward bound, off the Ormshead, but I think
there is some mistake in the flags.
CORK, 6.—Arrived the Convivial, Hampton, from Marseilles.
jAmmeA, Dec. 16.—The Seahorse, Taylor, supposed 'from Manga-
nilla Dublin, was wrecked on one of the Anclose Keys previous to
the sth October.

.The Helen WGregor, Gibson, from Androssan to l‘farseilles, having
sprung a leak, was run on shore at South List the 9.5 th ult.

THE RE_BUILDING OF-ITIE ROYAL
EXCHANGE.

A conference was, we understand, held beween the Royal
Ehange counsel, appointed by the Corporation, and the
xeMercers' Company, on Tuesday last, at the Guildhall, on the
subject of the measures necessary to be taken for re-building
the Royal Exchange.
Mercers' Company arrived the city division
Before the
ed the concurrence of the Mercer's Corn-
agreed, if the.yn,tg.
joint-trustees of the Gresham estate, to rebuild
"my, the jol
of
I Exchange out the proeeeds of the estate,
the RoYa,
hward to the rents, &c., of the splendid coffee-
houseslook looking
which
hni)er
might be built adjoining to the place of
n meet-
•
I a for the mercantile c?mmunity is likely to compensate
for the outlay, which might be estimated at the suns of
150,000/.
Compa
The 111ercers ny, upon hearing the proposition,
'
made objections to it.
11r. floasoriv PALMER said that, although the estimate
might be correct, he had seen so much of the fallacy of esti-
mates that he suspected the sum of 300,0001. would come
nearer to the mark, and lie therefore thought it would be im-
prudent in the Mercer's Company, as joint trustees, to incur
the hazard of such a large expense. He thought too, that
the present Royal Exchange, if properly repaired, would be
adequate to the wants of commercial men.
Mr. Alderman COI'ELAND did not think the site of the old
Exchange sufficiently large.
Sir MATTHEW WOOO approved of a large, splendid, and in
every way commodious building.
Mr. RICHARD LAMBERT JONES (the chairman of the London
Bridge Committee) was decidedly of opinion that a noble
building, such as the improved state of the city, and especially
the immediate neighbourhood of the site, required, could be
raised for the sum of 150,0001.
Sir PETER LAURIE thought it would be advisable to raise
an elegant, capacious, and convenient edifice, and to have it
so constructed as not to obscure the elegant building of the
Bank. He then suggested that a deputation from the Mer-
cer's Company and the Corporation should wait upon the
Chancellor of the Exchequer upon the subject. After a good
deal of conversation, it was agreed to adopt the suggestion.

SOUTH AMERICA AND THE PACIFIC.—We
Are requested to state that Mr. Campbell Scarlett's " South
America and the Pacific; comprising a Journey across the
Pampas and the Andes, &c., with Plans and Statements for
establishing Steam Navigation in the Pacific, in 2 vols., post
Svo., with illustrations," is published this day by Mr. Colburn,
of Great Marlborough-street, and may now be had of all
booksellers. Mr. Colburn has also just issued the first Part,
price 75. 6d. (to be completed in six Monthly Parts), of a new
and cheaper edition, with considerable additions, of Mrs. Ja-
meson's Memoirs of the Beauties of the Court of Charles IL
with an introductory View of the State of Female Society and
its influence during that remarkable reign ; comprising a se-
ries of 21 splendid Portraits, engraved by the most distin-
uished artists, and forming a desirable companion to Lodge's
Portraits.

TlTHEs.—Resistance to this impost is rife in Wa-
fo!.d: the very name of that impost is associated in the popular
mind with crime—with plunder—with b'o3d—with massacre
—and sooner than contribute voluntarily to it they have proved
their unalterable determination to undergo the severest trials
—the bitterest torture—the loss not only of property but of
very thing they most ardently cherish,

The new Bill proposes that the Commissioners shall have
authority " to unite such and so many townlands, as they may
think fit, to be a union for the relief of the destitute poor."
This beinw done, I should propose that every Union should
be subdivided into districts of one or more townlands or quar-
ter-townlands, in accordance with the boundaries of the estates
of the several landlords having property within the Union, de-
noting each subdivision by a name or number. In cases of very
small estates (suppose less than a townland) a combination
might be permitted ; and in case of very large estates, they
might be subdivided into two or more districts. This ground-
work being laid, the principle of taxation could be arranged
in the following manner :
I would propose,
,first, that in every Union the expences of
the relief given (whether internal or external) should be de-
frayed by two descriptions of taxation—one a general and
equal tax over the whole Union—the other a tax upon each
particular district formed as before provided.
Secondly, that (as a general rule, but subject to the excep-
tions hereinafter stated) each particular district should be
liable to the expences incurred for the relief of such poor
persons who shall be deemed by the Guardians of the Union fit
objects for That relief, and who shall bo resident occupiers of
houses and lands within the district paying rent for the same
(either by labour or money) at the time of, or (in case of
ejection by the landlord) immediately previous to their com-
mencing to receive such relief.
Englishmen would naturally suppose that such persons
(landholders) would not require relief. .1 therefore feel it
necessary to keep in their recollection the evidence detailed in
my first letter ; and if they want a farther proof, let them re-
fer to the Irish Poor Enquiry, Appendix A, page 379 ; there
they will find that landholders, having a cow or cows, are re-
duced to that condition, from want of food, " that they bleed
the cattle, and eat the boiled blood, sometimes with meal, but
oftener without it." Englishmen, is this a sufficient test of
destitution?

This general rule, I admit, would require exceptions or
modifications ; for which purpose I should vest a discretion in
the Guardians and Commissioners. For instance, in cases of
settlements being produced within a district by the intro-
duction of manufacturing establishments, and distress arising
from a discharge of hands, it might not be right that the par-
ticular district should be solely liable for such expences; also,
in case of manufacturing towns within a union, it might not be
right that these towns alone should be wholly subject to the
expences of the relief. Therefore, I would propose that any
district taxed exclusively for the poor withi❑ itself might me-
morial the Board of Guardians and Commissioners; and if
cause can be shown to their satisfaction, such Board may have
authority to transfer the whole or any portion of the expences
to the general taxation of the Union.
In this modified settlement, law, or regulation, I do not
propose to exclude persons from relief in any Union who have
not had a regular settlement, but who, having incidentally en-
tered it as servants or labourers, or artificers, to carry on in-
dustry or trade, may be found there as lodgers, and becoming
destitute shall be considered fitting objects for relief; but I
would propose that the expence of such relief should be
charged on the general taxation of the Union. The taxation on
particular districts I would limit to the relief given to actual
householders or landholders of the district.
In order to prevent the workhouse of any Union being
loaded with the continued expenses of sustaining persons or
families, who might be received therein, but who had pre-
viously residences in the district of any other Union which
they had left, or had been ejected from by the landlords, a
power should be given to the Board of Guardians to inquire
into such eases, and to report the same to the Commissioners,
who might thereupon issue an order that the expenses should
be repaid out of the taxation of any other Union (or district in
any other Union), justly liable, in their opinion, to the same ;
whereupon the district or Union rendered liable might direct
their removal to the workhouse of the said Union, the ex-
penses of such removal being paid by the Union liable to their
support...

ishould here remark that this separation of expenditure
with reference to districts is on the same principle (and may
be carried into effect in the same way) as the English Act pro-
vides with respect to parishes. The 26th clause says that
each parish " shall be separately chargeable with and liable
to defray the expenses of its own poor, whether relieved in or
out of any such workhouse," but the English Act also makes
provision for particular expenses out of a general fund. The
second important point is with reference to the mode of reliqf
The Bill makes no provision, gives no power (even to the
Commissioners).in any case to order or permit relief, except to
persons received within the walls of the workhouse. The modifi-
cation I would propose is this, that the Guardians and Commis-
missioners may have power at their discretion to administer relief
outside the workhouse, to such poor persons, being resident
householders within the district, as they may deem fit objects for
that relief, in such manner as they may deem expedient; but
that no relief shall be given otherwise than within the walls
of the workhouse, (except casually in cases of emergency,) to
any persons who arc not householders in some district of the
Union.

I shall now proceed to shew the use and operation of the
Amendments I propose ; first, calling to recollection, that I
have assumed (what I shall hereafter more fully explain), that
the rating clause is so formed, that the whole tax shall be im-
posed upon the receiver of rent, (whether head landlord or
middleman,) in all cases wherein the full value of the land (by
estimation) is paid by the occupying tenant.
I shall show the practical operation of my provisions, by a
reference once more to the parish of Burrishoole. I take this
district, because it may be considered a just sample of the
highest degree of distress,—because it is distress chiefly among
persons holding and paying rent for land—distress not pro-
duced by their own fault—but by constraining causes which
they could not obviate—and from which they cannot now re-
lieve themselves by any efforts of their own. It is distress
which I know to be in existence from my own personal obser-
vation, on a visit to the district :—and if I can shew that the
operation of the principles I propose, can relieve and remove
poverty in this district, there can be no further question of
their utility.

I shall now suppose a Union formed, in which the parish of
Burrishoole is included, and I shall suppose the Union divided
into Districts, according to the boundaries of estates, (agreea-
bly to my proposition.) Under the circumstances of the let-
tinr, of land in this parish, the whole of the tax would be charge-
able not on the occupiers but on the tents either of the middle-
men or the landlords, agreeably to my assumed provision as to
rating.

I shall suppose that the first spring season after the Union
was formed, the usual annual periodical state of destitution
should commence in the districts of this parish. I shall sup-
pose that relief is claimed from the Guardians, and admitted to
be necessary. Permit me next to suppose myself a Guardian,
and to state the measures I should adopt or propose to be
adopted. I should first order straw to be bought to make the
miserable cottages water-tight ; I should buy the coarsest de-
scription of warm cloathing to cover the nakedness of the
families, and to enable the men to go abroad to look for
work, and the women and boys to perform such labour as they
could upon their own lands ; also straw to furnish clean
changes for the families to lie on, and rugs to cover them.
These are the preliminaries, without which no effort could be
made by the people themselves to serve themselves. I would
thus put them in a condition 'for industry. If I should ascer-
tain that there was work for the able-bodied within their reach,
either on public or private establishments, I would give no fur-
ther assistance to those who might obtain work. Let them
then support themselves and their families by their industry.
But if not, I would give rations of food for mere sustanance, till
such tune as relief was supplied by the maturity of their own
potato crop ; and with respect to landowners, to whom relief
was supplied, it should be the duty of the overseers to ob-
serve, that if hired labour could not be had, the labour of those
supplied with food was beneficially expended on their own
lands, thus improving their means of subsistence for the en-
suing season.
Suppose, then, this was the operation of the first season,
what would be the result ? The landlords would immediately
feel the effects of the taxation ; they would be brougbt to their
senses; they would set themselves in good earnest to remedy the
evils they had been creating for ages ; the rents would be fairly
reduced ; the whole produce would be no longer swept away ;
there would be no wholesale ejections. The means of exis-
tence would be left to the occupier, and the means of pur-
chasing stock (to those who had a sufficiency of land to keep
any stock) would be supplied through the medium of employ-
ment ; for, let the important fact be kept in mind, that there
are in this parish fifteen thousand acres of unreclaimed and
unoccupied land, the most of which, without any large ex-
penditure of capital, but simply by the labour of the occupier,
if he was permitted and encouraged, could be made imme-
diately productive. These lands, then, would be let on terms
such as would encourage improvement, or else reclaimed
by the landlords, and employment afforded in that way. The
cotter who had not sufficient land to keep stock upon would be
removed, and get lots elsewhere, or else be employed. Thus
the landlords would be put upon their exertions by the feeling
of self-interest (produced by the operation of taxation) to
pro.note the public interests ; and, in doing so, they we:aid
t,e led to the knowledge of what they seem now ignorant,
that in promoting the interests of the community around them,
they were no less advancing their Own. Create this responsi-
bility, and, in a very few Sears, such districts as the parish of
13urrishoole will be changed from wretched poverty and famine
to comfort and prosperity—there will be no more bleeding qf
rows in Mayo. But, if this responsibility be not created,
every other means which may be taken to benefit the poor
will have no other effect except that of transferring the public
property, even if given as the reward of the poor man's
in-