The Sun.
London, England, 1853-06-23 00:00:00

mixed up the question as to the disposition of property with
the inspection gef nunneries to which the bill alone referr-
ed, because it was a totally different question, and involved
considerations of a legal and complicated character. In
several of the cases that had been mentioned, where un-
due influence had been used in obtaining the conveyance
of property for a nun, that conveyance,had been set aside ;
and if the present law was not sufficient in that respect, it
was unnecessary to disturb it ; but if any further restriction
was required, let a specific bill be brought in on the
subject, and let the whole question be fairly discussed.
(Hear, hear.) He therefore came to the conclusion
that it would be fairest and most wise on the
part of the house to decide the question on
the second reading of the bill. He should cheerfully
vote in favour of the second reading being postponed for
six monthi, considering that while the bill intended
and pretended to suit the particular case of
nuns, it was not founded on any crude cir-
cumstances—that it began with a preamble which was
not justified by facts, and that so far from being favour-
able to the Roman Catholic religion it was hostile to it—
that while it was also hostile to the liberty of Protestants
as well as Roman Catholics, it would, in its effect,
be most offensive to the latter—and that while it would
give no sufficient remedy for existing evils, if evils there
be, it woul I be found to exasperate the feelings of those
who were in these religious houses, and who devoted
themselves to a life of seclusion from motives of religion
and piety. (Cheers.)
Mr. G. H. MOORE, in addressing himself to the
subject before the house, took exception to the sincerity
of those who proposed the bill, for its title was a pre-
varication, while its first reading was carried by a petti-
fogging manoeuvre. A clamour had been got up out of
doors in favour of the bill, but no faith could be placed
in religious priests, nor could any weight be attached
to anything which fell from Englishmen against
the Roman Catholic Church, because they were ever
ready to say anything and everything against that
Church without inquiring into the truth of what they
asserted. This feeling did not confineitself to out of doors :
hon. members while acting under a species of Protestant
madness, also gave vent to assertions which were as de-
void of truth as they were recklessly made, and they had
seen in one instance a jury return a verdict at variance
with the evidence for the sake of upholding the supremacy
of Protestantism. The blackest spots in our history
were attributable to these periodical outbursts of Protes-
tant infatuation and intolerance, and he regretted to find
in this, the 19th century, they were called upon to legis-
late towards the Roman Catholics, in a spirit which
would have done no discredit to the age in which Queen
Mary fell. So objectionable and tyrannical were the pro-
visions of this bill, that he did not believe that any man could
be found who would be willing to carry them out ; cer-
tainly none would be found in Ireland, not even amongst
the most rampant Orangemen, for even an Orangeman
was not so great a coward as to be ever found raising
his hand against defenceless women. The bill, in fact,
might be characterised as the Jack Ketch of bigotry,
and the house would best consult its own dignity and the
interest of the country by throwing it out. As for the
assertion that ladies were confined in nunneries against
their will, he believed that ladies in convents were much
freer than many hon. members, who were subject to the
whims of whips and angry constituents ; and it would
be better to pass a bill for their relief than that of the
nuns, who did not want it. (Hear.)
Mr. WARNER would much rather vote for the sup-
pression of all conventual establishments than a bill of
inspection, but there was this great merit in the bill,
that it discountenanced priestly interference in the tem-
poral matters of domestic life, and on that account he
should support it as a step in the right direction.
Mr. HENCHY, in rising to protest against the pass-
ing of this bill, would not follow the example of the hon.
member for Mayo in attacking Protestants, because he
remembered that it was to Protestants that they were
mainly indebted for Catholic emancipation. (Hear.)
With regard to the supposed necessity for this bill,
all he could say was, that every female member of his
family had been brought up in convents, but he had
not heard of that improper restraint being exercised
over them such as that which had been asserted by the
promoters of this bill.

Mr. ROUNDEL PALMER was of opinion—an
opinion which he had expressed in a former Par-
liament—that a measure of this sort, if wanted, must be
right in principle, which this bill certainly was not. He
should, therefore, vote for the amendment, though,
at the same time, he was bound to protest in the
name of religious liberty, against the argument
which asserted that conventual establishments should
be free from the supervision of the state when free from
sectarian or polemical influences. (Hear.)
Mr. CONOLLY denounced the bill as being odious
and tyrannical, and said it had been conceived in a spirit
of pitiable intolerance.
Mr. T. CHAMBERS contended that no one of the
arguments upon which he grounded the introduction of the
bill had been answered, much less overruled. It was
grounded upon facts to be found in history. Nuns had
been in former times confined against their will, so much,
indeed, that the Council of Trent had to pass ordinances
against such tyranny, while, at a still later period, Continen-
tal States had to make laws to prevent similar abuses, and
now that conventual institutions were rapidly on the
increase in England, it was the duty of the Legislature
to provide a law to meet similar evils at home. It was
not necessary that it should be proved to demonstration
that these evils already existed, it was enough for
him to show that they were possible, which he
had done, and therefore he had a right to call upon the
house to pass the second reading of his bill. But
he would not go that length, as he was quite
willing to accept the amendment, and with
that confession he would resume his seat. (Hear.)

After a few words from Sir G. GREY and Sir J,
PAKINGTON, the house divided, when there appeared—
For the second reading l7B
Against 207

Majority 29
The bill was accordingly thrown out.
It being now 6 o'clock, there was no time to put the
amendment, and the house adjourned.

Lord Bnrghleypaired in favour of Sir John Trollope's
amendments and proviso with the Hon. Leveson Gower,
against.

STATE OF TRADE.

(Front the Manchester Guardian of yesterday.)

MANCHESTER, June 21.—1 n the American accounts,
received this week, a good deal of stress is laid upon the
injurious effect of drought upon the cotton plant ; but
such statements are contradicted by others. The markets
are reported as very firm, with the important exception
of that of New Orleans ; and the cause of the slight
giving way there (ic. per lb.) is said to be disappoint-
ment at the quiet advices from Liverpool to the 21st
ult. This is hardly a sufficient cause, however, supposing
that in New Orleans much reliance was placed upon the
allegations about drought. In Liverpool, up to Friday
evening, the cotton market rather hardened in anything
but rubbish, notwithstanding the Turkish question, and
the diminution of consumption through the stoppage of
mills, and since Friday prices have continued quite firm.
Our own market has been singularly perplexed by
conflicting influences, more so to-day than before. An
increased apprehension of war has rendered the feeling
of caution predominant among buyers of all classes, who,
therefore, have very decidedly held back from business ;
but the difficulty of believing that Russia will push mat-
ters to the last extremity is strongly and generally felt,
and tends to prevent sellers from yielding to fear, whilst
they mostly anticipate that if the threatened storm should
pass away, the bearing of prices will be rather upward.
By the turn-out at Stockport, the weekly consumption
of cotton is lessened about 3,500 bales ; and the effect •of
the expected stoppage at Blackburn will be about equal.
In general, buyers are unable to make any im-
pression whatever upon the quotations of last week.
If there is any exception to this firmness, it is in
articles suitable for the east, particularly yarns ;
but there is scarcely a quotable change even in them.
At Blackburn, some of the subsidiary hands connected
with weaving having ceased to work, in a few establish-
ments, because their demand for an advance of wages
was refused, and having thus put a stop to the working
of the looms, the associated masters, both spinners and
manufacturers, have given a fortnight's notice that they
will entirely stop the whole of the machinery, if the re-
cusants persist in the claim they have set up. At Stock-
port, there is no appearance of any general giving way
on either side.

HALIFAX, June 18.—The aspect of trade in our piece
hall is not improved, and there is a very general unwil-
lingness to purchase any sort of worsted goods. except
at prices much below the cost of production. The con-
dition of the yarn market is also unsatisfactory; and the
Incertainty that hangs over the •prico of wool, causes
the consumers to be chary in giving . out orders. The
transactions in wool are but limited, and the turn of the
market is in favour of the buyer.
HUDDERSFIELD, June 21.—We have had about an
average amount of business done for the season. Still
the,market is comparatively quiet, but manufacturers
continue to be well employed. New patterns are chiefly
looked aftei, and, in any class of goods, meet with pur-
chasers.

DEATH OF AN ECCENTRIC CHARACTER AT RICKING-
HALL.—On Saturday, the 11th instant, died Miss Mary
Finch, aged 49 years. She had for the last six years
lived alone, having had a girl at times to go into the
house, but, it appears, not to clean or do anything, as
the house was found in a most filthy state. As an in-
stance, a leg of pork which she was known to have
bought about four years since, was found in the house at
the time of her death, but whether it had been cooked or
not could not be ascertained. She kept six or seven
cats, which were her only companions, and these she
sometimes locked up in a room for many days without
food. It is supposed that, although she had property suffi-
cient to enable her to live respectably, she had not allowed
herself common necessaries, an dth at her end was hastened
on from want. It appears that six years ago an aunt
left her about 4001., but she would never go after it,
nor would she take it when offered to her. The day pre-
vious to her death she paid her landlord twenty pounds
as part of three years' rent, and had more money in her
possession. It is also stated that, about ten years ago,
a day was fixed for her being married, that the dress and
wedding cake were provided, but the gentleman disap-
pointed her, and the dress and cake remain still in the
house.—Suffolk Chronicle.
THE PROPERTY AND INCOME TAX.—Yesterday a re-
turn
ceogireedtotthax t,eh‘
jertwillisAosuse of Commons on the property and in- .
April,
e8d5.2
thel It
numberap appears
of
s that
persons in the
chargedyea
under schedule D was Iyear
'46,062, and under schedule E
the number was 49,026 The net amount of the pro-
perty and income tax in the same year, was 5,664,1911.
—in England a.ndVales, 5,191,531/. ; in Scotland,
467,5381. ; and. in Ireland, 5,1221.