The Sun.
London, England, 1849-02-08 00:00:00

THE BRITISH MUSEUM.

Mr. EWART rose to ask the Secretary of State for
the Horne Department, whether there was any objection
to lay before the House the evidence taken by the Com-
missioners appointed to inquire into the constitution and
management of the British Museum.

Sir GEORGE GREY said, in reply, that part of the
evidence would be laid on the table of the House.
IRISH POOR-LAW COMMITTEE.

Sir WILLIAM SOMERVILLE moved that the
Select Committee upon the Irish Poor-law do consist
of twenty-one Members, and that the following
Members be Members of the said Committee:
—Lord John Russell, Sir James Graham, Sir John
Young, Colonel Dunne, Mr. George A. Hamilton, Sir
William Somerville, Mr. Scrope, Sir Robert Ferguson,
Mr. Clements, Mr. Shafto Adair, Mr. Cornewall Lewis,
Mr. Monsell, Sir Denham Norreys, Sir John Peking-
ton, Mr. Herbert, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Sharman CraN.
ford, Mr. Fagan, Mr. O'Flaherty, Major Blackall, and
Mr. Stafford.

Mr. HENRY said, he, for his part, would have no ob-
jection to the Committee, if the Hon. Baronet (Sir W.
Somerville) would withdraw the name of one Hon. Mem-
ber.—(Loud cries of " Name, name.") He would have
no objection to the Committee if the Hon. Baronet would
withdraw the name of Mr. Bright, the Hon. Member for
Manchester.—(Laughter.)
Mr. GRACE said, as the representative of one of the
western counties of Ireland, he felt himself called on to
express his strong objection to the Committee which
had been proposed. He thought it was but just and
lair that that part of Ireland ;which was universally
acknowledged to be in the worst and most
distressing situation in Ireland should be represented in
that Committee; but they were not so represented. It
was but fair that those who were oppressed and galled
by the unfortunate working of that system in that coun-
try should have an opportunity of making it known to
the Committee and have all its errors rectified.

Mr. FIT ZSTEPHEN FRENCH also complained of
the constitution of the Committee. How was it con-
stituted? There was a very strong preponderance, on
the part of Ministers, of persons officially connected
with the Government. He found, in addition to the
Noble Lord at the head of the Government,
the name of Mr. Cornwall Lewis, an ex-
Secretary of Poor-laws, and others connected in
some way with the Government. That was the sort
of Ministerial staff that was to enter into an
inquiry of this kind.—(Bear, hear.) But that
was not all. There were the names of Sir John
Pakington, Mr. Staffbrd, and Mr. Sharman Crawford.
One part of Ireland—namely, Ulster—where the
system worked nearly as well as in this coun-
try, was carefully and well represented.—(Heir.)
Sir Robert Ferguson, Mr. Shafto Adair, and Mr.
Sharman Crawford were chosen to represent that
part of the country. He found, on the other hand,
the county of Limerick almost totally unrepresented
He found that two Members had been chosen on the
Committee who were absent from the House that
night—Sir D. Norreys and Mr. Hamilton. In
his opinion, in an inquiry of this description
it was not only necessary that the inquiry should
be impartial, but it should be so regarded by
the people of Ireland. Several of the most im-
portant parts of Ireland were left unrepresented in
the selection of this Committee Cork was left unrepre-
sented, while Limerick had two Members on the Com-
mittee.

Sir G. GREY said thatevery:one who knew anything of
appointing Committees knew the difficulty there
was in forming them so as to please every
one, and that difficulty had been greatly felt
in the present instance ; he thought that some
of the representations of the Hon. Member, who had
spoken last, were not correct. Every attempt had
been made to obtain gentlemen of experience on
the Committee, and he thought it would be
highly desirable that his Noble Friend at the head of
the Government should be one of its Members. He
believed that the doubts of the Hon. Member as to the effec-
tive working of the Committee, and its giving satisfaction
or Ireland were totally without foundation. The Gen-
tlemen that had been chosen f r the Committee had
taken great interest in the subject, and were certainly,
in his opinion, the best persons for the Committee.
Colonel DUNNE admitted that Government must
have had considerable difficulties in settling this Com-
mittee, but he could not help feeling that the landed in-
terest was not duly represented in it.
Sir ROBERT PEEL suggested to the Noble Lord
the propriety of re-considering the Committee, and con-
senting to an extension to the number of its Members,
rather than exclude any interest.
Mr. SADLIER thought it worth while considering
the question of adding to the committee the representa-
tives of the two large counties of Mayo and Roscommon.
He, however, agreed that it was of great importance that
the Hon. Gentleman the Member for Northamptonshire
should remain on the Committee, for to a knowledge of
the defects of the Irish Poor-laws he superadded a
knowledge of the working of a similar law in this
country.
Mr. J. O'CONNELL saw no reason to confine the
Committee to 21 Members, and he, therefore, agreed
with the Hon. Member who had just addressed them,
that it was highly desirable that ;the counties of Mayo
and Roscommon should be represented on the committee.
Sir W. SOMERVILLE said Government would con-
sent to an increase of the Committee if the House would
agree to the names already on the list.
Mr. MANSELL in that case would recommend that
some Scotch Member should be placed on it.
Nr. CHRIS TOPHER, protested that there was no
necessity whatever for such a step.
The name of Lord J. Russeil was then added to the
Committee.

Mr. GROGAN praposed the substitution of the name
of Sir Lucius O'Brien fsr that of Mr. P. Scrope, and
Lord Lincol for Sir James Grabam.

Mr. HENRY gave notice that to-morrow he would
move that Mr. Bright's name be added to the Com-
mittee.

Mr. GROGAN then moved the omission of Mr. P.
Scrope's name; and
The gallery was cleared for a division, when the num-
bers were—

Against the motion
For it ... ...

... ... 119
••• ... 44

••• -
Majority ... —75
Mr. P. Scrope's name is therefore retained on the list.
The other business on the paper w•as then disposed of,
and the House adjourned.

DEATH or THE MARCHIONESS
o )
DOWAGER OF
DONEGAL.—We are called upon announce the demise
of the above noble lady, who expired
residence in Chesham-place, after ashort illness.
at her
rd Her
Ladyship was the daughter of the late Sir E
Bart., and married George Augustus, second MarquiswaMay,
Donegal, father of the present Peer, in August, 1
95 of
SUDDEN DEATH.—Yesterday evening about half-
past six o'clock, a middle-aged man, named Philip
Hughes, suddenly dropped down dead at Castle Bank
Grassmarket. He had left his own house in the neigh-
bourhood about a quarter of an hour previously, and
apparently in good health.—Caledonian Mercury..
SALMON FIsHINGs.—The tacksmen of the Stirling
fishings, and those of Blairdrummond and Craigforth
began their season at twelve o'clock on Wednesday
night, and had their boats on the water until six o'clock
on Thursday evening, but we are sorry to say without
any success—not a single fish having been killed.
This may be attributed to the late heavy floods, and we
hope may not prove to be a criterion of the success
which may yet attend our fishings for the year.—Stirling
Journal,