The Sun.
London, England, 1838-04-06 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT,

HOUSE OF LORDS, APRIL 4.
The LOkD CHANCELLOR took his teat on the Woolsack at
Five o'Clock.

The First Fruits and Tenths Bill was read a third time and
passed. _

- Several other Bills were forwarded a stage.
Mr. GREEN and others brought up the Penryn Borough
Improvement Bill, and the London and Croydon Railway
Company Bill.
ABOLITION OF NEGRO APPRENTICESHIP.
The Marquis of SLIGO presented petitions from the
Baptist Chapel of Swansea, from Stoney Stratford, Stonehill
Chapel, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Sidmouth, Belfast, Down-
patrick, Ashby-under-Lyne, Denby, Winstanley, the
Methodists of Arbroath, the Methodists of Highhouse,
in the county of Durham, the United Congregation of Den-
ny, the Baptists of Mirfield, in Yorkshire, the New Connec-
tion of Airfield, and several other places, praying for the
immediate abolition of negro apprenticeship.
Lord GLENE L G presented a petition from the Baptists
of Brook-street Chapel in the county of Durham to the same
effect.

The Duke of RICHMOND presented petitions from the
Protestant Dissenters of Morley, the Inhabitants of Bolton-
le-Moor, the Protestant Dissenters of Lee Chapel, and the
Methodists meeting at Hosham Moor, Lancashire, to the same
effect.

Lord BRO WNLO NV presented a petition from Alford, in
the county of Lincoln, praying for a reduced rate of postage.
Lord G LENELG presented a petition for the bettor
observance of the Lord's-day, but we did not hear from whence.
—Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, APRIL 4.
The gallery was opened at twenty minutes past seven
o'clock, the intermediate time from the Speaker taking the
chair being occupied with two ballots for Wicklow county
and Leicester. On the former a debate took place respecting
challenges; but as strangers were excluded we can state no-
thing that occurred in it.
Several petitions for and against various private Bills were
presented.
The Blackheath Small Debts Bill was read a second time,
and ordered to be committed.
FRENCH FISHERMEN.
Mr. EDWARD RICE then rose to move for " All me-
morials and other documents which have been received by her
Majesty's Government since the Ist of January, 1832, com
plaining of the aggressions of French fishermen on our coasts."
The French boats were better built, manned with eighteen or
twenty hands, and did considerable damage when they drove
among our boats in shore, breaking through their nets, taking
the fish when they pleased, and beating the men when they
resisted. Their conduct had now become an intolerable nui-
sance. L3toly several English boats went into Rye Bay to
fish for mackerel, when the French boats came and drove
them from their fishing-ground. The English boats were only
allowed from four to six or seven, so that they had no chance
of resisting with success. They had been told that the matter
would be settled by negociation with the French Government,
but nothing had yet been accomplished.
COUNTY of WICKLOW ELECTION COMMITTEE,
Here the Members of this Committee were called for-
ward and sworn, viz.:—Hurt, Peter Kirk, George Evans,
David Morris, Right Hon. Henry Labouchere, Charles Wood,
Sir George Anson, Christopher Blackett, George Bryan,
Daniel W. Harvey, John Irving.
Mr. E. RICE resumed. There was a necessity for ar-
ranging some immediate protection by the appointment of an
Officer on the coast, with powers to interfere on their behalf
on the instant. As things stood they were not only a check
on the national industry, but constituted a positive national
disgrace.
Captain PECHELL said that, although his Honourable
Friend had, as it were, been poaching on the fishing ground
that he had claimed. for his own Parliamentary privilege and
occupation—(Laughter)—he should cordially second the
motion, and co-operate to the utmost in its object ; for it was
melancholy to see the difference between the encouragement
given to our fishermen and those of France by their respective
Governments.

BOROUGH OF LEICESTER ELECTION
COMMITTEE.
The following Members were here called in and sworn :
Wm. Pinney, Hon. G. H. Cavendish, T. Gibson, Lord Sey-
mour, Hon. J. E. Elliott, Viscount Ebrington, Viscount
Melgund, Viscount Alford, J. A. Smith, F. J. Cloward, Lord
Leveson.
Captain PECHELL resumed. In 1829 there were nine
affidavits laid before the Treasure of the aggression committed
on the Dover boats ; but the Duke of Wellington said be
could find or suggest no means to remedy the grievance, but
that the fishermen should go to sea in such numbers as to pro-
tect themselves. The danger was believed to be so great last
season, that the Brighton fishermen gave up their harvest of
herrings. All along the Suffolk and Sussex coasts the fisher-
men were (to use their own phrase) " as thick as bees, and as
poor as rats," and prayed especially for a couple of ships of
war off Hastings and Brighton.
Mr. LIDDELL and Sir A. DALRYMPLE concurred in the
necessity of affording the protection demanded.
Lord PALMERSTON said that the Government was fully
sensible of the bearing of this question on the national industry ;
but he was well aware that the settlement of this question was
attended with greater difficulty than Hon. Gentlemen might
at first think. Some months ago the French Government had,
on the application of the English Government, established a
Commission at Longueville on the subject of the oyster ques-
tion, but it had nut yot brought its labours to a conclusion.
The cause of quarrel was, some years ago, a boundary line
was fixed very unfavourable to the British fishermen, who
thereupon had been tempted to trespass. The French fisher-
men had, on their part, been tempted to retaliate. However,
judging from the friendly feeling prevailin between the two
Governments, he hoped that some understanding would shortly
be arrived at which would prevent these unpleasant collisions.
With respect to the ships of war, he hoped that Hon. Mem-
bers would see that where there were any other means which
might be adopted it would be more consistent to resort to
them in the first instance, and not resort to a mode which
might perhaps embroil the parties still more, and seriously in-
terfere with the happy relations which now existed between
the two countries.
Mr. BELL offered his acknowledgments to the Honour-
able Member for Dover for having brought this important
question under the consideration of the House. He had pre-
sented numerous memorials and some statements of tell au-
thenticated cases of aggression committed by Frenali fisher-
men on the fishermen of the county of Northumberland. In
these attacks the aggressors had many times destroyed pro.
poly to the value of 201. or 30/. ; and only in August last, a
fisherman named William Oliver was attacked in his boat by
three Frenchmen, who very nearly strangled hint ; and this
gross outrage, he could as.,,ure the House,
was perpetrated
merely because Oliver had requested the French fishmermen
to keep clear of his nets. It was well known that the fishing's
boats of Northumberland carried only two or three men and a
boy, whereas the French boats were inanned with six, eight,
and ten men each, -0 that
any attempt sit resistance would
be entirely unavailing. These attacks were generally ratt:4
in the months of August and September, at •41,-.o Time of
the herring-fishing, and as the RiEht qz,nourallo Gentleman
the President of the Board (4 'Flag! had so far listened to his
appeals in re:,:p;.,ci to th.e fishermen of Northumberland, 54 to
themstelaiepnrothe wouldeetionof n
an armed
o, the present occasion
ve!,',sel during the
next herring so,
trouble the House farther tan Iv expressing a hope that Use
nowpendino• ;night be brought to §4.c.gssco,i
tncevgni°lat a
tlig.:
e 1:-notion Nviul thgn it;n4nigiqnsly agrecci tQa

SEIZURE OF SLAVE VESSELS.
Captain PECHELL then moved for a return of slave ves-
sels brought before the several Courts of mixed Commissions
for adjudication between Ist Jahuary, 18;8, and Ist January,
1838, stating the names of the seizors, and the decretal part
of the sentence, whether forfeiture, or restitution, with or
without costs.

The Hon. Member was proceeding to state the groun'h of
his motion when it was observed that " forty Members were
not present," only twenty-eiiht being visible. Strangeri
Here ordered to withdraw, an the tiouts adjourned at Half'
past Eight o'Clock.