The Sun.
London, England, 1849-02-22 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON,

of duty which at first sight might appear to be attended f
with pecuniary loss. Th., tone of the press on this sub-
ject was an unmistakeable proof of the existence of this
apathy, and therefore he moved for this Committee. He
desired to see the maintenance of the blockading squadron,
for according to evidence of the witnesses examined in
another place, with the exception of those witnesses who
had been or were engaged in the slave-trade, it appeared
that in proportion to the efficiency of the squadron was
the success of the efforts to suppress the slave-trade.
That squadron in 1842 and ;843, had all but succeeded
in suppressing the slave trade, and it was only in conse-
quence of the cessation of those exertions, in conse-
quence of orders from home, mistaken orders
as he thought, that the trade had revived.
He wished a Committee to inquire into those
matters, and to devise measures for carrying out the
greatest act of jastice which a nation had ever under-
taken to execute. The apathy of the public at present
was owing entirely to a forgetfulness of the details :of
the horrid traffic, and if such details were again brought
prominently forward, the public attention would again
be directed to the subject, and the country would be as
loud as ever in its protests against the commission of this
horrible iniquity. It was one thing to consider the ques-
tion of the slave trade to the Brazils abstractedly,
and another to contemplate the horrors which each indi-
vidual African suffered during the passage. If these
horrors were brought prominently before the public
the public feeling would again bo excited against these
horrible atrocities. It was a fearful thing
to have avowed a determination to redress these evils,
and then to be deterred from using the means which
God had given to destroy this system of iniquity, on
the ground of expense. So long as the slave
trade existed in Africa the introduction of lawful
traffic would be impossible. They had it in evidence
that the slave trade was the most lucrative
traffic under the sun, and that so far from having
a tendency to wear itself out, it would increase.
The supply at Brazil was inadequate to the
demand, and there were hundreds, thousands of
acres of virgin soil which might be brought into profit-
able cultivation if there were an adequate supply of
slaves. The slave trade would therefore, if left
to itself increase, rendering all legitimate trade im-
possible, and tending to keep the interior of Africa
in a frightful state of demoralization. He felt that
England had given a great stimulus to slavery by
opening her ports to slave-grown sugar. In doing that
she committed a great crime, and entangled herself again
in the difficulties of the abominable traffic which she
had abolished. Ile believed that those who proposed
the act were ignorant of the effect which it would pro-
duce, but. as :it had produced the effect he called upon
them not for the sake of a miserable saving in the price
of sugar to encourage this evil, and to join with him in
adopting measures to prevent the recurrence of
this evil. If they refused they would fall
from the high principles by which they
had hitherto been actuated, and if in such a great matter
as this England abandoned in the face of heaven and
earth her high principles, she would bring upon herself
that chastisement which Providence always inflicted upon
delinquent nations. Those who believed in our maritime
strength, when they saw us abandoning our efforts, did
not believe we were serious in our desire to supress this
trade; and these who saw we were baffled by those
smugglers and pirates, ceased to have faith in our ma-
ritime omnipotence.—(Cheers.)
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE, in assenting to the
motion, c:-aild no agree in the opinion expressed by the
Right Rev. Prelate, that any alteration had taken place in
public opinion with regard to this subject. Public opinion
was unanimous in their desire to suppress the trade,
but there were doubts entertained as to the efficacy of
the measures adopted for its suppression, and, therefore it
was that he thought the inquiry proposed by the
Right Reverend Prelate would be of the greatest
possible service.—(Hear.) The invention of steam
, had introduced a new element into the consideration
of this question, and it would be well that the Com-
mittee should inquire into its effects. This alone would
justify the appointment of this Committee, which, he
was convinced, would recommend such measures as
would enable England to carry out those high prin-
ciples by which she had been acivated.
The Earl of ABERDEEN was glad that this inquiry
was to be instituted, because he believed he was mainly
responsible for the increase in the blockading squadron.
When he entered office in 1841 about eight hundred men
were employed in this service ; when he quitted it,
is 1846, there were three thousand men employed.
there had been several barracoons destroyed by the men
of our squadron, and in several instances the Govern-
ment had had to make compensation to subjects
of France and America for destroying their
property—(Hear, hear)—and consequently instruc-
tions were sent to the officers that they wero
not justified in destroying the property of neutrals, un-
less they hud permission of the African Chiefs and
Kings. These were the orders to which the Right Rev.
Prelate had alluded, and which merely impressed on the
officers the necessity of observing the laws of nations,
It was a mistake to call this a blockade, as it was not a
blockade in the ordinary sense of the word. He bad no
doubt but that the effect of that letter in increasing the
trade had been greatly exaggerated, although be
did not doubt but that the publication of those in-
structions had produeed a very injurious effect in Africa.
With respect this so-called blockade, we were
not altogether free agent, because we were bound
by treaty with France tomaintain a certain amount of
force, and perhaps the Goverment would find some
difficulty in getting the treaty renewed, for he
believed that none but the firm virtuous Minister
who then ruled France would have ventured
to have entered into it, and as it was, such was the feel-
ing it excited in France, that it nearly led to his over-
throw.

Lord STANLEY desired, as strongly as the Right
Reverend Prelate could do, to see the utter extinction
of the slave trade, but he thought the Committee
would fail in its duty if it did not examine
out the causes which militated against the success of the
squadron; more particularly should the Committee in-
quire into the causes which had led to the immense
increase which had taken place in the traffic from 1846
to 1849, notwithstanding the vigilance of that squadron,
They had more than neutralized the effects of the guard
by the increased stimulus they had given to the slave-
trade by their alteration in the sugar-laws, and he
trusted the Committee would examine into, and report
upon the causes of the increase of the trade during the
years 1846, 1847, and 1848.
Earl GREY thought that the speech of the Noble
Lord would greatly diminish the value of his labours as
a member el the Committee. Here was a motion fur
a Committee of Inquiry, and the Noble Lord, with his
usual hastiness, jumped to a conclusion as to the subject
upon which the Committee was to inquire. For himself he
was convinced that the measure of 1846 was a wise mea-
sure, that it had not led to the results which the Noble
Lord stated it had led; and when the proper time of
discussing it should come, he would be perfectly ready
to justify it. He had also a complaint to make of the
Noble and Learned Lord (Lord Brougham), who,
during his absence, and when told he was coming,
had thought proper to indulge in severe remarks On
recent occurrences in Ceylon. He protested against the
conduct of the Noble and Learned Lord as most unjust
to the Goveraor of Ceylon, and to the Government,
to bring forwdrd this matter incidentally without notice.
If the Noble and Learned Lord would give notice of a
motion, and bring it forward in a regular manner, he
should be obliged to him for raising the discussion.

Lord BROUGHAM said that the Noble Earl had
furnished ample proof of his absence during the remarks
which he (Lord B.) had made by his speech just now.
He stated that he had intended to give a notice on the
subject, but that he bad abstained from giving the notice
on account of an inquiry about to take place elsewhere.

( LEFT SPEAK TN G. 3

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock.
NEW MEMBERS.

Lord LKWISEADI and Mr. BECKETT DENISON took the
oaths and their seats, the former fur South Staffordshire,
and the latter for the West Riding. The latter was
cheered on taking his seat.
SECOND READINGS.

The following Bills were read a second time:—
Sheffield and Tinsley Road (Extension of the Tinsley
and Doncaster Turnpike•road to Sheffield).
Truro Turnpike•roads, Penryn and Redruth Turn-
pike-roads (Consolidation of Trusts, Alterations of
'rolls, Formation of New Roads).
The second reading of the Alford and Boston Road
and the New North Road Continuation Bills were post-
poned.

NAVIGATION-LAWS.,
An Hox. MEMBER presented a petition from Hast-
ings in favour of the repeal of these laws.
FEMALE PROSTITUTION.
An HoN. MEMBER presented a petition from New-
port, Isle of Wight, praying the House to devise some
effectual means for the suppression of female prostitution.
FINANCIAL REFORM.
Mr. ANDERSON presented a petition from 170 of
the principal inhabitants of the Shetland Islands, in
favour of financial reform, particularly on timber
and tea.

TOLERATION.
The rim MEMBEn also presented petitions from
Scarborough, adopted at a public meeting, and signed
by 360 persons of all denominations, including members
of the Established Church, praying for full civil and re-
ligious liberty to seceding clergymen, and all classes of
her Majesty's subjects.
Mr. COBDEN presented a petition from Bradford to
the same effect.
'REGIUM DONUM.
Mr. OSBORNE presented a petition from places in
Middlesex against the Regium Donum, and against the
support of any church or religious body out of the funds
of the nation. The Hon. Gentleman gate notice that
he should to-morrow move that the petition_ be printed.
MINISTERS' MONEY.
Mr. REYNOLDS presented a petition from Dublin
praying for the repeal of ministers' money.
THE LAW OF MARRIAGE. _ _

Mr. CARDWELL presented a petition from Lira-
pool against any alteration of the law of marriage.

PRIZE FIGHTING.

Mr. MACKINNON presented a petition from Man-
chester, buying that priz2-fighting was very prevalent
tberc—(Laughter)—and pray ing the House to devise
some stringent measures for the suppression of the
practice.
TEE PUNJAUB.
Mr. G. THOMPiON gave notice that to-morrow
evening he would ask the First Lord of the Treasury,
whether her Majesty's Ministers, having deemed it
their duty to print a report or 678 pages
relating to the island of Ceylon in July last, did
not think it equally their duty to print a
report relating to the disturbances in the Punjaub, de-
scribed in her Majesty's Speech from the Throne as a
rebellion which has been going on since April, 1848,

to suppress which an army has been maintained, involv.
ing not less than five millions pounds sterling annually.

TAXATION OF THE AGRICULTURAL
IN TEREST.

Mr. DISRAELI rose and said—Sir, I beg to give
n3tice that, on this day fortnight, I shall call the atten•
tion of the House to the present condition of the agri-
cultural interest, with the view to a more equitable ap-
portionment of the taxes to which it is subject.—(Loud
cheers, and cries of " Hear, hear," from the Opposition
Members.)
GAS IN THE CITY OF LONDON.
Mr. C. PEARSON presented a petition from the
consumers of gas in the various wards of the city
of London praying for inquiry, and that some measure
might be introduced with the view to cheapen gas.
WORKHOUSES IN IRELAND.

Major BLACKALL begged to ask the Secretary of
State for Ireland whether it was the intention of her
Majesty's Ministera to call for any instalment of the ex•
pense of building workhouses in Ireland?

Sir W. SOMERVILLE was not aware that any such
intention existed, but he would make inquiry on the sub-
ject, and furnish the Hon. Gentleman with the result.
INTERNATIONAL ENGLISH AND FRENCH

ASSOCIATION.
Mr. B. COCHRANE said, he rose to put the question
of which he gave notico yesterday, to the Hon. Member
for Tewkesbury.
The SPEAKER (interrupting the Hon. Member)
intimated that he could not, in accordance with the
forms of the House, put that question to the Honourable
Member.

Mr. B. COCHRANE said, then he would ask the
Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department
whether be was aware that an association, called the
International English and French Association, had been
formed, at the head of which were the names of five
Hon. Members of that House, namely, the Hon. Member
for Tewkesbury, the Hon. Member for the Tower Ham-
lets, the Hon. Member for Bodmin, the Hon. Member for
Macclesfield, and the Hon. Member for Southampton,
the object of that association being an intellectual treat
for Easter week.—(Laughter.) With the permission of
the House, in order to understand the object of his ques-
tion, ho would read one or two extracts from the pro-
gramme:—"There was something delicate and gentle-
manly, and something congenial and manly, in the idea
which suggested a military visit of citizenship to the
English nation" * * * " The
social spirit which takes must give ; we dine
together—we, England and France—in a fa-
mily sense.—(Loud laughter.) You, France, dine
with me to-day, and I, England, claim your hospitality
to-morrow."—(Renewed laughter.) • The Honourable
Gentleman went on to read similar extracts, which
elicited the greatest merriment in the . House.
The question which he wished to put to the Under-
Secretary of State was as to whether this association,
at the head of which there were five Members of Parlia-
ment, was at all known officially to the Government, or
had received any act of registration.—(Great laughter.)
Mr. HUMPHREY BROWN—I, Sir, am one of the
Members whose names appear at the head of that pro-
gramme, and I wish—.
The SPEAKER—The Hon. Member is clearly out of
order. I have already said that it was unparliamentary
to put a question to a private Member, or one to the
'Ministers, on matters not connected with the business of
the House; and the Hon. Member, therefore, cannot
proceed.
Mr. BROWN attempted again to speak, but there
were cries of " Chair, chair," on all sides, and ultimately
the Hon. Member desisted.—(Cries for the Under-
, Secretary, of State.)

Mr. lIWIS said that he knew little of the association
to which the Hon. Member had called the attention of the
House, except what he had just read, but it seemed very
innocent in its objects—(Laughter on both sides of the
llouse)—and he hoped it would prosper.—(Repeated
cheers from Mr. Brown and the Bon. Members around
him.)

Mr. B. COCHRANE—he could only put the question
to the Under-Secretary of State, because there were no
other Ministers present.
Mr. WYLD ruse to move that that question be entered
on the journals of the House.
Mr. 11. BROWN would second that motion.
The SPEAKER said that the Hon. Member could not
proceed to make such a motion.—(Cries of " Chair,
chair," Mr. Wyld for some time persisting in his motion.)
He had repeatedly explained that no Member could
make a motion which did not relate to the business of
the House.
MARRIAGE WITH THE SISTER OF A
DECEASED' WIFE.

Mr. HENLEY presented petitions agairist the Bill for
legalising marriages within certain degrees of affinity,
and especially against the clause for this object.
COURT-MARTIA,LS IN INDIA.—UNJUST SEN-