The Sun.
London, England, 1849-04-20 00:00:00

FRENCH POSTAGE.

An Hort. blamina asked the First Lord of the Trea-
sury whether any proposal had been made by the Go-
vernment of France to reduce the rate of postage be-
tween France and this country ; and if so, whether
there would be any objection to lay the correspondence
which may have taken place on Ithe subject before the
House.

Lord J. RUSSELL said a negotiation was now going
on in reference to thfi subject, but the correspondence
bad not yet been brought to a close.

CEYLON.
Mr. MACGREGOR seeing the Hon. Gentleman the
Under-Secretary for the Colonies in his place, he wished
to ask him if it was true that the Government of Ceylon
were about to establish a Government debt, and that they
intended to take the funds of th• savings' banks
and other public funds for the immediate use of the
Executive.

Mr. HAWES said there was no foundation for the
report, though it was true that such a report had got
abroad in Ceylon.

SUPPLY.
The House then resolved itself into a Committee of
Supply, and on the vote of 350,0001 on account of the
Navy Estimates fin" the maintenance of artificers and
labourers in the naval establishments being read,
Mr. FITZROY submitted to the House that there was
no plausible pretext for pursuing that course at the pre•
lent moment, and that it was extremely undesirable to
take those grants out of the ordinary course.
Mr. HUME said it would be desirable to know what
prOportion of tech vote was now to be taken. He should
object to any further vote of that kind, for it was an
invasion of the ordinary practice.
Mr. WARD said he had no desire to shirk any dis-
cussion on the subject.
Sir 11. WILLOUGHBY was understood to say he
objected to taking those grants out of the ordinary course.
Ile would not state the reasons then for taking that
course, but be should do so on a future occasion.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER made an
observation, wholly inaudible, explanatory of the reason
why the grant had been taken out of the ordinary course.
•Mr. BERRIES did not understand the Right Hon.
Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer; ho per.
fectly agreed with his Hon. Friend Mr. Fitzroy, who
had raised an objection of that kind. He thought this
was a most unfavourable- moment for passing this vote
on account, considering that some greater vigilance ought
to be exercised with respect to the public expenditure
before votes (,1 this description were allowed on account.
Lord J. RUSSELL said, that although he thought
this course objectionable, yet under the present circum-
stances it was the best course to be pursued at the pre-
sent moment.
Captain PECHELL thought the course proposed in
voting money on account an extremely inconvenient
one. Why, he would ask, should not the estimates have
been brought forward at an earlier period of• the session?
If the lion. Member for Lewes would resist this mode
of proceeding at a future period, the Government would
find that the present would be the last Limo that it
would be allowed to take place.
After a few words from Mr. FITZROY,
The vote was then agreed to, as were also 350 0001.
for naval stores, 500,0001. for half pay, :200,000/. for
military pensions and allowances, and 100,0601. for civil
pensions and allowances.
The House then resumed.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.

In reply ton question from Mr. lIIJME,
Lord J. RUSSELL stated that it was the intention
of the Government to proceed with the Navigation Bill
upon Monday and Thurs lay next.
POOR-LAWS (IREL e ND) RATE-IN AID.
Upon the motion for going into Committee upon this
Bill,
Mr. SADLIER rose and said he would state as briefly
as possible some of the considerations which had induced
him to resist the proposition which had been brought
forward by the Government, to raise a certain sum of
money for the relief of distress in certain districts of
Ireland, under the name of a rate in aid. He re-
gretted to perceive, from the observations addressed
to him last evening by the Noble Lord, that he was
y of those few Members who
most unfairly sad unjustly, tdat
disposed to re-echo the clep-trap and, as he must
think,hu.ae dre i
been mostn
favourstated, unjust o
fc r
the Ministerial project. It
the majority of the Irish members, by opposing the
proposition, placed themselves in the position
of men who were prepared to pass a sentence of death
upon a large portion of their' fellow-countrymen. He
was convinced that it was not only an unjust and dela•
sire proposition, but that it was calculated to
extend the circle of destitution and suffering,
which he was sure the Noble Lord was anxious
to alleviate, and as far as possible to reduce.
The tenant occupier stood at present in a position which
made him wholly dependent on the landlord, and it
was futile to expect that any advantage to be derived
from the benefits from a good harvest could ever place
him in the position which the Lord had ;pointed out.
Now it should be recollected that this rate in
Howe
tojt
aohiesceeptrhotehy
iarneteveot
aid would fall with no sort of equality upon the
different parts of the country. Ulster, for
pay a gnat deal more
instance, would have to
to such a rate than Munster, or any other province in
blrreo.luagtehhdat.ol the
revolting
;Connaught,e, Governmentta te ofdestitu-
tion
but
u th
ha had before
prevailed e did
the
regreted that whilst doing ao, they had not-at the same
produced the evidence which the Government possessed
respecting the state of the whole of the labouring popu-
lation. lie was desirous especially, for instance, that
the state of the distressed unions, as they were called in
Leinster and Munster, should have been more fully laid
before the House. The Honourable Gentleman then pro-
ceeded to cite instances of that distress in several unions.
In the Queen's County the distress was of the
same character; there the clothing of the farmers was
made up from rough frieze cloth, while that
;
of the—peasantry consisted of nothing but raga
and tatters. In Tipperary, which had been for centuries-
known as the "golden green," the only pawnbroker of
the union stated that during the last two years nothing
in the shape of clothing or wearing apparel now
formed a part of his pledges, and he represented
that the clothing of the peasantry was nothing
but a mass of rags, which required the utmost
ingenuity to keep together. How could they hope, then,
that the farmers would be able to pay this rate ? There
could be no hope at it; and he was very much afraid
that, instead of relieving Ireland, this measure would
have the efect of throwing those who were at present in
work out of employment and increasing the prevalent
distress. Bat some Honourable Gentlemen had
had the folly to' describe the opposition to this
motion as one of a sectarian and religious
character, and as an effort on the part of the
Protestants of Ulster to exonerate themselves from the
liability of assisting . to alleviate the destitution
and distress in their country ; but that could
not possibly be the case, because the greater part of the
Members in that House who represented constituencies
in the north of Ireland were Catholics, and therefore
it was a most unjust statement which had been put for-
ward,with the view of advancing some prejudice in favour
of those cbjections among the uneducated masaesinlreland.
Hon. Gentlemen should also bear in mind the principle
on which that rate-in-aid was to be levied as a tax. It was
to be levied on a valuation which was not uniform—not
uniform even in any one union throughout Ireland, and
' the practical effect of that would be, that whilst the mere
comfortable classes in some districts would not
practically pay 2d. in the pound, and others would be
paying 6d. in the pound, because every Honour-
able Gentleman at all acquainted with the
principles on which the poor-law valuation
was carried out in Ireland, must know perfectly well
that a sixpenny rate in aid might be a sixpenny rate
in aid in one district, but would not amount to 3d. or 4d.in
other districts better circumstanced and bettor able to
bear any additional impost at tnis moment.—(Hear.)
The Noble Lord contrasted ;the very small amount
of the poor-rates in the fair and prosperous localities of
Ireland with the poor-rates levied in some of the worst
localities in England. lie (Mr. Sadlier) did not think
that was a fair inrerence, because in many of those dis-
tricts the poor-law had been kept down by the resident pro-
prietors in those districts. The principle of remitting the
arrears of poor-rates was similar to remitting arrears of
rent in eases of estates in Ireland administered under
the Court of Chancery, and equally mischievous.
The proposition was delusive with reference to the people
of Ireland, and delusive also to the English people, and
their representatives in that House. If the Government
would state frankly and boldly the social position of all
classes in Ireland, from the mass of information they were
furnished with, if they did so it would only be a calcu-
lation of figures to show that it was delusive to suppose
that any sum they might advance would put a
sto the famine and starvation that was exist-
ing is Ireland. The Government had information
Which Shoved their that in the most fruitful parts of

GAS-LIGHT AND COKE COMPANIES.
Dividend I Amount I
Name of Company. per of Paid. Price.
Annum. Share.
-....-
X. s. d. A. s. d. [
British ••••••• • • • • • .• 11. 40 0 0 18 001 l4
Ditto Provincial.. •• 11. Bs. 20 0 0 19 0 0 18
Bristol . • •••••• • • • • • ICI. per cent. 20 0 0 - -
Brighton ••••.. - • • .. 51. per cent. 20 0 0 - 16
City of London .. •• • • 101. 100 0 0 100 0 0 250
ContinentalConsolidat. 925. pr share 50 0 0 39 5 0 25
...........455. •• - 455. pr share 50 0 0 50 0 0 32
Imperial ...........• 6/. per cent. 50 0 0 50 0 0 66
Independent ....... • • 61. per cent. 40 0 0 40 0 0 62%
London • • .... •••• • • • • - 50 0 0 50 0 0 123,,,
- 50 0 0 50 0 -
Phoenix .••.. • • ...... 51. per cent. 50 0 0 46 0 0 24
itatcliff -•••..• • • • • • 5/. 100 0 0 90 0 0 75
United General .• - - 4%1. pr cent. 50 0 0 50 0 0 1254
Weatminster Chartered 31. 50 0 0 - -49
Ditto, New •••• • • - . 12s. 50 0 0 10 0 0 934
CANALS.
Companies.... 1 s,l; 'Dividend
'Names of 1 F., Dividend, Price. Names of
Companies. [ ;,,I I per , Companies. t. 3 't
A p er
Price.
At n um.
e Annum. v 3
---- - 1 - - ----
£' X
Ashtn % Oldh 97 71. - Macclesfield . 100. 21. 10s. -
Barnsley •• • • 1601 121. 180 Neath -•• • • 100; 18/. 340
Brknk&Abrg 150, 51. 85 Oxford.. •• • • 1001 20/. 185
Birmingham 351 41. 81 Peak Forest. 73131. 18s. -
Coventry.. - 100' 251. 210 Regent's •• • • 331 11. ss. 18%
Derby ••• • • 100; 61. 63 Rochdale.... 851 41. 54
ElismretChs 1331 565. 40 Sornrset Coal 150171.105. 130
sS
thor
ue
rwb sr bi
du
gr ye : :
Erewash .• • 1001 32/. - Do.Lk Fd St 12 61. p. c. -
;,Lllrraanncid.lt
junnciotnn 110000
.Stffrd &Wore 140 A 281. 210
51.
,irandSurrey 100 21.
11.10 s. 248300 125 151. -
145 201. 285
Grantham • • 150, - - Severn and
l
!Unlit & AVIJ 39 7s. 6d. 5% Wye Rail. j 26 2'. 05' 25
Lee.ls& Livrpl 100 301. 320 Warwick&l
100 41. 60
Leicester ....11401 5/. 63% Ilirming. j
•,eicstr &Nth' 831 41. 45 WNarwlck&l 100 31.
L hboroghll42l 701. 50 ton 41
3t, 4 6 al,
Nfonmoutlish 100 81. - Worestr Sc 178 21. 41
Mntgemrysh 100 - - Birming.
MoitnMwbry 100 - - Wilts & Brks - 11. 10
LIST OP SCOTTISH COMPANIES' PRICSS
' Dividend Amount
Name of Company. per 'of • Paid. Price.
Annum, Share.
------ -- --
X s. d. A s. d
Bank of Scotland
.160
British Linen Company 81. por cent. 100 0 0 100 0 0 193
Caledonian Bank
City of Glasgow ',Sank
Clydesdale Bank •••- 6% per cent. 20 0 0 10 0 0 12X
'Commercial Bank .• - 71. per cent. 500 0 0 100 0 0 152
Eastern Bank•• •• •• •• 6/. per cent. 25 u 0 10 0 C 9/. 7s
4.1.1nb.14 Glasgow Bank 6!. per cent. 50 0 50 0 5%
Exehangeßnk of Scot 4l. per cent. 100 0 0 50 0 0 32
Isle of Tian. Company 71. per cent. 10 0 0 7 0 0 -
National Bank 6sq per cent. 50 0 0 10 0 0 13%
North of Scotland Bank 41. per cent. 20 0 0 5 0 0 0.178.
North British Bank - 50 0 0 10 0 0 4-8.6 d
Royal Bank of Scotland 51. per cent. 100 0 0 100 0 0 116
Union Bank of Scotland 81. per cent. 100 0 0 50 0 0 8054
Western Bauk• •••• • • • 81. per cent. 50 0 0 50 0 0 73%
Aber.leen Ftre and Life 7%1.pr cent. 12 10 0 2 0 0 2%
B. Accord. LiteaUd Fire - 20 0 0 011 0 -
tlritiSh Guarantee Ins. 4!. per cent. 10 0 0 1 0 0 105 Od
Caledonian Fire Insur. 101. per cent. 100 10 0 10 0 0 21
Church of England Ins. - 60 0 0 20 0 2
City of Glasgow Life 6l. per cent. 25 0 0 2 0 0 21. lis
i,'Alinburgh Life Insur. 61. per cent. 100 0 0 12 10 0 175{
East of Scotland Life.. - 10 0 0 015 0 85.6 d.
Eng. & Scot, Law Life 51. per cent. 50 0 0 217 6 -
Hercules Insurance Co. 71. per cent. 100 0 0 10 0 0 -
['lsar. Co. of Scetlnd•• 51. per cent. 100 0 0 10 0 0 -
Life Assoc. of Scotland 51. p"er cent. 10 0 0 1 0 0 11. 63
Mercantile Life .. •• • • - 10 0 0 010 0 Ifs. Od.
National Fire and Life 51. per cent. 10 0 0 1 0 0 205.6 d
North British Incur. •• 55%1.pr cent. 200 0 0 20 0 0 225 t
North & West of Scot. 61. per cent. 10 0 0 1 0 0 170.6 d.
Scottish Life and Guar. - 20 0 0 011 0 -
Scot. Mas. and Oen. Life - 1 0 0 015 0 i -
Scottish Union Inarnce. 641. pr cent. 20 0 0 1 0 0 111. 23
Standard Life
United Dep. Assurance 51. per cent. 10 0 0 0 1155.0 d
...
MISCELLANEOUS.
Dividend Amount
Name of Company.
Annum. Share. er of Paid. Price.
£. s. d. X. E. d.
Australian Azriculturl - 100 0 0 30 0 0 -
Anglo-Mexican Mlnt ll. 4s. 10 0 0 10 0 0 -
Ditto. Half Shares - - 210 0 -...
Canada ....•
Uppr Canada Bonds 51. per.cent. - - 88
City Navigation - - _._ 904
Comp .Cppr 3furs Eng 5l. percent. 100 0 0 70 0 0 -
Gen. Revers. & Invest sp. c.& bs, 21 100 0 0 100 0 0 90
Equitable Reversionry 5/. pr cent. 100 0 0 ;100 0 0 100
Gien.Steam Navigation 11. Bs. 15 0 01 14 0 0 -
London Institution - -
Russell Institution.. • - ..._, 7826 15 5
00 3
Peninsir& Orient.Stm B/. per cent. 50 0 0 50 0 0 68
Reversionary Int. Soc 4541. pr cent. 100 0 0 [lOO 0 0 90
-
Iloyal3lail Steam GI 18..4. p. c. 100 0 0[ GO 0 0 51
South Australian... -1/. per share. 25 0 01 25 0 0 16
Van Dieman's Land., - 100 0 01 23 0 0 -

No mails from Canada or New Brunswick were
received by the Canada, the express by which the mails
are forwarded • from Montreal to Halifax not having
reached the latter port when the packet sailed.
ROYAL ARTILLERY.,—WOOLWIC 11, APRIL 19.
Lieutenant• Colonel Locke, recently second in command
of the Royal Artillery at Gibraltar, has been appointed
to command the Royal Artillery at Chatham, vice Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Harrison, retired on full pay. Lieute-
nant. Colonel Wilson has been appointed to command
the Royal Artillery at Jersey, vice Lieutenant Colonel
James, who has been in command at that station since
14IChi 1846,