The Sun.
London, England, 1849-05-15 00:00:00

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he founded bis statements were in the Right Llon. Gen-
hlue b rind he bve.fed to tell thel

Mr: J. O'CONNELL said h- the: ne.: of
any 11,1711. re t' -t vets enes •-• .any! •
!:1 tater°, witlelsa that s xp:( tun, I.;:it, the )0. Ui:ii-
ticinln
SpOlo: of persons themselves gentirtnc".
„ew.. should it right that a Member insult his Irish
low. Members without some stop being put to it? The
.11
"un. Member had made a comparison between the two
countries, but he would ask were there any
schools in lielaad in which thero were children
who were ignorant of their Redeemer, and who knew
nut the way of salvation ? Had they, in Ireland, auy
professors of political economy who wrote for
Public newspapers which were patronised by the
Government, and who held out the blasphemous
doctrine that the people of Ireland should be starved
down to what the diminutive capital of that country
could allow fur them, and that they should not inter:eie
with the will of God, who had visited upon them a great
"amity, or to attempt to save them from death? Was
..!t net cruel that people who were perishing without
having committed one single outrage, who went to the
clergy and lifter receiving the sacrament, going back to
linp,er in the agonies of famine, shoeld be crushed in
such a harsh and reckless manner ? They
had shown wonderful fortitude and had sub-
mitted with admirable resignation to the trials
Which Providence had inflicted upon them,
and was it just that they should be made the subject of
any attack or slander in that House? It was Irish
money as well as English money that had been given
to them, and not, as stated by the Honourable Gentle-
man, English money alone. If the House gave
them the management of their own affairs they would
not ask for any money; but the House bad taken open
itself the management of their affairs, and they would
not now submit to meet the consequences of their own acts.
He had not intended to take any part in this debate,
but he had thought it necessary to say thus much in
answer to what the Hon. Gentleman had said.—(Hear,
hear.) The Government had acted niggardly towards
Ireland, but at the same time he must do them the justice
to say that had they proposed large grants, the House
would not have supported them.—(Hear, hear.) It was
too bad then to attack Ireland for her misdeeds,
which the policy of the House and Government had
goaded her people on to, and he trusted they should
hear no more of these misdeeds, if misdeeds they could
be called.—(Hear, hear.)
Sir H. W. BARRON was surprised that any English
Member should have evinced so bad a spirit towards
Ireland; but the Honourable Gentleman the Member
for Sheffield, in his opinion, had completely
contradicted himself. The Honourable Gentleman,
in his opening, said the landlords of Ireland
ought to drain their estates with their own money, and
in the next breath he said the land ought to be culti-
vated for the benefit of the people. Why, good God, this
ceuld not be done without the aid of public grants. He
denied that the money voted by the House went into
the pockets of the landlords ; and as a proof of this he
might mention that during the last year the landlords
had subscribed 1,600,0001. for the relief of the Irish
people.—(liear, hear.) These attacks, then, were
most unjust, and he regretted them the more because
they were likely to dry up the channels of charity in this
country, and leave the, people of Ireland to die of abso-
lute starvation.—(Hear, hear.)
Lord JOHN RUSSELL remarked that the Hon.
Member for Sheffield having been absent from the
House for some time had of course a much keener appe-
tite for Irish subjects than the majority of other Hon.
Members.—(Liughter.) The House, however, had
' beard so much during the present session of Ireland that
the Honourable Gentleman s speech was not so much
relished as it might otherwise have been.—(Hear, hear.)
lie would not attempt to defend the Irish land•
lords, he would leave that to themselves, but with
regard to the labourers of Ireland, he thought the Hon.
Gentleman was einjuse in his attacks on them.—(Hear.)
lie thought it was an unjust reflection upon the Irish
labourers to say that they were unwilling to work. He
believed that, in many instances, the labourers in Ire-
land were willing to work only for their food. It was
not, therefore, to be said that they wanted any lesson of
the kind given by the Hon. Member for Sheffield.
The Bill before the House was to establish a system of
drainage, with other improvements in land, by aid from
that House. The sums to be advanced were laid out,
in the first place, on labour, and, in the second plaee,On
the production of food by improvement of the land; and,
in the third place, there was every
.prospect that those
sums would be fully repaid, principal and interest.—
(Hear, hear.) The Hon. Member tor Waterford (Sir
W. Barron) had truly said that many sums had been
advanced for various purposes to English and Scotch
proprietors, and these sums had been regularly repaid.
He did not see any valid reason why that house should
withhold from Irish proprietors who required it, that
assistance which they had been in the habit of giving to
the proprietors of this country.—(Hear.)
Mr. HORSMAN ssid he did not believe that the
sources of private charity in this country were yet dried
up. If capital and labour were driven out of Ireland,
they must in a great measure attribute it to past English
legislation. Ho sympathised with many of the Irish
landlords, who for years past had received no rent.—
(Hear.) lie did not object to aid Ireland, but he ob-
jected to do it by a system that was pernicious in itself.
They had already tried this system, and still they were
told that nothing but immediate grants could save the
lives of thousands. Grants of 5,000/, and 10,000/., and
other sums were from time to time repeated; but had
that system improved Ireland? No; on the contrary
they were told, that upon the stoppage of these remit-
tances, the unfortunate people of Ireland must perish by
thousands. Some of the Commissioners' remonstrances
were very strong, and they desired, upon receiving no
answer to their applications for money, to be relieved
from all responsibility. They must assume, that from
the conduct of the Government, in declining to send
money, and the statements of the Commissioners, that
the mortality was very great. In the face of Europe,
that was a disgraceful state of things. He was surprised
how those who were responsible could sleep in their beds.
Sir G. GREY said that they had advanced the money
given them for the purposes of relieving Irish distress,
and when Government asked for 109,0001. more for that
purpose the Hon. Gentleman voted against it.—(Hear,
hear.) As for these grants, they were secured upon
Irish property; but the observations made had no refer-
ence to the Bill before the House. Since the 50,0001.
had been exhausted, 26,0001. more had been sent over
to Ireland, and in expectation of the relief asked for by
Government being granted, his Noble Friend (Lord J.
Russell) had stated that he beer)t feel himself bound
to refuse further aid.—(llear,
Mr. KEOGH said that the Noble Lord (Lord J.
Russell) had added to the sneer of the lion. Member for
Sheffield when he spoke of an Irish debate as a thing to
be censured, and had deprecated the observations of the
Hon. Member for Sheffield. The tones of that
Honourable Member's voice appeared to have been
very unwelcome tones to the Noble Lord—" Thrice
in these Irish debates had the Honourable Member (Mr
Roebuck) spoken, and," the Noble Lord had added,
" Thrice the brindled cat bad mewed." He (Mr.
Keogh) thought that these remarks should not be in-
dulged in against Irish debates by the Noble Lord, or
against Irish Members and the Irish nation by the Hon.
Member for Sheffield. When next he indulged in his
severity and satire on Irish Members, he hoped it would
• be when those were present who were able to reply to
them. lie was very far from thinking that the Hon. Gen-
tleman represented the feelings of his countrymen at
large. He would rather look to the acts of the English
nation than to the bitter words of the Hon. Member for
Sheffield. As, however, the Hon. Member had wound
up without any motion, he thought it probable, after all,
the Sheffield blade was not so dangerous a weapon.—
(Laughter.) He hoped that the English people would
distinguish between the patriotic statements of an Eng•
lish senator and the bilious acerbity of a spiteful self-tor-
. mentor.—(H-ar. and laughter.)
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said be
' thought it was unjust to charge his Noble Friend (Lord
J. Russell) with adding to the sneer of the Hon. Mem-
ber for Sheffield against Irish landlords, because ho de-
precated the renewal of an Irish debate, or rather the
renewal of the personalities which result from the speech
of the Hon. Member for Sheffield, He trusted that the
time of the House would not be occupied with personal
attacks.
. Colonel DUNNE was understood to say that Irish
Members should not be censured as asking for loans,
when So out of them had voted against this measure,
and only 19 for it.
Mr. MOORE said that the speech of the Hon. Mem•
ber for Sheffield amounted to an elaborate distillation of
all the bad feelings and worst passions which prevailed
amongst the worst men of their fellow-subjects. It had,
been said that all the evils of Ireland had been attri-
buted to landlordism, especially in Connaught. Lie
could only say, as a Connaught man, that no conclusion
• could be more unjust or more untrue than that to which
they had come on this subject. Tho peasantry were
• far from being idle or improvident. Their indus-
try, integrity, thriftiness, and earnestness in seeking
after work, wherever it could be found, were well-
known, and to apply such terms to them wads
bone of
the grossest perversions of language. It would _ e
membered how they bad suffered froom famine, and yet in
the spring of 1848, while sufferin rom dbstitutioo2 an
living upon half rations, they sowed a greater breadth of
land than at former periods. They might be said to
have literally sowed these lands with their own lives.--
(Hear, hear.) With respect to the landlords,
th ishard,e
e
to be the rule to act on the old proverb, " flit
they have no friends." But whatever might have been
their faults they were only part passe with the legisla-
tion of this country. The evils of Connaught might be t
traced as far back as the plantation of Connaught, for i
had a plantation as well as Ulster, a plantation very
much against it and in favour of Ulster, and while the
whole policy of this country had been directed to de-
grade and debase the people of Ireland, it was not to bo
wondered at that the landlords had not taken much
pains to improve the country. He admitted that since
that policy changed they had not done so much as
they might have done, and ho now called upon them' to
come forward and do their duty as owners of the soil.
But it was not the landlords of Connaught alone who were
responsible. The landlords of Ulster and England
were equally so. They had no right to say, "Aml my
brothers keeper." who
.had so long ruled the
people in a selfish sectarian
thepirlt'must not expect to
Irishtbe landlords were thus
abused by Hon. Members, weere aware of the actual
state in which many of them were ylaced, and that they
had paid away more money to mortgages) than. they had
received from their estates. He hafnaioletsiire to excuse
the landlords where they, had
objected
to the
n their duty;
but, at the same time, ho indiscriminate
censure that was cast upon them.
The SPEAKER having left the Chair, the House went
into Committee.
On the first and second clauses being read,
Mr. HORSMAN said he wished to know whether the
advances to be made by this Bill were to be for a limited
time, and what security there was against their misap-
plication? With respect to the charge of ignorance
made against him by the Right Hon. Gentleman (Sir
Qrey), all be could say was that the facts upon which

tenanee and employment of those around them.—(ilear.)
He trusted that those who, during the lest three years, l
hed doil3 eeeeeree [iii: iiiipcuscoitsui of Ilia: e.W.)te,,,,
would no lee shamed into exertion, end would -follow
tho:es who set them a glorious example. However it
might please Hon. Gentlemen in that House to lay the
blame on the Government tied on the Imperial Parlia-
ment, his belief had been, was, and would be, that unless
harmony was created among all classes in Ireland—un-
less religious animosity was assuaged between different
sects—unless the enmity prevailing between the landlord
and the tenant gave way to good understanding—
unless all classes united in endeavouring to ele-
vate the country, it was useless fur Government
to propose measures, or for the Parliament to
adopt them, as they would turn out miserable failures.
He believed that the commercial jealousy which so lung
induced England to withhold from Ireland the means of
prosperity vt as at an end. He believed that that politi-
cal ascendancy which, during the last century, had made.
the governing masses in England look to the support of
the minority only in Ireland, had becomeextiuguished—
believing that those circumstances would in time, and by
the operation of natural causes, finally have their effect,
he trusted they should at length see, and that their chil-
dren would see more clearly than themselves, that the
case of Ireland was not hopeless, and that the people of
Ireland, who were reproached for their idleness and im-
providence, had been burdened by edverse circum-
stances, BEd that they were as willing to labour, and were
as much endowed with those physical and moral
attributes which led to success, as any people in the
empire.—(Hear, hear.)
Colonel DUNN E gave the Government credit for good
intentions, but expressed his conviction that their mea-
sures were totally unsuited to Ireland. So long as the
present poor-law was maintained in Ireland, they could
not expect to improve the condition of the people.
Mr. V. small hoped that the money advanced
under the present Bill would be expended on immediate
employment, and not s2read over a number of years like
former loans.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
that the amount intended for the improvement of the
land would be expended within a given time, and that
designed for arterial drainage within a year.
Mr. HORS MAN expressed a hope that landed pro-
prietors who borrowed under the Act, would be com-
pelled to give employment at once, and not permitted to
hold over the amount of their loan until they thought
proper to make the improvements they considered ncc,2s-

lbOtt lion. Ga...l.:att that he wes to no, oelert,u
by the terror of hie language. He knew his power in
debate, which was ai great as his thfi.cts In adtnioistra-
tive
Sir G. GREY declined to follow the Honourable Gen-
tleman into at: irregular di:Tuision. lle would merely
say thlt he objected not to any fact;, but to the Hon.
Member drawicg from his own imagination charges
against the Government which were utterly unfounded.
Ho undtrstoxl him to say that the Government were
calling upon Parlhment to advance more money when
they had some not yet divosecl of, and also that the
grants had berm double in some cases what was asked.
lie admitted that the Government bad advanced more
money in some cases than was asked. The Govern-
ment felt themselves bound to do so under the circura-
stances, and would again, if the necessity for doing so

MSC.
Mr. HORSMAN briefly explained.
Mr. ROEBUCK wished to make an explanation.
The way in which Honourable Gentlemen had alluded
to him was not of the gentlest kind, but if it was merely
meant as a joke, he had no objection to it. It was no
answer to his objections. These were that for three
years they knew there had been great distress in Ire-
land. They knew the cause of it, and they were called
upon to apply a remedy. They asked the Government
to do so, and the Noble Lord, acting upon his sensibili-
ties, had pursued a policy which he, in that name,
was justified in designating as unstatesmanlike. The
Noble Lord had not met his charge, which was that he
had had large sums of money entrusted to him for the
improvement of Ireland, and had left the people worse
than he had found them.—(Hear, hear.) Passing over
the personal attacks upon his frail body and bilious
temper by the Irish Gentlemen, he would repeat his
charge against them—that they had misapplied that
money. Ile asked them why they could not keep their
fingers out of the public grants.—(Hear, hear.) With
respect to his charge against the Government, he would
say that when it had ten or twelve millions placed in its
hands as it were in one hour, that if it had been em-
ployed properly they might have set the people to work
on their own soil, and replaced the lost potatoes. By
the course they had taken, they had flung that immense
sum away. They had spent it mischievously. That was
his charge, and to that he adhered.
Lord J. RUSSELL had objected to the former speech
of the Hon. Member, that it had no reference to this
Bill, but was rather an exposition of the Hon. Member's
views on the policy of the last four years. He had de-
clined to follow him into these subjects, doubting the
indulgence of the House; but his repetition of the attack
would force him to go into details. The lion. Gentle-
man forgot the extent of the evil which the Government
had to deal with, and the circumstances by which it was
accompanied. As to its causes there was now no doubt.
The mode in which the landlords let their farms, the
payment by the farmers in plots of potato ground, in.
stead of wages, and the acceptance by the peasantry of
these grounds, in preference to wages, were at the root
of the evil. There was no doubt about these things.—
(Hear, hear.) They knew they had existed, and they
knew they had been stopped by the calamity sent by
Providence, which took away the potato, and was the
cause of all these advances. Whether the sum was five
millions, or any larger amount, which was required, no
one could tell at the time, because no one knew exactly
the amount of food which had been lost, and which re-
quired to be supplied. The landlords and farmers were
unable to find the means to employ and support the
people, because the same evil pressed upon them, and
cut off their ordinary means • and the Government were
bound to afford assistance either in one way or another.
In the first instance the Right Hoo. Baronet (Sir R.
Peel) repealed the corn laws, and he agreed with the
Hon. Member for Sheffield, that measure had been of
great benefit to the people; but it did not relieve the
people of Ireland. Indeed, it was in some senses the
contrary. It reduced the price of corn, and of course
was not favourable to those who had corn to sell.—
(Hear.) The Noble Lord proceeded to state the course
the Government had adopted on coming into office—the
organization of measures, and giving the baronies power
to present public works for the approval of the Govern.
ment, which were afterwards carried on by public ad-
vauces. These works had been injudiciously suggested
in many instances, from the natural fears of the gentry,
arising from the famine.—(Hear.) The Government
found that this mode was subject to abuses, they then
reduced largely at once, and gradually afterwards the
persons employed on public works, substituting food
depots for them. He did not say that other persons
might not have devised plans of a different character, but
he did say that no Government could tell, until the cir-
cumstances occurred, what amount of relief would be re-
quired, although he did not stand up to defend that sys-
tem of relief as one founded on provisions wbirh could
not be controverted. He should say that he did not,
many as were the suggestions made by Hon. Gentlemen
on both sides of the House, hoar any that were likely
to be accompanied with evils of a less magnitude than
those which were to be found connected with the Go-
vernment measures. If they adopted the plan of the
Honourable Member, namely, to employ the pro-
ductive labour of the country on the improve-
ment and cultivation of the soil, they would
interfere with private capital and private enter-
prise, and in order to act effectively, not ten million
but thirty million would be spent in that operation.
It was quite true that every system of relief diverted
persons from industrial pursuits. Every kind of poor-
law would be accompanied by that evil which tended to
reduce the stimulus inducing men to support themselves
and procure food. Such a want of industry and inde-
pendence would be tenfold increased if the State di-
rectly interfered in the employment of labour for the
cultivation of the soil. With respect to the measures
adopted in later years, Hon. Gentlemen seemed to sup.
pose that the Government should have calculated the
extent of the failure of the potato crops in 1846, 1847,
and 1848; but no Government could have told, with
anything approaching what would have been the result
of the harvest of those years. They, of course, had to
consider the calamity before them—but as to the exact
nature of the harvest, or the quantity of the produce of
potatoes, it was utterly impossible for any Government
to form an opinion not having means or data sufficient
before them. During the hat half year more than a mil-
lion of money had been raised in Ireland for the destitute
poor of that country. When Hon. Gentlemen spoke of the
unwillingness of the occupiers of the soil in Ireland to
afford relief to the suffering Irish, be begged to state
that with all their diminution of resources and limited
means, they had contributed upwards of one million in
half a year, and he said that while he thought they were
justified in imposing the burden on Ireland, the mode
in which the collection had been made—he could not
say the willingness, but the obedience to the precepts of
the law which induced men to pay for the support of
their suffering fellow-countrymen, was highly creditable
to those liable to the payment of the poor-rate, and cer-
tainly should diminish somewhat of the acerbity and
bitterness of invective of those by whom it was at-
tempted to be contended that the Irish proprietors and
occupiers of land were not willing to make any effort of
their own for mitigating the sufferings of the distressed
people. The Incumbered Estates Bill of last session bad
not been found to confer the benefits and advantages it
was intended, and the Government accordingly had has
troduced during the present session a measure to invigo-
rate that Act, so as to facilitate the transfer of land to
those who were able to lay out capital on its proper cul-
tivation. They had been taunted with taking up the
suggestions of the Right Hon. Baronet the Member for
Tamworth respecting the subject. If it were any degra-
dation on the part of a Minister of the Crown to receive
suggestions and the development of a plan of the highest
importance from the Right Honourable Baronet, or any
other Member, he was finite willing to submit to that
degradati n, or humiliation, and prepared to hear any
taunts that might be thrown on him for having in that
great peril and crisis of Ireland taken up what others
had devised. The Hon. Member for Sheffield and other
Hon. Gentlemen seemed to think it was a sorry result
of all their measures, that the people of Ireland still suf-
fered severe distress. Now he could not imagine
those remed:o.—he had not heard those plans proposed
oven by Gentlemen most intimately connected with Ire-
land powerful, so omnipotent ho might say, which would
provide remedies for a people whose ordinary suffer-
ings and privations were materially increased
during, four continuous years of famine. Notwith•
standing, as he believed. the dispensation of Provi-
dence was intended for the good of Ireland. The social
state of Ireland, as decribed by the Poor-law Commis-
sioners in their report of 1833, was one that could not
be read without exciting feelings of pity and lamenta-
tion, and it was his firm conviction that in the end it
would be improved by the calamity. If any measure in-
troduced by the Government tended to alleviate the
sufferings of the people of Ireland, he certainly should
be content with that conclusion ; but if, beyond that
i—enegritt'babir!lbyiny
webaoistluhrdtchsfacetealrsrnined
step, they could pave the way to a better order of society
social
n os
tt
aitne
coonned ebaer, ,
ibmapt
rpo ry
ne
dc e
he
proud at the attainment of such a
result. He wished that those who had influence on the.
public mind in Irelend would not report that those who
were in the councils of the Government—at present
the Legislature of the country—manifested indif-
ference to the evils which desolated the Irish
population. Dr. in an address published
in the Dublin Freeman's Journal, acknowledging
the receipt of various sums of money contributed from
private sources for the relief of distress in the western
district of Ireland, stated that the generous and timely
conduct of those donors was a humiliating lesson to the
Minister of the day, who, looked on with calm indiffer-
ence at the deplorable destitution of the subjects of
that, portion of her Majesty's realm?. Now, on behalf
of her Meje.sty's Ministers, he designated that state-
Cabinet a source of tho
merit as a gross calumny.
th The destitution of the
Irish people had been tower:
well aware on the one
greatest anxiety. They
gp;ooarn,d,foonr
them it would emount
aware, that if they afforded
hand, that if they refutnsesdenatlelnereelnieff
the other hand, they ptoeristhhien
n that part of Ireland. The
the apathy which existed
to steer between these two
and indiscriminately,
the it would increase
rGeloivefolnalnv
while applying the
itions They should endeavour,
fiend,to meet the
pot • with no niggard
it:nhtlYendeavoure
imperial resources• ht prove in future
•nereased food,
d condition, of
years a source of improve
eater welfare. They
r
calamities of Ireland, so that they.mis
of hat:pits of industry, and of
charged them with
taunts and reproaches of those w o _
Other
v and on the
should endeavour, while bearing on the one band the
lavishing the funds of this countr, ,
hand, the invectives of those who
Irishpopulation
indifferent to the sufferings of the
fur then ra-
they should endeavour to lay the foundation
told them they were
England. His belief was that greater and improvedinter-
coursepletoUnited Kingdom
with Ireland would tend much to that result.
He
thought, whatever might have been the reproaches cast
Irish landed proprietors in former years, the niajority of
proprietors were now wholly anxious to
ti
means by which they could improve the condition of the
country, and by which they could provide for the mal4-

Sari.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
what the lion. Member for Cockerniouth thought ough
to be done, had been already done.
Mr. OSBORNE bore testimony to the good offee
produced by former loans for land improvement and
arterial drainage.
Mr. BANKES asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer
where was the money to come from which it was in-
tended to advance as a loan for land improvement in
Ireland. He also wished the Right lion, Gentleman to
inform the House when he proposed making his usual
financial statement.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, in
answer to the first question, that having in consequence
of the demands upon the Treasury to make up the ex•
penses of the Kafir war, been obliged to borrow two
millions of money to replace the sums t..ken from it to
pay those expenses, ho had been able, after making up
these, to appropriate the balance of the sums so borrowed
to the advances made on account of Ireland. These ad-
vances would therefore be made without being obliged to
touch the Consolidated Fund, and the Hon. Member for
Sheffield would not be troubled with the tax-gatherer
coming to his door on account of those advances. As to
the second question, ho had stated sometime ago, in an-
swer to the tion. Member fur Montrose, that be was
anxious to make his financial statement at as early a
period as possible, but that previous to doing so, he
should be in possession of data, to enab:e him to snake it
as accurate as possible. Lie conk ssed that had he done
so at that time, he would have been able to make a more
favourable statement than he would now, as the blockade
of the northern ports had considerably injured the trade
of the country.—(ilear, hear.) Ile would therefore have
to request some further delay, but would assure the
House that he would make his statement as early as cir-
cumstances would permit of him doing so.
Mr. ROEBUCK said he had heard a good deal of late
about " cooking" accounts in connexion with a certain
railway, and he thought the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer in these advances to Ireland was adopting some-
what of the same system. The Right Hon. Gentleman
had said the tax-gatherer would not come to hitu for
money to pay those advances, but he had told the House
that he had borrowed money for the purpose of pa) bg
them, and as he believed, that like every honest man, he
intended to pay his debt, though the tax-gatherer might
not come to him this year for the purpose referred to, he
would thencxt, as the money must be raised by means of
,axes.

SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 15, 1849.

there were three cla;ses of Christians admitted to that
House. The Prbtestant took the oath of supremacy and
tho oath of abjuretion. There were, howler;, a cies.,
of persons 'mown by the n :me of the Society of friends,
who, in their affirmation, did not take that part of the
oath, of abjuration "on the tree faith of a Christian,"
other words being substituted. The Roman Catholic
Members took an oath in which the words, " on the true
faith of a Christian," were also omitted. That oath was
framed under the Act of 1829, which admitted their
Roman Catholic countrymen into Parliament. Now
it was proposed that for the three parties g y
there should be a simple form of oath. It was argued
that the oath now taken did not apply to the present
time, and the Right Honourable Gentlemen (Mr.
Vernon Smith) therefore proposed that there should be
a short declaration, which would answer for Catholics
enera
as well as for Protestants. Now he (Lord J. Russell)
thought it would not be wise to disturb an ar rib ,
ge-
ment which had been made in the Act of 1829
and with which he believed the Ronan Catholics
were content.—(Hear, hear.) With reference to the
oath proposed to be taken by members of the Jewish
persuasion in the present B:11, he had framed it in ac-
cordance with the suggestions of the Commiesionere who
meele their report to Lord Lyndhurst, then Lord Chan-
cellor, in May, 1815. With regard to the omission of
the words " on the true faith of a Christian " they wore
not introduced into the oath taken by the Roman Ca-
tholics,
nor in the affirmation made by the Society of
Friends.—(hear, hear.) With regard to the proposition
of his Right.lion. Friend (Mr. V. Smith), that there
should be one oath for all denominations, he would admit
that it would be very desirable that such an oath could
be framed, but he did not think the matter could be
easily accomplished. He thought it would not be ad-
visable, for instance; to interfere with the form o' oath
taken by Roman Catholics as in the Act of 1829 the
oath was framed, and was made the foundation of the
settlement of the Catholic question.—(Hear,
Mr. GOULBUItN agreed that it would not be advis-
iists was
i on e r the
s in i°
18" 4415 •of oath which was framed by
tthheemeo thatmm
advis-
able to alter the Roman Catholic oath. As to the oath
proposed in the present Bill, the Noble Lord bad told
but he had not explained to
them why ho had changed his mind since the introduc-
tion of the Bill of last year.
Mr. BOUVERIE said he was at a loss to attach any
definite meaning to that part of the oath by which they
bound themselves to defend to the utmost of their power
the settlement of property within the realm as established
by the laws.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL sail he believed that the
words were introduced with reference to the Catholics,
and to certain offices which they
filled in Ireland, and
they were introduced on the ground of,certain charges
made against them, that they wished to disturb, not only
religious property, but the settlement of civil property
also. The Hon. Member, however, would observe that
the words were " as established by law," whatever that
law might be, which the Legislature had
the power to
alter as it might become necessary.
Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL quite agreed in the defini-
tion which the Noble Lord had given of the Catholic
oath. The doing away with all sorts of religious esta-
blishments he thought would be a benefit, although he
had not advocated such a proposition, nor did he mean
to do so.
Mr. ANSTEY said he attached very little importance
to these words, but if they were like the suggestion
of the Commissioners in the report, they ought to go
farther, and adopt the whole of the report of the Corn.
missionera. lie did not agree in the view taken in re-
spect to the Church question by the Hon. Member for
Limerick. For himself he would say that he would never
consent to the spoliation of a single shilling of Church
property.—(Hear.)
Mr. W. J. FOX said the absurdity of attempting to
bind men's views by the imposition of oaths was
strongly illustrated by the contrary opinions expressed
on the subject of the Catholic oath by the Honourable
Member who spoke last. In passing, he must observe
that he thought the constituents of the Honourable and
Learned Member for Youghal would not be very well
satisfied with the course which that Honourable Gen-
tleman intended to pursue in respect to questions re-
lating to the Established Church.—(llear, hear.)
Now, he contended that the whole of the Members of
that House were entitled to vote upon all
vestionswhether they related to the Church or not
—which came under their consideration. Was he,
because he was not a member of the Church, to be re-
strained from giving his vote upon a class of questions
which had relation to the Church? If he were so, he
would compromise the duty which he owed to his con-
stituents, till of whom—whether Churchmen or Dis-
senters—contribated to the support of the Church, and
were, therefore, entitl
•ne th d toa have their opiuions respecting
House. He had no doubt the
it given effect to . •
oaths taken at the table were conscientiously subscribed
to; but what was their value, if the person taking them
(lid not feel the force of the words which they contained?
It was staid that in 1829 a compact was come to by
which certain poties were to be bound in
.respectthto
• likely come under the consconsideration of e
ciestions ld be lad to know why they were
House. But he should
years ago? Since
to be bound by a compact made
then new leaders bad arisen in that House, and old
leaders had changed their previous opinions.—(Hear,
beer.) The evil of the matter was this—that the
ambiguities of the oath in question were such,
that it subjected many Honourable Members
to taunts which it was painful for them to endure, and
was equally painful to others to be auditors.—(Hear.)
This fact was in itself sufficient to warrant the House in
having the oath altered. Then with respect to the
worth:, " On the truth faith of a Christian," what did
they mean by them? They surely did not mean to im-
pose u particular creed on those who took the oath in
which these words lippeared. Each person who took
the oath was warranted in assuming that his own reli-
gious belief was the truth faith of a Christian. The
oath included those who believed the most and those
who believed the least. In a country where there was
such a diversity of opinion on religious matters it was
the duty of the Legislature, instead of fostering bigotry,
to check its growth, and with this view he should vote
for the amendment.
Mr. ANSTEY, in explanation, said there was a per-
fect understanding between himself and his constituents
ou the Church question. He had explained his views to
them, and they assented to them.—(hear.)
Mr. BRIGHT would vote for the Bill now under con-
sideration, because it did not increase the number of
oaths, and because it was intended to let a class of his
fellow .subjects into that House, which he was anxious to
see as free as he was himself. If any stranger should
have entered the House the other evening. he would have
seen alloman Catholic, a Protestant, and a member of the
sect to which he himself belonged, at the table, subscrib•
ing to three different forms of declaration; and he would
have supposed that these gentlemen represented classes
that were antagonistic to each other, and that they were
taking oaths against one another, when these forms were
meant with the view of sustaining institutions, which,
being worth preserving, did not require the aid of such
declarations to uphold them. He thought the amend-
ment would simplify the oath, and he should, therefore,
vote for it. He thought that all persons in that House
ought to have the power of voting upon every question
that came under their consideration. It was painful to
see from forty to sixty Members leave the House when
certain questions came before it. He was in favour of a
declaration, and he thought that a regard for truth would
be greater if the principle of taking oaths was given up.
He would vote for the amendment.
Mr. HENLEY wished an explanation of the words in
the oath.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said that the words
were intended to bind Roman Catholics in respect to
Church property.
Mr. HENLEY—I am speaking of the Protestant oath.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said, these words were
originally introduced to apply particularly
to
'trate all
tholics, and subsequently were rondo to app
Members generally. the expression,
Mr. DISRAELI said, the first tini° Woburn the Pence of
" settlement of property," was used,
was Abbey.
Orange, and it had then a reference to
—(Laughter.) which the Noble
That was a settlement
Lord would not desire to alter. When they were called
upon to alter the oath, they ought to be precise in the
form of the terms. lie hoped the Government would not
press the clause us originally constructed.
Mr. WOOD said he rejoiced that an oath should be
abolished which had no definite meaning.
Lord J. RUSSELL said that objections had been
taken to all parts of the oath. With regard to the
wording of the oath, he had adopted the terms proposed
by the Commissioners, but, atter what had been stated
in the House, he did not think it us - ceesary to retain the
words with regard to the authority of the Pope; but he
saw no reason to exclude the words, " on the true faith
of a Christian."
Mr. W ALPOLE said be thought they ought to con-
sider the objects for which the oath was imposed. First,
it was proposed as a test of allegiance; and, secondly,
to define and explain as well as could be what that alle-
giance was. Tho first part of the oath was a declara-
tion of allegiance to the person of the monarch, and that
the Protestant religion should be maintained, and as the
country wished it should be maintained they ought not
to dispense with the religious sanction of the oath. This
was effected by the oaths of allegiance, supremacy, and
abjuration—the oath of allegiance to the person of the
monarch, of supremacy as a declaration of undivided
allegiance, and of abjuration as of allegiance to the fa-
mily of the Queen in succession.
Sir R. ['EEL said he was glad the Noble Lord had
consented to the omission of these words. They were
introduced into the Acts for the first relaxation of the
laws against Roman Catholics. The settlement of pro-
perty had reference to the declaration in 1660, by Charles
11., which was restored by him, and which was after-
wards ratified by the Act of 1662. The Act of Settlement
ratified the royal declaratidn. The Catholics gave an
assurance that they acquiesced in that settlement. Ia
the Act of 1829 it was continued from the Acts of 1773
and 1775, and was to express the acquiescence of the
Roman Catholics of the settlement of property in Ire-
land in 1745, The main object now was to admit the
Jews to a participation of enlarged rights, and to ask
now for any declaration with regard to the settlement of
property its this country would be useless. He thought
the Noble Lord had acted wisely in omitting the words
which referred to the Pope. The object was to admit
the Jews, and he would advise them with that view not
to be too critical as to the terms, but to regard the great
object they had in view, which was to admit to civil
rights a highly respectable mass of persons.
Mr. STEWAR r said he considered there was great
force in the observations of the Member for Midhurst.
All the words proposed he admitted would apply to the
subject of education, which was spiritual, civil, and ec-
clesiastic, as exemplified in the interference of the Pope
with regard to an Act passed by that House. He con-
tended that even before the Reformation the common
law of England excluded the spiritual supremacy of the
Pope, and he wished to know from the Right Hon.
Baronet the Member for Tamworth, or the Noble Lord
at the head of the Government, whether that law would
be considered still in existence?

Mr. k

by his silence, to approve of it. He denied that the
Pope had any spiritual or ecclesiastical authority in this
country; that he had any j Jrisdiction in a court of law;
but ho did nut deny that others recognised it. What he
meant was, that he had no co active authority, and had
no means of enforcing it. He conceived the authority
of the Pope to be like the Dissenters in America, or
Wesleyan Methodists, binding ou those alone who re-
cognised it, and not on him who rejected it.
Lord JOEIN RUSSELL said he was perfectly satisfied
with the interpretation of the oath, that the Pope had
no authority to exercise his power within this king-
dem; bat others were not so, and among the rest two
Noble Peers—Lord Clencarty and Lord Radnor—dif-
fend in opinion with him; they refused to take the
oath; and he proposed to make tho alteration. He wrote
to Lord Clancarty to ask it' his Lordship had any objec
Lion to take the Catholic oath, to which he replied that
he had not; and it was thus, therefore, the words " tem-
poral and civil" were introduced. He thought that the
reasons given by the Hon. and Learned Gentleman as
to the common law, were of no importance. The supre-
macy of the Pope not being allowed by common law; he
(Lord J. Russell) would remind the Hon. and Learned
Gentleman that that common law would exist whether
there was an oath administered or not.
Sir R. H. INGLIS contended that what they omitted
from the oath would be taken as an amendment of it, and
therefore the retention of the words " temporal or civil
authority of the Pope" would be a recognition of those
principles which placed the present Royal Family on the
throne. He also spoke to the suddenness which the Govern-
ment evinced in omitting those words, and he therefore
trusted the House would not consent to such a proposition.
Mr. GREENE contended that if they omitted the
words " bath or," and leave in merely " ought to have,"
it would answer all objections.
Mr. V. SMITH was anxious that the Bill should
not be lost, or any obstructions thrown in the way. He
would, therefore, consent to that portion of the amend-
rant which the Noble Lord at the head of the Govern-
ment approved of—namely, " That no Pope, Potentate,
or Prelate ought to hive temporal or civil jurisdiction,
and that he would defend the settlement of property
within the realm." He would have these words omitted
from the oath, but should retain the words which fol-
lowed, and should now object to the manner in which
the question was put to the House. The Right Hon.
Gentleman did not withdraw the motion as originally
proposed, and, therefore, by the rules of the House, the
whole question must be either put or withdrawn, and
no portion retained.
Mr. SCOTT asked whether the Noble Lord intended
to support the oath in the Bill, or as proposed in the
amendment.—(Loud cries of " Oh, oh.") Would Hon.
Members who interrupted him speak their sentiments
upon it, or would they vote on a question which they
did not understand ?—(Oh, oh.)
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said he should consent to
the omission of the words proposed by the Right Hon.
Gentleman the Member for Northampton.,
Mr. SPOONER moved that the Chairman report
progress and ask leave to sit again.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL hoped the Committee would
proceed. They had discussed the question in excellent
temper during tho evening, and many Hon. Members
were heard, and he wished, therercre, the question to be
decided.
Mr. SPOONER said he really did not understand
what the question before the House was.
The amendment was then put as corrected by the
Hon. Mover.
Mr. PLUMPTRE complained of being taken quite
by surprise, and he thought it was much too important a
matter to decide it so suddenly. He heartily concurred
with the motion of his Hon. Friend the Member for
Warwickshire.
Sir GEORGE GREY confessed he did not see how
any one could understand why it was that the question
could not be decided at once. The matter had been put
in as clear a manner as possible.
After a few words from Mr. John O'Connell, Lord
John Russell, and Mr. Law,
Sir W. JOLLIFFE said he was much indebted to the
lion. Member (&tr. Roebuck) for his explanation.—
(Laughter.) However, he should say that it was mere
nonsense to leave out part of the oath and retain other
parts, for neither the public nor the House would under-
stand the meaning of the oath.
Mr. BROTIIERTON said that he wished to put the
matter in its proper light—(Laughter)—and therefore
the question to be put should be that the words " I be-
lieve not "—(Laughter)—should be omitted.
Mr. MILES said that he considered that the question
was put in a very intelligible light by the Chairman, but
he considered that the question was of such importance
that it should not be precipitately carried, particularly
when such as alteration was made in the oath. He
therefore thought that the amendment of the Honourable
Member for Warwickshire (Mr. Spooner) should be agreed
to, as no fewer than eight words were omitted out of
twelve. He therefore thought that the sense of the
country should be consulted, and that, as such alterations
were made, the Government should withdraw this Bill,
and introduce a more intelligible ono.
Tho. Committee then divided, when there appeared—
' ; For progress being reported
Against it
Majority
The Committee again divided on the amendment that
the Chairman do leave the chair, when there appeared—
For the amendment
Against it
Majority --114
Lord JOHN RUSSELL then agreed that progress be
reported.
The St. John's (Newfoundland) Rebuilding Bill was
read a third time.
The Grand Jury Cess (Ireland) Bill was read a
second time.
On the motion of Lord PALMERSTON leave was
given to bring in a Bill to legalise marriages in the
houses of British Consuls abroad. His Lordship said,
the Bill which ho proposed was to legalise marriages in
tbo house of a Consul, and to put those marriages upon
the same footing as marriages celebrated in the house of
an ambassador.
The House then adjourned at ten minutes to One
o'clock.

Mr. FRENCH said, Hon. Members not connected with
Ireland were too apt to think that everything dme for
that country was an additional tax upon England, but
the fact was, that Ireland bore a higher proportion of
taxes than did Englai)cl.
In reply to Mr. GROGAN,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
that there was no intention on the part of the Govern-
ment of altering the system of distribution of the funds
for the purposes of drainage in Ireland.
Mr. ARK WRIGUT pressed the Right Hon. Gentle-
man to give the House some idea as to when his finan-
cial statement would be made. He had stated in reply
to the Hon. Member for Dorsetshire, that he would do
so as early as possible; but would it be six weeks or a
month hence?
The CHANCELLOR 'of the EXCHEQUER—Cer-
tainIy before six weeks; I hope within a month.
Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL said as the Noble Lord at
the head of the Government had alluded to a statement
of the Archbishop of Team, he thought that it ought to
be stated; that the censure the Noble Lord had alluded
to, was as much levelled against those connected with
the Roman Catholic Church as it was against others.
The Archbishop of Tuam lived its a district where the
distress was most severe, and had it not been for his ex-
ertions, all the assistance given by the Government would
have fallen far short of what was required. Ho thought
it therefore but just to say that no one had exerted them-
selves more than Dr. Mllalo had done in alleviating
that distress, and that hundreds had been saved from
starvation by the exertions he had made.
The Bill then passed through Committee, was re-
ported without amendment, and the House resumed.
PARLIAMENTARY OATHS BILL.
On Lord J. RUSSELL moving that the House go
into Committee on the Bill,
Mr. SPOONER, presented a Bill from the Lay Asso-
ciation of Birmingham against it.
Sir R. PEEL had hoped that it was the intention of
Government to place the Jew on the same footing in
regard to civil and military matters, us well as in regard
to Parliamentary privileges,__ as some other classes.
With respect to Protestant Dissenters and other classes,
an oath or declaration was taken previous to their being
admitted to their offices, but which, containing as it did
the words " on the true faith of a Christian," the Jew
could not conscientiously take. The Noble Lord re-
lieved the Jew so far as his admission to a scat in Par-
liament was concerned, but he left him debarred from
being admitted to any civil or military office, in conse-
quence of the prescribed declaration referred to. He
would not embarrass the measure by introducing any
new clause into it to carry out his intentions, but he
hoped measures would bo taken to place the Jew in the
possession of all the privileges, civil and parliamentary,
enjoyed by other classes.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said by the Bill introduced
by him last year, which was lost in the House of Lords,
the jew was admitted to all the privileges, civil and
perliamenstary, which other classes were. The present
Bill was framed on a different footing, having as its
main object the revision of tho oaths taken by Mem-
bers of both Houses of Parliament, Jews as well as others,
and he did not think such a clause: as the Right Hon.
Gentleman referred to could be introduced into it. If,
however, the measure passed, he conceived there would
be no difficulty in carrying through a measure which
would confer upon the Jew the means of admission to
civil offices, and believing that they were entitled to
that privilege, he should propose a measure nalferring
it upon them after the passing of the present Bill,
Mr. BANK ES had no objection to the first part of
the inea,ure, namely, a revision of the oaths taken by
Members of that llsuse other than Roman Catholics,
but whoa in Committee ho would support the amend•
ment of the Hon. Member for Surrey against allowing
the Jews to have a vat in that House. As to allowing
the Jews to sit as magistrates and hold civil offices he
had no objection, and already they officiated as sheriffs
and aldermen; but as to giving them a seat in Parlia-
ment he decidedly objected.
Sir R. PEEL, in explanation, said that which he had
stated was with reference to civil and military offices,
and not municipal. In 1845 the Jews were released
from certain disqualifications, and placed upon the same
footing with other subjects as regarded ~municipal
offices.
Mr. GOULBURN thought the Noble Lord (Lord
John Russell) might give them some explanation with
reference to the course he proposed to be taken by the
Jews in the present Bill. In the former Bill ho had
proposed that the Jews should take the same oath us the
Roman Catholics did, namely, that they would not do
anything to injutelthe Protestant Church. In the coarse
of twelve tinuths the Noble Lord had, however, changed
his mind, and he did not now propo4e to exact those
pledge; which were demanded of the Roman Catholics.'
Atter a few words from Sir R. Howard, Mr. J 1
O'Connell, and Mr. Law,
The House resolved itself into Committee.
On the question being put that the first clause should
stand part of the Bill.
Mr. VERNON SMITH rose to move the amendment
ofl the
owhichlln hewi
tnotice,hn
first
n namely,clause:—"
s e
:to"
.0 d omission o
that
i
following had given
in
In not believe that the Pope of Rome or any other
foreign Prince, Prelate, Person, State, or Potentate,
bath or ought to have any temporal or civil juriac-
tion, authority or power, within this realm, and that I
will defend to the utmost of my power the settlement
of property within this realm as established by the laws,
and I do make this recognition, declaration, and pro-
mise, heartily, willingly, and truly upon the true faith
of a Christian?' As to the first portion of the passage,
which he wished to see omitted, he (Mr. Vernon Smith)
could not understand why any Protestant or Jew should
be called upon to subscribe to it.—(llear, hear.) As to
the latter part, making it necessary to say " upon the
true faith of a Christian, he could not see the slightest
necessity for retaining the words at all, and lie would
rather have them shogether omitted than retained for
the Christian Members, anhen omitteie d in the oath pro-
Jmeuweihshbpetetresruatn-
ibnydemed,it emberswnuolfd be
sion. lia thought,
Catholics, instead of retaining words offen-
testants and lominded Catholic.—(Hear, hear.)
frame an oath that could. be taken by all classes of Pro-
hi
sive to evsrY
posed to be talon
ooncat e by
The Hon. Member .
d moving his amendment.
Lwd ,j, RUSSELL said, as the law stood at present,

THANK GOD FOR SUMMER.
(From Eliza Cook's New Weekly Journal.
I loved the Winter once with all my soul,
And longed for snow-storms, hail, and mantled skies;
And sang their praises in as gay a troll
As Troubadours have poured to Beauty's eyes.
I deemed the hard, black frost a pleasant thing,
For logs blavd high, and horses' hoofs rung out;
And wild birds came with tame and gentle wing
To eat the bread my young hand fhing about.
But I have walked into the world since then,
And seen the bitter work that cold can do—
Where the grim Ice King levels babes and men
With bloodless spear, that pierces through and through
I know new, there are those who sink and lie
Upon a stone bed at the dead of night.
I know the roofless and uufed must die,
When even lips at Plenty's Feast turn white.
And now when o'er I hear the cuckoo's song
In budding woods, I bless the joyous comer;
While my heart runs a caderce in a throng
Of hopeful notes, that say—" Thank God for Summer!"
I've learnt that sunshine bringeth more than flowers,
And fruits, and forest leaves to cheer the earth;
Fur I have seen sad spirits, like dark bowers,
Light up beneath it with a grateful mirth.
The aged limbs that quiver in their task
Of dragging lite on, when the north wind goads—
Taste once again contentment, as they bask
In the straight beams that warm their churchyard road.
And Childhood—poor, pinched Childhood, half forgets
Tho starving pittance of our cottage homes,
When be can leave the hearth, and chase the nets
Of gossamer that cross him as he roams.
The moping idiot seemeth less distraught
When he can sit upon the grass all day,
And laugh and clutch the blades, as though he thought
The yellow sun-rays challenged him to play.
Ab! dearly now I hail the nightingale,
And greet the bee—that merry-going hummer—
And when the lilies peep se sweet and pale,
I kiss their cheeks, and say—" Thank God for Summer!
Feet that limp, blue and bleeding, as they go
For dainty cresses in Decembec's dawn;
Can wade andabble in the brolklet's flow,
And woo the gurgles on a July more.
The tired pilgrim, who would shrink with dread
If Winter's drowsy torpor hilted his brain;
Is free to choose his mossy summer bed,
And sleep his hour or two in some green lane.
Oh! Ice•toothed King, I loved you once—but now
I never see you come without a pang
Of hopeless pity shadowing my brow,
To think how naked flesh must feel your fang.
My eyes watch now to see the elms unfold,
And my ears listen to the callow rook,
I hunt the palm-trees for their first rich gold,
And pry for violets in the southern nook.
And when fair Flora sends the butterfly
Painted and spangled, as her herald mummer;
" Now for warm holidays," my heart wilt cry,
"The poor will suffer less! Thank God for Summer
ELIZA COOK.

Sir It. PEEL observed that the Hon. Gentleman I PRESENTATION TO DR. W. W. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
completely mistook his view of the oath. He had taken IFOiIt3ES. TATTERSALL'S.—YESTERDAY.
(..I,c 1)3.1h with a sae con,t;i, ile, ;he beliered that the The haul .erne silver vase, latAy mentioned Fr/ us Nearly all the Derby horses enumerated below were
Pope had n 3 t,eipo:al or civil p0,7,-r, ecol`26i istical or AS subscribed for by a numbcr of the electors r). this backed; the principal outlay, however, was on Elthiron
pirittial auLliority or j_utiklicti3n :it this coun• and Ch..tterer, the former rising from 16 to 10 to 1; and
the latter from 25 to 18 to 1. The investments on. E-
l- tit if h 3 omitted the words "ecclesiastical
meeting
of the
, ChironFiwy
ienrge
town, and gentlermn in the neighbourhood, .k.O 'nark
their sense of his services in the Tosn Council, was
Dutchman's very
position with
than
no tthoe re
hiannflguee influence on 2
or sp:ritu,d," aril inserted " temporal or civil,"
presented to Dr. Forbes, at a large
h© would give rise to a notion that such
ttalkesears:hatno
9"tloay4e. "layers,"
nhnyiskairdk-
ecclesiastical authority existed. lie recognised no sobscrib3rs, held in the Union Hotel, on Saturday, -
mt°irleratig4rielfsutsinhginato fgron‘‘a
such spiritual power; he believed it did not exist, nor was a shado worse, and no one would take less than 8
28th ult. ; A. T. F.. Fraser, Esq., of Abertarff, in the
could it be lawfully exercised or recognised, and he chair. The list of subscribers contained 180 names,
would therefore say he would much rather omit the among whom, besides the cliairman, were those of to 1 about ladmor; The Knout also gave way. In the
words altogether, than call en him, for the nest time, Mr. Forbes of Culloden, Mr. Duff of Muirtown, Oaks betting the only feature was an improvement in
- - I\f" of Durnaglass, Mr. Chas. Fraser, Sister to Arltwright. The general prices at the doss

stood as follow:

_acgillivray
,alnain, Mr. Duncan :Forbes, Culloden ; togethr
with professional gentlemen, clergymen, merchants,
and others in tow a. Of the subscribers not a few
took this opportunity in paying a compliment to the
son, to record their feelings of regard for the memory
of his father, a gentleman well known in his neigh-
bourhood for his medical talents, and whose whole
family have ever shown much kindness to the poor.
ABERTARFF, in presenting the testimonial, ob-
served that he had felt proud when they proposed to
him that he should present to Dr. Forbes in their
name this handsome testimonial of his services during
eleven years as a member of the Town Council of In-
verness. lie regretted, however, that they had fixed
upon him (Mr. F.), as these matters had not come much
under his personal notice ; were the circumstances
otherwise, he would have had unqualified pleasure in
undertaking the duty; but it was of the less conse-
quence, as it must be well known to all present what
Dr. Forbes had dune in this respect, and he had
heard enough to satisfy him, that in Dr. Forbes they
had a most energetic opponent of every species of
abuse.—(Applause.) After referring to the inscrip-
tion on the piece of plate, and to the increased number
of subscribers, Mr Fraser continued—lie was satis •
fled that many, in joining the subscribers to this piece
of plate, had another reason than simply the Doctor's
services in the Town Council; for independent of his
services at that board, Dr. Forbes had been generally
useful in attending to oth-r local matters that arose
from time to time. He might add much more to
what he had already said, but he did not wish to
make use of any panegryic in the Doctor's own pre-
sence, and he would only therefore, in name of the
180 subscribers, request Dr. Forbes's acceptance of
the vase, and long may he be spared to enjoy its posses-
sion, and afterwards may it be handed down as an
heirloom in his family.—(Applause.)
Dr. FORBES returned his most sincere thanks for
the high honour conferred upon him, and in a manner
so flattering and kind, by so numerous and intelligent
a body of electors and citiz2ns of all classes in his
native town, and of gentlemen residing in its vicinity.
Ile accepted the vase with feelings of gratitude and
pride, and he would regard it as most precious to the
last day of his life. It was most gratifying to him
that his services in the town council, however humble,
were honoured with their approbation. The Doctor
then briefly alluded to a few of the more prominent
matters with which he had been connected in the
town council, especially to Dr. Belt's Educational
Trust, and the Harbour and Police Bills. He was
happy to tell them that the stand which he had made,
in conjunction with Bailie A. Mackenzie, respecting
the management of Bell's Trust, had already led to
great improvement, and would soon result in the
full benefit intended by the donor being secured to
the humbler classes. The Harbour Bill, as amended
in Parliament, was a good measure; but the Muni-
cipal Bill, which he had opposed, was most defective,
and in some respects injurious in its enactments. It
contained no provision for the town drainage, the
bridges, markets, and many other important matters.
Its promoters had incurred a great expense without
securing the advantages which a local Act should
confer. Had they waited until now they would have,
without expense, the benefit of the Government Police
and Health Bills. After adverting to the capabilities
of Inverness for various manuf4etures and works, the
Doctor then gave his hearty support to the scheme of
sewerage suggested by Dr. Sutherland, and concluded
by again expre3sing his sincere and grateful thanks,
and assuring them that it always had been and would
be his desire, in or out of the Town Council, to pro-
mote the prosperity of the town of Inverness.
The Doctor's sentiments elicited much applause.
After a service of wine and cake, and an additional
bumper to the health of the chairman, the meetinc, se-
parated.—Froin the Inverness Courier of 10th May,
'849.

DERBY.
2 to 1 agst Lord Egliuton's The Fly ing Dutchman
—take 9 to 4
9 to 2 agst Mr. A. Nichol's Nunnykirk-5 to 1 taken
7 to 1 agst Colonel Peel's Tadmor
10 to 1 agst Lord Eglinton's Elthiron—taken
10 to 1 agst Sir C. Monck's Vanguard—taken and
after wards offored
IS to 1 agst Mr. Watt;s Chatterer—taken
20 to 1 agst Sir J. Hawley's Vatican
25 to 1 agst Mr. Bowes's The Knout
30 to 1 agst Mr. Pedley's Old Dan Tucker
30 to 1 agst Lord Clifden's Honeycomb
33 to 1 agst Mr. Disney's Montague
50 to 1 agst Mr. Farrance's The Old Fox
50 to I agst Lord Ches.erfield's Drakelowe
,000 to 10 agst Mr. Pedley's Langton-10,000 to 50

laid once -
,000 to 10 agst Sir C. Cockerell'a Thibault—taken
500 even on the field against the two favourites. '
Montague arrived at Epom on Sunday night.

OAKS.
6 to 1 agst Mr. Wreford's Wadastra filly
7 to 1 agst Mr. Payn's Glauca—taken
8 to 1 agst Lord Chesterfield's Sister to Arkwright
10 to 1 agst Mr. F. Clarke's Lady Tryphena
15 to 1 agst Lotd Stanley's Caricature
15 to 1 agst Mr. Cuthbert's Emma Donna
20 to 1 agst Count althyany's Eva—taken

RAILWAY SHAKE MARKETS.
BRISTOL, MAY 14.
STOCK EXCHANGE.—The Share Market is still dull and inactive.
The only transaction wh!ch took place was in Great Western,
Quarters, at 6% die.
LIVERPOOL, MAT 14.
STOCK EXCHANOS.—The Share market continues depressed, and
prices arc lower, with a tendency downward. The sales are—
Bolton, Chester, and West Yorkshire (B), guaranteed 6 per cent.,
17%—Caledonlan, Preference, 11 -Ci—East Lancashire, Preference,
Quarters, —Lancashire and Yorkshire (M. and L.), 26 dis.—Ditto,
ifths, 4% dis.—Ditto, Halves (L. and B.), 14 dis.—North Uniou
(It), 154 —London and North-Western, 126—Ditto, New Quarters,
18s. od. p.—Ditto, Fifths, 5 p.—Midland, 65!4—Ditto, Halves, 12.4
dis.—South•Eastern and Dover (Ko. 4), 6%—York, Neweastk, and
Berwick (Original N. and B.), G N. E. Purchase, guaranteed 6 per
cent. till 1850, 3% dis.
MANCHESTER, MAY 14.
STOCK EXCHANGE.— The transactions to-day were as follows :
Manchester and Birmingham (C), Quarters, 2% p.—East Lan-
cashire, Quarters, 4—Leeds, Freterence, 117(3—Ditto, Fifths, dis.
sheilleld and Lincolnshire, 14d.—London and South-
Western, Preference, % p.-
278 (No. 4), 6%—Wharfdales,
dis

BIRMINGHAM, MAY 14.
Srocz Excnewol.—The following are to-day's transactions :
Worth Staffordshire, 51. Bs. 9d dts.—Shrewsbury and Birmingham
(11), 4% dis.

PROTECTION OF LIFE FROM
FIRE.
Yesterday afternoon the annual meeting of the Society
for the Protection of Life from Fire was held in the
Council Chamber, Guildhall, the use of which had been
granted by the Right Hun. the Lord Mayor, who pre-
sided. His Lord-hip having called the attention of the
meeting to the paramount importance of the society, as
illustrated by several frightful !Accidents too recent to
require a particular detail, Mr. lierker, the toastmaster,
read the report of the comulittee. At the close of the
year, ending 31st March, 1849, the society had increased
to 26 fire escape stations, and during the year their
escapes had attended 223 fires, and saved 31 lives, '
making a total of 771 fires attended since the founda-
tion of the society in 1844, and 79 lives saved. The
income for the year, including the annual donation of
101., from her Majesty; 1001. from the Corporation of
London ;_ and the contributions of 71 parishes.
amounted to 1,999/. Gs. 23., and the expenditure had
fallen short of that amount by 751. is. 93., which
sum remained as a balance. The official expenses
of the society amounted to only 1981. 19s. 4d. The
report then set forth at length the details of several very
courageous actions of their conductors and others in
saving several lives from fire, and the following persons
were called forward by the Lord Mayor, and rewarded
for their exertions as follows:—Fire-escape conductor
Chapman, No. 6, in the service ; police-constable Smith,
240 G. and con.luctor Sunshine, No. 1, for exertions in
saving several lives at the fire on Holborn-bill; Chapman,
the society's silver medal (exceedingly well executed, and
weighing nearly two ounces) and a sovereign; Smith,
the silver medal; and Sunshine a framed testimonial and
a sovereign; conductor G. Low, No. 17, a testimonial;
City police-constable Russell, No. 69, a testimonial and
half-a-sovereign; conductor Chapman, No. 6, called a
second time and awarded a testimonial and half-a-sover-
eign for exertions at a fire in King-street, Blooms-
bury, in saving lives; and police-sergeant Fowler, E 5,
for exertions at the same fire, a similar reward; con-
ductor Woad, No. 4, a testimonial and half-a-sovereign,
for saving lives at a fire in Friar- street, Blackfriars-
road. The next case was that of a young woman,
named Ann Cullen, who saved the lives of two children,
at considerable personal risk, at a fire in the house No.
112, Gray's Inn-lane. Tho Lord Mayor presented to
her the silver medal, expressing at the same time his
sense of her humanity and courage. Mr. T. 11. Taylor
said that no pecuniary reward was made in this case, as
a separate subscription had been opened, by which the
sum of 115/. had been realised towards the relief of
those who suffered by the fire. Amongst the list of
donors to this fund he saw the name of his late and
lamented friend, Mr. Horace Twiss, whose humanity
and benevolence were conspicuous on this occasion, as
well as on many others where the widow and orphan
were to be relieved. A handsome sum had been pre-
sented to Ann Cullen for clothing, and the sum
of 38/. 7s. 101 was invested for her use in a
savings' bank.—(Applause.) W. Trafford, police con-
stable 344, was then called forward, and awarded the
silver medal for his exertions at a fire in Caege.place,
Camden-town; and the medal was also awarded to con-
ductor Christianson, No. 9, now ill in a hospital. The
medal is to be forwarded to him. Conductor Chapman,
No. 6, was again called, and awarded a testimonial and
a sovereign fora third instance of courage in saving lives
from fire. Tho society's medal was given to conductor
Wilson, No. 15; a testimonial and half-e-sovereign to
conductor Clements, No. 30; and a similar award to con-
ductor Smith, No. 29, for prompt attendance and active
exertions at several fires; and lastly, a testimonial and
half a sovereign were awarded to police-sergeent W.
Wood, 18 E., for exertions, in conjunction with conductor
Chapman, at a 6re in Tottenham•couraroad. Resolu-
tions promotive of the object and extension of the society's
operations were then put, end supported by observations
from the Rev. Mr. P,zey, Mr. J. Lebouchere, Mr. Sheriff
Finnis, Mr. H. Pownall, Mr. W. Barker, Mr. C. Young,
and Mr. Deputy Obbard. Mr. Payne, ersid of having
his ideas anticipated, had taken the trouble to vs rite
some lines descriptive of a fire and the arrival of a fire
escape, and with these few observations he secended one
k: lionndgi r tie
of the resolutions, to the great amusement of the meet
ing. After a cordial expression of thanks to the Chair-
man, the awe ing, which was unusually well attended,
quitted the Council Chamber, several gentlemen leaving
with Mr. S. Lowe, jun., the secretary, substantial marks
of their approval of the society and its exertions. In
the square outside of Guildhall were stationed several
fire escapes, properly manned. The conductors(
twioennst
through some clever though rather dengerouanedvoowl:
and
—ascending and descending from t.hsl
b ng.6c.ion iderable
roofs of the lofty buildings,
steadiness of nerve as wAeleloapa)sn,ddeetsheorimitley".
ponderous apparatus.
t Lionsai
iuit, to
frc. persona()t.
expense,
ep,r e:tise: of
take fire may be oh-
_..1.••••••••••..:..... ....r.....
application
of
any
househicrom the secrPleurtaawcrtyoier,

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

COWES, ISLE OF WIGHT.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPOND,FiryI4.
1849.
•
DE4TIi (IF GENERAL. TILE HON. SIR EDwARD
PAGET, C1.C.8., GovEnNon or CHELSEA. HOSPITAL.—
This veteran soldier br(athed his last at Oaktidd Lodge,
East Cowes Park, on the 13:h inst., after a long and
painful illness, in his 75th year. The Countess ot Or-
mond and Sir Edward's other children and his amiable
lady were present. Drs. Hoffme.ister and C►si were in
constant attendance, indeed for the last vvcck the former
gentleman remained at the Lodge day and night.
At Moor Green Cottage, West Cowes, in his 73d
year, died James Alford, Esq.
Arrived—The United States frigate, St. Lawrence.

----
CAUTION TO TRAVELLEfts.--In disembarking yes-
terday (Sunday) from the Albion steam vessel, just ar-
'
rived from Boulogne, and at the moment of the exami
nation of the baggage, an individual, taking
put advantage
of the pressure, and aided by a companion, p his hd
into the pocket of a gentleman from Paris, but was for-
tunately discovered by the gentleman when just in the
act of seizing his purse, containing 700 or 800 francs in
gold, which had probably been observed by the pick-
pocket when the gentleman paid his passage money.
Having failed in his
changed)ob.ect the fellow suddenly retired,
and probably _some part of bis dress in order
to aid his escape, for at the request of a spectator a po-
Leeman had la:en sent for, and the vessel was searched
in vain—he could not again be recognised. These men
were first-class passengers, and a
strangers to England, although ppeared to be no
they conversed with
each other in Italian.

ROYAL NAVAL Scheer-,NEW CROSS.—NeiII Mal-
colm, Esq., has presented the munificent sum of 100/.
for the purchase of four debentures qualifying him to
nominate the sons of naval snd marine officers as pupils
of the institution. We understand that several of the
former pupils, following the example of other large
public schools, have associated themselves together, with
the view of testifying the estimation in which they hold
their school, by attending the ensuing anniversary din-
ner, under the presidency of the Lord Mayor.

- - - _
PORTSMOUTH, MONDAY.—The Arrogant, 46, auxi-
liary screw steam-frigate, Captain R. Fitzroy, which
arrived on Friday night at Spithead, was to have come
into the harbour on Saturday to be docked, for the'pur-
pose of examining the state of her main shaft, in which
a flew had been discovered previous to her departure
by the chief engineer, Mr. Andrew Murray. After
more than two thirds of her powder had been got out
on Saturday afternoon, and every other preparation
made for her, a telegraphic message was received from
the Admiralty, ordering the powder to be put aboard
again, and the ship to rem tin at Spithead for the pre-
sent. This step was supposed to have reference to the
present disturbed state of Europe. The political atmo-
sphere mutt, we presume, have brightened since Satur-
day, as to-day again she was ordered into harbour, and
accordingly discharged powder, &c., and came in, and
was docked.
The Sphynx steam-sloop, Commander R. S. Hewlett
(acting), is ordered to be ready for sailing on Tuesday
morning.
The Scourge steam-sloop, Commander Wingrove, was
unmasted on Saturday, and will be paid off to-morrow.
The ship I?ifeshire arrived this morning from the river
and proceeded off Cowes to embark a draught of the 20th
Foot on Wednesday, for Canada. Sho then proceeds to
Cork to embark detachments of the 71st and 79th Regi-
ments for the same place.
The St. Lawrence, 56, American frigate, Captain
Paulding, arrived at an early hour this morningfrom
the Tagus, and passed through Spithead on her way to
Southampton. She anchored in Cowes-roads before -
seven, Lae, to wait for the tide, and got under way
again at two, P.m, proceeding direct to Southampton.
The Columbia steam-surveying vessel, Commander
P. F. Shortland, arrived here this evening from Chatham.
Wind—W.S.W., moderate breezes and hazy weather.
PLYMOUTH, MAY 13.—This morning, about twelve
o'clock, her Majesty's ship Queen, 110, Captain Henry
W. Bruce, rounded Penlee Point, with a fresh breeze
hom south-west, under her three topgallant-sails, top-
sills, and courses. On approaching the harbour she
lowered her topgallantsails, and when inside the break-
water saluted the flag of Port-Admiral Sir 'William Hall
Gage with seventeen guns. She then shortened canvass,
and anchored inside the breakwater to the west of the
Camber. She sailed from Palermo on the evening of the
27th of March, when the Admiral, in the Hibernia, was
leaving for Naples. The Queen arrived at Gibraltar on
the 19th of April, and found there her Majesty's
steam. r Janus, Lieutenant-Commander Richard A.
Powell. On the 30th of April, at noon, the Queen left
the Rock with twenty military invalids from the garrison
at Gibraltar, and four naval invalids from the squadron
at Palermo; two of these have died of consumption on
the passage home.
Wind, S.W.; stiff breeze.
Wooawien, MAY 14 .—The Niger steam-sloop, when
she went down the river to Greenhithe on Friday last,
worked remarkat ly well with her engines, and the valves
have been remedied and now make comparatively very little
noise; the speed of the vessel was also greater than had
been previously attained. Both the Niger and Basilisk
were to leave Greenhithe this morning for Devonport,
and after touching there will proceed to sea, and will be
absent, it is said, on trial, fur about three weeks or a
month, that the respective merits of the vessels may be
fully tested.
Mr. Laen, master-attendant at Pembroke dockyard,
has hoisted his pendant on the Gladiator steam frigate,
but her departure from Woolwich has been deferred, and
Friday mext is now named as the day on which she will
leave for Devonport and Pembroke.
Mr. M'Callum, boatswain of Woolwich dockyard, died
yesterday after a short illness. He was a most active
and zealous servant, and greatly respected by all classes.

Woonwicn GARRISON, MAY 14.—The whole of
the troops of the Royal Horse Artillery, under the com-
mand of Lieutenant-Colonel Bell, with Captain and
Adjutant Maude; the whole of the battalions under the
command of Colonel Cruttenden, attended by Captain
and Adjutant Doraville, and Captain and Adjutant 'Wil-
lett; the right division of the battalions under the com-
mand of Lieutenant. Colonel Bent, with Captain and
Adjutant Cannon; the centre division under the com-
mand of Lieutenant Colonel Furneaux, with Captain
and Adjutant Radcliffe; and the left division, under
Lieutenant-Colonel Clarke, with Captain and Adjutant
Devereux; the field batteries, under the command of
Lieutenant Colonel Anderson, with Captain and Adju-
taut Thompson; the battalion of pensioners, under the
command of Major Forbes; and the whole of the
Royal Marines formed into two battalions—the
right, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Cory-
ton, with Lieutenant and Adjutant Foote; the left, under
the command of Lieutenant- Colonel Gillespie, with
Lieutenant and Adjutant Hambly—assembled on Wool-
wich common, at ten o'clock A.M. to-day, and about ton
minutes past ten o'clock Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas
Downham, C. 8., K.C.H., arrived on the ground, accom-
panied by his staff: consisting of Colonel Brereton, C. 8.,
K. 11., Royal horse Artillery, Lieutenant Colonel Palmer,
Lieutenant-Colonel Evans, Lieutenant-Colonel F. Warde.
Lieutenant-Colonel Ingilby, Lieutenant-Colonel Story,
Lieutenant-Colonel Palliser, Lieutenant-Colonel Mac-
bean, Lieutenant-Colonel Gar Ain, Brigade- Major
Bingham, Captain Tylden, Deputy-Assistant Quarter-
muster.General, and all the adjutants off duty. The
Commandant was received by the troops with the
usual salute, and with his staff, rode down the front
of the. line and up the rear. The whole of the
troops then marched past at slow and quick
time, the Royal Horse Artillery again at full
gallop, and a second time at trot and full gallop. The
troops afterwards formed in line across the coma:ion,
tho Royal Horse Artillery on the right, and the field
de bat:
teries on the extreme left, the left wing being orred
forward to allow of room to extend the line, tbe.ro howl;
and saluted the Lieutcnont-General, the. bands playing
uwphsvdrier ds
bodyof 30,
fOOt
troops
otroopsassembled
n
advanced o in line the
ii n ec'cilici aosil)oenn'orTdheer
whichalaonteheuempied Aa:oulthtew two ;Oculruss,u)t nh
eotfrothoepsibnroovkee-
imtnheteountiteionneolumn and matched to their barracks left in
front. The Royal Marines were about 600 strong, and
the colours and band of the corps were present. Tho
pensioners were about 400 strong, sad the precision of
the movements of the men was the theme of admiration
amongst ull who witnessed them. The Royal Artillery
mustered upwards of 2,000 men, and a finer body of able
and efficient troops could not be found in any country.
The whole of these troops will assemble again on Satur-
day next, at twelve o'eleck at noon, with the companies
of Royal Sappers and Miners, to celebrate her Majesty's
birthday.
RUM'S PISTOL.—A man who gives us a real name
and address, writes to us as follows:—" On Sunday last,
May 6, passing through a field near Potash Farm, I
found a largo double barrelled pistol bedded in the
ground, with J. B. Rush engraved on the guard over
the trigger, and a bunch of bk eh: ton keys. You can
mentie n this circumstance in your papzr if you think
proper." Of course wo cannot say whether the above
is a hoax, or a seriuus matter of fact.; but we have put it
in train for investigation.—Norfolk Chronicle.
THE BomDAY STEAM-VE.',SEL.—The Lords of the
Treasury have caused a communication to be made to
the Commissioners of the Customs' Department' by Mr.
Parker, ono of their Lordships' secretaries, acquainting
them—with reference to their socrotarfs letter of the
5:11 instant, relative to the release of the
steam-Llip
Bombay—that their Lordships have communicated to
tchoeusrotl.ietihtttortsntoo
ftuhrethMerineilsitdeernec)fe thhaevTinwgobSeiecniliesattli
furnished,
ie
their
havesLordhips see no reason to alter the decision to wbich
they come respecting the further detention of the
vessel mentioned.
MIDLAND RAILWAY.—S. Beale, Esq., late 'Mayor
of Birmingham, has been elected deputy-chairman of the
Midland Company, in the room of Mr. Ellis, M.P., 110 A
chairman, vice Mr. Hudson, M.P., resigned.