The Sun.
London, England, 1838-03-24 00:00:00

ziPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

The proceedings last night in the House of Lords will he
attended with most momentous results. After Lord B, ougham
had presented upwards of 100 petitions from various towns and
congregations, the Earl of Radnor, Lord Redesdale, and the
Archbishop of Canterbury also a number of petitions, pray-
ing that the negro apprenticeships might terminate on the Ist
of August next, the Bishop of London, who had a similar pe-
tition to present, took occasion to declare that, "if it could
be presumed that the case was really as the petitioners repre-
sented, he certainly should have no hesitation in saying that
it would be only just, as well as expedient, to put an early
termination to the present system of apprenticeship, and that
it would be for the advantage of all parties that steps should
be taken as soon as possible to procure that end." The Right
Rev. Prelate added, "that if the safety of the colonies was tube
considered as dependent upon the frame of mind of the population
at the end of the apprenticeship system ; and if there was any
danger likely to result from the exasperated feelings of that
population when that termination should arrive, he thought
that less danger was likely to arise now than two years hence."
After expressing this decided opinion that the benefit of all
parties would be consulted by immediate freedom, the Right
Reverend Prelate still had some doubts how far we were not
barred by the compact from effecting what he had declared
would be useful to all. " With respect (he said) to compen-
sation, he was aware that it was agreed to be paid to the
planters, on the calculation of their retaining six years'
services of the negroes, the Emancipation being deferred.
But this country appeared now to -be fully of opinion that
the same sum—if paid for immediate Emancipation—would
be fully sufficient ; and, therefore, on pecuniary grounds,
the planter would have no reason to complain. He was
convinced that immediate Emancipation would be bene-
ficial to this country and to the colonies, but still he doubted
whether this country was not bound to adhere to the com-
pact which bad been entered into..--( Hear.)" We are
aware of the danger of setting aside compacts on the ground
that the probability is you are thereby benefiting even those
who claim their fulfilment. Still, what was afterwards
urged by the Right Rev. Prelate so much more than out-
weighs this doubt, that it must, indeed, carry conviction to
all unprejudiced minds that the adherence to the compact
would, in reality, be to sacrifice the end to the means. We
take the end of all legislation to be the welfare of those legis-
lated for, and his Lordship made it appear that to refuse to
terminate the apprenticeships now would be to defeat the very
end for which the Legislature was induced to sanction appren-
ticeships. " With respect to the negroes themselves," said his
Lordship, "he must say that he thought there was little
probability that the treatment which they would receive
during the next two years, however humane it might be, and
however it might tend to ameliorate their condition, would
have the effect of rendering them satisfied with their present
position, or with freedom when it should arrive ; but, on the
contrary, they would feel that it had come slowly, and they
would experience less gratification, therefore, and would feel
less gratitude for the favour which had been conferred upon
them ; whereas, if the great boon of immediate emancipation
is ere given to them at once, it would have the great effect of
stifling their feelings of hatred to the English people, and to
the planters and overseers.---( Hear, hear. )" Well might
Lord Brougham rejoice at the accession to the great cause of
so influential a prelate as the Bishop of London. " During
the last two or three days," said his Lordship, "he
certainly had been amply, and more than sufficiently, re-
compensed for all the anxiety which he had felt during
the whole progress of this great discussion. He had been
recompensed by the declarations of several Noble Lords
on the subject, first of the Noble Marquis who sat near
him, and next by a Noble Lord opposite connected with the
county of York ; and now, lastly, by the Right Rev. Prelate,
in the calm and temperate, but most weighty, observations
made by him on presenting the petitions to the House which
had just been laid on the table..---( Hear, hear. )" If the
planters are wise, they will themselves solicit the immediate
termination of the apprenticeships. After such a weight of
opinion, they must sue the utter impossibility of retaining the
negroes longer in thraldom ; and it is always prudent to do
with a good grace what cannot be avoided. r We consider the
question, in fact, carried ; and it will be only mercy to the
planters if Noble Lords and Members of the Lower House
pronounce
their decided opinion with as little delay as pos-
si )le, in order to annihilate in the planters any expectation of
the possibility of continuing the apprenticeship system. "If
'twere done, 'twere well it were done quickly."—Morning
Chronicle.

Mg,. F. O'CONNOR AND LORD
JOHN RUSSELL.

In the Cork Southern Reporter the following correspond-
ence appears:—
" Denham-cottage, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 1838.
6; My Lord,—l beg to enclose you a copy of an extract
from your Lordship's speech upon Mr. Fielden's motion for a
repeal of the Poor-law Amendment Act, as reported in the
ondon papers, and beg to know if your Lordship's words
have been correctly reported ; and, if so, whether or not you
meant the following sentence-4 and but few for character,' as
applicable to me.
May I request an immediate answer ?
" I have the honour to be your Lordship's obedient servant,
" FEARGUS O'CONNOR.
To Lord John Russell."

" Whitehall, Feb. 28, 1838.
" Sir,—l do not think lam in any way bound to give an
explanation of words used by me in the House of Commons
concerning public measures, and when no reference was made
individually to you.—Your obedient servant,

" J. RUSSELL."

MR. O'CONNOR'S ANSWER.

" Denha n-cottage, March 1, 1838.
"My Lord,—_l have the honour to acknowledge the receipt
of your reply to my note of Tuesday last, and beg to say that
your Lordship's concluding sentence is all that I could require;
whilst, at the same time, I trust you will pardon my ignorance
of that part of your Lordship's fetter, referring to the license
which a debate upon a public measure may furnish for com-
menting upon general character.—Your obedient servant,
" FEARGUS O'CONNOR."

We hear, and that on authority to which we give im-
plicit confidence, deplorable accounts of the proceedings in
the Shaftesbury Election Committee. It is composed of
seven Tories to four Liberals, which alone speaks volumes.
But we understand the minority do not even divide against the
strange decisions of the Committee, which thus have the ap.
pearance of being unanimously adopted. We have the au-
thority of a Counsel for saying that the conduct of this Com-
mittee exceeds in unjustifiableness everything he has witnessed
either in the first Session of this or that of any former Parlia-
'llent• Yesterday morning they struck off the voters of a
%•.:ti.ole parish ( Stomer Provost) on the objection that the Re-
%ising Barrister did not legally adjourn the Revising Court.
This is sacrificing the rights of constituencies with a yen-
Feance. It is really going beyond the licence which even a
Try Committee might be expected to take. On this prin-
ciple half of the constituencies of England might be d:sfran-
ehised for some quibble. —Morning Chronicle.
SUICIDES AT WATERLOO BRIDGE.—Since the
Ist of January last, six individuals, three females and three
have terminated thei- existence by throwing themselves
off Waterloo-bridge. Two other persons who had likewise
jumped off, intending to drown themselves, were saved.
Monday night, about eight O'clock, the brig Active,
(A Poole, Captain W. Lisby, from St. Übas, for Liverpool,
with, a cargo of wine and corkwood, went on Rhineshark bar,
,
in I ramore Bay. The crew, seven in number, apdroached
the shore, but returned to the vessel, remained there Monday
night, and came ashore Tuesday morning. The Captain sup-
posed that he was going up the Channel, to the eastward of
I.uskar. He had been sailing in company with a large brig,
of whose fate he is ignorant. The Active, it is expected, will
get off when the gale abates.— irateVord Chronicle.

ELECTION COMMITTEES.
(YESTERDAY.)

(From our Second Edition of last nigl.t.)
TAMWORTH.

After a few unimportant questions, the object of which was to elicit
that Captain .20Court had taken possession of property under the wilt
of Mr. Reppington, Mr. Calvert, for the petitioners, submitted to the
Committee that the will had superseded the rent-charge, and done away
with the qualification.
Mr. Sergeant MEREWETIIER left the case of the sitting Member in the
hands of the Committee, who after a short consultation declared the
sitting Member duly elected.