The Sun.
London, England, 1849-06-23 00:00:00

it were not, reeeelefl ?—(leer.) Then elate the paper
duty, upon which he had heard it s that the sepia
tions of the Excise were a far greater burden upon the
manufacturers of pap ,r than the mere amount of money
raised by duty.—(Bear.) The recent change in the
Postage charges had caused the manufacture of envelcpea
to become a very extensive and important branch of in-
dustry. Now, would it be believed, that by the regula-
tions of the Excise a paper manufacturer might cut out
the envelopes, but he could not have them folded upon
the premises ? These impediments to business were
Much more extremely felt in modern days than when
these taxes were first levied, because the velocity of
business was now so much greater than among our fore-
fathers. These Excise duties were as inconsistent with
the sp.r:t of the age as if they were to set up toll-bars
Upon rail -roads.—(Hear.) The Chancellor of the Ex
chequer must make up his mind to expect an increasing
pressure iron the removal of those obnoxious and ab-
surd taxes. But how could he repeal them save by re-
duction of our large expenditure, or else by an increase
of direct taxation ? One of these things would cer-
tainly have to be resorted to. At the beginning of the
present session ha had named a number of articles the
duty upon which he contended ought to be
abolished, and all these articles had been brought before
the House to-night. The duty upon tea was one of
these. The Liverpool gentlemen hsd tried to effect the
reduction of the duty on tea, but finding that they could
Slot succeed they changed the agitation to an agitation
for financial reform. But they were still as desirous as
ever for the repeal of the tea duty. Then there was the
duty upon timber, which clearly ought to be-abolished
now that they had repealed the navigation-laws.—
(Hear, hear.) There would be a pressure for the repeal
of this tax, and how could the Right Honourable Gen-
tleman Aspect to meet it, except by one of the two
Methodi he had pointed out ?—(Hear, hear.) He did
not think the country would be satisfied with the budget
of the Right Honourable Gentleman ; he had, it was
true, made both ends meet, and he had calculated upon
a surphis of some 150,0001., but he feared that with so
small a margin there would be, as was the case last year,
tin excess in extraordinary expenditure in the army
and navy, which would convert the surplus into a defi-
ciency.. With an expenditure of about 52,000,000/. a-
sear, it was not desirable to draw the line so closely as
to leave a margin of only 150,000/, because the conse-
quence almost always was that they had a deficiency in-
stead of a surplus.—(Hear, hear.) The Right Hon.
Gentleman was still spending too much money, and if
he compared his present budget with that of the
bake of Wellington's Government in 1830, he found
that the present Government proposed to spend more
next year by 5,500,000!., than the Duke of Wellington
during the last year of boroughmongering. They all
recollected that the Duke of Wellington's Administra-
tion was upset by the Whigs upon the motion of Sir H.
Parnell, on account of their extravagance. Well, they
had the Reform Bill, and they were now spending
5,500,000/. more than before reform.,—(Hear.) lie
believed that the Reform Bill had done much good, but
it was quite certain that it had not insured them as much
economy and retrenchment as they had a right to ex-
pect.—(Hear.) He predicted there would be more pres-
sure than ever upon the Right Hon. Gentleman for a
reduction of expenditure, and he did not despair of see-
ing the county Members next session all voting with the
Ron. Member for Montrose and himself for greater
economy and retrenchment. The Right Hon. Gentleman
roust be prepared to meet this feeling next year to a
greater extent, or he would not satisfy the expectations
,of the country, or at all events of the constituency which
be had the honour to represent.—(Cheers.)
Mr. HEYWORTH believed that a change in the
mode of levying the taxation would do more good than
any measure to which the House could give its assent.
ale did not see why the landed interest should regard
manufactures with jealousy. Let them remember the
vast increase which had taken place in the value of
landed property is Lancashire. If all England possessed
the same advantages the value of landed property would
ce increased, as in Lancashire, by some thousands per
cent. He coincided in the opinion that the system of
Excise duties was injurious to the country, and must be
changed.
Mr. SANDARS could corroborate the statementthe
of
t_the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that the effect of
blockade in the north of Europe had been unfavourably
felt in the manufacturing interests of the north. lie
doubted whether the Government were not to blame for
allowing the present state of things to continue, and he
toLul given notice of a motion in which he should be able
prove that this blockade was not an effective one, and
Was not conducted accordiner. . to the law of nations,
uccause a preference was given by the Danes to the ships
of other nations over those of this country. He had
received such information from nearly all the Baltic
Ports that he felt warranted in contending that this
blockade ought not to be observed by our vessels, and that
Ze ought to insist upon our ships entering the of
russia, and demand the same facilities as were granted
'0 the Dutch, Americans, and Russians. e told the
Chancellor of the Exchequer last year that he would
have 1,000,000/. of duties upon corn, at which the Right
Ron. Gentleman seemed rather incredulous, and said he
wished he might have it. Now, why should the Right
Ron. Gentleman give up that source of revenue, and
instead of receiving a shilling duty, which he calculated
Would bring in a revenue of 250,0001., why should he not
receive a duty of 43. or ss. a quarter, upon which he
Might receive a revenue of 1,000,000/. or 1,200,0001. not
levied for the sake of protection, but for revenue? From
his own experience of the corn trade he could say that
not one penny per yoar of a 4s. or 53. duty would come
out of the pockets of the consumers of this country.
Mr, COBDEN doubted whether the Hon. Member
had been sent to that House from Wakefield to advocate
4 tax upon food, and thought he was not authorised to
make, such a proposition. He was perfectly astonished
to hear the lion. Gentleman say that if they levied a
tot of ss. per quarter upon foreign corn the foreigner
Would pay it. Now, the lion. Gentleman dealt in corn;
and let him (Mr. Cobden) suppose that the Hon. Mem-
ber had 1,000 quarters of wheat afloat in a vessel from
pantzic. Would he sell that corn at the same price
before it was landed as after it had gone ashore and paid
the duty of 55.?--(Hear, hear.) How could the Hon.
Member assert that the duty laid upon the importation
Of foreign articles was paid by the foreigner, and not by
consumers in this country?
Mr. SANDARS came into that House as independent
es the Hon. Member for the West Riding—(Hear)—and
considered himself perfectly justified in the suggestion
he had made. He cared not for any censure that he
might receive from the Hon. Member (Mr. Cobden) or
Ts party. He would give free trade a lair trial, but he
had himself seen that when the duty had fallen in this
country 'the price of corn had fallen abroad. Last year,
when the duty was reduced from 9s. to Is., a correspond-
ing reduction took place in the price of corn abroad.
When the duty was taken off here a reduction took place
in the price of corn at home, and the price abroad must
fall to meet that reduced rate.—(A laugh.) If a duty
of Bs. in this country were taken off the price would fall
here; and the price abroad must also fall in order to
compete with the price in this country. In declaring
the' opinions he had expressed to-night he had not re-
pudiated a single statement that he had made to• his
constituents.;--(Heir, hear.)
Mr. HARRIS was understood to speak from personal
observation of the improved condition of the population
of the town which he represented (Leicester). He was
happy to be able to state that since the year 1833 trade
aad not been in a better condition than it was duringthe
Present season, and he was further rejoiced to add, that
the borough which he had the honour to represent con-
tained a contented and thriving population.
Mr. PLUMPTRE was very glad to learn that the con-
stituents of the Hon. Member who last addressed the
Rouse were happy, contended, and prosperous. It was
Well for him then to be able to make such a statement;
but it was very much to be apprehended that souse time
hence he could offer to the House no such pleasing pic-
ture of the condition of the people whom he represented
As regarded agriculture, he feared that matters were
very bad, and that they were likely to become much
:worse. Not very long since a large number of able-
bodied men came to him at his residence in the country,
stating that they were without employment and without
bread for their families; and there could be no doubt
that they and the country generally attributed such an
intense degree of distress to the operation of free-trade
principles, to which the Hon. Member for the West Riding
imputed such marvellous good effects. If, as the Hper-
on.
Member boasted, he gave cheap bread to many
SOUS, it should be remembered that he put many persons
out of bread, and amongst that number were those who
came to his (Mr. Plumptre's) house lately, stating their
unhappy case. They were from 60 to 70 in number,
and being fathers of families might be said to represent
a large population, all of whom were in the utmost dis-
tress; and in the midst of that state of things the.
Hon.
Memer for the West Riding talked as if he alone knew
what was right and fitting for the Government and the
Legislature to do—always using towards them the lan-
guage of dictation —" You must do this and you shall
do the other;" and he went on as if he intended to "lead
them all by the nose." Now he should take the liberty
of telling the Hon. Gentleman that he would not be led
by the nose, nor did he believe that the country would
submit to any such language; such a style of address
was wholly unbecoming a free and independent assembly.
The opinions of the Hon. Member were not the opinion
n s
of the House; and though that gentleman might thik
that e wisdom would die with him," yet that was not
the opinion either of the House or the country.—(Hear.)
Mr. HUME rose to observe that his Hon. Friend the
Member for the West Riding had never shown any dis•
position to dictate to the House or to any
individual
Member. The Member for the West Riding did not ob-
ject to the Member for Wakefield expressing any °Pinion
which he might happen to entertain, but merely ex-
pressed a difference of opinion from him, at the same
time expressing some surprise that a gentleman who
represented a populous borough should utter a word in
favour of a 55. duty on corn.
The resolution was then agreed to, the House re-
sumed, and the report was ordered to be received on
Monday.
TRANSPORTATOIN FOR TREASON (IRELAND)
BILL.
On the motion for going into Committee on this Bill,
Mr. MOORE said that as this Bill had not been fairly
argued, he was anxious to say a few words upon
Was it fair or just, that after they had consented
to g
compensation to the rebels in Canada, they should now
proceed to inflict punishment upon the Irish State pri-
soners which the law did not empower them to inflict.
The House was bound to assume that the power did not
exist, for it was in that view of the case that they were
called on to pass the Bill. He called on the House to
cast aside the illogical arguments with which Hon.
and Learned Members had endeavoured to prop up
the question, and to consider whether they should
subject Mr. Smith O'Brien and his associates to the
penalties of an ex post facto law. Under all the cir-
cumstance of the case it was impossible that the extreme
sentence of the law could now be carried into effect.—
(Hear, hear.) The sense of the country was against it
—(Haar, hear)—the sense of both Houses of Par-
littiztout was against il—(Hettr, hear)-4he sense of the

whol worli wns sgainst it—( Hear, hear)—and
it w the exisetne s nteitce of the Livir
could now be carried out. That being the case, the
Crown could only impose the punishment of fine and im-
prisonment. The words of the preamble were altogether
in error when it was stated that doubts had arisen as to
the power of the Crown to inflict the punishment of
transportation in the present case. It was also an error
to say that the object of the Bill was to lessen the seve-
rity of the punishment. In the first place no doubt could
exist on the subject, for it was clear that the Crown had
no power to commute the sentence of death to transporta-
tion, without the consent of the prisoners. There was,
therefore, no doubt at all, as the preamble stated, and the
sentence being commuted the Crown had the power to
inflict the punishment of imprisonment for life. So far,
therefore, from the Bill lessening the punishment, as had
been alleged, it was, in fact, increasing it. Ile could not
conceive how the House could feel itself justified in passing
an ex post facto Bill of so severe a character, after the way
in which they had succumbed to the men who had been
engaged in the Canadian rebellion. If the Government,
however, persevered in an endeavour to inflict so severe
a punishment on Mr. Smith O'Brien and the other Irish
State prisoners, after having dealt so leniently with the
rebels of Canada, they would prove to the Canadians
that they were secure, not under the Union Jack, but
under the shelter of the Amerie au stars and stripes; and
that while the Government submitted to the most auda-
cious acts on the o'-her side of the Atlantic, and even
gave compensation for losses that had been sustained,
they were at the_ same time leaning with as heavy a
hand as it was possible for them to do upon the State
prisoners in Ireland.—(Hear, hear.)
The House then resolved itself into Committee on the

Bill.
Mr. BERNAL put the question on the first clause,
the consideration of the preamble having been post-

poned,
Mr. ANSTEY said he had intended to have offered
every obstruction to the passing of the Bill, but on con-
dition that he received proper support from the majority
of the Irish members. He found, however, that
he could not reckon on that support from
what had already taken place ; and he must
say that not only on that, but on former occasions,
Irish members had shown the most culpable indif-
ference to the passing of measures affecting the inte-
rests of Ireland in the most serious point of view.
they had in face exhibited, to use a common phrase, a
want of pluck-- (Laughter)—and under the circumstances
he had stated, he did not think he should bewarranted its
sacrificing the position he held in that House, by perse-
vering in that; opposition which ho had intended to offer
to the passing: of that Bill.—(Hear, hear.) He should,
therefore, content himself with proposing such-amend-
ments in Conrmittee as he thought should be introduced.
It was his late Eldon at present to move—as the conside-
ration of the preamble had been postponed—it was his
intention now to move that after the word " it" in the
third line of the first clause the omission of the words
" declared and." He . altogether objected to the Bill
being put forward as a mere declaratory Bill. The ob-
ject of that Bill was to enable the Government to inflict
a punishments which the parties declared they would
consider to loe worse- than the punishment of death—
(Hear, hear).—and they were now endeavouring to in-
flict that punishment on men who had been born and
bred, and who were convicted of treason in Ireland.
Would they have ventured upon the introduction of that
Bill had the ,;e parties. been Englishmen ? Ministers,
however, were hoping to get out of the dilemma, by say-
ing that the .present Bill was merely a declaratory Act,
and under that pretext they trusted they would induce
the House to give their assent to the Bill. Now it was
certain that a declaratory Act had sometimes been re-
sorted to wbien doubts bad arisen as to the state of the
law, and whine the judges of the higher tribunals dif-
fered in opinion. In such cases Parliament was justified
in settling tvlaat the law was by means of a declaratory
enactment; but in the present case no such difficulty had
arisen. There was ne doubt about what the law was.—
(Hear) Int fact, by the present Bill the House was not
asked to remove doubts; but it was asked to prevent the
tribunals in Ireland acting on the law as it stood—
(Hear)—read in the event of the prisoners being brought
before the judges of the Queen's Bench in Ireland, upon
a writ of hs,beas corpus, public rumour said that the
judges would do their duty. The doctrine of expediency
might war rant the transportation of Mr. O'Brien, but if
that gentloman had held a course different to that which
be indeperodently and determinedly pursued when in the
House of Cs'ommons, there would be less of bitterness ex-
hibited to wards him now by Ministers, and those who
rejoiced in. styling themselves sincere ministerialists. It
was absurd to say that a commutation of the sentence of
death to transportation was an extension of mercy, when
it was well known that the horrors suffered by those de-
ported to penal colonies led directly either to death or
lunacy. He called upon the Committee to strike out
the portion of the preamble which, rendered the Act
declaratory, and to deprive it of an ex post facto effect.
In cone! usion the Honourable and Learned Gentleman
moved, that in the first clause the words " declared and"
be omitted.
The ATTORNEY. GENERAL said the question sub-
mitted by the Honourable and
-Learned Gentleman who
proposed the amendment was simply whether by
omitting the words " declared and" they should not
convert the Act from being declaratory into a mere
enactment. He would not then say one word on the
general ;principle of the Bill, as that subject had been
already discussed. He denied that the Bill bad been
pressed with indecent haste upon the attention of the
House, and he showed that it was brought forward in
compliance with the special request of Mr. O'Brien him-
self. He believed there was no lawyer who entertained
any doubt as to the power of the Crown to commute
sentence of death into transportation; but a doubt hav-
ing arisen, the present Bill was brought forward. He
believed that it was a mistake to say that the Irish judges
had any doubt on this subject, and he had no doubt
whatever himself, and was tbrtified in that opinion by the
first legal: gentlemen in Westminster-hall; and he would
add that the first legal opinion in the country had sup-
ported this Bill in another place. In reply to the ques-
tion respecting Cuffey and others, he did not think that
he was bound to give any answer as to their being guilty
of treason. The object for introducing this Bill was to
avoid those doubts which were entertained in another
place. Flo thought that there could be no objection to
those words," declared and," as it was for the purpose of
avoiding raising any discussion in Ireland.
Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL said that he thought that
this Bill had a very strange character in it, and he was
led to that opinion principally from the speech of the
Attorney-General. He looked upon this Bill rather as
of a prospective than of a retrospective character. He did
not by any means agree with the late proceeding of Mr.
S. O'Brien, but he opposed the Bill because he thought
it to be unconstitutional. He considered that if the Bill
should be passed that the indignation of the people
of Ireland would be excited to a degree that the Go-
vernment would have to regret.
Mr. MIINTZ said that he regretted that he had not
been present on the second reading, for he should have
opposed it, and would therefore support the amendment.
Mr. MOORE wished to knew from the Attorney-
General where those doubts existed?
• The ATTORNEY-GENERAL—In Ireland.
, • Mr. MOORE wished to know with whom those doubts
arose.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that he was not
prepared to inform him, as the communication was
private.
Mr. FRENCH said, that he was in favour of the
amendment, because the Bill was altogether unconsti-
tutional, as being- an ex post facto Bill. ..
Sir G. GREY said that the commutation of the sen-
tence was an act of mercy on the part of the Lord-
Lieutenant, and he totally disagreed with the Hon Gen-
tleman (Mr. Anstey) when he stated that this was a
penal enactment against Ireland.
Mr. ANSTEY explained.
Mr. E. B. ROCHE also opposed the Bill, as being un-
constitutional, and hoped that every possible opposition
would be given to it.
Colonel DUNNE sail that he had no sympathy for
the conduct of those unfortunate gentlemen, because he
was there ready to meet them in the field, and should he
have captured them, he would have tried them by court-
martial and shot them; but, as this Bill was an infrac-
tion on the constitution, he should oppose it.
The House then divided, when there appeared—
Ayes
Noes
Majority --124
Mr. REYNOLDS next moved that, after the word
" offenders," in the ninth line of the first page, there be
inserted the words " who may be hereafter convicted,
and." This was tile fourth Bill of pains and penalties
which they had passed within twelve months in reference
to Ireland; and he asked the House, then, could they
look back upon their legislation as regarded Ireland with
anything like satisfaction? Far from excusing the ac-
tions of those men, he took especial pains to put down
their system, and incurred great censure from their
partisans; but what he contended now was that Go-
vernment had done enough, and that they should now
stop short in their career of vengeance. The object
of his amendment was to free the Bill of its
restrictive character. He was not a lawyer, and he
thanked God he was not, for it was, in his opinion, a
sort of science for covering over with doubt what was
plain and palpable.—(Hear, hear.) The Lerd protect
him from the law.—(Laughter.) In this whole affair
they were only magnifying a mountain into a mole-hill.
—(Much laughter.) He was glad that he had put the
cart before the horse, and given them a laugh, bat were
they not magnifying a molehill into a mountain when
they magnified this row with the police in a cabbage-
garden in Ireland into a rebellion.—(Hear, hear.)
Major BLACKALL supported the measure. If he
considered it as an ex post facto law he would have op-
posed it, but he considered it merely a declaratory Bill to
remove certain doubts which had arisen in Ireland. Ho
would have thought it wrong to have argued this ques-
tion again in the courts of law in Ireland, for such a
course would have again stirred up those bad feelings
which had been so prevalent in Ireland during the pre-
vious discussions of the subject.
was sa df trh
enacting
aetGovernmenting
an
ex
phoasdt
fc
no 'tfloer. slajew(d I Ead t Othh'
eCe
couldOrnN e Na s ELLnuroet s
see
how the Hon. and Gal-
lant Gentleman could vote in favour of it.
Mr. ANSTEY did not know whether the Honourable
Member for Salford would move the adjournment of the
Helve, as the present was a Ministerial measure, but if
not, he should certainly do so.
Sir G. GREY h
t o
Ak nf
toewr
at hfaetwt he
words Irish
ipnoeoxr
hoped the Hon. Gentleman would not
obstruct public business. The present measure had been
already fully discussed, and the Hon. Gentleman ought
TEY
and Colonel DUNNE, the Committee divided, when the
-pllaawn awt iaosn fixed
mf ol4rl rn.exAt Nwse ek
numbers were—
For the amendment
Against it
Majority —ll6
Mr. ANSTEY next morel the followingavaend.
amend-
ment:
At line 10 of pogo 1, to omit the words, for_ oDY

offences whatsoever by law punishable with death," and I
insert, " for high treason."
Line 8, after " jurisdiction," to insert " Provided
always, that nothing in this Act contained shall be con-
strued to impair or hinder e e exercise of any preroga-
tive of the Crown, in virtue whereof her Majesty may
grant her free or conditional pardon to any such
offender."
The House divided, when the numbers were—
For the amendment . .
Against it
Majority ... —llO
Mr. ANSTEY then proposed another amendment, to
omit the words empowering the Crown to order the
" transportation" of the offender, and substitute words
empowering the Crown to order his " imprisonment
during the Queen's pleasure, or banishment."
Mr. C. LAWLESS moved that the Chairman repor t
progress, and ask leave to sit again.
Mr. MON SELL implored of the Hon. Gentleman to
withdraw his motion, as no good could be obtained to
any party by further postponement.
-After a few words from Mr. LAWLESS in expla-
nation,
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that the Poordaw
would come on for Monday ; and on Thursday, the
question of a proposed railway to the West of Ireland.
Mr. LAWLESS said that notwithstanding what the
Noble Lord had said, he must blame the Noble Lord for
the course he had taken on this subject, and having done
all he could in opposing it, he should now discontinue
all further opposition.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL, in answer to Mr. Reynolds,
said he proposed to take the third reading on Monday
next.
Mr. REYNOLDS then suggested to Mr. Anstey that
he should not, for the sake of the unfortunate prisoners,
protract the debate upon this Bill any further.
Mr. ANSTEY said that he did intend to move amend-
ments in the Committee, but those which now stood is
his name had nothing in common with those which had
gone before. He certainly should not oppose the Bill
further on this occasion; but on the third reading, if it
should be deemed necessary, he should move an amend-
ment which would deprive the Bill of its ex post facto
operation. The Hon. Member, after an explanation
from the Attorney-General, with which he expressed
himself dissatisfied, moved as an amendment to omit
the words in page 2, ." by the transportation of such
offender to any place beyond the seas to which offenders
may be transported."
The amendment was rejected without a divison, and
the House resumed; the Bill to stand first for Monday.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL moved, that the House, at
its rising, should adjourn till Monday, which was
agreed to.
The Mutiny and Desertion (India) Bill passed through
Committee, as did also the Public Health (Scotland)
Bill.
The Collection of Rates (Dublin) Bill was referred
to a Select Committee, on the motion of Sir W.
SOMERVILLE.
The Bankruptcy (Ireland) Bill passed through Com-
mittee, and the report was ordered to be brought up on
Monday.
PALACE COURT (WESTMINSTER) BILL.
On the motion for going into Committee on the Palace
Court (Westminster) Bill,
Sir F. THESIGER opposed it.
Mr. B. OSBORNE said he could not conceive how
any person having the interest of his country at heart,
should be desirous of opposing a measure, the object of
which was to remove a den of infamy, which the whole
country were crying out against.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that on Monday
he intended to bring in a Bill to remove the Palace
Court, leaving it to a Select Committee to do justice to
the case.
Sir FREDERICK THESIGER *said he ivas not op-
posed to the abolition of the Palace Court, but he
wished to do so with justice to all parties. A great deal
of unjust prejudice had been excited. He did hope that
at that hour in the morning the Noble Lord would not
press the Bill.
Lord DUDLEY STUART said it should be recol-
lected the very great difficulty persons had not connected
with the Government to get their motions on. If there
was an institution looked upon with aversion, it was that
court, which was looked upon as an establishment for
grinding the faces of the poor. He had in his hands bills
of costs other than those of Jacob Omniuns, which bore
out his assertion. The grievance is, that the costs are
excessive, that it is a close court, that they are restricted
.o their counsel and attorney, that they had not a free

--
choice, that it prevented people from enjoying the benefit
of the County Court, that it was a more expensive court,
and that it exercised the right of imprisoning people for
debts under 20/., when an Act of Parliament had been
passed to prevent that. Was not that unjust ? But he
did not wish to take any unfair advantage, and he wished
for a day when he might bring forward this Bill, and carry
it through. lie thought the Attorney-General had been
very dilatory, but he hoped that an understanding would
be come to on the sabject.
Mr. JOHN ABEL SMITH said he thought the Noble
Lord was entitled to the support of the House, unless
the Attorney-General named an early day for bringing
in his Bill.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that he could
not satisfactorily bring in the Bill till he had made
inquiry about the compensation that would be required,
and the gentleman employed for that purpose had been
seriously ill, and the measure had been consequently
d&layed.
The motion for going into Committee was then with-
drawn, and the other orders having been disposed of, the
House adjourned at a Quarter to Two o'clock.

IRELAND AND THE CORPORA
TION OF LONDON.
A numerous meeting of the members of the corpora
Lion was held yesterday at the Mansion House. The
Right Hon. the Lord Mayor in the chair.
His LORDSHIP said he was obliged to the gentlemen
present for their attendance upon so short a summons.
It afforded a proof of the importance of the subject
upon which he desired an expression of their sentiments,
as a preliminary measure to the calling of a Court of
Common Council, if it were thought right that the cor-
poration should entertain the question. His Lordship
called the attention of the meeting to the observations
made by Sir Robert Peel, in his celebrated speech on
Irish affairs in the House of Commons, in which the
Right lion. Baronet held it out as a noble object of am-
bition to the corporation of London to follow the exam-
ple of their predecessors in former times, by becoming
possessors of some of the extensive properties in Ire-
land, which were likely to be brought into the market,
and thus become instrumental in conferring upon other
portions of that interesting country the blessings of
peace, order, and prosperity, which distinguished the
northern provinces of the island, settled by means of
the corporation and the great London companies..
Mr. ll:ti: Joxis said he would wish to ask the: City
solicitor whether they could safely enter into any nego-
tiations for the purchase of incumbered estates in Ire-
land until the Bill for giving a general title to property,
disposed of under such circumstances, should pass into
a law?
Mr. C. PEARSON said that as this was only a prelimi-
nary meeting of gentlemen not acting in a corporate ca-
pacity, he did not attend as City solicitor, but as a pri•
vats individual feeling a deep interest in promoting the
success of their object. He had, however, no hesitation
in saying that he should never advise the corporation to
think of making any purchases of incumbered estates in
Ireland without a Parliamentary title.—(Hear, hear.)
Thero seemed to be but little doubt of the Bill which had
passed the House of Commons being speedily the law of
the land; as, however, some mischance might attend the
measure in the Upper House, the corporation, if they
should seriously intend to embark in this great under-
taking, might apply to Parliament for an especial Act,
which would confer upon them full powers to carry out
the object as effectually as if the purchases were made
under the authority of the general Act.—(Hear.) It was
difficult to• predicate on any measure affecting (as the
general Bill did) the interests of so many individuals,
what might be its fate if opposed by parties whose pro-
perty would be subjected to its operation. Bat it was
notorious that large tracts of land were now in the mar-
ket, where the mortgagors and the mortgagees, the
tenants for life and the tenants in remainder, were all
willing to concur in a sale under the authority of an
Act of Parliament, whether a general Act or a special
Act, and it must be equally obvious that all parties in
the state would concur in passing a Bill to give facili-
ties for the accomplishment of such an object as that
which had been suggested by the Lord Mayor.
A long discussion ensued, in which Mr. Wire, Mr.
Wood, Mr. H. L. Taylor, Mr. Blake, and several other
influential members of the corporation took part. They
appeared to be unanimous in their anxiety to forward
the measure, if, upon further inquiry, it should be found
that it could be safely undertdken.
A committee was then formed to make the requisite
inquiries, in conformity with the feelings of the meeting.
It was said that nearly every member who had been
invited was present, and the Lord Mayor expressed his
regret that, from the pressure of time, he had not been
able to give notice to a large number of the Aldermen
and Common Council.

MR. BUNN'S BENEFIT.-1t is seldom that we find
a programme promising such a concentration of talent as
does that for Mr. Bunn's benefit, which is to take place
on Monday next, at Drury-lane. Every person of any
note in aay branch of dramatic or musical art will be there.
The elite of both Italian Operas, of the French Play, and of
artistes, all of whom of
deswiilbethere to render b
eel
celebrity
assistance
have
theto t
hGee German Eng
a ,
tst
offered their services; foremost among these are Mrs. Nesbit
and her sister, Miss Jane Mordaunt. That Mr. Bunn will
have a bumper house there can be no doubt, and well he de-
serves it.
FRENCH PLAYS, ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.—Her
Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, accompanied by
the Duke and Duchess de Nemours, and attended by
Lady Augusta Bruce, the Baroness do Speth, and Sir
George Couper, honoured the performance at this theatre
with their presence last evening.
Mr. Benedict's annual grand concert took place
yesterday morning in the Great Concert-room of her
Majesty's Theatre.
DEATH OF CLARENCE MANGAN.—Saunders's NeW
Letter contains the following:—" Clarance Mangan, the
poet, is no more. For some years past his health, as
well as his circumstances had been in a most miserable
condition, and within the last ten days he was an inmate
of one of the temporary hospitals erected for the accom-
modation of persons labouring under the present epi-
demic on the sottli sido of the city. A few days ago he
was found by one of the few friends that remained to
him in a most wretched lodging, from whence he was
removed to the Meath Hospital, where, under the kind
care of Dr. Stokes he appeared to make a slight rally.
About ten o'clock on Wednesday night he had just ex-
pressed his gratitude to one of the officers of the insti-
tution for the kindness which he received, when he
turned round in bis bed and expired, apparently without
a struggle." Clarence Mangan had been a frequent con-
tributor to the Dublin University Magazine and other
. periodicals.