The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-26 00:00:00

IRISH YOUR.

Lord MONTEAGLE rose to move that a Select
Committee should be appointed to consider and report
on the reeommenclations of the several Parliamentary
Committees and Commissions on the state of the Irish
poor, as relating to the expediency of introducing per-
manently the system of out-door relief for the able-
bodied labourer ; and on the eff.ct of such a
measure :on the well-being of Ireland, the interests of
the poor themselves, and the immigration of Irish
paupers into Great Britain ; and, also, to consider and
to report on the effects of enlarging the present
electoral divisions, for the purpose of raising and buying
the assessments under the Poor-law. The Noble Lord
said he felt the weight and the responsibility
of the subject which he had undertaken to bring
before their Lordships ; but, at the same time,
he felt himself free from many of the difficulties
which surrounded the discussion of it. In the first
place, be was free from one possible imputation of
being swayed by any party views in dicsuseing the ques-
tion ; and, in the second place, he was free from the
supposition, in introducing it to their Lordships, that he
could be swayed by any desire of acquiring popular favour
on the one side of the Channel or the other. But per-
haps he might be charged with presumption in
taking up so great a question. He begged to say
that he had twice been Chairman c f a Committee
of inquiry in the other House en tho poor•law in
Ireland, and he had more than once in his Par-
liamentary career had his attention directed to it.
He had been told that there would be objections taken
to the raising this question by reason of the late
period at which Bills were sent up for consideration
by their Lordships. They had never suffered more
than during the last week of the last session,
for some of the most material acts of the whole Session
had been sent up at a time when it was utterly
imposslle to give them any necessary attention. This
difficulty was increased by the technical regulations
which existed between the two Houses of Parliament-,
when there was any amendment to be proposed. He
would not wish to use any parliamentary tactics
—to meet a measure by a side-wind—to take
advantage of a side-wind.—(Bear.) Ile desired on
the contrary, to meet the matter directly. This
measure had already been considered during the
recess, and therefore it was no new subject
which they were called upon to consider ; but
yet, although they had all the necessary evidence
before them, and yet he believed that many were
about to vote on this Irish Poor-law, without being
able to make themselves acquainted with one-tenth
part of the information which was already on the table.
Many had been so engaged, not upon more important
but upon perhaps more pressing subjects, so that they
were unable to command sufficient time to make them-
selves acquainted with the evidence which had been ad-
duced. in the candour and nobility of their natures
he was sure that their Lordships would n irer suffer
themselves to slight or deny Ulls evidence, but he ,was
quite sure that if they did cast this evidence away as
antiquated and unnecessary, they would at least
admit the information which he had to give,
and if they did strike they would at least
hear before they struck, and grant him that for which
he was about to ask. He wished to guari him-
self against any misconception on two grounds—the
first was, that he, as an Irish landed proprietor, wished
in any way to save his own property, and secondly, that
he was desirous of in any way increasing his own pro-
perty from the public revenue.
[LEFT SPEAKING.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock.
CALEDONIAN RAILWAY BILLS.
Mr. GREENE moved that the following recommenda-
tion contained in the Third Report from the Classifica-
tion Committee of Railway Bills be considered, viz :
" Your Committee recommend that the Caledonian
Railway Bill, No. 205, he divided into two
Bills ; the first to contain Edinburgh Station and
branches to Granton and Edinburgh and Gla,--gow Rail-
way. The second to contain branches to Wilsontown,
Fauldhouse, Biggar, and Broughton. The first Bill to
remain in this Group; the second to be placed in Group
47." That the order made on the 15th day of Feb-
ruary last, for referring the said Bill to the Com-
mittee of Selection be read, and discharged.
That the Bill be withdrawn. That leave be given
to bring in a Bill to enable the Caledonian Railway Com-
pany to extend their station in Edinburgh, and to make
branch railways to Granton and to the Edinburgh and
Glasgow Railway ; and that Mr. Hope Johnstone, Mr.
Lockhart, and Mr. Hodgson Hinde do prepare and bring
it in. That leave be given to bring in a Bill to enable
the Caledonian Railway Company to make branch rail-
ways to Wilsontown, to Fauldhouse, and to Biggar and
Broughton ; and that Mr. Hope Johnstone, Mr. Lock-
hart, and Mr. Hodgson Hinde do prepare and bring it in.
—Agreed to.
PETITIONS ON PRIVATE BILLS.
Mr. GREENE moved " That it be an instruction to
the Committees which shall be appointed to meet on
Thursday, the 15th day of April, to entertain any
petitions w)aich may be referred to them, provided the
same are presented on or before Monday, the 1211 day
of April."—Agreed to.
THE BRIGHTON POLICE.

Captain PECHELL presented a petition from several
parties in Brighton, complaining of the conduct of the
police and the borough magistrates, inasmuch as they
had been placed in cells, and not allowed to communicate
with any one except in the presence of the police ; and
that subsequently they were dismissed without any in-
quiry being made into the truth of the charge made
against them. The Hon. Member also presented a peti-
tion from Worcester against the Poor RemovallAct.
EDUCATION.
Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD presented two peti-
tions from Rochdale against the proposed Government
grant for education.
EDINBURGH AND PERTH RAILWAY.
The second reading of this Bill was postponed till
Monday next.
IRISH POOR RELIEF BILL.
Mr. GREGORY presented several petitions in favour
of this Bill.

SCOTCH REGISTRATION BILL.
Mr. MATHESON presented a petition from the
schoolmasters of Dingwall against the proposed Regis-
tration Bill for Scotland.
CHAFING-CROSS BRIDGE.
This Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be
committed.

Mr. GREENE presented a petition spina it, which
was referred to the Committee on the Bill.
GOVERNMENT PLAN OF EDUCATION.
Mr. BRIGHT presented several petitions against the
minutes of Council recommending the increased grant
for education, _

Mr. C. BEitELEY presented two petitions to the
same effect.

SECOND READINGS.
The following Bills were severally read . a second
time:—Ayr Harbour; Ayrshire Itoads; National Mer-
cantile Life Assurance Society; Staffordshire Potteries
Waterworks; Stockport Manorial Tolls and Bridges;
Swansea Docks; Terrington Marsh Division, Allotment,
and Incloanre; Wakefield Market; Wisbech Port and
Harbour.

BREWERIES ANI) DISTILLERIES.
Mr. RAIKES CURRIE presented a petition from the
Borough of Northampton, praying that a stop might be
put to breweries and distilleries.
MEDICAL OFFICERS IN IRISH UNIONS.
An HoN. MEMBER presented a petition from the media
cal officers of Athlone, praying for increased remunera•
Lion to medical officers employed in the Unions.
CUSTOMS DUTIES.
Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN presented a petition from
KiWarr i ai= st the Cwltows MU.
. GOVERNMENT'EDUCATION SCELEM.E.
Lord MORPETH presented several petitions from
Baptist and Independent congregations, and from the

inhabitants of several places in Yorkshire against the
Government Education Scheme.
CORPORAL PUNISHMENT.

Dr. BOWRING wished to read a paper from Hong-
Kong, dated the 13th of January, which stated that the
system of corporal punishment on board ship had, they
were happy to state, been done away with, and that no
punishment would now take place without a trial, in
consequence of the discussion which had taken place in
the House of Commons. He wished to know whether
the Government had received any official assurance of
what was thus stated.
Mr. B. HAWES said that no official confirmation
had been received by the Government ; but he conld, at
the same time, say that he had great reason to believe
that there would shortly be a great amelioration of the
system of punishment in the commercial marine within
a brief period.