The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-13 00:00:00

NAVIGATION LAWS.

On the motion of Mr. RICARDO that the following Mem-
bers constitute the Select Committee on the navigation laws :
—Mr. Ricardo, Mr. Alderman Thompson, Mr. Hume, Sir
Robert Peel, Mr. Milner Gibson, Mr. Hutt, Sir George
Clerk, Mr. Brownrigg, Mr. Bright, Mr. M'Carthy, Viscount
Sandon, Mr. Brown, Mr. Lyall, Mr. Mitchell, end Mr.
Thomas Baring,
Mr. WAWN begged to ask whether the Government ap-
proved of the composition of this Committee on the subject of
the navigation laws?
Lord J. RUSSELL, who was quite inaudible in the gal-
lery, was understood to say that, on seeing the names of the
Committee, he was not aware that there was anything objec-
tionable in its composition.
Major BERESFORD thought that on a !subject of such
importance they should have appointed a fair, just, and honest
Committee— a Committee whose report would gain the con-
fidence of the House of Commons. But he observed, that on
that Committee, although there were several free-trade
Members, there were only three protectionists to contend for
the principles of the laws under consideration.
Mr. HUTT thought the Hon. Member who had just sat
down must be mistaken. It was not necessary that a free
trader should be opposed to the Navigation Laws.—(Hear,
hear.) He could point to the Hon. 'limber beside him.—
(Laughter, and hear, hear.) That Hon. Gentleman had asked
for free trade, but he was yet a staunch supporter of the Navi-
gaticn Laws.—( Renewed laughter. )
Lord GEO. BENTINCK could assure the Hon. Member
that nothing was meant more than the Committee to give a
fair consideration of the shipping interest. It appeared that
out of fifteen members named in the Bill eleven voted the
other night for an inquiry upon the navigation laws, and he
would assure his Hon. Friend that the shipping interest, from
one end of England to another, thought that the inquiry ought
to be conducted on a principle conducive to their interests.
Lord J. RUSSELL said that there was something in what
his Hon. Friend had stated in the Committee. There were
certainly four in favour of the navigation laws, whatever might
be the opinion of the Committee.—(Loud laughter). There
reyNstoebmle of
Lord,the
were four who were of opinion that they ought to be entirely
repealed, and seven who would give their opinion in neither'
one way or the other, but retained a medium course.
F E
ofR At
that House.
objected
According
the
to present system s
p
Committees Mr.
there were a certain number prepared to vote against the navi-
gation laws and a certain number in favour of them. He also
objected to many Hon. Members who did not give their
opinions fairly, according to their profession. He had heard
much of his side of the House; he should like to know what
that term meant ; for there were many Members on his side
of the House which kept up a show of opposition across the
table, but voted with the Government on every important ques-
tion. To say that they would give a Committee composed
of a certain number of his own side was plainly to say
that they would give them a Committee in which they should
have fifty Members of their own opinions, although sitting on
this side of the House.
Mr. RICARDO thought that the opposition of the Hon.
Member was not fair. He would be ready to give eight
Members from his side of the House to seven of the other.—
(Loud laughter.) He did not understand what Hon. Members
laughed at. He was not aware that any set of gentlemen
bad assumed the power to direct a Committee.
The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER said,
that as Hon. Members on the other side of the House were dis-
satisfied with the constitution of the proposed Committee, it
would be better to postpone its appointment till Monday. By
that time he hoped some arrangement would be come to.
The motion was then withdrawn.
Sir CHARLES NAPIER moved for a copy of the order
given by the Admiralty to officers to submit to the com-
mander-in-chief at the ports, for his approval, crimes that re-
quire corporal punishment.
Mr. WARD had no objection to the production of the
circular order ; and the motion was accordingly agreed to.
COMPENSATION TO IRISH TENANTS.
Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD brought up his Bill for
securing Compensation to Tenants in Ireland, which was read
a first time.

EJECTMENTS IN SLIGO.
Lord CLEMENTS gave notice that, as the Right Hon.
Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer had left his
place, he would, on Monday, ask him on what authority
he had made the statement which he had done that night in his
speech as to the ejectment of tenants by landed proprietors, at
Sligo?
The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the
House adjourned at Half-past Twelve o'clock.

Viscount Melbourne entertained Viscount and
Viscountess Palmerston and a select party to dinner on Wed-
nesday, at his Lordship's residence in South-street.
NOVEL Hoax.—A curious hoax was played off
on Mr. George Davies, of Oldbury, near Bridgnorth, last
week, by some kind neighbours spreading a report that, in
consequence of the severity of the weather, he had given
leave to the poor people of the town to gather turnips from
one of his fields near the church. The consequence of this was
that a fine field of about eight acres of capital swede turnips
oyn.inGforrmeated
clearedto.np
particularly
itehuel
acrrloyp tshoatasthemoawnnyerpawrtaises apprisedw h o
haodf what was densely thronged by parties availing themselves of the
opportunity, and it was not till full two acres had been
was
him
ihmis
thatastonishment,ah.
F and Fletcher,
h ears,
agrbeaakt leiri,sovfexthae-
gthoelnregben e t iwt was
going
New Town,
had told them of the matter. Upon that person
being applied to he said he had heard the report the same as
others bad, and had only mentioned it again. Mr. Davies
caused two women to be apprehended, and taken ken before the
magistrates, at their meeting on Saturday, when the case
was heard ; and as the proceeding bore no felonious
intents
the parties, Sarah Adams and Jane Hurst, were
tined in the sum of 6d. each, and discharged, withwithas severally
in future always to ask leave of the owner previous to again°n
going out on such a Quixotic expedition.— Worcestershire
Chronicle.
DEATH IN THU STREET.—Yesterday, Mr. G. I.
Mills held an inquest at the Churchill Arms, Kensington, on
the body of Elizabeth Jeffreys, aged fifty-two years, who
was found on Sunday night, opposite the residence of the
Princess Sophia, apparently in a dying state. It ap-
peared that the deceased was a widow, carrying on the busi-
ness of a laundress, at No. 13, Camden-street, Kensington
Gravel-pits. About nine months ago she broke a blood-
vessel,' from the effects of which she was believed to have
recovered. On Sunday last she left home at eleven o'clock
in the forenoon, to go and see her married daughter at Wool-
with. She left there late in the evening, and came from
town in an omnibus to Kensington Church, and was seen
about twenty minutes to twelve o'clock at night sitting in
Church-lane, opposite the Princess Sophia's residence, on
the kerb-ston •. She appeared very ill, and complained of
• in her chest. She was promptly conveyed home by the
pain r but deceased had
police, and Mr. Cobb, surgeon, was sent fo ,
mein that death had
expired. Mr. Cobb gave it as his opi
been caused by the rupture of a vessel on the lungs, from
natural causes. The jury returned a verdict to that effect.
CITY or LONDON GENERAL PENSION SOCIETY.--
The Duke of Cambridge has honoured Mr. H. F. Richardson
with his commands that the festival of this charity should
take place on the 31st May, when his Royal Highness will
preside. The illustrious Prince has before presided. Up-
wards of seventy merchants and others have already joined
the stewardship, and by the period of the announcement of
the list, it is anticipated it will be the largest of the season.
Lord Ashburton is president this year, and 110 vice-presi-
dents adorn the publications issued by the society.