The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-10 00:00:00

Oltening 2411t4

LONDON. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1847.

The Lcrds met at Five.

A short, but somewhat sharp conversation took place
between the Earl of LUCAN, Lord BROUGHAM, and the
Marquis of LONDONDERRY, on the subject of the attack
made by Lord BROUGHAM on a former evening on the
Irish landlords, which ended by Lord BROUGHAM moving
fur returns of the names of the plaintiffs and defendants
in all processes for rent due in November, 1846, which
were brought on for trial on the 11th January last, at
Ballina, in the county of Mayo.
The motion was agreed to, and their Lordships ad-
journed.
The Commons met at Four o'clock.

Mr. SIIARMAN CRAWFORD gave notice that on the 23d
of March he should move for leave to bring in a Bill to
repeal the Act making Parliament septennial.
Mr. EWART moved for leave to bring in a Bill to
abolish the punishment of death.

Dr. BOWRING seconded the motion.
A debate ensued, in the course of which the House
was addressed by Sir G. GREY, Mr. HUME, Sir 11. IN-
GLIS and Mr. BROTHERTON, when the House divided
the numbers being—

For the motion 4l
Against it
Majority —4o
Mr. MILNER GIBSON obtained leave to bring in a Bill
for the collection of agricultural statistics.
The other orders being disposed of, the House ad-
journed at a Quarter to Eight o'clock.

Winter has so far elapsed without the settlement
of the intestine differences of Portugal. What is to
be the ultimate condition of that portion of the Pe-
ninsula—whether it is to receive a liberal constitution,
under the sovereignty of Dom MiGuEr., or to be or-
ganized as a republic, or to be tranquillised by the
military supporters of MARIA DA GLORlA—still re-
mains very questionable. Nor are the leaders of
either of the belligerent parties taking any very
active measures for the termination of this important
and disastrous quarrel. One delay after another
occurs, originating at one moment in the Royalist
Cabinet and at another in the Junta of Oporto, until
the war is protracted to an almost hopeless length.
So much ingenuity is lavished upon this procrasti-
nation that there would absolutely seem to be a ge-
neral anxiety to extend the embarrassments of the
nation for certain individual advantages. The suppo-
sition is most irresistible; but from the enormity
of the turpitude which it would imply we are loath
to place any serious weight upon those first
impressions. We would prefer pinning our belief
down to the almost incredible notion that these delays
have arisen from the incapacity of some or all of the
antagonistic chieftains ; awl we term that notion
" almost incredible," because it would indicate a
weakness very nearly amounting to imbecility in
those leaders. Either there is knavery in the cha-
racter of SALDANIIA, or he is showing himself alto
gether incompetent to undertake the championship of
an inexperienced SOVEREIGN. His conduct is not
explicable on any other consideration. The policy of
DAs ANTAS is immeasurably more rational ; there is
a certain compactnesss and unity in the course pur-
sued by that insurgent commander which we can
comprehend and appreciate. There is a progression
and an accumulative energy in his movements
which promise excellently for his success, and,
aided by popular enthusiasms, there is little
doubt but that his weapons of offence and defence
must prove most formidable, and possibly most de •
structive to his less able or less ingenuous opponent.
'While Marshal SALDANIIA is dallying with time
in the seclusion of Oliviera de Azemcis and of
Vendas Novas, it w, uld appear that his active
antagonists in Oporto are mustering all the forces of
the aroused population and of the Miguelites upon
one centre end under one guidance. By this means
a superior army to that of SALDANHA, both in nu-
merical power and general discipline, will be opposed
to the embarrassed and conflicting councils of the
royalists. The result of this proportion, if not re-
versed by some extraneous and unforeseen circum-
stances, must inevitably lead to the triumph of the
people over the QUEEN ; and this consequence, we
maintain, will, in the event of its coming to pass, be
attributable, first, to the overwhelming hostility of
the revolted populace; and, secondly, to the dilatory
system adopted by the Duke DE SALDANIIA.
Whatever may be the upshot of the pending struggle,
it will be unparalleled in the records of Peninsular
revolutions, seeing that the hostile armies were per-
mitted to fight it out together without the ped-
dling or ambitious intervention of foreign soldiers.
This we cannot but regard as an indication :of the
progress made in the popular ideas regarding the
necessity of alliance in battle. It is a significant sign
of the disinclination of modern Governments to rush
into every quarrel and complicate thereby still further
the complications of the parties originally en-
gaged. " Red battle stamps his foot," but
nations now-a-days do not " feel the shock"
further than by sympathy. But a few years since,
and Europe would have been plunged into war for
lesser crimes than the purloining of an Infanta, or the
occupation of Cracow. Aided by experience, and
improved judgment, and a widened humanity, we
are less disposed to partake in the miseries of
every pugnacious principality. We are acquiring
the practical philosophy of contenting ourselves with
the ills imposed upon us by PROVIDENCE, and of sedu-
lously avoiding any unnecessary participation in the
sufferings peculiar to others. In this it is impossible
to deny that there is considerable wisdom and no
very inconsiderable benevolence; for while we are
relieving ourselves from the woes consequent upon
an engagement in foreign conflicts, we are manifestly
abstaining from a proceeding which is calculated so
much to lengthen the existence and multiply the evils
of the strife. Hence we are disposed to regard with
peculiar satisfaction the neutral behaviour of the
Russell Administration, from the very first outbreak
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