The Sun.
London, England, 1847-07-09 00:00:00

REMARKABLE HAIL STORM IN in defence of their country, and should be proportionably
SYDNEY. rewarded. In conclusion, he must express his gratifica-
tion at the statement of the Government.—(H-ar, heart)
The Duke of RICHMOND said th.lt, although he (Id'
ft-red so much from the Noble Lord, y, the was glad
upon this occasion that he could coincide with him.
Whence arose all these diffieulties, it w.rts because tormer
Governments did not do their duty. He considered that
those veterans wbo had served in Egypt ought to have
been included, and they ought not to consider that the
army would be satisfied at being passed over. He hoped
the Government would do a further act of justice, and
include them in any consideration which they gave to
the question.--(hear, hear.)
The Earl of MALMESBURY thanked the Govern..
ment for the act of justice which they were about to
perform, which wculd have a highly beneficial influence
on both services.
Earl GREY reminded the House that the value of
these medals was enhanced by the great reserve and
caution with which they were di‘tributed, and theY
were never given but for distinguished services. .11°
greatly feared that if they departed from the principle
which had hitherto guided them that they would do S
vast injury to the country. A serious question arose as
to whether greater inconvenience did nut arise froraso
attempt to alter former decisions, than by permitting
them to rest as they were.
The Duke of RICHMOND explained his allusion to
the services of the veterans of Egypt ; he did not thiolt
he would have been acting justly towards those gallant
men if he did not mention the hardships to which the,'
had been subjected.
Lord ELLEN BOROUGH said that, looking fairly (11
the services of officers who were subjected to very hara
service, feeling poignantly some other officers being dr
corated for some particular service in which they had the
good fortune to be engaged on some one particular occa-
e
sion, he considered a positive injury would be done to th
service if rewards for personal bravery were not give°
where they were deserved.
After a few words from the Earl of STRAFFORD,
'be motion was withdrawn.
CLERGY OFFENCES BILL.

A correspondent of the tldney (New South Wales)
Morning Herald, gives the following account of a
thunder-storm which visited that district on the 4th of
February last, and prov, d one of the most remarkable
ever witnessed in thatcolony:—
" There was nothing in the appearance of the weather
(says the narrative) to indicate such a visitation, the
day having been fine and warm, but the thermometer
did not rise higher than 80 deg., with a clear sky and
light breeze. Soon after five P.i., some remarkable
clouds appeared in the south, which gradually increased
in volume and height, with a good deal of sheet and
forked lightning and distant thunder. About six o'clock
I was in a house about two miles from home, and see-
ing the appearance of the clouds, which were by this
time literally as black as ink, I got upon my horse and
started homewards at a sharp gallop. Before I was
half-way the storm burst right overhead, and I found
myself in a few seconds exposed to its terrific violence,
without the least hope of reaching a place of shelter.
The road runs along a lofty range, and being the
highest ground in the immediate vicinity, the wind
blew with great fury. The first hailstones which fell
were about the size of a small fist, and their appear-
ance was so very remarkable that I thought at
first that they were some substances that had fallen
from the tree nearest me. I was soon undeceived,
and immediately drew my horse across a large
tree close to the road, and endeavoured to shelter
my body as well as I could. The storm now raged
with awful fury, and the hail fell so thick, and of
such an extraordinary size, that the ground was covered
in a few minutes. Having a straw hat on, I tried
to save my head with one hand; but, in doing I
so, my arms suffered dreadfully from the hail-
stones, and one in particular, which struck me midway
between the elbow and the wrist, was so heavy that I
thought my arm was broken. This hailstone fell at my
horse's feet, and I am quite certain (judging from others
which I saw weighed and measured afterwards) that the
size was nearly that of an ordinary breakfast cup, while
the weight could not be less than from six to eight ounces.
Owing to the horse being exposed both in his head and
hind quarters, I soon found him become unmanageable;
and although I was in the atmoat dread that my brains
or eyes would be knocked out from the extreme violence
of the blows, I was compelled to give my horse the rein,
and he galloped back to the place I had left, instinct
teaching the animal to turn his tail to the storm.
" The tempest was now at its height, and the roaring
of the wind, the noise of the 'hailstones amongst the
trees, and the air darkened with falling leaves and
branches, formed the most fearful scene I ever witnessed.
The horse, maddened with the hailstones raining with
such violence on all parts of his body, and startled by
the falling branches, shied and plunged in such a way
that it was with very great difficulty I kept my seat, as
I had to keep one hand up to save my head, and my
arms were getting every minute more benumbed with
the blows. I reached the slip-rails in four or five
minutes, where I was detained in getting down the
rails, my fingers being nearly powerless, and got into
the clear ground; and just as I reached the house and
got into the verandah, the hail-storm passed off, and the
rain began to fall heavily. After a short stay to recover
myself, I again started for home, and on the way was
startled by a most awful vivid flash of lightning which
seemed to stream down from the heavens, making the
hailstones on the road appear for a second of time like
a mass of blue crystal. This was succeeded by a stun-
ning peal of thunder, and the rain then fell in torrents.
I got home soon afterwards, drenched to the skin, and,
on stripping, found that I had been struck in about
twenty places ; on my head were four lumps nearly as
large as marbles, and the skin was broken on several
spots where the hail had struck me. Even now (forty-
eight hours after) I am hardly able to lift my left arm
to my head, and the pain in the hands and other parts
is still considerable.
" The form of the hailstones was exceeding various,
most of them being round and others pyramidal, angu-
lar, thin, and flat, with irregular surfaces. A great
many wery very much the size and shape of a common
oval salt cellar. The weight also varied much, many
of them being solid masses of ice, while others were
opaque and light ; one which we measured was three
inches thick. At seven o'clock, after they had thawed
considerably, many measured teu inches round ; and I
was credibly informed of one that measured fourteen
inches in circumference, and another that weighed eight
ounces 1. The duration of the storm was about fifteen
minutes. and its course seemed to be from S. by W. to
N. by E."

This Bill was read a third time and passed.
MILITIA BALLOTS SUSPENSION BILL,
This Bill was read a third time and passed,
Their Lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS. July 8.
COLLIERY ACCIDENT AT KIRKLESS HALL'
NEAR WIGAN. •
Mr. FORSTER wished to ask the Secretary of State
for the Home Department whether he bad received la
information from the magistrates or coroner of the dig'
trict, tending to confirm the charges made agaidat to.
Kirkless Hall Colliery, near Wigan, in respect to the
accident at that colliery, on Tuesday the 29th ult. -
Sir G. GREY said that the Government had sent 00
officer down to make inquiries upon the spot, and en
offer had been made on the part of the Government
the coroner of any assistance that lay in their power
both in investigating the cause of the accident and Or
moving the bodies of the sufferers.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE thought that great blame O.
attribw able to the toasters and owners of this colliery'
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS. 1,1
Mr. NEWDEGATE wished to know from the nig"
Hon. the President of the Board of Trade when tb
returns would be laid upon the table of the House, which
he had moved for some time since, with respect to AV.

cultural statistics.
Mr. M. GIBSON hoped to be able to inform the J 30,13.:
Member to-morrow when the returns would be rea°l;
The Board of Trade had no control whatever over
•
preparation of the returns.
GOVERNOR OF MALTA.
In answer to a question from Mr. HORSMAN,
Mr. HAWES stated that Sir Patrick Stewart had
signed his office of Governor of Malta in consequell'',
of his having been refused leave of absence. upon A-1
former occasion Sir Patrick Stewart had had leaire "s
absence, and Government did not think it consisted

with the public service to grant it a second time.
CHARGE AGAINST MR. HUME. f
On the question that the order of the day be read
going into Committee on the Destitute Persons (Irelanw
Bill,
Mr. SPOONER said it had been his intention o_,P°:
that occasion to bring a matter under the consideraula
of the House of which he had given notice, but he :0
not feel himself justified in doing so in the absence of .10
Hon. Member for Montrose. He begged therefore to Po,
notice that upon the order of the day being read tot
morrow he should bring a subject under the attentio;
the House which would imperatively require the 13°.,,0
Gentleman the Member for Montrose to give Ow
explanation upon it.—(Cries of '• What is it ?") ,be
Mr. B. OSBORNE said the Hon. Gentleman ;
Member for Birmingham ought to state what the sub_
or charge was. He did not think it fair to b,.';"
forward a sort of shadowy charge like this, to livf.fic
the Hon. Member for Montrose could not return a sPc"—
answer.
Mr. SPOONER said he had taken care to specify its•
note to Mr. Hume what the charge was.
THE COLLIERY EXPLOSION AT WIGAS„.
Mr. HINDLEY would take that opportunity of uret;
upon the Government the necessity of instituting
inquiry into this lamentable occurrence.
Sir G. GREY said a coroner's inauest was n'ovi beil3..
held upon the bodies of the sufferers ; but should it 610.
pear, at the close of the inquiry, that any further 10,4
tigation was necessary, Government would take c'"
to institute it. ted
Mr. T. S. DUNCOMBE said that he had suggest p
tooffict
ehre 0
nilitoi hotpanroenjf Bthaeron
Governmentet t b at h e
toshwoautledh stheneao,
efor h
deaths
t o f these
t persons, that great d negthatligenceo
00
cceettudseintst9h
was not attended to.
The subject then dropped.
DESTITUTE PERSONS (IRELAND) BiLti...4
The House then resolved itself into a Committee Or

PER RACER, YROM MONTE VIDEO, MAY 7.—We are
happy to inform you the French steamer Cassini, with
t.ount Walewsky on board, arrived here yesterday, via
Bahia, where he left his colleague, Lord Howden, who
was to follow. The Cassini has proceeded to-day on to
Buenos Ayres, and it is reported the Rattler, with Lord
H., passed up during the night.
HoN. ARTILLERY COMPANY.—A strong detach-
ment of this regiment, under the command of a senior
captain, proceeded yesterday to Frith for ball practice,
when the firing at the targets was excellent. The de-
tachment passed through the City with the band playing,
it being one of their privileges, and only enjoyed with
her Majesty's 3d Buffs.
WOOLLEN MANUFACTURES:--An account was is-
sued yesterday of the quantities and declared value of
British woollen manufactures exported from the United
Kingdom in the year 1846, specifying also the countries
to which they were sent. The quantities are :—Cloths
of all sorts, 241,00 pieces; napped coatings, duffles, &c.,
3,797 ditto ; lierseymeres, 93,036 ditto ; haizes of all
sorts, 20,717 ditto; stuffs, woollen or worsted, 1,748,430
ditto; flannel, 1,853,515 yards; blankets and blanketing,
2,269,830 ditto ; carpets and carpeting, 939,791 ditto ;
woollens mixed with cotton, 21,809,646 ditto ; hosiery,
viz, stockings, woollen or worsted, 161,798 dozen pairs;
sundries, viz., rugs, coverlids, tapes, and small wares,
152,5701. The total declared value is 6,335,1021.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMEN T.
HOUSE OF LORDS, July 8.
WELLINGTON STATUE.
Lord BROUGIIAM said that on the 18th of June,
1837, a day for ever memorable in the history of the
world, as being the anniversary of the battle of Waterloo,
a number of persons feeling grateful to the Noble Duke,
and considering themselves bound to testify it, collected
money to the amount of thirteen thousand pounds, for
the purpose of making a testimonial to the illustrious
Commander. What that testimonial should be was left
open for discussion, and when the committee went to his
late Majesty William IV.,annl represented that there was
no precedent for erecting a memorial to a private indi-
vidual upon the palace property, he answered that they
should make one ; and her present Majesty, under the
advice of Lord Melbourne, confirmed that decision, end
was graciously pleased to authorise the erection of the
statue upon the very arch which it now adorned. It
was on the distinct and express statement that the
statue should be placed upon the arch that the
committee again appealed to the public, and
12 0001. more was subscribed ; and if it was removed
there would be a direct breach of contract and faith with
the public. He understood that the more persons of
taste examined its situation, the more they were im-
pressed with the feeling that it was well placed in point
of beauty and effect. His opinion on a mater of taste
was valueless, and although he considered that the horse
was not like one of the Elgin marbles, and was
too real in its position, and not sufficiently ideal,
yet he considered that the statue ought to remain where
it was. And he was the more impressed with this
opinion, when he was aware that it would give great and
deep offence to the Noble Duke to remove it. The Noble
Lord then went on to observe how justly such a compli-
ment was due, and observed that the statue was not the
property of the Government but of the subscribers ;
and concluded by saying,
"And now, remove it if you
dare."—(Cheers.)
Lord LANSDOWNE--Am I to understand that the
Noble Lord makes a motion?
Lord BROUGHAM—Yes; I move for all the papers
and correspondence connected with the Wellington
statue.
Lord LANSDOWNE said that he had reason to com-
plain of the line of conduct adopted by. the Noble and
Learned Lord. lie had not given notice of his motion,
and while he agreed to the motion, he could not but take
an opportunity of entering his protest against such a
course.
REWARD TO NAVAL OFFICERS.
The Earl of HARDWICKE moved that an humble
address be presented tes her Majesty, praying her Ma-
jesty to be graciously pleased to direct that the order of
the Admiralty, dated the Ist of June (directed to all
persons serving on board any ships of war, engaged with
the enemy, between the year 1793 and 1815, the captain
of which ship shall have received a medal for any action
during that period), be directed to all persons serving
on board any ship of war -engaged with the enemy be-
tween the years 1793 and 1846, the captain of which
ship shall have received a medal ; or where the fleet, or
squadron, or ship shall have received the thanks of both
Houses of Parliament ; or where the Commander•in-
Chief shall have been created a Peer, or received a step
in the peerage, for any action with the enemy during
that period. He would not detain their Lordships by
any arguments, because he rested his case on simple
facts. In the order of the Admiralty, on the Ist of
Ikune, the medals are limited solely to those who have
been previously decorated. The only reason why such
a rule was insisted on, was, because it Was done in the
army. It was the misfortune of the navy to be governed
by political men, each succeeding Government intro-
duced a change into the composition of the Board of
the Admiralty, while the army was governed
by a chief, who was essentially non-political.
He would move the resolution pro forma in order to
bring it under the notice of the House, and with the
n
hope the Atdowmairradlstya great
otelatet
He
injustice of
directing
which the
had
adat
beente committediou o f
number of brave men. had not been urged on in
making this motion by any party motives.—(Hear,
hear.) Various expedients had been proposed to bring
the subject properly before the Legislature—it bud been
proposed they should petition the Queen, but the men
concerned felt indisposed to ask for honours which were
not the free gift of the Queen, and they therefore unani-
mously refused adopting such a course.
Lord AUCKLAND said that the Government were
obliged to adopt some precise rule by which they would
be enabled to guide their conduct, and it was in follow-
ing out such a course that the present motion had
its origin. He was fully alive to the claims of those
whose case had been so ably advocated, and it might be
some satisfaction for him to know that their case would
be re-considered.—(Bear, hear.)
Lord COLCHESTER said that he was delighted to
bear the statement of the Noble Lord opposite. Great
injustice had certainly been done in passing over men
who had so much distinguished themselves in 1815. He
did not see why those men had been excluded from well
earned honoum..Thoy.had elacouutored 6erious damages


•'..

the Destitute Persons (Ireland) Bill.
The CHANCELLOR of the I,'XCHEQI-Tn' ""rl5
that the vote which he was about to put into the MO/
of the Chairman was for a further grant of 300,00 T.;
secured upon the payment of rates, for the relief of far,
people of Ireland, and as he was about to propose Alit
titer grants in the course of the evening, he thoughta,
desirable that the people of this country who had °ot,
vanced their money should know how it had been alley
and that the people of Ireland should know how tc" of
had been benefited. The operations for the relief
et
Ireland commenced in the spring of 1846, and "'gst to
that time principally effected by giving eMplOYlnell
ljef
those who were in a destitute condition. That rethe
terminated in the month of August, and duringnoi,
period over which that relief extended about 734,i'ofe
were expended, about one-half being advanced as '„'", e • t
and the other half being by grant. At the c0n303"4"4-60
ment of this year the mode of administering relief
changed—for very soon after the assembling of rs'f';
ment the universal failure of the potato crop bet
known, and universal alarm and despondency was ".11 tet
throughout the country. The relief committees wee a 9
active employment all over the country, and mats
abuses crept into that mode of giving relief—Prom
the want of proper management, and partly f'the 1
a very strong and humane feeling on the part 0' 10
proprietors of Ireland. Intimidation had a good dloe
do with these abuses, and in consequence of all Lthe
causes uniting together, the number of persons upon the
public works increased to so great an extent that
Were
most active exertions on the part of the Governmeo,Let Wrelt
necessary to keep down this source of expense. In •"°e
O
of the present year, the number employed upon these P"ee
lie works was 730,000 persons. In the month of lly
the Government were compelled to order, perecePtur iii
"
the dismissal of a great number of these pefses'r
order to drive them to more necessary and tn°r,e Pfa
ductive exployment in the tillage of the groan°. ebt
May a further reduction took place—and at the Pres-
1/1 ' I
A
time no greater number than 22.000 were emploYe't 'the ,t
fact, no more than were absolutely necessary for
continuance of those works which had been beht-ef
From May the Government had fixed the ainan,"
money to be expended in this manner, at 100,00 t P 063,
month. He wished to state at once to the Hon• lil rod
bers representing Ireland, that the Government blio
emphatically declared that in no case would these Po
ilo,
works be continued beyond the termination of th,e the
tual pressure of the necessity, or at least .beyono
fed
month of August ; for the Government had anticeAe.
and, as it seemed, not altogether unjustly, that a "
mind would be made upon them for the continuance 1°)0
completion of these works. A letter had been wri!t'eo,
by his (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) direeti°,
which distinctly stated that these works were not of
menced for themselves alone, but only for the relie` of
the people, and that the moment the necessity disco;
tinued, they would cease also. The whole ar°eee
which had been expended upon these relief works s`dor
the 15th of August last year, was 4,900,0001 e °I),,
5,000,000 L, and these works were being wound li,rere
"ore
established as possible. Besides this, large depots of corn "ore
established in Ireland, some of wich had been cligithe
tinned upon the commencement of the operations o'bece
relief committees ; but as many as thirty. four had The
established in the county of Donegal this year.
to
Government, in doing this, had taken great 010
avoid any interference with the supply of corn Wi,bs
was furnished by private trade ; and, indeed, be 110
say, that no complaint of any such interferenoeweee•
ever reached the ear of the Government. In the .I.'oo
sury minute, of August 31st, it was ordered that "ere
corn depot should not be opened until the people vithe
enabled to obtain proper supplies of corn fronl hel
private trade of the country, and that, even when ricet"
were opened that the corn should be sold at such tie,
as to enable the private trader to sell without loss alpre
same. Besides these depots furnished by the G°`;:,- t;
ment, a considerable number were established by Prh;:eo
contributions, and a large supply of corn and proofs
ode
bad been sent from the United States. The third 113'coe
of relief was that of establishing relief committee
liege
the distribution of food to the people of Ireland. .":"„he
duties were to distribute food and to raise subsceiPt;ero
and he must say that this portion of their duties:,°
discharged, upon the whole, in the most latislano/,,
manner. They raised last year the sum of 101,0Zee 0
and it was impossible that the money could have wtbe
expended to greater advantage. In the present year,' to
relief committees had raised the sum of 199.0001., all
this sum was added 191,000/ by the Government seer
donation, making nearly 400,000/. expended this 101,
for the relief and sustenance of the people of Irelcl is
There were in Ireland 2,049 electoral divisions, And to
1,386 of them relief committees were appointed, an the
the greater part of these advances had been made brrY,' e 5.
Government upon the security of their rates. 'OO
operations had been conducted with 60 much sueeesl to
ho was enabled to state upon communication mad ire'
him from the best authorities, that in those parts 0; ~p•
land which had been most afflicted with famine tbl.ope
pearances of want of food had almost entirely ';srld
peered, and that the markets were well attende°l had
supplied. The mortality among the plpulatioo ;jai
greatly decreased, and under the Fever Act the operficor
of cleansing stud whit-was4ing bad been aotileli