The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-28 00:00:00

MORNING EDITION

IMPERIAL. PARLIAMENT.
HOUSE OF LORDS, APRIL 27.
The LOhll CHANCELLOR t.O c his scat on the Woolsack
It4ve o'clock.
A rne''...ge from the Commons brought up several
Privl:ie

STATE OF IRELAND.
gay Marquis of WE STME ATH said, that he had this
y read, in the usual (thane's of public information, what
i'ss stated to be a letter from the Noble Marquis at the
471 of tht Home Department. But he could not belii.ve
tile be genuine until he heard the Noble Marquis himself
May So. In that letter (if genuine) the Noble Marquis had
styled a Roman Catholic priest the Catholic Rector" of
a Parish within the dominions of the Protestant Sovereign
of these realms, contrary to the constitution and the re-
cent laws of the land.
The Marquis of NORNIA NB? said that he had
!co the publication to which the Noble Marquis
illoosite referred. He had written a letter, to the
bcaret reported, to the Earl of Ross, but in that letter he
ed interldisd to speak of a Roman Catholic priest, and if
N1..4, eel the words " Catholic rector," objected to by the
(,`'cle Marquis, he did so only through a mistake.—
% Hear, hear," and a laugh.) He was not aware
that he had done so. Indeed, he believed he
had not. But he could only say that if he did,
it Was through a mistake, for which he was very
elorry--( Hear.) He would take that opportunity of
'aaing an explanation as to what had fallen on a former
eight from the Noble Earl opposite, who was connected
trith the king's County. He (the Marquis of Normanby)
aad Stated that Mr. Biddulph had approved of the panel
`bosen for the Jury to try the persons accused of an
attempt to murder him. Now he (the Noble Mar-
quis) would read the statements of the gentle-
r,l,l,art from whom he had derived his information.
nlhe Noble Marquis then read a letter from the Solic!tor-
kseneral of Ireland, affirming that the statement relating
to Mr. Biddulph was ent'rely correct, not only to his own
recollection, but to that of all the Counsel engaged in the
cause. The Learned Gentleman enclosed letters con-
armatory of his statement from those Counsel and others,
to the number of five, named Messrs. Berrick, Black,
Oak, and Corharis. They stated that Mr. Biddulph did
actually approve of the Jury sworn at Tullamore, and in
suchexpress terms as to say there were only two men upon
.
Jury whom he would wish not to be on it ; yet he was
satisfied if a case was made out before them they would find
liast verdict--his only objection to teem was that they were
10Ittit politicians. After he had read these letters, he
did not think it was necessary for him to say one word
"ore
in defence of the Law Officers of the Crown. He
*ould only remind their Lordships that all these ineon-
l'eniences and waste of time arose out of a motion relative
lopreceejings in a Court of Justice yet pending.
Earl CHARLE VILLE complained of the want
of courtesy on the Fart of the Noble Marquis
(Normanby) in not having given him notice of
his intention to brieg forward the case, however, unpre-
pared as he was, he trusted their Lordships would allow
him to defend himself as best he could. All they wanted
R" to have the same privileges as the next of kin had in
this country, viz., to prosecute the murderers of their rela.
ti'm• He bad not brought forward the matter oe the single
case of Mr. Biddulph, but upon general principles, and he
illustrated his siew by that case, but he had taken care not to
'tPress any opinion of the conduct of the Jury in that case.
The Noble Marvis had not been able to contradict bis
Itatement on a former evening, that three Ribbonmen,
each of them holding a high office in that illegal body,
Isere upon that panel. Mr. Biddulph was ignorant of the
abaracter of those men; so perhaps was every Magistrate
Of the county, himself( Lord Charleville), from whom
the Government might have had the information if they
bad
received what was offered to them. These men were
members of the Committee of Ribbonmen, and
:l,`lcY might h-vc been the persons who issued
the order to murder Mr. Biddulph. The Noble
Lord then read a letter from that gentleman to himself,
ucpugeing the general accuracy of Lord Normanby's
Statements„, in this House in reply to the Noble Earl.
The Noble Earl said that he had yesterday received
letter from the County of Limerick, which would
'bow their Lordships the peaceful state of that county.
The letter stated that a murder bad just been corn-
ranted, and that there had been within a few days two
"acks upon the police, whose lives were endangered
by the violence of the mob who assailed them. He thought
it was no more than what was due to the Lord Lieutenant
°f Ireland to state, that he had received a letter from his
~,
veseellenev, assuring him that in the whole of the corre-
'Ponclence which had passed between them he would find
ice letter marked " private" or " confidential," and that if
'it, (the Lord Lieutenant) had receivel such a letter no-
Icing could have induced him to make public reference to it.
The Earl of WICKLOW wished to bring the House
back to the question, which was the exculpation of the
law-officers
of the Crown. After the levers which had been
read, he felt bound to say the Noble Marquis (Normanby)
t'as fully justified in the statements with respect to the
ease of Mr. Biddulph, with which he had favoured the
House.

The Marquis of NORMANBY defended himself from
the charge of a want of courtesy, for he had that morning
written to the Noble Earl giving him notice of his
intention to make the statement.—(Cries of " Hear,
hear.") He would not follow the Noble Lord
'brout.th the various topics introduced by him in his
speech, hut be appeared to be %sell prepared
With every document necessary for this long
!Peech. He would only say that he could not acquiesce
14 the Etitcmerit, that there were three Ribbon-
,..tll on the Jury in Mr. Biddulp'a's case. He
'Complainedt of the publication of the letter to
Lord Rosse, but it was moved for and ordered to be pro-
duced on a motion made at the request of the Noble Earl
himself.

Earl CHARLEVILLE said what Lord Rosso
er,m pl ai fled of was that the Government had not
communicated with him when his letter war ordered to
he returned to that Howe. With respect to the note of
The Noble NlarquiF, it gave him no information—" Read,
read," from the Marquis of Normanby)—it was very
short. —" The Marquis of Normanby presents his compb-
clents to Earl Charleville, and begs to inform him that
he intends to make a statement at the sitting of the
luse, which Lord Charleville would probably like to
present at." Now had it been " that he would like
ro hear," he would have thought it was some announcement
'4 consequence of what had taken place in another place.
( Loud lauglirer.)
The Marquis of WESTMEATH thought the letters
read by the Noble Marquis fully bore out the statement of
Mr. Biddulph.
WEST INDIA PACKET STATIONS.

The Earl of FA le NI OUT H presented several peti
timer from places in Cornwall, complaining of the remove
13f the West India packet from Falmouth to Dartmouth,
The Noble Earl spoke at some length in fa-
'four of Falmouth as a packet station. There was
dot in reality the saving of time that had been
'opposed in the alteration of the lines; for it had not been
taken into account in the repert of the Commissioners of
e Admiralty that there were sixteen miles between
Uartreouth asd Exeter, which usually occupied an hour
and a half in traversing. The Commissioners alleged
they had other reasons for the change, but they refrained
from stating them. He wished these reasons should be
Made public. He was persuaded that they would not be
found sufficient to justify a removal of the packet station
from a pert at which it had been established for upwards
°f two hundred years, to a port which had never before
been thought of. He had no personal intetest in the mat-
ter, as h; had no property within eight or tea mile, of
Falmouth, but he wished to consult the public benefit ; he
.Yished for a fair inquiry into the merits of the whole sub-
Ject. The case was of the utmost importance to the corn-
Mereial interest at lerge. The Noble Eerl then pre-
letted a petition from Truro, praying for an inquiry into
tilt reasons for removing the mail-packet from Falmouth.
Viscount MELBOURNE said that on the mere pre.
lentation of a petition he believed it would bo unneces-
';'ry for him to enter into any lengthened observations on
the subject introduced by the Noble Earl opposite. No
4tubt considerabl.2 interest was felt on the matter in Dc-
Zen; but after the inquiries of a competent Commissioner,
be thought it was the duty of the Government to abide
°Y their decision. Three gentlemen had been appointed
to make a report on the subject, and the Admiralty had
merely acted on their recommendation. It should also be
remembered that the packets of the Company were es-
tablished at Southampton ; and all that the Government did
was to order that the mails should be taken in at Dartmouth.
The Noble Earl had found fault with the Commissioners
because they had not reported on the several ports which
they had examine] ; but he (Lord Melbourne) was of
()pinion they had fully discharged the duty imposed on
them by reporting the statics they had thought proper to
recommend. But, even though Dartmouth were not the
beat port, he thought their Lordships would not be pre-
Pared to sanctior any alteration in an arrangement which
dad been come to offer due inquiry.
The Earl of MINTO observed that the arrangement
would not effect the packets stationed at Falmouth, which
would be continued there ; it merely effected an. alteration
1,1 the place at which the moils should be taken in.
Lord ASHBURTON expressed an opinion that
Southampton was, on the whole, the most advantageous
•stat ion.
Viscount MELVILLE was surprised that Dartmouth
had been selected ; he thought it would have been easy to
find some more advantageous station.
The Earl of FALMOUTH, after a few words in ex-
Dlanation, moved for a copy of the Report of the Com-
missioners appointed toinquire into the port to be selected
for the departure and arrival of the West India mails, and
at copy of the papers referred to in the Report.—Agreed to.
On the motion of the Marquis of NORMA NB Y the fur-
ther consideration of the Borough Improvements Bill, and
the Drainage Bill. was postponed till Friday.
The Eastern Counties Railway Bill was read a third
time.
Their Lordships then adjourned.

ROUSE OF COMMONS, Apnrz 27.

The SPEAKER took the Chair at the usual beur.,
Tlie Slough and Colnbrook Road Bill, the Accrington
'Gas Bill, and the Birkenhead Gas Bills, were read a third
time and passed.
Mr. TANCRED presented numerous petitions from
Congregations of Dissenters, praying for the abolition of
Church Rates.

_ .
Mr. R. HILL presented several petitions, praying for
Church Extension.
Colonel CONOLLY presented a petition from the
Grand Jury of Donegal against the Government Regis-
tration Bill, and in favour of that introduced by Lord
Statiley. Also six petitions from Presbyterian Congre-
gations in the north of Ireland, praying for the abolition of
lay patronage in the Church of z.icotland.
The O'CONNOR DON presented a petition from Rog-
' cotillion against Lord Stanley's Bill, and in favour of the
Government Registration Bill.
Mr. Sergeant JACKSON presented a petition from
Bandon against the repeal of the Corn-'aws ; also two
petitions zgainst lay patronage in the Claurcli of Scot-
land and one praying that the power of the Poor-law
-onarnissiovers might be abolished ; and one in favour of
Ford Stanle):s Bill,

TURNPIKE ACTS.
Mr. JARVIS brought in a Bill to amend the Gmerai

Turnpike Acts, which was read a first time.
CORN-LAWS.
Mr. COMPTON presented several petitions in favour
of the existing system of Corn-law=, but the designations of
the petitioners were not heard in the gallery.
Mr. V. A ST 1-1 OPE presented petitions against Church-
rates from numerous congregations of Dissenters in Essex,
Staffordshire, Leicestershire, Sussex, and other parts of

England.
Lord ELIOT presented petitions from places in Corn-
wall, against the removal of the packet station from Fal-

mouth to Dartmouth.
Mr. G. PALMER presented a petition from Lambeth,
against any change of the existing Corn-laws.
Several petitions against Church-rates and Corn-laws,
were then presented.
Sir R. BA TESON presented petitions from places in
the North of Ireland, against lay patrotaig? in the Church
of Scotland.
Mr PROTHE ROE presented a petition from Halifax
agairat Church-rates; also a petition from the same place
against a repeul of the legislative Union of Great Britain
and lieland ; and a petition from Rotherhithe, in the county
of Surrey, praying for a repeal of the Corn-laws.
Mr. I'. PARKER presented a petition from Preston,
praying for a repeal of the duties upon sugar, tea, and
coffee, and of the Core_laws.
Mr. M LINTZ presented pwitions from Birmiagham
against Church-rates, Ecclesiastical Courts, and Corn-

la a•s.
Sir DE LACY EVANS presented a petition from an
individual, chose name we did not hear, complaining of

abuses in the Court of Chancery.
Mr. BUCK presented a petition from a place in Devon
in favour cf Church Extension.
Mr. T. D UNCOMBE presented a petition from a
Polish refugee, praying for a better distribution of the
prop( rty allowed for the support of the Polish emigrants ;
also a petition from Mr. Vincent, who bad been for
twenty months a political prisoner, stating that the
country took no interest in the proceedings of Parliament,
against the Bills of Lord Stanley and Lord Morpt th, and
praying for Annual Parliaments, Universal Suffrage, a
division of the country into electoral districts, and Vote
by Ballot, as the proper remedies for the grievances of the

people.
Sir R. H. INGLIS presented a petition against Sun-
day traffic on railways; also 32 petitions in favour of
Church Extension from places in Devon, Stiffurd, Rut-
land, Gloucester, Southampton, Bucks, Lancaster, War-

Essex, Lincoln. and 'other counties.
KING'S COUNTY ELECTION.
The following Members were sworn at the table, to try
the mtrits of the petition against the return of Mr. Arm-
strong for the King's County.—The Hon. E. Yorke, Mr.
Hawkins, Mr. Gibson Craig, Mr. Bethell, Poise,

Mr. W. Pattcn, and Mr. E. Palmer.
Mr. BA RNEBY presented several petitions from Wor-
cestershire in favour of Church Extension.
Mr. HAMILTON presented a petition from Buck-
inghamshire to the tame effect.
Mr. C. LUSHINGTON presented a petition from
certain eminent members of the Society of Friends
against Church-rates ; also a petition from the County of
Devon for the release of Mr. Baines, and against the ap-
plication of any public money to the purpose of Church

extension.
Air. C. WOOD presented a petition, signed by 6,300
inhabitants of the borough of Halifax, in favour of a re-

vision of the import duties.
Mr. EASTHOPE gave notice that he would on the
11th of May move for leave to bring in a Bill for the Abe-

lition of Church-rates.
Mr. MACLEAN wished to ask the Under Secretary
for the Home Department, whether any Report had been
as yet received from the Select Committee on the
Anatomy Act.
Mr. FOX MAULE said that be had not yet received
the Report, abhough he had applied for it.
Mr. MA CL EA N gave not:ce that he would on this day
week move for cerialt returns rtloting to the operation of
the Act, if no further information should be previously laid
before the House.