The Sun.
London, England, 1847-07-06 00:00:00

UL Y 6, 1847.

THE SCARCITY and HIGH PRICES
OF MUTTON.
'From a Wiltshire Correspondent of the Sherborne

Journal.)
Under the present circumstances, without taking into
consideration the possibility of some additional causes,
acting in conjunction with that now existing, there is no
prospect either of an increase of supply to meet the
fearfully rapid increase of the population of this country,
or a reduction of prices, on the other hand, the main at-
tributable cause is more and more evident—almost in
every market, and at least every fair an augmentation of
prices ensues The writer has directed his attention to
this subject, for a considerable period, and finds that
among the farmers there is now a prevailing custom to
have what is called, " a dry sheep farm," that is, to
graze (Tegs principally) on artificial food—say oil cake
for instance, and this for two reasons—the chief of which
is, that sheep fed on oil-cake produces manure of a very
strong character—the effect of which may, for several
seasons, be traced to the very inch. The other reason
is, that the land can be otherwise employed when not re-
quired for grazing purposes. Now, saying nothing of
the other causes of scarcity, which may also be partly
traced to disease—there is than a prevailing custom
in lull nine parishes out of ten, which will, if it
cannot be prevented, have a most injurious tendency
on the community at large. In order to keep prices
at a standard, so as to place this nutritious food
witnin the reach of all classes, the number pro-
duced should increase in proportion more rapidly than
the population, because provision should be made for a
drawback produced by the havoc of disease. It must
here be remembered that artificial food which produces
this exci llent manure, cannot be used for fattening pur-
poses. The writer has made diligent inquiry in many
parishes in Wiltshire, a county proverbially excellent for
its grazing downs, and finds the result to be, that the
number of lambs bred in 67 parishes the last three years
has been 34 per cent, less than in 1844 and thi,
while the population of the country has been increasing
at more than 400,000 daily. This prevailing custom in
Wiltshire extends to the neighbouring counties, and it is
to be feared is national.

MURDER OF A POLICEMAN.--BATH, SATURDAY
EVENING.—At the Police-court at Chandos House, yes
terday, two men, named Maurice Perry and Samuel
Crawley, were committed by the county magistrates for
the wilful murder of one of the Bathampton police,
under circumstances of great brutality. On Monday
last, early in the evening, two navigators employed in
the neighbourhood on the Wilts snd Somerset Railway,
quarrelled at Bathampton, and failing to settle it by
words, adjourned to an adjoining field to fight it our,
the prisoners and two others acting as seconds. An
organised ring was formed, and a large mob collected,
when, after a few rounds, John Bailey (the deceased),
a constable, and another officer, forced their way be-
tween the combatants and desired them to desist fighting.
The prisoners immediately pushed them back, and so
EGYPTIAN HALL.—The girls___--_-____ of the Royal Calede- held them, the men still fighting. The constables again
nian Asylum, and the boys with the bagpipes, arrow- attempted to interfere, when they were instantly knocked
panied by Mr. Burnie, the secretary, and Mr. Mc Donald, down, the prisoners kicking them unmercifully about
the master, visited the Egyptian Hall, yesterday, to see the head and body, from the violent force of which
the pigmies of South Africa. The Bush people be- Bailey almost immediately died. Several witnesses
tokened much surprise at the sound emitted by the bag- clearly identified the prisoners as the parties who corn-
pipes ; the boys were brought to the platform, they witted the outrage. The deceased told them on entering
danced the Scotch reel and a Highland fling; with the the ring that he was a police-officer, and stated that it
latter the Bosjesmans were greatly pleased, especially
was his duty to suppress any disturbance. The pri-
when the little Scotchmen danced on one leg. Atter soners, who made no defence, were conveyed to the
remaining for half an hour the
girls departed, and by county gaol, on the capital charge, A verdict of " Wit-
the kind permission of Mr. Edwin Smith were allowed ful Murder" had been returned at the Coroner's inquest,
to inspect the model of Jerusalem in the opposite room, which was held on Friday. The deceased constable has
with which they were much gratified. This is as it left a widow and family to deplore his loss.
should be, these gratuitous exhibitions to our national IMPORTATION OF BREAD STUFFS AND PROYl-
schools reflect considerable honour on the spirited pro- norm—The following is a statement of the arrivals of
prietors. bread stuffs and provisions in the port of London, on
SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE. the 2d inst.:—From Harnbureh-5 bales and 1 cask of
—At the last general meeting of this society the bishops bacon, 1 cask meat, 5 casks of hams, and 81 casks clover
of Cape Town, Adelaide, and Newcastle were present, seed. Riga-87i lasts and 2,879 qrs. of oats, 750 q
and acknowledged the rants recently made by the barley, and 250 qrs wheat. Dantzic-5,065 vasn. whe-art3,
Board towards promoting Christian knowledge in their 504 barrels, 34 tieKre,ems,igashbdur2ge_arsoflrpio.2rko9.astsH,
bi2oovig.rr—s.
several dioceses. The whole sues lately voted by the 420 qrs. wheat.
society in behalf of its objects in these dioceses, and that wheat. Cronstadt-2300 qrs. wheat
of Melbourne, amounts to 10.0001; previously to this meal, and 340 qm peas. Stett' ' 9 agi
rye
Stettin--688 qrs. wheat.
the society contributed 10,0001. towards the Colonial malta_9l2 qrs. wheat. Samsoon-650 qrs. wheat,
Bishops' Fund, The issue of books and tracts during 1,600 qrs. Inds n corn.
the year was stated to be nearly 4,000,000. MANCHESTER AND SOUTHAMPTON.—The Direc-
GENERAL POST .OFFICE.—The following steam- tors of this Company will issue new scrip as early as
vessels have been appointed to
convey the ship-letter pssible, but no precise time can be named, as the re-
mails, viz.:—The Vassetei Tidjaret, Captain Betsey, for ceipt of sucli new scrip will have to be receded by the
Malta, Smyrna, and Constantiole, to sail from Liver- subscr'pt''( 'of fresh deeds, which cannot be prepared
pool on the 14th inst. The Camilla, Captain Brown- until IParilinament has decided upon seine contemplated
less, to sail from St. Katherine's Wharf on the 7th inst.
alterations in standing orders. When these are
i
made
for Copenhagen and St. Petersburgh. The B"mhaY, for public, the deeds will be prepared, and new scrip s•ued
the Cape of Good Hope and Bombay, to sail from ',lvor- without delay. A deposit of 5.4 per share will he ray-
pool to-day; and the Antelope, Captain O'Brien, for Rio able before issue of scrip.—Manche. ster Stock Exchange
de Janeiro, to sail from ~iyerpoc,i on the Bth iust. Circular.

COURT CIRCULAR.
Their Majesties the King and Queen of the Belgians,
attended by the•Cauntess Vanderstraten and M ijor de
Moerkerke, lett Buckinglistua Palace at a quarter past
tine o'clock yesterday morning, in one of the Queen's
carriages and four for Woolwich, to embark on h:iard
the Garland for Ostend. The QuNin and Prince Albert,
attended by the Ladies and Gentlemi.n of the Royal
Household :ti Waiting, took leave of their auguA visi-
tors at tie garden entrance of the Palace.
Their NI .jesties the King and Queen of the Belgians
visited arid took leave of her Royal Highness the Duchess
*I Gloucester on Sunday, at Gloucester House ; and
their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cam-
bridge, at Cambridge House.
The Queen and Prince Albert, attended by the Royal
suite, lett town, at half-past ten o'clock yesterday
morning. for Cambridge.
The Royal party occupied three open carriages and
fur. In th. first carriage were her Majesty the Queen
his Royal Highness Pt ince Albert, the Mistress of the
Robes, the Duchess of Sutherland, and the Lady in
Waiting, the Countess of Desart. In the second car-
risge were the Groom of the Stole to Prince Albert. the
Marquis of Ahercorn ; the Lord in Waiting, the Earl
of Morton ; the Equerry in W iting, 4..;010tiel Buckley ;
and the Equerry in Waiting to Prince Albert, Lieut.-
Colonel Seymour. In the third carriage were Mr.
George Edward Anson, Lieutenant Color el the Hon.
C. B Philips, Major-General Bowles, and Dr. Meyer.
Her Majesty and her Royal Consort a ere conducted
to their carriaue by the Hon. Misses Murray and Mac
donald, Mails of Honour in waiting, and Sir Edward
Bowater, Groom in waiting.
A party of Lancers, f .rtned the escort from Bucking-
ham Palace to the Tottenham station of the Eastern
Counties Railway.
His Royal Highness the Hereditary Duke of Saxe
Weimar, attended by Count de Beust, left Marlborough
House, at half past eight o'clock yesterday morning, for
Cambridge.
Her Majesty the Queen Dowager. accompanied by
her Royal Highness the Hereditary Grand Duchess of
Saxe Weimar, and attended by her suite, left Marlbo-
rough House at twelve o'clock yesterday for her resi-
dence, Bushy House, Bushy Park. The Countess of
Assenburg was in attendance on the Hereditary Grand
Duchess of Saxe Weimar.
His Royal Highness Prince Peter of Oldenburgh
visited her Majesty the Queen Dowager on Sunday at
Marlborough House.
The Marquis of Lansdowne (Lord President), left
town yesterday for Cambridge.
Mr. Glyn had an interview with the Right Hon. Ed-
ward Strutt yesterday at the office of the Commissioners
of Railways, in Great George-street.

•
THE WEATHER AND CROPS.
The weather, we rejoice to say. is Toil r,,,,nrable for
the prospect of an early and abundant harvest. One
&!y bright sunshine, and anofter cloudy sky and gentle
shower stimulate to an acfi VP growth. Acc.)rrlin,7iv, we
have to repeat the favourable account we gave last week
Of the crop in our own neighbour!), ott. Wheat is now
very generally in. ear; and oats, in some places, have
horst the bllde. 11:th look extremely Heil. Potato,
are still keeping free from taint. In some places the)
are so luxuriant that the shaves are meeting acrr.ss the
drills. We hope they will preserve their present favour-
able appearance. In a few weeks we may expect re-
duced markets, and thus bring returning comforts to the
poor man's household. Where the weather has been
favournbl., hoeing and drill-h4rrowing of turnips have
been proceeded with; and they are also looking strong
and vigorous.

We had rpportunities, last week, of traversing the
higher districts of Cunihghatne, and were sorry to find
in some lorali'ies the crops so far behind. While all
has been sunshine in the lower districts, cold has pre
veil d over heat in the upper—consequently, vegetation
is fully three weeks later than usual. Ihe wire-worn
has been committing ravages in those districts; but now,
since warmth has return( d. we hope that it will have
Penetrated the uplands, and that farmers there will yet
have cause to rejoice. Potatoes, which are but scantily
planted in tne parishes of I)alry and Kilbirnie, Met
vigorous and healthy. Beans in Cuninghaine are
splendid, and feathered to the roots. Turnip sowing is
almost over Hay looks well, and will be a heavy crop.
A very intelligent farmer in the parish of Kilbirnie--
Mr. Orr, Lochridge—who showed us his tank for
gathering and preserving liquid manure, can at any time
pump t •e manure into a large barrel and convey it to
the fields, where it is applied to top-dressing. He cal-
culates that the liquid manure of each cow is worth IL
a year. We hope such an approved system will soon
become more general, as Nlr. Orr avers that his tank is
the only one in that neighbourhood.
On the farms of East and %Vest Mains of Kilbirnie,
the fields are in a very advanced stage. Iu the byre of
the former there is a fine cow, valued at about 301., in
the last stage of a dropsical complaint. Mr. Logan lost
one about six weeks before with the same disease.—
Ayr Observer.

SANATORY MEASURES.
There are men to be met with in the world, who,
possessing high intelligence, have, nevertheless, the mis-
fortune to labour under a species of mental delusion,
which never tails to manifest itself whenever allusion is
made to a certain subject. There are some who enter-
tain the most extraordinary opinions in religious matters,
whilst altogether rational on other topics. Again, many a
man distinguished for talent will be found to have such
peculiar political ideas as almost to alp ,unt to insanity.
Converse with such a one on general topies, and he
will be found to be a sensible tnan, but should the
cranky string be touched, the harp will at once be out
of tune. These idiosyncrasies are not confined to in-
dividuals--each nation, each age, has its own. Our
present national idiosyncracy is a hatred of all so-
cial sanatory measures. Talk of commercial matters,
on scientific progress, on literature, and none can be
found more sensible, or well-informed than the English;
the proposal of sanatory measures will be certain, how.
ever, to disturb the equanimity of the whole nation,—the
most ridiculous notions will be willingly entertained,
the most strenuous opposition made to the contem-
plated improvement. To embody the national sen-
timents on this head in a few words, would
be to express an opinion, that "if we can
get plenty to eat and to drink, what more do
we want—that if a graveyard is in the middle of a
crowded city, it has been there for years, and nobody
was ever the worse for it—that the Thames water is as
sweet now as ever it was, and our forefathers drank it
without finding fault that the sewers discharge into it—
that crowded alleys and lanes without drainage always
did exist, and always will exist, to what use then making
a fuss just now," with divers other important reason for
leaving things as they are. Nor is John Bull to be
argued out of his notions about social evils—he exhibits
not merely a sullen dogmatism, but an active spirit of
opposition. Ho declares his health to be very good—
his house to be very clean—his rivers unpolluted—and
the drainage of towns he pronounces excellent; and
yet what man of observant mind, will hesitate to say
that England does not require great social ameliora-
tions? Look at the state of any large town or city—
the imperfect drainage—the detective water supply—
the horrible graveyatds—the poisonous miasma—the
unhealthy habitations, and who can doubt that legisla-
tive remedy is imperatively required? There is one
class of inventions which is always heavy in the market,
and unprofitable to the inventor—we mean fire-escapes
and life-belts. No house is furnished with the one, and no
sailor thinks of the when Life is to be protected in
either case, and who thinks his own to be in
danger? True, after a dreadful fire and loss of life,
some few " nervous" persons will inquire for an escape;
no sooner, however, is the danger torgotten, than the
protection is also abandoned. Much similarity of con-
duct holds with respect to the social state of England,
which is a reproach to a civilized country. Go where
you will—among the habitations of the wealthy, or the
rookeries of the poor—travel from city to town—from
county to county—and the same evils present themselves.
Intra mural interment, the fruitful source of disease
is still permitted. The dead are suffered to poison
the living, to pollute the atmosphere, to carry fever to the
•lwellings of the poor. The abolition of city burials should
he the first of sanatory measures; allchurchyardsin towns
should be closed, and planted with trees, and cemeteries
provided at proper places. Religion and decency, as
well as health, require this. Universal drainage in
cities is the next thing required. There should be no
alley, no lane, without an effective sewer, into which all
houses should discharge their soil. No cesspool, &c.,
should be suffered to be open ; the gully •holes should
be properly trapped, to prevent the emission of
noxious vapours, whilst provision should be made
that at high-water-level the mouth of the sewer
should not be stopped. The control of sewers
should be rested in a Government commission, or,
at any rate, in one general board; not, as at present
divided into sections of opposite interests. The sewer
commissioners, at present, are mere dispensers of jobbing
patronage and public money. Another most important
want is the better supply of water. Without cleanli-
ness the people can never be healthy, and the restricted
supply of water denies this cleanliness to hundreds of un-
fortunate individuals. Where water can only be obtained
from a great distance, the labour of fetching it prevents its
tree use. We have often remarked how ill the poorer
quarters of the towns are supplied with water. In poor
streets a pump is seldom visible, many have been removed,
but none are replaced ; whereas, in the richer quarters
of the town pumps are abundant—we could name more
than one square wherein are two pumps. Parishes
should be compelled to sink artesian wells in poor
neighbourhoods, and monopolising water companies
be regulated in their charges. We believe that two-
thirds more than the present quantity of water
could be usefully employed, was there a proper supply.
Not the least among the required improvements, is that
of compelling factories to consume their own smoke.
This could and would be readily done, were it made
imperative—it is a disgrace to the science of the age.
that huge chimneys should vomit forth their volumes of
carbon, to blacken the atmosphere, to destroy our
lungs, and to waste profusely a valuable fuel ? It is
of no trivial import, that a change should be made in
the management of our public highways. Our streets in
winter are clogged with mud, and in summer resemble
the deserts for dust, always slippery and nasty—a valu
able manure is suffered to remain on them, because it is
the duty of no one to keep them clean. The parish re-
ceives so many hundred pounds per annum, from a
scavenger for the privilege of collecting as much as he
can take with a very little labour; and as profit, not
cleanliness, is his object, the streets are always in a filthy
state. In London, as in Paris, every housekeeper should
be compelled to sweep the pavement before his house
early in the morning, and the scavengers should
thoroughly cleanse the roadway each day. There are
many other improvements to be made in our social state,
which would materially benefit the population. Instead
of, however, detnan.:ing Legislative interference, the peo
pie seem determined to thwart all endeavours of the Go-
vernment. First to exhibit this bad spirit, is the Corpora-
tion of London. Foul and fcetid as the City notoriously
is, with scarcely a house free from noxious smells, the
citizens would fain have us believe that there is not a
more sweet, wholesome place, under the c inopy of
Heaven. No sooner is a Government measure proposed
than the Aldermen, scarce one of whom resides in the
City, raise an outcry, and the City is to be exempt from
the operation of the Government plan. As the City
rejects purification, so every other town strives to be
allowed to remain dirty, until none are found who care
to be made clean.

FOREIGN SUPPLIES.
The following arrivals of cattle, grain, and provisions
took place at the port of London on Monday last:—The
Ocean, from Rotterdam, brought 878 baskets of cherries,
5 baskets of melons, 11 baskets ofcucurnbers, 574 baskets
(a very large quantity) of potatoes, 43 baskets of yeast,
several baskets of fish, 159 packages of butter, 9 calves,
30 oxen and cows, and 4 horses ; the Magnet, from
Harlingen, 3,132 casks of butter. 896 casks of cheese, 1
horse, 3 bulls, 25 cows, 6 calves, end 42 sheep; the
Camilla, from St. Petersburgh, 1,030 bags of flour, 15
bags of general provisions, several bags of hams and
other productions of Russia; the Flora, from Skieu, 205
quarters of barley; the Alberdina, from Groningen, 460
quarters of oats; the Nicholino, from Alexandria, 2,300
quarters of beans; the Lady Robilliard, from Lisbon, 470
barrels of flour ; the Esperance, from Lakken, 400
quarters of oats; the City of London, from Rotterdam,
276 casks of butter, 15,400 cheeses, some packages of
fish and poultry, and 124 baskets of cherries ; the Twe
Gebroeders, from Hamburgh, 330 quarters of oats ; the
Rachel, from Memel, 1,100 quarters of oats; the Osprey,
from Alexandria, 2,000 quarters of beans ; the Rapid,
from Rotterdam, 8,600 cheeses, 298 baskets of potatoes.
115 baskets of cherries, 64 cows, 27 calves, and 595 .
sheep, and 24 casks of butter ; the Columbine, from
Havre, 102 barrels of flour, 36 packages of eggs, and
456 baskets of fruit ; the Alida, from Logstoer, 250
quarters of oats ; the Amalia, from Riga, 830 quarters
of wheat ; the Ellida, from Nordkiubing, 400 quarters
of peas ; the Schawbe, from Memel, 97 tons weight
of oil-cake ; the Bertha, from Thisted, 470 quarters
of oats ; the Levant, from Stockholm, 300 quarters
of wheat, and 300 of oats ; the Fortuna, from Huns-
merseil, 524 quarters of oats ; the Moslem, from
New Orleans, 7,332 bushels of wheat and 4,066
barrels of flour ; the Planter from Dantzic, 900
quarters of wheat ; the Medora from Prince Edward's
Island, 1,022 bushels of oats; the Princess Royal, from
Hamburg, 50 oxen and 22 sheep, 3 calves, 25 casks of
butter, several packages of bacon, barns, and other Han
seatic produce ; the Mariner, from Alexandria, 2,000
quarters of beans, and 350 quarters of wheat; the Vic-
tory, from Pilau, 700 quarters of wheat and 50 quarters
of pease; the Clemente, trom Havre, 450 quarters of
wheat; the Bareo from Odessa, 1,872 quarters of wheat;
the Enterprise, from Alexandria, 700 quarters of beans,
650 quarters of lentils, and 235 quarters of Indian corn;
• he'Duke, from Riga, 1,123 quarters of barley; the Jannet
Halley. from Riga, 1,085 quarters of oats ; the Union,
froin Memel, 230 quarters of oats, and 400 quarters of
barley; the Vrouw Berendina, from Groningen, 485
quarters of oats; the Gertrude from Rostock, 370 quer
ters of wheat; the Favourite, from St. Petersburgh, 300
bags of wheat, 83 dozens of tongues, and some packages
of flour; the Henrietta, from Hamburgh, 87 bags of seed,
and 600 quarters of oats ; the Earl of Durham, from
Odessa, 2,650 quarters of barley ; the Sarah, from Per-
nett, 855 quarters of oats; the Prudence, from Stettin.
914 quarters of wheat; the Hoffnung, from Carolinenseil,
537 quarters of oats ; the Soho, from Antwerp, 386
baskets of cherries, 20 of fish, and 18 oxen; the Favour-
ite, from Caen, 152 cases of eggs; the Mountaineer, from
Hamburgh, 128 oxen and 376 sheep; the Vrow Rentje,
from Logstoer, 290 quarters of oats; the Anne Christine,
from Faaborg, 670 barrels of barley; the Admiral, from
Jfiga, 2,100 quarters of oats; the Esther Frances, from
Alexandria, 2,356 quarters of beans; the Horatio, from
Havre, 2,260 barrels of flour; the Burton, from Dantzic,
710 quarters of wheat; the Princess, from Dantzic,
1,250 quarters of wheat; the Auriga, from Emden, 470
quarters of oats; and the Hebe, from Cavallo, 1,300
quarters of Indian corn.

A singular instance of the bigoted opposition which
even educated men will evince towards sanatory improve-
ments, came lately under ow: notice. The Chyrnical
Sewage Manure Company, which is formed to work out
the ingenious patent plan of Mr. Higgs. for intercepting
the sewage water from the Thames, and converting it
into manure, in applying for their Bill in Parliament,
experienced much opposition from the Dean and
Chapter of Westminster. The Company, it ap-
pears, was desirous to erect works, and to use a
sewer in Westminster. On applying to Dr. Buckland,
the Dean, to know the reason for his opposition, he can-
didly confessed that he had opposed the Bill, without
knowing what Mr. Higgs' plan was, and whether in reality it would be a nuisance or a benefit! He had
never inquired, and did not care to know. what
the plan was, and without first informing him-
self that (as the truth is) the adoption of his plan
wuuld ease the sewer, improve the drainage of the
parish, and be no nuisance whatever, he opposed and
preventi,d a trial in Westminster, leaving the compauy
to make Bermondsey the corpus vile of their experi-
ments. From scientific Dr. Buckland, the geolo-
gist, this could hardly be expected; had the public
treated his effusions in a similar manner,
where now would be his fame ? From an or-
dinary Dean, such conduct would not be sur-
prising ; from a scientific and withal liberal author,
better things might have been anticipated. It may be
confidently hoped that, notwithstanding the interested
opposition of the bigoted, and despite the apathy of the
public, a strong Governms-nt may be able to c,irry an
effective measure fur the better preservation in all towns
in the kingd, m, of that most precious, but most ne
glected jewel—Human Life.— The Patent Journal.

On the 28th ult. serious disturbances took place at
Groningen, in Holland, on account of the excessive
dearness of food. The troops had to be called out.
They made use of their arms, and, it is said, killed four
persons and wourn,led twelve,sowe of them very seriously.
Most of the wounded persons had taken no part in the
disturbances, 'riving been present only as spectators.
On the morning of the 29th order was re-established
At Amsterdam, during the last eight days, the price o,
the four-pound loaf has been reduced five cents, about
15 centimes,

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.
Lord J. RUSSELL stated that it was the intention of
her Majesty's Governm.nt not to press forward the
Incumbered Estates (Ireland) Bill during the present
session. With respect to the Prisons Bill, it was also
purposed not to proceed with that. The Custody
of Offenders Bill will be proceeded with, as also
the Parliamentary Electors Bill, the Polling at Elections
(Ireland) Bill, the Post-office Bill, and the Shannon
Navigation Bill. He proposed that the House should
go into Committee of Supply this evening, and he would
make an appeal to those Hon. Members who had mo-
tions on the paper to postpone them, and especially the
Hon. Member for Montrose, who had a motion
with respect to the Raja of Sattara. He would
ask him to postpone his motion till Tut today week
l'he Noble Lord then moved that the House should go
into Committee on the Compensation for Damages
(Ireland) Bill.
Mr. HUME said that he could not consent to postpone
his motion, unless the Noble Lord would give him a
pledge that he would assist him in keeping a House
on that day.
CONFERENCE WITH THE LORDS.
Messengers from the Lords requested a conference
with the Commons on the subject of some amendments
introduced into one of the Bills which had been sent up
to them.
COMPENSATION FOR DAMAGES (IRELAND)
BILL.
On the order of the day being read for going into
Committee on this Bill,
Lord J. RUSSELL stated that he could not give the'
Hon. Member for Montrose a pledge to keep a House,
for him to-morrow. If the Hon. Member would let the
matter stand over till to-morrow week, he could hare
the whole evening to himself.
Mr. HUME was sorry to oppose the Noble Lord.
but he felt bound to proceed with his motion on the
subject of the Raja of Sattara. He hoped that the Noble
Lord would not be angry with him for adopting such a
curse.

UNITED STATES' DEBT.
Mr. HUME wished to know wheth, r any step had
been taken by this country with respect to the debts duo
by the United States to this country?
Lord PALNIEHSTON did not apprehend, f;:om the
known character and integrity of the Limited States
f:..v.rnment, any difficulty in the settlement of those,
Warns.
the House then went into Committee on the eta.e
pensation for Damages (Ireland)
The several clauses were agrrded to and the Bill was
reported.

AFFAIRS OF PORTUGAL.
On the question being put for reading the order of
the day for g ing into Committee of Supply,
Ar. B. OSBORNE rose to call the attention of the
House to the present state of Portugal and the situa-
tion of our naval and military forces in the country.
fie thought it was highly desirable that the
Noble Lord the Minister for Foreign Affairs should offer
some defence for the policy which had been pursued.
towards Portugal before the close of the present sessiora.
On constitutional grounds he regretted the abrupit
termination of the recent debate. It vk ou:d tend
to degrade the House in the estimation of all who
were favourable to political liberty and freedom,
and theroi.449 bv Mt it to be his duty to teYiTe it. It wit