The Sun.
London, England, 1841-02-24 00:00:00

uii,

LONDON:
WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 24, 1841.

L;

In the House of Lords, last night, some peti-
tions were presented against the Poor-laws, and
Lords FITZ WII:LIAM and ELLENBOROUGH both
agreed that some amendment was necessary.
Lord BROUGHAM brought in a Bill to explain
the Acts for the preservation of property in Ire-
land, and extend their provisions to the city of
Dublin.

The Bishop of EXETER again brought under the
notice of the House the non-printing of a police
ordinance issued in Canada, and accused the Go-
vernment of gross neglect and want of ingenu-
ousness.

Viscount MELBOURNE happily retorted on the
ingenuous and Christian-duty-performing Bishop,
that persons were much in the habit of charging
others with those defects which were most con-
spicuous in themselves. The Bishop was assured
That the Royal assent should not be given to the
Ordinance till thirty days from the 16th instant,
and though that did not satisfy him, he could get
nothing else.
Lord LYNDHURST having adverted with tender
care to the subject of compensation to those who
might be deprived of their offices by law reform—
though we never heard that the Noble and Learned
Lord suggested a compensation for the hand-loom
weavers, who were deprived of their bread by a
reform in machinery—and Viscount MELBOURNE
having assured the Noble and Learned Lord that
compensation should be provided, their Lord-
ships adjourned.
The Commons received a considerable number
Of petitions, including one presented by Lord
MORPETH, signed by
.205,850 persons, against
Lord STANLEY'S Bill. Mr. M. PHILLIPS pre-
•sentcd a similar petition from Manchester, with
02,2a7 signatures.
Leave to bring in a Bill was obtained by Mr. C.
BULLER, to amend the law relative to the admis-
sibility of evidence; by Mr. HANDLEY, to drain
land in England and -Wales ; and by Mr. Fox
MAULE, for removing doubts as to the continu-
ance of certain Turnpike Acts.
The adjourned debate on the Irish Registra-
tion Bill was resumed by Mr. YOUNG, the Mem-
ber for Cavan, who made, though opposed to
Lord MORPETH'S Bill, a speech which Lord
Howicx and Mr. MACAULAY subsequently cha-
racterised as sensible and judicious. His princi-
pal argument against the Bill was the imperfec-
tion of the present valuation of property, admit-
ting thereby that the valuation and rating to the
poor, when improved, would be a good test of the
franchise.
Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN supported the Bill, ex-
posed the f nomalies of the Irish system, and de-
clared against allowing the landlords to grant or
withhold the elective franchise, which would be
the result of Lord STANLEY'S Bill. He regretted,
too, that the G overnment Bill did not abolish the
necessity of having paid the taxes, except the
Poor Rates.
Sir R. BATESON opposed the Bill, resting his
vote on the speech of Lord STANLEY.
3Ir.CAREW thought the Bill of Lord STANLEY
calculated to destroy the franchise, while Lord
MORPETR'S Bill would secure it, and he gave the
latter his cordial support.
Lord HOWICK took up the strong ground of its
being necessary to define the franchise before
setting about making a system to register it, and
enforced that view at considerable length with
great effect. The Noble Lord also dwelt with
great power on the mischief of narrowing the
franchise.
Mr. LEPROY followed Lord HOWICK, and made
an Orange special pleading speech that was
heard without pleasure, and will be read without
instruction.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL for Ireland was, we

,f

are bound to say, not much better, though he
was on the opposite side to Mr. LEFROY. The
Right Hon. Gentleman may have a clearhead, but
he has not the faculty of convincing his hearers
that he is so endowed. He explained and de-
fended the principles of Lord MORPRTH'S Bill,
and showed in what way Lord STANLEY'S would
be vexatious.

Sir W. FOLLETT spoke of the measure much
more like a nisi prius lawyer than a states-
man. But that was level to the capacity
of the gentlemen around him, who accor-
dingly cheered him vociferously. His ar-
guments run on the insufficiency of the valua-
tion as the foundation of Lord MORPETH'S Bill,
which, puerile as it was, he had not the merit of
first bringing forward. The valuation will by
and by be better. He pointed out,'however, that
the valuation was not conducted according
to Act of Parliament—a good ground for
a prosecution for a misdemeanour, but
having no more bearing on the settling the
franchise of the Irish than his speech in favour
of the Earl of CARDIGAN. The smooth silver
tongue of this gentleman• is of more use to him,
we apprehend, than his head ; at least it took
captive the willing ears of the Tories, though he
did not advance a single argument that ought to
influence the judgment of a sane minded man.
He was however well adapted to them, smooth
sound, with a show only of sense.
Mr. MACAULAY, who followed Sir WILLIAM
FOLLETT, is the very reverse, and his rough,
burley, husky voice seemed spasmodically V
close the ears against the clear arguments he di-
rected to the understanding. In a speech power-
ful from its matter, and offensive from its man-
ner, which several times provoked the im-
patient and unmannerly laughter of those
who would not wait to comprehend it,
Mr. MACAULAY examined the question as a phi-
losopher and a statesman. He demonstrated that
Lord MORPETH'S test would give great facilities
for registration, would keep out bad voters and
let in good, which is the great object to be ob-
tained. He also demonstrated that Lord STAN-
LEY'S Bill would keep out voters of all kinds, and
would be an eternal system of vexation to the
voter. It was a perpetual re-opening of cases
once decided, contrary to the principles
of the law of England both in crimi-
nal and civil cases. He showed by his own ex-
ample—possessing a vote for the University of
Cambridge, which, though more valuable than
a vote for an Irish county, he would not seek
every year to maintain—that Lord STANLEY'SBiII
would be a measure of sweeping disfranchise-
ment. He was extremely happy in expos-
ing the present uncertainty and inconsis-
tency of the law, showing that in Dublin
whoever was defeated in the Barrister's Court,
having a power to appeal to either one of the
Superior Courts, which take opposite views of the
franchise, was sure to be successful before the
Judges ; showing, too, that the law is different
in different parts of Ireland, and in different
years ; and all these anomalies and inconsistencies
the Legislature, under Lord STANLEY'S guidance,
whose bounden duty it is to make the law clear
and precise, would aggravate tenfold. The Right
Hon. Gentleman was very happy, too, in expo-
sing the pernicious effects of Lord STANLEY'S
Bill in making the Judges suspected political
partizans, and concluded a powerful speech, as to
matter, by reminding the House of the ne-
cessity the country was under at a former
time, from treating Ireland unjustly, of em-
ploying her troops there to quell insurrection
when they might have been adding to the glories
of Blenheim, or anticipating those of Waterloo.
But Mr. MACAULAY'S speech did not tell as it
ought on the House. Surely a man may have
strong convictions, without giving way to an im-
petuous manner ; may reason clearly, without
speakincr loud; may have fine and noble thoughts,
adorned by beautiful illustrations, without thun-
dering them out as if he had not to convince his
opponents, but to crack their ears. The un-
measured vehemence which provokes laughter
leads him into errors. We noticed two or three
such alliterative slips, as, speaking of a Judge, "he
will be regarded by one party as an oppressor, and
by the other as a demagogue." But if one party
would regard him as an oppressor, the other
would regard him as a friend and protector, and
Mr. MACAULAY expressed himself erroneously.
It is much to be regretted that lie mars his
effective and powerful reasoning by a kind
of bow-wow oratory, as If big thoughts
could only be uttered by bellowing. The
debate was again adjourned when Mr. MACAULAY
resumed his seat, without receiving a tithe of the '
cheers his excellent matter deserved. I

The House adjourned at Twelve o'Clock.

The Electors of Glasgow held a public meet-
ing or Friday, and passed, unanimously, a series
of resolutions for the modification of the Import
Duties, of which the following are specimens :-
4th. That the present Duties on the importation of foreign
Corn, and other food, levied for the supposed encouragement
cf the landowners, have been shown on many occasions, and
more especially by the evidence adduced under the foresaid
Report, to be equivalent to a tax on the consumers of the
United Kingdom, a an amount equal to that of the whole an-
nual taxation thereof, for the purposes of Government.
sth. That our rejection of the corn, timber, and other ag-
ricultural and pastoral produce of the ontinent of Europe and
other countries, have provoked similar exclusions of British
manufactures from these countries, and forced into existence
many rising and formidable foreign manufactures--the farther
advancement of which continues to be accelerated by the same
stimulative causes—the great and insurmountable barrier to
the restoration to relations for interchange 0f produc'ions with
these countries being still our adhesion to such protective re-
gulations.

- On Thursday the Town Council of Glasgow
adopted a petition to the House of Commons as
follows:

That your petitioners beg leave earnestly to call the at-
tention of your Honourable House to the distress which has
for a considerable time prevailed throughout the kingdom,
in the different branches of mercantile and manufacturing
industry; and they humbly submit to your Honourable House
the urgent expediency of your taking into your early con-
sideration the tariff and import duties on foreign produce,
more especially the existing state of the Corn and Provi ion-
laws, with a view to such an alteration in these laws as will
have- the effect of extending the commerce of the country,
and increasing the comforts of the working classes.
• These are encouraging examples. In Glasgow
the distress is urgent. In twenty years the rate
of mortality has very nearly doubled ; the disease
which always prevails amongst the poor en-
dangers the lives and enfeebles the health of the
opulent, and the citizens only do their duty to
themselves and their country in demanding
a revision of our tariff, and the abolition
of several onerous taxes. Their exertions will
second the labours of the Liberal Members
of the House of Commons, and in the end
effect the object desired. Too soon that
cannot be accomplished. The accounts from
the manufacturing districts say, that fewer and
fewer hands are employed in the mills, and dis-
tress is increasing. Already the population is
much degraded. Their standard of well-being
has been gradually beaten down, till it has now
reached the level of the Hindoos. They. cannot
sink lower, they can only perish. Their morality
has been degraded with their physical condition,
and all the evils of a retrograding condition
of society have already been inflicted on
the people by our so-called paternal Legislature.
To starve down a population, or to keep it
down by a want of food, includes all those evils
which are summed up in the two emphatic words,
VICE and MISERY, by which Mr. MALTH US desig-
nated the giant agents for keeping down popu-
lation.

We have barely time or space to direct atten-
tion to the proceedings yesterday at that sink of
corruption, the Sewers Court—a Court which, as
at present constituted, ought to hold its sittings
in Fleet Ditch, the better to hear " Great Tom"
of St. Paul's toll its funeral knell. Indeed, the
learned Commissioners seem to be apprehensive
of such a doom, for they wish to propitiate the
Church at the expense of the Dissenters, by
levying a tax on the one for the benefit
of the other. But the most amusing part of their
proceedings is, that, having at last emerged
into day, they cannot now recognise themselves
distinctly; each appears so far gone, from having
navigated below so long, he cannot endure the
more searching atmosphere above ground with-
out great annoyance, and naturally feels, in the
words of the poet,
"Blasted with excess of light."

No matter ;---we hope the sunshine will do
one and all of them much Food, and help
to infuse more salubrious air into the sewers
generally. Mr. ADEY, a Learned Commissioner,
if we mistake not, seems to be of the same opi-
nion; for, deriving his knowledge from St. Luke's,
according to the Report—
Mr. ADZE considered that the difficulties they were placed
in was owing to their legal advisers; those who had drawn
up the draft of the decree seemed to have been anxious to
bitch the question altogether.
A COMMISSIONER--TO what?
Mr. ADZY—To bitch it, to throw it overboard. --(Great
sensation.).

Sensation indeed !—We wonder that the mud
larks, now the frost is over, did not rise up in
judgment at once, and bury such an ugly word
in the mouth of the learned civilian. The term,
though not over classical, is, we believe, regis-
trated in JOHNSON or TODD, or we should
have been afraid to touch it. But one thing is
quite clear, that the artist has displayed an
admirable knowledge of his subject, and
painted it in
We wish him colours not to be mistaken.
joy of his doings !
We have lately attended to the proceedings of the Commissioners of Sewers at greater length'

tharr usual, in consequence of Lord NORMANBY'S
Bill—a .Bill which interests all the large
boroughs and towns in the manufacturing dis-
tricts; and we would advise them one
and all to watch its progress, that they
may not get into the same " slough of
despond," as the good people of London have got.
The Dissenters are naturally indignant at the
infliction of Church-rates but when they expe-
rience the working of the Sewers'-rates, as duly
administered in the metropolis, they will have
abomination superadded to extortion.

The proprietors of Waterloo-bridge have
acted wisely in adopting the proposition for re-
ducing the toll for foot-passengers, so often
pressed upon them by. Mr. Morgan, one of the
largest Shareholders. They will benefit them-
selves as well as the public by the change, in-
crease the value of property on the Surrey side
of the River, and in time will be the means of
rendering the neighbourhood of the two theatres
more healthy and more respectable. The
public, it is often said, have no idea of gratitude;
they suit only their own convenience ;
but if there was an occasion on which
they were bound to exercise that noble quality,
it is this. A Company of private indivi-
duals have erected at an enormous expense a
bridge which is justly the pride of the country ;
vast sums have been sunk never to be reclaimed,
and though many of the Proprietors have doubts!
as to the result, they nevertheless have boldly
ventured on the experiment. We wish them, as
they well deserve, ultimate success. •

MONEY and COMMERCIAL NE VV S

CITY, TI;E:DAY EVENING.
The Foreign Exchanges were firmer again this after-
noon, and it is booed now that the improvement has be-
come confirmed. The rate for bills on Faris was 25f. 571 e.
to 60c. ; on Amstcr.3am 12 3to ;on Antwerp 12 2 tot;
and on Hamburgh 13 7i.
Tc-day the market was again depressed. For pr.hent
transfer Consols realized 881 to 8811; and to the April
Account the continuation am ato per cent. Exche-
quer Bills remained at 69. to 4s. premium ; and India
Bonds ware at 10:r. to 15s. discount. Bank Stock was
firm at 1664 ; and India Stack at 248. The Reduced
Three-and-p-Half par Cents. were at 974 to 974; the
Three per Cents., 89 to 884 ; and the New Three-and-a-
Half per Cent-. at 964 to 974
There was but a limited business in the Forego Secu-
rities to-day, but still as lower ri.tes were general), sub-
mitted to the market was rather more active than yester-
day. Portuguese Bonds were a shade lower, viz. 314 to 4
for the New Five per Cents., and 194 for the Three per
Cents.; both these were the Account prices. Spanish
Active Bonds remained at 23i to a ; Colombian Bonds of
1824 were at 224 ; Mexican of 1837 at 274 ; Chilian at
604 for money, and at a fall from 64 to 604 for account ;
Peruvian at 164 to j-; and Buenos Ayrei at 25; Belgian
Old Five per Cents. were at a rise to 994; Dalish Stock
advanced to 771 and 78; and Dutch Two-and-a-Half per
Cents. were worth 50/ to I-.
There were a few sales made in the Railway Shares at
a slight decline upon the previous rates. Great Western
were 24 to 234, the New 101 to 11, and the London and
Birmingham 79 premium ex-dividend ; Brighton were 72-,
and Edinburgh and Glasgow 54 dhcount. Provincial
Bank of Ireland Shares were 181 premium.
The affair of the aAful loss of the Governor Fenner con-
tinues to excite much attention and discussion in the C ty.
There were no exports of bullion in the week ending
Thursday last.

(From The Sun ,f Last Night.)
By the arrival of the Lisbon Mail this morning, brought by
the Royal Tar Steamer, the intelligence is of more interest
than usually received.

In the Slitting of the 9th inst., one of the Deputies asked
the Minister of Foreign Affairs whether it was true that a
Commercial Treaty was on the point of being concluded with
England, the stipulations of which were highly prejudicial to
Portugal? His Excellency replied that some steps had been
taken by the Portuguese Government towards the formation
of a Treaty with England, which he hoped would be of much
advantage to this country, but that it was yet very far from
being concluded. The intelligence also states that the finan-
cial prospects are looking more gloomy than ever. For further
particulars we refer our readers to another part of the paper.
Extract of a letter from Dublin, Feb. 21, posted at the
North and South American Coffee-house :

" DUBLIN, FEB. 21, 1841.—1 am sorry to hear by this
day's arrival that the Nottinghim wa3 passed last night in tow
of another steamer, she having been run foul of. The
Birmingham reports that this morning at seven A.M. they
saw the wreck of a large ship about 16 miles west of the
Skerras, apparently split in two parts, the sides floating up, and
held together by the wreck. Cargo, of course, all out of her.
Captain Church went on board of her, and found two men
dead in the rigging, apparently not long so. He saved a trunk,
which I now have here. From the contents I should say the
vessel was bound to New York. This trunk contains amongst
many other things some testimonials of a gardener, named John
APlntyre, who has been in the service of several noble Irish
families. There were some watches in the trunk, which, with
the rest of the contents, I will keep for the present. The
stern of the vessel was gone, and no name to be seen. It has
been admitted by the mate, on an examination to-day, that she
had no lights hoisted, and that the crew saw the steamer twenty
minutes before the vessel struck ; the time between their
striking and the sinking of the Governor Fenner did not ex-
ceed five minutes. The dreadful consequence, however, may
no doubt be referred to the circumstance of the Governor
Fenner earryingno lights, which has been admitted by the mate.

LIVERPOOL COTTON MARKET, AIONDAY, FEB. 22.—The
Sales to-day are 5,000 bags, of which. 300 American, are on
speculation. The market is more quiet than on Saturday,
but prices are very steady. Sales, 200 Peruvians, 9tooa ;
100 Bahias, 8,-% to Ni ; 200 Maranhams, 7i to S ; 250 Egyp-
tians, 9i to 12i ; 100 Sea Islands, 18 to 24 ; and 700 Surats,
4a_to 5i per lb.

No communication with the telegraph owing to the fog.
MANCHESTER STecic EXCHANGE, FEB. 22.—There has
been a fair inquiry for Shares to-day, but owing to the scarcity
of Stock few transactions have taken place : —Hull and Selby,
44; Manchester and Birmingham, 24k; London and South
Western 58 ; North Midland, 74 to 75 ; Lancaster and Pres-
ton 321 to 324 ; Ditto New 20 to 20i ; Manchester and
Leeds 75 to 76i ; Ditto Halves 324 to 33.
Mauritius papers have been received at Bordeaux to tie
21st Nov., which state that island to be in a great agitation
owing to an order from the Governor Sir Lionel Smith, that
all Frenchmen inhabiting the colony must prepare to leave it.
We are informed that the bills on Messrs. Morrison, drawn
by the United States Bank, have been duly accepted, and a
portion of them subsequently discounted by the Bank of
England.
By the last advice! from Philadelphia there was great ap-
prehension that the above bills might not be honoured, which
had the effect there of causing the late depression of the prices
in the shares of the United States Bank.

Consols opened at the same quotations as they left off, 88i
for Account ; Money the same ; Bank Stock, 165 167; Exche-
quer Bills, 4 6 prem. ; India Stock, 247 248.
In the Foreign Market the prices are also the same as they
left off; Spanish Active, 231 4 ; Portuguese, 31* 4; Three
per Cents , 19* 4 ; Deferred, 126 ; Passive, 58 6 ; Biazilian,
71i ; Chilian, 62 64 ; Colombian, 24 23 ; Mexican,
27* 4 ; DutchTvio• and-a-Half per Cents., 50i ; Five per
Cents. 99k.

Shares. -Great Western. 24 25 prem. ; New, 11 12 prem.;
London and Brighton, 8 71 di.. ; Blackwall, 5i 5 dis. ; 13ir-
mingham and Southampton, 57 51 per share; Croydon, 114
12* per share ; Greenwich, 8* 4 per share ; Manchester and
Birmingham, 16* 154 dis.
Thursday next being settling day, in the British Market the
brokers and jobbers are preparing their accounts against that
period. _ _

It is stated in the City that Ministers will have a majority on
the Irish question of about 7 or S.
The Ilriti,h Funds continue in the same slate as in the early
part of the morning, and it is not expected that any operations
of consequence will take place until after the settlement of the
account.

Consols are a shade lower ; at present BSi for the Account ;
Blaney with scarce anything doing ; Exchequer Bills,
6 4 premium; Bank Stock, 1661-{ ; India Stock, 24b; India
Bonds, 10 15 discount.

In the Foreign Market Spanish Active 234, a shade lower;
in Portuguese nothing done; Chilian 63i 64 ; Danish 774 ;
'1 hree per Cents. 19* ; Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cents. SOA ;
Five per Cents. 996 a.
'Shares are lower. Great Western, 814 i ; New, 60} ; Fifths,
9i ; London and Birmingham, 166 ex.-div. ; Quarter Shares,
26} ex.-div. ; Thirds, 66 ex.-div. ; London and South Wes-
tern, 57i.

Portuguese Three per Cents.. 191; nothing done in the
Five per Cents.

CLOSING PRICES.
BRITISH FUNDS.

Bank Stock
3 per Cent, Red B9 Ditto Bonds
3 per Cent Cons ...... .. 88a Ditto Old Annuities
34 per Cent Red........ 974 Ditto New Annuities...
New 34 per Cent .. ... 97 Ex. Bills, 1,000/....21d 4pm
New 5 per Cent ... ...... • Ditto 5001 7pm
Long Annuities to expire Ditto Small 7pm
Jan. 1860
Oct 1859 l2l India Stock for Acct ...
Jan. 1860 Consols for Acct BB4
FOREIGN FUNDS.
A ustrian, 5 per cent... Portuguese, 5 per cent.
Belgian, 5 per cent 994 Ditto, New Ditto.... •
Brazilian Bonds ....
BuenosAyres, 6 per cent 25 Russian, 5 per cent..
Chilian 6 per cent 604 Ditto, Metallic '
Colombian, 6 per cent 214 Spanish, 5 per cent 234
Ditto, 1824 — Ditto, Deferred
Danish, 3 per cent..... 78 French,s _
per cent... —f. —c.
Greek,lB2s, 5 percent. Exchange .. —f. —c.
Mexican, 5 per cent.... 27% French,3 per cent... —f. _e.
Ditto, 6 per cent, 11325 Dutch, 24 per cent ..... 501
Perucian,lB2s,6 per et. 16i Ditto, 5 per cent 994
SHARES.
Edinburgh and Gla'sgow Railway
Great Vk estern Railway (65 paid) BB4
Ditto New Shares (50 paid)
1 Ditto Fifths ( 4 paid)
London and Brighton (50 paid)
424
London and Birmingham Railway (90 pd) 169
Ditto Quarter Shares ( 5 paid) 264
Ditto Thirds ( Z 2 paid)
Ditto New Shares ( 2 paid)
London and Greenwich Railway (20 paid) 84
Ditto New Shares (20 paid) ...
London and South Western 574
London and Croydon Railway ( Trunk)
South Eastern and Dover (33 paid) • 164
COURSE OF EXCHANGE—(YESTERDAY.)
Amsterdam C F. 12 54 Gibraltar
.. 48
Ditto, at sight l2 241 Leghorn.
Rotterdam 2 U. 12 6 ;Genoa
Antwerp l2 54 Milan ..
Hamburgh... ..... M.B. 13 10 IVeniee • . 47
Altona ............. ....... 13 11 ;Naples 404
Paris, 3 days' sight .25 45 'Palermo, per 0Z......... 1194
Ditto,Marseilles
25 70 Lisbon... .. ........... ... 514
m
...... .... 25 75 i Oporto ....... „ .... 52%
Bourdeaux... ••••••
25 75 'Rio Janeiro 2B
Frankfort on Maine... 1494 Bahia 27
Petersburgh, 3 U 5...... 377
sight 46i
3 f t.h. s
INBuevrenyosor Ayres
r2eisdays,
Berlin
Vienna, effec. 11. 3 M lO 2 Philadelphia
46
4 0
Trieste, ditto
Madrid 35% Portugal Gold Coin£o 0 0
Cadiz 354 Foreign Gold, bars.. 317 9
Bilboa • 35 New Doubloons 0 0 0
Barcelona 35 New Dollars 0 4 104
Seville 35 Silver in Bars 05 0i