The Sun.
London, England, 1840-05-20 00:00:00

THE SCOTCH CHURCH.

The Earl of ABERDEEN, in presenting a petition
from Dumfries, in favour of the Bill, which he had intro-
duced for the settlement of the difference which dis-
tracted the Church of Scotland, took that opportunity of
of making one or two observations upon the manner
in which his measure had been spoken of by some
members of the General Assembly. One gentleman, in a
Speech which had been published, denounced the interfe-
rence of the State in this question as a national Si,,,
and said that the object of the Bill was to pull
down the Redeemer from his throne, and trample on his
glories. He was, however, happy to say, the reception
of the Bill in general had exceeded his most sanguine ex-
pectations. He daily received representations from all
classes in Scotland, expressing their approbation of the
measure. And if the approaching Assembly would discuss
the matter calmly and fairly, h trusted it would be re-
ceived and attended with the benefits he was desirous
it should produce. The Noble Earl then presented a pe-
tition from the synod of Dumfries in favour of his Bill.
IRISH CORPORATION BILL
Lord MELBOURNE said in consequence of the
enurse of business in another place he found there was no
ebance of the Bill, which was expected on this subject,
coming up to their Lordships before Friday next, and
be would therefore poseleane their going into Cenimittee
en the Bill until Tuesday, June 2
The Bishop of LL A NDA FF gyve notice that on
Monday next, be should present an important petition
Tiom aierther Tydvil, relative to Church affairs
REGISTRATION OF ARMS.—(IRELAND.
In answer to questions from the Earl of G L ENG AL L,
which were inaudible is the Gallery,
The Marquis of NORMANBY said he had not the
slightest hesitation in saying that the Government had no
knowledge whatever of the intention to murder Mr. West,
nor heard of it until that lamentable event had occurred.
The Noble Earl must be aware that every report was
not true that Was circulated in the papers in Ireland.
With respect to the other question he was in com-
munication with his Noble Friend at the head of
the Government in Ireland, who was at this moment
prepared to make a most vigorous search for arms in the
disturbed districts. But without pledging himself for a fu-
ture period, his Noble Friend was not prepared to press
a measure en the eubject at present.
The Marquis of WESTMEATH asked if the Noble
Marquis was aware that the Act expired at the end of the
present Session ?
The Earl of CHARLE VILLE said that parts of Ire-
land were at present in a very dangerous state. He had
Leen informed by a Magistrate of information which he
bad felt it his duty to sel to the Government, referring to
arms being kept by improper parties, which information
was accompanied by a letter, stating his knowledge of
those parties and their characters, and offered his ser-
vices to the Government in making the search required.
To which the Government answered that the Crown
Counsel bad inquired if the persons named in the in-
formation had registered their arms, and if not, that the
tact should be stated in the information, and also the
grounds for the informant's belief that they bad arms
illegally in their possession. But the Government never
could get such an information since it would be
at the peril of life to give it.—( Hear, hear.)
Me thought a heavy responsibility rested upon the Minis-
ters fur refusing assistance in search for arms which had
been required. The Noble Earl went on to detail a num-
ber of outrages which had taken place in Ireland ; and
said that within six months there had been twenty-two
eases within the county of Limerick, for which only two
Persons had been brought to trial. He also complained of
the police, who appeared to think their promotion depended
rather on their inactivity than on their vigilant services.
The Earl of DEVON said, from the information he
Possessed, he did not think the Noble Earl was warranted
in saying that, because there were disturbances in a parti-
cular part, they were general throughout the country.
That part of the county of Limerick with which he was
:connected, had become progressively more and more
cietiet. The people were now well ordered and well con-
dueeed, and he thought. to show a want of confidence in them
woulia have a prejudicial effect in the neighbourhood. He
thought it his duty to a large population and to his own
feelings to Lear this testimony.
The Marquis of NORMANBY said it was not the in-
tention of the Government to leave Ireland without an
Arms Act, still he believed his Noble Friend was misin-
formed as to the expiration of the Act. He was very
glad that he had given way to the Noble Earl.
He could not but contrast the mariner in which the inquiry
was made, with the tone in which the Noble Earl opposite
thought proper to vent his temper, and to take upon
himself, on the strength of the rumours which he
bad heard, to throw imputations on his Noble Friend at the
head of the Irish Government, and which he was sure the
Noble Earl would be glad to have an opportu-
nity of retracting. The Noble Earl (Charleville)
said that the police throughout the country
thought that their promotion depended not on the
activity, in the discharge of their duty, but on the
neglect of it. Did the Noble Earl know the extent of
that accusation ? Did he know that the whole of the evi-
dence on the inquiry into the state of Ireland was against
that statement, and that the tranquillity of the country
Was declared in the Report to have been owing to the man-
ner in which that maligned force performed its duty ?
Lard CHARLEVIL LE said that if the Noble
Viscount would move for a Committee to inquire into
the facts he would second the motion.—(Laughter.)
The Noble Lord would find that the place where 200 men
Met in arms was between three police stations, and that
the police could not but have heard the shots which bad
been fired on the occasion. He could produce evidence
that the police did not do their duty. He could
Prove that the police were paralysed and pre-
vented from doing their duty under the local
Magistrates. Was the Noble Marquis aware that
even in cases of murder; the police having a warrant
Placed in their hands, dare not execute it without going
to their snperiors. He maintained that the police bad
neglected their duty ; and he repeated, that if the Noble
Marquis would move for a Committee to inquire, he would
second the motion.—( Laughter. )
The Marquis of NORMANBY said the Noble Earl had
brought an accusation against the Irish Government and
against the distinguished officer (Col. Magregor) who was
at the head of the police force in Ireland, and stated
that the force was paralysed in its duty by the hope
of obtaining rewards, not for the performance of their duty,
but for the neglect of it. When the Noble Earl made the
charge it was to him the responsibility was attached of
proving ie and it was not for him ( Lord Normanby) to
call for a Committee to disprove it.—( Ikea, hear.)
If the Noble Earl brought any prcof before him that the
police refused to act upon the warrant of a local Magis-
trate, then he would say not that the whole police force
was paralysed, but that that policeman had not done his
Atty.
The Marquis of WESTMEATH said notwithstanding
the teiumpliant tone of the Noble Marquis, he believed it
would el found that the police generally had not done
their elute; It was his intention in a very few days
to move for the various orders and directions
given to the police in Ireland, and it would then be seen