The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-29 00:00:00

been greatly greatly neglected and badly used; that her mind was
evidently rambling and unsound, and that it was from feel-
ings of humanity they had caused her to be removed.
Mr. PARRY said he had moved for the writ on two grounds
—one was, that the alleged insanity had not been established,
and the other was, that the certificates did not confer sufficient
i authority for taking her into custody. The Learned Gentle-
man was proceeding, when
The LORD CIIIEF JUSTICE intimated it would be better
for their Lordships to see the lady first before bearing the
argument, and to inquire of her whether she desired to leave
her present residence, and to see whether she appeared to be
insane or not.
It was then arranged that she should be taken into the
room of the Lord Chief Justice, and examined in the presence
of the Learned Judges and the counsel on both sides.
Their Lordships then retired. On their return,
The LORD CHIEF-JUSTICE said it was perfectly plain, from
the interview they had, that the lady had no mind of her own.
It was perfectly rambling and unconnected, and she did not
express any wish either to leave where she was or remain
there. She appeared to have no wish any way.
Mr. PARRY said he still maintained that she ought not to
be detained in custody, as the authority was insufficient for
her detention.
The COURT wished to know on whose authority the
Learned Gentleman appeared.
Mr. PARRY said he appeared on behalf of Dr. Quail.
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE said that some grounds should
be set forth why Dr. Quail_ interfered. Upon what autho-
rity did he do so?
Mr. Justice Matrix said it was evident from the lady's
statement that she had expressed no wish to leave Dr.
Millingen's. If she was sane, as alleged by Mr. Parry,
then as she had expressed no desire to leave,
nor had instructed any one to act on her behalf,
the first ground on which the Learned Gentleman
moved on, could not be entertained.
Mr. PARRY contended that, whether the lady was sane or
not at present, what they had to do with was the state of
the lady on the 9th of August last, when she was
taken into custody ; and also the validity of the order
on which she was placed in the custody of Dr. Millingen.
He maintained the custody was improper, and the ground
on which he made that statement were the affidavits adduced.
The Act under which the proceedings had taken place was a
public Act of Parliament, and their Lordships should be
careful how they construed it, affecting as it did the liber-
ties of an unfortunate class of individuals. The affidavits
filed did prove the sanity of the lady on the 9th of August,
and this he wished to press on the consideration of the Court.
The LORD CIHEF JUSTICE thought otherwise. He was
decidedly of opinion that, according to the affidavits of the
Rev. J. C. Rowland and the two surgeons, the lady must
have been insane on the 9th of August. No sane woman
would have stayed in apartments with one man only, and
without female attendants, or have been found in the state
she was described when the medical gentlemen were called in.
After some further discussion,
The Cot= finally decided that they would neither be
consulting the public interest nor the lady's by making any
order in the case. The application for the release
of the lady must therefore be dismissed. They saw
no good to arise from going into the validity of the certifi-
cates on which she was committed, judging, as they did,
from the circumstances, that any order they would make,
taking her from her present custody, would be to her pre-
ndice and harm.
The writ was accordingly dismissed. _

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
MANSION-HOUSE.
Mr. Austen, the proprietor of Peel's Coffee-house and
Hotel, waited upon the Lord Mayor for the purpose of repre-
senting to his Lordship a certain description of annoyance tb
which he had been subjected since last August, and which
was calculated to do much mischief to the establishment.
Mr. Austen stated that an advertisement appeared in the
Manchester Guardian on the 26th of August last, headed,
" Matrimony," and requesting that answer might be sent ad-
dressed to ".T. A. D., Peel's Coffee-house, Fleet-street, Lon-
don." He did not think it necessary to notice the liberty
taken with his house until letters began to arrive directed to
"T. A. D." lie then wrote to the editor of the Manchester
Guardian, complaining of the insertion of the unauthorised
reference to his house, and publication was at once given to
the denial. Answers continued, notwithstanding, to pour in
and some of them were, to all appearance, the effusions of
respectable women, who seemed to place reliance upon the
candour of the writer, and to deal with the utmost explicitness
on the subject of their own condition, prospects, and personal
recommendations.
The Louts. MAYOR said, the observations of Mr. Austen
brought to his recollection the fact that Corder, the mur-
derer, had'obtained a wife by means of an advertisement, so
that ladies who trusted to that delicate sort of introduction
might meet with partners who would not hesitate to perpe-
trate the most atrocious of all offences.
Mr. Austell said, that one of the letters which had been
directed to "T. A. D." surprised him very much. It pro-
fessed to be the writing of the brother-in-law of a young
lady of moderate personal attractions and pretty good pro-
perty, and it invited the.advertiser to his house to see the
lady, who was to be kept in total ignorance of the object of
the introduction; so that if a mutual liking was not likely
to arise from the acquaintance, a termination could be at
once put to it without the least chance of inflicting pain.
The LORD MAYOR—You, of course, refused to deliver up
those letters? Mr. Austen—Most certainly I did, my Lord.
Application was made to me for the letters addressed to
"'f. A. D.," and a solicitor of respectability called upon me to
demand them peremptorily; but I not only indignantly re-
_ fused to deliver up one of them, but I told the person who
applied to me, that I should hold him up to public contempt
C,r engaging in so disgraceful a transaction, for being, in
fact, involved in the disgusting conspiracy.
'File Loaf) MAyos—You did perfectly right.
Mr. Austen said, that since the advertisement appeared
and had been contradicted in the Manchester Guardian, a

matrimonial advertisement had appeared in a London news-
paper of a very great circulation and respectability, referring
to " A. Y., at Peele's Coffee-house." It had been ascertained
that Mr. A. Y.," in search of a wife, was no other than
Mr. " T. A. D.," who had tainted the pages of the Manches-
-Ur Guardian, and he begged that his Lordship would let him
know what was the most advisable course to be adopted
before a magistrate to put an end to so injurious a system.
The fellow, no doubt, calculated something upon the fact or
the pretence stated in his advertisement, that he belonged to
the legal profession, for exciting apprehensions as to his hos-
tility. Ile stated in the newspaper that he was one of that
elas, 5 feet II inches high, and proportionately stout ; that
he would be found very useful to widow ladies who might be
entitled to property from their deceased husbands' estates, or
the estates of others, and that he would exclusively devote
his attention to the comforts of any lady with whom he might
be united.—( Laughter.)
The Loft MAYOR naid, he did not believe that Mr. Austen
could have adopted a better course for the prevention of any
mischief to his establishment, than that of complaining pub-
licly that his house was stigmatised by being made a reference
for adurtisements from matrimonial adventurers. lie thought
that the mere statement would have the desired effect. If,
however, there should be any repetition of such offensive
conduct, Mr. Austen could call at the justice-room, and pro-
bably would receive advice to pursue another course; and it
might then be necessary, with the view of setting the matter
at rest, to publish all the curious documents which had fallen
into his hands.

SOUTHWARK.
Yesterday Inspector Yates, who was on duty at the sta-
tion-house, and entered the charge on the police -sheet
against William Bwfirld, the night porter at the Catherine
Wheel inn, on suspicion of stealing 300/. from one of the
guests in his employer's house, under the circumstances
detailed in our police report of the preceding day, at-
tended for the purpose of announcing the recovery of the
complainant's pocket-book and its contents. The inspector
was accompanied by Mr. Gunder, the landlord of the Cathe-
rine Wheel, and also by Burfield, the man charged with
the offence, who was admitted to bail on the previous day
until the next examination. The inspector stated that
while on duty that morning at the station he received a
message from the Phoenix Gas Works, on bankside, and
on proceeding thither he had an interview with Mr.
Munro, the manager of the works, who informed him that
a pocket-book containing 3001. had been found by one of
their men in the street, and handed over to him, and that it
was then in his possession. The pocket-book and its contents
were then exhibited to the inspector, who found in it a 100/.
and four 501. Bank of England notes, together with several
memoranda, and, on examining them, he at once saw that
it was the pocket-book and property belonging to the gentle.
man who had charged the night porter at the Catherine
Wheel with stealing it while taking off one of his boots in
that house.
Mr. Edwin, the chief clerk, inquired under what circum-
stances the money had been found? The inspector said that
he was given to understand that a man named Wm. Cox,
foreman to the above gas works, left home on Wednesday
morning to proceed to Bankside, and that when he got about
the distance of fifty feet from the Catherine Wheel, he
kicked against something that was lying on the pavement,
at the same side of the way, close to a coffee-shop near
Adam's-place; that on picking it up he found it to be a
Pocket-book, and on opening it and finding Bank notes to a
large amount inside, when he arrived at the gas works he
immediately communicated the circumstance of the finding
of the money to Mr. Munro, to whom he delivered up the
property, and in whose possession it would remsin until the
next examination.
Mr. Gunder said, he considered a great injustice had been
committed by Mr. Skipper, the owner of the 300 t, in giving
the night-porter of the Catherine Wheel into custody on so
serious a charge as that of stealing the money. He thought
that his servant would have good grounds for an action for
false imprisonment against the complainant, and that he( Mr.
Gunder) and his friends would take care and furnish the ac-
cused with the money requisite to commence the proceedings
to which he alluded.
Mr. Edwin remarked, that the present was not the period
to threaten an action, while the man might still be consi-
dered in custody, being liberated on bail, to answer at a
future examination the charge preferred against him. He
then proceeded to make the following inquiries of the in-
spector respecting the exact time at which the pocket-book
and its contents were found in the street, as above described;
from which it appeared that the accused was given into cus-
tody about a quarter before six o'clock on Wednesday morn-
ing, at the Catherine Wheel; that the policeman, with his
prisoner, accompanied by Mr. Skipper, his friend Mr. West,
and Air. Gunder, the landlord of the inn, proceeded together
from that house at tile time mentioned, and on their way to
the station-house, at the rear of this court, passed the very
spot where the pocket-book with the 3001. in it was picked
up by the man Cox at five minutes to six o'clock, being
about ten minutes after the above parties had passed on their
road to have the charge entered against the man accused of
the robbery. From the inspector's statement, it was evident the
pocket-book was dropped after the parties left the Catherine
Wheel to go to the station-house ; that Mr. Skipper, the
owner of the money, and his friend Mr. West, had not
passed the spot previously, for they drove up in a cab to the
gate of the Catherine Wheel yard, and on alighting imme-
diately went into that house, showing that the former could
not by possibility have dropped his money in the place where
it was subsequently found.
Mr. Gunder said, the night porter was searched by a
policeman before they left the Catherine Wheel to proceed
to the station-house, and that, therefore, he could not have
been the person who had dropped the pocket-book in the
situation where it was afterwards found. He added that he
considered it incumbent to make some inquiries as to who
and what Mr. Skipper was, and where he and his friend had
been from the time of leaving the theatre until they arrived
at the Catherine Wheel, at a quarter before five o'clock in
the morning.
thlSelrii.nEdidn:in said, there was no doubt that Mr. Skipper I
would have no objection in giving the desired information ; I
he was not, however, as vet informed of the circumstance of
order that he mightattend on the day of the next exa•
urination ofotrhhel'nev;
in
be entered into accused,relative to the extraordinary circumstances
frond. pocket-book, containing the 300!., was

lIUNDER-STORM AT NOTTINGIIAM. A heavy
storm of thundei, lightning and rain, accompanied with
boisterous wind, passed over the town of Nottingham on
Tuesday night last. The rain, especially about midnight,
fell in torrents, and the wind blew something like a hurricane.
2o particular damage raz clime in, the t07f13 QC Utiglll4Quarxdt

131 PERI

AMEN T.

HOUSE OF LORDS, Jan. 28.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Wool-

sack at Five o'clock.
POSTAL ARRANGEMENTS, &c.
Lord CLARENDON laid ou the table of the House
papers relative to the postal convention between 'Great
Britain and Prussia, France, and Denmark; an aeconnt
of the fees received in the offices of the Second Remem-
brancer of Ireland ; an account of the supplies remain-
ing in the Mint ; and a report from the Commissioners
of the Public Works in Ireland.
Lord BROUGHAM said that the papers laid upon
the table, more especially those relating to the foreign
postal arrangements, were of the highest importance,
but there was one objection to which he wished to
call the attention of the Noble Lord, as respected Italy.
The Noble Lord was aware that it was not necessary to
prepay in this country letters addressed to France, Bel- I
gium, or Holland; neither was it necessary that indivi-
duals in those countries should prepay letters addressed
to Great Britain ; but the same law unfortunately did
not apply to Italy, and he (Lord Brougham) was in the
habit of receiving large packets of letters, fre-
quently of the most worthless character, which,
as they were almost invariably marked " private,"
he took in and paid for. He paid four shillings
on one morning for a long account of some individual's
experiments in galvanism—(Laughter)—and the only
revenge he had was doing up the communication in
stout brown paper, and. addressing it to the party who
originally sent it.—(Laughter.)
THE LAW OF SETTLEMENT.
Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition, signed by
the mayor, several justices, five aldermen, the incumbent
and other clergymen of East Looe, and two hundred of the
most respeestable inhabitants, praying fur an alteration in
the law of settlement.
DISTRESS IN IRELAND.
Lord BROUGHAM expressed his opinion that it
would be desirable that their Lordships should be fur-
nished as soon as possible with a copy of the Bill for
the further provision for the relief of the poor in Ire-
land. The Noble and Learned Lord went on to say that
he had been obliged to leave the House before the con-
clusion of the debate on Monday night, and his Noble
Friend opposite (Earl Fitzwilliam) in alluding to that
circumstance said that he had gone off like gun cotton,
and left no residuum.—(Laughter.) He should be sorry
to say anything unnecessarily to interfere with the si-
tmile of his Noble Friend whose poetical genius they
would all admit., but a simile should always convey a
likeness, and in the simile of his Noble Friend, there
was no likeness, inasmuch as his whole speech was
founded on the residue which he had left behind him.
His Noble Friend had stated that his (Lord Brougham's)
speech had been de omnibus rebus et quibusdam aliis, but
that would apply more correctly to the multifarious
speech of his Noble Friend himself.—(Laughter.) With
respect to the state of the Irish poor, it was desirous that
their Lordships should be furnished with the fullest in-
information, and he was able:to:state that from additional
information which he had recently received, there were in
Liverpool between 25 and 26,000 persons receiving relief '
at the soup kitchen, out of which number more than
22 000 were destitute Irish persons.—(Hear, hear.) He
would not say much upon the subject of soup kitchens
on that occasion merely, but would allude to the circum-
stances as a proof of the extent of the distress, and
state a fact of which he had been informed of in connec-
tion with the management of the Liverpool soup kitchen.
It appeared that certain persons of exalted station in
Liverpool had from religious feelings on the subject of
the observance of the Sabbath, chosen to prevent the
opening of the soup kitchen on Sundays, and thus to
deprive 25,000 persons of relief on that day— (Oh, oh)—
forgetting the example of the Redeemer. When the
apostles were rebuked for plucking ears of wheat on
their Sabbath he interfered, and that circumstance
called forth the beautiful passage in the Scriptures in
which the Saviour asked if a mr n's ox or his ass fell
into a pit on the Sabbath, would he not relieve him that
day?—(Hear, hear.) He (Lord Brougham) dared to
say that those misguided people—those zealots who ob-
ject to the use of the soup kitchen on the Sabbath,
had eaten comfortable dinners that day, and had al-
lowed their servants to cook them.—(" Hear, hear," and
cheers.) This mixing up of religious fanaticism with the
cause of charity and benevolence, was one of the greatest
curses that could be experienced.—(Hear, hear, from
all parts of the House.) An individual connected with
agitation had been reported to have said that the mo-
ney raised in this country for the relief of the destitute
in Ireland, was to be used for the purpose of making
converts from the Catholic religion, whilst the people
were suffering. That individual had denied the truth
of the statement, but he (Lord Brougham) would ear-
nestly direct the attention of their Lordships to the
opinions which two individuals he should name held in
reference to it. The Rev. Mr. Bickersteth recommends
a fund of 20,0001. to be raised for the purpose of sending
missionaries to Ireland to strike while the iron was hot.
Now that was as bad a thing as he ever heard from
priest or layman.—(Hear, hear, from both sides of the
House.) It was one of the most wicked things which
could be done to sow dissension at a time like
the present when charity and benevolence ought to pre-
vail amongst all: But there was a most re-
spectable banker in the city of London who stated that
no one but an infidel could doubt that the present state
of Ireland was a judgment of Providence caused by the
May n-)oth grant.—(Laughter.) That gentleman did not
I agree in opinion with Mr. Addison, expressed in one of '
the ablest papers of the Spectator, the object of that
paper being to chide those who pretended to be always
finding things to be judgments of Divine Providence.--,
(near, hear.) They had always heard that the ways of
Providence were inscrutable, but such individuals would
affect to understand and to describe the inscrutable views
of Providence.
Earl FITZ WILLIAM was exceedingly glad that
he had given the Noble and Learned Lord
an opportunity of stating what he had done.
fie thought some official information ought to be
afforded them on the subject. He only wanted
to say one other word about this judgment question.
It was most extraordinary that these gentlemen
who were so confident upon the matter, did not perceive
that it was not the Protestant Parliament of England
that was suffering from the visitation. In point of fact
the evil had fallen upon the individuals in whose behalf
they became sinners, so that the sinners themselves had
escaped.—( Hear, hear.)
The subject then dropped.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE presented a petition
from the relief committee of Cork, praying Govern-
ment to adopt measures for the speedy importation of
corn into Ireland.
THE LAW OF SETTLEMENT.
Lord WALSING HAM presented a petition from
Norfolk against the present law of settlement.
Earl FITZ WILLIAM said the Noble Lord (Lord
Walsingham) was probably aware that a great move-
ment was commenced in Norwich in favour of what was
called a national rate; that was, in fact, to take the
maintenance of the poor from under the local rate, and
throw it on.the Consolidated Fund. Now of all the
schemes which were likely to be mischievous to the
poor, thii, of throwing their maintenance on a
national rate, was the very worst—(Hear, hear)—
for under it there would be an end of all the indepen-
deuce of the lower classes themselves. He would be
bound to say, that the moment the local board had the
management of the Consolidated Poor Fund in their
power, a scene of wasteful extravagance would ensue
which would have no parallel.
Lord WALSINGHAM said that he entirely agreed
with the prayer of the petitioners, on the mischiefs
which arose under the present poor-law distribution ;
for the interest which the rate-payers had in keeping
clown the poor rate operated greatly against the poor
man in his desire to gain employment. He was sorry
that at present there wore no inducements held out for
industry or good conduct.
IRELAND. •
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE laid on the table of
the House all• the correspondence which had taken place
with the Commissariat of Ireland and the Board of
Works, relative to the distress which at present existed
there.

MILLBANK PRISON.

The NOBLE MARQUIS also laid on the table the re-
port of the Commissioners who were appointed to inquire
into the management of the„Millbank prison, with copies
of the evidence taken before them.
The House then adjourned.

house vith 15) more persons than it was built to accom-.
modate. Thc pe?Otitioß-LAon prayW REMOVed for inquALiry and-relief.
Mr. 3 3ANK?S presented petitions from several places
in Corn :wall, ?raying for an immediate amendment or
total rei oft TEN Poor-
HlawOURS' BILL. Amendment Act.
Mr. I'UKNKES also presented a petition from Bury
in favour .of the Ten Hours' Bill.
TOBACCO DUTIES.

Dr. TO WRING gave notice that to-morrow it was
his intention to move for returns relative to the tobacco
duties.

MONTPENSIER MARRIAGE.
Mr. said he would on an early day ask a
question of the Noble Lord the Secretary of Foreign
Affairs with respect to the correspondence which had
taken p /seem ledween the Governments of England and
Spainlresi ,ectirg the Montpensier Marriage.
(STER,I AL MEASURES (IRELAND).
Mr. RC )EBt CK said that he would move upon an
early day, as additions to the plan announced by her
Majesty's Ministers for relieving the existing distress
in Ireland—firs, an appropriation of the revenues of the
Irish Church fir the purposes ef a more general and
extended eduction ; secondly, to extend the income
and pi sel2erty-tsx to Ireland; thirdly, to alter
the Pees r Removal Act in such a manner as to
allow Terent iarishes of England to send back to
their own parish!s all Irish paupers, at the expense of
the sever parisies to which they belonged.
POOR-LAW (IRELAND).
Me;I7CILLIANS gave notice that he would move
that the second reading of the Poor-law (Ireland) Bill,
and air ,o the V 4 hile of its other stages, should take
precedb awe of all other measures under the considera-
tion of the House.
Lord G. BENTINCK gave notice that he should ask
for leav ato bring is a Bill to stimulate the profitable
employ} ['sent of th' poor in Ireland, by the encourage-
ment of the constrwtion of Irish railways.
OCCUIATION OF CRACOW.
Mr. HUME gave notice of his intention to move for a
copy of the notice it presentation made by the Russian
Envoy, dated the oth of January, to the Court of
Switzerland, with respect to the federal contract of
Vienna,. Telative to the annexation of Cracow.
DISTLESS IN IRELAND.
Mr. BOOEBUCK said he should take that opportunity
of asking : a question, of which he had already given
notice, o f the Noble Lord at the head of the
Government. He assumed that the Noble Lord, in all
the aches sos for the relief of distress in Ireland, must
have a mule some calculation—ho did not mean to say a
very n' see one—as to the probable amount of money re-
quired for that purpose ; and if the Noble Lord had
made that calculation as to the probable amount, he
must have fully entertained in his own mind some pro-
position, assisted by tie Chancellor of the Exchequer,
with r rference to the means of raising the sums which he
requir ed for that purpaie.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL, in answer to the Hon. and
Learn ed Gentleman, stated that up to the Ist January
the ar wont of money issued from the Exchequer was
one minion. There had been at that moment an
additional million, so that altogether the amount
issued. up to the present moment was two millions,
which •would be expended under the Labour-rate Act.
With regard to the commissariat department, it was im-
possible yet to make anything like an accurate estimate.
link= the existing Act, however, if the expenditure
went on in the sates ratio as at present, the out-
lay Tinder the Labour-rate Act would not be
less than from 50e,000/. to 600,0001. a month,
which. up to August next might be calculated, in round
numl sers, at seven millions. By the plan which the Go
vern, merit proposed tc introduce, he apprehended that a
considerable reduction would take place in the expen-
diture under the existing Act—how much he
was not in a position to say. With regard to
the financial plan, ho thought it was better to
reserve what he had to say on that point for a
separate financial statement : whether that statement
sLould be made before the ordinary time or not he could
not then say, but ample time would be given to the Hon.
Gentleman.
Mr. ROEBUCK did not think that the Noble Lord
had ,given a clear answer to his question. He put it
with a view to ascertain the cost of all the plans, as he
was desirous to know the probable expenditure of the
whole plan.
Le OHN RUSSELL—The Hon. Gentleman's
question referred only to the present expenses which
were incurred in Ireland, and, he believed, asked
what would be the probable expense of the improve.
merits made in that country. With the Honourable
Gentleman, he regretted that there had not been the
same advantage obtained from the employ
meat of the money voted last session, but he
should recollect that the sum of 1,000,000/. was voted
under what was called the Drainage Act, and it was not
wise to. complain of the provisions of that Act. But
with respect to the construction of that Act, he might
reply that it was not intended to alter either the time,
or the amount of interest, or the period at which the
principal was to be paid up, so that the provisions of the
Drainr go Act remained unaltered.
PUBLIC WORKS IN IRELAND.
Mr. S. O'BRIEN wished to ask the Right Hon. Ba-
ronet at the Head of the Home Department, whether it
was intemded to alter the system pursued in the employ-
ment of labourers in the public works of Ireland?
Sir G. GREY said that there were, doubtless, many
abuses, bait, from the nature of the circumstances, it
would be impossible to prevent them ; as soon as pos-
sible a in are strict supervision would be exercised, and
the system should be altered.
Mr. S.. O'BRIEN—Was there any statement of the
money expanded on the public works ?
Sir GEORGE GREY—The Hon. Member will find
them in the Treasury minutes.
IRISH PAUPERS AND LUNATICS.
Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN moved fcr a return of the
number of paupers admitted into each workhouse in
Ireland during the year 1846 ; number discharged
during same period ; number died during same period ;
number in. house on each Saturday since the Ist day ot
November, 1846, showing the number which each
workhouse was originaly constructed to receive ;
number ill of fever, of scarlatina, of dysentery,
or of contagious diseases, on each Saturday, showing
the number which the sick war.l or hospital
attached to each workhouse was originally constructed
to receive; number who died during each week since the
Ist day of November, 1816, distinguishing such as died
of contagions diseases in each workhouse, or in any
hospital or ward attached to such workhouse; number of
paupers affected with fever, or other febrile contagious
diseases, transferred to any hospital under the fifteenth
clause of the Poor-law Amendment Act of 1843;
number of lunatics transferred to any lunatic asylum from
each workhouse during the years 1844, 1845, and 1846;
of any
PoorcommunlawiComm cations
sinners,
e
-is
copies of all communications made by the Poor-law
Commissioners to boards of guardians on the sanatory
or of minutes of proceeding
the prevalence of disease in workhouses; of any instruc-
tionss of such boards, respecting
bs tya t
be
of
boards ur ka
rhdoi
n to thes
given by the Poor-law Commissioners to any phy-
sicians or surge.ons, to inquire into the nature and ex-
tent of disease in any workhouse, and into the cause of
oasheofw g°
such disease, together with the reports of such physi-
cians or surgeons thereupon.
THE QUEEN'S LETTER.
Mr. HAMILTON wished to know from the Right
Hon. Baronet, the Secretary of State for the Home
Department, whether the funds, which might be col-
lected in the different churches, through the Queen's
letter, would be administered to the starring poor of
Ireland, through the Commissioners who had been ap-
pointed, or whether they would be dispensed by the
clergy of the Established Church of Ireland ?
Sir G. GREY said it was the intention of the Go-
vernment that the funds so collected should be placed at
the disposal
, of the committee recently established in
relief to
London for afforeling - the destitute poor in
Ireland and Scotland, the members of which bore a
high character, which was a sufficient guarantee that
the funds would be properly applied. Many of them
and members of the relief and local
were clergymen
committees, and as they aet in concert with the Govern-
ho contributed to the fund would have the
went, those w
satisfaction of knowing that the relief would be properly
dispensed.

muF,B wished to ask the Hon. Gentleman
the
the Admiralty whether it was the TIDAL HARBOURS.
An oN.
Secretary
of HM%
in-
tention of the Government to proceed with the Bill for
regulating the tidal harbours in its present state, or
whether it WO their intention to propono another
Bill upon the subject, from which the obnoxious clauses
would be expunged.
Mr. WARD stated that the Bill referred to had
b before the House for upwards of six months,
than
at it originated from the report of the Commission
appointed to inquire into the subject, but inconsequence
of the determined opposition it had met with from some
very powerful quarters, it was not the
intention of the
Government to proceed with the measure
in its existing
in regard
state. There was no person, however, who would not
concur in the desirableness and absolute necessity of
adopting some very stringenatemcoeradsuurlges
tuopothnethneotsitciebjeheet
of
Sir
re
DtlalLhAaerbl7ErsvoAf
Ntlisi,s country.
had given, asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer or the
Secretary at War, what arrangement had been made,
according to the promise of last session, for.plac _
inB the
troops serving in some of. our colonies on an
etoquarlatfiooontingstowppitahgetah?ose
lie
er-ring at home,
also asked the First
Lord of the Treasury if they might expect
immediately on the table of the House, to be printed'
the report (and accompanying ments) of the In-
spector General of Military Schodolocs, u
relative to the mili-
tary schools of France, Prussia, and. other States, in
connexion with their military institutions ; it being im-
portant that Members should have the opportunity of
considering the information thus obtained before the
army estimates are discussed.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
that, with regard to the first question of his Honourable
and Gallant Friend, he could assure him that the sub-
ject had been under the consideration of the Secretary
of t
would
the
takensury andt o theear Secretarycarry
the
ea r ,i
natnod
emeansfi
e.
With regard to the second question, the report
and documents requested by the Noble and Gal-
lant
.Officer would be laid upon the table as soon
as possible for the information of Hon. Members.
BUENOS AYRES—EX.ECUTION OF AN
___

ENGLISH OFFICER.
Mr. ROSS said he had given notice to the Secretary of
War of his intention of asking two questions of painful
interest, which involved in his opinion not only the welfare
of their gallant sailors, but also the national honour.
These questions had reference to the conduct of General
Roses in his capacity of an official of Buenos Ayres.
Three vessels, under the joint flag of the French and
English Governments, had succeeded in capturing a prize
which they found impossible to remove, and which they
consequently burned. Mr. President Rosas immediately
isatiec, a manifesto, declaring that the war, as carried

on, was piratical, and that he would treat every British
or French officer that fell in his power after the manner
of pirates. This was not an empty threat. A British
officer of the name of Wardlow was seized upon while
under the protection of a flag of truce. He belonged to her
Majesty's ship Racer, and the whale-boat in which he had
been reconnoitering, having been stranded, he displayed
a flag of truce; it was answered by another, and he ac-
cepted the invitation like a gallant, frank sailor, as he
was, although it was against the advice of some of
his friends. He had not been long departed
when a whale-boat was seen advancing, and
the voice of the gallant officer was heard
shouting to his crew " I have been sold, I
have been sold, fire and defend yourselves." The crew
escaped; and when Mr. Wardlow was demanded of the
authorities they replied that he had fallen in the skirmish.
His body wee. then demanded—but they were ashamed or
afraid to give it up, lest their guilt:too became known. But
the whole truth had become known. Mr. Wardlow had
been taken before the commandant, and he had
told him that if he made his crew surrender it
would be the better for bim. The gallant young
gentleman, however, chose rather deliberately
to sacrifice his own life for the sake of his crew and the
honour of his flag.—(Hear, hear.) Being brought back
to the commandant, he ordered him to instant execution.
First of all they cut off his fingers and ears, and then
put him to a lingering death.: His (Mr. R.'s) heart
swelled with emotion when he thought of the fate of
that young man. He wished now, therefore, to know from
the Noble Lord whether, on the promulgation of the de-
cree of Roses, any remonstrance had been made by the
Noble Lord; and secondly, whether any correspondence
had ensued, and with what result.
Lord PALMERSTON was sure the Hon. Gentle-
man would excuse him if he declined entering into any
discussion on the state of the nations bordering on the
River pate. He hoped the steps now in progress would
lead to a satisfactory termination of the distressing state of
things which existed in that quarter. With regard to
the officer referred to, various statements had come to
his ears. One sated that he had been killed in a skir-
mish, and another gave a different account of the trans-
action, but that was the first time he (Lord Palmerston)
had heard of the mutilations described. In consequence,
however, of the representations made with respect to
the occurrence, the Admiralty did instruct Sir Thomas
Herbert, the admiral on the station, to make inquiry
into the case, and to report upon it. That report he
had not yet received. With regard to the statement
alleged to be made in the proclamation of Roses, that
an officer acting under the authority of his superiors
should be treated as a pirate, there was but one way, of
course, to deal with it.
CRACOW.
Mr. HUME wished to ask the Noble Lord whether
he had any objection to lay on the table of the House a
copy of the whole of the papers that had passed with
respect to Cracow?
Lord PALMERSTON hoped to do so in the course
of a day or two.
TREATY OF VIENNA.

Mr. HUME begged to ask whether the Noble Lord
had any objections to lay upon the table of the House a
copy of the convention that was entered into by the
Three Powers in 1834, which especially confirmed the
terms of the treaty of Vienna?
Lord PALMERSTON was not quite prepared, on the
part of the Government, to giro an answer to the
question.
Mr. HUME.—Some such power had been given by
that convention to take possession of Cracow by the
three Powers.
Lord PALMERSTON should have no objection to
give to the House all the information he possessed.
Mr. MONCKTON MILNES said, that at the same
time, perhaps, the Noble Lord would have no objection
to present to the House any papers that related to the
non-appointment of consuls at Cracow.
Lord PALMERSTON said that he had previously
stated to the House that it was inexpedient for the
public service to answer this question ; and the same
obstacles remain at the present moment, in consequence
of the relation to this country of the three Powers to
whom allusion had been made.
NAVAL ARC HITECTURE.

...
Lord INGESTRE wished to ask whether there was
any objection to lay on the table of the House any papers
that had been communicated with regard to the Com-
mittee of Naval Architecture? He also wished to ask
whether any report of the Committee of Reference had
been made to the Admiralty, and if so, whether there was
any objection to lay that report on the table.? It would
be recollected that there were three members of that
board, and that two of them had been promoted ; he
wished.. also to ask whether, in the event of the ship
constructed by that board turning out successful, it was
intended to promote the third member, as they had pro-
moted the other two members of that board.
Mr. WARD said a similar question was put to him
the other night by his Hon. Friend the Member for
Montrose (Mr. Hume), who wished to move for returns
on the subject, and he told him, in reply, that the naval
reports in question had not yet been brought be-
fore the attention of the Admiralty, but he was
in a position to state that they would be very
satisfactory, and also that there would be no
objection to lay them on the table of the House. All
the reports that had been received respecting the Thetis
had been most satisfactory, as they were to the effect
that that ship would justify the expectations entert tined
of her. He had much pleasure in informing the Noble
Lord that the Admiralty, without waiting for a confirma-
tion of this report, had removed Mr. Chadwick from
Devonport to the office of . master shipwright at Wool-
wich. . SEED FOR IRELAND.
• Mr. TUITE inquired what steps the Government had
taken to obtain a supply of seed for Ireland.
Mr. LABOUCIIERE could only refer to the declara-
tion made the other evening by the First Lord of the
Treasury, that it was the intention of Government to
' afford every facility to supply seed to those persons for
whom
respectit was
to
on intended;
nd esdo, 0
; :rod:, rsh
he
ea
od u beenld only
n l
yg isvaeln, to
that i f
up-
wards of 200 persons to furnish the necessary supply.
With
it was found insufficient, it was competent for Parlia-
ment to make an:additional grant.
CONDITION OF CONVICTS IN THE lIULKS
AT WOOLWICH.

Mr. DUNCOMI3E then rose to move for the appoint-
ment of a Select Committee to inquire into the condition
of convicts in the hulks at Woolwich. He said he had
been given to understand that it was the intention of the
Government to consent to the appointmen of the Com-
mittee. If he was correct in this assumption,
he would be saved from making painful state-
ments, and the House from hearing facts which
they could not fail to consider both distressing and dis-
gusting. He thought that the proper time to enter into
the question of prison discipline ; but, however, he
should confine himself this evening to a narration of
the cruelties of which he had to complain. • lie
thought those cruelties were of a nature to demand
such an inquiry as the one he sought. It might be
necessary to inform the House, in the first instance,
how those persons found their way to the hulks. The
report of Mr. Capper for 1845, together with the sur-
geon's report thereon, had been furnished to the House.
He stated that the prisoners from such depots as
Woolwich and Portsmouth were in a bad and unhealthy
state, and unfit, from age aid infirmities, tube sent abroad.
The hulks at Woolwich were established for what was
called " invalid prisoners," and he wished to call the
attention of the House to the medical neglect and cruel
treatment inflicted upon those prisoners. He was satis-
fied that all the reports which had been issued upon that
subject were true, both as regarded the treatment of the
prisoners while living, and after death. This conduct
was disgraceful to a country calling itself anything like a
civilised and Christian country. In the returns to
which he had alluded, it was stated by the persoli
making that return that the mortality on board
the hulks in 1845 was only eleven persons. This
mortality was contrasted in a report with, the amount of
mortality in the prisons of Frahm, Philadelphia, and of
Millbank Penitentiary. This morning. however, a re-
turn, for which he bad moved some time since, was
laid upon the table of that House, which would serue to
show the House the fraudulent-manner in which these
returns were sometimes got up. The return for which
he had moved was a return of the Timber of persons
who died on board the hulks from the Milbank
prison alone, and instead of the number being
eleven, as stated in the former report, the
number of deaths on board the two hulks, the
Justitia and the Warrior, was twenty-eight from Mill-
bank prison alone. Tho question then arose, what was
the cisme of this increased mortality on board the hulks
as compared with other prisons in the country ?
In all their prisons there were visiting magistrates and
inspectors, under Act of Parliament, who made annual
reports, and went round and asked if any of the pri-
soners had any complaint to make. With regard to the
hulks, there was no one to ask if there rem any coih-
plaints to be made, and no one visited them except
the doctor and Mr. Perry. Was it their object to re-
claim the prisoners, or to make an example of them?
If their object was to reclaim them, why was their
education totally neglected? There were no prayers,
and nothing was done for their spiritual instruction.
The ships received on the average 620 prisoners
every year, and during all that time the only
Divine service given was on Sunday mornings.
Nothing was dune to instruct them—those able to work
went to the arsenal and dockyard in the morning and
returned in the evening. When they were dying they
received no. attention. The chaplain seldom visited
them, and their last moments were passed with only
the assistance of the other prisoners. There was cer-
tainly the great protection of the coroner's inquest to
all individuals who died in prison. With regard to
the conduct of the medical attendant, Dr. Bais-
sey, he stood there to state that nothing could
be so neglectful as his conduct, and when he was
present nothing was more brutal. There was no one
except Mr. Capper, who was appointed by Government
as superintendent of the hulks. He had been in the
situation many years, but his control or inspection was
not sufficient, and his duties had been left to a nephew
of his, who acted as his clerk or superintendent, and
who was a grocer id the Strand. This person had
done the duties which ought to have been performed
by Mr. Capper. He also complained of the system
of control, and the irresponsible power which the
overseers of these ships had over the prisoners.
He could scarcely conceive anything more unjust thatn af
power being vested in a body to inflictwanh
yatamreoundre' red
corporal punishment they wished ; and
this more unjust was that there was no tibunal to
which those who were suffering under the system
could appeal. lle would give one or two instances
of the injustice and cruelty of the system. There was a
poor lunatic named Hetherington on board the Justitia,
who was ordered to receive several lashes, and was then
ordered to receive several more ; he was then re-
moved, and he attempted to cut his throat,
but fortunately he did not succeed in doing
so. There were six men who had been brought
up, in one case, flogged, and then consigned to the
hospital, where they were necessarily obliged to remain