The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-25 00:00:00

JUNE 25, 1847.

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PARLIA3IEI

From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Common.)

THURSDAY, JUNE 24.

CHESTER AND lIOLYREAD RAILWAY (EXTEN-
SION AT HOLYHEAD) BILL.

Clause A brought up ; Motion made, and Question pro-
posed, " That the said Clause be now read the first time :"-
-Amendment proposed, to leave out from the words " That
the" to the end of the Question, in order to add the words
"further proceeding on the Third Reading of the Bill be
postponed till this day three months," instead thereof:"—
Question put, " That the words proposed to be left out stand
part of the Question." The House divided :
MAJORITY—AYES, 90.
Bailey, Joseph Gregory W. H. Ogle, S. C.
Baring, Henry Grey, Sir G. Pakington, Sir J.
Barnard, Edward G. Hallyburton, Lord Parker, John
Bateson, Thomas Hamilton, J. H. Peel, Sir Robert
Berkeley, Captain Hamilton, G. A. Plumridge, captain
3odkin, William H. Hanmer, Sir J. Powell, Colonel
Bowles, Admiral Hastie, Archibald Rice, E. R.
Bramston, T. W. Hatton, Captain Rolleston, Colonel
Brisco, M. Hill, Lord Marcus Russell, Lord John
Breadwood, H. Hodgson, F. Rutherfurd, A.
Buller, Charles Hodgson, Richard Sandon, Lord
Carew. W. P. Houldsworth, T. Shaw, F.
Clay, Sir W. Howard, C. W. Sheil, R. L.
Codrington, Sir W. Howard,'E. G. Sheppard, T.
Dawson, T. V. Hudson, G. Smith, A.
Deedes, W. Hughes, W. B. Smith, R. V.
Denison, E. B. Jolliffe, Sir W G. H. Staunton, Sir:G.
Dennistoun, J. Labouchere, Henry Strutt, Edward
Dick, Q. Lindsay, Colonel Tollemache, John
Dodd, G. Macaulay, T. B. Trelawny, J. S.
Douglas, Sir H. Mackinnon, W. Trevor, J. R.
Duckworth, Sir J. M'Taggart, Sir J. Trotter, John
Entw isle, William Mahon, Viscount Troubridge, Sir E.
Esmonde, Sir T. Masterman, J. Tanen, Healy
Evans, Sir De Lacy Molesworth, Sir W. Turner, Edmund
Ferguson, Sir R. Morpeth, Viscount Villiers, Charles
French, F. Mostyn, E. M. Vivian, Capt.
Fuller, A. E. Norreys, Sir D. Wood, Sir Charles
Gibson, Thomas M. O'Brien, A. S. TELLERS.
il Gladstone, J. N. O'Connell, M. J. Stanley, W. 0.
1 Gower, Lev eson O'Conor, Don Ebrington, Viscount

REPRESENTATION OF STOCK-

PORT.

The following address from Mr. Cobden to the electors
of Stockport has just been issued :
Gentlemen,—Should a dissolution occur before I
can have the pleasure of meeting you in person, I beg
to be allowed to take this mode of again soliciting the
honour of being one of your representatives in Paha..
ment.

" I deeply regret that you will be called upon to ex-
ercise the elective franchise at a time of great manufac-
turing depression. It is no consolation to generous
mind to know that their sufferings areshared by others ;
but, unhappily, almost the whole of Europe is mourning
over deficient harvests, amidst privations, which for se-
verity and extent have uo parallel in the present cen-
tury.jcooirncemdeirneitahlerberflogrhinte,r pt
hr rose
peexclt.
ss
It is possible, that to some of my friends, who re-
tianffgo rddieslitrebL
omu ra y r c
he
ae
vn
et
brought feelings of doubt and discouragement. Free
trade cannot avert a sudden and calamitous visitation of
Providence ; it can only alleviate its pressure. But the
present crisis has at least this consolation, that it has
brought from all quarters proofs of the soundness and
beneficence of our principles ; for we have seen the Go-
vernments of the continent with hardly an exception
abolish their multiform regulations of the corn trade at
the moment when, if their interference be ever efficacious,
it was the most needed ; and we see them now relying
upon the energies of emancipated commerce alone for
saving their people from the horrors of famine.
"It must, however, be acknowledged that we enter
upon the new commercial era under unfortunate circum-
stances. Ido not allude merely to the present scarcity
of food, which in all human probability will be of short
duration, but also to the possibility of a sudden reaction
in the opposite direction, which may protract for a time
the transition from the restrictive system to the more
equable state of freedom. The exorbitant prices will
cause, as in former times in England, a greatly increased
production of corn. At the same time the agriculture
of the whole civilised world is under the stimulus of
famine prices, and should we be blessed with a succes.
sion of good harvests, we may anticipate a glut of corn,
not as the result of free trade, but of the present scar-
city. A similar process, to be followed possibly with
like results, is going on with another important interest.
The present enormous cost of freights, by which not a
few of the shipowners of the Mediterranean will clear
the value of their vessels in this year, is everywhere
causing large investments of capital in ship-building.
Judging from former experience, it is not therefore im-
probable that these two interests, which have been the
least favourable to free trade, may be ere long simulta-
neously exposed to the effects of a reaction from their
present excitement. If there be any force in these
views, they furnish the strongest motives to the friends
of free trade for sending to the next Parliament, during the
existence of which the process I have described will in all
probability be passed through, representatives of tried
convictions, who will guard with firmness the great mea-
sures of last year from the dangers to which they may
be exposed in their transition state. Should you honour
me with your confidence, I shall hope to be found with
renewed health at my post, prepared to show that the
present state of trade is no fair experiment of our prin-
ciples, and that the consequent reaction will be only an
exception to the ordinary operation of free trade, which,
when fairly tested by time, will, I fervently believe, pro-
mote the prosperity and harmony of the whole com-
munity; and I shall return to England, confirmed in my
opinion, by the sympathy expressed for our principles by
the best and wisest men in other countries, that if we
continue with firmness to offer to the world a good
example, it will be eventually followed by all other
civilised nations.

" Gentlemen' if at this distance I do not attempt to
enter upon the discussion of other matters, it is not be-
cause I am insensible of the importance of the questions
which must, at the earliest possible moment, engage the
attention of the Legislature, foremost amongst which is
the state of Ireland. I will only add that in every ques-
tion brought before Parliament, I shall, to the best of
my humble ability, act upon the principle of doing equal
justice to my fellow-countrymen in every part of the
United Kingdom.
"I have the honour to remain, Gentlemen,
" With sentiments of respect and gratitude,
" Your faithful servant,
" RICHARD COBDEN.
" Venice, 15th June, 1847."

THE NEW FOREST.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir,—May I hope that you will raise your potent
voice to deprecate the act of Vandalism proposed by a
correspondent in this day's paper with regard to the
New Forest? Should such utilitarian principles gain
ground amongst this money-loving generation, wo to
all the loveliest spots in England! The trees of Ken-
sington and Kew Gardens must be cut down for fire-
wood, and Blenheim and Strathfieldsaye—those monu-
ments of a nation's gratitude—will be found to occupy
an undue portion of land, which might be turned to a
more profitable account, just as the demagogues of the
French revolution were for turning the Tuileries into a
kitchen-garden. It is strange that in an age wle.re
there exists so proper a spirit for preserving the relics
of bygone times, provided such relics be architectural,
that the sublimer works of God should be so little cared
for that men look with apathy on their desecration.
Where is this thirst for destruction to end, and what
will be the consequence? Why, that all those who
can afford it will be driven to seek for rural scenery
on the continent, and to spend their money away
from England. People rail at Lord Brougham for
taking up his summer quarters in France, but in a few
years many classes below Lord Brougham will do the
same, simply from the impossibility of finding green
lanes and trees unenclosed. What would the Chamber
of Deputies think of a project to destroy the forests of
Fontainebleau or Compaigne ? And should England,
who can boast but of one forest of the size and beauty of
those of her neighbour, not only tamely submit to, but
aid and abet its destruction ? Depend upon it, Sir, he
who could propose such a measure has neither an eye
for the picturesque nor a heart to respect the historical
traditionc and associations of his country, and, worse
still, no fellow- feeling for the pent-up citizens of London,
who can run down and enjoy a few days in Hampshire,
though neither time nor fortune might allow them to
luxuriate in the shades of St. Germain or Ville d'Avray.
Fortunately, the New Forest belongs to the Crown,
and we may hope that her Majesty's good taste will put
down all attempts at carrying your correspondent's
scheme into effect, but we could wish to enlist your aid
and sympathy in a cause that must interest not only all
Englishmen, but all who inhabit this country.
I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,
A RESIDENT FOREIGNER.

June 23.

TAXATION.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR,—I am sorry to see that the electors are troubling
themselves about Popery, instead of taxation. If we do
not attend to the latter, we need not look for prosperity.
Nothing can be more vicious than our system of taxa-
tion. That the improvement of the industrious part of
the community can only be effected by increasing the
direct and lessening the indirect taxation, cannot be
disputed. Much might be done by a clear headed and
honest Chancellor of the Exchequer. For instance, if
Ireland paid the income-tax—and why she does not no
decent reason can be given—England might be released
from the window-tax, and that most heavy burden on
working men's houses and impediment to drainage in
towns, the Excise duty on tricks. Then, if we did not
encourage distillation from grain, of which we have an
insufficiency for food, the Exchequer would benefit
between nine and ten millions per annum, which would
admit of a considerable reduction in the taxes on tea,
sugar, &c. Many more absurdities might be adduced in
our fiscal regulations, but I don't wish to trespass too
much on the space in your valuable paper.—l am, Sir,
your obedient servant, AN ELECTOR.

On Tuesday last the directors of the Shropshire
Union Canal and Railway Company gave an elegant
dinner at the Clarendon, to the Right Bon. the Earl of
Powis, IC.G., the chairman of tire company, and at the
same time preferred a unanimous request that his Lord-
ship would sit for his portrait, with a view to its being
placed in the board-room of the company, a request to
which the Noble Earl kindly assented. Mr. J. P. West-
head, of Lea Castle, presided. Mr. George Holyoake
occupied the vice chair; and Lord Clive, M.P. the Hon.
Colonel Anson, M.P., Sir F. H. Goodricke, W. 11. Gre-
gory, Esq., M.P.' George Stephenson, Esq., Robert
Stephenson, Esq., &c., were of the party.
GREAT ENTERTAINMENT OF THE SADDLERS' COM-
PANY, AT THEIR HALL, IN CIIEAPSIDE, TO MAJOR
GENERAL SIR HARRY SMITH, BART., THE HERO OP
ALIWAL.—The above company gave an elegant dinner
yesterday to this gallant officer. The Master, B. B.
Williams, Esq., was supported by the Right Hon. Lord
Rossmore, Sir William Verner, Bart., Captains Dalzell
and Morris, RN., Colonel Elrington, of the Scots Fusi-
lier Guards, Captains Ponsonby, Williams, and Smith.
David Salomons, Esq., and the Aides-de Camp of Sir H.
Smith. The usual loyal toasts in appropriate speeches
were given, and the Master then proposed, in a very
happy and interesting manner, the health of their dis-
tinguished guest, Sir Harry Smith, and alluded in strong
terms to his eminent career, and more particularly to
his recent brilliant achievements on the banks c
the Sutlej, which had been so conducive to the safety of
our Indian empire, and which merited, in an especial de-
gree, the gratitude and consideration of every one, and
more particularly those connected with that part of the
British empire. The health of the gallant officer emeranwnaaer
e tutioeonn rhonour
o rsfhil
ys of
the
London.
in
I
with,
drank with the highest enthusiasm. Sir H. Smith re.
turned thanks, and expressed in a very feeling
the gratification
i othneoSaddlers,
n tadidi
e daeltsce
especially
seen:cyy f
c,
he
in
referred
r:m
oenhhat
hdi
his
hehiereturni to
uu
country, after so long an absence, such a cordial welcome
everywhere,itallu,s,
obligation he felt under to that craft, inasmuch as in his
early career in life he had been frequently employed in
conveying important dispatches in the Peninsula from
one part of the army to the other, and safety and dis-
patch had been materially aided by the " good saddle
that had carried him safe over." He trusted that
the rights of the city of London would be held
inviolate, and that while the company of Saddlers
adhered to their ancient a
trust is in God," and up
adhered as thutiful motto,ey had always" Our done,
their integrity and high position, they would, as in the
d bea
for ever•"
flourish•
words of one of the Masters' toasts, " continue and The festivities of the evening were
enlivened by some excellent singing, and after Sir Harry
Smith had proposed the health of the Worshipful
Master, in a highly complimentary speech, and which
was received with acclamation, concluded with great
éclat at a late hour.
REPRESENTATION OF THE ClTY.—Yesterday Mr.
Lyall, the Conservative Member for the city or L•mdon,
announced to the constituency his intended retirement
from the representation at the close of the presedt Par
liament. Mr. Lyall has stood four contested elections
for the City, its two of which ho was victorious