The Sun.
London, England, 1840-03-28 00:00:00

Sir MATTHEW WOOD said, in 13dS a Committee
was appointed to improve the river, and they reported
that about 22,000/. a-year profit would accrue from
the proposed embankment, and the consequent improvement
of the property. Engineers were appointed to survey the river,
and they reported that it could be carried into effect without
any charge to the public ; but persons having property on the
river would be called on to contribute to.the expense. or it
would be defrayed out of the general fund. His Hon. Friend,
who had property on the river, was groundlessly apprehensive
respecting it, and hence he grumbled; but though his Hon.
Friend always was a grumbler, he should have no objection to
place him on the Committee. The House itself had lately
been one of the greatest nuisances on the river.—( Laughter. )
He only wanted a Committee to inquire into these circum-
stances.

SLANEY thought that walks should be made on the
banks of the river for the recreation and exercise of the poorer
classes, and that it NV tsS essential for the public health : the
Committee should attend to the drains and sewerage below
London.

Air. FLUME said he should oppose the plan, which he was
satisfied would be prejudicial to the navigation of ti.e river.
Sir R. H. INGLIS wanted to know from what funds the
money wa, to come in the fir,t. instance. Was it to be raised
from the Consolidated Fund—from a tax upon coals—or what
other source?

Sir M. WOOD, in answer to the Hon. Member for Kil-
kenny, said the present embankments were a nuisance. but
that was only because they were not carries! all along; and Mr.
Telford reported that, so far from interfering with the naviga-
tion of the river, it would greatly improve it.
Sir ROBERT PEEL said as the Hon. Alderman only asked
for inquiry, he could see no good argument against granting the
Committee. N.. public money was wanted, and the only two
parties much interested, the Crown and the Cori_oration of
London, had agreed to the inquiry ; it ought to be granted.
Mr. WARBURTON thought if no piny interested were to
be on the Committee, the Hon. Alderman ought not to be ; fur
although he had no direct interest in the matter, he had a large
interest as a Member of the Corporation.
The motion was then agreed to.
On the motion of Col. T. WOOD, a copy of the circular let-
ter issued by the Poor-law Commissioners, relative to the rating
of the inhabitants of parishes in resped of stock-in-trade, was
ordered to be laid on the table.

The Consolidated Fund Bin was read a third time and passed.
Col. SIBTHORP wished to have a plain answer to a plain
question. When would he have the return of the Commissions
appointed since 1838 ? If the Treasury would not grant it, he
felt so much interest in it, that he would pay for it out of his
own pocket.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER would make
inquiry, and inform the Gallant Gentleman on Monday.
Colonel SIBTHORP—For God's sake do, for I am tired of
waiting.--( Laughter. )
Mr. AGLIONBY presented a petition from two electors of
the borough of Ludlow, complaining of the tribunal before
which the petition was to be tried.

The otheq. Orders of the Day were disposed of, and the House
adjourned at a Quarter past Twelve o'Clock.

CORN-LAW DELEGATES.

The Delegates assembled yesterday at the usual hour, and
with a very full attendance. They were occupied for a consi-
derable time in preparing the list of these who were to wait on
Lord Melbourne. While thus engaged,
Mr. O'CortNELL entered the room, and was received with
loud cheers. The Learned Gentleman said he had been re-
quested to act for the citizens of Dublin in this matter, but he
could not be a delegate, as the law in Ireland prevented such
delegations.—(Laughter.) So he would be a kind of Irish
no-delegate—(Laughter)--yet willing to do the duty of a de-
legate.—( Cheers and laughter.) He could state that the
whole of Ireland was fast rousing to a sense of the great im-
portance of the Anti-Corn-law cause ; and he trusted that
the cause would find more hearty support than it had hitherto
received from Ireland's representatives.—( Cheers. )
Mr. J. ELLISON presented himself as Delegate from the
Poor-law Guardians of Dewsbury, who, he said, had agreed by
unanimous vtAe t o a petition against the Corn-law, and a peti-
tion containing this remarkable statement, that such was the
pressure of the Corn-laws on the relief of the poor—( Hear,
hear)—that sinless the Corn-laws were repealed, they would
repeal the Poor-law.—(Hear.)
Arrangements were then made in connection with the Depu-
tation which was to wait on Lord Melbourne. It was re-
solved that all the delegates present should proceed together,
while the interview with his Lordship was to be conducted by
the Chairman, Messrs. B. Smith, Cobden, Aikin, Sturge,
Johnston, Walker, Baines, jun., and the Mayor of Carlisle.
Mr. ELLISON, of Dewsbury, was afterwards added to the
number. It was agreed that the delegates should again meet
at the Hotel after the interview.

The Deputation having been received by Lord Melbourne,
Messrs. Cobden and &urge entered into various details, to
show the injurious effects of the Corn-laws, their tendency to
diminish the trade and resources of the country, and to bring
ruin on the labouring portion of our population.
Lord AIELBOUKNE then asked what was the object of the
Delegates—was it a totel repeal or an alteration only of the
present syritem ?

Several DhLEGATES answered that our object is •a total
repeal.
Lord MELBounNE-13ut you know that is impossible; you
may be assured of thAt.

Mr. SMITH—Our object is a total repeal—it will be for your
Lordship to decide what course you may think fit to pursue on
the subject.

Lord'AlELnouaNE—l am against a total repeal—l do not
think that would ever do.

Mr. SMITH—Are we then to understand that the stumbling
block in your Lordship's way is 1 he total repeal ?
Lord MELBOURNE—Not entirely; but I am altogether op-
posed to that, as it would create great disturbances in the
sate of the country, and would violently change our present
condition.

Mr. MARK Puntips proceeded to show that the present
laws were injurious even to foreign countries, while they bet-
tered our trade with them.