The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-16 00:00:00

AMERICAN NEWS.

NINE DAYS LATER NEWS.

ARRIVAL OF THE HIBERNIA.

(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.)
is' VERPOOL, MONDAY AFTE3III )ON.
The steam-ship Hibernia, Captain Ryrie, arrived in
the Mersey at an early hour this morning, after a rapid
voyage of 13i days. She brings 75 passengers, and a
Leavy monthly mail.
The Hibernia's outward passage was rather more pro-
tracted than usual, as sha had t 3 encounter heavy gales
from the westward, and fogs when off the coast of Ame-
rica. In a political point of view her news, which is
nine days later from the United States, does not possess
much importance. The commercial intelligence, how-
ever, is highly important, and will no doubt tend much
to influence the general aspect of commercial affairs in
this country. Under these circumstances we shall first
allude to it

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
We have given in our last American news' dispatch!a
report of the New York and other markets, up to the 23d
of January. The Hibernia reached Bolton on the 25th,
when the demand and price of all kinds of provisions
were much the same as we quoted on the arrival of the
Queen of the West, but no sooner had her advices be-
come known than merchants at once proposed to take
advantage of the favourable reports. Higher prices were
instantly demanded, and, of course, paid ; and in the
course of about twenty-four hours from the time the news
became known in New York, the value of every kind of
grain and grain produce, rose nearly 25 per cent. above
previous prices. A New York paper of the 31stj ultimo
contains the following remarks on the subject:—
The news brought by the Hibernia, of the advance in cot-
ton, and particularly in breadstuff's, which was not antici-
pated, was received here on the 25th, and created an unusual
excitemeut in the market, which has continued ever since in
the most animated state. The prices of cotton have advanced
one cent. per pound. Flour 1 doll, to 1 doll. 25c. per barrel.
Wheat from 30 to 35 cents. per bushel, and corn meal 88 to
100 per barrel. Freights to Liverpool have reached 7s. for
flour, and 23d. for grain ; vessels continue scarce.
The effect of this intelligence, and the large amount of
specie brought out by the steamer, have caused great buoyancy
in the money market. According to the manifest, the Hibernia
brought 546,0001., but it is asserted that she had fully 3,000,000
dolls. on board. Stocks of every description have advanced,
but there was previously an upward tendency, caused partly
by the financial measures of the Government, the issue of
Treasury notes instead of proposals for a loan. which capi-
talists had been led to expect, and partly by a generally
prevailing impression, that in consequence of the prosperous
condition of our foreign trade money would be abundant.
Most of the specie has reached Wall-street. Money is easy
at 7 per cent. in the street, and the banks are strong.
Foreign Exchange has advanced, but the supply is equal
to the demand. We quote bills on London 1,06 k to 1,06% ;
Paris sf. 40c. to sf. 37c.
We also subjoin the following particulars respecting
the leading Flour markets throughout the Union
NEW ORLEANS, JAN. 19.—Holders have accepted a little
easier prices for flour since our last, and the'consequence has
been the transaction of an increased business, amounting to
23,000 bbls., chiefly at 4 dulls, 62i cents. for good shipping
brands of Ohio. We quote St. Louis choice brands 5 dolls.
a 5 dolls. 25c. per bl. The advanced prices paid for corn, as
noticed in our last. report, have not been maintained, the
sales having receded sc. per bushel. About 16,000 sacks
have been taken, chiefly at 70c. for prime lots of white and
yellow. Mixed parcels are selling at 68c. per bushel. About
1,300 sacks of wheat have been sold since our last at 92 a
98c. per bushel. Oats are selling at 40 a 'l3c. per bushel,
with moderate transactions. About 2,090 bbls. beans have
been sold at 3 dolls. 37 Lc. a 3 dolls. 75c. per barrel.
BosTosr, JAN. 23. Flour.—A sale was made to-day of
900 barrels Genesee at 6 dolls. 75c. cash, but holders are
asking 6 dolls. 874 c.; Ohio and Michigan, 6 dolls. 75c.;
Baltimore Howard-street, Alexandria and Georgetown, 5
dolls. 50c. ; Extra Eagle, 7 dolls. 25c. cash ; no common
Frederickburgh iu the market. Corn.—The priee is up to-
day to 4 dolls. per bushel, at which we understand some 30,000
or 40,000 bushels have been re-sold for shipment. P.S.-
1,000 bbls. Fredericksburg flour, extra Knox brand, sold for
export at supposed 7 dols per bbl. cash.
Pirrsfinecir, JAN. 25.—The market opened in the morn-
ing at 3 dells. 44c., and some sales were effected at that
figure, but holders claimed the advantage, and sales were
made at 3 dolls. 50c. It was known at an early hour that
the Boston steamer had been telegraphed, and operations
were suspended until her advices were disclosed. Sales
were then made at 3 dolls 56c 8 dolls. 62c., 3 dolls. 75c.,
3 dolts. 87c., and finally at 4 (lOUs., which was the rate of
closing operations at dark. The sales of the day were not
over 1,360 barrels.
I PHILADELPHIA, JAN. 28.--Flour is hardly so active to-
day; 1,500 a 2,000 bbls sold at 6 dolls. 121,42 cents., which is
the uniform asking price, and 6 dolls, is offered for large par-
cels. Corn meal-11 a 1,200 bbls. sold at 4 dolls. 50 cents,
and there are rumours of considerable sales for future deli-
-135 Wheat—,oCeiats2.,oofoor
wb uh si
thee, I saanddd o n
130 to
vh earvye,
been
teremelsd,nomt
epautlbylica.t
135 cents. for reds, including some inferior lots at 120 to 125
cents. Corn—sales of Pennia at 83 to 85 cents.
CINCLNNATI, JAN. 24.—0 n Saturday, 141 barrels from
stores at 4 dolls. ; 100 ditto at 3 dolls. 94 cents.; 150 ditto
from railroad, at 4 dolls.; and some wagon lots at 3 dolls. 90
cents, to 3 dolls. 95 cents.
ALBANY, JAN. 28.—Flour—There has been considerable
movement in flour to-day. Several lots of Oswego and
Michigan were in the market at 6 dolls. 25 cents. We notice
sales of 759 barrels Oswego at 6 dolls. 37i cents., and 400
ditto Genessee at the same mark. Eastern orders are filled
at 6 dolls. 50. cents. Grain—The market for all descriptions
has advanced ; corn, 77 to 78 cents..; rye, 82 to 83 cents. ;
oats, 35 to 361 cents.
BurvAt.o, 29.-11/ rou.—Large sales of flour have
been made at 4 dolls. 75 cents., and 4 dolls. 80 cents. For
wheat 4 dolls. is asked, but buyers refuse to purchase at that
rate.

' DETROIT, JAN. 21.—Flour is taken quickly at 3 dolls. 12
1 cents. to 3 dolls. 25 cents. No change in price from last
week, though the receipts have largely increased. Wheat is
coming in in large quantities, which is taken at 58 dolls. to
60 cents. per bushel.
BALTIMORE, JAN. 27.—The market for Howard-street flour
has been quite animated during the last two days, and there
has been some fluctuation in prices. To-day 600 bbls. were
sold at 5 dolls. 62% cents, 3,000 bbls. at 5 dolls. 75 cents,
600 bbls. at 5 dolls. 371/2 cents, and 3,000 bbls. at 6 dolls.
Susquehanna Flour—Sales of 1,200 bbls. this morning at
5 dolls. 8712 cent. Corn Meal—To-day holders are firm at
4 (lolls. 50 cents. Wheat—We note sales to-day if Mary.
land reds at 1 doll. 30 cents for prime, And and 1 doll. 20
cents to 1 doll. 25 cents for ordinary to good. A sale of a
parcel of Pennsylvania white at 1 doll. 30 cents, and another
parcel of 4,000 bushels of the same description on terms not
transpired, but supposed to be at an advance. Corn is in
active demand. Sales of Maryland white new, at 78 doll&
to 80 cents, and of yellow at 79 to 81 cents. Sales of Penn-
sylvania yellow at 80 cents.
On the subject of the money market, the Courier and
Inquirer says—
" Foreign Exchange was less in demand to-day, and sellers
of bills on London were more readily found at 6% than
buyers; and the opinion seems to be entertained in some
well•informed quarters, that the rate will recede below 6. If,
however, another opinion which is gaining strength be accu-
rate, that through the large issues of Treasury notes and
other causes, there is to be an abundant money market,
Foreign Exchange can hardly fall so low. We shall see."
From the seat of war there is not any intel-
ligence of moment. It was rumoured that
General Quitman's division and some Mexican
troops at Matamoras had had an engagement,
but no faith was attached to the report. Santa Anna's
movements were doubtful. Vera Cruz and San Juan de
Ulloa were to be attacked shortly. The twenty-three
million Treasury Note Bill has received the sanction of
Congress. The American forces were making every ,
preparation for an efficient and decisive battle. Great exertions were being made to assist the desti- i
tute in Ireland.

IMPEPIAL PARLIAMENT.
HOUSE OF LonDs, Feb. 13.
Their Lordships met at the 'haat hour.
POOR REMOVAL ACT.
Lord PORTMAN presented a petition from the inha-
bitants of Blandford, in the county of Dorset, in vestry
assembled, praying their Lordships to amend the law
passed last session miming to the removal of the poor.
Lord NION FEACLE moved for a reprint of the re-
port of the Poor-law Commisx.iiiners of 1834 relative to
out-door relief ; also for a reprint of the report of the
Irish Poor-law Commissioners on the same subject.
Ordered.

CROWN LANDS IN IRELAND.
The Marquis of WESTMEATH moved for various
returns relative to Crown lands in Ireland. He had
urged upon the Commissioners of W oods and Forests
the propriety of bringing in a Bill to regulate the abuses
connected with these estates, but to the present time
nothing had been done. He now moved for a copy
of all communications that had passed during the last
five years between the Commissioners of Woods and
Forests and the agents and solicitor of the Crown lands
in Kilglass, county Roscommon.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE requested the Noble
Lord to give notice of the motion, which he had not
done, and ho would then, to-morrow evening, see if he
coteld grant the information which he desired.
Lord WESTMEATH acquiesced in the suggestion of
the Noble Lord.
Lord VIVIAN presented a petition cn the subject of the
Bishoprics of St. Asaph and Bangor.
REFORM IN THE CHURCH.
Earl FITZWILLIAM presented a petition from J.
Jordan, vicar of Ensham, in Oxford: the principal
objects of the petition were, that an increase should
take place in the number of those engaged in the
ministry, and that the Bishops should be relieved
of all legislative duties in their Lordships' House.
He (Earl Fitzwilliam) did not concur in the last sugges-
tion. The petitioner stated that there ought to be four
provinces and fifty-two dioceses, and that each diocese
should not exceed 500,000 souls, and when extended
over a large surface, not more than 300,000. The peti-
tion well deserved the attention of their Lordships.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that he was
sure the Noble Lord was aware that there
were many subjects in that petition which did not
properly come within the scope of their discussion.
He would, in a day or so, lay upon the table of the
House a report from a Commission appointed by her
Majesty to inquire into the state of the bishoprics in the
United Kingdom. The subject was one which deserved
the serious consideration of their Lordships.
RAILWAYS—STATE OF THE CURRENCY.
Lord ASHBURTON rose to move for the following
returns ;—Capital stock authorised to be raised by rail-
way companies which have received the sanction of
Parliament during the last two sessions ; the amount
raised, laid out, and remaining unpaid ; sums autho-
rised and borrowed by the various railway companies
from their commencement to the present time. distin-
guishing the amount borrowed each year, and the rate
of interest paid by them. He said it was necessary that
their Lordships should be furnished with such a return
in order that they might be made acquainted with the
exact condition of the circulation of the country. It ap-
peared that there had been a great drain of
bullion on the banks of England for some few
months past ; and although he did not say that there
was any cause for alarm in the country, yet he could
not help stating that a greater drain than ordinary was
being made upon the finances of the country. The
Government would be compelled to borrow large sums
of money on Exchequer-bills to relieve the
distresses of Ireland, and if this drain took
place for railway purposes, they could not fail
to have much difficulty in doing so. Last year the Par-
liament advised that no railway projects should be en-
couraged save those required by the wants of the
country; but this year he thought they would do well, and
preveet the derangement of the currency of the country,
by confining their legislation during the present year to
such Bills as were necessary for the purpose of remedying
any detects or gaps in the Bills alrsady passed, itieteait of
entertaining any new projects. The great (Irate upon
the Bank of England by railways prevented the Govern
ment from obtaining money o t-asiiy on Exchequer- bills
as heretofore; and as money was required for 'o: e urgent
purposes, it was not right that they should derange the
finances of the country, and prevent them from being pre-
perly applied to a more legilitnate and press ine purpose.
The Noble Lord said he e null further move for a
return or the Public Securities held by the Bank of
England, and of the amount of capital paid into the
Bank of England on behalf of railways, the rate of
interest paid on it, and the periods at which it was re
spectively paid in and drawn out.
The Earl of CLARENDON sell he regretted that
his Noble Friend who had just moved for certain returns
had departed from a very' useful custom observed by
their Lordships, in not having given due notice of the re-
turns which he intended to move for. He believed his
Noble Friend had moved for returns of a very important
and comprehensive nature, and the Noble Lord had ac-
companied his mention of them with some very
important and useful remarks. Although he (Earl Cla-
rendon) had nu objection to some of the returns which
had been moved for, yet another part of - the mo-
tion of the Noble Lord seemed to him to
affect most intimately the great public financial interests
of the country, and as far as the returns bore upon
these he could not assent to their being granted with-
out due notice. Ile hoped the Noble Lord would post-
pone his motion to a future day.
Lord MONTEAGLE questioned very much the ex-
pediency of some of the returns moved for by the Noble
Lord being granted. He did not think the same ob-
jection lay against another part of the Noble Lord's
motion, such as a return for the amount of capital which
the different railway companies were authorised to
raise, the amount which they had raised, the amount
which they were empowered to borrow, and the amount
of borrowing power which they retained still unexhausted
these were returns to which there could be no possible
objection, for the companies themselves were obliged
by their own Acts to furnish these details to their
shareholders. But when the Noble Lord moved
for returns which would bear upon the rela
tion existing between the Government and the
Bank of England—when he moved for a state-
ment of the transactions between the Government
and the Bank—he did rot think it was quite expedient to
grant such a return. He knew nothing more delicate
at a critical period, although the present was not, in
his opinion, such a time, yet, at a critical period, he
knew nothing more delicate than to move for the
amount and extent of the public securities at present
in the possession of the Bank of England. This was
not, he admitted, one of those critical periods which he
had alluded to ; but the motion of the Noble Lord
would establish a precedent. Let their Lordships only
suppose a time when the exchanges should be against this
country, and let them suppose a motion made for re-
turns either of the amount of Exchequer-bills or
of' stock, they must see that the effect of that
would be to communicate to persons buying and
selling stock out of doors, what were the opera-
tions of the Bank of England, and these very persons
might take steps to neutralise these operations.
Lord BROUGHAM fully agreed with the Noble Lord
who had just spoken, that it was not expedient to move
for returns as to the public securities. As far as the
motion bore upon railway stock, the case stood very diffe-
rent, and he thought the returns might be granted
without injury. The great press of railway business
was now over; next year there would be no railways
brought before the House, and now that the steed was
stolen the Government were very carefully manufac-
turing a lock and key in order to prevent any others
from being stolen.
Lord ASHBURTON then consented to postpone his
motion until Thursday next. It was not his intention to
create the :lightest alarm in the country; his object was
only to obtain information upon an important subject.
The real gist of the question was, how far the Bank of
England had been compelled to reduce its general issues
in consequence of the present drain upon the circulation,
thereby preventing its being able to take up the Exche-
quer-bills as formerly. He did not think that the Bank
of England would have any objection to grant the re-
turns he had moved for.
DISTILLATION FROM SUGAR BILL.
Messengers from the Commons brought up the Dis-
tillation frcia Sugar Bill.
INFLUX OF IRISH PAUPERS INTO LIVERPOOL.
Earl FITZWILLIAM moved for a return of the
number of Irish paupers that had lately arrived in
Liverpool. On the 7th of February, 2,585 had arrived
in one day, and the total number from the 13th of Jan.
to the 11th of Feb., was 27,012. It appeared that in one
day, the 2Gth of Jan,, 25,529 had received relief ; on
the 27th, 23,313 ; on the 28th, 24,000 ; and on the
29th, 24,000. During the last ten days the number had
considerably decreased—there had been only 6;000,
7,000, or 8,000 each day.
Lord BROUGHAM—The average influx lately
had been 900 a day.
The Marquis of WESTMEATH thought it would be
desirable to know how many of these were emigrants.
Earl FITZWILLIAM thought it would be impos-
sible to ascertain that.
Lord STANLEY thought that the number of those
who were emigrants must be exceedingly small. The
middle or end of March was the period of emigration.
The Duke of WELLINGTON said it would be de-
sirable to have as much information as possible on the
subject.
Earl GREY agreed with the Noble Lord that in ordi-
nary years such was the period of emigration, but this
year was an exception. There had been 26,000 emi-
grants this year to the United States.
- A NOBLE LORD would also move for a return of the
number of emigrants into Newport, in Wales, and other
seaports.
Earl GREY thought, that though it might be pos-
sible to get the number that arrived in Liverpool, it
would be difficult to ascertain the number into other places.
The motion was then agreed to.
SUGAR DISTILLERIES BILL AND SUGAR
BREWERIES BILL.
Lord CLARENDON said that he proposed that these
Bills should receive a second reading upon Friday next,
and that no discussion should arise until the Bills
went into Committee,
POOR-LAW AMENDMENT.
POOR-LAW AMENDMENT.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE presented a petition
from Mount Mellick, in the Queen's county, praying for
union settlements.
IRISH DESTITUTE RELIEF BILL.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said, in rising to move
the second reading of this Bill, he: did not intend to detain
the House, but merely to state this general principles of the
Bill; and he would first state that the Bill was limited
in its character, and temporary in its duration, and it
was a Bill which, he considered was only justified by
the present state of Ireland. The 8111 empowered the
Lord-Lieutenant to appoint a tselief commission, sitting
in Dublin' who were empowe red to relieve destitution.
Tho Noble Lord then read the main provisions of the Bill.
He had the pleasve of stating; that the Bill was 691Q1Y

introduced at the present moment for the purpose of
meeting what was supposed to be a temporary exigency,
not for the purpose of creating a precedent, but intro-
duced upon its own grounds, and he had a confident
belief that it would be found most beneficial. It un-
doubtedly would have given him mare satisfaction to
have introduced to the c-eisid.,ration of their Lordships
a measure which had for its object to stimulate employ-
merit in Ireland. It was his duty to press upon their
Lordships the necessity of passing the measute with the
least possible delay. The Noble Marquis concluded by
moving the second reading of the Bill.
Lord BROUGHAM wished to offer a few observa-
tions on the first of the series of inessures which the
Governor ent intended to bring forward with respect to
Ireland. now that it was pract;ealle before the in. He
felt deeply for the lamentabi. eiste,ss. accounts of
which arrived by every post, not only from the sister
kingdom, but from Scotland anti the north of England. But there was one fact on which the eye reposed with-
out the least discomfort—namely, the good feeling
which generally prevailed on the subject of distress
throughout the country, and the absence of all indul-
gence in splenetic feeling, of all violent invective, by
Members of either House of Parliament. He hardly
knew what part of the Bill to commence with ; but in
the outset, he could not help repeating the opinion
which he shadowed forth at the be ginning of the session
(and he said it in no offensive spirit), that they ought to
have assembled earlier in the year.—(Hear, hear.)
That was not the time at which they ought
to have been called upon to discuss the measure.
He was most decidedly of opinion that their Lordship
ought to have been called together in the month of
November. It might be said, however, that it was better
not to bring the Irish Members and landlords over to this
country, but to leave them in Ireland. If it was for the
good of Ireland that the Irish landlords should remain
in Ireland in the month of November, it was equally
urgent for them to be there now.—(Hear, hear.) It was
doubtful even whether the landlords would do the more
good by remaining in Ireland or coming over to this
country, especially when it was considered that upon the
estate of one nobleman 4,000 ejectments had been issued,
and that, too, in the middle of one of the most severe
winters, and in a season of unparalleled scarcity. He
held it as his most decided opinion that it was no part of
the duty of any Government to feed the people of any
country, or to provide food, or wages, or labour for the
people; but it was the duty of a Government to secure
the rights of property, never to interfere upon any pre-
text with either the one right or the other, to remove
every obstacle, to relieve the people from every impedi-
ment to their progress, either of law or of violence, the
iniquity of man or of the courts, by improving the laws,
or amending the laws, by improving the Legislature, but
not to interpose anything in the way of every
man dealing with hie property and employing his la-
bour as lie thought fit and might feel inclined. The Go-
vernment had no vocation or obligation imposed upon it
by the relative situations of ruler and subject to provide
either food or labour for the people. This principle
abOuld be deeply imprinted upon the rands of every
Government—it ~vas a principle which should never be de-
parted .from except upon cases of the most urgent ne-
cessity. The proof of this emergency rested upon
those who claimed this exception. Another proof which
he required in his proposition was, that they
could so apply the funds entrusted to their
care as to grant the relief in question. It was also a
part of the proposition, and a necessary essential
condition, that the State had no vocation to
give any relief whatever ; all the funds which they voted
away was solely and entirely the property of others.
There were certain positions in which it was
more difficult to stand still even when persons knew'
that if they moved it was at tbeir highest peril. It
was more difficult sometimes to do nothing even
when they were convinced that it was their
duty to do nothing. The next position was, that
the Government must take especial care in the present,
emerge ncy that what they did did not tend to make
things worse, and thereby do harm instead of good. It
might not, perhses, be considered as too bold of him to
say that it wes hardly possible to devise any remedy but
would create more harm than the relief it gave or pro-
fessed to have given. It was not according to nature
that it should tie eo, or in accordance with the rules and
structure ef society. All the measures adopted by
11,v, rnment had gone upon an entirely diff-rent print
ciple. The Government sent over money to Ireland.,
called upon the people to come to work, they found
the work for them, paid them for the work, and who
could doubt but that was the cause of great mischief.
Their Lordships had had a lesson already of the ill effects
of such a course of proceeding in the coil results which
had followed the Labour-rate Act passed last session.
The Government were now attempting to remedy that
mistake; but it was too late, the effects would still re'
main ; they had got into a slough, and worse than that,
their feet were caught so that they could not get back
again, for having spoiled all the roads throughout
the country, it was but fair that the Government,
should accede to the request of the people of
Ireland at least to put the roads in the same state as they
found them.—(Laughter.) Ile looked upon the present
measure with some degree of suspicion; he thought that
its effects would be felt even after the famine had passed
over; but they had diverted the labour of the country,
and thereby caused great mischief. The present 13111
was certainly a little more disguised than the former en_e•
In a letter written by Sir G. Grey to the Lord
-
Lieutenant, he stated that relief should only
be given in food, to be purchased out 01
the funds placed at the disposal of the committees from
the three sources—assessment for the relief of the poor,
charitable subscriptions and donations, and Government
help. Then the letter went on to say that there would be
a gratuitous distribution of food on a large scale, but
the corn or flour meal was never to be sold at less than
cost price. An ordinary reader wculd learn such a re-
solution with horror —he (Lord Brougham) did not
mean a political economist, that much maligned indivi-
dual—he meant such a reader as could count ten upon
his fingers. The food, then, was not to be sold at less
than cost price ; but the very next sentence went on to
say that the food was to he given for—nothing !
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE—To those who are
starving.
Lord BROUGHAM continued to say, that whether the
buyer was starving or not, the extreme conditions on which
the Government were to let him have food were cost price, or
nothing.—( Laughter.) Supposing a person had fourpenee,
but the cost price of the corn was a shilling, the Government
however, would absolutely refuse to take the fOurpence,andwould
rather give away the flour and meal for nothing. He ask ;•d
them why they wou'd not take what the poor people could give;
there were many degrees between want and wealth ; why, he
asked them, would they not take the man's groat ? He did not
wish to be understood as slighting, by anything he said, the
difficulty of dealing with the subject— (Hear, hear,
from Lord Lansdowne)—or, to throw discredit even
on the letter which he had been commenting upon.
for there could not be a more clear and sensible
letter
than it was; indeed it was too clear.—(Laughter.) But the
letter proceeded, " It is of great importance," in that he (Lord
Brougham) quite agreed, "that this object ought ever to be
kept in view, namely, the preservation of the relations between
the labourer and the landowner." But he (Lord Brougham)
contended that the measure before their Lordships had just
tendency to prevent that. The letter adds that the relief must
be applied in a way which should not tend to encourage idleness.
The encouragement of idleness would just be the. effect pro-
duced, for between the two parties in the market, the labourer
and the agriculturalist, a third party interfered, and offered
the labourer, in case he could not purchase at a certain price,
a full supply of his wants for nothing ; the effect which that
would have upon the labour market could not be
a matter of doubt with any one, at least no one. he thoughts
could suppose that it would prove a " stimulus to labour," all
the letter of the Right Hon. Secretary had it. Such a mese
cure could prove no stimulus to labour in a country• where the
people were certainly not characterised by the industry of the Eng-
lishman or the pride of the Scotchman—the pride which would
not stiffer him to beg, if the severest struggles could maintain
his self-dependence ; nay, the Scotchman—and praise and ho-
nour be to him for it—would rather starve and lie down and
die quietly en his own hill-side, rather than be obliged to ask
alms of another and betake himself to begging for
his support. That was actually the case at the present
moment in that country; he revered the people
there for that trait, which did them honour, their
feeling no doubt being that of the Italian poet,
when he said of his own case that he had been under the necea•
sity of standing and receiving alms, but that was an act that
made him tremble at every fibre of his frame with shame and.
indignation. Yet the Government appeared to think that the
present measure would prove a stimulus to labour. The letter
to which he had already so often alluded proceeded with its in-
structions to the Government agents, who were directed never
to give food, flour, meal, or soup for nothing, to say individual,
without in each case—he ( Lord Brougham) begged their
Lordships attention to this—each case—and every single case
would necessarily be different from another—yet the distribu-
tion of food for nothing was not to be made without in each
vase being convinced that the person could not find labour its
order to obtain wages with which to pay for the food. Why;
the case supposed was that of a person starving, about whont
this circuitous inouiry was to be made and satisfied before
lief could be administered. In fact it was an instruction tha t
could not be carried into effect ; it was utterly impossible to
carry it out. But not the least painful part of the whole casts
was to have to make the remarks which he felt it h.s duty to
make on behalf of the interests of the country at large, on be..
half of Englishmen, and of all who could support themselves,.
whether English or Trish. The measure would not end with
the present year in all the evil consequences which would cer-
tainly. follow upon its operation in draining labour from the
pursuits of agriculture, but even supposing the crops should
improve next year, and that the disease in the potato should be
cured, still the effect would be seriously felt on the labour market;
The Is'oble Lord then proceeded to eulogise one little district in
Ireland where the poor had contributed in money to the amount
of 176/., and where they could not give money others teitri-
buted labour in relief of the distressed and necessitous ; it was
altogether a case, he said, worthy to be exhibited as an honour-
able, a noble exemplar. But he was sorry to add, that h who
same district where the poor people had acted in so noble a
manner, and contributed 176/., besides labour, the rich land-
lords had contributed 401. The Noble Lord then referred to
the case of the Misses Gaskell, who had gone to Ireland to
live upon their estates, for the purpose of superintending the
distribution of their charity, and in order that their charity
—which he deprecated being misunderstood to speak against—
in order that their charity might be free from abuse. He
could refer to other noble cases, and among the others
that of Lady Carberry, who had actually reduced herself to the
mere necessaries of life that she might minister to the necessi-
ties of the neighbourhood. But that was a noble and a useful
example, and such had been exhibited by the Misses
Gaskell; they had been able to effect great good on behalf of
the really necessitous. These ladies reported that at least one-
third of 'the Government money was received by those who
had really no claim on the benevolent. That showed the
good which would result from these benevolent ladies super-
intending the distribution of their own charity, and it evinced
the evil arising from the efforts of the Government, well meant,
perhaps, bat ill-directed. Yet these were evils which would
spread and cake deeper root, and throw a more dismal shadow
over the whole of the land. He hoped, at the same time. that his
observations would not be misunderstood by the persons across
St. George's Channel, who were accustomed to think that the
union had much to do with the evils which were at present
existing iet that country—rersons who were accustomed to look
back to their .golden age as the period when a body existed
not a bow shot from the College, or College-green--a body so
pure, the most upright and honourable since the days of the
Spartans, the most distinguished for Lacedsemonian purity while
it existed. Bat it would be found that even in these days there
were evils prevailing. The Noble Lord then referred to a letter
from Lord Chancellor Jocelyn to Lord Chancellor Hardwick.
It stated that in Ireland they here thou 41 4 Ter/