The Sun.
London, England, 1847-05-29 00:00:00

PUBLIC BUSINESS.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that on Monday next,
before the other orders of the day, he would
take up the Lords' Amendments on the Poor-law
(Ireland) Bill, and the Landed Estates (Ireland)
Bill. It had been before stated that two Scotch Bills—
Registering Birth, &c. (Scotland) Bill (Committee),
and Marriage (Scotland) Bill (Committee)—would be
taken by the Lord-Advocate on Monday ; but, as the
Chancellor of the Exchequer proposed to proceed with
some business of an urgent nature, namely, a vote of
money for the destitute poor in Ireland, according to the
Act of the present session, that vote would be taken on
Monday, immediately after the consideration of the
Lords' amendments to the two Irish Bills. On Thurs-
day he would take the Prisons Bill and the Custody of
Offenders Bill, on which would arise the discussion re-
lating to the system of transportation. On Friday he
proposed to take the third reading of the Loan Discount
Bill.

In answer to a question, Lord J. RUSSELL stated
that he would not bring on the Scotch Bills at a late
period on any evening.
STATE OF PORTUGAL.

Mr. FIUME wished to ask a question which he had
put the other night, with respect to the state of Por-
tugal. That question was as to whether the Noble Lord
at the head of the Government had any objection to lay
on the table of the House copies of the instructions
which had been given to the British agents in Portugal.
Lord J. RUSSELL said that he should oppose at pre-
senttake
the production of any papers respecting Portugal.
(I,FheGovernment bad no objection to the production
the papers, and when the proper time came he would
. Mrc.arieuithlaitzt_heTyhweermeilsacihdieofnwthoeultdablee of the House.
answer,uand.
time, and therefore he trusted that whenb
give him an
matterth at
came to be considered on Monday the Noble Lord would
he would therefore on that day
once more put the
Another HoN. questio.
question to the HouseßtmEtt. was proceeding to put a
on another •
called to order, and subject, when he was
Mr. HUME said that he had ano
but that was to the Noble Lordthaer question to put,
t Foreign Department, and that was, whethertle head. of the
tions had been sent out to Colonel Wyld:aanndy tiiinstruc-
British agents to use coercive measures in theeveennther
the Junta not acceding to the propositions which had
been laid before them? _
Lord PALMERSTON said that arrangements had
been made between the Governments of France, 12,ain,
i
and Portugal, for the repression of the insurrection in

that country. The production of the papers asked for
ould naturally hinder the progress of any negotiations,
but when the proper time came he would be ready to
produce the pavers and to state the reasons for the mea-
sures which they had adopted, and which he was sure
would satisfy the House.
Mr. HUME—AII he wished to know was, whether
any instructions for coercive measures bad been issued.
Lord PALMERSTON said that it was impossible to
produce the papers while measures were in course of
execution.

Mr. HUME then gate notice that he should on
Monday bring the subject under the consideration of the
House.

RELIEF WORKS (IRELAND).

Lord G. BENTINCK having observed that, while the
outlay on the public works in Ireland had been reduced
from a quarter of a million to 40,0001. per week, the
expense of the staff, which had been rated at 60,0001.
was still 14,000/. a week, said the question he wished to
ask was, whether there was any prospect of the expense
of the staff being reduced in proportion to the reduction
of the outlay for labour? He wished, therefore, to in-
quire how many of those persons who ware receiving
14,0001. a week of the public money were of the class
of destitute electors?

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
on the 25th of this month a great reduction had taken
place in the number of the inferior classes employed on the
public works. A reduction in the numbers of the superior
officers could not be so easily effected, as they would have
to be employed on the various relief committees. In the
numbers of the overseers and the check clerks a very
large reduction had taken place. Upon the 31st of
March the number of overseers employed was 11,218,
whereas upon the 25th of May their number only
amounted to 3,700, being a reduction of about 7,000.
The check clerks had been reduced from 4,800 on the
31st of March to 2,000 on the 25th of the present month.
With regard to the others who were employed reduc-
tions were going on as far as was consistent with the
necessities of the case.