The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-16 00:00:00

POOR REMOVAL ACT.

The NoBLE LORD presented a petition from Beverley
aeainst the Poor R. rnoval Act ; also, a petition from
Barbush, in the county of Wilts, to the :lame effect.
RATING IN IRELAND.

The NOBLE LORD said he wished to call the attention
of the House to a statement which he had received from
the town of Wexford, setting forth the great inequality
of the system of rating there. They had seat a
specimen of the rating in the shape of the official
advertisement of the rate. This notice stated that there
were two districts, one in the town and the other in the
county. Now, while the rate for the one was but 2d. in
the pound, the other was ls. 7d. in the pound. He hoped
her Majesty's Government would take this matter into
their serious consideration in their present measure. The
parties to whom he referred also prayed that, if the
rates were paid by the landlords, they should have the
power of appointing the guardians, who would have the
superintendence of the rates.
NATIONAL EDUCATION.
_

The NOI3LE LORD presented petitions from the
Protestant Dissenters of Birdrush, Wilts, against the
Government scheme of national education. His Lord-
ship said that there was an unfounded prejudice raised
against this measure, which was one of a most tolerant
character to all sects, of whatever religious persuasion.
The Marqu's of LANSDOWNE said that nothing
could be more unfounded than many of the statements
contained in the pet:tiJnis presented against this scheme.
It was characterised as intolerant, and framed with the
intention of excluding the Dissenters from its benefits.
He should not have been at all surprised at the jealousy
shown by many classes if half of what was stated in
those petitions were based on truth, but the facts were
altogether opposed to these statements. It was alleged
that the measure was only intended to give a monopoly
to the Church, but with all his (L9rd Lansdowne's) re-
spect for that venerable establ:shmeut, he should be the
last man to give them unlimited powers in the matter of
education.
Lord BROUGHAM confirmed the remarks made by
the Noble Lord. He had often seen intolerance ana
prejudice, but he had never witnessed so much misrepre-
s, station as on this measnre. lie remembered that in
1820 he was borne down on the Parish:Schools Bill, because
he was supported by the Church, and consequently op-
posed by the Dissenters. The result had been, and would
still be, that education would be lost between them.
FLOGGING IN THE ARMY.
The NOBLE Loan presented petitions from Braintree
and Booking, in Essex, against flogging in the army.
LAW OF PATENTS.
The NOBLE LORD presented a.petition from Mr. Res-
Cott, of Edinburgh, praying for an alteration and reform
in the law of patents.
MEDICAL SECRETS.
The NOBLE LORD also presented petitions from Mr.
Patrick Maxwell and other members of the medical
profession, praying that the same indulgence might be
granted to them, in the matter of secrets connected with
their profession, that was extended to barristers and
gentlemen in the practice of the law.
THE CASE OF JOHN ROCKEIAM.
The NOBLE LORD moved for a return of copies of the
committal, and the correspondence with the Secretary of
State, in the case of John Hockham, a prisoner com-
mitted by one of the NH ldlesex magistrates.
SALE OF FIRE-ARMS IN IRELAND—RAIL-
WAYS—EMIGRATION.
_

Lord STANLEY said he had three petitions to
present, which, as they referred to most impor
rant subjects, were well worthy the serious con-
sideration of their Lordships. The first was from
the (High Sheriff and the grand jury of the
South Riding of the county of Tipperary, agreed to at
the last assizes. They stated that they viewed with
alarm the unprecedented sale of fire-arias in Ireland,
and that Justice Jackson had alluded to the sub-
ject in his charge. Many of the arms were
in the possession of persons of bad character.
The head constable of Clonmel had furnished
a report, giving the names of twelve persona (whose
names Ise would not read, but he should be happy to
place the list in the hands of the Noble Marquis), who
were importing large quantities of guns, pistols,
bayonets, &c., which they sold at from 23. to 30s
each ; four of them were in the habit of disposing
of them by public auction on the market days. As the
Birmingham manufacturers had been unable to meet
the excessive demand, they had obtained them, at a re-
duced price, from the pawn-shops. The arms, they
went on state, were frequently in the possession of ser-
vant-boys, and of persons employed on the public
works, ho devoted a portion of their earnings
to their purchase.—(Hear, hear.) He (Lord Stanley;
could state, from a private account which he hat
received, that at one of these auctions in the Clontnei
market-place, the seller endeavoureilto induce persons is
buy guns and pistols by such expressions as these—
" Here's a receipt in full for the last November rent,"
" Warranted to bring down an agent at one
hundred and fifty yards' distance."—(Sensation and
laughter.) The petitioners concluded by praying
their Lordships to pass a law which would prevent in-
disposed persons from having fire-arms in their posses
sion, and which would prevent them from having their
lives thus placed in continual jeopardy. He (Lord
Stanley) would also state that a number of person,
who were employed in the public works recently
assembled in a field in the neighbourhood of Clonmel,
and amused themselves by practising shooting with ball
:at a hat, each successful shot being received with loud
cheers. 'The second petition was from the same per-
sons, in favour of a general scheme of rsilways for Ire
land,
as they considered they would not only prove
most beneficial to the people, but provide
lucrative employment for them for many years.
The third, which was also from the same parties, was
in favour of a general scheme of emigration, under the
auspices of the Government. He knew that there
were great difficulties in the way of carrying out
such a scheme, because great expense would be en-
tailed upon the Government, and the.colonies would by
!eluged with thousands of destitute persons. It was right
hsastio a
ns
fbr the purposes of emigra-
tion, should be rectified, as the Government had not an
stemoisitathkee
Government, which
prevailed with respect to the pos-
sessions
acre of land for that purpose in the North American
colonies. It was in the possession of the local legisla-
ture, and they viewed with alarm an increase of erni•
gration.
Lord BROUGHAM expressed his disbelief that any
general depletion of the system, such as that referred to
by the Noble Lord with regard to Ireland, was possible.
It' there could be any means of ascertaining the number
months,
comparedt with the corresponding
of marriages that had taken place in that country during
periodthe
last
lastsix year,m on
some light might be thrown upon this
subject. He was apprehensive that if they took away a
large number of the population, as it was proposed to
do, they would in a short time be as swarming as they
were now.
Lord STANLEY wished to know if there was any
truth in the statement that a tax had been lately imposed
upon all emigrants into the states of America.
Earl GREY said that he understood a measure of
that kind had been under consideration in Congress, in
consequence of some abuses that had occurred in con-
nexion with emigration from German, not British ports.
These emigrants had been landed on the quays of New
York, and an immense number of them were utterly
unable to labour. He did not think, however, that any
obstruction would be given to the ordinary emigration
from this country. If no means were taken on this site
to stimulate, there would be no attempt on the other side
to chi ck emigration. Before Lord Elvin had left for
Canada, he understood from him thatevery exertion would
be made to facilitate the distribution and absorption of al
labour into that colony, and he was happy to say tha
this had been attended with the best results.

Lord ASH BURTON said that he had faith in the mode
of relief proposed for the relief of destitution iu Ireland,
provided caution was observed on the arrival of the
emigrants at the several points on the other side
of the Atlantic, he slid not think any evil would
arise from the increase of emigration. Mr. Bu-
chanan, the agent in Canada, stated that, pro
viding the emierants were sent westward as soon
as they came, they would soon be absorbed in the mass
of the population. Seeing the deplorable state of Ire-
land, and the distress which prevailed in many paces of
England, with the possibility of the same happening this
year, it behoved them to look carefully into the ques-
tion whether emigration could not be extended
further. The vast capabilities of the valley of the Mis-
sissippi were such, as to grow food in greater abundance
than any other portion of the globe ; and it would be
the greatest humanity to place the people there who
could not obtain a maintenance here. He had a peti-
tion of a remarkable character to present on this subject.
The petition was signed by 1,500 of the poorest people
of the barony of Ardagh, in the county of Mona4han.
They were cottiers, who had no connexion whatever
with the land, and they were not instigated by any one
in their present course. They petitioned enth ely on
their own account, and complained that the measures
at present proposed were only of a temporary nature;
and they further stated that as much would be required
for the poor rates during the next eight months to
maintain them as would pay the expenses of their emi-
gration to the colonies. lie was aware that there was
a. sulfieient stimulus to emigration without the govern-
ments furnishine additional incentives; but all ha meant
was that they ;Laid take care that the emigrants did
not suffer any unnecessary hardship on landing in
America. Some hints had been thrown out that
some possible interference might be given on the other
side. They were well aware that Canada and their
colonies would be unable to absorb the tide' of emigra-
tion to the new continent ; the majority choosing rather
to go on to Michigan, Illinois, lowa, Ohio, the Urkansas,
tied the other states on the Mississipi. He thought that
this petition was eminently deserving of their Lord-
ships' attention. He would take leave to direct their
Lordships' attention to another point, and that was the
matter of registration. He found that the excess of
births over deaths was only some 160,000 in the last
three years, and, when they took into consideration the