The Sun.
London, England, 1841-06-15 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 141.

could satisfy the House how completely the landed pro-
prietors in both Houses had passed laws to favour
property ; and he would tell the Noble Lord,
the Secretary for the Colonies, that when he
proposed to give Bs. protection . to the landed pro-
prietor for every quarter of wheat, that he was ins-
' posing a tax of the most onerous nature, and one
which the landowners ' were not entitled to:—
(Hear, hear.) In 1825, John Rock, who rented from
200 to 300 acres of land, told the Committee that there
was no tax which bore heavily upon the farmer but the
malt tax and the assessed taxes ; ' and Henry Moreton,
another farmer, told them that his assessed taxes
were very small, not being 101. on all his • lands,
He (Mr. Hume) agreed with the Hon. Gentleman that
if the landowners Were burdened with any tax that. other
classes -of the community were not subject to, pro-
tection should be afforded to them to that extent,
but he saw that they were not, while up to the
present time upwards of 20,000,0001. had been
repealed for the benefit. of agriculture. He would
proceed to state some of the burdens to which
personal property was subject, but from which landed
property was exempt. In 1798 Mr. Pitt had brought in
two Bills, the one for raising a revenue from the descent
of landed property; the other for raising a revenue from
the descent of personal property. The latter Bill passed
into a law, the former one was rejected on the third
reading, and up to the present hour personal pro-
perty had continued liable to the laze ' Since
the Act had passed, personal property had paid
60,180,000/. to That tax, while landed property was en-
tirely exempt from hay such charge. Now this relief
from direct taxation was a point which Hon. Gentlemen
who wished to continue to tax the food of the commu-
nity ought fairly to cbnsider.—(Hear, hear.) Then
besides this relief from direct taxation, the landed
interest had had, through - the weakness of the Mi-
nistry in yielding to the country gentlemen, upwards
of 80,000!. annually paid to them in aid of county
rates ; from this source they had received alto-
gether
nearly half a million. Besides this, the landed
proprietors had, during the lasi • four years, received
every year, in consequence of the rise in the price of
food and corn, a tax exceeding 50 millions sterling,
which Was equal to the whole amount paid -towards the
Wants of the State. It was useless to'tieny that the
landed interest received fifty millions 'per annum: for the
taxes on food.' There were-four different celculations in
the report of the import duties, which prove the fact. From
Mr. M`Gregor's evidence it appeared that fresh meat and
animal food was prohibited, by which. animal food in
England- was raised to double the price which it was
in any other country ; and in the same proportion as that
increase was the profit of the landed proprietors increased.
The witness was asked what was the average price of
articles used for food on the Continent generally ? and he
replied that the average for the last twenty years would
be found to range from 40 to 80 per cent. Hon. Gen-
tlemen would see from this statement that the estimate
which he had given was extremely low. He considered
that it was impossible for the House longer
to persist in maintaining such a state of things,
when .• they saw the misery and distress existing at
this moment in every part' of the country. He had state-
ments.from Birmingham, Bolton, and other places, which
he would submit to the- House to-morrow, when he in-
tended to enter into the subject .at much greater
length. Before they persisted in refusing to admit an
amelioration, he begged them to understand what
were likely -to be the consequences, and not to
throw away the examples- which history furnished
of countries driven to desperation by famine and want.
These were the grounds upon which he considered they
had been defrauded by the means with which the Right
Hon. Gentleman had interposed his question of want of
confidence. If he had not introduced that mo-
tion, they would have had the question of the
Corn-laws properly discussed. If . the Right Hon.
Gentleman had been candid, as he (Mr. Hume) expected
he would have been, he would have stated the course he
intended to pursue with respect to the Corn-laws.
Mr. G. PALMER thought that it was not only the
height of impropriety to delude the people on a question
like the present, but that it was wicked in the extreme ;
and the statement of the Hon. Gentleman that the landed
interest was nut taxed was calculated to make such an ,

impression.
The Report was then received.
MILITIA PAY BILL.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER brought
up the Report of the Committee on the Militia Pay
Bill. The amendments were agreed to, and the Bill
ordered to be engroSsed:
COURT OF CHANCERY.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first
reading of the Administration of Justice (Court of
Chancery) Bill. The Bill was ~read a first time, and
ordered to be read a second time to-morrow.
DEBTS OF PARISHES BILL.
Sir E. KNATCHBULL moved the. Order of the Day
for the adjourned debate or. the Debts of Parishes Bill
for the purpose of having it discharged. The Hon.
Member was understood to complain of having met with
opposition in proceeding with the Bill.
Mr. BENJAMIN WOOD said he objected to the
Bill, as it provided for the payment of certain debts—one
upwards of seven years, the amount and number of which
were not specified. He was desirous to ascertain what
was the real object of the Bill. He wondered how the
Hon. Baronet could say that he had met with unrea-
sonable opposition. Ile (Mr. B. Wood) was glad that
the Hon. Gentleman meant to withdraw the Bill, as next
Session he trusted such information would be laid
before the House as would enable it to legislate on the
subject.
Mr. WARBURTON said. as far as he was concerned
he had no objection whatever to the Bill going through
another stage. He-was not responsible fpr the Bill not
going through another stage. It would be most un-
reasonable-to pass the Bill at once, involving as it did,
pFlsh property to an enormous amount, without in-
stituting a full inquiry into the circumstances con-
nected with the subject. The Hon. Member then in-
stanced the case of a parish in the metropolis which
foyty years ago borrowed a sum of money for the repair
of a chtirch, agreeing to pay 12 per cent. .interest
on the sum, and said it was most unreasonable
that parishes at the present time should be answerable
for such contracts. He hoped the returns which his
Hon. Friend had moved for would procure the requisite
information whenever the subject came again under the
consideration of the House.—The Bill was then with-
drawn

Lord HOWICK thought it would be very inconvenient to
compel a Chairman to preside permanently. The alteration
now proposed was consiatmt with the previous part of
the Bill, and he thought they should endeavour to obtair,
a voluntary Chairman. Theexperience he had had con-
firmed the opinion he had first stated that the Committee
should have the benefit of professional assistance. lii
believed the plan of having assessors out of the House, and
for this labour, was the plan they, must eventually adopt.
Sir H. PEEL proposed an amendment to the ir:;cl
clause. He trusted the Ho' se would express its opinion
strongly in favour of the proviso. The balance was in
favour of an alteration in the law.

Lord J. RUSSELL approved of the amendment. Th
Right Hon. Baronet acted judiciously in proposing it.
Lord MAHON supported the amendment.

Mr. WYNN supported the amencimmt of the Righ!
Hon. Baronet the Member fur Taanworth.

~Ifter a few observations froznisir.a:BULLEß, the,
proviso was agreed to, as were clauses 44 and 45.
The remaiiiing clauses of the Bill were then cgr.ed to,
the Report was received, and the Bill was ordered to be
read a third time to-morrow.

The Winterbourne Parish Division Bill was read a
third time, and passed.
The Register of Voters Bill was read a second time.
The House then went into Committee on the Bill, and
was proceeding with the consideration of the clauses,
when

Upon the motion of Mr. WALTER, the House• was
counted, and then adjourned, there being but 29 Mem-
bers present.

LORD STANLEY AND MR.

HANDLEY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MORNING CHRONICLE.

Sir—Since 1 requested your insertion of ray eorrespon•
deuce with Lord Stanley, I have discovered the, original
letter which passed between Lord George Bentinck and
myself, in February, 1835, and which I have his Lordship's
permission to publish. I avail myself of i:, firstly, be-
cause I have " the satisfaction of finding that it corro-
borates my recollection in every partiuu!ar ; and se-
condly, because Lord Stanley's rei.ly to mi letter of th,-
6th June, while it admits " that my nu.m ry -is much mo e
likely to be accurate than his as to wh; ther the' occaion of
my attendance at his Lordship's house was previous or subse-
quent to the vote which I gave in favour of Jr.A Manners
Sutton,"•still implies that I sought that interview, and that
he never invited the attendance of any one at hit house. I
leaVe Lord George Benbuck's letter to speak for itself as to
these points, only remarking that the election of Mr. Aber•
cri..mby tosk,place on Thursday the 19. h, while the widrc s
wars nut moved till Tuesday tt:e 24th February, the day afttr
the date of Lord G. Bentinck's letter.

lily reply, the draft of which I found with the above letter,
will he.t show how far the reason of my attendance at Lord
Stanley's was 't not liking to give an absolute refusal to sup-
port Sir PobertPeel."

Begging the favour of S-ou to insert this communication,

if am, Sir, your:obedient, humble servant.
30, Pall-mail, June 12. HENRY HANDLEY.
LORD GEORGE BENTINCE TO MP.. HANDLEY.
(Private )
My dear Sir,—Relieving you to be one of that chosen and
patriotic band which takes its stand between the two extremes
of party upon the ground of safe but searching Reform, giving
no confidence to the present Administration,"but at the same
time honestly resolved to give a fair trial to the 111i.isters of
the King'a choice—Lord Stan'ey has asked me to see you, or
to write to you, with the view to inquire whether you could
make it convenient to meet the moderate Whig party to•
morrow afternoon, at his house, No. 5, Carlton-gardens, im-
mcdiate•ly after the delivery of the King's speech.
We reckon that we number about too cc three and forty,
and Lord Stanley is anxious to have the assistance, advice,
and opinions of all moderate and temperate Reformers as to
the course they think it advisable to pursue generally at this
eventful moment, and, firstly, in respect to the address in an-
swer to the King's speech,
Stanley was he.itating whether to write t) you himself or
not ; but fearing lest you might think it presuming in him to
to so, he requested me, as an old acquainta.ice, to call upon
you, and ask you whether you had any objection to meet
the juste milieu party at his house, to-morrow, at three
o'clock.

I did call first at your old quarters, No. 16, Suffolk• street,
and afterwards at the University Club; but failing to meet
with you, 1 write you this note.
Always very truly yours,
G. BEN TIN Mi.
H. Handley, Esq., M.P., University Club, Suffolk-street.
Harcourt House, Feb. 2:3, 1835.
SIR. HANDLEY TO LORD GEORGE BENTINCK,

Dear Lord George—l found yours on my return to town at
a late hour last night. You only do me justice in the belief
that I will not lepd myself to any extreme party purposes, but
I think it right to acquaint you that my feelings of distrust
towards the present Administration are such, that, if called
upon for a vote on an amendment to the address, expressive
of ray want of confidence in them, I have made np my
mind to give ' it. With this determination I cannot but
feel that my attendance at Lord Stanley's to day would he
useless, if not unfair , but I may be permitted to ad I, that in
the present crisis, Lurd Stanley is a pers' n in whom 1 place
the greatest reliance, and that any Administration ITerted un-
der his ausTices, or is which he should hold an influential
station, based es I am cure it would be, on real I;e:orm prin-
ciples, would ha.,te my confidence and support as an indep
dent Member of Parliament, as far as would be consistent with
my declared opinions to my recorded votes.
Should 1 not have made myself sufficitntly understood, or
should you think my objections to attend the meeting insuffi-
cient, I shall probably have the oiportunity of communicating
with you at the House. I am, &c., very truly }our,,
Feb. 24, 1e35. HENRY HANDLEY.

DREADFUL ACCIDENT AT
QIJEBLC.
(From the Quebec Mercury.)
It is oar painful task to report a most awful disaster which
took place ye=terday, between eleven o'clock and noon, and oc-
casioned the destruction of, no less than eight houses in Cham-
plain-Street, opposite to the Custom-house, with a frightful loss
of human life, the extent of which has not yet been fully rscer-
tvined. A large portion of the cliff, from near the foot of the
Citadel at Cape Diamond, to an extent of about 250 feet, gave
way, and faking into Champlain. street, entirely overwhelmed the
houses beneath and their numerous inmates, under the p‘;nder-
-0113 masses of rock and rubbish that suddenlifell, so silently
and w ithout previous indication of danger, that none of the
unfortunate sufferers had time to escape. The sentry on duty
at the gate of the Queen's stores perceived the side of the pre-
cipice in motion, and ere he could utter a cry
of alarm, which would indeed have been unavailing,
the whole had descended into the street, prostrating
the buildings beneath, carrying with it their frag-
ments, and covering the road completely to 'the walls of the
Custom-house. So great is the quantity of rocks, and so
barge the masses which have thus been displaced, that the pro-
gress of clearing them away can be but slowly effected. The
s•ones composing the wall of the fortification, on the crest of
the rock, to the extent we have above stated, appeared thinly
scattered on the surface of the debris, in comparatively small
fragments, and in one directiiin only did they reach the base of
the rock. The military of the garrison were promptly on the
spot, and the Mayor and some others of the city authorities re-
paired thither without loss of time, and operations were imme-
diately commenced to rescue from beneath the avalanche, if so
it may be called, the victims of this awful catastrophe,, and by
four o'clock, five living ;beings, all serins,ly injured, one in a
hopeless state, were rescued, and thirteen dead bodies were ex-
tricated from the ruins. The work proceeded till night put a
stop to any efl•'ectual attempt at labour, and was renewed again
at day-break this morning.
Several similar accidents, though to a comparatively
smaller extent, have occasionally occurred, but, whilst they
treated alarm at the time, they have not had the effect of de-
terring persons from continuing to build in so perilous a situa-
tion, but one so convenient for the dealers in marine stores,
and groceries, and the keepers of those lodging and boarding
receptacles which receive sailors, raftsmen, and the poorer
'classes of emigrants' during the season f,f navigation. The
cause of these disasters, the present included, appears to arise
from the numerous springs filtering through the crevices of
the rock ; these raPing into clefts expanded by frost during
the winter, increase the fissures, and loosen large masses of
rock, which subsequent natural operations entirely detach, till
whole bodies are removed from their positions, occasioning
such devastation and ruin a. was yesterday unhappily wit-
nessed. It was apparent to the most superficial observer, that
the slight work which crowned the precipice could have had
no share in precipitating the rock at its base from the position
it hal so long occupied. It will, however, require much la-
bour, and no inconsiderable expense, to rebuild the curtain,
scarp the face of the rock, and to replace the part of the forti-
fications destroyed, in a'safe and sufficient condition.
The religious ladies of the Hotel Dieu, with their characte-
ristic benevolence, have received seven of the injured persons
into that establishment, although there were no vacant beds
in the regular wards at thp time of the calamity. It is almost
unnecessary to say that every care, skill, and attention is
shown to the unfortunates on the part of the medical attend-
ants as well as the nuns, and that the whole of these cases pro-
mise to do well. Their names are Peter Considine, aged
about 12 years, injury of head, face, and ancle ; Michael Con-
sidine, aged three Tears, much bruised and burnt about the
brad and neck ; Madame Golin, injury of left thigh and ancle ;
Mary Ryall, injury of head and foot, aged 30 years, cousin'to
the Consitlines ; ngelique Guilmet, injury of the hip; Ann
Sullivan, age I 15 years, injury of the spine ; Mary Considine,
aged 18 months, injury of the head and arms, and fractured
thigh. Mrs. Con idirie chanced to be absent from home when
the disaster occurred, and she is the only member of this family
uninjured.

. -
This morning the bodies of Mr. G sin, and Jones, a tailor, in
Mr. Birch's house, occupied by Mrs. Conners anr! family, were
removed from the ruins by a party under the direction of Mr.
Wells, whose zeal in the cause of humanity is so well-known to
the inhabitants cf this city, and by whom about one-half the
bodies found yesterday were disinterred and removed. They
are now fol:owing up their labours in search of the bodies of
Lionnais and Chortler, who were in Golin's house, and hare
'arrived at traces of blood. One most extraordinary case of es-
cape is that of Vital Roy and family. His house was hurled
into the s'reet, and partly buried beneath the ruins, together
Kith their beds, Sce.,; himself, ilis.wife, a servant-maid, and an
apprentice boy, escaped entirely unhurt, and his infant was,ex-
t acted from the ruisis of the fallen chimney a short time after
the affair, almost unscathed.
The coroner held an inquest on the bodies of the following
perstios previous to one o'clock this day, acid four or five more
bodies have been,since disinterred :,r-
Robert M‘liabbon, Mary Connors, Margaret Connors, Do-
minique Grealy, Patrick Doherty, Mary Gallatither, Jane
Crawford, John Considine, John Fisher, Patrick Hayes, Mary
Williams. Emmanuel Williams, Rose Ann Williams. Ellen
Hall, wife of Robert Reed, Margaret Young, Henri Cote,
Joseph Golio, Jude Grain, and Marie Golin.
Denis Fitzpatri-k, George Jones, Madeline Jones, his wife,
Mrdolins Jones, an infant, Leon Leonaise,.Lucie St. Latrent,
Francois. Chart ier.

Half-past three o'clocit p.m.
They are now removing the bodies of Chartier and Lion-
n is, which makes six to-day. Two young women from Point
Levy, who had gone to the scene of distress to visit some
fri,,nds immediately before the accident, are still missing.
It•has beer. c.infidently stated to us on the report of several
; ersons, some of which were received by our informant before
tite accident occurred, that the shock of an earthquake was
di:tinetly felt in various quarters frem Diamond Harbour to
the Upper Town of Quebec, at between one and two o'clock
during the preceding night.

We regret to announce the death of Madame
O'Conor, the wife of the O'Conor Don, the lineal de-
teendant of Roderick O'Conor, the last of the Kings of
Ireland. This lamented lady was in her 36th year, and
the mother of a large family. Her benevolence will
long be remembered by the tenantry on her afflicted
husband's estate.
Under these 'melancholy circum-
stances the electors of Roscommon County, which the
O'Conor Don represents,
Should take steps to secure his
re--eleaion' without any personal movement on his part.
The proceeds or the sale of the late Marquis Camden's
pictures, which took place on Saturday, were upwards of
cvcn thousand pounds.

LAW INTE LI GENCE.
COURT OF EXCH 'hate 14.
PAIVItt tl. cottiNtt,
Mr. HUMFREY having opened the pleadingi,
Mr. PLATT said the defendant in this case being in Pa: i ,
sqlicited the plaintiff, who was much engaged as a musician in
that city, to come over and play in the orchestra at Concerts
to be given by Mr. Eliason at Drury-lane. Plaintiff consented,
and they entered into a contract that plaintiff should come
over and commence his engagement from the sth of October,
1840, to August, 1841, at 600 franc,, to be paid weekly, each
to perform their part of the contract under a penalty a I,ooof.
Tt.e plaintiff, however, before coming to a fzeign country, re-
quired to have some security for the due payment of his salary:
when the defendant gave him a guarantee, upon which
the action was brought. He came and performed in
the Concerts, but Mr. Eliason was not so successful
as he anticipated, and the plaintiff was soon put. on half allox-
ance, and then upon no allowance at all, and eventually Drury
Lana was shut up. At that period there was 101. 12s due to
this poor man, an' for that sum he was obliged to sue upon the
guarantee. He would prove his case as sho tly as he had stated
it, and he had no doubt, under the direction of his Lordship,
they would have the pleasure of giving a verdict for the is'ain •
tiff. He then called

Mr. Jacobs, who proved the handwriting of the defendant in
the agreement entered into between the parties. • Witness knew
that the plaintiff played the trombone at the concerts give. Ly
Mr. Eliason.

By the Jl:nc N—Witness sigm d the. agreement, but he clid
not consider himself as aluarantee for Air.,Eliason. He was
one of the parties.
Mr. V. LEE had nc:o question to ask. Ile subm;tted tint
upon the face of the contract the defendant was acting, when
engaging the plaintiff, a 3 the agent of Diann, and if so, tEen
no consideration had been ' yen for the guarantee.
His LORDSHIP overruled the objection. The agreement
was made as agent' for Eliason and others, and the consideration
was that the plaintiff si:ould come to this country and perform
at the Concerts.

Mr. LEE would then . take his Lordship's opinion whether
The I.laintiff ought not to have set out the agreement find in
French (the original being written in that language), and then
again in English ?
His Lounsitte said No; they ought not to do an thing of the
kind. He doubted upon the point in a late ease—be reserved
the po!nt, ar,d the Court derided it aeconiing to his opinion.
I Learned Counsel would not wish him, to reserve the point
again. His Lnrd,hip then directed the Jury to find for the
damages
.123.

Upon the application of Mr. Platt, his Lottnsuir certified
that it ma: a fit case to be tried before the superior Court, but
relted to give speedy execution, the defendant being merely
guarantee for another. Had the action been against Mr. Elia-
son he Mould have had no hesitation.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.
OLD CO UILT.
''( Before the REcoanEa.)
They Sessions at the Old Palley commenced yesterday
before the Itecor.ler, Lord. Mayor, Aldermen, and other civic
authorities.

The Calendar, which is nnu?ually large,.contains the names
of 251 prisoners, several of whom are charged with very se-
rous off, nces— two being for murder.
The Grand Jury h..ving been sworn, the Recorder delivered
his charge to the following cffec, was sorry to find the
Ca!ender contained the names of so many prisoners. 'I his
Calendar differed only in point of number from these they had
been in the habit of considering at former Sessions. It was
painrul to notice from time to time the coritinuanee of the
crime of violence to the person, espee'allv towards females,
which apparently was on the increa,e ; and that the punishment
ritherto extended to offences of the'description did not appear
to be a sufficient check, or to afford by example sufficient terror
to those who miy be disposed to commit them. ob-
servation he did not elude to the extreme penalty of the law.
The calendar contaired two cases cf murder. One was a
charge against a woman for the murder of her husband. She
was charged with having caused the death of her husband, by
violently basting him dOwnsstairs. There would be probably
some circumstances of the case requiring their serious and
attentive consideration. If it should appear that the husband
Land wife hid been previously quarrelling, arid that in a trans-
pert of passion the violence was committed witheut intending
any s.Tious injury—if There circumstances in the it juigment
rendered it questionable whether a charge of murder cou.d be
supported, then itibeeame their duty to find a bill for man-
s'aughter. The other "'ease •of murder was one under
very peculiar circumstances. - Happtared that a vessel was off
Algiers, and that a quarrel t.,ok place ,between the cook be-
longing to the vessel and one of th-4 sailors. In the cour,e of
the quarrel a carving knife was employed by the cook, with
which he struck the seaman, inflicting. a wound from which
blood flowed. The seaman 'was carried on shore and subse-
quently died at the hospital in Algiers. This was a case which,
on referring to the Statute, he thought was a!tilidecl with come
difficulty. The Statute applied punishment for offences
committed en the high seas within the jurisdiction
of the Admiralty, but it did not apply to offences com-
mitted on ~shore, and 'consequently out of the juris-
dietipn of the Admiralty. Had the man died on board tyre
ship there would have been no difficulty whatever. But under
all the circumstances of the case, as the blow .was struck on
board the ship, which was within the jurisdiction of the Ad-
miralty, and death having ensued on shore, which was not in
the jurisdiction of the Adminliy, he thought the safest and
best way would be to find a bill for cutting and wounding, with
intent to do some grievous bodily harm. The other cases
comprehended in the calendar were of minor importance,
'and did not appear to peesent any matter of difficulty, nor did
they involve any point of law. He would, therefore, not take
tie any of their time by remarking on the facts of which they
"(the Jury) were properly the judges. With these observa-
tions he would dismiss them to their several dutii.s, intimating
the probability of their being detained for some days.
John Thorne, described as a surgeon; pleaded guilty to hav-
ing ut!ered a forged letter fur the purpose of obtaining money.
'1 he prisoner had been remanded from the last sessions, and in
consequence of the preiecutor recommending him to mercy
and his having already been in prison for four months, he was
sent, need to one month's imprisonment.