The Sun.
London, England, 1840-03-31 00:00:00

EVENING EDITION.

measure on this subject, or decidedly whether they would
do so at any time. He admitted the urgency of the case,
but he should ill perform his duty to the country if he
could be urged by the taunts of the Noble Earl to take any
step in a measure in which he did not-clearly see his way.
—( Hear, hear.) Takieg into consideration the great
difficulties of the case, the difference of opinion
that prevailed upon it, (no ttko men, or two bodies of men,
as far as ho could perceive, agreeing upon the course to be
taken), and also taking irate consideration the advice given
by the Noble Earl himself, not to be precipitate in the for-
mation of a measure, he could only say be could not at pre-
sent pledge the Government to introduce a measure on the
subject. The Supreme Court of Law on the one hand and
the Ecclesiastical Assembly on the other had carried on'the
war, he would not say as others did, beyond the power they
possessed, but to the utmost -extent it was possible they
could carry it; mid being engaged in this manner, point
to point, neither being prepared to give way or concede the
least point to the other, they turned round and said to the
Government, a third party, " Now settle this contest in a
manner that will be satisfactory to us both." That was
the easy task cast upon the Government. Much as he felt
the evil of delay, agitation, and discord, it must at the same
time be remembered that a measure might only add to irri-
tation and discord; and as in all probability it would be
more satisfactory to one party than the other, he could not
anticipate the salutary and composing effect expected from
it ; and on the whole, seeing the difficulties of the case, be
repeated he was unable decidedly to pledge the Govern-
ment on the subject.
The Earl of ABERDEEN had heard with great con-
cern the statement of the Noble Viscount, which explained
to their Lordships the foundation of the decision to which
he had come. The Noble Viscount said he was afraid he
should not be able to propose a measure that would be sa- I
tisfactory to both parties. Did it not occur to the Noble
Viscount that he had a duty to perform ?—(Hear, hear.)
Was this a speculative difference between two parties ?
The Noble Viscount forgot the state of the country—he
forgot this was a question whether law should prevail or
not ? It was a mistake to say that both parties had gone
to the utmost extremity of their pawcr. The law remained
unexecuted, because if they attempted to execute the law
in the district with which he was connected it would lead
to universal bloodshed. Ile stated this positively, knowing
that the people were armed, and ready to resist if it were
attempted to carry it into effect. Here then was the law
defied, and a decree pronounced unable to be executed.
Was it not the duty of the Government to secure the duo
erecution of the law ? It was in vain for the Noble Vie-
count to expect these matters to settle themselves. It
might be good policy, occasionally, to take time, and
trust to the chapter of accidents, but in this case long
as the delay bad been, he thought the Noble Viscount,
when be did interfere, would be precipitate at last.
But, considering the state of the country at this moment,
he thought it was abandoning the first duty of a Govern-
ment not to take some steps. He (Earl of Abeedeen)
gave no opinion himself which party was right or wrong,
but the Government should look to their duty, and not
whether any measure they thought should be proposed
would be satisfactory to the contending parties.
The Marquis of WESTMINSTER presented several
petitions, praying for an alteration in the Corn-laws, and
alluded to the former opinion of Lord Ashburton on the
subject.
Lord ASHBURTON explained. What he had for-
merly opposed was what he conceived the improper eaten.
sion of the Corn-laws.

Lord SUDELE Y presented a similar petition, praying
for such an alteration as would make the supply steady
and certain,
Earl of CHARLEVILLE inquired if her Majesty's
Govo:nment was acquainted with an outrage which had
taken place in the county of Limerick. He was informed
a person named Arundal Hill had been warned to prepare
for death, for that the fate of the Rev. Mr. Da..-gson
awaited him because he refused to underlet same land
which. if he did without the consent of his landlord, he
would fafeit his lease. He hoped, if the Noble Marquis
was not acquainted with the eircumstatee, he would make
inquiries respecting it.
The Marquis of NORMANDY said he was not in-
formed of the particulars of the case to which the Noble
Earl had referred, but would make inquiries on the
subject. .

OFFICIAL RETURNS.
The Earl of MINTO said be had inquired into the
cause of the errors in the official returns to which a Noble
Lord had called his attention, and had found that they bad
been supplied correctly, but that the error was occasioned
by the transposition of two letters in printing—an error
which he must say was very seldom to be imputed to the
printer cf the House.