The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-24 00:00:00

SPANISH DEBT.

Lord BROUGHAM then rose, pursuant to notice
given on a former occasion, to bring before their Lord-
ships a subject which required the utmost atten-
tion of Parliament, or, if it could be done, of Govern-
ment ; but he was aware that there was great diffi-
culty in the way of their taking steps in such a case.
Still there was no reason why the justice of Parliament
should not be applied in a case of hard-
ship and injustice like that he was about to
bring before them. The petition which he had
to present was from Mr. Dempster Hemming
and Sir Thomas Lethbridge, Bart., and they were the
representatives of a great class of sufferers. The Noble
Lord then laroceeded to state that the petitioners were
creditors of the Spanish Government, having lent money
to that country in its great struggle for freedom which
had never been repaid. It could not be alleged that the
Spanish Government was in a state of insolvency, for the
revenue, which some years ago was deficient some six
millions annually, now exhibited a surplus of more than
half a million. The Noble Lord concluded by reading
the prayer of the petition.
The Earl of CLARENDON said that his Noble
Friend had, a few days ago, shown him the petition
which he had just presented, and he believed that the
statement contained in it was not at all over-
charged. He believed that the case was one of
gross injustice, for Spain, as the Noble and Learned
Lord had said, was not in a state of insolvency.
There was no country in Europe whose products were
more in demand than those of Spain. She had the
means of acquiring wealth, and therefore she had
no right to refuse to pay the just demands made upon
her. But he was glad to observe that Spain had never
adopted the new word which had recently been intro-
duced into the vocabulary of England, for on several
occasions the debt had been admitted and
arrangements made for payment of the interest.
Owing, however, to the succession of new Ministers, the
claims of the Spanish bondholders bad been set aside.
Many persons in this country had invested the savings
of a life in these bonds—foolishly, he admitted, for they
ought to know that advances of money made to foreign
Governments, without the sanction of their own Govern-
ment, must of course be at their own individual risk.
Many millions of the mony of this country had
been sacrificed from losing sight of that pre-
caution. His Noble Friend at the head of the
Foreign Department was now communicating with
the Spanish authorities, aad he sincerely trusted
that the result of the communication would
prove successful. The Spaniards, he knew, were an
honourable people, and he was quite sure the proceed-
ings of their Government were not sanctioned by them.
He hoped that their Lordships would be of opinion that
Spain was not justified in repudiating a debt like the
present.
Lord BROUGHAM said that he was very glad to
hear what had fallen from his Noble Friend opposite.
Perhaps there should be some arrangement to appoint
some commissioner.

Lord ASHBURTON made a few observations which
were inaudible in the gallery.

DRAINAGE OF LANDS BILL.

On the motion for going into Committee on the
Drainage of Lands Bill,
The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH said that he wished
to call their Lordship? attention to one part of the pre-
sent Bill, which he considered defective. He considered
that no provision was made in the Bill for carrying
off the water that came from the mountains of
Scotland, which would go into the water-
courses, which would be necessarily flooded. He
thought that provision should be made to prevent that.
Now, if what he deprecated were permitted in his own
neighbourhood, half the town of Tewkesbury would be
carried away. It would seem that this was a Scottish
Bill, as while two and a half millions were applied for
by Scotch proprietors, but half a million had been ap-
plied for in England.
Lord CAMPBELL replied that this would only show
that more improvement was going forward in Scotland
than England.
After some further observations from Lord Brougham,
Lord Ashburton, and the Earl of Minto, the Bill passed
through Committee.

The House then resumed.
Messengers came up from the Comhions bringing
several Bills.

EASTER RECESS.

Tolle Earl of WICKLOW said it had been intimated
by the Noble Earl the Secretary for the Colonies, on
behalf of the Noble Marquis the President of the Council,
that he would, on Tuesday next, move the adjournment of
the House till the 13th of April, but he (Earl of Wick-
low) hoped that they would adjourn till the Thursday
instead of the Tuesday, according to invariable custom.
as it would be much more convenient to those Peers
connected with Ireland, who might, therefore, have to
go to a distance.
Earl GREY said he of course could give no answer
at present to the Noble Earl's suggestion, but if it
should appear more convenient to some of their Lord.
ships, and if it would not interfere with the
course of public business, he expected that the wishes
of the Noble Earl would be met by his Noble Friend
the President of the Council.
Their Lordships then adjourned.

ROUSE 01 COMMONS. March 23.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock.
SECOND READINGS.

The following Bi is were severally read a second time
Commercial Gas Light and Coke Company.
Dunfermline and Cupar Court Houses.
Rwcorn Gas.
Rutherglen and Strathbungo Road.
Warrington Gas Light and Coke.
Westminster Improvements.
GOVERNMENT EDUCATIONAL SCHEME.
Mr. dfiEENE presented a petition from Lancaster
against the proposed Government grant.
SEE OF KILDARE.

Mr. SHAW presented a petition from a place in Ire.
laud praying for the restoration of the see of Kildare.
SCOTCH REGISTRATION BILL.

• Sir 8.. H. INGLIS presented a petition from Forres
against the proposed Scotch Registration Bill.
Mr. YOUNG presented a petition from the county of
Cavan' praying for an improvement in the present
electoral districts.