The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-23 00:00:00

THE SU_N', LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MARCH 23, 1847.

cipline of the army, Some allusion had been made to de-
serti,m ; he would say wit.l, reference to that crime, that it was
occasioned by the tillers incurring dela beo,ming, there.
fore, dissatisfied with the service. Why, they held out no in-
ducement to a man to enlist after nerving twenty. one years ;
they did all they could to make him leave the
army with disgust. By the warrant of 1833 it was
stated that a man might have, after completing his service,
a permanent pension of not more than 6d. a day. Therefore
they were not sure of getting even this small stipend; and
when men had asked him if they were soon to get it, he had
told them that they must not look forward with any certainty
to it. It was often held out by those engaged in recruiting,
that a man might obtain his discharge free of expense at
any time. Now, proper information should be promulgated on
this s.ibject, so that the ignorant might not be deceived, and
led into so serious a contract, without knowing its exact na-
ture. The Right Honourable Gentleman spoke of endeavour-
iug to obtain a higher class of men; but he (Colonel Lind-
say) considered that the army could do without gentlemen
clerks or half gentlemen, as the army could not he better re-
cruited than at present. A more rigid discipline must be main-
tained in the British army than in that 'of other nations.
Here we could not afford to have any waste, but when they
considered the high pay and the high pensions of the police,
and the great numbers who now obtained employment as rail-
way officers, he apprehended they would find that a better class
of men could not be obtained. They had done well by select-
ing men from the working classes, and by continuing to adopt
the same plan, he had no doubt the same result would take
place. Greater inducements ought to be held out to cause
men who had served for fifteen years to rejoin the army ; but
when a man had served his country faithfully twenty-one years,
he ought to be allowed a pension which would prevent him
from seeking the aid of a workhouse, from being insufficient to
support him in his old age; he ought to have such an allow-
ance as would keep him in comparative alifluence.—( Hear. )
Colonel SIBTHORP lamented that nothing now was
right, and that a subversive system was going on. They
had attacked the Church, they had attacked the
law, and they had attacked physic— (Laughter) all
professions were undergoing a change—nothing was right—
( Renewed laughter)—but he still reverenced the wisdom of

,
their ancestors, which he thought was totally departed from
within the walls of that reformed—that pure House of Com-
mons, which did nothing wrong.—(Laughter.) But were the
people more happy or united now than in the days of their
ancestors ? Let them look for a reply to Ireland, to Scotland,
and then let them glance at England. A melancholy lesson
told them that the people were neither happy nor united.
Now they meddled with the army.—(Laughter.) Now, he
thought the past services of the army were sufficient to tell the
people of this country that no change was required in that de-
partment of the public service. It was the envy of surround-
ing nations. He had "great respect for the late and present
Secretary-at-War ; but it was sufficient for him to say they
were civilians, and that they could not, therefore, have a very
intimate knowledge of the feelings of the army. But when he
said that the men were unhappy he apprehended
that he committed a lupsus linguce. He (Colonel Sibthorp)
had been sixteen years in her Majesty's dragoons before he
came into that refined society—( Roars of laughter) —and he
met, whilst in that service, as good men, and men of as high
honour, as he had met with in that society.—( Laughter.)
Certainly whilst in the army his time was not consumed in
hearing long speeches, such as those ften delivered in that
House, and which lie often wish,d he had not sat to hear.—

( Laughter.) If he came in unlearned, he went out. after
hearing their speeches, ten times more unlearned.—
(Laughter.) The Right Hon. Gentleman stated that the ma-
jority who joined the service were disgusted with it. Now, he
thought this a most improper observation for one in the position
of that Right Hon. Gentleman. He considered that it re-
quired three years at least to make a man who came from the
tail of the plough—arid they were the best recruits—to make
him a good and perfect dragoon ; but when men were sent
out as detachments, they required extra drilling ; and looking
at the expense which was incurred, he thought the country
would be ill•served if a man was entitled to leave the army at
so early a period as that prodosed.
Major LAYARD said that he felt a deep interest in the
measure now offered to the House, for from the moment he
entered the service he felt that the bargain made by the
country with the private soldier was an unjust one. He re-
gretted that the Hon. and Gallant Officer the Member for Li-
verpool was not there, for there were some points in his speech
which he (Major Layard) should be able satisfactory to answer.
He had authorities higher than that of the Gallant
Officer for stating that many points in his spech were incorrect.
When he brought forward this subj,..ct in 1842, Sir H. Har-
dinge gave it as his opinion that a measure for limited enlist-
ment deserved the attention of the Government. Two Go-
vernments had taken it into consideration, and the Military
Commission hail had upon it officers old and experienced as his
Gallant Friend, who had also given it in favour of the measure.
His Gallant Friend had alluded to the difficulty of maintaining
an army during a protracted war with a limited enlistment, and
had in the same breath alluded to the amount of money which
could be paid to these men upon re-enlistment. It appeared,
therefore, from his own arguments that the men would enlist
again, and it was his belief that no man would leave his
colours in the British army while there was an enemy
before them. The Honourable and Gallant Officer stated
that it would be unwise to alter the existing; state
of things in the army, for that the army was happy
enough as it was. In three years out of 110,000 men
28,c00 men had been put in gaol, 8,000 had deserted and
4,0J0 had undergone corporal punishment. That was the
happy army alluded to by the gallant officer any change which
had been hitherto made had always produced a beneficial
effect. The Hon. and Gallant Officer had said that this was
not a time for a change. Was not any time the proper time
for doing justice ? What reason could be urged for its being
delayed? The soldier had no power to complain, and no
power to petition—and why should he be compelled from
delays to suffer in place. When the late Secretary at War
brought forward this subject was there not a feeling in the
House that the measure was not to rest as he had placed it.
Was it not felt that it was but the beginning of the change,
and why did the Hon. and Gallant Gentleman now oppose
what he had before suffered to pass away in silence ? Why had
he not opposed the proposition of the Secretary at War ?
Sir H. DOUGLAS—[ opposed it when you brought it out.
Major LAYARD—Yes; the Gallant Officer opposed it
when he brought it forward ; but why did he not oppose it
when the Secretary at War brought it -forward
Sir H. DOUGLAS—I was not in the House.

Major LA YARD —The subject was not then of sufficient
importance to induce the Gallant Gentleman to oppose
it, and why did he do so now ? The Honourable
and Gallant Officer who had last spoken had opposed
the measure. and had stated that there would not be
a proper opportunity in many instances of punishing disobe-
dience. It did not require twenty-one years to do that. Men,
as the Hon. and Gallant Officer said, grew wise by experience;
he hoped they did. If any Gentleman had asked him (Major
Layard) before 1842 if he should enlist, he should tell him not,
and for the following reason—That the bounty which was
promised was no bounty at all. That it did not pay
for their necessaries, that they joined their regiment in debt—
that the arms which they gave were inefficient, as he had seen
100 out of 800 miss fire. If they were sent out to India, they
remained for 24 years, and the chances were fifty to one against
their coming back. That in the West India islands the mor-
tality was enormous, being 21,421 since 1817. That no
medals were given for hard and long service That they got
salt provisions five days in the week, and that a deduction of
five per cent, was made from their pensions when they had
earned them. As the law was, he could describe the reverse of
these things, and under the present system he should advise a
man to enlist.. lie would get more bounty, better arms,
better treatment and food, and more consideration paid for long
servitude. He ()weed that, so far as the Bill now before the
(louse want, he did not feel quite satisfied with it ; and, in
saying so, he might, perhaps, appear to take an ungrateful
course, seeming to oppose a Bill which had been brought for-
ward by a Government that had his support ; but he felt it ne-
eessary to state an objection when it arose. It was with that
view 'that he had given notice of a clause which he would
move to be introduced between the third and fourth
clauses of the measure, as it stood at present. There were
difficulties in dealing with all the details of the objects which
such a measure was meant to provide for—difficulties that
were exceedingly increased to him (Major Layard), who did
not have the information which the books at the Horse Guards
could so minutely give him. But the effect of the clause of
which he had given notice would be, that after three
years these men now in the service should be allowed
to take advantage of the provisions of this measure,
always provided that they gave three months notice of such
intention to the officer in command. But he had a considera-
tion to submit to the Government. It had been said by many
Hon. members of that House, and it was the feeling ont of
doors, that promotion at the Horse Guards was a one-sided
opinion only, and no other ; he would have sat still and said
nothing, but as it was the feeling of many, very many, of Isis
fellow officers, as well as of many whose interest did not lead
them so directly to the subject, and he felt bound now to say,
that it was his own opinion also, that promotion at the Horse
Guards was not impartial. Why, the Noble Lord now at the
head of the Government, in a speech which lie made in 1842,
when the Right Hon. Baronet opposite was in office, took the
very point which he (Major Layard) felt now so
anxious to impress upon her Majesty's Government. The
Honourable and Gallant Gentleman had quoted from the
Noble Lord's speech in Hansard, in the course of which that
Noble Lord referred to the opinion expressed by the Duke of
Wellington, that the commander-in-chief ought not to be a
memb..r of the Cabinet, in order that no bias might exist in
his mind in reference to promotions. But (the Hon. and
Gallant Gentleman continued) the Right Hon. Baronet oppo-
site said, in answer to the Noble Lord, that that would not
snake any difference. Now, on the contrary, he believed it
did make a difference, and for this reason. He knew that
many of his fellow-officers had a wish in the case of an election
to stand upon prineiplss which, till very lately, had not pre-
vailed in the army; but these gentlemen were not prepared to
aive up their profession. Why, he believed he was the only
officer on that side of the House, except the Noble Lord the
Member for Lichfield, on full pay. Now what he meant to
say was, that any Government laboured under a great
evil when the promotions, cf which there occurred
seven hundred a year, were all in the power of
a partizan. It was impossible in that case that those on his
(Major Layard's) side of the House could have the same
chance with those on the other side ; and that was unfair—
very unfair. That was a circumstance which he believed
operated strongly against the present Government, which had
been called into power in a time of difficulties, enough of which
there were to contend with, barring any such additional im-
pediment as that to which he had adverted. He wished that
promotions shouts be impartially conferred on gentlemen,
whether they voted for or against the corn-law—that political
differences should disappear at the Horse-guards. But it had
been said that a Whig Government had earned no debt of gra-
titude from the army; what had they done for it? Why,
much ; they had done much. They had abolished corporal
punishment in the army, they had done away with the
enormous charge of five per cent. on the pensions.
and now they had introduced a measure for limited enlistments,
so that now the soldier instead of being unhappy might look to
the time when his ditties would actually become a pleasure.—
( The lion. Gentleman was here interrupted by cries of
" Divide.") He hoped they would not divide yet; he trusted
they would allow him to express his opinion fully on a measure
which he had so early befriended before the Government had
taken it into hand. The Hon. and Gallant Member then read
a long letter speaking of the hardship of a private soldier in the
British Army, and expressing an earnest hope that the benefits
of the measure taight be extended to those at present in the
letter. was signed " A British Soldier of eight
who dares not sign his name," which elicited
syeeravrisc es
t. a
ritcuTn hgle,
ironical cheers f P •d f h 1
rom the posite st eo t e ouse, ant among
the roe( from .
•
lr Disraeli. ) The Hon. Gentleman said the
he must tell what he knew to he too
ironical cheer, but namel
tthoastu such
Member for Shrewsbury might treat such a sionature with an
a letter as e to anything opposed to the views of
solder dared sign his name
fetter he had read durst not
hmeanhy„daresaodldtieerthdearHedeunseo.t sign hissewwe
reveal himself as the
true, that
had trusted to his (Major
• Layard's) honour.
mitigation, bore upon the
the Government, and requiring
his officers, and the
sure that any Hon. Member of
pAewrnrsooitntehrwerhboeitoeihnet deserving the attention of
• wives of the soldiers. He was 1.
about to embark for foreign service,
tioa when a regiment was
ower was greater than the
would agree with him that such a
arrogap e.
But the Right Hon.
that House who had seen the teart-rent nig scenes of separa-
Government had any right to
subject of education for the soldier
bort) had proposed that the
That was but a tardy re-
should be taken into consideration.
Gentleman the former Secretary at War (11. Ir. Sidney Her-
turn for a service long since done by the soldier. He begged
for Dublin—(Great laughter)—he meant the Right
to ask the Hon. and Gallant Gentleman the _
e etiorecteer.

the Learned Member for the Dublin University—did be
know who founded the Dublin library?—( Great. laughter.)
No, the Her.. and Learned Member did re' k"r-
(Laughter. ) After the battle of Kinsale, oui lug the days
good Queen Elizabeth—(Laughter)—in the year 1603, the
British army, after destroying the Spanish force, subscribed
I. 0/. to raise a monument in commemsration of their gallant
aehismatiat. It was spent on no Ecuiptured marble or en-
graven brass; but they sent the funds to the celebrated Usher
for the purpose of founding the Dublin library, about which
the Learned Recorder knew nothing.—(Laughter.) But, in
fine, believing that the British soldier would derive great be-
nefit from that measure he would give it his cordial support.
The Bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be
committed that night week.
POOR RELIEF (IRELAND) BILL.
On the order of the day for going into Committee on this
Bill being read,
Lord G. BENTINCK rose and said he wished to call the
attention of the House to the statement made by the Right
Hon. Gentleman the Secretary for Ireland, as to the possibi-
lity of an incorrect return et the deaths that had taken place in
Ireland. It would be recollected that the Right Hon. Gentle-
man said there was no possibility of obtaining a correct register
of the deaths in Ireland, inasmuch as no return was made of
the deaths that took place there. Now, the Right Hon. Gen-
tleman in making that statement was entirely mistaken. In
proof of this, he (Lord G. Bentinck) had had letters from se-
veral clergymen in Ireland, who stated that by the canon law
every Protestant clergyman was bound on the 25th of
March of every year to make a return of all the deaths
and marriages that had taken place in the parish.
That this matter might be perfectly understood, he would read
a letter which he had received on Saturday from the Rev. Mr.
I Archer, incumbent of Newton Barry, county of Wexford. The
Noble Lord then read extracts from the communication of the
Rev. Gentleman, expressive of his surprise that the Right
Hon. Geutleman the Secretary for Ireland should have re-
turned the answer ho did to the question put by him
(Lord George Bentinck). The clergymen of the
Church of Ireland were bound on the 25th day of
M arch in every year to furnish a correct copy of the parish
registry of births, baptisms, marriages, and deaths, to the regis•
trar of the diocese, by whom they were inserted in the registry
of the Diocesan Court. lie (LordlG. Bentinck) thought, there-
fore, that it must be clear to the House that the Right Hon.
Gentleman was entirely misinformed, and that no difficulty
could stand in the way of the Government in furnish-
ing those returns. He bad also received a communi-
cation from one of the medical officers connected
with the dispensary in Galway, who stated that there
could be no difficulty in ascertaining the amount of mor-
tality among the Roman Catholic population. He had had
several other communications, among others, one from Mr.
Hewson, anatomical lecturer in Killarney Hospital, stating
that the mortality in that establishment was three in the month
of November, six in December, nineteen in January, arid
twenty dune in February. The Noble Lord then proceeded,
bat in a tone of voice almost inaudible in the gallery, to tax
the Government with having, by their ill-judged measures,
precipitated the present distress in Ireland. Pe blamed them,
that, instead of afterwards endeavouring to alleviate the desti-
tution they had in part created, they had left the wants of the
country to be supplied by the energy of private speculators,
and from the resources of private capital.
Mr. LABOUCHERE trusted that Hon. Members would
not think it necessary that he should follow the Noble Lord
into a subject which had been so frequently discussed in that
House—he meant the policy of her Majesty's Government
with respect to the supplying of food to Ireland, and the effect
which that policy had on the comforts, and perhaps lives, of
the people of that country. He could only regret that the
Noble Lord should have felt it necessary to adopt the course
he had done on that occasion, and that he should
again have provoked discussion by affirming that her Majesty's
Government had pursued an impolitic course, inasmuch as
they had not themselves provided a supply of food for the
Irish people. He ( Mr. Labouchere), on the contrary, felt
satisfied that every day's experience confirmed the wisdom and
necessity of the policy by which the Government was actuated
not to interfere with private energy, or the ordinary career of
trade. Most enormous supplies of food were pouring into
Ireland, and he confessed that in his own opinion, if Govern-
ment had interfered to fetter the course of private enterprise,
the result might have been very different. He had seen a
letter that day which stated that in the port of Cork there
were one hundred vessels with full cargoes of provisions.—
( Hear, hear.) There were similar imports in the ports of
Galway, Limerick, and in fact in all the large ports of Ire-
land. The result had been that great quantities of provisions
were stored on the premises of the several merchants, and
private imports bad exceeded what might have been expected
from the utmost efforts of the Government. With regard to the
returns of mortality, if he had objected to the returns which
were moved fur by the Noble Lord, it was from no desire to
keep them from the House, in order to conceal what the Noble
Lord would call the impolitic measures of the Government.
He would at once concede that the mortality in the last year
greatly exceeded that of former years. It was not on that
account that he had refused these returns, but because he
believed that no correct returns could be rendered. Where
he thought that correct information could be afforded he did
not refuse to the House to lay such before it. They had
ordered a return of the Lumber of coroners' inquests, and also
returns from the constabulary force ; but when the Noble Lord
asked for the returns of mortality in the last year as compared
with previous years, he ( Mr. Labouchere) did not feel himself
justified in granting them. The Noble Lord said that the
Protestant clergymen of Ireland kept a registry of the births
and deaths within their own parishes, and that they were com-
pelled to do so by the canon law ; he believed they were obliged
to do so, but he was much deceived if that law was enforced in
Ireland. His Learned Friend beside him had put the canon
law into his hand, and he found that the penalty for the evasion
of the Act was, that the parties infringing it could be proceeded
against accordingly.
Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL said that the chief reason for
his rising was to express a hope that the Government would
place a check on the landlords using these depots. The desti-
tution in Ireland was daily growing more and more fearful,
and he conjured them to do so as the markets were not likely
to fail, and there was every probability that they would have
ample opportunities of using their resources.
Mr. SHAW thought that the representations of the Right
lion. Gentleman had been much overcharged. The fact was,
that the Protestant clergy had inquired into the deaths only of
the people under their own care. It was impossible therefore
to draw any comparative estimate of the state of destitution in
Ireland from these returns, nor ought they to be relied upon
for that purpose.
Lord
iN Ss
iSay,
eLnL, conceivede t
.N.,odb. lei
.Ld
eoerdd
,hadhi
views were altogether beside the case. They had come to me
opinion, that the best course they could pursue,was not to check
the importation of food into Ireland through private en-
terprise by any measures of the Government. With regard to
the proceedings of last year, he might observe, that a certain
amount of money was voted for the purchase of Indian corn for
the supply of the destitute people of Ireland. They bad thought
that it was a very proper article of food for that country, and
had accordingly bought it up largely ; but they did net say, on
that account, that other persons were not also to introduce
Indian corn ; and on a reference to the public markets in
America, they found that the object had been fully attained,
for it had led to a large importation of food, and the Govern-
ment had done all they could to promote that importation. But
the Government never intended, and never engaged, to feed the
people of Ireland, although he could not say that they had never
undertaken to secure a supply of food for that country. By a
letter received this very day, addressed to the Secretary to the
Treasury, by the special agent of the Government, it appeared
that at the moment he wrote, there were twenty thousand tons
of Indian corn in the neighbourhood of Cork waiting for sale,
and that the markets were overstocked, and that the corn was at
the present moment being sold in such small parcels as
fifteen pounds each, and the probability was that the stock now
on hand horn the late importations would be sold at a consider-
able loss. In fact, the arrivals had been much greater than
he had supposed, and he believed that more than twenty-four
ships had come to port more than were required, and that
a much greater amount of Indian corn had arrived than was
required, and it was likely to be sold at a much lower price
than that at which the Government had undertaken to supply
the whole of the country with food.
Lord J. MANNERS wished to ask the Secretary for Ire-
land whether there was any objection to grant the returns for
which his Noble Friend had asked? If that return was pro-
perly made, and it was in accordance with what the Right
Hon. Gentleman had stated, it would be a complete answer to
what had been stated by his Noble Friend.
Mr. L A BOUCHERE said that the returns made by the
Protestant clergy hai been returns of the deaths only, but
if the Noble Lord attached any importance to the
.returns as
showing the comparative deaths and the destitution Ireland,ln
he would not have the slightest objection to grant them.
Mr. W. V. STUART conceived that theoo
Hon. Gentleman opposite were quite inoppoe
bry
f Iltuenough for some
debate, for if the returns had been
purposes, they were quite incomplete with regard to others,
draw ing any conchs -
,eneattoion is
heo f the
ther-
distress of Ireland was
now before the House, he wished to make an inquiry with re-
spectthat was said to have been incurred in
sainod ns thoenrefwo hriech u
tnofi tto
foundbe
an reliedo pinuiopno. for
Mr. COLLETT said that as n
i
to
tgoistrtit the expenseo distribution
fsoup. It was stated that a hundred men
were employed at a pound each to superintend the distribution
of this soup, making an expense of 1001. a-week. The ques.
tion then which he wished to put was, as to whether this state-
ment was true? Secondly, at to whether these men were now
engaged ? And in the third place, as to whether the Right Hon.
Gentleman had reason to believe that, considering the great
expense incurred, the experiment was likely to prove suc-
cessful ?
Mr. LABOUCHERE said he should have been prepared to
hpraevvei(ainssrvegrievdenthneotqicueesotifonit,ofbutthethiHs ohne. Gcoeunitdlem„aante,htand he
at at
first the experiment was made by private parties. Perhaps,
while he was on his legs, he might be allowed to say, in re-
ferenceavnsdden transition from the
u
opposite,Htoon.ti?cen,tiilffiemcnalntieswt,ieh
might
that
presentto what
Governmentt hadhe were fully fallen
nsn a
fo
from
alie
public works, and the Irish Government had accordingly been
fully instructed upon that point.
Mr. DILLON BROWNE would never ask this country to
,e,,freaell
come forward to assist Ireland while the people of that coun-
try had an opportunity of providing for themselves ; but be
really did think Government ought to take steps for supplying
tenants with seed where the landlords would not, or could
not, do so. He fully admitted that Government was pursuing
a proper course in allowing the present demands for food in
Ireland to be supplied by private enterprise,
T
In reply to a question from Captain HARRIS,
CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER stated that
all persons would be discharged from the public works when-
inalrland laden with simi-
lar employment could be found for them in another way.
Mr. B. DISRAELI said, it would appear that the depots for
the supply of food in Ireland had been reduced from ninety-
threeey had to consider was this,
to twenty-four, and yet the Noble Lord at the head of
stable when the steed was
the Government told them that the ports of Ireland were filled
navy, to the extent of
ower withr.ceoa
they
vh,,gcuosytes
tong,
ladenNwtaaokswi
snhtghoer withteqlayur
eetfsto,tooitdf,n, arriveattinhi the stable
stolen? It appeared to him that what the Government
was doing very much resembled that fable, for having reduced
the number of the starving population, they were introducing
food into Ireland sufficient to supply the demands of the origi-
nal number of persons in want.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
lion. Member's conclusions were based upon fallacious argu-
ou so
no
argu-
ments. Many of the depots to which he alluded were depots
of reserve, and not depots of supply. For instance, the
w. co
Theast-
dep
oyt shld remain
been reduced, but remained
guard stations had been all converted into depots of reserve,
butoittsw of' assunpoptly, however,necessarythiaiatdthne
as they were last year.
Mr. PHILLIP HOWARD suggested that biscuits should
form a considerable portion of the food sent to Ireland by the
Government, in consequence of the great scarcity of firing in
that country.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that a
considerable quantity of biscuits had been sent to Ireland.
Mr. P. SCROPE presented a petition from a place in the
borough of Limerick against that clause in the Bill for equal-
ising the number of ex-ellii io and the elective guardians.
An Hoe. MUMBER presented a petition from the Town Com-
missioners of Galway for art equalisation of the rate between
the town and rural districts.
Mr. MACARTHY presented a petition to the same effect as
the two last, from the city of Cork.
The House then went into Committee on the Bill.
Clause 3 was agreed to.
On clause 4 being proposed,

Mr. HAMILTON moved that the words "direct the
guardians of each union in Ireland to" should be left out; and
n line 36, thst r.fterthe word "appoint," the werd. " in end for
each union in Ireland" should be inserted ; awl in tine 39,
that the words from "Ireland," to the end of the clause, should
be omitted.
Mr. S. O'BRIEN hoped the Government would not
accede to the proposition of the Hon. Gentleman.
After a few words from Sir G. Grey, Mr. J. O'Connell,
Mr. D. Browne, and Mr. Cripps, in opposition to the amend-
ment,
Mr. STAFFORD O'BRIEN said that those Hon. Mem-
bers did not appear to be perfectly consistent in their conduct
in opposing the amendment of his Hon. Friend the Member
for the University of Dublin, seeing the course which they had
adopted upon other clauses of the Bill, recommending authority
to be given to the board of guardians and not to the Commis-
sioners.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER suaorted
the clause as it originally stood.
Mr. SHAW thought that it would be not only safer, but
much better for the efficient working of the Bill, that the ap-
pointment of the relieving officer should be vested in the Com-
missioners.

Mr. GROGAN supported the amendment.
Mr. LABOUCHERE was in favour of the clause ; it bud
been prepared with considerable care, and was the result of con-
siderable attention on the part of the Government.
Sir W. CLAY opposed the amendment.
Mr. J. O'CONNELL thought the better course would be to
consider first the clause relating to ex-officio guardians, as upon
the result of that clause would depend the whole value of the
other details of the Bill.

Mr. HAMILTON withdrew his amendment, and the
clause, as originally proposed was agreed to.
On clause 5 being proposed,
Mr. HAMILTON suggested that in cases where there was
no medical officer for an electoral division, while there was one
for the union, that then the burden of the medical attendant
appointed should fall only on the district to which he was
elected.

Mr. D. BROWNE suggested that there should be some
qualification test for the election of a medical officer. It was
very necessary that such should be the case, there were so
many unqualified persons practising in Ireland.
Sir G. GREY said that such should be the case; with
respect to the suggestion of the Member for the University of
Dublin, much should be left to the discretion of the
guardians.
Mr. MORGAN J. O'CONNELL said that it would be
the most valuable clause, if it totally abolished the system of
dispensary practice in Ireland altogether. The appointment
was in the power of the subscribers, and they always elected
some one they favoured, even should he reside fifty miles out of
the district.
The clause was then agreed to.

On clause 6 being preposed,
Mr. G. HAMILTON moved the substitution of the follow-
ing :—" That in every electoral division of each union there
shall be a relief committee; which relief committee shall
consist of the guardians of such union, resident or having rate-
able property within such electoral division, together with the
(two) highest ratepayers therein, not being guardians of such
union ; and every such committee shall meet weekly, on some
day, other than that of the meeting of the board of guardians;
and every such relief committee shall annually elect a chair-
man; and every relieving officer who shall be appointed as
hereinbefore directed, shall at such weekly meeting report to
such relief committee any case of sudden or urgent necessity,
and shall have power, under an order signed by the chairman,
or such person as shall be, pro tempore, acting as chairman of
such relief committee, to give provisional relief in such case
of sudden and urgent necessity, either by an order of admis-
sion to the workhouse or fever hospital of the union, pro•
vided there be room therein respectively, and by con-
veying any destitute poor person thereto if necessary, or
by affording such poor person immediate and temporary
elief in food, lodging, or medical attendance, until the neat
ordinary meeting of the board of guardians, at which meeting
he shall report the case, and the nature and cost of the relief
so afforded, in such form and manner as the Poor-law Com-
missioner shall prescribe, and after such report shall give no
further relief otherwise than by direction of the board of
guardians in the case so reported; and the guardians of the
union shall furnish the chairman of such relief committee with
the necessary funds for affording relief in manner aforesaid,
and for the relief of those destitute poor persons to whom relief
shall be granted by the board of guardians, at such times and
in such manner as the Poor-law Commissioners shall determine
and direct. And be it enacted, that in any case of sudden and
urgent necessity at any period between the meetings of such
relief committee, and of the board of guardians, it shall he
lawful for such relieving officers to give such provisional relief
as aforesaid, under the written order of the chairman, or of
any two members of the said relief committee, until the next
ordinary meeting of the board of guardians or of the relief
committee, whichever shall first happen ; at which he shall
report the relief so afforded in the manner, and subject to the
conditions hereinbefore required with respect to relief admi-
nistered under the orders of the said relief committee.
M:. SHARMAN CRAWFORD thought it was indispen-
sable that a poor person should have a surgeon to look to who
would afford them temporary relief, in cases of pressing emer-
gency, until their case could come, in the ordinary course,
under the attention of the board of guardians. He hoped the
Government would adhere to the clause as it stood.

Sir GEORGE GREY thought that the amendment would
interfere with the poor obtaining that immediate relief for
giving which the clause was specially framed. It was indis-
pensable that the power which the clause proposed to give
should be in the hands of medical officers.
Some discussion ensued.

Mr. J. O'CONNELL wished to have a provision introduced
into the Bill to have the clergy of every denomination upon the
boards of guardians. They were better acquainted with the
people themselves, and the objects must worthy of receiving
relief.

Sir WALTER JAMES thought that some provision should
be made giving to the relieving officers a power analagous to
the powers possessed by some charities in England; namely,
that of giving immediate relief in cases of urgent distress.
Mr. SHAW thought that the relieving officer would, under
such circumstances, be placed in a difficult position, and it
would not be easy to foresee the extent to which such a prin-
ciple as the one proposed might be carried.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said,
that in the present position of Ireland there might
arise many cases of distress of an urgent nature, which
it would be the duty of the relieving officer to attend to
without applying for authority to two or three different per-
sons, The person seeking relief might under such circum-
stances die before assistance could be afforded. He thought
therefore that such a power was absolutely indispensable.
zur. P. SUROPJE thought that it was tho duty or the Go-
vernment to introduce into the clause some words which should
render it compulsory upon the relieving officer to administer
relief,

After a few words from Sir GEORGE GREY, the clause
was agreed to,
On clause seven being proposed.
Mr. W. S. O'BRIEN wished to know if this clause em.
powered the guardians to give out-door assistance to the family
of a man unable to work from accident.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the first
clause did that.

Mr. VESEY moving that the following words be added at
the end of the clause —" Provided always that no wife or child
shall be admitted into the workhouse without the husband or
parent for more than one week, unless with the sanction of the
Poor-law Commissioners.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that
if they admitted these provisos, they, by implication, legalised
what was illegal now.
After a few words from Mr. Vesey, Mr. Shaw, Mr. Hamil-
ton, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
Mr. VESEY inquired whether the guardians had the power
to stop this practice?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER could not
say that ; all he could say was, that if the guardians acted in
the way represented, they acted illegally.
The amendment was then negatived without a division.

The clause was then passed without a division, as was also
clause 8.

On the motion that clause 9 be agreed to,
Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL said that his Hon. Friend the
Member for Waterford had an amendment to propose, and he
wished to know whether he intended to press it ?
Lord J. RUSSELL said, that as several Members had mo-
tions to make, he thought it would be better to postpone the
consideration of the remaining clauses till to-morrow.
The House then resumed.
CUSTODY OF OFFENDERS BILL.

On the motion that the House should go into Committee on
the Custody of Offenders Bill,
Mr. E. DENISON wished to know what course the Go-
vernment intended to pursue with respect to this Bill, as it
appeared to him that it would open the whole question of
transportation ?
Lord J. RUSSELL thought that it would be better to take
the consideration on the debate on the clauses of the Bill.
The question of altering the present system of transportation, it
would seem, was to be discussed upon the report of one of these
Bills, and unless he heard from Government that it was
to be brought forward in another form, he should come down
on Thursday prepared to go fully into the matter.
Sir GEORGE GREY said it was highly important that
these Bills should be disposed of as soon as possible, but still he
should be quite ready to go into the question of transportation
on Thursday, when it was proposed to bring up the report on
the Bill.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM was understood to say that the
Crown proposed to alter the present mode of transportation
without the authority of an Act of Parliament. He thought,
therefore, that the question ought to be brought forward in a
specific form, and he should be glad to know if Government
would bring the matter forward for full discussion after Easter?
Sir G. GREY said he should be extremely happy to enter
upon such a discussion, but it could only be done by some Hon.
Alember giving a notice of motion upon the subject.
The House then went into Committee on the 13111.
PRISONS BILL.

This Bill also went through Committee, and the report or-
dered to be received this day.
GENERAL REGISTER-HOUSE (EDINBURGH)

BILL.

This Bill was read a third time and passed.
The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the
House adjourned at a Quarter-past One o'clock.

PRINCESS'S THEATRE.—We perceive that the an-
nual benefit of Mr. M'Lean, the obliging and attentive
messenger to this theatre, takes place on Friday next, when
BAlini's opera seria Norma will be performed for the last
time, to be followed by the Ethiopians' Concert, with their
irresistible Railroad Overture, and a drama, supported by
the entire company. ‘Nre feel certain that his friends will
rally round him, for he deserves their encouragement.
THE STORY OF LILLY DAWSON. BY AIRS.
CLONE, AUTHOR OF " SUSAN ITOPLEY."—We have read
this work with deep interest ; an interest derived from the
nature of the incidents, the character of the principal per-
sonages, the forcible style of the writer, and her occasional
reflections upon motives of human conduct. In all these
requisites of a good novelist Mrs. Crowe excels. Her cha-
racters are delineated with striking fidelity, and a thorough
acquaintance with human nature and the passions that shape
its destiny. Among the most successful are Abel White,
May Elliot, Luke Littenhaus, and the heroine herself. Lilly
Dawson. The last of these, Lilly Dawson, is a creation nut
unworthy of Scott. The gradual unfolding of a good and
gentle heart as she passes through situations calculated to
work the change is pourtrayed with consummate skill,
delicacy, and truth. Every portion of the work, indeed,
indicate, powers of no common order. The story of " Lilly
Dawson" will place Mrs. Crowe high among the living
writers of fiction.—John
DRAINING WITH ENGINE ASHES.—On the farm
of Daldorch, the property of Archibald Buchanan., Esq., of
Catrine Bank, Scotland, there are drains made twenty-
yeers ago, and filled with engine ashes, which
are
in full and efficient operation. The depth of drain is
twenty-six inches, and the width between each twelve feet.
The bottom of the drain is cut three inches wide, and the
depth of ashes used in filling them is about tell inches.
The soil is a firm clay. These drains promise to be as effi-
cient half a century hence as they are at the present time.—
Cambrian.
DOVER REFUGE HARBOUR.---We at length con-
gratulate our readers that the great national undertaking,
the formation of a harbour of refuge at Dover, is no longer
problematical. The greatest probability exists that the pre-
sent year will see the works commenced.—Dever Chronicle.

HIGHLAND SOCIETY of LONDON.
Yesterday being the anniversary of the glorious victory
Ns 0,, icy tale trouts una,r the command of Sir Ralph Aber-
crombie, at Alexandria, the Highland Society, according to
annual custom, held their festival at the Freemasons' Tavern,
and never have we seen a more splendid gathering. The
occasion was one worthy of all honour. The Chief of the
society, his Royal Highness Prince Albert, honoured the
anniversary festival with his presence for the first time
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge presided, sup-
ported on Ma right by the Prince Chief of the Society, and
on his left by Field Marshal his Grace the Duke of Wel-
lington.
In addition to these Noble and Illustrious personages, we
observed among these present the Viscount Clifden, General the
Hon. Sir Alexander Dufl; Lieutenant-General Sir John Mac-
donald, Adjutant-General to the Forces; Lieutenant-General
Sir James Macdonnell, Major-General Sir David Leighton,
Baron Knesebeck, Hon. Colonel Phipps, Colonel Sir T. M.
Wilson, Sir Fitzroy Kelly, M.P., Sir Nicolas Harris Nicolas,
Sir Robert Murray, Bart. ; James Matheson, Esq., M.P. ;
William Hutt, Esq., M.P.; Colonel Matheson, Colonel
Kelly, Major George Hutt, Captain Christie, R.N.; Captain
Lamont, R.N.; Captain Jay, R.N.; Major Dunsmure, 42d
Royal Highlanders; Captain Wynyard, Guards; the Governor
and Deputy-Governor of the Bank of England; John Mac-
gregor, Esq., of the Board of Trade ; C. A. Mackenzie, Esq.;
Alexander G. Mackenzie, Esq.; John Mackenzie, Esq.; D.
Roberts, EN., RA.; J. Auld o, Esq. ; W. Judd, Esq. ; J.
Beaumont, Esq. ; Sir William D. Ross; H. J. Cameron, Esq.,
F. W. Caldwell, George Bain, Esq., Honorary Secretary of
the Society; J.j Tulloch, Esq.; D. C. Guthrie, Captain
Charles Forbes, George Forbes, Esq., Charles Sutherland,
Esq., &c., &c.
At half-past seven o'clock his Royal Highness the Chair-
man, accompanied by his Royal Highness the Chief,
by his Grace the Duke of Wellington, and by the
officers of the Society, and preceded by her Majesty's
piper, the piper of the society, and the juvenile pipers of the
Royal Caledonian Asylum, entered the hall. At this mo-
ment the coup d'ceil was most picturesque. The body of the
hall was occupied by gentlemen attired either in the High-
land costume, military or naval uniform, or full Court dress;
and the gallery was filled with ladies in full dress. Under-
neath the gallery was ranged the juvenile military band of
the Caledonian Asylum. These boys were dressed in uni-
form, and during the course of the evening they per-
formed several martial and popular airs with a precision and
an ensemble that would have done credit to veteran performers
We understand that they have been only under instructions-
seven months, but we have heard pieces of music by bands,
who had been under instruction as many years performed
much less satisfactorily than by these boys last evening.
Infinite credit is due to Mr. Burford their instructor. The
progress they have made under his superintendence is really
astonishing.
Upwards of 200 gentlemen sat down to an excellent
dinner which was placed upon the table in the Messrs.
Bacons' best style.
The hall was elegantly fitted up for the occasion. In addi-
tion to a great quantity of valuable plate, the tables were
decorated with various emblems in gold of the military and
naval victories of the country. The side tables were also
ornamented with vases of beautiful flowers of every descrip-
tion, and on the cross-table stood the handsome " thistle
vase" presented to the Highland Society by the late Sir
James Hamilton.
Messrs. Sinclair, Browne, Moody, and Smirke, were the
vocalists engaged for the occasion. The instrumental music
was admirably given by the juvenile band
Mr. Higgins, a worthy disciple of Toole, officiated as
toast-master.
The cloth having been withdrawn, and grace having been
said,

His Royal Highness the CHAIRMAN said—Gentlemen, I
have a toast to propose. Her Majesty the Queen, our most
gracious Sovereign, and God bless her.—(Cheers.)
The toast was drank with Highland honours; after which
the National Anthem was sung, the solo parts being sus-
tained by Messrs. Smirke, Browne, and Sinclair, and the
band played " God save the Queen."
The CHAIRMAN next proposed the health of the Queen
Dowager.
Drank with three times three. Air—" Hearts of Oak,"
by the band.
The CHAIRMAN then, amidst loud cheering, proposed the
health of the Duke of Rothsay, and the rest of the Royal
Family.
Drank with Highland honours.
Air—" The Duke of York's March"—band.
The Cuatitsrast said the next toast I am assured you will
drink with enthusiasm. It is "His Royal Highness Prince
Albert, the Chief of the Highland Society," who I am
pleased to say is on this occasion present amongst us.
The Highland toastmaster, Mr. Duncan Macnaghten, then
proposed the toast in Gaelic as follows :
" A Mhorachd Rioghail Prionnsa Albert, ceannard a
chomuinn Ghaidhealaich."
It was drank with Highland honours, after which her Ma-
jesty's piper played a Highland air.
Prince ALBERT then rose and said—Allow:me to thank yon,
gentlemen, for the way in which 3ou have received this
toast. lam glad of this opportunity to express to you in
person the sense which 1 feel of the honour you have done
me in electing me your chief—the chief of a society, the ob-
ject of which is to preserve the nationality of the Highlands
—(Cheers)—the national sports, and the national habits.—
(Renewed cheers.) I have had the pleasure of visiting the
Highlands several times, and I can assure you, that the im-
pression that has been left on my mind has been most gra-
tifying.—(Loud cheers.) It is impossible for any one to
visit your country, to breathe the pure air, to see the beau.
tiful scenery, and to live amongst the simple and hardy
people of that country without feeling the most favourable
impressions.—(Loud cheers.) Gentlemen, I have to propose
" Prosperity to the Highland Society."—(Loud cheers.)
Drank with three times three.
Song, Miss P. Horton—" Follow Prince Charlie."
The CHAIRMAN then proposed the health of the Presi-
dent, his Grace the Duke of Buccleuch, and expressed his
regret that his Grace was not present amongst them that
evening.
Drank with Highland honours.
Air, Mr. Browne—" Roy's Wife."
The CHAIRMAN then said, I have now to propose a toast,
in which I am sure every one will join : it is the health of the
Duke of Wellington, who sits near me.— (Immense cheering)
which was frequently renewed and lasted several minutes.)
Every body honours him.—(Renewed cheering.) More it
would not become me to say of him in his presence, except
that I hope he may still live for many years—(Loud cheers.)
The toast was then drank with Highland honours.
The Duke of WXLLINGITON then rose and spoke as fol-
lows :—" Gentlemen, I beg leave to return you my thanks
for the honour you have done me in drinking my health, and
for the manner in which you have been pleased to listen to
the proposition of tho illustrious Duke in the chair. Gentle-
men, I have long had the satisfaction of being acquainted
with many of you, and of having the highest respect for your
countrymen of all classes and descriptions, more especially
for those who are members of the profession to which I have
the honour to belong.—(Cheers.) It is highly satisfactory
to me to have had the power of attending here this day,
and on all occasions when you will do me the honour to in-
timate to me that my attendance is desirable, if I have tot
other avocations, I shall be happy to avail myself of any
opportunity which will permit me to pay my respects to you.
—(Loud cheers.) It is with the utmost satisfactionlhat I have
witnessed the symptoms of your attachment to the illustrious
Prince who has honoured us with his presence this day.—
(Loud cheers)—and I am sure that you all appreciate his
attachment to you and to your country, and feel how greatly
your country must benefit from it.—(Cheers.) Gentlemen,
I repeat I thank you for the honour you have done me."—
(Loud cheers.)
Air—" British Volunteers"—Band.
At the conclusion of the air the pipers struck up the reel of
" Tulloch," which was danced by some of the gentlemen
present with true Highland enthusiasm.
The Duke of WELLINGTON then rose and said, " Gentle-
men, I have received permission from his Royal Highness
the Chairman to propose a toast, to which I am satisfied you
will feel anxious to pay every respect, when I mention the
name of his Royal Highness, our chairman.— (Cheers.) We
all feel obliged to his Royal Highness for coming forward to
preside on this auspicious occasion, when our President was
not able to attend in consequence of the pressure of business.
His Royal Highness is a soldier, like many of us, and has
acquired the greatest respect of those who have gained re-
spect by their gallant achievements in the field.—(Cheers.)
The Duke concluded by proposing " The health of the Illus-
trieus Chairman," which was drunk with three times three.
The CHAIRMAN, in returning thanks, said that he trusted
the gentlemen present would not forget that he too, like his
illustrious relative, had been in the Highlands, and, continued
his Royal Highness, what I saw there I admired. In wish-
ing prosperity to this establishment I trust you will not
forget that I have had the pleasure of seeing many of you
before, and I may also state that I belonged to a highland
regiment years before many of those now present were
born.--( Loud cheers.)
Air—" Auld Lang Syne."—Band.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed "The Army and Navy."
Drunk with three times three.
Air, " Rule Britannia—Band.
Song, " Death of Nelson"—Mr. Sinclair.
The CHAIRMAN—The next toast I have to propose is—
" The memory of Sir Ralph Abercromby and the heroes who
fell with him in Egypt." Never was there a better soldier
or a more honest man than Sir Ralph Abercromby.
The toast was drunk in solemn silence.
Colonel KELLY addressed the meeting in a short speech,
which, however, was quite inaudible in the part of the room
where we were sitting.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed " The ladies."
Drank with three times three.
Air, " Here's a health to all good lasses"—Band.
After this toast had beets drank, his Royal Highness the
Duke of Cambridge vacated the chair, and accompanied by
his Royal highness Prince Albert, and his Grace the Duke
of Wellington, and attended by Baron Knesebeck, retired
in grand procession, preceded by the pipers, &c. Shortly
afterwards
Lieutenant-General Sir J. MACDONNILL,KsC 8., said—His
Royal Highness has commanded me to succeed to the chair
for an indefinite period. Is it your pleasure that this Court
should now break up, or should it be reconstructed ?
The question of the reconstruction of the Court having been
carried nem. con., Sir James Macdonnell took the chair amidst
loud cheers.
The CHAIRMAN said that the present anniver-
sary, honoured as it had been by the presence of
the Duke of Cambridge in the chair, their illus-
trious chief, Prince Albert, and by the visit of his
Grace the Duke of Wellington, must be considered the
most remarkable in the annals of the society. They had
also been honoured by the presence of many other visitors,
and the first toast he would propose would be " The health
of the gentlemen, not members of the Corporation, who bad
honoured them to-night with their presence."
Drank with three times three.
Song, " Lulurity "—Mr. Moody.
Mr. Roenesox, the Deputy-Governor of the Bank of Eng-
land, in returning thanks, bore testimony to the energetic
manner in which Highlanders had met the present distress,
and which reflected the greatest credit both on chiefs and
people.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed the national toast, " Clann
nen Gaidheal an gualaibh a cheile"— Highlanders shoulder to
shoulder—which was drank with Highland honours with the
greatest enthusiasm, and was followed by a reel.
The CHAIRMAN then rose to bring before the notice of the
company an establishment which was peculiarly worthy of
the attention of Scotchmen—he meant the Caledonian Asylum.
—(Cheers.) It was instituted in the first place for the orphans
of soldiers and sailors, and afterwards the charity had been
extended to others.—(Cheers.) He was happy to think
that an opportunity was now atThrded him of acknowledging
the obligations which all Highland societies were under to
the honorary secretary of this, which must be considered the
parent society—(Cheers)---a gentleman who had founded
the Caledonian Asylum and many other instituti
(Cheers.) He proposed "Prosperity to the Caledonian
Asylum."
Drank with three times three, followed by a Highland reel
to the pipes.
J. MATHESON,
Esq., M.P., returned thanks for thecerdia feeling of good will which those present had expressed
to-
wards the Caledonian Asylum.
valuable institutions which they It was one of the most
possessed. Ia the first
place, it provided for the children of those who had devoted