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

FREE TRADE.

Mr. HUME had several petitions to present, the first
of which was signed by 4,000 persons in the
parish of Hanover, Jamaica, who were formerly
slaves. They stated that the House had been
pleased to lower the duties on sugar, which was the
chief produce, and they were apprehensive that
the alteration might occasion the ruin of those
by whom they were employed. They prayed, there-
fore, that if free trade was tto, be' adopted. 'in one
department, it might be adopted in all branches of com-
merce; that the Navigation Laws might be dispensed
with, and that they might send their produce home in
foreign vessels; that there might be no restriction on free
labour, and that they might be at liberty to export their
produce to any part of the world. He did not think
that the petition was reasonable, and hoped the House
would not entertain it.
TEMPERANCE.

Mr. HUM.E also presented a -petition from the inha-
bitants of the district of Groke, praying that some re•
striction might be placed on the destruction of human
food, for the purpose of being distilled into that which
was the parent of crime, and the source of immorality.
HARBOURS OF REFUGE.

Mr. HUME also presented a petition signed by every
person who had any property in shipping connected
with the port of Cowes, praying that it might be con-
verted into a harbour of refuge, for which they stated it
to possess peculiar advantages.
MARRIAGES AND DEATHS REGISTRY.
Mr. HUME also presented a petition from the parish
clerks and schoolmasters of Arbroath, in the county of
Forfar, against the Deaths and Marriages Registry Bill.
They stated that they were entitled to the emoluments
of the clerks of session on this point, and that this Bill
would do away with the benefit which they enjoyed;
and they prayed the House either to reject the Bill
altogether, or to introduce a clause to give them com-
pensation.

Mr. FORBES, having:understood that the Lord Ad-
vocate had left town, wished to ask whether there was
any disposition to postpone the second reading of the
Bill till after Easter?

Mr. F. MAULE said that he was quite sure that his
Right Hon. Friend the Lord-Advocate would be
ready to meet the wishes of the Scottish Members, and
he would therefore, as a matter of course, put it on the
paper for him for some day after Easter.
Mr. HUME gave notice that he should persist in his
intention to send this Bill up stairs.
Mr. F. MAULE was sorry to inform his Hon. Friend
that the Lord-Advocate had decided upon resisting such
a course.

EDUCATION.
Mr. C. BERKELEY wished to ask the Noble Lord at
the head of the Government a question of very great
importance, which was causing great agitation through-
out the country: whether it was the intention of the
Government to persevere in the scheme of education as
laid down in the minutes of the Council? If he answered
that in the affirmative, when was it his intention to
bring the miscellaneous estimates before the House?
Lord J. RUSSELL said it was the intention of the
Government to persevere—(Loud cheers)—in the plan
of education laid down in the minutes of the Council.
fie had to state, also, that he would bring on the miscel-
laneous estimates after Easter, and would take the vote
for education on the 19th of April.
POOR-LAW.
Mr. P. 13ORTHWICK wished to ask the Noble Lord
whether it was the intention of the Government to pro
pose any amendment of the poor law after Easter? He
was led so ask that question, seeing the Hon. Member
for Knaresborough had given notice of his intention to
bring the whole subject before the House.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said it was the intention of
the Government to propose an amendment of the poor-
law after Easter.
CUSTOMS DUTIES BILL.

Mr. FORBES asked the Noble Lord when he
meant to lake the Customs Duties Bill into consideration?
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said, he wouid not bring on
the Customs Duties Bill that night, but would, if they
got through with the Irish Poor •la:; Bill, proceed with
it on Friday. If they should not be able to get through
with the Poor-law (Ireland) Bill that night, perhaps the
House would consent to give the Government a morning
sitting for that purpose.—(Hear).
MILITIA.

Colonel T. WOOD wished to ask the Noble Lord,
whether he meant to ballot for the militia this year, or
whether Government hail any other measure to provide
for the defence of the country?
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said the Government had a
measure under their consideration for that purpose, but
he was not sure whether it could be brought in this
session, and if not, they would take other means to
provide fur the defence of the country.
STEAM TO AUSTRALIA.

Mr. F. SCOTT wished to ask the Government,
whether they intended to advance any money, and what
sum, in order to second private enterprise in providing
steam communication to Australia.

Mr. HAWES said that several plans had been laid
before the Colonial-office, but the Noble Lord the Secre-
tary for the Colonies had not yet come to any definite
decision on either. •

WASTE LANDS (IRELAND).
Mr. LABOUCHERE gave notice that, to-morrow
week, he should move for leave to bring in a Bill with re-
spect to the reclamation of waste lands in Ireland.
FEVER (IRELAND) BILL.

The H0N.6;3/4TLEIiAN also gave notice that to, mor-
row he should move for leave to bring in a Bill to amend
the Act of last ses.ion relating to the' treatment of per-
sons afflicted with fever in Ireland.

PUBLIC WORKS (IRELAND).
Mr. S. O'BRIEN inquired if the Government intended
to adhere to the rule which they had laid down,
that, on the 20th of this month, the number of persons
employed on the public works in Ireland should be re-
duced 20 per cent:?
Mr. LABOUCHERE said the Hon. Gentleman had
correctly stated the rule which the Government had
laid down, that the number of persons so employed
should be reduced 20 per cent. on the 20th inst. The
Government, however, had not thought proper to
adhere to this plan throughout the whole of Ireland.
It had not been observed in every part of the country.
The Government had instructed the Irish Go-
vernment to make this reduction in the number
of persons so employed ; but they had left
the matter in their hands, so that they would use
their discretion as to the best period when the rule could
be best observed.
Mr. HINDLEY suggested that a week's wages should
be given to those employed on the public works who
wished to obtain employment as farm labourers.

DUBLIN RATING BILL.
Mr. GROGAN wished to know whether the Govern-
ment intended to leave this Bill in the hands of the cor-
poration of Dublin, or whether they intended to give it
their support and to conduct it through the House ?
Much anxiety prevailed in Dublin with respect to it.
He trusted they would take it into their hands, and

move the appointment of a Committee to sit upon it.

IMr. LABOUCHERE was not then in a position toy
reply to the question. A deputation wculd wait upeai
him on the subject. on Thursday, and until they ;bee;
don: so he c: uld not give 1-s ttistaeeory
PARISH SCHOOL MASTERS IN SCOT
Mr. FOX
.MAUL! moved for a return of the nun'..
her of parish :schoolmasters in Scotland, who hold .the )
office of session clerk.—Agreed te.
IMPORTATION OF CORN FROM RUSSIA.;,
Lord JOHN RUSSELL wished to state, with re-
ferenco to a report that was abroad, to the effect that
no corn was allowed to be exported from Russia, that be
had received a letter from Lord Bloomfield, from St.
Petersburgh, in which he stated that there was not_ ,t
the slightest foundation for such a rumour, and the
there was no restriction whatever.
POST-OFFICE DIREC rORY.
Mr. MOFFAT r wished to ask the Chancellor of thee
Exchequer what steps had been taeen to prevent pub'
lie servants employed in the Post-office
theirsbeg also e,enre.
ployed in a private speculation, called Post-nia''
London Directory?"
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, whe
spoke very inaudibly, was understood to say that Pc:
servants in the Post- office should be employed in tha.
uridertakingin future under pain of dismissal, and that we
compiler of that undertaking was prohibited from' being
occupied on it during Post-office hours. Mr.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE was glad to hear that —.4
Kelly was to have no compensation. If anything eh
t:
be done it ought to be restitution on the part of 31, 0
Kelly, who, instead of receiving 1,2001 from *.t
" Directory," had been reaping 12,0001. a year frool
Now Mr. Rowlantllill had got an appointment in ti,;t3
Post-office, and hived some where in a room in
go
Post-office, surrounded by two or three clerk,.
duties
wanted to know what Mr. Rowland Hill's
were, and what his salary was, because be weiis,
told Mr. Rowland Hill was perfectly powerless.
notice had recently been put up in the Post-nMe:l
stating that if any of the letter-carriers l'he
any suggestions to make to Mr. Rowland Hill upon ta.
subject of improving the Post-office system, they we'te.
to convey them through the heads of their depart Men
•
Now, the heads of the department were Mr. ,
and others, and as ' the chief complaint refit;
to the " Directory," it was not likely that.,._`it
carriers would send any suggestion through Mr. Al
upon that subject. Mr. Rowland Hill had nothing
expect from Mr. Kelly or Colonel Moberly, for in 1842,
when Mr. R. HiW left the Post-office, a notice via'd4
stuck up announcing that if any officer communicate
directly or indirectly with Mr. R. Hill he would be ";
missed the service. Now, it was important to kg°.
what were the salary andicluties of Mr. Rowland
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER sal;
that at present Mr. Jelly was permitted to carry on
Directory" himself, he being, at the sortie- time, de"
barred from the services of any person in the POst.officer;
By so doing the ultimate claims to a compeesati;
of that gentleman would not be at all affected.
1111.
would have been much more convenient if the ao. 31. e no
ber had given notice of his intention to ask the quettea
as he had gone into a number of statements of
which had taken place a number of years since,
at that moment he was not, of course, able to esPei,
any opinion upon. The business of the re!„,
office had of late years most enormously "se
creased. From a return made to that bout,
of the number of letters which passed through the Kees ha
office in the first week of February, it appeared that ifs
number had more than doubled during the last„
years. The Government had, therefore, thonguZi.,
advisable to give s-)me additional assistance. Her a
jesty's Government, being of opinion that Mr. Rod
Hill was the most qualified person in the et,....p•
for that duty, they had accordingly appoint him $
tary to the Postmaster-General, not to the Post Ow.,
a salary of 1,200/. per annum.
Mr. DUNCOMBE—What was the salary of S-15
clerks?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER h,604
that the !lon. Member would excuse him if he state('
it was not in his power to give him the information be lie;
quired. If he had moved for a return upon the subjee4.o
should have had it. All the information that he could gib
him was that the salary of 1,2001. per year was givenro
Mr. Rowland Hill. He believed that there were th et
or four clerks employed, but he knew nothing what°
of their salaries.
CUSTODY OF OFFENDERS' AND PRIS,,,--
(150
BILL—EARLY SIT PING OF THE HOUSI" • .
Lord MAHON wished to know when it was the It%
tendon of her Majesty's Government to go on with
Prisons' Bill and the Custody of Offenders' Bill. .0
Sir GEORGE GREY said that it was the intentl
of the Government to take the further consideration intently
the report upon Thursday next, at the early sittings-,
the Howe, at 12 o'clock.
PUNISHMENT OF DEATH. .13b1
Mr. BRIGIIT wished to ask a question of his RI A
Hon. Friend the Secretary for the Home Departmens.ths
statement had appeared in the papers respecting de
execution of two men at Morp eth on CVednesrag
last, and it was stated, that by theexcessive bung 1,
of the executioner the punishment was rendered iL,ra
barbarous than it ought to have been. Now be desire
to know whether that account had been brougt:
under his attention. This question ho could ansfef,,
although he had not given a previous notice of
s":
There was another question which he wished to a,
and which he did not expect the Right Hon. Gentle
to answer then. lle wished to know whether. 110'1
received any intimation from the hi, ere bauf
judges that
been of late an increasing disposition on the part
juries to return verdicts of not guilty in eases -
capital punishments were likely to be inflicted ? alb
wished to know if any circumstance had come to
knowledge with reference to the late trial of three ele'f:
for a murder and robbery at Barnard Castle?
entlemsn;
Sir G. GREY said that he had received no inforaUsi
Lion as to the first circumstance alluded to by the 11°.is.
Member. Neither had he received any intimation as ?
:indisposition on the part of juries to convict 21.1
capital cases.

RAILWAYS BILL.
ofilthoredGveGo.BrnEmNelin IN
Governmentrespecting
excitement was felt. He wished to ask whether it vi!
the intention of the Government to bring'on the Railway'
tt:ished a tßoil know naobwou the h
we
hinicthenstoio 037
Bill before Easter, or to postpone it until afterwards:ll.i,
U
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER tie
that Friday evening next would be occupied EXCHEQUER
Bill
estimates, and lie did not think it fair to bring in would
of that importance, under circumstances which don
forbid a fair discussion. It was therefore the intention
of the Government to postpone t',e Bill until ¢fret
Easter.
Sir B. HALL wished to call the attention of
Government to a letter which he had received, enwob
the,
pl'iining of the extraordinary influx of strangers wile,
had taken place into Liverpool. There was also u
ment to the same effect from the town of Nevrar
complaining that their streets were crowded with
eri
dreds of the starving Irish who had lately colue:;:bs
His object in bringing this forward was to ask the-Ilee
Hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for the ~r
Department whether he had had his attention directed
this statement, and whether the instance he had sit/
was or was not a solitary instance ?
rully
Sir G. GREY replied that he had received in-° et
tion on the subject ; but that he was assured by Pew 0
who might be looked upon as authorities, that th'shieb
a solitary instance, and that it was the only one /1-
rested upon authentic evidence.
NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. .cerot
Mr. HUME wished to ask the Noble Lord the r'l.'co
Commissioner of Woods and Forests a question rth,,lre,,
appeared to him (Mr. Hume) of a very important fl
not only to that House, but to the country. heir
House was required to attend her Majesty v",-.1
ever summoned, and it was most desirous .--to
the Speaker of the House should go tle-;;Iit
the House of Lords with that decorum consis'Ad
with the high character which had heretofore atten"t
every proceeding of that House. He might refer to rifie
periods, not very far distant—(Hear, hear)—When
House proceeded to the House of Lords, when sure
tanned, in a way consistent with the high charsebo
which the House ought to maintain—(Hear) et:
the personal safety of Hon. Members, espeeirfeeet
regarded their coats—(Laughter)—for he had '5O;
several injured in their progress to the Upper litier'sr
he did not, however, allude to any part of the SPes'"iei
garments ; but it was perfectly well known
vies
the House was greatly inconvenienced. From iurl°l"o
and from personal investigation he had ascertained teb
of
the place under the bar would not contain one 01 be
the Members ; and he submitted if they were t°
put into such straitened circumstances—(Laughter)l,
they must do one of two things—either not to go at. ;
or else appoint a certain number to do
"be
but, if a certain number went, they mustoV
appoiuted by ballot, and that was a most 'be
jectionable course ; but one of these courses wouldre
necessary, as the compartment could not contain
the
admitted 22 without considerable pressure. Mr.
admitted that the limits were narrow, but he thought of
galleries above would afford the required room.
might afford room to those who wished to at"'„
the House, but he thought that the House, when s''sg,
mooed to the presence of her Majesty, should' have se °,,,,
He considered it too bad that, after so much exPie°o4l
and after so long a delay, the building was not caleeped
to accommodate more than 30 Members. He roes
measures would be taken to remedy the inconva,st
and that provision would be made in time for w

purpose.
AND: LAYARD wished, before the Noble Lora Ir,
plied to the question, to ask him another that
closely connected will' it. He wished to know 'wheq!,,,,
any place was set apart for the accommodation or rig
tinguished strangers, separate from that appropriated
the Members of the House of Commons?. 'on
Lord MORPETH stated that the accommotintl 0
would be on the same footing as it was at pr.u3ent, °DIY°,
a larger scale The space below the bar was never
tended to accommodate all the Members of the Sousa
v
Commons, nor did hethink such an accommodation wr..
necessary. With respect to the question of the oths
Lion. Member (Major Layard), he thought there sh°llo
be accommodation separate for those persons to we.,°o
he referred, but there would be also galleries in addiu°
to the space below the bar.
Mr. HUME thought that there should be a committee
appointed to superintend the arrangements, so that to
Members should not appear there like a rabbi
e
altogether inconsistent with the dignity of the House'
ARMY SERVICE BILL.
On the order of the day for the second reading of this
Bill being read,
Sir H. W. BARRON rose for the purpose of making
some explanations relative to a statement made by bri,
in the House on Friday night, on the subject of the Ins"'
Poor-law, which had been, however, misrepresented
in
some of the public journals. What he had stated was'
that the value of the property in England assessed to.
the poor-rates amounted to 62,000.000/4 the sum n$
which it was assessed was 5,000,0001.; that, accord-
ing; to the calculations of the Poor-law Commie'
sioners, the number of paupers in Ireland
ordinary years was between 2,300,000 and 2,400,0 A

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