The Sun.
London, England, 1847-05-18 00:00:00

Ekening .-1•111 t

UNDON, TUESDAY, MAY 19, 1847.

A maiden speech in the House of Lords could
scarcely have been uttered upon a more propitious
theme than that delivered yesterday evening by the
Earl of ELLESMERE. It was followed by the second
reading of the Factories Bill, with a majority of
forty-two in a House of sixty-four. A more appro-
priate juncture could scarcely have been selected for
the passage of this benevolent measure than the one
which has just arrived. Everything combines to de-
monstrate the foolishness of the policy which has
hitherto been adopted in commercial matters. Every-
thing goes to show that the opponents of Mr.
FIELDER have argued upon the shallowest principles,
upon the most preposterous premises, upon the most
contradictory and frivolous calculations. Lord
ELLESMERE availed himself of none of these ad-
vantages for the purpose of mentioning the an-
tagonists of the Bill in the language of derision,
or opprobrium. He restricted his observations to the
benefits which must infallibly accrue to society by
the carrying out of its provisions ; be spoke ear-
nestly in behalf of those who are without a voice
in the Legislature ; he pleaded the cause of the un-
enfranchised manufacturing operatives, who are com-
pelled to yield to the ordonations of their taskmasters
without an opportunity of bringing those taskmasters to
a judicial tribunal for the purpose of relieving them-
selves from an insufferable drudgery, and visiting
their employers with a deserved punishment. We
congratulate Lord ELLESMERE upon the honour-
able course he has pursued upon this question ; we
congratulate the Upper House upon the almost una-
nimous manner in which it has received the measure;
we congratulate the Baron Dnepr upon the approxi-
mating fulfilment of his generous and philanthropic
anticipations, and upon the chance which must
speedily be afforded him of introducing a similar
measure to the French Chambers, not merely " wafted
thither by numerous petitions signed by the opera-
tive classes themselves," but enforced by the
emphatic and ennobling decision of the British Par-
liament. And was not the Noble Earl, who moved
the second reading of the " Ten Hours' Bill" last
evening, correct in observing that "England has
hitherto been quoted and referred to by the other
manufacturing countries of Europe as the model and
pride in commercial legislation ?" If our reformatory
movement in the emancipation of the negro races has
elicited the approval of all civilised nations, except-
ing that bastard republic which cherishes despotism
under the very banners of freedom, and treats all
other men with the most supercilious contumely,
while eulogising and adoring itself : if our minor
enactments for the prevention of cruelty to animals have
appeared worthy of foreign panegyrics, and not un-
worthy of foreign imitation : if our great effort to
consummate the national freedom by extending that
freedom to internal and international trade, has been
welcomed with the acclamations of the most en-
lightened of the continental states, and has insured
for one of our own merchants, RICHARD COBDEN,
such an ovation as man never had before then may
we assuredly look forward to the extension of the
blessings of Mr. FsmasEN's measure, not merely to
the artizans of these islands, but to the millions who
earn their daily bread by the sweat of their
brows, in the most remote as well as in the most ad-
jacent quarters of the habitable globe.
When this noble and beneficent scheme shall have
passed triumphantly through the Committee, and the
third reading of the Peers, when it shall have passed
into a law with the superscription of the potent
syllables La reine le veute—then may the unhappy
victims of a selfish and /Roza:able- avarice be in
a more favourable position for the development of
their moral, physical, and intellectual faculties.
Mothers will no longer be merely toil-worn automata;
children will cease to be stunted in their bodily
growth by premature labour, cramped in their
knowledge by a total neglect of the most
elementary tuition, and dwarfed and distorted
in their moral character by precocious sor-
rows and untimely destitution. GoD knows, there
is no mere affectation of philanthropy in all this !
And experience has shown that our auguries are nut
merely coloured by the benevolence of our wishes, but
that whenever a legislature has interfered for
the protection of the helpless, whenever a state has
striven to prevent the over-employment of its indus-
trious millions, whenever a kingdom has sought to
effect the equalisation of work and the juster distri-
bution of wealth, incalculable good has resulted
instead of evil and confusion. We are grateful to the
Members of our Legislature for the honesty and
benevolence of their recent decisions.

The sounds of wailing and lamentation are again
wafted from the Irish shores ; but it is not merely
the misery or the suffering of Irishmen that has
occasioned an universal gloom to diffuse itself
throughout all ranks and classes in the sister kingdom.
They mourn for the illustrious dead ; they weep for
the kind-hearted and benevolent nobleman, who,
during a season of unparalleled affliction, had
occupied the highest station in their land, who, as the
representative of their SOVEREIGN, had struggled with
an energy and devotion, which it is feared may have
hastened his own end, to mitigate the sufferings, to
alleviate the wants, and to relieve the distresses of
his unhappy compatriots. At eleven o'clock on Sun-
day night the Earl of BESBOROUGLI expired, after a
protracted struggle of several weeks' duration,
during which period but little hopes remained
of his ultimate recovery. His Excellency con-
tinued in full possession of all his faculties to the

last moment, and, although fully aware of his ap-
proaching end, he evinced the most perfect resigna-
tion and submission to the Divine will that his friends
could have desired. He could look back upon his
useful career without one feeling of regret. A peaceful
conscience smoothed his dying pillow. For such a
man death possessed no terrors ; he yielded up his
spirit surrounded by those who were near and dear
to him, and by whom he was deeply and fondly
loved, while a grateful people thankfully acknow-
ledge his beneficent intentions, his anxious wishes for
the amelioration of their condition, for their elevation
in the social scale, and grieve for the heavy loss they
have sustained in the death of their benefactor.
His Excellency was born on the 31st of August,
1781, and was consequently in the 66th year of his
age. He succeeded to the family honours on the 3d
of February, 1844, on the death of his father, FRE-
DERICK PONSONDY, third Earl of BESBOROUGII, whose
life was protracted far beyond the common lot. His
Lordship early entered into political life, and from
the first was a liberal and consistent politician. He
represented his native county (Kilkenny) in Parlia-
ment for many years. On the accession of
the Whig Ministry, under the Premiership
of Earl GREY, he joined the Administration,
and contested the representation of the same
county with the Honourable Colonel BUTLER, brother
to the Earl of KILKENNY, and a strong upholder of
withstanding
the repeal movement
thofe
airle.utean2ce of his antagonist, returned
Lord DUNCANNON was, not-
of 1832 he started for Nor. On the general election
Dvstingham in the place of Sir
by a majority
who had just been
THOMAS (now Lord)
of. the Court of
appointed to the Chief Julsitre'sh-
Queen's Bench, and was, in cboynjulan'act on with Sir R.
C. FERGUSON, returned
majority over the Tory candidate. In
h
July of 1834 the Noble Lord was called tbve
writ of summons to the Upper House. On
the formation of the Melbourne Cabinet, Lord
DUNCANNON was named Secretary of State for the
Home Department, subsequently Chief Commissioner
of her MAJESTY'S Woods and Forests, and Lord
Privy Seal. Upon the death of his father, as we have
already stated, his Lordship succeeded to the title
as Earl of Besborough, Viscount Duncannon, and

Baron of Besborough, in the Peerage of Ireland ;
and as Baron Ponsonby, of Sysonby and Duncannon,
in the Peerage of Great Britain. His Lordship was
closely allied to the most distinguished families of the
Liberal aristocracy, through his mother, Lady
HENRIETTA FRANCES, daughter of the first Earl
SPENCER, and his grandmother, Lady CAROLINE,
eldest daughter of WILLIAM, third Duke of DEVON-
SHIRE. The loss of this eminent servant of the
Crown will very long be lamented, and his recent
labours in Ireland cannot speedily be forgotten.

We had hoped that, severe as have been, and
doubtless still are, the privations of the lower
classes, consequent upon the excessive prices to which
the necessaries of life, more especially bread, have
been raised, we should have passed over the present
crisis without the exhibition of such painful and dis-
graceful scenes as occurred in Exeter on Friday last.
We derived our hope, first, from the conviction that
the distressed condition of the humbler orders would
not be much longer protracted ; next, from the feel-
ing of gratitude on the part of our poorer country-
men towards the affluent for the munificent benevo-
lence they have displayed in all directions, and in
every shape, ever since the evil of scarcity
has threatened the land, and, lastly, from the
known love of order and loyalty for which Englishmen
from the highest to the lowest are peculiarly charac-
terised beyond any other civilised race. We regret
that our hope has been partially dispelled, and the
more so because, since the law is sure to be promptly
and efficaciously vindicated, it frequently happens, in
the prosecution of rioters, that ignorant and mis-
guided persons are made to feel the severe penalties
of justice in common with the worst principled and
most infuriated of their illegal coadjutors. For up-
wards of three hours on Friday afternoon the city of
Exeter was exposed to the unbridled license of a nu-
merous and clamorous mob. The potato merchant,
the corn merchant, and the baker were severally at-
tacked in different parts of the town. Severe injuries
were inflicted both on their persons and properties.
Whilst some bakers saved their windows by pitching
out their loaves among the excited multitude, others,
who did the very same thing, could not succeed in
preserving their premises from injury. The most
lamentable feature throughout this flagrant breach
of the law is, that it commenced with some
frenzied women, who had determined upon adopt-
ing the most violent means for furnishing food to
their famishing children. Every one must sympa-
thise with the desperate condition of those unfortu-
nate creatures, at the same time that all must condemn
the insane folly of their proceedings. Withdrawing our
mind from this disgraceful outbreak, we turn to
the agreeable duty of informing our readers, that the
intelligence we are daily receiving confirms our pre-
vious impression that our social condition will soon
be improved. The bullion is increasing in the Bank ;
money matters are conducted with less stringency
than they were three weeks since ; every twenty-
four hours enhance the quantity of our imports in
grain ; from the Baltic, Egypt, and America, we
shall soon be receiving immense supplies already
contracted for; and, what is still more important and
cheerful, the appearances of the coming harvest
throughout Europe at large, are represented as of
the most promising kind. In a short time, therefore,
the country will have securely passed the goal of in
quietude.

Madrid papers of the 11th instant have arrived.

It is said that in consequence of differences among
the Ministers, on the subject of the financial measures
of Senor SALAMANCA, the Ministry will be broken
up and a new Ministry formed, of which General
SERRANO and Senors OLOZAGL and SALAMANCA
will be members. Other reports say that Senor
PACHECO alone will retire, and be appointed
either Ambassador to Rome or President of the
Chamber of Deputies, and that General NeavAsz
will be the new President of the Council. Senor
SALAMANCA has returned from Aranjuez to Madrid.
The KING left on the 11th for the Prado.

laDam 80t.5.4 MAY 11.—The Three per Cents. were
done at 31 for cash; the Debt without Interest at 5 ; and
the Five per Cents. at 19 % for paper.

We have received the Paris papers of Sunday.
The Government of M. GUIZOT is, according to
the general opinion, tottering to its fall. His ill
success at Madrid and at Athens, and his failure to
bring about an entente cordiale with Russia, have
shaken the confidence which the .majority of the
Chambers have hitherto reposed in him, and the

discovery of the wholesale system of corruption
which he has used as his great instrument of
home government has tended so to damage his cha-
racter that he may now be considered almost as a
Minister on sufferance merely. An article which
appears in the Journal des Debate of Sunday, in
which certain officials are vehemently attacked, is
a proof that M. GUIZOT himself considers his Minis-
terial position insecure. The article in questiun
alludes to a letter addressed to the editor by several
merchants of Paris, in which the writers say—

" You will not believe that in our days the administration
of the Customs has had recourse to the most odious means
employed by the police in the worst of times. Our servants
are suborned, our clerks paid to denounce their masters;
persons sent by the agents of the Custom-house continually
present themselves in war houses to ask us to sell foreign
articles, or propose such articles for sale. Our houses, as
well as those of our friends, some of whom are not engaged
in business, are publicly invaded by a crowd of agents, ac-
companied by a commissary of police, in quest of a booty,
which they divide among themselves; for you must know
that the objects seized and the fines imposed benefit ex-
clusively the Custom-office agents and the informers,
and not a fraction enters the coffers of the State. Within
a few days the Customs officers have visited the establish-
ments of from 40 to 50 merchants in Paris. What did they
seize ? Goods which had been lying between five and fifteen
years in their stores 1 The whole value of the seizures does
not exceed 20,000 f. or 25,000 f. In that estimation we in-
clude French goods mistaken for English ; small pieces of
cloth, and even waistcoat patterns for tailors' shops, have been
likewise searchecL"
On this statement the Debats observes:—
] "It is not possible that the principle of absolute prohibi-
tion which warrants those attempts against liberty, public
morality, and property, should remain any longer inscribed
in our codes. Let it be replaced by duties of 30, 40, or 50
per cent., if necessary, although Colbert, whose authority is
always invoked byithe Protectionists, never established a
duty higher than 10 per cent. It is time to put a period to
that barbarous institution, which is an insult to common
sense, and the present moment is the more favourable as the
Chambers are about to discuss a new Customs' Bill."

111 GulzoT is evidently preparing to organize an
opposition party, on which to fall back when he quits
office. Free trade will no doubt be his cheval de
bataille.

The Committee of the Court of Peers appointed to
investigate the case of General CUBIERES sat during
four hours on Saturday, and was again to assemble on
Sunday. Another search had been made in the do-
micile of M. PARMENTIEB.

There were rumours on Saturday that a politica'
conspiracy had been discovered, and that M. Conn-
DERE, who has frequently been in custody as a poli-
tical offender, had been again arrested.

At Lille public tranquillity has been completely
restored.

The Three per Cents. were done in the Passage de
l'Opera on Sunday at 77f. 95c.

LYONS, MAY 14.—Paris and Rouen, 932 f. 50c.; Avignon
and Marseilles, 753 f. 75c. ; Vierzoi, 591 f. 25c. ; Northern,
606 f. 25c. ; Paris and Lyons, 433 f. 75c. ; Orleans, 1,232 f. 50c.
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, MAY 17.
Luxembourg, I%—Namur and Liege, 33/4—Northern of
France, 11%

The Right Hon. Sir Robert Peel gives a Parlia-
mentary dinner on the 27th inst. to a very numerous circle.
The Right Hon. Baronet and Lady Peel and family left
Whitehall-gardens yesterday for Drayton Manor, Stafford-
shire, from whence they return to town on the 26th inst.
ANTI -SLAVERY SOCIETY.—The annual meeting of
this society was held last evening at Finsbury Chapel. The
Right Hon. Dr. Lushington presided, and the Conde de
Montemolin was present at the proceedings. The report con-
gratulated the subscribers to the society on the progress
which anti-slavery principles were making, although in some
places they had been considerably retarded. The receipts for
the year had been 1,7151. 13s. 6d.; the expenditure 1,4261.
Os. 4d. ; leaving a balance of 2891. 7s. 14-d. to the credit of
the society. Sir George Strickland, in moving the adoption
of the report, severely denounced the conduct of the Ame-
ricans on account of their ii.aintenance of slavery, but ex-
pressed his conviction that even in that country slavery
would, ere long, be extinct. The meeting was subsequently
addressed by Mr. Elihu Bunitt, Mr. Sturge, Mr. Hinton, and
others; and resolutions deprecatory of the system of slavery
were adopted. A vote of thanks to the chai;man, which was
briefly acknowledged, closed the proceedings.
ROBBERY OF A COMMERCIAL TRAVELLER ON THE
HIGHWAY.—On Saturday night last Mr. James Gibson,
commercial traveller to the firm of Messrs. Thomas Gibson
and Co., hat-manufacturers, Castle-green, Bristol, while tra-
velling after dark, on the road between Cirencester and
I an?
et
h-I.e9maaside'Be
Stroud,,) was attacked by three men, who rushed out suddenly
i,
while a second pl
and gagged his meuthhi:i
chain,al andseals,
One f
him
knocked
gig and used him with great violence.
and
cash
meu
nt seized the
ddta
oehn wredendn,
prevento headanthei
B.had:
st of his
person
resisting
seso
ktnvinnaelogluft horse,eoorho nfgi
sahib;ewsdi
tnwcagthtehcee anhesnn
box of )'ahout
501.
was in the driving.
150/. or 200/. Fortunate
in sovereigns, which
threatening him with furthether violen if
pursue them, they decamped with •ce he attempted to
their booty.