The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-30 00:00:00

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LONDON, MONDAY. MARCH 30, 1546.

Looking to the necessity that exists for Parliament
legislating with promptitude to meet the different ills
that at present affect the common weal—some springing
from bad laws, others front the visitOons of PROVIDENCE
—the vastness of the various subjects that have, there-
fore, been already brought under the consideration of the
Senate, and looking, also, to what. is even still more
desirable, that as soon as we shall have adopted the
valuable provisions now before the Legislature, for
checking and mitigating the sad effects of a stunted and
abortive commercial code on the one hand, and of im-
perfect legislation for Ireland en the other, our law-
givers should be readily addressing themselves to the
important task of eradicating, by well-considered mea-

sures, the causes to which such infelicitous consequences
may be severally attributed,—we grudge every hour
uselessly or injudiciously wasted within the walls of
St. Stephen's. It is with great regret, therefore, we per-
ceive that Sir WILLIAM SOMERVILLE has given notice that
he will move an amendment against the first reading of
the Bill for the Protection of Life in Ireland, sent down
to the House of Commons from the Lords. The first
result of this will be to prevent the Corn Bill from
being read a third time until after Easter ; and any
delay thrown in the way of passing that measure of
vital importance Sir WILLIAM SOMERVILLE must him-
self well know will be of the most serious detriment to
the mercantile and other interests of the country. The
next is, that the time the discussion will consume, will
so far, if not altogether, prevent the Ministry from
effectuating the measures of primary urgency in suffi-
cient time so as to enable them to carry, dusk:lg the pre-
sent session, any others that might be instrumental in
placing Ireland under a system of government far more
salutary than any she has hitherto enjoyed. Again, it
is unusual to raise the chief discussion upon the first
reading of a Bill which has received the sanction of one
branch of the Legislature, except where it happens to
be one quite novel in its nature, and likewise produc-
tive of some extraordinary change in the work-
ing of our Constitution. The usual custom was,
therefore, departed from in questions of such extraordi-
nary magnitude as the Catholic Relief Bill, the Reform
Bill (although just and equitable in themselves), and
others of similar import. On the other hand, the ordinary
rule is observed avowedly upon the principle, that the
second reading ;and subsequent stages of a Bill afford
ample scope for a full discussion of any measure, before
it can receive the ultimate assent of either House of
Parliament. Unfortunately, too, a Bill for the preven•
tion of murder in Ireland has nothing of novelty in it,
the present century having too frequently witnessed
similar enactments under the recommendation of Govern
ments, Whig as well as Tory. It is a measure, too,
which has never lasted long, Parliament ever rejoicing
to limit its duration to the shortest possible period con-
sistently with the painful necessity by which it was
evoked. Again, before giving the notice to which we have
alluded, and which must en ta;l the pernicious consequences
to which we have adverted, Sir WILLIAM SOMERVILLE
ought to have recollected, that Ireland has (although un-
fortunately not so numerous as we could wish) many
warm and sympathising friends in the House of Peers,
men of vast acuteness, and who, unless they had felt
themselves overwhelmed by the awful exposition of the
state of society in that country by the Earl of ST.
GERMANS, would have been prompt to rise, and elo-
quently denounce the proposition for clothing the
Government with the extraordinary power demanded.
The statement, however, remains unimpeached ; and,
indeed, it may be said, that every day's intelligence from
Ireland confirms its truthfulness. Lord MEM:IC/URNS,
to whose administration the people of Ireland will ever
recur with grateful sentiments, has recently declared
that he considers the Ministerial measure, as not only
being imperitively called for, but as having been too
long delaye3. Earl GREY, moreover, to whose speech
the Irish may refer with thankfulness, did not at.
tempt to question the necessity of some such
measure, although he sought, and not unsuccessfully, to
mitigate the severity of some of its provisions. For
these reasons we lament that Sir WILLIAM SOMER-
VILLE has departed from the usual course. No greater
misfertune could possibly occur to Ireland, than that she
should find herself deprived of men of rank and pro-
perty, which must inevitably be the case should the ex-
isting outrages continue unstayed. The assassinations
are confined to men of no particular party, or political
opinions—the man of integrity and benevolence falls
equally the victim with the man of the most opposite
character. To such a pitch has this fearful lawlessness
arisen, that darkness is no longer required as a special veil
for the assassin—his daring acts are perpetrated with
fancied, nay, in too many instances, with real impunity,
in broad daylight. Ireland requires the influx of capital
and a good resident gentry; but, unless these harrowing
practices are vigorously put down, we shall look in vain,
for her either receiving the one, or benefiting by the
other. Let it not be supposed, however; that we are ad-
vocates for the entire measure, as it has come from the
Lords. No, on the contrary, we feel that it is sus-
ceptible of many and valuable corrections, that the
stringency of some of its provisions may be mitigated,
without depriving it of its efficiency. But, so long as
some such measure is imperatively demanded, we depre-
cate the loss of time which must necessarily be incurred,
should any prolonged discussion take place on its first
introduction.

The calm tone which pervades the Paris journals, even
the most violent of them, when reference is made to
England, form a striking contrast to that exhibited some
few years since. Till about two sessions ago from the
time of the Syrian expedition, the most violent animosity
was displayed by the Opposition, both in the Chambers
and in newspapers, against everything English. Never
was any interesting' debate got up in the Chambers
without the encroachments of the English, their selfish-
ness, their tyranny on the seas, and the humiliation of
France forming the principal themes for the displays of
the BARROTS, and BILLAULTS, and' MAITGLYINS ; the
English Cabinet bad everything its own way, the entente
cordijle was a mockery and an insult, GulzoT was
the Minister of the " Foreigner," the affair of
PRITCEIARD was magnified into a great national griev-
ance, a just cause of war, and the Marquesas and Ota-
heite Islands were considered of infinely more im-
portance than were in by-gone days tithe whole of the
French settlements in India, or the valuable possessions
in Canada. A small spark would have been sufficient at
the time to have roused all the violence of ancient anti-
pathies, and thrown the whole of France into a con •
flagration. A most perceptible change has gradually
taken place without concessions on either side, and
affairs in which the two countries are deeply
interested may be discussed without national
prejudices; and with a moderation becoming
two powerful nations. A remarkable instance occurred
last week in the Chamber of Deputies, when the Chan-
nel Fisheries Bill was under consideration. The Mem-
bers conversed on the subject, and debated on the
different clauses, like a body of legislators, and not, as
in former instances, like a mob ; they seemed anxious
to obtain what they considered the rights of the French
fishermen, without materially interfering with those
which pertained to the same class in England, and a
Bill, on the whole satisfactory—as far as our knowledge
of the subject enables us to judge—was adopted by a
large majority. Even the remarks in the most violent
Opposition journals are extremely moderate, and only
go so far as to assert that France has hardly obtained
her just claims. The Courrier Francai,, usually most
hostile to England, has treated the subject with the
utmost good humour, in an article which deserves
praise as much for its peaceful tone as for its wit and
originality. A brief extract will enable the reader to

judge :
" Between France and England is a vast she;.l of water
'forming the abode of innumerable swarms of fish, which
are brought to our tables not only for the gratification of our
palates but for the support of orr existence. This rich prey
has been disputed by the ichthyophagi of the two nations.
Hence have arisen conflicts, warm end acrimonious cram-
nations and recriminations, and earnest and loud applica-
tions to the two Governments to obtain justice for these
irritable and sometimes bellicose appetites. Under such
embarrassments, what can our diplomatists do ? 'The fish
prefer the coasts of England. There they may bask in the
revivifying rays of the sun, or gambol in peace, sheltered in
calm bays, protected by stern ramparts formed of capes and
promontories. Oysters, on the contrary, armed with their
ahelly panoply,. remain faithful to the shores of France, and