The Sun.
London, England, 1848-09-02 00:00:00

IMPERI.

AMENT

HOUSE OF LORDS, September 1.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Wool-
sack at Five o'clock.
MILBANK PRISON BILL.
This Bill was read a third time and passed.
BATTERSEA PARK BILL.
This Bill was read a third time and passed.
Lord CAMPBELL presented a petition from the
parish of Lambeth, complaining of the grand jury
system.
CITY OF LONDON SEWERS BILL.

The Earl of RADNOR presented a petition from an
individual, praying to be heard by counsel against the
City of London Sewers Bill, and that the Bill might be
referred to a Select Committee.
Lord CAMPBELL apprehended that the prayer of
the petition could not be complied with without violating
their Lordships' standing orders.
After a short conversation the petition was received.
Lord CAMPBELL then moved the suspension of the
standing orders in question.
Lord BEAUMONT said a motion was on the paper
for suspending the standing orders in favour of the Bill,
and he could not see why the same indulgence should
not be conceded to its opponents. The hurried manner
in which their Lordships disposed of Bills towards the end
of the session almost rendered the rights of property
unsafe, and he really did hope that the first business
their Lordships entered upon next session would be the
certsidtrs,tion of some remedy for this evil.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE recommended the
suspension of the standing orders in this case.
Lord REDESDALE said that the Bill had been sent
up to their Lordships much too late.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE stated that it could
nq,under the circumstances, have been submitted to the
H nse earlier. It was very important that the Bill should
pass.

The motion for the suspension of the standing orders
Yeas, however, understood to be withdrawn, and the Bill
was read a second time.
COPPER DUTIES BILL.
Lord REDESDALE presented a petition from the
county of Cornwall, signed by 21,545 persons inter-
ested in the mining trade of that part of the country,
against the Bill relating to the duties on copper and
copper Ore.
The Earl of FALMOUTH presented a similar
petition.
On the motion that this Bill be read a first time,
Lord REDESDALE complained of the late period at
which the Bill had been introduced to their Lordships.
In the other House it had been brought in upon the Bth
of May, and had been adjourned no less than thirty times
before it came to a second reading. Their Lordships
bad not been treated with due courtesy; the measure
was one, involving a change in the financial system of
the country, and it was impossible to give it the due
consideration which its importance demanded. Ho pro-
tested against the system of delaying the introduction of
measures into their Lordships' House to such incon-
venient periods as had been of late the practice.—(Hear,
hear.) Nothing now was left the House of Lords, they
had scarcely an opportunity to pass their opinion upon a
measure; and to debate it was almost an impossibility.
He considered that if they did not mark their strong dis-
approbation of this want of courtesy on the part of the
House of Commons, their independence was at an end.
He also objected to the measure as being one for the re-
duction of the revenue. When they considered the pre-
sent crippled state of the finances of the country, they
would be of opinion that such a reduction could not be
'very well afforded. In the county of Cornwall, where
the evil effects of the measure would be principally felt,
the potato crop had almost totally failed; the harvest
was exceedingly deficient, more so than in any other
county. Under all these circumstances, he considered
it his duty to oppose even the first reading of the
Bill. He would, therefore, move that the Bill be read
a first time that day six mouths, and that motion he
did not believe an independent Member would refuse to
suppit.
'The Marquis of LANSDOWNE trusted that the
House would not dispose, in any such summary manner,
of a Bill which haeffor its objects the reduction of a high
duty and the promotion of the trade of the country.
The Noble Lord- seemed to consider that the present
measure was a great innovation upon the system of the
country. Was he aware that four or five years ago this
liberty of exportation did exist ? The present system
was an experiment by which, from a false idea of af-
feralg protection to British copper, the smelting trade
of this e unary has been exposed to severe danger, and
was gtadually diminishing. Did he know that the effect
of the present system was to raise up a smelting trade
hi Chili, in the United States of America, and that
ores which would have come to this country to be
smelted were by its operation now smelted in foreign
countries ? He would refer the Noble Lord to the evi-
dence of the British Consul at Philadelphia.
In the year 1847, that gentleman informed
them that since the passing of the late measures, a
company had been formed in Boston, who were erecting
smelting furnaces. The same was the fact in New
York, in New Jersey, and in several other places. The
evi(!enten taken before the Navigation Committee con-
firmed the statements which he had made. With the
knowledge that a great portion of the copper ore was
going out of the country, he could not conceive that
their Lordships would at-sent to the extremely unusual
course of rejecting the Bill upon its first reading. He
considered that it would be setting a very dangerous
precedent if they rejected in this manner Bills sent to
them by the house of Commons. It would be saying,
in fact, that the opinions of the House of Commons, de •
Glared by a large majority, upon a subject of trade and
taxation, were not even worth a consideration.
Lord REDESDALE would not commit an act of dis-
ctatirteay towards the House of Commons without a suffi-
cient reason. But the House of Commons had committed
an act of discourtesy towards them by keeping back
a 13134 of such importance until such a late period of the
session, which, had it been introduced in June, they should
have been allowed at least a week before they would
have been asked to read it a second time. He thought
the preseent moment was a good opportunity for resent-
ing the want of courtesy shown them.
Lord MONTEAGLE entirely concurred in the ob-
servations of the Noble Lord who had just sat down as
to the impropriety of sending up Bills at such a period
in the session as to make it impossible to consider them.
He trusted that some steps would be taken to prevent
the recurrence of the evil, and that some rule would be
agreed to which eliould preclude their Lordships from
entertaining any ills after a certain date, except cause
were shown why they should do otherwise. He remem-
beefed that the House of Commons had treated a Bill
sent down to them in the same manner as that in which
it was now proposed to treat the present; there was not
a Member of their Lordships' House at that time, who
did not feel that the House of Commons was in error,
and they would not do well to follow the precedent.
Could be mark his dissatisfaction at the system without
inconveaience to'the public, he would not hesitate to do
so, but he could not consent to sacrifice innocent parties
for the rake of declaring a principle.
The Earl of PALMOUTH thought that they could
reject the Bill without giving offence to the House of
Commons, as the measure was one of finance, which
they could not alter in subsequent stagesj moreover,
the AVE had been adopted by a very small majority
in a'''Very thin House. Before the Bill of 1842, under
the old system of duties, he could employ all his
labourers, but now he was obliged to discharge a great
'many. If there was a prosperous body of merchants in
the country, it was the smelters. They were a small
body enjoying a monopoly, and were the very class of
all others that ought not to receive protection, as the
present Bill conferred, He would oppose the Bill.
The Marquis of LANSDO`TVNE replied in a few
words.
The-Earl o! DESART considered that a great deal
had been said of the smelting trade, as if it were upon
its last legs, but he believed that the smelters were the
11300 flourishing, body of manufacturers in Great Bri-
tain, and that fact was evidenced by the present Bill, of
which they would have never heard a word were they
not as he described them. It had been stated that there
was a reduction in the importation of copper ore, but
within the last six months there had been imported 412 L
worth of copper ore into this country. The Bill was of
that nature that they could not alter it, and he saw no
objection to rejecting it upon the first reading.
Lord WYNFORD objected to the Bill as having a
tendency, if it passed into a law, to encourage the l aye
tradeiif Cuba.
Earl GRANVILLE replied, and the House divided,
when there appeared—
For the first reading l7
Against it l3
Majority
—4
The Bill was then read a first time.
TAXING MASTERS, COURT OF CHANCERY
(IRELAND) BILL.
On the motion of the Marquis of CLANRICARDE,
this Bill was read a second time.
STANDING ORDERS.
Lord REDESDALE moved certain alterations of the
standing orders relative to the sittings of the Com-
kffittee of Privileges, and with regard to the classification
of Bills.
The motion was agreed to.
On the motion of the Marquis of CLANRICARDE,
the Postage on Newspapers (Channel Islands) Bill went
through Committee.
On the motion of Earl GRANVILLE, the Drainage
Certificates Bill went through Committee.
CONSOLIDATED FUND APPROPRIATION
BILL.
On the motion of the Marquis of LANSDOWNE,
this Bill
wast
read a second time. To be committed to-
morrow at
weive o'clock.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE presented a petition
for a general scheme •
land. et education of all classes in Ire-
.. adjourned Their Lordship,' a-
o'cleck. till this day, at twelve
riousE
°Ns, September 1.
(Continued from our Afteill4 Edition of yesterday.)
SWEEPS ant RACES.eenTsIN OF OF AD-
VERTISEMEN
mE NEWSPAPERS.
In answer to a question from Ak NSTEY,
The ATTORNEY-GENERA :aid, as no notice
ofswiiele,ersting advertise-
had been given of the illegality
races, no
ments in newspapers resp‘ cling
steps had been taken by th.e Governinienwtafsol!).itillt
illegal
now
wished to give notice that such a comae
if parties hereafter continued to insert them, thee"yas; would be made amenable to the law.
Lord G. BENTINCIC trusted that, at all events, there
would not be one law for the rich and another for the
ipor. If those sweeps were put down, he trusted that a
step would be taken with respect to every de-
scriptinn of lottery among the higher classes.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the question to
which he replied referred only to the insertion of ad-
Ve;rtiaements in the newspapers.
IRELAND.
Mr. HAMILTON gave notice of his intention, early

in the next session, to bring forward a Bill for the pur-
pose of consolidating the union between England and
Ireland, and in order that a complete identity might be
established between the two kingdoms, to move an hum-
ble address to the Crown, to establish an equalization' df
the laws between the two countries.
SLAVE TRADE.
Sir R. 11. INGLIS gave notice of his intention, early
in the next session, to move an address to her Majesty,
praying her Majesty to adopt the most effectual mea-
sures for the suppression of the slave trade.
NAVIGATION-LAWS.
Mr. MACGREGOR gave notice of his intention next
session to move resolutions with respect to the game-
laws.

MALT SUTIE.
Mr. WODEHOUSE gave notice that he would early
next session move for an alteration of the malt duties.
THE VERNON LEGACY.
Sir R. H. INGLIS trusted that the House would
mark its sense of the munificence of Mr. Vernon in
making so large a contribution to the National Gallery as
he had done.
Lord MORPETII said that the Government had al-
ready intimated to Mr. Vernon the gratitude of the na-
tion for his unprecedented generosity.
REPRODUCTIVE LOAN FUND INSTITUTION
(IRELAND) BILL.
The Lords' amendments to the Reproductive Loan
Fund Institution (Ireland) Bill were considered and i
agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE.

On the motion of Mr. PARKER, it was ordered that
the House at its rising should adjourn to Monday next.
ISLAND OF CEYLON.
In reply to a question fram Mr. HUME,
Mr. HAWES said, from the last dispatches he had
received from the Governor of Ceylon it appeared that
there was no fear of any disturbance arising in Canada
among the natives. It was true that additional taxes
had been imposed which had given rise to some dissatis-
faction, but they had been substituted in the place of cer-
tain reductions made in the amount of import and export
duties. It was not true that a poll-tax had been imposed,
nor had it ever been proposed. One of the new taxes levied
was one similar to that under the old statute of labour in
England, requiring every inhabitant to give six days'
labour in the year, or pay 3s. a, year. The only other
tax imposed was one on guns. There was no tax on
dogs, but persons were required to take out a license for
keeping them. Mr. Emerson Tennent, the Governor, at-
tended a meeting in the island, and with great presence
of mind and ability explained the reason why those
new taxes had been imposed, and his explanation ap-
peared to give general satisfaction.
COPPER AND LEAD DUTIES BILL.
On the motion for the third reading of this Bill,
Lord G. BENTINCK moved that it be read that day
month.
The House then divided, when there appeared—
For the third reading
For the amendment

Majority
The Bill was then read a third time.
POOR-LAW AUDITORS' PROCEEDINGS
RESTRICTION BILL.
This Bill was read a third time.
THE TREATMENT OF MITCHEL IN
BERMUDA.

Lord G. BENTINCK rose to ask the Secretary of
State for the Home Department a queStion with regard to
the truth of certain reports current in Bermuda of im-
proper favour having been shown towards the convicted
felon Mitchel. He asked the question more for the
purpose of obtaining a contradiction of the report,
rather than from any belief in its truth. He had re-
ceived a communication from a gentleman holding
an office in the island, whose name he had placed
in the hands of the Right Honourable Baronet,
which stated that it was currently believed that
Mitchel, in his way out in the Scourge, messed
every day with the lieutenant of the vessel; that on tak-
ing leave of him that officer shook him by the hand, and
that the lieutenant justified what he bad done in conse •
quence of a letter which he had received from the Lord-
Lieutenant, ambiguously worded, stating that Mitchel's
former position was to be borne in mind in the treat-
ment to which he was subjected. The letter stated
further that Mitchel had been allowed a private room
since his arrival on board one of the convict hulks, and
that a servant, a convict, had been appointed to
wait upon him ; that he was allowed to wear
his ordinary clothes instead of the usual con-
vict dress, and that he had not been put upon the
public works like other convicts. He found that similar
reports had found their way into the American papers;
as he perceived by the .New York Ileiald of the 4th
instant, that Mitchel '4; as treated like a gentleman, that he
was not employed, and that he was allowed books, but
neither pens nor paper. He (Lord G. Bentinek) did
not believe that any officer in the Queen's service would
shake hands with a convicted felon, and that the Right
lion. Baronet would state that no distinction was made
between the treatment of persons of station and edu-
cation and the meanest convict, when either the one or
other rendered himself subject to the penalties of the
law.

Sir GEORGE GREY replied that nearly a similar
question had been put to him by the Hon. Gentleman
opposite (Mr. Robinson), and, although his reply to the
Noble Lord might involve more details, it would be in
effect substantially the same. He had communicated
with the first Lord of the Admiralty on that subject,
and he had informed him that he had received
no information tending to corroborate these rumours, as
doubtlessly he would, had they been true, from the
Commodore of the fleet, the Earl of Dundonald. In re-
plying to the former question, he (Sir George Grey)
stated that Mitchel was removed from Cork to Ber-
muda immediately after his trial in a war steamer, as
some time would have elapsed before a convict ship
could have been got ready, and the Government wished
to make an example of the convict. The Scourge was
not commanded by a lieutenant, but by a commander—
Commander Wingrove, an old and efficient officer—and
ho received his instructions from the Admiralty,
and not from the Lord - Lieutenant, who had
no power to do so. He was directed to
use every precaution in order to prevent any attempt
at escape, and allow him sufficient diet and exercise
for the preservation of his health. He was placed in a
separate cabin, and at the door of which a
.sentry was
constantly kept on duty. The Right Honourable
Baronet then read lettersfrom Mr. Elliot, the Governorof
the island, stating that the prisoner had been reported by
the surgeon, Mr. Hall, to be afflicted with some chronic
disease—an affection of the lungs—and that he was unfit
to be placed upon the public works.—(Hear, hear.) He
had consequently been appointed to attend in the hos-
pital ward of convalescent officers. He must therefore
assume that the reports were altogether destitute of
foundation.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. ROBINSON trusted the Admiralty would cause
an investigation to be made into the matter.
Admiral BOWLES expressed his disbelief in the
truth of the reports; had they been true he should
have received a communication from his Noble Friend
Lord Dundonald.

ARMISTICE WITH DENMARK.
In reply to Mr. HUME,
Lord PALMERSTON stated that he was happy
to inform the House that he had received a com-
munication from her Majesty's representative at
Copenhagen stating that an armistice had been signed
at Copenhagen, on the 26th, and there was every reason
to believe that the ratifications were exchanged yester-
day.—(Hear, hear.) The blockade would be discon-
tinued.—(hear.)
FOREIGN AND COLONIAL IMPORTS.
Mr. NEWDEG ATE moved for returns showing the
real or market value of all goods, manufactures, and
products imported into the United Kingdom during the
years 1845, 1846, 1847, and the first six months of the
year 1848, respectively, according to the denominations
thereof, in all cases where the real or market value of
the quantity of such imported article has exceeded
3,000; giving the total value of such articles imported
in each of the above periods respectively, and distin-
guishing the colonial from the foreign importations;
and giving, in corresponding columns, the official value
of the same, and the difference between the real or mar-
ket and the official value.

Mr. LABOUCHERE objected to the motion of the
Honourable Gentlemen, because there would be great
practical difficulties in the way of preparing the returns
for which he moved.

After a few remarks from Mr. Robinson, who bore
testimony to the impracticability of ascertaining the real
value of imported articles, and from Mr. Macgregor, Mr.
Hume, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord George
Bentincic, and Mr. Newdegate,
The motion was withdrawn.
Mr. NEWDEGATE then called the attention of the
House to the large amount of imported articles hitherto
unenumerated in the trade and navigation returns.
After a few words from the CHANCELLOR of the
Exc uxQuEtt and Lord G. BENTINCK, the subject dropped.
MESSAGE FROM THE LORDS.
The House was informed that their Lordships had
agreed to the Controverted Elections Bill—Transfer of
Landed Property (Ireland) Bill—Commons Inclosure
Act Amendment Bill—Labouring Poor (Ireland) Bill—
Sugar Duties Bill—Sheep and Cattle Importation Pro-
hibition Bill—Sheep and Cattle Contagious Disorders
Prevention Bill, without amendment: and to the amend-
meats made by the Commons to the Earl of Glengall's
Estate Bill—Diplomatic Relations with the Court of
Rome Bill, without amendment: Nuisances and Conta-
gious Diseases Bill—Dublin Police Bill, with amend-
ments.