The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-10 00:00:00

bruin 6

LONDON, TUESDAY.' FEBRUARY 10, 184 G

Their Lordships commenced business shortly after
Five o'clock.

Lord STANLEY presented a petition from the county
Lancaster, fignod by 12,339 persons in favour of protec-
tion lo agriculture.
Several petitions were presented by Lord BEAUMONT
and the Earl of REDESDALE.

Lord BEAUMONT gave notice, for the Duke of RICH-
MOND, of his intention, on Thursday next, to move for
certain returns regarding local taxation. He also moved
that their Lordships should be summoned for that day.
Earl GREY presented a petition from the tenant
farmers of Forfar in favour of the Ministerial plan for
the reduction of duties on the various articles of food
The petition, however, deprecated the delay of tbret
years, considering it injurious to their interests. The
Noble Earl trusted that the opinion of the petitioners
would have weight with her Majesty's Ministers.
Earl ST. GERMANS moved the second reading of the
Public Works (Ireland) Bill. He thought that thi,
measure would be found most beneficial in developing
the resources of Ireland. The Bill would bring liona
to the peasantry of Ireland employment at their owl.
doors.

Lord MONTEAGLE supported the Bill, and deprecated
the conduct of the Government in withholding from the
consideration of Parliament the whole of the report
they had received relative to the probable condition of
Ireland in consequence of the failure of the potato crop.
The Duke of WELLINGTON assured the Noble Lord
that the consideration he had suggested to him on Fri-
day last had been fully looked into, and every attention
would be given by the Government to the wants of
Ireland. Measures would be introduced in the course of
the present session for that purpose.
Lord STOURTON supported the Bill.
The Earl of DEVON supported the Bill, aad trusted

the Government would be liberal in their grants, not
only to improve public wcrks in Ireland, but the con-
dition of tha agricultural labourers in Ireland.

The Earl of RODEN supported the second reading of
the Bill, but there were some clauses in it Which he
hoped to see improved and altered in Committee. He
hoped the condition of Ireland, in consequence of the
failure of the potato crop, would nut turn out to be so
serious as was anticipated,

The Marquis of LANspow:it
c•AetArreil in the prin-
einl. «1,- v=ti P-,

I. lar as it went.
lord CoTTF.NitArq agr?etl, to 0r,,, of the Bill,
but he considered that its details would requi
re altera-
tion in Committee.
The Earl of MOITNTCASIIEL was assured that erp 10-47 g
14e
therefore,fatul that every facility
ip, but disturbances,
tlhreelraendw;ouldnonottruosntleyd,
would be I,iven, and that withntAt loss of time, to the
employment of the poor of IrelEm.
After some observations from Lord CAMPBELL, the
Bill wm read a second time, and ordered to be committed
on Friday next.
The Earl of WILTON presented a petition from Man-
chester in favour of free trade.
Their Lordships then adjourned.

The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock.
Lord Mon-Pk:TR took the oaths and his seat for the
West Riding of -Yorkshire. The Noble Lord was intro-
duced by Mr. BYNU, the Member for Middlesex, and
Lord Join RUSSELL, and was most enthusiastically
cheered.

Mr. APCARTRY, for Cork, took the oaths and his sent.
The Hon. Gentleman was introduced by Mr.O'CoNNELL.
Leave was given to bring in several railway Bills.
The Edinburgh Waterworks Bill was brou,ght in, read

a first, and ordered to be read a second time,
Mr. KEMBLIR brought in the London and South-
Western Railway Bill.
The report of the Sub-Committee on the Ayrshire
and Galloway Railway Bill, reporting that the standing
orders had not been complied with, was ordered to be
referred back to the Committee, after a short discussion.
Sir H. HALFWIT) presented a petition from Liverpool,

signed by 2,000 persons, against any alteration in the
corn-laws.

The Earl of MARCH presented a similar petition from
Sussex, signed by 9,000 persons.
Mr. LEADER presented a petition from Westminster,
in favour of a total repeal of the corn-laws, signed by
73,000 persons.
Several other petitions having been presented on the
subject of the proposed alterations in the commercial
policy of the country, among which were 103 by Lord
MORPETH (who was received with enthusiastic cheer-
ing), from various places in the West Riding of York-
shire in favour of the Ministerial measures generally,
with the exception of that part which relatki to the
corn•laws, of which laws they prayed the total and im-
mediate repeal,

Mr. FERRAND asked if the signatures to those peti•

tions were affixed to them with the free and unbiassed
wills of the parties signing, because he was prepared to
prove that many of the workmen had been forced ?

The SPEAKER—The Hon. Member may ask a ques-
tion on the presentation of a petition, but he cannot
make a speech. . . .

The Hos. MEMBER repeated his question, to which
Lord MORPETH replied that, to the beet of his belief
and the entireness of his conviction, the signatures had
been affixed by the free and unbiassed will of the parties

signing.
Mr. W. 0. STANLEY gate notice of an amendment in
the Committee on the Customs' Act, t') the effect that

wheat should be subject to a fixed duty of 55., barley
of 3s. 6d., and oats of 25., in place of the Ministerial

proposition.
Mr. M. MILNES gave notice of an amendment to omit
in the resolution with regard to corn all, words refer ring
to the duties payable after 1849.
Several unopposed returns having been agreed to,
The Members constituting the Committee on Parlia-
mentary Election Petitions were then sworn at the table.
In answer to Dr. BOWRING,
Mr. CARDWELL explained the measures which had
been adopted for the purpose of carry ing out the r(com-

tnendations of the Committee on Colonial Accounts.
Mr. BRIGHT wished to ask if it was not the intention
that the sums levied as fines on factory owners should
be fairly divided among all schools, and not as they hud
hitherto been, distributed at the rate of lOW. to schools
connected with the Established Church to 301. to schools
connected with Dissenters.
Sir J. GRAHAM said that the sums were to be fairly
distributed, but that he understood that few applications
had been made for Dissenting or Catholic schocls.
Sir R. INcers wished to know whether it was intended
that an equal sum should be given to Church and Dis-
senting schools, or a proportionate sum ?
Sir J. GRAHAM said that it was intended that the sum
should be apportioned to the wants of the school.
Mr. LIDDELL asked if the Government was prepared
to take any steps for the improvement of the juvenile
population of the metropolis ?
Sir J. GRIUAM explained the steps which had been
already taken for the improvement and reformation of ,
juvenile offenders in the metropolis; and stated, if it
were the pleasure of the House to vote the necessary
funds, he would feel it his duty to propose further mea-
sures for the reformation of juvenile offenders.
Sir R. PEEL explained, in relation to his reply to the
Noble Lord's question the other night as to his answer on
the subject of the reduction of the corn duties, that he
could find no precedent for the Treasury sanctioning
the reduction of the duty on the receipt of the re port,
and that, therefore, he could not consent to any reduction
on the corn duties until the proposed alteration should
become law, but so convinced was he of the necessity
of proceeding with the alteration in the corn-laws at once
that he proposed to proceed with the measure for the
alteration of the corn-laws, in preference to any othe r
public measure, and to every other alteration in the
tariff until it should become law.
In reply to Mr. M. PmiLles,
Sir R. PEEL said that if the debate should be ad-
jonrned over Tuesday, there would be no alternative but
to resume the debate on Wednesday at twelve and finish
it at six. The Right Hon. Baronet also explained that
necessarily there must be an interval between the first
and second readidg of the Corn Bill, during which he
might bring forward other articles in the tariff, but that
he would proceed with the Corn Bill with all the speed
that the forms of the House would permit.
On the motion that the order of the day for the House
resolving itself into Committee being read, a host of
petitions on the subject of the corn-laws were presented.
After the presentation of the petitions, which lasted
until after six o'clock,
Mr. PHILIP MILES rose to move the amendment of
which he had given notice, viz., that the House should
resolve into Committee this day six months. The pro-
posed change in our commercial policy was a change even
greater than that proposed by the Reform Bill, and on a
question involving such vital interests, the constituen-
cies Vf the country ought to be consulted, more especi-
ally when it was considered that this Parliament had
been elected upon protectionist principles. He ad-
mitted the failure of the potato crop in Ireland, but the
oat crop and the wheat crop in that country was above
the average. There was no fear of a famine.
He could well understand that the Right Hon. Baronet
might feel alarm at the state of things in Ireland, but if
he had watched the state of the markets he would see
there was no cause of alarm. He would say' it'
there was danger of a famine, open your ports, but
tie contended that there was no danger whatever
ef famine, and, looking at the course pursued by
the Right Honourable Baronet, lie could not but
come to the conclusion that the cause of protection had
in the R;ght Hon. Baronet's mind been long doomed. He
thought the agricultural interests of the country was
entitled to moderate protection. He recollected the
talent with which the Right lion. Baronet had upheld the
doctrines of protection, and he could foresee the ability
with which he would control them, but he feared not
because he felt that he had a large minority in that
House, and a large party out of it. Three months ago
the Member on the Treasury Bench supported the doc-
trine of protection, and if his opinions had undergone
such a change, he should have felt bound to follow the
example of the Noble Lord the Member for Dorsetshire.
He could not see where these changes were to end, and
if these were agreed to, greater still must follow ;
changes which would shake the public credit.
['he Hon. Gentleman then proceeded to take a review of
he history of our commercial policy since the accession
)f Sir R. PEEL to office, and contended that the pros-
perity of the industrious classes had been owing, not
.to the free trade measures of the Government, but
:o the immense increase of our railway system,
which had created a demand fur labour, anti in
consequence of which the prices of iron had
risen enormously—to the cessation of war ill
India—and to the succession of good harvests ;
and he believed that much of that prosperity would
have taken place if the Noble Lord opposite had been
in power. He denied that the amount of exports
afforded a fair indication of commercial prosperity.
Foreign markets were glutted with our goods. It was
the home trade which afforded the finest ele-
ments for the calculation of the amount of
our commercial prosperity. With regard to the
corn-lae s, the law of 1842 had worked well ; it
had secured steadiness of price, and he could not con-
sent to its alteration. The Right Honourable Baronet

had said in 1842 that 565. was a fair price for the
farmer. He would like to know what he considered
a fair price now ? The Right Hononurable Barce:cl,
said that his proposed measure would not lower the price
of wheat, what then became of the argument of the cheap
loaf? There was a vast difference between cheapness
produced by a good harvest and cheapness produced by
importation. Mr. Huskisson had said that cheapness
produced by importation was the sure forerunner of
a scarcity. He considered that a free trade in corn
would lead to greater fluctuation in price than had ever
be known ; that it would be of greater 9,11,-;41;44g,..
foreigners than to ourselves ; ;had it would produce
agricultural ttai,.."..zss, and ',ewer wages, If the mea-
sure pmnd, 'V. other protective .34litiV2 must be
repealed; navigation laws and reciprocity treatise must
be all ewept 4wity, Would the League dissolve if this
Daefitsiire passed i or if they should, would not others
rise up in their place to agitate other questions ? The
manufacturers would fitai it exceedine„ly ditfeult to
compete with foreigners unless they reduced their wages.
In eyery other item except wages, the manufacturers of
this country were in every respect equal to the foreigners.
The manufacturer could do without protection better
than the agriculturist, because his position was batter.
He could keep a closer superintendence over his work-
men than the agriculturist. He was not de-
pendent upon the weather. He could secure
his twelve hours' work, while the agriculturist could
not, he thought they ought not to be ;objected to the
same laws. The menufecturer was less burdened
than the agriculturist. On a factory paying
30,0004 per annum wages, the burdens were
only 500/. a year. The burdens on agriculture were
greater in proportion, and the compensation proposed
really amounted to nothing. The agriculturieta would
have been better pleased if the Right Hon. Baronet had
offered them nothing at all, Then with regard to sugar

—scarcely had the free-labour sugar been admitted, than
they were told the colonists could stand a little
more competition. Would not the same course
be pursued with regard to the farmers? With
regard to the colonies, he would say treat
them as integral parts of the empire; extend free trade to
them, and do not let the manufacturers enjoy the mono-
poly of the colonial market. He eonsidered that the
manufacturing interest had been stimulated too much.
The progress of our manufactures was really alarming, and
he considered that he was best promoting the interests
of the country by maintaining the present system of pro-
tection.

Sir W. HEATHCOTE seconded the amendment. He con-
sidered the measure visionary and delusive, but he did not
join with those who accused the Minister of acting dis-
honestly, although he could not but think that the shock
given to faith in public men by the conduct of the Go-
vernment was much to be regretted. The scheme, even
if impartial, would not have met with his approval, and he
considered the free-triode legislation of the last 20 years had
produced most disastrous effects, which had only been
remedied by the increase of our colonial trade. But
the scheme was not impartial, inasmuch as it did not
equally depriv all parties of protection. That branch
of labour to which manual labour entered
most largely was entirely deprived of protection,
which protection was continued to industry connected
with machinery, which did least require it. The
English farmer, living in a country where taxation was
heavy, and the money-price of articles very high, was
not in a position to compete with the foreigner;
and the position of the English farm r rendered it diffi-
cult to award to him any sufficient compensation. He
could not be insensible to the danger of depending
upon foreigners for a supply of food, rnsr could
he forget that the farmers now fed a populaion
three times the amount cf that fed fifty years
ago, or that at this moment England was
the only European country possessing a full supply of
food. He would have supported a measure for facili-
tating the introduction of colonial corn, but the pis sent
measure was essentially anti-colonial. He would not go
into the question of compensation, or any particular ques-
tion, for so convinced was he of the impolicy of the mea-
sure, that he should oppose it generally. lie was not
indifferent to the fate of the Ministry ; he would
not transfer his support to the Noble Lord
and his friends, for he differed with them even
more than he did with the Right Hon. Baronet.
The Right Hon. Baronet was bound to consult his sup-
porters as to his measures, and if, because they differed
from him, he chose to throw up the Government, on
him, and not on them, rested the responsibility.
Mr. W. LASCELLES had watched with jealous care
the course which the Government had pursued since
they first came into office, and he denied that this
change had been a sudden or an unexpected one. The
alteration in the Tariff involved the whole principle of
free trade, and when the Right Hon. Baronet had been
asked if he intended to alter the corn-laws, he had
stated that he did not then intend to propose any altera-
tion, but that he would not bind himself to their main-
tenance under all circumstances. In every instance in
which the principles of free trade had been
adopted prosperity had been the result, and
their experience had confirmed the theory of free trade.
He, therefore, should feel it his duty to support the
Government measure, however painful it might be to
him to differ from many of his friends.
Lord NORREYS regretted that he was obliged, not
oily to oppose the Government on this question, but
to withdraw his confidence altogether from the Right
Honourable Baronet. He had refused to pledge himself
to oppose the Government measure until he knew what
it was. He considered the conduct of the Cen-
tral Protection Society unconstitutional, and had re-
fused to give any pledges, but having heard the
Right lion. Baronet statement he felt bound to offer him
every opposition in his power. He thought the Right
Hon. Baronet ought not to have returned to power until
he had opened the eyes of the agriculturists, by telling
a Noble Duke, who had taken a great interest
in these questions, to endeavour to form an ad-
ministration, and the Right Honourable Baronet
would have found less difficulty in carrying his measure.
But he could scarcely have expected that the Right
Hon. Baronet, who in 1840 had objected to an Bs. duty,
should now propose a 4s. duty, to end in total repeal
He did not tax the Right Honourable Baronet with
dishonesty but with want of political foresight.
if the question were carried, it would be only because the
House preferred having the question by the Right Hon.
Baronet, to having it settled by the Noble Lord al-
though, for his part he doubted whether they would not
be better off in the hands of the Noble Lord than in those
of the Right Hon. Baronet. Whatever might be the
confusion resulting from this measure the Right Hon
Baronet must be responsible for it.
Mr. BAILLIE COCHRANE went through the history of
tha corn-laws from the time of Henry VI. up to the pre-
sent time. He could not see in all this any question of
principle, and he thought a corn-law admitted of every
variety of enactments. Neither did:he consider that,
even upon a question of principle, it were
requisite to appeal to the people, and quoted the autho-
rity of Mr. Puss in support of his opinions. lie denied
that the House of Commons was a mere assembly of dole.
gates, it was a deliberative and a legislative assembly, and
Members had a right to change their opinions.
The question of the corn-law was one of great difficulty.
It was impossible to propose an unalterable law on the
subject ; indeed, whoever imagined an unalterable law
was an unalterable tool. Looking to the social changes
which bad taken place in the last sixteen years—to the
increase of our population and of our manufactures, he
could not contend for an unalterable corn-law. It was
necessary to alter our commercial policy in consequence
of these changes, and of the changes introduced by the
Reform Bill, so as to make it in accordance with the
feelings and interests of the people. The country had
confidence in the present Government, and he should
support the commercial alterations which they had pro-
posed. He believed that there had been a great change
in the feelings of the farmers of late with
regard to the repeal of the corn-laws, espe-
cially in Scotland. The Right Honourable
Baronet was neither a god nor a tyrant, but he
believed him to be a man anxious to do good
for his country. He voted for this mea-
sure because he had confidence in her MAJESTY'S
Ministers, and because he was anxious for the welfare
and happiness of the poorer classes of his fellow subjects.
Mr. DEEDES could not support the proposition of her
MAJESTY'S Government with respect to the
corn-laws, believing that that proposition would shake
public confidence, and drive the English agriculturists out
of the English market. The measure with respect to corn
had been revised and corrected in 1842, by Parliament.
and it was astonishing that the very men who then pro-
posed that revision and correction were now declaring
that it was wrong. In early life he had looked up to
the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the Government
as his political leader ; but he could consider him in that
light no longer. He considered that the agriculturists
of this country, under the existing law, had not
had more protection than they were entitled to.
He believed that the proposition of the Government was
only an experiment upon the native industry of the
country. He felt convinced, that if those propositions
were to become law, the country would ho placed at
the mercy of foreigners for the necessaries of life. On
that ground alone, he should feel himself bound to op-
pose the measures of the Government.
The House was then addressed by Sir J. WALSH and
Mr. B. HOPE, against the Ministerial proposition.

Lord SANDON, although he did not approve altogether
of doing away with all protection, would yet, consider-
In i-,ircurnsi4.lc •
.ft v.si•
propo.nion.

Lord J. litissEnn, although he would have preferre•l
a measure for the total and immediate repeat of the core,-
laws, would yet vote in favour of the Ministerial propo-
sition. The Noble Lord, in a very caustic manner,
contrasted the conduct which the Whigs were pursuing, '
giving their support to the Conservative Ministry to
carry Liberal ibeasures, with the factious oppowi:):
was offpred to the Whip: Minitry by Sir H.
and the Conservative upposition.
Sir B. INGLIS and Captain FIT7ALtURICE spoke
against the Ministerial proposition.,
Mr. S. HERBERT supported the measure, and defended
the course that had been pursued by the Government,
and the change that had taken place in their opinions
with respect to the corn-laws, lie denied the nod ni
the corn-laws being patt, or the eonstituiion of the coui,-
try, because they wefe contrary to it. He believed that
the proposal of the Government was calculated to
cement the interests of the agriculturists and the
manufacturers, and gave an opportunity of repairing
one of the greatest errors that was ever committed by
the Legislature of this country. He was Lonlident of
the success of the measure in that House. •
,'ho debate was then adjourned to to-morrow.
• The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of,
and the House adjourned at One o'Clock.

Much interest, it appears, had been excited in various
quarters by the first night's debate on the corn-laws
in the Commons. The House was thronged last evening,
at an early hour, and numerous groups were col-
lected in the streets, as if in anticipation cf some
momentous disclosure, or splendid oratorical displays from
leading Members on both sides of the House. But never was
disappointment greater ;—for, taking the discussion altogether,
it was from beginning to end the most heavy, dull, contempti-
ble Parliamentary exhibition that could well be imagined. Ob-
solete opinions raked up, old tales repeated, Tory abuse et
the Tory leader, lamentation over the downfal of the
strong Ministry, speeches without argument, and
quotations from old songs, and of the most com-
mon-place and even ridiculous character, occupied
the popular branch of the Legislature for some
six or seven hours. Even the speech of Lord Jolla RUSSELL
possessed the smallest possible interest. He had nothing
new to tell, he had no arguinents to answer; not one of the
speakers on the other side advanced any charge against him
or his party, and the same scene will be repeated for at least
three or four nights more. On no occasion in the history of
Parliament was there ever such a lack of even third-rate
speakers (for those of the first and second class do not
exist), as are to be found among that party who regard
themselves as the pillars of the State, the guardians of
England's rights, and the only real friends of the poor,
helpless labourer, the oppressed farmer, and even the operative
manufacturer. It is unfortunate, as well as singular, that
each a good cause should be so destitute of defenders, sad that
all the able men of both parties should be so blind to the
best interests of their country as to forget even their poli-
tical animosities and unite in ruining these pa-
triots and philanthropists. A fatality has seized
our statesmen. PEaL and RUSSELL, and O'CON-
NELL and HUME, have formed a most unholy en t
dangerous alliance, the very Court has lent its aid
to carry out their mischievous schemes, and there
are few to resist their machinations except such
men as MILEs and FITZMAURICIC, and BUCKINGHAM

and RICHMOND, backed by the Spitalfields' weevers.
What the result may be our readers can easily divine,
Mind must prevail over matter, and statesmen of long expe-
rience—men, too, who have no interest in changing thei,
opinions, except for the welfare of their common country
who, for this, have sacrificed political ties, personal friend-
ship, and renounced long-cherished principles from the fuller
conviction—must in the end obtain the victory and carry their
plans into effect. In the meantime, however, their task i;
very irksome. They are compelled to listen to the most vapi(
and incoherent harangues, and nothing is advanced by thei
opponents except what excites ridicule or contempt
Mr. HOPE compares PEEL to WOLSEY, tells why the LORI
CHANCELLOR sits on a sack of wool, and laments tint
the commercial system of centuries is to be put. al

end to, like " a mere flea-bite." Captain FITZMAURICh
showed that it came to the same thing, whether
a man was killed by one thrust of a sword or b)
inserting into his body ten thousand needles ; that
Sir ROBERT PEEL'S views were traced in steam, and after
lamenting the protracted agonies of British farmers,
said they might well sing " Blow ye wintry
winds." These are fair specimens of the orations
made by the protectionists last evening, and we fear also of
those yet to come. The public, however, will bear with
them patiently, for they are of good omen. They announce
that monopoly will be destroyed without further agitation,
and that the most important commercial reforms that ever
distinguished and blessed a nation will be carried by the
most peaceable means.

The accounts from Ireland of the progress of famine and
of its attendant pestilence are really fearful. We have re-
ceived from Mr. S-riororr, the Secretary of the Dublin Man-
sion-house Committee on the Potato Disease, the recently
published report of the Committee on the subject, which
gives us returns from every part of Ireland up to the 22d of
January, 1846, being nearly two months later than tin
accounts which have been laid on the table of the Ifous.
of Commons. On the Bth of November the Com-
mittee sent circulars to the ministers of religion of ever)
denomination throughout Ireland, to the deputy--
lieutenants, justices of the peace, and landed proprietors, and
to all the Poor-law Boards, containing, among others, thefol-
lowing queries :
" Ist—Whether the crop of potatoes was in point of quan-
tity an average crop?
"2d—What proportion of the crop has been already lost by
decomposition, or otherwise?
" 3d—What is your opinion as to the probability of the re-
maining portion continuing sound during the year ?"
983 letters, from all parts of Ireland, were received
in answer, between the 12th November and tin,
6th December, 1845, and from these it appears that
in 415 cases the crop was above the average ; that in 409 in_
stances there was an average crop ; and that in 117 cases tht
crop was below the average; that the proportion of the crop
lost by disease, up to 6th December, 1845, was in 292 cases
under one-third; in 291 cases fully one-third; in 242
cases one-half ; and in 81 cases more than a halt.
Then, with regard to the chances of saving the remainder,
428 of the respondents declared themselves unable to form
an opinion, 185 thought the remainder might be saved, and
262 were of opinion that it could not be saved. Be it remem-
bered, that during the whole of this time, and in the very face
of these facts, the monopolist party in England and Ireland were
loudly denying the existence of any failure of the potato
crop, and when at length compelled reluctantly to admit
that a disease had existed, they as loudly proclaimed that i•
had ceased, and that the supply of sound potatoes was stil
ample. Now let us test those assertions by facts. On th
10th of December the Mansion-house Committee ad-
dressed the following queries to their former corre-
spondents :
" Ist—ls there any change, and especially is there any
favourable change, in the potato crap in your vicinity sine,
the date of your last letter?
"2d—Do you see any reason to alter or add to the
opinions given by you in that letter? If so, be so good as to
state the same.

"3d—What, according to your judgment, is the presen
prospect of there being a sufficiency of potato food for th
people in your locality for the coming season ?
"4th—What quantity of the potato crop in your neigh
bourhood do you consider to have become unlit for hum&
food?"

They had received 523 letters in reply up to the 22d o
January, 1846. In ninety instances it Was stated that there
was a prospect of a sufficiency of potato food during the en-
suing season—in 364 instances the supply of potato food was
insufficient. Then, with regard to the quantity of the po-
tato crop unfit for human food, in 111 cases it was under one-
third, in 110 cases it was one-third, in 148 cases it was one-
half, and in 84 cases it was more than one-half. Already
have the people of Ireland suffered severely from al
insufficient supply of food—already has fever, the conse-
quence of famine, made its •appearance in the south of Ire-
land. Its ravages at Dungarvan have been fearful. If;
within the next two months, something is not done to secure
to the poor Irish a sufficient supply of cheap and nutritive
food, they will be dying by hundreds of actial starvation,
and a famine and a pestilence, more horrible and more ex-
terminating than ever before afflicted this unhappy country,
will rage throughout the length and breadth of the lan4
And yet Mr. PHILIP MILES, last evening, with all that coo
ness which is so characteristic of the rashness 01
ignorance, declared in the House of Commons that
notwithstanding the failure of the pototo crop, there was no
danger of a famine in Ireland, because there had been an
ample crop of barley and oats. ♦s well might he have said
that there had been an ample crop of pine-apples. " The
Irish agricultural labourers and their families," says
my Lord DEVON, in a report which Mr. Plum
Mit.Es should have carefully studied before he yen•
turgid to give an opinion as to the probability o
the occurrence of a famine in Ireland—" the Irish
agricultural labourers and their families are calculated
to amount to more than four millions of human beings,
whose only food is the potato, whose only drink is water,
whose houses are pervious to the rain, to whom
a bed or 'blanket is a luxury almost unknown,
and who are more wretched than any other people
in Europe." How are these unfortunate persons
to purchase barley and oats at monopolists' prices. Admit
foreign grain and maize, and they may become purchasers,
because by increasing the supply the price of food in Ireland
would be decreased, and that, and that alone, could place
corn food within the reach of those who have hitherto
depended entirely on the potato for subsistence. The
Government has proposed to the Legislature a
measure, which, by throwing open the ports, will go far to-
wards increasing the supply and decreasing the price of fond
in Ireland. On those who, for their own selfish and avari-
cious purposes, shall obstruct the progress of that measure
will rest the responsibility of whatever may occur in Ireland,
in consequence of such obstruction, as on those who, in
November, thwarted in the Cabinet the wise and beneficent
measures proposed by the Premier rests the responsibility of
whatever has occurred there up to the present time.

The Paris papers contain no news of importance. The
Journal des Dubois lass a long article on the protracted dis-

cussions and the numerous amendments made during thine
period often dayp on the Address in reply to the Speech fro
`,ittiCllC,ll at the
''feated
it '"I'• L/k: had UCLII
by much larger majorities than were anticipated, althoeurgt
the topics urged were generally those of a popular charact
such as the right of search, the policy with regard to
differences between England and America, and the entente
t,
cordiale. On the entire of the Address
the maji°*.sritrjl
was larger than any gained by Le
since the accession of M. GUIZOT. The "Pl'ai of
but ,evote
journals at quite silent on these subjects,
their-, make an undeservei aiu,cl: upon M. those
for honestly expressing his sentiments in opposition to3i
vs
of Tingits, Durex, and other Deputies of that cla's•
LAMARTINE had written to the Constitutionnel and
Address, he had put his ball into the wrong urn, footp.
to state that , by mistake in the division on the wholerotfitcliiloies
his intention to vote against the amendment of the
ePArje
tion, on the ground that they tended to encourag r the
rica in her territorial aggres;io,s, and also to fu our
he
slave trade. To both these he is decidedly oPP°'ed' and
declares so in strong language. On Saturday eve Tgoo the,
PHILIPPE received at the Tuileries a deputation 'rad hi,
Chamber of Deputies with the Address, which was tis ktt
the President, and returned the following reply.
JEt,TY appears to have been greatly delighted with the rest
" Gentlemen,—l receive this address
of the discussions on the Address :
tisfaction. lam happy to find in it so striking a manifestild
tiun of the support which you lend to my Government, a
of that loyal and steadfast concord which is at once theme
of its strength, and the guarantee of all our liberties. tie
opinion is every day more convinced that it is bY ers
regular progress and the perfect concord of all the FOR,.
of the State that France has attained the higb,n be
gree of prosperity upon which it is so delightful to Ine that
able to congratulate you. Yes, gentlemen, it is with jc)„,,Y tri%
I express my confidence in the prospects of our com''t
This confidence is fortified by the sentiments you ha" 'pe'
uttered. I see in them a presage that this harmonions
ration, becoming every day more complete, shall contintlei
future generations a greater develoment of that well beof
(bkn i;tre) at present so much enjoyed by all Arse° 510.1 r
society. Such, for a long time, has been the w's'•
heart and the object of my efforts. For myself, my with vers' great sat
lightful recompense will be found in the reflection tha't'ed to
safely hope that my government shall have contriiti"
ensure such benefits to my country."
Very little business was done in the Funds on Sunday'
Amiens,
the quotations were nearly the same as on SaturdaP
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS I,d
Boulogne and° SlTlO7(4C—KBEoXrdelaittNaGnEd .4Fl:dsbiej9trr.tonfoorrori ejol.;
Bordeaux, Toulouse, and Cette ( Mackenzie),
2}l—Dutch Rhenish, 7%—East Indiaenzifk, 2 t Don 13i
sular, —Jamaica North 2.11,11 and, % --Gres jeopptito
—Luxembourg, 23i —Madrid and IThlenti '74a:n °IOU giolld
35y—Orleans and Bordeaux, l2—lto' a' es
uen and Havre,

•
large
It is strongly rumoured in political circles that a 10
number of Conservative Peers have determined not °P
°r
Sir ROBERT PEEL'S Corn Bill on the second rea— itt
going into Committee ; but in Committee to sulliding"
amendment for making Sir R. PEEL'S proposed 5 000
scale fer the next three years permanent. It need o°t/1,600
that the carrying of such a measure will be a ::00
embarrassment to the Minister, as it is impossible t'ltlie
the Bill so amended returning to the House of Coral 0"
Liberal party could agree to the amendment. /51/°:
A rumour was in circulation yesterday that Lord el
was to succeed Lord LINCOLN as First Conunissi°l:3,,of
the Woods and Forests, and to be raised to the later
Lords. We have good reasons for believing that tile
part of the report is without foundation.
)
HOUSE OF LORDS.-(THIS n
THE CORPORATION OF GLOUCESTER V. OSBORN OP „r Sej,h
The House sat to-day, at ten o'clock, for the P`ll°ol`-t
lie.ring the further arguments in the part-heard sPPeiviae,e;
respect to the will of Mr. James Wood, the late e tis
banker of Gloucester. The Peers in attendance
Lord Chancellor, Lord Cottenham, and Lord Can3Pbejo'rell*
The arguments occupied their Lordships the whole

A.l(
PRIV Y COUNCIL.—(T HIS nto
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council slvote'
at the Council Chamber, Whitehall. The Lords Pre'oo4
the Lord President (the Duke of Buccleuch), Lord viird of of
the Vice-Chancellor Knight Bruce, the Chanen
on),
Ducey of Cornwall (Mr. Pemberton Leigh),
the Admiralty Court (the Right lion. Dr. Lushiob"
A. East, and Sir Edward Ryan.
ARBUTHNOT V. NORTON. or".
In this appeal from Madras their Lordships rep%
judgment of the Court below.
bit
Colonial appeals of no general interest occupied t
ships the remainder of the morning. • )

QUEEN'S BENCH.--( THIS 1)-
(Before Mr. Justice WIGHTMAN.) 011 01
At the sitting of the Court this day, a case 0-4" of
which is net likely to conclude before the risiefoestoj
Court. It is an action arising out of a dispute bet ELIO
Frenchmen, one of whom (the plaintiff) alleged tbisos,"
invented a filter, for which he was to receive aceo
from his partner (the defendant), who denied the cl
case is of no interest to the public.
O)
COMMON PLEAS-(THIS - D
GAMBLE V. KURTZ. 001,0
This part-heard case was resumed this morningi. wise ty
ral witnesses were examined on the part of the de et Of .0
show that his apparatus was not an infringeocnieate;,,
plaintiff's patent, and was not constructed in agreex. :04
the specifications. Among the witnesses were„dsot
Playfair, Dr. Pratt, of Liverpool, and several luau
chemists.
t left')
(The case was going forward when our report
CLERKEN WELL.-(THIS 108,10
John Walden", a stout fellow,was placed at the bar Iv,
byMr. Howard, builder, of Charles-street, St. Luke 4,
stealin SOlbs. of leaden pi pe.
It appeared in evidence that, on the night of theolice.i,or
about eleven o'clock, the prisoner was seen, by
stable Edwards, 32 C, in St. John-street, Ulerkell.,
ruing the property. On questioning him as to Dt qis
sion of it, he said he had brought it a long distar',le,
request of a man, who was to pay him for his tr u;ed
took the prisoner into custody, on which he tr.iP
(the constable) up, and endeavoured to thrniire,
bbd
upon him. Witness succeeded in again seizing by if
the prisoner commenced a violent attack upon him efface of
he was so severely injured that he had been ere. retoill!i
up unfit for duty. Inquiries were made, and the PRit,
Mr. Howard were traced to have been plundered. I— 441
foreman to Mr. Howard, identified the property'. ifsPr
The prisoner said nothing in his defence, and be
committed for trial.

-----:S'
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SU ire Or
t e rtv
SIR, --In lo
In the Third Edition of your paper of •- gad <01;
I find it stated that; thee " Liverpool, Ormskir',gr. 'OP
ton Railway" was thrown out on its merits last nil be id,
this not being the case, I shall be glad if you
,15 eintl,
enough to correct it in your Country Edition of ti:Aect,„ JO'
as I fear the report is calculated to prejudice the Piiaerl,tll,
fact is, that it was thrown out on " Standing `-'beclie,N,
year, and not on the Bill.—Yours very truly and 0,!0 LP
ROBERT JA
Saturday Morning, Feb. 7. O
ff, „I
The Earl of Harrowby, V iscount and 1;8,i
,0 701;"
Sandon and family have arrived in Grosvenor-square ~"ors,
fly
Hall, Staffordshire, for the season. The Noble and Ve-
is in the enjoyment of excellent health. 0000
CABINET DINNER.—Sir Robert Peel gifesresld AI
Cabinet dinner this season to-morrow, at his private
Whitelndl-gardens.
Lunt Elleoborough has appointed AVe•An tnesdll,
v;
e Se
4th of March, to preside at the anniversary dinner 0.. ot
AO
Hospital Society, at the London Tavern. i Ott' 0,0
Sir Robert and Lady Peei have issued invh- tlie, 'ai,
a grand entertainment on Saturday next, to tvltic,l A•••+ e,
Foreign Ministers are invited. Lieutenant Wm. Ve,`,;'freiaipAl
;las been on the West India station, under Admiral S"„adlir
.nour, arrived at the tangly mansion last evening from '-o, to
caving landed there from one of the West.lndia steatue
_,, t,,s,
:lie bearer of Important dispatches fur thg Gevernmetit'vslito:filv
Tit grand dinner party at Buckingham ay's'
svening is in celebration of the anniversary of her Dyes Tofd
erince Consort's marriage.
/10,1"
THE METROPOLITAN PETITIONS FOR 474
iiErEAL OF TILE CORN-LAWS.-On Monday the Councit vof
toil 0
.eceived at the office, Fleet-street, the total ainount,itt,,°o9
:tom tll4 various boroughs in which petitions had bee", fO,Wf
.lie total and immediate repeal of the corn-laws. Thous. e,oir:et
the amount of the signatures as separately collected 'lieft,, or, d
And borough :-The city of London, 64,1)66 ; the city 0' of i,:ogwitit
11,406 ; the borough of Lambeth, 67,680 ; the boroUg4„, D0,76;40
i 3, 7 2 0 ; the borough of the Tower Hamlets, 83,400 ; t"" 26,;cpt'
Southwark, above 40,000; the parish of St. Pencil:o 0 ,
,arish of Marylebone and Paddington, 25,000; the par Co'
3,735.-Total, 470,773. 5, 0 tirCYtpi
THE PRINTING OF RAILWAY BILLS.—( Fr° life eJ.al.
110 op ,
pondent.)-Owing to the short period allowed by the th tli‘ sctioprt
nona for the presentation of Private Bills this sessi° 00 C„,
trade during the last week or two has been in a in ow 0) 4(
Many clerks and agents of lines took up their abodesi,odl ill tr
ing offices during the whole of last week, and mist.; 01 00 ~file
of fatigue truly astonishing, never milting their dude, tlie ,ted*,
livery of the Pills on Friday night. Six o'clock wa,,ollB,Aie,
pointed for that purpose ; as late as five o'clock, mall)" - the aided e:
tion contracts, &c., were in progress of correction hY,o, i.,),4,0°
After which they were printed off, and, in one insto'oo7io ,v,
stitched by clerks while riding rapidly is e3b,' id/ 113.0`,:il
~teptien's, which they reached as the Speaker vt".;,, Liio
his seat, and fortunately succeeded in placing t.:nreP.oft".,o
hands of the Member engaged to introduce it. in thredipodoroe
tile documents there was an utter recklessness a eieria„ t 00,
railway honour was sorely tried, many of the agents o,_eir 13,000,
stratuities to the managers of offices to accelerate ,le`j sweeps
prejudice of their opponents. Many promoters fau'i, to /
1. their Bills, owing to the inability of the printer ,/ 4
the work.
___---
---
e A 111‘
f -,
BIRTH'S. uAre, o
On the 7th inst., In Wimpole-street, Cavendish-54
4P
Arthur Phillott, Esq., of a son. of' ,
On the 7th inst., Mrs. John G. Perkins, of a 50,"1',Igne1A1,1) ~,
On the 7th lust., at Tulse-hill, Brixton, Mrs. I, 'ties, , r
• Ins , of V
On the 6th inst., at Exeter, the lady of Captain
Bel' t, '
Guards, of a daughter. , ad, V per 6 l'
011 the sth inst., Mrs. John Clark, of Ponder s-e san 40,
On the 6th inst., at the Royal Military College, St '
liter,
Paton, of Grandhorne, 01 a dauher. (tang
'P On the 7th inst., MrSamuel Woods, jun., of a f.
- ton-grove, near Liverpool. SOt:
ch-I t all
MARRIED. TrinitideSt"
On the 7th inst., at the Church of the Ifol,nliza, el
W. Place, Esq. of Delhi, in the East Indies, to r"
~, Alf.
of 6. F. Stallard, Esq., of tipper Clapton.
aDe't po
DIED. ,
Calll ..ic
Ole' e,
Dorset, Dl'
On the 26th tilt., at Winterbourne Abbas' I,' , 1,,
tll e
of Henry Sherrill, jun., Esq.
On the Ist inst ,at the Grove, Llanstephan, ~,efico nitac ov
nd Mrs.. ton,
Emily Annie, the daughter of Captain a ,
.sewing ote ''
On the sth inst., John Graham, Esti ,°' foil!' foe
nington-road, aged 54. a seas le '
On the sth inst., at Woodford, Georgian 0,00
foild Ileatley, Esq. Rebut 59. ,I
the 6th inst., at Cornwall-terrace, Lee,
aie'l ‘e
flife
late Captain Anthony Ludlam, aged 83.
hn Jsqllv-,_., tr,
roo,
On the 6th inst., at Boulogne-sir bier,
,Joit____d, Jay.'
ito lir
On the 6th inst., at Thirza-place, Old Bei ru.
~,,,ei .4a
Thomas Tatlock, Esq.
daughter 01 ' f
On the 7th inst., Eliza, the youngest atter ° Vie]
On the 7111 inst., Mr. David Legget,
t Oa° ;d .1"
Liel Cowle Esq. eider of 0;d
On the Bth inst., Mary Elizabeth, the
I.oe, '‘l.'
Id
Ilaylis, of Botolph-lane. of King-Stree,t'tCoV- Ir. 'or. p
Oar
k
cf • •.11,
late of 1004,11;01- ao,
On the Bth Inst., Mr. George Watt,
„street, -
tabter
On the 6th inst., in Nov Bridg cla
141siet,IIINeiSatlidietrieti,vi, Lucy,llerktshe wife of Williant
me infant
Charlton, Esq., aged 90.
_place, '--
aged 75' ,""11.)
S Leer_- ----"<"'-' 0 (0'
6 i.Ozoga,tEhesqB.th lust., at Stockwellßlackheath-bill, 31r. -,,,-, 0f.:...,c1'' i
On the Bth Inst., at
___
_____
~,j.:,, LP_ ~ r %di
-------
--- r - ' - - - - .!••Cgl-“) ",„d,i'lt"felgw.
London : Printed and Published by No. , 19, Stf_tooty,
Strand, Printer, at Tice ,Stift Cfll,. ',,,itidiese,,, ',I.
of the Saucy, in the Cot,nty of '''
10, 1846.