The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-25 00:00:00

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LONDON, WEDNESDAY. k EBRUARY 25, 1846

The Marquis of LONDONDERRY considered that amalgama-
tion of various lines as most detrimental to the public
interests. He thought that the construction of competing
lines ought to be encouraged.
After a few words from Earl GREY,
The Duke of WELLINGTON gave notice that the Noble
Earl, the President of the Board of Control, would submit
certain resolutions relating to the recent military operations
in India, and that on Thursday or Friday he would lay, on
the table certain papers relating to those operations.
The report on the Public Works (Ireland) Bill was then
brought up, and certain amendments were then proposed and
agreed to.
The Fisheries, Piers, and harbours (Ireland) Bill was then
read a second time.

On the motion of the Earl of ST. GERMANS, after a high
enlogium by Lord MONTEAGLE on the Board of Public Works
(Ireland), and an expreAsion from the Duke of RICHMOND
of his willingness to support any measure for the improve.
ment of Ireland, _ .

Lord DACRE then moved the second reading of the Game-
laws Bill. The Noble Lord then went into a detailed history
of the various alterations which had been made in the game-
laws since 1816, and proposed, as an amendment of the pre-
sent law, that every licensed dealer in game should be forced
to keep a record of the names of the persons of whom he
purchased game; and thus, if it were found that the 4.ealers
had purchased game from a person not in the occupation of
land, it would be prima facie evidence that he had purchased
illegally, and by this measure the demoralization occasioned
by poaching would in a great measure Le prevented. He
also proposed to give power to magistrates to appoint refe-
rees to assess the amount of damage done to.the crops of any
person complaining of the game preserved on the land of
any neighbouring occupier, such assessment to be levied by
warrant of distress to be issued by the magistrate. He
thought that the difficulties which would be thus interposed
between the poacher and the dealer, and the easy remedy
afforded to the injured occupier, would sooth the irritation at
present prevalent on this subject.
Lord CAMOYS objected to the whole of the Bill, as calcu-
lated to make the game-laws more strict than they were at
present, as really affording no check to poaching, and as cal-
culated to increase the acrimony at present existing in regard
to the operation of the game-laws.
Lord BROUGHAM considered that the game-laws reqaired
revision. Although the regulating the sale of game did
some good, yet he thought that suffic:ent secnritities were
not taken against abuse.
The Duke of RICHMOND had never paid a single farthing for
damage done by game, for he had always destroyed every
hare and rabbit as mere vermin, and he had done so long
before the celebrated Tamworth decree.

Lord HATIIERTON had nearly exterminated hares and
rabbits on his estate, greatly to the sati.faction of his

tenantry and to the improvement of his property.
Lord ASHBURTON recommended their Lordships to take
the hare, as well as the rabbit, entirely out of the class of
game, and he would, in Committee on the report, submit a
clause to that effect. . _

The Bill was then read a second time, and their Lordships
adjourned.

The SPEAKER took the Chair shortly before Four o'clock,
Several railway Billa were read a second time and or-
.

dered to be committed.
Mr. W. PATTEN presented a petition from Burnley, in
Lancashire, praying fur a free pardon for Frost, Williams,

and Jones.

Mr. WILLIAMS presented similar petitions from Coventry.
Petitions were presented for and against the free-trade
measures brought forward by the Government.
Mr. O'CONNELL had to complain of a breach of privilege
on the part of the Morning Chronicle, in having made him to
say on Monday, with respect to the execution of Seery,that he
had laid the case upon the subject before Mr. Baron PENNE-
FATinrat, and that that Learned Judge had decided against
him ; now what he stated was, that that Learned Judge
had decided in 14s favour. He was sure that the error was
unintentional, and he should therefore not press the matter
further.
Sir R. PEEL presented a petition from the American
Chamber of Commerce of Liverpool, praying the House to
come to a speedy determination with respect to the Ministe-
rial question now before it.
Mr. O'CONNELL gave notice that he should, on the 26th,
move that the correspondence between Dr. Cantwell and the
Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, relative to the execution of Seery,
should be laid on the table.
Sir R. PEEL gave notice of his intention on Monday next to
move the thanks of the House to the Governor-General of India,
and the officers and men employed in the recent operations
on the left bank of the Sutlej ; and in order that the subject
might be properly understood by the House, he should, a few
days previously, lay on the table dispatches that had been
received by the Government from the Governor-General of
India.
Mr. ESTCOURT then moved, pursuant to notice, that so
much of the report of the Committee on Standing
Orders, presented on Friday, which related to the
West Riding Union Railway petition for leave
to bring in a Bill, be annulled, and that
the notice be expunged that the West Riding Union Railway
be brought in. The error that had been committed was
merely technical, but the Committee had that day come to
the resolution that the standing orders should not be dispensed
with in the case of the West Riding Union Railway Bill,
and had directed him as their Chairman to report it to the
House, in order that no unnecessary delay should occur to
the parties.
After some observations from Mr: C. Woon, Mr. B.
DENISON, Mr. Acmosair, and Lord Mourrm, the subject
was referred back to the Committee on Standing Orders.
Mr. HUME moved for certain notices relative to the carriage
of letters and newspapers to the East Indies, and also for re-
turns relative to the Cape of Good Hope.—Agreed to.
Mr. CORRY, in answer to a question from Admiral DUNDAS
and Sir C. NAPIER, said, that when the navy estimates
were brought forward, a new arrangement would be sug-
gested relative to the retired list of officers.
Mr. MORGAN JOHN O'CONNELL then resumed the ad-
journed debate on the free-trade measures of the Government.
He was not ashamed to own that his opinions on this
question had changed during the last twelve months. Al-
though he had formerly voted with the Hon. Member for Wol-
verhampton; he considered that a moderate fixed duty
would be the best course to adopt, but at the present
moment he considered the only satisfactory mode of
settling the question would bo to immediately repeal the
corn-laws. He trusted, whatever agitation might take
place on this question, the farmers of Ireland would
nut be forgetful in their support of those mea-
sures which were for their interest. Those interests in Ire-
land, which it had been said would be ruined by free-trade,
had of late years quadrupled their imports into this country.
There was nothing that would please him better than to see
the Protectionists thwart the Right lion. Baronet were
he called upon to form a Ministry, because he was sure if
they had presumption enough to do so it would end in their
own discomfiture, and their heir.); laughed at from one end o
the country to the other. He supported the measure be-
cause he believed it would afford to the working man the
protection he wanted, namely, protection against the high
price of food.
Col., CONNOLLY opposed the measure of the Government.
He did not see any necessity for it, because he was convinced
if the Irish peasants waited till these resolutions were passed
for relief, they would have to wait a long time. lie thought
the present measure rash, inasmuch as it gave an impetus
to that which had already gone foo far. While he bad a
soul in his body he would never support so frightful a propo-
sition as that put forward by her MAJESTY'S Ministers.
Lord INGEsznu felt that it was due to the House
that he should apologise for addressing it on such
an important question. It was its importance in
these days of political apostacy that must act as his excuse.
He believed that it was the intention of his noble relative to
support the measures of the Government, believing them to
be beneficial to the country. He would be glad to hear from
the Chancellor of the,Exchequer why he had not pursued the
same course as that which was adopted by the Right Hon.
Baronet at the head of the Government in 1829, namely re-
sign his seat, and go again to his constituents in his new
character of a free-trader. He believed that the adjust-
ment that was proposed by the Right Hon. Baronet at the
head of the Government would be:found to be the beginning
and outbreak of fresh trouble ; that the day was not far,distant
when be would exclaim that the period when he brought
forward the measure was the unhappiest of his life. lie
believed that if all parties were allowed to start fair, the
nation would soon overcome the difficulties by which it was
now surrounded. The admission of foreign corn would dis-
place a great quantity of British corn, and destroy the home
market for manufactures. Seeing that the prosperity of the
country had greatly increased under the present system, he
could see no reason for altering it in the sudden manner pro-
posed. The proposed measure was an act of injustice to
Ireland, to our colonies, more particularly to Canada, and to
the agricultural interest of England, and although he gave
the Right lion. Baronet credit for being actuated by con-
scientious motives, he felt bound to oppose the measure. It
had been said that potatoes were diseased ; now, he held in
his band certain young potatos—(Here the Noble Lord,
amidst some laughter, produced from his pocket a handful
of small potatoes) which had been produced from diseased
eyes, and which were perfectly sound.
Mr. TRICLAWNEY supported the Government measure, and
commented in indignant language on the expression made
use of by the Duke of Richmond, that " cotton would burn
ai well as straw."
Mr. PACKE felt great regret in being obliged to differ from
an Administration which he had hitherto supported, but so
convinced was he that the proposed measure was ruinous to
the country that he felt bound to oppose it.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER defended the Govern-

ment proposition. It was unnecessary for him to say that
the removal of protecting duties had invariably benefitted
the people. He utterly de..ied the statements that bad been
put forth, that he differed from his colleagues upon the pro-
priety of the steps proposed to be taken by the Right lion.
Baronet at the head of the Government. He admitted that
he objected to the opening of the ports by an Order in Coun-
cil, as inexpedient and unnecessary. Ile also thought that
further information ought to be obtained befoi e Parliament
was called upon to assemble to alter the law with respect to corn.
He might on these points have been in error, but no circum-
stance had taken place that would lead him at the present
moment, if the question was again proposed to him, to adopt
a different course. When lie resigned his office, he had no
thought that he should hare had to deal with the question
of an alteration of the corn-laws, other than as a private indi-
lidual, and in that character he had determined to support an
alteration in those laws. As to his not tendering the resigna-
tion of his seat for the University of Cambridge to his con-
stituents upon the change of his opinions, he did not consi-
der it the duty of a representative who had given no pledge
to do so; indeed, it would be parting with the trust he held
to the people to do so. The Right llon. Gentleman
then at some length pointed out to the House the benefits
that would result from the measure, and stated his firm
belief that free trade would improve the condition of all
classes. He was the advocate of consistency in public men,
but he did not think it consistent to uphold a law when it
was found to be injurious to the people. He knew of no man,
if it was to be considered consistent to uphold a law when it
was found oppressive,_ who had been consistent with respect
to' the corn-laws. He believed that the present was the
time for the settlement of the corn-laws, and he trusted,
therefore, the measure bf the Government would be adopted
by the House.

'Mr. FERRAND then addressed the House. He accused the
Anti-Corn-law League of having purchased, at one shilling
a hundred, the signatures to the petition presented
the other night by the Noble Lord the Member for
the West Riding
.of Yorkshire. Ile was prepared
to prove that one man attached no less than 14,000 signa-
tures to one of the petitions without leaving his house. So
much for the petitions presented to that House. He denied
the statement of the Hon. Member for Sheffield, that he had.
set master and servant at defiance. He believed, if Mr.
LitscELLEs had fought the battle in Yorkshire, notwith-
standing the conduct of the League, Lord MonPEnt would
have not now been the representative of the West Riding.
Noble Lords and Members opposite had been a -
cu3ed of thimble-rigging; he thought they might retort the
observation in these days of unblushing apostasy. The
Member for the West Riding who sc,:onded tie Address was
going to vote against Ministers, and would tell the House that
he had beets humbugged into secondlng the Address. As to
the Hon. Member for Winchester, Ile was bound to go down
to the electors there and resign Ws seat. He thought the
personal honour of the Secretary- at War was at stake, and
that he also ought to go to his constituents in
Wiltshire, and tell them of tlie change in his opinions.
As to the Secretary of State for the Department, he