The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-17 00:00:00

i:.,7

-.,1R0ir,c17 ''lr-.Nc,4,

Ti;.l•' • • • tition
e,rtant zneient, au the parish ut Nlatylenone, comptatu-
int; that series of poietutions had beast instituted
against it,,tividnals on the score of blasphemy, and pray-
ing that the laws which authorised such proceedings
might be put an end to.
CORN-LAWS. •
Taitions wtre• presetteJ by Mr. Thoinely, Mr.
BaiLi Coehrabe, and • atc:tt.or fLat. Member, against
the cern-laws, frem Staffurdshire and Bridpurt.
SUNDERLAND DOe.:K.S.
Mr. GREENE presented a petition in favour of the
Bill fir making a railway to these docks.
CORN LAWS (IRELAND).
Lord G. BE:`,iTINCE: pres,:qtted a petition, signed by
• itim•tet n magistrates the county of Tipperary, rissm-
bled at Mime!, including the High Sheriff, praying
that the measures of the Government in respect of the
corn-laws might not be pawed, and stating that in
the event of those measures passing, they apprehended
a great scarcity of potatoes, as they believe, that.
the curtain consequence of those measures would be to
throw a large quantity of land now unemployed in the
growth of potatoes out of cultivation, and, consequently,
oecasion the greatest distress in the county Tipperary.
Ile had another petition to present of a rather
remarkable character ; it was signed by upwards of
3.000 of the electors of the eastern division of
Cumberland, and he believed, with the exception
of the steward of the Estate, it was signed by
every individual tenant of the Laird of Netherby Hall
(z-,ir James Graham).—(A laugh.) The object of the
petition was to pray that the Government measure re-
specting the corn laws might not pass the Legislature.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER pre-
sented a petition praying for the continuation of the
sees of St. Asaph and Bangor, which was ordered to lie
on the table.

GOVERNMENT MEASURES.
Sir R. PEEL said he had been requested to present a
petition, which, from the respectability of the signatures
attached to it, he felt highly honoured in being called on
to present. It was signed by the vast majority
of the great commercial gentlemen of the city
of London, and he believed it included all the
merchants engaged in the East India trade, and
was couched in the Most respectful terms. The
petitioners complained of the great stagnation and
embarrassment under which commerce at present
suffered ; and they prayed that the House
would consider such with a view to relieving the em-
barrassment. • The Rignt Hon. Gentleman presented
another petition from the linen manufacturers of the
North of Irelsnd. They stated that since the
removal of protection the culture of flak had
flourished, and was the only article of agri-
cultural produce that had flourished ; and further,
that they were then -in a position to compete, in the
manufuetuee of linen, with any country in the woad.
provided that no protection was afforded them. The Right
Hon. Baronet presented a third petition from the work-
ing men employed in the establishment of Beily Bro.-
thers, Salebridge, in the county of Chester, praying that
the late measure* introduced by her Majesty's Govern-
ment might pass into law as soon as possible.—(Hear,
hear.). The petitioners stated that the application was
their own spontaneous act,-tied that they were unite
fluenced in so doing by their employ ers.—(Hear.)
STATE OF IRELAND.
Lord J. RUSSELL said that he eished to give nodes,
that he would postpone his motion with respect to Ire-
land until after Isaster.—(llear, hear.)
Mr. OSBORNE desired to aek whether the attention
of the Government had been directed to the facilities
which the Irish Arms Act afforded to ill-disposed
persons to pastas themselves of arms; and whether
it was the intention of the Government to bring in any
measure for the amendment of that Act ?
Sir J. GRAHAM observed that the Irish Arms Act
did not realise all the benefits enthipated, nor was it at-
tended with the evils that some lion. Gentlemen sup-
posed. The Act terminated in that session, and he did
not See any reason why the Government should not
propose, its renewal a ith proper amendments.
Mr. SHAW wished to ask whether it was the in-
tention of the Government to adopt the some course with
regard to the Coercion Bill as they did in 1833 with regard
to the Arms Bill. The cum se then pursued was, the
Bill was read for the first time on a Friday, and Lore;
Alt.horp' moved-its second reading on the Wednesday
following. He wished to know whether the Govern-
ment meant, in point of time,- to follow that precedent ?
Sir R. PEEL said his earnest desire was to name the
earliest day that he possibly could for the consideration of
that measure. But he must say, at the same time, he was
most anxious to proceed with those measures which-
were, of vital- importance to the trade of this
country—(Hear, hear)—and of such importance
did he deem them that he must postpone for
the present the Irish Bill.—(Hear, hear.) He did
not know whether the House would go through the
tariff that night or not, but he hoped they might-
-(hear, hear.) They would fix the second reading of
the Corn Bill for to-morrow, and he would Then name
the earliest day that he could for the first read-
ing of the Irish Bill, and he was determined to pro-
ceed with it as rapidly as he could.—(Hear, hear.)
THE ARMY. . .
Mr. T. S. DUNCOMBE (who spoke in a very low
tone) was understood to ask what was the intention of
Government with respect to the clause of the Act of en-
listment, under which it appeared that about 400 soldiers
had recently claimed exemption from service in the
army, on the ground that, they had been enlisted in one
county and attested in another, the present Act re-
quiring that a seldier must be attested by
a magistrate, either in the same district, or acting for
that district in which- he had enlisted. It appeared that
these soldiers had been enlisted in one county and
attested in another ; it was discovered that the en-
listment was in point of fact not legal, and the con-
sequence was their immediate discharge. It also appeared
that. there were a great number, no less, in fact,
that! 5,090 or 6,000 Men in the same position ; 400 out
of 1,500 of the Grenatiier Guards were similarly cir-
cumstanced. Now, he wished to ask the Right .Hon.
Gentleman. the Secretary. at-War what was the course
which the Government intended to pursue with
respect to the present impethct Act, and whether;
it would not be desirable to confirm all those.
eniistmet- ts ?—(Hear, hear.) He understood that
another course had been suggested, which was -to
compel those men who had taken 'advantage 01
the clause to refund the money which they had
receivei on their enlistment. Under the present,
law he believed that a person who had served
twenty-one years in the army was entitled to a pension,
and some of" those men had become very muclealarmedi
but the Government should (although he did not believe
ttiey would) take advantage of the present defective
lew. Those men had already ssrved ten, and in some
cases fifteen years, and they were ahead that all that
period of service would be leer, in consequence of their
having been enlisted in one county and attested in
another. Ile was quite sure that the Government
were prepared to set all things square On the best plan
possible, which he iMr. Duncotobe) bslieved would be
by bringitt iu a short Bta. ft vets quite clear that
soinething should be done for the sake of those
• men who had :Arcady failliftilly served a great
uumher of years in the service of their country.
Mr. S. II E '..IER I' (who spike in a very indistinct
our) was utelerstood to say it was perfectly true that
tlur rig the last feW days the ettention of the Govern
msnt had. been called to the subject, as many -had
claimed exemption on the group i stated, but they were
not aware that the ntimeer ass es great as the Hoe.
Member stated. • The subject was of very great import-
ance, arid wits under the consideration of the Govern-
ment. On a future day he should be able to state
what were their intentions on the-subject.
FAMINE IN IRELAND=FEVER HOSPITALS.
Mr. SMITE! O'BRIEN inquired whether it was the
intention of the Government to proceed with the second
reading of the for erecting fetter hospitals in- Ire-
land .o-night ?
• Sir J. GRAHAM (who also spoke in a low tone) was
understood to say that he had hoped that the second.
reading of the Bill might be taken before 12 o'clock
to- night,—(Hear, hear.) But be feared that the
continued opposition to the Government measures,
With respkt. to the import duties, would,
• prevent that consummation. The Government
were very, anxious, to proceed with the Bill without
loss of time, but it entirely depended on Ron. Members
'whether the Bill was passed in a short while," or in the
course of a few weeks.--(Hear, hear.)
Mr. S. O'BRIEN said, his object in asking the question
was not to obstruct the progress oftheßill by discussing its
provisions at any length, but simply that an opportunity
might be afforded 'him, on its second reading, to call the
attention of the House to several documents which he
had received from Ireland since he last addressed them,
describing the progress and alarming increase of
.the
disease in the potato crop, which showed that
the Hon. Member for Finsbury (Mr. Wakley)- was cor'-
reet in saying that the Irish people required food instead
of physic at die present moment. •
Mr. P. SCROPE considered that no time oughteto be
lest in provding food for time people of Ireland in the pre-
sent emergency, and that food and notphy sic was required.
He thought that the chief object of the poor. Jaw of Ire-
land was to save the people :from the effect of famine
and coesequent pestilence. Now, what he. wished to
ssk the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the Home
Dspertment (Sir J. Graham) was, whether the Govern.-
meta had provided any measures for limiting the distress
wh ;eh the pit or in Ireland were suffering previous to finish-
. ing he discussisin of the Government meaeure ? lie thought
this was desirable, because his impression certainly was,
that the poor of Tralee required food rather than physic.
In Esgland there were previsions made under the poor-
law for sick hospitals ; but he thought that a better
plan might be alloptsd by preventiug the sickness
Str J. tIRAH AM said that nothing hail resen spared
be the Government to provide for such a contingency as
ties Honoureble Gentleman had alluded to. lie hoped
that the flint. Gentleman would net fail to make this
mattsr the substance' of a substantive teethe!, for Iv,
qaPStiOn could . certainly be more important than
the one he had brought before the House.
Now, before ' any alteration could take
'thee in the poor-law of Ireland, several subjects
must he discussed which had a eeferenee to its. prinei-
pies ; and he hoped that when that suject, came before
Howie, the Honourable Gentleman would net fail
to repeat his question to the House. In the meat:-
tin e fie might esstire the Hone uruble Gentleman
of the Meese that the Government had taken evert
measure which had been suggested to their minds
for the relief of the distress in Ireland
the nature of those measures he should be most
happy to • state to the _ House when the proper time,
elem. -r obtaining AIM sanction of Parliameut for rep-
ricd: g these Acts authoritative. In the mean time they
were me‘sare that rice -Ministry were responsible, but were
quite eon ideto. jue. ife teeir preeeeemies in this mattes.
J'lt•.'l3u 1,;•w ::s s lad to hear that the. Government
had taked . this. wetter into their consideration, but he
trusted they wouid net be so ready te give food without
its ikLg armed,. for that he-did-.not - think would be