The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-09 00:00:00

Loxthn nlt,

LONDON, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 1846

The Commons met yesterday at Twelve.
Various private Bills were forwarded a stage.
In the course of a conversation on the subject of
Indian corn, which arose out of a question put by Mr.
M'CARTBY as to the regulatik4ns under which Indian
corn was to be distributed to the penpie of Ireland,
Sir R. PEEL stated that it had been found already
that persons who had been subsisting upon that article
were able to do their work better, and to work for a
longer time, than they had been while subsisting on
potatoes; that the people found Indian corn both
palatable and nutritious, and that all prejudices against
its use were fast disappearing. The Right Hon. Baronet
also said that foreign wheat was much required in Eng-
land for the purpose of mixing with English N 4 heat.
Foreign wheat was now subject to a duty of 18s.; but if
the proposed corn-law were in operation, it would be
imported at a duty of Is. Oatmeal, also), which was a
great article of consumption in Ireland, would, under
the new corn-law, come in at a duty of Is. Indian
corn was only admitted duty free by Treasury Order,
and he therefore urged upon Hon. Members connected
with Ireland, to permit the first reading of the Protection
of Life and Property in Ireland Bill, to take place with as
little delay as possible, in order to expedite the passing of
the Corn Bill.

After a few words from Mr. EfAwEs and Mr.
BORTHWICR,

Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN urged the Government to the
propriety of facilitating the passing of the Corn Bill, by
postponing the Coercion Bill. Ile admitted that the in-
troduction of the Indian corn had alleviated the dietreaa

in Ireland, and concluded by asking if there was any in-
disposition manifested on the part of the Irish authorities,
to avail themselves of the provisions of the Public Works
nd Companies Works Presentment Bill?
Sir J. GRAHAM was glad to say that the applications to
the Board of Works had bean very numerous. He re-
gretted, however, to have to state, that there wns an in-
disposition on the part of some of the grand juries to
carry out the provisions of the Bill.

Several other Hon. Members took part in the conver-
sation, and the subject dropped.
The Committee on the Art-Unions' Bill was post •
poned for a fortnight.
The Railway Deposits Bill passed through Committee.
In answer to Mr. LABQUCHERE, Sir R. PEEL stated,
that he should advise the Board of Trade to issue a cir
cular to the varicius railway companies, informing them
of the principles on which the proposed Bill for the re-
gulation of railway companies, to which he had alluded
the other night, was intended to be fiunded.

In answer to Mr. 'FUFNELL, Sir J. GRAHAM stated,
that he did not despair of carrying a Bill to amend the
Metropolitan Buildings' Act during the present session;
but that the Bill alterin.4 the Law of Settlement, the
Highway all, and the Militia Bill, besides the third
reading of the Corn Bill, would have to be disposed of
previously,
A long conversation followed on the subject of the
business of the House, in the course of which Mr. J.
O'CoNNEII. stated, on the part of the Irish Members,
that they were willing to withdraw their notices of
motion for the days fixed for the discussion of the Corn
Bill, but that they were determined to persevere to the
very uttermost in their opposition to the Coercion Bill.
At its rising, the House adjourned to Friday, the
lath instant.

Throughout the speeches made on Monday night,
during the resumed discussion upon the Bill for the Pro-
tection of Life in Ireland, search is unavailing for any
tangible reason against its propriety, or necessity. On
the contrary, we find the strongest confirmation of the
iews we have felt it our duty to put forward upon this
subject. Lord MORPETII, one of the most ardent
well- wishers to Ireland, one whose philanthropy
would not suffer by a comparison with that of any
other person—a statesman, too, whose experience in
the conduct of the political affairs of that country
qualifies him to speak with peculiar weight upon
any question affecting its interests, tor good or for evil
—declared that he would be no party to augmenting the
difficulties of the Government with respect to Ireland,
or in refusing to them the extensive powers they de.
mended, which, as it seemed to him, were for a limited
time indispensable for the safety of human existence.
He successfully combated the speciousness of Mr. DILLON
BROWNE'S argument, drawn from a capitulation of the
fearful crimes that have been committed in England, by
pointing to the distinguishing feature between the most
serious offences in either country. In the former, they
are isolated acts, which meet with no sympathy,
and which are promptly dealt with by the healthy
and vigorous administration of the law. In the latter,
they result from an organised system, and are coun-
tenanced as justifiable acts of retribution by a large
number of an excited and misguided population, and.
unhappily, are seldom overtaken by the vindicating arm
of justice. Lord MORPETIi expressed the alarm he felt
at the criminal statistics and their adjuncts, adduced by
the Ministry, and, with that sincerityand candour which
have ever marked his Lordship's public career, declared
that he was too cognizant, from the past, of the diffi-
culties that environed the duty of those charged with the
governance of Ireland, to allow him, except upon rea-
sons of the utmost cogency, to take any course calcu-
lated to compromise or defeat the benevolent efforts of
the Executive, in order to bring the assassin and his
abettors to an exemplary punishment. And thus we
have the valuable testimony of the most influential
speaker on Monday night afforded to the merit and
necessity of the course recommended by the Govern-
ment. It must be borne in mind that these are
not the times when any Minister would dream
of curtailing the liberty and constitutional privileges
of the subject, except when an irresistible sense of the
duty incident to his position left him no alternative.
Above all, would the Premier willingly press for legisla-
tion upon this subject, and hazard the delay its discus-
sion is so likely to produce in the progress of the great
measure for the free introduction of corn into the country,
and with respect to which tie has given such convincing
proofs of his sincerity, unless he felt the imperious ne-
cessity, as well for the honour of human nature as the
sustentation of the dignity of the law, that her MA•
JF.STY'S loyal, though humble subjects, shall not, with
invl unity, be hourly the victims of the handed assassins
who have already extended the red hand of violence over
five of the counties of Ireland? We do net blame the
Irish Mewl-ers for rendering this Bill a fit occasion for
eliciting the grievous disadvantages, political or other-
wise, under which their country may he prevented from
rising in the scale of nations—far from it, we hom mein
fully justified. But we think they have not chosen the
most seasonable time for this purpose. The second
dos anhasio.nt stazes of the Bill, as indicated
by the Minister, would have amply sufficed for
enlarging upon such matters, though, as we noticed
some days ago, they are not strictly relevant to the mea-
sure, considering the admission by men of all parties,
that the blood which has been so wantonly shed was in
no wise the result of political disaffection. But it is
a strange mockery of patriotism, that whilst they tender
their warmest thanks to the Premier for the extraordi-
nary measures of relief he either has, or is about to secure
to Ireland, and in which he had no hope of succeeding short
of the greatest personal political sacrifice ever made by
any public man—the Irish Members should thus;
eagerly, hopelessly, and unnecessarily use their chartered
privileges as legislators for arresting the progress of
the most important measure which can at this moment
be possibly passed for the welfare of the empire at large.
The Government will not be held responsible for this
unreasonable consumption of the public time, and the
serious stagnation it causes to the commerce of the !
country. Were the opponents of the measure but nu-
merically
large, in place of being but a small minority,
there then might be some palliation for the course
they are now pursuing. But, not only are
they limited in number, but there are want-
ing to them the chiefs of the Liberal party, Peer
and Commoners, who have heretofore on all the pro-
minent questions of Irish policy so steadfastly and uni-
formly stood in the same ranks with themselves.
Amongst those to whom we refer, there occur to us at
once the names of MELBOURNE, LANsnowNE, CLkNBI-
CARDF., GREY, Lord J. RUSSELL, MORPETU, &C., &c.
We must repeat, too, our deprec,t ion of the line of ar-
gument adopted by Mr. O'CONNELL and his colleagues,
namely, that remedial measures should in the first in
stance be originated—the one principally required of
this character, and especially for the eradication of the
chief incentive to crime, has reference to the relation-
ship of landlord and tenant. Of all questions the most
difficult to be handled, and the most Fable to be encoun-
tered by a considerable opposition, none other could
well he indicated. It naturally fellows that no question
is likely to take up more time in deliberation before it
van be shaped into a law, unless the Government should
t e singularly felicitous in framing a measure
for the end desired. Supposing, then, that a long
period must elapse before this consummation
can be attained, or supposing the Parliament should be
unable to unite in their council., is murder still to stall(
unmolested across the land ? Assuredly not. More
over, as far as the debate has as yet progressed, it has
not been demonstrated that former Acts of coercion
have been unfruitful of salutary effects. And until this
be done, or until we can discover any valid answer to
the arguments we have formerly urged upon this topic,
as well as to the tendency of the remarks we have now
made, we shall net cease to lend the Government for the
irksome and painful, but necessary and merciful mea-
sure, which they have proposed for the preservation 0f
life and the security of property in Ireland.

One more allusion to the recent trial at Rouen, and
the acquittal of M. BEAUVALLON by a jury of his coun-
trymen, and our commeatitie upon that melancholy in
vestigation shall cease. On a former occasion we ad-
duced this duel for two reasons—as another and start-
ling exemplar of the fallacy, not to say cruelty of our so-
called code of honour, and especially for the
purpose of directing attention to a most ad-
mirable arrangement in the administration of
the law in France, whereby the survivor, though
acquitted of the charge of criminality, is compelled to
offer the only other substantial species of compensation
to the relatives of his antagonist, by the disbursement of
an equitable fine, as well as by becoming individually
responsible for all legal expenses. While we endea-
voured to render these deductior.s manifest, we likewise
detailed the circumstances attendant upon this particular
rencontre, anddrew such other inferences from the trans-
actions as presented themselves from the heinous
character of the revealed facts, and the suspicious ob-
scurity in which others were enveloped. It becomes,
therefore, no small source of satisfaction to us to observe
the condemnatory language with which this editorial
combat in particular, and the vice of duelling in general,
are treated by the most influential portion of the French
press, and the accordance of their own sentiments upon
the matter with those already ex-pressed by ourselves.
Our readers may remember that 'before an action could
be instituted against M. BEAVVAL &ON, a grieTous delay

arose from the contradictory explanations of the tribe
nals as to the articles of the penal cede. They may
remember that considerable opposition was vi-ible in one
quarter, when the law officers of the Crown endeavoured
to render duelling synonymous with murder, and conse-
quently liable to the same inflictluns. Nor can it
assuredly be forgotten that the four articles of the penal
code upon the application of which to the duellist the
Avocat-General placed his principle reliance as a
means of eliciting retribution, ware 295, 296, 297, 302.
Now it is not uninteresting to notice the merely inferen-
tial manner in which the gentlemanly vice is linked with
the operation of these articles. They are couched in
the foliowing comprehensive terms:—
" Art. 295. Homicide committed voluntarily is murder.
" Arts. 296. Every murder committed with premeditation,
or guet a pens (lying in wait), is an assassination.
" Art. 297. Premeditation con.ists in the design formed
before the act to attack a particular person, or even the de-
sign which may arise (qui set troure ou rencontre), even
although this design should be dependent on some circum-
stance or condition.

" Art. 302. Every person guilty of assassination shall be
punished with death."

From the wording of these statutes it must be evident
that other clauses, or possibly other epithets, are want-
ing to render them directly applicable to the crime of
duelling. And that the detestation of our neighbours is
not wanting to encourage such an interpolation in their
system of jurisprudence, is most apparent from the expres-
sions employed by their most important political organs.
Commenting upon duelling, Galignani's Messenger says—
" And a great moral crime it is, whatever our modern
rafines, or even those who fight under false notions of
honour. may say !" That is assuming the most sensible
the only sensible view of this egregious anomaly in
civilization. It is but just and rational to seize every
opportunity of stigmatising it as a relic of barba-
rism in the days of enlightenment. And on this
account it is that the National reviews the Rouen trial in
a spirit of remarkable acerbity. It inveighs against
duellists as the spawn of '• moral debauchery and poli-
tical debauchery," and r asses sentence upon divers of
the parties implicated in the affair in tones of especial
and virulent disgust. Upon this, however, the Quoti-
dienne passes a kind of negative approbation :—" It is
all very well," it exclaims, "to cover the systems with
reprobation, but why not go up to the principle
of corruption ? " True ; but that is to be an
after labour : the disease must be ascertained and
acknowledged by the consulting physicians—thP public
—before the remedies can be applied, or the operation
for its removal be commenced. Probe the wound to the
very bottom, then pour in the balsams. A better, a
more healthy, and more hopeful tone has the Courrier
Francais. It is more sanguine of the effect of popular
opinion. It observes :
"The afflicting spectacle which this world of roues of
fine fellows living by the Ministry and by lansquenet, has
just offered to the country, must not discourage us and cause
us to despair of our generation."

In that wholesome mode of regarding malady of
the most civilsed systems in the world, the Journal
des Ddbats lifts up an emphatic ♦oice, while
at the same time it regards the issue of the re•
cent trial at Rouen as a triumph in the cause of out-
raged morality, and possibly as a forerunner of better
thing'. May that aspiration be realised ! We
cannot but coincide—perhaps because we wish to do
so—in that remark of a Parisian contemporary,
that, according to an old saying, the disclosure
of an evil is the commencement of its cure,
and that consequently a recurrence of such expositions
as those in the case of M. BEAUVALLON would conduce
to the speedy eradicatic nof duelling. It is especially in
one particular that the French papers are so unanimous,
namely, in the licentiousness lurking in secret as
well as visible portions of the community, and
the demoralizing influence of puling, and similar ille-
galities. In this opinion, we fear, there is unhappily too
much reality. By imposing some onerous penalties,
pecuniary or what not, upon the duelists, we feel satis-
fied, however, that a great step in advance will have
been taken, and that the bulk of the dark system will
have been sapped to its foundations.

We have received Madrid journals of tl-e 31st ult. It
would appear that Count BRESSON, the French Ambas-
sador at the Court of Madrid, had taken the new
Ministry under his protection. All the Members of the
Cabinet dined with him on the 31st, at the French
Embassy. We have no doubt that the QUEEN and her
sister will, in due time, be married to parties selected
or approved by the Court of France. In Spain no
measure of importance can be done in a straightforward
way. A plot, a conspiracy, an edict of the Camarilla,
or a coup cretut is absolutely necessary to carry a reso-
lution ot. the Cabinet, or rather its chief, into effect.
But little business was done on the Madrid Bourse.
Three per Cents., for cash, 32; for time, 32k; Five per
Cents., for time, 21k.

The Journal des Debut? gives long extracts from the
Indian dispatches, describing the battles of Aliwal and
;;,,hraon. and the succeeding operations, and in the fol-
lowing brief remucwo a—. iustice to the bravery of
:he British forces and the moderation of the (iovernor-
General :—" The war in the Punjaub is at an end.
Cool courage and firmness gain battles, but moderation
in success produces still more advantageous treaties than
victories. Such is the glorious example set by Sir
HENRY HARDINGE for his successors in the government
of India. We resume our account of the events which
have occurred in four memorable weeks, from the 19th
of January to the 19th of February, a period signalised
by two victories, by the partial destruction of the Seikh
army, by its expulsion from the British territory, and,
finally, by the submission of the Seikh Government."

The moderation and impartiality displayed by this Go

rernment journal are entitled to great praise, and it is
(feeply to be regretted that its bright example is not
better followed by certain of the London papers, as well

as most of the organs of the Opposition in France.
The ConstituVonnel begins to consider that the United
States are, after all, not the best friends of France. It
contains a long article on the proposed new Customs'

duty laid before Congress, and shows that it will most
injuriously affect the iuterests of France. The Courtier
Francais says:—" There is some idea of joining to the
u-dron of evolution how collected at Toulon a division
f steamers. The squadron has taken on board five
months' provisions, and everything leads to the supposi-
!ion that the squadron still put to sea in the second
ortnight in April. If the Grand Duke CONSTANTINE
shGuid visit that port with his division, the Prince DE
JOINVILLE will accompany him to the coast of Italy.'
The following remarks respecting the Empress of
RUSSIA appear in the Courtier de Marseilles :
" We receive fresh details relative to the r.•sidence of the
Empress of Russia a'c, Naples. Our correspondent writes as
(illows:--‘ Amongst the eccentricities which the Empress of
Russia exhibits at the Court of Naples several are named, as
denoting what superiority this august traveller assumes ever
all that surround her. king Ferdinand is remarkable for
iris courtesy towards strangers, and for his delicate attentions.
Nobody can carry further his desire to be agreeaLle to the
illustrious travellers whom the salubrity of the Neapolitan
climate inducts to make some stay in his capital, and no-
bAy bet ter understands the slight shades and distinctions of
high s)ciety. On the arrival of the Empress, the King went
out to the vessel to receive her; on the shore, the Queen
and royal family were assembled to meet her. The lading
took place in the Darce, which is always reserved for the
royal use. The Queen had a magnificeat apartment prepared
for the Empress in his own palace, that of Chiatumone,
usually appropriated to visitors of princely station, not ap•
pearing to him splendid enough. Ile invited the Empress to

his tahte, and here a strange eccentricity takes place. Every
Jay that the Empress is to dine with the King. she never
fails to send, in the morning►, one dyer officers to invite the

. -
King to dine with her at his own table. If that be Russian
etiquette, the politeness of it is not understood here; or
rather, the following meaning is attributed to it—that the
czarina would not permit a king to sit down, even in his own
palace, by her side, without giving him permission.'"
i,„trsiltoiosnt
solfatethlye
prraris e
tje( u rtnoa ltsh e" th%ai nm
baerrt ioefi eDs roptu t itehee,
enumerating certain grievances to which Protestants
,re subjected in France. The Journal dev Deka:, with
some truth, contends that the law as regards religious
liberty is more just and lenient than inmost other coun-
tries. We give the remarks which apply to England:—
"We know not how M. de Gasparin'ean quote to us the
examples of foreign countries—of Prussia or of England.
Switzerland, in fact, presents to us very encouraging ex-
amples, and without speaking of the sanguinary war which
we have recently seen break out hi that country, let us only
consider what is Row passing in the canton of Yawl, a state
democratic par excellence. As to England, it is certain that a
liberty almost unbounded reigns there ; but liberty is not
equality. In England you are free to preach what doctrine you
choose ; but only endeavour to get into any public office, into
Parliament, or into the Universities, and you will then be asked
what religion you profess. It is not twenty years since
Catholics and hissenters saw in that free country every public
career close to them, and even now a seat in Parliament is
interdicted to certain sects; and last year they were also ex-
cluded from the exercise of municipal functions. Would
those who here claim absolute freedom of religious worship
exchange French equality for English liberty ? The truth is,
that there is no country in the world where the principle of
liberty of conscience forms so intimate and essential a part
of its institutions as France, where so many complaints are
raised on the subject. Between those four walls which can-
not be opened in our country without the authorisation of the
Slate, the conscience is more at its ease, and breathes more
freely than it can do in any of the open-air conventicles in
Great Britain." _ _

The Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha incurred some danger,
on the 31st ult., when out••driving at Marseilles. His horses
having run away, the Prince jumped out of the carriage,
and fell on the road. Fortunately he escaped with only a
contusion on the leg. The Sud of Marseilles states, that his
Royal Highness is to embark in the Amsterdam steamer for
Malaga, whence he intends visiting the Alhambra, on his way
to Lisbon.

On—the Paris Bourse, on Monday, the Stock and Share Markets
were both depressed. The Stock Market closed as follows:—The
Three per Cents., for cash, S3f 45c. ; for account, 83f. 45c. Five
per Cents., for cash, 1191. 70e. ; for account, 1191. 75c. Bank of
France Shares, 3,400 f. Neapolitan, 1011. 25e. Spani*h and New
Loan not quoted.
In the Share Market, Paris and Orleans left off at 1,1121. bk.;
Parts and lionon, 1,0251.; By= and linTro, 7491,; ATiplen, YOOt. ;