The Sun.
London, England, 1848-02-16 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDN"SI4I)AV EVENINGLFFIBIitiAItiv IS; 1646.

gentleman prior to the treaty having been concluded
between King Siacca and Captain Denman. The Noble
Lords, Russell and Palmerston, whose letters had been
put in, appeared to go on the assumption that
the establishments at the Gallinas were piratical estab-
lishments. Such was not the case, for, by the law of
nations, the slave trade was nut piracy. It was clear
that the real facts of the case had not been duly repre-
sented, and there could not therefore be any ratification.
Besides, it was a point which, perhaps, Lord John
Russell was aware of before this, viz., that he was not
"the Queen ;" and a letter of his Lordship and the other
members of the Government could not therefore be a
ratification. And, for aught they knew, her Majesty
Queen Victoria might be as ignorant of the circumstances
as any individual in the heart of China. The ratification
of the acts of the defendant by her Majesty would be, in
point of fact, a casus belli, and as she would be guilty of
a violation of the law of nations towards a friendly power,
the Queen of Spain would have a right to say, "It
may be true that one of my subjects has done wrong,
but who gave you the power to interfere in the matter?"
The existing treaties between the two countries might
be referred to, but they referred only to vessels afloat,
and would not apply to the present case. lie would remind
the Court at this point, that in the representations made
by the defendant to the authorities at home, and which
formed the main basis of the treaty with King Siacca,
was the insult committed towards the crews of her Ma-
jesty's boats. No proof whatever had been given of
this. The representations stated thet the defendant
went to avenge an insult to the British flag, but it had
not been proved that any insult had been committed on
the British flag. Where then was the ratification of these
acts to be found? Praise, however justly awarded to
the gallant officer for his conduct in putting down the
slave trade, did not amount to a ratification. The whole
of the letters put in were from subordinate officers, and
did not commit the Crown. The Learned Counsel then
proceeded with his address to the jury, and called upon
them to look at the question apart from its moral con-
siderations and solely as a commercial transaction, which
it really was. With respect to the treaty no weight
could be attached to it; it was wrung from the natives at
the point of the bayonet, with a military force already
in possession of a portion of their territory. The
Learned Gentleman concluded by calling upon
the jury to dismiss from their minds all feelings
in favour of the plaintiff or the defendant
which would seduce them from the strict and narrow
path in which they had to travel. If they did so depart
from that path of duty then would justice be somewhat
less, and much less in estimation than it was and had
been. He could assure them that his anxiety was not
for his client, for he felt that towards him, however im-
perfectly, he had discharged his duty to the best of his
ability, and with him all relations had therefore ceased;
his anxiety was for English justice. Their predecessors
in that box had not hesitated to return heavy damages
for the-value of slaves unlawfully seized. In the case of
Nladrassa v. Wells the jury gave a verdict of
18,0001. and in several other eases large sums
had alp been awarded, and he trusted that they
would not be less firm, less faithful, or less just to th e
law than their predecessors, who by their conduct had
raised the admiration of British justice to that height to
which foreigners, who, although aware of all the diffi-
culties and delays of English law, and all the imperfec-
tions which had been so justly complained of, neverthe-
less put it above the administration of justice in all the
other parts of the world, because they were not afraid
to come before a British jury, and felt that they would
do their best, and use their utmost exertions to guard
against being led away by the operations of any feelings,
and that they would always stand firm to principle.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL then rose to claim his right
of reply.
Mr. Baron PARSE said that the Court were of opinion
that tilt), could not hear him, and proceeded to sum up
to the jury. The facts of the case, although they had
occupied a considerable portion of time, were still con-
fined to a very narrow compass, and it was needless for
him to request them to divest from their minds any
prejudice on the matter, and consider their verdict coolly,
having regard only to the evidence which had been laid
before them.

charges of bribery, Sir Fitzroy Kelly, instead of being
in. a minority, would be entitled to be placed at the head
of the poll.
The Learned Counsel proposed to go into the scru-
tiny case first, but the Committee decided that bribery
ought to be proved before the scrutiny could be gone
into. The witnesses, however, required to prove the
bribery case were not in attendance, and the Committee,
therefore, adjourned till eleven o'clock to-morrow.

DIPERL-1 L PA RLIANI ENT.

(THIS DAY.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The SPEAKER took the Chair at Twelve o'clock.
SECOND READINGS.
The following Bills were read a second time :
Nantwich and Wheelock Turnpike Road.
North cf Scotland FireandLife Aasurunee Company.

A bill of exceptions was tendered by Mr. Robinson,
upon the ground that there was not sufficient legal evi-
dence to go to the jury, to prove that a subsequent
ratification would be equivalent to a prior command.
The jury retired, and after a short consultation,
returned a verdict finding that the ratifications had been
made by the Crown, with a full knowledge of what the
defendant had dune; and that, therefore, upon the plea
of •6 not guilty" they found their verdict for the de-
fendant. Upon the other counts the verdict was for the
plaintiff.

ELECTION COMMITTEES.
(THIS DAY.)
WEST GLOUCESTERSHIRE.

The Select Committee on the West Gloucestershire
election re-assembled at the usual hour this morning;
Mr. Granger in the chair.

Mr. Sergeant •KINCLAKE summed fup the case for the
petitioners, contending that the evidence had clearly
made out that Mr. Grantley Berkeley was not qualified
to retain his seat for West Gloucestershire. The rent
charge of 7004 could not be received in the light of a
qualification, inasmuch as in law the property in the
rent charge was vested in the trustees, and not in Mr.
Grantley Berkeley. He therefore insisted that as Mr.
Berkeley was only entitled in his own right to a sum of
2021., derivable from money invested in the Funds, the
Committee ought without hesitation to unseat him.
Mr. CROWDER addressed the Committee on behalf of
the sitting Member, contending that upon all points his
opponents had failed, and concluded by calling upon the
Committee not to lend themselves to Earl Fitzhardinge,
in order that he might be iu a position to tyrannise over
his brother.

The room was then cleared, and the Committee having
consulted together for a few minutes, strangers were re-
admitted, when

The CHAIRMAN announced that it was the opinion of
the Committee that Mr. Grantley Berkeley had been
duly and properly elected.
The Committee then broke up.

over the movements of the Pope. The Bill proposed
• to re-invite the Jesuits into England, a sect that had
been prohibited by every state in Europe, Catholic
or Protestant. He objected, therefore, to the
Bill in that respect. If the Bill was
allowed to become law it wculd go far
to ail that movement which he was sorry
to say was now prevalent, that of disuniting
the Church from the State. He cordially concurred
in the amendment that had been moved by the lion.
Member for the University of Cambridge, that this
Bill should be committed this day six months.
Mr. C. ANSTEY trusted that the House would
go into Committee on the Bill. Ile said he was quite
correct when he stated that members of the order of
Jesus and Regulars were liable to transportation if
they were found in this country within three months
after they had received notice to quit the kingdom.
Sir R. H. INGLIS said they were not liable if
they were registered.
Mr. C. ANSTEY said, whether they were re-
gistered or not they were liable to this serious penalty.
He denied that the measure was aggressive. The
Right Hon. Baronet (Sir R. H. Inglis) said, in sup-
port of this view, that of late years the Pope had taken
aggressive steps against the Protestantism of this
country. The Hon. Baronet instanced, in support of
his argument, the rumour that it was the intention of the
Roman Catholics of this country, with the connivance
of the Pope, to appoint an Archbishop of West-
minster, but there appeared no ground for such a
statement. This was the only statement which he
had been able to bring against the measure, and in
support of his view, that it was but the commence-
ment of a series of aggressive measures against the
Church. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman then
went on to deal with the objections urged against the
Bill in the course of the debate that had taken place.
The 38th of Edward 111. recited that grievances had
arisen from citations being served upon British sub-
jects to appear in courts beyond their own country,
and it enacted that some alteration should be made
in the mode of procedure in such cases. But in no
case was the authority of Rome in matters spiritual
doubted or denied. In the opinion of some lawyers,
Roman Catholics were still liable to punishment for
using any other form of service than that en-
joined in the Common Prayer-book by the Act of the
13th and 14th Charles 11. He proposed to repeal
altogether that enactment. The 7th and Bth
Will. II 1., c. 24, he also proposed to repeal altogether.
The Hon. Member for Midhurst had said that if there
were any Acts still remaining in force against the
Catholics, such parties could protect themselves from
the effects of those Acts by taking the oaths pre-
scribed by an Act passed in the reign of George IV.
for that purpose; but it so happened that the time
for taking those oaths had already expired. He
called upon the House to go into Committee on the
Bill. The Roman Catholic laity had been admitted
into the Legislature, and it was now the duty of the
'House to take the Catholic priests under their pro-
tection. He asked no more for the Jesuits and
Catholic clergy than had been granted to persons
professing the Jewish religion by the last clause of
the Religious Opinions Bill, passed in the last session
of Parliament.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. NEWDEGATE thought that if this Bill
were really what it professed to be, it ought not to
be allowed to be in the hands of any private
Member, however able or zealous he might be.
If these declaratory Acts were really so nuga-
tory, as they had been stated to be, why
was so much anxiety shown about their repeal ?
Were the Roman Catholic clergy guided by the Pope,
or the Roman Catholics of their own country ? It ap
peered to him that they were guided by neither ; but
he could not help taking that opportunity of express-
ing his admiration of the letter which the Earl of
Shrewsbury had addressed to the Archbishop of
Tuam. The Noble Earl truly stated that the Roman
Catholic clergy had nothing to do with the conduct
of the Catholic hierarchy of that House, and he hoped
the letter would have the effect of restraining the
aspersions of some of the Roman Catholic clergy of
this country. Was the conduct of the Roman Catho-
lic clergy throughout Europe in times past to be
forgotten while considering this Bill ? For himself,
he said certainly not; and before they adopted the
Bill they ought to bear in mind what had been the
conduct of the Jesuits in various parts of the Conti •
nent during the last few months. It was well known
that the presence of Lord Minto at Rome had roused
in this country feelings of great suspicion. Frequent
questions had been put to
.her Majesty's Government
on the subject, and he was glad that the Noble
Lord, the Foreign Secretary, had stated that Lord
Minto was not at Rome in any official capacity.
But how, let him ask, did the intimation of the
Noble Lord correspond with the dispatches which
had been received from Rome ? If he was not mis-
taken, these dispatches disclosed the fact that Lord
Minto had official authority to enter into negotia-
tions with the Court of Rome upon various subjects
connected with the affairs of Italy and Switzerland.
Sir G. GREY begged pardon for interrupting the
Hon. Member, but he distinctly recollected what his
Noble Friend did say in reference to this matter.
His Noble Friend stated, in answer to a question that
had been put to him, that Lord Minto had received
instruction to negotiate at neighbour Courts, but that
he was not an accredited agent to the Court of Rome.
Mr. NEWDEGATE said it did not matter what
the Noble Lord had stated while there could be no
doubt that Lord Minto had already acted in an
official capacity at Rome, be his authority what it
might. The letter of the Noble Lord proved
thus far, if he was not mistaken ; one passage
in it stated that the Noble Lord bad intimated
to the Pope that it was the wish of her
Majesty that the Jesuits should be withdrawn from
Switzerland; while another passage put them in pos-
session of the fact, that the Noble Lord had sought
and obtained interviews with the Lord Cardinal
Secretary of the Pope upon the subject of the move-
ments in Italy. How, then, could Government ven-
ture to assert in that House that the Noble Lord was
not their accredited agent at Rome? He would
now take a glance at the measure before the House.
He for one had objections to relieving the Roman
Catholics of this country from all the disabilities under
which they laboured; but, looking at the spirit of
aggression which animated the policy of the Church
of Rome, he thought it unwise to add further to the
power which she already possessed. He certainly
did not deny that among the Jesuits there were
many excellent men, but they had been made the
instruments of introducing the most grievous and
galling tyranny. Could the House adopt the tone
and spirit of the letter of the Catholic Archbishop
of Tuam to the Earl of Shrewsbury, in answer to
the excellent letter that had been written by. that
Noble Lord,? Was the highest and noblest in the
land to be treated in such a manner by the haughty
Prelate of the Catholic Church ?—(Hear, hear.) If
such language was to be adopted, it highly behoved
the Catholic Peers to look to themselves. The Hon.
Gentleman concluded by supporting the amendment
against going into Committee on the Bill.
Sir G. GREY deprecated the notion that tke
House ought not to go into Committee on the Bill in
consequence of the tone taken by Archbishop
M'Hale, in his letter to Lord Shrewsbury—(Hear.)
The Right Honourable Baronet, after defending the
course pursued by the Earl of Minto in his
mission to the Court of Rome, and stating that
the construction put upon his acts by the Hon.
Member were most extravagant, trusted that
the House would by its act relieve him from the
charges that had been brought against him. As for
the statements against his Noble Friend the Secretary
for the Foreign Department, he thought the House
would agree with him when he stated that the course
he had pursued was calculated to conciliate rather
than irritate.

not well draw the distinction between the one or the
other. They had failed to:do so ;no prima facie case
had been shown in the course of the debate against
the admission of any of these religious orders, except
the Jesuits, who held a peculiar and distinct i
position in the Court of Rome. The ob-
jectionable provisions in the statute-book ac-
complished nothing save casting a stigma upon the
religions to which they had reference. The bar
should not exist, unless it could be shown that dan-
ger would result from its removal, and he held that
it had not. With respect to the rumour, that it
was the intention of the Pope to establish
an archbishopric in England, he had heard the
statement of the Honourable Member for Youghal,
that it was merely a rumour, as nothing of
the kind had been yet decided upon by the Court
of Rome, on account of the difficulties in the
way of establishing such an office with great satisfac-
tion. He admitted that there would be a great differ-
ence between such an archbishop and the superin-
tendents of circuits appointed by the Wesleyans and
the Dissenters, for the former would have spiritual
jurisdiction, whilst the latter were divested
of that character. Clauses 24 and 29 pro-
vided for the appointment of Catholic bishops
in England, but he could not help giving his opinion
that the holding of such an office by a Catholic
would be a penal offence, but at any rate they would
be brought into collision with the clergy of other
denominations. The case of Ireland did not
justify the setting up of a new principle like this: in a
city where but a small minority of the people were of
the Catholic faith. He trusted Hon. Gentlemen
would not merely consider whether the Church of
Rome was an aggressive church, but whether, in
equity, they ought not to do that justice which their
fellow-subjects had a right to demand.—(Hear.)
The Marquis of GRANBY was of opinion that it
would be unwise to disturb the settlement of the
question made in 1829. Some cause of grievance
ought to ba shown before the House consented to re-
open the question. It had been said that there was
one grievance, which was, that there was a convent
in Leicestershire, the persons residing at which were
liable to be transported under the existing laws
(Hear, hear.) Such was not the case, because
if the parties registered themselves under the
provisions of the law they would be protected, and
so long as they remained peaceful and loyal subjects
of the Sovereign they would not be disturbed.—
(Hear, hear.) When he found that several of the
Catholic countries of Europe had been compelled to
expel the Jesuits from their country, it would be
unwise for a Protestant country like this to admit
tLe Jesuits to settle among them, or to
remove those safeguards which had been considered
necessary in the year 1829. He did not wish to say
one word which might be considered offensive to his
Roman Catholic fellow-countrymen. He felt it to
be the duty of the House, while admitting the fullest
principles of toleration, to prevent the spread of a reli-
gion which he believed to be hostile to the liberties
and institutions of the country.—(Hear.)
Mr. SHEIL said that he might insist that a con-
cession to the Catholic was made upon security to
the Protestant—they ought both to stand or fall
together. In the Act of 1829 there were several
clauses which were galling to the Catholics, and use •
less to them. At the time the Catholic Emancipation
Bill was carried every religious order which then
existed as such was protected upon registering its name,
but every individual who became a Jesuit since that
time was not so protected. Of what use, then, was
such a law to them ? The country was now full of
Jesuits.—(Hear, and cheers.) He would ask the House,
whether the Jesuit in the wilderness, holding up the
cross with the red savages around him, was not as
worthy a spectacle as the emissary of Protestantism
in New Zealand, who surrounded himself with the
fruits of conversion and appropriation at the same
time ?—(Hear.) The Hon. Member for the county
of Limerick had given notice that he would move in
Committee for the repeal of the clauses forbidding
any Catholic to be Chancellor of Ireland. There
were good reasons why that motion should be
agreed to. When the Act of 1829 was passed, the
Hon. Member for Tamworth (Sir R. Peel) said that

his reason for the insertion of such a clause was that

he believed there was some ecclesiastical patronage
connected with the office. Such was not, however,
the case; if it were so he should not support the
motion of his lion. Friend on the subject. The
Catholics at the bar were now very rapidly on
the increase, and there was therefore greater reason
than ever for the removal of such a resolution as that
he had referred to. By passing the present measure
he felt convinced that they would do a great deal to
remove all the bitterness of feeling which the Catholics
were at present labouring under.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. HENLEY said that he was one of those who
thought that the early portion of the Bill was merely
introduced for the purpose of giving an opportunity
to Hon. Members to display a little liberal language
on the subject. The principal portion of the Bill was
that which had been kept in the back ground by the
parties promoting this measure. A great deal had been
said about the cruelty and wrong of transporting
a Christian brother. Now the Act merely stated
that the person was to be tined or banished, and
should he continue in the country in defiance of the
law he was to be transported.—(Hear, hear.) Hon.
Members said " Hear, hear," but how stood the
case ? The Christian brother was not transported
because he was a Christian brother, but because he
disregarded the minor penalties and continued still to
act in defiance of the laws of the country.—(Hear.)
He felt it his duty, therefore, to give his support to
the amendment of the Hon. Member for the Univer-
sity of Cambridge, that the Bill be read a third time
this day six months.—(Hear, hear.)
The Earl of ARUNDEL andi SURREY main-
tained that every order sanctioned by the Church of
Rome ought to be admitted into. this country. A
good deal had been said against the Jesuits. They
had been denounced as mischief makers, and cunning
designers. They had been stigma tised as the crew•
tors of dissentious in States, and the disturbers of
the peace of private families ; but: the House must
forgive him if he did not agree witih all these severe
opinions. The Jesuits were a strict ly religious body
spreading good wherever they went, and as the Es-
tablished Church could not cure die infidelism that
prevailed in this country, he could see no just rea-
son why the Jesuits should be exi;luded from this
country.
Sir J. PAKINGTON could no t agree with the
observations of the Noble Lord who had just sat
down, nor could he admit the force or justice of the
remarks made by the Hon. Member for Dungarvon.
lie was quite ready to relieve the Roman Catholics
from all unnecessary liabilities, but: he could not con-
sent to afford them a fancied relief .at the sacrifice of
the rights of the Church of England. Conciliation
to the Roman Catholics and securities against aggres-
sions on the rights of the Established Church had
always gone hand in hand, and be could never vote
for a Bill which made concessions without providing
securities against inroads upon -the -rights of the
Church of England.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL having been
called upon once or twice in the course of the debate
to give his opinion upon the prob able effects of this
Bill, he trusted the House would indulge him for a
few minutes while he ventured to give his opinion
upon the changes which this Bill was calculated to
make in the prevailing law. II he should suc-
ceed in satisfying the House that there was
one Act at least overlooked by 47 he Bill of 1829,
he trusted be should have said ono ugh to induce the
House to go into Committee upon this Bill. Now,
he was decidedly ofopinion that t. 13 e 13th of Elizabeth
chap. 2, was not repealed by the /I.ct of 1829, and as
it required an Act of Parliament.: to repeal the pro-
visions of that statute, he trusted the House would
have no difficulty in going into 'Committee on this
Bill.

Colonel CONOLLY would go as far as any man
to remove the provisions of Acts of Parliament that
operated heavily upon the Roman Catholics, but he
could not allow old and obsolete Acts to be raked
up for the purpose of sweeping away those Acts
which were necessary for the security of the
Protestant population of Ireland. He should
be sorry to deny the Roman Catholics any
just rights to which they were entitled, but as he
saw that no advantage would arise from the repeal of
those obsolete statutes, he felt bound to give his vote,
though without hostility, against the Bill.—(Hear.)
Mr. GLADSTONE said he should give his vote
for going !into Committee, without entering into a
consideration of the question whether the Church of
Rome was an aggressive church or not, because he
believed he should be thereby doing an act of justice.
—(Hear.) The Attorney-General, whom he was
glad now to see in his place, would confer a great
favour upon the House by stating his opinion
whether the enactments sought to be abolished
could be enforced or not.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.")
The Hon. Gentleman the Member for .111idhurst
said that the penalties sought to be abrogated had
been repealed, and that they could not be enforced
in a court of law; but if the Act of Lord Lyndhurst re-
pealed some specific penalties, leaving others untouched
he was at a loss to understand on what ground it was
contended that the others should not be also repealed.
—(Hear.) He was also at a loss to understand why
penal enactments should remain on the statute-
book respecting the admission of bulls into this
country on matters of discipline relating to the
Roman Catholic religion, and which that body con•
sidered perfectly innocent in their nature, as they
simply had reference to matters of internal polity.
The burden of proof that the exclusion of certain
religious orders had led to good lay on those who
opposed the measure. He would not stop to in-
quire whether the Act of 1829 w.i.s a compact
or not, but as the danger of the repeal of these ob-
solete enactments had not been made manifest to his
mind he could not go into the lobby with those who
objected to that measure on this ground. They
must, to maintain their argument, show that the
admission of the Franciscans, Dominicans, and
Benedictines, would be dangerous, because they could

Strangeil were then ordered to. withdraw, and the
House divided, when there appear( 1—
For going into Committee j.. . . 186
Against it
Majority for going into I
matey •• . —32

The House then went into Comi n itttee pro forma,
and on the motion of

Mr. C. ANSTEY it was agre eo I that the House
should really go into Committee on the Bill this day
three weeks.

WEST GLOUCESTERSHIRI ; ELECTION.

Mr. GRAINGER brought up he report of the
Committee appointed to try the in erits of the West
Gloucestershire election. The Gel .nmittee reported
that Mr. Grantley Berkeley had "been duly elected
a knight of the shire for the- western; division
Gloucestershire. _ . _

The report was received amid i nuch cheering.
SELECT COMMITTEE ON SHIPWRECKS.
On the motion of Mr. HUME the Select Com-
mittee on Shipwrecks was appointed After a short
discussion. The following are the names of
the Members appointed to serve on the Committee :
—Mr. Hume, Captain Berkeley, Mr. Gibson,
Admiral Bowles, Sir Thomas Birch, Viscount
Ingestre, Mr. M`Gregor, Mr. Roundell Palmer, Dlr.
Foster, Mr. Fitzroy, Mr. Flaherty, Mr. Fagan, Mr.
Duncan, Mr. Robinson, and Mr. Sheridan.
LANDLORD AND TENANTS (IRELAND)

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
BOUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 15.
EXCHEQUER LOAN COMMISSIONERS
(IRELAND).
Major BLACKALL gave notice that he would to-
morrow ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether
it was the intention of the Government to place any
further amount of funds at the disposal of the Ex-
chequer Loan Commissioners of Ireland.
WASTE LANDS (IRELAND.)
Mr. P. SCROPE gave notice that he would, upon
this day fortnight, call the attentioa of the House to
the subject cf the waste lands of Ireland, with a view
of showing in what manner they could be made
available for the purpose of relieving the distress of
that country.
JOINT-STOCK COMPANIES.
Mr. THORNELY wished to ask his Right Hon.
Friend the Vice-President of the Board of Trade
whether it was the intention of Government to in-
troduce a Bill this session to enable joint-stock
companies to wind up their concerns.
Mr. M. GIBSON said a Bill had already been
prepared for that purpose, and to-night he should
give notice of his intention to introduce it.
WEST INDIA COLONIES.

Mr. HUME said, on a former evening he gave
conditional notice, that if the Hon. Member
for Gloucestershire did not submit to the House any
motion respecting the Sugar Duties, he would
submit a resolution upon the subject, and he wished
now to state the terms of the resolution
which he intended to submit to the House. He
would fix such period for bringing it on as he could
arrange with the Government. It was a question
more for them than for him to introduce; but the
resolution he proposed to move was to this effect—
that it was incumbent on Parliament to enable
the colonies to make a fair trial of free labour
by removing all restrictions i❑ the way of ob-
taining free labour ; to enforce in the colonies
the same strict system of vagrancy laws which
were in force in England, making these
applicable to the black and the white population alike
to allow the colonies to reduce their establishments
and fiscal regulations to the lowest point,
consistent with the due and proper maintenance
of the police and military services of the country ; to
enable the colonists to transport their produce to
Great Britain or any other country, at as low freights
as was paid by the producers of countries where
slavery prevailed. And further, with the ♦iew of
affording reasonable time to make all these arrange-
ments, this House was of opinion that the existing dif-
ferential duty of 6s. per cwt. should be continued for five
years after the expiration of this year, namely, up to
the end of 1853.
THE LOSS OF THE AVENGER.
Mr. FITZROY, seeing the Hon. Member, one
of Lords of the Admiralty in his place, wished to
ask him the question of which he had given notice,
with reference to that ill-fated vessel the Avenger. A
rumour had prevailed of late, and had gained strength
since the unsatisfactory termination of the court-
martial on Lieut. Hooke, that the Avenger was not
properly supplied with charts ; and with the view of
affording a slight satisfaction to the friends and rela-
tives of the unfortunate brave men who fell victims
with the vessel, he wished to ask the Honourable
Gentleman whether or not the Avenger was properly
supplied with charts?
Admiral DUNDAS replied that the Avenger was
provided with every chart .aonnected with the Medi-
terranean, and the Admiralty held the receipt of
Captain Napier for them.
DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH THE
COURT OF ROME,
____

Sir H. 11. INGLIS said, on the 7th of February a
Bill was introduced into the house of Lords to autho-
rise the estaNishments of diplomatic intercourse
with the Court of Rome, and the Lords were
summoned for the 16th, to take the Bill
into further consideration, and to read it a second
time. Now, without giving an cpinion on the sub
.ject, though he should be disposed to do so at the
proper time, he wished to express a hope that his Noble
Friend would take care that sufficient time was given
for the due discussion of the measure in the Upper
and Lower Houses, and, he might add, for its consi-
deration in the couptry.—(Hear.)
Lord J. RUSSELL said the Bill was in the hands
of the Lord President of the Council , and he had no
doubt he would give sufficient time for the considera-
,
The whole of the notes of the St. Albans and Herts tion of the measure in the House of Peers without
Bank in circulation at the time of the siLoppage have bleep any interference from him or from any of the other
paid in full.—Berhshire Chronicle Members of that House. When the Bill came down
ABOLITION OF CAPITAL PUNISIIICENT IN BADl4Pfi.'—, to that House he should not use any undue haste in
'The second Chamber of the States of Baden, in itt, sit- passing the measure.—(Hear.)
*zing of the ' th, adopted a motion for an address to the Mr. HINDLEY inquired if the Noble Lord had
Grand Duke, praying that a Bill may be presented for
.the abolition a capital punishment. aziy objection to lay the cerropondence wbicb bad

EAST ANGLIAN RAILWAY COM- passed between Lord Minto and tire Court of Items
.PAN Y.—(TIIIS DAY.) before the I louse ?
An ordinary meeting of the shareholders in this corn- Lord PALMERSTON, in reply, said the Hon.
pony was held this afternoon at the London Tavern. Gentlent.in must be aware that the mission of
henry C. Lacey, Esq., presided. Lord Minto to the Court of Rome was entirely
Tae report which was read stated that, in order divested of any diplomatic character.—(Laughter.)
to complete the works on the hue and secure He carried with him, however, credentials to the
the necessary facilities for the traffic, a much greater posers of Sardinia, Florence, and Naples. His anise
outlay than the directors orignrily expected would
be required. The amount of increased expenditure sir, however,, being divested of a diplomatic
necessary would be 248,5621., and the ways and meansposition to be
ecarao.er, did not place him in a
at the disposal of the company to meet the sum was enabled to lay any correspondence that had taken
117,451 f., leaving a sum of 131,1111. still to be provided place before the House.—(Renewed laughter.)
for to put the:railway in an efficient state for working ITALY.
the traffie, with a view to a remunerative dividend. Dr. BOWRING then rose to move for copies or
The directors recommended the creation of shares extracts of the correspondence on the subject of the
bearing a preferential (livid. ud in perpetuity of 7 per Commercial League of Italy. hely, notwitlistand-
cent. per annum; these shares being of course offered ing oil her former grandeur, her learning, her high
to the i; resent proprietors in the proportion of one new position in the scale of nations, and the universality of
share of 54 for every existing 251. share, and one new her language, continued even now to justify the
share of 31. 10s. for every existing 181. share. Tho re-
words of the poet—
port also stated that the branch from Watlington to
Conquering and conquered, still to be a slave."
Wisbi eh was opened for traffic on the Ist instant, and in The
a few weeks the junctien of this branch with the Noble.Lord the Secretary for Foreign Affairs
Eastern Counties line from Wisbech to March and St. had dene justice to that admirable man who was
Ives could be completed, and, by that means, a commie- placed at the head of the Pontifical Government.
nication would be esealiehed with the St. Ives and His advent to that Government had been a blessing
Huntingdon line. The traffic, upon the portion of the to Italy. He had exercised all his influence for the
railways already opened, had averaged 4231. per week. purpose of removing some of the causes of complaint
The directors expected an accession of air important among the people, and he hoped that the
branch of traffic not included in the original estimates, Pontiff, assisted by the other Powers, would
viz., coal, in the direction of the River Ouze. The be enabled to remove easily the large amount of
average import of that mineral into Lynn for the last grievances so much needed to be removed, not only
seven) ears had been 244,000 tons annually, of which
in Rome but in Naples. He did not wish this
quantity about four- fifths passed into the interior in the
country to interfere in the internal concerns of other
direction of the company's lines. The directors,in accord
mice with a resolution at last meeting, had disposed countries, but that desire not to interfere was not at
of the new shares, the deposits upon which, amounting to all incompatible with the expression of the fullest
3,4771. 135., had not been paid. In compliance with sympathy on the part of this country with the op-
suggestions received from many holders of scrip certifi- pressed against the oppressors. The free-trade
cates fur the new 31. los. shares, the directors were wil- movement of Tuscany seemed also to be fraught with
ling, at the option of the holders, to allow the same to good to the Italian peninsula. It was a favourable
remain as scrip until the 31st of December, 1852, the thing that Rome had been enabled so to control the
period limited for the option of converting these shares Italian mind, as to obtain from them some security'
into the stock of the company; but it was intended to that those principles would not be lost, but that it would
issue sealed certificates to any of the holders of these
shares who might wish to register. finally end in a representative system of government.
The engineer's report stated the whole of the linos —(Hear, hear.) But the influence of Pius IX.
which had bt en opened for public traffic were in a very would pass away no doubt with his life, and it was the
perfect state of repair, and the works through the Fens interest of this country to establish upon a permanent
upon the Ely line had stood through the winter without basis the constitutions of the different portions of Italy.
the slightest appearance of failure. The piers for the In the free•trade movement of Italy, Sardinia occu.
permanent bridges over the river Ouzo and the middle pied about the same position as Prussia did among
level drain, on that line, were carried up considerably the Zellverein, and he had no doubt
above low- water mark, and all difficulty in their con- that the constitution recently establised there
struction had been consequently overcome. The short would prove acceptable to the people. Tuscany
line for connecting the Wisbech Station with had always been a place of considerable interest, its
the Eastern Counties line to March, St. Ives, and •
infl was wide s ; she had established
Peterborough, would very soon be completed, affording
theuence largest portions yof the illustrations of Italian
a communication with the Ely and Huntingdon line at
St. Ives, and with the line of the North-Western Corn- literature. Of Naples he felt bound to speak with
pany at Peterborough. The works upuu the 3d contract some degree of apprehension •; but he had no doubt
on the Derehain line (the only part of the company's that the seed sown there would eventually bring
lines under contract not completed), were progressing, forth fruit, and the King of Naples, warned by
and that line might be opened throughout early in the what he saw going on around him, would, he
summer. The statement of accounts showed the total had no doubt, finally unite with the other portions of
receipts to be 1,066,9854 ls. 2d., and the expenditure Italy. With respect to Sicily it must be retnem-
-1,062,7-111. I Is. 2d., leaving a balance of 4,2431. 10s. bered that although some blood had been shed still this
In answer to some inquiries made by Mr. O. Copeland,
country was the first to awaken in the bosom
a sharelielthr, it was stated that the banker's charges
d hear.) The name of Lord William Bentinck was
the Sicilians the lore of freedom.— (Hear,
for the last four months, amounting to 7111, include
the cost of debenture stamps and the commission paid
to brokers for loans. It was also stated that the engineer spoken of by the Sicilians with the most perfect rever-
was not paid by commission, but by salary, which the elle; and there was not a Sicilian bosom which did not
Directors had fixed at 1,0001. a-year. No arrangement heave with anticipation at the time when the Sicilian
had yet been made with the Eastern Counties Company people should be consulted on the subject of Sicilian
with regard to the rent to be paid by them for running laws. The idea of a commercial league in Italy
over the lines belonging to this Company. was a most happy thought. With the national
After a great number of other questions respecting feeling of Italy there was also united a con..
the report and accounts had been put and replied to, siderable amount of local feeling. The feeling of
Mr. COPELAND said the report presented a most unsa- the Sicilians was very distinct from the Tuscans,
tisfactory picture of the company's affairs, and was
and the Tuscans from both the Romans and the
entirely different to the prospect held out to the
shareholders when they were induced to embark Lombards. It would be wise still to cherish
these local feelings. The idea of one united king,
their capital in the concern in the expectation of
receiving 101. per cent for the money invested. done in Italy was a perfect chimera, and a dream
They now found that the present gross weekly receipts which could be indulged in by no persons who
amounted only to between 4001. and 500/. a week, which had really studied the position and feelings of
were scarcely sufficient to cover the working expenses; the inhabitants of the various states of Italy,
anti notwithstanding the confident statements made The example of Germany should be made the
by the directors en
.previous occasions they were groundwork of their future commercial regulations,
now asked to create additional capital to meet and then he had no doubt the commercial
the expenses which would be incurred in ex-
glory of Italy would again return. Genoa,
cuss of the estimates that had been made. In his
Leghorn, and Venice, those great marts of corn.
opinion the shareholders had been deceived and lured on
merce ould again see a return of those days of
by the sweet voice of' hope, which, however, was uttered
only to be broken ; and he had no confidgnce whatever splendour with which their remoter history was as-
in the way in which their affairs had been managed, sociated. He was not aware whether his Noble Friend
and, if no alteration was made, he was confident the would at present find himself in a condition to make
company would soon become a bankrupt concern. any communication to the House on the subject, but
Mr. BRUCE, the deputy-chairman, said, if' the share- of this he was convinced, that the matter might be
holders would assist the directors, and invest them with safely left in the hands of the Noble Lord; and
their confidence, they would consult their own interests therefore, without detaining the House further, he
much better than by attacking their honor, or indulging begged leave to move the motion of which he had
in abuse, Localise the directors had done everything in
'given notice.
their power to promote the interests of the company,
Viscount PALMERSTON said that his Hon. Friend
and if their proceedings were sanctioned the share-
holders might rest assured that it would not become a had called the attention of the House to some of the
bankrupt concern. most remarkable and interesting events which had 00
A good deal of warm discussion then took place upon curred in our time.—(Hear, hear.) It was, indeed, ins-
the affairs of the company, after which the report was possible for any man to witness the progress which con-
received and adopted.
stitutional opinions and institutions were making in
Mr. Abdy, M.l'., Mr. Bruce, Mr. Clay, M.P., and
Mr Self, were re-elected directors. Mr. Tucker was Italy without feeling the deepest and liveliest interest
re-elected auditor of the company's accounts. in that progress.—(llear, hear.) Italy was not only
Resolutions in accordance with the recommendation interesting in a very high degree from her peculiar posi-
in the report with respect to the creation of new shares tion at the present moment, but she was interesting to
were then passed, and after a vote of thanks had been use perhaps even still more, from our cherished and else
passed to the chairman, meeting separated. eating associations with her wondrous story, with her
rise, her greatness as mistress of the world, and her fall
to almost entire political iusiL;nificance—aninsignificance
from which he fervently hoped she was now about to
emancipate herself.—(Bear, hear.) Nor did he merely
hope; he felt confident that a brighter day was now
dawning on Italy.--(Cries of " llear, hear.") The
confidence with which we might look to the
future prosperity of that country was founded on the
gilts which nature had bestowed both on the land and on
its inhabitants. Amid all the political misfortunes to
which the country had been subjected, the natural vigour
of the Italian mind, the extent of its intellectual re-
sources, and, he might say, the splendour of its genius,
hid, even in the darkest periods of the political history
of the Italiaiis, shone forth with a brightness which bad
attracted the admiration of the whole civilised world.
It was most gratifying to see that the progress which
national liberty was making throughout Italy was a pro.
gross brought about by the harmonious accord of the
sovereigns and people of Italy—(Hear, hear)—and it was
ea that circumstance more especially that he ventured to
found his hope that the ameliorations now proceeding
there would be permanent and stable, for, based upon
mutual compact, they were naturally less likely to be
shaken by future untoward events. The Hon. Member had
adverted to the position of Austria in relation to the events
now passing in the Italian peninsula. It was highly
satisfactory to him, and he was sure it would be no less
gratifying to the House, that ho was able to state, that
so far as her Majesty's Government was informed of the
intentions of the Cabinet of Vienna, tiers was no reason
to apprehend that the policy of that Cabinet would lead
it to any hostile interference with the events which were
now taking place in Italy —(Cheers.) He had, indeed,
within the last twenty-four hours, received a communi-
cation from our Ambassador at Vienna, which gave very
satisfuctory assurances on this head.—(Renewed cheers.)
The course thus indicated was the course naturally to be
expected from the prudence and wisdom of the Austrian
Government; and most happy was he to find such a
course adopted.—(Hear.) With reference to the com-
mercial league of Italy, he should wish his Hon. Friend
and the House to defer asking for the correspondence on
this subject until a more expedient oecasion.—(Hear.
hear.) The general principles of that league only were
at present laid down on a broad basis, the details re-
mained to be fixed ; and he felt convinced that it would
only retard the progress of events to produce before the
House the various communications confidentially ex-
changed between the various Courts of Italy and our
Ministers there, as to the various suggestions and propo-
sitions made on the subject.— (Hear, hear.) He could
assure the House that the general principle which seemed
to actuate all parties was in the highest degree favour-
able to the promotion of the commercial prosperity of
Italy on one uniform basis ; and he would add, that so
far as it became the Government and this country to
tender advice, or to express an opinion, the advice was
offered in a spirit of earnest desire to aid in the develop-
ment of that prosperity.—(Hear, hear.) As to the
political changes proceeding in Italy, whatever the feel-
ings of her Majesty's Government on the subject, with
whatever gratification they witnessed the cause of
those political events—(llear, hear)—they did not
consider it fitting that the British Ministers is the
Peninsula should interfere further than the giving an
opinion when it should be sought by the various Go-
vernments.—(llear, hear.) And here let him say it was
most gratifying to her Majesty's Government to witness
the perfect confidence with which Englaad was regarded
by the various Italian potentates—(Hear, hear)—as
a marked instance of which he would state that his
Noble Friend, Lord Minto, had proceeded from Rome
to Naples inconsequence of the desire expressed by the
Sicilians on the one hand, and by the Goverment of Na-
ples on the other, that the friendly assistance of British
diplomacy should be applied towards the satisfactory
settlement of the points in dispute between them.—
(Hear, hear.) He was sure that those who were se-
painted with Lord Minto would feel that this task,
delicate, and difficult as it might be, could not have been
placed in better hands—(Hear, hear)—and that in any
advice which, at the solicitation of the parties, he might
think himself at liberty to offer, he would be actuated
by the most disinterested but earnest desire to bring
matters to such an adjustment as should be consistent
with the liberty, happiness, and welfare of the people,
and the just dignity and honour of the Crown.—(Hear.)
After a few words from Mr. COCHRANE, expressive
of his approbation of the conduct pursued by her Ma-
jesty's Government in reference to Italy.
Dr. 130 WRING consented to withdraw his motion,
and it was accordingly withdrawn.
NATIONAL LAND COMPANY.

Mr.F.O'CONNOR said the Attorney-General having
requested him to postpone his motion respecting the
National Land Company, in order to allow him time to
consider the proposed Bill, he would accordingly post-
pone it until that day fortnight.
Sir G. GREY was not aware that the Attorney-
General had requested this postponement; but, at all
events, he begged it to be understood that tho request
implied no assent on the part of the Government to the
proposed measure.
SHIPWRECKS OF MERCHANT VESSELS.
Mr. HUME moved, pursuant to notice, for a Select
Committee to consider whether, in all eases of shipwreck
and of collisions of merchant vessels, attended with
loss of life, an inquiry, as speedily after the accident and
as near as possible to the place, should bo appointed, to
examine into the attendant circumstances and causes of
the shipwreck, and to report to the Howie is "dila