The Sun.
London, England, 1848-09-06 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, TUESDAY.—SIR CHARLES NAPIER'S
SQUADRON.—This squadron left Cork on the 24th ult.,
as we announced at the time. The Amphion was nearly
on shore, working out; the Stromboli went to her as-
sistance, when she proceeded to join the squadron, con-
sisting of the St. Vincent, Prince Regent, Bellerophon,
Tweed, Frolic, Pilot, Helena, Dragon, and Stromboli.
A trial, under single reefed topsails, topgallant sails,
jib, and courses, was made the same day between the
'Tweed, Pilot, Helena, and Frolic, which ended by the
Pilot beating the Tweed about two miles, Frolic beating
the Tweed one mile and a quarter, and Helena beating
the Tweed about one mile. The weed did not sail so
well as when she first went out. There can be no doubt
that the Pilot is the most weatherly of the sailing brigs
in strong breezes.
The Reynard joined the squadron on the 25th, when
there was a strong westerly wind.
The Tweed, Pilot, Frolic, and Helena, made another
trial to day, which ended in similar results to those of
yesterday.
The Prince Regent, Bellerophon, and Amphion com-
menced a trial, but a fog came on which separated the
whole squadron. The line-of-battle ships picked up the
Admiral the same evening, but the fog continued very
thick the following day, generally blowing a hard gale
from the west-south-west, until the 2ith, when the
vessels that had parted company joined off Cape Clear,
viz., the Stromboli, the Pilot, and the Frolic, also the
Blenheim and the Dragon. The Helena was still miss-
ing, but had been seen the same day by the Pilot.
, On the 29th the wind was strong from the W.S.W.,
and a good deal of sea. The trials recommenced by
sending the Frolic to windward about two miles, when
the Pilot was ordered to chase her. The result, after
eight hours, was very little, and the trial was not de-
cided, in consequence of a change of wind.
The same results took place with the Prince Regent
and Bellerophon. If an opinion may be given, however,
the Prince Regent was the winner. But nothing could
be more satisfactory than the Blenheim, which vessel,
under sail, got her steam up, and, although started a
considerable time after the other vessels, going six knots,
weathered the whole (not excepting the brigs) in a most
extraordinary manner, which shows the superiority of
the screw to assist in going to windward. The Amphion
did not do so well, from not being able to carry her
mainsail, the funnel being before the mainmast, whilst
the Blenheim's is abaft the mainmast, Tho Reynard
showed the superiority of her sailing qualities to-day in
a strong breeze, being equal to the brigs.
The Dragon and Stromboli, as heretofore, kept their
stations well to windward under sail. The Helena
joined company to-day.
On the 30th, wind N.W., a little swell, but very fine
weather, several trials took place, the results of which
were, that after five hours' trial on a wind, carrying all
sail, the Frolic beat the Pilot nearly half a mile, and the
Helena upwards of a mile. The Prince Regent, after
four hours' trial on a wind just enough to take in royals,
beat the Bellerophon about 500 yards. They are very
equal ships in sailing—the Bellerophon, however, ap-
pears the stiffest.
The Pilot, Frolic, and Helena, made a trial with the
wind nearly right aft, carrying all possible sail (that is
Pilot and Frolic, as Helena did not make sail until the
trial was nearly over) for about an hour, going eight
knots, a beautiful race—Pilot and Frolic neck and neck,
the Helena astern.
Nothing has been so interesting as the trial between
the Blenheim, Amphion, and Reynard screw-vessels
under all sail on a wind, assisted by steam with the
auxiliary screw, going six to seven knots for two hours,
which ended in the Reynard beating the Blenheim about
a quarter of a mile, and the Amphion by upwards of a
mile. There was very little swell, which gives an ad-
vantage to the Reynard, otherwise, with a stronger
breezo' the Blenheim would beat. The Amphion has
either lost her sailing qualities, or the loss of the main
sail when the steam is up makes a considerable difference;
but the advantage that the Blenheim possesses with steam
and sail in going to windward of everything under sail
is the admiration of everybody.
On the 31st the squadron was employed the whole of
the day, which was much wanted, for seine of the ships
were very long in pet forming the common manceavres,
more particularly the Amphion and Helena.
On the lit inst. trials of sailing, with the wind on the
quarter, going five knots, and the wind. aft, running
towards Cork; the Frolic and Helena were the head-
most, the Bellerophon, Tweed, Pilot, Prince Regent, and
Reynard next, and nearly equal; the St. Vincent, Blen-
heim, and Aniphion last.
On the 2d inst., it being calm; near Kinsale, the
signal was made at day light for all the steamers to

THE PUBLIC BUSINESS OF THE
HOUSE OF COMMONS.

seats rising as 'in an amphitheatre. The vote is taken
by each party rising in turn ; but, in case of its being
demanded, the ayes and noes may :be called. The
Speaker attains to great accuracy in estimating the
respective numbers, and to great quickness in counting
them. Members of the Executive Government have no
seats in the House. Twenty-eight standing Committees
are appointed at the commencement of a session, and
all Bills originate in these Committees. No question of
order is debated ; all such questions are decided by the
Speaker, and if his decision be appealed from to the House,
it is decided by vote, without debate. In this way
questions of order, questions of adjournment, and ' the
previous question,' to bring a debate to a close, are de•
cided by vote, without debate. Besides this, a rule has
been adopted to limit speeches to one hour ; this rule,
called the One-hour Rule, was adopted in the year 1841."
Mr. Curtis, speaking of this one-hour rule, says, " It
has greatly facilitated business. It has improved the
quality of the speeches ; public opinion is decidedly in
its favour. The best proof of this is, that as these rules
are adopted only from session to session, and there have
been changes of parties since they were adopted, both
parties have in turn adopted these rules and acted upon
them. The most intelligent and experienced gentlemen
of the country approve of them, :both the previous
question' and the one-hour rule. The present Speaker
of the House of Representatives, Mr. Winthrop, has
lately, in a letter, expressed his opinion in favour of the
one-hour rule."

The Select Committee, appointed to consider the
best means of promoting the dispatch of public
business in the House of Commons, and to whom the
Parliamentary Proceedings Adjournment Bill was
referred, have agreed to the following report :
Your Committee proceeded to consider the question
referred to them "of the best means of promoting the
dispatch of public business."
They instituted an inquiry, in the first instance, into
the amount of business, private and public, which the
House has this session been called upon to discharge;
and they caused comparisons to be made between the
present and some past years, in such particulars as the
records permit.
A summary of the Committees which have been sit-
ting this session, Public and Election Committees, and
Committees on Private and Railway Groups, is given in
the appendix, with the names of the Members who have
been serving on them, and the number of days of their
sittings. This will show:-
44 Public Committees, some of them of more than
usual importance, with an average number of 15 Mem-
bers serving on each Committee.
28 Election Committees, with five Members serving
on each Committee.
14 Groups on Railway Bills, with five Members serv-
ing on each group.
17 Groups on Private Bills, with five Members serving
on each group.
112 other Committees on Private Bills.
Of the Public Committees that on
Commerdial Distress, sat ... 39 days.
Sugar and Coffee Planting, sat ,„ ... 39 days.
Navy, Army, and Ordnance Expenditure, sat 40 days.
Miscellaneous Expenditure, sat ... ... 37 days.
The average number of petitions presented during the
five years ending 1837 was 7,436 ; during the five years
ending 1842 the average rose to 14,014, being an in-
crease of 6,578 over that of the preceding five years;
during the five years ending 1847 the average rose to
16,397, being an increase of 2,383 over that of the pre-
ceding five years.
The number of petitions presented 4uring the present
session is upwards of 18,450.
This great amount of Committee business, and the
heavy demand it makes on the time of Members, must be
borne,in mind in considering the course of public business
in the House itself. The thin attendance in the House
from the hours of seven to ten o'clock, necessary in some
degree from the exhaustion of the morning labours, in-
terferes in an important manner with the progress of
debates.
The leaders of parties and the chief speakers corn-
mealy decline to address the House during those hours,
and the debates are consequently spread by adjourn-
ments over more nights than they would otherwise re-
quire.
The business of the House seems to be continually on
the increase. The characteristic of the present session
has been the number of important subjects under discus-
sion at the same time, and adjourned debates on all of
them. This intermingling of debates, adjourned one
over the head of the other, has led to confusion, deaden.
ing the interest in every subject, and prejudicing the
quality of the debates on all. Motions to adjourn the
House for the purpose of speaking on matters not rele-
vant to the prescribed business of the day are made more
often than formerly; and motions to adjourn the debate
have become of late years much more frequent. But it
must be observed, that under the regulation moved this
year by Mr. Hume, the orders of the day are now read
without debate, or opportunity permitted of addressing
the House; a rule which the Speaker, in his evidence,
says "has worked admirably."
To assist their inquiries, your Committee sought
counsel of the Speaker, and they had the advantage of hav-
ing the opinion of Mr. Speaker both as to the evils und, r
which the Hon: o labours, and as to the remedies which
it may be possible to apply. Mr. Speaker said :
" That the present state of public business, and the
slow progress of measures through the House, bad been
with him the subject of serious consideration.
" That of late years the progress of public business
had been impeded partly by the greater number of
Members who now spoke in debate, and consequently by
the frequency of adjourned debates, and partly by the
virtual abuse and evasion of the rules of the House.
" The attention of the Committee should be specially
directed to motions to' adjourn the House,' and to ad-
journ the debate.'" These motions Mr. Speaker consi-
dered as the great interruptions to the course of business;
and he suggested that "all questions of adjournment of
the House, and adjournment of debate, should be decided
without debate. Under this rule a Member would no
longer have any inducement to move the adjournment
for the purpose of making a speech on some extraneous
matter (as is now so often the case), as the question
must be decided without debate. Great advantage would
result from this change ; it would, in truth, only carry
into effect the intentions of the House. The rules
of the House provide that on days called order
days' certain orders shall be considered ; and on days
called notice days' notices of motions shall be consi-
dered. If Members can move the adjournment of the
House without any notice of any sort, and upon that
question may debate any other question, it is evident
that all the regulations adopted for the conduct of the
business of the House may be rendered quite in-
effectual."
The Speaker made other suggestions to the Com-
mittee, ono especially, to the effect that the House should
not insist on its privileges in certain classes of Bills
originating in the House of Lords, and of amendments
of Bills sent up to the Lords from the House of Com-
mons, by which the Speaker considers that the labours
of the session might be more equally distributed ; time
saved which is now necessarily lost, when, owing to in-
terference with privilege, the Lords' amendments are put
off, and a new Bill introduced ; and increased facilities
be afforded to the passing of measures through Parlia-
ment.
The Committee thought it would be of advantage to
learn the practice pursued in the conduct of business in
the Chamber of Deputies of France and in the House
of Representatives of the United States of America.
They were so fortunate as to obtain information on the
first head from M. Guisot, and on the second from Mr.
Curtis, of New York, who had been for four years a
member of Congress.
In answer to a question, whether the rules and orders
of the French Chamber were not originally nearly the
same as those of the House of Commons?
M. Guisot said:—" In the beginning of our Consti
tuent Assembly at the revolution, Mirabeau asked Eti-
enne Dumont to give him a sketch of the proceedings of
the English House of Commons, and Etienne Dumont
gave to Mirabeau such a sketch; it became the model of
the first rules of our National Assembly. So that in the
beginning of our revolution the proceedings of your
House of Commons became the source of ours. In 1814,
when the charter was granted by the King, the same
rules were adopted with some changes. I think it was
at that time that the cloture, as a means of closing the
debate, was introduced. Before it was introduced the
debates were protracted indefinitely, and not only were
the debates protracted, but at the end, when the majority
wished to put an end to the debate, and the minority
would not, the debate became very violent; and out of
the House, among the public, it became the source of
ridicule, and then a measure for demanding the closing
of the debate was introduced.
"The proceeding is this:—a Member or two Members
call La clotture.' The President puts it to the vote. If
any Member objects he can speak against the cloture.
One only can speak, and no reply is allowed; and then
the President puts the question—' Must the debate be
closed?'

Mr. J. Randall, a counsel practising in the federal
courts of the United States, in the city of Philadelphia,
confirmed Mr. Curtis's statements I expressed an opinion
that " the previous question" and the one• hour rule have
worked well. "At first the one-hour rule was much
opposed, but it has worked well ; it has fought its way
into public favour, and has the support not only of the
members of the House but of the people at large.".
Your Committee,
i in weighing the value of this evi-
dence, had to take into account how materially the con-
stitution and the mode of transacting business in the
House of Commons differed from those of the two Legis-
lative. Assemblies referred to.
In France the cloture has been found available with-
out any restriction on the length of speeches. In the
United States a limitation of the length of speeches has
been found necessary in addition to the power of closing
the debate.
In France important motions are considered in the
bureaux before they are discussed in the House. The
House meets in the morning, and the attendance is con-
tinuous. The cloture, in the form in which it is used in
France, could not be applied to our debates without the
risk of unjust surprises, and without other incon-
veniences.

In Washington a majority of the- House constitutes a
quorum; a majority, therefore, is always present, and
often a large portion of the whole number, which leaves
the power of demanding the " previous question" free
from many embarrassments with which it would be
attended here.

It is also of importance to recollect that the circum-
stance of her Majesty's Ministers having seats in th'e
House of Commons renders the subjects of discussion
more various and comprehensive than in legislative as-
semblies in which members of the Executive Govern-
ment are not permitted to be present, and where the de-
bates are of a less administrative character.
A great part of the legislation of the United States is
conducted by the Legislatures of the respective states.
The Parliament of the United Kingdom conducts the
whole work of public and private legislation, and to it
all parties have recourse for the redress of real or sup-
posed grievances. The extent, also, of the colonial em-
pire of Great Britain imposes very heavy additional
duties on the Imperial Legislature. It is certain that a
far greater amount of business is transacted by the Eng-
lish House of Commons than by the Chamber of Depu-
ties of France, or by the Legislative Assembly of the
United States.

Your Committee, appointed towards the close of the
session, and with a very limited time allowed for their
deliberations, felt that it would have been impossible,
with duo attention and with care fitting the occasion, to
have introduced material changes in our existing system.
They felt that any change recommended should be in
itself complete, and surely sufficient for its purpose.
They thought that any recommendation, to carry with
it due weight, should have had the general, if not the
unanimous approval of the Committee.
After as full a deliberation as the pressure of other
business and the limited time would allow, your Com-
mittee have agreed unanimously to recommend the fol-
lowing alterations in the orders and practice of the
house:--

get up stgarn, when the Dragon took the St. Vincent
in tow, the Stromboli took the Prince Regent, the
Blenheim took the Bellerophon, the Reynard took tho
Tweed, and the Amphion, after upwards of an hour's
delay, took the Helena, the Frolic and Pilot being or-
dered to Cork under sail, when one of the most interest-
ing sights ever seen at sea took place. The St. Vincent
was towed by the Dragon 7 knots per hour; the Strom-
boli towed the Prince Regent 5} knots; the Blenheim
towed the Bellerophon 4i knots; the Reynard towed
the Tweed 5 knots; and the Amphion towed the
Helena 3 knots. When the result of this trial is con-
..

RECOMMENDATIONS.
That when leave shall have been given to bring in a
Bill, the questions of the first reading and printing
shall be decided without debate, or amendment moved.
That when an order of the day shall have been read
for the House to resolve itself into a Committee of the
whole House upon a Bill which has already been con-
sidered in Committee, Mr. Speaker shall forthwith
leave the chair without any question put, unless a Mem-
ber shall have given notice of an instruction to such
Committee; but such resolution shall not apply to the
case where the Bill shall have passed through Com-
mittee pro forma for the purpose of being printed.
That when after due notice it shall have been ordered
by the House that orders of the day have precedence of
notices of motions, the House may resolve itself into a
Committee of Supply, or Ways and Means.
That when any Committee of ,the whole House shall
have gone through a Bill, and made amendments thereto,
the Chairman of such Committee shall report the same
forthwith; and that a day be appointed for the further
consideration of such report.
That on the consideration of the report of a Bill any
new clauses proposed to be added be first offered; and
the House shall then proceed to consider the Bill, and the
amendments made by the Committee.
That, in the case of en adjourned debate, it would be
of advantage that the debate should be resumed on the
next sitting day, and should have precedence over all
other business. Your Committee is at the same time
aware that there might be public inconvenience in laying
down any strict rule on the subject, fettering the discre-
tion of the House, and compelling the resumption of the
adjourned debate in preference to other business as a
matter of course. They content themselves with ex-
pressing a strong opinion that it would be advisable, both
with reference to the satisfactory discussion of the sub-
ject under consideration and to the general progress of
public business, that debates should, as far as possible,
be continued from day to day; and that there should be
such a relaxation of the rules of the House in respect of
the precedence of notices and orders of the day as to
leave the House entire liberty to give precedence on the
following day to an adjourned debate.
That with respect to any Bill brought to this House
from the House of Lords, or returned by the House of
Lords to this House with amendments, whereby any pe-
cuniary penalty, forfeiture, or fee, shall be authorised,
imposed, appropriated, regulated, varied, or extinguished,
this House will not insist on its ancient and undoubted
privileges in the following cases :
Ist. When the object of such pecuniary penalty or for-
feiture is to secure the execution of the Act, or the, pu-
nishment or prevention of offences.
2d. Where such fees are imposed in respect of benefit
taken, or services rendered under the Act, and in order
to the execution of the Act, and are not made payable
into the Treasury or Exchequer, or in aid of the public
revenue, and do not form the ground of public account
ing by the parties receiving the same, either in respect of
deficit or surplus.
3d. When such Bill shall be a private Bill for a local
or personal Act.
Your Committee, having considered the provisions of
the Parliamentary Proceedings Adjournment Bill, do
not think it advisable to recommend it for adoption by
the House.

sidered, —that of a squadron of ships, for instance, off
an enemy's port in a calm, being towed in by their own
vessels, this is a most important point to be desired,
more especially when effected by those vessels which
have the auxiliary screw only, such us the Blenheim,
Reynard, and Amphion, of whose especial performances
see more below.

At Six P.m. the squadron, except the Pilot and Frolic,
were all anchored in the Cove of Cork.

With regard to the screw-vessels, the Reynard, GO-
horse power, Commander P. Craeroft, has certainly rea-
lised more than the expectations of the service respecting
her. She has encountered terrific weather, and on one
occasion lost a fore trysail, which was blown to ribands;
two nights after she was obliged to put into Waterford
roads, the weather was so bad. No vessel could have
behaved better, or indeed so well, under the circum-
stances.

The first day's trial, above given, was brought to a
premature close as far as the Reynard was concerned, by
her fore-topmast and main topgallant-mast going over
the side, the result of the wire rigging with which she is
supplied; the mast head look-out went overboard with
the spars, but was happily saved from death. Wire
roping is not to be depended on. The Reynard and
Prince Regent were the only vessels which did
not part company with the Admiral. In the
trial with the Prince Regent, Bellerophon, Fro-
lic, and Pilot above given, the Reynard gives
the result as follows:—The Frolic weathered the Rey-
nerd in three hours 3,065 yards; Pilot • ditto, 1,416
yards; Reynard weathered on Bellerophon 2,936 yards,
and on Prince Regent, twd. miles. A fresh single reef
topsail breeze and very heavy swell. Unfortunately the
wind was very unsteady, veering 4-} points during the
trial; " but the above result may be considered correct,"
as ascertained by the angles. On the following day the
Reynard had a trial with the Blenheim screw guard-
ship, of 450-horse power, and the Amphion, of 300-horse
power, under steam and sail, beating the former 1,520
yards to windward, and the latter nearly three miles.
This trialionly lasted two hours, as the Blenheim had to
atop her screw for a hot bearing; but it was a very sa-
tisfactory one. The Reynard had two trials of sailing
on the Ist instant, of about two hours' duration each,
wind abeam and right aft. In the first she beat the
whole squadron, except the Helena and the Frolic.
In our extract yesterday from the letter of the Brazi-
lian Consul-General at Liverpool, expressing his high
opinion of th© efficacy of Captain Smith's paddle-box
boats, and especially as regards the aid they afforded in
saving life at the late awful burning of the Ocean Mo-
narch, we denominated the gallant writer of that letter
" Mr. John Pasco Grenfell." The proper title of that
gentleman is Admiral Grenfell, a veteran of the
Brazilian Imperial Government, in whose service he
has lost en arm. We should have stated also that the

" When there have been any very great party conflicts
in the Chamber, has this power of clOture been used in
a way that has beenoppressive to the minority ?—I think
not. Upon some special occasions the minority have
complained that the debate was closed, but generally,
when the question has been decided in the affirmative,
the minority have submitted without difficulty. I think
the majority never abused that power. The debates
lasted very long; even with the power of clature we have
had a debate of more than a fortnight.
" When the clOture is demanded, if a Member rises to
speak against it, is he allowed to speak on the main
question?—No, he speaks only on the question, Is the
chi:tire proper and just?' If he speaks upon the main
question, the President tolls him, Sir, you cannot
speak upon the main question; speak upon the question
of cleiture:
" With the existence of the power of clOture, is it your
opinion that all subjects have been amply and fairly de-
bated ?—Yes, it is quite my opinion. I never knew in
the Chamber of Deputies a debate which did not last
sufficiently long.
" Do you think that without some power of closing
debates, the public business in your Chamber could have
been conducted satisfactorily?—l think not. I think
the clOture in our Chamber was an indispensable power;
calling to mind what has passed of late years, I do not
recollect any serious and honest complaint against the
clOture. _

Your Committee trust that these alterations will be in
themselves useful improvements.
But is not so much on any new rules, especially re-
strictive rules, that your Committee would desire to
rely for the prompt and efficient dispatch of business
by the House. The increasing business calls for in-
creased consideration on the part of Members in the ex-
ercise of their individual privileges.
Your Committee would desire to rely on the good
feeling of the House, and on the forbearance of its Mem-
bers, and on a general acquiescence in the enforcement
by the Speaker of that established rule of the House
which reqnires that Members should strictly confine
themselves to matters immediately pertinent to the sub-
ject of debate.

French war•stearner Cuvier was fitted with the boats,
which was the means of saving the lives of all on board.
The Adelaide steam-tug, Master-Commanding Forbes
(Acting), was taken out of the basin this morning about
two hours before daylight. The Adelaide is decidedly
improved in appearance by what has been done to her,
having had the unsightly skeletons of paddle-boxes
removed from her bulwarks, and a large portion of her
machinery taken out, which is to be carried out in a
merchant vessel,' the space gained thereby being filled

up with water and prOvisions. The main objections to
her, however, still remain; she is too small for so long a
voyage and for the purpose intended, and she could
have been built, or a better vessel than her, in the coun-
try at less than half of what she wily cost by the time
of her arrival out. She is to sail to-morrow, barring
casualties.

- Your Committee, however, venture to express an
opinion that the satisfactory conduct and progress of the
business of the Reuse must mainly depend upon her Ma-
jesty's Government, holding, as they do, the chief control
over its management.
They believe that by the careful preparation of mea-
sures, their early introduction, the judicious distribution
of business between the two Houses, and the order and
method with which measures are conducted, the Govern-
ment can contribute in an essential degree to the easy
and convenient conduct of business. They trust the ef-
forts of the Government would be seconded by those of
independent Members, and that a general determination
would prevail to carry on the public business with regu-
larity and dispatch.
Aug. 14.

The masts of the Neptune, 120, advanced ship, were
;aken out to-day, and, if sound, will be placed in store.
Wind, S.W., light airs and ham.% with rain at times.

VAUXHALL-GARDENS.—The favourable state of the
weather during the last ten days, and the attractions of
lions, tigers, lion kings, Lucy Longs, and an endless
variety of horsemanship and horsewomanship, have co-
operated to fill this, the most ancient resort of the in-
habitants of London for amusement and recreation, with
some thousands of visitors nightly. The entertainments
are unusually numerous, indeed, there is a continuous
routine of all manner of strange exhibitions—something,
for every taste, and much to please all. The arrange-
ments have been made on a more than usual scale of

"Have you any limit put to the length of speeches by
any order of the House?—None at all. There is no
limit to the length of speeches, either on the main ques-
tion or on amendments."
Mr. E. Curtis, of New York—" Can you state to the
Committee whether the rules and orders of the House of
Representatives in Congress were the same as those of
the English House of Commons?—The rules and orders
changes?—The
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aat daesb
ea
at er.l'y'
1794 it had been settled that a question of adjournment
was was not debateable, and the practice has from that
continued and now exists, that a motion to adjourn shallime
be decided without debate.
,‘ Will you be so good as to describe in what way a
debate is brought to a clese?—lt is by the operation of
what we call the previous question. The previous
qu, stion with u; is not the same as that known in the
British Parliament. By Rule 50 of the House of Repre-
sentatives, the previous question shall be in this form,
• S,hall the main question be now put?' It appears, that
On'the previous question being demanded, it must be
lbc ye
r a announcesmajority;
and, urutetdh,isorh,eainsigthaespeehrrtazeids,, steheeondel
Speaker
by
tthueudHeoruds House.'
If Itislheourlrdevpia°sussielnutehsetiloiengiastidvee
:13 theended
subject bbj
and,bate isth ree
as re
ne
e ifn it ns thhaev
iantlig rbmeae
been
vceo,rit!ii
de
ere d debateth
ee e
mainase s;
quetion is put to the vote without debate.
" The number of the House of Representatives is
229. They sit round the Speaker in a half circle, the

BARNET CATTLE FAIR—SECOND DAY.—Yester-
day the buyers at this fair were fully as numerous as on
the former day, as many of the salesmen, graziers, and
jobbers in cattle had to attend Smithfield market on
Monday. By ten o'clock business became very brisk
among the store beasts of all kinds, particularly the
Scots and Herefords, which maintained the high prices
of Monday, the best Scots making 15Z per head, Here-
fords and Devons from 141. to 18/. per head, prime Welsh
beasts from 8/. to 12/. per bead. Mulch cows and in
calvers were nearly all disposed of by four o'clock. The
Irish beasts rather hung on hand, several lots remaining
unsold, and these are sent off to Harlow fair. The horse
fair was well attended by buyers, the best cart horses
making from 40 to 50 guineas each; cart colts, two years
guineas old, wer
ee a
enhe a. rlyvvaellls
h poniessold, the
and very best
or horses
s
were
selling for 35
thinned
making from 6/. to 151. each; best horses from 25 to 30
out the first day, not more than 200 being left, ponies
guineas each. Very little stock remains of any kind for '
the third day's fair.
BAIL OF A CHARTIST LEADER.—At the Judges
chambers yesterday, before the Lord Chief Justice Wilde,
John Shaw, a Chirtist leader, charged with sedition, and
who has carriel on an extensive business in the Commer-
cial-road East, as an undertaker, was admitted to bail.
The bail given was his own recognizance of 100/., and
two sureties of 501. each.
A company is
projected for establishing the omni-
bus system in Dublin, where, owing to some imperfec-
tions in the Police Acts, now at length remedied, the
omnibus has hitherto been a prohibited article.
FATAL ACCIDENT TO F. GOOLD, ESQ.—We regret
to state that F. Gould, Esq., barrister, eldest son of the
late Master Gould, was drowned yesterday off the Sligo
coast by the upsetting of a sail boat.—lrish Paper.

liberality, and it is to be hoped the proprietor will not
be a loser by his expensive outlay for the gratification
of the public.
SEA-LIONS AT CREMORNE-GARDENS.-A vast
number of persons have been attracted to Cremorne-
gardens to see what aro called nine " Sea-lions and
lionesses." These nine animals are exhibited in a large
basin on the esplanade of the grounds near the river, and
devour eels and other fish, to the astonishment of the
visitors. The " lions" and " lionesses" are of the seal
genus, and are as harmless as the usual race of London
lions by whom the cockneys are occasionally delighted
and amazed. They differ in the formation of the head
from the animal exhibited in Regent-street, and are of a
smaller size, As] a novelty to sight-seers they will be
very attractive, their gambols and antics in the water
being at least as good as most aquatic shows and diver-
sions. Those who have never seen what are termed
"the monsters of the deep" will be amuscd with these
animals.

TRADE.—On Tuesday morning a deputation of the
ART-UNION OF LONDON AND THE BOARD Or
council of the London Art-Union,
consistitg of Mr.
Auldjo, F R.S., Mr. Britton, F.S.A., Lord Compton,
Mr. Donaldson, Mr. Gaskoin, Mr. Godwin, F.R.S., Mr.
Morris, Mr. L. Pocock, F.S.A., and Mr. Troughton,-
attended Lord Granville, at the office of the Board of
Trade, to urge the objections which exist against the
proposal of the Lords of the Privy Council, that prize-
holders should not be limited to the purchase of works
of art from the public exhibitions of the year, but be
be ipermn the itted to buy them anywhere, provided only that they
possession of an artist, acid even to give com-
missions. Sir Denis Le Merchant, Mr. Porter, and Mr.
Nerthcote were also present.

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 6, 1848.

THE STATE OF SIEGE IN PARIS.
The following speech, delivered by General Ca-
vaignac in the National Assembly on Saturday last,
on the question of the state of siege, will repay
perusal :
Before I examine the question itself I deem it
necessary to plane it on its real ground, but it
appears to me that a few words, pronounced at this
tribune might tend to place -it elsewhere. It is
hot an executive power constituted by you which
comes forward to request you to close your eyes, to
make a sacrifice to it, to silence your convictions in
order to listen to, follow, and gratify its own. If such
were the question, you would certainly be justified in
saying you are not free. If the situation, suoh as we
propose to you to maintain, was to be maintained
by you contrary to your convictions, it might then
be said with reason that you deliberated without
being free. It is for that motive, citizens, I wish to
place the question in its real light. You have a
right to demand of us, and it is our duty to tell you,
what our opinion is. We have not hesitated to do so,
and I will begin with it. Yes, I declare it would be
dangerous for the country, for the Republic, and the
constitution itself, to remove the state of siege. Having
thus stated our opinion, we call upon you to make known
yours. You are aware of the state of the country;
the events pass under your eyes; [and you are as
good judges of the situation as we are. Well, it
is with those elements, which suffice for us, to which
we thank you for wishing to add the weight of our opi-
nion, that we invite you to come to a decision and mani-
fest your intention. I will now take the liberty of
replying a few words to some of the arguments pre-
sented to the Assembly. I might confine myself to repeat
what was said by the Hon. M. Cremieux. I declare,
like him, very sincerely, that I do not believe that
the liberty of the Assembly is anywise impaired by
the state of siege. You were told that it was the As-
sembly decreed the state of siege, that it was the As-
sembly that committed it to our hands to use it under
its eyes, under its control, subjected to its approba-
tion or blame, and with the evident right of taking it
from us whenever it thought proper to do so. Conse-
quently, I cannot understand those who assert that the
Assembly is not free. The example of Spanish consti-
tutions has been mentioned. It will suffice for me to
say, in reply to that argument, that the state of siege
was not proclaimed in Spain by a deliberating assembly,
but by a power different from that existing at present in
France—by a monarchical power, claiming a divine in-
stitution, hereditary, and directed, perhaps, against the
deliberating assembly itself. In that respect, there is,
in my opinion, no comparison to be instituted be-
tween the consequences of the state of siege for the con-
stitution of a neighbouring nation, and its probable con-
sequences for ours. I believe so and rejoice at it.
Another example has been cited which touches us more
closely, I mean the republican constitutions which
were voted in our country by assemblies who did
not deliberate 'under a state of siege. To this an
easy answer may be returned, but I must begin
by reminding the ' Assembly that my father was a
member of the Convention, and that I am happy and
proud of being the son of such a man. The state of
siege did not exist ; but terror replaced it, and I re-
peat and wish it to be understood that my words convey
no blame, and that I merely wish to draw a comparison,
which, thank God, is entirely to the advantage of the
present time. Some expressions I used on the 7th of July
have been cited. Circumstances, however, are different.
There existed at that period an excitement in the public
mind which might have influenced the decision of the
Assembly. This is what I meant, and what I am not
afraid to repeat. I might well say, after the suppres-
sion of the revolt of June, occasioned, in a great mea-
sure, although not exclusively, by the licentiousness
of a certain portion of the press, that it might
have been inexpedient for the Assembly placed
under the legitimate emotion caused by those events,
to discuss and vote an organized law of the press. But,
were these events loss remote than they are at present,
were the emotion as great, it does not follow that the
Assembly could not, with a perfect liberty of mind and
conscience, frame a constitution. I do not be-
lieve that the elements of our republican in-
stitutions contributed to disturb our country.
Those disorders were produced by the licentiousness
of a portion of the press ; and, I repeat, I can see
no comparison to be drawn between the argument I ap-
plied to the inconvenience resulting from the vote of an
organic law of the press, six weeks ago, and its application
to the discussion of a constitution. I must now reply to
a last objection, which was not produced at the tribune,
but which is entertained by a few persons. Some of our
colleagues, in their uncertainty relative to the utility
of the measure proposed to them, asked us whether
we really made it a Government question ? We re-
plied, that the Assembly had called us to the post we
hold under difficult circumstances. We assumed it with
resolution and devotedness, as we hope to quit it with
honour. But, the post my Hon. Friends and I occupy
at this moment is one of those posts which one quits
with the honour of a victory or the grief of a de-
feat. As to a desertion, we are all incapable of
it. Thus, I leave the Assembly neither the argu-
ment of an absolute confidence in the men whom
it had placed at the head of the Government, nor the
argument drawn from the desire it might have to main-
tain us at our post. I wished to place the question on
its real ground, in a clear and precise manner, in order
that, if the Assembly should decide on discussing the
Constitution under the state of siege, it might not be
said one day that it discussed it under the influence of a
moral constraint exercised by the Government. Were
the Assembly to raise the state of siege, it would, we
declare, create a real danger."

CHOLERA, ITS PREVENTION
AND TREATMENT.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SlR,—The Sanitary Commissioners, in their second
report, as presented to beth Houses of Parliament, having
been pleased to speak favourably of my evidence relative
-to the successful treatment of cholera, I am induced,
through the medium of your columns, to offer to the
public, in the spirit of that evidence, a few remarks as
instructions for the prevention and treatment of that dis-
ease; and for the sake of brevity I will make the follow-
ing classification:-
1. PREVENTION..--I recommend comfortable and nu-
tritious animal food of_ the solid kind, warm clothing, an
attention to regular hours, free ventilation, and cleanli-
ness; also lime-washing the dwellings of the poor. I
advise abstinence from spirituous and fermented liquors,
from all fruit and raw vegetables, from all salt fish and
oyster's—the latter especially—from all excesses which
debilitate the constitution; and, above all things, I de-
precate the use of strong purgative medicines.
2. THE EARLY, OR PREXONITARY STAGE, AND ITS
TREATMENT.—SO far as my observation extended in
1832, I found that spasmodic cholera, with few excep-
tions, was preceded by certain premonitary symptoms, of
which diarrheas or purging was the most prominent; but
which symptom was too often overlooked by the persons
labouring under the attack. It, therefore, becomes of
vital importance, now that we apprehend that cholera is
taking the same route towards this country that it did
in 1832, that every case of purging which may occur
should, without loss of time, be arrested in its progress ;
for so fully convinced am I of the benefits resulting from
a prompt attention to bowel complaints, that I believe
that the actual choleric symptoms may, in the majo-
rity of cases, be thereby prevented. The purg-
ing is for the most . part accompanied by nausea, and
a disposition to vomit, followed by a sense of heat
and weight in the stomach, slight cramps in the
bowels and legs, great weakness, diminished action of
the heart, and coldness of the surface of the body. It
is essentially necessary to point out to the public, and
more especially to the poor, such remedies for this, the
early stage, as are at their command, and at what period
of the disease they should be employed. When sickness
with derangement of the bowels is felt, the patient (if an
adult) should mix a table spoonful of mustard, or double
that quantity of common salt in half a pint of warm
water, a third part of either to be taken every ten mi-
nutes until free vomiting be produced; after the stomach
has been well cleared out with more warm water, thirty
drops of tincture of opium should be given in a glass of
brandy and water, to be followed up with a pill com-
posed of five grains of calomel and two grains of opium;
for an adult, small doses of these to be taken at intervals
of every two hours until bile is observed to pass in the
evacuation; but in the event of children being suddenly
attacked with bowel complaints of this kind, I recom-
mend one drop of the tincture of opium for each year of
their age, to be given in sugar and water; they are
not to take the pills alluded to; but if under twelve
years of age, then one grain of calomel is to be
given every two hours, until the same effect (the pass-
ing of bile) be visible in the evacuations. Families
should also have in readiness a mixture of the following
form: prepared chalk oz., white sugar 2 lumps, cinna-
mon powder or aromatic confection 2 drachms, tincture
of catechu 1 ea., opiate confection 1 drachm, sal volatile
2 drachms, cinnamon or peppermint water half a pint,
of which.mixture an adult may take three tablespoonfuls
after each disordered motion; and children under 12
years of age one tablespoonful. I also strongly advise
the use of an embrocation of heated turpentine to be
rubbed over the bowels and extremities, to which the ail-
dition of one-third part of laudanum would be a most
important improvement; should the ingredients of this
embrocation not be at hand, mustard ;poultices ought
to be placed on the stomach and bowels. Common
wine bottles or stone jars, filled with hot water, and
rolled in flannel, are also to be applied to the
stomach and feet. If tho apartment be at all eligible,
the patient should not be removed, but be kept in
a perfectly horizontal position,: as any attempt
to sit upright might prove fatal. The patient
will experience a great relief from the cramps by having
a bandage tied tightly around the seat of pain. Cramp
being one of the most distressing symptoms in the dis-
ease, if not moved by the preceding means, I can, from
recent experience, speak highly of tho internal adminis-
tration of from two to five drops of chloroform, in a little
ginger tea or any warm fluid, as one of the most efficient
agents in removing choleric spasms.
3. THE COLLAPSE, OR BLUE STAGE, AND ITS TREAT-
MENT.—In this stage all the powers of life aro appa-
rently suspended, in consequence of the intensity of the
liquid evacuations ; the cramps increase in severity, and
all the symptoms become aggravated. The treatment in
this stage is as nearly allied as possible to that of the
early stage, as the remedies there prescribed aro now to
be given more frequently, and in larger doses. Here I
must call upon the attendants to bo unremitting in rub-
bing in the turpentine embrocation over the body and
extremities, and to be prompt in giving to the patients
stimulants, such as brandy, or whisky mixed in hot
water, to which may be added a teaspoonful
.of the tinc-
ture of ginger or of capsicum; and if these be not in
readiness, they should give one teaspoonful of sal vola-
tile instead, until reaction he produced,
4. THE RECOVERY.—It frequently happens that this
stage is ushered in by an attack of fever, when it will
become necessary to avoid the use of stimulants, and to
have recourse to the common saline draught, cooling
drinks, mild diet of the farinaceous kind, such as arrow..

root, sago, tapioca mixed with milk. Should the head
be affected, and the face flushed, cold lotions should be
applied, and leeches to the temples. In thesc instructions
I have endeavoured to adopt the. simplest mode of ex-
pression, to suit the understandings of the poorer
classes; and, in conclusion, I again wish to impress upon
all persons the necessity of paying prompt attention to
the slightest approach nf diarrhoea., as it may be the
means of saving the lives of thousands.
I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant,
50, Parliament-street. N. M'CANN.