The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-26 00:00:00

RAILWAY.

This Bill was read a third time and passed.
On the motion of Mr. WARBURTON, the Kendal Union
Gas and Water Bill was read a third time, as were the
Warrington Waterworks and the Great North of England
Bills.

Mr. DILLON BROWNE presented a petition from Kil-
common, in the county of Mayo, praying for the discharge of
Mr. Smith O'Brien from the custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms.
Mr. J. M. M'DONALD presented a petition from the
barony of Costello, county of Mayo, to the same effect.
Mr. O'CONNELL presented 17 petitions from various
places in Ireland against the Coercion Bill, and also one from
the town council of Cork, praying for the release of Mr. Smith
O'Brien from the custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms.
Mr. B. ESCOTT presented a petition from inhabitants of
the city of Winchester, in favour of the Catholic Relief Bill.
Sir G. SINCLAIR presented a petition from the Peace
Society of Preston against the enrolment of the militia.
DUTY UPON FOREIGN SUGAR.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL presented a petition from Glas-
gow, praying for the abolition of the distinction between free-
labour and other foreign sugar. He said that the petitioners
complained of the inefficient supply of sugar at present in the
market, and that the West India sugar imported into this
country this year was 30,000 tons less than it was last year.
The petitioners further prayed that sugar, the produce of
foreign countries, be might admitted on the same terms as sugar
the nroduee of freVolvp.r.in foreign countries.
AL .

Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD begged leave to ask Sir
James Graham (with reference to the return containing the
correspondence on the Rochdale borough memorial, Parlia-
mentary paper, No. 313, May 14th) whether inquiry was
made by Captain Woodford, chief constable, into the charges
against the police, referred to in that memorial, as stated to
have been made in the reply of the Rochdale magistrates ;
and, if so, what was the result of that inquiry ; and, whether
Sir James Graham has any objection to lay before the House
the proceedings thereon ?
Sir J. GRAHAM said he had ordered the inquiry to be
made and when he had received it it should be laid upon the
table of the House.

FOREIGN SUGAR DUTIES.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL begged leave to give notice that
he would, upon an early day after the Whitsuntide holidays,
move in Committee on the Sugar Duties Bill for a reduction
on foreign sugars, the produce of slave labour, to the same
amount as that now levied upon sugar the produce of free
labour ; and that if that should not he acceded to he would
move for the removal of differential duties upon all foreign
sugars.
IRISH LAND COMMISSION REPORT.
Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD begged leave to ask Sir
R. Peel, whether any Bill or Bills on subjects referred to and
recommended for consideration in the Irish Land Commission
Report will be proposed by her Majesty's Government this
session ; and if so, when it may be expected they will be sub-
mitted to Parliament, and to what points of such recommen-
dation they will relate. ?
Sir ROBERT PEEL said he was so well aware of the
excellent example which the Honourable Member set in Ire-
land as a landlord, that he conceived he was fully
entitled to ask that question, and he could assure
the Honourable Member and the House that this was a sub-
ject which had occupied the most earnest attention of the Go-
vernment; but the House was aware that a change had recently
taken place in the office of Chief Secretary for Ireland, and
that since the appointment of his Noble Friend to that office
he had been totally disabled by illness from paying any at-
tention to public business, and that was the sole reason
of legislation upon this subject having been delayed so long ;
but when his Noble Friend should be able to attend he would
be enabled to furnish an outline of the general plan contem-
plated by her Majesty's Government. In the meantime he
(Sir Robert Peel) might say that measures were about
being brought forward, into a detail of which it would be
premature in him now to enter, but he would just say that
one of them was to he a Bill for giving compensation to tenants
—(Cheers)—the second, a Bill to amend the law regarding
the ejectment of tenants in Ireland—(Cheers)--and the third
would contain a short outline for a general form of lease.
ACCOUCHENIENT OF HER MAJESTY.

Sir R. PEEL said the House was probably aware that an
event had taken place that day which would give great pleasure
to her Majesty's loyal subjects. He had to inform the House
that her Majesty had that day given birth to a Princess, and
he was happy to state that her Most Gracious Majesty was doing
well. He was sure that the House would allow him to
propose at once, without a notice, a motion on the
subject. He was sure that every Member of the House would
bear out the universal opinion with regard to the manner
in which her Majesty discharged her domestic duties.—
( Hear, hear.) He would without further observation move,
" That the House do present an address of congratulation to
her Majesty on the addition to her domestic happiness by the
birth of a Princess."

Lord J. RUSSELL was sure that every Member of the
House would eencur in the sentiments expressed, and every re-
mard ark which had fallen from the Right Hon. Baronet with re-
gto hes Most Gracious Majesty. He would content
himself with simply seconding the motion.
The motion was then put and
'tarried tol
DIR. SMITH O'BRIEN.
Mr. SHAW said that he rose, pursuant to &notice ,eisich be
had given, to move the discharge from the custody of the
Sergeant. at-Arms of Mr. Smith O'Brien. He begged
to state, in deference to the Hon. and Learned Member for the
county of Cork, who had also a motion to the same effect, that
he would have given way to the Hon. and Learned Member on
this matter, but that he (Mr. Shaw) felt his motion to be
better calculated to the discharge of the Hon. Member now in
custody. It was that feeling alone, and not a spirit
of rivalry which prompted him to press his motion.—( Hear,
hear.) The Committee which the Hon. Member had
refused to attend had now concluded its labours, and therefore
he was satisfied that there was nothing now to keep the Hon.
bythe and he
labours had
Member longer in confinement. The Committee had not yet
that statement
would be
Committee. He would move that William
made their rehpoorrnte, bouut
tallintheir concluded,
custody of the Sergeant-at-Arras at-
tending O'Brien, Esq., in
Smith
custody, '
discharged out of paying
this House, be
Chairman of that

fees.
Mr. HENLEY said that the Committee had concluded
its labours, and it now only remained for them to report to the
House ; and he could assure the House, when supporting the
motion of the Hon. Member for the University of Dirk lin, that
the public business had not suffered by the absence of the
Hon. Member, Mr. O'Brien, from the Committee.—(A laugh. )
Mr. P. BUTLER was glad to find that the motion now
before the House had emanated from the Honourable
Member for the University of Dubin. He did not
think it necessary to read the letter which had
been written by Mr. Smith O'Brien. The substance of that
letter was already sufficiently before the House. He could
not in any way find fault with the conduct of their ex-
cellent Sergeant-at-Arms, as he ought to do if She fol-
lowed the subject cf that letter. But on the :present
auspicious occasion, he did conceive that some course
might be pursued alike consistent with the dignity
of the House, and with the honour of that Member whose Jig-
charge he sought to obtain.

Sir R. PEEL said that the question of the Hon. Member
pertained to the point whether the discharge of Mr.
Smith O'Brien was consistent with the honour of the
House. In reply he was bound to say that no one regretted
the detention of that Hon. Member more than he did, and
that they had not the benefit of his presence on that, as it had
well been termed, auspicious occasion.—( Cheers.) Now he
was bound to say that her Majesty's Government had had few
more anxious subjects of consideration than his detention in
custody.—(Cheers.) Now it was the impression of her Ma-
jesty's Government that it was impossible to detain that Hon.

Gentleman in custody, and yet act in accordance with the feel-
ngs of the House, as they appeared in the course of this debate.
He was asked whether he would any longer consent to the ens-
tee), of Mr. Smith O'Brien, and whether his release cluld be
effected consistently with a regard to the authority of the
House? In reply he must say, that he thought the authority
of the House had been sufficiently vindicated, and that Mr. S.
O'Brien might be discharged from custody. In accordance,
then, with the universal feeling of the House, he should move
that Mr. O'Brien be accordingly discharged—(Loud cheers)—
especially when he recollected Hon. Members had discharged
their duties, and taken their part in the labours which had been
necessarily imposed upon Parliament.-.-(Cheers. )
The motion was carried with loud cheers, and without a
division.