The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-10 00:00:00

LNGE.-- (THIS DAY
Gibraltar
Leghorn

Genes...

• •• 30 75
• ... 26 10

Milan ..

Venice

Naples
Palermo, per oz.. 1191
Lisbon.... • .
0p0rt0.... ..
Rio Janeiro ........ • • 24%
Bahia .. . .....
Buenos iyras •• •

New York, 21 days' sight
Philadelphia .. .. • .

PAICTS or BULLION, ?YR OZ.
Foreign Gold in bars.. £3 17 9
Portugal Gold Coin • • 3 17 5
'New Doubloons ... • . 0 0 0
New Dollars ....... • 0 4 9%
Silver in bars .... •• • • 0 '4
11 1,4

M PERIAL PARLIAMENT
(THIS EVENING.)

HOUSE OF LORDS.

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Wool-
sack at the usual hour.
ASSASSINATIONS IN IRELAND.
Lord DUNCANNON gave notice, that on Thursday,
he should move for a return of all the murders or at-
tempts to murder, in Ireland, since the year 1842, as
also the amount of the rewards offered for the disco-
very of these offences since January 1842 ; the nature
of each offence ; the number of rewards claimed, and
the number of convictions which followed.
CORN LAWS.

A NOBLE LORD presented a petition from Wigton
preying for the repeal of the corn-laws.
The Duke of BUCKINGHAM presented petitions
from the counties of Buckingham, York, Monmouth and
Ilreeen, against any change in the present system of
prot-ction.
Lord CA MPBELL presented a petition very nume-
rously and respectably signed at Birmingham, praying
for a reduction of all duty on the importation into this
country of copper ore. The petition stated that an im-
mense quantity of copper ore was imported into this
country and was still subject to a large duty, though
the duty had been reduced. It also stated
that during last year the price of copper had risen 12
per cent, which impeded the work of the manufacturers
considerably.
Lord KINNAIRD presented a petition from Altos, for
the abolition of all protective duties on agriculture, and
also one to the same effect from the county of Forfar.
NUNS OF MINSK.
The NOBLE EARL proceeded to say, that on a pre-
vious evening he had given notice to the Noble Lord
the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of his intention to ask
him a question on a subject which had excited a great
sensation throughout all civilised countries. It had been
stated that in a state in Europe the most barbarous
and savage acts which it was possible to conceive had
been committed ; and though it might be questionable
how far they were entitled to interfere in the internal
relations of other countries, he still thought that an in-
terference by peaceable means, and peaceable remon-
strances, with regard to such acts as be was about to call
the attention of their Lordships, so far from being at
variance with national proprieties,was perfectly justifiable.
He alluded to what had especially been brought under
their attention lately, and of which they had read and
heard much. He referred to Lithuania, where scenes
had taken place so incredible, that it was with the
greatest difficulty they could be led to believe them. He
had taken great pains to arrive at the truth of the facts
alleged, and the result was that they were
too true. He had learned from the most undoubted au-
thority that that country had witnessed barbarities of a
most atrocious character. He would not harrow up their
feelings with a description of the horrors and cruelties
which had been committed in Lithuania on un-
protected nuns, and persons holding the Roman
Catholic Faith. He would be content with
stating shortly the leading facts of the case. In
1837 it appeared that the principal of the Roman Ca-
tholic Church in that 'district became converted from
the Roman Catholic to the Russian or Greek faith,
and in consequence he obtained an unlimited power
from the Emperor of Russia to use every means
for the conversion of the Roman Catholics hitherto
under his direction. He made his first attempt
at conversion upon the sisterhood of Minsk,
and, after obtaining the conversion of the prin-
cipal or head to his views, proceeded to use his influ-
ence with the nuns to change their religion. Having
failed in his attempt he gave them three months to
consider his proposition, at the end of which
time he expected them to give an answ,r. Fail-
ing to obey this injunction the principal, at
the head of a body of soldiers, seized upon
the sisterhood and took them into custody. They were
then put to every kind of servile and menial employ-
ment, and obliged to associate with the lowest dregs of
society. After two years' servitude of this kind, from
fear that the bishop of their church would influence
the people of the town to rise in their favour, they were
removed to a neighbouring town, where they were
put to labour which no female ought to or
could endure. They were obliged to serve the masons
engaged in building the palace, and so hard was the
labour that eight of them died at the work, and three
others immediately after. The cruelties inflicted on
them were such as to make their Lordships' blood shud-
der. They were given salted herrings with the object of
increasing their thirst, and denied a cup of water to
quench it, while they fed on alternate days upon bread and
water. They were brought to the lowest possible state,
and then when they would not abandon their religion,
they were made to receive fifty lashes twice a week.
Under this treatment several of them died. Not only
were they made to suffer this treatment, but were sub-
jected to other treatment which he could not name.
lie did think that a worse spirit was never evinced by
the most ruthless of the Roman emperors, or that acts
mweorree horrible were ever committed by them. There
flow four brought forth and placed under a
and koefpt water e
uunnttdil
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IT)
al
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osto
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he
Such
(Laud elties do ind
d eedwaas much ppemarailmost incredible, but
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rKennair
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They were forced to drink gsalt te
out of eighteen eleven only survived this
trea'ca
t !land.
lie did feel very anxious on this subject, as there had
been assertions made against the Emperor of Russia,
and as this Government were on amicable terms with
that sovereign, he hoped an inquiry would be instituted
into the affair. He was sure it would not be considered
that this Government were improperly,matrt hu
tor
thatfor it w
a hostiales
reason, interfering in this matter,
charityinterfering
ug
hfot rt o
aiedhutteme at
hnee purpose.
i r
Lordships
toT h c
me a
kea cause of
ee
en-
deavournuns.Tthoemqiutiegsatiteen thhee
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rteheeeiSveeder
ae
et ay yi e
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tForeignien en
the
sAffairsh subject,
, or wwheotuhledrhheehhavade
_
be
any objection that some information sho
be eeuldpnrsiocd
on the subject. He was sure it couldconsidered
not