The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-09 00:00:00

SUN, LONDON, MONDAY BYRN

from home at night by transportation, as one subjecting every
Irish peasant who might desire not to be confined to his mi-
serable cabin for 16 hours to the punishment of transportation.
Lord BROUGHAM explained.
The Earl of St. GERMANS felt obliged to the Lord Chief
Justice for stating his objections. With refennce
to the proclamation of a district he thought that
proposed measure rejoicing that the Lord-Lieutenant
should not have the power of proclaiming a district
unless a crime had been committed there was
rather a check on the power of the Lord-Lieutenant.
With regard to the change of venue he agreed with the
Noble and Learned Lord, as also with regard to
the 20th clause which he would leave out if
he were certain of some general measure passing on the
subject. Then with regard to the punishment of transporta-
tion for absence from home, that had been so ably argued
by the Noble and Learned Lord that he would not allude
to it further. The misdomeanour itself was one characterised
by such different degrees of guilt that he thought the pun-
ishment ought to be left, as proposed by the Bill, to the
discretion of the judge.
The Earl, of STRADBILOKR thought that persons out at
night not armed should not be subject to a greater punish-
ment than imprisonment, and that those found out armed
hould be subject to transportation.
(uct-r sirruict.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at a few minutes before
Four o'clock.

SECOND READINGS.

The following Bills were read a second time and
ordered to be committed, viz.:—

Dundee New Gas

Dover and Deal Railway
Upwell-cum-Welney Rectory
Northumberland Docks

Congleton and Crewe Railway
Great Grimsby and Sheffield Junction Railway Ex-
. .--

_
tension (No. 2)
Glasgow, Barrhead, and Neilston Direct Railway
..._

(Branches to Thornliebank, Househill, and Hurlet)
Ely and Bury Railway
Southport Improvement
Dundee Gas Amendment

Colchester Navigation and Improvement
Bury Gas
Bury Waterworks
Monmouthshire Railways
Rugby and Huntingdon Railway
Derby and Crewe Junction Railway
Woodstock Roads

Chichester, Portsmouth, and Fareham Railway (by
order)
London and Birmingham Railway and Birmingham Canal

Arrangements (by- order)
Eastern Union Railway—Ardleigh to Colchester (by
order)
Gravesend and Rochester Railway
Great Western Railway
Huddersfield and Sheffield, and Manchester and Leeds
Railways Amalgamation
_ _ _

Liverpool and Bury, and Manchester and Leeds Rail-
ways Amalgamation
Mitcham and South-Western Railway (by order)
General EVANS presented a petition, signed by 170
shareholders, praying that the Great North and South
Wales Railway Bill might not pass into a law.
NEW WRIT.

Mr. YOUNG moved for a new writ for the borough
of Windsor, in the room of Ralph Neville, Esq., who
has accepted the office of one of the Lords of the
Treasury.
Mr. ENTWISLE presented a petition, signed by
the Mayor, 10 alderman, and 199 of the principal in-
habitants of Manchester, in favour of the West Riding
Union Railway Bill, and praying that the standing
orders might be dispensed with.
Several other lion. Members also presented petitions
to the same effect.
THE GOVERNMENT MEASURES.

Mr. 0. DUNCOMBE presented a petition from the
North Riding of Yorkshire against the measures proposed
by the Ministry.
Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL presented a petition from
the county of Clare praying fur the establishment of a
loan office in that county.
FREE TRADE.

Mr. BRIGIIT presented several petitions in support
of free trade.
PUBLIC FUNDS FOR HORSE-RACING.

Dr. BOWRING presented a petition from a place in
the north of England, the name of which we did not
catch, against the granting of any public funds for the
encouragement of horse-racing. Also a petition against
the West Riding Union Railway Bill.
Sir J. TYRLELL presented a petition from Cogshill
against calling out the militia.
THE POST-OFFICE.

Mr. THOMAS DUNCOMBE presented a petition
from the proprietor of the Sentinel newspaper (as we
understood) complaining that when any inquiry was
entered into by that House with respect to the Post-
office, the Post-office authorities withheld information.
He also complained of a publication called the
Post- office Directory, by which he said the
public were injure. Mr. Kelly, the proprietor of that
publication, had stated that the :profits of the work
amounted to 1,2561. per annum, whereas the petitioner
was prepared to prove that they amounted to 10,0001.
per annum. He, therefore, prayed for inquiry.
MERCHANT SEAMEN'S FUND.

Mr. HUME presented a petition from a meeting pre-
sided over by Sir E. Codrington, praying for an inquiry
into the state of the Merchant Seamen's Fund, with a
view of founding some substantial and proper establish-
ment, which would include all merchant seamen, and ap-
plying the funds, which were now disposed of, in five or
six different ways, to their proper purposes.
THE RAJA OF SATTARA.

The HoN. Mia:MBER presented a petition from an As-
sociation in Dublin, praying for an inquiry into the cir-
cumstances which had led to the deposition of the Raja,
with the view of removing the injustice which seemed
to have been exercised in his case.

STEAM COMMUNICATION WITH AUSTRALIA

Dr. BOWRING begged to put the question of which
he had given notice, namely, whether any measure had
been taken in order to give to the colony of Australia
the advantage of steam navigation ?
Mr. CARDWELL said the subject was a most im-
portant one, and the attention of Government had been
directed to it, but he was not then in a position to inform
the Hon. and Learned Member that Government had
determined on any fixed plan, with regard to the afford-
ing steam communication to Australia.
FAMINE IN IRELAND.
Mr. O'CONNELL hoped the House would allow him
to correct a mistake into which some of the news-
papers had fallen respecting the statement which he
made on Friday evening concerning the failure of the
potato crop in various parts of Ireland. On that even.
ing he produced a letter from the Rev. Mr. Doggett
(as we understood), which set forth that the potato crop
had failed in many parts of Ireland. He (Mr. O'Connell)
also stated that he had received a communication from
Queen's County, with respect to which he was reported
to have said " that he regretted the absence of the Hon.
Member for that County (Sir Charles , Coote), than
whom a better landlord did not exist, because
he would have been able to corroborate the
information which he had received, that his
tenants had lost half of their crop." He stated this
much because nothing could be more correct. He was
then reported to have said that "whole families were com-
pelled to subsist on the charity, for it was well known
that an Irishman would share his la.it potato with his
unfortunate neighbours." He did made such a state-
ment but, it applied to other parts of Ireland. The
Right Hon. Baronet to whom he referred took care that
his tenants were not dependent upon charity lor their
existence.—(Hear, hear.)
[The mistake arose from the low tone of voice in
which the Hon. and Learned Member spoke on the
evening in question.,
Sir CHARLES COOTE thanked the Hon. Member
for the correction.

OFFICERS IN THE DUBLIN LAW COURTS.
Mr. HUME moved for a return of the names and
salaries of all persons holding offices in the law courts
in Dublin, and of the names and salaries of those, if
any, who discharged their duties by proxy.—Agreed to.
EAPORTATION OF;SALT.

An rim MEMBER moved for a return of the quantity
of British salt exported during the past year, with the
ports from which the vessels sailed, which was agreed to.
THE COMMERCIAL POLICY OF THE COUNTRY.

Sir R. PEEL gave notice of his intention to-morrow
evening to move for the production of various returns
illustrative of the commercial policy of this country with
Belgium, and of the effect of the reduction of the duty
on flax ; also for various returns connected with the
importation of British and foreign sugars.
MERCHANT SEAMEN'S BILL

Sir C. NAPIER wished to ask the Right Honourable
Gentleman the Vice-President of the Board of Trade
when he proposed to bring in the Merchant Seamen's
Bill ?

Sir G. CLERK was unable to give any definite or
positive answer to the question of the Honourable and
Gallant Member.
DISTRESS IN IRELAND.

Mr. O'CONNELL rose to put a question to the
Right Hon. Baronet opposite with respect to the state of
the potato crop in Ireland and the consequent distress
it had entailed upon the people of that country. Be-
fore, however, he put the question ho wished to say a
few words upon the &abject, and to assure the Right
Honourable Baronet that the accounts he had received
from Ireland were real].) frightful. In the county which
he represented the distress was very extensive, and
he had accounts from men of experience detailing
the rapid progress and increase in the potato decay.
He wished to impress on the Government the fact that
this falure of the potato crop would have a fatal effect
on the people of Ireland ; and also that the sums of
money already voted by Prrliament would not suffice to
give relief to the people of Ireland. He begged to be
understood that he was not sueing, in forma pauperis,
for money from this country ; he concluded by asking
the Right Hon. Baronet whether he was prepared to lay
upon the table of the House a statement of further mea-
sures intended to be taken, in order to obviate the im-
pending famine in Ireland ?
Sir H. PEEL was sorry that the statement read by
the Hon. Member did not at all vary from the impres-
sion which had been made upon his mind with
reference to the probable pressure that would be
felt at a later period of the season, and the inability
obha
efeacrdt
übe
that
hietnsanht
recentlyraetbheieteais
received
et
damriteenolcaetnhi
iho
provideedm ;y months
ans
factsthwell
of themselves with other arti-
ticles of subsistence. He had reason to believe from the
would
fromcutlodb er
follow.those
andN
which Nove-
mber, elsmh e-
Hon. Member was aware that the first act
of the Government had been directed towards providing
subsistence for the people by the best means, he alluded
to employment. He considered that it would
be far more satisfactory to the feelings of
the people who were suffering under the scarcity
to enable them by payment for their labour
to pay for their. food. Ile believed, in justice to.

wards the labouring classes, of those who were in the
greatest destitution, that it would be more agreeable
to their feelings to give them an opportunity of earning
their subsistence by labour than trusting to charity.
The Hon. Member was aware that the first acts of the
Government, preliminary to that measure, which will
be brought under the discussion of the House this even-
ing, was to submit to Parliament three or four measures
for the relief of Ireland. They had made advances in
those measures towards erecting piers and harbours
upon the south and west coast of Ireland, in order to
enable the inhabitants, with more security, to carry
on their fisheries.—(Hear.) They had also proposed
to give to the grand juries of Ireland the power
of raisin.. money. The sum of 100,0001. had been
advanced out of the public funds to encourage the grand
jury to make presentments for public works. These
measures involved an advance of public money,
which he believed would facilitate the means
of giving more employment to the people than was
in general to be obtained. If, however, the measures
proposed and the sums advanced by Government should
not be sufficient for the purpose, while the Parliament
was sitting there would be no difficulty in making fresh
advances ; and even if the House should not be sitting,
sooner than the people of Ireland should be in a starving
condition, he should not hesitate to take upon himself
the responsibility of making further advances to obviate
the mischief. Nothing could be easier than obtaining
renewed and enlarged powers. The Honourable
Member, however, would agree with him, that it
was not wise to be too liberal, because, after all,
the great a,sistance must be derived from local efforts.
He had every reason to know that it was used in the
United States very generally for the purposes of food,
and it was admitted that Indian corn was a most palatable
article. The Government had provided information as
to the best mode of preserving it for use, and had adopted
every measure in their power to avert the dreaded tamine
in Ireland. In the month of November last, on
their own responsibility, they ordered a very large
quantity of Indian corn, and it had since
arrived, and every facility wou'd be afforded for supply-
ing it to those districts where it would be required to
avert the dangers likely to arise from a scarcity of food.
He hoped the Honourable Gentleman would not require
him to explain further at present, as it would not be
prudent at the present time to enter into details. It
would be most important, and he was sure it would be
fully accorded, the concurrence of the landed proprietors,
who should use their exertions to aid the Government
in the carrying out of their intentions. He did assure
the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. O'Connell) that every exer-
tion had been made, and every precaution taken, not
last week, or the week after, but many mouths ago, to
avert the threatened famine in Ireland.

In reply to a question put by Sir R. H. INGLIS,
Sir R. PEEL, who spoke with his back to the gal-
lery, and in a low tone, was understood to say that in
the event of the present Corn Bill receiving the sanction
of the Lords and Commons, the duties on corn which
shall be received in the meantime should be repaid to
the importers.
Dr. BO WRING wished to ask the Right Hon. Baronet
at the head of the Government, whether any inquiries
had been made by the Government as to the late
potato crops in such countries as usually imported
that article of food to this country?
Sir ROBERT PEEL said that it had been found
that there had been a great failure in the potato crop
in Italy, Spain, Belgium, Denmark, some parts of
Prussia, Prince Edward's Island, Nova Scotia, and
other countries. No dependence could be placed on
any importation, as the root was very likely to become
diseased upon the voyage.
Mr. M. GIBSON wished to know with reference to
the articles of maize, rice, and Indian c nn, whether the
new duties should take effect after the passing of the
measure.

Sir It. PEEL said that as soon as the resolutions had
passed he proposed to issue a Treasury order, permit-
ting the importation of those articles duty free.
WINDOW TAX.

Viscount DUNCAN intimated his intention of post-
poning his motion in reference to the window-tax to
Thursday next.

CORN DUTIES.

Sir J. TYREELEInsted that the House would not
be of opinion that he was unnecessarily detaining Hon.
Members when he took the liberty of reading a letter
which he held in his hand. He could assure the House
that he did not wish to interpose delay to the business
of the evening, and he felt certain he would be best con-
sulting the convenience of the House by proceeding
at once to read the letter. But in the course of the
other evening the worthy Alderman the Member for
Stoke, made a statement in the course of his speech,
which was cheered most loudly by a Ministerial gentle-
man. He :(the Hon. Baronet) had a letter in his hand
which went to contradict that statement, and he trusted
that the importance of the statement would cause the
house to bear with him while he read it. The
letter was from an Essex farmer, and as
they were very often alluded to in the debate,
he felt assured that their opinion would be of
some consequence. The Hon. Baronet then read the
letter, which said that a statement having been made
by Alderman Copeland in that House, to the effect that
a farm of nine hundred acres was let to an Essex farmer
at an increased rent of 2001. per annum, notwithstand-
ing the decrease which was likely to take place in the
value of land by the introduction of the Goverment mea-
sure. The Hon. Member had not, however, stated
the whole facts of the case, and he (the Essex farmer)
hoped the House would be put into possession of the
facts, as it would serve the cause of the farmers.—

(Laughter.) The statement of the worthy Alderman
.had a tendency to damage the cause.—(Great laughter.)
'The farm had been taken from the company to which
:it belonged, at the increased rental, because they were
determined not to take less.—(Laughter, and cries of
*" Hear, hear.)" The company, however, had allowed
tthe tenant greater privileges under the lease, and
that more than counterbalanced the increased rental.
13ut above all, a clause was inserted in the lease that
in the event of agricultural protection being withdrawn,
then the tenant might be at liberty to quit the
Sarin, and in the event of its operation being to
Peduce the price of his produce, and should his
Yeandlord not agree to let it him on such terms, as he
DlJight feel safe in continuing the occupation,
.b.e might be at liberty to leave it. Now he
(.;iir J. Tyrrell) regretted that the worthy Alderman
was not in his place ; for although the statement
had made was not exactly trne, he must do the
Vi worthy Alderman the justice to say that it had been
`ft ry well invented, and it was like faces in some respects
—to give them the slightest twist was to alter their
ex pression. If the Hon. Member for Stockport had
be an in his place, he (Sir J. Tyrrell) would have alluded
to another Essex farmer. respecting whom a statement
his ►d been made as unfounded as that of the Worthy
A lderman.
Mr. LIDDELL said it was not his intention to give
I.lla Right Hon. Baronet any trouble on the timber
cit tties.—(Cheers.) He might state that when he moved
th at the petition should be printed with the Votes,
►.t was his bona fide intention to move that the House
sb ould express an opinion on the subject of the timber
dt ties, lie had thought it was his duty to do so, No-
ce use he knew perfectly well what was then the feeling
40f the shipping interest upon this subject. But he
sseas bound to say since that period so many petitions had
be en presented to that House in favour of the pro-
p! sed change, and having received six petitions against
it, that he now considered the shipping interest could not
be opposed to that change. He wished to set the Right
Ilion. Baronet right as far as he (Mr. Liddel) was eon-
:ned. . _ .

Sir 11. PEEL—After the severe remarks which my
lic ,n. Friend made on me for proposing the commutation
of these duties ?—(Hear, hear, and a laugh.)
:Lord G. BENTINCK was understood to withdraw
his opposition to the propositions of the Government, on
the understanding that he should again bring them for-
wa rd in an advanced stage of the Bill.

.Mr. MILES said, from what had fallen from the Right
Ho a. Baronet (Sir R. Peel), "he understood him to say
the .t he would take care to introduce some alteration in
the, resolutions before the House, in order to limit
the importation of buck-wheat into this country.
If he had understood him rightly, this
would withdraw a vast deal of opposition on his
aid eof the House. By introducing a few wcrds stating
the t the importation of buck-wheat would not take place
for three months, say the Ist of July, or some
otb er time, the Upper House would not take the
wt ole business of the tariff into consideration.
without any unnecessary delay, which, according to his
not ion would not be the case, if the duty duty on that
art isle was proposed to be remitted on the passing of the
Bil L He hoped the Right Honourable Baronet
would adopt his suggestion because he would per-
ceive from the disposition shewn by the section
of .the House to which he (Mr. Mills) belongs, that it
was not their intention to offer any obstruction
to the importation of food into Ireland, for the re-
lief of the peopla of that country free of all duty,
and that they, therefore wished to meet a tempo-
rary evil with a tomporary remission of the
proteJtion duty on that commodity, instead of voting
avi ay nearly all the duties on articles imported into this
country.
sir R. PEEL--I wish to explain what my proposition
is. I propose that by law there should be a permanent
reduction of the duty upon Indian maize and corn,
and upon buck-wheat and rice ; that the duty
shall be reduced to a mere nominal amount ' • and
that this shall be the permanent law of the land,
and shall take effect so soon as this Bill shall
have received the coneent of the Legislature and the
Royal assent. With respect to buck-wheat and Indian
corn, I propose when the resolution respecting
these articles shall have been reported, to issue a
Treasury order, remitting the present legal amount of
duty toga nominal rate ; such Treasury order
not to have effect until the Bill shall have
passed both Houses of Parliament and re-
ceived the royal assent. First leaving the
duty upon buck-wheat and upon maize to be
removed by a Treasury order, in order to meet the emer-
gencies of the country, instead of leaving the matter
to .the decision by which great delay cannot fail to be
occasioned ; but I cannot consent to alter the determi-
nation, by inserting the words suggested by the Hon.
Member. I propose for the permanent law of the land
that the duty upon Indian corn or maise should be re-
duced to a nominal duty, but that the immediate opera-
tion of the measure should be merely temporary.
(LEFT SPEAKING.)