The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-08 00:00:00

THE MINISTERIAL MEASURES.

MEE rING AT LORI) JOHN RUSSELL'S.

A meeting of Liberal Members opposed to the Irish
Ministerial measures was held on Saturday afternoon, at
the residerce of Lord John Russell, at Chesham-place.
There were present Lord Palmerston, Lord Morpeth,
Lord Melbourne, Lord Henry Vane, the Earl of Arundel
and Surrey, Lord Edward Russell, Lord Duncan, Lord
Clements, Lord Ebrington, Lord Arthur Hill, Lord Mil-
ton, the Right Hon. R. L. Sheil, the Right Hon. F.
Baring, the Right Hon. Edward Ellice, the Right Hon.
T. B. Macaulay, the Right Hon. Sir John Cam Hob-
house, Sir Thom's Wilde, the Right Hon. Charles
Wood, the Right Hon. H. Labouchere, the. Right Hon.
Fox Maule, the Right Hon. Robert V. Smith, Mr.
O'Connell, Mr. John O'Connell, Sir William Clay, Sir
Charles Lemon, Sir W. Somerville, Sir Winston Barron,
the Hon. Grantley Berkeley, the Hon. F. H. Berkeley,
Mr. Ward, Mr. T. Duncombe, the Hon. Mr. Gore, Mr.
P. Howard, Mr. Joseph Hume, Mr. Williams, Sir B.
Hall, Mr. Hawes, Colonel Rawdon, Mr. Mitchell, Mr.
Horaman, Mr. Dundas, Mr. Watson, Mr. Po wlett Scrope,

Mr. Vyse, Sir Charles Napier, Mr. M'Carthy, Mr.
Robert Dillon Browne, Mr. Patrick Somers, Colonel
White, Mr. Hewett Bridgeman, Mr. J. M. M'Donnell,
Captain Layard, Mr. Christie, Mr. James, Mr. Banner.
man, Mr. R. M. Bellew, Sir Valentine Blake, the Hon.
Edward Bouverie, Dr. Bowring, Mr. Brotherton, the
Hon. W. Cowper, Mr. Curteis, Mr. Duff, Mr. G. Dun-
can, Sir John Easthope, Mr. Wakley, Mr. Bright, Ge-
neral Sir De Lacy Evans, Mr. F. French, Mr. Morgan
John O'Connell, Mr. George Moffatt, Mr. Protheroe,
Mr. J. Matheson, &c.

The meeting was held in his Lordship's dining-room.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL opened the proceedings by re-
marking that he was extremely desirous to call atten-
tion to two very important matters which were imme-
diately to come under the consideration of Parliament.
He alluded to the Irish Coercion Bill, and the question
of the sugar duties. He would first advert to the Co-
ercion Bill, being desirous to secure unanimity of action
upon that measure. He was distinctly opposed to that
Bill.—(Hear, hear.) He considered its enactments most
harsh and oppressive ; and he believed that the principal
argument adduced in the House of Lords, namely, the
urgent necessity that existed for the measure, was not
borne out by the circumstances of the case. Under that
impression, he conceived that the further progress of
the Bill ought to be opposed in its future stages. He
thought that the best course which could be taken would be
to move, on Monday (this day), when the Bill would again
have to be considered, its second reading that day six
months. If this suggestion met with the approval of
Hon. Gentlemen present, he trusted that the debate
might be taken upon this measure, and that the ques-
tion which had been already so fully and so ably dis-
cussed by the Irish Members might be brought toa close
at the expiration of three days.—(Hear, hear.) Any
further discussion on the Bill would be useless. He
would, therefore, suggest that such a motion as he had
indicated should be brought forward.—(Cheers.)
Lord CLEMENTS regretted that he could not agree in
the course pointed out by Lord John Russell. Be con-
sidered that the social condition of Ireland required the
application of coercive measures ; and, entertaining that
conviction, he could not oppose the measures proposed by
her Majesty's Ministers with reference to that country—
(Dissent)—although at the same time he did not believe
that they would have the effect of tranquillizing the
country or removing the causes of complaint.
Mr. O'CostNELL expressed his deep gratification that
Lord John Russell and Hon. Gentlemen who usually
acted with him appeared willing to adopt that course
which he was convinced must ultimately promote the
best interests of England.—(Hear, hear.) He had him-
self given notice of a motion for Monday (this day), but
of course he should now withdraw it, in order that he
might not offer any opposition to the course suggested
by the Noble Lord (John Russell), which had his
most cordial approval. He regretted that upon the pre-
sent, as had been the case upon all former occasions,
heof dthide,
Nthoehle highest
rd,o
one of Ireland's sons had been found to declare his
intention of adopting a course calculated to militate
respecta gains t herfor
the interests.
opinions
and
Holding, as
position
he could not but say, when he reflected that he
had stated his determination to support the
Bill without having given any reason for adopt-
ing such a course, that his opposition would have
little effect with the Hon. Gentlemen around him—more
especially when they considered that while the Noble
Lord stated his intention to support the measure, he at
the same time said he did not think it would be found
to answer the purposes for which it was intended.
Lord CLEMENTS was not surprised to hear the Hon.
and Learned Gentleman say that he disapproved of his
sentiments upon the subject—indeed he quite expected
such a result. The Noble Lord continued to observe,
amid much laughter, that if such a state of things as that
existing at present in Ireland were to last much longer,
the landlords and the people would find themselves in
the position of the Kilkenny cats, who carried their per-
sonal animosities to such an extreme that they fought
until nothing was left but their tails. It appeared to
him that in Ireland they wanted to apply the reverse of
the American proverb, namely, that every man had a
right to larrup his own nigger, and make the niggers
larrup their masters.—(Symptoms of dissent.)
After a few words from Sir. W. BARRON,
Sir C. LEMON stated that he hoped Lord J. Russell
would himself move the amendment that the second
reading be taken that day six months—(Hear, hear)—
for, as coming from the leader of a great political party
in that country, it might have the effect of promoting
tranquillity in Ireland.—(Hear.)
Lord J. RUSSELL expressed his willingness to adopt
the course suggested by the Hon. Baronet, if any object
beneficial to Ireland could be gained thereby; but at the
same time suggested that perhaps it would come more
appropriately from some of the Irish Members.—(Hear,
hear.) That was a point which might, however, be re-
served for further consideration.
After some additional conversation, Lord Morpeth
was called upon, as one who had been intimately con-
nected with Ireland, to move the amendment, but the
Noble Lord declined to undertake that duty.
It was then agreed that the suggdstions of Lord John
Russell should be adopted, and that the selection of the
mover and seconder of the amendment should be re-
ferred to the consideration of the Irish Members.
Lord J. RUSSELL then said that the second subject
which deserved their consideration was the question of
the sugar duties. He announced that it was his intention
to propose, and that of his party to support, a motion
for the admission of slave-grown sugar into this country
at the same amount of duty as was levied on free-labour
sugar, but under certain restrictions. Some years since
Lord Sandon had proposed a resolution deprecatory of
the equilization of the duties on slave-grown and free
labour sugars, upon the
principle that such a regulation
would give direct encouragement to slavery. This
motion was resisted by the Whigs, which the Noble
Lord made for the purpose of putting them out of office.
They entertained the same opinions now, and intended
to pursue a course favourable to the reception of slave-
grown sugar, and he trusted there would be no difference
of opinion upon the point.
The Hon. GRANTLEY BERKELEY remarked, that he
had regarded the Noble Lord for many years as his
political leader, and on that account he regretted that
he could not, upon the present occasion, follow his ad-
vice or sanction the course he meant to pursue regarding
the sugar duties. He had considerable property in the
West Indies depending upon the prosperity of the sugar
trade, but if foreign slave-grown sugar were to be ad-
mitted into this country upon the same terms as free-
labour sugar, the consequence would prove particularly
destructive to his interests and to the interests of those
similarly circumstanced as be was. He would be wil-
ling, however, to support the principle of the Noble
Lord's resolution to the fullest extent, if the British Go-
vernment would give the facilities of free labour to that
colony, so as to enable the sugar growers to compete with
the other markets of the world.
The meeting shortly afterwards broke up.

A meeting was subsequently held at the Reform Club,
at which it was unanimously resolved, that Sir William
Somerville should wait upon Lord John Russell for the
purpose of requesting him to move the amendment; and
it was further agreed, that should the Noble Lord de-
cline doing so, the amendment should be moved by Sir
W. Somerville and seconded by Colonel Rawdon.
The Irish Members also came to the resolution that,
should the Whig measure fail, no opportunity should be
lost to wear out the Government by delay, and that in
case the protectionists did not immediately declare their
intention, during the course of the debate, of opposing the
Coercion Bill, they would give to it in its present stage
the same opposition that they did upon the first reading.

MEETING OF THE PROTECTIONISTS.
The protectionist Peers also held a meeting on Satur-
day, which was very numerously attended. Several
Members of the Lower House were present, and the ut-
most unanimity prevailed. It was declared that the
cause of protection is still by no means desperate ; and it
was determined that an attempt should be made in Com-
mittee to perpetuate the operation of the diminished
sliding scale. Confident hopes, too, were expressed that
even if they should be defeated in this attempt, they
would be able in the forthcoming general election to ob-
tain such a preponderance in the House of Commons as
would insure them a continuance, if not an augmenta-
tion, of this amount of protection.

THE CRESCENT AND THE CROSS. BY ELIOT WA R-
BURTON, ESQ.—We observe that a fifth edition of this in-
teresting book has been called for by the public. Mr. War-
burton brings to his work an accomplished mind, and well-
trained and healthful faculties. As we read, we are proud to
claim him as a countryman, and are content that his book
shall go over all the world, that other countries from it may
derive a just impression of our national character. Mr.
Warburton sailed up the Nile beyond the second cataract,
and inspected those wonders of art in Nubia, whose origin is
lost in their antiquity; visited the great cities and monu-
ments of Egypt, then crossed to Beyrout, made a pilgrimage
in the Holy Land, and on his homeward voyage touched at
Cypress and Greece. His volumes are full of just perception
and spirited detail. They greatly increase our acquaintance
with Eastern scenes, and to the traveller afford a variety of
information which he could. hardly elsewhere find in so in-
teresting a shape.—Britannia.
DROWNED WHILST BATHING.--Yesterday morning,
about seven o'clock, a young man named Thomas Noake, of
Great Portland-street, was drowned whilst bathing in the
Serpentine. Shortly afterwards,. another young man, named
John Arundel, who coald not swim, got out of his depth, and
though extricated whilst alive, his system was so severely
affected that he is LA expected to eitrywe,