The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-08 00:00:00

0
4,- rECUIT VIM

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1846.

The Lords met at Five o'clock, and shortly afterwards
The Earl of DALIIOUSIE rose to detail to their Lordships
the course which it was the intention of the Government to
pursue with regard to railway legislation. After going into
the past history of railway legislation, the Noble Earl pro-
ceeded to state the plan proposed by the Government.
The statement made by the Noble Earl did not at all differ
from that made by Sir ROBERT PEEL last evening on this
subject in the House of Commons. He concluded by stating
that he should introduce a Bill on the subject shortly after
Easter, when the matter would be fully discussed.
Lord MONTEAG LE was glad to find that the attention of
the Government had bean at length aroused to the impor-
tance of the subject. He only regretted that the Govern-
ment had not adopted this course at an earlier period; and lie
thought that long since, in the House of Commons, some
classification of Bills, with a view to priority, ought to have
been adopted ; and surely some such proposition as this might
have been brought forward at an earlier period of the session,
so that it might have had something tangible in the shape of
a printed Bill, and not have been left during the whole of the
recess without any definite document to which parties in
terested could appeal, so that they might know what they
were about. He therefore urged upon the Noble Earl the
necessity of at once giving his plan in eatenso to the public.
Certain limits should be placed upon the power,* proposed to
be given to sharp-holders, tar parties having a disposition to
barrass a competing line, might by pure.ase obtain
an interest. in the rival company, and dissolve it.
He hoped nil the railway Bills would be stopped for the pre -
sent. He, for one, would not consent to proceed IN itha
single railway Bill until the Government measure should
have been introduced and decided on. Such he understood
to be the intention of the Government, and if it were not,
he should certainly call upon their Lordships not to take any
further steps at present with regard to any particular railway
Bill. Great care should be taken so to modify that part of
the proposition relating to the consent of 1113 shareholders to
dissolve as to secure that those persons petitioning for the
dissolution should be bo,lii.fide shareholders.
Lord KINNAIRD IhOUgla the Government had acted wisely
in hitherto abstainitrg from interference with railway com-
panies. Ha could, however, have wished that the proposition
of the Government had I)eezi made a few days earlier,in order
that it might have been discussed before the holidays. He
suggested whether they mightenot pass. even before the re-
cess, a standing order extending the standing order now ap-
plicable to existing railway companies applying for fresh
powers to railway companies applying for new Bills.
After a few observations from Lord WliaaxcLlFFE and
the-Marquis of LONDONDERRY, and a reply from the Earl of
DALHOUSIE, the subject dropped.
Their Lordships, on the motion of the Duke of WZnUNG-
TON, adjourned to Tuesday, the 21st instant.

The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock.
On the motion of Mr. TUFNELt, a new writ was ordered
for Melton, in the room of Mr. CHILDERS, who has accepted
the Chiltern Hundreds.
On the motion of Lord G. Somgcsrr, it was agreed that
all proceedings on Railway Bills should, after Thursday
next, be postponed until Monday, the 27th inst., and that no
Railway Bill should be read a third time before that day.
On the motion for the consideration of the report on the
General Terminus and Glasgow Harbour Biil,
Mr. HUME moved as an amendment that the evidence
taken before the Committee on that Bill be printed, and on a
division the amendment was carried by a majority of 8 ;
there being for the motion 74, and for the amendment 82.
Sir It. Pam. gave notice that he should to-morrow, if it
met with the approval of the House, move the adjournment
for the Easter holidays till Friday week, on which day he
proposed to proceed with the Protection of Life and Pro-
perty (Ireland) Bill, and on the Monday following with the
Corn Bill, provided the Irish Bill was disposed of on Friday;
if, however, it Was not, he proposed to give it precedence
on Monday. _ _

Mr. WYSZ then moved for a Select Committee to inquire
into the present state of legal education in Ireland, and the
means for its further improvement and extension.
At the conclusion of the Right Hon. Gentleman's address,
the House was counted out.

Throughout the speeches made on Monday night,
during the resumed discussion upon the Bill for the Pro-
tection of Life in Ireland, search is unavailing for any
tangible reason against its propriety, or necessity. On
the contrary, we find the strongest confirmation of the
views we have felt it our duty to put forward upon this

subject. Lord MORPETII, one of the most ardent
well.wisters to Ire'hind, one • whose philantbrop3
would not suffer by a comparison with that of anj
other person—a statesman, too, whose experience it
the conduct of the political affairs of that country
quttlifies him to speak with peculiar weight upon
any question affecting its interests, for goo or for evi]
—declared that he would be no party to augmenting th•
difficulties of the Government with respect to Ireland
or in refusing to them the extensive powers they de
mended, which, as it seemed to him, were for a limiter
time indispensable for the safety of human existencf
He successfully combated the speciousness of Mr.lhu.oi.
BROWNE'S argument, drawn from a capitulation of th•
fearful crimes that have been committed in England, b,
pointing to the distinguishing feature between the mr.,
serious offences in either country. In the former, the:
are isolated acts, which meet with no sympathy
and which are promptly dealt with by the health:
and vigorous administration of_ the law. In the hate:

they result from an erganised system, and are cour:
tenanted as justifiable acts of retribution by a larg,
number of an excited and misguided population, am.
unhappily, are seldom overtaken by the vindicating am
of justice. Lord MORPETH expressed the alarm he felt
at the criminal statistics and their adjuncts, adduced b 1
the Ministry, and, with that sincerity and candour which
have ever marked his Lordship's public career, declare('
that he was too cognizant, from the past, of the diffi-
culties that environed the duty of those charged with thr
governance of Ireland, to allow him, except upon rea-
sons of the utmost cogency, to take any course calcu-
lated to compromise or defeat the benevolent efforts of
the Executive, in order to bring the assassin and hit
abettors to an exemplary punishment. And thus w(
have the valuable testimony of the most influential
speaker on Monday night afforded to the merit ane
necessity of the course recommended by the Govern-
ment. It must be borne in mind that these art
not the times when any Minister would dream
of curtailing the liberty and constitutional privileges
of the subject, except when an irresistible sense of the
duty incident to his position left him no, alternative.
Above all, would the Premier willingly press for legisla
tion upon this subject, and hazard the delay its discus-
sion is so likely to produce in the progress of the great
measure for the freeintroduction of corn into the country.
and with respect to which he has given such convincing
proofs of his sincerity, unless he felt the imperious ne-
cessity, as well for the honour of human nature as the
austentation of the dignity of the law, that her Ma-
JESTY'S loyal, though humble subjects, shall not, witl
imr unity, be hourly the victims of the banded assassins
who have already extended the red hand of violence over
five of the counties of Ireland? We do net blame the
Irish Members for rendering this Bill a fit occasion foe
eliciting the grievous disadvantages, political or other
wise, under which their country may be prevented from
rising in the scale of nations—far from it, we hold them
fully justified. But we think they have not chosen the
most seasonable time for this purpose. The second
reading and the subsequent stages of the Bill, as indicated
by the Minister, would have amply sufficed for
enlarging upon such matters, though, as we noticed
some days ago, they are not strictly relevant to the mea-
sure, considering the admission by men of all parties,
that the blood which has been so wantonly shed was it
no wise the result of political disaffection. But it is
a strange mockery of patriotism, that whilst they tender
their warmest thanks to the Premier for the extraordi-
nary measures of relief he either has, or is about to secure
to Ireland, and in which he had no hope of succeeding short
of the greatest personal political sacrifice ever made by
any public man—the Irish Members should thus
eagerly, hopelessly, and unnecessarily use their chartered
privileges as legislators for arresting the progress of
the most important measure which can at this moment
be possibly passed for the welfare of the empire at large.
The Government will not be held responsible for this
unreasonable consumption of the public time, and the
serious stagnation it causes to the commerce of the
country. Were the opponents of the measure but nu-
merically large, in place of being but a small minority,
there then might be some palliation for the course
they are now pursuing. But, not only are

they limited in number, but there are want-
ing to them the chiefs of the Liberal party, Peers
and Commoners, who have heretofore on all the pro-
minent questions of Irish policy so steadfastly and uni-
formly stood in the same ranks with themselves.
Amongst those to whom we refer, there occur to us at
once the names of MELBOURNE, LANSDOWNE, CLANRI-
CARDE, GREY, Lord J. RUSSELL, MORPETE, &C., &C.
We must repeat, too, our deprecation of the line of ar-
gument adopted by Mr. O'CONNELL and his colleagues,
namely, that remedial measures should in the first in•
stance be originated—the one principally required of
this character, and especially for the eradication of the
chief incentive to crime, has reference to the relation-
ship of landlord and tenant. Of all questions the most
difficult to be handled, and the most liable to be encoun-
tered by a considerable opposition, none other could
well be indicated. It naturally follows that no question
is likely to take up more time in delilvration before it
can be shaped into a law, unless the Government should

be singularly felicitous in' framing a measure
for the end desired. Supposing, then, that a long

period must elapse before this - consummation
can be attained, or supposing the Parliament should be
unable to unite in their councils, is murder still to stalk
unmolested across the land ? Assuredly not. More
over, as far as the debate has as yet progressed, it has
not been demonstrated that former Acts of coercion
have been unfruitful of salutary effects. And until this
be done, or until we can discover any valid answer to
the arguments we have formerly urged upon this topic,
as well as to the tendency of the remarks we have now
made, we shall not cease to laud the Government for the
irksome and painful, but necessary and merciful mea•
sure, which they hare proposed for the preservation of
life and the security of property in Ireland.

One more allusion to the recent trial at Rouen, and
the acquittal of M. BEIIIVALLON by a jury of his coun-
trymen, and our commentaries upon that melancholy in-
vestigation shall cease. On a former 'occasion we ad-
duced this duel for two reasons—as another and start-
ling exemplar of the fallacy, not to say cruelty of our so-
called code of honour, and especially for the
purpose of directing attention to a most ad-
mirable arrangement in the administration of
the law in France, whereby the survivor, though
acquitted of the charge of criminality, is compelled to
offer the only other substantial species of compensation
to the relatives of his antagonist, by the disbursement of
an equitable fine, as well as by becoming individually
responsible for all legal expenses. While we endea-
voured to render these deductions manifest, we likewise
detailed the circumstances attendant upon this particular
rencorttre, and drew such other inferences from the trans-
actions as presented themselves from the heinous
character of ihe revealed facts,- and the suspicious ob-
eurity in a hich others a ere enveloped. It becomes,
:hi ref;ere, no small source of satisfaction to us to observe
the condemna•ory language with which this editorial
combat in particular, and the vice of duelling in general,
are treated by the most influential portion of the French
press, and the accor dance of their own sentiments upon
the matter with those already expressed by ourselves.
Our readers may remember that before' an action could
be instituted against M. llmativaanote, a grievous delay
arose from the contradictory explanations of the tribu
naffs as to the artic:es of the penal code. They may
remember that considerable opposition was vi-ible in one
quarter, when the law officers of the Crown endeavoured
to render duelling synoriyinous siith murder, and conse-
quently liable to the same inflictions. Nor can it
assuredly be forgotten that the four articles of the penal
code upon the application of which to the duellist the
Avocat-General placed his principle reliance as a
means of eliciting retribution, were 295, 296, 297, 302.
Now it is not Uninteresting to notice the merely inferen-
tial manner in which the gentlemanly vice is linked with
the operation of these article?. They are couched in
the following comprehensive terms:—
" Art. 295. Homicide committed voluntarily is murder.
Art. 296. Every murder committed with premeditation,
orguet a pens (lying in wait), is an assassination.
Art. 297. Premeditation consists in the design formed
before the act to attack a particular person, or even the de-
sign which may arise (qui ser. troure ou rencontre), even
although this design should be dependent on some circum-
stance or condition.
" Art. 302. Every person guilty of assassination shall Le
punished with death.
From the wording of these statutes it must be evident
that other clauses, or possibly other epithets, are want-
ing to render them directly applicable to the crime of
duelling. And that the detestation of our neighbours is
not wanting to encourage such an interpolation in their
system of jurisprudence, is most apparent from the expres-
sions employed by their most important political organs.
Commenting upon duelling, Galignani's Messenger says—
" And a great moral crime it is, whatever our modep
ea,finea, or even those who fight under false notions of
honour, may say !" That is assuming the most sensible,
the only sensible view of this egregious anomaly in
civilization. It is but just and rational to seize every
opportunity of stigmatising it as a relic of barba-
rism in the days of enlightenment. And on this
account it is that the National reviows the Rouen trial in
ze spirit of remarkable acerbity. It inveighs against
duellists as the spawn of "moral debauchery and poli-
tical debauchery," and passes st aitenee upon divers of
the 'parties implicated in the affiet; in tones of especial

and virulent disgust. Upon this, however, the Quo(i-
dienne passes a kind of negative approbation :—.l‘ It is
all very well," it exclaims, "to cover the systems with
reprobation, but why not go up to the principle
of corruption 2 " True ; but that is to be an
after labour ; the disease must be ascertained and
acknowledged by the consulting physicians—the public
—before the remedies can be applied, or the operation
for its removal be commenced. Probe the wound to the
very bottom, then pour in the balsams. A better, a
more healthy, and more hopeful tone has the Courrier
Francais. It is more sanguine of the effect of popular
opinion. It observes :
"The afflicting spectacle which this world of roues of
.ins fellows living by the Ministry and by lanrquenet, has
.ust offered to the country, must not discourage us and cause
as to despair of our generation."

in that wholesome mode of regarding malady of
he most civilised systems in the world, the Journal
les Debar Ms up an emphatic voice, while
,t the same time it regards the issue of the re-
.ent trial at Rouen as a triumph in the cause of out-
-aged morality, and possibly as a forerunner of better
,hingg. May that aspiration be realised ! We
cannot but coincide—perhaps because we wish to do
o—in that remark of a Parisian contemporary,
that, according to an old al) ing, the disclosure
A. an evil is the commencement of its cure,
Ind that consequently a recurrence of such expositions
is those in the case of M. BEAUVALLON would conduce
o the speedy eradicaticn of duelling. It is especially in
one particular that the French papers are so unanimous,
namely, is the licentiousness lurking in secret as
well as visible portions of the community, and
:he demoralizing influence of gaming, and similar ille-
4alities. In this opinion, we fear, there is unhappily too
much reality. By imposing some onerous penalties,
pecuniary or what not, upon the duellists, we feel satis-
led, however, that a great step in advance will have
been taken, and that the bulk of the dark system wiU
have been sapped to its foundations.

We have received Madrid journals of tir:e 31st ult. It
vould appear that Count BRESSON, the French Ambas-
ador at the Court of Madrid, had taken the new
Ministry under his pro.ection. All the Members of the
Jabinet dined with him on the 31st, at the French
Embassy. - We have no doubt ►hat the QUEEN and her
sister will, in due time, be married to parties selected
or approved by the- Court of France. In Spain no
neasure of importance can be done in a straightforward
vay. A plot, a conspiracy, an edict of the Camarilla,
)r a coup (Taut is absolutely necessary to carry a reso-
ution of the Cabinet, or rather its chief, into effect.
But little business was done on the Madrid Bourse.
Three per Cents., for cash, 32; for time, 32k; Five per
Cents., for time, 21i.

The Journal des Debate gives long extracts from the
Indian dispatches, describing the battles of Aliwal and
:iabraon, and the succeeding operations, and in the fol-
lowing brief remarks does full justice to the bravery of
.he British forces and the moderation of the Governor-
General :—" The war in the Punjaub is at an end.
Cool courage and firmness gain battles, but moderation
in success produces still more advantageous treaties than
victories. Such is the glorious example set by Sir
HENRY HARDINGE for his successors in the government
,f India. We resume our account of the events which
',lave occurred in four memorable weeks, from the 19th
„if January to the 19th of February, a period signalised
by two victories, by the partial destruction of the Seikh
army, by its expulsion from the British territory, and,
inally, by the submission of the Seikh Government."
the moderation and impartiality displayed by this Go-
vernment journal are entitled to great praise, and it is
leeply to be regretted that its bright example is not
better followed by certain of the London papers, as well
is most' of the organs of the Opposition in France.
The Constitutionnel begins to consider that the United
States are, after all, not the best friends of France. It
contains a long article on the proposed new Customs'
luty laid before Congress, and shows that it will most
injuriously affect the interests of France. The Courrier
Francais says:—" There is some idea of joining to the
squadron of evolution now collected at Toulon a division
of steamers. The squadron has taken on board five
months' provisions, and everything leads to the supposi-
tion that the squadron will put to sea in the second
fortnight is April. If the Grand Duke CONSTANTINE
should visit that port with his division, the Prince DE
JOINVILLE will accompany him to the coast of Italy.'
The following remarks respecting the Empress of
Russii appear in the Courrier de Marseilles :

"We receive fresh details relative to the residence of the
Empress of Russia at Naples. Our correspondent writes as
follows Amongst the eccentricities which the Empress of
Russia exhibits at the Court of Naples several are named, as
denoting what superiority this august traveller assumes over
all that surround her. King Ferdinand is remarkable for
his courtesy towards strangers, and for his delicate attentions.
Nobody can carry farther his desire to be agreeable to the
illustrious travellers whom the salubrity of the Neapolitan
climate inducts to make some stay in his capital, and no-
body better understands the slight shades and distinctions of
high society. On the arrival of the Empress, the King went
out to the vessel to receive her; on the shore, the Queen
and royal family were assembled to meet her. The lauding
took place in the Darce, which is always reserved for the
royal use. The Queen had a magnificent apartment prepared
for the Empress in his own palace, that of Chiatumone,
usually appropriated to visitors of princely station, not ap-
pearing to him splendid enough. He invited the Empress to
his table, and here a strange eccentricity takes place. Every
day that the Empress is to dine with the King. she never
fails to send, in the morning, one of her officers to invite the
King to dine with her at his own table. If that be Russian
etiquette, the politeness of it is not understood here; or
rather, the following meaning is attributed to it—that the
Czarina would not permit a king to sit down, even in his own
palace, by her side, without giving him permission.' " •
Most of the Paris journals contain articles on the
petitions lately pEpsolted to the Chamber of Deputies,
enumerating certain grievances to which Protestants
are subjected in France. The Journal des Dames, with
some truth, contends that the law as regards religious
liberty is more just and lenient than in mast other coun-
tries. We give the remarks which apply to England:—
"We know not how M. de Gasparin can quote to us the
examples of foreign countries—of Prussia or of England.
Switzerland, in fact, presents to us very encouraging ex-
amples, and without speaking of
.the sanguinary war which
we have recently seen break out in that country, let us only
consider what is ROW passing in the canton of Vaud, a state
democratic par excellence. As to England, it is certain that a
liberty almost unbounded reigns there ; but liberty is not
equality. In England you ;re free to preach what doctrine you
choose ; but only endeavour to get into any public office, into
Parliament, or into the Universities, and you will then be asked
what religion you profess. It is not twenty years since
Catholics and Dissenters saw in that free country every public
career close to them, and eN en now a seat in Parliament is
interdicted to certain sects; and last year they were also ex-
cluded from the exercise of municipal functions. Would
those who here claim absolute freedom of religious worship
exchange French equality for English liberty ? The truth is,
that there is no country in the world where the principle of
liberty of conscience forms so intimate and essential a part
of its institutions as France, where so many complaints are
raised on the subject. Between those four walls which can-
not be opened in our country without the authorisation of the
State, the conscience is more at its ease, and breathes more
freely than it can do in any of the open-air conventicles in
Great Britain." _ _

The Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha incurred some danger,
on the 31st ult., when out. driving at Marseilles. His horses
having run away, the Prince jumped out of the carriage,
and fell on the road. .Fortunately he escaped with only a
contusion on the leg. The Sud of Marseilles state., that his
Royal Highness is to embark in the Amsterdam steamer for
Malaga, whence he intends visiting the Alhambra, on his way
to Lisbon.

--- -----
On the Paris Bourse, on Monday, the Stock and Share Markets
were both depressed. The Stock Market closed as fellows:—The
Three per Cents., tar cash, 83f. 45c. ; for account, 83f. 45c. Five
per Cents., for cash, 1191. 70c. ; for account, 119 f. 75c. Bank of
France Shares, 3,400 f. Neapolitan, 101 f. 25c. Spanish and New
Loan not queted.
In the share Market, Paris and Orleans left off at 1,212 f. 50c.;
Paris and Rouen' 1,025 f. ; Rotten and Havre, 740 f.; Avignon, 900 f. ;
Vierzon, 660 f.; Strasburg and Bale, 228 f. 75c.; Northern, 755 f. ;
Bordeaux, 620 f. ; Nantes, 547 f. 50e. ; l'aris and Lyons, 072 f. 50e.;
Fampoux, 460 f. ; Dieppe, 455 f. ; Paris and Strasburg, 517 f. 50c. ;
Roulogne, not quoted.

BUSINESS 1;ONE fl FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT TUE

LONDON STOCK E X CHANGE

APRIL 7

Calais, Dunkirk, and West Flanders, I—Dutch Rhenish, b%.
;,,ast Indian, 14 —.Great Northern of France Constituted, 1434
!treat Western Cana.la, 4—Luxembourg, 114—Namur and Liege,
Orleans and Vietzen, 17 —raris and Strasbourg Constituted,
514 —Sambre and Meuse, 3—Tours and Naantes Constituted, 6%.

Her Majesty and Prince Albert, accompanied by the
royal children, were expected to leave Buckingham
Palace for Windsor Castle, at three o'clock, this after-
noon, travelllng by a special train on the Great
Western Railway. The Court will remain at the Castle
during the Easter recess.
REPRESENTATION OF MALTON.—A new writ was moved
last night for the borough of Melton, in the room of Mr.
Childers, who has accepted the Chiltern Hundreds. It is
understood that Lord Milton will succeed him. The borough
is under the influence of his father, Lord Fitzwilliam.

THE QUEEN.—We learn that her Majesty and his
Royal Highness Prince Albert will, at the commencement of the
autumn, again repair to Scotland, to pass some weeks In the High-
lands. It is said that while in that portion of her domiMons the Queen
and the Prince Consort intend to visit several of the resident aristo-
cracy. We believe that the Queen will principally reside at Blair
Mho% the beautiful seat of the Duke of Athol'.
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN DOWAGER.—We are in-
formed that it is the intention of the Queen Dowager, attended by a
limited retinue, to go on a visit to their Serene Highnesses the Duke
and Duchess of Saxe Meiningen, and her Majesty's other illustrious
relatives in Germany, in the course of the approaching summer, and
that her Majesty will prolong her sejour abroad for about three
mouths at furthest. It Is said that his Serene Highness the Heredi-
tary Prince of Saxe Meiningen purposes to remain in this country
until the period of Queen Adelaide's departure, when the Prince
will return to his patrimonial domains, in company with his illus-
trious aunt.
OLYMPIC THEATRE.—This house has been taken by
Mr. G. Bolton, with the intention of opening it for the legitimate
drama in the course of the ensuing winter. He intends, however, to
have a short experimental season, which will commence on Monday
next.
LONGEST DAYS.—At Berlin and London the longest
day has sixteen hours and a half. At Stockholm and Upsal the
longest has eighteen and a half hours, and the shortest five and a
half. At Hamburgh, Dantzic, and Stettin, the longest day has
nineteen, and the shortest seven. At St. Petersburgh and Tobolsk
the longest has nineteen and the shortest five hours. At Torneo, in
Finland, the longest day has twenty-one hours and a half, and the
shortest two and a half. At Wardorbus, in Norway, the day lasts
from the 21st of Stay to the 22d of July without ieterruptioll and
in Spitzbergen the longest day lasts threw mouths and a half.