The Sun.
London, England, 1848-06-07 00:00:00

f!IVENING, JUNE 7, 10413

claims of another class of the neglected poor of
the community—he meant that class which though poor
were industrious and attentive to the education of their
children. As treasurer of the London City Missione,
and also as connected with a school at Bethnal-green, he
was enabled to state that, even among the poor weavers
of Spitalfields and the neighbourhood, there was a great
willingness to make sacrifices for the proper bringing up
of their offspring. Their willingness in this respect was
proved by the fact, that the children attending tbe Beth-
nal-green school had, in 1843, contributed no less a
sum than 347/., and the amounts received from them, in
1846 and 1847, were nearly 3781. Surely this was a
class who were deserving of being included in the same
system of emigration as the Noble Lord sought to esta-
blish with respect to the children brought up in the
ragged schools." lie trusted the Government, in
any plan they might adopt, would not lose sight of this
suggestion.
Air. M. MILNE 3 supported the proposition made by
his Noble Friend the Member for Bath, and expressed
a hope that the Government would not dispose of this
ali-iteportant matter by civil words and mere compli-
mentary phrases, but would be prepared at art early pe-
riod to make great and important sacrifices on behalf of
the labouring classes of the community.
Mr. AI)I)ERLEY wished to call the attention of the
House to the fact that in the county he represented so-
cieties had already been forim.d by the working men
themselves to promote the emigration of themselves and
their fellow-labourers. They bad done this after retir-
ing from Chartist associations; and he mullioned this
fact to induce the Government to assist these men in the
attainmeet of their object.
Mr. WESTHEAD real to the House two letters he
had recently received from his agent in South Australia,
stating the demand there was in that colony for addi-
tional labour. Use of the letters stated that the far-
mers could not get labour sufficient for their purposes,
and were paying 13s. to 14s. per acre fur reaping, find-
ing the labourer with lodging, the best of 'food, and a
bottle of wine (value one shilling) per day. The letters
further stated that within a week after an emigrant
ship arrived every emigrant found employment, and nut
one remained an idler. Under such circumstances, he

(Mr. Westhead) could not but regret that so small
sum as 10,000/. should be the amount proposed by the
Government to► promote emigration to those colonies.
Lord ASHLEY said his object in moving for this
grant was to mike an experiment—to get in the thin
edge of the wedge, and then to drive it turther. After
the way in which, his motion had been met, he would
not take so hostile a course as to divide the House, but
would continue to jug the memory of his Hight Hon.
Ft iends opposite on the subject.—(tlear, hear.)
The mutioe was then, by leave, withdrawn.
LO W THERSTOWN UNION.

Captain ARCHDALE. rose to bring under the consi-
deration of the House the allegations contained in two
petitions of the late poor-law guardians of the Lowthers-
town Union.. The elected guardians had been dismissed
on the 15th of September last by the Commissioners,
who attributed misconduct to the board for suggesting
the payment by instalments of the money advanced to
them under the Temporary Relief Act. At a meeting,
on the Bth of September, the guardians had come to this
resolution, solely with the view of alleviating the burden
on the poorer rate-payers. The Cominis:ioners, instead
of taking into c,insideration the suggestions of the guar-
dians, abruptly dismissed them within a week after, and
appointed two gentlemen, Mr. Lucas and Mr. Hopper, to
take charge of the union, by which the rate-payers com-
plained that they had been put to very great unnecessary
expense. Unfavourable contracts for bread had been en-
tered into; and in a short time these gentlemen were re-
moved and two others appointed. One of these was Mr.
Morton, a very excitable and eccentric person, whose
reports showed his total inefficiency for the manage-
ment of the workhouse. The unpaid gu❑rdians had
been reinstated in April last; and in a month from that
time they succeeded in reducing the numbers receiving
out-door relief from 2,829 to 1,767. The reinstatement
of the unpaid guardians was not considered as an
admission of error on the part of the Commissioners.
Mr. Twistleton had proved himself hasty, arrogant, and
overbearing; and such conduct was not to be tolerated
by the guardians and rate-payers. He moved the ap-•
pointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the case.
Sir W. SOMERVILLE said, that atter this notice had
been several weeks on the paper, the lion. and Gallant
Member had concluded with a different motion from that
of which he had given notice. His notice was to call
attention to a petition, which contained a direct charge
against the Commissioners of having dismissed the guar-
diens from petty spite and unworthy motives—the alleged
ground being tne refusal of the guardians to dismiss
the workhouse master. The papers before the House
proved the gross, unpardonable, and scandalous neglect
of the guardians in the management of the workhouse ;
even the children were neglected, and had not sufficient
food) and if there was a case where the power of dismis-
sing the guardians was properly exercised, it was this of
the Lowtherston Union. These guardians had positively
I refused to carry out the Act of Parliament after re-
peated remonstrances from the Commissioners; and
that was the short history of the case. On the
14th of July they proposed to strike a rate of
10d., which the Commissioners decided to be insufficient;
nevertheless, the guardians persisted, although they had
pledged themselves to strike a sufficient rate before the
advance was made to them under the Temporary Relief
Act. They had not even the excuse of ex-
traordinary pressure, for the rate in no dis-
trict exceeded Is. 101 in the pound. Persist-
ing in their contumacy, the board was of necessity dis-
solved; thereupon„ a long correspondence ensued, which
was in the possession -of the House, and which abun-
dantly showed that the power of dismissal had in this
case been most properly exercised. When the vice-
guardians took possession of the union, they found every-
thing in arrear; a large portion of the rate was uncol-
lected, and heavy sums were due to the contractors. It
was easy to appear economical on such a system; while
the difficulty of the vice-guardians' duties was thereby
enhanced. The Hon. and Gallant Member had spoken
harshly of Mr. Morton, whose duties had been discharged
in the most satisfactory manner and with the most dis-
tinguished ability.
Colonel CONOLLY thought the guardians justified
in their wish to impose a moderate rate. The arbitrary
and capricious regulations of the Commis loners were
raising perpetual contentions, in which six or seven
Members of that House had been involved.

Mr. F. FRENCII considered the larigtiavl used to
these guardians was quite unjustifiable. Mr. Twistl,,ton
had had no expei ietice whatever in workilg the poor-
law in Ireland, and his attempts to force kis views upon
the people were most offensive.
Mr. E. B. ROCHE thought the whole system must
be changed, and that the local bodies must be vested
with greater powers. This act of the central board
had not been shown to be otherwise than arbitrary and
despotic.

Sir P. NUGENT had no hesitation in saying that a
more untoward act had never been committed titan the
dismissal of these beards of guardians. Mr. Twistleton
was responsible for all the evils of the system as it
was working i❑ IreLsud. He could not understand any-
reason why investigation should be denied.
Sir G. GREY hoped the House would not adopt any
motion involving a vote of censure upon the Poor-law
Commissioners tit Ireland without is full consideration of
all the peculiar circumstances of the case. No doubt
the Commissioners might, in some instances, have erred;
it was inevitable for men so situated to do so; but he
could' not admit that in the case of the Lowtherstown
guardians the Commissioners had exhibited either undue
haste or arbitrariness. The course they adopted in the
matter had not been pursued until after several months'
temperate and conciliatory correspondence with the
parties; and most assuredly this dismissal of the guar-
dians had been most beneficial in its effects upon the
poor of the locality. As to inquiry none was neces-
sary, for the entire correspondence was already before
the House.

Colonel DUNNE could not but think that the Com-
missioners had failed to exercise a proper discretion in
their conduct towards the Lowtherstown guardians. He
considered that those functionaries were entitled to ex-
pect that some delay should be allowed them in the col-
Iwction of the rate. One thing was perfectly clear, that
the law did not act well in Ireland.

Mr. REYNOLDS was as anxious as any man to see
the principle or the Irish poor-law carried out, but he
was perfectly clear, at the same time, that its details re-
quired material amendment, and he felt that such
amendments would completely defeat the object of those
who desired to get rid of the poor-law altogether. He
considered that there were strong reasons for dismissing
the Lowtherstown guardians, whose apathy—not to call
it obstinacy—in reference to the collection of the poor.
rate, endangered the lives of the poor in their locality.
He urged the Gallant Member to withdraw his motion.
Mr. MONSELL also requested Captain Archdall to
withdraw his motion.

Captain ARCHDALL said that, as such seemed to be
the general feeling of the House, ho would withdraw his
motion.

The motion was then by leave withdrawn.
Mr. BROTHERTON moved that the House do now
adjourn.
Mr. BANICES suggested that the motions on the
paper might be advantageously settled before the motion
was agreed to.

PORTUGAL.
Mr. URQUHART altered the terms of his motion on
this subject, and postponed it to another day.
RAILWAYS (IRELAND).
Mr. FRENCH brought in a Bill for securing to Ire-
land a complete system of railways, which was read a
first time.

PUBLIC HEALTH BILL.
The report of the Committee on this Bill was brought
up, the consideration of the amendments being past-
pen ed.
The House then adjourned at a Qiisrtar to One.

HERALDS' COLLEGE.—TiIe office of Clarenceux,
King of Arms, in this ancient corporation, is vacant by the
demise of Francis Alirtin, Esq., F.S.A., who expired on the
inst., at his official residence, at the advanced age of 82.
The appointment, which is one of some distinction, rests with
the Duke of Norfolk, Earl Jlarshal.
THIEF DETECTED BY A PARROT.—A thief was
det,eted in a siogular manner, in this city on Tuesday
lavt. Mrs. Fisher, flour-dealer, of Northgato-street,
wink in the parlour adjoining her shop, was startled by
oi parrot winch she keeps in her shop, loudly calling
" Shop, Fisher, st op," and hastened into her shop to tee
what was the matter. Not perceiving any person there,
however, she was abut to return again to the parlour,
when the parrot again commenced screaming arid re-
' peating its former words. Mrs. Fisher thereupon con-
ceiving that there must be si.me cause for the extra-
ordinary cries of the bird, walks d round the shop, and
n the inside of the counter,. close to the till, she di,-
eovered a little urchin, about eight years old, crouching
Town to escape notice. He had opened the till, and had
Ofd. in copper in his hands, which he had stolen from it.
A policeman was sent for, who recognised the boy as a
common thief, named John Llwreuce, and took him ;
into custody,—Gloucester Chronicle.