The Sun.
London, England, 1848-05-02 00:00:00

ALIEN BILL.

Lord D. STUART gave notice of his intention, in
Committee on the Alien Bill, to move an amendment
on certain clauses. _

....
The Earl of LINCOLN presented a petition from
Linlithgow, in favour of the Site of Churches (Scot-
land) Bill. _ . _

Mr. MACKINNON presented a petition in favour
of the Health of Towns Bill.

SPAIN, PRUSSIA, AND DENMARK.
Mr. URQUHART gave notice that ke should, to-
morrow, ask the Noble Lord the Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs, whether the correspondence
recently published in the newspapers as having passed
between this country and Spain was authentic or
not ; and if so, whether he would have any objection
to lay copies of it on the table of the House.—(Hear,
hear.) He should also ask the Noble Lord in what
position this country stands with respect to the
recent events that had taken place between Denmark
and Prussia.
TOBAGO RELIEF BILL.

On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the
EXCHEQUER, the House went into Committee on
this Bill.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
then said it was most probably well known to every
Member in the House who had read the papers that
had been recently furnished with respect to the condi-
tion of the island of Tobago, that it had been desolated
by a severe hurricane, which had caused great
destruction of property. It was no doubt equally well
known and appreciated, that the island in such an
extremity possessed a strong claim upon the generous
aid of this country. When the Government received
intimation of the disaster, they immediately advised
the Government to propose a grant of 5,0001., in order
that it might be applied to the immediate relief of
the distress that had been occasioned, and on the un-
derstanding that the home Government would at the
earliest moment propose a vote of that amount to
meet the expenditure of this sum out of the funds of the
island ; but at the same time they undertook to pro-
pose the loan of a larger sum in order to enable those
whose property had been destroyed to replace it, and
to afford employment for the working people, whose
means of subsistence had been destroyed by the cala-
mity. He had, therefore, to propose a grant of
5,000/. and a loan of 50,000/. The House had adopted
a similar course in reference to St. Vincent, Jamaica,
Domingo, and other islands, and as recently as 1843
assistance had been afforded to Antigua in conse-
quence of a calamity that had occurred there.
He would not on the present occasion
advert to the condition of the West In-
dian islands, as their condition would, no
doubt, on a future occasion, come under the mature
consideration of the House. He would only state
that the condition of Tobago was such as to render
it necessary that the House should extend the pro-
posed
aid to it. As the House was fully in posses-
sion of the circumstances, he should simply move
that the sum of 5,000/. be voted to relieve the distress
occasioned in the island by the recent hurricane.
Mr. HUME inquired where the details of the
grant were laid down ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
page 16 of the printed papers. The money
waatorelieve labourers and others.
said, in
Mr. HUME inquired if that was the whole amount
proposed ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
it was not ; a loan of 50,000/. was proposed.
Mr. HUME wished to know whether the money
had been advanced ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
stated that it had been advanced, and that such was
the only course which could be adopted by the Go-
vernment in the emergency in which the island was
placed. The Right Honourable Baronet then
proceeded to state that the next vote which
he should place in the hands of the:Chairman
was to authorise the Treasury to advance, either
from the Consolidated Fund, or by the issue of
Exchequer-bills, a sum of 50,0001. upon loan to the
Island of Tobago, to be distributed by the Legisla-
ture of that island to individuals who had suffered
from the effects of the recent hurricane, in the same
manner as similar grants had been distributed in the
islands of Antigua, Montserrat, and others.
Mr. HUME wished to know whether the money
had been advanced, and if not, upon what terms it
was to be advanced, and whether it was likely that
the sums would be repaid by the colony.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
that the money had not yet been advanced, and
would not be advanced unless the island was
prepared to give such terms as the Govern-
ment thought to be sufficient security for the
repayment of the money. He did not think that it
was advisable then to enter into any discussion as to
the general state of the West Indian colonies. The
present grant would form no part of the general plan
to be proposed for the relief of those islands, but
was in strict accordance with grants made upon
former occasions to those islands which had suffered
from hurricanes or other calamities of a similar
ve h secur woulno doubt them,
nature. The money would be advanced by the
Legislature of the island to individuals who would
gi
but thesuc Governme ity
ntas of this country wouldsatisf y look to
the island for its repayment.
Mr. HUDSON la ished to know what amount at
present remained unpaid out of similar advances made
upon previous occasions to the West Indian islands ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
said, that advances had been made to other islands to
a very considerable extent, and, up to the present time,
to a very great extent, the instalments had been
punetually and regularly paid. Owing to the dis-
tress which had existed during the last two years the
time had,
however, been extended for the payment of
the instalments,: • •
Mr. HUDSON -wished to know whether the ad-
vance of the present sum would
.not be attended with
much greater risk than grants made at any former
4 period.