The Sun.
London, England, 1848-04-15 00:00:00

EVRNIN G, AP'RI'L 15, 1848,

Notes issued.. • . • • •• 2g,008,385

CHARTIST CONVENTION.
AFTERNOON SITTING.
In the absence of the chairman, Mr. Cufrdy was
elected to take the chair, which he did amidst much
laughter and cheers.
Mr. WHEELER said he bad been requested by Mr.
O'Brien to make an official communication to the secre-
tary of his resignation as a delegate.
Mr. lIARNEY considered that Mr. O'Brien had treated
the Chartists of London with great disrespect in acting
in the way he had done. He would, therefore, move—
that this Convention considers that Mr. O'Brien has
treated the Convention with disrespect in the manner in ,
which he has thought fit to vacate his seat in this as.
serubly.
Mr. CUFFAY seconded the motion.
Mr. KYDD did not think they had any right to inter-
fere between Mr. O'Brien and his constituents, who
ought to be allowed to settle any matter of difference
between themselves. As his constituents had returned
him as a delegate, they had power to receive his resigna-
tion, and it was their business to see that they were
represented in the Convention. With that view he
begged to move that the question be not entertained.
The amendment was seconded by Mr. WALTER, but
was negatived on a division being taken, and the motion
was accordingly carried.
Mr. HARNEY said he had observed a sneering para-
graph in a newspaper at the end of the report of their
proceedings, stating when the meeting broke up a per.
son stood at the door shaking a money box in the ears
of the public. Now he wished to know upon what autho-
rity the box was placed there? He did not object to any
person contributing towards the expenses of that assembly
but he did strongly object to a man shaking a box at
the door and crying out " Remember the poor delegates
of the Convention. '—(Laughter.) He was one who
thought that those who sent delegates to the Convention
ought to be able to support them—(Cheers)—and he
was therefore much against adopting the practice of the
disciples of Daniel O'Connell.
Mr. WGRATH said, as theirs was a public cause it
ought to be supported by the public, and he saw no rea-
-567 son why a box should not be placed at the door to give
132 toe an opportunity to those who were able and willing to
168 contribute towards the expenses. He did object,
°93 however, to a person shaking the box in the ears of the
!tie people as they left the meeting.
12 It was ultimately agreed that the box should be left
Iss at the door in a less objectionable manner.
Mr. WALTER brought up the address which had been
prepared by the different trades' unions in Great Britain
and Ireland, which was agreed to and ordered to be
printed.
Mr. HARNEY said he had received a communication
from Aberdeen, stating that at a meeting held there of five
er six thousandpeople, a resolution was come to to enrol
a national guard, and also one expressing their confi-
dence in the proceedings of the Convention. The letter
further stated that the enrolment of the national guard
had already been commenced.—(Loud cheers.)
her to up
ADDRESS TO THE QUEEN.
Mr. ERNEST JO
councilsJONES proposed that the Convention
should draw
Charter ; and further,
a memorial to the Queen, requesting
dismiss her Ministers, and to call men to her
pledged to the principlesthe People's
the enlightenment r
etioes
toherof to
dissolve
memorial be entrusted
Parliament, as not
of representing the feelings and
the people ; and that such
-
presentation to the Queen.—(
Cheers.) He believed
that resolution was in co to the National Assembly for
compliance with the one which had
been passed by the Convention,
cit again to petition the
House of Commons should the National Petition be re-
jected ; for after the proceedings in the House of
might look ufvoans the petition as
asththeerefore the
Commons last night they
ebfoouren dreen.
virtually rejected. The Sovereign
next highest court of appeal to which it w
duty of the people to submit their grievances b
sorting to any ulterior measures. As the conduct of the
House last night was tantamount to a rejection, it would be
humiliating on their part to have any further intercourse
with it, and he contended that they should send no more
petitions on any plea whatever. It had been stated that
the enthusiasm in favour of the Charter was dying
away in consequence of the events of Monday last, but
on the contrary, the Chartists were stronger, more
courageous, and prouder of the cause than they had been
before.—(Cheers.) Would any one venture to assert,
after looking round the hall, and seeing the enthusiasm
which prevailed, that the people would have gone, day
after day, and listened with so much interest to the deli-
berations of the House of Commons?—(Cheers.) He
concluded by suggesting that the memorial should be
adopted at the simultaneous meetings on Good Friday.
Mr. WALTER, in seconding the motion, observed that
if the monarchy of this country was ever put an end to,
it would not be so much by the proceedings of that
Convention, or even by the act of the most ardent
Republicans, as by those who were in the confidence of
the Sovereign, and who prevented her listening to the
opinions and the real wants of the people.—(Hear.)
The motion was unanimously carried, and a com-
mittee was appointed, consisting of Mr. E. Jones, Mr.
Harney, and Mr. Walter, to draw up the memorial.
After a good deal of discussion upon several matters,
without any determination being come to,
Mr. E. JONES proposed that a committee be appointed
to draw up certain little tracts, containing a simple
illustration of the People's Charier, for publication and
gratuitous distribution in some cases, and in others for
sale at the lowest possible price.
The motion was seconded by Mr. STEVENSON.
A subscription of 11. from a stranger present, to aid
in carrying that motion into effect, was announced
amidst loud cheers. The subscription was accompanied
by a recommendation that a committee of ladies should
be appointed to distribute these tracts emong the soldiers
which recommendation was received with a burst of ap
plause

IA DELEGATE said a soldier, who had been sent
over to this country from Cotk to aid in putting
down their demonstration on Monday, told him
the ether (thy that he did not think, in the event of a
collision, the soldiers would have fired upon the people.
The way in which the IL was received bad a conta-
gious effect upon the auditors, if we may judge from
the manner in which a number of shillings and six-
peOces were thrown from all sides of the hall upon the
senatorial tables, to the danger of the uncovered heads
of the delegates.

The motion was unanimously carried, and a committee
appointed for the purpose, and the meeting shortly after-
wards adjourned.

BANK OF ENGLAND.
(From last night's Gazette.)
An Account, pursuant to the Act 7th and Bth of Victoria, cap. 32, for
the Week ending on Saturday, the Bth day of April, 1848.
18SUB VIP kATMEN T.

Z.
Government debt . • 11,015,100
Other securities .... 2,984.900
Gold coin and bullion 12,089,798
Silver bullion ••.• • • 1,918,587

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
HOUSE OF LORDS, April M.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat upon the 'Wool-
sack shortly before Five o'clock.
MESSAGE FROM THE COMMONS.

Messengers from the Commons brought up several
Bills, which were respectively read a first time.
PETITIONS.
The Earl of ORKNEY presented a petition from the
schoolmasters of Orkney, praying for an alteration in
the law respecting schoolmasters in Scotland. Also pe-
titions from various lodges of Odd Fellows, praying that
their societies might be legalized.
MUTINY BILL.
Thd Mutiny Bill was read a third time and passed.
MARINE MUTINY BILL.
The Marine Mutiny Bill was read a third time and
passed.

LEASES MINES (IRELAND) RILL.
On the motion of the Earl of DEVON,. the Leases
Mines (Ireland) Bill was read a second time_
MINISTERS' MONEY ( IRELAND).
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE presented a petition
from Drogheda against the imposition of ministers'
money in Ireland.

ODD FELLOWS.
Lord BEATJ MONT presented a great number of
petitions from various lodges of Odd Fellows, all very
numerously signed, preying for the legalization of their
society.
The Earl of HARROWBY presented several peti-
tions with a similar prayer.
SCOTCH POOR-LAW.
The Duke of RICHMOND presented 3a petition
from Forres, praying for an alteration in the Scotch
Poor-law.

ELECTION RECOGNIZANCES BII.L.
Lord REDESDALE presented a petition from Chel-
tenham against the Election Recognizances Bill.
Lord MONTEAGLE, in consequence of the absence of
a Noble and Learned Lotd who was exceedingly anxious
to take part in the discussion of the Election Recog-
nizances Bill, postponed the second reading of the Bill
to Monday, and he hoped that after that day no further
obstacles would be thrown in the way of the progress of
the Bill.
Lord CAMPBELL thought that the Bill might be
read a second time sub silentio, and the discussiion taken
on going into Committee.
Lord BROUGHAM reminded the House that, al-
though the discussion on the principle of a Bill was
usually taken on the second reading, yet still it was not
unusual by agreement to permit a Bill to be read a
second time sub silentio, and to take the discussion on
the motion for going into Committee.
After a few words from the Earl of ELLEN:MOROI:GM
and Lord CAMPBELL, the second reading of the Bill
was postponed to Monday.
SMOKE.
Lord REDESDALE introduced a Bill for :the sup-
pression of the nuisance of smoke. It was idea tical in
its provisions with a Bill which had last session passed
through the House of Commons, and he would explain
the provisions of the measure on the motion for the
second reading.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE was glad the Noble
Lord had turned his attention to the subject, and would
render him every assistance in his power.
CORN AVERAGES.
The Duke of RICHMOND asked for information as
to the manner in which the corn averages were taken.
Great quantities of corn were sold which. never
appeared in the averages at all, and as the tithe
commutation was founded on these averages, it was
important that the averages should be perfectly
kept. He wished to know whether the Board
of Trade sent down from time to time persons to
examine the books of the inspectors, and to see that
they were properly kept, and he would suggest that
farmers might be permitted to make returns of their sales
and prices direct to the Board of Trade. Great mistakes
had been made in taking the averages, against the repe-
tition of which it was the duty of the Board of Trade to
guard.
taking
an
kwTinnh
towns
wtMbh
eai
crahqvuehirasadgoehfse
etLnh LANSDOWNE
wt
oesaid
et
at h
markes nt k
13::yt s
thethe
Excise officers, who were responsible persons. In
what might be called the old towns the averages were
taken by respectable shopkeepers, whose accuracy could
pbleaedeespeinndiendspuepeotonr,shanipds
as
of cvoa cf. na n c
i esreturns,oectuhrroesed
viacentnhooseies
were filled up by Excise officers.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.
Lord STANLEY rose, according to notice, to draw
the attention of the House to the manner in which the
business of both Houses of Parliament was conducted.
He did not at all intend to touch upon the manner in
which private business was conducted, but should
confine his attention to the manner in which
public legislation was conducted. There was now
a much greater degree of attention paid by the
public to the subject of legislation than was paid many
years ago, but with that greater degree of attention
there had arisen an idea in the mind of every man
that he was a competent judge in all matters of
legislation, so that contemporaneously with this greater
degree of attention to public affairs there had arisen a want
of deference to the authority of Parliament. There
had arisen a feeling of a somewhat similar nature in the
other House. Members of the House were more inde.
pendent in the expression of their opinions than they had
formerly been, and were much more dependent
on their constituents than formerly.—(Hear, hear.)
The electors watched their Members more closely, and
perhaps they required too frequently that the represen-
tatives should submit their own judgment to the precon-
ceived opinions of their constituents.—(Hear, hear.)
The representatives sought to recommend themselves
to their constituents by increased speaking, which did
not at all advance the public business. They had a great
desire to see their names in print, but it did not tend
much to the edification of those who listened to their
orations, and still less to the advancement of the public
business.—(Hear, hear.) An adjourned debate some
years ago was a rare thing, but now it seemed to be the
rule and the conclusion of a debate in one night the ex-
eeption.—(Hear, hear.) Again, it seemed to be expected
by the public that the Government should provide
remedies for all public grievances, real or imaginary,
which greatly increased their labours, and caused an
Additional responsibility to be thrown on them. But
the Government had also less facility in forwarding their
business than they used to have. They had but two
nights in the other House of Parliament, the remaining
three night being given up to individual motions.—
(Hear, hear.) They had not, in fact, the command of
the two nights, for upon the motion for going into Com-
mittee of Supply it was in the power of any Member to
bring forward any subject he thought proper.—(Hear,
bear.) It was necessary that provision should be made
for the financial affairs of the country, and that the
annual Mutiny Bill should be passed before Easter,: and
ther.fore the Legislative acts, the law-making,
could not properly begin until the month of
oefst. the
meoatshnerres Housewere
eaolmaam-,
enweehden
intherigbhutsineessarn
brought in by wholesale, and pressed forward with
great haste.—(Hear, hear.) They were generally re-
ferred to a Committee, and the business of that Com-
mittee was either interminable, or, to remove objections
and save loss of time, the Government were obliged to
submit to various amendments from different Members,
to the manifest injury of their Bills ; and these amend-
ments, it must be remembered, were made by Members
on separate clauses, without reference to other parts of
the Bill, which often led to the greatest absurdities.—
(Hear, hear.) Measures so made were often, to use the
words of ,Rieha'rd, " Sent before their time into this
breathing world." They were made up, and that so
lamely and unfashionably, that, if the dogs did not
bark at them, the lawyers carped at them ; (and the
Noble Lord on the Woolsack, with the other learned
administrators of the law, must often, in the language
of Milton, feel

" Chaos sits supreme,
And by decisions more embroils the fray."
—(Much laughter.) A much larger proportion of
Scotch than English Bills was passed into Acts,
solely because there was less talk about them.—(Hear,
hear.) He feared their Lordships were fast sinking
in public estimation, because during tho first five or
six months they had to sit without having any busi-
ness to do, and during the remaining five or sia.-
weeks of the session they bad a mass of business thrustproperly
attend them which it was impossible they could
pass measures
the session at
attend to.—(Hear,thheeaurt.)
proper consideration,
must eit h er, therefore,ordrop
v,.them,hie
othne)l'h,Ae ,
egrreo
introduced
eodtu' theeed
often obliged so to treat
House.
The result was, that they weHousere of Commons had be-
liangteo ptehreiiordL Lordships' s h ips'
measures upon which thde
they were consequently re-
gardedstowed great pains, an
prevent the passing o
gobserrations to any particular
by the country,f asoeadmimscehaiseuvroeuss._in(tourveeanr,tihoena,rt.o)
He did not apply these
.t
was II übject which could
eras
partake in fact i
party
of the evil of
afford a fair example
last years would
es uhnotnleeru
of character.—(Hear, hear.) Thonebesteihnrrve:e;
believedr
having that
ofe
heTnhheefilriastdwtha
Conserva-
tive Administration, nistre complained.tio n,
w. . .
etohieltrtohlirodf, asan
y far
Gaosv
Govern-
ment, member off thend
toA Administration, itnhiestwraetriostn,, t
haen and
greaterhe
e vil
would be found
n place that year. In the second year a change of
rGtattokrveleiarmumxctotuolodk
be
e place,un under
rd t
hi
en
went, it was under the control of the Noble Lord oppo-
site. In 1845, 130 Acts of Parliament were passed, of
e
of
from
mL otrhdes ,oat
hn
edrlo7 Housein
twh'beicchom23moorlilgs.inaTtehdeitn
itilii:sHenotuusep
of Parliament and printed amounted to 91 d
they,
Al;ugMussrtc, hl,. 5
s;eAtipiarithinthe 12; May,'la' enb ru a r
came before their Lordships as follows:--In
4;June,July,
9; 59;
lstst six weeks of tho session
of 1845 no less than 63 of the 130 Acts, or nearly one-
half, were, for the first time, submitted to their Lord•
ships' inspection during the last six weeks of the
session
(Hear, hear)—and he then excepted the Acts which
their Lordships did not think it necessary to print. In
the year 1846 there were passed 117 Acts of Parlia-
ment, 12 originating in the House of Lords, and 105 in
the Commons, of which 26 were not printed, and he
would, therefore, take the remaining 79. Of these 28
had been sent to their Lordships up to the end of June,
15 were rent up in July, and :36 in the month of August,
so that their Lordships were called on to consider no
less than 51 distinct Bills in two months.— (Hear, hear.)
In 1847, 115 Bills were passed, 11 originating in the
House of Lords, and 104 in the House of Commons, 7
of which were not printed, leaving 97. They were for-
tunate enough last session to prorogue on the 23d July,
which in these times was very unusual—(Hear)—and in
January they had 2 Bills; in February, 6; in March, 7;
in April 10; in May 15; making 40 to the close of May.
In June 28 were brought up, and in July 29, making
57 Bills in the last two months, of which 45 were in the
last six weeks, and 28 in the last three weeks.—(Hear,
hear.) Now it was impossible to look at this and say it
watt creditable to the Legislature; and the consequence
was that Acts to amend such hasty legislative measures
Were constantly being introduced, and all parties were