The Sun.
London, England, 1848-02-22 00:00:00

PETITIONS.

Lord BEAUMONT presented a petition from
the Odd Fellows of Manchester, praying for the
legalisation of their society.
Earl ST. GERMANS presented a petition against
the publication of the bull in canna Domini, and also
against denunciations from the altar.
The Bishop of EXETER presented several peti-
tions from clergymen in the diocese of Exeter against
the removal of the Jewish disabilities ; also a petition
from some clergymen in Cheshire, complaining of the
conduct of the Tithe Commissioners.
CRIME AND OUTRAGES (IRELAND) ACT.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE, in moving for a
return of all arms delivered up or seized under the
provi-ions of the recent Act in Ireland, stated that
the operation of the Act had been satisfactory, and
that a great number of arms had been delivered up to
the authorities.
REGISTRATION OF MORTGAGES
(IRELAND).
The NOBLE MARQUIS then moved for certain
returns of the incurnbrances registered on landed
property in Ireland.
The Earl of ELLENBOROUGII thought it
would be desirable to have an accurate return of the
various sums advanced on the security of landed pro-
perty in Ireland, and of the amounts at present
remaining unpaid of such advances.
Earl FITZ WILLIAM complained of the expenses
incurred by these encumbered estates getting into the
Court of Chancery.

The LORD CIIANCELLOR reminded the Noble
Earl that it was in consequence of the faults of the
landlords of Ireland that the estates got into Chancery.
They burdened their estates, neglected to pay up the
interest, and got their properties into such a state
that they could not manage them themselves, and
that the incumbrancers were, in self-defence, obliged
to apply to the Court of Chancery.
After a few words from the Marquis of Clanricarde,
Earl Fitzwilliarn, and Lord Campbell, the motion
was agreed to.
COMMITTEE ON COMMERCIAL DISTRESS.

The Marquis of LANSDOWNE moved that a
message be sent to the House of Commons, requesting
the House to permit certain Members to be examined
before the Committee on Commercial Distress.
HEALTH OF THE AFRICAN SQUADRON.
The Earl of ABERDEEN, in allusion to the re-
turns of deaths in the squadron stationed on the
coast of Africa to suppress the slave trade, com-
plained that that squadron had been much misrepre-
sented. He regretted to see that in consequence of
the recent commercial changes, a partial change had
taken place in the public mind on the subject of the
slave trade. He regretted to find that suggestions
were made by persons supposed to be in the confidence
of the Government, which would not some years since
have been listened to, and therefore he thought it most
advisable that some declaration should be elicited from
the Government. His Noble Friend below him had
on the first night of the session been represented to
have said that so great were the horrors of the mid-
dle passage, and so numerous the deaths in our
squadron, that he would willingly see that squadron
withdrawn from the African coast. There could
be no doubt that the sufferings of the slaves
were augmented in consequence of the necessity
of concealment, but they might, he thought, hope that
in a short time the trade would be put an end to.
The mortality in the squadron had been greatly ex•
aggerated. With these precautions the climate of
the coast of Africa was not more injurious than any
other tropical climate. Its unhealthiness had been
greatly exaggerated. No doubt there was a very
lamentable loss of life in that squadron, hut it was
not such as to :induce us to give up our
efforts and to withdraw our squadron from
the west coast of Africa. The iujurious effects of
the climate might be diminished by due pre-
caution, and they had a right to expect
that those precautions should be used rather
then that the squadron should be withdrawn. In
1842 lie had indulged in sanguine hopes of the
suppression of the slave-trade. At that time
General Va'dez was Governor of Cuba,
and in consequence of his exertions the importation
of slaves had been diminished from 13,000 to 3 000
per annum. General Valdez was removed, and
succeeded by General O'Donnell, under whose go-
vernment the import increased to 8,000 in 1843,
and to 10,000 in 1844. At the same time the im- L