The Sun.
London, England, 1870-05-03 00:00:00

THE IRISH LAND BILL.

The House went into committee on the Irish Land
Bill. _ _

—Mr. SrNAN moved to leave out in line 15 sub-section 3,
"thirty-one " and to insert " sixty-one." In his opinion
the proposition was the best and most conclusive
remedy for the present state of things in Ire-
land in relation to the question under con-
sideration. He asserted that the question was as
much an English one as it was Irish, arguing that if it
were satisfactory to the Irish people it would become the
foundation of amicable relations betvreen the two coun-
tries. The principle of the bill was, as he understood
that in order to apply a final remedy
to the social grievance, the occupier of land so far
as was consistent with any enjoyment of property
by the landlord, was to have his possession secured. The
amendment, he held, was not irreconcilable withthe prin-
ciple of the bill. There was no doubt that the occupiers
of land in Ireland had an objection to leases, but only to
such leases as were mentioned in the reports of the inspec-
tors which he held in his hand—leases that made the
occupiers not only tenants but gamekeepers to the land-
lord, and whose occupation was subject to forfeiture on
the violation of certain conditions of the lease, such as
permitting a person to trespass., He proposed his
amendment in perfect good faith, and upon the autho-
rity of men whose opinion were entitled to weight and
consideration.

Mr. C. FORTESCIIE thought the lion. member would
sot consult the izztereet et the DIU by pzeeelpg his Alll9l2Slis

meat. The Government were not disposed to go to such
a point as the hon. member proposed, and it was
raising an issue which was not before the committee.

Mr. DOWNING said that a lease of sixty-one years was
not an uncommon thing in Ireland, and he bore testimony
to the good results of the system.
The O'CoNoR DON thought that the substitution of
sixty-one for thirty-one would be in almost every case to
bar any lease being granted in consideration of the getting
free from the other clauses of the bill.

Mr. DISRAELI said the fair issue was whether they
should accept the proposition of 31 years from the
Government or not. They had nothing to do with the
amendment.

Mr. SYNAN remarked that he had expected more
sympathy with his proposal, but under the circumstances
he should withdraw his amendment.

Dr. BALL moved an amendment on Clause 3, page 4,
line fifteen, leave out " thirty-one," and insert " twenty-
one." He said his amendment did not affect the question
of leases to be given where improvements were to be
made. It did not interfere with the compensation or re-
muneration allowed under the bill where improvements
were made or should be made. The only question before
the committee was what should be the term of the lease,
which exonerated the landlord from compensation for dis-
turbance or damage for eviction. He thought that a
team of twenty-one years was a very considera-
ble tenure, and an advantageous lease to the tenant.
They were the terms of leases generally adopted in Ire-
land—namely, twenty-one years, which was the term of
ordinary letting, and a term of thirty-one where improve-
ments had to be made ; and he thought it quite right that
the difference should exist where,as it might be, the tenant
had to build the house upon his land: It was therefore his
great desire to encourage as best he could
both of the systems which were dealt with
in the 3rd and 4th clauses of the Act. The learned
gentleman then read a variety of extracts from evidence
given before Lord Clanricarde's committee by Mr. French,
Mr. Mackie, and other persons, who all were of opinion
that twenty-one years was the best term that could be
decided upon, as it would afford full time for the develop-
ment of farms as to fertility. He contended that
one of the amendments standing on the paper in the name
of the Secretary of Ireland, favoured his proposition.
(Mr. C. Fortescue signified dissent.] If it vas not so he
hought it could not be said that it was not an argument
going in the direction of his amendment.
The Marquis of HARTINOTON thought it was most
desirable, after it had been determined to take the
subject of land tenure in Ireland into consideration with a
a view to its amendment, to do so in a large and compre-
hensive manner ; and he could not but express his regret
that certain amendments which would restrict the opera-
tions of the bill should have been pressed upon the Govern-
ment. The proposal of the right hon. and learned
gentleman for the making the term twenty-one years, he
considered, would be very unpopulor in Ireland, and
many persons would prefer remaining tenants-at-will
rather than take a twenty-one year's lease. It would be
a suicidal policy to introduce such a principle in the bill.
He did not see that there was anything in the bill which
would force an Irish landlord to do more than the great
majority of good landlords did now.

Sir ROUNDELL PALMER spoke against the amendment.
He thought he should not be justified in dividing against
the Government on this proposition, the more so as it was
not a question of principle. The Government had done
much to meet the objections that had been raised against
the bill, and therefore he could not give his assent to a
proposition which he looked upon as an abstract point of
policy.
The committee divided, when there appeared—
For the amendment 209
Against 290

Majority against

Sir HENRY SELWYN-IBBETSON then moved in lime 15,
after " years," to insert "or for a term of a life or lives
with or without a concurrent term of years, and which
lease has existed for thirty-one years before the making
of the claim." '''

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL for IRELAND opposed the
amendment.
A; ter some discussion it was withdrawn.
Feveral other amendments were moved and withdrawn
after a brief conversation.

Shortly before 11 o'clock, the House then took up the
adjourned debate on the appointment of Mr. Newdegate's
Committee on Monastic Institutions.

Mr. NEWDEG TE, in compliance with the appeal made to
him on Friday by Mr. Gladstone, explained his understand-
ing of the scope of his inquiry—i.e., that the committee
should inquire into the mode and the conditions under
wh.ch property was held ,jy monastic institutions, and also
into their discipline, with he view of testing their cha-
racter.

Mr WINTERBOTHAM opposed the inquiry, as likely to lead
to no practical result but irritation and jealousy.
Mr. GLADS-'ONE, deeply regretting, from a practical point
of view the original vote of the House, which must lead to
much animosity and ill-will,said if Mr. Newdegate would con-
sent to limit the inquiry to all matters connected with the
property of these institutions, and the law relating to them,
the government would not object, though they did not ex-
pect any profitable result from it.
Mr. NEWDEGATE refused the proposition, but ultimately
the order was discharged by 270 to 160.

Mr. GLADSTONE then moved for a Select Committee to
inquire into the state of the law relating to monastic insti-
tutions and the terms on which they hold their property,
which was carried by 348 to 57. Several notices were
given of instructions to the Committee to be moved at the
next stage.

Mr. BRUCE anneunced that he had relinqUisb( d his inten-
ion of bringing in the Licensing Bill this year.

The House adjourned at two o'clock.

NATIONAL TEMPERANCE LEAGUE.

The annual public meeting of the National Temperance
Leagqe was held at Exeter Hall last evening, Samuel
Bowley, Esq., in the chair. Some idea of the efforts made
by the League in the cause it advocates, may be gathered
from the following extract from the report read :—Thirty-
eight working-class meetings had been held at the Lambeth
Baths and Burdett Hall, where 503 persons signed the
pledge ; and the President of the League had addressed
a meeting of the directors, officials, and employes of the
Midland Railway Company at Derby. Meetings had
been held at several military garrisons. Temperance
societies had been formed on board the Minotaur
and other ships in the navy ; and the missionary to sea-
men had paid 4,608 visits to vessels in the port of London,
distributed about 20,000 tracts and other publications,
and registered 230 names in his pledge-book. The lec-
turers, missionaries, and honorary deputations of the
League had attended about 1500 meetings during the
year ; and the Crystal Palace Fete had been attended by
53,780 persons, being nearly 11,000 more than on any
former occasion. The receipts of the year, amounting to
£4,154175. 11d., included £26215. 2d. from a legacy, and
£1,469 4s. 6d. in subscriptions and donations.

STRANGE INQUIRY INTO THE LOSS OF A

STEAMER.

A Board of Trade Inquiry is at present being held in
Newcastle into the circumstances connected with the loss
of the screw steamer Sea Queen, of London, and all the
hands (29 in number) on board, on the 14th of February
last, while on a voyage from Newcastle to Malaga. A
large number of witnesses were examined on Thursday,
Friday, and Saturday, and the court is still sitting.
Several witnesses spoke to the unseaworthy condition
of the vessel during the voyage preceding the one in which
she was lost, the pumps having to be freely used, and
several of the men refusing to go in her again. Others
described her disgraceful state when she left the Tyne
for Malaga, wanting her mainmast, being very
leaky and much overladen. The dock master
said he observed to persons standing by when she left
the Tyne Docks that she was "nothing else but a coffin
for the poor fellows on board." During the whole of his
experince he had never seen a steamer leave the docks so
deep in the water, and he said to several persons at the
time that " she would never reach her destination."—The
widows, fathers, sisters, and other relatives of the poor
fellows who were lost also gave evidence. Some stated that
-the men only joined the ship on the understanding that
she was to be overhauled before sailing. That was not done,
however and although matters were made worse by the
overloading, the men were compelled to go or be sent to
prison.and the told his wife he only went for the sake of her
the bairns," and to save himself from being thought
a coward. Another replied, when his sister entreated him
not to go, '
afraid of my' IChyearsairiteed r
andarticles
don't
o l'm
wish to
coward
sent
to
p; I' m r onlys_o n
John Potter, who had a Son on boardws as fireman, said his
son told him that her side was so low that he could wash
his hands over the gunwale. Witness and his wife tried
to persuade him from going in the ship, but he replied
that he had signed articles, and must
go.

Riots have taken place at Plumstead in conse-
quence of the decision of the Master of the Rolls respect-
ing the enclosure of the commons. All the fences
were torn up on Friday and Saturday, and the rioters
also threatened to pull down some adjacent houses.
Three of the ringleaders have been fined by the magi-
strates.

In consequence of the notice of appeal given by the
Rev. Mr. Jackson, vicar of Ledbury, from the sentence
of five years' suspension passed upon him by the Court of
Arches, the sentence was not afhxed to the church doors
at Ledbury yesterday, as Sir R. Phillimore directed. The
Bishop of Hereford has not withdrawn his inhibition
against Mr. Jackson from preaching or officiating in the
church.

THE ALBERT LIFE SSURANOE COMPANY

MONDAY.

Vice-Chancellor James gave judgment this morning in
several summonses which had been submitted to him
affecting the interests of the various classes of policy
holders in
,the above company. He decided
that the non-participating policy holder was to
be insured by the Albert Company on a similar
footing in another office equally as substantial as the
Albert had been. As it happened that the Albert had
lost the opportunity of drawing profits, participating
policy-holders were to have policies granted them in an
office which did noWield profits. There was another class of
holders who paid haLpremiums upon their policies, and they
were to be insured on a similar basis in any other company
that might be selected, the latter would have an oppor-
tunity of making a proper deduction in consideration of
the payment of half premium only. It might occur, too,
that certain holders had failed in their health subsequently
to effecting their policies. In those cases a proper addi-
tion must be made in proof, so that the holders
might be raised up as if in the enjoyment of
good health. Lives generally must be regarded as being
in a normal state, and in all cases proper consideration
must be had of the original contract.
In reply to his Honour, Mr. Kay, Q.C., intimated that
the Mutual Assurance Company had been selected for the
purpose of effecting re-assurances, and he thought an
arrangement would be arrived at beneficial to all parties
interested.

THE " PORCUPINE " LIBEL CASE.

MONDAY.

To-day Mr. Shirwin, the writer and publisher of the
Porcupine, a satirical journal published in Liverpool, was
brought before the Judges of the Court of Queen's Bench
to receive sentence. It will be remembered that at the
last Liverpool Assizes, Mr. Shirwin was found
guilty on a criminal information of libelling Mr. Fernie,
the chairman of the Merchants' Trading Company, by
attributing the foundering of the Golden Fleece to unfair
means applied by that gentleman. Neither Mr. Fernie
nor the Golden Fleece was mentioned by name;
and the learned judge (Mr. Justice Brett) left it to the
jury to say whether the article complained of referred to
Mr. Fernie and the Golden Fleece. The jury found at
once that it - did. The Court of Queen's Bench
was crowded to excess, and Mr. Shirwin sat
in front of the counsel. Justices Blackburn
Mellor, and Hannen were the judges.—Sir John Karslake
having prayed judgment, Mr. Justice Hannen read
the notes of Mr. Justice Brett.--Mr. Davison, Q.C.,
on behalf of Mr. Shirwin, then read the
evidence speaking to the character of the defendant and
the Porcupine paper; after which he spoke in mitigation
of sentence.—Mr. Justice Blackburn, in delivering the
sentence of the Court, said the crime of libel was a
misdemeanour punishable by fine and imprison
ment. This was not a case of personal ma-
lignity, nor was it done wantonly and merely to make
a commercial profit. The previous character borne by the
paper was conclusive that it had not been carried on to
propagate scandal or to make reckless imputations upon
others. The jury had found rightly that the matter of the
article referred to Mr. Fernie. To a great extent the
article was a fair comment on the system, but it was
wrong to illustrate it by the reference to Mr.
Fernie, of the Golden Fleece. They considered
that it was not a case for a severe sentence,
and that justice might be met sufficiently by
a sentence of the defendant to one month's imprisonment
as a first-class misdemeanant. Mr. Davison applied for
Mr. Shirwin to be taken to Kirkdale Goal, so that he
might see his friends to carry on his busines. The Court
granted this ; and Mr. Shirwin left the court in the
custody of the judges' clerk.