The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-18 00:00:00

7.IOND'OI4,I"WEIYMBIDAY EVENTNa. MARCY!. Is, is4o.

tion shorld, have the:ftll arid undivided attention of the
House.

Sir J. GRAHAM, in answer to a question from Mr. SHAW,
stated that he intended to fix the first order day after the
second reading of the Corn Bill for the first reading of the
Lin and Property Protection (Ireland) Bill.
The House then resumed the further consideration of the
report on the Customs Duties (tariff).
On the question that the duty be reduced on the item of
silk-worm gut,
Mr. CATLICY moved that the item he omitted.
After a short discussion,
Mr. CATIET withdrew his motion,
On the proposition for the reduction of the duty on far-
reign brandy,
Mr. Alderman Tnoursow moved that the words " spirits
or strong waters" be struck out. He maintained that it
would be much more beneficial to take the excise duty off
soap than do away the great income that was derived from
the duty on brandy.
Mr. EwAar supported the reduction, and expressed a
hope that it would be an inducement to France to meet this
country in a similar spirit.
The Marquis of GRANBY was at a loss to know upon what
ground the reduction of the duty could be supported, and he
should therefore give it his most strenuous opposition.
Mr. CARDWELL supported the Government proposition,
and after a short discussion the House divided, when the
original motion for the reduction was declared to be carried
by a majority of 29 ; there being for the motion 64, and for
Alderman Thompson's amendment 35.
Upon the proposition for taking off the duty on oxen,
bulls, &c.,
Mr. W. /Shuts opposed the motion, and moved as an
amendment the omission of the words oxen, cows, calves,
beef fresh and salted, but not hams; which, on a division,
was lost by a majority of 39.
The articles, foreign hides and linen, were afterwards
agreed to.
On the timber duties being proposed,
Lord G. BENTLYCK suggested that the further consideration
should be postponed till Monday.
On the suggestion of Sir R. PEEL,
Mr. PARKER postponed the consideration of his motion on
railway legislation.
The Coalwhippers' Act was then read a second time, and
ordered to be committed on Monday.
The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the
House adjourned at Twelve o'clock.

The Earls of CLARENDON aid ABERDEEN are men of the
most mild and amiable character, and no two statesmen
perhaps could be chosen to speak on the Oregon question
who could show a more peaceable disposition, or so much
moderation, or such a total absence of every appearance of
hostile feeling even towards the violent war party in America.
Their brief speeches last evening are perfect models in this
respect—they breathe only peace and good will to the mis-
guided men of the west, and even to Mr. POLK and General
Cass, who have behaved towards England in a way that
might justly have called forth different language. Possibly
this moderation may have a different effect in
America from that intended, and in place of induc-
ing certain parties to follow the good example,
and act like Christians, may lead them, as we
find mild language has hitherto done, to rise in their
demands, and attribute the apparent submissiveness of Eng-
land to fear, or commercial interests, or some other motives
equally unbecoming a great and high-spirited nation. On
the other hand, such a course has its advantages in a moral
point of view, and cannot fail to make a favourable impres-
sion on every Continental Power. England, they must see,
has adopted a system in every respect different from that of
her antagonist. She has used no insulting language, made
no unreasonable demands. She has offered to settle the
dispute by negotiation, or reference to a third Power. She
has, in short, offered everything consistent with her honour.
Looking at the navy of this country, her vast wealth,
her almost inexhaustible resources, and the nob!e contest
she so long maintained against the most gigantic power
ever seen by Europe—such a peaceful attitude cannot fail to
make the deepest impression in favour of her rights, and ex-
hibit her in a light which may well excite the envy of the
world. We only trust that this moderation will not be car-
ried beyond the proper limits, and that Lord ABERDEEN will
not forget that there are bounds beyond which even the most
peaceable of her MAJESTY'S subjects could not be induced to
pass. The rights of the Hudson's Bay Company must be
preserved, the Columbia River cannot be surrendered, nor any
concession made which can interrupt a free communication with
the Pacific ; and it ought never to be forgotten that
by yielding to unreasonable demands we only the more en-
danger the blessings of peace. On these points Lord ABER-
DEEN said nothing—his remarks were all general, and his
hopes of an amicable settlement of the differences much
stronger, we fear, than those entertained by any other person.
" I cannot," he said, " bring myself to believe that any reason-
able doubt remains of our being able to bring this matter to a
satisfactory conclusion." He knows more than the public, and
the public in the mean time may take his word when he
assures them that the conduct of this great transaction will
be forbearing, eonciliatory, moderate, and just, without any
sacrifice of honour or of the real interests of the country. We
only hope that he will never forget his own solemn declara-
tion, that " England has rights in the Oregon, and that she
is prepared to maintain them."

The tariff is not yet finished. We had hoped too much,
it appears, of the discretion and even of the humanity of
protectionist legislators. Though the Corn Bill is waiting
for the tariff, and none of the articles included in the tariff—
some of them of prime importance to a people suffering
from scarcity—can be admitted at the proposed reduced du-
ties till the whole report on the tariff has been received—
notwithstanding the appalling accounts of the march of
famine in Ireland, and the authoritative representations of
the injury done to all the commercial interests by the con-
tinuance of delay—the protectionist pop-guns still go on
popping, Lord GEORGE BENTINCK still goes on practising
himself into an orator at the expense of starving millions,
and Sir JOHN TYRELL and Colonel SIBTIIORP making" merry
descants on a nation's woes." When and how is all this
tomfoolery to end ?
The protectionists, it appears, had made up their mind not
to let the second reading of the Corn Bill pass till n :xt Fri •
day week. Lord G. BENTINCK has made up his book so as
to let the third reading be taken the last day that the House
of Commons will sit before Easter, that the Lords may not
begin with it till :after Easter, so as the protectionists can
talk, and will talk, and there is no shame in them.
Sir ROBERT PEEL, has lost nothing by allowing the second
reading of the Corn Bill to be postponed till Monday next ; for
whether it comes en next Monday, or had come on last night,
in either case it had been settled by Lord GEORGE BENTINCK,
whose decrees are irrevocable, that tke division should take
place on Friday week. And Lord GEORGE BEwritsck, who
shows himself every night a great calculator, has calculated
that the debate on timber is to last six hours; so as the
House were not unnaturally unwilling to sit for six hours,
from eleven o'clock last night, to begin work again at twelve
to-day, and as nothing is lost by letting the six hours' pro-
tectionist mooning on timber come off on Friday, on Friday
it is to come off; and then let us hope that the tariff will be
finished, and the new duties come into operation on Satur-
day morning.

This morning the Irish Fever Bill has been proceeded
with. The sentiments to which Mr. WAKLEY has given
expression in connexion with this Bill have, we think, been
most unjustly misrepresented, when he is ridiculed as pre-
scribing high diet for fever, and accused of throwing ob-
structions in the way of the cure of fever, by remonstrating
against a previous absence of measures for preventing it.
The frightful returns laid before Parliament, if they show
anything, show that the fever has its origin in want of food.
That is the Government case. It is a case universally
assented to. The existence of scarcity has been long known,
its production of disease has been long foreseen. "Why,
then," asks Mr. WAKLEY, "have effectual measures not
been- taken to supply fools to the starving ?" And it is
ant too late yet. Why are not effectual measures now taken
or providing every starving man, in whom starvation has
got yet produced disease, with food that may yet be in time
.to prevent it? And Mr. Waitr.nr lays hold of the defect
)f the Irish poor-law system, which does not provide the
means of relieving the destitute immediately, without first
bringing him into the workhouse. Mr. P. SCROPZ has also
ably enforced the necessity of making some alteration in the
provision of the Irish poor-law to meet the sad necessity
„if the present moment. This is not the time to cling to
theories, when starvation and death threaten on every
fide. This is not the time to wait for the operation
if the measures introduced by the Government with a view to
providing employment, nor even for the distribution of those
supplies of food which the Government have collected, and
by the collection of which Sir J. GRAHAM is so ready to
justify himself to his country and posterity, by a state of
things such as now exists in Ireland. The means should be
at hand in every parish of providing immediate relief to the
destitute, as it is provided by the relieving officers in Eng-
land. Till these means are given, the Government will not
have done all their duty. This is what Mr. WAKLEY has
urged upon the Government with his usual ability, and with
a benevolence of which one would have thought his public
life had afforded proof enough to protect him from the un-
handsome insinuations in which a Liberal paper has per-
mitted itself to indulge.

We alluded in our columns of yesterday to the promised
topic of the
motion of Lord Join( RUSsELL, and entirely approved of its
postponement until the all-engrossing, the vitally important
triumphant termination,
day, the introduction of cheap food for the many,
shall have been safely carried through its various stages to a
the imperative
ra Tisecsessari but we do not the less keenly feel
of an early and attentive investiga-
tion into the
un-
doubtedly is, rather a thoran*of
country, so large e portion
have hitherto rendered so fair a
our dominions, as Ireland un-
athnde aide of Great Britain, the fer-
tile source of embarrassmenttn
difficulty to the Government,
than (as undoubtedly she ought to be) her great strength
and support. The people of Ireland have
long suffered under
the blighting effects of misgovernmentaiidop
anew and
oppression ex •
that the
tended through ages of misrule—let us hope that
a brighter era is dawning upon both nations, and
abolition of all political distinctions, the removal ofali
equal and unjust laws, which have hitherto rendered a people
possessing so many high and noble qualities, so ready to feel
and appreciate any kind (we should rather say just) acts,
dissatisfied and insubordinate, will restore it to us as an
integral portion of our nation rather than a province.
Never was there a time when acts of concession, cf justice on
our part could be rendered with a better grace. The visita-
tion of PaoinnExcE has unhappily afflicted our Irish brethren
with all the horrors of famine and of pestilence, occasioned
by the deteriorated quality of the scanty provisions retained
for home consumption ; and this, be it remembered, at a
time when they are exporting to our shores large quantities
of the finest description of esculents. Our Government, with
the unction and approbation of persona of all j

classes, varieties, and shades of politics through-
out the country, are anxiously seeking for and
ready to adopt any means to alleviate their distress—to
extend the warmest sympathy and the most disinterested
friendship to the sufferers—amply sufficient to testify to a
people of such high and generous impulses the true character
of our feelings towards them—that we do not wish in any re-
spect to enact the part of a superior, but
in all things' to make them part and parcel
of ourselves fn hill and per of equality—that
we are actuated by a laudable and anxious desire to
remove their grievances and to render them complete justice,
to develope their energies, and to bring their great national
resources into full and perfect operation.

But much remains still to be done before this happy con-
summation can be attained, and gladly do we hail the exist-
ence of an improved spirit amongst our legislators in the
manner in which they discuss the affairs of our sister island.
Men of the highest and most exalted talent, of compre-
hensive intellect, have shaken off many of the antiquated
prejudices which formerly hung around them, and prevented
the free exercise of their faculties; they can now give full
liberty (unrestrained by considerations of party ) to their nobler
feelings; the Government, and many of the most intellectual
of what was formerly termed the Conservative party, have
happily emancipated themselves from the thraldom of the
more bigoted and intolerant of their associates, from the sup-
posed necessity of acting with whom, and keeping them-
selves united as a party, their better feelings were formerly
fettered andenchained. Already* measure has been brought
forward to sweep off the last remnants of the penal bode
which so long disgraced our statute-book, and it
was received with the almost unanimous approbation of the
House. True it is that some little opposition was manifested,
but it was of the faintest description, and appeared to have
been given rather as a protest against the measure than
with any well-grounded hope of resisting it in its progress.
Indeed, we should doubt the efficacy, the justice of any
measure which was not greeted by some such exhibition.
And now that this improved spirit is animating the
national councils we entertain the sanguine expectation
that but a short while will elapse before we shall witness its
happy fruits—that where discontent and anarchy now prevail,
contentment and peace will become their substitutes—where
poverty and its attendant miseries have attained a rank and
spurious growth, wealth and its cheerful adjuncts will supply
their place—where the assassin now lurks, the hardy and
peaceful yeoman will be found. And that Ireland at large,
hitherto writhing beneath the tortures of misrule, will soon
be converted into a thriving and prosperous portion of our
dominions, and in place of reproach, will reflect honour on
the British Legislature.

We have received Madrid journals of the 10th, which left
little doubt that a speedy change of Ministry was certain.
and this event, by no means unexpected, has bee* confirmed
by an extraordinary express which reached Paris on Monday
night, announcing that on the 12th all the Ministers had
resigned. This is believed to be the work of CHRISTINA. and
NARVAEZ ; for the moderation of the latter, ever since the
fall of MARTLUZ DB LA ROSA'S Cabinet, and the acquies-
cence of the QUEEN-MOTHER in the change, were all feigned,
and displayed for some ulterior object of their plans. The
public absolutely know nothing, but strong and well-founded
suspicions are entertained that some dark, mysterious scheme
is in operation for the marriage of the QUEEN to one net
acceptable to the Spanish nation. No doubt remains that a
new Cabinet will be formed with NARVARZ as Chief Mi-
nister.

On the 10th the Three per Cents. closed at 29i at 30 days;
the Five per Cents., at 21i at 30 days; and the Coupons, at
23;1 at 30 days.

In the French Chamber of Deputies, on Monday, the de-
bate on the motion of M. RESIITSAT relative to public func-
tionaries having seats in the Chamber had commenced, but
up to the hour of post it possessed no feature of the slightest
interest. A Committee had been appointed on M. ST.
PRIEST'S Bill for the reduction of the Five per Cent. Stock
Of the Members six are Ministerialists, and consequently in
favour of postponement, and the measure therefore may be
regarded as settled, at least, for this session. A. Bill for granting
300,000 f. to the Minister of the Interior, for charitable pur-
poses, had been passed on a previous day almost unani-
mously. The late insurrection in Poland still forms the
principal topic in several of the journals, but the remarks upon
it are without either novelty or interest. The total amount
of subscriptions in Paris up to Saturday, was 43,000 f., and
those in the provinces already known were reckoned at 7,000 f,
making altogether 50,000 f. (2,0001.) We are glad to find
that the accounts received from the trnited States of the
manner in which the new tariff of Sir ROBERT PEEL was
received at Ness York and Washington, has given satisfac-
tion at Paris. This is a_iood sign for the continuation of
peace between England' and France. War, even among
men that at one time belonged to the war party, is becoming
unfashionable, and the bleisings of peace begin to be
estimated at their real value, The Constitutionnel,
adverting to the accounts from America, says :—" They
afford an additional argument for the advocates of peace,
and the most powerful that can be urged in an American
assembly, for it is founded or. self-interest; but the next ar-
rivals will tell us whether the impressions of the first day
were fugitive, or whether they have remained permanent in
the minds of the American statesmen." The arguments of
the Courrier Francais, a journal not partial to England,
might be put forth by any peace society in England. We
are much pressed for space, but the article is too good to be
abridged :
" It is long since political 'economists have said to their Govern-
ments—grant us commercial liberty, free trade with all nations, and
we in our turn guarantee to you, in the name of the science of which
we are the advocates, that the liberty which you bestow as a gift on
humanity, shall not meet an ungrateful return ; we guarantee that
It shall successively remove all the causes of trouble, disorder, and,
antagonism, which it Is your duty to combat and destroy ; we gua-
rantee to you that there shall one day reign in the world, that
golden age, which has been placed so mal-apropos in the past, and
which in the future is the golden age of peace. These eco-
nomists have been scarcely listened to, au d if they have been,
it has been only with the intention of stigmatising their ideas
as dreams and utopian reveries. The first answer gives was ' This
liberty is impossible. Nations have been always imparked within
their frontiers; they are accustomed to be separated, divided, dis-
united ; how then will you accustom them to unite and treat each
other as brothers ?' The economists have not replied to this, they
have done better ; they have allowed facts to speak for them-
selves ; they have shown populations drawn towards each other,
uniting themselves by the bonds of interest and sympathies,
and breaking by degrees those shackles which separated them ;
they have shown societies formerly scattered, and forming
each a separate world, drawing towards each ether in
such a manner as to form a great whole, the parts of which,
though distinct and different, are attached to each other by the in-
dissoluble bond of commercial relations. They have, in fine, pointed
out the constantly increasing amount of the imports and •exports of
each country, and have said, This is what will henceforth secure
peace. War will not take place whets one nation depends on another
ter its subsistence.' Events that are taking place on all sides prove
the correctness of the opinion of those who have been hitherto
designated as dreamers and utopians. The genius of war re-
coils before that of commercial liberty. We have, for instance,
just received from the United States accounts In which the
political economists will receive an admirable confirmation
of the excellence of their principles, in which they will find the an-
nouncement of a signal victory, which the application of their prin-
eiplea is on the point of giving to the cause of peace. After remaining
for a month without any news from England, the Americans re-
ceived by the Cambria" the financial plan proposed by Sir Hobert
Peel. This great measure which has put an end to the old system
pursued in England, and inaugurates in the world the era of comnier-
cial liberty, has caused a complete revolution both at Washington
and at New York. All warlike ideas, even by the most
ardent adversaries of England, were immediately laid aside.
The language of the press, hitherto so threatening, has become
completely pacific. The Oregon question may be cousiderod
to be, if not arranged, at least in a fair way of settlement. This,
we repeat, is a victory of which the friends of freedom have a just
right to be proud, In England, the accounts from America have
caused general satisfaction, except amongst the old protectionist
party. For this party, already half vanquished, and which will to-
morrow have disappeared, the blow is painful. If the news Morn
America had not been favourable, the protectionists might perhaps
have succeeded in causing :the postponement of the :reform of the
corn-laws ; perhaps they might have succeeded in causing its re-
jection by the House of Lords. But how can they now struggle
against a measure which, by giving the people food at a cheap rate,
will secure peace to England ? All opposition is henceforth impos-
sible."
The French Funds continued to improve on Monday ; the Three per
Cents. dosed at s4f. 40c. ; the Five per Celts., 1201. 45c. ; the
Orleans Railroad shares, 1,340 f. ; Rouen, I,BBof. ; Havre, 762 f. 50c ;
Great Northers, 796 f. 25c. ; Avignon, 1,000 E; Vierzos, 757 f. 50e: ;
Bordeaux, 685 f. ; Basle, 250 f. ; Fampoux, 460 f. ; Dieppe, 480 f.; Paris
and Strasburg, 547 f. 50c. ; Tours and Nantes, 576 f. 25e.; Paris and
Lyons, definitive, 624 f. ; Spanish Three per Cents., 38.

The following are the quotations for other lines:—

Lyons and Avignon Railroad (Talabot), 512 f. 50c. ; ditto (Le-
cointe), 506 f; ditto (Compagnie Meridlonale), 504 f. ; Bordeaux and
Cette (Mackenzie), 503 f. ; ditto *(Espeleta), 504 f. ; Dijon and Mul-
liaussen (O'Neill) defluitives, 56.5 f. Charleroi, 496 f. 75e.

, . .
LYONS, Meacu 14.--Paris and Orleans, 1,315 f. ; Rouen, 1,030 f.
Vlezron, 7551.

they were all bad characters; some a them were convicted
thieves.

They were ordered each to find two sureties in 15/. for their
appearance at the sessions, to answer any indictment that
might be preferred against them.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

(THIS DAY.)

ROUSE OF COMMONS.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at Twelve o'clock.
SUNDERLAND GAS BILL.
Mr. WAWN moved that the Committee on the Sunder-
land Gas Bill have leave to proceed with two selected Mem-
bers, and to appoint another Chairman.
After considerable discussion amongst several Hon. Mem-
bers the motion was withdrawn.
SUNDERLAND DOCKS BILL.
Mr. BELL moved that the Committee on the Sunderland
Docks (re-committed) Bill have leave to proceed on Thurs-
day, at three o'clock, with two selected Members only.
The motion was agreed to.
SECOND READINGS.
The following Bills were read a second time, and ordered
to be committed, viz. :—Nottingham, Mansfield, and 3iid-
land Junction Railway; Southampton Port and Harbour;
Somersetshire Midland Railway; Newcastle and Darlington
Junction Railway (Pontop and South Shields Railway Pur-
chase).
Captain PECHELL presented a petition praying the House
to appoint a select Committee to inquire into the justness of
the claims of the British Legion during the Spanish war.

relief to not only the afflicted, but:to the able-belied poor of
Ireland who were out of the union workhouses. his instruc-
tion was to relieve all the destitute poor out of the union
houses who might be in danger of perishing from want.
Mr. POULETF SCROPE said that if the precise words
of his instructions did not sufficiently convey his meaning, he
had, he thought, sufficiently explained his wishes in the re-
marks he had afterwards made. What he wished was, that
the Government relief would be given in the shape of work,
and not in the form of a bounty. He would be quite willing
to alter the words of his instruction.

Sir J. GRAHAM said that this uncertainty sv,s one of the
disadvantages of a departure from the rules of the House.
The proper course for the Hon. Member would have been to
have moved for leave to bring in a Bill to meet his wishes.
The Honourable Member, indeed, expressed his willing-
ness to alter the framing of his instruction but that
would not amend the matter, for they were not that day
met to cansider the propriety of adding to or amending the
poor• law in Ireland, neither were they met to consider an-
other subject of great social importance, he meant the rela-
tions between landlords and tenants; for if they discussed
these questions they would be anticipating the motion of
which the Noble Lord the Member fur London had given
notice for after Easter, namely, the general condition
of the people of Ireland; and it would be otherwise
imprudent to prematurely discuss these questions, inasmuch
as they lay at the root of all their difficulties respecting
Ireland. The time, he thought, was unfit for considering
these important subjects, but he could not refrain from com-
menting upon one or two of the observations made by the
last two speakers. The Hon. Member who had introduced
this motion complained that the measure under considera-
tion had not been introduced sufficiently early, when they
could hare had time to give it their full consideration.
He could only explain the reason why the Bill was not earlier
introduced try referring Hon. Members to the circumstances
which had led to the resignation of her Majesty's Govern-
ment, and its reconstruction in a short time after, and it
was not until the Government, as it at present existed, was
constituted, it was not until the middle of the month of
December that they could even consider what Bills should
be introduced, and surely Hon. Members would allow that
it was a matter of absolute necessity that the Imperial Par-
liament should not be summoned until the objects which
would be brought under their notice had been carefully con-
sidered and determined upon. He trusted that this expla-
nation would be satisfactory to the House and to the Hon.
Member. The Hon. Member laboured under a misappre-
hension when he thought that there existed at present no
law for the relief the poor in Ireland. There existed under
the law introduced by the Noble Lord opposite four pro-
visions to that effect—first that persons in a state of
destitution and afflicted with disease should be taken into
the workhouses, next that they might be removed to the
fever hospitals; but as these, in some instar:ces, were at
some twenty or thirty miles distance, and as some of their
diseases might be of an epidemic character, he considered
that provision as a very imperfect one. The third provision
was one which enabled the guardians to erect fever hospitals in
their vicinities, and the fourth provision wasone which enabled
them, in the absence of any temporary erection, to hire build-
ings for the purpose of admitting fever patients. He might
say that, generally speaking, there was no reason to complain
of any unwillingness on the part of the guardians to give every
assistance to those who were afflicted with fever, but within
the last few weeks Government had received information from
the Executive Government in Ireland reporting that fever had
very greatly increased in consequence, he supposed, of the
scarcity of food, and the unwholesome quality of it. Ap-
prehension had been entertained that the existing law
would be found too limited in its working, and therefore it
was, tkat Government had thought proper to introduce the
present Bill. The Honourable Member complained that
he had not taken the trouble of sufficiently explaining the
provisions of the Bill, and the sources from which the funds
necessary for its being carried irto effect were to be supplied.
He had, he believed, explained on a former occasion that
the expenses would be borne, partly by the public, and
partly by the ratepayers. Power was also given to
the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, on the representation
of the Central Medical Board in Dublin, to require
guardians to erect hospitals or to hire buildings for fever
patients, where they would receive medical attendance and
such medical appliances as their unhappy condition required.
The Hon. Gentleman also complained that Government
should have foreseen the evil and prohibited exportation of
wheat from Ireland, with a view to meet the apprehended
famine.

Mr. P. SCROPE explained that he intended only to say
that Government should have reserve stores of provisions
where the danger of famine was most inconvenient.
Sir J. GRAHAM said the Hon. Member's explanation left
matters as they were. If Government had prohibited the
exportation of corn from Ireland he apprehended that the con-
dition of the country would not be in any way improved.
It was not to be denied that either proposition of the Hon.
Gentleman would have raised the price of provisions on the
poor man. A more dangerous proposition could not have been
proposed, and it would have inflicted all evil only second to that
which would have been caused by checking the exportation
of corn fromlreland.—(Hear.)With regard to the general
eviction of tenants in Ireland, it was to be desired that the
landlords in these extremities would exercise more than
usual forbearance to their tenants. The sum of money
'already voted by the Government amounted to very nearly
half a million of money, and it should be applied
without delay in the best possible manner, to afford
the wished-for relief. He was by no means inclined to differ
with the Right Hon. Gentleman on the question of the im-
provement of waste lands in Ireland, and he would be most
willing to listen to any suggestion he might choose
to offer. But he came now to the most important
question which could be well considered, whether,
under a pressure of a temporary calamity, it was expedient,
hastily, and without deliberation, to alter the principle of the
existing poor-law. The Hon. Gentleman bad observed that
the Government had taken a very serious responsibility upon
themselves by not throwing the burden of meeting
the calamity on local boards, but rather choosing
to meet it out of the public funds. He (Sir
James Graham) felt the responsibility—but after
having given the measure the most anxious consideration,
he felt that it would not have been consistent with
his sense of duty, to recommend the adoption of any
other course than that which had been adopted. It
was their bounden duty not to legislate fur Ireland
with reference to English feeling, and still less with reference
to English law; but they were bound to legislate with
reference to Irish feeling and to Irish law, and it was hardly
necessary for him to state that the ptinciple of daily
work, as compensation for relief, which had been
established in England since the reign of Queen Elizal eth,
bad never been introduced in Ireland. In England no
absolute want of food had for many years been felt; there
had been a want of work experienced, but that was a
calamity easily redressed. In Ireland very different habits
prevailed ; alms giving prevailed more than in any
other country in the world. The Roman Catholic
religion is very prevalent, and the peculiar tenets
of that religion attach the utmost importance to alms
giving, and introduce into tie social system a state of thing,
decidedly in favour of the poor. Now, circumstances of this
kind ought n,t to be overlooked; besides, the Roman Ca-
tholic religion possessed an unmarried clergy, who devoted
much of their time to the assistance of the poor —(llean)
(LEFT SPVAKINO.)

RAILWAY COMMITTEES.

(THIS DAY)

Group IX.
This Committee met to-day at twelve o'clock ; Lord Worsley in
the chair.

The CHAIRMAN wished to know If the counsel had made any ar-
rangement as to the Bills to be considered together in relation to the
applicatio.i of Mr. Talbot yesterday, respecting the consideration
of the Caledonian (termini and branches) in conjunction with the
other three Bills.

In answer to this, it was intimated that nothing further was done
in the matter, and that it was understood the Bill referred to Would
not be proceeded with.
The Committee then resumed the further consideration of the
EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW ANZED. D—
/KENT AND BRANCHES.

Mr. Miller was recalled and examined respecting the Queensferry
branch. He said the estimate of cost was 135,000/., of which 10,000/.
was for laud. The amount of land was sixty-six imperial acres
There was a tunnel 1,556 yards in length, through tile coal forma-
tion. The worst gradient was one in sixty, at the Queensterry ter-
mination. This could be easily worked, as similar gradients existed
at the Grand Junction Liverpool station, and at the Euston-square
station ; the latter was one in seventy. No accidents occurred eu
similar gradients. There was at present a considerable passenger
traffic, there being three or four coaches, and I' might be much in.
awed. The object was to bring the carriages of the train on to the
ferry at a level. By extending the tunnel the gradient could be im-
proved, but the expense would be very great.
The Committee expressed a desire to hear some other engineer on
the practicability of the gradient, and the further consideration of the
Hill was postponed in order to hear Mr. Brunel on the point.

Gravesend to Rochester and Maidstone. In the autumn of 1844,
he settled his line frogs Chatham to Chi Main, but it was throes n out
last year. At this time he contemplated extending the line from
Celiham to Canterbury, and a fork to Deal and Dover, hut the plans
and surveys were not in a sufficiently forward state to justify it
being brought before Parliament. The South-Eastern Company also
'introduced a scheme into Parliament last session, for a line from
London to Chilham, a hich was also thrown out. Since the
close of last session he had re-surveyed his line, and added
a London station, which he did not contemplate last
year, and now he thought it was perfect and complete in every
respect. The London terirtines was about a quarter of a mile from
the river at Southwark-bridge, but there was an existing scheme for
extending the line across the bridge into the City, and of another for
carrying the line on to Waterloo-bridge. ' The station would be in
Union-street, in the Borough, at the point where it crossed the
Southwark-bridge-road, and the spot was excieedinely well adapted
for a railway terminus, both as regarded being well circumstanced
for immediate room and future extensions. The line passed nearly
due south to Walworth,where it crossed the canal and struck through
I'eckham and Camberwell. It than ran in the direction of Black-
heath to the north of Telegraph-hill, and crossed the Croydon Rail-
way a short distance irom the New-cross station. At this point there
was a short junction, which gave an access to the London-bridge
cat! ,n, to Portsmouth, to Brighton, and to Southampton. After
passing the Croydon Railway, the line passed the Raven's Pond
Valley, and then the line wus to extend under Blackheath by means
of a tunnel. At the end of this tunnel there was a loop commenced,
which ran through Woolwich and joined the main line at Plump-
stead-common. The station at Woolwich was in the centre of the
town, near William-street and Powes-street, and was well and con •
veniently situated. The main :ine was continued by tunnelling
under IN oelwich-commen, of 1,060 yards in length ; and here a branch
might be struck out for accommodating her Majesty's arsenals and
deck-yards, crossing Plump- teed-common, a thickly populous neigh-
bourhood, the line ran through Welling, Bexley, and Bexley heath
From thence the line passed Crayford to Dartfor d. The line of the
South-Eastern Company, which was 24 mike in length, ite,oided the
population of the district, while his own ran through the country
where the population was centered, and was only 14 miles in
length. Both lines passed from Dartford to Gravesend in
the same direction. At Gravesend the South-Eastern
line joined Gravesend and Rochester. His own line passed
through Milton and under the chalk-hills by means of a
tunnel, and then entered upon the banks of the Medway on a
viaduct and crossed the Medway at a considerable elevation. He
proposed to effect the passage of the Medway by means of a bridge
which -united the qualities of a road and a railway bridge. It was
upon three arches, the centre one 186 feet span, and the
two side ones :80. The Rochester side of the bridge
would be on a screw, and might be converted into a draw-
bridge. His plan was approved of both by the Admiralty and the
local authorities, in preference to the bridge of the South-1 astern
Company ; in tact the Government would not allow any bridge to
cress the river which was not on his own plan, but, independently of
this fact, the South-Eastern Company could not make their bridge
within the limits of the deviation line marked on their Parliamentary
plans.