The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-10 00:00:00

_—
what it was perfectly right for a Secretary of
the Treasury to do. He referred to the case of the
European and Australian Company's contract, which was
entered into by Mr. Wilson, and which he described as
worse than this Galway business. In the passage from
Galway there was no instance in which the vessel had failed.
As to Lord Derby having done all this—as to taking up
this subject on the eve of an election—that was an entire
delusion, for the subject had been under consideration for
the 10 or 12 years. An American gentleman then said—
" Give the matter to me, for you'll never get it carried out
to the advantage of Ireland." But was it not a most irra-
tional argument to say that the communications to Ireland
should be carried past that country, instead of being
brought, as they ought to be, direct to Ireland ? As re-
garded the contract itself, the sum was moderate, and it
was of great importance to Ireland to have speedy commu-
nication with a country which to Ireland was more impor-
tant than to any other country in Europe. When the line
from Galway to Belfast was completed the journey could be
made in three hours or less, and that would be a great ad-
vantage to the linen trade of the north of Ireland, to say
nothing of other matters. There was no corruption in the
agency, as he ascertained it to be in operation. The matter
had been legally inquired into, and £l,OOO were proved to
have been given, but the verdict was not worth one far-
thing. Mr. Lover had certainly shown great activity in
the matter, but he did not know very much of Ireland.
The real fact was, Ireland was entitled to the contract, and
a more wise decision could not be come to than that which
would establish the communication between Ireland and
America, inasmuch as it was the most rapid, most desirable,
and best and safest communication that could be between
England and the United States. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. CRAWFORD was anxious to say a few words,
with a view of drawing the attention of the Government
to a point which had considerable weight with him in
the committee upstairs. The contract was dated the 12th
of April last year; and by its conditions the company
bound themselves in the sum of £20,000 by way of ad-
pulated forfeit if their ships should not be ready. He thought
Ireland had a right to obtain the contract if she could get it
in fair competition ; but, as the question now stood, he
should give his vote for the £60,000 proposed in the esti-
mates. Had the contract been dependent upon the decision
of Parliament, such decision should have been taken before
the company got to work and incurred expense. He should,
however, give his vote for the sum of £60,000 now proposed.
Sir F. BARING regretted that the chairman who pre-
sided over the committee upstairs was not now in the house,
as he could throw much light upon this matter. He was not
at all surprised at the speech which the right hon. and
learned gentleman opposite had made in favour of the com-
munication between Ireland and America, as the most pre-
ferable one; but if the contract should not be kept, he hoped
Government would at least put it up to competition, and
then let Galway and other places come in and put in their
tenders for it. That would be all fair, and he should have
no objection to see Ireland have her fair chance in the corn-
petition. He thought, however, that faith ought to be kept
with the company to whom promises had been given, and
who had given guarantees to carrythe contract out. (Hear.)
There ought to have been on the part of the late Govern"
went the greatest care that all the parties should have beau
heard, but they had heard that that had not been the case.
There had been no strict inquiry, as was promised by Lord
Derby. There had net been even the usual inquiry. (Hear.)
The effect of the words introduced inte the eontract had
been to warn parties that Parliament might object to the
contract, and the parties had so understood these words.
He quite admitted that there was a difficulty in the Wert
inasmuch as Mr. Lever had handed over his interest to an"
other company, and there might be innocent shareholder,/
but he could not hold that that precluded Parliament
from dealing with the subject. I here was, however,
a most important principle involved, because it was the
duty of Parliament to look sharp and keep contracts cleats
There might be inconvenience to parties, but if Parliament
could not interfere, how could it prevent jobbing ?
Mr. DISRAELI thought the right hon. gentleman the
member for Portsmouth could not accuse him as having,
prevented discussion. He assented to the introduction 01
the words, the special language in the contract, which had
been alluded to, but he had no intention that this subject
should be decided upon other grounds than its general
merits of benefit to Ireland. (Hear, hear.) The arrange'
ment was long and well considered. The decision was
mature one—that it was for the welfare of the country al!:
of the kingdom at large that the arrangement should
entered into. Nor could he agree that the terms of it were
improvident or unusual. The right hon. gentleman the
member for Kilmarnock said it had been carried out 1113‘
usually ; but that statement was directly in opposition 0
the evidence of Mr. Stevenson before the select committee'
to the effect that that business was always left in the haul
of the financial secretary of the Treasury. That was 31°
altogether the fact, although it was nearly so fir seetio
years past, and that result had produced great and gene ei 0
dissatisfaction. It was on such an occasion that the Friel..
Minister examined the whole of the papers presented.;
him, but those which related to the understanding °l
the Canadian Government were absent. The
_record of
er.
that understanding at the Treasury was extremely
ed
feet, but, however that was to be regretted, he maisttall..
that a better arrangement could not be made. The Prim'
ciple of competition in reference to these contracts Olt
subject to some modification, and a certain amour'
of discretion respecting them was vested in the
vernment. (Cheers, and cries of " Oh.") Well, if
could show that exorbitant and improvident terms bad
been conceded, the contract would be open to censure °aoo
ta
that ground ; but they could not. Then with regard
the corrupt motive of the Government. The charge,
made in loud terms, but did not on that account posse:,
strength, for it could be disproved by this simple fact th
the Treasury minute was signed on the 27th of Febril
before a dissolution of Parliament was even dreamt
(Cheers from the Conservatives.) In support of the cos
tract he bad received a memorial from eminent merelo.,,llo
and bankers of London, headed with the name of ROI"
child, and not only from London, but from the whole et;
mercial community of the United Kingdom. This
the corrupt proceeding which they were charged
having entered into to promote their own political ex/00,
So far from that it was fully approved, as he had all°
by the whole commerce:of the country. There was, 10it
„.b.
ever, a great deal of jealousy in certain places against ITred
enterprise in any shape, but while Southampton reeel ,
£600,000 in subsidies, and Liverpool hundreds of thousal3..a
distant Galway ought not to be envied this contraet,::,
the conduct of the late Government ought not to have P..'
impugned. (Cheers.)
Mr. ROEBUCK said Mr. Bouverie had accused se,ei
body of corruption. As he (Mr. Roebuck) had n.egotista;
this contract, he must have had something to do with 1.3
iwnaordrisceawinhimit.
Danedrhtyh.e otherTherpe awrtays caondnisegcratedee wiattthaothhaedbtaro gaaninunwafnsuttlfir
He a_;
yalrcwo
neveraccu s a
heardtion, aanf dm
rt h. eor
,exwa se
court of justice, and that person had nothing to do 10 till in
""
the contract.
The committee divided at two o'clock, and the 33---
nob()r0
were—

For the vote 145
Against it .. 39
......
Majority XlO6
The Chairman was then directed to report pregrel
and the house having resumed, he obtained leave to
again.
The Consolidated Fund (£10,000,000) Bill was read II
second time.
The Industrial Schools Act (1847) Amendment Bhil sc
read a third time and passed.
d
The Titles to Land (Scotland) Act (1858) Amenßi—Ali
Bill passed through committee, and was reported, ""
amendments, to the house. • ate
The Land Loan and Enfranchisement CompallY'-
g
1860 (Mistake Rectifying) Bill was read a third time
passed.
The Attorneys, Solicitors, and Certificated Converine°
Bill was, after a short discussion, postponed to this ditlij,
THE CONJUGAL RIGHTS (SCOTLAND) BIL
This bill was read a second time, it being agreed thet t
clauses should be struck out in committee.
THE RAILWAYS ACT, IRELAND (1851)
MENT B.
The Lords' amendments werelLL com3idered and agreed toe
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHARITIES BUD'
This bill as amended was considered. AMMO'
THE METROPOLIS LOCAL MANAGEMENT of
AMENDMENT BILL.
The adjourned debate on the consideration of this ve •
waa.resumed, but the fact of there being less than 40 nto
bers present being called to the attention of the Spedl
the right hon. gentleman counted the
was
adjourned
house,andast:t
12 members were present, the house w
minutes to 3.

BIRTHS.
DORLING.—On s
tohne. 7th inst., at Epsom, the wife of 311.°
Dorling, of a
REEVE.—On the 7th inst., at 29, Albermarle-streett 1011
wleepv...,—e,Oofnathsoen9.th inst , at 35, Charles-street, a
Berkelel;
square, the lady of Maj•r-General Robert Wood,
daughter.

MARRIAGES.
.•
COTTON—READo—OII the Bth G 0 J.` •
inst., at St. George
'e
Henry Morten Cotton, Esq., of Ecniftts
square and Chancery-lane, to Emma Harriet, the or
daughter of Francis. Read, Esq., of Upper Belgrs
place, Pimlico.
1
111 WILXINSON— vHANBURY.—On the 6th inst , at St- SO.
Church, Knightsbridge, Lieutenant-Colonel Hellos
Wilkinson, of the Scots Fusilier Guards, to the hot
Louisa Catherine Bateman Hanbury, youngest dialg
of the late and sister of the present Lord Batemall•

DEATHS. ig;
CAHLMA.NN.—On the Bth inst., at EastWickham, u'Ae 'gjgro
Samson Cahlmann, of 13, Austin-friars, Consul-Gen"
of Saxe-Weimar, aged 66.
Aiigteh
IMPEY.—On the 6th inst., at her residence, Bar eft
Cottages, East Brixton, Fanny, relict of Admiral Ila
aged 70. tot
MORinst.,
GAN.—On the Bth at Harefield-grove, StePP
Morgan, Esq., aged 81.
NicoL.l—On the Bth inst., in Ecclestnn-square, gargar
Dyce, wife of William Nicol, Esq., M.P.
_.......ig

VOU C?.
LONDON : Printed and Published by M URDO
of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun :Mee,
Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, 1,12, the 00v
Middleeex, Friday, August 10, 186().