The Sun.
London, England, 1858-06-08 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.....(YESTERDAY.)
THE RIOTS AT BELFAST.

Lord DUNGANNON said their lordships were aware
that Belfast had again become the scene of riot and die-
order, which bad continued for two or three days. The
evil had originated at the funeral of a Roman Catholic,
who had been secretary to a political society. The fune-
ral was attended by a large number of Roman Catholics
who carried green boughs, a party symbol, in their
hands, and thrust thew into the faces of some Protes-
tants. During the riots one of the magistrates received
a severe blow from a stone ; and the property which had
been injured belonged exclusively to Protestants, with
one single exception, and in that case the person had
married a Protestant. The police, it appeared, had not
discharged their duty efficiently ; awl Lord Naas had
given notice of his intention to introduce a measure, the
object of which was to provide a better police for large
towns. He wished to know whether the Government
had received any information as to the causes which had
led to these disgraceful riots ? (Hear.)

The Earl of DERBY had received from the Lord-Lieu-
tenant and the authorities in Ireland such information as
they were able to afford regarding the causes of the riots
in Belfast; but in truth the only cause that could be as-
signed was that lamentable state of religious rancour and
animosity between the two parties which was equally
to be attributed to the lower classes of Roman catholics
and protestants, and had long made Belfast notorious
for disgraceful scenes cf violence. There existed a
species of civil war between these parties. The slightest
provocation, the slightest insult by one party or the
other, was immediately taken up by the partisans of
the other side and made the subject of most disgraceful
riots ; and it did not reflect much credit either upon the
inhabitants or the local authorities of the most wealthy
and most thriving town in Ireland to let such proceed-
ings go unchecked. (Hear.) For several days and
nights the town had been in a state of confusion and
disturbance. The Lord-Lieutenant had used every means
in his power to restore peace, and a large force of police
and mtlitary, both cavalry and infantry, had been sent
into the town, which had been divided into four districts,
each of which was placed under the control of "magi•
strate, and regularly patrolled by night. About an hour
ago he had received accounts stating that peace had been
for the time restored ; but looking at the time of year
and the cause of disturbance, the Lord Lieutenant
would keep in the district a considerable force—at all
events until the end of the next month. Of course the
people of Belfast would have to pay pecuniarily for the
injury which bad been caused and for the additional
number of the constabulary. (Hear.) He was afraid
there was considerable truth in the statement respect-
ing the inefficiency of the police, and it was the intention
of his noble friend the Secretary for Ireland to take the
earliest opportunity of introducing a bill, which had al-
ready received general approval in Ireland, for the pur-
pose of improving the character and constitution of the
police in great towns and incorporating them with the
constabulary. (Hear, hear.) However the government
might succeed in putting down disturbances from time
to time, it was for the respectable inhabitants of Belfast
tolprevent a recurrence of these disturbances. (Hear.)
The Earl of CARLISLE said, as the subject had been
mooted, ho wished to make one or two remarks. The
unhappy and disgraceful riots in Belfast only served to
strengthen his conviction that the Irish government last
year acted in consonance with their duty and with strict
policy and prudence in taking the only step in their
power to show their disapproval of exclusive religious
societies and organisations, by preventing any fresh ap-
pointments of members of the Orange Society to the
office of magistrate. (Hear.) That was the course
adopted in 1836, and received the approval of the House
of Commons and of his Majesty William the Fourth,
The subsequent abatement of religious animosities had
led to the suspeneion of that prohibition, but the events
which occurred last year made it quite plain that it must
be immediately readapted. He was happy to find that the
present government had not made any objectionable ap-
pointments to the magistracy, and he trusted the scenes
now going on in Belfast would serve to confirm them in
that wise abstinence. (Hear.) It was an undoubted fact
that last summer, at the very moment when reinforce-
ments were required for India, the movement of the
regiments was interfered with and • delayed because one
set of persons in Belfast were keeping it in a chronic
54tatn of pierce, the one eli.utin;,-; "To hell with the
Pope !".and the other "To hell with King William the
Third I" (Laughter.) The utter childishness and folly
and anachronism of this proceeding—(laughter)—would
be simply ridiculous if it did not lead to such serious and
dark results. (Hear, hear.) The town of Belfast ought
in many respects to be the most civilised and best
organised place in Ireland, whereas it was at present the
least so, and he believed the blame might be equally
divided between both parties. (Hear.) He very much
feared that the allaying of these ebullitions of religious
hatred could not be achieved by any government ; but
ho thought a material partial improvement might be
made by establishing the police upon a fair footing. He
was glad that such a course was in contemplation. An
alteration was contemplated by the late government,
aed he had no doubt the present government would use
every effort to soften that religious rivalry which was
the source ef such serious misehir f. (Hear, hear.)
Lord DUNGANNON doubted the assertion that the
recent proceedings in Belfast was a proof that the late
government had acted correctly in refusing to appoint
Orange magistrates, because it remained to be proved
that Orangemen had anything to do with the recent
disturbances in Belfast.

The Earl of CLANCARTY did not at all approve of
the course which had been adopted by the late govern-
ment in the (xcluAon of Orange magistrates.
PORTUMNA BRIDGE (IRELAND) BILL.
This bill passed through committee.
CHANCERY AMENDMENT BILL.

Oa the motion of the LORD CHANCELLOR, this bill
passed through committee.
SALE OF POISONS, &c., BILL.
This bill paFsed through committee.
STAMP DUTY ON PASSPORTS BILL.
This bill also passed through committee.
NON-PAROCHIAL REGISTERS BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
LORD KINGSTON'S NOTICES.

Lord KINGSTON having made a remark which did
not reach the gallery, but which apparently related to
a further postponement of his question,
Earl STANHOPE rose, and protested against the un-
measured language in which Rajah Brooke's name was
mentioned in the questions placed on the paper by the
noble lord. (Cheers.) It was most unbecoming and
improper to keep such notizes longer on the minutes,
and ha, therefore, called upon the noble lord to with-
draw them at once, or to proceed wit,ti them. (Cheers.)
Esil GREY was confident that the more the conduct
of Rajah Brooke was discussed the more proper would
it appear to have beer. The inquiry respecting the
treatment of pirates had ended in his triumphant ac-
quittal, and he was fully convinced that his conduct in
the Chinese affair would be found equally satiefactoty.
Toe house was perfectly ready t) discuss any charges
which might be brought forward ; bat it was most im-
proper to place charges on the votes, and keep them
there day by day without affordiug an opportunity of
discussing the subject. (Cheers.
The Earl of DERBY expressed a hope that Lord
Kingston would either at once bring forward his
charges or abandon them. (Cheers.) The noble lord
had placed on the paper a most extraordinary string of
questions, and some of those relating to Rajah Brooke
it was quite impossible for the Government to answer.
For instance, how could they tell " the amount of his
fortune when he first wont out?" (Laughter.) With
respect to the last two questions, whether the oppres-
keens and exac`ione of Rajah Brooke did not lead to the
outrage committed by the Chinese, and whether his
whole course and conduct in the East had not been such
as to desecrate the name of England for justice and
humanity, he amid only say that, after inquiry and
examination had taken place to the fullest extent, the
conduct of Rajah Brooke, in the judgment of every im-
partial person, was perfectly justified. (Cheers.) The
charge ought to be brought forward in a definite manner
or entirely withdrawn.
Lord KINGSTON made a remark which did not reach
the gallery. (Loud cries of " Withdraw, withdraw.")
Lord REDESDALE said the questions bad in point
of fact been answered by the noble lord at the head of
the government, and if Lord Kingston intended to bring
forward any charge, he ought to do so in a proper wan-
ner.

Lord CAMPBELL suggested that the clerk should
be directed to omit the notices from the votes. (Cheers.)

The Earl of WICKLOW said that was the fourth
time the notices had appeared on the paper, and it would
reflect great discredit on the house if it should be in the
power of any individual to place libels on the notioe
paper, and then refuse t ) bring the matters forward.
After a few words from Lord Ross* and Lord DUN-
SANNON
The Dike of BCTCOLEUCH thought the suggestion of
the noble and learned lord (Lord Campbell) a very proper
one in the present case, but said their lordships ought to
be very careful before they formed such a precedent.
Would it not be better to move a standing order of the
house, in order to prevent such a course being taken in
future.

Lord CAMPBELL did not think that would be neces-
sary, as he hoped it would be many years before such an
occasion as this recurred. _

Lord STANLEY of A,LDERLEY hoped the noble
earl would feel that it was the sense of the house that if
he had any charge to make against Sir James Brooke
it was competent to him to bring it forward specifically
by a motion ; but be was sure the noble earl would also
feel that it was not desirable to persevere in the course
he had taken, of giving notice of questions which in-
ferentially brought charges against an individual.
The Earl of KINGSTON addressed a few sentences
to the house, which were quite inaudible.
Lord PORTMAN said it could not but be obvious to
the nob'e earl that it was not the wish of the house that
be should proceed in the course he had adopted, and
knowing the wish of his brother peers, he was sure he
would defer to it, and at least for the present altogether
withdraw his notice.

The Earl of KINGSTON again made some observa-
tions, not a word of which was auditle.
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE said that with re-
gard to not printing any notices given by one ef their
lordships, it might be remembered that the grandfather
of a noble lord actually laid a caricature on the table in
the shape of a bill, which he moved should be printed,
but which was not printed, so that it was competent to
the house to refusf, to print improper matter.
Lord REDESDALE said it was the duty of the clerk
to have all notices printed, and it was not desirable
to
proceed in the manner suggested of not having tae
notice printed. He did not see that the notacecoatinu-
ing on the order book was any reflection on Sir James
Brooke, and if they did, the blame rested on the noble
earl, and not with Sir James Brooke.
Lord LYNDHURST—I beg to move that in the