The Sun.
London, England, 1867-02-22 00:00:00

ACT.

Lord NAAS in moving the second reading of this bill
said no one, he was certain, could have anticipated, after
the announcement made in the royal speech, that in so
short a time it would be found necessary to introduce
a bill for a renewal of the bill for the suspension of the
Habeas Corpus Act in Ireland, yet circumstances with
which they were all familiar had rendered it necessary.
When the present Government came into office they
found 330 persons under detention by warrants issued
by the Lord-Lioutonant. In September the number
Was reduced to 286, and rso satisfactory did things

appear that in November only 73 persona remained in
custody. Tho present Government had, however, in con-
sequence of a renewal of the conspiracy, been called upon
to make arrests, and in November last five warrants wore
issued, in December 97, in January 17, and in the present
month 9, when the disturbances began rapidly to die
away, and matters seemed to be becoming peaceable
and quieter. In making its arrest the Government had
exercised the greatest caution, and invariably the parties
taking active steps in the disturbance wore alone selected,
and it was remarkable that as soon as the leaders of the
discontent wore secured matters very soon became
peaceable. Notwithstanding all that had been said as to the
ramifications of this disturbance he felt certain that, had
it been necessary to assume a strong and determined posi-
tion, ovary person whose services were worth accepting
would be found banded on the side of law and order.
Matters had been going on very favourably in Ireland
until the mysterious disturbances took place at Chester,
and whether that was a preconcerted arrangement he had
not been able to ascertain. When the news of
that outbreak become known in Ireland all the
old alarm was resumed, and then followed the
insurrectionary movements iu the south-west part
of Ireland. The news of the outbreak was not known in
Dublin until about half-past six in the evening, when
most of the officials had quitted their office ; yet, notwith-
standing this, Sir It. Horsford was communicated with at
eight o'clock the same evening, and by the next morning
he was at Mallow, a distance of upwards of 100 miles,
with 1,000 mon under his command, and ready for any
emergency. (Hear, hear.) If anything could show to
the misguided people the folly of attempting
with any degree of success to carry out
their insurrectionary movements it was the
rapidity with which steps were taken to meet them. It
was with the deepest regret that he had moved to ask
Parliament to grant them the extraordinary power which
suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act would
givethe
them. It was a matter of the most sincere
Pleasure to him to have to say how much they were in-
debted to the Roman Catholic clergy in Ireland, for ho did
not think there was a single priest in the south-
west part of the Country who did not at once cau-
tion the people against the folly and danger of
listening to the advice of persons whose object was any-
thing but patriotic. On the contrary, their whole proceed-
ings were dictated by the most sordid motives, and money
appeared to be their only object; and it was only be-
cause they could not succeed in deluding the people,
in America that they came to Ireland to try their hand in
that part of her Majesty's dominions. They were con-
temptible compared with the parties who took part in the
disloyal movement in the year 1818, and yet that
disturbance ended in the most undignified manner
for all concerned in it. Tho renewal of the bill
would be but for three months, at which time it
would be for Parliament to say whether it would be
safe to allow it to expire, or to again renew it. He
could not resume his seat without expressing
the gratification he felt at the conduct of Dr. Moriarty,
the Bishop of Kerry, who fearlesslydenounced Fenianism,
while in the very midst of the deluded people. The noble
lord concluded by moving the second reading of the bill.
Sir G. GREY seconded the motion, and, whilst express-
ing his regret that circumstances had occurred to call for
such a bill, approved of the conduct of the Government in
taking such active and determined steps to put down a
movement which could but lead to the most lamentable
consequences to all concerned in it.
Mr. BAGWELL did not object to the bill, but in confer-
ring such powers upon the Executive the house was bound
to require an assurance that when persons were arrested
under the Lord Lieutenant's warrant upon mere suspicion
they should not be treated as convicted criminals.
After some observations from Mr. BLAKE,

Major S. KNOX complained of the measure only that it
did not go far enough; and proposed to continue the powers
lodged in the hands of the Government for twelve months
instead of three. Turning then to Mr. Bright ho uttered
the expression- of a hope that the hon. gentleman would
not go roaming about Ireland again exciting expectations
in the minds of the people that would never be realised.
Mr. BRIGHT at once rose, and, declining to notice any
opinion which the gallant majormight entertain respecting
him, his words, or his deeds, said ho was astonished to find
that there was any member in the house who could defend
the arrest of persons upon mere suspicion, and their being
treated as convicted criminals were treated in this country.
Parliament could never intend that such punishment should
be inflicted upon the persons who were arrested under this
act. It was not the custom in England to visit upon men
who had never been tried the severity which recommended
itself to the sense of justice of the hon. member. If any-
thing had given general satisfaction to the house on this
sad occasion, it was the statement of the Chief Secretary
that the act was to be in force for three months only, and
that he hoped to be able, at the expiration of that time, to
assure the house that it was no longer necessary. Until he
heard the language of the hon. member he would not have
believed there was in the house a single person who could
utter a sentiment so atrocious.
Mr. O'BEIRNE and Mr. KENNEDY continued the discus-
sion, but not the least show of opposition was offered
to the bill, which was then read a second time, and ordered
to be committed this day, when the standing orders will be
suspended for the purpose of passing the measure thruagh
its remaining stages.

The second reading of the Metropolitan Poor Bill of the
Government having been moved by Mr. Hardy, Lord
Enfield, whilst suggesting certain modifications in a
few points of detail, gave the measure a general and cordial
support. A long debate ensued, the chief part in which
was borne by members ropromenting the metropolis. With
the exception of Mr. T. Chambers they addressed their
criticisms to minor matters, and left the object and main
principle of the scheme unimpugnod. Mr. Chambers,
however, denounced it as a measure of centralisation,
which armed the Poor-law Board with powers that ought
to ho exercised by the boards of guardians. In reply to
the laudatory remarks of the hon. member for Marylebone
on those bodies, Mr. C. Villiers (late President of the Poor-
law Board) pronounced the boards of guardians incompe-
tent to superintend medical establishments, and declaring
that the sick poor had a right to be treated as well as the
patients in hospitals supported by voluntary contributions
said ho could not comprehend why the guardians or their
nominees should bo placed at the head of the proposed new
asylums. He also discussed the provisions of the bill with
much minuteness, and entreated Mr. Hardy not to be
alarmed by the terrible word "centralisation" into with-
drawing any portion of his plan which vested additional
powers in the Poor-law Board. A reply from Mr. Hardy
followed, in which the right hon. gentleman reviewed the
few objections adduced by some of the speakers to the
moans by which he proposed to carry out the object of
the bill, which was thereupon road a second time without
division.

The Shipping Local Dues Bill was also read a second
,ime.

The houso then went into committee, and agreed to a
resolution providing for the expenses of witnesses exa-
mined befoto the commissioners appointed to inquire into
trades' unions.

The following bills were subsequently road a second
tine:—Land Tax Commissioners' Names Bill; Sugar
Duties Bill ; and Duty on Dogs Bill.
On the motion of Mr. WATKIN, the Railway Deben-
ture-holders' Bill was read second time, and at the sugges-
tion of the President of the Board of Trade referred to a
select committee.

Mr. HUBBARD obtained leave to bring in a bill for
the amendment of the law of church rates ; and on the
motion of Lord J. MANNERS leave was given to bring
in a bill for further continuing and appropriating the Lon-
don coal and wine duties.

The remaining business was of a merely formal charac-
ter, and the house adjourned at 25 minutes past 11 o'clock.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

(By Telegraph.)
GRAVESEND, Friday Morning
Arrived, Feb. 21.—Rosa Eliza, steamer, from Dioppe ;
Monona, from Guernsey; Furet, from Gravelines.
Arrived, Fob. 22.--Cheviot, from Ceylon; Florence,
steamer, from Rotterdam.
Sailed, Feb. 21.—Cosmopolitan steamer, for Hamburg.
Sailed, Feb. 22.—Dagmar, steamer, for Copenhagen.
DEAL, Friday Morning.

Passed.—Medina, from London, for Lagos ; Roseau,
from London, for St. Vincent ; Wanderer, barque, from
Hamburg, for the west.

THE PALACE OF DUNFERMLINE.—The magnifi-
cent ruin has long beeninchdedint
the townofhepark o
Pf,
Dittounucforrietuffi
belonging to Mr. Hunt, which i
adjoins
lino. By a recent decision
iof the House of Lords, however,
litigation u the Scotch courts, it has been
declaredttatibuoth the building end the grounds surrounding
it aro Crown property, and form no part of Mr. Hunt's
estate. The inhabitants of Dunfermline aro now very
anxious to know how far they are to benefit by the decision.
The Scotsman of yesterday says :—" On Sunday afternoon
the impatience which has arisen since the decision of the
House of Lords to obtain the fruits of what is regarded as
a victory over the Laird of Pittencrieff manifested itself
iu a somewhat unpleasant and questionable form. A
number of boys forced open the lodge gate at the St.
Catherine's-street entrance to the ruins, and very soon
the Palace grounds worn occupied by a disorderly crowd,
who did not leave the place without doing some mis-
chief. A number of boys climbed upon the ruins and
the trees surrounding them. A number of young trees and
shrubs were broken down, and the marauders, male bold
by impunity, crossed the bridge to Pitteucrieff-park, and
proceeded to the house, which is at present tenanted only
by Mr. Hunt's gardener, the proprietor having preferred
for sometime a residence on his estate of Logic. The in-
mates of the house were much annoyed by the intruders,
who were mostly boys and young men, and it was with
some difficulty that the place was cleared. A similar de-
monstration, though on a smaller scale, being attempted
on Monday, it was found necessary to call in the police,
and the grounds have since been protected by the county
constabulary.