The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-21 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-(THIS EVENING).

The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
• PRIVATE BUSINESS.
Tho Liverpool Improvement Bill was read a second
time. Several private bills were read a first.time.

PETITIONS. •
Several petitions were presented for and against the
abolition of church rates; against the local assessment
bill ; in favour of the closing of public-houses on Sundays ;
against legalising marriage with a deceased wife's sister;
from British residents at Darjeeling, in the Himalayas, and
its neighbourhood, stating tho great increase of population
and cultivation in those regions, complaining of the want
of communication with other parts of India, and praying
that the railway system might be extended in the direction
of Darjeeling; against any alteration in the Book of Common
Prayer, in favour of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Bill,
for the speedy introduction of a Reform Bill, Sac.
GERMAN LEGION.

Mr. ADDERLEY moved an address for return of the
length of time during which the German Legion, at the
Cape, had been on full pay from the English Treasury;
the whole amount of their pay up to the present time ; and
under what parliamentary votes any part of such payment
had come.—Ordered.
THE WAR IN SOUTHERN ITALY.

Lord E. HOWARD asked the Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs whether her Majesty's Government would
use its influence with his Majesty King Victor Emmanuel
to prevent bloodshed in his present hour of success; and
would instruct its diplomatic and consular agents to keep

it fully informed of the measures ordered or adopted by the
present de facto Government of Southern Italy, for the
purpose of re-establishing order ?
Lord J. RUSSELL, who was very imperfectly heard in
the reporters' gallery, was understood to say that the Sar-
dinian army had acted with clemency in the war, except in
some particular occasions, and the Government of this
country had not interfered in the subject. From a commu-
nication received from the Sardinian Minister there was
every reason to believe that any further military operations
that might be necessary would be conducted in a humane
manner.

THE CASE OF DR. R. THOMPSON, M.D.
Col. SYKES gave notice that to-morrow he would ask
the Under Secretary of State for War, upon what ground
Dr. Thompson, M.D., who had satisfied the Army Medical
Director General, Dr. Gibson, that he possessed the pre-
scribed qualifications of a degree in medicine and a diploma
in surgery to entitle him to be examined as a candidate for
a medical commission in her Majesty's service, and had
been directed to attend on the 18th February to undergo a
competitive examination, was," on the morning of that day,
in a personal interview, refused permission by Dr. Gibson
to appear before the board of examiners.

INDIAN NAVY, &c.

Sir G. BOWYER asked the Secretary of State for India

if the Indian navy was to be abolished as a war service, and
ctn. v ertea luto n more transport service ; if so converted,
would the officers be given the option of retiring on a liberal
pension according to their length of service. If the service be
kept on a war footing, how would it stand with regard to the
Royal Navy, and would its services be confined to the In-
dian seas ; and, was it the intention of Government to
build any more vessels expressly for the Indian Navy, or to
make any more special appointments to that service; or, in
other words, would it be suffered to die out ? _ _

Sir C. WOOD stated generally that some alterations
were contemplated,"and would be carried out.

PAYMENT OF WITNESSES.

Mr. A. EGERTON asked the Secretary of State for the

Home Department whether he was prepared to alter the
present scale of allowances to witnesses at Sessions and

Assizes ?
Sir G. C. LEWIS said that he had had interviews with
different magistrates who had great experience in their re-
spective counties on this question. The subject was one
that was attended with considerable difficulty, but the
matter was under his most careful consideration and should
receive the earliest attention.
VENTILATION OF MINES.
Mr. KINNAIRD asked the Secretary of State for the
Home Department, how soon the inquiry promised last
Session into the state of ventilation, and the great loss of
life consequent on labouring in tin, iron, copper, and other
metallic mines, would be made?
Sir G. C. LEWIS said it was true that during a discus-
sion which took place last session on the bill for
the regulation of coal mines that a promise was
made on the part of the Government to take up the subject
to which the hon. member alluded at a reasonable time. He
had not yet made any arrangement for the institution of
an inquiry into the matter, but if it was the wish of those
connected with the mineral interest of the country that this

.. ........
inquiry_ .-
should be made shortly, he would do all in his
power to give effect to their wishes.
BANKRUPTCY AND INSOLVENCY BILL.
_

The house went into committee on this bill, and resumed
at clause 52, which was agreed to.
Clauses 53 to 55 inclusive were agreed to.
On clause 56,
Mr. E. JAMES moved the following amendment, which
after some discussion was agreed to :—" Page 14,
lines 11 and 12, leave out ' or any one of the Commis-
sioners of the Court of Bankruptcy in London,'] and insert
or me of her Naieoty'e Cowan', or a Sergeant-at-Late'

Line 13, leave out or Commissioner,' and insert Queen's
Counsel, or a Sergeant-at-Law.' "
The clauses 57 to 75 were agreed to, with some veH al
amendments.

Clauses to 80 were agreed to without discussion.
On clause 81, which relates to the abolition
of the distinction between traders and non-trades s,
some discussion took place, in the course of which
Sir GEORGE BOWYER said that he -considered
this clause should at all events be postponed. lie
thought that, according to the principles of jurisprudence,
the distinction here sought to be abolished should be re-
tained. The law of bankruptcy applied only trk the
trader, and was introduced by the statute Of ..Kenry
VIII., which was criminal in its previsions. That law
did not apply to non-traders, and there were good rea-
sons why it should not. It was attempted by, this
clause to remove that landmark in jurisprudence, the
effect of which, he contended, would be to inflict a great
injustice on non-traders.

[LEFT SPEAKING.]

IRELAND..

IP

DUBLIN, WEDNESDAY MORNING.

MR. SMITH O'BRIEN'S PAMPHLET.

The publication of Mr. Smith O'Brien's pamphlet,
in condemnation of the project for an invasiom of
Ireland by France, has given rise to a good deal of
adverse criticism in the columns of the Nation. and
other journals of kindred principles. By way of
general reply Mr. O'Brien writes a letter to the
editor of the paper mentioned, which, with the
exception of a few preliminary observations, we
subjoin :

" For myself, 1 have executed a very painful duty
—not hastily, but after having considered the sub-
ject during more than 15 months.

" While I appreciate the noble qualities of many
of the ' men of 1798,' I have always considered that
the proceedings which they adopted with a view to
serve their country were most disastrous to its
interests. Especially disastrous wore the conse•
quences of two courses of action upon which they
relied—namely, the formation of secret societies,
and an attempt to liberate this country by means
of foreign aid. Had they supported the small party
of patriots which was led by Grattan in the Irish
Parliament with the same energy which they mis-
applied in the formation of secret societies, and in
looking for foreign succour, they would have even-
tually obtained all that this nation required, and
the ' Union' would never have taken place.
" We are menaced with a repetition of these errors
by the formation of the Phoenix Society, and by
the tendency to look to France for deliverance,
which has been manifested since the battle of
Solferino. I have therefore felt myself compelled
to warn my countrymen against the danger which
is impending, and I am happy to find, from several
private communications which I have received, that
some of the most enlightened an patriotic of my
Catholic friends do not discover in my language
that tone of disrespect of which the critics who
have reviewed my pamphlet in the Nation ccmpinin.
" A Belgian friend, however, upon whose judg-
ment and experience I place much reliance, tells me
that Mr. Martin and I are like those doctors who
formerly sought, by long investigation, to account
for the appearance of a golden tooth in the head of
a human being. After the argument had lasted for
a long time, it was at length discovered that the
assumption on which the argument was based was
unfounded ; for that no such golden tooth had been
discovered in the head of any human being. Ile
assures me Louis Napoleon will never invade Eng-
land or Ireland, so that the hopes and fears founded
upon such a contingency are equally illusory.
" There is a tradition in the county of Clare that
a gentleman named Michael Comyn, who wrote
some stories and poetry in Irish, which well deserve
to be read by our students of the Gaelic language,
was so firmly persuaded that Ireland was to be de-
livered from British rule by a French or Spanish
invasion that he spent great part of his life in medi-
tating upon this contingency. The invasion never
took place, but poor Mr. Comyn neglected his busi-
ness and spent his fortune in preparation for it, so
that he reduced himself from comfortable circum-
stances to pauperism.
" Let us not imitate either Michael Comyn or
the learned doctors. Let us not neglect the essen-
tial interests of our country while we cherish illu-
sory expectations.
" I differ with much that I see in the columns of
the Nation, but I am happy to agree with its writers
in thinking that our aspirations for national inde-
pendence ought not to prevent us from using all
the resources that are furnished by the institutions•
under which we actually live, for the purpose of
obtaining improvements either by social efforts or
by legislation. The policy of Parliamentary imle-
pendence,which the Natiipn has so long adzeated,
is quite compatible with a resolute determination
to promote, by all the means in our power, the re-
covery of the legislative independence of this
country. _ _

I would myself prefer that the Irish represen-
tatives should meet in Dublin rather than in Lou-
don, if they were sufficiently numerous to form even
the committee of a national Council; but if the con-
stituencies of Ireland neglect such opportunities as
that which will be afforded in the county of
Cork during the present week for the election of
Repealers as members of Parliament, those who de-
sire to promote the social and legislatUre improve-
ment of this country aro not therefore bound to
fold their arms and to abstain from endeavouring to
serve their country through the agencies which
they can at present command.
"For my own part, I will give such support as I
can offer to any useful proposal, whether it emanate
from an Orangeman, a Conservative, a. Whig, an
Old Ireland Repealer, a Young Ireland. Repealer,
or a Franco-Hibernian ; and if we act towards each
other in this spirit, perhaps we shall find that there
are a great many questions of common interest in
regard of which all Irishmen can agree.
" You may remember that our recent co ntroversy
originated in an apparent difference of opinion re-
specting the formation of Volunteer corps in Ire-
land. lam now happy to find that this difference
of opinion was rather imaginary than real, and I
believe that there are very few Irishmen who would
not prefer that the scenes of 1782 should he again
witnessed in Ireland rather than those of 1798.
" Believe me, yours very sincerely,
" WILLIAM S. O'BRIEN."

1111 S DAPS SHIPPING.

LONDON, Feb. 21.—Wind this day at noon—South-
Westerly ; rather strong breeze, and dull weather, with
rain.

DEAL, Feb. 20.—Wind W.S.W.—Arrived—Linecen-
shire, from Melbourne; Margaret Edward, from Algoa
Bay.

PLYMOUTH, Feb. 20.—Wind S.W.—Arrived—Solace,
from New York.

S.W.—Arrived—Alba-
nian, Feb. 20.—Wind
man, screw steamer, from Liverpool for Gibraltar, with
pumps choked.
LIVERPOOL, Feb. 20.—Wind S.W.—Sailed—City of
Manchester, steamer, for New York.
QUEENSTOWN, Feb. 20.—Wind S.W.—Arrived—.Mari-
ner's Bride, from London for Valparaiso, with stern and
post quarter carried away, haying been in contact with, a
brig on the 18th inst.
BRISTOL, Feb. 20.—Wind S.Vir.—Arrived—Dora,!friem
Demerara.
RAMSGITE, Feb. 18.—Wind S.W.—Sailed—Nancy, for
Singapore.
LAMLASH, Feb. 18.—Wind S.S.E.—Arrived—St. liag
was, from the Clyde for Buenos Ayres.

(By ELECTRIC TELEGRAP2I.)
SOUTHAMPTON, Thursday Morning:
Arrived, Feb. 20—Eglinton, steamer, from Dublin;
Comet, from Jersey ; Alliance, steamer, from Havre ;
Southampton, steamer, from Jersey.
Pera, steamer,
for
Lady Eglinton, steamer, for London ;
Sailed—Bremen,
Courier, steamer, for Jersey ; Havre, steamer, for Havre.
Aled— i 3 ; repen, steamer, for New York ;

(BY SUBMARINE AND MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH.)
GukvEsErfp, Wednesday Morning.
Arrived, Feb. 20—Sisters, from Guernsey.
Arrived, Feb. 21—Remark, from Newcastle.
Sailed—Adams, for New Orleans ; Water Nymph, for
Port Phillip ; Amulet, for St. Michael's.
DEAL, Thursday Morning. .
Anchored—Austral, ship, from Port Augusta, Austrltha,
for London ; Garibaldi and Circassian, for Cardiff; Blanch,
for Cape Palmas; Carl Fourth, for Bombay—all from
London.

SPECIAL SUNDAY EVENING SERVICES, WEST-
MINSTER ABBEY.—The following is the list of preachers
for March :—March 3, Rev. Dr. Williamson,; Vicar of Per-
shore; March 10, Rev. F. Pigou ; March 17, Rev. C. F.
Secretan, Incumbent of Holy Trinity, Westminster ; March
24, Dean of Westminster ; March 31, Bishop of London.
Notwithstanding the report that the Southern
States of America contemplate the imposition of an export
duty equal to an eighth of a penny per lb. on cotton, the
Liverpool market was dull and irregular yesterday at id. to."
id. per lb. below the rates of Friday; the stoppage of 50,00' '1
or 60,000 looms which will take place this week in
Blackburn district, and the possibility of an extension o'
strike in other quarters, having contributed, vie
large arrivals, to create a feeling of great dr
The Southern States, by their proposed mo-
doubtless actuated by the idea that they w-
revenue at the cost of the European import'
the importers of the New England States
that they will thus increase, in the •
possible, the stimulus to produce
parts of the world.