The Sun.
London, England, 1857-06-20 00:00:00

Government to pay for the revision of the valuation
from the imperfect manner in which it had been
made.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
that the valuation of Ireland to which the hon.
member had referred, was introduced exclusively
for the county case, and as it did not accord
with English law, an exception was naturally
taken to it, and although an improvement on the exist-
ing law it was imperfect. That continued until the Poor-
law act, when it was found necessary to alter the valuation
for the purpose of the Poor-law assessment in Ireland,
the Irish Counties and Town Lands paying for it the
same as parishes in England for the assessment of local
taxes. The right hon. baronet proceeded to explain what
had been done by the Government in producing a gee-
graphiCal survey of one inch to the mile at the expense
of the Government, and said that if the local valuation
referred to was not complete it could be appealed against.
It was a question for the house whether there
' should be local annual assessments in Ireland. He saw
no reason why the Government should not avail
itself of these local assessments of Ireland as well as
those in England for general national taxation. He
could not accede to the Exchequer giving a contribution
towards the Irish local valuation.
Colonel FRENCH said if this were an open measure
the people of Ireland should have the nomination of
officers, and not the Government, to do what was re-
quired, and call upon the grand juries to pay the ex-
penses without an inquiry. He asked the Government
to let the Irish manage their own affairs, which would
'be more satisfactory to the people of Ireland than Go-
vernment interference.
SERVICE OF OFFICERS IN THE CRIMEA.
Mr. W. EWART inquired of the Under Secretary of
the War Department, whether there would be any ob-
jection to print hereafter an amended copy of the return
made this session relative to the service of officers in the
Crimea, in consequence of the accidental omission of
certain names in that return I
Sir J. RAMSDEN said that the' omission of names
referred to arose from the working of the order, and a
supplemental return had been ordered, containing the
names of the omitted officers, and as soon as it was ready
it would be laid on the table of the house.
Mr. SCOTT called attention to the non-return of
Orders of the Bath granted since 1854, and asked when
it would be ready?
THE SLAVE TRADE.
Sir G. B. PECHELL inquired of the First Lord of
the Admiralty, whether it was intended to increase
the number of cruisers for the suppression of the slave
trade on the Ceast of Cuba ?
Sir C. WOOD briefly replied, but he was very inati
dible in the gallery. He was understood to say that it
was the intention of the Government to increase the
number of vessels on that coast.
Lord PALMERSTON is reply to Mr. Scott said that
be would make inquiries relative to the non-production
of the return referred to, and cause it to be laid on the
table of the house as soon as possible.
The motion for adjournment was then agreed to.
ROCHDALE ELECTION.
General THOM PS 'N presented a petition from
John Newell, stating that Abraham Rothwell,
a witness necessary to support the petition
against the sitting member had been offered, by one
Peter Johnson, 50. to leave for New Orleans. Tne gal-
lant general moved that the petition be read at the table
of the house, and that the house take the necessary
measures in such cases.
The petition was accordingly read by the Clerk at the
table.
General THOMPSON then moved that Abraham
Roth well and John Newell be ordered to attend the
house forthwith.
The motion was agreed to, and the Sergeant-at-
Arms with the mace escorted John Newell to the bar
of the house.
The SPEAKER—You state in the petition that
has been presented to the house in your name that the
evidence of Abraham Rothwell is essential in the case of
the Rochdale Election Committee ? Is that so ?
Mr. Newell—Yes.
Sir J. GRAHAM rose to order.
Mr. Newell was then ordered to withdraw.
Mr. Newel then withdrew, and
Sir J. GRAHAM moved that the evidence should be
taken by a short-hand writer.
Agreed to.
On the return of Mr. Newell,
The SPEAKER-0n the 12th May you state that
you caused Abraham Rothwell to be served with a war-
rant requiring his appearance before the select com-
mittee in the case of the Rochdale petition ?—Yes, sir.
The SPEAKER—And you state that Abraham Roth-
well on the day stated that Peter Johnson, a beershop
keeper of Rochdale, did on the evening of the 18th June
offer the said Abraham Roth well 501. to set off for New
Orleans for the purpose of evading the committee ?—lie
did, sir.
The SPEAKER—Then this is all you know about
the matter ?—lt is.
Lord PALI4ERSTON—What answer did your in-
formant tell you he made to the proposal ?—He said
he was dissatisfied with the offer, but that he thought
100/. would not he too much. (Laughter.)
Lord PALMERSTON—To prevent the witness
giving an answer ?—Yes.
Andrew Rothwell was then called in and questioned
by the Speaker. He detailed the conversation between
him and Peter Johnson, and his promise to meet him to-
t night at nine o'clock to receive the money.
By Mr. FITZGERALD (Attorney-General for Ire-
land)—Where does Johnson reside f—At Rochdale.
Ii he in London ?—Yes. •
Where can he be found l—ln London to-night at nine
o'clock.
The witness was further examined, and rtated that
the object of giving the money was for him to keep out
of the way and not give evidence before the Rochdale
election committee. After the offer he went home, wrote it
down and gave it to Mr.Newall to-day about two o'clock. 1
He had bad no communication with Mr. Johnson to-day. 1
By Mr. WA RREN—Johnson said he had the money
in his pocket ; a person named Lodge was present,
and beard what passed. The offer was made in a house
near Falcon-square.
The witness after answering some other questions put
by the hon."tnember, withdrew,
Lord PALMERSTON moved that Peter Johnson be
ordered to attend the house forthwith.
Lord J. RUSSELL proposed that the other party
should be also summoned.
Lord PALMERSTON : One at a time.
On the motion being put,
Mr. MACA.ULAY said he had heard the man at the
bar state a charge of misdemeanour against Johnson,
for which he might be prosecuted, therefore the ques-
tion could not he put to him whether he was guilty or
not except under compulsion. He doubted if they could
in law or practice put such a question to Johnson. He
asked if it was a proper course to adopt ?
Sir G. GREY said that by the standing orders they
were " to proceed against offenders with severity," and
he supposed the house would not do that without giving
Johnson an opportunity of explaining his conduct.
The motion was agreed to, and a similar motion was
made and agreed to, that Lodge be forthwith ordered to
attend the house.
THE BOMBARDMENT OF GREYTOWN.

Lord C. HA.MILTON then rose to ask what steps her
, Majesty's Government bad taken to obtain compensa-
tion for the British subjects residing at Greytown whose
property was destroyed when that town was bombarded
in 1854 ; and if it would lay upon the table of the house
copies of the communications that had taken place on
that subject with the Government of the United States.
He said some persons in New York formed a company
called the Transit Company. This company obtained on
certain terms a piece of land which speedily became
covered with buildings. Not content with this piece of
land they were constantly asking for large grants, though
they refused to fulfil the conditions on which the first
piece of land was granted. It appeared that the Go-
vernment at Washington appointed a gentleman to re-
present them at Greytown, and this gentleman was con
nected with the company. The consequence was, that he
was constantly promoting squabbles between the com-
pany and the local authorities, and he went so far on one
occasion as to withdraw from the local authorities a per-
son Who ',lad committed a murder. The authorities had
no power co resist the encroachments of the company,
and ',bey resigned en masse, and requested the British
consul to carry on the government. The Americans then
busied themselves with getting up cases -of grievance.
These were not submitted to arbitration, but the ipse
dixi4 of the American was taken, and claims of compen-
sation were made for alleged injuries to American pro-
perty. The local authorities could only remonstrate,
and the American consul said he had referred the mat-
ter to the Government at Washington. Nothing was
heard of the reference till on the 12th July, 1854, an
armed corvette arrived in front of this town, and the
captain sent a message to the authorities, that if they
did not pay 24,000 dollars within 24 hours the town
would be bombarded. The authorities drew up a pro-
test, as did also the British vice-consul, and these pro•
tests were sent on board the corvette. Within the 24
hours the corvette began to bombard the place, and
continued so to do until they had fired 250 to 300 shells
into this unresisting town. Not content with that the
captain landed e. body of men, Who destroyed what re•
rosined of the town, and among other property set fire
to the residence of the English vice-consul, who had his
flag flying at the time. Thisaccount was not frornßritish
residents only, but the French and the Italian residents
drew up a similar account. In consequence of this out-
rage the whole population were driven to take shelter in
the neighbouring forest. This transaction took place
three years ago. No attempt as far as he could learn had
been made to offer any explanation, still less auy compen-
sation. He had told the house that a number of fictitious
claims were made by the Americans, but that no attemp
was made to suomit them to aroitration. In the meac-

[ time a document bad fallen juts the bands of some of the
partie% which showed that these claims were mere pre-
tences. It was a letter written by Mr. White, the agent
of the Transit Company, addressed t[l the A merican re-
presentative at Greytown, as follows :
" Captain Hollins—[the officer in command of the cor-
vette]—leaves hers next Monday. You will see from his
instructions that much discretion is given to you, and it is
to be hoped that it will be so exercised as not to show any
mercy to the town or the people. If the scoundrels are
2"4(115- Punished we can take possession, and build it up
as a business placo, put in our own officer, transfer the Iti-
ti:iction, an people know the rest. It is of the last impor-
••nee that th of the town should be taught to fear
us. Punishment will teach them, after which you must
agree with them mato theorganisation ofe the:government."
That was the statement and he asked the noble lord if
any steps had been taken to obtain compensation? One
word in favour of the United States government. He
believed. that thep were not originally cognisant of what
was goag to be carried on in their name, but they had
involved themselves by not punishing the
perpetrators of
the otth-age. Public opinion in the United States hid