The Sun.
London, England, 1868-05-25 00:00:00

WEST INDIA MAILS.

Mr. GILPIN asked the Secretary to the Treasury if
any decision had been arrived at as to the substitution of
another island for that of St. Thomas, as the harbour and
depot of the %Vest India and Pacific mails; and, if he
would consent that no change or renewal of the ex-
isting contract shall be s auctioned by the Government
till the whole subject had been submitted to the
examination of a committee of this house, with power to
take evidence.

Mr. BOOTH said the present contract had been ex-
tended for a limited period, but that a port instead of that
of St. Thomas was being thought of. To refer the mattm-
to a committee would not facilitate the proceeding.
THE ASHTON RIOTS.

Mr. MAGUIRE asked the Secretary of State
for the Home Department whether his attention
had been seriously called to the frequent in-
stances of riot au& disturbance, injury to person
and destruction of property, caused in certain
districts of this country by the addresses of a person
named Murphy, and his colleagues ; and whether he could
gimme any assurance to the house that the delivery of such
addresses could be prevented for the future ? The hon.
member referred at some length to the riots that inva-
riably followed the appearance of Mr. Murphy, and
such a state of things occurred that it was a disgrace to a
Christian country. That person had stated that there could
be no tranquillity for Ireland until every Catholic priest
was hanged, and he could not, in sufficiently strong term.,
denounce the use of such language as that. Already
110 shops, two chapels, a school, and two priests' houses
had been destroyed, and ho wanted to know what the Go-
vernment proposed to do, as that person had announced
his intention of doing all in his power to inflame the reli-
gious passions of the people in Manchester and other
places. His discours s were moat objectionable, and he
for one would ask his (Mr. Maguire's) countrymen
to take no notice of what Murphy said, but he knew that
was asking more than human nature could withstand. He
had now to ask the Government in the name of 200 me-
morialists to investigate the cause of the late riots at
Ashton. _ _ _

Mr. HARDY said every one must feel how disgraceful
these riots in the north had been, and he could not suffi-
ciently deprecate the disgraceful scenes that had taken
place at Ashton. He thought the magistrates had done
their duty on the occasion. The origin of the riot undoubtedly
was the delivery of a lecture by a person of the name of
Murphy. He had been asked whether it was the inten-
tion of the Government to prevent such scenes for the
future, but the manner in which such person gave the
lectures prevented to a great degree any interference with
them. They usually took a room, or else they put up an
erection they carried with them, and then the admission
was by ticket, therefore it was not an open air meeting,.
and therefore the law was nyt contravened, because there
was no law which prevented the delivery of controversial
lectures. No person was compelled to hear those lectures,
therefore the law was not contravened. If, however,
language of a seditious or blasphemous nature was used
that the law was quite equal to take cognizance of, but he
was not able to suppress those of a controversial charac-
ter; but he might s ty it was open to the local authorides
to swear an information that a breaeh of the peace was in-
ten led, and proper steps would at once be taken to preserve
it. When he first received the information of what was
going on ho immediately tel graphed back offering mili-
tary assistance, but that was declined. He thought
if for the future the :requisite information was
sworn, and special c,eastables sworn in, enough
would be done to precerVe the public peace. If
not, he had taken care to let it be generally known that
Government was quite ready to give the utmost assistance
wherever it was required. lie did not thank after what
.he had stated that it would be necessary to issue a com-
mission, especially as there were a great many persons
who would have to take their trial, and tae cause of the
disturbance would come out during the course of the
trials. He had again, therefor; to say, that the Govern-
ment were quite ready to give every support to local
authority.
Mr. M. GIBSON defended the magistrates at Ashton.
He said that they had, in his opinion, acted most dis-
creetly, and a great deal of good would doubtless result if
the supporters of Orange tea parties—{laughter)—were to
moderate their ardour. (Laughter.)
Mr. WHALLEY thought that a great deal of what had
been said with respect to Mr. Murphy being most honest,
truthful, and careful in his statements—(loud cries of
" Oh, oh")—and a great deal of what had been said was
quite opposed to the fact.
Mr. MAGUIRE rose to order. Ho wished to know
whether it was parliamentary for onemernber to deliberately
insinuate that another member had uttered a lie. (Laughter
and cheers.)
The SPEAKER —Certainly not.
Mr. WHALLEY contrived to address the house, but
eventually resumed his seat by stating he was quite will-
ing to answer for every statement of Murphy.
Sir G. BOWYER said it was quite time that these meet-
ings should be put an end to. (Bear, hear.) Hoe had been
pr...sent at one held at Chelmsford, when language
was held there of the most exciting description.
The honourable baronet went on to say that
all Roman Catholics in Eugland ought to be barned, and
he further excited the people to go and burn down tho
neighbouring convent at Newhall. He thought the Sec-
retary of State was bound to interfere, because it appeared
quite clear that these meetings were not for discussion, but
for outrage and crime.

Mr. NEWDEGATE rejoiced at the answer the HOW)
Sebretary had given. He did not think that all blame was
on oae side, because on one occasion two or three persons
were knocked down before Mr. Murphy had
opened his mouth. He believed the book the
" Confessional Uumasked" was an immoral book, and
therefore it ought not to be allowed to circulate. But
what was to be said when this book was introduced into
a family by the relative of a priest. (Oh, oh.) He did
not believe the' Protestants were the first aggressors in
Birmingham or iu Ashton. It the hon. member for Cork
again brought the matter forward he hoped he would
give proper notice of his intention of doing so. (Oh, oh.)
Mr. PAULL thought the present occasion most incon-
venient for the discussion.
The subject then dropped.
THE CONVICT BARRETT.

Mr. BRIGHT rose with extreme pain and under great
responsibil.ty to ask the intention of the Government with
respect to the convict Barrett. Two respites had already
taken place in order that certain matters might be in-
quired into at Gh,sgow with a view of ascertaining
the truth in the matter, which was one of life or
death. He had been told that the Chief Justice
bad considered the case, and that the result of such con-
si leration was against the prisoner. He bad been told by
persons of authority that the conviction of Barrett could not
be sustained by the evidence, and ,hat it was in the power of
the Secretary of State to have the man retried on another
charge of murder, and if such a course was adopted it was
a matter that would give satisfaction to the public mind.
He begged to ask the right hon. gentleman the course he
intended to pursue?
Mr. HARDY said he had not to complain of the manner
in which this momentous subject had been brought for-
ward. An alibi had been set up by the prisoner, but it
had failed. A memorial had also been presented to him, and
he had sent the necessary documents to the learded judges
who tried the case, and they bad both come to the con-
clusion that the verdict was sustained by the evidence,
and he (Mr. Hardy) had no doubt in his own mind that
the man was guilty of the charge made against him.
(LEFT SITTING.)

MARKETS.—(Ihis Day.)

CORN.

The weather continues broken, with rain at intervals
which is calculated to do general good, if it does not con-
tinue too long. So far the effect has been to improve the
roports of the growing crops.
Upon the trade the effect has if anything been rather
favourable than otherwise, as it has to some extent modi-
fied the idea of a very early harvest that has been gaining
ground recently. Holders of wheat are consequently
ratter more confident, whilst the inquiry in these quarters
is rather better.

Nevertheless the !provincial markets held on Saturday
showed a general decline of is to 2s on: the week.
At Mark-lane this morning there was a fair attendance,
but a good deal of caution on the part of both buyers and
sellers. Supplies of English grain of all kinds were light,
those of fureigu wheat heavy, but of oats and other grain
light.
English wheat, in consequence of the small quantity,
was not pressed, but to effect sales is under last Monday's
rates would have to be taken.
Foreign wheat was in large supply, and offers were at
were
Is to 2s under the rates of this day week, but these
not freely accepted.
Flour in limited demand, and without material change in
price.
Barley a quiet sale at late currency.
Deans and peas scarce, and unaltered in value,