The Sun.
London, England, 1844-11-15 00:00:00

large manufacturing towns. But since we cannot,
by any illustrations of our own, so forcibly develop
the course by which this result would be accom-
plished, as the " Report" has already done, we entreat
attention to the three extracts from that document,
which we give in another column, and which we have
headed respectively, " Consequences of the proposed
alteration of the Law of Settlement," &c.; " Case of the
borough of Leicester under the proposed alteration ;"
and " Effect of the five years' residence irremovability
clause, both on manufacturing towns generally, and
on rural districts." Yet that a strong case exists to
require the reform of the Law of Settlement, and
with a view to the restraining of that endless and most
expensive litigation which makes good for provincial
attorneys at the expense of all the rate-payers of
England and Wales, we are as firmly convinced as
were the framers of the 4th and sth WILLIAM IV. when
bringing forward that Act. The amount expended in
law charges alone, connected with the investigation of
settlements, and the trial of appeals, for the year end-
ing Lady-day, 1934, was almost incredible-258,6041.
—about one-twentieth of the gross levy of rate for that
year. The Act of 4 and 5 WILLIAM IV. endea-
voured to remedy this state of things by contracting
the grounds conferring the settlement, but more dis-

tinctly and carefully prescribing the form of proof,
nature of evidence, and right of appeal. But the ob-
jects thus aimed at have been notoriously defeated by
the conflicting decisions of courts of law, their severe
construction of the provisions relative to the wording
of orders of removal, and the consequent difficulty ex-
perienced (in itself a hardship, usually, of the most
cruel nature on the unfortunate pauper applicant) in
now obtaining such orders. And as to the expense,
it appears, from the Leicester " Report," that

" Although the amount expended in law charges has
been diminished since the passing of the Act (as appears
by the last report of the Commissioners, in which it is
stated to have been 84,7501. for the year ending Lady-
day, 1843), it must be borne in mind, that this decrease
in the expenditure is not to be attributed entirely to an
improvement of the law, but that it may in part be ac-
counted for by the difficulties experienced in obtaining
orders of removal."

We cannot better conclude than by quoting from
the conclusion of the Committee's " Report," the "Re-
medies suggested " by them. It is a passage well
entitled to the deliberate consideration of the Legis-
lature ; and whatever difficulties might probably be
encountered in attempting to carry such a scheme
into practical execution, the propsal is entitled to
every degree of attention, from the boldness and sim-
plicity of the substituted recommends for the present
Poor-law and its ancillary Law of Settlement :
" Your Committee have now discharged the duty in-
trusted to them by the Council. They may, however,
be asked what remedy they would propose for the uni-
versally acknowledged evils of the present system ? and
to this they would reply—that the objections to the Law
of Parochial Settlements, not only on the ground of com-
plication and expense, but on the score of humanity, are
so great, as to admit of but one remedy ; and that is,
the Abolition of the Settlement Laws altogether, with all
their cumbrous and expensive machinery, and providing
for the support of the poor out of a general fund, to be
raised by means of a national tax, to which all property,
whether landed, funded, or personal, should be liable to
contribute, and which is consistent with the principle of
the law of Queen Elizabeth, under which every indi-
vidual was liable according to his ability, whether arising
from real or personal estate. This plan would encounter
opposition in the first instance, but it may be supported
by so many considerations of justice and policy, that
little doubt can be entertained that, sooner or later, it
will be adopted by the Legislature, and become the law
of the land.

" If, however, there is no prospect of a speedy abroga-
tion of the Laws of Settlement—if it is still considered
advisable, on account of existing interests, to continue
them for the present—if it is still deemed humane and
considerate towards the poor to break up their homes, to
separate them from their families, and to bandy them
backwards and forwards from parish to parish, and from
county to county, because they have the misfortune to be
poor and dependent—your Committee would confidently
and unhesitatingly express their opinion that it would
be infinitely better to continue the existing Laws of Set-
tlement, and to amend the machinery by which they are
carried out, by lessening the expense now required in
procuring orders of removal and in contesting their va-
lidity, than to adopt a measure so objectionable in its
provisions—so unjust and ruinous to all large manufac-
turing towns and villages—and so calculated to yield a
fruitflil harvest of litigation, as the Bill now introduced
by her Majesty's Government."

We have received Madrid journals of the 7th, but
their contents have been anticipated by the telegraphic
dispatch, which conveyed intelligence to the Bth. In
the Congress, on the 7th, a rather stormy discussion
took place on an amendment to the 9th clause, pro-
posed by one of the Members for Barcelona. In the
Address, as drawn up by the Committee, allusion
is made to the "rapid improvement of our rising in-
dustry." To this Senor SAIRO moved as an amendment,
that " there was greater necessity than ever to extend

a powerful protection to native industry." In other
words, that the present high tariff should be raised,
and smuggling more encouraged. There was a
strong party in the Congress in favour of high duties,
but the Government in the end prevailed, and the
amendment was withdrawn. Senor LLORENTE moved
another amendment, in the shape of an additional
clause, the purport of which was to call the attention
of the Government to the state of their commerce
and colonies, in supporting which he made great
complaints of the abandonment of their marine, ob-
jecting to the construction of vessels in foreign
ports, and insisting on the fitness of making a new
law respecting the slave trade, as a matter of the
greatest interest for the Spanish colonies.
The Minister of the Interior said the Government
was determined to execute the laws and treaties
against the slave trade, but that the means at its
disposal were not sufficiently extensive to enable it
to put a period to the traffic ; and the Minister
of Marine said that only one steamer had been
ordered to be constructed abroad. The Commission
again succeeded, and their clause was carried.

The trial of General Palm was resumed on the Gth,
but little further evidence was adduced. A domici-
liary visit had been made by the police at the resi-
dence of the General, and a strict examination of all
his papers and effects taken place, but without any
important discovery having been made. The prose-
cutors seem to have abandoned the charge of attempt-
ing to assassinate NARvAEz.

The Three per Cents. were done at 274 at 60 days;
and the Five per Cents. at 20 5-16 at 60 days.

The Paris papers, which have at last duly arrived
bring no intelligence of importance, and the leading
articles are of the same description. The Journal des
Debats and the Constitutionnel have articles on Mr.
WAGHORN'S letter to the Paella of EGYPT, proposing
a railroad across the Isthmus of Suez. Both of them
are opposed to the plan, and recommend the con-
struction of a canal. These articles will be found
under the proper head. The Courrier Francais, for
want of .a more fresh subject, goes back to 1841, and
comments on the treaty for the pacification of Turkey
and Egypt, and the protection of the Christians.
Russia, it says, had only one object in view—to see
Turkey return to barbarism, and thus forfeit all in-
terest that Europe might have for her. Austria,
though animated by a better spirit, was of as little
use. From such a colleague, the Ambassadors who
were anxious to promote the cause of civilisation in
Turkey, and guarantee the welfare of the Christian
community, could derive no effectual aid. To the
British Minister, in fact, is attributed all
the merit. " The question with Sir STRAT-
FORD CANNING," says that journal, " was not
merely to prevent the shedding of the blood of a few
victims; it was necessary to put a stop to the system
of re-action of the Turkish Ministry. Sir STRAT-
FORD CANNING pursued this twofold object with
praiseworthy firmness. He comprehended, as a good
Englishman, that Russia alone had an interest in
allowing that system to continue. He allowed him-
self to be deterred by no obstacle. The Turkish
Ministers pretended that any concession on their part
would drive the fanatics of the capital to open insur-
rection, and even M. DH BOURQUENRY, as we are in-
formed by one of his friends, considered this so pro-
bable, that he said we must go no farther. But the
English Ambassador replied, we must go on,' and
the question was thus at least half-carried. Here,
however, he was checked, for the French Ambassador,
after having taken one step, refused to take another,
The return of M. DE BOURQUENHY is now announced.
Let him tell us what influence we exercise at Con-
stantinople. In the wake of England on a question
of humanity; motionless, when a decisive measure is
necessary against a Ministry which is driving the
empire to its ruin. Such has been the conduct of the
representative of France. We do not, however,
accuse him, for he has evidently only followed in-
structions, and his docility will be rewarded with the
Peerage. Be it so ; but in serving his own interests,
has he served those of his country ? And will it be a
sufficient consolation for us to know that the eclipse