The Sun.
London, England, 1850-07-27 00:00:00

LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING JULY 27, 1850.

THt; SLAVE TRADE AND ITS
HORRORS.

(From the Portsmouth Times and Naral Gazette this day.)
" ASCENSION. JUNE 5

" The Star arrived here yesterday, and sails to-mor-
row morning for Sierra Leone and England ; she has
come here from the South Coast and St. Helena, and
adds but little to our last stock of news from that
quarter, as she does not come direct from the senior
officer. She has taken in all five prizes—falling far
short of her last commission out here, which her
commander attributes to her bad sailing—he having
been quite out-run on several occasions by slavers.
The morning of the day she arrived here (yesterday),
a fore and aft schooner about 60 tons came in, a
most appalling and heartrending spectacle of what the
African slave trade now is. She was a prize to the
Philomel, Commander Forbes, taken a few days after
leaving Ascension, on her passage to South Coast, long.
14 19, lat. 1010, named Novus Eepiculazsr. She was
ordered to proceed to St. Helena for condemnation in
charge of Lieutenant Helby, second of Philomel, having
on board 234 slaves!! and failing to reach St. Helena
she had to bear up for Ascension, arriving here after
being six and twenty days exposed to the mercies of the
elements, for a fourth of the period in want of food and
water, a pint of the latter each day being all that could
be spared to the separate individual, and nothing to eat!
The natural result is plain. Mortality to a fearful extent
occurred. She had lost 110 of her negroes when she ar-
rived, and yet they were dying hourly. Hunger, thirst, and
their satellites dysentery and fever, raging in full triumph-
ant sway. And what short of a miracle could stop the on-
set of these ruthless tyrants? Picture to yourself (and
your imagination, no matter how vivid it may be, will
fall far short of the reality) upwards of 230 human
beings confined in a vessel of 60 or 70 tons, on a deck
two feet two inches high! This is alleviating the mi-
series of the slave, if you will, with a vengeance. Never
will it be effaced from my memory the significant point
of the finger of the famished beings to their burn-
ing, parched tongue, when the visitor approached
them, and the endless and furious quarrels which
arose between the dying wretches to obtain a draught
of the pure water arriving on board, heedless of
the imminent risk pointed out, or the too free indulgence
in it. But here their evils do not cease; again must they
plough the deep, and in their frail barque, or rather float-
ing coffin, must they pursue their way to the now nearest
slave coast, viz.—Sierra Leone. The authorities at
Ascension having supplied them with all the refresh-
ments their limited means permitted them, and a medical
officer put on board to assist them, they proceeded to
Sierra Leone, where if a third of the original number
arrived in existence they may deem themselves particu-
larly fortunate.
" Now let your Exeter Hall philanthropist ponder
over this. No exaggeration is here, but the truth plain
and fearful in its simplicity—look at it boldly. This
vessel worthless in herself, but invaluable in her carp,
had she not fallen into the protecting and merciful
hands of the British cruiser, would in a third of the
time have landed those negroes in the Brazils, where
it is to be supposed at least they would not have suf-
fered so much by a tenth part, as they have from their
deliverers and friends, or if the present system did
not exist, would have been making their transatlantic
voyage in a vessel commensurate with their value.
Some may say the secondary vo3 age was ill-advised,
but Ascension possesses not resources fur such an un-
locked fur exigency in her harbour, and the risk likely
to occur to the inhabitants of the island at present so
healthy, by the introduction of such a host of pestilen-
tial disease, fully justified the sending her to the nearest
slave depot, supplying at the same time what comforts
and medical aid could be given. Dr. Squire, of the Tor-
toise, proceeded with her to Sierra Leone."

PROTECTIONIST DEFEAT at IPSWICH.

A requisition having been presented to the Mayor
of Ipswich, signed by 600 persons, stated to comprise
the "merchants, bankers, tradesmen, and other inha-
bitants," requesting him to " convene a meeting of
the rated inhabitants of the town, to consider and
determine upon the propriety of addressing her Most
Gracious Maj-sty on the alarming state of distress at
present existing in the agricultural, colonial, trading,
and shipping interests of the country," and praying
that her Majesty would dissolve the present Parlia-
ment, a meeting took place on Wednesday, at one
o'clock, on the Cornhill, in front of the Town-hall,
the Mayor presiding. The meeting was numerously
and respectably attended, and the numbers could not
have been, at one time, much less than 1,500. The
Protectionists' resolution in favour of a return to
protection, and based upon the requisition, was
moved by W. C. Fonneresu, Esq., seconded by Mr.
Meadows, and supported by C. Lillingstone, Esq.
An amendment (on the part of the Free-traders) was
then moved by George Alexander, Esq., and seconded
by Mr. Grimwade, in favour of the present system.
Considerable confusion ensued during the speeches of
the mover and seconder of the resolution and amend-
ment (during which the flags of the Protectionist
party, and a board containing the Free-trade and
Protection loaves of bread, were demolished), and it
was with difficulty the Mayor could gain a hearing for
the speakers. The amendment was put to the meeting,
and carried by an overwhelming majority; and the
original resolution (in favour of protection) was, there-
fore, lost. The protectionists, finding themselves so
thoroughly beaten, declined bringing forward their
other resolutions. The Free-traders, however, deter-
mined to carry " the war into the enemy's camp,"
then brought forward a resolution, moved by Mr.
Oliver Prentice, in favour of the further development
of free trade, and the reduction of the national expen-
diture, and the application of the most rigid economy
in the various branches of the state. The resolution
was opposed by C. Lillingstone, Esq., and supported by
Mr. M`Pherson, a Chartist, who hoped that they would
have "free trade in parsons," as well as in every other
matter. Tne resolution was nearly unanimously adopted
amidst great cheering. A vote of thanks to the Mayor
was then carried with acclamation, and responded to.
The Mayor being about to retire, C. Lillingstone, Esq.,
the supporter of the Protectionist resolution, com-
plained of the partiality of the Mayor in putting the
resolutions; the Mayor, therefore, returned, and ad-
dressing the meeting, indignantly repelled the charge,
amidst great applause, and Mr. Lillingstone was
obliged to apologise. The meeting then dispersed ;
but it was with great difficulty that Mr. Lillingstone
escaped from the fury of the mob, who seemed
thoroughly incensed against him ; and, had he not
been protected by some of the Free-trade party, and
escorted into the Town-hall, the consequences to him
would have been serious. The Protectionists are
quite disheartened at the falure they have experienced,
while the Free-trade party are lin raptures at the
triumph of their principles.—Leeds Mercury.

THE POST-OFFICE STOPPAGE

AND EPIDEMICS.
(From the Historic Times.)
London is threatened with. another outbreak of cholera.
and although it is not likely to assume a severe epidemic
character, the hot and close months yet to come are likely
to develop the whole tribe of zymotic diseases. We pro-
mised, and wish, to abstain from reverting to the vexed
question of the cessation of Post-office labour on a
Sunday, but the Registrar-General's report, recounting
a few deaths from the fell disease which spread devasta-
tion amongst us last year, obliges us to show the evil
which may arise from the non-delivery of letters on a
Sunday during the possible prevalence of a fearful ma-
lady. The sudden nature of death from cholera requires
no comment; and during its ravages, facility of inter-
course is demanded by the dictates of common humanity.
If the cholera should visit us, then, is there stilt to be
no delivery on Sunday? Are the dying to die without
the possibility of informing their kindred or friends,
should the terrible attack overtake them on a Saturday?
In reply to this, it may be urged that we are not better
off in London, for there is no letter delivery here; but
we reply, we are in a far better position than provincial
towns, for a thousand channels of communications pour
into London, while the Post alone conveys intelligence
out of it, with the exception of the larger country towns.
Toe stagnation of intelligence during such a period
would be frightful, and enough to alarm even those who
from, doubtless, the best principles, advocate the total
suspension of Sunday delivery. We believe that directly
after the prorogation of Parliament the old system will
be revived, with certain modifications in deference to the
many conscientious, but, as we think, mistaken men, who
have formed the list of 400,000 petitioners. If, how-
ever, all Sunday delivery is to remain abolished, we
.would throw out an undigested suggestion as to a means
to avert the evil in the event of cholera again visiting
us. We propose, in such a ease, that Government
should issue postage stamps of a particular design or
colour, at a shilling or more per stamp; and when one of
these is placed on a letter, the Post-office authorities
should be answerable for its delivery. Against this it
will be immediately urged, that attorneys, and brokers,
and creditors, and people of all sorts of denominations,
will take advantage of this issue of stamps to send their
business-letters; and no doubt it would be so; but surely
it is better fur some hundreds of people to promote their
pecuniary interests even on a Sunday, than that one
dying person should be deprived of the last solace ever
to be had in this world.
We can conceive nothing more frightful than to re-
ceive a letter on a Monday, which has been lying a dead
lamp of useless intelligence all Sunday, conveying the
last wishes of an expiring persons to see a near and dear
relation—and on the Monthly delivered too late.
The next objection to be urged against the plan is,
that the extreme poor would be deprived of the privi-
lege; but in cases of death and sudden illness, surely
grace
with
itthha
the
h which
ailachnt would there would be some kind Samaritan to whom the
afflicted might fly at such a period; and what species of
seloveden
charity could emanate from the clergyman with such
ones?
? Eventhedying to
some commu-
nicateef
our
strict correspondeigs
their might pull the black stamp from
pocket-books, and give it without trembling
for
their eternal happiness, even though one more letter had
to be delivered on a Sunday
nda y owing to the gift.
Whatever objections,
however,
might be raised against
the plan, and we premised that it
re
wassevere
a crude one, it
would have the effect of placing a se
Sun-
day delivery; and this, perhaps, is
as
asuethaxasumaponn
many Su-
den
de-
sire. The necessity of putting an expensive stamp on a
letter would at once put a stop to an enormous flood of
correspondence of a trifling nature; and although it
would not entirely stop the channels of intelligence on
the Lord's-day, it would greatly diminish the labour of
the postmen, and perhaps be accepted by the Sabbath
party as a graceful compromise, if not a necessary
measure.

EARLY HARVEST.—A field of black barley was cut,
carried, and stacked by Mr. Mills, at Langford Lodge, during
the past week.—,Bath Chronicle.

IMPERIAL PA RL lAMEN T.

HOUSE OF LORDS, July 26.

The LORD CHANCELLoR took his sea; ou the Wool-
sack- at Five o'clock.
MILITIA. PAY BILL.
This all was read a third time and passed.
IRISH PAUPERS.

Lord REDESDALE drew th,ir Llratips' atten-
tion to the stAtement m Ade at one of the
police-courts of the metropolis, thAt a lir. Do-
novan, one of the poor-law authorities of Ireland,
had sent over several paupers to this country
without making any provision for them, thus having
them to be maintained by English parishes, or to
starve.

The Marquis of LANSDOWNE was understood to
state that the matter should be inquired into.
THE LIVERPOOL FORGED PE ['l HON.

LordBEAUMONT moved that Hinde, M'Arthu r and
Byrne should be called to the bar, admonished, and
discharged.
Lord BROUGHAM supported the motion; these per-
sons had given all the information in their power, they
had used no prevarication in their evidence, and they
were the dupes of others.
The M irquis of LANSDOWNE should not oppose the
motion, but he must denounce the offence of which these
persons had been guilty as moat heinous ; and he found
that in many parts of the kingdom there prevailed a
practice similar to that of which these persons had been
guilty—a practice which did irreparable injury to the
sacred right of petition.
Tie Earl of HARROWBY had received a letter from
the secretary to the society which bad employed these
men, exculpating himself and his society from blame.
Lord BEAUMONT said the inquiry into these frauds
was still going on, and he hoped the really guilty parties
would be discovered and punished.
The prisoners Byrne, Hinde, and; M'Arthur were
then called to the bar, reprimanded by the Lord CYAN-
CELLOR, and discharged.
PETITIONS.
Lord BROUGHAM presented several petitions
in favour of the County Courts Bill. He would
take this opportunity of correcting a gross delusion
which certain persons, who he suspected knew better,
had propagated, charging him with inconsistency as a
law reformer in relation to this Bill. It was because he
was not inconsistent that he had given the option of
bringinc, actions either in county or superior courts,
fur he hadp given the same option in the Bill he had in-
troduced in 1836.

The Earl of CARLISLE presented a petition from
sundry labourers in Scotland, praying the House to in-
troduce some measure to prevent parochial boards from
taxing their wages to the relief of the poor.
The Earl of EGLINTON presented a petition from
Ayr in favour of a Post- •ffi,le delivery on Sunday.
The Marquis of BREADALBANE presented se-
veral petitions against the Marriages Bal.

courts of equity and justice, it might well be asked if
they lived hi a free country and were governed by the
law. That line of c;/redact could not fur a moment be de-
feeded. It appeared that the information was direct-d
against Lord J. Russell and the other Commission,' re.
There was a clear aet of melversation on the part of the
Commissioners of Woods and Forests, and yet the At-
torney-General would prevent the public approaching
the courts of law to obtain redress. by refusing his sanc-
tion to the legal, practicable, r virable course of law.
Now the officers of the Crown cared nothing for im-
peachment, and it was only by discussions, and by
bringing their conduct before that and the other
House of Parliament, that they could be reached.
It might be said that the Attorney-General had
the right to refuse, and in same ceses of error no
doubt he might interpose, but he called upon
whoever might be disposed to defend the course
taken by him on the present occasion, to show him
one single instance in which a great public question
between the people and the Crown—between the inha
bitants of the capital and the Crown—had ever been
stopped and stifled and frustrated in its progress to a
legal
,ju licial termirwion by the fist of the Attorney-
General. One word more as to the gross inconsistency
between the conduct of the law officer of the Crown and
that of Lord John Russell. The Noble Lord called on
the House to vote against the address, because it :had
nothing to do with the question of legality, as that could
only be decided by a court of la r. One of the first
things the relators found was the law officer playing into
the heeds of the Treasury. The one said, "Go to the
courts of law, and is the meantime give me your votes;"
but when they came to the courts of law the next morn-
ing, 'they could only get to the keyhole, but could not
get in. But the Crown, it was said, was the representa-
tive of the interests of the public. The petition which
he had presented must
.be regarded as the petition not of
an individual, but of the public complaining of the
Crown. He was told, "Do not complain, you are
only the public; I am your foster mother—l am
your
,tender parent, in whom you may safely con-
fide." " Most excllent Sovereign," he would reply
"most gracious Queen; most deeply do I reverence,
your exalted station; most entirely do I confide in your
maternal care; but nevertheless, as long as Kings are
Kings, and Queens are Queens, where there are conflict-
ing interests—where your Majesty is on one side and I
happen to be on the other, and I am in open and avowed
conflict with your rights, when I deny your right—when
my case is that you are wrong and I am right, may it
please your Majesty not to be offended if I say I had
much tathei, with all my loyal affection and profound
veneration for your Majesty, and the constitution of
which you are the head, trust myself to my own defence
of my own rights." But if the Attorney-General must
necessarily be made a defendant, the information might
be filed by the Solicitor-General. But what would be
the construction put upon the conduct of the Attorney-
General? Would it be thought that he had taken his
course because there was nothing in the point about to
be raised? Could they think—would the public think—
would any portion of the public think or believe, or fir
an instant fancy it possible, that all this had been done
b. cause it was supposed that the case was quite clear,
that there was no doubt whatever as to the right of
the Crown to do what it was now doing, and that
the public were all wrong and had no title whatever to
interfere ? No; it was because they dared not let it go
into court—it was because they preferred to the decision
of a court their majority of 166, got together not, he
would venture to say, by any efforts on the part of the
proper officer endowed with what was commonly called
the whip.—(Hear, and a laugh.) But there were more
whips than one. There were other whips than that of
the Treasury Secretary. There were Court influences
and canvassers, and there were persons who mutually
were influenced by, and, in their turn, influenced those
Courts—those whose

" Whispers still to greatness far too near,
Which often vibrate in a monarch's ear."
Fine writing bad been described as right words in right
places, and so fine voting might consist in giving right
votes in right places; but all these votes would not serve
to remove from the minds of the people of this city and
of this country the conviction, that the reason fur refus-
ing the fiat was one and one only, namely—that they
were wrong in point of law and dared not go into court.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE complained that his
Noble and Learned Friend had given him no notice of
his intention to bring this subject under their Lordships'
notice. He denied that the Attorney-General had done
more than fearlessly and conscientiously to discharge his
duty to the best of his judgment and discretion. He
also distinctly denied that any instructions bad been
given him to depart from that course which he con-
ceived to be essential fur the public interests; and he
would add that, were he capable of yielding to such in-
fluences, he would not be the son of that father whose
memory, in common with his Noble and Learned
Friend, he affectionately cherished and venerated. He
protested against the allusions made by his Noble and
Learned Friend to the discussions which bad taken
place elsewhere. He must be forgiven for saying that
it was one thing to refer to the recorded votes of the
other House, and another to the speeches delivered
there in detail, the inconvenience of which was proved
by experience. Whether his Honourable and Learned
Friend the Attorney-General had acted judiciously
or not in considering the majority of the House of
Commons as the exponent of the public voice, and in
regarding the relators to whom his Noble and Learned
Friend had referred as representing their own feelings
only, and not the feelings and sentiments of the public
at large, his Hon. and Learned Friend the Attorney-
General would no doubt be able satisfactorily to explain
in the proper place. All he could say was, that he
did not stand there to defend or explain the course pur-
sued by the Attorney-General in the exercise of the
great and important functions entrusted to him; but to
express his conviction that he would be able to justify
himself in point of law, of equity, and of policy.
Lord BROUGHAM said the reason why he had not
given his Noble Friend notice of his intention to call
their Lordships' attention to the subject was that ho
had only received the petition last night. The Noble
and Learned Lord was understood to say that he had
communicated his intention to the Attorney-General.
Earl GREY warmly protested against the imputation
cast by the Noble and Learned Lord on the motives
of the Government and law officers of the Crown,
without giving any notice of his intention to any mem-
ber of the Government in that House.

the Hon. Member for London (Baron Rothschild) did
not wish to be heard by c mused on the preliminary point.
Ile would support the motion fir adjournment, and
thought thdt the adjaurnalent should bt to Monday
nex'...—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. SCOTT rise, amid loud cries of " Didrie " and
considerable uproar, to propose that the adjournment
should he to Tue,day next.
Mr. REYNOLDS had listened with Job l ke patience
for the la,t three hours to the specch-s on this qle:dion
—(Laughter)—but had been wholly unable to understand
to what day the House wished to adjourn.—(" Divide,
divide," and great uproar.) All he had to say was this,
that this question had been before the House for three
years, and that eight divisions had taken place upon it,
or upon the question of civil and religious liberty. He
begged to express his delight that Baron Rothschild
had taken a manly stand on this question, and
that all hypocrisy in di,eu,sing it was to be got rid of
He trusted this House would not to the tool of the House
of Lords in treating this question.—(Divide, divide.)
lle would support an adjournment until Monday, at
twelve o'clock, though if his Hon. Friend (Mr. Anstey)
persisted in dividing the House on his amendment, that
the adjournm,nt should take place until five o'clock this
day, he (Mr. Reynolds) would vote with him.
Amid great confusion Mr. SCOTT ultimately with-
drew his motion.

Sir C. BURRELL proposed an amendment that the
debate should be adjourned until Tuesday, at twelve.
The House then divided, when there appeared—
For the motion that the debate be ad.
journed until Monday at twelve . l9l
For the amendment that it be adjourned
until the evening at five 62
Majority in favour of adjourning
until Monday at twelve —l29
The gallery was again cleared, and the House divided
on Sir C. Burrell's motion, when there appeared—
For the original motion
For the motion of adjournment till
Tuesday
Majority for the original motion —lOl
The debate was consequently adjourned until Mon-
day, at twelve o'clock.
The House then adjourned until a Qlarter before
Six o'clock.

The House resumed at a Quarter before Six o'clock.

PE I ffIONS.

Mr. WYLD presented a petition from the colliers of
Durham in favour of the Colliery Inspection Bill.
General LYGON presented a petition from Corn-
wall against the admission of Jews to Parliament.
Sir F. THESIGEI presented a petition from
four individuals who had been prevented from becom-
ing relators in a suit in Chancery, complaining of
the evils and inconvenience which will arise from
holding the National Exhibition of 1851 in Hyde-
park. The petitioners stated that it was the
intention of the Commissioners of the Exhibition to
erect a very large building in a portion of the park,
and for that purpose they had obtained a licence
from the Commissioners of Woods and Forests for about
20 acres of the most ornamental part of the park; that it
was proposed to erect a steam-engine and boiler of consi-
derable size, with the necessary offices and conveniences;
that the Attorney-General had refused to sanction the
institution of a suit in Chancery; and the petitioners
prayed the House to take the matter into their consi-
deration, and to tyke such a course as should prevent
a denial of justice.
Mr. SCaOLEFIELD presented a petition from Bir-
mingham against the new postal arrangements.
NEW WRIT FOR DUNGANNON.

A new writ waa ordered for the election of a Member
for the borough of Dungannon, in place of Lord North-
land.
PROVISION FOR THE PRINCE OF WALES.

Lord J. RUSSELL brought up a Message from her
Majesty, recommending her tuition' Commons to grant
Marlborough House to the Prince of Wales on his at-
taining the age of eighteen.
Lord J. RUSSELL gave notice that he would move
the Message of her Mijlsiy be taken into consideration
on Monday next,
IRISH FRANCHISE BILL.

Lord J. RUSSELL said he would now state, in com-
pliance with the notice which he had given, what
course he intended to take with reference to the Iris❑
Franchise Bill. The House of Lords had made
se; eral amendments to the Bill, two of which were
of considerable importance. One was the alteration of
the qualification giving a vote for a county from 81. to
151, and the se pond rendered it not compulsory for par-
sons qualified to vote to register their names. Now,
with respect to the first amendment, he proposed that
the qualification instead of being 15/. should be 121., and
as to the other amendment, he proposed to disagree with
their Lordships.
STAMPING OF PERIODICALS.

In reply to Mr. SCHOLEFIELD,
Mr. CORNEWALL LEWIS, who was indistinctly
heard, was understood to say that the Board of Stamps
considered that Mr. Dickens's Household iNarrative
of current events came under the designation of a news •
paper. and therefore required a stamp. Messrs. Bradbury
and Evans, the printers, had offered to send a special
case on the subject to the Court of Exchequer, and the
Board had agreed to their proposition.