The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-23 00:00:00

meats bad no foundation whatever. With the best possible
motives, the Noble Earl was frequently deluded. He
asked was it fair or just that men in their position, respect-
able surgeons, should be risking their character through
such charges? He considered that the Noble Lord
should not make those charges in that house, but on the
ground where the crimes were alleged to have been per-
petrated. All he had to say was that cleanliness,
order, and decorum were universally observed on board
those emigrant ship, and that the atention and capa-
bility of the surgeons were beyond all question of doubt.
He considered that the Noble Lord should not bring
such grave and important charges so lightly and loosely,
for he could not destnate the charges brought against
Mr. Bell, which were alleged to hare occurred ten years
ago, us any other than frivolous and unnecessary. In
that ewe the Commissioners of Emigration had been
perfectly satisfied, and be could assure their Lordships
that they would be ever most vigilant in the discharge of
their duties in this respect, as well as in any other.
The Earl of H4IIROWBY said that ke iettniCrKetly
convinced that -many of the emigratiotrofficers had not
acted as they should have done iss—Theirinvestigation of
this case, for be had not the least doubt that immorality
prevailed to a very great extent on the part of some et
the surgeons of those emigrant ship., as he knew that
many of the passengers had not been dealt fairly or
morally with by those surgeons. He believed that if the
paltry economy practised relative to the pay went i f
surgeons was put an end to that they would value their
positions, and never run the ri,k of losing a good
situation.

Lord MOUNTCASHELL said he felt very great re-
gret and sorrow that the Noble Esrl (Earl Grey) should
refuse to comply with his motion, and ho felt assured
that if the trt atment and seduction experienced by the
unfortunate girl from the Dublin union-hove had hap-
pened to a female emigrant from England, that the press
would strongly and vehemently denounce such conduct
and public meetings would be held in all parts cf this
country to bring the offenders to a condign punishment.
He thought it was but fair, fur the sake of Mr. Bell's
character, that his motion should be granted, as such
would relieve him from the suspicion attached to his
character, and also the public mind from an impression
of his fault.

Earl GREY said that it was not true that there was
any case of abuse except the one case of the unfortunate
woman who died in her accouchement on board the So-
braon,_ and in this ease all the punishment that could
be (inflicted was imposed on the offending surgeon, the
while substance of which inquiry was then on the table
of 'the House. When the Noble Lord required
to know the name of this woman he should
say that nothing could be more unfair or inju-
dicious than to publish the names of any female, whose
friends, in this country or in Ireland, would be pained
by such a publication. Ho fully concurred with the
Noble Earl (Earl llorrowby) when he stated it was
morally impossible-to preserve perfect order and perfect
morality in emigrant ships, particularly when it was
well known that such did not obtain on shore, where
there was more vigilance exercised for their preserva-
tion. now could the Noble Lord be astonislied, that
out of twenty or thirty thousand persons on a' voyage,
there should be one or two of bad charactre The
Emigration Commissioners have stated it as their
opinion, that it is impossible to send single women out
as emigrants, with safety for their virtue, unless they be
under the care of their relatives, or f some private
party who would take charge of them. He should, in
reply to the Noble Lord, state that the pay of the sur-
geons has been increased, and that they are likely,
therefore, to have a greater interest in holding their
sitva'ions in that service; and should emigration con-
tinue, he felt assured that general satisfaction would be
given by those men who are tried, and proved fit for
their duties. He should add, that the morality and in-
struction of the emigrants would be, for the future, very
much enhanced, as there were schoolmasters in each
emigrant ship. _ _ _

Tie motion was then negatived without a division.
Their Lordship then adjourned to Four o'clock to-
morrow.

HOUSE OF COMMONS. March 22.
The SPEAKER took the Chair a taw minutes before
Fuur o'clock.

PETITIONS.

Mr. ELLS presented a petition from Leicester pray-
ing the house to pass a mea&ure for providing a system
of secular education throughout the country.
Mr. H. BERKELEY presented a petition from the
journeymen tailors of Bristol complaining of being com-
pelled by their musters to work on Sundays, and praying
tor relief.

Sir H. DAVIE presented a petition from Addington
against the Marriage Affinity Bill.
Mr. BAILLIE presented a similar pc Coon from
Inverness-shire.

Mr. PLUMPTRE presented a petition from attorneys
in Faversham praying for a reptal of the duty on attor-
novb' certificates.

Lord DUNCAN presented petitions from Greenwich
and other places praying for the repeal of the window-
tax.

Mr. GEORGE DUNDAS presented a petition from
Kinloch against U. • Marriage Affinity Bill.
Mr. COWAN presented a petition; signed by the
Lord Provost and magistt ates of Edinburgh, praying
fur a repeal of all stamped receipts for SUMS below 1001.
Mr. FORDYCE presented petitions from several
places in Scotland against the Marriage Affinity Bill. •
Mr. CHRISTOPHER presented petitions from trades-
men and agricultural lbourers in villages in Lincoln-
shire, complaining f a'ricultural distress.
Mr. MACGREGOR presebted a petition from factory-
workers in Glasgow in favour of the Ten Hours Bill.
Mr. BANKES presented a similar petition fro:n f4c-
tory-wotkarg in Rochdide.
Mr. CARDWELL presented a petition from mer-
el wits in Liverpool complaining of the adulteration of
coffee with chicory, and praying that a duty may be
levied on chicory instead of coif-v.— (A laugh.)
Sir G. BOOTH presented a petition from Sligo pray-
ing lir a plan of emigratiOn for able-bodied labourers.
Mr. BRIGHT presented a petition from a place in
Oxfordshire praying for an international penny postage;
also a petition from Southampton iu favour of a more
equitable adjustment of tithes.
Several petitions were presented praying for a cessa-
tion of Post-office labour on Sundays.

Mr. POWER presented a petition from Cork praying
for measures of relief for Ireland.

Sir W. MOLESWORTII presented a petition from
Southwark praying for a bever supply of water to that
part of the metropolis.
Mr. B. OSBORNE presented a petition from the in-
habitants of Clerkenwell praying fur a repeal of the
window-!ax sea sanitary !Leasure.
Mr. FORBES presented a petition from the General
Assembly of the Church of Scotland praying for a ces-
sation of Sunday labour in the Post-office.

Colonel RA WDON moved fur a rk turn of the local
funds i❑ aid of which grants have been made by the Com-
missioners of National Education in Ireland, either for
building, teachers' salaries, or school necessaries; and
the st curity on which the said local funds rest.—
Agreed to.
Viscount DUNCAN moved fJr a copy cf all reports
on the experimen•a! improvements on the Crown estate
cf King William's Town. in the county of Cork, sub-
mitted to her Majesty's Commissioners cf Woods and
Forests, since the Bth day of August, 1814 (in continu-
ation of Parliamentary Paper, Nn. 612, of Session 1844.)
.S.IEMBERS' QUALIFICATION.
Mr. OSBORNE gave notice that on an early day
after Easter he should move a resoluton that the qualifi-
cation of Members of Parliament in England and Wales
should be made the same as that in Scot/and and Ireland.