The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-17 00:00:00

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LONDON, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1844.

The House of Lords reLnier of
yesterday for the first
time after the recess.
petitions wes
presented, and several motions were postponed, but
no business was transacted, and the House rose at an
early hour.
in the Commons the South-Eastern, Canterbury,
Ramsgate, and Margate Railway Bill, was pissed
also the Manchester and Birmingham (including the
the
Macclesfield and Poynton branches).
Mr. THORNELY gave notice that on the 30th of
April Mr. COBDEN would move for a Committee to
inquire into the effect of protective duties on the
national revenue.
' In answer to a question from Mr. HUME, Mr.
GLADSTONE said the Railway Committee were ex-
pected to bring their investigation to a close in a
short time, and then their report would be laid before
the House without delay.
Mr. MORE O'FENRALL moved for various returns
relative to Kingstown Harbour awl the Kingstown
atmospheric •
Railway, which were ordered.
In answer to a question from Mr. MILNES, Sir
ROBERT PEEL said he could not at present lay before
the Biuse the
Great Britain and trsh Poke,peeting negotiations between
with regard to the exe-
cution of criminals on religions grounds.
Mr. Wyss moved for a
areturn of the names, offices,
and
places of birth, salaries,
ages of all persons hold-
ing offices in the Customs, Excise, and Post-office
Departments in the United Kingdom, The object of
the motion, it would appear,'
ewas to: ascertain how
many Irishmen were employed, as compared with
Englishmen and Scotchmeti.

Sir ROBERT PEEL had a good reason for refusing
such a return, There Were at lea.,t 22,Cr.") pc-rzon

So, Mr. THOMAS BARING, the rejected of the
London constituency, and the champion of the mono-
polists in their great battle with the free traders, is to'
be brought into Parliament for the close borough of
Huntingdon! That, which the voice of the people
would not do for him, is to be effected by the means
of private influence; and the would have been repre-
sentative of the first commercial city in the world, is
contented to creep into Parliament under the auspices
of the protectionist nobleman, who has taken the dis-
comfited citizen under his guardian care. Well, this
is as it should be—the merchant is rejected by mer-
chants, because of his anti-trade opinions—he is
selected by agriculturists, because they cannot find
one of their own body to say a word in favour of the
privileges they claim ; and a BARING supplies their
wants. It is not very clear, how merchants are
interested in restrictions and prohibitions upon
trade ; but the BARINGS have always had the
happy knack of thinking one way and acting
another; as Lord 'ASHBURTON generally spoke,
on the contrary side to that on which he voted. It
is no clear indication of the opinion of Mr. BARING,
that he is now found supporting the sliding scale ;
and at his first coming forward for London, it was for a
long time doubted, whether he was not a fixed duty
man. Far better for the free traders that he should
be what he is, than what he was believed to be ;—the
fixed duty principle is the rock ahead of the anti-
monopolists, and they have far more cause to dread
the trimmers who would support a fixed duty, than
the thick and thin protectionists of the sliding scale,
as by law established.

Specious as are the arguments that may be brought
in favour of a fixed duty upon corn, they sink into
nothingness before the touchstone of truth, of sound
policy, of real benefit to the farmer, and of sub-
stantial justice to all classes. Why should
there be any protection for the landed interest of this
country, in the shape of a fixed duty upon corn ? Why
should there be a fictitious and not a real settlement of
the corn-law question? Why should not a final and a
permanent adjustment be come to, instead of
a mere temporary and fleeting arrangement ? The
farmer is interested, beyond all men, in knowing the
state of the law upon which his welfare rests; he is
anxious, above all things, for certainly and full
assurance in his undertakings. A complete
settlement is to him invaluable ; nothing else holds
out to him any security ; and he has no enemy so
great to fear, as • uncertainty. A certainty of
rental, al ithout re-adjustment—a certainty in the
corn market, subject alone to the difference of price
caused by the seasons, and freed from the operations
of speculators—a certainty, that, as tenant, he shall reap
all the benefits of his exertions and improvements—will
amply compensate the farmer for a total and imme-
diate repeal of the corn-law. But any fixed duty, be
it at any scale, however small—be it 25., or more—
is only a temporary expedient—it must and
would leave the certainty of uncertainty—the
conviction of mere momentary arrangement—and
all parties would know that it was only a
fancied settlement, to be unsettled at the very
first opportunity. 'When Factory Bills for the
limitation of labour are brought in—when they
are supported,' upon the necessity of watching over
the poor, who are unable to take care of them-
selves—and when even Whig legislators shall aid and
abet them—it may well be asked, how is it, while all
this care is taken to prevent the poor from labouring to
excess, that laws shall be so carefully kept on the
statute-book which make labour imperative, or starva-
tion certain? 'Why shall the Legisle.ture enact, at
the same instant, a necessity for labour, and a re-
straint upon industry ? Why ?—because a landed
aristocracy seeks to draw the uttermost farthing from
the pockets of the poor manufacturing labourer, and
at the same moment to gain credit for a desire to
raise the price of his labour, by limiting the number
of hours that he shall be allowed to work. In plain
language, to diminish his hours of work, and thereby
compel an increase of price for the diminished supply
in the labour market. Out upon such pretexts, be
they urged by Whig or Tory. The plain, the intel-
ligible principle of legislation is, to free labour from
its shackles, and to allow free trade in every article
of necessity or of comfort. But when Tories enact
and support corn-laws, and Whigs join in abetting a
fixed duty on corn-z-when labour is sought to be
restrained by the one party, solely because it is sought
to be left unshackled by the other, we confess that we
do not impute great honesty to either side ; but we
regret that statesmen shall be found in these days, so
totally ignorant of the true principles of government
as to make bread dear, hard labour compulsory, and
yet claiming the merit of philanthropy, in seeking the
good of the people in every direction, save the only
one in which it can be found.

We believe we may announce, without fear of con-
tradiction, that THE GOVERNMENT HAS ABANDONED
THE IRISH REGISTRATION BILL. In our yesterday's
impression, we prepared the public mind for the pro-
bability of this occurrence ; for most certain was it
that no such measure could pass, either this or any
other session, whilst one independent Irish Member
of Parliament sat in the House of Commons. But
what a Government is this country blessed with !--a
Government powerful—no, not even powerful for
evil, but totally powerless for good. A Government
that cannot carry anything for their own party, nor
yet anything against their opponents.
And let us look beyond their Irish Registration
Bill to their domestic arrangements. Their At-
torney-General, we say it truly in sorrow, is
about to quit England for some months, to find, in
the genial clime of Italy, that health which, in this
country, he cannot regain. Their Solicitor-General,
out of Parliament, however competent he may be in !
Who is to do the legal business of the Government ?
Ilovv is that to be carried on ? The only man who
could have done it, KELLY, was not deemed worthy to
be entrusted with the tack, although the Premier him-
self has condo:ed with him, by letter, upon the sad ne-
cessity which prevented his appointment.
Then, again, is Sir JAMES GRAHAM going
to India ? Is it true that the Government,
and the India Board, and the East India House,
tremble for the state of affairs in India ? Is
it true that the Indian army is unsettled, that
dissatisfaction prevails, and that ELLENBOROUGH has
played his game, so as to bring general want of con-
fidence in his talents ?

Do these things reflect credit on the strong Go-
vernment of this day ? And when we see this, can
we avoid viewing it as retributive justice, which,
sooner or later, overtakes all Governments that take
office by false pretences ?

included in the return required, and he satisfactorily 1 to the electors, dated yesterday, pledges himself to
showed that, so far from any prejudice being exhi- f nothing but to oppose the aims and objects of Whigs,
bited against Irishmen, most of the leading men in i Radicals, and Destructives. He is canvassing the
the late transactions in the East, which had conferred borough, and with very little success, from the good
such honour on the country, were Irishmen, and feelings of the constituency ; but the powers of the
among others, he mentioned Sir H. GOUGH and Sir Duke will be put into full force for his son, and no
H. POTTINGER. Mr. HUME also opposed the motion, I doubt their votes will be given to the Marquis at the
on the ground that everything that tended to keep up poll. But where is Mr. THESIGER to be returned
distinction in the throe countries was wrong. The for ? It was supposed that the safety of his seat gave
motion was negatived. him the call before Mr. KELLY, but it was not so, as
Mr. Alderman CorEnArzn moved for returns rela- it now seems, and Sir ROBERT PEEL must find a
tive to the working of the Anatomy Act. place in Parliament, as well as at the bar, for his new
Sir J. GRAHAM opposed the motion. The Act Solicitor-General. Will he try Horsham ?
had hitherto worked well, and he considered any dis-
cussion on such a subject could lead to no good. The
motion was withdrawn.
Mr. HumE brought forward a motion for opening
cathedrals and other national buildings to the public.
Mr. WYSE seconded the motion, which was opposed
by Sir R. INGLIS. After a lengthened discussion,
Mr. HUME withdrew his motion. It would be
difficult to give an outline of the speeches made on
this motion, and we therefore. refer to the report,
which proves that even in the utmost recesses of
cloisters the pressure from without is not disregarded.
Sir A. L. HAY then moved for an address to the
QUEEN, praying her to confer honours on the sur-
viving officers who served in the Peninsular war. It
was opposed by Sir 11. HARDINGE, and eventually
withdrawn.
Lord EBRINGTON moved for a return of the num-
ber of stipendiary magistrates, and defended Earl
FORTESCUE from the imputation of an improper exer-
cise of his patronage.
The other Orders of the Day were then disposed
of, and the House adjourned at a Quarter-past One.

An important Meeting of Delegates from the Lan-
cashire Districts was held at Manchester on Sunday
morning last, at which, among other resolutions, one
was moved "expressive of regret" that the Delegates
should have been compelled to meet on the Sabbath
—a circumstance to which Mr. HIGGINBOTHAM
alluded in the following terms :—" His experience
among the working classes of England convinced
him that they were as anxious to keep sacred the
Sabbath-day as any other class of society; but the
Factory Bill question was one upon which a united
expression of opinion from the representatives of the
manufacturing districts could not be given, unless upon
that day." Highly creditable as this resolution of
" regret " for meeting on Sunday is to the religious
feelings of those who passed it, we cannot but think
that it was in a great measure superfluous, for who
but the veriest fanatic could possibly have blamed the
Delegates for holding their meetinss on the Sabbath—
more especially when the selection of that day was
one, not of choice, but of stern necessity ? Had the
question which they assembled to discuss been one of
an ordinary business character—had it involved none
but pounds-shillings-and-pence considerations, their
conduct might then have been justly reprobated as being
—to say the least of it—grossly and wantonly irrever-
ent ; but the object of their meeting was of a far higher
and nobler order—it was to assert the sacred rights
of humanity—to make known the temporal, aye, and
spiritual wants, too, of thousands of toil-worn, neg-
lected, and defenceless women and children—and to
what more righteous purpose than this could the
Lord's Day be possibly dedicated ? If, however, the
prejudices of the ultra-orthodox should chance to
receive a shock on hearing of this Sunday meeting of
the Factory Delegates, we would remind such well-
intentioned, but bigoted persons, that to advocate the
rights of the poor is at least as creditable an act as
giving a fashionable dinner party on the Sabbath,
figuring on the promenade in Hyde Park, or counting
the pleasure-wherries, from a palace-window at
Fulham, that may happen to be floating
along the Thames ! But to pass from matters
of pure cant to those of charity and benevo-
lence—to those, in short, which intimately concern
the dearest interests of human nature. At the Dele-
gate meeting in question, it was proved, by incontro-
vertible evidence, that the anxiety fur a Ten Hours
Bill was general among the operatives in the manu-
facturing districts, , who were quite prepared—to
quote the language of the Report—" to let the ques-
tion of wages, about vs hich so much has been said,
find its own level." It was proved also that the
labour of women and children, so far from diminish-
ing, was greatly on the increase in the factories, and
that Lord ASHLEY, in his speech in the House of
Commons, rather underrated than overrated the
extent of the evil. In reference to this subject,
we quote a few significant passages from the
Report which was read at the meeting MAN-
CHESTER : Female labour is here very much on the
increase ; in one mill, which may be taken as an
average of the whole, there are five hundred and
forty-two pair of looms, and of this number there
are upwards of four hundred women. The propor-
tion of women and children to adults, is about four to
one of the whole employed."—" STOCKPORT : Women
are on the increase ; and in some mills, where there
are two thousand looms, there is not a single man at
work. The proportion of women and children is at
least four-fifths of the whole employed."—" BOLTON :
The number of women is on the increase, and is now
at least six to two."—" BURY : The people here are
determined to do all they can for the Ten
hours Bill ; and one of our largest manufacturers is in
favour of it, as well as some others."—" HIDE : The
feeling is universal in favour of Lord ASHLEY'S Bill,
and the operatives are willing to sign petitions ; but
many are afraid to be seen doing so, lest they should
be discharged!" Discharged! And for no worse
crime than endeavouring to protect the interest of
their families, and secure the comfort and happiness of
their own oppressed wives and children ! 'Was there
ever a greater libel on humanity than is im-
plied in this natural apprehension on the part
of the operatives ? We quote one more pas-
sage from the Report, which will show hcrva
little attention is paid to considerations of mere
feeling, when they come in-collision with those of
grasping avarice : "BLACKBURN : The number of
women is here much on the increase. The propor-
tion of women and children employed, as compared
with adults, will be upwards of four-fifths. The Dele-
gate was authorised by an overlooker in this town to
say, that when a woman leaves her work to be con-
; fined, her husband, who is himself a power-loom weaver,
and cannot obtain employment on account of his sex,
is not allowed to work for his wife during
her confinement, and the consequence is that she is
(pen compelled from necessity to return to her work
a few days after her confinement." After reading
statements like these, vouched for by unimpeachable
evidence, who shall presume to say that the period is
not arrived when the Ten Hours Bill should be
brought into full operation, and a partial stop, at least,
be put to that system of excessive and unnatural labour
on the part of women and children, which, in
order to gratify the insatiable demands of Mam-
mon, makes a total wreck of health and happi-
ness among families; brings on in youth all the
infirmities of age ; blunts and demoralises the
character; sows the seeds of distrust, hate, despair
and every species of crime ; and annually consigns
hundreds—perhaps we might add, thousands—to a
pauper's grave in a union work-house ! Be the oppo-
sition of Ministers w hat it may, we must, ere long,
have Lord ASHLEY'S Ten Hours Bill, and as a fitting
—indeed an inevitable—sequel to this, a total Repeal
of the Corn-laws !

We have accounts from Madrid of the Bth inst., by
which we are sorry to learn that a frightful calamity
occurred on Palm Sunday at Felanitx, a town in
Minorca. On the occasion a sermon was preached in
the old cemetery of the place, when an old wall gave
way and buried a vast number of persons under the
ruins. The Alcalde (Mayor) six members of the
municipality, and the priest were killed. According
to the Corresponsal there were not fewer than 605
sufferers, 414 being killed, and 191 wounded. The
journals contain no other intelligence.
The Bourse was closed on the Bth, it being Easter
Monday.

"UMW
The MOniteur of Sunday contains the dispatch of
Admiral Durrrn THOUARS, addressed to the
Minister of Marine, Admiral Mac Kay, relative to the
affairs of Otaheite. It is a lengthy document, and
not very impartial, as ene of its objects is to impute
all the blame of the misunderstanding between the
QUEEN and the French to English intrigue. It will
appear evident, says he, that the only object of the
English in wishing to make us abandon this archipe-
lago is to put themselves in our place. This, the
French Admiral ought to know, is contrary to fact
and contrary to the declared sentiments of the British
Government. The Protectorate, or the Sovereignty,
or by whatever name full power over the country may
be described, it is well known was offered to England
and it is equally well known was positively rejected.
We refer our readers to the dispatch, which will
be found under the proper head, • and simply
express our regret that a French officer of high rank
should, in a public document, seem more anxious to
impugn the motives of England than to justify the
severe and unjust measures which he adopted towards
the unfortunate and helpless QUEEN. On Saturday, the
affair was brought under the notice of the Chamber
of Deputies, when a violent and angry discussion took
place. On the Minister of Marine presenting copies
of the dispatches, AI. BILLAULT asked Ministers for
other reports--namely, those forwarded to Govern-
ment by junior officers, and among others, by Captain
A new writ was on Monday moved for Woodstock, BRUAT. " Why," said M. BILLAULT, "is not his
vacant by the promotion of Mr. THESIGER to be So- account laid before us ? Ilow is it possible for the
licitor-General. But it would*seem that the Learned Chamber not to be in a state of the greatest distrust
Gentleman get into the 'Muse of 'Commons by towards the Government, when it sees in what a man-
some other means than Woodstock, for the Marquis ner the Admiral, who was placed over the new pos-
of DiJaiiro a) stands for that place.
His addreis se6:ion, has been treated ? I mil aware that the Min-
li