The Sun.
London, England, 1844-02-22 00:00:00

TH

her or'the father to criminate any one but the prisoner ;
and upon the Coroner's address to her upon the verdict,
and the painful duty which devolved on him in
sending one so young in years to prison and to trial, she
appeared to be the only one in an unusually, crowded
Court who remained unmoved, indifferent and mute.
TUESDAY NIGHT.—A report is prevalent that the
youthful murderess has made a confession to the chap-
lain, which implicates other parties.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT
(THIS EVENING.)

HOUSE OF LORDS.

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat upon the Wool
sack at Five o'Clock.

FRENCH OCCUPATION OF TAHITI.

Lord BROUGHAM, seeing his Noble Friend the
Noble Earl, who was at the head of the Foreign Depart-
ment, in his place, wished to put a question to him re-
specting an occurrence, which, it was stated in the public
newspapers had taken place—he meant the occupation
by the French of the island of Otaheite. He had no
wish to embarrass the Government in its relations with
France, by putting this question, but he wished to know
whether the accounts which had appeared in the news-
papers of the occupation of Otaheite by the French
forces were true, and if his Noble Friend had received
any intimation from the French Government respecting
the occupation of Otaheite.
The Earl of ABERDEEN believed that the state-
ments which their Lordships had seen in the public
papers were correct. He believed that it was
perfectly true that a French naval force had
taken military possession of the island of
Tahiti. He had heard of that event with great regret ;
but he was not yet prepared with such explanations on
the subject as the House might desire.
Lord BROUGHAM agreed with his Noble Friend in
expressing the deepest regret at that occupation, which
appeared most unadvised as long as it remained un-
explained. He did not mean to say but that it might be
explained. It might perhaps be disowned, but he could
not conceal the deep feelings of regret when he saw that
such a gallant nation as the French—a nation to be
admired, more especially for its military history
—should have adopted such a course as had been
adopted on the present occasion. He considered that
it was the deepest degradation to any party to adopt
the tone which had been adopted by the war party in
France on this occasion. They were the enemies of peace,
and more especially of the friendly relations subsist-
ing between France and this country. They had alluded
to the occupation of this island, as some great triumph
had been obtained by taking possession of this island,
which was defended by those who had been properly
designated as the grown children—the defenceless chil-
dren of the South Sea Islands. It was not worthy of
a gallant nation to make such boasts.. It was
not worthy of a nation which could boast of such vic-
tories as those of Marengo and Austerlitz, and Jena
and Wagram—(Hear, hear)—to boast of such a wretched
acquisition as this. Those who made these boasts were
not actuated by any love of French military glory in the
eulogiums which they thus bestowed on this wretched
acquisition. They did not care one straw for the glory
of the French army. Their only object was to excite
the passions of the Irish people, so as to mar the
prospects of peace if that were possible, but he trusted
that it would be impossible for any efforts of such per-
sons as those to whom he had alluded to mar those
prospects.
MESSAGE FROM THE COMMONS.

Messengers from the Commons brought up the Metro-
polis Improvements Bill, which on the motion of the
Duke of BUCCLEUCH was read a first time.
OFFENCES AT SEA BILL.
The Offences at Sea Bill was read a third time.
(LEFT SITTING.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at the usual.hour.
Several petitions were presented for leave to obtain
private bills.

Mr. ESTCOURT brought up the report of the Com-
mittee on Standing. Orders.
Mr. W. PATEN presented a petition from the
Board of Guardians in Lancaster, complaining of the
operation of the bastardy clause of the New Poor-law
Bill.

Lord POLLINGTON presented a petition from a
body of licensed victuallers deprecating the increase of
railways, and praying to be relieved from the burdens
imposed upon them.
Mr. WILLIAMS presented a petition from Coventry
deprecating war as inconsistent with the spirit of Chris-
tianity, and complaining of the great expenditure of
the public money in keeping up a large standing army.
Mr. S. CRAWFORD presented a petition from Roch-
dale, complaining of inadequate representation and
other grievances. The Hon. Member said, he felt it his
duty to state that the heading of the petition was not in
the usual form. It was addressed "To the representa-
tives in the Commons House of Parliament of the
950,000 British subjects, who at present possess the
right of exercising the electorial franchise."
The SPEAKER said, that if the House received the
petition, it would imply that they did not represent the
country at large. The language not being respectful to
the House, if the Hon. Member wished it to be received
he had better take the sense of the House on the motion
that it be brought up.
Mr. S. CRAWFORD said that after that intimation
he would withdraw the petition.
Mr. WALLACE presented a petition from 2,033 ope-
rative bleachers in the west of Scotland, complaining of
the mode in which their business is now conducted, as in-
jurious to health, and praying to be included in the Factory
Act. The Hon. Gentleman also presented a petition from
the same place, signed by 4,648 persons, confirming the
statements made in the other petition. He gave notice
that he should to-morrow move that these petitions be
printed with the Votes, with a view to a motion to place
the petitioners within the operation of the Factories Bill
now before the House.

Mr. M. GIBSON presented a petition against the
Gaming Penalties Disabilities Bill.
Mr. PAKINGTON said he should postpone to the
7th of March the consideration of his Bill to define and
regulate the periods for holding quarter sessions in cities
and boroughs.
Dr. BOWRING announced his intention of postponing
for a fortnight his motion to call the attention of the
House to the operation of the treaty of commerce with
Turkey upon the commercial interests of this country.
Mr. LABOUCHERE said he should let his motion,

" That an humble address be presented to her Majesty.
representing to her Majesty the great importance to this
country of the trade with the empire of the Brazils,
and humbly praying her Majesty to adopt such measures
as may appear best calculated to maintain and improve
the commercial relations between the United Kingdom
and the Brazils," stapd over to this day fortnight.
Mr. WALLACE likewise postponed his motion for a
Select Committee to inquire into the administration of
the criminal law in Scotland, in so far as relates to the
prevention of crime, the reclaiming of offenders, and
the efficiency of punishments under the present system.
IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.

Mr. HUME moved for a return of the number of per-
sons in prison for debt in the gaols of London, Middle-
sex, and Surrey, and the amount of the debts for which
they were confined, classed undersums of 1/., 5/., 10/., and
501.—Ordered.