The Sun.
London, England, 1844-02-29 00:00:00

happiest, and the most virtuous people on the face of the
globe. (The Hon. Gentleman sat down amidst the most
enthusiastic cheering.)
The CHAIRMAN then came forward and said, I beg to
remind you that our meetings will be held on Wednes-
day evenings until further notice. I am sorry to have
to say, that in consequence of the alteration in the ar-
rangements, many parties who came a long distance
from the country to attend last week's meeting, not
having paid sufficient attention to the alteration, mere
disappointed. I propose that we now close the proceed-
ing of this very interesting meeting by giving three
cheers for the gentlemen who have addressed us.
Three hearty cheers were then given, and the meet-
ing separated at ten o'clock.

that not one single individual of the Society's tenants
had ever been compelled to apply to the workhouses for
any relief whatever since the Society came into posses-
sion of those estates, nor had any, with the exception of
one of them, found it necessary to come over to Eng-
land, as was their usage, in the harvest season, to earn
money which they could not get in their own country.
Means, it appeared, were also taken by the Society to
extend the advantages of education to the peasantry,
which they had not enjoyed previously.
The Secretary then resumed the reading of the ordi-
nary Report of the Directors, in which Colonel Robinson's
report was embodied, and from it, it appeared that there
were 323 shares to be declared forfeited.

be printed with the Votes of the House, and said that on
an early day he should bring this matter more fully
before the House.

Mr. DUNCOMBE presented a petition from Ludlow
(as we understood), praying that as an immunity had
been granted to certain noblemen and gentlemen forpast
actions, to relieve them from heavy legal liabilities, the
same course would be adopted towards those Dissenters
who were now being sued for church-rates.
I'OSTAGE.—AMERICA.
Mr. WALLACE presented a petition from a nume-
rous! class of persons connected with philanthropic so-
cieties, complaining of the high charges they were called
upon to pay for printed papers published by charitable
institutions in that part of the world. The petitioners
had, on some occasions, paid as high as fourteen shillings
for the postage of a report or other document. They
prayed that an uniform rate of postage might be estab-
lished.

Mr. CARROLL inquired how the original property
stood. It was desirable that the Proprietors should
know the number of shares they could look to in case of
a fresh call.

ebtrb ambition

The CHAIRMAN said, that that information was always
given at the general meetings, and would of course be
furnished at the present. The property consisted of
leases.
Mr. MAUDE, a Director, then read a statement of the
Society's receipts, disbursements, and assets.
The CHAIRMAN said it would have been delightful to
him to discover, in his intercourse with Ireland, more
instances in which improvements, like those effected by.
Col. Robinson had been carried out. The great pre-
vailing erorrs were that plans were formed which it was
found impossible to carry out, and that there was a
want of attention to details, without which no
substantial improvements could be hoped for. He
was happy to bear his testimony in reference to
the estate of Ballynakill. Having had many years
acquaintance with the lower classes of Ireland, he had
never witnessed anything with more pleasure in that
country than !the distribution of the prizes on the
mountain of Ballynakill in August last.—(Cheers.) He
had the satisfaction of personally observing the progress
made by the poor persons on the estate, who, it must be
recollected, were actually engaged in learning the first
rudiments of agriculture.—(Hear, hear.) Their busi-
ness
as a society was not to adopt scientific modes of
farming, but to give the labourer the first impulse towards
improving both himself and the land which he cultivated.
On the occasion when the prizes were distributed, a very
general feeling of satisfaction was evinced by those who
received them, and every promise was afforded of pro-
gressive improvement.—(Hear, hear.) He felt a confi-
dent hope that by degrees, however slow, the exertions
of this Society would:become appreciated in Ireland.
He firmly believed that they were laying the foundation
of a very substantial improvement in the habits
and condition, as well as leading the way to a
considerable increase in the general productions, of
the country. One means by which they sought to
attain their object was, by showing the people that the
land would, under proper care, produce several species
of grain, or more commonly, of artificial grass,: which
they had never before thought of cultivating.—(Hear,
hear.) A prize was given to the farmer who produced
the greatest breadth of green crop on a given surface ;
and thus a stimulus was given to the improvement of
the crops. Prizes were also given for cattle with a si-
milar object. The tenants kept the cattle in the house
during the winter; this gave them an opportunity of ob
taMing manure, and at the end of the winter a prize was
given, which was found to have a very beneficial effect.
He was quite sure that no individual connected with the
Society would grudge the small outlay which was
required for this purpose.—(Hear, hear,) He might
mention one rather amusing circumstance in connection
with this subject. The President ended the day when
the distribution took place, by proposing that a prize
should be given to the wife of the poor tenant who
should send her husband to the next meeting with the
fewest holes in his coat.— (Loud laughter.) It
was the habit of many even of those whom they
called farmers to go to the meeting dressed certainly not
in the neatest manner possible.—(Hear.) In conclusion,
he begged to observe that while, by training the lowest
and poorest classes of the Irish people in habits of in-
dustry, and by inducing them to apply their energies to
the cultivation of the soil, they hoped that they were
securing some advantage to themselves, they also confi-
dently believed that they were laying the foundation of
permanent benefit to Ireland.
Mr. CARROLL said he entirely concurred in all that
had fallen from their excellent Chairman. He would
suggest, however, that in the present position of their
affairs, it would not be prudent to extend their specula-
tions by purchasing new land, lest they should find
themselves hampered in their movements.
The CHAIRMAN thought that the principle of the Hon.
Proprietor must be taken with some limitation.—(Hear,
hear.) He did not at all mean to advise a reckless
extension of their undertakings ; at the same time he
thought circumstances might arise which would justify
an enlargement of the present sphere. In any further
steps which might be taken, the Directors would be
cautious not to fall into the error which they committed
in the outset, of giving too high a price for land.
Colonel ROBINSON said he thought it necessary to ex-
plain that when the Society commenced its operations at
Ballynakill, the tenantry were in a state of extreme po-
verty ; they literally possessed nothing at all. This was
not the case, however, on some of the other estates. At
Kilkerrin, for instance, the tenants were not exactly
paupers •, they possessed some little property, al-
though from their extreme ignorance they were
unable to make a right use of it. With such per-
sons this Society dealt in a manner which resem-
bled the course pursued by parents who taught children
first letters, and then words, and then led them on to
sentences. They led the tenantry forward by a gradual
course ,of improvement.MHe
.trusted that numbers of
them would, in the course of three or four years, be in
a state of comparative affluence, as the result of the
course adopted. With respect to the point referred to
by Ml. Cal full—the extension of their operations—
be begged to state that on undertaking the management
of his department of duty, he had expressed his deter-
mination not to be a party to any new undertaking until
the estates already belonging to them yielded a profit.
The CHAIRMAN said there was one point which he
thought it very desirable to mention before the discus-
sion closed. Gentlemen who knew anything at all of
Ireland were aware that that part of it which was called
Connemara was not always very easily managed.
Upon the estate of Kilkerrin there were formerly
a great quantity of tenants. They occupied very
much in common, and had a sort of kingdom among
themselves, which they managed in their own way, and
they were very jealous of any improvements, or divi-
sions into farms. Of course under these circumstances
the Society bad found it necessary to rearrange the
holdings. There were now 139 tenants located on the
estate ; and he was happy to be able to state that they
had not lost one tenant, and that not a single disturbance
had taken place, as the result of the course they had
pursued. Those persons were now regular holders,
and were going on quietly, peaceably, and industriously.
It was a point of great importance to convince the lower
classes of Ireland that they meant to benefit them; that
was the very foundation of success.
Mr. WRAY moved, and Mr. CLARKE seconded, " That
the Report be received; entered in the minute book of the
general meetings, and printed for distribution."
The resolution was carried unanimously.
Mr. CLARKE moved, " That the resolution of the Court
of Directors of the 2d of November last, declaring the
forfeiture of 323 shares for which the third call has not
been paid, be confirmed."
Captain BOND seconded the resolution, which was
adopted unanimously.
A resolution was then moved by Colonel SHAW. and
seconded by Mr. MORRIS, reducing the number of Di-
rectors to twelve, and Mr. Ronan Ronald, one of the
acting Directors, was re-elected.
Mr. CARROLL moved a vote of thanks to the Chair-
man, which was seconded by Captain BOND, and carried
by acclamation.
The CHAIRMAN, in acknowledging the compliment,
said that long experience had satisfied him
that it was only through minute attention to
details, and the exertions of individuals in particular
localities, that any great good could be effected in Ire-
land ; and it was this conviction which had induced
him to join a society which was likely to carry out that
object.—(Cheers.)
A vote of thanks was also given to CoL Robinson,
and briefly acknowledged, after which the meeting se-
parated.

ROMAN CATHOLIC OATH.
Mr. VERNON SMITH gave notice that on this day
fortnight he should move that an alteration be made in
the oath taken by Roman Catholics before entering Par-
liament.

SUN OFFICE, Seven o'Cloch.

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS

FROM THE EVENING PAPERS OF THIS DAY.

GLOBE.—Certainly, the party in power are curiously
chequered in ecclesiastical policy. On the one hand,
they have a Stanley, a Graham, and (facilis descensus)
Perceval directly charging, or inditecty insinuating
perjury on the part of those Roman Catholics who
show any disposition to help the Anti-Ascendancy Pro-
testants in their efforts to " subvert the present Church
Establishment, as settled by law within this realm," and
" disturb or weaken the Protestant religion or Protestant
Government of the United Kingdom." On the other
hand, they have the Monckton Milnes, John Manners,
Smythes, and the rest of those tasteful Young Eng-
landers, who have " softened and elevated" their minds
of late years by a sort of steeple-chase throughout Roman
Catholic Europe, and are striving, sub rosu, to smuggle
those ultra-montane doctrines into old England, which si-
milar geniuses, on thrones and offthem, have been seeking,
like w.se, to revive on: he Continent.: Lord J. Manners
thinks that if we had only an ambassador at the Papal
Court, and free trade with Italy—not in corn, but in
monks and nuns—there would be no risk of riots in
Birmingham and Manchester. How he accounts for
popular tumults and military precautions lately in Rome,
we are not informed. Mr. Milnes thinks we should
" soften and elevate"—by paying—the Irish priests. And
we are credibly informed that one or more of the j
Cardinals of Rome have almost daily correspondents
from Oxford. Thus we have one section of the Tory
party strenuously repelling, and the other strenu-
ously promoting Romish agencies on our institu-
tions. And both these sections of this most united
party profess themselves to be pulling these oppo-
site ways equally out of pure love of the Church.
What is it possible for plain men to make out of
these opposite bents of Tory Churchmen ? The one
set of them tend to reunion with Rome ; the other to
war with Ireland. Each of them, as it appears to us,
though by opposite routes, would travel towards re-
storing undivided ecclesiastical dominion over the spirits
of men. The exclusive Protestant aims at this by main-
taining for Protestantism an universally marked as-
cendancy. The Churchman of the new Oxford school
aims at it by edging towards Rome; to show her prestige
and traditions. This is the party which has sought
avowedly to un-Protestantise the National Church, and
to which the payment of the Irish priesthood seems
naturally only a sort of Church Extension. If Sir Ro-
j bert Inglis thought as Mr. Milnes does of the Romish
Church, he would consider his plan to subsidise it simply
as carrying out his Church Extension views. Now
zealous men of either school may rejoice in prospects
of union in the Church, either by Protestant absorp-
tion of Roman Catholicism, or Protestant assimilation
with it. We rejoice, for our part, to think that
neither the one nor the other is possible by their me-
thods. Of course we hope for the ultimate triumph
of truth • and we have our own views of truth.
But we deprecate the triumph of an undivided ecclesia-
tical power—and that is the triumph which Ascendancy
Protestants on the one hand—Romanising Oxonians on
the other—would achieve. We deprecate all assistance
by the secular power to the ascendancy of any
Church. A Church which is that of the majority of a
people will naturally receive that treatment from its
representatives which the feelings of that majority
dictate. But we consider it a political advantage (we
speak of no other here) that the several divisions of an
empire should not belong to one Church. There is
the less risk of success to that everlasting ambition of
churchmen to dictate the whole direction of mental
training, of moral inquiry, and thence, in the end, of
social and political institutions. Two Churches are
better than one ; three better than two ;—spaaking po-
litically. We are latitudinarian enough to think none
of them may monopolise true religion ; and we are very
sure that to aid one of them to monopolise establishment
is no true policy. Such is the source of our alienation
from an Anglican Church-ascendancy in Ireland. We
rejoice that the Scotch wrenched it from our hands ;
and we wish the Irish had done so three centuries back.
But when Churchmen of the peculiar colour of
Young England adopt the plan of State payment of the
Irish Catholic clergy, we are forced to ask ourselves—
Is not this tending by an opposite way from Sir Robert
Inglis to the renewed ascendancy of one Church ? It
is certain that the tendency is that way in the minds of
our Romanising Churchmen. Now, although we do
not think there is much danger of their getting the upper
hand, and establishing their mode of interpreting the
Thirty-nine Articles into consistency "with the decrees of
the Council of Trent," still, we must say distinctly, that
the very motives which draw them near Rome, keep us
farther from it. We should look upon what they would
call the renewed union, and what we should call the re-
v. -al ce'itralisation, of the Church, as the greatest of all
evils. iG e iota on its existing outwara arrision—
greatest of all benefits. Whatever course we would
take, therefore (we make no pretension to unerring in-
sight in the matter), we should take from exactly oppo-
site motives to those which dictate the exactly opposite
courses of old and new Oxford Divine-politicians.
STANDARD.—" What is the League about ?" asks
a contemporary. Why " the League is about many
things," we may answer. The League is holding
meetings with closed doors in the manufacturing
districts, where it has been long known—and handing
over to policemen and gaolers all intruders on its
privacy. In the rural districts, which it has but
lately honoured with its acquaintance, it is getting
handsomely beaten, and its emissaries getting all but
horse-ponded, as the other day at Thirsk ; and in the
metropolis, it is delighting to honour " Mr. Daniel
O'Connell," the great father of the science of " rent
robbery," which it prosecutes with so great success.
On the 12th prox. Mr. O'Connell is to be entertained
at a dinner at Covent-garden Theatre, to which
dinner the Leaguers will, of course, be the prin-
cipal contributors ; but surely this cannot be all that it
is proposed to bestow upon poor old date oliolum in the
day of his distress. A dinner, even a fortnight off, is a
good thing, and it is on many accounts convenient to the
aged mendicant to have an excuse for remaining in Lon-
don. In Ireland he must attend the Repeal Associa-
tion meetings, and, perhaps, say things that it
would be inconvenient to have remembered on thelsth of
April; besides, who knows? His bail is at present com-
paratively light, and the Folkestone Railway places Lon-
don within five or six hours of the French coast. There
is a great probability that the collection of rents of
all kinds approaches its end, and why should a
patriot give his presence for nothing to an ungrate-
ful country, or place himself under the obligation of
being strongly lodged at its expense ? These are
all advantages which Mr. O'Connell derives from the
politeness of the Leaguers' promise of a dinner—
an excuse for not attending the Association and
an apology for fixing himself within a five
or six hours' run for the Continent ; but this is
not all that the Leaguers ought to do for
their old friend; why, even in the trifling business of
the Factory Bill, he had 1,0001. from them for only
changing sides—will they do nothing for him now that
he has almost given them the opportunity of a rebellion
—to fish in the troubled waters. " What is the League
about?" We never expected to rattle Mr. O'Connell's
begging-box, but the shameful neglect of " the League "
forces us to do so.

GREECE.
Mr. B. COCHRANE postponed his motion on the
subject of Greece until this day fortnight.
SUPPLY —GRIEVANCES.
Mr. S. CRAWFORD gave notice that on the motion
for going into supply to-morrow, he should move that
the several petitions he had presented, complaining that
that House did not truly represent the people, should be
referred to a Select Committee, and that until such Com-
mittee had reported, the grant of any supplies should be
deferred.

POOR-LAW AMENDMENT BILL.
Mr. COLVILE gave notice: that when this Bill
again came before the House, he should move several
amendments upon it.

CORN.
Mr. HUTT postponed till some future day the motion,
of which notice stood for to-day, that corn imported into
the United Kingdom, from the British possessions in
South Africa, India, and Australasia, be made subject to
the same duty as corn imported from Canada.
POST OFFICE.
Mr. WALLACE gave notice of a motion for this day
fortnight on the Postage Acts.

RETURNS.
Mr. GREGORY gave notice that on a future day he
should move for several returns connected with the
Paving Board, the Police, the Grand Jury, and other
public establishments in the City of Dublin,
Mr. JERVIS moved for a return of the names, ad-
dresses, professions, and occupations. of the several
auditors appointed under the Poor-law Amendment Act,
together with the dates of their respective appointments.
Agreed to.

IRISH WASTE LAND IMPROVE-
MENT SOCIETY-(THIS DAY.)

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
(THIS EVENING.)

The usual Half-Yearly General Meeting of the Share-
holders of this Society, was held to-day in the King's
Head Tavern, in the Poultry, in conformity with the Act
of Incorporation.
Shortly after one o'clock, the chair was taken by the
Earl of Devon, Chairman of the Society.
Among the gentlemen present were the following
Directors of the Society :—William Blount, J. M.
Maude, Colonel Robinson, R. P. Staples, and Newman
Smith, Esqrs. ; also Mr. William Wray, Samuel Ware,
W. H. Maurice, G. F. Knott, Edward Carroll, &c. &c.
The Secretary having read the advertisement calling
the meeting, proceeded to read the usual half-yearly Re-
port of the Directors of the Society to the proprietors.
It stated, in effect, that Colonel Robinson, to whom the
Society had entrusted the inspection of their estates in
Ireland, had visited t lose estates, and superintended their
advantageou' management, and that the report which
the Gallant Offio;r had drawn up in consequence of his
visit wou!d be read to the meeting by Colonel Robinson
himself.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

In the absence of the Lord Chancellor, the Earl of
SHAFTEsnunY took his seat upon the Woolsack at Five.

HORSE-RACING PENALTIES BILL.

The Duke of RICHMOND said he' should move that
the Horse-racing Penalties Bill, as brought up from the
Commons, and the amendments, be printed, and to-
morrow he should bring the matter under their Lord-
ships' consideration.
FREE TRADE.
At the instance of the Earl of RIPON,

Lord RADNOR consented, in consequence of the ab-
sence of the Duke of Wellington, to postpone the pre-
sentment of his petition from the county of Somerset on
the subject of free trade.
Their Lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at the usual hour.

Colonel ROBINSON then read his report, from which it
appeared that the principle upon which the Society pro-
ceeds is that of reciprocal co-operation and mutual be-
nefit between landlord and tenant. It will be seen by
the following statement of the former and present con-
dition of the three estates belonging to the Society
how this principle has been adhered to, and what the
benefits derived both to landlord and tenant from its
being carried into effect, are—
On the estate of Ballynakill, county Galway, the
landlords' improvements at the time of the Company's
cominginto possession in the year 1838 were valued at
2001. ; the Society's improvements since that; time are
worth 1,3671. On the estate of Gleneask, county of
Sligo, the landlords' improvements were valued, in
1838, when the Society came into possession, at 1,2741.
—they amount now to 2,2251. On the estate of Kil-
kerrin, county of Galway, the landlords' improvements,
in the year 1841, when the Company came into pos-
session, were valued at only 1371.—n0w they
amount to 1,4401. The value of the tenants' im-
provements on the three estates respectively, at
the former periods mentioned, and at present are :-
1838, Ballynakill, 13/., now 3341.; 1838, Gleneask, 1391.,
now 5531.; 1841, Kilkerrin, 2,400 L, new 2,904/. The
tenants' property on the estates at the same periods re-
spectively amounted to, on the Ballynakill estate,
191., now 3941. ; Gleneask, 1974, now 1,2671. ;
Kilkerrin, 2,2001., now 3,1601. At the time when the
Society entered into possession the rental of the first
estate was nil, it is now 1371. Of the second
estate the rental was 411., it is now 448/. ; of
the third estate the rental was 500/., it is now 687/.
It was also mentioned in Colonel Robinson's report

Mr. DENISTOUN presented a petition from Berwick,
praying for a repeal of the corn-laws.
Mr. H. BERKELEY presented a petition from 32
persons connected [with the tobacco and snuff trade in
Bristol, complaining of the heavy duties imposed upon
those manufactures, and praying that the Government
would adopt, some measures for the relief of the mann-
factufers.

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 29, 1844.

improvement. In St. George's, Bloomsbury, a street,
called Plum-tree-street, had been pulled down, and had
so remained for twelve months. Application had been
made to the Woods and Forests to know when the
houses were to be rebuilt, but no answer could be ob-

tained. The tradesmen in the immediate vicinity com-
plained, and not unnaturally, of their trade being much
injured by the loss of customers. The assessment to
the poor rate, which in that district was made on a

valuation of 35,0001. was, in consequence of the destruc-
tion of the street, reduced to an assessment on a
valuation of 14,0002, and the rates were thus very
mach increased upon those which remained. They had
only to employ more workmen and the difficulties would
be got over. He thought the public convenience ought
to be considered, and where buildings were pulled down
they ought to be erected again as soon as possible. He
he had presented a petition on this subject, and he
thought he was in duty bound fo make the observations
he had done.

The Earl of LINCOLN was quite aware of the in-
convenience complained of by the Hon. Member, but
he could assure him it was not the fault of the Woods
and Forests. In many parts the purchase of the land
had not been completed till a short time since, and it
was, therefore, impossible to take any steps. He had
no doubt, however, that ultimately the constituents of
the Hon. Member for Finsbury would be benefited ; for
the rating on the houses, instead of being, es it was at
present, 35,000/.2 would amount to 46,000/.—(Hear.)
Leave was then given to bring in the Bill.
SHIPWRECKS—HARBOURS OF REFUGE.

Mr. RICE then rose, pursuant to notice, "To call
the attention of the House to the Report of the Com-
mittee on Shipwrecks, with reference to Harbours of
Refuge, and to move an humble address to her Majesty,
praying that a Committee of scientific and competent
persons might be appointed to consider and advise
the best means of carrying into effect the recom-
mendation of that Committee." It was his in-
tention to confine himself to that part of the Re-
port which had reference to the harbours of refuge.
In doing so, he would not trouble the House by alluding
to that part of the report or evidence, which referred to
a great number of places which were submitted to the
Committee, for the construction of harbours in different
parts of the world, nor would he refer to that part
of it which alluded to- particular localities for their
construction, though he might have his predi-
lections in favour of the place he had the honour of
representing. But he was warranted by the report in
stating it as his conviction, that the formation of one or
more harbours of refuge in narrow seas was, not only a
measure of national utility, but of urgent neces-
sity. He would read shortly from the report that
part of the evidence to which he referred.
It says that witnesses of the highest authority were
called, and gave evidence in proof of the want of har-
bours of refuge accessible at all times, no matter what
the state of the tide was, and of the necessity of erect-
ing them in places where they did not exist at pre-
sent. With regard to the places for their construc-
tion, the Committee *commended that this part of the
subject should be left to the consideration of competent
and scientific men, whose attention should be exclusively
directed to the subject. He had adopted, in his
motion, as nearly as possible, the words used in
the Report. The Report went on to say, that
as large appropriation of the public funds as
could be made should be applied to the con-
struction of harbours of refuge in such places. A
great number of professional persons of the highest
authority on the subject, had been produced before the
Committee. Mr. Cubitt, the engineer, had been examined,
and several civilians who were interested on the subject.
lie would now only refer to the evidence of two or three
persons who, from their high situations and professional
experience, were eminently worthy the attention of the
House and the country. The first of these gentle-
men was Captain Washington, who was employed
by the Admiralty to survey the Eastern coast.
He stated that he had turned his attention to
the subject of harbours of refuge, and that there was
a great want of them on the eastern coast. Between
the Thames and Portsmouth there was also a similar
want, and, looking at our contiguity to France, he con-
sidered this not the last important part of our coast..
He would next turn to the evidence of Captain i
Buller, who was directed by the Admiralty to
follow in the steps of the Commission of 1840,
and who !gave it strongly as his opinion, that a
great security would be given to the commerce of the
country and the integrity of the coast, by the formation
of a harbour of refuge between Portsmouth and the
Nore. Another witness was Mr. Cubitt, who was one of
the Commission of 1840, and who was first examined with
respect to Dover, and who stated that the strong opinion
of that Commission had been given as to the necessity
of a harbour of refuge between Portsmouth and the
Nore. The Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports (the
Duke of Wellington) was the last witness whose evi-
dence he would then refer to. The chief part
of his Grace's evidence was in reference to
the pilots and pilot system. His Grace, however,
took an opportunity of distinctly expressing his opinion
that it was absolutely necessary to form a harbour be-
tween Portsmouth and the Thames. He further stated
that, in case of a war, he should consider the want of
protection and of refuge, which now existed, would
leave the trade of .that part of the coast, and indeed
the coast itself, in a very precarious situation.
He would not trouble the House with any further evi-
dence on this subject. He did not care so long as har-
bours were established, whether the Government made
them harbours of refuge or harbours of defence. A good
harbour of defence was a good harbour of refuge, and a
good harbour of refuge was a good harbour of defence. This
was a subject which required the most serious attention
of the Government. It was the duty of her Majesty's
Government to provide the means of security, not only
for our commerce, but also 'security for our coasts. He
recollected perfectly well that at the time Napoleon
meditated his descent upon England, the coast
was in a very defenceless state. He was quite
sure that, if at that time steam-vessels had been
in use. Napoleon would have been enabled easily to
have landed 15,000 or 20,000 men on the coast. He did
not mean to say that such a landing would have been at-
tended with much success to Napoleon ' • but it would
have have had this effect—it would have destroyed that
confidence which was now felt in our insular position
In considering this subject, the Legislature ought
take into account the great alteration which had been
made of late years with respect to steam navigation, and
the use that power might be applied to in the event of
another war. He was present at a large meeting in Devon
some time ago, on the occasion of the opening of the rail-
way, and at which all the most influential persons of
the town were present, all of whom expressed strong
hopes that those harbours would be constructed. They
should recollect that the French Government were
acting upon the old proverb, that to be prepared for
war was the best way to secure peace, and were
daily increasing their naval force, and more parti-
cularly their steam fleet, andhe thought it was incumbent
uyon the British to make the navy equally effective.
At Boulogne and Calais harbours of refuge had been
constructed by the French Government ; and at Cher-
bourg, when he was last there, no less thau 400 men were
employed in improving the harbour. He hoped that
there would be no financial objections raised to the con-
struction and improvement of this harbour. A Com-
mission had been appointed to examine the esti-
mates for making this harbour. The Report was
laid before the Houee by the late Chancellor of
the Exchequer, and it was found that the expense
would be 500,000/. for the first three years; and for the
subsequent ten years, to keep it in repair and perma-
nent condition, about 100,0001. would be required; and
he thought that this comparatively small sum
ought not to stand in the way of such a great
national object. He felt convinced there was no
person in that House, not even his Honourable
Friend near him (Mr. Hume), who was so vigilant
in his guardianship of the public purse, would
have the slightest objection to the expenditure of the
sum he had just named, when they reflected upon
the great importance the construction of those har-
bours of refuge were in a national point of view.
He felt that this was a subject which he was hardly
warranted in pressing this matter so strongly upon the
Government. But not only as one of the Members for
the Port of Dover—(A laugh)—and, also as a Member
of the Committee which had sat to inquire into the sub-
ject, he thought he might be justified in moving for
an address in the terms of which he had given notice.
Sir JOHN RAE REID said that as a merchant and
shipowner he felt a great interest in this question. He
agreed with his Hon. Colleague that the
inport of Devon
could be made one of the finest harbours the world.—
(Laughter.) He did not say so on account of his con-
nexion with the town, but only as a merchant and ship-
owner.—(Laughter.) He did not wish to interfere with
the financial arrangements of the Right Hon. Gentleman
(Sir R. Peel), but he would say that there would be no
difficulty in raising any amount of money that might be
required at a very low rate of interest, and nothing could
give him greater gratification than to be intrusted with
raising the monies.—(„Great laughter.) He was glad
that his Hon. Friend had brought the attention of the
House to so excellent and desirable =object. He se-
conded the motion.

Sir R. PEEL said that the subject was certainly one
of very great importance, and well deserving the consi-
deration which the Committee had given to it. But the
Committee was appointed to consider the best means of
preventing shipwreck, and the inquiry respecting har-
bours of refuge was a natural and incidental part of
their subject. He had not the least doubt, that
if .the Honourable Mover had been the repre-
sentative of any other borough than that which the
seconder described as the very best harbour of refuge in
the world—(A laugh)—he would have brought forward
this motion, and that he was not at all influenced by re-
gard to the interest of the locality.—(Hear and a laugh.)
But it was rather odd that the mover and seconder
should both be the representatives of the port,
which claimed to be the best site in the world for a
harbour of refuge.—(Hear, hear, and a laugh.) But if
the House were to listen to Members for towns on the
eastern coast, they would be told that on that coast
were the best situations for such harbours, and
that there they were most wanted. The Right Hon.
Gentleman then read extracts from the evidence before
the Shipwreck Committee to the effect—that for two
hundred miles south of the Humber, there were no har-
bour of refuge, although there were several situations
where one could be constructed at an expense of
not more than five hundred thousand pounds.
If they went from the East coast to the West, he thought
he had quoted the most conclusive reasons for
establishing harbours of refuge on the West coast,
for the purpose of facilitating the communica-
tion with Ireland. As !tir as considerations of public
policy were concerned, and the promotion of the public
interest, he should select Holyhead as the place for
a harbour, which would bring Dublin within a very
few hours reach of England.—(Hear, hear.) With re-
spect to the channel, he was at one time much inclined.
to attend to the report made by the highest authorities,
recommending the constraction of three harbours, but

hey would cost two millions each. He under-
valued none of the considerations stated. In these
reports and evidence; bearing in mind the altered rela-
tions of different countries, both in their commercial in-
terests and their means of offence and defence, created by
steam, he thought this might be an additional reason for
considering the necessity of establishing h arbours of refuge.
There had been certainly strong opinions expressed by
some professional men in favour of Dover, but there were
other very high authorities who were against the selection
of Dover. It had been asserted that during
certain states of the wind, shipping could not
enter the harbour of Dover, and that, therefore, it
was a proper place for the constriction of a har-
bour of refuge. Her Majesty's Government had been
embarrassed in making up their minds, apart from
the consideration of expense, as to what would be the
best port to select for a harbour of refuge. They should
make up their minds to begin withone, and to make that
one as complete as possible. It would be better to make one
harbour to complete that commerce thence. There were
three points to be considered in the construction of this
harbour. In the first place, it was to be considered with
regard to its advantages as affording a place of refuge
for merchant vessels. Secondly, as a great naval harbour
for purposes of offence and defence during time of
war, and thirdly, they must consider the facilities for
defending the harbour. They must ascertain whether
all these advantages were combined before they fixed.
The Government required further evidence on the subject.
They were not at present prepared to submit any plan to
that House. The subject was still under their anxious
consideration, and he considered it 'ought to be sub-
jected to further :consideration. The Government pro-
posed to appoint a Commission, composed of some of the
most eminent naval officers, of some eminent autho-
rities among the commercial marine, of one or
two eminent civil engineers who were the
best versed in the action of the tides, and In the
effect produced by breakwaters in the deposition of
mud, and of some Osdnance officers. Heiwould not say
one word in favour of Dover, or against it. He should
leave the matter entirely to the investigation of the
Bommissioners. He trusted he had said eonughto show
that the subject was under the anxious consideration of
Government, but they would not be prepared to submit any
proposition to the House on the subject until the Report
of the Commissioners should have been made and con-
sidered.

Lord R. GROSVENOR wished to know, whether
the Government contemplated entering into arrange-
ments with the Chester and Holyhead Railway Com-
pany, as it seemed to have been determined that Holy-
head was the proper place for the packet station for
communication with Ireland.

Sir ROBERT PEEL said that he considered Holyhead
to be the fittest port for causing a communication with
Dublin and Ireland generally. Some reflections had
been cast upon the officers who had originally
reported in favour of Holyhead. Since then other
gentlemen had been appointed to report, and
among those gentlemen was Mr. Walter, the
President of the Society of Civil Engineers. They had
confirmed the former report. With respect to the Railway
Company, the Government had had communica-
tions with it, in the course of which the Com-
pany had come down in their demands from 80,000/.
to 40,000/. Only yesterday he had received a
communication from a new Company, offering to con-
struct a railway without cost. The Government had
not determined on the subject, and therefore he could not
atpresent make any declaration as to the intentions with
regard to the railway.

Sir C. NAPIER said that the winds did not admit
of Dover being a good harbour. He thought
that Dover being made a harbour was entirely
out of the question, because the winds that would
permit ships to anchor safely in the Downs,
would render their anchoring at Dover impossible.
The Downs was alone the proper place for a har-
bour in his opinion, and he hoped the Govern-
ment would give their preference to it. With
respect to Holyhead, he thought it was admirably
calculated for communication between this country and
Ireland. He trusted that this subject would not lead to
the perpetration of a job.
,Sir J. R. REID explained.
Sir T. TROWBRIDGE was satisfied to leave the sub-
ject in the hands of the Government. _ _ _

Mr. RICE in reply, referred to the evidence of
Captain Washington, to show that Dover was the best
place to erect a harbour of refuge. He had not
referred to Dover, because he thought he was
best consulting the interests of Dover in leaving it to
rest on its own claims. He was perfectly satisfied with
what had fallen from the Right Hon. Baronet. He
hoped he would not have to trouble the House any more
on the subject. He hoped the Government would take
the matter up, and he trusted it would not be made a job
of.—(Hear, hear.)
The motion was then withdrawn.
(LEFT SITTING.)

THE ANTI-CORN-LAW LEAGUE.
The Anti-Corn-law League is not yet extinct. It still
lives. Nor does it exhibit the slightest symptoms of any
diminution of its vitality. On the contrary, if there be any
difference, it is more vigorous now than it was four weeks ago,
when the Premier's declaration in favour of the present system
was supposed by the monopolists (the wish was father to the
thought) to be in effect the passing of sentence of death on
the League. The League is made of sterner stuff. It is not
to be thus easily annihilated. It has not, it is true, the seeds
of immortality in it. When its work is done it will willingly
dissolve itself; but, until it have accomplished the objects for
which it has been established, it will continue, not only to
live, but to flourish in more than its wonted vigour. There
have been dark intimations in some of the Ministerial prints,
and in the speeches of monopolists at county meetings, of an
intention on the part of Government to put down the League.
Let Government dare attempt to carry the menace into died.
The League would rejoice to see the effort made. It invites col-
lision with Ministers. It has already defeated the monopolists
in argument ; it will triumph over Ministers should they ad-
venture on the bold step of endeavousing to put it down by
forcible means. Let them, if they can screw their courage to
the sticking place, attempt to deal with the League as they
have done with the Repeal agitation in Ireland; let them,
if they have a mind, issue a Covent-garden " proclamation,"
in imitation of their Contarf " proclamation ;" let them do
this, and see what will be the result. One infallible conse-
quence of the collision that will ensue will be, that the Mi-
nistry and the corn monopoly will fall together. It will be
well if these be the only results. Providence be praised, the
Liberals of England are not yet reduced to that condition of
helplessness into which centuries of oppression have brought
the people of Ireland. Here we have a power, as well as the
disposition, to vindicate our rights, should they be unconstitu-
tionally assailed. Ministers know this, and will not there-
fore venture on the experiment. Straining the law, though
a game at which Governments have too often played
with success in Ireland, is one at which Home
Secretaries and Colonial Secretaries, despite their won-
drous valour, dare not attempt to carry too far in England.
We have no fears for the League ; it has none for itself. It
will receive no molestation at the hands of Government. It
will quietly, but steadily, proceed in fulfilling its righteous
and merciful mission, until that mission has been fully worked
out. We know not whether it be worth while to advert to a
species of molestation of another kind, with which the
League is threatened from a different quarter. But for the
frequency of the allusions made last night to the new mono-
polist League, we should have passed it over in silent con-
tempt. The organization of that body is the desperate effort
of desperate men. It is a mere flash in the pan. It will end
in smoke. The money collected will be soon spent, and then
the whole affair will come to a close. What do these landed
Leaguers mean to be at.? Is it not enough that they have the
Ministry and the Parliament—a Parliament of their own
selection—at their beck? How will Sir Robert Peel relish
' the kind of aitl which they propose to afford him ? Will
he not resent this new agricultural organization as an insult
to himself? Will he not look on it as the embodyment of a
suspicion still lurking in all landed breasts, that he cannot be
depended upon, but must be goaded on to the performance of
his duties to the monopolists? What is the new League, in
reality, but an instrument of torture, to be held in terrorem
over the head of the Premier, and to be applied without
mercy to his back whenever he shall betray a disposition to
desert the landed oligarchy? There must be no snore
tariffs ; no more modifications of the corn-laws—not even of
the slightest kind. The rod now placed in the hands of these
monopolist Leaguers, will keep him in check. The appre-
hension of its vigorous application will teach him the neces-
sity of not meddling in 'future with " vested agricultural in-
terests." We are right glad to see the humiliating position
in which the Premier is placed. He has no claims on our pity.
He has not the manliness to resign himself to the impulses of
his own mind, and get rid for ever of the monopolist crew, by
pitching them overboard. He had not the courage, though he
might have done it with the 'greatest ease, to keep them in
due subordination. The result has been, that they have
mutinied against him. They have now achieved the mastery
over him. He is allowed nominally to remain at the helm ;
but only so long as he steers in accordance with their wishes.
The Duke of Richmond is the only captain whose authority
the monopolists recognise, and whose commands they obey.
His Grace is in reality the Minister of this country. How
long will Sir Robert Peel submit to remain in this degrading
position? We can hardly believe it will be long. lie must
still have spirit enongh remaining to burst asunder the fet-
ters which hold him in so ignoble a thraldom. A breach
between him and the imperious landlords must be at hand ;
and when it comes it will be irreparable. Sir Robert will
then, of necessity, throw himself into the arms of the free
traders. The monopolist League cannot fail to contribute
materially to the acceleration of this event, and therefore we
rejoice in its organization and operations.—Advertiser.

AN ADROIT SWINDLER.—A fellow is going round
the neighbourhood of the Hampstead-road, dressed as a
respectable groom, ringing the changes upon the people
in the following manner:—He called upon a respectable
widow who lets furnished lodgings, and represented he
had authority from his master, with whom he had lived
some years, to take apartments for him ; and after the
little preliminaries were settled, she asked for a deposit,
and he readily agreed to leave 55., and gave her half a
sovereign, she returning him a half-crown, two shillings,
and sixpence. He then said, it was nothing but right to
mention his master was a great drunkard, and when in
that state extremely boisterous and unruly. Of course,
the widow declined taking him as a lodger, and tendered
the fellow the half-sovereign back again, when he re-
turned her a half-crown, two shillings, and sixpence,
and left the house. Soon after he was gone, she found
the half-crown was a bad one. _

WEATHER.—We have, during the last few
days, been visited with a storm which rivals the severity of
mid-winter in its angriest aspect. The snow of Tuesday and
Wednesday was followed by a still greater fall on Thurs-
day night and Friday; and up to Sunday evening it may
be said to have continued with very slight intervals. The
frost has, at the same time, been very intense. During
Thursday, large masses of ice floated down the river, and
the harbour at one time became so densely filled, that the
steamers could with great difficulty force a passage out or
in ; and on Friday morning the space between the bridges
was one unbroken sheet of ice, having been completely,
frozen over in the course of the previous night, nowithstand-
ing the strong current and the action of the tide. Yesterday
morning at an early hour the fall of snow increased in heavi-
ness, and continued till mid-day, accompanied by a tempestuous
wind from the north-east, which caused a severe drift, and
rendered it the most unpleasant winter-like day we have ex-
perienced this season. The London mail was, notwithstand •
ing, only about two hours beyond its usual time of arrival.
In .the north, however, the downfal has been very consider-
able, and the Perth mail has, in consequence, been much de-
layed.—Glasgow Argus of Monday.