The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-12 00:00:00

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LONDON, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 1845.

The Lords met at Five o'clock, and sat only for a
few minutes.
On the motion of the Earl of CADOGAN, certain re-
turns relating to the proceedings of the Ecclesiastical
Commissioners were ordered to be laid on the table.

A petition on the subject of the Scotch Currency
n•. 2; presented by the Earl of ROSEBERY.
The Stamp Duties Assimilation Bill was read a
second time. Several other Bills were forwarded a
stage, and their Lordships adjourned.
The House of Commons met at Twelve.

The Lauds Clauses Consolidation Bill passed through
Committee, and was ordered to be read a third time on
Thursday.

Mr. CARDWELL brought up the Sugar Duties Bill,
Nrhich was read a first time.
The House then resolved itself into Committee on the
Railway Clauses Consolidation Bill.
On clause 66 being proposed, enforcing Companies to
use engines, &c., for the conveyance of passengers and
goods,

Mr. STANSFIELD proposed, as an amendment, that
the clause, instead of being merely permissive, should be
compulsory.
After a short discussion, the Committee divided,
when there appeared—For the amendment, 17; Against
it, 31 ; Majority for the clause, 14. Clauses up to
69, inclusive, were then agreed to, when the House re-
sumed, and the Chairman having reported progress,
:liked leave to sit again on Thursday.
The House then adjourned to Five o'clock.
When the House re-assembled,

Sir R. PEEL gave notice that he would, on Thursday
next, move that the House do adjourn from Thursday
the 20th instant, to the Monday week following.
After a short conversation on the subject of the nego-
tiati.ms of Mr. MANDEVILLE with the Governments of
Buenos Ayres and Monte Video,
Mr. Hum; moved for certain returns relating to army
pensioners, which were granted.
Mr. LAISOCTLIETIE then complained that the Sugar
Ditties Bill had been forwarded a stage at the morning
sitting; and

Sir B. PEEL admitted that it occurred through inad-
vertence, and gave a pledge that, in fut.ire, no Money
Bill should be taken at a morning sitting without notice.
Mr. SOME 4 then moved for " Copies of all corre-
tponclence between the Colonial-office and the Governor
of New Zealand respecting the issue of debentures,
and the rendering them a legal tender. Of all ,
corre-
spondence between the same respecting the taxes pro-
posed in the Legislative Council of that colony. Of all
correspondence between the same respecting recent out-
rages by the natives in the Bay of Islands, and the
abolition of the custom-house of that district. Of
all correspondence respecting the measures taken by
the Governor of New Zealand to fulfil Lord
Stanley's agreement of the 12th May, 1843, respecting
the grant of a conditional title to the lands of the
New Zealand Company. Of all correspondence res-
spectipg the disallowance by the Governor of New
Zealand of any awards made by the Commissioner of
Land Claims respecting the Company's lands. Of all
correspondence relating to a proclamation issued by the
Governor of New Zealand allowing the sale of lands
by the natives at a less price than that fixed by the
Act' of 5 and 6 Vie., c. 36."
Mr. AGLIONSY, in seconding the motion, entered into

a detail of the grievances under which the New Zea-
land colonists laboured, and stated that, in bis opinion,
the Colonial-office, as at present constituted, was
utterly incompetent to attend properly to the affairs of
our numerous colonies.
Mr. G. W. HOPE complained of the conduct of the
Hon. Member for Cockermouth, and said that all the
information which be required had been at his com-
mand a fortnight ago, and moved as an amendment that
the whole of the papers should be produced.
Mr. C. BULLER said the House was in possession of
no information whatever on the subject, and, therefore,
it was perfectly ludicrous for the Under-Secretary for the
Colonies to say that the information might have been
obtained a fortnight ago. He complained, not only of
the ill usage of New Zealand, but of all the colonies ; of

the utter ignorance—the gross, the utter ignorance of
every person connected with the Colonies—of the
colonists themselves, from the Governor up to

the very head of the colonial•ofhce himself.
Governor FITZROY had mismanaged the colony in such
a manner as to show his utter incompetency for the
onerous position which he held. He was not merely in-
competent, but was positively mischievous and dangerous.
The Government ought to have recalled that very foolish
man, Captain FITZROY, long since, and their duty
was to send out a keeper for Captain FITZROY, and to
send out his successor at the same time.

Colonel TREVOR said it was unjust to assail Captain
FITZROY in his absence. He should not have risen had
not Captain FITZROY been his relative.
Colonel WOOD, as a connection of Captain FITZROY,
felt bound to protest against the attack which had been
made upon him.
Sir W. JAMES also eulogized Captain FITZROY.

Sir CHARLES NAPIER admitted that Captain FITZ-
ROY was a very clever officer, but for all that
he might make a precious bad Governor. The
Government made a grand mistake when they sent
Captain FITZROY to govern New Zealand. He would
have made a much better Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Nevertheless, he was a gallant officer; but instead Of
shaking hands with the murderers of Captain WAKE-
FIELD, he ought to have executed them.

Sir B. PEEL besought the House to suspend its judg-
ment upon the conduct of Captain FITZROY until the}
had certain information on which to proceed. Captain
FITZROY had certainly omitted to forward them certain
information, but he would ask the House whether it

was not within the range of prol ability that this omis-
sion had been occasioned by some accident or other
Whenever a specific motion should be made on the sub-
ject, he should be prepared to vindicate the conduct of
the Government.

Mr. MANGLES, in supporting the motion, said that he
had heard the conduct of Captain FITZROY strongly up-
held by the Right Hon. Baronet, on which

Sir R. PEEL said, across the table, in a very emphatic
manner, " Certainly not."
Mr. MINGLES continued to observe, that whatever
consideration Captain FITZROY aught to be entitled to
on account of his distance from the Government, the
colonists were entitled to the same consideration, and
they had suffered severely for his con-
duct. He had been sent out by Lord STANLEY
to explain away the agreement which bad been
entered into between the colonists and Lord JOHN
RUSSELL, and to bring the colony under the iron-foot of
the Colonial-office. Had the Company been aware of
the instructions given by Lord STANLEY to Captain
FITZROY, they would at once have thrown up the affair,
and have resigned themselves to the inevitable loss en-
tailed upon them by those instructions.
Sir R. Ibroms defended the conduct of Capt. FITZROY.
The motion was then agreed to with a verbal amend-
mend moved by Mr. HOPE.
Mr. S. CRAWFORD then rose to call the attention of the
House to the p tition from the rate-payers and inha-
bitants of Rochdale (presented February 25), against
the introduction of the new poor-law into their district;
and moved, " That the petitioners be 'heard at the bar of
the House, in support of the allegations contained in that
petition."

Mr. FERRAND supported the motion, which was op-
posed by Sir J. GRAHAM. After some observations by
several Hon. Members, the House divided, when there
appeared, for the motion, 16; against it, 59; majority
against it, 43. The House then adjourned at One
o'clock.

Sir ROBERT PEEL and Lord LYNDHURST are deter-
mined to outbid the Whig leaders in promises and
offers to the advocates of free trade and the enemies of
bigotry. But a few years have elapsed since these two
pillars of Church and State stood resolutely in every
avenue that could lead Catholics and Jews to offices
of honour, and emolument, and usefulness, be-
cause their only objects were to pull down
the Church, and destroy our glorious Consti-
tution. To admit a Catholic into Parliament, or a
Jew into a municipal corporation, was regarded as great
crimes, which would bring down Divine vengeance and
un-Christianise the land. These horrors, however, have
vanished. Place and pensions and patronage hare done
wonders in conjunction with the Reform Bill. Maynooth
now has to terrors—nay, it is regarded as a righteous
and useful institution; its power is to be increased,
Catholics are as good Christians as Protestants, and the
crowds that meet annually at Exeter-hall, in May, for
the conversion of the Jews, and heaping reproaches
upon their fellow-creatures, are treated with as much
contempt as the defunct Jumpers and the followers of
JOHANNA SOUTHCOTE. Every friend of humanity,
and every friend, too, of the Christian religion, will
rejoice at the result, for persecution only in-
creases bigotry and cruelty, and is utterly
alien to the humane doctrines inculcated by its great
Founder. The Catholics have been emancipated—they
are admitted into the sacred edifice of the Constitution,
and they are found as good subjects, as good senators,
and, perhaps, too, as good Christians as their bitter and
selfish opponents. The Jews, we confidently hope, are
now about to receive the same relief. Even in the House
of Lords, where they have hitherto been so fiercely de-
nounced, no opposition was made to Lord LYNDHURST'S
Bill last evening. The Bishop of LONDON, it is true,
said something to save appearances; but even that pious
and peaceable prelate was utterly harmless—he was
ready to yield ; and, though no party to the measure,
he would not oppose it, " because it would only
raise discussion, and excite angry feelings." All
the other bishops were silent, so powerful was
the charm practised by the Learned CHANCELLOR.
The Bill is very simple, and the security to the Church
is as ample as words can make it. A Jew, on claiming to
be admitted to office, is required to make a simple de-
claration to this effect :—" I will not exercise any power
or authority, or influence, which I may possess by virtue
of the office of
testant Church as it is established by law in England,
nor to disturb the said Church, or the bishops and clergy
of the said Church, in the possession of any right or
privilege to which such Church, or the said bishops
and clergy may be by law entitled." The
Bill applies only to municipal offices, but the
relief to this class cannot stop here ; it must be carried
into full effect, for England, so celebrated for her liberal
institutions, and in these days so conspicuous for
adopting great measures of reform, cannot be outdone by
the despotic States of the Continent. The Jews have
ever shown themselves peaCeable citizens, useful members
of society, not given to change, and no class, therefore,
could be admitted with more safety to all the rights and
privileges of Englishmen.

Madrid journals of the 3d inst. have been received, but they
are without interest. The Gazette contains the Act for the
suppression of the slave -trade, and the Minister of the In-
terior had announced that he would forthwith propose in the
Chamber of Deputies a new electoral law.

The Three per Cents. closed at 341 for cash, and 35 at 60
days ; the Five per Cents. at 25i at 60 days ; and the Debt
without Interest at 8h at 60 days.

In the French Chamber of Deputies, on Saturday, the dis-
cussion on the Civil Pensions' Bill was brought to a close,
but owing to a trick of one party, or perhaps of each, no di •
vision took place. It appears the Ministerialists did not
expect a division till Monday; many of them went away ;
and the Opposition, on seeing the number of their opponents
so small, hurried on the remaining clauses, and demanded
the ballot. The scheme, however, was defeated. The
greater part of the Conservatives left ; a sufficient number was
not present, and the vote was declared void. The Opposition
mustered strong, 157 having voted in support of the Bill,
while the other party numbered only 32, making 189, while
230 must be present to render a vote effective. The papers
contain no domestic news.

'the intelligence from Zurich is to the evening of the Oth,
when the debate on the Jesuits closed by a division in favour
of the appointment of a Committee, as proposed by M.
NEUHAUS, the Deputy for Berne. The following, according
to the Constitutionnel, is the state of the vote :—For the
Committee—Berne, Soleure, Shafthausen, St. Gall, Argau,
Vaud, Thurgau, Grisons, Appenzel (R.E.), Bale, Glaris,
and Zurich (12k votes). Against it—Uri, Unterwalden,
Zug, Valais, Geneva, Neufchatel, Appenzel (R. 1.), Fri-
bourg, Schwytz, and Lucerne (9i votes). The Diet was
to meet on the following day, to nominate the members of
the Committee.

Her MAJESTY will hold a Chapter of the most
, ancient and most noble order of the Thistle, at St.
James's Palace, this afternoon, when hi 3 Grace the
Duke of MoNraosE will be elected, and invented
with the insignia of the order, in the room of the
late Earl CATHCART, deceased.

THE WEST INDIA MAIL.
SOUTHAMPTON, MARCH 11.
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT BARBADOES.
CAPTURE OF SANTA ANNA.
The Tay Royal Mail steam ship, Commander Richard
Sharp, arrived this morning, at half-past eleven o'clock.
She is four days over-due. The reason of her non-
arrival will be found stated elsewhere. She brings
dates down to the following :
Honduras, January 20 ; Tampico, 25th ; Vera Cruz,
31st ; Tobago, Feb. 6th ; Jamaica, 7th ,• Trinidad, 6th ;
Demerara, 4th ; Jecmel, 10th ; Barbadoes, 9th ; Gre-
nada, 11th ; Havannah, 10th ; Porto Rico, 13th ; St.
Thomas's, 16th ; and Bermuda, 22d.
The Tay brings 151,907 dollars, 10,000 of which are
on account of the Mexican dividends, being 6,000 from
Vera Cruz and 4,000 from Tampico; 2,207/. 15s. in Bri-
tish coin, 191 b. of gold dust, 173/. ss. in silver, 1011 b. of
plata bruta, and 59 serons of cochineal. She also brings
22 passengers, amongst whom are the Marquis de St.
Croix and Lieut.-Colonel Taylor.
I am sorry to announce that a most destructive fire
has destroyed the principal portion of the town of Bridge-
town, in Barbadoes. I gather my information from private
sources, and not my usual file of newspapers from that
island, which unfortunately did not come to hand. It may,
however, be strictly rellei upon for its authenticity. It
broke out, it appears, on the morning of the 4th or sth,
in the house of a Jew storekeeper, and was caused
by a little girl, about nine years of age, playing with
lucifer matches. It commenced in the part of the town
principally devoted to commerce, and where the stores
and houses are thickly studded. The buildings being
built principally of wood, old and worm-eaten, it may
be readily imagined that the fire spread with the greatest
rapidity, and denied all human efforts to suppress it.
The fire having been observed by Admiral Sir
Charles Adam, he immediately landed his officers and
the whole of his sailors, together with the fire-engines
on board. It is almost needless to state., that such ef-
ficient services, although they could not put a stop to the
devouring element, were instrumental in effecting a great
amount of benefit by arresting the progress of the
flames. Sir Charles himself was most indefatigable,
and directed his men with untiring energy. The fire,
notwithstanding such powerful aid, continued to burn
with great fury for three days, and was, in short,
smouldering when the packet left on the 9th. The
negroes stood by, and looked on with the greatest
apathy, and could not be induced to assist cheerfully.
Their conduct resembled that at the great fire at
Kingston, about two years since. The whole of the
public officers of the town were at their posts, and ex-
erted themselves to the utmost. A great many of the
principal inhabitants were sworn in to maintain order
and regularity.
I cannot give you a succinct account of the damage
done, but the Barbadians assert their loss will exceed
half-a-million of money. The Post-office is amongst the
public buildings destroyed ; and so is Caroline Lees's
hotel. The house of Moore, Brothers, and Co., are suf-
ferers to the amount of 40,000 dollars ; and there is a
house connected with the Irish trade in Cork who are
also great sufferers ; I could not learn the name. Nearly
all the principal stores, being in the locality of the fire,
are of course destroyed.
I understand that the fire has caused a great rise in
the price of wood, shingles, &c. at Martinique.
Tie accounts I learn of Santa Anna are----that, after
his attack upon Puebla, he fled, with 1,000 cavalry, to
San Antonio, and from thence he stole away in the
night, with four attendants only, and left his followers
in the lurch. He attempted to reach his farm, that is,
his private property at Encerro, but, on his way, was
caught by a small party of Indians, who captured and
made him prisoner. This took place at the village of Hico,
about three leagues from Calopa, whence they escorted
him, their party having been reinforced, and delivered
him over to the authorities. He was shortly afterwards
removed to the castle of Perote. The general impres-
sion is, that he will be shortly put upon his trial, after-
wards banished the coantry, and the whole of his pro-
perty confiscated to the State. He was careless enough
to write to some friends at Vera Cruz respecting his
money and other treasures, and giving directions for
their safe disposal. The letters were, however, seized,
and an embargo laid upon the whole. General Bravo, it
is supposed, will be the new President. The country is
now tranquil.
The commander of the Tay reports that he ex-
perienced very bad weather in the Gulf, and was
obliged to stand off Tampico in a heavy " norther," in
which a sloop upset, and all hands perished. Her name
could not be ascertained. He also experienced another
heavy norther off Vera Cruz. A fine American schooner
went ashore there, and soon became a total wreck.
The crew were, however, saved. The Tay had a
heavy gale all the passage home. On the 6th and
7th she could not average more than 130 miles, and
indeed one day her speed was down to 80 miles, but she
performed admirably against such a tempestuous sea.
On the 7th she passed the barque Adams, outward
bound, and on the 10th, 60 miles off the Lizard, passed
a brig, bearing up with fore-yard gone. The Tay not
having left Bermuda till the 22d, and that in severe
weather, and being the short month of February, occa-
sions her apparent lateness of arrival. Indeed, she can
scarcely, under these circumstances, be considered more
than due.