The Sun.
London, England, 1842-06-13 00:00:00

CORN RETURNS.

Lord J. RUSSELL said, that having seen weekly
returns of the amount of foreign and colonial corn im-
ported under the new Act, he ‘%ished to know from the
Right Hon. Gentleman opposite whether he had any ob.
jection to continue the returns, and lay them on the
table ? It was desirable to bring up the quantity im-
ported to the latest period, and he therefore hoped
the Vice-President of the Board of Trade would produce
those returns.

Sir R. PEEL bad not the slightest objection to have
lhe returns of foreign and colonial corn laid on the table.
CUSTOMS' ACTS (TARIFF).

The House then resolved itself' into a Committee on
the Customs' Acts, Mr. GREENE in the Chair.

On a duty of 6/. on cables being proposed,
Mr. MITCHELL moved as an amendment, that the
duty be raised from 61. to 81. The Hon. Member con-
tended that the Government rate of duty would not
give sufficient protection to the interests concerned.
The shipowners, from his knowledge of the trade, did
not want the reduction of the duty proposed by the Right
Hon. Baronet.

The CHAIRMAN having put the question,
Mr. GLADSTONE objected to the amendment.
Cordage was an article upon which he should not say
that producers in England ought to be taken at a disad
vantage, but respecting which care ought to be taken
that no Pxcess of protection should be allowed.
After a few words from Mr. A. CHAPMAN,
Colonel T. WOOD said he considered the proposition
of the Government a most excellent one, and he should
therefore give it his support. He trusted that his Hon.
Friend opposite would not divide the House upon the
subject.
Mr. MITCHELL replied.
After a few words from Lord Sandon, Mr. Gladstone,
and Mr. Hume, which were inaudible in the gallery,
Strangers were ordered to withdraw, and the House
divided, when there appeared,

For the motion .
Against it
Majority against the Amendment...
The resolution was then agreed to.
The articles up to British ships and vessels, registered
as such, were agreed to without discussion.
On British ships and vessels, registered as such, being
proposed,
Mr. WARNE moved that, instead of a duty of 5/. for
every 100/. value upon vessels built in the British pos-
sessions, the duty should be reduced to 3/, for every 100/.
After a short conversation, the Government proposi-
tion was agreed to.
The remainin&• articles in schedule 15, were agreed to.
Several items in schedule 16 relating to stones were
agreed to.

163
35

[LEFT SITTING.]

-128

HOUSE OF LORDS.

Their Lordships met at Five o'Clock.
A message from the Commons brought up the Yarmouth
and Norwich Railway Bill, and a number of other pri-
vate Bills, which were severally read a first time.
The Bishop of BANGOR presented a petition from a
congregation in Carnarvon, praying for the repeal of cer-
tain parts of the Act for uniting the dioceses of Bangor
and St. Asaph.
METROPOLITAN BRIDGES TOLLS.

Lord POLTIMORE presented a petition for the
abolition of the tolls or the metropolitan bridges.
CALLING IN THE GOLD COIN.

Lord BEAUMONT wished to put a question to the
Noble Lord, the President of the Council, respecting
the late proclamation issued for the calling in of the
gald currency at present in circulation. That cur-
rency had been, much of it, a long time in use.
Many of the sovereigns were of the coinage of George.
the Third, and their weight had been diminished by
actual use, and not by sweating. He wished to ask
whether anything could be done to relieve the hardship
and inconvenience which numbers of people of the
humbler classes were suffering in consequence of the
measure ?

Lord WHARNCLIFFE was glad that the Noble Lord
had put the question, as it gave him an opportunity of
allaying the apprehensions of the public. He had been
informed that great and monstrous charges
were made in some of the public-houses,
under the pretence of deficiency of weight ;
they charged a shilling or eighteen-pence for changing a
sovereign. He was happy, however, to have to state
that the average deficiency of the coin which had to be
sent into the Mint was found to be no more than 14; or
2 per cent.—(Hear.) The Government had turned its
attention to some measure which should facilitate the
exchange both in London and the country.—(Hear.)
Tke Duke of CLEVELAND was glad that the
Noble Lord near him had brought this subject before
the House. He had heard that the greatest confusion
prevailed among the working classes, and that the con-
fusion and loss wood be greater if something were not done
The Noble Lord (Wharncliffe) had informed the House
that the loss of actual value upon all the coin sent into
the mint was no more than l to 2 per cent., which
would be no more than 2d. or 3d, in the pound ;
but what consolation was that to those poor
persons who could not get a sovereign changed ?
without paying a shilling or eighteenpence in the pound.
—(Hear, hear.) Something should be dune to protect
those people from so much losses. It was very evident
that the lightness was not owing to fraudulent deface-
ment, but to common wear. The best way would have
been to appoint a day when the coins should be called
allowing them to circulate at their full value until that
day, but not after.
Lord WHARNCLIFFE said he was aware of the
hardships and impositions, and he would take measures
. to remedy the.evil.
ELECTION COMMITTEES INDEMNITY 811.

Lord BROUGHAM gave notice that he would to-
morrow, move for the suspension of the standing orders,
in order to facilitate the passing of the Bill, which' he
had proposed for the indemnity of witnesses before
Election Committees.
The Earl of 'WICKLOW presented two petitions from
places in Ireland in favour of Scriptural Education in
Ireland.

PRISON DISCIPLINE.
The Earl of RADNOR wished to know whether it
was the intention of the Government to bring in the
Prison Discipline Bill this session.
Lord WHARNCLIFFE said it was the intention of
the Government to bring in the Bill this session.
The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said that he had
received a very important petition from the owners of
coal mines in Durham and Northumberland, relative to
the employment of children in mines, and he gave notice
that he should present such petition on Friday.
INCOME TAX.

The Duke of WELLINGTON said that as he under-
stood ,that the Noble Marquis, who had given notice of
his intention to move certain resolutions upon going into
Committee on the Income-tax Bill, was still indisposed,
he wished to know whether it would be convenient to
postpone going into Committee till Thursday.
The Earl of CLARENI)ON said he believed that it
would be perfectly satisfactory to his Noble Friend, who
intended to move the resolutions, but it would be incon-
venient to another Nobla Lord, who wished to take a
part in the discussion, and he thought, therefore, that
it would be better to take the discussion on Friday.
A NOBLE LORD suggested that the same course might
be pursued as with respect to the second reading—viz.,
that the Bill be committed pro forma to-morrow and re-
ported, and then take the discuss: on on the third reading.
The Earl of CLARENDON said that en the behalf
of the Noble Marquis he certainly had no objection
to such a course. He thought it would be convenient
to Noble Lords who sat behind him to take that course.
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE said he hoped if
the Bill were allowed to pass these stages, that it would
not be supposed that . it met with the approbation of
those on his side of the House.—(llear.) Although the
Noble Marquis hod given notice of his intention to
move certain resolutions, he appreheAled that those
resolutions would not Teed them to give a direct
negative to the Bill. In one of the stages of the
Bill, lie (the Marquis Clanricarde) was determined

to give the Bill that negative—(Cheers)—therefore
only wished that it might not be supposed that the
Bill in any way met with their sanction.
The Duke of WELLINGTON said the Noble Lord
would have an opportunity of opposing the Bill on the
third reading.
which, if true, were no deubt very much to be con-
demned. It was also said that he had some objection-
able books in his possession—Volney and Voltaire.
These four witnesses made statements of which he had
no notice, and which he could not have been
enabled to contradict. The witness was himself
afterwards examined. He then declared that he
believed in the existehce of a God, in a future state of
reward and punishment, in a God by whom he was
created, and to whom he was accountable. The oath
was then administered to him, and he ought immediately
to have been examined in cause. Instead of that, how-
ever, he was again examined with the sanction of the
Judge, as to his religious opinions ; and in answer,
Lord KINNAIRD wished to give notice, that he
should to-morrow move for the report of the commis-
sioners appointed to enquire into the distress at Burnley,
Paisley, and Stockport. He had taken the opportunity
some time ago of laying certain statements before their
Lordships, and on that occasion he was particularly
anxious not to exaggerate anything, but he had had
his attention drawn to one mistake, which he wished
it correct. On that occasion he stated that 54,692 pa-

tients had been admitted to the Dispensary at Manches-
ter. This he found to be a mistake, as he found the
numbers were 14,692.
RELIGIOUS OPINIONS OF WITNESSES.

Lord CAMPBELL said that in pursuance of the
notice he had given, he begged to call the attention of
their Lordships. to circumstances which had taken place
upon a late trial in Sterling. He had received the ac-
count of the circumstances from the Judge who presided,
and he had not delayed one moment in bringing the sub-
ject before their Lordships. It was a subject of the
greatest importance to the liberty of conscience, and the
due administration of justice. If there had been no de-
parture frem the law of Scotland on the occasion to
which he referred, it would be indispensably necessary
for their Lordships, in their legislative capacity,
to remedy the law. But on this subject, their
Lordship's judicially had no jurisdiction.—(Hear, hear.)
The determination of the Courts of Scotland was final
and conclusive. Not only the High Court of Justiciary,
but the minor courts also, unless a point was specialty
reserved. He would first lay before their Lordships, the
facts as they occurred on the trial, according to the most
authentic information he had been able to obtain, and he
believed that information might be entirely relied upon.
A person of the name of Samuel Henry was indicted
for an assault on a constable in the discharge of
his duty. The constable's name was William Simpson.
The man was likewise indicted for a common assault
upon a person of the name of Smart, and the only wit-
ness who could prove the assault upon Simpson was
Simpson himself. He was accordingly called as a
witness on the ,part of the prosecution. An ob-
jection was made to Simpson being a witness, which,
if duly established was certainly a good objection.
An oath was necessary before a witness could give his
' evidence, and an oath could be of no binding authority
unless the party taking it believed in the existence of
an overruling Providence. The evidence of Simpson
was objected to on the ground that he did
not believe in an overruling Providence. But
the belief of the witness ought to have been ascer-
tained by examining himself upon the subject. Instead,
however, of that course being pursued, Simpson was at
once put on his trial for blasphemy without one question
being put to him. Four witnesses were successively
examined to prove that he had made statements
to the questions put to him, he again stated that he be-
lieved in the existence of God, in a future state of re-
wards and punishmeents, and in Divine Revelation. He
stated, in addition, that he went to church regularly
but that he did not partake of the Holy Communion be-
cause he was under scandal ; that is to say, that he had

committed some irregularity for which he had not made
the necessary atonement. He stated, however, that if that
scoundrel were removed, he should very gladly partake
again of the rights of the Church. He denied that he had in
his possession the works of Volney or Voltaire. The exa-
mination was then undertaken by the Judge himself who
while he administered the law conscientiously, no doubt
according to his opinion, instead of protecting the wit-
ness, asked him if he believed in the scheme of Christi-
anity as disclosed in the Scriptures? He said he did. The
Judge was nut satisfied, but asked him if he believed in
the Atonement. The witness said that he did. He then
said that he did not believe in the whole of the Scriptures,

The Judge having asked him in what part of the Scrip-
tures he did not believe, he replied that there were
parts of them which he could not comprehend. After
that examination the Judge did not, as had been stated
in the public journals, reject the evidence of the
witness, but he did what was more fatal
to his reputation—he intimated an opinion that
under the circumstances the witness could not be
believed, and he recommended the counsel for
the prosecution not to proceed to examine him.
The Advocate-Depute adopted the suggestion of
the Judge, and the witness was not examined. Now he
(Lord Campbell) found fault with proceedings thus
taken, in three main particulars. He complained,
first, that extraneous evidence was given, respecting,
the religious belief of the witness; secondly, that the
witness himself was not examined in the first instance ;
and thirdly, that the judge, instead of rejecting
or admitting the evidence, had taken upon himself
to intimate that the witness could not be be-
lieved. He (Lord Campbell) had taken considerable
pains to ascertain what was the law of Scotland upon
the subject of the reception of evidence, under such cir-
cumstances as he had detailed. So far as he could learn, the
law ;of Scotland upon the subject coincided with the
law of this country, and with which he con-
curred, ought to be the law in every civi-
lised country. He believed that according to the
law of Scotland as well as according to the
law of this country, the evidence as to the belief of a
witness ought to be confined to the examination.
of the party himself. The question to be determined
was not what the witness believed in past times, but
what he believed at the time of his examination.
Now what was done here ? William Simpson, without
notice, was put on his trial for blasphemy. Now
the law of Scotland was very particular in this,
that no man should be put on his defence for the most
trifling offence, but should be supplied with an
account of the charges preferred against him, and of the
witnesses ; and it was necessary that this information
should be given 40 days before. But here Simpson hail
no notice, he was at once put upon his trial, and four
witnesses were put in against him, and they were asked as
to his professions an 4 belief as regarded the Holy Scrip •
tures and the Trinity. They stated they had heard him in
conversation deny the doctrine of the Trinity, and speak
irreverently of the Holy Scriptures, and that he had
lent to one of them books of Volney and Voltaire. This
was contrary to the practice in this country
and in Scotland, and in every country where
law was a science. If a witness were asked whether he
had committed an offence, and if he denied it, no witness
could be brought to prove it against him, or he could
not be prepared to defend himself, did not all the
reasoning employed in favour of that principle apply
a fortiori to the examination of witnesses on their reli-
gious opinions ? But he now came to another matter of
more importance, relating to the examination, which ought
to take place as to the religious opinions of witnesses,
and he must say the law of Scotland was the same as
was acted upon in this case, nothing like it was known
since the Inquisition was put down. What a witness
But no man haul a right to be examined, as to whether
he be an Armenian, or an Arian—whetber he be a
Socinian, or a Triniterian—a Puseyite, or a Pres-
byterian. This was the law of England. A Jew might be
(LEFT SPEAKING.)

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
COURT OF CHANCERY, June 11.

The LoaD CitArCELLOR sat in Lincoln's Inn Hall to
day, and took appeal motions.

JUDGMENT-TRELAWNEY U. ROBERTS.

The LORD CHANCELLOR gave judgment to-day in this
case, which was argued a short time since. His Lord-
ship observed that he had read the pleadings in the
cause, and the Master's report, and had considered them
with as much care as he was able to bestow upon them,
and after having done so, it was his Lordship's decided
opinion that if the case had come before him upon bill
and answer, and upon the evidence that had been adduced
before the Master, and he had been called upon to pro-
nounce a decree, he should have felt that he would not
have been able to have done satisfactory justice between
the parties without directing an issue for the purpose of
trying whether the bond was given for the purpose of
securing money advanced by Mr. Roberts to Mr. Tre-
lawney, or whether it was given for the purpose of
enabling Mr. Roberts to borrow money for Mr. Tre-
lawney's use. The letters that had preceded the execu-
tion of the bond, and the whole of the correspondence by
which the execution of the bond was followed, and the com-
munication between the parties all led his Lordship to
this conclusion. On the whole, therefore, although the
case had come before him upon appeal from the decision
of the Vice-Chancellor of E: gland, as exceptions to the
Master's report, he did not think he could do justice to
the parties without directing the issue he had mentioned.
That issue must therefore be tried, and the exception
to the Master's Report must stand over till the result of
that issue was known. That would be in effect affirming
the decision of the Viee-Chancellor. The cost of the
present appeal must also stand over till after the trial
of the issue.
CONDE v. THE CORPORATION OF LONDON.

On the application of Mr. RICHARDS, the appeal motion
in this case from the decision of the Vice-Chancellor
Knight Bruce, ordering the production of certain papers
in the possession of the City of London, was ordered to
stand in his Lordship's appeal paper on Monday, the
21st inst.

The Court then proceeded with appeal motions.

ADDRESSES TO TIIE QUEEN.—Meetings have been
held throughout the country for the purpose of adopting Ad-
dresses to the Queen, on her Majesty's providential escape from
the hant.l of the assassin, which has called forth one unanimous
expression of loyalty and attachment to the person of our be-
loved Sovereign.
'TIE HAY HARVEST.—Haymaking is becoming
pretty general and the crops are good, although the drought of
the last fortnight has to some extent diminished them, and in
many parts of the country the want of rain is beginning to be
felt severely.
It is said that General Rodil is to have the forma-
tion of the New Spanish Administration, and that General
Saone is to succeed him as Commander-in-Chief of the army
of the North.

INCOME-TAX.---It is reported that the schedules
for extracting this grinding and tyrannous tax from suffering
trade, have been in the town some days. There is also a ru-
mour that Mr. Thomas Burbidge, (formerly town clerk) will
be the Chief Inquisitor for Leicester.—Leicestershire Mercury.

IRELAND.

FATAL CONFLICT IN ENNIS-FRIGHTFUL

PROCEEDINGS.

DUBLIN, JUNE 9.—The Limerick Chronicle, received
this morning, contains the following appalling detail;
of the occurrences in Ennis, county Clare. The affair
had been even more sanguinary than would appear from
that statement. According to the Limerick Chronicle,
which is a Tory journal, there was an " indiscriminate
slaughter," and " every person in authority, Magistrates
as well as police-officers, deny having given orders to
fire." The inquest is in progress, and terrible excite-
ment prevails.
The circumstances of the attack by the people on Mr.
Bannatyne's flour-stores, and the riot and loss of life
which ensued, we gave on Saturday. Subsequently we
have learned the following further particulars
The following is the hat of the casualties whieh, we
lament to find so extensive. The wounded persons
were brought to the county infirmary, and received
every attention from the resident surgeon, Dr. G.
O'Brien :—Catherine Fallon, shot in the head, died
siiice admitted into hospital ; Peggy Kean, wounded
in the thigh, not dangerous ; Peggy M‘Gennis, in
the leg, not likely to recover ; J. Burley, shot in the
arm, broken ; M. Leary, received three balls in the
thigh, broken ; J. Tobin, shot in the calf of the leg ;
J. Shanks, shot in ditto ; Edward Sullivan, shot in the
groin ; J. Hennessy, in the thigh, not dangerous ; F.
Noylan, shot in the arm, not dangerous ; Michael Mae-
namara, two shots in the calf of the leg, broken ;
Thomas Darcy, wounded in the back ; Thomas MA-
rony, in the thigh, not dangerous ; James Fitzgibbon, a
blind man, shot through both calves of the legs, not
dangerous ; and D. Fallon, policeman, eye broken by a
stroke of a stone. _

ENNIS, TUESDAY.—A man, named Leary, has just
expired in the county infirmary, from the efkcts of shots
received during the riot last evening. Ennis is in a very
alarming state ; the bellman has been sent round the
town by some evil emissaries, for the purpose of collect-
ing a mob at the market-place before ►he hour of two
o'clock this day. The populace have refused all offers
of pacification, openly declaring that nothing will satisfy
them but blood! The cry through the town all this day
is—Assemble, until we have blood for blood !
Large crowds had collected at the Market-place at
two o'clork. Mr. Bridgman, the borough repre,enta-
tive, accompanied by Mr. Cuilinan, local crown solicitor,
Mr. Knox, Mr. J. Magrath, and others, visited the
grounJ, in order to suppress the spirit of revenge which
was evidently brooding over the wounded victims of last
night's disastrous conflict.
Mr. Bridgeman said—Boys, I am come amongst you
in consequence of having heard the bellman call a meet
ing of the inhabitants ; that, in my opinion, was an in-
judicious course, aid I hope it wilt not be persevered in.
I promise that you shall have a full and fair investiga-
tion of all the circumstances. Instead, there. ore, of as-
sembling in any unlawful manner, collect what informa-
tion you can, and let it be produced at the inquest. We
will prosecute the thing in a legal manner—the law will
protect you—and depend upon it you shall have justice.
Mr. Cullinan—Fellow-townsmen, it is not often that
I address you, but I believe you w ill admit that when-
ever you put your confidence in me 3ou were not be-
trayed.— ("No, no.") I never gave you any advice
calculated to lead to bad consequences.—(Hear, hear.)
I am local Crown prosecutor for this county, and it is my
duty to punish you if you offend as well as those that
offend you, and I promise that as far as I can go you
shall have protection. There has been blood shed, I
don't know b' whom, but I hear it has been shed wan-
tonly ; therefore, get all the information you can for the
inquest.
A Voice—We must have blood for blood !
Mr. Cullinan—That is no: the manner to proceed ;
it is by quietness end firmness. We shall bring the case
before the Crown, and then, if warranted, before the
Judge of Assize. Appeal to the lr ws of your country
alone ; for lest night's work will fully prove that. you
have no redress to get by frcing an armed party of
police.—(Hear, hear.) There is one fact which I wish

to mention, and by 'which it appears the crowd were
offering no resistance when fired at. Most of those in-

jured 'ere wounded in the back.—(Hear, hear.) Mr.
Cullinen, in conclusion, assured the people that he would
give every assistance in investigating the matter fully.
The crowds dispersed, but only to settle themselves
in other parts of the town. The excitement increases
every moment, and it now appears that all the Magis-
trates deny having given orders to the police to fire on
the night before ; nothing can equal the inflammatory
excitement—the police under arms in barracks, and a
party parading the town. Mr. C. O'Connell has just
addressed the people at the co-art-house, and expressad
his intention of convening a meeting after the inquest.
There are two of the supposed rioters dead in hos-
pital, and more in a dying state ; in fact, all the uses
in hospital, except three or four, are considered dan-
gerous.
TUESDAY NIGHT, EIGHT O'CLOCK.—The excitement
caused by last night's appalling catastrophe still con-
tinues unabated. This indiscrimnate slaughter has
created a sentiment of horror in the public mind, as it is
affirmed that no cause existed to warrant the adoption
of such extremes ; no matter how conflicting the accounts
given on the sad business, on this point all appear to
agree.
A detachment of the 85th, from Limerick, arrived
here about three o'clock yesterday, special request having
been made for that purpose ; they remain under arms at
the police-barrack in Gaol-street.
A short time previous to the opening of the inquest
Mr. C. O'Connell addressed the people in the court-
house. He denounced, in most unqualified terms, the
promoters of this " base and bloody murder," and ex-
horted the people to forbearance, as by that alone they
could obtain redress. " They thought," continued Mr.
0 Connell, "that because their party were in power
they could do what they pleased; but 1 say, though they
are of a party with the present Government. that Govern-
ment is not entirely so unjust as to den:, fair, impartial,
aye, retributive justice, to her Majesty's faithful, loyal,
peaceable, and unoffending subjects.—(Cheers.) There
are already two victims 'sent to their account,' and
seventeen others lie without a hope of recovery. If we
do not receive justice in this way, if quietness will not
answer, I say, and 1 care not if her Majesty's Attorney-
General heard me, that if we are denied justice for this
reckless and barbarous murder, we are resolved, nay.
ready to justify ourselves."—(Tremendous cheering.)
Mr. O'Connell then went on to say that it was reported
that others beside the police had signalised themselves in
this cowardly attack. " Gentlemen amateurs," who, now
that the season for shooting grouse and partridge is
over, turned their murderous weapons to the destruction
of their fellow-beings.
Strange as it may appear, every person in authority,
Magistrates as well as police-officers, deny having given
orders to fire ; it is, therefore, contemplated to have
every man who was on duty at the time severally exa-
mined.

An inquest was held on the body of Andrew O'Neill,
the boy, and Catherine Faby, alias Sheehan, and has
been held by the Magistrates, who, after inspection of the
bodies, separated till Wednesday.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, SIX O'CLOCK.—The police
patrolled the streets throughout the night, and though
crowds were to a late hour collected in different parts of
the town, no disposition to riot or breach of the peace
was observable. Every other feeling seems to be lost in
anxiety for the issue of the inquest, and at this early
hour . groups of persons are sauntering through the
streets. The Coroner was to take his seat at eleven, and
proceed to business immediately.
An express policeman rode into this garrison from
Ennis yesterday morning, and, in half an hour after,
Colonel Mansel had forwarded on the road to that quarter
a detachment of the 85th, from the Castle barracks, under
command of Lieutenant Grey.
At five o'clock, last evening, another pressing letter
from the Magistrates having been received by the mail
coach, demanding more reinforcements, Captain Bell's
troop of the sth Dragoon Guards proceeded hence at a
smart trot to the scene of danger.