The Sun.
London, England, 1845-08-02 00:00:00

EXPLOSIONS IN COLLIERIES.

Mr. T. DUNCOMBE said, he had another question to
ask. It was in relation to the collieries of Durham, Northum-
berland, and South Lancashire. It would be recollected, that
some time ago several lives were lost in the north of Eng-
land, in consequence of an explosion, and a commission was
appointed, composed of Mr. Lyell and Professor Faraday.
They had made their inquiry into the Haswell explosion, and
furnished their report, yet no steps had been taken to afford
additional security. He wished, therefore, some explanation on
this head. He desired also to call the attention of the Right
Hon. Baronet, to another subject. In the neighbourhood of
Wigan, the law was constantly violated in the employment of
females. It was also the practice in many places to pay wages
in truck. He considered these matters ought to be in-
quired into.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM said with regard to the two last
practices—paying in truck and employing females in mines—
they were directly contrary to law. Inspectors had been ap-
pointed to see that the law was duly executed, and he was
happy to see, by the report which bad been placed on the
table, it was generally carried into effect. He would, however,
call their attention to-the cases the Hon. Member had pointed
out; and if there was any infraction of the law the offending
parties would be proceeded against. With regard to the other
allegations, be had instructed the Commission which had been
appointed to inquire into the smoke nuisance, to direct their
attention to this question, and to report specially upon it.
Mr. WAK LEY called the attention of the Right Hon. Ba-
ronet at the head of the Home Department to certain mal-
practices that prevailed in a union workhouse, the name of
which, from the none that prevailed in the House, we could
not catch. .

Sir JAMES GRAHAM said he never heard of the circum-
stances alluded to; if he bad, a searching investigation should
have been made into it.

WAKLEY inquired whether the Right Hon. Baronet
would now, in consequence of his (Mr. Wakley's) statement,
institute an inquiry into the matter?
Sir JAMES GRAHAM signified assent.
AFFAIRS OF GREECE. _ _ _

On the question that the House go into a Committee of
Supply,
Lord PALMERSTON rose to bring forward the question
of which he had given notice relative to the affairs of Greece.
He said that in making his observations upon this subject, he
could not fail to command the attention of the House, although
it concerned neither the military, commercial, or even the
pecuniary interests of the Members. As to military interests
Greece was not of sufficient importance to form an essential
element in the balance of European power; in her commerce
she was not extensive enough to affect that of any other country,
and in a pecuniary point of view very little interest could be
felt; although by reason of a small interest payable on a loan
effected with that country, any measure which was calculated to
decrease her debt must be of comparative importance to those
who bad assisted her. But the subject had a higher claim to
the consideration of the House and the country inasmuch as
it concerned the honour and good faith of the kingdom.
The honour of the British Crown greatly depended on the pros-
perity of Greece. In that treaty, which constituted the king-
dom of Greece, of course a King was appointed, and that King
being under age, a regency was appointed. That regency had
been much calumniated. They committed great acts of cruelty
among them, but, be their faults what they may, they
conferred great permanent benefits on ithe Greeks. They es-
tablished municipal corwations, the freedom of the press, '
trial by jury, patrician assemblies, and a general representa-
tion. The Constitution which the allied Powers had
promised to the Greeks, and which the King of Russia had also
promised during his minority, had long been delayed. Great
tyranny was practised, a lavish expenditure, and a squandering
of the resources of the State took place, and an unnatural
spirit of government was established. The finances of Greece
were unable to cover the current expenditure, and the interest
was thrown upon the three countries who were the guarantees.
In September, 1843, by almost an unanimous act, a revo-
lution was brought about in the course of a few days, when
a general assembly was made. Everybody who was disposed
to look at the surface of things, and could not look at the
springs of action in Greece, might have expected that when
that Constitution was established things would have gone on
in a different way. He was sorry to say that the Constitution
had not turned out satisfactorily. The Minister that was first
called upon to act in this constitutional system (Mavrocordato),
an enlightened man, was soon removed from office, and his
place was taken by a Minister of a different description. The
present Minister (Colletti), who, educated in the school
of Ali Pacha, imbibed in his earlier years prin-
ciples far different from those which were suited
to his position as Minister, was then appointed.
The Constitution was then set aside, and arbitrary acts of power
were practised by every party. Judges had been removed who
had been thought likely to administer the law with justice, the
liberty of the press had been shattered, tyranny had been exer-
cised, and instead of an army, the country had been filled with
robbers and plunderers, who committed the must dreadful ex-
cesses on the unfortunate. population. -Cruelty had been prac-
tised on the people, and persons would hardly believe that in
any Christian country in these days, professing to be a civilised
nation, such abominations could take place as were practised in
Greece. A number of individuals were said to have been swung
by the feet, and when so swinging, were beaten, and wild
cats were put into the loose dresses of the women. He handed
in a petition from a certain number of persons in Syria, saying
that they ihemselves were victims to this kind of treatment, and
that they had been the greatest sufferers. Of course the reve-
nues of the country were squandered by those bands, and the
State was left actually in arrears, and the interest was thrown
upon the three guaranteed powers. With regard to that point,
he would take leave to ask the Government why they did not at
length insist upon the execution of that treatied stipulation, by
which the Government of Greece was bound to apply to the
payment of the interest of the debt the first produce of the
public revenue. He was sure that if that were done it would
go some way to alleviate those debts. The Government of
Greeco would be compelled to have recourse to some method
of economy, and as thew were in the capacity of creditors
of Greece, and guarantees of the independence and integrity
of Greece, they ought to give strong admonitions and urgent
representations to the Government of Greece on these matters.