The Sun.
London, England, 1845-02-21 00:00:00

elltn*C ItliL

LONDON, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1845.

The House of Lords met last evening at Five
o'Clock.

Among the petitions presented was one by Lord
CAMPBELL, complaining of the abstraction by the
postmasters in the receiving-houses of London, of
newspapers confided to their care for transmission by
the post. The Noble Lord gave notice that he would
to-morrow (this day), move for a return of the

Mr. MACKINNON, after some slight opposition, ob-
tained leave to bring in a Bill for the prevention of
the nuisance arising from the smoke of factories.
Mr. WATSON obtained leave to bring in a Bill for
the further repeal of enactments imposing pains and
penalties on her MAJESTY's Roman Catholic subjects
on account of their religion.
Sir J. GRAHAM obtained leave to bring in a Bill to
regulate the appointment and payment of clerks of
Petty and Quarter Sessions.
On the motion of Mr. WAKLEY, a return was
ordered of the petition of the Council of the College
of Surgeons to her MAJESTY, praying for the new
Charter of last year.
Mr. Humu moved for a Committee to inquire into
the management of lighthouses, which was agreed to.
The adjourned debate on the subject of the.
Post-office espionage was then resumed by Mr. M.
MILNES, who stated that he had recently travelled in
the countries in which the unfortunate events referred
to had occurred, and that, in consequence of them,
the most painful suspicions attached to the conduct
of this country. If these warrants were necessary, it
would have been much better that they should have
been issued by Lord ABERDEEN. It was satisfactory
to know that the opening of Mazzym's letters was
not connected with the unfortunate expedition of the
BANDEIRA family. It was Lord ABERDEEN'S
duty, under the circumstances, to have given public
notice that the English Government were aware of
the existence of this conspiracy and determined to
defeat it, and then in all probability the unhappy ex-
pedition would never have taken place. With regard
to the Hon. Member for Finsbury, he thought he
had a right to a distinct answer as to whether a war-
rant had been issued for opening his letters or not,
but he should not support the motion, because, by so
doing, he should be giving a colour to the foul misre-
presentations of which his Right Hon. Friend had
been the object.
Mr. MACAULAY could not vote for the motion, inas-
much as it implied a censure upon the Secret Committee
of last year, the members of which, he believed, had
done their duty honestly. He thought the power of
opening letters should be continued to the Secretary of
State, but that every letter so opened should be for-
warded to the person to whom it was addressed, with a
stamp upon the back of it, stating that it had been opened
by the proper authorities. He thought Mr. T.
DUNCOMBE had a right to know whether or not a
warrant had been issued for opening his letters, and
dionb."Ghenletdlemby the specious arguments
Gentleman to vote last session for
aolft htohueg
Righthlt e had
the exclusion of Mr. Duszcoman from the Committee,
yet when he looked to the constitution of the Lords'
Committee on the subject, which had been appointed
a few days after, he could not compliment the Right
llon. Gentleman on his spirit of fair dealing. If the
motion had been for inquiry simply into Mr. T.
DUNCOMBE'S case, he would have supported it.
Mr. J. WourLux opposed the motion as one calcu-
lated to attach an unjust stigma on the name of the
Right Hon. Baronet. He denied that the Right
Hon. Baronet had used the power of opening letters
unnecessarily or unjustly, and objcted to the ap
pointment of a public Committee, because it would
be impossible for it to elicit information. The public
gratitude was due to the Right Hon. Baronet for
having suppressed the disturbances in 1842 w ithout
employing spies, whereas in 1839 the former Admi-
nistration had had recourse to their employment.
Mr. WARD thought Mr. T. DUNCOMBE ought to have
a Committee of Inquiry into his own case, and he
would support his motion, provided it were simply
for an open Committee to inquire into his own case.
Lord Joint MANNERS entirely concurred in the
view taken of the subject by Mr. WARD. He thought
the Right Hon. Baronet should state distinctly what
had been done with regard to Mr. T. DUNCOMBE'S
letters, for nothing could be more mischievous, if not
dangerous, than to leave the matter as it was.
He besought the Hon. Member for Finsbury so to
word his motion, as to enable him to vote for it
without casting an imputation upon the Committee
of last year, or upon the Right Hon. Baronet, upon
whom so many cruel and unjust aspersions had been
already cast.
Captain LAYARD supported the motion, which was
opposed by Sir R. lucid&
Mr. BERNAL thought no man could justify the
course which had been pursued by the. Government
with regard to the Right Hon. Member for Finsbury,
who was undoubtedly entitled to an inquiry; but he
thought that it ought to be limited to the case of the
Right Hon. Member for Finsbury, and hoped an
amendment would be moved to that effect. As the
motion stood he could not support it; but if inquiry
were refused, he should advise the Hon. Member to
summon to the bar of the House the Post-office
officials who had opened his letters.
After some further discussion, the House divided
upon the question of adjournment, when the numbers
were, for the adjournment, 29, against it, 269.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL then rose to address the
House, but the interruption he experienced was so
general, that in a short time he resumed his seat ;

when,
Sir ROBERT PEEL said, that as at least a hundred
Members had left the House, be considered it ad•
visable that the question should be adjourned until
to-day (Friday.)
The House adjourned at a Quarter-past One.

It has fallen to the lot of few British statesmen to give
utterance to a more profound truth than that which was

- `Ve do not agree
with either of these classes. We know
that the best directed measures of Parliament cannot pro-
duce the desired cited, unless aided and enforced by the
steady, as well as active exertions of the people of all ranks
and conditions in their respective spheres ; but we are at the
same time satisfied that a very beneficial change may be
effected by the united and vigorous efforts of the Legislature
and of individuals.
" We cannot despair when we find a country enjoying such
natural advantages as Ireland possesses, with a large extent
of uncultivated or unimproved land, and a numerous popula-
tion, able and willing to labour if opportunities are afforded
to them. On the contrary, we confidently believe, that by
an examination of the facts as they actually exist, and by a
close attention to details, means may be found for re-
moving many or most of those partial and particular
obstacles, which have hitherto so greatly impeded the bene-
ficial employment of labour, and obstructed the enjoyment
of those advantages which a country such as Ireland is calcu-
lated to afford.
" But this desirable result cannot be looked for, unless the
united and vigorous efforts of all classes in Ireland are directed
towards it.
" Instances are to be seen in every part of the country of
estates upon which the liberal conduct and active super-
intendence of a resident landlord, or of a resident and
judicious agent, have established a system of progressive
improvement as to the land, and of increasing comfort to
the people, which are, unfortunately, wanting in many other
districts.
" We trust that one effect, at least, of our labours will be
to rouse the attention of many who have as yet thought little
upon the subject, and to encourage them to follow the
examples thus held out to them.
" Above all, we would call upon all such persons not to
rest satisfied with any vague or general notion of the state
of the population with which they are connected, but care-
fully to examine all circumstances, in order that they may
apply those remedies which shall be appropriate to the case,
as well as efficient for the purpose of relief:
" The voluminous evidence collected by us, in all parts of
Ireland, with the numerous returns and other documents
transmitted to us, present a mass of information upon the
social condition of that country which must serve as a useful
guide to all who desire to employ their efforts for improve-
ment in the right direction, and upon sound principles ; and
we feel satisfied that great advantage may be derived from
placing in their true light many. facts and circumstances
hitherto little known, or greatly misunderstood.
" Whilst we have, in various parts of this report, made
observations in the nature of advice to some of those who
are landlords in Ireland; we trust, at the same time, to be
permitted to remark shortly upon the conduct too often pur-
sued by some of the class of tenants. There is frequently a
readiness amongst these to attribute their own wretched con-
dition exclusively to the conduct of their landlords, some-
times with an utter disregard of truth, and almost always
without admitting, perhaps without seeing, how much of it
arises from their own indolence or want of skill.
" The truth is, to use a familiar expression, that faults are
in many cases to be found on both sides; and, considering
how uninformed a large portion of the Irish population is, a
heavy responsibility rests upon till those to whom the poorer
classes have a right to look for information and advice.
" The foundation of almost all the evils by which the social
condition of Ireland is disturbed is to be traced to those feel-
ings of mutual distrust, which too often separate the classes
of landlord and tenant, and prevent all united exertion 'for
the common benefit.
"It has been truly said, that confidence is a plant of slow
growth. It is, however, a plant which will flourish well in
Irish soil, if cultivated with patience and with care.
" We say particularly with patience, because we believe
that many excellent persons, having the best intentions
towards improving the cultivation of the soil and the con-
dition of the people in Ireland, have been too easily diverted
from their course by feelings of disappointment at the slow
progress which is made towards the attainment of those ends,
and the little result which is perceived from their most
anxious endeavours.
" We would earnestly impress upon such persons, and upon
all who have the interest of Ireland at heart, not hastily to
relax from those exertions which circumstances may enable
them to make, in forwarding the march of improvement
amongst their poorer neighbours.
" Without touching upon the political or other causes
which may have contributed to create a feeling of distrust,
we cannot disguise from ourselves that the Irish peasant is
inclined to look with suspicion upon all attempts of his land-
lord to inculcate new habits or to introduce new plans for the
management of his lands.
" Every considerate and benevolent landlord will make
much allowance for this feeling. He will not suffer any
exhibition of it to turn him aside from any scheme of ha-
provernent upon which, after deliberation, he has determined
to enter.
"He must be prepared for frequent disappointment. He
will ocasionally meet with ingratitude and injustice ; but
if he perseveres in a spirit of kindness, united with firmness
of purpose, lie may confidently look to a well-merited reward,
probably in the advancement of his personal interest,
but certainly in the improvement of the district in which
he fives, and the increasing comfort of the people around him,
" All which we humbly certify to your Majesty.
"DEVON.
" R. A. FERGUSON.
" GEORGE A. HAMILTON.
" THOMAS N. REDINGTON.
" JOHN WYNNE.
" J. P. KENNEDY, Secretary.

" February 14, 1845."

Accounts have been received from Madrid to the 13th
inst. On the following day it was announced that the
new electoral law, and a Bill relative to the restoration
of the unsold property to the clergy, would be intro-
duced by the Government into the Chamber of Deputies.
Bourse.—Three per Cents., cash, 331 ; for account,
334. Five per Cents., for account, 244.

The French Chamber of Deputies was to commence
the discussion on the Secret Service Money Bill on
Thursday, and from the manner in which the report on
the Bill has been drawn up, Ministers are evidently re-
solved to stand or fall by the decision of the Chamber.
M. DEBELLEYNE, chairman of the Committee, read the
report on the 18th, in which it is stated that they had
heard the President of the Council, the Ministers of
Justice, Foreign Affairs, and the Interior, and their
explanations appeared ;to be satisfactory. The Com-
mittee did not consider it necessary to lead the discus-