The Sun.
London, England, 1845-02-28 00:00:00

" No, no," and " Hear, hear.") Isa the parish of Ruislip,
which had been referred to by an Hon. Member, it was stated
that the greater number of labourers employed t 1 ere came from
distant parts of the country, for the farmers connected with the
preservation of game would not employ men who had ever been
detected poaching.—(Cries of " No, no," and " Hear, hear.")
It was astonishing to him that gentlemen of England you'd sit
down to enjoy themselves, when they knew that their pleasures
cost so high a price to the poorer classes of their countrymen.
It was deeply to be re4retted that this state of feeling;
should exist ; but although that Committee were ap-
pointed, it would be useless unless it came to a more
rational Conclusion than that referred to by the Right
Hon. Baronet. He had been himself a preserver of game,
and he knew that a system might be introduced which would
effectually preserve the game without being an annoyance to
those around them. His assurance to the preserves was this. If
they wanted a day's sport fur themselves or friends, and gave
him notice, the land would be kept quiet for some days before.
Ile had caught a poacher once, and how did he act on that
occasion. He would tell the House. lie said to him, " I
presume you are in distress and cannot find employment to
support yourself and your lamily. I ant sure you are in dis-
tress or you would not do this. Come to my house and I will
give you a joint of meat, and when you want Mod for yourself
and family come to me and you will have it." Ile replied.
" You will give me meat, then depend on it I will never
snare another hare. "—(Laughter.) Then why should
not Honourable Members adopt this system ?--(laughter.)
Such would be better than invoking the vengeance of the law
upon those poor creatures, who were probably driven by dis-
tress to this crime, in order to obtain a meal for their 'wives
and children. The evil of preserving game had now increased
to an enormous magnitude. The Hon. Member for Montrose
had stated that between 4,000 and 5,000 persons had been
convicted in 1643, and the term of their imprisonments, taking
the average, amounted to six weeks for each person. Now,
he would ask Hon. Members if the pleasure they derived frost
their sport would compensate to themselves for the curse these
laws inflicted on the country ? He did not believe that when
the amount of demoralisation induced by these laws was con-
sidered, that they could possibly desire them to be continued.
There was a very great difficulty with regard to a remedy on
this subject. The Hon. Member for Durham, who had devoted
so much time to the subject, had explained to the House that
remedy, in a speech seldom equalled, and he (Mk. IViikley)
was of opinion that the time would ultimately arrive when game,
by an increasing population, would be driven out of the country,
as the Red Indians in America were by the encroachments of
a more civilised people.—(Cheers.)
Mr. NEWDIGATE felt bound, by the reference which had
several times that night bean made to the parish of Ruislip, to
give some explanation upon a subject with which he was inti-
mately conversant. It had been stated that the inhabitants of
Ruislip had been oppressed by the expense of maintain-
ing a police force which had been almost wholly em-
ployed in the suppression of poaching. lie (11r. New-
digate) denied that statement, and he called upon the
Right Honourable Baronet the Secretary of State for
the Hume Department to ascertain whether there was any
reason for such an allegation. In many instances of trials at the
sessions he did not remember of policemen giving evidence in
eases of infringement of the game-laws. He was gl d to see
that the landed proprietors were willing to submit their plea-
sures as well as their properties to the examihation of this
Committee.

Mr. COBDEN said that although there was a general con-
currence in the tone and temper of his Hon. Friend in bring-
lag the subject under the notice of the House, there was a great
disposition to attribute exaggeration to his statements ; and
when he mentioned the quantity of produce of farms which
had been consumed by game, there were loud cries of "Oh !
oh!" The fact was, the county Members knew less of the
grievances and circumstances of the farmers than the me tu-
bers of that much maligned body, the Anti-Corn-law League.
If there were any one subject in which landholders, game-
keepers, and labourers were agreed upon, it was in a thorough
detestation of the game-laws.—(oh, oh.) Hon. Members
might cry " Oh, oh." That cry would go forth to the coun-
try, but it would rather strengthen than alter that universal
agreement.—( Hear, hear.) He would venture to say that. he
had conversed and shook hands with more tenant-farmers, ten
to one, than any Member of that House.—( Laughter. ) With
regard to the exaggeration of the statements, as they were
called, of the cost of keeping game, he had been in Scotland
himself last year, at Cupar, in Fife. A farmer wrote him a
letter, which requested a public meeting in Cupar, in order
that he might state the grievances which the game-laws
entailed upon him. The farmer said that the Anti-Cren.law
League should take up the question of the game-laws as well
as the corn-laws.—(lronical cheers from the Tory benches.)
This farmer gave his name, and he had no objection to state
it. It was Andrew .ThFarlane, who lived near Cupar. "In
order to convey to you some idea (this firmer writes) of the
destruction by game, I beg to inform you, that in 700 Scotch
acres, held by me and four farmers, from Captain Wemyse,
who had a seat in this House—(Laughter)—that in 1841 we
had 7001. awarded to us by arbitration, for the destruction by
game, and even that did not indemnify us for the damage done.
This showed what a loss of human food these game laws
entailed. He repeated that the most entire ignorance prevailed
among the landlords of the condition of the tenant farmers.
It was easy to talk of exaggeration, buf. he would paint his
finger to the reports on the table of that House. Was it any
exaggeration to say that the game-laws were a monstrous evil,
when 4,500 persons were convicted under them in one year,
and forty transported in ten years? Twenty-seven persons
had been shot in game preserving. Sixty thon.and persons
took out licences to shoot. In order that 60,009 persons should .
have amusement, 4,500 were convicted and forty transported ;
so that for every fifteen licensed sportsman, one man was con-
victed and punished. You think that exaggeration and com-
plain of it as an evil ; and the Hon. Gentleman who had just sat
down found fault with the Anti-Corn-law League, as did the
Hon. Member for Bristol, for the part they took in this matter.
Ho pleaded guilty to the accusation that the Anti-Corn-law
League had been the means of bringing this question before
the House. Nothing but the force of public opinion could
have compelled the Government to grant the Committee.—
(Cries of " Oh, oh.") He said again, it was public opinion
that had effected it. He did not want to come there as tl •
farmer's friend. The farmers had suffered too much from 1 ro-
fessing friends already—(Cries of " Hear, hear")—an d
the very best services he could render to the
tenant-farmer would be to advise them not to
believe in professing friends, but to trust to themselves, and
make up their minds to enter into an organisation from which
they might expect much more than f:om the Legislature. Was
it not most monstrous that when the farmer had taken his
land his produce should be destroyed ? A let to 11 a farm, for
which B paid him the rent of the day ; but then A let to C the
right of shooting over this firm, the game which the farmer
fed, but for which the landlord was paid. '[he farmer pays,the
rent, the game destroys the corn, but the farmer must pay for
the landlord's profit or amusement. It would he just as reasonalle
to lot land to a farmer, and then to give permission to a
butcher to turn his cattle over the land.—( Hear, hear.) It
had been already stated, and he firmly believed it, that five
hares destroyed as much as one sheep. Such was the condi-
tion of the tenant farmer. He did not believe that any good
would come from the Legislature on this subject, but the in-
troduction and discussion of the question would give the far-
mers an opportunity of stating their grievances, and of unaing
among themselves, so as to force Parliament finally to abolish
those odious grievances.—(Cheers.)
Mr. ADDERLEY said he was anxious for the appointment
of the Committee.

Mr. WODELIOUSE repudiated the insinuation, so often
thrown out, that the landlords were selfish and cared for no other
nterests but their own.

Mr. FORBES wished to know if the Hon. Member for
Durham had alluded to him in the course of his speech ?
Mr. BRIGHT said he had already told the Hon. Gentle-
man, in private, that he did not allude to him.:
Mr. CARLISLE bore testimony to the proper ma ner in
which the magistrates of Ashby-de-la-Zouch hail always ad-
ministered justice. He confessed he was not favourable to the
present game-laws. He thought the damage which had been
committed on crops was rather attributable to those more in-
nocent hares and rabbits which the Hon. Member for Bristol
had shown could do but little harm.

Sir ROBERT PEEL thought, that with the evidence of
increased crime before them, any resistance to an inquiry on
the part of the Government would be impolitic. At the same
time, he must confess that he did not think any beneficial
alteration could be made in the law. They would find that
the prrjudice against the game-laws aro-e more out of the
excessive preservation of game than anything else, and the
change must be a moral one instead of a legal one, He ap-
prehended the law, as it stood, was equally as just to the
tenant as the landlord, but when leases were granted a clause
was introduced, reserving or otherwise the right of the game
to the landlord. If, therefore, a tenant thought the preserva-
tion of game upon the land adverse to his interests, let him
object to it before he made the contract with
his landlord. But, really, the evil lay in the
excessive extent to which game was preserved by certain
parties. It they wished to derive plea•ure from sporting, let
them enjoy it in the way their forefathers did. The change, he
thought, rested with the landlord rather than in any altera-
tion in the law. Indeed, he thought an alteration in the law
would m.►terially affect the rights of property without re-
moving the evil, and it was now too late to go
back to the time when the sale of game was
illegal. Certainly they could not alter the law
in that respect. He cordially concurred in the appointment of
the Con.mittee, and hoped they would approach the conside-
ration of the subject in the same spirit and temper which
had characterised that debate. As he stated before,
he despaired of any alteration being made in the state
of the law ; but he trusted that, if no alteration
were made, the proprietors of land would see the necessity
of regulating their conduct according to the prevailing feeling
amongst the rural population of the country. They might create
a better feeling amongst their tenants by joining with them in
their sports ; and he trusted that in future his lion. Friends
would adopt this course. He believed, in the first place,
that the complaints against the excessive preservation
of game were well founded, and if this evil
were removed he thought that it would reduce the amount of
crime. It was highly creditable to his Hon. Friends who
had taken part in the discussion, that they had consented to a
full and impartial inquiry. Nothing could be more honourable
than their conduct, nothing could be more marked than their
might have
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WINDOW -
TAX. X.

Lord DUNCAN begged leave to withdraw h s motion,
which was to the effect—That the taxes levied on windows in
Great Britain are unjust, unequal in their operation; and most
oppressive to those especially who are least able t hear them,
and should be immediately repealed ; and to give notice that
he would bring it on on the 13th of March.
EMPLOYMENT IN WORKHOUSES.
Captain PECHELL begged to move " That there be-forth-
with laid before this House a return from the Boston union,
stating whether the pauper inmates thereof are, or have been,
since the formation of the said union, employed in grinding or
crushing hones by means of mills, machinery, or otherwise, to-
gether with the date of the erection of such mills or machinery.
and the names•of the chairman and vice-chairmanvf tire Inrarit
of guardians of the said union at the period; also, the cost i.f
the sail bones, including the -expemes of carriage and other
incidental expenses, and the amount which the same have pro-
dnced in their manufactured state, and whether the same hare
been sold by tender, or at a fixed price or otherwise."
Agreed to.
COMPANY'S CLAUSES CONSOLIDATION BILL.
This Bill was real a second time.
PROPERTY-TAN.
The Property-tax Bill was read a second-time.
STAMPS DUTIES ASSIMILATION BILL.
This Bill was read a second time. •
GLASGOW JUNCTION RAILWAY,

The Committee on standing orders reported, that the order
had been complied with in this Bill.
LONDON AND BRISTOL JUNCTION RAILWAY.
The standing orders were reported to have been complied
with in this Bin.
YORK AND NORTH MIDLAND RAILW tY.
The Committed reported that the standing orders had been
complied with in this Bill.
The House then adjourned at Eleven &Clock.

• CIIRAP TRIP TO LONDON.—The Committe.e, of the
Great National Anti7Corn-law Bazaar intend to make ar-
rangements with all the lines leading to London, fi)r cheap
trips, during the mouth of May next.—Lecd4 ..ilercurp