The Sun.
London, England, 1842-05-28 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATIJ4DAY MORNING

intentions of the Government. The second reading of
the Bill of the Ilon. Member for Argyleshire was fixed
for the 15th of June ; there would be ample time before
then for the Government to consider, and to decide,
whether it would be expedient on their own respong-
bility for them to introduce any measure for the regula-
tion of the affairs of the Church of Scotland.
DISTRESS IN PAISLEY.

Mr. HUME wished to ask the. Right Hon. Baronet a
question. A Committee had been. appointed in Paisley
for the purpose of receiving subscriptions, in order to
afford relief to the unemployed poor of that town and
neighbourhood. By a paper which he held in his hand
it appeared that by order of the Government, an agent
or commissioner had been sent down to that place,
who undertook the mode of supplying the unemployed
with money, or provisions, and that in consequence the
local subscriptions had ceased. He wished to know if
such was the case? '

Sir R. PEEL—Since that time her Majesty's Govern-
ment had been in constant communication with the local
authorities of Paisley on the subject of the distress
prevailing there, which, he regretted to say, had been
exceedingly severe. Government had not interfered
with the local subscriptions, but they apprehended that
the distribution of the local funds was act conducted on
the best principle, and they had sent down a
person to watch over its distribution, and see
that relief was afforded 'according to the prin-
ciple on which the poor of this country were
relieved. One of the modes in which relief
was granted, was by giving an order on
the retail dealers of provisions in the • town. It was
clear that such a mode was very. open to abuse.
He would take that oprortunity of earnestly recom-
mending the object of the subscription. The purport of
it was to afford relief to the distress which prevailed in
this country and in Scotland—a country in which the
provisions for the relief of the poor were very defective.
The smallest contributions would tend to diminish the dis-
tress which unhappily prevailed to such an extent ; and
he could not but express a hope that the call of her Ma-
jesty would be generously responded to by all classes.
He trusted that the sympathy justly and honourably
felt for the suffering which had followed the last calamity
in llamburgh would not prevent parties from contribut-
ing also largely and liberally to the alleviation of the
misery which prevailed in our own country.
Mr. HU4E then rose to move for an account (as we
understood) of any. sums sent down to Paisley, for the
relief of the poor in that town,—(Cries of "No, no.)"
Sir R. PEEL said that he hoped the House would
not accede to such a motion. Some temporary advances,
in consequence of the exhaustion of local funds, had
been made in favour of the inhabitants of -Paisley, but
the public would not suffer from such advances. Ile
trusted that the House -would -not call npen,the Govern-
ment to make disclosures which could be productive of
no benefit, and which could-only uselessly interfere with
the object which the Government had in view.
Mr. HUME gave notice that on Monday next he
should bring the matter under the consideration of the
House. The Hon. Gentleman then moved that an hum.
ble address be presented to her Majesty, praying for a
copy of a letter addressed, by her command, to the
Archbishop of Canterbury, recomm.3nding that collec-
tions should be made in the different Churches through-
out the country.
Sir R. PEEL was understood to say that he could
have no objection to such a motion.

Colonel CONOLLY disapproved of any interference
on the part of that House with the course pursued by
the Government.

Mr. GIBSON asked whether any sums of money had
been sent to any other plaCes besides. Paisley, and
whether there was any objection to give an account of
the places to which they had been sent.
Sir R. PEEL said he could not admit that any relief
had been given out of the public funds, except in the
-case of Paisley, is hick was one of peculiar emergency.
Mr. BARING thought that if • such relief had been
given, the House had a right to every information.
The motion was then agreed to. •
COLONY OF NEWFOUNDLAND.
Mr. O'CONNELL asked the Noble Lord, the Colonial
Secretary, ,whether any dispatch had been received from
the present Governor of Newfoundland.
Lord STANLEY was understood to say that he had
received a despatch, but that it was marked private and
confidential.