The Sun.
London, England, 1842-06-25 00:00:00

THE EARTHQUAKE AT ST.
DOMINGO

The following letter, respecting the effects of the late
earthquake at Cape Haytien, has been sent to us by Cap-
tain Franklin, of tip West India steamer Tweed, while
off St. Domingo, at the time that lamentable occurrence
took place : "Turk's Island, May 24.
" Sir,—lt may, perhaps, be interesting to you to learn
that, at the time the earthquake happened at Cape
Hayden, a similar occurrence took place at Turk's Island.
The Tweed, under my command, was off St. Domingo,
False Cape bearing E. by N. 12 or 14 miles. I was sitting
at dinner when I felt the ship strike as if going
along a coral reef or hard sand-bank. I ran on
deck, stopped the engines, put the helm hard
a-starboard, threw overboard the deep sea lead,
with 80 fathoms line ; no bottom. Lowered two
boats, and sent them with officers to sound ; which
they continued to do until I recalled them; it getting
dark, the boats returned, not having got any bottom. So
satisfied was I that the ship had been ashore, that I had
hired a diver at Turk's Island to look at the ship's bot-
tom, but who was prevented doing so by my being obliged
to go to the assistance of the Medina, which ship had got
oa shore on the north part of Turk's Island. It is a sin-
gular circumstance that the sensation was felt so strongly
when we were at least in 300 fathoms water.

" Yours, &c.
"EDWARD FRANKLIN."

A serious breach is reported to exist between the
Right lion. Baronet at the head of the Government and
the Noble Lord who presides over the Colonial depart-
ment. This has been more than suspected for some
time; and recent circumstances seem to illustrate and
strengthen the fact of its existences The manner in
which Lord Stanley was put down by Sir Robert Peel
in ,the House. of Commons, in the act of rising to
speak on an important question, with his papers ar-
ranged, and his notes prepared for a set speech, made
a strong impression on the House. The Premier
was of course submitted to ; but the effect upon the
Colonial Secretary was manifest. The indignity was
too marked to be forgotten or forgiven. It is likely
that Sir Robert Peel has no wish it should be. It was
,a fine specimen of snubbing. Then came the abandon-
ment of Lord Stanley's protege, the late Member for
Belfast, to the damaging motion of Mr. O'Connell,
whom the Premier joined, and thus enabled him to
carry the suspension of the writ for that borough.
Then followed the announcement by Sir Robert Peel
that Lord Stanley's Irish Registration bill would not be
proceeded with. Thus virtually negativing the Noble
Lord's case of flagrant perjury in Ireland, which was made
the basis of Lord Stanley's Irish Registration measure,
and the source of his Lordship's popularity with the
Orange party in Ireland. We are assured that the
"fiery Tybalt" is cherishing serious thoughts of avenging
himself on his chief ; and will probably avail himself of
Mr. Emerson Tennent's withdrawing himself and his
patronage from the Government to carry his designs
into execution.

•
THE PAVING BOARDS or ST. PANCRAS.—For the
last day or two much interest has been excited in the parish
of St. Pancras by the various contests that have taken place
for the election of Comrois2,ioners of Paving and Lighting on
the numerous estates composing the above extensive and opu-
lent parish. That, however, to which the greatest importance
has been attaehed, and which partook more of polities than any
other,is the election of forty-one Commissioners on the South-
ampton raving trust, which is by far the largest, and embraces
nearly one-third of St. Pancras. The contending parties
were, what is called the united list, composed of gentlemen of
all shades of political opinion, and the Chartist or Douglas
party, who, until the year before last, when they were ousted
by the parishioners, had held entire and absolute sway
over the funds of this immense district. Wednesday
afternoon, at four o'clock, pursuant to the Act of Par-
liament., the declaration of the state of the poll took place
, 794; in the
at the Commissioners'-rooms, Edward-street, Hampstead-road,
when the Chairman declared the result robe as follows :---For
the united list, proposed
yosebdbymrll:lDr.ouFg.lBl3s,ra2i9t9hr
majorityit
for the
Chartist list, propene
ormer, 495. 'fhe announcement was hailed with loud cheers.
The Milan Gazette announces that the fourth
Seientifie Congress of Italy is to take plate at Padua on the
15th of September, and continue sitting to the 29th, the Em.
peror of Austria having given the necessary authorization for
the meeting. Learned men of all countries are invited to attend.
LIGHT GOLD.—The sovereign panic has caused
much inconvenience at Loughborough, no person being
willing
'to take a sovereign without deducting sixpence at least. Nt-
n9ltam Review.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
HOUSE OF LORDS, June 24.

•
Their Lordships met at Five &Clock.
The Slave-trade Abolition Bill was read a second
time, and ordered to be committed.
The Public-houses Bill passed through Committee,
was reported, and ordered to be read a third time on
Monday.
On the Order of the Day for the third reading of the
Liverpool Health of Town and Improvement Bill,
The Marquis of SALISBURY moved that the Bill be
recommitted, which, after a desultory conversation, in
which the Duke of Richmond and Lord Kenyon took
part, was agreed to.
NEWFOUNDLAND.

Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from New-
foundland against the contemplated changes in the con-
stitution of that colony, and disclaiming the charges
made againgt the House of Assembly in the British Par-
liament, of being too favourable to the Popish party, and
inimical to the British connection and the Established
Church. To disprove this latter charge, the petitioners
stated that the present House of Assembly had on their
first meeting elected a Protestant speaker, a Protestant
clerk, and several other officers of the Protestant
religion.

COLLIERIES.

The Marquis of LONDONDERRY presented a
petition from certain -coal-owners in Northumberland,
respecting the employment of children in coal mines.
On the part of the petitioners and of himself
he denied that any such inhuman practices us were set
forth in the Report of the Collieries Commissioners were
permitted in their works. The Noble Marquis com-
plained in very strong terms of the unfairness with which
he alleged the Commissioners had gone about collecting
evidence. They had communicated only with artful boys
and ignorant young girls, and had put all their questions
in such a manner as to suggest the answers that would
suit their purpose. More than than that, they had ac-
companied their Report with disgusting and indecent
prints, representing things that never took place.
The information be received with respect to the Commisfioners
was, that they had been, all four of them, connected with the
Factory Commission, and many of their proceedings in the
Factory Commission had been petitioned against. He did not
think that such reports should be strictly relied on. He felt
quite convit.ced that those instances cf debauchery and immo-
desty which had been given were very much exaggerated, espe-
cially with rrgard to Scotland. He knew it for a fact that there
was nothing like immodesty in the collieries in Scotland. It
appeared to him that their Lordships were about-to pass a law
which would materially affect a mo.t powerful interest noon
very incorrect and exaggerated grounds. In the Northern
Counties there was no less than 10,328,0001. sterling invested
in mining interests. It was pwosed to educate the children
until they were 13 years of age, and not to alloW them to enter
the names -until they were 13 years old. Why, a hat was to become
of them until that time ? bid they not know that the life of
the pit lad was by no means a hard one? It was not nearly so
laborious as that of the sailor. The pit lad chalked things upon
the walls of the pit, and was as happy as the day was long.—
( Laughter.) His life was cheerful and jovial.—(Laughter.)
They were not all born to be educated, and if they were edu-
cated ever so well, they would not be able to meet with employ-
ment. They would educate themselves whenever they saw the
nece,sity for education, but they were not all born to be edu-
cated. The petitioners prayed that the inquiry might be
further pursued, with the view of exposing the exaggerated
statements contained in their last report. He bored so toe.
He thought the, prayer of the petition was just and reasonable,
and that the statements of the Commissioners ought net to he
allowed to go forth without their Lordships enabling the ca-
lumniated parties to give evidence to exculpate themselves.—
( Hear.) There was no body of employers in the kingdom who
did more than the owners of coal mines to do justice to those
under them, and in every way to promote their happiness and
well being. It was all very well for a Nob'e Lord to come
down to the other House of Parliament, and make statements
upon the authority of some artful boys under thirteen yea's of
age ; but he trusted that their Lordships would not legislate
upon such statements, but would inquire carefully and judge for
themselves.
The LORI) CHANCELLOR rose to move the Order of the
Day for the third reading of the Copyright Bill, bet
The NOBLE Maw:suss continued amidst great laughter.
He apologised for having so long occupied the House, and
concluded by expressing an anxious desire that .the inquiry
should be proceeded with.
The Bishop of NORWICH would postpone what he had to
say on the subject until the Bill which was before the other
House came up to their Lordships. He could not, however,
avoid saying, that he could not reccgnise any necessity for the
employment of women or children in English or Scotch mines,
when he found:to the credit of Ireland that in not one of the
collieries in thUt country was there a woman or a child under•
sixteen •ears of age employed.—( Hear, hear.) People were
in the habit of Calling the country barbarous, and of applying
opprobious names to the inhabitants. People spoke of the dark
and unenlightened state of the Irish people, but he could wish
that the light of their humanity was reflected in the darkness
and horrors of our English coal mines.
THE SCOTCH CHURCH.

Lord BELHAVEN rose to put the question, of which he had
given notice, to the Noble Lords opposite who constituted part
of her Majesty's. Government. He need not now tell their
Lordships that the state of the Church of Scotland was such
as every well-wisher of the country must deplore. That
Church was the one best suited in' all respects to the feelings
and habits of the people of that country. It was now in a
state of distraction which was painful to every reflecting mind,
and imperiously called for the intervention of Parliament. The
question which heihad to put was, whether it was the intention
of her Majesty's Government to take the subject into their
serious consideration, with a view to a satisfactory settlement?
The Duke of WELLINGTON, in replying to the question
of the Noble Baron. would confine himself as much as possible
to giving a simple answer. The Government had had the sub-
ject for a long tirawunder their serious consideration ; had endea-
voured to discover the means of settling this important and dis •
tressing question, but they had found that the parties were not
prepared to receive with satisfaction the measure which the
Government was disposed to submit to Parliament. All the
Members of the Government had the same respect for the
Church, and the same conviction of the benefits it had conferred
on the people of Scotland, as the Noble Lord himself, and of
its being eminently calculated to benefit the people and
to ensure their happiness. The Government had given and
were giving their istmost attention to the subject, with a view of
discovering the means of effecting its satisfactory settlement.
The Duke of RICHMOND, from his connexion with that
part of the empire, concurred in the sentiments of the Noble
Lord who put this question, and Ise heartily agreed with him
its saying that a settlement of the existing dispute was most
desirable. The conduct of the General Assembly, from whom
a petition was to be presented by a Noble Lord on the Ministe-
rial side of the House, was most extraordinary, and he could
not help saying that he wondered how they could reconcile it
to their consciences to act so harshly as they d d to clergymen
who had really done nothing to offend them, or to violate the
laws.
Lord BROUGHAM tlfought it would be unbecoming to go
into the question before it came fully before the House, consi-
dering the proceedings then pending before the Court of
Session.
Lord BELHAVEN thought, if the Government brought
in a measure respecting this subject, it would have the effect of
putting an end to the unfortunate differences which now
existed. When Noble Lords opposite were on his (Lord Bel-
haven's) side of the House they were anxious to legislate upon
this subject.
After a few words from the Duke of WELLINGTON, the
subject dropped.

COPYRIGHT BILL.

On the motion that this Bill be read a third time,

Lord CAMPBELL rose to call the attention of their Lord-
ships to the 17th and 23d clauses. The former cause was for
the purpose of giving a power to Excise officers to examine
books on importation, to prevont piratical editions of wcrks of
authors in this country. If this clause were admitted it ap-
peared to him that the latter clause was wholly unadvisable, as
it gave a power to any constable to come into any of their Lord-
ships' librarica, and if they had a book which they had bought
while travelling on the Continent—
The LORD CHANCELLOR said he would save the Noble
and Learned Lord trouble, and withdraw the clause.

The Bill was then read a third time.
DISTRESS OF THE COUNTRY.'

Lord BROUGHAM gave notice that he should, on Thurs-
day next, present a petition from the deputation from the ma-
nufacturing districts relative to the distress in those districts.
Lord CLANCARTY presented a petition from a place in
Ireland, against the system of National Education in Ireland.
SALMON FISHERIES REGULATION (SCOTLAND)