The Sun.
London, England, 1842-07-08 00:00:00

MERCHANT SEAMEN'S FUND.

Mr. AGLIONBY begged to ask the Right Iron.
Ban qiet whether he intended to bring funs era any
remedy for the defects in the; management and appro-
priation of the Merchant Seamen's Fund, into which a
Coulnittee was appointed to inquire in 1840 ?
Sir P. PEEL said that the lion. Gentleman must be
aware that in the Reports of the Committee difficulties
were suggested, which would require consideration, and
these should be considered before any Bill was intro-
duced.

Mr. SHEIL said that there was a- draft of a Bill on the
subject, founded or, the last Report but one.
TREATY WITH THE BRAZILS.

In answer to a question from Mr. FOSTER, relative
to the traaty with the Brazils,
Sir R. PELL said that he was aware of the importance
of the subject. The Hon. Gentleman must be aware that
darenees for several years existed bete een the Govern-
ment of this country and the Brazils, as to the operation
of the commercial treat v. Their Government contended
that the treaty would not expire till the year 1844,
while the Government of the Brazils cOntendeO that
it would expire in 1842.; and on their accession to
office the subject came under consideration, and the
Government stated their impression to the Government
of the Brazils, and, not content with that, they submitted
to the Brazilian Government the policy of inakiog
new treaty, which would solve the difficulties which arose
tram the different constructions as to the existing one.
That treaty had been before the Brazilian Government
fly some time, but delays arose respecting it from casual
circumstances—the indisposition and the instability of the
present Brazilian Ministry. The Hon. Gentleman
would not, he hoped, expect him to give any further in-
formation on the subject.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL wished to know from the
Right Hen. Baronet whether he was to conclude, from
what he had stated, that the Brazilian Government heti
given any notification of its .intention to bring befi're
the Chamber a measure for an alteration of duty on Bri-
tish goods ?

Sit. R. PEEL said that no notification had been given
ECCLESIASTICAL COI ORATIONS LEASES

BILL,

Lord JOHN RUSSELL wished to know whether
it was the intention of the Right Hon, urable Baronet,
the Secretary of State for the Home Department,
to proceed with the EcclesiaStical Corporations
Bill. It could not be considered until after the Poor-
law Bill and other measures were gone through ;
and as it was a measure of considerable importance, and
his Hen. Friend the Member for Oxford had given notice
of a motion on the subject, he trusted the Right Hon.
Baronet would not press the Bill this session.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM said (as we understood) that
it was not his intention to do so in the presencsession.
MEDICAL CHARITIES (IRELAND) BILL.
_ _ _ . . .

Mr. LITTON wish. d to knoN't, from the Noble Lord,
the Secretary for Ireland, whether it was his intention
t:t bring in this Bill during the present session, and it
'so, whether he intended to proceed with it ?
Lord ELIOT hoped .he would be able to lay the Bill
on the table in a few days ; and as he did not think
that sufficient opportunity for discussing the Biil would
Le afforded in the present session, Iv? only intended to
ask the House to sanction the principle of the Bill, and to
allow it to be read a second time. The public in
Ireland would then have an opportunity of considering
the measure.

LAW OFFICERS.—(DUBLIN.)
Mr. SHAW wished to know from the Right Hon.
Gentleman, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether
it was the intention of Government to alter the licenses
of the officers of the Law Courts in Dublin.

The CHA NCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
that he was in course of framing a Bill on the subj Let,
and would submit it to the consideration of the House.
Ile was not prepared to say.that he would proceed fur-
tin,r with it.at present.

ADJOURNEIi DEBATE ON THE DISTRESS OF

THE COUNTRY.

Sir G. CLERK having moved that the House do re.
solve itself into a Committee of Supply,
Mr. O'CONNELL said he hoped it would not be sup-
posed. that, in rising so early in the evening to address
the house, he did so because he felt himself inadequate
to discuss the subject in the manner it deserved. He
I believed that great perils, were at hand ; that
the social state was in danger. There ti as
no dispute that distress pervaded the country. He
never knew such unanimity upon any one subject as upon
the general statement of distress. Ireland was suffering,
though, alas, that was nothing new, to a direful extent at
the present moment. There were two sources of the diffi-
culties of Ireland. There was one in its nature temporary,
which often occurred there ; another of a more permanent
nature, and for the relief of which he saw no possibility
of any measure being adopted which did not first secure
the prosperity of England.—(Hear, hear.) The first
kind of distress was the consequence of three bad harvests.
He had a confident hope that the poor man's harvest
was likely this year to be abundant ; but the wheat har-
vest and the oat harvest were likey, he feared, to be
very deficient. He wished it might not be so, but he
was afraid there was great accuracy in the information
which ha had received on that subject. The other dis-
tress which was more permanent in Ireland was the
distress of those who were engaged in any
kind of trade, and especially the retail dealers.
Accounts from every town with which he was
acquainted stated that the business of the shopkeepers
was diminishing daily; and lie saw no possibility of their
being relieved fromsheir difficulties except through the
prosperity of England. The light lion. and Learned
Gentleman then read an extract from a newspaper
upon the distress in Mayo and Galway. Now (he con-
tinued), could it be doubted that equal distress existed
in this country. The statistics of misery had been re-
peated
again and again by every Gentleman who had
risen on that side of the House. The question had
been not whether distress existed, but what
place was most afilicted,—what class of opera-
tives are most distressed--% hare the families '
whifth were pitting in want and suffering were most
numerous. Such was the condition of this great country,
a country which held a proud station among the nations
of the earth, a country which was first in arts, in
sciences and in arms, in commercial industry, in genius,
in talent, and in mental power, a country Which had
once been the envy and admiration of the
world. how has it fallen .? The scream of distress,
the cry of want there, families famishing with want in
every direction. He could not depict hi lan-
guage strong enough the extent of the misery .
of the country. Were these things to remain
thus ? Were they safe in ronaning thus? Was