The Sun.
London, England, 1845-06-19 00:00:00

S LoNnpx, TH URSDAY MORNING, JUNE 19, 1845.

nised over its best feelings, and destroyed the interests of
!hot:sands. When I see that men, and that women, too, come
forward, Red are repelled because they complain that fer
working from sunrise to sunset, and often afterward', they
receive no more than six, seven, eight, or ten shillings a week,
for the support of a family of ten persons, I feel fully assured
• thet no imputation can lie on the proceedir gs of this League,
and I enjoy a consolation in the the abought, that we are en•
deavourirg to work cut a greet and a good object. I will not
speak of the differences which existed between the labourers in
those agricultural districts and those whom we see in our
fact( ries.—(Rear. ) They were repelled because they
desired to have those things which from their
!abour they have a right to have. And when
I come to look the hovels which they inhabit, lam con-
strained to believe that there is as little consideration for the
rights of the piaor, as there is of knowledge of what is good for
the nation.—(Cheers.) I will not say that many parts of the
country are not in a state of prosperity, but I do say that there
has not been sufficient care for the interests of all the classes of
the community, and especially whin I consider that the po-
pulation is steadily increasing, and that there are now a million
and a half more of human beings to support than there were
may four years ago. When I look at the state of the public
mind only four :sears ago, and I i.ee how this prieciple has been
growing, I am constrained to believe that the granting of all
that we require cannot .be very long delayed, and if the
public mind continue . to be agitated as it ices of
late years, no Government,—not even that ef Sir
Robert Peel, were it ten tie es as strong as it is, could
long resist the emend tendency which the country has ac-
qui,.ed, and it must 3 ield that which reason and experience
alike demand. In 01 his speeches on the repeal of the corn-
laws, Sir R. Peel had invar'ably shown a disposition to advance
in the right path. I will not therefore find fault with him,
because I believe that it is for this reason—His fortune was
m'icle from those eclieate fibres of creton from which, as he
believed, the e great changes in the world would yet eri-e, that
would render totem, me the grand vehicle through which the
civilization of the werlt must be effected. Sir Robert Peel was
not exactly the man whom he desired to effect the great object
of delivering commerce from the thraldom under which it bad
been placed; but still from the necessity of his posi-
tion, he believed that he might be the great
ins! ma eat of effecting this object. —( Loud cheers. )
The Prime Minister of this country possesed enormous power,
and where there was enormous power there was enor-
mous respon • ibility. In the late di bate on Mr. Vil-
liers's motion Sir James Graham said that be should
vote against the motion of the Honcurable Member fur Wol-
verhampton, but he should he very unwilling to take upon
himself the responsibility of putting a restriction on the
fool of the people of a great country like this. These are all
symptoms of the settling of circumstances—(Cheers)—and he
was glad to see that this settling was having its effect; and the
time will come when posterity will look back with wonder on
the struggle in which we are engaged. The claim which we
make is a just claim, and, as it is reit..ra'ed again and again,
,evion after session, with increasing power on our parts, and
with increasing feebleness on the parts of our opponents, it
must be manifest that the great change which is taking p'ace
in the public mind must eventually—and that shortly—effect
ail that we desire. It is the assurance of Divine inspiration
that the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. The
merehants of this great commercial city have inscribed the came
sentiment on their new and royal and magnificent exchange.—
( Cheers.) What then is so clearly laid down in Holy Writ is
surely consonant with the best feelings of human nature ; and
we may confidently lock for the blessing of heaven en our
efforts for the general good; if we are but energetic and careful
in carrying out this giert work.—(Cheers.) Year after year
the League has been going on increasing in power, and as

it grows in power, it is acquiring new elements of greatness
and influence. Yours it is to carry out the end we have in
view. Yours it is to complete the work which we have begun,
and to carry on that which we have so happily begun to a suc-
cessful issue. Our work will never be completed till our object
is attained.—( The Hon. Gentleman then sat down amidst
immense cheering, which continued for a considerable time.)
Mr. Fox--I apprehend, Sir, that the anticipations of the
last speaker will be well received, as I am sure they are well
f itinded, and that free trader will, indeed, he a most unreason-
able persin who does not express himself satisfied with the
progress and prospects of this great question. As has been
well observed by Mr. Cobden to-night, I entertain little fear
but that the majority which is now arrayed agair.st this great
question in both Houses of Parliament, will soon be converted
into a minority; and that, not by a triumph of party, but by the
conscientious assent of all classes of the community. We have
not, it is true. the vote as yet of the great leader of the House
of Commons, but we have nine-tenths of his speeches in our
favour. We have now the opinions of all classes of the
community in our favour. Even the farmers who have
so long been urged on to the opposition which they have set
up to an enlightened policy are beginning to complain. Their
opinions are changed. arid the whole sense of the country is
moving toward the great object. The landlords were stated
by the farmers to have deserted them, and if these protective
eorn-laws are not the landlord's business, I should like to know

whose they are. All argument in favour of the corn-laws had
now been given up, and two newspapers. lately speaking of the
',leas which could be put in their favour, stated. that if there

was an a•gument still i i existence, it was so closely concealed,
that it was impossible to discover it. There is a mystery, in
fact, about all these corn.law reasons, which it is
nearly impossible to fathom, and it reminds me of the cus-
•om at Athens, in the celebration of the Eleusinian mysteries, to

lead an :18F about, coveted with a wldie linen veil, under which

nobody must look. And this we' done so as at lost utterly
to destr.iy the feeling of respect with which the citizens were
accustomed to regard the animal, teat at last it came to be a
common joke that the ass carried the mystery. So it was with
reg,rd to the corn-lawst. I hey heard from day to day much of
the mystery with which the burdens on land, and all the other
pleas were enveloped, thid it so in ceased to be something won-
derful, anti reminded him of a caricature which had occurred
at the meeting of a certain corporation. Whilst one of the
members was speaking, another was observed to shake his head
in a very signitican; manner ; and on being clos. I:7 questioned,
Ind charged with this shameful hr...ach of corporate decorum, be
had confessed that he did shake his head, but added that there
was nothing in that.—(Loughter.) Such, too, was the case
with regard to the mysterious burdens on land. We have bad
the addition of many irrefragable arguments in favour of the
abolition of this-injudicious and impolitic monopoly, and most
truly do I desire that they may bear their full weight in the
community; for this is the season when, of all times, the change
could be best effected—when prosperity gladdened the country
from one end to the other, and when no evil can befal any one, and
great good must ultimately arise to every portion of the people.
I trust the Al.nistry will see this ; for dreadful would be the
havoc, fearful would be the symptoms which would follow a
winter after a bad harvest—when, as a few years ago, the whole
country was convulsed from the want of food, and the people
driven to desperation by want and suffering—would quickly con-
vert the whole of this beautiful scenery, peace, and abundance,
to one common spectacle of havoc and desolation. --( Hear,
near.) But, I hope that the case will be otherwise,
and that in the place of public contention and foreign con-
tention there will be peace with all nations abroad, and a free
exchange of their food fur our manufactures—when, instead
of hearng the bombardment of our towns and the invasion
of our coasts, the only invasion we should have to dread would
be the invasion of cargoes of corn, and the only reprisals we
should make would be in the shape of consignments of cotton
goods—when. instead of looking to the strong excitement of the
tavern and the alehouse, the mechanic and the artisan shall

look to the Athenaeum and the parks for their recreation and
improvement—when, instead of attending to the midnight
drillings upon the hills, they would look to the interchange of
kindness and the mutual promotion of the common welfare.
These are the moral influences which the agitation
for free trade is likely to produce ; and I trust that every one
who now hears me will use his best endeavours to carry on the
good work. The Premier is with us, though at present he
does not state so much openly ; but in order to keep him to
his point, we must continue our efforts with unabated energy.
Not a fibre must be spared, not a muscle relaxed. We must
still follow up the same beautiful union of effort, v.hich was
exhibited in the formation and conduct of the Bazaar.—( Hear,
hear, and cheers.) We must remember the few lines at the
opening of The Miller and his Men :
" When the wind blows,
Then the mill goes,
When the wind drops
Then the mill stops."
—(Cheers and laughter.) To make Peel go we must make
Russell go, and to make Russell go we must make the Whigs
go, and to make the Whigs go we must make the constituencies
go. and to make the constituencies go we must make this
League, which is the mainspring of all, go—go with unabated
vigour and increasing energy. Sir R. Peel had, like the hero
taken in battle, described in Mr. Sergeant Talfourd's new piece,
put down the helmet, the buckler, and the shield of
protection, but with this difference, that the
fictitious hero laid down his armour to enter on

captivity, while the object of Si- Robert Peel was to liberate
commerce and enfranchise the intercourse of mankind. Air.
Fox concluded his long and able speech to which our limits will
not alluw us to do anything like justice, by a most eloquent
appeal to the natives of the different foreign countries who might
be present, calling up• n them, by those high and noble endow-
ments of national character, to remember and to use their interest
and opportunities itipromot ng that great object which would be
fulfilled by intire freedom of intercourse and which would fully
justify every philosoi,her and philnthropist in using the
term of the " Family of Man." He sat down after great and pro-
tracted cheering,
The CHAIRMAN then said, that as all would hava much to
do at the next meeting. he would call upon the audience to
commence the registration with three cheers. Three hearty
cheers were then given by the immense assemblage, and the
meeting dispersed.

PARLIAMEN VARY BUSINESS.
TUESDAY, JUNE 17.
The following Bills, with further amendments proposed,
were referred to Eliv Select Committee on Standing Orders:—
Londonderry and Coleraine Railway.
Londonderry and Enniskillen Railway.
Great Southern and Western Railway (Ireland).

The Glasgow, Garnkirk, and Coatbridge Railway Bill was
7ead a third time and passed.

Standing Orders Committee,—Resolution reported ;
" That, in the case of the Epping Railway (No. 2)
petition, the Standing Orders ought to be dispensed with :
That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill."
Resolution agreed to.

NOTICES GIVEN AT THE PRIVATE BILL OFFICE.
Monmouth and Hereford Railway,—Select Committee cn
Group.( P.) adjourned till Wednesday, June 25, at twelve.
North Union and Ribble Navigation Branch Railway,—
Committee on re-committed Bill, Friday June 20, at three.
Eastern Counties Railway (Cambridge and Bury St. Ed-
mund's Extension),—Committee on Bill Wednesday, June
25, at twelve.

FIRE IN THE BOROUGII.—On Tuesday morning,
shortly before ten o'clock, an alarming fire broke out in the
manufactory of Mepsrs. Taylor and Sons, emery, blacklead, &c .
factors, 11, Bedcross.street, Borough. Flames were first perceived
amongst a quantity of Manilla matting, and were then obtaining
considerable hold. There being plenty of assistance upon the pre-
mises, the mats were hurled out of the windows, and thus the
building and Its valuable contents were saved. About thirty dozen
of Manilla mats were destroyed. The firm is insured.
ROBBERY 111/ A DomEsric.---Tuesday morning,
between one and two o'clock, on the return of Mr. Maitland and
his family from Vauxhall Gardens, to their residence In Great
Quebec.street, New.road, they were unable to gain admission to
their house. After knocking for a considerable time without re-
ceiving any answer, Mr. Maitland got over the area railings and
effected an entrance through the kitchen window, when he dis.
covered that their domestic, Mary Edwards, had absconded, taking
from his desk two 51. notes, 101. in cash, several silver spoons and
forks, as well as articles of wearing apparel.

[ADVERTISEMENT.]—AN EXTRAORDINARY CURE
OF A DISORDERED LIVER AND STOMACH SY HOLLOWAY'S
Pmts.—To Professor Holloway. Sir—Seeing that the Earl
of Aldborough was cured of a liver and stomach complaint by
means of your pills, I was induced to try them, and I have the
satisfaction to inform you that your pills have certainly, in a
very short time, done wonders for me in a similar complaint,
when calomel and other medicine at last failed to give me any
relief. I send you my name and address, but would rather that
you did not make them public.—N.B. This communication is
from a counsellor or barrister of great eminence of the Inner
Temple, whose letter would be shown to any respectable person.
Sold (also Holloway's o.ntment ) at Professor Holloway's Es-
tablishment, 244, Strand, and by Vendors of Medicine.

IMPERIAL PAR.LIAMEWF.
HOUSE OF COffillONS, June 18.
The SPEAKEn took the Chair shortly before Four o'clock.
Mr. WILSON PATTEN moved', pursuant to notice, upon
the motion that the order made on Friday, the 131 h
instant, that the report from the Committee on the
St. fiden's Canal and Railway Bid do lie on the
tible, be read that the said order be discharged, that the Bill
be recommitted to the former Committee. and that that Com-
mittee hare leave to sit and proceed, and report on Thunday.
—Agreed to.
On the motion of Mr. WILSON PATTEN, the Lords'
amendments to the Blackburn, Burnley, Accrington, and
Colne Eaten ion Railway BA' were agreed to.
The Fr:-wasit Valley Railway Pill was reported, and the Bill
crib-red t., be'ree,trtmitted.
Mol!neux's Et,tate Bill was read a third time and passed.
Mr. WILSON PATTEN brought up the report on the
Liverpool aria Manchester Railway Bill, which was crtiered to
lie on the table.
On the mottnn of Mr. MUNDY, it was ord red that the
period for receivit g the report on the Bermondsey Improvement
Bill should be extended to Wechtt•si:ty, the '2sth inst.
The Lords' Amendments to the Chester and 1-I,lyhead Rail-
way Bill were egret d to.

N _W ZEALAND.
Sir R. INGLIS presented a petition from a gentleman of
the nnme of Bu-by, of New Zealand, praying that the rights
of the natives to the land they occupied might be respected in
any future legislation.
Mr. BA RN 1.3 D presented petitions from the hand-loom
weavers of Kirk Eaton, praying fir a Ten Hours' Bill. •
Several similar yeti ions were als,r presented by dfferent Hon.
Members.
On the motion of Lord J. RUSSELL, the Lords' Amend-
ment to the Watermarea Company (l'oor's arid Endowment
Fund) Bill was agreed to. Th, Nob:e Lord also pres:rnted pe-
titions in favour of a ten hours' Bill.
The Grimsby D vhs Bill was reported.
Colorel WOr.'D brought up the report on the Forth and
Clyde Navigation and Union Canal Junction Bill, which was
ordered to lie en the table.
The Midd:esborough and 'rdear Railway Bill was reported.
The Tot nes Markets and Waterworks Bill was reported.
IRISH COLLEGIATE EDUCATION BILL.
Mr. J. O'CoN N ELL presented petitions from various Tarts
of Ireland against the Colleges (Ireland) Bill.
THE TEN HOURS' BILL.
Lord J. MANNERS presented a petition from Huddersfield
in favour of the Ten Hours' Bill.
Sir C. NAPIER presented a petition from Stockport to the
same effect.
Mr. MONCKTON MILNES presented similar petitions
from Gloucester.
Mr. S. CRAWFORD presented a petition from Hudders-
field in favour of the Ten Hours' Bill.
THE BROAD AND NARROW GAUGE.
Mr. PA CKE presented a petition from a•place the name of
which we did not catch, in favour of the narrow gauge.
NEW MEDICAL BILL.
Mr. MONCKTON AIILNES presented a petition against
th 36th clause of the New Medical Billlr
GENERAL BILLS.
Lord J. MANNERS wished to know whether the Bills
which stood for consideration to-night were to be taken before
the adjourned debate, for, if not, he thought that one day next
week should be appropriate for the purpose, and perhaps the
Government would make a Hous2 on Wednesday with a view
of taking the discussion that evening.
Sir G. GREY thought it would be unwiso to defer the
debate f rr anv consideration.
Sir B. H. 'INGLIS concurred in that opinion.
Sir J. GRAHAM thought that it would be following a
bad example to adopt the principle pointed out by the Noble
Lord. The business was already fixed for to-morrow and
Friday, and it could not, w i t bout great inconvenience, be altered.
COMMON LAW PROCESS (IRELAND.)
Mr. O%.3ONNELL said, that he saw three Bills in the orders
of the day for amending the Common Law Process in Ireland.
He wished to know whether the Irish Judges had been con-
sulted on these Bills, and whether they were brought in on the
responsibility of Government?
Sir JAMES GRAHAM said, that they were not brought
in on the responsibility of Government. He believed that the
Hon. Member for Cork had the care of them.
Mr. O'CONNELL then supposed that the Irish Judges
had net been consulted, and it would be better tc get rid of
them.

Mr. Sergeant MURPHY said, this's he was not the author
of the B Ifs, but they had been put into his hands from the
House of Lords. He had no fondue for them, and should be
as glad to wash his hands of them as the Hon. and Learned
Member could desire.
COMMON LAW PROCESS BILL.
Mr. Sergeant MURPHY moved the committal of this Bill.
Mr. O'CONNELL moved, as an amendment, that it be
committed that day six months.
After a few words from Mr. Sergeant MURPHY, the
amendment was agreed to without a division.
COMMON LAW PROCESS (IRELAND) BILL.
On the motion being put for the committal of this Bill,
Mr. O'CONNELL moved that it be committed that day
six months, which was agreed to.
COURT OF SESSION (SCOTLAND) PROCESS BILL.
On the motion being put for the committal of this Bill,
Mr. O'CONNELL moved that it be committed that day six
months, which wan agreed to.
Mr. T. DUNCOM BE moved the second reading of the
ARRFSTMENT OF WAGES BILL (SCOTLAND).
The LORD ADVOCATE was understood to object to cer-
tain parts of the Bill.
Mr., DUNCOMBE said it was most objectionable that a
person, employing from 200 to 300 men, should be served on
Saturday night with as many summonses for the arrest-
ment of the wages of his workmen, and that in
the event of his refusing to comply with them,
that an action might be brought against him by the persons
suing. Such claims were often made by these perstass when
not one shilling was owing to them by the workmen. No
course of this kind should be taken until the Court had given
judgment in the matter. Then one-half of the costs of such
proceedings should be paid by the pursuer, and the other half
by the person pursued, and that in the event of no debt being
' due that the workman should be compensated by the person
making the false vlaim. He was of this opinion, because the
greatest extortion was practised on workmen, who would
rather pay the amount claimed than lose a day's work. The
arrestment of wages in Scotland had been productive of the
greatest extravagance and of the greatest demoralisation, and
was opposed by both the employer and the employed.
There was no law of this sort in England, and why should there
be in Scotland ? He brought in a Bill for the assimilation of
the law of the two countries, and had very much regretted
that he withdrew it. He would leave the matter now entirely in
the hands of the Government, but would not be satisfied that
the 13111 should be put off from day to day, and that legislation
on the subject should be postponed.
Sir GRAHAM said it was a subject most difficult to be
adjusted. He had already given the opinion of Sir William
Rae, which was against the law for the arrestment of wages,
but at the same time Sir Wiiliam Rae thought it might be
dangerous to interfere, and that the working classes would
themselves be the first to feel the evils of this interference.
He had no objection on the part of the Government to make
some modifications of the Bill (as we understood), so as to
render it more satisfaetory.— [The Hon. Baronet was more
than usually indistinct.]
Mr. RUTHERFORD was understood to approve of the
course taken by the Right Hon. Baronet. He thought it ab-
surd that Gentlemen who were entirely ignorant of Scotland
and Scotch affairs should school Scotch Members on this sub -
ject.—( A laugh.)
Captain WE3IYSS would not have said one word upon this
Bill but for what had fallen from the Right Hon. Baronet. He
paid 400/. a week to 2.'to workmen, and he never made any
deduction from their wages. The power of attaching wages
would have the effect of encouraging shopkeepers who gave
S then asked
ND
credit to profligate workmen, to the prejudice of the families
of the latter.
The Bill was then read a second time,
RAILWAY CLAUSES CONSOLIDATION BILL
Mr. LABOUCHERE '
how)
(CO
long it was proposed
to defer the discussion on the Railway Clauses Consolidation
Bill (Scotland).
The LORD ADVOCATE replied, that day week.
Mr. LABOUCHERE wished the House to have an
opportunity of discussing the principle of the Bill.
He could never obtain an answer from her Majesty's
Government, aye or no, whether they assented to the principle
or not. What, he would ask, was the reason for postponing it
for a week P He confessed he raw no reason for doing so.
If the Noble and Learned Lord would bring it on to-morrow,
he would be quite ready to discuss it.
'The LORD ADVOCATE then appointed to bring it on
to-morrow.
Sir It. PEEL said that the only reason he had for postpon-
ing it was to give room for the adjourned debate, and thus
obviate any comp'aint that might be made of unfair advantage
being taken. He would not then pledge himself to any defi-
nite course respecting the further progress of the Bill until he
had heard the discussion.
Mr. WARBURTON thought the whole conduct of
the B:11 so I oculiar as to require further considera-
tion. It was first brought in without the clause ;in its pro-
gress through the House the clause was surreptitiously in-
serted ; the irregularity was discovered, the Bill was withdrawn,
it was re-introduced without the clause, and sent up ,
to the higher House. Subsequently it was returned, the clause '
having been again inserted by their Lordships up stairs. He
hoped, therefore, that either the clause would be withdrawn
altogether, or another Bill be brought in by his Noble and
Learned Friend. -
Mr. BROTHERTON doubted whether it was not an in- ,
fringement of their privileges for the House of Lords to insert
a clause which they had previously discarded.
Lord J. RUSSELL suggested that the House would have
an opportunity of discussing the propriety of the clause when ;
in Committee on the f ill.
Mr. RUTHERFORD thought the withdrawal of the clause
very irregular.
Sir R. PEEL considered the objection to the clause very
reasonable. A rule applicable to England was equally tenable
towards Scotland, and for that reason he had no reluctance in
saying he was unfavourable to its insertion.
Mr. LABOUCHERE inquired whether, then, the Govern-
ment disagreed with the conduct of the Upper House ?
SMALL DEBTS BILL.
On the SPEAKER'S suggestion, this Bill was ordered to be
read this day six months.
Mr. FITZROY KELLY then observed that he had con-
sulted with various parties in the country on the subject of
small debts, and he should be ready to bring in a new Bill,
containing amendments, on Monday next.
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE (SCOTLAND.)
Mr. ELLICE, jun., said, if it was convenient, he wouldwish
to be informed whether the Government intended to oppose or
support the Bill ?
Sir JAMES GRAHAM was understood to say that he was
not in a condition to state whether the Government intended
to oppose the Bill or not.
NEW ZEALAND—ADJOURNED DEBATF.
On the reading of the order of the day for resuming the de-
bate on Mr. C. Buller's. motion respecting New Zealand,
Captain ROUS said it was not his fault that the subject had
not been brought before the House at ass earlier period.
His object was to give the Directors of the New Zealand Com-
pany an opor, unity of explaining the charges which he and
others had brought against them. He begged to compliment
the Hon. and Learned Gentleman for the able speech which he
made last night on bringing forward the subject, and regretted
that he hail attacked the Colonial-office in the person of a gen-
tleman of pure philanthropy. He said that the New Zea-
landers were cannibals and notorious liars, and that he was
desirous of bringing them to a state of civilisation.—( A laugh.)
His Hon. Friend had given them terrible descriptions of the
New Zealanders, which they did not deserve. The other day
he met Mr. Browne, who informed him that last year he saw
400 acres of wheat entirely cultivated by the natives, and they
were able to sell the produce at 2s. per bushel. He stated
this to show the state of civilisation at which they bad arriv. d.
The character of the East Anglians, in the time of Julius
Caesar, would correspond with that given by the Hen. and
Learned Gentleman of the New Zealanders of the present
day. The Honourable and Gallant Member then went
into a detail of various negotiations which had, from
time to time, been made with the New Zealanders on
the part of this country for commercial purposes.
In 1834 they received a British flag from Captain
Lambert, of (as we understood) her Majesty's ship Trafalgar.
When the New Zealand Company was formed in 1838, the
former society was merged into the new one, and 40,0001. worth
of the new trade was made over to the old shareholders. Now

he
the
4 shouldoooo e
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for
rlad to know what fog
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ar
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tg vheenti
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the new Company was established, the original soc:ety was no'
po;sessstlof 'and in New Ze !and that was wt rth more than (001.
labourersfi onl It! 'levcmd ah:ikmee
n,L,wt hen
it
anesaCrero
singularil dneol uNtlra2ke irfie'Culamdb
circumstance
out,ess e
thatn gtett; :nee and 900
did not know their destination till they called at an interme-
diateport. These cabin passengers were persons who had been
accustomed to the luxuries of life in their own country, ant wet e
landed on a barren land, amidst a population of savages, with
scarcely, any preparation for their reception. It was most ex-
traordinary what negotiations had beet, entered into with
human beings of the lon eat scale in existence, with tespect to the
purchase cf land between the 41st and 43d degree of latitude—
( A laugh )e-just es if tl:ey knew the meaning of such terms.
Mr. Cart ington, the agent of the Nee' Zsa'and Company, said
that the purchase-money was never paid, and that the promises
of the New Zealand Company were looked upon with the
greatest distrust. The nature of the ar ides that pa,sed in
these negotiations was rather strange, comprising knives,
spoons, combs, and no less than 144.fews'-harps. In 1839
Lord Normanby appointed Captain Hobson governor of the
colony, and sent out orders, graphic in composition, but not
very sound in principle. ( The Hen. Member here read ex-
tracts from the document in question, which, from his posi-
tion, his back being turned to the gallery, were wholly
inaudible.) If they, instead of issuing such choice instruc-
tions, had laid an embargo on the Company's ships, and not
put—to use a homely expression—the cart before the horse,
and if the Covet nor, instead of withdrawing to an uninhabited
corner of the island, had settled where the great mass of the
population were collected, they would not have stru k
so fatal a blow to the vitality of the colony.
By the treaty of Waitanga the natives were given all the rights
and privileges of Englishmen, and a r'ght and title to their
lands, but the Governor turned round and said to them, " You
shall not sell your land to an Englishman nor to a native, but
to me. at 75 per cent.," so that it was absurd to say that they
had endowed them with the privileges of Briti,h subjects.
What right had they to exact such a monstrous tax as this
from the unfortunate natives ? Then the Government could
not grant lands to the New Zealand Company which they
themselves did not possess. No one in that House, or in the
country, could understand the difficulties which any one,
placed in a responsible situation in New Zealand, bait to con-
tend with. When Captain Fitzroy went out he found the
treasury bankrupt, the colonial accounts neglected, that the
English had fled before the natives in an engagement, and
that 5,600/. , out of a debt of 25,0-001., were owing to Govern-
' ment officers. I'laced then in such an embarrassing position,
lie (Captain Rout) considered that lie had acted to the best of
his ability—that he could not have acted better than he had done
for the public good. He had another charge against the New
Zealand Company respe sing the harbour duties which they
had imposed, and which had had the effect of driving ships
from the ports of the colony to those of the Society islands,
and, besides, no country being so well adapted for smuggling,
tobacco was sold by many of the natives at a shilling a pound,
whilst honest shopkeepers could scarcely sell it at 2s. It was so
with spirits, which were easily smuggled into the colony, and
sold at reduced prices, so great were the facilities offered to
smugglers. Would it not be more just to abolish duties
which gave so inefficient a protection to the revenue, and to
adopt in their place a property-tax. Capt. Fitzroy was blamed
for not bringing the parties who took a part in the Wairou mas-
sacre, to justice. Why he did not arrive in New Zealand
until a year after that occurrence. As he could not try the
parties he thought it best to virtually acquit them. He believed
that Capt. Fitzroy would gain golden opinions before he died,
for his conduct in New Zealand. Then the New Zealand
Company had received a large sum of money illegally, for they
disposed of great quantities of land, and realised large sums of
money before their charter was granted. They stated that
their capital was 300,0001., whereas it did not exceed 160,0001.
His next charge was equally serious, because it was their duty
as Gentlemen to protect those who suffered from it.
( The Gallant Member then read a statement published by
the New Zealand Company, stating that emigrants on their
arrival in the colony would find the officer of the Company
ready to give them useful advice and employment in the ser-
vice of the Company.) Was not this a strong inducement to
ablebodied men to leave this country? Instead, however, of
carrying out the promises which they put forward the agent of
the Company found that he could not give those who had gone
out sufficient employment, and was obliged to send them twenty
miles into the interior for the purpose of being employed in the
clearing of land; but they returned at the end of a week weary
of the employment to which they had been sent, and means
bad to be taken to obtain suitable employment for them from
landholders who were paid by the Company for this
purpose. These then were his charges against
the Company, and all be could say was that if
they were unfounded—that the documents which he had read
were not true, he should be happy to make an ample apology
for haling brought them before the House. With respect to
the report of the House of Commons, he had given notice of a
motion to the effect—that the Company had acted irregularly
in disposing of land to emigrants in the manner they did. He
was sure neither side of the House would allow the rights and
privileges of the British Crown to be trampled upon, and he
therefore relied with confidence upon their agreeing with him,
that a factious party like the New Zealand Company ought not
to be allowed to trample and tyrannise over those whom they
had unfortunately got into their control.
Mr. AGLIONBY would not deny that he had some pecu-
niary interest in the New Zealand Company, and perhaps it
would be thought unbecoming in him to take part in the de-
bate, but he could assure the House that the considerations
which had induced him to j'dn the New Zealand Society were
far from being of a pecuniary nature. He had allied himself
with the Society at the earnest entreaties of a number of re-
spected friends, who had represented to him the good the co-
lony was likely to do to a number of poor persons in this coun-
try, and having been now for three or four years connected
with the Society, he could state that he had never for one
moment regretted his alliance with it, because he believed he
had all along been associated with an excellent body of ho-
nourable and high-minded men, for the purpose of carrying
out what he believed to be a most benevolent
object.—( Hear, hear.) The Gallant Officer had stated, in his
usually clear and straightforward manner, the opinion he had
formed of the proceedings and conduct of the New Zealand
Company, and had no less frankly added that all he wanted
was an explanation. Ho (Mr. Aglionby) fully believed him,
and he could assure the Gallant Captain that his complaints
e ere, one and all, foueded on misapprehension; but the present
was neither a convenient nor an equitable time for him to enter
into a vindication of the New Zealand Company. if he there-
fore merely now gave a plain and flat denial of the facts the
Gallant Member had stated, it was from no disrespect for the
chat acter and integrity of the Gallant Officer, but because
if he were to attempt any vindication he should be met by
unpleasant and unfair assertions frem some Hon. Gentlemen
who might have received information on the subject from the
same source as the Gallant Officer, which would no doubt be
followed by counter assertions from the lion. Gentlemen con-
nected with the New Zealand Company, and thus the debate
would resolve itself into a petty squabble of a personal nature.—
( Hear, hear.) But most of the points to which the Gallant
Captain bad alluded had been fairly investigated before a proper
tribunal, and that investigation had resulted in the entire and
unequivocal exoneration of the New Zealand Company. At the
proper time, however, even in that House, which appeared
to him (Mr. Aglionby) a most inconvenient tribunal for
entering into details, he should be prepared to enter into full
and minute explanations, but this could only be done by him
when the House felt disposed to go into committee on the
matter. The Gallant Officer had evidently a misconcep-
tion, too, of the financial circumstances of the New Zealand
Company, or the Gallant Officer would never have ventured
to make so bold and sweeping an assertion as that the Company
had swindled large bodies of people out of their money and out
of their land. He did not know where the Gallant Officer had
collected his details, but he wished the Gallant Officer, before
going into committee, would refer to the various papers anddocu-
ments which had been published on the subject, and he was sure
the Gallant Officer would find that he had fallen into error.
But he could excuse the Gallant Officer, because it was quite
evident to him that the Gallant Officer had been misled by
parties who were in the habit of making Members of that House
vehicles for their own misrepresentations. Down to the time
of Captain llobson's arrival in the colony there was perfect
harmony between the culouists and the natives ; so that they
were, in fact, as one family. It was not yet too late to restore
that state of things; but it could only be effected by an entire
abandonment of the principles which have governed hitherto
the colonial department of the Government. The colonists
had suffered much. He hoped it was not too late to place them
again in a state of security and prosperity. He implored the
Government and the House not to go now into minute
questions, but to consider the best means of promoting the
interests of the settlers and the natives. He implored
the House for God's sake to listen to the evidence on both sides,
and not to be governed by the testimony of one party alone.
Before he sat down be would refer to the case of Dr. Evans,
who memorialised the Colonial office, praying to be informed
as to the position in which those settlers would be placed who
had made purchases from the natives ? The only answer he
received was, that the Ministers were about to send out a new
governor with full instructions. Was that a sufficient answer
to an Englishman who had embarked all his property in settling
his family in that country ?—( Hear, hear.) He again im-
plored the Government to reconsider their policy, and to take
measures to promote the prosperity of the colony, and the wel-
fare of the country.—(Hear, hear.)
When the Hon. Member sat down, several Members rose to
address the House, but upon repeated calls for the" new Mem-
ber," who rose at the same time, they gave way to
Mr. DARKLY (of Leominster), who said, that although
he had no present interest in the Company, he shared with every
Member of the House in an anxious desire to see our colonies
flourish, and the system of misgovernment which had so much
depreciated their importance put an end to.—( Hear, hear. )
He believed that the object of the New Zealand Company
was to render a most valuable service to the country.—( Hear. )
Bu; he did not think that any just complaint could be made
against Lord Stanley or those who co-operated with him in the
Colonial-office.—(Hear.) He was well acquainted with the
mode of doing business in that office, and he could speak for
the urbanity, politeness, and attention of the Noble Lord,
and the Right Hon. Gentleman the Under-Secretary for the
Colonies. He approved in the main of the Noble Lord's
colonial policy, but he must express his regret, that the in-
consistent policy which was occasionally pursued at home, was
followed in respect to our colonial possessions. The same
policy which at one time encouraged the agriculturists to hope for
a perpetual protection, and another time induce the free-traders
to expect the speedy abolition of all protection was followed by
giving to Canada a free importation of corn to this country.
He would not undertake the defence of the New Zealand Com-
pany as a merely commercial body, but he thought that the
fate of a large body of our countrymen, settled in a distant
land, had a claim upon the grand inquest of the nation.—
( Hear, hear). He had no wish to attach unnecessary blame
to Captain Fitzroy, but he must beg to call the attention of
the House to the deplorable change wbich had taken place in
the feelings of the nation since the arrival of that officer in the
colony—the events which followed the massacre of Wairou—to
the unredeemable paper currency, and to unpunished murders.
They ought to give the inhabitants of New Zealand something
more of what resembled an Englishman's idea of a representa-
tive institution, instead of the council that at present existed.
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with respect to themselves and their families, or make them
friendly with the natives. With regard to the natives, there
ought not to exist the slightest feeling against them; he would
have there treated with firmness, but at the same time with
the greatest kindness. They ought to be treated as spoiled
children. He did not admit that the provisions of the treaty
should extend to the middle or southern islands, which were
altogether admitted to be quite exempt from it. Witt'. respect
to the missionary, he was not one of those who considered that
the call of God and the conversion of the inhabitants ought
not to be the first o' ject in the colonisation of an island. He
had some experience of missionaries, but the intolerance of
uneducated men, as many of the missionaries were, ought not
to be entirely depended upon. He would give to them all
that was due to them as ministers of the Gospel, but he would
justly suppress their desire to interfere in secular affairs.—
( Hear, hear.) Worldly aggrandisement was manifesting itself
in too great a degree in the grants of land. With regard to
the Company the Government ought to be prepared to buy
up all that would be sufficient to give security to those who
resided in New Zealand. They ought to increase the grant,
and make it an humble instrument in raising New Zealand to
that high and important position among the nations of the
world, which it was destined to fill, when perhaps the institu-
tions of this country may be indebted to the perseverance and
gratitude of the descendants of the New Zealanders.—( Hear,
hear.) There were few subjects on which he would have felt
it expedient to have troubled the House for su h a length of
time; he thanked the House for ite attention.—(Cheers.)