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Northern Star (1837-1852), 2nd May 1846, Edition 3 of 3, Page 8

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    • PARENTAL iNHUMANITY.
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      M Connbll ' ' The Nobfhern Star. May 3. ...

      THE NOBfHERN STAR . May 3 . _tM ..... _^^ _^ _^ _^^^^^ _^ , _^^^ m , _^^^ _Mma _^ _KmU _^ _mKm _mmmmtmmm _^ _mmtw , m _0 m _^ _auHmttS _9 S _SIttt _^ _ttSKttWttt _^ BtSttlBWt _^^^^ _^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ m _^^^^^^^^^ . ft " ** _"' * _'''^**^^ i ' " ' ! ¦' - ¦ - ' ¦• 4 " x „ j . i . „ _ ..: „ k „ _« . _/ .: _»_ _^ _mn _«» : « .: nn i _>« . _™ - «» v _» , _« I _;^~ -

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      It would be delusive to propose this _» _unm panacea for the disorders and gr ievances of JJJ . n _^ and he therefore at once admitted tnun _nnmitigated evil and _" » rem _^/ : 0 „ _" _, various fused to discuss , on the _P- _^ _lffithe _ocrmanent _measureswhich had been _WfH _^ rV ed _^ separate relief of Ireland , for each ol _f _^ _St the propodiscussion . _^^ _frfSf _^ Sm Poo- Law _sition of the _tatr _^ on _^ rftto . _* _J- _^ a into Ireland f , « Jg Tenant ' s Bill , he prowell digested _i" * £ - * _£$ a Xrdsand members ; ?* _¥ _^ ffflS rdfcd tSmnch on the _assist-Leth _T ? bV _« ecn _^ e Go _vernment , and too little anee _tlmfel _^ T _^ that it was in their power to _SSZ _255 _S Ir * hnd by tbeir own exertions than _SvXeWnt could do for them If they would onlv meet together aud consider the condition ol their countrythe obligations of property , and the

      , conse quences ofa harsh exercise of the powers whieh property gave them , they might with a little liberality and forbearance , confer inestimable blessings on their country . He called upon them to follow the exampe of Lord G . Hill , who had converted 18 , 000 acres of wasteland into a valuable property , and whn , by a constant attention to his duties as a landlord , had conciliated to himself tbe good-will of those who stood to him in the relation of tenants . "By such conduct they would draw together the relations of rich and poor , and would ensure a confidence in the impartial administration of justice , which could not be accomplished by any direct efforts of legislation . There were obligations on property which laws could not instil or control , hut which were essential to the good order and maintenance of society .

      Mr . Wtse protested against this measure , because it wonld neither Tedress the grievances nor Tepress the crimes of Ireland . He was sorry to find that the Government was still determined to give nothing but coercive measures to Ireland . After a speech from Col . Cosollt in support , and one from Mr . Rich against tbe Bill , on the motion of Mr . P . Somers tbe debate was adjourned to Thursday next . ¦ The other orders ofthe day were then disposed of , and the house adjourned at one o ' clock .

      HOUSE OF LORDS . —Tuesday , Apmx 28 . The house met at five o ' clock _. The Earl FifzwiJUam mored for a return of the hills and estimates of the several railways for which petitions had been presented during the present session of Parliament , distinguishing the estimates for those for which tbe bills had been withdrawn or rejected , from those which were still pending in the other House of Parliament . The return was ordered . Lord Mosteagle moved for returns of all the notices wliich had been inserted in the London da zttle ; also of all the Bills deposited at tbe Private Bill Office , with the amount of capital which the parties proposed to raise , and to borrow ; and also of shares which were intended to be issued to raise that amount of capital . . - ¦ Before the motion could be ' put from the "Wool-Rick .

      Lord _Gampbblt . rose and proceeded to address their lordships . He wns stopped by The Lord Chancellor , who said— "Will yon allow me to put the question ? Lord Campbell—I am going to speak to the motion . The Lohd _Chancellor—But there is the motion -which the noble lord ( Monteagle ) has in his hands which has to be put . The question having been put ,

      Lord CAiiraELL—Henceforward we are to look to the Woolsack for order . We usually jog on very well , bnt I observe that the most irregular quarter in the house is generally the Woolsack . The Lord Cuascelloe—My lords , I rise to order . I have no more authority in this house than any other individual in it . We are dissimilar in onr constitution to the Ilouse of Commons . I have no authority to call noble lords to order ; bnt if I had that authority I should every day have to i"all the noble and learned lord to ordir .

      Lord Campbell—I know that the noble and learned lord has not the authority to call order from the Woolsack ; but he bas at least the power of _abstaining from causing disorder , and after this I must repeat that the most disorderly quarter of this _housiis th _* t which is nearest the Woolsack . After thi * noble and learned encounter of wits , the returns mored for were ordered . The Earl of Ripon * communicated to the house two _mesa _^ _ea from ber Majesty , recommending to their lordships to concur in such measures as should "ba proposed to confer on Viscount _U-irdinrje and Lord _Gondii , and their two next surviving heirs male , respectively , some _sisnal marks of favour in reward for their late distinguished services . On the motion of the Earl of Dalhousie , the Hail-• way Companies' Dissolution Bill was read a second time .

      Several other bills were forwarded a stage , and the house adjourned . HOUSE OF COMMONS . —Toisdat , April £ 8 . The Speaker took the chair at the usual hour .

      BRIDPORT ELECTION . The Bridporf election return was amended , and Mr . John Romilly took his seat in place of Mr . B . Cochrane . MESSAGE FtOM HER MAJESTY . — VISCOUNT HARDINGE AND LORD GOUGH . Sir "R . Peel delivered two messages from ths Queen , recommending the bouse to take measures to bestow on Viscount _Hardinge and Lord Gough , and their two next succeeding heirs male , respectively , some signal mark of her royal favour . The _message ? were ordered to be taken into consideration on "Monday nest .

      CONTEMPT OF TIIE HOUSE . Mr . Hk . vlet , chairman of the railway committee , Group XL . brought up a _teportfrom that committee . It stated that the committee . Group XL , had met that day , at ten o clock , that W . Smith O'Brien . Esq . wa <» not present , and did not attend within one hour from the time appointed for the meeting of the committee . Mr . _EsxcoFBT moved , that the clerk should read the report ofthe committee . The report ( as above ) having been read , Tho SpEiKEa then called the name ot Mr . . W . Smith O'Brien .

      Mr . S . O'Brien rose and said , that he supposed that the object ofthe Speaker in calling npon him , was to afford bim the opportunity , if he thought fit , of explaining to the bouse the reasons for his nonattendance at the con mittee . He felt deeply obliged _tntbe Speaker and to the house , for having afforded him tbat opportunity . But having already stated his views fully , and , he might add , finally , in the correspo ndence he bad had with the chairman ofthe Committee of Selection , he was not desirous of _addini anything to , and he was not ready to withdraw anything from , what he had already said . -

      Mr . Estcourt , as chairman of the Committee of Selection , narrated the circumstances of Mr . O Brien ' s having been nominated , in accordance with the resolution ofthe 12 th of February , to serve < m the railway committee in Group XL , and of the hon . member ' s _refusal by letter to serve thereon , on thc ground that , as an Irish member , he was not bound tn attend to any business not strictly Irish . Mr . Estcourt pointed oat Mr . O'Connell and other Irish _members serving on railway committees , to show that the objection was peculiar to Mr . 0 ' Brien , and in consequence of , his acting upon that determination , he was now compelled to move a resolution , on which the house would be called upon to express its opinion of the conduct of one of its own members . "He concluded by _moving , as be repeated , with great pain , that "W . S . O'Biien , Esq ., _bavini ; disobeyed the order of the house by refusing to attend the committee on which he was summoned , had been guilty of a contempt of the house .

      Jlr . _O'Coh-jeix said there were two grounds on which the house ought to pause before it assented to this motion . The first was the _necessity of considering how far the Act of Union gave the house power to enforce the process of committal upon Irish members . No such power was given by the common law ; and if the "jurisdiction were not founded on the common law , it could not be founded on the statute law ; for it was not given by the Act of Union . The Becond ground was the necessity of considering the nrisdiction of the Committee of Selection . Up to the 13 th of February last there was no stringent rule im the _compnlsory attendance ol members on committee * _, it was perfectly voluntary : and thence arose the question whether you could delegate to a committee the power possessed by the house of

      punishing a contempt of . its orders by imprisonment . There was a statutable power to compel the attendance of hon . members npon the house ; but no such power to compel their attendance on committees . Mr . S . O'Brien had been guilty of nothing hut a breach of an order ofa secondary jurisdiction arising ont of another jurisdiction recently created by the "bouse . Tfaere was nothing but courtesy in the terms of his letters , and no wish to contemn the authority of the house . The Attorj _* et-Gesebal said that the question before the house had assumed a very serious character , in consequence of the considerations with which _Jfir . O'Connell had connected it-for the house was sow _called upon to consider not merely whether Mr . S . O'Brien bad refused obedience . to its orders , . but

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      —* _T . " . _;_ , _„ ., i : _ri _^ itr-men » be » _U " _** w hetlierthere was a PO T 110 " ?! _„ rnge attendance P endent of its control , *» n ° _Sed with" the : country upon all comnut _^ : _*^ _*^ _M _*; : - _iioli : iuid _^ nd to which fluiy . _Mong _^ _- . _^^ - _^ _lbad _^ n _^ _. ' oa the objection whieh . _^ _U-. . _" _^ icie 0 f that Union , the Act of Un ion . _^ _By tn _^ _kingdoms should be reit * - _««^^ S _^» V ? _j" *• 1 ft presented _^ n one Rar iu _^ . RW j _^ lan ( L It perial _Pwl' _^^ lain number of Irish members tben _ineoiroratcd _^ r rf Commons , and these bewith the Bn tisB _^ _j _^ p ibil _* _ties imposed on came * ' 3 _»' . , e Br t _; sa parliament before the Union . _5 J r t _^ nnh such a power had not been conferred by _F Artof Union , itwas inherent in the House of rwnons . The orders of the house must be obligatory on all its members , for if they were not there _uiust be a atop to all publie business , and \ to all its utility as a representative assembly ; besides this , Mr . O'Connell had complained that the powers given to the Committee of Selection were novel and

      stringent ; it might be so , but the house in its wisdom had given the committee these powers , and it had been considered that unless these stringent powers were committed to it , the house could not perform thc increased load of duty cast upon it . Mr . S . O'Brien had refused obedience to the Jurisdiction which he had himself helped to establish ; and , instead of excusing himself , had referred to the correspondence , and had gloried in his disobedience . He was afraid , then , that the house had no Other course to pursue save that recommended by Mr . _Vstcourt . The house could not allow its authority to be defied in this manner , and must vindicate it , even though it were compelled to resort to tliose extreme measures against Mr . S . O'Brien which must follow the resolution then before it .

      Mr . Roche regretted that it should be necessary to introduce a resolution of this kind at the present moment ; for he foresaw that the ultimate result of it would be to compel those Irish members who agreed in the propriety of Mr . O'Brien ' s course to take measures which would impede tne ordinary business ot Parliament . He regretted it the more , because , if the resolution were persevered in , there would arise in the minds of the people of Ireland , who did not understand the technicalities of the house , an impression that _ttyere was a system of persecution about to be enforced against Mr . S . O'Brien on account of the course which be deemed it to be his duty to pursue in Ireland . By keeping Mr . S . O'Brien away from the discussion of the Coercion Bill , the house would exasperate to the utmost the people of Ireland .

      Mr . _Wabbobto-v observed that , if the present motion involved nothing more than the highest disapprobation Ofthe conduct of Mr . S . O'Brien , he should most gladly concur in it ; but the next question which the house would have to consider , after assenting to tbis motion , would be— " Shall we send Mr . S . O'Brien to the Tower ? " He did not see any force in Mr . _O'Connell ' s argument . He admitted that the House of Commons had the power to commit Mr . O'Brien ; but he doubted the wisdom of exercising it , for he did not know how many other foolish members might court the veryuneviable notoriety of being committed to the Tower _, lie concluded b y moving as an amendment that Mr . S . O'Brien , having stated special grounds on which

      he wished to be exempted from attending on private committees , should in future Ue exempted lrom such attendance , and that it be an instruction to the Committee of Selection to report to the house the names of all members in future claiming to be exempt from such attendance , and the grounds on which they claimed such exemption . Mr . Brotheriox seconded the amendment . Upon the amendment being read by the Sfeakrb , Mr . J . _O'Conmol said , that he begged to differ with the Hon . Gentleman who had used the epithet foolish , with regard to the conduct of the hon- . member for Limerick . He thought that instead of acting foolishly , it wonld be found that the Irish people considered liim to have been acting with a view to do his duty to Ireland . It was his misfortune to be a member of a committee , for the last three

      weeks , and probably for two months to come . ( Hear , hear . ) He . thought he might take credit to himself for having endeavoured to attend punctually to the business . ( Hear , hear . ) But he did not consider that the House had any right to require him to serve on tbat committee . The reason for-his not offering any opposition to that order -was , that he should be unable to give his aid in opposing the passing of the Coercion Bill while in the custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms . ( Laughter . ) . It was for tbat reason alone that he regretted the honourable member for Limerickacting as he had done . He thought the honourable member for Limerick was entitled to some consideration , wben it was considered that he was acting from strong convictions . The House could not do better , in his opinion , than adopt the suggestion of the honourable gentleman who had moved the amendment .

      Mr . Bkothertox observed that Mr . S . O'Brien wanted to be made a martyr of , and he was not disposed to elevate him in that honour . _..- „ . ¦ After an observation from Mr . O ' Connell to the effect that , if Mr . S . O'Brien had gone to Ireland , the house would not have found it very safe to bring him to England on tbis quarrel , and a few words from Sir G-. Grey in support of the original mo . tion , Sir R . PEELsaid he was very much surprised to hear any individual assert that the original resolution arose out of a spirit of" hostility against Mr . S . O'Brien . He believed tbat it was a matter of general regret _( hattim point had been raised , but with the precedent established last session in the case of Mr . B . Escott _, whose objections to serving on a committee on a private bill had been overruled by the house , he did not see how . the mooting of it could be avoided , or how it could be imputed to

      hostility to Mr . S . _O'Briea . He did not see any other course which tbe house could adopt save that of affirming the resolution of Mr . Estcourt . He could not assent to the amendment of Mr . Warburton , for it was a way of evading the difficulty of the case , if there was a difficulty , hardly worthy of his long experience in parliament . In all questions of this kind he only sought to maintain the character o the house as the popular branch ofthe Legislature . He then enforced the argument of the Attorney-General in support ofthe power of the House of Commons to commit Irish members for contempt , and insisted that though not given by the Act of Union it was inherent in the house from its very composition . It might be that Mr . S . O'Brien wished to be a martyr , and had therefore challenged the existence of this power ; but aa he had challenged it , the house must vindicate it , and be should therefore support the original resolution .

      Mr . H . Grattan _and'Mr . C . Powell defended the course adopted by Mr . O'Brien ., Mr . Hume condemned it , and advised Mr . O'Brien to submit . Sir J . Wilde in a lengthy speech controverted the views of Mr . O'Connell as to the Act of Union . There was one common feeling of regret that the house had been obliged to embark in this question , and that feeling was aggravated , because it was connected with an Irish member , and might therefore be _misrepresented . """ The power of the house over Irish members was as complete as the interests of Ireland required that it should be . and as Parliamentary law could render it . Mr . S . 0 ' Brien might bid for popularity against Mr . O'Connell by seeking to be made a martyr of ; but it appeared to him that nothing but a morbid love of notoriety could have induced him to take his present course . Tbe house

      ought not to shrink from asserting its authority in a case where it had been so flagrantly denied . Mr . _D'Isbaeli argued that as Mr . O'Brien had not , strictly speaking , a formal notice of the- motion made on Monday _. for his attendance in the committee , and as he might . possibly petition the house to be allowed to be heard by counsel at the bar , it would be well to pause before doing anything unjust , or that might be impugned on the ground of informality . This compulsory attendance on railway committees was a violation of the rules of the house , adopted upon an apprehension of circumstances that had not turned out to be well-founded , and it was novel in principle ; therefore it would be well to postpone the question in order to allow Mr . O'Brien to reconsider his position , and to obviate the necessity of any expression of opinion by the house on the subject . ¦ " .-: ¦¦ - ¦ ¦ Several other members having spoken on the subject _, the House divided on the amendment .

      For Mr . War bur ton ' a amendment ... 15 Againstit ... ... ... ... 139 Majority against the amendment— -124 The House immediately divided on tbe original motion—For Mr . Estcouri _' s motion ... 133 Againstit ... ... ••• ••• 13 Majority for the motion ... ... ——120 Mr . Estcourt then moved that Mr . O'Brien be committed to the custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms . Colonel _Sawdojt suggested to the house the propriety of _allowing Mr . S . O'Brien 24 hours to decide

      whether he would not retrace the steps which he had unfortunately taken . He could not refrain from remarking , that so far as Ireland was concerned , the conduct of Mr . S . O'Brien contrasted most _disadvantageous _^ with tbat of Mr . O'Connell , and his son , who had both served on private committees . _« Mr . J . O'Connell could not accept any compliment at the . expense of his friend Mr . S . O'Brien . He , too , expressed a hope that the house would pause before it exercised its extreme powers upon Mr . S . O'Brien .

      Lord Morpeth having joined in the two last votes , with the majority , and being prepared to concur , if need should be , in the further vote proposed by Mr . Estcourt , put it to the house whether it would not stand more right in the eyes of the public , if it gave time to Mr . S . O'Brien to decide whether he would not bow to its clearly ascertained opinion . Mr . Estcourt considered himself acting officially as the organ of the Committee of Selection ; and , as all thc precedents were against delay , he felt that it would be highly unbecoming in him , if he did not take the same course as hod always been taken by his predecessors . He should therefore persist in bis motion . ! _^^

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      ' lffr _.-WABn recommended . Mrr "fitcourfc ; : tomake : a precedent on behalf ofmercy . ...,..,., _' . _" Mr : _O'Cohnku * thought' it possible , that if this motion were suspended , Mr : S . O'Brien might come to a different co ' ncIu 8 i 6 h ' on this subject . ' "He spoke entirely from his own suggestions , for Mr . S . O'Brien wa" perfectly capable of deciding for himself on all questions . ' .: '' _¦'" ' ¦ _¦> _...- . _:.:.. . ¦¦¦¦ Sir R . Pm coincided in the propriety of this course , and a conversation ensued on the desirability of , postponing the notices which stood for Thursday night , in order to give an opportunity for the disposal of this question , in the midst of which Mr . E . B . Roche left the house in rather a hurried manner , and returned after an absence of not more than two minutes .

      Mr . Roche and Mr . Estcourt advanced to the table from opposite sides of the house—the . latter caught the Speaker ' s eye , and was called upon to proceed , but Mr . Roche rose , and waving his hand to the Hon . Gentleman to resume his seat , said that in all probability he would spare him ( Mr . Estcourt ) the trouble of addressing the house . It is my painful duty , said the Hon .- Member , to make an announcement which will probably terminate the present discussion . The Hon . Member for Limerick has made a communication to me . He feels so strongly on this subject , that he thinks it unnecessary that further delay should be interposed between the present stage of the proceedings and the final decision of this house . ( Laughter ) I hope Hon . Members will see that I

      . am not performing an agreeable duty —( Hear , hear ) —and nothing but a feeling of respect for my Hon . Friend would induce me to undertake it , more especially as the house has shown such anxiety _ to be moderate and forbearing . Biitmy Hon . Friend is so decided and so convinced of the rectitude 01 the course he is pursuing , that seeing no prospect of changing his opinion he thinks it expedient to have the matter put an end to as sbort as possible . When the hon ' . member sat down ' there wasa pause ; after which , _.- " ' . : ¦ : '"' -: "' .,. Sir It . Pbbi , again rose and said—Sir , notwitnstanding what the hon . member has stated , I must say tbat I still think it betterfor us to take our own course ( Loud cheers from the Opposition . )

      . The debate was accordingly adjourned to Thursday next , and the matter was no sooner agreed upon , than Mr . S . O'Brien walked up the floor ofthe Houpeand took his usual seat on the le ft of the Speaker , and contiguous to the chair ,

      RELIEF OF THE POOR . Mr . P . Borthwick , who was not distinctly . heard , was understood to give notice tbat . he would upon an early day in the ensuing month , move for a select committee to inquire into the operation ofthe laws affecting the relief of the poor in England and ¦ _Of aJe g PUNISHMENT OF DEATH . Mr . Ewart gave notice that he would , on the 3 d of May , move for a total _' repeal of the punishment of death .

      WASTE LANDS ( IRELAND . ) Mr . P . Scropb moved for leave to bring in a Bill for promoting the reclamation of waste lands in Ireland . The honourable member was proceeding to explain the grounds on which he made ' this motion , when Mr . _SmithO'Brien was observed going over to the Speaker ' s chair , " and after a few words had passed in private between him and the Speaker , returning tonisseat . Thereupon the Spkakkr motioned to the hon . member for Strovid to sit down , which having been complied with , the right hon . gentleman in the chair said—I perceive that the hon . member for Limerick has taken his seat , and I have to acquaint him that such a course under such circumstances is unusual . The more usual course is for the hon .

      member to retire , and . not ¦ _toiresume his seat until the question concerning himself be disposed of . _^ . ' . Mr . S . O'Bribn then rose and said—Sir , I bow with the utmost deference to your authority and to the authority ofthe House . At the same time , I should not feel myself justified in withdrawing voluntarily , for I have a motion on the paper for tonight of very great importance , and which it had been my intention to bring forward . However , Sir , I bow to your opinion / and will not , of course , remain . The honourable ; member then bowed to the chair and withdrew . . .. Mr , _ScKOPB resumed his speech . After giving a history of the manner in which the subject of waste lands had occupied the attention , of Parliament lor a long series of years , and of the advantages to be derived from _reclaimine them , he stated that the

      object of his bill was to obtain the means not only of giving employment to additional / labourers ; ' but also of locating large bodies of thenv who could not now obtain farms , oh land at _present ' uncultivated . He should thus create a large body of proprietary occupiers , who would be certain to cultivate their holdings with untiring industry . The great benefit he expected from this proposal was , that it would be in the power of the State to employ the waste lands ma manner most beneficial to the country ; not only as employing labour , but in locating upon those lands a large number of that unfortunate class who from various causes are at present unable to obtain land . It would be in the power of the State to' grantto these _Bersons such leases as would give these

      persons that permanent interest inland which was only to be found in a durable tenure . In proof of this position , he referred to the farmers af Belgium , Switzerland , and France , where persons cultivated their small' properties with untiring industry . This would be of great importance in Ireland , where the class of middle men was nowexpiring , and there would shortly be nO middie class unless they created in the ' way he proposed a class of proprietary tenantry , who would form a body of yeomen with the certainty of enjoying the fruits of their industry . His proposal , therefore , would be this—that a board should be constituted , under the authority of the board _of'Works , in Ireland , empowered to purchase lands in quantities of not less than 1 , 000 acres . He would _suggest that this board be allowed to open up these lands , drain , and divide

      into occupations of 100 acres each : and also that these farms should be let or sold with a fee simple title . He should also wish to recommend that the board should follow the plans of the- Waste Land __ Association . A measure of this comprehensive kind could not be long delayed ; and he thought it would add to the comfort ofthe people if the government allowed a yearly grant for . the purpose or following ont these suggestions . The Unions would , also , have an opportunity of sending unemployed poor upon the waste lands , locating them for the purpose of improvement . This proposal would be opened to others than such as _pBSSes _^ _od capital—allowing persons ' to occupy under the patronage of public associations , * A million ami a half of money might be well laid out in the manner he proposeed ; and the plan would soon repay its expenses . ' ¦ ¦ Mr . S . Crawford seconded the motion .

      Sir 3 . Grahau did not offer any opposition to the introduction of this bill , and when it was _brought in he should give it his best attention ; and facilitate its progress ; and he hoped that in its passage through the house it would receive such amendments as weHld give it a more perfect character . -He begged to " offer his tribute to the intelligence and industry which the hon . member for Stroud had broug ht to this subject . ? . . .. ... Mr . E . B . Roche considered that the strictness of the law of entail ] in Ireland was a great bar in the way of improving waste lands , and prevnted the employment of English capital for that purpose in Ireland . The house ought to understand , that if any good at all was to be done in the manner proposed ,

      they must spend _agi-eat deal of money , and carry out the proposal in a bold , generous- manner . ¦¦ If they entertained the measure at all ; they _om-ho to carry it into execution in a comprehensive and earnest manner , and , by means of new machinery , quite independent of the old jog-trot machinery that had so long been established in Ireland . Mr . _VFysb considered that there must be seme new , arrangements to meet thc growing tide of calamity with which Ireland was oppressed . _Complaintsol over-population were futile , because a country most be considered to be over-populated or not , according to its natural means ' of supporting a population . In Ireland there were 20 , 000 , 000 of acres ; of these 8 . 000 , 000 were waste , and of the 6 , 000 . 000 there were 5 , 000 , 000 cultivable . ' Much , therefore , remained to be done before it could be said that the resources of the country were exhausted by its

      population . The law ought to interfere to enablo landlords to regulate the disposition of their property sit as to cut entails , which would give them the means of reclaiming waste lands . There was no other means in Ireland , there being no manufactures there , of employing the surplus population . Government might take into their own bands and reclaim such lands as the landlords would not or could not reclaim for themselves . No inconvenience could arise from a properly digested measure for- that object . They ought also to encourage agriculture by establishing schools and model farms . The best results bad followed from what had been done in that way already , and the most important results might be expected from pursuing the beginning that had lieeu ' made . He entreated the right hon . baronet ( Sir J . Graham ) to give his earnest attention to the subject . . " . ' ¦'¦ ' ' ¦ ' * Leave was then given to bring in the bill _.

      . RAILWAY BILLS . Mr . Hudson obtained leave to bring in a bill for enabling or facilitating the winding up ofthe affairs of joint-stock companies for m « king railways which had been formed subsequent to the commencement ofthe last session of Parliament , and for whicii acts of incorporation should not be obtained during the present session . The other orders of the day were then disposed of , and tbe house adjourned at a Quarter to one . HOUSE OF COMMONS , _Wudnebiuy , April 29 . The house met at 12 o ' clock .

      - TEN HOURS BILL . Petitions in favour ofa Ten Hours Factory Bill _, to the amount of nearly iOO , were presented by various inem ' _oors . These jpetLtuius came from various

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      parte ofthe . whole , of . the manufacturing _distnctsjit . _Yorkahiro . Lancashire , and Scotland , they proceeded from millownerfl ; mill occupiers , operatives , clergymen , medical men , and , in short-persons oral - classes , uniting in one prayer _^ that tne _. _house _' WOUM _bepleased to pass the Ten Hoars' Bill . 'Many of them were numerously' and- others' most liifluenuauy signed . ' " _' ¦! '¦" "'''' ; """ " ; . _/ ,. ' .,. _*;; ' - _...--. * . , " _- "i' * i . .. .... . rl

      STATE OF PUBLIC BUSINESS . On the question , that the order of the day be now read for the second reading of thei Factories Bill , Mr . _IIumb rose to appeal both t < rthe Gov _* n * nment and the hon . member fV Oldham _(^ ; _WS _£ « J _question , conneoted with the industry _andjelfaie of ? his country was of more importanceJJ _^ _' _?^ _^ freedomoflabour inevery _stage ; it was asi _importantas the freedom of capital in its _W _& _Nto _** all the purposes of commerce , andi lie _VhmmO _: oeg ged to BUggest , that , as it was really _tf national mportance , Tt should not come on at a morning sitting in a thin house , it would be much better , in order to a full and fair discussion of the merits ot tma p iii , that Monday or Friday , or some evening sitting ; should be given to the consideration of the subject . Sir R . Pebl could not promisoany evening which the Government had reserved for their own . mea-CI ] (* flfl Mr . Home thought that after-the passing ofthe Corn Bill the present measure might then be taken on a Government day .

      _ _ Mr . G . BAN KBSasked , if , whenthe Corn _^ Bill had passed , Mr . Hume would vote for this ? [ Mr . Hume , " I shall oppose it in every stage . " Then what were the friends of the measure to gain by delay ? Wednesday was now the only day on which any public business was transacted ( hear , hear ); and he ( Mr . G . _Bunkes ) must entreat the hon . member for Oldham to persevere . ' When applied to some time since by some ofthe delegates from the manufacturing districts for his advice , his ( Mr . G . _Bankes _' s ) answer was that' the sooner the bill was brought in the better ; ' for he well recollected the mischievous effect of delay on _aformer occasion ( hear , hear ) , when this bill , after being approved by a decided majority in the house , was ultimately lost by an unfortunatei _consent to a snort adjonrament , > hich produced theunhappy result , not only of defeating the measure , bnt of bringing a certain degree of discredit oh the house from which it liad hot yet recovered .

      , Mr . T . Duncombe pressed the necessity of settling this question immediately . , . _^ Mr . Forster was hot prepared to deny the importance of the Factories Bill ; in a commercial ' country like this , so dependent on its manufacturing industrv , few subjects were more- important * tban ' . tbe question of shortening the hours ; of labour ;•; but 'the house ought first to decide on _thfe measures necessary to give the people food . ( Hear , hear . ) The * hon . member then went into a lorn ? detail of ' the state o < the inhabitants of the Shetland Isles , which , although it was tried to be put a stop to by Mr . Cowpei * and Mr . Duncombe , as being out of order , and condemned by the latter as an indirect way of defeating the _Fftitory Bill , was persevered in by Mr . Forster . -

      Sir R . PkkIi had come down to the house with the full understanding that they were to proceed with the Factory Bill ; and he did not think that _, though Ministers had the rig ht to pmpose that they should pass from the order of the day , they would be raising their character in the country by the exercise of that right . ' ( Hear , hear . ) Hedidthinktbal they would stand better with the public , and at the same time greatly facilitate the business before the house , by at bnoe proceeding to the consideration of the question which stood for discussion - They had still three hours and _a-half before them ; which they could devote to that object , and he hoped that discussion on any other " point than that which they all understood was to ' oc cupy their attention , would not

      be longer continued . ( Hear . ) * Notwithstanding this appeal , Mr . M . Gibson made another longr speech about the Shetland Islands , in the course of which he attacked the motives of the members on the pr ¦ - tectionist benches ; he said they came down pretending to take a deep interest in the Faetory Bill ; he rather thought , however , they came down animated by a feeling of hostility to _fler Majesty ' s Government ( "No , no" ) , and looking for an occasion of putting , the Government in a minority , rather than from any desire to carry the object proposed by the bill . ( "No , no . " ) This brought up Sif- 'R _.- ' I » gi , m , who said , the hon . member who last spoke had permitted himself to impute motives

      to the gentlemen with whom he ( Sir . R . Inelis ) usually acted , and with whom he coincided on the present occasion . He had stated , first , that their object was to place Her Majesty ' s Ministers in a minority ; and , secondly , that they came down to the house with reference to this question of the Factory Bill for no real interest in the factory chiWren , bnt for paltry political motives . Now , ho would take thelibertyto state what might have been far better stated by many of his friends around him ; that they yielded to none on either side of the house in a deep devotion to that cause , which was almost a sacred

      cause , that had brought tiiem there that day ( hear , ' -ear ) , and which had brought them together at a time—two years ago—when thoy were more closely united than they now were ( hear ) , and when it waa still more painful for them to differ from those -to whom they had been accustomed to look up with resnect . ( Hear ) He would . not believe for a moment that any of those who voted in the majority in favour of the Factory Bill were actuated hy imprnppr motives . ¦ He believed they entertained tbe views tbey did from ft deep sense of their personal oWiga . tlons , irrespective of any party considerations whatever . ( Hear , hear ) .

      FACTORY BILL . Theorder of the day was at length read , and Mr . _Fieuven then rose to move the second reading of this bill . ' _- . Alter _statimr his regret that the _raea-« iirp had faller / into his hands instead of being conducted to a _spccessful termination by its originator Lord Ashley . f the hon . member said—I will state to 'he house in the first place what is tbe _present _. _stato of the law affecting persons employed in factories . It is . this , —Children , from eight years of age fo thirteen , are allowed to work only six hours a day . from 13 to . 18 , twelve hours a day ; no femalem re than twelve hours a day ; and no nerson ( mal e _^ or female ) under the age of 18 . to work in factories in the ' nieht . The bill I now propose to the house to read

      a . second lime , will IWnvt the houra of work of chil . dren between ' 13 and 18 , and females above 18 . to eleven hours a day , ( exclusive of time for meals ) for one year , beginning * iugu < 1816 , and to ten hour s a day , ( exclusive of time for meals ) , from Aueust 1847 . This bill , then , is only intended to limit the h » ursoflabourof children between 13 and 18 . and all females . Those two c l asses of persons have now to work twelve hours a day , which , with time spent in eoing ' to and from the factory and . the time of meals , makes fourteen hoars , occupation—a period oflabour much too long , in my opinion , even for . adults , but , if 14 hours' occupation be too _lonjr for adults , who can deny that that length of daily labour is a shameful infliction upon children from 13 to 18 .

      I must say that the Parliament has shown a total _disregard of _tbO"ie between 13 and 18 years of aze—a period of life -w dl known to be the most critical , when more rest is required for the growing and w akened frame of a young person .. He renaired from entering into details ofthe bodily suffering _, and social condition consequent upon , the long hours of work imposed upon these persons . They had been frequently and minutely _statpd , and were fullv admitted even by Sir J . Graham himself . He contented himself with ndducintr some evidpnee from ministers and elders in Scotland as to the injurious effects of the present system with reference to education , -and then proceeded to notice the objections usually made to the measure , : ' - They are , '

      said the hon . member , avowedly founded upon a sup- ; posed necessity _forcontinuine the long hours of work in order to maintain our present eminence in _mamifacturesand commerce ; and I am _called'upon to shew that _restriction of the hours of factory labour would not cause a diminution of production and of manufacturers profits . My opinions on this point am principally formed from past experience , and I think that there wonld be no diminusion of production , no diminution of profits , and no reduction nfwa _^ es attendant on the shortening of the hours of labour that this bill provides . I __ have , with all my brothers , been all my life engaged in the cotton manufacture . I have been in ihe business ever since the first act for the regulating of factory labour was passed , and

      extensively engaged in it too , I and my brothers are still _pngaged in it . We employ altogether between 2 , 000 and 3 , 000 hands . We aro now increasing our workB ereatly , andl myself am bringing up all ray sons to the same business . I state these _thngs byway of assurance to the house that I have experience in the business of which I am _spealcinor . and a great and increasing-interest in its prosperity . I am capable of speaking to the effects of past legislation ; and if the bill be so destructive as its opponents have represented , it is a hill to abolish the business of myself and my family . Let me remind the house that no factov bill was ever ypt passed without the house being stunned with predictions of the ruin that would ensue to manufactures : and all these predictions have been falsified by experiment . You put a stop to ni-zht work in all cases except by adult males of eighteen years and upwards , which has _practirallv

      abolished night-working in mills . You reduced the labour of children between nine and thirteen years of ace from fourteen hours a dav to six hours a dav You reducedthe labour of all females above thirteen years of ag- from fourteen hours a day to twelve hours , and thereby the labour of all working people in factories has been reduced to twelve hours the day . And what have been the effects of these reductions of the hours oflabour ? According to th _<> predictions of millowners and political economists , _foreiun _competition ought to have destroyed our roannfaoturimr and commercial system , our mills _ouirhttohave beer , standing still , our manufacturers ruined , and our workpeople starved ! Have any of these evils overtaken us ? No . I challenge anybody to show that wages for labour in _factories generally were not as high in 1845 as at any time since the ac of 1810 for regulating factory labour wns naBaed . As

      {Continuedfron Tlie First P</Ge.\ Thirdj...

      brother roanuYacture a if they can ' sky that the reduction of the'hoursof labour _thathos already takenplace haa ; hadjthe ; lpi » totend 6 ncy > _WSinjure them _? Nine acts ( of _Parriament . haveibeenj paused , for . regulating factories , _Wginning ' with 1802 , and proceeding on . to 1844 ' ?' - Now / what effects have they had oh _diraihishing our manufactures ? How have they crippled the cotton trade ? The first act , except for apprentices , _wra passed in 1819 , and , taking the consumption ; of cotton in English manufactories , for that year , and then the consumption for the . years 1825 , 1831 , 1833 , and 1844 , ' all of these being ' years in which a factory regulation : act was passed , we shall see that the consumption of cotton goes on increasing greatly as these acts are passed . Thus , the consumption in ........... ¦'

      1819 waa ... ... ... 109 , 000 , 000 1825 ... ... ... ... 166 . 000 , 000 1831 ... ... ... ... 262 , 000 , 000 1833 . . . .. . .. . ... 28 /" , 000 , 000 1844 . . . .. . .. . .. . 490 , 000 , 000 . 1846 .. ... ... 632 , 000 , 000 In short , there has been a progressive increase in the consumption of cotton in this country concurrently with the restriction of the hours of factory labour . Now , this proves clearly that there has been no decrease of production .: Then , have the manufacturers decreased in wealth . under this increase of production ? I have no means of giving any comparative estimate of the wealth of the body to which I

      belong . -But , if what I have read of speeches made by manufacturers at Anti-Corn Law meetings be true , both as te subscriptions raised by the League and as to _^ heir ability to buyout the whole aristocracy ofthe country , _surefy it will not become any member of that body to stand up in this house and deny to those young children , whose services they must own , that protection from excessive toil which common humanity ; calls for , and which protection , the right hon . the Home Secretary announced at the beginning of the session would confer honour on bur country . After showing by recent returns ; that there has been a constant increase of mills since 1842 , Mr . Fielden said No one need be scared by the cry , which is always set up . when a Ten Hours' Factory Bill is

      asked for , ' that we shall be ruined b y foreign competition . I estimate that about four-sevenths of tbe cotton-wool produced in all parts , except that for the supply of China , is consumed-in Great Britain ; and it is this command of supply of goods . in the , markets of the world , that insures uaoi _* . r customers . lam _conrinced that , if the house wili ' eoBcede this bill , as I hope it will , we shall go on increasing ' pur manufactures , and increasing in the employment of _handai quite as : fast as we ever have done . The difference in _, the cost rpf the manufactured article to the conaumer will' be / a mere trifle . . Of those articles used by the poor , it' would not ; exceed a halfpenny for a poor man ' s shirt , nor be more than one penny on a poor woman ' s dress ,. supposing wages to remain at

      what . they now are , and , the same sum be allowed to the manufacturer that he now has for , his fixed capital , I say this' as a manufacturer , and I feel a strong conviction that I am correct in my estimate _, lie himself advocated the bill 'because humanitv required it , and had merely used the pounds , shillings , and pence arguments , forr the purpose of convincing them that it would not suffer in consequence of the opposition which had'always been given by the manufacturers to any attempt to abridge the toil of their workpeople . In conclusion he called upon the house to recollect that . as _mannfactnrea go on increasing day by day , as assuredly they will do , this _speci < _s of

      labour is becoming , _^ not merely the occupation ofa class , but of a nation ; that the vast hives of industry in the north of England and in Scotland must become more and more vast j that , with their _incre-ise , there will . be necessarily an increase of the vices and miseries peciiliar " to them , and alreadyabundantly proved , * and he urged on the house the necessity that there was for giving the young children whose labour lie sought to shorten time for personal relaxation , time for education and religious instruction , time for observing the routine of domestic duties , without the knowledge of which it is vain to hope that they will be a creditable , or even a safe . comrounity .

      # l _* h © question that the . bill be now read , a . second time having " been put , " Mr . _AiNSwoRTHsaid , having presented various petitions in favour of the bill' from the borough he had the honour to represent , he felt , that he couid not give a silent vote on thiB question , and . therefore , without any solicitation on the part of the hon . member for Oldham , he had risen . to ' second bis motion ; the hon . member ; in _the'eourse of an able _speeoh , . testified strongly to the ' feeling in favour of the bill which pervaded . all classes of Society in the borough which he represented , and in the district generally . " He showed the injurious effect of protracted labour on health , and the benefits'in this respect which , had been already derived by the workers

      in Mr , Gardner ' s factory at Preston , in consequence of a reduction from 12 to 11 hours . It was of no use laying- out money for parks for the benefit bt the working classes unless there " was some alteration of the hours of labour . As he had frequently been told by the operatives at public meetings , how was , it possible that they could take advantage of . the kindness and muni . icence of hon . members who contributed to purchase parks for their comfort and recreation , seeing that they were so fatigued after their hours of labour , that they were obliged to go to bed ! r-( Hear , hear . ) M _^ Homk moved as an amendment that the bill be read a second time that day six months . Itwas an interference with capital and labour , _altogether opposed to sound principles . We should never . be able to compete with foreign rivals if trammelled by Buoh a bill . He warned hon . gentlemen opposite connected with the agricultural , interest to beware how they interfered ; by-legislation , to place

      restrictions on trade and manufactures ; for every mill that was closed tended to increase ! pauperism , to raise '' _wr'ratesj _. _and endanger the property of the country . No one deplored more than he did the long hours , of the working classesf _"; no people in the world laboured so hard , ' or so long , as the English ; arid if it was _possible to devise any means of relieving them from a portion of their labour , and enabling ; them to devote some portion of their time to instruction in order to elevate themselves in the scale of society , he Would be the first to adopt them . ' Biit he was convinced'the tendency of this measure was to lower the wages of labour , to throw many out of employment , and deteriorate the condition of the working classes , j A halfpenny a yard was sufficient td turn the scale i against us . in foreign markets . He would not com-1 promise his ' principles by any support to such a bill , and ; therefore hoped the house would reject it . Sir G . Strickland supported the measure .

      Sir Jambs Graham said , it had been his dntyto reconsider attentively the opinions which he had for * merly entertained " and avowed on this question , and after the most careful and anxious deliberation , he felt bound to declare tbat his opinions remained unchanged oh this _subject , and that , therefore , it would be his duty to join the honourable member for Montrose , and to vote against the second reading of the bill . He objected to the discussion of this measure by the present parliament so soon after the house had deliberated on and rejected the principle ofa ten hours' limitation—lor he denied that the house had ever decided infavour of ateii hours'limitation . He also objected to a discussion on it at this particular time , because the restriction on the importation of foreign corn was still continued / although the protection that cotton , woollen , and silk manufactures had lately enjoyed , was considerably reduced . After

      _describing the magnitude of the _interests which would be affected by this measure , Sir James Graham contended that , if carried , this bill would be a tax oh capital of 16 per cent ., which woud ultimately fall on labour , and end in reducing the wages of the operatives fully one sixth . The Home Secretary ; on the part of hiimelt and his _colleagues ; declared their determination to be fixed on this question . Mr . Mahk Phillips opposed the ' bill , and lauded Sir J . Graham for "his sound , statesmanlike , and judicious speech . " Mr , _( _r . Bankbs moved thead journment of the debate ; and hoped that _membi-ra who had notices of motion ' on the paper , and the government w _>* o had the Irish Protection of Life Bill , would acquieace ! in giving it precedence this day . Mr . Hawes refused to give way ; but Sir R . Peel so far as he was concerned , made no objection . Ultimately the'debate was adjourned to Wednesday week .

      HOUSE OF COMMONS .-THrasDAv , April 30

      PRIVILEGE—MR . W . S . O'BRIEN ; Mr ., Estcourt moved that the adjourned debate on the proceedings conneckd with the hon . member for . Limerick be resumed . . Mr . E . B . _Rocna said , that it would be in the recollection of the house , that at the conclusion of the debate on the preceding evening , it had bep n hia painful duty—to come down to that house , instead of his him . friend , in order to make a certain suite ment to the house . The right hon . baronet o pposite ' acting as he ( Mr . Roche ) admitted he did in thi tairest and most amicable spirit possible —( _chceii-W though well to gin "Is hon . friend _ei ght-and-fortv hours to consider his resolution . His hon friend _S considered what course he should nunun _hmtn hud plained , and he . ( Mr . R _« c & e ) co _^ _S d * _fc „ _T :

      comp laint ue _wasjustihed , he complained that iTp h « rl had no _opportunity 0 f _, xpkinin V & _thehJiSKJ which baa actuated him in adopt ng the _course he had followed under the circumstances . ' He did not kn Th _5 _whafn ' 86 hi 1 hon Wend . would have pursued , but what he would suggest was , that the hou _. e , either by a positive motion , or in some other way , would allow his honourable friend to come to the bar an < i explain the reason for his adoption of the course he had pursued on this occasion . ( Hear , hear . ) He was sure that the house would see that , whatever _mij-bt be the nature of the rules and regulations of the house , that , in justice and fairness , and with their usu _.-il desire to see fair play administered , they would in their indulgence and kindness , grant the motion which he had risen to make . He had thi > _ret ' ore simply to , move as an . amendment . M That Mr ., William Smith O'Brien should be heard in his place . ,

      {Continuedfron Tlie First P</Ge.\ Thirdj...

      » .. Mr . _O'Connbllsecond ' _edthe-motion-xand ' said , hi « honourable friend ( Mr . Smith O'Brien ) would fin doubt _besaatisfiedlatfthe ' _wayiMtwhie _^^ _sublec ? had been brought before ' the _hduBe , but * he ( W _O'Connell ) did not think his case had been put i u i proper manner before the house . " ' ' v- ¦; ¦ ¦¦ • ¦ . ¦ * Sir R ; PBEi _^ Sir , - it is-my desire to relax th * strict rules of the House _as _^ far as possible . —( Hear hear , ) But , at the same-time , I do not i hiok that as far as my _priyatoinclinations are concerned , \ wish , to . act on that principle ,: but in the position in which I stand 1 owe a duty to the H ouse —( Cheers _)^ and therefore , it is of the utmost importance to con-Bider whether it ; would ' be advisable to e _^ _ablish precedent , by granting the : amendment ofthe ho . _nourable member—we must consider what will be the effect of the relaxation of the House . I must re . mind the honourable ! member ( Mr . O'Connell ) that the hon . member for L _' mericK ( Mr . 'S _^ O'Brien ) had every opportunity offered tohim to obey the order which the . House made on'the subject ' ; and I do distinctly recollect tbat ; in _speakin _? on . the _subiprt »»_ r \ _io-:... _ T 7 _TT ~ 7 T _^> T _^^^^^^ _' "'

      he said that although he Had such " ah opportunity , hb did hot think he should obey it , because his sentiments on the subject were already on record in the correspondence which : had taken place on the subject , and to which he said he must refer as the grounds for refusing to attend . I ' find , being Iii his place , having been called upon by " the Speaker , he stated that he had already stated two reasons , that he had no further observation to offer upon thematter , and , that he still ; beld his determination .:: He then withdrew . Now .... I . apprehend , having , de _» clined to obey the ovders of the house , he is in " what is technically called , ' contempt . ___ 'Whether or not there were precedents for acceding to the motion now made , I am ; not aware , but I beg that yoa will have the goodness to state what are tbe rules ofthe house . If they are in favour of the extension , I will certainly be rejoiced , but if they are the reverse , I will feel in my painful duty to support the rules of the H-use . . •!

      The Speaker- I must state , with very creat regret I remember no precedent which would justif y this house in * acceding to'the amendment . ( Hear . ) The honourable gentleman had an opportunity of being heard in his place and that was the time to make any explanation he thought proper . The hon . member did not do that , and the house of Commons then resolved that he had been guilty Ofacontempt . leanhot call to hia memory any precedent which would justify the house in ajeceding to this motion . Mr . Roche of _couVse bowed to the _decision of the bouxe , and . he would now beg leave to ask whether there was any reason why the hon . member should not be heard at the bar ofthe house . "' The Speaker said that there was no precedent for

      an uon . memoer appearing at the bar of the house unless as a criminal _, j .-- ;; -: ' Mr . _Roche—Ofcoursel bow lo the decision ofthe Speaker . ' The Speaker then put the question—that William Smith O'Brien , Esq ., having been guilty of a contempt , b y neglecting to attend a railway Committee , during the present session j after having been summoned—Resolved that a warrant do issue against him , and that the Sergeant-at-Arms do arrest . him accordingly . Mr . M . Milnes , amidst great impatience , said he rose humbly to submit to the attention tf the house whether , it would not be possible to avoid : the unpleasantness of agreeing to the course proposed . He believed it was . perfsctly clear , that if the hon . memfaer should continue to remain in a state of contempt he could not take his seat in the house , nor of course take part in the proceedings . _HtthiB drbate were

      adjourned tiil that day six months , . he apprehended that the hon . member for Limerick would be able tc * take part in tlie deliberations of the house , and he did think that the best way of avoidin g the unpleasantness tha * attended the course recommended by the hon . members that had made the original motion _, would be to agree to tbe adjournment of this debate till that day six months . —( Loud _criesni" Divide , divide . " ) -- : _" - ' - ' - _•? ¦ : ¦¦ - - ';¦ ' An Hon . Member having seconded this" amendment , the hon member said , that as it appeared net to meet the views of the house ,., he . . would withdraw it . —( Hear , hear . ) . _, _^ _*"' . Strangers were then ordered to withdraw . No division , however , " took place in consequence of the motion being aereed to . It was then ordered that Mr . Smith 0 _? Brien should , be . committed to the custody of the Sergeant-at-arms , and _tbat'Mr . Speaker be directed to issue his warrant accordingly .

      Parental Inhumanity.

      PARENTAL _iNHUMANITY .

      On Thursday Forenoon Mr. Wakley, M. P., ...

      On Thursday forenoon Mr . Wakley , M . P ., resumed and concluded an inquiry , oh its third adjournment , in the vestry room of St . Thomas ' s Church , Bream ' s buildings , Chancery-lane , touching the deaths of James Hitchcock , aged 11 , and Elizabeth Hitchcock , aged 7 years . Each of the previous inquiries occupied several hours , and the case excited considerable interest in the neighbourhood , from the circumstance that there were at first strong assumptions that the deceased children had been either starved to death or slowly poisoned by their father , James Hitchcock , and by their aunt on the mother ' s side , Anne Ayling , with whom the former had cohabited subsequently at his wife ' s death , which took place lire years since ,

      in Brownlow _^ treet , Drury-lane . The evidence proved that the children died almost suddenly on the evening of the 4 th instant , at their father ' s residence , 17 , Church-buildingB , Chancery'ane . The boy died at ' a quarter past four o ' clock , and the girl at half-past nine , on that evening . The father was not present when the boy died ; but when he came home , af eight o clock , he was told of the event , and of the dying state in which the girl was lying . He sent for no medical man or other aid , but immediately went for an undertaker , to measure the boy for a coffin , to whom he mentioned fie condition of his dyim ; female child , saying he did not . think she would be alive when they got to his house . , He told the undertaker that the immediate cause of the girl's illness and boy ' s death was their having eaten

      I during the day some raw carrots . ' The undertaker having measured the body of the boy , proceeded to measure the girl , as the aunt , the paramour of her father , said , an hour , before the child ' s death ;; < That statement very much surprised the coroner and , jury , but the " underteke ' r ' contradicted ' it , - swearing that when he measured , the girl she was dead , and had just died . He did not judge of the alleged fact by touch , but by ocular inspection , which the coroner told him was a quite insufficient _teBt . The children were both of most diminutive size aid emaciated appearance ; not having grown , it was stated , since their mother ' s death'five years _aee . _durine which

      period they had been under . the care of their aunt and their father . Therewas no direct evidence that the _children had been starved or treated with fatal violehce ; 'but there was evidence showing that they were always hept within doors , and not allowed to play in the court in which they lived with other children . Their emaciated and puny , appearance contrasted strongly with the healthy and robust exterior of a child their father had had since his wife ' s death b y his sister-in-law , Anne Ayling . It was also proved that ' latterly , though the children were evidently labouring under disease ' they had no medical aid .

      . Mr : ' Otley , surgeon , of _Bedford-place , who , by direction of the xoroner , had examined externally and internally _* he bodies of the children , was of opinion ( not a decided one , it should be observed ) that they had died of congenital debility . He found " !¦ th f lungs of each disease of long Btaiiding ; but he found no traces of poison in the stomach or _intest TJ _? J . J- In ' i a however : he feund theremams or food , animal and vegetable ; among which _proportions of undigested raw carrot . - ¦ f " , _Coroner , in summine ud . cb _^ _moiprirod the

      caseasoneot the yery worst-that had ever come hmnanitv c _^ S res ect _tojhe degree of parental ic _h'Zl } %£ _, re e 3 neas _> : _^ cruelty which it _exhifn _rlZafno _? h * t c 0 f _i- man 8 lau _? hter , " but thejury _andainV ZtZ _^ ° f , _*«« conduct of the father _hSdCtt _^ ldre ? _w a manner _whh-h , if they _cnlosft _;^ » _' u _^' nwn « n _tvvli" _*^ in tbeir thZ _tfc " . _* ; be a far worse punishment to hem than record ing a verdict whioh would not stand

      thin W _? J _j ehb i : _? ted _fw upwards of an hour , and Ch . rn _™? T a 8 folloWB _?*^ " We find that the two nv inr „ _^ , e 8 ? ud Elizabeth Hitchcock , died from h ? l ! , ¦ ot bod _'' botwhatwaathe cause of that de-S we have , _>» t sufficient evidence before us to prove . In returning this verdiot , the jury cannot reirain lrom expressing their strongly confirmed opinion , that James Hitchcock , the father of the said children , has grossly neglected the performance of tlie natural duties of a parent _towanls them , especiall y . in not obtaining medical aid for his daughter Wizalieth , at a time wheu he admitted he knew her to be dyiDg ; ami further , that Anne ' Ayling , the aunt __ of the said children ( with ' whom thoir father was living in a state of the most disgraceful concubinage ) , and who had taken upon herself the care of the said children in their father ' s absence , has been guilty of equally gross neglect in not seeking to procure for them that medical care and treatment which it must have been perfectly evident to her their melanoholy condition required . "

      1 he father and theanni o f the deceased children were , in their progress to and from the inquest room , surrounded by a body of police , who had some difficulty in p reventing the crowd , chiefly composed of women from executing summary veheeariee upon ihem , . ¦ .

      ' ¦ Printed By Dobgal M'Gowan Oflc «,„„, M- A ...

      ' ¦ Printed by _DObGAL M'GOWAN oflc _« , „„ _, m- a ...

      Urnee, In The Same Street And P.-L=K 7 -...

      _urnee , in the same Street and P _.-l _= k 7 -v . l _"** pvietor _, FEAR _61 J S O'CONNOR IT \ iT th ? i . Vc <" , by _Wilium Hewitt _^ N _^ l _RrTq , i' _° . _^ _^ _e-l _to _^ , _W _^ nh _, _InleMSstSv _^* _" _? Saturday , J 18-ie .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), May 2, 1846, page 8, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_02051846/page/8/