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Northern Star (1837-1852), 6th March 1847, Edition 3 of 3, Page 8, xu. , . WAGES IN SLIGO.—In answer to a q...

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    • - fimpmai -patusmens iiimwe of ILotfc*.
    • P)ou<sc ot Common's,
    • cci I'riiitt'd by DOl'e'AL .M'GOWAN , of IC, Grout Wiiidiiii : * "ihi'i;1"
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      - Fimpmai -Patusmens Iiimwe Of Ilotfc*.

      - _fimpmai -patusmens _iiimwe of _ILotfc * .

      THE NORTHERN STAR . March 6 , J 847 ,

      Glasgow Rost-Oi'i'Ice.—The Duke Of Tfosr...

      GLASGOW _rOST-Oi'i'ICE . —The Duke of _tfosraofls complained of the defective state of the postal al J" _° » _* men t * at Glasgow , by which letters which arrived there by an accelerated mail at eight o'clock in the evening were not ele'ivtrcd uutil tl . e following morning . The Marquis of Clakmcak « admitted the meow * _rrience . stating that steps were taking to havean evening delivery , if _possible . „ .. « .. LABODRISO POOR ( _IHELANn ) BUX _^ f **• quia of . CtANH . CAEDE moved the * ec ond V __ _f _ _f __ _Lbonring Poor ( Ireland ) BiD _, . fter wtacl . tl . e noble marquis briefly stated its different provisions . to nterpo

      Lord _LUtocoiiAH did not intend _. o any _option to the bill , as he considered thata Paramount iiccesiit * had arisen for the r _. _olation of the law . or which an act of indemnity wns now required No inch _violation should ever take place ualess such necessity could iw p lainly shown to exist , nor should it be continued a day longer than the necessity remained for it . Afitr some remarks from Lords Elleuborousb , MemU _eagle , and Fifzwilliam , The Marquis of _Lasdsbowse _explained tbe delay which had occurred in applying to Parliament for the Act of Indemnity now before their lordships . The _pressure of other business of a more important nature to Irelaud , as providing for ber immediate relief , alone prevented the _government from more speedily pressing forward the bill , which be hoped they would now consent to read a second time . The bill was then read a second time .

      TRANSPORTATION . —Earl Gbev moved the first reading of two bills ; one for the purpose of amending tbe law as to the custody of offenders , ' and the other referring to Millbank , Pa ' khurst , and Pentonville prisons _. These bills were not of importance in themselves * , but he wished to state that in moving the second reading of them on Friday , be should state what ' measures were in contemplation in consequence of the contemplated abandonment of the punishment of transportation . The bouse then _adjoarneet TUESDAY _Maecu 2 . LAW OF SETTLEMENT . —The Duke of _RichkoSD

      moved for the appointment of a select committee to inquire into the operation of the Poor Removal Act oflast session , no |> oint « a out th * difficulties which had arisen iu consequence of tbe interpretation put by the Attorney-General and tlie _Solicitor-General on the wording ot this Act—a construction wbich its framer * had aevercontemplated . His Grace expressed his conviction tbat tbis statute should be repealed , or a declaratory Act should be passed to enable Boards of Guardians to perform with uniformity whatever tbe law required of them . The Marquis of Lassdowse admitted that good parliamentary grounds bad been laid for the committee , which be was willing to agree to .

      Lord _BaecGUAU agreed witb much tbat had fallen from tbe noble duke , and deprecated the haste and slovenliness witk which acts ' were frequently pissed about the close of each session , rendering it necessary to bring the terms of most ofthem before the courts of law , in order to have them interpreted . Earl FiTzwiixiAH then presented a petition from tbe county of Wicklow , praying for the government to lend its aid for the introduction of railways into Ireland . In laying this petitioa before the house thc noble earl dwelt at some length upon the necessity wbich existed for the government to employ the people of Ireland in reproductive works .

      Eari Geet was not sanguine enough to look to any measure which government might devise for an immediate regeneration of Ireland . The foundation of all im * _provemeut in tbat country must be the better and more _extensive cultivation of tbe soil . To tbat he looked with more hops for the gradual amelioration of the condition of Ireland , than to any great scheme of public improvement to wbich the government might be induced to lend its aid . L _; rel ifosTEAGLE concurred with those who thought that it was to her own exertions that Ireland must eventually look for ber permanent improvement . Nothing but extreme ignorance , however , of her present condition , could lead any one to insist upon ber being left at this moment te her own unaided resources . Here the matter dropped , and tbeir lordships adjourned .

      THURSDAY , _Mabcu 4 . THE _LABOURING POOR ( IRELAND ) BILL went _through committee , with a . few verbal _amendments . _FRIDAV , _JIaech 5 . CONVICT AND PRISONS BILL . —Earl GbeT moved the second reading of the two bills relating to convict discipline of which be hid gives notice on a previous evening . The government bad resolved , then , to make a change which amounted to nothing less than a totil abolitien of the _systtro of transportation , except as regards convicts sen : to Bermuda and Gibraltar , where tbe term transportation meant an entirely different system tban that exercised in Australia . Instead of being transported , convicts were to be kept at home , at fim for a certain period in separate con & nement _, and after _, wards , when discharged from this preliminary state , employed for a stated time on public works ; tbe principle of this employment would be that the convicts were , to

      be subject to a system according to watch they _svo-ild have a great aud direct interest in their own good conduct , and be enabled , _r-y tbeir industry and good conduct , ' not only to _abridge the period for wbich the * r punishment was to last , but also to enjoy certain immediate advantages . It was also intended that every convict who really conducted himself well , who worked industriously , and did not incur any fresh punishment for misconduct , should be enable to obtain his discharge at the termination of half the period for wbich he was sentenced . When this period was expired , a pardon would be granted to the offender , on condition of his emigrating from England ; and to assist him in carrying this intention into effect , the government proposed that criminals , during tbe latter period of their _employment on tbe public works , should be allowed wages to nearly the full value of their labour , the money being allowed to accumulate until the time for granting the pardon had

      arrived-Lord Brougham expressed a general approval of thc government plan . Lord Stanley , Lord Denman , and the Duke of Richmond , expressed several doubts as to the propriety of the scheme . The bills were then read a secoud time , and the house adjourned .

      P)Ou≪Sc Ot Common's,

      _P ) ou < sc ot Common's ,

      Xu. , . Wages In Sligo.—In Answer To A Q...

      _xu . _, . WAGES IN SLIGO . —In answer to a _question from Mr . W . S . O'Brien , Mr , Laeocchebe bad made inquiries and had ascertained that the wages given to the labourers iu Sligo amounted to only eigbtpence a day , and the reasons which bad induced the Board of Works to fix them at * haat rate were these : —In tbe first place it was desired as much as possible to encourage task work , and the abourers getting eigbtpence a day were onlj those who refused task work . Then it should be remembered that the ordinary wages for agricultural labour in Ireland were only sixpence a day , and it was extremely important that not more labour tban was absolutely necessary should be diverted from the cultivation of the soil .

      Under these circumstances the board had thought it better to fix the wages at _eightpence , providing for the cases where it was insufficient for the support of a family , by allowing more than one member of such family to be rated on the works . With reference to the other point , namely , the proportion wbich the expenses of tbe staff bore to tbe expenditure for labour , he bad made inquiries , and he could assure the hon . member tbat any apprehensions on tbat subject were unfounded . The number of labourers employed on the public works in Sligo fluctuated between 19 and 22 , 000 . For these , there was ne pay clerk for 1 , 250 labourers , one overseer for every 40 , and one check clerk for every 250 , the expenses ofthe whole staff being £ 2 , 110 per month . This was , of course , excluvsire of the inspectors' salaries , who were paid out of the Consolidated Fuud .

      CULTIVATION OF THE SOIL ( IRELAND ) . —Lord 3 . Rcssell , in answer to Sir D . Korreys , said that he was in constant communication witb tbe lord-lieutenant of Ireland on this most important subject , and he was sorry tt say that he was not at all satisfied that tbere was in Ireland sufficient land being prepared for tillage to supply tbe want of the potato , supposing none of tbe latter to be sown . With respect to a proclamation recommending tillage , be did not think it at all desirable that government should interfere in each a question . ( "Tear , hear . ) He was quite sure that tbe lord-lieutenant hud alread y called the attention of the landed proprietors to the subject , and besides , he really thought that the proprietors and fanners t ' icmre ' _ves should be fully aware of the danger likely to _ariss from a failure in the quantity of food next season .

      WAYS AND MEANS—TnE _EIGITT MILLION LOA > ' . —The Chan-cellos of the _Excheqoes , after thanking the house for the kind indulgence wbich be bad received at its hands ou a former occasion , observed that iie had then declared that , to meet the extraordinary demands made _up-m him for the relief of Ireland iu her present state ol distress , he had determined to contract a loan of £ 6 , 000 , 000 . It was a matter of satisfaction to him , that the house generally had acceded at once to the propriety of the loan wliich he then proposed ; nnd be now had to inform it he had that morning entered into engagements for a loan of £ 8 , 000 , 000 , and that he was about to propose resolutions for the confirmation of those engagements . The government bad on former occasions entered into loans witbout the knowlcelge of the house ; but tbat practice had not

      beeu uniform . On tho last occasion on which an Act of Fariiamea t was passed for a loan it was passed for a loan which had beeu made some months previously . He had however followed a course which he deemed to be at once most respectful to the house and _m-. st advantageous to tbe public . The only question which hehad afterwards to consider , was on what terms he could most easily obtain the money ; and on consulting with the lushest authoriteson the subject , it was deemed that the easiest _teiras would be by _givingS per Cent . Consolidated Stock , and by announcing that so much money must be paid for every £ 1 Q 0 0 { _tj , gtoe t _j # Tw 0 offers—which In point of fact were identical "id made with previous arrangement—had been tendei . d to him that morning , namely , to give £ 89 wg . for tvery £ m stock M ( , those terms he hadfelt himself justified in accepting . The

      Xu. , . Wages In Sligo.—In Answer To A Q...

      intenest wbich be bad engaged 4 o pay for this _fcaa , was £ _- > 6 t" _•"• _¦* 8 s * i" - a * * * * un 1 ' ¦¦ i _* _' _c- " would be raised by the cliarre ofthe B :. nk for its management to j _£ 2 _"" O , S 00 ; or ra other words would bo £ 8 _Jn _.-Sd . per cent , or 2 s . fid . less ban the 3 } per cent , which he was supposed to have mentioned " a few nights ago . lie had allowed no dis . count , and was only to _giveetock for the instalments as they were paid up , except in the case of the first iustalment . In reply to a question from Mr . Home , the right hon . geutleman further stated that the interest , if tbe whole loan were paid up , would commence from the 5 th of January last , but would not be paid till the 5 th Of July next . If any one paid up his whole share of the loan before the 2 nd of July , be would be entitled to half a year ' s interest in July , and again in next January ; but if he did not pay up before that day , he would not receive half a year ' s interesttill January next _.

      Mr . Hume regretted that the government had' borrowed this loan in stock of a small denomination , as the public would lose largely by it ; 8 , 000 , 000 of stock at £ 89 10 s . was a very bad bargain fov the public . He had not the sligbtset doubt that this stock would be at a premium of three or four per cent , to-morrow . Government would have been enabled to make a much better bargain had it borrowed the money by public advertisement , and had accepted the offers of those who sent ia the lowest tenders at the smallest rate of iuterest . He had just been informed tbat this new stock was already at a premium of 1 J per cent . Now tbat gave at once to the contractors a clear profit of £ 150 , 000 . The bargain of the Chancellor of the Exchequer had lost the country half a million of money .

      Mr . Williams also expressed his sorrow that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had followed inthe beaten track of all his predecessors in office except Mr . Goulburn . By the course wbich they had adopted £ 175 _, 000 , _» 00 had been needlessly added to tbe national debt . From the ordinary price of the funds at present , it WAS quite clear tbat the Chancellor of tho Exchequer had thrown away at least 2 per cent , by his bargain . He ought to have got £ 1 sterling for his £ 1 stock . It appeared that £ 10 , 000 , 000 were waBted for Ireland , and that we had £ 9 , 000 , 000 of balances inthe Exchequer . Now , if thc

      Chancellor had issued 4 , 000 , 000 of Exchequer Bills at tbe increased rate of 2 d . a-day , they would still havo retained a considerable premium . He would then bare bad but a very moderate sum indeed to borrow , supposing always that his estimate of the revenue for the coming year was correct . He protested against any addition to the national debt in time of peace . He thought that if the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursued the course which he ( tfr . Williams ) recommended , he weuld be able to fund bis Exchequer Bills at a convenient time , and would so be able to save a considerable sum to the public .

      Tbe resolutions were then agreed to . On the Chairman moving that he should report them to the bouse . Sir R . Inglis expressed a wish that this sum of £ 8 , 000 , 000 had been raised by taxation instead of by loan ; for then it would bave been a sacrifice for one year only , and would not hare cast a burden upon future generations . Mr . Hume again repeated his objections , which he was afraid that he had not made intelligible to tbe Chancellor of the Exchequer . Mr . Williams wished to know who the two parties were who had made tbe biddings for tbis loan ! The Chancellor of the Exchequer replied , tbat the parties were the Messrs . Rothschild and the Messrs . Baring . Mr . Home doggedly insisted _thatunijr his system , supposing tbat no bidding had been for less than £ 5 , 000 , 001 , there would bave been 16 competitors , and not two only , for this loan .

      The Cbmb . hak wag then directed to report the resolutions to the house , and tbe report was ordered tbe received on Tuesday . POOR RELIEF ( IRELAND ) BILL . — Lord Jonw Russell then moved that the house go into committee , pro forma , on the poor relief ( Ireland ) bill . In doing so , he would briefly advert to tbe substantial amendments which he proposed to engraft upon the present Poorlaw BUI . These amendments would thus be in possession of the liouse at an early period than otherwise , wbich he was desirous that they should be , as he proposed to go into committee on the bill on Monday next , with aview to the discussion ofits details . It had been suggested that the following case might arise under the provisions of the bill . Empowering the guardians to

      relieve the able-bodied poor out of tbe workhouse , when the workhouse was full , or when fever raged in it , so tbat it would be unsafe to introduce them , viz ., that the guardians mightrefuie to give relief to the number _suffii cient to fill the workhouse , and tben refuse to give relief to the destitute able-bodied without because the workhouse Was not full . Additional words were proposed to be added to the clause , giringthe power alluded to , so as to prevent _Jjie abuse suggested . An amendment was also to be introduced into clause 2 , in reference to the enlargement of the workhouses in certain cases , As to clause 9 , he proposed so to alter the liability for charge of out-door relief in each union . The change thus proposed was to place the charge of such relief , up to a certain amount , upon the electoral districts . If the charge should exceed 2 s . Cd . in the pound for a year , then , and in that case , tbe extra

      amount should be charged upon the union at large . He also proposed an alteration in regard to the number of ex officio guardians " ; as well as to introduce a clause , similar to one in tbe temporary bill passed a few weeks ago , giving power to the poor-law commissioners to remove the guardians and appoint paid guardians iu their stead , in default jof tlie former in performing tbeir duties . These were the main alterations wbich he proposed to engraft upon the bill . It was proposed by some that relief should not be administered in Ireland to persons possessing above half an arre ot land . He thought that there should be some limit in this respect ; but ho was of opinion that , under present circumstances , it should be so defined that persons occupying merely cottages , and Small patches of ground attached to them , should not when destitute be disqualified from receiving relief , ne then moved that tbe house should go into committee pro forma upon the bill .

      Mr . Shaw observed , that , if they gave a right to re- lief , tbey should accompany that right with a law of settlement . Was the noble lord prepared to go tbat far ? In answer to a question b y Sir R . Peel , Lord J . Rcssell said that the right to relief would not be exactly the same as it was in England . AH relief was to be given in the shape of food . Relief was sometimes given here to families when a child or nny other member of a family was sick . It was not intended to extend this system to Ireland . > But a right to relief was to be given to the destitute poor in the workhouse , with a power vested in tbe guardians , when the workhouse was full , to relieve tbe ablebodied poor out of it . A desultory debate ensued , aud the bill went through [ committee pro forma . The report to be received next ! Monday .

      ¦ LANUE D rROPERTY ( IRELAND BILL ) . —Lord J . Rdssell then moved the reading of the order of the day _entbeLnnded Property ( Ireland ) Bill , with a view of postponing tbe committee thereupon till Monday . A short _discussion followed ; during wbich Sir J . GbABAH , after expressing his conviction that every consideration of economy , both for the present and the future , demanded that the government sbould , as far as possible , employ the Irish people in reproductive works , intimated tbat , in bis opinion , there was no measure calculated to effect so much for the present and

      permanent amelioration of Ireland ss that for giving facilities to tenants for life in that country to relieve themselves from their incumbrance ! by the sale of a portion of their _estater . He hoped the measure would not be too exclusively left in tbe bands of lawyers , as he feared they were taught by precedent that if it were so the relief thus sought would not be afforded in as complete and effective a manner as was desired . In devising and carrying into effect a measure of this nature the plain rules of equity , and tbe rights of creditors and heirs should not be overlooked .

      Mr . Labocoheke observed tbat but a short period would now elapse ere the other house of Parliament was occupied witb a measure to facilitate tbe sale of encumbered estates . The order ofthe day was then read , and the committee was postponed till Monday . SUPPLY . —On tbe motion tbat the house go into committee of supply , Mr . Home rose and called the attention of the government to the constant increase which was being effectec " in our naval ' and military establishments , and consequently increased expenditure to which this gave rise . Tbe estimates for the three departments of the navy , army , and ordnance bad increased to a greater extent thi * year than for any year since 1822 . Sir De Lact Evans was in favour of economy in the public expenditure , as far as was compatible with safety and _tvith a due regard to the honour aud interests ofthe country , but no further _.

      Lord G . Bentinck taunted the free traders upon the failure of their predictions , tothe effect that free trado would so bind nations in Christian unity together , as to enable them to raze tbeir battlements , disband their armies , and dismantle their fleets . Mr . Williams protested against thc increase in the expenditure adverted to , and concluded a lengthy speech with proposing a reduction in the army of 20 , 000 men . Mr . Beothebton protested against an innovation which had recently sprung upintbathouse , nnmely that of discussion with the Spe-aker in tbe chair questions which could not be discussed with any useful resultexcept in _committee _. If that practice shonld continue , and if the evening sbould be wasted in future with such discussions as those to which they had listened that night , he would regularly move at 12 o ' clock that the chairman report progress , and ask leave to sit again .

      This annunciation was received with loud cheers . Thc debate ceased , aud tbe house resolved itself into the proposed committee . Mr . Fox Maule stated thst tbe number of men to ba voted for the ensuing year was 138 , 805 . The gross charge for these would be £ 5 , 155 , 848 . The charge for non-effective _servicewould be £ 2 , 175 , 227 . Making a grand total charge of £ 7 , 331 _» 75 . From tbis total was to be deducted the charge borne by the East India Company , for 30 , 497 , to tbe amount of £ 972 , 211 , and otber sums , amounting in all to £ 1 , 05 G , _109 _, leaving the gross charge upon the country nt £ 0 . 275 , 074 , and the number of men in the effective service , the charge for whom fell dpon the Exchequer , at 108 . 333 men .

      The votes for the army estimates were then proceeded with and adopted in committee , after which the Chairman reported them to the house .

      Xu. , . Wages In Sligo.—In Answer To A Q...

      The Consolidated Fund ( £ 8 , 000 , 000 ) Bill , was then read a second time . _,..,., Sir George Gret then moved for and obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend tbe Act Oth and 10 th Vic , c . 101 , authorizing the advance of public money for the improvement of land by drainage ! Mr . Fox Maolb then moved for and obtained leave to bring ih a bill for limitiog the period of enlistment in the army . He would explain the provisions of the bill when it was brought up f # r the second reading . The other orders were then disposed of , and the house adjourned at 12 o ' clock . TUESDAY , March 2 . Mr . SrooNEti gave notice , for tbe 16 th Instant , to move for leave to bring in a bill to suppress trading in prostitution .

      Mr . _PtcitPTBE , in consequence of the announcement made by the Premier on Monday evening , withdrew his notice of motion relative to a day of general humiliation . In answer to Mr . Dillon Browne , Mr . _Labodcdeke read a letter , dated the Oth February , addressed to the Irish government , setting forth that an organised conspiracy existed in a part of the county of Mayo to resist the cultivation of the soil . JUSTICES OF LANCASTER . — Mr . T . Duncombe said tbat it nas his intention to call the attention ofthe house to the petitions which he presented from Warrington , complaining of the conduct of Messrs . Lyon and Stubbs , justices of tbe county of Lancaster , in the exercise of their summary jurisdiction , on the trial of four working men for leaving their employ , and to submit a motion thereon . He understood , however , that the subject had be _« n under the consideration of the government and he should like to know from the right hon . baronet , the secretary of state for the home department , theresul , of that consideration . t

      Sir Geoeoe Obit said that the attention of the government had been directed , _notto the allegations as they appe _» red upon the face of the documents before tbe house , but with respect to the irregularity complained of in a petition recently presented to the house . The result of that consideration waB , thatthe government had come to the conclusion that tbe convictions were illegal , and that tbe petitioners were entitled to take advantage of the informality set forth in their petition . Mr . T . Ddncombe said that having heard from the government that tbe magistrates had acted in au illegal manner he was perfectly satisfied , and would therefore withdraw his motion . -

      SITES FOR CHURCHES IN SCOTLAND , —Mr . Bouvesie moved for a " select committee to inquire whether , in what part of Scotland , and under what circumstances , large numbers of her majesty ' s subjects bave been deprived of the means of religious worship , by the refusal of certain proprietors to grant them sites for tbe erection of churches . " In making this motion , thc honourable gentleman briefly reviewed the history oftlie Free Church , showing the number of people who adhered to its communion , the amount of money which it had raised for ecclesiastical and educational purposes within the last four years , the number of churches which it had built and was still building , and the number of schools which it had _established , with the average amount contributed to each school—with a view to show that the secession wbich had taken place from the cburch was a permanent one , and that tbe disruption was not to prove an _eranescer . t movement , as some had

      anticipated that it would be . He then adverted to various instances of persecution suffered by the sect in question at the bands of the Duke of Bucclcuch and others in the lowlands , and of Lord Macdonald , Sir Jas . Riddell , and others , in the Highland districts . In some of these cases , the adherents of the Free Church had been permitted to erect tents , for the purposes of public worship , which , in a climate like that of Scotland , amounted almost to a prohibition of public worship , so far as the parties in question were concerned . In numberless Instances even the poor boon of a tent bad not been accorded them , whilst in all tbe cases complained of , they bad been refused sites for the erection of schools and churches . The grievances complained of were to be deprecated , in the first place , because they amounted to religious persecution , and in the next , gave rise to feelings of exasperation in the breasts of large masses of the population of Scotland . Mr . Ewabt seconded the motion .

      SirG . Geet said he had hoped that former discussions would have induced the Scotch proprietors to grant the necessary sites and regretted that they bad not . He saw no objection to the committee moved for ; and he believed that the result of an inquiry would be to induce the great majority of the proprietors to grant to the seceders whatever Was reasonable . Sir R . Inolis opposed the motion _. Sir James _Geauau : had little to add or subtract from the opinieus he bad formerly expressed on tbis _questien . He considered the whole subject had been exhausted , and that tbere was nothing to inquire into . The only effect of granting the committee would be to establish the principle of a similar toleration to all religions . He would oppose the motion _.

      Lord G . Bentinck likewise opposed the motion , as he believed the effect ofthe committee would be to render the voluntary principle a compulsory one . The noble lord vindicated the conduct of the Duke of Buccleucb and Lord Macdonald , who , he thought , had received so much abuse aid vituperation as to justify them in their refusals . Mr . FoS Madle and Colonel Mure supported the motion . Mr . Stuart Woetlev and Mr . Scott opposed it . Lord J . Rvsseil said that the secession having taken place in Scotland , everything that the house could do

      ought to be done to enable the seceding clergymen to administer spiritual advice and instruction to their flocks . It was evident that a considerable grievance existed , and inquiry was , therefore , only fair . He had a great objection to any legislative interference , but should it be shown that thirty congregations were obliged to listen to divine service on ft Sabbath in the open air , and subject to all the inclemency of thc weather , be would be prepared to adopt some legislative remedy . He admitted the principle would be the same if applied to Roman Catholics or the Society or Friends .

      Mr . Scott opposed , and Colonel Mubb supported the motion . The House divided—For the motion 89 Againstit 01 Majority for the motion —26 THE POOR REMOVAL BILL . —Mr . _Banxes moved for a " copy of the case submitted by the Poor Law Commissioners to the law officers ofthe Crown f _« r their opinion , witb reference to the construction of s clause in the Poor Removal Act . " Tho clause in question had beeu construed by the law officers of the crown in a manner the very reverse of the intention of the framcrs of the bill . The most conflicting opinions were afloat with respect to its proper interpretation ; and he thought their _, best course would be to pass a _declaratory set which would explain the real meaning of the clause . The hon . gentleman then gave notice that he would after Easter i more for leave to bring in a bill to repeal or greatly modify tbe Poor Removal Act oflast session .

      Mr . C . Buller obverved that , if the law officers of the Crown had deviated in interpreting the act in question from the obvious intention ofits framers , he was not prepared to say that the wider interpretation which had been put upon it by the law officers had been at all prejudicial to tbe people of this country . This was the opinion of the committee which had been _appointed to examine into the whole matter . Enough of the case alluded to , and of the opinion in reference to it , was already before the house to satisfy any reasonable or even unreasonable man . The law of settlement was too grave a matter to be thus taken up bit by bit . The whole subject was under the consideration of the committee , which , when it had fully considered it in all its bearings , would present its report to tbe house . A lengthened discussion ensued , in which a great number o'f members took part , and ultimately Mr . Bankes withdrew bis motion . INVESTMENTS IN RAILWAYS . —Lord G . _BENTit-cit

      moved for a return , showing the sums of money actually expended by the railway companies previous to 1841 : — Loudon and Birmingham , Grand Junction , Great Western , Brighton , South Western , South Eastern , and Midland ; likewise the aggregate sum expended by the above-mentioned railway companies in each year previous to 14-11 , with the view of elucidating the marvel _, lous statement made by Mr . Goulburn in the late debate upon tbe budget . Asa statement had gone forth to the _public _. on the authority of an ex-Chancellor ol the Exchequer , ofa irost extraordinary nature relative to ihe expenditure of railways , the effect of which would be to lead the public to the coi _* 61 usion tbat large railway expenditure did not _conduce to the prosperity of the country , it was absolutely necessary to expose the absurdity of that statement . The statement made by Mr . Goulburn was , that £ 37 , 720 , 000 had been expended in seven railways during the years 1830 and 1840 , these years of deficient revenue ; whereas the truth was , that ,

      from 183 G to the end of 1840 , on the seven railways named only £ 20 , 437 , 115 had been actually expended . So that , if a mis-statement of £ 17 , 231 , 000 , by a gentleman who once held the office of Chancellor of the Exchequer « as not properly detignated " a marvellous _statemen _* , "he ( Lerd G . Bentinck ) knew not what the words meant . But that was _aotthe extent of the Right Hon- Gentleman ' s mis-statement , because , in 1830 and 1840 . only £ 9 , 718 , 997 had been expended by the sever railways referred to ; therefore the Right Hon . Gtuiit-maii had made the marvellous mistake of £ 28 , 000 , 000 ! Tho statement containing this exaggeration bad been made to tbe house with all the " pomp . and circumstance" of an ex . Chanccllor of the Exchequer , and bethought that the exposure which he had just made of it would put the house on its guard for the future , against placing any reliance upou the statements and statistics of Mr . Goulburn , although he had been a Chancellor of the Exchequer .

      Mr . _Gortnoat * observed , that if it was becoming in one who had _be-en Chancellor of the Exchequer to make no statement which he could not substantiate , it was no less becoming in . one who expected to become Chancellor of the Exchequer to refrain from grossly misrepresenting what any of his possible predecessors may have stated in the house . The noble lord had misunderstood him in some instances , and misrepresented him in others . The statements which he had made had reference to the expenditure , both effected and proposed on the railways in question for several years previous to 1841 , instead of for two years , us the noble lord had stated . There were two ways of addressing the house —one , to presume that one is addressing educated men ,

      Xu. , . Wages In Sligo.—In Answer To A Q...

      who will supply all deficiences - , and the other , to regard thc house as a vulgar assembly , and to g ive every detail and leave nothing to be filled up . This former was the way in wh _' chhe addressed the house , and he did not think it then necessary to make his figures perfectly plain . Tho returns were ordered . The other orders of the day were disposed of , and the house adjourned at twelve o ' clock . WEDNESDAY , March 3 . The Speaker took the chair at twelve o'clock . Mr . Duncombe presented a petition that railway companies should convey poor persons at a farthing a mile ; also a petition , signed by a number ofthe _clothiprinters of Lancashire , which stated that they were in as bad a condition as were tbe people in the suffering districts of Ire . land , and praying the government to _givs a grant of £ 30 , 000 in order that it might be invetted in such a manner as to yield them employment .

      Lord Jo _nx Russell presented petitions from several places in Yorkshire , Lancashire , Cheshire , and Derbyshire , from various master _maaufacturers _, signed on behalf of 538 firms ( hear , hear ) , stating , they thought it would be very desirable that the hours of labour should be shortened , and therefore praying the liouse to pass the Ten Hours Bill ; alio _petitionsfrom persons employed in manufactures in Bury and Heywood , in favour of the Ten Hours Bill . A large number of petitions in favourof the Ten _Heurs Bill were presented by other members .

      THE FACTORY BILL . —The order of the day having been read forgoing into committee on the Factory Bill , Mr , Escott rose to move , as an amendment , that the bill be committed that day six months . Those who considered that ' s , tbis measure they were benefiting the la . _boui'ing population in our manufacturing districts , might be very benevolent persons , but thty were nt the same time most erroneous In their views . He himself regarded it ns a measure which , in crippling energies and capital , would inevitably most materially cripple the energies of labour , and deprive tbe _werkmen ofa _considerableportion of that employment which at present scarcely sufficed for tlieir subsistence . With respect to the foreign trade , the proposed bill was the maddest project ever thought of . Why , the foreign trade so much exceeded the consumption of this country , that reducing the hours ot labour would destroy more than the entire of our home consumption . Besides , this bill w % » introduced at a

      time of European scarcity . Was this a moment to say to the workman , " You shall not work , " when provi . _sions were at famiue price , and it required alibis energies to scramble for a subsistence 1 ( Hear , hear . ) He had high authority for deprecating the proposed measure . On the lst of July , 1839 , the noble lord the _FU-Bt Lord of the Treasury , speaking on the motion of Lord Ashley , iaid _, — "Did the " noble lord mean to fix the wages while he curtailed the hours of labour ? If he did , he meant to do what was impossible ; if he did not , the committee must know that to shorten tbe hours of labour , at a time , too , when provisions were so dear , would be inhumanity . Therefore , he must rote against thc measure . " ( Hear , hear . ) Why had the noble lord changed his opinion in 1847 ? Wero provisions lower ! were times better 1 ( Hear , hear . ) Another reason why they should hesitate in passing this measure was tbo bad success which had attended former interference . The

      supporters of tbe bll said , ''You have interfered already ; it is only a quest ' on of degree , why not go further ! " Iu his opinion that was a reason why they should not go further . Every former interference was promised to be final , but it only created a necessity for further inteferance . Lord Ashley had put forward garbled statements in defence of the measure . In the evidence taken on the subject , working men had given proof that they were not opposed to long hours , and clergymen had stated tbere was nothing in factory labour injurious to health and morality . The working men were acting wader a delusion . He believed that if they were convinced that reduction of labour must be attended with reduction of wages , they would reject it at ouce . This measure would not settle the question , it would never be settled while the working classes were exposed to periodical distress , and consequently discontent , and therefore he trusted tbat tbe hou _« c would reject tbe bill . He moved tbat it be committed that day six months .

      Mr . Beckett opposed the amendment . Ha believed thst the operatives weresineerely anxious for the success of the bill . ( Hear , hear . ) They had discussed it in tlieir clubs andover their pots of ale , and they were convinced that prolonged labour was most injurious to tbe constitution . They were supported in this view by many of the manufaeturers , who had petitioned in favour ol an Eleven Hours' Bill . ( Hear , hear . ) He was inclined to support that view himself , for although be should prefer ten hours , yet he was unwilling suddenly to disturb longestablished uystems . An Eleven Hours' Bill would be a great improverm nt ; it would take off the last hour of toil , and permit the workmen to spend sometime among tilth' _fflmilies . It would also enable them to attend evening lectures , schools of design , and other educational institutions . The _patitionera to whom he alluded had tried eleven hours , it had worked well , and wages had not diminished in proportion- Witb these views it was bis intention to support the bill .

      Mr . Waus said that the hon be bad frequently advanced and retreated on this question . First , tbe motion of the noble lord tlie member for Dorsetshire was carried by a small majority ; and no sooner was it carried than it was reversed . Last year , after a full discussion , the measure was m gatived by a majority of ten ; and this year the second reading passed hy a majority of 108 . The house then divided in favour ofa Ten Hours' Bill ; the hon . member for Leeds now proposed a mezzo termine , iu the shape of an Eleven Hours' Bill , hoping thereby to settle the question . He ( Mr . Ward ) did not believe that it could thus be settled ; Ida honourable friend the member for Oldham would not accept such a settlement . ( "Hear , " from Mr . Fielding . ) The whole question was . could tbey pass the bill without reducing wages ? If

      they thought they could , if they were certain of it , he would go the whole way with them and vote for a Ten Hours'Bill . He knew that in the view ho took of this question , he differed from many of his constituents aud from sevcrul members of the government , but he had the deepest convictions as to the course he ought to take He had last year pointed out the danger of encouraging delusions among the working classes , aud also thatthe house was giving a legislative sanction to the _procedings of the trades' unions . He believed that there was not one ofthe working men who would take a Ten Hours ' Bill if they were sure of a reduction in wages . ( Cries of " Oh , oh , " and " Hear , hear . " ) Let them be asked , and his statement would be found to be correct . He was quit willing to admit that in one town , where short time _' _h-id been tried , it bad worked well hitherto , and had produced temporary advantages to the working classes By arrangements amongst themselves

      wages bad been kept up ; but the question was , could this be done permanently ? In hardware , cotton , and others of our most important manufactures , two or three per cent , would turn the scale against us in neutral markets . As to the argument about the Ingratitude of the free traders in refusing this boon , as it was termed , to thc operatives , it must be remembered that free trade was not a name merely , but a thing . Free trade was a _meanure , the benefits of which would _developethemsehes gradually , not at once . He should give his vote in favour of delaying the operation of , or if possible rescinding the vote to which the house had , as he believed , most unadvisedly come the other day ; for , of all times , he thought tbat tlie most unhappily chosen for an experiment of this tu . ture , when tbe scarcity and high price of cotton was occasioning a diminution in the demand for labour , while the price of provisions was rising . He must say this was a most unhappy time to attempt by enactment to limit thc hours of labour _.

      Mr . BROTn _* ER oN contended that the question for the house to consider was whether females and young persons from 13 to IS years of ago should be compelled to work thirteen hours every day in a foetid atmosphere without relaxation ! He could of bis own knowledge say that the operatives themselves were generally in favour ofthe measure —( hear . ) He admitted that it was mo't desirable for the state to avoid aa far as possible int < _-rfering with the employment of labour . But if the Home of Commons were to leave everything to the rules of political economy , their labours would be very much curtailed— - ( hear , hear . ) They interfered with these rules every day . They had interfered with them in their legislation ns between landlord and tenant—master and apprentice—shipowners and seamen , and in a hundred

      other cases—( _he-. r . ) _Political economists argued against all legislation on the subject of factory labour . Why , then , was a factory bill ever passed t _Becauso it was found thnt working in factories wns an _txception to the general rule . When , in 1815 , the late Sir' R . Peel brought forward his bill , it was ascertained that many of the mills were kept running seventy to ninety hoursa week , and that children of six years of age were often compelled to work that number of hours in the same time . That , the house thought , was a sufficient ground for departing from the rules of political economy and interfering as between the employer and the employed . If all men were humane there would be no need of legislation— or if they were to lay it down that the working classes were made to eat , to drink , to work ,

      and to die only , they might then safely leave these things to the strict rules of political economy . ( Hear . ) It was said , leave this matter to the parties themselves , and they will come to an arrangement , but had they done so ? Nothing ot the kind , nor wns there any hope of such a result . ( Hear , hear . ) It was in consequence of the preponderence of females in factories that this further legislation was necessary . They had legislated to protect the children , because they wero weak ; and they mutt now for the same reason , interfere for thc protection ot tho females . In faetories , the weak worked side hy side with the strong , and , while the one might bear up against the labour without inconvenience , the other would sink under it . When he was a boy , he knew what it was for the weak to work thof e long liemrs , by llis own

      experience as a factory worker , ne had feelings and sentiments then on the _sabject _, and formed the . ' resolution that , if ever he hud the power , he would use lii * i utmost endeavours to bring about a diminution of the hours of labour for women and children . ( Cheers ) And he was proud to say that this feeling of his boyhood was retained in his cider age . ( Hear , hear , ) He did not accuse tho masters of inhumanity in working their hands long hours . Capital and labour were so combined , and competition was so powerful , that it was impossible for any master to resist the temptation to do so , unless all were compelled to take the same course , Even the honourable ' member for Oldham , rich as he was , wero he to carry out in his _oevu mills the humane principles he advocated , would , unless there were a law requiring all to do the

      Xu. , . Wages In Sligo.—In Answer To A Q...

      same , soon ho in the Gazette . ( Hear , hear . ) The working classes would not be alarmed by the statement that a reduction of wagos must necessarily follow a dim ! _, nution in tho hours of lsbour . They knew that thc greater part of their work was paid for by the piece , and not by time . They looked to what had been the result of former changes , and they found that whereas , during the last thirty years , the price of the goods had fluctuated mere than 46 per cent ,, wages had not decreased more than 1 or 2 per cent . Nor did he apprehend the _' _. dangcr contemplated by tbe hon . member for Sheffield , in the falling off of our exports , as resulting from the proposed reduction in the hours of labour . The extra machinery ordered during the last year , would more than counterbalance all such reductions . The prophecies of the masters as to the ruinous effects to our commerco of diminishing the hours of labour had not been borne cut by thc result of the previous enactments In that direction . On the contrary , exports had gone on increasing , _andlastyear we exported

      25 , 000 , 000 of cotton yarn more than during the previous year . Tbe export of cotton goods had also materially increased in that , as comp ared witb the preceding , year . The reduction of the cotton tax alone , which was equal to 13 d . a week in the wages of tho operatives , would more than compensate the masters for any decreased production consequent on adiminution in the hours of labour . It was a mockery and a delusion to tell the working classes that parliament was anxioua to promote their physical and moral improvement by establishing parks and institutions , while they wero compelled to labour twelve or thirteen hours a day . He did not believe the statement tbat if this bill passed—whieh hehad the highest authority for saying was uot to decrease wages , but to advance wages at tbe expense of capital—that the working classes would continue to agitate . He believed tbe measure would be advantageous te all parties , and when the operatives once felt the benefit of it , he was convinced they would cease to be agitators . ( Hear . )

      Sir J . GttAB » j * had listened with much pleasure to the speech ofthe hon . member for Salford , the more so as he was not till then aware tbat , as a factory operative , hehad administered with his own hands to his own wants . ( Hear . ) That circumstance reflected great honour upon the hon . gentlaman , and it afforded him ( Sir J . Graham ) not a little gratification to sit in tbat house with him on terms of perfect equality —( hear , hear)—for the _spceah of tbe hon . gentleman was of itself the most convincing proof that from the humblest classes of tho community gentlemen might rise to stations ofthe highest importance and influence by the exercise of honest industry and unhlemished integrity—( hear)—but the course of life to which thehon . gentleman owed his success had been compatible witb long hours of labour ; and he was himself a

      proof that , _* hy caretul employment of time In that branch of industry they were now discussing , the most useful and honourable acquirements were compatible with long hours of labour . The right hon . gentleman then spoke at great length in opposiiion to the bill . Its operations would be to curtail the number of heurs per day for which machinery would run . It would also throw a great deal of the older machinery out of _employment . That machinery could only compete with such as waB of more recent construction by running for twelve hours a day . If they limited its working to ten hours a day , such legislation would be tantamount tothe destruction of valuable property , now yielding to its owners the fruits of capital and industry , by Act af Parliament . Sir G . Grey admitted that the pasting of the bill would lead to a diminution of wages . What would be the condition of the operatives

      inthe North , with their wages materially reduced ? Such was the nature of trade , that , under the most favourable circumstances , oscillation must occasionally take place . Should they then prevent the industrious man , when trade was good , and full work could be afforded him , from working as long as his strength would permit him , so as to lay up what might be surplus wages for tbe time being , to meet the exigencies of less prosperous times ? A aAncere _ttme of public duty compelled him to resist this bill , and his opposition to it was grounded upon thc following reasons . It was , in the first place , a tax on machinery ; in the next , it imposed a limit to the earnings of industry ; and in the third , it was a tax upon wages . If they confined its operation to the four trades mentioned , it would be most unequal and unjust , and if they intended it to all trades and occupations , it would be utterly intolerant _.

      Sir G . Gbet observed that he had nerer admitted that a reduction in the hours of labour , such as was sought by tbe bill , would necessarily lead to a diminution ot wages . All that he bad admitted was , that its tendency would be to diminution , but that there were other causes which might counteract tbat tendency . As be had observed on a former occasion , he would vote to go into committee on the bill , in tbe hope that tho limitation imposed by it upon th * hours of labour would rest at eleren hours ; but if it emerged from committee as a Ten Hours' Bill , he was ready to support it , on the third reading , as a Ten _Hours'Bill .

      Viscount Morpeth assented , as a general principle , to the desirableness of limiting the hours of labour . He was fully impressed , however , with the necessity which rested upon thera of proceeding in any such course of legislation as was now contemplated with great caution and circumspection , and of the measures which they adopted being as guarded and as experimental as possible . He was prepared to go into committee on the bill , in the hope that it would emerge from it as an Eleven Hours' Bill . If it did not , but was moulded Jn committee into a Ten Hours' Bill , he could not share in the confidence of Sir George Grey as to thonon-injurious character of the measure so modified , aad support it as a Ten Hours' Bill on the third reading .

      Lord" Geokge Bentince regarded ten boursadayas the proper maximum of a day ' s labour . The great majority of the operatives in the country were in favour ofthe bill , in view of all the consequences to wbich it might give rise , and had he no other reason for supporting this bill , this alone would suffice to induce him to support the motion for the Speaker leaving the chair . Mr . _Milneb Gwsou delivered a long speech in opposition tothe Bill , on behalf of his constituents , the Manchester millowners . He laid great stress on the differenceof opinion among thesupporters of the bill , and after running over the usual topics of the opponents of the measure _. _'drew an aJarmihg picture of the evils it would produce in drawing labour and capital from this toother _countries and sat down loudly applauded by his party .

      Lord _EaniNGTOH was in favour of going into committee on tbe bill , but would more in committee to place all adult women out of the reach ofits provisions . Sir R . Peel , who rose at ten minutes past five , and was indistinct and much more rapid than usual , spoke in opposition to the bill , When be presided over the Treasury , he sometimes excited a smile by saying tbat he bad three courses to pursue . The noble lord who now occupied his place , had succeeded also to his situation in that respect . Not only this , but the noble lord could also adduce tbe high authority of h colleague for each of ihe three courses before him . The Secretary for Ireland unhesitatingly declared his opposition to all interference . The Secretary for tbe Home Department was in favour of going into committeo on the bill , in the hope

      that it would emerge from committee an Eleven Hours ' Bill , but was quite ready to support it should it re-appear in the house a 3 a Ten Hours'Bill ; whilst tbe noble lord , the Chief Commissioner of the Woods and Forest- - , had intimated his intention of sticking fast at eleven hours . The position in which the noble lord thus found himself reminded him of a mathematical problem , very difficult of solution , which was , at what point a body would remain at rest when exposed to the attraction of three great bodies . The noble lord haditwowin his power to solve that difficult problem , and he ( Sir It . Peel ) was curious to know whether the noble lord would remain at rest , or decide in favourof one or other of his colleague ?; it would be n narrow mode in which to deal with the subject , to argue it upon the strict rules of political economy .

      It was quite _possible that the political economy of this country had confined itself to too narrow a range , especially when compared with the more complex science which had been rendered by the Italian economists . The gr _* und upon which he would give his vote _agiiinst the further progress of the bill , waB the deep conviction under which he laboured , that it would not bo for the vvelfaro of ihe working classes ; that it _we-uld not be for their intellectual culture or their social and intellectual improvement , that thoy imposed rtstrictions on the hours of labour . There were many reasons , too , why it was positively dangerous to impose such restrictions at present . There was now no impediment to . the employment of British capital in foreign countries . Nny more , it was by no means improbable that erery

      encouragement might bo given to its employment abroad , Besides , they must bear in mind that machinery was now freely exported abroad , and in addition to this , tlie extended means of locomotion which they now possessed , and the gradual disappearance of those prejudices which formerly confined the Englishman t _*> his own country , would lead to a large emigration of skilled labour , if impediments were to be throws in its way at home , They had at present , therefore , no control over capital , ma . _chiiury , or labour ; and yet it was under these citcum-8 tar . ee 8 that they proposed nut only that women and children , but , practically , adult males also should not work moro than five days in tho week . What would

      be the result of _s-uch a restriction as this , in connection with the freedom of egress , which was now accorded by the policy of the country to _capital , labour , and _muchiucry ? The riglit honourable gentleman then intimated that they should all aim ut the social , the moral , and the intellectual improvement of thc working classes , but warned the house that if , at tlie _same time , they deprived those classes of the comforts of life , their improvement , in other respects , would only vender them the more dungerous to the peace ofthe country in times ofcommerciul adversity . The real way in whieh to improve the habits and elevate the _cluwacttr of the working classes , was to give them a proper command over the necessaries ol life . It would be the " most

      marvellous thing that had ever happened , " and the " greatest phenomenon that had ever occurred , " if tho employers , in the four great bnincl . es of _msinu . I . teiure , with which they proposed to interfere , should give six days' wages for live days' work . This could only be given in consideration of getting more work out of the operatives , in a given and limited time , than they now got , und to compress 6 lx days' work into five days , so as to entitle the operatives to six _dajs' wages wuuld be a grcatev strain upon their bodily furultics than to permit them to work six dajs for six days' wages would be . The poor man' » wages were tho poor man ' s income , and a dvduction from tho time in which those wages were earned would be the poor man ' s income tax —an income tax which wonld press upon him at the rate of from 12 to 10 per cent . It was now but a fen- minutes from six o ' clock , nnd the right honourable gentleman brought hie speech ,

      Xu. , . Wages In Sligo.—In Answer To A Q...

      Which » m listened to throughout with the most marked attention , u SU ( Jaen oloM i bj declaring that it J . because he firhJ vbt ; umdthatthebulb ( , fore 0 ) tm _" »« posed n most mw interference with the rights , _j privileges oftho Iabo . rim > c a 8 geg of the count °° whom he had often . _' _^ _aowledgcd his own " _sp _Lu _, obligations , that I . e _peered in giving it his _strenu _ous opposition . •*" The house then divided , and i » . numbers were—Fer going into committee t > ] 9 ft For amendment " " \ \\\ 105 Majority for going into committee t ~ _^ The house tben adjourned .

      _THURSDA . Y , _l * fAacH i . EMIGRATION . —Mr . _VbrmonShith moved that , ¦' , _- „ order to assist and encourage voluntary emigration to the colonies , it is expedient to increase the Importance aad authority of the Land and Emi gration Board , to add to thoir agency in Great Britain and Ireland , and promote their vigilant superintendence of the passage ami future location of the emigrants . " Air . Mackinxon seconded the motion _. After some discussion the motion was withdrawn . CRACOW . —TIIE RUSSIAN DUTCH LOAN .-ifr ; Hcmb movtd the following resolutions : —

      " 1 . That this house , considering tho faithful obser . vance of the General Act of Congress , or Treat y of Vienna , of the Oth day of June , 1815 , as the basis of ths peace aad warfare of Europe , _viows with alarm and indig . nation the incorporation of tho free city of Cracow and of its territory into the empire of Austria , by virtue ofa con . vention entered into at Vienna , on the Gth day of _Novem . ber , 184 C , by Russia , Prussia , and Austria , in manifest violation ofthe said treaty . 2 . ' ¦ That it appears , by returns laid before Parltamcnf that thero has already been paid from the British

      Treasury towards the principal and for the Interest of tho debt called Russo-Dutch Loan , between the years 181 S and 1846 , both inclusive , the sum of 40 , 493 , 750 tiering , equal to £ 3 , 374 , 497 sterling money ; and that the li quidation of the prineipal and interest of the remaining part of the loan , as stipulated by the Act 2 nd and 3 rd of William IV ., cup 81 , will requir * further _antiURt pay . ments from the British Treasury until the year 1915 amounting to 47 , 000 , 250 florins , equal to £ 3 , 917 , 187 ster . ling money — making then the aggregate payment oi £ 7 , 291 _, ( iC 6 , and the average for each of the 100 yean oi £ 72 , 91 C .

      3 . " That the Convention of the I 6 th day of November _^ 1831 , between his Majesty the King of Great Britain and Ireland and the Emperor of all the Russias , was made to explain the stipulations of the treaty between Great Brl . tain , Russia , abd the Netherlands , signed at London on the 19 th day of May , 1815 , and included in the Treaty of Vienna ; and , by tbat Convention , it was agreed by Great Britain ' to secure to Russia the payment of a portion oi * her old Dutch debt in consideration of the general arrangements ofthe Congress of Vienna , to which she _bafl given her adhesion ; arrangements which remain in fulf force . 4 . " That this house ii , thereforo , of opinion that _Rumla having withdrawn that adhesion , and these arrangement * being , through her act , no longer in force , the paymenta from this country , on account of that debt , should be henceforth suspended . "

      The hon . member narrated the recent events whicll have occurred in connexion with the annexation of Cracow . The protest ofthe government was _iniufflcient _. What cared men who had lost tlieir honour , and had violated every engagement , for protests ! It became the House of Commons to mark their displeasure at _thesfl transactions in a more emphatic way than by simply protesting against them . lie did not want thtm to go to war , but when he found that they were called upon to pay annually a Jorge sum of money to one of the Powers in question , as a portion of our part of the bargain , involved in the Treaty of Vienna , wbich Power had violated its own part of the engage .

      ment ; he called upon the house to sustain him ill pro . posing that these payments , on our side , should hence _, forth cease . He had always denounced the Treaty of Vienna . It was a bargain entered into with great public robbers , ond made us as bad as the robbers themselves . The deliberate violation of the treaty was not _confined to the case of Cracow . It had been violated , particularly by Russia , in numerous instances , which the hon . gent _, here recapitulated . Europe , therefore , was no longer bound by the Treaty of Vienna . Every state enslaved by the treaty was relieved from the yoke , aud at liberty to _aSBert its independence . Lord Sando _*** seconded the motion .

      Lord John Rdssell thought it was clear , from the words of the Treaty of Vienna , and other considerations , that thc articles respecting Cracow formed some of tho principal stipulations ofthe treaty . However small the territory in question might be , its independence , as guaranteed by the Treaty of Vienna , meant neither more nor less than a separate existence should be left to a small portion of ancient Poland . The reasons assigned for its extinction were _U _3 t , in his estimation , sunieient to justify the violating Towers in the courso which they had pursued , Agreeing with Mr . Hume in the view which he took of tha conduct of the three Powers in the transaction in question , he did uot see what advantage could arise from a declaration of opinion in respect to it on the part ofthe House of Commons . So fur , therefore , as

      the first resolution of the honourable gentleman went , he would feel it incumbent on him to more the previous ! question . As to the last resolution , which provided for the non-payment henceforth of the iuterest on the Russo-Dutch loan , he must also dissent from it . The Executive Government had , in the present instance , dons all that it considered it to be ' its duty to do , and he hoped that the house would not , by affirming resolutions like that now beforoit , take into its own hands a matter , the cognizance of which was properly within the prolines of tbe executive department of the State . The debate was then , after some discussion as to the day . adjourned till Thursday next . THE FACTORIES BILL then went through _cero . mittee _|> ro / orma , [ to be _re-committid on tbe 17 th March , The other orders were then disposed of , and the house adjourned .

      FRIDAY , Mabch . 5 IRELAND . —On thc order of the day for ' going into com mittee of supply , Jlr . John O'Conneli . called the attention of _thegovernment to the necessity of drawing off the labourers now employed on _public works in Ireland , to the tillage of the land . Tbe hon . member suggested that the government should furnish seed to a larger extent than they had proposed ; and tbat the improving tenant should be invested with tbe right ef compensation for improvements ; ( . nd that a law sbould be devised to compel Irish proprietors to reside on their estates . Jlr . Labocche & e recapitulated what hod been done , and declined to _undertake a course which went bojond tbe functions of government . The remainder ofthe evening was occupied in committee of supply on the Ordnance and Navy Estimates .

      Lnwholksoub Lodgings.—At Tho Shakspeare'...

      _Lnwholksoub Lodgings . —At tho Shakspeare ' d Head , Wycli-street . Strand , on Wednesday last , before Mr . Bedford , on the body of James Laban , aged 64 , an ivory turner . The deceased resided at No . 41 , Wycli-street , and had been in great distress for some time past . He died sudaenly on Saturday night last . Thc witnesses agreed that he was in si very destitute condition , but did not think that he died from starvation . Mr . B . Brookes , surgeon , oi Bedford-street , Coyont-garden , said that lie had made a postmortem examination of the body , and found that the cause of death was liydrothorax , that is , water on the chest . Uo could not help _bringing under tho

      notice ofthe coroner aud jury the filthy state of the locality where the deceased resided , the impurity of the air , the want of proper drainage and sufficient light , all these most uncongenial to a man in his state of disease , llis room was in a filthy condition , and destitute of the necessary comforts of life . A _fter ten years' experience aa surgeon to the Strand Union , lie could state that the poor did not die so often , as represented , from absolute want of food as from the impurity of the air they breathed . lie could not speak in terms too condemnatory of tbe neglect of sanitary regulations . The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence .

      Food ron Alii . v a _*> d Birds . —Tlio proposal has been . t made to cut off tho oats which nre usually given il to horses , and make bread for men ; but thero is 9 another consuming c / . iss which is allowed with h impunity to take the food out of the poor man ' s ' s mouth . We allude to the hares and rabbits , Every y rabbit consumes a bushel of wheat—so says the ie calculation before us ; robbing the farmer of lir ' 9 is money and not benetiting tko landlord . Wc tli _^ k , _n , therefore , when tiiere is not a mouthful of too "i * much lood to spare , it would be as well to got rid of of of these

      some epicurean rabbits and hares , and 80 so increase the stock of provisions . It would be a a delightful item to read _amongst the subscriptions ns to the Irish and Scotch Destitute Fund : — "The Abo- > o » _lition of the Game Laws . . 2 , 000 , 000 bushels of of wheat . 'It would be only a small addition ( the lie bushel of wheat being six shillings ) of . £ 000 , 000 ' . i 0 _' . By the by , what has become of the Game Law aw * Committee ? The members require starting a bit , lit , tor they do nothing apparently but sit upon their ieit terms . —Punch .

      _SiDLtns' Meeting . — On Thursday evenin * : a a meeting of sadlers , harness-makers , _bridle-ctuter * , _ers , and collni ' _-ninkcre , took place at thc Parthenium urn Rooms , St . Martin _' _a-lam _* * , in support of a movement _icnt to reduce the hours of labour from sixteen to twelve . lve \ Upwards of 400 persons wore present . Air . J . J . Gordon was ; culled to the chair . Messrs Upcolt , : olt , Brunyee . Phillips , Everstield , Saunders , _Cnister , iter , Lliivies , _Roydhemse , ar . d _M'Gregov , addressed tho the meeting , _ltesidutic-ns , in accordance with _tlieobjecfc-jeci of the meeting , were unanimously udopted . \ V o snail 5 ha . ' speak of this movement in our next . Bilston . —A _gci-. cvalnweting ol the members of _tl'Of tl : ( Land Company mil take place at Mr . Joseph I . ii :- Ur .-ncy s , Hiu _h-strett , on Sunday evening , March ih « li ilii 7 tn _, at 0 o clock .

      Cci I'Riiitt'd By Dol'e'Al .M'Gowan , Of Ic, Grout Wiiidiiii : * "Ihi'i;1"

      cci _I'riiitt'd by DOl ' e _' AL . M'GOWAN , of IC , Grout _Wiiidiiii _* " ihi'i ; 1 "

      F Nn-, .Ijiiuirii, Uity Of Westminster, ...

      _f _nn-, . ijiiuirii , uity of Westminster , at "" -ill h " _Ollie-e _, iu the same Street aud l _' _-wish _, for th e V _' rv- lV _* prietor , FEAUOUS OTONNOH _, Esq ., and pulili _» l ! _i''mMii' by William _llr-wirr , of * _\'« . 18 , _Charles-strei-t , lir : i" -lir : _iii dun-street , W . _iiwoi'tli , in thu parish of St . Mary . _•" ** ¦' ' _•" ** ¦' ingUu , in the t _'» uiit v # f * - ui-i- ev , at this Ollice-, So . l ' io . 1 ' Great _Wimlniill-sueet , llayiuafket , in the ) _Uityot'VVe- _'iVVeminuter . _Butuvda , Miu't-h 6 th , 1317 ,

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), March 6, 1847, page 8, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_06031847/page/8/