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      March 10, 1849. The Northern Star. 7

      March 10 , 1849 . THE NORTHERN STAR . 7

      Jmijaruil *Earltamart

      _Jmijaruil * _Earltamart

      Moxdat, March 5. Horse Of Lords.—Scoicn ...

      MOXDAT , March 5 . HOrSE OF LORDS . —Scoicn Marriages asd _Reoisih atiok Buxs . —On the question of the third readmir of these bills , Thc ~ _* _rl of _Abehdeex repeated his _ohjections to the Marriage Bill , atthe same time admitting that while the Registration BiU on the one hand would remedy some existing defects , on the otber it would entail irrcat inconvenience . There was but one feeling in Scotland on the subject of these bills , and

      that was a determined hostility to theu - becoming law . Me asures of this description deserved much more caution , and be never availed himself of the _privilege of parliament with greater pleasure than in entering liis protest against the Marriage Bill , which he conadcrcii both impolitic and unjust . Lord Campbell defended the measures , which had been under consideration in three session * , and contended that ihno civilised country iu the world could m arriages be effected as in Scotland under the cxistin" law . Thc bills were then read a third tune and passed .

      . . The Vice-Guardians of Unions ( Ireland ) BiU , on the motion of the Marquis of Lassdowxe , was read After a few words from Lord St . axlet , the Earl of Wicklow , the Bishop of Cashel , and the Earl of Lucas the second reading of the Relief of Distress ( Ireland ) BUI having also been moved , Lord Hr . _ouciuit urged that tbe grant of £ 50 , 000 _ras too little io be of permanent use , and too much , because it oiieht not to be given at all . A

      naiional polity must be in a most diseased state when other supp lies were looked to than those which arose out of the industry of the people ; and this thc people of Ireland ought to he made to understand . Thc hiU was then read a second time , as also was the Buckingham Assizes Bill , and their lordships adjourned . HOUSE OF COMMOXS . —Among the questions put to ministers previous to the commencement of puhlic business , was one relating to The War is tub _Pc _. vjaui _* . —Mr . Hcme said :

      _Sceins the noble lord at tbe head ofthe government in his place , I wish to ask him a question , but I feel considerable difficulty in shaping it in such a way as to obtain sufficient information . But , sir , after the statements which we have seen hi the Gazette of Saturdav last , and in the Gazette prior to that , relative to the affairs of India , thc state of that country can no longer be a matter of indifference to every man who looks to the future . ( Dear , hear . ) I should he sorry to prejudge any man , and particularly one who is not present to answer any statements that _niit'ht be made , but certain facts which are developed in the despatches which were received three or four weeks ago , withont any relation to the late melancholy transactions that have taken place , authorise

      mc in inquiring whether her Majesty ' s ministers have taken any measures to place the army in India under such command as shall obtain the confidence of the men , and secure all those advantages of art and science which we , as a civilised nation , possess for the purposes of warfare ? It appears from the despatches that in recent events those advantages were not used , and I do hope , therefore , tbat her Maiestv _' s covernmentwill state what measures they have taken to ensure better success for the future . ( Hear , bear . ) _, . _ . . - , Lord J . Russell ( whose statement was receivod with the most profound silence ) said : There can be bo doubt that the state of our military operations in India must be a matter not certainly of mdifferenee

      hut of thc deepest interest , to every memher cf this Bouse . ( Cheers . ) I can , however , only state at present , that her Majesty ' s government , after considering the intelligence which has been received , have offered to her Majesty that advice which they ? hmk best calculated to meet the emergency which at present exists in that part of her dominions . But I have not as vet received her Majesty ' s reply tothe advice which 1 have humbly tendered to her Majesty ; but as soon as that answer is received , and can be wiih propriety communicated to this House , I will h > e no time in laving it before it . The Inisn Rase in Aid . — The House having again gone into committee on the rate in aid resolution of the committee on " Irish Poor Law ,

      Mr . Osboicse opened tlie debate hy stating that whatever differences might exist in thit House as to the resolutions wliich had been brought forward by the noble lord , there could be no dispute that the case had been fairly put , which amounted to this , that the poor law hail entirely broken down hi the western districts of Ireland , and thatthe Ilouse was called upon to levy a contribution on thc north and south of the country to support the poverty of the west . After the reasons they had heard in favour of the proposition , that no one could resist the conclusion that her Majesty ' s ministers wero not able to grapple with the tremendous difficulties by wbich they were surrounded , for thev were now _oiilv administering a palliative ,

      instead of attempting a cure , and it behoved the House to puse before it entered on a course of policy which would destroy the vitality of the eastern and northern unions without coiiimunieating anv permanent benefit io the western- It was all verv well to suppose that the rate in aid would amount to £ * 2 . w , ' ! ' . _t 0 , and that it would all come out of Irish pockets ; but what security wasi there that the money to be drawn from the consolidated fund would be hereafter paid from the rate in aid ? Thero was only one precedent for the course taken bv the noble lord , which would he found in " Gil BW' It was the treatment of Sangrado , for here was Ireland complaining , and the political San-Siado of tbe dav was _suggesting the necessity of a

      _l Utile more blood letting . He was prepared to vote for any motion whieh would make tbe rateable I _jirojiertv of Ireland available for the susten-I an-.- * of thc poor , but the Houso ought to i have some guarantee that the rate to be levied I should not he spent in eleemosynary grants . (¦> It was the duty of the government rather to assist ~ i in introducing " some system of home colonisation I and of emigration to other parts . Political _S economists might object to such measures - but the t great master of that school , Mr . Mill , had expressed 1 % a contrary opinion , having put thc _ca-scbi which the : . wesiem unions could only be relieved from the r ) pressure to whicb they were subjected , "by enii-% gration or starvation . " If the noble lord was si worthy of his place at the head of the government ,

      _Qhe was bound to come forward with a definite plan , S . which had not simply for its object thc support of \\ this population hy eleemosynary relief . It seemed j'a fashionable -doctrine that , because a poor law _tidhud been granted , parliament had done ii * duty to [ _ghvland . A poor law did not add to the capital or _Igreveiiue ofthe country , but rather diminished them . Jglle liad himself found it necessary , fiom the increase ap rates , to discharge labourers " , lie had to thank ! fjf he government for having made him List year pay _§ j £ l , wi . But he bad to discharge labourers in _conasequeneo . Yet it . was said _government had given a fJ 8 > oor law to Ireland , and the property of Ireland _SelioulJ support its poverty . That was a most

      dan"ctous doetriue . They might speak of Louis _Blancsiii—and , in justice to Louis Blane , it ought to _betated that he had not set the ateliers tiationaux , on bot , as hid been alleged ; they might speak of iWleti-Seropeism , but the system now proposed , f it were to be carried out , was nothing but a _sysem of legalised Communism . Government went > be £ r- _* ing _" and asked evcrv one '' What do you protest- _•* " ( AVoice . — "Wiiat do you propose ?") He rould volunteer his opinion to the noble lord , hou gh the noble lord had not asked him to take a pat in thc Cabinet , and before he sat down the Bible lord would probably obtain a greater know-Mge of Ireland than before . He would suggest for be noble lord ' s adoption three measures—first , a

      u \ to enforce tho sale of lands which had not _mtributed their 3 harc to the poor rates ; secondl y , biU to remodel the whole system of estates in the Ki < ls of -receivers hi Chancery ; and lastly , a _meakre which would free the land from all restric Kis , and make it an article of easy sale by _simpliiug transfer and tithes . These measures might ioo bold for tbe noble lord , who might rather be sposed io content himself with coming to Parlia-? nt for an occasional dole ; but it was for the Mise to adopt measures which would be adequate meet the circumstances of the case . He knew fc what effect thc noble lord ' s dream of the future !* ht have on the minds of hon . gentleman . £ noble lord said hehad no doubt that Ireland s in a state of transition ; and that at no distant iod she would be prosperous . The noble lord i the House that , when the _starvinsr neonle

      old crawl like famished " rats on the barren soil , r modes of cultivation would be introduced , and ntaneousharvests would follow .. _- . ord J . Rvsseix . —I said notbhig like it . Ir . Osborke _continuedU-He-had eome to the _erless conviction that , so long as the destinies of I empire were swayed b y tho present eombinai of parties , so long wonld Ireland have no hope an looking to the root _which-hadoaused her pre- Idestitution , and England would hav e no pro-| on * from the painful effects of that union which led the infection of pauperism into her more few and lest corrnpteo frame . * He should vote P $ t the proposition on . the present occasion , fe ll , if the noble lord had ; come forward with ¦ plan suited to the urgency of the _ofjeasion , no I would hare been more ready to give it his

      It . Peel , without dim word of preface , _adti himself to the consideration of the two tons before the House—first , whether , in the | t state of Ireland , they should leave the * ° f certain districts to be supported exelu > y the unions or electoral divifflons in which _¦^; and seco ndl y , if they were of opinion _P- _'hisic aid was _teeessary , & oin what source R aid to be derived £ .-Be could not , in -the E- _^ _te of Ireland , consent to throw the sap- ' I _^ poor _exclnsively'npon- the _^ dividual _tJ _*™ ynowrcf-ised extrinsic aid , the _confelv _^ be g _^ loss of life , firetbj famine , i _"isease , as its consequence * . _Hf _? could

      Moxdat, March 5. Horse Of Lords.—Scoicn ...

      not believe that the House would adopt so painful an alternative . The system of indiscriminate aid might have an injurious tendency , but what answer had they now to make to the individual sufferers themselves—tbose who had been taught by them to rely more upon charity than upon their own exertions ? Such a policy might be wrong , but it was not now upon its victims that its consequences were to be visited . In the late unparalleled state of Ireland courses might have been adopted which , had there been better opportunities for foresight , mi ght have been avoided . But there tbe people were menaced with starvation , and he could not now consent to let them starve , no matter from what source the aid mi ght be derived . He gave his support , therefore , under all the circumstances of the ease

      , to the proposal now made to provide some extrinsic aid to thc suffering unions . As to the source whence aid was to be provided them , he thought that the other parts ofthe empire had evcrv ri ght to demand from Ireland a strenuous effort to ' support her own poor . He did not rest his demand for such an effort on the ground tbat there was no equality of taxation between the two countries . Ireland should make the effort on different grounds . The vicinage in England supported tbe poor when the parish was unable to do so . But this principle would be defective in its application to Ireland , a consideration which led him to prefer a general rate to the plan of making a nei ghbouring union contribute to make up the deficiency of a suffering one . There was another ground " on whieh they were entitled to call

      for such a rate in the present juncture . On what principle did Ireland refuse to repay the advances of- £ 1 , 300 , 000 made for thc erection of union workhouses ? The amount of this sum repaid did not exceed £ 3 f » , 000 . If Ireland would immediately repay ithe would relieve her from the proposed rate in aid . But finding more than a million sterling due on this account , not likely soon to be repaid , and that the principle of vicinage would be defective in Ireland , he had no alternative but to vote for the proposed rate . He would , therefore , vote for the rate , although he believed it to be-an incomplete and ineffectual remedy for the real difficulties ofthe case . The right hon . gentleman then drew thc attention of the House to the most important question before them—that connected with tbe future

      prospects of Ireland . A mere temporary advance did not relieve them from the obligation of considering it . "What would be the condition of several ofthe Irish unions after this relief was exhausted ? It was now incumbent on them to do something in earnest for thc purpose of laying the foundation of a better system for Ireland , It would be unwise any longer to rely upon the potato . Not only was that root liable to disease ,, but its cultivation was being rapidly diminished . . This was . the case in tbe union of Ballina , which might be taken as a type of several of the Irish unions . That union was at one time well supplied with fish ; but it appeared that this source of subsistence was also failing it . This , being so , what were its prospects ? and , if it were to be taken as

      a specimen of other unions , what were the pros _^ pects of a large section of Ireland , unleBS something were immediately done for its rescue—something tending to the improvement of the physical and moral condition of "the people . There was hut one remedy which he thought could he successfully applied . On that remedy , they might ,, in . Jiis opinion , place reliance , although it might be somewhat slow in its operation . . The remedy which he proposed was the introduction of new proprietors , who would enter with capital upon the " cultivation of the land , with new fcelmgs , and inspiring new confidence into society in Ireland . He would not propose to gain such an advantage by any violation of the rights of property . But he thought tliat it would he possible for the

      government , with the sanction of the House , to devise the means whereby new capital might be introduced into Ireland for the cultivation of the land , which seemed to him to be the only feasible course which lay before them , if they would brighten the prospects of that country . They had precedent for what he now proposed . By the aid ot the government , extensive settlements were made in Ulster in the time of James I . — settlements afterwards extended to Lcinster , aud from which the happiest results followed . He trusted that , by the adoption of some similar course , equally beneficial results might be now secured . But unless they applied , to some degree , the princip le of settlement then acted upon , he could anticipate no permanent . improvement in the condition of Ireland . If the

      application of it were now to be attempted , he trusted tbat it would be done witbout doing that which was the chief blot in the scheme carried out in James thc First's time—the establishing of "distinctions on account of relig ious belief . Let them do something like this , with a careful regard to all thc existing rights of property , and they might have some ground for hope that abetter system would ere long arise iu Ireland . He was quite aware that an act had been passed , last session , to facilitate the transfer of real property . But he feared , considering the provisions of that act , and the alterations which it underwent at a late period of the session , in its passage through the House of Lords , that it would not be found effectual for its purpose unless some additional aid and stimulus were given

      to the transfer of property . If they relied exclusively upon that act , they would not secure that infusion of new blood into the west of Ireland which was absolutely essential for itsphysicalandmor . il regeneration . They would make but little progress towards their object if they relied simply upon individual purchases . It was with deferen <* p that he made any suggestion on this matter to the House and government , but he did think that it would be prudent to appoint some commission which ; would , after examination , pass its deliberate judgment upon the proposed scheme , and consider the possibility of effecting that change in the possession of property , without doing violence to existing rights , which be rcgardedas indispensable to any permanent improvement in the condition of Ireland . To carry out this purpose it mig ht be necessary to have some intermediate agent by means bf which they could get possession ofthe property on equitable terms , and afterwards _arrange and manage its

      re-distribution . He would repeat , tbat in . carrying out this proposal for the introduction of new blood and new capital into Ireland , by working a change in the possession of property , no violence must be done to the just lig hts of the present proprietors . He would purchase no advantage at such a price . / But if they took a comprehensive view of the present state of several ofthe unions in Ireland , thc conviction would be forced upon tbem that such a change of possession was necessary . How to effect it was the difficulty . To do so not only was the intervention of the government necessary , in his opinion , or that of some commission or other authority , acting in concert with the government , but tbey must also extend to such parties as might be ready to invest then * capital in Irish property a guarantee tbat they should not be overwhelmed by the poor-rates , and that tithes should be made secure . They should , for instance , be guaranteed that for ten , twelve , or fourteen years , the poor-• ratj » s should not exceed a certain maximum

      amount . But , whatever they might do in this respect , the main hope for Ireland was now in the transfer of property—a transfer , to be effected with every attention to the rights of , property , ; and to be effected through the intervention of the . government , or of some commission acting in concert with it . Whatever means they resorted to for thc permanent improvement of Ireland , they could be better applied after getting the proposed rate in aid , wherewith to meet the present emergency . The right hon . baronet thus concluded his speech , and was listened to throughout with tho deepest attention : —lam most unwilling to assume the functions ofthe government ,, to propose anything in lieu ofthe present plan—all I can say is , that ifthe representatives of Ireland should be favourable to ah

      equitable oommutation of a tax upon personal property as well as upon land , I shall be most willing , after having obtained the vote . for a rate in aid , to listen to the proposal which was made by an hon . gentleman , whose suggestions aro entitled to the utmost respect from his personal character , his knowledge of Ireland , and his attachment to her best interests—I allude to the hon . _gentleman the member for the county of Limerick ( Mr . Monsell . } I shall then be most willing to listen to his proposal , and substitute a . Property Tax payable upon personal property as well as npon' hind . I am not sure , if Inad a Property Tax so levied in Ireland , _tbatlvrould not consent to appropriate ita proceeds to relieve her from her most painful position . If I had a Property Tax in Ireland , I hope it would be

      for a period _sjufficient to afford a prospect . of extricating her from her _difficiilties .. - '¦ _» _'H'lt _wcrelcvxed on the principle of the'EnglishTrope _^ ri y Tax , varying the details according- to .: the * circii _* nsfance 8 ofthe conntry , I should not object to apply the proceeds ofit to that purpose . I _thinki-that -that would be a most useful appropriation . ; I look , to the west' of Ireland with perfect despair , ' ifthe present state of thin _** s is to continue . _,-fHeaW _hearij ' _, I care not whether you get £ 30 ( 1 , 000 Vbr _^^ _-PWitWsyear , and the same ; sum " next year ; -. 1 . anr deeply com raced , that unless you make some , more vigorous effort-te- rescue the couhtr * f from the " calamity under which she is liow suffering , aiid ' the evils now impending oyer it , her condition at the expiration of

      we two years will be worse than it : is now-her I habits ot self-dependence . destroyed , * her poople overwhelmed . with _hopeks _BBess and desp-drV * and property will hen-ore uncultivated and -Berfectly uns-deable and _^ _valoeless . The _* * west of Ireland- affords opportunities for : impro _** em _* mt _* whicW ' sp' 3-dd _^ : coW paratively , no ; other , part ;< jf the worltf _^ _peirs _. to _^ I " A _^ _W _^ -F _^ _- _^¦• _S _** « m up on the other side ofthe _Atlfntic ; I see the _facilities 0 f communication _, by- railways and by _-steahr . I see every _, reason why _Upland , if her _positipiiM respect to tenure could tie _unproveai . should be n _& t prosperous . I recollect some Ime * _inoneoftteballads tbat were published at the _taae " of the unfortunate rebellion in 179&—when men of talent were directing tfceir _abflity and efforts to propagate treason and

      Moxdat, March 5. Horse Of Lords.—Scoicn ...

      disaffection—which appear to me to be most applicable to Ireland" When Erin first rose from the dark heaving flood . God blessed the green island , and saw it was good 5 In sun , and in soil , and in station twice bless'd—Her back turn'd to Britain—hor face to the west . " Her face will still continue to be turned to the west i but I think , now , vou have an opportunity of con ' dilating her affections and binding her to this country , if you leave her as she lies she is overwhelmed with poverty and despair . But now , by a

      vigorous effort , in which every part of thc empire shall join , it appears to me that there are opportunities , by a new constitution of property , by inviting with the aid of the government new capital to be invested in thc cultivation of the soil—it appears to me that you have opportunities of materially improving her coudition , and , if you succeed , of extracting from her present state of calamity and wretchedness the means of future prosperity and happiness for herself and of strength to tliis united empire . ( Cheers . )

      Major Blackail moved as an amendment , " That an auxiliary fund , for the relief of the extraordinary distress in _Irelaud , be raised by a rate not exceeding Cd . in the pound , to be levied on all property and incomes in Ireland above thc annual value of _£ 150 , " Mr . W . Bbows- considered that if Sir Robert Pool ' s plan was carried out , it would afford the best guarantee for the future prosperity of Ireland . Having kept a debtor and creditor account against that country he was prepared to show tliat Ireland owed England - £ 300 , 000 , 000 ; and hc thought it but just , therefore , that the Irish should put their hands m their own pockets instead of applying to the industrious inhabitants of Yorkshire , Lancashire , and other English counties for assistance . He should vote for the rate in aid .

      Sir E . _AIacxagiites , Mr . Scully , Sir \ V . Verses , Mr . Bo-cm * . ** ., and Sir A . Biiooke , addressed the House against the rate . Mi " . Clements urged the imposition of an incometax rather than a rate in aid . Mi * . B . Roche supported the resolution because it proposed a temporary relief for a temporary want , because hc thought it was due to the English people who had such sacrifices for the relief of Irish distress , but he did hope the rate would not be levied until after harvest . Referring to the speech of Sir R . Peel , the hon . member said nobody could say thatit was not a most important speech ; but atthe same time , be must say that there was a great deal in that speech from which he dissented . In the first place , he was rather inclined to question his

      historical conclusions . He did not agree with him that the plantation of Ulster was a great boon conferred by England on Ireland . He thought , on the contrary , that it was a great blotand stain on the English character that that plantation had been effected in the way it had been . ( Hear . ) The ri g ht hon . gentleman had quoted an Irish ballad of ' 98 . He ( Mr . Roche ) , with reference to this point , would quote a stanza from an Irish ballad made by those who planted Ulster two centuries after the plantation . ( Shouts of laughter . ) He found he had made a slip ofthe tongue . It was a propensity of his countrymen to do so , and he would not deny his countrymen . ( Continued laughter . ) Well , here was a song . ( Renewed laughter , and loud cries of " Sing , sing . " ) He was afraid hc could not sing amidst so many interruptions , but here were the

      words" Tlie battle of the Diamond" ( Par let the watchword fly)—" "Where craven . Papist rebels crouched * ' Upon the earth to die ; " Slain by devoted men and true , " Who fought with heart and blade , « ' And slaughtered in their ambush vile ** By swords they had betrayed . " ( Laughter . ) He confessed that he did not anticipate much benefit to Ireland from such plantations , but the right hon . gentleman also proposed that thc government , by means of a commission should purchase some of the estates of Connaught , and sell them to new proprietors . If the object were to create an independent yeomanry in Ireland he believed that some good would be done ; but if they merely bought the estates from the present proprietors , who had manifestly neglected their duty hitherto , and put in their place another set without

      takuig 6 omc security that they would not follow exactly the same course as their predecessors , he feared that evil would be done in place of good . The right hon . gentleman also said that he . saw no reason why they should not purchase the Conhemara property . He ( Mv . Roche ) had no particular objection to their doing so , but he feared they would noi find it a very profitable concern . He did not think that King Williamstown , in the county which he represented , had turned out a very profitable speculation . ( Hear , hear . ) But ifthe right hon . gentleman really wished to regenerate Ireland , lot him face the question of tenure of land ; let him bring in a bold , practical measure to enable the money of the farmers and yeomen , which was at present lying idle in the savings-banks , to como into connexion with the land which was lying untvlled , aud be would not only benefit the country at largo , but do great credit and honour to himself .

      Sh' A . Brooke opposed tbe rate as impolitic and unjust . Sir G . GrKEr , after adverting to the inability of the distressed unions , if left to their own resources , to support their poor , observed that he saw no alternative but to procure ,, from some source or other , extraneous aid by which to supply for the time being the deficiency of . means in these unions . This seemed , indeed , to have been admitted on all hands . It had also been admitted , but by no means so generally , that the time had at length come when a stop must be put to the system of repeated applications to parliament for grants for . the support of the Irish poor . If the Imperial Exchequer was no longer to be called upon for such grants , and the aid now required was to . come from some resource in Ireland itself , the question was , whether the

      proposal made by government for a general rate in aid , was not the least , objectionable mode in which that aid could be secured . He then proceeded to consider and refute the objections urged against the proposal by Mr . Osborne , Mr . Stafford , Mr . Monsell , and others . The government was charged with introducing a new principle , but that which it introduced in connexion with this proposal was not so novel as would be that of extending the income-tax to Ireland and applying its proceeds to local purposes . Yet this was the substitute which was proposed by those who accused tho government of abandoning beaten tracks and introducing new principles . He then met the objections to the rate which those who spoke on behalf of Ulster urged against it . Objection had been taken to the proposedrato , because the valuations werediueventin tliediiicrent

      unions and electoral divisions in L'eland . It might be possible partially to correct the inequality of valuation , if not entirely to remove it , but its correction or removal would be a comparatively slow process ; and was there a single member ofthe House who would take upon himself the responsibility , in the present state of Ireland , to postpone the imposition of the rate nntil valuation was equalised ? The government proposed the rate simply as a temporarymeasure , and in proposing it as such it would but ifl acquit itself ofits responsibility if it did not contemplate some other measures designed for the permanent improvement of Ireland . The ri ght hon . baronet the memher for Tamworth had expressed an opinion tbat the government was bound not only to

      provide the means of relieving the destitution at present existing in the west of Ireland , but to look forward and adopt measures hy which that part of the country might be placed in a condition of independence , so as to render unnecessary : these continual calls for extraneous assistance ... He entirely concurred in the opinion expressed by the right hon . baronet , that the remedy for the disastrous State of things existing in the , unions of the west of Ireland was the transfer of the great bulk of the property from the hands of thoso who had inherited it overwhelmed with burdens , with incomes insufficient to enable them to discharge the duties of proprietors , to others possesssd . of capital sufficient to furnish employment to people on tlieir estates and to insure

      the proper cultivation of the soil . The right hon . baronet said ' that ho would do nothing which was inconsistent with the rights of property _, but experience showed how strongly the influence of cducatknvand of long cherished habits inclined common law and Chancery lawyers to consider all the forms employed in their profession essential to the maintenance of the rights of property . Much benefit would be experienced . if purchasers were r elieved from the dread of competing for the purchase of estates encumbered with an accumulation of arrears of poor-rate , and one of . the propositions which his noble friend Intended . to submit to the committee up stairs Would , be directed to that object . If , m accordance -Kith the right hon . : baronet ' s suggestion , a _commission _' shouldbe _appointedlo deoide upon all questions of _property , the members of it must be lawyers , and in . that case the same delay _wouhlbe experienced as was now . complained of with

      _refer' ence to the Court of Chancery . These were some of the _observations . J fhjch . it _joceurted-to _hnn -to make with reference to the right hon . baronet s proposition , but any , suggestion arising from that quarter must _nwebarny * _carry'great weight with it , arid was entitled to tho fullest consideration . . . Lord _CastkbeAgii hayi _n-r moved that ¦ _$ **** man report progress , towhich Lord -I . _Bmbb _* ieeted the Committee divided'upon that motion , Sch was negatived by 251 to 104 : The motion for _adioumWthe debate , hemg , however , renewed , ¦ _W \ _^ _SiL-t yielded , and- the chairman _report-Srii _^* rp _^ _- _^> 3 g 0 R * . day . ¦ >;" ' ' ' ; ' . '' . ¦ ,. . ¦ • r ' diro _- _osmir _-oftfieretaa ' ming business - a division toS' 23 n . the « pointmenfc 6 t _*» Select Com-** _ffir fr \ i tha : _finta _** _« t E ect ons Bill , when there _SKyfhirtylS members present , the House adjourned at one o ' clock-. TUESDAY , March 6 . HOUSE OF LORDS . _-Ait-ubs of SieaT .- ,

      Moxdat, March 5. Horse Of Lords.—Scoicn ...

      _£ K . l _S n ° titi 0 nS a # linSt a rate ¦» ««• ' for Ireland had been presented hy various Irish Peers , _wStteit of T _^ tUcr * contractor ' who wasin tue nabit of supplying arms to the British SEX ™ * _( , ad Lee " illl ™ cd t 0 _^' " 3 arms fiom he government stores forthe purpose of -n . pply . iig them to the insurgents in SioUv . , . i ? ° J . - _"rquis of _Laxsdowne was glad of an opportunity ot exp nining the real stato of the case A gentleman 1 v h 0 hau been a contractor for arms to _Sum » Jr _^ , mefltd . - > the _™™ e oflaS autumn , beiorc the armistice in Sicil y was concluded or at any rate before it was known to be concluded in this country , make an _ar-nlipit ' mn tn the Board of Ordnance foi- permission 5 ' Sc tack from the stores some guns which he had manufactured for her

      Majesty ' s service , and that , too for tho avowed purpose of fulfilling another contract ' _ZtZth thtt , f l 0 llian government at that time S' _oSn , n e t _j 10 se J _g " ? were _wanted . The Board nnti _S _^ ce refu tllClr •>• - *•< - _••* tothat application , until an application was made in another ouarter TW _InnV , _* _? SeCretm ' ? Stat 0 for Foreign Aftairs . ' n _^™ _£ ? Catl " _Y made ' a * - _"*«» the Board of the ffe UHo _? ei ? d v ? _i ' ? sion to S ive tIie contractor a « _oSh 7-T _*& - _¦** _dM-Md , and they _eonsetZ _£ , _^ _r- hlm t 0 takc the arms ° _« _t _^ store _, ilus permission was afterwards regretted , and our _fb , Wh f ' " ? ' _and t 0 state that 5 t * - •¦*• occurred tin OUgJi inadvertence , and that measures would be taken to prevent its recurrence in future . _JS f R ? y . 8 a - _«» _noMe marquis bad X * _° -- su 'ge - as the Sicilian government ; ne supposed he meant the insurgent

      govern-Iho Marquis of Lassdowxe replied ho meant thc government dc facto , the insurgent government _. Lord Brouoham retorted that he should as soon call Smith O Bnen ' _s committee «¦ the English comm tce . as call tho insurgent government in Sicily "the Sicilian government . " The Earl of Eijj-m-okopo- * , in reply to Lord Brougham ; said it was true tho people of Sicily had risen against the government of their King , but they had previously to that a constitution dejure , if not de fa cto , and stood pretty much in the same position as the people of England did before King William the Third ascended the throne . They desired tho re-establisbment of a constitution , to which thoy were as much entitled as thc people of England were to have their rights secured to them

      by Magna Charta and by the Revolution . The Earl of _Abehdee . v thought , if this country had given to Sicily a guarantee to maintain her rights , it was their duty to assist her , but if no such guarantee had been given , it was most dishonest and disgraceful to affect a neutrality which was not honestly observed . As the noble marquis , however , had stated , that tlie . government was fully aware of every step that liad been taken , ho would make no further observation on tbe subject . The Duke of _Wellixotox said : the King ofthe Two Sicilies , commonly called the King of _Naples , assumed tbe former title when he signed the act of accession to the treaty of Vienna , and he inserted in

      that act a certain condition , on which ho accepted the sovereignty , and specified the manner in which the government ofthe island of Sicily should be carried on . It was true that the English government were not bound to enforce the execution of that article of the treaty , or of any other , on other powers ; but England was bound not to commit a breach of that article , which unquestionably would be done by supplying arms to the present insurgents in Sicily , England being bound to remain neutral . He hoped it would be found , when the general question was discussed , that no step had boon taken which would be construed into a breach of any part of thc treaty .

      The Earl of Mixto had been _mast anxious in executing his mission to maintain the union of thc two crowns ; but he could never consent to treat the people as being in unlawful rebellion against their sovereign . On the contrary , they were asserting a ri g ht which they bad a reasonable prospect of obtaining . Ifc had been most desirous in his interference , to induce them to accept the conditions which were offered to tbem by tbo King ofthe Two Sicilies in 1812 , Lord Brougham suggested to his noble friend that he should read thc treaty of Vienna at least tbree times , and then state whether the King of the Two Sicilies , was the King of only one or both . The Earl of Mixto said the treaty of Vienna only provided for the restoration of the " king to his Neapolitan dominions , but recognised him as King of the Two Sicilies , in addition to which he was King of Jerusalem .

      Lord Brougham . —But you did not go to Jerusalem . The Earl of Mixto already knew the treaty of Vienna pretty well by heart , but he thought there were circumstances connected with the history of the period which were unknown even to the noble and learned lord . Criminal Returns ( Ireland ) . —Lord 'Moxteaoib in an explanatory speech moved for returns showing the amount of crime in Ireland and the amount of mortality in the prisons of Ireland for the last five years . Earl GnEr had no objection to the motion , but denied that the mortality or overcrowding in the Irish prisons had arisen from any alteration in the law of transportation , but in consequence of the greatly increased number of persons who had been sentenced to that punishment during the last two years .

      The Duke of _Rictntop complained of the difficulty there was in obtaining accurate returns from Ireland , and was loth to take for granted any statement that came from thence . He also complained that the number of Irish Labourers wandering about the country was a great source of alarm , and trusted some means woulahe taken to put an end to sueh a deplorable state of things . The motion was then agreed to . The Relief of Distress ( Ireland ) Bill ; the Vice-Guardians of Unions ( Ireland ) Bill ; and the Buckinghamshire Summer Assizes Bill , were respectively read a third time and passed . . , Their lordships then adjourned . HOUSE OF COMMONS . —Mr . John Mitchel . —Mr . Itomxsox said , that . seeing the First Lord of

      tho Admiralty in his place , he begged to . put a question to bim " of which ho had given notice . The right hon . gentleman not having held any official situation last year , he begged to inform him that he inquired last year whether there was any foundation for tho rumour which was then circulated , that Mitchel , the convict , on his way to Bermuda in tho ship Scourge , had messed with the officers , and had been treated in a manner by Commander _AVingrovc , which , if true , was greatly derogatory to him . ' Hcnow begged to ask . whether the Admiralty , having , as he Eresumed they had , ma . de inquiry into the subject , ad received any report from the commander on the North American station on the subject , or whether Commander _IFingrovo had made any attempt to vindicate his character from the aspersion which had been cast upon it by the rumour in question .

      Sir P . _Bahixg- said that the rumour referred to was quite correct in so far as that Mitchel did dine at the captain's table on board the Scourge ; but it was not true that he _messedwith the officers in any shape . He dined at the captain ' s table tbat he might be separated from the other officers , who the captain considered ought not to be brought into contact with him . Tho captain ' s sole object in so doing was to keep the prisoner in safe custody in a manner consistent with humanity and the state of thb prisoner ' s health . ( Hear , hear . ) The Admiralty had mado full inquiry into the subject , and they were quite satisfied thatthe captainhadnot been actuated by the motives whieh had been imputed to him , but

      that ho had boon merely anxious for the prisoner's safe custody and his separation from the officers and crew .. ( Hear , hear . ) Mr . _Robissos begged to remind the right hon . gentleman that tho Secretary of the- Admiralty had stated that orders had been given to Commander Wingrove that Mitchel should be confined in a separate cabin , with a sentry over it , and that he should take his meals in a separate cabin . Prom the explanations now given , however , it appeared tbat tbese orders bad been deviated from . He wished to ask whether the Admiralty proposed to take anv notice of Commander Wingrove ' s disobedience of the Admiralty orders ?

      Tmi Ahmy in IxniA . —Lord J . _Russeli . then rose and said : The hon . member for Montrose having asked me a question yesterday with respect to India , I- stated that her Majesty's ministers had given advice to her Majesty ' on the subject , but that until I received a reply from her Majesty I could not answer tho question of the ri ght hon . gontleman . I have now to stato _^ that the advice which I humbly tendered to her Majest y was that Sir Charles _STapler should be appointed Commander-in-Chief of tbe army in _Indiai ( Loud _cheors . ) Her Majesty has beon pleased most graciously and fully to approve of that appointment . ( Continued cheers , ) Both the Duke of Wellington , the Commander-in-Chief , and I have seen Sir Charles Napier , to-day , _^ nd I have the satisfaction to state that ho is ready wish wai _auvuiu

      _*; to _ooey ner majesty a _, > ue piuueeu to _Indian in the capacity , ih which her Majesty has appointed him . ( Renewed . cheers . ) The Court of Directors have not _j'et met—I believe they will meet to-morrow ; but fromi what , I know of their patriotism , I fully expect that they , will receive with joy and satisfaction tho appointment which her . Majesty has been p leased to make . ; ;( Pr 61 ohged applause . ) - : _PiwoNAiiE-a'UNA-ato . —Sir ' . H _.-lY , _BAnnoNmade an attempt to explain the circumstances under which his unfortunate . . Trial of OfFenees ,. { Ireland ) BUI , rejected last week / was drawn up , but- only made the matter worse , fib attributedit hi the first instance , to Mr ; B , e _^**> i ok , the assistant barrister , who repudiated Us authorship in a letter addressed _, to the papers an'd . ai 80 to the House , but he allowed that Mr . _Berwick was b y no meaha complimentary to him /' The Rate ix Aid . —The House again went into committee oa tho Poor Laws ( _freland ) , tho debate

      Moxdat, March 5. Horse Of Lords.—Scoicn ...

      bcin" resumed by Mr . Gkooa . v _, who opposed the rate In aid and was followed by a number of Irish members who all took the same view of tho subject . Mr D _CALLAOiiANyMr . M . J . O'Coxxell , Captain Joxes , Mr . F . l ' _UEXCir , Mr . _CoxoLLV ( a now member ) Lord CASTUsnEAOii , Colonel Duxxe , aud Mi-. St . George , all opposed the government proposition on various grounds and in lengthened speeches . Lord Lincoln also throw his weight against the government by expressing hie determination to support the amendment , * because he considered it , although defective , to be a step in the direction of the only sound principle , the principle of equal taxation , and if that amendment should be carried he should then be prepared to vote for assimilating the Income Tax between the two countriesmaking Ireland pay

      , 7 id . and notOd . inthe pound , Mr . Muntz wanted to know what was tbe reason why countless loads of produce came from other countries ana not from Ireland . It was not bad land that was out of cultivation , but good land . Capital , it was said , was wanted ; but capital ivould not go there without remuneration . With respect to the proposition of the government , he thought it was a bad one ; but as he considered that all poor rates should be national rates , hc should vote for thc amendment , as be thought it more just . Lord Jons Russell then rose to reply to what had fallen from Lord Lincoln . The House generally seemed agreed upon tho two propositions , that assistance was necessary for some of the western unions , and that that assistance should be received

      from Ireland herself . The question , then , wliich remained was , in which of two-ways was the required aid to be drawn from Ireland—whether by raising the taxation of Ireland towards an equality with that of this country , or by having recourse to a special rate or tax for thc purpose . Ife did not propose this rate as aii equivalen t for tho unequal taxation between the two countries . He then proceeded to consider Lord Lincoln ' s objection to the rate founded upon the defective valuation which prevailed in Ireland . As to tbe proposal to substitute an income-tax for this rate , ho reminded thc noble lord that to collect that tax a new machinery must be instituted , which would not be necessary to collect the rate . But if the House , at thc suggestion

      of an Irish member , preferred an income-tax , he would bow to its decision , although ho warned the Irish members that , whilst some of thein objected to the rate because it might extend beyond the two years , the income-tax would certainly _' do so . It was from no want of consideration that lie then omitted particular allusion to Sir It . Peel ' s suggestion . lie would say , however , that in his opinion it would be difficult now to pursue a similar policy to that pursued in James the First ' s time , with a hope of attaining the same results . He then left thc question in the hands of the committee . If it granted the rate in aid tho destitution of the western unions would be relieved , but if it preferred the amendment , those Irish members who were clamorous for an income-tax would succeed in their object . The committee then divided , and the numbers

      were—For the amendment ... ... 164 Against it ... ... ... 237 Majority ajramst- —73 __ . Reynolds proposed that the rate in aid of sixpence in the pound should be charged on all salaries of government officers of not less than' - £ 150 ' a year , and of all incomes derived from the publio funds , on mortgages , and on all incomes derived from property in Ireland . After a short discussion , the committee divided , when the proposition was negatived by a majority of 101 , the numbers 51 to 212 . A division then took place on the main question , when tho rate in aid was carried by a majority of 172 , thc numbers 206 to 84 . The Houso then resumed , leave was given to bring in the bill , and the adjournment followed at a quarter to two o ' clock .

      WEDNESDAY , March 7 . HOUSE OF COMMONS . — Real PnOFERTY Transfer Bill . — Mr . _Dih-mmo * - _** , in moving the second reading of this bill , said , that hc had better stato at the outset what hc was not going to say . Ue was not now going to allude m any way to the lawyers in this matter . Hc did not think that in the present state of the question it was a matter whieh concerned the lawyers at all . He should endeavour to show that it was tho landholders alone who were interested in it . If the lawyers should eome forward and help tbem out of their troubles they would of course bo much obliged to them , but the lawyers as a body had no reason to be dissatisfied with things as they were ; whereas with the landowners it was quite the reverse .

      Bofore he attempted to show how the landed proprietors must get out of their difficulties , it would be necessary to call the attention of the House to thc manner in whieh they cot into them . The _cliffieiilties in which the landed property of thc kingdom was involved were as- old as any institution of the country whatever . Their origin was simply thisthe king took possession of the land of the country , and divided it into about 720 parts , under the name of baronies , & c . Theso lands were given to certain persons upon condition that thoy should furnish a certain number of men when required for tho defence of the country . In other words , the landlords defrayed the wholo expense of a standing army . They subdivided the lands among . other persons , who held them by a

      similar tenure to that by which they themselves held thorn of the King-. But the landlords of those days van into debt very much as landlords did now . ( A laugh . ) Their creditors wanted to seize the land , but the King said , " You shall not seize it , because I want military service , and unless you arc a fit person for that purpose you shall not have the land . " Besides , he might mention the King derived a great revenue from fines of inheritance , marriage of wards , and the like . Well , the creditors went to thc judges , and asked what they were to do in these circumstances . The judges said , "It is true you can ' t touch thc land , but you can prevent the owners from having a bit of anything that grows upon it . " And so it came to pass , that there were persons then , as there were now , who were content

      to be called the nominal owners of land over which they bad no control . But then they wanted to provide for various persons , and , being unable to part with the land , individuals were appointed into whose possession the land was nommally placed , with full power to receive the profits arising from it , and to apply them to the required purposes , they paying over whatever remained to the real owners " . Hence came the system of trusteeships . This tenure of land began to die away under the _Tudors , and was nnally put an end to under the Stuarts . Then came the system of complicated settlements , under which , with a view of indulging the vanity of founding families and perpetuating tlieir names , parties made provision for every possible contingency that might happen to ' every child they had , or should , or

      might have , and their descendants after them . The consequence was the establishment of the power now exercised by the Court of Chancery , by wliich that court had first of all to guess when and how certain contingencies had arisen , then what the devisor intended by his different devises , and next what were the means for carrying it into effect . So that really and truly all that the ' people complained of with regard to the lawyers , under the present system , came out of their own follies . ( Hear , hear . ) The expense of sales was immense , owing to these causes . Before making a sale it was necessary to prove that : with respect to your father , yourgrandfather , your great-grandfather—and ho did not know how much farther back—all the settlements tbat bad been made were exhausted , and

      [ that every single , person who could by possibility become entitled to tho property was either dead ; or disposed of somehow . ( Alaugh . ) He held in his hand a list showing the heavy costs which had arisen in nine cases . of sale of small property , ' but would trouble the House with reading only one -or two of them . There was , first , tho case of a property whicb sold for £ 12 , 000 , on which the costs of sale amounted to £ 200 , or about seventeen per cent . ; another , which sold for £ 500 , on which the costs amounted to £ 124 , or twenty-five percent . ; a third , in whieh the property sold for £ 150 , and the costs were £ 50 , or thirty-three per cent . ; and a fourth , in which theproperty sold for £ 020 , and the costs of sale amounted to £ 200 , being about thirty-three per cent . also . ( Hear , hoar . ) . : _Evei-y attempt

      which had been made to diminish the expense of sales under the present system had been futile . People talked of long recitals being the cause of the expense of preparing deeds ; but he would bo glad to know how they were to predetermine the length of a recital without knowing the nature of the deed . The length of the recital must depend upon the matter to be recited . ( Hear , hear . ) They could not expect a boy to recite the wholo of Homer ' s Iliad in twenty , minutes . ( Laughter . ) Under the present system , therefore , it was hopeless to : exp ' ect ' to derive any benefit from shortening recitals . But that was not the worst of it . ' The owners of- property were . completely in tbo bands of solicitors . They . knew . _ind more about their lands than they did about what iwas -going on in China . They knew that there was a box of parchments belonging ' -to them , and that some of those parchments had a

      bit of red wax tiedto them , * but that was _. all they knew , Their * solicitor brought-them a paper ' to sign , and they : ! signed _ii'j ' andf afterputting a _^ _seaj upon _-it-i-bey .-delivered it as their act and deed , * but what it contained they knew no more than a _bliishs iug . bride of the marriage settlement'to which she was led forward , covered with a veil , to put'her name , ( Laughter ;) : ; - . _Kowj _' . _hetontehded that unless they ciit up . tne whole , system- by the' roots they wquld do nothing ; What he _wantedjo make the country gentlemen understand was-this , ¦ — - that j t was their : business to deliver themselves out of the hands ofthe solicitors . They were a solicitor-ridden people . ( Hear . ) It was possible to have the expenses of _a-court of law taxed ; but how on earth could they tax any attorney ' s bill ? It was impossible ( Hear , hear . ) The only means , in his opinion , by which an effectual alteration could be made

      Moxdat, March 5. Horse Of Lords.—Scoicn ...

      m the present system was by having : _» re _« gister in tho first place , and bv making tho transfer of property by a register iu that book , just as at present thev made sales of stock . In framing this bill lie had to consider , first of all , that House and , second , his own position in it . Uo liad to find out to what extent the House was orep ared to go along with him in thia object , because . it was impossible to bore a hole with a saw , on to divide a tree with a gimlet . ( Laughter . ) If he had known how far hon . members were prepared to go along with him he would have framed his bill exactly to that point , and would have expanded or contracted it according as he found tbem inclined to go further than his proposal or to stop

      short of it . In short , he would have mado his bill liko a pair of lazytongs , by which persons were nbla to catch small objects a long way off . ( Laughter . ) But he had found considerable difficulty in this part of his task . With reference to a system of compulsory r » giatration , the objection was , that if it was adopted ! there must be machinery ready prcpaivd to receive upon the same day every single title-deed inthe kingdom . Now , he had heard the number of landowners in the country variousl y stated . He had heard it stated as low " as 80 , 000 , and as high as 280 , 000 ; but he could not find out whether that included copyholds of inheritance or not . If the compulsory system wore adopted , therefore , they would require to have a machinery ready prepared . In . the Register-office at Edinburgh lie " found that

      therewas business enough to fill 400 folio volumes annually . The registration should be voluntary—for , itt the first place , compulsory enactments with respect to property were always dangerous ; and , in the second , tho more cautiously they proceeded the better in a measure such as thi _' s , wliich would have the effect of altering the whole body of the law . He had a very great contempt for what were called extensive _j-lana of legislation—they were generally the mere _-.-i-caturcs of empty heads , unable to perceive thc difficulties in the way of their plans . Taking it for granted _, then , that the registration would not be compulsory , it remained for the Legislature to determine how fat the principle of registration should go . But when _, the Houso thus had given a parliamentary title , to property , and refused any further search or question of it , it was but fair that they should impose any conditions ihey p leased , and ' limit still further tha power of entail . ( Hear , hear . ) There were alvaya

      plenty of people wise enough to find fault , who , though they could not see any harm ia a tiling itself , could look a great deal further into' a milt stone than other persons , and were able to perceiva a bad motive for it . ( A laugh . ) To obviate tha chance ofany one saying he ( Mr . Hrummond ) had a personal interest in the question , he would at once state , tliat every morsel of liis private property nasi settled in trust forever . ( Hear , bear . ) Why , then , did he meddle in tho matter ? Because for years back he had been convinced that if they would ' savs the landed proprietors of this country they must adopt somo measure to save the value of land . Tha measures they had lately passed would soon realise the anticipations of the liou . member for Birmingham with respect to the landed interest , and , if thoy wished the land to be cultivated any longer , ifc would ho absolutely necessary to bring increased capital into thc pockets of the landlords and farmers ( Hear , hear . )

      The SoLicrroii-GEXERAt , assured the hon . gentleman that amongst the legal profession ' there existed a very general knowled g e or thc great evils resulting from the complication of titles , the necessity wliich existed for _simplifying- them , and of making * land as easy of transfer , " ana of raising money upon it , as there was in disposing of funded stock , tha only difference of opinion being in which way that object could behest effected . Having given the hon . gentleman's bill the best consideration , he felt bound to state that if it were passed in its _presenfi shape , the only persons who would derive benefit from it would be the lawyers , for it would give visa to more lawsuits and contests' in courts of justice than any measure ever adopted by Parliament . OnQ ofthe groat defects of the bill was that it did not

      detail wiiat was intended to be registered , and took no uotice whatever of interests m remainder and interests in reversion . Again , some ofthe clauses were still more singular , for they contained nothing to prevent any man from registering a title to hia neighbour ' s estate , and getting absolute possession ofit after a period of thirty years , and the effect would be to throw the whole country into a state of litigation . The whole subject was under the consideration of the registration commission , composed of eminent barristers , who wore about to make a report ; and hc therefore suggested to the hon . gentleman the propriety of withdrawing the bill , and o £ introducing some other measure hereafter more _calculated than tho present to carry his very _laudablej views into effect .

      Mr . W . V . Woo ** , considered that all tliat was re « quired upon the present occasion was thatthe Ilouss should assent to the principle that a bill for general registration was imperatively demanded , England in point of fact being the only civilised country in the world where such a system did not exist , ' tha result being that in France , Belgium , Holland , and America , estates sold for thirty-five years' purchase , while they rarely exceeded thirty-one in tbis coun * try . He thought it behoved tbe country gentlemen , therefore , who desired to see the burdens of land diminished to bestir themselves , and endeavour , by the adoption ofa _generah-egistry , to check thecvil _* - _* of the present system of transfer , which often iin- » pled an expense amounting-upon tho value of the

      , property , to five or six per cent . The discussion was continued by other members . Sir G . Giu _* y , recommended the withdrawal of tha bill , seeing that no hostility to its principle had beea shown , aud that ought to satisfy the mover , when taken in connexion with a promise that the government would on receiving the report ofthe commig _. sion take the matter up . This , however , did nofc satisfy Mr . Drummoxd , who insisted on dividing tha House . The galleries were cleared but rc-openeagain after a short interval , when the Attorney-Gr . _SERAiiWas found on bis legs protesting agai » st tha bill , and moving that it be read a second time thaiday six months . The House divided on this motion , and the numbers

      were—For the amendment ... ,., ... ... 45 Against it 55 Majority —10 Tho announcement of the numbers was received _, _^ th cheering . Tho bill was then read a second time . When the reporters were readmitted , Sir G . _GitEV was expressing a hope that the result of referring tbe bill to a select committee would ba to free it from those objections which were felt by hon . members who advocated an open system of registration . Mr . F . O'Coxxor recommended that not a single lawyer should bo appointed upon the committee . ( A laugh . ) Thc bill was then ordered to be referred to a select committee .

      Fobeiqx Affairs . —Mr . Bank . es moved for an account of all ordnance stores returned from that department to any contractor in the year 1848 forthe purpose of being sent to tho Sicilian insurgents in arms against her Majesty ' s ally the King ofthe Two Sicilies , with the consent of her Majesty ' s government . Tbo bon . nnd learned gentleman then proceeded to diverge from his motion into a variety of circumstances connected with the affairs of the Two Sicilies , subsequently returning to the subject of the arms supplied under the . circumstances recently referred to in tho House of Commons , and in tho Rouse of Lords , on Tuesday night , stating that ho could not conceive any state of circumstances under whioh it would he right to dispose of arm ' s to _insur--• - ents to attack their lawful sovereign , until there hadbeen a recognition of their independence , and yet this bad been done under the authority of the Foreign Secretary , the responsibility thus incurred not being denied .

      Lord Paimerstox liad no objection to tho first part ; of the motion , but should oppose the concluding words , dividing the house if necessary , viz . : "sent to the Sicilian insurgents in arms against her Majesty ' s ally the King of the Two Sicilies , with the consent of her Majesty ' s government . " The noblo lord , after . some general observations as to ths course pursued by Mr . Bankcs in anticipating the debate whioh would take place when the papers relative to Sicily wore presented , ' said : —The hon . and learned member seemed to consider that all persons who took up arms in vindication of their ri g hts were insurgents and rebellious subjects , that nations wero made for soverei gns and governments , instead oi sovereigns , and governments having been oppointed

      for . tlie benefit and advantage of nations . He would not follow the hon . and learned gentleman'into ' a discussion of the affairs of Sicil y , but thia he would say , that the Sicilians had had . a constitution for centuries , that then-ri ghts were ancient and indisputable , and that those ri g hts were confirmed by the direct and passive , sanction of their sovereign in . 1812 , when their ancient constitution was remodelled ., and reformed . At that time their constitution was sanctioned article by article , and therefore if the Sicilians had , in recent times , risen' in arms to assert their ancient rights , and to regain a constitution , which had never , been abrogated , . which had ' 0 tly <' by an abuse , of authority been suspended , he could not concur , in stigmatising the Sicilians in the manner that the . resolution did . Tho noble lord thea

      procee _^ ed . to defend tho general forei gn policy of the _goyM ! 311 _* - stating in _conclusionctnat througHout the Siciha _Aaffair . it had been , their , earnest ' desire _aj 1 ? endeavour to continue the : . connexion between ' _Ifaples _^ d Sicil y ; and to retain the two cro-wn oo the _samehe-id _.:. _Withregajd- . _toiM-i'eturhastd _' tha J ? _-B _fe ? _pe _« ted he had . no objection to _itspVndnc-W (> _- _?*! -jfh _£ _transection - . was simply _whaf'ie-: de 8 . cribed ; on a . former _evening , namely , that a _^ _ontraoi torhavmg appliedtojthor , ordnance , stating that he . fif _i ? _® _I - ftom * the- Sicilian , _iiovernment _,-ah tbat , to effect , _tbo . more . speedy completion , of the contract he desired the return of a few iron gun ** from the Ordnance which hehad supplied some time before , and which ho would replace at the earliest moment , tho Ordnance—and not the contractor , as

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), March 10, 1849, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_10031849/page/7/