should be made the groundwork of future | may say the splendour of their genius, has commercial legislation, he had no doubt invariably made way, and even in the darkthat Italian commercial glory would again est periods of their political history, there return that Genoa, Leghorn, and Venice have shone forth bright examples of intel-the great commercial marts of that pen- lectual ability, which have been not only insula would see the return of those days the ornament of the country, but the adof splendour with which their remoter his- miration of the civilised world. It is gratitory was associated. He was not aware fying to see that the progress which rawhether the noble Lord at the head of tional liberty is now making in Italy is Foreign Affairs would find himself in brought about by the harmonious accord of a condition to make any communica- sovereigns and people. It is upon that tion to the House on the present occa- circumstance more especially that I vension; but, certain as he (Dr. Bowring) was ture to found my hopes that the improvethat the active intelligence of the noble ments which are now making will be perLord had been directed towards that inte- manent and stable, because they are resting portion of the world-Italy, and founded upon mutual concord, and are considering as he (Dr. Bowring) did that therefore less likely to be shaken by any the commercial interests of this country future and untoward events. My hon. involved, in effect, the commercial interests Friend has adverted to the position in of the world, he had no mistrust as to the which Austria stands with respect to the welfare of Italy or of England being well events now passing in Italy. It is a satisguaranteed so long as they were in the faction to me, and I am sure it will be grakeeping of that noble Lord. Without. tifying to the House, that I should be able therefore, trespassing any further upon the to say, that as far as Her Majesty's GoHouse, he begged to move that copies or vernment are informed of the intentions of extracts of correspondence on the subject the Cabinet of Vienna, they see no reason of the Commercial League in Italy be laid to apprehend that the policy of that Cabiupon the table of the House. net will be to meddle in any way whatever of hostile interference with the events which are taking place beyond the Po. I hours received communications from the British Ambassador at Vienna, which contain very satisfactory assurances on that subject. That course is one which might naturally be expected from the prudence and the wisdom of the Austrian Government; and I am happy to find it is the course which that Government is likely to pursue. With respect to the particular transaction to which my hon. Friend's Motion relates, the formation of the Commercial League, I should rather wish my hon. Friend and the House to allow me to defer to some future period the communication of the diplomatic correspondence on that sub VISCOUNT PALMERSTON: My hon. Friend has no doubt called the attention of the House to some of the most remark-have indeed within the last four-and-twenty able and interesting events which have occurred in our times. It is impossible for any man to witness the progress which constitutional opinions and institutions are now making in Italy without feelings of the deepest and liveliest interest. Sir, Italy is not only at all times one of the most interesting countries from its peculiar position, but one may say, that its history has been the most remarkable of any country on the face of the earth; for it has gone through every change of political condition -from being the mistress of the known world to being reduced to a state almost of political extinction. I trust that a brighter day is now dawning upon that country, fa-ject. For this wish, I will shortly state the voured as it is by nature in many respects reason, if it is not obvious to the House. -the birthplace of some of the greatest That Commercial League is at present geniuses that have ever lived, though un- founded only in principle. The details of happily Italy has been for a long time un- the arrangements are still matters of negolucky in respect to its political condition. tiation between Members who seek to form The confidence with which we may look it. If I were to lay before this House to the future prospects of Italy is founded communications which have been confion the gifts which nature has bestowed dently made to our representatives at the upon the people who inhabit that land, for different Courts of Italy of the views with in the political vicissitudes to which the which the several Governments are entercountry has been subject, the natural vigouring into that negotiation, I am sure my of the mind of the Italian people, the ex- hon. Friend will see that such publication tent of their intellectual resources, and I would tend, perhaps, to defeat the purpose adjustment as may be consistent with the happiness of the people, and the dignity and honour of the Sovereign. MR. BAILLIE COCHRANE was quite sure that the circumstance which the noble Lord had mentioned, of Lord Minto having been directed to go to the Court of Naples, proceeded from no want of confidence in those who, in the ordinary course of things, it might have been supposed would have been the parties to be charged with the mission. He felt confident that the language in which the noble Lord had expressed himself would prove to France, and to those Gentlemen in the French Chambers who had commented upon the conduct of the noble Lord on various occasions, that the principles of the English Government were those of constitutional liberty, and that their object was to develop, as far as they could, without an injudicious interference, the principles of constitutional liberty in every country. Those Gentlemen who paid attention to the French debates would, he was sure, feel a proud gratification at the tone of the noble Lord, and the language held in that House, as compared, he was sorry to say, with some of the speeches delivered upon the other side of the channel. which he and I, and I am sure every Mem- | self at liberty to offer to them, will be acber of this House, would wish to see ac- tuated by the most disinterested and encomplished. The mere ordinances which lightened desire to bring them to such an form the basis of that future league have already been made public. I can have no objection whatever to lay them on the table; but I should wish not to be asked to lay on the table any confidential communications which have been made to us as to the present state and progress of the negotiation. I can assure my hon. Friend and the House, however, that we have witnessed that union of the different States of Italy, with a view to establish some uniform system of commercial intercourse founded on a basis of commercial liberty, with the greatest interest and sympathy; and as far as it becomes the Government of this country to tender advice or express wishes upon this subject, my hon. Friend may be assured that no proper effort shall be omitted by us to persuade the States, of whom that union is composed, to found the tariff, and the calculated regulations of the tariff, upon principles which shall be consistent with the utmost development of commercial intercourse and freedom. My hon. Friend has adverted to the share which the British Government may be disposed to take in regard to the political events now passing in Italy. I entirely agree with my hon. Friend, and in that which I have no doubt is the opinion of this House, that whatever may be the wishes, whatever the gratification with which Her Majesty's Government may see the progress of political events in Italy, it is not fitting that the British Government should interfere, further than may be required with a view to the best interests of the parties concerned. But I am satisfied it will be gratifying to the House, as a proof of the confidence with which EngÎand is looked to by parties in remote quarters of Europe, and engaged in affairs more exclusively concerning themselves, that I should say that Lord Minto is gone from Rome to Naples, in consequence of a desire expressed by the Sicilians on the one hand, and by the Government of Naples on the other, that the effective assistance of British diplomacy should be afforded towards a satisfactory settlement of the points in dispute between them. I am sure those who are acquainted with my noble Friend will feel that that task, delicate and difficult as it may be, cannot be placed in better hands; and that my noble Friend, in any advice which, upon the solicitation of the parties he may think him Motion withdrawn. SHIPWRECKS AND COLLISIONS OF MERCHANT VESSELS. MR. HUME, in submitting the Motion of which he had given notice, said, it would not be necessary for him to urge its importance with a view to gain the attention of hon. Gentlemen to the subject. Three Committees of the House of Commons had already sat on the question of shipwrecks; one in 1836, another in 1841, and the third in 1842. The inquiry embraced a variety of topics, and the evidence was of a highly valuable character. The Committees recommended many important matters to the attention of the House; but the chief point on which they all concurred was, that whereas many cases of shipwreck had arisen from carelessness, ignorance, and a variety of other causes of that nature, they recommended that an inquiry should be instituted in all cases of shipwreck, with a view to collect information both for the Government and the public. The Committees had recommended that masters and mates of ships should be their loss of wages and effects, or by gratuities, or "A Select Committee to consider whether, in all cases of Shipwreck, and of Collisions of Merchant Vessels, attended with loss of life, an inquiry, as speedily after the accident, and as near as possible to the place, should be appointed, to examine into the attendant circumstances and causes of the Shipwreck, and to report to the House in what manner the inquiry should be conducted." MR. H. FITZROY seconded the Motion. He hoped that one of the results of the labours of the proposed Com examined, and should only be permitted to take charge of property and life when they were found qualified for doing so. He certainly was of opinion that a great depreciation of the character of our seamen had taken place of late years. Thirty or forty years ago the custom was to retain the seamen on board the merchant ships whenever they entered harbour, that they might acquire experience in navigation, as well as assist in all that was necessary to be done in shipping and unshipping the vessels; but since the establishment of docks, the moment a ship arrived in port the sailors were sent on shore, and no provision was made by the Government or the merchants to keep them together. It was certainly the duty of the Government to have instituted long ago an inquiry as to the cause of the deterioration which had clearly taken place in the seamanlike qua-mittee would be the adoption of a mealities of the men who navigated our merchant vessels. The object, however, of his present Motion was, that some official record should be obtained and kept as to the manner, and, if possible, the cause of shipwrecks. It appeared from the report of the Committee on Shipwrecks of 1836, that in addition to the ascertained number of persons drowned in the years 1816 to 1818, and in the years 1833 to 1835, the entire crews of 49 vessels were lost within the first period, and the entire crews of 81 vessels in the last period, whose numbers were not known; but, taking an average MR. LABOUCHERE did not rise for of 10 men to each vessel, this made a to- the purpose of offering any objection to tal loss of life, for the first period, of the Motion. On the contrary, he thought 2,228 persons, and of 2,686 for the last. that the greatest benefit would result from The loss to the community, during the last the labours of the Committee. He quite period, amounted to 8,510,000l.; and agreed with his hon. Friend that the subwhen it was recollected that this estimate ject was one very well worth the attention included only the losses entered in Lloyd's of the House. His hon. Friend was probooks, he undervalued the loss to the pub-bably aware that there already existed a lic when he took it at 3,000,000l. annually. The Committee of 1836 recom mended "The arrangement of a plan for the institution of courts of inquiry to examine into the circumstances of every shipwreck that occurs, as far sure for ensuring an examination of masters and mates before they were intrusted with the command of vessels. It appeared from evidence taken by the Committee on the Navigation Laws last Session, that the captains of our ships employed in long voyages were as capable of discharging their duties as the captains of American vessels, or of the vessels of any other people; while the captains of our vessels employed in short voyages and in our coasting trade were men of very inferior qualifications. power given to the Board of Trade by Act of Parliament of inquiring into the circumstances of the shipwrecks of steam vessels, and collisions between steam vessels, or between steam vessels and sailing vessels. But at present the Government had no as may be practicable, with power to pronounce a verdict of censure on the owners or commanders power of instituting an inquiry into the of all those vessels where the result of the in- wrecks or collisions of any other than quiry should establish the fact of such wreck steam vessels. He could undertake to being occasioned by any fault or deficiency on the part of either, as well as to acquit honourably the say that great advantage had hitherto reowners or commanders of those ships against sulted from the exercise of the power of whom no fault could be proved, and to make the inquiring into the circumstances attending evidence and verdict in each case public in every the wrecks of steam vessels. The other port in the kingdom; with further power to sus- day the Board of Trade had received a very pend, for a given time, the licenses or certificates valuable and elaborate report from the of of such officers and seamen as should be proved guilty of gross incompetency or gross neglect of ficer appointed to inquire into the case of duty; and to reward, either by reimbursement of the loss of the Tribune on the coast of Ireland. He was aware that there would be some difficulty in extending inquiries of that description to sailing vessels; but he felt persuaded that the present state of the law upon the subject was not for the benefit of the shipping interest, while it was inconsistent with the interests of humanity. His hon. Friend had said, with too much truth, that the character of our mercantile marine, instead of having improved of late years, in comparison with that of other nations, had seriously deteriorated. He had lately had occasion to read the reports received from British consuls, in all parts of the world, in reply to questions addressed to them from the Foreign Office upon that subject; and he should say that those reports presented a picture which must be extremely painful to every Englishman. They described a state of things to which it was most important that Government and Parliament should address themselves as speedily as possible, with a view to its alteration. In consequence, he was afraid, of the low character, in too many instances, of the masters and mates appointed to command our merchant vessels, the character of the British marine had of late greatly deteriorated; and merchants preferred committing their cargoes to the ships of foreign nations, rather than to British vessels. He believed it was the intention of his noble Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to lay the reports in question without delay on the table of the House; and he certainly hoped those reports would induce the House to lend a willing assent to any ulterior measures that it might be the duty of the Government to propose with a view to remedy that evil. But, above all, he hoped that the attention of those connected with the shipping interest would be called to those documents, and that they would see that it was desirable for their sakes in particular, that stringent and effective measures should be applied to put an end to a state of things, which, while it was discreditable and injurious to the country at large, fell upon them with the greatest weight. His hon. Friend had also adverted to the very important question of the expediency of adopting a system of examination for the masters and mates of merchant vessels, with a view to ensure the possession of the necessary qualifications for the performance of their duties. Now, it would not be true to say that nothing had of late years been done upon that subject. No compulsory system of examination had, indeed, been enforced by Parliament, mainly in consequence, he believed, of the very great opposition of the mercantile interest to any such system. But provision had been made by Parliament for the adoption of a voluntary system of examination for masters and mates of vessels. If he recollected rightly, the House had appointed one examiner, Lloyd's had appointed another, and some third party had appointed another. These three examiners had deputies throughout the country, and constituted a board before which any master or mate of a vessel who pleased might undergo an examination, and obtain a certificate of qualification if he should be found to deserve it. He was happy to say that that system had recommended itself more and more to those connected with our mercantile marine, and that the number of persons who had applied for, and had obtained, those certificates had of late considerably increased. Whether they were then ripe for rendering that system compulsory, he would not at that moment undertake to discusss. But he thought it was a fortunate circumstance that they had at any rate begun that system in a manner altogether in accordance with the feelings of the classes connected with our mercantile marine; and he trusted it would be found that they had commenced a system which would lead to an improvement of persons who occupied situations so important to the character of our navy as the masters and mates of our merchant vessels. He thought that, under any circumstances, and at any time, it would be right for them most seriously to consider those subjects with a view to their taking that course with regard to them which they might think most likely to promote the interests of a most important branch of our national prosperity. But he felt that it was more particularly incumbent on them to do so at a time when they proposed to bring under the consideration of Parliament the question of the navigation laws. He thought that while they entertained that determination, the mercantile marine had a perfect right to expect from them that they should also take into their consideration other questions connected with the interests of that body. He believed that the whole of those subjects ought to receive a connected and deliberate consideration from the House; and he hoped that before the close of the Session they would be able, at all events, to lay the foundation of a different state of things from that which he regretted to custom of the landlord to provide suitable think at present existed with regard to our farm-buildings for the tenant, if the ten mercantile navy. Motion agreed to. LAW OF LANDLORD AND TENANT (IRELAND.) SIR WILLIAM SOMERVILLE said: Sir, in rising to move for leave to bring in a Bill to amend the Law of Landlord and Tenant in Ireland, I believe I shall best consult the convenience of the House if I proceed at once to state the nature of this measure, the principles upon which it is founded, and the machinery upon which it is intended to give effect to those principles. It would be easy for me at the commencement of my observations to dilate on the extreme difficulty and delicacy and the complicated nature of the subject which I have undertaken to bring under the attention of the House. But, Sir, it is the very complicated nature of the question which leads me to think that the best plan which I can now follow will be simply to state the nature of the measure to the House, because I feel that until we have the power of comparing its details and sifting its provisions, it will be difficult to form a correct opinion of its merits. The Bill which, with the permission of the House, I shall this night lay on the table, embraces two points. First of all, it will provide compensation for the improvements made by the tenants during their holding, if they are dispossessed previous to the expiration of a certain period; and secondly, it will, I hope, effect several not unimportant changes in the relations between landlord and tenant. The Bill proposes to encourage the outlay of capital by the tenant, by providing compensation for him should he be dispossessed of his holding within a period that would not afford him the full benefit of his outlay; and it endeavours to carry out this object without any disturbance of existing interests, and with as little interference with the rights of property as possible. I will not at this period of my statement urge on the attention of the House the necessity of conceding this principle. I believe, by the majority of this House, and by the majority of the public out of doors, that principle has already been conceded. Indeed it is no new principle, for I have met with publications relating to the state and condition of Ireland-of considerable antiquity, more than a century old-in which the principle is broadly laid down, that inasmuch as in Ireland it is not the VOL. XCVI. Third Series ant should think fit to spend capital in the erection of them, and he should be dispossessed at a period when he had not had the full benefit of that outlay, he would be entitled to compensation upon being dispossessed. That principle has been often discussed out of this House before it came recommended to the consideration of Parliament by a Commission issued by the Crown, the report of which Commission was laid on the table of this House three years ago; and after that a noble Lord, not my immediate predecessor in the office which I have the honour to hold, but who formerly filled that office, laid on the table of this House a Bill embodying a similar principle; and I remember that that principle was received with favour by the House, and the noble Lord was permitted to lay the Bill on the table for their consideration. Before I proceed, then, to notice the changes which I contemplate making in the law affecting the relation of landlord and tenant in Ireland, I will state to the House in what manner it is intended the measure should proceed for securing compensation to the tenant for his outlay of capital. It is intended that from and after the passing of this Act, all tenants possessing an interest, to be hereafter specified, and holding under any lease or agreement, or from year to year, at a rent not exceeding ten pounds, may serve notice in a printed form, according to the terms to be prescribed, in a schedule appended to the Act, specifying the proposed improvements, whether of building, fencing, or subsoiling, and that he having done so, he shall nominate an arbitrator of his own, and call upon the landlord to do the same. If, within a given period, say within twenty-one days, the landlord shall not name an arbitrator to act in his behalf, it shall be competent for the tenant to summon him or his acknowledged agent before the petty sessions; and the court of petty sessions is to nominate an arbitrator, to be conjoined with the arbitrator originally selected by the tenant. The two arbitrators are then to choose an umpire, or should they decline doing so, the petty sessions are to be called upon to appoint one; and the arbitrators and umpire thus appointed are to form the body of arbitration to whom is to be assigned the duty of deciding on the notice which the tenant has served on his landlord. They will make it their business to inspect the farm generally; to consider the Z |