might be extended to any part of Ireland | touch a hair of the head of an accessary in which, in the opinion of the Lord Lieu- after the fact, and by the law he would tenant and the Privy Council, the Bill literally go scot free. He conceived this ought to be enforced. With regard to the point of great importance as regarded Ireobservations of the hon. Gentleman the land, where there was a general sympathy Member for Longford, he (Sir G. Grey) did with offenders, and an inclination to screen certainly hope that the commission of crime them from justice, and he trusted the Godid not arise from the mere sanguinary vernment would embrace the opportunity wish to take away life. He considered of removing so serious a defect from the there might be causes which led to the law both of England and Ireland. commission of those crimes in some parts of Ireland that were not in operation in other parts of the country; but if the crime extended to those districts where such causes did not prevail, no measure could be too severe to put down such a system.

O'Connell, M. J.

O'Connell, J.
[It seems unnecessary to insert the Noes.]
Remaining clauses of the Bill agreed to.
MR. BAINES then proposed the clause,
of which he had given notice, to the effect
that accessaries after the fact to murder
and attempt to murder may be tried and
punished, although the principals may not
have been convicted or taken. The hon.
and learned Member explained that there
was no defect in the law as it stood with
respect to accessaries before the fact; for,
by the 9th of George IV. they were liable
to be convicted, although the principal
might not have been convicted or taken.
Up to that time an accessary before the
fact could in no case be convicted, unless
the principal was rendered amenable to
justice. If, therefore, a murderer had
escaped, the accessary before the fact could
not be touched. The House would scarcely
believe that when that defect in the law
was remedied as regarded accessaries be-
fore the fact, the same defect was suffered
to remain with respect to accessaries after
the fact, so that now if a principal were
not forthcoming for trial, you could not
VOL. XCV. {Series}
Third

Clause brought up and read a first time. On the question that it be read a second time,

COLONEL SIBTHORP considered the country was greatly obliged to the hon. and learned Member for the introduction of the clause. He had not intended to give any kind of support to Her Majesty's Ministers in this Bill, which he considered one of the most milk-and-water and cowardly Bills ever introduced to the notice of that House; but his resolution had been changed from reflecting on the necessity of seeking out and punishing accessaries after the fact of murder. He thought some measure ought to be devised to reach those gentlemen in soft raiment who preached peace, but who had anything but peace in their hearts. He had no hesitation in saying that when men were denounced from the altar, let those who denounced them be hung-or let them be transported for life. He thought that the clause proposed would be of great value to this Bill. Unless a measure ten times more coercive were adopted, the state of Ireland would be ten times worse than it was.

Clause read a second time, and ordered to be added to the Bill.

nor, from the County of Mayo, for Relief (Ireland).-By Mr. O'Flaherty, from Inhabitants of Galway, for making a Packet Station of Galway Bay.

DR. HAMPDEN-THE BISHOPS'
REMONSTRANCE.

vice of the country. This state of things attached to a population which had been created altogether by the demands of our naval and military service, and had the strongest claim on the Government of the country; and it seemed as if they were abMR. C. LUSHINGTON: Seeing the solutely cut off from the sympathies of noble Lord the First Minister in his place, men. He had endeavoured, two years I beg to ask him a question relating to a ago, to obtain a subscription to provide correspondence which I have seen in one some relief for this fearful destitution; but of to-day's newspapers, which correspondhis applications had frequently been met ence comprises a letter bearing the signaby the observation that, under the circum-tures of certain right rev. Prelates of the stances, it was the duty of the Govern- Established Church, apparently interfering ment to come forward and afford the means with the just prerogative of Her Majesty, of religious instruction. It was certainly as supreme head of the Established Church, impossible, from the general poverty of the and contains also a letter stated to be writpeople, that they could contribute anything ten in reply by the noble Lord. I beg to like the sum requisite for the erection of ask him whether that correspondence is three churches, which would not be less authentic, and justly and correctly ascribed than 15,000l. The petitioners, in con- to the parties in question? clusion, prayed the House to give them its powerful support, urging their case on the

attention of the Government.

The MARQUESS of LANSDOWNE ob

served that it was quite unnecessary for him to say that the subject was worthy

the consideration of Government. No

doubt the right rev. Prelate had made a correct statement of facts; but the only means of remedy was that of a special grant; and the question would be, would the House of Commons be satisfied that there was sufficient evidence to make such a grant? He could not say how far this case was to be distinguished from others; but that it would receive every attention no one could doubt.

House adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS,

Monday, December 13, 1847. MINUTES.] NEW WRIT.-For Tamworth, ". the Right MINUTES.] PUBLIC BILLS.—1o New Zealand Government.

Hon. William Yates Peel, Chiltern Hundreds.

Reported.-Railways.

3o and passed:-Crime and Outrage (Ireland),

PETITIONS PRESENTED. By Mr. Gladstone, from Clergy-
men of the Archdeaconry of Bucks, for Alteration of the
Law relating to Bishops.-By several Hon. Members,
from various places, for and against the Removal of

Jewish Disabilities.—By Lord Ashley, from Manchester,
respecting the Ecclesiastical Provision for the Parish of
Manchester.-By the Earl of Arundel and Surrey, from
Southwark and Lambeth, against the Roman Catholic

LORD J. RUSSELL: In answer to the

hon. Gentleman's question, I have to say,
that, excepting an error of no great conse-
quence in one of the paragraphs of my
letter, that the copy of the letter written
by some of the right rev. the Bishops and
that correspondence in the
my answer is correct. I did not insert
it is authentic.
but
newspaper,

of

THE DEFENCES OF THE COUNTRY. LORD J. RUSSELL: The hon. Gentleman the Member for Middlesex has given notice of a Motion, for which I believe no day is fixed, with respect to the defences of the country. I shall have shortly after the recess to state, on the part of the Government, both what has been done and what is proposed to be done upon that important matter; and it seems to me that it would be better for the public interest ber of the Government, than that it should that the subject should come from a Membe brought forward by an independent Member of this House. Of course, if the hon. Member is not satified with my statement, it will be in his power, at any time, to make his Motion; but I have to request of him that he will postpone it till he has heard that statement.

MR. B. OSBORNE could have no hesi

Charitable Trusts Bill.-By Mr. Frewen, from Leicester, tation in complying with the request.

for Inquiry into the Conduct of the Roman Catholic Clergy (Ireland).-By Mr. Ewart, from Inhabitants of Van Diemen's Land, respecting Free Emigration to that Colony. By Lord Ashley, and other hon. Members, from several places, for Inquiry into the Case of the Rajah of

Sattara.-By Mr. Ewart, from Tradesmen, Mechanics, and other Inhabitants of the Town of Launceston, in the Island of Van Diemen's Land, for the Abolition of Trans

portation to that Colony.-By Mr. Wakley, from Corn

wall, for Alteration of Property Tax.-By Mr. F. O'Con

THE BANK AND THE GOVERNMENT.

MR. PATTISON wished to put a question to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who had stated, a few days since, that the stipulation in the Government letter to the Bank for a participation in the profit

to be derived from the measure sanctioned by that letter, was very much the suggestion of the Bank authorities. Would the right hon. Gentleman state who were the Bank authorities from whom it emanated? The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER thought it would be convenient if hon. Members would be kind enough to give previous notice of questions, especially when other persons out of the House were concerned. But he had no objection to answer the question. The Governor and Deputy Governor of the Bank were with him frequently during the period alluded to, and in conversation they and he agreed that it would be better that that condition should be inserted in the letter of the Government to the Bank.

MR. PATTISON had seen them that morning, and understood from them that they were no parties to this stipulation, and it was in consequence of that that he put his question.

CORN AND NAVIGATION LAWS.

ask the noble Lord was, whether he were prepared to state to the House, and through the House to the commercial community, the present position of the negotiations with France upon this subject, and whether there was any hope of a speedy removal of the French blockade?

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON: In answer to the question of the hon. Gentleman, I beg to state that Her Majesty's Government is quite aware of the great inconvenience sustained, not only by the commerce of this country, but by many other nations, by the continuance of that state of things which has so long existed in the River Plate. It is a subject which has attracted the anxious attention of Her Majesty's Government. We have been in communication with the Government of France on the subject of the blockade, and I am glad to feel it my duty to state that the Government of France has expressed and manifested the most sincere desire to co-operate with the British Government for the purpose of putting an

In answer to a question by MR. SAN-end to that state of things; and recently

DARS,

The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER said, it was not the intention of the Government to the further suspenpropose sion of the Corn and Navigation Laws.

BLOCKADE OF THE RIVER PLATE.

MR. T. BARING begged to ask the noble Lord the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs a question relative to our commercial relations with Buenos Ayres. The noble Lord would recollect that in the Speech from the Throne, on the 22nd of January, 1846, allusions were made to the difficulties that existed to the commerce of all nations by reason of the warfare that afflicted the States of the Rio de la Plata; and it was said that, in conjunction with the King of the French, this country was endeavouring to effect the pacification of these States. The British blockade had been removed; but the French blockade still continued, and had been the cause of great inconvenience and loss to those who were engaged in carrying on trade with Buenos Ayres. Ships destined to Buenos Ayres were obliged to unload their cargoes at Montevideo, and there pay ship dues amounting to several thousand pounds. In the month of August no less than 50,0001. had been levied chiefly on British goods destined to Buenos Ayres, besides paying export dues. What he wished to

it has been my duty to have communication with the Duke de Broglie, and arrangements have been come to between the two Governments to send out instructions to the British and French representatives at Buenos Ayres and Montevideo for the purpose of endeavouring to put an end to the present state of things in that country. I trust that when those instructions arrive in the River Plate, we shall have a fair prospect of seeing those hostilities terminated which have for so long a period impeded commerce in that part of the world. It will be satisfactory to the House to hear that France and England are perfectly agreed as to the course it would be advisable to adopt, should those instructions fail of effect.

SWITZERLAND.

MR. J. O'CONNELL rose to ask the noble Lord the questions of which he had given notice. The first question was whether the noble Lord had received official information of the decrees of the Provisional Governments of the Cantons of Friburg and Lucerne, banishing for ever the Jesuits, the Liguorians, the Brothers of the Christian Doctrine, the Ursuline Nuns, the Sisters of Providence, and other denominations of religion, male and female, under pretence of their being affiliated to the Jesuits; also, confiscating their entire property, and annulling any and every provi

COMMERCIAL DISTRESS-CURRENCY

EXPLANATIONS.

sion which they might have made of it in interfering with the internal affairs of during nearly two months previous to the Switzerland. surrender of Friburg and Lucerne? The next question he would ask the noble Lord was whether he had also received official information of the enormous demands made upon the cantons of the Sonderbund for the expenses of the war, 1,000,000f. being demanded by the 20th inst., and 2,000,000f. more within a brief space afterwards, besides other charges and exactions? And, finally, he begged to ask the noble LordMR. SPEAKER here called the hon. Member to order, and informed him, that as the third question he was about to ask was one which involved the expression of an opinion, it was not competent for him to put it.

MR. J. O'CONNELL said, that with a view to conform to the rules of the House, and that he might be in order, he would move that the House do now adjourn, so that he might have an opportunity of putting the question to the noble Lord. There could be no doubt that the acts of the majority in Switzerland had been of a most tyrannous character. Insults and outrages had been offered to the clergy of the religion of the minority. There had been extreme persecution and plundering of individuals among that minority, whose only crime was to discharge faithfully the duties imposed upon them by their fellow-citizens. The third question, therefore, which he wished to ask the noble Lord was, whether, considering these acts, an urgent case had not arisen for the intervention of the Powers who guaranteed, in 1815, the cantonal independence of Switzerland?

LORD G. BENTINCK wished the Chancellor of the Exchequer to state at what time he intended to propose the nomination of the Committee on Commercial Distress. He hoped his right hon. Friend would not leave the House in uncertainty as to the hour at which the question would be brought forward.

The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER said, it was not in his power to declare at what hour the Motion would be made. He was anxious that the Committee should be nominated as soon as possible, in order that the Members composing it might agree upon the course they would pursue before the adjournment of the House. He would willingly propose the nomination of the Committee as soon as the Irish Crime and Outrage Bill should be read a third time, if the House would permit him.

MR. HUME was anxious, before the nomination of the Committee took place, to obtain the decision of the House as to the principles on which banking should hereafter be conducted. As it was intended that the House should adjourn on Monday next, he thought it would be advisable to postpone the appointment of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Committee until after the House should meet again. There would then be time and opportunity for considering the whole question with greater coolness and calmness than could be lookVISCOUNT PALMERSTON: In answer ed for under the pressure of recent events, to the first question of the hon. Gentleman, which had excited much alarm in the pubI beg to state, that Her Majesty's Govern- lic mind. He was, unfortunately, unable ment have received official information of to attend during the recent discussion; but, the decrees of the newly-established Go- as far as he could perceive, the subject of vernment in the canton of Friburg, banish-free trade in banking was not enforced by ing the Jesuits and certain religious or any speaker. The subject was brought ders supposed to be in connexion with the before the House by him in 1826 and 1839, Jesuits in that canton; but we have not and he was prepared to show that the Lereceived any official account of any similar gislature would be obliged in the end, after decrees as to the canton of Lucerne, or all the experiments they had made, to any account of any of the proceedings re-adopt the principles which he then laid ferred to in the second question of the hon. Member. With respect to the concluding question of the hon. Gentleman, I beg to state that it has not appeared to Her Majesty's Government that in the present state of things in Switzerland there are sufficient grounds for the intervention of the Powers who were parties to the Treaty of Vienna, or that they would be justified

down.

The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER said, the House had already decided that the Committee should be appointed, and therefore the only question which remained undecided respected the Members of the House of whom the Committee should be composed. It was very unusual to interpose with such a Motion as