POSTSCRIPT.
SATURDAY NIGHT.
In the House of Commons, last night, Sir ROBERT PEEL, stated the precise terms of the amendment he intends to move on Lord John Rus- sell's resolution in support of the Irish policy of the Government. Ile will propose the following resolutions- 0 Resolved—That, on the 13th day of March last, a motion was made in this House Mr the production of various documents connected with the state of Ireland in respect to crime and outrage, including communications made to the Irish Government relating to offences connected with Ribbonismu, and all memorials, resolutions, and addresses, forwarded to the lrish Government by Magistrates, or other official persons, in respect of crimes and outrages com- milled in Ireland, and the answers thereto. "That the period included within the returns so called for, extends from the commencement of the year 1835 to the present time ; and that the motion mile ter the production of them was assented to by this House, no Opp0,11i0n to it having been offered on the part of her Majesty's Government. "That, on the 21st day of March last, the House of Lords appointed a Select Committee ' to inquire into the state of Ireland since the year lies, in respect to crime and outrage, which have rendered life and property insecure in thet part of the empire.' "That, in consequence of the appointment of suck Committee bv the Howe of Lords, it has been proposed that this House should resolve, That it is the opinion of this House that it is expedient to persevere in those mind- pie; AvIiielt have guided the Executive Government of Ireland of late years, i and ivhich have tended to the effectual administration of the law, and the ,senerel improvement of that part of the United King,dom.' " Resolved, That it appears to this House, that the appointment of a Com- mittee of Inquiry by the House of Lords, under the circumstances nod fur the purpose Once-mentioned, does not justify her INIajesty's Ministers in calling upon this House, without previous inquiry, or even the production of the in- formation this House has required, to snake a declaration of opinion with respect to one branch of the public policy of the Executive Government, still less a declaration of opinion which is neither explicit as to the principles which it professes to approve, nor definite as to the period to whirl, it relics ; and that it is not fitting that this House shontd adopt a proceeding: which has the appearance of calling in question the undoubted right of the House of Lents to inquire into She state of Ireland in respect to crime and outrage, more especially when the exercise of that right by the House of Lords does not interre with any previous proceeding, or resolution of the House of Commons, nor with the progress of any legislative measure assented to by the House of Commons, or at present under its consideration."
Sir Robert took care to remind the House that his first resolution was "a mere recital of facts; " the second was the "substantive amendment."
When Sir Robert Peel sat down, Mr. Tnomss DroNcomnr. gave notice, that " in the event of Lord John Russell's resolution b-eing adopted, he should move to add the following words- " And that it is also expedient to effect such further reforms in the repre- sentation of the people in Parliament as would conduce to their contentment, and to the security and welfimre of the kinglam at large."
A Select Committee was afterwards appointed " to inspect the journals of the House of Lords relative to the appointment of a Select
Committee to inquire into the state of Ireland since the year 1835, in respect of crime and outrage, which have rendered life and property in- secure in that part of the empire."
The remainder of the business requires only brief mention.
The Metropolis Cemetery Bill was withdrawn by Mr. ECUs; the disposition of the House being against the enclosure of land in the vicinity of London.
Lord JOIIN RUSSELL announced his intention of moving to ealotsve front the Police Bill, " the first fourteen sinuses, which extended the .111e- tropolitan Police to the City of London." [Lord John expects by this concession to secure some City -votes for the Irish motion, which other- wise might have been withheld.] Lord PALMERSTON laid on the table papers relative to the affair of the Mexican pilot: among then was a communication from Count Se- bastiani, containing an explanation and apology " honourable alike to the Government offering and the Government receiving it"— Count Sebastiani, in his communication, stated that he was char:Ata i v the King of the French to make known to the Government of her Brits nie Ma- jesty the deep regret which the King of the French felt at hearing of the re- moval of a Mexican pilot by his three from the British packet-slip the Ex- press and he also stated, that when Admiral Moulin unfortunately directed that step to be taken, he was not aware tint the vessel belonged to the British marine for •e. This incident, therefore, had been the result of a mistake, and in no degree arose from any waist of respect to the English flag. The affair was sincerely deplored by the King of the ].'reach and his Government, as well as by the Commandant of the French squadron on the coast of Mexico, who expressed en anxious hope that no error of the hind would occur again; and it added, that the strictest instruetions had given for the most vigilant
attention, which would prevent a similar ()ilium nee. Count Sebastieni
that he trusted this explanation would prove satislactory to the British Go- vernment, and that nothing would ever disturb the harmony and union which now existed hetwt en the two eountriss, (Ma both Coveninient: lad so much at heart to maintain between tin two euttotries, as well as bi.tuevfi the two flags.
[This communication was loudly cheered from all sides.] The Scotch Prisons Bill:was con»nittedprofrenta, after an unsuccess- ful motion by Sir GEORGE CLIME, that it lie an instruction to the Com- mittee to divide the bill into two bills. Time numbers were 6:3 and 19.
The Scotch Supreme Courts Bill lens discussed in Committee ; a pre- liminary motion by Mr. 1l'HLi,Hcis, for an address to the Queen, pray- ing for an inquiry into the duties and emoluments of the Judges of the Supreme Court, having been negatived by SO to l I. It was decided that the salary of the Lord President should be 4,800/., of the Lord Jus- tice Clerk 4,500/., of the other Judges 3,000/.
The proceedings in the Lords were unimportant.
Previous page
