Trelawny, J. S. TELLERS. Bankes, G. List of the NOES. Alexander, N. fordshire should not be agreed to. The List of the AYES. Ackers, J. Bentinck, Lord H. Borthwick, P. Bridgeman, II. Broadwood, H. Brotherton, J. Christopher, R. A. Dawson, hon. T. V. Duncan, G. Duncombe, T. Etwall, R. Grosvenor, Lord R. Humphery, Ald. Morpeth, Viset. Neville, R. Pennant, hon. Col. Somerset, Lord G. Somerville, Sir W. M. Stewart, J. Thesiger, Sir F. Graham, rt. hon. Sir J. Troubridge, Sir E. T. Hamilton, Lord C. It was then ordered Vane, Lord H. Wood, C. Wortley, hon. J. S. TELLERS. Young, J. "That the Petition of William Rockett be referred to a Select Committee, to be appointed to inquire into all the circumstances under which Jo seph Welch gave Evidence before the Select Committee on the Bridport Election Petition, that William Rockett voted for Mr. Romilly." THE COLONIAL OFFICE. MR. V. SMITH adverted to the appointment of Mr. Rogers as additional Under Secretary in the Colonial Office. He thought the Office ought to have been reMostyn, hon. E. M. L. modelled, rather than a gentleman nomi Newdegate, C. N. Pechell, Capt. Plumridge, Capt. Rashleigh, W. Richards, R Sheridan, R cion Bill was before the House, they would feel it their duty, as Irish Members, to oppose the Motion for giving preeedence to Orders of the Day over Motions on Thursdays; and, failing in that, it would be their duty to move Amendments on the Orders of the Day as they came on. The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHE- | notice, on the part of himself and his QUER wished the right hon. Gentleman friends, that so long as the Irish Coerhad given him notice of his intention to introduce the subject. It was proposed to appoint an Assistant Secretary in the Colonial Office, for the purpose of aiding Mr. Stephen, particularly in reference to Colonial Acts. Mr. Stephen had pointed out the necessity of having a person to look after these. The gentleman who held this appointment would also perform the duties of Third Commissioner of Emigration, without receiving any additional salary. An appointment which had lately fallen vacant in the Colonial Office had not been filled up, and new arrangements were in contemplation for remodelling the Office, and reducing the number of the chief clerks. Subject at an end. MR. T. DUNCOMBE said, of the Poor Removal Bill, that it had been originally settled, as he thought, to proceed with it, pari passu with the Corn Importation Bill. Now, however, it seemed that the Poor Removal Bill was to be postponed indefinitely, as well as the Highway Bill and other Bills connected with it. The House was to be called upon to waste week after week on the Irish Coercion Bill; and in the meantime what was to become of the Poor House adjourned at a quarter before Removal Bill? He trusted that in a short Eight. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Friday, May 29, 1846. time the other House would have passed the Corn Bill; but, as he had apprehended early in the Session, the Poor Removal Bill would be left to shift for itself. There was another Bill of which the right hon. Baronet had said nothing, and regarding which he (Mr. T. Duncombe) must ask for some information from the Secretary at War. He alluded to the Bill for the enrolment of the militia. He had mentioned it long before Easter, and had been informed, that it would be brought in before Easter; but now Whitsuntide had arrived, and it had not been heard of. He had all along feared that it would not be introADJOURNMENT AND BUSINESS OF THE duced till it was too late to consider its MINUTES.] PUBLIC BILLS.-1o. Drainage. Vernon, and others, respecting the Increase of Tolls on HOUSE. clauses. It had not been even seen yet, SIR R. PEEL rose to move, in pursu- though the least that could have been exance of notice, that the House at its rising pected was, that it would have been upon do adjourn to Friday next, and took that the Table before Whitsuntide, and a good opportunity of explaining in what order it deal of interest was felt about it by the would be his duty, on the part of the Go-public. As to the Poor Removal Bill, he vernment, to propose to bring on public business immediately after the recess. SIR G. GREY wished the right hon. Baronet to state what was intended by the Government with respect to the Poor Removal Bill. It had been a long time before the House, and there was a great deal of interest felt in it out of doors; and it was therefore desirable that the country should be informed what were the intentions of the Government with respect to it. SIR R. PEEL said, he should give the earliest day after the Irish Bill had been disposed of to the Poor Removal Bill. MR. J. O'CONNELL begged to give must say that the right hon. Baronet would not be using the House quite fairly if he did not enable it properly to discuss, and afterwards to pass the measure. SIR R. PEEL admitted frankly that he had justified some expectation that the Poor Removal Bill would be brought on on an early day; but he hoped the House would make allowances for the difficulty of the position of Government. He and his Colleagues were ready to devote sixteen or eighteen hours a day to their public duties. in the House; still they had hitherto only had two days in the week for Government business. So anxious was he to fulfil every expectation he had raised, that he was ready to take the Poor Removal Bill on Friday next, instead of the Votes in Supply. | swer I can give to the hon. Gentleman is to He believed that there was still money say, that though we have not received enough in the Treasury to go on with the official intimation of the actual signing of public service; but he considered Minis- the Treaty, we are yet in possession of such ters bound to press forward the Irish information as to render it exceedingly proBill. bable that a Treaty has been signed; and I think I am justified in expressing a hope that it has been signed. In a letter dated 30th April, Sir Stratford Canning says that Redschid Pasha was going to the Russian Minister, who had authority from his Government to sign the Treaty. SIR J. GRAHAM said, that the hon. Member for Malton (Mr. E. Denison) had given notice of an instruction to the Committee on the Poor Removal Bill, and if it were carried, it would be indispensable to alter the whole framework of the measure. It must be recommitted pro formá, in order that it might be remodelled. He apprehended, however, that one night would be sufficient for the discussion. MR. HUME expressed a strong desire that the Poor Removal Bill should have precedence, as he knew that great anxiety was felt upon the subject in agricultural districts. He recommended that the Irish Coercion Bill should be postponed to other business, with a view to save time. If the right hon. Baronet intended to stop all the useful business of the country for the sake of that measure, he would find himself involved in new difficulties. He stated not only his own opinion, but that of almost everybody out of the House. There was hardly one person who did not express a hope that Government would not interfere with the progress of the Poor Removal Bill. MR. BANKES said, the right hon. Gentleman would recollect that it was distinctly understood that an opportunity should be given of discussing the principle of the Poor Removal Bill. That could not be done if the debate were confined to the Motion of the hon. Member for Maldon; and he trusted that, in assenting to the course proposed by the Government, he should be understood as doing so in the anticipation of having an opportunity for fully discussing the general principle of the measure. Motion for the Adjournment agreed to. TREATY BETWEEN RUSSIA AND DR. BOWRING wished to kr the right hon. Baronet the First of the Crown, whether any Treaty signed between the Russian Gov and the Ottoman Porte, equalizing ties paid by foreign nations under t isting capitulation, removing the advantages un have laboured SIR R. PE THE OREGON QUESTION. MR. HUME said, it was known to the public, through the newspapers, that the President of the United States had received directions to give notice to this country that the regulations which now existed for the joint occupancy of the Oregon territory should terminate within a year. He wished to know from the right hon. Baronet, the head of the Government, whether the American President had given notice to this country of the intended termination of the existing convention respecting this territory? SIR R. PEEL: In answer to the question of the hon. Gentleman, I beg to state that the American President has given notice to this country that the termination of the existing convention should take place at the end of the year. In giving that notice, however, he has adopted the terms which were ultimately assented to by both Houses of the Legislature of the United States, viz., that the Notice shall be given with the view of leading to an amicable adjustment of all the differences and disputes in respect to this territory. RETIRING ALLOWANCES TO NAVAL OFFICERS. SIR C. NAPIER begged to observe, that more than twelve months ago, a proposal had been circulated by the Board of Admiralty to the effect, that a retiring allowance would be given to those naval officers who thont proper to send in their resignations umber of officers, in acmcordance wi proposal, had sent in had as yet received they had been acGovernment would the propriety of tentions relative they were not he letters of ¶ not stand h subje ble an their resign no intimation Jepted. He w ve upon the Ming what we: e applicati eceded to, ants, that against SIR R. PEEL: My impression was, that the Admiralty made a certain proposal with this reserve, that unless a certain number of officers accepted that proposal, the Admiralty had the entire power to set it aside. The number required not having accepted the proposal, it has accordingly fallen. My impression was, that the Admiralty had publicly notified that it was not to take effect, and that they had under their consideration some other plan. COMMERCIAL POLICY-CANADA. SIR R. PEEL: I have great pleasure in giving the noble Lord all the information I possess upon the subject on which he has just put the question. I had yesterday made an appointment with the Secretary for the Colonies, to meet him at half-past one o'clock this day; and when my right hon. Friend attended that meeting, he brought with him a letter from Lord Cathcart, containing an Address to the Crown I know not whether unanimously adopted or not--but of the general purport to which the noble Lord has referred, LORD G. BENTINCK rose to put a namely, expressing apprehension at the question to the First Minister of the Crown, consequences of the adoption of the comwhich might appear at first sight to impugn mercial measures of Her Majesty's Governthe fair dealing, frankness, and truth-tel- ment. I certainly understood my right ling of a Member of Her Majesty's Govern- hon. Friend to say, that this despatch had ment; but he had reason to think, from the reached him in the course of the morning; explanation he had already received, that but for myself I must say that, at any rate, no such imputation could rest upon the I had no knowledge of its arrival till two Earl of Dalhousie, to whom his question o'clock to-day. When the noble Lord was referred. It was probably within the know- good enough to state to me that he would ledge of every Gentleman in that House, put the question, I told him that I thought that a statement had been made last night it probable the Earl of Dalhousie had no by the Earl of Dalhousie, that the Canadian earlier knowledge of the purport of the Colonies were perfectly satisfied with the despatch than I had; but since then I have commercial policy of Her Majesty's Go- received an assurance that my noble Friend vernment, and that, so far from entertain- was entirely unaware of the receipt of this ing any feeling of apprehension and alarm, despatch at the period when he spoke last all that the Canadians asked was, that the night. It must be obvious that when denominal duty of one shilling, which was spatches arrive, especially at a late hour, it proposed to be retained on Canadian and is quite impossible that their contents can other wheat, should be reduced to a penny. be simultaneously communicated to the That was the statement which they had all Members of the Government, however improbably seen imputed to the Earl of Dal-portant they may be. If there is not to be housie; and he (Lord G. Bentinck) might state, that he had heard it with his own ears. Now, the question which he had to ask of Her Majesty's Minister, was this whether or not the Canadian mail had not arrived, bringing an Address to Her Majesty, which had been unanimously voted by the Legislative Assembly of Canada, of which the first paragraph ran in terms something like this: "That this House views with most serious apprehension and alarm, and as detrimental to the future peace and prosperity of these Colonies, the adoption of the proposed principles of commercial intercourse now under the consideration of the Imperial Parliament ?" That such an Address had been unanimously voted, he had the best reason for knowing, inasmuch-["Question!"] Well, the question he had to put was this, whether, when this statement was made by a Cabinet Minister of the Crown, he was in possession of the information to which he had just referred? a meeting of the Cabinet on the day of their arrival, they are put into circulation among the Members of Government, and some time must necessarily elapse before they all receive information of them. THE POOR LAW. MR. CHRISTIE asked whether the Poor Law Commissioners had made any inquiry into the circumstances of the case formerly referred to at Barrow-on-Soar, and whether any steps had been taken in consequence of the inquiry? SIR J. GRAHAM replied, that the Poor Law Commissioners had instituted an inquiry into the circumstances of the case referred to, and had received a report from an Assistant Poor Law Commissioner on the subject. In accordance with the suggestions contained in that report, the Comsioners had determined, if the master of the workhouse did not tender his resignation, to order his immediate dismissal. POTATOES FROM YORKSHIRE. On the Order of the Day having been read, was Shaw. As to the general price of potatoes, he could assure the House that a salesman had informed him that except in years of abundance it was never so low as 50s. The hon. Member proceeded to read extracts from correspondence he had received on the subject, in support of his statements, and concluded by quoting the expression made use of by a gentleman who had written to him on the subject, declaring his surprise that the sagacity of Alderman Humphery had not taught him, if those potatoes had been rotten, as he said, that they would have been thrown overboard. MR. LAWSON said, his statement on a former evening as to the rejection of Yorkshire potatoes from the London market was received with incredulity, if not derision. Since that time he had had an opportunity of investigating the particulars which he gave, and he then rose for the purpose of confirming by name every one of the assertions which he then made. Having mentioned to the noble Member for Lynn that he should make some statement as to the supply of potatoes to the London market, his noble Friend, with ALDERMAN HUMPHERY congratulated that kindness which always distinguished himself on the opportunity he had given him, said, "Here is a letter from York- the hon. Member to make an explanation, shire which you had better take charge which he believed the House would think of." The noble Lord did not know the was something like the produce of the writer. He (Mr. Lawson) did; and as he mountain in labour. Instead of being saknew him to be a respectable man, and tisfied by the statement of the hon. Memthat he would not assert anything which ber, he impugned it again. The potatoes was not true, he took on him to confirm were not landed at all. The facts of the his assertions. He was asked to give the case were, that a gentleman named Megname of the individual, but he refused to gitt or Maggot, who combined a number do more than pledge himself to the accu- of trades in his person, thought that there racy of his statement. He was now happy would be a scarcity of potatoes, and thereto be enabled to inform the House that fore went to a potato grower and bought the writer was one of the greatest potato fifty tons at 88s. a ton. They were shipped growers in England, and well known, as for London, with four other rooms of potahe found on inquiry, to the salesmen in toes, and were stowed away under the Tooley-street. His name was Robert forecastle of the brig Vigilant. When Scholefield, of Sand Hill, near Howden, the vessel arrived in London, a gentleman and he grew from 1,300 to 1,500 tons who had a cargo of the same description of potatoes annually. One of the organs of potatoes on board, sold them for 95s. of public opinion had animadverted on his and 5l. a ton. A Mr. Good, who also had statement; but he had previously written potatoes on board, had the vessel run down for a confirmation of the assertions made to a wharf, where he kept her for a few in the letter to his noble Friend. The weeks before he sold them. Mr. Little answer which he received was most satis- sold some of them for 80s. and 95s. a ton, factory. The name of the person who and would have sold them all at 31. a ton, sent the cargo of potatoes to London was but that Mr. Meggitt thought they would Mr. Meggit, of Howden. He did not see sell better at Leeds than at London, and why the potatoes of a tradesman of How- was persuaded accordingly to take the bulk den were not as likely to be as good as if to Leeds, where they were sold, it is said, sent by anybody else. They were landed to the poor at 1s. and 1s. 6d. a bushel. at Cotton's-wharf, and consigned to Mr. Now these were the circumstances under Liddell. He had taken the trouble to go which Mr. Scholefield thought proper to down and have an interview with the per- say that a scarcity of potatoes did not sons interested, and had at that moment exist. But he could prove that there had the bill of sale in his hands. The potatoes been a great falling-off in potatoes this were shipped from Hull on the 17th March, year. The fet was, that between this were sent back from London on 4th year and the year preceding there had April, and arrived in Hull on been a differ in the importations to April; and he had the bill of pr London of 40, ons. Taking the quan which they had been sold at Leeds. tity at 90,240s. of potatoes, of those potatoes had been sold for The population00,000, it would and some for 50s. The name of the v ar that the peod been deprive was the Vigilant, at seven week sumption of |