POSTSCR1 PT.

SATURDAY.

There was some interesting conversation in the House of Lords last night on the subject of Negro Emancipation. Lord BROUGHAM pre- sented more than a hundred petitions for the immediate abolition of the Apprenticeship system. Petitions with the like prayer were also pre sented by Lord RADNOR, Lord REDESDALE, the Archbishop of CAN- TERBURY, and the Bishop of LONDON. Dr. Blomfield's petition was from Tottenham; and it stated that the planters had not fulfilled their part of the contract by which they obtained the grant of twenty mil- lions. On this point the Bishop said— If it could be presumed that the case was really as the petitioners repre- sented, he certainly should have no hesitation in saying that it would be only just as well as expedient to put an early termination to the present aestem of apprenticeship, and that it would be for the advantage of all panic* that steps should be taken as soon as possible to procure this end. He was not prepared to say, however, that the planters had violated their engagements. Even if many of them had done so, and a minority had observed good faith, he was not prepared to assent to the proposition that the few should be made to suffer for the misconduct of the majority : yet he was not quite sure that the interests of humanity ought not to pita:ail against the interests of the planters.

That it would be best for all parties that the apprenticeship should cease as soon as possible, the Bishop appears to entertain no doubt— If the safety of the Colonies was to be considered as dependent upon the frame of mind of the population at the end of the apprenticeship system, and if theme was any danger likely to result front the exasperated feelings of that population when that termination should arrive, he thought that less ianger was likely to arise now than two seats hence. With respect to compensation, he was aware that it was agreed to be paid to the planters on the calculation of their retain- ing six years services of the Negroes, the emancipation being deferred. But this country appeared now to be fully of opinion, that the same stint, if paid for immediate emancipation, would he fully sufficient; and, therefore, on pecuniary grounds, the planter would have no reason to complain. He was convinced that immediate emancipation %timid be beneficial to this countty and to the Co- lonies ; but still he doubted whether this country was not bound to adhere to the compact which had been entered into. With respect to the Negroes them- selves, he must say that he thought there was little probability that the treat- ment which they would receive during the next two years, however humane it might be, and however it might tend to ameliorate their condition, would have the effect of rendering them satisfied with their present position, or with free- dom when it should arrive; but, on the contrary, they would feel that it had come slowly, and they would experience less gratification, therefore, and would feel less gratitude for the favour which had been conferred upon them; whereas, if the great boon of immediate emaneipation were given to them at once, it would have the greateffeet of stilling their feelings of hatred to the English and to the planters aud overseers.

[Notwithstanding this attempt to balance interests and duties, the Bishop of London's inclination is manifestly towards immediate eman- cipation ; and we think that Lord Brougham may reckon oil his support.] In high delight, Lord BROUGHAM alluded to the Marquis of Sligo's unconditional adhesion, as given in the night before, and to the signifi- cant speech'of the Bishop of London. Encouraged by so many per-

L. sons of weight in the House, he certainly felt it his duty to accelerate the second reading of his Abolition bill. Lord WHARNCLIFFE thought that some further preparation might

• be necessary before the Negroes were made entirely free. For in- stance, they might claim the right of voting : then, there were the questions of Pour-laws and the Militia to be considered.

Loin DUG° (Ales I ri come rrittarket on these points...-.

There was a law which wade the tontlification for voter. 161 IN.., lot sterling ; but he had • .... e uhj c•lon to that. as tieing too great, for he thought that 1OL curency wield be shfficient. With regard to the Militia, he scut gis:tebv"er. sa■ that the law which had been paa•ed requiring a certain number of With. inen to he maintained on each i estate, appeared to him to have been attended with bad restilta; aml he could 'tell o ish the Alilitia to he put for many of their attempts to secure peaee hail been any thing hue er,aditoabnil With respect ro the roui-laus, lie crit...ideied that the) Were ahs..lutdy 'any : they would be highly hem ficial in securing a suffivieney of tabour, by connecting the nruprieims with the labourers. lie was of 411 that their oalii :icier he a want of sufficient labour ; for any man who be. hayed Immo tuwarils his so yaws VVIIIIIII at once secure then hest exertions. [ These are 'netters with o hit+ the more ardent Abeliounist, trouble themselves; but they hodicete the extreme difficulty of the sub- jr ct, and the necessity of caution.]

The business in the Commmis may be briefly recorded.

The Temworth Committee reported, that Captain A'Court hart been duly elected.

At the request of Lord Joule RUSSELL, Mr. HUME postponed hit Ctimsty Rates Bill till after Eisler.

The House was reminded by Lord JOHN RUSSELL, of the ex.

istence of a measure called the Irish Muddied Bill, which wits iners„ duced months ago, and, though the eirctimsfrece, we suppose, ha been genre ally forgotten. passed the second tending. In rr ference to this bill, Lord John said that he would not proceed with it till after Easter. tailless the Opposition impeded to renew the; motion of last year for an instruction to the Committee to divide it into two ports; in which case, be would bring the quest ion to all issue before the holy. days. Sir Boma PEEL thanked the -.11 Mister hr his ii.foimotion, hut would not indulge him with a disclosure of his own Oen. [If the 'Furies ere wise, they will allow this question to be " settled ;" unless, indeed, it be it ue, as we %sere told some time since by the Morning Post, hut scarcely believed, dna they are so patriotically reluctant to take office, that they will even build up a will in their own path !1 The Easter holydays, Loud JOHN RUSSEI.L tinnotinced, will com- mence on Wednesday the Ilth of Apt ii, and contieue till the Tuesday week following.

Sir ROBERT PEEL put some questions respecting the resignation of Colonel Shaw Kennedy; and found time Nlillisterial Leader as uncom. municative as himself : he was only promised that the Colonel's suc- cessor would be appointed without reference to his politics.

With a view to simplify and improve the Parliamentary Election code, Sir ROBERT PEEL suggested, that a Committee should be appointed to collfrute contradictory decisions, preparatory to the inttoduction of a declaratory act. This the Ministels ought to look to. Lord Join; Resseat. promised attention, but was not sanguine as to the result; because, as he sagariously uddcd, the lawyers in the House are too busy to attend to the subject.

The remaining anises of the Irish Poor.law were agreed to, with slight amendment ; the bill was ordered to be "reported" on Monday; and the House rose at one o'clock.