Dams anti 1proteebinins in Tiarliament.

PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OF THE WEEK.

House or LOADS. Monday, Feb. 12. Conference with the Commons regarding Reso- lutions on the Printing of Bills: Resolutions agreed to, with verbal alterations— Adjourned at 6 h. 20 m. Tuesday, Feb. 13. Select Committee on Railway Acts nominated.-Adjourned at 5 h. 30 m. Thursday, Feb. 15. Lord Brougham's Bank- ruptcy and Insolvency Law Reform Bills read a second time—Lord Campbell's Larceny Bill read a second time : Government intentions regarding Transportation explained—Adjourned at 7 h. Friday, Feb. 16. Highway-rates: Returns ordered —Adjourned at 5 h. 30 m. Horse or COMMONS. Monday, Feb. 15. Suspension of the Irish Habeas Corpus Act : Committee: Bill reported—Irish Distress again considered in Committee: Vote of 50.0001. affirmed—Adjourned at 2 h. (Tuesday morning.) Tuesday, Feb. 13. Committee on the Inland Fisheries and Navigation of Ireland agreed to—Transfer of Real Property, Bill to amend the Law—Public Roads Trusts in England and North Wales: Bill brought in—Parliamentary Franchise in Ireland Bill brought in—Adjourned at 9 h. Wednesday, Feb. 14. Insolvent Members Bill; read a Second time—Navigation-laws considered in Committee: Resolution to remove restrictions agreed to—Ways and Means considered in Committee, 8,000,0001. voted for Supply—Habeas Corpus Suspension Bill ; Order for consideration of the Report read—Adjourned at 6 h. Thursday, Feb. 15. House formed at 4 h. ; but counted out at 4 h. 10 m. Friday, Feb. 16. Private Bills, read a first time—Questions and Answers—Navigation-laws Amendment Bill, read a first time—Army and Navy Estimates brought up, and ordered to be printed—Irish Habeas Corpus Suspension debate Report agreed to—Irish Relief Bill : Report agreed to—Adjourned at 2 h. lb m. (Saturday morning.)

THE NAVIGATION-LAWS.

Before the House went into Committee on the Navigation-laws, Mr. GLADSTONE asked for explanation respecting the statement made by Mr. Baines in his election speech at Hull, that he was free to vote against Mi- nisters on the Navigation-laws- "The question I have to put to her Majesty's Government is, whether the mea- sure which was recommended in the Speech from the Throne by her Majesty, and which is today to be introduced to the consideration of Parliament by the Presi- dent of the Board of Trade, will have the support of all those Members of this House who hold office under the Crown?" ("Hear, hear! ') Lord Jona RUSSELL explained. When the office of Chief Poor-law Commissionee was proposed to Mr. Baines, he said he could not accept it unless he remained free to act upon his decided opinion against repeal of the Navigation-laws. Lord John replied, that he considered Mr. Baines's services of such importance, that he should not interfere in any way with the exercise of his opinion and vote on the Navigation-laws. There were precedents for such a course. Mr. Charles Wynn continued to vote against the Alien Bills introduced by a Government under whom he had accepted office; and Lord Lonsdale to vote against Roman Catholic Emancipation. The other members of the Government would continue to vote as they did last year, for the Government measure.

In the Committee of the whole House on the Navigation-laws, Mr. LA- BOUCHERE proposed the following resolution— "That it is expedient to remove the restrictions which prevent the free carriage of goods by sea to and from the United Kingdom and the British possessions abroad; and to amend the laws regulating the coasting-trade of the United King- dom, subject, nevertheless, to such control by her Majesty in Council as may be necessary; and also to amend the laws for the registration of ships and seamen." Our Navigation-laws rest on what Mr. Herries called " three funda- mental principles,"—the monopoly of the Colonial trade, the long voyage trade, and the carrying or indirect European trade; and it appeared to Mr. Labouchere, that after the policy which had been adopted by the House with respect to free trade, those restrictions could not be maintained—that it would be the height of injustice to refuse the Colonies the abrogation of those restrictions under which they have so long chafed. He briefly re- capitulated, with allusions to recent authorities, the arguments advanced last year. A despatch from Lord Elgin shows how desirable it is to free the navigation of the St. Lawrence without delay. A statement by Messrs. Holmes, Young, and Knapp, Canadian merchants, shows how they have been prevented from prosecuting trade with the far West, in Scotch iron and Cuban produce, by the restriction on foreign vessels—the only avail- able medium, on particular occasions. Prussia is dissatisfied: Russia ac- tually retaliates on foreign countries which make distinctions between her ships and their own; and of course she will do so when our reciprocity treaty expires, in 1850.

There are other collateral matters with which it is necessary to deal if the Navigation-laws be altered. If the British merchant is to be placed in competition with all the world, it will be manifestly unjust to compel him to use no other ships but those built in this country: it was therefore pro- posed to break down the ship-building monopoly in this country. The evidence taken before the House of Lords since the subject was last die cussed in the Commons, shows that there is nothing in which we can more successfully compete with foreign nations than in shipbuilding. America derives her main articles—iron, copper, sailcloth, and other things--frem us; in cordage we have an advantage of ten per cent; as to wages we are upon as equality, though the New York journeyman works the whole day, while ours works under combination. No doubt, it would be well if the Chancellor of the Exchequer could spare the Timber-duties, to relieve the trade from that burden: but Mr. Money Wigram had confessed that the impost was very slight; and Mr. George Frederick Young admitted that the quantity of foreign timber used in this country bears a very small pre. portion to the whole quantity used. Mr. Labouchere proposed absolutely to repeal the three main principles of the Navigation-laws,—the restrictions on the carrying trade, the restric. tions on the Colonial trade, and the restrictions which go to secure to our ships the long voyage. He proposed to modify the laws regulating the re. gistry and manning of ships, so as to allow a British shipowner to purchase a foreign-built ship, and to abolish the restriction of having a certain nuns. ber of apprentices on board. He also proposed to allow to the Queen in Council the power of reimposing these restrictions, wholly or in part, is any case in which it might be to the national interest that that power should be exercised.

It had been contended that it is unfair to admit the Americans to our fo. reign and colonial trade, while they exclude us from their coasting trade: and, no doubt, it is preposterous to consider the trade from California to New York as coasting trade—so preposterous that the United States are not likely to insist upon it. And he thought that if the Colonies throw open their coasting trade to the United States there will be a fair claim to par. ticipation in the coasting trade of the States. He proposed, not the total abolition of the restrictions at present imposed on foreigners engaged in the coasting trade of these countries, but such a modification of those re- strictions as will place them in a position to obtain from the United States, without dispute or cavil, that particular trade which it is so important for the interest of their mercantile marine that they should obtain, and, at the same time, not to expose the revenue to any danger, or to create any alarm in the minds of those who are engaged in the coasting trade. For that rea- son, the coasting trade from port to port cf the United Kingdom will remain unaltered, except that the restriction which prevents a vessel from com- bining the coasting with the foreign trade will be relaxed, so far as to per- mit the ship to carry goods from one British port to another and then to clear out for the foreign voyage.

In reply to Alderman Trtomeseae, Mr. LABOUCHERE stated, that a short time since, he had been in conversation with Mr. Bancroft, the American Minister; who told him, that if it should be the desire of the English Go- vernment to sign a convention with the States including the coasting trade, he should be willing to sign such an instrument tomorrow. Mr. Labon- chere's rejoinder was, that the English Government were unwilling to an- ticipate the decision Of the House of Commons, for they felt the question was one which properly fell within the province of Parliament to determine on: but, judging from the matter and manner of what had fallen from Mr. Bancroft, he had not the least doubt that that gentleman would be pre- pared on the part of his Government to give his assent at any moment to a project for throwing open the coasting trade, in the modified manner that had been described to the House.

Mr. Labouchere also stated, that he intended to introduce amended bills on the subject of the light-dues and the merchant-seamen's fund.

Mr. Ilmaurs immediately succeeded Mr. Labouchere. On the under- standing that the question was to be taken up where it was left last ses. sion, he should not oppose the resolution, although he intended to offer his most strenuous and determined opposition to the measure; on grounds which he briefly exemplified, and which do not differ from the usual Pro- tectionist reasons. Canada asked for repeal of the Navigation-laws, be- cause she had been deprived of protection; but she would rather await the turn of opinion and recur to protection. This country has conformed itself to the long voyage trade by the construction of docks and warehouses: no country on earth is so well suited to be the depot for the rest of the world, and he could not give up that trade. Mr. HENRY Darrnotozep declared the measure to be the last of a series of measures inculcated by the Man- chester school, the end and intention of which are to discharge all British labourers, and to employ foreign labourers in lieu of them—(Loud cheering from the Protectionists)—foreign sawyers instead of English sawyers, fo- reign shipwrights instead of English shipwrights, and so on through the whole catalogue of employments. Alderman THOMPSON objected, that the United States Minister is recalled with every Presidency, and Mr. Bancroft is more liberal in his commercial principles than President Tay- lor. Mr. BANKES, Mr. HILDYARD, Sir JOHN TYRELL, and the Marquis of GRANBY, kept up the same line of objection.

Mr. Huhn, Mr. RICARDO, Mr. MITCHELL, Mr. JOHN WILLIAMS, and Colonel THOMPSON, maintained the Free-trade arguments.

The resolution was agreed to, and reported; and a bill was ordered to be brought in.

HABEAS CORPUS SUSPENSION IN IRELAND.

The progress of the Irish Habeas Corpus Suspension Bill met little se- rious opposition, beyond the formal delays raised by Mr. John O'Connell The speakers were few, the speeches comparatively brief. On the motion to go into Committee, Dir. JOHN O'Corrwata. moved an amendment-

' That it be an instruction to the Committee to introduce such provisions into the bill as shall guard and save intact the right of the subject to hold meetings, to petition for the enactment, repeal, or alteration of acts of Parliament, or for to dress of grievances, or other constitutional objects, without other or farther re- striction of that right than existed under the operation of the common and statute law of the land previous to the passing of the Habeas Corpus Suspension Act of last July ?"

He pressed the question, in several forms, whether the right of petition- ing was to remain intact or to be struck down—was the bill aimed at dis- affection, or at legitimate discussion and political agitation?

His belief was, that there was nothing which the Lord-Lieutenant world not attempt in order to suppress the expression of public opinion ie Ireland: it there fore became imperatively necessary to secnre, by direct enactment, the right 91 the people to meet and discuss their grievances. If the Government wouldan° them to carry on peaceful agitation undisturbed by this bill, be could promise them that no cause of complaint would arise. Nay, were but that right preserved to the people, he knew not whether he would not himself abstain from all public agitation whatever. But why, on account of the miserable attempts of the 'nsur... gents of July—those poor starving wretches never exceeding two hundred ,u " place, and never including more than thirty persons of weight or character—why, on account of the insane proceedings of these persons in a single county, were the whole people of Ireland to have their liberties suspended? " Was it because those ns called themselves Repeaters, that men who went out from amongst them were to be implicated in all their insane. proceedings? Were such an argument Per" *cated • of any validity, what would be the predicament of the noble Lord himself, who now demanded this measure ? Could not the right honourable Baronet the Mem- ber for Tamworth charge that noble Lord with being the author of all the mad at- tempts of the Chartists? Might he not say—' These men are but bringing your own doctrine to its natural results?' How was the Reform Bill carried ? Had they not heard of a celebrated letter written by Mr. Thomas Young, of the Home Office, to Colonel William Napier? And yet the men who resorted to those modes of carrying a party measure were now, as Ministers, demanding a bill to coerce the people of Ireland because they peacefully agitated for Repeal !" The SoLiciron-GENERAL for Ireland, in a brief speech of close texture, contended that the amendment was either nugatory or pernicious. It might be true (upon that point he gave no opinion) that the gentlemen who had hitherto been in the habit of holding public meetings in Ireland might find it impossible to hold public meetings for political purposes, under existing cir- cumstances, without giving an opportunity to ill-disposed persons to carry the proceedings further than th we who originally called the meetings intended, and thus leading to certain practices obnoxious to the provisions of this bilL But, if that was true, the meetings ought not to be held. In point of fact, however, there was nothing in this bill to prevent gentlemen from holding public meetings, provided they were conducted in a manner perfectly legal, and were intended to promote a proper and desirable object. Mr. ANSTEY added some similar arguments on the same side; and Colonel RAWDON assented to the measure for a time, to gain peace and prosperity in the end. Mr. EDMUND BURKE ROCHE and Mr. JoHN REYNOLDS avowed the same principles advanced by Mr. John O'Connell; but the latter besought. him not to press his amendment to a division; because it seemed to intimate that if it were added to the bill, the bill itself should be accepted. Mr. Joins O'CoNNELL, however, disclaimed this, and demanded a division. The amendment was negatived, by 84 to 14.

In Committee, on clause 1, Mr. ANSTEY moved an amendment with re- ference to the restriction put upon the admission of prisoners to bail. In- stead of restricting the Judges from liberating on bail except on an order in Council, he proposed to give the primary power of arrest to the Lord- Lieutenant only on decision of the Privy Council.

Amendment negatived, by 79 to 12. Several other amendments, moved by the same gentleman, were negatived without division.

The clauses having been agreed to, Mr. Joan O'CONNELL proposed to add one providing that domiciliary visits at night should only be made under the superintendence of a responsible officer; and exempting from

liability to arrest under the act all persons legally and constitutionally holding meetings to petition Parliament.

Sir GEORGE GREY observed, that this was the same matter that had already been discussed for hours. Some remarks on form were interchanged by the CHAIRMAN and Mr. Huron; and the House divided. The clause was rejected, by 105 to 11. The bill was then reported.

LUSH DISTRESS.

The opposition to the Government grant in aid of the Irish Unions changed its ground on Monday, when the debate adjourned on the 7th was resumed. Mr. SCROPE observed, that from the turn the debate had taken, his object did not seem likely to be brought fairly before the Committee. As he was not indisposed to vote for the relief of Irish distress, and thought relief absolutely necessary to prevent starvation in some districts, he with- drew his amendment.

Mr. GRATTAN supported with a most discursive speech the following amendment- " That the Collectors of Excise in Ireland be henceforth directed, and do in future pay into the office of the Vice-Treasurer in Dublin, the amount of all Crown and quit-rents; and that the same be appropriated to the relief of the distressed Poor-law Unions in that country."

It appeared, he said, that 55,0001. or 60,0001. was yearly withdrawn from Ireland under this head, and spent, one year in building Carlton Palace, another in beautifying St. James's Park: leave this money in Ireland, and apply it to Irish wants. If it were insufficient, Irishmen would raise the difference by private subscription, and Mr. Grattan himself would take his purse and give his 1001. Let them lay a tax of ten per cent on absentees, and then these grants of 50,0001. might be done away with.

The CHAIRMAN observed, that the amendment proposed to deal with the revenues of the Crown, without having the usual previous consent.

Mr. STAFFORD moved the following amendment- " That, in the opinion of this Committee, the application to Parliament for any sum of money for the relief of such distress ought to have been accompanied by an estimate of the probable amount which will be required for that purpose. That the continual application of sums of money raised by the general taxation of the country to the relief of such distress is vicious in principle, unjust in practice, and impolitic with respect to the suffering districts themselves, as tending to destroy all spirit of self-reliance. That it is the duty of her Majesty's Government to in- troduce, without delay, measures which may obviate the future necessity of ap- plying to Parliament for the relief of local distress in Ireland."

Mr. Stafford showed by figures, that in the twenty-one unions on ac- count of which Ministers now ask the grant, the paupers relieved in 1848 were, men and children together, some 500,000 persons; and he accumu- lated evidence, printed and written, to prove that Government have taken too favourable a view of the state of Ireland, which will really require a grant of 500,000/. rather than one of 50,0001. He complained of inaccuracy in some of the returns presented to Parliament: in a return relating to Reline, there was an error of 10,000 paupers, and another error of 100 holdings. Lord JOHN RUSSELL opposed the amendment, as alike contrary to the precedents of 1822 and 1846, and to principle. He contended that it was the necessary and fitting course that Government should come at the be- ginning of the session and ask for a grant sufficient for immediate wants, and then come again as the necessities arose during the session; and not come at once for 400,0001. or 500,0001., which would as surely be spent as the smaller sum, with as little security that further sums would not be still required. The resolution was a truism; but in many cases, measures vicious in principle are justified by extraordinary circumstances: when a house is on fire, measures which it would be wrong to take wantonly in erdmary circumstances, such as destroying a part to save the rest, would he most justifiable in the extraordinary circumstances of the case. Re- viewing the calamities which have for several seasons befallen Ireland, and the measures taken to repair the effects of those calamities, he declared that Ireland has advanced a great step. In the past year. 1,700,0001. has been raised in Ireland under the Poor-law, and expended in the relief of the infirm and able-bodied poor: of that sum not more than 300,0001. went to the share of the able-bodied. Of the great sums raised in this country also, from four to five sixths were administered through the ma- chinery of the Poor-law. Out of the 130 unions of Ireland only 21 have received support: so that matters have been brought very much within compass, and the evil is diminishing rather than on the increase.

With regard to what is proposed, Lord John corrected the assumption that there will be a series of grants like the present. All that had been said, or that he now would say, was, that he would not consent to tie his hands, notwithstanding any contingency that might demand another similar measure. He intimated, like Sir George Grey, that he would endeavour to encourage the application of capital to land; though he should carefully avoid a law of settlement, which would be a great calamity as preventing the free circulation of labour.

"In proposing any plan in Committee for amending the Poor-law of Ireland," Lord John said, "1 shall endeavour in the first place to provide for the greater encouragement of the investment of capital and the employment of industry.; while in the next place, I think it is but just that in some way or other Ireland should be made to support in a much greater degree than she now does those ex- ceptional cases of distress which fall upon that country, and that the whole bur- den of those cases should not fall exclusively as a charge upon the public ex chequer." The Marquis of GRANBY supported Mr. Stafford's motion. Colonel SIB- THORP opposed the vote, as " Jesuitical, dirty, and low." Mr. Mu t= op- posed it on general objections to ceaseless relief of the Irish by this country.

The amendment was negatived, by 245 to 125. Mr. Hume divided the House on the original motion: the vote was carried, by 220 to 143.

IRISH PARLIAMENTARY VOTERS.

In introducing his bill to amend the laws which regulate the qualifica- tion and registration of Parliamentary voters in Ireland, Sir WILLIAM SOMERVILLE explained, that the principle of the bill is to do away with the requirement of occupation, and require a rating of 81. paid before regis- tration instead of before voting: registration and an annual revision to be required. Mr. STAFFORD acquiesced in the introduction of the bill, without pledge to support either principle cc, detail. Lord BERNARD and Mr. GRO- GAN objected to the measure. Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL said it need give those gentlemen little alarm. Mr. EDMUND BURKE ROCHE advocated rating sim- ply—at any sum—as the principle of the franchise.

IRISH FISHERIES.

In moving for a Select Committee on the Inland Fisheries and Naviga- tion of Ireland, Mr. ANSTEY explained the great point of difference in re- spect of fisheries between Ireland and England: it is, that hardly such a thing as a several or private right of fishery has a legal existence in Ireland, whereas in England few fisheries are publici juris. Nevertheless, scarcely a fishery in Ireland has escaped falling under the exclusive dominion of some person or corporation. The greater number of these usurpations have been made under the shield of illegal patents granted by the Crown about the time of Elizabeth: but many of them have no legal pretence at all. In consequence of the contestible state of the law and the absence of a river police, vast injury is annually done to the fisheries. In the Blackwater alone, 160,0001. worth of salmon is annually destroyed by poachers. Mr. Anstey proposed a simply administrative cure,—a more effective police; and the establishment of the law on such a basis that any convicted nui- sance should be summarily abated, and again on every repetition without fresh proceeding.

Sir H. W. BARRON seconded the motion for a Committee; and suggested that the inquiry should include the subject of the deep sea fisheries. The O'GonmAN Marrow would have seconded the motion if he had not been anticipated by Sir H. Barron. Sir WILLIAM SOMERVILLB assented to the Committee as moved by Mr. Anatey. In expressing his disapproval of the suggestion to include the deep sea fisheries, he stated that great good effects had arisen from the encouragement Government had given; so that Government might soon be able to give way wholly to private enterprise.

PAUPER ESTABLISHMENTS: TOOTING.

Lord DRUMLANRIG inquired of the First Poor-law Commissioner, on Monday, if it was intended, after the Coroner's verdicts, to allow Mr. Drouet to remain at the head of the establishment at Tooting? Mr. BAINES replied, that till the two criminal charges now pending against Mr. Drouet were determined by trial, he did not feel it necessary to take any steps as regarded him—he had not yet been convicted of any offence. Mr. Baines stated that there were only 223 remaining at Tooting; consisting of the Chelsea children, and some few others who were not sufficiently con- valescent to be removed. No suitable place had been discovered in Chel- sea; but the Guardians of that Union were still endeavouring to procure one.

On the same evening, Mr. Baines gave notice for the 20th instant, of asking leave to bring in a bill for the more effectual regulation and control over the maintenance of poor persons in houses not being parish workhouses or poor-houses.

PUBLIC ROADS.

In asking leave to bring in a bill to consolidate and amend the laws relating to Public Roads in England and North Wales, Mr. COKNEWALL LEWIS made a lucid statement of the present position of the law, and of the comprehensive measure proposed. The railway system has disorganized that of the highways and turnpike roads—converted branches into trunks, and reduced great trunks into disused branches. There are 18,000 places which maintain their own highways, 100,000 miles in length, at a cost of 1,408,7501. a year; and 1,150 turnpike trusts, expending 1,378,3521. a year on the repair of their roads. The trusts owe 6,825,0001. capital, and 1,441,0001. interest. Tolls are levied in the first instance, and highway- rates are resorted to in case of deficiency. It is proposed to consolidate managemant by taking counties for areas and forming in each shire a County Roads Court, to consist of a Committee of the Quarter-Sessions, chosen by the Chairman; the local management to be conducted by the Guardians of the existing Poor-law Unions. All general and local acts to be repealed from March 1850; and a county road fund to be levied by a county-rate, for the purpose of maintaining roads and redeeming the present debt; which is to be exchanged in the first instance for county debentures at the market- value.

Mr. HENLEY criticized the proposed plan, not unfavourably, but sug- gesting some improvements and raising some doubts. Sir JOHN PAIInva- TON, Mr. BROTHERTON, and Mr. SLANEY, approved of the measure. Mr. SPOONER, Captain PECHELL, and Sir GEORGE STRICKLAND, feared that boards of Guardians would be incompetent to the new duties.

TRANSFERENCE OF LAND.

Mr. Rimy DRUMMOND moved for leave to bring in his bill to facilitate the transfer of real property, in a House consisting of few more Members than himself and Mr. Speaker; whom he promised to release very soon, that he might follow the example of other Members and go to dinner. Mr. Drummond proposed a registry of lands founded on a system of maps; which the Tithe Commutation machinery now supplies ready to hand. His system would be voluntary only; for though he felt that it might be objected that voluntary registration would not go far enough, he thought it right to restrict interference with property to the narrowest limits. Mr. PAGE WOOD seconded the motion for leave; and the SOLICITOR-GENERAL expressed approval of the principle. Leave given.

INSOLVENT MEMBERS.

Mr. MOFFAT explained, that his present bill was constructed to avoid objections which had been made against his bill last year.

He had been very careful, in framing this measure, not to do anything which would be an invasion of the real privileges of that House, and in no way to in- terfere with the great and material privilege of the freedom of Members of Par- liament from personal arrest for debt. He had followed the act of 1812, which expressly stated that it was for the dignity of Members of that House that all who did not pay their debts in full should not retain their seats; a principle which had been acted upon in all acts relating to bankruptcy. The bill now introduced proposed to give to the Insolvent Debtors Court powers in regard to Members not being traders, similar to the powers now vested in the Court of Bankruptcy in regard to Members engaged in trade, only shortening by one-half the interval before issuing a new writ, and providing that it should be issued at the expiration of six months after a vesting order bad been made.

The motion for the second reading was not opposed; but several Mem- bers entered their caveat: Sir GEORGE GREY promised amendments re- lating to Scotland; Mr. BERNAL observed that under the bill a seat might be left vacant for six months; Mr. GOULBuEN foresaw vexatious use of the measure against active party leaders. The bill, however, was read a second time.

LAW AMENDMENT: CONVICT EMIGRATION.

Lord Brougham's bills to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency law have been read a second time: his explanations of them are unreported, on account of the low tone of voice in which they were made, and the diffi- culty of hearing in the new edifice. The sections effecting alterations are to be printed in a separate schedule.

Lord Campbell's bill to abolish Transportation in cases of Larceny has also been read a second time; with some protestation from the Earl of Sails- BURY, the Duke of RICHMOND, and Lord STANLEY, and with the approval of Lord BROUGHAM.

In criticizing the bill and objecting to its operation, Lord STANLEY opened the general question of transportation, and called on the Government to announce what they really intend to substitute for that punishment, and especially what they intend to do with female convicts,—who might be so usefully sent to counteract the disparity of sexes in some colonies. He re- gretted the probable abandonment of the female penitentiary established on board the Anson at Van Diemen's Laud; but hoped that in such case, Mrs. Bowden—one of the most valuable persons in her line—would be duly provided for.

Earl GREY gave some explanations. He originally intended, that after completing their term of punishment, convicts should go out to the Colo- nies under no restraint; but further information led hint to think, that the convicts should not be sent into the Colonies in a state of entire free- dom, but as convicts enjoying what were technically termed tickets-of- leave. Trained under a reformatory system of discipline, they would be- come useful members of society. Government therefore proposed, that every male convict sentenced to transportation for seven years, or any longer term, should first be sent to a place of reformation, as at Wakefield or Pentonville, for a period not exceeding eighteen months and very rarely exceeding twelve months; thence to some establishment where they could labour in association, like Bermuda or Gibraltar: there a record of their conduct should be kept, and the term for which they would be com- pelled to labour at this establishment would very much depend upon their conduct. At the conclusion of their term, they would have the advantage of being sent out with tickets-of-leave, to the Co- lonies; where the object would be to scatter them as widely as possible, so that a convict might very rarely happen to see any one who had known him when in a career of crime. The convict should not rise to the superior advantage of enjoying a conditional pardon until he repaid a certain portion of the expense of his conveyance to the colony—say 151.; which sum should be paid into the emigration-funds of the Colonies, and not into the Imperial exchequer.

Lord Grey had already corresponded with the Governors of the different Colonies in furtherance of these views.

The Governor of New South Wales had transmitted to him a resolution of the Legislative Council, under which he had thought himself justified in advising that convicts with tickets-of-leave should again, for the present, be sent to that colony. He had lately learned from the Governor of the Cape of Good Hope, that the an- nouncement of the Government intention to send convicts to that place bad ex- cited very general dissatisfaction among the colonists. But the colonists should bear in mind, that during the last session upwards of 1,000,0001. was voted by the British Parliament as an extraordinary grant for the expenses of the Caffre war, in addition to the regular charges of that war: after making such sacrifices, he thought that this country was entitled to require from the colony a service which might be rendered without injury to its interests. As there had been great difficulty in finding means for disposing of the large number of persons sentenced to transportation, orders had been given for sending to the Cape of Good Hope from Bermuda 250 convicts, who had undergone a preliminary punishment, and who were recommended for removal in consequence of their good conduct.

With respect to female convicts, any system of reformatory discipline applied in association had failed hitherto to give satisfaction. The esta- blishment in the Anson had totally failed, and must be broken up. Any reformatory system must be maintained on shore, as at Portland or Ber- muda, and be kept under close watching. But there was much less ob- jection to women's going out in numbers than to men's doing so; and as transportation is a severer punishment for them than for men, they might be sent out on ticket-of-leltve after a shorter term of reformatory im- prisonment. The Government acknowledged the claims of Mrs. Bowden; and would undoubtedly snake provision for her.