POSTSCRIPT.

SATURDAY.

The House ht Commons was engaged last night in the discussion of the Ministerial West India scheme. It has now become a critical question, and the discussion waxes in beat.

In answer to renewed questions from Sir Lucius O'Bmme, Sir CHARLES WOOD stated definitively, that Ministers saw no sufficient ground for the change suggested by the Irish Members, and therefore adhered to their ori- ginal intention of reducing the differential duty on rum to 4d. per gallon.

Sir Joan PANINGTON referred to Mr. James Wilson's remarks on the relative cost of producing sugar in the British Colonies and in foreign &tie Countries; justifying his own estimate by further arithmetical ex- planations. Mr. WILSON admitted that the explanation would have pre- vented him from impugning the estimate. The debate on Sir John Pakington's amendment was then resumed, and continued at considerable length; Mr. PHILIP MILES and Lord GEORGE BENTINCK opposing the Government plan; Mr. HAWES defending it, with a retrospective attack and a prospective lecture on West Indian manage- ment. The main arguments were nearly repeated from former debates. The whole interest of the present discussion centered in a revival of the dispute about the conduct of Mr. Hawes as a witness before the Commit- tee, which assumed a very grave character. In recurring to the subject, Lord GEORGE BENTINCK made another disclosure—that the omission of recommendations touching the East Indies and Ceylon in the report of his Committee was wholly attributable to the influence of Government, ex- ercised in the Committee through the medium of Mr. James Wilson.

Lord George repeated his accusation, that the truth had been suppressed in the Colonial department. He quoted Mr. Hawes's explanation of Monday last; from which it appeared that a discussion had taken place on the despatch of Governor Sir Charles Grey between Mr. Hawes and Earl Grey, first on the 27th of March, and afterwards on the 30th of March; and yet on the 5th of April, when Mr. Hawes was cross-examined before the West India Committee, he said he was not aware that any despatches from Sir Charles Grey, of any importance, had been withheld from the Committee. Mr. Gonlbum said—" We have received from other colonies very consi- derable details as to the state of those colonies, and as to the prospects of agricul- ture; but from Jamaica lean find nothing of the kind." Mr. Hawes's reply was —"Until very recently,! think there has been no such general despatch received;

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that despatch s now printing for this Committee. I ought to add, that the Go- vernor has been in the island a very short time." "There is a despatch, but still not of the nature to which the right honourable gentleman alludes: but whatever we have will be furnished." Sir John Paknigton proposed in Committee a duty upon colonial sugar of Id. per pound, and on foreign sugar of 2d. per pound: when Governor Grey's despatch did come to light, it was found that he made exactly the same proposal, prefaced by this statement —" A permanent Gazette price of less than 30s. the hundredweight for West India muscovado, I firmly believe will cause the greater portion of the sugar cul- tivation of this island to be abandoned." Lord George quoted passages from Co- lonial papers to show that great indignation was excited in Jamaica by the sup- position that the Governor had made no statement on the condition of the colony. Lord George exposed another suppression. A report from Mr. Stipendiary Stratt, enclosed in a despatch from Governor Light of British Guiana, was laid before the Committee' but not the despatch itself. Lord George read the report: it animad- verted on the planters, and in fact charmingly chimed with the notions ex- pressed by Earl Grey. But the Governor's despatch gave a totally different view; describing the cessation from labour' and the difficulty of the planters.

Lord JonN RussEnt repeated and amplified Mr. Hawes's explanation; and, then procreeded to vindicate his colleagues, especially Earl Grey, with great warmtli.

In general, with regard to those matters, it is quite evident that these mean frauds—these extremely disgraceful tricks—which the noble Lord imputes to i my noble friend—are not the faults and the characteristics of men high n office in this country. (Loud cheering.) They are the characteristics of men who are engaged in pursuits which the noble Lord long followed. (Loud cries of "Oh, oh!" and immense uproar.) Some time ago, the noble Lord very greatly distinguished himself by detecting a fraud of this nature—(" Oh, oh!" loud cheers and counter-cheers)—with respect to the name and age of a horse; a transaction in which he showed very great quickness of apprehension." (Great confitsion.)

Lord John continued such remarks, repeated even in the selfsame words; with reamed bursts of angry interruption, and applause from his own side.

Mr. DISRAELI took up the quarrel.

He suggested that charges of this nature were not to be disposed of by appeals to high station or pedigree. Lord George Bentinck's indefatigable spirit of inves- tigation and courage were not to be cowed by any bravo, whatever his position —not to be bullied either inthe ring,or on the Treasury bench. In the matter of the horse, Lord George had been thanked by a meeting at Newmarket, the chair- man of which meeting was the Duke of Bedford. This is not the first time that despatches have been treated unsatisfactorily by an Administration. Remember the suppressions in the despatches of Sir Alexander Burnes.

Mr. LABOUCHERE stood up for his colleagues.

Lord George had not made out the slightest prima facie ease of ma intention to suppress evidence. It was too bad to make such charges against men of the high-

est honour ter such trumpery grounds. • Mr. Aresiwr intimated, that on Tuesday, when Sir William Moles- worth's motion comes on, it will be the duty of Members interested in the Colonies to show that for many years the Colonial Office has been a sink of corruption and abuse.

Mr. HAWES complained that Lord George Bentback again selected Fri- day night to fling abroad his calumnies, to remain uncontradicted till Monday.

On Monday, Mr. Hawes would state the truth to the House—(Sarcastic cheers)—and would call upon Lord George to prove the charge; a charge wholly and entirely false. (Cheers—" Order!"—and an admonitory hint from the Speaker.) The interruption continued; Mr. Hawes continuing his explanations, and rebuking the interrupters by such remarks as—" I suppose I am addressing myself to gentlemen."

The fracas was continued for some time longer. In the course of it, Lord PALMERSTON made what Mr. Henley called "a very ingenious speech," to show that the whole affair originated in accidental misappre- hensions between Mr. Goulburn and Mr. Hawes. Ultimately, about half past two o'clock, the debate was adjourned till Monday.

Earlier in the evening, Sir JOHN PAKINGTON renewed the motion of the writ for Derby; and the discussion on the point was also renewed, with little variation from its former bearing. Lord Josue RUSSELL resumed his original position of supporting the motion: considering that the inquiry might proceed, and that the writ, if not issued now, would probably be de- layed till next session, it would be unfair to withhold it any longer. Sir ROBERT PEEL spoke on the other side and mildly censured the Govern- ment for its conduct in the matter. The question now was, whether the House should withdraw from the inquiry, or whether; until full inquiry had been made, the course of justice did not require that the writ should be suspended: it was his decided opinion that it should, ale he should there- fore oppose the issue of the writ. On a division, the mitts:in was negatived, by 112 to 97: so the writ continues suspended.

In the House of Lords, Earl FITZWILLIAM moved three resolutions, ex- pressing approval of the wisdom, energy, and prudence with which the Ric- o:dive Government of Ireland has been conducted; sorrow for the prolonged distresses in Ireland; and the opinion of the House that further legislative measures are required to retrieve the state of the country. In his speech, Lord Fitzwilliam pointed to railways, emigration, payment of the Roman Catholic clergy, &c.; and condemned the Poor-law. The Marquis of LANs-- DOWN& opposed the resolutions, as unnecessary; showing that the state of Ireland has improved and is improving, morally, materially, and agricultu- rally. He moved "the previous question"; and the resolutions were set aside.

Referring to charges of forgery advanced against Viscount Arbuthnot, the LORD CHANCELLOR moved, according to precedent in charges of felony against Peers that a Committee be appointed to inquire into the matter, and that Black Rod be directed to take Viscount Arbuthnot into custody.