In the House of Commons, the second reading of the
Irish Poor Bill was moved by Lord JOHN RUSSELL. The principal speech of the night was that of Mr. O'CoNers.r.. He went into a long and affecting description of Irish wretchedness ; whose origin, he main- tained, was bad government, penal laws, and systematic oppression of the bulk of the people. He dwelt on the inadequacy of the mensure Proposed by Ministers ; who only intended to give direct relief to 80,000 persons,—while there were 500,000 heads of families in a '4'11e of .semi-starvation; and calculated that 312,0001, would be sufficient to relieve the paupers of Ireland,—while nearly that sum was aimually raised in Dublin alone by individual charity, and about a mink,' and a half was given by the farmers, who would of course cease to bestow so much after a poor-law was passed. Why, he asked, did not "Ministets
• eatablish a system of emigration to the Colonies on a lasso scale?—
Both Houses of Parliament were mainly occupied last night with discussions on Irish affairs. The :Marquis of DOWNSHIRE presented the petition of the Irish Protestants to the Peers. It was signed by about 200,000 persons. Into the details of its prayer there is not the slightest necessity to enter, for in substance it is the same as those re- solutions passed at the famous Dublin meeting, which Lord JOIN RUSSELL chose to make the subject of debate, on the second reading of the Irish Municipal Reform Bill. The Lords went over the same grounds as the Commons on that occasion; the Marquis of DOWN. SHIRE, Lords RODEN, GLENGALL, Doteouenacate, the Marquis of WESTMEATH, and the Duke of WELLINGTON, impugning the adminis- tration of Lord Mulgrave ; while Lord MELBOURNE, the Marquis of LANSDOWNE, the Marquis of CLANRICARDE, the Earl of FINGALL, amid Lord CLONCURRT, as earnestly defended the absent Viceroy. Lord LANSDOWNE challenged the Opposition to bring forward distinct charges against Lord Mulgrave, instead of merely presenting petitions containing injurious imputations which they did tiot attempt to sub- stanstiate. The result of this grand Tory movement was, that—the House agreed to lay the petition on the table! We find no intimation of ulterior proceedings against Lord Mulgrave. I1 There would be something in that. Mr. O'Connell was also for a biroge expenditure in public works ; and he insisted on the poll" of taxing the absentees. He did not approve of the bill—he prophesied no good from it ; but he confessed that he bad not the moral courage to oppose it,—he yielded to an overruling necessity. Mr. SHARMAN Caewrotto approved of the principle of the bill, but o' jected so strongly to some of the details, especially to the re- moval of responsibility from the larialorde, that if it was not improved in Committee, he would oppose the third reading.
Mr. RICHARDS expressed disapprobation of many parts of the measure. but did not resist the motion for the second residing.
Mr. Sarni O'BRIEN objected to the extensive powers conferred on the Commi:sioners, and pieced little reliance on Mr. Nicholls Re- port. Still he hoped that Ministers would press the measure forward, and not accede to requests for delay, from whatever quarter they :night proceed.
Lord NIOIIPETH defended the bill, on the ground of the absolute neeessity of doing something to lessen the fearful amount of suffering in Ireland. and at the same time of proceeding with caution. Ile said, that in erldition to the tneasure before the House, he intended to bring in a bill to establish medical dispensaries for the poor, and that the Chomellor of the Exchequer would also provide additional funds in aid sof emigration. Lord Morpeth, without going into the question in detail. iiitimated that the amount of pauperism in Ireland must be peldigiously overrated when 2,300,000 persons were described as
destitute.
Colonel CONOLI.Y was encouraged by the working of the English Pom-law to hope that a similar measure would be successful in Ireland.
The debate was adjourned to :Monday.
The relent on the Canada Resolutions was brought up last night. Mr. Rusairtm had prepared a series of counter-resolutions, but indis- position disabled him from attending to move them. His place was well supplied by Mr. (iturre ; whose high character for integrity. judg. 1»ent. caution, knowledge of every subject he discusses, end entire freedom from parry virulence, has given a stamp of weight to the strenuous though unavailing opposition which he has offered to the Coercion, in every stage of its progress through the House. As an amendment to Lord John Russell's motion for bringing up the report, Mr. Grote moved the following resolutions. They were, of course, negatived ; but they remain on the journels of the House as a record of the opinions and policy of the mover avid Ins friends, to which they mama look bark with satisfaction, and their opponents, i re long, with sorrow and shame.
- I. 111Imy grim Inas disputes have for 14)me years past arisen between the Executive G.uernment and t lie Ilotaa. of Assembly 05 Lower Canada, it, consequent, ot constant Oho ts made on the part of the Mame of Assembly to render the public servants re- sponsible to the representatives of the pistple, anti of elEtrts no less constant on the put or 1110ie setvatits to as iii And ward 011 this threatened responsibility. - 2. That these disputes. and all their attendant esils, hose been mullioned by means Mille Canby sir tteture of the present pditiC81 Co11.1111111011 14 Lower Canada ; w hith,
a, it coutains a Legislative Council responsible to no one ter its c tact has enabled interested parties to 1 esist the just demands of the 'ample of the province, without the tear of any mil consequenees to themseltes.
. 11. That the Haase of Assembly, in their attempts to redress the grievances of tile pewi... km., [hong lit it in employ the constitutional power or stoppiog the supplies t.s. hich I r vi M a °Mimed on them by An Act ot the Imperial Parli. 'iii): And in so .i..ittv, nme pr.., at Shea. tottlitlettett in slue doettines put forth ono maim:tined by this Home respect icg-t lie l,is lieges owl wholesome control to be exercised and en- joy ea to the 1 optlin pot thm of the English Constitution. - 4. That the experhutee of the past winking of the (*snarl in C01111111111i011 basing .4.7,11 Ilk' iteces.it■ of tot inookliate re‘ki. is us the Statute 31 Geo. III., e 31, in so tar as uttit ass those poithais milk)) 11.111e 1.1 1he Legit:lath.° roosted it is oNitedieut I h A it ttttttttttttttt measures be taken to remove this irresponsible body, ill order to creole rule which may attain and deserve the confidence and respect of the people. . 5. That it is expedient at once and without subterfuge to place the whole revenues or the porcine,. ander I he control or the House of Assembly. - Cu. That all interference on the part of the Imperial Parliament in the internal alttirs of this colony, are impolitic mid contrary to the solemn and ;men reiterated decimations or the Imperial Government : it is, therefore, expedient at onus' to repeal rill Al ittuketi it) catitrasentiun of those solemn assertions, and thos to kilns the just tears and allay the discontents arising from the long.cuntinued misgovermuent of the prot ince of Lower Canada."
The original resoh-sions were put and carried one by one; Mr. Hume giving an empl.stic "No!" to each. On the motion of Lord JOHN RUSSELL, they were ordered to be communicated to the Lords, in a conference.
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