admission that the trade in money ought to be as free as the trade in any other commodity. There had been ample experience of the good working of the Bill, both when there was a great pressure upon the money market, and when there was an abundance of money. He recommended his hon. Friend to take the Five Years' Bill, which was a further extension of the principle than had yet been obtained, and to bring in a Bill next year to do away with the usury laws as applicable to the landed interest. Mr. Vernon Smith recommended his hon. Friend not to press his Motion to a division. Motion negatived. Bill passed. HOUSE OF LORDS, Friday, July 18, 1845. MINUTES.] BILLS. Public.-1. Unclaimed Stock and Di vidends; Geological Survey; Bills of Exchange, etc.; not been aware that that could be done; Criminal Jurisdiction of Assistant Barristers (Ireland) Jums (Ireland). 2. Waste Lands (Australia); Apprehension of Offenders; 2. Earl of Powis's (or Robinson's) Estate; Brighton and Chichester Railway (Portsmouth Extension); Guildford, anniversaries, and march in procession to the parish church, where a sermon was to be preached on the occasion. Now, magistrates were dismissed very unceremoniously in 1843 for attending Repeal meetings or subscribing to the Repeal As Chichester, and Portsmouth Railway; Glasgow, Barr-sociation. At no one Repeal meeting had head, and Neilston Direct Railway. Reported-West London Railway Extension and Lease; Westminster Improvement; Marsh's (or Coxhead's) Estate; Newport and Pontypool Railway; Monmouth and Hereford Railway; South Wales Railway; Marquess of Donegall's Estate. 3 and passed:-Follett's Estate; Duke of Bridgewater's Trustees' Estate; Aberdare Railway; Norwich and Brandon Railway (Diss and Dereham Branches); Saint Helen's Improvement; Winchester College Estate; Liverpool and Bury Railway (Bolton, Wigan, and Liverpool Railway and Bury Extension). there been any serious affray, still less any loss of life; but this had not been the case with the Orange meetings, with respect to which there had been over and over again cases in which magistrates had He did not apbeen called upon to act. prove of the dismissal of the Repeal magistrates; he deemed it unconstitutional and unjust, and he believed at the time it would be one-sided; but, at any rate, it DISTURBANCES IN LEITRIM.] The showed the wish of Government to disMarquess of Clanricarde presented a peti- countenance Repeal and Repeal meetings. tion from magistrates, resident gentry, and It was said that this was done because inhabitants of the county of Leitrim, set- Parliament had disapproved the object of ting forth the disturbed condition of the the Repeal meetings; but what did the county, and praying for the adoption of Act which had just expired show, except measures for the protection of life and that both Houses of Parliament and the property. The petition suggested that Crown had serious objections to the the law which granted compensation to Orange processions? The meetings in the be levied on the county or barony, in case one case also were held for the purpose of of malicious injury being done to a parti- petitioning Parliament, but in the other cular description of property, should be case there was no such object. He had, extended to all kinds of property, and however, deemed it unwise to dismiss the also to injury inflicted on the person. Itap- Repeal magistrates, because, in the first peared from the newspapers that 5001. had place, it gave countenance to the opinion been awarded as compensation to the wi-that men acting as magistrates were liable dow of Mr. Booth by the grand jury. He had to be influenced in their judical duties by their political opinions; and in the next | Her Majesty's Government had withdrawn place, it removed from the Bench those the prohibition of the Act of Parliament, who held opinions in unison with the mass and disregarding also the admonitions adof the population, and was calculated to dressed to them in every direction by throw suspicion on the administration of those among themselves who were entitled justice. He feared that the Government to the greatest confidence and respect. had overlooked this gentleman, whose case It was a melancholy picture of the state was more flagrant than the others, and of Ireland, that so large a portion of the had taken no step on the information he population of both parties, or rather fachad given that he was about to reorganize tions, should be bent so much on exasthe Orange societies and the Orange pro- perating and aggravating those animosicessions. In a letter addressed to this ties which it had been the object of that gentleman by a noble Marquess (the Mar- and of the preceding Governments to quess of Londonderry), he in the strongest allay. So long as both parties in Ireland way deprecated the opinions advanced in persisted in their determination to treat the resolutions, and had given his reasons with hostility their opponents, it was a against the course proposed. What he hopeless effort for the Government or the now wanted to know was, whether the State to improve the condition of a country Government, after they had taken upon torn by this unhappy violence. Her Majesthemselves the responsibility of doing ty's Government, he repeated, had seen with away with the Act, which applied only to the deepest regret what had recently taken one party, had made any arrangements in place. He would not vindicate or palliate its stead-whether they had paid the same the course which had been pursued; but he attention as the noble Marquess to this ventured to remind the noble Marquess, that matter whether they had taken any steps the fact of processions of one description to rebuke this gentleman for what he had being unattended with any violence, and done in reference to these proceedings, that processions of another description led and had dismissed him from the commis- to affrays, did not show that any greater sion of the peace? His formal question amount of blame was attributable to the was, whether there had been any corre- latter party, because for an affray to take spondence with Mr. Watson, or any steps place there must be two parties. The protaken to remove him from the commission cessions of the Repealers, however aggraof the peace, in consequence of what took vating and annoying the provocation place at Lisburne on the 23rd of June might be, had been borne in sileuce, while last? the Orange processions had not met with Lord Stanley was sorry the noble Mar- similar forbearance on the part of their quess had thought it necessary to enter political opponents; so that the blame was into any discussion of various events which not wholly on one party because the prohad no material bearing on the present cessions of that party led to affrays which case. He regretted that the noble Mar- the others did not. He would not now quess should have brought under the con- discuss the merits of the particular case sideration of their Lordships the conduct which was now in a course of judicial inof the Government with regard to those vestigation: he only wished he might exwho had promoted or attended Repeal press a hope that in the course of this inmeetings; and he hoped it would not be vestigation all matters would receive an thought disrespectful if he declined to impartial, as well as a judicial inquiry follow him into preceding events, or into With respect to this gentleman-if the the question of the repeal of an Act which facts were as reported to Her Majesty's the noble Marquess admitted to have been Government-they would deeply regret one-sided. He would not, however, con- that a gentleman, in other respects of high ceal from the noble Marquess, or from the worth and respectability, should have been House, that Her Majesty's Government so misguided as to lend his name and his had seen with the deepest regret, and, character-and the higher the name the he would add, with no inconsiderable greater was the evil-to this display of disappointment, the manner in which party feeling and animosity. The noble the Orange societies had, with ill-judg- Marquess, however, was wrong in supposment, so imprudently and so recklessly ing that no steps had been taken by Her acted neglecting altogether due caution, Majesty's Government with respect to this and forgetful of the friendly spirit in which gentleman. He would not say that he of the noble Lord would do more good than any dismissal of magistrates, or than any resort to violent measures. For an individual so respectable great allowance should be made, though he had been misguided. In his opinion, if they would leave Ireland to herself she would right herself better than if they ripped up every occurrence, irritating one person, without conciliating the good will of the other. He had been the consistent friend of Ireland throughout; he trusted that he would always remain so; and he had given to these societies his best counsel and advice. would be removed from the commission of the peace; but the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary for Ireland had directed the attention of the Lord Lieutenant to the proceeding; subsequently there had been communications between his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department and the Lord Chancellor of Ireland on the subject, and he had reason to believe, though he was not certain of the fact, that the gentleman had been called upon to explain, and that upon consideration the matter would be dealt with as should be deemed best. He trusted that the noble Marquess would not call for a premature declaration of the course which Her Majesty's Government would pursue. The subject had not escaped their attention; they had viewed the occurrences with the deepest regret, and he hoped the noble Marquess did not express his own supposition when he doubted whether Her Majesty's Govern-pers and Correspondence regarding the rement would act with anything except impartiality with respect to similar offences committed by different bodies. had been most proper. Subject at an end. SYRIA. Lord Beaumont rose to move, in compliance with the Notice he had given, an humble Address to Her Majesty, that she would be graciously pleased to allow to be laid before their Lordships certain Pa cent events in Syria. His object in moving for these Papers was, that their Lordships might have a continuation of the Papers and Correspondence furnished to the House which for some time threatened to involve The Marquess of Londonderry said, that with respect to the character of this indi-in 1841, so that the whole subject might vidual, for a number of years he had occube laid before them in so complete a form pied the highest position in the county, as to enable them to draw a correct judgand that he possessed great popularity, ment of the great question in the Levant, and that up to this period, though he was a party man, his conduct as a magistrate He confessed that he had seen the resolutions passed at the meeting in question with regret, and had written his strong impressions against them. His noble Friend (the Earl of Roden) and others had also urged the Orange societies to take heed, as it was very easy for Parliament to re-enact the law against them; and he must say he did not believe that the great majority of the Orangemen, or the Protestants of Ireland, had taken part in these proceedings. The excuse of this gentleman was, that 15,000 men had marched in peace and tranquillity, and there had been no disturbance. This was in his own neighbourhood. With regard to the occurrences at Armagh, it was a lamentable story, and he was strongly of opinion that there were errors on both sides. He asked the Government to consider whether it would be wise and just to punish this venerable gentleman; he had been mistaken, but it would do mischief in that part of the country if anything were done against him. He believed that the speech Europe in war, and which, he feared, still contained the germs of future disturbance to the peace of Europe, and was the constant cause of jealousy and recrimination between England and France. He did not think that he should be wasting their Lordships' time if he dwelt for a few minutes on the actual state of affairs in Syria, as that question had been the subject of debate on two distinct occasions in the Chamber of Debeen expressed in the course of those deputies in Paris; and such opinions had bates as would, if acted upon, tend to interrupt any good understanding which might still exist between England and France on the subject; nor did he think the noble Earl would regret the opportunity being offered him of giving some explanation on this question, as the most injurious accusations had been brought against English agents in the East, and no attempt had been made to contradict them in the Chambers in Paris. The Papers furnished in 1841 to the House brought the history of this question down to the period when the Porte, aided by all the great European Powers, except France, had succeeded in recovering from the usurpation of Mahomet Ali the province of Syria, together with, privileges for the Maronites in the mounthe other dependencies in Asia which had tain. The Porte sought to establish mubeen overrun by the arms of its powerful nicipal privileges instead of the feudal ones, vassal; and it was at that period, or im- and to place Lebanon on the same footing mediately subsequent to it, that the Great as the rest of the Pashalic; but, buoyed up Powers signed the Protocol of the 10th of by the conduct of France, and the language July, and invited France to reunite herself of her Minister, the Shahab family hoped to the European Compact. France accept- to regain the authority they had lost. Ined the invitation, and signed the Protocol trigue followed intrigue, and a moment's of the 10th of July on the 13th of the repose was never allowed to the Gosame month. From that time, France was vernment of Syria to try fairly the new considered as having abandoned her isolated principle adopted there. Constant outposition, and agreed to act in concert with breaks occurred; but if the Porte had been the other Powers. If they followed her sub- allowed to act independently, these outsequent conduct, and attended to her present breaks would soon have been suppressed; professions, they would see how far she had and if Omar Pasha, who was sent out to rerealized these expectations, or how far she place the Emir Bechir in the mountain, had had disappointed the hopes founded on them. been allowed to remain, we should have On recovering Syria, the Sultan had to never heard of the war between Druse and consult how he should govern his newly- Maronite. Unfortunately, the Porte was restored Province. Under the Emir Be- not allowed to act with a strong hand, and chir (its old form of government previous to suppress revolt; but in an attempt to give the Egyptian occupation), civil wars, blood- a demi-independence and self-government shed, confusion, and scenes similar to those to the two people who occupied the mounthey now deplored, were familiar. Chief tain, old feuds were revived, and the war fought against chief, and feudal system and broke out, which led to the late disgraceful feudal strife were the characteristics of the scenes of bloodshed and cruelty. While Lebanon: to such a system of government alluding to the lamentations of France over the Porte ought not to have returned, nor these bloody scenes, and the indignation could the European Powers advisedly re- and sympathy she tried to excite on the commend it. France alone seemed to have occasion, saying that civilization and comdesired it, but the Porte resisted, and re- mon charity imposedon Europe the necessity sisted with success. Defeated in this ob- of interfering to stop such cruel occurences ject, France next demanded a separation --all of which, by the by, she attributed to of the two people who inhabited the Leba- the suggestions of the British Consul, and non; or, to use the words of the Minister the instructions of the English Goveraof Foreign Affairs in France, instead of a ment-while alluding to the outcry raised purely Turkish and Mussulman ruled the in France on this subject, he (Lord Beauestablishment of nationality in the moun- mont) could not refrain from reflecting, tain. In this, and in the subsequent steps that at the very same time, in a province of the proceedings, she seemed to have taken which France claimed as her own, a scene the chief part in counselling the Divan, had been enacted which surpassed in horror and to have been successful in her recom- all the inventions of romances, and which, mendations. A separate government was if we did not know it to be true, we would given to the Druse and Maronite people ; believe to be the monstrous production of but, not content with this, France required the frenzied imagination of some new and that even in the mixed districts and vil- unequalled compiler of horrors. Returning, lages, the same principle should be carried however, from this digression to the subject out, and, consequently, the Druse were to immediately before the House, he would be subject to Druse magistrates, and the briefly recapitulate the events of the last Maronite to Maronite magistrates. This few months. On the 30th of April, the was adopted, and each people were to have Maronites, urged on by the intrigues of the kaimacans or vekils of their own. France Shahab family and the promises of France, having been the chief party in establishing had invaded the territory of the Druses; this forın of government, she ought, in the Druses retaliated, and then commenced reason to have allowed the system to have a species of civil war in the mixed districts, had a fair trial; but, instead of so doing, during which the cruelties alluded to had she professed to consider the plan as only taken place. The Druses got the upper temporary, and raised hopes and discontent hand, when the Turkish authorities interby saying that she expected to obtain more fered, and an armistice was forced upon the belligerents. Such being the present state , very voluminous, it has required some time of Lebanon, and the renewal of such to prepare them; they are not yet quite scenes as had been described being more ready; I hope that in the course of a few days than probable, it behoved them to consider they will be ; and, when they are ready, I well what were the conduct and policy shall be happy to furnish them to the noble of France. From the speeches of M. Lord and the House. The provinces to Guizot, and the debates which had re which the noble Lord has referred are uncently taken place in the Chamber of doubtedly in a very disturbed state-conDeputies, he (Lord Beaumont) gathered fusion, bloodshed, and anarchy have prethat it was the intention of France to vailed in them for some time past io a separate herself from the other Powers in lamentable extent. I will not say that I this question, and act singly in the affairs give any credit to that which, however, I of Syria; she claimed, on the ground of must tell the noble Lord, is generally besome obsolete Treaties, the exclusive right lieved in the country itself that the to protect the Christians of Mount Leba- Turkish Government is the sole cause of the non-a claim which could not hold good warfare which has been carried on between in respect of the Maronites, inasmuch as these two people, the Maronites and the at the time the supposed Treaties were Druscs. It is generally believed that the made, the Maronites were not in com- Porte, being unable to govern them with munion with Rome. France had already a strong hand, seeks to have the power of one man of war on the coast, and the doing so by means of setting one against Minister of Foreign Affairs declared that the other, and thus weakening both. Now, orders had been given to two others to join I do not believe that. I believe that the her. If the discontent of the mountaineers confusion that prevails is only the result was fomented by foreign intrigue, and the of Turkish apathy and misrule, which are insurrection of the Maronites fed by the but too common in many of their provinces, assistance of France, there could be no and not to any such diabolical plan as that hope that the Porte would be able to re- which is supposed to exist. It is true that store peace in the Lebanon, and put down, the French Government have assumed a with a strong hand, those who dared to general protectorship over all Christians in break it. For his own part, he (Lord the Levant, founding their right to do so Beaumont) thought it was the duty of this on old Treaties and capitulations, from, I country to strengthen the sovereign power believe, the time of Francis I. I shall not of Turkey, instead of attempting to diminish enter into the question of the right which it in Syria; and he considered the noble the French Government may have to exerEarl called on to do his utmost to persuade cise this protection ; but, at all events, in France not to act singly in this case, but the pre nt case they must submit to share forego her presumed right of exclusive pro- it with us, inasmuch as we are bound by tection of the Maronites, and join cor- positive engagement to attend to the condially with England in obtaining equal dition of the population of this province. justice to Druse and Maronite, which could Before the expulsion of the Egyptians, the only be secured by establishing in full force Turkish Government entered into an agreethe supreme authority of the lawful Sove- ment with Her Majesty's Ambassador, that reign of both populations, the Sultan. He in the event of the province being recovered, felt he had now said enough to justify the the inhabitants should recover their former Motion for Papers; but he should feel dis- privileges, and that their condition should appointed if the noble Earl, when he ac- be improved. We are, therefore, bound by ceded to it, should not avail himself of the an obligation to see that their condition is opportunity of explaining the intentions of so far improved as to fulfil the pledge Government, and also of contradicting the which was offered by the Turkish Governaspersions cast upon Colonel Rose in the ment. As for seeing good government French Chambers. The noble Lord con established in that or any other province of cluded by moving for the Correspondence the Turkish empire, I am not very sanguine. regarding Syria since 1842. But there may be a spirit of improvement The Earl of Aberdeen : The Papers to encouraged, and in this case we are under which the noble Lord has referred, were the necessity of seeing that the Turkish moved for some time ago in the House of Government fullils its engagement. OtherCommons. There is, of course, therefore, wise I do not wish to interfere in the deno objection to their being laid on the tails of the government of this province, Table of your Lordships' House. Being except where some very flagrant outrage is |