blic, and was the subject of animadversion in
parliament. Mr. Mahon, an Irish member, was chairman of that meeting,
and the mode in which he palliated the atrocious speech of the
archdeacon caused murmurs of disapprobation in the house. Ireland
appeared to great disadvantage in this debate, and the tone of English
members was not so generous as it ought to have been. The dreadful
crimes perpetrated in Ireland had produced a state of feeling in England
which was almost resentful, notwithstanding the compassion entertained
for the sufferings of the Irish poor. There could be no doubt, as Mr.
Stafford O'Brien reminded the house, that some of the best of landlords
had been assassinated. There appeared to be a relentless thirst for
blood among the Irish peasantry, prompted by fanaticism, famine,
and despair, which was calculated to destroy the sympathy of the
representatives of Great Britain.

The address in the commons was ultimately agreed to after a most
acrimonious debate, protracted by the Irish members and their opponents
far beyond the limits usual on such occasions.

DEBATE ON THE DISTRESS OF THE NATION.

On the 30th the chancellor of the exchequer rose, pursuant of notice,
to move for "a select committee to inquire into the causes of the recent
commercial distress, and how far it has been effected by the laws
for regulating the issue of bank-notes payable on demand." After an
intellectual debate, except so far as some incoherent rhapsodies of Mr.
Urquhart made it otherwise, the motion was acceded to. Sir Robert Peel
appeared to singular advantage in this discussion; he placed the causes
of public distress luminously before the house, and supported the policy
of government. In the lords there was a similar debate, remarkable for
the extraordinary assertion of Lord Brougham, that the public distress
was chiefly to be attributed to the obstinacy of government and
parliament in not taking his advice and that of the Duke of Wellington,
proffered for the last ten years. His lordship seemed ambitious of
identifying himself with the illustrious duke on all possible occasions,
although scarcely any two men could have entertained opinions more
dissonant than these two noble persons.

MEASURES FOR THE REPRESSION OF HOMICIDE AND OUTRAGE IN IRELAND.

The party of Lord John Russell had thwarted the government of Sir Robert
Peel when endeavouring to enact a law for the preservation of life and
property from the la