The Principality

THE DISTRESS. The Central Relief Committee have this day issued a long address, appealing to the public for countenance and support in their endeavours to mitigate the terrible misery which threatens to devastate at least one-third of the population of this ill-fated country. This document, which is of consider- able length, does not bear a favourable contrast with the admirable report recently put forward by the Society of Friends, the former being the merest verbiage, destitute of all suggestion, and remarkable only for turgid declamation, while the latter bore the impress of genuine philanthropy and a cordial desire to work, not talk, practically and ear- nestly, in order to improve the social condition of their poorer fellow countrymen. The members of the Relief Com- mittee seem to be quite hopeless of individual exertion being zn able to accomplish anything, and entertaining this view, they propose that a deputation shall proceed to England, provided with a statement, now in progress of being digested, to be laid before the Prime Minister, so as to ascertain what fate is in store for the perishing people of Ireland." Possibly," they add, the deputation may succeed in obtaining access to her most gracious Majesty's presence." HARVEST PROSPECTS—THE POTATO. All things considered, the agricultural reports of the state of.the growing crops are tolerably favourable, and as the weather, with the drawback of the continued prevalence of an ungenial easterly wind, remains dry and bright, there is, at least, ground for hope that the coming harvest may prove to be more productive than could have been expected from .the nature of the accounts representing the vast quantities of land thrown out of cultivation this year. As previously mentioned, in some districts the peasantry, with a blind fa- iuity, have again staked their all in the prospect of a profit- able prospect of a potato crop, and again are the symptoms apparent of their hopes being disappointed by a fourth failure, which, if realised, must lead to results far more disas- trous than any that have yet been experienced. JUDGMENT ON THE WRIT OF ERROR. The intelligence of the Lords' judgment, sealing the fate of the State prisoners, reached Dublin early in the forenoon of Saturday: and, although few persons anticipated any other issue to the final appeal, the speedy decision arrived at by their lordships created great surprise among all parties here. Judging in a great measure by the time-honoured practice of the Irish law courts, it was not considered possible that the "talk" could be exhausted for the botter portion of a week. The authorities at Richmond Bridewell are in hourly ex- pectation of an order for the transmission of the prisoners from their custody previous to their final departure from Ire- land. Nothing certain is yet known of the ultimate inten tions of Government. When the news of the judgment was announced on Saturday morning to Messrs. O'Brien and Mcaglier, they heard it with the utmost indifference, and ad- mitted they were prepared for no other result. Indeed, the four prisoners were quite cheerful, and in the enjoyment of excellent health, with the exception of O'Donoghue, who is labouring under slight indisposition.

THE HOUSE OF LORDS, ON THE NIGHT OF THE DEBATE ON THE NAVIGATION BILL. On Monday their lordships met at the usual hour of five o'clock, which is an hour later than the Commons. There was a rush from the avenues which communicale from the one House to the other, Sir George Grey and Captain Berke- ley being among those who appeared to be in the greatest 0 tn hurry to note the commencement of their lordships' pro- ceedings. The doors were kept shut till the prayers were over, and when admission was had, the interior presented very ample evidence that some exciting business was about to be transacted. The steps which surround the throne, as well as the open space at the sides and front, were crowded with persons having the privilege of entree, and the large space at the opposite end, extending from the bar" to the wall, was equally crowded. The narrow gallery, with its one row of seats, which runs along the three sides, and so only proven fprl from completing the fourth by the project tion of the reporters' gallery," bore a fair complement of listeners; the throne end glistening with peeresses, and the bar" end showing a. considerable number of members of Parliament, that being the portion of the gallery allotted for their use. This, be it observed, is in addition to the space, on the floor occupied by members when 11 sumTiioned-I by their lordships to witness the transaction of certain kinds of business. Amongst those sitting in the gallery I observed Mr. W. Brown, Mr. Walpole, Mr. Hawes, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Scrope, Mr. Cardwell, and Mr. Wilson. In fact, every time you looked in that direction you generally saw some new lace, honourable gentlemen having been considerably put about" by the circumstance of Lord John Russell's Jew bill being under discussion in the House of Compioiis. The knowledge that the opponents of that bill would not hesitate to count out" the House the moment the opportunity was favourable, kept the friends of the measure, who had snugly seated themselves on the luxurious red morocco seats in the House of Lords, in a continual state of uneasiness and it was that circumstance, no doubt, which caused the attendance of hon. members to assume so fluctuating a character. The strangers' gallery was filled to overflow; many of the orders were given three weeks before. I asked a venerable door keeper if he had ever witnessed such an attendance before ? Never since the Ilefo'rn," was the answer. But the reader must accompany me from the throne downwards. After emerging from the crowd, the Woolsack, with the Lord Chancellor in gown and wig sitting upon it, is the first object arrived at. The golden mace, with the great seal in a purse, lie at his back. The Woolsack has the appcarance of a large bale covered with red cloth. Red and gold are the predominating colours throughout. A peer or two bear the Lord Chancellor company. That high function- ary discharges the same functions as the Speaker in the House of Commons, but their lordships do not address him they address the peers as a body under the phrase My Lords." The favourite pronunciation is Me Lards." Immediately in front are two more woolsacks placed longways, and upon these a good many lords, and occasionally a bishop, take seats. They are used by the judges when they come on great occasions to advise their lordships on law points. On the right is the bench of bishops." The lawn sleeves add pic- turesqueness to the scene. This brings us to the position occupied by the ministerial and opposition leaders. A table scpo-rates them. But who is that peer who sits like a host at the head of his own table, or a judge listening to the pleadings of counsel preparatory to passing judgment ? It is the Duke of Wellington. lie chaoses that seat that he may hear the better, for he is deaf and requires the aid of his hand behind his ear to catch the fleeting sounds. The Marquis of Londonderry* one of the Duke's old lieutenant- sits close to his chief; ho also is deaf, like the Duke keeps his hand behind his right, ear. The Duke of Devonshire occupies the third chair, and avails himself occasionally of the assistance of an acoustic instru- ment. So long as the speakers deliver their addresses at the table, the Duke of Wellington remains in his chair. Lord Brougham's approach to the table, the moment the Marquis of Lansdowne sat down, threw us as completely aback as the tactics of Napoleon did the old Austrian generals: but how did wonder melt into pity when, after some bush-fight- ing, Lord Brougham declared himself the deadly enemy of the bill! People looked at each other and shook their heads, as much as to say, how is ail this to end ? Can Lord Stanley be in want oi a Cli-.neel.I.G-r ? His lordship threw a good many shafts at Sir James Graham. Sir James was dis- covered standing in the crowd at the "bar;" he could not have concealed himself, although he had been willing, for he was considerably taller than those about him. The buzz went amongst their lordships that Sir James Graham was within sight, and many a eye, and, if the truth may be told, many a noble fngcr, too, were directed towards him. '• r The object of so much attention responded to the compliment with one of his withering, sill in Jerrald's Weekly News. ?

THE See and Bishop of Hong Kong are .announced as duly appointed, in the Gazette, of Friday,

A MODERN SUCCESSOR OF THE APOSTLES. Our obituary of Monday contained a brief notice of the death of the lion. and Right Rev. Edmund Knox, Lord Bishop of Limerick. The deceased prelate was in his 77th year, and for some fifteen years had nominally discharged the functions and actually been in the receipt of the revenues of the see of Limerick. In ordinary cases we abstain from anything like comment upon the actions of those who have Z) just passed away from amongst us, when their actions cannot be spoken of in terms of praise and their memory with regret. Reverence for the dead and respect for the feelings of survivors impose silence, even where justice imputes blame. In the case of Dr. Knox, however, it is in the dis- charge of a public duty we break through our usual system. With the memory of the individual we would deal as Irghtly as possible; but the public consequences of his omissions, rather than his acts, survive him, and must be productive of permanent evil. Our charge is delivered in a few words. Dr. Knox was translated from the see of Killaloe to that of Limerick by the Whigs in 1834. The diocese includes some of the counties which have been most severely visited by famine during the late calamitous times. Limerick and Kerry, a portion of Clare and Cork, constituted the field of action of the late Dr. Knox. Besides being the patron of forty-four livings, the bishop drew from his diocese the annual sum of £ 4,973. The city of the same name is the seat of the cathedral, and should be of the residence of the Bishop of Limerick. Now, for a very long period of his in- cumbency Dr. Knox was a merely nominal bishop to his diocese. He was a stranger in the land where his duty lay. We believe that a considerable portion of this time was spent in Italy in sunny idleness. To such a mode of life in a pri- vate person no one of course would be entitled to offer any objection, where it does not involve the neglect of a great public duty. But we cannot forget that while the Whig Bishop of Limerick was absent in the "sweet south," the peasantry of his diocese were perishing by famine, pestilence, and cold. We are not aware of any reason of health which necessitated this long separation between the bishop and his flock. Even were this so, it is obvious that Dr. Knox should have long since resigned his high position if he found himself incapable of discharging its duties. We have not ascertained with precision the number of weeks or months during which the deceased bishop may have paid fleeting visits to Limerick, but they must have been few indeed. His cathedral is in a state of dilapidation. Planks supply the place of glass in the windows, and the episcopal residence on the banks of the Shannon was utterly deserted for a very large portion of-the period during which Dr. Knox was Bishop of Limerick. Of the X75,000, or nearly so, which he must have drawn from the revenues of the see, we should be curious to know how much went to the relief of the starving peasantry of the counties included within the boundaries of his diocese.- Thncs.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—THURSDAY, MAY 10. Lord BEAUMONT rose to move the consideration of the standing order No ,J 30, which related to the presence of strangers during the debate. The order in question seemed to him to be not only inconsistent with itself, but also disadvantageous to the dignity of the House. In an earlier age it might, perhaps, have been neces- sary for the security of members, but in modern times the attempt to enforce it, as in the case of the Duke of Manchester, in 1770, had been attended with such ludicrous consequences that it had been practically abandoned. He now declared his opinion that the public ought to be fully acquainted with their deliberations, and that the' theory which made it a breach of privilege to report their proceedings should be given up. Even if their lordships should refuse to consider the standing order, he thought it absolutely ne- cessary that the reporters should be placed in such a position as to render an incorrect or partial report inexcusable, and for this pur- pose he would propose that a select committee should be appointed to examine into that part of the subject. The noble lord concluded by moving that the standing order No. 130 be taken into consi- deration. After a short debate, in which the motion was opposed by the Marquis of LANSDOWNE and Lord BROUGHAM, it was agreed to without a division.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—THURSDAY, MAY 10. ADULTERATION OF COFFEE. Mr. ANSTEY moved two rather wordy resolutions, expressive of the" serious concern and disapprobation'' with which the House viewed the great and growing increase of the consumption of chicory in the adulteration of coffee and setting forth the evils resulting therefrom, and from the non-enforcement of the law, amongst which he enumerated discontent and disaffection in the colonies," as well as the loss of hundreds of thousands of pounds of annual revenue. His object, he said, was to compel the Chan- cellor of the Exchequer to do what, two months ago, he -delibe- rately refused to do—namely, cause the officers of the Government acting under his direction to perform their duty in conformity with the law; and he aimed a portion of his long speech at the arbi- trary power assumed by the Government in dispensing with an Act of Parliament. Af,ertl-ie motion had been seconded by Mr. BAILUE, The CHANCELLOR of ihe EXCHEQUER explained the motives which had influenced the Government. He had been assured that chicory was very beneficial. A short debate then ensue j, which resulted in the motion bei:ig negatived by 62 against 11. THE PUBLIC EXPENDITURE. Mr. Henry DKBMMOXD then moved that the House do resolve itself into a committee to consider the expenditure and system of taxation, and how far both may be revised so as to relieve the industry of the country. He wished to draw from the House a plain declaration, that the country might know what they had to expect, and to have some broad rules laid down for the guidance of the present and future Ministers. One principle upon which he based the resolutions he proposed to move in the committee was, that we ought to pay for protection in proportion to the value of that which was to be protected, and to the social condition of the people; and he admitted that there was an indirect tendency to make taxation equal in a certain sense, but unequal in another, developing his views as to the true principles of taxation. He suggested the return to the scale of salaries before the war the expediency of reducing the expenditure in the civil departments of the army and navy, and in the administration of the colonies and he condemned the abandonment of the Post-office duty, and the outlay of expense upon the new theory of pampering criminals. But all minor reductions would go but little way to relieve the pressure upon the springs of industry, unless we looked the public debt fairly in the face. The great evil of this debt was, that it was an enormous mass of capital locked up, the freeing of which was one way of benefiting the country. He proposed to empower the Government to buy up the public annuities as they were-otei-el in the market, the necessary fund, to be exclusively devoted to this purpose, to be raised partly by a tax on property, and partly by an equalisation of the land-tax and by this process there never would be a glut of capital in the market. The motion was seconded by Mr. URQCHART. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER called upon the House to resist a very unnecessary proposition. After Sir J. TYRREL and Mr. SPOONER had supported Mr. Drummond's motion, Mr. GiBSON moved the previous question. He was followed by Messrs. PLUMPTRE, JACKSOX, B. COCH- RANE, MUNTZ, Colonel SIBTHORP, HEYWORTH, HENLEY, John O'CONNELL, DISRAIILI, LABOUGHERE, ROBINSON, and Mr. COB- O BIT, who concurred in a great deal of what, had been said bv Mr. Drummond, and did not object to his plan for extinguishing the national debt. But he had not given a distinct notion of' what he intended to propose in committee; he appeared to contemplate not reduction, but revision of taxation, which was mereiy shuffling the cards. He (Mr. Cobden) wanted a reduction of expenditure in the great item-, and he approved of the suggestion of Mr. Hey- worth, to remove all indirect taxation, which would relieve the productive classes. Mr. Cobden then read to the landed proprie- tors one of his severe lectures, which was not received with much docility, reproaching himself for his leniency and tenderness towards them. He supported the amendment. After a reply from Mr. DRUMMOND, the House divided, when the previous question was carried by 151 against 10). Upon Mr. CHARTEEIS'S motion for an inquiry into the Parlia- mentary expenses of the Eastern Company, which was seconded by Colonel SIBTHORP, occurred the following SCENE IX THE HOUSE. After Mr. ROEBUéK had spoken, Colonel SIBTHORP exclaimed I do not wish to trespass upon the time of the House, but the House has heard the opinions of the hon. member for Sheffield, and there are personal feelings and personal character at stake. That hon. gentleman has told me that in what fell from him he did not apply the word buffoonery" to me. I am quite ready to receive that statement, but. the hon. gentleman will pardon me if I ask him to give me that distinct answer which I am sure he would upon all occasions be ready to afford. Mr. ROEBUCK Yes, if I understand the hon. and gallant mem- ber's question (a laugh). If he will be good enough to put it I will answer it as plainly as I can (laughter). Colonel SiBTHOiip That you meant nothing of the kind (re- newed laughter). Mr. IloEnueR I ask the hon. member to put the question (laughter). 1 do not know what it is (much laughter) but what- ever it is I will answer him. Colonel SIBTHORP Whether the expression that fell from the hon. member opposite—the word buffoonery''—was applied to me (laughter) ? Mr. ROEBUCK: I will repeat the words I used, and I am sure, sir (addressing the Speaker), that you must have them in your mind. I said to the hon. gentleman that I begged he would take nothing to himself, even though I used the word buffoonery. If that is out of order I will retract it (a laugh). The Public Health (Scotland) Bill was then read a second time, and the House adjourned.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—FRIDAY, MAY 11. RATE-IN-AID BILL. The Earl of CARLISLE moved the second reading of the Rate- in-Aid Bill. After adverting to the responsibility which the Go- vernment were under to provide means to meet the awful emer- gency to which Ireland was at present exposed, he proceeded to state the circumstances under which the present proposal was urged on the acceptance of their lordships. After going through those statistics respecting Irish distress with which the public are already sofamiliar, the noble lord admitted that the present measure, taken by itself, was imperfect, and that if the people of Ireland were to be rescued from starvation, it. must he followed by other more extensive and far-reaching enactments. They might con- demn the Government if they chose, but let them not by rejecting ti.ie bill draw down on themselves risks, the responsibility and the memory of which might not easily be shaken off'. The noble earl sat down after moving that the bill be read a second time. The Earl of RODE if proposed, as an amendment, that the bill be read a second time that day six months. The Archbishop of DUBLIN said that he should be most factious if he offered any opposition to a Government coming forward with -,i such evidently good intentions as those which seemed to actuate the advisers of the Crown on the present occasion but if he should support the present bill, he might fairly be asked, when he went back to Ireland, what security the bill gave that the evils which it professed to remedy would not be perpetuated and magni- fied. There was. no security that the present rate-in-aid would stop at 6d. in the pound, or Is., or even at 20". and if nothing were done to stop this eating canker, and if no better guarantee could be given that the measure would not break down ihe means of those who had support the pressure of out-door relief, he could not reconcile it in his conscience to support it. Lord B EAUMONT thought that the Irish peers and representatives had not acted very candidly or very fairly in not coming forward to assist the Government on the question. Ireland would never be in a healthy state till the present occupiers were got rid of. Lord Ross2 rccomuieuded an improve"! administration of the Poor-law, and also the complete equalisation of taxation throughout the whole United Kingdom. He also considered that it was the duty of the Government to afford assistance to able-bodied persons desirous of emigrating from Ireland. The Marquis of CLA.VRICAIIDE recalled their lordships' atten- tion to the real question before the House, which was whether they would or would not give a legal power to the Minister of the Crown to save thousands from starvation. Earl FITZWILLIAM complained that the Government had de- layed the discussion of this measure until the Irish people were on the eve of starvation, and then came down and told the House that if it did not pass the bill it would have the blood of 10,000 human beings on its head. Earl ST. GERMANS, though he did not approve of the measure, would not take on himself the responsibility of voting against it. Lord MONTEAGLE declared that the condemnation of the lid was to be found in the able speech of the Earl of Carlisle. After a few remarks from Lord AUDLEY, IN] favour of the bill, and the Earl of WICKLOW, against it, The Marquis of LANSDOWNE explained the "grounds upon which he gave his vote for the measure. He characterised it as a temporary measure, and detailed the circumstances under which it had been brought forward. Either from the want of gratitude displayed in Ireland for the imperial benevolence, or from the depression which existed at home, a resolution had been come to by the public her,, to make no grants of money to Ireland. It was therefore the duty of the Government to bring forward a mea- sure of this kind, in order to meet the exigencies of the case and the comparative exemptions from taxation which Ireland, he thought wisely, enjoyed, enabled them to introduce the bill with greatest propriety. Ireland was at present in a transition stafe-t state involving suffering and death itself to a large number of the population; but while they acknowledged and submitted to the decrees of Providence, they were bound to do all in their power to alleviate the distress of the sister island. As to the comoh-unt that the Government had given no security that the bill would not be extended, there were, first, the terms of the bill itself, which showed it to be entirely of a temporary character; then there were the declarations of his noble friend at the head of the Government in the other House of Parliament; and LOW he announced that it was the unanimous intention of the Government, under no circum- stances, to ask for its extension when its proposed limit had ex- pired. The House then divided, when there were— I Contents. 43 Non-contents. 41 Majority 1

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—FRIDAY, MAY 11. The Land Improvement and Drainage (Ireland) Bill, after a short debate, was read a second time, as was also the Encumbered Estates (Ireland) Bill. The Defects in Leases Bill and the Estates Leasing (Ireland) Bill were read a second time, after a short explanation of their nature and objects by the SOLICITOR-GENERAL. The Accounts of Turnpike Trusts (Scotland) Bill, the Sr. John's, Newfoundland, Rebuilding Bill, and the Grants of Land (New South Wales) Bill passed through committee. On the consideration of the Attachments Courts of Rtcord (Ireland) Bill, as amended, Mr. GROG J N moved its recommittal, in order fo add a ciau-e securing to officers of the Courts of Record compensation for losses under its operation, which was strenuously opposed by Mr. REY- NOLDS, and as strenuously supported by Mr. KEOGH. In the sequel the matter was deferred for a fortnight.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—MONDAY, MAY 14. Lord BEAUMONT asked a question relating to French interven tion in Italy. The Marquis of in reply stated that a communi- cation had been received from the French Government, intimating that the object of the expedition to Civita Vecchia was to promote the peace of Italy, and to re-establish a constitutional and regular government at Home. Their lordships then went into committee on the Irish Aid Bill. -———

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—MONDAY, MAY 14. On the order of the day for going into committee on the Lan-A Improvement and Drainage (Ireland) Bill, Mr. ROEBUCK asked what did the Government intend to do ? Money had been voted and spent, and there was now a call fur more, on the plea of the distress of Ireland. This distress :\1 r. Roebuck traced to the wasteful habits of the landed proprietors who divided their estates into small holdings, exacting high rents from the tenants, who were forced to live upon the lowest species of food, and when that failed the Government were called upon to provide for an extraordinary emergency. If the energies at their command had been properly applied, in a year or two an ffrrin.. i remedy woma nave oeen puMueu uui, lusie&a ot this, tne Go- vernment had stimulated that desire which pervaded the highest, and lowest in Ireland, to acquire without labour. The money of England was cast into a heap, and there was a general scramble for it. This system fostered the habit of the people of Ireland "=> depend not upon their own, but other people's labour. The call of the Irish members was not bona fiile tor ihe maintenance OS the Irish poor, tu which he was ready to contribute, but he refused to expend money upon Irish proprietors, whether in name or reality. This was a measure to tax the people of England to) draIn the lands of Ireland, and they were told the money would comeback. But what was the principle which ought to guide the Legislature in the application of capital to land ? To leave it to private enter- prise, knowledge, and adventure. "Why should not the Govern- ment have adopted the suggestion of the late Lord George Ben- tinck, and at once have applied £ 1 (i.000,000 to the making of roads in Ireland, instead of giving these driblets on the pretest.of relieving the misery of the Irish? This bill was based upon the same pr.aciple, and if there was to be such a system of appJying English money, he should have preferred the plan of Lord George Bentinck. What was the concerted scheme of the Government in bringing forward this measure ? WEis *t not, under the pretence of assisting the poor, lending money to landed proprietors ? 1 rjh gentlemen came down in the hope of getting what they called a pull at the Exchequer;" this was another pull at an exchequer which was filied by the labour of hard-working Englishmen. After a short debate, in which a personal attack was made on Mr. Roebuck by Messrs. John O'CONNEI.L and KEIKSJI, the House went into committee on the Parliamentary Oaths Bill; when r a discussion on the first clause the House adjourned.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—TUESDAY", MAY 15. Several noble lords presented petitions complaining of agricul- tural ds]e s.

RATE-TN-AID (IRELAND) BILL. The report on this bill was brought up and ordered to be received. THE DISTURBANCES IN CANADA. Lord STANLEY asked if the Government had received any further information with regard to events in Canada, than had been received by the usual sources of public information and whether the Government had received any information as to the outbreak in that colony of the most formidabie of all wars —a war of races P Whether they had given any instructions to the Governor as to his conduct, or whether he acted without instructions, or with instruc- tions, the Government were responsible. Earl GREY had received a dispatch from Lord Elgin, which, when the House next met. he would lay on the table of the House. It showed that Lord Elgin had acted throughout with his accus- tomed judgment, prudence, and good sense. That dispatch was vvntteu on the 30th of April. It appeared that a serious riot had taken place in Montreal, and the Parliament. House had been burnt. He had no reason to apprehend that there was any war of races, on the contrary, he believed tranquillity had been restored. He was prepared to take ail the responsibility that belonged to his office, but he believed that the responsibility rested as much with the noble lord as with any other person, for the proceedings in the House hud contributed in no slight degree to exacerbate the i;i- feelings in that colony, and lie trusted the ncble loid would re- member that there was a responsibility attaching to the opposition. Lord STANLEY said that no Government had ever profited more by the responsibility resting on an opposition than the Government oppooiite; but no taunts or invectives would induce him to cease to exercise that liberty of speech which was the privilege of everv member of their lordships' House and he would repeat, was Lord Elgin left to act on his own judgment, or had he instructions from the Government ? Ei,rl Gti,y thought it. would be inexpedient to enter into exola- nations until the dispatch was laid on the table. With respect the Indemnity Bill, he had advisedly left Lord Elgin to tiie exer- cise of his own judgment. His rule was in such cases always to leave the Governors of colonies to act in this manner, and to trans- mit the Bills to the Government, with any reports thsy may think proper thereon, for the consideration of the Government.

NAVIGATION-LAWS AND AGRICULTURAL I ISTRE". The Duke of RICHMOND presented several peti ions against the repeal of the Navigation laws,and of t(gr'cti' 'u,-a I dis- tress. He considered that the farmers of Sussex h'.d a right to petition against the repeal of thf Navigation-laws, becit-ae ti,.l were interested in the defence of our coasts, and because their chil- dren were serving in the commercial marine. If they petitioned for protection for themselves they were told they were seliish.'and if they petitioned for protection to others they were told that Ley