THE DAILY NEWS, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1859. lkowever well inHoi; miglit laad to great inconvenience. Ir.W A ii I emI, that hn Mr. EWART thai IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. Wilson, Mr.
S. Estcourt. f- principles laid down in the despatch of bis noble friend at the head of the Colonial-office. ENGLISH ENCUMBERED ESTATES BILL. Io reply to a que tion from Lord Bkouqhaji, The LORD CHANCELLOR said tho Solicitor-General was about to introduce an Encumbered Estates Bill for England.
Their lordships adjourned at a quarter past 6. "THE" AJtMY STORES, COMMISSION; Mr. NICOLL asked the Secretary of ptate "for' War whether any report.had yet been made by llVroyl rominiB-Stop, appbiotedia pursuance of a vote the, tousa last session, to'inquue into the system upon which the books and stock had been kept at Weedon, as well as Jthe general i6de ia.whioh the business of and other similar departments of service, were conducted and, if such report had teen made, when it would be laid upon the tablef He also expressed a hope that before any vote was taken for army clothingjand stores, members would be furnished with copies of the "report; General PEEL said that no report had yet bsen forwarded to him by the commission) believed that the delay was cone equent upon the illness of one of the commissioners. He'eipeoted soon to receive the ieport, and as-soon as he did eo he would lay it before the house, CHURCH-RATES. Sir J.
TRELAWNY inquired what course the government propoEed to pursue in regard to the Church-rale Bill, which he had given notice of for that evening. Mr. Secretary WALPOLE observed that fhe question was rather unusual one, but it might he convenient to the houss and tbe public that he should answer it by saying that ha should not object, on the part of the government, to the introduction of the ton. gentleman's bill upon the understanding that the second reading should not be moved until after he had had the opportunity of explaining, ss he proposed to do; on Friday week next, in accordance with the notice he had given, what the nature of the government ujsoouit; woo. RETURNS ORDERED.
Lighthouses, On the mo'ion of Lord C. Paoet, a copy of the royal commission on lighthouses. Receivers, Court of Chancery (Ireland). On the motion of Mr. J.
Fitzgerald, a return of tho rncofvera an. pointed by the Court of Chancery in Ireland, at the suit of judgment creditors, during the years 1857 end 1858, specifying, in each instance, the amount stated to be due on foot of tne judgment, the estimated rental, and whether such re ceiver nas neen Qiscnargea. Criminals (Ireland). On the motion of Mr. Fitzgerald, a return, in a tabular form, of the mimW nf nor.
sodb convicted of crime at the assizes and quarter sessions in ouuu euuuty in ireianu uuring ine years itjoy ana loots respectively, showing in each instance the nature of the offence charged, and tbe sentence. Landed Estates Court (Ireland). On the motion ol Mr. J. 1 itzgbrald, copies of rules and orders of Landed Estate9 Court (Ireland).
Returns of the number of petitions presented to tbe said court since the lt-tday of November laat for sale of land, for partition, for an investigation of title and conveyance with an indefeasible title, for a declaration of indefeasible title, end relating to the sale of set' led estates and of the number of sales (if any) had in said court pursuant to section 49 of the Aot for Sale and Transfer of Land (Ireland). INDIAN FINANCE. Sir E. PERRY inquired when they might expect laler accounts of the Indian revenue than those which were already upon the table, aud which only came down to April, 1857, and when the estimates of expenditure would be laid on the table He also wished to know whether it was intended to remove the political department of the Indian government from tbe city to tbe west-end of the town Lord STANLEY believed that in tho course of two months the accounts for the years 1857 -8 would be received, and as soon as they came to hand they would be laid on the table It would not be convenient to lav the estimates of expenditure before the house until those accounts were received, but a despatch would be produced giving a general summary of the financial results of the year. With regard to the other question a site had been selected for the new Government of India Offices at the west-end.
The architect had been aDnointed. and nlims were heinp- nnH he hoped the building would be proceeded with as rapidly as NAVAL ESTIMATES. Lord John RUSSELL (rave notice that on Thursday he would ask Sir Pakington when he proposed to bring forward tho naval estimates. MARRIAGE WITH DECEASED WIFE'S SISTER. Viscount BURY moved for leave to bring in a bill to legalise marriage with a deceased wife's sister.
Mr. B. HOPE congratulated his noble friend on the ability with which he had opened the campaign tbia yoar, and the manner in which he bad thus, as it were, taken the house by the forelock. They all recollected the great number of petitions presented last year, and the ingenious statements brought forward in favour of the proposed change in the law. The bill, such as it was, paised that house tbe previous session, but was Bummarily disposed of in tbe other house.
If the grievance which was so strongly asserted by the advocates of the bill reallv existed, it was scarcelv dos- sible that that summary rejection by tbe House of Lords should not have elicited Bome slight protest or ebullition of feeling from those who wero anxious for change, Sofurfromit, however, except from some obscure newspapers, they had not heard a single word of pro'est. This he thought was conclusive that the agitation on the question was factiiious. He hoped if the noble lord pressed Ihe bill to a second reading, he would be prepared with some better argument tnan bad yet been advanced because the fact that tho existing law was violated might be equally brought forward as a reason for repealing eny law on the statute book. Ho could not allow the inution to pass without entering his protest against it, and if any hon. member moved the rejection or tne measure be would support Mm.
The motion was then put, and tho- Speaker declared in favour of tbe ayeB. Mr. DRUfilMOND. howover. insisted unon a division.
which was taken, the result being Ayes ioa Noes 8570 The bill was accordingly ordered to be brought in. MIDNIGHT SITTINGS. Mr. EWART moved "That on everv Tnesdav and Thursday (being nights on which government business does not take precedence) the house do not sit later than twelve ciock at mgnt. He was justified in saying that tiis motion met with the strong approbation of the late Speaker.
That right hon. gentleman, the most able and experienced Speaker the house ever had, was strongly in favour of bringing the business on these nights to a conclusion at a fixed hour, and stated that tho debates on Wednesday, which were brought to a conclusion at a fixed hour, were the most prac-lical of any that took place. He suggested that all the debateable business should terminate at half-past eleven o'clock, and the house should positively rise at twelve. He saw no difficulty in this. In point of fact, on ordinary nights the business did close by twelve o'clook, and he saw no reason why it should not be made imperative.
It might be said that there might be adjourned debates, wittt whioh such an arrangement would interfere, but bow, when debates wore adjourned, tho adjournment usually took place at or before twelve. And with reorard to the objection that it would prevent adjourned debates being uuui'iuueu uia uie iuuauay or inursuay mgnts, ana cy ex- tending them over to the government night limit the time at the disposal of the government lor government business, he believed that if members knew that the debate must close or be adjourned at twelve o'clock, they would curtail their speeches accordingly, Again, it might be said that the pro-po-ed arrangement would interfero with the privilege of private members, but if private members could not bring on the motions iu which they took interest before midnight, they might as well, for all practical purpoe.es, not be brought on at all. (Hear.) He believed, if instead of nocturnal tbey adopted the practice of diurnal legislation, they would benefit themselves and tho public, Bnd would afford a necessary relief to the members of the government, the officers of tho house, the Speaker, and members generally. Mr. LAURIE seconded tho motion, observing that there was no reason for midnight legislation and if hon.
members would shorten their speeches, and allow themselves and others to got to bed by 12 clock, they would be more healthy and live longer, while the business of parliament would be quite as efficiently transacted. Mr. L. KING was sorry to differ from the hon, gentleman, the effect of whose motion would be to curtail the few hours which independent members how bad forbiingiDg business forward. He hoped that his hon.
friend would not press his motion, Mr. Secretary WALPOLE said ho snnoosed that the hon. gentleman opposite, in reality, wished to call the attention of uuubu iaj tuiu buujuui, uui, nt, couiu not imagine mat tne hon. gentleman was really serious in maintaining tht it would be of advantage to the conduct of the business of the house if a rule was adopted of terminating debaios at a fixed hour. The Tuesdays and Thursdays in oach week were the two nights when what were called independent members (laughter) had opportnnites of bringing on tbeir motions, and it would not be reasonable in the government to assent to any attempt to curtail the opportunities enjoyed by ihoBe gentlemen to state their views.
He wished the hoa. gentleman to consider, when he was endeavouring to give the house a lesson with regard to limiting thehours of itB debates, that they already did limit tbe time on Wednesdays, and they certainly had good debates on Lu.uEu.uayu; our, any non. gentleman wno wisced to throw over a measure (hear, hear) bad a great opportunity of doing so, by lengthening out his Bpeech until the hour of adjournment arrived. (Hear, hear.) He thought that the good understanding which ought and did prevail in tho house, and the good sense of members, shouldbe trusted fo for bringing business to a cloBeat earlier hours rather than any fixed rule on the subject. Mr.
WILLIAMS thought that the motion did not go far enough, but ought to apply to government nights as well, for on those nights measures of importance were passed at 1 or 2 o'clock in the morning without proper consideration. Lord PALMERSTON said that he quite did justice to tho motives of the hon, member for Dumfries, and he concurred in the general object of his motion, namely, an endeavour to cuttail the house within such limits as were compatible with the due discussion of the subjects brought befure it. But he was sorry tbat he' could not concur in the motion. He thought it unadvisable for the bouse to bind itself by self-denying ordinances to the observance of any-strict rule on tins subject. They often bad before them pressing matters, and the public service might suffer if by a fixed rule, tho houee was compelled to postpone their consideration at a certain hour.
Suppose that an important subject was brought on on a Monday, and the debate not being concluded, it was adjourned to Tuesday, and it was important that it should be concluded on the Tuesday. Yet by the rule proposed, it would be easy for anvone by adopting a well-known tactic to spin out the debate till half-past eleven. There must then be an adjournment to Thursday, and the same tactics being adopted on that day, the debate would be again adjourned to Friday. In this very great public inconvenience might be caused by the adoption of such a rule. He was more disposed to trust to the good sense of the house to conclude the debates as soon as was practicable and consistent with the due discussion of the subjects to which they related, than to rules which, the objection vrith regard to eakiug against time existed now on other days as well iWtfhHMftns.
He-would twilling. J51 wi-Tfr the noble lord aud other members who had Dok7n hnt he haiquoted the dninion of the moat imwUui tte proceedings of that house, tte late Speaker, and sheltering himself under that authority, though with great respect for the opposite opioions which had been expretsed, he felt it to be right to tnke the opinion of the house on the subject. The hpiue divided For the motion 28 Agsmffrit- i 237209 AT MEERUT AND UMBALLA. Colonel SYKES rose to move for an address for copiea of all Departments and the military au.hor.tlts at Meerut, whetherflivisional, brigade, or regimental, re-epetttng the court-martial at Meerut in April, 1857, upon the 86 troopers of Ihe 3rd Light Cavalry together with copy, in extenso, ot the proceedings of the court-man ial and con espind-ence consequent thereon; and of all correspondence, reports or proceedings relating to the 36th Regiment Bengal Native Infantry having, at Umballa, iu March or April, 1857, expelled ftom their caBte (excommunicated) those of their comrades, constituting a detachment of tho 36 Regiment, engaged in learning the Enfield rifle practice at the depot of instruction at Umballa. Ho said that he it.
"iifals w3jic51 had Bse" laid on the table oi the House of Commons during the recess, which was de- cinnaiArl (i T. --w jropers, insorrecnoD, Kast Indies." Inis indicated that it was a duplicate of the original number 8. That paper he saw.in manuscript at tbe India House in the spring of l.st year, it having been intimated to him that it would be laid on the table of the housoi He replied tbat if that was done he should be constrained to move tor certain papers and documents wbich contained information which uu uuen leit ouc or mat paper. Un tiis it was withdrawn and tha matter pa-sed by. Nevertheless in the recess the paper appeared, and it comprised a selection of the corre- eponaence relating to the proceedings of a court-martial at ivieerui on oo troopers ot tne 3rd Light Cavalry, snd of the proceedings relating to the 36th Reaiment Bengal Native Infantry at Umballa, who were excommunicated by tbeir comrades as having lost caste by using tbe Enfield Rifles.
He would read a passage from a letter of the Judge-Advocate-General of the Army, signed 'H. Young, to the Chut Commissioner of the Punjaub, whioh was to the effect "that the Chief Commissioner must have observed in the public journals an erroneous account of the mutiny at Meerut, which Colonel Sykes had given in his speech a debate in the previous August. This account, coming from such a high authority, would be received as the correct version of what had occurred at Meerut, and as it would be some time before Colonel ISjkes received an account of the true state of the case, it was necessary to explain that he had been Jed into error by some ignorant or designing individual, tbe effect ofwhich would be most injurious, furtttat itappeared as il an officer of the cavalry bad endeavoured to force the greased cartridges on tbe mm, and tbat the coinmandintr officer had prevented it." He (Colonel Sykes) was not bound to answer such an accusation, but when the termB ignorant and designing were applied to his informant a person of character and honour, and an eye-witness to "t-ourreu ne was sound to defend him. The papers before the house contained, among other documents, a letter written by an officer of a troop of the 3rd Cavalry the night before the mutiny to the commanding officer, explaining the circ*mstances in which the men were placed, and urging him not to force them to obey the order. It was tbe universal practice that all extenso should be sent to the India House, but it was not ln tnis case, and in selected statements great injustice had been done.
He would read a memorandum of what occurred at the neighbouring station of Umballa, near Meerut, and which was a station for the practice of the Enfield rifle, and where, consequently, the greased cartridges ware us'd. The memorandum stated that each regiment of native infantry had instructions to detach au officer and mumtet of sepoys for rifle practice at Umballa. The 36ih Regiment at that time composed part ot the escort of the Commander-in-Chief General Anson. A detachment of this regiment left for The Commander-in-Chief noniinuMi his ttmr nf in. spection, and arrived at Umballa in March or April, 1867.
The detachment of the 36 Regiment there, as was usual, came out to meet their comrades, butthose who hadbeenprac-tismg with the Enfield rifle were repulsed by their comrades, and declared to be excommunicated, as having lost caste by the use of polluted cartridges. The men in question explained to tbe others of the regiment that there was nothing polluting in the caitridges; hut they were deaf to the explanation, and treated the men as outcasts. They informed their officers of the fact, and wringing their hands, and with tears in their eyes, descr.btd the miserable state in which they were placed, that is, neither their mothers, fathers, brothers, nor einters, could touch or come near them, and they wero severed for ever. The circ*mstances were made known, to the officer commanding the depot, who censured the native officers of the 36th Regiment for allowing suoh treatment of the men. The native officers, takinsr alarm, said tht thoro WftS no Substance in their Mid t.Viat tlio rp-nrnn'ha of their associates were only a The facts were known at the neighbouring station of Meerut, and the men of the aru vavairy, wnen toey were asked to adopt the new method of using cartridees.
distrusted it. and combininsr th circ*mstance with what had taken place at Umballa thev buc.i uuiuars mtj mgnc oeiore tne parade at wnien tney wo.c uoo rue uanriuges ma iney wouio. not ouey tne order to do so. This beoame known to the authorities, and a letter was written by the Adjutant-General to Ihe secretary to the Governor-General, to the effort, that. ot.
ill tho dtmnta f- rifle'practice tbe men had U6ed the now cartridges, and precautions had been taken to prevent the men from the depots ituuiuiuK' laerr corps irom Deing taunted witn Having used the Enfield rifle." He fColonnl Svkpul hrl rnrofntW read his speech of August 11, 1857, and he had not a word to alter or unsay in it, and the documents ho asked for would testify to its aCCUraCV. If tho bn Yinw mnrod fnr appeared to gainsay anything be bad said, he would acknowledge his error, but till they did so, he would repeat his opinion that nothing but the most lamentable ignorance of native feelings and prejudices, and want of tact, had caneed the outbreak at Meerut; but it having brokm out, nothing but the most fatuous inaction, when two Europe an regiments wore in the garrison, prevented its being crushed and if that had been done the men would have been prevented getting to Delhi, and we should have been spared thousands of lives and millions of money. A CTiVTDV wuwiAiijuDi twiu it, waa quire naiuiai tnenoa. and gallant gentleman, whose statement bad been rnntraMe-taA. should be desirous to vindicate his assertion.
He (Lord Stanley) had made inquiries about the papers referred to, and had ascertained that tbey were not yet sent to England. He DUt as some ot tnem mignt llA Of A ATlfilfolinl n.fn 41, 1 .1 1. 11 would allow bim to see them before he promised to lay them oi me aouse. tie noped tne boo. aud gallant gentleman would therefore withdraw the address he had i moved.
It was quite possible that the papers would be of a character to be laid on tbe table, but if they consisted of correspondence between the Commander-in-Chief and the Judge Advocate General, it might be inconvenient to produce them. Colonel SYKES said he had the ulmoHt prnifirlpncfi in ttio noble lord's assurances, and would leave the matter entirely in bis hands, The motion waa therefore withdrawn. ABOLITION OF CHURCH RATES. Sir J. TRELAWNY moved for leave to bring in a bill to abolish church rate b.
Mr. GRIFFITH rjrotasterl nD-aiTiut tho UiU nf tho bit! which, if it were introduced iu so rapid aud unobserved a mntiYinr. TntTi(. 4-u i amendment of the measure afterwards inadmissible. The bill ought to tc in'roduced under a neutral title, suoh as to amend the law relating to church rates this would allow the discussion to proceed fairly but under this title, as a bill to abolish church rates," it would admit but one way of settling the question.
It was not likely that either house of parliament would allow church rates to be thus summarily swept away, without any consideration of the interests involved in them. He could understand tht such a proposal suited the political purposes of gentlemen anxious to win tho applause of popular constituencies, but he did not believe the country would approve of it, on that the honest religious dissenters wished to carry into effect so intolerant a design. He would not offer any impediment now to the introduction of this bill, but only protest against the free judgment of the house being fettered by the ti le of the bill. Mr. PIKE Baked the hon.
member for TaviBtock to explain tho provisions of his bill. Sir J. TRELAWNY said the bill was precisely of the same character as tbat wbich he introduced last session, and he trusted no opposition would be offered to it. ia this stage, as he had understood from the right hon. tbe Home Secretary that the government would consent to its introduction.
He desired that tbe question should be settled but in order that everybody might have an ample opportunity of making his views heard upon this bill, he would not a for the Becond reading until to-morrow (Wednesday) fortnight. Mr. DRUMMOND remarked that the hon. baronet was desirous the question should bo sett'ed, the meaning of which was that he desired the church should allow herself to bB robbed quietly. It bad been openly admitted by the school from which this and similar measures proceeded, that they did not care about church rates, but tbey urged this question as a way of gettisg at tha abolition of tithes.
That was what they wanted, Bnd if they did not intend to put the tithes in the landlord's pockets, they intended to put tbe church rateB in their own. law bill being the same that to a certain extent passed the house last year, some respect was due to it, and it was difficult to refuse leave to bring it in, but the members who were hostile to the object of it bad a right to stipulate that no advantage should be taken hereafer of the title. Mr. WALPOLE said the hon. baronet had asktdhim whether the government would oppose the bringing in of the bill, and he answered that the bill being the same as that of last session, no opposition would be offered at this stage.
The discussion upon the bill would take place hereafter, and he (Mr. Walpole) would be ready to state the objections he had to on the second rt ading. Leave was then given to brinar in tbe bill. PAUPER SETTLEMENT. Mr.
ESTCOURT moved the appointment of a select committee to examine into the operation of tbe Act 9th and 10th Victoria, chap. 66, wbich enacted that no poor person ehould be removable who bad resided five vears in any one nA r.1 1 (11.1. it'- 3 pIJal1, nJiL "ir" 'u ivtii auu inn victorn, coap. 11U, and 11th and 12th Victoria, tin wWUTJ. IZl the relief given to su.h immovable poopcrsSn should be wifh thS UTa, 11 necf s3y I Ztl ii Th last dted ac W0Dld expire next ye.r hut it aid seem to the e-nvpmmPTit.
that tn -w i i iSWZlS gufon muBt bo deoided I 3 J834'1Tllfn new Poor-Jaw Act passed, all m.eans aay poor person aoquirnsr settlement. 'SS of We birth, were taken 7. uu I0T 01 twelve years, and wasfuund towork very hardly, siace formerly, undeJ tde old law, a poor man could move from one place to another, and nrtimni a wuarever niS occupation orra- duttry calleW In 1816, therefore, an act was passed, providing that no poor person, having resided five yejrs in any parish, should: be removable from it. Bat no sooner had tbat act been passed fbau it was found to entail a great additional expense on particular parishes, and in the next year an act was ptissed wnich charged tbe cost of the relief upon the whole, of the union in which that parish happened to be situated. A select committee, of which Mr.
Evelyn Denison wascnatrman, fatinl847, to determine this gret question ot settlement and removal. That committee examined many witnesses, and investigated the matter. Several resolutions weie passed by the committee, but when the report drawn up was put to the vole in that committee for adoption, it was nesatived. and so thn mittee waB altogetherlrbrown away. Time passed on, and nothing was done, but from year to year theae temporary acts were continued.
In 1855 a committee was appointed to consider one branoh of the subject, the removal of Irish and Scotch poor peisons; but that committee found itself compelled to consider the main question, and passed a resolution recommending that the term of five years should be reduced are ui irremoyamiity sliould be ex- tendj-d from the parish to the union. In the tbUowine year the President of the Poor-law Board introduced a bill to carry those recommendations into effeot, but that b-U was withdrawn, and now the question was as far from beine settled as it was in 1846; indeed it was in a worse poiition now, in some respects, than it was in 1834. It was proposed therefore to decide now whether the provisions of the two acts he cited the title of this bill should be maintained, and under what condition', or whether they should be superseded by some other provisions. Mr. H.
A. HERBERT observed that the interests of tha Irish poor were deeply involved in his question, and he hoped there would be some Irish members appointed on the committee. Mr. S.ESTCOURT sa'd he proposed to put the same names upon the list as thoss of the gentlemen who composed tjhe committee last year, and in that list Ireland would bo fully represented. Mr.
AYRTON thought it would be useless to examine into the operation of two isolated statutes without going into the whole system. The entire administration of the poor laws in every department should be etnbrawd in the inquiry, ihe area of relief, and the area of management, should be the mam questions for consideration, in determioin? the principle r.f settlement. He meant to take an early onSjrtu-m'Z bringing this subject before the hou-e. The resolution for the then agreed to. SALE OF POISONS.
Mr. WALPOLE moved I.0atn iki- W1IUK XtA Uill IU TtJ- gulate tao sale of Doisons. At tbA purl loot on this subject came down from the House of Lords, founded on the report of the late commission; but objections were taken to certain clauses interferim with tho ness, and at that late period of the session it was thought better to let it stand nvor fnr an tao reasons, nowever, which weie then ured in favour of such a measure had since been increased by the fearful accident which occurred last autumn at Bradford, where a whole population were put in danger by ihe inadvertent sale of poison. The present bill was founded partly on the Areenio Act, passed 15 years ago, in which there were certain restrictions on the sale of arsenic, the fact of the sale, the name of tho buyer, the quantity sold, and the purpose for which it was required, having to be registered. It was the opinion of Mr.
Jacob Bell, Dr. Hernaman, and Dr. Taylor, the eminent chemists, that the Arsenic Act had to a great extent answered its purnoje, in dimini-hing the number of poisonings by arsenic, and Mr. Taylor said that, during tbe last year oniy two cases were brought to Guy's Hospital. The I itegisn-ir-ijeneral's report showed that the number of cases of arsenio poisoning duririg the year 1857 was reduced to 27, whereas in tho two years 1837 and 1838, the were 185 cases of poisoning by arsenic, or 94 in a year.
If tbe law regulating the sale of arsenic bad so far succeeded, it was desirable to extend similar provisions to the sale of other p-isons. But the late sad occurrence at Bradford resulted from a mistake instead of selling the article which the purchaser demanded, and which was one supposed to be innocent, tbe dealer sold another article, which in fact was arsenic. Tbe existing provisions merely as to the sale of the poisonous article were not sufficient to prevent such a mistake, and it was necessary there should be some legal regulations as to the keeping of poisons, as well as the sale of them. I he bill of last year, iu order to supply this defect, provided that in the dealer's premises there should be a prison closet where all his poieons should be kept together, separate from other medicines or drugs: but it was objected tbat the business of a chemist ana druggist could hardly be carried on under such a condition. There was another method suggested by the committee of the House of Lords which he thought might very reasonably be adopt ed.
It was that the person who Bold certain poisons should be required 0 keep eaeh article io a box or vessel labelled, in a conspicuous manner, with the word Poison, and that the article should be sold in a wrapper or coyer aleo labelled Poison." All the evidence showed that this would tend to prevent mistakes, and the bill which he now asked leave to introduce, therefore, contained such a provision. Ctrtain penalties were imposed for breaking tbii law, and power was given to the justices in session to ord-r any constable to go into shopB where such articles were sold, and to see that fhe law was duly observed. He believed this would have a good effect, though, no doubt, the committee were right in saying that the best security would-be to raise the standard of education among chemists ana flrnggists, and to take care that they were well qualified to compond and dispense the medicines in which they dealt. It appeared from the Registrar-General's report lor 1857, that 401 persons died by poison in the course of a year; in 113 oases fhe poison was not specified 34 persons died by opium, besides 89 by laudanum, and two by morphine 34 by prussio acid, including 15 by essential oil of almonds 27 only by arsenic 23 by sugar of lead; 13 by oxalto actd; and 15 by sulphuric acid. The deaths by poison might be divided into murders or manslaughters, suicides, and accidental deaths.
Of deaths from the ute of quack or improper medicines, the number was stated at 183 in four years. It was not to be expected that any legislation could materially diminish tho number of suicides, or of deaths caused by poison deliberately given for the purpose of taking away human life; though in oases of murder, such regulations as he proposed would, no dubt, give As be had before said it was a mistake to suppoee that any regulation with respect to the sale of poisons would stop self-destruction. The registrar's report showed that eight-tentbs of thosa cases arose from the halter, drowning, or tbe razor, and only two-tenths wera ascribed to poison or other causes. The object of the bill was ohiefly to regulate the keeping and sale of poisons, so as to prevent the fearful number of accidents which had arisen from the sale of these articles. The other point whioh he had to bring before the house was the articles which should be included in the schedule as poisonous articles.
The committee of the Houee of Lords had placed 23 articles in one schedule, and he did not know how many on the other. Now, it was impossible to expect that the business of chemists and druggists could be carried on with such regulations; and he had cut down the number of articles from 23 to 13, and should be glad to find that the number could be still further diminished. Ihe only articles with respect to which he felt any great difficulty were laudanum and opium, because thev were continually asked for by the poorer classes in small quantities, and by placing difficulties in the way of obtaining small quantities the trade might be unduly interfered with. He hoped be had overcome the difficulty by including the poisons of opium aud landanum in the schedule, but providing that where any poisonous article was required by medical prescription fhe enactments or the bill should not apply andaleothatwherelaudaaumandopium were asked for msmalt oantitiesthestrictreguIationsofthebillshouldnotbeobserTed. He invited the attention of the house to tho bill on its pas-sagothrough committee, and would take care to fix such a day for its consideration as would suit the convenience of those parties who were interested in the matt r.
The was then agreed to, and leave was given to bring in tbe bill. CHURCH RATES COMMUTATION. Mr. ALco*ck obtained leave to bring in a bill for the voluntary commutation of church rates. COLONISATION AND SETTLEMENT (INDIA).
Mr. W. EWART moved the re-appointment of the select committee to inquire into the progress and prospects, and tbe best means to be adopted for the promotion, of European colonisation and settlement in India; especially in the bill districts and healthier climates of that country as well as for the extension of our oommerce with Central Asia and that the committee do consist of eighteen members. Mr. VANSITTART said that two vacancies bad occurred in the committee, in consequence of the hon.
members for Guildford and Leominster haying accepted seatB at the Council of India, and the hon. member propoEed not only to fill up these two vacancies, but to enlarge the committee by the addition of two others. The committee was a'ready inconveniently large, and he was afraid that if they pursued the system which was acted on last year they would be table to make any report during the present ses-ion. Mr. CHEETHAM recommended the nomination of one ot the members for Manchester on the committee.
Mr. WALPOLE thoncrht that whsn wuo hud uoioutiiiii DI T.nfl crni I fu- -nprerrrxi appointed they ought to be confined as much as possible to those members who had previously served. A regulation had. been made by the house that the numtxr should not exceed 15, unless some special reason should be given for a larger committee. He suggested to the hon.
mrmberthe propriety of giving notice of the names for consideration on a future day. Mr. EWARThad no objection to accede to the proposition of the right hon. gentleman. The motion for the appointment of the was then ELECTIONS.
Mf-C9LL1NS obtained leave to bring in a bill to assimilate tns time of nroceedinD- Tnpli.tinn uij Ireland, and Scotland: tn limit th hi- tJ. election during recess, and for vacating seats by bankrupt ui iu: uBuiiB gi uommoiis; ana lor o'lier election purposes. On the motion of Mr. S. Estcouht the following select TtlTTntrOQ rrifl A 1 11 16 PPneri to assist Mr.
speaKer in au matters and for tZFT SfapS papers presented in pursuant oTm? i by members of the house Sir J. Pakington, sTr F. Baring tw. tit-ii tti. ttrLb) jcv-iomr vt tubule, lur.
ntiniuj', nxr. uaraweii, Mr, HOUSE OF LOKDS Tuesday, Feb. 8. The Lord Chancellor took his teat on the woe-buck at five o'clock. PETITIONS.
By Lord Ckanworth, from certa'n dissenters, praying that di. sinters might beeligible as trus'ees for si-hoote and ether institutions of a like nature, in certain cases. By Lord Stanley of from other dissenters, praying to the lite effoct. DILAPIDATIONS TO GLEBE LANDS. "Viscount DUNGANNON askel whether any measure sanctioned by the right leveiend beDch, was likely to be ia during the presmt sf ss'on, to alter and amend the law with reference to dilapidations in glebe lauds.
The law stood in need of mny alt rations, fur it pressed very hardly up iho clergy, and yet did nut work satisfactorily to promote the end it had in view. An incumbeiit was sometimes remove! very speedily from onoplace to another, and in frucha case thelawVorkeddirect injustice. Heh.dbimselfcon-lemplated bringing in a bill, but he felt that it would come much better from the rirrlit rev. banch. He did not see tho most rev.
prelate present, but be trus ed that the Bishop of JUOnclon would be able to answer ms question, jib auny trusted that the present session would not pa.s by wiihout something being done to remedy the evils attending the existing law. The Bishop of LONDON had been instructed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, in tbe unavoidable absence cf ihe latter, to auswer the question of Ihe noble lord. This question referred to what was no doubt a very difficult subject; a subject which had, however, already occupied the attention of tbe bishops. Those prelates who were in London had already fully considered it, and tbe mattt bad gone instruction, had already been'given f-tr the preparation of a ML which he trusted would put an end to the evils ai tending tho existing sys'eca. "IMMIGRATION AT JAMAICA.
Lord BROUGHAM asked whether the royal assent had keen given to the Jamaica Immigralion Bill. He trusted that their answer to this question would be in the negative, for he believed that act was fraught with dangers. It had been hurried through the legislature of Jamaica with such speed that the very numerous party of persons who ohjec'ed to it had had no opportunity of petitioning against it. He would not go into a discussion on tbe subject, because if the royal assent had been given, tho matter was of such moment that it must soon come before their lordships' notice ia a more formal manner. The Earl of CARNARVON reminded the bousa of the circ*mstances under which this net had come under the consideration o'f he government.
Some time back, as the noble lord knew, the government had received an act of the legis lature of Jamaica upon this subject. That act was found so objectionable in its c'auses, that bis right hen. friend at the head of the Colonial Department could not advise the sanction of the crown. A despatch was addressed to the governor of Jamaica pointing out the objectionable nature of many of the provisions in the bill, but not dissenting from its main object. Since this another act was passed, notfiee from objections on sume grounds, but yet a great improvement on the former measure.
Th-'a bill his right hon. friend intended should receive the sanction of the crown on the first convenient opportunity. He was bound to admit that the government bad received several memorials ng.inst the act, but after considering them with "every possible attention and respect, his right Ion. friend bad come to tho conclusion which be hud already stated. 'With reference to the hasio in which this act was said to have been passed, he would remind his noble friend Lord Brougham) that the principle of this aot was not a new one.
Similar provisions had long extended to every West Indian colony, except Jamaica. Lord BROUGHAM said that tho act was in fact passed through the legislature of Jamaioa with undue haste-. It was brought in on one Wednesday and had passed through all its stages by that day week. And the house should remember that between these two periods there were two days, Saturday and Sunday, on which nothing could be done. He believed that the act was a most dangerous and unjust one that it would tend to the detriment of the poorer classes, and give great encouragement to slavery.
Earl GREY thought his noble friend appeared to condemn all immigration. Now he believed that it had been ot great service to the West India colonies. It was only the other day. that he saw the account of the voyage home of a number of coolies who had am ssed cons'derable sums of money. No doubt care should be teken to avoid anything tending in the slightest degree to the encouragement of slavery.
The noble earl (Carnarvon) had said tbe act in question was in some respects objectionable, and yet that it was to receive the sanction of the crown. Now, if these objections were at all serions, this course was, at the least, a very imprudent one. It had recently been thepracice of the home government, sa it invariarly was when he held the seals of tbe Colonial Department, to submit none of these bills to her Majesty for confirmation, till they had been so amended as to be unobjectionable. He was sorry to hear frni the noble earl that that practice was in this instince to be departed from, and he could not hdp thinking that the inc.nveuienoe of delay was a stubII evil compare! with that of giving up a power which it was so essential for the government to post es. Lord BROUGHAM said a few words in explanation.
The Earl of AIRLIE said, not having seen the act till yes-erday evening, he was not able io enter into the subject fully, but he wished to examine some of the arguments urgtd against it. The noble and learned lord (Broosrhaml presented the other evening petition which contained statements contradictory of each -J of labour in Jamaica, and that the efforts which had been made from time to lime to obtain more labour had been unavailing. How could those two statements he reconciled? Again, it was alleged that the free labourers of the island were apprehensive that the introduction of immigrants would tend to lower the rate of wages. He should have thought that even the negroes of Jamaica might have It arnt by this time that parliament had repudiated theidea of regulating the xate of wages. When the planters of Jamaica or Trinidad complained of the went of labourers, it was no answer to tell them that other West India islands wera flourishing.
The s'ate of things was not similar. In the larger islands there were immense tracts of land yielding food in abundance, and the negroes squatted upon Ih's land and sup-ported themselves and their families comfortably wi'hout labouring for others. Neither was it any answer to 8ay that some planters in Jamaica cultivated sugar profitably. The reason was that they were few and had the command of the labour market; if the number was increased there would be fierce competition, and with so limited asupply of labour, ruin ubucj. A vi a.
aa fiuu cna. inere was annnnRnrw informed that many of them, after having served their indentures, felt so eatisSed that they were glad to renew them. The attention of the country had lately been directed to the large amount of internDeranee wbich existed in these inlands, and he had heard that there was to be an inquiry this year with regard to the result cf restrictive legislation. Such legislation had proved a failure, as indeed must be the case with all attempts to make people virtuous by act of parliament. There was one mode, however, of checking intemperance which was quite unobjectionable, and that was the substitution of beneficial articles for intoxicating drinks; and, inasmuch as immigration tended to render sugar abundant, it was advantageous not merely to the colonists but also to this country.
This question had au important bearing on. the slave trade. If he had read the cone-spondence between the noble earl at the head of foreign affairs and Mr. Da'hs correctly, they had now no power to stop a Blaver on the high seas if she hoisted the American flag they had also abandoned the blockade of Cuba and they were therefore now reduced to the watching of tbe African coast, and the endaavouring to cultivate among the natives a taste for the arts of peace. It was quite clear, however, that every cargo of free emigrants conveyed acroaa the Atlantic tended to the discouragement of tho slave trade and that, too, in a manner which inflicted no expense on this country.
He was happy to think that better prospects were opening on tho West India ielands he was confident that they would do their part, and he hoped her Majesty's government would do theirs by encouraging the anvu.ui;iiuti ui uee luuuur. meiore sitting Gown, He wisneti to ask the neble earl (the Earl of Carnarvon) whether he would object to the bill being printed and placed in the hands of their lordships The Bishop of OXFORD rose for tbe purpose of impressing on his noble friend on the bench below (the Earl of Carnarvon) the great importance of adopting the suggestions made by the noble earl opposite (Earl Grey). His noble friend below him said there were parts of the bill which Ihe government would require ihe colonial legislature to alter, buch a statement clearly implied that the alterations required were important, and he wished therefore to impress on tho government the exceeding disadvantage of letting the power pass out of their bands. In the colonial legislature there certainly- might be persons who would endeavour to outvote those persons who had given a pledge to the government that the alterations should be made, and in what position would the government be placed if tbe bill were passed with defects which they Baid ought to be removed before it became law The more important it was both for native races and for the West Indian colonists that immigration properly conducted should be fostered and encourairea, tne moe anxious he was that no mi.tako should be made which would tend to raise a cry in this country against the principle of immigration. He would suggest to his noble friend whether it would not be better for tbe government at once to say that they would not present the bill to her Majesty with these blemishes, hut have it printed with the correspondence and laid on the table in order that their lordshirs might be able to form a correct judgment on the subject.
The Earl of CARNARVON was afra'd he had led the house into a mistake cn this subject. Desiring to be exceedingly accurate, and to omit no single point in the sequence of events bearing on this question, he state! that there were bio's and blemishes in tbe bill which the government would require tbe colonial legislature to alter. But he did not lay sufficient stress on the fact that every one of these alterations was unimportant in reference to the general operation of the bill. It would no doubt be advantageous as regarded the completeness and entirety of the mta'ui-e that those defects should be but he did not see a possibility i nay practical evil result'ng from them in case if tbey MoieOTC1' if BS te kid no reason to tuppose wouiti be the case, the colonial l-gislature should not remove fl minister had full powers for bringing ttirmVtfaS.vn- must ttat throughout the whole of murabb legisl.ture had s-hown av.rv ho-BooTfWtb HZ tf inS tb! government in perfect ir n7tn v0Ii to thorn, no aouot, to ne. which they had erred i Het rf Jrc( to tWBrlrtriso, ft he teheved, unintentionally, but error, and they had honi! i to th redyiug of 'his nact honestly endeavoured to tin? out tho Mr.
Divett, Mr. GakelL' Mr. t3, Tad sK eote three to be th uue'y and Sir S. Sm frit -wiiv rv OiJXTtfLY Ml iTInW UATJ the chair. "upon, Mr FITZBot the chair committee tnerenpo: portion oi tne Queen's sreech rlnm mates having been readmit was res Jvfd 8 granted to her Majesty.
4 thst 8BPply trdj 0 'r- uujumatum flair-paat 7. uis, SSALTB 1KB WPKTr The weekly return of births and deaths in 2 issud by authority of the Register-General I m0ndo ending Saturday, February Sf states th, I th turns futnish satisfactory indications of imnrnl a4oil public health. The deaths in the mePn 1 1 wiuoawere 1,429 the second week of T. shown a constant decrease during the TIn SatoS 1,243. In the ten vears tlywe of deaths in the weeks SL1 weea was l.lUb: hnt "un i occurred a population wbich has inSf can only be compared with tha averLe por-ion to that increase.
Mrnelv TeJmsii Pro! shows that the deaths of last week Wp number which would have til rate of mortality. the Tho Hoa-T. haviwTangedTbvSToS IrlhemTr considerable extent above it, since end of Zl TS' number referred to this head in the tab? for Tia whtofc includes 16 from diphtheria tL uipmnena occurred the following Isltneton West. 1 in n' a Ul draya-inn-Inne 1 i le 0TAV. in f3ft.
I 1... districts 1 mers town, 3 ifburv. I c. James, Clerkenwell, 1 in keno TZm 1 St, worth, linBattersea. 1 in Rtr.
Z' Wal. in Woolwioh dockyard. Beside, 'thl and I Besides thno a death cccurrel irom meostes and deaths occurred from ecarlatina in the t-rl0- Sit uipniuena 6 from the same disease in the sub-district i st ford. Smallpox was fatl in 11 'ntt st- Deot. an adult died from syphilis one fi? i ms besides 3 from delirSm tremens6 Socmen diseases incidental to childbearing.
Two persons Ai a JB carbuncle. Thirty.four person? died fr0Pm in, dental or otherwise, and amongst these are 3 infante A1; been murJered, and two persons who bad committed Tho death of 9. m. t.l mmi. tTeTe 9 birfclls of 939 bys and 983 girls 1,922 children, were registered iu London.
In thf if im'58 At the Royal Observa'ory, Greenwich, the mean he-to of the barometer in the -a-oolr moo OQ.flQS tu. tne instrument varied from 29-25 in. on iu. me on the next day. The mean 3 week was 396deg.
wbi, his 21 deg. above the aveX the same week 43 years (as deteimined by Mr Bet! the highest and lowest tenipe.attuvs inthe eS curred on Saturday, the former having been 52-2 the later 30-5 degf' Theextreme ranged LpV'fi lnthedayandtheweekwastterefire 21-7 de Thl daily ranee was 12-3 dev. Tho dew-po'nt temperature and air tem erature waa 5-8 ierrk mean degree of humidity of the air was 80. The mean The Patent Hoist Governor. By a recent invention which has lately been brought into practice ration by Mr.
Marcus Brown Westheld, of Manchestr Zl the terrible accidents which are so continually occurrS tho breaking or slipping of hoist ropes, both in mkesLu and in warehouses, are entirely prevented. When it is sidered how many thousands of irivate warehouses throuX out England use steam hoistf forlthe conveyance of 3 goods to and from tbe upper floors, and that nearly 3M (KM miners are daily conveyed by the same means to and their work, the immense importance of an invention which guards sgainst accident occurring, i i.her from the cams run-mng at too great a speed or the rope breaking, can 6e fullv appreciated. Various contrivances have from time to time been invented for guarding against such accidents ia mines, but none of them have done more than 'uenis arising tram the breakup of the rope to which the cage is attached. But this is far from being the only xause of accidents occurring iu connexion with lifts and 1 hoists; indeed the most frequent causes ere those arising from the overrunning of the engine, tbe breaking of tbe cog-wheels or lathe ban! attached totheenjrne the escape of the shaft or roller Uf on which the rope is wound. The grand principle of the invention is that of masing tbe hoist box or cam used in mills m1, mines, their own governors and regulators.
This is accomplished by a pair of governor balls (similar to those used in the ordinary steam engines) attached to the top of the hoist box, which acquire a momentum through the medium of a friction roller, which cons'antly rists egainBt the side of tie shaft or well hole, and by a driving band communicating therefrom to the governors. Should the htiiif dox even attain a speed atove that which ifr is onstinallv reenlated fn travnl at tho of the govern brings into action cams and cstclw which on coming in contact wiih the guides of the hoist! instantly retard the downward deeceut of tho box or cute For instance, ifthe hoist or cage be regulated to travel at eighty or more feet per minute, so long as this speed is not exceeded, the governor will admit of the free working of tie-hoist, but should tie descending box from any cause acquire a greater velocity, the governor balls become expanded, dtE-engage a trigger, which brings the catches into immediate operation, and the box brcmen KtnnnMt tth instant the regulated speed becomes exceeded. The cantri-vance is both efficacious and simple, and can be fixed to any hoist for a few pounds. The inven'or has also contrived a lift for raising loaded waggons and teams out of mine shafts, acting much on the same principle. Though four chains ate used in connexion with tbe lift, should every one of them get out of order or break, the apparatus becomes instantly stopped.
Geologists' Association. On TuecrkveWntr the 8th, an address was delivered by Mr. H. Clarke, V.P., on the organisation of a continuous geological survey by local Bcsuuiiiiur Kiumuirees oi tne memDers, contnhutingyiarly teptrtsonthe progress of geology in their districts, which would embrace additions to the surveys and maps by sub-classification of formations discoveries of new minerals and fossils, and particularly substances suitable for aaricultaral manures, building, manufactur. or mining; accounts of mmcs.
quarnes, wens, cuttings, tunnels, landslips, ana otn.fi operations by which the substrata are penetrated observations on the wells, springs, rivers, and tublerranean water strata thermal observations electro-ni8gnttic observation on mineral lodes records of local earthquakes, as those oi the Comrie district, by Mr. Drummond all phenomena ol turn aurai.ri me eaect oi ancujurai operauoim (n the soil and surface the result of special inquiries on building stones or researches for economical substances. Ho referred to the share that women bad taken in geological pursuits, to Lady Murchison, LtdyLyell, the Marchioness of Hastings, Miss Benett, Mrs Cobbold, and Mary Anntng. City Commission of Sewers. Yesierday a court, at wbich Mr.
Deputy Christie was held for the despatch of public business. Dr. Letheby, the medical officer of health, reported on the state of 209 houses that had ben inspected during the week, snd he snbmitted a list of 36 places that required sanitary improvement in variom particulars. The mortality during the week his fallenfrom S2, the number of deaths in the preceding week, to 62, This is exactly the average fir tbe corresponding weeks of the last three years. Of this number of deaths there ware 27 among children of less than 5 years of age, and 12 among persons of 60 and upwards.
The proportion of deaths from phth. sis has been very large, it amounting to 16, but those from pneumonia (3) and bronchitis (11) are below the average of the season. Of the zymotic maladieB there were but. one djath from fever, one from infantile diarrhoea, 2 from diphtheria, 4 from whooping cough, and 6 i om measles. There were no deaths from scarlet fever, email for, or the diarrhosa of adults.
The public health appears therefore to be in a satisfactory condition. The court, after d.poing of a good deal of routine business, adjourned. Court of Aldermen. Yesfcrdav a court was I held for the despatch of public business. The court pto- nntJlaA 3 lit.
tuK coDsiuoraiTion ox tne po luuu u-John Elder Duffield. enmnliiinini. nf inthe list c' electors, and against the return of Deputy Lorkin, aa common councilman of tha Ward of Alderf gate-street. The petition uuiuiiiaeu inac me list wrongluily omitted me name. certain freemen entitled to vote, while it contained tbe name of others not entitled to vote, and that Deputy Lorkin been elected common councilman notwithstanding be wsj not a householder within the ward.
The petition pray either that the election might be declared void, or that Deputy Lorkin had not been properly elec ed. After going fully in'o the case, the Lord Mayor said it was the unanimous opinion of the court that the petition must be dismissed. The Metropolitan Toll Commission. This commission, appointed pursuant to resolution, of the House of Commons so long ago as May last, held its sittingfor first time on Monday, under the presidency of ViscsuM Eversley. The int-rval has been employed, it is stated, in collecting information from the parithes as to the eub.mat" for toll-gates.
Universal regret is felt in Hamburg for the death of Professor C. F. Wurm, who ior tbe last twenly-B" years has been one of its moBt dis'inguished ornamtntf. His attainments as a scholar and as a liDguist were of the highest order, and his mode of conveyinu to his ttudeufc the knowledge which he possessed was both affectionate a successful, while his perfect acquaintance with all tn-intricacies and details of international law had acquired tor him a fame in other countries which eould only be snrpU! by the high standing wbich he had acquired in his ow. Professor Wurm was well known in England, and t-e valuable evidence which he last year gave before the cfTti mittee of the House of Commons on the Stride dues will fail to be appreciated by all by whom it was perused.
The Speaker has appointed the following toe; bera to serve on the general committee of elections for present session Tho Right Hon. Sir F. T. Baring, Bar the Right Hon. Sir W.
Meredyth Somerville, Bart. William Heathcote, Bart. Robert Palmer. Esq. llIiau Miles, Esq.
and John Bonham Carter, E'q. perarare oi ne water ot the Thames waa 42 deg. ThT Mew generally from tbe south-west. On ThirsdavfrWo from the north.J IRaiu fell to the amoantjof 0 40 ir 7 6" HOUSE OP COMMONS. Tuesday, Fbb.
8. The Speakeb took the ohair at four o'clock. PETITIONS PRESENTED. Sale of Poisons. By Mr.
Tuknek, from Manchester, for the better regula'ion of the ea'e of drugs and poisons. The Paper Duty. By Mr. Paget, from the proprietor, pub'isher, and printer of ihe Notts Advertiser, for ihe repeal of. Duty upon Hops.
By Sir J. Shelley, from the hop-growers and others of prayiig for the repeal of the exoise duty upon hops. Fairs and Maekets (Ibeland) Bill. By Lord J. Browne, from a place in the county of Mayo, against certain portions of the Markets and Fairs Bill (Ireland).
Timber Duties. By Mr. Clay, from Hull Chamber ot commerce, tor tne repeal ot. NEW MEMBERS. Mr.
Adams, for Boston, and the Lord Advocate, for Linlithgowshire, severally took the oaths and their seats, NEW WRITS. New writs were ordered for the borourrha of Enniekillen and Greenwich, in the room of Messrs. Whiteside and Townsend. NOTICES OF MOTION. EDUCATION.
Mr. COWPER gave notice for Tuesday, tbe 22nd, to call attention to the proceedings of the Committee of thePrivy Council with reference to the reports of the school inspectors, and to move that the reports of these officers be tabulurly printed as heretofore. COUNCILS OF CONCILIATION. Mr. M'KINNON for that day week to bring inn bill establishing councils of conciliation.
GUANO TRADE. Mr, CAIRD, for Friday next, on the motion for adjournment, to.call attention.to the state of the guauo trade with Peru. CHINA AND JAPAN. Mr. GREGSON, for an early day, a motion with reference to the Japan and China trades.
FISHERIES. Mr. M'MAHON, a bill legislating for the fisheries. Several members (nearly 100) were exoused attend-tnea on the committees of tho house, on the ground that their respective ages exceeded sixty years. NATIONAL GALLERY.
Sir H. WILLOUGHBY asked the Chief Commissioner of Works if a gallery for pictures was building, and ia what locality if so. what would be the expense of such building, and out of what moneys voted by parliament would such expense be defrayed. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the question of the hon. gentleman was really one of importance, as i', in fact, referred to the affairs of the National Gallery.
Last year her Majesty's government, warned by the continued unsettlement of the question, and having no oonfidence in any further committee or commission, undertook its settlement. He had now the pleasure of announcing that they had succeeded in accomplishing what ho balieved was the general wish of the house, namely, that the whole of tho National Gallery building should be devoted to the national pictures. (Cheers,) So anxious was he to brine this vexed Question to a settlement that he had twice purposed to propose a vote of money to build a Royal Academy, but the governing body of that institution, with ft spirit worthy of their distinguished position, considered that in a building raised by tbe public funds their independence would be and having themselves sufficient resources, announced that they were quite ready to raise a building for themselves. (Cheers.) But, considering the position the academy occupied, aud the claim they might be said to possess, arising from their long accommodation by the crown, the managers did not consider that they would compromise their independence, by tha acceptance of a site for their new building, and ho trusted that the house would take a similar view of the question. Such was the state of affairs, when it was announced by Ihe proper authorities that hie royal highness the Prince of Wales would require to have Morlborough-house delivered up to him in November next, and that being only eight months off, he (the Ctancellor of the Exchequer) thought that he would be but fulfilling the wishes of the house by placing the Vernon and Turner collections in a proper re-cep'aole, under tha control ef the trustees of the National Gallery, so that there might bs no question hert aft eras to what publio institution should have the control of them.
The first idea was to place them ha the building known as Cureton Ride, and it was found that tbe expense would be 3,0002., and that moreover the building was not fire-proof. Under these circ*mstances, the piece of ground at Kensington-gore, which it might be said was rented from the commissioners by the government, was appropria'ed, and a building was determined upon for the reception of theMarlborough-honse and Sheepshanks collections until the National Gallery should be ready to receive them. He believed he might state that the whole cost of this temporary building would not exceed the annual rent of that which had been at one time pioposed. The result was that he hoped at the end of two years to see the National Gallery devoted wholly to the national including the Turner and Vernon collection', and that the temporary building would remain for occasional use to the public departments. He trusted that this short statement would prove satisfactory to the house.
(Cheers.) Mr. K.INNAIRD inquired where was the new site ifor the Royal Academy was situated The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER. On part oi the area whero Burl'ngton-house now ood. The internal building would wholly belong to the "Royal Academy, but the exterior would be subordinate to a general design. MANNING THE NAVY.
Sir C. NAPIER, asked, pursuant to notice, the First Lord of the Admiralty when the report of the commission for manning the navy, with the evidence taken before the commissioners, would be laid on the table of the house; and also when tha return of deserters, moved for last sossioa, would be laid on the table of the house. Sir. J. PAKINGTON said that the royal commission was now considering the reDort.
and it would Drobablv be laid on the table ia a week or ten days. In answer to tho seoond portion of the gallant admiral's question, he -begged to say that the return of deserters would not be ready for two months from this date. It had already employed six clerks August last, and would cost not less than 500J. Hear, hear," and a laugh.) He took some blame to himself for having granted such a return, but he had not been aware of what the coBt would be. He hoped that hon.
members would avoid pressing for suoh returns in future. (Hear.) TURKISH IMEDALS. Mr. LAURIE asked the Secretary of State for War when it was probable that the Turkish medal so long promised by the baltan would be issued to the army engaged in the Crimea; and whether it was intended that a medal would be awarded to the trcop3 engtged during the Indian campaign; and if the report was correot that several of the Queen's regiments were now ordered home. Gereral PEEL said that half the Turkish medals awarded to the British army had been received in this country, and were in course of distribution.
Forty-seven thousand had arrived, of which 10,000 (as we understood) had been distributed. As stated by him last year, medls had been issued for India, with special clasps lor Lucknow and Delhi, and for the garrison of Lucknow. The number of regiments were seven infsntrv and one cavalrv. and thev wero merelv those wbich would have returned in the ordinary course of louei uul lor iue ureuKing out oi roe mutiny. CORRUPT PRACTICES AT ELECTIONS.
Mr. H. BERKELEY asked the Attomev-Ganeral whether, seeing tbe probability -ot an early dissolution of parliament, it was nis intention to deal with the Corrupt Practices Prevention Act, so as to endeavour to correct its tendencies, or to permit toe electors of Great and Ireland to elect members under its present TheATTORNEY-GENERALsaidthatthequestion which the hon. member had addressed to him was undoubtedly one of very great importance, and the subject had received, and would continue to i eceive the anxious consideration and attention of the government. He could not admit, however.
that the question was left altogether unconsidered, or even undetermined during last session. He was unable to state what course the government intended to fake, but this he might say, that tha earliest opportunity would be taken by some member of the government for hanging the subject before the house, and making what he hoped would be a satisfactory statement. Possibly an opportunity would offer wnen me reform toll came under consideration. THE ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH. Mr.
H. BERKELEY out the followinsr auostion to the Chancellor of the Exchequer If it were true that her government was aoout to grant a guarjntee or subsidy to tne firiunnc letegrapu company and, it so, upon what coa uniujitf The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that several applications had been made for a subsidy, but the government had not come to any resolution on the subject. EXCHEQUER BILLS. Sir G. C.
LEWIS asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if any funding of Exchequer Bills had recently taken place and, if so, to what extent, and by what authority The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied that there had been some funding of Exchequer Bills, to the amotmtof7.600.000?.. under tha mitTiorikv of thn rmnmis- stoners of savings bi.nks, and consequent upon the fimneial operations of tho war. The votes of credit were taken in Exchequer Bills, but to such an amount that it was impossible to place them in tho market with advantage. The course to which the right hon. gentleman had refeired was that which had been had recourse to on former occasions under similar circ*mstances; but it made no difference whatsoever as to the liability.
Sjr G- C. LEWIS did not know if ho had caught the right hon. gtn'leman's words correctly that certain Exchequer Bills authorised to meet votes of credit bad not been issued'; but whst he wanted to know wis, whether fhe Bills which bad lately been funded wero bills that had not been issued but had been held in the hands of the oommissirners of saviogs bonks? The CHANCELLOR of tho EXCHEQUER The rigttton gentlemtui has misunderstood mo, if he supposes I t-tvid that ihcie bills bad not been issued. Of course they weio issued, but what I meant to soy was, that from the large emount of such securities upon the market thev had not assumed that at itudo which the government could desired..
