The Express. — London, England, 1848-04-01 00:00:00

Aailk- ••,....1%.... -- ` - IMPERIAL PARLIAMEN HOUSE OF LORDS.—FathAT, Hews 31. The LORD CHANCELLOR bat his seat at 5 o'clock. PUBLIC BUSINESS. comerrreg.—Borough Pollee superammetion Fund B ilL STATE OF IRELAND. Lord BEAUMONT referred to som e returns which the no ble marquis (Linsdowne) had laid on the table yesterday, with reference to arms in Ireland, and said he regretted that the noble marquis bad not m ade any remark certains on the state o observa f Ireland. When the Arms Act was pseud tions were made as to the conduct of the Roman Catholic clergy, and he wished to know what bad been the conduct of that body and the general e ff ect of the act since it had been in operation. He thought such a statement might be most salutary. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE was happy to any he could give an answer which he trusted would be satisfactory to the noble lord and the house The effect of the o o armuts bill had been that a co m p lete stoppage had been put - rage in the most disturbed district/ in Ire juries wesse —had ail discharged their respective duties necessity repressing crime and restoring order ; but the Roman estholic clergy had also generally lent their aid large portion oto inculcate a prof the r respect for the law. (Hear, hear.) A c lergy had se an improve d b e en actively engaged in preventing disturb ances. (Hear, hear.) He was glad to recogni spirit in the Roman catholic tholic clergy . , and to bear his testi mony to the fact that they had mainly contributed to the reservation of order. (He ar, ,hear.) The people of Ire and had also manifested seal and attachment to no the less instithan tu tions of this country , for on a recent occasion 160,000 signatures had in a short time been appended to a petition expressive of confidence in the; overnment from ca Roman tholic, u well as pro testauts ; dhe might also state that in this country, particularly is Manchester, no lees than IG of the Roman catholic clergy in that town had exhorted their hearers to preserve order. (Hear, hear.) Therefore, he hoped that, with the aid of the improved spirit which had been shown in Ireland, her Majesty's government would be able to ma i r tain that which they were de:ermined to maintain —public order. (Hear, hear.) Lord STANLEY congratulated the noble marquis on the statement which he had made, and he did it the more readily because he had expressed an opinion earlier in the session that there were individuals among the Roman catholic clergy who, by their denunciations, hail caused the commission of crime. Hs did not doubt but that they preferred the peace of their c .untry; but bethought they fult it was for their in. tenet that the preservation of public peace should be attri buted rather to their influence than to the law. There were, however, indications of a very different spirit among them. (Hear, hear.) The case at Manchester and the example of a clergyman of the nan.e of Macenery were proofs of this fact. (Hear.) If there was a subject to which Englishmen could turn with congratulation, it was, that while almost every other government was tattering to its base—whilst there were convulsions in almost every other country in Europe-- those convulsions had foond but a faint echo here. (hear, hear.) On the contraey, ;hey bad led to a spirit of determi nation in the great bulk of p hist higher and lower classes to maintain the law and public ce, amply sufficient to overawe the small minority who were anxious to - ;:isturb it. Therefore, he thought they might look with pride to those free monarchical iustitutions which had sueported them in the hour of trial. (Ilear, bear.) In Ireland the spit it of dis content was more widely spread but even there there had been a feeling exhibited to a great extent, by net only pro testant, but maladies, that the spirit of discontent must be put down. He trusted the noble marquis would give noble lords credit for the motives which had kept their lordships silent. He would imitate the prudent caution of the noble lord who had introduced the subject, and also of the noble marquis, and not enter into any discussion as to the state of Ireland, however alarming it might be. But he might be permitted to say, looking at the language which had been held in that country, it did appear to him that there was in the law a deficiency in meeting . a cer tain class of offences with a proper punishment. While the legislature visited high treason with condign punishment it appeared to him there was a class of offences beyond sedition, and which did not amount to high treason, which ought to be subject to the correction of the law. It appeared that there was a body in Ireland stimulating the people to acts of violence, and who were not liable to be tried as state criminals for high treason, hat only for misdemeanor; yet the effects which their conduct might produce—the in crease of force rendered necessary--the disturbance and alarm to which their ace might lead—ought to render them liable to a punishment leas tardy than the ordinary process of indictment for misdemeanor or prosecution as state criminals for high treason. This appeared to be an error in the law; and be thought, under the circumstances of the country, , that some amendment ought to be made ; but whether this was the most fitting time for such amendment he would not say. The noble marquis had entreated their lordships, to bestow their attention on the subject, and he hoped their lordships would continue to do so, because he thought the state of the law in the gradations from sedition to high treason ought to receive the anxious attention of all who were desirous to see bloodshed avoided and peace maintained in Ireland. (Cheers.) Lord MONTEAGLE thought they ought not to look to the priests alone, but adopt other necessary measures to pre serve the peace. Never tor a period of 25 or 30 years had the law been more satiafactorily administered than at the present moment. (Ilene, hear.) The people of Ireland be gan to see that acts of violence interfered with the applica tion of capital and the employment of labour ; and a better spirit was evidently manifested. (Hear, hear.) Their lordships then adjourned at ten minutes before six o'clock. • HOUSE OF COMMONS.—FRIDAY, MARCEL 31, The SrEsicza took the chair at 4 o'clock. PUBLIC I:I7SINESS. Tnnu) ILEADLNGS.—Propoty Tax; Stamp Duties Assimilatio THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENIIITO, APRIL 1, the internal management of prisons in the met ro p olis for should be eekibited to the proper authorities of the depart ment over which his right hon. friend presided. The cues stated by the hon. gentleman opposite were of a most into lerable nature. (Hear, Dear.)lLY. Mr. HUME wished to know whether Lord ?dinto was interfering between Naples and Sicily as an authorised agent of the government ? As it was important that they should keep aloof from the suspicion of intermeddling with ether states, he hoped he should receive a satisfactory answer. Lord J. RUSSELL said that Lord ?dinto had credentials to the court of Naples , and, beving been requested by the King of Naples and h is ministers to interpuse the good offices of this country for t he purpose of making terms with Sicily, Lord /dint°, as the repneentative of an ally of the King of Naples, thought he could do no less than interpose in that measure, and he proceeded in a ship of war with such toms as he thought would be satisfactory to cily. though he proceeded in a ship of war it was not his intention to use any force, and he went there merely with a view of rendering _a friendly service. Mr. HUME hoped that as the King of Naples had now abdicated, his interference would cease. EVICTIONS IN GALWAY. Mr. SCROPE said that the subject of which he had given notice was of sufficient importance to be brought forward on going Intel committee of supply, but as the subject was under the consideration of government, and as they intended to introduce a measure for the purpose of putting an end to those frightful and shocking evictions which were taking place in Ireland, he would be content to lea tve hat the matter in , their hands. It was nec essary, however, the should be speedy and thorough, because ejectments to an enormous extent were about to take place. There were 6,000 ejectmeuts served in one union alone. The bill should not be confined to illegal ejectments, because cases of a more frightful and terrific character took place under the form of law, as in the case of Wiliam, where 140 families win turned out of their homes in mid winter by Mr. Walsh, who was an attorney, and therefore well knew what he was about. He would, however, leave the matter in the hands of the government. Mr. OSBORNE thought the course which the govern ment and the hon. gentleman had taken reflected credit on both parties. (Hear, hear.) Mr. FRENCH said the conduct of the hon. member far Stroud was deserving of censure for bringing forward charges against the Irish landlords, night after night, which he did net proceed with, so as to give others an opportunity of answering them. lie could show that his charges had no foundation in truth. Mr. REYNOLDS thought the hon. member for Stroud was deserving of praise, incead of censure, for the urin ate in which he took up this question. (Hear, hear.) The last charge he brought against the Irish Isndlords was founded on official authority, that of Major M'Kie. (Hear, hear.) It appeared in the report of the central general relief committee of Ireland, over which the Marquis of Kildare presided, that 580 parishes. inclueing one fourth of the country, had sent returns, which were suhatantiated by the parochial clergy, and from these returns it appeared ' that up to December, 1817, no less than 36,166 individ died of actual starvation: 94,007 had died from diseases caused by bad and Insufficient food ; 68,140 were that date labouring under disease, and 62,730 had emigrated. But 90,000 had emigrated to Canada, and of these the hon. member for Kinsale (Mr. Hawes) ad mitted that 13,000 died. If he took the entire of Ireland it would appear from theestatement that not less than 1,060,000 !mean beings hail been swept off the face of the earth for want of food. Could the parallel of this melancholy fact be found in the history of any civilised, or even uncivilised, nation ? The people of Ireland felt , hat nothing could make them worse than they were, and they began to despair of justice from that house. Mr. STAFFORD did not think the eroded of the hon. member for Stroud was open to the criticism of the hon. member for Ithecommon. Sir 0. GREY really did hope the house would not now enter into a general discussion on the state of Ireland and the Irish poor law. lie believed the poor law—what ever might be the difficulties of its operation—had greatly mitigated the distress existing in Ireland. With regard to the particular question before the house, he would only say that the government hid no renson to disbelieve the state ment of Major M'Kie. The government felt that sufficient powers were not given under the law for the protection of evicted parties, and a measure was under their consideration with reference to the subject. (Hear, hear.) Sir H. W. BARRoN said Ireland would be quite satisfied if they had a bona hde poor law such as they had in England. Members ran away with the idea that the laws were the same, but in reality they were materially different. The Irish law was a palpable failure, and was pauperising a large proportion of the farmers of the country. With respect to the evictions complained of, he staked his veracity and expe rience that in nineteen cases out of twenty, if the facts were really sifted, the evidence against the landlords would bresk dawn. Half the charges were pure falsehoods or gross exag gerations. Sir U. GREY said if the hon. member would inform him of a single case in which the statements of the blue book were untrue or exaggerated, he would strictly sift it. bit H. W. BARRON said it would be impossible for him to point to cases. Many of the people charged really did not know that they were accused. Mr. FAGAN highly eu logised the general conduct of M r. P. Scrope. lie thought the gratitude of Ireland was due to the hoe. member for bringing forward the eve of Mr. Blake. He should like to ask the govei nment whether it was iu tended to publish the correspondence relative to that trans. action ? lie also wished to direct the attention of the go vernment to the evictions now going on upon an estate ix the Tralee union under the authority of the Court of Chan cery. Upwards of 600 miserable persoas had been evicted. Mr. MONSELL said that having read the blue book with considerable attention, he felt bound to say that the state ments therein contained appeared to him to be drawn up with great are and attention. Mr. R. M. FOX asked whether the returns relating to the Chancery estates in Ireland were prepared ? Sir W. SOMERVILLE said he believed the papers were on the table of the house. Mr. OSBORNE said that was a mistake. The return was in manuscript, but it was not printed, and was likely to occupy some time in going through the press in consequence of its vo luminous character. Mr. HUME appealed to the government to bring the whole subject of Ireland under the consideration of the house. The order of the day was then read, and the house went into a committee of SUPPLY—ARMY ESTIMATES. Mr. F. MAULE then rue. lie said it was now his duty testo pro s pose to the house the amount of force which her Ma ' government had thought necessary to propose for the y ensuing year for the defence of this country and its dependencies. The question as to the amount of force to be maintained in this country was one which de pended upon the executive government, and any refusal to grant this force, which any government thought proper ;to propose, would be in a great degree expressive of a want of confidence in that house. If the government, therefore, had committed the fault of sending this vote to a committee up stairs, they would of course materially have neglected the performance of their duty. Accordingly, he had to propose that a force of 113,847 men be voted for the year ensuing, exclusive of the force in the East India Company's service. He could assure the house that that estimate had been drawn up with every regard to economy. Now, there were two objections taken to this vote. the first was, that a court of inquiry had existed ;a nd the endsseas, that the foreewas unnecessarily large.th respec first point he begged the house to compare the estimates of the present year with those for 1828, which would show that whilst 011 r force had been increased, its proportionate cost had busier siderably reduced. In 183.5, agate ' the number of officers, for whom a charge was made, was 4,405, whilst this year we had 1,800 officers, and the rank and file were in proportion ; but the charges were by no means so high in prop ortion as they were in 183.5. As compar ed,htherefatever ore, wi the part o present government. The right hon. gentleman then stated the:details of various economical arrangements that had been effected during past years. But the next question to consi der was, whether the force prom:reed was too large a force for the country to maintain in the present state of affairs in Europe and the civilised world. Ile did not found his demand for an increased number of men upon the state of things beyond the channel, for the estimates were framed before that state of things arose. He relied upon the general expediency which called folr reland tho roughly effective military force. The condition of , more especially at present, rendered it necessary that the military establishment there should certainly not be dimi nished, and our wide-spread colonies, our military stations in the Mediterranean, and in every part of the world, re quired the maintenance of an adequate force, not merely in the respective localities, but as a reserve at home for the re lief, from time to time, of these foreign settlements. In Canada, where our frontier, needing constant watching, bad been gradually extending itself, an increase of military force had been matter of absolute necessity. A similar increase had become essential in Bermuda, in New Zealand, and at Hong-Kong, a new settlement peculiarly requiring effective protection. The new system of rotation of foreign 6-nice was effecting the highly desirable object of limiting the lowest period of foreign service for our infantry regi ments to twelve years, a result meet beneficial to the physical condition of the troops, and which, by rendering the service more attractive, would lessen the military expenditure in limiting the necessity for recruiting. As to any reduction in the number of our troops, whether at home or abroad, he regarded it as wholly impossible. No man, he believed, would say, that in the present state of Ireland any troops could be withdrawn from that country. (Hear, hear.) There were at this moment in Ireland 26,000 troops, scattered over 150 stations. In no part of her Majesty's dominions had soldiers more haras:ing duties to perform, and he would add nothine could be more exemplary than the conduct of the troops bid been during the past year. (Hear, hear.) Englend, too, required the full amount of the trains now maintained, and of the addi tion he proposed. In England and Scotland, on the Bth March, there were 26,471 infantey, and 3,653 cavalry, 30,000 in all, being one soldier to 1,000 of the popula tion. lie could not suppose that any hon. gentleman would, on reflection, consider that this was too large a military force for the protection of this wealthy country at once from domestic violence, and from the chance of foreign aggression. He hoped the house, therefore, would consent to no reduc tion ia these estimates. The present was peculiarly a moment when this country should not weer even the aspect of weakness. (Hear, hear.) The vote was then put from the chair (113,847 men, ex. 1 elusive of the troops in the East Indies. Mr. HUMS.; expressed his approbation at the manner in which the present government managed the army, and the active stros they had adopted for improving its moral tone. As W tine extent of the ay, that was another thing. I tot woe extremely natural in the right hon. gentleman desire to give his particular department an aspect of his warrant to the Clerk of the Crown to make out a new writ for the electing of a bargees to serve in this present ant for the borough of Horsham, in the room of oho Jervis, Esq., whose election has been declared void. Mr. HUME said that if a motion which he had on the paper yesterday had come on, he should have submitted the propriety of suspending the writ for Horsham and for every otherplace where the election was declared voi d on had been accouap nt of bribery or treating, until a select committee pointed to inquire into the nature and exte nt rder to of these prntain ac time. This was abeelutely. necessary in o mai the character of the house in the eyes of the country. In the case of Horsham, it appeared that t he party preeecting the petition having obtained what he wanted declared be would proceed no further. Consequently the house was not in pore* ton of the extent to which bribery had been car ried. This was doubtless done to avoid the expense as well as the exposure ; dad it was for the house itirlf to take the matter up. He regretted that the writ had been issued for Harwich. That place certainly ought to have bren made an I example of. In Bonham , it appeared the number of elec tors was about 300, and at a convivial meeting before tke election upwards of 160 had been present, and the landlord of the house declared they had whatever they liked to call for. (Laug . hter.) Unless the how: would interfere the evil would raceme, and there would be great danger of the house being distrusted and despised by their constituents. He would move as an amendment, "that in all cases where an clectioa had been declared void through briberyd until or cor ruption, the issuing of the wri t should be suspende • select committee bad inquired into the circumstances." Lord COURTENAY did not think any fact had been proved before the Horsham committee which could justify the enspeasion of the writ. Mr. S. ADAIR said he should support the issuing of the art it, as the house had no ground before it for refusing it. Sir J. HANMER objected to the issuing of the writ. Sir D. L. EVANS thoug ht that as soon as any ca nsion se was proved, that an example ehould b e made by the suspe of the writ. Mr. BAILEY was understood te support the writ. The Earl of MARCH said that some hon. gentlemen op posite admitted they had not read the evidence, and he thought they . could not have read even the report. There was nothing in either to warrent the suspension of the writ. M r . SHERIDAN, a member of the committee, supported the issuing of the writ. Mr. WARLEY thought it would be unjust to the deo ton of this country to issue the writ. The election had been declared void through treating ; and was it fair to punish only the candidate, and not the parties who led him into the error by their corrupt propenetties They were infinitely more destrviag of punishment than the can d ida te; and on that ground be would suspend the writ. (.) Lord J. RUSSELL said that two very distinct questions were involved—one with respect to the conduct of this elec tion committee, whether they had acted widue regard should to the law ; another, as to the courts th e house pursue, supposing the conduct of the committee to be irreproachable. lie thought the committee had pursued a course in conformity with their duty, and had exercised their discretion very fairly. One question before them, and to which their attention was directed by the act of parlia ment, was, whether there had been any cempromise between the parties, and whether ene party had refrained from going into evidence of bribery . with the view of preventingthe prosecution of the petition. The committee had inquired into the facts relating to that circumstance, and had come to the opinion that there had been no such compromise. He entirely gave credit to the committee, and thought chef bad come to a right decision. Then there was a provision in the act that further inquiry and investigation regarding bribery should take place it the committee recommended it. But this committee could not well make that recommendation ; for although there were allegations in the petition respecti n g i bribery, those had not been gone co into, and could not he go into, by the committee, and nsequently they were pre cluck d from making suc h' a recommendation. (Hear, hear.) Under these circumstances he saw no call for euspending the writ. (Hear.) One of the allegations was that there had been gross, extensive, and systematic bribery, and that such bribery was open and notorious in the borough. Though he had introduced the act of parliament referred to, he thought it was detective, and he should have been very glad had a special power been given to the house, where such allegations were made, to order the case to be ' further tried by a select committee, and to obtain from them a special report. In this case there could be no such special I report. Stall he was disposed to think it might be fit, be fore this writ issued, that there should be some further in • ' quiry respecting the alleged bribery. (Hear, hear.) He th o ught the case was one of so m uch sus p icion, that it wise i right for the house to institute further inquiry. Ile was not I prepared, however, to agree to the amendment of the hon. I member for Montrose, because it was too general in its cha racter. racter. The allegation of bribery might be made only with I regard to one or two electors, and might not affect the general character of the borough. lf the alle g ation affected I the general character of the borough, it was desirable that I further inquiry should be made. Mr. BANKS said the committee were unanimous in the I opinion to which they had come. Nothing appeared before teem to induce a suspicion that there had been a compro mine. He was prepared to support the view of the noble lord if he thought there should be a further inquiry. Sir R. PEEL said that the hon, member for Montrose i proposed by his amendment that the house should abandon I its discretion respecting the issuing of writs where members I were charged with bribery or treating, till there was a pre - vious inquiry by a select committee. tie thought it 11615 de sirable to institute an inquiry where particular charges of bribery were made egging the sitting member, but he I doubted the policy of depriving themselves of all discretion in every case where a member might be unseated on a charge of treating. He thought it better tat they should of I decide on each particular case, and not depri h ve themselves all discretion by the adoption of an inflexible rule. (Hear, hear.) He understood the noble lord to propose thetil sue- I pension of the writ, not for an indefinite period, but l a further inquiry was instituted, and in that ease he was pre- ' pared to support him. After a few words from Sir H. Witiot:ounv, The Earl of MARCH withdrew his motion, as did Mr. Haste his amendment. THE NAVIGATION LAWS. In muster to Mr. J. B. SMITH, Mr. LABOUCHERE said that the hon. gentleman had asked two questions : the first was whether a cargo of cotton arriving at Havre from t ame of States could be admitted into this country, no part of the cargo having been dis charged ? If a cargo so imported entered under the Ame rican or British flag, it might come to this country as if the vessel had come direct from the United States, although it might have first entered the port of Havre. The second question was whether • cargo of cotton arrivin under the French flag would be allowed to come into thin country under the French tiag ; and whether the government would make a special exception in this case in consequence of the cotton being unsaleable in Havre ? He could only say that the admission of cotton under the French flag would be a distinct violation of the navigation laws, which they could not take upon s hemselves. In answer to Mr. Mueller, Mr. LABOUCHERE said that, in the present state of public business, it was impossible to fig any time for bringing for ward the subject of the navigation lawsfull notice would be given w hen the government were prepared to bring the question before the house. POOR LAWS. In answer to Lord G. BENTINCE, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that what he had stated in the debate on the income tax was, that upwards of 600,0001• poor rates had been paid for the relief of the poor in Ireland for four months, and at that rate that upwards of 2,000,000/. would have been expended in the year for the relief of the poor. The sum expended for the relief of the poor in England and Wales up to Lady.day, 1847, was 5,280,0(01.: and the estimate of the probable expenditureup to Ladyday in the present year would be between 200,0001. or 300,000 i. more. He was not able to say what was the amount expended in Scotland. Mr. NEWDEOATE wished to know whether the sum of 600,0001. paid in Ireland included any sums for the repay ment of money expended in relief works, or for the advances to certain districts in Ireland under the recent act, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the whole amount was expended for the relief of the poor. Mr. P. SCItOPE said the rates for the nest four months were not likely to be so productive as those of the preceding four months. Mr. DISRAELI wished to knew whether the 600,0001. included any arrears ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER 'aid that he could only say that 600,0001. was the amount paid. Sr W. BARRON said the house would not come to a just conclusioa unless they knew the amount of property rated to the poor in England and Ireland. BALTIC TRADE. Mr. J. CLAY wished to know from the noble lord (Pal merston) whether the government had taken any steps to protect British trade in the ports of the Baltic, in conse quence of the events which were passing there ? Lord PALMERSTON said that no measures had been taken, the government having no reason to suppose that any would be necessary. (Hear, hear.) CROWN COLONIES. Mr. FORSTER wished to ask the Under Secretary of the Colonial-office when the promised measure for giving self government to the crown colonies, and other British pos sessions not having legislative and representative assemblies, would be brought under the consideration of the house? Mr. HAW ES said that he was only waiting for an oppor tunity to introduce such a bill with respect to Australia. Mr. HUME wished to know whether the bill would extend to Van Diemen's Land. Mr. HAWES said it was under consideration whether Van Diemen's Land would be included in the bill or not. With regard to the other colonies, it was not in contempla tion to introduce any bill (as was understood). THE CASE OF MR. POLLETT.—COUNTY COURTS. Mr. B. COCHRANE said that having brought under the notice of the house on a former occasion the case of Follett, who had been sent to prison for contempt of court, because he was not able to pay a debt he owed, be begged to mention another cue which was equally hard, and of which he hoped ' the right bon. gentleman would also take cognisance. The present was the case eta man who owed te, and because he was not able to pay he was sent to prison,. had to miz with felons, to pick oakum, and to lie on an iron bedstead. If the law permitted such great hardships the sooner it was I changed the better. re h en ded the court Sir G. GREY said he a pp had the power of committing a fraudulent debtor who contracted debts without a possibility of being able to pay. With re gard to the case of Follett, he had written to the visiting justices and received their report. He addressed a letter to them since then, calling their attention to the regulations which ought to be enforced in prisons, and which if enforced would prevent Follett from being treated as • felon. He had not seen any account of the other case to which the hon. gentleman referred. After a few words from Mr. COCRELNE and Mr. B/LILLIB, Ms. BRUM , said; he thought the Isla s ad r. CO MMIT/U.—administration of Oaths (Court of Chancery) Bill. BEPOBT.—Eketion Beeoccizmoes NEW MEMBER. Mr. (1. Dice was introduced by Lord George Bentinck and Mr. Disraeli, and took the oaths and his seat for the borough of Aylesbury. LAMBETH WATER-WORKS BILL. Mr. BERRIES moved that it be an instruction to the committee on the Lambeth Water-works Bill, to entertain the petition of Sir Edward Burtensbaw Sugdeo, against the bill, although the same was not presented within seven clear days after the second reading of the bill. Sir W. HEATIICOTE fe compelled p to opose the motion, as being wholly subve lt r,ive of the standing orders of the house. After a short discussion, in which the motion was sup ported by Mr. Disraeli, Sir R. H. highs, Mr. Stewart, Sir I John Duckworth and Mr. Bankes , an d opposed by Mr. Greene, Mr. Wakley, and M r. Barnard, the house divided — For the motion 33 46-13 Against it SELECT COMM' ITEE ON WOODS, FORESTS, &e. Mr. SPOONER inquired from the noble lord, h te mem ber for Bath (Lord Duncan), whether the noble lord, the member for Falkirk (the Earl of Lincoln) had declined to serve on the committee to be appointed on the subject ? cit the departments of Woods, Forests, and Land Revenues Lord DUNCAN replied that he had communicated with the noble lord, the member for Falkirk, who had acquainted him that he declined to serve on the committee. Mr. SPOONER said the answer he had received saved him the necessity of giving notice of e motion on the subject. ECCLESIASTICAL COMMISSION. Mr. E. DENISON said as he was not aware of any oppo sition to the motion which stood No. 11 on the list of to-day in his name, and which bad received the unanimous appro bation of the 'elect committee of last year, uld new move that " select committee be appointed to inquire into the eomposition and management of - the Ecclesiastical Com.. missions for England and Wales." Sir R. H. INOLIS objected to notices of motion being thus taken out of their numerical order. It was most in convenient, as many members who would have been present, were not now in their places, not expecting the motion to come on. He would not, therefore, consent to the motion being now taken out o: its course. Mr. E. DENISON motion ender such circumstances, ha would withdraw the for the present. CONVICTIONS UNDER THE FACTORIES ACT. Mr. WILSON said he wished to put a question to the right hon. baronet at the head of the Home Department. He (Mr. Wilson) had that day received a letter from the firm of Messrs. White, of Loughborough, who had recently been convicted by the magistrates under an error which had crept into the Factories Act, contrary to the manifest inten tion of the legislature. The parties had been charged by Mr. James Bury, the inspector of the district, tar an infringe ment of the act in having employed in their factory a woman named Harriet Smith, more than 11 hours in one day. It was stated by Mr. White that she had come to work at a quarter•past one and remained till eight o'ilock, being em. ployed therefore only hour , ; but by a co nstruction p u t upon the act by the inspector, which, in effect, held that the woman must be taken to have commenced work with the other persons employed, viz., at five o'clock in the morning, and consequently. that she hail been at work 13i hours, the msgistratcs convicted, and intli,ted a heavy fine. The qua- tion he (Mr. Wilson) bad to te-k was, whether any applica tion had been node to the llome.office for • remission of the fine ; if so, whether the tine Irrl keen remitted ; and lastly, whether A was the intention of the government to introduce a hill to explain the error which had crept into the act ? Sir G. GREY replied that no application for a remission of the penalty had been made t the home-of ice. His right hon. friend the Vice-President of the Board of Trade had, however, placed iu his hand a letter on the subject, and he Sir G. Grey) had addressed a cummuuication to Mr. Saun ders, the paperintendent of the eiitriet, desiring to be fur nished with his report on the me. That report he (Sir 0. Grey) had not yet received. bat when it reached him be would coi:ider the whole matter, and see if any alteration of the existing law was necereery. ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE. It was o rdered that the house, at its rising, do adjourn till Monday. THE PUBLIC HEALTH BILL. Capt. PECHELL asked what were the intentions of go vernment with respect to this bill Sir O. GREY said that, in consequence of the alterations which had been introduced, the bill was being reprinted, and would he in the hands of members in a few days. OFFICE OF SERI EANT-AT-ARMS. Mr. lIUME said that he had been prevented yeeterday from bringing forwarl a question of great importance, on the subject of the now erran t office of Serjeantat-Aims. Be, perhaps, might now be permitted to express a hope that no appointment would be made to that situatioe which wou ld prevent such reduc tion of the salary as might here after be thonzht desirable. Lord J. RUSSELL was understood to say that the ap- ' pointment would be made subject to any such reduction. B OROUGH or TIM.H. The Berl 'LARCH moved that the Speaker do UAW from m th e a m t b p e o r rt to ion .q o u f u t e h h e 4 ho a u cc se ou w . h:: i se th ld th om e em u shtiilnde.i.theof tehad not • single partisan amongst observations of the hon. member. lie should l eave e that question for the Rouse of Ci...tomons was, whether the Network tbahon. gentlemen °ppm. at they the utmost completeees, of even display; but the received on the subject. (Moreirenkienael bet of troops demanded exceeded the actual necessity of the uig clines, adit th . middle classes (Cries of "Oh He Weatminster—(loud cries of "Oh oh" d cue, and whether adequate efficiiency could not b e attained the feelings of the • wchletittlne.)orlineothbeiingle"odf 1 make the Bright ) ventured to tell th e bon m' ke )aa he (I "' at less outlay, more especially in tee existing condition of wanted to know how the government were to ol up._ . would . em r . , that where one our finances. The right bon. gentleneth might very well deficiency of 1,800,0001. on last year and 3,000,000 .on this. man in Westminster sympsehtse with his speech, et they not times in whiten inadequate They were now asked to vote away money before had lout ten men . would sympathise with the oboe!, • ations rude eal that the" were also Tim T t and he wanted to know how they were to get it. by . his hon. friend the member for the West Riding. (L ou d military force should be kept up, but these were . es go i , in which no more money should be laid out, for this or They were not to have aa increased ncome tax. Would cries of e No, no. The noble lord at the bead of the a nd ifwhat 't than the actual wants of the state rte- the government propose any other tax , aso was i go d had not been more fortunate in his speech then any otber purpose, operty Were they or had the hon. member for Westminster (Lauth cessitated. New, in his clsar conviction, the number of to be ? Would it be a tax on . pr d . . ter.) Every troops demanded did exceed the actual wants of the pored to propels • legacy and pr bate duty on len or mark of approbation bestowed upon the sone of the noble tn n rth tth • k eus of another lord had emanated from the party against who th eie state, for he regarded the apprehensions under which the would they have recourse to e a b a talk of the dan ter lord had been conte di gal i t m e - --4 government purported to proceed as mere delusions. panic ? It . was lamedtable to Russia, or . ot g ar office. (Loud cries n of n " Nulo,Peno.!ler Nem h nobleet lord had punted the manufacturers of the circumstance that the estimates were framed be. country. The danger was in the whatstate h o our fi h nences. . north of En . gland fore th e new state of things on the continent. (Cries of "Oh !") Ile repeat d th e at said a - a s i r to e o vii d tle r with coming t f ? r the Home-o ffi ce and asking for meo w , Now, in his (Mr. Huoie's) opinion, we were in • much bet- vote for the navy was before theme- had noth i ng ) Even if true, that was a mutter ter position since the manifestation of this new state of things stronger with a surplus revenue andwand which fewer ch ipsto do with the present question. The than we were before it ; infinitely less liable to the risk of soldiers than an increased armament and a deficient noble lord was probably aware that whenever sold' iers were war, and less called upon, therefore, to increase our military revenue. (" with Hr, hear," and cries of "Oh !") Hon. wanted in the north of England , it had been when the p • Cures. He was convinced that if we did not meddle with gentlemen talked of the state of Europe,. bat the people of of core was sueh as to meet the . views of hon. gentle= I I other nations, there was no other nation at all disposed to Europe were too much engaged with their oven business to opposite, and it was a proverb m Manchester that the red meddle with us. The various powers on the continent had come and attack us. (Ironical cheers.) lie would not now coats came when bread was dear. As to the assumed stets enough to do to mind their own business, and we our. attempt any argument on the subject, but woule merely city for troops here, he found a return showing the re quid, for that matter, were likely te have quite enough oc- ask if hon. gentlemen opposite were ready to incur the distribution of the forces. In Great Britain there p re s e n t cupation in the am why Meer. hear-) In 1838 we had discontent of the working claws at the present amount of present 39,000 within some odd men, and in Ireland there only 80,000 troops: why were we now to be saddled with taxation ? (Cries of "Oh !") In their name he protested were 20,296 men, in addition to whom there were the maintenance of 113,000 troops ? There was even less against the manner in which the question before not less than 12,000 armed police, who had w e r e necessity for 80,000 men than there was ten or fifteen years the committee had been received, against the perfect trained and drilled, and were to ell intents and ago, for since that time en effectual Police force had been recklessness with which the public money was to be purposes a military force. It was clear then that 40,000 created both in Ireland and in England, who answered voted. and the impatience with which any opposition to it men was the number of the force in that part of the United many of the purposes of pr testion to life and property was met. He warned lion, gentlemen that they would Kingdom, and that being so he was entitled to take into which the military had Previously s , wa s His right hon. repent of having voted money which they bad not get to consideration the various circumstances under which it wm friend had asserted that the docks, warehouses, and dep ute spend. assumed that this enormous force ought to be maintained, were public property which demanded protection, and the Lord J. RUSSELL said th at the impatience referred to Before be (Mr. Bright) had become a member of the home army WSW b ee in that respect ; butwm there not the was referable to the topics introduced by hon. gentlemen, house the noble of opposite (Lord John Russell) hid civil force available for the purposes of domestic police ? He and not to the question before the committee. All that they been the friend of Irelaxd, and had contended manflly did not desire to discharge a single man from the army by had said remecting the detail, of finance, the navy set- for throe changes with respect to that courtry which he hie motion. The proposed reduction could be effected by mates, the constitution of the ordnance hoard, and BO forth, then felt necessary. lie (Mr. Bright) remembered the stopping the recruiting service, which gave 12,000 men might have been conceded, and the question before them, almost ferocious warfare which had taken place in that number of troops of the number of men, have been entirely untouched. house on the measures proposed lel the noble lord every year to the service. . The it the • improvement . for would then be reduced within the year to 100, 000 (Hear, hear.) Surely was no reproach to committee the of the condition of reland ; and yet what men. With respect to the colonies, he thought that they were impatient, seeing that no argument upon was now the political position of that portion of the nation? that they ought to kw taught to govern themselves, those details could in the least degree assist them in making She hat next to no constituency—only 105 members were and then ho troops now required there would be up their minds on the question betore them. (Hear, hear.) sent to represent her in this house, and wrong and km unnecessary. If the colonies were equitably treated they lie admitted, with the hon. member for the West Riding of qualities with respect to her political institu. would at the present moment have been at their own ex- Yorkshire, that this and similar votes determined the general tions were not denied, but on the contrary, were prose for self de fence. The motion he was about to make amount of expenditure for the present year,. and that reduc- more or less admitted on both sides of the house. was only the first step towards the final reduction which he in g small votes, although it might show a disposition to coo- She had, moreover, a church establishment —(queojen, urged. lie contemplated a further reduction of 30,000 men mise and retrench, would have little influence on that general question)—which would not last a single session but for within the next few years. What lie had to move was, that expenditure. The hon. member for Southwark was mistaken the church establishment in this country ; and she had a the number of troops be reduced to 100,000 men e. wbien was in supponng that the government proposed a large increase condition of things which our children would not believe the amount of men voted three years ago, and 20,000 more to the naval and military expense. Since their accession to possible. See what this army was for. Ireland's children than were voted in 1835. office, taking the number of men, which was the great test, lead died in greater numbers from famine and pestilence The motion and amendment having been put from the they had only added 3,003 for the navy and about 3,200 for than the sons of England had ever perished to war. chatr, the ordnance. That certainly was not so great an increase (Rear, and question.) What was to be done to remedy Dlr. V. SMITH did not agree with the hon. member for as to justify the remarks of that honourable baronet this intolerable and disgraceful state of things ? Talk of a Montrose, that the Aspect of Europe presented nothing to He said that the government were now propceing an F reat empire !—Tbat was no credit teeny sovereign or state if induce the house to assent to the demand of the govern- addition of 5,000 men to the army, the fact being that the it was not • contented empire. Better have only our own 'Bent for the number of men proposed in the estimate before general amount of the army remained the same. But it tight little island, than add to it thousands and millions et them. did so happen that nice who had been employed in India, discontented hubjecte. (Hear, and question.) Gentlemea Mr B. OSBORNE said, that when the estimates were and who were not included in last year's vote, were included opposite might laugh, but they were laughing ia first proposed Lod of opinion, considering Europe was in iu this. It was admitted that 22,000 men was not too great their sleep ; and some day they would be awakened by a state of profound peace, the number of men demanded was a force for India, with its 12,000 miles of frontier ; there something he would not describe. (Hear, and a laugh.) too great, but the recent events thet had occurred had tended were continual demands from Australia ; Mauritius must be Out of doors it was generally believed tht a privileged clan to modify his/ opiuion. He objected to the right hon. gee. protected ; Malta and Gibraltar could not be left without had a predominant influence in this hou s e . Let them rm Ucman (Mr. F. Haute) taking the year 1835 as that which proper garrisons ; and the force of the West Indies must be member that they had an enemy at their doors, and let then gave a proper standard for the number ef troops. The kept up. Looking, therefore, to our colonies, and to the act accordingly. It was high time to show a stronger syta standing army, which W introduced by Charles 11., a king rule of reinforcement by which troops could only be kept ten pathy for industry, and for the people at large. Sixty mil d whom the nation aught ever to entertain the deepest ab- veers abroad and five at home, there was, he considered, suf. lions of taxation could not long be patiently supported, shift herrence, had gone on increasing ever since in numbers. licient ground to justify the estimate proposed. It had been the burden es they might. They must come to retrench. The number cf the field o ffi cers at three different epochs said that we should seek to defend our institutions, not meet when the taxes were refused ; and he undertook to say would show how the expenses bad gone on increasing. lie by military power, but by the affections of the people. that the burden would not be much longer tolerated by the would take ,hew year 1783, at the clone of the American war,. He readily admitted that our case would iudeed be de , - industrious classes. (Hear.) the year 1798, when tho French war commenced ;; and perate if we had to rely upon the force we now possessed Mr. NEWDEGATE rose amidst loud cries of "divide ; ' the present rear. la 1783 the number of ti Id In order to defend the throne and institutions of theoh, oh." Ile begged to tell the bon. member for officers was 821, in 1799 it was 1,863, and in 1848, a country. (Loud cheere) He quite admitted as much for theta est Riding that the representatives of mixed coned period of profound peace, the number of field officers had Queen Victoria as for Elizabeth, that the best guards which tuencies knew the feeling of the industrious classes, and that swelled to 2,106, showing a greater proportion of field these could have were to be found in the affections of their feeling was one of deep disappointment with the free-trade rfficers than was required to officer a French army of subjects. It should be recollected that we were rot living measures. If any class should soon need the protection of 400,000 men. The expenditure of the army during the 32 in times when every man was a soldier, or instructed in the state, it would be the manufacturers and not the eeriest'. years of peace amounted to no hen than 415 millious ma d e- military tactics. The state o f, our society was such, that tural interest. (Oh, oh.) ling. Ito should not have troubled the house with these de- a great proeortinn of the people, being entirely engaged in Mr. HOME said he observed, that on the well-filled tails had he not conceived that he could point out the means pursuits of industry and commerce, found them- benches around him, he did not ace six individuals who had of effecting a great saving in the army estimates. The pro. selves, in the event of the slightest disturbance, been present all the evening. The number of men proposed posal which he had to bring under the notice of the corm in want of protection. (Hear, hear,) When he wa- for the army was 113,821, of which 77,297 were lett for the moue divided itself into three distinct heads. First, the in theme me-office he did not think he had ever been service of Great Britain and Ireland ; adding to these pen coneolidation of a.l the different departments of the army appe to defend the institutions of the country ; but he sioners, yeomanry, and trained dockyard men, there were into one; secondly, by effecting a eoniderable reform inithe hod been often appealed to by manufacturers and merchants 123,000 ready to be in arms for this country, exclusive of the expenditure ; and, thirdly, by reducing the iiumber of men. from Lancashire and Yo cheering on the oppo- militia. (Hear.) With this state of things, and with the The army was dividsel into three branches—cavalry, infantry, sition benches) —stating that the amount of troo must be noble lord's promise for the next year, the hon. and gallant and ordnance; and all three had separate official estcbiith- increased, or they would not be safe where they were; and member for Westminster, in his simplicity, was perfectly ments, without any one central head. There were the Corn- more than once had he been told by respectable men that satisfied. (Laughter.) For 20 years we had never had so mander-in.Chief and the Secre•ary at War ; but they mieht they must take their wives and families to a different part of many regular troops by 25,000. (Hear.) He hoped the be at issue on the most important points of regulation. 'I he the country unless • greater military force was granted. noble lord would at least be satiafied with 100,000 men. committee of 1837 had recommended that the greater pot- (Hear, hear.) The fact was, that all those alarms and dia. Sir D. L. EVANS said he had not expressed satia tion of authority over the army should be vested in quietude' which occurred in‘owns containing from 20,000 to faction with this statement of things, but he had Raid that he the Secretary at War, who fur that purpose was to be 50,000 inhabitants were caused by about 600 boys from was glad to hear that the noble lord at the head of the made a member of the cabinet. Ile would ask, why 15 to 20 years of age, who went about with torches, government meant to revise the whole system of taxation, bad not her Majesty's present ministers carried out that Lad put the whole town into a state of commotion which pressed so heavily on the industrious classes. lie plan, seeing that the report of 1837 was signed by three and disturbance. It was not for protecting the throne and would repeat, that the actual effective force for the whole of of the most influential of their body ? (Ilear, hear.) The institutions of the country, but in the civilised and social Great Britain was only 22,000, and this number he believed Beard ofOrdnance consisted of seven members, whoseeislaries condition of England, for the purpose of defending the to be totally inadequate, amounted to 9,000/. a year, which sum might be saved by great majority, and saving them from the disquietude and The cornmince divided—For the amendment 39 consolidation. tThen there was the commissariat, where trouble of arming themselves, the present amount of Against it reform might else be effected, but not until the establish- home ferce was kept up. (Hear, hear.) Ile hoped therefore Sir W. MOLESWORTH then moved that the number of went of a complete system of colonial reform. The coat of that bon. gentlemen would not think it necessary to repeat men be reduced by 5,419, being the number returning from the military establishments were—horse-minds, 96,0001.' such commonplaces. (Cheers.) lie should have thought, India. ordnance, 91,0001. ; and commissariat, 316,0001. lie would too, that the condition of forage' affairs was such as to pre- The committee divided—For the amendment 45 propose to abolish th e o ffi ce of elaster. General of the Urd- vent any member or that bout.; nom etteciing ii,is en ih_uler Against it pence and his five assistant.. He would also abolish the year for making any reduction in the military or naval The vote was then agreed to. Secretary-at-War and his deputy. (Oh, oh.) He main- force of the country. (Hear, hear.) No man could look to 700,000/. was voted on account for defraying the expenses Mined it was quite possible to do so—and also that state of affairs and say that no danger would spring of her Majesty's land forces at home and abroad. the Judge-Advocate and his deputy. These two out of it, or that be was sure of the course which foreign The following votes were also agreed to : reductions would ease 8,0001. • year. There was couotries would take, or the relations that would exist some 50,0001. for the charge of general officers not being colonels the agency also, which might safely ho abandoned. time hence between those countries and this. (Hear, hear.) of regime n ts ; It cost 32,0001. a year, and be did not sec any necessity Up to the present moment, he was happy to say, 200,000/. for half-pay and military allowances there was for it. The Indian army had no agency, and its nothing had occurred to induce England to interfere by a 100,0001. for widows' pen s ions stations were much more distant than ours. Then there protest, or even by so much as a remonstrance with any con- 60,0001. for allowances on the companionate list ; regiments things as sinecures in the army. The colonels of oriental state. But still, although there was nothing which 500,0001. for the out-pensioners of Chelsea Hospital ; might in his opinion be safely done away with. should induce the government to add to the estimates hey 50,0001. for stationery and the stationery-office ; The duty was all done by the lieutenant-coOmele, arid, be- proposed before these troubles broke out over the whole con- 50,0001. for the works of the new houses of parliament ; sides, the manner in which the colonels were paid was hie- tinent of Europe, he did think it would not be wise to make 50,0001 . for civil contingencies. graceful to themselves and the army. (Hear, hear.) Then any reduction at the present moment. The hon. member The house then resumed, and the Chairman reported profits on clothing were calculated at 600/. a year for each for the West Riding of Yorkshire invited them to progress. battalion, so that when a regiment contained two battalions the consideration of another point—namely, the great ADMINISTRATION OF OATHS (COURT OF the colonel' s profit on the clothing was 1,2001. a year. In pressure of taxation. That question had already been urged CHANCERY) BILL. this way 95,000/. per annum might be saved. (Hear, lathe debate on the income tax. Looking at thc distress which This bill went through a committee. on hear.) lie found that there were 307 generals on the prevailed in many parts of the country, it was a fit- ELECTION RECOGNISANCES BILL. army list, of whom 147 were colonels of regiments, tiag subject to consider whether any of these taxes Oa the motion that the report on this bill be further con receiving in that capacity an aggregate of 90,0001. a in go t pressed unduly, or whether a more equitable apportion- sidered, year. The second majors were almost uselese, and might o them ought not to be made. He deeply de- The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved as an amendment easily be dispensed with, and there 45,0001. more might be plored the distress and embarrassment which many of that the report be taken into further consideration that day saved. The next point to which he would call the attention our richest and lately flourishing towns had felt, six months. of the committee was the system of brevet rank. It ob- owing to the scarcity of food and other visitations. The house divided—For the motion tinned in no service but ours, and was the cause of great and He should therefore have been moat happy to have pro- Against it useless expense. Then, in the miscellaneous expenses, there posed a great reduction of the army, navy, and ordnance The report was then received, and the bill ordered to be were a great many items which might be ,lone away estimates, if possible ; but under the present circumstances engrossed. with. For instance, the table allowance at Dublin and St. which pervaded Europe, and whatever might be the purport NEW HOUSE OF COMMONS. James's was quite useleu, and cost the country 32,0001. •of the letters which the hon. member for the West Riding On the motion of Mr. STAFFORD, a select committee year. Another great anomaly of the British army was to of Yorkshire (Mr. Cobden) might have in his possession , was appointed to inquire into the proposed arrangements of be found in the ordnance department. Our army was the whatever the remonstrances which might be made from the kitchen and eating and accommodation rooms for meta only army in the world in which the artillery was an any quarter, he (Lord John Russell) thought he would be bees and efficersof the House of Commons in the New Palace insulated force. In every other service it was part and parcel abandonieg the permanent and general interests of the of Westminster ; and to report whether any and what un of .the army. With us they nere ruled by • separate country to the in understood complaints of those who proTements could be made in the present system of supply. board, consisting of officers, not e we of whom had ever served hereafter might repreach the government for yielding to ing refreshments. in the department over which they re appointed to rule. them, if he did not ask the committee to agree with the WEST GLOUCESTERSHIRE PETITION. Under this bead there was charged 825,0001 i for stori s. Of government in their proposal of the military force they Mr. GREENE called the attention of the house to the that sum he b e that • great portion might be saved if now asked, feeling convinced that such • force was n eces. fact that the petition from certain electors of West Glouces the stores were taken by contract. The Indian army was sary for purposes essential for the safety of this country. tershire (ordered on 29th inst. to be printed), contained supplied with everything by contract, except power; and (LouD A L.eers.) • paragraph referring to what had taken place in that house. with the most beneficial effects as regarded econo. Hon. Sir members had alluded to the superiority of our weapons, but discussion, but he must deny the assertion made by the of the house, and he therefore moved that the order for the he begged to assure the committee that the French musket' hon. member for Montrose (Mr. Hume), that this was in Printing of the petition be discharged. were much superior to ours, and bed a co foot a war estimate. In fact, the difference between the Mr. 0. BERKELEY suggested instead, the omission greater range, In all the items he had enume- present estimate and that of last year was a decrease of 126 simply of the objectionable words. rated there might be, if his suggestions were adopted, men and an increase of 300 horses. The truth was, that the The motion for discharging the order was, however, a saving e ff ected of 57010001. a year without the reduction of present was essentially the same estimate as that of last y ea r. agreed to, Mr. G. BERKELEY intimating that be would bass a single man. (Hear, hear.) But there was yet another And what was here gular force which it was asked to keep the objectionable passag . • struck out, and then again print saving which had been proposed by his hon. friend the ap for the defence of this portion of the kingdom—this va the petition 60 amended. member from Montrose—he meant a reduction in the centre of the British empire ? Why it was only 22, The house adjourned at 20 minutes to 2. number of men. lie believed that before that was effected, men, cavalry and infantry. In the course of the discussion a general alteration and reform must take place throughout America had been pointed to as setting this country an the whole of our colonial system. (Hear, hear.) A large example in respect of the reduction of the naval and military portion of the army was required for Ireland, but he establishment. Though America, owing to the concentra believed that if gevernment had taken up Irish questions tion of her dominions, was more secure than this with ranch larger views, and had shown a sincere wish to mentre, whose terr it or i es were sprea d f a r en d w id e ameliorate the condition of the people, Ireland wonld not be still America kept up a regular military force of in her present unsatisfactory condition. He could not euPs 56,000 men, besides having • militia amounting to , port his hon. friend's motion for • reduction of 13,000 men ; 1 , 300,000 strong . But in this country the executive but nevertheless, he trusted he should have bis hon. friend's eovernment were, he must say, placed in a difficulty, support in the retrenchments which he proposed. for they were told they must neither have a sufficient Col. SIBTRORP was surprised to hear such attacks regular military force, nor would they be allowed any on the British army from one of its most distinguished militia whatever. He (Sir D. L. Evans) had tonight I officers, the hon. member for Middlesex. (A laugh.) He waited to hear the hon. member for the West Riding (Mr. (Col. Sibtborp) maintained that the efficiency of the Cobden), but that hon. member had to-night made a most British army was celebrated all over the world, &nil had inoffensive speech, as compared with those delivered else- I been proved wherever it had been tested. He should sup- where, which be (Si D. L. Evans) bad read. To-night port the government against the amendment of the hen. the hon. member had been much milder than on former member for Montrose. occasions, for he had tallied of the merits of the army, Sir W. MOLESWORTH, who spoke amidst manifest though formerly he bad said much of the demoralisation of signs of impatience from both sides of the house, reeapitu- the army and the navy , _ and of the Motility of both services laced the statements he had made on a previous evening u in times of peace. (Hear, hear%) Last year nothing had to the growing increase of the military expenditure of the been heard from the hon. member, except on the subject of country since 1835, which he contended had been the main free trade, but in the present session the hon. member cause of the deficiency of the income as compared with the appeared to have wholly abandoned his vocation. After expenditure in the estimates. having achieved for himself an immortal triumph, which Mr. COBDEN observed that where *o much impatience had obtained for him the tributes of every cepital in Europe, Was evinced on the question whether they should vote the bon. member had come back, but had not uttered to 7,100,000 1 . for the army, in addition to 7,900,000/. for the the house one word on the great question of free trade. navy, be could scarcely bore by anything he could say to (" Hear, hear," from the protectionists.) Nay - , on the 19th bring back the feeling of the house to a proper sense of its of February last the hon. member had told the house that duty to the country. (Hear, hear, and ironical cheerio in a great part of Europe, and in France especially, there His hon. friend proposed to reduce the navy expenditure existed no other feeling on the part of the people but the de or.e-sixth, and now proposed to reduce that of the army . one- sire for the extension of the principles of free trade • but in ninth. (An hon. member observed it was not a question of one single week a ft erwards it had been found that these very " expenditure " but " men.") But the number of men set- people were thinking of something wholly different. tied the whole question. (Hear, hear.) The committee of The opinions of the honourable member seemed to inquiry on the army, navy, and ordnance began by declaring be held of importance, and as such he (S ( r D. L. Evans) bad \ that they had no right to interfere with the number of men a perfect right to remark upon them. He was rejoiced, and the question could therefore he only dealt with by the however, that her Majesty's government had not thought house. The country was now suffering heavily from taxa- prer to yield to the propositions of the hon. member, who hontine anxiously looking for some remission ; but the ha d nothing whatever to do with the naval and military de house by paning these larre items would not leave itself any partments, but who had declared at tinny public meetings room for retrenchment. They could not touch the interest that he knew better tenths eovernment what was necessary on the national debt whicli was 27,000,0001., nor the unfunded for the defence of this empire, and moreover, that on that debt, nor the coneolidateon fund; and if they now consented subject he was a greater authority than the illustrious chief to this vote, they would have disposed of 49,000,0001. of the who was at the head of one of those great and important \ estimates of the counery. When the miscellaneous estimates branches of the public service. (Hear , - ir.) were brought forward, it was possible that some miserable Mr. BRIGHT rose amidst strong minifestations of impa trumpery vote shout • messenger's wages would receive a tience and loud cries of " Dieide," The hon. gentleman warm v o i c o oppson ; some patriotic member would perhaps said that, in the few words he was about to address to the raise his o against the expense of the buckhounda, or committee, he should not attempt to put his knowledge of against some clap-trap vote of the kind. But it was only foreign affairs in comparison with that of the hon. member right the. country should know, that if that house once who bad just sat down, and who was so fond of war butsa to be alloweet these large items of the public expenditure to pass, ready to fight, not merely for his own Queen, or the there was no hope for retrenchment. Were hon. gentleman sovereign of any • other nation. (Oh, oh.) He (Mr. opposite prepared for the great discontent which was rising Bright) was not quite sure whether it would be judicious to ti in the minds of the people in consequence of the present adopt the opinions of the hon. member for Westminster enormous weight of taxation. (Ironicalcheers and laughter.) even with regard to military affairs. The speech of the He wished that those hon. gentlemen who jeered and laughed hon. member was not the most fortunate he had wouldeometohimeoraentorningandresdthelettersthe ever delivered, though it had received repeated cheers - ELECTION COMMITTEE—YESTERDAY. BODMIN.—The question of qualification having been decided in favour of Mr. Wyld, the committee pro ceeded to hear evidence in support of the bribery allegations, which occupied them the entire day. Itite Orprefos. MAILS. The West India Made, including Bermuda, Now; Ilan Il on duras, Ncw Orlea., Vera Crue, Tampico, and Porto am Itico, exc luding those for Madeira, Samuel, Carthagen, Sant St.a CanbyCanby Cl ra gres, Panama, Went Coast of south America, and Juan-des Nicaragua, will be made up on the evening of the in ApriL The overload mails for Gibraltar, Malta, Greece, the lonian Islands. P4Tpt, Aden, Ceylon, India, Mons -Kong, and China, via Southamp ton, will be made up on the morning of the 3rd April. The mails for the Brazils, the Ricer Plate, Monte Video, P on the awns bum, B a hia, Madeira, and Buenos Ayres, will be made up evening of the 4th April. The mails for Vigo, Oporto, Lisbon, Madeira, Cadiz, and Gibralla will be made up on the morning of the 7th April. Thu overload ckwed malls, via Marseilles, to the Ideditermerolli Egypt, Aden, Ceylon, India, Meng-Kong, &a., will be mad, up on the evening of the 7th April. The mails foe British North America, and the United StMe 4 , will be mae up en the evening of the 7th ApriL The mails for New South Wales, Van Dientan's Land, and New Zealand will be mode up ou the evening of the 30th April. ill ma let The mails for the West Grist of Africa and Madeira w be le B ap on the eveaing of the 70th April. ------. NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS. The number of STAMPS issued by the autboritim of the Stamp-offiee, during 1347, to the 3,447,00 9 DAILY NEWS was This, we believe, is within eight per cent. of the number issued to the Morning Herald, Morning Chronicle, and Morning Post, ALL PUT TOGETHER. In addition to the above, Maned to the DAILY NEWS " , Morning Paper, there were issued for the? verting Edits TEE EXPRESS 78,714 Which was more, we believe, than were issued either to the Globs or Standard, Evening Papers. ____.--------- TO CORRESPONDENT S. or The we.. Lola= e. Di .; war. ".a.t ended sin es, by Two &CO* en the any of yab'JcattOS. Laverueembe. be la %be °See. I‘.. HIGH WAILS AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tut Doi—Boutin. "%Miami 0. Attanuut. 3 TeAtoszow—Morning, 21 els. put u UMW" 6.:01a. put • F-.---._ LONDON, SATURDAY, APRIL 1. Tim King of BARDLVIA ii, after all, as far as the from encircling his brow with tho "iron crown," King of PRUSSIA from taking his scat in Citts- LEXAortre marble chair. Neither come forward with J paramount claims, the popular shield Milanese do not fort Xing of PRUSSIA find The Germans in vacillation, the a mbition of his are annoyed at hi combat with the on the defensive, triumph. His "belot ty e ldfpmctopoh aindislike worthy i nuttbtenlea Parisians neisaeu i nyor ecfnpktidtalpdeephpiiWgid te e i ir eao r srei tbf L ° :: c i ,ner Y a t inot ad . d petallo'nifeyte:fl is h wer might, perhaps, ma with success ; but just liberated from nonce, of traditioi War, however, is t which authority ntost difficult at gives birth to but ill amalgamate WEBSTER foresaw ing with the conqu United States, so heroes and marshy century, for the im There exists, hw prospects of Europ resources. The Ce investing his golde and in the metallic And every other faint, has bequest to the perplexed publican party. 1 a defensive war. England nor a lto sidles and loans equipping of caval of parks of artiller lion quite beyond When the l'imc days, and threat( Italian campaign! Adds, the sapient and the impregual temporary is only The question is general may have Use of operations know how are th behind him. The Times is in in its strategy, bi gene. Thus it t the probability of line of the Addi and Pizzighettom rest on Mantua sm, the trouble of are columns, so utter Daily News, whir the Times would was successful at the fortress of had been captur the " line of the . Piacenza," laid military writer i as we-did, that journals, the Au Adds sad of th passed these rive II the power of defended by Nle apparent lines of tive intelligence and the cape as well as t Venice, were The Times t 1 its pen ov e r morning, which of events, just, the ratification ( Mexico by the article the other patent, at the v the said royal p and the crown I LORD JOHN spirit with whi siderations to t that a committ ther into the al new writ for tl for purity of e courageously a of exertion. A minister for the improv to give retrenc towards the at giving up the berths, and m taking away t large ()stabil-91 and all the re< Mous distribut strong in the RUSSELL creel sire to abate such unequiv in reference rives so mu< on this subj prompt him t. 4 thing that co east a doubt of election. tween the pi purchase of it relative? I ministering members of for put, a at elections