The Express. — London, England, 1851-04-15 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE 01: LORDS.—MONDAY, APRIL 14. The LORD CitAncitti.on took his seat at tire o'clock. PETITIONS PRESENTED. Assuswase 011 TITHES TO THE POUR-ILtui.—By the Bishop of EXETER, from places in Ins diocese, complain. bit of the made of 'mewling tithes to the poor rate. ?AVM. A 0011,2.4,0111,1. —By the Bishop of EXETER, from places in his diocese ; Lord CAMPBELL, from ,Ftfe aad other places in Scotland; the Earl of EOLINTON, from Killredge, Ayr, and other places; the Earl of MIN TO, from places in Scotland ; the Earl of MOUNT CASHEL!, from Armagh end other places in Inland the Earl of teIANOALL, Irma Tipperary ,ind usher places; sad the Earl of BARILOWBY, - from places in Stafford shire and Cheshire, against pore' agirmsion. PATIXT LAWIL—by Lord BROL rillAM, from a place to Lancashire, in favour of au amendment of the law of patents. COUNTY COURTS.—CRIMINAL LAW DIGEST. Lord IIItOCUIIAM morel for some returns connected with the salaries paid to County Court judges and their clerks. The noble and learned lord contended that the public money was well spent in affording ample remuneration to the administrator , ofjust Ile weaned to take that opportunity of askiag his lecc and learned friend on the woolsack a question with reference to the Criminal Law Digest. About nine nrenths since he had had a correspondence with him So which he had expressed himself sensible of the labours of the criminal law emaniissionere, and he (Lord Brougham) bad hoped that something would bare been done on the subject: but the government had allowed the matter to ex pire. Every one was aware that the labours of the commis sion hra been very great, and even if it w. not renewed, be howl advantage would be taken of what it lead already done. Ile wished to ask his noble and learned friend whether the commission we, W be renewed The LORD CHANCELLOR admitted that his atten tion bed la en celled to the subject, but the government were eel up,ni,n that it was not iseces,ery to renew the con mimeo.. With n lerence to the County Courts, he might have mule the statement imputed to him by his noble and learned friend, and if he was somewhat incorrect in the repletion., w. sure that a very large proportioo of the benne , . ot the County Courts woe of the nature he real alluded —saw ly, to reserver sowil debts under Yob., which accounted tor the joelzes gettiul through their lists ne rapidly. Lord liltOt:011.111—One of the printipal MUMMA why pe rhino their dative more rapidly than other judge. I. that tie y I 1..1,1 the inestimable adeantage of living able talifllliii the partile• in the suit. (I fear.) CHCID "II EICILDINO ACT'S ANIENDNIENT BILL. The ball of CA ItLI sLE moved the second reading of this bill. After u few words from Karl and Lord STANLEY. MUM fir lahic, the bill wu• real u scowl time. The Earl uf CAIitLISLE the a Mal on the Lade another bill with refers-Dee to the church, the name of which did not marls the gall. ry. The 101 l wee. re ad a first time. RAILWAAs IN THE souitt (11 IRELAND Lord :JUN TEAtoI.E, pursuant to notice, fuse to present a petition from tenthly/tiers of Kerry, rot the subject of local wowestuent for the construct...it of railway.. in the mouth et Inland. 'The petition iiivole..l a most important pritnipl• , and he wished tin call particular atti-iithei to it. Horne yens ago,wheu this subject first carne before their lord at —that ol alf•ording public assists tar railway foul panies in rsland although at was late in the evokes, the measure , P.2.1r , d on likely to improve the condition of the country that their lerdships n :eddy sanctioned the bill. The line of railway from :Dublin to Cork had now been completed. Mr. Itruiwoond, however, in hi. report neouirticieled its being carried further west to Mallow, and from thruee to Killarney. 'Theo railway had fain partly constructed, but the resource" were inadequate for its completion, in conse quence of which the growl juries of the Milian-1 of Cork and Kerry had wonted to the principle of assisting by the county notes the completed of this railway ; aua the ques tion vat. whether, under the sin •iiitstances of the caw, pars lit would be dispirit d to solution that proesnition. The railway would give employee id to from thn-e to four thou sand uhle-lotelierl men, del In: of the greatest advantage to the district. A hill was now 'whore tht other hoUro. Of par- Lament .on the sabjeet, and he hoped when it came up to their lordships they would give it their a-vent. !Awl REOESItALE said that wiled something wax stated 1.1111.11 etivnger Vl4ll an)110111 lie had yet heard as reason for dispensing with the orders of their lord ships* hooase, he thought they ought nut to vanllion ouch a I tide as that sought to he obtained by th.• bill. The eialwity ease was not in ;mint. lu that ease great 'horsed ea isted, and that was the only ground upon whieli the public money woo advanced, whilst in the prevent instance it uppearon to him that private parties Coale forward and sought to rine° toner for their own pri vate nolvuntage upon the *murky oat where. Earl liltAN VILLE delineated the practice of discussing • general priuciple upon the presentation of a petition, and referring to a measure not hetwe the house. There Was soma excuse. howl err, fur this matter lk ing then brought before their lordships% and he found hinvelt in the somewhat in nougrwous positi ~,, of to u certain extent, with both of the noble lords whoa had addressed the honor. (A laugh.) Atter a frw wow& from the Earl of IlanailWaY, slick were inauottole in the entry, Earl 6ILEV thought it possible that there were "arts of In land altieh •uffered no much from the want of toninsuutcat• with other tuna of the empire-, from want of a good market for their produce, that it might he worth rue while of 'mien. of property iii those Particular pant, of the eouutry to ceinent to become yule pet to ...ult• liability in orolo r to entourage the formatiou of railiewls in this district*. Ile quite agreed with the so* lord opposite. that it was quiti. right to call the at. Mutton it tin house to a bill of so unusual a character, and be quite .tined with Ins 'idol.. frisid near him that any mewaro• ton this jrinciple ought to be looked at with the untied CAM. lie 1110114114 that, e•peCilillY when they wee legisleting for Ireland, they ought to be careful there was not Wine Jul intended. After MOM• further conversation, the petition was or dens' to lie on the table. LEtiInLATIVE 134TITI'TIONS OP niurrisu (WI ANA. laird S'fANLEY said he had now to lay before their lordships a petition of which he Rose lotus, on is fernier evening, signed by a very large number of all classes in the colony of Mita% Guiana. praying for sn entire altera tion 111 the legislative nonoitut of that colony. The pe tition was to tut unusual twat but he hoped it was nit in a form as to render it ineonsistent with the ruts s oar the house to r, cease it, in...much as the only departure Was, that ins *trail et its laiug on pier. •of parthment it was on paper and leound together. There had liven unusual pains taken to test the solidity of the siguatun•e. lie saw that it was Warmed by not less than ,i,llllll person., and he saw among them man ) oat' the none, vi lurk, who n he held the office now Ylled by - the 'noble bird opposite, were familiar to Lim w holding prominent pewit Uons in the colony. Ile saw anions them all classes, clergy, barrister', landed pro prietore, niterhants, tradesnieu, shopkeepers, sniall tree holders, and labourers Ile Was sorry to Pee, 1111"1 , 1• it old not give him a high idea of the pnntrusil of education and instruction in that colony tot late years, he was sorry to we that a large number of these eigilatun• were subscribed by Masks, and not by name, and the se marks were ninth. lint only by the Labouring chows, lout in many eases even by p"r"oms stiguaral in trade. Out hr must say that with re gard to the whole of these rise thousand signatures, almost without eleeption the profession Or trade of almost ceery single is r..tnn Was stated in it, and with regard to every street there wan the art...tattoo of a respectable witness wpm the page itself who steel to the a:nuance.... of each miniature. lit le-liev..l Cut a great number of the lower clawsle of the country had Wetted this petition, be feast• it hail been reran.. lava that the views of the lab titmers were out the clews of the community at large, hut that they were the views of .1 small number of pewee. who, at, he eel hail been slated en the authority of thenolok earl opposite, desired rather to. establish an oligarchy. Ile be lieved that tinder thew circumstances the petition led been signed by • larger number Of the lower chews than it would prohaloly have ben signed by under ether circumstances. There Wert. at present in Widish (leans two legislative bodies, Or rather One tlniatd into two. One wax called the Court of Policy, the other the combined Mull. The l'ourt of di vided wan constituted in this manner : The colony was di into Nee diericts, and these Nor districts elected by a franchime which wee a very high franchise, hut which had Wen moistly lowered. wveu is-isona. who formed what was called the electoral college, and who were eleseted fur life. This college. consisting of at v. it pewees, had the power, as a vacancy weltered in the le-gi•lstive council, to whet two person., who were then renorninendt•l to the remaining illeinlisrs of the Court of Police, and the Court of Policy out of these two selected este to till up the vacant place. Now, the Court of Policy censieted of ten members, the go:Merlinr and four other °acids, and five other persons. 'They would see that in the coustitution of the court the system of re presentative did enter. The-re were doe persons undoubt edly who were ticketed by a body who were themselves eketed for life by general otecterm. and to whose return to the Court of Policy the previously elected otercieed the veto, which conetste.l of chiseting one out of two. Out inesnauch as the Court of l'elicy eosots tett only of ten in.-misers, and that of thous teas niembeis the go vernor and tow others wens edictal members, these four aways acting as • matter ovf ontrae under the authority of, and in conjunction with, the governor, and the governor basing. besides his vote as • member, the noting sot,', it was evident that all matters might be do titled eu by lie governor le means of his own vote and coating vote rad lbw Tow* of the oftleial measlier' in what way he pleased. And, with regard to the eel, entice of the iseam! members, the governor alum had the power for the act of sacasay having nduced the attioloe-r of the council, the go. sterner and official menhers formed an absolute majority, and therefore th.• whetione of one of the two ward by the electoral college was absolutely in the hands of the governor and the edictal members. Now, this Court of Policy, constituted as be' had described, Was properly speaking the mole lefiblative body iu the colony. It had the wale control of the legislation. The vice of the want of tepee- siltation still caned; the e ice of the cdatrol of the governor • or the legielature aill subsisted, but the electoral college o chosen—the choosers were thswen by inferior and pro • less influential persons than before. Hoarser, the sas that gnat dierontent had prevailed in the colony •gartl to is institution. for a rrest number of years, t previously to the lest of April of last year many —arc held and pe'titiorts wen.agreetlon to the Court s for their ulijont a change bathe repeesenta of the country. On the 3rd of April • le that the present representative system .0 exist, and that it should be replaced by a amitably sad a tOnatil. as in Barbi/ow and other Coact of Policy negatived that resolution— ms Gait el Peke: desiot thee the peti- tion should lie on the table, and they took no further steps regarding it. A large public meeting was held in Geom. Town on the 15th of April, and another meeting on the 6th May, at which ••committee Mai appointed of sixty persona, for th e purpose of originating ope- I rations m order to effect the change, which they desired to adopt. But, unfortunately, in eonsequenee of no notice having been taken of the previous patties' on the 3rd of April, on tie 15th of April .thno demand went something further. The people deter. mined no longer to rest satisfied with a house nominated by the crown, and a house of assembly; but they demanded • purely representative conatitution, conaisting of a Co not nominated by the crown, but elected by the house of assembly ; and on the 13th June a petition from these two meetings was laid before the court, and—from what motive* he could hardly divine or understand—but this same Court of Policy, which had refused the petition of the 3rd of April come to a resolution, "that it is the opinion of this matt that the legislative institutions of British Guianaare incon sistent with the existing state of society, and it is desirable that they should be abolished, and that a house of assembly and an elective legislative council lie established in their stead." That resolution, condemning the existing appeared actually to have been passed by t he Court ofroilticyln. If anything were wanting to prove the almost universal discontent with the present system, it wag proved by *at self-condemnatory vote. Well, many meetings were subse quently held—great activity prevailed. Ile would not trouble their lordships with details, but he would state that in the course of September, on the 18th of that month, whether by the instruction of the noble earl opposite, or of his own authority, the governor introduced a resolution to increase the number of financial representatives front six to ten, and adding one person to the elected Court of Policy in the person of the mayor of George Town. That resolution was promulgated on the 19th of September, and immadi• ately afterwards the governor adjourned the sitting till the 30th of September. in the interim another meeting, very numerously attended,was held, in whiehthey affirmed more strongly the previous declarations at former meet ings, declaring that they would not be satisfied with such modifications as had been before proposed, but that they claimed institutions on the model of other colonies. On the 30th of September resolutions eauctiouing that principle were proposed to the Court of Policy, and that same Court of Policy which, in the tint place had nausea to do more I than receive the petitions—whichitalthen affirmed the peti tion, and passed a resolution supporting it, on the Bth of October got rid of the resolution by sulatituting an emend ate% to the effect that this court, recognising the prin ciple of not altering the constitution at tier pre east time, without the full sanction of all classes of inhabitants, sill abstain from legislating on the subject until a sufficient opportunity has beta afforded fur explaining in detail their opinion of what would be a full, free, and popular repreatotatiun. Now, here was a Court of Policy which eimiltaaned its own institutions, and said they ought to be abolished. The petitioners stated that there existed a spirit of deep discontent against the arbitrary character of the politieal institutions of the colony—a strong and general cone iction that the public ex penditure hall not only been moot enormous, and had pressed heavily on all classes, bat that, cn-idering the de pressed state of the colony, it had bean reck leady extravagant. The petitioner.' also stated that the cost of living had been enhanced to an ex tent which was severely felt by all persons in the colony except those in receipt of government pay. In common with all the other Weal India colouies British Guiana had suffered from the effects of our recent legisla tion. lie (Lord Stanley) did not mean to discuss this sub• lied, but he could not avoid remarking that in the ease of liritiah Guiana, while the revenue of the colony had thini nisheel—while the pressure of taxation meviously imposed was telt still more heavily than under the existence of higher pricey—it wag felt by tho colonists as an special gricsanee that (while their own produce was subject to competition with that of other parties, mid gave inadequate remuneration fur the labour expended on it) they were obliged to auffer a large amount of taxa tion upon imported liCeeS.lfici for the support of salaried 'Alcoa's. They felt it as a very great grievance that while all protection to their produce was thus withdrawn, they were compelled to pay a very high amount of taxation on those articles which they did not pro- dace but imported ler their hUSL(111111CC, and this fur keeping up theolficials of the colony. lie Legged to commetal the peti tion to their lordship notice, and to the attention of the noble earl opposite (Earl Grey). Ile did nut pretend to dictate I or straw:at to him (Earl Grey) what pr,ei , e course should In taken, but lie had to hope that the attention of her Majesty's servant would he directed to the getting rid in time of well-founded complaints regarding) au old obsolete system, and the establishment of auinething more consonant with that British coustitutional freedom %Well they were su much disposed to value. Ilia lordship concluded by pre senting the petition. Earl tiltEY concurred with the noble lord opposite (land Stanley) that it was must desirable that the British colindea should cuter me the enjoyment of represeutative government as far us practicable in the model of those A:eh-d -ont iu this country. lie begged, however, to offer a few übservatioa'ten ammo important points iusolved in the re marks of the noble lord (Lord Stanley.) And first of all, he could not admit that thin petition expressed the general opinions of the people in the colony. So much was it the contrary that oar looking over the signatures to the petition the tootle lord (Lord Stanley) would find that the algae tires of a large portion of the persons of weight and authority in the colony were not there. Ile (Earl Grey) held in Isis tl4llll a despatch froth the Governor, in which it was muted that the memorial addreiewil to the Court of Policy, itlthonigh originated by 4111Ie respectable parties, had not the aanetioni and concurrence of the large hotly of reapectable resident preprietore, but was signed mostly by clerks and others, who, although entitled to respect, were out of the chi.s of iufluential colonists. Ile (Earl Grey) had always held that, if it was desirable to have representative government, it was coistuelly desirable to have it resting on a really wide basis. lint au far were tb' parties from whom the petitiou hail emanated Luau bel ie agr e ed on the point, that although they La be asked to pro vide a bill embodying their views, they bail never been able to agree among themselves what sort of franchiee they would grant. All those who knew the politics of the colony, knew that this petition cm:mated from it coalition of two %mutate parties—the extreme de num:rats and those who wialied to re-establish the sort of oligarchy which formerly existed—who desired that a small number of per sona about' hold in their hands great power as representa tive,* of the large proprietors. Up to the year 1849, see or seven gentlemen could virtually return the elected members of the legislature, and in effect poaaessed greater authority than the goveruur on the one hand, or the real residents on the other. It was from a coalition 'if that kind that this petition mainly emanated, tend us he had already übaerved, they hail never yet been able to agree among theinaelver as to chat franchise should be estab lished amongst them. 'llw franchise previous to 1849 had been so high that it was confined to a very few, and these mostly alreentees, alto being able to act through their attentive* to a preponderatiug extent, the result had laces that practically very few 'orisons indeed were able to lecture members of the College of Electors and the Court of Policy. By the alteration ut 1519 the number of electors I had been extended to between WO and 1,000. Under the law, hoarser, OS it stood, O very largl, 11111411 Cr of persons would be qualified if they chose to enter themselves so electors; but so ignorant were they, that they would not fill up the returns, being afraid that they were preparatory to the imposition of wow u, w tax. The financial represen tetives were chosen by the electors, although the noble lord (Lord Stanley) had said the Court of Policy only was re turned by them. Lord S lAN LEY—I stated that the financial representa tives were returned by the sum: burly as the Court of l'oliry, but that they had no power to originate any measure. Earl GREY had then mitiunderstood the noble lord. The present body of electors were eub.taotially the intelli gent class of the population. The financial representatives hail the power of preventing the imposition of any new tax, wo that on all financial matters the colony did possess, to a very great estent, the power of self-government. Ile bad stated that this petition did not represent the opinions of the great majority of persons of intelligence who were resi dent in the colony, and still less did it represent the 'ono of persons in this country, who were interested In the colony. Ile held in his land a resolution he had re. etived only a short time before coming to the house that evening. It had been transmitted to him by Mr. Kay, chairman of a meeting of proprietors in Rehash Guiana. The opinion then• gentlemen entertained was this, that under these institutions as they exist the taxpayers possess an effectual control over the imposition and - to penditure of taxation," said they went on to point oat cer tain reforms and alterations in the existing constitution which they considered desirable and gteatly preferable to the sweeping alterations proposed by then' petitioners. To the alterations suggested by this rewilutiou he saw no ob jection. On the contrary. he believed they were sound in principle, and calculated to impart to the colony a fair and I proper enjoyment of power. It would be his duty to send est the resolution to the governor, and recommend that a IMeasure rootlike! thereon should pass through the Court of Policy, for he was doubtful if any alteration of the cooed- I ninon could be legitimately made except through the Collet of Policy. Having combated Lord stoniers position, that the state of the colony was becoming worse than hereto fore, he oboerved that at that moment the governor hail been able to propose a reduction of taxation to the extent of from 150.000 to 200.000 dollars, and this mainly owing to the increased produetiveneos of the existing totes. This was SO proof of diotrese in the colony. but rather the owns. lie (Earl Grey) was ialso happy to i n f orm the noble lord ( lewd Amide') that a large portion of these redactions were to be reduetwas on imported provisions. be- Wow he cordially concurred with the noble lord with nova to Guiana, and he (Earl Grey) wished the noble lord =Ohl) would concur with him in regard to , that no more suieidol policy could be adopted than 'heavily to tax the necessaries of life. Self-govern fed, he was afraid, could not remedy these evils, fur he arm afraid that the burdens of our other West India colo nies had not been much lighter than those of Guiana. lie loped, however, that the Combined Court now sitting would be enabled to make very large reduetions. Ile 'night say, its fora he coueluded, that he believed the effect of these duties on pruvioions was injurious both to the I and to the labourer. To the labourer toteati4e be it was is all countries injurious to the labourer that ; Mew should be diverted from its legitimate channel, and to the planter because, while the growth of provisions was encouraged by the enhancing tit their price, labour was than drawn from the planting of sugar and the wages eOla , monsmtly raised. while provisions were cheap the negroes, is*ee of growing for themselves on their own provision grounds, hired their labour in the production of eapt, and he was therefore persuaded that the had taken a judicious course in re these duties. It would, in his opinion, be I M O it Oa people et Claims couldbempent "ana tm l er 't i n' r l : Yg i l' i 'l s l ;j l E .. n t belly less influent! fact was that grea with r,,tar,l to Its 1 and that preriousl meetings were hcl of Polo, ,haring f tire institutions c motion was mule should cease to ea house of assembly colonies. The Li %list was W Ng, t THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY ETENING, APRIL 15, 1851 -77- for the establishment amongst them of representative insti tutions. As matters, how ever, stood at present, he con curred is opinion with the gentlemen to whom he had re ferred, that it was far wiser to endeavour fa improve *misting institutions. Lord STANLEY maintained that the usertion of_ the noble earl (Earl Grey)—that seder the present constitution the colonists of Guiana had virtually the control of the govern ment of tho colony—vras at variance with the opinions of the practical gentlemen whose resolution the noble earl had quoted. He (Lord Stanley) had another petition to pre sent on a colonial subject. It was from an as..ociation of persons in chi. country deeply intereited in emigration to British North America, and prayed that the assistance of government might be extended towards the completion of 'the Quebec and Halifax Railway. It had been suggested that the waste lands of the colony should be taken as security. Earl GREY stated that difficulties existed as to the security which was offered for the loan required to complete the Quebec and Halifax Railway. The loan might be raised in the money market of England on the security of I all the resources of the colony, territorial and general. I If the proposal were carried out the whole colony would be I liable to pay the expense. Lord STANLEY said that that was quite clear. It was true that the whole revenue and lead of the province would be a guarantee to the government; but he doubted whe ther even the whole would be a sufficient security for the sum required to carry tbe ETITIONS railway through New Brunswick. P. Lord BERNERS presented a petition from East Brent, complaining of the heavy pressure, in addition to many local rates, of the police rate upon the agricultural interest ; and also of the burden of criminal prosecutions. Earl POWIS presented a petition from the West of Eng land Church Association against the grant to .Nlaynooth. Their lorlships then adjourned, shortly before 8 o'clock, until Thursday, the Ist of May. ROUSE OF COMNI(WS.—MoNntY, Arittt. 14. The SPIEMIEIi took the chair at 10 minutes More 1 o'clock. NEW MEMBER. Mr. BETIIELL, the new member for Aylesbury, took the oath', and hi. %cat. lie was introduced by 3lr. Palmer and Mr. Hutt. PRIVATE BUSINESS. COMMERCIAL DOCKS IMPROVEMENT BILL, GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY (ARRANGE MENTS WITH REFERENCE TO THE PUR CHASE, &e., OF TUE WILTS, SOMERSET, AN D WEYMOUTH, &c. RAILWAIS) BILL AND ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL (DUBLIN) BILL. The above bills were read a third time and passed. SHEFFIELD, ROTHERHAM, BARNSLEY, WAKE FIELD, HUDDERSFIELD AND GOOLE RAIL WAY. The third reading of this bill having been moved, Mr. COBDEN &waved that the bill contained clauses saving the rights of certain landowners with whom con tracts for the provisional purchase of their property for a portion of the lino now proposed to be übandoord, had been entered into; and be wished, at the request of a con stituent, who had held a large contract for the execution of that part of the works, and whose claims were in the course of settlement, to introduca a clause to prevent such claims alio from b •ing prejudiced by the bill. Mr. E.B. DENISON, as a director of the railway, said that they hurl been taken somewhat by surprise by the proposal to insert the new clause. He aid not know that there would be any objection to it; but as the legal advisers of the company were out in town, he would ask his bun. col league to postpone his motion until to-morrow. Mr. COBDEN agreed to the suggestion, and the third routing was postponed accordingly. STOCKTO% AND DARLINGTON, WEAR. VALLEY, AND MIDDLESBOROUGH AND ItEDCAIt RAIL WAY COMPANIES AMALGAMATION BILL. This bill was read a third time and paned. HARWICH IMPROVEMENT QUAYS AND PIER BILL, AND RICHMOND AND LANCASTER TIIINl'IKE•ROAII (WESTERN DISTRICT) CON TINUATION OF TERM, &c., BILL. These bills were reported and considered. HAINAULT FOREST BILL. This bill was read a second time. In answer to an hon. member, Lord SEYMOUR. stated that the part of the forest which the public were accustomed to frequent fur purposes oi re creation was uot proposed to ho enclosed. PETITIONS Numerous petitions on various subjects were presented. MII.IIAItY KNIGIUrti OF WINDSOR. Mr. SALR•EY gave notice that he would to-morrow ask the right bun. baronet the Secretary ul• State fur the Mame Department whether the late AttorneyUeneral, Sir F. Pollock, and the late Solicitor-General, Sir W. Follett, gave an opinion respecting the Military Knights ot• Windsor ; unit if so, whether there was any objection to it, or a copy el• it, !wing laid open the table of the house ? EXEMPTION FROM TILE INCOME TAX. Colonel SIBTIIOILP gave notice that he should more when the house went into committee on the Income Tax Bill, that tenant fanners should he exempt, and also that officers of the army and navy should likewise be excused from contributing to the tax as regarded their pay and allowances. BEER-110USES. Sir J. FAKISOTON gave notice that he should, on Thursday, the I•ith of May, move fur leave to bring in a bill to amend the lavu , relating to houses for the sale 01 beer. ST. ALBANS ELECTION. • _ . Mr. E. ELLllEsun.l.;;OUglituPtheii , Port of the com mittee, who declared Mr. Jacob Bell to have been duly elected. The committee abo specially reported that notwith standing successive and special adjournment , for the purpose of bringing witnesses to prove the ease of the petitioner, such evidence had not been produced, although all diligence had been used to discover the parties. The committee had therefore been unable to investigate the case, but they were led to believe that a system of gross bribery and corruption had existed at this awl at former elections; ;end they there fore recommended a commission to be appointed to inquire into such alleges( corruption. (Hear.) After a few words from Sir It. 'sums, The SI'EAKEIt said the act directed that the house should at once tinier the report to be entered on its jour nal*, and did not give them any power to inquire whether the committee was legally constituted. (![car, hear.) Mr. ELLICE, jun., said that in consequence of what had 141..441 in the house the other night, the committee, in ac i•irelmwe with what seemed to be the general feeling, was prepared that morning to hear any argument upon the point which had been raised. It had nut, however, been alluded to by the counsel on either side ; and therefore, as neither he nor any member of the committee thought it would be right or proper to broach the subject, they had heard the tow to its cohelte.iun, and formed their judgments won its merits. (Hear, hear.) Mr. BANK ES thought the question was not one between the parties, but it was one in which the house was pecu liarly concerned, affecting, as it slid, the regularity of its proceeding , . The further consideration of the question, which hail previously been before them, had been adjourned till 5 o'clock that day ; and he therefore suggested that the subject he pogponisl until after that. (Hear, hear.) Sir G. CI.EIiK warned the house that the deci sion of the committee was final against all parties what soever, and if the house were to take upon themselves to say that when a committee had made its report, they would not, on account of sonic slight irregularity of which it might have been guilty, receive that report, they would introduce again all the evils with regard to controverted elections that the Grenville Act, and still more, the act under which these committees were appointed, were designed to remedy. The ATTOItNEI-GENERAL thought the coarse which it was their duty to pursue was perfectly belittle. Tee act said that the decisive of the committee should be final to all intents and purposes ; and in fact the simple duty of the house was merely to record the report which the committee made. (Ilear, bear.) it appeared that the que,tion as to jurisdic tion had not been raised at all by the parties interested, and with great submission he suggested that there was a motion before the house on which they could discuss the subject. The committee had brought in their report: that report was not objected to by any of the parties concerned, and there fore he apprehended that it must he received. (Cheers.) With respect to the party in custody, he hoped that he would, under the circumstances, be discharged ; but that was a subject which would come before them at another period. The report was then received without further opposition. Mr. ELLICE gave notice that ou the first opportunity alter Easter he should bring in a bill for the appointment of a commission to inquire into the bribery and corruption alleged to be practised in the elections for the borough of St. Alban's. (Loud cheers.) NEW RIDE IN HYDE PARK. Mr. E. DENISON wished to ask a question of the noble lord the Chief Commissioner of Woods and Fore's relating to certain arningenwets which had been made in the parks with regard to the large increase of visitors to the great Exhibition. Ile understood that it would be necessary to give up that portion of the park which had hitherto been allotted to persons taking horse exercise, fur the purpose of forming a road for carriages and foot people. While he concurred in the propriety of the arrangements, however, he thought it would he only fair tothe equestrians that other drive. should In formed ; and he wished toaskthe noblelord if any arrangements had been made to afford tkis facility to the public ? Lord SEYMOUR stated, in reply, that some time since he had received commands from bet Majesty to act out a ride in Ken.ington gardens; but a great difficulty arose from the admission of the public. lie had not yet t'ormcd any plan, but he hoped before long that he should he able to du so. (Hear, hear.) THE GREAT EXHIBITION. Sir DE LACY EVANS said be wished to ask the Presi dent of the Board of Trude a question relative to space in the exhibition building being granted to exhibitors of inventions, who have been hitherto restrained from making application, or sending in their goods, by the delay which has taken place in passing the Designs Act Exten sion Bill. Mr. LABOI:CHERE said that what had taken place was this. It was necessary for the commissioners and the executive committee to know, at au early period, what amount of space would be required, and what articles would be sent in for exhibitiou ; and the patties requiring ;pace had been called on to send in their claims before the 31st of October last. The result was that twice the space the commissioners had at their disposal was applied for. The various claims were referred, to the local committees for selection ; and they were advised at the same time what space could be allotted to each die triet. With regard to subsequent applications, such as those referred to, wherever, from unforeseen circumstances, any vacant space was left owing to parties not sending good s were expected to do so, or from any other cause, it was the ' object of the executive committee to dietxibute that space In a s m m o sree just w t tie th h e w va ou r l i d ou. b :e m el * i s ib t i ume tors ful . He th had whether there 'existed any intention on the lb:eethnib.itikoned, pa , t of the Board of Trade to make use of that power which west ea them in an act Intel y passed, to license any othet .Place where persons having inventions which they had not t. eel) able to get into the Exhibition might exhibit those invest dons. He did not think the Board of Trade would be jus tified in extending those provisions of the act to any ex hibition except that in Hyde-park. But should it happen, contrary to his expectation, that inventi ons were excluded whose number and impotence justified such a course, it would be in the power of the Board of Trade to adopt it. As far as his information went, he did not think there was at present any . caulk; which would justify the Board of Trade in exercising that discretion. WESTMINSTER BRIDGE. In answer to Sir H. Lewes, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that when the rebuilding of this bridge was brought tinder con sideration another question arose as to whether it was de sirable to alter the site. It had been decided that an un paid commission should be appointed to inquire into the matter ; but the members of that commission were not yet finally agreed on. THE I'ItOPERTY TAX AND HOUSE TAX. In answer to Mr. G. HAMILTON, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he proposed to take the second reading of the Property Tax Bill on the Thursday after the Easter recess. The ques tion raised by the amendment of the hon. baronet the member for Marylebone (Sir B. Hall) could not be brought on on the second reading. Sir B. HALL said he understood the right hon. gentle man proposed that the house should go into committee, and that then he would move his resolution. He wished to ask whether it would be convenient that he should take the sense of the house that evening, or during the progress of the bill. Ile believed he could do so by moving the amend ment after the word "shall " in the fourth line of the reso lution. (Hear, hear.) The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER 'said the he was lett in sooner the question was decided the better • because, if the whole of the window tax wer e re p ealed, and a deficiency, it was clear he cuuld not repeal any other taxes, but must impose new ones, to make up the deficiency. FOREIGN REFUGEES. Mr. B. COCHRANE asked whether any representations had been received from the four great powers, complaining of the conduct of the foreign refugees a London. Viscount PALMERSTON replied in the negative. EXPENDITCKE OF TILE COMMISSIONERS OF SEWERS. Sir B. HALL wished to ask a question with reference to the expenditure of the Commissionersof Sewers. Ile found, by a parliamentary paper, that during the last year they had received 91,000/., and expended in works 57,631 f., whilst their management and superintendence had cost ex actly 21,161!., or 40 pe e cent. on the cost of the works exe cuted. Ile wished to know whether there wee any hope of a reduction in this expense ; alto whether there was any objection to lay on the table the returns that had been made to the commissioners in reference to the Victoria- Street scorer ? Viscouift EDRINGTON said the commissioners did not acquiesce altogether in the report that had been made with regard to s that *ewer. It was perfectly true that the receipts were 91,0001., and that under the general head of management 21,1611. had been ex pended ; but the board was not only for expending but for collecting money, and a very expensive and complicated establishment and arrangement was necessary for collecting rates from all the holders in the metropolitan districts. Of the 21,000 f. upwards of 3,100/. was directly traceable to this source. The expenditure of the commission with regard to works had beeu only upon the works already executed, while the expenses of surveying and engineering related to all the specifications which had been prepared and were ready fur contract, embracing works of upward. , of 170,0 0 0 f. These contracts would have been accepted had patliament eo worded its commiseiun lOW enable parties to feel that they were justified in lending money on that security. As it was, all these work.: were necessanly suspended. THE HOUSE TAX. Mr. T. BUNCOMBE suggested to the hon. member for Marylebone (Sir B. Hull) that it would be more convenient if he would bring on his motion respecting the house duty when the bill was before them in committee. Sir B. HALL was understood to say that he would do so. ST. ALBANS ELECTION COMMITTEE. On the debate on the consideration of this committee' proceedings being resumed by adjournment from Friday, Mr. AGLIONBY, who hail moved the discharge of Henry Edwards from custody without payment of fees, amended his motion by including therein a proposition to discharge the warrants issued against Wagget, Hayward, skeggs, and Birclunore, whose persons hail not been taken. Mr. BANKS and Mr. Rut NOW, Patme n. objected to the discharge of Edwards until he had been brought to the bar. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL had no (twilit that the man had been formally committed, so that his committal could not be questioned in a court of law ; but the house might look behind the order, and it might then appear that it had been hasty in adopting the report of the committee. Under these circumstances, he suggested whether the house would not do well to discharge Edwards on payment of his fees. Sir F. TIIESIGER, who reminded the house that the conduct imputed to Edwards had defeated justice, dis sented from the suggestion of the Solicitor-General, having no doubt as to the legality of the committee's proceedings. Sir G. GREY obterved that Edwards had mail.• nu np plication fur his discharge • and unless he made submission to the house, ur edahlisheil at the bar the qualified denial contained in his petition, he thought he should be sent to Newgate n. a punishment. The MASTER of the ROLLS assigned reasons why, in his opinion, the motion Of Mr. Aglionby ought not to be acceded to, and suggested that the debate should be ad journed until this d ty, to afford Edwards an opportunity of presenting a pi tition to the house. Atter a few words front Mr. S. WOILTLEY and Mr. Rue- Melt, Lord J. RUSSELL concurred in this suggestion. and tweed, by way of amendment, that the debate be adjourned until this day. Mr. HOME thought it mere trifling with the house to think of adopting any one of these courses. If ever an in dividual deserved the censure of the house, as also the punishment, it was Edwanle. (Hear.) The matter had been already three times 'whirs the holm, and if then adjourned, to-morrow would he the fourth time. Sir R. 11. INGLIS thought it would lee an anomaly to adopt the course of hearing Edward.: at the bar, sin re ceiving his unworn assertions in opposition to the report of a committee of flue sworn members of that house, as also the witnesses examined upon oath before them. (Hear, hear.) Sir J. ORA lIAM said, if this person hail been committed for contempt, he had done nothing to purge his contempt, and he should be committed at once to Newgate. Mr. AGLIONBY protested against committing a man to Newgate without hearing hint In his petition he had disclaimed any intentional contempt, and desired to be heard. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL cemented to this observa tion, and urged the house to adopt the motion of Lurd John Russell for an adjournment of the debate. After some further dieetission, The house divided on the question of the adjournment of the debate, when there app ared— For the adjournment Against ASSESSED TAXES ACT. The house then went into committee on the Assessed Taxes Act. On the resolution for imp sing the house tax, Sir 11. WILLOUGIIIII' moved to leave out the words " and gardens" in line nine of the resolution. The present proposition was for a commutation of the window tax to a house tax. Now he submitted that it was not fair to met any portion of the new tax on property that was not subject to the window tax. The window duty was assessed on houses and offices, end the house duty, which teat repealed in 1531, was imposed on houses, offices, and land,. the word " lands " being so construed as to signify gardens. Now why should they place on a portion of the house which was never subject to the window duty, and could not be aubject to it, a house duty ? Sir G. PECHELL said that he objected not to any portion of the house tax, but to the tax altogether. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER 'laid the hon. baronet (Sir 11. Willoughby) was quite right in saying that he had adopted the words of the old !louse-tax Act ; I and the same reason which led to the insertion of the word "garden" in that case had led him (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) now to adopt it. In many cases it was impos sible to distinguish between houses in the country and houses with a eert lot quantity of garden adjacent and ap purtenant to the house. He had takeu the maces meat under the property tax and, with that basis, the house tax would produce only 720,000/., and he hoped the house would not, by introducing exemptions, which formed one of the worst features of any tax—(hear, hear)—allow the probable amount of the pro tax to be frittered away. He hoped that in a future stage of the bill the house would allow him to introduce words which would exempt market garden,. Mr. HUME said he knew many instances in which the bowie was let to one person and the garden to another. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said in such , eases the garden would not be assessed. Mr. HI: ME said his right hon. friend haul deprecated ex ' emptions. It was InTAUSC there were so many exemptions 'that he (Mr. Hume) objected to the tax altogether. Ile was one of those who considered that there was no neces sity at all for a house tax. Sir W. JOLLIFFE void they were about to impose a tax on a ease of property which had hitherto been exempt. Mr. W. WILLIAMS believed that of the 400,000 houses which would come under the tax, about two-thirds were in the metropolis. It would seem as though the Chancellor of the Exchequer, being annoyed at the agitation in London against the w indow tax, had proposed the house tux as a punishment. If the Chancellor of the Exchequer wanted money, let hint obtain it by doing an act of justice ; let him propose the extension of the probate and legacy duty to real property. Under a house tax half the shops in Regent street would pay a higher amount than some of the principal mansions of the nobility. After a few words frum Lord DUNCAN, Mr. WAKLEY said it was quite clear that the right hon. gentleman could only give entire satisfaction by uue mode ut proceeding, namely, by abolishing the tax. (Laughter.) Mr. HENLEY thought it would be best to wait for the bill in its amended shape before coming to a final decision. Mr. ELLIS said that since the new scheme was proposed be had had opportunities of seeing many of his consti tuents who would be affected by it, and he had not met with a single individual who did not appear satisfied. Alderman SIDNEY complained that the prepused house tart would be very unfair in its operatics. The mansioss le! noblemen in the country, worth 1001. a year, would come off lightly, while chops in town would be heavily burthened. Sir H. WILLOUGHBY cemented to withdraw his -amendment. Mr. PACKE, seeing that the hen. baronet the member for Marylebone had withdtaWn his amendment, would fol low a similar course. Amendment withdrawn. Mr. MACGREGOR thought the present budget a great improvement on its predecessor, but should have wkhed to have seen the income tax modified and its inquisitorial principle destroyed. lle believed that any systmn of taxa non now settled must be traikient, and that Cie whole system must be soon revised. But that such was his con viction, he would not support a house tax under any pretence. Sir D. HALL said that his right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer having informed him very candidly that if he (Sir B. Hall) succeeded in nega tiving the house tax, the repeal of the window tax must ne cessarily be abandoned by government, he had no alteraa five but to withdraw his motion, but he told the right hon. gentleman frankly that he would bring forward the question again in a future session. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEWER said that his proposal was to repeal the window tax altogether, sub stituting a small house tax. If at a future day reduction should be possible, there were many taxes, such as those on soap, &e., which in his opinion called much more loudly for removal than that tax. (Hear, hear.) After some conversation, Mr. MOFFAT proposed certain verbal amendments, the effect of which would be to extend the exemptions granted to shops to chambers occupied by tailor.', button-makers, milliner*, &c. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that if the amendment were conceded there was hardly a house for which exemption might not be claimed. After some further conversation, Mr. MOFF..T said he would not press his amendment, but he hoped the Chancellor of the Exchequer would con- cider the ;natter. Mr. ACHE hoped that the payment of the house tax was not to he made a condition of the franehiw. (Cheers.) The CHANCELLOR of the EXCIIEQUER-1 thought my hon. friend was anxious that the house to and the elective franchise should go together. (" Hear, hear," and laughter.) Mr. HUME—I am perfeetly content provided you give the franchise to every householder. (hear, hear.) A short discussion having taken place, The resolution was agreed to, and the house resumed. Report to be received to-morrow cthis day.? TIMBER , AND COFFEE DUTIES ACTS. The house then went into committee on these acts. The resolution for reducing the duties from 6d. on fo reign, and Id. on colonial coffee, to 3d. per lb. in each case, having hecn put. Mr. T. BARING thought that it was duo to the evffee planters that they should he dealt with in the same IVRY as the sugar growers ad been dealt with, rind that the equalisation shou h ld be gradual. He should he glad to know whether, as regarded Ceylon, the opinions of the present and the last governor of the island bad been asked as to what would be the effect of the proposed change, and if so. what that opinion was? But whatever objection there might be to the abolition of dif ferential duties, there could he no objection to the preven tion of adulterating coffee which prevailed to a great extent at the present time. That adulteration was injurious alike to the producer, to the revenue, to the consumer , and t o the free trader, and ' it was the duty of the government an d the house to take measures to put an end to it. The ronsump tion of collie had fallen off considerably since 1817, and it was still diminishing, and in agreater proportion each succeeding year. The real c-lose was the adulteration, and the reason why there was more adulteration in coffee than in other articles was that a Treasury minute was issued in IMO which is a manner sanctioned the adulteration, by forbidding the in stitution of excise prosecution.. When that Treasury minute was issued coffee was about double its present price, and the tea trade had been interfered with by the Chinese war. Chicory which was then the main article of adulteration, paid an excise duty. But now both tea and coffee had fallen in price, and elticory was now cultivated here and paid no duty. He did not 'believe the proposed reduction in the duty would prevent adulteration ; and it VMS neither just to the producer, the consumer, the fair trader, or the revenue to leave the law as it was. Mr. PRINSEX was also of opinion that the coffee planter should be treated in the Sallie way as the sugar grower had been dealt with, sud that the protection should be withdrawn gradually. The C lIANC ELLOR of the EXCHEQUER had already stated the grounds on which ho had made this proposal. It was true that the consumption of colonial coffee had fallen off during the last '2 years, but it had increased dur ing the last of years by 5 million of pounds, or from 93,700,000 in the year 1816 to 25,891,515) in IMO. But dur ing the same time the entries inward of foreign coffee had fallen off more than 10,000,18 K) Ile. This Was a proof that the differential duty wits acting in is most formidable manner against the introduction of fineign coffee ; and see ing that the quantity of foreign coffee imported far ex ceeded the total consumption in this eountry, it was clear the protecting duty could do hut little good to the colonial interests. Last year 36,5100,000 lbs. of coffee were impartial, 31,000,0',1016,. only were consumed, the quantity imported exceeding the consumption by about 5,000,000 lbs. In the same year 3,100,000 rim were exported from this country, and sold in the continental markets. Upon the ',object of the adulteration of coffee generally, he would reserve what he had to say until the motion of which the hon. gentle. man had given notice was under discussion. At present foreign coffee paid Od., and colonial fal., with 5 per cent. additional ; he proposed to levy 3d. a pound on both alike, without the 5 per rent. Mr. HUME was not surprised that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had said nothing of the Treasury minute, for nothing perhaps was more difficult than to detect adul teration in toffee, or almost any other article. Ile hail heard that formerly almost one-third of the sugar sold in this country was adulterated. His wish was to see every excise officer removed, and he fancied the time was coming when such a removal would take place. Mr. STANLEY thought that there ought to be a dis criminating duty, lest, by the adoption of the proposition now before the committee, the coffee plantations in Ceylon would be thrown out of cultivation. Mr. LABOUCHERE said that unless the committee were prepared to denart from the commercial legislation of the last few years, they would not he induced by the Sills,r4 of the lion. gentleman who had just sat down to place discriminating duties on coffee. More etiffee was obtained from our own colonies than was con sumed, and that proved that the competition of Brazil was not quite so great as had been represented. Mr. CAR DWELL said the fair coffee trader had been injured and the revenue damaged, for while there had been a falling off in the consumption to the extent of 3,000,000 164., the revenue had suffered to the amount of 8,000/. Sir F. BARING said that when he was Chancellor of the Exchequer he asked the honest claws of coffee traders whether they could frame a set of regulations which would not so interfere with their trade RS to injure it. Their re- ply was, that they could not frame any regulations which would not injure their trade. Mr. WAKLEY thought it exceedingly strange that any government should sanction a palpable fraud. (Hear, hear.) lie had nu hesitation in stating that chicory was an un wholesome root, and that its constant consumption was attended with pernicious consequences. (Hear.) After a few words from Mr. SwottErr, and Lord C. Hastitros, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that if he believed chicory to be obnoxious, he would he justified in dealing with it, but, believing that not to be the ease, he considered himself justified in not dealing with it. Mr. WAK LEY observed that coffee was adulterated with chicory, roasted cora, peas, and beans, and that thi's was the sort of obnoxious article the sale of which the Chan cellor was sanctioning. Those who purchased chicory very often rinsed it with the coffee not knowing that the chicory had been itself adulterated. He recollected that the Chancellor had last year suffered very much from ill health, and he was afraid the right hon. gentleman hail purchased too much coffee mixed with chicory. (Loud laughter.) The resolution was then put and agreed to, so also was a resolution for the reduction of the timber duties. The house resumed and the chairman reported progress. DECORATION OF TILE HOUSE. Sir DE L. EVANS rose in pursuance of the following notice: "Ou going into committee of supply, to call the attention of the house to the so-called interior decoration of the House of Commons, persisted in by the architect in op position to the declare(' wishes of the members of the house." lie said he had lately gone into the new house to see what progress had been made, and he was astouished and surprised at the unsatisfactory state it was iu. WiICU he went into the house he found that there were not two square inches of the wainscot, in any part of the house, which was not in some way ornamented either with colour or with wretched fantastic earring, so that it looked more like some monastery of the tenth or twelfth century than a representative chamber of the nineteenth. lie thought the subject was one to which the house should turn its attention without delay. Mr. BRIGHT remarked that lust session the sum of 8,500/. had been voted for the alterations in the house. Ile should be very glad if the lion. gentleman (Mr. Greene) would state what the alterations already made had cost; for he was informed that the sum would approach double what was voted and what Mr. Barry had stated would be necessary ? Mr. GREENE said that the commissioners had called on Mr. Barry to state what the alterations would cost, and he o iay ff, the expense: w im ou p l m d „ n s o io t n exe ,, i: h ed en th h i . parliamentary parliamentary an of 8,600/. With reference to the other question put brthe gallant officer as to the decorations, it was certainly his he desired Mr. Barry to state the reason why acted on uhiduir;indthineg,manadtt,:tr.he bad nut distinctly understood the desire of the commissioners,Mr. had that the fittings should be plain oak. When he returned w w h is o h h w ad ith ve C w h as an n ee ot h a o w r a o r f e t o h f e a E n x y c d ;eq .cl u " e ' r sd , under i3ur the reply tieel wan, t " h l e s espect to thtoeppdeed corations of the House of Commons." Upon that he (Mr. ry kindly any further works. (Hear, hear.) The commissioners did not think it right, as the colouring of the roof had proceeded so far, to go to the expense of having it d scrape off—(Laughter)—at least, until the hon. members Tome should have occupied the h ouse , an d I x able to form an opinion. Mr. WAKLEY asked if any w ritten printed • or instruc tions as to the amount of decoration beto employed had been handed to Mr. Barry? Mr. GREENE replied in the negative. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said ft was expressly understood that the whole decorations were to be perfectly plain, Us was very much surprised to And tut painting had been introduced; and he stopped it the very evening he became aware of it. (Hear, hear.) Sir B. HALL said he could go further. If his mem ory ser ved him right, his right hon. friend (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) called Mr. Barry into the room and distinctly cautioned hint against his penchant for decoration, and al,:o with respect to the expenditure not exceeding the grant. lie was very anxious to be informed when they were likely to occupy the new house? (Hear.) Mr. GREENE said he had asked Mr. Barry the ques tion that very week, and he had told him that he how il by Whitsuntide; .. hut a difficulty was experienced owing to • the wetness of the walls. Sir D. NOUREYS defended Mr. 13arry, as did Colonel RAWDON, who read Mr. Barry's reply to the charge of acting against the expressed wishes of the house, which, he said, had not been communicated to hint in an authorita tive manner, and Colonel Rawdon complained of the terms of the notice given by Sir De Lacy Evans, as conveying an imputation upon the architect's profesedonal character. Lord DUNCAN had in his hand certain returns from which it appeared that the amount of water required in the new. house during the session was 260,000 gallons a day ; and during the 165 days of recess, BMW —a larger supply than would he afforded to a town of 11,000 inhabitants. (Laugh ter.) The fact albs since the amalgamation of the Board of Works with the Woods and Forests there had been an in extricable confusion of accounts ; and had there been a re sponsible minister of public works, not only would they have had the new house completed long since, hut they would have saved an immense amount of the expense. (Hear, hear.) Mr. HUME had recommended on a previous occasion that Mr. Barry should be removed front his situation ; and he did that as a simple matter of unfitness, and not as a question of pounds, shillings, and pence. The idea of spend ing two millions and a half on a building, which after all was not a suitable one, prese need absurdity not to he equalled in the annals of human folly. (Cheers.) The moment the House of Lords was finished, he had complained that there was not sufficient accommodation for the house of Com mons, and haul stated that if Mr. Barry was allowed to pro reed with it he would make it a gewgaw, just like the Ilium of Lonles, and not tit fur that house. The house had nega tived that proposition. Ile was convinced that the 'muse would not be finished in five years, unless some other plan were taken. Two years ;ego he had moved for a return of the expense incurred, us well as an estimate of all that was to be expended ; and the government of thu day had done extremely wrong in allowing the works to proceed without obtaining that estimate. 11r. Barry would now have to receive 40,000 f. or 70,000 f. It was all very well for him getting his 5 per cent. on the outlay, but it was e.ontltry to the espress agreement. But the govern ment was more to blame than Mr. Barry, who was obtain ing his educati ~,, , in order to perfect himself in architecture, at the expense of the country, and he had no doubt the bedding would cost another million. Sir It. 11. 'NOUS mid that after it had been determined to erect a tower floe ventilation, the estimate was 70,000 f. for that, and 80,000/. for the endatuktneut of the Thome, Ile slid not believe that the money yet expended amounted to one-half of two millions. It was doe to the ett.vaeter of a professional mum that the actual facts should he stated. Lord C. HAMILTON deprecated the permission of an architect to involve the country in such a vast expense without specification , ' or plant of any kind. After IL free word,' from Lord 11. %%vie and Mr. E. lli , :s; tens, Mr. FItEWEN said he wished to interrupt the question by a referenee to a subject of 311 entirely different nature. On the 28th of 111 arch he had given notice of a mo-t im portant motion, which he had not yet had the opportunity to bring Imward, for an address to tier Majesty, stating that very great distress prevailed in the county of St,,x, and that it was quite out of the power of the hop-planters to pay the duty. Ile wished to he informed when he meld bring fOrward that motion, which he had had down for a C 0,1,1- derublc time. The SPEAKER said that as V.c twtice did not appear in the paper of that day, the hon. member e' of not then bring it forward. lb• must renew his nut:,—. Sir H. WILLOUGHBY hoped that an answer would be given to the question, who was responsible ? (Hear, h ur.) The CHANCELLOR of the EX.CIIEQL ER said bis impression was that the commissioners would be respon sible for the proper ventilation of the house. After a few words in explanation from Sir DE L 1( T EVANS, Mr. BANKS was n member of the committee last year, and the only expenditure sanctioned by them Was that re quired to give increased aecommodation to members. Painted windows were not taken into amount. BORN EAN MASSACRE. Mr. HUME said he had given notice of a question for that night, which he would then put. It was whether or not her Majesty's ministers were prepared to suspend the payment of a certain suns of " trail money" accruing out "(the Bornean massacre until the papers in reference thereto should he laid on the table of the house. (Onler.) The SPEAKER begged to inform the hon. gentleman that there was a question before the house already. Mr. HUME thought it had been disposed of. Sir F. I'. BARING would answer the question of his hon. friend, although a little irregular. (A laugh'.) Iler Majesty's ministers had nut the power of stopping the pay ment, us it was due and payable under an act of parlia ment. (Hear, hear.) SUPPLY.—ARMY ESTIMATES. The house then went into committee. On the vote, 11,6061., to defray the allowance of garrison officers at hoone and abroad, and the payment of rewards tor military toervires, Mr. HI'ME said lie thought these votes were not in tended to be continued. Mr. F. MAI'LIo: eta ted that since 1831 the amount had been reduced from 18,000/. The vote was then agreed to. A vote of 2,000/. was next agreed tn. to defray the ex penses of rewards for meritorious services of nun-commis sioned officers. The most vote, 52,500/., for defraying the charges of full pry of reduced and retired officers, was agreed to without observation. On the vote of 377,0001. for half pay and military allow aims to reduced and retired officers, Mr. HUME asked whether any of these officers were now fit for service ? Mr. F. MAULE said some few were. Since 1833 the numbers had diminished from 5,071 to 3,138, and the charge from 385,000/. to 377,0001. The vote was agreed to. The next vote was :01,9931. for half pay and reduced allowances to officers of disbanded foreign corps, for pen sions to wounded foreign officers, and for allowance to the widows and children of dose:ascii foreign officers. Mr. HUME remarked that these foreign officers seemed to live a very long time. lie suggested that there should be a muster occasionally, or these pensioners would live for ever. (A laugh.) Mr F. MAC LE said they took the greatest pains to have the officers identified before they gave them the pensions; they were identified by our consul. They mostly lived at Hanover. The vote was agreed to. o f 'f I the e next and f v o sa ro te 1 0., 2* . 2 , ,..717 p / o . , ~,,f o, ar pe withoutnsi ons t widows observat i on. otion f officers The next vote was 88,300 i. for the probable charges of allowances on the compassionate list, of allowances as of her Majesty's royal bounty, and of pensions, gratuities, and allowances to officers for wounds. Mr. 111:31 E. asked if there was any limit to this list ? Mr. F. MAULE replied that there was not, but it was very carefully watched. On the next vote was 35,4131. fur the charge of Chelsea and Kilmuinham hospitals, Mr. HUME said the time had come when the govern ment ought to consider whether the establishment at Chelsea was productive of benefit in proportion to its cost. Mr. W. WILLIAMS said there was no more monstrous abuse existed than that of Chelsea. Out of 26,5101. the cost of officers was 11,004/. Colonel DUNNE observed that the sum received by many of these officers was a reward fur former exertions. The vote was then agreed to. The next vote was 1,233.0601. for the charge of out-pen sioners of Chelsea, of pensions to discharged negro sololieri, of pensioners front the Hanoverian corys which served with the British army in 1793, 1791, and 1/9.5 ; and of the mili tary organisation of nut-pensioners. Mr. WAK LEY asked how many of the Hanoverian pen sioners were alive who served in 1/93 and 1791 Mr. HOME—Are there any ? Mr. F. NIACLE said he could not tell the numbers, but the cost of them was about 6001. last year. The next vote was 37,5001. for allowances, compensations, and emoluments, in the nature of superannuation or retired allowances. Col. CIIATTERTON put some questions which were in audible in the gallery. Mr. J. A. SMITH suggested that there should he public day rooms for the soldiers in which they might be able to spend their time. (Hear, hear.) Mr. F. MAULE, in reply to the question of the hon. and gallant gentleman ((,01. Chatterton) said that with regard to the command money of officers that was a question which depended more 9n the liberality of the house than on him. With regard to the command pay of cavalry oaten., he believed it was admitted that it was lower than it ought to be, but ho did not think it war lower in proportion than the pay of the other officers of tho army. With regard to the accommodation of married soi -1 diers, it was only intended to extend to half the married soldiers, it being considered that accommodation within the barrack might be provided for the other half. As to the sug gestion for providing accommodation for married officers, it was an indulgence which he could not entertain at all, as ho believed the result of it would be that they would have the ! whole army married, (" Hear, hear," and laughter.) Wth regard to the suggestion for public day-rooms for the sot dier, he considered it a valuable one ; and, as far as it could he managed at present, day-room was provided for hint. I There was a library in which he could spend his time, and in which he was happy to say he did spend his time profits lily ; but the accommodation, he admitted, was insufficient. (Hear, hear.) After a few words from Colonel DUNNE, Mr. HENLEY said that he observed that although the original cost of cavalry horses, which was 264., was less than that for artillery horses, which was 31!., yet the whole ser vice of the artillery horses was maintained at a less cost than the cavalry horses. (blear.) The vote was then agreed to. Tho CHAIRMAN reported progress, and the house restated. EXPENSES OF PROSECUTIONS BILL. This bill was read a third time. On the motion that the bill do pass, Mr. BANKES said that he considered the bill a great improvement, but he suggested that the bill should include conspiracies, which was a class of crimes—especially that of conspiracies against women—that ho regretted to see creasing of late. Mr. WAKLEY said that the suggestion of the hon. gen- der! dude Mc and i meat At passc Pc Tt Port' Pi AD' Tal ref ref Or let