The Express. — London, England, 1853-04-20 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. 110 USE OF LORIIS.—TVESD.tT, Arun 19. The Lose/ CHAXCELLOU took his seat at 5 o'clock. PETITIONS PRESENTED. lerntse RATION Lord ST. LEO NARDS, from attorneys of Sunderland and other places ; t. agains 01•1171/EVO Ur 7117 CItYPTAL PALACE ON St snays.—By the Archbishop of YORK, from Sunday school teaches and Miters in the city of York ; against. JEwlen DIeAIiILITILII Bible—By the Earl of F,G LIN TON, from the presbytery of Ayr, a kirk session id Olasi. w and the provincial synod of Aberdeen ; and Lord COLCH L S TER, from a place not beard; against. CAN•DA CLEItO7 RF. , ERVE4 BILL.—By the Earl of EGLINTON and the Duke of ARGYLL, from piece. in Scotland; 'gaunt. Cole MOTT Tzrers.—By the Duke of ARGYLL, from a piece in Scotland; sexiest. SALC Or $1.111111...—.11J0 tram Glasgow, against the sale of spirituous !Noes. THE DISMISSAL AND 'REINSTATEMENT OF MR KIRWAN. The Earl of EGLINTON rose, pursuant to notice, to meee far copies of the repreeentatinne made to the lisrl of ri.crraiine, which lied induced him to reinstate Mr. Kir wan. Ile felt that an epalorty was due from him for bring ing under the consideration of the house a case in which he was perosnally interests]. Ile brought it forties], however, from no reelect: of hostility to the noble earl at the head of the sesernmeat in Ireland, with whom he was happy to say he hi .1 always been on term, of intimacy ; neither did he esti even the least ill.feeling towards the gentleman to whom the motion referred. Ills only wi th was to prove that his t induct in this transaction had been right, and to prevent so inexpedient an act on the part of the Irish go verament Mine rep. ated. The case aroos oat of the late general i lection. Their lordships knew that in Ireland • great many cases of red and turbulence occurred on such one t.inne, and perhaps there were more than usual on the lest iossion. The ease in question arise at the election fir the county of M cvn, at a place called Bettina. Mr. Kissel was a Woe ndiery nsseistrete. The substance of the clung s quartet Mr. Kirwan, as set forth in one of the documents read by the noble lord, was as follows.—That Mr. Kirwan being %pet-idly deputed to /inserts the public peace, and tiding the town in a stete of some excitement, remained for enure time whol`e to ie. ire, taking nn measures to press rye the peen, sed making light of the iudications of di•terli ie.er ; that the turbulence et the mob progressively inert tool rte they were encouraged by impunity ; that this furevelable spirit of insubordination was further fostered by the illejudreel measure of publicly liberating prisoners as- rested in Ow perpetration of a most formidable outage ; and finally, that this want of energy and promptitude still continue.% ne the first day of the p•llling, when the grievous eenduct of the mob towards eentemen who were guilty merely of exercising their elective franchise `tat so nearly led to fatal consequences." Alit r some further de tails of the defective character of Mr. Kirevan's con duct, the noble earl went on to say that the tonne which he (the robe earl) had taken in merely sus. pendlug the gentleman from 'is functions for six menthols*, mot lenient in its nature. The stipendiary magistracy in leel .rd was not et all competent for the difficult duties watch they had to perform, and he thought that one-third of thed body might properly be dismissed, and that the efficiency and reputation of the whole body would then be inereas.d. Cot eltheutth disminal 07 censure were courses perfectly open to him, he had only suspended Mr. Kirwan, believing that he had thus acted mercifully; and he leoal consequently been greatly astonished to observe that the very Soo net of his successor in the Viceroyalty was to restore Mr. Kirwan to his functione- There was no country in the world which stood in such nerd of firmness and impartiality in administration as Ire land; there was no country which it would be more de sirable to Iniginve with the idea that it was governed equitable. (Hear, hear.) It was, therefore, very expe dient tlt it one viceroy should not coetravene the sets of the prem.' ieg viceroy except in very peculiar cirrumstantes ; and in this caw there was no apparent cireumst ince whatever to vindicate the Ceps taken by Lord St. Germans. (Hear, bear.) In toutlusion the noble. 4 arl moved. pursuant to notice, foe papers, observing, however, that lie, of course, did not want the papers, and made the motion only to saved him the opportunity of going into the ease. The Earl of ABERDEEN could heed:y object to • emotion for papers which were not in existence. (Hear. hear) He was not surprised that the noble earl should tel warmly in regard te • circumstance which might ap pear to cast a reflection upon his own conduct in an *Mee which he had filled s ith such distinguished success; het be thought that the noble earl had attached an undue imperils° to the matter. Ile could assure the teddy earl that there bad not been, in this transaction, the slightest intention whatever to cast any slur upon the nohle • earl's discretion. ( near, bear.) The decision in respect to this siperediary magistrate had been come to previous to Lord 5:. Germans leaving England ; and it was only accidentally that 'fleet was given to that decision open Lool St. Germans arriving in Dublin. (Hear, hear.) la that decision no reference whatever was made to the course pursued by tie noble earl (leglintona, and that course could not at all be considered to have been brought in question. He (Lord Aberdeen) would offer an opinion on this special ease hut, speaking general)y, he felt bound to express his cowrie/in that it was not judicious to resort to the alterna tive of suspension in the euniehment of ao offending stipendiary magistrate. When that sort of punishment was inflicted an reality aothirg whatever was accom plished ; the magistrate returned to his office just in the position in which he had left it, nothing the worse and certainly nothing the better for the seven- Mon. (Mess-, hear) That probably was the view taken in this instance ; and, theref .ire, it could not be supposed that Earl St. Germans' opinion was that the sentence was too severe; and the noble earl opposite would admit that if suspension was the proper sentence, the 'imitation of the period by two months could be of slight consequence, and aesuredly was a limitation perfectly within the discretion of a nee viceroy to effect. (Hear, hear.) If the discretion and the right of a new viceroy were questioned in such a particular, be did not see that one government could be at all different in any way in its aspects from another. (Hear, bear.) He (Lord Aberdeen) would, however, not enter into any Impend aroument, and had only to repeat his is sursnces to the noble earl, that no personal slight or disre spree could poesiuly have been intended; sad having ob i/int-el that assurance the noble earl had probably gained the eject he hail had in view in introducing the subject to their lordships. The Earl of GLENGALL thought that the assu rance of the noble earl was satisfactory ; but, never theism, considered that the effect of the act of Bart St. Germans was to east a slur anal discredit upon the course taken by Lord Eglinton, and, at all events, he was satisfied that the act taken by the present government had not been well considered. The Earl of DERBY thought that his noble friend had amply gained his object in the assurance which ha bad re ceived from the noble earl opposite. But he (the Earl of Derby) must nevertheless express his opinion that the course taken by the present government in reversing this act of their immediate predecessors was, to say the least, suspicious in its aspect, and might shake the belief of the people of Ireland in the impartiality of the imperial govern ment. (Hear, hear.) The Duke of NEWCASTLE expressed his gratficatioa that the noble earl who had just sat down was satisfied, and he hoped the noble earl who had brought forward the motion and the house were also satisfied that there was no inten tion on the part of the Lord Lieutenant to cast a slur on the noble earl his predecessor. But he (the Duke of New caole) protested against the fairness of the statement of the noble earl (Derby) when he said that this proceeding would impress on the people o: Ireland a conviction that the pre sent government were not actuated by a spirit of impartial sty. The noble earl had made a great deal of • small matter; and how he was to show that there had been ipartiality in this ease lie (the Duke of Newcastle) was at a loes to understand. Was it because the ra wietrate in question was a Roman catholic ? [Lord Derby—l did not know it]. Ho was glad that that was the case ; but could it be said that there was any partiality evinced, when at the same time a similar offer was mole to a noble friend of his whom he saw opposite (the Earl of Rodeo). It was impossible to say that any slur on the late Lord Lieutenant was intended, or any par tedity shown. With reference to the question which had been put by the noble earl (Derby), he would any that there Was no insistent On the part of the government to withhold any information, and he bad a very ingenious dedueement when he said, that as the Lord Lieutenant was in London when he replaced Mr. Kirwan, he must have had some written communication on the subject, and that it had been withheld. The facts were, that the Chief Secretary far Ireland being in Dabliu, a number of gentlemen, both Roman catholics and protestant. ' called on him, and urged on him to recommend to the Lord Lieutenant the restora tion of Mr. Kirwan to the commission of the peace. Ills eight hon. friend accordingly investigated the case, and, having done so, he recommended the Lord Lieutenant to restore Mr. Kirwan. That explanation he hoped would be sufficient to prove that there had been no suppression of any document. The Earl of RODEN was sorry to hear the speech of his noble friend who bad just sat down, for what his noble friend hail said had changed the opinion he bad entertained with regard to the feeling which exited in the mini of the Lord-Lieutemant when that noble lord offered to restore him to the commission of the peace ; fur it now appeared that that offer was made in connexion with the restoration of fr Kirwan. The Duke of NEWCASTLE apologised for interrupting his noble friend ; but he wished at once to correct a misuse destanding under which his noble friend was labouring. He (the Duke of Newcastle) did not intend to imply any thine of the kind stated by . his noble friend. The Lord Lieutenant ban no each nitration, snit acted on no such principle. All that he (the Duke of Newcastle) deduced from the eircemstaeree was, that the effect on the people of biked most be that they would see that the Lord Lieu tenant was animated by no party feeling, when his first act wan to of., to restore Ide noble Irked to the commission of the pear*, although his noble friend was an opponent of the present government. The Earl of RODEN was end that his noble friend had at once taken an utiportunify of explaining what he was sum was a asisapprete imun of his, but he could not help saying that the Opinion oh every one is Ireland with regard to the circumstances insetted with Mr. Kirwan and himself, wee that which he had just now expressed. Lord S T. LEON ARDS thought so one could find fault with the extent of the punishment as compared with the offense he thought Mr. Erie in deserved a more severe sentence. Bit the noble earl at the head of the govereout nt bail far the first time f 'unit fault with the suspension of megistrates as a scondary punishment, and said that it 'timid be better either to reams or &wane them; and what he said to night would of course have its weight in Ireland. Ole 1 / 4 Lorit St. Leopards) had had occasion in Ireland to exercise the I; function of punishing mai/nitrates to a greater extent than the Lords Lieutenant, as it rested with the Chancellor to deal with the magistrates generally, while only the resident magistrates were under the control of the Lord L:sutenant. I On several occasions he bad suspended ordinary magistrates, and after he had exereissd the power once or miles it oc curred to him to consider whether it was constitutional to ; do as--es to its expediency he never had sue ilcubt---or j whether he ought not at once to have dis- I missed them if their conduct required more than censure ; for he had some dooot whether a : gentleman who wee suspended should still held , the commission of the peace. lie hail mode inquiry, and , had come to the conclusion that such a course was not un- , mastitutioeal. If he (Lord St. Leonard's) reinstated a magistrate, or remitted a portion of a sentence, he stated clearly and fully the grounds on which he did so. If that had been done in the present instance, there would have been no occasion fur what h.d now taken place. lie would press on the government the impolicy of sending forth to Ireland any opinion against the suspension of ma- . gistrates. The LORD CHANCELLOR said he hail no Intention of taking part in this debate, and was only desirous of saying , a few words in consequence of what had fallen Irons his ; noble and learned friend, which, considering the great I weight to which his opinions were entitled, mktht lead to misconception. Ile understood his noble and learned fri. nd to say that it was his practice, not with record to stipendiary magistrates, but ordinary magis trates, to punish them by suspension(hear) ; and that a doubt passed through his mind as to wt ether it was eon stitutionol to do so, however expedient it might be. He (the Lord Chancellor) must say that he heard that state- ! mel.t of his noble and learned friend with astniiishment, fur : ho knew of no process by which the Chancellor could sus pend a mseistrate. All that he could do was to strike him out of the commission of the peace. Ho thought it was I ncither a wholesome or constitutional course for a Chen tenor to take a step which he bad no power to enforce. If • rersoa was a magistrate, he was invested with all the power of the office, and if he was found unfitted for its the only course was to strike him nut of the commission pf the peace. That was the view he (the Lord Chancellor) took of the ease as at present advised ; and if it was erro neous, he should be glad to he corrected. With regard to the subject before the house. ho would only say that he thought it a dangerma principle to lay down, that a viceroy on going to any part of her Majesty's dominions should feel himself restrained in the exercise of his prercgative of mercy. The Earl of CLANCARTY expressed his satisfaction at the explaratioes which hod been given with regard to the eoeihret of the Lord Lieutenant in the cue of Mr. Kirwan. With reference to the ease of his noble friend (the Earl of Ited(n) he thought it was a matter for grave consideration, and as he thought the mere his noble triend had brought forward ought to be on the table of the house, he begged to give notice that on Thurelsy he should move for copies of the cerreepondence in question. On the whole he thought this ease a , serted a very dangerous doctrine, and one too, which would act prejudicially to the public interest upon the minds of the stipendiary magistrates of Ireland. (Hear.) The Eari of DERBY said his noble friend who intro duced this subject had been compelled to leave the Ileuse from fatigue, hut he had rept( sted him to state that it was not his intention to persevere with the motion. The motion was aceordinnly withdrawn. CHARITABLE TRUSTS. - - - - The LORD CHANCELLOR laid upon the table a bill for the better regulation and management of charitable trusts, which was read a first time. Their lordships then adjourned at 20 minutes past seven o'clock. HOUSE. OF COMMONS.—TUESDAT, APRIL 19. The Srzazeix took the chair at 4 o'cliv2k. PRIVATE BUSINESS. Tito Brecon ColiestiiiteilitnieTt the Caledonian and Edin burgh and Glasgow Railway ; and the York, Newcastle and Berwick, York and North Midland, and Leeds and Northern Railways Companies (Amalgamation, &c.) Bills, were se verally read a second time. PUBLIC BUSINESS. BOROUGH OF COCKERMOUTH. Mr. G. nIkMILTON, on the part of the select com mittee appointed to try the election petit , on for the borough of Cock e rmoutb, reported that the committee were of minion that the sitting members, Mr. Aglionby and Gineral Wynd ham, were duly elected, and that corrupt premiers had pre vailed at the election, but it was not proved that they were within the knowledge, or by the agents, of the sitting members. PETITIONS PRESENTED. OTENING OF THE CRYSTAL PALACE OM SCNDATS.— By Mr. WIGRAM, from working men of the congregation of Sion Chapel, 0:4 Bethual-green-rnad, an 1 Jehovah Jirah Chapel, Bethnal green, the working-men of St. An drew's-the-Great and Lets, and 11017 Trinity, in Cambridge, and of Upper Clapt Surrey, the costerrnongers of London with 700 signatures, the Sunday school tea-hen of the Wesleyan denomination near the metropolis with 1460 signatures, and the industrial elutes in Bethnal-green, Spitalftelds, and Mile.end, with 1,169 signatures; Mr. TURNER, from the inhabitants of the district of St. Bamboo, Liverpool; Mr. FALRAR, from Sunday school teachers of Darlington; Mr. DUNLOP, from working men of the district of St. Saviour's Church, Liverpool; Lord D. STUART, signed by 839 working-men in the district of All Souls', Mnrylehone ; Sir J. SHELLEY, from committee and teachers Westminster Chapel Ragged School*, and committee end teachers of Ragged School, Old Pye-strest ; Mr. COWAN, from the inhabi•ants of Colin ton and Slateford, and from the West United Presbyterian Congregation at Dalkeith, in the county of Edinburgh ; from the workingmen of the city of Edinborgti; from a pu'ilic meeting presided over by the Lord Provost ; similar petitions from the minister, elders, t'eacons, and congrega tion of Ranelegh Presbyterian Church at Chelsea, and from Roslin, in the county of Edinburgh ; agairst CKCILCII RATES. —By Mr. THICKNESSE, from Wigram, against. ADVERTISEMENT DUTT.—By Mr. MEAGHER, from Waterfeed ; Sir J. TROLLO P from Mr. Henry Mat thewson, of the k;palding Free Press; Mr. BALL, from Cambridge ; for rival of TAX ON ATTORNEYS.—By Mr. LOCKUART, from cer tain solicitors of Lanarkshire, and frum four places in the same county ; against. PCSLIC HOI:SES (SCOTLAND) BILL.—By Mr. DUNLOP, from the Christian Instruction Society, the Saohath Al liance Committee, and the ministers and office-bearers of the free middle church, Pennock ; Mr. A. HASTIE, (20), from the ministers and office-bearers of various reli gions denominations in the city of Glasgow, also from the tree church presbytery of Glasgow, from the Glasgow pres bytery of the united presbyterien church, and from the free church synod of Glasgow and Ayr ; Mr. HUME, from Forfar and Montrose; in favour of. Sir H. DAVIE,from Had dington ; against. Mr. CRAUFURD, from ministers and office-bearers of free church of Newton, Ayr,aad free climb sessions, Irvine, in favour of. From merchantsopirit dealers, and inhabitants of Ayr (numerously signed), against; Sir T. BURKE, from the ministers, elders, and deacons of the free middle church, from free church presbyter] of Dum blanc, and free west church, Perth ; Mr. COX% AN, from Edinburgh ; in favour of. SUBMIT& COURT (SCOTLAND) BILL.—By Mr. ORAU FURD, from Girvan ; in favour of._ _ , Carrico RATE.B.—By Mr. R. PHILLIMORE, from TAVISLOE.L, Sir W. CLAY, from Chard (2), Burrowbridge, Somerset, Minehead, Bridgewater, Watch, Beauchamp, Crewkerne, Montacute, Boroughbridge, Yorkshire, Tann. too (700 siguatures),meeting representing Friends (Quakers) of Great Britain and Ireland; Mr. WHITMORE, from the Independent congregation and others iu Bridgnorth ; Mr. f. BUNCOMBE, Iron the vestrymen of St. Luke, Middlesex, held in the church, the churchwarden in the chair; Mr. BELL, from the congregation of the Society of Friends at Maidstone; Mr. HEYWOOD, from inhabitants of Chowbent; Mr. MIALL, from the Independents, the Baptists, and the Primitive Methodists, Ossett, Yorkshire, the Baptists, Chepstow, the inhabitants of Wisbeach, St. Peters, and Walsoken; for the total abolition of. INTOXICATING LIQUOILS.—By Mr. HEYWOOD, from Ulvcrstone, against the sale of on Sundays. REMOVAL AND SETTLEMENT OP THE POOR. —By Mr. WHITMORE, from the board of guardians of the Ilridg north Union, in the county of Salop ; Mr. A. WISE, from Stafford, signed by the mayor and 6i6 ratepayers ; from Arnold, in Nottinghamshire, b 31ii ratepayers; from Ilkest in,Derbyshire, signed by *MG ratepayers ; from Stoke. upon-Trent Union, Cambridge Union, Plymouth Corpora. tem, Newcastle-on-Tyne Union, Tynemouth Union, West Bromwich Union, Newport Union, Stone Union, Trent Yale, Stabridae, and Clayton. in the county of Stafford Mr. SCHOLEFIELD, from Birmingham ; for aboAtion of laws relating to. 'scout Tax.—By Sir J. TROLLOPE, from medical gentlemen at Holbeach, against the tax on protessions. TATES ON KNOWLEDGE.—By Mr. GREENE, from Sheartan ; Mr. GLYN, from inhabitants of Kendal; Mr. WISE, from Stafford; for a repeal of. CONSOLIDATED ANNUITIES.—By Mr. F. SCULLY, trent the Thule* Board of Guardians, in favour of a re mission of MALT AND Hoe Drvitra.—By Mr. BIGGS, from in habitants of the borough of Newport, Isle of Wight, for the total repeal of. COUNTY RATES EXPENDITCRE BiLt..—By Sir G. TYLER, from the justafes of the peace of the county of Olamorgan, saeembled at Quarter Sessions, complaining of alural provisions coot hued in. RIPitESCNTATIoN or Till: • LONDON UNITINSITY —By Mr. E. BALL, from the i n h a bi tants o f Wi a b ec h t. Mr. ÜBEUSON, from Lancaster; fur. TENANT NIGHT (11tZLANO IDLL.—By Mr. Serjeant /MEE, from the inhabitants of Taughboyne, All Saint., and itaymogby, in the county of Donegal, M favourof. PleullATUel ON WILLs.—By Mr. GEORGE DUNCAN, from the magistrates and town council of the royal burgh of Dundee, in favour of the Probates on Wills Bill. LeTTELLCAPAILIte.—Ity Mr. BEOCEMAN, from Folke stone, for increasing tee salaries of. NATIONAL DEBT ItIIeoLLTONS.—By Mr. LIUME, from the Liverpool Financial Reform Association, praying that the proposed resolutions may be passed into law, so far as Mete, to the conversion of consols into transferable bonds bearing such tr.:doted rate of interest as to the wisdom of your honourable house may seem best, and also so far as they may secure a reduction of the capital of the debt witting a snort period, but your petitioners would earnestly pray your honourabl , house not to sanction any increase of the ca,tital of the debt, au I not to guarantee the proposed Mtn of ii.ter-Ft for Bo an 31- rant Ai forty )i I s arEa Dete.—ply Mr. E. G.tLL, from union Literary Society of Cambridge, Mr. HEYWOOD, from 1 inhabitants of Ulverstonc and members of the Chtheroe iLehanics Hatitutc; praying the repeal of. THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, APRIL 20, 1853. DItILIPLINL.—By Mr. PACKE, from Rai ma gistrates of the county of Leicester, praying for an alteration of the law. OCCUPATION Or RUNE 11% TRU FRENCH —137 Mr. DUNCOMBE (11) trona inhabitants of London and its vicinity : also hum llalsted (Essex), Strathbunr, Bridge- water, Kingsten-upon•Rull, Bidingshurst, Pollockshawt, Epping, Leicester, Burnet, Dadlt fah, Wood . bridae, Manchester, Stroud, VaalbJru, Barking (Essex), and Sussex ; against. I INDIA.—By Mr. L. GOWER, from 10,030 inhabitants f Cakatts, praying the hou•e to take into consideration their views in cstmeximi with the renewal of the charter of the Bast India Company, and to legislate accordingly ; by the i inhabitants of Bengal, complaining of their being regarded as Ilinduus and Mahoufechins in the Company's coart, and prariug for a remedy of their grievances. NATIONAL EDUCATION, IIIELAND.—Mr. CHILI), frcm the clergy and otners living at and in the neigobourhood of Stone, Statford-hi.o ; also from the inhabitnuts of the rural , deanery' of Stowe; against the system. • beuTcit iv EltalTY Thsys.—By Col. BLAIR, from the . preshy:e.y of Gee, 'tuck ; Mr. DUNLOP, from the provost, nh.gis:rahs, and town council of Greenock ; llr. MIALL, from the United Presbyterians, Old M.ldrum; f.r oboli tas of. NORWICH ELECTION COMMITTEE. Mr. 1.117.1:4.Z1111E postponed. until the sth of May, his minion t claire to the withdr..wsd of tho election petition for Norwich. INCLOSURE OF LAND IN RDADON. IaILEY gave notice that the Secretary to the Treasury liming intdrmed the house that the withholding of the cons tit ut her Majesty tor two years to the inelosuie of land to Ituabon was owing to negotiations which were pending satire to the crown rights, he should those for the correspondence on the subject. Re hoped twat no further progress would he taken iu the matter till he Lad brought lorwdrd that motion. CLERK. OF THE CROWN, &c., IRELAND:.. Mr. MACAILTNEY gave liotico that on the 1001 of May he would ask leave to bring in a bill to consolidate the office of Clerk of the Crown and Clerk of the Peace in Ireland. THE LAW OF PARTNERSHIP AND "lIIE GREAT BOTTLE QUESTION." - • Mr. T. DUNCOMDE begged to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether a commission hail been issued to inquire into the law of partnership; and if so, whether it was probable that any measure would he introduced during the present •e founded upon the report of that com miasion ? Alsu, whether it was the intention of her Ma jesty'', government to take any steps towards enforcing the imperial measure, fur the purpose of protecting the public against the frauds not,4iously practised by the sale of beer in bottles, containing considerably less than the legal mea sure ? (Lae ter.) Mr. CAM/WELL, in answer to the first question, stated th it he hau b e 7. in communication with the Lord Chan cellor respecting the law of partnership, and thst a cent- mission was about t r be appointed on the subject. Ile hoped the mimes would be announced in a few days, and that they would be such as to satisfy hen. gentlemen that the inquiry was likely to settle the questirm. lie did nut think, however, that they would be able to issue any report upon which they could rsasonably expect a measure to be fentidel during the present session art parliament. As to the hon. gentleman's second question, ho eould only say that it was not in his department, and that be Red himself no int• n'inn to bring in any measure upon the subject.: Mr. DUNCOMBE then, would ask the Secretary of the Tre:orury whether he intend. d to propenee any remedy for this wrong ; and, if not, whether the subject was in the department of the Home Office ? (Laughter.) Mr. WILSON said that since they had repealed the duty on glass the government had taken no cognisance whatever of the manufacture of bottles , , but he believed that it any person who purchased a quart of beer did not receive full melanin it was a fraud at common law, and that he might obtain a remedy by applying to a magistrate. MINISTERS' MONEY. Mr. MAGUIRE begged to a‘le the noble lord, in the absence of the Secretary for Ireland, when it was the intro tion of the government to introduce their bill for the aboli tion of the tar caned ministers' money ? Lord J. RUSSELL was understood to say that the mea sure would be shortly icrodueed. THE COMMITTEE ON INDIAN TERRITORIES. Mr. BRIGHT begged to ask the President of the Board of Control whether the house could be furnished from week to week with the evidence taken before the Committee on Indian ten Aeries ? (Hear, bear.) It would be very unde sirable members to have a thick volume of evidence placed in their hoods only the week before the government bill was introduced. Sir C. WOOD said that not being the chairman of the committee, he was not quite competent to answer the ques tion; but the committee had concluded their inquiry upon the military and judicial branches, and they wouldimme diately report all the evidence taken up to the present time. Mr. BRIGHT observed that the evidence which had been taken with regard to railway and canal amalgamation had been viuttd and found extremely useful. No doubt the same beneficial results would be found to accrue from the publication of the evidence bean the committee on Indian affairs. (Hear, hear.) Mr. DISRAELI begged to ask the noble lord when he intenited to introduce the government plan ? Lord J. RUSSELL—This day week. THE CONSOLIDATED ANNUITIES (IRELAND) AND THE BUDGET. Mr. HERBERT, on behalf of several Irish members, begged to ask the right hon. gentleman whether he intonded to remit the whole of the consolidated annuities? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was obliged to the hon. gentleman for giving him au opportu nity of removing any thiscocception on the subject. He stated last night that the whole of the consolidated annul- ' ties amounted to four millions and a half, but that they might be divided into two classes,—the first amounting to about a mihiun and a half being due to the introduction of the poor-law ; and the other, or three millions, being con nected with the famine. Ile had drawn that distinction, however, only to put the committee in full possession of the nature of the case . • but he did not mean to draw any dis , tinction at all with regard to the annuities themselves. His propositi az would be, both with respect to the three millions and the one and a half million, to sweep away the whole obligation of Ireland to England on that account from the 29th of last September. (Loud cheers.) CHURCH RATES. Mr. R. PIIILLIMORE consented to postpone his motion until after that of the hon. baronet (Sir B. Hall.) Sir W. CLAY also postponed his motion, but he trusted that if an adjourned debate should be necessary, the noble lord, in accordance with the intimation conveyed to him (Sir W. Clay) the other night, would find a day upon which to take that adjourned discussion. Lord J. RUSSELL made a remark, which was inaudible in the gallery. THE DOCKYARD PROMOTIONS. Sir B. HALL then rose, in accordance with the terms of bis notice, "to call the attention of the house to the con tents of three parliamentary papers, Nos. 67, 271, and 272, of the present session, intitulcd, Dockyards,' Dockyard Appointments,' and ' Dockyard Promotions,' and to move that a select committre be appointed to inquire into the circumstances under which • ' circular sent to the superin tendent of her Majesty's dockyards, dated September 26th, 1849,' was cancelled on the 19th day of April, 11 4 ,32, without any order or minute of the board ; also, to inquire into the circumstances under which a letter addressed by Sir Bald win Walker to Mr. Stafford, as Secretary to the Admiralty, in which letter Sir Baldwin Walker tendered his resigna tion, as surveyor of.the navy, was withheld from'the board; also, into the circumstances connected with the appoint ment of Mr. James Wells as master smith in the dockyard at Portsmouth, the subsequent cancelling thereof, and the appointment of Mr. George Cotsell in his stead ; and gene rally into the exercise of the influence and patronage of the Admiralty in the several parliamentary boroughs connected with the dockyards, since tho 19th day of April, 1852, at which date a circular was issued from the Admiralty,signed by the secretary, cancelling their lordship.' order of the 26th day of September, 1819, which dire ets that 'all reports and correspondence on the subject of vacancies, promotions, or changes of the officers and workmen of the dockyards, shall be forwarded through the surveyor's department and or dering that ' in future such reports and correspondence be transmitted direct to the Secretary of the Admiralty.' " The hon. baronet having expressed his gratitude to the two hon. gentlemen for giving way to him, said ho thought it would be quite unnecessary to assure the hon. gentleman, to whom he should frequently have to allude in the course of his observations, that he had not brought for ward the subject from any feeling of personal hostility. One important element in the consideration of the subject would be the Vine at which the circumstances in question occurred. In the early part of last year • change, of the administration had taken place. The whig government was displaced, and a new one formed under the auspices of Lord Derby, the Duke of Northumberland being ap pointed the First Lord of tho Admiralty, and the hon. gentleman (Mr. Stafford) the secretary to the board. On April 19th the honourable gentleman, who had only been iu office five weeks, issued the following order: " Admiralty, April 19, 1852.—With reference to their lord ships' order of the 26th September, 1849, which directs that all reports and correspondence on the suhject in vacancies, promotion, or changes of the officers and woikm.n of the dockyards, shall be forwarded through the surveyor s de partment, I am to acquaint you that the order in question is to be considered as cancelled; and that in future such reports and correspondence are to be transmitted direct to the Secretary of the Admiralty.—Lly command of their lord ships (signed), Augustus Stafford.—To the Superintendents of the Docayarde at Deptford, Woolwich, Sheer ness, Chatham, Portsmouth, Devonport, and Pembroke." Now he (Sir B. Hell) had asked his right hen. friend the present First Lord of the Admiralty (Sir J. Graham) whe ther there was my minute of any order in reference to this circular, and the right hon. gentleman bail informed him in his place that there was none. lle therefore wished to know why this order was signed "by command of their lordships" ? (Ilear, hear.) lie bad always believed that the object of having Lords of the Admiralty was, that they might have the power of considering great questions effect ing the name and power of this country, and that tue Secre tary was t 3 act in accordance with their instructions. (Hear, hear.) He (Sir B. Hall) was in happy ignorance of the bliss of official life. but he had always understood that there ' was some delicacy with regard to orders issued by a pre vious board ; and he hoped the hon. gentleman would be able to explain what had induced him to issue that circular which he (Sir B. Hall) should be able to show presently was ' without the knowledge or consent of the board. (Hear.) That circular was, of course, effective, because it was in fact t Oke the w'.ele of the patronage into his own hands. Tim Sitrvey:r N :vs wca Lia..itnti..l, and naturaily so, because he wauld be called upon to give an account of tho great expenditure which might be incurred in the esti matis in consequence of this clice,p. Within forty- ,Ide. James Wells, who is in his 37th year, has been very strongly recommended as being well qualified for the charge of a smithery; and I therefore submit that he be appointed master smith at Portsmouth yard, in the present vacancy, and that, as in the cue of Messrs. Black and Ainslie, ap pointed respectively to Woolwich and Devonport yards, under similar circumstances, he be entered on proba tion for six months, to be paid at the rate of 2401. a year, with the underidandiug that if, at the expiration of that period, his conduct and abilities should be found to be perfectly satisfactory, he shall be appointed master smith at the full salary of 2501. a year." I In pursuance of that recommendation, Mr. Wells was flp ' pointed ; the letter announcing his appoitionent was sent to the Admiral-Super late intent of Portsmouth Dockyard, and a duplicate of that letter was sent to Sir B. Walker to in form him that his recommendation was about to be carried eat. Both those letters were shoed by Captain Hamilton. It appeared that Wells went down to Portsmouth, and per formed his duties there; his conduct was found perfectly irreproachable; and he conducted the business of his department satisfactorily to everybody. Sir B Walker was asked, in cross-examination before the election ciimmit : tee, if previous to his appointment of Wells he made any inquiry as to his political sentiments, and he said most de cidedly that he had not, and did nut know anything about his politics. Wells continued in his appointment till 21 days afterwards, when the following order was sent down: "Admiralty, Ist October, 16.52.—Y0u are to consider tilt ir lordships' order of the loth ultimo, for the appointment of a master smith, as cancelled. Mr. George Cotsell, master smith of Chatham Yard, has this day be en appellate' mas ter smith of Portsmouth Dockyard, vice Tyler, superan nuated.—By commandef their lordships, J. 11. Hay l'ro Se cretary.—Admiral Superintendent, Portsmouth Dockyard.'' Mr. Wells naturally felt very indignant at being Mass.' in this extraordinary way, mahout any reason being given, and he, sent a memorial to the Admiralty, ah. at t h e middle of October, in which heewet forth:hie grieve:x...4, and stated : " Humbly sheweth, That your memorialist was induced, after an interview with Sir Baldwin Walker, the surveyor of the navy, to accept an appointment as master smith in her Majesty's Dockyard, Portsmouth, on probation for six months, at a salary of .00/. per annum, at the cud of which period, if his conduct and abilities were approved by your lordships, he was to be established at the full eatery of 250/. a year. On receipt of his appoiatment your memorialist relinquished a business in which he had itiveated 1,200/., and proceeded to Portsmouth, confident in his ability to give satisfaction (which he has the gratificatiun of knuwiug he afforded to both officers and men during his short stay), and anxiously looked forward to the expiration of his pro- bationary term; but was deeply mut titled at the end of a fortnight, to receive his aismissal, without any reason being assigned for such proceeding. Your memorialist, in calling your lordship.' attention to these facts, is anxious to bring under your notice the heavy ',Tani:try sacrifice lie has made, not only in relinquishing a profitable business, but also in travelling, and the expeuses of removing his family ; and particularly the stigma that is thrown un his character by his di.mi-s d, which, until it be re moved, will almost render it impnssible far hint to resume business with any chance of success." This letter a as inclosed theme from Sir P.Walker, in which he said: " When their lordships decided, in August last, that the vacancy for a master smith at Portsmouth should he filled by the appointment of a competent person from the private trade, as had been lone at Woolwich and Devonport yards, Mr. Black, the master smith of the former yard, was consulted on the subject, and stroegly recommthded Mr. Wells, who had served with him in the same firm at Liver pool, as a man well qualified by experience and ability to take charge of a smithery. Mr. M ells was, ceaseceuently, directed to proceed to Somerset House, and was examiued by myself and Mr. Lloyd, the chief engineer, as to his qualification. for the appointment, which were considered so highly satisfactory that I submitted for the approval of their lordships that should be appointed master smith at Portsmouth, and that the other vacancies at that yard for first anti second foremen of smiths should be filled by the promotion of those qualified persons next in seniority in their respective grades. Their lordships approved of this arrangement, by their order dated the 10th of September, appointing Mr. Wells master smith, and Mr. Willeocks filet foreman of smiths, in Portsmouth yard. Mr. Wells imme diately proceeded to that yard to take up his appointment, and during the time that he had charge of this smithery he gave universal satisfaction. Mr. Well', however, wits superseded in his appointment by Mr. Cotsell, the master smith of Chatham yard, being removed to Portsmouth by their lordships' order of the Ist of October, and, being thus early deprived of his si .uation, without any notice, or raison assigned, he is not only thrown out of employ, but also put to great pecuniary loss, feud naturally feels much aggrieved by such an unexpected and sudden removal. lie was in duced to relinquish his situation and prospects in the pri vate trade for the more certain appointment in her Ma jcsty's service ; and in consequence of having accepted that situation he now finds himself deprived of employment, and I feel in a measure personally responsible fur the serious injury which, by the cancelling of his appointment, has been inflicted on this highly deserving individual, he having been engaged by me, although under their lordships' sanc tion. I therefore submit hi. case, as one of peculiar hard ship, for their loolehips favourable consideration, ob serving that Mr. Wells his been anxiously waiting in London for the last fortnight, iu hopes of their lordships' decision in reference to his future disposal." In answer to that memorial came a letter from the hon. gentlemen: "Admiralty, 18th October, 1852.—Sir,—I have received your memorial without date: and I am com manded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you that they are not aware that you have re ceived any appointment from them, and that their lordships do not consider you justified in designating yourself s late master smith of her Majesty's Dockyard at Portsmouth ;' they thcrefure return you your memorial. If, however, front any communication with any of the officers of the several departments, you have been led to expect such an appointment, their I.rdships are prepared to give their consideration to any memorial from you on that subject; but my lords cannot recognise you as late master smith of Portsmouth Dockyard, as no warrant has been given to you by their lordships for such appointment." Ile should like to know why no warrant had been given. (Hear, hear.) It was determined by tho Board of Admiralty that a man should be selected from the private trade. A men was selected ; the selec tion was approved of; he was sent down by the Aitni! ratty order ; a letter announcing his appointment was sent to the Admiral Superintendent at Portsmouth, and also to the Surveyor of the Navy; and though, in the strict, technical, official sense, no warrant was made out for his appointment, or r.ether no warrant was found to be in existence—for he wished to draw that distinction—yet some explanation ought to be given why this man was superseded and another put in his stead. (Hear, hear.) But the case could not end here ; and, thanks to the Chatham election petition, a good deal of evidence had been obtained on this part of the case. Mr. Robert Bell, who had been a clerk in the Admiralty 12 years, stated that he bad seen a minute of• the appointment of Wells, and that he himself got the war rant out five days after the appointment was made. (Hear, hear.) Where was this document? He (Sir B. Hall) had asked for it in that house, and the First Lord of the Admi ralty said it was not in existence. Perhaps he could en lighten the house a little as to what had become of it. (Laughter.) As this was a matter of grave importance, not only as regarded the hon. gentleman opposite, hut himself, he would state exactly the course he had taken in reference to this document, in order that he might be exonerated from all blame. A genlleman had called on him a few days ago, and stated that he could give some information as to the non-appearance of this document. Ile stated the circumstances; and he (Sir Benjamin) told him that the matter was one of such serious import, the charge was of so extraordinary, he might almost say of so extravagant a nature, that he would not make it in his place in parlia ment or elsewhere, unless he received it in the form of a deposition, and had the authority of the person making it, to read it to the house. Ile received that deposition yesterday morning, and had since communicated it to the Board of Admiralty and to the late secretary. It was the statement of Thomas Scott, of High-street, Chat ham, relieving officer of the Medway union; and was to the effect that he had been told by Cotsell that he went to the Ad • miralty, and there saw the warrant made out for the appoint. ment of Wells, and that some gentleman put it in his pocket. Sir B. Walker stated that it was the determieution of the Board of Admiralty that a man should be taken from the private trade to be master-smith of Portsmouth yard ; and his evidence was corroborated by the fact that this deter mination was acted upon, and that Mr. Wets was condi tionally appointed. It appeared that Sir F. Smith was a candidate for Chatham at the last election ; his committee sat at the Sun Inn. The hon. gentleman the secretary of the Admiralty went there, and they both sallied loth from that house to the dockyard. They went through the smithery, the smelting shops, some ships, and the ropery. In the smithery they saw Mr. Cutsell, who asked Mr. Staf ford for his removal from Chatham to Portsmouth. Whe ther the promise was made or not remained to be proved ; but if made, it was religieuely carried out. Thies man was an active partisan of Sir Frederick Smith's, attended his meetings, and was the great orator of the evening. The election concluded ; Wells was appointed ; Cotsell came te the Admiralty and remonstrated ; and though no warrant was in existence, Wells's appointment was as completely made, in an honest sense, as anything could possibly be. (Hear, hear.) Ile did not deny that Cotsell was a good workman ;he might be fit for the situation. Still, a man front the private trade was to be selected; therefore there must have been some strong inducement, not only to break through the order of the Board, but to cancel that which was almost a completed appointment. No less than four pro motions had taken place inconsequence. The great orator and advocate of Sir Frederick Smith was sent to Portsmouth. female having voted plumpers for the conservative candi date, was sent from Woolwich to Chatham. Forbes, at Sheerness, who had friends at Chatham, and they having memorialised in favour of him, was sent from Sheerness to Woolwich ; and Thomas Bailey was sent from Woolwich to Sheerness, rice Forbes, Bailey having been an active com mittee man of the conservative candidate for Woolwich, and his brother having plumped for that gentleman at the last election. He was, therefore, right in saying that this pa tronage had been extended for political purposes. (Hear.) Ile should conclude by inquiring how the influence of the Admiralty had been exercised in the Dockyards ? A sys tem had been pursued by the hon. gentleman—and a very effective one, standing at the gate of the yard where the men delivered their time-tickets, along with the conserve tive candidate, in order that all the men might know who were the parties that were associated with the lion. gentle men. (Ileer.) That took place at Deptford. Ile had a letter from a working-man there, the credibility of which he had tested, and which bore out the statement he had made. (Cries of "Name, name.") He had said that it was the teeter of a working man, and he heel, male every exertion to test its truth. But ii the Leine erant• a com mittee, he would promise that the letter should be laid be fore them, and every part of it inquired into. (Hear, hear.) Those hon. gentlemen who were so fastidious and eight hours after the circular was tuned he i therefore sent the following letter to Mr. Stafford: " Somerset-house, April 21, 1852.—Sir,—You having been pleased to inform me that great dissatisfaction existed among your political friers is at the manner in which the promotions, &c., were made in the dockyards, and that it was your intention, in consequence, to cancel their lord ships' circular of the 29th September, 1849, which directs that all papers respecting vacancies and promotions should ' ' be sent through the surveyor to their lordships; and as the cancelling of this circular is the only step taken to remedy the evil you were pleased to state existed, it can bear no other construction th.m that of a censure on my conduct. I must therefore beg to tender to their lordships my resig nation; for I can no longer continuo to hold the appoint ment of Surveyor of the Navy with such an imputation on my character as that of allowing political motives to influencemy submissions to the board.-1 have, &c. (signed) B.W.Walker.' 1 1 Now, if ever there was a tender of a resignation in plain and simple terms, it was this. What became of it they must presently inquire ; but it certainly caused some commotion at the Board of Admiralty, anti it was found necessary to issue another circul ir, namely, to this effect : "Admiralty, 26th April, 1532.—Misconstruction having arisen with reference to their lordships' circular issued on the 19th instant, I am to acquaint you that no imputation is intended to be cast thereby upon the Surveyor of BA Navy. The arrangements with regard to the dockyard promotions, as laid down by their lordships' circular of the 27th Feb ruary, 1517, will be strictly adhered to ; and they deem it desirable to revert to the system then in force of having all communications on the subject addressed to this 1 o ffi ce in the first instance.—l am, &e ., Aug. Stafford." , If the circular of the 19th was not intended to cast an in utatiou; why had toe previous order been cancelled by the stroke of the honourable gentleman's pen ? liea-, bear.) At all events, he should be able to show I that the previous one had been departed from materially. He would refer first to Devenport. The number of persons lentered in that yard in January,lS /2, was three; February, three ; Burch, one; April, up to the 19th (the date of the caw order), two; total, nine. Now, what took place after the order ? From April 10th to June there were 57 per suns entered. (Cheers.) From July Ist to October there were 23, and from October to December 23, makiog in all 112. (Cheers.) And now what took place when the pre sent First Lord came back into office, and restored the old system. In the month of February only one person was entered, and in March only one more. If this was to be a sample el what took place elsewhere, he was sure the house would admit that he (Sir B. Hall) was perfectly justified in bringing forward the case. (Hear.) Ile bad • list of men who were extra-sawyers, and pail as such, and who were removed in April, 1552, to make room for others, for no fault as regarded their conduct in the yard. There were eleven of those men ; one had been in the yard between two and three years; the other ten several months each ; and yet they had been discharged, as he was informed, for no reason, except that it was convenient to make room for others. Of these that came in, John Smith and James Abbott, both Plymouth voters, were admitted to the sawyerd through the influence of the conservatives in that borough. Two others were admitted through the in fluence of the conservative candidates. His informant stated that neither of the above Clue persons had ever been in the yard before, so that great injustice had been done to the men who bad been reduced. (Hear, hear.) Previous to the cancelling of the circular iu February, March, and April,only three persons had been entered in Plymouth-yard. The dissolution took place at the end of J true, and the el.e tion for that borough about the first week in July. What effect had that produced on the admission of persona to the yard? From the 14th Juue to the 17th July, no less than nineteen persons hail been entered—the election taking place about the 11th of July. Of course, the effect of ap pointments of that kind in intlueucing the votes given at elections for that place, was well known. (Hear, hear.) But it appeared that Sir Baldwin Walker could not Tel) , well stand this sort of proceeding in the dockyards of which he was the surveyor, and he wrote a fetter to the Duke of Northumberland, which contained all the charges against the late secretary of the board—for he ' Sir B. Hall) made none. Fourteen days after their ' lordships' order of 1849 was cancelled, and twelve days ' after the circular of the secretary,. Sir B. Walker wroto thus to the Duke of Northumberland : . ,I , May 10, 1852.—My Lord Duke,—l feel that I should be neglecting my duty were I not to point out to your Greco the evil system which has been pursued of , late, not only with respect to my position as Surveyor of the Navy, but also with reference to the appointments and promotions in the dockyards. Your Grace is aware that the Secretary of the Admiralty thought proper to cancel, without the knowledge of the board, their lordships' circu lar of September 29, 1819, which directs that all papers reepeoting promotions and vacancies in the duckyards should be sent through the surveyor to their lordships; this order of 1819 was only reverting to a system which Lad always been in force prier to 1815, and which was then discontinued, I have reason to believe, on personal grounds. The abolition of a system which was found to work well fat upwards of three years, causing an annual saving of 130,0001. in the wages of the artificers ef the dockyards, in dependent of upwards of 60,0001. in the ream factories, without impairing the efficiency of those establishments, must be prejudicel to the public interest, and has tended much to lower the position of the surveyor. Now there is no one to control the establishments, and the surveyor can no longer be held responsible fur the estimates not being ex ceeded, or can he be answerable fur the efficiency of those establishments; fir the board's admirable circular of Feb ruary, 1817, welch directs that all advancement in the dockyards shall be for merit alone,has been virtually thrown aside; vacancies have been filled up which were not acres- I eery, and men advanced, not for merit, but by political effluence ; and in one iestance a person has been promoted who is not competent to fill the situation to which he has been appointed; and that was done without any reference having been male tu the superintendent of the yard. Hav ing stated thus much, I think it right to inform your Grace that I attribute the inconsiderate manner in which I have beeu put aside by the Secretary of the Admiralty to my unqualified refusal to depart from their lordships' cir cular of February, 1817, by lending myself to recommend me for advancement oa political grounds. In conclusion, 1 beg to assure you, my lord duke, that I have mai° this statement from no personal motives, my only wish being the public geed, and that your Grace's administration should not be tarnished.—l have, &c., (signed) B. W. Walker.' (Cheers.) That letter did honour to the man who wrote it. (Cheers.) Sir B. Walker said that the Secretary of the Admiralty had thought proper to cancel the order A ith out their lordships' approval, and yet his letter pur ported to be signed "By their lordships' command." (Hear, hear.) This letter seemed, as far as the records of the Admiralty were concerned, not to have been noticed. (Hear, hear.) It wee true it might not, in strict official routine, be an official letter, but it looked very much like it. This was a letter from the most important officer in the naval department addressed to the first minister of that de partment, calling his attention to what the writer °end dered a grievance and an imposition en the public ; and at all events it deserved notice, and an answer of some kind. On the 23rd of November last some questions were put to the honourable gentleman (Mr. Stafford) by Admiral Berkeley and Sir G. Pechell. On referring to Bantered 'of that date, he found that Admiral Berkeley put three questions, the second of which, as connected with this suijeet, he would read, with the hon. gentleman's answer. The question was as fellows:— " Whether the present Board of Admiralty, soon after their accession to office, gave directions that the names of the workmen and art fleets, recommended for promotion, were to be sent direct to the Secretary to the Admiralty instead of being first submitted to the Surveyor of the Navy, as had been previously the rule ? Whether any correspondence took place with the Surveyor in cons. quence of such order, and whether such order is still in force ?" " Mr. Stafford said he had to state that he supposed the hon. and gallant gentleman alluded, in the wording of his question, to the arrangenient made by Mr. Ward, in 1847. The arrange ment, which was first made when the Navy Pay-office was consolidated with the Board of Admiralty, in 1813, con firmed in 1844, and assumed to be in existence in 1847, when Mr. Ward issued his last regulatioa, was still in force, and had not been at all disturbed by the present Board of Admiralty. There was no correspondence with the Sur veyor of the Navy on the subject." Immediately after that Sir G. Pechell put another question, which was not to be found in Hansard, though many hon. members would re collect its being put. It was very similar in all the morning papers ; he would take it from one which was more espe cially the organ of the opinions of the hon. gentleman : " Sir G. Peettell wished to know whether or not it was truo that the Surveyor of the Navy had tendered his resignation to the Board ?" " Mr. Stafford replied that he had not tendered his resignation." Now, he wanted to clear up what seemed to be a mystery , or di screpancy of acme kind. Sir Baldwin Walker, in has' ; letter of the `2lst April, used these words:—" 1 must there ; fere beg to tender to their lordships my resignation." This letter was addressed to the secretary, though it was not to be found in the records of the Admiralty. The evidence before the Chatham election committee contained a refer ence to this subject. The Surveyor of the Navy was eel , mined, and ho stated that, in consequenco of the circular issued on the 19th of April, 1852, he wrote the letter of the 21st of April-48 hours afterwards—and gave it into ; the hands of Admiral Parker, then and now' Lord of the Admiralty, and that he had no conception whatever that that letter had not been laid bane the board, until he saw by the public papers that a question had been put in the , House of Commons, and an answer given which showed that no correspondence had taken place between him and i the Huard of Admiralty, and that no resignation hail been • tendered oil his part. Ile (Sir B. Hall) would nut cour t tilted on this pert of the subject; he wished not to pre . jetties the question, but merely to have a candid explana ' dun of the whole. lie stood not there to make charges, but to ask the house that on inquiry should take place. But • he might ask the hon. gentleman (Mr. Stafford) whether i this letter of Sir Baldwin Walker did reach the board— ; whether the hon. gentleman recollected ever seeing it or t hearing its contents; and, if so, if that was before the 23rd • of November. If he had no knowledge of its existence or contents, ho would further sole him whatever induced the • Board of Admiralty, on the 26th April, 18.52, a very few • days after the receipt of this letter of Sir Baldwin Walker, to issue the circular bearing Mr. Stafford's signature, and , which said that no imputation whatever was intended to be cast upon the Surveyor of the Navy. (Hear, hear.) Ile now came to the ease of cancelling the appointment of • Wells, and the appointment of Mr. Cetsell in his place. t Sir B. Walker stated, in hi• evidence before the Chatham , Election Committee, that it hal been di•terrnined in August i last that the vacancy for a mister smith at Portsmouth I should be tilled by the appointment of a competent person t from the private trade; and he writes a letter of the 9th . e 1 S ptemher to the hen gi ntleertn, in which he s iye : • With ref retire to the accompeueing letter from th .14- I miral superintendent at Portemoutli, and to their lord-hips' decision that an experienced master smith be appointed to • Portsmouth yard from tho private tunic, I beg to state that cried " Name " would sec that there was someihiug worse than that. Every one was aware of the visit which was made in June, 1832, to the dockyards in lleeonport and Plymouth by the bon. gentleman in the Blaele le.mle. on Wednesday, the 22ud of June, the honourable gentle man walked round the dockyard at Detro e p ort with the two conservative candidates. H. stied at 'the Muster office, so that every man must pass by him, and see with whom he was connected. 1 here wt) a dinner given in the town: the two consere..rive candi dates were there ; the chairman of their eumn,ittee, their solicitors., and election agents were there. It oas, in tact, au election diuner given by the hon. gentleman : it resumed that character. (Hear, hear.) If it was neer,. ity for the hon. geutlemau to make this visit and supers ,ion of the dockyard:, he ought to have goat) there as .. public ser vant, and kept himself free from all politic .1 and elec tioneering alliances. (Hear, hear.) lie you!-i feel it to b.: his duty to iuquire whet:act the cspenses tit this dinner to the conservative candidates and their agent. le.el ken entered in the Admiralty contingencies and accounts, because if they were to be found in the public ”ceetrts, it was using and prostituting the public money tar political and party purposes. (Seer, hear.) Now in Portsmouth the ban. gentleman did not stand at the Mutt r-office sad did not have the men pass him by. And the solution which ho could arrive at for that dereliction of public duty on the part of the hon. genth man was, that in Portsmouth there wee no conservative caneidete. (heer.) e last refer ence which he would make in this matter wastes document, dated the 18th of July, 1835, by which cautra , e.ng in the disci:yam. was prohibited to that department of the govern ment wits which the lion. gentleman had bee °tweeted. At that period there was also a chauge of gm fitment, and it was probable that some similar occurrent.. took place, and that in consequence of them 14i3 right honourable friend (Sir C. Wood) then Lust Lord of the Admiralty, wrote the following tercular : " Admiralty, July 18, 1835.—Sir,—Represions having been submitted to the Board of Admiraltrott eakt f attempts having been made by the officers of the yards to influence the workmen in the exercise of their elective franchise, and my lords being mast desirous that no such tuterferenee should take place, but that the men should be left at per fect liberty to give their votes us they may thinle proper, are pleased to direct that it may be a standing order, the in fringement of which wi.l be visited with the highest dis pleasure of their lordships ; that in any future election for the town or county, in or near to which the yard under your superiutendence is situated, the exercise director bi dit eet of any influence ou the part of the sue 'Mr officers to induce the workmen to vote is any way is to be carefully avoided and, in order to take further precautions against the appearance of such influence, no canvas,iag by any candidate, or on the part of any candidate, is to be permit ted within the yards, excepting only of such voters as may be resident in the yards. And my lords further direct that you take the most effectual means of making this known, both to all the officers and men ureder your superintendence without loss of time. I am, sir, your very bumble servant, C. Woou."— (Cheers.) If the house granted him the committee he was confident that he could prove still further that this circular of 1833 had been also virtually cancelled, not by a stroke of the pen ' Out by act and deed. (Hear.) lle Lad now dis charged the duty he hail assumed. Ile had stet, d that he did not bring the motion forward from any personal hostility to the hon. gentleman. (Hear.) Ito had bc:m actuated solely by a sense of public duty, and if the house granted the committee, and the result of it should be to actiait the late Board of Admiralty, be should be ready to ride it his error, and would be happy to have it shown that the influence of a great public department of the state had been properly exercised, and its patronage honestly distributed. (Cheers.) Sir G. I'ECIIELL seconded the motion. Mr. STAFFORD, who on rising was cheered by his friends, said that whatever the result of the motion of the hon. member might be, he hail to tender him hie ackuow ledgmeuts for the spirit stud ten. of his ape• eh, and for the courteous and candid way in which he de.it with the subject since he had taken it up. (Hear.) Having said thus much he must request the indulgence of the house if be tonna it somewhat dittitult to tulle,/ the hon. baronet into the various details which ho had laid before the house, and to give teat entire uuswer to them which 1., -eould have been enabled to do if the office of the Board of Admiralty had been more at his command, although he trust eeknowe Wee the courtesy of the right hon. gentleman op. °site (Sir J. Graham) in facilitating his inquiries. He would first reply to that part of the lion. baronet's speech, which was of more importance to him than the other pens, because it aftected him personally—he referred to the replies he made to the question, put to him by the hon. member for Giouces.er and the hon. member fee Brighton. He admitted tee correctness of tee statement of the hon. baronet Lath us to the question. put to him and the answers which he pave to those qu.stious, and he would now give the expl itiou of them—an explana tion which he might have offered after those answers had hems given, but weich he never once thought of offering. Whilst Secretary of the Admiralty it was his practice to go every morning to the First Lord with such papers as he thought of sufficient importance to get his iostructiona upon. On the 2Gth of April, 1852, the Dake of Northum berland told him that the Surveyor of the N ivy was an noyed at the circular of the 19. h of April, by the issue of which he conceived that a stigma had been cent upon his character, and that he did not believe he would 'amain in his situation unless that stigtut were remove i. His (Mr. Stafford's) reply was that if teat were so he would, with the sanction of the board, issue another circular and would do so ' on:that very day. Accordingly, when he went back to his office, he drew up a rough draft of another circular, which ' was subeermently sent. At the; point, he would react to the home- an extract of a letter which had beeu written by Admiral Hyde Parker, a mutuel friend of Sr B. Walker and his own, respecting a conversation which they had on this subject. It tallied exactly with his own re collection of the matter, but he preferred to give it in the words of Admiral Parker. He says: "Castle Malwcod, April 11, 1853.-1 saw Mr. Sealed in the presence of Sir Baldwin Walker, and Mr. Stafford stated to him that he had not any intention, by the circular sent to the dockyard, of casting cry reflection e r in the su veyor. I think Mr. Stafford brought with him a written memorandum, which he read, and Sir 11. Walker made some objection to a p .rt of it, which I think Mr. S afford altered. This memorandum %es :afterwards sent to the doekyaree. Walker app.ated satis [Lid, and I then considered it settled, and des trused Sir Baldwin Walker's letter. This, I believe, is the whole case . Touts very truly, HYDE PARKER." Aud now the hoe. baronet asked him it he ever saw the letter of Sir B. Walker. lie would not shrink from that. To the best of his belief he never saw the letter, he did not know that it was addressed to him ; and in corroboration of what he said, he begged to call the at tention of the house to some answers which had been given by Sir B. Walker before the Chatham election committee. He says, in answer to a qttestiln respecting this letter, " I afterwards discovered that the letter was not brought before the board." "It was delivered to the senior Lord of the Admiralty (Sir Hyde Parker), and not to the Secretary." He is asked, "Do you knew what beceme of the letter ?" He says, " I do not." In September he received a letter from the hon. and gal lent member opposite, stating that he inten led to put a question to him on this subject. He thereto% directed a search to be made in the Record-office, in Weite hell, and in Somerset-house, but no letter was found. lie knew no thing whatever of this letter, and he answered eccordingly. Ile believed he replied " no." He was aware of no tender of resignation ; he had no record of it in the Admiralty office ; and if there had been a tender of resignetion, which was afterwards withdrawn, it must be in the ettiee. (Hear, hear.) The party most implicated in this matter was Sir Hyde Parker. Now, could any one i:nagine that a person in the position of Sir H. Parker, and possessing his nice sense of honour, would have allowed Lim to give the answer Ise did, or, having given it, that lie would not furnish him with the means of giving an explanation. (Hear, hear.) Yet he had not received the least informa tion from Sir IL Parker. He (Sir H. Parker) thought that the letter was sent to him by Sir B. Walker as a senior officer and as a friend, and that it was entirely in his dis cretion whether he would bring forward the letter or not. (Hear, hear.) In the exercise of that discretion, Sir H. Parker did not send the letter to the Admiralty-office, and he (Mr. Stafford) was therefore right in saying that he had not tendered his resignation to the board. (Hear, hear.) This was not all, for, on the 25th of Novetn'nr, the sur veyor addressed this formal and official letter to tee board : " Somerset-house Nov. 25, le,i2.—Sir, havine observed in the public papers that the Secretary of the Admiralty is re ported to have stated iu the House of Commons, on the evening of the 23rd inst., in reply to cer'ain questions asked by Admiral Berkeley and Sir George Nebel!, that there was no correspondence with the Surveyor of the Navy on the subject of the promotions in the dockyard., and also that the Surveyor of the Navy had not tendered his resig nation, I desire, through you, to call the attention of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to letters from me, bearieg date the 21st of April and the 10th of May last. I have, &c., B. WALKER, Surveyor of the Navy. Augus tus Stafford, hem., M.P., Secretary to the Admira lty." (Hear, hear,) The followeig letter was written in reply— " Admiralty, Nev. 26,1`8, - 32.—With reference to your letter of the 25th inst., I am to acquaint you that your letters of the 21st April and the 10th 0; May, retorted to by you, do not appear to have reached the record departemat of this office, and my lords therefore request you will transmit copies of these letters. 117 comm old of their lordship, A. STAFFORD.—Surveyor of the Navy." The surveeor's answer was as follows:—" Somerset house, Nor. With reference to your letter of the 26th inst., I beg to acquaint you that since my communication of tee 2.ith inst. I have been informed that my letter of the 21st of Apr% addressed to the Secretary of the Admiralty, which was de livered to Vice-Admiral Hyde Parker,was cot brought before the board; and, with reference to the letter of the 10th of May, it was a communication addressed to the First Lord of the Admiralty, and not to the Secretary.—l have, &e., B. W. WALK ER.—Aug.Stalford,lisq.,M. P., Sec. to the Admiralty." He did List know that he could have acted other wise than he did, and in the language of Sir H. Parker he thought that this matter eras "settled." (Hear, hear.) Now after the corropondence had been called for in the house he confessed Le read the letter of Sir B. Walker with considerable cut prise, because it was au answer to a letter marked " private and conhden tial," which was sidle wed to him on the second of the same month. (Hear, hear.) But having been referred to • by the hon. baronet he felt bound in justice to • himself to read that letter to the house. (Hear, hem) "Admiralty, April 2, 1352.—Dear Sir Ballwin,-1 find that greet dissatisfaction exists among my poll teal friends us to the present arrangement of appointments —el eloper tions in the dockyards, and there is a very gee:: impres sion that all these things ere dispensed au.on.: , t r litteal eepon its (leueliter nee -die as), ins , much the . .• ems no alternative but to resume the system en whice pre , vious to September, 1819. I mud not tell you t h e t no one considers the blame—if blame there be—to rest with you I.