The Express. — London, England, 1867-03-16 00:00:00

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Mel 481 per 116 ; mottled. : best Colm .41. 44 rel. per 101il011 : for cash, at M. P. DAVI and BON'S, 63, St. Martin's lane. W.C. BROWN and POLSONR OOPS FLOUR for CHILDRRNI DEBT. To obtain extra wont by as saki akar kinds on sonatina aimed instead et BROWN snd " John Brown," "John Poison," Is signed by the 'aka, ce each i aihet. Eite II nn.eoo. TO CORREsPoNDENTS. Avast Moments Intended for "The Express," London Evening must be at the Omce, 10, liouverie-street, by Two on the day of publication. DRLRY LAN IL Tap EciMuen. Messrs. E. Phelps, W. Hamby. Vitsjuncu Harcourt. M'lntyre. Warner, and W. Harri son : Mrs. Herman Wesin. Sirs. H. VanJenhoff, & Isabel Adams. And WA-tirLD HI:SIiANDti FOR SLX. Him L. Thompson. JELAYMARULT. THVI Evsitno, DAVID Mews. Sothern, Buck. RnMirk Clark, &c. • Itemlames Moore, Chip pendale, die —DIA %It INIAS AND HEARTS. Moan Chippendale, Yemen, &c. ; Mcal.anes Barks, Moore, &c.—And MR& WHIT& iILINCI2IB%. Ties svismo, Ills Lin LEGS. Mew. Verner & Fenton; Mr& Is. White and Mha Wentworth.—And THE STREETS OF .N LN iN. Messrs. Vining, F. Mier& Ettore, Calhaem, Forrester, and Mellon; Mrs. 11. Manton, Mires Montagu and Rodger& MC KIM. Tnis Brom), THE TWOKIET3. Mr. Widdkomb —And HAMLET. Messrs. Pechter, Jordan. Emery, Price, Widdicomb, Fitzpatrick, Krona Dalton, Moreland, Newhoond, Reynolds, An. denoo, and Vivian; Mires Beanicle. E la worthy, &t. Leckwq. areastr. Tam EvANING, MARRIED DAUGHTERS AND YOUNG HUS BANDA —E4NI F: RA L : OR, THE SENMATION GOAT. Mews. Thorne, Jame.. Knhenn .nd Turner ; Mesdames Swanborvugh, Hughes, Newton. Wsigharsby, &c.—Aad A BUFF OF LIVIOOYs. HOLBOR.N. THIS EVIIGNO, MY TURN STIFT. Mr. Belmore: Mime Foote and Lennox.—And FLYING SCUD. Messrs. Neville, Bel abor*, Blake, Vollaire, &c. Mesdames F. Josephs, C. Saunders, Meade Foote. Ftddee, Lennox, Itaymoad, de. BRITANNIA. THr Evirsrso, VTR CORSICAN BROTHREN —After which the opening of the PANTOMIMIC, ending with the Orand Trans formation Scetse. Mrs. Lane & Mae Jacohs.—To conclude with THZ LAST LINK OF LOVE, Miss S. Mile& wag_ WAVES AT lONDON BRITICHL TUN Di.iifendurr, I. SBA —l.ftersoo;;llh. I. toalloszow—Mandag. 111 &ft Afternoon. Oh. Om. LONDON, SATURDAY, MARCH 16. THR alternative scheme of Her Marwerv's Ministers, the magnitude of which broke up the Cabinet, was disclosed yesterday afternoon by Lord DERRY to his followers. The satisfaction with which it was received by them will not be shared by Parliament and the country. The larger scheme turns out to be practically the smaller scheme, encumbered with checks which minify it still further. With the exception of a more liberal, but still insufficient, reduction of the county franchise, there is little difference between the project which Mr. DISRAELI ex pounded on the 25th of lastmonth and that which he is to explain on Monday next. Her Maavery's Ministers have been choosing between names and not things ; and they offer the same choice to the House of Commons and the country. We mistake the temper of both if, having been played with so long, they submit to be trifled with further. Lord DERBY is trying a dangerous experiment. Hitherto observers have been ready to attribute the vacilla tions of his Government to incapacity, and not to insincerity. But it is more than charitable to believe that the measure foreshadowed yes terday can be brought forward in good faith. For the 6/. rating franchise offered by Mr. DIS RAELI in the so-called smaller measure, household suffrage, conditional on two years' residence and the personal payment of rates by the occupier, is now substituted ; and the county qualification, which he proposed on the 25th of last month to reduce to a 201. rating, is now, it appears, to be put at 151. The fancy franchises are retained, and the plan of dualvoting,which was abandoned in the alternative scheme, is resumed. The householder who pays 20s. of direct taxation is to have a second vote. Franchises based on investments in the funds, on deposits in savings banks, and on education, are to be created, but they are not to give a double vote. The redistribution scheme is to be confined within the limits sketched by Mr. Dulasma three weeks ago. So far as the borough franchise is concerned, the Ministerial measure is both utterly inade quate and based upon false principles. There is no good reason why a householder who pays his rates through his landlord instead of directly should be excluded from the suffrage. This fate discrimination is the first false principle. The principle of dual voting is the second. The fancy franchises, with the exception of the educa tional qualification, are open to the objection that they afford no criterion of political capacity, and lend themselves to the manufacture of faggot votes. The absence of a lodger franchise is a signal omis sion. The House of Commons accepted last ses sion a 141. rental qualification in counties. Minis ters now propose a 151. rating, which is probably equivalent to a 201. rental. They thus fall short of the liberality of the present Parliament. They adhere to their insufficient scheme of re distribution, which leaves the enormous inequali ties of our electoral system almost untouched, and does not practically affect the illicit ascendancy of the territorial class. Lord DERRY seeks to conjure with the words Household Suffrage. Let him beware, lest, like an unskilful sorcerer, wielding a potent charm, he destroys himself. He and his col leagues are even now more deeply discre dited than any public men have been during the past half century. The country believes neither in their political capacity nor their political honesty. For his own sake, and for that of his party, if loftier considerations have no weight with him, let him reconsider the course on which he appears bent. He has abundant time to change his mind over and over again, the process with him being very rapid, before Monday evening. If he wishes to avoid inspiring the mass of his coun trymen with deep-seated distrust--not only of himself, his colleagues, his party, but of his class also, he will hesitate before he authorises Mr. DISRAELI to repeat to the House of Commons the proposals which met to-day with the approval of the Conservatives, and thus commits himself to , THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 16, 18 6 7. a Bill a hich is too bad to be accepted, or qv's. to be mended. LORD BRUME'S Bill for the " Regulation of " Metropolitan Traffic " passed through Committee last night, in the House of Lords. Since we last notier4 it several of its clauses have been modi fied--some of them for the better. One of them. it is satisfactory to observe, now provides for the licensing of a better class of cabs, at a higher rate of fares than those payable underthe ex isting statute. The proprietor of the better vehicle will be left free to fix his own rate of fares, which will then be cer tified bythe proper authority, and be displayed both inside and outside of the vehicle, for the guidance and protection of the public. The Bill is, however, still encumbered with some restrictive provisions, which will unnecessarily harass trade. This is especially the character of the clauses which put limits on the delivery of coal. Some modifica tions have been made in the Bill as it at first stood, but the framers of the measure do not appear to have formed an adequate estimate of the interests with which they propose to deal, or to be aware of the extent of the injury which needless restrictions inflict in these days of compe tition, when every branch of industry requires the utmost freedom for its successful prosecution. The clause governing the delivery of coal has been modified by an extension of the hours during which householders may receive coals into their houses; and a schedule of streets has been constructed to the operation of which the restrictions apply. This is an improvement : but the prohibitions are still too severe. The Bill enacts that east of Temple-bar, and from the Thames northward as far as City-road, Pentonville, an area of about two miles, no delivery shall be made between ten in the morning and six in the evening. This re striction is gratuitous, seeing that the difficulty attending the conduct of traffic occurs only in the line from the Bank to Temple-bar, or at all events in some few leading streets in the heart of London. Instead of including a large area in this indiscriminate manner, the streets east of Temple-bar in which deliveries are not to be made, should be specifically designated, while the circulation of traffic through them should be free. The authors of this Bill have been misled by a radically false idea. They have got to learn that regulating traffic does not consist in suspend ing, arresting or prohibiting it, treating legitimate and necessary trade as contraband, and ordering it out of the streets. Trade is what sustains this great city. If Lord DELMORE, or Sir RICHARD MAYNE, or anybody else can facilitate traffic and make it more expeditious, well and good; but let them not make war upon it under pretence of regula tion. Loan DERBY was able to make last night a very satisfactory announcement respecting the re lations between the Porte and the important Principality of Service The SULTAN has at length agreed to remove a long standing source of irrita tion by making the celebrated fortress of Belgrade over to the Prince of SERYIA. This arrangement has been hailed with enthusiastic delight by the Christian population of that country, and it is one which the Turkish Government can have no cause to regret, since, by the mere withdrawal of a garrison which might endanger, but could in no case protect, the peace of the Empire, it substitutes a contented for a dissatisfied population in that part of its dominions. A further measure, tending to the better organization of Turkey, in preparation for inevitable changes, is the wuon of several pachalica under one government, in con nexion with a provision for the representation of the Christian people. Lord DERBY further mentioned that the Porte had determined to do away with the distinctions still kept up between Christians and Mussulmans, and to advance Christians to the highest posts in the State. It is, however, to concessions calculated to give the Christian popu lation more or less power to help themselves, rather than to personal appointments and specious reforms depending on a Minister's tenure of office, that we must look for any such amelioration of the political state of Turkey as will enable the Government to withstand the shocks to which it must soon be exposed. A TOUCH of misgiving as tothewisdom of thecourse we have oecasionally taken w hen our neighbours have been in trouble—a slight suspicion that we may at times have been too forward to teach this and that government how to govern a disaffected province-- is suggesting to one and another of our contem poraries the possibility of our receiving some friendly counsel from abroad now that we have Irish Fenianism on our hands. The subject is capable of affording amusement, and something more,when treated with the lightness shown in the pseudo- French despatch which the Owl published on Wed nesday, whereas a bold prosaic statement in plain English can only be justified by its literal truth. The contemporary who published yesterday as " a " matter of considerable importance at the present " moment," the story that "Mr. ADAMS, the " United States Minister, has, by direction of " his Government, brought before her Ms.rawrv's " Ministers the neglected condition of Ireland, " and pointed out, in perhaps not the most " conciliatory tone, the course which those whom " Mr. ADAMS represents declare should be imme " diately adopted with the view of removing the " existing causes of Irish disaffection, and of allay " ing that feeling of intense irritation known to " exist among the large Irish population in America " on the misgovernment of the sister country," took the precaution of stating that he " did not " endorse its authenticity," whatever that may mean. This was prudent ; it would have been still more prudent to reject it altogether. We run no risk when we venture to assert that this state ment is one which will not be substantiated by inquiry. It is not the wont of the Government of the United States to interfere in that way, and in the relations of the Southern States to the Government of the Union it has quite enough to occupy its energies and attention just now without devising plans for the government of Ireland. Tax practice of military flogging is not only doomed—that it was long since—but it is about to disappear. In an unreformed House of Com mons it is languidly defended and finally con demned. A reformed House would not tolerate it for a week. There are a hundred reasons against it, and only one for it ; but this one General PEtt thinks is decisive—it is necessary. We shall see. Its necessity will no doubt be main. tallied as long as the representatives of the people will permit it, and after that the discovery will be made that it can be dis pensed with. Let General PEEL or Sir JOHN PAHINGTON—whom we regret to see making his first appearance as War Minister in such a cause—tell the country why the great fighting armies, French, Prussian, American, can be kept in discipline without the lash ; and why our army, which no one is compelled to enter, cannot be kept together and in order with out it. The point is worth investigating : it may throw useful light upon the general state of the service: The House of Commons was not frightened last night by the allakation that it was meddling with the discipline; of the army. The question cannot be disposed of as if it were the property of any set or class of the Quzaw's subjects ; it affects the very safety of the empire itself. The difficulty of getting men is increasing, and it will before long amount to an impossibility if something effectual be not done to improve the character of the service, and for this purpose the " cat " must be absolutely got rid of. ~•.r: PARLIAMENTARY DIVISION. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—Maitci 11. FLOGGING IN THE ARMY. Supply—Order for committee read ; motion made, and question proposed, "That Mr. Speaker do now leave the chair; amendment proposed, to leave out from the word " that " to the end of the guestion, in order to add the words " this house, reserving for future consideration when requisite the question of the exigencies of a state of war, is of opinion that it is unnecessary that the punishment of flogging should be awarded during the time of peace to soldiers of the army or corps of royal marines servuigon shore "—(Mr.Otway). Instead thereof, question put, " That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the question." The house divided—Ayes, 107 ; noes, 108. . . na Adderley, C. B. Garth, A P.. Pakingion, Sir J. ArchdaU, Capt. Gilpin, Cot Peet Gen. Bailey, Sir J. GoMary, 0. Powell, F. S. Barrington Via. Gore. J. B. pton , O. W. Beach, Sir M. Hamilton, Ld. Claud Ridley, Sir M. Beach, W. W. Harvey, B. B. Robertson, P. F. Bentinck, G. C. Hervey, Lord A. Itolt, SO J. ficnyon, R. Hay, Sir J. Russell, Sir C. iliddulph. M. Herbert, Col. Schreiber, C. Bridges, Sir B. Hildyard, T. B. Selwyn, C J. Brooks, R. Hodgson, W. N. Severne, J E. Bruce, Sir H. H , Lt.-CoL Seymour, 0. H. Burrell, Sir P. H . , Sir A. Simonds, \V. B. Calcraft, J. N. Hunt, G. W. Smith, A. Cartwright, CoL Kerslake, Sir J. SmoUett, P. B. Cave, S. Kerslake, E. K. Stanley, Lord chatterton. H. E. Kavanagh, A. Stanley, V. Clinton, Lord E. Kendall, N. Stirling- Irixwell, Clive, Mpg. King, J. K. Sir W. Cole, H. King, J. 0 Stopford, S. G. Cole, J. L Kingscote, Col. Bargees, H. E. Curzon, Viact. Knox, Major Sykes, C. Dickson, Major Lennox, Lord H. Tottenham, Lt.-Col. Dimsdale, R. Lindsay, cot. c. Trevor, Lord A. Molten, B. Lindsay, Col. R. Vance, J. tin Cane, C. Lowther, J. Vandeleur, Col Dyott, Cot Malcolm, J. W. Verner, E. W. Earle, R. Manners, Lord J. Walker, Major Eckcraley, N. Montgomery, Sir G. Walpole. S. H. Edwards, Sir H. Morgan, 0. Walrond, J. W. Egerton, A. Morris, H. Whitmore, H. Egerton, IL Mowbray, J. R. Wlllarns, F. H. Egerton, W. Neville-Grenville, R. Wyndham, P. Vane, Col. Nicholson, W. Wyrill, M. Fengumon, 81:1. North. Col. TILLEUL Moyer, J. O'Neill, E. Taylor, Col. Forester, Otte Paget, R. H. Noel, G. J. _ . NOES. Akroyd, E. Graham, W. Peel. A. W. Amberley, Via, Cireville-Nugent,Col. Pelham, Lord Ayrton, A. 8. Gridley, Capt. Potter, R. Baines, E. Grosvenor, Capt. Potter, T. B. Barclay, A. C. Hadfield, G. Power, Sir J. Barnes, T. Hankey, T. D. Beaumont, H. F. Harris. J. D. =, D. J. Blake, J. A. Hartley, J. Russell, en ffir W. Blennerhaseekelr R. Hayter, Capt. Scholefield, W. Brady, Dr. Henderson, J. Scott, Sir W. Bright. Sir C. Herbert, H. A. Seely, C. Briscoe, J. L Holden, I. Seymour, H. D. Bromley, W. D. Howard, C. W. Sheridan, H. B. Bryan, G. L Hughes, T. Sherrill, A. C. Butler, C. S. Jervis, Major Simeon, Sir J. Burton, C. Lawson, J. A. Snail, J. B. Odthorpe F. H. Lechmere, Sir E. Stock, 0. Candlish, J. Leeman, G. Stuart, CoL Chamber., Y. Lecterre, 0. J. Stucley, Slr G. Childers, H. C. Lennox, Lord Sullivan L Cogan, W. H. Lusk, A. Sjoan, IL J. Crauturd, R. H. MacEvoy, IL Taylor, P. A. Crouley, Sir F. St 'Laren, D. Tonne, W. T. Dalglish, R. Marsh, M. H. Trevelysn, G. 0. Denman, 0. 111111. J. 8. , L. L. Merry, I. Vanderhyl, P. !Affirm Vivian, Gapt, Eaton, H. W. Mitchell, T. A. Waring, C. Edwards, C. Monk, C. J. Warner, E. likyn, R. Murphy, N. D. Watldn, L W. Fawcett, H. Neale, C. Whitbread, 8. Fordyce, W. D. O'Beirne, J. 1.. White, J. Forster, C. O'Brien, Sir P. Williamson, Sir H. Forster, W. O'Conor Don, The Wyld, J. Gaskell u t.4. CrDonowbue, The Young, R. Gavin, ()Upham, L. TZLL.M. Gilpin, C. Osborne, LB. Otway, A. J. Olyn, 0.0. Pease, J. W. Anson, Major ~1~"_ I. THE MEETING OF LORD DERBY'S SUPPORTERS. The daily journal' give in varying terms an out- Me of yesterds," prooemlings. The numbers present are stated by the Herald at upwards of 260 ; by the Post at 264 ; by the Times at 243. Lord Cranborne, ex-Minister for India, was present, bat General Peel was away. Lord DERBY spoke for about half en hour. Having adverted in passing terms to the difficulties which envi roved the subject, and to the circumstances under which three of his colleagues had deemed it to he their duty to withdraw from the cabinet, he proceeded to explain the nature of the measure which the government was prepared to recommend in the House of Commons. To the principle of rating as against rental they were prepared to adhere, but after giving the most careful and anxious con sideration to the question as to what the mini mum rating should be they were of opinion that, to insure a final settlement of a question which had caused uneasiness and irritation for some time past, it would be better to legislate upon broad and simple principles. They therefore proposed that the suffrage in boroughs should be household, subject, how. ever, to the payment of rates and two years' occupation. It was also proposed as a security, and to guard against any undue influence being given to representation by num bers only as against property, to give another vote to per ', ions who, being occupiers in boroughs, should also be payer. of direct taxation to the extent of not less than 20s. per annum. The personal payment of rates would be an essential condition. All compound rating would sease for the new franchises, but joint occupiers might apply to be separately rated. It was also proposed to give the franchise to adult male depositors in savings banks and in the public funds who should have the sum of 501. standing in their names for a period of not less than two years. The government were also of opinion that the members of the learned professions should be entitled to vote under what might be termed an educational franchise. With regard to the county fran chise a 15/. rating would be the qualification recommended. It mut not intended to establish the principle of cumula tive voting. These propositions would, he hoped, be ap proved not only by those who had been in the habit of giving an independent support to her Majesty's govern ment, but also by the House of Commons and by the coun try generally. The government were of opinion that the principle involved in two years' occupation and in the dual vote was of the essence of the measure, and that, if affirmed by the House of Commons, household suffrage might follow without danger. With regard to disfran chisement, thecabinet adhered to the proposals as recently expounded by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The noble lord was loudly cheered at the opening of his address, and the approbation was even more marked at the close. Mr. HENLEY then rose and expressed his full approval of the measure just announced. Faithful to the principle on which he seceded in 1859, he advocated a broad basis for the borough suffrage. He regarded the proposals which professed to confer the franchise on occupiers of a certain amount of rental as not to be justified on constitutional principles. They could therefore only be of temporary effect, even if carried. Household suffrage with payment of rates he looked upon as the true basis of the right to vote according to the principles of the constitution of Eng land, and that was the foundation of the old rights which conferred the franchise on those who paid scot and lot, that is, who resided where they voted, and bore their part of the local and public burdens. He was prepared not only to approve but to defend those principles, and he promised the measure his fullest support. Sir J. B. WiLSHE advocated unanimity among conser vatives above all things. He spoke in the highest terms of eulogy of the conduct of Lord Derby as a party leader, and he regretted deeply that former leaders had not had the courage and the honourable feeling to act as he bad done. Had the late Sir R. Peel treated the party with the same confidence when he had changed his views respecting Roman catholic emancipation, and again when he had determined to repeal the corn laws—bad he called the party together, and explained to them that the time was come for enacting those measures, that they could no longer be withheld, the conserv►tive party would have ac cepted that which was inevitable, and would not on those occasions have undergone a disruption from which they had taken so long a period to recover. He ex pressed his ►dmiration for the courage and confidence which induced Lord Derby to call them together, and to explain, as be had done, that there was nothing else for them but to accept this measure, which he for one was ready to do, and which he hoped the meeting would also accept without dissent. Sir JOHN TROLLOPS also addressed the meeting in a similar sense to Sir John Walshe. Sir WILLIAM HILATHCOTE expressed strong disapproval of the measure, and intimated that he would oppose it in the house. The bon. baronet regarded the proposal placed before the meeting from the standpoint that it is too large, and that, if carried out, it would destroy the in fluence of rank, property, and education by the force of numbers. He did nut receive any encouragement during his address, and immediately after he ceased to speak the meeting separated ; indeed, very many bad gone long be. fore. - . In reply to a question thrown out as a feeler to ascer tain what course the Premier might be disposed to adopt in c.se the opposition should prove recalcitrant, and de cline to accept the government programme in its entirety, Lord Derby said that he believed the °ourse most likely to be acceptable to the country, in case any hostile action on the part of the House of Commons were from any cause to place ministers in a minority, would be to appeal to the country. COMPOSITION or THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. One of the " Essays on Reform" which have been just published in a volume by Messrs. Macmillan, is by Mr. 4:recruit, who sets himself to prose by figures and names that the House of Commons represents the upper classes of society, if not exclusively, at least in overwhelming pro portion. The landowners, for example, seat directly 256 county members, but of the borough members 246 out of 306 are believed to be also territorial/its, either by actual ovrneiship of land in considerable blocks, or by dependence on and connection with those who do own them. According to Dori, in the parliament of August, 1865, there were re turned 71 baronets, 11 elder sons of baronets, 19 younger sons of baronets, and 8 grandsons of baronets ; a total for the baronetage alone of 110. There were also 37 peers, or elder sous of peers, 64 younger sons of peers, and 15 grand sons of peers ; a total of 116 members of parlia ment for the peerage, and for the erage and baronetage together a total of 22G. Beside s e these there are one hundred commoners sitting in parliament who are connected with the peerage by marriage or descent. The aristocratic class or element in the House of Commons has therefore a grind total of at least 326 mem bers. And unquestionably this number would be found, if an exhaustive search were made among other sources of information, to be below the mark. When it is remem. bered that in the fullest house on record, namely, on the 28th of April, 1866, those who voted in the majority had only 320 votes, the number 326, as the symbol of caste in the House of Commons, is significant." LORD ROBERT MONTAGU'S ADDRESS. —Lord Robt. Montagu has issued the following address to the electors of the county of Huntingdon :—" Gentlemen,—The ttueen has been graciously pleased to appoint me Vice-President of the Council. In accordance with an antique custom, it is necessary for me to obtain your sanction, by offering myself to you for re-election. I trust that I have not for feited the confidence which, for nearly eight years, you have been pleased tore pow in me. I have always been in favour of an honest and liberal measure of reform. which should yield the franchise to all the industrious of the working classes, without permitting any class to obtain a predominating power in the legislature. On this subject the whole country is thoroughly in earnest. To defer the settlement of it would be neither just nor prudent. While the public will favour any honest endeavour to arrive at a satisfactory solution of the difficulty, it surely will not countenance any one-sided proposal or factious opposition. The great moderation and absence of party spirit which have hitherto been maintained by those whose duty it is to criticise the measures of the government, give use the best expectations for the future. All patriotic and disin terested statesmen, on whatever aide of the bowie, will (I believe) combine to settle this vexed question, and free the house from fruitless debates and wasted sermons, and the country from prolonged agitations and bitter jealousies.— I remain, gentlemen, your faithful servant, ROBERT Morrrice. London, March 13, 1867." THE WHIG PARTY AND HOUSEHOLD SUFFRAGE. —Lord Brougham writes the following letter referring to the answers to his recent commueication on the suffrage question:—" I havejwit seen Lord Grey's letter in your paper of the 9th. lnat I referred to about the household suffrage and the Reform Bill generally was my speech before the formation of the government in IMO. That speech was for the purpose of explaining the bill of which Iliad given notice at the Yorkshire election. The meeting was held at Lord Althorp's chambers in the Albany, but 1 had required some of our friends in the Loris also to be present. I have as distinct a recollection of what pawed at that meeting as if it had been yesterday, and of the per sons who were present. I have frequently referred to the approval of household suffrage in my letters to Lords Den man and Radnor upon law amendment. But of the meet ings and what passed at them, as well as of the persons present, there an be no doubt whatever." PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS lOR THE ENSUING WEEK. The following notices of motions and orders 6f the d stand in the order book of the House of Com. mons fur next week: MOEDA; MASER 18. ORDZIIII Of THE DAT. Supply—committee; Supply —report ; Ways and Ilt,ns —committee; Criminal Lunatics Bill—comuattee ; l'y td Punishments within Prisons Bill—second reading ; sure Bill—second reading ; Petit Juries (Ireland) hill-_ second reading; Mutiny Bill—second reading; hale and Purchase of Shares Bill—committee. OUR CONTEMPORARIES. (THIS DAY.) THE COMMENT PROPOSALS OP •EPOEY. There is this morning a chorus of dissent on the part of the non-government journals, from the leading pro posals laid before his party yesterday afternoon by Lord Derby. The first mistake, the Times says, is in proposing a higher standard for the county franchise than the House of Commons approved last year ; but the crucial part of the scheme—the dual voting— is odiously invidious. Nothing can be worse advised. It rouses the sentiment of everyone who is exposed by means of it to a disadvantage. Some enemy must have induced the ministers to go out of their way to seek dis comfiture, for this blot in the plan is unredeemed by any compensation. The ministry will have to face the ques tion whether they will give up this part of their plan and be content with the rest. Concluding with a question, the Times asks—Can we hope to see the problem of reform solved in 1867, or must we wait another year and look for other agents? The measure, the Daily News says, his not the slightest chance of passing the House of Commons, or, if it were pushed through by dint of unscrupulous combinations, of satisfying the country. Some by-purpose has probably presided over its formation. It looks like a measure for reuniting the conservative party, in preparation for a re newal of the policy of obstruction when the inevitable defeat comes. The government offers the name only of household suffrage in boroughs, and it will be a question for the liberal party whether any advantage can be anticipated from the discussion of the scheme. If it be true, as Mr. Forster, speaking the other day at Bradford, said it was, that a household suffrage, restricted to direct ratepayers, will be narrower than a 61. rating qualification, where is the justification of the provision for conferring a second vote upon householders paying direct taxation, when ministers did not venture to propose any such check as an accompaniment to the more liberal 61. qualification? There is no good reason why a householder who pays his rates through his landlord instead of directly should be excluded from the suffrage. This false discrimination is the first false principle. The principle of dual voting is the second. In every one of its provisions the forth coming bill is bad. The Herald says that in its leading points the mea sure embodies all the concessions which it is possible for a conservative government to make, and by it the minority are resolved to stand or fall. It is confident that the country at large is not indisposed to accept the double vote. The Standard thinks the conservative gentlemen must have listened to the statement with mingled feelings of surprise, relief, and satisfaction, and it believes that every day the scheme of the ministry will become more popular. Pausing a moment to comment on the remarkable spec tacle of a tory cabinet proposing household suffrage with whatever restrictions, the Star proceeds to condemn the accompaniments. The majority of the present electors would be entitled to two votes, and it requires no array of figures to prove that the effect of such a plan would be disastrous to the cause of progress, and increase no. mensely the power of the kirks. It introduces into the constitution of England for the first time a most invidious classification of the people. It divides them in a gross and offensive way into rich and poor, and brands the poor on account of their poverty as only half citizens. The Star imagine., therefore, that the liberal leaders will not hesitate to denounce the scheme as a whole on Monday evening as unacceptable. Household suffrage is not again to be retracted, says the 7c/raraph, whichever party may carry through our elec toral reformation ; it affords us a sure footing after all the quicksands of rating and rental, but the measure which contains it in this case is thoroughly unacceptable as it stands. It is a good and bold blll turned into a deceitful and unjust bill ; it gives, and then it takes away ; and, beyond all, it establishes an absolutely intolerable distinc tion in the land. Even if this proposal is thrown over board, the residential drawback, the want of a direct pro vision for lodgers, would still be an important abatement. THE WEEKLY PRESS. The period of the week at which Lord Derby's proposals have become known, being too advanced to allow of com ments upon them, the observations of the weekly journals on the general subject of reform lose much of their prac tical significance. The Examiner, treating of the arith metic of household suffrage, asserts, without hesitation, after giving the figures, that rated household suffrage would not double the present borough constituency. Considering the question what is to be done with the Fenian prisoners, the Einetincr remarks that a trucclent cry is raised once more for political vengeance. To our contemporary, Um slaughtering of prisoners, whether in Jamaica fashion or in Indian fashion, whether under the sentence of drumhead court-martial, or after trial by special commission, for any offence or upon any pretence, a 'ye the one of blood-guiltiness, is utterly unworthy and wholly unpardonable. In point of policy, nothing could b 3 more shortsighted; in point of justice nothing more indefensible. Fenianiam is lunacy, not crime, in the sense that ordinary crimes are stigmatised and punished by law. Capital punishment for political crime is the con fusion of right and wrong, which no hectoring speeches in parliament, or Jeffreys-like charges from the bench, or Bashi-liarouk paragraphs in tory journals, can clear or vindicate. The Saturday Review thinks no one can pretend to judge of a reform bill unless he has at least done what Lord Cranborne did, and given a clear Sunday to it. To criti cise a reform bill in ten minutes is to make a faint ap proach to the silliness of adopting a reform bill in ten minutes. According to the Saturday Review there is no season to believe that Mr. Gladstone shares the alarm of Lord Russell at Mr. Disraeli's precipitate legislation. If Mr. Disraeli loses the confidence of his followers, the conservative party will probably split into two sections, re spectively led by Lord Stanley and Lord Cranborne. The small section in the halm which follows the lead of Mr. Bright is not disinclined to a compromise. The Spectator continues to advocate the system of cumu lative voting, to which it thinks there can be no real ob j!ctimi, at least in the three-membered constituencies, except on the part of those who do not wish to see a House of Commons representative of the nation at all, but only of the majority of the nation. CABINET Cor Nem—There will be a cabinet council this afternoon at 4 o'clock, at the First Lord of the Treasury's official residence in Down ing-street. The TRADEA UNION COM VISSION. —A meeting of the commiasioners was held at No. 2,Victoria-street,West minster, yesterday. Present : The Right Hon. Sir W ilde (chairman), the Right Hon. the Earl of Lichfield, Lord Elcho, Sir E. W. Head, Bart., K.C.8., Sir Daniel Gooch, Bart., M.P., Mr. Herman Merivale, C. 8., Mr. James Booth, C. 8., Mr. J. A. Roebuck, Q.C., M.P., Mr. Thomas Hughes, M.l`., Mr. Frederic Harrison, and Mr. William Matthews. The secretary, Mr. J. H. Patte son, was also present. We are requested to state that in future the meetings of the commissioners will be held at No. 1, Park-prospect, Great Queen-street, Westminster, , where all communications should be addressed. A depu , tation from the late "Trades Union Conference" waited upon the commissioners, mai • communication was after wards addressed to Mr. Potter, its representative, to the effect that the commissioners had agreed to the following resolutions :—" 1. That in addition to the presence of such persons as the commissioners may deem expedient at any time, the omumissioners will be ready, as • general rule, to admit some one person connected with or repre senting any trade or society which seems likely to be affected by the inquiry to be conducted on a given day. 2. That when printed a copy of the shorthand-writer's notes of the examinations o witnesses each day be sent to every person so attending, a, 1 to he supplied as soon as convenient to any member of the press who may apply for it." (we Court. WINDSOR CASTLE, MARCH 15. The Queen, accompanied by Princess Christian, drove this morning. Princess Beatrice and Prince Henry of Prussia also drove out. The Queen, accompanied by Princess Christian, went to London this aftenaoon and visited the Princess of Wales at Marlborough•house. Her Majesty afterwards returned to Windsor Castle. The Countess of Caledon, Major General Hon. A. N. Hood, ►nd Colonel Hon. A. Hardinge were in attendance. A deputation, consisting of Lord Dufferin, Lord Claud Hamilton, M.P., Hon. Colonel Cole, M.P., Hon. J. L. Cole, M.P., the Mayor of Belfast, the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, Belfast, Mr. Chas. Lanyon, the Hon. Stuart Knox, M.P., Sir William Dunbar, Bart., Sir Andrew Agnew, hart., M.P., Mr. R. Peel Dawson, M.P., Mr. E. W. Verner, M.P., Sir John C. D. Hay, Bart., M.P., Mr. J. G. Getty, M.P., Sir Hervey Bruce, M.P., Sir Thomas Bateson, M.P., Mr. A. C. Innes, M.P., Mr. W. N. Hodgson, M.P., Captain Archdall, M.P., Lieut.-Colonel Salkeld, Mr. W. Brown.Westhead, Sir F. W. Heygate, Colonel Mure, Mr. W. R. Auketell (Belfast), and Mr. Alex. Ingram, had an interview with the Earl of Derby, ►t his official residence in Deeming-street, yesterday, on the subject of the mail service to Belfast and the north of Ireland via Portpatrick and Donaghadee. A committee of the Lords of her Majesty's Most Honour. able Privy Council sat yesterday at the Privy Council. office, Whitehall, on the subject of the cattle plague. The lords present were the Lord President and the Right Hon. E. Hammond. Mr. Harrison and Dr. Alexander Williams attended the committee. Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial office from the Governors of Now Zealand, Victoria, Tas mania, Queensland, South Australia, Labusn, and Malta. HEALTH OF THE PRINCESS OF WALES. (THIS DAY.) On inquiry at Marlborough House this afternoon we were informed that the Princess of Wales passed a restless night, but in other respects there was no change. Wo are authorised to state that, in consequence of the death of her Serene Highness the Duchess of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glucksburg, grandmother of her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, the levee appointed to be held by his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, on behalf of her Majesty, on Wednesday, the 20th instant, has been postponed to Friday, the 22nd instant. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge honoured Mr. Christopher Sykes with his company at dinner last evening at his residence in Seamore-place. Amongst the company invited to meet his royal highness were the Duchess of Marlborough and Lady C. Churchill, Viacriunt Canterbury, Lord and Lady Londesborough, Lord and LadylVtiarncliffe, and the Hoo.Colonel and Lady Margaret Charteria. Colonel the Hon. James Macdonald and Colonel Tyrwhitt were in waiting on his royal high ness. Covers were laid for 16. The Earl and Countess Stanhope entertained at dinner last evening the following select company at their residence in Grosvenor-place Houses:—The Duke of Wel lington, the Earl Cowper, Viscount and Viscountess Sydney, Viscountess Stratford de Redefine and the Hon. Miss Canning, the Right Hon. General Peel, M.P., and Lady Alice Peel, Lord Richard Grosvenor, M.P., Hon. Leslie Melville, to Sir Ralph and Lady Howard gave a grand enter tainment last evening to her Royal Highness the Grand Duchess of Mecklenburgh•Strelits and his Serene Highness the Prince Teck. Amongst the guests present to meet the royal party were his Excellency the Italian Minister, the Duke of St. Albans, the Marchioness of Downshire and Lady Alice Hill, the Earl of Dudley, the Earl and Countess of Bradford, the Earl and Countess of Shaftesbury, Viscount and Viscountess Sudley, Mr. George and lady Charlotte Russell, lie. Lady Caroline Cust and Baron Loe were in attendance on her Royal Highness the Grand Duchess. Later in the evening her ladyship had an as sembly, which was attended by several members of the diplomatic corps and most of the aristocracy at present in town. EXHIBITION OF WORKS OF ART AT LEEDS.— The Executive Committee of the National Exhibition of Works of Art to be held at Leeds next year have received an official notification that the Queen has graciously been pleased to become patron of the exhibition. The com mittee trust that this mark of special interest taken in the undertaking by her Majesty will lead to such support from the principal owners of works of art as will ensure the success of the undertaking. FOREIGN-OFFICE, MARCH 12.—The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has received from her Majesty's consul at Geneva a despatch, of which the following is extract:—" Geneva, March 9, 1867.—The cantonal laws positively require the production of passports, or some other certificate, in order to obtain permits of residence in any of the Swiss Cantons ; the only persons exempted from the above law are travellers passing through the country, or who may be residing for a few days only in the hotels."—Ckactte. UxtvaßslTY COLLEGE HOSPlTAL.—TheTreastwer, Sir Francis Si. Goldsmid, Bait., M.P., is to preside at the annual festival for the benefit of this charity, at Willie's room; on the 27th instant. NOTICES or Morrorm. Mr. Serjeant GaWdeeLfo isktheieiretary of State for the Home Department whether the Lord Chancellor has revoked the appointment of Mr. Churchward as a magis trate at Dover. The Chancellor of the Exchequer—To move that the orders of the day be postponed until after the notice of motion by the Chancellor of the Exchequer for a bill to amend the representation of the people. Sir J. Pakington—Army Estimates (in committee of supply). Mr. Grenfell—On motion for going into committee tet Sale and Purchase of Shares Bill, to move that the bill be referred to a select committee. TUESD►C, MAIICtI 19. NOTICILS Or MOTIONS._ Mi. H. B. Sheridan—Fire Insurance—To move the fol lowing resolution :—That in the opinion of this house, • further reduction of the duty on Are insurances would have a tendency to bring within the protection of in surance a large amount of the present uninsured of the country, and that a further reduction of tt r : P Si t i t t Y y should therefore be made at the earliest opportunity. Mr. Knatchbull-H —Turnpike Trusts Amend ment—Bill to alter and amend the law relating to turn pike trusts. Lord J. Manners—National Gallery Enlargement—Bill to make further provision for the enlargement of the National Gallery. Mr. Graves—Public Houses, be.—ln committee of the whole house, to move, that the chairman be directed to move the house that leave be given to bring in a bill for the better regulation of public-houses, refreshment-house', and beer-houses. LOriiJ.idanners—lionses of Parliament—Bill to autho rise the Commissioners of her Majesty's Works and Public Buildings to acquire lands for the purposes of the New Palace at Westminster, and to construct an embankm en t on the uorth shore of the river Thames, in the pariah of St. Joho the Evangelist Westminster. The O'Conor Don-l County Treasurer (Irelandl—Blll for the abolition of the office of County Treasurer in Ire. land. Mr. Taylor—Mr. Churchyard—That an humble address be presented to her Majesty, praying that she will be graciously pleased to give directions for the removal a Mr. Churchward from the commission of the pawl) for tb• borough of Dover. Mr. Candlish—ln Committee on Offices and Oaths BD! —To move the °minion of those portions of the bill which relate to the office of lord-lieutenant of Ireland. ORDEN& OF Mg DAI. Offices and Oaths Bill—committee ; Transubstantiation, &a, Declaration Abolition Bill—committee ; ethnical Law Bill—committee ; Chester Courts Bill—committee. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20. ORDERS OF THE DAT. Church Rates Abolition Bill—seooud reading; Church Rates Commutation Bill—second reading ; Church Hates Regulation Bill—second reading ; Religious, ne., Hu &lino (Sites) Bill—committee. _ Norms or Moriox. Mr. B. Mope--On second reading of Church Rates Abo. lition Bill, to more that it be read a second tune upon this day six months. THURSDAY, MARCH 21. _ . ORDERS OP THE DAY. Thames Embankment and Metropolis Improvement (Loans) Bill—second reading; London Coal and Wine Duties Continuance Bill—second reading; Metropolitan Improvements Bill—second reading ; Tenants Improve. menta (Ireland) Bill—second reading ; Land Improvement and Leasing (Ireland) Bill—second reading; Court al Chancery (Ireland) Bill—committee ; Lyon King of Area (Scotland) Bill—committee ; Masters and Workmen Bill— second reading ; Public Schools Bill—second reading. _ _ NOTICSS OF_ MOTIONS. Mr. Buxton—To ask the Under Secretary of State far the Colonies what steps the government have taken is fulfilment of the pledges given by them on July 31, 1866, namely :-1. That any grave excesses of severity on the part of any ofßcers, civil, naval, or military, after the sup presaion of the disturbances in Jamaica in October, 1863, should be inquired into, with a view to the punishment et the offenders. 2. That the question of compensate* those whose property, according to the report of the royal commixsion, was " wantonly destroyed," should be re. ferret( to the consideration of the governor of Jamaica. 3. That there should be ■ revision of the sentences of em. prhaminent and penal servitude psisseil upon certain per. eons ou the charge of complicity in the disturbances. Sir Colman O'Loghlen—Arrest for Debt (lrebusd)—Bill to abolish arrest for debt on means and final process except certain cases, and to amend the law of debtor and me ditor in Ireland. Sir Column O'Loghlen—Policie■ of Insurance—Bill to render policies of insurance assignable at law, and to enable assignees of such policies to sue thereon in their own name. Mr. Taylor—Jamaica—Address fur copy of {uneven. dence respecting Jamaica since the arrival of Sir Homy Storks in January, 1866. Mr. MacEvoy— Ecclesiastical Titles Act Repeal—BM to repeal the Act of 14 and 15 Vic., chap. 60, imitated " As Act to prevent the Assumption of certain Ecclesiastical Titles in respect of places in the United Kingdom." Mr. Sandford—On second reading of Tenants Improve men's (Ireland) Bill, to move that it be read a second tine upon this day six months. Mr. Bearden—On second reading of Tenants Impress' merits (Inland) Bill and Land Improvement and Lames (Ireland) Bill, to move an amendment that they be witb drawn, and the Landlord and Tenant (Ireland) Bill, thr Leasing Powers (Ireland) Bill, and the Land improve meets (Ireland) Bill, which was brought in in 1862 by thr present Chief Secretary for Ireland aud the then Attorney and Solicitor-General for Ireland, which passed this boss by a large majority, be substituted. FRIDAY, MARCH 22. ORDERB OP THE DAY. Factory Acts ; Rows d Labour Regulation Bill—second relating ; Land Contract (Ireland) Bill--committes ; Solo of Land by Auction Bill (Lords)—second reading ; Common Law Courts (Ireland) Rill —seoond reading ; Amociations of Workmen Bill-. second reading. THREATENED DISFRANCHISEMENT OF LANCASTER. The following letter has been ikddreased to each of the commissioners appointed to inquire into the state at the borough of Lancaster " Lincaater, 31arch 14,18 x. - . " Sir,—lt is likely that your °pude,' niay be asked by members of the House of Commons on the extent of the penalty to be visited on Lancaster. As there are now 618 voters on the register uncompromised by the recent inquiry, I submit that the most just course would be to reduce us permanently to one member. I further sugget that the register be referred back to you, with instruction to mark the slighter cases with the word ' venial '—titsi those so marked be disfranchised for one election, 3111 those not so marked for years (the term to it recommended by you and settled by the hunt That no election take place until after the nen autumnal registration, so that parties aggrieved by you report may have the same appeal to the Common Plea that now exists in the case of revising banisters. Act that the writ be further impended until after the nee constituency has been settled by the pending Reform TA The country having incurred the expes.ee of analysing tle voters name by name, there eau be no reason for punishini, the innocent indiscriminately with the guilty. Perbp you can further state, in extenuation of our case, that the commissioners were treated with great frankness ender* neu ; that there was no defiance or concealment ; and that it appeared that in many instances in the town the bribes were not required by the voters, but . premed on them bl the captains, or left at their houses to their absence after the election.-1 am, sir, yours faithfully , •` TiioM AS JOHNSOg: "T. I. Barstow, Esq., R. 11. Newton. Fag., A. S. D.C.L, austl James l'attesoo, Esq." Drrr ow Doos.—The bill to repeal the duties assessed taxes on dogs, and to impose in lieu thereof duty of excise, has been printed. From and after 114 Ttth of April in England, and 24th of May in Scotland, assessed taxes on dogs are to cease. The tea on doEl kept within the year ending sth April, MGT, in England, and 24th May in Scotland, is roduonl to seven hhillingc The duties to be paid after these date. is five Alining , The duty and licenses arc to be under the managemes: of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue. Notices are to be ITeci - Itreliti on o u do or s stating where the m e nses ca be obtained. The penalty for keeping dog withont s license is Ti!., and a similar penalty is inflicted for not producing the license when require d. The act is not to apply to dogs under the age of six months. On Thursday last a gratifvinst incident took place at the headquarters of the First Surrey Rifles. the wesentation of • regulation infantry swonl to Major Nuttrll H.M. Bombay Staff Corps, who on his renal (rout twenty years' service in India, had kindly undertaken the duties of adjutant to the corps. preview. to the a t i pointment of Captain Maunsell. Colonel Mactlonal having formed the corps into a hollow square. presen the sword in the name of the regiment, expressing to Major Nuttall the great gratification which his servitws had given to the corps, hoping that he might long live to wear the sword, and that be might soon agate return front India and renew his acquaintance with the First Surrey. After the corps bad presented arms, Major Nottall re• turned thanks in a few heartfelt wank, and with enthu• siastic cheering, led by Colonel Macdonald, the ceremony concluded. An impe c onstitutini 1 44 public • ministry of It is exp being negot shortly be c The repo upon the c results of poles upon them more The mini the differen cattle plagn procautions The rye issued agai, by member The clod been uncon been nearlj The Moi following di " All th( Marshal 13 10th of N soldier will M. Allow Paris, and 1 their opinion Queen of En who are rote Corps Legial lows : " I entire) of the bar 01 beyond doul: we live, the England can Corps Legisl tion made io by the gm Queen of and if she h which are a the =flume mitted any pious and pm sprang from The Vi munication of hie friend document lu mays that he 1848 would aeon th►t th celerity and tion of a " of leaving t banner of in a foreign and ought n what furthe have broker The Au favourable a being ahipp THE P 1 7 T 1, !t i 11, lit 14P~ . ~~;