The Express. — London, England, 1866-05-04 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 4, 1866. facts of the case, with a view to some arrangements I being made to prevent the spread of cholera. The govern ment had heard nothing whatever from Cork on the subject. About an hour ago the government had received a telegram from the Mayor of Liverpool, stating that cholera had appeared among some German emigrants, and that the shi4 u on board of which those emigrants were had touched at eenstown. The mayor ask that immediate measures might be taken by the government to prevent the spread of the disease to Liverpool. He (Sir G. Grey) immediately sent that information to the officer of the Privy Council who was charged with the duties connected with quarantine, and hisrigthon. friend the Vice-Presi dent of the Council had just told him that be had taken steps in order that the necessary precautions might be immedi ately taken. The only reason why measures had not been taken with regard to Queenstown was, that the govern ment had had no notice of what had occurred there. lie had no doubt, however, that the same steps would be taken with regard to Queenstown as had been taken at Liver pool. Mr. MAGUIRE said the local authorities of Cork were in communication with the Lord Lieutenant for a week, and he (Mr. Maguire) had been in communication, within the last three days, with the Chief Secretary for Ireland, who had promised attention to the subject. Sir G. GREY said no information had reached the go vernment that cholera had appeared on board any British ship except from Liverpool. Sir F. HEYGATE said he had been about to put to the government a similar question to that just asked, in refer ence to the port of Londonderry, where considerable alarm was felt lest the disease should appear there. Sir G. GREY said the government had received no infor mation from Londonderry. Mr. AYRTON said he hoped the government would not do anything so cruel as to put cholera patients into a ship or keep cholera patients in a ship. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. The ATTORNEY GENERAL for IRELAND replied that the statement to which the hon. member referred was substantially correct. Mr. LEFROY said he did not think the Attorney-General for Ireland, who was suppceed to be the supporter of the law and was the chief law adviser of the government, bad given a sufficient answer to a personal question. (Hear.) Inas much as he considered the Attorney-General had not done justice to so high a legal authority, he wished to offer a few observations on the subject, but he would not trespass un necessarily upon the house. The event referred to took place in August last year. On that occasion a most im portant trial came before the Chief Justice. It was the case of a young man who had been murdered, and the evi dence was altogether circumstantial. The trial lasted two days ! and he maintained that during that trial the Chief Justice was enabled to give constant and unremitting attention to the cue . (Hear, hear.) A legal objection was made on some point by the counsel for the prisoner. Not being himself a lawyer ? he would not attempt to explain the point in queetion, but he would refer to the report of a leading paper published in Dublin, the correctness of which had not been disputed. The facts as stated were that the counsel for' , the prisoner, Mr. Malloy, urged a point on behalf of the prisoner, and the Chief Justice, after hearing the en dense, charged the jury as he was informed, at sufficient length to illustrate all the points in the case. The jury then retired, and after half an hour's deliberation they returned into court with a verdict of guilty ; the foreman at the same time stating that the majority wished to re commend the man to mercy. The Chief Justice asked on what ground, and the foreman replied because some of the jury thought the prisoner had taken too much whiakey. The Chief Justice declined to forward that recommendation, and said that he had never heard a case which, from its nature and details, would so little en title the prisoner to that recommendation, and observed it was new to him that a man should be entitled to mercy because he had oommitted a twofold offence. Here arose the point to which he was particularly 1114L110W1 to call the attention Of the house,becauae at this stage of the pro ceedings the question of the hon. member for K ilkenn y became pertinent, and to this the hon. member's obeerva tions referred, and the Attorney-General for Ireland bad pledged his character and reputation that they were sub stantially correct. After the Chief Justice had sen tence' what occurred was what he (the hon. gen tleman ) was about to state, and he did so upon the evidence of an eye-witness who stood high in his profession, who was a Queen's counsel, who acted for the crown on that occa sion, and who had had great experience in every depart ment of the administration of justice. This gentleman stated that it was a mistake to say that the Lord Chief Justice was unable to see to read a sentence written in , large handwriting, and that it was not even his habit to , ways pectacles. (Hear, hear.) The clerk of the crown al ways had a form in his possession, and whenever a prisoner was sentenced a paper with a blank for the day of execu tion was placed before the judge on the bench. During the address of the Chief Justice to the prisoner in this case it occurred to him—when the judge approached that part of the document where the date of execution wee to be named, he found it was necessary to fix a day after the Dublin Commission, which was then close at hand, and though the Chief Justice had deter mined on the day he had no memorandum of it, and was obliged to refer to the almanac, which caused considerable delay. (Hear, hear.) This gentleman further stated that of course there was nothing to fix the circum stance particularly on his mind, but he happened to be nearer to the Chic Justice than any one else, and he be lieved the account which he gave of the transaction was perfectly correct. (Hear, hear.) The Chief Justice had previously sentenced another man to death fur murder at the same anises, and therefore he meet have been familiar with the forms. (Hear, hear.) Mr. COGAN rose to order. While the hon. member confined himself to what had been said against his distin guished relative the house would listen to him with patience, but if he went into the general conduct of the Chief Justice he would lead to a discussion of the whole question, which would be highly inconvenient. (" Hear, hear," and cries of " Order.") The SPEAKER—The hon. member has extended his observations to an unusual length—(hear, hear)—and I thought it was the pleasure of the house, under the pecu liar circumstances, to hear him ; but now, perhaps, the hon. member will either put some limit to his observations or conclude with a motion. (Hear, hear.) Mr. LEFROY said he would confine himself to only one more observation. The Chief Justice, when he returned to Dublin, assembled the judges, and brought before them this particular point of law, as to which he had given an opinion contrary to that of Chief Baron Joy. The judges fully considered the matter, and agreed in opinion with the Chief Justice. (Cheers.) Mr. LAWSON said he never rose in his life to discharge a more painful duty— Mr. WHITESIDE—Sir, I rise to order. What is the question before the house 1 (" Hear, hear," and cries of Order.") Mr. LAWSON said he would conclude with a motion. Mr. BAILLIE—I rise to order. (Laughter.) Has the right hon. andlearned gentleman moved the adjournment of the house The SPEAKER—Up to the present time there is no motion before the house. (Hear.) IMPRISONMENT FOR LIFE. Mr. ROEBUCK—Then, sir, I will move the adjourn- The F.arl of CARNARVON moved for a return of the I ment. (Laughter and cheers.) number of criminals mentencaltotpureportationforlifefrom I Mr. LAWSON repeated that he had never been called 1850 to the present date, specifying the numberof such life upon to discharge a more painful duty than now, when he sentenced criminals returned by ticket of leave or other- had to stand up to reply to a question which had been answer. wise in each year. His lordship stated his object to be to • placed on the paper without his knowledge. Having been Mr. M. GIBSON said an answer had been received from procure evidence showing that the system of penal servi- prosecuting counsel in the case to which the question re- the French government with reference to the English and tulle as nilministered at present was utterly inefficacious , ferred it was impossible for him to do anything except to French Fisheries Convention Act, but as negotiations were in deterring from crime. Baron Bramwell took that view answer the question, and he would answer it briefly , and still pending, it would not be expedient to give the sub and the fact was that although persons sentenced' with a desire to avoid discussion as much as he could. stance of that reply. to penal servitude for life were now told there would be no (Hear.) He would state what occurred in his presence on remission, they did not believe it. As a matter of fact he the occasion ment ioned. The da y on which the sentence MO VEMENT OF CATTLE AND SUPPLY OF MEAT. believed there was no person in any of our convict estate ;of execution was to be carried out had been arranged be- Mr. ACLAND asked the Secretary of State for the lishments who had been there for fifteen years. He con. ; forehand, and the o ffi cer of the court wrote out in large Home Department, whether any committee of the Privy tendril that the carrying out of life sentences , or at least ' writing for the Chief Justice the sentence which was to be Council had been appointed to superintend the operation sentences for lengthened periods, would be beneficial, and pronounced. The Chief Jueticeproceetled to pronounce that of the orders in council on the subject of the cattle plague. would be perfectly practicable under improved arrange- sentence, and he was totally unable to ao so in the If no such committee had been appointed, whether anyand ments as to prison labour. legal form. He concluded the sentence without the mate- which member of the administration was responsible for The LARD CHANCELLOR said there were no sentences rial directions, an omission which would have rendered the the consideration of questions relating to the movement I of penal servitude for life at the date mentioned. The sentence bad in point of law, and it became his most pain- of cattle and the supply of meat? sentence was transportation for life. I ful duty, as Attorney-General prosecuting for the crown, to Sir G. GREY stated that no special committee had been Earl GREY was of opinion that persons convicted of call the attention of the Chief Justice to the omission and appointed. offences of great enormity, although less than murder, ; the the irregularity in the sentence. He was obliged himself COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE LATE STATE OF should be confined for life, and hot let loose again upon to stand near the learned judge at the bench, and ask him OUDE. society I to repeat the sentence over again in legal form, and he ac- Mr. KNIGHT asked the Under-Secretary of State for After a few words from Lord Hour:erne, protesting tually dictated to him in legal form the sentence which he India whether he would lay upon the table copies of the against unprofitable labour in convict prisons, the motion delivered. These were the facts, which could be substan - proceedings of the commission appointed by the govern was withdrawn. fisted. (Hear, hear.) meat of India to investigate and report upon the cases of Mr. WHITESIDE contended that the whole subject CORRUPT PRACTICES AT TOTNESS, GREAT YAR- the several claimants against the late state of Oude ; and should have been brought fullyand fairly before the house, MOUTH, AND LANCASTER ELECTIONS. and not by means of a dark question with regard to a of the report of the commission on the claim of the repre- Earl RUSSELL moved that that house should concur miserable ground of cavil that occurred nine or ten months sentative of the late Captain Thomas Edwards, deceased. with the House of Commons on the address to the crown ; ago. (No, no.) What were the facts 1 An officer went Mr. STANSFELD said the report of the commission fur a commission to inquire into corrupt practices at the ou t to shoot, and was moat inhumanely as by the was not yet completed. He would lay it on the table of above elections. I person who accompanied him in the boat. This person the house as soon as it was. After an observation from Earl GREY, to the effect was afterwards prosecuted by the law officers of THE JAMAICA COMMISSION. that due notice should have been given of so important a the crown. After the Chief Justice had the report of com- Lord STANLEY asked when subject, the motion was poetiontel. plated the assize business he was asked t o the commission would be laid on the table of the house. Their lordships adjourned at 5 minutes to 7 o'clock. adjourn the assizes anti return again to Dublin to try this Mr. CARDWELL—The report which was received at unfortunate case. He said he would do so, though it was the commencement of the present week, and the evidence very unusual, and not a very pleasant thing to call upon which accompanies it, are exceedingly voluminous,—so him to do. He did return to Dublin, and the trial took much so, that what we have already received will occupy place. His notes of the evidence in the case, in his own from 1,500 to 2,000 pages of our usual parliamentary handwriting, extended over no less than 22 pages. The blue-books. But that is not all, for it is accompanied by prisoner's counsel took a legal objection, on the ground that an appendix, which, lam informed by the commissioner s, though the murder was committed 500 yards beyond the contains an important part of the evidence, and which boundary of the county, that fact was not stated in the should be laid before the house with the report. The ap indictment. Authorities were quoted, and amongst othersipentlix is on its way from Jamaica. I have a decision of Chief Baron Joy, in favour of the prisoner in made inquiry, and find that, with the utmost speed a similar case. The Chief Justice said he did not agree which it is possible to exert, it will be not less than three with that decision, but he would reserve the point for the weers before the whole of the documents can be laid on Court of Criminal Appcel. The trial proceeded, and the the table. I cannot refrain taking the opportunity of Chief Justice delivered a feeling and impiereive address to stating that the house and the country are under great the prisoner. The formal words of the sentence were obligations to those gentlemen, of great ability and repu written on a piece of paper (he had already sentenced an- tation, who, at great sacrifice of time, have devoted so other man to capital punishment, and no question much labour to this subject. (Cheers.) was asked about it), but in consequence of the legal point having been reserved it was necessary to alter CHURCH RATES. the day of the execution, and when he came to the date he The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—I beg to hesitated for about half a minute—it was seven o'clock at I give notice that to-morrow I shall move for leave to bring night, and the court was not very brilliantly lighted, and in a bill for the abolition of compulsory church rates. then completed the sentence in due form. (Hear.) This was the account which the Chief Justice gave himself of THE BUDGET. the matter. The same judge who did that and mistook the piece of paper had capacity immediately afterwards to The house having resolved itself into committee of ways state the whole circumstances to the Secretary of State, . an d means, and recommend him to have the judges summoned to The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER rose and I hear the question discussed. The Chief Justice presided was greettel with loud cheers from all parts of the house. over the judges when assembled, and having expressed his opinion they deferred to his judgment, and the prisoner ,He said—Mr. Dodson, after the warm debatesand the sharp was executed. He appealed to the generosity of the house crisis of last week it is a great relief and satisfaction to the to say whether they thought there was, under these cir- government and myself that we can ?approach the hand. cumstances, any substantial defeat of justice. (Hear, hear.) i mportant . ling of public business, which we hope, and we Mr. BRYAN said that if the right hon. and learned gentleman would look at the votes he would see lion think, can involve no subject of angry controversy. It them a motion which he had intended to bring forwa rd on will, indeed, be my duty to enter upon points in the an early day, on going into supply, in order that the whole course of the remarks which I have to make that are, as I subject might be properly ventilated. He could assure think, of general and p ermanen t interest to all this house, and especially to those who an connected with him that he had not taken it up in the light of a personal - persons in matter, and he would pledge himself to submit his motion to the house at as early a period as possible. l an landed and fixed property of the country. But I hope CHOLERA AT CORK. that from the nature of the proposals which I have to make Mr. MAGUIRE wished to avail himself of the motion —indeed I feel convinced it can only be through inadver. fence or negligence on my own part it anything falls from for adjournment to bring a matter of great importance before the house. The authorities of the city of Cork me that shall by any possibility come into conflict with the had recommended that the Lord-Lieutenant should place opinions or feelings of any gentleman who sits opposite ; and I would beg, if I may be permitted, to apol • for an old man-of-war in Cork harbour as a treating hospital. That recommendation was made sonic weeks since, and such error in advance. I have not to-night he had d • the last three or four days been in commit- an y to mention to the house the existence of any nication with the Secretary for Ireland on the subject. He had just received the following telegram, which induced surplus revenue upon a scale such as that which him to make an appeal to her Majesty's government: we have bad for the last three years to die -. Cholera is on board an emigrant dal) which has arrived pose of. During those three years it has been my in Cork harbour. There are two deaths among the pas - duty to ask the house to make arrangements relating to stingers. There is no convenience for quarantine. I have ordered her back to Liverpool." He might state that there no less a sum on the average than three-and-a-half millions was a garrison at Cork, and a fleet stationed in the harbour, of money. But although we move within more contracted and also that • it was a plea to which many emigrant limits in the fiscal affairs of the present year, yet I shall have . proposals to make which will not be without inte rest through went. It would be a most calamitous thing if through a want of op precaution the disease should rest break out either inQueens town or in Cork. There were no and importance. My first duty is, aa usual, to lay before means in Cork harbour of maintaining a strict quarantine, the house the particulars of the expenditure of the year and he now called on the government to do as had been which expired on tae 31st of March. That expenditure, done in 1833, and send to that harbour a large and conve- as estimated on the 27th April, 1865, was 66,139,0001., and as finally sanctioned by the Appropriation Act it was very Meat vessel to be used as a floating hospital, and thereby keep the disease away from the shore. Sir G. GREY said he could only express his regret that nearly the same, amounting to 66,147,000 f. The actual the mayor of Cork bad not, as the mayor of Liverpool had expenditure was 65,914,000 f, or less than the eni gma, oommusi k e t e d with the government as to the mate by t 1 sum 2:3,0001. As regards the HOUSE OF LORDS.—Tut BaDAY, MAY 3. Their lordships met at 5 o'clock. RAILWAY COMPANIES. Lord REDESDALE gave notice for that day week to gall attention to the inancial position of railway oom panies. PETITIONS. Petitions were presented by Lord Lvprevrow from branches of the English Church Union in various parts of the kingdom, praying that the p arochial clergy might have s voice in the election of bishops. EGCLIISIASTICAL COMMISSIONERS BILL On the order for the committee, Earl RUSSELL proposed, as the mos t convenient course, that the bill should be referred to a select comme.tten- The Earl of ELLENBOROUG H hoped that the a tion of the house would be directed to the book lately pub limbed by the commissioners, stating their circumstances, their plans, and their intentions. He thought the time bad come for a reconstruction of the commission, which this year had to deal with a fund of no leas than 850,000/. Bill referred. BALE AND HAWKING GOODS ON SUNDAY BILL Lord CHELMSFORD. having presented petitions from Lambeth, signed by 10,000 persons, and from various other places, in favour of the bill, proceeded to move the second reading. Several committees of the House of Commons bad now sat upon this question, and all those committees were unanimous in reporting on the prevalence of Sunday trading, the inefficacy of preventive laws, and the necessity there was for further legislation. Having recapitulated the various legislative steps which had been taken unsuc cessfully to deal with the evil, he stated that the circum stances of the present time were favourable for some successful legislation. Tradesmen felt the necessity of keeping open on Sunday to be an intolerable burden, and the working classes, in consequence of being pall in many instances early on Saturday, did not feel the same necessity for Sunday trading as formerly. There could be no doubt as to the necessity for their lord ships' interference. In many p?pulous districts regular fairs were hell on Sunday morning, and the slightest ob servance of the sanctity of the day was entirely out of the lieved,question. Not less than ten thousand i n v arious s were, he be kept open on Sunday morning parts of London. His lordship read several letters from trades men expressing a belief that three-fourths of the trades men of London would hail with delight a legislative mea sure prohibiting Sunday trading. The statute 29 Charles 11. inflicted a penalty of ss. for each offence of ex posing for sale on Sunday, but the courts had decided that than was noexposure exceptwhere there was absolute gale, and besides, the penalty was so small that Sunday traders paid it cheerfully. In the present bill he proposed to graduate the penalty from ss. to 20a., and that should be cumulative for every subsequent offence. He proposed to entrust the carrying out of the law to the police. Lord Macaulay had eloquently shown how necessary was a weekly .lay of rest for the working classes ; so that he claimed their lordships' support on civil and political grounds, but he also asked that support on higher grounds, namely, on the moralising results which must follow from the general observance of the Sabbath. Lord TEYN HAM thought that the noble and learned lord had improved his bill by extending its operation beyond the metropolis. The noble and learned lord thought the present penalty of ss. too small, but he (Lord Teynham) recollected a case in Southampton where even that fine could not he levied without a distress. Pros- porous traders might willingly pay a fine of .5a., but what were they to say to the poor women who sold apples and lollypops to the children at the corners ? If this bill passed policemen might buy single pennyworths and levy a fine of from ss. to 20s. for each offence, thus dealing out ruin to hundreds of poor women. If it was for no reason other than the increase of the penalty he (Lord Teynham) should oppose the bill. Having stated some other objections to the bill, his lordship moved, as an amendment, that this bill be read a second time that day six months. The Archbishop of CANTERBURY thought that the house and the public owed a debt of gratitude to the noble and learned lord for having introduced the bill, which would, no doubt, have a salutary effect in repressing Sun day trading. In committee some alterations might be made, but he had no hesitation in supporting the second reading. The question was then put, and the bill read a second time, the amendment of Lord Teynham having been ne gatived without a division. POOR PERSONS BURIAL (IRELAND) BILL Report of amendments received and agreed to. EXCHEQUER BILLS AND BONDS BILL This bill was read a second time. QUALIFICATION FOR OFFICES ABOLITION BILL' This bill was read a third time and passed. SALMON FISHERIES (SCOTLAND) BILL This bill was read a third time and passed. The Customs Duties (Isle of Man) and the Local Go vernment Supplemental Bills severally passed through committee, ROUSE OF COMMONS.-THURSDAY, M 3. The SPEAKER took the chair at 4 o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINS. The following bills were read a third time and passe,l Hexham and Allendale Railway, Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (Extension of Time, &c.), Mid-Hants Railway, Midland Railway (Additional Powers), New Church Parish Division, Parsonstown and I'ortunina Bridge Railway, Rochdale Water, Tyne Improvement, and Wrexham, Mold, and Connah's Quay Railway (Additiona)l Powers, Bills. . it has real,' chief items of that expenditure there wan voted for the follows :-The loss of revenue, estimated at 260,0001.; In 1862 they all m began to rise a ga i n . y will ..._. compared 1860 in mile ° , ''` a " the I of h a _ army 14,348,0001., and there was expended L 3,804,0001. ' I anted between the lit of October, 1864, and the 31st of In cotton goods, Fran= been 272,000/. The amount of propertwim in he, era 5aa..... - a-ei.• there was voted for the navy 10,456,0001., and there was March, 1865, was 580.000,00 W. ;the amount in the cot- in 1864, 931 millions. l e n x rin r e t : d goode she "eee• expended 10,260,0001. But it will be in the recollection of I res ponding six months from the Ist of October, 1865, to millions in 860 , 1 and these were the rely th f:.„ l :7,«lui the committee that towards the close of the financial year I the 31st of March, 1866, was 627,000,000 e, showing an it was supposed that French industry would e s ' a °hid we took a considerable supplemental vote for the purpose I increase of 47,000,0001., . or about 8 per cent. But then by English competition. Yet in hilio r a ,„, of the New Zealand war, for a sum of no leas than 764,0001•, I • there is a regular and constant increment in thevalue • 1n....10118 and • due the eduction of duty, but to 24j mMons. In woollen goods she • n ' 186 4, insured property, not to which enabled na to rectify the accounts of the army and the growth of the wealth of the country, that is, on the =94 millions, and in 1864, 356 m illi on , ,_ lete, the navy by assigning to their proper heads sums which I average , 17,000,00 W in six months. 11, therefore, we des exported in 1860, 12j millions, aad In zr:“.. had been paid in advance for the purposes of that war, duct that 17,000,0001. from the 47,000,000 L which forms millions. The total amount which i n es agi t " al shall find that the diately before the treaty, and when Fre --sae on" and were not included in the ordinary purpose of , the gross total of the increase, we . . . . . _ neh ma so t asurti ' increase due to the reduction of the duty ia 30,000 , 0001 . were thett to be in a nourishing condithea wo e," aa army and navy service. And hence it is that lor about 5 per cent. of the whole amount. That may be lions ; in 1864, after it had been ruined for fo=Th,;„..t. when the whole of the figures are put together the taken as the rate of increase for the first year ; for we British competition, it was 517 millions. (He ir , a e a s a,Ol result is, nearly as I have stated, to bring the actual into i have no reason to suppose that there will be any material exports to land increased, if possible , in , ob it •"" agreement with the estimated expenditure of the year. increase at present. It is probable that the results may be warkable degree. I will state t h e fig ures , and y ~.,...h : ble in a year or two, but I confess that, with. say they were all articles with to which s e the expenditure of the year should perhaps be added an more favourable rermming to dogmatist on the subject, I lean to the prevailed in France as to the effect of English - s e,„,._ - ''' item which it is not very easy to deal with, inasmuch as , out l'e belief that it would be premature to deal again with a tax ,I am not now stating what we sent to fracas, cuik e i i, ~.,_ the peculiar arrangement under which it ° W ears before us I the charge on which has not yet been in operation for • ' France sent to us as articles which it was suppose : i on .: leaves it uncertain whether it should be considered as part . year. But if hereafter we determine to give further re- • petition would drive even out of French machete. --.; of the annual expenditure, or as an addition to the public ' lief, I frankly own I think it will be necessary to , are woollens, linens, cotton yarns, manufactured debt I mean the sure expended for fortifications. That' abandon the i...sac 'des of this ever being a source of 1 earthenware, glass, and salted fish. Her exp or t s ta . considerable revenue. In tact I inclined •I of these articles before the -111 1 1 4114 am treaty amounted to was 560,0001., to be added to the fi gures I previ o us ly , great deal to adopt the terms of the amendment of i lions in 1859, but in 1864 they had risen to 141 int gave, • making a gross expenditure of 66,474,00011 which notice was given by the hon. gentleman the mem- Since the treaty with France, through the eases , d a.. There is , however, a sum of about 1,000,0001. I ber for Buckingham (Mr. Hubbard), and which proceeded departmeuts of the government and of the able • for Indian and other charges, which, appearing onloth sides 1 upon the assumption that it is not possible , or at all whom they have employed -( in the d„,,,,.... , events that it is not wise or politic, to raise any large re- of the government I include especially te e a. of the account, really cannot be said to form a proper pot -i venue from fire insurance ; but that that duty ought to plomatic service, as well as the - o ~- ••• tion of the expenditure, so that the true total of the ex.' be regarded as a tax upon property, that its reduction I civil service at home )- use formed in '' fur' penditure of the country may be taken at 65,424,000 e ought to be regarded as a remission of the burdens on pro- advantageous =este , with 'Turkey, which admitted a l l during the financial year which has just expired. Now, if perty, and that property ought to find an equivalent, small increase of the former rate of import duti u tt„. : I look back to a comparison with former years, I find that if equivalent necessary is n . ( Hear, hear.) The revenue cent., but largely reduced the export duty, and r" a w i th w h at from malt has been very . favourable. The receipt received dueed, what is perhaps still more important, thetas: the expenditure of 1159-60, when duly charge in the year 1864-5 had risen to a point previously mire- duty. We effected a treaty with Belgium in heal abia i . belonged to it, was 69 , 762,0001 ., but in that was included cedented. In estimating the duty for the year 1865-6 we insured to us the large reduction in the Belgian an t ' a large sum on account of the annuities which ex. were so fir cautious thatwe anticipated a small reduction. I given to France, together with advantages of an ini pired in 1860, a much larger sum than the believe that it is characteristic of this revenue that it kind with regard to pilotage, tonnage, and as • l amount of the annuities which have been since created, generally runs favourably for two years together. It has duties. We have had a treaty with Italy which seams% The annuities which then expired amounted to certainly been so in the present instance. The revenue us the reduction given to }ranee without env from malt was estimated at 5,850,0001.; it has actually pro- whatever on the partof this country beyond the 2,149,0001., and those created since amount to 710,0001., duced about 6,410,0001. I come now to the revenue from nation clause. 14 e have had a similar treaty with slit showing a difference of 1,439,0001. towards the extinction spirits, and that likewise, if we consider its increase satin- verin concluded in 1864. In 1865 a treaty of aa m • of debt which was provided in that year, and has not been factory, has been very satisfactory. The receipts from notable description was concluded with Austria. As se a 1 provided in the year just passed. If we take the true Brit" spirits, which we estimated at 10,300,0001., have was perhaps of all countries-I know not whether ItN i a, been 10,450,00 W. Our estimate for colonial and fore4m could compete with her, but they were certainly the expenditure of 1859-60, which was 68,=,0 001 ., and. coin - spirits was 3,295,000/., and the actual figures make countries in Europe which might be regarded as the pt pare it with that of 18656, which was 65,424,0001., that' 3,505,0001. so that our total receipts from spirits have been strongholds of the pure protective system. But A ria shows • decrease of 2 , 900 , 0001 . But the y ear 1859-60 no lengthen 13,955,000 e or,in round numbers, 14,000,0001 ., has entirely abandoned her ground. We owe that se a sou a year in which most important changes in which is probably the largest stun ever received in any donment, beneficial undoubtedly to ourselves, but IQ a country, or at any penod of history, from an in- a far greater degree to herself than to anyone the tat the scale of expenditure was made. But if you go direct tax upon a single commodity. (Hear, hear.) still beneficial also to all who deal with her; and • - back to 1858-9, and compare the expenditure of past That is the whole of the view it is necessary for me to I acknowledge it as a debt which we owe to van= p c years with the expenditure of 1859, rectifying both ac- take of the past year, except that I ought to state, in sons. The chambers of commerce, in the northesa a oording to the same rules which I have stated, you will conformity with the usual practice the exchequer balance England particularly, took an active part. Mr. Ada m find that the expenditure of 1858-9 was only has been reduced in the course of the year in consequence was one o the first who did much to enlighten the paw 63,M5,000/., showing an increase in 1865-6 as compared of the application of a somewhat unusual amount to mind of the people of Austria, and to make them soda the liquidation of the debt, but still not to an Moon- how cruelly they were impoverishing themielves by e a with 1858-9 of 2,200,0001. That may be taken aa nearly an venient amount. It was on the 31st of March, 1865, rigid system of restriction which prevailed. Tbs at, exact and fair statement of the condition of our expendi- 7,691,0001., and on the 31st of March, 1866, 5,851,000 1 . , agents of the Foreign-o ffi ce and the Board of Trade-er, to at the present moment as compared with what it was showing a decrease of 1,840,000/. The balance of repay. Hallett an d o th e r s -displayed that knowledge and eel meat of advances during that period was as follows :- which they have brought at all times to the anemia six or seven years ago. Now, if we look to the heads __ _ . of . like th Finally, lad The repayments were 1,811,M0X., advances 1.635,0001 ., so settlement questions ese. lam gild ts of expenditure we shall find that they stand thus :- that the balances were strengthened from that source to the mention in this house the name of a gentlemen idea The interest on the debt amounts to 26,233,0001. : extent of 182,0001. I will now give the committee the esti- I would more gladly still have mentioned in his puma s defence, military and naval, 24,829,000/.; civil go- mate of the expenditureandtherevenueforthecurrentyear, but, unfortunately, he does not appear amoso " 1 vernmen t in which I include the miscell aneous 1866-67. The charge on the unfunded debt raider the mean Mr. Somerset Hope-(hear, hear)-who &m aim , I estimates, the consolidated fund charges, and th law as the now exist and with a enuill interest , not personal, but most keen, to the Provisions of the . . y it. allowance for additional charge brought upon through of this subject, and has taken a very active and beaded packet estimate, amounts to 10,250,0001.; the collection of the conversion of perpetual and terminable annuities, is part in promoting the proceedings connected with its ; the revenue costs 4,602,000/. As the collection of the 26,140,000 e; Consolidated Fund, 1,880,0001.; the army, Austrian treaty. (Hear, hear.) My right hos. hiesC revenue ought really to be divided between the other 14,095,0001.; the navy, 10,400,000/.• collection of revenue, the member for Gateshead, laboured with Mr. Banat I heads of expenditure, not being in itself an rode - 5,003,000 e; packet service, 821,000/.; and miscellaneous, in the same cause ; and I congratulate him, too, "eta 7,806,000e -making a tothl of 66,225,0001. The total esti- success which he has achieved. The upshot cd thee" pendent but only a subsidiary and auxiliary de. mate for last year was 66,147,000 e, so that the actual in- trepan treaty is that Austria, I thitdc, has adoptaltie I scription of expenditure, if I take the total expenditure crease on the estimate of the present, as compared with French standard. The customs duty in Austria, ahem and divide it between the three heads, o f the debt, the last year amounts to 78,0001. I ought to exprain to the I early day, are not to exceed 25 per cent. ad valorem" military or defence charges, and the civil charges, I find committee how this increase has arisen, because, though it any descuption of British goods. No doubt that Spa their per centages are these : - The debt costs us 43 per would have been more satisfactory, had it been psi edam!, cent. in Austria and elsewhere is still a very mien" Dent. of the whole expenditure, the defence 40 per cent., to present both the nominal and the real in- stacle ; but I think the time has now arrived, after ths crease in expenditure. I do not think it can experience we have had, when we may begin is a t and the civil charges the remaining 17 per cent. And be said on a fair examination of the figures that they in- ourselves when our great and powerful neighbour Fns that likewise may be taken as an accurate statement, sub- dicate any real permanent increase of expenditure, but will take an onward step in the course on Mid decrease she has entered. (Hear.) lam muscled matters will sot ject to this qualification, that in the total sum charged rather e : the rev e re. Th e eaemy andestimates show a . have pe other repayments also rest where they are. M e ourselves found the boa during the year for the expenditure on the national debt, show . 233 , 0001 ., 4. Indian a decrease or 246,0001. Now as the whole or a large of numerous reductions of small duties quite vied= there is included a sum, not insignificant, which is in re- portion of the Indian service expenditure is borne by us to the reduction of great ones, and therefore I speak 0 payment of debt through the medium of terminable an- In advance, all the establishments and arrangements are 25 per cent. with satisfaction entirely in reference to As nuities, and which is not merely a discharge of accruing made with reference to that, whereas the Indian govern- has gone before, and not with reference to what we bap int* tof debt. Now, if I compare the expenditure o f ment are at liberty, under an arrangement very favour- will follow. And here I arrive at the point where =tap the year with the revenue it stands thus : - The exp endi. able to it, to throw back on our hands the regiments it I may mention two changes which we propose to mks e pleases without a moment's notice. The effect of that is our own tariff, and which we are the more readily =heel ture, according to the exchequer account, which has been that the reduction of the Indian estab li shment entails to make, because by making them we shall amid tin laid on the table, was 65,914,0001., and the revenue, ac• an instant reduction in the Indian repayment which imperial govenunent in concluding the important into cording to the same exchequer accounts, was 67,812,0001., cannot be followed as rapidly by a reduction in the national engagement into which they have entered. W, which shows a aurplusof revenuetothe extentof 1,898,000/. amount charged in the estimates for the British army at propose to reduce the duty on timber and to equal's the If we include the expense of fortifications the reduction home. It is important to call the attention of the con- duty on wine in bottle with the duty on wine in so" will be 1,338,0001. But I shall take notice of that in mittee to the very heavy charges-although sustained by The duty on timber is a very low duty, and that ii the another form, in which I think it will perhaps more pro- sufficient authority-the very heavy special charges for best which can be said in its favour. When • thing a bet perly be treated, namely, as being so much added to our works. These in 1865-6 were 528,000/. ' anti in 1866-7 are the best that can be said of it is that there ii engagements in connection with the national debt. Now, estimated at 893,0001. The principal part of that increase very little of it. In every other point of vier sir, it is a matter of some interest to compare the out-turn lis des to the extension of dockyard accommodation, and it tbe duzy on timber is a. Was it can be. To bela of the year's revenue with the estimate which was formed took place in consequence of a debate in this home, in with, it is a protective duty ;togo on with, it is sdm of it at its commencement. That estimate was 06,392,0001.; which an almost eager sanction was givenao it. The Post- on a raw material ,• and lastly, it is a duty on a raves the actual revenue his been 67,812,0001., showing thus • office department also shows a large increase in works. terial of which this country stands in great meta" surplus of 1,420,0001. (Cheers.) This surplus runs very The charge which last year under that head amounted to which is of such vast hulk, and has to be brought and much through all the different branches of the revenue. 70,000/., is estimated this year at 349,000/. I considerable distances, that to continue the duty a i I need not trouble the committee with the precise figures, mention that item with more satisfaction in the would be the very eseence and quintessence of polinid but customs exceed the estimate by 369,000/., excise • view I am now taking, because undoubtedly folly. (Hear, hear.) The history of the consumption d by the large um of 758,0001., stamps by the sum the expenditure upon the extension of Post-office timber in this country is rather remarkable. In hill dr of 270,000 e and the income tax by the sum of buildings has been in the nature of a most reproductive duty on timber was high, and the consumption was 417.10 240,000 e The taxes and post-office have produced pre- expenditure. The miscellaneous estimates show an in- Imals. At that period-a most ill-omened one in moaner cisely what was estimated. The crown lands come crease of 135,000 e for buildings, having increased from coal legislation-the duty was further raised, and "lei within 5,0001. of the amount estimated ; hut the miscel- 829,0001. to 964,000 e Tbat increase is really due to the the consumption had fallen as low as 218,000 lose laneous revenue and receipts from the China compensa- circumstance that for several years our building works However, the growing wealth of the country brought sior tion fall short of what they were estimated at by a sum of have been more or less in arrear; but Ido not think that a gradual increase, and I now pees over a long period d 224,0001. ; which, in order to estimate the real growth of there is anything unwarrantable or excessive in the pro- years to the year 1841. I would beg the house to obiene the revenue of the country, ought to he added to the sur- posal now made, but the upshot is that the total demand that every reduction of duty that his been ma plus I have already named, inasmuch as these two for works in the miscellaneous estimates this year is from has been answered by a more than corresponding Massa Deady are merely a diminution in certain expectei repay- 1,427,000 e to 2,236 , 000/., being a total increase of in the import and use of tbis great and essential material meets, and have nothing whatever to do with the real 1 809,0001. Now, sir, I come to the estimate of the revenue In 1841 the consumption amounted to 829,000 lark spring and elasticity of the revenue of the country. In the . for the year. We take for customs 21,400,0001., excise foreign and colonial. At that time the duty was Wthari , same way, if I proceed to compare the revenue of the 119,750,0001., stamps 9,450,0001. I am bound to say as follows : The duty on foreign timber was reduced feat that past with of the preceding years, the ease there is h a rdly any branch of the revenue of which 565. 6th to 31s. 6d.; and the duty on colonial timber WM I will stand as follows : The receipts under the) the growth is more satisfactory. The legacy and slimes- reduced from 11... 6d. to Is. The reduction, however, die whole of the nine heads of revenue for 1864-5 1 sion duties are yielding beyond the estimate formed of not take effect until October, 1842, but as early as lea were 70,313,0001. ; whereas those for 1865-6 were them, not in the year 1853, but at a period when the esti- the consumption had risen from 829,000 load' to 67,812,000/., showing a decrease of 2, 501 , 000 i. in lieu of mates of 1853 were corrected and revised from experience 1,298,000 loads. By 1850 it had risen to 1,723,00 010 0 an estimate dloss of 3,921,00 01 . If we strike out the two lof all the changes that the house has introduced into the The duty was then further reduced on foreign timbale! heads of miscellaneous and Chinese compensation we shall stamp revenue, and which, numerous as they have been, 15s. to 7s. 6d., and that on foreign deals was realm find that the actual loan of the revenue was 2,380,000/., may be said in general to be working extremely well. The from 20= to 10s. The consequence was that by lees tin instead of the estimated loss of 0 2 450 that the assessed and land taxes, 3,400,0001. ; the income tax, consumption had further advanced from 1,723,000 knits rate of growth of our revenue, which, as stated, has , 5,700,0001.: and here I may observe that, the income tax 2,408,000. In 1860, although the duty was then w het • been on an average of six years 1,780,000/. per annum , ) being 4.11. in the pound, you have 1,400,0001. as now form- called., moderate duty, we went to work again, and at I has on this occasion been almost precisely of that amount. ing the estimate of the value of the income tax at ld.; and further reduced the duty to what is called almost s I may state that in the year 1863-6 the revenue of the 'there is a small addition of 100,000!. from arrears. nominal rate, namely, from 10s. and 7s. 6d. to :a. and le: country from the same sources, and excluding all legiela- : The Poet-office is 4,450,0001., being an increase of 200,000/. and that was the occasion when a highlyrespectablerete tire measures which tended in any way to affect it, was a 1 on the estintutes of last year, already overtaking to a large man from the colonies, the member for Launceston. ive ruin of a million and three-quarters. It is probable ' extent the heavy charge undertaken for the enlargement dictedthatinevitable ruinhung over the wholeof thetallbe that it would have grown to a somewhat larger lof the Poet-office in London. The next item is miscel- industry of New Brunswick and Canada. Butt= Me 1 amount had the circumstances of the harvest ! laneous receipts and China indemnity, 3,100,000/. The sequence has been that the consumption which was 'il been more favourable. The harvest of 1864 was a very . miscellaneous receipts are variously affected. 500,000!. 1859 2,408,000 loads has increased more than 50 per tell fine one. and in the winter quarter following it the price of come into them this year from debentures sent home from in those six years, being now 3,700,000 loads. I Ulna w e wheat was 38s. 5,1. per quarter. The harvest of 186 ,5 , on the I New Zealand in liquidation of a portion of the debt of the have now only to complete the work by setting that Mae other hand, fell below the average, and the price of wheat colony to the mother country, which debentures it will be entirely free. (Hear, hear.) The whole revenue from in the winter quarter was 445. 10d. The mice of wheat, I; my duty to ask the houneto guarantee, for our own security, timber in the year amounts to 300,0001. from !I n t_ may say, is upon the whole a very good inverse test of the : and not in any . way connected with new engagements for descriptions of wood goods, and 7,0001. from the duty ;f general condition of the country and of the capacity of the ; the colony. T h e China indemnity is a branch of the Is. per ton upon wood manufactured in the fore people to consume those commodities which yield the revenue which is sinking, and must sink more and more. ships, that is to say, 307,0001. for the Pc, principal part of the revenue of the exchequer. If we look The estimate last year was 450,0001. ; this year it stand. and the whole of that I shall reckon as let now to the branches of the revenue especially affected by' at 250,00 W. The estimated income of the year will then because we propose that the repeal shall date L',"; the changes of 1864-5 they will stand thus :-The estimated . appear to be 67 , 575,0001 ., the estimated charge being the 22nd of March, 1866. With respect to the dut y law upon tea came singularly near the actual loss. The 66,225,000e, leaving a probable surplus overcharee of wines in bottle, the other item which I have touched Lae! estimated Ices was in fact 1.868,0001 ., and the actual lose 1,350,0001. There is no cause, I think, to be disappointed, in connexion with the Austrian treaty, the case Ms° in woad° 1,871,0001. (Hear.) We should naturally have expected ,' even when we consider the circumstances of the country thus. We charge upon wine when imparte d aci and we have generally found, that under favourable =cum- ' have been on the whole favourable, in the apparent pro- of two rates-that is to say, suppose it be real wi ne • • stances the loss upon commodities which have been subjected' miss of such a surplus as that , because it must be borne in not above the alcoholic strength of 26 degrees, the hal . toreduction is less than that which hasbeenpreviously esti-' mind when I say the estimated income is 67,575,000/. we rie. 6d. per gallon ; but if it Ire under the 26 degremf mated ; but in this particular instance I am inclined to have already cut off from that figure no less than 1,417,0001. duty is Is. per gallon. When the alcoholic system "" think that the motion to which the home was induced to which was dispwed of by the legislation of last year, though adopted, and it was thought the test would have to he sea accede, for postponing the operation of the reduced duty- it only tells upon the figures of the present. Those plied with very great frequency, it was of course tre_Me: though I don't think we shall ultimately lose much by it- items were W 0,9001. in the income-tax, 260,000/. by 1 mind that to apply the test to everyparcelof gteide t has hail a somewhat unfavourable effect upon the revenue. the measare adopted with reference to the insurance I volve injury or destruction of a large proportion oath i But what is more important to observe is that the supply duty, and 207,000 e. the fragment of the year during . Partly for this reason it will be proper to levy tl of tea has been less than at a farmer period. The price in which the full duty on tea was enforced, the re- 2a. 6sL a gallon upon the highly priced wines. But we a re bona on the Ist of April, 1865, was 16d. per lb., whereas duced duty now coming into operation for the whole , now able to work this system with greater fulfill on the Ist of April, 1866, it had eisen to 198. The reduc- twelve months, so that at for the legislation of last . reference to alcoholic tests as being more rarely s u Pg s tion of the duty amounted to 6d. in the lb. ; and year we should have had a probable surplus of between and we find from the represen t a tions of the A_ __, as 3d. of that reduction was virtually neutralised 2,700,0001. and 2,800,000 f. Now, sir, we come to the dia. ' government, and from the representations of time by the increased price paid in bond, I think preal of the surplus ; and here I shall have under several government, and I may say further, from e f rea"- that, upon the whole, we may be pretty well heads to trespass some time on the attention of the con- which is of • kind peculiar and new in _a satisfied that the loss upon'this commodity has not been mittee. The h o use i s a ware how important has become viz., from a document addressed directly to 1 2 .t er c even greater than we had originally estunated it. The the subject of commercial treaties in the view of the com- self by a large number of Burgundy wine growen , __,, income tax shows a somewhat smaller loss than we ex- inerciel classes of the country . Chambers of commerce find in that document, which I have received with ga pected : the lose was estimated at 1,650,00 W. and the in all commercial towns have intimated great anxiety that pleasure, as showing a sign of an increasing and "'ea r l actual loos has been 1,568,000!. I have again to' announce they should be formed. Those whichhave beenformedof late interest-we find that there is no reason to doubt mo n to the committee that there is one estimate which years have been adjusted in such a manner as to involve there. • great deal of wine which will import safe l y a fluctuates from year to year in a singularly satisfactory none of the objections, either in principle or in practice, bottles, but which will not import securely in wooa • and agreeable manner-namely the value of a penny of which undoubtedly applied to our earliest attempts at the the same way there is a great deal of Huneariali ~._ • st , income tax, which has grown from between 700,W0/. and formation of our commercial treaties. We have no provi- well as B ndian, and therefore we a -•ded t° t•"' 800,0001. to a sum of no less than 1,400,0001. (Hear, "one that certain benefits which we might confer upon our manila of the Austrian government, subject t4i___„ hear.) I propose now to m y a few words with re spect to own countrymen shall not be conferred unless th e state pleasure of parliament, and therefore we TV* fire insurance, in which the house feels a deep interest, with which we are dealing will also confer certain benefits to equalise the duties upon w ine in bottles and with rega rd to which the hon. member for Dudley (Mr. on its subjects; but the c 2e. Lid. S O W r in which we appear in wine in wood ; that is, we propose to charge, it o Sheridan) recently, in conformity I think with the these negotiations, so far as they involve changes in our upon wine over 26 degrees of alcoholic strength , "" general wish of the house , forbore to raise a apeciel mo- own tariff, is simply this, that we have become, in more it does not exceed that strength. The effect of this __ a . tion antecedently to the 'financial statement of the year. than one instance, auxiliaries tothe government of a toree' will be a loss of 71,0001., and we shall have to makeear. The change which was made in the year 1e64-5, namely, • state, toenablesuchgovernment more easily to overeomethe allowance for recovering the loss to the revenue,. rui_O te " . the change in the duty of insurances on stock-in-trade, prejudices and enlighten the ignorance of its own populace, some allowance for increased consumption, whiela s h, has now been in operation for a year and a half, and we by looking to the advantages to be derived from the fulfil- duce the actual loss to 58,000 e, which must go atee' re to have therefore had experience of the effects of that change meat of promises held out to them, the fulfilment of those surplus of 1,350,0001. (Hear, beer') th e cemmitie e fora full year. The change which was made last year promises being at the same time most beneficial to our- three changes which we propose to uoi with respect to a large portion of the duty upon everything selves. (Cheers.) I will not weary the committee on the to make, and which sae quite Wart fra'm an y en f, lge h e dot, except stock-in-trade, namely, upon buildings and fund- subject of' the French treaty so far as respects that which in reference to treaties. We propose to remove . _ ben tore, has been in operation for only six months, because has been su ffi ciently explained upon former oocaaions- upon pepper. (Laughter.) 'The case of Peen". nu a f a from our arrangements a reduction of this kind necessarily namely, its effect uPon England i hut I should like to state pmuliar, and it may well excite the commiseration ~ and does not take effect till six months after it has been the e ff ect of that treaty upon the export trade of France . , humane men. It is a duty very difficult to defe:there ordered by the house. It may perhaps be remembered because we all remember the dread and horror with which often stood to be abolished, but at the last moa r thosi it that I declined to follow those gentlemen-who I am ' that treaty was received by a considerable and an has always been some more bulky neighbour to , _, __, bound to say are numerous and of great authority- influential portion of the French nation ; and certainly out of the way, till now, when there is such a m od e ''''' sn ., who have at all times held out sanguine prospects of if ever there was an emphatic disappointment in the best plus and none of the great questions, such as mem 0 1' i i; a large increase in the amount of property insured - in the 1 seine of unfavourable augury, it is that which is now pre- thing else which may excite the leal°O, l Y on be event of • reduction of the duty talangplace. Though I am' seated by the remarkable results of the French treaty in agricultural or any other interest, _,.,,, " for not insensible to the great benefit and advantage in other France itself. I its.ke the result upon the export trade of removed. (Hear, hear.) It is a ii""` sate points of view that might be attained by a reduction of ' France, because evident that if the export trade of this reaeon, that all the sp i ce s and co n `____., this duty, I think it would be • mistake to expect any very I France in French commodities has increased, it cannot pea - in which the wealthier classes have an exclusive Intel s ; great extension of property insured from such a reduction. I slimly have fallen off in the home market. Taking the case have long ago been set free from duty. Now, = a nd I therefore estimated the increase at 10 per cent.,' of cotton goods, linen gooda„ woollen oods, and yarns of condiment the use of which is common t° all c a (wa s and I placed it as high as 10 per cent, rather in ; all deecriptions, the general history has been this. I take I am told it is consumed largely in , f a rrian „,„ s hnostbs deference to the opinion of others than beemlse it was the :, 1860, the year before the operation of the treaty, as the laughter.) It. , in fact, a commodity "lea '''' - i a e ol elll precise figure I should myself have chosen. However,' standard. In 1861, just as it happened with ourselves, the dispensed with by the wealthier ' , melons ce the oh . that estimate has not been realised. Comparing' effect of the panic was in every instance to pro- community, who consume animal food and B . l _, T°°// .. moo the two duties with the quantity and value Of i duce a considerable diminution, and no doubt the stances , but it is very necessary and mem. - mo tion of Tee the property insured for the six months of which prophets thought the hour of ruin had come ' whose diet consists of a much latger p A ged{ is snotbo alone we have any experience, I find the result se' winch they had predicted would upeeddly arrive. 'table food. Meat, hem) But we" ELECTION COMMITTEES. Lord NAAS reported from the Huddersfield' election committee thnt Mr. T. P. Crosland was duly elected, and that the committee had no reason to believe that corrupt practices extensively prevailed at the last election for the borough. The members appointed to serve upon the city of Here ford election committee were called to the table and sworn. NEW WRIT. On the motion of Colonel TAYLOR a new writ was ordered for Stamford, in the room of Sir Stafford North cote, who has accepted the Chiltern Hundreds. CHURCH RATES. Mr. BOVILL gave notice that in committee on the Church Rates Bill he should propose certain clauses which he would place on the notice paper, but the effect of which would be to relieve from the compulsory payment of church rates not only dissenters, but all those who gave notice they objected to contribute to the expense of the palish church. His object in moving these clauses was to secure the settlement of the church-rate question. RETURN OF MUNICIPAL BOROUGHS. Mr. NEVILLE-GRENVILLE wished to ask the Secre tary of State for the Home Department why the towns of Weston-super-Blare, Shepton Mallet, Wellington, and Chard, oounty of Somerset, which had more than 5,000 inhAbitants, bad been omitted from the " Return of the names of municipal boroughs, &c., of 5,000 inhabitants and upwards, and which were not now represented in parlia ronnt." Sir G. GREY replied that the returns were made out by the Registrar-General, who informed him the reason why these boroughs were not included was, that the borough of Weston-super-Mare had no defined boundaries, and by the last census contained only 2,000 inhabitants ; that Shep ton Mallet had 4,BrA ; Wellington, 3,689 ; and Chard, 2,276 inhabitants ' each of these boroughs, therefore, had a population less than 5,000. Mr. NEVILLE-GRENVILLE said that the figures of the right hon. gentleman differed very much from those which he had received. Sir G. GREY said they were not his figures, but those taken at the last census. THE LORD CHIEF JUSTICE OF IRELAND. Mr. BRYAN asked the Attorney General for Ireland if his attention had been drawn to a statement publicly made, to the effect that the Lord Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench in Ireland, when passing sentence of death on a pri soner at Tullamore last year, was unable to read the sen tence, although it was written for him in large hand writing, and that his lordship required and had the assist ance of some other person in the performance of that solemn duty, and whether that statement was substantially amok THE CATTLE PLAGUE. Mr. C. S. READ asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it was the intention of the government to continue, by Order in Council, the slaugh tering clauses of the Cattle Disease Act of 1866 after the 12th of May ; and whether any spwial exemptions from slaughter of diseased animals would be made for the pur poses of testing the effect of chloroform or any other sup posed curative treatment' Sir G. GREY answered the first question in the affirma tive, and stated in reply to the second that that could be best answered when the report of the commission, of which the hon. member for East Norfolk was a member, was in the hands of the government. DEEP SEA FISHERIES (IRELAND). General DUNNE asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland why the report on Irish deep sea fisheries had not been pre sented, which should have been done in January last, as directed by the Act 5 and 6 Vic.' Mr. C. FORTESCUE said no doubt the returns ought to have been made, and he would take care that they I should be made. GASWORKS NEAR VICTORIA-PARK. Lord J. MANNERS asked the First Commissioner of Works if it was true that a bill was before parliament which would sanction the erection of gasworks within a short distance of Victoria-park ; and, if so, whether it was his intention to oppose that bill? Mr. COWPER replied that by the standing orders any bill authorising the erection of gas works within 300 yards of any house , required notice of such erection to the owners and occupiers of such houses ; but this did not apply to the present case because the Imperial Gas Works Bill contained a clause prohibiting the erection of anyworks within 300 yards of Victoria-park. He (Mr. Cowper) was at the same time of opinion that no just grounds of com plaint would exist if gas works erected within 300 yards of any buildings were properly conducted. The nuisance arising from gas works being entirely occasioned by the refuse of those works, could be remedied by a clause pre venting the accumulation of such refuse. Mr. B. HOPE said he considered the answer just given by the right hon. gentleman very unsatisfactory, and I therefore he would ask what steps it was proposed to take for the removal of the refuse referred to? Mr. COWPER replied that although he had no locus standi in regard to private bills, he should think it his duty to ask the promoters of the bill to insert such clauses as seemed to him to be necessary for the protection of the public health. CORRUPT PRACTICES AT BOROUGH ELECTIONS. Sir H. VERNEY asked the Home-Secretary whether he would promise that if any commission should report that Riegel practices had prevailed in a borough extensively, and on many occasions, the government would bring in a bill to disfranchise such borough. Sir G. GREY said it was impossible to make any such promise. He had already said that if the result of the I mouiries by the commissioners already appointed was that it was clearly proved that corrupt practices had pre vailed to a great extent in boroughs, government would be I more willing to apply the penalty of disfranchisement than it had hitherto been ; but until the reports of the commis sions were in the bands of the government it was impos sible to say what steps would be taken. ENGLISH AND FRENCH FISHERIES. Mr. DU CANE asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any answer had been received from the French government relative to the propmeal international commission on the subject of the English and French Fisheries Convention Act ; and, if so, whether he would communicate to the house the general tenor of such iTO6B reo it mutt thin floe of I mitten ing clan of popu tionu, the co own ex' rimiteal tion ha would Mbar, use of • great those but t labouri Lucre or to a must pertaill theref. log 1p and dustry of in. ro ought We p as the search tion, , relief. tax of Re:e iies I do made, Tr au:l nth ge corn gove and Post