The Press. — London, England, 1854-03-11 00:00:00

222 carrying out the operations in question they had arisen from subsequent events which occasioned a rapid rise in the price of corn and money, accompanied by a drain of bullion and a fall in the quotations of the public securities. Mr. Disraeli's general conclusion, he observed, was to assert that the Exchequer would be 8 millions behindhand in April, and he ought to cover the chasm with a loan. Both positions he disputed, declaring that only 44 millions, at the utmost, need be raised on deficiency bills in the coming quarter, and that the operation could be completed without any serious embarrassment. Mr. DISRAELI rejoined, repeating his warning against the policy of carrying on the public business by deft • ciency bills instead of ready money. Sir F. KELLY said that the conversion of the South Sea Stocks had cost all those who relied upon the re presentations of the Chancellor of the Exchequer no less than from 20 to 25 per cent. upon their capital in thoso stocks, and had only gained in the whole about 15,0001. per annum, By the remainder of his scheme he had lost no less than 800,0001. to the country. The resolution was agreed to. MANNING THE FLEET. In moving for returns of the number of men entered in the navy from the coast guard, in the House of Peers on Thursday, the Earl of ELLEN BOROUGH expressed some apprehensions as to the efficient manning of the fleet, and urged the Govern ment to take effectual measures for competing with the merchant service for supplies of able seamen. A sum of 500,0001. might be obtained by postponing certain items in the ordnance and miscellaneous services, and applied to this purpose, and thus in three weeks the navy would be manned with the most efficient sailors in the world. It was absolutely essential that the British navy should be manned with British seamen—with men who could go aloft and fight as their forefathers fought at St. Vincent, the Nile, and Trafalgar. Cost what it might, this object ought to be secured, in order that Sir Charles Napier might have the most efficient means of maintaining the interests and the honour of the country. The Earl of ABERDEEN had no objection toproduce the returns, but protested against the observations which bad preceded the motion. He entirely denied the justice of the implied accusation, that the fleet about to sail for the Baltic was inadequately or imper fectly manned. On the contrary, he believed, on tes timony which he was bound to respect, that the fleet was adequately manned for the great purpose for which it was about to be employed. There was not a pressed man on board it. This alone was a favour able feature, compared with former times ; and he was further authorised to say that the proportion of men not regular seamen was not greater than on former occasions. Taken altogether, a more efficient fleet had never left these shores. The noble earl added that he could not see the advantage of such observations as had been just made, nor how they could possibly promote the efficiency of the service. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH explained, and the returns were ordered. SUCCESSIONS TO RE AL PROPERTY. The bill for assimilating the law of succession to real property in cases of intestacy to that which re gulates personalty under similar circumstances — that is to say, for providing that landed estates should be divided among the family of the deceased, instead of descending to the eldest son—stood for second reading on Wednesday. The motion to that effect being made was resisted by Sir J. PAKINGTON, who commented upon the de mocratic tendencies of the measure. The principle which it embodied was, be considered, unjust, un wise, and totally at variance with the spirit of the constitution. He moved that the bill be read a second time that day six months. Mr. BRIGHT supported the bill, whose operation he thought would often prevent dissensions in families, and which was designed to free the land from some of the trammels still left upon it by the feudal system. Lord LOVAINE disliked the measure, as being the first step to a total repeal of the law of primogeniture. It was the thin end of a wedge which might here after introduce into England the French law of suc cession. Mr. M. MILNES felt no peculiar reverence for pti mogeniture, which even in England was rather a eustom than a law. The division of property had produced more good than harm in France and Bel gium. Without wishing to see the English law assi milated to theirs in all respects, he contended that real estate should be regulated in the same manner as personalty in cases of intestacy. Sir F. TREsIGER argued that the measure must prove either useless or mischievous, and apprehended that it would too often turn out to be the latter. If passed, he (lid not see how they could stop short of enacting a law for the compulsory distribution of pro- perty. Mr. W. 0. STANLEY supported the second reading, which was opposed by Mr. Packe, Mr. Ingham, Mr. Henley, and Mr. Drummond. THE PRESS. Mr. ROUVERIE briefly defended the bill. Lord J. RUSSELL believed that both the State and the land would be injured by the subdivision of pro perty. Even among the humblest classes who had possessions to leave the custom of primogeniture pre vailed, nor was it anywhere complained of. Fearing that if the principle of the bill were once recognised it would lead them far on a dangerous road, he gave his decided negative against its further progress. Mr. SCULLY, though intending to offer amendments upon details if the bill reached the committee, ap proved of its principle, as did Mr. PHINN, on the broad ground that the rule which held good with regard to personal property should equally operate over real estates. Mr. DISRAELI contended that the law recognised the distinction between personal and real property ; that one branch of the Legislature rested upon it; and that it was most inexpedient to disturb the present system for the sake of some exceptional cases. Heavy public duties devolved upon the possessors of large landed properties, and public liberty had been won and maintained by their exertions. Any change such as the bill now before them contemplated would be dangerous to the community and lower the character of the country. On a division there appeared— For the second reading For the amendment 203-121 The bill is consequently rejected. MINISTERS' MONEY. A resolution designed to pledge the house to the abolition of the rate called ministers' money in Irish towns was moved on Thursday by Mr. FAGAN, who debated at some length upon the grievances and mortifications which the levying of this tax inflicted upon the Roman Catholics of that country. The motion was seconded by Mr. HUME. Sir J. YOUNG had placed upon the paper a formal amendment to this motion, merely, as he explained, for the purpose of enabling him to describe a mea sure which he had himself in preparation on the subject of ministers' money. Offering some prefatory remarks upon the various propositions and demands which had found advocates in the house during pre vious years, the Secretary for Ireland announced his own proposal in the character of a compromise. He then suggested that all the existing houses rented at less than 101. a year, as well as those of whatever magnitude hereafter built, should be exempted from the rate. The clergy also were to be relieved from the obnoxious function of collecting or receiving the rate, whose product he proposed to transfer to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, drawing upon them in turn for the funds requisite to supply the put poses hitherto accomplished by the ministers' money. Mr. IlknviEtn objected to any compromise on such a question. Justice to all the non-established sects required that the establishment should altogether relinquish the tax which she exacted from those who did not belong to her communion. Mr. MkouutE also contended that the grievances arising from the tax were too serious to admit of com promise. Mr. CRossLEY supported the original motion. Mr. NAPIER referred to the origin of the ministers' money, in the reign of Charles 11., and argued that the rate was then fixed by the Crown upon certain Irish properties, of which it was the absolute owner, as a permanent provision for the Protestant Church. It could not,therefore, now be called a tax, but was a property indefeasibly appertaining to that Church. The bill proposed by the Secretary for Ireland trenched upon the rights of the Protestant clergy, but for the sake of peace he was willing to accept it. Mr. FrrzetEmn supported the motion. After a few words from Mr. POTTER and Mr. COWAN, the house divided — For the amendment lO3 Against BS-15 Sir J. Yousn gave notice that he would take some early opportunity to introduce his bill upon the subject. LETTERS FOR THE NORTH. Mr. LIDDELL on Tuesday called attention to the present delays and inequalities in the postal de liveries between the metropolis and Scotland, and recommended the house to ascertain whether, by some more judicious management, and especially by turning the Great Northern Railway into better account for post-office purposes, the inconveniences now complained of could not be remedied. He moved for " a select committee to inquire into the postal arrangements between London, Edinburgh, and Glasgow, with the view of ascertaining whether greater punctuality and despatch could be secured in the delivery of letters, not only between those terminal cities, but also at the intervening places." The motion having been seconded by Mr. COWAN, Mr. WitsoN detailed the general arrangements of the mail service through the districts in question, explained the practical difficulties which stood in the way of any change, and stated that the Government were ready to adopt any measures for facilitating the transmission of letters that could be shown not to SATURDAY, interfere with other combinations. Some irregulari ties he admitted existed in the arrivals of the mails, which he attributed in great measure to the enor mous increase in the business of the Post-office, the number of letters weekly passing through the Lon don office having expanded from six millions in 1852 to more than seven millions in 1853, and to 8,329,0(.0 in the present year. He did not oppose the appoint ment of the select committee, but suggested that the inquiries it was to undertake should be extended over the whole country wherever complaints of delay or mismanagement might arise. Mr. LIDDELL concurred, and the resolution, thus modified, was agreed to, after some discussion. THE COASTING TRADE BILL. The third reading of this bill on Tuesday was pre faced by a brief discussion, in which the Hon. H. T. LIDDELL, the member for Liverpool, warned the Government of the perils which the measure might entail if not carefully watched, and exhorted them to lose no opportunity to obtain reciprocal concessions from foreign countries. Other members repeated this warning and advice. In replying, Mr. CARDWELL urged that reciprocity was most likely to be obtained by our discarding all attempts at protection, and then affording to fordigr.- ers a tempting example, by showing them the splendid results of free competition. The Government, he added, had lost no occasion of preparing the way for reciprocal privileges, having already obtained the promise of some valuable concessions from Holland. Mr. Cardwell hinted, even, as a consequence not altogether beyond hope, that English shipowners might hereafter be admitted to engage in the United States coasting trade, including the important traffic with California. The bill was read a third time, and passed. RELEASE OF STALE PRISONERS. In reply to Mr. T. Buncombe, Lord PALMERSTON said that her Majesty had been graciously pleased to extend the same clemency to Frost, Williams, and Jones, as to Smith O'Brien." (Hear, hear.) He might take that opportunity of stating that her Majesty had also extended her indulgence to two gentlemen—(laughter)—Martin and O'lloherty —who had been transported at the same time as Smith O'Brien. EXECUTIONS. Mr. CR►UFURD, on Thursday, moved for leave to bring in a bill to enable executions to issue in any part of the United King dom, under a judgment obtained in any court in England, Scot land, or Ireland. Ne explained the state of the law and the evils resulting from it, which be proposed to remedy by extending the principle of mutuality. The Loan ADVOCATE cordially approved the object of the bill, and thought it an important step iu a right direction. Leave was given to bring in the bill. { foreign atO Qt Mid nttiligtitte. FRANCE. The receipt and general tenor of the reply sent by the Czar to the autograph letter transmitted to him by the Emperor Napoleon have been for some time known in Paris. The document itself, however, is published in extenso in the Petersburg Gazette, wh ere it appeared about the same day that the original let. ter reached the hands of the Sovereign to whom it was addressed, the 24th ult. The following are the principal paragraphs of the epistle " ST. PETERSBURG, Jan. 28 (Feb. 9), 1854. " Sire,—l know not how better to reply to your Majesty than by repeating, since they are my own, the concluding words of your Majesty's letter, ' Our relations should be sincerely friendly, and repose upon identical intentions, the maintenance of order, the love of peace, respect for treaties, and reciprocal goodwill.' In accepting, your Ma jesty says, the programme which I had traced, your Ma jesty affirms that you have remained faithful to it. I ven ture to think, and my conscience tells me so, that I have not departed from it. For in the affair which divides us, and which did not originate with me, I have all along sought to maintain friendly relations with France. I have with the greatest care avoided coming into collision on this ground with the interests of the religion professed by your Majesty. I have made for the maintenance of peace every concession both in form and substance that was pos sible consistently with my honour ; and, in claiming for my coreligionists in Turkey the confirmation of the rights and privileges acquired for them long ago at the price of Russian blood, I asked for nothing but what was founded upon treaties. If the Porte had been left to itself, the dif ference which holds Europe in suspense would have been long since settled. A fatal influence has thrown itself in the way of an arrangement. By exciting gratuitous suspi cions, by encouraging the fanaticism of the Turks, by mis leading their Government as to my intentions, and the real import of my demands, this influence has imparted to the question such exaggerated proportions that war has been the consequence. • • • • • • "'Your Majesty attributes to the occupation of the prin cipalities the fault of having suddenly removed the ques- tion from the domain of discussion to that of fact. But your Majesty loses sight of the fact that this occupation, purely eventual as it was, was preceded, and to a great ex tent brought about, by an anterior fact of great gravity, that of the appearance of the combined fleets in the neigh bourhood of the Dardanelles ; besides which, long before, and while England still hesitated to assume a menacing attitude towards Russia. your Majesty had been the first to send your fleet to Salamis. This offensive (blesaanle) de monstration certainly announced but little confidence in