The Press. — London, England, 1858-04-10 00:00:00

noose of Commons, for it binds together two institution° Which have illustrated the history of this country. (Cheers.) After the usual conciuding toasts—" The Bar of England," "The Magistrates of the City," and "The Lady Mayoress "—the party broke up, after an entertainment fully bearing out the high character of civic hospitality. THE PRESS, APRIL 10, 1858. the country, deriving its authority directly from the higher power, to which the local government is subordinate, and instructed to carry back to the higher power information on Indian affairs which the local government is not deemed sufficiently trust worthy to afford, would give a most serious shock to the influence of the local authorities, and would tend to impress all natives with the belief that the opinions and decisions of the local government are of small moment, and that the thing of real importance is the success with which they can contrive that their claims and objects shall be advocated in Enk land. Up to the present time it had been the prac tice of the Home Government to uphold in every way the authority of the governments on the spot; even when reversing their acts, to do so through the governments themselves ; and to employ no agency except in subordination to them. In conclusion, the report sums up as follows : From this review of the chief provisions of the bills which embody the attempts of two great divisions of English statesmen to frame an organ of government for India, it will probab4 appear to the proprietors that neither of them is grounded on any sufficient consideration of past experience, or of the principles applicable to the subject ; that the passing of either would be a calamity to India, and that the attempt to legislate while the minds of leading men are in so unprepared a state is altogether premature. The opinion of your directors is, that by all constitutional means the passing of either bill should be opposed; but that if one or the other should be determined on, fur the purpose of transferring the administration, in name, from the East India Company to the Crown, every exertion should be used in its passage through committee to divest it of the mischievous features by which both bills are now deformed, and to maintain, as at present, a really independent council, having the initiative of all business, discharging all the duties and possessing all the essential powers of the Court of Directors ; and it is the court's con victicn that measures might be so framed as to obviate whatever may be well founded in the complaints made against the present system, retaining the initiative of the council, and that independence of action on their part which should be regarded as paramount and indispen sable. After the reading of the report, a short discussion ensued, the printing of the report was agreed, and further discussion of the two bills was postponed till Tuesday next. MR. Wx. ED. FRERE has been appointed a Pro. visional Member of the Council at Bombay by the Conn of Directors. THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT has abandoned its claim upon the Sardinian Government for the extradition of Mr. Hodge. THE Hor-Darr MovEmEyr.—Letters have been received from the gentlemen of the deputation that recently waited on Mr. Disraeli, in which they state their opinion that after the very favourable reception given by Mr. Disraeli to the memorial of the hop planters, and his promise that it should receive his earnest and sincere consideration, it would be un courteous and impolitic to anticipate his financial statement by any motion for the repeal of the hop duty. THE LORD CHANCELLOR will receive, for the first time since his elevation, the judges and other digni taries of the law, at his residence, next Thursday, being the first day of Easter Term. On Friday his lordship will sit at Lincoln's-inn, and the new Pro bate and Divorce Court will sit at Westminster, and not on the first day, as there is no convenient place of sitting until the Chancellor vacate; his court. SLR JOHN TRELAWNY, on Tuesday next, will submit to the House of Commons the following resolution, founded on a recent case : That the receipt of any species of reward by a member in consideration of the exercise of his influence in that capacity is calculated to lower the dignity and authority of this house, and is a high breach of the privilege of Parka. went. THE MEDICAL BEtORM COMMITTEE OF THE BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION held a meeting on the Ist inst., for the purpose of taking into con sideration the two bilis of Lord Eicho and Mr. Cowper. The members present were, Sir Charles Hastings, M.D. (Worcester), in the chair; G. Bot. tomley, Esq. (Croydon) ; Si: John Forbes, M.D. (London) ; G. W. Hastings, Esq. (London) ; Alexander Henry, M.D. (London) ; Edwin Lankester, M.D. (London); T. Nonneley, Esq. (Leeds) ; A Prichard, Esq. (Clifton) ; B. W. Richardson, M.D. (London) ; James Stedman, Esq. (Guildford) ; and G. Webster, M.D. (Dalwkh ). It was moved and seconded, "That Mr. Cowper's bill be taken into consideration by the committee, with a view to its amendment." It was also proposed as au amendment that Lord Elcbo's bill be taken into consideration. The original motion was carried, and the committee pro ceeded to the examination of the clau2es of Mr. Cowper's bill. The following resolutions were adopted t 1. That a preliminary examination should be established, which ail who enter the profession must pass 2. That the following be inserted in clause 4, after the word " con ditions:" "Endeavouring that such qualifications and testimonials should be, as far as practicable, uniform 355 throughout the United kingdom." 3. That the following be omited, as unnecessary, from clause 23 : " Provided always, that the name of no person shall be erased from the register on the ground of his having adopted any theory in the practice of medicine or surgery." 4. That it is the opinion of this committee that each member of the general council should hold office for a term not exceeding five years, but should be capable of re-election . The committee then proposed some amendments in the clause relating to the addressing of letters to regiltered persons, and the removal of the name from the register in case of no reply being received. Some other verbal alterations in the bill were sug gested, and the following resolutions were passed : That Mr. Cowper's bill having been considered, and the foregoing alterations proposed, the committee recommend it with these alterations to the associatiou at large. That a copy of the alterations suggested be forwarded to the Right Hon. W. F Cowper. ttropalitan. EASTER VESTRIES. AT St. Barnabas, Mr. Jackson, on the nomination of the Hon. and Rev. Mr. Liddell, was elected, and Mr. Westerton, on the nomination of the Rev. F. Baring, was reelected. With respect to the latter gentleman's re election, the following letter from Lord John Russell to Dr. Hunter was real : Pembroke-lodge, Richmond, April 1, 1k.58. Sir,-1 greatly regret that engagements in this neigh bourhood will prevent my attending the vestry of St. Paul's, Knightsbridge, on Tuesday nest. Had I been able to do so, 1 shoald have asked leave to move a vote of thanks to Mr. W'esterton, for his able performance of the duties of churchwarden. At the close of his fifth year of cage I think he is entitled to a public acknowledgment of the faithfulness with which he has sustained the Protestant character of our Church. I hope it will be cheerfully ac corded to him.-1 remain, your obedient servant, (Signed) J. RUSSELL. A dispute has arisen between the Dean of Carlisle and the precentor of the cathedral, the Rev. T. G. Livingston, upon the subject of the propriety of singing at service in the cathedral certain choruses of dramatic bearing, and adapted only for oratorio performances. The dispute has reached such a height that Dr. Close, the Dean, has suspended the Rev. T. G. Livingston, who has appealed to his Bishop against such suspension as unstatutable, but the Bishop replies that in every Chapter the Dean, no doubt, can suspend during the interval preceding the meeting of the Chapter. The next Chapter wilt nut be held before June. SHEFFIELD HEAVE, ESQ., and BONANY DORIAEE, ESQ., have been elected Governor and Deputy Governor of the Bank of England. There was no opp-sition of any kind to the " house list," the pro ceedings being purely formal. THE BLUE-COAT BOYS, according to annual custom, went in procession to the Mansion-house on Easter Monday, where each received a glass of wine and a bun. As they passed out of the Egyptian-hall the Lord Mayor, who was attended by the Lady Mayoress and a large number of friends, distributed 687 shillings to that number of boys, 41 half-crowns to monitors, and 13 guineas to Urecians, making a total of 55/. 4s. 6d. His s lordship then entertained the aldermen and the chid officers of the corporation at luncheon, after which the party proceeded to Christ Church, where the Spite' sermon was preached by the 11,2 V. T. G. Nicholas, M.A., the Lord Mayor's chaplain. FOR several days past rumours have been circu lated of a great brewing firm being in difficulties. The establishment in question possesses the ability, it is understood, to meet every demand in full, and it has, therefore, apparently not been in a position to warrant public comment on its affairs. Vague state ments, however, such as these which have been current, are so calculated to excite general discredit in any branch of business to which they may relate, that it is necessary, for the sake of other houses, to mention that the establishment referred to is that of Messrs. Calvert and Co. Its members are realizing some large lauded estates in order to bring in the capital required for its extensive engagements, and owing to the character and value of the business there can no doubt that every necessary arrange ment will be made for as preservation.—The Times City Article. THE LEVIATHAN was in some danger of getting adrift on Monday last, in consequence of the break ing of two of her bow mooring chains in a heavy northeast squall. The abip all along has been held by three chains at her stem, and during heavy weather without any failure of the moorings. In the course of the forenoon of Monday the wind gradually freshened up from the eastward, until it. blew almost a gale. About two o'clock a very heavy squall from the E.N.E. came in full force on the port bow of the huge ship, and, there being a strong flood tide, caused an immense strain on the mooring chains. The chain on the port bow first went, slink breaking some dozen feet from the hawse hole, and, this go rat ant 4asOton. Her Majesty the Queen will hold Drawing-rooms at St. James's Palace, on Thursday the 22nd inst., and Or. Thursday the 6th May next, at two p.m. Her Majesty will hold Levees at St. James's Palace, on Wednesday the 14th inst., and on Wednesday the 28th inst., at two p.m. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales will shortly occupy the White Lodge, the Ranger's Lodge, Richmond•park. Since the death of the Duchess of tlloucester the rangership of Richmond-park has been intrusted to his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, on, we belizve, the understanding that au the Prince of Wale's attaining his majority the Royal Duke will transfer the rangership to the Prince. The Lodge has undergone a thorough repair and embellishment preparatory to the Prince of Wales taking up hie establishment there. It is said that the Queen and the Prince Consort purpose, during the residence of the Court at Buckingham Palace, to occasionally pass Saturday and Sunday nights in privacy at the Lodge. His Excellency Count de Platen, Swedish Minister to the Court of St. James, visited Portsmouth on Monday to inspect the dockyard, dc. Having been hiroselt in the navy, his excellency takes much interest in such establishments. Admiral Sir George Seymour, the commander•in-chief, entertained the count and his suite at the Admiralty-house. Volittral. A CABINET Cornier'. was held on Wednesday at the official residence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer in Downing-street. The Ministers present were—the Earl of Derby, the Lord Chan cellor, the Marquis of Salisbury, the Earl of Hard wicke, Mr. Secretary Walpole, the Earl of Malmes• bury, Lord Stanley, General Peel, Sir John Paking ron, the Earl of Ellenborough, the Right Hon. J. W. Henley, and Lord John Manners. A COURT OF Pitn - Y COUNCIL was held at Windsor on Tuesday, when Mr. Mowbray and the Earl of Donougbmore were sworn in members of the Privy Council, and the Earl of Sefton appointed Lord Lieutenant of the Duchy of Lancaster. EAST INDIA COMPANY. A SPECIAL General Court of the East India Com pany was held on Wednesday last at the East India house. A recommendation from the Court of Directors to grant to the eldest son of the late Major- General Sir Henry Lawrence, K.C.8., an annuity of 1,000/. a year, with reversion to his younger brother in event of the elder brother dying without heirs male, was unanimously agreed to by the Court of Proprietors. A report upon the Government of India Bills was then read by the secretary. The report entered at great length upon the details of these bills, and, starting with the assertion that " the forms of business are the real Constitution of India," as serted that, while Lord Palmerston's bill failed to establish any "forms of business," hut left them to be determined by the Minister, so that subsequent Ministers might alter them at will, Lord Derby's Bill established " forms of business," but such only as would " effectually prevent" the Council from being " a reality," and render it " a useless pageant;" while again, to make the Council " a new consulta tive body without initiative," was a fatal inroad upon its usefulness. Thy report, while admitting the general superiority of Bill No. 2 over Bill No. 1, and recognizing the "desirableness, not necessity," of some provision for including an English element in the Council of India, object altogether to the qualifications imposed upon the members of Council, and generally to the elective mode by which that object is attained in Bill No. 2. Besides the provi sions for the governing body in England, the bills, the report maintains, "contain provisions relating to India itself, which are open to the strongest objec tion," and which would greatly impair the chances of good government in India, such for instance as transferring to the Governor-General and the Governors of Madras and Bombay the appointment to the Councils at Calcutta and to the other Presi dencies. With respect to the Royal Commission proposed by Ministers to be sent out to India, the report states, that the Court of Directors could not believe that such a project roulci be persisted in. It would be a step towards the disorganization of the fabric of government in India. A commission from England, independent of the local government of