The Press. — London, England, 1854-05-13 00:00:00

MAY 13, 1854. quer, and Lord J. Russell interchanged a variety of suggestions and criticisms regarding the form into which the vote should be provisionally moulded. Ul timately the resolution was agreed to, with some modifications limiting its effect to the authorisation of an issue of two millions in Exchequer Bonds. The resolutions passed by the committee were on Tuesday reported to the house, and confirmatory votes moved for by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Mr. E. BALL moved as an amendment that the word malt should be omitted from the resolution for imposing the increased amount of duties. The agri culturists, he contended, having acquiesced in the adop tion of a free-trade poi' ey, lind a rig ht to anticipate that they would le fuvouruoly considered in any readjust ment or reimposition of taxation, and that some of the taxes on land should be reduced. Instead of this, how ever, the Chancellor of the Exchequer now proposed, by means of the increased spirit duties and malt tax, to levy four-fifths of the new taxes from the land. This was an unjust, a harsh, and oppressive pro ceeding. Mr. BENTINCK seconded the amendment, declaring that the new financial propositions enumerated by Mr. Gladstone testified to his unmitigated hostility against the landed interest. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER declined to discuss the question, remarking that the resolutions were then proposed merely pro fornui, and upon the understanding that the debate should take place on a future day. Mr. DISRAELI urged the propriety of postponing the resolutions as well as the debate. Lord J. RUBSEI.I. pointed out the practical incon venience and loss which would arise it the house de clined to pass the resolutions at once. Some further remarks were made by Sir J. Shelley, Mr. Henley, and Mr. Groulburn. Mr. BALL persevered, and the amendment was carried to a division and negatived by a majority of 2•14 to 143-81. The resolutions were then put and agreed to. OXFORD UNIVERSITY RILL. The committal of this bill was again resumed on Thursday. On clause 18, which prescribes the comprsition of congregation, Sir *MT HEATHCOTE moved to strike out the names of the following constituents—the tutors of halls and colleges and other officers engaged in the discipline of colleges, the masters of private halls, residents who may have held any of the qualifications mentioned in the clause for three years, and residents qualified in respect of study ; and proposed to substitute the words " all residents." The CHANCELT.OR of the EXCHEQUER opposed the alteration. It was designed that congregation should be composed of what he might term the aristocracy of university talent. The amendment would add the parochial clergy, for whom he had the highest respect but whom it was not so desirable to include in con gregation ; and he also objected to the admission of the college chaplains. Mr. ROUNDELL PALMER supported the amendment, and remarked that the college chaplains were repre sentatives of the eleemosynary element of the univer sity. After a long discussion, and a speech from Lord J. RUSSELL in opposition to the amendment, a division took place, and the amendment was carried by 134 votes to 104—majority against the Government, 30. To clause 19, which provides for the promulgation of statutes in congregation, Mr. HEYWOOD moved to add that such statutes should be framed in the English language. On division the amendment was rejected by 155 to 131—mkjority, 24. After some further discussion, the committee di vided again upon the clause itself, which was carried by 215 to 08. The clause was agreed to, and the chairman at this stage reported progress, with leave to resume the com mittee on Thursday next. SPIRITUAL DESTITUTION. A resolution was moved in the House of Lords on Thursday by the Marquis of WINCHESTER to the effect " That the religious wants of the great body of the labouring classes employed in the manufacturing districts, from the extensive deficiency of church accommodation, of resident clergy to administer to their spiritual necessities, and of schools to afford them a sound scriptural education, demand the earliest attention of Parliament." The noble earl spoke briefly in support of the resolution, observing that he only wished to recog• nice the existing evil of spiritual destitution, and to say that when opportunity offered a remedy should b 3 applied. The Earl of AsEttnrint said it was difficult to exagge rate the amount of spiritual destitution in many parts of the country, and as he agreed in the sentiments of the resolution he should be very sorry to oppose it. But he complained that it possessed little of a practical character, and added that he should be most reluctant to propose a vote of public money in consequence of it. Much more had been done in the way of providing church accommo dation by private benevolence than by public grants; and THE PRESS. a spirit existed at this moment for suppling the wants of the poor in this respect greater than had ever existed before. The evil, he believed, would be much more Wee twiny remedied by such efforts than by grants of public money, and he mentioned several facts in corroboration of this conviction. Asto schools, he reminded their lordships that the State had not neglected the duty of providing a good and sound education for all classes. Last year 21t0,000/. had been granted for this purpose, and it might perhaps be wise to increase this amount. At the same time he admitted the difficulty of establishing a system of united education ; but, in the absence of such system, the Committee of Privy Council was doing as much as possible. Ludcr all the circumstances, as the resolution would not be productive of any practical result, he suggested that it should be withdrawn. Earl NELSON suggested that a commission should be appointed to inquire into the means of remedying spiritual destitution. The Bishop of OxvoßD recommended the noble mover to withdraw the resolution, which he observed pointed to a wrong quarter for relief. He was con vinced that they could not, with propriety or advan tage, ask for grants from the public funds for strengthening, enlarging, and developing the Church of England. What the Church of England really wanted was increased liberty of adapting itself to the spiritual necessities of the people. The Bishop of Sr. DAVID'S concurred in this re commendation. After a few words from the Earl of CIANCARTY, the motion was withdrawn. EXPENSES OF THE WAR. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGR on Thursday called the attention of the Peers to the enormous expense incurred in the transport of troops to the East, as shown by the recent votes in the House of Commons. The sum thus voted exceeded by a large sum what the charge would be for the conveyance of a like number of persons and horses round the Cape, and all the way to India, at the passenger rate. He asked the Government to lay upon the table the de tails of this extraordinary expenditure, and to state the manner in which it was intended to pay the troops in Turkey, and what means had been adopted for moving the army from place to place? The Duke of NEWCASTLE deprecated such ques tions, as calculated to unfold our military plans to the enemy. With regard to the details of the expen diture complained of, he would come under no dis tinct promise at present. The expenditure in many instances could not be furnished. It had not all been incurred, but at the proper time every explana tion would be given. With regard to the payment of the troops, 255,00) sovereigns and 5,000 in silver had been sent out, ready to be converted into whatever currency may be found most convenient. The Earl of MALMESBURT inquired whether any despatches had been received from Admiral Dundas on the subject of the bombardment of Odessa? The Duke of NEWCASTLE answered that despatches had been received. He recapitulated some of the facts already known, adverting particularly to the outrage upon the flag of truce. As the war pro gressed, means would be taken to communicate in formation through the Gazette. The Earl of MaLKEsstiaY expressed his surprise at finding the cause of the attack assigned to the outrage on the flag of truce. If that outrage had not taken place, would Odessa have been left un assailed ? The Duke of NEWCASTLE declined to communicate what the instructions were which were issued by the Government as to the conduct of the war. The conversation then dropped. UNAUTHORISED NEGOTIATIONS. The second reading of the bill for prohibiting un authorised negotiations with foreign powers was moved on Tuesday in the Peers by Lord CAMPRNI.L. The noble lord cited in support of his measure the dicta of sundry authorities upon the law of nations, and pointed to the example of the United States, by whose code the acts he designed to prevent were punished by fine and imprisonment. The provisions of his bill were less severe; but after referring suc• cessively to the deputations sent by the Irish insur rectionists to M. Ledru Rollin, by the city of London Corporation to the President of the French, and by the Society of Friends to the Czar, he submitted that, although the motive might sometimes be good, the acts themselves were inexpedient, and ought to be prohibited. Lord LYNDHURST opposed the bill, questioning whether many of the acts which came within its scope could be considered offences against the law of nations. Many proceedings of undoubted benefit would also be prevented by its operation, as an instance of which he mentioned the interference lately made by British subjects on behalf of the Medial. The Earl of SHAFTEsaraviconcurred in condemn ing the measure. There were many cases in which British subjects must feel hound in conscience to at tempt an interposition, and could not be prevented, except by an act of intolerable tyranny. The Earl of Ellenborough, the Bishop of Oxford, and Lord Beaumont having spoken, 437 The Earl of ABERDEEN admitted that there were some reasons shown for the bill, but, as it required very extensive modifications before it could be made a working measure, he recommended Lord Campbell not to persist in pressing it upon the house. The Marquis of CIANKICARDF: joined in that recom mendation, believing that no practical evil had been proved to exist of sufficient gravity to call for such a measure. After a few words from Lord Buot•onim, Lord CAmpnEt.i. replied, restating the considera tions on which the bill was founded, and refusing to withdraw it. A division was called, but none took place, the bill being read a second time, and ordered to be referred to the committee, now sitting, on common-law proce dure. THE GUN-BOAT SQUADRON. Mr. KENNEDY inquired on Tuesday whether both the admirals in command of our fleets had not asked earnestly for gun-boats ; and whether Admiral Napier had not asked for iron gun-boats to meet those of the Russians, which were made by a house in Liverpool? Did not Scott Russell offer to pro vide in a few weeks the craft wanted ; and had not the Admiralty refused to provide iron boats, and or dered wooden boats to be built and bought, which wooden boats would draw twelve feet of water, instead of five, like the iron boats ? Sir J. GRARAN replied:— " I really hope the house will pardon me if I exercise some discretion in answering this question. (' Hear, hear,' and cheers.) It will not be possible to conduct the war if we are to say what requisitions are made by the admirals on different stations with respect to what they require —(Hear, hear)—and much less might an answer to be given as to what propositions have been made by a articular house with regard to contracts. All I can say is that the strength of Russia in gun-boats in the Baltic is formidable, and that her Majesty's Ministers have taken every precaution to meet that formidable force, and I have every reason to believe that the commerce of Great Britain in the Gulf of Bothnia will be protected by every possible means." PRIZE AND BOUNTY MONEYS. Sir J. liaAtum on Monday obtained leave to intro duce two bills for the encouragement of seamen ; and for facilitating the payment of the navy, and the distribution of prize, bounty, and salvage moneys among the officers and crews of her Majesty's ships of war. The measures, he observed, were similar to those which had passed with relation to prizes at the commencement of every war, differing only in containing some modifications of the scale under which prize money wasto be distributed, designed so as to favour the seamen. The bills were afterwards brought in and read a first time. THE COAL TRADE. A question whether coals were to be considered as " contraband of war," and so prohibited from being conveyed by neutral vessels into Russian ports, was asked on Tuesday by Captain Scoaci.L. Sir J. (IRAHAX said the question was one of great importance and great difficulty. Coal was not in cluded in the terms of the order in council, but instructions had been given to the officers command ing her Majesty's cruisers that coals should be treated as "doubtful articles," i.e., such as might be intended for commercial purposes, when they would be treated as innocent; or might be intended for purposes of war, when they would he of course con traband. The orders given to the officers were that they should exercise a sound discretion with reference to the port of destination to which the coals were being conveyed, and as to what was reasonable of the use to which they were to be put. Inel were satisfied on these points they would not be captured ; but if there was no presumption in favour of their being intended for innocent use they were to be captured, and be dealt with by the Courts of Admiralty. CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS IN IRELAND. Copies of any memorial that might have been presented to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in favour of Hugh Luney, who was convicted of wilful murder, and sentenced to death, at the late assizes in Westmeath, but whose sentence was subsequently commuted, were moved for on Tuesday by the Mar quis of WESTMEATH. He contended that the crime was of the most serious character, and the culprit one to whom mercy had been inappropriately extended. The Earl of ABERDEEN gave some explanations of the circumstances of the case, and defended the Irish Viceroy, by whom the sentence had been commuted. The Marquis of CLANRIOARDE complained that in the criminal convictions in Ireland offences against property were more heavily punished than those against persons. The Losn CHANCELLOR admitted that anch an im pression was to be gathered from the reports of the trials, but remarked that the shades of criminality in each case were very delicate, and the beat reports might often mislead. Lord WI/MATH having replied, the motion was agreed to. - 7`