The Press. — London, England, 1857-06-27 00:00:00

C 22, most distinctly what his feelings are and what is his object. The informer tells the man he is going to seize the picture, and to take him before a magistrate. " Under what au thority?" he asks ; and he is told—" Under the authority of Lord Campbell's Act." " But," says the man, " don't you know that it is a copy from a picture of one of the most celebrated masters iu Europe 7" That does not matter; the informer seizes it as an obscene print. He asks if the shopkeeper has got any more like it? "Oh, yes, I have got several others," is the ansxer. Whereupon he searches the shop, and in so doing perhaps lie stumbles upon a print of the story of Rinse. There he sees a naked woman lifting her eyes to heaven with a strange expression, the shower of gold descending upon her, a little cupid peeping over her shoulder pointing with his dart, and other circumstances which I will nut describe. These pictures come within the description in this bill as much as any work you can conceive. And yet they are both cele brated pictures; the first is a copy of a famous Correggio which hangs in the large square room of the Louvre, right opposite an ottoman, on which are seated daily ladies of the first rank from all countries of Europe, who resort there for the purpose of studying the works of art in that great gallery. But this is not all. A man gees into the studio of a sculptor or some statuary and sees there figures of nymphs, fauns. and satyrs, all perfectly naked, some of them in attitudes which I do not choose to describe. Ac. carding to this bill they may every one be seized,— Nympharumque leves cum satyric chori. I will now go to the books. I don't know whether my noble and learned friend is familiar with the poems of liochester, but I think they would come under the descrip tion of this bill. " The freedom of ancient satirists," says Hume, the historian, " no more resembles the licentious ness of Rochester than the nakedness of an Indian does that of a common prostitute." Suppose that book is in a certain library lent out for hire; under my noble and learned friend's bill it may be seized at once In the sime way the dramatists of the Restoration, Wyolterley, Congreve, and the rest of them—there is not a page in any one of them which might not be seized under this bill. One of the principal characters in one of Congreve's plays is Lady Wishfor't. Dryden, too, is as bad as any of them. He has translated the worst parts of Ovid's " Art of Love"—works for which Ovid was exiled, and died, I believe, on the banks of the Euxine. There is not a single volume of that great poet which would not come under the definition of my noble and learned friend's bill. I need scarcely recall to your lordships' remembrance that poem, " Sigismonda and Guiscardo " I think it is, beginning— While Norman Tancred in Salerno reigned, in which occurs the description of the secret wedding, the scenes that preceded it. and the scenes that were imme• diately consequent upon it. I won't repeat to your lord• ships more of it than this passage : The holy man, amazed at what he saw, Made haste to sanctify the bliss by law; And muttered fast the matrimony o'er, For fear committed sin should get before. But I think your lordships will see from this specimen that Dryden's poems must he placed in my noble and learr.e l friend's " hider Espurgatorius." Take, too, the whole fligh► of French novelists, from Crebillon, ji/s, down to Paul de Kock ; nothing can be more unchaste, nothing more immodest, than they are ; and when my noble and learned friend's bill is passed, every copy of them may be committed to the bonfire with as little mercy as Don Quixote's chivalry•books were. Lord CAMPBELL, in reply, said he thought there could be no difficulty in introducing words in corn. mittee to guard against any abuse which might be apprehended ; but he cautioned their lordships against a proceeding which could not fail to shock the public feeling of the country. Lord GRANVILLE agreed with this view. Lord LYNDHURST withdrew his amendment, and the bill was read a second tme. The County Cess (Ireland) Bill was read a se:ond time. Lord BROUGHAM moved the second reading of the Vexatious Suits Prevention Bill, [and cited many examples showing the necessity of repressing frivolous and vexatious actions at law. It was not, however, his intention to press the measure during the present session, and after some remarks from the Loan CHANCELLOR and. Lord CAMPBELL the debate was formally adjourned. Their lordships adjourned at twenty minutes past seven o'clock. HOUSF. OF COMMONS—.THURSDAY. PASSING TOLLS ON SHIPPING. Mr. Lowe, in reply to ➢lr. Ingham, said it was not the intention of the Government to introduce a bill this session for the abolition of passing tolls on shipping. CANADIAN BISHOPS. Mr. LAnoucirene, in reply to Mr. Collins, said the royal assent had been given to a bill passed by the Parliament of Canada to enable the members of the United Church of England and Ireland in Canada to meet in Synod, in order that they might exercise the rights of self government, and, without giving an opinion upon a difficult point of law, lie believed that the act vested the appointment of bishops of that Church in the Synod. OATHS DILL On the order for the third reading of the Oaths Bill, The Marquis or BLANDFoun moved to defer the third reading for six months. His fundamental ob jection to this bill, he observed, was that the crown _ TH t PIIVSS. of this realm was avowedly held " by the grace of God," in the Christian idea of God. The proposed oath said not a word of the maintenance of the national religion (not meaning the Established Church), which the old oath distinctly recognised, as well as the oaths contained in all the bills introduced by Lord John Russell, except the last, and he in sisted that the maintenance of Christianity was an ess.ntial clement in the legislation of this country. The amendment was seconded by Mr. DRUMMOND. The O'DONOOHUE objected to the bill, not because it admitted Jews, but because it refused equal rights to Roman Catholics, and virtually re-enacted the Act of 1529, making the measure, in his opinion, a mere Ministerial job. Mr. DEASY said, with the deepest regret, he could not vote for the third reading of this bill, which, in his view, created for the first time an invidious dis tinction between the Roman Catholic subjects of her Majesty and those belonging to all other religious persuasions. At the same time, he could not bring himself to vote against the bill. Upon a division, the third reading was carried by a majority of 123, there being 291 ayes to 108 noes. The bill then passed. On the order for going into a committee of supply, a conversation took place respecting the arrangements for the spectacle in the park yesterday, with especial reference to the presence of represen tatives of the navy, Sir W. CODRINOTON, Admiral WALCOTT, and Admiral DUNCOMBE protesting strongly against the proposed arrangements, which virtually excluded the sailors of the fleet. Mr. B. OSBORNE replied that the inconvenience would have been too great to sanction the presence of 500 seamen in the park. WORKHOUSES. Lord RAYNHAM moved for a select committee to inquire into the condition and administration of metropolitan workhouses, and into the arrangements made and carried out by the parochial authorities of the metropolis for giving relief to the poor. Mr. W. WILLIAMS disputed some of the allegations of Lord Raynham. Mr. BOUVERIE observed that the proposed inquiry would occupy two or three sessions, casting a pro d;gious amount of labour upon a committee, para lysing meanwhile the power of the Poor-law Board. Irregularities and abuses might be remedied by the ordinary action of the law ; he saw, therefore, no ground for the granting of a committee. If Lord Raynham knew of any real case which demanded inquiry, and would place it in his hands, he (Mr. Bouverie) would have it properly investigated. Sir J. PAKINGTON said the administration of the Poor Law relief was not in a satisfactory state, but he recommended Lord Raynham to leave the matter in Mr. Bouverie's hands until another session, although he thought there was abundant ground for the motion. Upon a division, the motion of Lord Raynham was negatived fly 73 to 52. The house then went into Committee of Supply upon the remaining Civil Service Estimates. On the vote of 301,2331. tor public education in Great Britain, Mr. COWPER, in proposing the vote, stated the principle upon which these grants were made— namely, that the State should co-operate with indi viduals, aiding those who helped themselves, the Committee of Council for Education contributing not merely money, but advice and guidance, there being local action under central supervision. He then specified and entered• into much detail concerning the obstacles to the diffusion of elementary educa• tion under this system, which he distributed under six heads-1. Deficiency of school buildings. 2. Deficiency of funds to maintain them. 3. Ineffi ciency of education. •I. Irregular attendance of children. 5. Early age at which children leave. 6. Total absence of many children from the schools. The greatest of these impediments, which, perhaps, chiefly prevented the success of the existing system, was, in his opinion, the irregular attendance of the children at the schools. The Committee of Council was engaged upon means to counteract this evil, but the early age at which children left school was another impediment, which defied the efforts of the State, although, by making the teaching have a more practical bearing upon the future occupation of the children,the interests of the parents m►gbt be enlisted in the object of keeping them longer at school. The number of children who never went to school was comparatively small, notwithstanding the demand for juvenile labour and the ind►fference of parents. Sir J. PAKINGTON expressed his satisfaction at the statement made by Mr. Cowper, though lie did not concur in all his views, and the pleasure he received at hearing for the first time this vote moved by a responsible Minister of Education. He proceeded to call attention to the growing amount of this esti mate, which would go on increasing, and to the ques tion whether the present system was to become per manent without greater security being taken that the money so liberally advanced was beneficially SATURDAY, expended. The people of this country must and would be educated, and, though we might shirk it as we liked, the real question at issue before Parliament and the country was, " Will you pay the price When, however, the country did pay the price, he thought it was their duty to see that they got the full value for their money. At present the badness of the schools was the true reason far the irregular attendance of the children. After a discursive debate, Lord MELGUND moved to reduce the vote by 90,020/. Mr. ARYTON moved that the chairman report progress ; but the motion was negatived. Mr. HADFIELD moved that the chairman leavo the chair. This motion was likewise negatived. Mr. Dru.wys renewed the motion that the chair man do report progress ; which was again negatived. The committee then divided upon Lord MEL GUND'S amendment, which was negatived by 103 to 7. The vote being agreed to the CHAIRMAN reported progress. - The Reformatory Schools Bill was committed pro forma. The Consolidated Fund (8,000,0000 Bill passed through committee. _ _ Other bills were forwarded a stage, and, some further business having been despatched, the house adjourned at a quarter-past two o'clock. NOTICES OF MOTION. TUESDAY. The Earl of MALIICSBURY—that on Monday, the 29th inst., hi would call the attention of the house to the correspondence which had taken place between the Treasury and the Board of Works in reference to St. James's park. Mr. CAlRO—that on Tuesday, the 21st of July, he would move for leave to introduce a bill to provide fur the collection of agri cultural statistics in England and Wales. Mr. flestiLsm—that, on the motion for the second reading of the Joint-stock Act Amendment Bill, he would move an amendment declaring the opinion of the house that the principle of limited liability should be applied to joint-stock banks. Mr. 111AcirtsHom—thtt on the 21st of July he would call attention to the report of the select committee with reference to the adjusttnent of iliffarences between roasters and workmen. Lord RtYNHA3l—that on that day fortnight he would move certain resolutions respecting the Spanish slave trade. THURSDAY. Lord R. GROSVENOR—that on au early day he would move an address to the Queen, praying her Majeet, to be pleased to appoint a commission for the purpose of examining the Liturgy of the Church of England, with a view to its improvement. THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE UPON ARMY EDUCATION. AT a banquet given by the Junior United Service Club on Monday last, to celebrate the opening of their new clubhouse, H.R.H. the Duke of Cam bridge said, in acknowledgment of the toast in his honour : Gentlemen, we live in peculiar times, and, while I have the honour of presi,ling at the highest post, I am convinced that you will every one aid me, and all try to do your duty. I feel the difficulty of my position, and I expect your cor dial support. We live in a country that is perfectly free, and where every man is permitted—arid not only permitted but encouraged—to say anything he likes. I should be sorry to see any change in that respect. We must, how ever, take care that we are not carried away too far. We live in a time when the education of the army has been placed on a sounder footing than ever it was before, but I should feel extremely sorry to see that carried to such an extent as to be a permanent injury to the army. Such a course would, without doubt, do great injury to both ser vices. As regards the general efficiency of the army, I may be permitted to make one or two observations. I may revert to what my gallant friend said about myself, and add that it is only by studying our profession that we can hope thoroughly to understand and qualify ourselves for the position in which it may please Providence to place us. Nothing can be of such value to the military ser vice as carefully studying all its details in a prac tical way. I can speak with some knowled •e when I say that, from the attention whioh I have given to details, I feel in the proud position of having confidence in myself. Most strongly do I feel that the officers of the army should follow the same course. I have heard it said that it would be too much of " the shop " to do that. Gentlemen, if we do not do that we are not officers ; and what is the use of telling a man that he is doing wrong when we ourselves do not know what is wrong or what is right ? I am afraid, gentlemen, I shall be thought an extreme bore, but I assure you that I intend to make every officer in the army study every branch of Ms duty. I am determined, with the support of toy friends and the country, to carry out all those principles to the utmost extent as far as in me lies—that is my firm determination. It has been said that British officers will not take the trouble of detail to which I have alluded, but I know they will. I have seen their gallantry in the field, and with a good knowledge of the details of their profession we chalk have one of the most splendid bodies of officers in the world. THE ROMAN CATHOLICS OF LEEDS have for I+olller time been building a large church on Richmond-bill, the opening of which is fixed for the sth of August. Cardinal Wiseman has consented to mach on the occasion, and several archbishops anu bish3ps have signified their intention to be present. Prepara tions are making to celebrate the event with great splendour. L