The Press. — London, England, 1857-08-15 00:00:00

litort6ings in arlianunt. HOUSE OF LORDS-MONDAY. The royal assent was given by commission to a great number of bills. Upon the Summary Proceedings before Justices of the Peace Bill passing through committee, Lord CAMPBELL expressed his approval of the measure and explained its object. When the bill receives the royal assent, any party who feels himself aggrieved by the decision of a magistrate on a point of law, will have an opportunity of appealing against that decision to one of the superior courts in West• minster- 11 all. Several other bills were forwarded a stage, and their lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS-MONDAY. OATHS COMMITTEE. Lord J. RUSSELL brought up the report of the committee on the oaths taken by members, which was to the effect that the committee had negatived a resolution that the House of Commons was in chided in the words of the Act sth and oth William IV., "all bodies now by law or statute, or by any valid usage, authorised to administer or re ceive any oath, solemn affirmation, or affidavit." Lord John stated that, at that late period of the ses sion, be did not propose to go on with the Oaths Validity Act Amendment Bill; but he gave notice that, early next session, he would bring under the consideration of the house the oaths taken by mem bers of Parliament. _ Among the questions put to the Government before the orders of the day, was one by Sir C. NAPIER, who inquired whether Commodore Koppel had been recalled? Sir C. WOOD declined to answer the question. THE IRISH MILITIA. Mr. CORRY inquired whether, in the event of a portion of the militia being embodied during the re cess, any of the Irish regiments would be called out? Sir JOHN RAYSDEN replied, if it should be neces sary to embody any part of the militia, the first consideration would be to select the regiments that were in the most efficient state for embodiment; and, subject to that, to call out a fair proportion of the English, the Irish, and the Scotch regiments. PROMOTION OF LIEt7TERANT-COLONELS. On the motion for going into committee of supply, General PEEL inquired whether the attention of the military authorities had been directed to the case of certain lieutenant-colonels of the army, who bad been passed over and superseded under the pro visions of a royal warrant of the Gth of October, 18W., their commissions as lieutenant-colonels dating before that warrant was issued. And whether it is intended to restore these officers to the relative position of which they have been deprived by its retrospective action ? Sir W. CODIUNOTOX said no doubt the practical operation of the warrant had been unfair. From sixty to eighty had been passed over. Mr. ROEBUCK, before the question was answered, wished to put another. A few nights ago the Under- Secretary fur War stated that the troops sent out to the East were provided with cotton covers to their helmets and foraging caps. In that day's Times there was a distinct denial of that statement. Was it true, he wished to know, first of all, that those men had not received covers to their helmets and foraging caps ? And, if not true, he wished to know, further, on whose authority the hon. baronet made the statement? Sir J. RAMSDEN replied, first, that the warrant of 1854 bad received, and was now receiving, the most careful attention of the head of the War Department, and of the Commander-in• Chief. They were aware that the working of that warrant had not answered the expectations that were formed of it. Still, as it was framed on the recommendation of a royal com mission, any alteration should be made with the utmost care, especially as the warrant was framed after mature deliberation, and as the subject involved minute and difficult calculations. The authorities were carefully considering the subject. As to the question of the hon. member for Sheffield, the state of the case was this : the troops sent to China had received cap covers, or materials for making them. As to the troops for India, the cavalry, artillery, and engineers took with them the covers made up ; but the infantry would have the material supplied to them on their arrival. There would be no difficulty in procuring it; and orders had been sent overland that it be at once provided. PUBLIC OFFICE,. Mr. B. Horn moved an address to the Crown, praying for the appointment of a select committee to consider the site and plans of the proposed new public offices, especially with regard to the Foreign and War Offices, and report upon the same. The hon. member contended that the late competition of lesigns for this purpose had practically proved a failure; and further advice from profeeahmel. PH E PRESS, AUGUST 15, 1857. rities was required before a work of such importance and cost was deftnitively undertaken. The CHANCELLOR Of the EXCHEQUER opposed the motion, which he submitted would practically trans fer to a royal commission the settlement of a ques tion which ought to be left under the responsibility of the Government. _ _ Lord .1. ltussEt.r. believed that all the plans pre sented for competition must be rejected, and a totally new design provided for the public offices. He con curred in the opinion that the question should be left in the hands of the Executive. Sir B. HALL, in the course of an explanatory speech, stated that no practical step would be taken this year, except to purchase some ground near Downing-street and the building upon it of three offices. During the recess the plans would be exa. mined, estimates of expense formed, and the whole subject laid before Parliament early next session. The house ultimately divided upon the motion, which was rejected by 13R to 8. The conversation respecting military promotions and army clothing was again renewed by Mr. STAF FORD, who warned Sir J. Ramsden against repeating in India the distresses of the Crimea, and of the responsibility of his positron. SUPPLY. The house then went into committee of supply, and proceeded to discuis the remaining votes belonging to the miscellaneous civil services. The vote of 2,0001. for the National Portrait Gal lery was opposed by Mr. SPOONER, who objected to tax the public for an object whose benefits could be appreciated only by a class. Mr. CoNINORAM was opposed to the vote on two distinct grounds. The first was that they had ample machinery for the purpose already existing in the National Gallery, and the second ground was that he protested against the appointment of a totally irresponsible body of trustees, some of whom, par ticularly the professional trustees, had proved them selves utterly unworthy of public confidence. Mr. DISRAELI condemned the attacks on Sir Charles Eastlake, vindicated the course of the committee, and supported the vote. The money already voted had been expended with admirable judgment; and, aided considerably by anticipated gifts, there was already the nucleus of a valuable historical gallery. Upon a division the vote was carried by S 5 to 31. The vote of 10,0001. to the London Diocesan Building Society, as a contribution on the part of the Crown towards building additional churches and parsonage-houses, was opposed by Mr. W. Wm f.fAms chiefly on economical grounds; by Mr. GILPIN because it interfered with the principle of religious liberty; and by Mr. AYRTON as unnecessary, since Church property in the metropolis, he contended, if properly applied, would more than suffice for this purpose. The vote was defended on the ground that the Crown had large property in London, and was bound to contribute to the relief of spiritual destitu tion with reference to the property as individuals had done. Upon a division the vote was carried by 97 to 50. Mr. WISE proposed to negative the vote of 10,5001. for the purchase of a chapel in Paris for the use of the British residents and visitors, and called atten- tion to the fact that the chapel had been purchased, and 2,0001. advanced from civil contiugencies on account of the purchase. Mr. WILSON defended the vote. Lord PALMERSTON observed that it had long been a reproach to the British nation that it had no fit place of public worship in Paris ; that the vote was no departure from principle, Parliament baying been in the habit of providing funds for such a purpose. Upon a division the vote was negatived by 135 to 47, the Government being thus left in a minority of 88. The vote of 10,0001. for the Industrial Museum, Edinburgh, was withdrawn. Upon the vote of 24,000/. for the completion of Chelsea Suspension bridge, the question of tolls was agitated, and Sir B. HALL distinctly stated that the bridge should be opened as a toll-paying bridge. Other votes were agreed to after discussion, and the Chairman was ordereci to report progress. On the order for the third reading of the Ecclesi astical Commission, &c., Bill, Mr. L. KING moved to defer the third reading for three months. After a short discussion the amendment was negatived, and the bill was read a third time and passed. On the order for the third reading of the Dulwich College Bill, Mr. KNIGHT, who complained that the bill had been unfairly carried through its preceding stage, moved that the order be discharged, in order that the bill might be recommitted. The bill was supported by Mr. .Malins, Mr. lieadlam, and Mr. John Locke, and opposed by 789 Mr. Lygon, Mr. Henley, Mr. Greet, and Mr. W. Upon a division the amendment was negatived by 03 to :30, and the bill was ultimately read a third time and passed. Other bills were forwarded a stage, and the house adjourned at ten minutes past two o'clock. lIOUSE OF LORDS-TUESDAY. JUDGES AND CIRCUITS. The LORD CHANCELLOR, in reply to Lord Campbell, stated that the Government proposed next session to introduce a measure based upon some of the recom mendations of the commissioners appointed to inquire into the expediency of aijasting the circuits and making other judicial arrangements. S kLE OF POLSON3. Earl GRUCVILLE, in reply to Lira Campbell whe ther it was intended to proceed during the present session with the bill respecting the sale of poisons, said that at this late period of the session it was im possible to proceed with it; hut the bill would be printed, with a view to obtaining further infor mation on the subject against next session. Several hills were forwarded a stage, after which their lordships adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS-MESDAT. NEW MEMBERS. ➢ir. MELLOn took the oaths and his seat on his election for the borough of Great Yarmouth. Towards the close of the morning sitting Mr. YOUNG, the other member just returned for the same place, also presented himself at the table, and took the oaths and his seat. At the early sitting, the Probates and Letters of Administration Bill, as amended in the committee, was considered. A new clause, moved by Mr. AYRTON, enacting that every person compensated under the act shall be liable to fill any public office under the Crown for which his previous services in any office abolished by the act may render him eligible, was aireed to, and added to the bill. Clauses 101, 10'2, 121, 122, and 12:3, were struck out; INDIAN REBELLION. On the order for going into a committee of supply, Sir DE LACY EVANS drew attention to the military arrangements for meeting the mutiny in the Bengal native army, taking a comprehensive view of the p.)ssible effects of the events iu India upon the interests of the country, foreign and domestic. These arrangements, which he criticised in detail, were, he thought, deficient in many respects, especially as regards the preparation of reserves for further sup plies if the demand of forces for India were prolonged, as well as for home defence : The Government, of course, was better able than him self to judge of the actual relations of this country with the other posers, and he sincerely hoped that there was no reason to apprehend any interruption of the present state of peace in Europe; but under any circumstances, and especially under circumstances anch as the present, be thought it would be most unbecoming to ns as a great power to present ourselves before Europe comparatively disarmed. With regard to the embodiment of the militia, the noble lord at the head of the War Department ap peared to regard that as a mere contingency which might happen, and that the services of a portion of the militia might possibly be required. Now, that circumstance alone, even were there no other reasons, would lead him to believe that the Government had not regarded the state of affairs in India quite so seriously as the occasion demanded. He admitted that during the last few weeks 10,000 men had actually embarked, anti that some 4,000 more were under orders for India, which, with the 5,000 despatched to China, and other troops drawn from the colonies in those seas, would raise the force to some 28,004); yet it should be remembered that many of these were recruits due to the Indian British force some six months ago, and could therefore scarcely be accounted as an addition to the army there. Then it was to be observed that there would necessarily be a diminution of the numbers by death, and still more by sickness in the hospital, so that they should be prepared when the troops arrived in October next to find that they had diminished by 5,000 or 6,000 men. Besides that, the whole of these troops had been despatched by the Cape route, that by Suez being entirely neglected. The gallant general suggested that a fleet of gunboats should be sent to the Ganges, that some of the regiments in Canada should be transferred to India, their places being supplied by Canadian troops, and that, while not less than 50,000 natives shou'd be embodied, the Government should at once take energetic steps to facilitate recruiting into the standing army. The difficulty experienced in feeding the regular army with recruits was a most important question : The Government ought at once seriously to consider what were the causes which led to the unwillingness among the great mass of the population to take service m the army, for, undoubtedly unless some adequate means were taken to facilitate recruiting we should get into a serious difficulty notwithstanding our immense resources and the patriotic spirit el the country. 11 was to the