The Press. — London, England, 1854-05-06 00:00:00

MAY 6, 1854. the present generation would be able to meet the expenses of the great struggle in which we hal become engaged. He could not possibly share in that hope ; and, even if the present generation could hear all the expenses of the war, it would not be just to impose upon it such a burden, be cause our posterity was still more interested than we were ourselves in resisting an aggression which, if it were suc cessful, would make the head of the Russian empire the muter of Europe. ' The noble earl, however, concluded by admitting that, whatever might be his opinion of the ill-luck or the incapacity of the present Chancellor of the Exchequer, he felt that he could not, under the cir cumatances in which the country wai placed, oppose the bill. Lord MONTEAGI,I4 argued that our present finan cial position was anomalous and dangerous, and pro ceeded to point out, at considerable length, what he seemed to regard as the errors and the contradictions of the financial policy of the present Chancellor of the Exchequer in regard to the interest on Exche quer Bills, the conversion of stocks, and the arrange ments with the Bank of England. So greatly had Mr. Gladstone been mistaken in his calculations that the University of Cambridge, which had held 90,0001. of South Sea Stock, had been enabled to ob• tain for that stock not less than 100,0001. Another subject to which he felt bound to refer was the low amount of the balances in the Exchequer. In his opinion, the present state of those balances was much to be regretted, because, by compelling the Govern ment to borrow money from the Bank of England, it contributed to diminish the accommodation which was usually available for the trade of the country. He thought it was impossible to look forward without apprehension to our financial prospects in the years 1858, 1859, and 1860, for which the Government were at present about to prepare extraordinary res ponsibilities, while they must be utterly unacquainted with the necessities which the events of those years might of themselves create. The Duke of ARGYLL, after confessing his incom petence to discuss financial questions, contended that the financial condition of the country was one of unexampled prosperity, and submitted that all the embarrassments that now existed should be at tributed to the deficient harvest and the unexpected war. Earl GREY denied that the failure of the financial policy of the Chancellor of the Exchequer was owing to the occurrence of unexpected events. It should be borne in mind that an able financial minister proved his ability by so framing his measures that accidental circumstances did not prevent their suc- cess. He could not help expressing his surprise at finding the Government at present coming forward for a loan of 6,000,000/. after they had themselves but a few weeks before announced their determine tion to meet the expenses of the war out of the reve nue of the year. It would be vain for them to say that they proposed to repay that sum in the years 1858-50-60. They could not possibly say what means they might then possess of redeeming that pledge, and the present Chancellor of the Exchequer was the last man who ought to hazard any predic tion upon such a point. The very fact that they were prepared to contract an obligation which might become so embarrassing only contributed to in crease the deep alarm with which he viewed our financial condition at the outbreak of a great war. After a few words from the Earl of DONOVOR YORE, Earl GRANVILLE defended the policy of the Go vernment on a number of minute points discussed by the preceding speakers. Their lordships then went into committee on the bill, and agreed to its several clauses. RAILWAY REGULATION BILL. Mr. Cardwell's much-amended bill for regulating the traffic on railways and canals was brought for ward for committal on Thursday. Much complaint was made, however, that the new measure had only been printed a few hours, and that members had not had time to consider it. Mr. Disnwria contended that the bill was so materially changed as to have become a new measure, which ought properly to be reintro duced de novo. Considerable time was spent in de termining whether the bill should be held over, and a motion for adjourning the debate was carried to a division, but negatived by a large majority. The discussion on the principle of the bill then continued, a great number of members taking part in it. Mr. CARDWELL, in replying, defended his bill, many of the objections to which, he observed, were of so confl►cting a character that they neutralised one another. By his amended hill two provisions were introduced. First, the duties of railway com panies towards the public were defined, and the obligation imposed upon them so to adjust their traffic as to accommodate at once the convenience of travellers and of one another. Secondly, the mea sure provided a simple and effectual means for securing the practical accomplishment of these ob jects, by giving to every person who might find him self aggrieved the power of appeal to the constituted legal tribunals. He submitted that his bill was cal- THE PRESS. culated to do good to the companies, and afford pro tection to the public. The bill was then committed, but merely pro forma, the chairman being instructed to report pro greats before any was made. THE CRIMINAL CONVERSATION BILL. The second reading of this bill was moved on Wed nesday by Mr. llowymt. The measure substituted a tine to the Crown for the money damages hitherto paid to the plaintiffs by defendants against whom verdicts were returned in actions for aim. con., and also provided that the wife whose conduct was im peached might attend to give evidence, or be repre sented by counsel at the trial. Mr. Comara considered the bill an incongruous admixture of civil and criminal law. It should be entitled a bill for the encouragement of criminal con versation, as after it passed no actions would be brought. The measure was full of anomalies, some of which he pointed out, and moved as an amend ment that the second reading be postponed for six months. Mr. CRAUFURD supported the bill, chiefly as offer ing an instrument for facilitating divorce. The measure was condemned by Mr. WHITESIDE, and defended by Mr. DIOBY SEYMOUR. Mr. l'insw disliked the existing system, but thought the present bill would accomplish no satisfactory amendment. ME. FITZGERALD confessed that the measure was imperfect, but believed it could be rendered accept able in committee. _ _ The ATTORNEY-GENERAL thougl.t that the whole subject required a comprehensive reform. He ob jected to bit-by-bit legislat on, and recommended the postponement of the present bill until the question could be treated in its entirety. After some remarks from Mr. M. CHAMBERS, and a reply from Mr. BOWYER, the Louse divided— For the second reading For the amendment l2l-72 The bill was consequently lost. SETTLEMENT AND REMOVAL OF THE POOR. Lord BERNERS on Tuesday presented to the Peers a petition from an union in Sussex, praying for the repeal of the laws of settlement and removal ; and asked the Government what steps they were pie pared to take to remedy the evils of the existing sys tem? The noble lord further inquired whether Scotch and Irish poor would be included in any measure to be brought forward, and also whether it was intended to relieve real estate from any portion of the burden at present levied upon such property exclusively under the head of poor rates ? The Earl of ABERDEFN stated that the Govern ment entirely concurred with the prayer of the peti tion, and had introduced a bill into the other house upon it. The subject of Scotch and Irish poor would be referred to a select committee ; and until the re port of that committee had been presented, which could scarcely he in the present session, the English bill would be suspended. It was not intended to pro pose any change with respect to the chargeability of real property. MILITIA. A bill to amend the laws relating to the militia was brought in on Monday by Lord l'Ai.mEasxmc At present the Crown possessed the power of embodying the militia only in times when invasion or rebellion were either existing or immediately impending. Nei ther of these contingencies was now present, but, as the war had caused so heavy a drain upon the regu lar force, it was thought desirable to remove that condition, and give the Crown authority to order a permanent embodiment of the force whenever and for so long as the country should be iu a state of War. In a brief discussion which ensued, Sir J. Y. Bcj. LER remarked upon some other points on which he considered that the militia laws required amelioration, Lord PALMERSTON stated that he intended to bring in a measure consolidating the various existing acts on the subject of the militia. Answering a question asked by Mr. Grogan, the noble lord added that. there was no intention to call out the militia in Ire land during the current year. This bill was read a second time on Thursday, upon the motion of the SECRETARY at WAR ; and after a few remarks from Mr. HENLEY and Mr. Hume. SOLDIERS' CHILDREN. Mr. OLLVEIRA, on Thursday, moved an address to the Crown, praying for an inquiry into the practica bility of increasing the accommodation of Chelsea Hospital, so as to provide an asylum for some of the children of soldiers now engaged on foreign service. The SECRETARY at WAR questioned whether the Chelsea establishment was fit or could be rendered available for the purpose in view to any extent. Room could, however, be made there for about 120 additional boys, who would be admitted, and their en tertainment would cost only 3,0001. per annum. After this intimation Mr. OLIVEIRA consented to withdraw his motion. DECLARATIONS BILL. This measure was designed to abolish the neces sity of taking oaths In courts of judicature and in many official and business transactions, by permitting all persons to whom tin oath was tendered to substi tute a declaration in &certain prescribed form at their option. It stood for second reading on Wednesday, and was then brought forward by Mr. A. l'ztx&rr. The ATTORNEY-GtNERAL opposed the bill. H• would not consent that an oath should he dispensiod with at the mere pleasure of the person to whom It was tendered, but was ready to adopt a middle course, and give a dispensing power to the presiding judge. Mr. HinFiEt.n and Mr. Datimmosn having spoken, the house divided, and the second reading of the bill was negatived by a majority of 130 to 87-110. POST-OFFICE ORDERS. An inquiry "by what authority or for what reason a charge of one halfpenny was now made at the various money-order offices for printed forms of ap plication" having been urged by Mr. lirdoin on Monday, Mr. HArriat o.all that the alteration had been made en tirely for the public convenience. The practice had pre.- viously been that any person who applied at the money order office for an order could only obtain one at a time That was to a certain extent inconvenient, because h might want another order ; but at. the same time it we quite impossible to allow a person to come and ask for an unlimited number of orders. It was therefore thought de sirable to make an alteration so that any person applying at the nioneyoorder office, on payment of one halfpenny, received five forms for obtaining money orders, which he might till up at his convenience at home or at the office and send them when he liked. CALCUTTA. A petition from Calcutta was on Tuesday presented to the Peers by the Earl of A 11111MARLE, praying for the establishment in that city of a system of corporate government, on the same principles as in English towns. The noble earl supported the prayer of the petitioners by describing the neglected state in which Calcutta was left, liith regard to practical details, paving, lighting, sewerage, public buildings, &c. The existing system of civic government had proved utterly inefficient. Earl GRANVILLE urged that the measure asked for by the petitioners contravened the recognised princi ple that all practical matters relating to the Indian Uovernment should be settled in India itself. The improvements now required were quite (within the competence of the local authorities to effect, and some steps had been already taken in that direction. lortign AO Colonial Inttlligtna. FRANCE. It is stated that the French contingent to the army of the East will amount to 100,000 men, and that the Government has it in contemplation to establish a camp of 00,000 men near Boulogne, with a view to an expedition to the Baltic if required. As another in dication of their resolve to carry on the war with energy, it is added that the Chambers will be asked for authorisation to raise another loan of 250,000,000 f. in case circumstances require it. The immediate withdrawal of the French Consuls from Odessa, Warsaw, and other of the Itus,dan towns, having been ordered by the Czar, the French Go vernment has also directed the Russian Consuls to retire from Marseilles, Toulon, Havre, and Bor deaux. A decree appears in Thursday's Moniteur creating a new corps of "Imperial Guards," to consist of four regiments of cavalry, two of infantry, and the " Cent Gardes de la Porte." The command of this choice body of troops will be given to General Regnault de St. Jean d'Angely. Sir Hamilton Seymour, who is now in Paris, has been greatly feted. The Emperor asked him to din. ner almost immediately on his arrival, and conversed with him privately for a long time. Sir Hamilton was at the last ball at the Hotel de Ville, where he was the object of much attention. The Emperor on Saturday last took a long walk in the streets of Paris. After accompanying the Empress to visit the Panorama of the Battle of the Pyramids he visited the dome and cour Vauban in the Invelides. Afterwards, accompanied by the Minister of State and M. Lefuel, the architect of the Louvre, he walked to the new Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Quay, where he was received by M. and Mme. Drouyn de Lhuys, who showed him over the splendid suites of rooms. From thence the Emperor proceeded to visit the works on the Place de la Concorde, and then walked along the quays to the Place de Saint Germain l'Auzerrois and the works at the Louvre. His Majesty returned to the Tuileries at seven o'clock. During the walk he was frequently recognised and cheered. GERMANY. The ratifications of the Aestro•Pinesias treaty were szehaumpil on Tuesday at - ~_