The Press. — London, England, 1858-04-24 00:00:00

TO CORRESPONDENTS. Whatever is intended for Insertion must be authenticated by the name and address of the writer, not necessarily for publica tion. but as a guarantee of his good faith. THE PRESS, APRIL 24, 1858. it was the declaration of the right hon. gentleman and his colleagues, and not as arising from any undertaking on the part of the house. He believed the introduction of a bill and keeping it in sus pease by the same Government was a very unusual course, and he therefore trusted the right hon. gen tleman would not adopt the course he bad stated. Her Majesty's Government ought to take one of two courses, either propose the resolutions and act on them, or withdraw the present bill. Sir E. PERRY asked whether instructions had been sent to India that terms of amnesty, including pro tection to life and property and full toleration in mat tern of religion, should be held out to the inhabitants of Oude, excepting in gross cases of heinous crimes ; and, if no such instructions had been sent, whether in the opinion of her Majesty's Government it was not expedient to do so ? Mr. RICH called attention to the mutinous sepoys, and said some inducement should be held out to them to return to their allegiance to the government of the East India Company. The CHANCELLOR Of the EXCHEQUER said, in reply to the last two questions, instructions had been sent to India, that, so far as was consistent with the demands of justice, their suggestions were to be car ried out. With reference to the church rates, he was inclined to think that the bill did not bold out any hopes of settling the church rates, and rather than give a day for going into committee on it he would bring in a Government measure ; but his objection to pledging himself to it was his doubts as to the possibility of carrying it this session. He thought it was desirable to take the opinion of the house on Mr. Puller's motion. With regard to the India Bill (No. 2), he thought that it was better to take a decision on the resolutions, and if they were affirmed by the house to introduce another bill founded on them. His reason for keeping the pre sent bill on the order was to defend those parts of it that had been attacked, and had not been answered. Lord PALMERSTON said he thought the course pro posed now by her Majessty's Government the only one open for them to take. He would not discuss the propriety of proceeding by resolutions first, or by bill. The resolutions in c , mmittee must be the prißciples on which the future bill must be drawn. Mr. BRIGHT thought the course now pursued the most convenient in the present awkward position of her Majesty's Government. With regard to church rates, he assured her Majesty's Government the country were determined to have the question settled, and urged them to fix a day for that purpose. He bad no desire to change Governments, and wished to see the present Government in office so long as they would pass useful measures for the country. He asked her Majesty's Ministers to recon sider the measure—reconsideration wag the best thing a Government could do, for it often happened that " second thoughts were best." Mr. V. SMITH asked her Majesty's Government to lay on the table the instructions sent to India, re• ferred to by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. He hoped the instructions were accompanied by admira tion of the conduct of the Governor-General, Lord Canning, as he greatly deserved it, though that eminent person had been improperly assailed by the right hon. member for Droitwich. Sir J. PAKINOTON said that when a vote of thanks to the Gni/err:lot-General of India was given he considered his conduct hypothetically, being based on the memorial from Calcutta, without Lord Canning's answer. Since then the Government had received Lord Canning's answer to it, and in almost if not in every instance his answer was satisfactory. Sir H. WILLOUGHBY suggested that it would be better to drop both the India bills now before the house. The motion for adjournment till Monday was then agreed to. BANKERS' CHEQUES. The house having gone into Committee of Ways and Means, On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHE QUER, a resolution was passed establishing a stamp duty of one penny on bankers' drafts and cheques. - 71: `lit l:l rtOg+ LONDON, SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 1858. POSTSCRIPT. THE FttENCH PRESS. When noticing the very offensive article in the Constitutionnel of Tuesday on the acquittal of Simon Bernard—an article which, by the way, was regarded as a sort of pendant to the famous mil tary addresses of the Moniteur—l declared my belief that M. Renee, whose name was signed to it, had not the authority either of the Emperor or of the Cabinet collectively for what he did. That I was correct in this seems proved from the fact that M. Renee. has been dis missed from the post of political director of the Constitutionnel and Pays, both of which oelong to the same proprietor ; anti I am assured that the cause of the dismissal is the article in question. The fall of M. Renee is broken by au indemnity of 50,000 f., which it appears every political director of a paper has a right to in case of a removal so sudden as the present. It is said that an article from the pen of the well-known writer, M. Granier de Cas sagnac, will appear to-morrow or the day after in the same journal, with a view to cast oil ou the troubled waters. An imperfect and hardly satisfactory attempt of the kind was made last night with the same view ; but I know the intention of the writer was good, and am willing so far to accept the will for the deed.—Times. LAST NIGHT'S DEBATE. HOUSE OF LORDS. The Bishop of EXETER moved that a select com mittee should be appointed to inquire into the defi ciency of the means of spiritual instruction and places of Divine worship in the metropolis and in other populous districts of England and Wales, especially in the mining and manufacturing districts; and to consider the fittest means of meeting the difficulties of the case. The rev. prelate proceeded to cite documents and state facts at considerable length, attesting the deplorable extent of the spiri tual destitution existing id London and other parts of the country. The Earl of DERBY cordially assented to th• appointment of the committee. The Duke of Matuasonottow, the Earl GRAN VIILE, the Bishop of LONDON, Uri RAVENSWORTH, and other peers having skokm, the motion was agreed to. Some further business having b ?en transacted, their lordships adjourned at eight o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS. CHURCH RATES. Mr. PULLER gave notice that be should, on Tues day, 27th April, move that the house, on Wednesday, the 28th, resolve itself into a committee of the whole house to consider the expediency of providing for the repair of the church and maintenance of churchyards, otherwise than at present by church rates. THE INDLL BILL. Viscount GoDEßicti having asked whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer persisted in his reso lution not to withdraw the Indian Government Bill (No. 2), _ . Mr. bISRAELI said he thought it more consistent, on the whole, that the original understanding on this bill should not be departed from, and that the measure should be merely suspended until the dis cussion had taken place on the resolutions he should h ave the honour of introducing on Monday next. He IMIN no reason for departing from that under standing. _ Viseount. GODERICEI gave notice that when those reso:utions were Drought forward he should propose an amendment, and take the sense of the house un the question. CHURCH R %TES AND INDIA. On the motion that the house on rising should adjourn to Monday, Sir J. InELAwNY said that as he was determined to pilie the sense of the house on church rates, he hoped the Government would give tutu a day for that purpose. bord J. RUSSELL said he thought the Chancellor the Exchequer was in error in saying that an understanding had beeu come to to suspend the Bill 'No. 2 for the government of India. It was his im i•rcssion that the right hon. gentleman in a former conversation stated that he did not mean to with draw it, but to keep it in suspense, and wait until the house had decided on the resolution. lie had heinii . 3,1 1 11 Fe* regre!, that deole,romon, bkit re 000*idered MILITARY ESTIMATES. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Utptain VIVIAN wished to have some fuller infor mation that had as yet been afforded respecting the army estimates. Mr. DRUMMOND commented upon the tendency, which he believed to be the general case, of Europe to enlarge the dimensions of standing armies. Eng- land, be observed, amidst all her professions of peace and commerce, was not less bellicose than other countries. While our Governments persisted in pro- voking and insulting their neighbours, it would be most essential to observe the precaution of keeping our shores in a constant state of defence. Colonel Swan drew attention to the recent deci sion of the Government relative to the disembodi ment of the aizteen regiments of militia. Colonel Krim )Ir. Rica, Colonel NORTIS; F 24 other members hsving spoken, Lord PALMERSTON oonfessed that the militia had behaved well, were highly useful in periods of emer gency, and had supplied a large number of recruits to the line. There were, however, many objection to the maintenance of this force when the period of crisis had passed away. General PEEL said that within the last few weeks the number of soldiers in the regul ar army had increased so much that it became necessary e ith er partially to disband the militia or to increase the estimates. Lord A. V. TEMPEST complained of the injustice inflicted upon the officers of the Land Transport Corps, and moved, as an amendment, that a select. committee should be appointed to inquire into the case. After somo discussion, the amendment was with. drawn, upon a promise, given by Sir J. Pakington, that the Government wou:d grant the select com mittee. The house then went into committee of supply, and the remainder of the sitting was chiefly devoted to a miscellaneous discussion upon different rotes belonging to the naval and military estimates. The house resumed shortly after midnight, and then adjourned to Monday. SECOND EDITION SATURDAY AFTERNOON. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. PARIS, Saturday. (By Submarine and British Telegraph.) The Aloniteur of this morning contradicts the false rumours set about: by persons who wish to main tain disquietude. The Paris correspondence of the Indipendance Beige says, that great maritime ar maments are being prepared in France. This is entirely untrue. There is not the slightest change in the estimates of the Budget as settled and made public for 1858 and 1859. Friday, 7 p.m. I believe I am correct in saying a telegraphic corn munication must have reached London informing her Majesty's Government that the King of the Two Sicilieis has no intention of allowing his Cabinet to entertain the demand made for indemnification in the case of Watt, and Park. It is further known the Neapolitan Government has no intention of restoring the Cagliari. I have reason to believe some changes are con templated in the management of the semi-otlicial press of the French Government. It is reported M. Renee will no longer continue to write for the Con stitutionne, but I take this assertion to be without foundation. It is certain, however, that his article on the results of the Bernard trial did not convey the views of Government. Lord Howden has reached Paris on his way to England.—Morning Post (second edition.) INDIA AND CHINA. ALEXLNDRU, April 20. The Bentinck, with extra mail and passengers from Calcutta, arrived at Suez on the 14th. There is intelligence from Lucknow to the 22nd of March. On the 20th Brigadier Campbell's force returned from the pursuit of the enemy. Hutchison, of the Lancers, was dangerously wounded, and Cooper, of the Rifles, dead. On the 21st the Nombries (Nana's) retreat was stormed. He escaped, and a reward of 50,000 rupees is offered for his head. Outram's force bad discovered and destroyed rebels in Lucknow, and the Prime Minister is among those reported as killed. Cape, of the 13th Native Infantry, and Thackwell, were murdered by the enemy. Fanatics still fire on our troops. The Governor-General's proclamation calling on the zetnindars to submit had produced no effect. Oude is pacified, the enemy flying towards Sun deera. Jung Bahadoor goes to Allababad. No civil officer had yet been sent to Lucknow by the Government. Some inhabitants were returning to the city. The heat was increasing daily. A telegram from Allababad of the 24th states that Sir Elope Grant was sent on the 23rd to disperse a body of insurgents under Rajah Jajlal Singh at Karee, and returned perfectly successful. He took twelve guns. CHINA. Canton continues tranquil. An Imperial edict was received on the 6th of 'March. Yeh's conduct is condemned. lie is degraded, and a successor appointed. The latter is to settle disputes with the barbarians, who, excited to wrath by Yeb, had entered the city. Lord Elgin and his colleagues had loft for the North, the former on the 3rd of March. The Inflexible, with Commissioner Yell, hat} rived at Calcutta.