The Express. — London, England, 1855-03-02 00:00:00

lA, PERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDIITirouDAT, Kum 1. The Loan C esecnixtentesiehis seat upon the woolsack at Ire Welock. TICKETS OF LEAVE. Lead ST. LEONARDS gave notice that on Monday ant he should put a question is the government with reforest* to the system at present prevailing of treating tickets d leave to convicted re. He also Intended to an whether it was in to erect say institatioa foe Inas* Criminals. ARMY BEFORE SEBASTOPOL COMMITTBIL A menage was brelit up from the House of Ouelmon t s by Mr. Beebe hem * and boa. members, erodes tha the wend fles leave to the Duke o owcestle to Weed binge the annittes of the House of ninon upon the 'my beton Snistepol, in order that .Igs nght be exammieed by that esnamittee The nosedigen having withdraws, The LORD CHANCELLOR moved that leave be given tothe Duke of Newels* to attend acoordingtr. Aimed to. LUNACY REGULATION ACT AMEND ENT BILL. This bill was read a onset time. CO TENSOLIDAD FUND (3,000,0004 BILL. This bill was read a second else. CONSOLIDATED FUND (L 20,000,0014 BILL. This bill was read a wood time. COMMON LAW (IRELAND) PROCEDURBILL. E ACT AMENDMENT The LORD CHANCELLOR explained that this act was merely to remedy an error in the Common Law Procedure Act of last ',arnicm la that act there were certain clauses relating to evidence which it was intended to extend to Ireland. A mistake, however, had occurred with respect to those by reason of the irsteberiog of the clauses having been altered as the bill passed through parliament.; This mistake it was now proposed to cornet. His lordship then moved the second feeding of the bill. The bill was thee read a mooed time. MR KENNEDY'S CASE. The Earl of EGLINTON was not going to enter upon the ems of Mr. Kennedy, as it had already received suck fall coasidsration elsewhere, and as Mr. Kennedy's cha racter had already bean (ally vindicated. The house would remember that a committee of that house had sat to consider the subject of the newsagent of the crown estates of Kit son:ono, and before that committee Mr. Kennedy gave evident.. The evidence of subsequent witness, appeared is some degree to controvert Mr. Kennedy's statemeats ; or at least, that egastruetion might be put upon it. Mr. Kennedy thereupon wrote to the chairman of the senagitne, the noble duke opposite (Duke of Argyll), offering himself for mezemination, and requesting the noble duke to lay his letter before the committee. The Roble duke, however, did not answer Mr. Kennedy, nor did he communicate the feet of his having mitt's to the other members of the committee. Under these circum stances he thought that the noble duke would not object to lay that letter of Mr. Kennedy's upon the table. He had also to ask that a copy of the letter addressed by Mr. M'Cullum to Mr. Kennedy, and forwarded by the latter gentleman to the Treasury on the 26th of last month, should be laid on the table. The Doke of ARGYLL said that he regretted that he would be unable to produce the fi rst letter ta which the noble earl had referred, inasmuch as he had no copy of it. Indeed, until the matter had been privately mentioned to him by the amble earl he bad totally forgotten the circumetasse. Upon further coatideration, however, be had recalled to his mind the facts of the case. They were these: Mr. Kennedy, considering the evidence of Mr. Wilson, as given before their lordships' committee, tended to impeach his veracity, wrote to him (the Duke of Argyll) to that effect, and offaing himself for re-examina tion, if the committee thought the correctness of his state ments had been affected. That letter be (the Duke of Argyll) had brrught to the notice of the committee, and the unanimous conclusion then arrived at was that no slur whatever rested upon Mr. Kennedy, and that there was no occasion for his re-esamisation. He thought that the members et the committee now pre sent would bear him out in this statement. (Hear, hear.) He regretted that he did not himself communicate with Mr. Kennedy, but he believed the result was communicated to him. The committee did not entertain the slightest doubt with regard to the veracity of Mr. Kennedy's letter. With regard to the other letter, to which his noble friend had re ferred, he thought it would be inconvenient to have it pro duced so long after the investigation, especially as there would be no opportunity of estiog the accuracy or its state ments. The Eul of EGLINTON said the noble dike was slightly in error in supposing that the committee were aware of Mr. Kennedy's letter, and that Lord Donoughtnore had com municated to Mr. Kennedy the result. He bad seen a letter from Lord Donoughmoro expressing surprise that the letter was not published with the other evidence. Lord MONTEAOLE said as a member of the committee he concurred in the statement that there was no difference of opinion among the committee with regard to Mr. Kennedy's veracity. Tea sonversation then dropped. The house adjourned at seven o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—Tanastay, Hawn 1. The &masa took the chair at the anal boor. Mr. Du.wid, the member for Swansea, took the oaths sad Ha test. The Great Nathan Railway (Church and Schools at Doncaster) Bill, was opposed by several =mitten, and ulti mately it was withdrawn.__ __----- - NOTICES OF MOTION. BT Ma. F. Score—On Monday neat, to ask whether provision has been made for the appointment of chaplains to every ship entitled to them which may be about to pro ceed anon aides service to the Baltic or elsewhere ; and when a Vice-President of the Board of Trade should be appointed, to inquire whether any step was intended to be taken by that department to establish an efficient communi cation between the engine-drivers and guards in railway trains. Dr Ha. Colsam—On Thandey se'nnight, to move for leave to bring in a bill to regulate the hours of labour is and to provide for the better inspection of factories. NEW WRITS. On the motion of Lord Etcao, it was ordered that the Speaker's warrant be issued to the Clerk of the Crown to snake out a new writ for the election of a bargees to serve in parliament for the borough of Hadley, in the room of Mr. Benin+. deceased. THE NBW IRISH APPOINTMENTS. Mr. HATTER moved that Mr. Speaker do lane his warrant to the Clerk of the Crows in liaised to make out a sew writ for the election of a burgess to sena in parlia ment for the borough of Stroud, is the room of H. Horsmsn, Erg.. who, slam his electio n , has accepted the office of Chief Secretary to the Lard-Lieutenant of Ireland.—Agreed to. Similar moth= were made sad peed to in nineties to the borough if AthMse, for the deetie• of • bur la the room of Mr. W. leegk, eppleied el be Inland; and to the beressals of Wats. lomat by the ae• oeptanee by Mr. I. D. Fitzgerald of the Irish Solicitor- Generalship. MR. ROEBUCK'S COMMITTEE. OF SECRECY. Mr. ROEBUCK moved that the committee appointed to Woke into the madition of the army before Sebastopol have leave to report. The meting' haying been pat and agreed to, The Rea. sad Liaised Mumma brought up the report, which was ready the clerk at the table as follows —" The select committee appointed to inquire into the condition of our array before Sebastopol, sad into the conduct of those departments of the gormumeat whose duty it is to admi nister to the wants of that army, have come to the followlag resolution, which they beg to report to the house, via. : •In the opinion of this committee the object for while they have been appointed will be best attained, injustke to iadividuale prevented, and the public interest b• beet protected, if the committee be a °maltase of secrecy. " The report was ordered to Ue on the table. Mr. ROEBUCK then moved that a message be sent to the Lords, requiting that the Doke of Newcastle be per mitted to attend sad give evidence before the committee. — Agreed to. REFORMATION OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS — POLICE, itis. Mr. PA= eked whether it was the intention of the iteesenssert Ittlateedeut any neater' for the establishing a polies, sad ales say menus for the reformation et whether it was the Wootton of the go vernment to grant any funds for the establishment of re f/natatory schools ; and whether any plan would he proposed Ise the profits ble employment of convict labour t. • Sir G. GREY replied that his noble friend (Lord Palmer aeon) had stated some time ago that the government did not propose to admit any hill to parliament this eassioe upon the subject of the polio,. Ha (Sir G. Grey) admitted the Importance .f that subject, and was sanitise that an in ward system of polite In comities sad bone to lieu% be establebed. His attention should be distiloll le the Mlle, sad be biped at some future time to be able M prime a maim In referent* to it. Thaw was, believer, a we, lofta newt est of partisans% by wldeli *realise odd Ibenseless establish an bspeeeM myelin al ries, mei the seseasity for a swaryakerp eassenee ewes wiy _ /ran tire indlepesitise la ems plasm te adage is WM raped le selteseberyftsbook, an ast pared last ela siva by which pewee was gloss le smelt juvenile °frisbee le attain refonaelsey insanities', as their bees w efled by tbe Secretary el S tate as it plates fee the Tint =ba i l been seareleed In several skit sub bad bees Milled. sad WM* tai bele seeds eel wets mar onsldleration fofenlslYleg regaimaiwy obese la several table wands,. The bee. samba he dMYtrd had gives amiss of a bill te mead die ass aflame sloollw, tow Web be €lllr G. Grey" alleflek sell ben eller rraTeems enspessleas of ameedoeset bed ban node. ner, eafepeet of tie seemereent, wall they bed ewe esperlesee debit wsibbie el tie eilstrey as% was ate peppered to pipes see ad k adman to the that el Baal% It MI bees &elided by tbe severmeat that me gall to einielbalediblea tree pebble hods in *en entableibeemee, aa grimed that as th• Ali mil bine es die seitsaimeel e bet be what aiebt% ptheas reardadese. as esesatty wee ceded tba they we'll be paratansatly dowsed te the obleet gee whist they wore @rested. In ninon., to the employment of Illaviat Lebow is pslaireaslis, his attendee had bees far isms time diesels& le tha m tert, sad at this newest at Peodsad tie Wow of *as employed is that way. AS Periamesth a Op .pies to facilitate the empielomms @Rd 'shear is eh@ Dlekyard. A similar primes was sow of @Gatineau) at Chatham, with the same eljost; rod at Gibraltar and Bormeda there wen establishmosis msviats„ who were employed upon the IWO, weeks lbws with great advantage. THE TURKISH CONTINGENT. Kr. OTWAT wished to kaow from the Under Secretory fort War, window there was any agreement between her goosesmoot and the Pert*, by with* her Manetre • s goesmosei sodormek to provide food, for the Turkish MON@ sod Imp far their cavalry in the Crimea, and, if "Han what steps had been taken to ensure the deli hay sollsient for the large body of Turkish c avalr y sta or 'boat to be soot to the Crimea ? Mr. P. PEEL—Under an agreement with the Porto it is intended that a Turkish auxiliary (ores shall be employed in conjunction with our army in the Crime., part of which will be cavalry. The borne of this portion of the aurtlia, force will no doubt receive their forage from the British governmeat, but in the course of the lest few months such large protracts had been entered into for the supply of hay for ear army that I do not apprehend any special provision will be 'memory. THE METROPOLITAN LETTER CARRIERS. Kr. T. BUNCOMBE inquired whether any of the re. commendations contained in the report of the Pest-offles essmittes bad been submitted for the approval of the Lards of the Treasury, for the classification of the letter carriers of the metropolis, with a view of improving that salaries and superannuation, and if sanctioned, from whet date • also, if it was intended to make any provides dr grading to the letteroarriers, without deduction tram their pay, some relaxation, in the form of annual holidays, as, recommended in the report upon the Post-office ? Mr. WILSON replied that on the 17th of August a Treasury minute was issued authorising the PosZoffice to make the whole of the alterations recommended by the re port to which the hon. member had alluded, sad in conse quence en amalgamation had takes place of the two classes of letter-carriers—the general and the district postmen— who henceforth would become one body. They were how ever to be divided into four classes, as recommended in the report, holding different rank, and receiving • different rate of payment. 'That classification would of course depend upon the merit of the men, and as there were 2,000 of them, some time must icessarily elapse ere their , relative merits weld be ascertained. Ina few days, however. it was hoped that the classification would be completed, sod the arrangements put into perfect execution. With lewd to superannuation, the letter-carriers had been beseglet under the Superannuation Act without being called apes to make any payment to the Superannuation Fund. It was intended also that each letter-carrier should have • fortnight's holiday in every year, without any deducties being made from his pay. THE BALLOT. Mr. H. BERKELEY, in pursuance of a notice he hid given, asked the First Lord of the Treasury the following; question : " The bribery and corruption which prevailed el the last general election having given rise to an act against bribery and undue influence, expiring at the end of the neat Serelloll whether the government contemplated a re newal of th at act; and also whether it was the intention of the noble lord to permit the question of the ballot to be an open question to the members of his government ?" ("Ilear,bear," and a laugh.) Lord PALMERSTON—The act to which my hon. friend refers was passed last year, and will continue in rues ma the let of August next, and till the end of the next seed= of parliament. So far as I am aware of the experience of that act, it ought to bare a faller trial than it has yet had, and is all probability it may be proposed by the government to continue it still further. (Hear.) With regard to that question, in which my hon. friend has an annual interest, all I have to say is, that no change is intended to take place in the ar rangements on that subject. (Cheers and laughter.) THE NEWSPAPER STAMP REPEAL BILL. Mr. COWAN was anxious to know whether this bill was to be brought on te-morrow sight, and whether, if the second reading passed, it would ta k e effect from that time. He put the question in mondani:a with the request of a newspaper proprietor of Edinburgh whose paper was pub lished on the Saturday, and who was therefore directly in terested in the matter. (" Hear, hear," and a laugh.) Mr. WILSON said that it was proposed to take the army estimates to-morrow nieht first, and then the Ordnance estimator. If these should not occupy the whole evening, or rather if they should have been gone through at a com paratively early hour, he believed the Newspaper Stamp Bill would be brought on. (Hear.) At el events no time would be allowed to be lost in bringing it forward, seeing that it was most desirable the question should be settled as soon as possible, in order that the new law, if it should pas, should take effect from the next (miter day, that was from the 31st March. THE BERNAL COLLECTION. Lord EBRINOTON inquired whether it was intended by the government to purchue this collection, and intimated that if it was not, he should not press the motion of whieb he had given notice on the subject ? Lord PALMERSTON—The collection to which nay noble friend alludes is undoubtedly one of great interest, and would be exceedingly valuable to many persons who taboos interest in, or who have partial collections of, the different things it contains. I think it does very great credit to tbe taste and judgment of the person who collected it ; but, M the present moment, when there were such large demands ea the finances of the country for objects of the highest national importance, I do not think we should be justified in recommending th at it should be purchased by means d the public money. ARMY PROMOTION. Mr. LAYARD presented a petition from Aylesbury in favour of Lord Ooderich's motion. Kr. ROEBUCK presented a similar petition from Sheffield. . Lard GODERICH, in • speech which was much ap. plended, then moved:—" That an humble address be =led to her Majesty, praying that she will be gra te take into her consideration the present elli=1: 1 = 1111 in her Majesty's army, under which Misers rusty attain to the rank of com eielmet Mew, sed marcely ever to that of field officer, ad h to reeemmend to her Majesty . that it is the *Mon of ilde home at the said system is injurious to the st i ll: . samba, sad unjust to the private soldier in her teic y." • was opposed on various grounds by Mr. F. Lord Lookers, Col. SIBTROZP, Sir J. WALSH, 811T1101711, Lord ELCIIO, and Mr. S. HIMIIIRT. The following spoke in ite favour, Mr OTWAY, Mr. Wisest., Capt. Boom's, Mr. J. BALL. and Sir E. linear. Sir DE LACY EVANS, in answer to a very general all ham the house, rose, sad wee received with loud cheers. e said-1 have not come down to the house this evening far the purpose of trespass* upon its time by what ie eant misty called a speech, but as this is a subject upon which I have before offered my opinion to the house without mo ws, I thought it my duty to come down and offer a few weeds—and they shall be very few, upon the motion of the wide lord. (Hear, hear.) The noble lord who has just addemesd the house expresses great apprehension lest we deo& be driven to the adoption of an imprudent resolution he sossequinice of the ezistance of a cry throughout the muntiy. Now I, as an humble individual, am not in the slightest degree infisenced by that cry, if there be a cry. I merely offer my unbiassed opinions, which are quite consistent with those which I bath frequently offered before. (Hear, bear.) There have been various etiegEsna raised te the motion of the noble lord, one being that of the Under Secretary for the War Department, who looks at the question in the financial aspect. Another is that of the noble lord the member for Toenail, who dwelt etrangly on the report of the iconunission of 1840, of which Me Duke of Wellington was the head; sad I shish that an- Mheiroommissiou was also referred to by the noble lord be hinds'. For my part, I must Goatees that these forenntio dens have not oath supreme authority over my mind, be muse their decisions were, in point of fast, the decisions of the Duke of Wellington. (Hear, hear.) No military man dared to oppose his opinion to that of the illustrious duke, died it was not to be wondered at, seeing the transcendent glories and abilities of the noble duke, and besides, it any ens did oohs was pretty lure to suffer for it. (A laugh.) They simnel drab% the settled convictions of that noble person; bet are me to remain for ever under the laws of the Mediu sad Esteem la Medisece to the dictum of one man, however peat ? Irothis, the noble duke's opinion was probably not solely kaki ea itis consideration of what was beat for the =bet bad also in view our aristocratic institutions, is later years he came to think of still greater int- Plibmeo. (Hoar, bear.) I believe that those who noticed modest of the agile duke after the war—not daring the war, beenesothes he was a practical nen and did not trouble bimeeKvNlpeffillb—obeerved that military matters begone table mtimieffie oohs omeadary W political objects. I my, *MI it one do not bow implig i t es • this ism mission in whet the duke ezpresned his ie Amer of the sibling MGM of things, thiloMeg Memo the army which be sommanded hid performed lie duty admirably, there was so iessollty for nay further improvement. I believe that the Wile dabs wee of the same minims with regard be peer but he wee subsequently obliged to ohmage them is a rev; rotten, bad even in military matters be wee ullimeleiy Ailed to admit some relaxation. Why, his gram was opposed to the present system of metal Gaps instead of 11aY, ad oho te the Unlit ride, whist. recently Meagre* our enemy mak admirable mewl& (" Hear," ed theist) Aso wit Mt, this. that Imams the system of parcbnieff tissehilas eels the beet, we are never to edvocotolie reeneeall e s Mew Wh if this tem et pothole is so ely s o t iatrodu y, es it into sys sem tw iYreaf Why sot Os evil webs be pet up tomb, end the edloo of Seem ley if Mate Mows has Oho armlet? (Ohms and Iresphtese.) If Me sperm Lf i goools le liesseekl, Irby est love it in the nay led r 1 balm sir, ls the faetrary, that it la disheemoraido the messy, end that Its will be a dispose to this ham SI we smalls ito emainu -1 ant*. (Loud sheen.) Why, it is the Imam of miry people in Europa that ter people lime toilette& it iso (Hoar, hear.) Cleatieemen mg soma flows with their she. penny economy, sad WI no OM if we attempt to modiffidi a system of prcmotion by Ma t il ass UMW a THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 2, 1855! year. That is the dictum of the gentleman who represents the war depertmest in this hew ; bat I tell him It will be Asap if he gets it for that money. (Rear, hew.) We are told that the system is not ;aristocratic, bemuse any man who has tbe means may purchase a unaissioa. that may be the theory, bat the thing is not so easy in practice. Lit a man go to the Horne Guards, and, unless be be a senior officer, when, if he his served a number of years, his humble birth will not cause him to be pissed over, he will Ind that purchasing his grades is not so easy. Oa the other hand, if be be a man of aristocratic lineage, his dates will sot be so accurately serotanised. The eousequanoe is that this system of piareliase affords the greatest facilities for fa vouritism. (Hear, hear.) You whew the tiosamoulty altogether, and only admit the gentry and the nobles. Do not suppose that I wish to exclude the aristocracy or the gentry from the army ; on the contrary, I should like them to be the most numerous class. What I object to is that sys tem of exclusion which p persons in humble station, whatever may be their talents, arriving at such a position ae that they can materially serve their country. (Hear, hear.) Why his not the system been tried en the bench, for which I have the highest respect? The high honours there are not for sale, and the cense queue is that persons from the humblest rank in life ire quietly obtain the highest positions. (Hear, hear.) Under the pageant system in the army such a result would be morally impossible ; to the gentry it is barely possible ; but the man fa bumble life would attempt it in vain. We have been told of the sum made by the sale of 60 or 100 commis- MOM in the Crimea; but I think that a most discreditable proceeding. (Hear, hear.) However, we are gradually approaching an amelioration. Our officers should be all nobles ' • and in some countries twelve quarters were insisted on, but that has pawed away. There has been a time also when all the great officers in command of an army were princes, and sometimes they made very distin guished generals; but let us compare the number of great generals so made and the number that rose up in a country whisk passed through revolution, and you will find the atunhen about fifty_ to one. (Hear, hear.) True, in.the time of Lee° the Fourteenth there were some great com manders, although we had one which was greater than them all. (Cheers.) But compare the commanders of that time to those who appeared when free scope was given to all the population, and you will Dee how the balance preponderates in favour of the latter. (Hear, hear.) In one revolution also, which was not a social but a political one, some men were thrown up who distinguished themselves considerably. There was one Mr. Oliver Cromwell, for lialtailell— (laughter)—and others of humble birth, and by no mesas liberal education. Still they had their qualifications for which education is not the substitute; for gentlemen are under a great mistake who think that education, and ex aminations, and colleges, are sufficient to make • soldier. (Hear.) There is another point which has escaped the government, and that is the groat amelioration which has been going on amongst the people of this country. If any man will only look into the general orders of the Duke of . Wellington during the Peninsular war, and compare them with the statements respecting armies of more recent times, he will find that in the first period crime was far more royalist than in the present time. I bad myself a mai form under my command about tweaty years ago, vile was at the time well abused • but the fact was that the whole time it was emb odied there was not in it ease of capital crime or capital punishment. (Hear.) lbw again is our army in the Crimea, and which was first is Turkey, and I cannot call to mind that there was any thing like a capital crime committed by a single soldier. (Lead cheers.) Not only that, but everywhere the moetl examplary obedience ; and this is the sort of army of which this sadism are to be treated as helots, and allowed to enter- Miss° aspirations as to raising themselves to a higher class in society. (Hear. bear.) I confess that when I have passed among the pickets—and even in action it has sometimes occurred to me how painful it was to see those men exposing themselves to each dire misery, wounds, toils, and almost certain death, with se little grounds for hoping anything better in future. (Loud cheers.) I appeal, then, to noble lords, who have the power in this matter, to turn their thoughts in the direc tion I have indicated. Let them recollect that these sol diers are men like ourselves—not, perhaps, gentlemen in the conventional sense, for gentlennu; is not i term correctly med en all occasions, there being, I believe, persons of high ask who are not gentlemen, and, on the other hand, mss Si bumble origin who are essentially gentlemen—but men F n •of high and noble aspirations . (Cheers.) In my , it is contrary to the general spirit of the orders of sovereign to suppose that any person in the military ranks is note gentleman. Act in the spirit of these orders, make it known that you intend to do so, and you will find men of higher education and better condition enter the army. No sort of danger or inconvenience will follow from what has been proposed, and I think moderately proposed, by the noble lord. The hon gentleman the member for Bury (Mr. F. Peel) seems to doubt the possibility of abolishing the system of purchase, but that system will do away with itself if you will allow it; for if you don't permit the sale of commis sions in future, it must cease as the existing commissions which have been obtained by purchase fall in. It will cease if you do not, as you did the other day, send out officers who have obtained their step by purchase to be placed over the heads of the men who fought at Alma, Inkermann, and Bslaklava. (Hear, hear.) I say it was most colpsble and shameful to send out persons to the army in the Crimea be , pause they have the means of purchasing their rank, to the prejudice of those who have distinguiebed themselves in that army, who have gone through all the dangers of the campaign, and whose lives have been exposed day after day, 1 but who have not the money required to purchase their pro motion. (Chinn.) But, says the hon. gentleman, the sys tem works well. Why the same was said of the close boroughs. (Hear, hear.) The system, it was said, has ex isted 140 years, there are interests involved, and if they *are abolished what shall we do for statesmen in pulls ment ? Nevertheless, at last the greater part of them were abolished, though they were not altogether gone yet. (Hear, hear.) Why there is no abuse of which it can be said it possesses no countervailing advantage. (lieu, hear.) I don't mean to say that by the system of purchase you do not secure • greater number of educated young men for the army, than you would in the first instance without it; but the advantage is far more thin counterbalanced by the ultimate injury it indicts, and in the depressing in fluence it exercises on these praiseworthy aspirations of honour and ambition which, in military life, arc so essen tial and so necessary for the public benefit. (Cheers.) Again I say it is false economy to cootiaue this system. What is the effect of your selling the command of • regi ment ? Can there be a greater absurdity than to promote an Moro to the command of 1,000 men, not for the mo ment manly, but for a long period, because he happens to have these two qualifications—that he is beyond a certain degree of Juvenility, and that he is possessed of &attain sum of money. e i i ieers.) It may be said that note ill so instants elan actionable officer obtaining the ommonni of seginionft in way. That is, that he has not falba tato say serape; bat does it follow that the pos session a these two qualifications proves that the man is fit to be misdeal with the care, responsible for the efficiency, and for this moral and physical condition of 1,000 men ? (Cheers.) Hut if the principle be good, why not apply it throughout all the ranks in the army; and if, because a man an Word to pay down 3,0001., you entrust him with the common of 1,000 men, why do you not require that the men who is satrusted with the command of a division of 000 men abseil pay down 9,0001 . 1 The argument se youth is ma important point. I know the ad vantage id pro* in the army, and wish I still bad a little oth—(elson and a laugh)—and I don't mesa to soy that the point INN not require much consideration, but I imagine if tkeyament system were abolished it would noble the government to provide against so many old diem serositior Is the army. There are I know many ell blositheada, and themes. also oung blockheads, in the may, bat it is the system of pur c hasing commissions that plosksikem there. (Hear, beer.) The noble lord has al ms' le • Paoli in the Mere of one of these commissions to the sliest that the system of purchase provides a young dad adisisat dem a sawn for the colonise and the gene ral semis% whisk no other system would have done, daring a king pried epees% and a quotation was made from the opi nions of ea ilinallikansi duke in reference to the qualifications nosiessary in an ellen vin., that he should b. a good judge, a good juror, and • nod arbitrator, besides many other lions of various descriptions. Now I have been a time in the army, but I confuse I am not capable of all these things, and I think the view here taken of the quell lotions of a military officer is rather an exaggerated one. (Saw, boar.) But if it be not ss, Ido not understand how lb mess fact of a man having 6001. in his pocket proves that be pasessass all these qualifications. (A laugh.) But the =rt that by no other system could so many useful ave been provided for colonial services during a long period of peace is of no weight whatever. It is oom r4ely unimportant what class of officers you have peon (Hear, hoar.) I have no objection, if yea like, to see none but officers by purchase during pesos, and I have no doubt you will *blahs by that mew Alan quite good enough for peace putpooes, but that is not the object. (Hear, hear.) The great thing is to provide men qualified to sot in war— (cheers)-mad I my, that when an important event Omura like that which is now taking place, and we find ourselves involved is a war the parallels system is altogether falla cious, sad may b ring the Gauntry into great difficulty and danger. (Obsess.) Bat with respect to tbs economy of the system. It is true the Maley hassolitTil i very long I Cill Wine a pesos greet napresoderoted—and it mar lo — opkt that the present war will Will be brought to a 1 eamoimism, and we shall have another peem of equal dura tion, sad Bat there is therefore no use in legislating for the oistingeney of war. It may be said that a great and disdagnisbed minister has gams to Vienna to negotiate prose i sod that pesos will, doubtless, be speedily restored —*ken the, is the use of making any alteration. I, how- WIC, for one think it is by no mesas so amain that &no ise' 40 years of roe can be ealeulated upon, even after Illissionia shall be pinked up, if gashed up it be. (Haar, : 11 1:4. 6 Mil with meld to a period of war, my humble is that it is tbs very wueet *moony to admit of any =that does set ensure you in war time the 7. similei eta i t sal able odious to direct your fleets and that tics wintry ex im Adaes. (Cheering.) Wit is the usual tacit of thus system ? It is nqt easily teemed; book is wadi osemielem is, it will be U3ll that anything awe eleuril, if the oiled be to secure the wises st soil oEsteat Amos to the higher com bine, . be devised. The aids is this, that whea geed theve lmbue by pisolime or *Toothless Cror iss ha istetbe Islibit sobs of the or ory.liseeememet have Ws *plies but le angley thus, sad Om Ate woe disaster, trhes Wallis ear arms, they en Wised to provide ' bse a i, and to provide also double or treble the number el romps to eery ea the war whisk else would be mow eery. (Hear, kw.) It is possible, toe, that ig this way, our wars have been often comparatively fruitless and onnemmarily prolonged for a series of years, owing to the inefficiency of the executive °Seers who were filled to the bead of our armies. (Cheery.) If that be true, it Imeonsek a most serious matter to consider what is the system by which the commanders of our armies are ob tained. I must say I think it is impossible to defend that system. (Hear, hear.) Then we shall be told that favouritism will hare more free scope if you abolish the system of purchase. I fear human nature is such that favouritism will slimy, have free soope ; and I believe that under the purchasing system you give additional force to favouritism. But surely, If there be any country in the world is which favouritism eau be checked, it is this, when the public eye is always upon the autho rities ; and where there is always a probabi• litl of making them responsible for their actions. I will not longer detain the house upon this matter, the more espeeially as I believe there are other motions to be brought forward connected with the staff appointments,upon whit* I intend to make a few observations. There ls, how .. - . awry •enbjeet which has bean referred to by one or two Ms. tiemen who have addressed the home, which is dmp personal to myself, and upon which I wish to say stow words—that is the ease of Sergeant Sullivan. (Hear, low.) I hope I shall not be accused of egotism when I gay that I think a great mistake has been made by the suthori des in this matter. (Hear.) As commander of a division, &strut only commander of a division but .as commander in-chief of the division, I recommended several officers for promotion, and I also recommended one sergeant for a com mission. I was sorry afterwards that I had not recom mended three or four privates also for commission, whose meritorious conduct I thought entitled them to promotion ; but when writing the report it occurred to me, that if I did so it would be thought a most terrible outrage upon all re ceived opinions, and I forbore. 1, however, recommended the sergeant, and would say, as I commanded on the spot, and witnessed the gallant conduct which I thought entitled him to promotion, it was not correct that all the other re commendations, that is, as to the officers, should have been acted upon ; and, of course, if they had not it would have shows such a want of confidence in my discretion, that 1 must have resigned my command—it was not right that the officers should have their promotions, while my recommendation in the ease of the sergeant remained --beaded to. (Loud cheers.) I certainly did think my self that it was • monstrous piece of inconsistency on the part of the authorities, that it was by no means in good taste, nor was it very decorous to me personally that my recommendation in the case of Sergeant Sullivan should have bout so slighted, and that he should have been emitted hod the lit of promotions, at all events unless it was sup posed that the man was in some respect, or in some act, a conlyirit. (Hear.) But there was not the slightest ground fee sash a supposition ; be is a man of high character, be• sides being • man of great gallantry and ability, and he ban previously distinguished himself at the battle of Alma. The noble lord the Prime Minister the other might gave, in reply to a question upon this subject, one of his usual dashing sort of answers, saying instructions had bees sent oat to promote one sergeant in each regiment— that had been dose and there was an end of the matter. Bat why only one ? (Hear, hear.) And there being only one, why was not Sergeant Sullivan selected ? The result of the order in the way it was given was this—the commu nisation from the government requiring one sergeant to be recommended from each regiment went to the commander of the forces, and as it did not refer to any par ticular battle or any action, but merely stated that it was intended to give • commission to one sergeant in each regiment, Lit would be referred from the commander of the forces to the commander of each division, and by him to the officer at the time in command of each regiment, so that eventually the patronage rested with the officer who happened at that moment to be at the head of the regiment. He had hardly a choice but to recommend the superior ser geant, namely, the sergeant-major ; and, of course, the ser geant-major being the moat prominent sergeant, received his commission. That was useful and proper as far as it went undoubtedly, but it did not meet the other question, namely, was it right or was it not to give encouragement occasionally to gallant actions in which great courage and great presence of mind were exhibited, whereby the enemy was effectually checked, and hundreds of lives were pro bably saved ? (Hear, heir.) The sergeant majors were very meritorious and useful men, but if you say they are to be promoted as a matter of course when promotion takes place under such circumstances, then the adjutants who stand is the same place amongst the subalterns as the ser geant majors do amongst the sergeants, ought also to be the only subalterns promoted, and not those officers who had most distinguished themselves by their gallantry. I am opposed almost as much to seniority u a principle as I'' am to the system of purchase, far we will never get' competent men to lead and direct the national forces if you depend upon seniority, and I do not think the regulations now existing on that point are satisfactory, or eocducive to the interests of the country. With regard to their naval and military commanders, a rule exists in some countries which I think would be useful, and would put an end to the complaints as to the injustice of seniority. The body of senior officers are a most numerous class, and I know you cannot advance a men who is a junior, as a re ward for meritorious conduct, without exciting some envy and unpleasant feeling in those who are his seniors. But the public will insist upon the advantage they derive from the promotion of the superior man notwithstanding. With regard, however, to this particular ease of Sergeant Sulli van, I thisk a direct professional affront has been (uninten tionally, I am sure) put upon me, and I shall persevere is my attempt to obtain what I consider justice for him ; and, to show the want of willingness in the higher dames to advance on this subject of army promotion. lam sorry for the course which has been taken, because I am sure, if you attempt to make this promotion of non-commissioned officers a mere promotion of sergeant-majors, you will altogether fail in obtaining the beneficial results you expect from it. Men are selected for sergeants major because they are good drill masters, good disciplinarians, and men of firmness and strong character, and they are undoubtedly very useful in their way ; but it does not follow that they will be equally useful when trans thissil to the higher ranks of the profusion, when something like festal accomplishment as well as courage and firmness are squired. (Hear, hear.) This Sergeant Sullivan was reMmemended by me for promotion for distinguished ser viette of which I, while he was under my command, beams cognisant. I make no complaint that some other ciosemmissioned officer of the same regiment has been ' poclaCed, but I complain that by passing him over my re- Incoundation has been set aside by • major or captain 'perhaps, who might have been temporarily in the command of the regiment at the time, and who was consequently the penes called upon to recommend the one non-commissioned aim for promotion. Lard PALMERSTON—Sir, it is impossible to deny that the subject which my noble friend has brought this evening under the consideration of the house 11l oae of great im portance, and one also of great interest. It is important, because it regards one of the great institutions of the coun try—an institution upon which rests the defence of the dig nity and the honour of the country. (Hear, hear.) It is of gnat importance, because it concerns, I may say, all classes of the community. (Hese ) I shall, in the first place, however, beg to say that I differ from many of thou who have spoken in opinion and in feet. The hon. and learned gentleman who has just spoken has talked of the great democratic movement which he says has been making progress during the last twenty or forty years. Sir, I hear a great deal about aristocratic progress and democratic pro wess; but, if the hon. gentleman means what I conceive him to mean—that the humbler climes of this country have during the last forty years made great and rapid progress in everything that constitutes worth and value in men—l deny that that is a democratic movement ; I say it is an aristocratic movement. I am delighted tome the humbler classes raising themselves in the scale of society, by cultivating those vir tues and those intellectual qualities which dignify men, and which entitle them to the respect of their fellow men, and to a high position in the community to which they belong. Sir, lam net afraid of that democratic movement. (Hear, hear.) lam glad to see it, and I hope it will continue. (Cheers.) I differ also from some hon. members with regard to feet. One argument of my noble friend (Lord Ooderich), rid of others who have followed him, was that the system which they endeavoured to recommend is essential for the purpose of recruiting in the army. My noble friend has contended that the pre emie system discourages and prevents recruiting. Now dr, that is not the fact. So far from the recruiting of Me army heels' been checked or discouraged by the pu tting seats of things, it never went on so prosperously as it hosillsoe daring the year 1854, and the beginning of the },scent year. Why, sir, in late wars, I believe the greatest number of men ever raised for the army in • single year did not exceed 25,000. In the year 1854 we raised 35,000 ; and in the month of January, in the present year, we raised 6,00 J, being at the rate of upwards of 70,000 • year. Ide not wonder at that. In the first place, the great in- MOM in the population of the country must furnish • /UM supply of men in proportion for the army ; that there is also that In the spirit of the British nation which leads the people of this country to court the dangers of wer—(theers)--and when they hear of brilliant achieve- EMU in the field, when they see their fellow-countrymen severed with glory, acquired in combating the enemy, so far from the martial spirit of the country being checked, it is increased; and, independently of the consideration of the sale and purchase of commissions, depend upon it that in litOments of national crises the spirit of the people of this sonatry will rise in proportion to the emergency, and you will find them entering the army for the defence of the wintry sad the maintenance of its interests and Mawr. (Cheers) Now, air, with regard to the el":of the purchase and sale of commission, • matter which has often attracted and engaged the attention of parliament and the public It I is • question which is surrounded with considerable difficul ties. I have no hesitation in saying, that it we were conn ing an army now for the first time, no h_nnues being would Il r r am , o l f teu lla rrat a ir l i a s ai ore t a li: t g er t l o o d i er rehal. • wh a t aa " ri le. will do when you are about to ostablirk a system ; tt is another thing to deal with amitosis whith has keg (m isted, and which has grown and increased with time. (Haar, hear.) I believe royal( that the purchase and sale of commissions in the army is a remittal of an ancient which has mossod with regard to all other things. trs e sr la i hoar.)_ An hon . lumber War " Yon might as well sub the o ffice of Secretary of Stath a matter of purchase eat gals." Why_we all know that it was • matter of purchase and sale. (Hoar, hear.) Ise the time of Charles II m ancestor of Mae was unable to become Secretary of 11116% imams he had not money wherewith to purchase theelMec (Losikter.) We suit, Ulm fore, look ups the pouskeee and sale of commissions in the army as a remnant of an an cient system, not peculiar to the army in those days, but which has now ceased to exist in almost every other branch of the public service. (Hear.) Well, now, abstractedly, I have no hesitation to saying that it is an evil in itself. (Rear, hear.) I do not defend it. But, at the same time, one must also admit that, like many other things which may in the abstract be evils, it is not unsecompaaied with certain advantage., which in some degree counterbalance the inconvenience. (Hear, hear.) Now one great evil in the military system is the slowness of promotion, through which you get in the upper ranks of the army men who are by age disqualified for performing the duties of their respective positions. It is manifest that in a service where there is no purchase and sale, where officers go on by regular gradation, there is a tendency to fill the upper ranks with a great number of men of advanced age. That is, I believe, the case, comparatively, in the artillery ; it is also the CAW,' think, in a certain degree, in the Bast India Company's service. Thee ystem of tne purcheseand sale of commissions, by enabling officers to leave the service who have come to an age when they have no prospect of employment, and when they would wish to retire into private life, accelerates the current of promoti n, and tends to brine a greater number of young and able men into the higher ranks of the service. (Hear) Why, sir, that is one counterbalancieg advantage connected with the system of purchase snd sale. It is manifest that the contemplation of the entire abolition of that system involves considerations of great magnitude, requiring a very deliberate examination, and also involves considerable expense to the public. (Hear, hear.) lam not, therefore, prepared to say that her Majesty's govern ment could assent to the sort of offhand resolution which my noble friend proposes, by which the house and the government would be committed at once to an opinion as to the practicability of chang ing the system to which that resolution relates. Sir, it is a great mistake to say, as I have beard it said or implied tonight, that the purchase and sale of commissions implies that commission are put up to auction, and to the highest bidder, and that they are given solely to a man be • cause he bas the money to buy. Although a man is com pelled to pay the price of the commission to which be may be appointed, still the Commander-in-Chief exercises the same discretion in selecting the man who is to be permitted to „purchase, as he would if he were choosing a man to be promoted without purchase at all. Com plaints bad been made on the one band that the system of purchase in the army prevents able men from riaiag to the higher ranks ; and then my hon. friend and gallant officer, who sits behind me, stated that the sys tem of promotion with purchase in the navy tended to pro duce the same result. Why, the fact ie, that every system by which members of a profession—of a numereue profes sion—are raised from rank to rank by superior authorities, always will be liable to the same imputations. Where one is to be promoted, twenty or thirty, Of a hundred, are to be passed over ; and every man who is unsuccessful; imagines that his own qualifications are equal, if not superior, to those of the candidate who is preferred; and whether it be in this country, or whether it be in any other country, you will always find that in a large profession, such as the army or the navy, there will be an immense number of men complaining that promotion is given, either for interest or by favouritism, or in caprice, or from some motive or other different from that of a real desire to choose the fittest and ablest man. (Hear, hear.) No arrangement can possibly be made which would prevent imputations and feelings of that sort from prevailing among the members of a profession. Now, sir, with regard to the other part of the subject—namely, the promotion of non-commissioned officers to commissions in the army, I think that the line which my right hon. friend the late Secretary for the Colonies, when Secretary at War, pursued, i. the line which ought to be pursued, and which will continue to be followed. (Cheers.) Sir, it is a mistake to suppose that a peculiar talent is con fined to any particular class of men in the com munity. Nature has scattered with an undiscriminating hand among every class of society those intellectual and those moral qualities which fit a man for any ' , situation in which high qualities can enable him to act. (Cheers.) You will find amongst private soldiers in the army, as you will find amongst the humblest class of society, men, as was well said by my hon. and gal lant friend, who are nature's gentlemen—men who are, by their strength of mind and by their nobility of feeling, qualified, so far as that goes, for any situation in which they might have to be placed. (Cheers.) Bat for purposes of military command more than natural qualities are essen tially required. There must be cultivated intellect, there must be acquired knowledge, there must be the capacity and the experience which enable a commander to deal with the events of the day, and which also entitle him to the respect and obedience of those who are under him. Now we are told to look at the experience of France, and of other continental commies. But my right hon. friend hes well pointed out the essential and fundamental difference that there is between the armies of those countries and our own. In France and is other continental countries, the army is raised by conscription, and that conscription sweeps men from every class of society; it takes the educated as well as the uneducated ; sad amongst the privates of the French army you find young men who have received perhaps as good an education as any one who moves in aoy rank or ,sphere of life. (Hear, hear.) That man, when he has passed two years as a private, is as fit to be an officer as any man in this country who, after the beat education, is allowed to purchase his commission. But our army being recruited by voluntary enlistment, the privates naturally come from the humbler classes of society They are taken, too, at an age when education can hardly have made any considerable progress with them ; and what portion of the humbler classes is it that are likely to enter the army ? Why it is not thou who by their antecedents are likely, in the occupations of civil life, to find profitable em ployment. Those who enter the army are young menet aspir log and daring characters,men of action rather than of study, men who like the exertions and the dangers of a soldier's life, and who therefore, perhaps, have not paid, or have not had the opportunity of paying, any great attention to the cultivation of their minds. It is true that after they go into the army they do, under the arrangements made by my right hoc. friend, acquire an education which perhaps they never could have acquired if they had not enlisted into the ranks. But even with these advantages in the army, it Is not every private, nor every non-commissioned officer, who can have attained that kind of intellectual cultivation which would fit him for the condition of an officer. (Cheers.) Well then, again, the position of an officer involves certain expenses, which if the promoted sergeant is not able to meet, will render his position disagreeable and painful to his feelings. Moreover, we all know that men who have passed a certain period of their lives in a certain position do not readily adapt themselves to become members of a diffe rent clan of persons. It may often happen that the promo. tion of a sergeant instead of being an advantage to him is really attended with circumstances painful le his feelings, although he must be gratified with the honour which has been oonferrei upon him. Still, sir, I entirely agree that it is desirable to hold out to the privates and non-commissioned officers of the army that good conduct, that bravery in the field, that distinguished services before the enemy, will obtain for them the reward of a commission, if a commission they are desirous to have. (Cheers.) In the course of this last year, I helloes that very tl lit e short of one hundred commissions had been so given. My hon. and gallant friend stated that thou com missions which were given to the arm yin the Crimea were not a ll disposed of in the manner in which I am sine they were intended to be applied ; but I am certain that it over was intended that those commissions should be given as matters to be distributed in favour or patronage by the colonels of regiments. The only intention with which those commissions were given must have been that they should be conferred upon those non-oommisaioned officers in each regiment who had most distinguished themselves in the course of the cam paign ; and if, in any cue, the commanding officer did not select the non-commissioned officer most worthy of promo tion, that man did not properly execute the intention with which the commander-in-chief gave him the power so to reeenimend. (Cheers.) Sir, then I say, that I can assure the house that it will be the anxious desire of her Majesty's government that this auto= of admitting a certain propor tion of well-conducted non-commissioned officers to com missions in the army shall he continued. (Cheers.) And I am satisfied that, by the increased education which is given to the privates and non-commissioned officers of the army there will always be a very considerable number of sergeants who will be fit to receive commissions, and who, by their education and good conduct, may hope to rise to higher ranks and commissions in her Majesty's ser vice. (Cheers.) Sir, suck being thedesire and intentioa of the government—such being the opinion which st e entertain upon the matters which the motion of my noble friend im plies—l should hope that he would not, by dividing the house upon this matter, give an erroneous impression to the public that upon the main principle which he has incuica sated there is that difference of opinion and sentiment which • division would appear to indicate ; and that he would leave it to her Majesty's government to follow out that course, which has been lately so ably and properly begun under the auspices of my right hon friend the member for Wiltshire, roared that we appreciate folly the great importance of bolding out to the humbler risks of the army those prima which, I will not say are necessary to stimulate their exer t:l4ns, because their own sense of duty is sufficient for the pur pose, but those prises which are the proper rewards of good conduit, and which, while they gratify the feelings of those who have received them, tend also to inspire in their fellow comrade, a respect for the institutions under which they live, and a confidence that good conduct, even in the hum blest class in the army, is sure to meet with fie appropriate and distinguishing reward. (Cheers.) Lord GODERICH said he would not trespass so late on the attention of the house with any reply to the speeches made, and he could add nothing to the effect of the words Kea hon. and gallant member for Westminster. Bement maim that the two speeches which had been made from the Treasury bench, that of the hon. gentleman the mem ber for Bury, end the speech of the noble lord, did not lead him tithe conclusion that he should be fulfilling the task which he had undertaken if he were to withdraw this mo tion. (Cheers.) He thought the first part of the speech of the noble lord quite answered the last part of his speech ; end wider these circumstances, although he regretted to trouble the hoses with a division, he felt it kis duty to do en. Mr. 0. STANLEY would vote fin the motion, as the noble lord was determined to go to a division. The house then divided, and the numbers were— For the motion ll4 Against it CRIMINAL CONVERSATION. Mr. BOWYRR did not then iatead te trouble the house with any argumeate In rapport of the bill he wished to Introduce ;he would mere ly moos for leave to and on the second reading there would be ample op nity to discus its s provision , . (Cries of " pcni, agreed.") He begged to move for leave to bring in a bill abolish actions for criminal conversation , except, in us , ; special damage, and to make adultery a misdemeanour. Sir G. GREY wished to know whether it was th e un . bill as that introduced by the h on . and learned nonnuiii; year, which was negatived by a large majority on theonnu, eve manina i s ingle ? If 80, it was only a w aste of time to foul ard stage. Mr. BO WYEIL—It is a different bill. The SPEAKER then nut the question. The atm or , peered to be in a large majority. A divicon Died for, but none took place, and the motion was neg am* considerable laughter, POOR REMOVAL COMMITTEE. On the motion of Mr. BAINES, Mr. John Ball won 4. added charged thereto. from attendance on this comm i ttee, and Lord Nik . _ ARMY BEFORE SEBASTOPOL. Col. DUNNE moveu that Sir George It. Peehell bow,/ to the select committee. Be did not think it wu k i te, constituted at present ; there was no naval nor tailitar m .' on it, and no one competent to examine professional veati — ,„ The gallant admiral whose name he proposed fullydeiteyed the confidence of the house. Mr ROEBUCK should oppose this promos! for Me reason as be had done a similar one the day before h:1 1 honour, to carry it o: made a certain arranne ut. ment, and he felt bond, as k mud Colonel KNOX wished to know whether it au o k 0, 1 part of the government that the hon. and leareed geatigue proposed Sir John Hamer t Mr. ROEBUCK—It is. Colonel KNOX—Then it must be understood Met 3 , the government who object to have any naval or auk* man on the committee. Mr. BENTINCK onl ros vindicate the memb that side of the house fro y m t ee mace against them by the h oe. and leaned membee k, Sheffield. They were not parties to the ansugemeat ; had not been consulted on it, and therefor, could auk, bound by it. Admiral WALCOTT said he had no object but Maumee fair inquiry, and he had thought it would be a graceful W. pliment to the navy to have a naval officer on the mi . mittee ; but the opportunity for paying that grant s ! pliment no longer existed, and therefore, as far as he e ll concerned, he no longer wished to support the entice. After a few words from Lord W. PAratrt, Mr. FREWEN said he thought the ansuigemeet oaAt to be kept, but he did not think it valid be any linea/ good faith if two members were added, one from canna ; and it seemed to him important that they should tau naval officer on the committee. Colonel DUNNE expressed his marmite that the goreg. meat were afraid of having a naval officer en the mama* Re believed the question would turn in a great annum naval tactics, and that a great deal of the neglect nag k, found to be the fault of the transport system. The house then divided— For the motion Against it ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS ACT. Mr. R. FIIILLIMORE moved the second reedit,/ sr this bill. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL hid he had to abjure to the bill, which would not interfere with a largettousin that was in contemplation. Mr BOUVERIE observed that the bill did set plotids for the case of the poor woman who wu in prim to tot putting in an answer. The bill was then read a second time. A motion was then agreed to that Sir Jobs Emu lie added to the Sebutopol committee. CUSTOMS ACT 3. The house went into committee on this bill. Mr. GREGSON expressed his regret this the mem of the reduction of the duty on tea would stop the mewl consumption. . . The 1;41 then puled tbrosith committee. The Exchequer Bills (17,183,000/.) Bill was then tese second time. The house adjourned at 25 minutes pest 1 o'clock. tir De Court, The Queen and Prince Albert took a drive in t open carriage and four yesterday afternoon. The Equitnis in Waiting, Major-General .13Juserie and Captain DaPat, attended on horseback. --- bialiSi-Crei;rsaVZin had an aud:coce of the Quesp► terday at Buckinicham Palace, and was prestated to ter Majesty by Lord Panmure, Secretary of Sate for Wm General Cannon was presented to the Qucea at as aglow by Lard Panmure. Lord Panmure had an audience of her Majesty. The Duchess of Kent visited the Queen. Prince Albert code on horseback in the forenoon, 'retied by his Equerry in Waiting. Hat Majesty and Prince Albert visited tbs Dachau of Gloucester last evening, at Gloucester House. The Royal suite consisted of the Viscountess Cannine, Major•Geaeal Bouverie, and Captain Du Plat. The Deans of Csa• bridge and the Princess Mary also visited the Thelma Gloucester. Major-General Bouverie and Captain Do Plat hen n• lieved Lord Alfred Paget and Captain the Hoe. D. de Sta in their duties as the equeriies in waiting to the Quested the Prince. The Duchess of Kent, attended by Lady Lally Ravi, Baroness de Spetb, and Sir George Coaper, amidst kir residence, Clarence House, St. James's, yesterdry from Frogmore House. A Cabinet Council was held at the Foreignofger Downing-street, at 2 o'clock yesterday afternom. The ministers present were Viscount Palmerston, the Lord Chancellor, Earl Granville, the Marquis of Lao downe, the Duke of Argyll, Sir George Grey, the Earl of Clarendon, the Chancellor of the Excirpffi the Right Hon. R. Vernon Smith, Sir Whom Molssworth, and Visoount Canning. Lord Pantos joint(' his colleagues at halt-peat 3 o'clock, tom attending the Queen at Buckingham Palace. Tto Council eat two hours. The Committee of Privy Council for Vacation est yrs terday at the Colonial-office. Present, Earl Graaville,lari President, the Chancellor of the Excheqaer, and Vototti Canning. A deputation of the Court of Aldermen, on the sobjecol a lunatic asylum, had an interview Kith Sir George Gel yesterday at the Home-office. The deputation mastoid Mr. Alderman Farebrother, Mr. Alderman Cubits, and the City Remembrancer. A deputation from the Executor and Trustee Seoul consisting of Mr. Josiah Wilkinson, Mr. George lie* and Mr. F. H. Robinson (directors), and Mr. Odom, pie liamentary agent, had an interview with Lord &LSO Alderley yesterday at the Board of Trade. A Queen's messenger arrived in London at Moeda* yesterday afternoon from Constantinople, with dap'va ° from the Commander of the Forces in the Crimea f lag Penmure, Secretary of State for War. A deputation of licensed victuallers from &dhoti; consisting of Messrs. Foster, White, Harris, Gnaw, oh Candelet, bad an interview with Sir William Nalrersri Whitehall. at the Office of Public Works and Solidi* Whitehall. A deputation on behalf of water and gas companies. I. affected by the Public Health Act Amendment Bill,_ interview yesterday with the President of the (ion Board, at his office, Whitehall. The deputation oosoh• of Messrs. Baxter, Shadwell, Hawkins, and James. A meeting of the Oxford University commissiansu at No. 18, Great Queen-street, Westminster, on Weow' day. The commissioners present were the Eul of Else mere, chairman, the Dean of Wells, and Sir labs Awdry, with the secretaries, Mr. Goldwia Smith sod* Rev. Id. W. Wayte. THE RECTORSHIP OF ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY. Mr. Layard has been elected Lord Rector of thi Aberdeen University, by a majority of three oat of the four nations, over Colonel Sykes. MUSIC. - 0 — ELLA'S MUSICAL WINTER EVENINGS. --Oat musical readers are aware that Mr. Ella, for several Pe ri put, has given a series of evening concerts, similar to dui of the Musical Union, but at an earlier period of the aura For these concerts, as well as the others, kir. Ella Vo id " the highest talent that can be obtained ; and , bein g of the lame elegant and recherche kind, they are petron ised by th° most eminent amateurs who are in town before the Was/ of the regular London season begins. One of thus tater' tainments took place at Willie's Rooms lu t night, end was attended by a distinguished and fuhiosable se sembly. The performers were—first 'violin, Ernst; second violin, Herr Ooffrie ; viola, dir• violoncello, Signor Piatti ; and pianoforte, Herr Fuer. The concert began with Haydn's Quartet in (11 mice°4 No. 74, a delightful specimen of this great old muter. whose works will never perish so long as the world shill find charms in simplicity, grace, melody, and sunny . " 0 e! fulness. The next piece was Beethoven's drst trio in E . r fiat, for the piano, violin, and violoncello, the earliest of lid ; published works, and in many respects not excelled by sal that have succeeded it. kWiesre much inclined to Ws inth Mr. Ella in thinking that "the adagio alone of this trio iswo the rt all the pianoforte music of li v i ng composers putt oge i rt. la. It war followed by Beethoven's cele b rate d quartetleb t he 111 first of the " Rasoumoffsky" set—a work tn !b lm author's daring and original genius s hi n es in all its to. Having named the performers, it is unnecessary to thus masterpces were executed. They wars reee.`''' with the war ie mest demonstrations of pleasure. s leg concluded with solos on the violin and the no, PlaYee r by Piatti and Patter. The even: