The Press. — London, England, 1854-07-22 00:00:00

RLY 22, 1854. A new clause, moved by Lord R. GROSVENOR, iIII - a penalty of 50/. upon every person who shall pay any money for defraying the expenses of con veying a voter to or from the poll, or for any refresh went of a voter, gave rise to another long debate, bat, upon a division, was negatived by 190 to 86. Another clause was moved by Mr. SrArinorE, which provided that, upon the consent and applica tion of all the candidates at any contested county election, after a poll demanded, the election officer may issue tickets or orders for refreshments to such voters as shall apply, on the day of polling, not ex ceeding 2s. each, under certain regulations. This clause was also negatived by 142 to 128. Several other new clauses remained for considera tion, but were postponed to a later stage, and the bill was ordered to be reported. IRISH CHURCH TEMPORALITIES. The adjourned debate on Mr. Sergeant Shee's bill relative to the temporalities of the Irish Church was resumed on Wednesday last by Mr. KENNEDY, who, however, stated that his only object for wishing the discussion to be continued on the previous occasion had been to afford Mr. Shee an opportunity of reply_ ing to the various statements and arguments adduced against his measure. This opportunity Sergeant SHEE now improved by delivering a long speech, in which he defended the statistical returns whereon his proposition was based. He then made a furious onslaught on Mr. Napier, whose line of attack was, he said, everything but fair, honest, or courteous. The hon. member concluded by stating that he was in the hands of the house as to whether he should go to a division on the bill or not. Mr. Cow; said if the house divided he would vote for the bill, and would cease to support the Govern ment if he found that it persevered in neglecting the settlement of the question of the Irish Established Church, upon which settlement depended the peace and tranquillity of the country. Mr. NEWDEGATE observed upon the fact that during 'the whole of the discussion the Treasury bench had 'been without a single occupant. He was glad to •believe that the unprincipled attack made by Sergeant Shee upon the Established Church was not partici pated in by the Irish members generally. Some further discussion followed, ending in a divi sion, and the rejection of the bill by a majority of 117 ito 31-86. SCOTCH REFORMATORY SCHOOLS. The consideration in committee of Mr. Dunlop's IA for establishing reformatory schools in Scotland was resumed on Wednesday, and gave occasion for another of those scenes which have been so frequent during the present session. Mr. Maguire, Mr. Lucas, and other Roman Catholic members opposed the further progress of the bill, unless it could be so framed as to ensure that it should not be made the means of proselytising youths of the Romish reli gion. Mr. Dunlop endeavoured to meet the difficulty by an amendment, which, however, proved unnatis• factory, and the discussion was continued until the bill was defeated by speaking against time, Mr. Bouverie being obliged by the standing orders to leave the chair at a quarter before six o'clock. The bill must :therefore be considered lost for the session. CASE OF THE " STAR." Mr. WILLIAMS on Tuesday moved for returns of tire number of !leggings and disratings that had occurred on board her Majesty's ship Star, with the particulars of each alleged offence and the nature of the punishments inflicted. Much cruelty and tyranny had, he alleged, been committed by the captain of the steamer in question, whose conduct required investigation. The hon. member enlarged upon the inexpediency of maintaining the system of corporal punishment in the navy, and charged the Board of Admiralty with testifying an inveterate attachment toits severities. Sir J. GRAHAM, after repudiating the charge of fondness for corporal punishment on the part of the Admiralty Board, proceeded to deny the accuracy of the statements on which the motion was founded. The conduct of Commander Warren and his crew had been thoroughly scrutinised by the appointed authorities; the matter was now closed, the vessel had gone to the Baltic under another commander, and the crew were perfectly contented and orderly. He deprecated any interference on the part of the house with the delicate question of discipline; and in the case actually before them contended that there was no occasion for doing more than the Admiralty had already done with all the parties con cerned. After some remarks from Mr. L. Heyworth and Admiral Berkeley, Mr. Williams withdrew his mo ton. DR. REID'S CLAIMS. Mr. G. DuNDAS on Tuesday evening moved for copies of certain correspondence, documents, and evidence regarding the questions that had arisen between Dr. Reid and the Board of Works relative to the ventilation, itc., of the new Houses of Parliament. The hon. member accompanied his motion by a variety THE PRESS. of details, from which he drew the conclusion that Dr. Reid had received less than justice from the Board of Works. Sir W. MOLESWORTH opposed the motion, on the ground that the claims of Dr. Reid had been already settled by arbitration. The papers asked for would cost 1,0001., and be altogether useless after all. The motion was negatived without a division. THE CLAIMS OF MR. STURGEON. The appointment of a select committee to examine the claims of Mr. Edwardes, as the representative of the late Mr. Sturgeon, was moved on Tuesday by Mr. BOWYER. The claim was preferred on account of property sacrificed during the French revolution, and belonging to Mr. Sturgeon, who was a British subject. The French Government at the restoration had set apart a large fund to compensate British subjects for losses suffered through confiscation, and Mr. Bowyer argued that the commissioners charged with distri buting this fund had unjustly refused to reimburse Mr. Sturgeon. Mr. Wit.sos recapitulated the circumstances out of whichlthe claim had arisen, andi contended that losses suffered by Mr. Sturgeon were not caused by confis cation, his property having been destroyed by a mob, and therefore his case did not come within the scope of the fund which the commissioners appointed in 1815 had to administer. A sum of 5,0001. was neverthe less awarded to him as a sort of compassionate allowance. So far from possessing any title to further compensation, Mr. Sturgeon had therefore already received more than he was legally justified in claiming. Mr. BOWYER, in reply, contended that he had made out a sufficient case to call for inquiry before a select committee. On a division there appeared—For the motion, 39; against, 40 ; majority, I. THE CLAIMS OF CAPTAIN DICKENSON. Admiral WALCOTT on Tuesday renewed his motion for a select committee to inquire into the claims of Captain Dickenson, respecting the treasure and pro perty rescued by his exertions from the wreck of the Thetis. From the salvage then obtained the Admiralty had deducted 13,8001., which they claimed for the use of stores and the services of the officers and crew of H.M.S. Lightning, who had aided in the diving opera tions. This deduction he contended was unjust, and the case demanded investigation. Sir J. GRAHAM remarked that the claim now urged was twenty-three years old, and after much con troversy and a full investigation was decided, as long since as 1834, by a competent judicial tribunal, the High Court of Admiralty. That decision had been repeatedly confirmed, and from a recapitulation of the circumstances he argued that it was intrinsically just. Upon a division the motion was negatived by a majority of 1, the numbers being—Ayes, 40; Noes, 41. THE CASE OF MILES SWEENY. A motion was made on Tuesday by Lord NAAS for copies of correspondence between the Irish Govern ment and the magistrates for Donegal relative to liberation on ticket of leave of one Miles Sweeny, convicted of a gross " Ribbon" outrage in the year 1851. The noble lord entered at some length into the case, in order to show that a dangerous criminal had been returned, with his sentence unexpired, into a district greatly disturbed by Ribbonism— a remission which the ignorant people mistook for a pardon. Sir J. YOUNG had no objection to produce the cor respondence, but did not concur in the opinions ex pressed by Lord Naas respecting the case of Miles Sweeny, whose release was granted with the as sent of the judge who presided at his trial, simply because be was found to be labouring under serious disease. PARLIAMENTARY PRINTING. Mr. J. GREENE moved on Tuesday for a select committee to consider the cheapest and most efficient mode of providing for the printing required by the Legislature or for the public service. The hon. member intimated that he was prepared to show the possibility of saving 40,0001. in the single item of par liamentary printing by the introduction of improved processes, and be only wished for an opportunity of submitting his plans to the judgment of a select corn- mittee : " By the system to which he was referring, no less than 6,000 letters could be composed in an hour, whereas only 1,000 could be composed at present ; and work which now cost a shilling could be done for one farthing. ( Hear, hear.) In fact, the 5,000 letters which now went to make what was called a galley' could be composed or set up' under this system at a charge of 74d., though the cost of such at present was 3s. 10d. These were not mere asser tions ; be should demonstrate them, and that the saving would be some 40,0001. a year, which, in a time of war, with taxation pressing heavily on the community, was not to he overlooked. ( Hear, hear.) He undertook to give the Foreign-office a good and useful printing-office, which it had not at present, and also to ensure them a system which, on occasions requiring confidence, could be managed by their confidential clerks, who would be enabled to com• 677 pose and print confidential communications, in any lan guage, in the briefest possible time, and at the least pos sible expense to the country. He (Mr. Greene) was not anxious to have anything to do with the composition of the committee—let her Majesty's Government nominate it, and he would be ready to carry his statements into proof." The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER declared that the printing required for the public departments was already performed upon the most economical arrange ments. The parliamentary printing might, be thought, afford some margin for reduction, but the session was too far advanced to give any chance of useful result from the inquiries which a select committee might institute on the subject. As to the new ma chinery and processes for printing, he considered that the house could not expediently interfere with scientific inventions or private enterprise. The motion was supported by Mr. M‘Malion and Mr. Geach, and opposed by Mr. Wilson. After some urther discussion it was earned upon a division against the Government by 54 votes to 32-24. MEETING OF MINISTERIALIST MEMBERS. THE Leader of the House of Commons summoned the supporters of the Coalition Ministry in the House et Commons to a conference in Downing-street on Monday afternoon. Circulars to this effect were sent out on the previous Friday, and some 174 Liberal representatives responded to the invitation. The meeting was held at one o'clock in the private apartments of the First Lord of the Treasury. The members of the Government present were Lord John Russell, Sir G. Grey, Sir James Graham, Mr. Sidney Herbert, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord Palmerston, Sir W. Molesworth, Mr. Cardwell, Sir John Young, Mr. James Wilson, Mr. F. Peel, Mr. R. Lowe, the Solicitor-General, the Lord Advocate, Lord Elcho, Mr. Hayter, Lord Mulgrave, Mr. Grenville Berkeley, Mr. Fortescue, Mr. W. Cowper, Lord E. Bruce, and Mr. Monsell. The Morning Chronicle, the only member of the press that seems to have enjoyed the honour of ad mission to this meeting, gives the following account of the proceedings. The conference was opened, of course, by Lord John Russell, who then explained the existing Ministerial "position," espec:ally with regard to the vote for the new War Ministry standing for discussion that same evening. The noble lord began by observing that he had thought it advisable to assemble those members of the House of Commons who usually gave the Government their support, in order to consult with them upon the present state of affairs ; and in order, if possible, to remove some inisappre• hensions which appear to have prevailed during the session as to the views and opinions of the Government. There was not, he believed, so much real difference of opinion be tween the Government and their supporters as there was misapprehension and misunderstanding upon certain points. It was extremely desirable that these should be removed. With regard to the Reform Bill, which he had been compelled to withdraw, be could only say, as he had said before, that he had been personally extremely anxious that the measure should pass in the present session ; and he believed he might venture to say that he had never done any act whatever, in the whole of his political lite, with so much reluctance and regret as that of withdrawing the measure which had been proposed for the amendment of the repre sentation of the people. ( Hear, hear.) Some misapprehension also appeared to exist with re gard to the conduct of the Government on the question of church rates. It had been thought by some that he lied expressed an opinion that the hereditary monarchy of this country was tied up with the maintenance of church rates. He had certainly never intended to say anything of that kind ; but he had said that, if American institutions were quoted, they might be very useful where they existed, but that it did not follow, because certain things were done in the United States, the same things could be done with safety and wisdom here. He had an opinion on the sub ject of church rates. It was the opinion he had entertained before, namely, that it would not be very difficult for the Government to propose some measure for a final settle ment of the question. But, having this object in view, he had felt it was not in his power to give his assent to the bill brought in by Sir W. Clay, inasmuch as it appeared to him to leave several questions unsettled, and it would be desirable, in dealing with such a question, to consider the claims of all parties. The noble lord then referred to the appointment of a Minister of War. He said that hitherto the Minister at War had also had the colonies under his charge. Onr colo nial possessions were numerous, and the business con nected with them required great attention. If attention was not given to their affairs, the colonies were neglected, the people felt aggrieved, and things might soon arrive et a state to endanger the integrity of the empire. It became, therefore, a very grave question what should be done under existing circumstances, seeing that we had large colonial dependencies, with a vast amount of business connected with them, and that a war had broken out with one of the great military powers of Europe. The Duke of Newcastle held the seals of the Colonial•office, and in that capacity he had had a great deal to do with the conduct of the war. His noble friend had, with great industry and great labour, made himself thoroughly acquainted with the whole course of proceedings connected with the provision for carrying on the war: He was a niost suitable person in every respect to be the War Minister for this country; and A Y A Y 1 I 3 I