The Press. — London, England, 1857-05-16 00:00:00

TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION FOR Etc Per Annum .. Nall Yearly.. .. .. .. Quarterly .. •• .• .• PATAELE IN ADVANCE. __ gireofs: (STAMM)) .. LI 6 0 0 13 0 0 6 6 Subscribers are req . /testo , l to send their orders through News Agents; if direct to the (Mice, accompanied by a remittance Advertisements also must have a reference or remittance, Motley Orders to be made payable to Mr. ALlltlill DIE, 110 Strand, London. , - vbx 20) Tog+ LONDON, SATURDAY, MAY 18, 1857. POSTSCRIPT. TRIESTE, Friday. Intelligence from Teheran states, that the capture of Mobammerab having created an immense sensa tion among the fanatical population of Teheran, the arrival of Nebriman Khan, bearer of the treaty of peace on the 16th of April, allayed public feeling. PARIS, Friday Evening. Closing price of French Funds—Three per Cents for Account, 091 r. 55c. SPAIN AND MEXICO. A telegraphic message from Maorid announces that M. Lafragua, the Mexican Envoy, arrived there on Wednesday. He had the next morning an audience of the Minister fur Foreign Affairs. The latest despatches received by M. Lafragua from Mexico were or a satisfactory kind, and there is little doubt that, as a favourable disposition exists on both sides, zealously encouraged by the English and French Ambassadors at Madrid, the affair will be terminated amicably. In that case the greatest part of the troops sent out to the Gulf will be kept at Cuba to strengthen the garrisons of the island. The Faedrelandct states that letters to be relied on have been received from Stockholm, stating that the King, being worn out with the responsibility of ffairs, and, in addition, being weak in health, has determired, on the recommendation of his medical advisers, to withdrawlfrom State business, calling on he Hereditary Prince to take the direction of affairs rovisionally. The Danish Government has replied to the Prussian end Austrian Notes. It is disposed to make concessions on the question of the Duchies, but declines to submit the framing of their Constitu tion to the General Diet of Germany. An abstract of the navy estimates to be moved on Monday by Sir Charles Wood is published. The total estimates are 9,074,0001., of which 3,300,000/. was voted by the late Parliament, leaving 5,084,0001. to be voted in the present session. The Anniversary Dinner of the Bromptou Hos pital for Consumption is fixed for Wednesday next. Lord Stanley, M.P., has kindly consented to take the chair, and the anniversary will be held at Willis's rooms. We may take this opportunity to call the attention of the public to this important fact—that the whole of the wards are now thrown open, and the expenditure necessarily increased to some 8,0001. a year. A large institution like this, so excellent in itself, so admirably well conducted, and depending solely upon voluntary subscriptions for its support, possesses peculiar claims to the patronage of the benevolent. A Rousyric STORY, for these matter-of-fact days is told this week of two young ladies. Last week a singular advertisement appeared in the Times, offering 1001. reward for the discovery of two young ladies who had suddenly left their homes on the 30th ult. Their dress and appearance were minutely described, and from the tone of the advertisement it was clear that a family fracas, or an affaire du cceur, was at the bottom of the whole business. On Sun day last, while the whole town was talking over the matter, in an obscure corner of the New road, at Canterbury, a jackass, with a side-saddle on, was observed by the police standing at the roadside. On making search, two young ladies, with a 41b. loaf and a Skye terrier, were discovered under the. hedge, but with the hats only of two gentlemen. The police soon compared notes, and the result was the capture of the fair truants, who it appears had been to, and returned from, the French coast under the most mysterious circumstances. The young ladies have since returned W Weir disconso late homes. !THE PRESS. LAST NIGHT'S DEBATE. HOUSE OF LORDS. ST. JAMESS PARK. The Earl of MALMESBURY complained of the heavy expenditure incurred upon the new works in St. James's-park. The so-called improvements would, he believed, cost ] 4,0001., and were in his opinion alto gether needless. He proceeded to animadvert upon the tendencies to extravagance which had lately been exhibited with regard to public works and buildings. Earl GRANVILLE considered that the operations now proceeding in St. James's-park would accom• plish a much-needed improvement, and their cost, he was assured, did not exceed 11,5001. After some further conversation the subject dropped. THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS. The Earl of ELT-ENBOROUGH complained of the negligent way in which the public accounts were kept. Lord MoNTEAGLE concurred in this complaint, in sisting especially upon the utter incompetence of the audit system. Lord STANLEY Of ALDERLEY defended the system, declaring that the Audit Board invariably and suc cessfully interposed to prevent any misappropriation of the public money. NEW PUBLIC OFFICES. The Duke of SOMERSET called attention to the plans obtained by public competition, and now exhi biting in Westminster•hall, for new public offices. The works thus suggested would involve an outlay of five millions, and he protested against such extravagance. Earl GRANV•ILLE explained that the plans were only provided for the purpose of consideration and com parison. Before a farthirtg was spent, the subject must be submitted to the House of Commons. After a few words from the Earl of ELLEN BOROUGH, _ _ _ The Marquis of LANSDOWNE remarked that the present comprehensive sales of plans were no doubt collected with the prospective idea of constructing a new set of public offices upon an extensive scale. This was, however, a subject requiring mature consi deration, and the Government had done no more than furnish materials whereon the future designs might be framed. The subject then dropped, and their lordships adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS. THE BRITISH BANK. Replying to Mr. CONINGHA3L The ATTORNEY-GENERAL stated that owing to some technical difficulty he could not obtain the official copy of proceedings before the Bankruptcy Court in re the Royal British Bank until after the final examination, which was fited for the 24. th inst. Those papers, he said, would have his most careful attention, with the view of determining whether the directors of that insolvent establishment could be made subject to a criminal prosecution. ADMISSION OF JEWS TO PARLIAMENT. The house having gone into committee, Lord PALMERSTON rose to move for leave to bring in a bill substituting an oath for the present oaths of allegiance, supremacy, and abjuration. Apologising to Lord John Russell for having taken up a question with which his name was so much identified, the noble viscount stated that his only notion had been to give a better chance of success to the measure. Addressing himself to the subject of his motion, he remarked that the time was most apt for the recon sideration of the parliamentary oaths when their tenor was fresh in the minds of newly elected members. Briefly insisting upon the solemnity of an oath, and the irreverence attending the introduc tion of absurd and impossible conditions in so sacred a formula, Lord Palmerston proceeded to indicate the objects of his proposed bill. These, lie said, were twofold. First, he wished to relieve Chris tian members from the obligation to take oaths revolting to their reason and conscience ; and, secondly, to sweep away the last remnant of the old spirit of religious exclusivism, by abolishing the sole remaining ob'tacle which prevented a Jew from sitting in Parliament. Leaving untouched the oath settled, in 1629, as applicable to Roman C xtholics, be proposed to abrogate the three oaths of allegiance, supremacy, and abjuration, and substitute a single oath in which certain selected clauses from the exist ing formula would be substantially preserved. The noble lord then read the oaths of supremacy and abjuration, mentioning the paragraphs which lie proposed to cancel, and afterwards stated the terms of the uath be suggested as a substitute. He then adverted to the rat i I progress which has been effected in this country, first in stnying persecution and afterwards in removing disabilities on account of religious differences, and contended that we had no peril to apprehend, and every motive to induce us to remove the last rag of intolerance. Sir F. THESIGER intimated his intention of offer. ing the most strenuous opposition to the measure at SATURDAY, a future stage. He briefly sketched the history of legislation on the subject during the past sixteen years, dwelling upon the frequent efforts that had been made, and always baffled, with the view of securing the admission of Jews to Parliament. Hi s objections to the bill he declared to be founded entirely on conscientious motives, and denied that in desiring still to preserve the Christian character of the Legislature he was guilty of intolerance. Lord J- RUSSELL expressed his sincere gratifica tion that the subject was taken up by the Prime Minister. He had no personal objects to secure, wish ing merely to secure an ultimate triumph for a mea sure of which he had been an earnest and conscien- tious advocate. He believed that the principle at issue was that of civil and religious liberty, and was ready to give all possible assistance to the progress of the bill at every stage. _ _ Mr. NEWDEGATE, reserving all detailed discussion, briefly contended that the bill involved a direct attack upon the Christianity of the Legislature and the country. Mr. LOCKE KING and Mr. HENLEY having spoken a few words, Lord PALMERSTON stated that he did not propose to bring forward the bill for second reading until after the Whitsuntide recess. The resolution was then agreed to, and leave given to bring in the bill. 'ATION. On the motion fur going into committee on the Transportation Bill, Lord A. V. TEMPEST moved that the bill should be referred to a select committee. His object, which the noble lord explained and defended at some length, was to have the means investigated whereby the labour of prisoners could be made remunerative. Sir G. GREY submitted that ample researches had already been instituted into the feasibility of the proposition advocated by the noble lord. Mr. BAXTER maintained that the prisons ought to be made to a greater extent than they now were, a terror to evil doers. He recommended the renewal of the transportation system, and pointed out the many advantages presented by the Auckland Islands as a locale tor convicts. Mr. BENTINCK supported the amendment. After some further discussion, in which Mr. P. Martin, Mr. Adderley, Mr. Williams, and Lord Naas took part. LABOUCHERE described some of the obstacles which prevented a return to the system of transporta tion. The question, he said, was not one of money, but of principle and feeling among the inhabitants of various colonies, which the British Legislature was bound to respect. The amendment was withdrawn, and the house went into committee on the bill. On the first clause being proposed, Mr. KEATING moved an amendment 'designed to remove from the bill al clauses relating to tickets of leave. He urged many objections to the system, which he maintained had created great injury and alarm among the general community, and had proved a total failure with regard to its expected reformatory influence upon the convicts themselves. The amendment was seconded by Mr. WIIITBREAD. Sir G. GREY explained the modified principles on which tickets of leave were hereafter to be employed, and repeated from a former speech some of the considerations which, as he submitted, rendered it expedient to leave with the Executive a discretionary power for the discharge of prisoners before the expiration of their terms of sentence. Mr. HENLEY thought the subject required recon sideration. Mr. MosciiroN .MILNEs believed that the ticket of-leave system had been prematurely condemned under an excess of absurd panic among the public. The experiment had not been fairly tried, and ought not to be characterised as a failure. After some further discussion, in which Mr. Packe, Mr. Adderley, Mr. Briscoe, Mr. Collins, Mr. Newde gate, Lord Naas, and Mr. Beresford Hope took part, the committee divided : For the amendment Against —9O The bill then went through committee. CItigITE mum. _ On the motion of Mr. Wil.sos leave was given to bring in a bill for the amendment of the Cinque Ports Act. The house adjourned at half-past twelve o'clock. THE PRINCESS'S THEATRE had a narrow escape from fire on Wednesday evening. During the representa tion of Shakespeare's Richard 11., and in the fourth act, the crimson curtains of the stage suddenly took fire. The curtains were instantly seized and torn down by the attendants of the theatre, and the progress of the flames was arrested. Mr. Kean came on the stage, and did all in his power to allay the excite ment, which for some time WES extreme, and com pelled the cessation of the performance. The heats° was reopened next a vening as usual.