The Press. — London, England, 1854-05-27 00:00:00

r MAY 27, 1854. Lord BROUGHAM suggested the introduction of two bills—one for the towns, the other for the rural dis tricts. He trusted that Government would consult the cause of education rather than the advantage of any religious body. MIDDLESEX INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS.- AUTHORISATION OF THE MASS. In a private bill, entitled the " Middlesex Indus trial Schools Bill," a clause had been introduced by which the committee of visitors were authorised to permit divine service to be performed by the minis ters of any persuasion, and in conformity with the practice of any religious sect, whenever they might think there was a sufficient number of boys belonging to that sect present in the schools to justify such a step. The bill being brought up for consideration on Tuesday, Mr. Muu.mos moved that the clause should be omitted. He pointed out that it permitted the performan of the Roman Catholic mass and of the Jewish Feast of Trumpets. A dangerous innova tion was thus introduced under cover of a private bill, and the principle once admitted would speedily obtain a wider range and lead to deplorable conse quences. The clause was contested for with much vehemence, and led to a lively debate, Sir G. Grey leading the band of its supporters, among whom were Sir J. Pa kington and Mr. Drummond. Mr. SPOONER, in opposing the clause, remarked : " If this clause should pass it would be the first author isation of the celebration of mass by Parliament since the Reformation, and he did not hesitate to say that the minister who should advise his Sovereign to sanction this bill was guilty thereby of a high crime. The principle was a most dangerous one, and one so monstrous that the Protestant feeling of this country would never recognise. (Hear, hear.) If such aggressions were persevered in he hoped Protestant feeling would be roused from end to end of the empire. (Hear, hear. )" Mr. HENLEY expressed his approval of the clause, pointing out that many hundred Roman Catholic and Dissenting children might be in the schools, to whom it would not be right to deny the means of worship according to their own rites. The clause, on division, was carried by a consider able majority:-190 to 108-82. THE PROPERTY OF NUNS. The debate on the second reading of the Property Disposal Bill which stood adjourned from last week was resumed on Wednesday. Mr. MALINS argued in support of the measure that the inmates of convents had avowedly renounced all control over their temporal concerns, and the law could not be accused of going too far even if it treated them as being civilly deceased with regard to the dis posal of property. The bill before the house, how ever, stopped short of this provision, as it merely cast upon the donees of property from nuns the our den of proving that the donors had exercised free will in the matter. There could, he urged, be nojust complaint of hardship under such circumstances. Sir J. YOUNG resisted the bill, not so much upon the merits as on account of the " Irish difficulty" which it would occasion. He regretted to find that its supporters persisted in attempting to carry it after the proof they had obtained of the spirit in which the measure was received in Ireland, and of the ani mosities it was certain to excite among the Roman Catholic population. He remarked upon the impolicy of forcing upon the members of that faith a law to protect them from a grievance of which they had never complained, and whose enactment they considered to be an insult. He condemned the bill as being in tolerant and inexpedient. Sir J. PAKINGTON deemed it unfortunate that many questions of civil policy should be denounced under the charge of intolerance. For his own part he dis claimed any such feeling, having treated the measure as involving nothing more than a civil right. He contended that it was the mildest which the case justified, or the public would accept, and if not passed now some stronger measure would be de manded hereafter. Mr. HA.DFIELD argued that the laws relating to property should be framed with an utter indifference to any question of religious observances. Mr. COLLIER and Sir J. FITZGERALD having spoken, Mr. GEORGE, who defended the bill, complained that its opponents had endeavoured to stifle the free ex pression of opinion in that house by raising a cry of insult to the Roman Catholic religion. Mr. BOWYER contended that the cry was well founded. The subject was one which it was impos sible to touch upon without conveying a deep insult against persons whom all Roman Catholics regarded with veneration. The provisions of the bill were moreover absurd, being designed to obviate a non existent evil. _ _ Mr. F. Scta.mc also affirmed that no grounds could be shown, or had ever existed, for interfering with any disposition made by nuns of their property. Mr. WILKINSON and Mr. BLAND opposed the bill. Mr. LIDDELL (Liverpool) supported it, on the ground that the inmates of conventual institutions were in a state of moral durease. THE PRESS. Mr. J. O'CoNNELL observed that the whole Roman Catholic hierarchy had pronounced against the bill, and wondered how Protestant members, under pro fessions of regard for the Roman Catholics, should press forward a measure which the latter had unani• mouldy declared to be most offensive. He dilated upon the insulting character of the bill, and on the provocation it gave to the Irish Catholics at a time when unanimity and loyalty were so necessary among all classes of the community. The particular cases adduced to make out the semblance of a necessity for the bill had, he contended, all broken down under investigation, and it was morally impossible that any such could exist. Mr. Sergeant Shee, Sir J. Fitzgerald, and Mr. Ma guire continued to offer opposition to the bill. The discussion, however, had become a mere effort to talk against time on the part of the Irish representatives, in order to delay a division on the bill. In this ob ject they succeeded. While the hon. member for Dun garvan was still speaking, the hour (quarter to six) for closing the debate arrived, and the bill accord ingly once more stood adjourned. RUSSIAN PRISONERS. Sir J. GRAHAM, being questioned by Mr. Digby Sey mour on Monday, stated that instructions had been transmitted to Admiral Dundas enjoining him not to liberate any Russian subjects that might be captured, except under a proper understanding with the Rus sian authorities respecting the exchange of prisoners. THE PRESTON STRIKE. Notice of a motion for appointing a committee to inquire into the causes of complaint urged by the Preston operatives against the manufacturers stood (after repeated adjournments) for Tuesday night, in the name of Mr. T. Duscouss. tieing chid lenged, in the early part of the sitting, by a question from Mr. T. Parker, the hon. member stated that he should not press his motion. The strike had now terminated; and, as he showed by a letter from the delegates' committee, it was the wish of the work- men's friends that nothing should occur to impede a perfect re conciliation between the employed and their employers. lortigu and dalonial 4nttiligenct. FRANCE. The French and English Governments have entered into a convention,which has obtained publicity through the columns of the Moniteur, relative to prizes taken in war. The former Government have also issued inotructions to their captains of ships-of-war on many points of behaviour when acting in concert with their British allies. The idea of a loan for the war expen diture is said to be given up, the immediate purpose being supplied by an issue of 4,000,0001. worth of Bona du Trhor, which the Credit Mobiliire engages to cash. This change of purpose and reduction of amount, the anticipated loan being for ten millions sterling, is said to bear a pacific look, or, at all events, to show that affairs are going on well with Austria. Rumours of the unconditional recal of the exiled generals are again rife in Pans. General Lamoriciere has long since declared that, in the event of hostili ties breaking out, he should offer his sword in the cause of his country. The railroad from Chalons to Lyons will not be opened to the public before the 7th of June. That from Avignon to Valance will be ready by the Ist of June. Some English journals—among others, the Daily News and Chronicle—have been stopped at the Paris Post-office by the police more than once within the last few days. Supposed cause, some remarks re garding the French military movement& GERMANY. The announcement that Austria intended to raise a new levy of 95,000 men was communicated to the diplomatic agents of the Vienna Cabinet at foreign Courts, accompanied by an assurance that the Government had not relaxed its mediatorial policy, but would always be ready to take further measures for the re-establishment of peace, if consistent with the honour and interest of Austria and the balance of power in Europe. The proceeding, however, is said to have produced a great sensation at the Rus sian Embassy, being considered as the first act of open hostility on the part of Austria. M. Meyen dorffi accordingly, is reported to have become con vinced that his position as Russian Ambassador in Vienna is no longer tenable, and M. Fonton has been summoned from Bucharest to Vienna to carry on the business of the Embassy. The Servian Government has ceased its arma ments, on being officially assured from Vienna that no foreign army would occupy the principality as long as public tranquillity should not be troubled. The Luxemburg Chamber of Deputies has been dissolved, and the electoral colleges convoked for the 14th of June. The new chamber will meet for an extraordinary session the 21st of next month. A criminal prosecution has been instituted against the Archbishop of Friburg, for having abused his power, and for having disturbed public order and repose by his ordinance concerning the application of church property. SWEDEN. A Stockholm vessel, laden with salt, attempted to break the blockade and enter Riga. On being hailed she neglected the signals and refused to lie by, so a cannon ball from a British cruiser smashed her stem. She immediately returned to Stockholm. Her owners demanded compensation. The English Embassy told them to be thankful that matters were no worse. The electric telegraph between Copenhagen and Stockholm was opened on the 12th inst. PORTUGAL. A Russian Ambassador arrived at Lisbon incog. a week or two since. The Portuguese Government has subsequently declared its neutrality, dating from the sth May. Of this decree one of the Lisbon papers thus speaks : " Let the Emperor Nicholas rest; let Odessa console itself; the Cossacks may be filled with courage ; the Muscovite line-of•battle ships may adorn themselves with their flags; discharges of rockets may take place from the batteries of Sebastopol. The l'ortuguese Government decreed on the sth mat. its neutrality in the gigantic question in which the interests of the world are involved." The new currency law has been carried by the Ministerial majority through the Chamber of Depu ties. All amendments which tended to prevent the new coinage from being a mere speculation to raise money were rejected. The present year promises to be one of great abun dance in Portugal. With respect to the disease in the vines, there are contradictory reports, but the period for ascertaining the truth has not yet arrived. SPAIN. The Queen has relented, and permits the forced loan, It is to be of 180,000,0(M reels, bearing interest at the high rate of 12 per cent. One-third of the sum will, it is said, be taken by capitalists, the house of Rothschild subscribing for 15,000,000. Queen Christina, who has been dangerouly ill, is reported convalescent. TURKEY. A decree prohibiting exciting political conversa tions had been read in the mosques of Constan tinople. The Porte have issued new notes for 80,000,000 piastres. The son of the I'acha of Egypt, who arrived in Constantinople lately, brought a contribution to the amount of 250,0001. The sum was received with rapture as a welcome supply to an empty treasury. Bou Maze has obtained permission from the French Emperor to accept the command of an irre gular corps which the Porte has offered him in Asia. The Emperor will supply the expenses of his outfit out of the privy purse. Among the proofs that slight causes produce great results in Turkey as elsewhere, an incident is re corded which, growing out of a casual expression at a festivity, had nearly brought about a total change of Ministry at Constantinople. Prince Napoleon, immediately after his arrival, proceeded tc the palace to pay his respects to the Sultan. In the course of his interview the Prince, who is a soldier, and not a diplomatist, expressed his own gratification and that of the Emperor with Vely l'acha, the Ottoman Am bassador at Paris. " Vely Pacha," said the Prince, "is the truest triend of France." Traditionary diplo matic etiquette required that at this juncture the Prince, turning round, should have added, " always excepting Redschid Pacha." Unfortunately he omitted this ceremony, and Redschid Pacha, with the quick susceptibilities of a man versed in diplomatic formalities, and in whose presence a man cannot gape or sneeze, took umbrage and withdrew. That very evening the Pacha returned to the palace. What passed between the Sultan and the Minister is not known, but the result of his interview was the recal of Vely Pacha, his promotion to the dignity of a Prince of Crete, and the appointment to the Em bassy in Paris of Namik Pacha. Such matters, however, cannot be kept secret. Prince Napoleon was informed of the mischief his words had done. He would not allow that France should lose a friend and the Porte an able representative through Itedschid Pacha's susceptibility and his own carelessness. He took energetic steps to pacify the Minister, and suc ceeded in obtaining a reconsideration of the decree which removed Vely Pacha from his post. Before this was brought about, nevertheless, there were strong symptoms that Redschid Pacha himself might very probably resign. RUSSIA. In the absence of any direct intelligence from St. Petersburg, van us rumours and gossip in the Ger man journals convey a melancholy picture of the state of that capital, as well as of the Russian empire generally. The Berlin National Zeitung gives a most gloomy account of the sufferings and discontent of the people, on account of the severity with which the conscriptions are enforced. The landed proprietors are in a high state of dissatisfaction at these extra. ordinary levies, as every recruit taken from their estates inflicts a loss of 100 silver rubles. The conscription just ordered will amount to 220,000 IMF v. 487