The Press. — London, England, 1858-07-31 00:00:00

736 The Militia Act Continuance (Ni. 4) Bill was also read a second time. The Corrupt Practices Prevention Act Continuance Bill was read a second time, on the understanding that it should go through committee on Thursday. The Civil Bills (Ireland) Act Amendment Bill was read a second time. The Judgments (Ireland) Act Amendment Bill was read a second time. The New Writs Bill was read a second time. Their lordships adjourned at a quarter past nine, until Wednesday, at half-past four o'clock. k';t4Rtf 7-ti L E?iwA_. B .l ''s';'ity 31, 1858 Upon a division, however, the disagreement with the amendment of the Lords was affirmed by 73 to 60. An amendment of the Lords in the thirty-fourth clause, involving the same principle, was likewise dis agreed with. _ _ In the fifty-fifth clause, which provided that, except for repelling invasion or other sudden and urgent necessity, the revenues of India are not applicable to defray the expenses of any military operation beyond the frontiers, the Lords had insert 3d, before " repelling," the words " preventing or." Sir J. GRAHAM objected to the introduction of these words, as too lax. _ Upon a division, the amendment was agreed to by 95 to 28. The other amendments, with a few immaterial exceptions, were agreed to. On the order for going into committee upon the Leases and Sales of Settled Estates Act Amendment (1856) Bill, sent from the Lords, a discussion arose upon a suggestion that the bill might have some relation to the question concerning the inclosure of Hampstead-heath ; but ultimately the bill passed through the committee. The International Patent Right Bill and the Ad ministration of Oaths by Committees Bill were read a third time and passed. The Lords' amendments of certain bills were con sidered. MONUMENT TO THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON. Mr. S. Woan.Ev called attention to the competi tion relative to the monument to the late Duke of Wellington, and moved a resolution that, by the terms of the competition under which the models for the monument proposed to be erected in St. Paul's Cathedral were lately exhibited in Westminster ball, the artists competing were not entitled to expect that the works would be executed at the expense of the nation unless on the ground of their intrinsic merit: and whereas the judges have not recommended for execution any of the works so exhibited, and a new and wholly different site has since been determined upon for this monument, it is expedient that a limited number of distinguished artists should be further employed by Government to furnish models with special reference to the new and altered circumstances, and remunerated for their labour, and their models purchased for the country. He supported the motion by a speech of much length, entering very fully into the details of the subject. Mr. Bore thought that the First Commissioner of Works had octed judiciously in the selection of the model of a young artist, and recommended Mr. Wortley not to press his motion. Mr. Comeousia expressed a similar opinion. Lord J. MANNERS replied to Mr. Wortley, and asked whether the house would take the matter out of responsible hands and throw it into inextricable confusion again, leaving it undecided for a series of years. He urged reasons against opening a second limited competition, as proposed by Mr. Wortley. He believed that at no distant period a monument would be erected worthy of the object ; but the adoption of the resolution would paralyze the bands of the executive and disappoint artists. Mr. COWPER said the reasons assigned by Lord John for the course he had taken were not satisfac• tory to his mind. When competition was invited, preference should be given to the most successful. The monument now to be erected was not that com peted for. If designs were called for adapted to the new site, a far better would be obtained than the one chosec. Mr. STIRLING was not convinced by the arguments of Mr. Wortley, and should vote against the motion. Lord ELCHO condemned the course of action of the Government in the choice of a design, and in confiding its execution to three artists. They would, he thought, act more wisely by selecting two or three eminent artists, and asking them to propose designs. Sir B. HALL, after explaining his own course of proceeding for obtaining designs by competition, observed that, without giving any opinion as to the design selected, it would be difficult to adapt it to its present proposed site. As, however, Lord J. Manners had promised that the model, as altered, should be exposed to public view before it was exc. cuted, be thought the house should leave the reipon. sibility with the Government. Atter some remarks from Mr. M. MILNES and Mr. M‘CARTHY, Mr. WORTLEY made a short reply, and his motion, upon a division, was negatived by 44 to 26. Colonel FREESTUN moved an address to her Ma jesty, praying that she will take into consideration the unfavourable position of the subalterns of the army, with a view of affording them relief. He dwelt upon the insufficiency of a subaltern's pay, compared with his expenses, and upon the hardships and privations he was'subject to. The motion was seconded by Mr. P. O'BruEN. Sir W. FABER suvested whether it would not be more satisfactory if the opinion of the house w e' , taken upon another occasion, and Sir F. SMITH moved the adjournment of th e debate. Some observations were made by Mr. Westb ea d Sir W. Codrington, and General Peel, and the no: tion was then withdrawn. Mr. MACKINNON obtained leave to bring in s B L it to Establish Equitable Councils of Conciliation. The house, after some further husiness,adjournel at twenty minutes to one o'clock until Thursday HOUSE OF LORDS—IVEDNEsnay. Various bills passed through committee. The following bills were read a third time and passed :—The Local Government Bill, the Railway Cheap Trains Bill, the Cornwall Submarine Mine s Bill, and the Clerk of Petty Sessions !Ireland) Bill, On the motion of Lord DERBY, it was rssolvecl that the Commons' reasons for disagreeing with the Lords' amendments in the Government of India Bill should be printed and taken into consideration on Thursday. Their lordships adjourned at six o'clock. HOUSE OF LORDS—THURSDAY. The amendments to the Universities (Seotiandl Bill were withdrawn. Various bills passed through committee. The Government of New Caledonia Bill, no w Government of British Columbia Bill, was read& third time and passed. CORRUPT PRACTICES PREVENTION ACT CONTINUA:“ BILL. This bill passed through committee. On the motion that the report be received, _ _ Lord EBURY moved the omission of the first clause, which enacts that a candidate may provide vehicles for the conveyance of electors to the poll, but shall not give them money to pay for their conveyance. The clause, in his opinion, aimed a deadly blow at the purity of elections. Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY entertained insuper able objections to the clause. If passed, the bill ought to be called a measure for the " promotion," not the " prevention," of corrupt practiced. The Earl of HARDWICKE and the Earl of Wtruow supported the clause. Lord CAMPBELL complained that so itnpoitants measure had been brought before their lordships at so late a period of the session. No evil could result trout postponement, and he entreated their lordships not to agree to the clause. Earl GRANVILLE supported the motion. Lord Lyndhurst thought the bill in its present shape so objectionable that he had authorized him (Earl Granville) to obtain a pair for him against the clause if their lordships should divide upon IL Their lordships then divided 7- Contents 4B Non•oontents 23 Majority for the clause —2O The report was then received. GOVERNMENT OS INDIA DILL. On the order of the day for the consideration of the Commons' reasons for disagreeing with the amendments made by the Lords in this bill the various amendments were discussed at some length. Their lordships resolved not to insist on their amendments on clauses 27, 2s, 29, 30, and 32 ; but to insist on their amendment on 34 (relating to the admission to the scientific branches). The Art Union Indemnity Bill was read a third time and passed. The Reformotary Schools (Ireland) Bill was real a third time. The Draughts on Bankers Act Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed. The New Writs Bill was read a third time and passed. Their lordships adjourned at a quarter past nine o'clock. HOUSE OF' COMMONS•-••THURSDAY. The Lords' amendments of the Public Health Bill, after an ineffectual attempt by Mr. T. DUNCOMBE to stop the further progress of the measure, were considered. The Lords amendments of the Lunatics (Scotland) Act Amendment Bill, the Medical Practitioners Bill, the .Toint-stock Banking Companies Bill, the County, &c., Property Conveyance Bill, the Levu. macy Declaration Bill, and the Copyhold Acts Amendment Bill were likewise considered. The order for the second reading of the Trust ee '' Mortgages, &c., Bill was discharged, and th e bill withdrawn. Mr. COWPER, in moving an address for eoPY c r extracts of corresp3ndence between the Committee of the Privy Council on Education and the Managers of Schools and her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools, relating to the distribution, publication, and Prel'a"," two cf the annual reports of the inspectors , ma de some remarks upon the discontinuanee of the circu lation of the printed tabulated reports.. HOUSE OF .COMMI At the morning sitting, Colonel WILSON PATTEN called attention to the Report of the Committee appointed for the Revision of the Standing Orders, and, after various suggestions relating to the conduct of the private business of the house, moved certain alterations of the standing orders, and a resolution regarding private bills, which, after a short conversation, were agreed to. INDIA BILL. On the order for considering the Lords' amend. Manta of this bill, • Colonel SYKES, after a strong and earnest remon. strance and protest against the whole measure, moved that the amendments be taken into consideration that day three months. Mr. MANGLES said, he did not rise to second this motion, but to vindicate the character of the Com pany's government and the Civil Service of hlls, which he proceeded to do in a speech of considerable length, abounding with details and incidents of the insurrection. This preliminary discussion, after having occupied much time, was terminated by Colonel SYKES with drawing his motion, and the house proceeded to consider the amendments. In the twenty-seventh clause, providing that orders now sent through the Secret Committee may be sent by the Secretary of State without communica• Lion with the Council, the Lords had added, "but no such order shall be sent without having been pre. viously communicated to the Vice-President and one other member, to be selected by the Secretary of State." Lord J. RUSSELL objected to these words, and proposed to substitute others, enlarging the number of the Couneil to be communicated with, to form a committee consisting of the Vice-President and four other members. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER suggested that this amendment should be withdrawn, and that the house should disagree with the amendment of the Lords. After discussion, Lord JOHN'S amendment was put and negatived, and the house divided upon the Lords' amendment, with which a majority disagreed, the ayes being 38, and the noes 108. In the twenty - ninth clause, which originally enacted that the appointments of the ordinary members of the Council of the Governor-General of India (except the fourth ordinary member), and of the members of Council of the several presiden• cies, shall be made by the Secretary of State in Council, " with the concurrence of a majority of members present at a meeting," the Lords had ex. chided the words within inverted commas. Sir J. GRAHAM objected that the omission of these words would vest the whole patronage in the Secre tary of State. Lord STANLEY said he could not defend the amendment, and the house resolved to disagree there with, and with a similar amendment in clause 30. On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHE. QUER, the debate was adjourned until six o'clock. The International Patent Bight Bill and the Administration of Oaths by Committees Bill passed through committee. In the evening, the consideration of the Lords' amendments of the Government of India Bill was resumed. In the thirty-second clause, which had empowered the Secretary of State in Council, with the advice and assistance of the Commissioners, under the Order in Council of May, 1855, to make regulations for the admission of candidates to the Civil Service of India, providing that " the candidates certified by the Commissioners or other persons to be entitled under such regulations shall be recommended for appointment according to the order of their Koff mem, as shown by such examination, and such per sons only as shall have been so cert ifi e d s h a ll b e appointed or admitted to the Civil Service of India," the Lords had excluded the words marked by in• verted commas. Lord J. Russeia. moved the restoration of these words, the omission of which might, he thought, endanger the principle of competitive examination for the Civil Service. Lord STANLEY assigned reasons for believing that the alteration would not have that effect, and that, with or without the words in question, the principle of unrestricted competition would be equally secure, or he would not, he said, consent to the amendment.