The Press. — London, England, 1858-07-10 00:00:00

664 confined to covenanted civil servants, which might with greater advantage and more propriety be filled by members of the uncovenanted service. Lord STANLEY observed that the proposition opened a very large subject—the relations of the covenanted and uticovenanted servants. The clause would sweep away, in a summary manner, all the privileges, which had been long enjoyed, of the cove nanted civil service. The object had been to limit legislation to the home administration of India, and if this limitation wire exceeded, many other subjects of internal reform would present themselves. The whole subject must engage the attention of the Government; in the meantime, he thought the house should not commit itself by expressing any opinion upon it. Mr. SEYMOUR withdrew his motion. Various amendments of clauses were then consi dered. Sir E. PERRY moved to amend the tenth clause by the addition of words prohibiting the councillors from accepting, holding, or carrying on any other office or situation, or any profession or employment from which any gain or profit shall be derived. Lord SrANLEY observed that there could be no misunderstanding es to the views of the Government of what was required of the members of the Council, and he thought it unnecessary to place such a limi tation upon their private occupations. The clause was negatived. Lord J. RUSSELL moved the omission of the 27th and 28th clauses, preserving and transferring to the Secretary of State the power, now possessed by the Secret Committee, of sending and receiving secret despatches to and from India without the privity of the Council. He thought this was an unwise power, and that it ought not to find a place in the bill. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the question was whether there might not be cases in which it would be the duty of the Minister and for the interest of the country that he should act upon his own responsibility. The principal feature of the bill was to establish the responsibility of the Minis ter, and if the house laid it down that, in a peculiar position of affairs, when his responsibility was taxed to the utmost, he must go to his Council, it would in a certain degree diminish that responsibility. Upon a division the numbers were—for retaining the clauses, 176 ; for omitting them, ID ; majority for their retention, 27. On the motion of Lord STANLEY a proviso was added to the 38th clause saving any security to which the Eait India Company or any proprietor or creditor thereof may be entitled upon the Security Fund. The bill was then ordered to be read a third time on Thursday. The Universities (Scotland) Bill was read a third time and passed. The Titles to Land (Scotland) Bill passed through committee. The Juries (Ireland) Bill and the Juries (Ireland) (No. 2) Bill were withdrawn. The Wills, &e., of British Subjects Abroad Bill, the Copyright of Designs Bill, and the Stipendiary Magistrates, Sze., Bill were read a third time and passed. Other bills were advanced their respective stages. Leave was given to bring in certain bills, and, the remaining business t haviug been disposed of, the house adjourned at a few minutes after one o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS-WEDNESDAY. THE NEW TRIAL IN CRIMINAL CASES BILL. Mr. IPMAliois, in moving the second reading of this bill, explained the existing state of the law, and the evils arising therefrom, which it was the object of the bill to remedy. Mr. WALPOLE pointed out objections to the bill, especially to one of the clauses, but did not oppose the second reading. Mr. J. Inv:imam.") urged very strongly various objections applicable not merely to the details, but to the principle of the measure. The second reading was supported by Mr. Barrow, Mr. Bowyer, Mr. Cross, and Mr. John Locke. Mr. MILES opposed the bill, and moved to defer the second reading for six months. After further discussion, in which Mr. Roebuck, 111 r. Lowe, Mr. Bright, Mr. Henley, and other mem bers took part, and a reply by Mr. APMahon, the house divided, when the second reading was carried by 145 to 91. On the question that the bill be committed, The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said he bad voted for the second reading of the bill, approving its general prin ciple ; but it contained so much that was objection• able that he hoped Mr. M'Mahon would not propose to carry it further this session. Mr. M`MAuox appeared disposed to accept this proposition, but Mr. BouvxaiE opposing the com mittal of the hill, a division took place upon this question, which was carried in the affirmative by 129 to 112 ; and the bill was ordered to ba committed that day three wc,:ks. THE PRESS, JULY 10, 1858, INSURANCE AND ASSURANCE INSTITUTIONS BILL. Mr. SHERIDAN moved the second reading of this bill. He replied to the objections which he antici pated from the Government, and entered in much detail into the objects and provisions of the bill. In conclusion, he said, if the Government would allow a measure of this kind to be introduced next session, he should not persevere in his motion. Mr. S. ESTCOURT, on the part of the Government, could not give a pledge to endorse such a bill as the present. A bill, prepared in draught by Mr. Wilson, had been left by the late Government, upon which another bill had been framed by the present, and, although it had been deemed unwise to introduce it this session without a prospect of its passing, it was intended to bring in a measure upon the subject next year. He moved to defer the second reading for six months. After a short discussion, this amendment was agreed to, without a division ; so the bill is lost. The house then went into committee upon the Reformatory Schools (Ireland) Bill, the details of which occupied the remainder of the time to which discussion was limited. The other orders having been disposed of, the house adjourned at a few minutes before six o'clock. HOUSE OF LORDS—TitritsnAy. Lord CAMPBELL, in presenting a petition against the bill for legalizing marriage with a deceased wife's sister, stated that he was thoroughly opposed to the object of the bill. He believed it to be inconsistent with the doctrines of religion, and calculated to pro duce great social evil ; and now, by exempting Ireland and Scotland from the operation of the act, he thought the bill was presented in a more objectionable form than before. Lord REDEBDALE asked who had charge of the bill, and when the second reading was to be taken. Unless some peer had charge of the bill be thought it ought to be discharged from the orders. The question was not answered. The Sale of Poisons Bill was read a third time and passed. Tho Oaths Bill passed through committee, with some verbal amendments and the addition of a clause, moved by the Duke of Merturtoaouctst, prevent ing Jews from advising the Crown in the distri- bution of ecclesiastical patronage. The County Courts District Bill was read a third• time and rmised. The Universities of Scotland Bill was read a first time. Their lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS—THURSDAY. At the moaning sitting the house was engaged in committee in considering the details of the Local Government Bill. INDIA BILL. In the evening, after some preliminary business, on the or.ler ror the third reading of the Government of India (No. 3) Bill, Mr. HANKEY inquired what would be the position of the Exst India Company, as a chartered company, when the bill passed. Sir E. PERRY pronounced a condemnation of the Council of India as constituted by the bill, express ing his solemn conviction that the whole scheme would not last more than four or five years. Lord PALMERSTON said, retaining his objections to the constitution of the Council, yet, as the bill em bodied a great and important principle, he gave his cordial assent. to the third reading. The SOLICITOR•GENERAL, in reply to Mr. Hankey, said the bill took away from the East India Company their governing power, but did not touch their rights and functions in other respects. . . Mr. ROEBUCK uttered a vehement denunciation of the measure, which created, he said, in the Council, a machine that would not work, but would be a stumbling block in the way. . . . . . Lord J. RUSSELL did not wish that the bill should go to a third reading charged with the malediction of Mr. Roebuck, and proceeded to show that the measure had some redeeming qualities. At the same time, ho said, after experience, it would require re vision, and there were great questions, connected with the land tenures, the army, the opium and salt. tax, and of her matters, which would hereafter demand profound consideration. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER congratulated the house on the completion of the bill, and, on the part of the Government, tendered his sincere thanks for the candour with which it had treated a measure which would, in his belief, have a beneficial effect upon the Government of India. The bill was then read a third time and passed. GOVERNMENT OF NEW CAEEDONIA. Sir E. B. Licrrow moved the second reading of the Government of New Caledonia Bill, which defines the boundaries of the colony, and authorizes her Majesty to provide for the administration o . the Government and the establishment of a local Legislature, for a limited period, until 1802. He described the circumstances of the colony, its mineral wealth, its motley population of vagabond gold diggers, and the necessity of adopting measures for preserving this promising territory from lawless ness and turbulence. Mr. LABOUCHERE observed that there could be no difference of opinion in the house as to the neces. sity of taking steps to the establishment of a strong Executive in this new colony, and he thought the bill was calculated to meet the object. He agreed with Sir E. Lytton that it was difficult to overrate its advantages in respect to soil and climate. He believed that Vancouver's Island and the adjacent territory would be occupied by a large, industrious, and flourishing population. Mr. ROEBUCK warned Sir E. Lytton that, if ho wished to stop tho introduction of Lynch law into the colony, lie must introduce civil law, and that could only be done by the aid of a strong body of soldiers. After a few remarks by Mr. A. Mrt.rs and Mr. WYLD, Mr. ELIIOE thought the bill would very well answer the purpose in view; but he begged the house not to be led away by the idea of the facility of the operation, or that the colony could be self supporting. Mr. CHRISTY spoke in favour of the bill, though he had some objection to the geographical arrangements in it, with reference to the boundaries of the new colony. Lord SANDON recommended Sir E. Lytton to con• alder well, when the Government was es' ablished in the colony, wbat the price of land should be. Mr. LOWE approval the introduction of the bill, but was not sanguine es to the saccess of the colony, apprehending a collision between the whites and the Indians. He objected, as Mr. Labouchere and other members had done, to the name of the new colony. Mr. WRITE urged attention to the land tenures in the colony, and that it should be made as soon as possible self-sustaining. Observations were made by Mr. CROSSLEY and Mr. C. FITZWILLIAIT, and the bill was then read a second time. POLICE FORCE (IRELAND) BILL. Lord NAAS, in moving the second reading of the Police Force (Ireland) Bill, took the opportunity of endeavouring to correct many misapprehensions and misstatements which, he said, existed as to the object and principles of the bill. He proceeded to show that the objections offered to it were utterly untenable and without foundation, and point out the advantages, including reduction of local burdens, which will result from the amalgamation of the two forces, the Dublin metropolitan police with the con stabulary, which was the object of the measure. Mr. P. O'BRIEN opposed the bill, and moved to defer the second reading for three months. Upon a division, the amendment was negatived by 125 to t;O, and the bill was read Ersecond time. Upon the question that the be committed, the opposition to its progress was renewed by Mr. Cogan, Mr. Bowyer, and Mr. P. O'Brien. Mr. GR , GAN supported the bill, which was opposed by Mr. J. FITZGERALD, who objected that the consta bulary was a military force, not calculated to perform the office of police in the metropolitan districts, and, disputing the details given by Lord Naas, he pro tested against forcing on this bill at so late a period of the session, and against sweeping away an efficient forco because it was largely Roman Catholic. Mr. WHITESIDE replied to Mr. Fitzgerald, and insisted upon the absurdity of keeping up a separate police establishment at Dublin, excluding the consta bulary, which was the police of the rest of the country. After a long discussion, which acquired some degree of acrimony from the introduction into it of an extract of a letter from one of the Commissioners of the Dublin Police, the debate was adjourned. Other bills were forwarded a stage, and the re maining business having been disposed of, the house adjourned at two o'clock. CABINET COUNCILS werti tieiu on Saturday and Wednesday last at the offlAal residence of the Chan cellor of the Exchequer, in Downing-street. The Ministers present were—The Earl of Darby, the R.glit Hon. B. Disraeli, the Lord Chancellor, the Marquis of Salisbury, the Earl of Hardwick°, Right Hon. Spencer Walpole, the Earl of Malmesbury, Right Hon. Sir E. Bulwer Lytton, General Peel, Sir John Pakington, Lord Stanley, Right Hon. J. W. Henley, and Lord John Manners. THE RETIREMENT OF THE LORD CHIEF BARON has obtained currency in one of the penny papers. We have every reason for believing and saying that the learned and estimable Chief Baron has no inten • mu to deprive the public of those services to which they are entitled, and which he is so well qualified, both physically and mentally, to render. Few of the occupants of the bench possess intellects so unclouded or constitutions so unimpaired as does Sir F. Pollock, no matter what tho duration of their services may have teen, and great indeed will he the public loss when his lordship shall arrive at the determination to retire into private life.