The Press. — London, England, 1858-07-17 00:00:00

■ THE PRESS, JULY 17, 1858. moved the reduction of the vote by 300/., the salary of the travelling agent, leaving the travelling ex penses untouched. A discussion ensued, in which the subjects of the site of the National Gallery, the removal of the Royal Academy, and the merits of Mr. Otto Mundler, the travelling agent, were canvassed. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER suggested that the reduction of the vote would be a harsh pro• ceeding toward the individual, and undertook, on the part of the Government, that the whole establishment of the National Gallery should undergo investi gation. Upon a division, however, Lord Elcho's amend ment of the resolution was carried by 128 to 110. The remaining resolutions were agreed to. On the order for going into a Committee of Supply, Mr. CovrrEn moved an address praying that her Majesty will he pleased to take into consideration the proclamation of the first year of her Majesty's reign, commanding that forms of prayer and service made for the sth of November, the 30th of January, and the 29th of May should be annexed to the Book of Common Prayer of the United Church of England and Ireland, to be used yearly on the said days, with a view to their discontinuance. lie urged that, as a general principle, it was not wise that special services, prepared to commemorate particular events, should be used after a long lapse of time. Mr. WAEroLE gave his hearty assent to the motion, which was agreed to. BATTERSEA PI SERPENTINE. Mr. ALcocK called the attention of her Majesty's Government to the expediency of offering the surplus land in Battersea park (100 acres) for sale by auction, with a reserved price of 284,730/. Os. 3d., in order to refund to the Government the loans ad vanced on account of Battersea•park, Chelsea•bridge, and Chelsea embankment. Sir J. SHELLEY invited the attention of the Chief Commissioner of Works to the bad condition of the Serpentine. Lord J. MANNERS said ho had had no offer for the land in Battersea-park, and was ready to receive one from Mr. Alcock, or anybody else. He believed that the 100 acres would hereafter be profitable for building purposes, but he charged Mr. Alcock with being at fault in his calculations. With regard to the Serpentine, his information differed materially from Sir. J. Shelley's. The house then went into a Committee of Supply on the Civil Service Estimates. The vote of 1,8811. for the Statute Law Commis sion gave rise to a debate, on the motion of Mr. L. limo to negative the vote, in the course of which the ATTORNEY-GENERAL described the operations of the commission, and stated the result, in the complete consolidation of the criminal law, and the preparation of ninety-three bills, comprehending nearly one-half the statute law of the realm. The vote, upon a division, was carried by 85 to 52. The remaining votes were agreed to, after much discussion. The Friendly Societies Act Amendment Bill passed through committee. Mr. S. ESTCOURT, in withdrawing the Poor Re moval Law Amendment Bill, obviated certain mis apprehensions regarding the measure which he found had created a prejudice against it. The Pauper Lunatics Bill was likewise with drawn. On the report the Local Government Bill received various amendments. The Militia Ballots Suspension Bill was read a third time and passed. Other bills were advanced a stage, and after some further business the house adjlurned at a quarter before two o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS-WEDNESDAY. The house was occupied in committee for some time with the details of the Reformatory Schools (Ireland) Bill. Mr. ADAMS withdrew the Leases and Sales of Settled Estates Act Amendment Bill. The Report of the Committee of Supply was brought up and agreed to. The house then resolved itself into a committee of supply upon the remaining Civil Service Estimates and Civil Contingencies, when certain votes were agreed to, after much discussion. The Local Government Bill was read a third time and passed. The house adjourned at a quarter past four o'clock. HOUSE OF LORDS—TnunsDAY. INDIA BILL. The Earl of SHAFTE.IBURY presented a petition from the East India Company, praying to be heard by counsel against the Government of India Bill. He did not support the prayer of tho petition, but thought so important a body as the Company should have an opportunity of putting on record IN final appeal to the Legislature. The Earl of DERBY moved the seccnd reading of the India Bill. The political circumstances that had marked its progress through the House of Con ti , had directed more attention to the tneasure than intrinsic importance would have obtained for since the actual government of India must, for most part, be carried on in India itself. The tn, sure touched none of the internal questions of In, —its finance, land tenures, or the condition of people—and the less Parliament interfered with ti details the better. Lord Derby then gave the tory of the measure, from the introduction of bill of the late Government, superseded by the measure of the present Ministry, to the resolut _ _ _ _ of Lord J. Russell and the second bill of the Gov, ment, modified by the debates on those resolutiot and now proposed for a second reading. The nol lord then detailed the principles and provisions the measure, stating the amendments it is inten( to propose in committee. One of them will in the consent of Parliament necessary for th 3 app, tion of any part of the revenues of India to defray the expense of military operations beyond the ' tier, except in cases of emergency or of actual in, sion. Another modifies the operation of the clause compelling an adherence to the principle of cum' tive examination for appointments to the In' Civil Service. On the important question of the organization of the Indian army, an inquiry I royal commission would be made into all the matter connected with it—the number of the native fr the conditions of its engagement, the proportk Europeans, the mode of relieving them, and ev, other question connected with the peace establ ment of India. rho bill had been carefully coi dered in the House of Commons, and, though believed few amendments would be necessary. Government would impartially consider any might be suggested during the discussion. Earl GaterivuLE thought that as many of the visions of the present bill were exactly, and a greater number were substantially, the same those of the bill of the late Government, the m simple and speedy course would have been to adi that measure in the first place, and to insert several amendments. All that was original in present bill had been so thoroughly condemned , it had been cancelled and withdrawn. Time woui also have been gained if the Government had in first place proceeded by resolution instead of (If ring ihst course till two bills had been brough and debated. The different bills and resolutions' wearied the House of Commons, and this exhaustion and the state of the Thames induced it to accept any proposition made from any quarter. Hf doubted whether it could now receive the attent. its provisions required. Having stated several jections to the bill, he added that the whole could only be considered an experiment, and that L. question of the government of India must shortly come again under discussion. As the bill came before them with all the authority of the Govern ment engaged in a most difficult task, he should - oppose it in any spirit of party, but cordially support the second reading. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGII regretted that, had he still been a Minister of the Crown, he cola not have proposed the present bill. He could have proposed any scheme for the government India that excluded the popular element of election from the constitution of the Council, and that troduced the principle of competitive examination into the corps of Engineers and Artillery of ti Indian army, of which the officers were alreadl chosen by it from among the pupils at Addis. combe. To alter that system was a gratuitous truckling to a temporary feeling that he could hardly suppose any Government would have com mitted. The present bill differed from both the measures proposed by the Government, and was rather the measure of the House of Commons than of the Ministry. In the two great objects of the change it had failed ; it did not put an end to the double Government, and did not secure one solo officer responsible to Parliament ; while by a clause inserted at the last minute, giving the control of the Indian revenues to the Council, that body was consti tuted a Parliament. But he admitted that by sub stituting the Queen's name for that of the Company, giving the Minister of State the initiative in impor tant affairs, and shortening and simplifying the mode of conducting business, some practical advantages had been gained by the bill. Still, the constitution of the Council, the mode in which it was to be renewed, and the manner in which it was to exercise it patronage, were open to serious objec• tion. With these defects they might deal in committee, but, while discussing the Home Govern ment of India, he must express the anxiety with which he regarded the future of that country. Larger reinforcements of the army would be re quired there than it would be possible to send from England without making a material change in all the military establishments ; and with an army must also be sent a policy intelligible and acceptable to the natives. The first act of the Government, when the Queen assumed the direction of affairs, should be to issue a proclamation in reference to the rights and religion of the people. That proelama Commons re than its ed for it, ist, for the The med. is of India on of the with these e the his• DU of the r the first esolutions le Govern. !solutions, The noble , visions of intended will make 13 applica• to defray the hon. !tual inva- the clause f cumpeti. ae Indian of the re. iuiry by a ae matters itive force, )portion of and every establish. illy consi- hough he misery, the any that if the pro. and a still same as the more n to adopt insert the sal in the rimed that me would lad in the of defer- irought in utions had zhaustion to accept 'ter. He attention 3veral ob- rhole plan d that the Lst shortly bill came Govern- iliould not ly support hat, even , he could could not ❑ment of r election 1 that in- amination ry of the 3 already it Addis- gratuitous he could ave corn- both the and was aons than is of the nd to the one solo a clause rol of the 'as consti- t by sub- Company, in impa- the mode lvantages ustitution , as to be ; was to ins objet- deal in Govern- ;iety with country. Id be re- ;end from ge in all an army ;cceptable rernment, Mr. COGAN made an unsuccessful attempt to be beard, and the house having divided, Mr. Hutt's motion was negatived by 223 to 24. The house then went into a Committee of Supply, when a vote of 11,0501. for the salaries and expenses of the Mixed Commissions for the suppression of the Slave Trade was agreed to. The Government of New Caledonia Bill passed through committee, after receiving sundry smend ments. Other bills were forwarded a stage, and the other orders and remaining business having been disposed of, the house adjourned at two o'clock. HOUSE OF LORDS—TUESDAY. THE 100TH REGIMENT. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE asked if the report was correct, that when the clothing supplied to the 100th Regiment on its return from Canada was un packed, it was found quite useless, being without any buttons. Many cases of similar neglect had occurred within the last few years, and no one had ever been punished for it. Viscount HARDINGE explained that some delay had occurred in delivering the clothing at Sborncliffe by the intervention of a Sunday and the neglect of some parties, nowofficial, employed as carriers by Messrs. Pickford and Co. The noble viscount said nothing of the alleged deficiency of buttons, but stated that the Government was now engaged in re organizing the clothing department of the army, and he had no doubt the result would be a great improve. ment in the system of supply. CHURCH RATES. Lord PORTMAN, in consequence of the announce ment made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that the Government intends to introduce a bill next session on the subject of Church rates, stated that he should rot propose the measure he had contemplated, but he was quite ready to communicate the outline of his plan to the head of the Govern. ment. The Earl of DERBY hoped the announcement made by the Government would not deter Lord Portman from laying his bill on the table. The Joint-stock Banking Companies Bill was read a second time. SCOTTISH UNIVERSITIES BILL. On the motion for the second reading of this bill, the Earl of ABERDEEN proposed that the parties having vested interests that would be affected by the bill should be heard by counsel at the bar against it. The Earl of DERBY, after some discussion, sug gested that the house should meet an hour earlier on Thursday for that purpose, but expressed his belief that the bearing would be quite useless us far as the parties themselves were concerned. The Earl of ABERDEEN withdrew his proposal, and the bill was read a second time. Their lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS—TUESDAY. OATHS BILL. Lord J. RUSSELL explained the course be proposed to pursue with relation to the Oaths Bill and to another bill which was expected from the House of Lords. He reviewed the proceedings of both houses upon this question, and stated the embarrassments and complications in which it bad become involved, observing that the other house bed insisted upon their amendments of the Oaths Bill, but had, on the other hand, passed a bill which would be a practical solution of a very great difficulty. It was his inten tion, therefore, to move the second reading of that bill. With respect to the mode in which the house should deal with the amendments of the other house of the Oaths Bill, the reasons assigned by their lord ships for adhering to those amendments were, be thought, reasons why no bill should be passed at all. The course they had adopted was singularly incon sistent, and placed the House of Commons in some difficulty. He could not understand the consistency of the House of Lords in declaring that there was a moral unfitness on the part of the Jews to take part in British legislation, and, at the eame time, sending down to that house a bill authorizing them to take such part in it if a majority of the house allowed them to do so, by omitting the words in the oath, "On the true faith of a Christian." He should propose, however, that that house should waive its opposition, as it was no longer a question of principle, and withdraw from the contest. He asked that the second reading might be fixed for Friday. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER assented. Lord J. MaliffEas thought that Lord J. Russell Lad been incorrect in some of his statements, and be demurred to his doctrine as to the extent of the power possessed by the House of Commons. Lord J. Russzu. justified both his statements and his doctrine. THE NATIONAL GALLERY. The Report of the Committee of Supply having been brought up, on the resolution granting 16,474!. for the National Gallery, Lord ELciro called attention to the report of the commission on the site of the National Gallery, and