The Press. — London, England, 1853-05-14 00:00:00

dation even in those restricted territories to which I have alluded. ( Hear, hear.) To Western Australia we may con tinue to send them ; but I do nut deny, on the contrary I quite agree with ti e ' noble earl, that the project of other penal settlements being founded would not answer the pur pose at present, if transportation were intended to be earried on as formerly. ( Hear, hear.) To be sure a noble lord said the other night that we might send them to Falk- Lend Island or to Greenland. Ido not know what sort of discipline the noble lord meant to enforce there ; but that shows how little people whose position entitle anything they soy to respect really feel what the nature of the trans portation is to which we now allude. ( Hear, hear. ) It is not. such a system as could be' carried on in Falkland Is lands or in Greenland that is required, but what is required is the gradual absorption of the convicts into the popula tion of the colony to which they are sent. That for many years would be impossible in any new settlement that could Ito formed. ( Hear, hear.) However, I ant not one of those who think it is impossible that some use may be made of Falkland Ishmd tier the purpose. It is a subject at all events that deserves inquiry ; and in the deficiency of means we have of disposing of those persons I do think it is possible that some facilities might he thus aibmied: To meet this necessity of reducing the number of transported conviets, large extensions and great im provements had been introduced in the 'orisons and reformatory establishments at home. These had been attended with excellent results; and he contended that for a large class of the minor offenders, on whom formal sentence of transportation was recorded. prison discipline, as now systematised, was a much preferable punishment. Arrangements had been made by which no difficulty cAndd arise during the ensuing year, any probable number of (salvias being already provided for at home; and before the expira tion of that period he trusted that some eligible and permanent plan would be devised for future use. The Karl of CHlcHlif4Tiat objected to the motion be cause it indicated an opinion in favour of the full main tenance of the system of deportation. lie, on the contrary, believed that the ntore that system could be restricted the better, and eulogised the reformers and reformations which by improving our prisons ren dered them fitting substitutes for banishment in a multitude of cases. The noble lord moved an amend ment : That whilst lit the opinion of this Wm./. it is expedient In relithl the ptilli.hlUela of triltivortation for wane of the graver tstfenees against the law, it lies become necessary to restrict such tniumportation to a few mil) of the eolonics, and to places which, from their limited extent or populatisin, are at present incapable, %%Olean, prejudice to their own SOAR! e Won, of IltrOethilg CM plo”uont to any ronsideratile her of discharged convicts. 'Chat it has therefore become the shay of Parliament hl adopt immediate measures fur providing increased means of secondary p hment in this e try. That such actinide') minis' itt ought to be both in kind and &wadies sufficiently pl.llOl to exec. else as deterring ais influence as the punishment of transporta than, and at the 540115' thine of HIS refairMiltdry 14 character as to afford a reasonable hope dial the convicts who undergo it will, on their discharge, beet useful members of society, IVA qualified to obtain employment either in this country or lu the cttfosks." The Earl of Many concurred with Lord Grey in maintaining transportation, and with Lord Aberdeen in confessing that, after past circumstances, and under the existing temper of the colony, it was impos sible to continue sending convicts to Van Diemen's Land. He acknowledged that some changes had become necessary, but believed that the Goventment hail brought them abont with injudicious haste, anti in a way which prevented the Legislature from duly deliberating upon anti authorising them. The Duke of Ntoveasrt.r. traced many of the diffi rallies they had encountered to the einieession of an independent leOslature in the colony of Van Die men's Land. Representative institutions and the convict system were utterly and entirely incompatible with ono another. lie then cited a mass of figures anti details appertaining to the statistics of crime anti tinisliment for some years past, mitt contended that the I:to eminent hall made the best of a very perplexing task when contriving means for eontining, distri buting, employing, tutu' reforming the several classes of convicted felons. lord Comm . ! • enforced the policy of retaining trintsportat: , • s other punishmetit so good had been, or 11- •iiev 0.1 ever could be, invented. The Loco CHANcEI.I.OR noticed that. the resolution re•mesteti her Majesty to order her ministers to violate the distinct pledge they had given to the in habitants of Van Diemen's Land that no more con victs should be sent there. To this he could not agree. Earl GREY replied. and thtir lordships divided : For the motion ;l7 For the amendment 5l Majority —l7 NUNNERIES. I'nder the title of a bill t t facilitate the recovery of personal liberty in certain cases," Mr. T. Ciwumus on Tuesday introduced a measure by which he de signed to afford protection to a number of females. whom he stated to be now kept under coercion and restraint in certain monastic establishments. With out. interfering with religions liberty, or hindering any who wished it from retiring to a convent and remain ing there. it was right and possible, he contended, to enable those who were discontented or ill-used to obtain their release. At present it was possible for women to be beguiled within the walls of establish- THE PRESS. meats where they were shut up out of sight or hearing of their friends, or even conveyed away to some affiliated institution on the Continent, without leaving a trace of their destiny for the satisfaction of their relatives. Citing several instances of this de scription in support of his proposed bill, the hon. member explained its machinery to he the appoint ment of inspectors under Government authority, who were to have the power, in company with some jus tice of the peace, "to visit and inspect" any house or building where there was reasonable ground for believing that females were kept in a state of coercion and restraint. Mr. C. BERKEIXV, who seconded the motion, stated that similar systems of inspection already existed in every Catholic country, Spam and Italy alone excepted. Mr. liowvEn denied the truth of the statements on which the measure was Jimmied, and even their pos sibility. The bill would, in fact, destroy the conven tual establishments, whose superiors could not endure to live under constant surveillance by a Government officer, and the result would be that Catholic ladies of the higher ranks would be driven out of the country. Mr. Sergeant Munettv declared that the law as it stood was amply sufficient. The suggested alteration was insulting to his religion. He utterly denied the allegations of compulsion or suffering among the inmates of conventual establishments. Mr. NEWDEGATE argued upon inference that both suffering and compulsion were possible, and from evidence that they were inflicted to a serious degree. Lord J. RussEt.t. regretted that the subject had been mooted; thought the evidence on which the bill was based too slight ; and could not consent to violate the rights of privacy and add a rider to the habeas Corpus Act without clearer proof that such strong measures were necessary. Mr. 11. .1)m• tso apprehended that the bill would be utterly inefficacious. Legislation could do nothing to counteract the monastic system or winnow out the good from the bad in it. Nothing would do except utter abolition ; but for this he feared that the country was not prepared. 31r. WarrEsiDE considered the bill insufficient, because it omitted the subject of property, which he contended as smelt required protection as per sons, from the persuasive and compulsive measures employed in the convents. Mr. FAteAs was convinced that the bill, if passed, would sound a tuesin of religious feud and discord in Ireland. Lord Ct,AunE HAmitaos and Sir R. H. INGEts sup ported the motion. The house, on dividing, granted leave to bring in the bill by a majority of 188 to 115-13. DWELLINGS FOR THE LABOURING cLASSES. The Lords, on the proposition of the Earl of SfiArrEsurev, have agreed to the following resolution by way of standing order : That before the first reading of any hill for making any work in the eonstritetion of which compulsory porter is sought to take thirty houses or more inhabited by the labouring classes in any one parish or idace, the promoters be required to deposit in the Alec of the Clerk of the Parliaments a statement of the ber, description, and situation of the said houses, the number far ILA elm he estimated) of persona to he displaced, and w tether any and what Kt 'vision is made in the hill for remedying the in n covenience likely to arise front sudt displacement, in o rder to its being 111114ie a standiug order." This resolution, according to the noble lord, will go far to obviate the heavy complaints which had been made of the privations su&red by the working classes, whose habitations were swept away in the course of metropolitan improvements, and would serve nearly all the purposes of a specific bill upon the subject. sIIEHIFFs' coUlas kScoTLAND) BILL. Mr. envwrono on Wednesday moved the second reading of this bill. He then explained the nature end functions of the offices of Sheriff-substitute and Sheriff depute, and the reforms contemplated by his bill in these local courts, which embraced the aboli tion of the system of double sheriffs, or the appor tionment of judicial business between the several grades of judges ; the reduction of the number of appeals, limiting them to matters of law ; and the partial introduction of juries. Mr. Cowvx, objecting to the abolition of the double system, moved that the bill be read a second time that day six months. A debate ensued. confined chiefly to Scottish members. and turning upon the expediency of abolishing the office of the non-resident sheriff; the comparative merits of the bill of the Lord Advocate and the present ; and the propriety of referring the latter to the select committee to which the former had been referred, giving the committee power to take evidence. ultimately. the horse divided, and the second reading was negatived by a majority of 184 to 58. ELECTIONS mu. The object of this measure is to limit the expense of elections by diminishing the time allowed to elapse between the receipt of the precept and the day of nomination, and which time is generally spent in canvassing, with the too common result of aggravating corruption among the electors and ex penditure among the candidates. Mr. BUTT On SATURDAY, Wednesday moved the second reading of the bill, which, after a brief debate, was agreed to without opposition. ELECTIONS. Pt.vuorrit.—Mr. Aw.toNtev, un Tuesday, stated that the Col.ll. milieu on the Plymouth petition had found Mr. Collier duly elected, and Mr. Mare not duly elected, to terve the borough in Parliament. The committee had also tonne to a resolution that Mr. Mare. both by himself and agents, had been guilty of bribery by promising situations to voters, with a View of Influencing their votes. On the second day Mr. Mare, by his counsel , had de clared that he could no longer defend his seat: but, taking hue. account the extent of the allegations respecting bribery. the committee had thought it their duty to recommend further inquiry. BARNSTAPI.E.—Mr. tt. STANLEY, on Tuesday, moved for and obtained au address to her Majesty for the appointment of a cot ttttt ission to inquire into the corrupt practice's which took place at the late election for dae borough of littruttople. 'FRE FISE ARTS. The Earl of MALMEMIUItY, ou MOlltilty, vaned the attention of the chief t u iui,.ter tO the very important tittle of pictures belong ing to the late King of the French. Part Mal been already sold, and within the next three weeks 4450 or IWO more were to he brought to the hammer. Among them were some of great value as works of art, as the powlueti 111 l Of masters whose works we did not possess in any doges, front the 1111 l In which they were painted, or other attributes of curiosity, or beauty. He asked whether the Government had taken any steps towards as. rest g whether tiny of these pictures were worthy the often• don of t his COUlltry ? The Earl of AISEHIMEN believed that one of the pictures re ferred to had been already purchased for the National Gallery. The Marquis of Ltssoowst; said no facilities were given at the Mae, Mid the consequence Wan dist only tate picture was bought. FARMERS' ASSESSMENTS. Sir F. KELLY having inquired whether. in the WSW lueonne Tax Bill, au►y clause would be introduced giving fanners an option of 11104 , 41.1111e11t either upon thu basis of rent or real profit, at their discretion, The CHANCELLOU Of the EXCHEQUER did not think it necessary to introduce any new clause on the imbject. The tannin* who objected to be t v...ieaseill iteeonling Up the rnlepnwided in aelueiltdo B haul the power of appealing, and of requiting, under that appeal, to lie 11,,9OtINed Oh the actual Honig. Ile WII3 out aware that any MOM indulgent arrangement could be made. MANNING THE NAVY. Sir 6. PECIIEI.I. ilii1111114( what 'depot hail been taken for ear. ',Mg inn the recommendations of the report of the committee Oil nuunriult the navy, which was presented on the :Al instant ? Sir eiAMI:I4 GRAHAM said that the report in question would be in the hands of member% very speedily. and it wax his intention, lumtediately thereafter, to move lla• leave to bring in two bills founded on that report. AIM:WISING VANS. In reply to Mr. MAxot.i:s, Mr. Frrznoy stated that ht• Wlll4 eittletvowiug to 81111pe a clause in the Haekney Carriages Bill to meet this evil. I was not very easy to define what an advertising can was, but lie hoped ui /14•COMpliSil fat* an 6olonial FIRNCE. From our own Correspondent.] PARIS, May 11. The health of the Empress continues to mend, and she will shortly leave the Tuileries for St. Cloud, her favourite residence. Towards the end of summer she is recommended to visit " Les Elms hommes," near the Pyrenees. The Emperor continues to e►tjoy perfect health. The Mnniteur contains a decree prolonging the session of the Corps Legislatif, which ought to have closed the 13th inst., to Saturday, the 2Sth of May. • A camp of instruction is to be formed oa the plain of Satory, near Versailles. The Minister at War has authorised General Ca.stellane to get up a sham siege at Lyons, to instruct the troops under his command in siege operations. But the camp at St. Omer will he more interesting to British officers and amateurs ;—firstly, as new tactics and manonivres are to be put in practice there ; and secondly, as it is so near the coast, affording so easy an access through Calais. The report on the budget affected to the service of 1454 is in equilibritun Francs. 1,04t48,0m9 Receipts 5l ,5 1 1i.t4•20,4 59 .Expensys le4 The vote of the Belgian Chamber on the increase of the effective of the army to 100000 men, and the journey of the King of the Belgians and his son to Berlin and Vienna, are viewed!here as forerunners of a new holy alliance against France, if not aggressive, at. all events defensive. In the beau =lute nothing is talked of but the turning-tables, that dance, waltz, and Polk, and even talk, as is affirmed. At an " ex perience" at the Tuileries lately the experiment failed. At Mrs. Tudor's soiree, under the direction of the Count de Nieukirke, it succeeded perfectly. M. de l'Aage published a little book on the turning-tables, which sold to the amount of 3,000 in a few days. So much for the credulity of our Parisian society, only to be equalled by the Irish Brigade on a recent occa sion, who served to turn the tables, and got cheated and tined for their pains. Risum teneatio amici. Four commi , lsioners extraordinary - have been sent into the departments, charged by the Emperor with a special mission, whose results, it is reported, they are •