The Press. — London, England, 1856-04-12 00:00:00

return of the military disbursements during the 7 ars included in the foregoing return, specifying the Presidencies and provinces in which they have b..en incurred. The papers laid before Parliament contained no account of this expenditure. He thought it was time to consider the financial state of India, as it appeared the present annual deficiency of the revenue exceeded 2,000,000/. The question to be answered was whether the income was increas ing and the expenditure decreasing or the reverse The return for the years 1853.54 showed a deficit amounting to the sum of 2,044,0001., and in 1814.55 that deficiency had increased to two and a half millions. He feared, ton, that the next account, namely, the one for the year ending on the first of the present month, would exhibit a like deficiency. The largest expenditure yet obtained was that of last year, arno-nting to 22,915,0001. The revenue of 1851-52 was 25,536,0001., whereas that of 1864.55 had fallen to 20,371,000/. These facts furnished, he thought, matter for grave consideration; it might, however, be supposed that, as our territories in India had increased in extent, the revenue derivable from them had also increased. This was not the case. The territories most recently annexed, namely, those of Maghore, Scinde, Saltara, the Punjaub, and the Burmese territories, occa sioned a loss of 146,9361. The revenue of Maghore showed a surplus over expenditure of 106,8951., that of the Burmese territory a surplus of 135,6901., the revenues of Scinde, Salters, and Punjaub deficits amounting re spectively to 307,7371., 22,0341., 59,75 W. The last named sums amounted to a total deficiency of 389,521/., from which, deducting the surplus revenue of Maghore and the Burmese territory, viz., 242,5851., a total defiers was arrived at of 146,9381., exactly the sum which we were out of pocket by those annexations. The Duke of ARGYLL said there would he no ob jection on the part of the Government to furnish all the information it possessed ; the military expendi ture in the several Presidencies might be given, but there would be some difficulty in going into the detail required to distinguish that of the different provinces. The motion was agreed to after a discussion, in which Lord Nonteagle, the Earl of Ellenborough, and Lord Harrowby took part. THE CURRENCY. The Earl of EGLINTON, on Monday, called the attention of the Government to the expediency of issuing a commission to examine the currency laws. The noble earl accompanied his motion by a detailed analysis of the past course and results of the trans actions in which the Bank of England had been con cerned since the last renewal of the charter in 1844. The subject, he insisted, required a thorough investi gation, especially with the view of discovering the means of safely enlarging the currency, and of re modelling the constitution of the Bank directorate. Some conversation ensued, in the course of which The Earl of HARROWBY and the Duke of ARGYLL intimated that the Government were perfectly satis • fled with the operation of the Bank Act, which they had no intention to alter, and into which they saw no present necessity for inquiry. They would, how ever, interpose no objection to the appointment of a committee, it such a step appeared desirable to inde pendent members in either House of Parliament, although they thought the present moment, just at the conclusion of a war, most undesirable for such an inquiry. The motion was then withdrawn. STATISTICS. The Earl of DERBY, on Monday, on the report of this bill being brought up, pointed out the inconve nient (late fixed (Ist February) for sending up the books containing the names of all occupiers, while the returns commenced from the Ist of June, be tween which dates Lady-day intervened. The noble earl suggested the Ist of May as the fixed date. Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY promised to do so, and also, on the request of Lord Malmesbury, said there was no objection to modify the penalties of the act if they were too severe. The bill was read a third time on the following day, after a protest from the Duke of Richmond. THE STEAM FLEET AT SPITHEAD. The Earl of HARDWICKE, on Tuesday, in present ing a petition from Van Dieman's Land, praying for the establishment of a monthly steam mail service between the Australian colonies and England, called the attention of the Government to the excellent opportunity now afforded them by the assemblage of so powerful a steam fleet at Spithead of making experiments to test the qualities, powers, and pecu• liar advantages of the different model vessels with respect to their speed, their build, the construction of their engines, and other points of great importance in steam navigation. He thought it would be most desirable if a certain classification of machinery, such as existed with respect to spars in point of dimension, dec., could be effected for steam engines. He would also w ish to see what these floating bat teries really were fit for, and whether our gun boats could stand a thirty-two pound shot. The Govern ment, the noble earl concluilod, ought certainly not to let slip the present opportunity of determining these points by actual oxperiutent. THE PRESS. ii. THE MILITIA AND FOREIGN LEGIONS. Mr. PEEL, on Monday, in reply to Mr. Hume and Mr. Otway, said that now peace was concluded measures would be taken for the disembodi• ment of the militia. With respect to the Foreign Legions, those in the pay of the country were about 30,000 or 40,000 men. As regarded the Turkish Contingent, it would be retransterred to the Turkish Government. As regarded the German Legion, no decision had been yet come to, but, of course, no such force would be maintained for any considerable length of time. CRIMEAN MEDALS. Mr. F. PEEL, on Tuesday, in reply to Major Sibthorp, stated that her Majesty's Government had accepted the offer of the Emperor Napoleon to confer a war medal on the English army serving in the Crimea. BOARD OF ORDNANCE. Captain L. VERNON, on Tuesday, in moving for a copy of the correspondence between the Clerk of the Ordnance and Lieutenant-Colonel Harness, Deputy- Inspector• General of Fortifications, respecting his removal from that military position, entered at some length into the details of the case, complaining of the system in the Ordnance of making the military branch subservient to the civil. Mr. MONSELL gave explanations upon the subject of the removal of Colonel Harness, and denied that there was any idea of giving civilians in the Ordnance any military control. After a short conversation the motion was with drawn. POSTAL COMMUNICATION WITH AUSTRALIA. The Earl of HARDWICKE ' on Monday, called the attention of the house to the delay which had taken place in organising a regular postal communication between England and the Australian colonies, and asked if there was any objection to lay on the table the memorial from the colonies on the subject. The Duke of ARGYLL said there would Le no ob jection to the production of the memorial, and inti mated that the Government, having invited tenders for the performance of this postal service by a Treasury minute issued in February last, were now in possession of information from which they hoped speedily to elicit and arrange the cheapest and most rapid means of correspondence with Australia. The subject then dropped. ANNEXATION OF OUDE. The Marquis of CLANaccAnnE, on Thursday, in quired as to the course pursued by the Court of Directors of the East India Company in reference to the treaty of 1837, concluded by the Governor-General with the King of Dude. _ . _ . The Duke of ARGYLL explained that, though the treaty was printed in this country, it was disallowed, f-r an informality, by the Indian Government. He deprecated any formal discussion on the subject until Lord Dalhousie could appear to give full explanations as to his administration of Indian affairs. THE PROPOSED ROAD THROUGH ST. JAMES'S-PARK. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE, on Thursday, moved an address to the Commons, requesting a copy of the report regarding the suggested altera tions in the approaches to St. James's-park. He criticised many of the suggestions contained in that report, expressing much disapprobation of the scheme for removing the York Column, and opening a thoroughfare from Waterloo-place into the park. Instead of spending money to remove the column, he thought a better object would be attained by improving the end of Downing street. A prolonged conversation ensued upon this sub ject, in which the Earl of Aberdeen, the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Earl of Malmesbury, Lord Panmure, Earl Grey, and other noble lords took part. The bias of opinion was against the proposal for removing the column, but strongly in favour of the project for consolidating all the public offices in some new range of buildings, occupying the area between Downing street and Palace-yard. THAMES EMBANKMENT AND BATTERSEA-PARK. Sir B. H.►t.t., on Monday, in reply to Mr. Wilkin son as to whether there was any intention to continue the embankment from Chelsea College to Battersea bridge this year, said that he intended to finish ali the works which he found had been commenced when he came into office. As regarded Chelsea bridge, he hoped it would be finished before the end of the year. As to Battersea-park, he designed to have it laid out in rides and drives this year, to have it planted next winter, so that next year it might be open to the public. CHANCERY REFORM. The Lonn CHANCELLOR, on Tuesday, explained and corrected an er:or by which at the last sitting of the house before Easter he had ascribed to Lord Truro the credit of those Chancery reforms which belong to Lord St. Leonards. The following arrangements have taken place during the week : MONDAY. The Draughts on Bankers Bill, and the Factories Bill, were committed pro forma, SATURDAY, The Public Works Bill and the Public Works (Ireland) Bill passed through committee. Lord ELCHO obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend the laws relating to the medical profession, describing its principal features. Mr. Lows obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend the law of partnership. TUESDAY. Mr. WHITENDE postponed his motion, relative to Kars, to the 24th inst. Mr. COLLIER gave notice that he would, on the 24th inst., call attention to the circuits of the judges. In the absence of Mr. Berkeley, an HON. MEMBER intl. mated the intention of the former not to bring on the ballot question until the 24th inst. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL, in reply to Mr. Hadfield, said he hoped they would be able to take the second reading of the Wills and Administrations Bill on Friday week. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL, in reply to Sir F. Kelly, said that in his belief it was the intention of the Lord Chan cellor to bring on the second reading of the Divorce and Church Discipline Bills on the 15th inst., and it was with the view that this house might have the advantage of seeing what passed in the Lords that he had considered postponement of the Ecclesiastical Courts Bill advisable. WEDNESDAY. The Dissenters' Marriages Bill was committed pro The motion for the committal of the Medical Profession Bill was discussed for son le time, but adjourned, in com pliance with standing orders, at a quarter to six. The Trial of Offences Bill was read a third time and p assed. THURSDAY. Mr. P. NISI3ETT took the oaths and his seat for Chip. penham. A vast number of petitions against State education were presented. Mr. Drumvx gave notice that on that day week he would move au address to her Majesty in favour of the abolition of public executions, and the substitution of death punish. merits carried into effect within the precincts of prisons. Mr. Hoßs'eAi, in reply to a question from Colonel Dunne, said he hoped to be able in a few days to introduce a bill to regulate the salaries of clerks of petty sessions in Ireland. Mr. NAPIER obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend the laws relating to the election of the Poor-law guardians. The Joint-stock Banks Bill was read a second time. The Medical Profession Bill was referred to a select committee. The report of the Committee of Ways and Means was brought up and agreed to. THE CAMP IN THE CRIMEA. INTELLIGENCE from the camp, to the 2'qh March brings us little news. The Russians and Allies were not permitted, as yet, to cultivate each other's acquaintance to any extent. The races, to which General Luders and the Rus sians had been invited, but declined, went off with great eclat. The army was healthy. Miss Nightin gale and M. Soyer had arrived at the camp Ito arrange the hospitals of the Land Transport Corps. Miss Nightingale had been thrown ont of her cart, and was slightly shaken and bruised, but happily not severely injured. Colonel Mlll urdo had arrived, and taken command of the Land Transport. The weather was still cold. The daily removal of Russian stores from Sebastopol continued without intermission. Lord Pannaure received on Thursday a despatch from General Codrington, dated 25th March, enclos ing the weekly medical returns. The Moniteur of Tu,•sday publishes the following despatch from Marshal Pelissier _ _ Head-quarters, Sebastopol, March 2.5. Monsieur le Marechal,—The army of the East has hailed with enthusiasm the happy news of the deliverance of the Empress, and the birth of the Prince Imperial has been welcomed with loud cheers. The event has been celebrated by our faithful allies and by ourselves with great rejoicings ; even the Russians participated in them ; for on the evening of the '23rd, per ceiving that fires of rejoicing had been lit in the three armies, they responded by lighting fires along all their lines. On the following day races on a grand scale were held on the banks of the Tschernaya. Nothing could equal the coup-d'eeil of this magniAcent spectacle. English, French, and Sardinians were exchanging congratulations on the event which the deep voice of the cannon had announced the evening before from Sebastopol and from the camps. For my part, M. le Marechal, connecting this great event with that upon which your despatch of the 1-ith leaves no doubt, I am happy to state that never did star shine with brighter lustre than that of the Emperor. This peace, signed upon the cradle of a child, bears a happy augury for all. It' the Emperor and Empress will deign to accept them, I beg of you, M. le Marechal, to offer them the respectful congratulations of the army and of myself, and to say to their Majesties that all of us have addressed sincere prayers to Heaven for the welfare of this child given to us, and who has come to secure the destinies of France. I beg of you, M. le Marichal, to accept the expression a my rearettui and denoted sentiments. Marshal I I