The Press. — London, England, 1855-05-05 00:00:00

418 institution? He was afraid that a narrow and per secuting spirit was on the increase in the Church of England. He should not be sorry to see the grant removed, if every analogous endowment were swept away along with it. He moved an amendment to this effect. Mr. MURROUGH contended that be the studies at Maynooth what they may, they were in accordance with the feelings and wishes of the people of Ireland. He would not remove the pittance to a Church which had itself to support another Church alien and hos tile to its interests. _ _ Mr. A. SMITH approved the motion, saying that the strongest hatred to England and Protestantism was inculcated at Maynooth. Mr. BLAND thought the time most unseasonable for raising the question. Mr. HORSFALL quoted Mr. Macaulay and Lord Carlisle to prove that the Roman Catholic religion, wherever it now existed in Europe, tended to de grade the people, to encourage idleness, and to lower civilisation. Mr. HORSMAN, in a long speech, demurred to the question as a religious one, and argued it on grounds exclusively political. The grant was but one link in a chain of policy which had been equally beneficial both to England and Ireland. He traced the history of a grant which originated with a Tory Minister acting under a must auto-Catholic monarch. One of its principal objects was then to prevent the Irish priest from being educated abroad, where he was so likely to imbibe anti-English sentiments. Following the fortunes of the grant to the present moment, he quoted the words of several great states men in its favour, saying that nu leading man in either house had ever lent himself to its repeal. He cited the evidence of the commissioners as a grievous disappointment to the enemies of Maynooth, and detailed the many measures which the house had sanctioned for the relief of the Roman Catholics, the endowment of their schools and hospitals, and the limitation of the Irish Established Church. The Maynooth grant was only part of a system which had insured peace to both countries. No doubt the priest had much influence with the peasant—he was his friend—which the landlord was not, and the law • was not; but the priest had done his duty by his flock conscientiously and laboriously. After a glow ing eulogium on liberty of conscience, charity and tolerance, he declaimed against endangering the present position of affairs in Ireland—now full of promise—where security had succeeded to danger, and tranquillity to agitation. Mr. NAPIER said that they had to deal, net with the history of the grant, but with its working at pre sent. The experiment had failed altogether. We were to have had a loyal priesthood, yet the priests maintained the canon law—a domestic priesthood, yet the priests were in foreign lands—an educated priesthood, but the plan had failed here as on the other points. We were still in profound ignorance as to what was really taught at Maynooth. The debate was then adjourned. EDUCATION BILL, No. 2. Sir J. PAKINGTON moved the second reading of his bill on Wednesday, in a short speech. He had al ready explained its principles at length. Mr. HENLEY opposed it in full detail. The ques tion was, whether we should suspend the present system, by which a great amount of good was being effected, while the new scheme was being put into operation. Although we had many shortcomings, yet, as compared with other nations, our present sys tem was not so faulty after all. He did not think the proposed scheme would improve that education which would instruct the mind and reach the heart. Although the returns s'iowed that many children were not at school, this arose rather from indif ference than opportunity, and there was nothing in the measure to correct that indifference. He en tered at length into evidence to show that in Austria, where education had been quoted as a model, there was really less education and more crime than in England. The same was true of the other German States. Much had bean said of the inferior condi tion of the lower classes in this country, and they bad been contrasted with those of the Continent; but if those who had made these statements had written now, had seen what had taken place in the streets of Vienna, Berlin, and elsewhere, and had made comparisons with the endurance of our own population under suffering and privation, they would have altered their tone. His objections to the bill were that it was not permissive, that it imposed an exclusive charge on real property, that its manage ment would be in incompetent hands, and that its p r ovisions for religious education would lead to diffi culty and discontent. The religious provisions were, in fact, negative in every respect. He objected to raising the standard of education too high, and caus ing children to despise their parents. He concluded by arguing, from the returns, that the proportion of crime was far from following the propor ion of the absence of education. He moved, as an amendment, that the bill be read a second time that day six months. TIIE PRESS. Mr. R. Praulmonz seconded the amendment, ob. serving that it was impossible to separate a civil from a religious education, and that the plan had been tried and failed in America. Mr. MILES supported the bill. The voluntary system, with respect to education, had lamentably failed, and the proposed measure would do much towards supplying the deficiency. He quoted returns to show that under the voluntary system education in many places was actually lessened. Objections had been raised to the measure on the score of its expense, but it should be remembered that it would diminish the expense of maintaining our paupers and prosecuting our criminals. After a slight further discussion the debate was adjourned. There was a discussion on Thursday as to what should be done with the three education bills now before the house. It seemed to be the general im pression that they should all be read a second time, and then referred to a select committee. SUNDAY TRADING PREVENTION. Lord R. GROSVENOR moved the second reading of his bill on Thursday. It was opposed by Mr. Wit kinson, who urged that it would be inoperative from the number of exceptions it contained; by Mr. T. Duncombe, upon the practical ground of the con• venience of working men ; and by Mr. R. J. Philli more as a local bill, and mischievous for that reason. Mr. Fox said that the measure, to be effectual, should be more comprehensive, and argued that if the public feeling was in its favour the same support would not be given to tradesmen who opened their shops on Sunday. Lord Ebrington, the Marquis of Blandford, Sir J. Shelley, and others supported it, as demanded at once by the tradesmen who were prevented from closing their shops ; the servants who were com pelled to attend in them ; and the working men, who considered the measure necessary to their health and social comfort. Sir G. Grey, on the part of the Government, approved of the bill, which would cor rect many of the defects of the present inoperative law, and consult the general feelings of the inhabi tants of the metropolis. The bill was read a second time, and a motion for referring it to a select committee defeated. POOR LAW-SCOTLAND. Mr. E. ELUCE, on Thursday, moved the second reading of a bill which he had introduced to amend the Scottish poor law. The Board of Supervision, appointed by the act of 1845, had shamefully neglected its duties, and the only appeal lay in the sheriff, who was quite out of the reach of :he aged and infirm pauper. The local authorities acted with gross cruelty, and the board made no inquiries; it had, in fact, made but one inquiry since its establish ment. He instanced many cases of grievous suffer ing and privations amongst the poor, especially in the Highlands. His bill provided for the appoint• ment of inspectors, who would visit the parishes periodically, report to the board, and read an ab stract of the report to Parliament. The LORD ADVOCATE opposed the bill. The charges against the Board of Supervision were greatly exaggerated ; from personal knowledge he could bear testimony to their zeal and activity. By the present law the Secretary of State and the Lord Advocate had the power to compel the board to send round inspectors when they thought it necessary. The appointment of inspectors might be advisable, but he trusted that the matter would be left in the hands of the Government. The bill was withdrawn after a defence of the board, and the administration of the poor law in Scotland, from Mr. C. Bruce. THE IRISH CHANCERY. Mr. WHITESIDE, on Thursday, moved the second reading of the first of six bills which he had laid upon the table for the improvement of the Irish Court of Chancery. After a history of the reform already carried out, and a reference to the still greater reform in England, which had done so much good, he explained the objects of his bills. By the first he abolished the Master's Office ; the second erected the then senior Master into Vice-Chancellor, with the same authority as that in England ; the third, based on the report of the committee of 1852, limited the power of receivers, under whom, he said, great in justice, and even crime, was committed; the fourth transferred to Chancery the power of the now ex piring Encumbered Estates Court. Mr. FITZGERALD did not approve of the bills, and thought their introduction especially ill timed just now, when a royal commission was sitting on the subject. Many of the reforms had already been carried out, and Mr. Whiteside only took up existing rules and turned them into a bill. The bill which had been introduced long ago should have been left upon the table till the committee had made its report. Mr. CURRIE and Mr. MALINS characterised this speech as injudicious and unfair. The latter hon. member observed that the proposed measure co incided with the report of the commissioners, of SATURDAY ; which, though not yet published, Mr. Fitzgerald was in possession of the draft, and that he was probably sore at being so ably forestalled. He warmly approved of the bill. Mr. KEOGH said that Mr. Whiteside, before the bill came on fur discussion, was fully aware that the report of the commission was prepared, and thought that it would have been a moderate and practical course if he had allowed his bill to stand over till it was prepared. Mr. HENLEY approved of delay, and Mr. WHITZ BIDE adjourned his motion accordingly. ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM. Tau following reslutions will be proposed at a public metting for "administrative reform," to be held this (Saturday) afternoon at the London Tavern : T hat the disasters to which the country has been subjected in the conduct of the present war are attributable to the inefficient and practically irresponsible management of the various departments of the State, and urgently demand a thorough change in the administrative system. That the true remedy for the system of mal administra tion which has caused so lamentable a sacrifice of labour, money, and human life is to be sought in the introduction of enlarged experience and practical ability into the service of the State. That the exclusion from office of those who possess in a high degree the practical qualities necessary for the direc tion of affairs in a great commercial country is a reflection upon its intelligence and a betrayal of its interests. That while we disclaim every desire of excluding the aristocratic classes from participating in the councils of the Crown, we feel it our duty to protest against the preten sions of any section of the community to monopolise the functions of administration. That an association be now formed to promote, by all constitutional means, the attainment of administrative re form. That the association be called the Administrative Reform Association, and that the following gentlemen, with power to add to their number, be appointed the committee, to collect funds, to prepare an address to the constituencies of the united kingdom, and generally to carry out the objects of the association. THE CHINESE REBELLION. IN the last letters brought by the overland mail the accounts of the rebellion in China seem to prove that the Imperialists are making head again. The last dates from Canton are of the 15th of March- The writer of a letter states:— Affairs at Canton look more settled : for the time, at all events, the rebels have been driven away from the city. The blockade has been put a stop to ; and by a combined movement of the imperial soldiers and the people, Canton. and the forts in its neighbourhood have been freed from the terror•spreading horrors of the insurgents. On the 6th inst. the rebels at Blenheim Reach were taken by surprise, fled precipitately in boats down the river, and for the most part escaped, the imperialists being but too well pleased to regain possession of the forts. The other strongholds of the insurgents also fell into the hands of the imperialists, who are reported to have effected their object by buying up the ringleaders. The imperialists have made a shocking use of their triumph. The place of execu tion has been a vast carnage•field, where hundreds have daily been put to death, in the hope of striking terror into , the minds of the population. At Shanghai, also, the imperialists have succeeded in re capturing the city, followed by frightful atrocities in revenge for opposing the imperial rule. Beyond the mere fact of the capture of the city little more is known with certainty, the accounts being very conflicting. All accounts agree in representing the foul atrocities committed by the mandarins. Nearly five hundred prisoners have been put to death, and some were tortured in the most frightful manner before being put out of the way. Some of the rebel chiefs have succeeded in escaping, but by far the greater numberof the ringleaders have found themselves in the hands of their unrelenting enemy. THE GOVERNMENT OF SAXE COBURG GOTHA hair just promulgated the Law of Succession for the: Duchy. It is to the effect that, in case the reigning , duke should die without leaving direct heirs, the succession shall pass to Prince Albert and his des cendants, but that the reigning King of England an& the heir presumptive to the throne of England shall: be excluded. It is further enacted, that if, when the. succession shall become vacant, there shall be no. descendant qualified to succeed, other than the King and heir presumptive of England, the King and heir . shall be bound to cause the duchies to be adminis tered by a governor, until a descendant qualified to. succeed shall have attained his majority. The apanage of the heir presumptive to the duchies is fixed from his majority at 18,000 florins (about 1,80 0 1.) a year. According to this arrangement, uponthe death of the reigning duke, who has no child, Prince Alfred would become the heir presumptive, PTIDCI3, Albert immediately succeeding. THE ANNUAL BALL AT Pkrus, in aid of the British Charitable Fund, has been fixed for the 15th May. It will take place as usual at the Jardin under the patronage of a number of ladies of rank. On account of the influx of visitors attracted by tho Exhibition, it is expected to prove a fete of unusual splendour.