The Press. — London, England, 1856-03-08 00:00:00

MARcH 8, 1856. EXCHEQUER BILLS FUNDING BILL. On the motion for the second reading of this bill, on Thursday, Earl GREY drew attention to the "injudicious policy" of raising loans to pay the current expenses of the war. In one financial year by these means we had added little less than 30,000,0001. to the National Debt. The facility of raising money by these means induced neglect in its proper application on the one hand, and extravagance on the cther. In this war all consideration for economy seemed to have been disregarded. The expense of the militia (4,000,0001.) was enormous in proportion to the small number of men (24,000) supplied by that force to the line ; and the vast sums expended upon a system of fortification that modern science proved to be defec tive, were literally thrown away. Before any more money was spent on our fortifications, the noble earl, alluding to Mr. Fergusson's theory and the siege of Sebastopol, urgedlLord Panmure to take the opinion of a commission of naval and military men engaged in the present war, including also some civil engi neers, who might impartially decide on the efficiency of the two theories of defensive works. Lord PANMURE justified the war expenditure. The militia had not only given 27,000 men to the army, but had done garrison duty likewise. The firtifications now erecting were considered necessary for the protection of the coast. Lord MONTEAGLE thought that most unnecessary erpenses had been incurred in the management of this war. He trusted the Appropriation Act would prevent any abuses. The bill was ultimately read a second and third time and passed. OXFORD STATUTES. Mr. HEYwoon, on Thursday, moved an address to the Crown, praying that the Royal consent and approbation might bo withheld from the regulations and ordinances recently sanctioned by the Oxford Commissioners, and laid before Parliament, for the amendment of the Statutes of Exeter, Lincoln, and Corpus Christi Colleges, in the University of Oxford, such regulations and ordinances being in many points inconsistent with the spirit of the Ox ford University Act of 1854. Sir J. PAKINGTON concurred in thinking some of the regulations in question objecti Amble, but moved a verbal amendment to the resolution, by which its import was to a considerable extent modified. Sir G. GREY submitted that the adoption of the resolution in either shape would be attended with much inconvenience; and stated that the statutes under discussion would be referred to the Privy Council for examination and correction. Sir W. Heathcote, the Chancellor of the Exche quer, Mr. Henley, Mr. Cardwell, and other members continued the discussion. Both motion and amend ment were ultimately withdrawn. NATIONAL PORTRAIT-GALLERY. Earl STANHOPE, on Tuesday, moved an address to the Crown, recommending the formation, upon the site of the present National Gallery, of a Gallery of Original Portraits, of persons most honourably com. memorated in British history by eminence in science, war, politics, literature, and art. 'the Marquis of Lansdowne, the °Earl of Ellen borough, and the Earl of Carnarvon, briefly intimated their assent to the proposition, but recommended the alteration of the terms " most honourably commemo- rated" to "most eminent." The motion thus amended was then agreed to. THE LOCAL DUES ON SHIPPING. Mr. LOWE, on Thursday, in answer to Mr. Mac• kinnon, said that the motion for appointment of a c)mmittee to consider this subject was to be made on Friday week. Mr: DISRAELI said that his hon. and learned friend (Sir F. Thesiger) had given notice of an amendment upon the election for this committee. The day for which the motion was at present fixed, was the eve of the Easter recess. He would suggest that under these circumstances it would be more convenient to take the motion after the holidays. Lord PALMERSTON could not conceive that the question of appointing a committeo would be one requiring more than one night's discussion ; and as hon. members would have the holi days before them to refresh themselves from aoy extraordinary exertion, they might, perhaps, not object to extending their debate somewhat into S tturtlay morning. It would be very inconvenient to defer the appointment of the committee. METROPOLIS LOCAL MANAGEMENT BILL. Lord PALMERSTON, on Tuesday, in answer to ques tions from Mr. B u tl er an d M r . T. I)uncombe, said h could not consent to postpone the second reading o this bill. He was informed that it was of im ranee that this bill should be passed before Easter. SALARIES OF COUNTY-COURT JUDGES. lc Lord PORTMAN, on Thursday, gave notice that he • , ould, after Easter, move resolutions on the ques- Lon of the payment of the judges of the county spurts. THE PRESS. The LORD CHANCELLOR stated that a bill on the subject was nearly completed, but he would postpone the second reading till after Easter. THE LAW EXPENSES "IN RE DYCE SOMBRE." Mr. V. SMITH, on Thursday, in reply to Mr. Otway, said, the opinion of the law officers of the Crown on the construction of the 34th sec. act 3 William IV., appeared, so far as he was able to judge from a cur sory perusal of it, to be favorable to the power of the Board of Control to inquire into the circumstances of the case of Mr. Prinsep "in re Dyce Sombre." He could not at present say whether he would sanction an indefinite expenditure from the revenues of India to support Mr. Prinsep's claims, but if upon investigation he found that he had the power, and the circumstances of the case seemed to justify it, he should certainly exercise it. IMPERIAL HOTEL COMPANY BILL. The second reading of this bill—which proposes to remove the National Gallery of Paintings trom its present locality, and to convert the building into an hotel—having, on Monday, been moved, Mr. BENTINCK moved, as an amendment, that it be read that day six months. After a short discussion, in which Mr. Fitzroy, Mr. Bouverie, Mr. T. Duncombe, and Mr. Patten strongly objected to the principle of the bill, and Mr. Ewart, Sir J. Shelley, and Mr. Wilson supporte'l the second reading--the house divided, when the second reading was carried by a majority of 8. The bill was arcordingly read a second time. TAX ON UNDER-GARDENERS. Colonel HARCOURT, on INlonday,called the attention of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the mode in which the tax on under-gardeners was assessed and he CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER gave ex planations upon the subject, and expressed as his opinion that the tax, falling on the masters, could be no hardship to the labouring classes. He thought there was no ground for the interference of Parlia ment. THE EASTER VACATION. Lord PALMERSTON, on Tuesday, in answer to Mr. Spooner, said that the Easter vacation this year would be the same as that of last year, and he in. tended to propose, therefore, that the house should adjourn on Friday, the 14th inst., until Monday, the 31st inst. The following arrangements have taken place during the week : MONDAY. A resolution was agreed to, on the motion of Mr. Wilgon, granting 2:c,000,0001. out of the Consolidated Fund towards making good the supply voted to her Majesty. The second reading of the Trial of Offences Bill, sent from the Lords, was agreed to. The Annuities Bill and the Exchequer•bills Funding Bill were read a third time and passed. The Mutiny Bills passed through committee. TUESDAY. In the Lords, the Turnpike Trusts Arrangement Bill passed through committee. The Commons Enclosure Bill was read a third time and passed, and the Consolidated Fund Bill read a second time in the Lords. the Lords, Lord BROUGHAM having presented a peti tion from the corporation of Sheffield in favour of a reform cf the Ecclesiastical Courts, the LORD CHANCELLOR stated that a bill on the subject was in preparation. Mr. Wat.poLE gave notice that on Tuesday next he should move for leave to bring in a bill to substitute one form of oath for the three oaths of allegiance, supremacy, and abjuration at present taken by members of Parliament. Mr. HENLEY gave notice that when the motion for going into committee on the Partnership Amendment Bill was brought on he should call the attention of the house to the abuse of the forms of the house committed by the substi tution of an entirely new bill in place of that committed pro formit, and that he should on that account move that the bill be committed that day six months. The second re.ding of the Dwellings for Labouring Classes (Ireland) Bill was proceeded with after much opposition. The Metropolitan Local Management Bill was read a second time. WEDNESDAY. The Dissenters' Marriages Bill and Consolidated Fund Bill were read a second time. THURSTAY. The Out Pensioners' Bill (Greenwich) and the Conso lidated Fund Bill (26,000,0101.) went through committee. _ _ Mr. BLACKBURN obtained leave to bring in a hill to extend the provisions of the Railway and Canal Traffic Act, passed in 18454. THE ACCOUCHEMENT OF THE EMPRESS EUGENIE is anticipated to take place before the 14th at the latest. The widow of Admiral Bruat is named as governess to the infant. 1)r. Dubois, the Empress's acconcheur, took up his residence at the Tuileries on Saturday last, and is never absent during the night from an apartment close to his imperial patient. COUNT Oai.oFF (says Le Nord), encountering Marshal Baraguay d'H illiers the other evening in the salons of the Tuileries, is said to have observed smilingly, "Ah!M. le arechal, I believe you lately visited my country." "Yes, Count," replied the Marshal, "I had the pleasure of leaving a card at Bomarsund." 223 THE WAR. THE Mon iteur of Thursday states : Marshal Pelissier has informed the Minister of War that the resolution passed by the plenipotentiaries on the 25th of February last, relative to the armistice, which is to extend to the 31st of March, was known in the Crimea on the 2Mth of February. On the 29t11 of February, at a con ference held at the Tractir Bridge, between the chiefs of the staff of the allied armies and General Tutchimeff, delegated by the commander-in•chief of the Russian army, it was decided that there should be a complete suspension of hostilities. This, for the time, puts an effectual stop to all anti cipated operations. The intercourse that will now take place between the two camps, though of course limited, will no doubt after so long a lapse of actual conflict lead to friendly relations. The asperities consequent on an active state of war have passed away. K.There is no intelligence of any importance from the Turkish armies in Asia Minor. Sir Colin Campbell arrived in the Crimea on the 14th, and was immediately appointed to command a corps d'armee. Our camp is healthy, and the men well drilled. The weather has been severely cold of late. The French soldiers are reported to have suffered much. THE BLOCKADE OF THE BALTIC. H.M.S. .Im*rieuse, Capt. R. B. Watson, arrived at Kiel on the Ist. H.M.S. Pylades, Samson, and Falcon have gone to Elsinore, where they will be followed by the Harrier and Dragon. The Euryalus was expected at Kiel. Intelligence from St. Petersburg, vii Berlin, states that the Minister of Marine, by command of the Grand Duke Constantine, has ordered all the buoys and landmarks in the Baltic to be removed, and all the lighthouses to be extinguished. MILITARY MOVEMENTS AT KERTCH. A despatch from Trieste, March 5, states:— General Vivian is preparing a grant reconnaissance from Kertch, in the direction of Arabat, where the Russians have been concentrating a large force. OFFICIAL DESPATCHES. Lord Panmure received on the 3rd inst. the follow ing despatches from Gen. Sir William Cocizington, K.C.B.:— Sebastopol, Feb. 16. I have the honour to acquaint your lordship that a Russian force, estimated at about 3,000 infantry and Cossacks, appeared on the morning of the 12th inst., on the ridge of Hardoubel, above the valley of Baidar, but retired after a short reconnaissance. The French engineers blew up, on the 12th inst., two portions of the aqueduct which formerly supplied the docks of Sebastopol. Some blasting experiments have been made on the walls of the large barracks, near the dockyard, and the mining is in progress. The weather, for some days past, has been showing the gradual approach of sprin;, and the health of the army continues excellent. General Sir Colin Campbell rejoined this army on the 14th instant. W. J. CODRINOTON, General Commanding. Sebastopol, Feb 19. The health of the army remains good, and we have been enabled lately to continue ball practice and the assembling of regiments for exercise during the very favorable weather of the last ten days. On the evening of the 17th, orders were given for the assembly of the whole infantry of the English army, in contiguous columns, on the brow of the plateau ; but fog and drizzling ruin in the night turned to sleet in the morning, changed the state of the ground, and sent the thermometer down to 18 deg., and to 9 deg. last night. The parade had been, of course, put off; but it would have shown to us all troops rendered efficient in health and strength by the care of the Government at home, and by the exertions and superintendence of the officers com manding divisions, brigades, and regiments. I am quite sure that any of our allies, inclined to be present, would have been glad to see the efficiency of part of the army which acts with them. To-day is a fine clear day of a Canadian winter, thermo meter at 1-1 deg., bitterly cold from the strong breeze ; and this change having come so suddenly, want a caution may very probably have produced some frost-bites. We shall be enabled soon to add to the interest taken in the ball practice with that beautiful arm the Enfield rifle, by giving a few prizes, subscribed for among ourselves, to the best shots. CODRINGTON, General Commanding. The weekly report of Dr. Hall was also inclosed. Dr. Hall states the sanitary condition of the army to be most satisfactory, the rate of mortality being only 15i per thousand men per annum, an average below that of the Guards while doing duty in London. CAMP MOVEMENTS. Three or four days ago the enemy, having been misin formed by his spies that the French had evacuated Baidar, showed seven isotnias of Cossacks and some infantry (about two regiments, it is said) on the heights above that place. Perceiving their mistake, the hostile forces retired, were