The Sun. — London, England, 1859-08-05 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS—(YESTERDAY). The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at five o'clock. THIRD READINGS. The following bills were read a third time and passed : Hunslet and Leet Roads ; Lawton, Burslem, and New castle-under-Lyme Roads; London and North-Western (Sutton Coldfleld Branch) ; Ludlow Roads; Sittingbourne and Sheerness Railway ; North Eastern, Bedale, &c., Rail ways Amalgamation ; Finford Bridge and Banbury Roads ; West-end of London and Crystal Palace Railway (No. 1) Herts and Hunts Extension Railway; British and Canadian Telegraph Company, Coke Valley and Halstead Railway, Chichester Harbour Embankment, Norwich and Spalding Railway, Maltreath and Corsddaugan. Marsh, and Epping Railway. THE ANTICIPATED BUILDERS' STRIKE. _ _ Earl GRANVILLE wished Co ITSkeanexilinaiion7vith respect to what he said the other evening, and which appeared to have been misunderstood. He considered it advantageous that the old combination laws against workmen had been abolished. He had no hesitation in saying it was an arbitrary act, which prevented the combi nation of workmen for the legitimate purpose of defending their rights ; but when workmen combined for the purpose of exercising an unjust influence over the operations of trade ; above all, when in th 6 slightest de gree they exercised compulsion over their fellow-work men, he considered their conduct to be unjustifiable. Every workman should be left quite free to assert his own rights for himself. He wished it to be clearly understood in anything that fell from him in favour of the combination among workmen referred in no way to the strike expected amongst the builders, which he considered utterly unjusti fiable. MILITIA BALLOTS SUSPENSION BILL. The Earl of RIPON moved the second reading of this bill. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH did not oppose the bill, but urged upon the house the necessity of keeping the militia in a thoroughly efficient state. After a short conversation, in which the Duke of Cleve land, Lord Churston, Lord Aveland, and the Duke of Cam bridge took part, relative to transferring militiamen to re giments of the line, and the difference between the official strength of the militia and the number actually raised, be ing very short of the proper number, the bill was read a second time. MILITARY SAVINGS BANKS BILL. The Earl of RIPON explained that the object of this measure was to legalise the investment in the military savings banks of various funds respecting which Mr. Tidd Pratt had expressed some doubts whether they could legally be so invested. The house would rejoice to hear that the deposits in the military savings banks already amounted to more than £200,000. (Hear, hear.) The bill was read a second time. The Court of Probate (Acquisition of Site) (No. 2) Bill was read' second time. The Universities' Incorporation Act Amendment Bill was read a second time. _ The Income Tax, &c. Bill was read a second time. IMPRISONMNT FOR SMALL DEBTS BILL. The LORD CHANCE.LLOR said that the object of this bill (which had come up from the lower house), was to di minish the alarming number of commitments for small debts by the county courts. It consisted of two clauses, only one of which he should recommend to the adoption of their lordships. That clause was the first, which provided that no one should be committed without proof of his ability to pay, or of his misconduct in contracting the debt. In committee he (the noble and learned lord) would move the omission of the second clause. Lord CRANWORTH thought that the principle of the present law was right. That principle was, that when a man had been found to owe a debt which he neglected to pay, he might be again summoned ; he might then be examined by the judge, with a view to see whether he was able to pay, and if being able he refused, he might be sent to prison. But suppose he did not choose to appear, it was manifest that he would escape altogether. It seemed to him (the noble and learned lord) that the judge ought to have the power to compel the appearance of persons against whom a second summons was taken out. After a few words from the LORD CHANCELLOR, The bill was read a second time. The Queen's Remembrancer, &c., Bill was read a second time. The County Cess Ireland Acts Contivation Bill was read a second time. The Ministers (Scotland) Bill was read a second time. The Constabulary Force (Ireland) Bill was read a second time. The Manufacturers (Ireland) Acts Continuance Bill was read a second time. The Galway Harbour and Port Act (1855) Amendment Bill was read a second time. FISHING VESSELS PASSING THE NORE BILL. The Duke of ARGYLL, in movinc , the second reading this bill, said it was a bill to abolish . a toll to which fish ing vessels passing the Nore were subjected. The bill was read a second time. The Dwellinge of Labouring Classes (Ireland) Bill passed through committee. The Local Government Supplemental Bill passed through committee. The Colonial Legislatures Power of Repeal Bill passed through committee. The Barbuda Government Bill passed through com mittee. The Cambridge University Commission Continuance Bill was read a third time and passed. RAILWAY COMPANIES ARBITRATION BILL. The report of amendments on this bill was brought up and agreed to. The Pawnbrokers Bill was read a third time and passed. The Boundaries (Ireland) Bill was read a third time and passed. The Marriages (Lisbon) Bill passed through committee. The Charitable Trusts Act Continuance Bill was read a second time. Their lordships then adjourned at twenty minutes past seven o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS-(YESTERDAY.) The SPEAKER took the chair at 12 o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The Lords' amendments to the following bills were con sidered and agreed to :—Blackburn and Preston Road and Bridge; Cowes and Newport (Isle of Wight) Railway; Ringwood, Christchurch, and Bournemouth Railway ; and Metropolitan Railway (Deviations, &c.) The Bombay, Baroda, and Central India Railway Com pany Bill was considered and ordered for third reading. Sir John Ramsden's Estate Bill was read a second time. On the motion of Mr. BRADT, the following motion was agreed to :—That in the case of the Londonderry and Cole raine Railway Bill, standing orders 176 and 204 be sus pended, and that it be an instruction to the general com mittee on railway and canal bills, and to the committee of selection, that they have power to appoint the committee on the bill to meet any day not earlier than seven clear days after the second reading. THE GAS BILL. Mr. W. WILLIAMS presented a petition from the in habitants of Southwark, in London, in favour of this bill. BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. Mr. LANG suggested, as the most convenient course, that hon. members who had motions on the paper should postpone them until the e ven i ng . M - r. LINDSAY, who had a motion for calling the atten tion of the house to the present state of the shipping inte rest, stated that he would comply with the suggestion of the hon. gentleman. His only object at the present stage of the session was to elicit the opinion of Government on the subject. SUPPLY The house then went into committee of supply. £6,000 was voted for class-rooms, library, and other ac commodation. at Queen's College, Aberdeen. On the vote of £11,500 for an embankment of the wall at one side of Windsor Castle, the removal of the dilapidated portions of the edifice and the hundred steps leading to the north terrace, some discussion arose, but it was ultimately agreed to. — On the vote of £482,000 for erecting the new bridge at Westminster and the approaches thereto, Sir 11. WILLOUGHBY said that the vote provided only for the approach at one side of the river, and he did not see why such wealthy counties as Middlesex and Surrey should not be required specially to contribute towards the work by which they would be specially bene fited. He wished to know if the sum in question would be all that was likely to be required for the undertaking._ . Mr. FITZROY said that if any dependence could be placed on the statements of engineers, he had their testi mony that the sum specified would be sufficient for the completion of the bridge and approaches. With regard to Middlesex and Surrey contributing specially to the construction of the bridge, he referred hon. members to the report drawn up-under the auspices of Sir William Moles - worth, from which they would perceive that according to act of Parliament, Westminster bridge was taken out of the category of other bridges. The act stated that this bridge was to be considered a national and not a local work, and that any expenses attendant on it should be defrayed out of the Consolidated Fund. Mr. AYR.TON considered that Government would have acted more wisely if they did not interfere in the construc tion of works like the present, bat leave them in the hands of a municipal body, as was the case in Liverpool and other large towns. After some discussion the vote was agreed to, as well as an additional sum of £40,000 solely for the approaches. NEW FOREIGN OFFICE. On the vote of £130,000 for the purchase of a portion of the site, and towards defraying the cost of the erection of the New Foreign Office, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the principal portion of the vote was required for the pre paration of the ground for the new building, which was stated to be afloat on a basis of peat. 'With regard to the expens e of the building, the Government was for the first time in a p os i tion to state what would be the actual cost of these works. Heretofore the course adopted was to pre sent to the house a moderate estimate, and as works pro ceeded the country found itself involved in enormous ex pense. The sum required for these offices might startle them by its large amount, but the figures might be relied on. Mr. Hunt, the surveyor, stated that the cost for the erection of the building, according to the design of Mr. Scott, would be £230,000, and a responsible builder had undertaken to construct the work for a sum of £232,000. That included everything comprised in th e p l an of Mr. Scott, but did not provide for those contingencies which occurred during the n °Tess o f a large building. Mr. H unt estimated. the ho'le cost for erecting the building at £310,000, and the amount for the site at £190,000; making atotal o f £430,000. That total did not p rovide for furniture and oth er expenses. With respect to the plans, , as had been stat e d on a previous occasion, it v,-as not intended to alter them bef ore t h e re assembling of Parliament. Lord ELCHO reviewed the proceedings already adopted office. He did not agree with otedthteo de partments in reference to the Forel those who considered tho 2 G ri r . ) l thic a s .; ty a i p e ,: w .o a p s ri u i n te su t i new offices, for he thought w ill, pg.. With regard to its partnients required in such a Jt ji than un being incongruous he considered rather an advantage, as nothing to his mind was more The disagreeab le noble lord referred broken monotony in architecture. to Paris and other cities in support of his op inion. Mr. tl' at had inquired TITE defended the committee into the subject, and contended that the Italian st y le of architecture was more suited to public Gothic. lie denied that the latter style ;Idie4gs than the na tional, or that it would b e congruous w ith a large mass o f building that would be permitted to remain undisturbe d in the neighbourhood of the new offices. Sir J. SHELLEY said one of the largest items of expen diture would be for the residence of the Foreign Minister, and he str ong ly o bj ecte d to any such residence, which he thought unnecessary. After a few remarks from Mr. Blackburn, Mr. Bruce, Mr. Coningham, Sir E. Colebroke, Mr. Cross, Mr. Stir ling, and Mr. Buxton, Lord PALMERSTON said there was nothing in' the present vote that committed the house to any particular style of architecture. Whatever his (Lord Palmerston's) opinion might be with regard to the respective merit of Italian and Gothic architecture, nothing would be done in the selection of the style until next session, and then another vote would be required. He totally dissented from the doctrine that bad been laid down, that be cause they had already incurred some expense with reference to one plan that therefore they should adopt that plan, and he took that opportunity of condemning the course adopted by the noble lord opposite (Lord J. Manners) in reference to this. He repeated what he had said on another occasion, namely, that he considered the plan in the Gothic style suited to a monastery, but quite unfitted for a public office, both internally and externally. He denied that there was anything national in the Gothic style, which was introduced from Belgium, or some other part of the continent. Here the noble lord went through a list of pub lic buildings in this country and Ireland to show that a number of the public edifices were not built in the Gothic style. With regard to the propriety of this style in the new building, the opinion of those who were to inhabit it was against its adoption, and to show that the general feeling of those who sent in plans was against the suita bility to the building of the Gothic style to the building, he mentioned that 200 were in different styles, and 30 only were in the style in question. Lord J. MANNERS vindicated himself from the accu sation of the noble lord (Palmerston). With reference to the Colonial-office, instead of having a new Colonial-office he thought the requirements of that office were adequately provided for by the accommodation afforded by Pembroke House. He referred to Manchester, where the Gothic style was preferred, as shown by the fi rst prize being awarded for a Gothic plan for a building for civil business.. He called on the house to reject the noble lord's (Palmerston) views, and not to erect him into a sort of pope in this matter. (Laughter.) Sir J. PAXTON said that having investigated the plan of Mr. Scott in detail, he thought it fully carried out the intention of the house in the first instance. The system of ventilation which Mr. Scott proposed was prepared to carry out, was as perfect as anything of the kind could be, and as regarded light, so far from there being any defi ciency, Mr. Scott had actually overdone his work in pro viding against any such defect. Mr. Scott had presented them with a beautiful design, and he trusted it would not be rejected until there had been some stronger expression of the house against its adoption. After some remarks from Mr. Liddel, Lord Elcho, Mr. Conin_gham, and Lord J. Manners, the vote was agreed to, STATUE OF RICHARD CCEUR DE LION. On the vote — of £1,650 for a pedestal for the statue of Richard Cceur de Lion to be erected in Palace-yard, some discussion arose, but it was ultimately agreed to. , A sum of £5,641 was voted to discharge the claims of Mr. Pennethorne for his professional services. THE SERPENTINE. On the vote of £17,000 for cleansing the Serpentine in Hyde-park, Mr. FITZROY said that when he acceded to office he found that a plan was proposed for purifying the Serpen tine, which not only was not suitable but was very unpo- pular. He then ascertained that in order to carry out the plan adopted in St. James's-pa.rk for removing the mud, draining off the water, and laying a concrete bottom, a sum of between £50,000 and £60,000 would be required. He next" applied to Mr. Hawkesley, the eminent engineer, who made a report which was approved by Mr. R. Stephen son and Sir M. Peto. That report was to the effect that it would not be necessary to drain off the water, and that the mud was not of a noxious character. Mr. Hawkes ley proposed, in order to purify the water, to place a filtering apparatus at the head of the Serpentine through which 2,000,000 gallons orwater would flow daily, and in the whole 60,000,000 in a month, which would effect all that was necessary. THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, AUGUST 5, 1859. charged by petition with corrupt practices, and who has on 'the withdrawal of the petition accepted the Chiltern Hun dreds." This would provide time for some inquiry. (The debate was here interrupted in order that the Hull election committee might be sworn.) On its resumption, Mr. ROBERTS suggested that a select committee should be appointed to inquire into all the cases of withdrawal. Mr. NEWDEGATE thought that Dr. Mitchell had re ceived hard usage from the side of the house with whichhe usually acted, and that the hon. member for Birmingham deserved much credit for the manner in which he had spoken in the case. Sir C. WOOD, in order to give time for considering the question, moved the adjournment of the debate, which was accordingly adjourned to six o'clock this evening. Lord PALMERSTON suggested to the hon. and learned member to move for the attendance of Dr. Mitchell. Mr. ROEBUCK moved that the hon. member for Bod min be ordered to attend in his place at six this evening. Agreed to. NORTHERN DIVISION OF LEICESTER. Mr. STIRLING, the chairman of the committee ap pointed to try the petition against the return of Lord J. Manners hnd Mr. Hartop for the above county, announced that the committee had cometo the resolution that those hon. members were duly elected. The house suspended sitting at four o'clock. The house resumed at six o'clock. LIMERICK CITY ELECTION PETITION. Mr. GASKELL reported from the City of Limerick Election Committee that Major Gavin had been duly elected. (Hear. hear.) The committee also reported, " That certian riotous and tumultuous proceedings took place at and after the election, but it was not proved that they took place at the instigation or with the sanction of the sitting member. That no application had been made to the returning officer to adjourn the poll; that these pro ceedings were not proved to be of such duration or of such a character as to prevent electors from going to the poll." NOTICES OF MOTIONS. Mr. OersLow, early next session, to move an address for a royal commission, to consider whether some equitable mode of assessment might not be substituted for the pre sent system of turnpike and bridge tolls. Mr. BRADY, on Thursday, to call attention to the die missal of a poor-law medical officer. EAST INDIA (CIVIL SERVICE.) On the motion of Mr. KINNAIRD, an address was agreed to for copy of a despatch from the Government of India, dated the 3d of Jnne, 1859, reviewing the report of the commissioners for the revision of civil salaries and esta blishments throughout India. CATHOLIC SAILORS IN THE NAVY. Mr. HENNESSY asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the Government were prepared to carry into effect the recommendation of the late Board of Admiralty respect ing the treatment of Catholic sailors in the royal navy ? Lord C. PAGET said that strictly speaking there was no recommendation on the part of the late Board of Admiralty left with their successors. There was in existence a letter from Sir John Pakingtou to Lord Derby in answer to a memorandum without signature which asked for further facilities for Roman Catholic worship in the fleet and hospi tals. Sir J. Pakington distinctly stated that he had not taken the opinion of the board on the subject, and consequently the present board had no official knowledge on the matter. He might state that the present board were most anxious, as far as was consistent with the discipline of the navy, to give every facility for divine worship to Roman Catholics and other sects dissenting from the Church of England. THE WEE DON INQUIRY. Mr. WISE asked the Secretary of State for War when the report of the royal commissioners appointed to inquire into the state of the books and stores at Weedon, Wool wich, and the Tower, would be presented to Parliament ? Mr. S. HERBERT said the report would be laid on the table before the adjournment. eNAVAL YARD IN SCOTLAND. Mr. COCHRANE asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether, as Scotland furnishes so much of the material for ship-building, and such a large proportion of the workmen employed in the dockyards, it would not be for the public ad vantage to have a Government building-yard established in Scotland ? Lord C. PAGET was afraid he must inform the hon. gen tleman there was no intention on the part of the Government to propose any such scheme. BENGAL ARTILLERY.—DELHI AND LUCKNOW MEDALS. Mr. TORRENS asked the Secretary of State for India whether it was intended to increase the strength of the regi ment of Bengal Artillery; also, when it was intended to dis tribute the Delhi and the Lucknow prize money and the medals, for services in the field against the mutineers, which some time ago were promised to the troops. Sir C. WOOD said that instructions had been issued to enlist 12 new troops or companies of Bengal Artillery. The medals could not be issued until the roll of names of those entitled to them was received from India. COURSE OF PUBLIC BUSINESS. Lord PALMERSTON wished, before the business of the evening commenced, to maks an appeal to those hon. gentle men who had notices on the paper for motions on going into committee of supply. If theywere allowed to go into supply at once they might be able to finish it that evening, and it was needless to say how mnch the duration of the session depended on their getting all the votes. Hon. gentlemen might make their motions on bringing up the report, and he would take care it was presented at an early hour to-morrow (Friday) evening. (Hear, hear.) Sir De L. Evans, Mr. Lindsay, and Mr. A. Smith ex pressed their willingness to postpone the motions of which they had severally given notice. BODMIN "ELECTION PETITION. Mr. ROEBUCK said he rose for the purpose of bringing before the attention of the house a matter affecting their pri vileges, and he meant to conclude with a motion. It would be in the recollection of the house that a petition was pre sented against the return of the hon. member for Bodmin. It would also be in the recollection of the house that the petition was withdrawn. It had come to his knowledge, and he believed it was quite correct, that the hon. gentleman the member for Bodmin being charged with bribery, cor ruption, and treating, had agreed to the following compro mise—that he should at the end of the session retire from the representation he now held, that he should apply for the Chiltern Hundreds, and that in consideration of his do ing so the person presenting the petition should withdraw it. It seemed to him that was what he was justified in call ing a corrupt compromise. The hon. gentleman having been elected to a seat by corrupt practices, and when this charge is made he allows the petition to be presented and all the requisite forms to be gone through, and then at the last moment retires because he is afraid that the imputations made by the petition will be verified. He warned the house against sanctioning such a course after the seeds of bribery and corruption which had been sown all over the country, not by one or two, but by a dozen candidates. It behoved the house to be careful how it sanctioned such proceedings by its aid and authority. He had appeale Ito the noble lord opposite on this subject some nights ago, and had warned, him of what was likely to occur, and that hon. gentlemen would apply for the Chiltern Hundreds to en able them to avoid the punishment. (Hear.) If the house wished to govern the country they must uphold its charac - ter. (Hear.) He was bound to say it had been materially shaken here by the abominable scenes which had recently been exposed. The hon. member for Bodmin thought to escape the punishment of his misdeeds, and to avoid the jurisdiction of the house, but they ought not to let him go until the iron brand had been affixed to him. He was known to say that the committee had dealt very tenderly this ses sion with persons in his position. He might be met by some apt prim prater by a reference to old misdeeds, be cause he had attempted to lay bare those misdeeds—he had for the honour and dignity of the house, and would do what that honour and dignity required. He had no mistrust of the noble lord opposite, and it was rather with a view to strengthen his hands that he moved the following resolu tion :—" That in the opinion of this house any Minister will be guilty of breach of privilege who shall advise the crown to confer the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hun dreds, Steward of the Manor of Poynings or East Hundred, or of Northstead, or the office of Escheater of Munster, on any person who, being charged with corrupt practices, has, with a view to prevent inquiry, entered into an agreement to vacate his seat in consideration of the withdrawal of the petition charging such corrupt practices." Mr. HADFIELD seconded the motion. The questio n h av i ng b een put, b er Col. fo r s NOßTH heffield w w h is e h th ed er to he as h k adthg,eivheonn.naontideeloefarhniesdnimoteinoin to the hon. member for Bodmin. Mr. ROEBUCK—I have done so. Lord PALMERSTON apprehended there was no diffe rence of opinion between the hon. and learned gentleman and himself as to the principle of the resolution. He quite agreed that if any member of the house was charged in a substantive and distinct manner • vith practices such as those to which the motion related, it would be perfectly unbecom ing in any Minister of th e crown to enable such member to avoid inveztiption by giving him the Chiltern Hundreds, or any other office which would vacate his seat. That being so, he must submit to the house that the lionand . learned a • gen tl e man had not made out any sufficient ground for such a general resolution , (Hear.) If the hon. and learned member intended to point such a resolution against the hon. member for Bodmin, he apprehended the proper c ourse would have been to h av e g iv en that hon. memb er notice—(Mr. Roebuck had done so)—if so it was un doubtedly- the duty of the hon. Member for Bodmin, to have attended in his place if he had timely notice that such a charge was to be publicly made ; if he had been in his place, the hon. and learned gentleman ought to have stated he had good reason to believe such a corrupt compromise had been made, and to ask the hon. member whether he disavowed the charge ; the course to be taken would depend on his answer. If he denied the charge, the same course would be adopted as had been taken some years ago on a similar motion of the hon. and learned gentleman, to appoint a select committee to inquire into the case and ascertain whether or not the member charged had made a corrupt compromise. (Hear.) Pending such an investigation it would be impossible for the Government to enable an hon. member to avoid the result by giving him the means of va cating his seat. (Hear, hear.) At the present stage of the proceedings he submitted such a general resolution would not lead to any good result. It would only tend to embarrass the Government. How were they to ascertain who was charged, by whom, and on what grounds ? He would suggest to the hon. and learned gentleman that he should allow the matter to stand over till to-morrow, and in the meantime request the hon. member for Bodmin to at tend in his place ; he could then be asked, whether he ad mitted the charge. If he denied it, and the hon. and learned gentleman stated he had good grounds for believ ing it to be true, it would be for the house then to decide what inquiry should be made. Mr. DISRAELI thought that this was a question into which it behoved the house not to impart any party views. Indeed, whatever, might be the conclusion at which it might arrive, it would not so much affect those with whom he had the honour to act, for assuredly the results of the elec tion petitions which had occurred since the last Parliament were not such as to cast any blame on that side of the house. (Cheers.) He thought it became the house on a question of this character not to avoid the subject-matter of the debate. He had no doubt that the committees of that house had done their duty, and that they had investigated the cases referred to them with as much effect as possible. There had been, no doubt, some petitions presented without due cause, and others which, if investigated, would have been found frivolous. (Hear, hear.) But if the house found that petitions were presented charging corruption and bri bery—if it found after a time those petitions withdrawn, and that was followed by a request from the sitting mem ber to have the Chiltern Hundreds, then he must say that such a series of events would have the worst effect on the public mind unless they were followed by inquiry. He did not catch with sufficient clearness the terms of the motion of the hon. gentleman to be able to say how far that motion was adapted to meet the circumstances of the case. But he agreed both with the noble lord and the hon. and learned gentleman in,the spirit of the resolution. He must say be thought it became the house to adopt some resolution, and to act upon it with decision. He thought, too, that in many instances investigations ought to be followed up after the cases left committees, not out of disrespect to the commit tees, but for the public good. He had given his vote the other evening in the case of Dartmouth with great reluc tance, and only because, after the statement of the hon. gen tleman who was chairman of that committee, he did not feel justified in voting otherwise. But he thought that the house ought to look with great strictness and suspicion at those cases, and to take some step to check them for the future. There were only two courses open to them. They might ad dress the Crown for the issue of a commission, or they might strengthen the hands of the Minister in order to enable him to refuse the issue of the Chiltern Hundreds. No one could doubt this, that it was absolutely necessary to sustain the character of that assembly by laying down some rule on the subject before the prorogation of Parliament. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was not quite sure that the right hon. gentleman had followed out his opening statement that this subject ought to be kept clear of party politics, by the statement with which he immediately followed as to the effect of recent petitions. As he was a member of the Government, and immediately connected with the subject of this motion, he would say a few words upon it. The power of appointing gentlemen to the Chiltern Hun dreds was the only patronage which came directly through the hands of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. (Laughter.) He did not, however, resent the interference of the hon. member with this patronage, because the mode of distribut ing it was a difficulty which he in common with other Chan cellors of the Exchequer had felt. They had no right to ex pect, from members applying, any statement whatever, and any regulations made might have the effect o f strengthen ing their hands. There was already a species of rule laid down by Mr. Goulburn in the year 1842, when the hon. and learned gentleman made a motion on the subject of corrupt practices. On that .. occasion Mr. Goulburn wrote a letter, upon an application for the Chiltern Hundreds, laying down the rule that in the case of members admitting the corrupt practices, the Chiltern Hundreds ought not to be granted. He would go further, and say that where there is prima facie evidence of corrupt proceedings the stewardship ought not to be given. For instance, if an hon. member was in his place and stated that he had reason to believe that corrupt practices existed, he did not think the Chancellor of the Exchequer would be justified in granting the Chiltern Hundreds. If the house could lay down a rule it would no doubt turn out to be of great assistance to the Chancellor of the Ex chequer. All that he asked if this were done was that the rule should be laid down in definite and clear language, so that there might be no difficulty in applying the le. Mr. ROEBUCK said the right hon. gentleman had de scribed the very course which he had taken. A petition had been before that house distinctly charging a member with corrupt practices; that petition had been withdrawn—that was the second step. The third was, that he had risen in his place and stated that he had reason to believe a corrupt compromise had been entered into. Then at the end of the session the member asked for the Chiltern Hundreds. Was not the nail driven home f Could any one doubt that a cor rupt compromise had taken place ? When they went home would they not all adMit that he had only said what was correct? He had thought it right to bring the subject for ward, and he now left it in the hands of the house. Sir G. GREY said that all that was asked for by the Government was that steps should be taken showing the existence of the charge, before anything was done. In the case which occurred in 1542 the members were in their places, were interrogated, answered some questions, and declined to answer others. There was some reason, some tangible ground for acting. But would the hon. gentle man get up in the absence of the member most affected, having as he said, given him notice—(Mr. Roebuck : By letter)—but not knowing whether that letter had reached him. Inasmuch as this was a question of privilege ; and might be brought forward to-morrow the first thing, he certainly thought the hon. gentleman ought not, in justice to absent parties, to press the matter now. He should, if the matter were pressed, move, the adjournment of the debate. Sir H. CAIRNS said that the right hon. gentleman had mistaken the object of the hon. member in referring to one peculiar case only. The object of the hon. member for Shef field was, as he understood, to lay down a general rule ap plicable to that which seemed pretty generally to be admitted to be an abuse. He must say that when there was a petition presented and withdrawn and its withdrawal was followed by an application for the Chiltern Hundreds, there was such a prima facie case as to render it desirable that the hands of the Government should be stayed. Colonel FRENCH thought that the hon. member for Sheffield would do well to assent to the motion to adjourn the debate. From what had occurred it was clear that the Government would not grant the privilege of the stewardship of the Chiltern Hundreds in a case like that to which the hon. gentleman referred. Mr. WHITESIDE did not think that the hon. and gallant member was justified in the statement which he had just made. On the contrary, it appeared that the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in a case like this, did not see that badge of evasion which most hon. members, no doubt, saw pretty clearly. If there were several petitions, followed by with drawals and applications for the Chiltern Hundreds, the hon. gentleman might think how strange it was, but the simplicity of his heart would n o t carry him beyond that. (Laughter.) He must say that he thought that in such cases ground for inquiry existed, and that existing, that the writ ought not to he allowed. Sir G. C. LE WIS thought there was no difference of opinion between both sides of the house as to the end which they ought to have in view. He had himself acted on that principle in the case of Mr. Sadleir. That individual being under a criminal charge, a question had been pnt In the house to him (he being then Chancellor of the Exchequer) whether he would grant him the Chiltern Hundreds? To that he had replied that, pending the criminal proceedings, he should certainly not do so. But he would put it to the house, that upon a question of privilege, without notice, they ought not to agree to a general resolution of this sort. The motion ought to be printed, so as to give the house generally a fair oppor tunity of considering its terms before acting upon it. Mr. HOPE said that in his own case the rule which the hon. gentleman the member fur Belfast seemed desirous to lay down, viz., that in the event of a withdrawal of the pe tition the member could not have the Chiltern Hunchtds, operated most unjustly. In his case the petition had been most unjustly presented, and was withdrawn without his knowledge. Mr. BRIGHT could conceive a case in which a member might be justified in acting in the manner in which the hon. member for Bodmin had done. In the case of a member whose friends had done things without his sanction, he might not like to come before a Parlitmentary committee on account of the expense, and yet his asking for the Chiltern Hundreds might have no corrupt motive. Some members might berich, but others might be of moderate means. He (Mr. Bright) had no acquaintance with Dr. Mitchell, but he could ima gine the question of a probable expense of £l,OOO night be to him one of serious importance, and in that case he might have perfectly incorrupt reasons for what he had done. He had withdrawn in time for the issue of a new writ, and all he had done might quite possibly have been done without cor ruption. In his (Mr. Bright's) opinion it would be quite im possible for the house to pass a resolution asserting that in all such cases the retiring member had been guilty of cor ruption. The principal question, however, was, not what was to be done with the member, but what was to be done with the borough. There was a case in the north of a small borough which did not bear the best character. Rather than go before a committee with the risk of disfranchise ment, it had been arranged in that case to refer the election to the arbitration of a member of Parliament, but they could not therefore stigmatise the sitting member with corrupt practices. He hoped that the hon. and learned member for Sheffield would consent to the adjournment of the de bate, as if anything was to be done, it must be done by alteringthe words of his resolution, and it would be not only fair but necessary to require that Dr. Michell should attend in his place. Lord STANLEY could not quite agree with the hon. member for Birmingham that the resolution would act harshly in cages such as that which the hon. member had quoted. No doubt it would be impossible for a member to withdraw and thus escape the ordeal of an investigation, but if his case were before a committee no personal stigma would attach to him, because the committee would care fully distinguish between his acts and those of his agents. There was no difference of opinion in the house as to the necessity of some amendment in the practice, the only ques tion was the way in which it could be brought about. The proposition of the Government he understood to be that in every case of petition in which the sitting member applied for the Chiltern Hundreds they were not to assume corrupt knowledge on his part, but to grant the hundreds unless some other member would take upon himself the responsi bility of charging corrupt practices. Now if that course were adopted, it was quite clear that 99 cases out of every 100 members so situated must escape, because there was an immense difference betweeninoral certainty and that amount of legal proof which would justify an indifferent member in corning farward. (Hear.) On the other hand, Ault the hon. and learned member for Sheffield proposed was to as sume from a certain combination of suspicious circum stances that corruption had been practised. The suspicious circumstances in this case were that a petition was pre sented, and afterwards withdrawn, and then the sitting member applied for the Chiltern Hundreds, it being only six months since he had been at all the expense and trouble of an election. He (Lord Stanley) thought that such a combination of circumstances formed a prznza facie case of corrupt compromise which would justify some action on the part of the house, would Quggo4t that In the recoluticn there should be inserted, "Any member wh o beep. SUPPLY. The house resolved itself into a committee of supply. Sir M. FARQUHAR resumed the discussion on the state of the Serpentine, and quoted the report of Mr. Page, show ing the exceedingly noisome state of the water at different periods. It had been complained of many times during the last 11 years, the inhabitants of Brompton having met to petition the house respecting it, under the presidency of Lord Harrowby. Nothing, however, was done until the time of Lord Llanover, who begun with St. James's-park. He wanted to know why a plan which had been found successful in St. James's ornamental water should not be tried in the Serpentine. He trusted that his right hon. friend the First Commissioner of Works would have moral courage sufficient to find a remedy for the evil. Sir J. SHELLEY was understood to complain that the house had not as yet had an opportunity of reading Mr. Hawksley's report upon which Government were about to act. He thought it only reasonable that they should have that report before they agreed to the vote. Sir M. PETO admitted that he had seen Mr. Hawksley's report. He believed that the plan of Mr. Hawksley would be effectual ; and that being the case, he could not recom mend emptying the water, and the carrying out of a similar plan to that adopted in St. James's-park, which would cost four times £17,000. With regard to the Ranelagh sewer, Mr. Hawksley's plan dealt with that also, although the evil could not be remedied perfectly until the main drainage plan was carried out. Mr. CONINGHAM did not believe the plan would be effectual, because it did not separate the sewage from the rainfall. Mr. WILLIAMS was in favour of Mr. Hawksley's plan, which they were informed on that gentleman's authority would purify the water. Mr. D. GRIFFITH did not believe that any plan would be effectual which did not cut off the influx of foul water and provide for a supply of pure water. Mr. ALCOCK was convinced that the Serpentine was perfectly pestiferous, and it was the duty of the Commis sioners of Works to take measures to prevent the danger to health which its present state occasioned. Mr. FITZROY explained the difficulties which would be attendant upon the adoption of the same plan as that which was carried out in St. James's-park—the great objection being that a sufficient supply of water could not be obtained to fill the basin if the water was once pumped out. Mr. Hawksley, in his report, drew attention to this, and showed that if all the water were drawn off there was no source from which a supply 0f60,000,000 gallons which would be required could be obtained without an enormous expense, the bed of the Serpentine being 50 feet above the level of the Thames, even if the water from that source could be used, and a water supply by means of wells to fill an area of 40 acres being impracticable both on account of the expense and the comparative smallness of the quantity obtainable. It ap peared from Mr. Page's report that he provided for the diversion of the sewage, and without such diversion the plan would present no great advantages; but some hon. gentlemen seemed to suppose that the flow of sewage into the Serpentine was continuous, but that was not the case. There were two sewers, which, under ordinary circum stances, carried it off, and it was only on rare occasions, when a vast volume of water was washed down and the sewers overflowed that the sewage found its way into the Serpentine. Under Mr. Hawksley's scheme when these overflows took place—which probably was once or twice a year—the sewage would to a certain extent corrupt the water, but that would not affect the scheme, for the putres cent matter jwould be destroyed by passing through the iron pipes in a certain chemical condition, and the water would be returned pure. He did not think under all cir cumstances that any man in his position would be justified in asking the house to spend £60,000 or £70,000 for the purification of this sheet of water, when he had another plan before him, by which he was assured lon the highest engineering authority the work could be as effectually done for one quarter of the amount. If this vote was agreed to by next spring the work would be completed, and they would have in the Serpentine as bright and as beautiful a lake as they could desire. (Hear.) Sir J. SHELLEY complained that they were called upon to adopt this scheme by surprise, it having been only brought to their notice at 20 minutes to four that day. At least they ought to have an opportunity of seeing the report of Mr. Hawksley. Mr. E. JAMES considered that the Chief Commissioner was a little unfairly dealt with in this matter. The right hon. gentleman had consulted an eminent hydraulic engi neer and had taken the best advice, and there was no reason for supposing that the scheme proposed would not be effec tual. If it was postponed until the house agreed to some plan, considering the conflict of opinion that prevailed, the Serpentine would never be purified. Mr. D. GRIFFITH understood that Mr. Hawksley pro posed to take the water from the lower end of the Serpen tine and pump it up to the upper end, filtering it in its pro gress ; but the right hon. gentleman assumed that the sew age could be treated in the same manner, and with the same result, which he (Mr. Griffith) dill not think Mr. Hawasley contemplated. The committee divided, when the numbers were— For the vote 97 Against it • Majority The vote was accordingly agreed to. On a vote of £12,000 for repairing the Crinan Canal being proposed, Col. FRENCH complained of the charge which this and the Caledonian Canal had entailed on the public. Originally the Crinan Canal was a private speculation, but it having incurred a debt of £5,000, and the parties being unable to carry it on, it came into the hands of the Government, which expended £lB,OOO upon it, and after all the receipts were not sufficient to pay its current expenses. He would suggest, whether it would not be better to get rid of these canals, and hand them over to private parties who would keep them up, if it was worth while to do so. He did not intend to oppose the vote. Mr. WILLIAMS thought it high time for the house to make a stand against this outlay. The profit upon the Crinan Canal last year was £BB, but on the Caledonian Canal there was a loss of £l,BOO. Altogether £1,400,000 had been expended upon these two canals, and they did not pay current expenses. Mr. LAING said the explanation of the vote was short and simple. An extraordinary flood having carried away a portion of the works of the old canal, the late Government thought it advisable to restore them, and as the matter was urgent, £6,000 was paid out of the civil contingencies. He could only say that if, as had been suggested, any private company would take the canal into their hands, the Go vernment would not object. Mr. LOCK regretted that the hon. member for Stirling shire was not in his place, and he invariably said that Scot land never had any grant of rublic money. This was a vote exclusively for Scotland. The hon. member in question had told the house that the vote for purifying the Thames was not a national object, and that the metropolis should raise rates for that purpose. He (Mr. Locke) did not see why on the same principle Scotland should not pay for this exclusively Scotch object. Mr. LINDSAY said that there ought to be some principle laid down on which public money was voted. He knew something of the canal, and he thought no reason had been given for the vote. It had never paid its expenses, and he did not see why £12,000 should be spent on a concern which would always fie a loss. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the principle on which the vote was founded was simple. He could understand that gentlemen might criticise the practice of annual payments, which the house was called on to make, and be anxiou s t o get some of these burdens off the public. But that was not the question now. The Crinan Canal did not require an annual vote, but the pre sent vote was for the purpose of repairing the effect of a sudden accident, and the question was, whether the house would allow the traffic of the canal to be stopped, and the canal itself to go to ruin, for want of timely reparation. The late Government would have been inexcusable if they had not ordered the repairs, which, although they had done so without the authority of the house, was a case which did not admit of delay. Mr. BRADY said that the best reason for objecting to the vote was to be found in the following lines of the report of the engineer :—" It has been impossible to trace the fai lure to any more immediate cause than the original imper fection of the embankment." Mr. BLACK said that an extravagant sum had been laid out on the Caledonian Canal fifty or sixty years ago. (" No, no.") It was done at a time when the Scotch members were more at the beck of the Trea. sury than they were now, and were able to get jobs done which they could not now. (Laughter.) If you compared the votes of money for England and Ireland with those for Scotland, it would be found that the latter did not get nearly what it ought (Hear, hear, and laughter.) This canal was not the pro perty of Scotland but of the nation, and it ought not to, be allowed to go to ruin for want of repairs. Mr. LAING said that the embankment in question was that of the reservoir and not of the canal. Mr. Walker, the engineer, stated that £12,000 would restore the reservoir and the canal as it was before. The canal was a great con venience for a large district of Scotland; and although it was only adapted for small steamers, yet if it could be en larged so as to admit the passage of large steamers, it would be a still greater convenience. Mr. FINLAY said the canal was not only useful as a pas sage but as a harbour of refuge for small vessels, which would otherwise have to go round the Mull of Galloway, which was the uttermost point of Scotland. Mr. JAMES hoped the house would not agree to the vote. There was no analogy between this vote and that for the Ser pentine, which latter was a national object, whereas the other levied large tolls on every vessel and passenger that used it. These over-ruling accidents, like the one on which the present vote waa sought, would be constantly occurring if companies were to look for public grants to repair them. The canal was a water highway which shortened the dis tance between Loch Foyne and the Caledonian Canal, and _you never heard of any commissioners of highways coming to the house for public grants. Mr. SMOLLETT, as member for a neighbouring county to that represented by the hon. member for Stirlingahire, although generally agreeing with him in opposing public expenditure, should vote for this grant. The committee divided— For the vote Against Majmity THE SUMTARINE CABLE. The next vote was one of £135,000 to defray the expense of constructing a submarine cable for telegraphic column nication between England and Gibraltar. . 40 . -47 The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER took occa- sion to state the position in reference to the vote whiohthc present Government occupied. When theyhad assumed the nine of office, they found that arrangements had been en tered into by their predecessors with a house in London, for the manufacture of a cable 1,200 miles long, which was to extend from Falmouth to Gibraltar, The actual cost of the cable was fixed at 4115 NA, io that the committee would see that the great bulk of the sum which was asked for the purpose in question was to meet a charge which had been incurred in the case of a contract Which had been already concluded. He hati tauohcd upon the question when he had prepeso o r p uomination of the committee on packet and telef;raphic contracts, and he was of opinion that it was, upon the whole, convenient that it should be dealt with as - a portion of that subject. As this contract had been entered into it was the duty of Government to take the measures which would be required in order to make good the article being manufactured, and likewise in order to prepare the way to make future use of it. For that purpose he asked for £20,000 at present, reckoning that that sum would de fray any charge which would arise between the present time and the next meeting of Parliament, when, if neces sary, he would have the opportunity of making another application. He proposed to apply • the money to make experiments with regard to the peculiar con struction of the envelope of the cable. The com mittee was aware of the difficulties in laying deep sea cables, and how much depended on the weight, and therefore on the materials of which the envelope was com posed. Experiments would require to be made, and the Government also desired to lay out a certain sum of money with a view to the protection of the cable, that the whole winter might not pass without commencing making the envelope. The committee would understand two things ; first, that there was no wish to keep the matter out of the jurisdiction of the committee which had been appointed; and, secondly, that it was in no degree intended to foreclose the question whether it was more expedient to proceed to lay down cables by the agency of the Government on its own account, or to make arrangements with some compe tent and responsible company to undertake it. (Hear, hear.) For his own part, he did not hesitate to say that he had the strongest prepossession against the operation being undertaken by Government, and in favour of others doing it. (Hear, hear.) On the whole, he thought it would be found a very useful and important national enter prise, and he hoped the committee would see that the field of discussion was not a very wide one, and would vote the sum which he now asked. (Year, hear.) Mr. W. WILLIAMS thought the right hon. gentleman had made out a very clear case why the vote ought to be withdrawn, and the question left en ti re l y t o th e comm itt ee which had been appointed. Mr. HANKEY said that every member must recollect the extreme anxiety which prevailed in the last Parlia ment to have a telegraphic communication with Gibraltar. Considering our peculiar situation in the Mediterranean, and that it was of the utmost national importance in the event of a war with France, and considering that as a com mercial speculation it never could pay, although he was un willing to sanction any anticipation of the decision of the house with regard to the expenditure of money, he thought that if ever an exception could be made out it was in this . case. (Hear.) The vote was then agreed to. THE COPPER COINAGE. Upon a vote of £50,000 for copper coinage, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he was afraid it would be necessary for him to make a short state ment to the committee on the subject, but it was one which he had great confidence would be satisfactory. He had the greatest pleasure in proposing this vote, which he ought to tell the committee would be £lO,OOO instead of £50,000. It was immaterial which sum it was, as the profit to be derived would more than cover the expense, and there was no real charge connected with it. The estimate was reduced, be cause at first it was thought that in order to carry on ope rations with energy and rapidity it was desirable to pur chase presses and supply them to the con t rac t ors , w hi c h , on further inquiry, was found not to be necessary. The com mittee had, without doubt, observed when they had occa sion to handle the copper coin of the country that a Feat deal of it was in a very bad condition. He had a specimen of one of her Majesty's pennies, and there appeared round the edges "Lloyd's Weekly Newsipiper, post free," and on the ether side some equally interesting announcement. A great deal of the copper coinage had been investigated, and ' the result was that a large portion of it was found to be very old. Rather more than one-fifth was of dates be tween 1797 and 1805. it varied in weight, and although the practical inconvenience was not great, because the public were familiar with it, yet if an old and a new penny were shown to persons unacquainted with them, no one would ever dream that they represented the same value. The old penny was worth nearly half as much again as the new one. The old penny was coined at the rate of 16 to the pound, and the lightest of the new was 26 to the pound. Only 15 per cent. of the cop per coinage was since 1852. The whole value of the copper coinage was £BOO,OOO and the quantity of copper was 3,530 tons. Taking the copper at £lO7 10s. per ton, the actual value was only £379,000, so that the copper coin was a pure token, the intrinsic value being less than one-half the nominal or apparent value. In order to ascertain the state of the copper coinage a considerable quantity had been examined in the large towns. The copper coinage of towns was better than that of the country, because old coins al ways lingered longer in the rural districts. The result of the investigation in London, Birmingham, and other large towns showed that about one-third of the whole was below ' its legal state, and ought t 6 be withdrawn. A part of it was counterfeit, another part foreign coins, and another injured battered, and inscribed, according to the fancy of individuals ' such as he had stated. The result was that one-third re quired renewal. If it were renewed such as it now was he should be obliged to ask for a vote of £40,000, and that vote would not be replaced, but would be an expenditure out and out. It would, of course, be submitted to cheerfully enough if the copper coinage did not admit of any improvement but he believed it was capable of great improvement. It was exceedingly heavy, and the metal was not very agreeable handling. It communicated a smell, and it was very easy to substitute a metal more convenient. It would be an ad mirable practice to follow in the beat of our continental neighbours. Gentlemen would recollect what was the state of the old copper coinage of France. It was much the same as our own. Th e co i ns h a d almost lost all signs of any effigy, and were rudely shaped lumps of metal. Within the last few years it had been called in and a bronze metal substituted. He held in his hand a French penny, which was a very littl e l arger t h an an English halfpenny. It was very convenient, very nice in appearance, and a most agreeable coin to handle. It was a much more de sirable coin than ours, and the result o f th e operat i on, as he was inform e d, h a d been that the French had paid for the expense of converting the coin, and realised from the re duction of weight a profit not far short of £500,000. No such profit could be expected in this country, the quantity of copper coinage not being so great. But relative to its extent there was no reason why the operation should not ' leave a profit analogous to that obtained in France. The new copper coinage would not affect any question o f the currency or computation; it would leave all such matters exactly as they were ; Ror would it have 'anything to do with the decimal system. If we only substituted for the present coins pieces harder, more convenient, and more agreeable, he did not doubt the public would have equal confidence in them. The effect of improving the copper coinage will be to produce a largely increased demand for it. In Paris the increase in the demand after the new coins were issued was 60 per cent. This experience was very encouraging, as a larger demand would be attended by in - creased profit. The metal proposed to be used for the new coins was bronze; it contained four parts of tin and one part of zinc to 95 parts of copper, which was increased in hardness by the alloy- In reference to this point he should mention that there was a bill passing through the house, extending the penalties for forging the copper coinage to forging coins - of the mixed metal. There was some übt whether they were incurred, by the offence, and as a pre caution it had been thought batter to introduce the bill. The new coins would be much lighter than those in present use ; the change of metal would enable them to be made much thinner in proportion to their superficies, and their intrinsic value would not be more than half that of the pre sent coins. The quantity of copper now coined into 26 of the old pence would make 45 of the new ones. If the 3,500 tons of the old copper were called in and recoined, the profit would be about £92,000 ; but if there was an increased de mand for the new coin to the amount of 25 or 30per cent., that would leave a considerable profit on t h e operation. One great advantage of the new coin would be its superior durability. The use of bronze was not new to the Mint; the metal had been tried for coinage in Canada and Nova, Scotia, and the new issue here would resemble the small coinage adopted in those colonies. He hoped the ce mittee would make no diffi cu l ty i n agreeing to the e m e e ' m e i the sum required for the preliminary expenses of " e change. Mr. GLYN had during the past year heard plaints of a deficiency in the copper coinage " many com- In issuing the new pi eces h e hoped the P of the country. afford facilities for circulating them er eovernment would Mr. HANKEY asked whether 1.1 .sally inevery district. coined at the Mi n t, or b y con rue new copper would be The CHANCELLOR of trect at Birmingham _ to execute a certain the EXCHEQUER proposed the rest by contract, Pection of the work at the Mint and 'probably at Birmingham. Mr. D. Grupe, ITH asked whether the new coinage would not invcive the question of the decimal system The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER believed there was very little life left in the scheme of a decimal coinage ; but he did not propose to enter in the slightest degree into that question. The new pennies would hold precisely the same place in the coinage as the old ; if the Legislature thought fit, it could as well decimalise our coinage with the new issue of copper, as with the pieces now in circulation. Mr. HUBBARD observed, if the decimal system should be hereafter adopted the whole of this new copper coinage would have to pass through the Mint again, as it would be impossible to stamp the pieces with a new designation of value. In accepting the new coinage the house accepted the condemnation of the decimal system. Mr. AYRTON thought, on the contrary, that the new coinage would rather facilitate the change to a decimal system than impede it. The pieces would be exceedin g ly light, and her e afte r five might be coined instead of four, but ho hoped the size of the farthing would not be reduced. The vote was then agreed to. HARBOURS OF REFUGE. On the vote of £174,000 for Harbours of Refuge. Mr. LINDSAY complained of the expense of the works at Dover. If the vote was to complete the present contract he would not object to it, because it was useful and con venient. The scheme, however, was as a whole gigantic, and if entirely completed the expense would be enormous. If the harbour at Alderney was meant as a harbour of de fence, he would not offer any opinion uponit, but he had n o hesitation in saying that, as a harbour of refuge, it would be useless. In case of war they would require 8,000 me n t o hold it, and those men would be infinitely more valPable elsewhere. Why should they spend so large a sum of 'money on a place so near to France and so far from this e mu: a u Mr. LAING said that at Dover they only !datended to complete the present contract. With regard to Alderney XBOO,OOO out of X 1,300,000 was already sperq. He was un able to offer any opinion on the works in . military point of view. Sir MORTON PETO said there appeared to have been var i ou s alterations in the works, Which w ere most injurious. Sir C. 'WOOD said the alter a ti ons complained of arose from the necessity of increasing the size of the harbour. Captain L. VERNON said these works at Alde wou ld enable them to watch and overlook the harbour Cherbourg. They were, therefore, most valuable. The vote was thee agreed to. On the vote of 450,000 for Civil contingencies, Mr. WISE said he considered this vote mere pocket money for the gentlemen employed at the Treasury. He suggested that in future there should be a list of the items of the outstanding advances. There was an item of £2,899 for fees on conferring titles of dignity, but he thought all „. titles ought t o b e g i ven free of charge. 1' nd he should like to know who got those fees. A largo portion of this v o t e wen t to the dipl omat i c service, and such expenditure ought to be checked. He further objected that these charges tb were spread over several years. It was difficult to keep e . ex penditure under ono head. He objected to the expenditure for the Marquis of Bath's visit to Lisbon, which was ut terly useless when they had a Minister there. Mr. HUTT objected to the sum of £3,300 claims for compensation in the Admiralty Court. The CHANCELLOR o f th e E XCHE tQUER, refeng a some r emarks made by Mr. Wise, said that the portion of the expenditure which passed through his hand s , w i t h referen ce t o his visit to the lonian Islands,vas £l,lOO. H e hoped th a t t h e time would soon arrive when the reports which he sent home from the lonianlslands could be made Ildglle, and he took that opportunity of tendering his thanks to the house for the gon fr e o ro m us m f a c k rb i forbearance which it had mani fested in abstaining making inquiries relative to the object and result of his mission to the lonian Islands. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL gave some explanation relative to the expenditure for compensation rit to the proctors who had practised in the C ourt of Admie After a short conv ersa ti on, in which Sd . S. Northcote, • - the Attorney-General, Mr. Disraeli, and _Mr. Laing took part, The vote was then agreed to. The last vote in supply, namely, £162,460 for the disem bodied militia was then agreed to, and Mr. MASSEY put the question, that he report progress and leave the chair, amidst general cheering. PORTS OF DONAGHADEE AND PORTPATRICK. On the order of the day being read for going into com mittee of wamand means, General UPTON gave notice that, next session, he would move for a committee to inquire as to the expediency of maintaining these two ports as packet stations. Mr. WILLIAMS was happy to hear that the hon. and gallant member intended, to call attention to this subject, because twelve years ago they had been told that the sum then voted would be the last asked for. Mr. VANCE reminded the house that it was of great importance that every facility should be given for the com munication between Ireland and Scotland. After a few words from Sir A. AGNEW and Colonel DUNNE, the house went into committee of WAYS AND MEANS, and £250,156 being the surplus of ways and means granted for the preceding year, and £11,984,362 ou t o f th e Consoli dated Fund having been granted to her Majesty, the Chairman reported progress, and the houso resumed. COINAGE BILL. ----- This bill passed through committee, and the house re. sumed. • MILITIA LAWS AMENDMENT BILL. This bill was read a second time, and ordered to be corn. mitted. STAMP DITTIES BILL. On the motion, that the house resolve itself into commit tee on this bill, Mr. SELTOIN gave notice that he would, in commit tee, move the following clause :—" That so much of the Act of 55th Geo. HI., e, 184, and the schedule thereto, as imposes probate and inventory duty where the estate and effects are of the value of £1,000,000 and upwards shall be repealed; and in lieu thereof, in all cases where the estate and effects for or in respect of which any probate, letters of administration, or confirmation, shall be granted or ex pended, or whereof any inventory shall be exhibited or re corded, shall be of the value of £1,000,000 and upwards, there shall be levied and paid to her Majesty the following duties :—For every £lOO,OOO of the whole value of such estate, or any fractional part of £lOO,OOO, the sum of £1,500 in cases of testacy, and the sum of £2,250 in cases of in testacy." Mr. LAING thought the clause could not be introduced into the bill to-night, and suggested that it be postponed till to-morrow (this day). The house then went into committee on the bill, which, as amended, passed through that stage, and the house re sumed. • DUBLIN POLICE BILL. The house went into committee on this bill. The clauses were all agreed to and the house resumed. PROBATE AND LETTERS OF ADMINISTRA TION (IRELAND) BILL. The house next went into committee on this bill, when the various clauses were agreed to. POLICE (COUNTIES AND BOROUGHS) LAW AMENDMENT BILL. The house having proceeded to consider the amendments made in this bill, two new clauses were added, and the amendments were agreed to. TURNPIKE TRUSTS ARRANGEMENTS BILL. The house then went into committee on the Turnpike Trusts Arrangements Bill. Mr. ALCOCK opposed the bill the object of which, he observed, was simply t o l ega li se 'the continuance of tolls on hundreds of miles of road in this country where there was no debt at all. Sir G. C. LEWIS explained that it was the interference of the Secretary of State in exempting trusts from the An nual Continuance Act, that was first complained of. Only 130 trusts were in the fortunate condition described by the hon. gentleman, and solvent trusts would not be interfered with. The bill then passed through committee, the house re sumed, and it was reported without amendments. CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT (CHINA) BILL. This bill passed through committee, as did also the North-Western Territories (British America) Bill, and the Speaker of the Legislative Council (Canada) Bill, and the house resumed. DIVORCE COURT BILL. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL, in moving the second reading of this bill, explained that its first intention was to facilitate the despatch of business in the Divorce Court, but circumstances had since occurred to lead to its modification in certain particulars. The difficulty which had been expe rienced in forming a full court, and the uncertainty which prevailed as to when it would sit, had given rise to much inconvenience, and had led to considerable expense. This was provided for in the earlier clauses of the present bill. He next alluded to clause 4, extending the advantages of the bill to people in Ireland wishing to avail themselves of it. This was not introduced by the" Goverment, he said, but was inserted during the passage of the measure through the House of Lords. He next adverted to the provision made in the bill for allowing the court, at its own discre tion, when it considered it to be for the interests of public morality to do so, to sit with closed door s , a n d t o p reven t all publication of their proceedings. Another point was an enlargement of the Dowers of the court with respect to the children. When the bill was originally introduced, there had been a great deal of discussion as to th, best method of preventing collusion ; and the experience of the court was that it ought to have some additional power, such as the power to direct some antecedent inquiry, in order to test the sincerity of the case. This was a point of consider able difficulty, but it was a point which demanded their careful consideration. It was felt desirable that the Court should be armed with the power to inquire into the facts of the case, where it was und e fe n d e d, if it s ho u ld appear neces sary for the purpose of preventing collusion. The object of all those alterations was to render more satisfactory and ex peditious the progress of business through the Court ; and such being the case, he hoped that the Government would have the support of the house. He concluded by moving the second reading of the bill. Mr. HENNESSY moved that the bill be read a second time, that day three month s , an d strongly opposed its being extended to Ireland, as it was, in his opinion, a most objec tionable measure. That bill facilitated the action of an act of Parliament which both morally and socially was the worst that had been passed for half a century. Ireland ought not to have been included in that bill. Col. DUNNE seconded the amendment. The bill was opposed to the feelings of all classes in Ireland. 111 r. CARDWELL said the clause was open to objet • tion, but it might be considered in committee. He hoped the bill would be read a second time on this understanding. Lord NAAS said that all classes in Ireland were opposed to this bill, and he hoped the Government would give it up. Mr. DEASY concurred that it was equally objectionable both to Catholics and Protestants in Ireland. After a few words from Mr. LYGON and Mr. M'EvoY, Mr. MALINS said that experience had justified his an ticipations of the injurious effects of the Divorce Bill, but while that bill remained the law of the land it was the duty of the house to improve it, and the bill now before the house was intended to have that effect. Heshould therefore sup port it. - Mr. CARDWELL would not pledge the Government to support the clause in committee. The house then divided, when there appeared— For the second readf i ni tg Against it , l3 Majority for —los The bill was thr, i read a second time and ordered to be committed this :F;NDOWED SCHOOLS BILL. Mr. DI7_,LWYN rose to move that the order of the day for gob "g into committee on this bill be discharged, giving notic e that he should next session move to introduce a bill °P. the subject, which he meant to keep in his own hands. He denied the right of Dissenters to some of the schools in question. Mr. LOWE said the object of the bill was to enable the children of Dissenters to be educated in Church schools, and to confer upon them other substantial benefits, among o thers enabling Dissenting trustees to be appointed. Mr. HOPE defended the bill, and the investigation of the subject by the committee of which he was a member. The order was then discharged. TRAMWAYS (IRELAND) BILL. This bill passed through committee pro forma. MEDICAL ACTS AMENDMENT BILL. On the order of the day for going into committee on this bill, Mr. C. EWING moved that the debate be adjourned. This motion gave rise to a conversation, which ultimately terminated by its withdrawal. the house amendment went into was committee. ga t ve d Mr. W. COWPER then moved that th e h ouse go into n committee that day three months. g wi A th f o t u er t aasdhiovritsidoins, and cussiotnh e oved that the Chit' man rep or t pro , r l a i c N lau G se m , mOnr. th c e . first v gress, and ask leave to sit again. The committee divided— For the motion ..... Against it .............. 19 Majority .................... 97 .. ....... ...... The bill then passed through committee. —7B SETTLED ESTATES ACT (1856) AMENDMENT BILL. On the motion for resuming the adjourned debate on this bill, Mr. G. BYNG moved that the debated be resumed tha. day three months. After some discussion the house divided— For the motion Against it Majority The bill was consequently lost. NORWICH ELECTION. Sir M. PETO withdrew his motion for the issuing of a new writ to fill up the vacancy caused by the unseating of Mr. Schneider. Mr. E WART obtained leave to bring in a bill to facilitate the building of cottages in Scotland by proprietors of en tailed estates. Leave was also granted to bring in the following bills : Bill to provide for the enrolment of a reserve force of men who have served in her Majesty's army ; bill to continue the Corrupt Practices Prevention Act (1854) ; bill to amend and extend tho provisions of the Acts for the Inclosure, Ex change, and Improvement of Land ; bill to continue certain temporary provisions concerning ecclesiastical jurisdiction in England ; bill to continue the Act concerning the Ma nagement of Episcopal and Capitular Estates in England ; bill to continue the Act for the Exemption of Stock in. Trade from Rating; bill to authorise the inclosure of cer tain lands in pursuance of a special report of the Inclosure Commissioners of England and Wales ; which were seve rally brought up and read a first time ; and the house ad journed shortly after two o'clock. -32 THE ATTEMPTED- MURDER, IN SHEFFIELD.- About eleven o'clock on Wednesday morning Richard Brown, furniture broker, &c., living in Lambeth - street, Sheffield, was app re h en d e d by detective officer Airey, on suspicion of having attempted to take the life of the man Linley, who was shot in the head about ten o'clock on Mon day night, whilst sitting in the snug at the Crown-inn, Scotland -street. A pistol, supposed to be the one which was used on the occasion, from the peculiarity of the bore and the similarity between the size of the bore and the size of the hole made in the frame of glass by the ball, has been found in his possession. He was in the room in which Linley was sitting, both a few minutes before and a few minutes after the shot was fired. It is supposed that the attempt. on Linley's life was made from jealousy. [ADVERTISEMENT.) —Holloway's Pills and Ointment.— No failure.—The debilitated and aged always find the SUM_ trier a trying season; their delicate appetites fail, their sleep subsides into mere restlessness, the digestion becomes disordered, and if the right means be not promptly taken, fever sets in and their fate is uncertain. All persons at this season should, when well, occasionally take some cool ing medicine, and none before presented to the public ever had the natural and pharmaceutical virtues of Holloway's preparations. Known and valued everywhere, Holloway's p oin t men t supersedes everything fo r ex t ernal ailments. Its healing, soothing action, aided by his purifying ills, cures a like the external or internal ailment, f o r whic e h co a rru are sub stituted sound and healthy functions, a nd th blood becomes wholesome. corrupted POLICE INTELLIGENCE-Aug. 4. CLERKENWELL.—Jane Sullivan, described as a gene ra l servan t, res idi ng a t 3, A e l a nd-streetl Great Windmill-street, Haymarket, was charged _ before M r . C orr i e w ith s t ea li ng on or a b ou t the 17th of June l as t, th e sum o f £4O , t h e mone y o f MIO. Mary Ann Thu r ll, o f 14, Albi on - roa d, I s lington. The prisoner h a d b een em pl o y e d i n the house for about thre e weeks, and when she had left it was ascertained that a drawer had been broken ope n ; and the abov e money m i sse d . Th e pr i son er ha", lately been sp en di ng a great d ea l o f mon ey, but had managed to keep out of the way until the pre vious night, when she was apprehended in th e Liverpool-road, the worse for liquor. In the saw"; Lion in which the prisoner was before several things were missed. Amongst the money stolen was a £lO note of the Bank of England, and th e prisoner had changed a £lO note, and could not give any account of how she became pcs3essed of it. The prisoner denied the charge, and said she never changed a bank note. Mr. Corrie remanded her. THAMES.—Thomas Lewis, a returned convict, and Frances Hammond, a woman of the town, were charged with stealing thirty , five Australian Wye reigns from the person of Robert Muir. The prosecutor arrived in London on Wednesda y' after a successful trip to the diggings in Austra l ia. Soon after he landed he fell in with the female PI soner, and accompanied her to a coffee-house, k e p t by Mr. George Westley, of No. 50, High-stre e t , Poplar. They had a bed in the house, and soon fill e t the female prisoner came downstairs, and was abl a to leave, when Mr. Westley stopped her, and sti 'd, he would not allow her to leave without her husban_4, as she represented Muir to be. She:then said 14 'd was a sailor, and had just come on shore, a m wished to see one of his shipmates. A messenge:f was despatched at her request to the dwelling," the prisoner Lewis, who soon arrived at the COl; house, and stated to Mr. Westle v that he was shipmate, and would look after Muir's welfar e ; He was allowed to enter the bedroom, and o r r h e afterwards left the house in company with the female prisoner, saying it was all right, and in, course of a few hours he should call again and I his shipmate away. Mr. Westley then went to th e _ bedroom, and with difficulty aroused Muir from g; drugged sleep. Muir then said he had been robb e a. of his purse containing 35 Australian sovereig ns He had a belt containing gold of the valu e a £l,OOO abont his p erson , w hi c h f or t unate ly escape d the observation of the thieves. The police then al prehended the pris oners , an d L ew i s , w hil e • „. endea vouring to escape, th rew awa y a purse co ntainin g 22 Australian sove re i gns . T wo co l on i a l notes for n b £165 each were also found upon him. They are believed to have been stolen from another P ld digger, who had given informati on o f his loss the police. The prisoners were remanded. COUNTRY MARKBTB. MANCHESTER—AuG. 4. The market was fairly attended this morning, FL egi t, English wheat and flour in d eman d t o a moderate ei„ at the prices of this day se'nni g ht. Oth er scrts were au : u t . stationary. For oats and oa t mea l th e d emand was l i m itd' at barely late rates. Beans and Indian corn steady. BIRMINGHAM—Ana. 4. t 1 0 A less supply of wheat, and the trade rather dull per qr. under the currency of last week. Barley, oats, it beans taken in limited quantities at former prices. peas there was more doing. LOUTH—Auo. 3, A very small amount of business was done to -day, prices were at an advance on last week, vie., wheat/V and mixed, 41 s to 44 s p er qr . I n o th er sor t s not hi n g 0" consequence doing. EDINBURGH GRAIN—Ana. 3. Sales were heavy to-day, and supplies large. Wheat on the top is Od up.... average Os 3d 111/•_,. Barley on the top 4s 6d .... average O s 3d (low' Oats on tho top is 6d up...... average Os 2d uP:,. Beans on the top Os 6d u p ... average O s ld dov" Averages per Imperial quarter. Wheat. -12ths Barley 1 12 11 0-12ths Oats 1 6 11 0-12ths Beans -12ths Total Supply and Sales. Wheat .1214 qrs Sold 1076 qrs 8ar1ey........ 261 qrs Sold 95 qrs Oats 945 qrs Sold 720 qrs Beans 93 qrs Sold 81 qrs The followi ng were theCORK—AIM. 3. Re a quotations this morning :"*". sto wheat, 21s 'Od to 22s 0 I ; white, 25s 3d to —s Od; barley Od to 32s Od; oats, lls 3d to 12s 6d. DERBY SMITHFIELD—AUG. 2. The supply of fat beasts to-day was a good average ° O l/8 6 ; . best quality in fair request, and for infe r i or a h ea vy Sheep were in v er y good supply, and l am b s were scare eere but in demand. F a t ca l ves rather scarce. Fat pigs " numerous. Beef Mutton . Gd to 7d Pork Lamb 'lidos, nd7tod o t i o d r ca ß lf o s u kin gh s fa 6 t d , 6 to s 60tddp.er atoll LOCAL SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL—AUG. 4. to" - Thera was an inactive business doing in this niarke. q i day, and prices were better. Blackburns, 12—Dovers, North British, Wl—Great Western of Canada, 14/ Shanelds, 35H—Caledonians, 831— L ancashire a nd YorA shire, 95 I—London and North-Westerns, 93i 4--Du Rhenish, 51 f dis.—East Lancashire, 941 41—Berwic i t, 91f 2—Midlands, 104 Chester and Holyheads 49 50 Birkenheads, 721 I—Leeds Northern, 46i 45 2 -EiT t • 0 Counties, 11 f—Grand T runk of Canada, 8 5- I ‘' • Great Western, 681 MANCHESTER—AUG. 4. all The prices were firm this morning, and continued so day, with a quiet business. Leeds, 951--Shoffields,o; London and North-W esterns, 93a— Canadas, 141 . - 1- „ o i r o. Dividend Debs., IN.—Midlands, 1041—Dovers, 4 'm East Lancashire, 9 5---North British, 57k. BIRMINGHAM—AUG. 4. sad There was a dull business doing, and prices do or , about yesterday's rates. South Staffordshire, 101 it' nit g mingham Bank, 27—Birmingham and Midland 1 393. `:;4• Company, 13s 6d.—Birmingham Town and District BP— ing Company, aeot S [AnvEntisEuENT.]—Du Barry's d e li c i ous Rev- gina Arabica Food saves 50 times its cost in other remedies, er cures indigestion (dysp e p s i a ), h a bi tual constipation, lb, vousness, biliousness, and liver complaints, flatulency, tension, acidity, heartburn, palpitation, nervous headam hysteria, neuralgia, noises in the head and ears, pail:l.:no the pit of the stomach and between the shoulders, erYilbe las, eruptions of the skin, impurities and poverty of blood, scrofula, cough, asthma, consumption, dropsy, matism, gout; nausea and sickness during pregn7o. aftear eating, or at sea; low spirits, spasms, cramps, eg, leptic fits, spleen, general debility, inquietude, sleeplessrl irritability, paralysis, tremors dislike to society, blood for study, loss of memory, defusions, vertigo, blood to„ 0 , head, exhaustion, melancholy, groundless fear, indect i l vto wretchedness. It is, moreover, the best food' for janjo and invalids generally, as it never turns acid on er o weakest stomach, nor interferes with a goo d lib o t diet, but imparts a healthy relish for lunch . . er dinner, and restores the faculty of di ges ti on , and 40a. vous and muscular energy to th e most enfeebled Packed with full instructions, in canisters, 11b., 2s. 21b., 4s. 6d. ; 121 b., 225. Super refined quality, 101 b., c i pr , Also Du Barry's Revalenta Arabica. Chocolate PoW contains the greatest amount of easily assimilated new - or ment for strengthening delicate persons, children and sr fants of weak stomach, chest, or nerves, and at uo: f t meal, affords a delicious breakfast, lunch, or supper. be the best dieteti c h omeopath i c prep aration, and mad' to eaten either alone or mixed with Du Barry's Revni i , Arabica Food. Ad m i ra bly a d ap t e d to rear i n f an t s In tins, at Is, 6d. ; 11b., 3s. ; 21b., ss. 9d. ; 51b., 125.; 1 ,,,,t, 265. The 101 b. an d 121 b. tins carriage free, on rec e ipt of y„,7 6 • office order. Du Barry and Co., 77, Regent-stre e t, Load Fortnum, Mason, and Co., 182, Piccadilly; Abbistd, , Gracechurch-street ; 4, Cheapside ; 63, and 150, oz lo -i s . street; 330 and 451, Strand ; 49 and 60, Bishore uxi , street ; 85, Tottenham-court-road. Also at Dn Bewley and Draper ; at Edinburg',, R a i mes an d uo at Scott ; at LiverpoYo 01, rk, Nixon and mes , TBlanc hew ; at Man c h es t er , Shang ampton, Randall and Son, hard, and. Co. at Sow"' Rai BIRTHS. BYRoN of a daughnthe 30th ult., th e H on. Mrs. Augustus Jv ter. „ r ots, CURTIS.—On the 3d inst., at Pailton House, LuttervO r ; Captain Constable Curti4, late 12th Royal Lancers, ° daughter. _, ; f o of WlLsoN.—On the 3d i nst., at Leamington, the w Lieut.-Colonel Townsend Wilson, of a daughter. M ARRIAGES. HALSEY—WILSON.—On the 3d inst., at Claverton Af 6 ll Somerset, by th e R ev. W. W. Spicer, assisted by th e Rev. W. Hale, William Stirling Halsey, of her Majen' r d Bengal Civil Service, second son of Henry Wm. Bi e n° Westgarth Halsey, Esq., of Henley-park, surreP oo , Sophia Victori a , d aughter of the Right Hon. J. W.,..rits,er M.P., of Cl averton Manor, near Bath, and 12, fl ' Belgrave-street, London. Air HARPER—HEA THER.—On the 3d inst., at St. , bott's, Kensington, Francis Harper, Esq., of St.Martw pf in-the-Fields, to Caroline Banksia, second daught er John Heather, Esq., of Brompton-crescent. 4f eett BALLE.—On the 3d inst DEATHS. , Mr. Wm. Balle, of High-o. Stoke Newington. BATH. —On th e 2 d inst ,at 4, New-road, St. G e orge et Mr. Edw ar d John Bath,. aged 62. CLOWES.—On the 3d inst at Norfolk House, Ratbr y road, Dubli n , Alfred Cloves Esq. FOOT. -011 the 4th inst. at 0 , Watkyn-terrace, Cold S ii . f; hour-lane , Camberwell, William Foot, E sq ., of Customs, aged 68. PHILLIPS. —On th e 3d inst ,at Dover, John S. P— hal)* Esq., Culh am House, Oxon, aged 47. TAYLOR. —On the 3d inst., at Hammersmith, the Rev C. Taylor, aged 86. ia Watran.—O n th e 2d bast , at Islington, M r . J a mes Tro te Johnson Waugh, of her Majesty's Court of Probe aged 34. - - LONDON : Printed and Published by MURDO Y°' of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, No• o f Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the county Middlesex, Friday, August 5. 1859. ti