The Sun. — London, England, 1862-02-15 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS—YESTERDAY. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at five o'clock. Earl STANHOPE presented a petition from Derbyshire against the education minute. Lord I3ELPER presented petitions to the same effect. THE HARBOUR OF CHARLESTON. Earl STANHOPE said he wished to ask a question of the noble earl the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, relative to a rumour which had reached this country, to the effect that a second squadron of six ships had been despatched by the American Government, filled with stones, to be sunk at the mouth of Charleston harbour. It had also been reported that a third squadron was in progress of equipment for the same purpose. What he wished to know was whether the Government had re ceived any information bearing on the subject. He had hoped that the despatch of the noble earl had settled the subject, as he had acted in a manner that entitled him to the unqualified praise of the country. He could not think the destruction of a commercial harbour like that of Charles ton could be looked upon as an act of war, on the contrary it could only be looked upon as a war against the bounty of Providence. Ho should also like to know whether any communication had been received on the subject from the French, and whether, if any information had been re ceived, what steps it was proposed to take ?. - - Earl RUSSELL said he had not received any official communication on the subject, and therefore he could only think the rumour was untrue. Charleston harbour could only be looked on as a commercial harbour, and he consi sidered it would be most barbarous to destroy it. The replies of the American Government to representations which had been made to it was that the stone fleet was looked upon as an aid to the blockade, and not for the purpose of destroy ing the harbour. With 'respect to the French Government, that Government took the same view of the subject as that of her Majesty, and had remonstrated against any act which would lead to the destruction of the harbour. He ould not say whether any despatches had been received on the subject by the French Government. THE THEATRES IN PASSION WEEK. Viscount DUNGANNON called tits attention of their ordships to the licenses accorded by the Lord Chamber lain to the various theatres in the metropolis having this year been granted with the omission of the usual clause prohibiting their being opened on Ash Wednesday and during Passion Week. He thought a great part of the religious public would highly disapprove of the alteration. Ho hoped that, on further consideration, the resolution would be rescinded, as it could but act very detrimentally if it was allowed to remain in force. Lord SYDNEY said he was glad of the opportunity of explaining this point, as a great deal of misrepresentation existed on the subject. The alteration in the licenses had been made in consequence of representations that had been made to him by the metropolitan managers of the theatres, and he confessed he could not see why the Haymarket Theatre should remain closed in Passion Week, while the Casinos and the Alhambra were allowed to remain open. If it was thought desirable that the theatres should be closed on Passion Week, then all places of amusement ought to be treated in the same way. There was no in tention of offending the religious feeling of any party, and ho did not anticipate any bad results would follow the change. The subject then dropped. OUTRAGE IN IRELAND. Lord CLEMENTS moved for a copy of the report of the lock-keepers of the river Shannon of the height of the water in the month of August, 1859, 1860, and 1861; and also moved for copies of the report made by the lock keepers at Roosky Lock of an outrage committed by an unlawful assembly of persons, and of the injury corn • mitted on the public property of the river Shannon, at Roosky, on or about the 16th day of August, 1861; also the reports of the police respecting the above outrage, as well as any explanations made to account for the non-interference of the police to prevent injury being committed to the public property, Earl GRANVILLE said there would be no objection to the production of the papers. Their lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS—YESTERDAY. The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock. NEW MEMBER. Mr. J. BPAYLEY-MOORE took the oaths and his seat for Lincoln. PETITIONS. Several petitions were presented against the Revised Code of Education ; for a Reduction in Life Assurances ; against this country taking any part in the Russo-Dutch Loan until the wrongs of Poland were redressed, &c. HOP DUTY. On the motion of Mr. PAPILLON several returns were ordered in connection with the hop duty. NAVAL ESTIMATES. Lord C. PAGET brought up the navy estimates, which were ordered to be laid on the table. ROYAL ATLANTIC MAIL COMPANY. Lord DU NKELLIN gave notice that he would ask her Majesty's Government whether any communication had been received on the subject of the Royal Atlantic Mail Company, and whether there would be any objection to lay it before the house. DISTRESS IN IRELAND. Mr. MAGUIRE gave notice that, on Tuesday next, he would draw the at'ention of the house to this subject. ARMY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT. Colonel SYKES asked the Secretary of State for WaT, in reference to an advertisement in the public papers headed "Army Medical Department," stating that there would be a competitive examination for thirty military assistant sur geons, whether her Maje ty's subjects in India, and coloured British subjects in Canada and the colonies, would be allowed to compete ? Why 1,824 recruits, for the Bengal Presidency alone, were sent out at the end of last year, the fixed establishment of European troops of all arms for India, namely 71,000 men, being at the time exceeded by 9,770 men; and, why the Queen'sßays, ordered home from India, were stopped at Cawnpoor on their march to embark for England ? Sir G. C. LEWIS said that his hon. friend had moved for certain returns last session which contained the greater part of the information which he required. It was not considered desirable to employ coloured persons in the British army, as they were useful only in their own climate. BARRACKS AND MILITIA STORES. Capt. JERVIS asked the Secretary of State for War whether the advertisement in the newspapers of the 10th instant, in which the War-office asked for tenders for the repairs of barracks and militia stores, was correct ; and if it was the intention of the Government to take the militia stores and barracks out of the hands of the county magis rates, and relieve the counties from all future expense for repairs, &e. ? Sir G. C. LEWIS stated that the Home Office did not undertake the duty of providing for the repairs for barracks and military stores for the militia, and the hon. and gallant member was entirely under a misapprehension on the subject. DISTRESS IN IRELAND. Mr. MAGUIRE put a question to the Chief Secretary for Ireland, in reference to a statement made by him on the 9th of February, concerning the districts of Kall and Rib berreen. Sir It. PEEL said that this question was evidently put with the view of discrediting the statement which he had made the other evening on the subject of the alleged dis tress in Ireland. It would take too much time to read the letters from different parties which he had, or he could satisfy the house as to the source from which ho obtained his information. The statement which had been made of the extent of the distress in Ireland originated in a desire to revive agitation. If he was mistaken he would be glad to retract what he had said ; but he could assure the house he believed that the statement as to there having been an exaggeration as to the extent of the distress in Ireland was correct. Mr. MAGUIRE said he asked a question with respect t° a Particular district, and would expect an answer to it. Sir It. PEEL said the hon. member had assumed that what h e ( Sir Robert Peel) had stated was untrue. He had received a lette r that morning from Kanturk, which he would read to the house. Mr. MAGUIRE asked, 84 n entered into ~., n matter was about being ot_ht c .r it wo . uld ew bc competent for him to reply to the The spE aa t t h R on. baronet. libertf to do so. decided that the hon. member was at Sir It. PEEL said on e of the l e tt ers was f rom an cr °Pio guardian of the -Ran lie declined to do so. wilr Union. (Cries of "N ame .") The rightie hon. b arone t then read the letter in question, in h thwriter stated th a t th e distress in Kanturk was not what eves described, and that the statements of Mr. Maguire wo re unfounded. (Cries of Order.") The SPEAKER decided that the right hon, baronet was at liberty to read the letter. Sir R. PEEL then read the rem a i n d er of the letter. He also read a letter from read and Sk u ll , in the o of Cork, in which the writer spoke in ter ms of the greatest censure of the unfeeling conduct of the Irish landlords in that part of the country towards their unfortunate tenantry. ( [Tear, hear.) His statement would be corroborated by hon. members in that hotise, and he would not hesitate to ex . ress his opinions on the subject, notwithstanding the abuse he had received during the last three months from interested and dissatisfied agitators. (Hear, hear.) IRON PLATES. Sir FRE DE RICK SMITH asked the Secretary of State for War when he expected to receive the report of the Iron Plate Committee ; and whether he intended to lay it upon the table of the house _ . Sir G. C LEWIS said that the subject was under con sideration of the Board of Admiralty. I NFRINGEMENT OF TIIE CONVENTION WITH FRANCE. Mr. BENTINCK asked the President of the Board of Trade wh ether it was the intention of her Majesty's ( 10. vernment to introduce any measure in that house or to tal to any steps for the Purpose of putting a stop to the presen t manner of dealing, in this country and in Ireland, with-4 British and French fishing boats captured fo r infringements of the Convention of 1843 ? Mr. M. GIBSON said that there was no comp'.:lt with regard to the manner in which this country acted ;n regard to the Convention; and the French Government had been communicated with on the subject, and the communication had been received in a friendly manner. (Herr, hear.) FORTIFICATION OF THE BRISTOL CHANNEL. Mr. DILLW YN asked the Secretary of State for War whether there is any truth in the report that it is the in tention of the Government to construct fortifications on the islands of the steep and flat Holmes,and the adjacent coasts, for the protection of the upper part of the Bristol Channel.? Sir G. C. LEWIS said that during the misunderstanding with America it had been decided to erect forts on the islands mentioned by the hon. member. CONVENTION BETWEEN SPAIN AND MOROCO. Sir S. NORTHCOTE asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether the Government was in possession of a copy of any convention which had been concluded between the Government of Spain and that of Morocco, whereby one-half of the receipts of the Moorish customhouses has been pledged to the Government of Spain; and, if so, whether they will lay the same before this house ? Mr. LAYARD said that Government were in possession of papers on the subject, but could not at present lay them on the table. Mr. CHILDERS asked the First Commissioner of Works what steps Government proposed to take for rendering the International Exhibition more accessible, and whether any of them will require the approval of Parliament. Mr. COW PER said, that no doubt the approaches to the exhibition were too narrow for the convenience of the number of persons that might be expected when it was opened. The subject was under the consideration of Government, and steps would be adopted to render the means of approaching the Exhibition more commodious, if possible. THE NEW NATIONAL GALLERY. Lord ELCI#IO asked the First Commissioner of Works, whether there was any truth in the report that plans for a new National Gallery to be erected on the Burlington House site have been prepared, and that a vote for its erection is to be proposed to Parliament in the present Session : whether, in the event of such being the intentions of Government, the plans and elevation of the proposed building will be exhibited before any vote is proposed to Parliament ; and, whether any decision had been come to as to the purpose to which the present National Gallery is to be devoted. Mr. COWPER said that there was no d ou bt th e Na- tional Gallery, at Trafalgar-square, would shortly be un able to contain all the collections of national pictures, and of course means must be devised for their reception else where. Lord ELCHO asked whether, in the event of plans being submitted, they would be laid before Parliament before being carried out. Mr. COWPER—That is part of the subject on which the Government have not come to any decision. TRADE MARKS. Mr. BASS asked the right hon. gentleman the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government had any intention of introducing a bill upon this subject. Mr. M. GIBSON said it was understood at the close of the last session that, from the difficulty of the subject, it would be desirable that any bill introduced should be re ferred to a select committee. The Crown had prepared a bill, and was quite willing that it should go to a select com mittee, but the hon. and learned member for Sheffield (Mr. Roebuck) was also desirous of submitting his views to the house on the subject in the form of a bill. The Govern ment had no objection that both bills should be referred to a select committee. CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS. Mr. B. COCHRANE inquired of the hon. member for the King's County whether he would postpone his motion with respect to the subject of competitive examinations for civil service junior appointments to a later period of the session than that which he had named ? Mr. HENNESSY said as he understood the Chancellor of the Exchequer would not be present on that day onwhich he had intended to bring the subject forward, and as he understood the right hon. gentleman was a supporter of the terms of his motion, he should be willing to postpone it. EXTENSION OF PARK:LANE: Mr. CHILDERS, referring to the answer previously given by the First Commissioner of Works to his question, asked whether any decision had been come to i n res p ec t tci the extension of Park-lane, by the opening of Hamilton place. Mr. COWPER—I have nothing of which to inform the hon. gentleman on that subject. (Laughter.) SUPPLEMENTAL ESTIMATES FOR THE ARMY AND NAVY. Sir G. C. LEWIS begged to give notice that the two supplementary estimates for the army and the navy which were now upon the table would be taken on Monday next— first, the supplementary navy vote in committee of supply, and the army supplementary vote afterwards. SUPPLY. Upon the motion for going into committee of supply, THE MASSACRES AT DAHOMEY. Lord A. CHURCHILL asked the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether it was the intention of her Ma jesty's Government to send a commissioner to Dahomey to treat with the King for the entire abolition of his barbarous sacrifices of human beings, and for the discontinuance of the slave trade in his dominions; and further, whether there was any objection to lay upon the table of the house any correspondence or memorials that might have been ad dressed to the Government on the subject. He was sorry to say that it appeared from a letter he had lately received from Dahomey that these massacres were still going on, although not on so large a scale as formerly. Mr. CAVE entirely concurred in the object of the noble lcrd. At the same time he felt that the barbarous King of Dahomey could not be brought to understand any argument except that of force, and would not be bound by any trea ties whatever, however carefully constructed. He would take this opportunity of mentioning one subject to the Go vernment, which was in connexion with the question of the noble lord. He had heard from a highly intelligent corre spondent on the West Coast of Africa that the whole of the United States squadron had lately been withdrawn, with the exception of one sailing corvette. As a matter of course, every slaver hoisted American colours, and our cruisers would therefore now be deprived of even the raise- rable expedients to which they had hitherto resorted, of carrying the suspected vessel to an American ship of war, to have her papers overhauled. lie trusted that some nee expedient would be devised, but under the present circum stances, unless the Government could devise some counter expedient it was clear we must look for a very large increase of the slave trade. He might remind the Government that the authorities of the Federal States had lately expressed their determination in the most marked manner to put an end to the slave trade, and had also given evidence of the sincerity of their determination, by condemning to death, at New York, a slave captain named Gordon. COMMERCIAL TREATY WITH BELGIUM. Mr. W. FORSTER asked the Under Secretary of Slate for Foreign Affairs whether bo could inform the house of the present position of the negotiation with Belgium for a new commercial treaty with that country ; and if, in conse quence of the commercial negotiations between Prussia and France, there was a probability of a revision of the duties levied in the Zollverein on British manufactures. He be lieved there was great doubt felt throughout the manufac • turing districts as to whether any negotiations was going on at all. There was also a rumour, founded on statements in continental and English newspapers, that there was a hitch in the negotiation for a new commercial treaty, in conse quence of the Belgian Government wishing to sell the Scheldt tolls to us upon terms which they did not intend to impose upon France. It seemed they were determined, as a condition of their commercial treaty, that we should capi talise those tolls at a price which would astonish the Chan cellor of the Exchequer, and still more astonish the British tax payer. What he complained of was, that the Belgian Government had tried to make it a condition with us when they had not done so with France. It was not the only occas!on when France had been more commercially fa voured than England. The former had always been fa voured commercially by Belgium, to a much greater ex tent than this country had been. The passing of the French treaty presented a golden opportunity for obtain ing a similar commercial treaty with Belgium and the Ger man Powers; but unhappily that opportunity was lost. No doubt a deep debt of gratitude was due to Mr. Cobden, who had rendered the greatest official service which had ever been accomplished by an unofficial person ; but if he had not confined his services to Paris, but had gone from thence to Brussels and Berlin, we should not have to complain of those difficulties which, obstructed cur cora merc3 with Belgium and the Zollverein. Be asked what was the cause of the apathy of the Foreign-office upon such questions ? For himself, he believed that the fault lay in the first instance with the defective administration of that department in commercial matters, and the want of direct information with regard to them. But perhaps there was a fault which lay deeper still, and that was that commercial men did not look sufficiently after their own interests in the Foreign-office. The French had taken the initiative in con tracting commercial treaties, not only in Belgium and with the Zollverein, but in Austria, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, and it behoved her Majesty's Government to follow that example. Mr. BAINES assured the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs that the sentiments expressed by his hon. friend the member for Bradford were strongly held by the chambers of commerce in the north of England. This was not only a question, however, as to Belgium and the Zolive rein, but a question as to the practicability of some new ma chineryroelrd grievance v p a a n r particularly to t e o a t s h f e a r i n h t a e c r k e st L , enec being introduced in the Foreign-office, having re the Forei British goods were the Leeds Chamber as s of lB s t s ra a d e d ' epu T t h a i t s i o w n a f s ro a m n en.oinco of Commerce made a representation to imposed of t the extreme unfairness with which reate d in Belgiurn,and showed that Bel giumdifferentialgoodduties of between 33 and 150 per cent. in favour of the years, while the imports from of France. During the last five increased 18 to this country had Per cent.,th e ex ta port ßel gium had actually decreased 8 rum England to Belgium Per Cents i while the exports of French goods into Belgium h a d ed 17 per cent. The British manufacturers therefore conaid„w grie vance, and in the words of the nobl e lord at til 1:31 great fa b ith ead an o d f the Foreign Department,it was a question of good utmost pressure which could be put upon a friendly GO. the vernment ought to be put on Belgium to induce her to place this country in the same position as the most favoured na tion. (Hear, heal.) Mr. NEWDEGATE entirely joined with the hon. mem ber for Bradford in urging upon the Government, that if any question was pending between this and foreign nations in relation to commercial treaties, or if there was any pros pect of such treaties being contracted,the provisions of those treaties should be most carefully supervised, and that they should not be hurried so rapidly, as they were told by Lord Cowley,in his despatch of last year, in regard to the French treaty, that the official representative of this country in Franco was unable to follow the details before the whole ne gotiation was completed. Every detail of such a treaty should be well weighed, not only in reference to one or two interests to be affected by it, but in reference to all the interests of the country. It was only natural that ho should take a dif ferent view of the operation of the French treaty from that taken by the hon. gentlemen opposite. Ho scarcely could have thought that this question would have arisen, or he would have been prepared to lay before the house tales of the suffering, distress, and ruin which had afflicted Coventry and the surrounding districts during the last two years. The wretched condition of the ribbon trade had elicited the bene volent consideration of her Majesty, and that of many hon. members of that house. He sincerely thanked them for their benevolence; but it was very sad to see a prosperous trade struck down, and so many thousands of industrious men living from year to year upon the charity of others. (Hear, hear.) They saw a prospect of a large increase in the rates in consequence of the exhaustion of the relief fund, the effect of which would be to extend the distress that now prevailed to classes hitherto comparatively exempted from it. It was enough for him to say, that during several months of last winter 22,000 persons were dependent for assistance on the benevolence of the public as provided by the relief fund. They had hoped that the pressure would cease, but he regretted to say that during several months this winter as many as 14,000 were dependent upon the relief fund, and they still remained dependent upon it ; and this distress extended to the master manufac turers. From 50 to 80 manufacturers in Coventry and the district had been in the Gazette, and this enumera • tion did not include cases of composition with creditors. The number of houses in Coventry vacant was 2,000. The sums withdrawn from deposits in savings banks within the last two years was about £17,000. It would be needless to go further in illustration of facts which were notorious throughout the midland counties. Why did he allude to these matters? To pray the house not to inflict such an other blow as the treaty with France did on the trade of Coventry and the district. It was perfectly true that the trade of this country, as well as of France, Switzerland, and the Rhine, might have been depressed by a change of fashion, but what was the effect upon us ? He spoke as the representative of those men to whom he had particularly alluded. When the trade was slack on the Rhine, in France and in Switzerland, and when the demand from the United States was closed by the unhappy strife prevailing in that once united republic, the whole of the supplies from France, from the Rhine, and from Switzerland, which could find a market nowhere else, were thrust upon the market in Eng land. The quantity of ribbon imported into England in the first 11 mouths of 1861 exceeded from 60 to 70 per cent• the quantity imported in the same months of the two preceding years. Take, again, the position of the watch and clock trade, which was also carried on in Coventry. The same circumstances in a great degree existed in regard to that trade, and he was sure the house would agree with him, when there was a prospect of further commercial treaties being contracted between this and other countries, in urging upon her Majesty's Government the importance of having the commercial provisions of these treaties well considered, so as to protect the trade of this country, whether in large or small departments, from those grievous evils es hich af flicted the district which he had still the honour to repre sent. (Heai, hear.) Mr. J. A. TURNER expressed the same feeling as the hon. member for Bradford with regard to the cotton dis tricts of South Lancashire, which were now suffering great distress, with a prospect of that distress being very much increased before many months passed. The people in those districts did not, however, wish to interfere in the lament able contest which was now going on between the Northern and Southern States of America, (Hear) They wished that ' those States would see the folly of their actions, settle their quarrel, and Lecome amiable to each other once more ; or, if they could not do that, separate as friends ; but they had no desire for the interference of this country in affairs which were so distressing to South Lancashire and the cotton dia -1 tricts. They thought that her Majesty's Government should do all they could to alleviate that distress as much as possible. They suffered not only from a want of cotton, but from a want of demand for their manufactures; and while the Government were endeavouring to stimulate the growth of cotton in India a heavy duty was imposed in that country upon British manufactured goods, which had the effect of excluding them from the Indian market. (Hear.) They had a right to expect that, in negotiations with foreign powers with whom we were on terms of amity, the executive Go vernment would see that justice was done to this country, and that she was placed in as advantageous a position in regard to commerce as other nations. (Hear, hear.) Lord PALMERSTON—With regard to the question put by my noble friend touching the slave trade on the coast of Africa, the house well knows that measures for the suppres sion of the slave trade have occupied the most anxious and continued attention of her Majesty's Government for a great number of years past. My noble friend is probably well aware that two missions have been sent at different times to the King of Dahomey, for the purpose of endea vouring to persuade him to abandon the barbarous practice of human sacrifices, and to assist us in suppressing the slave trade. lam sorry to say that those missions were not at tended by success. Persons, however anxious they may be ' for the attainment of a particular object, must recollect what obstacles the passions and habits of mankind some times interpose to the accomplishment of the purpose they have in kw. This practice of human sacrifice has pre vailed extensively over the whole of that part of Africa; and when you have got a barbarian like the King of Dahomey for the time being, asking him to forego these practices, to which he attaches a value as symbols of autho rity and power, and as convoying tokens of respect for those who have gone before him, would be like asking the pagan Romans to forego the murders they committed in the amphitheatre, or asking the Spaniards of the present day to forego those bull-fights which are disgusting to English spectators, but afford great delight to the people of Spain. Mr. Duncan was sent some years ago to the King of Daho mey. He remained some days at Dahomey, the capital, and the account he gave of what he saw was something truly disgusting. The palace was surrounded by an extensive wall decorated with human skulls stuck upon spikes, as thickly almost as they could be placed together. He was himself compelled to be a witness of one of these human sacrifices. A number of unhappy captives were brought out and being placed in little things like canoes, were thrown over a para pet 40 or 50 feet high, and if that did not kill them they were immediately despatched by persons below. I doubt very much whether any persuasion would induce the pre sent King of Dahomey, who seems to be less imbued with feelings of humanity than his father, to abandon these practices. At the sane time I can assure my noble friend and the house that no opportunity will be lost by her Majesty's Government which is calculated to afford an opening for ne gotiations with a view to accomplishing the desired object. With regard to the slave trade, I think it still more un likely that persuasion will induce him more than it has other African chiefs to abandon that traffic. 'I hey have only been induced to abandon the slave trade when they have been convinced that it was more to their advantage to carry on legitimate trade than the slave trade. The fact is, that the chiefs derive more profit from the slave trade, and the people from legitimate trade. The occupation of Lagos has had a great effect in diminishing the slave trade along that part of the coast of Africa. Arrangements have been made with Porto Nuovo,and if we could only shut up the opening byWariah, which is the only other opening through which they can carry on the slave trade, I believe that we should be able to do very much to stop the slave trade on that part of the coast. The slave trade is carried on there by Spaniards, Portuguese, and Brazilians. Though Spain, Portugal, and Brasil have, as Governments, entered into treaties to put a stop to that trade, yet when a habit is once engrained in a people it is difficult to eradicate it, and there will be found renegades who will take advantage of the facilties which the habits of the country give them to carry on the abominable traffic. At the same time much progress has been made, and my hon, friend is quite right in saying that if the slave trade on the west coast of Africa could be stopped, there are resources of legitimate trade of infinite value, not only to that country but to every country in Europe, and especially to England. Not long ago my hon. friend Captain Foot went from Lagos to Abeo kuta, and, describing his journey, he says there was a great zone in which the cotton plant grew spontaneously, but there was no one to gather it, but evidently its quality was of great value, and well calculated for manufacture. I can assure my hon. friend that no exertions will be omitted, first to eradicate the horrible practice of human sacrifice, and next to stop the slave trade as far as possible. It is quite true that, owing to the civil war in America, the Federal Government has withdrawn the greater part of her cruisers from the coast of Africa. I cannot, off hand, tell my noble friend whether there still remain that number of guns which the United States are bound by treaty to maintain on the coast for the suppression of the slave trade; but it is quite true that the Federal government has shown a most anxi ous desire to pat in force the laws against the slave trade. The prosecutions which have recently taken place at New York are a convincing ptoof of sincerity on their part. In whatever way that unfortunate dispute should terminate, I hope that the American government, whether two or one, will concur in some arrangement with Great Britain by which more effectu d assistance may bo given by the American cruisers, to prevent the crime, which is a capital offence by the laws of the United States. (Hear, hear,) I hope my noble friend will believe that wo are anxious to carry into effect the views he has so properly put forth. With regard to the question started by the hon. member for Bradford, I have the satisfac tion to inform him that negotiations are going on between her Majesty's Government and the Belgian Government, which are conducted in the most amicable and friendly spirit, and which I trust will terminate in a treaty that will give to Great Britain the footing of the most favoured nation, and unaccompanied by any condition, with regard to the capitalisation of the Scheldt dues, England bore a , THE b SITN, LONDON; SATURDAY EVt.NING, FTifilitT'AßY 1862, very prominent part in those negotiations that resulted in the establishment of the independence of Belgium, and therefore if the Belgian nation were to form an exception to all national character, and to be inspired by a sense of gratitude, which I am afraid is not to be expected from collective bodies, they ought to be anxicus to give to Eng land every advantage, equal to or even superior to the ad vantages given to other countries. But our great object was—and we succeeded—to give to Belgium a national representation, and a free constitution. Now, if you give to a country a free constitution by which the passions and the prejudices of the country are actively represented, yor must lay your account and make up your mind to endure the inconvenience which national and local pas sions and prejudices are sure to entail. That has been the case not only in Belgium, but in Spain and Portugal, where, chiefly through the interference of the British Government, representative institutions have been established. Now, wo in this country were a long time before we were taught to believe that freedom of trade was for the advantage of all parties concerned. We know how long the public mind was under the impression that protection to native industry was a benefit. Fortunately we are now entirely undeceived, but Belgium has not as yet got so far in commerical education, and the Belgian Government has to overcome great local pre judices. The Belgians do us the compliment of being much more afraid of the competition of English industry than of French; and therefore they were more easily led to extend to France an indulgence which they were not disposed to extend to England. I trust, however, that that is over, and that we shall in all respects be put on the footing of the most favoured nation. Then there is the question as to the Scheldt dues. When the treaty was negotiated by which the independence of Belgium was acknowledged by the five Powers, it is well known that Austria, Russia, and Prussia most reluctantly agreed to that conclusion, and that they clung step by step, and point by point, throughout that long negotiation to everything that might be advan tageous to Holland, rather than to Belgium, and they made a point that there should be levied a toll on all vessels pass ing through Dutch waters to Antwerp. There was a double object in that—first, to assert the territorial rights of Hol land, and next, to put a check or restraint on the commer cial prospects of Belgium. That toll was to be levied at Carlhuis by the Dutch authorities. It was afterwards agreed by the Belgian and Dutch Governments that the tolls should not be levied at Carlhuis, that the vessels should not be stopped coming up, but that there should be a commission at Antwerp to levy tolls on vessels coming up the Scheldt. The Belgian Government, sensible after wards that this toll would operate as a discouragement to vessels coming to Antwerp, procured a law to be passed in the Belgian chamber, by which the Belgian Government took upon itself the payment of that toll to the Dutch Go vernment, and from that time the vessels were free. That was a vo untary thing on the part of Belgium, and the law might be revoked at any time by the Belgian chamber, and in that event the vessels would have to pay their own tolls, and the nations to whom those vessels belonged would suffer the inconvenience, whatever that might be. of the payment of those tolls. The Belgian Government, in 1851, made a treaty by which they engaged for ten years to pay the tolls on English vessels, and it will be a matter for negotiation after the treaty of commerce is concluded to deal with that question as between Belgium and Great Britain. But I can assure my hon. friend that the Belgian Government have acted throughout with the greatest desire to do all that fair ness and justice require towards Great Britain ; but as they have a popular assembly, and as that popular assembly is swayed, like all others, by ignorance, prejudice, and pas sion, they have had difficulties which might not be felt by a Government of a more despotic constitution. It is said that the:Foreign-office is not well constituted to represent and „to give effect to the commercial interests of the country. Now, having had the honour for a great length of time of being in that department, I think I may venture to assure my hon. friend that he is mistaken in the sup position. It is quite true that in regard to information bearing on the commercial interests of the country the Foreign-office has recourse to the best authority—the Board of Trade. And only see what would be the result of the creation in the Foreign-office of a second department to ful fil the same duties as those now fulfilled by the Board of Trade. But the Board of Trade was in constant communi cation with all the trading interests of the country. It is the depository of a vast mass of information bearing on those subjects; and if there was a trade department in the Foreign-office merely to give the same information, the con sequence would be that there would be two departments doing the same duty. But the opinion of foreign nations is not at all that which has been stated this evening. The hon. gentleman thinks that the commercial interests of this country are neglected by the Foreign-office ; but the reproach cast upon us by continental nations is that our negotiations are conducted only to further the commercial interests of this country. They look upon England as a selfish power, thinking only of trading advantages. And now with regard to the Zollverein. It is quite true that the duties of the Zollverein are very hearty. The feeling of Germany has been that England was advocating the prin ciples of free trade for the purpose of ruining Germany—of inundating Germany with British commodities. Foreign nations have an idea that we give our commodities without taking anything in exchange, that we overwhelm them with presents. They forget that they can take nothing from us without giving us something of equal value, and that the consequence of admitting the products of this country to supply the wants of their consumers is that they impose on themselves the necessity of creating commodities of some kind or other by which they can pay for ours, and therefore their notion is most chimerical. I trust that that fear is now being dissipated. It is being dissipated gradually, and the French treaty will have a material effect in disabusing their minds on this subject. My hon. friend has paid a very deserved compliment to the member for Rochdale—l may name him as commissioner on that occasion, not as a member of this house—Mr. Cobden—(cheers)—for his in valuable services in the negotiation of that treaty. (Cheers.) I am glad to take this opportunity of saying— I may say almost in justification of her Majesty's Government—that it is not our fault, but it arises from what I think the over strained and too refined delicacy of mind of Mr. Cobden that he has not received for his services on that occasion some signal mark of the favour of the Crown. (Cheers.) Honours were offered to him, which he declined from motives which do him high credit. Nevertheless that refusal is certainly a matter of great regret to myself. (Hear.) I assure my hon. friend that blindness or neglect of the commercial in terests of the country is not a fault that her Majesty's Go vernment have fallen into. My hon. friend the member for Warwickshire lamented the fate of the Coventry ribbon makers, and ascribed the distress which they have suffered to the French treaty. I believe my hon. friend is mistaken as to the cause of that distress. It arose, not from any inundation of French ribbons, but from a change of fashion in this country. The manufacturers of this country are not in ono respect, in the condition that is well described in a well-known prologue— " Hard is their fate who here by fortune placed Must watch the wild vicissitudes of taste." Well, it is the vicissitudes of taste that from time to time lead to an increased demand, or a cessation of demand, for particular manufactures. Ladies, who exercise so great a sway in all human affairs—(laughter)—may, by changing their style of dress, inflict distress on one set of manufac turers and give abundant occupation to others. The Co ventry ribbon makers aro suffering from the absence of rib bons on ladies' dresses, while the steel manufacturers of Sheffield are driving a flourishing trade in those implements of destruction—(laughter)—which now form so important a part of ladies' attire. (More laughter.) They have left off the manufacture of things of one kind dangerous to human life, and have taken to making things which unfortunately, though not in an equal degree, have been instrumental in the loss of life in another way. (Hear, hear.) Therefore it is not the French treaty that is the cause of distress in Co ventry, but it arises from the laws of human nature, by which those persons who manufacture articles of luxury, have, as the exigency of the moment determines, greater or less employment in the manufacture of one article than another. I hope, sir, I have been able to answer the ques tion of my hon. friend, and I can assure him that the com mercial interests of the country have not been neglected by her Majesty's Government. (Hear, hear.) ELECTION LAW AMENDMENT BILL. Mr. GRIFFITH asked the Secretary for the Home De partment whether he was willing to name a day on which he could bring forward the Election Law Amendment Bill sufficiently early to secure a full opportunity of passing some bill on that subject through both houses during the present session. Sir G. GREY said, having regard to the exigencies of public business, he was unable to name the precise day, but ho would take care it should be one sufficiently early to allow the house to give the Lill a full consideration. TRANSPORT SHIPS. Colonel DUNNE asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether troops had been sent to America in the vessels Adelaide and Victoria, which were lately nearly lost ; and moved an address for copy of any report made by the com mandant of the troops on board, the Admiralty agents at Cork, and the captains of those vessels ; and further asked if either or both of these captains had retired or been re moved from their command, and the reasons for such re moval; and also moved for any correspondence between Major-General Lord Frederick Paulett and the War-office as to the Adriatic troop ship conveying the Grenadier Guards to America, or any correspondence on the same sub ject with any Government department. The gallant mem ber complained of the unfitness of the ships Victoria and Adelaide, and expressed his opinion that having been built for the Australian trade they were totally unfit for the voyage to North America. Lord C. PAGET objected to producing confidential re ports, but was willing to give the official ones of the Admi ralty agents. The fact was that the Admiralty were well acquainted with the qualities of both ships, having pre viously employed them for the transport of troops to China. The Adelaide put back not because sho was unseaworthy, but simply because she was so unfortunate as to lose the lid of her cylinder. She was thoroughly refitted, and was minutely inspected during a heavy gale off the Eddystone, before she was again sent to sea. 1 he Victoria put back be cause it was thought that after the heavy weather she had experienced she had not coals enough to enable her to make the voyage in any reasonable time. Admirals Swart and Paisley had both inspected and approved her fitness before she was again despatched, and she was sent south about, simply because as there was now no pressure for time, it was not necessary to expose her to the icebergs of the northern passage. Lord F. Paulett had complained of the cooking apparatus in the Adriatic, and of the stowage, but that had nothing to do with the safety of the vessel. As to the captains of the Victoria and Adelaide leaving, it was true that they had done so, but ono had left for private reasons, wholly irrespective of the seaworthiness of the vessel, and the other had retired on account of ill health. Mr. BENTINCK disapproved of any distinction being made between confidential and official reports, and took that opportunity of showing from an official document, in reply to the noble lord at the head of the Government, that the distress in Coventry had been caused by the commercial treaty with France. In 1860, before the treaty came into operation, the import of French ribbons was 442,0001b5. ; in 1861 it had run to 746,0001b5. French ribbons were im ported free, whilst the French charged a small duty on our ribbons, retaining a power of increasing it. Sir G, LEWIS objected to the production of Lord F. Paulett's letter, as a confidential communication. If the house insisted on its production, there would be an end to such communications. Col. DUNNE relied on the assertion of the Secretary to the Admiralty as to the official reports, but believed that no officer would shrink from the publication of the complaints against the accommodation of transports. THE INDIAN ARMY. Colonel SYK ES asked why 1,824 recruits, for the Bengal Presidency alone, were sent out at the end of last year, the fixed establishment of European troops of all arms for India, namely 71,000 men, being at he time exceeded by 9,770 men; and why the Queen's Bays, ordered home from India, were stopped at Cawnpore on their mai oh to embark for England. If 100,600 native troops were reduced, the saving would be only a million, but if 30,600 European troops were sent out, they would cost £3,300,000. While this dead weight was kept upon the finances of India, the efforts of Mr. Laing would be utterly futile. Sir C. WOOD was very glad that the hon. and gallant gentleman had asked him this question, because it enabled him to refuto the charge which had been made against the home Government of having forced a greater number of troops upon India than were required for the safety and protection of her Majesty's Eastern dominions. He would not go into the question of what the military force of the Indian Government ought to be ; but he would remind the gallant member that an overgrown native army had com pelled a far greater expenditure than would represent the capitalised £lO per head, which he calculated was the cost of a native soldier. the Indian Government, with the entire concurrence of every man of sense both on the spot and at home, bad determined to replace the Sepoy forces by a suitable number of Europeans, and thus to render the country as safe as human contrivance could render it against a recurrence of so great a calamity as the Sepoy revolt. The charge against the home Government was that they had thrown upon the finances of India a greater num ber of Queen's troops than ought to have been; and he would content himself with replying that that charge was wholly unfounded. The number of European soldiers which the different Indian Governments estimated in the autumn of 1860 would be required, was 92,000 ; but the home Government considered that an excessive calculation, and he (Sir Charles Wood) took upon himself mate rially to reduce it. The military members of the Indian Council had reported about the same time that, in their opinion, the establishment ought to be only 80,000 men. Of course he could not pretend to sot his own autho rity in opposition to that of gentlemen so much better ac quainted with the subject than he could be, but he did venture privately to suggest to Lord Canning that the number might be reduced to 73,000 men. In the spring of 1861 the home Government had to consider what recruits should be sent out; for the house were no doubt aware that they were only sent once a year, in June or July, so that they might arrive at the commencement of the cold season ; the home Government had taken upon themselves to reduce the establishments of the Queen's regiments from 1,000 to 850 men, and also to reduce the depots to the ex tent of nearly one, half. Now, the casualties of Indian regiments, including the men whose time had expired, were on the average 10 per cent. per annum, and therefore the home Government determined that where the actual strength of a regiment did not exceed 15 per cent. of the reduced establishment, they would not forward any re cruits on the next time for sending them. There were no doubt some regiments where the excess of strength was above the 15 per cent., but the Government thought it would be better to let the number be gradually reduced by casualties, than to put the Indian exchequer to the expense of discharging the surplus men and sending them home. After the number of recruits had been sent out in the spring of 1861, the Indian Government forwarded a new estimate, which was considerably below that which they had previously sent home, and on which the number of the recruits had been calculated in 1861. This new esti mate was for 73,577 men, or within 500 or so of the number which he (Sir C. Wood) had suggested nearly a year before. The yearly casualties, he had said, were equal to 10 per cent., which, in 73,500 men, would be 7,300; and, therefore, to maintain an average strength the least number that ought to have been sent out last spring was 3,650; instead of which, howeNer, the Government had only despatched 2,804, or 800 fewer than the minimum number. (Hear.) The number of European soldiers on the Ist of November was 73,286; and according to a subse quent report it was 74,015. He could not say whether that included all the recruits, for 1,000 artillerymen had been sent out after the rest, and might possibly not have arrived; but even allowing for them, the number was 2,000 below the minimum required to keep up an average strength on the reduced establishment. The house would, therefore, see how groundless was the assertion that the Indian army had been exceeded by 9,000 men. (Hear.) Even assuming, with the gallant colonel, that the Indian establishment was only 71,000 men—though he really did not know how the hon. member had arrived at it, the number of the recruits who had been sent out was 750 fewer than it ought to have been ; for five per cent. on 71,000 men would be 3,550, and the home Government had only sent out 2,800. (Hear.) He now came to the hon. and gallant gentleman's next question, why the home Government had stopped a Queen's regiment which the Indian Government had ordered to return to England ? In 1858 the Indian Government calculated what European force would be required in their opinion to garrison the country, and in 1860 a despatch came home, in which, after two years' delibera tion, they adhered to the estimate they had previously formed. The force of cavalry which they thought Bengal alone ought to have was ten local regiments and three Queen's, with an aggregate strength of 6,600 men. The home government, however, thought that eight regi ments would be sufficient, and orders were given (he re membered that Lord Clyde was rather alarmed at the re duction) that the force should consist of only 5,000, to be afterwards brought down by the reduced establishments to 4,000. At that time there were in Bengal fivo local regi ments, which were directed to be made into th. ee. There were also two regiments in Madras, and one in Bombay. The five Bengal regiments, however, proved to be notsuffi cient to make into three, and one was ordered from Bombay, so that there would have been eight regiments in Bengal, two in Madras, and one in Bombay. The Bengal govern ment, however, said they would not have the regiment from Bombay, and its establishment was thus reduced to seven regiments. The Indian government authorised the forma tion of three regiments out of the local forces, and as soon as they got them they said they would keep them and send home one of the old English regiments. But the English Government declined to sanction that proposal. The autho rities in India had power to make the reduction, and if they declined to do so, it was not for want of having sufficient authority. At any rate the home Government wore not responsible fur any extra charges occasioned by the conduct of the government in India. NATIONAL EDUCATION SYSTEM IN IRELAND. Mr. HENNESSY called attention to the circumstance of an advertisement having been issued by the Commis sioners of Nation Education in Ireland, asking for candi dates fur a sub-inspectorship of schools, and stating that only Roman Catholics need apply ; and protested against it as an attempt to induce Roman Catholics to become parties to the national system. Sir It. PEEL said that it had bean the practice in the selection of inspectors that Protestants and Roman Catho lics were chosen alternately. He wag not aware of the par • titular circumstances of this case. SUPPLY. The house went into committee of supply pro forma; and the chairman immediately reported progress, and the house resumed. HIGHWAYS BILL. Sir G. GREY moved the second reading of this bill. Mr. BARROW said he rose with some reluctance to move that the bill be read a second time that day six months. He looked upon the measure as a confiscation of the rights of property lying beyond the limits of boroughs. Property undoubtedly had its rights as well as its duties, and ho thought it very unwise to take the management of high ways out of the hands of the councils, which had so long managed them. He considered the bill uncalled for, and unnecessary. It was remarkable that during the many years these bills had been before the house, scarcely a single petition was presented in favour of the bill ; and no public meeting had ever been held. On tho other hand, there had been numbers of protests against it. He under stood that the principle of the bill was to establish a system of concentration and centralisation of parishes, and to submit them to a central board. He confessed he looked upon this extension of centralisation and bureau cracy with the greatest apprehension. The house was not fairly called upon to vote for this bill, because it was not supported by the people of this country. I n a period of some 30 years, since the 4 and a Will. IV., parishes had been enabled to accumulate themselves toge ther, and it was in their power to pay a district officer, This power had been exerted in very few instances. He himself knew of no single one; and he could not believe that his oountrymen were such fools as not to avail them selves of it if they found it beneficial. He asked them if any necessity existed for this measure, and if so what ? It was a curious argument to use in favour of this bill, to say that the existing law was not put in force. If the magistrates had been unwearied in attempting to administer the law, and failure had taken place, in such a case it might be rea sonable to find fault with the state of things. According to the present law the parishes elected their own officers, to whom they deputed the duty of repairing the highways. They appointed their own surveyor for their own parish, to superintend their own expenditure; and if the surveyor neglected his duty he might bo3 summoned before the magis trates and fined. By the present law, in the case of any question with regard to the accounts, ready access was given to petty sessions, and if there was any question of error on the part of the petty sessions justices it might be carried to the quarter sessions. It seemed strange that any alteration was required in such a law as that, but if any change wes required, that now proposed was neither right nor justifiable. This bill transferred to the board elected by the districts to be formed theliberties, duties, and responsi bilities of the surveyor of the parish; and if there was any difficulty in getting the road repaired under the present sys tem, he wanted to know by what means the board could com pel the performance of the duty. The present bill repealed the power of punishing the surveyor for neglect of duty, and another clause declared that no member of the board should he responsible in any shape or way. (Hear, hear.) Under the existing law the Recounts of the surveyor must be subject to an examination by the vestry, and if any com plaint were made, the justices in petty sessions would dis pose of the matter without expense, immediately and upon the spot. Surely the board should be called upon on some public occasion and under some responsibility to produce their accounts. The new bill proposed that the board should examine its own accounts, and that they should be subject to no other check except that they were required to publish the accounts in a newspaper and to send a copy to the Se cretary of State, who had to lay an abstract of them before Parliament. He hoped that he had said enough to induce the house to reject such a bill as this, and concluded by moving that it be read a second time that day six months, Mr. BASS supported the bill. He found that the high ways were generally in a bad state wherever he went, and he never met with a surveyor of highways who knew any more about making roads than about making a way to the moon. He contended that if properly qualified men were employed money would be saved to the ratepayers, and the roads would be in a far better condition than they were at present. Colonel BARTTELOT said that he thought, with some alterations and amendments in committee, the present bill might be so framed as to meet the requirements of the case. He helieved that about one-third of the roads in England were in a good condition, one-third moderate, and one-third decidedly bad. Mr. DODSON thought that the bill would not in any way interfere with the principle of local self government. It only extended the area to the unions. The larger area could let out the work with more advantage to contractors, and could afford to employ good surveyors, who were not to be found in every parish. Ile therefore gave the second reading of the measure his cordial support. With regard to the matters referred to by the hon. member for Notts (Mr. Barrow), he considered they could be satisfactorily dealt with in committee. For his own part he thought the best course would be to agree to the second reading, and with the consent of the right hon. baronet (Sir G. Grey) to have the bill referred to a select committee. Colonel W. PATTEN was of opinion that the compul sory government by boards formed a very grave objection to the present bill. Mr. H. BRUCE said the roads of South Wales had been mentioned somewhat disparagingly; but he thought rather unfairly. He recollected when those roads were in a bad state, and when they deserved the name, but now they were very different. Everybody knew that when a road was once put into a good state of repair it did not cost a large sum to keep it in good condition. 0-1 ear, hear.) Mr. DEEDES, said having for many years taken a deep interest in a measure of thiskhljethe was desirous of stating that something should be done to remedy the defects in the present administration of the highway lows, and therefore he could not help saying that he should vote for the second reading of the bill. Bat he wished to observe that he could not agree to all the provisions of the measure before the house. In the first place, he thought it was unnecessarily complicated. He could not see upon what principle the Secretary of State for the Home Department should have to exercise an active part in carrying into effect some of the provisions of the bill, for he thought that duty would be better done if left to the magistrates of counties, who would be far more able to divide the counties into districts than the Secretary of State. From his experience, he could state that a vast amount of money was thrown away in various parts of the kingdom in the repair and management of roads, and he was firmly convinced that if way-wardens were appointed and did their duty, the expenses now lavished in the maintenance of highways would be con siderably reduced. Mr.WALTER thought there was great necessity for some such measure as the one before the house. At present, if highways were out of repair it was hardly possible to en force the legal remedies against the surveyors, who were generally very incompetent persons for the office. He would give his cordial support to the second reading. Mr. HENLEY said that highway bills had been so often before the house, that it would be a curious thing to have a compilation or a variorum edition of them in order that they might see how strangely they differed from each other. His opinion of the merits of the bill would depend on the answer which he received from the right hon. gentleman the Home Secretary to a question he wished to ask as to the true construction of the fifth clause. The bill constituted a board of waywardens, who were to be elected, but the right hon. gentleman was evidently afraid they would not meet, because he imposed a penalty of from £1 to £5 for their non-attendance. Those gentlemen themselves were, however, left to enforce those penalties which he called a very pleasant arrangement. They were actually to fine themselves for non-attendance. That required a degree of virtue which it was possible a board might not always possess. Hear.) They had often heard of church warden's dinners, but here was some nice machinery set up for precisely the same purpose. The board might raise a tax up to 2s. 6d. in the pound, and borrow money to any extent. With all this money in their hands they were to audit their own accounts. This was in effect the same as providing that there should be no check upon the board; and no doubt turtle feasts would be put in as materials for the roads. (Laughter.) As long as the board spent other people's money it was very desirable that there should be an independent audit. He confessed as he read the fifth clause it had relieved him of much of the difficulty he had felt with regard to other bills submitted to the house, but he should be glad to learn from his right hon. friend whether the quarter sessions would have the power to make one district in the county out of several parishes, and from time to time allow other districts to be brought into the system; or if it would be imperative on the quarter ses sions, upon the application of five magistrates, to compel all the parishes to be brought into the district. The nature of the information he would receive should decide his vote. At the same time, on the principle " volenti non fit injuria," he felt that if the magistrates and inhabitants desired to have the district system, their wishes should be acceded to. If they had a good district surveyor, they would be sure to have good roads; if a bad surveyor, bad roads. If the right hon. gentleman gave him to understand that he would enable the magistrates to act piecemeal according to the wishes of the county, he would offer no objection to the second reading. Sir G. GREY aid not address the house in moving the second reading of the bill, as there was nothing new in the measure, several other bills identical in principle having received the assent of the house. Upon the present occasion, with the exception of the hon. gentleman who moved the amendment, no opposition had been offered to the principle of the bill. The measure was one for the formation of highway boards of districts to superintend the repair of the roads by means of a paid district surveyor, whose business exclusively would be to attend to the repair of the highways. The bill rested both on authority and experience. The House of Commons had repeatedly supported its principle. The existing law left it optional to parishes to form these districts, but experience showed that in very few instances was the law made opera tive, inasmuch as the act did not contain a compulsory power. Where, however, the law was carried out the result was most satisfactory ; the roads were kept in better repair, and at a much more economical rate than previously. In South Wales also, where the same principle as that of the present bill was in operation, the same benefits had resulted. It 1859 the total expense of the management of highways in England was at the average rate of .Cll 2s. per mile, whilst in Wales, under the provisions of the South Wales Bill, the expenditure was only about £6 a mile. The hon. member for Nottinghamshire had described this measure as a confiscating one, and as a deparochialising one, but was that a sound objection ? 1 t would not confiscate the rates of the parish, as they would be collected within the parish, and with the exception of the trifling expense which the man agement of the board would entail, those rates would be spent on the parish. It was not a deparochialising measure, because roads could not be considered exclusively as local )raatters. But it was said by the hon. and gallant member for South Lancashire that this would be a cumbrous mode of attaining the end in view, and that the board might be dispensed with, and that all they wanted was a district sur• veyor. He agreed with the hon, and gallant member that what they required was a district surveyor, but it should be recollected that the board was a representative body, and that in a case of taxation there must be such a body. The bill would be open to greater objection if it dispensed with a representative board, and merely left the appoint ment of the district surveyor in the hands of the magis trates, who, without the representative system, would have the power of enforcing the payment of rates. H e believed that the real difficulty in passing this bill through Parliament, though its principle was assented to, was the apprehension of the expense which wou'd be entailed upon the ratepayers. Now he did not deny that, where roads were in a very bad state, there might be an increase of expense in putting them in repair, but when once those roads were, under the improved system, put in good repair, they would afterwards be kept in an efficient state of repair at much less expense than under the old system. The appeal proposed by the bill had been ob jected to on the ground that it was considered cumbrous; he could only say that if the house should be of that opinion in committee, he would be happy to make such amend meats in that respect as might be agreed on. It was also ' asked why should the Home-office meddle in the account ? The object was to procure information which they would b e i n a position to lay before this house. Another objection was that the bill gave an indefinite power of borrowing. It was plain that there was at least this limit—that the money was to be borrowed on the security of the rates, and the louder would of course only lend in proportion N tho sem- rity he obtained. It was said that the bill did not provide for asa isfactory audit. The provision with respect to the audit was not new, and if, in committee a further check could be devised, either on this point or as to the borrowing clause, it would be gladly adopted. The right hon. gentle man had referred particularly to the sth clause, in which he thought there was some ambiguity. He (Sir George Grey) could not see any ambiguity in the language of that clause. He (Mr. Henley) wished to know whether it was imperative on the magistrates to divide the whole county into highway districts, or whether their action was limited to a particular part of the county. It was not incumbent on them to divide the whole county—they could, under the clause, divide a portion of it only. Mr. HENLEY—The answer of the right hon. baronet is so far satisfactory. If the words of the clause are not clear they can be made eo in committee. Sir G. GREY then expressed his willingness to have the bill referred to a select committee, on the understanding that its principle was adopted, and that its details would be considered without unnecessary delay. Lord FERMOY said that the objection he entertained to the bill was that it tended to promote the principle of cen tralisation. It swept away parochial control, and the result would be the establishment of a central board in London for the purpose of securing uniformity. His next objection was a constitutional objection. They ought not to destroy local self-government until it had been fairly tried and had proved to fail. Where it had been tried it succeeded . Where there was neglect, the neglect was traceable to the want of vigour in the district justices. Sir M. W. RIDLEY briefly expressed his concurrence in the principle of the proposed bill. Mr. NEWDEGATE considered that the machinery contemplated by the bill would be found very cumbrous, and that its operation would be found to increase expense instead of promoting economy. The house then divided, when there appeared— For the second reading l4l Against it M ,, jority , FAIRS AND MARKETS IN IRELAND. . Sir It. PEEL moved for leave to bring in a bill for the better regulation of markets and fairs in Ireland, which ho stated to be founded on the , report of a select committee which sat last year. After a short discussion, in which Averal Irish members expressed their gratification at the' early introduction of Irish measures, leave was given. • POOR, RELIEF. On the motion of Mr. VILLIERS, a select committee to inquire into the subject of the relief of the poor in Eng land and Wales was oniered to be printed. POOR RELIEF (IRELAND), Sir R. PEEL moved for leave to bring in a bill to amend the laws in force for the relief of the destitute poor in Ireland. After a few words from Mr. George, Mr. Pollard- Urquhart, and Mr. Lefroy, leave was given to bring in the bill, and it was afterwards read a first time. THE VOLUNTARY COMMUTATION OF CHURCH RATES. On the motion of Mr. ALCOCK, leave was given to bring in a bill for the Voluntary Commutation of Church Rates, and it was afterwards read a first time. The house adjourned at half•past 12 o'clock, ATTEMPTED SUICIDE BY A DISAP POINTED LOVER AT LEEDS. A young fellow of respectable appearance, named John Habbershaw, and who resides in Skinner lane, Leeds, has attempted self-destruction. It ap pears that he had been paying his attentions to Miss Caroline Deighton, No. 12, Tulip-street, but his addresses had not recently been favourably re ceived by that young lady. A little after 10 o'clock on Wednesday night, Police-constable Silverwood, who was on duty in David's-lane, said that Habbershaw came up to him in a very agitated state, took hold of his arm, and said in faint and broken tones, " I'm dying, I have been taking poison. I have swallowed a shilling's worth of laudanum, and I wish you to find me a place where I can lay myself down to die." .Pitts. another officer, stated that he went to the residence of Caroline Deighton alter nabbershaw had been locked up, and obtained from her a small oblong memorandum book, which had been sent to her by the prisoner before he had swallowed the poison. It contained the following letter : "Dear Carry, —This is the last time you will see me. You are the cause of my troubles, but I for give you, and next time we meet I hope it will be in heaven. Had you have taken my advice we should have both been happy, but now it is too late. You need not inquire about 1116, for no one will know my fate. Dear Carry, you must redeem that ring, and wear it for my sake; I hope you will grant me this request, it is the last ! Farewell ! you may find others who may love you dear, but not love like mine.—l remain, a second George Barn well, J. H.—To Caroline Deighton, Tulip-street, No. 12." The over-dose of poison appeared partly to have worked its natural effect before Habbershaw ac costed the policeman, for he must have relieved his stomach of the greater part of the laudanum when taken into custody. Under the tender care of the policeman and the medical man to the force he was soon out of danger. The magistrates thought the lad required the protection of a parent, and they accordingly sent for his mother, to whom he was consigned in the course of the afternoon. COUNTRY 111ARKL2 S. N ip., LIVERPOOL—FEB. 14. We had a fair attendance of town and country buyers to-day, and medium qualities of wheat were in request at fully Tuesday's prices. Flour neglected, and no alteration in value. Oats and oatmeal hardly inquired for. Barley beans, and peas in retail at late prices. WAKEFIELD—FEB. 14. The show of wheat to-day was moderate, and btuliness generally very stmly: Barley again rather lower, and it is difficult to quit. Other articles quiet, but the prices ull" altered. EXETERO—FEB. 14. Wheat, white 7s 6d to 7s 9d I 8ar1ey...... 3s 10d to 4s 6i Ditto new .0s Od to Os Od Oats 2s 9d to 3s 3d Flour, fine, 458 to 475:; seconds, 43s to —s per sack. . CATTLE. The market to .day, with a quiet appearance, was but moderately supplied with stock. Fat beef,p score, 10s6d to lls Ewes, per lb 6d to 60 Pork carcases, Os 6d t o lO s Od W et h ers, d 0...... 6d to 61d Lambs, per lb —d to —d Fat calves, d 0... 7d to 7/ '• Rough fat, 34d per lb. BRISTOL SUGAR--FEB. 14. Our stocks of West India are now exhausted, and the brokers' offices are consequently bare of samples. Refined goods are now more plentiful. Molasses in very good sup ply. Rum at about former rates. FOREIGN MAIL PACKET LIST. MAILS DUE. Australia and Mauritius, via Southampton. Feb, 18. Marseilles ... Feb. 13. Brazil and Cape Ve r ds, by via British packet. March 6. Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St. Helena March 3• China, Penang, and Singapore, via Southampt on F e b. 18. via Marseilles Feb. 13. Falkland Island., March 6. Gibraltar, via Southampton India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southampton Feb. 18. via Marseilles Feb. 13. India (Bombay), via Southampton Feb. --'. via Marseilles F e b . 20. Lisbon Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via Southampton Feb. ---. . via Marseilles Feb. 13. Newfoundland Oporto and Vigo U. S. and British N. America, ty Brit. packet Feb. 1 3 . • by U.S. packet b CFeb, 12. W.C. of Africa, M a d e i ra, and Te y anadian packet neriffe Mar. 10. Bahamas, via New York Feb. 1 3 . Mexico ....Feb. 28. All parts of West Indies, including Chili, Peru, }Feb. l3. California, and Briti s h Columbia.. BIRTHS. - - - HUNT.—')n the 12th inst., at 29, Mall, Clifton, the wife of Captain Dutton Hunt, of Farm-bill Park, Stroud, of a daughter. PRESCOTT.—On the 11th inst., at Avon Villa, Bourne' mouth, the wife of Colonel A. Prescott, Bombay Cavalry", of a daughter. SMYTH.—On the 13th inst., at Kensington Palace, the wife of the Rev. Vere B. Smyth, of a daughter. MOORS. --On the 9th lint,. at Westbourne-place, Hyde park, the wife o f James Moore, Esq., R.N., of a (laugh" ter. MARRIAGES. ADAms —WORLD.—On the 12th inst., at St. Luke's, Mid dlesex, Thomas W. Adam s , Esq., son of John Adams, Esq., of Lambeth, to Jeannette, daughter of Dr. World, of City-road, London. CHAMBERLIN—WHITMORE.—On the 12th inst., at Frew' - , ham, near Farnham, Surrey, Frederick Chamberlin, }NS: of Fir-m ' rove, Farnham, to Mary, y oungest daughter 0 + the late Edward Whitmore, Esq. DEATHS. DICK.—On the 12th inst ,at Dawlish, Admiral Thotua° Dick, aged BG. DOIIREE.—On the 12th inst., at The Priory, Wellington!. Somerset, Samuel Dob ree , E sq ., J . P . f or the counties o f Sussex and Somerset, aged 68. GOWAN.—On the 13th inst., at 8, Albert-road, Regent ' '' park, Janet, widow of the late William Gowan, Es c l'' aged 86. KEITH.—On the 12th inst., at Boulogne -sur-Mer, Louis a Keith Falconer, widow of the late Hon. Captain Keith, R.N. LAIN .—On the 12th in s t., All an Stuart Laing, Esti') ef Tanfield-court, Temple, aged 74. RUSSELL.—Cn the 9th inst., in Dublin, Gustavus Claud' son of the Hen. Gustavus an d L ady Katharine Hamilton Fussell, aged six weeks. ------ Of LONDON : Printed and P u b lished by MURDO YOUNG d No. 112, Strand, Printer, at THE Sur; Ofitce, No. 112,Stti% in the Precinct o f th e Savoy in the County of 1111d41" Saturday, February 15, 1882. -