The Sun. — London, England, 1859-04-09 00:00:00

IMPERI HOUSE OF LORDS—(YESTERDAY). Their lordships assembled at half-past 4. ROYAL ASSENT. The royal assent was given by commission to the follow ing bills :—The East India Company Loan ; the Oaths Act Amendment ; the Patent of Inventions (Munitions of War); Common Rights (War Department) ; the Shepton-Mallet 'Water ; the Wimbledon and Dorking Railway, and several other private bills. The Lords Commissioners were the Earl of Hardwicke, Ahe Marquis of Salisbury, and the Lord Chancellor. Their lordships adjourned during pleasure. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack At five o'clock. TICKETS OF LEAVE. Viscount DUNGANNON gave notice that on Monday text he should move for returns of the number of convicts who had been discharged with tickets of leave during the years 1857 and 1858, and also the number of those who who had been recommitted for subsequent offences. PRIVATE BILLS. The following bill was read a second time :—The Red ea and Indian Telegraph Company (No. 2). The following bills were read a third time and -ed :—Bagnelstown and Wexford Railway, Glou cester and Cheltenham Tramway Abandonment, Great Northern and Western of Ireland Railway, Greenwich and South-Eastern Docks, Bray Com mon, Lendonderry Bridge, Sunderland and South Shields 'Water, and - Weymouth and Melcombe Regis Markets and ier. VOTE OF THANKS TO THE INDIAN ARMY. The Earl of Derby said he should should postpone the -moving of a vote of thanks to the army in Indian from MoAday next till Thursday. STATE OF EUROPE. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE said he thought be fore Parliament was prorogued her Majesty' Government should communicate some information to their lordships as to what steps they had taken to procure the peace of Europe. The Earl of MALMESBURY said, before the Parlia ment closed, he should make a statevaent to the house showing that the Government had done all they could to preserve the peace of Europe. INDICTABLE OFFENCES (METROPOLITAN DO F E BILL. The Lord CHANCELLOR moved the third rea di ng . of this bill. Lord LYNDHURST said he had great objections to the bill. He thought at the present moment it was utterly unnecessary to introduce enactments in defence of the . people against arbitrary government. Political prosecutions for political offences were now nearly unknown, so the complaints upon which the present bill was grounded were almost groundless. He had, however, lived in a time when Government was carried on not only in an arbitrary but a tyrannical system, and when political prosecutions were matters of daily occurrence, so he was fully able to appreciate the advantages which prevailed at the present day, compared with the time of which he had spoken. To bear out his views, the noble and learned lord quoted some passages from " Blackstone's Com mentaries," and proceeded to remark that it was laid down as a maxim of the English law, that no man could be put upon his trial unless a bill had been found against him by a grand jury, and then he could not be punished unless he was found guilty by twelve of his countrymen. Such a provision, he con tended, afforded support and protection to all persons. (Hear, hear.) He was exceedingly sorry to find that the first innovation on the great principle of trial by jury was ventured upon by her Majesty's present Government, and although he entertained the highest respect for the noble lord who now sat on the woolsack, he thought the pro visions of this bill would more then likely be strained to arbitrary and tyrannical purposes. 'Now, then, their lordships knew that no peer could be tried at their lordships' bar untiLa bill had been found against him by a grand jury, but suppose the bill was agreed to and went to the House of Commons, what would they say to the mea sure ? Why, that this house agreed to a measure to abolish the necessity of a grand jury, so far as the Commons were concerned, but had taken care to exempt themselves from its provisions. (Hear, hear.) The noble and learned lord then referred to the inconvenience, as it had been called by the supporters of the measnre of the great num ber of persons compelled to be Lie-attendance during the sitting of the grand jury, -401 it he contended that all that was occasioned by*on-consideration, and he for one could not say that was sufficient to cause such an important alteration in the law of Eng land. Then again, expense had been referred to, but he thought this objection was as inefficient as the former for the changes that would take place if' this bill became law. He cautioned his noble friendr)hat if this bill passed, the change would not remain where it was at present pro posed, but the counties would endeavour to get rid of their grand juries. He (Lord Lyndhup3l) could only repeat that he did not like a bill which be regarded as the first step towards abolishing an institution which had been in existence many hundred years, and which had been main tained in the worst times, and under the most arbitrary Go vernments. (Cheers.) Lord WENSLEYDALE had stated on the second read ing that he entertained a strong objection to the bill on con stitutional grounds. That opinion he still retained. Lord CAMPBELL hoped thatlifter what had occurred the noble,and learned lord (Lord Chelmsford) would not press his bill.; for it was utterly impossible that it could be dis cussed in the other h ouse during the present session. The LORD CHANCELLOR was not insensible to the difficulty in which he stood, opposed, ash() was, by his noble and learned friend, for whom he had for many years enter tained the greatest possible respect, and whose opinion he knew to be ofthe highest authority in their lordships' house. At the same time he thought he had a right to complain of the course which had been taken by his noble friend with regard to this bill. On its introduction he (the Lord Chan cellor) had explained the grounds, apon which he thought such a measure was desirable, and they app to meet with the general concurrence of their lo Ps. On the second reading his noble friend never intimated that he en tertained the slightest objection to the bill • but his noble friend (Lord Wensleydale) certainly did make some few re marks against the bill, which did not, however, meet with any !general support. When the bill was fixed to go into committee his learned friend put a question to him (Lord Chelmsford) as to certain alterations which he said would remove many of his objections to the bill. Lord LYNDHURST—WouId lessen them. The LORD CHANCELLOR—"Iessen" might be the phrase, but his noble friend never intimated that he would offer the bill any active opposition. When he (Lord Chelms ford) proposed a day for the third reading his noble friend suggested that it would not be proper to pass such a mea sure in the absence of the Lord Chief Justice, and he had therefore fixed the third reading for a distant day. When his noble and learned friend arrived from circuit, he had a communication with him on the subject of this bill, but he had no reason to believethat he was hostile to it, and he thought he should have some support from him, though he made objections to some of the provisions of the bill. But he did not till to-night know that there was to be any oppo sition to his bill, and he thought he' tad some reason to com plain of his noble and learned friends, who, on a former occasion, induced him to postpone the bill, and,now urged him to withdraw it. He was sure they did not mean to ac complish that result, but that had been the effect. He did not yield to his noble and learned friend ii everyregard for our ancient institutions, but he was notso blindly enamoured as not to perceive their defects, nor was he so entirely 'wedded to antiquity as, when ancient thine had declined from their original use, to abstain from placing a reforming hand upon them. His n o bl e an d' l earne d friend (Lord Lyndhurst) had regretted that this bill should have been introduced for the first time by a Censervative Govern ment. His noble and learned friend would forgive him for saying that this was not the first time that such a measure had been introduced. In 1849 it was introduced into the House of Commons by a Liberal Government. In the year 1857 it was introduced by himself into the House of Com mons with the sanction of a Liberal Government, and when his noble and learned friend said they were now legislating for themselves, and did not know how the bill would be re ceived in the House of Commons, he would tell his noble and learned friend that a similar bill had passed the second stage in the House of Commons no less than three times, and he believed that a majority of the House of Commons was in favour of this measure. His noble and learned friend was in favour of continuing grand juries for the purpose of protecting persons charged with political offences. O ne would have thought that the re was nothing in the bill to exclude from its operation offences cif that description, but it provided that persons charged with such offences should not be put on ,their trial without the intervention of a grand jury, and if his noble and learned friend, when the bill was in com mittee, would have made any suggestion to give further pro tection in that respect, he should have glady acquiesced in it. He believed that at all events within the metropolitan district grand juries were not only of no use, but that they were actually mischieYous. But he had no desire to destroy grand pules in the country. The Lord Chief Justice said he objected to the Lord Mayor and aldermen sitting in the public courts, and he said he did not find absolute wisdom in a Lord-Mayor and aldermen. Ho was afraid if his noble and learned friend extended his views beyond the city he would not find absolute wisdom anywhere. It was a matter of notoriety that the Lord Mayor and aldermen of the City of London discharged their duty well, and he challenged his noble and learned friend to produci any instance within recent times in which there had been any failure on the part of the city magistrates to do their duty. In the present state of the session he despaired of passing the bill through the House of Commons, and therefore he should withdraw the bill, but if he was permitted he should introduce it in another session Lord OVERSTONE said when he was chairman of the grand jury at the Central Criminal Court they had 400 bills before them, and he put it to their lordships whether it was possible to give' those bills due deliberation. Merchants dreaded being summoned on the grand jury, as they were away nine or ten days from business, frequently to their serious inconvenience and detriment. After a few words from Earl GREY and Lord CAMPBELL, the order for the third reading of the bill was discharged. AFFIDAVITS BY COMMISSION BILL. This bill was read a second time. PETITIONS OF RIGHT BILL. On the order of the day fqr the second reading of this bill, lord KINGSDOWN said there were some of the details of the bill of which he did not approve, and in the present state of the session he thought it better to move that the order for the second reading be discharged. After a few observations from the LORD CHANCELLOR and Lord CAMPBELL, the order for the second reading was discharged. • - PUBLIC OFFICES BILL. This bill was read a second time. NOTTINGHAM CHARITIES BILL. This bill was also read a second time. SAVINGS BANKS (IRE LAND) BILL. 'his bill passed through committee. RECREATION GROUNDS BILL. 02 t the bringing up of the report on this bill, Lo rd DUNGANNON suggested that its provisions ghoul d be extended to Ireland. Thee Earl of SHAYTESBURY expressed his willing ness tcp.adopt the suggestion. The word " Ireland" having been inserted, the report was agreed to. St. James saldersby Marriages Validity Bill was read a second time. Their lordships then adjourned. ROUSE OF COMMONS.-(YESTERDAY.) The &E¢ took the chair at 4 o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The following bills - were read a third time and passed : Atlantic , . Telegraph Company (No. 2) ; Brecon and Mer thyr Tydfil Junction 'Railway; Castle Douglas and Dum fries Railway ; Charleston Railway and Harbour ; Forth and Clyde Navigation ; Gateshead Quay ; Great North of Scotland .ItaibraY; McTthyr, Tredegar, and Abergavezmy :AMA rp Railway ; Travellers and Marine Insurance a n d A cc id en t a l 11 . Death Insurance Companies Amalgamation (No. 2). The Lords' amendments to the Findhorn Railway Bill were agreed fo r and the bill was ordered for a third reading. The London and South Western Railway and the Lym ington Railway Bills were considered and ordered for third reading. ROYAL COMMISSION. The Usher of the Black Rod summoned the members to the House of Lords to hear the Royal assent given by . commission to a number of bills (for which see Lords' re port]. trESTMINSTER NEW BRIDGE BILL. Lord J. MANNERS moved that in the case of this bill the examiners have leave to sit and proceed forthwith. Sir H. WILLOUGHBY said he understood that £138,000 had already been spent on the works and that £178,000 more would be required. He wished to know how the deficiency would be supplied, and whether a report as to the engineer , contractor, and.surveyor being the same person was true ? Lord J. MANNERS said that as no notice was given of the motion, he was not prepared with the figures neces sary to give a fall answer to the questions of the hon. baronet. He believed that there was appended to the report of the commissioners of last year an account of the expenditure incurred, and that a further vote would be required. The contractor, engineer, and surveyor, were three different persons. MR. CHISHOLM ANSTEY. Mr. E. JAMES gave notice that on TliUrsday next he would move for the correspondence a n d o th er d ocuments relating to the dismissal of Mr. Chisholm Anstey from his official position in Hong-Kong. THE STATE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he trusted the noble lord the member for Tiverton would not bring forward this evening the motion of which he had given notice with reference to the state of foreign affairs, or make those observations on the subject which he stated it was his intention to do last evening. He could assure the noble lord that • it would be most inconvenient to the public interest to bring forward this evening the question of the relation of this country with foreign Powers. It was his intention, on Monday or Tuesday evening next, to make a complete statement of the position in which this country was placed with regard to any negotiations that were pending. That course would enable the noble lord to make those observations on the question, to which the house no doubt would listen with great pleasure, Lord PALMERSTON said it was impossible for him not to comply with the request of the right hon. gentleman, and his (Lord Palmerston's) object was merely that the public might be put in possession of the positfon in which this country at present stood with regard to foreign powers. (Hear, hear.) At all events the course pursued by the right hon. gentleman would give him and other hon. mem bers an opportunity of making some observations (Laughter.) . Lord J. RUSSELL hoped that the right hon. gentleman (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) would bring the subject forward in the form of a motion, so that hon. members would have an opportunity of making some remarks. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that he would put the subject in the shape of a motion, of which, perhaps, he would give notice on Monday next. MAIL CONTRACTS. Mr. DAVISON asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether any renewal of the subsisting mail contracts to the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company for the West Indian and Brazilian Mail Service had been granted or promised to that company without advertising for competitive tenders; whether her Majesty's Government had had under their consideration . any complaints of colonists or passengers or other persons respecting the irregula rities, inconvenience, or mismanagement of the said ser vices, and whether any investigation as to the inconveni ence or management of the present service was contemplated previously to the renewal of such contracts ; and whether itjwas intended that such renewals shall be opened to com petition ? Sir S. NORTHCOTE said that there had been no altera tion in the contracts, and he had heard of no complaints on the subject. EXCLUSION OF ROMAN CATHOLICS FROM JURIES IN IRELAND. Viscount CASTLEROSSE asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, whether his attention had been called to the fact that at the late trial at Tralee of Daniel O'Sullivan, con victed of being a member of the Phoenix Society, the eleven Roman Catholic jurors (including a gentle man lately appointed a magistrate of the county) who were called and answered to their names, were directed to " stand by" by the Crown ; and, if so, whether such a course had been adopted with the approval of the Govern ment ? • The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the Government had given no instructions for the exclusion of Roman Catholics from juries in Ireland. After some discussion the sullject dropped. COMMISSIONS IN THE ARMY. Captain VIVIAN asked the Secretary of State for War, a question relating to the appointment of Mr. Cunningham to an Ensigncy in the 13th Regiment of Light In fantry, and drew attention to the advertisements put forward by certain parties, stating that they possessed peculiar facilities in procuring commissions for persons who were desirous of entering the army. Commissions should be given without purchase only to relatives of those persons who had rendered emi nent services to the country, for such gifts were the same as giving so much money; and he wished to know what Mr. Cunningham's claims were to a commis sion without purchase. General PEEL said with regard to the general question of commissions in certain cases having been 'obtained without purchase, he thought it would be most in convenient to enter into any statements on a question on which an inquiry was being instituted. With reference to Mr. Cunningham, he was the son of a distinguished officer in the Bengal army, and his grandfather had been a general in the British service. That gentleman had received testi monials from Sir S. Steele and Sir Robert Vivian. (Hear.) MR. BARON BRAMWELL ON THE NORTH WALES CIRCUIT. • Mr. SALISBURY called the attention of the house to remarks said to have been made by Mr. Baron Bramwell, at Bala and other assize towns in the North Wales circuit, and asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he had any explanation to offer to the house on the cort duct of the learned judge. The hon. member denounced the observations made by the learned judge in question as most uncalled for and injudicious. DISMISSAL OF MR. SANFORD FROM THE EMIGRATION OFFICE. Mr. HOPWOOD asked the Secretary to the Treasury for an explanation of the recent dismissal of a gentleman who had been employed for two years and a half in the Emigration Office, and had subsequently passed a satis - factory examination before the Civil Service Commis sioners ? THE INDIAN OFFICE. Sir E. PERRY asked the Secretary of State for India what steps had been taken for removing the political establishment of the Indian Office to the neighbourhood of the other public offices of Government ? CARRIAGE ROAD BY THE SIDE OF lIERKELEY HOUSE. Mr. KINNAIRD asked the Chief Commissioner whether the Government would make up their minds by the meet ing of the new Parliament (seeing that Berkeley-house is now pulled down) as to making a carriage road by the side of Berkeley-house, from Cockspur-street and Charing cross, into St. James's Park ? Lord J. MANNERS said he could not answer the first part of the question, but he certainly would.take no steps to prevent the new Parliament from expressing an opinion on the subject. THE CONSULAR COMMITTEE. Mr M. MILNES asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in what mode, and to what extent, the Government intended to act upon the recommendations of the Consular Committee of last session ? Mr. S. FITZGERALD said that some of the recom mendations of the Consular Committee had been carried out, but they could not consent to carry out that with re ference to an increase in the remuneration of some of the officials, as the expense would be enormous. THE MAGISTRACY AT HEREFORD. Mr. CLIVE in pursuance of notice, called the attention of the house to the recent appointment of magistrates for the city of Hereford. The hon. member said at a time when no additional magistracy were required at Hereford six were appointed by the present Government. In a petition which he had presented to the house it was stated, first, that there was no want of new magistrates ; secondly, that theappoint ment was made without any previous communication with the local authorities ; thirdly, that the petitioners believed the appointment to be due to some person unknown. The petition was signed by four out of six aldermen, 11 town councillors, and four justices of the peace. Two of the new magistrates ware objected to on the ground th a t th e y were retail tradesmen. It was usual, he believed, for the Lord Chancellor to communicate with the local authorities before making any addition to the bench of magistrates ; but there was no communication in the present instance, and he be lieved that if the session had lasted much longer, there would have been numerous complaints like that which he had thus brought before the house. Sir J, PAK INGTON said his right hon. friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department having spoken once on the motion for the adjournment, could not do so again ; but he had requested him to state that he would reply to the questions which had been put to him on the order of the day for going into committee of supply. He (Sir J. Pakingto4-would take -that opportunity of replying , to a question put by the hon. member for Kildare (Mr. Cogan). The hon. member asked him whether it was his intention to place the medical officers of the navy In a similar position to that of the medical officers in the army. He could only re peat what he said on a former occasion when the subject was under consideration, namely, that it was his intention substantially to comply with the request of the naval medi cal service. Lord STANLEY said two questions had been put to him to which he would endeavour to reply. One related to the locality where the Indian business was carried on. He thought his hon. and learned friend (Sir E. Perry) attached rather too much importance to that question in supposing, as he appeared to do, that the change of the locality from the City to the West-end would influence the administration of Indian affairs. No person was so much interested in the Indian department being within convenient reach of that house as the Secretary of State for India for the time being. There was very great inconvenience in his being distant half-an-hour's journey from his colleagues and from that house. Last autumn he considered whether the Board of Control was large enoug for the conduct of all the Indian business, and, finding that it was not, he thought it better to move the department in Cannon-roW to Leadenhall street, than to have part of the business carried on at one place and part at the other. The use of a site in Manchester buildings could only have been temporary, as a new India office was to be built in Downing-street, and as soon as the house had decided what style of architecture was to be adopted, the construction of the building would commence. So far as the money was concerned there was no occasion to wait, but as the India-office and the Foreign-office were to form one block of buildings, some delay was unavoidable. As regarded the intention of the Government to send out a person versed in finance to sit in the . legislative council at nu Calutta, he tho u ght they were not li mite d by the act t o th e choic e o f a mem b er o f t h e l ega l pro fession, but after what his hon. and learned friend had said on the subject he should take sonic means of:Betting that question at rest. POSTAL SERVICE TO AMERICA. Mr. BEAMISH asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether Sir Samuel Cunard having offered, through a deputation who waited on the Admiralty and Treasury de partments on Monday last, to convey the mails weekly be tween an Irish p or t and America for the sum of £5OO the voyage out and home, it was the intention of her Majesty's Government to pe rsevere in completing a contract for £..MO for this service (fort n i g h tly) between lwayand America? He had the authority of Sir S. Cunard for saying that he would undertake 04 duty for 4209, He trustucl tlgit tke Government would give this matter due consideration.. The house would see it was a matter of serious import, when he told them that the amount proposed tolbe paid to the Gal way line of packets was £3,000. Sir S. NORTHCOTE would, in the first place, answer the question put by Mr. Hopwood. He would explain, at the outset, that the Commissioners of Emigration acted under the Colonial-office, and that no gentleman could properly be admitted into that departanentunless he received the certificate of the commissioners. Some gentleman to whom the question related was an employe in Mr. Gurney's office, and was taken from there during a great pressure which occurred in the Government offices some few years since. Several other gentlemen were also taken into the Government employment. It was intended that their en gagements should cease at the end of the Parliamentary session, and such intention was carried out in all cases except that of this particular gentleman. As the engage ment was temporary at its commencement, these gentlemen did not receive the certificate of the Civil Service Commis sioners. When that gentleman remained in the office, his case was not brought before the commissioners for some time. When it was, they found he was perfectly competent for his post, so far as literary attainments were concerned. He could not, however, produce the necessary certificate of health, and hence the commissioners had no option but to refuse their certificate. He could assure the house that this subject of the health of the Government clerks was a most important one • in one case of an office w h ere b u t 21 c l er k s were employed ,' the absences through ill-health were equiva lent to the loss of one clerk. With reference to Mr. Beamish's question, he must say that when he read that question he was much surprised, and his surprise had not been lessened by the few words which the hon. member had addressed to the house. The hon. gentleman seemed to insinuate that a certain duty would be performed for £5OO, or, as he now said, £250, for which the Galway line of packets would receive £3,000. Now he had not had the advantage of meeting the deputation which had waited upon the Government on this subject, but he had seen Sir S. Cunard and also the hon. gentleman upon it, and the proposition of Sir Samuel was in fact this : that for the sum of £soo—in addition to what he already received—(hear, hear)—that gentleman would allow his vessels to call at Cork. Now, Sir S. Cunard already received £3,400 in respect of hi s postal contract, and hence by his proposal the country would pay, not £5OO merely, but £3,900 for that which the Galway line would undertake to do for £3,000. (Hear, hear.) And even this did not represent the whole of the question ; the Galway line of vessels would run at times between the running Cunard line, whereas Sir S. Cunard's proposal was only that his vessels, which now carried the mails, should call at Ccrk.. He could only answer the hon. member's question in The affirmative. Mr. GLAD STONE said that he thought the house ought to consider the general question of this engagement to which the country was apparently about to be pledged. He should be glad, therefore, to know if some opportunity could not be affordeu to the house to consider this matter. Lord DUNKELLIN believed that the effect of this ques tion was intended to be a support to capital and monopoly against straggling enterprise. What he believed to be wanted was, not that every mail vessel for America should start from Liverpool, but that the mail should start from the port nearest to America. The house would remember that at the beginning of this year Liverpool had done every thing possible to throw cold water on the Galway scheme. He could not understand how Sir S. Cunard could claim anything for going round by Cork ; it was as near to go by the south as by the north of Ireland. Galway was within 15 hours of London, and thus within 16 hours from leaving town passengers would be on their voyage to America. Mr. MAGUIRE had never said one word, and did not now intend to say one word, against the Galway scheme. But on the other hand he believed that the south of Ireland was also to be considered. Sir S. Cunard, a most competent judge, was of opinion that Cork was the best port in Ireland, and was, within 25 miles, equidistant from New York with Galway. He had further said that his vessels might run in there at any state of the tide, and that the journey from London to Cork might be done in 17 hours; and thus there was only two hours between him and the last speaker. He thought, therefore, that it would be much to the advantage of the commercial world if the Government required Sir S. Cunard to drop the mails at Cork, giving him for that ser vice a small sum to meet the extra expense. The advantage of calling at Cork would arise every week, whereas the Gal way harbour packet would only sail once a fortnight. He wished well to Galway, but he thought that something ought also to be done for Cork. Mr. MONSELL thought the real question was whether this contract ought to be carried out at all on the sole autho rity of the Government, without the consideration of that house. (Hear, hear.) The commission which had sat on this subject reported that all postal contracts should be the subject of competition. The Government, instead of taking this course, it appeared, intended to complete a contract with a particular company. He was not going into the merits of those ports, but there were statements in the re ports of commissions by no means favourable to the Galway scheme. He trusted that his right hon. friend the Chan chellor of the Exchequer would intimate to the house that the Government did not intend without inquiry to conclude this contract. (" Spoke.") He was aware his right hon. friend had already spoken on this question before the house, but a word from him would be satisfactory. (Loud laughter.) He regretted to see the head of his right hon. friend was immoveable. (A laugh.) He must say, for his own part, that he thought this subject ought not to be com pleted until a committee of the House Of Commons had had an opportunity of expressing its opinion upon it. Mr. REPTON said he saw no interest whatever in the rival claims of different ports. He thought that if this question was referred to a committee of the new Parlia ment, much valuable time would be lost without tiny coun terbalancing advantage. The subject had been reported upon again and again, and there was now in the hands of the Government every possible information they could re quire. He thought the Government would exercise a very wise discretion in concluding the contract with the Galway Company. Mr. LABOUCHERE thought that the estimates for these contracts should , be submitted to the house. He offered no opinion as to the eligibility of Galway for a packet station but he thought that some explanation should be afforded to the house before the contracts were concluded. Mr. COGAN said that, if they were to have a revision of the mail contracts, they had better begin with that of Sir S. Cunard, which had been renewed without competition. (Hear.) He thought that the Government were entitled to the support of the Irish members from all parts of the country for the conduct which they had pursued respecting this contract. • Mr. J. EWART thought that the contract should have been open to public competition. Sir J. GRAHAM hoped that some explanation would be .given respecting this contract. He was extremely unwilling to enter into any criticism on the merits of Galway harbour, but he had great doubts as to whether any additional Atlantic packet accommodation was required. But there was a much graver question to be considered, and that was whether Government was justified in entering into engage ments to the extent of £70,000 a year without the sanction of the house. He trusted that the right !hon.' gentleman would be able to state that the arrangement with the com pany was only conditional on its ratification by the house. Mr. LINDSAY, alluding to a correspondence which had on a previous evening been discussed on the motion of Mr. Horsfall, complained that no Liverpool house had been allowed to compete for the contract. The motion was then agreed to. SUPPLY—THE REFORM BILL—THE DISSO LUTION. On bringing up the report of supply, Mr. CAYLEY said—l wish to put a question to the Chancellor of the, Exchequer upon a matter of great in terest, which I trust it may not be inconvenient or inoppor [ tune for him to answer, though perhaps I ought to have given him a more formal notice. An impression has gone forth, founded apparently on the statement made by my right hon. friend on Monday last, or on that made by Lord Derby elsewhere, that Lord Derby's Government have come to the resolution of altogether washing their hands' of the question of Reform for the time to come, and that it is not their intention either this year or in any other year to bring in another Reform Bill. The question I wish to put to the Chancellor of the Exchequer is, whether he meant by his statement on Monday last to convey to the house and to the country that Lord Derby's Government, if then in office, had no intention of introducing a Reform Bill in the session of 1860; and whether, on the other hand, it is not the intention of Lord Derby's Government to introduce another Reform Bill on the first practicable opportunity ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—It would perhaps be more convenient that I should answer the ques tion which has been put to me by my hon. friend at once than that I should mix it up with those other subjects which have been brought under our notice this evening, and to which it will be my duty to allude'before the report of the Committee of Supply has been received. I am not quite sure whether I have succeeded in collecting exactly the precise nature of the inquiry which my hon. friend has addressed to me, but I understood him to ask me whether, when I announced it to be the intention of her Majesty's Government to withdraw the bill which we introduced for the amendment of the representation of the people, I made a statement to the effect that it was not the intention of the Government under any circum stances to bring forward again a measure of Parlia liamentary reform ? (" Hear, hear," from Mr. Cayley.) Now, I certainly never intended to make, and my impres sion is that I never did make, any such statement. And although on the occasion in question I was desirous of in troducing no subjeCt which could lead to controversy, I ne vertheless asserted the right of members who sit on this side of the house, to deal, as a political party, with that question of Parliamentary reform, which it seemed to me some per sons would maintain to be the peculiar privilege of another party. I asserted then that I considered we had a perfect right to deal with that or any other public question, but that, having fulfilled the pledge which we had given to the house and to the country by bringing forward a Reform Bill, we did not wish to burden ourselves with any specific pledge to bring forward another measure of reform at any particular time ; that we reserved to ourselves the right to bring forward such a measure when we considered the in terests of the country required it, if we had an opportunity of carrying it ; but that I did not wish to bind ourselves specifically to bring forward any such measure at a particu lar time. That was the impression which I intended in my mind—and I thought I succeeded in doing so—to convey to the house. I spoke with reference to the meeting of the new Parliament in June or July next, and I did not wish to hold out to the house or to the country the erroneous impression that we intended to do then at once that which we did not in tend to do. But on a future occasion, if the opportuuity should be favourable, and we happen to be in power, I do consider we are perfectly at liberty to introduce a measure on the subject. I believe the Conservative party have pecu liar advantages in dealing with the question of reform. What has occurred has not changed my opinion upon that point—(hear, hear)—and I should certainly be very happy to be the instrument in bringing forward a measure which would have the object of settling, as far as we can expect it, fora considerable time the question of the amendment of the representation of the people. (Cheers.) Mr. FITZROY then brought up the report of the Com mittee of Supply. On the question that the report be received, Sir G. GREY rose and said—l am anxious to make a few observations with respect to a question of some importance as to the course to be pursued in reference to which it is, I think, extremely desirable that we should obtain some ins formation from her Majesty's Government. On Monday last the right hon. gentleman the Chancellor of the Zulu- quer stated that he and his colleagues had advised her Ma jesty to dissolve Parliament, and he accompanied that state ment by an announcement to the effect, that it was the in tention of the Government that the dissolution should take place at the earliest possible moment. The assistance of the house in enabling the right hon. gentleman to carry out that intention was liberally accorded. Hon. members in whose names notices stood upon the paper of the house waved their claims to press them, and we agreed to a resolution in accordance with which Government orders of the day are to have precedence of other business during the remainder of the session. The consequence has been that the business of the house has progressed so rapidly that the votes in Com mittee of Supply have been closed, that the report has been brought up, and that it is now competent for any hon. gen tleman to count the remaining days of the session. Indeed, it may be safely predicted that, unless some unexpected source of delay should arise, the prorogation of Parliament may take place—if we should sit on Saturdays, which I be lieve is not intended—on the 16th inst., and, in any case, on the Monday following. It was understood that a dissolution would at once follow the prorogation, in accordance with the usual practice under similar circumstances. During the last 20 years Parliament has been dissolved on five different oc • casions, the dissolution, on four of those occasions, having taken place on the same day as, and, on the fifth, on the day following, the prorogation. But not only has this been the usual practice, but it has always been felt that to allow a long interval to elapse between the prorogation and dissolu tion of Parliament, when the latter was in contemplation, was productive of the greatest possible public as well as personal inconvenience. When, therefore, I first heard it mentioned by a member of this house that that which has of recent years been the course invariably pursued in this respect was about to be departed from in the present instance, I at once discredited the re p or t ; b ut s i nce t h en, and within the last three or four • days, I have heard, on authority to which I felt bound t o attach weight, that it is proposed by the Government that the dissolution should not take place for some days after the prorogation. Now, if the dissolution were in accordance with the usual prac tice to take place on the same day, it is obvious that the elections for boroughs might be . proceeded with. in Easter week, and that the nominations in counties might take place in the week following—(hear, hear)—while if a different course be pursued, and the dissolution be delayed for a week, the result will be that the borough elections cannot be proceeded with until the week following Easter week, and that the- county elections will be proportionately later. Now, every one who has experienced, as I have done, the inconvenience and expense attendant upon a contested elec tion in counties and boroughs, must be aware how much both are increased by an additional canvass of four or five days. (Hear.) Every candidate must, therefore, be desirous of having his canvass brought to a termination at the earliest possible moment. I have been told, however, that the reason alleged to justify a departure from the ordinary course, on the present occasion, is that it is not deemed right that the writs fora new election should issue in Pas sion week. For my own part, I cannot understand the force of that objection. If, indeed, it were a question as to whether the elections should take place in Passion week, there might be some reason—althou g h suc h a circumstance is by no means unprecedented—for the delay which I understand is contemplated. That, however, is not the question, and I contend that Easter week is about the best possible time at which the elections can be held, because the early days of the week are holydays of the working classes, who, in those cases in which they possess a right of exercising the fran chise, would thus be enabled to vote for a borough without interference with their daily earnings. (Hear, hear.) I hope under these circumstances that the right honourable gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer will be enabled to assure the house that it is the intention of the Govern ment to adhere to what I am bound to say was the distinct understanding on the part of the House of Commons—. namely, that the impending dissolution should take place at the earliest possible moment. (Hear, hear.) The CHANCELLOR of the E X C HE QUER--Whatever information with respect to the subject of his observations may have reached the right hon. gentleman, I can only say that it is information which rests on no good authority, and I must beg to object to be called on to account for statements which are founded merely on common rumour. (Hear, hear.) The calculation which I made when I addressed the house originally on this subject was that, using our best ex ertions, we should have brought the necessary public busi ness to a conclusion on the Monday or Tuesday in Passion week, and I took occasion to inform the house that the dis solution would take place as soon as possible--certainly towards the end of the month. [Sir G. Grey—lt might take place on the 16th inst., which is about the middle of the month.] I think it would be very objectionable to have the elections in Passion week, and representations to that effect were strongly urged upon me by gentlemen on the same side of the house as that on which the right hon. baronet sits. I cannot at this moment fix a precise day for the dissolution of Parliament, but it will of course take place as soon as is convenient after the prorogation, there being no wish on the part of the Government to delay it beyond that time. I may now, perhaps, be permitted to take this opportunity of noticing a subject to the inquiries of hon. gentlemen in respect to which I have not hitherto been enabled to reply. If the house wishes to change the whole system under which contracts for the public service are entered into by the Government, the question is of course a very fair one for discussion and I should, I t rus t, b e f oun d prepared to give due consideration to any suggestion which may be made on the subject. I would now, however, merely observe that her Majesty's Government, in the course which they have taken in reference to this question of the Galway line, have simply followed in the footsteps of previous Administra tions. (Hear, hear.) It is f or th e h ouse, i f it disapproves the system under which those contracts are made, to come to some definite resolution with respect to them. If the executive is not to be entrusted with the power of entering into a contract for a packet service, I should like to know with what functions it can be entrusted ? (Hear.) When we came into office we found a contract concluded of a most important character, but the contract was not brought be fore the house. I am perfectly astonished that any hon. gentleman should maintain that it is desirable to appoint a select committee to inquire into the propriety of any new contract relating to the packet service which the Executive Government may think to be advantageous for the public interests. Then it is said there is an important principle involved, because we have decided upon this case not after public tender, but according to our own views, and upon our own responsibility. I apprehend we had the power of doing that if we thought fit. It is not the first time that such a thing has occurred, and I find upon the paper of this evening a question to be put by an hon. member to the Secretary to the Treasury, a Whether any renewal of the subsisting mail contracts to the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company for the West Indian and Brazilian mail service has been granted or promised to that company without ad vertising for competitive tenders," &c. Now, what are really the facts of the case in regard to the Galway con - tract ? Here are some enterprising persons who develope a moans of communication which no one had previously thought of, and which it would be of immense advantage to establish. We investigate the circumstances. We find that they offer a rate of speed exceeding that of any' service at present existing. I think we shall gain by this arrange ment two days in point of time in the communication be tween Ireland and America, and we shall save 5400 upon each voyage. (Hear.) They also offer advantageous con ditions for the transport of troops from Athlone--a great military station—to America, and the transmission of tele graphic communications under circumstances peculiarly advantageous to the Government. We had to consider whether persons of such enterprise should be encouraged and supported by the Government or not, and we had also to consider whether,;if that encouragement was not given, there would not be a chance that the promised advantages would be lost to the country. Believing that it would be of great advantage to the country if this enterprise should be established, finding that the rate of cost was so much lower than was paid for the Cunard service, that the speed offered was greater, and that there were many other advantages offered; we have acted upon our own responsibility, and, as I believe, for the public good, i n determining that it w as de sirable the contract should be entered into. I shall be per fectly ready at any time, upon a proper opportunity, and not in this desultory manner, to vindicate that policy as one highly ad vantageousto the United Kingdom, and one which we were justified in adopting. I may say that it was our duty td adopt it. The right hon. gentleman opposite is anx ious that there should be a proper Parliamentary control over these contracts by the estimates being laid before the house. Why, sir, of course the estimate will be laid before the house. How are we to carry it into effect, except with the consent of Parliament F Mr. LABOUCHERE—WiII it be in the votes this yearF The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER--It cannot be, because no vote is necessary, but before Government pays a shilling there will be a vote laid before Parliament. It was necessary to enter into a contract, because the pre parations required to, carry out this service would take con siderable time—(hear)—but when the first estimate is sub mitted—l believe before a single shilling has been paid by the Government—the House of Commons will have the same opportunities of dealing with it as they h ave now in respect o f Si r S. Cunard's contract. If the house will not give the money there is an end of the service, but the house may do that every year with respect to the Cunard service. I believe the Government in this matter have acted wisely and for the public benefit. If they have not acted wisely nor for the public advantage, they have acted upon full precedent, and have not taken a single step which is not justified by the course taken by preceding Governments in similar circumstances. I trust, therefore, the house will not think it necessary to interfere with an arrangement which I believe is greatly for the public benefit. (Hear.) Lord PALkERSTON—I merely wish to call the atten tion of the right hon. ggatjcpmn to_ the answer- he he's given to the question of my right hon. friend as to the pe riod of dissolution. That answer was anything but satis factory. (Hear.) The right hon. gentleman appears to contend that the dissolution should not take place until the end of the month. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—Towardm the end of the month. Lord. PA LMERSTON—Towards - the end of the month. (A laugh.) My right hon. friend urged that in accordance with the declaration of the Government, that the dissolu , 'ion should take place as soon as possible ; the writs should issue the day after the prorogation. The dissolution could take place the day after the prorogation, and it is possible for it to take place on the same day. I can't imagine what purpose the Government can have in view in postponing the dissolution apparently until " towards the end of the month." The house . feels the great inconvenience of such e course. (Hear, hear.) Gentlemen sitting behind the Treasury bench must feel it to be as inconvenient to them as it is to gentlemen upon this side,. and therefore I entr ea t the Government to reconsider then: intentions upon this point. The dissolution might take place with perfect conve nience upon the very day of the prorogation, or the day after; the elections could take place in Easter week, and Parliament could meet at the earliest possible period. But we were told just now that Government would not under take to bring in a Reform Bill in June or July, and are we to understand that Parliament will not meet until June or July ? (Hear, hear.) When the Government with which I had the honour of being connected dissolved Parliament in 1857, the right hon. gentleman reproached us with endea vouring to waste a year. I am sure we vindicated ourselves from that reproach, because when Parliament met, at ths earliest possible moment measures of a very important cha racter were considered and carried. But if the dissolution is to be postponed in the manner indicated by what has fallen from the right hon. gentleman, and the meeting of the new Parliament is not to take place until late in June or the beginning of July, the reproach of wasting a year may, I think, be justly applied to the present Government. (Hear.) The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—I talked of a motion, not of the house. I did . not suppose that a Re , form Bill should be introduced npun the Very day that Par, liament met. (Hear, hear.) I can only say again, we have no intention of postponing the dissolution. I cannot Con ceive how it could be to the advantage of the Gloverument to delay the dissolution, and I am sure it would not be for the convenience of our friends. But I say again, Ido not think it would be convenient to pledge myself to a particu lar day for Parliament to be dissolved. I still think, as well as we can calculate, that all the business will be con cluded about Tuesday week—the 19th. 'That, I think, is getting " towards the end of the month." The noble lord is somewhat hypercritical upon that point. (A laugh.) The convenience of members is certainly to be considered, but there are also other considerations by which we must be guided. As soon after the-business of this house is con cluded as we think is consistent with public conveni nience, of course the dissolution will take place. The pro rogation cannot take place until or " towards the end of the month," and the dissolution will follow. • Lord J. RUSSELL.—The right hon. gentleman cannot at this moment pledge himself to any particular day upon which Parliament will be dissolved, because there might be business which may take a longer time than is at present calculated upon, although I believe that pretty generally members of this house can estimate that the business will not occupy us later than Monday week. But the right hon . gentleman is perfectly able to answer the question of my right hon. friend whether the dissolution will immediately follow the prorogation. (Hear, hear.) There can be no difficulty about that. We have repeated precedents in which the Crown, having thought fit to dissolve Parliament, asked the assistance of the House of Commons, and that assistance has been readily given, as I am sure it has been now, but a dissolution has always followed, if not on the same day at latest upon the day after the prorogation. (Hear, hear.) I cannot imagine what difficulty there can be in assuring the house that as soon as the Crown is able to prorogue Parliament her Majesty will be advised to do so. My noble friend is quite justified in commenting upon the phrase of introducing a Reform Bill in June or July. I believe that upon the 19th or the 20th of this month Parliament may be dissolved, and then the new house can meet about the end of May. (Hear, hear.) The right hon. gentl eman th e ot h er day rather taunted my noble friend and myself with a want of patriotism, for ask ing, as Sir Robert Peel asked m e in 1841, that if the existing Parliament should be dissolved the new one should meet as soon as constitutional prece dents and the requirements of the law would permit. Since that time a law has been passed, known as Lord Brougham's Act, by which Parliaments may meet sooner *han formerly. The new Parliament might meet by the end of May. What is the meaning, then, of talking about a Reform Bill in July ? (Hear.) There can be no diffi culty, if a Reform Bill is really in contemplation, in intro ducing it, as was done in 1831, 10 days after the assembling of the new Parliament, and if Parliament meet by the end of May a Reform Bill might be introduced by the middle of June. I cannot help thinking that there is something strange in the declaration of the right hon. gentleman upon this subject ; but, as the house has behaved with the utmost courtesy to the Government, I trust that we shall not be left in doubt with respect to the dissolution. (Hear, hear.) Mr. GLADSTONE—If there has been any ambiguity in the language of the Government with respect to the disso lution I have no doubt that we shall have it speedily cleared up, because there can be no question that it is desirable upon every ground that the dissolution should take place at the earliest possible moment—which may be qualified on the present occasion, however, to the extent of a day or two, by the intervention of Passion week—and that the meeting of Parliament should also take place at as early a period as possible. lam quite certain, therefore, that that can never become a matter of argument. (Cheers.) With respect to the other subject, which, owing to the accident of the discussion, his become mixed up with the question of the dissolution, I would venture to say that the Chan cellor of the Exchequer should not understand that any imputation is sought to be cast upon the Government with regard to the Galway contract. This matter of the packet service is, after all, a young subject. It has been growing up of late years, and it may be that during its progress the house has been mreo anxious to witness its growth than to maintain with strictness the ex • ercise of its own constitutional control over the public ex penditure. (Hear, hear.) But upon 'this occasion an important contract with a new company happens to have come before the house when the contract is as yet uncom pleted. The speech of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if rigidly interpreted, might be construed to mean that it is positively better that there should be no eontrol by this house over such contracts until they aro completed, and until the money of private persons has been laid out upon the faith of those contracts. (Hear.) Then at last an estimate is proposed —not for future expenses, as from the nature of an estimate is implied--but for the payment of expenses already incurred ; so that, in point of fact, no option then remains to the house. (Hear, hear.) And the Chancellor of the Exchequer must know as well as anybody, when he speaks of the control of the House of Commons in such a case, that it really means no control at all. (Hear.) There is no blame to the Government if they have proceeded in this matter as former Governments have done. But if it be desirable, for the sake of a due control over the expenditure, that an estimate of the ordi nary expenses of a single year should be placed dis tinctly before the house before the expenses are incurred, much more is it desirable that this house should exercise a prior and not a posterior judgment on a contract which is essentially of a somewhat delicate cha racter, and which is to bind the public faith for a v er y l arge sum and over a considerable period of time. (Hear, hear.) Without blaming the Government I would point out that this matter comes before us at a time when the public faith is not pledged, and when we can without imputation vin dicate to ourselves the right of considering it, and of trying the reasons which have approved themselves to the minds of the Government. I would, therefore, respectfully sub mit to the Government that, under those circumstances, they - would do well and wisely to recognise the constitu tional ,jurisdiction and control of the House of Commons over the public expenditure, and to afford to it a full oppor tunity.of considering the contract which they purpose to complete before it is completed, and before private persons have laid out their money upon the faith of it. (Hear.) Colonel FRENCH said that, although the right hon. gentleman who had just sat down had disclaimed any inten tion of blaming the Government for what they had done in the matter of this contract, the Government had twice been attacked,; without much consideration, on account of it. The Chancellor of the Exchequer had fairly thrown down the gauntlet, and had stated that he was ready to justify the contract, and to show that it was for the benefit of the public. If the right hon. member for the University of Oxford doubted that, let him take up the gauntlet in a straightforward way, instead of attacking the proceeding by a side wind. (Hear.) Mr. F. W. RUSSELL complained of the secrecy with which he alleged that the contract had been attempted to be carried out, and, urged, as th ere were other ports besides Galway which might contend for the advantage of despatch ing steamers to America, that it was the duty of the Go vernment to suspend the completion of the contract until the assembling of the new Parliament. Mr. RICHARDSON claimed for Ireland the benefit of a direct communication with America, and was understood to advocate the Galway route as affording the readiest means for the shipment of manufactured goods. BARON BRAMWELL AND WELSH JURIES.— • HEREFORD MAGISTRATES. Mr. S. ESTCOURT rose to answer one or two questions which had been asked some time ago, and which, he said, the house had very likely forgotten, owing to the varied character of the discussion which had taken place since they had been put. The hon. member for Chester had called the attention of the house to remarks said to have been made by Mr. Baron Bramwell at Bala, on the North Wales circuit, and speaking as a private individual, had exercised the right—which he (Mr. Estcourt) would not contest—of expressing an opinion upon the discretion of the remarks attributed to the learned judge. The hon. ourable gentleman pointed out that some of those re marks not only impugned .the verdict of the jury, but that they seemed to depreciate the Principality of Wales in point of honesty, as compared with England. He might join with the honourable gentleman in thinking that al• though nothing was said by the learned judge which could be made the subject of complaint, still, as a matter of dis cretion, a comparison between one part of the country and another might have been avoided. (Hear, hear.) But he (Mr. Estcourt) would beg the house to observe that lie was called to speak on this matter as a Minister of the Crown, and that there were considerations connected with it of far higher importance than that immediately referred to in the notice on the paper. (Hear) The question was really one which seriously trenched on the independence of the judges. (Hear,) He should be loth to take any step, or to use any expressions which might in the smalle s t d egree di sparage that independence of the judges, which was one of the last quali ties which that house ought to surrender. (Hear, hear.) So strongly had Parliament always endeavoured to maintain the independence of the judges that they were not reckoned as officers over whom the Home Secretary had any control. The judges of the land, in addressing juries from time to time, had frequently made use of remarks intended as warn ings or reprehensions, or as guides to public opinion on matters not immediately before them, but which inci dentally arose out of the circumstances they were trying. That liberty of remark had been felt to be a great preserva tive against innovations, misconduct, and a number of practices deserving of reprobetion t in checking which no such opportunities were ettbrded us those which came with. in the province of the judges in the administration of justice. That being so he had to state that he did not think it con sistent with the duties of his office to Oar any explanation by way of apology for the learned judge who wa s sa id to have made the re mar k s t o which the hon. gentleman had called the attention of the house, (Hear, hear.) He turned now to the recent appointment of ma g i s t rates for Hereford, which the bon, gentleman (Mr. Clive) who represented that city, had brought under consideration in an earlier part of the evenin had . lt That was a different matt er, and he (Mr. Estcourt)fe bound to direct the attention of the Lord Chancellor to the notice which the hon. member had placed upon the paper, In order that the nobleand learned lord might have an opportunity of affording any explanation he might wish to make in reference to the subject. It was impossible for him (Mr. Estcourt) to divine beforehand the nature of the speech with which the hon. gentleman (Mes Clive) would preface his question; but what he understood the right hon. member to complain of was, that six gentlemen should have been added to the commission of the peace for the city of Hereford, all of whom were supposed to hold Conservative opinions, and two of whom the hon. gentleman rather in sinuated were scarcely fit for the office by reason of being tradesmen, and carrying on business in that city. He also understood the hon. gentleman to impugn the course pur sued by the Lord Chancellor in having made the appoint ments in question without communication with the autho rities of the city of Hereford. First, with regard to those six gentlemen, he understood that about this time last year, from which the commencement of this transaction dated, there were altogether, including the Recorder, the Mayor, the ex-Mayor, 10 gentlemen in the commission of the peace for that city. One, a medical gentleman, had never acted ; and o f a ll th a t b o d y of gentlemen one alone was supposed to hold Conservative opinions—(hear, hear) — and eight of them had been appointed by former Lord Chancellors holding Liberal opinions. That being the state of the case, he (Mr, Estcourt) thought no one would wonder that gentlemen living in the city of Hereford and holdlng the same opinions as her Majesty's present Go vernment were dissatisfied, and that they considered an opportunity had fairly arisen when there ought to be an in fusion into the magistracy of gentlemen holding similar opi nions with themselves. They held a public meeting, at which the names of certain gentlemen were canvassed, and after several trenseeticaso had taken place consequent upon sonic of those gentlemen declining to be p u t in nommas tion, the names sent up were :—Mr. J. H. Griffith, a bar rister, a county justices of the peace, the son of a Minty justice of the peace, residing five miles from Hereford ; Mr. John Prince, a gentleman ot large property residing one mile from tie Oty Qharles Price, a lie u t enant na taw navy, whose lately deceased brother was an active borough magistrate ; Mr. William Bullock, a private gentleman re siding in his own house, where his father and family had resided above 50 years ; he was in the law, and his father a prebendary of the cathedral; Mr. Ambery Court, a respect able grocer in a large way of business ; and Mr. John. Parker. a respectable bookseller. Those names w ere agreed on at a public meeting, and afterwards submitt e d t o the Lord Chancellor for consideration. What Was the Lord Chancellor to do ? He communicated with the town clerk on the subject, and requested that the names of the existing magistrates might be sent up to him. That certainly was notice sufficient to the municipal authorities. They did not, however, recoramend any naraes, and no communication, he (Mr. Estcourt) believed, was made by them to the Lord Chancellor. The Lord Chan cellor then made inquiries into the character of the gentle men whose names had been sent up to him frem the public meeting, and finding they occupied the revectable posi tions which he (Mr. Estcourt) had described, the noble a n d learned lord placed th em upon the commission of the peace. Those were the circumstances of the case, and he had only further to say that he could not consent to the production of any correspondence on the subject, seeing that it had passed between the Lord Chancellor and gentlemen acting m behalf of a public meeting. Mr. CLIVE said the right hon. gentleman had stated that of the gentlemen in the commission of the pea ce a t th e time the six in question were appointed one was a Conser vative, and one alone. Would he mention the name of that gentleman ? Mr. ESTCOURT—Mr. Thomas Evans, an attorney (as we understood). Mr. CLIVE said in that the right hon. gentleman was mistaken. Mr. JAMES thought the house would cordially concur in the constitutional principles propounded :by the Howe Secretary in reference to the independence of the judges, on which the security and liberty of the subject in this country so • materially depended. At the same time he thought it reprehensible for a judge to make any re mark on the conduct of a jury. (Hear, hear.) It was a practice from which our greatest judges had always abstained. It was the duty of a judge to expound the law to a jury, and the jury, moving in their orbit, were respon sible for the verdict. A verdict so given our most dis tinguished judges invariably respected, though they might not always approve. He had had the honour of being on the same circuit as the.learned judge whose conduct was impugned on this occasion. That learned judge was elevated to the bench entirely on his ownmerits, and he (Mr. James) believed him to be a man incapable either of giving offence to a jury or of interfereing with the due and impartial ad ministration of justice. (Hear, hear.) Mr. DILLWYN sa id , five gentlemen had been appointed to the commission of the peace in the borough which he represented, withovt, as far as he was aware, any previous communication having been made to any of the local autho rities. On the vote for military rewards, Mr. COWAN called the attention of the committee to the circumstances attending the deaths of Sergeant Carmichael and Corporal Burgess, or Burgess Greerson, who sacrificed their lives in the bl ow i ng in of the Cashmere-gate, at Delhi, in September, 1857 ; and after reading an account of the exploit written. by Colonel Baird Smith, in which a glowing eulogiwu was passed on their devotion, asked whether the Government would grant the Victoria Cross or a pension to the fatherof Corporal Burgess, who was a consti tuent of his and i n very reduced circumstances, and who was anxious to possess some testimonial of his son's services ? He should never regret that he was a member of the Select Committee which had been the means of doing tardy justice to the Land Transport Corps. He hoped that the next Par liament would apply themselves to reduce the national ex penditure, but he was sure no Parliament would ever grudge rewards to those who counted not their lives dear to them in the defence of their country. (Hear, hear.) He had to thank the gallant general and every member of the Govern ment for the great courtesy and attention which they had shown to him. He did not regard the vote which he re cently gave as a vote of censure. He should certainly never have concurred in a vote of censure on the Government. (Hear, hear.) No one wished more than he did that they should continue in the prosecution of the various branches of legislation in which they had been so honourably and successfully engaged—(hear, hear)—and, in addressing the last words which probably he should ever utter in that house, he could assure them that it was his earnest wish that the new Parliament should apply themselves to the promotion of such objects both at homeand abroad as would conduce to the honour and prosperity of the country. General PEEL said it was with extreme regret that he found himself unable to comply with the request which the hon. member had previously made to him in reference to these gallant men. It was no t th e custom to grant tewards to those who had the misfortune to be killed in action. The difference between these two men and the two officers, was that, though the officers were severely wounded, they sur vived a •short time, and received an acknowled.gment of their gallantry from Sir A. Wilson. Her l`lajesty had great pleasure in confirming the Victoria Cross to them, and handing it over to their surviving relatives. If these two gallant soldiers had survived, how 'ever short a time, the same course would doubtless have, been pursued. As to granting a pension, they were eoldiers in the Company's service, and the amount would e ave s o come out of the revenue of India. He wished he had the power to grant to the father of one of them the pensiento which he thought him entitled. The report was then agreed to. WAYS AND MEANS. In Committee of. Ways and Means resolutions were agreed to—that £10,813,708 be granted to her 'Majesty towards making good Supply out of the Consolidated Fund, and that £13,277,400 be raised by Exchequer-bills for the service of the year 1859. The Sale of Poisons Bill, the Sale and Transfer of Land (Ireland), Compensations and Stamps Bill, the Sale and Transfer of Land (Ireland) Bill, and the Receivers in Chan cery (Ireland) Aboltion Bill were withdrawn. second time. The Pauper Maintenance Act Continuance Bill passed through committee. The Confirmation and Probate Act Amendment Bill was read a second time. The Naval Medical S upplemental Fund Society Annuities, &c., Act Continuance Bill passed through committee. LAW OF PROPERTY AND TRUSTEES RELIEF • AMENDMENT BILL. The house went into committee on this bill. Mr. R OLT hoped that at this period of the session the bill would not be proceeded with. There were many clauses requiring great consideration. Sir S. NORTHCOTE wished, before his hon. and learned friend rose, to add that the bill seriously affected the inte rests of the Crown and the revenue departments. It.would therefore be more convenient that the bill should be with drawn and brought forward in a new Parliament. Sir P. KELLY regretted that there should be any appo sition to the passing of this bill, which had twice received the sanction of the house of Lords after much discussion and investigation, and which in its main features - proved by a ll the most eminent lawyers in Parliament and in the country. Looking, however to the p resen t state o f the house an d th e session, he felt bound, although.with un feigned regret, to acquiesce in the suggestion of his hon. and learned friend and withdraw the bill. The bill was then withdrawn. EVIDENCE BY COMMISSION BILL. The Lords' amendments to this bill were considered. COMBINATION OF WORKMEN BILL. This bill was read a third time and passed. The house adjourned at a quarter past 9 o'clock until Monday. METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS. the usual weekly meeting of the Board, yes 4.erday, after various matters of the usual routine character bad been disposed of, Mr. LESLIE asked the clerk whether, in the contract by the Board with Mr. Moxon for the construction of the northern high level sewer at £152,430, the Board and the Government were bound by the specifica tion of the engineer and the drawings, levels, and sections in connection therewith, or were concluded by the estimates for those works signed by Richard tateccontract2mn Roberts and Ed war d G o tt o, and dated Dec., 1858. Mr. yooLnYcH (th e c l er k) considered tat the tothtneethe ele2hos i n specification,hatnGor I,nde rt2ni d board were were n n y au tbh pnvet i,sceetd ; drawings,tnhn. but ea or he B4o . 4 w as hich ofo p uobnldigerattihoen 9thw h a s t e e e v t e otpf incorporatedhhe er i n cap. 104, or any other; and he further thought. the Board were i n no way bound by the quant quantities con tained in th e est i mate dated December, 1858. Mr. LESLIE then proceeded to point out s ome gross e rrors, as he termed them in that estimate, and said th a t t h e quantities W were, in many in stances, greatly exaggerated and far exceeded the estimate made by M r. Bazalgette, the engineer of the Board. In the course of his observations he stated that 16 contractors made tenders for the work, and that 15 of them fixed their figures greatly beyond the £152,430, at which the contract was finally concluded with Mr. Moxon ; and he then intimated, in terms rather stronger than we feel ourselves a t liberty to use the possibility that the exaggerated estimate had been furnished to 15 of the parties, and that what he called the true estimate had been in some way made known to the 16th contractor. Upon this assumption he declared that the document to which he was referring was a fraud and a swindle upon the ratepayers. Mr. 11. L. Taylor, Mr. Carpmael, and several other members of the Board expressed their strong con demnation of the insinuation thus made against two highly honourable men, especially in their absence, and called upon Mr. Leslie to withdraw his words; but that gentleman contented himself with denying that he had said more than that there was a proba bility of such information having been furnished to one of the 16 contractors ; and contended that he was justified in asserting that the "document" was a swindle upon the ratepayers. In answer to a question by Mr. Wright, The ENGINEER said no doubt there were errore in th^ document referred to by Mr. Leslie, but it was not upon the quantities contained in that paper that the estimate of this board was made as to the amount on which the contract should be taken, nor did he think that if those quantitiesshould actually be executed it would in any affect the ratepayers. made Mr. LESLIE degree pecuniarily repeated efforts to - continue his oarddderr ; e ss a t n o d, the afterboard, a g abiunt rhvusi e f wa n s g a s t r en called to words be reall y h ad used, Mr. CA RPMAEL moved a vote of cernesturarectupanon that gentleman, carried lr y a majority o f 10, there being 15 for , which was s ec onded, and on a divi sionit and 5 against it. Mr. Leslie wassensured accordingly, the CHAIR MAN at the samd time expressing his very great regret at having to discharge that painful duty. The board then adjourned. NANA SAHlB.—According to the latest intelli gence received at Gorruckpore, the Nana is encamped at the foot of the hills, with 3,000 troops at the outside. It is re ported that be has now no power, but goes a b out from place to place disguised, and is Down to very few of the rebels. Ile row two treachery. COUNTRY M4RLETB. LIVERPOOL--APRIL 8. The arrivals from Ireland and coastwise since Tuesday have been light. From foreign ports we have received 6,334 quarters of wheat (of which 4,777 qrs are Egyptian), 2,160 qrs o f b eans, an d 7,180 sacks flour. The exports, in the same time, comprise 1,641 qrs of wheat, 2,462 qrs. oats, 617 qrs of Indian corn, 1,067 sacks and 539 barrels of flour. The weather has become very fine and warm for the season. We had only a small attendance of dealers at our market to-day, and business very limited. Wheat and flour little inquired for, and prices for every other article must be noted nominally as on Tuesday. WAKEFIELD —APRIL 8. Moderate arrivals of grain from the coast and by railway this week. The wheat t ra d e i s dull to-day, and the busi ness done was very limited, at previous rates. Beans were steady. Barley also dull of sale, and easier to buy. Oats and other articles steady. Wheat, per qr. of 8 bushels 601 b., Essex, Suffolk, and Kent, white, old, 47s to 49s ; new, 458 to 48s ; ditto, red, old, 41s to 43s ; new, 39s to 428 ; Lincolnshire and York shire white, new, 41s to 46s ; red, 38s to 40s. Averages for the week : Wheat ........ 6,417 qrs., at . 41s a, - Barley.... •• • 003 , 37s 0at5.......... 5 2 „ 25s KNAR ESBOROUGH—APRIL 6. There was an average Supply of grain to-day, and a fair business at the annexed prices :—White wheat, from 58 3d to 6s Od per bushel; red, 58 Od to 5s 6d; beans, 5s 6d to 6s Od; barley, 28s to 34s Od per qr, ; oats, 22s to 28s. • • RIPON—APRIL 6. There has been a good supply of grain at market to-day. —White wheat, 5s Od to 5s 9d per bushel ; ted, 5s Od to 5s 6d; beans, 4s 9d to 5s Od; barley, 30s Od to 36a; oats, 20s to 28s Od per qr. EXETER --APRIL 8. An average attendance. Many of the samples were in better condition, and at an improvement in prices. Wheat, white ss Od to 5s 3d I. Barley. .......4 s Od to 4s 3d Ditto red 4s 6d to 5s Od Oats • ... 38 Od to 3s 3d Flour, fine, 29s to 31s; seconds, 27s to —s per sack. CATTLE —The market was fairly supplied with stock. The attendance of farmers good. Pork carcases a small supply. Fat beef,p score,9s6d to 10s6d Ewes, per lb • . . 61d to 7d Pork carcases, do7s Od to 8s Od I Wethers, d 0...... 6fd to 7fd Lambs, p er lb. Od to Od Fat calves do ....51d to 6d Rough fat, 41d p er lb: BRISTOL SUGAR—APRIL 8. There has been an improved dispoon shown to pur chase this week, and prices are about supportod. The sales consist of 16,000 mats of Mauritius , 8,000 bags Pernams, and 700 tons Bahias, at prices not previoasly obtainable, and the market closes firmly. Refiners' produce meets a fair demand, and considerable transactions have taken place, but there is little improvement in prices. Rum is still very dull, and proof Demeraras have ben sold at 2s. COAL MARKET —APRIL 8. (Prices of Coal per Ton at the close of the market.) Walls End. a. d. Buddle's West Hartleyls 3 Tanfield Moor Butes 11 3 Ward's West Hartley l4 0 Lambert's West Hart ley 14 9 Holywell 13 6 Wylam a. d; Riddell 13 6 Reßoe l6 3 West Hett on South Hartlepool l5 3 Harton Heugh Hall 14 6 Gosforth. l3 6 Trimdon Hartlepool; l6 6 Hartlepool. l7 0 Framwellgaie .... .... .. . . l4 0 Nixon's Merthyr 2l 0 Powell'sDuffryn Steam 21 0 10 5—Sold, 68. Walls End. Braddyll's Hetton 15 6 Acorn. Close 14 6 Eden.. l4 6 Kepler Grange 15 9 Ships at market, LOCAL SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOD—APRIL 8. There was little doing to-day, and the market closed at the lowest. Eastern Counties, 11/ 15-16—Chester and Holyheads, 49/ 50 1 - -Caledonians, 81 1 1--. Lancashire and Yorkshire, 93 k—London and North-Westerns, 94 East Lancashire, 92 —Dutch Rhenish, •4k 41 dis.— Grand Trunk of Canada, 8 k - --Great Western, 581 58f---- Great Western of Canada, 154 16—Dovers, 20 15-16- -North British, 57 I—York and North Midland, 75 I Berwicks, 914 I—Leeds Northern, 46 46 1—Midland, 101 —:l3lackburns, llf 1 11--Birkenhesds, 63 631—Sheffields, 38i f. MANCHESTER-APRIL 8. There was a quiet business doing, and prices rather lower. Leeds, 94 93I—Dovers, 21—North Staffords, 3 15-16 d—Great Western, 581—Midlands, 104—Eastern Counties, 11 15-16—Sheffields, 38 1 — B1kburns, 11-5-16 —Peak Forest Canal, 86. BIRMINGHAM—APRIL 8. There was a fair amount of business done to-day in this market. Londons, 94 I--Midlands, 101 F-South St a ff or d s, 101 to ll—Crystal Palace, 1.1 LEEDS--APRIL 8. The market has been moderately active to-day, and only a small amount of business has been done. Prices are weak. Great Westerns, 584--Midlands, 101 100. feeds, Brad ford, and Halifax, 2 pm—Berwicks, 94—Caledonian, 81- London and North-Westerns, 941—Brightons, [ADVERTISEMENT.]—HoIIoway's Pills and Ointment.-- Youth.—The onward march of time can never be arrested, and youth must be succeeded by maturer years, but its bloom and health . may be prolonged by strict attention to the laws of nature, by regulating the digestion and main taining the blood in a state of purity. Nothing accom plishes these ends with so much certainty and precision as Holloway's preparations, which are famed throughout the whole world for improying the digestion, strengthening the stomach and regulating the liver and kidneys—functions essential to good health. I n n ervous t em p eramen t s , where the stomach is irritabl e? thi s o i n t men t, ru bb e d over that organ,never fails to relieve the distressing feelings, to is.. vigorate the nervous system, and give youthful tone. [ADVERTISEMENT.]—ThorIey's Food for Cattle is n ow beginning to seriously attract the attention of the farm er , breeder, and feeder of stock. Two years of unremitting care and attention have enabled its inventor to take high ground as a benefactor to these interests ; and notwithstand ing the many drawbacks, the malevolent shafts hurled , e es first, ty that 'it effects a considerable against it and its probable utility, the food, fi•om its admitted Experiencev al u e , agricultural interest. saving in the consumption of provender; secondly, that it produces health and vigour nall animals subjected to its willb h e a e s om p e ro a v n ed e influence : and lastly, increases in a remarkable degree an early development of fat. Mr. Thorley, originating this singularly efficacious food, aimed at a compound calculated to supersede, to a certain extent, the tedious and expensive mode then prevailing of fattening stall-fed beasts. In this he happily succeeded ; and success prompted a very natural desire to improve upon the invention, so as to make it ap plicable to every description of domestic animal. The Eng lish farmer was slow to encourage its use, and manifested an' unwillingness to rely upon its efficacy, fancying he possessed in the produce of his farm, ample materials whereby to feed and fatten his cattle at a cheaper rate than by the employment or addition of artificial food. The tests to which this food has been subjected have proved its perfect admissibility as a cheap addition to the natural produce of the farm ; inasmuch as in all cases a subt rac ti on of one-third may be safely submitted to in the usual food of animals; and that the produce will be realised, and rendered marketable in two-thirds of the time usually consumed in developing fat ; it, therefore, becomes apparent that a certain saving is effected by a fair application of Thorley's Compounded Food. It is believed that the present unprecedented low price of wheat has induced its very gene ral use, in preference to any other of the usual articles of food ; it is, however, much questioned whether wheat is a nourishing and proper food for the working horse, certainly it is not for cows or pigs. Mr. Thorley's Food, besides possessing the advantage of greatly invigorating the health and increasing the physical power of all animals, is a tonic and gentle stimulant, and when mixed with their other food, materially =assists their digestive powers—a matter of great consequence, since it is an undoubted fact that the nourishment contained in their ordinary food is lost, conse quent upon the impaired or defective action o f th e digestive r ;it will also be f oun d t o b e particularly beneficial in restoring to good working condition horses Which have been over-worked, or become weak from disease, or are naturally of a feeble, constitution. In cows its effects are undoubted, indeed almost marvellous, nearly doubling the yield of milk and butter, whilst it at the same time enriches the quality of both. In pigs its fattening qualities are still more remarkable, displaying in a few weeks its manifest superiority over every other kind of compound or manu factured food adopted in the feeding of swine. Such has been its marked ca success, that• at all our great ttle s, Royalty, noblemen, ansi others who h ave fed their hows cattle on Thorley's Food, have invariably carried off the principal prizes, whilst card s o f commendation have been awarded. The patronage of Roy a lt y, of our principal nobility, the clergy z and of our leading agriculturists, must prove a great incitement to this gentleman to pursue his onward h o i curse ; and he may confidently rely, in producin g so ghly-favoured a compound, on a continuation of such high and distinguished patronage. BIRTHS. FLVDR—On the Bth ult., at Balham, Surrey, the wife of J. B. Flude, Esq., of a daughter. GEARY.—On the 7th inst., at . 10 , Cadogan-place the wife of Francis Geary, Esq., of a son. PARKER.—On the 7th lust., at Hounslow, th e w i fe of Cap -1 o On h si t , al v n Eß C T . W. Park t er e , 7lathtei6n9stth., R at egt l4 . , , s o o f u athsoAnu-street, . dley the Hon. Mrs. Filvertop, prematurely, of a d aug ht er. MARRIAG ES oEfl iaj iVf or .R S . b. e u .S te . , HELE—STIVT2.On the 6th inst., at Ringmore, Devon, to Harriet, the Howard House, Shaldon. josEs—JoNns.—On the 6th in.st., Edward A. Jones, Esq. of 55, Connaught-terrace, Hyde -park, to Rosa, second yNo.unFgeenswit daughter daughter of the late Henry Jones, Esq., of 23, Saekville street, Piccadilly. DEATHS. BEIOLEY.—On the Bth inst., at 14, Stanhope-street, Park place, Regent's -park, Joseph Bewley, Esq., formerly of the Hudson's Bay Company, aged 74. BOODLE.—On the Bth inst., John Boodle, Esq., of Heath- Farm, Watford, and 9, Davies- street, Grosvenor-square, aged 82. LITTLER.—On the 6th inst., at Bigadon, S. Devon, Robert T. Ryan, youngest son of the late General Sir J. Hunter Littler, G.C.8., aged 15. PINRERTON.—On the 7th inst., at Wray Park, Reigate, Surrey, Robert Pinkerton, D.D., aged 75. TEESDALE.-011 the 7th inst., at 42, Connaught-terrace, Hyde -park, Lady Teesdale, Widow of Major- Gen. Sir G. Teesdale, K.H. TEMPEST.—On the 6th inst., Colonel Tempest, of Tong Hall, Yorkshire, and Aughton, Lancashire, aged 85. LONDON : Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the county of Middlesex, Saturday, April 9, 1859.