The Sun. — London, England, 1861-06-07 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. , _ -et- HOUSE OF LORDS.—(YESTERDAY.) The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at 5 o'clock. THE DEATH OF COUNT CAVOIJR. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE, seeing the noble lord the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, begged to ask whether the Foreign-office had received any in telligence confirming the report that had appeared in the public newspapers, announcing the death of Count Cavour. He was sure that if the me lancholy event had occurred, it R ould be a calamity not only to the country with which he was connected,,but to the whole world. Lord WODE HOUSE said he regretted the news was too true. Her Majesty's Government had received a tele graphic despatch from Turin announcing that Count Cavour died that morning at seven o'clock. He would not at that time attempt to debate upon the merits of that great man, because he felt that history would do full justice to his character as a patriot and a statesman. It was indeed a melancholy event to have occurred in the state of affairs that existed in Italy. Lord BROUGHAM also deplored the loss of Count Cavour. No man could doubt his great skill and patriotism in all things connected with Italy. (Hear, hear.) The Earl of MALMESBURY said he had given way to the nobile lord, but as one who had been intimately connec ted by the nature of the office he had had the honour to fill, no one could feel more sincerely the loss of that great man than he did at the present position of affairs. The Marquis of BATH also expressed his regret at the melancholy event. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The Frosterley and Stanhope Railway ; Llandaff and Canton District Markets; North Eastern Railway (Exten sion to Otley) ; Cockermouth, Keswick, and Penrith Rail way ; Downpatrick and Newry Railway ; Stockton, Tim perley, and Altrincham Junction Railway ; Alton, Alresford, and Winchester Railway ; Southampton and Netley Railway; Ludlow and Cleo Hill Railway; Cork and Youghal Railway; Inverness and Perth Junc tion Railway bills were read a second time. The Bishops Castle Railway Bill was read a third time and passed. RAILWAY COMPANIES MORTGAGE TRANSFER BILL. Lord KINNAIRD moved the second reading of this bill. The bill would affurd an easy mode of transfer of the property to which it related, and the only parties he thought that would object to it were the lawyers and brokers in Scotland. The bill sought not to make any new enactments, but only to carry out what had been thought to be desirable, and what was already the law of the land. Lord REDESDALE did not approve of the bill. It would occasion a great loss of revenue on the one hand, and was objected to strongly by other parties, therefore he should move that it be read a second time that day six months. On the LORD CHANCELLOR putting the question, Lord REDESDALE said as it appeared to be the deter mination of Government to support the bill, he should not persist with his motion. He had thought it his duty to draw the attention of the Government to the subject, and, as they had not objected, he should not proceed further in the matter. The bill was then read a second time. REFORMATORY SCHOOLS (SCOTLAND) BILL. Lord KINNAIRD moved the second reading of this bill. ' The Earl of CAMPERDOWN moved, as an amend ment, that the bill be read a second time that day six months. The Earl of EGLINTON stated his grounds of objection to the measure. The Duke of ARGYLL would vote for the bill, because he did not think its provisions for benefitting Reformatory Schools were in any way open to objection. After some further discussion, in the course of which the Duke of BITCCLEUCII and other noble lords opposed the bill, their lordships divided, when the motion for the second reading was negatived by a majority of 49 to 16. The bill was consequently lost. The Consolidated Fund (£10,000,000) Bill was read a third time, after which their lordships adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—YESTERDAY. The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The Kingstown Water Bill was read a third time and passed. PETITIONS. Several petitions were presented against the continuance of the grant to Maynooth ; from different parts of Ireland in favour of the Galway subsidy; for promoting the growth of cotton in India; in favour of the Salmon Trout Fishery Bill ; for an amendment of the Poor-law in Ireland; against the abolition of church-rates; in favour of the bill for the Registration of Births, Deaths, and Marriages in Ireland ; from certain schoolmasters in Yortcshire, praying that the claims of the London University to repre sentation should be considered in the bill to be .introduced for the appropriation of scats in Parliament; against the Parochial Assessment Bill, &c. • REPORTS OF DEBATES IN THE HOUSE. Mr. SCULLY gave notice that on going into committee of supply he would move for a select committee to consider the best means for obtaining more accurate and authorised reports of debates in this house. THE GAM% AY SUBSIDY. In reply to Mr. WncrEstp, Mr. GREGORY said that it was his intention to press his motion for a select committee to inquire into the with drawal of the subsidy to the Galway Packet Company, and to take the sense of the house on that subject. THE POOR LAW BOARD. Lord ASHLEY asked the President of the Poor Law Board whether he would lay upon the table of the house copy of any recent correspondence between the Poor Law Board and any London or provincial Unions on the subject of the removal of pauper children to the manufacturing dis tricts ? Mr. VILLIERS said there was no objection to lay that correspondence on the table. KENSINGTON GARDENS. Viscount ENFIELD asked the Chief Commissioner of Works whether he intended, as was reported, to open a part of Kensington Gardens for the use of equestrians; and, if so, what portions of the gardens would be devoted to that purpose ? Mr. COWPER said that it was the wish of the Govern- ment that the parks might be made a source of enjoyment to the public as much as possible. With regard to the ride in Kensington Gardens, he said he thought it would be most desirable to open the ride this year, notwithstand ing, that there were some objections to that proceeding. In the first place there was the fear of,fond mothers and timid nurserymaids, arising from an apprehension of the want of skilfulness on the part of equestrians—(laughter)— but he had succeeded in making arrangements by which borse,nen may have all the advantages of the ride without crossing any frequented path. A complaint had been made that the privacy of the gardens would be destroyed, but it was impossible for him or any one else to secure privacy in the parks of a metropolis which contained 3,000,000 of in habitants, and to which the public were admitted. He pro posed to a d m i t equestrians through the gate unde r th e d r y arch on the southern side, and to open that entrance on the next warm day. RECOGNITION OF TIIE SOUTHERN CONFEDERACY. In reply to Mr. CRIUFORD, motion of which he had given notice, as to the recognition by the country of the confederated States of the Southern States of America. Lord J. RUSSELL said that Government would not oppose the bringing forward of that motion, but he con sidered it would be most nnadvisable. CANADIAN VOLUNTEERS. Lord STANLEY asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it was true, as stated in the latest telegram s from America, that a regiment of Canadian volunteers had offered its services to the President of the United States to assist in coercing the Southern States ; and that offer had been accepted ; and what steps would be taken by her Ma jesty's Government to prevent such violation of neutrality ? Lord J. RUSSELL said that no such report as that alluded to had been received, nor had there been ry com munication to the Government by those diplomatic agents on the subject. BOATS ON THE WATER IN REGENT'S PARK. Lord W. GRAHAM asked the First Commis t s h io a n t e b r oa o ts f Works whether it was with his leave and sanction were allowed to go on the ornamental water in Regent s park ; whether he was aware that considerable annoyance had arisen to the families of owners of private gardens which abut on the same, from persons landing on or lying alongside of these gardens; and whether he intended to take any steps to remedy the grievance complained of ? Mr. COWPER said that last summer he had made arrangements for allowing boats to ply on the ornamental water. He had received remonstrances from those resident at ono side of the water, who considered that their gardens would be open to the invasion of the mob, and there was another objection also. However, ho had not heard any complaint of the misconduct of those who had availed themselves of the privilege offered them, with the exception of o .e instance of incivility of a young man on one occa sion. it was most desirable that clerks and those engaged in sedentary -ocupations daring the day should have the advantage of rowu. e , o n this water. (Hear, hear.) THE E AS". INDIA BILLS. On the motion of Sir C. 11, the other orders of the day were p ostponed to enable the to p rocee d with these bills with out, delay. THE EAST INDIA COUNCIL, 4.1:c., Sir C. WOOD then rose to move for leave to introduce the following bills : bill to amend, in certain respects, the constitution of the council of the Govern&-General of India, and to authorise making laws and regulations for the presi dencies of Fort St. George and Bombay, and for other parts of her Majesty's Indian territories ; bill for establishing High Courts of Judicature in India; bill to confirm certain appointments in India, and to amend the law concerning the vil Service. The right hon. gentleman said these measures were of the greatest possible importanc e to our Indian em pire, and he introduced them with feelings of the deepest responsibility, The power of legislatizzg for so me 150 millions of people was a matter of the utmost importance and diffi • - culty. They had to legislate for people of different races, of different languages, of different religions, and of different manners and customs, for the bigoted and fierce IV ahome dan, and for the timid Hindoo, as well as the energetic, en • terprising, and proud Englishman. The settlement of re lations between the more and less highly civilised races of mankind must always be attended with great difficulty. In former t" rues there was no feeling of jealousy or antagonism existing between the native and the English population of India, but a feeling of that kind had since sprung up, and it would be folly to shut our eyes to the difficulty of our posi tion arising from it, or to neglect to take the earliest mea sures to obviate them. One of the oldest of our Indian ser vants, who for 16 years had been intimately connected with natives of all classes, only a few months before his death deplored the difficulty he had had in forming a sufficient acquaintance with their feelings and opinions; and yet it was essential that those feelings and opinions should be carefully considered. It had formerly been supposed that the land system which had been estab lished in the north-west provinces o? the empire was the most perfect that could be devised, and that system had been applied to the newly-acquired province of Oude ; but after the rebellion the Government had reverted to the old system in force previous to the annexation, and with the most happy results. At the interview between Lord Can ning and the talookdars of that province they expressed their gratitude for the restoration of the old system, and the Governor-General expressed his gratification at the tran quillity and prosperity of the district. The measure he pro posed to introduce would effect a small change in the exe cutive government of India. Two years ago the Govern merit sent out a distinguished member of this house, Mr. Wilson, to endeavour to place the finances of India in a more satisfactory condition. He believed the changes which Mr. Wilson had the opportunity of inaugurating had con vinced the authorities of India of the mistaken way in which they had proceeded, and had laid the foundation of a sounder system of finance in future; and, judging by the accounts they had received by the late mail, he thought they had reason to hope that they had turned the corner, and were arriving at a more satisfactory state of things than had prevailed in that respect for some years. No doubt the absence from the Council of India of any member acquainted with the principles of jurisprudence had been a serious evil. The greater portion of the bills submitted for consideration were necessarily prepared by Government, and they had been obliged to call on the Advocate-General and others to assist in the framing of those laws ; and hon. gentlemen would see by the despatches from Lord Canning which were delivered into the hands of members yesterday that he pointed out what a great advantage it would be to the exe cutive government and the members of the Legislative Council if a jurist, rather than a mere practising lawyer, were sent out to India to assist the Government in the pre paration of these measures. He proposed, therefore, to take power to send out an additional member of council. It was not essential that he should be a lawyer, but the intention waste send out from this country a lawyer for the purpose of enabling the Government of India to prepare these mea sures for the consideration of the Council. The main change which he had to propose was, as to the body by which laws and regulations were enacted. The history of the legislative power in India was very short, but the house ought to know it before they considered how it should be changed. In 1773 the Governor-General in Council was empowered to make regulations for the government of the provinces of India. In 1793 those regulations were collected into a code by Lord Cornwallis, promulgated and issued ; and it was from that date from which they might say there was a code of regulations by which India was governed. From about 1780 to 1801 similar regulations were enacted for Madras and Bombay, and in 1883 they were applied to the north-western provinces. Soon after that, Delhi, which was nominally under the sovereignty of the Emperor of India, was nevertheless administered by a servant of the Government of India, and that administration succeeded so well that when, in 1815, Lord Hastings acquired some new provinces he determined that they should be administered in the same way by a committee appointed by the Govern. ment ; and in subsequent years the same system has been applied to the various acquisitions which have been made in India subsequent to that date. For instance, the Punjaub, Scinde, Pegu and Berar, and Nagpore have been subse quently acquired. The laws and regulations under which they are administered have been either passed by the Go vernor-General in Council or the Lieutenant-Governor, or by the commissioner of the province, as the case might be, and approved of by the Governor-General ; and that consti tutes the distinction which they had often heard in Indian matters between the regulation provinces and the non-regu lation provinces, the regulation provinces being those which were subject to the old regulations, and the non-regulation provinces being those which were administered by the somewhat irregular mode which he had mentioned, and which dated from 1815. Now, no doubt there was great question as to the legality of this course, and in many re spects the difference did not exist practically. The question had been raised in the Legislative Council. Sir B. Peacock had given it as his opinion that even in the non-regulation provinces the orders of the Governor-General were of no effect, and that in order to make them legal the interference of the Legislative Council in India must be called in. Therefore, in effect, prior to 1833, the Executive Govern ment was also the body which passed laws for the regula • tion of India. In 1833, however, the act passed which added to the Governor-General's Council a member whose presence was necessary on the passing of all legislative measures, and which put the whole of their territory of India under that body. At the same time it withdrew from Madras and Bombay the power of making regulations for themselves which they had possessed up to that time. In fact that act centralised in the Governor-General and his council in India the whole legislative power of India. Since that time some provinces had been acquired which were still considered as non-regulation provinces, but it was not worth while going into minute points which did not affect the general result. So the matter stood till 1853. Great complaints had been made by the other parts of India that they were all subject to legislation at Bengal. The practice at that time had not been introduced,which he still thought had since prevailed with the greatest advantage, of placing in the Governor-General's council members from the other parts of India,and the whole tenor of the evidence which was given before the committee of 1852-3 went to point out that the executive council, even assisted by the legal members, was incompetent to the increased ditties which were de manded of them in consequence of the great extension of territory and other matters brought before them. Mr. M'Leod, a distinguished member of the civil service of India, in his evidence, stated that in his opinion the Governor- General and the four members of council were incompetent, and that the council ought to be enlarged by the addition of members from the minor presidencies. Mr. Hill, also a mem ber of the civil service in India, who had had opportunities, both in Madras and Calcutta, of forming a very sound opi nion, gave evidence to a like effect. In consequence of the evidence given at that time he framed the measure of 1853, which added to the Governor- General's council when it sat for the purpose of making laws a member from the different provinces of India, and also the Chief Justice and one of the other judges of the Supreme Court of Bengal He conceived, and by these means he had obtained a great desideratum, that of giving to the Governor-General in council, when sitting for the purpose of making laws, the advantage of local knowledge of the different parts of India, and of the legal knowledge of the Chief Justice and of another judge. Now, certainly his intention was simply to give to the At torney- General assistance in passing laws, and not what the council of the liovernor-General had since become, some what a debating society and a petty Parliament. He could not better express that than by quoting a short ex tract of a letter which he addressed to Lord Dalhousie at the time. " I expect that thO non-official members of your Legislative Council will be constantly employed as a com mittee of council to be employed in framing laws and regu lations." It was a great mistake of the Governor-General that he established his council, the number of which con sisted of not more than 12 members, with all the powers of a Parliament, the effect of which was to impede business, to cause delay, an d t o i n d uce th e counc il , w hi c h oug h t to h tmatiet .Inen sitting as a c omm itt ee d o i ng th e wor k, t o i m i- a the functions oneof a th n e d lceltatiemrs,thhoewperveerro,gawtihivecshof was a Pamarolinag the papers laid on the table of the house, it was stated that the enlargement of the council had been the means of improving respect the enlargement ofe t l h e e g i c s o l u a t n i c o i n . , l h a and h e e t n h a a t o i m n p t l h e a t e t success. He thought that was a satisfactory proof that so far, certainly, as he intended, and as he believed, the legis latureGeneral' t io n of o t f h this o c v o e u r a n t o r i y . , the object of the composi- E T:d o , sittingwptetenlyfu lfulfilled, e t ot legislative purposes, had boon But when the Council went beyond that it certainly certainly did not General's c • country. In en meet with approval either in India or this deavouring to constitute itself into a body th re griev ances, to make motions, and so on, the Councidlrehadss gone beyond its powers. The Vice-President of the Legislative what t Council, in a short memorandum, pointed out exactly h a Legislative Council ought to be. In that memorandumhe said—" It has no jurisdiction in the nature of those of a grand inquest of the nation. Its functions are purely legis lative, and limited even as a purely legislative body. It is not an Anglo-Indian House of Parliament to redress griev ances and to refuse supplies." That being so, the obvious objection to this course of proceeding on the part of the Council was pointed out by the Government of India last year, and it had been his intention in the course of last year to have introduced a measure on this subject. He felt, how ever, great difficulty in deciding in what shape the new measure should be framed. Lord Canning, however, was very anxious that the measure should be passed, and in deed he consented to defer his departure from India in order that an opportunity might be afforded of passing it during the present session, and that he, with the advantage of his Long experience in India, might be the first to introduce change. The question, of course, arose, in what man ner any. -OW extent an alteration should be made, and they had to c0n5,,... two extreme notions which pre vailed in India on the suuj.— rile notion of a native of India on legislation was that the 60... '-n alone should enact the laws. He had little or no notion of don between the legislative and the executive power. native chief would hear the advice of his council in durbar, as it was called. He informed himself by that communica tion, and then himself determined what should be done. Various proposals had been made. One was that the power of legislation should rest entirely with the Exoe.Attive Qv vernment, and the.'t there should be a consultative body; the other was that tr. \ e Governor-General should asse m bl e from time to time a cone iderable number of persons wh ose opinions he should hear, but which opinion, howev er , h e should not be guided by, bu t that, after havi ng heard those opinions, he should determiar te what sho u l d be done. He believed that in the last .session of Parliament, Lord Ellen borough proposed to the house of Lords some such scheme. Now, the house wou ld see in the despatches from Lord Can ning that it was quite impooible, in the present state of feel ing in India, to revert to that state of things in which the Executive Government alone should legislate for India. The opposite extreme notion was that which was naturally en tertained in this country, and by Englishmen abroad, that there should be a representative body to aid in passing the laws. Now, he was quite sure that any one who understood the condition of India would see that a representative body in the propersense of the word was utterlyunsuited to India. They could not possibly have a representation of the natives from all parts of India. They could not have a body who, in any sense of the word, represented the various classes and populations of India meeting in any one place. If they diminished the area over which legislation was to extend, they would diminish the difficulty. They had in Ceylon a legislative body consisting partly of Englishmen and partly of natives, and he did not know that the experiment was, on the whole, unsuccessful there. But hon. members must remember that the whole of Ceylon was not larger than a large collectorate in India, and it might be worked in a small compass. Then, if they looked at the natives in the presidency towns, they did rot in the slightest degree represent the population of the other parts of India. It would be as reasonable to suppose that the highly educated people of Lendon at the present period would be represented by a highland chief, or a feudal baron of six centuries ago. To look, therefore, for a repre sentation of the native population was to look for that which was simply impossible. Then came the question to what extent should they allow a representation of the Eng lish settled there. No doubt that would be possible, so far as representing their opinions, their views, and their inte rests went. But it would not be a body representing India or the great overwhelming interests of the population of India, and he must say that of all governing bodies or legislative bodies, none was so dangerous and so mischiev ous as a representative body consisting of a dominant race ruling over an extensive population. All experience taught us that the rule of a dominant race was not the mildest of rules. It had been so, he believed, at all times and in every part of the world. In Mr. John Stuart Mill's work on re • presentative government he said, "Now, if there be a fact to which all experience testifies, it is that when a country holds another in subjection, the individuals of the ruling people who resort to that foreign country to make their for tune are of all others those who ought to be held in restraint. They are always one of the chief difficulties of the Govern ment. Armed with a prestige and filled with a scornful disdain of the conquered people, they have every feeling inspired by absolute power, without the sense of responsi • bility." He quoted that, not because he agreed in it to the full extent—he thought it exaggerated, but it did to some extent represent the position of the English in India. They must remember that the natives did Rot distinguish be tween the acts of the Government itself and the acts of those who were in their eye the Government, namely, the Legislative Council, and Lord Canning pointed out that evils had arisen from that source. He said as regarded the English public publicity had been very useful, but as re garded the natives injury had arisen. Now, if they (the Government) did not take away the publicity they must at least take care that the legislation was not in accordance with the language used there, tending to excite serious discontent, fear, and apprehension in the native mind. He wished to strengthen the hands of the Indian Govern ment, and to enable it not only by a veto to prevent the passing of bills into law, but to negative the very introduc tion of measures calculated to produce discontent amongst the people. The measures which he had introduced in 1553 had been much changed in their way through Parliament, and they had since seen the mischief of the alterations. He was anxious, therefore, to avoid, as far as possible, any misconstruction of the powers which they intended to con fer on the Indian Government. If it was found that they had done too little, it would be easy to go farther; but, if they did too much, they would find it difficult to retrace their steps. The despatches of Lord Canning contained the scheme with the noble lord recommended, and the pre sent bill had been drawn for the purpose of carrying out that scheme as nearly as might be. He proposed that when the Governor-General's council met for the purpose of making laws or regulations, the Governor-General should summon, in addition to the ordinary number of council lors, not less than six nor more than twelve additional members, of whom one half should Rot hold office under the Government, and these additional members might be either Europeans, or persons of English extraction, or natives. Lord Canning strongly recommended that the council should be held at different places from time to time, in order that the Governor-General might have the advan tage of obtaining the assistance of the various native chiefs. He did not propose to preclude him from summoning one of the judges, whom he considered useful members of a body, meeting to discuss the law, but he thought it would be as inexpedient in India as at home that they should become members of a body partaking in any measure of a popular character. He proposed that the persons nominated in the way he had described should attend for a year only ; for it would be easy for native princes at a distance to come for one year who might naturally object to attend for two or three. Hon. members had no doubt seen an account of the meeting between Lord Canning and the Talookdars, and the great success which had attended the plan of obtaining the assistance of native princes. (Hear, hear.) The same thing had been done in the Punjaub, where executive powers had been given to the sirdars ; and he believed that still greater benefit would be derived from allowing them to take part in the Legislative Council of the Governor-General. They would no longer feel that they were excluded from all con cern in the government of their own country ; and nothing, therefore, would tend so much, in his opinion, to conciliate the goodwill of the native princes of high rank. (Hear.) It was not his wish that the council should degenerate at all into a debating society—he wished it to be essentially a law-making body. (Hear, hear.) It would have power to pass laws and regulations for the whole of India, and it would have supreme and concurrent power with the minor legislative bodies which he proposed also to establish in the presidencies and other parts of India. Lord Canning was strongly of opinion that though it was beneficial to intro duce persons having local knowledge of the affairs of the north-west provinces, of Madras, and of Bombay into the Legislative Council yet the advantage was not strong enough to overcome, first, the feeling that they had in other parts of India about being over-ridden by the Bengal Council; and, secondly, the disadvantage of having persons legislating without any acquaintance with their local wants, for dif ferent districts from those in which they resided. lie pro posed, therefore, to restore to the presidencies of Madras and Bombay the power of passing laws and enactments on local subjects. He proposed to direct the governors of the provinces to nominate a certain number;of additional mem bers for their councils, one half of them not to hold office, and to be either Europeans or natives. There were many subjects which were not local, but with which the local councils could best deal, but they ought to have the sanction of the Governor-General before those councils interfered with them. A similar council would be established in Ben gal, and if the Governor-General thought it right he would be empowered, with the sanction of the Secretary of State, to establish councils likewise in the north-west pro vinces, in the Punjaub, and in other parts of India where they might be thought desirable. It had been suggested that the provinces of Pegu might also have a council. He (Sir C. Wood) somewhat doubted whether they were yet quite ripe for that purpose ; but they formed a separate province, and at the proper time they might with advantage have their own council. He hoped that by these provisions they would attain a general uniformity of legislation throughout India, and at the same time apply that legislation to the peculiar wants of each province. It was quite clear that the public works would be better dealt with by local than by general legislation; while on the other hand the management of the revenue and of the army must necessarily be left in the hands of the central Government. It would not now be necessary to go into the details of the bill. Its earlier clauses were rather consolidatory than otherwise, while the later ones were alterative. He proposed to give the Governor-General power in cases of emergency to issue orders which should have the force of law for six months, unless they were in the meantime disallowed by an act of the legislative body. He proposed also that the senior governor of the presi dencies should take upon himself the powers of the Governor-General in case of a vacancy occurring before the appointment of a successor. The bill had had the en tire concurrence of the Government of India, and of almost all those persons with whom he had conversed on the sub ject. He submitted it to the house in the hope that it would tend not only to the better government of India, but to the happiness and prosperity both of those who went thither from this country and of the countless myriads of her Majesty's native subjects in that portion of her empire. gfurialnyt approved the o Mr. H. SEYMOUR h ope d t h at th e r i g ht h on . gen tl ema n would not p ress on t h e bill w i t h too great rap idi ty, b u t wou ld sufficient fte ad leisure a features r e e x s a o m f i t n h e e its measure—the detai l s. He establishment of local legislatures and the introduction of independent members. Colonel SYKES also approvedwhich of the establishment of thought would enable the country to be governed with morer t eg o ar s regard to the wants and which tenderly, if we h r d be. feelings of the people. Certainly h re quire to be dealt with very carefully ande feelings would wished to ensure a retu r n of the loyalty fore the late mutiny. With re g ar d to the land prevailed question,r two systems had alrea d y broken down--the twa cause the Government ha d endeavoured to settl e with every e - b native annually ; and the othe r in conse q uence of the i; chievous practice of selling up old families. He also hoped that the Government would allow the house sufficient time to study the details of the bill. Mr. DUNLOP said there were two interests which espe cially required representation, the trade and the agriculture ^, India, and he believed that that would be best attained by tn. --nbination of local with central government. Lord Canning has vt., Ailf ully laid d o wn the distinetLW l between the two ; and he (the hon. mem b er ) gave his cor - which carried out the views of dial support to the bill,the noble lerd. He believed, Itemer, tja cr ,44 o f origiaginff the plan was due to the hon. member for Birmingham (Mr. Bright), who had suggested it many years ago. (Hear,) Mr. HADFIELD approved of the bill, and urged the subject of contracts on the attention of the right hon. gen tleman. Leave was then given to bring in the bill. EAST INDIA HIGH COURTS OF JUDICATURE. Sir C. WOOD moved for leave to bring in a bill for esta blishing high courts of judicature. The object of the mea sure was the formation of one court instead of the two that were at present at the head of the different systems of law administered in India. One of those was presided over by two Queen's judges, who had jurisdiction in the presidents' towns over civil matters, and they also exercised criminal jurisdiction in important matters over Europeans in every part of India. There was at the same time the Suddur Court of Appeal, which reviewed decisions from all parts of the country, and discharged also to some extent the supposed functions of a minister of justice. A very strong opinion had been expressed by the commissioners that it would contri bute greatly to the better administration of justice in India if the two courts, the Supreme Court and the Suddur Court, could be consolidated, combining at once the legal know ledge of the lawyers constituting the former with the ac quaintance with local habits and customs possessed by members of the Suddur Court. He (Sir C. Wood) had at first been very anxious to ask her Majesty's Government to issue a charter for the purpose of effecting this consolidation, but it was found impracticable without putting in force cer tain new forms of proceeding, which rendered it necessary that a bill should be introduced for the purpose. The royal commission which was issued on this question com prised the present Master of the Rolls, the late Sir J. Jervis, Sir Edward Ryan, Mr. Kinnaird, Mr. M'Leod, a Madras civil servant of great experience; the late Mr, Ellis, an accomplished reporter of legal cases in this country ; the right hon. gentleman now the Vice-President of the Board of Education, and Mr. Hawkins, who had been one of the judges of the Suddur Court. The results of the labours of this commission were most important. They had devised forms of civil and criminal procedure. With regard to the criminal code, the system which had been drawn up by Lord Macaulay had been subject to repeated revision, and the new system would be brought into operation on the Ist January next, after which date he believed that the natives of India would possess a system of criminal jurisprudence unrivalled for simplicity and comprehensiveness. New forms of civil procedure had also been devised, which were already in use, and which considerably shortened the time and dimi nished the expenses of litigation. A civil code of laws was not yet prepared, but was under consideration. In the new court it was proposed that amongst the judges there should be a certain proportion of banisters and advocates of the Scottish bar, and also a certain proportion of the civil ser vants of the crown, and of barristers practising in the na tive courts. It was also proposed to admit natives of India to the judicial bench; and the omission which had been made in this respect in the first instance had been since re medied. It would also be competent to the Governor- General to send the judges on circuit; and thus the evil in every case of a crime committed by an Englishman of having the prisoner sent to Calcutta--which amounted v:r tually to a denial of justice—would be avoided. By these means he trusted that the character of the English nation for impartiality and justice would be maintained, whilst the natives of India would be secured the advantages arising from their own institutions. Leave was given to introduce the bill. EAST INDIA (CIVIL SERVICE). Sir C. WOOD then rose to ask leave to introduce the third bill of which he had given notice, viz., a bill to con firm certain appointments in India, and to amend the law concerning the civil service there. lie thought that the interests of the civil servants would not be seriously, if at all, affected by this proposed measure, and that the benefits it would secure would outweigh all its imaginary evils. The object of the bill was to legalise certain appointments which had for 50 years past been made in India contrary to law, to render such appointments legal for the future, and to provide that in certain exceptional cases appointments might be made notwithstanding the restrictions imposed by the old statute law. In the year 1793 an act was passed, he believed with a view to prevent jobbing—(a laugh)—which provided that all vacancies in the civil service of India should be filled up and supplied from amongst the civil servants of the Go vernment. The Government of India soon found it impos sible to adhere to this provision. They had thenceforth for years, with the sanction of the board of directors, constantly violated the letter of the law, so that one-third at least of the civil appointments in India had been filled up by per sons who were not /civil servants of the Crown at the time. According to the law, all civil appointments under the Government of India could be held by covenanted servants alone. So that all Englishmen born in India, uncovenanted civil servants, and natives who held appointments in the civil service, held them illegally. With regard to military men and others, the Indian Government never thought they were bound by this regulation. Perhaps there never was a more able administrator than Sir Henry Lawrence. (Hear, hear.) That great authority was of opinion that justice and expediency demanded that military men of experience should receive the same ameunt of salary when employed upon civil or military duties. It was held, also, that there should be a sprinkling of military men among the civilians, especially in the non• regulation provinces; such appointments being made after the appli action of teats as to efficiency. It was contended that such a fusion would strengthen the Government and improve the tone of the service. The general way in which the Govern ment of India dealt with this question was not by appoint ing uncovenanted persons to covenanted places, but by abolishing covenanted offices and creating new ones which uncovenanted servants might fill. The restrictive law had been disregarded to this extent, that there were 316 unco venanted servants appointed as deputy-collectors, against 64 covenanted. The judicial appointments were made on the same principle, a new class of judges having been ap pointed who exercised a jurisdiction in many cases larger than that exercised by the judicial covenanted servants in former days. He now came to the last case, in which the Government of India authoritatively and distinctly ap pointed uncovenanted men as officers in the presidencies. The two military secretaries and their assistants were now uncovenanted servants. In Lord Cornwallis's time the secre tary, assistant-secretary, and eight assistants, were all covenanted. Now, the secretary and assistant-secretary were covenanted, and the eight assistants were uncove nanted. Undoubtedly all these appointments had been illegally made, but the necessity of the case justified them. A short time ago Mr. Halliday, the lord-lieutenant of Ben gal, appointed an =covenanted servant to exercise the functions of the Sadder judge during the absence of that functionary, but that appointment was objected to; also, a short time ago the government of Bombay appointed as col lector of land revenue an uncovenanted servant. The ap pointment was questioned in Bombay, but it was con firmed by the board of directors. Both appointments were contrary to law but justified by necessity, and the Indian Government, so far from deserving condemnation, merited approbation for providing for the administration of justice by the appointment of these uncovenanted ser vants. Lord Elphinstone, Lord Auckland, Lord Dal housie, Sir George Clerk, and Lord Hardinge, all per sons of great importance and authorities of dis tinction, who had governed either the whole or parts of India, had all arrived at the same conclusion as to the policy of these appointments, as attracting the native population to our rule and opening the way to their appointment to high offices. The present feeling of the government of India was in favour of the opening of district courts, the judges of which should be uncovenanted, both European and native, but such appointments would, strictly speaking, be illegal. Lord Canning was of opinion that natives who had held judicial appointments might be appointed to the highest judicial offices. What had occurred in the case of an un covenanted European ? Owing to the serious illness of European members of his council, Lord Canning required to fill the place of his Foreign Secretary, and he wrote home, suggesting that Colonel Durand—a member of his (Sir C. Wood's) council and a very eminent soldier—should go out and take that post. Colonel Durand, at great per sonal sam ifico to himself, responded to that call, and ex. pressed his readiness to go ; but the appointment could no really be made. Lord Canning wrote that there was no better qualified person in India than Colonel Durand. This was an exceptional case under special circumstances, and ho thought Lord Canning ought to be invested with power to deal with it. This happened within the last fortnight, and it showed the absolute necessity for the course which he proposed to pursue. His noble friend who preceded him in his present office had become aware of the difficulty of the legal question with which he proposed to deal, and had left records of his opinion in favour of such a measure as that which he now asked leave to introduce. The bill would contain three clauses, the object of the first was to legalise all those appointments which had been made within the last few years, and which were at present contrary to law. But he proposed to go a step further, and to meet _ such a case as that of Colonel Durand. He had no notion of break- ing down the civil line, and his views were very much mis- apprehended if it were supposed that he contemplated any. thing injurious to the civil service. But of course the unco- venanted servants felt it as a degradation and a stigma that they were excluded from the higher offices, and it was unfair that a man should be called upon to perform respon sible duties without the chance of promotion which was open to others. The permission of native servants to rise to the higher appointments was recommended upon the grounds that it would stimulate the exertions of both classes, and would make the natives more honest, byshow- ing that their honesty was trusted in; and he believed that with d'ie precautions against the power being abused, it would be most beneficial to the public service that such a privilege should be conferred. The uncovenantod servants _ _ in their memorial asked only that the supreme and local governments should have the power to promote uncovo- nanted servants, who had passedthrougha certain term of service, to office now open only to covenanted servants. This was entirely his opinion, and he did not think that any damage could be done to the servicto by conferring the boon for wbich the petitioners prayed. It was at the present moment by no means the rule that covenanted servants alone possessed the qualifications for the very highest posts in the administra.tion. A covenanted servant mentioned to him the other day that a friend of his, an uncovenanted servant, was up to a recent time employed in an °face at Calej,upa at a;. 1 9 - 4 , of £4OO a y e ar, and that h e ceAld not legally be pyomoted, se that one 'young civilian after another rose over him yet, su c h were his merits that when the other day some employment out of the regular course was open this man was appointed to the office at a salary of £1,200 a year. Of course there were many covenanted ser vants who did not like bringing in the uncovenanted, but after full discussion the measures which he submitted to the house had met with the general concurrence of his council, and he thought the course they had taken was very creditable and honourable to them. He would tell the house exactly how he proposed to deal with the case. He proposed that when any authority in India should think it desirable under the special circumstances of the case that such an appointment should be made without regard to precedents, he should have authority to make the appointment, subject to such regulations as might from time to time be made in that behalf by the Secretary of State in Council ; but that such appointment should be provisional only, and that it should be so reported forthwith to the Secretary of State in Council, with the special reasons for making it, and that if the approval of the Secretary of State, concurred in by a majority of the council, were not received within a year, the appointment should be void. The same regulations as now applied to covenanted ser vants would be employed in these cases ; the person so appointed must have resided in India seven years, must have passed in the language of the district in which he would be called upon to serve, and must, in fact, have satis fied the same test and qualifications as a covenanted ser vant, and with these safeguards he thought that no abuse of the power could take place, and that they would be pro viding for what was a necessity of the public service, and in such a way that covenanted servants could not complain. With these explanations he begged to move for leave to bring in a bill. Mr. WHITESIDE said he had been requested to men tion what the objections of the covenanted servants to the measure were, but he believed that the statement of the right hon. gentleman would tend greatly to remove those objections. They had understood that the offices which were formerly held by covenanted servants were to be held in future by other persons, and even excluding covenanted servants from some of the higher branches of the service. But it appeared from the explanation of the right hon. gen tleman that nothing of the kind was contemplated, and that nothing could be done in regard to these appointments without the approval of the Secretary of State and the council. Mr. AYRTON believed that the act of 1793 was framed to prevent jobbing, and that from that day to this the ne cessity for its provisions had continued to exist; and he believed, moreover, that there was just as much necessity for maintaining its principle at the present day as there was when it was framed. Lord STANLEY said the house could not be too vigilant and cautious in considering a measure which, for good or evil, would have an important influence on the future wel fare of India. He wished to express his own opinion of the measure of his right hon. friend, because from the part he had taken in the regulating of the civil service, he felt bound to take upon himself a share of the responsibility. Shortly after the tranfer of the government of India to the Crown, this question of a compromise between the cove nanted and uncovenanted services of India was brought under his notice, and after examining into it he came to the conclusion that it was impossible to maintain the system as it had hitherto been maintained. Doubts had been ex pressed as to the legality of past appointments, so that it was felt no time should be lost in removing those doubts. He believed that a return to the law of 1793 was impos sible, in consequence of the great number of appointments which had been made since then, the increase of expense to which such a return would give rise, and the feeling that would be excited in India. The only practical and impor tant question for the house to consider was whether it would admit persons who were not members of the covenanted service to appointments from which up to the present time they were excluded. There were three different opinions on this point. One class of persons were of opinion that the exclusive privileges should be maintained ; others thought that there was no necessity for any exclusive rights or pri vileges. The third opinion, that which was carried out in the present bill, was one between the two others, namely, that the civil servants ought to retain their present rights and privileges, but that an opportunity should be given to men who had not been brought up in the service to enter it. 'With regard to the first view, he considered it simply impossible to carry it out; with regard to the second, it would produce great evil in India. Upon the whole, there fore, he believed that the mode proposed by his right hon. friend was the best for dealing with the difficulty. There were two dangers to be avoided. One was the danger of so diminishing the rewards of the civil service that men of in telligence, ability, and good position in life would no longer be induced to enter it. The other and the more pressing danger was lest the Governor-General and other high authorities of India should have the opportunity of intro ducing their own friends and dependents into the service. Against that danger they could not be too cautious. He thought the securities taken by the bill would be effectual for this purpose. The term of residence required was so long as to make it impossible that the Governor-General should have the opportunity of introducing his own friends and dependents into the civil service, and it was not likely that he should show undue favour to those of his predecessor. Then, the knowledge of language was a security, though in a lesser degree. These securities were so important that in his opinioa they ought to be inserted in the bill, and not made the subject of separate regulations, which might be evaded. (Hear.) There was also this third security, which in his opinion was the most effective of all—that the ap pointment should be confirmed by the Secretary of State for India and the Council. If an appointment was made in India which had something of nepotism in it, it was not likely that the Secretary of State or the Council of India, a majority of whom belonged to the civil and military ser vices of India, would so far sympathise with the person making it as to confirm such an appointment. These were as strong securities against the abuse of patronage as could be taken. They were stronger than any they had at home. Under ordinary circumstances he would have postponed expressing his own opinion till the second reading; but as he felt almost as responsible as his right hon. friend for the general character of the measure, he thought it only fair that he should take the earliest opportunity of stating what his views were. (Hear, hear.) Colonel SYK ES said that the present measure was a bill of indemnity after a practical breach of the law for 68 years. The bill of 1793 was brought 'in to prevent jobbing, and they could not take too many securities against such a re sult. When new territories were conquered persons outside the civil service had necessarily to be appointed to perform the duty of administration. They did so for half the pay of the covenanted servants, He had no objection to having the service thrown open to properly qualified persons. Mr. BAILLIE said that this was the most important of the three bills introduced by the right hon. gentleman, and it would require the greatest attention from the house. The law of 1793 had been made to prevent jobbery, but it had been purposely evaded. In some cases, such as those of the non-regulated provinces, the law had been necessarily evaded, but it was doubtful whether the law in these cases had been really violated or not. He considered that some bill was necessary to amend the irregularities which had grown up. Mr. DANBY SEYMOUR doubted whether the law of 1793 had been so shamefully evaded as was represented. The Government of India was often in great distress for persons who were legally qualified to fill certain appoint ments. It would greatly facilitate the right understanding of the measure if the right hon. gentleman would lay on the table the correspondence in the case of Mr. O'Reilly, where the arguments on both sides upon the question of throwing open the service were fully and clearly stated. Sir J. FERGUSSON warned the house against being hurried into precipitate legislation upon a subject of this great importance. He was glad to find that the right hon. baronet had spoken with such moderation as to the extent of interference with the civil service which the Governmen t contemplated. Mr. VANSITTART said he had felt afraid that under cover of this bill an insidious attack was to be made on the civil service, but he hoped 10s fears would turn out to be unfounded. He wished to know whether the right hon. gentleman would consent to lay on the table the opinions of the special committee which he had appointed to consider the measure. Sir C. WOOD in reply said that many of the points which had been raised would be more conveniently dis cussed in future stages of the bill. He must, however, de cline to depart from the ordinary practice by laying upon the table the reports of committees which had been ap pointed by the Government to consider the subjects dealt with by these bills. The council might be said to be the mind of the Secretary of State, and it would be a very in convenient course to produce to the house the opinions of the various members of the council upon the measures sub mitted to the house by the Government, but he repeated that the general opinion of the council was favourable to the measure. Leave was then given to bring in the bill. Mr. DANBY SEYMOUR asked when the discussion would be taken. Sir C. WOOD said he proposed to take the second read ing that day week. EXCISE AND STAMPS BILL. On the order of the day that this bill, as amended, be con sidered, In clause 14 a provision was introduced that in the event of a number of persons having to sign an agreement or re ceipt one only need sign his name across the adhesive stamp. Mr. AYRTON said as the law stood at present no agree ment need be stamped sooner than 6 months after execution. The hon. and learned member moved the omission of the words, " And also any agent or perzon who shall prepare or be employed in preparing the same." Mr. CRAUFURD hoped the amendment would not bo pressed. What he complained of most was, that the clause would hit the unhappy counsel who prepared a lease, al though ho had nothing to do with the execution of it. In reply to a question from Mr. HENNESSY, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he was not aware that the clause would make any alteration in the law of agreements as regarded the period allowed for stamping after they were executed. The amendment having being negatived without a divi sion, Mr. AYRTON said he had abstained hugl dividing , in Deference to the wish of hon. members who objected to the clause as a whole. His own objections applied in tto thQ Whole clamo, 11.0 Ompoluld tic Nizlg"ar AnOMOY 11.11111.. attaching a penalty to th a t w hi c h the law allowed. A , e the law stood, an agreement need not be stamped until after it was executed. A letter offering to take apartments con stituted, with an answer accepting the offer, an agreement to take them. If this clause passed, the person writing the first letter would be liable to a penalty; whereas the prac tice at present was to get one of the letters stamped after wards, as evidence of the whole transaction. The law relating to agreements must be entirely altered if such penal ties as these were to be imposed. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the argument of the hon. and learned gentleman was an argu ment not merely against this clause but against the principle of requiring written agreements to be stamped. There were abundant precedents for levying penalties for the non stamping of agreements at the time of execution. Policies of assurance, bills of exchange, promissory notes, and bills of lading all subjected parties to a positive penalty if the stamp were not affixed at the time. He agreed with the hon. and learned gentleman that correspondence consti tuting an agreement ought to be exempted ; but he was advised that this clause would not apply to such cases, but would apply exclusively to cases in which formal agree ments were drawn with the intention of their being signed in common by the parties. If there were any doubt as regarded the exemption of letters, he should be happy to introduce words making the exemption clear. The ques tion really was whether they were to lay any penalty at all upon neglecting to use a proper stamp upon agree ments for letting furnished houses for a term of less than a year. At present a very heavy duty was exigible on such agreements, but it was never paid. What, therefore, he proposed to do was to diminish the duty to a reason able amount, and to make provisions against its evasion. These agreements were fugitive documents, they were in struments that never came under the cognisance of any third person, except in the rare case of a dispute, and under such circumstances the only reasonable course to pursue, in order to protect the revenue, would be to lay a penalty on every attempt to escape the payment of it. Mr. lIADFIELD still maintained that the clause would affect every person who corresponded with another on the subject of letting a house, if the negotiation terminated in the acceptance of an offer. He would suggest that the right hon. gentleman should withdraw the clause andbring up a properly drawn one. Mr. HENLEY thought the clause was the commence ment of a new system. At present no person could produce in court an unstamped memorandum unless he chose to pay the penalty of £lO ; but it was optional to him to have it stamped or not. The object of the clause seemed, however, to be to make the drawing up of such a memorandum the subject of a penalty. Mr. CRAUFURD said that the clause would. not pro tect the revenue, because the agreements in question did not require to be reduced to writing at all. Mr. PULLER said that if correspondence were exempted the clause would be useless, because all agreements would be thrown into that form. The one party would write mak ing an offer ; the other reply accepting it, and the two let ters together would make a contract. Mr. GLADSTONE read a form of proviso which he was prepared to move, in order to meet the objections of hon. gentlemen. He relied on the moderate amount of the duty as the best reason why persons should not attempt to evade it, but ,f the clause was not agreed to he must fall back on the present high duty, and take his chance of getting it when he could. Mr. AYRTON said the proposed proviso would not meet the case. The cciumittee divided on the retention of the clause as amended— Ayes 72 Nom The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER then said that he world on a future day move to recommit the bill in order to add the proviso of which he had given notice. The report was then received. SUPPLY—COMMITTEE. PERSECUTION OF PROTESTANTS IN SPAIN. On the quastion that the Speaker do leave the chair, Sir R. PZEL asked what steps had been taken with regard to the religious persecutions which 700 British subjects, merchants and others, in the south of Spain, were kndergoing by being prevented holding divine service in ther houses. Lord J. RI:SSELL said that he had taken steps in the matter. The Tact was, Mr. Gordon, the vice-consul at Xeres, had behaved in an unjustifiable manner in forbid • ding a Protestant service anywhere except in his own house, and that, being a Roman Catholic, he would not allow. Our minister in Spain suggested Mr. Gordon's resignation, but that not ha'ring been sent in, he (Lord J, Russell) had taken measures 1- ,o have another person appointed. It was the opinion of Si? A. Buchanan that the Spanish govern ment had no desire to press the law of the country against Protestant obserNances. ALMIRALTY ANCHORS. Mr. LINDSAY said he referred the other night to the cost of Admiralty anchors, and distinctly showed that we were paying close on three times the market price for them. He had since received a letter from a firm, who stated that they had recently made anchors for the Spanish Govern ment at £2O per ton below what the Admiralty were paying, and these anchors were to be made exactly the same, and were to be proved by the same test as the Admiralty an chors. A few years ago, his informants added, the contrac tors for chain cables failed, and since then the whole of these had been made by the house which manufactured the anchors. He was not before aware of this fact, and the letter itself was one of the advantages which resulted from these discussions. (Hear.) He wished to know how it was that the same firm had the monopoly both of the anchors and of the chain cables, and what price was paid for these cables. Lord C. PAGET said he had distinctly told his hon. friend that the same firm supplied both the anchors and the cables, and he would now state that if any firm would make a proper offer to the Admiralty they would be prepared to consider it, both as regarded anchors and cables. The prices charged by the present contractors were occasionally re vised, according to the market prices of the day, and there bre it was not fair tal say that the Admiralty were paying at an excessive rate for their anchors and cables. IRON SHIPS. Sir J. ELPHINGSTONE said the proposal to use in the construction of iron-clad ships timbers cut out for other vessels, was, in his opinion, an improvident one. The proper form of iron-clad ships was yet undecided, and he therefore proposed to move a resolution that no con struction of iron-clad ships be entered on by converting the timber prepared for ships of the ordinary description or otherwise until the form best calculated to obtain the quali ties necessary for iron men-of-war he decided by a commit tee of men of science and practical knowledge. It would be the height of folly for the purpose of keeping the ex penses of this iron fleet out of the current expenses of the year to run the risk of having to reconstruct our navy. Mr. BENTINCii doubted very much whether the object of using this timber in this way was not to keep the expenses of the iron fleet out of the present estimates, so as to bolster up the unfortunate Budget. He should be glad to have an assurance from the Government that the real intention was not to make the figures meet, and to throw dust in the eyes of the house as to the likelihood of an augmentation of the Navy Estimates being needed. (Hear.) Sir F. SMITH asked whether some of the two and three deckers now lying in our ports could not be cut down for the purpose of being converted into iron-clad vessels. He agreed with his hon. and gallant friend that it was important to determine as soon as possible whether we had adopted the best form in the Warrior. Some officers of great experience were of opinion that we had not. Lord C. PAGET explained the manner in which the timber would be used, so as to give displacement enough to carry the necessary weight. It would not do to cut down our line-of-battle ships, as they had not sufficient displace ment to carry the weight:of armour and the necessary num ber of guns. The SPEAKER then left the chair, and the house went into Committee of Supply. SUPPLY. Upon the vote of £469,835 for new works and improve ments in the harbours and dockyards, Sir F. SMITH called for some explanation of various items in the vote, particularly the items of £5,229 for the new plank stores at Deptford, £160,000 for convict labour at Chatham, and £lO,OOO for the north inlet dock at Ports mouth. He also wished to know what had become of all the money voted last year, which had not been expended. He begged to move that the vote be reduced by the sum . of £3,225, propos e d f or a ddi t i ona l accommodation for spinning machinery at Chatham. Mr. WHITBREAD could assure the hon. and gallant gen tleman that most of the money given on vote 11 had been spent. Sir M. SEYMOUR asked for some explanation as to how far the arrangements had been improved for officers and men in the naval barracks at Devonport ? Lord C. PAGET said the barrack accommodation at Devonport would enable tho Government to lodge 2,000 men, and convenience for married sailors would be made very much upon the principle of military barracks ; but he was not prepared to say that the buildings would be fitted up with all the improvements and conveniences of soldiers' barracks. The reduction was then agreed to, and the Chairman put the reduced vote of £466,610 for new works, improvements, and repairs. Mr. - WILLIAMS called attention to the expenditure upon Keyham Dockyard. Upwards of £lOO,OOO more than the original estimate had already been spent, and another £lOO,OOO would be required before the work was completed. Sir J. ELPHINSTONE thought the Government had acted wisely in salting their own provisions, and he was sure that if carried out, under proper supervision, a very superior article ludo( d might be supplied to seamen. Mr. LINDSAY thought it would be as well to postpone the ;£15,000 for Chatham till after a committee inquired whether the larger sum of £980,000 should be expended -" the dockyard of that place. He should the--lure move that the vote be reduced by £15,000. was a great nec ess it y f or in creased basin Lord C. PAGET sa id t h at po......wionation. They had only 37 acres, ...mi. * iue Ereneh had 115. Chatham would giv e 55 more. As to tl ic . selection of Chatham he thought it the best, and tb:a safest, and the most convenient. The works would also keep the river clear of mud. Mr, CONINQYAN though that Chatham was the wont selection ft at could be made, as from what he understood it would soon be high and dry. Mr. DALGLISH doubted the expediency of spending so much money on a work of doubtful utility. He was not aware of the peculiar advantages of iChatham. It had neither iron nor coal. He thought that Liverpool or the Clyde should be selected. (Laughter.) Sir F. SMITH said the object was to increase the basin accommodation, and Chatham afforded peculiar advantages for that purpose. The vote was then agreed to. The house then resumed. The East India Loan Bill was read a second time. HIGHWAYS BILL. Sir G. C. LEWIS moved the second reading of this bill. The house divided : Ayes 110 Noes 31-79 The bill was therefore read. Mr. BENTINCK, and several other members, complained that an understanding had been come to that the bill should not be taken that night, and many hon. gentlemen who wera strongly opposed to the bill had gone away. Sir G. C. LE WIS regretted the error, and said that ample notice should be given of the next stage. INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS BILL. The house went into committee ova this bill. Sir S. NORTHCOTE moved, in clause 3, line 13, after " construction," to insert " 'jus tices ' shall include any two or more justices of the peace noting together in petty ses sions, and also any police magistrate, lord mayor, or alder man of the City of London, who by the act of the 11th and 12th years of her present Majesty, chapter 43, sections 3 3 and 34, is authorised to do alone whatsoever is authorised by that act to be done by any two or more justices of the peace." The amendmeut was agreed to, as were several other minor amendnarmts. Mr. HENLEY complained of the vagueness of the clause which preseTibed what children should go to the schools. These institutions were really doing a great deal of good, anri the, managers of them would do well not to make their drag net too wide, otherwise they might raise up some feeling against them. Sir G. C. LEWIS defended the clause, but said that if any fear was felt that it might be used arbitrarily, he should have no objection to alter its expressions. Mr. HENNESSY moved that the third part of the clause be struck out. Mr. II HALLEY also disapproved of the clause, on the ground that the police in his part of the country had too much power already. Sir G. C. LEWIS said that the withdrawal of the clause would in a great measure destroy the efficiency of the bill. The object of the bill was to prevent children of tender age being sent to prison or to a raformatory, and thus to check crime at the outset. Considering that the act was to be administered, not by policemen, but by magistrates, he thought the paragraphs, which had been very carefully prepared, might be allowed to stand. After some further conversation, Mr. HENNESSY moved that the chairman report pro gress. The committee divided. The numbers were— Ayes 20 Noes 63-43 The clause was agreed to. The CHAIRMAN reported progress, and the house resumed. LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUPPLEMENTAL BILL. This bill was read a second time. The Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill was read a second time. The Bills of Exchange and Promissory Notes (Ireland) Bill passed through committee. The house adjourned at ten minutes to 2 o'clock. COUNTRY MARKETS. MANCHESTER—JUNE 6. The attendance was moderate. Little business doing. English wheat in small supply, at about is lower in price. Foreign 2d per 701bs lower. English flour is per sack, and American 6d per barrel under late rates, with scarcely anything doing. Oats and oatmeal slow, with a downward tendency. English beans receded ls, and Indian corn 6d per qr. BIRMINGHAM—JUNE 6. At to-day's market there was a good supply of wheat from the farmers, and the sales made of both English and fine foreign were at is to 2s lower. Barley held firm, with rather more doing. Oats and peas unaltered. Beans were cheaper. P LOUTH—Juzin 4. The market again du YM 11, with a small attendance, and no advance upon the currencies of last week—English white wheat, 60s to 66s ; red, 48s to 56s per qr ; French do., 63s to 64s ; American, 61s to 63s ; Spanish, 69s to 71s ; Rus sian, 60s to 625. Barley in good supply, at 36s to 43s per qr for malting; grinding, 32s to 365; oats, 24s to2Bs; and beans, —s to —s; flour, 47s to 60s. CORK—JUNE 5. The following were the quotations this morning :—Bed wheat, 25s Od to —s Od ; white, 31s:Od to —s Od; barley 15s 6d to 18s Od ; oats, 14s Od to 16s Od. EDINBURGH GRAIN—JUNE 5. Wheat on the top Os 9d up. average is Od down. Barley on the top 5s Od up ........ .average Os 2d up. Oats en filo top le Od up ....... average Os 6d up. Beans on the top Is Od d0wn........ average, is 4d up. Averages per Imperial quarter. Wheat.... New wheat -12ths Barley Oats 1 11 5 9-12ths Beans Total Supply and Sales. _ Wheat ,ll23ciri Sold 884 qrs 8ar1ey........ 385 qrs Sold 214 qrs Oats Beans 193 qrs Sold 163 qrs DERBY SMITHFIELD—JUNE 4. There was a good supply of fat beasts, and of excellent quality. The demand was brisk, and high prices obtained. A good supply of sheep and lambs, maintaining former prices. The supply of calves was large. Fat pigs were ahout average prices. iieet 7ld to 71d Veal 6ld to 73 Mutton ... Od to 74d Pork Lamb Bfd to 9d R oug h fat, 5s Od per stone. Hides, 31d to 4/d ; calf skins, 5d to Gd. THE MAILS. MAILS DUE. - Australia, Ceylon, and Mauritius (via South ampton) „. June 18; Do. (via Marseilles) June 12. Brazil and Cape Verds .. Overdue. Buenos Ayres, Monte Video, &c. Cuba and Mexico .. June :48, Cssinada ' &c. (via L'der r y) .. June 5. Cape of Good Hope, &c. July 2 China, Penang, and Singapore (via' S'ampton) June 18. Do (via Marseilles) June 12, Gibraltar (via Southampton) .. .. June 10. India (Calcutta), Ceylon, &c. (via Southampton) June 18. Do. (via Marseilles) June 12. India (Bombay), (via Southampton) .. June 10. Do. (via Marseilles) Overdue. Lisbon .. .. June 11. Malta, Egypt, and Aden (via Southampton) .. June 10. Do. (via Marseilles) .. Overdue. Vigo, and Oporto .. .. June 11. United States, California, &c. .. • . .. June 6. Western Coast of Atrica, Madeira, Teneriff e .. J une 10. West Indies and Pacific, Carthagena, Cuba, (3m June 13. A NEW READlNG.—Examiner : " Who was the strongest man ?" Smart boy : " Jonah." Examiner " Why so ?" Smart boy : "Cause the whale couldn't hold him after he got him down." [ADVERTISEMENT.] Pills and medicine invariably ag gravate and perpetuate diseases; their annoyance, dis appointment, and expense may be avoided by persons in indifferent health sending only their address tJ S. Barry, Esq., 77, Regent-street, W., London, apd they will receive gratis and free by post the " ItavwDB' Own uUIDE," or Natural Restorer, without medicine or ex p'nse, of perfect digestion, strong nerves, 84-wad lungs, and refreshing sleep, to the most enfeebled, insuring the removal of indigestion (dyspepsia), constipation, liver complaints, cough, nausea asthma, epile psy, c p o a n ta sum iys p is t , i crili dr ty op , nervousness, y 7 di lp a it rr a b ti ce ot a: dysentery, biliousness, tevers, sore throats, catarrhs, colds, noises in the ears. rheumatism, gout, impurities, eruptions, hysteria, neuralgia, irritability, sleeplessness, acidity, palpi tation, heartburn, headache, despondency, cramps, spasms, sinking, fits, bronch itis , — "Unquestionably the safest Guide to health." B I R T.H 13. LYSONS.—On the 3d inst., at Banstead, Surrey, the wife of Colonel Lysons, C. 8., of a son. PARRY.—On the sth inst., at Acton Rectory, the wife of the Rev. Edward Parry, of a son. WEBSTER.—On the 4th inst., at 52, Rutland-gate, Mrs. Charles Webster, of a son and heir. MARRIACIES. BETIL4M—BROMEREAD—On the 6th inst., at St. George's, Hanover-square, William, son of Edward Betham, Esq., of Lincoln, to Emily Harriett, daughter of the late John May Bromehead, Esq., of The Close, Line()ln. MiLtorA3. - -CLivE.— On the 4th inst., at How Caple, Herefordshire, Humphrey Francis Mildmay, Esq., M.P., to Sybella Harriet, daughter of George Clime, Esq., M.P. DEATHS. ATKINSON.—On the 3d inst., at Walthati Abbey, John Atkinson, aged 65. ATKINSON.—On the 22d April, at TT.nballah, India, Major John Atkinson, 89th Regt., arrAt 32. GARNETT.—On the Ist ult at Calcutta, Captain Arthur W. Garnett, Ben q' zngineers, youngest son of William Garnett, Esan the 2 ,L hurloodin inst., at Bassesronpton,apgyedre3n2e.es, NASMYTT.- _O - p..uce, Charles Naysmyth, late Major unattached, aged 36. SANDPORD.—On the 3d inst., Sarah, wife of John Brace bridge Sandford, Esq., Milton, Northampt ons hi re . SHEPHERD.—On the sth inst., at 3, Dudley-place, Pad dington, Mr. Thomas Shepherd, late of the Haymarket, aged 51. LONDON : Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at TDE SUN Oiltee, No. 112,Strand, in the Precinct of the "ATOY, in the County of lkliddleliar FrWity, JUlle 7, 1801. -`. THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EV'ENINGI JUNE 7, 1861,