The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-02-09 00:00:00

Emperial parliament.

HOUSE OF LORDS-THLEBBAy, FEB. 4.

The House of Lords reassembled this day in terms of
adjournment from the 12th of December. The LORD
CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at five
o'clock, at which time a considerable number of peers
were present.
Lord EMMY' and Lord CHESHAM, the two recently-
created peers, took the oaths and their seats.
Lord CAMPBELL brought in a Bill to amend the law of
libel, which was reed a first time.
Lord GRANVILLE gave notice that he would on Friday
move an address of congratulation to her Majesty on
the marriage of the Princess Royal.
Lord PANMURE gave notice that on Monday he would
move a vote of thanks to the army in India.
Lord GRANVILLE then moved the adjournment of the
House, when
Lord DERBY said he was surprised that the govern-
ment should have allowed what was virtually a new
session to be opened without laying before the House •
summary of the state of public affairs. Certainly there
were matters at home and abroad calculated to excite
the gravest apprehension and requiring the most anxious
consideration. It was true, indeed, that the momentary
crisis had to a great extent passed away, but great dis-
tress prevailed among the labouring classes. Then there
was India, where brilliant successes had been achieved
by small bodies of British troops against large masses of
mutineers—successes which had been purchased by the
. •

loss of a long list of heroes, and whirch reqCnred-some
acknowledgment on the part of the nation. Let not the
country, however, flatter itself that the revolt would be
put down by these partial victories; a task of enormous
difficulty still remained to be accomplished, and it
would require double the number of troops to bring the
war to a speedy termination. In order to provide both
for the proper reinforcement of the army in India and
for the defence of our shores he would propose that the
whole of the militia be immediately embodied, and regi-
ments be raised in the colonies. Then, too, there was
the war in China, in which nothing had as yet been
done, and which had hampered us in our Indian strug-
gle. There was another subject, also, on which tho go-
vernment might have been expected to Bay something,
and that was the late attempt on the life of the Emperor
of the French,—an event which had produced a very
strong feeling in France against this country. If there
was anything which excited the indignation of an Eng-
lishman it was assassination, and if anything could in-
crease that feeling it would be assassination plotted
against the life of so valuable an ally; but it must be
remembered that these cmspirators, or, at any rate,
the chief of them, so long as he remained in England,
VIM perfectly peaceable and inoffensive, and gave no
cause for suspicion ; and, in fact, those who had really
been guilty of neglect in this matter were the police and
passport authorities in France, who had allowed so dan-
gerous a character to penetrate the capital with utter
impunity. As a general rule, however, and considering
all the circumstances of the case, there could be no
doubt that the Government of this country was bound
to keep its eye on such dangerous members of society as
these foreign conspirators, and to warn foreign Govern-
ments of any plot against the life of a Sovereign which
might be brought under its notice. This might be done
without violating the sacred right of asylum, and if that
were done the French nation would have no right to
demand that men, of whatever nation they might be,
should be arrested and punished on mere suspicion, and
not on positive proof.
Lord GRANVILLE thought it would have been contrary
to all precedent if the Government had made such a gen-
eral statement as Lord Derby seemed to expect. Mone-
tary matters had surely been sufficiently discussed be-
fore Christmas, Lord Panmure had given notice of a vote
of thanks to the army in India for Monday next, and, as
for the conduct of affairs in India, it was impossible to
imagine, before hearing them, the accusations against the
Government which the House had just heard. When
the time came Lord Panmure would, no doubt, prove
that we had not been remiss in sending troops to India,
and that things were not in so bad a state with regard to
reinforcements as Lord Derby supposed. With regard
to the China war, which it must be remembered, had
been deliberately and triumphantly sanctioned by the
nation, he denied that it was a failure, or that it
hampered our Indian operations. As to the attempt 011
the life of the Emperor of the French, no one could
regret more than the Government the publication of the
intemperate addresses to which reference had been made;
but it would be quite unworthy of a great nation like
this to allow any temporary and mistaken excitement on
the part of the French nation to prevent it from adopt-
ing a right course. Nothing would induce the Govern-
ment to give up the right of refuge to outcast foreigners
or to abridge their liberty, so long as they obeyed the
law. At the same time, it was the duty of the Govern-
ment, when so heinous an act had been perpetrated, to
the universal execration of all right-thinking men, to
examine the law, and see if it contained any defects
which might be amended. Such an examination had
been made, and a measure based upon it would be
brought in next week in the Lower House. Though the
attack of Lord Derby was a little gratuitous, he felt
indebted to him for having made at the same time no
eloquent an exposition of principles, which would show
that we know how to maintain our privileges, and yet
to testify our abhorrence of the foul crime of imagina-
tion.

—After some observations from LORD MAIMS&
BURY, . . . .

-
Lord PANMUBE explained that the troops which had
been despatched to India had been sent with all possible
expedition, and in a state of the highest efficiency With
regard to horses, it was impossible to send them from
this country in sufficient numbers. As for the reinforce-
ments, they were sent forward at the rate of 1,000 a
month, and that number might be considerably increased.
With regard to colonial regiments, steps were being
taken to raise a regiment in Canada, chiefly officered
by Canadians, to be called the 100th Regiment of the
Line.
After some observations from Lord GREY, who pro-
tested against the embodiment of the Militia and the
China war,
Lord CAMPBELL said there was no question that a
conspiracy by aliens in this country to assassinate a
foreign sovereign was a grave misdemeanour, liable to
severe punishment. On the other hand, aliens, so long
as they remained in this country and obeyed the law,
were to be regarded as standing on the same footing as
natural born subjects of Her Majesty, and could never
be given up without a violation of the sacred right of
asylum.
Lord HARDWICHE deplored the lamentably inefficient
state of the national defences, and the subject dropped,
Their Lordships then adjourned.

FRIDAY.

The Earl of CLARENDON, in reply to Lord STANHOPE,
explained the re3ent alterations which have taken place
in the issue of passports for foreign countries.
Earl GREY asked what course the Government had
pursued with regard to the English engineers now un-
dergoing their trial at Naples.
The Earl of CLARENDON said, that though beyond a
doubt the Neapolitan Government had a right to try
persons unfortunately implicated in an attempt to sub.
vert the monarchy, yet it was the duty of the British
Government to take care that the prisoners had a fair
trial. Re had seen the indictment within the last few
days, and he had every reason to believe that these
British subjects would be acquitted.
An Address of Congratulation to her Majesty on the
marriage of the Princess Royal was agreed to unani-
mously.
The Archbishop of CANTERBURY brought in a Bill to
provide for Special Services in the Church of England.
Their lordships then adjourned.

ROUSE OF COMMONS-THURSDAY. FEB. 4.

Sir DE LACY EVANS moved for a Select Committee to
inquire into the measures recently adopted by Her
Majesty's Government for the transmission of troops to
India.

Lord PALMERSTON had no objection to the motion ;
but exception having been taken to the wording of it,
whioh was not identical with the form of which notice
had been given, after • long discussion on the point of
order, at the suggestion of the Speaker the original
form of the motion as reverted too, namely, for • select
Committee to inquire concerning the measures resorted
to or which were available, and as to the lines of com-
munication adopted for reinforcing our army during the
pending revolt in India, and to report thereon to this
House with a view to ascertaining the arrangements
which should be made towards meeting any future im-
portant emergencies involving the security of our
Eastern dominions.
Mr. DISRAELI protested against the adoption of the
motion in what he termed a " stealthy" manner without
a full discussion of the subject in the House, and recom-
mended ita withdrawal.

......
Lord PALMERSTON considered that in • question like
this involving so many details, a committee was the
best instrument of inquiry.
Ultimately after a debate of • somewhst desultory
character, the House divided upon an amendment
moved by Lord J. RUSSELL to omit all the words after
the word "House," which was negatived by 147 to
78.

•
The motion was then agreed to.
Sir G. GREY, in moving for leave to bring in chill for
the better regulation of the Corporation of the City of
London, stated that, in ita main features, it was the
same as the Bill he had laid before the Rouse on a
former occasion, based upon the reoommendations of •
commission of inquiry, the Bill embodying the main
provisions recommended by the Commissioners, whose
object had been to plate the city of London, with
certain exceptionn, upon the same footing as other
municipal corporations. Re briefly explained the
variations between the present and the former Bill, and
the reasons for those variations, which, he said, had
brought the Government, the Commissioners, and the
Corporation into a much closer agreement.
Mr. Alderman Contrngested one or two grounds of
objection to the pro Bill, especially as to the
election of the Lord Mayor and the functions of the
aldermen.

French

After some remarks by Mr. W. WILLIAMS and Mr.
Di'MAHON,
Lord J. RUSSELL approved most of the amendments of
the Bill.
Leave was given to introduce the Bill.
Hr. DUNLOP ohtained leave to bring in a Bill to
abolish the privileges of heirs in Scotland in regard to
the Annm Del iberandi ; and a Bill to do away with the
exemption from valnation, under the Valuation of
Lands (Scotland) Act (1854), of certain descriptions of
lands and heritages.
The House adjourned at 20 minutes after 7 o'clock.

FRIDAY.
Lord PALMERSTON moved an Address to congratulate
her Majesty on the marriage of the Princess Royal with
Prince Frederick William of Prussia. No event, he ob-
served, since the marriage of her Majesty herself had
excited so much interest in the nation, and he suggested
that the Address should be presented to her Majesty by
the whole House.
The motion was seconded by Mr. DISRAELI, and
agreed to nem. dia.
Mr. ROEBUCK, in moving, by way of form, that the
House at its rising do adjourn until Monday, called at-
tention to the attacks upon the English people, which,
he observed, had appeared in the Moniteur, published
by the French Emperor, and were therefore the expres-
sion of his opinion, and which stigmatized this country
as a den of conspirators. Accusations of England bad
likewise been made by M. de Horny in the Legislative
Chamber of France, and even by M. de Presigny, the
Ambassador in England, which had not been an-
swered. He asked whether there had been any corres-
pondence with France or the Ministers of France on the
subject of any alteration in our Criminal Code.
Lord PALMERSTON replied, that there had been a
despatch addressed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs at
Paris to our Ambassador bearMg upon the transaction
referred to, urging this Government to take measures
with reference thereto, but not pointing out any par-
particular measure. That despatch he was ready to lay
before the House. He denied that Count de Persigny
had accused the British nation of sympathising with or
giving protection to asassins. He (Lord Palmerston)
protested against the grounds taken by Mr. Roe-
buck, who had alluded, he said to violent and intem-
perate speeches uttered in France, whereas lie (Mr.
Roebuck] was not always temperate in the comments in
winch he indulged. It would, in his opinion be a most
undignified course for the people of this country, on
account of some intemperate expressions, to allow them-
selves to be swayed or influericed in their conduct.
After a few remarks by Mr, HORSMAN, and a bitter
reply from Mr. ROEBUCK, the motion was withdrawn.
The House then went into committee when
MS CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved two
resolutions, one for the grant of an annuity of £l,OOO to
Lady Havelock, the widow of the late General ; the
other for a grant of a similar annuity to Sir H. H.
Havelock, his son.
The resolutions, after a short discussion, were agreed

to.
Mr. V. SMITH moved for leave to bring in a Bill for
enabling the East India Company to raise money in the
United Kingdom for the service of the Government of
India. He explained the reasons which called for the
measure, in order to provide the means of meeting the
extraordinary expenses occasioned by the mutiny in
India, stating that he proposed to limit the amount to
£10,000,000, and to authorize the receipt of subscriptions
in this country to loans in India.
Mr. T. BARING inquired to whom the power of rais
tog the money was to be given. What was the Go-
vernment of India? The East India Company was
supposed to be a dying body; who, then, was to have
the control over the money?
The CHANCILLLOR of the EICHICQUER said it was not
disputed that there was a real necessity for the existing
Government of India in this country to raise money
here by loan, and this Bill proposed to enable it to do so
by removing the legal restriction upon the borrowing
powers of the East India Company so long as the exist-
ing state of things remained unaltered. If Parliament
should make any change in the constitution of the
home Government of India it would be his duty to pro-
vide for the exercise of the borrowing powers given by
the Bill. With regard to the proposition that the exi-
gencies of the Indian Treasury should be aided by the
national credit, be could not admit the principle that
(except for extraordinary purposes) it would be expe-
dient or just to call the credit of the English Exchequer
in aid of the finances of India. . . .

Mr. DISRAELI observed that it was an important con-
sideration for those who would lend this money what
was the security.
Mr. CARDWELL said there could be no doubt that the
Government of India were in need of money. As he
understood in the changes that were to take place In-
dian finances would rest upon the basis upon which they
now rested—namely the Indian rpvenue.
Sir F. BARING thought the amount too large.
Sir H. WILLOUGHBY recommended caution in deal-
ing with the finances of India.
Mr. SEYMOUR observed that the interests of the pro-
prietors of India stock was amply secured.
Mr. V. SMITH having made a brief reply, leave was
given to bring in the Bill.
After some further business the House adjourned
shortly after 8 o'clock.