The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-02-19 00:00:00

11l URSD AY.

After • long discussion. at thatime of private business,
on the seiund reading of the Caledonian, Edinburgh,
and Scottish Central Railways Bill.
Lord PALI' illaTuN moved the thanks of the House to
the army and navy engaged in the recent operations in
china, whose brilliant services, he observed, had been
performed, under circumstances of considerable
difficulty, with the greete4 possible skill, gallantry,
and intrepiditv. Not • mistake had been insist ; there
had been no deficiency in providing troops and stores,
and in transporting them to the seine of operations.
while the most perfect harmony had prevailed between
the British and French forces. The obstacles, though
great. had been overcome ; the period of services bad
been comparatively shott, but the success had been
complete, without a single cheek, in spits of the large
number of Tartars .ad Chinese opposed to the allied
trovs.
Mr. lltagani, ins, few eloquent words, seconded the
motion.
Mr. Wiling took exception to Lord Palmerston's
statement that the war had originated in the refusal
of the Chinese to ratify the Treaty of Tientsin. He
contended that they had not refused to ratify it; that
they bad ratified the Aineriein treaty, Anil that the
British Governuient had virtually acknowledged the
ratifies stion.
Sir J. ELnwcirroNc, expressing his warmest admire.
lion of the brilliant services of the army and navy,
avowed that he did not believe in the efficacy of the
treaty.
Lord J. RUISSISLL justified the destruction of the
pilace as a fit +Wiseman' for the barbarous treatment of
the eaptiVes by the 4 line.• authorities. Lord Elgin
was of opinion that if lie had demanded the surrender
of the perpetrators of the outrages, the Chinese would
hare had no difficulty in complying with the demand,
and the lives of soine miserable sabordinates would hove
been sacrificed, while the real offender,' would hare

escaped.
The motion was then agreed to.
On the order for the sound reading of the Bankruptcy
and Insolveney Bill,
Mr. }tonsure objected that in appointing a Chief
Judge the Will merely created additional expense. and
that it did not provide for eniforinity of decision. It
professed to aholisli the distinctioa between insolvency
and bankruptcy, but did not do so; it was only an
alteration orate law, and alteration was not reform.
Mr. Moreart, couiniending tie ability shown ill the
Bill in dealing with complicated and difficult matters,
pointed out what he considered to be defects in it.
Mr. J. EMART said a few words in favour of the Bill ;
and
Mr. LTIMIT threw out suggestions for its improve-
ment.
M. Haneitto believed that the commercial ODIMIRD-
oiIy would be grateful for the MINIUM.
The Arroloo:e-Gt;:scitat vindicated the course he
had taken in confining time Bill principally to what was
now. awl in not ••••,•••Isnir •5 woe alninel, i.. 41.•
statute-book. He frankly admitted that there were
many things in the Bill regarding which different
opinions would exist, and, in Committee, he should be
heltiq he said. to remise. and consider whatever
critimsius might be offered upon them.
Mr. MALlNSoutifessed his inability to discuss the mea-
sure, not having bad time to look into its provisions,
and recommended that the Committee should be post-
poned till Monday week.
Mr. Jaffee thought the Sill 'night be committed next
Monday.
After • few remarks by Mr. M'llstioN and Sir H.
WILLOUGHBY, the Bill was read a second time.
The Bank of England Payments Bill we. likewise
read a second time.
The Red Sea and India Telegraph Bill was read a
eeiond time, and ordered to be referred to • Select
Coinusittee.
The Soticisoit-Geexitat. moved for leave to bring
in a series of 'even Bills to consolidate and amend
the statute law of England and Ireland re:sting to
offences against the Immo, to malicious injuries to
property, to larceny and other similar offences, to
indictable offenses by forgery, and to accessories to
and abettors of indictable offences, the statute law of
the United Kingdom against offences relating to the
coin, and to mil cal certain enactments consolidated in
several Acts relating to indictable offences and other
matters.
After a short discassion, have was given to bring in
the Bills.
Sir G. Lewis unused for leave to bring in • Bill to
assign the seats forfeited by the disfranchisement of the
la:Houghs of St. Alban'. and Sudbury. They proposed,
therefore, to assign two of the outs to the two largest
counties—namely, the West Riding of Yorkahire and
South Lincaiihire. Of the other two seats they pro-
posed to give one to Chelsea and Kensington, and the
other to Birkenhead, the mut populous ef the un-
represented towns,
Mr. Bowen complained that none of the seats
were given to Scotland, and observed that it would be •
eery great boon if a Scottish University were repre-
sented in that House.
Mr. Manutge called upon the Government to ex-
plain why they had departed from their declared inten-
tion last year to assign two members te Scotland and
two to Ireland.
Lord PALMERSTON said the Government did not pro-
pose this measure as • substitute for a Reform Bill.
They had dated their reason. why they had set tilt it

to be their duty this Session to introduce a comprehen-
sive measure uf Reform ; hut they did feel it their ditty
not to permit these four lICAt4 to remain retina any
lorger. mid he thought the arrangement they ha pro-
posed was as fair as any other. He did not think there
was any ease for an addition to the represeut..tion of
Scotland or Ireland. . . .

Bir G. LEWIS having replied, leave wu given to
bring in the Bill.
Mr. DnaUAW obtained lure to bring inn Bill to .ffor.l
facilities for the better aseertaminent of the law of
foreign countries when pleaded in courts within Her
11..jestv's dominion..
Mr. VILLIKR% obtained leave to bring in • Bill to
amend the laws reganling tlio removal of the poor, slid
the contribution of parishes to the COMMOII fund in
unions ; and a BM to amend th• law relating to the re-
moval of poor persona to Scotland and Ireland.
The House adjourned at half-past 12 o'clock.