The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1868-05-19 00:00:00

Vroccebings of Vortiament.

HOUSII OF LORDS.

MOYDS.2.—The Government commenced the primes'
nflightening thidr programme for the seesion ; for with
many expressions of reluctance the Lord Chancellor
withdrew his three Bankruptcy Bills. In committee ma
the Railway Regulations Ball, an amendment was made
in clause six, which gave power to imerison railway
directois for falsifying the amounts of • railway
Company. The clause as amended makes it an offenoe
punishable by fine and imprisonment for officers or
auditors of • railway company to sign amounts which
they know to be Winged. Clause 16, which was also
amended, proposes that in the ease of treins stopping
at intervals of 20 miles communisation between guards
and passengen shall be provided. The Capital
Punishment W ithin Prisons Bill was read • third time
and passed.
TemiDeT.—The business was Unimportant.
THolllDeT.—Nearly the whole of the sitting was
taken up by a debate on the Sea Fisheries Bill, which
was in committee: It was urged that Ireland should
be exempted from the operations of the bill, on the
ground that if it became law in its present dupe the
Irish oyster fisheries woeld be ruined. Ultimately it
was moved that the chairman should report progress,
and the motion Ivan agreed to.
FatietY.--Tbe Horne was occupied in discussing
several subjects; for instance, the effect of the Con-
tagious Diseases Let and the Report of the Ritualist
Commission. As regards this last, the Earl of Sheiks-
bury asked the Lord Privy Seal what are the intentions
of her Majesty's Ministers in respect of the two reports
of the Commission on Ritual? The greatest excitement
and anxiety existed on this subject, and the public will
not quietly brook any farther delay in legislation.—The
Fart of Malmesbary The noble earl can hardly expect
the Government to take action on this subject until we
have received the complete report of the commission to
which the inquiry has been entrusted. I agree with my
noble friend that the longer • eonclusion is poitponed
the more excitement will be caused; but the Govern-
ment cannot control the pace at which the oommission
proceeds, nor can they take action until the third and
Anal report of that body is received.—The Earl of Shaf-
tesbury insisted that this was no trifling matter. In
sonsequenee of the delay in legislation, the Church of
England is trembling in the hal•nu. After the two
reports that have been received from the commission,
the time for legislation in regard to vestments, to
incense, and other matters, is perfectly rips. And
it is too bad to be told that we mast now wait for •
shied report on thelootionny end other matters of minor
hapeetawee. This positively will not do; and if the
Government will not take the subject up, it will be
tam up by others in • manner which the Govern-
maul may not like. The Archbishop of Canterbury
explained that the secretary was not to blame for the
delay in publishing the report—The Bishop of Loudon
sold that a year at least will probably elopes before the
third report of the commission, dealing with the
lectionary, is ready. But he could not understand
why it should be deemed impossible to legislate in the
meantime on the subjects embraced In the two report.
which have already been presented.—The Marquis of
Salisbury protested against the tone of maniacs in
which the noble earl oppoilte (gar! of Shaftesbury) hat
advocated his views. To listen to him one would think
that he had a great physical force at his back, that
there was • Butbones Parliament in the other House,
and that Puritan Ministers were !terming at the bar—
(a laugh). The subject affects the religious opinions of
• large number of her Majesty's subjects, and requires to
be dealt with with the greatest cars and consideration.
If that be not done there might be • division in the
Church of England, and a serious religious crisis.—
Lewd Littleton protested against the foe-to-km style
of argument of the noble earl, and insisted on the
necessity of giving a careful consideration to the subject.
—Lord Taunton thought that the subject is now tips
for legislation, so far as the matters embraced in the two
first reports of the commission. - After some observa-
tions from Lord Ebury. the Earl of Stanhope heard
with utter astonishomot that it is the intention of
the Government to postpone legislation until the
appearance of the third report of the commission.
That report will require very considerable time for its
preparation, while it will not odd one iota of informa-
tics to that contained in the two report.s which have
already appeared in regard to vestments, lights, and
Incense. There is, therefore, not the slightest reason
or justification for postponing legislation on then
subjects; and he trusted that the Government will not
persevere in the intention expressed by the noble earL
—After some lbservations from Lord Overstone, the
Lord Chanoellor said that without expressing any
opinion as to the possibility of legislation on the subject
during the present year, It is sufficient to say that,
lines the second report of the commission has been
In the hands of the Government, there has been no
time for them to deliberate upon it, and until
they have had that opportunity it is impossible for them
to my what course they will pursue.—Earl de Grey and
Ripon acquitted the Government of any intention of
playing into the hands of one or otbet party in the
Church, since the Prime Minister seems to have a
perfectly impartial liking for both the High and the
Low Church. At the same time it is clear that, when
the Goveroment consented to the appointment of the
Royal Commission last year, they contemplated imme,
diet. legislation—at any rate upon the question of vest-
menta—The Earl of Harroerby was understood to
experts himself in favour of legislation founded on the
two reports of the 00010161100 that have 'heady been
pcmented.—The Earl of Malmesbury complained that
be had bees misunderstood. What lie said, or intended
to say, was that, in ooneequence of the delay that hes
taken place in the presentation of the second report, it
will be quite impossible for the Government to take
any action in the present year; or until the third repent
has appeared. It would be perfectly puerile for the
Government to open s 3 exciting a subject as this at this
period of the rear, invi labouring as they did under the
difficulties with which they have to contend In the
other House. The conversation then terminated.