The Press.
London, England, 1855-03-03 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-FRIDAY.

DEATH OF THE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA.
Mr. F. FRENCH : Sir, there is a rumour in cir-
culation that the Government have received intern-

gence respecting the death of the Emperor of Russia.
May I ask if the Government have received such in-
telligence ?
Lord PALmEnsTort said that the Government had
received two telegraphic messages—one through
Berlin, and the other from the Hague—to the effect
that the Emperor of Russia died in the course of this
forenoon.
This announcement was received with intense sen
cation.

In answer to Mr. DUNDAS,
Sir G. GREY said that Lord John Russell's
Education Bill had been postponed till after
Easter.
On the motion for adjournment till Monday,
Mr. NAPIER complained of the manner in which the
Irish business was neglected.
Lord PALMERSTON appealed to the house whether
Irish subjects had not occupied their share of the
time and attention of the house; but legislative
functions of Parliament had been in abeyance for the
last month, and in the absence of the Irish Secre-
tary and law officers it was impossible to proceed with
the business.
Mr. WHITESIDE said that no explanation was
offered as to the intention of the Government with
respect to Irish affairs.
Sergeant SE(Er, who had been alluded to as intro-
ducing a bill with retrospective clauses, retorted on
Mr. Napier himself his own proceeding under the
late Ministry.
Mr. FRENCH and Colonel DUNNE made further
complaints.
After the motion for adjournment had been
carried,
Mr. ROEBUCK rose to propose that the Sebastopol
Committee be a secret one. The forms of the house
permitted them to exclude the public, but not mem-
bers of the house, or it might ask for power to shut
out every one. This last was the advice of the majo-
rity of the committee. They did not intend to put
an end to publicity : they would publish at the end
of their labour so much of the evidence as would be
conducive to the public welfare. Both as respected
private questions and our public alliances, this diffi-
cult and delicate inquiry should be conducted in
secret.
Lord SEYMOUR believed that secresy would be im-
practicable whatever rule might be made.
Mr. WILSON PATTEN spoke strongly in favour of
open inquiry.
Sir J. PANINOTON believed the inquiry could not be
rigid as was advisable unless it were conducted in
secret.
Sir J. GIWIAM entreated the house to rescue the
Committee from the disgrace of being a hole and
corner one. Both public interest and the avoidance
of public mischief would best be avoided by publi-
city. He warned the house against a conflict with
the public press.
Mr. LAYARD said that the simplest inquiry might
lead them on dangerous ground, and seeresl alone
would be a safegaurd from the consequences.
Mr. IL HERBERT having attacked Mr. Layard on
the ground of his letter on Admiral Dundas, and Mr.
Layard having explained that matter.
Sir B. HALL declaimed against those who voted for
a Committee they did not want fur its own sake, and
then turned the public out et the room,

211

Mr. G. Burr advocated open inquiry.
Lord PALRERSTON had, when the secret committee
was proposed, entertained adverse feelings to it,
which were only increased by what he heard urged
in its defence. He had opposed all instruction to
that committee, deeming it best to trust to their dis-
cretion, and on the same gronnds he trusted to their
discretion in an open inquiry.
Mr. DISRAELI could not see the dangers with
which the house had been threatened. He put his
trust in the discretion of the committee. There
might be objections to a public committee, but he
thought that the balance of advantages would he iu
favour of it, and that the result of the inquiry should
appear before the public in a complete and impartial
shape.
The discussion was continued by several other
hon. members, when

Mr. ltoEnticK said, that as his proposal was ono
that could only be justified by the unanimous opinion
of the house, he felt bound to withdraw it.
The House then went into Committee of Supply,
and passed a series of votes belonging to the Army
Estimates.

Mr. MURROUGH moved for him to bring in a bill
abolishing the privilege by which Members of Par-
liament were exempted from arrest for debt. On a
division the motion was negatived by 28 to 27.
Mr. WILSON announced on Thursday that it was
the intention of the Government to pass the News-
paper Stamp Bill so that it might take effect from
the 31st inst., and last night Lord Palmerston intro-
duced a bill to enable a third Secretary of State and
Under Secretary to sit in the House of estnmons.
The House then adjourned.