The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-05-02 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT•

HOUSE OF LO EiDS.-YESTERDAY.

Lord LYNDIIURAT called attention to the state of the nant
reserve, and asked from the Ministers a statement of its Pre'
sent condition and probable progress. It appeared
that
foreigners were better acquainted with the state of our neal,
than we were ourselves. Since the great continental war our
navy had been comparatively neglected, and it was only-from-fromalarm at the great efforts of France that our GOWN)"
meat at last roused itself from its supineness. He cone—
pared the British with the French naval force, contending
that at present Qur own scarcely exceeded that of our rivals.
After enumerating the possessions in which it was necessary
we should maintain cur supremacy at sea, he observed that ge:
disaster in the Channel could be repaired by France, but it,
would be ruinous to England. The country could not reel'3
satisfied while matters remained in their present position. 1
quoted the authority of succeeding Lords of the Admiralty !°
show the difficulty of manning our fleet without resorting W.
impressment, observing that if such was the difficulty now, A'
would it be tenfold greater in time of emergency. The Coln'
mission had recommended the formation of a reserve of 30,000
men. Yet, according to the rate at which they were noW',
going on, it would take ten years to complete the number.
The regulations under which the sailors were to enter the
reserve were so numerous and complex that a lawyer could
not master them ; how, then, could they expect a common
sailor to comprehend them. If he himself were of the proper
age, and disposed to enter the navy, his fliet step would be to
call in a respectable conveyancer, and get him to prepare an
abstract. He reprobated the efforts of political economists to
keep down the expenditure of the army and navy in the vain
hope of a perpetual alliance with France.

The Duke of SOMERSET trusted that it would not be sup-
posed, from the speech of the noble lord, that the pre-
sent Government had reduced the naval strength of the
country. During the last eight months more men had
been employed at the dockyards than during any previous,
period, not excepting that of the great continental war. Exclu-
sive of block ships or sailing vessels, we had afloat 50 ships
of the line, 30 frigates, 17 corvettes, 88 sloops, and 28 smaller
vessels ; 24 special gunboats, and 350 ordinary gunboats.
The French had 33 ships of the line and 8 building, 38 frigates
and 12 building, and about 140 sloops. As to our naval reserve,
the coast guard now numbered 6,862 men, and it had
been proposed to .increase- it to 12,000; but it would
be a great mistake to draft new men into a reserve
which sailors were accustomed to consider as their own
special destination. The Naval Coast Guard Volunteers
amounted to 7,000, and were, according to all reports, in
a state of the highest efficiency. It was true that there were
as yet but 1,000 men in the naval reserve, but the scheme had as
yet scarcely come into operation. The actual available reserve at

the present moment was 14,850 men. As for the regulations
they referred to different classes; and all that applied to the
common seamen could be comprised in a single sheet of paper.
He concluded by praising the high spirit of the navy, which,
however it might show itself dissatisfied with petty expeditions,
would never be found wanting upon great occasions.

After a short further conversation the subject dropped, and
lieir lordships adjourned at five minutes to eight.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-YESTERDAY.

The Speaker took the chair at four o'clock.
Mr. FENWICIE asked the Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs whether he is prepared to lay upon the table of the
House the correspondence that has taken place between tier
Majesty's and other governments with reference to the aboli-
tion of the Stade toll, and whether he will state the exact
position of that question.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that negotiations were new in pia•
grese, and he could not at present produce the papers.
Sir S. NORTHCOTE asked the Secretary to the Treasury whe-
then the Commission of Inquiry at the Post-offlee has tertia-
nated its labouis, or has been dissolved, and if so, for what
purpose
Mr. LAINO said that the inquiry was suspended for a short
time, but nat concluded.
•In reply to Mr. S. Fitzgerald,
Lord Joux RUSSELL said that the Conference relative to
Savoy had not been postponed, as no time had yet been Sze&
for its assembling.

Sir C. NAPIER moved that an humble address be presento
to her Majesty, expressing the regret of this house that
instead of a reserve of 7,000 men, contemplated by the Han-
king Commission, there only exists 6,862 coast-guard men.
including officers, 190 district ships' companies, 1,400 revenue
men and 600 cruisers' men, and 5,000 or 6,000 coast volunteers not
to be depended upon ; and as a vote of this House has unani.
mously decided that the report of the Manning Commission
ought to be can-led Gilt, the House prays her Majesty will rife
directions that the coast guard should be completed to 12,000
seamen, as recommended by the commission, ready to be
placed in efficient ships at the several ports, instead of the
present block ships, thus constituting a reserve 'of ten' sail of
the line ready for any emergency. That the number of navel"
volunteers (now under 1,000) should be completed as soon as.
possible, and the other recommendations of the commissio.
complied with ; and the House is also of opinion that at,,
bounty for able seamen ought not to have been lowerc44 cal
the number wanted was complete.
- Sir J. ELPRINSTONE seconded the motion.

Lord C. Pas= was willing to allow all due credit to the ,
motion of Sir C. Napier ; but he had adopted a course Ile'
questionably injurious to the public service, He could not
consent to the motion, based, as it was, upon- evident miser
prehension that the duty of the coati guard 'volunteers was to
defend our coasts ; and he felt persuaded that before long they
would muster in sufficient force to fulfil all the expeetatione
which had been formed of them. The royal naval volunteers
amounted already to 1,000 men, and the coast guard volunteers
to upwards of 7,000; and the men were:coming in freely and
fast. The training of boys for the naval service, admitted tott -
all sides to be a matter of the utmost importance, .was
likewise progressing satisfactorily 8,000 boys were now in
the several schools. In the Channel fleet there were only 100
petty officers short of the compliment, and 226 able seamen.
The Mediterranean fleet was in a yet better condition. He
defended the reduction of the bounties given to seamen, on the
ground that it was an unwholesome practice, good only for the
moment, but productive of mischief in the end.

Sir J. PAKINGTON admitted that the bounty system ws•
exceptional, though there were times when it was necessary
He was well pleased that the Admiralty were able to
reduce it at present. He further admitted that Of
motion ought not to be agreed! to, and expressed
satisfaction at the statement they had• just heard *o_lll

the Secretary to the Admiralty at the measures taken f9r
the training of boys, and at the steps taken for carrying out
the recommendations of the Royal Commissian.

Sir M. SEYMOVR, after adding his own 'need of praise to
the statement of the noble lord, referred to the many 'cone'
mical measures of the present time, allot which increased GO
difficulty of finding seamen for the navy.
Mr. CORRY likewise expressed his satisfaction at the Prr
gress made by the coast-guard volunteers, but at the smut,.
time had more trust in the regular reserve than in tble
body, which only received a retaining fee. Re thettglat
that 4,000 men in reserve ought always to be retained
at the docks. The marines likewise furnished au admirable
reserve, and he hoped that in next year's estimates full-
provision would be made for an efficient force of marines'
From all these sources they would have no difficulty in find's;
an ample supply of m.n in tin.. of He defended Os
naval volunteers from the charge of inefficiency brought
against them ; they were most able and willing, and as per"
fectly competent to their especial task of defending our coasts
as any body of seamen in existence.

Sir S. Pacatu. and Admiral Watcorr, entering into TariotlO
technical objections on the present management of the nail►
made suggestions as to their reform. The latter urged on Pi.,
Admiralty the duty of establishing training ships for bays -4t
all the chief ports in the kingdom.
Sir B. VERICEY urged the policy of keeping the crews
together attee the ships had been paid off.

Mr. BENTINCK thought that Sir C. Napier had done good
vice in his exertions to enforce the grievance of the marl 01;
the House, .but recommended him to withdraw his preseu`
motion. He objected to the discontinuance of the Wont)?
.;
.before the number of men was complete. reference tall'''.
coast guard the money they saved to the country in the course
of the year was enormous. ,

Sir C. NAPIER replied, and withdrew his motion.
Mr. PFEL, as chairman of the Berwick Election Committee,
moved an address for a commission of enquiry into the bribe 4;
committed at that election, and that the concurrence of
Lurds be requested in presenting 8114 address. He &tidied
the circumstances adtttletd lr•:bre the committee, which led 10
the conclusion that bribery had been committed. The enqu
before the 'committee was incomplete, and it was only vial!:
to the extent necessary for the Purposes of the petition, an:
it was for the House to decide whether it would earn' ill"
Enquiry any further into the state of a borough long notori/
for corruption.. It was only by the issue of a comminion th
the deeply-rooted habits of the voters could be eradicated; 1"
He did not anticipate that the enquiry would be either lose'
expensive, as the place was not large, nor the circumetuse°
complicated. •

Mr. D. C. MAJORIBAHRB, one of • the members for - the, •
des •
borough, said that he had stood under an express declare,— ,
that he would not spend a single shilling in any corrupt .et?
•
that pledge he had strictly kept, nor had he beerievin siel;7l
to break it. His elections had cost him, in each case,
e 0"—is
moderate sums. Berwick had, during the last year, it -
very sorely tried, and not fairly' mud ; still, he should leu'e
his duty to vote for the motion, satisfied that the 010" i '
stances would, so far as he was concerned, bear the eee
investigation.
erte
Mr. M'CAULAT said that the result of each commission hi.th_.
issued to various boroughs had been to chew the existescle.
.extensive bribery in such boroughs. The present case 'o' the
- ferent. The petition did not Impute bribery to any agent :tee
sitting members, but asked from the seat by striking "
re") poll the names of those who received bribes. There was ,isoreceipt
to suppose that the acts of bribery extendedbeyond the
of a few bribes from a singlenerson, and he did tots . -the
curiosity country should be tut to the expense of satisfying the
auriosity of the committee as to an unproved allegatl9B
existence of more extensive corruption. ed • that
Lord ROBERT CECIL said that it had not heenftre eanaie i,"
the person offering the bribe was. riot an agefern:i;eruits
ppretiovainenw*as
date. He thought that all the machinery
ev dent in the place which wee anresuraPttttiou, which wee I
Mr. E. James likewise supported; the
opposed by Mr. Lougfield.
commissions had .bn of' Mr. COLLIER said that previous
__, corruption
essential service, and that the Bleotesmcien from therrctunitte.
had drawn its most important In!, °r commissions reP94%..'
Hitherto they had always Ihey now retre.se4 their° ihtes,
report of the committee, audit
MONTAODI ‘414 "C'
not sufficient to
for
they would never have:e
aotothueariltzro...mmitw,oisaionn;remieb.
;:cif:
sitting
tional case, es there tw
tirohabilitl, would legal .•
borough. The e., en_ _
justife the commis:'sidoollicinweg
to nothing., aoicfa,brilbe_ary
•
•
)fir. Biloxi. was in ‘e_ „ opinions a members.a •
to take the
of the committee, and support '." &don if it did not •
issue they would be in a worse position than if the Corrupt
Practices Act had never passed. He believed that great
had reselted from previous commissions, speeeiug team
own knowledge in the case of Wakefield.
Mr.
result, except neall oppessosedexpense . the co
ninlisalon, ea leading t° 1/0 /
The Aeroezrev-Gxxxxwe pretested
• the question, when taken on the against the looi sier/fer,
advocated the comrais,ioA, addita
understanding that Its report wo d
grbeoacuntdeilowonf ex.peunteespi.eas,,...,t,
there ought to be a •
himself as fair as his own office Was concerned to take all P°
sible measures to give it due.eeeeet,
After some further discuss o
Mr. JIMMY declared that the commission won.—
rot
innorthininage.ranNito; Id end 4/1.
t°Ol3lY 'Pere eommissioners in the habit a g
pcccant
did nothing agains witnesses, but the House aft
t se who were roved to be guilty.
Lord PALMERSTONtho declared that phe could not bel.eve tbit
the House wculd hesitate at a case of such notorious.
and corruption. He denied that the commission would lea
to no result. Tlae mere exposure of 'gross delinquency wauhe
act as a preventive to future offences. The Hones*oint
insisted, would shrink from its duty if it refused to aPP
this commission.
Mr. -Witrrzstot inquired why the Attorney-General
rued
silent in the similar case of the Galwayelection. That le_l'„fur •
gentleman had promised much for the future, but said n°,, 11-04 0
as to the past. The practical question was, if this conint.s
would have more important consequences than its predecessor ,
which had no consequences. f the
sir G. Lewis, adveiting to an observation that one
persons implicated in the Wakefield case had been returned
magistrate for the borough, said that if the allegation
proved against such person, he would be removed from
commission.
Mr. S. EMTCOURT was favourable to the issuing of the4Orci;
mission, and hoped that it would show forth the tours should •
they ought to pursue inconsequence of its inquiriee- t coo-
these lead to no result, it would be useless to aPfAhl
missions in future.
The motion was then aereed
motion
t the mu-
Mr. PEEL followed up this motion by another, the
the emu-
direct the prosecution of one of the witnesses before
mittee for eeetury. . . .
This motion was also agreed to. • .
Mr. CARDWELL Oblalled IeRVB to introduce a bill for taking
the census of Ireland.
The committee oo military organisation was named, ° the
motion of lift, B. Herbert. goli"
• 'es
The house then Went into committee on the Attorin,
citori, and Certificated Conveyancers Bill.
The house adjourned at aye minutes past one o'clock.