The Press.
London, England, 1855-05-05 00:00:00

TIIE PRESS.

Mr. R. Praulmonz seconded the amendment, ob.
serving that it was impossible to separate a civil from
a religious education, and that the plan had been
tried and failed in America.
Mr. MILES supported the bill. The voluntary
system, with respect to education, had lamentably
failed, and the proposed measure would do much
towards supplying the deficiency. He quoted returns
to show that under the voluntary system education
in many places was actually lessened. Objections
had been raised to the measure on the score of its
expense, but it should be remembered that it would
diminish the expense of maintaining our paupers and
prosecuting our criminals.
After a slight further discussion the debate was

adjourned.
There was a discussion on Thursday as to what
should be done with the three education bills now
before the house. It seemed to be the general im-
pression that they should all be read a second time,
and then referred to a select committee.

SUNDAY TRADING PREVENTION.
Lord R. GROSVENOR moved the second reading of
his bill on Thursday. It was opposed by Mr. Wit-
kinson, who urged that it would be inoperative from
the number of exceptions it contained; by Mr. T.
Duncombe, upon the practical ground of the con•
venience of working men ; and by Mr. R. J. Philli-
more as a local bill, and mischievous for that reason.
Mr. Fox said that the measure, to be effectual, should
be more comprehensive, and argued that if the public
feeling was in its favour the same support would not
be given to tradesmen who opened their shops on
Sunday.
Lord Ebrington, the Marquis of Blandford, Sir J.
Shelley, and others supported it, as demanded at
once by the tradesmen who were prevented from
closing their shops ; the servants who were com-
pelled to attend in them ; and the working men, who
considered the measure necessary to their health
and social comfort. Sir G. Grey, on the part of the
Government, approved of the bill, which would cor-
rect many of the defects of the present inoperative
law, and consult the general feelings of the inhabi-
tants of the metropolis.
The bill was read a second time, and a motion for
referring it to a select committee defeated.

POOR LAW-SCOTLAND.

Mr. E. ELUCE, on Thursday, moved the second
reading of a bill which he had introduced to amend
the Scottish poor law. The Board of Supervision,
appointed by the act of 1845, had shamefully
neglected its duties, and the only appeal lay in the
sheriff, who was quite out of the reach of :he aged
and infirm pauper. The local authorities acted with
gross cruelty, and the board made no inquiries; it
had, in fact, made but one inquiry since its establish-
ment. He instanced many cases of grievous suffer-
ing and privations amongst the poor, especially in
the Highlands. His bill provided for the appoint•
ment of inspectors, who would visit the parishes
periodically, report to the board, and read an ab-
stract of the report to Parliament.
The LORD ADVOCATE opposed the bill. The
charges against the Board of Supervision were
greatly exaggerated ; from personal knowledge he
could bear testimony to their zeal and activity. By
the present law the Secretary of State and the Lord
Advocate had the power to compel the board to send
round inspectors when they thought it necessary.
The appointment of inspectors might be advisable,
but he trusted that the matter would be left in the
hands of the Government.
The bill was withdrawn after a defence of the
board, and the administration of the poor law in
Scotland, from Mr. C. Bruce.
THE IRISH CHANCERY.

Mr. WHITESIDE, on Thursday, moved the second
reading of the first of six bills which he had laid
upon the table for the improvement of the Irish
Court of Chancery. After a history of the reform
already carried out, and a reference to the still
greater reform in England, which had done so much
good, he explained the objects of his bills. By the first
he abolished the Master's Office ; the second erected
the then senior Master into Vice-Chancellor, with the
same authority as that in England ; the third, based
on the report of the committee of 1852, limited the
power of receivers, under whom, he said, great in-
justice, and even crime, was committed; the fourth
transferred to Chancery the power of the now ex-
piring Encumbered Estates Court.
Mr. FITZGERALD did not approve of the bills,
and thought their introduction especially ill timed
just now, when a royal commission was sitting on
the subject. Many of the reforms had already been
carried out, and Mr. Whiteside only took up existing
rules and turned them into a bill. The bill which
had been introduced long ago should have been
left upon the table till the committee had made its

report.
Mr. CURRIE and Mr. MALINS characterised this
speech as injudicious and unfair. The latter hon.
member observed that the proposed measure co-
incided with the report of the commissioners, of

SATURDAY;

which, though not yet published, Mr. Fitzgerald was
in possession of the draft, and that he was probably
sore at being so ably forestalled. He warmly
approved of the bill.
Mr. KEOGH said that Mr. Whiteside, before the
bill came on fur discussion, was fully aware that the
report of the commission was prepared, and thought
that it would have been a moderate and practical
course if he had allowed his bill to stand over till it
was prepared.
Mr. HENLEY approved of delay, and Mr. WHITZ-
BIDE adjourned his motion accordingly.

ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM.
Tau following reslutions will be proposed at a public
metting for "administrative reform," to be held this
(Saturday) afternoon at the London Tavern :
T hat the disasters to which the country has been subjected
in the conduct of the present war are attributable to the
inefficient and practically irresponsible management of the
various departments of the State, and urgently demand a
thorough change in the administrative system.
That the true remedy for the system of mal administra-
tion which has caused so lamentable a sacrifice of labour,
money, and human life is to be sought in the introduction
of enlarged experience and practical ability into the service
of the State.
That the exclusion from office of those who possess in a
high degree the practical qualities necessary for the direc-
tion of affairs in a great commercial country is a reflection
upon its intelligence and a betrayal of its interests.
That while we disclaim every desire of excluding the
aristocratic classes from participating in the councils of the
Crown, we feel it our duty to protest against the preten-
sions of any section of the community to monopolise the
functions of administration.
That an association be now formed to promote, by all
constitutional means, the attainment of administrative re-
form.
That the association be called the Administrative
Reform Association, and that the following gentlemen, with
power to add to their number, be appointed the committee,
to collect funds, to prepare an address to the constituencies
of the united kingdom, and generally to carry out the
objects of the association.

THE CHINESE REBELLION.
IN the last letters brought by the overland mail
the accounts of the rebellion in China seem to prove
that the Imperialists are making head again. The
last dates from Canton are of the 15th of March-
The writer of a letter states:—

Affairs at Canton look more settled : for the time, at all
events, the rebels have been driven away from the city.
The blockade has been put a stop to ; and by a combined
movement of the imperial soldiers and the people, Canton.
and the forts in its neighbourhood have been freed from
the terror•spreading horrors of the insurgents. On the 6th
inst. the rebels at Blenheim Reach were taken by surprise,
fled precipitately in boats down the river, and for the
most part escaped, the imperialists being but too well
pleased to regain possession of the forts. The other
strongholds of the insurgents also fell into the hands of
the imperialists, who are reported to have effected their
object by buying up the ringleaders. The imperialists have
made a shocking use of their triumph. The place of execu-
tion has been a vast carnage•field, where hundreds have
daily been put to death, in the hope of striking terror into,
the minds of the population.
At Shanghai, also, the imperialists have succeeded in re-
capturing the city, followed by frightful atrocities in revenge
for opposing the imperial rule. Beyond the mere fact of
the capture of the city little more is known with certainty,
the accounts being very conflicting. All accounts agree in
representing the foul atrocities committed by the mandarins.
Nearly five hundred prisoners have been put to death, and
some were tortured in the most frightful manner before
being put out of the way. Some of the rebel chiefs have
succeeded in escaping, but by far the greater numberof the
ringleaders have found themselves in the hands of their
unrelenting enemy.

THE GOVERNMENT OF SAXE COBURG GOTHA hair
just promulgated the Law of Succession for the:
Duchy. It is to the effect that, in case the reigning,
duke should die without leaving direct heirs, the
succession shall pass to Prince Albert and his des-
cendants, but that the reigning King of England an&
the heir presumptive to the throne of England shall:
be excluded. It is further enacted, that if, when the.
succession shall become vacant, there shall be no.
descendant qualified to succeed, other than the King
and heir presumptive of England, the King and heir.
shall be bound to cause the duchies to be adminis-
tered by a governor, until a descendant qualified to.
succeed shall have attained his majority. The
apanage of the heir presumptive to the duchies is
fixed from his majority at 18,000 florins (about 1,8001.)
a year. According to this arrangement, uponthe
death of the reigning duke, who has no child, Prince
Alfred would become the heir presumptive, PTIDCI3,
Albert immediately succeeding.
THE ANNUAL BALL AT Pkrus, in aid of the British
Charitable Fund, has been fixed for the 15th May.
It will take place as usual at the Jardin
under the patronage of a number of ladies of rank.
On account of the influx of visitors attracted by tho
Exhibition, it is expected to prove a fete of unusual
splendour.

II

MAY 5, 1855.