The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-07-12 00:00:00

imperial tiarlianunt.

HOUSE OF LORDS-MONDAY

would

TUESDAY.

Lord LvEmit:am in calling the attention of the
House to the military and naval defences of the country,
said that the observations he was about to make were
dictated by a purely defensive feeling. The confidence
which this country had indulged in in former times had
been rudely destroyed by the application of steam to
naval warfare. In the spring of last year the French
exceeded us in line-of-battle ships in only a small pro-
portion, but in frigates their superiority was enormous.
At the present tune, however, we exceeded them in
hue-of-battle ships, but were still inferior to them in
frigates; and next year we should exceed them still
more in line-of-battle ships, but not in frigates. He
stated that we ought to have • force in the Channel
equal to that of France, and in addition to it a powerful
reserve. This would not, however, be sufficient without •
fleet capable of coping with any two navies, in case of
a combination between Russia and France. In addition
to this • fleet would be required to command the
Mediterranean and to prevent the French fleets attack-
ing by that outlet our commerce and colonies, and also
to preserve for ourselves the control of the overland
route to India. Another fleet ought also to be fitted
out for the protection of the West Indies. He recom-
mended the immediate formation of • reserve of seamen,
an enlargement of our arsenals, dockyards, and slips, in
accordance with the increased size of modern vessels,
and the introduction of a more powerful machinery for
forwarding the equipment of vessels of war. Our
naval defences, lie remarked, were only a part of the
question. It had been truly said that "steam has con-
verted the Channel into • river and thrown • bridge
across it," for he believed that in a few hours a mighty
army might be brought by railway to the French ports,
embarked with the greatest facility, and thrown upon
the shores of this kingdom. In addition to providing •
sufficient force to oppose such an attempt the different
fortresses and arsenals would have to be garrisoned.
For this purpose 100,000 regular troops and embodied
militia, combined with another 100,0100 disembodied
but trained militia, would suffice. Then, too, there
was Ireland to defend, especially as she might be looked
upon elsewhere as " an oppressed nationality," differing
in race, language, and religion from the English. What
was necessary was a permanent force, if we wished to
live in security and to uphold the national honour. He
thought these measures necessary, because he considered
that we ought not to live by the forbearance of others,
but to rely solely on our own vigour, intelligence, and
exertions. He deprecated an aggressive policy towards
France. As to the question Of expense, it sank into
insignificance before the importance of the interests at
stake. The expense was a premium, and a very niode-
rate one, too, which was paid for the insurance of the
country. These were not the counsels of timidity or of
old age ; he had felt it his duty to bring this matter
forward. He coucluded a most eloquent and impres-
sive speech by recommending the Government to
ponder over two words—" Vce
Lord STRATFORD DR R6DCLIFFE said that the matter,
as was well known, was now under the consideration
of the Government. He agreed with Lord Lyndhurst
that it was a great humiliation that this country should
live by sufferance, as it WU thereby debarred from ade-
quately fulfilling its duties to the world.
Lord GRANVILLE doubted whether any practical good
could result from observations similar to those of Lord
Lyndhurst. He did not know whether those observa-
tions were intended to stimulate the Government to its
duty, but he was sure they would not conduce to •
better state of feeling in another country. Scouting
the idea of an invasion, he said it was not likely that
France, engaged in a terrible war, or that Russia, an-
ployed in improving the condition of her own subjects,
would attack this country. In regard to the army, he
agreed with Lord Lyndhurst that it was insufficient to
meet a large force which might be landed on this island,
and that the dockyards and arsenals, ought, if possible,
to be made impregnable. In forwarding this object the
services of volunteers, of artillery companies, and of
rifle corps would be of great service. There was no
harm in telling other nations that whiletall Europe was
arming we were arming too; but in doing this he depre-
cated most vehemently the system of introducing fre-
quent debates on topics of such a delicate and dangerous
nature.

The Duke of SOYERSET said that sines he had been in
office he had done his best to strengthen the navy, and
had on his own responsibility taken an additional sum to
supply the requirements of our dockyards. If, how-
ever, such language were to be continued, it would be
necessary to ask for larger estimates than contemplated,
as it would certainly result in war.
Lord Buono HUI thought we might increase our force,
without its being deemed invidious to foreign nations
and their rulers. It would be well to be prepared for all
contingencies.
Lord ELLSN/101101:1Git thanked Lord Lyndhurst for
distinctly placing before the House our past and present
condition. Of all nations, he remarked, we were the
most vulnerable at sea, on account of the numerous
interests we had to defend, and of all nations we were
most vulnerable on land. He did not believe in moral
influence, unless supported by physical force, and until
this country was placed in • position in which it would
be madness to invade it, the efforts of the Government
at mediation would be useless.
The Duke of ARGYLL thought that if suggestions of
continual increase of the arin7 and navy were to be
made it would be better to bring forward • war budget
at once. He could not allow the Opposition to suppose
that because Her Majesty's Government had said noth-
ing on the matter that they therefore agreed with the
strong language which had been used against France
against that language and that assumption he protested
most strongly.
Their lordships adjourned at 8 o'clock.

Lord Bum:Guam called the attention of the House to
the working of the Divorce Court. With regard to the
general principle of the measure, there could be no
doubt that the establishment of the court had been a
success; but the amount of business in the court showed
the absolute necessity of an increase in the judicial
force. There could be no doubt, too, that the pleadings
ought to affonl more information than the meagre form
of petition at present contained. The precautions
against collusion were insufficient, and he was inclined
to think that the Attorney-General or his representative
should be present on every occasion. He could not ,
close his remarks without bearing testimony to the '
' efficiency with which the leannd Judge-Ordinary dis-
charged the laborious duties of his office.
The Lord CHANCELLOR agreed with much that had
been said by Lord Broughluu, and especially with his
observations on the ability of the Judge-Ordinary.
There could be no doubt that there was a want of
judicial strength in the court, but it still remained to be
seen whether the arrears of business in the Divorce
Court were not merely temporary. He thought that the
necessities of the cue would be wet if all the 15 judges
were made assessors in the court, so that any two of
them might sit with the Judge-Ordinary and constitute
a full court. He thought that NOIRE public functionary
should be appointed to investigate the circumstances of
each case, with a view to guarding against eotleei""i
and that the Court should have the power of sitting
with closed doors whenever the question of a dissolution
of ularriage arose. The Judge-Ordinary, too, should
have power of disposing of the custody of children.
These and other points he hoped to deal with in a Bill
which would be laid before the House in a few days.
. .

THURSDAY.

The Duke of MARLBOROUGH moved for the appoint-
ment of • Select Committee on Church-raid. His own
opinion was that the abolition of church-rates was a
blow aimed at the Established Church, and though the
session was short, he had no doubt that before it was
over the Select Committee would have collected a mass
of evidence which would he of the highest importance.
Lord TZTRMAN said the Church of England was the
"rich man's church." H. thought tho Committee
would do well to terminate the strife which sprang
out of church-rates by recommending their abolition.
The Archbishop Of CASTIRBURT thought the House
owed a debt of gratitude to the Duke of Marlborough
for bringing the question forward. The remedy for
the honest scruples of Dissenters to Church-rates need
not be the extreme measure of releasing property
from an obligation to which it had always been subject
Lord PORTMAN WS/ impressed with the importance of
a speedy settlement of this vexed quantum, and believed

Lord CHELMSFORD, in calling the attention of the
Homo to the state of the Divorce Court, paid a high
compliment to the ability and indefatigable activity of
Sir Cresswell CrossweU. He proceeded to expose the
defects of the present constitution of the Court, which
consisted in an inadequate judicial stag, whereby the
business fell into arrest, and occasioned great delay,
vexation, and expense to the various suitors. To remed7
these evils he proposed the appointment of two addi-
tional judges. who might, when unemployed in the
court, assist the Judicial Committee of the Privy Cotui-
ciL Regretting the existence of collusion, which, no
doubt, now and then prevailed, he thought it would be
impossible to prevent it. In conclusion, he wished to
know whether the Government proposed to extend the
action of the court to Ireland.
The Lord Cilamcmos said that he held in his hand
a sketch of a Bill for the improvement of the Divorce
Court, the loops of which regarded only England. As
the oceirt was an experiment, it would, be thought, he
Injudicious, before they were aware of its remelts, to
extend its operations to Ireland. In reply to the sot-
gestions of Lord Chehosford, ha thought it would have
been inexpedient on the drat establishment of this Court
to appoint • larger judicial staff, as it was then ingesti-
ble to foretell what business would seine before it. The
present amount of business could hardly he looked upon
as the average business of the court, for the greater part
of it was the aommulatioss of whisk would only
embarrass the Court for • time.
Lord CIPAIVOITIS said that it Kr Cromwell Cromwell

that if any of the propositions which bad been referred f bad the power of annulling marriages, as be had of. de-
to during this brief db.russien had been egrsed to years creeing a judicial separation, the diflioulties cannplamed
ego a scttlemeet inigbt have heott arrived at lunch more , of would soon vanish.
~.itisfactory than was now, perhaps, to be antitipated, I After some observations from Lords BItOTAILIII,WICY-
From what had recently taken place upon the hustings, Lew, end DENMAN, the subject dropped.
front declarations made by men who had heretofore A +Mutt conversation then took place on the Irmls tie'
taken a moderate course, that they would scarcely even fences, when in answer to Lord LONDONDERRY and the
venture to soppott A rate for inaiutaining the fabric of Duke of CLEVELAND,
the church—he could not but fear that much further Lord Hiring stated that it MAI not the intention of the
delay in the netklement of this question might lead to a Government to extend the formation of rifle corps
.to
collision between the two Howell of Parliament, Ireland, nor to embody any fresh regiments of Irish
although he hoped that such a result !night be pre- Militia, although it was not impossible that those rcge
vented by the deliberations of this committee. /le menta now embodied might be disembodied, and un-
treated that the connuittee in entering upon its investi- trained men embodied in their places.
{rations would nut he actuated by that spirit of antsgo- Their Lordships adjourned at a few minutes after 7
niam which he thought the noble duke had indicated o'clock.
somewhat too strongly, hut would rather be influenced
by the calm and considerate spirit which characterised
the suggestions ef the right rev. prelate. He (Lord
Portman) did not think they could hope to continue,
with Cie good will of the great body of the people, a
rate for supporting the fabric of the church if the pro-
ceeds of the SAM rate were applied to the maintenance
of the services of the church as well as of its fabric. It
would be found that the great objection to church-rates
was attributable to the abuses which had taken place in
their application. He had been told by many influen-
tial Nonconformists that they were quite willing to con-
tribute their quota to the maintenance of the fabric of
the church, and that they only objected to the applica-
tion of their payments to the services of the
Church. He thought this subject deserved the careful
consideration of the committee, with the view al 'seer-
taming whether some separation might not be made in
the contributions for these objects. It appeared to him
that there was something incongruous in the term of a
voluntary rate. There was the greatest possible dif-
ference between a voluntary payment and a rate, and he
could not conceive how a rate imposed by the vote of
• majority binding &minority could be called a voluntary
rate. It had been stated that the voluntary contribu-
tions for the maintenance of churches actually exceeded
the amounts obtained by rate, and the mood rev. prelate
(the Archbishop of Canterbury) had inserted in • BiU
he had introduced on this subject a clause providing
that in every parish in which no church-rate had been
imposed for two years the rate should cease. He (Lord
Portman) had inserted • similar clause in the Bill he had
laid upon the table, not upon principle, but because, as
it had been suggested by the most rev, prelate, he had
no doubt it must be founded on sound reason. He thought
it most unfortunate that, although some two or three
years ago there had been an indication from the right rev.
bench of an inclination to endeavour to mettle this ques-
tion, so long a time had been allowed to elapse without the
introduction of any practical measure with that object.
He believed that if the right rev. bench (weld agree
upon any plan, which might be disarmed in an open
committee of their lordships' House, an opportunity
be afforded to the members of the other Howse,
many of whom were anxious for the settlement of this
question, to propose some measure which, originating
in the other House, might meet with general approval.
Ile observed that a right hon. and personal friend of his,
although a political opponent—the late Secretary for
the Home Department (Mr. S. Esteourt)—had told his
constituents that he was prepared to submit to Par-
liament a measure for the settlement of this question.
Ile (Lord Portman) could only express a hope that his
right hon. friend's change of position would not lead
him to relinquish his intention, for no man was better
acquainted with the general feeling which prevailed
throughout the country, and no man was more warmly
attached to the Established Church. He would sug-
gest, in conclusion, that one subject which deserved the
serious consideration of the committee was the griev-
ance to which many members of the Church were ex-
posed in being subjected to a double payment for code-
sia.stical purposes—the payment of rates to the mother
church of the parish, besides contributing to the support
of the churches in the districts in which they resided
The Bishop of LONDON defended the Church from the
imputation made by Lord Portman, and denied that any
encouragement had ever been given to any (meta under-
take the settlement of the question. Under these cir-
cumstances he thought the Bench of Bishops had exer-
cised • very wise discretion in not originating any Ines;
more on the subject of church-rates. Ile thought that
the abolition of these rates would be a blow anued at
the Established Church, which was the Church, he
might remark, of 83 per cent, of the population of
Enitland, and that a large body even auiong the Dis.
seuters would deplore anything which tended to weaken
tlant Church.
The committee was then agreed to, and their Lord
ships adjourned.

FRI DAY.
Lord STRATFORD DE REUCLIFFE, in withilt7wing his
motion on the Italian correspondence, said that he did
in consequence of the intelligence that an annistice
had been concluded between France and Austria, and
lie thought it svenld be better to avoid expressions of
opinion which would only embarrass Her Majesty's
Government under present circumstances.
Lord NonnAN cc expressed his want of confidence in
Lord Palmerston, whose policy was SO identified with
that of France that the French Government had
thought it unnecessary to communicate officially its
recent circular to Her Majesty's Government.
lord GRANVILLE thanked Lord Stratford do Red-
i cliffs for the course he had thought fit to adopt.
I Although the intelligence received this morning did
I not give positive proof that peace would be concluded,
it was, however, evidence of the desire on the parts
of the Emperors of France and Austria to come to au
understanding.
The motion was then withdrawn, and the House
adjourned at halt-past 6 o'clock.