The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1880-02-17 00:00:00

Imperial f) arlianunt.

In the House of Lords on Moaday, the Duke of AMR.
with reference to • statement made in Midlothian a few
weeks ago by Lord George Hamilton, to the effect that he
(the duke) had in a telegram addressed to the late Share
All, styled her Majesty the' Empress of India," sail he
had found that the statement was correct, though he had
till now lost all recollection of the circumstance. The
Lord Chancellor brought in • Bill proposing to enact that
employers should be liable for injuries caused by the
nelielre of Persona in authority, leaving the questioa
of defining those persons to • Select Committee.
In the House of Commons, the Chancellor of the
Exchequer stated, in reply to Mr. Edge, that the
Government intended to propose the renewal of the Ball.rt
Act, as it was, for one year only. Bills would also be
introduced to amend the Corrupt Practices Act and to fill
up the six vacant seats. It was not probable the Govern-
ment would be able this session to take steps to carry out
the recommendations of the Lord's Committee on
Intemperance. Replying to Sir Charles Mike. Colonel
Staniey said that no rules with respect to press corres-
pondenta with British armies in the field had been issued
with his authority. A memorandum on the subject
drawn up by some ofllcersafter the Russo-Turkish war had
been provisionally s .nctioned by the Commander-in-Chl. f,
and • number of copies sent out to India, but he (Colonel
Stanley) had not authorised the issue of any rules.
In the House of Lords on Tuesday, the Lord Steward
(Earl Beauchamp) brougt t up her Majesty's reply to their
Lordships' address in reply to the Speech from the Throne
Lord Granvilleaaked the Prime Minister whether there was
any foundation for the statement in that day's nines that
the Government had released Persia from her treaty
engagement not to occupy Herat. Lord Beaconsfield
replied that there was no foundation whatever for the state-
ment. Steps were, however, being taken for the settle.
meat of Afghanistan, but as nothing had been concluded
it would 113 obviously inconvenient to give any information
on the subject.
In the House of Commons, Mr. Cross stated, in reel), to
Mr. Gregory, that it was as necessary to have • license for
carrying a pistol as for carrying a gun. In reply to Lord
Ilartington, the Chancellor of the Exchequer said
communications had been received from the Government
of Persia upon the subject of the occupation of Herat by
the latter, but no arrangement had yet been come to. The
adjourned debate on the Address was resumed by Mr.
Chamberlain, who accused the Tory party of endeavouring
to tyrannise over those English members who had
sympathised with Irish distress. Such opinion came with
a very bed grsce from tho e who had in the Ist ten or
twe .ty years played with almost every political agitation
for party purposes. As to Home-rule, he bad never voted
for the proposed inquiry, and he did not intend to do so ;
but be should support the amendment, in order to show
his practical aympathy with the Irish people. He did not
believe the Government were in any way alive to the
gravity of the position of affairs in Ireland. On the
House dividing, ea voted for the amendment, and 2.6
aaainst it—majority against, 150.
Ash-Wed”ssday, in the House of Commons, Mr.
Fawcett raised the question of the incidence of the cost
of the Afghan war, contending that it was unfair that
any portion should be charged on the Indian revenue.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer promised that before
a vote should be asked for the expenses of the war,
the House should have an opportunity of considering
whether it would be right to make provision for it in the
financial arrangements for the current year.
In the House of Lords Thursday, Lord Beaconsfield
explained that negotiations with Persia regarding Herat
had taken place, but they had hitherto led to no conclu-
sion. _ _ _

I-Tithe House of Commons, replying to Mr. Richard, Mr.
Bourke gab! that no official information had been received
of the bombardment and destruction of Ouitsha, 200 miles
up the river Niger, but the burning of the town had been
approved of. The consuls had no authority to use British
ships to bombard where trouble was given to Europeans,
but they were bound to do their best to protect life and
property. Mr. Otway, after learning from Colonel
Stanley that an Army Discipline Continuance Bill would
be brought in this session, gave notice of a motion in
favour of abolishing flogging ia the army. Mr. H. B.
Samuelson gave notice of a similar motion with respect to
members of volunteer corps when on active service.
In the House of Lords on Friday night Lord Bea.xins.
field repeated that the Shah had not been released from
his obligation not to occupy Herat, and refused to state
the intentions of the Government in the matter.
In the House of Commons, Col. Stanley, in reply to
questions, said another communication had been
received from Sir Garnet Wolseley, asserting that Dr.
Russell's account of the excesses of the British troops in
South Africa were gross exaggerations, and that he had
requested the leading inhabitants of the districts in which
the troops were quartered to send in reports. Mr.
Stanhope stated that he had received a letter from
General Roberts in reference to the executions that had
taken place in Afghanistan. The general stated that the
&Regal burning of Afghan bodies after the battle of
Charassib was founded on the fact that some Indian
soldiers did set fire to the clothes of Afghans, but not
until life was as good an extinct. Otherwise there had
been no outrages on the dead and wounded. No Afghans
had been hung except thole who took part in the attack
on the Embassy. The statement that prisoners had been
shot was untrue, but military punishment had been
inflicted on • few natives who were found mutilating our
troops.