The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1866-08-07 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

NONDAT. —On the motion for going into oonimittee
on the Fortifications Bill, Mr. Osborne deprecated the
wasting of any more money on the scheme which Lord
Palmerston had induccd the House to sanction at • time
when the country was in a state of panic. General
Peel said it was proposed to miolify the original scheme
and the money applied for was neeereary to complete •
new work in lieu of others which would not be cont•
menced. It would doubtless ultimately be necessary to
have tbsir forts iron-plated, and supplied with turntables
for heavy guns, bat the matter was not in such • for-
ward muds as to allow him to propose any intimate.
Ilr. Gladstone protested at this late period of the
se•sion against any new work being commenced, and
urged the Government not to proceed with the Bill
this anion. The Chancellor of the Exchequer said the
present Government ws• not responsible for this foetid-
cation scheme, and in the proposal they had made they
were only carrying it out. He reminded the House that
the original scheme was introduced in this manner qp
the 23rd of July. A long debate ensued, and ultimate!,
the Bill was withdrawn. The Pubhe Health Act passed,
through committee.

TUESDAY. —At the morning sitting Mr. Watkins
moved that • Royal Commission be appointed to inves-
tigate the causes which had led to the kite severe and
protracted pressure in the money market, and to the
continuance for • long period of • minimum rate of die-
count of 10 per cent at the Bank of England ; aid also
to investigate the laws at present affecting currency and
banking in the United Kingdom, and to report whit
alterations had become expedient therein. Far Stafford
Nortboote was of opinion that no advantage would be
gained by appointing • Royal Commisaion. He said govern-
ment would bestow upon the matter their most serious
attention during the Autumn, and if any useful modifica-
tions could be introduced theywould readily propose them
Mr. Pawed' use of opinion that the commercial distress
which now prevailed had been produced by the reckless
system of gambling which had prevaded our trading
system. Mr. Gladstone approv.el of the course the
Government intended to take. The debate was ad.
journey until Friday At the evening sitting Mr.
Buxton called attention to the concleding paragraph of
the report of the Royal Jamaica Commission, which
stated that the punishment of death was anneesearily
frequent, the floggings reckless, and the burning of 1000
houses wanton and cruel, and moved • series of resola•
Cons in reference thereto. A long debate ensued, in
which a great deal of feeling was inhibited on both
sides, and ultimately Govenunent excepted the firet re-
solution, which satisfied Mr. Buxton, and the subject
then dropped.
WILDI/111DAT.—The greater portion of the sitting of
the lionise was taken up in discussing Mr. Gladstone's
Compulsory Church-rate Abolition BilL An offer
was made by the Government a week or two
aso not to oppose the second reading ot the
Bill, on the understanding that it would not
be further proceeded with during the present semion,
but Lord J. Manners, Mr. Hunt, and the Solicitor.
General delivered very hostile speeches. Mr.
Gladstone expressed his surprise at the course
taken by the Government, and advised them not to
enter into wagon:ante hereafter which they did not
Intend to keep, or in reference to which they had not
finally made up their minds. At the dose of Mr.
Gladetone's speech there were loud call. for •
division whereupon several members of the Government
scampered from the House, amid ironical cheers from
the Opposition. Colonel Taylor endeavoured to account
for thts by dating that Government had intimated their
intention not to divide against the mooed reading of the
Bill. The Bill was then read • wood time.

THITILSD•T. —Lord NW moved the second reading of
the Act for continuing the suspension of the !Jibe's
Corpus Act in Irelend. He said the Fenian conspiracy
was of foreign origin, and the result of the powers
which Government had obtained from Parliament was
that its agents had taken themaelve off. There had
been altogether 756 persons arrested, but most of them
had been released on promising to leave the country or
giving asperity for their good conduct The Govern-
ment had neon to believe that the movement was not
subsiding, and at the same time felt that if these powers
were not continued, the agents of the conspiracy would
soon arrive from Americo. Mr. Maguire proposed a
aeries of resolutions, which in effect represented that
the st•te of things on which the late Government
justified the suspension of the lisbeas Corpus Act no
longer existed. He asserted that the mis-government of
the country was the sole cause of the dimatisfection
',Lich prevailed, and th•t nothing but a wise, generous,
and libersl policy would promote the prosperity and
contentment of the Irish people. After • long debate
the Hone divided on the question, when the second
reading was carried by a majority of 74.
FIIDAT.—Tbe House had • morning sitting, at whichLord Stanley moved the second reading of the Extra.
dition Treaties Bill. The measure was warmly opposed
by Mr. liPCullagh Torsos, Mr. J. ti. Mill, and other
gentlemen. The debate, which lasted about three hours
ended with the second reading of the bill by 77 votes to
14. The Haman Corpse Suspension (Ireland) Bill pained
through committee after an unsuccessful attempt by
Mr. Dillon to introduse a clause limiting its operation
to the prisoners already in custody in Ireland. At the
evening sitting, after the questions were disposed of,
Colonel Sykes was proceeding to put • question in
respect to atrocities in Chine, when the Chancellor of
the Exchequer interposed and said ho had promised
that Mr. Wakin's motion as to currency and the Bank
Act should have pre:oedema of the orders of the day,
and he therefore objected to Colonel Sykes proceedings
with its question, Colonel Sykes persist.d, and said
he would move the adjournment of the House. The
speaker ruled that he must go on. His question was
put and answered, and Mr. Hunt was answerine •
question as to the American steamer', when the House
was counted out.

SATUIDAY.—The only matter of interest was a short
discumion on the dockyard amounts, raised by Sir .1.
Pakington, who said, with regard to the charge that boats
had east more for repairs than new both a could have
been built for, that, with the exoeptinn 01 WI" and
launches all the boats for her Majesty's shine were
built by contract. Mr. dimly replied that be had
offered to inbuilt all the statements he intended to
make to the right hon, baronet before submitting them
to the House. He persisted in-ameetkag that the
Admiralty were paying more tor their work than private
firms. Mr. J. S. Mill thought it would be bettor if the
facts of any matter relating to the public expenditare
mild be antheeticiated before the question was brought
before the Hoare.