The Press.
London, England, 1855-12-08 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

DECEMBER 8, 1855.

MOTIONS FOR NEXT SESSION.
THE day f.r the opening of Parliament having been formally fixed, it
may be convenient that members and the public should know what
Notices of Motion are alrealy upon the book. The following is a
transcript, completed up to the time of our going to press :
Lord JOHN RUSSELL.—To move an address to the Crown humbly
requesting that the country may be immediately saved.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL.—To move an address to the Crown humbly
requesting that the only means for effecting the above-mentimed ob-
ject may be at once adopted—namely, his being empowered to form a
Moiihtry.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL—To move the appointment of a select com-
mittee to inquire and report to the House what Lord Somers would
have t. one if he bad been sent to Vienna with self-contradictory in-
struct ons to neAutiate in a language he did not understand.
Mr. COSDEN.—To move that in all future cases where the Order of
the Garter shall he conferred, a piece of plain blue calico shall be used
instead of the ribbon at pies-mt employed.
Mr. NIiALL.—To move, as an addition to Mr. Cobden's motion, that
in all cases where the new Knight of the Garter shall be a Dissenter,
a disshnting minister shall perform the religious part of the service in-
stead of the Bishop of Winchester.
Mr. HENRY DRUMMOND —To move that upon the pedestal of the
new statue of Sir Robert .Peel, in the City, there shall be inscribed the
record that the price to which enlightened legislation has brought the
quartern loaf is now elevenpence.
Mr. MURROUOH.—To introduce a bill for the entire remodelling of
our army, navy, and civil service.
Mr. APBLEY Psti.m.—To move an address praying that in aid of
the war an extra tax be laid upon every article used at table, except
china and glass ware.
Mr. WILLIAM WILLIAMS, or any other Member who may be sitting
under Mr. A. Pellatt.—To move that the Speaker be instructed to ap-
prise Mr Pellatt that he ought to keep his hands to himself, and not
to be perpetually smashing the hat of the Member before him
Sir CHARLES NAPIER.—To move that Sir James Graham be placed
at the bar, and generally blown up until further notice.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM.—To move that Sir Charles Napier be expelled
the House and the service, fined 50,0001., and have his new cocked hat
taken away.
Mr. OTWAY.—TO move that after the visit of the King of Sardinia,
who is also King of Jerusalem, to her Majesty, it is manifestly illogical
that the Baron Rothschild should not be permitted to take his seat
in that House.
• Mr. BRIGHT.—TO move that smoking be allowed on the part of
members of the House, during the debates, much inconvenience hav-
ing arisen from the practice of driving Members to the smoking-room,
as, upon their return, they have frequently replied to speeches that
have not been delivered.
Mr. OLIVIERA.—To move a tax of forty per cent upon beer, spiritu-
ous liquors, tea, and every other potation except claret.
Mr. BROTHERTON.—To move the repeal of the income tax, and that
its place be supplied by a tax upon all butcher's meat and all other
killed food, including pickled whelks.
Sir JOSHUA WALMSLEV.—To move for the closing of all chapels and
churches on Sundays, during the time that right-minded people are
attending the worship of nature and art.
Mr. HarrErt.—To move that it shall be highly penal for any Mem-
ber of the House, during the present session, to quote the insulting
proverb. " Let Wells alone."
Mr. EWART.—To move, that in order to effect a satisfactory corn.
promise between those who think that certain criminals ought to be
hanged, and those who think that society has no right to defend itself
in the complotest manner, all persons hereafter convicted of capital
crimes shall be hanged for one hour by a cord round their waists
Sir J. W. Hooo. To move that a gold medal and a sum of £l,OOO
be presented to the Chairman and Directors of the Honourable East
India Company, as a small token of the admiration entertained by the
House and the nation for the wisdom and humanity with which India
is administered. In the event of more than five new insurrections
breaking out before this motion can came on, the medal to be silver
and the sum 4500 only.
Mr. HADFIELD —To move the abolition of the Church of England.
Mr. VINCENT SCULLY.—To move that whether an Irish Member is
talking against time or not, it shall be breach of privilege for the gal-
lery not to report him in full, and in the very first person.
Mr. W. J Fox —To move that his own letters, signed " Publicola,"
in a certain weekly newspaper, be read, hebdomadally, immediately
after prayers, at the sitting of the House, as instruction to his fellow-
members.
Mr. BOWYER.—To move for a copy of the Austrian Concordat, and
that it, and an Ainsworth's " Latin Dictionary," may be printed with
the votes, in order that upon another occasion he may able to ex
plain to the House the real meaning of the document, asbe understood
by Cardinal Wiseman.
Mr. Trrs.—To move a large measure of Administative Reform, and
at all events to move, as an instalment thereof, that the policeman in
the Octagon ll of the House of Parliament be not permitted to buy
ginger pop lathe stall keeper, over whose proceedings he ought to
exercise strict vigilance.
Mr. JAMES WILSON.—To move that it be an instruction to the
Metropolitan police to take into custody all persons who shall address
to ary Member of the present Administration the irreverent inquiry
" Who's your Hatter?'

1169

A LATE SCENE AT THE B----D OF C---T---L.

The BIGHT HONOURABLE THE PRESIDENT OF THE INDIA BOARD seated in
4fficia4 dale. His watch it before him. lie keeps nervously glancing al it.

PRESIDENT : How vexatious that I should have to meet these
people alone. Why will secretaries be ill and out of the way ! I think
half the natives of India are cooing over here on purpose to torment
me. Thank heaven ! there's two. I hope those fellows have been lost
in the fog. I'll stop but five minutes more. Five minutes ! The time
of a Cabinet Minister is not to be trifled with. Where's my hat ? Ah,
that's right ! now I'm ready—(elands with his watch in hand).
SERVANT CAWS.

SERVANT : The Vakeels from Nagpore.
PRESIDENT : Vakcels ! vakeels ! what sort of things are they ?
SERVANT : Things, sir ! They are coffee-coloured gentlemen in
:ndian costume.

PRESIDENT : Well, then, you will say to them that I have an ap-
pointment at this very time with the agents of the Maharanees—
mind how you pronounce that word—the Maharanees of Nagpore—
and that if these—what you call them ?
SERVANT: Vakeels 1 think they called themselves.
PRESIDENT : If these Vakeels want to see me they must state their
business in writing, though they had much better go to the India-
house. (Exit SERVANT.) How do I know who these Vakeels may be ?
They may be Thugs, or something of that sort, come over to assassinate
me. Time's up ! Now, if there was but a back way! But ra make
a rush fur it.

As the PRESIDENT reaches the door SERVANT enters.
SERVANT : The Vakeels, sir, say that they are the persons who have
an appointment with you.
PRESIDENT : Then why didn't they say so at first, instead of
coming in such a—what shall I call it ?—such an anonymous manner.
Well, show them in, then
The VAKELLS enter, and gravely salute the PRESIDENT. He motions them
to be seated.
PRESIDENT : There's a chance for me yet. Perhaps they can't
speak English. (Addressing them.) You are The represtattatives of the
Maharanees of Nagpore ?
FIRST VAKEEL (in excellent English): Yes, Sir ; and we come to press
on your attention the facts of the memorial we had the honour to
address you.
PRESIDENT : That memorial has received the careful consideration
of her Majesty's Government, and of myself in particular. 1 have made
some notes on it. which will show you that it is impossible for me to
support it. (Looking about.) Bless me, what can I have done with
those papers ? I had them in my hand not two minutes ago. How
very provoking. Gentlemen, I'm sorry to disturb you, but I think one
of you must be sitting on them. Will you let me see your chairs?
(They rise.) No ! not in my pockets ! Could I have thrown them
behind the fire ? Impossible ! Oh, I see ; I put them in my hat.
Now we shall get on. I will begin by referring to my objections.
First VAKEEL : We are most anxious to hear them.
PRESIDENT: In the first place, you talk about millions sterling.
Now, I know that in India you count by what they call rupees—so
many to crores and lees. Every one has heard of those terms. A
thousand to a crore, I think, and ten thousand to a lac—
First VAREEL : If you will allow me to explain—Ten thousand
rupees to a lac, and ten lacs to a crore.
PRESIDENT : Exactly ; I knew it was ten something ; but I never
can remember about those crores and lacs. My principle is correct.
We must keep up the Indian names. They tend, you see—ah! ahl—
to keep up a kind of official. You perceive my meaning ?
First VAKEEL: We hope that objection will not be thought fatal
to our memorial.
PRESIDENT : Then about these Maharanees—widows as we should
call them? (The V AKEELs' signify assents. I don't understand why
they din't burn themselves when their husband was buried. I know
they used to do so. If they have violated the Hindoo law they musn't
come to us for justice?
First VAKEEL : Will you allow me to observe that the rite
suttee has for many years been human ely prohibited by the termed
British
Government.
PRESIDENT : That may be so or may not, I won't commit myself
to an opinion just now. But if so, it only shows what a humane
Government you live under, and how grateful you ought to be for it.
Second VAKEEL : May the Government of her Majesty the Queen
be just as well as humane.
PRESIDENT : There is another point. The late Rajah had several
wives. I don't understand why they are not all prosecuted for bigamy.
And then as to the annexation of the country. I really cannot see
what you have to complain of. The Company is always annexing. It
is a very regular proceeding. There is no end of precedents for it.
I don't know exactly—but I suppose there's a statute or a char-
ter, or something of that kind for it. Gentlemen, I've done, I think I
have explained myself fully. But if you should want any further
explanation, I beg you to go in future to the India-house. Her
Majesty's service will not allow me to employ my time about the affairs
of places I never heard of b& fore.
The PaEstrawr bows at the VAZZELB, wle Miro cutotiskai al his profound
knowledyi rf Indies €%faire.

" WhO's your Hatter?"

1170