The Express.
London, England, 1864-04-09 00:00:00

THE SETTLTD ESTATES ACT AMENDMENT BILL.

This bill as amended paned through committee, and was
ordered to be reported oa Thursday amt.
THE COURT OF CHANCERY (DESPATCH OF
BUSINESS) BILL.

This bill was read a third time and, as verbally amended,
pared.
Tim house adjourned shortly after a quarter past 5.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—FRIDAY, APRIL 8.
The house met at 4 o'clock.
LISBITRN ELECTION COMMITTEE.

Mr. ADAIR gave notice that on Monday he should
move that the minutes of proceedings and *video°e taken
before the Lisburn Election Committee be laid upon the
table. (Hear, bear.)

BRITISH SUBJECTS IN AMERICA.

Sir A. AGNEW asked the Under Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs whether her Majesty's government had re-
ceived any reports from eousalar officers in the United
States of America, stating that British subjects had been
kidnapped, detained, or otherwise outraged with the object
of forcing them to serve as soldiers in the Federal army.
Mr. LAYAltll said the government had received reports
from her Majesty's consuls at Boston, Portland, sod New
York upon the subject of the kidnapping of Irishmen, who
had been induced to go to the United States on various
pleas. These reports agreed in the main with the
information the public had been able to derive from the
newspapers. The number of British subject, so
kidnapped were seven at Portland and 102 at
Boston. These persons had beta induced coder various
pretences to leave Ireland, and on reaching the United
State. they were actually thrown into prison, kept without
sufficient food, and while in a state of intoxication, ware
induced to eater the United States army. Lord Lyons had
already made representations to the United States govern-
ment upon the subject of enlistment. As woo as her
Majesty's government received information of what had
occurred at New York, instructions were sent to Lord
Lyons to auk for explanations and redress io that case also,
and he was also directed to take some security for the pro-
tection of British subjects who might in future be induced
udder similar circumstances to go to the United States. He

Loped shortly to receive as 'account from Lord Lyoos,
stating what be had been able to do in the 0111111 of those
who had boss so badly treated at New York.

CONVICTS IN LOCAL PRISONS.

Mr. 0. GORE (the government having lammed the
allowance towards the maintenance in county and borough
gaols of convicts sentenced to penal servitude from • ma:l-
-mam of 4a. per head per week to a maximum of Ss. for such •
period ma they may be detained in prison beyond two calendar
months from the time of conviction) asked the Secretary of
State for the Home Department whether it was intended
to keep such convicts in county gaols for any time longer
than at present, as it would in Shropshire necessitate au to-
e:aim, of accommodetioa and in stag, there beiog no mesas
of giving hard labour for any plater number than at
present.
Sir G. GREY replied that it was certainly not the inten-
tion to detain convict* in local prieoue after tontines for a
longer time than formerly. On the contrary, he hoped
they would be detained for a shorter time. The fact was,
that owing to the Rearm in the number of sentences of
penal servitude io 1861-2 it became difficult for the govern-
ment to provide for them, and they were, therefore, de-
tained longer than usual in the borough and county gaols. It
was thought that where they were detained longer than
usual there should be more than the usual allowance. He was
happy to say, however, that last year the number of men
condemned to penal servitude was less than in the previous
year, ►nd he hoped that they would be removal at an
earlier period.

BRADFORD RESERVOIRS.
Mr. FERR AND had been requested by a large number
of persona residing in the neighbourhood of Bradford to
ask the Home Secretary whether he had received Mr.
Bawhoson's report on the state of the Bradford reservoirs ;
if so, whether he had reported them to be safe ; if not,
which were reported unsafe ; and, in the
them being unsafe, whether the government would take
immediate steps to protect those persons whose lives were
endangered ; and whittler be would lay the report upon the
table of the house.

Su. G. GREY said Mr. HawHewn had not yet made a
detailed report on the result of his inspection of the Brad-
ford nnervoirs, but intended to send it in as soon as he
could consistently with the performance of his ordinary
duties. The reservoirs connected silk the Bradford corpo-
ration were 11 in number. Two of them, the Doe-park
sod the Bradfield, were considered to be imperfect in their
embankments, but the water had been drawn off, and a
?pledge had been
given by the corporation that it would not
let in spin till they were made safe.

Lied tl;allFr. Rawlinson's report
might be laid alma the table of the house as soon as it cam*
into the immersion of the government.
Bir G. GREY did not think thole could be any oh-
friction to produce the detailed report. (lieu, hear.)