The Express.
London, England, 1852-04-03 00:00:00

CROWN ESTATE IN ORKNEY.
In reply to • question by Mr. Annxissux,
Mr. G. A. HAMILTON explained why the return re-
lating to the crown estate in Orkney, whisk had been
ordered as the 3101 of July last, was not mewed, and said
that it would be furnished as soon as possible.
RAMBOATE HARBOUR TOLLS.
Sir Cl. PECIIELL wished to ask the hon. member for
the City of London, who had charge of the Ramp=
hour Bill, whether it was intended to retain the cla
posing a toil on wend. passing the harbour.
Mr. MAI:MERMAN said it was the intention to Main
those clauses because there was no other means of keeping the
harbour in an eiliticat state. Tha trustees, however, were
ready to maks • reduction of 24 per oeut., and they only
awaited the passing of the bill before the house to tarry the
reduction into 'fleet.

MR. COBDEN AND THE EARL OF DERRY.
On the motion tnat the house at its rising do adjourn till
Monday,
Mr. COBDEN availed himself of the opportunity to read
a correspondence which bad taken place between the Earl
of Derby and himself in consequence of his having quoted
from " Hansard " on Tuesday, a declaration there reported
to have been made by the noble earl in 183-5, that if the
ballot were adopted he would, as an English landlord, not
only ascertain for whom the tenant voted, but assure him-
self by seeing him put the ticket into the ballot-box. Earl
Derby in his lett( r referred Mr. Cobden to the " Mirror of
Parliament," as containing a correct version of what he
mid, via., that if the ballot were established, any English
landlord, if determined to exercise his power over the te-
nant, might do so in the way stated. Mr. Cobden, amidst
much cheering, admitted that there wu all the difference
in the world between the two reports, end, accepting as
perfectly satisfactory the noble lord's denial of the opinions
attributed to him, withdrew the comments ho had made,
transferring them to those imaginary landlords of whom
Lord Derby spoke.
Mr. WALPOLE—Perhaps I may take the liberty of
saying that the very frank and handsome explanation which
has been made by the lion. gentleman opposite, is as satis-
factory to the government as I em sure it will be to the
house and to the country (hear, hear.) I will merely
add that the imputation which may have rested upon the
noble lord for a few days, is as inconsistent with the real
facts of the ease, so it is with his untarnished integrity and
his unblemished honour. (Cheer')
TILE MILITIA BILL

Mr. M. GlBStoll;;islTedtosppe;liCiThe government as
to whether they had not better postpone the second reading
of the Militia Bill to a later day than the 19th. The bill
might not be in the hands of some members for several
days, and he thought the house should not proceed with the
second reading of so important a measure on the very tint
day alter the hone° re-assembled.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said when
he moved the adjournment for the holidays, he would state
what arrangements the government proposed to make for
carrying on the public business, and of course he should
endeavour to c..nsult the convenience of the house in every
way. At the same time he must remark that the holidays
would not be very, short, that there was en anxious desir, on
both sides of the house to expedite the progress of 'mines:,
and that they would probably gain something like a week
by proceeding with the bill at once. Its should, however,
consult the feeling of the house, and on Tuesday, when
moving the adjournment of the house, he would be prepared
to adopt wha•ever course appeared best.
Mr. BRIGHT said that many members would be leav-
ing town on Tuesday, and he hoped that under all the cir-
cumstances the right lion. gentleman would feel it to be
consistent with his duty to the house and the country to
fix the second reading two or three dsys later than the
period stated.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said,
though the bill was la.d on the table that night, he had no
objection to fix the second reading for Friday, the 23rD.
Mr. WYLD wished to ask the hon. baronet the member
for the University of Oxford whether the report of Mr.
Gurney upon the ventilation of the house would be laid on
the table before the vacation.
Sir R. INGLIS said, not only wu he not the chairman
of the committee, hut he was not even a member.
Lord PALMERSTON sail he was a member of the com-
mittee; and, though he was not the chairman, he would not
fail to communicate the hon. member's wish to the chair-
man.

Lord J. RUSSELL said be should not object to the post-
ponement of the Militia Bill to the 23rd inst., supposing
that, if the second reading were agreed to by the house, the
government would then proceed with that bill without
delay. While upon this subject (continued the noble lord)
I wish to say, in very few words, that much apprehension
appears to have been excited in the public mind by a belief
that the government have altered what were under,tood
to be their intentions with respect to the advising of
a dissolution. I will not now advert to the circum-
stances from which that apprehension has arisen.
I feel the inconvenience of adverting to words
which are surmised to have passed in conversation else-
where, during which none of the members of this house
may have been present, and which I certainly did not hear.
At the same time, I do think it is desirable that before we
enter into committee of supply on Monday we should have
some explanations, or some statements, in this house on that
subject. I feel myself that lam the more bound to take a
course of this kind, bees Ise, relying on the accuracy of the
reports w►ich I have read—(cheers from the opposition)—
mid being assured by many noble friends of mine that what
they heard was perfectly satisfactory to them, I did advise
those who act with me on this side of the house not to delay
public business or to throw any difficulty in the
way of supply but to proceed at once to vote the
estimates. They certainly complied with that request,
and I believe no less than 14,000,0001. was voted
with a rapidity almost unexampled. (Hear, hear.) I was
induced to give that advice by assurances, which I thought
satisfactory, that the immediate measures before parliament
would be expedited, and that no unnecessary measures

I would be introduced. I feel responsible to many members
for having advised that course ; and I do trust, without ad•
eating more particularly to the conversation upon which
the misunderstanding arose, that on Monday, before going
into committee of supply, we shall have such a discussion
as will set this matter at rest. (Hear.)
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said—l
have no wish to interfere with any discussion which
the boom* may think proper legitimately to have on
the order for going into committee of supply on Mon-
day next with regard to the conduct of the go-
vernment; but, as I do not wish any misconception
on such an important subject as that of a dissolution
to remain until Monday, perhaps the house will allow
me to say a few words now. I entirely agree with the
noble lord that it is most inconvenient to have discussions
in this house upon conversations reported to have occurred
in another place; but I have inch an intimate acquaintance
with the feelings and views of the first minister on the sub-
ject to which the noble lord has referred, that I have no
hesitation in saying, without waiting till Monday, that a
very great misconception has existed within the last two
Or three days as to the intentions of the first minister, and
that he certainly never did mean to convey either to the
house or to the country, that his opinions on the subject of
adissolution of parliament had in the least degree changed-
(Hear.) They are not in the slightest degree changed.
It is the intention of her Majesty's government, as it was
their intention, so soon as those measures are passed which
are necessary for the service of her Majesty, and for what
we consider the good government of her realm, humbly to
counsel her Majesty to dissolve the existing parliament;
and we shall do so with the full intention of recommending
her Majesty to summon the new parliament in the course
of the present year, under circumstances which will afford
ample and complete opportunity for that parliament to de-
cide on the policy of the existing government. Sir, I think
that is all that wocen say. (Ministerial cheers.) We base
never for a moment hesitated in that. (Hear, hear.) efts
for any government pledging themselves to recommend a
dissolution of parliament at a particular and specific period,
I think, sir, no person in this house, I ant sure no person
who has been a servant of her Majesty, could for a moment
appro've of such a course. (Hear, hear.) It is impossible
for us to say that at a particular hour, or on a particular
day, or week, or even month, we will pledge ourselves that a
dissolution of parliament shall take place. (Hear, hear.)
Circumstances might occur which might render it net only
inconvenient but most impolitic to have given such a pledge.
All we eon say is that at a period when such business as we
deem indispensable shall have been transacted, we shall hum •
bly recommend her Majesty to dissolve this parliament,
with the full intention also of recommending her Majesty
to summon the new parliament in the course of the present
year—l mean for the purpose of sitting--so that the policy
of the government may be decided upon. I only repeat now
what it was intended before to convey to this house, and
what lam sure it was the intention of the First Minis-
ter to communicate in another place. These are the inteu-
tions which we have always had; and I assure the house,
though I should certainly have thought it unnecessary to
do so, that there was an intention on our part to act loyally
on the subject. (Cheers.)
Mr. HUME said the explanation which had been given
must be satisfactory to all partite. The right hon. gentle-
man had repeated his former declaration that all the go-
verument wonted was to have those measure.; passed which
they thought necessary. Tho house wished to know what
those measures were, and that was n point on which the
government could have little difficulty in making up their
minds. (Hear, hear.)
The motion was then agreed to.