The Press.
London, England, 1854-03-11 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

Mr. ROUVERIE briefly defended the bill.
Lord J. RUSSELL believed that both the State and
the land would be injured by the subdivision of pro-
perty. Even among the humblest classes who had
possessions to leave the custom of primogeniture pre-
vailed, nor was it anywhere complained of. Fearing
that if the principle of the bill were once recognised
it would lead them far on a dangerous road, he gave
his decided negative against its further progress.
Mr. SCULLY, though intending to offer amendments
upon details if the bill reached the committee, ap-
proved of its principle, as did
Mr. PHINN, on the broad ground that the rule
which held good with regard to personal property
should equally operate over real estates.
Mr. DISRAELI contended that the law recognised
the distinction between personal and real property ;
that one branch of the Legislature rested upon it; and
that it was most inexpedient to disturb the present
system for the sake of some exceptional cases. Heavy
public duties devolved upon the possessors of large
landed properties, and public liberty had been won
and maintained by their exertions. Any change
such as the bill now before them contemplated
would be dangerous to the community and lower the
character of the country.
On a division there appeared—
For the second reading
For the amendment 203-121
The bill is consequently rejected.
MINISTERS' MONEY.
A resolution designed to pledge the house to the
abolition of the rate called ministers' money in Irish
towns was moved on Thursday by Mr. FAGAN, who
debated at some length upon the grievances and
mortifications which the levying of this tax inflicted
upon the Roman Catholics of that country. The
motion was seconded by Mr. HUME.
Sir J. YOUNG had placed upon the paper a formal
amendment to this motion, merely, as he explained,
for the purpose of enabling him to describe a mea-
sure which he had himself in preparation on the
subject of ministers' money. Offering some prefatory
remarks upon the various propositions and demands
which had found advocates in the house during pre-
vious years, the Secretary for Ireland announced his
own proposal in the character of a compromise. He
then suggested that all the existing houses rented at
less than 101. a year, as well as those of whatever
magnitude hereafter built, should be exempted from
the rate. The clergy also were to be relieved from
the obnoxious function of collecting or receiving the
rate, whose product he proposed to transfer to the
Ecclesiastical Commissioners, drawing upon them in
turn for the funds requisite to supply the put poses
hitherto accomplished by the ministers' money.
Mr. IlknviEtn objected to any compromise on such
a question. Justice to all the non-established sects
required that the establishment should altogether
relinquish the tax which she exacted from those who
did not belong to her communion.
Mr. MkouutE also contended that the grievances
arising from the tax were too serious to admit of com-
promise.
Mr. CRossLEY supported the original motion.
Mr. NAPIER referred to the origin of the ministers'
money, in the reign of Charles 11., and argued that
the rate was then fixed by the Crown upon certain
Irish properties, of which it was the absolute owner,
as a permanent provision for the Protestant Church.
It could not,therefore, now be called a tax, but was
a property indefeasibly appertaining to that Church.
The bill proposed by the Secretary for Ireland
trenched upon the rights of the Protestant clergy,
but for the sake of peace he was willing to accept it.
Mr. FrrzetEmn supported the motion.
After a few words from Mr. POTTER and Mr.
COWAN, the house divided—
For the amendment lO3

Against BS-15
Sir J. Yousn gave notice that he would take some
early opportunity to introduce his bill upon the
subject.

LETTERS FOR THE NORTH.

Mr. LIDDELL on Tuesday called attention to the
present delays and inequalities in the postal de-
liveries between the metropolis and Scotland, and
recommended the house to ascertain whether, by
some more judicious management, and especially by
turning the Great Northern Railway into better
account for post-office purposes, the inconveniences
now complained of could not be remedied. He
moved for " a select committee to inquire into the
postal arrangements between London, Edinburgh,
and Glasgow, with the view of ascertaining whether
greater punctuality and despatch could be secured
in the delivery of letters, not only between those
terminal cities, but also at the intervening places."
The motion having been seconded by Mr. COWAN,
Mr. WitsoN detailed the general arrangements of
the mail service through the districts in question,
explained the practical difficulties which stood in the
way of any change, and stated that the Government
were ready to adopt any measures for facilitating the
transmission of letters that could be shown not to

SATURDAY,

interfere with other combinations. Some irregulari-
ties he admitted existed in the arrivals of the mails,
which he attributed in great measure to the enor-
mous increase in the business of the Post-office, the
number of letters weekly passing through the Lon-
don office having expanded from six millions in 1852
to more than seven millions in 1853, and to 8,329,0(.0
in the present year. He did not oppose the appoint-
ment of the select committee, but suggested that the
inquiries it was to undertake should be extended
over the whole country wherever complaints of delay
or mismanagement might arise.
Mr. LIDDELL concurred, and the resolution, thus
modified, was agreed to, after some discussion.