The Express.
London, England, 1862-05-24 00:00:00

THB MINCH ARMY AND NAVY.

Sir E. CLIFTON called attendee to the increased expee-
diture for national defames in lime of peace. He believed,
be said, that our amnion war expenditure was
rated, and that the armaments el Piano. win tot whit=
bad been represented to be. The goverament, he thought,
might give the house some acomat of the stingth of the
united services of Finn ; arid he moved for " papers roe-
penClthe anserneate of France."
PALMERSTON said the government bad delibe-
rately, calmly—foe there bad been no panic in the country—
and he thought wisely, arrived at the conclusion that the
amain should be placed in such a state by we and land as
to be able to defend itself in case of stink. He had no
objection to produce tenons of official document. pub-
lished by the Preach government respecting the state of the
naval sad military forces of the French empire. Confides'.
tul communicationhe declined to gives

After some remarks by Yr. Gairirrs,
Sir B. Currow withdrew his motion.

THE LONGFORD ELECTION.

Colonel OREVILLE moved for copies of certain reports
on the subject of the Longford election, or circumstances
connected therewith, mad, previous to March 7 last, pre-
facing his motion by • statement of the occurrences at the
election, in which lie inculpated the Irish government, own-
plaiuiug that a stigma had been thrown upon the electors
of Longford at the late election (which, he maintained, bed
been conducted in the most orderly manner), and he celled
upon the reeponsible minister of the government in that hoes*
who had made the charge to substantiate or retract it.
Sir R. PEEL said be had stated that electors had been
prevented by intimidation front ?Ming for Colonel W
an one case by a party beaded by • priest. Whet lislit
Mated was from information communicated to him, and he
honestly Wined and still believed it to be true. It wee
never usual to give cesAdential per from subordinates of
the government, end be hoped the motion would be with-
drawn, otherwise be end oppose it.
Mr. MONSILL Malted that it war the practice of the
house that, when • =Mister of the crown referred to •
document, hilwas boned so produce it.
Lord PALMERSTON did not deny that, when •
minister of the crown read a document and founded an argu-
ment upon it, the document ought to be produced, but Sir
R. Peel had need no document, and the public interest,
moreover, would be prejudiced by the production of these
in :he course of a somewhat protracted discussion,
Mr. LEFROY read letters (Firing the names of the
writers) detailing acts of intimidation and outrage towards
electors in the interest of Colonel White, adding that he
had a host of letters of the same !dad.
Upon a division, Colonel Greville's motion was negatived
by 114 to 32.

MOUS SUBJECTS.

A discussion wee originated by Mr. Smollett, in which
Mr. Vanaittart, and Sir C. Wood took part, on the subject of
the plan of the Governor-General India authorising the
sale of waste land, and permitting the redemption of the
land revenues, in which the importance of the plan on the
colonisation, and its bearing on the development of the
resources of oar Indian empire, were debated, and it wee
stated that the whole question wan under the consideration
of the Indian department.
Sir F. SHIM asked whether any experiments had been
triad to ascertain the effect of the most powerful smooth-
bore and rifled guns on the section of the Warrior or say
other target at ranges about equal to half the interval
between the proposed Spithead Forts ; and if not, whether
I orders would be given to have such experiments made ;
and, in either ors, whether the results would be communi-
cated to the house. . .

Sir E. C. LEWIS said he had that day laid the report of
the Defence Commission on this subject on the table. Than
had not been any experiment at a thousand yards, ben It '
might be desirable to make some experimeote at that nage.
The discussion was continued by Mr. B. Osborne, Sir J.
Hay, sod Lord C. Paget, who declared that he had beers
from the first an ardent supporter of the plan of Captain
Coles.
The house then went into a committee of supply upon
the Civil Service Estimates, and was occupied during the re-
mainder of the evening in debating the first vote, of
290,9041., for education in Ireland.
Mr. WHITESIDE, in a long and energetic speech, called
attention to the alleged grievances under which the sup-
porters of scriptural education in Ireland laboured, with a
view to its redress, suggesting a plan for that object.
Mr. CARDWELL, in reply to Mr. Whiteside, observed
that hie proposal was not new, nor bad it been supported
by new arguments. The effect of the proposal, which the
house had always negatived, would be to break down the
fundamental principle of the national system—to give the
public money to those who inserted upon teaching the
Scriptures in school hours to the children whose parents

objected.
Sir H. CAIRNS, remarking that the adherence of the
clergy of the established church to the national system was
• great object to be secured, said he thought the proposition
of the Bishop of Down and Connor to meet the con/cies.
tioua objections of the clergy ought not to have been
refused.
Lord NAAS expressed his dissent from the opinions of
Mr. Whiteside.
The vote was ultimately agreed to.
The Crown Private Estates Bill, with amendments, passed
through committee up to the 7th clause inclusive, sad at
that stage the chairman reported program.
The Unlawful Oaths (Ireland) Act Continuance Bill
Tweed through committee.
The Univawitise (Scotland) Act Amendment (No. 2) Bill
was read • third time and pissed.
CHLIRCH RATES VOLUNTARY COMMUTATION

Mr. ALOOCK moved the mooed reeding of this He
mid it wee purely • permissive bill
Biz G. OW proposal the postponement of the ball, sad
ultimately the motion was adjoersed to Monday.
The committee ou Musbees Divorce Bill was named with
the substitution of the name of the Lord Advocate fee Sir
C. Wood, sad
The home adicansed at • few minutes pe4 two.

Dowirata-etaser, MAT 21. —The Queen hat beta
*Ned to appoint brae Faringtoo, obert Grime Fodder,
tad Ebareser Brantkipb, to bednon-ebetire ambits
• the LpgblitireConatil dA* Virgin laisids.—Ossotte.
FORLION•07110111, MAT a—Th. (Nam us his,
pasieesly te appoint Frederick C.
now Raub toooslot wet et to be
vies-coral at Ibrale.—fiestaa