The Express.
London, England, 1864-03-02 00:00:00

THE EASTER RECESS.

Mr. A. MILLS inquired on what day the noble lord in•
tended to propose the adjournment of the house for Faster.
Lord PAL N replied that he might be able to
answer the queetioe on Thunday, but the adjournment
most in a great degree depend on the program of public
buWneee. (Hear.)
CIVIL SERVICE AND MISCELLANEOUS
ESTIMATES.

Mr. MARSH then rose to move the following resolution—
" That the civil service and miacellaneour estimates have
been for many years rapidly increasing, and ought to be
reduced." The house would probably be utonished at the
immense lacrosse which had taken place in the course of
the last twenty or thirty yew. Ii WO the miscellaneous
estimates amounted to ?.,393.0001. In 1863, the had tin
to 7,806,0001. ; @bowing a difference of 5,413,0004 To that
sem most be added 5 per cent. for collecting, making
5,662,000/. If there was a surplus of 5,412.0007. it was well
biome that a much larger sum might be taken off in the
way of taxation ; for when times were reduced • large por-
tion of the amount was speedily,recovered by the govessmeet.
When the duty on tea was reduced the amount was not all
lost and even • reduction in the IDCAIIe tax was not
altogether lost, for it insured • more fair return. In the
case of indirect taxation the public paid a great deal roan
than the government received. When the duty of sd. was
taken off tea the price was reduced 6d. in the shops. When
there was a heavy tax upon newspapers they were sold at
5d., but when the penny was taken off, according to
Cocker, they ought to have been sold at 4d.,
but they were sold at • penny. When there mu
a duty of I..}d. per lb. on paper the largest London papers
were sold at td., but shortly afterwards the price of the
papers was reduced to a penny. These facts showed that
the public not only gained what was taken off in the shape
of taxation. but more than double that sum. There could
be no doubt that the civil oontingericiee must necessarily be
greater than they were 20 years ago, but still they were
much;too large, and capable of reduction.
Mr. PEEL said that the increase in the civil service esti-
mates was more apparent than real ; the expense of the
civil service proper had not augmented, and the increase
was caused by the policy which parliament had pursued in
reference to education, criminal reformation, sod criminal
iodicatirre. and the relief which had ben afforded to local
taxation with the view of reducing the burdens on land.
The increase also owed much of its amount to the treader
of charges to the civil service estimates ;from other dr
partments of expenditure. A considerable number of
offices which were formerly paid by fees were now
paid by salaries, which appeared in, and by so much
swelled, the civil service estimates, but the fees were paid
into the exchequer, and in many oases exceeded the amount
which appeared in the votes. All these items were to be
taken into account in considering the difference between the
real and the apparent increase in the estimates, and when
it was remembered that many new offices and departments
had been created, reason had been shown for the ampler
tation which had been stated.

After some observations from Mr. Torrent, Mr. Roods-
gat*, and Mr. W. Evart. in favour of the principle of the
motion, it was withdrawn.
HARBOURS OF REFUGE.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER appealed to
Mr. Lindsay not to bring forward his motion on the subject
of harbours of refuge. in consequence of the necessary
absence of his noble triad at the bead of the government,
sod the absence also of his right hon. friend the President of
Board of Trade, who was unfortunately unable to be in his
place from indisposition.
Mr. LINDSAY said that under the circumstance he
should not press the motion.
CHINA.

Mr. LIDDELL said that in consequence of the noo-pro-
&mum' of the further papers relating to China be felt com-
pelled to postpone his motion on the subject of China. He
should, however, bring it forward at the earliest °ppm.
tunity after the ream.
NAVAL PRIZES.

Go the motion of Ili, the following bills
were introduced sad reed a first time :—Bill to amend the
Law reining to Naval Prise ; Bill to provide for simony
and distribution of Naval Prize ; Bill to repeal certain Naval
Prize Atte.

COURT OF JUSTICIARY (SCOTLAND) BILL.
This bill was read • wood him*.
SUPPLY.

The report oe supply wssbioTeght op and agreed to.
MALT FOR CATTLE BILL.
This bill was read a third time sad pissed.
CONVEYANCERS, &c. (IRELAND) BILL.
This bill wee read a third time and paned.
VESTRY CESS ABOLITION (IRELAND) BILL.
This bill as amended was agreed to.
nohow@ adjourned at bre minutes to 7.

CROWN-OrrlcE, FEB. 29.—M5MBICR RETCRNED TO
SERVE LY THE PREsENT PARLIAMENT.—John Ploy's., of
West Stafford, Esq., for the County of Dorset, in the room
of Henry Ker Seyrner' Esq., who has accepted the ofsoe of
steward or bailiff of her Majesty's manor of Hempholine.
8110HZDITC1i OrPOe4ITION TO THE GREAT EASTERS(
EITERSIOS.—On Mooday Lord Derby presented a petition
from the inhabitants, traders. and others, of Shoreditch,
Norton Fulgate, Bishopegate, Sc., against the extension of
the Great Eastern Railway to Wormwood street.
NOVEL MODE or PRODrCING OXYGEN GAS.—At
a lecture delivered to the shampooer, and attendants at
the Ellainroarn, Jernsyn-street, on Monday night, by Dr.
Leared, Physician to the Hospital for Cousumptioo, a novel
mode of producing oxygen gas in a perfectly safe, cheap,
and simple m , was introduced for the first time in
I public by Mr. Robins, the analytical chemist. The method
cousins in treatiog chromate of potash and peroxide of
barium with diluted sulphuric acid. The operation is per•
formed in a common glass jar or retort, and at the ordi-
nary temperature. To those who are acquainted with the
plan hitherto adopted of heating manganese in iron bottles
this discovery will need little recommendation, sod it is
difficult to predict to what discoveries and improvements
in the economy of life and light it may laid.
Meantime it is interesting that this discovery should
bare been first introduced to the public within the walls of
institution where the body is so largely benefited by na-
tural processes of oxygenation. The lectures delivered by
Dr. Leered at the Hammam are for the iustruction of the
persons employed there, and are designed to impart to
them the rudimentary principles of those parts of science
which relate to the laws of life and the construction of the
human body. That delivered on Monday night was eon_
Rued to the operation of the three gases, oxygen, carboo,
and hdrogen, upon the animal economy.
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faring eruptions than any other application. When properly
rued it lessens the inflammation, which Invades parts adjacent
So the wound or ulcer, whereby much local pain is ImmadiWty
amassed, and, is the coarse of an hour or two, the most samba
factory results Invariably follow, which will steadily advance to
a thorough and permanent cure. This treatment, so much at
variance with the old faatdoned views of cauterising, blistering,
leeching, dr., has by common cutoent been pronounced to be
She groans( bleating to persons Wm &Misled.