The Press.
London, England, 1854-02-04 00:00:00

101

wife in the situation he filled, and he therefore on that
ground, and on that ground only, declined the situation
which the duke was desirous of providing fer him. I need
scarcely notice all the miserable calumnies that have been
uttered with respect to the Prince's interfering with pro-
motions, or any interference with the business of the army,
because you must recollect, my lords, that he is a field
tuarslitil in the army, that he is a colonel of the Guards,
that he holds a command in the army, that his son will be
in command of the army, and that he arty be—God forbid
it should ever happen !—Regent of this kingdom ; and to
say that he is not interested in the army is monstrous, and
cannot be imagined. But, beyond that general interest he
takes in it in the position he occupies, I denLutterly that
on any occasion, at any time, as far as I have -Fvery reason
to believe and to know, either under the Duke of Welling-
ton or under my noble friend now at the head of the army,
has there been any interference of any kind with the con-
duct of the business of the army. (Hear, hear.) I have
thought it right to say this, and I felt it my duty to do so—
though, my lords, it is one which I am ashamed of ful-
filling. ( Cheers. )"
Letters were also read in both houses, one from
.Lord Melbourne, expressing the "highest opinion
of his Royal Highness's judgment, temper, and dis •
cretion," and another from Lord Westmoreland, con-
tradicting the statement that the Prince had ever
corresponded with him upon political affairs.
The Earl of Derby, Viscount Hardinge, and Mr.
Walpole, in their respective places' and from their in •
dividual experience, corroborated the assertion that
Prince Albert had never unduly interfered with
public business, and that the Queen had always
placed the most perfect and entire confidence in all
her successive ministers. Lord Campbell, the Earls
of Hardwicke, Harrowby, and Malmesbury, and
other peers, joined in expressing their admiration for
the Consort of the Sovereign ; and the members
generally of Lords and Commons testified by frequent
cheering their conviction that the defence of the
Prince's conduct had been complete.
EARLY HOURS.
Resolutions intended to limit, if not prevent, the
after-midnight sittings of the House of Commons,
have been moved by Mr. BROTHERTON, who appro-
priately availed himself for that purpose of the first
morning sitting on Wednesday last. The hon. mem-
ber expatiated on the advantages of early hours, re-
commended the limitation of speech-making, and
complained that the habits of the house were grow-
ing worse and worse in respect of the time of break-
ing up. In the session of '5l they sat after midnight
only 51 hours in the aggregate, but last year no less
than 133 hours.
Sir J. PAKINOTON wished to see the session closed
in July, and thought a change in that direction would
be preferable to any reform in the midnight work of
the house. He proposed to revive the committee
which sat some few years ago to consider the forms
and proceedings of tho house.
Lord J. Itt•ssou. apprehended inconvenience to
public business from Mr. Brotherton's proposal, but
approved of' the suggestion for a committee.
Mr. Hume, Mr. Walpole, Mr. Denison, and other
members continued the debate, which closed with a
division, when the resolution was rejected by a majo-
rity of 54 to 84-30.
PUBLIC ACCOUNT-KEEPING.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved, on
Thursday, the preliminary resolution requisite
for a bill designed to simplify and reform the
system of keeping the public accounts. He showed
some of the errors of the existing system,
by which many payments, such as certain pen-
sions and judicial salaries, were included in the
annual votes which ought to be transferred to
the Consolidated Fund ; while other charges,
including nearly the whole expemes of collect-
ing the •revenue, were deducted from the gross
receipts before these were accounted for to the Trea-
sury, and consequently never came within the cogni-
sance of Parliament. His bill was intended to rec •
tify these absurdities, and introduce a clear, compre •
hensive, and accurate system of public account-
keeping.
Mr. DISRAELI rejoiced to find that Mr. Gladstone
was about to carry out a reform which he had him-
self been the first to promise when Chancellor of the
Exchequer.
Mr. Hustx and Mr. WILLIAMS also eulogised the
proposal, and the resolution was adopted unani-
mously.
ELECTORAL CORRUPTION.
This subject hie given occasion for various notices,
motions for returns, &c. Among these—
Sir F. KELLY has given notice for the Nth of a
bill to regulate the practice of electing members to
serve in Parliament, and to prevent bribery, corrup-
tion, and intimidation.
Sir J. V. SHELLEY has obtained an order for a
return of the expenses of the various commissions
issued last session for inquiring into bribery and cor-
rupt practices at the last election.
Lord J RUSSELL moved a resolution, which the
house adopted, that no warrants for new writs
for Barnstaple, Cambridge, Hull, Maldon, and Tyne-
mouth should issue before the 9th of March. The