The Press.
London, England, 1856-04-05 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

An audit to be perfect, should be complete and indepen-
dent. Now it was acknowledged that our present system
of audit was faulty, insomuch as it was incomplete; but
what was the vote for? Was it to increase the power of
the board? It was rather to diminish it. We were at pre-
sent increasing our expenditure, and this was the time
when the committee was asked to diminish the power of
the Audit Board. Now, he put it to gentlemen on both
sides of the house if that was good policy? (Hear, hear.)
The present circumstances were such as should make
them pause in the matter. Hitherto their audit had never
been complete, and scarcely independent—( Hear, hear)—
and it was never more feeble than at present.
Mr. WILLIAMS supported the withdrawal of the vote.
The vote was then withdrawn.
Upon the vote of 458,2551. for printing and sta
tionery,

Mr.-iVALPOLE remarked that the increase over last
year was no less than 40,0001. He thought the
printing of the appendices of commissions might in
some instances be dispensed with. He should pro •
rose that the chairman of each commission should
be called upon to say how mach of the appendices
should be printed, and that the heads of the depart-
ment should exercise their responsibility in either
sanctioning or disapproving of his recommendation.
Unless some earnest steps were taken, these expenses
would go on increasing at a very formidable rate.
The CHANCELLOR Of the EXCHEQUER and Mr. V.
SMITH thought the house was indebted to the right
hon. and learned gentleman for bringing the matter
forward. The expenses were enormous, and almost
equalled the revenue of a German principality.
Mr. DISRAELI would not sanction any sudden
change of the means by which results of parlia-
mentary committees were obtained, for he considered
that publicity was the soul of good government :

He did not agree with what had been said that few gen-
tlemen ever read those reports ; he believed there were a
great many gentlemen who consulted them. He begged to
remind the committee that it was upon the information so
obtained that hon. members were entitled to the confidence
of their constituents ; and he warned them that if they did
anything to re•luce the importance of the documentary
evidence submitted to Parliament, they would soon reduce
the influence of Parliament itself. It was said that the
sum expended for printing papers for the information of
the House of Commons was equal to the whole revenue of
a German principality. This might be ; but this was no
test by which to form a conclusion ; and, moreover, the
information was not given to the House of Commons, it
was given to the country. (Hear, hear.) He had always
supported that which he considered to be wise economy iu
the public expenditure ; but, in his opinion, there was no
vote which the committee could sanction more advantageous
to the public service than the present means which the
house had established to obtain information calculated
influence, in a great degree, the ultimate prosperity of the
country. (Hear, hear.)

The vote was then agreed to.
Certain votes having been agreed to, the chairman
was ordered to report progress.
The report of the committee of supply -,vas brought
up and agreed to.

BLOCKADE OF THE RUSSIAN COAST.
Lord PALMERSTON, on Thursday, in reply to Mr.
Mitchell, as to whether the blockade of the Russian
coasts would cease, and, if so, whether British
vessels might enter Russian ports without fear of
seizure, said:—

Yesterday the Congress extended the armistice to sea as
well as to land. Hitherto it has been confined to land
operations, and did not apply to sea. The reason was ob-
vious. It was doubtful what the issue of the negotiations
might be—( Hear)—and it was evident that if free com-
munications by sea had been permitted, a change of posi-
tion might have been gained by the Russians which would
have materially altered the condition of the belligerent
parties in the event of the renewal of the war. The signs
tore of the treaty of peace having fortunately put an end to
all chance of a resumption of hostilities, the Congress
yesterday extended the armistice to sea as well as to
land, and, as a matter of consequence, the blockades cease.
(Hear.) With regard to the second branch of the hon.
member's inquiry, it is a question involving other conside-
rations, and I am not at the present moment prepared to
give a reply.

THE EARS CORRESPONDENCE.

The Earl of MALMESBURY, on Tuesday, having
deferred the question in expectation of hearing from
the Government an announcement of the conclusion
of peace, asked the Marquis of Lansdowne when
the Earl of Clarendon would return to London ; till
his return it would be inconvenient to bring on the
motion relative to the fall of Kars.

The Marquis of L.l.ssnowNE replied, that with
regard to the conclusion of peace, he could only state
what had already been stated elsewhere and published;
but he was ready to give any explanation that might
be desired. He could not fix the day of the Earl of
Clarendon's return.

THE DEPUTY INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF FORTIFICATIONS.
Mr. MONSELL, on Tuesday, in reply to Captain
Vernon, stated that in consequence of the course
which Colonel Harness had thought proper to adopt
towards him (Mr. Monsell), Lord Paumure had
removed Colonel Harness from his post, but on
account of his high abilities had recommended him
to Lord Hardinge for the command of the engineers
at Malta.

317

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in reply to
Mr. Oliveira, on Monday, as to whether the Govern-
ment would sanction (in such case as might be
desired by the holders) a registration of the bonds
of the Imperial Ottoman Loan of 5,000,0001., 1855,
under the joint guarantee of England and France,
said it was a matter to be settled between the Turkish
Government and the Bank of England. The Go-
vernment would offer no objection to such an ar-
rangement as the hon. member had described.

OUR CONSULAR SERVICE IN TURKEY.
The Earl of SHAFTESBURY, on Thursday, gave
notice that, on the return of the Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs, he would move an address to the
Crown, praying her Majesty to institute an inquiry
into the character and condition of the British con-
sular service throughout the Turkish empire.