The Press.
London, England, 1857-05-09 00:00:00

HOUSE OF CO MMONS.—TntmsDAY.

Mr. DonsoN,mrnovng theAddr;;sOh;rMajesly,
passed in rev►ew .he leading topics of the Speech of
the Royal Commissioners, observing that the present
House of Commons possessed peculiar advantages
for carrying out measures of improvement, in the
absence of any antagonistic array of interests against
interest, or of classes against classes.
Mr. BUCHANAN seconded the motion, and, passing
from the question before the house, entered into
a warm defence of the justice and humanity of the
Chinese war.

General TitomrsoN protested against all he had
heard on the subject of the Chinese question.
Coinciding with the majority of the defunct liogse
upon this question, he did not intend, he said, to let
it pass without bringing it before the inquest of the
country.

Lord R. GROSVENOR thought that, upon the present
occasion, this question might be lett in abeyance, but
that some notice should be taken of the wishes of
their constituents on the subjects of the extension
of the suffrage, certain practices at elections, and
church rates. Wilt reterence to the last-named
subject, if the Government did not intend to legis-
late, he was prepared to propose a bill. Another
subject of paramount importance, he observed, was
the equa!isation of poor rates.
Mr. EWART regretted that no allusion was made
in the Speech from the Throne to the question of a
Ministry of Justice. He hoped also to hear from the
Government that parliamentary reform was not. alien
to the policy they had prescribed fur themselves.
Lord PALMERSTON replied that the Government
had under consideration the best means accom-
plishing the object of a department of justice. With
respect to the reform of the representation, he

MA* 9, 1857.

thought it would be highly inexpedient for the house
to enter upon so large a subject during the present
short session :

But, sir (continued the noble lord), her Majesty's
Government quite admit that it will be their duty during
the period that will intervene between the conclusion of
the present session and the beginning of the next, to take
the subject into their fullest and most deliberate considera-
tion. It would be unsuitable in sue, at a moment when
the Government have not had an opportunity of giving to
the question the consideration which is due, to say any•
thing with respect to the details of measures to be pro.
posed in a future session which would imply anticipatory
conclusions, which, by fixing the Government on one
point or another, might lead afterwards to embarrassment
if the result should not coincide with the expectations
excited, and which at all events would interfere with the
freedom of our deliberations in the meantime. It will be,
however, I believe the duty of the Government in the
ensuing recess to give that matter their most serious and
anxious consideration ; and I hope—indeed I am confident
—that at the beginning of the next session we shall be
able to propose to Parliament some measure which will be
calculat d to satisfy the just expectations of any parties,
And to correct any defects which may exist in the present
Reform Act, as well as to admit to the franchise those
el isses of persons who at present are excluded from it.
More than that I trust the house will not expecn. me to sal
at present.

With respect to church rates, the noble lord said :
That also is a subject., as the house is aware, which
abounds with practical difficulties. Ilowever, the subject
is now under the consideration of her Majesty's Govern-
ment, and I hope we may able to propose some measure
whic'i will get rid of the difficulties at present existing.
I hope. however, the house will not expect us to introduce
any measure until we have made up our minds upon the
matter; but I can assure them the subject is nnder con-
sider ition, with an anxious desire to frame a measure
which may be satisfactory to all parties.
Mr. ROF:BUCK, accepting the statement of Lord
Palmerston as a &mulct pledge upon the subject of
a Reform Bill, sai I he should not interfere with his
efforts to rrtnedy the admitted defects and anomalies
of the existing act.
The motion was then agreed to nem. con.

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS.
Mr. HATTER, sooa after the meeting of the house,
rose and said :

It may be for the convenience of the house that I should
now state some of the measures which it is proposed on
the part of the Government at an early period to submit
to the consideration of the house. I have to give notice
that to morrow the Secretary of State for the Home De-
partment will move for leave to bring in a bill to amend
the Acts of the 16th and 17th of the present reign, with a
view to substitute in certain cases other punishments in
lien of transportation. On the same night the Secretary
of State for the Colonies will move for a select committee
to consider the state of those British possessions in North
America which are under the administration of the Hud-
son's Bay Company, and those over which they claim the
license t i trade. Ott Monday, the 11th of May, the Chan-
cellor of the Exehever will move for a select committee
to inqnire into the operation of the Banking Act of 1844
for England. and also into the operation of the Banking
Acts for Ireland and Scotland passed in 11445. On the
s me day the Chancellor of the Excheqner will move cer-
tain resolutions on savings banks, with a view to the intro-
du-lion ofa bill on that subject. On the same day the
Secretary for the Home Department will ask leave to
bring in a to make further provision for the exercise
of the powers of the General Board of Health. On Thurs-
day, May 14, the First Minister will move for leave to
intreduee a bill to amend the oaths taken by members of
the two Houses of Parliament. On Friday, the 15th, the
Attorney General will move for leave to bring in a bill to
make fraudulent breaches of trust criminal. I have also
to give liolice that on Thursday, May 14, the Secretary fir
the Treasury will move for leave to bring in a 1).11 for the
incorporation of insurance companies and mutual societies.