The Press.
London, England, 1858-07-31 00:00:00

HOUSE OF LORDS.

NOTICES FOB NEXT SESSION.
Lord CAMPBELL announced that early rext session
he should introduce two bills for the amendment of
the criminal law.

Lord DUNGANNON also gave notice for next session
of a bill on the subject of the dilapidation o! glebe
houses; and Lord LYNDHURST that he should call
attention to the arrangements made for the
regulation and accommodation of the Royal Academy
of Arts.

ST. PAUL'S.

In reply to a question respecting the vacant plot
of ground near St. Paul's Cathedral,

The Earl of DERBY stated that only half cf the
vacant site would be built upon, and in such a
manner as not to interfere with the view of the
edifice. This partial surrender of the ground would,
he added, involve a sacrifice of 45,0001.

BUSINESS.
The Militia Pay Bill, the Militia (Services Abroad)
Act Continuance Bill, the Militia Act Continuance
(No. 2) Bill, the Corrupt Practices Prevention Act
Continuance Bill, the Judgments (Ireland) Act
Amendment Bill, and the Civil Bills, dc. ( Ireland),
Act Amendment Bill, were respectively read a third
time and passed.

The LORD CHANCELLOR introduced a bill to reform
the Law of Bankruptcy and Inaolvenc3.

The bill was read a first time.
The Consolidated Fund (Appropriation) Bill was
read a third time and passed.
Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
THE INDIA BILL.

On the question that the Lords' reasons for insisting
on some of their amendments in the Government of
India Bill be taken into consideration,
Mr. V. SMITH urged a series of questions on the
subject, inquiring—Whether the 17,000 men sent to
India since January last included any troops re-
quested to be added to the establishment in India
by the Directors of the East India Company ;
whether the President of the India Board would
state the terms and objects of the commission
to [inquire into the reorganization of the Indian
army ; what was the amount borrowed under the
India Loan Act of this session, and whether the
amount allowed to be borrowed under the act would
cover the expenses of the current year, or if bills were
now drawn upon India in the usual method; and,
whether any instauctions had been sent, or would be
sent, to proclaim her Majesty's name and authority
in India, and to announce the intentions of the Go
vernment as to non-interference with the religion of
the natives.
Lord. STaftrty, made a categorical reply, stating
on the first point that the present•number of Liddell

18; ttfttty

troops on service in India waa about 86,000; and
on the second, that some modifications bad lately'
been made in the commission for inquiring into the
reorganization of the Indian Luray. On the third
point the noble lord read a paper from the East
India Company, which showed. as he submitted, a
satisfactory state of their financial affairs ; and, on
the other question, stated that the issue of a procla
illation announcing the transfer of sovereignty was
still under consideration, and that the policy of the
Government on all religious; matters would be one
of strict neutrality.
After some remarks from Mr. Spooner, Mr. Roe-
buck, Mr. Kinnaird, and other members,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER explained the
nature of the amendments on which the peers had
declared their intention to insist and recommend
the house to waive their objections to their changes
in the measure.
Considerable discussion ensued, in which many
arguments were urged in behalf of the principle of
open competition, the application of which to the
scientific branches of the military serviee in India
was abolished by the chief amendment introduced
by the peers. •

A division was ultimately taken on the question
that the house should not insist on its objections to
the Lords' amendments in the bill. There appeared—

Ayes
Noes
The peers' amendments were consequently agreed to.
The Lords• amendments in the Local Government
Bill, the Government of British Columbia Bill, the
Art Union Indemnity Bill, the Metropolis Local
Management Act Amendment Bill, and other mea-
sureb were also considered and agreed to.

Mr. SCHNEIDER called attention to the inconveni-
ence arising from a resolution adopted by the house
some time since prohibiting any member from ac-
cepting fee or reward for promoting any case in
which he might be called upon to decide in his
legislative capacity. He pointed out many possible
contingencies in which the Attorney-Generai and
other law officers of the Crown might be seriously
hampered in their duty by the effect of this reso-
lution.

After some discussion and an explanatory speech
from Sir F. KELLY, who announced his intention of
bringing the subject more formally before the house
next session, the subject dropped. 1

Colonel NORTH inquired whether any pension was
to be bestowed on General Sir John Inglis for his
gallant defence of Lucknew.
Mr. MACARTNET called attention to •arioes de-
ficiencies in the present system of keeping and
auditing the accounts of the War Department.

Mr. HAMILTON stated that the general question of
publio account.keeping would be carefully considered
during the recess.
Lord ELcwo called attention to the regulation at
present existing respecting promotions in the army,
and whose effect was, he contended, to prevent the
advancement of meritorious officers merely because
they had not completed the required period of
service.

General PEEL replied to several questions that had
been asked relating to his department.

To the question respecting Sir J. Inglis, Lord
STANLEY replied that the services of that gallant
officer were fully appreciated ny the Government.
The bottle adjourned shortly after eleven until
one o'clock en Monday, when Parliament will be
prorogued.