The Press.
London, England, 1858-05-08 00:00:00

MAGISTERIAL APPOINTMENTS.

Mr. J. LOCKE having called attention to some
recent appointments of magistrates in Canterbury
and other towns, insisted tbat the present Govern-
ment had been influenced there and elsewhere
solely by the wish of strengthening the Conservative
party.
This allegation produced considerable discussion,
in the course of which the magisterial nominations
of the present Lord Chancellor were attacked or
defended both generally and with reference to special
instances, by the Home Secretary, Mr. Bright, Mr.
B. Johnstone, Mr. Rcebuck, Mr. Whiteside, and
other members. The subject was at length per-
mitted to drop.

THE " CAOLIAIII."

Mr. KIWGLAKE asked the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer when the Government would cause us be
presented to the house a copy of the despatch
referred to by the Under• Secretary for Foreign
Affairs un Tuesday last as having been received, to
the effect that the Government of Sardinia cordially
accepted the despatch from Lord Malmesbury, and
were prepared to act in accordance with the sugges-
tions of that despatch, and the spirit of the protocol
of the 14th of April ; and also for a copy of the above.
mentioned despatch from the Foreign Secretary.
Rumours, he observed, had obtained circulation that
the Engiith Government intended to abandon
Sardinia in its contest with Naples, which could be
best quieted by the publication of the documents in
question.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER declared that
the production of the papers asked for might occasion
serious detriment to the public service. On the
part of the Government he claimed confidence from
the house with regard to the conduct of affairs
involving the honour and interests of the country.
Lord J. IltssELT, thought that the conduct of her
Majesty's Ministers throughout the affair had been
completely satisfactory, and deserved the confidence
of the Legislature and the country. Ha trusted that

they would not relax their efforts
.to secure redress
fur Sardinia, and especially to obtain a release of the
crew of the Cagliari from their Neapolitan irnpri-on.
ment.

Mr. S. FITZGERALD was unable to give any infor-
mation respecting the release of the crew, but
emphatically assured the house that the Government
bad never intended, nor would ever consent, to
abandon their Sardinian ally.
Mr. GLADSTONE maintained that Lord Clarendon, in
despatches written many months ago, had effectually
pledged this country to support Sardinia.

- After some remarks from— Mr. HUMAN and Mr.
CRAUFURD, the subject dropped.

STAMP DUTY ON DRAFTS.
This bill passed through committee after some
discussion on various amendments.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.
The house having gone into committee on the
government of India.
The adjourned debate on Resolution 2 was re-
sumed, and an amendment moved by Mr. Rica
discussed at much length, by which the future ad.
ministration of India was to he intrusted to a "Pre.
sident in Council " instead of a Secretary of State.
Lord STANLEY pointed out some official disabilities
which might result from the proposed change.
In the course of discussion Mr. V. SMITE sus.
Bested that the phrase should run, "a responsible
Minister of the Crown," thus leaving the precise
title of the functionary to be decided hereafter when
the bill was before the house.

Sir J. PAKINOTON assented to this proposition,
which, after considerable debating, was ultimately
agreed to without a division.

Resolution :3 being omitted,
Sir J. PLKINGTON, with a brief explanation, moved
Resolution 4, relating to the proposed Council for
India.

A motion was made for reporting progress, which
was adopted after a confused conversation, and the
debate stood adjourned to Tuesday next.

GAS.

Mr. BYNG moved for a select committee to inquire
into and report as to the existing arrangements for
the supply of gas to the metropolis.
The Home Secretary consented to the inquiry, and
the committee was ordered.

The house adjourned at a quarter past twelve
o'clock.

THE BRITISH BANK. -" The Queen v. Humphrey
Brown and others."—This was an information filed
by the late Attorney-General (Sir R. Bethell), which
charged the directors and general manager of the
Royal British Bank with conspiring, by false pre-
tences, to defraud the shareholders, customers. snd
public. At the trial, which took place before Lord
Campbell, at Guildhall, on the 13th of February 10,
and twelve following days, the jury found all the
defendants guilty, but strongly recommended four of
them, viz., Stapleton, Kennedy, Owen, and Macleod,
to the mercy of the Court. His Lordship imme-
diately pronounced sentence, but, in the early part of
the present term, all the defendants (except Staple-
ton) moved to set aside the verdict and to have a
new trial, upon the ground of misdirection, and that
the verdict was against the evidence. The Court
having taken time to consider, Lord Campbell now
delivered the judgment of the Court as follows :
" Having taken time deliberately to consider all the
evidence in this very complicated case, and the argit
ments of the counsel for the defendants in moving
for a rule to show cause why the verdict should not
be set aside, we are of opinion that no rule ought to
be granted. It appears to us that the jut), were well
justified in finding that the conspiracy charged in the
information was entered into, and that the defendants
who make this application were privy to this conspiracy.'
After carefully reviewing the evidence, Lord Camp-
bell said—" Therefore we do not think that we
should be justified in setting aside the verdict found
against him by a special jury of merchants at Guild-
ball fully competent to understand the subject, after
a trial of thirteen days. Owen and most of the other
defendants received an excellent character from
respectable witnesses, who had long known them,
but against strong direct evidence characters cannot
avail ; and it is lamentable to observe that from
rather relaxed standard o: commercial morality now
prevailing practices of an equivocal nature Teel
sometimes be resorted to, without lowering in general
estimation the reputation of the individuals concerned
in them. All the defendants have put in affidavit;
asserting their innocence, but the facts upon
which
the jury came to a conclusion of their guilt stand
uncontradicted. Refusing the rule which is prayed,
we may conclude by expressing a hope that this
prosecution, although it perhaps bears hard on some
of the objects of it, may have a salutary tendency to
deter men engaged in mercantile pursuits from
yielding to the temptation to violate the truth,
even
it they should think a wilful misrepresentation may
be made without, in the event, certainly workine.
prejudice to those with whom they deal." Rule
refused.

V rocetbings

zn Varliamcnt.

HOUSE OF LORDS—MONDAY.
SEPOY ATROCITIES.
The Earl Of SHAFTESBURY drew attention to
statement contained in the blue-book entitled Fur-
ther Papers on India, recently laid on the table, that
it was not desirable to give any more detailed ac-
count of the sufferings of individuals at Cawnpore,
the appropriate place for such cases being the ap-
pendix ,
• a footnote to this passage added " Not
received." He wished to know if those details bad
been since received?
The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH replied, they had
not; and if they bid been received it was not de-
sirable to publish them, as they would be calculated
to revive and continue feelings of animosity in India.
The Earl of SHAFTESBUPY wished to see all such
feelings cease, but the character of individuals who
bad been assailed should also be cleared. He gave
notice he would move an address to the Crown for
the production of those cases, and be would continue
to move for them till they were produced.
The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH could not communi-
cate them if they had not been received.
ENDOWED SCHOOLS IN IRELAND.
The Earl of CORK inquired what course the Go-
vernment intended to adopt with respect to the
recommendations of the Commissioners appointed
to inquire into the condition of endowed schools in
Ireland ?
The Earl of DERBY stated that as two out of the
five commissioners dissented from the recommen-
dations of the report, and as it suggested extensive
changes which would be attended with considerable
expense, be could not pledge himself to carry out
those recommendations ; but be would give them
bis serious consideration. It was proposed to
transfer the management of all the endowed schools
to a new board, with a large staff of officers and an
increased expenditure. that would be charged on the
Consolidated Fund. He was unwilling to express
any decided opinion on those changes ; but he ad-
mitted that the improvement of the Means of educa-
tion for the middle class of Ireland was a question
of grave importance, as the system of national
schools had raised the standard of education of the
lower class, and the establishment of the Queen's
Colleges bad given greater facilities for the educa-
tion of the upper class than formerly existed.
The middle classes in Ireland ought to be enabled
to keep pace with the general improvement.
The Earl of CARLISLE bore testimony to the per-
sevetatice and impartiality with which the members
of the commission bad prosecuted the inquiry. The
report contained much valuable and suggestive
matter ; tt was not unanimous, but it proved the
existence of manifest abuses and neglect in the en-
dowed schools. There was a deficiency in the means
of obtaining a good education by the middle classes
in Ireland, and he hoped the recommendation of
the report would furnish some suggestions of remedy
for the evil.
The
.Bishop of CASHEL urged a better system of
inspection of the existing schools.
Their lordships adjourned at a quarter past seven
o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS-MONDAY.
EXCHEQUER BONDS.

Sir G. LEWIS, alluding to a report that the late
Government, and he in particular, as the Finance
Minister, had banded over to their successors the
finances in a disordered and unsatisfactory state,
entered into details to refute this charge, and to show
that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had made
arrangements in ord-r to avoid present difficulties,
which, in his opinion, might produce greater difficul
ties hereafter. With respect to the Exchequer
Bonds, as the same amount of 2,000,00001. w,iuld
be due next year, and 1,000,0001. the year following,
these liabilities, lie contended, must be met by having
recourse to re-borrowing ; and as to the War Sinking
Fund, he regarded this as the only plan of that
character which was practicable; and unless Parlia.
ment were prepared to make it obligatory upon the
Government to adopt a plan by which a certain
portion of the debt would be annually extinguished,
it must make up ita mind to perpetuate the present
National Debt. He objected to the Budget of the
Chancellor of the Exchequer as a scheme which
made no attempt either to pay off any part of the
Exchequer Bonds or to keep up the War Sinking
Fund. The relief afforded by the fall of the
income tax would not, in his opinion, be very sen-
sibly felt, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, by
his arrangement in respect to that tax, and in not
reducing the Exchequer-bond debt, be contended,
had violated an important principle, without any
substantial and effectual relief to the payers of the
income tax.

Mr. GLLDSTOWE agreed that the financial condition
of the country called for further consideration than

THE PRESS, MAY 8,1858.

it had received on the Budget night. Sir G. Lewis,
be said, had deprecated rash engagements on the
part of the house ; but Sir George had himself
entered into a rash engagement to pay off 1,500,0001.
in the name of a Sinking Fund. With regard to
such a fund, if the plan were a good one, the house
should determine to act upon it; but, if bad, let
them have done with it altogether. As to the Ex-
chequer Bonds, ho denied that there bad ever been
any pledge on the part Gf the house that any portion
should be reduced in 1853, and, with regard to the
income tax, he approved the course taken by the
Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Mr. CARDWELL said the house was going to post-
pone purposely the payment of this debt until a
period when the income tax would expire, to avoid
breaking an engagement with the public regarding
this tax. At that period there would be a loss of
6,000,0001. taxes, and a gain of 2,000,0001. from the
falling in of the terminable annuities ; so that our
finances would be then probably 4,000,0001. worse
than now. How was this amount to be raised'
Only by re•borrowing, and we were practically re-
borrowing now.
Mr. T. BARING replied et some length to Mr.
Gladstone in defence of the War Sinking Fund.
Mr. BRIGHT observed that the house was trying
to do an impossible thing—to make a very heavy
taxation easy to bear. That taxation rested upon
the masses of the population, whose incomes were
small while their consumption of taxed articles
was very large. A great deal of ibis taxation was
owing, be said, to the foreign policy we were pursuing,
which he discussed and strongly censured ; and he
contended that it was the duty of Parliament either
greatly to reduce the expenditure or to maintain the
income tax. _ _

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that
considerations of high policy were connected with the
income tax, which, if it were to be maintained, it
would be impossible for the house to avoid; that
complaints against this tax came from professional
men and the humbler classes of society on account
of i•s injustice, impolicy, and inquisitorial character,
the clamour against the tax never having arisen from
the opulent classes ; it was, therefore, in his opinion,
impossible to maintain this tax as a permanent
feature of our financial system. As to the War
Sinking Fund, it would be idle, he thought, to con-
tend that it should be maintained in the present
circumstances of our finances. There was, he ad-
mitted, a very great difference between the engage-
ment to pay the Exchequer Bonds and to maintain
the War Sinking Fund; but the house had been of
opinion that it was most inexpedient, in the present
state of the country, to load it with an amount of
new taxation in order to enable it to fulfil these en-
gagements. Mr. Disraeli then explained the favour-
able arrangements be had entered into with reference
to the Exchequer Bonds ; be intimated the en
couraging prospects of the balances in the Exche-
quer, and read a statement of the revenue in the
month just expired, as compared with the corre-
sponding month of last year, whence it appeared that,
under the three heads of Excise, Stamps, and Land
and Assessed Taxes, the increase amounted to
430,0001. In conclusion, he protested against the
position of Mr. Bright, that the burden of taxation
rested upon the masses of the population whose
incomes were small, contending that it wag, on the
contrary, borne by people of property. He deplored,
with him, he said, the great expenditure upon arma-
ments ; but be did not despair that in due season
the wisdom of Cabinets would bring about the re-
duction of military expenditure, which it would be
for the interest of all nations to encourage.
Mr. WILSON subjected the financial scheme of
the Chancellor of the Exchequer to a very close and
comprehensive analysis, pointing out what be con-
sidered to be fallacies and mistakes in his calcula-
tions.
After some observations by Sir H. Wrmororrav
and Mr. SLANEY,
Mr. G. Hmathrox replied to Mr. Wilson, and ex-
plained the mode in which the amount of the prin-
cipal estimates had been arrived at.
Mr. CAYLEY and Mr. W. EWART made a few re-
marks,and the bill was then read a second time.

STAMP DUTY.

Mr. T. BARING said, although he doubted the
soundness of the principle of this tax, be thought
the plea of the Chancellor of the Exchenuer that
it was necessaty to have a little surplus revenue was
a sufficient lesson for not opposing it. Ho sug-
gested various objections to the tax, and was of
opinion that a:6B,les would be resorted to in order
to evade it.

After son.e discussion,
The CHANCELLOR of the Excueumt, in replying
to objections, observed that the bill asserted no new
principle ; it only sought to extend a principle, ter-
minating an exemption which no one vindicated.
The bill was read a second time.
INDIAN RESOLUTIONS._ _ .

The secnnd resolation being read, the effect of
which was that her Majesty, by one of her principal

447

Secretaries of State, should have and perform all the
powers and duties relating to the government of
India now exercised and performed by the East India
Company,
Mr. AYRTON moved, by way of amendment, that
the powers and duties should be exercised and per-
formed by a Minister of the Crown in Council, his
object being, he said, to insure the administration
of the government with due care, caution, and
efficiency, meaning to follow up this resolution with
another, that such Minister shall be responsible for
every act done in the United Kingdom in relation to
the government of India, but no such act shall be
performed by him without the recorded opinion of
three members of the Council thereon.

Lord STANLEY opposed this amendment. The
argument of Mr. Ayrton, he observed, was in favour
of the government as it was now carried on by the
East India Company. If the Minister "in " Council
was to act only conjointly with the Council, there
would be a divided responsibility. Where there was
to be responsibility there must be power ; but if the
Council was to have conjoint power with the Minister
individual responsibility ceased. What was wanted
was undivided responsibility.
Mr. MANGLES supported the amendment, upon
which Lord Stanley, he said, had put a wrong con-
struction.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER observed that
this was not the occasion to discuss the question of
a Council ; the simple question was whether or not
the Minister to exercise the powers and duties
relating to the government of India should be a
Secretary of State.
The amendment having undergone further dis-
cussion,
Lord PALMERETON interposed, and, remarkin g
that the committee were discussing two questions ,
the subjects of separate resolutions, suggested that
they would do better to postpone the consideration
of the character, composition, and functions of the
Council. _ _

The discussion of the amendment was, however,
continued, and
Mr. GLADSTONE insisted that the original resolu-
tion could not be worked out in conformity to its
terms. He supported the amendment, the object of
which he understood to be, not that assumed by Lord
Stanley, but to establish a Council, not to control
the Minister, but which was cognizant of the whole
business of India, and which the Minister would be
bound to consult.
Upon a division the amendment was negatived by
351 to 100.
The house adjourned at ten minutes to one o'clock.

HOUSE OF LORDS—TUESDAY.
The Earl of DERBY, in moving the ►second reading
of the Ecclesiastical Commission Bill, described the
general course of past legislation with regard to
the management of Church property. The object
of the present measure was to compiete and carry
out the principle and provisions of former acts.
The bill was founded on the recommendations of a
committee of the House of Lords which sat in 1851,
and on the report of a committee of the House of
Commons made in 1857. The measure was the
same as the bill introduced last year by the late
Government, but sent up to the House of Lords
too late in the session to be passed. He proposed
to take the second reading in order to refer the bill
to a select committee, in which some additi nal
clauses would be introduced. As the measure had
virtually received the sanction of both houses, be
hoped there was a reasonable expectation it might

be passed.
The Duke of Itlant.nonorou detailed the provisions
of a bill closely connected with the measure of the
Government by which he proposed to give the ad-
ministration of the estates of cathedral chapters also

to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners.
The Earl of CHICHESTER, as one of the commis-
sioners, expressed his approval of the bill introduced
by the Earl of Derby.
Earl GREY thought the plan of converting the
estates held under lease of the church into ordinary
tenant holdings, to be managed by a commission,
would be found in practice very disadvantageous.
The Bishop of OXFORD believed the subject to
which Earl Grey referred had already been settled
by Parliament. The question was not now the best
mode of administering the landed property of the
Church. What had been done by ►he Ecclesiastical
Commissioners, with the sanction of Parliament,
rendered it impossible to revert to that question.
He regretted the tendency he saw in this legislation
to make the bishops and officers of the Church mere
stipendiaries ; but, on the whole, he 'thought the
course the Government had taken in introducing the
present bill was the right one.
After some further discussion,
The bill was read a second time, and referred to a
select committee.
The Ecclesiastical Corporation• A 1
was real a second time, and referred
select committee—Adjourned.

Bill

ggregate Bill
i to the sin i•