The Press.
London, England, 1854-05-20 00:00:00

lIIPICPrt^r

462

proposition had been sanctioned by repeated majori-
ties, the opposing minority had urged their antago-
nism with a pertinacity against which no private
member could struggle. He charged the Govern-
ment with co-operating in the factious opposition
offered to the inquiry, and, declaring that he did not
intend finally to abandon the subject, left the ques-
tion in the hands of the house.
Lord J. RUSSELL repudiated the charge brought
against the Government, contending that the course
they had pursued with regard to the motion was
justifiable in itself, was warranted by precedent, and
strictly accordant with the fortns of the house.
Sir J. PARINGTON thought the withdrawal of the
motion judicious, but trusted that the success obtained
by the minority on this occasion would not induce
them to reiterate the process.
The discussion afterwards related chiefly to the
conduct of the minority and majority respectively in
their treatment of the question, and was somewhat
prolonged. Among many members who spoke was
Mr. DRUMMOND, who gave notice of his intention to
move hereafter for an address to the Crown to inquire
into the conventual establishments. The Pope, who
was the aggressor, had not ceased operations. He
said, " Have this realm of England I will," and by
every convent established he made a little enclosure
from the Crown of England and attached it to him-
self ; but (said the honourable gentleman) "he
shall have no more inches if I can stop him."
Mr. D. Seymour's amendment, and the motion on
which it was supervened, for nominating Mr. Walpole
on the committee, were then withdrawn. The ground
being thus cleared, it VMS moved that the order for
appointing a committee of inquiry should be dis-
charged. The supporters of this motion had given
it up, but Mr. Craufurd, when the question was put,
insisted on dividing the house, but succeeded in ob-
taining only a single vote in the negative against 100
ayes. The order was then discharged.
THE MILITIA.
A royal message was on Monday night conveyed
to both Houses of the Legislature, acquainting them
that it was her Majesty's intention, in consequence
of the war, to call out and embody such portions of
the militia force of the country as occasion might re-
quire.
In the Peers the message was considered, and an
address in reply voted on the same evening.
The Duke of NEWCASTLE having moved this ad-
dress,
Earl GREY inquired whether those men who had
volunteered to serve in the militia would have the
option of retiring from the force, seeing that the
terms under which they had enlisted were now al-
tered?
The Duke of NEWCASTLE replied that it was in-
tended at present to embody 15,000 men, and only
those regiments would be selected for the purpose
which had expressed a wish and a readiness to be
embodied. It would not be necessary to embody
whole regiments, and leave of absence would be given
to those men to whom it might be inconvenient to
serve. At the same time he added, there was the
greatest readiness on the part of the militia regi-
ments to serve.
After a short conversation, Earl GREY expressed
his satisfaction at hearing that, in the mode pointed
out, the strictest faith would be kept with the men
who had volunteered.
The address was agreed to.
By the Commons the message from the Crown
was taken intotconsideration on Tuesday, and a loyal
address in answer duly voted, after some interjectional
remarks by Mr. HuME.
SOLDIERS' WIVES AND CHILDREN.
Replying on Thursday to a question from Lord
St- Leonard's,
The Duke of NEWCASTLE stated that large sums had
been collected in the churches and elsewhere, upon the
Day of Humiliation, for the relief of the wives and chil-
dren of the soldiers now on active service in the East
In the first instance the Government deemed it desirable
to give more of a national character to the distribution of
the funds so collected than would be the case by means of
a voluntary association. It had, therefore, been intended
to issue a royal commission to dispense the funds, as in
the case of the Patriotic Fund in the last war. But a
great part of the money having been 'mid over to the
association, it was thought that to issue a royal commis-
sion under such circumstances would be to enter upon
a species of rivalry with the voluntary association which
would certainly be misunderstood. That intention had
therefore been abandoned. But, if a general action took
place, the Government would issue a royal commission
for the distribution of whatever funds might be col-
lected for the relief of the widows and children of those
who fell.
MERCHANT SHIPPING BILL.
This bill, as well as the Manning the Navy Rill,
was read a second time on Thursday. There were
many objections and suggestions urged upon its
details by Mr. Horsfall, Mr. Dunlop, Captain Scobell,
and other members. Mr. CARDWELL, in replying,
expressed himself gratified by the tone and spirit
with which the bill had been received. The object
aimed at was, not codification, but consolidation of