The Press.
London, England, 1858-04-17 00:00:00

THE PRESS, APRIL 17, 1858.

376

margin which should consist of non-continuone service men,
with whom we may deal without producing the bad effect
which the step taken last year unquestionably did produce.
Beyond that margin the present Government is decidedly
of opinion that the entire farce of seamen should consist
of men entered fur continuous service, and this very day I
have given directions that every means shoald be used to
increase the number of men so entered as fast as possible
np to a given amount.
It was the opinion of the Government, also, that the
country ought never to be without a Channel fleet.
It was not consistent with our position, our dignity,
or our safety, that we should be without a Channel
fleet, not only for the protection of our shores, but for
the practice and efficiency of our officers and men .
We have an example before us set by our opposite
neighbcurs in Prance, which we cannot with prudence
neglect. They do not allow their coasts to be left defence-
less, nor do they allow their officers and sailors to remain
without opportunities for practice. On the contrary, with
great prudence, and with his usual sagacity, the Emperor
of the French has assembled at Toulon a force which will
form a squadron of evolution, and I hope before the pre-
sent summer has passed away that we shall see in oar own
Channel a squadron worthy of England and her naval
reputation assembled for the same praiseworthy object.
(Hear, hear.)
"I hope," said Sir John Pakington, "that the policy of
this country will ever be, while adapting its force to
the varying circumstances of the time, to maintain
the navy in an effective condition, to keep up an
afflictive Channel squadron, and further to have a
reserve of available seamen to man our ships upon
an emergency without the recurrence of so humilia-
ting and unsatisfactory a state of things as we have
lately witnessed in our ports." (Hear, hear.) The
practice of putting ships out of commission after a
brief term of service, dismantling the vessels and
disbanding the crews, when in the highest state of
efficiency, was, he thought, most injurious and ex-
travagant, and he intimated that a different system
would be adopted in Altura
If we were to adopt permanently the system of com-
missioning b..;7): for fou; years—my own feeling would be
for five years—Lit'. at any rate, if we were to allow the
rale of commissioning ships for a longer time than at
present, one of the results would necessarily be to pro.
&lee * material effect on the position and prospects of the
officers of the navy. (Hear, hear.) The number of
officers distributed among the ships would be diminished
in proportion to the extension of the period of commis-
sion, and this raises a question which we are bound
seriously to consider. lam not prepared definitely to
announce the intentions of the Government on the sub-
ject, bat I think it is unquestionably one of those
questions connected with the administration of the
which we are called consider,
it will receive - We

grave
e navy
on to . and I may say that
oar best attention. de are bound to take
care, not only of the pay and position of the officers but
also of their efficiency, and to promote their efficiency
it is desirable that they should be able to go to sea for
a fair term of service. We think a longer period of ser-
vice than at present should be established, but, at the
same time, we see the difficulty arising from the position
of the officers. We hope, however, to be able at no distant
time to effect the improvement we desire in such
way as to promote ecouomy without injoting the pro-
specie of those gallant officers whose best interests ire Are
aiWsys bound to keep in view. (Hear.)
Sir John Pakington then discussed the different
votes in detail, giving explanations upon the several
items. Between votes 2 and 8 the Government pro-
posed to make no change. Upon vote 8 without
wishing to imply censure upon the late Administra-
tion, he was under the impression that onr dockyards
were not conducted with that strict regard to economy
that is consistent with efficiency. In vote 8 the late
Government proposed to increase the dockyard
artificers from 10,850 to 12,190 men. It was the
intention of the present Government to ask only for
10,850 men, and for a vote of 50,0001. to be spent
on hired labour and extra time, being a reduction of
50,0001. on vote 8 ; on vote 10, for naval stores, the
Government proposed a redaction of 75,0001.; od
vote 11, for new works, the Government proposed
reduction of 108,0001.; and on vote 17, for the trans-
port service, Government proposed a reduction of
85,0001.—in all a reduction, as comfpared with the
estimates of the late Government, of 318,7561.:
I bare now (said Sir John Pakington in conclusion)
staled the general results at which her Majesty's Govern-
ment have arrived re clearly and concisely as I could, with-
out any appearance, I hope, of censuring the views of the
late Government, but solely with the object of explaining
to the committee what I conscientiously believe to be re-
quired by the service of the country. ( Hear, hear.) In
the office which I have the honour to hold I am 6seteted
by some of the ablest and most distinguished naval officers,
and I may say for them, as well as for myself, that we
have but one object in view, to Secure economy, to avoid
tnnecessary expenditure, but, above all, to maintain the
Naval force of England at the point which is required for
the honour, dignity, and safety of the country. (Hear,
hear.)

The hon. baronet concluded by moving the first vote,
that the naval force for tho year 1858 be 59,380 men
and boys.
The usual miscellaneous discussion ensued neon
this vote, and extended, in point of fact, to the whole
of the votes on the paper. In the oonrsa of the dis•
cussion, Sir Charles Napier, Sir (.1-. Pealell, Ur. Bon•

tinek, and Sir J. Elphinstone paid a high compliment
to Sir John Pakington for the clearness and con-
cision with which ho had moved the estimates before
the house.
Sir CHARLES NAPIER entered into a brief com-
parison between the French and English navies, mil
trusted that there would be no relaxation on our
part in the building and repairing screw-ships.
Sir Cussus WOOD vindicated the conduct of his
administration of the Admiralty, and censured the
Government for proposing to reduce the expenditure
upon shipbuilding and stores.
Mr. CORRY explained that the Government were
not about to relax the labours of our dockyards, but
that they were not prepared without further expe-
rience to sanction an increased expenditure. If at
the end of six months more money was required, a
supplementary vote could be taken. Mr. Corry also
stated that our line-of-battle ships, which at the close
of the past French war amounted to 118 in number,
had been reduced to 00 afloat and 10 building, the
actual number at the present moment.
Mr. DRUNIOND pointedly enforced the necessity
of our always having the command of the Channel.

Lord PALMERSTON agreed that the insular position
of this country rendered naval protection essential to
its security; but In considering what should be the
application of the funds voted for naval purposes,
preference, he thought, should to given to the pre-
paration of materials, the building of ships, and the
augmentation of dockyards and Stores, rather than
having a greater number of men actually employed.
The reductions and retrenchments proposed by the
present Government in his opinion were not wise or
prudent.
Sir J. PsialloTolv' in reply, observed that Lord
Palmerston had fallen into an error in supposing
that the present Government were about to stop
shipbuilding. They had no such intention.
Mr. HORSEAN insisted that, although a war with
France was highly improbable, we should be secured
against accidents and possible contingencies. There
was no cause for alarm, but great reason for pre-
caution.
The vote, and oertain money votes to complete the
estimates, were agreed to, when the chairman wall
ordered to report progress.
The Customs Duties Bill passed through com-
mittee.
The Trustees Relief Rill was read a second time.
The Oaths Bill was read a third time and passed.
Some further business was disposed of, and the
house adjourned at a quarter to one o'clock.

HOUSE OF LORDS-TuESDAI.
LIBEL BILL.
Lord CAMPBELL moved the second reading of the
Libel Bill. The measure, he said, consisted only of
three clauses, one relating to the immunity from
actions for libel to be given to the publication of the
debates of Parliament; the other two clauses de-
fined the protection to be extended to reports of
ordinary public meetings. At present the law gave
such a protection only to the published proceedings
of the courts of justice; this immunity the bill
proposed to extend. Ile quoted an opinion of the
late Lord Denman, advocating the fullest publicity
of reports of the courts of law and the proceedings
of the Legislature as most advantageous to the
public. The measure would not in the remotest
degree intelfere with the privileges of Parliament.
He contended that both houses, by providing separate
galleries for the reporters, had formally sanctioned
the publication of their proceedings, and the bill
would make no change whatever in their orders on
'the subject. But the proprietors of newspapers
were still liable to prosecution for publishing words
spoken in Parliament if they were libellous. If the
same mattter transpired in a court of law the pub-
lisher would not be liable to any action for record-
ir.g it if done faithftilly and without malice. Why
should he not have an equal degree of immunity
for reporting the debates of the Houses of Legisla-
tion? Tho third clause of the bill defined the pub-
lic meetings to which he wished to see the same
principle applied.
On the question that the bill be read a second
time,
The Earl of DERBY rose and read to the house the
telegram the Government had just received from
Alexandria, announcing the tall of Lucknow on tha
19th of March, the capture of 117 guns from the
rebel force, the retreat of the main body of the
sepoys, and the submission of the native proprietors.
The communication was read amid cheers from both
sides of the house.

Lord LYNDITURST_ resumed the discussion on the
Libel Bill; he condemned it as inade9uate, and
particularly objected to the attempt to define, in the
third clause, what should be considered lawful meet-
hips. The Houses of Parliament were omitted
from the definition, and, according to the bill, might
be considered unlawful assemblies. There were
Inany purposes for which public meetings were
called—of a religious, ecient3Bo, and social character.
They Were attended by such quiet and orderly men
as the right rev. prelates; yet those meetinge were

excluded from the definitions of the clause. Were
they to be considered unlawful ? Lord Lyndhurst
excited considerable hilarity by the manner in which
he criticised this part of the measure. He suggested
that the third clause should be struck out altogether,
leaving the bill to apply, if enacted, to all meetings
called for a lawful purpose, without any attempt to
define them. He would not oppose the second
reading, as he wished the bill to go to a select corn.
mittee for amendment.

Lord WENSLEYDALE strongly objected to the bill,
and moved that it be read a second time that day
six months.

The Loan CHANCELLOR opposed the bill, and Lord
CRANWORTH supported it.
Lora CAMPBELL replied, and the house divided.
The numbers were—

For the second reading—
Contents 7
Non-Contents ....

Mikiority against the second reading -:28
Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS-TUESDAY.

INDIAN TELEGRAPHS.
The CruNon.Lon of the EXCHEQUER, in reply to
Mr. Crawford, stated that no arrangements had yet
been concluded to effect the object of extending the
Mediterranean system of telegraphs to Alexandria,
and for bringing India into telegraphic communica-
tion with this country, but he hoped that in a very
short time arrangements embracing that object
would take place. He added (in answer to an in-
quiry by Mr. Wyld) that arrangements were pending
between the Austrian Government and the Govern.

went of her Majesty upon the subject, but that the
giving of a monopoly to the Austrian Government
did not form part of those arrangements.

THE BRITISH ENVOY 4.-T TURIN.

Mr. WISE asked the Under• Secretary for Foreign
Affairs whether Sir James Hudson was to remain at
Turin as her Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary, and whether it was intended
to recall the Secretary of Legation, Mr. Erskine,
from the same mission.

The CEULECILLOR of the EXCHEQUER :

In reply to that question, I have to inform the hon.
gentleman that there is no intention of recalling Sir James
Hudson from Turin. (Hear, hear.) Great services are
not cancelled by an set of carelessness, however it may be
regretted for the moment. (Cheers.) With respect to
Mr. Erskine, he has been recalled to this country in order
to explain his conduct, and he has been suspended.
(Cheers.)

STRAITS OF MALACCA.
Lord BURT called attention to the condition of the
settlements in the Straits of Malacca—viz., Penang,
Singapore, and Matacos, commonly called the Straits
Settlements ; and, after referring to the allegations
contained in a petition from Singapore, and to the
expediency of placing these settlements under the
immediate control of the Secretary of State for the
Colonies, moved for copies of any correspondence on
the subject.
Mr. 13sturz briefly replied, and the motion was
agreed to.

THE STLDE DUES.

Mr. J. L. RICARDO moved an address to her Ma-
jesty, representing the injury to British commerce
inflicted by the tax levied by Hanover on merchan-
dise and shipping ascending the River Elbe under
the denomination of the Stade Dues, and praying
that her Majesty will be pleased to give notice of the
termination of the treaty between the United King-
dom and Hanover of the 22nd of July, 1844, accord-
ing to the terms of the eighth article. He described
the delays, vexations, and annoyances attendant
upon this tax, which, he contended, offered a great
obstacle and impediment to our trade. He com-
plained that the tax really increased the cost of pro-
duction of our commodities, that it subjected our
ships to a differential duty, and that it tended to
divert the course of British trade from a natural to
an unnatural channel. The eighth clause of the
treaty, he thought, evidently contemplated that a
time would arrive when the people of England would
no longer tolerate this tyranny, arbitrarily exercised
by the kingdom of Hanover, which, he said, was a
disgrace to the civilized vrorlo.
The motion was seconded by Mr. BRAMLEY-
hi °Az.
Mr. HENLEY admitted that a turnpike-gate was
always a great nuisance, and he believed that Mr.
Ricardo had truly stated that the payment of this
toll was accompanied by circumstances that aggra-
vated the tax, which he should Ibe glad to see pro-
perly got rid of. But both Mr. Ricardo and Mr.
Moore had directly raised the broad question of the
legality of the payment, and this question was not
so simple as Mr. Ricardo seemed to suppose;
tt
was, on the contrary, surrounded by considerable
diffieulties. Before the house compelled the Govern-
ment to give notice of the termination of the treaty,
the more prudent oonrse, in his opinion, was to
have the matter investigated, as in the case of the,
Sound dues, by a oommittee of that house, and it
2dr. Itioardo would adopt that warn, he (Mr.

k, cusiiion, Sir Chance Napier, Sir Pechell, Ur. Dew as the right rev. prelates, yet those wieetinge were 2dr. Ilioardo would adopt that come, " L""
11"1"!+
6 immommimmimm

Henley) wee ready, on the part of the Government,
to consent to the appointment of a committee.
Lord PALMERSTON thought it was rather a ques-
tion for the responsible Government to investigate,
with the assistance of its law officers, and that they
should propose the course which they deemed it
proper to be pursued,—either to put an end to the
treaty, or to refuse payment of the tax, or to recom-
mend the same course as had been adopted in the
case of the Sound dues.
Mr. S. FITZGERALD said if the question were
simply a legal one, he should concur with Lord
Palmerston that the Government ought to deal
with it in the first instance ; but the speech of Mr.
Ricardo must have satisfied the house that it was
not a mere legal question—that it involved matters
for which a committee was the best tribunal • and he
hoped Mr. Ricardo would accept the proposal of Mr.
Henley.
Lord HOTHAM recommended the same course,
which Mr. RICARDO consented to adopt, and the
motion was withdrawn.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQtrER read the con-
tents of an important telegram from India, which
bad been received by the Secretary of State, an-
nouncing the fall of Lucknow, and its results.
Sir J. TRELAWNY moved the following resolu-
tion :
That the receipt of any species of reward by a member
in consideration of the exercise of his influence in that
capacity is calculated to lower the dignity and authority of
this house, and is a high breach of the privilege of Par-
liament.,
He adverted to a recent inquiry before a committee
of that house, and urged the importance of protect-
ing the British Parliament from even a suspicion
that justice was sold there to the highest bidder.
Lord HOTHLIIL seconded the motion.
Sir J. GRAHAM said be did not think any new
resolution upon the subject was necessary. Dis-
tinguished members of the house as agents for the
colonies had received a pecuniary reward for their
influence in that house without being held to have
violated the rule. A new resolution was not required
to meet any gross case, while it might give rise to
misconstruction.
Mr. WALPOLI was of opinion that no new rule
was necessary ; that the old rule was better left as
it was, since new words, tying up that rule, might
hamper the house. The duties of members who
were or the legal profession were well defined and
well understood, and he asserted with confidence
that no new rule was required in their case ; if it
was, the resolution should be confined to them.
Lord PALMRRSTON entirely agreed with those who
considered that the present law of Parliament, which
was known and understood, was sufficient for its
purpose, and thought the resolution objectionable on
account of its vagueness.
Sir J. TRELAWNY withdrew his motion.
Mr. J. D. FITZGERALD obtained leave to bring in a
bill to consolidate and amend the laws relating to
juries in Ireland .
Mr. Lows, in moving an address for copy of all
instructions for the engagement of natives of Africa
in the Indian service, and a return of the altera-
tions in the annual Mutiny Act which such engage-
ment would render necessary, referred to certain
statements in the House of Lords relative to the
enlistment of negroes (Kroomen) for service in
India.

Mr. BLILLtE assented to the motbn, and added
other papers.
The orders of the day having teen gore thrmigh,
the house adjourned a few minutes before ten o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—WIDNXIDAL
TENANT-RIGHT.
Mr. Msoinne moved the second reading of the
Tenants' Compensation (Ireland) Bill. Remarking
that the Irish population were to a larger extent
dependent upon agriculture than the dwellers in
other parts of the United Kingdom, the hon. member
described some of the evils and disasters by which
the agriculturists of the stater isle had been over-
taken since 1848, and insisted upon the necessity of
preventing the repetition of such calamities. He
cited a return showing the condition of the country
as regarded the division of farms, the cultivation of
various crops, and the system of land tenure. It
was, he maintained, most essential to protect the
cultivators, most of whom were merely tenants at
will, from the tyranny and avarice of their landlords.
The O'Doxotiox seconded the motion.
Sir J. W.u.su deprecated the continuance of an
agitation which, he observed, inconvenienced land-
lords and unsettled tenants. He reviewed the pre-
vious attempts to legislate on the tenant right ques-
tion, and with regard to the present bill contended
that it amounted to an entire confiscation of the
rights of property. He moved an amendment de-
ferring the second reading for six months.
Mr• J. D. FITZGERALD supported the measure,
believing that the oppressive conduct of the land-
lords had proved a constant cause of misery and pro•
vocation to crime 1141014 the rural population in Ire•
land,