The Express.
London, England, 1864-02-26 00:00:00

EDUCATION IN SCOTLAND.

Mr. LESLIE wished to ask the Lord Advocate whether
her Majesty's government would agree. to Mine a royal
commission to inquire into the state of education generally
in Scotland, and would consent to defer the application of the
new revised code to Scotland until the report of said
commission shall have been submitted for the consideration
of parliament.
The LORD ADVOCATE said, that in conformity with
a wish expressed last session by Scotch members he made a
proposal to the government to issue a commission on
the subject of Scotch education. That proposal ha believed
received deliberate consideration. The result was that it
was not thought necessary to make the inquiry in so formal
a shape, and that the facts might be ascertained otherwise.
With regard to the latter question. as to whether the re-
vised code would be suspended, that was a m►tter more
far the consideration of the Vice-President of the Council,
but he presumed there was no intention of suspending it.

THE ILLETMLYATED CLOCK AT WESTMINSTER.
Mr. PACKE wished to ask the First Commissioner of
Works, u other illuminated clocks in the metropolis give
light through the night,why the public were deprived of the
light of the clock at the Palace of Westminster nightly at
12 o'clock.

Mr. COWPEE said that the practice wu to illuminate
the clock during the hours which it was considered would
be most useful. To continue the illumination during the
night would involve the expenditure of a large quantity of
tat. and then perhAps the French proverb, •. Le jeu ne
want pas /a chandelle,* would apply. (Laughter.) The
practice was to cut off the supply at 12 o'clock, or later if
the house was sitting ; but if it were the wish of hon.
members that it should remain on all night, he had no ob-
jection to it. (Hear, bear.)
THE DANO•GERILLS QUARREL.

Mr. D. GRIFFITH wished to salt the First Lord of the
Treasury whether the government had received information
that, by order of Prince Frederic Charles of Primula. num-
bers of the inhabitants, and almost all the clergymen of
Gravenstein and its neighbourhood, bad been arrested as
spies, and • warning had been issued to the inhabitants
complainieg of their Danish sympathies, and informing them
that all those arrested as spies in future would be executed :
and, if that be the case, whether such wholesale treatment
of the loyal inhabitants of an invaded country as a • and
thereby subject to summary execution, be in
with the modern uoaaggas of war among civilised nations.
Lord PALMERSTON, who was again cheered on rising to
answer, mid her Majesty's government had received no in-
formation on the subject to which the question related.
(Laughter.)
Mr. W. FORSTER wished to ask the ruder Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Danishgovernment
had given notice of any intention to blockade any of the
German ports ; and also, whet notice was required io case such
blockade be beetituted He also wished to ask whether, in
case there be such blockade, • ship arriving off the
blockaded port after the notice bad expired, and having
sailed before the notice given, would be allowed to enter.
Mr. LAYARD said her Majesty's government had
not received any notice of the intention to blockade
say German port by Danish cruisers. He under-
stood the coast of Sleswig-Hoistein was to be blockaded,
but be had no notice of any blockade of German
porta. As to the other part of the question, he believed
there was no definite period for giving notice of • blockade.
That notice was communicated from one government to
another, and when received he her Majesty's government
was inserted io the Ga.:ette. He believed time was allowed
vessels to leave.

Mr. MACEVOY wished to ask the Under Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs whether it was true that the
Danish government had officially claimed the active ea-
Matsui' of England on the ground of the London pinto
col; and whether the government were aware that •
similar application had been addressed to the French go-
vernment with an intimation in each case that if refused
the Danish government would avail themselves of the
amist►xe alleged to bare been offered by the govern-
ment of the King of Italy.

Mr. LAI-ARCsaid he was not exactly aware what the
bon. gentleman meant by the London protocol. But if he
meant the London treaty, there was under that treaty no
ground for calling on her Majesty's government to give
active assistance. If the hon. gentleman meant the gua-
rantee of 1720, the case anticipated by that pimentos had
cot arisen. Consequently the government were not called
on to give may opinion on the subject. He might take that
opportunity of mentioning the state of the papers on this
question. (Hear, hear.) The first instalment was de.
livered that morning. Another batch of papers, which,
though not belonging to the series, were so im-
portant that be thought they ought to be presented,
were laid on the table that evening, and the remainder he
hoped would be ready for distribution either on Monday or
Tuesday. Hs could amine the house there bed been no
unnecessary delay, and the utmost exertion had been used
to get the papers ready. (Hear.)

Mr. D. GRIFFITH wished to ask the First Lord of the
Treasury whether it was true that Prussia and Austria had
agreed toe conference on the affairs of Dentnark ; and if
so, whether that engagement involved an immediate suspeo-
sloe of hostilities between those powers and Denmark.
Lord PALMERSTON—As I hare stated to the house on
a former occasion, the groat object of her Majesty's govern.
meat during the long negotiations which hare taken place
is to living about a friendly settlement of the differences
between Denmark and Germany. For that purpose we at
one time proposed an armistice as the foundation for • con-
ference, but we found that both parties attached such
conditions to the armistice as made it impossible for
the other party to agree to it. Disappointed in
that we lately proposed a conference without an armistice,
thinking that if we could got a certain number of persons
round a table to discuss the matter we would be more likely
to come to some agreement than by discussing it at long
distances in the capitals of different countries. Austria
and Prussi► have agreed to a conference without an arrnia-
tice. i Hear, hear.) I believe France also would be willing
to eater such a coofereuce. I fancy Russia would be die.
posel to do. With regard to Sweden. lam not quite sure.
We have not yet got any answer from Denmark, and there-
fore no decision has yet been come to.

L rd J. MANNERS said that with regard to what fell
from the hon. gentleman 131 r. Layardl, that under the
treaty of 1720 the case then contemplated bad net arisen,
lie wished to ask the noble lord which of the contradictor,
reports which were in circulation as to the occupation of
a portion of Jutland by the Prussian army was correct
whether it was true that the Pllll6ll army, which b 44
occupied a portion Of Jellaba, had since receded; or whir
tber it wag tflte that the occupation continued, and was to
oriaintained ;am strategical grounds. Ile wished further
to kr .rw whrther a representative of the Ultimo Diet had
been invited to enter the conference.
Lord PA I.MER.STON —That which his happened relative
to the ooctiriatioo of Jutland is this : that the allied troops
pitied the frontier, and took up a position at a place called
bolding. Upon representations being mule at Berlin we
were informed that that operation was not only without
orders. but against positive instructions; and that in con-
sequence the commander of the forces on the
spot would be reprimanded for having doers so.
Rut it was added that, it appearing that the occupation
of that particular place being of great strategical value for
the security of the a'lMd troops is Sleswig, the occupation
would nevertheless be continued. (Larrkliter.) But the
Prussian and Austrian government, still adhere to this posi-
tion—that they acknowledge the validity of the treaty of
1852 and the maintenance of the integrity of the Danish
monarchy. And therefore it is that Inv hen. friend the
Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs stated that the case con-
templated by the guarantee of 172 n—supposing that gua-
rantee to be still ■ppliable, which is another question—
(hear, hear)—don not apply to the present state of things.
The Oerman Diet were asked—originally asked—to sand
member to the conference, and lam not sure what their
decision may have been.
. _

Mr. M Af;EVOY said the hoe. gentleman (Mr. Layerd)
had not answered the latter part of his question.
Mr. LAYARD begged pardon. An application bad been
made by her Majesty's government to the French govern.
meet, but the cam under the guarantee not having aims
her Me i.sty's government did not thick themselves called
on to give an opinion. As to the government of the King
of Italy he could not give any answer, as he had no infor-
mation on the subject.
SEIZURE OP THE TUSCALOOSA.

Mr. YEACISCKE wisbed to ask the noble lord oil what
grenade the Tuscaloosa bad been seized at the Caps of
Good Hope.

Lord Prii LMERSTON —The Tuscaloosa vu soind is the
Brat instasos is ossesqueuas of rustructious not to tie Caps,