The Express.
London, England, 1864-03-04 00:00:00

HIEV RENTS (IRELAND) BILL.

On the motion of the Berl of DONOUG FIMOU, this bill was
fed s second time.
Their lordships then adjourned at 20 minutes after 5
'K k.

MOUSE OF COMMONS. —THUR.:WAY, MARCH 3.
Ifbas Sinew= took the visit at 4 o'clock.
Be. LONG gave Notice that on Monday Mat he would
seethe First Lord of the Misery whether • ship belonging
be the Confederate navy would have the same right to
seer& and make prize of an English vessel carrying contra-
band of war to • Fedeeal port that • Federal vessel would
amerciee in the case of • British ship carrying contraband of
mar to a Confidante port ; and if not, whether such par-
tilde in favour of one of two belligerent powers was neoon.
with the strict neutrality professed by her Majeaty's
geenrament
THE MALT DUTY.
Iffr. MEATH gave notice that when the hon. member for
Um North Riding (Mr. Merritt) brought on his motion for
as repeal of the malt tax, he should move as an amend.
mast that, considering the immunities from taxation en-
jewel by the owners and occupiers of land, any reduction
lied might be made in the duty on malt should be compen•
mdmil to the extent of two-thirds by an addition to the
Lad ten.
PETTY OFFICERS.
(hptain JEIIVIS gave notice of his intention, on an early
day after Easter, to call the attention of the house to the
septet of the royal commissioners and the memorial of the
petty officers, and to move a resolution thereon.
CAPTURE OF THE SAXON.
Lord R. MONTAGU asked the Attorney-General whether
it was true that the Simms was captured on the ground that
ler cargo was supposed to be the pp perry of the Confederate
Stake, and whether it was acoadinrog to the law of nations to
lake possesaioo of enemies' goods under • neutral flag, or to
make prize of the neutral vessel containing thaw goods ; or
whether, on the other hand, the Semi was captured on the
tthat her cargo was Federal property, which had
imid by a Confederate man of war, and had been
transhipped on board the neutral vend ; arid, if so, whether
each au act was in accordance with any principle of inter-
national law.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said he was not able to
inform the noble lord on what ground the Saxon had been
captured. Her Majesty's government had caused represen-
tation.. to be made to the government of the United States,
but they had not received soy answer to those representa-
tions. [oder these circumstances, it was by no teethe ex-
pedient to enter into a hypothetical discussion of the grouods
an which the Saxon wee captured.
TRANSMI3SION OF LETTERS ON SUNDAYS.
Mr. HOPWOOD asked the Secretary of the Treasury
W there was any objection to allow letters posted at the
General Post-office on Sunday to be despatched on that
day, on account of the great privilege it would afford to the
*die and the small amount of labour it would entail.
Mr. PEEL thought that there would be • great objec-
tin to the proposal of the hon. gectlemen. The Net-office
estimated the number of letters posted on Sundays was
shout 20,000, and it would require about 220 men to de-
spatch those letters to the country. Although the hon.
gentleman proposed to limit the measure to the General
ftit-orlice, it would be impossible so to limit it,
bemuse applhatioes would certainly be made for an extee-
ties of it to the district post-offices.
ASSAULTS WITH KNIVES.
Mr. HORSFALL Naked the Secretary of State for the
Borne Department whether her Majesty's government were
to take any steps to prevent the wearing of sheath
iree=r knives, from the nee of which so many murders
bed been committed.
Sir G. GREY said he had received • report from the
magistrates of Liverpool addressed to them by the Mercan-
tile Marine Association of that port, stating that foreign
seamen were in the habit of carrying about knives of • very
formidable character. The magistrates of Liverpool ap-
peared to have taken every precaution in their power to
check the evil coosequencesarisiog from the practice, and
whenever persons had been convicted of violence of that
description, the utmost punishment allowed by the law was
always indicted. Redid not see that it was possible to
prohibit seamen from carrying knives, but he had requested
the magistrate of Liverpool to transmit to him any practi-
ced suggestion which they had to otter with a view to
remedy the evil referred to.
THE CRAWLEY COI:MT-MARTIAL.
Mr. D. FORTFSCCE asked the Under Secretary of
Bate for War when the_ proceedings of the court•roartial
on Colonel Crawley would be laid upon the table of the
Usti.
The Marquis of HARTINGTON replied that the pro-
esediogs of the court-martial would be ready for distribution
es Saturday morning.
Mr. It. FORTEACUE hoped that the noble lord, the
timber for the Fast Riding (Lord Itotham), would post-
pone the discussios of his motion on the subject until those
proceedings were in the hands of hon. members.
Lord HOTHAM said he had not the slightest wish to
interfere in any manner with the motion of which the hon.
member had given notice for the 15th. There
weight he inconveniences in the multiplicatioo of
discussion, but there might be a greater inconvenience
I. having two discumicas at the same time upon two different
subjects. He considered that the vote for the administra-
tion of martial law was the legitimate and proper oppor-
tunity for making the observatious of which be had given
notice. (Hear, hear.) Looking to the manner in which
her Majesty's government were dealing with the navy esti-
mates. looking also to the notice which had been given with
'aspect to the army estimates, ha had come to the coticlu-
lion that the object of the government was to get the
two great votes, for the army with reference to the Mutiny
Act, and the financial statement of the Chancellor of the
Exchequer. lo the earn, manner as they had taken the
principal votes for the navy. Seeing the little probability
there wee of getting through the remainder of the navy
estimates and the whole of the army estimates before
the holidays, if the hon. gentleman could arrange with those
with whom he was more immediately connected, to defer
the vote for the administration of martial law until after
his motion had been disposed of, be (Lord Roamer) would
assent to the with which had been expressed. (Hear.)
The Marquis of HARTINGTON did not think that the
government could promise to defer vote No. 6 until after
the motion respecting the Crawley court-martial ; but be
could promise that the discussion on vote No. 6 would not
be taken until the proceedings of the court-martial were is
the hands of boo. members.
Colonel Notaii. inquired whether there would be say
objection to hoe. member having an opportunity of 's-
wotting the models of the bungalows, so that they might
become perfectly conversant with every part of the subject.
The Marquis of HARTLNGTON said that there was an
objection to removing the modals produced before the
sourt-itirtial, from the custody of the judge Advocate-
Geeeral. es they formed part of the judicial record of the
proceeding& Accurate pleas mad models had been made
from the drawings, and he thought that a ith the aid of those
plans boo. members would be able to form as correct an
woke as if they Lad wen the models themselves.
THE BURNING OF KAGOSIMA.
Mr. C. BUXTON said he wished to correct a statement
behest made with reforest* to Admiral Lambert some time
siaor. He had ascertained that the gallant admiral had
acted under the orders of his superior offioers, and he
immediately so informed the house. Since then he bad
received communications from officers whe were prelatic
en the occasion which satisfied him that the greater part of
the town was burned by the natives themselves, and that
the portion burned by our guns was accidentally destroyed.
He therefore wished to withdraw the whole of the state-
ment lie had made on that subject, and to express his regret
at having made it. (Heti, bear.)
PROPOSED REDUCTION OF THE ARMY.
On the octet for going into committee of supply on the
army eotimates.
Mr. li. B UTE directed attention to the contemplated
reduction of our military forces, contending that the army
in the L'nited Kingdom was not sufficient to furnish the
ordinary relief to the troops that were serving abroad;
that was, if the period of service was to be contioed to ten
years, allowing the troops to return home and remain there
es. tears in succession. Owing to the vacillating
policy pursued by Earl Russell in reference to
.eign affairs, the name and the fame* of burbled
were held in the utmost derision and contempt
amongst continental nations, and our foreign policy
was described by the French and German press as am.
biguous, Wilde's, pitiful, abominable, and neeptikably
cowardly. Yet this was the opportunity selected by her
Majesty's rovernnient for effecting a reduction in the army '.
He protested against the estimates which were about to be
polimitted to the house, and against the government being
permitted, under existing circumstances, to sacrifice the
health and the lives of British soldiers, for the wowed of
gaioiuc a little temporary popularity by reducieg the army
below the standard which the requirements and neceesi•
tie. of the public service absolutely demanded.
THE YEOMANRY CAVALRY.
Colonel EDWARDS moved that the discontinuance in
the present year of the assembllog of the yeommory eavalry
for the usual training would be detrimental to the efficiency
of the force, and contrary to the recommeedation of a corn-
mates which eat in 1561.
Sir M. W. RIDLEY seconded, and same* supported
the motion.
The Marquis of HARTINGTON postponed any answer
he Mr. Stiller used be made his statement in moving the
essamates in committee of supply. In reference to the yeo-
manry cavalry, he said that their not being celled oat this