The Press.
London, England, 1854-05-13 00:00:00

MAY 13, 1854.

quer, and Lord J. Russell interchanged a variety of
suggestions and criticisms regarding the form into
which the vote should be provisionally moulded. Ul-
timately the resolution was agreed to, with some
modifications limiting its effect to the authorisation
of an issue of two millions in Exchequer Bonds.
The resolutions passed by the committee were on
Tuesday reported to the house, and confirmatory
votes moved for by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Mr. E. BALL moved as an amendment that the
word malt should be omitted from the resolution for
imposing the increased amount of duties. The agri
culturists, he contended, having acquiesced in the adop-
tion of a free-trade poi' ey, lind a rig ht to anticipate that
they would le fuvouruoly considered in any readjust-
ment or reimposition of taxation, and that some of the
taxes on land should be reduced. Instead of this, how-
ever, the Chancellor of the Exchequer now proposed, by
means of the increased spirit duties and malt tax, to
levy four-fifths of the new taxes from the land.
This was an unjust, a harsh, and oppressive pro-
ceeding.
Mr. BENTINCK seconded the amendment, declaring
that the new financial propositions enumerated by Mr.
Gladstone testified to his unmitigated hostility against
the landed interest.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER declined to
discuss the question, remarking that the resolutions
were then proposed merely pro fornui, and upon the
understanding that the debate should take place on
a future day.

Mr. DISRAELI urged the propriety of postponing
the resolutions as well as the debate.

Lord J. RUBSEI.I. pointed out the practical incon-
venience and loss which would arise it the house de-
clined to pass the resolutions at once.
Some further remarks were made by Sir J. Shelley,
Mr. Henley, and Mr. Groulburn.
Mr. BALL persevered, and the amendment was
carried to a division and negatived by a majority of
2•14 to 143-81.

The resolutions were then put and agreed to.
OXFORD UNIVERSITY RILL.

The committal of this bill was again resumed on
Thursday.
On clause 18, which prescribes the comprsition
of congregation,

Sir *MT HEATHCOTE moved to strike out the names
of the following constituents—the tutors of halls and
colleges and other officers engaged in the discipline
of colleges, the masters of private halls, residents who
may have held any of the qualifications mentioned in
the clause for three years, and residents qualified in
respect of study ; and proposed to substitute the words
" all residents."

The CHANCELT.OR of the EXCHEQUER opposed the
alteration. It was designed that congregation should
be composed of what he might term the aristocracy
of university talent. The amendment would add the
parochial clergy, for whom he had the highest respect
but whom it was not so desirable to include in con-
gregation ; and he also objected to the admission of
the college chaplains.
Mr. ROUNDELL PALMER supported the amendment,
and remarked that the college chaplains were repre-
sentatives of the eleemosynary element of the univer-
sity.
After a long discussion, and a speech from Lord J.
RUSSELL in opposition to the amendment, a division
took place, and the amendment was carried by 134
votes to 104—majority against the Government, 30.
To clause 19, which provides for the promulgation
of statutes in congregation,
Mr. HEYWOOD moved to add that such statutes
should be framed in the English language.
On division the amendment was rejected by 155
to 131—mkjority, 24.
After some further discussion, the committee di-
vided again upon the clause itself, which was carried
by 215 to 08.
The clause was agreed to, and the chairman at this
stage reported progress, with leave to resume the com-
mittee on Thursday next.

SPIRITUAL DESTITUTION.
A resolution was moved in the House of Lords on
Thursday by the Marquis of WINCHESTER to the
effect
" That the religious wants of the great body of the
labouring classes employed in the manufacturing districts,
from the extensive deficiency of church accommodation, of
resident clergy to administer to their spiritual necessities,
and of schools to afford them a sound scriptural education,
demand the earliest attention of Parliament."
The noble earl spoke briefly in support of the
resolution, observing that he only wished to recog•
nice the existing evil of spiritual destitution, and to
say that when opportunity offered a remedy should
b 3 applied.
The Earl of AsEttnrint said it was difficult to exagge-
rate the amount of spiritual destitution in many parts of
the country, and as he agreed in the sentiments of the
resolution he should be very sorry to oppose it. But he
complained that it possessed little of a practical character,
and added that he should be most reluctant to propose a
vote of public money in consequence of it. Much more
had been done in the way of providing church accommo-
dation by private benevolence than by public grants; and