The Express.
London, England, 1848-03-30 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY RyENING, MARCH 30, 1848.

order to be sworn and to take his seat, as be ii ballad ett do
at the earliest period. He had seat,
before been returned
during the session of parliament, and was not aware that
any different practice prevailed as to wearing members
during the session from that which existed at the commence.
ment of • new paeliament after • general election. On tee
former occasion had he ever been called upon to produce any
certificate of return, or to prove he was a member from the
return made to the Crown•office. In this instance he had
been introduced according to the usual form, and had been
admitted to take the oath
; and he humbly contended that
upon taking the oaths and his seat he was completely
entitled to all the rights and privileges, whatever they might
be, which belonged to a member of this house. He 4so
entirely admitted that the return was not received at the I
Crown-office until the 18th lost. Having raid thus mush,
and made these admission', it would be improper ia him to
take any further part in the discuasion. lie left the Matta 1
is the band. of the house, but he begged the house to under I
stand that in not participating in the discussion ho waived ISO I
right and abandoned n privilege, and that whatever m
be the decision he should feel it his duty to smart the riEs
of the constituents who had sent him there. (Hear.)
hon. member then withdrew from the house.
Sir G. GREY said there could be no doubt, from the
statement made by the right hoe. gentleman opposite (Mr
Goulburn), and acquiesced in by his hon. friend who had
jest quitted the house, that in this ease there had been a
His
de.
pasture from the ordinary but not there
h
own impression was, that there had been no illegality in the
mode in which the oaths had been taken. With respect to
his hon. friend IMr. Hawes) having abstained
that he had
from v
after he found the mistake, he begged to say
done so out of deference to the house and not in consequence
of any advice he bad received. Without entering into the
many questions suggested, he (Sir 0. Grey) thought it right
• committee should be appointed, in order that the usage
should be ascertained, and a general and uniform practice I
adopted. (Hear, hear.)
After a few words from Mr. Gout-nulls in explanation,
the motion was put, and agreed to.
APPEALS IN CRIMINAL CASES BILL.
Mr. EWART said he had understood that the govern-
ment had eerly in the session declined to undertake the
responsibility. of introducing a measure on the subject of '
appeals in eternized cases, and hence he had brought forward
ibis bill. tie found, however that since ite introduction a
Nomura had been introduc into
s& the other house of parte',
meat by Lord Campleell, which would give an elpp.eal in
criminal cases on points of law, but not on questions of
fact or evidence. This the present bill sought to do ; and
though he had received many suggestions of alterations in
it, he hoped that as those alterationacould snore properly be
discussed in committee the right bon. baronet (Sir (1. Grey)
would not deny the soundness of the principle an which the
bill was founaed, and therefore he would consent to its
second readinge
Sir G. GREY said the bill which bad been introduced
into the House of Lords would, he believed, be referred to a
'elect committee, before whom the evidence of the judges
would be taken cn its peovisions. From • careful cionside-
ration be found there were great difficulties connected with
the subject ; and he thought the hon. member would exer-
cise • sound discretion in not prating the second reading
untl the provisions of the other bill were knewa, and until
thei committee to which he had referred had reported.
Mr. EWART was understood to consent to the postpone-
ment of t ..ii bill for a fortnight, but said he would move the
second reading pro forinti. I
Mr. AGLIONISY recommended that the second reading i
should not be premed at this moment. ' I
After a conversation
Mr. EWART agreed to postpone the bill until the seeemil
Wedisesday after Easter.
ELECTION RECOGNISANCES BILL.
Mr. ANBTRY haring poitpoaed the committee on the
Roman Catholic Relief Bill until after the other orders,
Mr. WORTLEY moved that the Speaker do leave the
chair; and the house went into committee on the Electies
Recognizance' Bill.
Oa the first clause, in which Mr. WORTLEY proposed aa
alteration,
Mr. NAPIER moved an emendment, declaring the certi-
ficate of the Esaminer of Recognisances to be final and binding
in all caws whaciver. The late poiiey of the legislature had
been to lodge this jurisoiction in the examiner, and he saw
no reason why it should he changed. It should be remem-
breed that these proceedings by petition were not given, but
regulated by statute ; and it was not until the act of 53
IGeorge 111., that the provision as to recognisences and costs
was introduced. By the alteration proposed the adjudica-
tion on the recognisances would be deferred till the matter
was actually before the committee, and the parties would
consequently be kept in doubt all that time. The policy eed
intention of the last act clearly was that the examiner's cer•
tificate should be binding, and to this be would give effect
by a declaratory clause.
The ATTORNEY.GENERAL thought it desirable that
the bill should be passed in the form which had been recom-
mended by the select committee.
After a few words from Mr. WORTLEY, Sir F. TxzstOxx,
and Mr. HAYTER,
The committee divided on the proposal to leave out all
the words after " that," in the original clause
For the motion
40-19
Against it
Mr. WORTLEY then moved the words which he pro-
posed to substitute, the effect of which was to refer the ques-
tion of recognisances to the committee.
The ATTORN EY-0 ENERAL opposed this provision.
Mr. WORTLEY cited an opinion of Chief Justice Tindal,
to the effect that where any defect existed in the recogni-
sance the whole proceedings were void.
Sir G. GREY was in favour of making the examiner's
certificate final, but would not raise any further obstruction
to the progress of the bill. If the provision of the hon. and
learned member opposite (Mr. Wortley) was agreed to,
there was n i reason why it should not apply to all petitions
in future sessions, as well as those presented before the Ist of
March.
After a conversation,
Sir F. THESIGER said he should have preferred the
original bill of the bon. member for Midhurst (Mr. Wal-
pole) ; but as the committee had in effect expressed an
opinion against it, he should support the amendment of the
hon. and learned member for Bute (Mr. Wortley).
Mr. GREENE thought it highly desirable that some
legislation should take place.
Mr. HAYTER preferred the amendment of the hon. and
learned member for the University of Dublin to that of the
right hon. and learned gentleman opposite. Be hoped the
house would reject the clause.
Mr. NAPIER was opposed to all legislation on the sub-
ject ; but if they wi re to have legislation, he thought the
best course to pursue was to adopt his proposition.
The house then divided.—For the cuse .•• . 90
Against it la 5l-30
The clause was then agreed te.
The remaining clauses of the original bill were then
struck out.
Mr. WORTLEY then proposed the second substituted
elause, the effect of which "MS to give themmittee power
to declare the recognisances void where the informality was
" in any degree attributable " to the neglect or levies of the
petitioner.
A lengthy discus ion then took place as to the effect of
certain words in the clause, and several amendments were
emigrated. After which
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said he should move the
insertion of the words "or in any way occasioned by," in-
stead of the words " in some degree."
Sir It. H. INGLIS objected to any words that qualified
the decision.
The house divided—A
Noes 72-25
The Attorney-General's amendment was consequently re-
jected
Various verbal amendments were then made. On the
question that " this clause stand past of she bill,"
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said, if he did not divide
against it now it was not because he did not intend to take
the sense of the house at every other stage. The effect of
this clause was, in his opinion, so serious that he sh feel
it a duty to give it every eppueition in his power upon future
occasions.
The clause was then aereed to.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL intimated that, on the
motion that the report be received, he should take the sense
of the house against the bill.
The house then resumed, the bill was ordered to be
printed as amended, and the report was ordered to be
brought up on Thursday (this day).
ROMAN CATHOLIC RELIEF BILL.
The Earl of ARUNDEL and SURREY moved that the
house go into committee on this bill.
Mr. LAW moved, as an amendment, that the house pro-
ceed to the othir orders of the day, and, on its being inti-
mated to him that this amendment was irregular, he moved
that the house do cow adjourn.
Several members, however, having expressed an objection
to this amendment,
Mr. LAW witherew it, and next moved that the debate
on the bill be pe-tponed till the 19th April.
The Earl et ARUNDEL and SURREY, however, with.
drew his motion, and the committee on the bill was ordered
to be taken on the 19th April.
HEALTH OF TOWNS BILL.
Lord MORPETH, in answer to an hon. gentleman, in
ti-
mated that, in consequence of the position of other pu
business, this measure would not be taken on Monday.
FRAMEWORK KNITTERS.
Sir H. HALFORD moved the appointment of a select
committee, to take into consideration the report and evidence
laid before parliament in 1914 by her Majesty's commissioner
for inquiry into the condition of the framework knitters, andin
to make such further inquiries as may appear necessary,
order to ascertain whether any, and, if any, what legislative
measures can be devised for the relief of their lone-continued
distress. The appointment of the commission of inquiry had
raised, and most materially, the hope' of the unfortunate
operatives to whom it referred, and it wouldan be worse than
mockery were the result of that inquiry— inquiry fully
proving the grievances and oppreseions endured by the frame-
work knitters—to be limited to a mere blue.hoek report.
Mr. HUME thought it would be admitted that he had
always raanifemata warm desire to promote in every practi-
cable way the improvement of the condition of the working
classes (hear, heir); but he could sot went to any proposi-
tion which wedt to interfere, by legislative enactments, in
the relations between employers
wed empoyed. All these
governmentl be left to the parties themselves. The French
Rove were at the prevent moment entering upon this
most mischievous coardeand a very few months would exhibit
bow disastrous were its results. If the slew principle were
dontinued there, the result would be the utter proitration of 1
the trade and mum:Lena of France. No legislative meddling
could improve the condition of the frame work knitters any
more than that of the eandloom weavers. The only mode 11
in which their condition could be ameliorated would be by a
diminution of their numbers—a remedy gradually in their
own hands—or by the improvement of the manufseture I
itself—a remedy altoother beyond the capacity oan act of

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.—WEDSSIDAY, MARCH 29.
The &means took the chair at 12 o'clock.
PUBLIC BUSINESS.
FETMONS.-By Sir P. &ARSON, from Confection ; Mr. Fitt a,
from a town in Suffolk ; Mr. G. Beausas, from the attorneys of the
county of Gloucester • Mr. A. SIAM/AD. fre attorneys of the
county of Northaanid'on ; Mr. 'F. &HAWN, from Altrinehem ; Mr.
POONSA, from the attorneys nandf Birmingham; and by Mr. AGLIOSAV,
from the principal, ancients, members of Stople-inn, Holborn.
for the reveal of the stamp duties cm attorneys' certaileates.-By Lord
leu:me 0, from the merchants and !shipowner. of Greenock, naiad
any alteratioo of the navigation laws-Sir W. JOISCI, from Molter
ham, for repeelcf thelegseydety on charitable bequests.-Mr. T. Keine
suS, (rote Alttieebarn ; Mr. Sroosea. from the county of Down; Ind
by Mr. W. Part as, from the elm', of the droners. of Whalley, ageing
the liberaleine Relatione (Courted Rome ) Bill -ie.°. BeanaLas, OMNI
the Zing for
of the western thriatm of the county of Gloucester.,
Rant
for further as to the interference of the lord-Rear
+sant of the lest eleetien.air. T. &sews, from Conglewn, MOW
Gemini Memos of the Public Health Bilh-The Ertl of
Min the oms,
trade
'
the distillers of Banff, far permission to bond Brih
way as iareign spirita-Mr. Amiosinr, from Mr. Thomas Wickham%
complairing ot the operation of the County Courts Act; and hoe
the inhabitants of Cockermouth W favour of the Jewish Mobilities
Vii,NOTICES OF MOTION that Eiscros.-14r. 0.
RUMS:LAY to move to-morrow that the petition presented from the
Liberal electors of the wertern divn ot the comas of Glosiceeter foe
Blether inquiry as to the interWrenee of the Lord Lieutenant et the
last election be printed with the votes, is order to found a motion In
selwenee to the watered ordere.
ALTRIUTIAII• Or YHA Hosea.—Mr. A. Srarroev. to move to-mOrroW
for a select ernmittee on the cabjttt of the propried construed= a
the kitchen and esting.roome tor the use of members, and to coniiier
whether any am. edmeat could be wade in the present mode of pre-
siding tefreehmenM for members of this boom
RAILWAY COMMISSION.—Mr. Pastes, on Tweeday.next, to move far
Rare to bring in a bul to aholieh the railway commodes.
I /MCA 0? SAROSAT-AT.ALMIL—I&I.111:1111, SO•AASITOW this day),
to bring the subset of the vacancy In the °lice of Sergeant-Ma
Arms before the house, w ;AI a view SWIM' that some +iteration be
mate in that office and Sc the office id tor
ch oneekeeper.
FIRST READING.- Schoolmasters' teuut BM.
RETURN °RUE/MD.-AM the motion of Mr. Massie, Mara.
showing the name of each railway tor which KW base bees 1116.
towed in each of the yeas
muchlSA ISM, aid ; the IMO
of each railway, end bow f the same is now colagigpit
the amount of capital stock, and toe sums au:hernial to be Me-
rowed wider the several riles of inempiration; the amount of nob
1.11 made by every company, web the date thereof, Mistinguietdag the
several years in separate eo-umne, the proportion of each of such calls
es have been paid, and die sums remaining to be paid; the date and
amount of sums borrowed under the revere! acts, end which remain
melee, tuned aao in separate column* for each year, together with
balance of esp.:A uncalled for, rod of money which' each company
bare still authority to borrow; and the periods for which any rxitray
company may have definitively postponed making farther calls, with
the totan of each.
ORDER OF BUSINESS.
Mr. S. WORTLEY odd that as the general committee it
eleettens would meet on 1 nursday to strike further election
committees, it was important that the Election Recognisance'
Bill should be proceeded with to-day. He therefore, had to
oh the bon. and learned member for Youghal (Hr. Anstey)
to permit that bill to t..ke precedence et :he measure the
bon. and learned member had charge of, viz., the Roman
Catholic Relief Bill.
Mo. ANSTEY aerie;hat feeling an early decision on the
'election Recogniseaßill would be most cove:dent to the
house, he would give way, and concede the precedence asked
by his right hon. and learned friend. (lima, hear.)
THE RETURN OF MR. HAWES.-PRIVILEGE.
Mr. GOULBURN rose to cove, puroiant to hie notice
for the appointment of " a select cowrie:teed to inquire
whether the oaths required to be taken at the table by
members of this house had been duly taken by Benjamin
Hawes, Esq., and to report their opinion thereupon to the
house." The tight Eon. gentleman said that he was sure
the hon. member for liensale (Mr. Hawes, would gas
him
credit for not bringing to:wales this motile under any per-
sonal or party feeling, but siniely because he considered
the caurse which had been punted by the hon. member and by
the officers of the house hail raised a very grave question at to
the right of the bon. memeer to sit and vote to parliament;
and though be (Mr. Goulburt) had not been able to find
any case strictly analogous to the present, still it was desir-
ablexhat a committee should be appointed to consider the
subjoin, and to lay down a rule which should govern the
house in similar future cases. lie need not inform the
house that by the law which regulated the admission of
members to either house ef parliament it was review' that
they should be sworn at the table, and any omission in that
respect involved the incapacity to sit and vete, and inflicted
other eenalties. It was important that the home should
take care that member. ;home not retain their oats who were
not duly entitled ; and it was_ important to the hon. member
that he should not be merle ;mem to the incapeeities and
penalties which the law i;npcsed on those who bid not duly
t :ken the oaths. Instances had occurred in which members
so circumstanced had been obliged to resign their seats, and
new writs had been moved for the election of members to
serve in their place ; and in consideration of the omissions
Lavinz arisen from readvertecce or negligence, the house
had proceeded to paw eels of indemnity to discharge the
offender from the penalties incurred. It had been suggested
to him (Mr. Goulbara) that it would be right in this in-
stance to pursue that course. ectl to move a r.ew writ for
Kinsele, in order that the ca..e might be aliecuesed aud tic
tided in the booze itself. bct he thought i s there was a
distinction between this and the cases to which he had
alluded, it would be much better that the dieeussion should
be Calmly conducted in committee. (Hear, hear.) The
circumstances of the case were simply these : The hon. gen-
tleman opposite (Mr. Hawes.) had been a candidate
for the borough of Kineale at the recent election,
which terminated on the 11th of the present month.
The hon. gentleman, on the 15th, presented himself at the
table to be sworn as member for Kinsale, though. it ap-
peered, that the return had net been certified to the clerk of
the crown until the 19:h-three days after he had taken the
oaths at the table. Now, it might be con'ended, that as the
hon. gentleman bad obtained the majority of votes at the
election, and, as he believed, the returning. officer had made
a proper return, that he was a member within the meaning
of the statute, and that, therefore, he bad !alien the oaths
since the period at which he wee acknowledged to be a mem-
ber of the house ; but he (Mr. Goulburn) thought it might,
on the other hand, be maintereed that the taking the oaths
at the table was not a falnlinent of the requisitions of the
law until the house had 'he means of knowing and recog-
nising the hon. gentlemen as a member by the return ceru-
tied by the cleric of the rfOW/S. There was another point
which seemed to him to have a considerable bearing en
this question. The clerk at t tremble was only authorised to ad-
into ster the oaths to persons who were recognised as members :
he had no authority to eomie,ster the oaths aneese he himeelt
was possessed of the evidence which the statute required-
vie. • the certificate of the clerk of the crown ; and he (Mr.
Lioulburn) need not tell the house that an oath adminis-
tered by a person incompetent to its administration was, in
point of law, no oath whatever, but was absolutely null and
void. What was the evidence In this instance at the time
the hon. gentleman came to tee table aud was sworn ? None
whatever • for if on that er the next day any person had
gone to the Crown•office he would have learned that there
•
they had uo knowledge of the return of any etch member
as the hon. gentleman. lie submitted, subject to further
inquiry by committee, :het the oaths c eald not be taken
betere the return had !rein certified by the clerk of the
crown, and, after diegent inquiry, he could find no instance,
from the ear 1696 down to um present time, in which any
member had been sworn when the return had not been
made to the Crown-office. In the year 1806 the
late Sir John Newpor:, on his appointment to
the othce ot Chancellor of the Exchequer in Ireland,
had to vacate his seat and to go down ed. re-election at
Waterford. The return to the Crown Office was delayed,
and though Sir John New: ert was in tweet fir some days,
he did not attempt to ties f.n seat. Mr. Fox cOmplaine in
the house that Sir Juhn Nessport was thus debarred f
rom
rom
taking his seat by:the conductoct (A the returning officer,
was summoned to the bar, ::t though the government was
then most anxious for the presence of Sir John Newport, it
WAS not until the return hat Seen made that he was consi-
dered to be a member, and edowed to take the oaths and his
seat. Again, in the mere recent thee of thef
tGoa Grimsby in
two3l. the returnimg officer emitted to make eturn of the
t members elected, and they did not take their seats until
it had been made. The hareship of this was pointed out in
the course of a debate upon the subject by Lord Althorp
and Mr. Wynn, and it was admitted then,
that until the re-
turn was received at !he Cr+ n Office, the person elected wet
not a member according to the statute, anti therefore sot
qualified to take the mat, required to lee taken at the
t able. It might be sa.d that the return to the frown Office
war, a mere matter of t arm, and that there existed
o substantial reason why .. member 'Limb; not Le sworn
before the return was made. He Mr. Gouleurn r entertained
great doubts as to the validity of that argum,nt. There had
been many instance, of hide returns teeing made by differ-
ent persons, each cis ming to be the legal returning officer,
end or double returns of Ind ;tido ils who had equal voteson
the pull. Now when the return came to the Crovni-offi
rule, ce,
the house had an ooportunil of enforcing its general
that neither member shouel sit until the house had ascer-
telned which was legally ; bat if the opposite prin
emir was admitted, the result would he that the man who
could come up from the election quickest by railroad, and
Oust took the outre, wouid become the sittmg member iu
spite d
ual e general resolut,on of the house anal in spite of
the eqarights ot another. In the Pontefract Lase, a mem-
ber duly returned was not edmitted to sit ucue there ntie the return
and been duly registered. In the present
another strong point to which he (Mr. Goulburn)
mutt call the attention of the house. The honourable
gentleman oppo ite (Mr. Hewes) warn sworn at the table on
the 1 its inst.; but, us wan as he had found the return had
not been received, he, acting under advice,eal forborne
from voting during the suzeeeding Wednesday, Thursday,
and Friday though cn ttreee deers important discussions
end
of, end though the attendance ot members
had been
ot the government was :ini,ortant. Now, the member-
ship of the hon. gentleman had been compete at the time
the elsction terminated. why had he not appeared and vo
voted
dbe
on those three &ye because, supposing the return
correct, he would have been tree from penalties. The lion.
gentleman, however, acting under legal advice-("(" Ice,,
from Mr. Hawes)-hae forborne from doing no. These were
the grounds upon which it appeared to him Mr. Goulburn)
that, it would be coneenicut to refer the question to a select
committee, thoroughly to inquire into the whole matter, and
to lay down some role by which a principle may be esta-
blished for the future reguiations of the preceedings of the
house. He therefore mos.. ter the appointment of the select

committee.
lidr.liAWES did not rit• to oppose the =Aims ; on the
eontraiy, finding it wee the general opiuiqu of the hots,
Slut an inquiry...hoed be male, ba acquiesced tr. it, but with-
not the smallest fears !...s to the result. He thar.ked the right
Iron. gentleman for karita riven him note
ic ot his intention
to subm't this motion, and cured him that he t Itawes,,
did ac,t suppose that either p-rsonal or t arty felling ~.ctisted
Lim 4,-. this occasion. (Hear, bear.) The r;gl.t. hon. gentle-
man simp..y wished to try t' .e question of thz usage and peso
tine of the house in such cases. He (Mr. }Lewes) had a
very short and plain statement to make. Re admitted that
on the 11th instant he had been duly elected and returned,
and theta" the Ibtla he had presented himself at the table in

parliament to achieve. As to infensuition on tholottri die
house woe already in possession of the fu lest know ge ed
every feature of it.
Sir J. WALMSLEY supported the motion, and urged
the danger of refusing inquiry into popular questions.
Mr. NEWDEOATE also supported the appointment of a
committee. There had, no doubt, been much information
obtained on the subject, but that information needed to bo
sifted and arranged.
Dr. BOWRINO said that a much greater, danger was to
be apprehended from raising delusive hopsein the labouring
classes than from refusing such futile inquiries as those now
sought. The manufacturing chimes themselves were the
first to find out the evil, whenever legislative interference
between masters end men was introduced. The propomb
Lion that you could raise wages by act of parliament would
ever be found a most mischievous fallacy. The attempt
had been made, for example, at Lyons, aid the only result
bad been that after a sanguinary struggle between em.
ployen and employed, the latter bad given way, not
merely physically defeated, but morally convinced that the
protection alleged to have been given them, was in reality
no protection at all, but a most grievous evil.
Mr. SLANEY said that the amount of wages must, In
all cues, be settled by supply and demand, and not by
act of parliament. He thought, however, that a committee
might devise mesas of preventing many frauds that now
existed in the mode of paying the operatives in question,
aid might therefore in this, as in other ways, be satisfactory
to the working classes. He took occasion to observe that
alterations in the Benefit Societies Act were requisite, in
order to remove the difficulties which various sections fittest
act presented to the temporary investment of savings by
operatives who, like those in question, were at times in
ample work, but at other times almost wholly unemployed.
Mr. LABOUCH BRE said it was noteswithout muchH con-
e
cern that he felt called upon to oppose motion. at
once admitted the distress of the operative class in question,
and their claim to any practicable remedy for their distress ;
but be saw no such remedy in the appointment of the pro-
posed committee. It was to be borne in mind that previous
committees had already thoroughly examined into and re-
ported upon the whole subject, as that further in
cofommitrmation
seemed scarcely attainable. To appoint another tee,
therefore, would merely be to encourage the delusive idea
that any legislative act could remove the causes of
that distress which had for some time pot af-
' flitted the weaving classes of this country. The
report of the pow law commissioner appointed to en-
amine into the subect gave no hope that any remedy could
be applied, for hand.loom weaving and frame knitting were
isecupations of so simple a nature that the moment labour
was thrown out of other employments these ocsupations
were resorted to, and no wonder could be felt at theunskilled constant
complaints of distress made by these classes when
is curers of all kinds, men, women, and children,could fly to
weaving or knitting as a means of existence. lithe hon. Dart.
would propose a bill to the house, such as was recommended
by the hon. member for Shrewsbury, to remedy the evils of
which he complained, he (Mr. Labouchers) would give it
his best consideration, but he must with regret oppose the
present motion.
Mr. PACKE supported the motion The house was not
aware of the true state of the case. There were 100,000 of
her Majesty's subjects who were in the condition described
by the hon. member opposite (Mr. Slaney), and it was the
duty of the house to inquire into the best means of relieving
them. But a blue book would do no good unless relief fol-
lowed. There were no high tides with he hand-loom
weavers and frame knitters. Their wages were always at
the lowest ebb, and they coked for ns relief on that ground,
but on to be relieved front the frauds that were practieed
on themly , and which bad been referred to by the hon. mem-
ber opposite.
Mr. OARDNER supported the motion, believing that by
so doing, be should best consult the wishes of his consti-
tuents.
hon. baronet
Col. SIBTHORP hoped that the would di-
as that would show the
vide on his motion for an inquiry,
operatives who were their true friends—the hon. members
for the West Riding of Yorkshire and Bolton, backed
of do-
by the
government, or those who advocated the protection
mestic manufacturers.
Sir H. 11:1LFORD said that the case he had made out
could not be properly met by a random reference to the »-
poet of a single individual, notwithstanding that pe
rson
might be, as the right hon. gentleman opposite (Mr.
ebere) had stated, an assistant poor-law commissioner. He
bad studied the report referred to by the right hon. gentle-
man with the deepest attention, and he remained of the
opinion which he had already stated, namely, that there woe
nothing in it to obvinte in the slightest material degree the
necessity for the inquiry. He should, therefore, persevere
in hie motion.
The house divided—For the committee 5l
Against 85—M
The motion was consequently nevatived.
SCHOOLMASTERS IN SCOTLAND.
Mr. B. COCHRANE moved for leave to bring in a bill
for the purpose of facilitting the removal of schoolmasters
in Scotland. He was certain he should be borne out by the
Lord Advocate and other bon. members foe Scotland, that
the law which related to the sehoolmasters in Scotland re-
quired alteration. Without going int* the cases which he
would bring forward on the second reading, he thought the
house would allow him to bring in his bill. He did not peo-
ples to do away with the jurisdiction of the presbytery, but
to institute a concurrent jurisdiction of beritors, and when
the charge was examined into, anti found to be sustained by
the Lord Advocate and shenffsubetitute, the schoolmaster
should be removed.
The LORD ADVOCATE did not deny that a great prac-
tical difficulty did exist in removing schoolmasters in Sof the
land, and for that reason would not oppose the motion
hon. member. At the same time be wished to guard himself
against any supposed approbation of the particular measure
proposed by the hon. member.
After a few words from Forbes,
Mackenzie. Mr.
Mr. Oswald, and Mr. Hume, the motion was agreed F
to.
WRIT FOR HORSHAM.
Lord MARCH said that be would move for the issue of
the writ for this borough to-morrow (this day).
Mr. itUblE intimated that he should then state his reasons
for not issuiog the writ.
The house adjourned at five minutes to six o'clock.

"A FRIEND to Sense and Justice," takes us to
teak for saying that the upper ranks have an interest
in keeping up a large military establishment. We
are ready to join issue with him on the question.
Our correspondent sets out with informing us that
officers pay for their commissions, and that an en-
sign's commission in the infantry of the line costs
4501., a lieutenant's 75., a capi's 1,8001., a maor's
3,200/., and a lieutenanolt-colonertaen 4,5001. Herej the
promoting power of money stops. Our correspon.
dent omits to state that, as the officer sells as well as
buys his commission, what he de facto pays at each
successive step is only the difference between the price
of the commission he held and that to which
he is promoted. His case therefore stands thus :
He pays 450/., and is virtue of this payment comes
immediately into receipt of 951. 16s. 3d. per annum,
being about 21 per cent. for his money. Some years
after, by paying 2501. additional, he becomes
lieutenant and receives 1181. 2s. 6d. per annum,
being rather more than 16 per cent. for his money.
By paying another 1,1001. he attains the rank of
captain, with an annual income of 211/.
being nearly 12 per cent. for his money. The pay-
ment of an additional 1,4001. makes him a major
with 2921. per annum, or 9 per cent for his
money. And finally, for 1,3001. more he becomes
lieutenant-colonel with 3101. be. per annum,
which is about 7 per cent. This is not all:
there are staff appointments, and sometimes even (as
in the colonies) civil appointments to be picked up
by captains, majors, and lieutenant-colonels, who
have their wits about them, which are " pretty pick-
ings," in addition to their pay. Higher rank comes
in time, if the man survives, without purchase, and
with higher pay, to say nothing of , allowances."
Add to these considerations that, if disposed to quit
the army, the officer can obtain leave to sell his com-
mission ; or, after drawing full-pay. for many years,
he may retire upon half-pay. Leaving for the present
the question of service out of consideration, we main-
tain that even after allowance is made for the chance
of a premature death causing the capital sunk in the
purchase of a commission to be lost, iu a mere pecu-
niary rint of view such a purchase is, as times go, a
very fair speculation.
We do not entertain the unmitigated horror of war
in the abstract which some profess ; and we know no
class of English gentlemen whose society we would
cultivate in preference to English officers—of ripe
years. Bat with a few rare exceptions their duties
have not for the last 33 years been very. onerous.
They have had a good deal of leisure to enjoy them-
selves. Their dress and rank are a passport to the best
,society in this or any. country. Not only has the
purchase of a commission been, since the peace, a
I tolerably good investment; the duties have been
I barely such as to dispel ennui with those who have
resources within themselves, while the status
redeemed the holder of the commission from the
disreputable character of an utter idler, and placed
him in the position of a man entitled to join in the
best society without being expected to join in all its
expenses. During war the duties of the soldier are
doubtless severe; but they are such as daring minds
court in youth for the sake of excitement, such as are
repaid, even in the estimate of sobered age, by repu-
Wien and by little windfalls of a more profitable
kind.
I These, and not an enthusiastic patriotism, are the con-
siderations which induce the elite of our young aristo-
cracy snd the more aspiring (and sometimes the
more vain) of the middle classes to join the army.
Our correspondent's pathetic picture of men giving
their private fortune for leave in the service of their
country to encounter death or to be exiled
into the tropics, resolves itself on a nearer view into a
not unprofitable investment of money, either in so far
as pecuidary returns, or an introduction into society,
and the obtaining of an easy pursuit in life are con-
cerned. On • these grounds we maintain that the
upper classes, and those of the middle classes who are
ambitious of „being absorbed into high life, hav
er an
interest in keeping up ti disproportionatel ge
standing army in the time of peace. It is a good
way of providing for younger brothers. Arty person
who will take the trouble to collate the Army List,
the Peerage, and the Court Guide, will find this view
amply corroborated.
'We have no wish to exaggerate or misrepresent.
We are quite aware that this arrangement has not been
in times past without its influence in imparting a
spirit of gentlemanly independence to our officers.
But we feel quite convinced that other influences
have now come into play which will enable the
officers of the British army to retain this character

ELECTION COMMITTEE—YESTERDAY.
130DMIN.—This committee eat for the first time
Wordsworth,
Previous to the opening of the petition, Mr.
Wordsworth, for the sitting member (Mr. Wyld), applied
either for an adjournment until the fate of the -Election Re-
cognisance' Bill bad been decided, or that the committee
should at once enter upon and discuss the question of recog-
nuances. The committee, after some deliberation, decided
against adjournment and proceeded to hear arguments of
couniel respecting their competency to entertain the ques-
tion. The whole sitting was taken up with the legal argu-
ments.

is not the only potentate wheel the Poles have had I even when they have °flamed to hold commissions and
recourse to. A deputation horn Posen addressed the draw pay as purchased property, and when both come
King of Pausaut on the'sause subject. His answer to be held in virtue of services alone. In this age,. to
was much more frank than that of LAMARTINE. work honestly for wages has no longer anything
"The Poles of the grand duchy," said FREDERICK degrading about it. And the system of purchase
WILLIAM, "are game to make a revolution. I can- inevitably leadsthe purchasers to entertain a false view
neoanoltdlectinipfrevent you. But I warn you that Russia is of their relation to the state. " Can you make out that
of 150,000 men on the Vistula, these men get their rank from the coun ratings sk our
yoguadneelsgyyourselves independent ef Prussia, correspondent triumphantly, after enu what
the Czar of RUSSIA will swallow you up." is paid for commissions. And this is, and will con-
M. Lenerertes does not give to the Poles even such tinue to be, the feeling of officers and their connexions
salutary advice. He gives them his blessing, as to so long as COMBliiiiioOS are peers
" Shall ;they
a beggar, but declares he has nothing more for them. not do what they like with their own r Is it not
He advises them to go to Posen:and to find arms there presumption in pekins to talk of reducing the army ?
if they can, but not to implicate France by taking of shelving those who paid hard money fur their cam-
arms from theta, for it might embroil the French re- missions ? And on this plea the country is expected
pp with its very good friend and ally the Czar to submit patiently, year after year, to pay for a far
NICHOLAS. larger army and a far greater number of officers than
Now, if the Poles in France follow M. LAMARTINE'S it has auy need for. It pays for many whose services
advice, and crowd to Posen, preparatory to Polish re- are not required and as for the purchase money for
suscitation, it will be impossible toprevent the refugees commissions, not a farthing of that goes into the pub-
with the Polish population of l'osen, from rushing into lie treasury.
the each of IN'arsaw. They will be received there by The army.is one of the principal me by which
150,000 Russians, well armed, and possessed of strong the class (titled or untitled) which mean
posed of
fortresees, oneass,
of which could lay Warsaw in ashes. political power in this country contriv,s to quarter its
The Poles of the Russian duchy are utterly disarmed. cadets upon the public purse. A cursory glance over
The result of such an invasion would, it is feared and " Dodd's Parliamentary Register " will show how en
foreseen, be fatal to the liberal Poles—would in its tirely the preponderating class in the Home of Com-
consequences provoke the Russians to invade Porten, mons is identical with the families interested in the
and would very probably awaken a fierce war be- maintenance of a large standing army. That little
twcen Germans and Russians, which might be of long book of reference records 92 members in the House
duration and varied fortune. of Commons who hold, or have held, commissions
M. LAMARTINE, we are sorry, to say, appears to de- in the army or navy ; 31 sons of military or naval
sire this, and seems very sagaciously determined not to officers; 27 husbands of daughters of military
meddle with it. And it certainly would be a glorious or naval officers. We have not taken the
opportunity for France torecover thefrontiers which she trouble to count the Deesphews and grandsons of naval
desires to recover towards the Alps and on the Rhine. and military officers dwe have no means of die-
The annexation annexation of Savoy and of the Palatinate would covering how many members of the honourable house
be a glorious achievement during the ministry of M. have sons, nephews, or dependents in the army or
LASIARTINZ, and would give him a right to hold navy. We cannot follow out all the intricate cross-
' his head sa high as Mr. POLK. CHARLES ALBERT, imp of family and connexion by which our
' for the price of being supported in his schemes whole aristocracy politicalamixed up with the army and
' upon Lombardy, would gladly cede Chambery, navy. And from the nature of Mr. Donn's work
whilst the men of Mayence might be induced to hoist there must be many cases omitted. Enough, that
the French tricolor. Such plane, especially the latter, the facts mentioned sh-.w how little we have to hope
could, however, not be carried into effect, unless the for a disinterested, dis passionate estimate of the
Germans were engaged in a fierce and all-absorbing amount of military and naval force actually re-
struggle out heir eastern frontier. quired by the country from either of our houses of
As far as toe King of PRUSSIA may chance to be- parliament.
' come a loser by such movements, we cannot say that Our army, no one denies, is much larger than is re-
he deserves much commiseration. His magus- gaited in a time of peace. But then we are told in a
*
mousresolve to aid Sleswig and Holstein in tone, explanatory and apologetic, "we require an
' flinging off the Danish yoke, a quarrel in which army of this amount, lest war should take us by sur-
his Prussian Majesty has no right to inter:ere, prise." We admit that a standing army is required
shows that ambition and expediency, not honesty, in time of peace, as the nucleus of the larger army
are the principles of the Prussian King. Whe- that will be necessary in time of war. War is a pro-
ther the Emperor of RUSSIA will allow this in- fession with ita traditional maxims and organisation
vasion of Slesiwig by the Prussians, and whether that cannot be learned in a day. But a compa-1
his fleet will not support the right of the Danish ratively small and well organised army, with 11
crown, to which a near relation of Russia is the pre ample stores, will soon impart its spirit and knowledge,
sumptive heir, remains to be seen. Should the Czar to recruits. You cannot make large efficient armies I
refrain from occupying Cracow, and from blocked- in time of peace. Whatever discipline could do was,
ing Kiel, he will show himself endowed with a pru- done for the Britill army during the peace which
dence and reserve, if not with a timidity, that must intervened between the close of the seven years war,
utterly destroy all the prestige and influence of Russia and the
;;wandcomcement of the American war of inde- 1
on the rest of Europe. pendence during the peace which intervened
The news of the day is, however, the march of between the latter war and the revolutionary wars of
CHARLES ALBERT upon Milan, and his address to the Europe. Whatever discipline could do, was done for
people of Lombardy and Venice. In deporting, or the Prussian army, between the close of the seven
[despatching his army, his Majesty is said to have an- years' war and the wars with the French republic.
' flounced his intention frankly to the diplomatic body, Yet, in the American war, and the campaigns in the
observing that he had no alternative between being Netherlands, the standing armies of England
set aside by a republic at Turin, or marching to as- were beaten and baffled by tyroes in the art
some the iron crown at Milan. The representatives military. The exquisitely drilled Prussian
of the three great powers (that were) took their de- army experienced the same fate, when opposed
patine fiom Turin immediately. to the republican recruits of France. On the other
It remains to be seen what will Austria do? It is hand, WELLINGTON implored the ministry of the day
still governed by old, experienced statesmen by to send him no high-rank officers, but merely officers
KOLLOWRAT and FIQUELMONT, as much the disciples with brevet rank whom he could train in the field ;
as the rivals of Merrerte ten. With Tyrol upon and the German army which beat NAPOLEON out of
the Lombard flank it might be possible to defend heir he
in 1813 was improvised under the fire
Venice. But the revolt and the liberation of Hun- of the terrible old guard.
gary have probably so paralysed Austria, that it A large standing army in time of peace is a school 11
must submit to the loss of its Italian dominions with not of military science, but of military pedantry. A
resignation. Nevertheless, CHARLES ALBERT in large standing army in time of peace is merely an
seizing Lombardy, and FREDERIC WILLIAM in sup- excuse for awarding young men of good or influential
porting Sleswig, only show, that if rascality has families salaries out of the taxes. The country fully
been banished from the world, it has at least found understand political and is moreover quite aware of the
refuge in the breasts of princes. family and connexions. which obtain for this
army of " gentlemen pensioners " so many ardent
..... patrons in the House of Commons. The majority of
. . - , remember this state of

That house will do well to
popular knowledge whey the army estimates come to
be discussed in committee of supply.

(From the Daily News
WE can submit to be robbed in silence, but to be
robbed first and abused after, is something too much
even for a journalist's patience. Yesterday morning,
as usual, we were many hours before all our rivals in
the publication of the important news from Italy, of
the war undertaken by the King of SARDINIA against
Austria, and his occupation of the Lombard dominions.
The Globe, as usual, re-published our electro tele-
graphic despatch without the least acknowledgment,
on the regular , received system of the evening papers,
viz., robbery, then murder and concealment.
The Standard comes out with the same news,
which, though it admits to have been credited on
'Change, it professes to be unbelieved by it, because
of similar statements by us, which turned out un-
founded. The Standard, however, scarcely utters
this condemnation, than it reiterates the same news
from the Morning Herald, and a further depression of
the funds. Pray, good Standard, which of the events
of the revolutions announced by us during the last
fourteen days, always before the other papers, and as
invariably stolen by the evening ones, turned out in-
correct ? In the present case, the King of SARDINIA
not only 'tent his army into Lombardy, but formally
announced his intention to the Austrian as well as to
the other ambassadors. In pursuance of this the
Sardinians drove the remains of the Austrian garrison
out of Milan. If this be not declaring war, and levy-
ing it, the Standard will perhaps inform us.
Yesterday, too, we exclusively published the im-
portant intelligence that the Senate of Washington
had ratified the treaty with Mexico. The poor
Standard, as behindhand in news as in everything
else, knew nothing about it, heard nothing about it,
and published nothing about it. The Standard, ac-
cording to custom, will call it an imposture one hour,
and hail it as undoubted intelligence the next.
•

GERMANY.

PROGRESS OF REFORM.
P RUSSIA.—A semi-official article in the
AU
Pretasische Zeitung of the 27th instant treats as
follows of the question respecting the assembling
of a general German parliament, and states that the
contemplated congress will not take place :
In the proclamation of the 21st of March, V.'s probability
was mentioned that the subject of the formation of a Ger-
man parliament would he proposed to the Prussian diet on
its assembling on the 2nd of April. The formation of the
assembly from deputies sent from the diffa..nt diets to a
general German psrliament was yet to be considered. The
pace where the assembly was to meet remained undecided ;
but Frankfort-on-the• Maine was mentioned as the meat pri-
bable place. Then it was stated that the King of Prussia had
icalled the German princes and government' of the confede-
racy to Dresden or PoJsdam, to select the plue of meetin.
This contemplated German congress cannot note take place.
But in• the meanwhile deputies from the following
German states, Wartemberg, Baden, Reno Daintqadt, and
Nassau have come to Berlin with a plan similar to that con.
templated by Prussia; and,headed bythe Saxon ambassador,
11 have submitted the following points to the government:
t.
The necessity of the direction of the united confederacy to
be taken by one head, the confederacy being represented by
a member of the upper and lower house of each state. And,
as subjects for the competence and considerations of the as-
sembly thus formed, the following have been pointed out:—
An army of the confederacy, the arming of the people, the
establishment of a court of appeal for the confederation,
the greatest possible uniformity in the legislation of the con-
federacy, but, before all, a common law of domicile, of
naturalisation, judicial process penal and criminal; as also
the establishment of a general system of customs, trade,
mint, weights and measures, railways, and care for the
. general representation of the confederacy in foreign coun-
tries.
In order to the most speedy consideration of these
points, it is contemplated to adjoin to the assembly of
the confederation 17 of the most trusted men of the
nation. The assembly, thus strengthened, will come
to a decision on these points, which will be pat into
execution as soon as possible. The man chosen to act
as one of the 17, far Prussia, is Dahlmann.
It appears that, in consequence of the state of
I matters in the duchies of Holstein and Schleswig, and
for fear of their invasion by Danish troops, a corps of
the army has been sent to the frontier. 'The same
precaution has been suggested by Prussia to be taken
on the part of Meckleaburg, Hanover, and Bruilswich.
AUSTRIA.—The dates front Vienna are to the
24th. Count Munch Von Bellingh 'mien has resigned
his appointment of envoy from Austria to the Ger-
i manic Diet. Several fugitive Jews arrived at Vienna on

IA