The Express.
London, England, 1853-02-12 00:00:00

CASS OF 711 - MADIAI.

Mr. RINRAIRD asked whethLr any paper+ or extracts
of correspondence relating to the case of the Medial would
be laid before the house ?
Lord J. RUSSELL said he could not give a positive
answer until he had made inquiry at the Foreign•oftiec. If
melt documents were prepared, he should have no objection
to lay them on the table of the boost,

THE CAPE._

Ia answer to some queiiiii:Tnalr;osMr. ADDIRLIT,
Mr. PEEL stated that the franchise end all the other
matters relating to the constitution of the Caps of Good
Hope were still under the consideration of the government;
but he believed the matter was in such a state of forward-
ness as would admit of the constitutional ordinances being
sent out by the mail next month. No intention existed oil
the part ef the government of establishing a convict settle-
ment in South Africa. It was true that General Cathcart
had advanced with about 2,000 troops into a certain inde-
pendent territory, bat he bad no intention of using those
troops in a way hostile to the native tribe.
THE TURKISH EMBASSY.
Lord D. STUART asked whether, in the present state
of the affairs of Turkey, it was intended to leave this coun-
try any longer unrepresented at Constantinople ?
Lord J. RUSSELL—I saw Lord Stratford de Redcliffe
to-day, having had several previous communications with
him ; and it is now arranged that he shall go out almost
immediately.
TRANSFER OF AIDS BILL.
' This bill was read a second time.
THE TEA DUTY.
Mr. MACGREGOIt bad placed on the paper the fol-
lowing notice : " That the duties on sugar having been
su`tjected to gradual reductions from rates of 655. per cat.
on foreign growth, and 245. per cwt. on colonial growth,
so that all sugars will be admitted at a uniform rate of
10s. per cwt. for home consumption in 1865; and at rates
on coffee from the several duties of Is. 3d., is., and 91.
per pound on fore'gn growth, and from 6d. per
pound on colonial growth, to an uniform duty of 3J. per
pound on all coffee—it is just and expedient to reduce the
duty on tea of 2s. Id. per pound and 6 per cent. to a duty
, not exceeding Is. per pound. Anil should it be the
opinion of this house that such reduction cannot, consist-
ently with the state of the revenue, ha immediately
effected, then that the duty be reduced to Is. 4d. per pound,
and then by 3,1. annually to Is. per pound." He stated
that he had made this proposal before the scheme of the
late Chancellor of the Exchequer was submitted. We had re-
duced the duties on every article of consumption except
tea ; and on none was it more required than on that article, '
which was not only one of general use, but of necessity, to
the middle and labouring classes. Notwithstanding the
high duty, its consumption had increased in an extraordi-
nary degree, owing to the establishment of free trade. The
greatest amount imported in one year was about 64 millions
of pallid*. As the Chancellor of the Exchequer mast soon
bring forward his financial statement, he (Mr. Macgregor)
would not press his motion, but would 1 he question in
the hands of the right hon. gentleman, confident that ho
would feel the importance of dealing with it.
The motion was then withdrawn.
METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENTS.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved (or
leave to introduce a hi:lto authorise advances from the con-
solidated fund to discharge money borrowed for metropolitan
improvements on the security of the crown estates, and to
charge the same on the London-bridge approaches fund.
Leave was given.
UNION OF BENEFICES, &e.
' Mr. FREWEN moved that the house should resolve
itself into a committee to consider the acts I and 2 Vie., c.
10G, and 13 and It Vie., c. 93, with a view to bring in a bill
to amend the same, so far as relates to the union of bene-
fices, and for the better securing the residence of the clergy,
and also to promo e and allow the building of churches and
chapels in certain eases.
The house went into committee (Mr. J. Wilson in the
chair), and agreed to the necessary resolution.
The house resumed, and leave was given to bring in the
bill.

The house adjourned at a quarter before ail o'clock.

THE MARQUIS OF LANSDOWNE AND MIL