The Express.
London, England, 1847-04-28 00:00:00

DU :'Y OF COAST GUARDS.
Mr. HUDSON said that he had been detained for some
time on board a steamboat, at Newcastle, by the cointguards,
sad he wished to ssk the Sceretary of the Admiralty whether
they had the power to do so.
Mr. WARD said, that if the hon. gentleman had shy
complaint to make *gaited the coast-guard., his better plast
was to submit it in writing to the Admiralty. Its hodso
doubt that the coast-guards had acted according to orders.
MESSAGE FROM TILE LORDS.
Sir A. CLIFFORD, the usher of the black rod, here entered
the house and summoned the members to attend at the bar
of tee House of Lords to hear the royal assent given to seve-
ral hill.. The right boo. the Speaker, sccumpenisd by
amend members, acconling!y lett, and on him return an-
nounced that the Royal assent had been given to several bills
by commission (for which see Lord.' report).

NEWFOUNDLAND.
Sir J. PAHINGTON wished to ask the right hon.
gentleman the Secretary for the C-lonies a question with
reference to Newfoundland. He wanted to know whether
it was the intention of the government to renew the act
passed last session, which was a tenewal of the act of 1842,
or legislate permanently, and whether any material change
would he made in the ut of 1842 ?

Mr. HALVES said it was inteadod to introduce an act
with • view of reviving the old constitution, whilst at the
Nuns tiles the powrn now vested in the ewes se to elec.
teal districts and alotoltaneotes voting would he pessary.",
o that the effect would be to revive the old constitution
with certain change" at to the electoral system.

LOSS OF THE TWEED.
Sir W JAMES had presented a petition a short time since
from artists who were auxurus to compete fee the medal
shout to be struck on the occasion of the loss of the Tweed,
and he wit ed to know what steps the government intended
to take with reference to the matter ?.

Lord J. RUSSELL said that the Lords of the Admiralty
had bean in communication with Mr. Wyon on the subject,
and some steps would shortly be taken for the preparation of
a medal.
SEAMEN'S ENLISTMENT ACT.. .
Sir C. NAPI ER, in sakiit; leave to introduce a bill of
which he hod given notice with a view to entemi the des-
men's 'Enlistment Act, said that rind the peemeno attempt
had .ver been made to establish a regular system .fier the
enlistment of the navy in cue of war, whilst he believed
altnoet every other nation had some settled 'lslam of emus
ning their nary. After noticing seem measures which bad
been paced on the subject, the hon. and gallant gentleman
said that he proposed that the crown should be entitled by a
proclamation to call out any number of ',amen that might
be required in time of peace or war, after the government
had mice to the greatest Intent to obtain men by voluntary
',element, and that such proclamation should call on all
young aesinen who had then completed their sippriadieeshipa
to enter the navy, and if that number was found to be in-
nifficient then winos those who had been out of their ap-
prenticeship, two, three, or four yearn, and soon ea might be
required. He would oleo propose that the mestere of mu,
chant chips should be obliged to discharge the men they
might have on board their ships who might come under the
crocks= ition, and thus they would be ooinpelled to enter
tke navy. He might be t-led that such • system sushi be
but another method of imperilment, bet et any Jets
it would be a more regular mad gentlemanly apnear of
obtaining men ; and his object was to put such a szrstent in
practice in time of peace, so that we might be prepared foe
war, and not be planed to have recourse to the old system
of impressment, than which kidnepping slaves of the coast
of Alvin was not worse. (Hear, bur.) In the event of
war taking place, seamen who were actually employeded
the time of the proem:manse ahoeld be entitled to receive e
double bounty, but bounty should not be received unless
hostilities did amour. His chief eh' MY to enable tie
le-nerviest to call out seam*. by proelamalioa, in &omen as
they might be requited ; and also, if Only two oe three thole
sand men were warted, to save the 111101111101111 expen.• now
attendant on obtaining even me small a number Mateo. He
would allow five days for the men to mune out, and if they
did not do so in the tint instance they Amid only be emitted
to a single bounty. The hon. and gallant gentleman then
cited some butane,, in proof of the evils of the immesomment
'pleat. He believed that it would be impossible to *ninon
the system of impressment again in ere of another war,
and he wu therefore ausious to have a better one substi-
tuted, by which men would he induced to enter the service
of her Mejuty. He thought that the bill he now mind
leave to introduce would have that effect, and he hopealie
would obtain the nineties of the government. The bona
and gallant member eonanded by moving for leave to bring
to the NIL
. .

—Captain PLUMRIDGE sessnded. dr mallsbi; -_. - _
_. - •
Mr. WARD said that astladag mem the bllli be. wad
' I not pretend to take on himself in p merit if It succeeded, or
share any respinaihility if it Med, • It dealt with a large
and difficult subject, so swab mast his hon. and gallant
friend himself complained that every government showed an
indisposition to take it up.: The diffiealty consisted in see-
ing what was most desirable for the public interest. He
would be happy to see some practical and practicable mode
suggested in the bill fur accomplishing the object seta the
bon. and gallant member bad in view, without raising
araiost him the whole of the merchant shippios interest
He would offer on opposition to the introduction of the
bill, and ha could only say that if his bon. and gallant friend
succeeded in oombining the conflicting interests is thin case,
no man could render a greater service to the couutry. Leave
was then given to bring in the bill.
DECIMAL SYSTEM OF COINAGE.
Dr. BO WRING rose for the purpose of moving—" That
the adoption of a decimal system of coinage currency and
account would be a great publie convenience. That, in order
to give effect to this object, an humble eddrem be presented
to her Majesty requesting that she will be graciously premed
to authorise the true of coins representing the value of two
shillinga, being the tenth of a pound sterling, and fwa penal
and two.fifths, being the hundredth pert of a pound sterling,
such coins to he called Queens and Victoria. or any
wher name which to her Majesty may stud twist."' In
almost every country of Europe, throughint Chia; and
America, the dccimil system had been adopted, and the
communications which he received upon the subject from
persons in the highest and lowest ranks of society showed the
rent interest which was felt in the matter in this country,
The general opinion was that the pound sterllngthoidd he
preserved ea the point of unity. His object Will not to
interfere with the existinr coin of the realty from' aft_
message to the aims:nee, tad only to make • alight alters.,
lies in Ili clappar coinage to the extent of fohr per cent.
Aar ea papaw he peoposed that the lambing dtionla
rourtalmtlitaXbilli gest of the pound sterling; the hilt
=Zedpot gad the penny. the 230th part of W.,
ha no nroweity foe altering the .designatuns.ol,
the esietabg coins. The only two novelties wonld.be ths..,
introdustion of two new routs reprsesnting p,4002,-,a 94:
100th part of a pound sterling. o value u fame:
would be Es., and he proposed that it should 'called it',
Quoit ; the value of the latter would he nearly 20.,
and he proposed that it should be roiled a Victoria. Both.
Of these wine would be found extremely useful is circula-
tion. The hon. gentleman then went on to show that' dim,
• deeleakt system had bcon adopted in Spain and the il j
states, the countries included in the Zollverein, Holland, i
anagiant, France, Switaerland, America. Greece, r
~
Brasil, Persia and China. The greatest faiiliq...fm ,
tien and in keeping &cantata woe the result, and 1
that the ease effect would tido plaoe in this' country ,
adopting the same ma . , -• ~ t
Mr. HUME seconded the metas; but ha &labiate alleSt
hie hon. , friend ought to tilve
arathrs. lot he mee. ,
co opinion the time mu,me foe Ow desialswor2allaaar
generally. He hoped to see the system Pat,
as he saw free trade carried out. He heliesod *titian
consequence would be, that every one who now hapilles -
clerks would rive one. It would be a great boon to iamb a.
property—(laughter)—for he scarcely ever met a .4,;
property who knew anything of aceounte. (La...
„mot-
The decimal system would be important to them,.. it
enable them to count their n.oney. (Laughter.) ,It lasi .
been in use in China from time immemorial without change.
and that was a great tort of its superiority. areas, hese.) •
The accuracy end facility with which they made cieleales.,..
Bons upon ten hills attached to so seamy braes wiz, seise Ware
prising. He had no doubt the same thing woulditursoltS.:
the same system was_ in we in this country. Hs thmtght ,
that there should be an ir.quiry on he aubjeet. • • ' • hi
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said thee
die hon. member (or Bolton proposed to introduce two sew. ,
coins, and the bon. member for Matron proposed as is, .i
quiry for the purpose!, of carrying Get sane fully flu giecimag: ,
system. His owe opinion. was, dintnellest erelloll4.ethse. a
should be adopted. He was not ineenethletnehellatelle•Medier is
lone in favour of the decimal spews,. Yid to tilaeisat Ihedre.,i
lity which it would give in keeping eeemma. hat at aba sum, e
dine they must be ware that Awe was liaWly aggaidet ••.
upon which the prejudices of the papas manse!~ soh .
with regard to alterations is dm old wins of thnlieWentusr.:
Ewen in many of those eiontriaps which the kw - •
fur Bolton alluded, the ;mph sash Is the eta dlepeAiar .
tions of coins. Beads', its nit alum Oat it weak he
advisable to depart alapalmer hem what woo salted •
the binary arrangement, bed. at all ems* -if ear • -
things was to be introduced,. it alma be dale Ps
Attiring in principle with the IffrA, admirer foeaelaalloo, M.
was still not prepared to go the)ees* psegiseed. , The ant .• •
point was to obtain the tenthirila pamed, sad that beim., • .
L. had not the least is strike ure-lihilllnig r
pieces. (Hear.) That won • very important step in
the introduction of tkc deipijiagolliggg of impound ; and if
the people generally 'Still 11•1-160•• • dirpOsition to adopt
that care% as karts Woad lase been dons le wail* •
trialsat ter*a calumet to dee Obelimp. Gad gmanams a the
palate. LI hie hiss. friss& pmrsmeeed a, las maim. he • • •
alenti:d feel it kis duty to Moog Obit geolimoquelloo. •
Ur. STAPPORTI O'BRLHI( ~sambaed .the halm, •'
assimber *a Jolson on the gmetial sacra of fa •
When hip Isola th• bon. usigalse.br Moire* • . ,
Ala primades WI to speak et kmamineba ' jam' Zj::
• a
hi seem grossed Per miggamg des • .ir..., -" • r--•
slight ma bat hail his lat •.. •,•
seas a alms. (LaastelaristE F1!••:...'
slight lag . demi& the el .'.5 t 4 .4'
bed sat the beam ea .` . '' *! , •
• birestagt.) TM lanai a mid**, - get 1011.64 . .
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