The Express.
London, England, 1867-11-30 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—FRIDAY, Nov. 29.
IN the House of Commoxs, yesterday, Mr.
Jaom BRIGHT took the oaths and his seat for Man-
chester.
Mr. New ososrm called attention to a statement
made by Mr. Layard in the Abyssinian debate,
that Dr. Beke had falsely charged Mr. Raman
with having embezzled the money of the govern-
ment. This statement, he said, was calculated to

do Dr. Beke a great injury, and he read extracts
from Dr. Beke's book with a view of showing that
the accusation was groundless.
On the order of the day for going into committee
of supply,
Major ANSON called attention to the relative
cost of the Woolwich 7-inch gun and the converted
7-inch gun, as given on the 13th August by the
Secretary of State for War, and complained that
as unfair comparison was made between the Wool-
wich gun and the converted gun.
Sir J. PAICINCTON vindicated his statement, and
said it was found that it would not be advan-
tageous to rifle the 68-pounder smooth bore gun,
but it was intended that a number of 32-pounders
should be rifled at private establishments under
the superintendence of Major Palliser.

Mr. Orw.tv called attention to the anoma:ous
state of the law relating to the elections for the
boroughs of Tanen, Great Yarmouth, Lancaster,
and Rei ,ate. These boroughs had all been dis-
fraziehi:ed for bribery by a clause in the Reform
Act; but as, by the wording of the clause, the
disfranchisement did not take place till the general
election in 1869, if a vacancy occurred in the
representation in the meantime, the Speaker would
Lave to issue a writ for the election of a new mem-
ber, a state of things which he submitted ought not
to be allowed to continue.

Mr. C. FOMTER asked whether the payment of
rates by a landlord was a payment by the tenant.
A discussion followed on the subject of com-
pounding, in which Lord Henley, Mr. Warner,
and Mr. Henley to9k part ; and Mr. Gladstone,
who declined to discuss the question, said he
was quite willing that the new system of rating
all occupiers should be put to the test of ex-
perience, but he expressed a hope that it would
not be treated as a party question.

The ArfORNKY-GENERAL said Mr. Otway had
taken a correct view of the effect of the clause in
the Reform Act in reference to the disfranchise-
ment of the boroughs in question. That defect
ought to be remedied as soon as possible, and the
matter was under the consideration of government.
In reply to the question of Mr. Forster, he stated
that a payment of the rates by the landlord as the
agent of the tenant would, for the purposes of the
act, he a good payment.
The motion for going into committee of supply
was then withdrawn.

On the report of the committee of ways and
means,

Mr. B. Osnourre commented on the little infor-
mation given in the blue-book on the Abyssinian
war. There were no papers for the period from
1855 to 1860, and for aught they knew there might
be a good deal to be said for King Theodore. He
announced his intention of bringing the subject
forward on Monday.
The East London Museum Site Bill was read a
second time and referred to a select committee.

The Sales of Reversions Bill peued through com-
mittee.

Mr. Huxr moved that the contract for the con-
veyance of the mails between this country, India,
China, and Japan with the Peninsular and Oriental
Steam Navigation Company be approved. He said
there was practically but one tender, which was
from the Peninsular and Oriental Company, the only
other tender being to convey the mails from Brindisi
to Alexandria, Brindisi being substituted for Mar-
milks. The company asked 500,0601. per annum,
the contract to be for six years • but after negotia-
tion 'they consented to take 400,0001., the time
being extended to 12 years, and there was a pro-
viso that the government should guarantee to the
company a dividend of 6 per cent., paying in no
CYO, however, more than 500,0001. a year. But if
the profits yielded more than 8 per cent. the govern-
ment was to share in the profits to the extent of
one-fourth. The amount of the subsidy was much
increased, it being at the present time only 230,0081.
a year. . .

Mr. AYRTON censured the government for having
given the company twelve months' notice to termi-
nate the contract, and then issuing advertisements
for tenders with too short a notice to enable ship-
owners to tender, a course of procedure by which
they placed themselves in the power of the com-
pany. The government might have insisted on
greater speed being attained, it being only nine and
and a half miles an hour. He also objected to the
terms of the contract, which he said were a pre-
mium on waste, and to the period for which it was
made.

Mr. NORWOOD agreed with Mr. Ayrton that it
was an injudicious thing to have so soon given
notice to terminate the contract to carry the Bom-
bay mails. He also agreed with him that more
speed ought to have been required. The 400,0001.
a year was only for the service to India and China.
In the course of another yeartbegovernment would
Lave to pay more for the service to Australia. He
objected to the partnership arrangement between
the government and the country.
Mr. &OUJDA also disapproved of the partner-
ship, and thought greater speed might have been
required, but said it was a mistake to suppose that
400,0001. was to be given for the service for which
230,0001. was paid now, because a greater amount of
service was to be rendered.

Mr. CHILDERS censured the government for not
acting in accordance with the recommendations of
the committee of last year, and for entering into the
partnership, but, under the circumstances, should
support the motion.
Mr. M•L.saax characterised the arrangement as
an improvident and objectionable one.
Mr. Ht7srr replied, but the discussion was con-
tinued by Mr. GRAHAM and Mr. J. B SMITH, who
both expressed an opinion that the contract should
have been for a shorter period.
The house then divided, and the motion was
serried by 55 to 13.
Bills were introduced by Sir C. O'Loghlen, to
enable corporate and other public bodies in
Ireland to grant superannuation allowances to
officers in their service in certain cases ; by Mr.
Hadfield, for facilitating the acquisition and enjoy-
ment of sites for buildings for religious, educa-
tional, literary, scientific, and other charitable
purposes ; and by Mr. S. Lefevro, to enable per-
sons to secure to their wives and children the
benefit of assurances on their lives by nomination
endorsed on the policy.
The house adjourned at half past ten o'clock till
twelve this day.

FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE GREAT RANTERS!
RAILWAY. —Yesterday afternoon an inquest was bald at
the London Hospital by Mr. J. Humphreys, the Middle-
sex coroner, relative to the death of Mr. William Bennett,
wed 59, a miller, lately residing at Benkentrse. The Rev.
T. Cochrane, Stapleford rectory, said that on Tuesday last
b• was in the same compartmental a =these on the Great
lectern Railway, from Ilisbopegate to Chadwell-heath
station. At the station the deceased opened the carriage
door, and stepped straight out while the train was t
going on. He was swung round and thrown down. The
train went over the deceased, who had fallen between the
*Harm and the rails. The train was going rather fast at
the time. It was 7 o'clock in the evening when the acci-
dent took place. The deceased Wel quite sober. Mr. W.
Jay, house-surgeon at the London Hospital, said that the
deceased was brought in suffering from dreadful injuries
through being crushed by a railway train. His case was
hopeless, but he lingered until the next day (Wednesda)),
when he died from his injuries. The Coroner said that this
was only another instance of the danger resulting from
railway passengers opening the carriage doors to alight
while the train is in motion. The jury returned a verdict
of " Accidental death through alighting from a train
while in motion."

CZYbTAL PALscs.—This afternoon's concert is
otos of more than usual interest. The programme includes
Idendelsoobn'a "Reformation Symphony," a work
Were performed in England, and the new book of "Songs
wiebout Words," which has only been once heard in Lon-
don. The overture. are " Anacreon " (Cherubini) and
"Baryanthe " (Weber). The solo artistes are Wile.
BenernmiaterMiaeXatharine Poynts, Signor Tomball, and
)raise Arabella Goddard. The palace will be
illami-
naiad for pressed, after Use ocosoort.