The Express.
London, England, 1866-03-13 00:00:00

JUSTICE.

In answer to Mr. C. Bagmen,
Mr. COWPER said that two of the arobitsets invited to
send in designs for the erection of courts of jastice—
namely, Messrs. T. Wyatt and Hardwick—had declined to
do so, and two other architects had the nastier under con.
sideration. Specifications of an elaborate character had
been prepared by Mr. Barney, the architectural clerk. The
time for sending in the des' was the eed of October.
With reference to the National Gallery, It was intended to
receive designs from a limited number of architects, son.
gelding the best way in which the land at the
rear of the National Gallery might be disposed of ;
and also a pine showing how, in the event of it being deter.
mined to demolish the existing building altogether, a more
eoevenient and ornamental building for the purpose of a
National Gallery could be erected. There was no inten-
tion to abandon the designs of the late Captain Fowkee for
the natural history collection, and Ifr. Waterhouse had
been engaged to superintend the erection of a building from
those designs. With respect to the l►w courts, the arrange-
ments were not in snob a state se to enable him so make any
statement.

ELECTORAL STATISTICS.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in reply
to Mr. Ferguson, add that directions had been gives
for the preparation of similar electoral returns for %O-
land as had been furnished for England. He could not
name the precise day when they would be ready, but ample
time would be given for their consideration.
DOCKYARDS EXTENSION ACT OF 1865, dro.
Lord O. PAGET gave notice that on Thursday next he
would move for leave to bring in a bill for the extension of
the above sot, and also a bill for the better prevention of
contagious diseases in certain naval and military stations.
On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHE-
QUER, the orders of the day were postponed until after
the notice of motion with respect to the Reform Bill.
TIIE REFORM BILL.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, who was
received with loud and general cheering, said—l have now
to sak that the paragraphs in the Queen's Speech relating
to the electoral franchise may be read at the table.
The CLERK then read the following paragraphs :—" I have
directed that information should be procured in reference
to the rights of voting in the election of members to serve
in parliament foe counties, cities, and boroughs. When
that information is complete, the attention of parliament
will be called to the result thus obtained, with a view to
such improvements in the JAWS which regulate the rights of
voting in the election of members of the House of Commons
as may tend to strengthen our free institutions, and non.
duce to the public welfare."
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER mid—Mr.
Deputy-Speaker,—Sir, If in order to estimate the difficul-
ties of the question which I have now to bring before you
it be right, as I suppose, to take into view not only
its own extent and complexity, and not only the strange
fluctuation of circumstances which have attended and
marked its history, but also the weakness of the hands into
which the treatment of it has fallen, then, perhaps, I may
well say that few ministers have risen in recent years to ad-
dress the house under greater difficulties than at this
moment attend my position and task. Sir, those difficul-
ties are difficulties which affect in the first instance her
Majesty's government, and they are perfectly sensible of
the weight of responsibility which attaches to them. But
although they be concentrated in their greatest weight upon
ua, yet they sre not ours alone. The interest in the solu-
tion of this question is en interest common to the whole
• Hoene of Commons, and to every party and every section of
I a party that sits within this house. (Hear, beer.) For,
• sir, let me remind you that those paragraphs which we
have just heard read are not the only pars-
graphs in which, under the meet solemn form
known to the constitution, the subject of the
representation of the people has been brought under the

- -.
The Carmarthen and Cardigan R.ilway Bill, the Castle ' notice of parliament. By no less than five administrations,
Clary and Langoort Railway Bill, the Eat and West Jima- , i no leas than six Queen's speeches, before that of the
Con Railway (Hitchin Extensino) Bill, the Glasgow and i
South Western Railway (6ilelitional Powers) Bill, the • ,present year, the House of Commons has been acquainted
Great Western Railway Bill, the Greenock and Shaws by the Sovereign, advised by her constitutional ministers,
Water Bill, the Greenock Water Bill, the Lcuth and Lincoln that the time, in their judgment, had come, when the re-
Railway Bill, the Merthyr, Trelegtr, and Abergaveany ' presentation of the people ought to undergo revision.
Railway, Bill, the Peterborough Water Bill, the Bt. (Hear, hear.) It is needless to refer to the terms of those
Stephens Green (Dublin) Bill, the Slough Gas Bill, the
South London Market 8011, the Watford and Edgware speeches, but it will be reoolleeted that they have not been
Junction Railway Bill, the West Cork. Cork sod Bandon, delivered exclusively at periods when one olds of the house
&c. Railway Companies Bill, the West Driytoe and Staiees was in power. (Meer, hear.) In 1860 and In 1859, by both
Railway Bill, mil the Wolverhampton and Walsall Rail- parties, those solemn pledges were given is the face of the
way (aiviati ins) Bill, were read a second time.
' country ; and, sir, having much, I fear, to state to the
Mr. LOCKE moved the rejection of the City, Kingston,
and Richmond Railway Bill, bat after a brief convenation houw'i I shall not unneceessrily occupy their time
it was read a second time. on tbis occasion by dimming the general grounds of the
Oc the motion of Mr. CRAWFORD, the Gaslight end Coke question, whether there ought to be a revision of our oleo-
Otaipany Bill, sad Gaslight sad Coke, and City of London kcal system, and whether the hanehises of the people