The Express.
London, England, 1867-03-15 00:00:00

The Marquis of CLANRICARDE said that supposing
the bill to be necessary he thought it was one of the best
bills which had been submitted to the house, but in order
to be effective it ought to be retrospective. The creditors
of these undertakings knew in lending money to them
that they were established for the public convenience. He
trusted the noble lord would reconsider the measure with
reference to the suggestion he had made.
Lord REDESDALE said the object of the bill was
merely to anspend the power of taking railways in
execution until the let of August next, when a new mea•
sure, now under discussion, would be passed. Unless this
protection were given, these seizures ought take place
while the discussion was going on. No one could have
any idea of the embarrassment at the present moment in
the railway world except those who had inquired into the
subject ; and if this bill passed it would in a certain de-
gree tranquillise the feelings of those interested in the
various railway securities which were affected by the
existing state of things. He should not press the bill if
the noble duke saw any serious objection to its principle ;
otherwise he did not think there was any reason why the
hill should not be read a second time, and the committal
of it postponed to a distant day.
The Earl of DERBY said the objection of his noble
friend was not to the principle of the bill, but the House
of Commons had appointed a select committee on the sub-
ject which had reported, and a bill was about to be intro-
duced based on that report. If this bill were proceeded
with, they would be sending to the other house a bill
precisely similar in its character to the government one.
But if the noble lord thought there would be any advan-
tage in the way of settling the minds of those interested,
he saw uo objection to the second reading, and he hoped
the noble duke would concur in that view.

The Marquis OriiaSitieJiiii/EWished to know
whether it would not be better to defer the bill until the
report of the royal commission was before them.
The Duke of RICHMOND said the question under dis-
cussion was not affected by the report of the commission.
The Duke of DEVONSHIRE, as a member of that royal
commission, hoped it would be able to report early in next
month.

Ti;eidll was then read s second time.
RECOVERY OF CERTAIN DEBTS (SCOTLAND)

BILL

On the motion of the Low) CHANCELLOR, the considera-
tion of this bill in committee was postponed until that
day week.

RECRUITING FOR THE ARMY.

The Earl of DALHOUSIE called attention to the report
of the commissioners on recruiting for the army, and justi-
fied the manner in which they had conducted their in-
quiries. He complained of the War Department that it
had not adopted some of the most valuable recummenda.
time in the report for the improvement of the services,
and pronounced the plan of army reorganisation decided
upon by the government u not rising to the necessities of
the case.

The Earl of Low:roar> defended the government
scheme of military reform, and alter some remarks from
Earl irg Gray on the subject of an army reserve,
The Duke of CAMBRIDGE, referring to the cotrucia-
Menem' report, said he attached great importance to its
recommendations ; but at present the most serious ques-
tion wart the raising of more men, and the only mode of
doing that was to offer increased pay. On the whole, he
was of opinion that the measures adopted by the govern-
',rent with this object were most advantageous in an eco-
nomical point of view.
The house adjourned at 20 minutes past S o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—THURSDAY, MARCH 14.
The SPEALEIt took the chair at 4 o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway
Bill, and the Midland Railway (Derby (ha Works) Bill
were read a third time, and passed.

The Wrexham, Mold, and Connali's Quay Railway Bill
was read a second time.

Colonel W. PATTEN, in presenting a petition from in-
habitants of the borough of Lanwster, praying that,
before the adoption of any measure for the disfranchise-
ment of that borough, the petitioners may be heard by
their counsel and agents at the bar of the house, gave
notice of his intention to move to-morrow that the petition
be printed iu the votes.
NOTICE.

THE RErortm BILL—Mr. MILL, in committee, or some
other stage, to call the attention of the house to the plan
of personal representation.