The Express.
London, England, 1866-03-09 00:00:00

IRISH FISHERIES.

Mr. BLAKE asked the Attorney-General for Ireland,
whether be intended movies for leave to introduce a bill to
give effect to the recommendation of the special oommis-
simian for Irish fisheries, sa contained in their report for
1865

Mr. LAWSON hoped to be able to do so.
THE CATTLE PLAQUE BILL.

Mr. HUNT wished to pet a question to the Home See-
retary respecting a measure shish had gone up to the other
house, the Cattle Plague Bill. (Laughter.) Hots. gentle-
men might think the subject an amusing one ; but it ap-
t* him to be very serious. He undentood that the
ap-
peared was likely to be returned to-night with certain amend-
ments, and inasmuch as the courts of quarter-session
were waiting to see the act before making new order., it
would be very desirable that the bill should be disposed of
at onto. He wished to know, therefore, whether the right
hon. baronet would undertake that the Lords' amendments
should be considered to-morrow
Sir G. GREY understood that the bill had been referred
to a select committee of their lordships, and that notices of
many amendments had been given. It would be quite im-
possible, therefore, to may in what state the bill would
come dowo, and it was due both to the house and to the
country that they should have en opportunity of consider-
ing the mowers In its altered form. (Hear, hear.)
In answer to Mr. CHAMBERS,
Mr. T. G. BARING said that the chairman of the
Metropolitan Board of Works bad brought to his
notice the refund of the magistrates in the coun-
ties surrounding London to allow manure to be re-
moved from the metropolis ; and had represented
that great inconvenience to the public health might
arise If that prohibition were long maintained. The Home-
eke bad communicated with the magistrates of one of
the counties concerned, with a view if possible to induce
them to make arrangements under which manure might be
sent into the country without fear of spreading the cattle
disease. When the Cattle Plague Bill came beck, the horse
would have an opportunity of introducing into it such pro-
visions on the subject as it might think At. (Hear.)
Mr. O'REILLY asked the Secretary of State for War
whether the horns, of cavalry regiments lately sent to Ire-
land had not accompanied them ; and if so. whether that
was not In violation of the orders in council for the preven-
tion of the introduction of the cattle plague into the latter
country.
The Bangui' of HARTINOTON said the regiments bad
taken their horses with them, bat that had been no viola-
tion of any order in council, for those orders referred to
cattle and not to horses.
THE EASTER RECESS.

In answer to Colonel W. PATTEN.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER raid the go-
vernment would propose the adjournment of the house on
Friday, the 23rd inst. ; and, in aeoordanes with what was
now the usual practice, it would re-assemble on the Monday
fortnight following.
PARLIAMENTARY OATHS BILL.
Sir G. GREY having moved the second reading,

Mr. NEWDEGATE presented onsiderably more than a
huadred petition. from churchmen and protestant dia-
sante?' ■gaicst the bill.

Mr. DISRAELI, while admitting that there was in the
oath now taken at the table something obsolete sod in-
vidious towards the Roman catholic members of the house,
still could not give his assent to the bald form which the
government proposed to substitute for the existing oath.
He was favourable to the principle of • uniform oath of
allegiance, but he wished to see it accompanied by the
materials and fundamental characteristics which, in
his opinion, theh an obligation ought to posses,.
The oath ought, he thought, to bind the person
taking it not only in personal allegiance to her Majesty,
bat also to her heirs and successor*, as limited by the Act
of Settlement. It ought also to et:knowledge the supre-
macy of the crown in all the courts of law in the country.
He would not oppose the second reading of the bill, as he
pas in favour of • uniform oatb, but he would place on the
table, for the consideration of the committee, a form which
he believed would meet the objections he had raised, and
which he was persuaded no Roman catholic member of the
hones would hesitate to take.
Mr. BRIGHT asked to be permitted to mike a remark
in regard to the words of the oath. The words were that
there should be a uniform oath. There was a small
number of gentlemen in the house who were required to
affirm, sod io the affirmation be and some others made
the word " defeod" was not inserted. He wished to
know whether that word in the oath implied that they
wen expected actually to take up arms. (Laughter.)
He did not want to enter into the general question, but he
hoped that boo, members in the position in which be was
placed would be left in that position, and would continue
to be admitted on the same footing as before. He
merely mentioned the point to draw the attention of the
goveromentto it in order that the requisite alteration might
be made in the form of affirmation. _

Sir G. ORE? had listened to a ooesiastable portion of
Mr. Disraeli's speech with much satisfaction, because it
showed the great advance that had been made amongst
the opposition since the debate which took place on this
subject last year. He dissented from the tight hon. gen-
tleman, however, when he said that the existing oath
contained no real or practical grievance, and reminded
him that the words of the proposed oath were identically
the same as those which were now subscribed to by every
member of the house. The protestant succession,
moreover, did not rest on the retention of the
words in the oath. It depended upon the hot of
Settlement, by virtue of which any sovereign who
ceased to be • protestant was thereby deprived of the
crown. Consequently the words suggested by the right
hon. gentleman were altogether unnecessary ; but if be
would lay upon the table the form of oath which be pro-
posed to suggest in committee, the government would cow-
eider it in a fair sad outdid spirit, with an earnest desire to
accomplish the object they all had in view—namely, the
establishment of a uniform oath which would admit of
members coming to the table without ranging themselves
in different parties according to their religious opinions, and
feeling that they could deal with the various subjects that
came before them in their legislative capacity free and
unfettered by sectarian influence'.
air H. CAIRNS said he rejoiced that • uniform oath was
about to be established. That was is fact the proposition
for which he hid contended last year, sad it was entirely
wrong to say that he or those around him had °bagged
their minds since the subject was last before the house.
Yr. NEWDEQATE said that the effect of the bill, if it
became law, would be to destroy the distinctively pro-
testant character of parliament, while at the saw time the
sovereign would continue bound to uphold the principles of
the Reformation. He objected to the whole principle of this
bill. (" Hear, hear," from Mr. Roebuck.) He bad had
the misfortune to differ from the hon. and learned member
for Sheffield in days past, when the hon. and learned gen-
tleman supported other extreme measures. (Hear, bear.)
Hitherto every member who was returned to that house
had to declare the religion to which he belonged, and if he