The Express.
London, England, 1866-07-21 00:00:00

LAW OP CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.

Mr. EWART asked the Secretary of State for the Hoene
Department what course the government intended to pur-
sue with regard to the Law of Capital Punishment
Amendment Rill.
Mr. WALPOLE replied that the government did not
intend to proceed with the bill ; but were ready to con-
sent to its first reading, in order that it might be placed
in the hands of members.
THE IMPORTATION OF CATTLE.

Mr. F. SURTEME asked the Vice• President of the
Committee of Conseil on Education whether it was the in-

tention of government to make any relaxation of the
order in council which now compels all cattle coming from
abroad to be slaughtered within four days after their land-
ing in this country.
bit. CORRY replied that at a meeting of the Com-
mittee of Privy.Couneil lately held, it wu decided not to
reLix the order In council at present.

THE PUBLIC FINANCES.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that it
might be a convenience to the house if he mentioned that
on going into committee on Monday next he proposed
to make a short statement, showing the additional charges
on the Exchequer since the general financial statement
was made by the right hon. gentleman opposite, and he
would then inform the house what course the government
proposed to follow in consequence.

IRISH RAILWAYS.
Mr. GREGORY called attention to the evidence given
• before the commission on railways on the subject of the
' Irish railways, showing that the fare* were higher than
those either in Scotland or England, while there was the
minimum of aceommodation, and this to such an extent
that its asserted that there was more accommodation in
the old coaching times than now. The remedy was almost
• universally admitted to be the passing of the railways hi
• some shape or other into the hands of the government.
• Mr. PIM seconded the motion. _ _

Mr. DUTTON hoped that the government would take
the subject into consideration by next session. The object
was to restore the credit of the Irish railways, when
capitalists would be glad to invest in those nndertakinga.
Lorl NAAS admitted the necessity for careful considera-
tion of the Ir s'i railways ; and if next session a measure
war, riot brought forward by the government it would only I
be bemuse of the insuperable nature of the rase.
Mr. GLADSTONE said in reference to • measure in
regard to Irish railways, which had been prepared by the
late and adopted by the present government, that it
would only enable the advance of about half • million.
Its scope and purpose, therefore, were but small, and it
could not be taken as • remedial measure for the great
disarrangement of the Irish railway system. As to the
motion in hand, it would be premature pending the sitting
of the railway commission to enter on the immediate con-
sideration of the whole question, although in his opinion
nothing more beneficial could be effected for Ireland than
the development of railways in that country.
THE STATE OF THE NAVY.

Mr. SAMUDA proceeded to call attention to the present
state of the navy, and to the very small !magmas that has
been made, especially of late ran, in its reconstruction
with iron-clad vessels, and to compare these results
with the great augmentation that has taken place,
and is still taking place, in the armour-clad navies of other
states. He said that it had taken seven years to produce
21 iron-clad vessels, while France had built 42 in the some
time. The American navy would soon consist of 72 iron-
clad% So far behind other nations was this country in
naval force, that no ordinary exertion could in an
emergency place us in the position in which we ought to
• be—that of having a fleet equal to those of all Europe
combined. He suggested that a supplemental esti-
mate of 430,0001. might be asked for, to be applicable
to the building of twelve vessels during the mesa, two
or there being two-turret ship', each carrying two 600-
pounder guns. and the other ten being one-turret ships,
• one 600-pounder. The total cost would be about
• 1., which might be spread over the estimates of
three years.
' Sir J. PAKINGTON said that the statement of the
disadvantageous position of the English navy relatively to
those of other countries was rather understated ; even the
Italian iron-clad fleet, to say nothing of that of France,
• which had in fact 53 ships armour-clad, being in com-
' parison superior to our own. Russia had a Luxe force,
many of which were turret ships, while America had
no lase than 73 effective vessels of war. Then Basil,
Peru, and Chili had adequate iron-clad squadrons. In
; this state of things England bad only 33 of these ship, of
which 30 were afloat and only three building. He regretted
that so long a time had elapsed before the turret system
' was tried, and he bad taken steps to carry out the =ten-
' thin of the late Admiralty in the construction of a of
that class by Captain Cowper Co ,les • end he hoped that
generally the recess would be utilised by the improvement
'of our Iron-clad ships. He pronounced in favour of turret
• ships.
Mr. T. G. BARING asserted that, apart from coast-de-
fence vessels, the sea-going armour-plated navy of Besgland
was far greater than that of any other nation. We had a