The Express.
London, England, 1858-02-19 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

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HOMO& OF LORDB.--TamaDAT, Fie. 18.
ifs Lou) CIAXCILLOR axe bis ant at lee o'clock.
The Hart of Flo, (We Yr. Datf) took the oaths and his
seat as Bina new.

BODIED .
The Earl of CA RIRNARVONMILITIA moved he a return of the
establishment of militia regiments now embodied sad their
actual strength cm the Ist of January. It occurred to him
that this might be a good opusity of calling the attention
of the noble lode pposite (d a subjest con-
nected with these returns. The home wasaware that within
the last few days the army estimates for the ensuing
tIWICiaI year had been permuted to the Home of Com-
mons, and he observed that of the total charge for
the effe, rive and now-effective services of Ili mil-
lions in round numbers, which those estimates involved,
150,000 i. only was apprepriated to the embodied °With
. Now, this wee a very =all charge in itself, and still smeller
when compared with the charge in former years. In 1854-5
the number of men voted for the militia, taking the em-
bodied and disembodied together, was 174,000, and the
*barge 900,000 i. In the following year the number of men
wee 136,000, and the charge 3,800 0001. ; and in 1856-7 the
number of men was 126,000 odd, and the charge 3,160,000 f.
This year the total charge tor the embodied militia wee
160,00ei. He believed that, generally speaking, the deems
for this branch of the 'orrice was satisfactory. He did not
say that it might not have exceeded its proper limit, in some
respects ; but if t 0,,. had been a somewhat lavish
ire in one year that wee no reason why it should fall
Into the opposite extreme in the neat. Under the
eireomanove therefore It was scarcely unbar few him
tie mums that it was contemplated either to reduce the num-
ber of regiments embodied, or to keep up an ineffective form.
They had been told at the commencement of the session that
our relations with foreign nations and foreign sovereigns were
at a friendly nature--bear, hear)—but looking at the *rents
of the lest six years. ho felt as others felt, that no one could
venture to say hew far we could depend upon the permanence
of those relation., more especially when we looked at the
present aspect of affairs abroad. Should cireumatanoss moor
suddenly to disturb the peaceful relations with foreign mum
Mae now existing, nothing could absolve the government
from the responsibility which would attach to them, should
It be bend that they had neglected their duty in making full
provides for national defence and the security of the country.
Lad PA.NMURE, who waa very indistinctly heard, inti-
samed that there would be no objection to the production of
the Miss be 'lda the noble earl had moved. In preparing
and pausnlbg,tla estimates for the military service to par-
liament, it was the duty of the government to provide—ffmt.
for the efficient defences of the country, for which ministers
were responsible ; and, secondly, that the estimates should be
framed with a due regard to the weight of taxation. Having
regard to these considerations, he believed that they proposed
in them es sufficient number of men (or her Mejeety•• land
forces. They proposed. in round numbers, 130,000 men,which they thought sufficient to meet all the demand. made
upon the army abroad, and to maintain an efficient
force at home. He only propound to take a vote of
150,0e0f, for the embodied militia, because he believed
that that amount, which would provide for the embodiment of
10,000 men for three months of the year, would be all that
we. required—and should it not, there would be no die:leaky
inereasig it at any time. He was the more juatilied is
this expectation by the fact that retreats were coming in in
large umbers. Since the let of January, 8.500 men had
been recruited, and during the bast week no less than 2,000.
This rate of recruiting would probably continue for the next
two cc three months, and would by that time have replaced to
a very ocesiderable extent the losses which the regiments in
India had sustained. Under all the circumWances, it was
the opinion of officers of high rank and authority,that it wee
beet not to send out any new regiments to India • at the
rase time that it bad been and would continue to
be to send out considerable drafts to
keep up the e ective strength of the regiments already there.
At present he was happy to soy that the troops were in a
marvellously healthy state; still they must expect that when
the rainy and hot season came in, roomy casualties would
occur which would have to be met, and then he could hardly
expect that they would have to send out lees than 1,500 ram
a moth to India. Whether it would be necessary to arrange
Ise eluding ont the men month by month would of comes
depend upon the exigencies of the service; but if not, he
to take steps fur sending them as far u the Caps
Ceylon, where they could remain In good health until
their seniors were required with their regiments at the seat
of opsrationa. Under these circumetancee he thought he
should not be justified in asking parliament now for a very
large sem for the embodiment of the militia. Of comas
it would be in the power of the government to
come to terliament at any time and ask for an increase of the
vote, :old to increase the force should events occur rendering
such a course fleet:emery ; and there was some advantage in
that mode of proceeding, inasmuch as it would afford to par-
liament the opportunity of expressing Its opinion as to the
propriety of the demand. AI at present advised, the somber
of men they would ask parliament to vote was sufficient for the
service of the country. That part of the vote fur the sin-
Wisest of the militia they considered also sufficient, be-
lieving that with this 150,000 i. they would be able to embody
the WM fee a sufficient time, and to allow them to return to
their beans when It we. moat desirable that they should have
the opportunity dew* their ordinary occupations.
The Earl of HARDWIC KR said he did not
think this was a time when they ought to be unprepared
for any accident that might occur. A militia form that had
been called coat but Sr a few weeks only could scarcely be
expected to be very efficient, and would require to be put
under decipher for mine time before they would become so.
He could not help thinking, thcref,.re, that a larger embodied
militia force would be desirable. When he looked to
eircumatmares of which they were all aware, and heard it
asked of the Home of Commons whether it was their twen-
ties to offend the Emperor of the Preach by the tone they
adeptel—when he heard language like that used by the
abbe Minister of the Crows to the Home of Commona.4o
merteinty did lead him to think that the eats of our foreign
relations was not altogether so satisfactory as could be wished.
(Hear, bear.) And when he remembered also that we had
another war—carried en with what object or for what pur-
ees. tbep did not knew, bat which would absorb much of our
arias at relief to the regiments serving in India and the
ecendes—b• thought It was a time when the government
might he.. ventured to ash for a larger sum than 150,0001.
br tie embodied militia. Under thee. circumstances, he
speed *lib his noble friend who bad asked for these pipers,
andsisseld be &peed to support the government if the
Pg
le be a little lees sear ne this matter. (Hear, hear)
Cal lehrea were agreed to.
LAW OP BANKRUPTCY.
LeeS BROUGHAM Introduced is bill for effecting various
demene in the pressed jarisiction In bankruptcy. His lord-
ship deem ibrd some of the inceenveniescas of the present sees
tees, theeldef of which was that throughout ez:. octanes.. dis-
trict of the comairy all the bankruptcy business was smear
ray brae& Wore the court in London. From seven counties,
enniimig the important towns of Norwich, Yarmeeth,
ffauffemapten, andßrighton the whole bankruptcy business
wee Insetkt to the:central court. Merril Lord Brougher.
=B remedy by giving a juriedictien in bankruptcy in
illiehicts to the peewee county courts. A main object
lithe UMW* Is to loodise the administration of the law of
lieekrepaey is the same manner as the general administration
of justice.
The LORD CHANCELLOR would not promise to adopt
the hill, but would give it his beet consideration.
Lord Cement:J.. and Lord IV ZNALEYDALE concurred is
the opinion that the whole law of bankruptcy required re-
Thelon.

Lord STANLEY of A LDERLEY said that the govern-
ment and the country were under great obligation. to the
noble lord (Brougham) for the measure which he had placed
upon the table. The subject was a moat iosportaat one, and
one to which the government had given earnest attention.
The bill which they hoped to introduce very shortly would
meet many objections—especially, be might say. that In
mein where the parties were desirous to wind up a beak-
rolantatily, proviime were contained for
this object.
Tit Ma wee then placed all the table end read a that time.
Thdr lordships adjourned at soma eclock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—THrRSDAY, PY.S. 18.
The House met at four o'elcek.