The Express.
London, England, 1866-02-13 00:00:00

BRITISH MUSEUM.

In reply to Lord HOUGHTON,
Earl RUSSELL said that he had made certain sugges-
tions to the trustees of the British Museum which he
thought would have produced improvement, but the
trustees did not think the suggestions would lead to any
Improvement, and they declined to monde to them.
Nothing further had passed ; then) bad not been any
'Erdal commueication. As matters stood, it was not the
Intention of government to introduce any measure at the
wisest moment. With respect to Mr. Palatal, he thought
UM his appointment was a wise one—(her, hear)—and
that he conducted the affairs of the Museum with great
isredit to himself and advantage to the institution. More
would be very little delay in appointing bis successor.
The lordships adjourned at dye minutes to 6 o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—MONDAY, Fr e. 12.
The &mum took the chair at ten minutes to four o'clock.
NEW MEMBERS.
The swearing in of members was continued to-day.
Amongst those who took the oaths end mbecribed their
names we noticed Colonel Wilson Patten, Mr. Beery Soy-
a/boar, Lord Ernest Brum, Colossi Pennant, Sir J. Ogleby,
Mr. J. Brown, Mr. Onslow, sad Mr. Kennedy.

STANDING ORDERS.
Upon the motion of Colonel Wilson Patten the select
committee on standing orders was nominated, consisting of
the following members :—Colonel Wilma Panto), Mr.
Bonham Carter, Mr. Dunlop. Mr. Edward Egerton, Mr.
Grego' y, Mr. Henley, Mr. Haag', Lord Hotham, Mr.
Lafroy, and Mr. Walpole.
COMMITTEE OF SELECTION.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The following committee of saleution was proposed :
Mr. Bonham Carter, Mr. DunlopMr. Gregory, Lord Ho-
them, Me, Mowbray, sad the chairman of the select com-
mittee on standing nen
ELECTION PETITIONS.
Mr. 0. FORSTER presented petitions complaining of
=doe returns for Maidstone and Helston.
REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE BILLS.
Mr. L KING moved that the undermentioned bills
be reprinted, " A Bill to extend the Right of Voting for
Members of Parliament, end to amend the Laws relating to
the Representation of the People in Parliament, 1852 f'
• A Bill further to amend the Laws relating to the Room-
ontatiou of the People in England and Wales, 1854 ;" " A
Bill to amend the Laws relating to the Representation of
the People in Englaod and Wales, and to facilitate the
Registration and Voting of Electors, 1859 ;'• and " A Bill
further to amend the Laws relating to the Representation
of the People in England and Wane, 1d60."
Agreed to.
LICENSING THEATRES.
Mr. LOCKS asked the Socrotary of Stat. for the Home
Department, whether his attention had been directed to the
present state of the law as to the liconeiug of theatres and
other places of amusement in the metropolis ; and whether
ft was his intention so bring in • bill on the subject!
Sir G. GREY—My lineation has been drawn to the sub-
jet, which is varyoomplicated, and the more so because the
law rests on old statutes which are in • certain degree obso-
/Ma My hon. friend the Under Secretary for the Home
Department intends to move for a select committee to in-
quire into the law upon the matter before any proposal is
made to the legislature with regard to it.
THE POOR IN THE METROPOLIS,
Viscount CRANBORNE asked the President of the Poor-
law Board whether it was his intention to introduce any
staasuro for more effectually securing the execution of the
laws relating to the poor in the metropolis.
Mr. C. VILLIERS—It is my intention on an early con-
dor to introduce a bill for securing the more effectual ex-
motion of the laws relating to the relief of the poor in the
metropolis, aid that measure will be founded or the report
made to the house by the committee appointed last session
to inquire into the subject.
THE SUEZ CANAL.
Mr. SANDFORD asked the Under Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs whether the award of the Emperor of
the French in the affairs of the Suez Coos' had been defi-
nite', sompted ; and, if so, whether her Majesty's peers-
mot adhered to that award, and whether they would lay
the papers relating to it apes the table of the hone.
Mr. LAYARD—Ia answer to the hon. member I have to
state that the award of the Emperor of the French ia not
yet complete, but inquiries are to be made by • commission
appointed by the Turkish, the Egyptiao, and the French
governments. That commission is now eogsged in its
investigation.
QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE.—RETURN FOR
KING'S COUNTY.
Mr. AYRTON drew attention to the practice of the
house in heard to the returns of the elections of members,
the presence of which was held not to be indispensable to
a wiembet's taking his seat ; and brought forward the
ease of Mr. Itionnetsy, in the King's County, who it had
been stated by the sheriff had • majority of votes over
Sir P. O'Brien, the sitting member, though • mistake
h making up the numbers had put Mr. Hennessy
in the minority. The consequence was that as Me.
Hennessy's name did not appear in the return, he
could not take his seat, though duly elected. He urged
that opportunity should be gives to correct the error, and
this might be done without prejudice to the right of peti-
tion in any party aggrieved. It would be dangerous to the
privilege* of the house if, when a misdate in a return was
made, the boon could not deal with it and correct it. Be
moved that the sheriff of the King's County be called to
the bar to be examined on the matter.
Sir P. O'BRIEN pledged his honour to hie belief that
he was in a majority at the election.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL urged that the course pro-
=ewaa contrary not only to the practice but to the
ats of the house ; for it would be in substance an
evasion of the law which the house bad laid down for
itself, and which was, that all questions of electing should
be dealt with by • constituted tribunal of its own ; while
here it was asked to act in • matter relating to • return on
• motion brought forward at the instance of a private in 0-
vidual. It would not be competent to the sheriff, who was
pules officio when haunch his return, to give any informa-
tion on the subject.
The motion was withrawn.
THE CATTLE PLAGUE.
Sir G. GREY moved for leave to bring into • bill to
amend the law minis, to contagious or infectious disease
I. cattle and other animals. Having at length stated the
different measures which bad been adopted by the govern.
ment aad.the recommendations which had been made to
meet the evil, he argued that all opinion was against any
hops of any means of curs being effectual, and
that the only way to check the disease was by the
"laughter of infected animals, by the prohibition of the
movement of ye cattle by railway and road, and
the alaughto mg and ditposiog of the hides of all
cattle coming to thy country by sea, at the points of de-
barkation ; and proceeded to lay down the principle of the
till be was to propose, namely, that rules should be laid
down from which local authorities should not be allowed to
depart ; and to trust to the able and zealous cooperation of
those local authorities. It was proposed to require
tkuszter sessions in counties and municipal author'.
tam in boroughs to cause to be slaughtered all infected
animals in Moir own districts. With regard to animals
not actually infected, but from circumstances of
wand or vicinage likely to be infected, it was
proposal that power be given to the local authorities to
direct them to be slaughtered, although the provision was
not to be imperative. The priociple of compensation
would be adopted ,• not exceeding two-thirds of the value
of the animal, or 201., sad is other three-fourths of value,
or • maximum of 251. All animals dying of the disease
were to be buried so as to prevent infection, and the peo-
niess in which they died to be disinfected. It was not,
however, proposed entirely to prohibit no removal of cattle,
bet to leave it to the local authorities to sot in this respect at
their discretion, under general mulattoes applicable to the
wholocountry, such as that so cattle shall bemoved alms(
a high road by night, and that there should be no move-
ment of cattle by rail or road except by license from the
local authorities ; while power was to be given to anon
persona violating these rules and punish them, while the
tattle so driven should be instantly slaughtered. Power
would be given to proclaim and isolate infected place'.
All fairs and markets for store cattle were to be pro-
hibited for • limited t'me, while those for fat
tattle were to be licensed. None of the beasts should
bo slaughtered them With reg.rd to cattle brought
by see, it was proposed to place all other ports
in thy same position as to prohibition as was now
the case in London, but this was act to apply to Irish
cattle. The bill would generally be limited till July, 1867,
while some of the special provisions would be limited to
15th April, with power to the Queen in Council to extend
the duration of their operation. With regard to penalties,
M lam than four cattle were moved the penalty would be 201,
or 11l a hood for any greeter number. As to comensatime, it
was maned that is ocountios and borough* local rates
should furnish two-thirds of the expense, and the other
third to be raised by a cattle rate imposed on all adds
above one year old of five shillings a head. He stated that
t would be open to divide the bill into two parts, in order
that those provision' which wore immorally approved of
might blooms law at coons. It was invaded that the bill
should Maid for a second reading on Wednesday.
Mr. G. W. HUNT thought in bill stringent, but not
abiagen enough ; mid he proceeded to state the provisions
of • romance ha had himself prepared to the effect that
airingent restrictions should be put on the removal of
settle, these being, that from let to 25th March there
should be no movement on roil or road, aid a uni-
versal slaughter of infected or nucleon animals, local
allanghtor-hososa beteg provided for the purpose. It would
be necessary to have, at wain times of the yes., Islam.