The Express.
London, England, 1867-06-19 00:00:00

THE MILITIA.

In answer to a question of Ceneral Itnnumeir,
Sir .1. I'AKINOTON sail it scut not the ditty of the
W.r-orlice to regulate the passage of regiments of militia
through toe streets.
SUNDAY LECTURES BILL. _

Viscount AMBEHLEV moved the second reading of
bill. He said the net of George 111. bad been applies!
to purposes for which it was. not intended. Ilia
bill sheeted only that put of the act which
related to discussions, it did not affect that
which related to amusements, and his object was to repeal
so much of it as prevented lectures or discussions. Ithad
been 'suggested that the bill should be referred to a select
committee, and he had no objection to that course.
Ile could sac no reason why the perfume
3iice Of sacred music should not be permitted
with due pnrautions. The reports of former select cone
n.itte, would have justified the introduction of a more
esta.a.,s,. m,.,-tire. A coisinaittee relating to the opening
of scientific institutions in Dublin reported in favour of
that ; amt a committee on public-house,,, which sat in 1K.4,
I.Orti,l 10 favour of the opening of national institutions.
Ile t le.aa cited the evidence of Sir Joseph Paxton in favour
of the ~i..tting of the Crystal Palace on Sundays, and ob-
sets e.l tla at the liberal intentions of Lord Derby in grunting
the charter were frustrated. In the comae of his evidence Sir
Jan ila remarked that the government themselves allowed
to be taken fur admission to a royal chapeL
The ruble lord then proceeded to notice the oh.
jrct i..at that the bill would interfere with the
smactity of the Sabbath. He could see no difference, he
• in principle, between paying for a seat in a public
• .11.1 paying for a seat in a church. lie denies' that
the till end angered Sunday rest, or tended to introduce a
e..a,i Modal Sunday into this country. It might as well
h,. ,upeoseal that it would lead the people of England to
speak a foreign language. The observance of Sunday de-
p,..61 oil the confirmed habits of the people. He be-
ta, ",I t hat sooner or later the principle of the bill would
Terris,. the sanction of parliament.
Mr. K I NNAIRD moved that the bill be read a second
thee that slay six months. He denied that this bill was
necessitated by an infringement of religious liberty. It
lank k him on visiting St. Martin's liall,at one of the meet.
in .mestion, that the occasion partook more of the cha-
racter of a musical entertainment than of a scientific lec-
ture. There were professional singers dressed in evening cos-
tume. (Hear.) He considered the present law an admirable
common sense one, supposing that theatres and other
pleas of amusement ought not to be opened on Sundae.
Mousey payment was objected to because if the principle
este once admitted it would be impossible to stop.
(Hear, hear.) If music was to be paid for, why not dan-
cing. which many persons would prefer He deprecated
the idea of eenaling the bill to a select committee, and
hoped the house would at once reject it.
Mr. ItEItEsFORD.HOPE believed that the English
system of observing the Sabbath was the best, and he was
equally opposed to the French fete and the Scotch nab-
bath. He objected to a settlement of the Sun-
day observance question founded on a pia pendeas
between Professors Huxley and Owen and Mr. Baxter.
As regarded the question immediately before the house,
be thought the decision ought to turn on the clui.
rider of the entertainment. Mr. Murphy, of Birmingham,
might preach ruffianism with the sanction of a member
of parliament -(laughter)—and no one could interfere
with him because no money was taken at the doors. He
bad intended to move that the hill be referred to a select
committee, Ind after heuingthespeeeh of the noble lord lie
must vote against the second reading. If the second reading
should be carried be would still propose a reference to a
select committee. He hoped the noble lord would raise
the general sjynstion of Sabbath observance next year.

—ie. J. S. MILL said his noble friend had congaed him-
self to a small portion of the general subject on which he
thought reasonable persons could hardly differ. Putting
the matter on the lowest ground, he (Mr. J. S.
Mill) would ask the house, will you have this
o r the public•house? If people could be induced to go to
lectures instead of to the public-house one good would
have been done.