The Express.
London, England, 1868-07-09 00:00:00

IMPERiAL PARLIAMENT.

At the outset of the proceedings of the House of
Commons yesterday, it was aacertained from the
Chancellor of the Exchequer that the Irish Rail-
way Commission, which has cost some 22,0001,
has not yet entirely concluded its labours, but that
the commissioners are now engaged in making
inquiries, the result of which may influence the
decision of the government as to the purchase of
the railways in Ireland. Mr. Clive's Water
Supply Bill was got rid of in a few minutes by
the discharge of the order and the withdrawal
of the measure ; but the Minos Assess-
ment Bill, of which Mr. Percy Wyndham
had charge, gave a great Zeal mere trouble.
Aa soon as the 'house went into committee appeals
were addressed by Mr. Brace and ethers to Mr.
Wyndluuu-to prevail upon him to withdraw the
bill, and to Use government to induce 'them to un-
dertake to deal with the whole question of ex- •
emptions from rating. Mr. Hardy trid Sir M.
Beach declined to pledge the governthont upon
the subject ; hut neither of them guy° the memo
ber for-Cumberland much encourage, ment to per-
severe with his bill. lievertheiess, Yr. Wyndham
declin.4 to withdraw the measure; and a (multi-
elerahle time watt occupied in a general discussion
of the principles ur rn which mime ought to be
rated, and the Last means of carrying out
the intentions of the ceaumittce in that re-
spect. something like an under-
standing was orris ed at, and an amendment upon
the first clause, reeved by Mr. Avrton (and accepted
by Mr. Wyndham), rend‘-.ring liable to rating, all
mines which have hitherto been exempted, was
carried by a majority of 113 ; 119 to 6. The
adoption of ti.is amendment neemitated con-
siderable alteration in Om other provisions of the
bill, especialt, in three which referred to the
division of du rates between onuses and occupiers,
and several clauses were negatived in order that
new ones might be brought up on the report. It
was hardly 1.0 be expected that Mr. Newilegate
would allow any alteration to be made in the
oaths to be taken by: high officials without a dis-
play of his "eculiar susceptibilities; and, true to
his char-net, r, lie slid not permit the Promissory
Oaths to go 'through committee without a
solemn protest— nom wile in manner
even than in matter against the ow.ission
from the form of the oath of allegiance prescribed
in the bill, of tur.i, e.ference to tin. Act of Settle-
nwnt--an omission from which he appeared to
apprehend the' direst consequences. Mr. Hardy
defended the •f(11711 adopted by reference to the
nut hority of the royal commissioners. and of the
commitos• of the House of Lords; and pointed
out that the •oittli. as now taken by own:bora of
parliament (for which Mr. Newdeg,itte had ex-
pressed a prefer, nee?. iiradvisl an assertion of the
right of tiiie sovereign to the crown of France.
Gitsclee did not appear to share the tip-
pleiletisitanz of the member for North --
ehire but he looked with little favour upon the
bill, because. 10 he declared, amid the laughter of
the hoses-, " the less a man swears the better.''
An attempt on tile part of Mr. Bouverie to except
the oath 'Laic n by the clergy, wadi a the Clerical
Subscription Aid, 1565. front the operation of the
bill, was • defeated upon a division: but the hon.
g;mtlemen gave notice that he should re-
peat it on a fieture occasimi. After this
measure had pr....5i1l through committee,
the remainder of the working partmf the sitting
was occupied in the discussion, upon a similar
ei the Government of India Act Amendiirmt
Bill. There was a .good deal of debate upou the
question whether the operation of the provisions
which referred to :the Council oh India should be
confined to new numbers, or should, as proposed
by Lord W. Hay, extend to all the members either
present or future ; but eventually no decision was
come to upon t& subject, and the matter was
postponed till a future stage of the bill. Mr.
Otwxy sought to reduce the salaries of members of
council to be app ousted after the passing of this
bill from 1,500/. to 1,200/. a year. The proposal
was opposed not only by Sir S. Nortbcote, but by
Mr. Mill, and other members of the Opposition,
and was rejeete.il by a majoriti-r ; /3 to 26.
The Lords' amendments in the Boundary Bill were
agreed to, and the house adjourned.

ME. GLADSTONE AND TILE .BOROUGH OF
GREENWICH.

A public misting of the eketors of Woolwich
and Plamstead was held last night in- the Lecture Hall,
Woolwich ; Mr. J. H. Jolly in the chair. The different
parts of the borough having been placarded with huge
',roadsides of "Gliulstone for Greenwich," and this being
the first public meeting siiiee the projerol to return the ,
lti:dit lion. W. E. Glailstbne for the borough haul been
brericlied, the attendance was very large. and deep
lean -est was manifested iu the proceedings. After
doe.idieg to fence a liberal association for the dis, •
triut, discussion ensued on the propriety of elect-
ing Mr. Gladstone for the borough of Greenwich. ;
11r. J. It. Jolly stated that a similar course had been .
adopted in the case of Mr. Cobden-when he contested
the West Riding of Yorkshire he was returned for three
places-and in the case of Mr. fiathorne Hardy (who wax .
eleetosl for two places), and of Daniel O'Connell, and
ethers. The propriety of returning Mr. Gladstone for
Greenwich was a step requiring very serious consideration,
and be was inclined to think that the more they thought
about it the more they would be in favour of it. In reply
to &question as to.whether Mr. Gladstone had consented
to be put in nomination for Greenwich, he stated that he
understood Mr. Gladstone had been made acquainted with
the proposah.hat that he could only return the same
auewer as he did teiGhtsgow and other places, viz., that
Le did not anticiinte any termination of his represetation
of South Lamashire, but that he mold scarcely interfere
with the proceedings which Greenwich, or any other con-
stituency might adept. The proposal to return Mr. Gladstene
for Ilmenwicharitkoot co-operation or expense on his part,
originated at a meeting held the previous Thursday at
Greenwich. That meeting was adjourned to give an upper-
tuuity fortheWoulwieh and Plumstead electors to be com-
municated with, and with that view a meeting of the
lending liberalleof the district took place the previous
night in his grounds, Plumetewl-common, end a general
feeling prevailed in favour of returning Mr. Gladstone for
the borough. In the course of subsequent discussion it
was stated that the electors of flretatiwicli (who would be
iiiereased under the new act from 10,000 to 25,000)
marking their appreciation of Mr. (thulstone'x character
and principles would tend to strengthen the liberal cause
throughout the country. The South Lancashire election
being one of the last, tf Mr. Gladstone should, through
the changes introduced by the new act or other
mime, net get in, there would be few or no
constituencies left open, and the b irough of Greenwich
would be ready for his aceeptates-; but if, on the other
hand, he WU., II:Willed fur South Lancashire, the fact of
his being elected for Greenwich iii the way propo,ed, at
t).e outset of the elesAioue (the, lemeqd, of Greenwich
being one of the first), would. it it Lid To other effect,
give a stimulus to the oda, cieistitiolieieg. It
further um tared that a coatition was on foot between
the West It. id and borough of Greenwich electors, and
that Mr. William Angerstein (ahu was contesting West
Kent in conjunction with Sir Johu Lubbock) had con-
sented to act as chairman of Mr. Gladstone's committee ;
and that Alderman Salianotis bail alai promised his in-
fluence and aupport in favour of Mr. Glad-atone. With
regard to the cost of returning Mr. Glinistone, there
were reasons to hope that that gentleman would
be returned with Alderman Sedimionswithout impodtion
Various spi alters spike in favour of retaniing Mr. Glad-
stone, and the following resolution v. a. carried with Great
enthusiasm :- that this meeting, approving
the high character. eminent abilities, and honest state..
manship of the Eight lion. W. E. Gladstone. M.l'.,
desires to testily in the etionge-t rummer possible its hitt
appri ciation of this gentleman, and determines to ele
him one of the representatives of the borough of
Greenwich."

LORD ROBERT MONTAGU AND GENERAL
PEEL AT BUNTINGDON.

The Huntingdon Wool Fair for the present year
was held yesterday on the common there, but Will net
quite Ruh a success as the last, whether as regards the
quantity pitched cc the prices realised. The downward
tendency of paces in thepriucipal markets, of course affected
the former, as many of the principal growers refused to
throw their stocks upon the market. Bedford
Wool Fair was held on Tuesday, and the prices ruling there,
of course, had an effect upon the market here. These
were from 3ts. to 385., or on .att average about 365. 6d.
. (hare) all round. Here, business opened briskly, the find
deal being for Stai term rood 300 ewes abs. round,
but this was the top prim, and business ruled dull
afterwards at ea average of about the same as at
Bedford. Nothing like a clearance, however, was
effected. The totals pitchod ill 1867 wen. t 3,217
Owes, or 6.533 kids 13I1s. ; is LB6B, 24973 fleeces, a
5,053 tods 31be. Al the conelusion of the fair a dinner
was held in the Corn Exchange. In the eounie of the
rtes:Orgill" addresses were delivered by Lord It. Mon-
a, Mr. Fellowes, ALE., Mr. Baring. M.P., Moors.
7ifluard. Booper, Marshall, tke., end the proceediuga
concluded by Gene:al Pcel proposinz in usual gallant
style, " The Ladies," aml expn-raa; !dm iut-oti”u of re-
tiring frcni the represent adult e! J 1 utitiugdon, ih Invaur
pf hi /1d1i,a13:2, kr. Turing.