The Express.
London, England, 1861-03-19 00:00:00

(Stamped, Id. Additional.) [TWOPENCE.

of the late Duchess of Kent we owe in a great measure that
full development which we so much admire of all those great
and eminent qualities by which our Sovereign is dis-
tinguished -(cheers)- --while oo the other hand the grateful
and affectionate care of the Sovereign has enabled her to '
repay by her kindness and attention those advaotages which
the mother was able to confer iu the early years of her
daughter's exilteoce. Therefore it is natural that this
blow, however in the ordinary coarse of nature, has come
upon her Majesty with great and intense pain, and 1 am
persuaded that this house will feel that they will be dis-
charging a satisfactory duty when they convey to her
Majesty by the address which I shall Dow propose the
expression of their affectionate condolence, of their
devoted attachment mid loyalty to the crown,
and of the deep interest which they take in everything that
concerns the welfare and happiness of her Majesty in her
domestic circle. (Cheers.) I shall therefore prelims that
we agree to an address to express our deep concern at the
great loss which her Majesty has sustained by the death of
her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, alai to condole
with her Majesty on this melancholy occasion. and to assure
her Majesty that, animated by feshiuge of devoted loyalty
to ber Majesty's throne, and of affectiouate attachment to
her Majesty's person, we shall ever take a warm interest in
all events which concern her Majeigt3's domestic happi-
ness. (Haar. hear.)
Mr. DISRAELI—I rise teemed this add rem of condolence
to her Majesty upon this, which is an or alien of no common
sorrow. The ties which united her Majesty to her lamented
parent were not only of a very intimate but of a very pecu-
liar character. In the history of our reigning house there
are none en placed as were this widowed princess and her
royal child. There never before devolved upon a parent a
more august but as the same time a more awful respoesi-
' bility. How those great duties were encountered, and how
they were fultlied, may be read in the consciences of a
grateful and loyal people. (Cheers.) Therefore, air, the
name of the Duchess of Kent, notwithstanding
the wren retirement of her life, will remain
in our history from its interesting and intimate
connection with an illustrious reign. Yoe the great grief
which has fallen upon the Queen there is only one source
of human consolation, the recollection of unbroken devoted.
nese to the being whom we have loved, and whom we have
lost. This tranquillising and sustaining memory is the in-
heritance of our Sovereign. I know that it is usually be-
lieved that the anguish of affection is team* compatible
with the pomp of royalty, but that will not apply in this
instance. She who reigns over us elected, amid the splen-
dour of empire, to establish her rule on the principle of
domestic love ; and it is this—it is the remembrance and
the consciousness of this, that now sincerely solaces the public
spirit, and permits the nation to bear its heartfelt sympathy
to the foot of a bereaved throne, end whisper solace even to
a royal heart. (Hear, hear.) I have the honour to second
the address.

TM address was thee put and agreed to.
FRENCH OCCUPATION OF SYRIA.

SirJ. FERGUSSON inquired whether the Secretary for
Foreigo Affairs could give the house any information as to
whether the occupation of Syria by French troops would
be prolonged, and whether those troops were to remain
there solely to support the Turkish troops, and only to in-
terfere on the requisition of the Turkish authorities.
Lord J. RUSSELL said the representatives of the great
powers had met in Paris, and agreed that the French occu-
pation should be extended to the sth of June, but the con-
vention had not yet been signed.

corny to the depositors, and with the direct control of the
government over it. own officers, would entirely supersede
the existing savings banks, and the sooner the better.
Mr. BAIND3 thought the proposed system would be
exceedingly beneficial to the industrious classes of this
country. The present system of savings banks could not
be extended over the whole country, soil in fact there were
only six hundred in the country ; but there were
money-order offices everywhere in the post-onions ; that,
was a system which had been tried and was perfectly
successful. He thought it was not a consequence
of the new system, that the existing ravings nits were to
be destroyed by it ; but if that were the result, it could only
be from the proved superiority of the new system. He had
been assured by Sir Rowland Hill, and by all the gentlemen
whose departments would be charged with the carrying out
of this plan, that it would work exceedingly well ;
and he could state that Mr. Sykes, of Huddenfield,
whose opinion should be most influential ou this question
after the assurances of its practicability given by the post-
office authorities, was a hearty supporter of the plan.
Mr. AYRTON said that having served on a committee on
this subject he should sake objections to this plan, on •
future occasion, as opposed to the recommendations of that
committee.

After a few words from Mr. PHILLIPS and another
member,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER stated, in
reply to their questions, that the limit of deposits under
this bill would be the same as at present. The Lill would
extend to Ireland. He did not think it would he expedient
to attach to this new plan, which he believed to be quite
practicable, the teak of remodelling the exist-
mg savings banks, which had been found quite im-
practicable. He totally .denied the statement of
the hon. member for the Tower Hamlets, that
this bill was contrary to the recommendations of the com-
mittee of 1g.59. He could not say confidently whether the
operation of these Poet-office banks would be to draw away
the custom from the present banks, for a great portion of
it rested on local associations and the confidence which
people bad in the managers personally. Only ex-
perience could show whether the old and the new
savings banks might not tiounsh together, but if it
were not so, it would hebecause the new ones were thought
better. However, competition with the existing savings banks
was not the proper object of the bill. It was rather to
provide facilities which at present did not exist at all in
many places and which it would be the duty of the
Postmaster-Gen to endeavour to establish. It
was not, however, the intention of government
that all the I:oat-offices where money orders
were granted should at once be constituted savings
banks, fur that would be the way to break down the Post-
office machinery. It would not be just to seek to draw
away the depositors from the present savings banks by
offering a superior rate of interest. The system was intended
to be entirely self-supporting, and not to be carried
out at the expense of the finances of the state,
by paying an excessive rate of interest. The
rate of interest, however, was quite au open
question, to be considered carefully by the house in com-
mittee, and he would rather have it put too low than too
high ; indeed it might even be considered whether it should
not rather be put somewhat lower than the rate at present
allowed in the savings banks. If it was thought to be den-. •
' gerous to the state to hold a large amount of the money et •
the people in the form of deposits payable at call, wake •
right hoe. gentleman opposite seemed to think, it would be
right at once to put a stop to the augmentation of the my-
ingsthank funds, and no longer invite the savings of the
people. But the savings-bank system bad actually endured
some five and forty years, during which time the
nation had poled through great commercial and
political crimes and
.through periods of extreme diffi-
culty, yet the savings-bank funds had been secure.
As for the capability of the Post-office to perform this
business, be felt perfectly convinced that its existing system
and machinery were in every way adequate to the
so was shown by the admirable efficiency and regularitys'n'
with which its money.order system was transacted. But
he did not see how the General Post-office oould be brought
into connexion with the existing savings banks. He trusted
the details of the bill would be carefully considered in com-
mittee.
The bill was then teed a second time.

The Exchequer Bills Bill was ;;ad a second time.
The Consolidated Feud (4,000,0001.) Bill passed through
committee.

The Mutiny Bill and the Marine Mutiny Bill were read a
second time, after a few words from several bon. members,
who urged that these bills should be printed ; and Mr.
Wiirritgave notice that in committee on Thursday he would
move the omission of the clauses which give to courts-
martial the power of inflicting corporal punishment.
Thecae" orders of the day were disposed of ; one or two
tells came down hem the Lords, and were read a first time;
and the house adjourned at ten minutes before two.

MITROPOLIS LOCAL TAXATION. e select com-
mittee appointed to inquire into the lobsl taxation and
government of the metropolis, and the local administration
of justice therein, met yesterday. The committee consists
of Mr. Ayrton (chairman), Mr. Barley, Mr. Harrow, Mr,
Bearcroft, Mr. Alderman Copeland, Lord Enfield, Sir G. C.
Lewis, Mr. Locke King, Mr. Locke, Lord Lovaine, Lord
John Manners, Sir J. Sh4ky, Mr. Taylor, the Lord Mayor,
and Mr. Tito. The only witness examined was Mr. Scott.,
Chamberlain to the City of London. The committee ad-
learned at 4 o'clock.
EXEMPTION or VOLUNTEERS FROM TOLL —The
bill brought into the House of Commons to exempt the
volantser forces of Great Britain from the payment of tolls
provides that all volunteer officers and soldiers being in uni-
form shall be exempted from payment of any dues, duties,
pontege, or tolls on embarking or disembarking from or upon
any pier, wharf, quay, or landing place, or in pansies over
or along any turnpike or other roads or bridges, any act or
acts to the contrary notwithstanding ; that no toll or pout-
age *hall be demanded or taken at any turnpike gate or tar
or at any bridge for any horse, mare, gelding, carriage, wag-
gon, cart, or car ridden by, drawing, or conveying any volun-
teer officer or soldier who shall at the time be wearing uni-
form, or conveying any baggage belonging to any volunteer
officer or soldier; any tot collector or other person who
shall take, demand, or receive any toll whatsoever from any
volunteer officer or soldier, being in uniform, either for him-
self or for any horse, mare, gelding, carriage, waggon, cart,
or car, on or in which he may be riding, or which may be
conveying any baggage belonging to any volunteer officer or
soldier, shall, on conviction by any justice of the peace, for-
feit end pay for every offence a SUM not exceeding five pounds
nor less than twenty shillings; and that any person who
shall falsely personate or represent himself to he a volunteer
officer or soldier with the view fniudulently of evading any
toll to which be would otherwise he liable, shall, on convic-
tion by any justice of the peace, forfeit and pay for every
offence a sum not exceeding five pounds nor less than twenty
shillings.
MARELAGES BETWF.EN ROMAN CATHOLICS AND
PROTESTANTS IN IRELAND.—The bill brought into the
House of Lords by the Lord Chancellor to amend the law
relating to marriages between pmteitanta and lionian ea-
tholics in Ireland has been printed. It provides that a
marriage may be lawfully solemnised by a Boman catholic
priest between a person wbo is a Itoniau catholic and a
sou who who is not, provided certain conditions are complied
with, viz.: —That such notice is given to the registrar and
such certificate issued as is required by the 7 and 8 Vie., c.
81; that the certificate be delivered to the priest at the
time of the marriage ; that such marriage is solemnised in a
building set apartfor the celebration of Divine service accord-
ing to the rites of the catholic church, and situate in the dis-
trict of the registrar by whom the certificate is issued, between
the hours of eight in the forenoon and two in the afternoon.
There shall be repealed so much of an act of the
parliament of Ireland passed in the 19th year of George U.
cap. 13, as provides that a marriage between a papist and
any person who bath been or bath professed lama or her-
self to be a protestant at any time within twelve month.
before such celebration of marriage, if celebrated by a
popish priest, is to be void ; but any marriage solemnized
by • Roman catholic priest between a person who is a dimmers
catholic and a person who is net a Roman catholic shall be
void to all intents in cases where it is proved that each party
to such marriage wilfully and knowingly coat the
same without due notice to the registrar, or without certi-
ficate of notice duly issued, or without the presence of two
or more credible witnesses, or in a building not set apart
for the celebratiou of Divine service acronliug to the rite.
and ceremonies of the Roman catholic religion. No Boman
catholic priest shall be subject to any punishment, pain, or
penalty whatever for solemnising a marriage in pursuance
of this act. The act is to apply to liehoul only, and is
to be construed as one with the act above recited.
INDUSTRIAL HOME FOR YOUNG WORE:C.—Yes-
' terday the Industrial Home for Young Women, at 22, New
Ormond.street, Lamb's Conduit-street..wss inaugurated by
idßa
trehroelitgi.oofuTsLohsenderervonic.eirßac,trtevweahn.k....hwuntl:e,le.i.ll,:iogrlmitt:l.t.nei.vat.rcitph7eapLadnat:
members and friends of the Workhouse unties Society, by
ww.whooymb..,Etburybisodin,ibistii.dni.tutyTiisiltobnt.hailbeeiascocoßeiltabrd.
emititelod.L.tta.TAwmitityg others
o
sitperinteodentl, -Bay. 1). Bowden, Mr. G. L , (ladyllP.,
Mae T. Twining, Bev. A. Thorold, Rev. CL
. /MA
Mn. T. Phillips, and others.
19re SURKEY RIFLES. —On Saturday evening,
at 7 o'clock, this corps, aniouoting to about 700 rank sad
file, assembled at headararters, henningtotxpark, for the
first tiros since the erection of their new building (one of
the most spacious and commodious drill grounds in the
metropolis, being entirely covered, and brilliantly lighted
with gas), under the command of Major• Commandant
&rape% who expressed great pleasure at the progress the
corps bad made in their drill. The excellent band of the
regiment attended and played a variety of martial airs
during the iambs..

Mr. A. Barman, Wine and Spirit Merchant, of
2D, Strand, Dee altered his prices in accordance with the further
reduction of the wins duties. He is now selling excellent Port
and Merry at His per dozen, and a good wend Claret at ISs. par
dozen, bottles lncludecl.—iAdreriasententl