The Express.
London, England, 1868-05-20 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

Irr the Hoven of LORDS yesterday, on the order
of the day for going into committee oa the Frisadly
Societies Bill,
The Karl of MALNIRSORT advised Lord Lichfield,
who had charge of the bill, to withdraw it on the
ground that it would be impossible at this period
of the session to pass it into law. He did not
oppose the principle of the bill, and would not
oppose the appointment of a commission on the
subject.
The Earl of MICRVIILD said, under these circum-
stances he would withdraw the bill.
The bill we. then withdrawn. _

On the motion of the Earl of CARSARVON, the
select committee appointed in June last, to consi-
der whether any arrangements can be made to
remedy the present defective construction of the
house in reference to hearing, was re-appointed.
On the motion of Lord Lir•voan a select commit-
tee was appointed to consider the Contagious
Diseases Act, 1866.
Several bills were forwarded a stage, and the
house adjourned shortly before six o'clock until
Friday.

Ix the HOUSE of COMMONS, Mr. DISRAELI, reply-
ing to Mr. Gladstone, stated that the government
regarding the Established Church (Ireland) Bill as
the first step towards the disestablishment of the
church, intend to give it all the opposition they
can. He further stated in reply to Mr. Dalglish,
that he will on Thursday next announce the course
the government intend to take with regard to the
Scotch Reform Bill.

Mr. TREVELYAN moved a series of resolutions,
the first, declaring that the purchase and sale of
military commissions should be discontinued after
' a date to be fixed for that purpose ; and the others
laying down regulations then to be observed with
regard to the retirement of officers, and promotion.
He said the army could not be a profession in the
proper sense of the term, so long as the purchase
system continued. It could not be said to be a
profession unless a man could live by it, and be
able to rise according to his professional
merits, but neither of these conditions existed.
It was quite impossible to ameliorate the condition
of our army so long as the purchase system existed.
But if they were to abolish it, they must make up
their minds to pay the officers not only the regu•
lation prices fur their commissions, but the fancy
prices which they had paid. The honourable mem-
ber dwelt at some length on the evils of the present
system, and contended that it was necessary that
something should be done to get the middle class
into the army, and make it a democratic army in
the true sense of the word.
Mr. MELLY seconded.

Captain VI v lAN moved an amendment to abolish
purchase above the rank of captain in the cavalry
and the infantry of tke line. lie objected to the
motion, among other reasons, on account of its
cost. 'Co buy out the vented interests of the offi-
cers the house would have to expend 10,000,000 i.
spread over a period of about 20 years ; and besides
that they would have to revise the whole system of
retirement, causing an addition in perpetuity of
1,000,004)1. a year to the army estimates.

Mr. O'REILLY and Colonel SYEze followed in
support of the motion, and Colonel NORTH
against it.
General PEEL also opposed the motion. They
all knew that in the church, and at the bar, there
was practically a purchase system ; for though the
highest offices in the law could not be purchased
directly, the passage to them was through that
house, and that cost money. Before they resolved
on the abolition of the purchase system they must
have a fuller explanation of what it would coat.
It was far too large a question to be settled by a
mere resolution of that house ; and he objected to
it not only on account of the expense, but on
account of the alteration it would make in the
composition of the army. It would alter altogether
the system of officering the army. If promotions
were by selection, great jealousy would be caused,
and the house would be inundated with complaints.
One benefit of the purchase system was that it
accelerated promotion.
Mr. Grenfell, Colonel Herbert, and Colonel L.
Lindsay followed against the motion.
Mr. Orway remarked that it was by selection
that promotion was conducted in other armies.
There was no purchase in the Royal Engineers the
Artillery, and the Royal Marines, and he appealed
to the house whether there were better officers in the
service 1 The Abyssinian expedition was con-
ducted by an Engineer officer who owed to purchase
no step in his promotion. He granted that the
purchase system might be retained with advantage
for the cavalry, but he saw no reason why it should
be retained for the infantry.
Lord Eumo defended the purchase system, but
was in favour of giving appointments in the com-
missariat service and clerkships in the War-office
to soldiers. The great weight of authority was
in favour of the purchase system, and there
was nothing in favour of it but sentiment and
theory.
Bir J. PRKINGTON denied that the purchase sys-
tem was kept up for the sake of the aristocracy.
If any one took up an Army List, he would not see
the names that were well known in the aristocracy,
but the oddest of names--names, in fact, of persons
of the trading and manufacturing class. He did
not think they could improve on the present sys-
tem of promotion from the ranks. The French
army had been referred to, but he thought it fur-
nished a warning to be avoided, and not an example
to be followed. The result of the system of pro-
motion in the French army was that the officers
were comparatively old men. lie did not defend
the theory of the purchase system, but he reminded
the house that it had existed for 200 years, and
that all the military glory of England had been
acquired under it.
The motion was then withdrawn.

Mr. Act .tarn called attention to the inconvenience
arising from the want of an authority specially
charged with the duty of considering questions
affecting agriculture and the food of the people,
and moved for a committee to inquire into the
subject.
Mr. Eau u seconded.
After some discussion, in the course of which

Mr. }hum admitted the defectiveness of the
present system, and said the subject had not been
lost sight of.
The motion was withdrawn.
Some other business was disposed of, and the
house adjourned at 20 minute, past one o'clock.

POLITIIII IN THE EAST. —Lieutenant-Colonel
Learmonth adheres to hi, determination to offer himself
as &second conservative candidate for Colchester at the
dissolution in conjunction with Mr. E. K. Kerslake, one
of the sitting 'comber,. Dr. Brewer will stand again for
the borough in the liberal interest. The Ipswich Work-
ing Men i Conservative Association has adopted the fol-
lowing resolution :—" That in consequence of the uncer-
tain tenure of the present parliament, sod an early elec-
tion being probable, it is highly necessary that the com•
mittee take immediate steps to introduce a second conser-
vative candidate to the electors of the borough." It is
understood that Mr. J. C. Cobbold, M.P. has 'written to
the secretary of the uthoistion, " stating that be con-
eiders that there is no occasion at present to look out for a
candidate, as idiseolutlon is not likely to take place before
the new constituencies are formed." The conservatives
of North Essex have convened a meeting of the party at
Colchester for the definitive selection of candidates foe
the new division. The gentlemen likely to be selected
are Mr. C. Do Cane, one of the. Lords of the Ad-
miralty, and Lientenant.Colonel Brio, of Spain's-hall,
near Braintree. Lord Bury and Mr. Edmund Wode.
house will appear as liberal eandldates for sae of the
divisions of Norfolk, but it is not at present decided
whether they will contest North-East Norfolk or South-
Mast Norfolk. The borough of Tliethied will loath to send
two members, and it is probable that the Lord Advocate
will retire and leave the other sitting member, Mr. R. J.
H. Harvey, in sole possession of the fold. Colonel Adele
will again contest East Buffo& in the Liberal interest.
Mr. E. A. Eerie is not likely to arra. again an 11•
serrative candidate for Maldon, Mr. R. B. Wingfield
Baker and Mr. A. Johnstone lave bead accepted as,
liberal candidates for South Essex.
OPTIMAL T'ALAOII. - HALT-A-CHOWN DAL—.
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The Tea Duty being twinged, liornimaiN Pty.
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