The Express.
London, England, 1861-02-23 00:00:00

CFII3II4M RA4'e9.

The Duke of MARLBOROUGH'S. &axiom, even at this
early period of the session, to Wag the subject before their
lordships, because he thought no time ehould he lost in sub-
mitting I. their considebition'tlis report of the committee ap-
pointed last session, and because the matter was likely to ea-
gage a great deal of attention, especially in the oilier house.
He intended to lay upoli their tldidsliTin' table a bill which
he hoped would rees their sanition,siod 'edit is bring-
ing to • close this r loaaspqcsuessies. The bill
provided that where 00 arch eye had been
voted for the • bet tic, seltegal • ' 41'
the vestry to palm • rate the churchwarden should send
a sake to every parishioner, putting to him the following
question :—" The churchwardens require to know whether
you are desirous of having your name omitted from the
register of persons entitled to vote in church vestry." He
proposed that the chunthwarden should keep • register,
to be called the church register, of persons entitled to vote
in church vestry, and any penal desirous that his name I
should not be on the register should simply sign • declara-
tion asking the churchwarden to omit his name, without
stating any reason, and then his name being omitted
ia the register he would take no part in the
church vestry, and at the same time be exempt
from any liability to be taxed for the repair of the church.
Their lordships would perceive that by this mode he main-
tained the power of every parish to makes rate or to refuse
a rate; but if the parish had refused a rate
for two years, then only those persons could vote
for or against the rate who were on the register, the rest
being exempt. He felt that there were difficulties con-
nected with the scheme, but he would not trouble their
lordship with them at present. He should be prepared at
• future stage of the bill to meet say objections. He
trusted that the provisions of the law would reconcile
various conflicting views on this question. He was sure
that their lordships would give the bill an impartial con-
sidenition. He, for one, at all events, should feel that he
had used his humble endeavour to remove a state of things
which was a great grievance to the church, a great source
of danger to the church, and which, es long as it continued,
would be a great source of irritation and of hostility. The
noble duke then laid the bill on the table.

The bill was road a Ant tiros. sad their lordships then
adjoorsed at 25 minutes peat 7 o'clock.

HOME OF COMMONS.—Fiumr, Fs& 22.
The SPLULIM took the Asir at 4 o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The Mersey Dacia sad Harbour Board Bill was read •
asecad tune.

PUBLIC BUSINESS.
THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE

Mr. M. Mliiiiiiipve-OoticeThatTei;Oncd on that day
fortnight move for a select committee to inquire into the
constitution and efficiency of the diplomatic service of this
country. (Hear, hear.)

REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE.
Mr. T. DUNOOMBE said that be would take an opportu-
nity before the Easter rem. to move • resolution " that it
is the opinion of this house that after the publication of the
census of the present year it will be the duty of this house
to lose no further time in giving more complete effect to the
act passed in the last reign (whereby reforms were made in
the representation of the people), so as to carry out the
subsequent recommendation of the crown, and satisfy the
just expectations of the people."
THE LODGER FRANCHISE.
Mr. E. JAMES gave notice that in the event of the
County Franchise Bill beiog read • second time, be would
move to bring up clauses to confer the franchise on all
lodgers in counties who should pay an annual rent of 20f.,
and in the event of the Borough Franchise Bill being. reed ••
wand time he would move to insert clauses conferring the
franchise on all lodgers who should pay • rent of 101.
a year.
METROPOLITAN TOLL&

Mr. T. DUNCOMBE sated the Secretary of State for the
Rome Department whether her Majesty's government bad
any measure in preparation for the abolition of the toil■
within the metropolitan district ; and if so, when it would
be introduced.

Sir G. C. LEWIS rid in consequence of the report made
by a commission on the subject of the tolls of the metropolis
he addressed a letter in January, '
1860, to the commissioners
of the roads north of the Thames, and he stated in that
letter that he would be prepared to bring in a bill for the
purpose of dealing with the question of the tolls provided
their concurrence could be obtained. The object of that
bill would have been to empower parish vortrica and
district boards to enter into egreementa with
the trustees of the roads for the abolition of
the tolls and the removal of the gates, and to
enable them to pay such annual sum as might be deter-
mined upon between them as a reasonable compromise,
either out of the poor•rate, or by a highway rate, or by
other means. The measure which he had- intended to pro-
pose would have enabled any parish to take upon itself
the repair of the roads and enter into voluntary agreements
with the commissioners and trustees for the purpose of
abolishing any toll gate. The commissioners bad not sent
to him such an answer u to give him any encouragement to
take up the subject • but he believed they intended to
make some other proposal, but which proposal had not yet
tees mede to him.
THE SUPPLY OF ARMS TO THE GOVERNMENT.

Yr. CRAWFORD,.eked the Uuder 9ecro of State far
War whether it was true that contractors for the supply at
arms deliverable in the course of the current financial year
had bees mooted to postpoas delivery until a later period,
whde the manufacture of arms at Enfield was being proceeded
within the mine scale as heretofore, and arrangements' were
In prey= for extending still further the manufacture at
that esta►lishment.

Mr. T. G. BARING said he was happy to say that the
supply of rifles was in so ma tisbetory a slats that it was sot