The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-29 00:00:00

CRIMEAN COMMISSIONERS.

Sir J. PAxINGTON wished to put a question to the
Government in reference to a letter which he had received
from Mr. Fidler (late Commissary General), who stated
that he had addressed a letter to Lord Panmure, in reply
to the charges made againstthim by the Crimean Com-
missioners. Mr. Filder stated that though the report was
dated the 10th of June, he had not any idea of the charges
being brought against him till he read them in the papers
seven months afterwards, and added that it would be no
answer to him that he would have an opportunity of
giving explanations before the new commissioners. He
(Sir John Pakington) wished to inquire whether it was
the intention of the Government to give Mr. Fidler the
same means of exculpating himself that had been allowed
to Lords Lucan and Cardigan ?
Mr. PEES said he was not aware that Mr. Filder had
addressed a letter to Lord Panmure, though he had been
informed that it was his intention to do so. Should he
intimate his wish that the statement should be laid before
the House, there would be no objection on the part of the
Government to its production.
In reply to Mr. Roebuck, Lord PALMERSTON intimated
that the motion of the hon. and learned member would
not be allowed to be brought forward as a substantive
motion to-morrow.

In answer Ito Mr. Stanley, who made some inquiries
respecting the new commission to inquire into the Crimean
report or Sir J. McNiell and Colonel Tulloch,
Lord PALMERSTON said the general practice was, in
such cases, to conduct the enquiry with closed doors, but
in the present case the Government had deciled that it
would be expedient to admit the public, reserving to the
court the power of conducting any part of the proceedings
with closed doors. The committee would have no power
to administer oaths without a special Act of Parliament.

BRITISH MUSEUM.

Mr. HEYWOOD asked whether the Government, in conse-
quence of the vacancy of the offices of principal librarian
and secretary of the British Museum, intended to carry
out the recommendations of the Royal Commissioners of
1850 with respect to the abolition of the two offices, and the
appointment in their place of two officers to he nominated
by the Crown, the one distinguished for attainments in
literature to have the supervision of the library, the
manuscripts, the prints, the antiquities, and the medals;
and the other, eminent for attainments in natural history,
to have the supervision of those departments of the
Museum which were devoted almost exclusively to natural
history ?
Tha CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it was not
intendad to disturb the present arrangements.

REFORM OF THE CITY OF LONDON,

Sir J. SHELLEY asked the Secretary of State for the
Home Department when the bill for the reform of the
Corporation of the City of London would be bruught for-
ward by the Government ?

Sir G. GREY said he hoped to bring it forward on an
early day.

;ABOLITION OF ECCLESIASTICAL couars.

Mr. Coilzen asked the Solicitor-general when the bills
for the abolition of the 'ecclesiastical courts, and the
transference :of their jurisdiction to other tribunals,
would be introduced by government ?
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said certainly before the recess.