The Express.
London, England, 1868-05-09 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PAIILIAIKENT.

lit the House of Loxes yesterday Lord LEYEDIN
called attention to the circumstances under which
Mr Charles Darling was recalled from the gover-
norship of Victoria, which he approved of, and also
to the determination of the Earl of Carnarvon not
to allow him to accept any grant of money from
the colony so long as he was continued in her
Majesty's service. On that Sir Charles Darling
retired, and a ;rant of money had been voted by
tt eolony to Lady Darling. He oomplained that
the recognised power of the crown had not been
exercised to arrest the proposal of this grant. The
result was a collision between the two branches of
the colonial legislature, the council having refused
to vote the grant which had passed the assembly
by a large majority, and the affairs of the colony
were being administered without any Appropria-
tion Bill.
The Duke of Bocensonass defended the course
hich be had pursued. So long as Sir Charles
Darling remained in the set vice he had insisted on
the regulations of the Colorial-office being adhered
so, but when he had retired it would have been
invidious to have interfered with the wishes of
the colonial legislature; but as soon as he disco-
:cored the manner in which that grant had been
proposed, and the results of it, he had sent out in-
structions to the governor to refuse his assent to it,
unless it was proposed in a manner inoffensive to
the council, which instructions were now being
acted upon.
The Duke of Anoxia., with considerable warmth,
charged the Secretary of State fur the Colonies
with having violated the regulations and produced
a serious state of things in the colony.
The LORD CHANCiLLOR objected that the CORM
urged by the Duke of Argyll would have overrid-
den the free action of the colonial ministry, sup-
port .!d by a large majority of the assembly.
The Marquis of SALISBURY protested against the
doctrines of the Lord Chancellor. If they were
true imperial authority would be a delusion.
Earl GREY expressed a similar opinion.
After a few remarks from Lord DENMAN and
Lord KlMUsros, the subject dropped.
The Capital Punishment Bill passed through
committee.
The house adjourned at 10 minutes to 9 o'clock.

IN the House of CoNntotts, Mr. Dxsaszu,

yielding to au appeal from Mr. Gladstone, who
urged that the other business already fixed for
Monday would probably occupy the whole of the
evening, &Aid he would not bring on the Scotch
'Reform Bill that evening, but would fix it for
'Thursday, after the Boundary Bill.
- On the order of the day for going into committee
of supply, several questions were brought forward.
Amongst them was that of turnpike roads, to
the 17th general report on which Mr. Clive called
attention. A discussion ensued, in which Mr.
Knatchbull-Hugessen, Lord Henley, Mr. Goldney,
Mr. Whalley, Lord G. Cavendish, and Mr. Scourfeld
took part, and expatiated on various points, includ-
ing the debts due by the trusts, the toll system as
apposed to the rate system, and other kindred
topics. The discussion was wound up by
Mr. G. HARDY, who said he had turned his at-
tention
to the subject, and found it full of difficul-
ties, and particularly at this time, when there was
an outcry in the country generally against any
increase in the rates. He had had a bill prepared,
but he had not had time to consider it, and he
should not bring it in unless he saw a fair prospect
of carrying it. He should bring in the Continu-
ance Bill at au earlier period than usual, and he
should have no objection to refer either the whole
of the turnpike trusts cited in the bill, or a por-
tion of them, to a select committee.

Mr. O'BEinNE called attention to the plans upon
which the fortifications at Plymouth and at Ports-
mouth, and other parts of the United Kingdom,
are being constructed. He referred to the experi-
ments which had been made as to the material of
which forts should be constructed, and read various
reports thereon, showing that forts built of granite
are untenable, and that granite forts faced with
iron are also untenable ; that shields of laminated
iron were penetrated by the shot, and that the
shield which was said to represent the facing
to he placed on the fortifications at Malta and
Gibraltar had been shattered by shot, but
the shield so shattered did not accord with
the drawings. The forts at Spithead were
originally designed to be of granite faced with
iron, but were being constructed on a different plan
from that contracted for. That at Plymouth was
to be erected on a foundation of granite 18 inches
above low water mark, assailable by the enemy's
guns, so that the whole structure might be brought
down about the ears of those who were in it.
A committee had been appointed by the Secretary
for War to consider the question, but two of the
members of that committee were members of the
fortification committee. He moved that two mem-
bers of the house and another civil engineer be
appointed to consider the fortifications of the
United Kingdom, and that all further outlay be
suspended till the committee shall have reported.
Colonel SYKES and Mr. Alderman Lusa strongly
supported the motion.
Mr. B. Osamu' thought the history of these
fortifications furnished an example of the most

profligate and useless expenditure ever voted. Be
oounselled the closing of the contracts, and called
on the house to get rid of this gigantic imposture.
Sir J. HAY said he had always thought the sea
forts were worse than useless. They offered ad-
mirable marks for an expert enemy, and he did not
believe they would keep an enemy out. But the
present government were not responsible for them,
the contracts being in force when they entered
office. He appealed to the hon. member not to
press the motion.
Mr. SA :DA observed that it was of little con-
sequence to independent members which go-
vernment was responsible for these forts. Sir
J. Pakington said the other day that four millions
would be required for the guns for these fortresses.
Only 7,000,0001. of the 12,000,0001. which the
fortifications were to coat had been expended, and
the wisest course was to stop. They were already
enlarging Chatham, so that they would be able to
do more work in it than they could formerly in all
the arsenals, and it might be necessary in time of

war to abandon both Po-rtsmouth and Plymouth.
Colonel P. HERBERT protested against any pro-
abandonment of Portsmouth and Plymouth.
Those forts should be kept up in order to maintain
oar naval supremacy.
After a few observations from Mr. GASELEZ, who
believed the forts would never do any good, except
that his constituents would benefit by the expen-
diture,
Sir J. Piamovon said when he stated that

4,000,0001. would be required to arm our fortifica-
tions, he concluded the fortifications in all parts of
the empire. It was the fashion to divide those
fortifications, but they were erected under the
.. advice of the most eminent engineers of the time,
and he believed that Lord Palmerston proposed
them with the most patriotic intentions. He had
appointed a committee on the subject; of which Sir
J. Gray was the chairman, and there were Luso-
; Mated with him nix other gentlemen of competent
,t authority.
Mr. CHILDER4 moved an amendment t 3 the re-
* solution, prohibiting further outlay on the forte,
except such as may be absolutely necessary
under existing contracts.
• Lord ELeno and Mr. BAILEY both protested
, against the continuance of the expenditure.
' Sir .I. PAKINGTON could not accept either the
• resolution or the amendment without consulting
his colleagues, and Le complained of want of
notice.
On a division the amendment was negatived by
93 to 48.
Mr. AYRTON filled attention to the papers re-
specting the Bank of Bombay, and censured the
government for taking shares in it.
Mr. D. Nreot impressed on the government the
wisdom of discontinuing their connexion with the
bank.

Sri S. NORTHCOTI mid the bank had been con-
. siinited, and a despatna had been sent out stating
that the article" were not satisfactory, and direct-
* an act to be framed. In him opinion it was
Inexpedient that the government should be share-