Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-02-25 00:00:00

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IMPERIAL PAIiMAMENT.

HOUBE OF. LORDS.—Tntrusna.v..
MR. GLADSTONE'S MISSION.
Earl Grey inquired whether a copy of the commission
under which Mr. Gladstone had undertaken his mission to
the lonian Islands would be laid upon the table ?
The Earl of Derby objected to the production of the
papers, which would produce a premature debate upon the
whole question before it was ripe for discussion. The
government were in daily expectation of receiving intelli-
gence of the way in which the lonian Legislature received
the suggestions of Mr. Gladstone. According to the
telegraphic despatches, Mr. Gladstone was now in Venice,
and was expected at Paris by the 9th of next month.
Under these circumstances, he trusted that a proper dis-
cussion would be postponed until the 14th March.
Earl Grey intimated his consent to the arrangement.
TAE- POST-OFFICE.
Lord Monteagle called attention to the recent Post-
office order, requiring the prepayment of letters.
Lord Colchester, after same explanations, announced
that the order had been withdrawn.
TILE ECCEESLS.STICAL COURTS. &C.
The Ecclesiastical Courts and Registries (Ireland) Bill
was read a second time.
Lord Brougham introduced a bill enabling persons
tried on criminal charges to give evidence in their own
defence.
Their lordships then adjourned at 6.35 p.m.

HOUSE OF COMMONS —TuuRsDAy

CONSTABULARY RATE

Mr. McMahon asked the chief Secretary for Ireland
what is the amount of the extra constabulary rate levied
on the districts of Gweedore and Cloughin, in Donegal,
for the extra police force stationed there, in consequence
of the
is attack on the Rev. Mr. Nixon, and whether such
ratelevied off the inhabitants by summary distress
without previous notice demand, or summons, to the
persons subject to such distress.
Lord Naas said that, in consequence of an exceptional
nature of the outrage, it had 'been necessary to send
down an extra body of police to these districts ; no
distress had been enforced, although one had been
issued, and the recovery, amounting to £B4, had been
paid in cash, by the two districts.

EDUCATION IN SCOTLAND,

Sir William Dunbar asked the Lord Advocate whether
it was his intention to introduce, before Easter, a measure
for improving the system of education in Scotland, and
for raising the salaries of the parochial schoolmasters, or
for either purpose.
The Lord Advocate replied that such was his intention,
and that he hoped to be able to introduce the bill before
Easter.

Mr. Ayrton asked the Under Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs what steps have been taken by her.
Majesty's Government respecting the seizure of the
Herald by the Portuguese authorities, and whether the
papers relating thereto will be laid upon the table of the
House.

Mr. S. Fitzgerald replied, that the attention of the
Government had been called to this matter, which was
then under consideration.

♦RMY AND NAVY ESTIMATES

Sir J. Pakin,,,oton stated the course which he intended
to pursue in reference to the Navy Estimates, which he
had proposed to bring forward on the morrow. Several
notices had been placed upon the paper, one by the noble
Lord the member for Tiverton, who proposed to call
attention to the state of Europe, a subject sure to create
discussion, besides which there were two other notices
both likely to occupy the time of the house. Under these
circumstances he should not bring forward the estimates
unless he could do so before eight o'clock, and should in
that case move that they be deferred till Monday. If
this was necessary, the Chancellor of Exchequer would
be compelled to postpone the introduction of his Reform
Bill.

Lord Palmerston denied that his notice was likely to
lead to any lengthened discussion. Eight o'clock was an
early hour on which to bring forward the army estimates.
It afforded, however, a convenient excuse for the post-
ponement of the Reform Bill.
Mr. S. Warren explained the reasons which induced
him to abandon his resolutions respecting India, and took
leave of the House on being appointed to the office of
Master in Lunacy.

Sir C. Napier moved for some returns respecting the
number of steamers in the navy, which was refused by
Sir J. Pakington. On this, _

Sir C. Npier complained loudly that they would
have to vote money for the navy without proper infor-
mation.

AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS

Mr. Caird moved the following resolution :—" That it
would be advantageous to the public interest that
Government should ascertain and publish, periodically,
the agricultural statistics of Great Britain, in so far as
they relate to the extent of acres under the several crops
of corn, vegetables, and grass." He suggested that the
returns might be made (decennially) at the same time as
the census.

Mr. Garnett seconded the motion.
Mr. Bentinck opposed it. The plan could not be car-
ried out without an oppressive compulsion.
Mr. Phillips objected to any such interference with the
agriculturists, declaring that the returns would do more
harm than good.

Mr. Rolland likewise opposed the present motion,
though he had voted for that of last session.

Mi.. Mills said that the motion was an attempt to
obtain by a side wind what the hon. member had failed
to obtain directly. Returns published every ten years
would be of no use to any one.

After some observations in reply from Mr. Caird,
Mr. 'Henley asserted, that if farmers had not been
harassed by these vexatious schemes, they would have
freely given the required 'information, buL this •was not
the way to deal with them, lie objected to abstract
propositions as not likely to lead to any useful result.
After some remarks from Mr. Ball,
Mr. Wilson slid, that last year it was objected that a
private member could not deal with the matter, and no
objections were raised to its being handed over to the
government. He defended the resolution,_ which only
threw upon the government a duty which it ought to
undertake.

After some further remarks from Mr. Packe and Mr,

Bass, -
The house divided, and the resolution was negatived by
163 to 152.

Mr. Griffiths obtained leave to bring in a bill to regu-
late the expenses to be incurred by persons serving the
office of high sheriff in England and Wales.

VERDICTS ON TRIAL BY JURY (SCOTLAND).
Mr. Dunlop asked for leave to introduce a bill to amend
an act of the 17th and 18th years of her Majesty, for
allowing yerdicts on trial by jury in civil causes in Scot-
land to be received, though the jury may not be unani-
mous.

The Lord-Advocate observed that a similar measure
relating to England had been introduced into the House
of Lords, and he would not oppose the motion.
Leave was then given to introduce the bill.

Mr. J. D. Fitzgerald moved that the house re-
solve itself into a committee to consider the act
10, G3O. 4, cap. 7, in relation to the oath thereby
required to be taken and subscribed, instead of the oaths
allegiance, supremacy, and abjudication. He proposed
to repeal four clauses of the oath taken by the Roman
Catholics. The one whereby the opinion was disclaimed
that a Prince deposed by the Pope might be lawfully
murdered by his subjects, was to the last degree insulting
and offensive to those who were compelled to take it.
The clause declaring the oath to be taken without equi-
vocation, was likewise injurious as well as useless.
The clause in the oath relating to the settlement of pro-
perty, was likewise useless. On these points he did not
anticipate any opposition. The clause disclaiming all
intention of subverting the Protestant religion would be
opposed, but it was as he showed, uncertain, unintel-
ligible, and open to various interpretations—all
he demanded for the Roman Catholics was that they
should obtain those terms of civil equality with Pro-
testants, which they had a right to demand.
Mr. Feepn seconded the motion. He referred to the
measure brought Torword by Mr. Miall for the secularisa-
tion of church property, on which he was prevented voting
by the terms of the oath. It was unfair that he should
thus be precluded from giving a vote which all othe'r
members were permitted to give, except those who had
taken the oath.

Mr. Adams regretted that this subject was brought
forward, as tending to disturb the harmony now happily
existing between Protestants and Roman Catholics. The
oath was finally settled, after long consideration, at the
passing of the emancipation act, and it was neither just
nor prudent to disturb the definite contract thus
concluded.

Mr. Chichester Fortescue, as a Protestant, supported
the motion. It would have been better at once to deny
to Roman Catholics the right of voting on church ques-
tions than to impose on them the oath which in no way
added to the security of the Protestant religion.
The Attorney-General for Ireland regretted that a
motion had been brought forward at this particular time,
thus risking the danger of inflaming the religious passions
of the country. The Emancipation Act had been obtained
on condition that these oaths should be taken, and it was
most unfair to turn round and declare that these oaths
were useless, and not binding. The oaths had the
sanction of the great names of Catholic Emancipation,
Grattan and Plunkett, and its other advocates. Yet this
very oath, on which those eminent men relied when they
urged the admission of the Catholics to Parliament, was