The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-02-20 00:00:00

BRITISH GUIANA

Mr. Liddell asked whether it be true that in consequence
of a resolution passed by the Combined Court, a c .mmuni-
cation was addressed by the Governor of British Guiana to
her Majesty's Colonial Secretary in June last, on the subject
of receiving convicts from this country; aed, if so, whether
there was any objection to lay a copy of such correspondence
on the table of the house ?

Mr. Labouchere said that such a resolution was passed,
and a communication made to this country on the subject
by the Colonial Legislature, but it was not considered de-
sirable, from the climate of the country, to make this a
!venal settlement for British convicts, and he was happy to
find the French Government had come to a similar resolu-
tion with regard to Cayenne. The paper required should
be produced.

COUNTY OFFICERS' (IRELAND) FEES.
Captain Archdall asked the Attorney General for Ireland
a question relating to fees received by county officers in
Ireland ?

qtr. Fitzgerald said that this was a question with which
the Legislature had nothing to do. It was a question of
law as to the legality of the fees. He was inclined to
believe that some of them were illegal, and all parties
requiring redress must apply to a court of law.

CHINA.

. Lord C. Hamilton asked her Majesty's G)vern-
ment whether any orders or instructions had been
issued to the British authorities at Hong Kong, or to
the admiral in command of the squadron in the Chinese
waters, suspending or superseding the directions given
by Earl Grey in November, 1847, whereby offensive
operations against the Chinese were peremptorily forbidden
without previous sanction from this country ; and if any such
order had been sent, whether they would-lay a copy of the
same on the table of the house ?
Mr. Labouchere said that no instructions had been sent
to Hong Kong other than those contained in the despatch
referred to.

AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

Mr. Blakemore asked the Vice-President of the Board
of Trade if it was the intention of the G)vernment to
introduce any measure this season for the collecting
of agricultural statistics ; and, if so, whether it would
comprehend any regulation for the measure in bushels or
gallons, or the weight in pounds, whereby the sale and
purchase of wheat and other grain shall be compulsorily
fixed ; and also whether it would contain any regulations
whereby the quantities and the average prices of wheat and
other grain sold in the various countiet of England and
Wales could be more correctly ascertained ?
Mr. Lowe said there was no intention on the part of the
government to introduce a bill on this subject this session.
(Hear.)
Mr. Blakemore gave notice that as early as he could
before Easter he would call the'attention of the house to the
subject. (sear.)

BILLETING SOLDIERS,
Mr. Baxter asked the Under Secretary for War what
steps had been taken to give effect to the resolution
passed by this house on the 7th day of April, 1856,
namely, " That in the opinion of this house the practice
of billetting soldiers of the militia, and of the line, in
Scotland upon private families, is injurious to the comfort
and discipline of the men as well as oppressive to the people,
and that it is the duty of the government to take means
to abolish the grievance ?"
Mr. Peel said any alteration to be made in this respect
must be done when the Mutiny Act came before the house,
which would be as soon as the number of men for the army
had been voted.

ARCTIC VESSEL RESOLUTE.

Mr. Evelyn asked the First Lord of the Admiralty
whether it was true (as stated in the public journals), that
the Arctic vessel the Resolute (though not ordered to be
broken up) had been stripped and dismantled and placed in
ordinary; ani whether he had any objection to state what
was the present conditio of this vessel, given, as it had
been, by the American people to the .Qaeon of England.
Sir C. Wood said that it was: not the practice of the
service to keep ships out of commission full rigged, and
the Resolute had been treated the same as her Majesty's
other ships in ordinary. The stores could not be kept,
except the rum, which, however, improved by keeping.
MR. SNAPS-SURREY COUNTY LUNATIC ASYLUM.
Mr. Otway asked a question of the Secretary of State
for the Home Department, concerning the reappointment
of Mr. Snipe to the medical charge of the Surrey County
Lunatic Asylum, and the correspondence which had ensued
in consequence between the authorities at the Home Office,
the Commissioners in Lunacy, and the Committee of the
Surrey County Lunatic Asylum.
Sir G. Grey said that the Secretary of State had no
control over the appointments or dismissals of the officers
of lunatic asylums, but that it rested with the visiting
justices. Mr, Snipe was only suspended during the

r'cent investigation, so that he had not been re•appointed.
There was no objection to produce the paper referred to.
Mr. Drummond said that as the conduct of the county
justices appeared to be impugned, probably the Secretary
of State would produce the statement made by Mr. Snape
to the visiting justices, and the reports of the medical
officers to them on this unfortunate occurrence.
Sir G. Grey said that the paper required had better
be added to. Mr. Otway's motion, and then they should be
produced.

THE SOUND DUES.
Sir J. Graham asked the First Lord of the Treasury
whether her Majesty's Government had come to an agree-
ment with the government of Danmark, respecting the
commutation of the Sound Dues, and whether parliament,
in the present session, would be invited to rrovide the
sum necessary for such commutation.
s4Lord Palmerston said that the Government had been for
a considerable time in communication, with other govern-
ments relative to the Sound Dues. No arrangements had
yet been come to, but there was every probability of their
being very speedily concluded, and then he should submit
to parliament a proposition for carrying the arrangements
into effect.

SAVINGS' BANKS DEFIRRED ANNUITY TABLES.
Mr. W. Mitchell asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer
whether Mr. Tidd Pratt had certified the Savings' Banks
Deferred Annuity Tables.
Sir G. Lewis said that Mr. Tidd Pratt had nothing to
do with these tables. They were prepared by the actuary
to the savings' bank, and approved of by the Lords of the
Treasury, who then published them in the London Gazette.
ENDOWED SCHOOLS cov MISSION (IRELAND.)
Lord Naas asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland when
the report of the Endowed Schools Commission was likely
to be presepted to Parliament ; and whether it was the
intention of the Government to propose any measure on
that subject in the present session•
Mr. Hors man said that he was unable to give an answer
to the question. When he left'Dublin, in January last,
the commission had terminated their inquiry, and were
preparing their report. At present he had not received
it, nor had he any intimation when it would be ready.

PERSIA.
Mr. Layard asked if it were true that on the 25th Jan.
last a treaty was signed between Russia and Persia, by
which Persia guaranteed to Russia a large tract of the
Turkish territory in Asia.
Lord Palmerston said he had no official knowledge of
the circumstance.

TUE BUDGET.
Lord John Russell asked Mr. Disraeli if he intended to-
morrow to propose his motion on going into committee, or
as an amendment to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's
proposition ?
Mr• Disraeli said that he should submit his motion on
the motion that the Speaker do leave the chair.

PERSIA.
Mr. Gladstone wished to know the date when the first
instructions were sent to the Indian Government, under
which the military expedition proceeded to Persia, and
that the correspondence. relative to the expenses with
the Indian Government should be laid on the table of
the house.
Mr. V. Smith said that there would be no objection to
produce the paper asked for, which would show it was
the same as that that had been stated by the Chancellor
of the Exchequer.
Mr. Gladstone : The date?
Mr. V. Smith : September 26.
Mr. H. Baillie asked if it was not in July last, and that
proceedings took place on them in India in August last.
Mr. V. Smith said that provisional instructions were
sent out to the Indian Government to make the necessary
arrangements in the event of them being required ; but
the final instructions were not sent out before the date he
had named.

EXTENSION OF THE FRANCHISE.
Mr. Locke King moved for leave to introduce a bill to
make the franchise in England and Wales the same as
that in boroughs, by giving the right of voting to all
occupiers of tenements of the annual value of £lO.
Mr. T. Duncombe seconded the motion.
Lord Palmerston said that as the business of the session
did not give much hope of a measure of so great an
importance being properly considered and passed into a law
this session, he hoped the hon. and learned gentleman
would not press his motion- He (Lord Palmerston)
objected to the principle of the bill, that of identifying the
rate of voting in counties with boroughs. He had no
objection to a 201 qualification fir counties (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Headlam supported the introduction of the measure.
Mr. Drummond wished to see the franchise reduced to
the lowest amount, to enable the people to protect them-
selves from the tyranny of the class above them that was
continually arising.
Lord J. Russell condemned the objection of the govern-
ment against the introduction of the bill o❑ the excuse of the
state of public business, and said that there appeared to be a
desire on the part of the government not to introduce
any measures of importance. With the exception of .the
budget there was nothing that the Government had to
occupy the time of the home. They declined entering on
the Church Rate question, and several othtrs of importance,
even that of agricultural statistics. After referring to his
measures of 1852 and 1854 relative to the franchise, he
said that there was no great pressure on the public mind
for a comprehensive measure of reform, and he should con-
sider it imprudent on the Government to disturb the
public mind now on such a question by dealing with it.
He, however, considered the proposition of Mr. Headlam
a safe movement. It would have the effect of introducing
a greater amount of intelligence into the county constitu
ency. He was prepared, not only to vote for the intro-
duction of the measure, but to support it in the second
reading.
Mr. Bmtinck considered the complaint of Lord J.
Russell that the Government had done nothing this session
came with a very bad grace from him. The country was
sick of the word "reform " (►au;hter) —which was used as
a clap-trap. He taunted Lord J. Russell with not having
producedlany useful measures during the year he had been
in office. (Laughter.)
Lord J. Russell said that he was not able then to answer
the challenge of the hon. gentleman. On a future oppor-
tunity he should be prepared to hand him a list of the
measures be (Lord John Ruiseli) had carried. (Cheers.)
Mr. T. Duncombe supported the measure. He wished it

had gone further. - -
Sir J. Graham defended the ability, constancy, and zeal
of Lord John Russell, and in reply, to the statement of Mr.
Bentinck. said it was to Lord John Russell the country
was indebted for the repeal of the Test and Corporation
Acts, the Reform Bill of 1832, the introduction of a Poor
Law for Ireland ; the Commutation of Tithes in England,
and were he to go through the list be should weary the
house. He supported the motion, believing that such
changes as this would be more likely to be carried, and
effect the change required in the representation of the
people than if they waited for a comprehensive system.
Mr. S. Herbert opposed the measure.
Upon a division there appeared,
For the bill, ....
Against,

Majority against,
MINISTERS' MONEY.

Mr. Fagan moved for leave to bring in a bill to
abllish the tax in lieu of ministers' money now imposed on
eight corporate towns in Ireland. He was aware that the
Government did not intend to oppose the introduction of
the measure, but he urged them to take the question seriously
into their consideration, with a view to its settlement.
Mr. Horeman referred to the litigation that had resulted
from the proceedings against the corporations refusing to
collcc; the tax, and the loss to the friends of the ecclesias-
tical commission, from the tax not being collected, and
stated that he agreed to the introduction of the measure,
on the ground that there were evils to be remedied. He
added, that the government had considered the subject,
and he hoped, before the second reading of the measure
then before the house, to state their_views.

Mr. Bagwell, Mr. Meagher, and Mr. Maguire contended
that no proposition short of the total abolition of the
obnoxious impost would give satisfaction to the Roman
Catholics of Ireland. _ _ . .

Mr. Bowyer thought the collectors should be Protestants
and that Roman Catholics should be exempted from pay!
men ts.
Mr. Napier advocated an alteration in the collection of
the tax _ _ . .

--Leave was then given to bring in the bill.
THE IKATNOOTH GRANTS.
Mr. Spooner moved that this house do resolve itself
into a committee to consider the acts for the endowment
of the college of Maynooth, with a view to the
withdrawal of any endowment out of the consolidated fund
due regard being had to vested rights and interest. He
would not, he said, detain the house long in introducing
the question as it had been so many times before the
house, and nothing but a sense of his imperatiue duty
would have induced him again to bring forward the sub-
ject. He considered the grant to Maynooth as a great
national sin, and he called upon the house to remove it to
avert Divine judgment, though he feared that again, as last
session, he should be defeated by an abuse of the forms of
that house. He felt confident, however, that. ultimately
faction must be put an end to, and the cause which he ad-
ovcated, and which the house had expressed its approval
of, must meet with success
Mr. Kendall seconded the motion.
Mr. Roebuck contended that the Maynooth Grant was
a right given to the Roman Catholics under their Act of
Union, and that therefore it ought not to be removed.
Mr. Bowyer opposed the motion.
Mr. T. Chambers supported the motion on the ground
of morality, and in defence of the Protestant religion.
Mr. Serjeant O'Brien opposed the motion, and denied,
in answer to arguments employed by its supporters, that
the tenets of the Roman Catholic religion were inconsist-
ent with loyalty. He appealed to the House not to adopt
for Ireland a principle which there were reasons for not
applying to our colonies.
Mr. R. Moore, Mr. H. Drummond and Mr. Sergeant
Shee opposed the motion.
Mr. Serjeant Shee continued his remarks in minute

detail for more than an hour in spite of continued Wel:"
riiption, and cries of " Oh, oh," and " Divide, divide. "
Lord Palmerston regretted the annual discussion ,npou
that subject in the house. The hon. member. blid
grounded his motion on the principle that n°
man should contribute to a religion which be
did not profess ; but how was that Vto be
reconciled with the freedom of opinion provided by the
constitution of the kingdom. Where there was freedom
of opinion there must be different religious sects, and the
proposition- - of- the-member. for Islirth Warwickshire
would amount to the establihment of a sovereign
and tyrannical power to compel the adoption of 0"e
religion-a— opinion. He grounded his objection upon
good faith, and upon the interests of the British nation,
and he had too much confidence in the Roman Catholieg
to believe that their religion would interfere with their
loyalty. He never would consent to the removal of the
grant.
The House divided: The numbers were—
For the Motion .... 159
Against

Majority against 8
The announcement of the result was received with lona
cheers.

M.SCELLANBOUS BILLS, &C.
Mr. Bowyer brought in a bill to amend the laws relating
to Grand Juries in Ireland. of
Mr. Whiteside brought in two bills relating to Sala of
Estates, and Registrars of the Court of Chancery '
Ireland.
The House adjourned at twenty minutes past One.