The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-16 00:00:00

Foreign Mail Packet List.

Australia and New Zcaland, via Southampton .Nay 19.
. Ditto, via Marseilles May 13.
Brazil and Cape Verde. by British pact.,et June 6.
Ditto, by French packet May 22.
Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St. Helena.— May 25.
China, Penang, and Sing.ip,:re, via Sou hompton—May 19.
Ditto, via Marseilles Hay 13
Falkland Islands
Gibraltar, via Southampton
India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southampton May 19.
Ditto, via Marseilles
India (Bombay), via Southampton.
Ditto, via Marseilles ..
Mauritius, via Southampton .June 11
Ditto, via 31arseil e . June 5.
Newfoundland May 21.
Portugal
Ditto, by private ship to Lisbon...
United States and British North America, by Bri-
tish packet
Ditto. by United States packet, via SOuthamp-

• • •
ton •
Ditto, ria C..rk ••• ••• 0000000000
Ditto, by Canadian packet, via Londonderry.. May J 9
West Coast of Africa. Madeira, and Tcneriffe May 13.
west Indies and Pacific (except Bahamas, Cuba,
and Mexico May 15.

The mail• from Guayaquil has brought a remit-
tance of £1,115 14s. sd. on account of the dividends
on the debt of Ecuador.

About 30,000 sovereigns were taken out of the
Bank yesterday for Alexandria.
SUDDEN DEATH OF A POLICEMAN WHILE ON
D UTY.—A melancholy case of sudden death occurred
last evening at the temporary bridge at Blackfriars. It
seems that Police-constable Cosons, 335, who was stationed
at the east side of the north end of the bridge to prevent
foot-passengers trespassing on the carriage-way, observed
a lad running behind a cab. Ho called after the lad, but
no notice being taken he went in pursuit of him, and was
in the act of bringing him back when he was noticed by his
brother constable, 356, to reel round and fall to the ground.
On hastening to his assistance the poor fellow was perfectly
motionless, and a cart being procured he was removed to
St. Bartholomew's Hospital, when life was pronounced to
be extinct. The deceased, who had been in the force nearly
15 years, was much respected, and no cause can be attri-
buted as to his untimely end until a post-mortem exami-
nation has taken place.
A SLIP BETWEEN THE CUP AND TIIE LlP.—The
Echo de la Mayenne gives an account of an accident which
occurred two days back in the asylum for the aged at La
Coconniere, Laval. About 20 old men were at dinner in
the refectory, under the superintendence of two sisters of
charity, when the centre beam of the flooring gave way
and all were precipitated into the room below. By an ex-
traordinary chance very little injury was sustained, two of
the men alone receiving contusions worth speaking of.

IMPERIAL PMILWaNT

Court at Leeds, on or :about the 24th Feb. last, and state
to officials that he was appointed registrar ?

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said Mr. Wilde had not
been called upon to resign, but had been ca led upon, in
consequence of the report of Mr. Commissioaer Ayrton, to
account for certain irregularities in his office. Those an-
swers had not been deemed satisfactory, and Mr. Wilde

HOUSE OF LORDS—LAST EVENING.
The LORD °summon took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.
THE EDMUNDS SCANDAL.
The Earl of WICKLOW drew the attention of their
lordships to the circumstances connected with the inquiry
instituted into the alleged defalcations of Mr. Edmunds,
and said that, there being no check on the Clerk of Patents
was a very defective state of the law, and required amend-
ment. He wished to ask the noble and learned lord, the
Lord Chancellor, if it was intended to introduce any bill
to meet that grievance.
Earl GRANVLLLE said that steps had been taken to
remedy the defect, and the subject was receiving the con-
sideration of Government.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

pleaded ill health. He was then informed by the chief
registrar that, as ill health was the cause, he could present
a petition praying to be allowed to retire, in accordance
with the provisions of the act of 1861. A petition was

presented, which was verified by affidavit, and also by a

very eminent medical practitioner, that Mr. Wilde was
suffering from total loss of sight, and upon that he was
allowed to retire upon a pension of £6OO per annum. It
was not arranged beforehand that Mr. Wilde was to be

succeeded by Mr. Welsh, but that gentleman had been re-
commended for promotionlong before that of the lateSirW.
Atherton. The Lord Chancellor, however, had never

The Duke of Bridgewater's Estate Bill; the Binning-
ham Water Bill ; and Buckfarthing, Totnes, and South
Devon Railway Bill ; the Bristol, Exeter, and Devon and
Somerset Railways Bill ; and the Rhyl and District Water
Bill were severally read a second time.
The following were also read a third time, and
passed :—Dublin, Wicklow, and Wexford Railway
Bill, with amendments ; Edinburgh Merchant Com-
pany Bill;; Ham Oyster Fishery Bill ; Bristol Port,
Railway, and Pier Bill ; Llanelly Railway and
Dock Bill ; Ventnor Railway Bill ; Isle of Wight
Railway (Steamboats) Bill ; Isle of Wight Railway Bill ;
Cork and Limerick Direct Railway Bill ; Lancashire and
Yorkshire, and Lancashire Union Railways Companies
Bill ; the Preston and Wyre Railway ; Harbour and Dock
Bill ; the Laiddenden Valley Railway Bill ; the Runcorn,
Weston, and Haltin.Waterßill; and Stafford and Uttoxeter
Railway Bill.
ALLEGED GRIEVANCES OF INDIAN OFFICERS.

Lord D0N06613108E presented a petition from
Brevet-Major Piers, praying for redress of the grievances
of which the Indian officers complain. He said that this
subject had been before Parliament, having been ven-
tilated in the other house, and having been also
lately brought under the consideration of their
lordships, by petitions having been presented from time
to time praying for redress of grievances of a very serious
character, which, he contended, should have been investi-
gated. He drew attention to the fact that the Indian offi-
cers were not satisfied with the manner in which they had
been treated by the Secretary of State for India, and he
thought they were entitled to have their case fully in-
quired into. They complained that the recom-
mendation of the Royal Commission appointed to
inquire into their case had been rendered a nullity.
He contended that it was a great hardship on an officer of
the Indian army to have him deprived of the opportunity
of promotion for two years, as was the case in regard to the
petitioners, and other persons who were similarly situated,
some of whom had served her Majesty for nearly 40 years.
Lord DIIFFERIN, speaking on behalf of the Indian Go-
vernment, contended that if any grievances had ever
existed they had not only been removed by the arrange-
ments recently made, but the position of these officers was
better now than before. He intimated, however, that a
commission would be issued for an inquiry as to how far
the recommendations of the previous commission had been
carried out.

Lord LYVEDEN expressed an opinion that the Indian
GoTernment had treated the officers of the Indian army in
a shabby and ungenerous spirit, for from the first, so far
from attending to their complaint; they had declined to
carry out the recommendations of a royal commission.
Instead of suspending the matter by commission after com-
mission it would be much better to meet their complaints
in a wise and liberal spirit.
Lord llouoirres warmly supported the claims of tho
petitioners, which were disputed by the Duke of ARGYLL.
Lord CRAN WORTH made some observations in expla-
nation of the proceedings of the last commission ; and
The Earl of. DONOUGHMORE, in replying, ridiculed
the appointment of another commission.
The Married Women's Property (Ireland) Bill passed
through committee.
The Earl of WICKLOW called attention to the statement
of the Chancellor of the Exchequer before the Edmunds
committee, to the effect that the Treasury had no check

upon the payments of money by officers in the public de-
partments. He inquired whether the Government con-
templated the introduction of any measure to correct so
serious a defect.

Earl GRANVILLE replied that steps had been taken to
enforce punctuality in the payments of the Clerk of Patents,
and that the whole subject was under the consideration of
the Government.
THE CONFEDERATE STATES.

seen Mr. Welch before the appointment, so that no ar-

rangement was made with him respecting his retirement,
andfno proposal was made to him to that effect. Mr. R.
Bethell was never appointed a Registrar in the Leeds Dis-
trict Bankruptcy Court., and if he attended and stated that
ho was so appointed, he did it without the sanction or
knowledge of the Lord Chancellor.
COMPETITIVE EXAMINATIONS IN INDIA.

Mr. TORRENS asked the Secretary of State for India
when it was intended that the new rule for competitive
examinations for the Civil Service in India, fixing the
maximum limit of age at 21 years, was to have effect ; and
whether there would be any objection to postpone its ope-
ration until such time that it cannot injuriously affect per-
sons who had studied for the examinations under the
belief that the old rule, making the maximum limit
22 years, would not be altered ; and, also, what
publicity had been given to the new rule ; whether its
publication by the Civil Service Commissioners or the
Secretary of State had been confined to the note at the
foot of the printed " Regulations for the open competition
of 1865," or had it been published in the English, Irish,
Scotch, Colonial, or Indian official Gazettes, as well as in
some of the London and provincial newspapers.
Sir C. WOOD said the alteration would take effect in the
year 1866. The utmost publicity had been given to the
arrangement, as it had been sent for publication to nearly
every known channel of information.

Lord HOUGHTON asked the Secretary for Foreign
affairs whether it was the intention of her Majesty's Go-
vernment,
after the events which had lately occurred in the
United States of North America, to withdraw the admis-
sion of belligerent rights conceded to the so-called Confe-
derate States? The question was principally of importance
with regard to naval operations, and it appeared to him
that, although the blockade of the Confederate ports

had not been raised, yet that, as those ports had been closed
by the supreme authority of the United States Government,
the war might be considered at an end, and that belligerent
rights should, therefore, be withdrawn from the Confede-
rate States.
Earl RUSSELL regretted the terms in which the motion
was couched, and also that it shoul4, have been put at the
present time. We did not concede belligerent rights to the
Confederate States. We simply recognised a state of war
which existed beyond any doubt between the Federal and
the (so-called) Confederate States. The United States Go-
vernment, in fact, itself recognised the existence of such a
war by the proclamation which the President issued in
March, 1861, under which he declared the ports of the Con-
federate States under blockade. As soon as that proclama-
tion was issued the English Government had only the al-
ternative, either to acknowledge the belligerent rights of the
North, and on the other hand of the South, or to refuse to
acknowledge the blockade. The English Government took
the former course, which followed inevitably upon their ac-
knowledgment of the rights of blockade claimed by the -United
States. That war had now been carried on for four years,
and the present question was asked at a most unfortunate
time, for it was very difficult to say what was the state of
facts at the present moment. His noble friend said that
the Government of the United States had closed the
Southern ports. Well, they might exercise that authority
over ports which were in their possession or occupation.
But the port of Galveston, in Texas, was still in the pos-
session of the Confederates, and therefore the only power
which the United States could exercise in respect of it was

that of blockade. We did not know whether the United
States intended to give up the further exercise of the belli-
gerent right of search on the high seas. Of course, it was
impossible for us to allow the exercise of such a right in
time of peace. What the Government were anxious to as-
certain, and what they had asked of the Government of
the United States, was, what was the present state of things.
They had already told the United States Government that
it was not necessary to maintain any restrictions upon the
resort of their vessels or to their stay in British ports. But
they could not go further until they knew whether the
United States intended to give up the further exercise of
the belligerent right of search on the high seas. The
Government would rejoice sincerely at the termination of
the civil war which had so long been going on in America.
In answer to Lord HOUGHTON,
Earl RUSSELL said that, if the United States Govern-
ment declared the war at an end, it would become his duty
to take the opinion of the law officers as to the course
which the Government ought to pursue.
The Married Women's Property (Ireland) Bill passed
through committee.
The District Church Tithes Bill was road a third time
and passed.
The Isle of Man (Disafforestation) Compensation Bill
passed through committee.
Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—LAST EVENING.
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The following bills were read a third time and passed :
Barnstaple Roads; Bishop's Castle Railway (Extensions
to Craven Arms, cte.); Burnham Tidal Harbour ; Ex-
mouth Gas ; Heysham Pier ; London, Chatham, and
Dover Railway (No 1;) Northampton and Banbury June-
ton Railway (Extensions) ; Teign Valley Railway ; and
rrt
ottenham and Hampstead Junction Railway (Deviation.)

THE MALT DUTY—THE BUD-GET. The CHANCELLOR of tho EXCHEQUER gave notice
that °ll all early day he should move a resolution, prepara-
tory to the introduction of a bill to allow the duty to be
collected by weight instead of, as at present, by measure.
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, BRIGHTON.
Mr. WHALLEY gave notice that on an early day he
should call attention to the manner the service was per-
formed in St. Paul's Church, Brighton. (Hear, hear, and
laughter).

FOREIGN SALT.
Mr. J. TOLLEMACHE asked the President of the
Board of Trade the cause of so long a delay in the settle-
ment of the question as to the terms upon which English
salt was to be admitted into France, under the reciprocity
treaty between the two countries, and what was the present
state of the negotiations thereon ?

M. GIBSON said he believed the salt duty would
soon be the subject of legislation in France.
THE RESIGNATION OF MR. WILDE.

Mr. FERRAND asked the Attorney-General whether it
was true that Mr. Henry Sedgwick Wilde, when registrar
of the Court of Bankruptcy at Leeds, was called upon by
one of the bankruptcy officials, by authority, to resign his
office, and that he refused to do so; whether Mr. Wilde
was then informed that if he would resign at once and ob-
tain a medical certificate he should have a pension of £6OO a
year, although he was then in a good state of health; whether
he did obtain such medical certificate and resign, and was
the pension so promised granted or sanctioned by the Lord
Chancellor ; was Mr. Wilde, on his resignation, succeeded
byMr.Welch, who was then in a precarious state of health ;
arranged that Mr. Welch should hold the office un-
twilas thite reversal of the outlawry of the Hon. R. Bethell ; and
was Mr. R. Bothell's appointment made out after his out-
lawry was reversed, and did he attend the Bankruptcy

committee.

ment would give a pledge that the grave questions raised
in the course of the debate by the opponents of the bill

would be taken into their serious consideration.
Mr. CAVE saw no use in sending the bill to a select
committee, but if it became law there was no doubt that

they must have a redistribution of the unions. and that the
bill must be supplemented by other measures to redress
existing inequalities.
Mr. SCHNEIDERy alluding to the general principle of
the bill, said that no measure could be introduced that
would do more justice between parish and priest, tend
more to ameliorate the condition of the poor, or give
greater satisfaction to the country.
Sir J. TROLLOPE denied the accuracy of the state-
ments contained in the commissioner's report. The question
at issue concerned the honour and humanity of English

gentlemen, and imperatively demanded inquiry. Other
grounds for referring the bill to a select committee were

that the new union assessment valuations were net yet

completed, that the bill tended directly to break the
connection between the employers of labour and the em-
ployed, and would ultimately lead to a national rate.

Mr. KENDALL hoped the Government would intro-
duce a bill admitting the principle of rating mines and plan-
tations, in order that it might be considered by a select

Lord J. MANNERS believed that his hon. friends would

find themselves greatly disappointed if they expected that
the Government would ever follow the bill with any mea-

sures that would render it just and fair. The noble lord
stated that he, too, had instituted an examination of the
returns of the commissioner, and found that of 821 parishes
where it was represented the amount of cottage accommo-
dation had decreased, there were not less than 290 in
which it had either increased or not diminished, whilst in
those 290 parishes the number of houses had actually in-
creased by 1,439. After that he felt he had a right to de-
mand a full investigation of every figure and fact alleged
in the report.
Mr. VILLIERS said that if he could admit the premises
of the noble lord he might consent to abandon the bill, or
what would come to the same thing refer it at this period
of the session to a select committee. The noble lord, like
the right hon. gentleman (Mr. Henley) saw the difficulty of
his case. He saw this was no ordinary question. He per-
ceived that the bill was one brought in upon information of
a very extended character, and supported by evidence of no
ordinary kind. (Laughter.) The noble lord and his friends
saw, therefore, that they must by some means change the
issue—that they must shuffle the pack—(oh, oh)—and di-
vert attention from the bill ; and therefore they fixed upon
some statistics which he (Mr. Villiers) had incidentally re-
ferred to—(laughter)—and they asserted, though they did
not prove—(oh, oh)—perhaps they were disposed to inter-
rupt the proceedings as they had done the other night. (Oh.)
They asserted that the bill was based upon imperfect and de-
fective information. There was, however, no ground for
such a statement. The bill was passed upon the recom-
mendation of a committee which had sat for three years
upon the subject, which had made the fullest inquiry into
the working of the poor law, and in that most important
matter—the rating of property for the purposes of that law.
The question before the house was no novel one. The
noble lord and the right hon. gentleman knew perfectly
well that it had been before the house for one and thirty
years, and now the right hon. gentleman who opposed the
bill admitted that he was the owner of a close parish.

(Cheers.) The right hon. gentleman was one of those who
had resisted this measure for 31 years, but who now felt
that their interests could no longer be protected against
those of the community. (Cheers.) He (Mr. Villiers)
must repeat that this measure was proposed by the ori-
ginal projectors of the new poor law, and that those
gentlemen had never had the smallest doubt that it
was essential to the success of their measure. It was
supported, moreover, by the authority of the most
revered statesman that ever sat in the House of Commons

had been made out for further inquiry. Since this
bill had been introduced the Hon. and Rev. Mr.

Talbot (the chairman of the Staffordshire Quarter Sessions)
presented to him an address, in which he said that as a
ratepayer in a rural parish, where there was not a single
pauper, he would have if the measure passed to pay a large
sum for the relief of the rest of the union, but he felt it his
duty to look at the matter from a wider point of view than
that of personal interest—(cheers)—and he would support
the bill, believing thoroughly that it would have the effect
of encouraging landowners and farmers to build cottages
for their workpeople near to the place of their employment.
(Cheers.) This gentleman went on to say he had frequently
observed that where a man had lived near his work he was
still active at 50 or 60 years of age, whereas the labourer
who had to walk two or three miles to and from his work
every day was worn out when he reached that age.; and
he added that he sincerely believed the proposed change
would be beneficial to the poor. (Hear, hear.) The late
Mr. Ker Seymer, one of those country gentlemen who filled
them with hope that the party to which he belonged would
keep pace with the progress of the country—(hear, hear)—
a liberal-minded man, who had the courage to express his
views, in speaking on Mr. Baines's bill, which embraced
some of the principles of the present measure, said that the
parochial system might be valuable for church purposes ;
but it did not follow that it was good for the relief of the
poor ; and he said also that its tendency was to pervert the
best feelings of nature. It was the opinion of Mr. Ker
Seymer that, under the present law, for one man who left
his settlement and returned a pauper one hundred were
prevented from seeking employment ; that the effect of this
alteration of the law would be to make all board of guardians
more careful with respect to the relief of the poor, and that
there was no reason why an alteration in the present law
should lead to a national rate. Therefore he (Mr. K. Seymer)
should give the Government measure his hearty support.
But returns had been obtained from the Registrar-General
showing the condition of the agricultural labourer under the
circumstances. ',They were remarkable, and, indeed, rather
striking. The returns of mortality among the different
classes of people in the unions had been furnished from two
unions. It was stated in those returns that any advantages
which might be derived from good drainage were counter-
acted by overcrowding in cottages ; that the ratio of deaths
from zymotic diseases was double among the labourers as
compared with the upper classes ; and that the deaths in
the Reading district showed 17 among the labouring class,
as against 9of the upper class. There seemed a concur-
rence of testimony that deaths resulted from labourers
being unable to procure residences in close villages, and
being driven into the open villages. It was for the consi-
deration of those who had influence in these matters to say
whether this system should continue or not. He was very
sorry to hear the decision of the right hon. member for
Oxfordshire, who thought there was nothing at all the
matter, and believed the people were not crowded together.
Mr. HENLEY—I never said they were not crowded. I
spoke strongly to the contrary.
Mr. VILLIERS said he believed the right hon. gentle-
man spoke of the cock-and-bull story about the people
being crowded.
Mr. HENLEY—I said a cock-and-bull story about houses
being demolished. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. VILLIERS—WeII, what was the fact? Did the
houses keep up with the population, or did they not ? if
they inquired into the matter fully—(Opposition cheers)—
they would have to inquire in another tribunal. (Oh.) But
let not this be thought a party matter. (Hear, hear.) It
had been imputed that there was something like an election
purpose in this measure—(cheers)—something like a desire
to influence the towns. (Hear, hear.) He could not do
better than refer to an extract from an organ of the right
hon. gentleman's own views—a purely Conservative journal
(cries of " Name ")—the Lancashire Courier. That
journal stated that in hundreds of parishes all over the
country the same cry of insufficient accommodation was
raised, that from this cause the labouring classes suffered
morally as well as physically, and that the evils arising out
of over-crowding struck at the root of morality and religion
—that over-crowded cottages were nests of disease, that
fever was spreading on the continent, and that if it came
here it was impossible to see the final result. It was urged
also that unless immediate steps were taken in the face of
such danger the working classes would be decimated. Tho
right hon. gentleman had referred to the prize essays of the
Royal Agricultural Society as to the condition of the
labourers. He (Mr. Villiers) had looked over those refer-
ences made by Dr. Hunter, or rather Dr. Simon. Those
prize essays said on the subject of cottage property, with
respect to Somersetshire, that out of 500 parishes there were
upwards of 300 where the houses had decreased and the
population increased. In Northamptonshire a system of de-
population had been systematically carried on for a consi-
derable length of time, and more cottages were sadly wanted.
In Buckinghamshire there was insufficiency of cottage
room ; in Devonshire tho small number and untenable con-
dition of the cottages obliged many of the labourers to re-
side in town ; in Bedfordshire and Warwickshire the want
of comfortable cottages was a crying evil in many parishes;
and in Norfolk perhaps the worst cases of all were to be
found—(hear, hear)—the houses being small and dear. In
Oxfordshire the cottages must not be supposed to be nearly
as perfect as they ought to be. (Hear.) In every case where
the discussion arose between parish and parish the result
was an evident desire to get rid of the poor. This mea-
sure was founded upon right principles and upon the evi-
dence taken by their committees which had sat upon the
subject of poor removal, and it was founded upon evidence
of very high authority. All the evidence was in favour
of such a measure. Now, during the next session, the act
would expire which provided for the rating of stock-in-
rade to the relief of the poor, and it would be for the

—by Sir James Graham, and by Sir George Lewis,
as well as by Sir George Nicoll, and the com-
mittee of 1847• After all, what did the noble lord's objec-
tion eome to ? Out of 820 parishes, in which it was stated
that the population had increased and the houses diminished
the noble lord said that in 290 the population had indeed
increased,but that the houses had also increased, though not
in the same proportion. (Hear, hear.) He (the right hon.
gentleman) would appeal to hon. members whether they
could have any doubt as to the real object of the amend-
ment—namely, that it was intended simply to defeat the
bill ? (Hear, hear.) He had heard that an hon. member
had been told that he had better support the bill, because
the country wished it, and that if it was thrown out this
year it would be brought in again next ; but his reply was
that he did not see it, that they had got rid of Baines's
bill ten years ago, and by throwing out this to-night they
would get rid of it for ten years. Well, all he could say to
that was, that it seemed to a man who had had all the
troubleand bother of framing and introducing a bill of this
character that it was only reasonable that he should have
ton years rest before he attempted it again. (Laughter.) The
bon. member who proposed the committee wanted it for
the purpose of inquiring into the incidence of the tax ;
whether, in fact, it could not be properly transferred to the
consolidated fund, or at least a portion of it; and the hon.
member who seconded the motion wanted it for the purpose
of showing that there was an extraordinary maladministra-
tion of the poor-law, and great waste of means in the north
of England. Then the hon. member wanted it for the pur-
pose of showing that the promoters of the measure were mis-
taken in respect to the area of chargeability, while another
hon. member wanted it for the purpose of enlarging the area
of natural charity, which was certainly a novel purpose,
and one not likely to be inquired into under the parochial
system at least. (Laughter.) A good deal had been said.
against Dr. Hunter's statistics with respect to how many
houses had been pulled down since 1851, but the only
straightforward motion which had been made was that made
by the hon. member for Northamptonshire, which was that
they should not consider it this year at all. That sugges-
tion could not be accepted by the house, but it had at least
the merit, which the others had not, of being a straight-
forward attempt to get rid of the bill. This was in fact
the old story of whether they should or not continue the
parochial system. They did not want Dr. Hunter's
statistics for the purpose of proving .that the labourers
were crowded under that system into cottages too small for
them, nor did the hon. member for Oxford attempt to deny
that there was such a thing as driving the poor out of the
parish under the parochial system. [Mr. HENLEY—" I did
say so."] Then he was very sorry the hon. gentleman
was in a position to say it. (Laughter.) How was it that
the hon. gentleman, whom he always looked upon as the
farmers' representative, had in his speech studiously omit-
ted to give the house any opinion from that body ? He was
a great authority upon all matters in which the farmers
were interested, and therefore he (Mr. Villiers) listened
with interest to hear what the farmer said about this mat-
ter, but no, not a word fell from the right hon. gentleman
with regard to the manner in wbich the farmers regarded
the bill. Was not the inference irresistible that they were
against it ? (No, no.) However, he thought he should be
able to supply the omission from some good authority, and
he would take that of the Farmers' Club, at which it ap-
peared this matter had been frequently discussed, and at
which the decision had been invariably one way, namely,
against the parochial system which the right hon. gentle-
man and his friends wished to preserve. He proceeded to
quote the opinions of the farmers as expressed in resolu-
tions passed at their club from 1847 to the present time, all
of which were in favour of an enlarged area of rating and
of doing away with the parochial system, observing that
they were obliged to employ people whom they did not
want, and that if this measure were passed they would be
enabled, as other persons were, to employ the best men.
The hon. member for Leicester, in fact, let the cat out of
the bag when he told them that he had two interests, ono
in which the proposed change would be advantageous, and
one in which it would be disadvantageous. No doubt he
struck a balance in his own mind before he determined
whether he would support or oppose the bill. (Laughter.)
In case the authority of the Farmers' Club should be dis-
puted he would quote another, which could not well be dis-
regarded. A few years ago this matter was inquired into
by the House of Lords, and they examined men who were
most certainly the best representatives of the farmers, but
they were all in the same story, and all against the con-
tinuance of the parochial system, quite concurring in the
opinion that it led to the unprofitable employment of labour
and added materially to the burdens of the ratepayers. A
gentleman who was sent up to represent the West of Eng-
, land was of opinion that the present law led to the crowd-
ing of labourers in particular parishes to the exoneration
of other parishes, and the Rev. Mr. Huxtabld, the rector of
Sutton, in Dorsetshire, in his evidence said that the exist-
ing system operated to the disadvantage of the good
labourer. (Hear.) If the right hon. gentleman the mem-
ber for Oxfordshire, and others who thought with him,
would only refer to the evidence taken before the House of
Lords they would see what the farmers thought of the pre-
sent system of parochial settlement, and that there was
evidence sufficient already to remove any grounds in this
case for disposing of a useful measure by proposing to refer
it to a select committee. He did not distrust this report of
Dr. Hunter; on the contrary, he believed it to be a very
valuable one. It had not, he thought, been shaken very
much. (" Oh, oh," laughter, and cheers.) There had been
an attempt to shake it in a few cases, but his belief was
that Dr. Hunter had rather understated than overstated the
case. (" Oh, oh," and cheers.) He stated it again whether
right hon. gentlemen and noble lords believed it or not
that he never heard of the report till after his measure had
been prepared, and that it was only a day or so before its
introduction that he heard of the document. The instant
he received that report he directed it to be sent to the in-
spectors of all the districts, requesting them to see whether
its statements were correct, and the replies so far as he had
received them went to show that though there might be
some inconveniences, substantially the case was stronger
even than Dr. Hunter had stated. Mr. Wigram, of Biggles-
wade, in Bedfordshire, said that the result of his inspection
in different parts of the union proved that the report was
not at all exaggerated ; and he was enabled; with the assist-
ance of Sir John Burgoyne, to verify the statements of
Dr. Hunter with respect to the overcrowding of cottages
in Sutton. If other landed proprietors as candid as Sir
John Burgoyne could be found he had no doubt that
similar accounts would be received from other districts.
They were asked now in the middle of May to appoint a
committee, the effect of which must be to throw over the
measure altogether for the present, but no ground

legislature to decide whether the act should be continued
or not, and if it were proposed to inquire into
the question whether mines and other things should be
assessed which were now exempted he would support such
an inquiry. (Hear, hear.) The present measure had been
recommended by many select committees of that house, and
it seemed to him to be a safe and proper and legitimate pro-
posal for the house to adopt. It was well known that
in dealing with the subject
and it arose chiefly in con-
sequence had be
sdeitffitlecmuletynt,
of a want of uniformity of assessment of the pro-
perty in unions. A measure was submitted with a view of
carrying out a better system of assessment, and it was
adopted, and now greater uniformity prevailed everywhere.
A nearer value of the property in every parish had been
arrived at since the chance in the law of assessment was
made, and a further change in the law was made in this
respect, that no person after living three years in a parish
could be removed at all. The house allowed an act to be
passed in 1861 which empowered parishes to throw charges
upon a common fund, and the hon. member for Worcester-
shire saw that a measure of the present nature could not
be long resisted—he saw that it was to be the next step—
that there must be union rating. It was clear that they
must go forward or backward, for the question could not
remain where it was now placed. (Hear, hear.) He hoped
after the full explanation which had been given that his
hon. friend the member for Whitby would not press his
amendment, but that he would allow the bill to go into
committee. (Hear, hear.)
Earl PERCY was understood to say that his principal
object in rising was to express an opinion: that the right
hon. gentleman had been wrongly informed when he stated
that the farmers were in favour of this measure, for he had
received remonstrance after remonstrance from farmers
against the bill. (Hear, hear.)
Mr: THOMPSON said that after the appeal which had
been made to him by the right hon. gentleman, and seeing
that a dissolution was expected in July, he would not press
his amendment, but ask leave to withdraw it. (No, no.)
The house then divided, when there appeared—
For going into committee upon the bill 266

Against 93-173
Upon the question that the house should go into com-
mittee,
Mr. HENLEY explained that he had not in his speech
said he was satisfied with the dwellings of the labouring
poor. On the contrary, ho said he was not satisfied with
hem, and he thought much remained to be done to im-
prove them. He was, therefore, anxious to relieve himself
from the charge which the right hon. the President of the
Poor-law Board attempted to cast upon him. (Hear, hear.)
He wished to add that his opinions with regard to the law
of settlement were perfectly well known, and he trusted
the right hon. gentleman would support the amendments
of which he had given notice, for doing away with all
settlements whatever. (Hear, hear.) He had no objection,
as far as ho was concerned, to the house going into com-
mittee, but he hoped it would be understood that the chair-
man should at once report progress, as it was quite impos-
sible to proceed with the clauses at that hour. (Hear.)
The house then went into committee upon the bill pro
forma. It was ordered that the committee should sit again
on Thursday.
The Salmon' Fishery Act, 1861, Amendment Bill, and
the Exchequer Bonds (X 1,000,000) Bill, were read a second
time.
The Customs and Inland Revenue Bill, and the Prisons
(Scotland) Act Amendment Bill, were read a third time
and passed.
Other bills were advanced a stage, and the house ad-
journed at one o'clock.
--um••••11MIE

ABERDEEN.-RESPITE OF STEPHEN, THE MUR-
DERER.—On Saturday a communication was received by
the Lord Provost of Aberdeen from Secretary Sir George
Grey, granting a respite to George Stephen, under sentence
of death here for murder, during her Majesty's pleasure.
This decision, it is understood, proceeds upon a certificate
by medical men that the prisoner is in an insane condition.
On the intelligence being communicated to him Stephen
betrayed no emotion. The result gives general satisfaction
in the town.

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ME SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 16, 1865.

CHINA.

(From the Times Correspondent.)
SHANGHAI, March 25.
During the past week a large body of troops,
destined to reinforce the Imperialist army in Foh-

kien, have marched into Shanghai from the interior.

They arrived on the 15th, and encamped outside the
south gate of the city until the steamers chartered

to convey them were ready for their reception. The
Chinese state their number at 20,000, but, judging
from the size of the camps, I should think barely

10,000 can at present be assembled. Possibly, more
may be on their way. They are divided into several
camps, each surrounded by earthworks, with a broad

road running through the middle, on either side of
which are pitched regular rows of tents. A three-

Indians, and when the returns from the French set-
tlement are added, the 121,498 which a late census
has shown to be the total population of the island,
including Chinese, will be effectually eclipsed. Be-
sides all this, the native city of Shanghai and its
suburbs must contain a population considerably
larger than the three foreign settlements together.
Business at Shanghai has reached that point at
which it is said things must mend. A telegram
which has reached us, conveying a rumour of a fall
of 3d. or 4d. a pound in cotton, is one of the prin-
cipal causes of the extreme depression ; and the next
mail is anxiously looked for, to confirm or dispel the
report. Exchange closes at 6s. 34d. for bank bills,
and 6s. 41d. for private paper. The silk season may
be held fairly over.

cornered flag is stuck in the ground alongside of
each tent, the colour varying in each camp. That

in the principal one is white, with indented red
border ; that in the second 'has broad alternate
stripes of yellow and green, which look especially
gaudy ; while in the third a three-cornered piece of
white cloth rejoices in a black edging. Opposite the
tent of the principal officer of each camp is planted a
large square flag, remarkable by this variety in shape

but for little else. Most of the men appear to
possess muskets and bayonets, as these arms, orna-
mented with large patches of rust, are piled in an
eccentric manner outside many of the tents. The
greater part are the old Tower musket, and, judging
from their appearance, they are rapidly deteriorating
to a state in which they will be more dangerous to
their owners than to the enemy: Notwithstanding,
however, the conviction which oppresses me that the
muskets are as likely to go off sideways as forwards,
and that their owners would run away on the
slightest possible persuasion, it is impossible not
to concede a regularity greater than I should
have thought the Chinese capable of displaying,
which gives a kind of military appearance to the
scene. The varied colours of the flags which
flutter in the wind, to the number of several
hundreds, combine with the scarlet, orange, black,
and other unforms of the soldiers to produce a
more quaintly picturesque effect than is afforded
even by the gorgeous trappings of some European
troops. Our Volunteer corps, to the number of 26
cavalry and 114 infantry, marched out a few days
ago to visit the new arrivals, and were received by
the Chinese General in full official costume. The
troops turned out in thousands to gaze at them,
wondering, no doubt, inwardly at the eccentricity
which could prompt gentlemen to undergo the
fatigues of soldiering. Their own countrymen are
troubled by no such martial ardour, and need no
means to work off their superfluous energy. True
disciples of Epicurus, they believe in extracting as
much placid enjoyment as possible from a quiet life,
but lack altogether the impulse which prompts their
European brethren to fight for the sake of preserving
the necessary means of enjoyment. The object of a
Chinaman's life is chow-chow. The poor man works to
obtain sensual luxuries. The necessity for obtain-
ing food prompts the poor to enlist as soldiers ; but
the fact of having food deters those well to do in
the world from risking the loss of the opportunity
of eating it by entering on a career in which there
is danger to life and limb. The Mandarins, how-
ever, seem to have appreciated the honour of the
visit, as Kwo-sun-ling with several retainersreturned
it on the following day, by appearing on the Volun-
teer parade ground at the accustomed drill hour of
the corps. It is needless to say that they were re-
ceived with all due honour, and expressed the highest
gratification.
I hear that a battery of artillery, under the com-
mand of a Major Bailey, which was formerly at-
tached to Ching's force, but has since that leader's
death been maintained by the Futai, is also to go
southwards. If so, it will prove a far more efficient
aid than the troops whom his Excellency has been
induced to send. Gordon's disciplined force would
have been of little use to him :without cannon, and
to the Fohkien officials, who have neither troops nor
guns, a battery commanded and officered by Euro-
peans will be invaluable. The Imperialist forces at
present in that province appear quite unable to make
head against the large number opposed to them, and
are in imminent danger of 'being enclosed within a
semicircle with their backs on the sea. The capture
of two cities, which the Tszewang is now besieging,
is alone necessary to perfect this arrangement. The
arrival of heavy guns on the scene may alter the as-
pect of affairs, but the rebels are reported, on their
side, to be energetically casting shot and shell at
Changchow. They, too, have many foreigners in
their ranks well capable of roughly organising and
disciplining a body of men on European principles.
Many of Gordon's old officers have found their way
down there, together with rowdies of every nation
under the sun. English, Americans, French, Ger-
mans, Italians, Greek, Manilese, and Dutch all meet
a ready welcome from the Tszewang, who has ap-
pointed a man named Rhode, formerly a major in
Gordon's force, to be their leader. Arms and ammu-
nition appear to reach them from Amoy without
difficulty, though how they contrive to get past the
Imperialists lines is a mystery. Several foreigners
who had reached Changchow with cargoes of this
description attempted to take advantage of a skir-
mish, not long since, to slip past in the confusion.

The Imperialists, however, poured so heavy a fire
of musketry into their boats that they retired
promptly behind the forces of their rebel friends.
The next day they made their appearance at Amoy
safe and unhurt, having made a detour into the
country, and so turned the flank of the Imperialist
outposts. The skirmish I have just mentioned was
one of the very few, if not the only one, in which the
Imperialists have been able to boast the advantage.
They caught an unfortunate body of rebels on a
foraging excursion, attacked and compelled them to
retreat to the bank of a large creek, without making
much impression on their ranks. Unfortunately,
however, the tide was high, and when the Imperial-
ists, gaining confidence from their numbers, fell on
their adversaries, the latter were equally unable to
defend themselves against the former's superior
forces, or to retreat. The consequence was a com-
plete rout, in which the Imperialists claim to have
slaughtered 1,000 rebels, with the loss of only 30
wounded on their own side.
Pekin Gazettes lately received contain little news
regarding the disturbances in the provinces. The
Governor of Kweichow reports the recapture of a
small city which had been held during the past four
months by the Mahomedan rebels ; but the Gover-
nor-General of Kwantung and Kwangsi expresses
apprehension from a coalescence between the long-
haired rebels and a body of brigands known as the

Ke-fei.
It appears doubtful whether the 67th will get
away before the summer ; but the prospect of being
left unprotected is giving a great impetus to the
volunteer movement here. Every effort is being
made by the officers to gain. new recruits and to
organise satisfactorily the existing force. At pre-
sent there are about 300 men on the rolls, but by
the addition of an artillery corps of 70 men, an engi-
neer corps of 25, and an increase to existing com-
panies, it is hoped that a force 450 strong may be
raised. In addition to this we have about 120
policemen;armed with musket, bayonet, and sword,
nearly all time-expired men of the 31st, and with
this force we feel tolerably confident of being able
to hold the settlement against rebels or Imperialists,
as necessity may arise, until help can be obtained
from Hongkong or Yokohama.
An attempt has just been made to take a census
of the foreign and native population in the English,
American and French settlements, but I suspect
only approximate results have been obtained. Ac-
cording to these, the English and American settle-
mets contain 2,024 Europeans, of whom the large
proportion of 150 are women, and 91 children. The
native population of these two settlements has not
yet been accurately ascertained, but I believe it will
prove nearly 100,000. Almost every race under
the sun has a representative here. Russia, Austria,
and Prussia ; Italy, Greece, and Spain ; Switzer-
land, Belgium, and Holland ; England, France, and
the Hanse Towns ; Canada, the United States, and
Mexico ; Java, Manilla, and Macao, each and all
can boast of having contributed at least one unit to
the total. A few years ago Hongkong would have
waxed indignant at the bare suggestion that Shang-
hai could one day rival it. Now it is deposed ; the
English and American settlements boast 80 more
foreign residents than the entire island, excluding