The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-18 00:00:00

LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 18, 1854.

THE ROYAL BRITISH BANK, Incor-
porated by Charter, on the Scotch System, ALLOW INTE-
R 1-2,,q on the fluctuatinc balances of drawing accounts, and on de-
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promissory notes, and bills of exchange in TRIPLICATE, negotiable
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Strand; 77, Bridge-road, Lambeth; 97, Goswell-road, Islington;
and 1, Shaftesbury-terrace, Victoria-street, Pimlico.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS---(YESTERDAY.)
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.

ROYAL ASSENT.

The Royal assent was given, by commission, to the As-
sessed Taxes Act Amendment Bill.
The Lords Commissioners were the Lord Chancellor,
Earl Granville, and Lord St. Leonards.
The Earl of EGLINTON presented several petitions in
favour of the reading of scriptural lessons in the national
schools of Ireland. •
Lord LYTTLETON presented a petition from a place,
the name of which we did not hoar, in favour of reforma-
tory schools.
Lord BROUGHAM bore testimony to the importance of
establishing reformatory schools, calculated, as he contend-
ed they were, to improve the morals of the people, and
lessen the public expenditure in the prosecution of
criminals.
Earl GRANVILLE was happy to inform the noble and
learned lord that a measure of this kind was now under
the consideration of the Government. (Hear, hear.)

By order of the Court of Directors.
HII,HI INNEe, CAMERON, General Manager.

CANCER HOSPITAL, London and West
Bromp on.
Treasurer—John Parkinson, Esq., 66, Lincoln's-inn-flelds.
Hon. Chaplain —Rev. Thomas Pearson, 4, Tregunter-road, Brompton.
Bankers—Messrs. Coutts and Co., 59, Strand.
eeretary's Office—l, Cannon-row, Parliament-street, Westminster.
The cnseii have now increa ed to 625. The remedies required are
expensive ; and it is admitted that the mo=t generous diet is abso-
lutely necessary. The committee have, every week, to provide
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affluent will sympathise and co-operate with them in their endea-
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well rich as poor.
Annual subscriptions are particularly solicited to form a perma-
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Hatehard's, Piccadilly, will be most happy, in conjunction with the
Treasurer, Hon. Chaplain, and the Bankers, toreceive contributions.

NATIONAL EDUCATION IN IRELAND.

Earl FITZWILLIAM presented a number of petitions
from the patrons of several national schools in Ireland,
relative to the resolution of Bth July last. The noble earl
said he would not trouble the house further than to read a
few, extracts from the petitions themselves. This he did,
but in so low a tone as to be very indistinctly heard in the
gallery.
The Earl of EGLINTON then rose, pursuant
to notice, to move for • the appointment of a
select committee to inquire, itito the practical working of
the system of National Education in Ireland. He thought
the time was come when an inquiry into this system was
imperatively called for, the more so as three of its most
distinguished patrons—the Archhiebop of Dublin, and two
most eminent members of the Irish Bench had retired
from the board of national education. He could assure their
lordships he approached this subject in no spirit of hostility.
On the contrary, he believed the partial support which he
had given to the system had given offence to those with
whom he usually politically acted. It was to the religious
portion of the teaching of the system he wished particu-
larly to call their lordships' attention ; with regard to the
secular portion of it he believed there never had been any
objection from any quarter. (Hear, hear.) After describing
the original composition of the board and the books used
in the schools, the noble earl proceeded to say a large por-
tion of the Episcopalians and Presbyterians of Ireland had,
he thought most unfortunately, refused to join in carrying
out this system, and thereby gave the Roman Catholics an
undue preponderance in the management of the schools.
In the autumn of 1852, the Archbishop of Dublin had
to inspect the model school of Clonmel, and to his sur-
prise he found the Scripture Lessons and other books
ordered previously to be used in the schools were
not in use. He also found this to be the case with
regard to other schools. Upon finding this the Archbishop
complained to the Commissioners of National Education.
The result was, that the commissioners agreed to expunge
from the list of books used the " Lessons on Christianity,"
and in fact it might be said jrom that time to the present
there was no strictly religious teaching in those schools.
(Hear.) He thought if there ever was a case deserving of
parliamentary inquiry it was this. He was now arguing
whether the separate or the combined systems of religious
and secular education would be the best ; all he asked was
for a committee of inquiry, and he now begged to move
for the appointment of a select committee. (Hear, hear.)
The Earl of ABERDEEN said, when the noble earl
first intimated his intention of bringing forward this
question he was inclined to oppose it, thinking, as he did,
that the system of national education in Ireland had been
productive of incalculable benefit to the people of Ireland.
Silt on consideration, he thought the system itself could
suffer no disadvantage from the fullest inquiry, and there-
fore he had no intention now of offering any opposition tc
the motion of the noble lord. (Hear, hear.) This course
relieved him from the necessity of discussing the working
of the system. He confessed that he had regarded with
great anxiety the retirement from the board of the Arch-
bishop of Dublin ; but he had the satisfaction of saying
that the determination of the right reverend prelate had
not been attended with the slightest detriment to the sys-
tem, the benefits of which he was extremely anxious to
uphold and extend. The schools had never been in a more
flourishing condition than they were at present. He would
only observe that there had been no change in their admi-
nistration since the death of Archbishop Murray.
The Bishop of DOWN and CONNOR said the, patrons
of local schools were not expected to use all the books
approved by the board, but only such as they deemed
suitable to their particular districts. That which might be
applicable in Tipperary would be out of place in Belfast ;
and it was very remarkable that the changes made to meet
such cases had been proposed by some of the very gentle-
men who had seceded from the board. It was, therefore,
a fallacy to suppose that the use of particular books ap-
proved by the board was absolutely required, even inlmodel
schools. He wished, however, for a full and searching in-
quiry into the working of the system ; but he feared it
might be attended with the evil of religious agitation.
The Earl of QLANCA.RTY, in a discursive speech, con-
gratulated their lordships upon the Government having
conceded this inquiry, and hoped that the report, when
made, would embrace the sugestion of remedial measures
in order that all difficulties and objections might be over-
come.
The Earl of DESART denied that inquiry would have a
tendency to produce agitation in Ireland, and said the sys-
tem of national education had not produced the beneficial
effects anticipated from it. He regarded the innovations
which had been described as only part of an organised
system on the part of the Church of Rome to obtain
entire control over the education of the people.
Still he should go into the inquiry in a perfectly unbiassed
spirit.
Lord MONTEAGLE, in reply to Lord Clancarty, said
the retirement of the commissioners was a sufficient ground
for a parliamentary inquiry ; but he could never consent
to re-open the whole principle of national education with a
view to impairing a system which had produced most con-
ciliatory effects in Ireland. The high Protestant party had
first obj ected to the system because it included the Scrip-
ture extracts ; and now they objected to it because it ex-
cluded them. There was no satisfying these gentlemen ;
but he reminded them that the extracts had never been
read compulsorily.
The Earl of DONOUGHMORE confessed that be was.no
friend to the system of the national board. Ho approved
of inquiry, but the inquiry ought to include other matters
than those referred to. One was, the original intention of
the system, and whether that intention had been adhered
to. The original intention was, that the Seripture extracts
should be read in the hours of united education, while the
Scriptures themselves, either in the authorised or the
Douay version, should be read in the hours of separate
instruction; but this had not been carried out. He as-
serted that the inquiry would show, especially in the south
of Ireland, that the system had checked rather than pro-
moted education ; and that the concessions already ob-
tained by the Roman Catholics for their own advantage
would be followed by a demand for others, unless Parlia-
ment resolutely put a stop to them. In conclusion, he
accused the Roman Catholics in the west of making use of
public funds voted for secular education for the purposes of
proselytism.
The Earl of EGLINTON, in reply, expressed his satis-
faction at hearing that the number of scholars had in-
creased ; but he could not help suggesting that the increase
might be owing to an accession of Roman Catholics in con-
sequence of the innovations to which he had referred.
The motion was then agreed to.
The Earl of ABERDEEN laid upon the table the answer
of the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland to the letter of the Arch-
bishop of Dublin, announcing his resignation as a commis-
sioner of the board. He could not understand the reason
why this paper along with the others had not been before
produced, particularly as they had been all laid upon the
table of the other House of Parliament. He supposed that
it was occasioned by some mistake.
On the motion of the Duke of NEWCASTLE, the fol-
lowing bills were read a first time, viz.:—The Landlord
and Tenant (Ireland) Bill ; Tenants' Improvements Com-
pensation Bill ; and the Leasing Powers Bill.
Their lordships then adjourned.

VirINING INVESTMENT.—Parties seeking
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doing.
32, Poultry, London, Jan., 1854.

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Commercial Gentlemen and others are respectfully solicited to give
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Spacious and excellent Stabling.
_ _

T. 4. and R. M. MORRIS (late Head Waiters at the Royal Hotel,
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JAPANESE EXHIBITION. The FIRST
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open TO- N IGHT at right, and Every Day at Half-past Two
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Journal of the Socuty of Arts.

HOUSE OF COMIV.I ONs_O(EsTERDAY.)

- -
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
The following bills were read a second time, and ordered
to be committed :—Ouse and Derwent, &c., Drainage ;
South Devon Railway ; Burnley Gas.
ROYAL ASSENT.
Mr. PULMAN, the Deputy-Usher of the Black Rod,
summoned the house to attend the House of Peers, to hear
the Royal Assent given by commission to a bill which had
passed both houses.
On the return of the SPEAKER, he intimated that the
Royal Assent had been given to the Assessed Taxes Act
Amendment Bill.

laid on the table before the Army Estimates were brought up.
With regard to the second question, the Government had
no such intention.
THE REFORM BILL.
Mr. WARNER wished to ask Lord J. Russell on what
principle the proposed 6/. borough rating franchise is to
be calculated ; whether on the municii)al assessment in
each case, or whether means will be taken to adjust the
great inequalities between the assessment and the actual
value which now exists in different boroughs, in many
cases under the special acts of Parliament ; also, how it is
proposed to deal with the assessment of compounded pro-
perty. He also wished to know if the principle of allowing
the minority to be represented, would apply to places re-
turning only two members.
Lord J. RUSSELL said the bill would be printed in a
few days, and he must, therefore, leave it for the clause it-
self to answer the first question of the hon. member. With
regard to the second question, he had no such intention as
that suggested by the hon. member.
ROMAN CATHOLIC PROCESSIONS.
Mr. NEWDEGATE wished to ask the Under-Secretary
of State for the Colonies whether there is any law in force
in Canada which constitutes the refusal to do homage to
the Roman Catholic procession of the Host an offence
punishable by law. And whether her Majesty's Govern-
ment will ascertain for the information of the house,
the result of the trial of Narcisse Filian, of Beaussart, in
Lower Canada, which was moved by certiorari into the
Superior Court of Canada, after Filian, on the 4th day of
June last, had been convicted and fined by the justices of
the peace at Beaussart, for having refused to take his hat
off while the Roman Catholic procession of the Host was
passing him.
Mr. F. PEEL was not aware of any such law in
Canada. There was, however, a law in Lower Canada for
punishing persons who misbehaved themselves in a church
or chapel of any sort. With regard to the other part of
the question, no such information had been received at the
Colonial-office, but enquiry should be made about it.
RECRUITING IN IRELAND.

In reply to Mr. JAMES O'CONNELL,
Sir JAMES GRAHAM said the gallant officer entrusted
with the duty of raising coast guard volunteers in Ireland
had been very successful in his task, and in no case had
there been any interference with him on the part of Roman
Catholic priests that be was aware of.
THE BLACK SEA FLEET.
In reply to Mr. GROGAN,
Lord J. RUSSELL repeated that, in the existing state
of affairs in the East, it would not be desirable to lay before
the house the instructions which had been sent out from
time to time to the admiral commanding the Black Sea
fleet. (Cheers.)
ASSISTANT-SURGEONS IN THE NAVY.
On the motion that the Speaker leave the chair for the
purpose of going into a Committee of Supply on the naval
estimates.
Colonel BOLDERO rose to move that, whereas the
house passed a resolution on the Bth of April, 1850, to the
effect that " the accommodation provided for assistant-sur-
geons on board her Majesty's ships of war is inadequate
and insufficient for securing the full benefit of their pro-
fessional services," the Admiralty regulations since the pas-
sing of the aforesaid act have not been in the spirit of, nor
have they fulfilled the intention of, the said resolution,-
it was the opinion of this house that the above resolution
should be forthwith carried into effect. He fought it his
duty to bring this subject prominently before the house
because he believed that assistant naval surgeons, as a
class, had been very much maltreated ; that the time had
arrived when the injustice from which they had suffered
should cease, and that it, was the opinion of Parliament,
as well as of the country in general, that as this particular
period, especially, the naval service should be complete
and sufficient in all its branches. (Hear, hear.) We had
at the present moment one of the finest navies, as far as
ships were concerned, in the world, and one of which Eng-
land might well be proud ; and yet, notwithstanding all
the advantages at our command, we allowed our assistant-
surgeons to occupy a station and position which was not
such as their education and abilities gave them a right to
demand. There were many reasons which would ,suggest
themselves why medical attendants in the navy should be
taken care of, but there was no reason why they should be
placed in a worse position than surgeons in the army, ord-
nance, or mercantile marine service. (Hear, hear.) That
they were so placed was owing to the orders:which had
been issued by the Admiralty on the subject, and so long
as those orders remained, we should never be able to ob-
tain sufficient and good men to serve as surgeons in the
navy. What were the consequences of such orders being
enforced ? The effect of the orders of which he com-
plained was to lower the standard of merit in the pro-
fession • and; upon the very eve of a war, to force
upon the service of the country a body of inferior I
men. According to the old orders, the rule was, that naval
medical assistants, among their other qualifications, should I
walk the hospital for two years, and have accommodation
for at least 150 patients ; and the time of the attending
the hospital was now altered to 16 months, and the number
of patients reduced to 100. This was not a time, it ap-
peared to him, to lower the qualifications of medical men
in the navy ; on the contrary, he believed that this was
especially the time when we ought to raise them as high
as we could, in order to procure the very best men that
either the Universities, England, Ireland, or Scotland
:'Gould send iis.
assistant-surgeon in the navy be worse than that of a sur-
geon in the army? Surely Government has no interest
' that this should be so, especially when it was remembered
how much more difficult it was to make a perfect naval
surgeon than a perfect army one. A surgeon in the army
might learn his duty at once, but not so a surgeon in the
navy, insomuch as both time, experience, and knowledge
of a sailor's life were requisite to enable him efficiently to
discharge the duties of his position. (Hear.) The resolu-
tion of 1850, to which his question referred, recommended
that the injustice of which he complained should be in-
quired into and remedied; and, inasmuch as Government
had only carried out a part of such recommendation, his
hope in bringing the question now before the attention of
the house was that the house would enforce the remaining
portion of it. (Hear.)
Sir J. GRAHAM said, that nothing was more opposed
to the feeling of the Government than that so useful and
learned a profession as that of naval surgeons should suitor
in any way. The subject to which the hon. and gallant
member referred had been thoroughly investigated by the
Admiralty, and it had been found a most difficult mat-
ter to carry out effectually the resolution referred to.
He bad heard much the same speech from the honour-
able member on previous occasions as the present, and
he felt bound to say that his answer to-night must be
much the same as it was on such occasions. He held in
his hand a report made on this subject with reference
to the difficulty of making such alterations for the benefit
of assistant-surgeons in the navy as were desirable, and
• uch as the resolution of 1850 recommended. According
to this report, there was, even in times of peace, the
greatest difficulty to afford the room and accommodation
that were required. He would read the words of the re
port on the subject, which were :
" The gundecks of ships of the line are now most incon-
veniently lumbered with cabins, enclosing many of the gnus,
thereby preventing the ship from being at all times in a state
of readiness for action, which is the most essential point in
a man-of-war. Since the war, cabins have been added for
the chaplain and naval instructor, and for an additional lieu-
tenant. Should it be deemed necessary to have a cabin for
the assistant-surgeon, it can only be done, in ships of the old
class, by interfering further with the efficiency of the ship, or
by one of the officers of the present establishment being dis-
placed; but in the new ships of the line, where cabins are built
on the orlop, arrangements maybe made for an additional cabin.
The heavy armament of ships of the present day has ren-
dered an increase necessary in the complement both of officers
and men ; and it is found that the._ space occupied by the
cabins, the mess, and sleeping places of the officers on the
different decks, leaves barely sufficient room for the accom-
modation of the crew; for not more than 14 inches in breadth
can generally be obtained for each man's hammock to hang
under the beams."
These were the words of the report on this subject during
a time of peace, and when war was not contemplated ; so
that if these difficulties existed then, much more so must
they exist now, when we were obliged to ship complements
as if for war, and room and accommodation were obliged
to be found for the captain, the commander, the naval in-
structors, and others. (Hear, hear.) Since the introduc-
tion of steam, also, into our navy the means of accommo-
dation had been much decreased, and extra room was
obliged to be found for and occupied by machinery. He
was happy to say that an alteration was contemplated in
the mode of paying in the navy, so as to do away with the
system of long credit—(hear, hear)—and make quarterly
payments, as in the army. (Cheers.) In reference to this
subject, it would be as well perhaps to explain to the house
the regulations which were passed by the Admiralty in
July, 1850, relative to assistant-surgeons in the navy, who
PETITIONS, were by such regulations divided into two classes, the first
Mr. V. SMITH presented two petitions from North- to consist of all those who had completed three years ser-
ampton, one in favour of the establishment of reformatory vitude from the period of their first entry, one year of
schools, and the otherpagapinssetu of the police rate. the consolidationof
ruhs boron which, at least, must be on board a commissioned ship,
purposes
and counties, for theand the other two might be served in one of her Majesty's
Mr. WALTER presentedpree
Proms,
against
petition
the fproupmerthdeuty. proprietor naval hospitals, and who had passed their examination orf
of the Spaldingsurgeon, either at home or
in abroad, as directed by the Ad-
Mr. COBDEN presented a petition from Yorkshire in miralty instructions; but case the service on which the
favour of a decimal coinage, a petition from Australia in ship might be employed should render it improbable that
favour of an ocean penny postage, and a petition from three surgeons could be assembled for a considerable period
Yorkshire against the paper and newspaper stamp duties. of time, then the captain might give an order to the sur-
Mr. H. BERKELEY presented a petition from the cor- geon of the ship to examine the assistant-surgeon whose
poration of Bristol in favour of the establishment of refer. period of time had expired, and, if found competent, might
matory schools. grant him a temporary certificate until the requisite officers
Sir J. DUKE presented a petition from merchants could be assembled. Assistant-surgeons who had served
trading with Australia, Praying for a semi-monthly mail to more than three years, and had passed the examination
and from that colony- for surgeon under the above conditions were to rank next
Mr. LA.BOUCHERE presented apetition from Hull stet- to naval instructors, and were to mess with the wardroom
ing that the chief commissioner on the commission ap• officers, and to be allowed cabins when the accommodation
pointed to inquire into corrupt practices at elections for the and space on board would admit. The second class of
borough resigned before the commission agreed to its report, assistant-surgeons were to consist of all those who had not
that report was only signed by two of the commissioners, passed their examination for surgeon. First-class assis-
and praying that the report should not be taken into con- tant-surgeons, who might be serving in small vessels com-
sideration until the report of the chief commissioner, mended by lieutenants, were to mess in the gunroom with
which was being prepared, had been presented to the the other officers. He denied most emphatically that the
house. The right hon. gentleman observed that he had qualification of naval surgeon had in any way been dimi-
thought it right to present the petition, though he dis- niched, but, on the contrary. would assert from his own
agreed with its prayer. knowledge that the examinations were more striugent and
IRISH WORKHOUSES. the standard of merit higher than it had ever been before.
On the motion of Mr. KENNEDY a return was agreed to With respect to what the hon. and gallant member I?ad.
connected with the industrial employment of children in said relative to the falling off of applicants for the appoint
ment of naval assistant-surgeons, and in answer to resent
workhouses, in Ireland.
ELECTORAL REFORM. an assertion, he begged leave to say that in the present
Sir F. KELLY brought np his bill for preventing bri- year there had b -en 109 applications for apintments,
berg at elections, which was read a first time. and only 35 had been appointed. (Hear, hear.)
He
could (assure the house that there was no difficulty
THE MILITIA. in getting good and competent men for would leave a
l-
Lord SEYMOUR wished to ask Lord John Russell though, if he thought it were not
so, a
want. (Ch
he no
whether it is the intention of the Government to lay on effort of his unexerted to remedy such leave
)
the table of the house the militia and commissariat esti- After the statement be had made to the house he hoped
but, if on the
mates before proceeding with the army estimates, so that the present motion would not be Pressedhousewould • •
the house may be enabled to consider at the same time the contrary it should bo, he hoped that the Join
whole military expenditure of the country. And whether him in opposing it. (Hear, hear.)
it is the intention of the Government to introduce any j Mr. M. CHAMBERS considered
thist h übject
on gh o_ne ofnot i the
measure with the view of bringing the several departments deepest possible importance, and owhi t n
anuuuwrsheo had re-
connected with the administration of the army under the any way to be lightly tisposed of. With regard to the class
superintendence and control of one responsible depart. of men whtse interests were now under discussion, it
wine.rethme of their
ment.
Lord J. RUSSELL said with respect to the first epees- ache
vueldd remembereduhesuperior u
auu a that
tiu
n, tardy,
tion, it was very desirable to proceed with the Army stn ties, must necessarily have acquired much varied and
Estimates as soon as possible, and he was afraid the Militia useful information. Before they could pass the College of
Estimates could not be prepared in sufficient time to be Surgeons they were obliged top duce certificatea of being