The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-14 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, AUGUST 14, 1854

BUSINESS OF THE SESSION.

The Parliamentary session, which was on Saturday
brought to a close, differs from its predecessors of the
last nine-and-thirty years in that it has been emphati-
cally a war session. Not a week had elapsed from the
time of its assembling before the " Eastern question"
became the great topic of our senators ; and from that
time forth it formed the most engrossing subject of their
debates. Measures for the reform of Parliament, the
education of the people, and for social progress gave way
before its all-pervading force ; and thus the session,
which opened big with promise, does not exhibit such an
amount of useful domestic legislation as might under
other circumstances have been anticipated. Still there
have been passed the Oxford University, the Bribery,
the Common Law Procedure, the Ecclesiastical Courts,
the Gaming-houses, the Indian Appointments, the
Railway and Canal Traffic Regulations, the Public
Revenue and Consolidated Fund Charges Bills, and
other measures which will be recognised as of consider-
able importance. It is gcarcely necessary to add that
every proposition of the Government for carrying on the
war with vigour and success has been acquiesced in with
a unanimity and an alacrity highly creditable to the
national honour.
Parliament having assembled upon the 31st of
January, the House of Commons has sat, since that
period, upon 125 days, extending over 945 hours; while
the House of Lords has sat upon 100 days, extending
over 268 hours. The average duration f the daily
sittings of the Commons, therefore, has been some-
thing more than 7i hours each, and of the Lords,
2 17-25 hours. The vicious habit of sitting past
midnight, although not carried to the extent of last
session, has still been practised largely by the Commons,
especially within the last month, when 3 o'clock in the
morning has been no uncommon hour of adjournment.
Their sittings past midnight have amounted to 85 hours,
or 10i days of eight hours each. The Lords have only
offended in this respect upon three occasions, and their
total hours past midnight amount to but 34. The "No
House" phenomenon and the " Counts-out," so often
looked forward to with hope by the reporters, have been
very rare. Of the former there have been two, and of
the latter four. Two of the counts-out have been the
result of sheer inanition at past 1 o'clock in the morn-
ing. The total number of divisions in the Commons has
been 236 as against 260 in the previous session ; and 27
in the Lords, as against 25.
Subjoined is a resume of,some of the more important
events which have characterised the session :
Jan. 31—Parliament opened by the Queen in person.
The address, which was moved in the Lords by the Earl
of Carnarvon and seconded by the Earl of Ducie, and
moved in the Commons by Lord Castlerosse and
seconded by Mr. Hankey, was agreed to without an
amendment. In the course of the debate a discussion
took place with regard to the alleged interference of the
Prince Consort with military appointments and with the
affairs of the Foreign-office, which resulted in a success-
ful refutation of the charge.
Feb. 2—The Chancellor of the Exchequer brought in
a bill to alter the mode of providing for certain expenses
now charged upon certain branches of the public revenue
and the consolidated fund.
Feb. 3—Mr. Cardwell brought in two bills with re-
ference to merchant shipping.
Feb. 6—The Marquis of Clanricarde drew attention
briefly to the Eastern question. Lord J. Russell intro-
duced the Oaths Bill.
Feb. 7 —Th e Earl of Hardwicke directed attention to
the state of the Navy List. Mr. I. Butt brought for-
ward the question of the "conduct of Irish members,"
as it had been described in the Times of the previous
day, and obtained the appointment of a select committee
on the subject.
Feb. B—Mr. Hudson vindicated himself from a charge
made against him, incidentally, during his absence last
night by Mr. T. Duncombe.
Feb. 9.—A discussion took place, at the instance of
Lord Lyndhurst, upon the consolidatiois of the statutes.
Feb, 10—In the Lords a discussion arose on the
Eastern question, and the propriety of withdrawing the
proposed Reform Bill, in the face of a threatened war.
Lord John Russell brought in two bills directed against
corrupt practices at elections. Mr. Baines brought in a
bill to amend the Law of Settlement and Poor Removal,
which led to a long and interesting debate.

Feb. 13—The leader of the House of Commons intro-
duced the new Reform Bill.

Feb.il4—The Marquis of Clanricarde moved an ad-
dress to her Majesty for information respecting the ces-
sation of diplomatic relations with the Court of St.
Petersburg. The motion, though ultimately withdrawn,
led to a long and important debate, in which all the
most prominent members of their Lordships' House
took part.
„._

Feb. 16—The Lord Chancellor drew attention to the
state of the law relating to testamentary jurisdiction.
The select committee on the conduct of Irish members
was nominated.

Feb. 17.—A debate in the Lords upon national educa-
tion in Ireland, which was raised by Earl Fitzwilliam,
led to the appointment of a select committee. Mr. Layard
called attention to the state of the relations of this
country with Russia and Turkey. A long and ani-
mated debate ensued, and it was at length
,adjourned.
Feb. 20.—The adjourned debate was resumed by Mr.
Cobden, and closed with a speech from Lord Palmer-
ston, shortly before two o'clock in the morning.
Feb. 21.—TheManchester and Salford Education Bill
was rejected upon second reading, by 105 to 76.
Feb. 23.—The Lord Advocate brought in the Scotch
Education Bill.

Feb. 24.—A long debate occurred in the Lords upon a
series of resolutions with respect to the war, which
were moved by Lord Beaumont, but were in the end
withdrawn. The army estimates went through com-
mittee in the Commons, and several votes were agreed
to on the naval estimates.

Feb, 27.—The Lord Chancellor brought in a bill to
amend proceedings in the courts of common law. The
navy estimates concluded in the Commons, and several
Ordnance votes taken.

Feb. 28.—Mr. T.Chambers obtained the appointment
of a select committee upon conventual and monastic in-
stitutions, by a majority of 186 to 119.
March 3.—LordiJ. Russell announced the postpone-
ment of the second reading of the new Reform Bill until
the 27th of April next.

March 6.—the Chancellor of the Exchequer made a
financial statement. •

March 7—The Coasting Trade Bill passed the House
of Commons "amid general cheering."
March B—Mr. L. King's Succession to Real Estate
Bill was lost, on second reading, by 203 to 82.
March 9—The questions of manning the navy, the
Reform Bill, and the sanitary condition of the country
occupied the Lords for several hours.

March 10—The Earl of Shaftesbury, in an interesting
speech, moved for papers relative to the treatment of
Christians in the East, which were promised by the Go-
vernment.

March 13—A discussion occurred in the Commons
upon a speech made by Sir J. Graham at the dinner to
Sir C. Napier at the Reform Club, on the 7th inst. A
debate ensued en going into Committee of Ways and
Means upon the Greek insurrection in Turkey, which
was introduced by Mr. Milnes. The Mutiny Bill was
read a third time and passed.
March 14—The Earl of Malmesbury drew attention
to the subject of secrets alleged to have been communi-
cated by the Foreign-office to the press.
March ]7—The same subject was again referred to in
the Lords. Lord J. Russell introduced his bill for the
amendment of the University of Oxford.
March 20—The Income-tax resolution was agreed to
in a Committee of Ways and Means.
March 21—A long debate took place in the Commons
upon bringing up the report of the resolution on the
Income tax, which was initiated by Sir 11. Willoughby.
March 27—A Message from her Majesty to both
houses announced the termination of friendly relations
with the Emperor of Russia.
March 28—A long debate—ultimately adjourned--
took place in the Commons upon the nomination by Mr.
T. Chambers of the proposed Committee upon Conventual
and Monastic Institutions.

March 29—In the Commons the Marquis of Bland-
ford moved the second reading of the Episcopal and
' Capitular Estates Bill. The debate was adjourned, Sir
Clay having moved as an amendment that the bill
be read a second time that day six months.
March 30—Mr. Baines made a statement relative to
his resignation of the office of President of the Poor Law
Board. The Income-tax Bill was read a third time and
passed. Debate on nomination of Committee on Con-
ventual and Monastic Institutions was renewed and again
adjourned.

March 31—Debate in both Houses on the Address in
reply to her Majesty's Message with reference to the
war, with Russia. It was moved in the Lords by the
Earl of Clarendon, and in the Commons by Lord J.
Russell, and was agreed to without opposition.
April 3—Both Houses assembled shortly after two
o'clock, and proceeded to the Palace, where they pre-
sented to the Queen the addressin answer to her Majesty's
Message. In the evening her Majesty's gracious reply
was announced.

April 4—Lord St. Leonards, in moving for some re-
turns, brought under the consideration of the Lords the
condition of the wives and children of our soldiers in
the East.

April 6—The Earl of Eglinton presented a petition
from the National Association for the Vindication of
of Scottish Rights, and made a long speech and founded
a motion upon it, which led to a short debate, in which
most of the Scotch peers participated. The motion was
withdrawn.

On the motion of Mr. Moore, a select committee was
appointed to inquire into the circumstances attending
the appointment of Mr. Henry Stonor to a judgeship in
the colony of Victoria. Mr. Cardwell brought in the
Government bill for the better regulation of traffic upon
railways and canals.
April 7—Earl Grey, in a lengthened and able speech,
brought under the attention of the house the important
subject of the Administration of the Army. The Testa-
mentary (Jurisdiction Bill was read a third time in the
Lords. After a long debate, the Oxford University Bill
was read a second time in the House of Commons.

April 11—Parliament adjourned for the Easter holy-
days until the 27th inst. In the House of Commons,
Lord J. Russell, in moving the adjournment, announced
that it was not the intention of the Government to pro-
ceed further this session with the Reform Bill. The
Chancellor of the Exchequer, having laid the balance-
sheet for the year upon the table, made a financial
statement.
April 27—Parliament reassembled. The Earl of El-
lenborough put some questions relative to the landing of
the British troops at Gallipoli, in consequence of the
statements of the Times correspondent upon the subject.
The Duke of Newcastle answered them, and a brief de-
bate ensued. After a long debate upon an amendment
of Mr. Heywood, the House of Commons went into
committee upon the Oxford University Bill.

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