The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-21 00:00:00

THE St N, LONDON, TUESDAY EVESING, JUNE 21, 187 u.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.-MONDAY.

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.
PROTECTION OF THE COLONIES.
Earl RUSSELL rose to move that an address be pre-
sented to her Majesty stating that the House had seen
with great satisfaction the spontaneous evpressions of
loyalty which have lately emanated from many of the
colonies, and the House prayed her Majesty to, appoint
a commission to inquire into the means best
fitted to guarantee the security of her dominions.
The noble lord based his motion on two grounds, the great
change which had been made since 1853 in the mode of
carrying on war ; and, secondly, the great disturbance
which had recently taken place in the public mind with
respect to the colonial policy of the Government. The
noble earl expressed his satisfaction at the granting
of a loan to New Zealand, but he expressed his
regret that it was the intention to give up the garrison of
Quebec, and observed he could not but look upon such a
proceeding as a very unsafe one. It might be urged that
the British troops could be sent there in the event of war
breaking out, but if the calamity should take place in the
winter time, great difficulty might be experienced in getting
up the St. Lawrence. He did not in the slightest
degree wish to underrate the gallantry and
bravery of the Canada militia, but he thought the British
garrison at Quebec ought to be maintained. He had
brought the subject under the consideration of the House
in order that the Government might indicate their policy, in
order that they might declare that in any case where it
was necessary they would protect the colonists, and to af-
ford them an opportunity of saying what those means of
protection were.
Lord NOTRHBROOK said the Government were fully
alive to the importance of strongly maintaining the bonds
by which the colonies were bound to Great Britain. The
principle of colonial military defence originally laid
down was that we were bound to defend our possessions
in ret urn for a monopoly of their commerce ; but of late
it had been admitted that as circumstances had undergone
a change it was now the duty of the colonists to
provide for themselves. They had introduced re-
sponsible government, and it would be exceedingly
difficult, if not impossible, to maintain troops in
time of peace. It was almost generally admitted
that although it was the duty of the Government of Great
Britain to defend the colonies in time of war, still in a time
of peace she was not called upon to provide an armed force
for their protecton. As far as regarded Canada, since the
confederation of the North American provinces, there was
every reason that the dominion would eventually become
a powerful nation, and that it would be quite able to pro-
vide for its own defence. The British Government had,
however, granted her a loan for a railroad, which was
nearly completed, they had nearly completed the works
for the defence of Quebec, and had further undertaken
the erection of the fortifications as recommended by
Colonel Jarvis. The military force at present in Canada
was five battalions of infantry and five batteries of
artillery, and it was intended to reduce that force in the
course of the financial year, and to withdraw so much of
it as to leave only one battalion of infantry and one
battery of artillery. In the future reliance would have
to be placed upon the militia, 40,000 of whom were re-
quired to be always maintained in a state of efficiency,
and upon the naval supremacy of the seas. The troops
would be kept concentrated at home to meet any emer-
gency that might arise, and that, in hishumble judgment,
was the wisest course to pursue. With respect to the motion
of the noblt. earl, he hoped it would not be pressed, be-
cause if granted its operation would be too gigantic to lead
to any good result. It appeared to him it would also
trench on the responsibility of the Government, which he
thought highly objectionable, and upon these grounds he
hoped the noble earl would withdraw his motion.
Earl GREY said it was most desirable that a close con-
nection between the colonies and the mother country
should be maintained. He condemned the policy pur-
sued as regarded the Cape, and said if it was
persevered in it would lead to another Kaffir
war. He thought it would be highly desirable
to maintain a garrison at the Cape, as it would
be the means of giving great security, and could be
done at very little cost. He hoped the Government would
carefully consider the present position of the colonies
generally, and also that the noble earl would not press his
motion.
Earl GRANVILLE, in defending the policy of the Govern-
ment, expressed his admiration at the gallant manner in
which the Fenians—a contemptible body of filibusters—
were routed by the Conadian militia. He thought that
the great source of confidence of the colonists was the per-
fect state of defence of the mother country and the efficiency
of the navy. Such a source of reliance he felt would give a
greater feeling of security than having small bodies of
troops dotted all over the world. He might observe that
if our colonial possessions were attacked, it would be
our duty to defend them. He hoped the noble lord would
notipress his motion.
The motion was, after a few. words from Earl Russell,
withdrawn.
The Union of Benefices Bill was read a third time, and
passed.
Their lordships adjourned at eight o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMON S.—MONDAY.
The Speaker took the chair at five minutes to four
o'clock.

ROYAL COMMISSION.
The Royal assent was given by commission to the
following bills :—County Courts Buildings, War Office,
Poor Relief (Metropolis), Railway Powers and Construc-
tion, Inverness County, &c., Boundary, and Oyster and
Mussel Fisheries (Supplemental, No. 2), and also to fifty-
four private bills.
TELEGRAPH COMMUNICATION WITH
IRELAND.

Mr. Pim gave notice that on going into committee of
supply he should call attention to the unsatisfactory state
of telegraphic communication between England and Ire-
land, more especially between London and Dublin.
PARTY PROCESSIONS (IRELAND) BILL.
Mr. W. JOHNSTON gave notice that on the motion for
the second reading of this bill he should propose that it
be read a second time that day six months.
LOCAL TAXATION.
Sir MASSEY LOPES asked the First Lord of the
Treasury, when he proposed to introduce the general and
comprehensive measure dealing with the whole subject of
local taxation, which be promised the early part of last
session.
Mr. GOSCHEN said in the absence of the Frst Lord of
the Treasury he would state that he did not think a posi-
tive promise had been given to introduce such a bill. A
committee was sitting on the subject, and as the report had
not yet been presented, he did not think it would be pos-
sible to bring in a bill during the present session.

THE KENSINGTON ROAD.
Sir HENRY HOARE asked the First Commissioner of
Works, whether it was true that plans showing the devia-
tion of the Kensington Road into Hyde Park were issued
from the Office of Works to a limited number of persons
not being Members of this House, five or six weeks since ;
and, if so, whether, when copies of plans were promised
the House, it would not have been practicable within
two days from the promise to serve printed copies of
those plans upon every member ; and whether any agree-
ments existed between the owners of property adjacent to
the Albert Hall of Arts and the Exhibition and Ken-
sington roads on the one side, and the committee of the
Albert Hall or the commissioners of the Exhibition of
1851 on the other side, on the subject of the land proposed
to be given them by the Kensington Road Improvement
Bill.
Mr. AYRTON entered into a somewhat lengthy explana-
tion on the subject, but said it was not intended to pro-
ceed with the bill that evening.

TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION WITH
IRELAND.

Mr. STACPOOLE asked the Postmaster General what
steps he proposed to take towards securing for the people
of Ireland a " cheaper, more widely extended, and more
expeditious system of telegraphy."
The Marquis of HARTINGTON said it could hardly be
said steps had not been taken to cheapen rates between
this country and Ireland, as the shilling rate was now in
force, the result ofwhich had beento multiply the business
no less than four times. If delay some times arose
it must be attributed to the excessive number of messages,
and the difficulties occasioned by the breaking of the
Wexford and the Haverfordwest cable. Steps were being
taken to remedy existing defects and the circumstances
connected with the laying of an additional cable were also
being carefully considered.
FOREIGN POSTAGE.

Mr. MONTAGUE GUEST asked the Postmaster-General
whether his attention had been called to the fact that a
certain coal company, carrying on their business in Eng-
land, posted their trade circulars from Belgium, to save
cost in postage ; and also, whether, in his judgment, her
Majesty's Government could introduce some measure to
prevent the recurrence of the practice.
The Marquis of HAETINGTON said his attention had

been called to the subject, but he did not think it would
be necessary to introduce. any measure on the subject,
as the Government proposed to reduce the inland postage
of circulars to one halfpenny, and he thought that would
meet the case.

FOREIGN NEWS.

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
'HIE ST. GOTHAM) QUESTION

Yesterday, in Paris, it was stated that the Duke de
Grammont would declare that France would not interfere
in the St. Gothard Railway, as they had received proofs
of the neutrality of Switzerland.