The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-14 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY MORNING, JUNE 14, 1870.

impossible, he said, to deal with a bill of 700 clauses
in the present session in an effectual manner. It would
be better to postpone the measure until next session.
Mr. SAMUDA, whilst he agreed with the hon. baronet
that inquiry was necessary on one part of the subject,
namely, the loss of life at sea, arising principally from the
overloading of vessels, and the sending to sea unseaworthy
vessels, he did not think they ought to stop legislation on
the general question. Once of the clauses of the bill
rendered it a misdemeanour to send a vessel to sea in an

unseaworthy condition. The hon. member referred to
other benefits which the bill would confer upon the com-
mercial community generally, and remarked that it would
be unwise to deprive them of such advantages pending an
inquiry.
Mr. GRAVES criticised the bill, and remarked that in
his opinion it contained proposals which were not practi-
cable ; but if it could be shown that life could be
conserved by legislation without interfering with the
natural flow of the trade of tde country, it was their duty
to adopt that legislation. At the same time he agreed
with the hon. baronet that an enquiry was necessary. He
believed that the bulk of the bill might be reduced one-
half. He believed that in the present state of business
it was impossible to get the bill through this session.

Mr. GOURLEY asked when a vessel was in an unsea.
worthy state. When a vessel left the United Kingdom
she might be in a seaworthy condition, but it might in
two years afterwards become unseaworthy whilst on h
voyage. In that case it would be hard to make the
owner liable to a prosecution.
Mr. LIDDELL spoke in favour of early legislation with
regard to the subject.
Mr. GLADSTONE could not accede to the proposition of
Sir John Pakington that the bill should have been intro-
duced by a member of the Cabinet. It was not unusual
for important measures to be promoted by gentlemen who
did not come within the category of responsible Ministers
of the Crown. He did not think they need despair of
carrying the measure this session, because it was one of
those measures which were in no inconsiderable degree
passed by the action of the country rather than by the
House.
After some further discussion—

Mr. SHAW-LEFEVRE explained the principal changes
proposed by his bill, and said that before the measure
went into committee, he should consult those members
who represent shipping communities.
The bill was read a second time.

Sir JOHN PAKINGTON moved that the bill be referred to
a select committee so far as regarded parts 3 and 6, with
power to take evidence with respect to the best mode of
preventing overlading of ships and collisions at sea.
Mr. GLIDsToNE suggested that the Government should
have time to consider the matter, and the suggestion was
adopted.

THE BOARD OF TRADE BILL.
This bill was read a second time.
TELEGRAPHS ACT EXTENSION (EXPENSE
OF PURCHASE).
This bill passed through committee.
JEWISH UNITED SYNAGOGUES BILL.
This bill wad read a third time.
PROTECTION OF INVENTIONS BILL.

The House went into committeeon the above bill, which
passed through.
MAGISTRATES IN POPULOUS PLACES
(SCOTLAND) BILL.
The above bill passed through committee.

Several other measures were advanced a stage.
Mr. CHICHESTER FORTESCUE moved for a select com-
mittee to inquire into the operation of the present area
of rating within Poor-law 'Unions in Ireland, with a view
to ascertain whether such area of rating might with
advantage be extended.
_ _

After some discussion Mr. COLLINS moved the adjourn-
of the debate, which was agreed to.
The House adjourned at one o'clock.

SPIRIT OF THE PRESS—THIS MORNING.
THE LORDS AND THE LAND BILL.
There is much, says the Times, that the Lords may do
to improve the Land Bill, or, rather, to remove the diffi-
culties in the way of its execution ; but not if they seem
to start with a foregone conclusion against its first prin-
ciple, which is a final settlement of the land question, and
peace, not at any price, but at a price not beyond its
value. Will the Lords bethink themselves how many
questions there have been which did not admit of a
peaceable, even though costly, solution, but .which
were allowed to run to the arbitrament of the sword,
or even to some worse solution ? In times past the
Sovereignty of these realms allowed Irish discontent to
proceed to rebellion, and more recently it allowed Irish
misrule to culminate in a dreadful and irremidable famine.
Of rebellion, famine, and surviving hatred, it is hard to
say which is worst. But every nation has been warned,
even within a year or two, to set its house in order, to
remove all causes of discontent, and to present a united
front to the world without. We have heard the call, and
we have listened to it. We have given up some posi-
tions and supremacies which divided our strength
while they only flattered our pride. Year by year we
have recognised the necessity of resting the bond of impe-
rial union on community of interest and unanimity of
sentiment. That work is complete, except at home.
Within these isles the work remains to be done. When
the whole race of Ireland feel that through their repre-
sentatives in the British Parliament they are as
thoroughly considered and as well governed as they would
be by a Parliament of their own, then we shall feel as easy
in that quarter as we are about the loyalty of our Cana-
dian or Australian fellow-subjects.
The Standard says that Lord Derby should decline to
explain in the Merchant Taylors' Hall the line which the
House of Lords—or the leaders of the majority in that
House—intend to take upon the Irish Land Bill was a
matter of course. Such an anticipation of parliamentary
discussion would have been altogether discourteous and
irregular ; and though eminent Liberal examples might
be cited in excuse of such irregularity, they are hardly
suitable for Conservative imitation. In affirming it to be
their duty to propound nothing they cannot hope to carry,
and to stand by whatever they may finally deter-
mine, Lord Derby has traced the course to be
taken with regard to this particular measure. What
the Lords can reasonably hope to carry into effect
is on each particular issue matter of opinion and
of detail. That they could not wisely attempt to defeat
the bill, that they may and will endeavour to amend it,
is evident. And in Lord Derby's words we may see the
character of the amendments to which he looks. As Mr.
Gladstone refuses to listen to opponents in the House of
Commons, and as the majority there follows his lead with
abject docility, the influence of that which is for the time
being a minority can only be exerted through the House
of Lords ; and in proportion as the views of that assembly
are allowed to modify a scheme at present conceived too
exclusively from one standpoint, and adapted to one inte-
rest, will be its chance of smooth working, of peaceful
efficacy, and of permanent success.
MR. HARCOURT'S AMENDMENT.
The Telegraph considers there is nothing to be said
against Mr. Harcourt's amendment to the University
Tests Bill. All colleges which may be founded after the
passing of the Act will be free from the scope of its pro-
visions. Thus, the Roman Catholics, the Wesleyans,
the Baptists, the Presbyterians, and the Society of
Friends may each found a college at Oxford and
at Cambridge, to which none will be admitted
save the members of their own communion, and
the emoluments of which will be given to none
who do not fulfil the conditions of the founders.
There is no reason why we should forbid the sects to build
special colleges at Oxford or Cambridge if they choose.
Why should we prohibit the Roman Catholics or the
Wesleyans from forming, at either of these universities, a
college in which the youth of their own communion should
be educated in their own way? That would be, not
Liberalism, but a curtailment of individual liberty. Again,
the Roman Catholic College of Oscott is affiliated to the
University of London. Why, then should not a Presbyterian
College be affiliated to the University of Oxford ? On the
other hand, as the Solicitor-General says, the bill does
not declare that the sectarian colleges at Oxford or Cam-
bridge shall never be touched by Parliament. No such
declaration is made, because it would be futile. We can-
not bind the Legislature of the future. A hundred or six
hundred years hence the Parliament of England will not
pay much attention to our legislative decrees. But we can,
and we do, say that the present bill should not apply to
colleges founded after it shall have become law. That
stipulation we make on the ground that the several reli-
gious bodies should be bound by no unnecessary fetters :
and Mr. Harcourt acknowledged the force of the plea by
withdrawing his amendment. The time for discussing the
subject of University Tests has passed, and the Peers will
doubtless see that the question must at last be settled out
of hand.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)

THE DIFFICULTY BETWEEN ITALY AND
PORTUGAL.

The Italian Foreign Minister has given some explana-
tions to the Chamber of Deputies at Florence on the
diplomatic rupture between Italy and Portugal. The
Duke of Saldanha, he said, instead of sending the Italian
Minister the same circular as the other legations on
coming to power, sent him a note saying he could not hold
relations with him on account of expressions he had used
respecting the late events. The Italian Ministers had
therefore recalled their representative, having consulted
alike the dignity of the nation and the family ties existing
between the Courts.

[The following appeared in our Special Edition of yes-
terday evening

LOSS OF A BRITISH GUNBOAT--

LOSS OF LIFE.

It is stated that TIM. gunboat Slaney was lost
in a gale off the Paraeel's Islands on the 16th of
last month. Her commander, lieutenant; surgeon,
and forty-three men were drowned. Two other
vessels, the Salamis and the Adventure, left Bom-
bay when the message was sent to render assis-
tance. The news of two other wrecks, that of the
steamer Kay, from Hong Kong and Manilla, off
the Hawaiin coast, and the Caractacus off Drum-
mond Island, also reaches us through Bombay.

turned a verdict of accidental death, and asked the repre-
sentatives of the press to take notice of the expression of
their hope that the melancholy occurrence would prove a
warning to others. The coroner joined in that hope. It
was marvellons, he said, that young men were so careless,
and he was afraid to say how many inquests he held were
necessitated by that cause.