The Sun.
London, England, 1856-07-26 00:00:00

OFFICIAL PATENTS.

Mr. MURROUGH asked the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer whether the opinion of the law offlars of the
Crown had. been .given respecting the new practice of
Secretaries of State not completing their patents, and
thus escaping the payment 'of stamp duty on appoint.
ments under the Crown ;if so, whether that opinion could
be laid on the table of the house ; also, whether. for
the future, persons appointed to the offices of Chief
Secretaries of State would be required to follow the old
custom of taking out their patents ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
that the usual precedents in this ease,tvould* he fol.
lowed. 1„t was the intention of the Secretary of State,
who had not taken out patents, to do so. He
clirred laying on the table Of the honie'tbe opinions
of the law officers of the Crown on the subject, it being.
unusual.
THE CRIMEAN COMMISSIONERS.

Mr. IAYA.-RD called the attenti.On-of the Govern-
ment to the i ep ,Irt of, tha Beard of Geneial Officers; is
reference
.to
,tha Crimean commissioners' report, Avd
asked if-the Government was •satisfied with that re-
port, and considered, it did justice. to. those bnive
and devoted men who had suffered in the Crimea, and,
bad died there and at Scutari • and also if Govern-
ment were willing to accept the' -nnoalled-for Opinion of'
the Board,of General. Officers, that her Majesty is ad-
vised noCto take any further proceedings thereon.
(Hear, hear.)
Lord PALMED S_TaN that the Board of Gene-
ral Officers ed to was not appointed to inquire 104,
thereport of the commissioners,- but to reeeive-explgint--
iions from certain officers whio4cunttiilered their emidnetc,
had bean brought into question by certain pn•tioris.ot
that report: , It -was to admit their eieulPation, and nOt..,
for investigating into the report, that:. the-commii4i6u
was appointed. The hon. gentleman bad read the report,
but had he 14i'd'itia OVitiencer-bn Which it was flunded ?
(Hear, hear.) 7
Mr. LKY411D,,,,-Yes.
-Then
Lerd PALM-tRSTOR-Thenhe was entitled to form
an opimotkon it, whim was_-probably olore:than.OtherS:
were. He apprehended it was not the intention of,.
her Majesty's Government'to-found any further fire-
"% Ulla thereon. (Hear, h aw)
The orders of the day. Were then, proceeded with
allow several hit; 'set trOwn-fOr -Wird ready, g to pas,
heit*ken to the, Houso of Lorthi before
that ;11Qusti adjourned. ,
LOrd PILMIRSTON said that as soon as thcse`bills
weregot rid of he•woUld' move the susperisiono the
other orders, that the right hon. member (111 r, Disraeli)

innYliiiiikCn his motion in which he would review the
business of the session. '
BISHOPS OF LONDON AND DURHAM
RETIREM ENTS BILL.
After a short discussion this bill was read a third time
and passed.
.EVIDENCE IN FOREIGN StrITS BILL.
Ws till was read a third time 'and passed,
SEIIMP CONTAGI.OI7-?. DISEASES PREVEN. • TION BILL.
~
This bil was read a third time and passed.
114-Y AND STRAW TRADE BILL.
This bill was read a third tints and passed. •
' - =' •'STORE PCGES HOSPITAL BILL.
This bill was also read a third time and pitssed.
P4ROGHIAL scaooLs (SCOTLAND) BILL.
In couseqhence of the House of. Lards insisting on
their amendments to this bill being. retained,
Oa the motion of the LOAD' ADVOCATE the bill wee
withdrawn.

REVIEW OF -VIE -SESSION.
Mr. DISRAELI then rose, pursuant to notice, to move
for a return of the number of public bills and their titles,
the orders for which in any of their stages have been dia•
charged during the present session, and the date of the (Re-
charge of each of such orders. The right hon. gentleman
said—Sir, -I wish before we disperse to ask the house to
consider the course of public business during-the present
session of Parliament. I take this step with no intention of
preferring any indictment against those who are mainly
responsible for the management of affairs in this house. I
have never deemed that the last day of the session afforded
the most convenient or the
,most fair occasion for prosecu-
ting a party attack, and I should not have made the motion
I am about to place in your hands were I not convinced
that there are great evils and even dangers connected with
our present position, and did I not believe that, in the
course of this discussion, some suggestion may perhaps be
thrown-out which may, during the long recess, produce an
influence upon the public Mil2ll, and may lead to the
application--when we meet again—of some remedy for
those grievances which" am about to bring under your
notice. Sir, the course lam taking is one which is not
usual. It is a course, as I have already said, which I think
ought not to be resorted to as a weapon of party warfare,
and the history of our proceedings shows that it has not
been our habit to have recourse to it with that object.
-Indeed, on looking for precedents for the course I have
adopted, I am not aware that there is more than one to
which I ,could refer as an authority, and that precedent it
would not become me to adduce, for it was made by my-
self in the year 1848, when I felt ,it my duty to ask the
house to consider the course of public business during th
session then about to close. I think, Sir, that reference
may at least acquit me, or others, of taking advantage
habit-dilly of occasions of this kind to disturb the sere-
nity which should' attend' the last hours of our com-
panionship; or of 'having seized sack opportunities to
express opinions adverse to' the' Ministry which I
should prefer to "express in' the course of the ses-
sion, when, if defeated in' argument unfairly, I might
recur to the subject, and- when the Government could not
say that at the end of their labours they were called upon
unexpectedly to vindicate a course which they might not
under such circumstances have an opportunity of com-
pletely defending. In 1848 I made a motion similar to
that which is now upon the table of the house, and I think
acquitted-of hating been influenced on that oc-
casion by -any- party- feeling, because the gentlemen who

- - then sat upon the , Ministerial benches had only recently
attained them; and I:believe I may say with truth that
: they had •gained their position mainly by the efforts of
.
' ley friends and myself.. It was certainly .with no desire,
...
to disturb them in the occupation of those benches, or tea
. dareageetheir reputation. in the country, that I felt iii;
my duty, in the exigency which existed in 1848, ta'c,a.al
upon the House of Commons to consider what they 1 grad
.
accomplishedln the session which was then on ale
point of terminating. (Hear.)
.That session was, 'ra' be-
lieve, one of almost unparalleled duration in the anrii Is of
Parliament. The House of Commons had sat for uceond-
secutive.ipionths, and it is not to be denied that at ee n
of that tune the account of our labours, es of a venef fruit.
. ..
less character. Great dissatisfaction and disconta ,na
pre-
veiled throughout the country in consequence, Fid many
reasons were urged and many causes were alleged why so
prolonged a sitting had been productive of cue's slight and
unsatisfactory results. It was said thena-er„„aatbie was a
very prevalent mode of accounting for the r aortifying cir-
cumstances I have mentioned-that the fOr vas of the house
al to the age
were in fault,--3that: they were sot , suit e in
which-We live, and to the multifarionianelnitiltiplied trans-
actions with which we have to cope-- .. again, it was said
eee....
that-another cause' which produced2-:veisi
results was the too.feeettielit discaesio
this hon* let wee' said that them ,existed on the part of
mettelbeare ~
L..,1.
of
..r arliament too, great' a desirie to., express
,' , •
their opmione,eand too much eagerness to debate the
questions which were submitted to their. consideration.
. _
It appeared tome that botlithese allegations had a very
dangerous_ tendency at all timea, but especially in 184% . , ..
be-
cause Patlianient Was then paling, and there were, I be-
lieve 230 new members in ale house. Nothing, I appre-
hend, is more to be deprecated thau that men who have
recently. entered this house, and who, consequently, have
no great experience as to 'elle mode in which our proceed-
ings are. conducted,. shoaild believe that in the standing
, orders and forme of the Houee there are obstacles to the
satisfactory prosecution of public business. Those who are
acquainted with the proceedings of this House Inoiv that
its forms have been framed after deep thought and mature
experionee,-aed that the allegation to which I have re-
ferred sae little foundation. . The second charge, that the
mem'aersof this House were too prone to discussion,, was
one- Which ought always, I think; to be received With great
suspicion ; for what is this Reese if .it is not a bouse of
•fitseussiOn ! It is -aaHotis6 of Parliainent, and its very
naine , denotes its:. character. It' is a ',mese of free end
• ample speech, and whatever questions there may be as
to the policy-of our legialation; hoWever little the labours
of our investigating committees may bo appreciated, I
have always thought, and I still think, that the main claim
we have upon theconfidence, and Ihope the affection, of
the people is this-that there is a general, a prevalent, and a
well-formed eehaicticin in the counteythat there is at least
one, place in England where, in the long run, truth 'Will
always be elicited. Well, Sir, at that time so anxious-
and naturally anxions-a-were the'Governiment of the day to
avail themselves of anyplausible excuse to-divertfroin them-
selves the'rising odium which attended the results of our
Parliamentary ;lsbour.s that the Prime Minister absolutely
proposed and nominated, a
.committee to inquire• into the
subject of the forms of the house, and to ascertain
whether those forms really were obstacles to the conduct
of public 'business, and how they might be modified ;in
order to facilitate its prosecution. The noble lord thelnem-
ber for the cityof London, who was then Prime Minister,was
a member Of that committee. Among its other members were
the late Sir R. Peel, the la. e Mr. Gonlburn, the right hon.
member for Carlisle (Sir J. Graham), I belteye, and Mr.
Cobden-a and the coMmittee had also the advantage of the
valuable experience and judgment of the hon. membee for
• Maltina 1, also, wake member of the committee. arid we
gaVegrcat attention :to the subject. We examined's mem-
ber of the American House of. Assembly, with reenact to
the rules which applied to public • businees in the United
States. _ We. ex:tinkled an illustrious exile: then in this
country::: who had been Prime Minister of France; and
who was. a great master 'of debatea-M. Guizot-on the
subject, and the results of the deliberations of the cam-
• mittee are now amoirg the records of this House. I did
not want the information "I obtained as a member of
that committee to convince me that it was neither the
fornis of the hanies nor freedom' of discussion that had pre-
vented the satisfactory accomplishment of public business
in 1813 ; and it' was in accordance with the feelings, and
at the desire of many of my new friends, .thet I tindertleak
the laborious task of reviewing a session which had lasted
fol. 10'montbs, and 'of preying, I hope-however I may
have failed in other objects-a-that .neither 'of the Cause.
alleged had the slightest influence upon the course pf pube
-lie buainees during that session, and of vindicating, as
I trust completely, the House of Commons in that respect.
It is for the same object, and actuated by the same feelings,
that I have brought forward this motion to-day. I do not
think it is a motion that ought to be made except in parti-
, 'cider circumstances; and circumstances of great emergency.
' I think it is of the utmost importance that we shonld clis-
ceier what is the came of that general discontent and dis-
' satiSfaction with the labours of this house which could not
have been anticipated in the session, but which, I think, it
is almOst acknovidedged has within the lid six weeks or two
menthe euddeelyariaen in the public mind.--I will admit that
I do not by any means maintain that it is a, matter of course
on the part of the Minister of UM; country to be too prone
to legislation. On the contrary, I think that the Minister is
the last- Member of this house who should interfere in
mettera of that kind: I think' that; as a :general rule, it
is best that the Minister should not inteifere with any
subject which requi'r'es legislatiou unless he feels convinced
he can daeil witlaiteatiSfectetily ae&conclusively. I should
say that when there. may be questions that greatly interest
the public mind, though there may be a restless and, even in
a certain degree, a rational feelirg in the nation that these
questions shot:flu:be dealt with, it ie'possible the time may not
be ripe,far their solution, and
.in these circumstances they'
rather fall to thelet of independent members of this house,
' who may ehape their prelitnimity disciissiciii, and by impart-
ing knowledge and ultimately eliciting truth place them in a
position' withaihich the Minister may advantageously de: l
withthem. • Therefore; Sir, I should never impute blame
to any Minister if I found that he was somewhat reserved
si
in-the iiitti?'Of ligialatiOn; and Was not prepared to a
necessity
the house to Benefices measures -upon any greet topicn
f..uie;fi
h6felt. Convinced that there vi as an urgent I,
I their intreduction. Again, I can conceives state of affair.
in ii • h a Minietee anxious to do his. duty te lie :6;ive- ~.•
oduisgochatrogefttlhifiatt
their
li:li:be:a-v.
rgg'"i'll alcirdliiiitenniCY; may yet
iiartlA4,ltY Oler,elY'-4'kjug • ' Hee to her Majesty
MB4"iibt feel it'tbii hits`
fiinction-viz., that of granting
SetittaeS.k...for the attentive consideration of':
another character., .Again, I can
' thelervice of the
duty, ,f neePssags -°' of - •
lam anxious 'to • atate the ease as
he conscious
a
tehatliyozeseliet;eeteheisstatfost
possible-that thoatghaMillister way
fairly
subjects of great' importance that *demand the con•
swat-400n -of. Earliament, yet• ;there; in ey • lee' droners tatiOes ' ;
eta& moment wbieh would not authorisa his soliciting the ..
jadgnient Of P,liiiisaileeit.iegircling them. The country
ateyalle inyolved in ware-in:a gteiit *reale-a:ant I vane:
tegiatitoodtheiMitiliieeFthen:-though he may be, of epirea
ien:ihat,ttioillare entrjaete'Of irtternitlinteitat that require '"
a speedy and nit-M.114 settlement-holdingatha.. opinion., a
thee, itta.•'Crisiti'iit that nature, all the ekigenciei of the
Government beingrequiteit•to proseint6 the war, 1616.'1)
a right to appeal with confidence to the forbearing spirit.,,?
and-temaierad Parliatcent. ' and' not bring 'foitearel thOse •'t
measures. Weir .1 ,1 ci n also. conceive that•there-anay•b6le
another Wecesioni in Whieb a; Minister may find he has a.
. claim to legislative 'forbearance. We mityl net be posi- s'
tively at war, but wo may bean the point of accemplisbiug
i a peat e;:•Alfilferiiitellfgenee and Vigilance of the Ministry
i may be required to (miry on, the important riegotrioenna.
which are to cenclude the war in which we inns
I gaged 'and teitirittathe ilbundatione' of a
may possibly insure the., enduring
,peace. o
conceive the liii-
dielielitcrunirtalicee I also tan 'easily
`settlement
f topo t. hiaat .
eeekaary to i
ti ( i Parliainent for
• ‘.i174 Ireg'ils°lY34l94ai4,lltit'aubdu.4in 14'°':'714'lvyi But -these three
L:initil ! the'. : spiiplietie ",f^ ' -tee'- yam...
Li
pleas the noble lord cannot avail haute cf, stiouid h e