The Sun.
London, England, 1869-03-02 00:00:00

CORRUPT PRACTICES AT ELECTIONS.

Mr. BRUCE, in reply to Mr. V. Harcourt, said he could
not produce the various judgments given during the trial
of election petitions as they were not under his control.
With respect to what course the Government intended to
take, that was indicated in the notice he had already
given on the subject.
PAYMENT OF RATES.

In reply to Mr. LIDDELL,
Mr. GOSCHEN said there was no legal indemnity tha.
could be given to the owners of house property who un-
dertook the payment of rates for occupiers.

THE PUBLIC PARKS.
In reply to Sir 11. HoARE,

• Mr. LA YARD said steps were being taken t) restore
the grass in the open parts of tha public parks, but with
respect to the supervision of the persons frequenting those
places that was under the superintendence of the police. It
was even possible for the police to detect criminals merely
by their dress. (Laughter.)

THE IRISH CHURCH.
Oa the order of the day being read,

Mr. GLADSTONE rose amidst loud cheers to move
that the acts relating t, the Irish Church be read.
The Chief Clerk of the House (Sir D. Le Merchant)
having done so,
Mr. GLADSTONE then moved that the house resolve
itself into committee to consider those acts.
The motion having been agreed to, and the house
having gone into committee,
Mr. GLADSTONE said that do motion ho should con-
clude with would be that the chairman be directed
to move the house that leave be given to bring in a bill to
put an end to the establishment of the Church in Ireland
and to make provision therefor,and in respect to the royal
college of Maynooth. He then said that the subject which
he proposed to submit to the house was one of the greatest
difficulty and importanc,, but he thought if the house gave
him their patience he should be able to show that the time
for the disestablishment of the Irish Church had arrive]

(boa, hear) -the more espJeially so us t!te church pope.

lation in that country Was in many p arts merely offi.:i

co sistiug of that of the clergymen, the clerk, and sexton.
lie could not but think that many agreed with him that
they cowl I not look back to the positien of matters in that
country without shams- (hear, liar)—but for the resto-
ration of peace and prosperity it was now abeve all lines-
try to take away that token ani symbol of ascendancy
which, as long as it was allowed to remain, would neu-
tralize all efforts for the improvement of the

country. In proceeding with th 3 question at that

moment they were taking up the unfinished work
of lat year, and dealing with a question which
hal been clearly put and difluitively announced
by the Jail: el,ctiou. To that answer he would add the

resignation of the late Ministry, but on that subject he
did not desire to pass one word of censure beyond saying
that it bore emphatic testimony to the character of the
judgment of the people. He knew he should be met with
objections*thut the proposal ho was about to submit to Far-
liainent was adverse to the principles of Protestantism, but
that was open to debate ; and it would also be contended
that the preposition was against the Act of Union,
but be contended that the proposal he should have
the honcur to submit was, ou the contrary, confirming its
general principle. (Hear, hear.) In c arrying out the dis -
establishment of the Irish Church, it was above all neces-
sary that the matter should be dealt with in a prompt and
rapid manner, for it was not the proper course to pur-
sue subject that establishment to a slow and lingering
death. It was above all necessary that tteeir legisla-
tioa should be perfect and final, and that the great
disturbing question should pass for ever out of sight, out
of mind, and thus a new era he hoped would dawn on Ire-
land. It was not sought to inflict any penalty or pain
upon any one by the*Aet they hoped would beco Ile law.
(Rear, hear.) Ono of the first matters that would occur
after the passing of the bill would be the winding up
of the present Ecclesiastical Commission in that country
and the formation of a new 0113 to exist for 10 years, to
which all questions would be submitted, and the opi-
nion of Parliament would be taken on all m it-
tars. With respect t. the appointments it was pro-
posed such might be made for a limited period
without giving the person so appointed the freehold.
With respect to episcopal appointments it was thought
advisable to separate the Crown and all other appoint-
ments made during the term he had mentioned, but
that no vested interests should be create•!. Those
proposals he believed would be all that would
be necessary to be done in the intermediate period
and would take the place of the Suspensory Bill of last
year. The Commision would be precluded from laying
out money for the erection of new churches ; but in the
expenditure of the funds committed to their charge they
would be strictly confined to making the necessary repairs.
D urine. the intervening period before the full operation of the
bill it proposed that the people should do that which the
people of other countries have done, viz., constitute for
themselves some sort of governing body; and, when such
a body had been formed, power would be taken for
its legal recognition. (Hear. hear.) It was proposed
that all these provisions should come into operation
on the day mentioned in the bill, the Ist of January, 1871,
and on that day the union between the English and Irish
Church would be dissolved, and from that day the Church
of Ireland should cease to be established by law, and be
entirely and wholly disestablished. (Hear, hear.) go
should have to detain the house some time whilst he
proceeded to state how it was proposed to deal with
the vested interests of the Irish Church, because
they embraced various matters from the highest objects
down to the life interest in grave yards. (Laughter.)
There was also the necessity for winding up the matters
with respect to the college of Maynooth, and also for the
sale of the church lands, and these would call for the
utmost care being exercised. The financial results of
those operations, Mr. Gladstone stated, thus :—The tithe
rent charge would yield £9,000,000 ; Lagds and Per-
petuity Rents, £6,250,000 ; Money, £750,000.—total,
£16,000 000 ; the present value of the property of the Irish
Church. Of this bill would dispose of £8,650,000—
viz.:—Vested interests of incumbents, £4,900,000; cu-
rates, £800,000; lay compensation, £900,000; private
endowments, £500,000; building charges, £250,000;
commutation of Maynooth Grant and the Regium
Donum £1,100,000, and expenses of the Commission
£200,000. Consequently there would remain a surplus
of between £7,000,000 or £8,000,000; and Mr. Gladstone
roused the flagging attention of the House by the interest-
ing question—What shall we do with it ? After keeping
the House some time in suspense, he announced that
the Government had concluded to apply the surplus
to the relief of " unavoidable calamities and suffering"
not provided for by the Poi:7r Law. Proceeding to
details he allocated £150,00 for lunatic asylums,
$20,000 a year to idiot asylums, £30,000 to training
schools for the deaf, dumb, and blind, £15,000 a year for
the training of nurses, £lO,OOO for reformatories, and
£51,000 to county infirmaries—in all .£311,000 a year. Mr.
Gladstone concluded his speech, which occupied upwards
of three hours, in a peroration, which was cheered loudly
and long.

Mr. DISRAELI followed immediately, and declared,
with much emphasis, that the opinion of the Opposition
remained unchanged, that Disestablishment was a political
error, and Disendowment—especially when accompanied
by Secularisation—mere and sheer confiscation. He ad-
vised his friends not to oppose the motion, but he pressed
for a delay of three weeks before the second reading.
Mr. GLADSTONE declined to postpone it so long, and
ultimately the second reading was fixed for Thursday fort-
night, with which arrangement Mr. Disraeli expressed
himself satisfied.

Leave was then given to introduce the bill, and it was
read a first time.

Bo urtsE,plarch I.—Thrce o'clock.—The market
closed as follows
per Cent.
End of mouth — ltal!an Fives 57 50
3 per Cent
End of mouth_ 71 421 .loxicau Loan ... 24
Credit Mobilier 29; 50 Do. liouds
End of mouth... 293 75 Spanish Threes
Credit Fonder —1620 - - Home Debt
End of mouth... Deferred
ItAnwels. Cash
Orleans ... 963}
Northern
Lyons and Mediterranean
Southern.....
Western
4:Mit
Eastern
Sardinian
Austrian
Lombard
Nioturtulho. .... Spain
. .
Saragossa
................ ............ • Ile 50

................. 6561
................. 483 i