The Sun.
London, England, 1869-03-06 00:00:00

THE -SUN, LONDON, SATWWAY EVENING, MARCH 6, 18(9.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

MISCELLANEOUS' NEWS.

HOUSE OF LORDS.-LAST EVENING.

The Lout) CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.

The Archbishop of CANTERBURY laid on the table a
bill to amend the law relating to clergy discipline and
ecclesiastical courts.

The University College of London Bill was read a
second time.

Lord REDESDALE moved for a return of the acts
of Parliament to which any individual corporation or
trust were deprived of their property for any purpose
without full compensation or offence alleged to justify
such deprivations. He believed there would be found to be
no precedent for the manner in which it was proposed to
deal with the Church of Ireland, and argued at some length
that disendowment was neither more nor less than confisca-
tion, and the Government was the first to enter upon a course
which was revolutionary, and destructive to the security
of property. In Ireland untilling it would lead to the
belief that all property was held at the will of the ma-
jority, and would lead to a most dangerous agitation. He
ould only apply to the whole proceeding that the terms
which he used last year that it was not only confiscation
but sacrilege.
After some discussion the motion was withdrawn.
The Habitual Criminals Bill having been moved a
second time by the Earl of KIMBERLEY,
Lord PORTM..A.N expressed his approval of the mea-
sure and suggested that it might be usefully extended to
misdemeanants.

The measure was then read a second time, and their
lordships adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—LAST EVENING.
The SPEAKER took the chair at 4 o'clock.
THE NORWICH ELECTION.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL gave notice that on
Friday he should move the issuing of a Royal Commission
to inquire into the corrupt practices which it was said took
placo at tho last election.
GREENWICH HOSPITAL.
In reply to Mr. PEASE,

Mr. CHILDERS said it was quite true that he had
formerly objected to the filling up of the sinecure
office of Governor of Greenwich Hospital, but
his opinion had been overruled. It was also true
the office had lately been filled up, but not
at the salary of £1,200 a year, the salary now attached to
the office was only £l3O, as the name of the officer getting
the appointment was kept on the active list. There was
no truth in the statement that some of the pensioners had
not received their pensions. One of his first Ministerial
acts was to inquire into the circumstances relative to the
matter, and finding there was some irregularity he had
the matter thoroughly inquired into, and now every per-
son received his proper pension. With regard to the
medical officers he did not intend to increase the number
of those officers merely for the purpose of giviu addi-
tional employment.

THE IRISH ELECTION PETITIONS.

Allthe Irish election petitions have been tried. There
were 15 constituencies affected ; and the result is
that Mr. Devereux (L.) was unseated on an infor-
mility, and has since been re-elected ; that Mr.
Whitworth (L.) has been unseated for intimidation,
Mr. O'Beirne (L.) for bribery, and that two 'Conser-
vatives, Sir A. Guinness and Major Knox, have been
unseated for treating. Seven Liberals who were
petitioned against have been declared duly elected.
The Youghal petition remains undecided, some
points of law being reserved. Four petitions have
been withdrawn. Omitting Youghal, the result has
been to leave the relative strength of parties what
it was, two members on each side having been
unseated.

LORD SALISBURY'S BILL.
Whatever theoretical or constitutional objections
there may be to Lord Salisbury's bill for allowing
the Lords when they have not been able to pass a
measure in one session to take it up in the next
at the stage at which it dropped, there ought to be
no room for jealousy between the two Houses. The
Commons always must have the chief place in the
Legislature so long as they retain the power of the
purse. Therefore it is not fair to taunt the Peers for
indolence, which is for the most part involuntary/
nor to hinder the efforts which the Peers are making
for improving their own efficiency. The true cause
of such jealousy as does exist seems to be that the
Peers take their places in Parliament without trouble
or expense, while the Commons have to go through
the unpleasant and costly ordeal of a contested
election.

THE BALLOT.
" Wintoniensis," writing to the Telegraph, opposes
the general opinion that the Ballot is American in its
origin. In proof of the error of that notion he pro-
duces a transcript from the Archives of Winchester.
The document is dated 30th October, 1656, and pro-
vides for the election of mayor and all other officers
of the city "by pewter." It sets forth that whereas
the municipal elections had formerly caused clamour
and ill-blood, for prevention thereof in time to come,
and for the end that the citizens may be more free
in their votes, it is ordained and established that there
"be forthwith provided One hundred Bullets, of
colours Red and White, in equal proportions, and
that the said Bullets be kept in a fit box, to be pro-
vided for that purpose. And that at all such Public
Assemblies and Meetings, one of each of the said
Bullets be delivered to each citizen then present,
and that the Mayor for the time being do
declare in writing, under his hand, for
what Person or purpose each of the said
Bullets shall stand at every Nomination or
Election ; according to the dictates of his conscience;
and that the Mayor put in two Bullets for his cast-
ing Vote (in case the Bullets so put in as aforesaid
shall happen to be even); and that upon view of the
said Bullets, the Election to pass, stand, and be deter-
mined, according to the major part of the Bullets."
This curious resolution is followed by a provision
" That it shall and may be lawful to and for any
Citizen, if he think fit, openly to publish and make
known his Vote, and to declare the reasons and
inducements leading him thereunto."

THE ENDOWED SCHOOLS BILL.
If we may gather anything from the hints thrown
out by the Opposition papers, the Government
Endowed Schools Bill is likely to be resisted on the
old question of religion. The measure contains a
conscience clause, makingattendance at daily prayers
and religious instruction optional on the part of the
parents. The Standard publishes a petition from
the trustees of Chesterfield School upon the sub-
ject, in which it is urged that the enactment
would inflict a very severe blow on the religious
teaching, discipline, and moral tone of schools
throughout the country, and have the effect of lower-
ing the value of religious worship and instruction
in the eyes of the rising generation." The old
objections to the Conscience Clause have lost much of
their force since the publication of the reports of the
Educational Committee. It IS no longer considered
impossible to allow such as do not wish to receive
religious teaching to withdraw from the classes in
which religion is being imparted. But, on the other
hand, the question has passed into a party one,
and party is a great enemy to any practical discus-
sion.

SIB GEORGE JENImsoN.
If Devizes has lost
its Darby Griffiths, North
Wilts (of which Devizes is the capital), has its
Sir George Jenkinson. He rushes in where states-
men might fear to tread. lie could not wait to see
what his chiefs were going to do about the Irish
Church Bill, but must place a notice of his own on
the paper. It will, of course, have to be withdrawn
now that Mr. Disraeli has given notice of his amend-
inent, but it has served the purpose for which it was
intended, and has made the world ask who Sir
George Jenkinson is. During the discussion on the
Abyssinian extra estimate, the same pushing
member came to the front, and when Mr.
White proposed a committee to enquire how
so much money had been spent, the Wiltshire
baronet proposed that the committee should inquire
by whose blundering the expedition had been neces-
sitated. These are by no means the only occasions
on which the hon. member has delivered his soul.
Now that Mr. Ayrton is in the fetters of office, Sir
George Jenkinson will assuredly be the most frequent
speaker in the Houses Frequent does not mean
forcible,

THE Am nEvENUE•
The twelfth annual report of the Inland Revenue
Commission, which was delivered yesterday, does
notshew thelarge in
—crease which the statements of the
commissioners have been wont to shew. To the writers
the mass of figums i$ not satisfactory ; to ourselves
there appears to be more cause for gladness than for
sorrow. There has been no actual decrease of the
Inland Revenue; indeed, in 1867 the sum total
reached only £39,169,781
against R 39,268,782 in. 1868,
a difference on the right side of £109,000. But this
is not equal to the large increase which has been re-
ported year by year. An inquiry into the items,
however, will shew that this is caused by what
is
encouraging rather than the contrary. True, had it
not been for the increase of the rate of income tax,
the balance would have been on the wrong side,
but the decrease is mainly shewn under the
headings " spirit" and " malt." In the former there
was a decrease (in round numbers) of £344,000 and
in the latter of nearly £514,000, a total decrease of
more than £858,000, The other chief reduction is
that of Marine Insurance £318,000, which is due to
Mr. Disraeli's Budget, Increases are shewn in holism
£335,000 (caused by the dog license), legacy and
succession duty 2314,70 Q, and incorle tax (caused by
the addition of one penny •to
4d.) £514,800, the prdinary rate of

OLD

place, Snaking oil the dust of his reeT, agmiNo
it. They have now just met together in order
THE BEWDLEY WRIT. to take part in the same work, the laying of the
Corn-foundation stone of some almshouses at Sheffield,
By a majority of two to one the House of Corn-
which are to be built at the cost of the Master Cutler.
mons has declared that it sees no reason why the Both spoke on the same subject—the necessity of main-
writ for Bewdley should be suspended for twelve . Wiling good relations between capital and labour if
months. But although the majority is large, it is the country is to continue prosperous and united.
conclusively proved that there is a considerable Lord Shaftesbury said that as Whitefield had appro-
number of members of the House who will endea-
priated secularmelodies to divine worship, because the
your to punish corrupt constituencies, although the devil ought not to have all the best tunes,so Ema-
question is not taken up by the Government. There men might appropriate to good uses the democratic
is no doubt that the strongest argument brought cry of liberty, fraternity, and equality. "We should
against Mr. Muntz's amendment was the fact that have the same and equal liberty for all, no
the Bradford writ had been granted without opposi- tyranny of trades unions, no private tyranny,
tion. If, therefore, the writ for Bewdley had been but full, complete, and equal liberty for all,
withheld, it would have looked too much like party Equality we could have without disturbing any social
spite. The Government found themselves—for the
arrangements—equality in rights and in law, which
first time this session--on the horns of a dilemma.
, the law would recognise ; and as to fraternity, there
With scarcely an exception, the Liberals who gene- 'was mo reason why we should not be a nation of
rally station themselves below the gangway were
brothers, having such a Constitution as that which
heartily in favour of the amendment. Indeed, when we enjoyed." Mr. Roebuck said that British
Sir Roundell Palmer was speaking, hewas continually
interrupted by the "independent "men, whilst not a
trade had two dangers ahead—foreign competition
and internal discord. Competition was inevitable,
sound of approval or otherwise came from the and the only way to prevent discord was for the
Treasury bench. Both Sir Robert Collier and Mr. capitalist to consider the well-being of those in his
Bruce endeavoured to throw oil upon the troubled employ, and for the labourer to remember that
waters, but they signally failed, and the Government
without capital there could be no trade, and, there-
were obliged to vote against their own party. It
fore, that he ought to assist, instead of making war
was some time before the division was taken, great
laughter being indulged in by the " noes " at seeing i upon, capital.
64 Mr. Glyn and Mr. Noel working together. It must LORD BROUGHAM AND THE TIMES."
be confessed that the Government—Mr. Gladstone I One of the
most curious incidents told by Lord
included—appeared to feel the humiliation of allying Campbell in his Life of Lord Brougham relates to
themselves with the Conservative party in order tothat celebrated man's relations with the Times. For
defeat their own supporters. Altogether, instead of along period the un erer,
"Th d "as it was then popu-
the Government being victorious, they certainly larly called, used to eulogise the Chancellor in terms
received a well-merited rebuke from the men below , which the better taste of to-day would think
the gangway. intolerably fulsome. Some coolness sprang up
between Mr. Barnes, the editor, and certain of the
The division list spews that not a single Conser- Whig chiefs. One day while Brougham was
witive voted against the granting of the writ. But sitting in Chancery he received the following letter
the Liberals who recorded their aversion to such a from Lord Althorp :—" Dear Brougham,—What I
course represent some of the largest constituencies in want to see you about is the Times—whether we are
the kingdom. These were Mr. Bazley, Mr. Jacob to make war on it, or come to terms.—Yours ever,
Bright, Mr. Alderman Carter, Mr. Dixon, Mr. Dilke, ALTHORP." Brougham tore up the letter and
Mr. Dillwyn, Mr. Graham, Mr. Hadfield, Mr. Law-
rents (London), Mr. Locke, Mr. M‘Laren, Mr. answered it. A reporter picked up the fragments, Morley, and Mr. Mundella. The members of the pasted them together, and took the restored letter
tM.r. Barnes. He, having occasion to ask for
Government voting with the Ayes were Mr. Adam,
so .ome special news that same night, and it being
Mr. Ayrton, Mr. Baxter, Mr. Bruce, Mr. Chil-
refused him, took for granted that Brougham
ders, Sir Robert Collier, Mr. Forster, Mr. had decided upon " war." Barnes lost no time in
Gladstone, Mr. Glyn, Mr. Goschen, Mr. opening fire. He began by publishing rumours un-
Knatchbull-Hugessen, Mr. Otway, Mr. Sullivan, and favourable to the Chancellor, expressing an earnest
Mr. Trevelyan. M. Bright was In the House wish that they might receive an authoritative denial.
during the discussion, but absented himself from the Soon this masked mode of attack was exchanged for
division. The most prominent Conservatives voting
open hostilities, and it was not long before the fault-
with the Government were Mr. Russell Gurney, Sir
less Minister of a few months before was held up to I
John Hay, Mr. Henley, Mr. Ward Hunt, Lord ridicule and contempt, Brouham, who had been almost
Robert Montagu, and Sir John Pakington.
Roundell Palmer also went into the lobby with the
Sir g
suffocated with praise, felt the change acutely.
majority. Colonel Dyott and
Some time afterwards he caused it to be rumoured :
Mr. Goldney acted all
tellers for the Ayes, and Mr. Muntz and Dr. Brewer 1 that he was dead, hoping that on the principle
for the Noes. of de mortuis nil nisi bonum the papers would come

; out with ppegyrics, and restore his reputation. lle
was grievously disappointed. His eccentricities were
too recent, and he was severely handled. The Times
did not credit the report, and some days afterwards
insinuated that Brougham had originated it. The
only result of this manoeuvre was such ridicule and
sarcasm as few men but Brougham would have
survived.