The Sun.
London, England, 1858-04-24 00:00:00

THE DIVORCE ACT.

Lord LYNDHURST said he had received several
communications from Ireland with respect to the
Divorce Act, and he begged to ask the n3ble and
learned lord on the woolsack whether it was his inten-
tion t• extend this measure to that part of the country!

The LORD CHANCELLOR said he had not even
considered such an extension, and at the present mo-
ment he was unable to give to the noble and learned
lord any answer to the question.
RELIGIOUS WORSHIP IN POPULOUS
DISTRICTS.
The Bishop of EXETER (who was very indistinctly
beard) lose to move that a select committee of this house
be appointed to inquire into the deficiency of means of
spiritual instruction and places of divine worship in thed
metropolis, and in other populous districts in England
and Wales, especially in the mining and manufacturing
elistriets ; and to consider the fittest means of meeting
the difficulties of the case.
After a short discussion the committee was agreed to.
ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH
Earl GREY beggedto_mecorvetearforcoptiaetse and
ofa
nthye aocor-
respondence between the S
vernment of Newfoundland andy of s
the other North
American colonies, with respect to any acts passed for
giving an exclusive right to the establishment of tele
graphic communication between this country and North
America to one company; and al.o, copies of any cor•
respondence between her Majesty's Government and
companies proposing to establish electric telegraphs
with respect to the grant to them oft xclusive privileges.
The noble earl was understood to say that he moved for
those returns because he had been informed that ar-
rangements bad been sanctioned by her Majesty's Go-
vernment which conferred on one company a practical
monopoly in telegraphic communications between this
country and the American centinent! If Ibis were so,
he thought it was much to be regretted. (Hear, hear.)
The Earl of CARNARVON said there was no objec-
tion to the first portion of the noble earl's motion ; but
he would suggest its amendment by the insertion of the
words "or extracts" after the word "copies." It
was perfectly true that exclusive privileges had been
given to a certain company in relation to the projected
telegraphic communication between this country
and the provinces of North America; but it was
right at the same time to say that the grant was
one for which her Majesty's present government were in
ao degree responsible. (Hear.) An act had been passed
by the legidature of Newfoundland by which it conferred
sipon the company the exclusive privileges in question,
It was sent home for approval, which he was sorry to
say was given to it, rather, as it would appear, by over-
sight than with any deliberate intention. At all event,
in the correspondence which he should lay before their
lordships a letter would be found from Sir G. Grey (who
'was then the Secretary), in which he cautioned
the governors of the North American colonies against
granting any more exclusive privileges. In 1857 a se-
cond act was passed by the same legislature for the amal-
gamation of the old companies into that which attempted
last year to lay down the Atlantic cable. Teat act wss
likewise sent home for approval, and it was also, though
not without some hesitation, agreed to by Mr. Labou-
chore. The same company applied to another local
legislature, which agreed to grant it a subsidy of 3001
a year ; and that also had been confirmel. Acts had,
moreover, been passed in New Brunswick and Nova
Scotia. In the first case a petition had been presented
to the local legislature, praying either for a subsidy or
for exclusive privileges. Mr. Labouchere very properly,
said that it was a matter that concerned the local legis-
tore, and referred it to that body ; but the company
did not procure its sanction to any exclusive privileges.
An act was, however, passed in Nova Scotia, granting
exclusive privileges fur 25 years, but it was refused by
Mr. Labouchere. The question was, however, re-opened
on the accession of his noble friend to office ; but he had
likewise declined to sanction the proposal ; and an order
in council to that (fact had within the last few days
gone out to the colony. (Hear.) Considering that the
whole science of telegraphic communication was still in
its infancy, it would be most injudicious to sanction ex-
clusive privileges which might last fifty years, and which
might prove very injurious to the interests both of
this country and the colonies themselves. (Hear.)
The Earl of DERBY hoped the noble earl would not
eress the latter portion of his motion, but would ac-
cept Lis assurance that the Guverumeut had entered
into no engagements except with two companies, the
Atlantic and the Mediterranean, and that in neither
case it had consented to 6rant exclusive privileges.
There might be some inconvenience with regard to
future negotiations if the correspondence was laid on
the table.

Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY was glad to find
east the Government had confirmed the decisio❑ of
Mr. Labouchere with regard to the act of the Nova
Scotia legislature, and that it had also determined
to grant ne further monopolies. With regard to the
latter part cf his noble friend's motion, he thought that
Borne further information should lie given to the house.
He presumed that his noble friend intended to allude to
toe Austrian scheme for a telegraph between Malta and
Alexandria. Now, he (Lord Stanley of Alderley)
thought we ought not to allow oar telegraphic commu-
nication with India—a communication which passed
through one of our great military posts—to fall into the
hands of any foreign company, which, in the event cf
hostilities breaking out, might transmit to our enemies
intelligence of the greatest importance. (Hear, hear.) ,
Supposing, however, that the Government had deter-
mined to accept the Austrian proposals, he should like
to know what answer had been returned to the Sar-
dinian projectors of a similar scheme, who had offered
terms as favourable, or more favourable, than those of
Austria? It was his opinion that before any foreign
offer was accepted, British capitalists should be invited
to lay down the line.
The Earl of DERBY was afraid that the late Board of
Trade was not in very close communication with the Trea-
sury, because the arrangement which had been made with
the Austrian Government was founded upon a very t la-
borate Treasury minute which had been left by the col-
leagues of the noble tort. (Laughter.l o:re of th 3 stipule-
ti nu was the Government should have complete poWer
to lay down any further telegraphic lines between Malta
and Alexandria, and that it shoul I have the most com-
plete control over the telegraphs. (Hear, hear.)
Lord REDESDALE thought it right to remind the
Lowe that when the bill for the telegraph between Ire-
land and Newfoundland, both portions of her Majesty's
dominions, was before their lordships last year, he bad
pointed out that a portion of the guarantee was contri-
buted by the United States, and that he had suggested
whether our different North American provinces ought
not rather to be invited to make up the sum ?
Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY said that when
the late government left office the arrangement with the
Austrian company was not concluded, bat was still a
matter of negotiation. The same was the case with the
Sardinian company, and he was anxious to know what
answer had been given to it.
The Earl of DERBY said the advantages or disad-
vantages of the two lines had been elaborately discussed
in the Treasury minutes of the late government, and
reason■ bad been shown in it why a preference should,,be
given to the offer of the Austrian company.
Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY repeated that the
matter bad been left unsettled, and he was anxious to
know how it Lad been decided— a point upon which the
noble earl seemed very reluctant to eatißty him.
The Earl of MALIVIESBURY should have been glad
to answer the question of the noble lord it he had given
him notice of it. The two rival lines which had been
referred to were not all the plans that might be proposed.
Only two days ago a scheme had been submitted to Liu►
for a telegraphic line from Plymouth to Lisbon, from
Lisbon to Gibraltar, from Gibraltar to Malta and to
Alexandria.

Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY was glad to bear
of that project.
Earl GREY. had heard the explanations of the govern-
ment with regard to the future granting of exclusive
privileges with great satisfaction. He agreed with his
noble friend that the telegraphic communications with
our colonies ought as much as possible to be kept in
British handy. He regretted the imprudent bargain
which had been made with regard to the Atlantic Tele-
graph ; and he hoped that the government would en-
deavour to procure, if possible, some relaxation of the
exclusive rights which bad been conceded to that com-
pany. He also hoped that the Mediterranean scheme
mentioned by the noble earl (Lord Malmesbury) would
be carried into effect.
The motion, amended in accordance with the sugges-
tions of the government, was then agreed to.