The Sun.
London, England, 1867-02-11 00:00:00

Queen's Speeches on Reform.

Some interest is attached to the terms in which
the Queen has, on so many occasions, been made
to refer to Reform. In 1852 we find the following
paragraph produced under the auspices of Lord
Russell :

" It appears to me that this is a fitting time for
calmly considering whether it may not be advisable
to make such amendments in the act of the late
reign, relating to the representation of the Com-
mons in Parliament,as may be deemed calculated to
carry into more complete effect the principles upon
which that law is founded. I have the fullest confi-
dence that in any such consideration you will firmly
adhere to the acknowledged principles of the Con-
stitution by which the prerogative of the Crown,
the authority of both Houses of Parliament, and the
rights and liberties of the people are equally secured.'l
In 1854, under Lord Aberdeen, we have the fol-
lowing :
" Recent experience has shown that it is neces-
sary to take more effectual precautions against th
evils of bribery and corrupt practices at elections.
It will also be your duty to consider whether
more complete effect may not be given to the prin-
ciples of the act of the last reign, whereby reforms
were made in the representation of the people in
Parliament. In recommending this subject to your
consideration, ny desire is to remove every cause
of just complaint, to increase general confidence in
the Legislature, and to give additional stability to
the settled institutions of the state."

In April, 1857, Lord Palmerston disposes of the
matter more summarily, thus :
" Your attention will be called to the laws which
regulate the representation of the people in Parlia-
ment,
made thereon."
der what amendments
ll
mmaeynt,bewsiathfelay
and
beneficially
1859 we find the Earl of Derby approaching
the subject in these words :
view
t(neficocina consider
Your attention will be called to the state of the
laws which regulate the representation of the people
in Parliament, and I cannot but think that you will
give to this great subject a degree of calm and
im-
partial consideration proportionate to the magnitude
of the interests involved in the result of your dis-
cussion.
In 1860, under Lord Palmerston :
" Measures will be laid before you for amending
the laws -which regulate the representation of the
people in Parliament, and for placing that repre-
sentation upon a broader and firmer basis."

The paragraph devoted to the subject in last year's
Queen's Speech was, however, perhaps the most
straightforward and manly of the lot. It ran thus :

" I have directed that information should be
procured in reference to the rights of voting in the
election of members to serve in Parliament for
counties, cities, and boroughs. When that informa-
tion is complete the attention of Parliament will be
called to the result thus obtained, with a view to
such improvements in the laws which regulate the
rights of voting in the election of members of the
louse of Commons as may tend to strengthen our
free institutions, and conduce to the public wel-
fare."
The catalogue is completed by the paragraph
from the Speech of Tuesday :
" Your attention will again be canal to the state
of the representation of the people in Parliament,
and I trust that your deliberations, conducted in a
spirit of moderation and mutual forbearance, may
lead to the adoption of measures which, without
unduly disturbing the balance of political power,`;
shall freely extend the electoral franchise." '

'.~

Iv!

Naval ant

,elligence.

Hussars.
Capt. Biddlecombe, master attendant of Wool-
wich dockyard, went down to Greenhithe on Satur-
day morning and superintended the mooring of the
line-of-battle 50 gunship Chichester, let as a train-
ing vessel for destitute boys entered by the society
for that purpose.
The following is the official statement from the
Royal Marine-office issued at Woolwich showing
the figures of merit and numbers exercised at
target practice of the several divisions of Royal
Marines during the past year :—Figures of
merit.—Artillery division, 141.72 ; Woolwich divi-
son, 104.44 ; Chatham division, 96.30 ; Portsmouth,
87.30 ; Plymouth, 80.22. Numbers exercised.—
Artillery division, 692 ; Woolwich, 960 ; Chatham,
956 ; Portsmouth, 677 ; and Plymouth, 765. The
best shots were—first period, Sergt. John Bott,
Woolwich division ; second period, Private Rogers,
Chatham ; third period, Sergt. Bott, pronounced
accordingly the best shot of the entire corps.
Her Majesty's 4-gun iron screw storeship Megasra,
Capt. Simpson, having completed her cargo at Wool-
w—ich, went down the river on trial on Saturday, and
is under orders to sail without delay for Gibraltar
and Malta.
The Government lighter Tortoise, from Wool-
wich, arrived at Devonport on Thursday.
The iron screw steam transport, Tamar, 2, Capt.
Francis W. Sullivan, C. 8., having had defects made
good, left Plymouth Sound on Saturday for the
Mediterranean.
The screw. steam corvette Racoon, 22, Captain
Richard Purvis, put her steam in motion on Thurs-
day when in Keyham basin. On Saturday she was
placed is the lock. To-day she will be removed
into Hamoaze. After making trial of her engines,
either to-day or to-morrow, her crew will be turned
over from the hulk. One of her engineers, Mr,
Robert Taylor, was considerably injured on Thurs-
day by the machinery.
The screw steam frigate Bristol, 31, Capt. Leve-
son E. H. Somerset, which left Plymouth on-Thurs-
day for her station on the West Co ,st of Africa,
put back on Friday, having received such damage
as required her to go into Hamoaze on Saturday
morning. Her jib-boom is carried away, and she
may require a new bowsprit.
The screw steam-corvette Charybdis, 17, from
Spithead for Australia, arrived in Plymouth Sound
on Saturday.
The paddlewheel steam frigate Valorous!, 16, Capt.
C. C. Forsyth, 11,nd the screw steam-sloop Petrel, 3,
Commander W. E. Gordon, were in Shnon's Bay
on the 3d of January.
The screw steamer Rodney, 79, 500 horse-power,
Capt. Algernon Heneage, flagship of Vice-A cimiral
the Hon. Slr H. Keppel, I .C. 8., Commander-in-
Chief in China and Japan, is expected to be ready
for sea in about a month from the present time.
She is still several A.B.'s and first-class and leading
seamen short of her proper complement, and bills
are posted throughout Chatham inviting petty offi-
cers and able seamen to join her.
The ironclad ship Northumberland, 26, 6,621
tons, 1,350-horse power (nominal), Commander
Batt, remains at her moorings, near the west shore
in the Medway, awaiting orders from the Admi-
ralty, to proceed to Devonport as soon as there is
dock accommodation for her at that yard. A party
of officers and men belonging to the steam reserve
remain in charge of the Northumberland. She is
nearly ready for the pennant.
The Curacoa, 23, screw frigate (unarmonred),
1,571 tons, 350-horse power, Commander Sir W. S.
Wiseman, C. 8., which arrived at Spithead on Fri-
day from Australia and New Zealand, was inspected
at Spithead on Saturday, by Admiral Sir T. S.
Pasley, K.C.8., and afterwards steamed into
Portsmouth harbour to dismantle and pay out of
commission.

The Minotaur, ironclad iron frigate, Capt. J. E.
Goodenough, fitting at Portsmouth for the flag of
Rear-Admiral Warden, as Commander-in-Chief of
the Channel Fleet of 1867, was placed in dock at
that yard on Saturday.
The Speedy, screw gunvessel, 60-horse power,
tender to the Dasher, paddle steamer, sailed from
Portsmouth on Saturday for the Channel Islands,
taking the Needles channel.
The 68th Regiment, under the command of Col.
Greer, stationed in Portsmouth garrison, has been
armed throughout with the Snider breech-loading
rifle.

The examinations of candidates for commissions
in the medical department of the army will com-
mence at Chelsea Hospital this morning, before
Major-General W. C. E. Napier, Vice-President,
and the members of the Council of Military Educa-
tion.

An order was received at Chatham on Saturday
directing Capt. G. C. Bartholomew, 2d battalion,
10th Regiment ; Lieut. J. G. Hughes, Ist battalion,
22d Regiment, and Ensign E. Birch, 4th West India
Regiments, to he held in readiness for embarkation,
to join the service companies of their respective
regi meats.

On Saturday detachments from the various corps
comprising the three depot battalions at Chatham
left that garrison, and proceeded to Ilythe for the
purpose of going through a course of instruction in
the use of the new breech-loader Snider gun at the
School of Musketry.
An application has been made to the Government
by the corporation of the city of Rochester for the
Sappers and Miners of the Royal Engineers at
Chatham to be employed in submarine operations
in the port of Rochester, to remove some dangerous
shoals and other accumulations near Rochester-
bridge and soiree other parts of the harbour, the
corporation paying the expense. The corporation
have been given to understand that their application
will be acceded to. A few years since the Sappers
and Miners were employed in the demolition of old
Brompton-bridge between two and three years.
They performed the work most satisfactorily.
The following appointments were made on Satur-
day at the Admiralty : —Lieut Shattock, additional,
to the Bristol, for disposal ; Lieut. R. B. Pipon to
the Zebra; Lieut. B. J. Hughes to the Niobe; J.
C. Thomas, to the Virago ; J. G. Liddle, masttr,
to the Zebra ;- E. 11. C. Smith, master, to the
Niobe ; Sub-Lieut. J. T. Hardinge to the Zebra ;
Sub.-Lieut. C. T. Francis to the Niobe; J. Ferris
and J. W. B. Reeve, midshipmen, to the Zebra ;
J. F. H. Vernon, midshipman to the Niobe ; W.
Lewis Lewis, chief engineer, to the Fisgard, forser-
vice in the Nymph ; T. Sagar, chief engineer, to the
Mutine ; R. J. Wilson, chief engineer, to the Cum
berland, for the Myrmidon; W. J. Thomson, assist.-
Burg., to the Dauntless ; J. Rodgers, acting assist.-
surg., to the Itoyod Alfred ; F, A. Jdaig, Tamter's I

11 Capt. the Duke of Edinburgh arrived on Fridwy
evening at Devonport, and on Saturday morning
went on board his frigate, the Galatea. .
The arrangements necessary for the accommo 3a-
tion of Prince Arthur, on his admision to the Itt )yal
Military Academy at Woolwich are now complete.
His Royal Highness, having passed the usual •exa-
mination before the Council of Military Wincation
at Chelsea, will commence his studies in the capacity
of cadet to-morrow, at 9 o'clock. For the present
half-year the number of cadets, including the
Prince, is 183. The Prince, who will be attended
by Major Elphinstone, his governor, and Lieut. A.
F. Pickard, V.C., will continue his residence at the
Ranger's house in Greene►ch-park, leaving the
Academy daily at 7 in the evening, so that the
only meal he will attend in the Academy will be
the luncheon at 2 o'clock in the dining-hall, in
common with the remainder of the cadets.
The chartered troopship Camperdown, which
sailed from the Thames with troops on board, for
Bombay, has put back and returned to the Thames
to make good the damage she has sustained since
putting to sea. Her troops will be landed at
Gravesend on Saturday, and will be accommodated
in barracks until the vessel is again ready to receive
them on board. The Camperdown left Gravesend
on the 13th ult., and from the period of her getting
clear of the Channel she encountered a succession of
fearful gales, the ship sustaining such damage that
she was compelled to put I.)cic. She has been towed
up the river to the East India- Docks, where she
will be repaired and refitted. The troops ofi board
were in charge of Cornet W. G. Andrews, 18th I

assiat., to the Zebra ; D. A. Richmond, master's
assist., to the Niobe ; R. J. Rogers, master's assist.,
to the Achilles; F. Roberts, and R. C. Roughton,
master's assists., to the Rodney ; and T. W.
Bower, engineer, to the Indus, for service in the
Vixen.