The Sun.
London, England, 1860-07-31 00:00:00

FORTIFICATIONS.

On the order of the day for resuming the adjourned de-
bate, on the motion for going into committee on the
European Forces India Bill,
Mr. lIORSMAN said that he had given notice of a
question relative to the subject of the national fortifications
to the noble lord at the head of her Majesty's Government,
and that noble lord was not in his place. (Cries of " Order,
order.") _ _

The SPEAKER explained that the hon. member was
out of order. A question was before the house altogether
different from that to which he addressed himself.
Mr. HORSMAN said he would put himself in order, and
conclude by moving that the house do now adjourn. He
repeated that he had given the noble lord (Palmerston)
notice of his motion, and considering the importance of the
question—a question to which the national mind
was most anxiously directed—he certainly thought the
' noble lord should have been in his place to answer his (Mr.
Horsman's) question. He believed the general impression
at the conclusion of the debate last week on the subject of
the national fortifications was, that it would have been one
of the first subjects brought forward this evening, instead
of which there were several other questions on the paper
which had precedence, and which were likely to occupy for
some time the attention of the house. The question of na-
tional fortification had derived additional importance from
what the noble lord said the other evening in bringing this
matter forward; and he might state that he (Mr. Horsman),
and he believed the majority of the house, fully concurred
in what had fallen from the noble lord on that occasion.
(Hear.) He thought, under the circumstances, that what
the noble lord stated would have been followed by a course
of action which the public safety demanded. (Order.)
The SPEAKER again called the hon. member to order.
The circumstance of the hon. member having given notice
of a question to a Minister of the Crown did not entitle
him to ask that question when an order of the day was laid
before the house.
Lord PALMERSTON expressed his regret that he had
been detained later from the house than he expected that
afternoon, but he was in his place before the order
of the day was moved, though the honourable member
(Mr. Horsman) did not perceive him. He was as anxious
as that hon. member to come to a decision on the subject
of the national fortifications, but the house was engaged in
the consideration of a question of considerable im-
portance. He appealed to the hon. member and
his friends to assist hicr on the present occasion in for-
warding the public business, so as to enable them to expo-
Mite the discussion of the question to which he (Mr. Hors-
man) referred, by discontinuing the opposition to the regu-
lar order of the business of the house. (Hear.)
Mr. 1101 LS MA:N :sti.l that under the circumstances he
would not press his motion, and the subject then dropped.
The debatd was then rc,snefed by
Mr. DANBY SEYMOUR on the following motion:--
" That it be an instruction to the committee that they have
power to make provision therein that all appointments to
military commands in India (the commands in chief alone
excepted), and all staff appointments, whether military,
naval, or medical, bo vested in the Governor-General in
Council and other constituted authorities in India." He
said his remarks would be certainly brief, as he had no wish
to prolong
the discussion. His hon. friend who moved this
amendment and himself were of opinion that it was not