The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-06 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF LORDS-(LAST EVENING.)

The LORD CIIANCELLOR taistshis seat on the woolsack at
five o'clock.
SIGNALLING TO GUARDS.

In answer to a question from Lord STANLEY of
ALDERLEY,
The Duke of BUCKINGHAM said that experiments had
been made relative to the signalling to guards on the dif-
ferent lines of railway, and that the report of the experi-
ments would bo laid before the Board of Trade.
SALES OF RE VERSIONS BILL.

This bill passed through committee.
METROPOLITAN STREET ACTS AMENDMENT
BILL.

Lord DERBY said that their lordships must be all aware
of the incident which the night before last had stopped
all the cab traffic in London. Ho was sorry
that such an occurrence should have taken place, but he
could not but remark on the moderation and goon feeling
which had characterised their meeting, and on the subse-
quent deputation to the Home Secretary the point was left
open until this bill was brought up for committal. The hard-
ships of which cabmen complained was that they should bo
compelled to carry lamps, and especially as the question had
been left in the hands of the Commissioners of Police. It
was therefore proposed by his hon. friend the Secretary
of State for the Homo Department to introduce a clause
that the introduction of lamps should rest with the Secre-
tary of State alone, and this appeared to give satisfaction.
He believed that it was ultimately proposed to appoint a
select committee to investigate into the whole question.
After a few remarks this clause was added to the bill.

The Drainage and Improvement of Lands (Ireland) Bill
passed through committee.
The Totnes, &c., Writs Bill was read a third time.
THE ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION.

The Declaration of War against Abyssinia haying been
read,
Lord DERBY moved that the house do concur in the
following resolution, communicated by the Commons, viz.:
—" That her Majesty having directed a military expedi-
tion to Abyssinia, consisting mainly of troops, both
European and native, at present maintained out of the
revenues of India, tho ordinary pay of such troops, as
well as the ordinary charges of vessels which would
bo charged upon the revenues of India if such troops and
vessels had remained in that country or adjacent seas,
shall continue to be so chargeable ; provided, however,
that it should be necessary to replace these forces and
vessels, the expense of raising, maintaining, and
providing them shall be repaid out of any moneys
which may be provided by Parliament for the
purposes of the said expedition." His lordship
said that he would thank their lordships for their readi-
ness to co-operate with her Majesty in the expedition to
Abyssinia. The questions then were, first, that the troops
of the expedition should be sent from India; second, that
the expense should be borue by the Indian Govern-
ment ; and thirdly, what proportion of revenues should
be devoted to the plirpose. With regard to the first,
the position of India rendered it obviously desirable that
the forces should come from India, and the landing place in
Abyssinia would be more accessible from India by the
Red Sea. The Governor-General of India had expressed
his opinion so long as May last that an expedition would
be necessary, and he never expressed any other opinion than
that it should come from India. As to the second question
it was thought desirable that the charges, subject to the
consent of Parliament, should be on the revenues of India.
There was a double check upon the expenditure of the
revenues of India—the consent of the Cuuncil of India, and
Parliament must also consent. The necessity
of having that was, that the revenues of India
could not be expended without it. Therefore it was
resolved that the Indian revenues should be employed.
There was no means of ascertaining what portion of the
revenues should be paid by the Indian Government,
therefore it was resolved that the Indian Government
should pay no more than it would have cost
it if the troops and vessels had remained, and
if other expenditure was required for replacing these
troops and vessels that it should be defrayed by the Itn-
perialGovernment, so that India would, under the circum-
stances, pay no more than she would originally have
done. As for any extraordinaryexpense that might occur
in sending out these vessels, the Imperial Govern-
ment guarantee tho expense. His lordship then
paid a high testimony to the impartial manner in
which the late Chancellor of the Exchequer of India had
supported the action of the Government in the matter.
Therefore, it appeared that there was unanimity in the de-
termination to send the expedition from India. As far as
the English troops were concerned, they could bo sent
without the consent of Parliament, and the latter had con-
sented to the native troops being sent, which ho considered
was in conformity with the Act of 1858. It was necessary
to have their lordships' concurrence, and he would there-
fore ask them to accept the resolution of the House of
Commons.

The Earl of ELLENBOROLIGH said that ho entirely
concurred with the noble lord that the troops should be
sent from India. According to oar notions of the law of
nations King Theodore had violated this law, and therefore
the object of the expedition was a perfectly just one. He
stigmatised the King as an unreasonable and unchecked
tyrant, and therefore he did not think that the expedition
would succeed" in its object. no was afraid that, when we
aroused the ferocity of the King, a massacre would take
place like that of Cawnpore. When he went out to India
the advice to him was—" Keep your communication with
the sea."

Lord DE ROS, knowing the abilities and character of
Sir Robert Napier, could not imagine that he would not
take every possible precaution. Tho expedition possibly
might not bo able to rescue the captives ; but ho had little
fear that it would easily make good its return to the
coast.

Earl RUSSELL thought Government would have been
inexcusable if it had not attempted to release the captives,
and it was only right that Parliament should regard their
conduct in so difficult au undertaking with the utmost
consideration.

The Earl of DENBIGH did not consider the war either
just or necessary. Mr. Cameron ought to have been re-
called long ago on account of his conduct in interfering
with the internal affairs of the country, and the detention
of Mr. Rassam was owing to the mismanagement of Earl
Russell.

Lord LYVEDEN approved of the course taken by the
Government.

The Earl of DERBY replied. Government believed
the difficulties were surmountable, and Sir Stafford North-
cote had that day received P. despatch which reported
favourably of the surveys of the passes, the supply of
water, and the health of the troops already landed.
The resolution was then agreed to.

The Income Tax Bill and the Consolidated Fund Bill
were read a second time and passed through committee.
Earl RUSSELL called attention to the despatch of the
French Minister to the Italian Government, stating that
before the French troops could leave Civita Vecchia the
security of the Holy Father must be guaranteed, and as
the first step to that measures must be taken to facilitate
the mooting of the conference. As the basis of the con-
ference was that the Pope's temporal dominions were to be
guaranteed, be considered that no English Minister could
take part in it.

Tho Earl of DERBY said the Secretary for Foreign
Affairs had replied to the French Government that it
would be useless to go into a conference unless some basis
were laid down beforehand. What steps had been taken
by the French Government to arrange with the other
powers for the meeting of the conference he could not say.
The house adjourned at a quarter past 7 o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS-LAST EVENING.
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
IRELAND.

Mr. MAGUIRE gave notice of his intention, on the
earliest possible day after the meeting of the house in