The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-17 00:00:00

THE CUSTOMS CLERKS.

Mr. TREEBY asked the Secretary to the Treasury
whether her Majesty's Treasury had decided upon a re-
vised classification for the London and outport clerks of
customs ; and, if so, whether any and what steps had been
taken for the amelioration of the condition of the lower
class of her Majesty's collectors of customs at the out-
Ports ?

lir
• CHILDERS said he had informed the house the
other
evening of
in the Customs the
stationed in London and the outports. The
arrangeme-:
stated, but that
with respect to those in London he had
part of the arrangements relating to the
outports had
not ••• ~. •
referred to by the ho., b been completed. The officers
proptzable gentlemen would be treated
as clerks. What
as
would be made for that class,
and what would be the
n ott of the change on the salaries
sstaresent say.
of those per:loAnits,chiei coourldßu
i:stlinder Secretary of
Sir 11. RAWLINSON asked RUSSIAN
Tit°ors.
sofGovernment had
State for Foreign Affairs if her lin
ualtussitin force
received any information of the march'
under General Tchernaief from Tashicend
and, if so, what was the avowed object of such 116khara ;
an expedi_

tion ?
Mr. LAYARD said rumours had reached her Majest
Government of the march of Russian troops towards Y's
Dokhara, but he was not in a position to inform the house
what was the object of such a step. The Russian Govern_
ment, however, had given the most solemn assurances that
there was no desire to advance their frontier beyond
Bokhara.

TREATMENT OF CADETS.
Lord E. CECIL rose to move that an humble address
be presented to her Majesty, praying that she will be
graciously pleased to appoint a Royal Commission, consist-
ing of military and civilian members, to inquire into the
present constitution, system of education and dis-
cipline of the Royal Military Academy at Wool-
wich, and of the Royal Military College at Sandhurst, as
well as into the general treatment of the gentlemen cadets,
as also into the rules and reguiations under which candi-
dates
are
admitted into these colleges. Tha noble lord
the :opportunity of stating the stringent regulations
under which cadets were treated at Woolwich, and
stated that, in sense instances, cadets were actually

better treated than the young men who were qualifying
themselves for commissions in the Royal Artillery and
Engineers. They were made to brush their own clothes
and do other menial operations. The mode of examina-
tion was most objectionable, because they were in many
instances asked questions which it was impossible for them
to answer. He had taken the trouble to submit some
of the mathematical questions to a first-rate scholar,
and he had informed him that it was unfair and unjust
to call upon young men to make calculations which only
the most practised and clever mathematician could
work out. The only article of which there seemed to be
an abundance of was professors—(hear, hear)—as he
found there was one professor to every four cadets.
(Laughter) In our public schools generally there
was one tutor to every twenty-five scholars, while
at Eton and Harrow he believed there was a master to
every 22 boys. The food supplied to the cadets was both
limited in quantity and bad in quality, and there were other
matters which made it of the utmost importance that the
commission which he asked for should be granted.
Col. S. KNOX said he agreed in a great many of the
observations of the noble lord, but he could not think a
young soldier was any the worse for a little roughing. He
saw several gentlemen around who at Eaton brushed their
own and other people's shoes, and yet they made just as
good members of that house as others which had not had
to do so.

Mr. ACLAND said the subject of military education
was one of the highest importance, and he hoped the noble
marquis, who now stood at the head of the War Depart-
ment, would thoroughly sift the whole matter to the
bottom, in order that that which was objectionable
should be removed, and that young gentlemen qualifying
for commissions in the army should be treated with that
consideration which they had a right to expect.
Sir J. FERGUSON did not think it was necessary that
cadets should go through the drill and private duties of
private soldiers. He thought that the cadet should be
treated in a manner likely, to mice him become a well-
disciplined and efficient officer.
The Marquis of HARTING TON stated that;the system
of education and discipline both at Woolwich and Sand-
hurst had been altered and modified in accordance with a
report of the Royal commission which was appointed
whilst Lord Panmure was at the War-office.

Captain VIVIAN said the question they were discuss-
ing was a most important one, and it could only satisfac-
torily be decided by the agency of a royal commission.

The house then divided. The numbers were—
For the amendment 132
Against
Majority —2o
FENIAN PRISONERS.

Mr. BLAKE called attention to the alleged severe re-
strictions to which the prisoners arrested under the sus-
pension of the Habeas Corpus Act wete subjected in the
gaol at Waterford, and inquired whether specific directions
were given by the Government as to the treatment of
those prisoners ; and if so, whether there would be any
objection to state the nature of such directions, to which
of the prison authorities they were transmitted, and through
what medium ?

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL for IRELAND said
that, from the reports which he had received, the prisoners
referred to had not been treated in any way but to the ex-
tent that was necessary to insure their safe custody.
They were not, he could assure the house, in any way
subjected to severe restrictions. The reports which had
been circulated, and on which the hon. member had founded
his statement, could only have been made for the purposes
of the persons originating them.
After a few words from Mr. MAGUIRE, who com-
plained of the treatment of the prisoners in the gaol of
Cork,

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
Ln that case a full inquiry should made into the matter.
Tho subject then dropped.

Mr. WHITESIDE drew attention to some statements
made in a morning journal reflecting upon the administra-
tion of justice in the county of Monaghan by the High
Sheriff, and offered explanations of the disturbances which
took place at Castleblayney on the occasion of the election
for that place on the 22d of July last. •
After a long discussion, in which the Irish members
mainly took part,
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL for IRELAND made a
very full statement in vindication of the functionary whose
conduct was impugned.
The subject then dropped.

1 Mr. WHALLEY called attention to the report of the
committee on turnpike trust; 1864, in which they stated
that "tolls are unequal in pressure, costly in collection,
inconvenient to the public, and injurious as causing a
serious impediment to intercourse and traffic, and that the
abolition thereof would be beneficial to the community ;"
and asked what steps the Government intended to take to
give effect to the said report ?

Mr. BARING, in reply, said that all roads must be paid
for in some way, and that many of the lines of way alluded
to were guaranteed by special Acts of Parliament. The
Government did not, at present, intend to take any steps
in the direction towards which the hon. member pointed.
A very desultory discussion ensued, and the topic ulti-
mately dropped.
The house then went into committee on the Navy Esti-
mates. Having agreed to the vote for now works, a short
discussion took place on the vote for half-pay and the new
system of retirement. Ultimately the vote was postponed.
The committee then proceeded with the Army Estimates,
and the discussion of a few items occupied nearly the
whole of the remainder of the sitting.

The house then resumed.
On the motion for the consideration of the Parliamentary
Oaths Amendment Bill,

Mr. NEWDEGATE made a short speech announcing
his intention on the third reading of moving the recom-
mittal of the bill.

The remaining orders were run through rapidly, and the
house adjourned.

The Resources of America.

The following is the substance of a speech deli-
vered by Handel Cosham, Esq., before the Stroud
Institute :

EXTENT OF TERRITORY.
Let me ask you to think of the vast extent of that
territory that is now under the control and govern-
ment of the United States. It may be roundly
stated as about three millions of square miles, or
nearly 2,000 millions of acres. Of this vast area
somewhere between one-third and one-fourth has
yet to be allotted. This unallotted land is in the
hands of the Government, and is granted at a mere
nominal charge to all citizens of America in lots of
160 acres, or a quarter of a square mile. Provision,
however, is made that parties shall not claim or hold
large tracts of this unoccupied territory to the ex-
clusion of others, by making it necessary that the
person claiming a section of this unoccupied territory
shall also reside upon it. The charge for this land
does not usually amount to more than one dollar or
one and a-half dollars per acre. Now it must not
be overlooked that this mode of allotting the soil of
America is sure to attach to that country its popu-
lation and people. There is nothing that so attaches
a people to any country as an interest in the soil.

Here you have one secret of all the development of
patriotism that America has displayed during the
last four years.

POPULATION.

Let me next refer to the population of America,
as illustrative of her resources. In 1860 there were
31,500,000 of people, of whom 27,000,000 were
white, and 4,500,000 were coloured. Four millions
of the latter were at that census returned as " slaves.''
Thanks to an over-ruling Providence, when the
next census returns are made they will record the
fact that ought to make the hearts of all Christians
and humane men leap for joy that the flag of
America now covers none but free men ; that hence-
forth her laws will protect all, irrespective of colour,
and that over her halls of justice and Legislature
will .be inscribed " Liberty for all, justice for all,
freedom for all." (Loud cheers.)

EMIGRATION.

I think it will be found that the average emigra-
tion for the ten years ending 1870 will be over
500,000 a-year. According to the best estimate that
can be formed the population of America in 1870
will be 42} millions. In 1880 it will most likely be
54 millions. In 1890 it will be 70 millions ; and
soon after the close of this century, if the country
continues to progress and prosper, it is probable
that there will be 100 millions of people in the
United States. In order to feel the magnitude and
importance of these facts, let me ask you to remem-
ber that during the last fifty years France has in-
creaseda_l her population only 37 per cent., England
nv
d ales about 121 per cent., while America, during
the same period, has increased nearly 500 per cent.
In '
est-
mating the resources of a country like
America it is most important that due regard should
f
be paid to this increase
population, because in all
free countries, and
undero allia enlightened Govern-
ments, an increase
of population
man
oion means an increase
of wealth, because ever
produces,if he is in-
dustrious and economical, more
so that his labour—or rather the resunit oef consumes,
labour
—becomes an addition to the wealth of his country.
Hence it is that we find that while in 1850 the wealth
of America was assessed, for the purpose of taxation,
at $7,250,000; in 1860 it was $16,250,000. It
is only fair, however, that I should state that in 1850
the slaves were valued at one million, and in 1860
at two minim, so that the former amount would