The Sun.
London, England, 1859-02-08 00:00:00

THI? NAVY.

Her Majesty's screw steam-transport Urgent,
Commander. John W. D. M'Donald, will embark
this day at Portsmouth for Malta the right wing
of the 2d battalion, 23d Regiment.
Her Majesty's screw steamship Algiers, 91, has
been placed alongside the sheer jetty, Portsmouth,
and yesterday commenced masting.
The horses brought home in her Majesty's
steamer Himalaya, and presented to her Majesty
by the Emperor of Morocco, were landed at Ports-
mouth Dockyard on Sunday. The lion and two of
the ostriches were landed yesterday and taken
charge of by Mr. Montgomery for conveyance to
the gardens of the Zoological Society in the Pheenix -
park, Dublin. The leopard, irwy, and the
ostriches were delivered to Mr. Hunt for the Zoo-
logical Society's gardens, Regent's-park, London.
The Himalaya,
it is reported, will proceed next to
the Cape of Good Hope.
The Nankin, 50 , bearing the pennant of Com-
modore the Hon, Keith Stewart (1857), was towed
into harbour at Chatham by the Adder and Lizard
steamers, and yesterday commenced stripping,
Previously to returning stores into dockyard, and
to be paid off. The Nankin was built at Chatham,
and this is the first voyage she has made. A cor-
rospondent requests us to contradict the statement
in The Sun ;that Mrs. Stewart went round
Portsmouth to Chatham in the Nankin. Mrs.
Stewart remained at Portsmouth, it being contrary
to the rules of the service to convey any ladies in
vessels of war without the express permission of
the Admiralty.
The Hope has arrived at Chatham with
war •
stores from Sheerness Dockyard.
The screw steam-frigate, Curacoa, Capt. Mason,
went from Plymouth Sound on Sunday into Ha-
moaze, but, being too late for the tide to go into
dock, was made fast to the sheer hulk.
The paddlewheel storeship Dee, 4, Master Com-
mander Pullen, from Woolwich, arrived at Plymouth
on Sunday, with boilers, &c. for Keyham-yard.
The following appointments were made yesterday
at the Admiralty :—Capt. W. D. O'Callaghan to the
Algiers, commissioned; John W. Molfale, master, to
the Algiers; William H. Bateman, paymaster, to
the Algiers ; George A. Welch, paymaster, to the
Medina ; William F. Taylor and George V • Jones,
clerks, to the Algiers ; Charles Boyle, tos thei
Blenheim; Edward T. Boys, clerk, to the.
Ile.
(Ise
F;
W. W. Blaney, clerk, to the Nile ; Itteelt_ir.
and
to the Brunsw ik
Handley, assistant clerk,
W. H. F. Armstrong, assistant clerk, to the
Algiers

BIRTHS.
CooKE.—On the sth inst., the wife of Horny Cooke, Esq.,
Arden House, Altringhain, near Manchester, of a son.
COLES.—On the 3d inst., at Southsea, the wife of Captain
Cowper P. Coles, R.N., of a daughter.
RALLI.—On the sth inst., at 49, Cleveland-square, Hyde.
park, the wife of Stephen A. Rani, Esq., of a son.
RUSSELL.—On the sth inst., at 38, Fore-street, city,f.,
wife of Mr. J. A. f a daughter, tho
M RuARRI
ssell,
oAGES.

—Swill
Harm 3d inst., at Jordanhill, Ren-
HAMILT9No ...Ithaindauhtletorn,ofE
jsaqm.,
cosf
signiltahr,d,BAsqrgy.:l.l-
-
shire, to
Jordanhill.
WALKER STEEL.—On the 3d inst., at Margate 01
Church, Francis John Walker, Es q., late of Aurtralia,
youngest son of the late Thos. Walker, Esq., of Margate,
to Catherine, the only daughter of Mr. James Steel, of
Rotherhithe, London.

COOKE.—On the sth DinsEt.,Athrre HReSv.. Isaac Urban Cooke,
M.A., vicar of East tulworth and Coombe Keynes, Dor-
set, aged 52.
DROLENVAUX.—On the sth inst., John HenryDrolenvaux,
Esq., of 14, Mark-lane, city, aged 73.
FREEMAN.—On the 6th inst., at Stony Stratford, Bucks,
Robert M. Freeman, Esq., aged 57.
FRANCE.—On the 6th inst., at his residence, 42, Upper
Bedford-place; Russell-square, Thomas France, Esq.,
aged 83.
HARMAN.—On the sth inst., at Charlton-next-Dover, R.
H. Harman, Esq., late of the Victualling Office, Somer-
set House, aged 84.
LIGHTFOOT.—On the 4th inst., while on duty at the Royal
Artillery Hospital, Woolwich, Thomas Lightfoot, M.D.,
L.R.C.S., and L.S.A.
ROBERTS.—On the 3d inst. at Beauchamp Lodge, Leam.
ington, Lieut,-Gmeral IL, T, Aoberts, C,D., aged 73,

Although little enough has yet been said by
Ministers in explanation of their views as to the
coming Reform Bill, what has been said is beyond
all doubt in the highest degree satisfactory. The
allusions in the Speech from the Throne of course
might mean precisely Nothing or Anything.
" Your attention," said her MAJESTY, " will be
called to the state of the laws which regulate the
representation of the people in Parliament, and I
cannot doubt but that you will give to this great
subject a degree of calm and impartial considera-
tion proportioned to' the magnitude of the interests
involved in the result of your discussions." As to
that—cela va sans dire. The recommendation need
hardly have been articulated. There it is, how-
ever, in the Royal Speech ; and it was so far
valuable that it implied a distinct assurance of a
measure being actually forthcoming this session—
not next, but this session—under the auspices of
her MAJESTY'S Government. The words contained
a simple promise, without the boastful flourish of
the customary and hitherto fruitless fanfaronade.
But with all this, we repeat, it might signify in
reality just nothing or anything.
Happily the country can now read the official
occurrences by the light of the official explanations.
The passage we have here quoted from the QUEEN'S
Speech was last night underlined or emphsisised
by the Leader of the House of Commons. Thanks
to the extremely pressing inquiries of Mr. JOHN
BRIGHT and Mr. THOMAS I)UNCOMBE we have a
tolerably clear notion of the Ministerial intentions
as to the probable time when their Reform Bill
will be submitted to the consideration of the Legis_
lature.

It will be remembered that the hon. member for
Finsbury, upon a prievious occasion somewhat
similar to the present—namely, at the commence..
ment of the last session of Parliament—addressed
a similar previous interrogatory to the former leader
of the House of Commons. Mr. DuiceoatnE, in
praiseworthy thirst for knowledge upon the sub-
ject of Reform, is no more to be deterred from
patting pertinent queries to any one, when the
humour seizes him, than little " Paul Dombef
was, when reminded by the terrible "Pipchin" of
the fate of the little boy who asked questions.
Scarcely had Lord PALMERSTON been driven from
his three years' lounge upon the Treasury Bench to
the front of the Opposition, when the noble
Viscount was challenged by the member for Fins-
bury to produce the outline of his intended scheme
of Parliamentary reorganization. Vainly—for the
simple and all-sufficient reason, that there was
actually no scheme of the kind in existence. This
was in the February of 1858. In the February
of 1859 Mr. DuNcomnE has been a trifle
more successful, lie asks the Chancellor of
the Exchequer to satisfy
far at least upon this .
his curiosity so
portant question as to
afford him some remote idea
as to the probable
period at which the intended bill is to be intro-
duced to the Legislature by Her
'MAJESTY'S Go-
vernment. In his amiable solicitude to make his
question as intelligible as possible to the House
the hon. member, until interrupted by s
the
- PEAKER
'
appeared eager to drag the whole rexata questio
into immediate discussion. Mr. DISRAELI con-
trived, however, easily enough to satisfy his in-
genuous interrogator—and not only to satisfy
him, we rest assured, but the majority of the more

reasonable observers both within and without
the walls of Parliament. The promised statement
of the First Lord of the Admiralty is to have, as
it should have, precedence. The difficult problem
of Indian finance is then, as it should be, to be
favourably taken into the consideration of the
House of Commons, at the instance of the Secretary
of State for the Asiatic portion of her MAJESTY'S
dominions. " The House is as good a judge as I
am," said Mr. DISRAELI, " of the time which these
measures will require for their fair discussion"—
these two precedent measures relating to the maritime
service of England and. to the finance of Hindostan.
"When they are settled," added the leader of the
house, "it is my intention to give notice of a day when
" I shall have the honour of bringing forward a
measure for amending the representation of the
people. The hon. gentleman will understand
that it is not in my power to fix the day ; but,
taking a general view as to what will be the course
of the session, not only is it our intention that it
shall be brought in before Easter, but we contem-
plate the second reading being taken before Easter.
As Easter is rather late this year, if the-second
readingmeets that reception which we fondly anti-
cipate, the house will have the opportunity even of
making progress in committee on the bill before
that time." Explicit as the answer was in itself,
it was not sufficiently so for the hon. member for
Birmingham. As Lord JOHN anticipated upon the
first night of the session, Mr. BRIGHT was not to be
so easily restrained. Persisting that "what
the public require is time to consider the
bill before it comes to a second reading," Mil,
BRIGHT went on to say " I would recommend—
(Cries of ' Order.') Well, if I may not 'recommend
to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, I will ask him
whether he will name a day, or state when he will
name a day, when the bill will be introduced, be-
cause I presume that not more than one night will
be taken in the introduction of the bill." Where-
upon—(and a more satisfactory occurrence could
hardly be in reason desired under existing circum-
stances)—Mr. DISRAELI replied, "It is not in my
power to name precisely the day when the bill will
be introduced, but I shall give fair notice, and shall
take care that there is ample opportunity for con-
sideration between the introduction and the second
reading." A frank engagement, which the Commons
at Once welcomed—and no wonder—with "cheers."
For the conclusion now arrived at may be thus
briefly and distinctly recapitulated, that the Reform
Bill will be introduced by Government before
Easter ; that it will not only be introduced before
Easter, but that the second reading of it will be
taken before the commencement of that vacation,
and (most important assurance of all) that fair
notice will be given, so that Ministers will take
care that there is ample opportunity for considera-
tion between the introduction and the second, read-
ing ! More than this, certainly, could not be ex-
pected from the Government.

The Emperor of the FRENCH, in his speech to the.
Chambers, yesterday, wishes to prove that his inten-
tions are eminently pacific—to repair, so far as practi-
cable, the serious mischief he has already occasioned !
But it is far easier to enkindle than extinguish a
flame. The few hasty words recklessly uttered on
New Year's-day excited a commotion which
nothing could appease. The marriage of Prince
NAPOLEON with poor little Princess -CLOTILDE
added to the excitement, and nothing merely ver-
bal could appease it, so long as the preparations
for war were continued, and the menacing aspect
was maintained.

The EMPEROR is very complimentary to England.
His most anxious desire is to maintain the
affiance and he has found a happy reciprocity
from men of all parties who have been
entrusted with the Government of Great
Britain. He has forgotten "the irritating remem-
brances of the past, the attacks of calumny, and
even the national prejudices of his country." What
are " the irritating remembrances of the past ?"
What are those painful impressions which require so
much trouble to suppress? The EMPEROR speaks of
" prejudices." We had hoped that they had long
since been dispelled, and that the joint efforts of
the English and French soldiers—the blood shed at
Alma, Balaklava, Inkerman, and before Sebastopol,
had produced thorough cordiality. We regret to find
that we have been mistaken, and that there are
still "irritating remembrances of the past, attacks
of calumny, and national prejudices."
He also maintains the most satisfactory
relations with Russia and Prussia ; and it is
almost needless to say with Piedmont. But the
Austrian sore is still open—the wound is still
rankling. The state of Italy is the drawback to
the general felicity, and the EMPEROR is
determined that her " abnormal" condition
should' no longer continue. This, however,
is not sufficient to occasion a belief in war, which
will not arise so long as he is permitted to carry
out his own views aid decisions. We fear that
the speech will not achieve its object, but that so
long as the troops and navy of France are main-
tained on a war footing, so long will apprehensions
be reasonably entertained with respect to her ulti-
mate intentions.

The LORD CHANCELLOR has manifestly consi-
dered carefully and judiciously the entire law of
debtor and creditor, and the measure -which he so
ably introduced last night constitutes a vast im-
provement in the existing code. It will be seen
that the suggestions which appeared in The Sun
some months since have been verified. Should the
bill receive the legislative sanction there will no
longer be imprisonment for debt, at the mere will
and pleasure of a vindictive and exasperated cre-
ditor. If any insolvent should be deemed worthy
of punishment he will not escape with impunity,
but the penalty will be inflicted after, not before,
trial, and it will be adjudged by an able and
impartial judge, not by the angry man who
had lost his money, and was desirous of
obtaining his " pound of flesh." Even though
it should prevent the restitution of all, or a portion
of his pecuniary claim, such men were not only
acting foolishly, so far as they were themselves con-
cerned, but injuriously to their brother creditors,
and oppressive to the debtor. The power which
has been so grossly abused must be taken out of
their hands, and gentlemen substituted who cannot
by any possibility be actuated by improper motives.
'thereof course, be some cases in which it
willessential to ensure the attendance of an
he
be will,
c
'absconding debtors and therefore it will still be per-
mitted to arrest apartycei o
. about
he the debt
hado beent
we to leave
country ,
the un
under a juges order, ri
fraudulentlyinevrred, or there had been a vexatious
defence, or where the debt was due for damages in
any action for tort. These are just provisions—
the first to ensure an appearance that might not
otherwise be obtained, and the other two because
punishment would inevitably follow in every in-
stance, and full allowaneC Would be made for all
that the petitioner had suffered in the first
instance.

The Lord Chancellor paid a just and honourable
tribute to the mode in which the business of " the
Court for the Relief of Insoltent Debtors" had been
transacted. He truly declared that " as long as
imprisonment for debt had existed, and that Court
had been entrusted with the duty of discharging
debtors, it was
quite impossible that the law could

ha ye been better administered than it had been by
th© Commissioners." This was a fair, honest, and
well-merited testimonial. There Was the learned,
pains-taking, and conscientious Chief Commissioner,
who closely investigated every particle of the case,
and invariably delivered a righteous judgment—
Mr. Commissioner PHILLIPS, now unhappily re-
moved from amongst us, whose eloquence, and
extraordinary powers of cross-examination,
rendered him the terror of every delinquent, while
he was lenient and gentle to all who had even fair
claims for indulgence; and Mr. Commissioner
MURPHY, whose reputation requires no support,
who has been perhaps the best judge that ever sat
in the Court over which he so worthily presides.
Yes, the business has been admirably performed,
and the Court which has obtained so high a repu-
tation cannot possibly be dispensed with. •
The law of bankruptcy and insolvency should be
assimilated. The insolvent who was discharged
from prison, who had expiated his pecuniary
offenees, whatever they might have been, and sur-
rendered all his property to a trustee for his cre-
ditors, should be allowed to realise the benefits of
his future exertions, and to retain for himself and
family the fruits of his future industry. He would
then have a stimulant to urge him on in the
proper course; but, unfortunately, under the
existing system, he is held back, and every
energetic proceeding is checked. It is not for
himself or his children that he is labouring, and
therefore he does not attempt to sage, and becomes
a demoralised and ruined man, too frequently ap-
pealing again and again to the court from which
he received his first discharge or protection.
It was suggested that it would be unfair to de-
prive the creditors of the chance of -an insolvent's
inheriting a property by which they might be paid
in full, but the question lies in a nutshell. If there be
either a vested or contingent interest,it must be trans-
ferred to the assigned, an dwhen ever it comes in to pos-
session will be rendered available for the liquidation
of their demands, but if it depends on the will of a
relative, the state of the law will only prevent him
from leaving the money to the insolvent debtor, or
induce him to create a secret trust in his favour, a
matter, we believe,:of more frequent occurrence than
would be generally credited. .The effect of the
existing law is that the insolvent suffers severely,
while the creditor seldom, if ever, gains in any

respect.
The Insolvent Court, however, cannot be abo-
lished. Of the suitors for protection, it is
shown that nearly nine out of ten are traders, who
are too poor to resort. to Basinghall-street, whoSe
debts would be fully satisfied by the sums required
to carry a person through bankruptcy. The In-
solvent Court must be retained for the purpose of
adjudicating on cases where the assets are less than
a certain amount, say £3OO, or where the bona
_fide
debts do not in the aggregate exceed £l,OOO. With
these trivial exceptions we give our cordial adhesion
to the admirable measure introduced by Lord
CIIELMSFORD—the best ever brought forward on
the subject.

THE NAVIGATION OF THE lelvEß.s
OF INDIA.

The mail just arrived from India brings advices
of the arrival there of the twelve vessels despatched
from Liverpool in August last by the Oriental
Inland Steam Company. That such vessels are
greatly needed appears very clearly from the whole
tenor of the advices from India ; and the Times,
in some recent leading articles, has directed public
attention to this enterprise as one of the most
promising of the present, day. The steam vessels
at present plying in India, the Indian correspon-
dent of the Times states, are paying a divi-
dend of 100 per cent., and a further supply of
vessels is anxiously expected. The vessels
which the Oriental Inland Steam Company has
already in India, and those which it has now in
preparation, will do something to alleviate this
want; and the company, we see, has issued inti-
mations that is about to double its capital. With
the subsidy from the Indian Government which it
has already secured; with the grants of land and
other privileges it has already obtained ; with the
status it has acquired ; the capacity it has mani-
fested, and the intrinsic merits of the undertaking
upon which it is engaged, the anticipation of a
brilliant future for this' company is a pretty safe
augury, and we are not therefore surprised that it
is obtaining so large a share of public attention.

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THE SUN.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1859.