The Sun.
London, England, 1859-03-02 00:00:00

ANNUITY TAX IN SCOTLAND.

Mr. BLACK asked the Lord Advocate if he was prepared
to bring in a bill to relieve the towns of Scotland now sub-
ject to the annuity tax for payment of the stipends of the
ministers of the Established Church. If he would provide
the same relief for Scotland as the Secretary of State for the
Home Department proposed to give to England in the case
of church rates, viz., " that when the rate had been
imposed the collector should take round certain
papers, one of which should contain a form wherein a per-
son may simply declare that he conscientiously objected to
the payment of this rate ; and whoever made that declara-
tion should be exempted and from that time free from the
obligation of paying the charge, and should consequently
take no part in vestry meetings until he consented to pay
some rate ?"
The LORD ADVOCATE said that he had already
answered one part of the question, and stated that while
the subject was under the consideration of Government they
were not prepared to bring in any bill at present; and with
reference to the second part of the question, he was not pre-
pared to introduce any measure in reference to the matter
alluded to.

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.
Mr. C. CLIFFORD asked the Under-Secretary of State
for the Home Department whether his attention had beencalled to a case brought before the bench of magistrates in
Hampshire, concerning the torture of a fox, and whether in
his opinion it would not be advisable to extend the provi-
sions of'the Act 12 and 13 Vic. c. 92, by making penal the
torturing of other animals besides domestic animals.
Mr. HARDY said that his attention had been drawn to
the subject, but it was not at present intended to bring in
any bill on this subject.
CONSULAR OFFICIALS IN JAPAN.
Mr. M. MILNES asked her Majesty's Government
whether, for the future, persons appointed to consular
offices in Japan ,would be submitted to the ordinary exa-
mination by the Civil Service Commissioners, or to a spe-
cial training similar to that now in practice in the consular
establishment in China ? And, when they would be prepared
to lay on the. table of the house the revised scale of con-
sular salaries recommended by the committee of last year ?
Mr. S. FITZGERALD said that a special training was
adopted for those about to be appointed to the offices in
question. They were instructed in Japanese and Dutch,
but not in Chinese.

MR. WALPOLE AND PARLIAMENTARY
REFORM.

Mr. WALPOLE, who occupied a seat on the third bench
on tho Ministerial side of the house, then rose amidst consi-
derable cheering, and said—Mr. Speaker, before you pro-
ceed to the business of the evening, I trust I shall be allowed
for the first time in my life in this house, to ask your indul-
gence for a few moments while I make some explanations
of the reasons which have induced me to retire from the
office which I held in her Majesty's Government. (Cheers.)
The house will have observed that yesterday evening I for-
bore taking my usual place, because I thought it would be
more convenient to my colleagues—my former colleagues
—that they should not have any personal matter mixed up
with the important measure which my right hon. friend
the Chancellor of the Exchequer intended to introduce. I
am not certain whether I should not have forborne taking
my seat again in this house until my successor was actually
appointed; but as I find that some misconceptions have
arisen, and have been circulated, with reference to the rea-
sons which led to my resignation of office, I am sure the
house will not think I am taking an undue opportu
fI in
mentioning the circumstances that led to that resignation.
(Cheers.) In doing so I must date back, if you wai per-
!nit me, for one year. It is just a year since I was asked
by My noble friend at the head of the Government to join
him in one of the most arduous and difficult tasks which
any Minister could have to perform—namely, to con-
duct, avowedly in a minority in this house, the adminis-
tration of the affairs of this great country. (Hear, hear.)
I wrote to him to say that upon private and upon public
grounds I rather wished to decline. The private grounds I
need not mention, and none but the public grounds will I
advert to,.except that which has occasioned my resignation
—viz., a doubt whether I should agree with my colleagues
on the reform bill, which I knew they would have to pro-
pose. My noble friend in the kindest manner—in that kind
manner which is not exceeded by any one—my noble friend
in the kindest manner, and in terms which I will not ven-
ture to quote, requested me to join him, and stated that the
subject of reform was a matter for consideration, to which
in no point of detail was the Government then in any re-
spect pledged. I said in reply to my noble friend, if there
will be nothing dishonourable to you or to myself in retiring
front office should I unfortunately not agree with you on
the question, I will do my best to assist you. It was upon
these terms that I joined the Government of my noble
friend—and, regretting that the difference which I then
foresaw has arisen, it is in consequence of that difference
that I am no longer a member of that Government. (Hear)
Joining the Ministry on such terms as these, I had to con-
sider what in all likelihood would be the principle upon
which a reform bill would be proposed. I had no need of
conjecture. Three times the subject had been introduced into