The Sun.
London, England, 1857-08-22 00:00:00

MPERIAL PAR, LIAMEN T

HOUSE OF LORDS—(YESTERDAY.)
MERSEY CONSERVANCY BILL.
On the motion of Lord MIDESDALE the standing or-
ders were suspended, and the above bill passed through
all its 'stages•
The Bishop of CHICHESTER presented a petition
from a place in Essex against the Divorce Bill.
OBSCENE PUBLICATIONS BILL.
Lord CAMPBELL expressed his satisfaction at
hearing that the Commons had passed this bill with cer-
tain amendments. These amendments were quite in the
spirit of the bill, and on Monday next be should move
that their lordships should agree to these alterations.

THE MUTINY IN INDIA..
The Earl of SHAFTESBURY, seeing the noble earl
the Lord President of the Council in his place, moved
for the production of a copy of the order issued by the
Commander-in-Chief of the Bombay army requiring
that the ranks of the native army should only
be recruited from the high caste division of the
population. He believed that that order had been
issued a few days before the mutiny in the Bengal army
broke out, and it was then cancelled by the local Go-
vernment. Nevertheless it was necessary tbat that
order should be produced, in order that their
lordships might be in a position to judge whether
such a provision as that order enforced did not
form an element in occasioning the revolt. It
was the opinion of all parties acquainted with India
that nothing tended more to the laxity of condurt, or
to excite a spirit of mutiny than such an exclusive
system as that which he bad referred to. Nothing was
more calculated to make the natives arrogant and proud
than this homage to caste. The only question to be
considered was not who was the best Hindoo, but who
would make the most loyal soldier.
Earl GRANVILLE said there was not the slightest
objection to the production of the paper moved for by the
noble earl. It was only fair to the commanding
officer referred to to observe that it was the natural
wish of the European officers generally that the soldiers
4saliated should be of the highest caste. It was a great
-mistake to suppose that this or any similar
order led to the mutiny in the Bengal army.
It would be presumptuous in him in the present
state of affairs to give any distinct pledge as to the course
that would be adopted with respect to the re-organisation
of the Indian Army.
The subject then dropped.
LUNATICS (SCOTLAND) BILL.
The Commons' amendments to this bill were consi-
dered and agreed to.
BOUNDARIES OF BURGHS BILL.
The Commons' amendments to this bill were also
considered and agreed to.
POLICE (SCOTLAND) AND SMOKE NUISANCE
(SCOTLAND) BILLS.
The Commons amendments to these two bills were
agreed to.
CONSOLIDATION FUND (APPROPRIATION)
BILL.
- Earl GRANVILLE moved the third reading of this
bill.

Lord MONTEAGLE then rose and commented at
great length on the financial measures passed during
the present session, and passed a glowing eulogium
upon the present Chancellor of the Exchequer, but, in
his opinion, the financial system at present in existence
was such as could not for a moment be defended.
Earl GRANVILLE entirely agreed with the noble
lord in his congratulations with regard to the present
favourable state of the national finances. He agreed
with the noble lord as to the importance of the savings
banks, but he could not follow the nobl lord in his ob-
jections to the manner in which Government had dealt
with those institutions. It appeared to him that the
course which the Chancellor of the Exchequer had adop-
ted was strictly legal, and at the same time highly ad-
vantageot sto employ the funds as he bad done. It was
the intention of the Government to move fur a select
committee on savings banks next year, when the power
which the noble lord had objected to would be fully c
sidered. With regard to the appropriation clause ob-
jected to by his noble friend, he believed it was fist in-
troduced by Sir R. Peel, and early in the next session,
some difficulties having been discovered, the matter was
set. right by a bill specially introduced for that purpose.
The bill was then read a third time and passed.
The Commons' amendments on the Smoke Neisonce
(icotlacd) Bill were agreed to.
THIRD READINGS.
The following bids were read a third time and passed,
via.:—Dunbar Harbour L-an, Metrepelitan Police Sta-
tions, &c., Militia Pay, Revising Barristers (Dublin),
Probates and Letters of Administration (Ireland),
Mutiny (East India), Joint-Stock Companies Act (1856)
Amendment, Parochial Schoolmasters (Scotland) (No. 2),
Customs and Excise, Customs, and Pimlico Improve-
ments Bills,
DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL CAUSES BILL.
Earl GRANVILLE having moved that the house do
now adjourn.
Lord REDESDALE said a tell of very great impor-
tance had come up from the other House of Parliament,
and he begged to remind their lordships that he gave
notice on the preceding day that when that bill cams up
to their lordships house he should move that the amend-
ments made therein by the other tionse of Parliament be
taken into consideration that day six months. He there-
fore thought the question as to the Commons' amend-
meats in the bill should now be discussed by their lord-
ships.
The LORD CHANCELLOR, who spoke with consi-
derable warmth, said—My Lords, that bill has come up
from the other House of Parliament with a great quantity
of very important amendments, which your lordships
have not had an opportunity of reading or seeing.
(Cheers.) It has been reported that the noble lord, avail-
ing himself of the position in which he stands, is now
about to move that these amendments be taken into con-
sideration this day six months. (Cries of " Hear, hear,"
and laughter.) My lords, in what position would that
put your lordships' house with the country I (Hear.)
Here is a bill involving a most imp Irtant question, de-
bated for a month in your lordships' house, and for six
weeks in the other house, and is an attempt now to
be made to get rid of it by that which every one in
this house knows—
[The'remainder of she sentence was lost in the cheers
of the house.]
I trust that the noble lord the chairman of your lord-
ships' committees will not put you in such an invidious
and discreditable position in the eyes of the public as his
motion would place you (Hear.)
Lord REDESDALE—The noble and learned is ex-
tremely indignant at what he conceives to be my conduct
in this matter. I rose when the adjournment of the
house was moved to speak upon the bill in question, be-
cause nobody ventured to move that it should be taken
into consideration on any particular day. I thought it
Was not right that we should. leave the house without
anything having been said as to the 'course Government
intended to pursue with regard to the bill. When any
noble lord moves that a bill be taken into consideraeion
on a particular day, it is open to any other lord t ► move
that it be taken lot, consideration on any other day, nod
I did most distinctly give notice to the noble earl (Earl
Granville) that when the bill in question did come up I
should move that the Commons' amendments on it should
be considered that day six months. I thought it was im-
proper that your lordships shoul I be asked to consider
the important amendments made in that bill on the day
before the prorogation of Parliament, and it was on that
ground I gave notice of my amendment, in order that
all parties might know that it is my intention to move
that the Comincns' amendments be considered this day
six months.
Lord CAMPBELL—When was your amendment to
be moved 1
Lord REDESDA.LE—Th; words that I used last
night when giving notice of it were these :—" I expect
that the Divorce Bill will be brought up from the other
house to-morrow, and I give notice that when that bill
comes up to this house I shall move that the Commons'
amendments be taken into consideration this day six
months.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE—Were those words
taken down and inserted in the minute-hook ?
Lord REDESDALE—They could not be entered into
the minutes because that bill was not before the house.
(Vehement derisive cheers, cries of "Oh. oh," and
"That's the chairman of committees ?") He asserted
that the course he bad adopted was perfectly regular.
It was open to any noble lord on a motion that a bill
be taken into consideration on a particular day, to move
that it be considered on some other day, and when he
gave notice that be should take the latter course with
regard to the Divorce Bill be acted quite fairly and cour-
teously towards the house. (Hear.) He was the last
man to wish to do anything irregular or unfair, or to
ek to restrict the freedom of their lordsh'p,' delibe
rations ; but he maintained that he had given full no-
tice of the course he intended to take, and that accord-
" lAg to the rules of the house he was strictly in order.
Bail GRANVILLE.—I think this is a matter in
the *character ot-the bole is at stake, and it is
ther bottle
efore to
(„uid__
Yourcolrnly decision. In this assembly we are, per-
btisinee, tj'alsens so strictly regu!ar in our conduct of
in this- hou_%_tt. other house ; bat what I have remarked
it_and --I:444ttalifit the eh .rt time I have had a seat in
higheet authugity ° the noble marquis (Lansdowne), the
ins—is that yoar Zordetiiigi ns, te confirm what lam stet-
have invariably observed it
almost as a religious
not to take any mean or
potty advantne that Illiatz
gained by a surprise, but
to let all our proceedings be
to take, and notice yest:rd.ty
Upward. The noble lord %yr jlebetlY fair and straight-
est the course be intended
sztnvre to ask
f me to contradict his statement, BustltvainlY it is not
every peer who was present at the time it
applying as it did UN aiwte-
gniatlY with hi -
ther the noble lord's notice,
contin-
gency, would admit of his proceeding re
quite confidentthatiitheaelac,
amendment to night ? I feel
lord only reflects fora moment, and puts aside the etre"
fef•ling be entertains in regard to this bill, he will see
That the course he has himself proposed is not one that
• he would have approved on the part of another peer. It
is perfectly monstrous that we should be asked to rej et
the COfiltlloll6' amendment+ before they have been
printed and submitted to our examination ; and I can-
not think that my noble friend, to whom, front
offie:al position, we usually look up for guidance on ques-
tions affecting the regularity of our proceedings, will
persist...in the intention he has indicate I. At all events,
I hope' that this house will not subject itself in the eye.,
of the country to the impntaeien of seeking by a mere
trick to get rid of an important measure. (Hear, bear.)
Lord ST. LEONARD'S (who was very indistinctly
beard) was understood to complain of the use of the word
"trick" and other expressions that are seldom intro-
duced into their lordships' debates. Noble lords oppc-
site had also evinced unusual vehemence in teed'
cheering, a circuuestance calculated. to excite a cers
sponding warmth of feeling on that aide of the house
His noble friend (Lord nedesdale) had giteu notice that