The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-16 00:00:00

THE ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION.

Captain VIVIAN asked the Chancellorof the Exchequer
whether the estimate of the probable expenditure on ac-
account of the Abyssinian expedition, which was presented
to the house in November last, was likely to be exceeded ;
and if so, whether he was prepared to say to what extent,
and what were the circumstances which account for the
same ?

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it was
usual for hon. members to wait until the financial state-
ment or budget was brought before the house to
ascertain the result of certain estimates, because
it was highly inconvenient for the public service
to have the information got by piecemeal from the Go-
vernment by means of questions put accoss the table.
However, ho wuuld answer the question on the
present occasion, because the public mind had
been made uneasy by the publication of certain
statements in the newspapers with respect to the great
expenditure the country would be called upon to make on
account of the expedition in Abyssinia. Illis noble friend
in November last stated that, in the event of
the expedition lasting until the end of April,
the amount required from the Consolidated Fund
•would be three and a half millions or four millions
of money. From the best information he could obtain
upon the subject he felt he was quite correct in saying
that down tc the present time the expenses would be
covered by the lowest of those two amounts. (Hear,
hear.)
THE STATE OF IRELAND—THE ADJOURNED

DEBATE.
The adjourned debate on the state of Ireland was re-
sumed this evening by
Mr. MONSELL, who commenced by congratulating the
hon. member for Cork upon the ability with which he
had brought the motion forward, and the interest it had
occasioned not only in that house but throughout the coun-
try. He then went on to refer to the state and condition of
the people of Ireland, and said there could be no question that
they had improved in education, and the result of that
was, that as a people they had become more sensitive and
more difficult to govern except upon the principle of
justice. (Hear, hear.) They might make all the efforts
they could to further improve education in Ire-
land, but until they made the University of Dublin a
national institution they would fail. (Hear, hear.) Having
touched upon the land question, he commented upon that
part of the question which it had been decided not
to interfere with by legislation, and in the course of his
remarks the hon. gentleman said it would be impossible for
any Government to Improve the condition of Ireland until
the house had decided the great question which so affected
the well being and tranquillity of that country—namely, the
question of the maintenance of the Established Chnrch in
Ireland. The great disturbing element in Ireland was the
want of religious equality, and when that was brought
about in that country, the Irish people would
support the national institutions quite as loyally and ener-
getically as either the English or the Scotch. (Hear.) He
put it to the house whether it was wisp at this particular
pariod to carry on a religious warfare. Let them fully
consider the question of the Established Church
in Ireland, and to obtain tranquillity let them
therein place it on a footing of equality. It
was the last link of the chain of conquest they were
called upon to break, and as the last portion of an ascent
was always the most difficult, so he urged the Govern-
ment to go onward—they would be sustained by the
strong arm of justice, and the great reward for all exertion
—a reward which a statesman would most truly value—
would be the stability of peace in Ireland. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. BUTLER JOHNSTONE next addressed the
house. He condemned the policy of the Government of
Ireland. He denied that it was what the First Lord
of the Treasury had stated it to be, viz., a truly liberal
policy. (Hear, hear.) It might, however, suit some
to call it policy ; but it was not, and could not be called
statesmanship—it was the rule of thumb. (Hoar, hear,
and cheers.)

[LEFT SPEAKING.I

REGULATION OF RAILWAYS.

The Board of Trade Bill has been printed. It
proposes to enact that, after this year, every railway
company in every passenger train travelling more
than lo miles without stopping must provide such
efficient means of communication between the pas-
sengers and the company's servants in charge of the
train as the Board of Trade may approve ; the
penalty for default not to exceed £lO in each case.
In regard to compensation for accidents the bill
proposes to provide that, in cases where the com-
pany and the claimant desire it, the Board of Trade
may appoint an arbitrator to determine what com-
pensation, if any, shall be paid ; and that in compen-
sation cases, the judge or any arbitrator may order
an examination of the claimant by a medical prac-
titioner not being a witness on either side. Several
clauses are devoted to the subject of railway ac-
counts. The half-yearly accounts of the companies
are to be made out on a uniform plan, according to
a form to be given in a schedule to this bill, and
are to be signed by the chairman and secretary ;
and, if these statements of the accounts are false in
any particular, the auditor of the company who
signed the same is to be liable to fine or im-
prisonment, unless he satisfies the Court that he
was ignorant of such falseness. The Board of
Trade, :on the application of a certain consider-
able proportion of the shareholders or debenture-
holders, supported by such evidence as the
Board may require, and security for payment
of the costs being given if required by the Board,
to have power to examine by an inspector into the
affairs of the company and the condition of the
undertaking, and report thereon ; the report to be
delivered on application to sharesholders and de-
benture-holders. The inspector will have power to
examine upon oath, and compel answers,. Inspectors
also for such an examination may be appointed
by the company at an extraordinary meeting, and
will have the same powers as the Board of Trade
inspectors. The Board of Trade may, upon appli-
cation, in pursuance of a resolution at a general
meeting, appoint (at the company's expense) an
auditor in addition to the company's auditors.
Auditors need not be shareholders. The " Wharn-
cliffe meeting" principle is to be applied when there
is a bill for additional powers, or an application to
the Board of Trade for a certificate conferring
additional powers; but the forms of proxy sent
out by the directors are not to be sent stamped,
nor is any intimation to be sent as to any person
to whom the proxy may be given or addressed,"—
a rebound from one extreme to another. There are
some other clquses relating to the mode of limiting
a company's liability during sea transit, repealing
the old Act requiring a declaration of the value of
silk sent by common carriers, and prescribing that
goods sent in large aggregate quantities by a dealer
to the real consignee are not to be liable to the small
parcels toll by reason of their being divided into
separate packages, as:bags of sugar, bags of coffee,
sacks of meal, and the like.

MR. HENRY LESLIE'S CHOIR. —At the orchestral
and choral concert, on Thursday next, a selection will bo
given from Mendelssohn's " Antigono and Qdipus." The
programme also includes Mendelssolas music to " A Mid-
summer Night's Dream." Solo parts by Mdlle. Sophia-
Vieta and Miss Emma Charlier. Herr Joachim plays
eethovon's Concerto and I3ach's Chaconne.