The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-07-28 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-FRIDAY

On the order of the day for committee of supply, Mr. T.
Duscomnf: recurred to the often-repeated history of Thoro-
good's church-rate grievance, which he diversified by the
relation of an amusing dialogue between the martyr and Sir
Robert Inglis. Lord John Russell, Sir R. Peel, and others,
thought it advisable that the man should be released, if his
release could be legally effected, for the purpose of depriving
him of that factitious consequence which he enjoyed from
his assumption of the character of martyrdom. On the ex-
pression of their opinions, Mr. Duncombe thought it expe-
dient to withdraw his motion.
After some animadversions by Mr. Hume, on the manner
of keeping the public accounts, and a few words from Mr.
Goulburn, the house, which was very thinly attended, went
into committee of supply on the navy estimates.
Mr. HUME, on the vote for 2,000 additional seamen, asked
some questions of Lord Palmerston about the state of affairs
in the east, which questions Lord Palmerston courteously
declined to answer; and Mr. Hume, a little nettled, declared
that he abstained from dividing against the vote only from
the consideration that a division would demonstrate the want
of the 40 members requisite to make a house.
Lord J. RUSSELL said, it seemed to be thought that
British interference alone had prevented the existence of
amicable relations between the two parts of the Turkish em-
pire. This was a total misapprehension, and if England and
the other powers had not taken the course which they had
adopted, a jealousy would have arisen of the Turkish inter-
position in the affairs of the Porte, which would almost
inevitably have involved Europe_ in war.

On the vote of money to defray the conveyance of mails
between different parts of the Mediterranean, Colonel DA.W-
SON DAMER, who has recently passed some time in that part
of the world, proposed, that instead of carrying the mails, as
at present, by contracts with individuals, the government
should employ armed steamers of its own. This description
of marine, he observed, would be our only efficient resource
in the event of any sudden outbreak of war. The French had
already acted extensively upon this policy.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that what-
ever might be the wisest policy for France, England, from the
extent of maritime capital and enterprise among her subjects,
found greater advantage, arid a greater probability of secure
defence, in encouraging and assisting private companies for
these great undertakings. He believed the general opinion
to be, that private companies would manage the transit of
letters and of passengers better than it could ever be done by

any government.
Mr. GOULBURN said the question turned, not upon men
convenience and economy in the prestnt transmission of let
ters and passengers, but upon great considerations of nationa
defence in a sudden emergency.
Captain PECIIELL concurred in the suggestion of Colone
DAMER.

Mr. MORE O'FERRALL said, that every contract for the
conveyance of letters had been made at a rate more economi-.
cal than that at which the same object could have been
effected by the government itself. It was now provided in
the contracts made by the Admiralty, that the vessels should
be built in a manner which would leave them available for
warlike purposes in cases of exigency.
Lord INGESTRIE urged, in support of Colonel Damer's
suggestion, the importance of familiarizing the officers of the
navy with the practical details of steam navigation.
The navy estimates having been gone through, the militia
estimates succeeded, and then the remainder of the miscella-
neous. On a vote to the National Gallery for the purchase

of pictures,
Mr. HUME and Mr. EWART ingrafted a great deal of ir-
relevant discussion about the character and conduct of the
Royal Academy ; after which Mr. GOULISURN complained of
of the proposed vote of £11,300 for legal expenses incurred
in the execution of the act respecting the river Shannon : and
Mr. E. TEN NEST suggested that these expenses had been in-
creased by a job in favonr of a particular solicitor, which
Ministers sharply denied. The grant for the expenses incur-
red in suppressing the Canadian insurrection was passed with
only a few words from Mr. HUME. The grant for the ex-
penses occasioned by the rupture with China came next, and
was passed with some general explanations from the CHAN_
CELLOR of the EXCHEQUER and Sir J. HOBHOUSE.
On the vote of £30,000 for public education, Mr. Gout,-
BURN said that the late minute of council had greatly im-
proved the arrangements upon this important subject. He
rejoiced that it was in his power, therefore, to concur in this
grant, although he certainly should have preferred to see the
object effected by a legislative measure.
Mr. HuME said, that the Government had been obliged to
yield; but, however he might regret this, he would interpose
no objection to the grant.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL expressed the satisfaction of Go-
vernment at having been able to concur with the Archbishop
of Canterbury on the subject of inspection, and trusted that
there would now be an improvement in the quality as well as
In the quantity of the national education.
Mr. LANGDALE lamented the uninstructed state of the
lower Irish in the metropolis, almost all of whom were
Roman Catholics. They were left uneducated whin chil-
dren, and when adults they were thrust into gaol for offences
the consequence of that want of education. Even in the
gaols they had no religious instruction from clergy of their
own faith. They could obtain it only by apostacy. Instead
of excluding the priest from your prisons, you should invite
him to visit them.
Mr. RoCHE concurred in the opinion of Mr. Langdale.
Mr. BAD:Es asked whether the veto of the Archbishop
upon the inspector was to extend to the schools of dissenters.
To which
Lord J. Russzu. answered, that an inspector, constituted
frAtopliccla of the Church of England, would not inspect

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