The New York herald., 1845-08-01

4
subscription contract, undertaking in lieu there
of, has been deposited in the Private Bill Office =
Description Esnaed aa d, e1pense. Capital stock
Nsvisafioqs and canals 1850 " 'S''-.
Ferries and dock: S5seo0 " ooS SS SSS
bridge e'..................: 1880 :. asooC
f957i8,529 -. 96, ,566, ,s93
Here it is proposed TO invest the enormous sum OF
1872 S3i 465 millions of dollars in railways and other
works, IN addition TO those now in active working
and this, too, in a country whose public debt
amounts TO fs00,O0O. 900 sterling.
PARLIAMENTARY. Parliament is dragging on to-
wards close. The withdrawal ofmeasures which
cannot be carried, owing either to the want of time
or TO the ,herceness OF opposllon-was performed
last week with due solemnlty, by Sir Robert Peel
The Queen and her husband will soon be on the
wing; members and ministers, who have passed
the dog days amid the toll and heat of St Stephens
WIN follow their example, and the London season,
so called, VIII have terminated. There is no season
on record when members have been worked harder
The various railway committees have demanded
constant and continuous attendance, and so close
was the work that even the absence of the truant
Irish members was missed. Whether the character
OF the Honse will be raised or impaired by the exc
cuton OF the multludnous duties arising out of Its
executive character remains TO be seen. But two
cases have already been investigated in which
members of the House-and, what is worse mem.
bers OF the government-have been detected in
| rather questionable practices. Mr.. Bonham and
Capt. Boldero have been pronounced by select
committee guilty of turning in the matter of the
South Eastern Railway their legislative and official
duties to pecunlary account. Both these gentlemen
must resign, perhaps have done so; but suspicion
arises that they sacrificed to keep up appear
ances, and that they will leave behind them many
whose hands are not whit cleaner than their
own.
The subject of University tests has been the cause
OF iierce debate, and OF very narrow division in
the House OF Commons-so narrow that only eight
between N nd detpat
The abolition OF religious tests in the Scotch Uni
versities was originally brought before the House
by Mr.. Rutherford, and when he introduced it, Sir
James Graham intlmated the probability that the
Ministry would concede the demand. The second
reading of the bill, in the absence of Mr.. Rutber-
lord, was moved by Mr.. Macauley, the member for
Edinburgh, whois, our readers need hardly be in
formed, one of the most effective and brilliant
speakers IN tn" House. The question at Issue in
wolves this Observation-Disclosures the members of
the Free Church in Scotland shall have access to the
Universities OF their country. As the tests now
stand, they are excluded and as the Free Church
constitutes the great majority of our northern coun-
uymen, the grievance is felt to be tyrannica in
practice, and unjust in principle On the second
reading, the government, very unwisely for their
stability and popularity, resisted the required boon
and in doing so, laid themselves open to cutting
exposure of inconsistency
To oppose the abolition of tests in Scotland while
In their new Collegiate Bill they insist upon the alb
sence of tests in Ireland, is an anomaly if not an
absurdity. The inconsistency is so palpable, the
cases are so parallel, that the opposition speakers
stood on vantage ground, and made the most OF
their position, while the Government and its advo-
Gates were puere in argument, and powerless in
warding of the assault. The debate was the most
damaging which the Ministry has experienced, and
the feeling of the House was so strong, that the
whippern found the greatest difficulty saving his
friends Indeed, it is said, that had the opposition
marshalled their forces with equal, or even mode
rate zeal, the Government would have been defeat
ed On this occasion, Lord John Russell came out
strong" as II Is phrased, and said some cutting
things, in the bltterest and most telling manner
The subject is TO be mooted again in another form,
whcn resistance, II 1t be persevered in, will be use-
lese Perhaps Ministers, who cannot help feeling
their embarrassment. will give way
Both Houses, since our last, have been involved
In questions OF privilege. The Commons have
had al their bar the plaintiff and the attorneys in
an action against an ex-member, who gave some
evidence recently before select committee crimi-
natory OF the plaintiff in the action. The parties
who had presumed to beard the House. antici-
pating the probability of being sent to Newgate
or to the Tower, begged pardon of the Commons,
and were discharged. The other branch of the
Legislature has got out of the collision in SINH
Nevertheless, the popular branch of the Legsla-
ture can scarcely allow another session TO pass
without defining their privileges; they must take
some steps to prevent the unseemy exhibitions
which are now al frequent occurrence touching
their right OF publishing what they believe to be
conducive to the common good. The subject is a
knotty one, and involves several serious conside-
rauons The point at issue now is mainly this
shall Parliament, which processes to be paramount
To the laws possess the power, IN examining witnes
scs on any given oplc be held irresponsible for any
lIbes against individuals which those who give ev-
idence before them think proper to indulge in
Ii is now stated, with sort of seml-otlical au-
thoriy, that Parliament will be prorogued on the
9th, or, AZ the iurthest, the 7th proximo.
In the House Of Lords, on Tuesday, the Earl of
Clarendon moved resolution for the admission of
correspondence which has recently passed between
the British Government and the Spanish Minister
IN this country debate OF considerable length
followed. The motion was negatived by 2S 10 H.
In the House of Commons the same subject on the
same evening, was introduced by Lord palmerston.
long debate ensued. The principal opposition
speakers were the noble lord who introduced the
subject, Mr.. Labouchere, and MIR. f Barring The
case was left 10 the defence Of Mr.
Gladstone. The division showeds7 for the motion;
against II, l75; majority ~. The recent declaration
OF the Government dlsarmed the discussion ct all
practical interest.