July

(COMMONS.) In Committee of Supply the Chancellor of the Exchequer moved a supplementary estimate of 400,000l. 23. towards reimbursing the East India Company a moiety of the extraordinary expense of the Persian war, which was agreed to. Mr. Wilson obtained a vote for 590,000l. for adjusting the accounts with the East India Company of the expense of the late China war.

(LORDS.) Earl Fortescue, eulogising the character and July achievements of the late Lord Raglan, asked whether Govern24. ment intended to erect a public monument to his memory? Lord Panmure mentioned what had been done by Parliament in honour of the memory of Lord Raglan, but declined to give a specific answer as to the intentions of the Government.

(COMMONS.) Mr. Disraeli called the attenton of the House July to the state of affairs in India, and moved a resolution con27. demnatory of the Government. Mr. Disraeli's motion was negatived without a division. An amendment, proposed by Lord John Russell, pledging the House to the support of the ministry in suppressing the Indian mutiny, was carried unanimously.

July

(COMMONS.) A resolution in favour of a higher standard of professional instruction for commissioned officers in the army, proposed by Sir De Lacy Evans, and modified by him in accordance with a suggestion of Lord Palmerston, was unanimously passed.

28.

July

29.

July

31.

Aug.

(COMMONS.) The second reading of the Superannuation Act Amendment Bill was carried against the Government by 171 to 111.

(COMMONS.) The second reading of the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Bill was carried by 208 to 97.

(LORDS.) Lord Panmure obtained leave to bring in a Bill empowering Government to embody and call out the Militia at any time between this and the 25th March next without having to call Parliament together again.

3.

(COMMONS.) Lord Palmerston brought forward a supplementary army estimate for the year, in consequence of the Indian mutiny. Lord John Russell moved for a Select Committee to consider whether the Act 5 and 6 Will. IV., c. 62, is applicable to oaths appointed to be taken by Members of the House at the table previously to taking their seats, and in what manner the said Act can be so applied, and to report thereon. Lord Palmerston gave a qualified assent to the motion, which was agreed to.

Aug.

10.

(LORDS.) The Royal assent was given by commission to the Grand Juries Act (1856) Amendment Bill, and to the Constabulary Force (Ireland) Bill. The County Court Judges Bill, Charitable Trusts Acts Continuance Bill, Reformatory Schools (Scotland) Bill, Superannuation Act Amendment Bill, Fraudulent Trustees and Trustees Relief Bill, were read a third time, and passed. (COMMONS.) Lord John Russell brought up a Report from the Select Committee appointed to inquire and report whether the Act 5 and 6 Will. IV., cap. 62, applied to the oaths taken by Members before taking their seats in that House. The Report stated that, in the opinion of the Committee, the Act did not so apply.' Lord John Russell added that, at this late period of the session, he should not proceed with his Oaths Bill, but would again call the attention of the House to the subject early in next session. In Committee of Supply a vote of 2,000l. towards the formation of a gallery of historical portraits gave rise to a discussion, but was carried by 85 to 31. A vote of 10,0001. for the London Diocesan Church-Building Society was carried by 97 to 56. A vote of 10,500l.

for the purchase of a chapel in Paris, for the use of the British residents and visitors, was refused by 135 to 47. The Ecclesiastical Commission Bill was read a third time, and passed.

Aug.

11.

(LORDS.) The Militia Bill, General Board of Health Continuance Bill, Loan Societies Bill, and several other Bills, were read a third time, and passed.

(COMMONS.) In answer to Mr. Disraeli, it was stated by Lord Palmerston that the recent visit of the Emperor of the French to Osborne, accompanied by his Minister for Foreign Affairs, gave an opportunity for conferring with the French Government on the subjects of difference between the Ambassadors of the great powers at Constantinople. It had been agreed that, at least, there had been primâ facie grounds for disputing the regularity of the elections in Moldavia and Wallachia, and it had been decided to recommend the Sultan to annul them. In answer to Sir De Lacy Evans, it was stated by Lord Palmerston that a force of 30,000 men had been sent to India, and Government were raising troops as fast as possible to augment the regiments both at home and abroad. In addition, they were to raise ten additional battalions, and to call out the militia. If occurrences in India took a less favourable turn than they anticipated, the Government would call Parliament together to confer as to any more decided steps which it might be advisable to take. Aug. (COMMONS.) In Committee of Ways and Means, the Chan12. cellor of the Exchequer moved resolutions (which were agreed to) continuing for two years, from 1st April next, the duties on tea and sugar now leviable by law on those articles. The Probates and Letters of Administration Bill was read a third time, and passed.

Aug. (COMMONS.) The Charitable Trusts Act Continuance Bill, Mutiny (East India) Bill, and Parochial Schoolmasters (Scotland) No. 2 Bill, were read a third time, and passed.

15.

Aug.

17.

(LORDS.) The Royal assent was given by commission to a considerable number of public and private Bills. The Eastern of Bengal and Sinde Railway Bills, the Lunatics (Scotland) Bill, the Married Women's Reversionary Interest Bill, and other Bills, were read a third time, and passed.

(COMMONS). On the motion of Sir J. Graham, it was agreed to appoint a Select Committee to inspect the Lords' journals relative to the Mersey Conservancy Bill, in consequence of an alteration made in the Bill by the Lords' Committee, who had awarded a sum of nearly 1,500,000l., instead of 750,000l., as provided by the Bill; and because it was necessary that a Bill should pass the House of Commons in order to give effect to the change, which the mover, Sir J. Graham, believed to be a just one. The Consolidated Fund (Appropriation) Bill, and other Bills, were read a third time, and passed. Mr. V. Smith stated that Government had decided not to make any statement with respect to the financial condition of India during the present session.

21.

Aug. (LORDS.) The Mutiny (East India) Bill. Customs and Exeise Bill, and other Bills, were read a third time and passed. (COMMONS.) The Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Bill, and the Bill for the Prevention of the Sale of Obscene Books and Prints, were read a third time and passed.

Aug.

24.

(LORDS.) The Lord Chancellor laid on the table of the House the opinion of the law officers of the Crown, that the opium trade with China was not illegal.

Aug. 28. Parliament prorogued by Commission.

XII.-PRIVATE BILLS OF THE PARLIAMENT, 1857.

[20 Victoriæ.]

The sudden dissolution of the Parliament to a great degree negatived its labour on the Private Bills. Of the total number introduced to Parliament only four were passed, and of these only three became laws.

The Bills introduced to the House numbered

Read a first time

Read a second time

Read a third time
Passed

235

227

205

5

4

The Private Bills which became laws in the fifth Session of the sixteenth Parliament of Great Britain were :

1. For enabling the Great Western, Bristol and Exeter, and South Devon Railway Companies to afford further assistance towards the completion of the Cornwall Railway between Plymouth and Truro : for extending the time for the completion thereof; and for other purposes.

2. To re-incorporate Price's Patent Candle Company, limited, and for other purposes.

3. To enable the Whitehaven, Cleator, and Egremont Railway Company to raise additional capital; and for other purposes.

[20 and 21 Victoriæ.]

In the new Parliament some of the preliminary steps were dispensed with in respect to the Bills previously introduced, consequently there were only 30 new Bills introduced, either sent down from the Lords, or on motion. The result of the Session was:

I. Numerical Abstract of the Petitions and Private Petitions of the Session::

II. Comparative Classification of Bills for Ten Years:-
:-

30

241

237

187

181

1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1852-3 1854 1854-5 1856 1857

Improvements in' Towns, &c. Internal Communication Navigation, &c.. Private Regulation

42

95 46 50 85 91

27

27

50 42

59 78 85

74 38 43

a-}|

30 35 29 26

222

120 105 103 87 96

12 17 16 15

197 129 147 179 193 272 270 229 161 181

21

21

15

The average number of Private Bills passed from 1848 to 1852 inclusive, was 169; the average number from 1853 to 1857 inclusive, has

been 222.

III. Abstract of Petitions and Private Bills of the Session 1857 :—

These are the numbers stated in the Private Bill Table, but four subsequently became Public Acts; namely, one relating to the Caledonian and Crinan Canals; one for the purchase of lands and improvements in Chatham; one for a better supply of water for the use of vessels resorting to Portland Harbour; and one for further improvements in Pimlico, in the neighbourhood of Buckingham Palace. The following is a list of the remainder :

I. AGRICULTURE.-All the Inclosures are included in the two general Acts.

Drainage:-109. For improving the North Level Drainage, and for other purposes relating to the Level.

146. To alter, amend, and consolidate the Acts relating to the Company of Proprietors of the Norfolk Estuary.

II. COMPANIES:

3. For granting further powers to the Reversionary Interest Society. 68. For granting additional powers to the Australian Agricultural Company.

90. For incorporating the European and Indian Junction Telegraph Company, and for other purposes connected therewith.

102. To incorporate and regulate the Atlantic Telegraph Company, and to enable the company to establish and work telegraphs between Great Britain, Ireland, and Newfoundland; and for other purposes.

III. IMPROVEMENTS IN TOWNS AND DISTRICTS:—

General Improvements:-21. To amend an Act made and passed in the 5 Geo, IV., intituled 'An Act to repeal the several Acts for the relief

and employment of the poor of the parish of Saint Mary Islington, in the county of Middlesex; for lighting and watching and preventing nuisances and annoyances therein; for amending the road from Highgate through Maiden-lane, and several other roads in the said parish; and for providing a chapel-of-ease and an additional burial-ground for the same, and to make more effectual provisions in lieu thereof; and for other purposes.

37. For the improvement of Landport and Southsea, and the neighbourhoods, in the parishes of Portsmouth and Portsea.

38. To enable the mayor, aldermen, and burgesses of the borough of Cardigan to provide a market house, and establish and regulate markets and fairs; and to regulate the supply of water within the borough; and to pave, light, cleanse, regulate, and improve the borough; and for other purposes.

74. For the improvement of the town of Milford and the neighbourhood thereof; for establishing gasworks, waterworks, and a cemetery there; and for other purposes.

115. To enable the Metropolitan Board of Works to open certain new streets in Westminster and Southwark.

118. To amend two several Acts passed respectively in the 5 Geo. IV. and 2 Wm. IV., and to make other and more effectual provisions in lieu thereof.

Water-4. To incorporate the proprietors of the Guildford Waterworks, and to confer further powers for the supply of water to the borough of Guildford.

11. To make further provision for supplying with water the city of Chester and suburbs thereof.

20. For supplying the burgh of Dumbarton and places adjacent with water, for embanking and reclaiming the Broad Meadow there, and for extending the municipal boundaries of the said burgh.

22. To grant further powers to the Brighton, Hove, and Preston Constant Service Waterworks Company, and to amend the Act relating to the Company.

42. To enable the New River Company to raise a further sum of money, to construct other sewers at Hertford, and to amend the Acts relating to the company.

45. For better supplying with water the inhabitants of the borough of Portsmouth.

47. For better supplying with water the town of Ipswich.

57. For authorising the Lowestoft Water, Gas, and Market Company to make additional waterworks and raise additional capital, and to lease their undertaking; and for other purposes.

70. For better supplying with water the inhabitants of the parishes of Saint John the Baptist (including Margate) and Saint Peter the Apostle (including Broadstairs).

126. To enable the South Staffordshire Waterworks Company to alter and extend their works, and obtain an additional supply of water; and for other purposes.

130. To enable the Great Yarmouth Waterworks Company to raise a further sum of money.

Gas:-2. To incorporate a company for supplying gas to Chepstow and the neighbourhood.

6. For lighting with gas the borough of South Shields and neighbourhood thereof,