George Grey believed some alteration of the law was necessary to give Government the power to take special precautions on similar occasions. Portions of the Army Estimates passed through Committee, and the Post Office Savings Banks Bill underwent some alterations and was recommitted.

(LORDS.) The Salmon Exportation Bill was read a second Mar. 16. time, and the Malt Duty Bill read a third time and passed. (COMMONS.) Mr. Cochrane moved for copies of correspondence relating to the affairs of Greece, which he asserted would show that the conduct of the British government had been neither just nor generous. Lord Palmerston defended the conduct of the government, and promised, if the motion were withdrawn, to lay before the House further papers when received. The Naval Coast Volunteers Act Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed.

17.

(COMMONS.) Mr. Somes moved for leave to bring in a Bill March for closing public-houses on Sunday, which was given after a short discussion by 141 votes to 52. A Bill was introduced by Mr. Cowper for the Embankment of the Thames, South Side, empowering the Metropolitan Board of Works to defray the cost out of the Thames Embankment and Metropolitan Fund; and the Post Office Savings' Banks Bill was read a third time and passed.

(COMMONS.) The Tobacco Duties Bill passed through Com

March mittee after the rejection of an amendment proposed by Mr. Ayrton; as did also the Corrupt Practices at Elections Bill.

19.

23.

(LORDS.) Lord Campbell called attention to the question March of acknowledging the independence of the Southern Confede ration of America, urging that it was time the recognition should be made, and quoting precedents in favour of such a proceeding. Earl Russell said if there were anything which could be justly done to end the war in America there was not a single person in the country who would not be glad to do it; the offer of mediation by France had been repulsed, it was therefore our duty to stand still and wait.

(LORDS.) The Salmon Exportation Bill and the Post Office Mar. 24. Savings Banks Bill were read a third time and passed.

(COMMONS.) Mr. Hubbard moved a resolution that the incidence of an income-tax should fall upon net income, and that the net amounts of industrial earnings should be subject to such an abatement as may equitably adjust the burden thrown upon intelligence and skill as compared with property. The Chancellor of the Exchequer opposed the resolution, declaring Mr. Hubbard's plan to be impracticable. The resolution was negatived by 118 to 70. The Partnership Law Amendment Bill, after a warm discussion, was read a second time, after a division of 39 against 56 in its favour.

March

(LORDS.) The Lord Chancellor introduced a Bill for selling the advowsons of a certain class of livings in his gift, and with 26. the proceeds to increase the stipends of the incumbents. The

scheme met with general approval, and the Bill was read a first time. (COMMONS.) The Civil Service Estimates were considered in Committee. The Corrupt Practices at Elections Bill was read a third time and passed; the Oaths Relief (Scotland) Bill, and other Bills were advanced a stage.

(LORDS.) The royal assent given by commission to the March Tobacco Duties Bill, the Union Relief Aid Act Continuance 27. Bill, and several others. The Lord Chancellor's Augmenta

tion of Benefices Bill was read a second time.

(COMMONS.) Mr. Forster called attention to the fitting-out in our

ports of vessels of war for the Confederates in contravention of the Foreign Enlistment Act. The Solicitor-General replied to Mr. Forster that the Government had acted with good faith towards the United States; they were anxious to enforce the law, but they must have legal evidence of its violation before they could act. Lord Palmerston contended we had done 5 everything the law enabled us to do, and that the Northern States had no just cause of complaint. The Savings' Banks Act was introduced, and then the House adjourned to April 13.

罂

April
13.

added.

April 14.

(COMMONS.) Portions of the Civil Estimates were passed through Committee, as also the Local Government Act. In the Telegraph Bill certain amendments were made, and new clauses

(LORDS.) The Augmentation of Benefices Bill was referred to a Select Committee.

(COMMONS.) The House adjourned, without proceeding to business, as a mark of respect to the memory of Sir G. C. Lewis, who had died on the previous day.

April
15.

(COMMONS.) Sir M. Peto moved the second reading of the Burials Bill, by which the church graveyard was to be open to the performance of burial services by Dissenters. On a division it was rejected by 221 to 96. Mr. H. B. Sheridan introduced a Bill for the appointment of stipendiary magistrates in towns of 20,000 inhabitants and above.

(LORDS.) The Mutiny Bill and the Marine Mutiny Bill were April read a third time and passed. Lord Malmesbury thought the 16. Ministry right in declining the crown of Greece for Prince Alfred, but wished to know why they had authorized the proclaiming of Prince William George as King without waiting for the consent of the King of Denmark? He condemned also the cession of the Ionian Islands, of which a worse present could not be made to the kingdom of Greece, while Corfu was essential to us as a port in time of war. Lord Russell replied that the candidature of Prince William had received the consent of the King of Denmark, the choice had been approved of by the Emperor of the French, and would not be disapproved of by Russia; that ever since Greece had become a nation the Ionians had desired to form a part of it, and it was not the policy of this Government to enforce a connection which they wished to sever after having obtained the consent of the other Powers to the relinquishment of the Protectorate. Lord Granville moved for a Committee to inquire into the various Railway Bills before Parliament, in order that none might be passed which would interfere with the future adoption of a comprehensive plan of metropolitan railway communication.

(COMMONS.) The Chancellor of the Exchequer introduced his Budget. He observed that the revenue of the past year had exceeded the estimate by 583,000l. The estimated charge for the coming one was 67,749,000l., and the estimated revenue was 71,490,000l. In addition to the surplus thus shown he proposed to equalize the duty on chicory and coffee, and of certain taxes on licences with which he proposed to charge clubs selling wines, spirits, and beer; and the withdrawal of the exemption from income-tax of corporate trust property and charitable endowments; which would give about 133,000l. more. With this he proposed to repeal the small charges on mercantile transactions, including the stamp on bills of lading; the income-tax would be reduced by 2d. in the pound, and incomes below 2007. relieved to the extent of 60l. a year; the duty on tea would be reduced by 5d. per lb.; these reductions he estimated would amount to about 3,343,000l., and he calculated a surplus would

be left of about half a million. After a short discussion, the resolutions were agreed to and ordered to be reported.

April (COMMONS.) Sir G. Grey moved the second reading of the Prison Ministers Bill. It was opposed by Mr. Newdegate,

20.

Mr. Whalley, and others, as a concession to Roman Catholics, and supported by Mr. Henley, Mr. Disraeli, and Lord Palmerston; it was carried by 152 to 122. The Assurance Registration (Ireland) Bill was read a second time, and the Gardens in Towns Protection Bill a third time and passed.

(COMMONS.) Sir George Grey obtained leave to bring in a

April Bill for the amalgamation of the City of London Police with 21. the Metropolitan Police. It was subsequently withdrawn as requiring certain notices, which had not been given.

April 22.

(COMMONS.) The second reading of the Innkeepers' Liability Bill was agreed to. The Borough Residence Uniform Measurement Bill was read a second time. The Marriages (Ireland) Bill passed through Committee.

(LORDS.) The Marquis of Clanricarde drew the attention

April of the Foreign Secretary to the seizure of British ships in the 23. West Indian waters by Federal cruisers. Earl Russell said, as to one case, that of the Dolphin,' he had been informed by the law officers of the Crown that the Americans were in the wrong. He intended to bring this case before the American Government, and he had no doubt they would make reparation if any wrong had been done. (COMMONS.) Mr. Roebuck alluded to the same topic; Lord Palmerston said the matter was of a very grave nature, and was receiving due consideration from the Government. A grant of 50,000l. was voted towards the memorial of the late Prince Consort, moved by Lord Palmerston and supported by Mr. Disraeli. In a Committee of Ways and Means, several items of the Budget were then agreed to. The Stock Certificates to Bearer Bill was read a second time; the Bakehouses Regulation Bill passed through Committee; and the Vaccination (Ireland) Bill was read a second time.

April (LORDS.) The Qualifications for Offices Abolition Bill was, 24. upon the motion of the Earl of Derby, rejected by 69 to 52. (COMMONS.) Mr. Horsfall called attention to the seizure by the Government of the Alexandra, at Liverpool, on the ground of a violation of the Foreign Enlistment Act. The Attorney-General said that the matter was for the decision of a court of law. A long discussion followed, and the subject dropped.

April

27.

(LORDS.) Earl Russell stated that on the capture of the Peterhoff the mail-bags, with the seal of the PostmasterGeneral, had been forwarded to Mr. Archibald, the British consul at New York, who demanded that they should be forwarded to their destination; but the Federal authorities insisted that the bags should be opened. Lord Lyons wrote to Mr. Seward stating that this was contrary to his letter of Oct. 31. Mr. Seward asked for time to consider. Subsequently the Supreme Court had decided that the bags were to be opened, the letters of a bonâ-fide nature sent to their destination, and those relating to the cargo referred to the Prize Court. Mr. Archibald refused to concur in this, and the bags had not been opened. (COMMONS.) In a Committee of Ways and Means, Mr. Jolliffe objected to the item requiring a licence for clubs; the Chancellor of the Exchequer defended it; after much discussion the resolution was carried by 143 to 111; and the other resolutions were passed. The Savings Banks Bill was read a second time.

April (COMMONS.) Mr. A. Mills moved for the production of the correspondence with the Governments of Canada and New 28. Zealand, concerning the military defence of those colonies, contending that a full share of the expense should be borne by them. Mr. C. Fortescue stated that Canada had done much towards its selfdefence, it had raised volunteers, and its rural militia would shortly be an effective body; the motion was withdrawn.

(COMMONS.) Sir J. Trelawney moved the second reading of April the Church-rates Abolition Bill, which after some debate was thrown out by 285 to 275.

29.

May

1.

(LORDS.) On the motion of Lord Granville, all proceedings in relation to certain metropolitan railways were ordered to be postponed to the ensuing session.

(COMMONS.) In a Committee on the Customs and Inland May Revenue Bill, Mr. Gladstone made an able speech in defence 4. of the proposed tax on the incomes of charitable institutions, contending that the remission of a tax was tantamount to a grant. Several members spoke against it, and Mr. Gladstone consented to withdraw it.

May

(COMMONS.) Mr. E. Bouverie moved for leave to bring in a Bill to repeal a clause of the Uniformity Act requiring a declaration of conformity to the Liturgy of the Church of England. A warm debate ensued, and leave was given by 157 to 135.

5.

May

(COMMONS.) Mr. Newdegate moved the second reading of his Church-rates Commutation Bill, which after some debate 6. was thrown out by 94 to 56. Mr. Alcock then moved the second reading of his Church-rates Redemption Bill, which shared a like fate, being negatived by 81 to 72. The Securities from Violence Bill and the Marriage Registration (Ireland) Bill were advanced a stage. (LORDS.) The Corrupt Practices at Elections Bill was read May a third time and passed; Lords Derby and Grey at the same time expressing doubts as to its efficiency.

7.

(COMMONS.) The Prison Ministers Bill passed through Committee. On the second reading of the Inland Revenue Bill some objections were made to the club licences, but eventually it was read a second time. The Savings Banks Money Bill was read a third time and passed.

(LORDS.) The Earl of Shaftesbury, in presenting a petition May in favour of the Poles from a meeting held in the Guildhall 8. of London, called attention to the outrages that Poland had experienced from Russia.

(COMMONS.) The Chancellor of the Exchequer stated that he intended to abandon the licence to clubs.

May 11.

(COMMONS.) The Prison Ministers Bill passed through Committee; as did, with some debate, the Customs and Inland Revenue Bills. The Stock Certificates to Bearer Bill was read a third time and passed.

May (LORDS.) The City Traffic Regulation Bill passed through 12. Committee.

(COMMONS.) Mr. H. Seymour moved a resolution respecting the waste lands in India, and the redemption of the land-tax, condemning Sir C. Wood's substitution of his plan for that of Lord Canning's. Sir C. Wood defended his proceedings, and the resolution was withdrawn.

(COMMONS.) Sir J. Ferguson moved the second reading of May a Bill for limiting the liability of Railway Companies in cases of compensation for accidents; but the second reading was negatived by 90 to 70.

13.

May

(LORDS.) Lord Ellenborough inquired whether the Goverment would produce the correspondence with Austria and 15. Prussia relative to the proclamation of the King of Denmark on March 31; he had conceded to Holstein all that the German Diet were entitled to. Lord Russell replied that both parties had made mistakes; that Denmark had not fulfilled the promises made in 1851. The Earl of Derby said Denmark had admitted the rights of Germany in respect to Holstein, but he doubted the propriety of allowing Austria and Prussia to override all law and justice in regard to Schleswig. Lord Russell promised the papers at some future time, and the subject dropped.

(COMMONS.) Mr. Liddell called attention to the state of affairs in China; he complained of the sanctioning British officers to take service under the Chinese emperor, and moved for copies of the correspondence on the subject. The motion was put and negatived. The London Coal and Wine Duties Bill was read a third time and passed.

May

18.

May

(COMMONS.) The Thames Embankment (North Side) Bill and the Vaccination (Ireland) Bill were read a third time and passed.

(LORDS.) Lord Ebury moved the second reading of the Acts of Uniformity Amendment Bill, repealing the clause 19. imposing on the clergy of the Church of England the neces sity of subscribing their assent to the Articles and everything that was in the Prayer Book. The Archbishop of Canterbury opposed the Bill as unnecessary. The Bill was thrown out by 90 votes against 50. The Stock Certificates to Bearer Bill and the Inland Revenue Bill were read a second time.

(COMMONS.) Mr. Dillwyn moved for a Select Committee to inquire how far the present distribution of endowments for religious purposes in Ireland might be amended. Mr. H. Seymour thought a better means at arriving at the real state of the case would be by a Royal Commission to inquire into the property of the Church and its disposition. Mr. Whiteside opposed both propositions, and warmly defended the Irish Church, after which the House adjourned to May 28.

May

(LORDS.) The Savings Banks Moneys Bill was read a second time, the Stock Certificates to Bearer Bill, and the Customs and Inland Revenue Bills, were passed through Committee, and the House adjourned to June 1.

21.

May 28.

(COMMONS.) In Committee of Supply, Mr. Walpole called attention to the case of Mr. Churchward, whose contract for the Dover post-office packets had been terminated, from whom he presented a petition. The Chancellor of the Exchequer defended the course pursued, and the Report was agreed to by 205 votes to 191. May of Turkey, (COMMONS.) Mr. Gregory called attention to the situation of Turkey, warning the Government of the utter incapacity of Turkey to maintain its independence, of its oppression and violation of treaties towards Servia, and its barbarity towards its Christian subjects, concluding by moving for papers. Mr. Layard, acknowledging that all was not as could be wished in Turkey, contended that Mr. Gregory's statement was overcharged. After a debate of long continuance the resolution was withdrawn.

29.

June

(LORDS.) Lord Ebury moved an address for the appointment of a Commission to inquire into the present compulsory 1. and indiscriminate use of the burial service of the Church of England; a long discussion ensued, when the motion was withdrawn on the understanding that the Bishops would prepare a measure to relieve