manic Confederation and Denmark. Lord Palmerston said the question of Schleswig and Holstein was a complicated one, but doubtless it was our policy to maintain the integrity and independence of the Danish monarchy. The Appropriation Bill and other Bills passed, and the Augmentation of Benefices Bill went through Committee. Sir C. Wood then made his financial statement for India, showing, for the first time for many years, a surplus of revenue; he adverted to the introduction of the cinchona plant, the cultivation of cotton, the extent of railway and water communication opened, and represented India as in a most satisfactory state of progress. The British Columbia Boundaries Bill went through Committee, and the Partnership Law Amendment Act was read a third time and passed.

July 24.

(COMMONS.) The Statute Law Revision Bill was read a third time and passed, after some opposition from Mr. Hennessy. The amendment on the Alkali Works Bill disagreed with by the Lords was insisted on, and the Bill referred.

July (LORDS.) The Alkali Works Regulation Bill was passed with the amendment of the Commons. Lord Stratford de Red27. cliffe called attention to the proposed guarantee of the Ionian Islands, and objected to the cession of Corfu. Lord Russell believed that the transfer of these Islands met with the approval of both the country and parliament; the guarantee of Greece was not a fresh one, but only an extension of that of 1832. The Earl of Derby concurred in de nouncing guarantees, and objected to the cession of the Islands in the interest of the Ionians themselves, as well as that of Europe. Lord Redesdale complained of the minute of the Council of Education of May 19, as injurious to the schools affected by it. The Duke of Somerset explained that the purpose was to apply the State assistance to poor districts, and that grants should not be made where schools, from endowments, were already in receipt of an average of 30s. per head for each scholar.

(COMMONS.) A number of questions were asked and answered, and the remaining Bills were either passed or withdrawn.

July 28.

(LORDS.) The royal assent was given to a number of Bills, and the royal message was read by the Lord Chancellor. It referred to the negotiations on Poland, the intention to adhere to the policy of neutrality in the civil war in America, the annexation of the Ionian Islands to Greece and the hopes derived from the election of King George, the state of our relations with Japan and the necessity of demanding reparation for the injuries received, the wish to re-establish friendly communication with Brazil, the diminution of the Lancashire distress, the disturbances in New Zealand with trust that a wise and conciliatory conduct would appease them, thanks for the necessary supplies, congratulations on the passing of the Augmentation of Benefices Act, of the Revision of the Statute Law Act, and of the Volunteers Act, pleasure at the treaty with America for the more effectual suppression of the slave trade, at the satisfactory state of the finances, and at the social, financial, and commercial improvements in our East Indian possessions; and the Houses were prorogued.

XII-PRIVATE BILLS OF THE PARLIAMENT, 1863.
[26-27 Victoria.]

I. Numerical Abstract of the Private Bills of the Session of 1863:
New Bills introduced into the House

335

323

311

260

251

Of those passed, five were subsequently made Public Acts, viz., the two relating to the Thames Embankment, the Metropolitan Turnpikes, Harwich Harbour, and Port Erin in the Isle of Man. The titles of the others are given in the following pages.

II. Comparative Classification of Bills for Ten Years, as given in the House of Commons List :

Bills Passed.

1854 1854-5 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863

The average number of Private Bills passed from 1854 to 1858 inclusive was 202; the average number from 1859 to 1863 inclusive has been 243; the session of 1861 giving the highest number for the five years. III. Abstract of Petitions and Private Bills in the Session of 1863 :

I. AGRICULTURE:—

Inclosures:-Included in the General Acts, and numbered 25. Drainage:-48. For making further provision for the drainage of the Marshland Smeeth and Fen District in Norfolk; and for other purposes. [This phrase is added to the majority of titles of private Bills.] 81. To confer further powers for embanking and reclaiming from the sea the estuary or back strand of Tramore in the county of Waterford; and to amend The Tramore Embankment Act, 1852, and The Tramore Embankment Act, 1858.

84. For the reclamation from the sea of waste lands subject to be overflowed by the tide near to Horsey Island on the coast of Essex. 180. For incorporating the Frieston Reclamation Company; and for authorising them to reclaim certain lands in the estuary of the Wash.

II. COMPANIES :

21. To reduce and regulate the capital of the Van Diemen's Land Company.

55. To incorporate the Mercantile Marine Service Association of Liverpool, and to enable them the better to carry on their beneficial designs.

140. To alter and amend the acts relating to the Lands Improvement Company.

161. For enabling the Law Life Assurance Society to sue and be sued in their own name; and for making further provision with respect to the investment of their moneys.

181. For authorising the Madras Irrigation and Canal Company to keep separate accounts.

209. For the amalgamation of the Hibernian Mine Company with the Wicklow Copper Mine Company (Limited).

212. To amend the act and enlarge the powers of Bonelli's Electric Telegraph Company (Limited).

III. IMPROVEMENTS IN TOWNS AND DISTRICTS :

General Improvements:-1. For stopping up certain streets, and widening other streets, in the borough of Cambridge.

13. To confer upon the mayor, aldermen, and burgesses of the borough of Swansea further powers for the improvement and regulation of the markets and fairs in the said borough, and also for commuting or disposing of certain quayage and town dues now payable, and for the better government and regulation of the said borough.

45. For the improvement of the port and harbour of Dungarvan; for vesting the markets of that town in the Town Commissioners of Dungarvan, and for enabling the said Commissioners to extend and regulate the same; for the transfer from the Grand Jury of the county of Waterford to the said Commissioners of the management of the roads and bridges in the said town; for the improvement of the said town.

72. For the improvement of Pembroke township, comprising Baggot rath, Donnybrook, Sandymount, Ringsend, and Irishtown, in the county of Dublin.

117. For enabling the Local Board of Health for the district of Rotherham and Kimberworth, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, to construct and maintain an improved system of waterworks, for the supply of the district and adjacent places with water; and for enabling the Board to purchase the existing markets and fairs within the district, and to establish new markets and fairs within the district, and to pur

chase and extinguish dues and duties paid and collected within the town of Rotherham; and for amending acts relating to the district.

121. For the improvement of Blackrock, Monkstown, and Booterstown, in the county of Dublin.

Water-11. To enable the Scarborough Waterworks Company to raise further sums of money.

17. For better supplying the town of Denbigh and neighbourhood thereof with water.

29. To amend The Hamilton Waterworks Act, 1854, and to authorise the raising of a further sum of money.

33. To enable the Local Board of Health for the district of Rugby in Warwickshire to provide a better supply of water for the inhabitants of that district and its neighbourhood.

34. For better supplying with water the towns of Newcastle-uponTyne and Gateshead, and the neighbourhood thereof, and for amending and consolidating the provisions of the acts relating to the Whittle Dean Water Company.

35. For more effectually supplying water to the town of Great Grimsby, and several places near thereto.

44. For extending the limits within which the Maidstone Waterworks Company may supply water, and for authorising them to provide additional works, and to raise further moneys.

68. For enabling the mayor, aldermen, and citizens of Manchester to construct new works and acquire additional lands in connection with their waterworks; to extend their limits of supply; to improve Piccadilly in Manchester.

78. To enable the lord mayor, aldermen, and burgesses of Dublin to abandon a portion of the works authorised by The Dublin Corporation Waterworks Act, 1861, and to construct and maintain other works.

87. For authorising the Stockport District Waterworks Company to acquire existing waterworks within their district, and to raise further

moneys.

162. To enable the Galway Town Improvement Commissioners to construct waterworks, and obtain a supply of water for the town.

169. For extending the limits within which the Lowestoft Water, Gas, and Market Company may supply water and gas, and for authorising them to raise further moneys.

187. To authorise the Edinburgh Water Company to introduce an additional supply of water to Edinburgh and Leith and places adjacent.

Gas-8. For lighting with gas Leyland and Farington, and other places in the neighbourhood thereof, in Lancashire.

12. To enable the Harrogate Gas Company to raise additional capital; to extend their limits for supplying gas; to repeal, amend, and extend the act relating to the company.

15. To enable the Leeds Gaslight Company to raise a further sum of money; to extend their limits of supply.

18. To incorporate the North Bierley Gaslight and Coke Company (Limited), and to make further provision for lighting North Bierley and other townships and places in the neighbourhood thereof with gas.

36. To authorise the Accrington Gas and Waterworks Company to extend their gasworks and waterworks, and their limits of supply; to raise additional moneys.

37. To authorise the Surrey Consumers Gas Company to raise a further sum of money.

41. To amend the acts relating to the Nottingham Gas Company, and to enable that company to acquire additional lands.

57. For more effectually lighting with gas the parishes of Gravesend, Milton, and Northfleet, in Kent.

91. For supplying with gas the villages of Elsecar, Wentworth, and Hoyland, and parts adjacent, in the West Riding of Yorkshire.

94. For incorporating the Skipton Gaslight and Coke Company, and for conferring upon them further powers for the supply of gas to Skipton and certain neighbouring townships in the West Riding of Yorkshire.

112. To incorporate the Great Yarmouth Gas Company, and make further provision for lighting the town of Great Yarmouth and certain neighbouring places with gas.

Markets, Bridges, &c.:-22. For providing a cattle market in Peterborough.

23. To incorporate a company for holding a market and fairs in Aylesbury.

62. To authorise the mayor and commonalty and citizens of London to rebuild Blackfriars Bridge.

63. For the making and maintaining of a bridge over the river Mersey, to be called Rixton and Warburton Bridge, with roads thereto. 92. To authorise the mayor, aldermen, and citizens of Coventry to erect a market house in the said city.

101. To authorise arrangements between the Vestry and Guardians of the Poor of the parish of Saint Luke, Middlesex, for the erection and use of a vestry hall and offices; to amend the acts relating to such workhouse and parish.

197. For making and maintaining bridges over the River Thames at Hampton and Shepperton.

211. To incorporate a company for making a new bridge from Putney to Fulham.

Municipal Regulations:-7. To regulate the mode of valuation of certain underground gas-pipes or works in the city of Glasgow, for the purpose of assessments under The Glasgow Police Act, 1862, in conformity with the provisions of The General Police and Improvement (Scotland) Act, 1862.

52. For extending the district of the Local Board of Health for the district of Sowerby Bridge, in the West Riding of Yorkshire; to enable them to contract for water and supply the district therewith; to amend the acts relating to the district.

71. For the better regulation of the commons of the manor of Rusthall, and the rights therein of the freehold tenants of the manor.

73. For the committal of prisoners from the city of Exeter to the gaol and house of correction for Devonshire; and for the sale and disposal of the present gaol and house of correction for Exeter, and the land belonging thereto.

76. To enable the Grand Jury of Mayo to present and recover arrears of Grand Jury cess upon said county, and upon certain baronies thereof, in order to the payment of sums due to contractors and others.

93. For making better provision for the management and relief of the poor in Norwich.

106. To confer further powers upon the Birkenhead Improvement Commissioners, and to make provisions with respect to their mortgage debts and to enable them to raise further moneys.

144. To enable the Tees Conservancy Commissioners to purchase